The passive with reporting verbs

In formal texts, such as newspapers, descriptions or scientific processes, when we want to talk about what is generally thought or said, we use passive structures with reporting verbs. It is also used when people gossip as it is not important who first said, but it's supposed to be in the mouth of many people. 

The construction is formed from:

Passive reporting verb + to + infinitive or perfect infinitive

He is considered to be a great piano player

(people consider him to be a great piano player)

He is believed to have reached Mountain Everest’s summit

(people believe he has reached Mountain Everest’s summit)

James is thought to have been at home that night

(They think that John was at home that night)

He was proved to have murdered his wife

(someone proved he had murdered his wife)

Or we can also use impersonal expressions, such as: 

• it is believed
• it may be considered
• it was said
• it is known
• it is thought
• it was expected

It is believed that Leif Eriksson reached America before Columbus

Leif Eriksson is believed to have reached America before Columbus

 It is known that Smith broke into several houses.

Smith is known to have broken into several houses.

It is often considered that women are more sensitive than men.

Women are often considered more sensitive than men.

Go to 'Grammar' to download the entry as a document.

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The Future

As you well know the future can be expressed in many different ways, go to 'Grammar' to print or download the document with the explanations we saw in class.

Present perfect simple and continuous

Are you still in trouble with the present perfect simple and continuous? Now you can have a look at the presentation we saw in class, it might help. And then do the exercises below, practice makes perfect!!!

Presentation 1

Exercise 1
Exercise 2
Exercise 3
Exercise 4
Exercise 5

Relative clauses

Go to this page to learn about defining relative clauses

Go to this page to learn about non-defining relative clauses

And to this page to see them compared, defining vs non-defining relative clauses


This powerpoint will be useful aswell




What's theory without practice? Here you have some exercises to help you.

exercise 1 choose the correct answer
exercise 2 combine the sentences using relative pronouns
exercise 3 complete the letter with a relative pronoun
exercise 4 Decide if the relative pronoun is needed or not.
Exercise 5 Add relative pronouns where needed
Exercise 6  Combine the sentences using a relative clauses, some times you will need commas
Exercise 7 Defining, non-defining
Exercise 8 Defining - non defining

Modal verbs

Modal verbs lend texture and meaning to language. The main function of modal verbs is to allow the speaker or writer to express their opinion of, or their attitude to, a proposition. These attitudes can cover a wide range of possibilities including obligation, asking for and giving permission, disapproval, advising, logical deduction, ability, possibility, necessity, absence of necessity and so on. The problem with each modal verb is that it can have more that one meaning and the interpretation of a particular modal will depend heavily on the context in which it is being used.

Go to 'Grammar' to learn more about some modal verbs and do some exercises.

In class some of you showed your concern about the differences between 'must' and 'have to', I hope this video helps you understand a bit better ;) 

 

Narrative tenses

As you well know we use different tenses to speak about the past, go to ''grammar" to print or download the document with the explanations we saw in class. If you only need practice, go to "our filing cabinet", remember, practice makes perfect! 

-ing or -ed?

Exercise 1 

Exercise 2

Exercise 3

Exercise 4

Exercise 5

Also, as well, too

You seem to have some problems using these three words. Let's have a look at them. 

Also, as well and too are adverbs and mean ‘in addition’.

Also

Also is commonly used in writing, but is less common in speaking. Also occupies different positions in a sentence.

We use also in front position to emphasise what follows or to add a new point or topic:

It’s very humid. Also, you can easily get sunburnt.

[on the telephone]

OK, I’ll phone you next week and we can discuss it then. Also, we need to decide who will be going to Singapore.

We use also in the normal mid position for adverbs, between the subject and main verb, or after the modal verb or first auxiliary verb, or after be as a main verb. In this position, the meaning of also usually connects back to the whole clause that comes before:

She works very hard but she also goes to the gym every week.

I’ve been working in the garden this week, and I’ve also been reading a lot.

In end position, also normally connects two phrases. We use as well and too instead of also, in end position, especially in speech:

She contacted him in the office but he didn’t answer the phone. His mobile phone was silent also. (or His mobile phone was silent too. or … was silent as well.)

As well

Spoken English:

As well is much more common in speaking than in writing, and is more common in speaking than also.

As well almost always comes in end position:

[In a restaurant. Customer (A) is ordering from a waiter (B)]

A: I’ll have steak please.

B: Yes.

A: And I’ll have the mixed vegetables as well.

Too

We usually put too in end position:

Gill’s having chicken. I’ll probably have chicken too.

She looks really tired and she must be really hungry too.

