Thursday, 19 June 2014

Caught in a storm

Caught in a storm

Black clouds gathered above us, but we were too intent on playing football. We hoped that the clouds would go away so that we could continue playing.Our hopes were dashed when suddenly heavy rain began to pour. In a few seconds we were all soaked to the skin. To make matters worst, lightning flashed dangerously close to us. The deafening thunder and howling wind did not help either.
We ran towards a large tree under which we had parked our bicycles. The tree provided some shelter from the rain and we were tempted to remain under it. However we knew that it was dangerous to stay under a tree during a thunderstorm. So we got on our bicycles and pedalled off.
There was no other shelter available nearby. So I, for one, decided to go home. Since I was already completely wet, I might was well to go home instead to seeking shelter.
It was just about the fiercest storm I had ever been in. The driving rain made cycling difficult as I could not see more that a couple of metres in front of me. A car flashed past me. It was too close for comfort. Perhaps the driver did not even see me. So I thought it was better to stop somewhere before I got hit by another car.
Luckily I found a bus-stop with a roof. I hurried gladly under the roof even though I had to share it with a dozen other people who were also soaked to the skin. It was a bit of a squeeze but no one complained.
For an hour the storm lashed everything around us. We were silent spectators to an awesome display of power by nature. I felt very small and vulnerable, even afraid; but I could do nothing but watch.
Finally the rain slowed down to a drizzle and the wind died down. I could still hear distant thunder but the worst of the storm was over. So happily I got on my bicycle and pedalled home.


dash sb's hopes		to destroy someone's hopes

vulnerable		able to be easily physically, emotionally, or mentally hurt, influenced or attacked

drizzle		rain in very small light drops

Wednesday, 18 June 2014

The important things in life

A philosophy professor stood before his class with some items on the table in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks, about 2 inches in diameter.

He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks.

He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up the remaining open areas of the jar.

He then asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous “Yes.”

“Now,” said the professor, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The rocks are the important things – your family, your partner, your health, your children – things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter – like your job, your house, your car. The sand is everything else, the small stuff.”

“If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued, “there is no room for the pebbles or the rocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take your partner out dancing. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party, or fix the disposal.”

“Take care of the rocks first – the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”

Sunday, 15 June 2014

Common errors in English

Errors in the use of adverbs

Different kinds of adverbs go in different positions in a sentence. The usage is sometimes very different, too. ESL students often find it difficult to use adverbs correctly. Here are some common mistakes in the use of adverbs.

Incorrect: He plays tennis good.

Correct: He plays tennis well.

Good is an adjective. The adverb for this meaning is well.

Incorrect: I am very much sorry.

Correct: I am very sorry.

Very is used without much before adjectives and adverbs in the positive degree.

Incorrect: I am much tired.

Correct: I am very tired.

Much does not mean the same as very.

Incorrect: She is so poor to pay the dues.

Correct: She is too poor to pay the dues.

Incorrect: It is very hot to go out.

Correct: It is too hot to go out.

Note the structure too…to.

Incorrect: She carefully drove.

Correct: She drove carefully.

Incorrect: She angrily spoke.

Correct: She spoke angrily.

Adverbs of manner usually go in the end-position.

Incorrect: The room is enough spacious for us.

Correct: The room is spacious enough for us.

The adverb enough goes after the adjective or adverb it modifies.

Incorrect: I know to swim.

Correct: I know how to swim.

Know cannot be directly followed by an infinitive. Instead we use the structure know how to.

Incorrect: He is not clever to solve the problem.

Correct: He is not clever enough to solve the problem.

Incorrect: He is now too strong to walk.

Correct: He is now strong enough to walk.

Saturday, 14 June 2014

Present Simple and Progressive

Choose the correct verb form in the following sentences:

1. She from home today. (works / is working)

2. Leave me alone- I to work. (try / am trying)

3. I what she's saying. (don't understand / am not understanding)

4. 'What's the weather like?' 'It .' (rains / is raining).

5. What he do? (do / does).

6. She usually to work by car. (come / comes / is coming)

7. He believe in God. (isn't believing / don't believe / doesn't believe)

8. It me twenty minutes to get to work most days. (take / takes / is taking)

9. His company closed so he for work. (look / looks / is looking)

10. your meal? (do you enjoy / are you enjoying)

Friday, 13 June 2014

Common mistakes in English

Wrong: Can you borrow me five ringgit?

