In English, many sentences use the active form of the verb. The performer of the action, or the agent, comes first and is the subject of the verb that follows. The receiver of the action is the object of the verb, and it comes after the verb.
For example :
The builders took down the shelves.
The builders painted the wall.
In these sentences, the builders are the agent of the action. The wall and the shelves are the object of the verb, the receiver of the action. The verb is in the active form.
The passive form is used when we want to focus attention on the receiver of the action, not on the agent of the action. In this case, the receiver of the action becomes the subject of the verb, which is now in the passive form.
For example :
The shelves were taken down.
The wall was painted.
a- Making the passive form:
To turn a verb from the active form to the passive form, we use the past participle of the main verb, preceded by the verb 'to be'. The receiver of the action comes before the verb in the passive form. The verb 'to be' agrees with this subject.
Subject + to be + past participle of the main verb
The shelves were taken down.
The wall was painted.
In order to change the tense, you change the form of 'to be'.
Present simple: Many clothes are made in China these days.
Present continuous: The redecoration work is being done.
Present perfect simple: The bath has been changed.
Past simple: The wall was painted.
Modal forms: The flat should be modernised.
In order to make a negative, you use 'not to be' in the correct form.
The computer wasn't delivered yesterday.
The children weren't collected from school.
b- The agent:
When you use the passive form, if you want to give the agent of the action, you use 'by'.
The report was written by David.
c- Choosing to use the passive form:
You can use the passive form when...
1- ...the agent is unknown
My bike was stolen 2 weeks ago.
In this example, the person who stole the bicycle, the agent of the action, is unknown.
2- ....the agent is unnecessary or unimportant
Then, one week later, the thief was arrested.
In this example, we do not say 'by the police' because we do not need to. Only the police can arrest people, so we don't need to mention them in this sentence.
3- ...our focus is on the receiver of the action, not the agent
Football is the number one sport in the world. It is played in most countries and it is loved by people of all ages, from 7 to 70.
In this sentence, our focus is on football, so we choose to use the passive form. This keeps football as the subject of the sentence.
d-Vocabulary
to modernise something : to change something so that it is newer, or more up-to-date
redecoration : when you change the look of a room, by painting it a new colour, for example
Wednesday, 24 December 2008
Kitchen vocabulary
Here is some vocabulary connected to cooking and kitchens.
a- Utensils and equipment:
1- a knife : a basic, hand-held tool for cutting food.
2- a peeler : a hand-held tool specially designed for removing the skin from vegetables such as potatoes.
3- a spatula : a thin tool – sometimes made of wood – which is used to remove food from a pan.
4- a strainer / sieve : a tool used to remove water from food. It's bowl-shaped, with lots of holes to let the water run through.
5- a saucepan : a basic metal pan that is often used to cook food in hot water.
6- a lid : the cover of a saucepan.
7- a frying pan : a shallow pan that is often used to cook food in a little hot oil.
8- a wok : a deep pan that is often used in East Asian countries as a frying pan.
9-a cooker : the machine which provides the heat for cooking; it is powered by electricity or gas.
10- an oven : a part of a cooker. It is the box-shaped part of the cooker, which you open like a cupboard, and put food inside to cook it at a high temperature
11- a hob : the top part of the cooker, where you cook with saucepans and frying pans.
b- Cooking:
1- to peel (a vegetable) : to remove the skin from vegetables, such as potatoes.
2-to chop (an onion) : to use a knife to cut some food into small pieces.
3- to slice (a cucumber) : to cut food in a careful way so that you make thin pieces.
4- to dice (a carrot) : to cut food into small cube-shaped pieces.
5- to boil (an egg) : to cook food in very hot water; the water is bubbling strongly.
6- to simmer : to cook food in hot water, but below boiling temperature (100 degrees C).
7- to bake (a cake) : to cook food in an oven.
8- to fry (a sausage) : to cook food in hot oil, usually in a frying pan or wok.
9- to roast (some b : eef)to cook meat, with a little oil, at a high temperature in an oven.
c- Miscellaneous:
ingredients
the different types of food that you need to cook a dish
a recipe
the instructions for how to cook something
an apron
an item of clothing that you wear to protect your clothes.
a cook
a person who prepares food and makes the dinner etc.
a chef
We use this word to refer to a professional cook who works in a restaurant
d-Vocabulary
spuds
potatoes (slang/colloquial).
a- Utensils and equipment:
1- a knife : a basic, hand-held tool for cutting food.
2- a peeler : a hand-held tool specially designed for removing the skin from vegetables such as potatoes.
