Mastering English Tenses: Simple, Continuous, Perfect
Present Simple
We use the present simple to talk about:
- Facts.
- General truths.
- Describing things about a thing or a person.
- Habits and routines.
Affirmative Sentences
Subject + verb infinitive + complement (I eat pizza every Sunday.)
Subject (she/he/it) + verb (s) + complement (She eats pizza every Sunday.)
Negative Sentences
Subject + don’t + verb infinitive + complement
Subject (she/he/it) + doesn’t + verb infinitive + complement
Questions
(When/where/why/what…) Do/Does + subject + verb infinitive + complement
Present
Read MoreObama’s Impact: A Post-Inauguration Dialogue
The scene takes place at noon in a random cafe. We follow the dialogue of Anum Kebab RODRIGUEZ, who called John Freedom SMITH some days after Obama’s inaugural address.
(Sound of Skype)
John: Hello? Anum, what do you want? Why are you calling me at this time of day?
Anum: Hello John, I was just sitting in a cafe and I thought that maybe you would like to talk about Obama, because you really like him.
John: Indeed, I think Obama is a good president, a really big step forward from Nixon and others.
Read MoreScottish Adventures: Highlands, Islands, and Sports
A Scottish Tale
An old story draws thousands of tourists annually, yet the elusive Nessie remains unseen. Perhaps it’s just a tale for tourists.
Stirling’s Significance
Northeast of Glasgow lies Stirling, a gateway to the Highlands. Its magnificent castle, one of Scotland’s largest and most important, stands as a testament to history. Nearby, the Battle of Bannockburn (1314) unfolded, and Mary was crowned Queen of Scots at the tender age of six.
Highlands and Islands
Highlands
The Highlands, in Scotland’
Read MoreEssential English Vocabulary, Grammar, and Interactions
Vocabulary: Compound Adjectives
world-famous; high-tech; slow-paced; densely populated; well-planned; highly educated; open-minded; fun-loving; culturally diverse.
Grammar: Comparatives and Superlatives
Comparisons:
cheaper than; more crowded than; less expensive than; better than; worse than; hotter than; more densely populated than; worse than.
Superlatives:
the cheapest; the most crowded; the least expensive; the best; the worst; the most high-tech; the worst; the most culturally diverse; the least
Read MoreAnalysis of T.S. Eliot’s ‘Journey of the Magi’ and D.H. Lawrence’s ‘Snake’
Journey of the Magi – T.S. Eliot
A cold coming we had of it. – T.S. Eliot
Analysis
1. Voice and Mood
Voice: The poem is written in the third person, as if one of the Magi is recounting the story as an imaginary character.
Mood: The poet writes without strong emotions. The character recounts an event from the past, a significant episode. The tone is skeptical, disillusioned, and somewhat bitter, reflecting a past suffering. The primary tone is one of disappointment.
2. Summary
The Magi describes a difficult
Read MoreEssential English Grammar and Vocabulary for Beginners
Essential English Grammar and Vocabulary
“To Be” Verb Conjugation
- I = AM – DO
- HE-SHE-IT = IS – DOES
- YOU-WE-THEY = ARE – DO
Countable and Uncountable Nouns
Count Nouns (Contables)
APPLE – TOMATOES – BANANAS
Non-Count Nouns (No Contables)
MILK – CEREAL – AZUCAR – LECHE
FOOD
UN = AN (Vowel Sound) e.g., APPLE
UN = A (Consonant Sound) e.g., TOM
SOME = Algunos/Algo (+)
I HAVE SOME CARROTS
ANY = Algunos/Algo (-??)
I DON’T HAVE ANY MILK
Prepositions of Location
IN = Dentro / NEXT TO = Al Lado De
BETWEEN = Enmedio De / ON
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