Correct: Can you lend me five ringgit?

Wrong: He is living in Hotel Odeon. (The word refers to a place where one lives for a long time, as in a home)

Correct: He is staying in Hotel Odeon. (For a place one stays for a short time)

Wrong: The state of Malaysia. (This is a country)

Correct: The state of Malacca.

Wrong: They learn History and Mathematics. (Learning is used for skills such as cooking or driving)

Correct: They study History and Mathematics.

Wrong: They ate a lot of fishes for dinner.

Correct: They ate a lot of fish for dinner.

Wrong: The lady goes marketing to get food for her family. (Marketing means to sell something)

Correct: The lady goes shopping to get food for her family.

Wrong: Its cool in Fraser’s hill. (Its signifies something that belongs to the hill, eg: “its lush greenery”)

Correct: It’s cool in Fraser’s hill. (It’s is a contraction of “it is”)

Wrong: Keep quite!

Correct: Keep quiet!

Sunday, 8 June 2014

PRESENT CONTINOUS TENSE

The present continuous is used to talk about present situations which we see as short-term or temporary. We use the present simple to talk about present situations which we see as long-term or permanent.

In these examples, the action is taking place at the time of speaking.

It's raining.
Who is Kate talking to on the phone?
Look, somebody is trying to steal that man's wallet.
I'm not looking. My eyes are closed tightly.

In these examples, the action is true at the present time but we don't think it will be true in the long term.

I'm looking for a new apartment.
He's thinking about leaving his job.
They're considering making an appeal against the judgment.
Are you getting enough sleep?

In these examples, the action is at a definite point in the future and it has already been arranged.

I'm meeting her at 6.30.
They aren't arriving until Tuesday.
We are having a special dinner at a top restaurant for all the senior managers.
Isn't he coming to the dinner?

Thursday, 5 June 2014

COMMON MISTAKES IN SPEAKING AND WRITING

Common Mistake 1

At lunchtime, I often hear students asking each other if they want to go outside and eat together.

INCORRECT:
A: "Do you like to eat lunch with us today?"
B: "Yeah, sure. Where do you go?"

What's wrong with this dialog? To ask someone to join you for lunch, we would say,

CORRECT:
A: " Would you like to eat lunch with us today?" OR "Do you want to eat lunch with us today?" (more informal)
B: "Yeah, sure. Where are you going/are you going to go?"

EXPLANATION:
In English, the present simple using 'do you like to...' is not a request form. Also, B's response asking for more information using the simple present sounds odd because the speakers are talking about 'right now.' Thus, the appropriate question asking for more information about the plan for lunch would be "Where are you going/are you going to go?" (present continuous/future plan)

Common Mistake 2

Another common error especially in speaking for the Cambridge or for the iBT (TOEFL) test is

INCORRECT:
"I would prefer to study by my own rather than study with others."

CORRECT:
"I would prefer to study on my own/by myself rather than study with others."

EXPLANATION:
Prepositions are such a pain in the you-know-what, aren't they? I always tell advanced level students that prepositions are the last thing to master in English. These little words (in, on, at, by, for, to, and so on) quickly mark people - even those who have lived in the U.S. for decades - as foreign-born (including British English speakers, e.g., 'on the weekend' vs. 'at the weekend'). ;-)

Common Mistake 3

Students need to be able to express their opinions. Of course, the easiest way to start off your sentence is to say, "In my opinion, ....." However, there are other ways to begin a discourse about your personal views.

INCORRECT:
"In my point of view, we should raise taxes on gasoline."

CORRECT:
"From my point of view, we should raise taxes on gasoline."
"In my view, we should raise taxes on gasoline."

To try to give a visual image of how to use these last two expressions correctly, I often draw a mountain peak with a little person standing on top. From that point, the person can see a lot, but (s)he is not in that point.

PHRASAL VERBS

act up (no object): misbehave (for people); not work properly (for machines).

"The babysitter had a difficult time. The children acted up all evening."
"I guess I'd better take my car to the garage. It's been acting up lately."

act like (inseparable): behave in a way that's like _____ .

"What's wrong with Bob? He's acting like an idiot."

Note: This phrasal verb is very informal.

add up (1. no object): logically fit together.

"His theory is hard to believe, but his research adds up."

Note: This phrasal verb is often negative.
"His theory seems, at first, to be plausible, but the facts in his research don't add up."

add up (2. separable): find the total.