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

Modal Clauses

Modal clauses (menderakuntza modalak) are subordinate clauses that explain how an action in the main sentence is performed.

Modal Conjunctions

• -(e)n bezala: Used to replace adverbial phrases; answers the question "How?".
• -(e)n bezala / -(e)n bezalakoa: Equivalent to "as" or "like".
• -(e)n bezalakoa: Indicates similarity.

In these structures, the auxiliary verb is often removed, and the main verb is associated with the participle. The verb can sometimes be deleted entirely to create a summary form.

Purpose Clauses

Purpose clauses (helburuzko perpausak) indicate the objective, intention, or purpose of the main action, answering the question "For what purpose?".

Purpose Conjunctions

These are typically used with non-finite verb forms (jokatugabeak)... Continue reading "Basque Grammar: Modal and Purpose Clauses Explained" »

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

Linguistic Definitions and Discourse Competence

Text: A linguistic configuration consisting of a set of linguistic elements organized by rules of construction. Speech: The broadcast of a concrete text on a given occasion.

• Discourse Competence: The ability to use code in certain situations.
• Constructional Competence: Knowledge of the code, components, and the rules system that constitutes the tongue.
• Social Communication Competence: Includes both constructional and discursive elements.

Theories of Language and Enunciation

Key theorists include Saussure (focusing on the tongue/language) and Chomsky (focusing on competence). Van Dijk describes the text as the maximum unit of sentence description.

Text and its Enunciation

1. Step 1: Prayer-text.
2. Step 2: Form-

Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication

Verbal: Using words.

Non-verbal: Communication without words, including facial expressions, eye contact, hand movements, body posture, dress, and voice.

The Nature of Conversation

The conversation is a spontaneous activity between two or more partners involving both verbal and non-regulated non-verbal elements. A conversation develops live and takes place in turns.

Structure of the Topic

• Opening: Starts with greetings, questions, or exclamations.
• Body: The central part and the focus of the conversation.
• Closing: Uses common farewell formulas for the end.

Language in Informal Conversation

One of the main characteristics of oral language is improvisation, which is subject to change. Speakers often shift from one topic... Continue reading "Linguistic Elements and Communication Dynamics" »

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" »

Grammar: Relative Clauses

Defining Relative Clauses

• Who/that (people): I spoke to the careers advisor who/that you recommended.
• Which/that (things or ideas): Here’s the application form which/that you should complete to apply for the job.
• Whose (possession): She’s the girl whose father owns the company.
• When/that (time): That was the year when/that I went to university.
• Where (place): That’s the country where she worked during her gap year.

Non-Defining Relative Clauses

• Who: Eleni, who is my workmate, comes from Greece.
• Which: My company, which is based in London, works with many multinational organizations.
• Whose: John, whose work experience included volunteering, was the strongest candidate for the job.
• When: In 2009, when the global economic

Orações Subordinadas Substantivas

• Subjetiva: Exerce a função de sujeito da oração principal (precedida por verbos como: ser, parecer, admirar, constar, importar, acontecer).
• Objetiva Direta: Exerce a função de objeto direto do verbo da oração principal.
• Objetiva Indireta: Exerce a função de objeto indireto do verbo da oração principal.
• Predicativa: Exerce a função de predicativo do sujeito da oração principal (verbo de ligação).
• Completiva Nominal: Exerce a função de complemento nominal de um termo da oração principal.
• Apositiva: Exerce a função de aposto de um termo da oração principal (geralmente marcada por dois-pontos).

Orações Subordinadas Adjetivas

• Restritiva: Limita ou restringe o sentido do substantivo ou pronome

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

1. Planning

During this stage, the author must collect all possible material to be reviewed and pass it to the moderator, who is responsible for the meeting, selecting members of the review team, and assigning each role. The facilitator will distribute the available material to the other attendees. In addition, the moderator will set the agenda for the meeting.

2. Preparation

This stage occurs prior to the review. It is the phase in which the inspection team should be formed to review the product. Individual responsibility involves reading the documentation released by the person responsible for the review. If it is necessary, members may meet with the author to obtain more information or ask about aspects that are not clear.

3. Introduction

This... Continue reading "Effective Software Review Process Stages" »