Too can occur immediately after the subject, if it refers directly to the subject. It does not normally occur after a modal or auxiliary verb. We sometimes write commas before and after too:

I too thought she looked unwell.

We, too, have been very pleased to receive the prize on her behalf.

Not: We have too been very pleased …

Too is especially common in responses to fixed expressions such as giving good wishes, and in responses consisting of a single object pronoun:

A: Enjoy the play.

B: Thanks. You enjoy your evening too. (preferred to You enjoy your evening as well. or You also enjoy your evening.)

A: I need to go to the gym.

B: Yeah, me too. (preferred to Yeah, me also. or Yeah, me as well.)

In imperative clauses, as well and too are normally preferred to also:

[customer in a post office, buying books of first and second class stamps]

Give me a book of ten first and a book of ten second as well then please. (preferred to … and a book of ten second also then please.)

Linking negatives

We use either not also, as well or too to connect two negative ideas:

Bill’s not here. I don’t think Dave is either, is he?

Not: I don’t think Dave is also/as well/too.

A: That’s not in paperback yet. It’s not been in any book clubs either, has it?

B: No.

Not: It’s not been in any book clubs also/as well/too, has it?

Also, as well and too: typical error

• We don’t use as well at the beginning of a clause. As well usually comes at the end of a clause:

I just ignored it. I think everybody else did as well.

Not: As well I think everybody else did.

Source: dictionary.cambridge

Comparison

Remember that when we compare two things we can also vary the strength of the comparison by using "qualifying" expressions such as 'almost', 'nearly', 'by far', etc.


Now, why don't you try these exercises?

Gerund or infinitive?

If you need some practice about when to use an infinitive or when to use a gerund, why don't you try these exercises?


- Many interactive tests - different levels

- Choose the right form

- Exercise on gerunds and infinitives

- Write the correct form

And if you still need some more practice, go to 'Our filing cabinet' to get some exercises with their key.


 

Polite indirect questions

Remember that direct questions are often considered rude when speaking to strangers. To sound more polite we often use indirect questions. Indirect questions serve the same purpose as direct ones, but are considered more formal.
In this presentation you will learn how to make an indirect question and different ways for asking sounding more polite.




On this page you can review the theory.
And you can put them in practice in these exercises:
exercise 1
exercise 2
exercise 3
exercise 4

Lost for questions? Have a look at The Guardian site Q&A . Each week they interview a famous person that is on the news. 

Be used to / get used to / used to

This is the presentation we saw in class


Remember:

USED TO shows that a particular thing always happened or was true in the past but it no longer happens or is no longer true now:

• David used to live in Madrid.
• She used to exercise every morning, but since she had that terrible accident she doesn't exercise anymore.
• Why don't you come and see me like you used to?

BE USED TO is used to say that something is normal, not unusual:

• I'm used to living alone.
• Don't worry, John is used to driving for long hours. He has worked as a professional driver for 20 years.

GET USED TO shows that something is in the process of becoming normal:

• She found the heels too high, but she got used to them.
• Since the divorce, she has become very sad. But I think she'll get used to her new life.
• I got used to living in Canada in spite of the cold weather.

IMPORTANT!!!

Get used to and be used to are followed by either a noun or a gerund.

Get/be used to + noun	Get /be used to + gerund (verb+ing)
I got used to the noise I'm used to the cold weather	I got used to waking up early I'm used to working late at night

Go to "Grammar" if you want to download, print or just watch the explanation on your screen on a PDF document.

Habitual behaviour in the past

REMEMBER: to talk about habitual behaviour in the past we do it in different ways.

• used to - to talk about past habits and situations

                    I used to paint
                    We used to live in New York when I was a kid

• would - only to talk about past habits

                     My father would read me a tale before going to bed

• past simple -  in the same way as we use 'used to' or 'would'

                    I lived/used to live in New York when I was a kid

If you need a more accurate explanation on a document, go to "Grammar". You can download, print or just watch the PDF document on your screen.

Habitual behaviour in the present

Remember: To talk about habitual behaviour in the present we use:

Simple present: facts that are generally true.
     The Earth revolves around the sun.
     Children are over-protected these days.

Adverbs of frequency: how often things occur.
     I never go to bed before midnight.
     She is always late for work.

Tend to/Will: things that generally tend to happen.
     Men will /tend to prefer to talk about football.
     My kids will/tend to eat watching telly on the sofa.

Keep + verb + ing: repeated behaviour.
     I keep forgetting to switch off the computer.

Present continuous + always: habits that annoy us or happen more often than usual.
     He’s always leaving dirty clothes all over the place.

If you need a more accurate explanation on a document, go to "Grammar". You can download, print or just watch the PDF document on your screen.