Linkers

A few words on some of the linkers we used today:

- According to + noun or person's name + comma = It's used to introduce an idea which is supported by  a person/people  or research/statistics. If this phrase comes at the end of a sentence, there is no comma after 'to'.
e.g. According to the directions, the glue takes 24 hours to dry.
e.g. Using a preposition at the end of a sentence is acceptable according to the usage dictionaries.

- Instead (of) = in place of somebody or something.

e.g. It was too hot to go outside so we stayed at home instead.
e.g Instead of going to the cinema, we decided to stay at home.

- However + comma = Used at the beginning of a sentence in order to add a comment to a previous sentence.  It implies a contrast.

e. g.Katty couldn't cash her paycheck. However, she managed to buy a new TV set.

- In fact = Both actually and in fact can be used to modify or contradict a previous statement:

e.g. I hear that you're a doctor. ~ Well, actually/in fact, I'm a dentist.

Actually and in fact can also be used to introduce more detailed information or to make things clearer or more precise:

e. g.  I got so bored listening to what he was saying that I actually fell asleep / in fact I fell asleep half way through his presentation.

- Whereas = It is used to compare and contrast 2 facts or opinions. It's not normally used at the beginning of a sentence.

e.g. I love meat whereas my husband is a complete vegetarian.

- Although = Used to contrast 2 clauses

e.g. Although she was ill, she went to work  (The comma separates the 2 clauses)

Since = Because (In this contest. Remember that it is also a time preposition)

e.g. Since John can't come to the meeting tomorrow, we'll have it next week.

That's all folks!!!

The secrets of success

Here is an interesting video about how to be successful in life. Watch it and answer the questions below:



1) Is it necessary to work hard to be successful?
2) If you practise a lot, can you get good at doing something?
3) Is it necessary to be good at something to succeed?
4) How easy is it to persist through failure? Criticism? Rejection? Assholes? Pressure?
5) Should parents help by pushing their children?

Review of tenses

Here are a couple of website adresses where you can practice tenses and many other things:

http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/StudyZone/grammar.htm

http://esl.about.com/od/englishgrammar/a/tense_resource.htm

This is extra stuff, feel free to do it if you think you need more practice with tenses.


Have fun!

Body vocabulary review

Here is a link to a webpage where you can review the parts of the body; if you explore the page you will see that there are examples and definitions:

http://esl.about.com/library/vocabulary/blwordgroups_body.htm