3- a spatula : a thin tool – sometimes made of wood – which is used to remove food from a pan.
4- a strainer / sieve : a tool used to remove water from food. It's bowl-shaped, with lots of holes to let the water run through.
5- a saucepan : a basic metal pan that is often used to cook food in hot water.
6- a lid : the cover of a saucepan.
7- a frying pan : a shallow pan that is often used to cook food in a little hot oil.
8- a wok : a deep pan that is often used in East Asian countries as a frying pan.
9-a cooker : the machine which provides the heat for cooking; it is powered by electricity or gas.
10- an oven : a part of a cooker. It is the box-shaped part of the cooker, which you open like a cupboard, and put food inside to cook it at a high temperature
11- a hob : the top part of the cooker, where you cook with saucepans and frying pans.
b- Cooking:
1- to peel (a vegetable) : to remove the skin from vegetables, such as potatoes.
2-to chop (an onion) : to use a knife to cut some food into small pieces.
3- to slice (a cucumber) : to cut food in a careful way so that you make thin pieces.
4- to dice (a carrot) : to cut food into small cube-shaped pieces.
5- to boil (an egg) : to cook food in very hot water; the water is bubbling strongly.
6- to simmer : to cook food in hot water, but below boiling temperature (100 degrees C).
7- to bake (a cake) : to cook food in an oven.
8- to fry (a sausage) : to cook food in hot oil, usually in a frying pan or wok.
9- to roast (some b : eef)to cook meat, with a little oil, at a high temperature in an oven.
c- Miscellaneous:
ingredients
the different types of food that you need to cook a dish
a recipe
the instructions for how to cook something
an apron
an item of clothing that you wear to protect your clothes.
a cook
a person who prepares food and makes the dinner etc.
a chef
We use this word to refer to a professional cook who works in a restaurant
d-Vocabulary
spuds
potatoes (slang/colloquial).
Suffixes 2
Nouns:
Suffixes are added to the end of words in order to change the word class.
For example, from the verb 'to photograph something' you can make the adjective 'photographic', the nouns 'photographer' and 'photography' and the adverb 'photographically'.
In this case, there are two nouns: 'Photographer' is the person who takes a photograph. 'Photography' is the subject or activity of taking photographs.
There are many suffixes which can be used to form nouns. Here is a selection of those with an indication of what type of noun they produce.
These nouns often refer to slightly abstract ideas such as states or processes, rather than to concrete objects and things.
1]-er, -or, -ian, -ent, -ant: a person who does something.
photographer, interpretertranslator, inventorelectrician, politician student, patientassistant, immigrant.
For example : Alexander Graham Bell was the inventor of the telephone.
2]-ist: a person who specialises in an activity or area of study, or who is a member of a group with particular beliefs.
For example : artist, psychologist, feminist, communist.
I would love to be an artist, but sadly I can't draw very well!
3] -ee: a person who has something done to him or her.
For example : interviewee, employee
I don't want to be an employee all my life. I'm going to start my own business and become an employer!
4] hood: a state that is closely associated with a period of time.
For example : childhood, adulthood, motherhood.
I was probably happiest during my childhood as I could just play all the time.
5]-ology: a subject (often academic) of study.
For example : biology, psychology, criminology, sociology.
Is sociology an Arts or a Sciences subject at university?
6] -ion: a state or activity.
For example : exhibition, institution, investigation, action.
The police started their investigation last week, but they haven't found any clues yet.
7] -age: a state or process.
For example : shortage, storage.
In some countries there is a shortage of water which means they can't grow crops and therefore many people go hungry.
8]-ness: a state or quality.
For example : happiness, weakness.
Happiness is good for your health, which is why some people say that laughter is the best medicine.
b- Spelling changes:
As a general rule, if the base word ends in a vowel, and the suffix begins with a vowel, you will remove the final vowel of the base word.
For example :
translate (vb) – translator
institute (vb, n) - institution
investigate (vb) – investigation
store (vb) – storage
Suffixes are added to the end of words in order to change the word class.
For example, from the verb 'to photograph something' you can make the adjective 'photographic', the nouns 'photographer' and 'photography' and the adverb 'photographically'.
In this case, there are two nouns: 'Photographer' is the person who takes a photograph. 'Photography' is the subject or activity of taking photographs.
There are many suffixes which can be used to form nouns. Here is a selection of those with an indication of what type of noun they produce.
These nouns often refer to slightly abstract ideas such as states or processes, rather than to concrete objects and things.
