Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Teaching & Education

English Grammar: Key Forms and Rules

To-Be: to be (be). To-Have: to have (have). Can: ability / power. Must: duty, obligation; deduction + infinitive. May: permission / possibility.

Pronouns, Quantifiers and Demonstratives

Few / Many: e.g., accountants. Little / Much: countless.

Since: from about 1970. For: duration, e.g., for 3 hours (period).

Some: used in affirmative sentences. Any: used in negative and interrogative sentences (but not in affirmative: I have no money).

This: this (singular). These: these (plural). That: that (singular). Those: those (plural).

Auxiliaries and Do/Does/Did

Do / Does / Did: form the auxiliary for negatives and questions. The main verb appears in the base form (infinitive without to).

Articles

a = indefinite article (used... Continue reading "English Grammar Rules, Tenses and Key Usage" »

1. Connectors (Cohesion Mechanisms)

Syntactic Connectors

• Conjunctions: and, nor, but, that.
• Sentential Adverbs: however, nevertheless, consequently.
• Prepositional Phrases: although, because.
• Predicates of Various Categories (Discourse Markers): In conclusion, alternative.

Expository Connectors

• Interlocutive Connectors: Appeal to the interlocutor (e.g., Look!).
• Switches (Discourse Markers): Words that have lost their original meaning and function as transitions (e.g., now, well).

2. Deictic Elements (Deixis)

1. Personal Deixis: (I, me, he, him, etc.)
2. Spatial Deixis: (this, that, here, there, these, etc.)
3. Temporal Deixis: (today, tomorrow, yesterday, when, etc.)
4. Social Deixis: Forms of address used when dealing with a partner (e.g., your, you, Sir, Lord).
5. Discourse

Humanistic Texts: General Characteristics

Humanistic texts study issues related to human beings, encompassing thinking, social relations, and human studies. They are distinguished from social sciences, which focus on the societal aspects, and human sciences, which address the individual sphere. Predominant text types in human sciences are expository and argumentative. The typical structure of classical humanistic texts includes an introduction, development, and conclusion. An idea is presented, followed by examples, and then a synthesis explaining the idea.

Linguistic Features of Humanistic Texts

The language of humanistic texts is characterized by the use of jargon, which is specialized terminology. Unlike natural languages, human sciences' language... Continue reading "Understanding Humanistic and Legal Texts: Characteristics and Analysis" »

Advanced English Vocabulary: Media, Film, and Connectors

Media and Journalism Terminology

A collection of terms related to news, reporting, and current affairs, with Catalan translations.

• Amazed by: Sorprès per
• Amused by: Entretingut/divertit amb
• Amusing: Graciós, divertit
• Awful: Horrible, espantós
• Broadcast live: Emetre en directe
• Broadcast worldwide: Emetre arreu del món
• Business: Economia (topic)
• Box-office hit: Èxit de taquilla
• Classified ads: Anuncis per paraules
• Continually: Constantment
• Cover a story: Cobrir una notícia
• Current affairs: Temes d'actualitat
• Deafening: Ensordidor
• Editorial: Opinió (article)
• Evidence: Proves
• Freedom of the press: Llibertat de premsa
• Gathering: Aplegament, reunió
• Give an interview: Concedir una entrevista
• Headline: Titular
• Hold