1]-er, -or, -ian, -ent, -ant: a person who does something.
photographer, interpretertranslator, inventorelectrician, politician student, patientassistant, immigrant.
For example : Alexander Graham Bell was the inventor of the telephone.
2]-ist: a person who specialises in an activity or area of study, or who is a member of a group with particular beliefs.
For example : artist, psychologist, feminist, communist.
I would love to be an artist, but sadly I can't draw very well!
3] -ee: a person who has something done to him or her.
For example : interviewee, employee
I don't want to be an employee all my life. I'm going to start my own business and become an employer!
4] hood: a state that is closely associated with a period of time.
For example : childhood, adulthood, motherhood.
I was probably happiest during my childhood as I could just play all the time.
5]-ology: a subject (often academic) of study.
For example : biology, psychology, criminology, sociology.
Is sociology an Arts or a Sciences subject at university?
6] -ion: a state or activity.
For example : exhibition, institution, investigation, action.
The police started their investigation last week, but they haven't found any clues yet.
7] -age: a state or process.
For example : shortage, storage.
In some countries there is a shortage of water which means they can't grow crops and therefore many people go hungry.
8]-ness: a state or quality.
For example : happiness, weakness.
Happiness is good for your health, which is why some people say that laughter is the best medicine.
b- Spelling changes:
As a general rule, if the base word ends in a vowel, and the suffix begins with a vowel, you will remove the final vowel of the base word.
For example :
translate (vb) – translator
institute (vb, n) - institution
investigate (vb) – investigation
store (vb) – storage
Thursday, 18 December 2008
Food vocabulary
Types of meals:
1- a barbecue / a bbq
=an informal meal which you eat outside (in your garden, a park or other outside space). The food is cooked on an outdoor grill
2- a picnic
=an informal meal which you eat outside (in your garden, a park or other outside space). The food is either pre-cooked or uncooked. Almost all the food is served cold
3- a buffet
a meal in a restaurant or at a party where you help yourself (rather than being served by waiters) and pick and choose what food and how much of it you want to eat
4- an all-you-can-eat buffet
a special kind of buffet which restaurants serve where you can go back to the buffet table as many times as you want and eat as much food as you care to for a fixed price
5- an early bird special / an early bird menu
a fixed-price meal that is offered to customers early in the afternoon (from about 6.00 - 7.30 pm), before restaurants become busy during the evening
Ways of describing food:
1- raw : uncooked but edible (you can eat it). For example, carrots, tuna or beef can be raw
2- fresh : in a natural condition rather than artificially preserved by, for example, freezing
3- ripe : completely developed and ready to be eaten
4- off : no longer fresh or good to eat because it's too old
5- rotten : fruit or vegetables which are no longer fresh
6- rancid : butter or oil which is no longer fresh
7- sour : milk which is no longer fresh
Things you might find in a Chinese restaurant:
1- chopsticks : two slim pieces of wood, plastic or metal which are used for eating food from East Asian food
2- a lazy Susan : a circular piece of wood or plastic which is put on a table and can be turned around so that everyone at a circular table can reach the food that is on it
3- a fortune cookie : a hollow biscuit which, when you break it open, contains a message, usually about your future. These biscuits are not given to customers in restaurants in China but are often given in Chinese restaurants outside China
Vocabulary
1- game : willing to do things that are new, risky or difficult
2- testicles : either of the two round male sex organs which produce sperm, below and behind the penis
3- ventured : risked going somewhere that might be dangerous, unpleasant or here, unfamiliarIsn't that the truth?That is very true
1- a barbecue / a bbq
=an informal meal which you eat outside (in your garden, a park or other outside space). The food is cooked on an outdoor grill
2- a picnic
=an informal meal which you eat outside (in your garden, a park or other outside space). The food is either pre-cooked or uncooked. Almost all the food is served cold
3- a buffet
a meal in a restaurant or at a party where you help yourself (rather than being served by waiters) and pick and choose what food and how much of it you want to eat
4- an all-you-can-eat buffet
a special kind of buffet which restaurants serve where you can go back to the buffet table as many times as you want and eat as much food as you care to for a fixed price
5- an early bird special / an early bird menu
a fixed-price meal that is offered to customers early in the afternoon (from about 6.00 - 7.30 pm), before restaurants become busy during the evening
Ways of describing food:
1- raw : uncooked but edible (you can eat it). For example, carrots, tuna or beef can be raw
2- fresh : in a natural condition rather than artificially preserved by, for example, freezing
3- ripe : completely developed and ready to be eaten
4- off : no longer fresh or good to eat because it's too old
5- rotten : fruit or vegetables which are no longer fresh
6- rancid : butter or oil which is no longer fresh
7- sour : milk which is no longer fresh
Things you might find in a Chinese restaurant:
1- chopsticks : two slim pieces of wood, plastic or metal which are used for eating food from East Asian food
2- a lazy Susan : a circular piece of wood or plastic which is put on a table and can be turned around so that everyone at a circular table can reach the food that is on it
3- a fortune cookie : a hollow biscuit which, when you break it open, contains a message, usually about your future. These biscuits are not given to customers in restaurants in China but are often given in Chinese restaurants outside China
Vocabulary
1- game : willing to do things that are new, risky or difficult
2- testicles : either of the two round male sex organs which produce sperm, below and behind the penis
3- ventured : risked going somewhere that might be dangerous, unpleasant or here, unfamiliarIsn't that the truth?That is very true
Friday, 12 December 2008
Today's Topic : Freshers' week (based on News about Britain)
1: The UK has __________ higher education system.
The possible answers were: 1- an overwhelming 2- a well-respected 3- a handy 4- a nerve-wracking
You said: a well-respected
This is the correct answer.
2: Which of these is the odd one out?
The possible answers were: 1- blend in 2-pass on your wisdom 3- be aware of social etiquette 4- fit in
You said: pass on your wisdom
This is the correct answer. In the context of the story this means 'explain and teach the rules of university life'. The other three are partial synonyms, i.e. have similar meanings.
3:What idiom means 'in the same difficult or worrying situation'?
The possible answers were: 1- on the right foot 2- on the wrong foot 3- on the same train 4-in the same boat
You said: in the same boat
This is the correct answer.
4: Freshers' week is a great opportunity to ________ university life.
The possible answers were: 1- settle into 2- set in 3- settle down 4-sit down
You said: settle into
This is the right choice. Well done! This phrasal verb means to become familiar with and start feeling comfortable and happy about a new situation or place.
5: Freshers' week is for second year students at universities.
The possible answers were: 1- Answer not given 2-True 3- False 4- Neither true nor false
You said: False
This is correct.
6: Sometimes even cups of tea can give you a _______ in making friends.
The possible answers were: 1- head beginning 2-head start 3-headfirst 4-head end
You said: head start
You've chosen the correct answer, well done! It means 'help you make new friends more easily and quickly'.
The possible answers were: 1- an overwhelming 2- a well-respected 3- a handy 4- a nerve-wracking
You said: a well-respected
This is the correct answer.
2: Which of these is the odd one out?
The possible answers were: 1- blend in 2-pass on your wisdom 3- be aware of social etiquette 4- fit in
You said: pass on your wisdom
This is the correct answer. In the context of the story this means 'explain and teach the rules of university life'. The other three are partial synonyms, i.e. have similar meanings.
3:What idiom means 'in the same difficult or worrying situation'?
The possible answers were: 1- on the right foot 2- on the wrong foot 3- on the same train 4-in the same boat
You said: in the same boat
This is the correct answer.
4: Freshers' week is a great opportunity to ________ university life.
The possible answers were: 1- settle into 2- set in 3- settle down 4-sit down
You said: settle into
This is the right choice. Well done! This phrasal verb means to become familiar with and start feeling comfortable and happy about a new situation or place.
5: Freshers' week is for second year students at universities.
The possible answers were: 1- Answer not given 2-True 3- False 4- Neither true nor false
You said: False
This is correct.
6: Sometimes even cups of tea can give you a _______ in making friends.
The possible answers were: 1- head beginning 2-head start 3-headfirst 4-head end
You said: head start
You've chosen the correct answer, well done! It means 'help you make new friends more easily and quickly'.
Today's Topic : Christmas
1: Did you know, in Britain the Queen has made a _________ on TV every Christmas day since 1957?
The possible answers were: 1-sermon 2- talk 3- speech 4-lecture
You said: speech
Speeches are often made by politicians and other types of leaders. They may inspire or persuade people to think a certain way.
2: I love singing Christmas __________. My favourite one is 'Silent Night'.
The possible answers were: 1-songs 2-carol 3-shymn 4-stunes
You said: carols
Christmas songs are known as Christmas carols.
3:Christmas is a time for being with family and friends; it can be quite a __________ time for lots of people.
The possible answers were: 1-lonely 2-alone 3-only 4-single
You said: lonely
If you are alone and feel sad, you feel 'lonely'.
4: Traditional nativity scenes are popular in many countries - they show the ___________ of Jesus.
The possible answers were: 1-life 2- birth 3- born 4- all of the above answers
You said: birth
'Birth' is a noun e.g. 'It was a difficult birth'.
5: In Mexico and parts of Brazil, people watch a traditional _______ called "The Shepherds" - the shepherds kidnap (abduct) the baby Jesus!
The possible answers were: 1-play 2-theatre 3-stage 4- acting
You said: play
When you go to the theatre, you see a play.
6: In many countries, Christmas seems to be all about ________ shopping; buying presents, presents and more presents!
The possible answers were: 1-go shopping 2- going 3- do the 4-doing the
You said: going
Going shopping is a popular pastime in the UK!
The possible answers were: 1-sermon 2- talk 3- speech 4-lecture
You said: speech
Speeches are often made by politicians and other types of leaders. They may inspire or persuade people to think a certain way.
2: I love singing Christmas __________. My favourite one is 'Silent Night'.
The possible answers were: 1-songs 2-carol 3-shymn 4-stunes
You said: carols
Christmas songs are known as Christmas carols.
3:Christmas is a time for being with family and friends; it can be quite a __________ time for lots of people.
The possible answers were: 1-lonely 2-alone 3-only 4-single
You said: lonely
If you are alone and feel sad, you feel 'lonely'.
4: Traditional nativity scenes are popular in many countries - they show the ___________ of Jesus.
The possible answers were: 1-life 2- birth 3- born 4- all of the above answers
You said: birth
'Birth' is a noun e.g. 'It was a difficult birth'.
5: In Mexico and parts of Brazil, people watch a traditional _______ called "The Shepherds" - the shepherds kidnap (abduct) the baby Jesus!
The possible answers were: 1-play 2-theatre 3-stage 4- acting
You said: play
When you go to the theatre, you see a play.
6: In many countries, Christmas seems to be all about ________ shopping; buying presents, presents and more presents!
The possible answers were: 1-go shopping 2- going 3- do the 4-doing the
You said: going
Going shopping is a popular pastime in the UK!
Thursday, 11 December 2008
Today's Topic : Army
1: The word to describe your official status or relative importance within an organisation, especially a military force, is ___________.
The possible answers were:
1-rank 2-rang 3-ranc 4-ranck
You said: rank Well done, this is correct!
2: Still thinking about someone's official position in the army, what would you call someone whose official status is above yours?
The possible answers were:
1-an inferior 2-a peer 3-a superior 4-a commander
You said: a superior
Well done, this is correct!
3: Find the odd one out:
The possible answers were:
1- sergeant 2-nurse 3-colonel 4-major
You said: nurse
Well done, this is correct! Of course there are nurses in military hospitals, but nurses also work in civilian institutions.
4: Army officers are often sent on tours of duty, and this means living ____________.
The possible answers were:
1-in a suitcase 2-on a motorway 3-without stop 4-on the move
You said: on the move
Well done! This is correct.
5: In Britain, guarding a royal residence is known among the soldiers as ___________.
The possible answers were:
1- Deer Duty 2- Elk Duty 3-Stag Duty 4-Moose Duty
You said: Stag Duty
This is correct, well done!
6: Which one of these do you think is the largest military unit?
The possible answers were:
1- regiment 2-platoon 3-squad 4-company
You said: regiment
Well done, this is correct!
The possible answers were:
1-rank 2-rang 3-ranc 4-ranck
You said: rank Well done, this is correct!
2: Still thinking about someone's official position in the army, what would you call someone whose official status is above yours?
The possible answers were:
1-an inferior 2-a peer 3-a superior 4-a commander
You said: a superior
Well done, this is correct!
3: Find the odd one out:
The possible answers were:
1- sergeant 2-nurse 3-colonel 4-major
You said: nurse
Well done, this is correct! Of course there are nurses in military hospitals, but nurses also work in civilian institutions.
4: Army officers are often sent on tours of duty, and this means living ____________.
The possible answers were:
1-in a suitcase 2-on a motorway 3-without stop 4-on the move
You said: on the move
Well done! This is correct.
5: In Britain, guarding a royal residence is known among the soldiers as ___________.
The possible answers were:
1- Deer Duty 2- Elk Duty 3-Stag Duty 4-Moose Duty
You said: Stag Duty
This is correct, well done!
6: Which one of these do you think is the largest military unit?
The possible answers were:
1- regiment 2-platoon 3-squad 4-company
You said: regiment
Well done, this is correct!
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