-ING AFTER PREPOSITIONS

Me too / So do I

We introduced in class the structures "so do I" and "neither do I" to replace "me too" and "me neither".

If you need to revise how this structures work, click on the following link and read section

2. So/Neither do I, I do, I don't., etc.

If you don't know or you are not sure about when you can use "me too" and when you should use "so do I", here is the answer from the BBC Learning English site to this question:

Finally, here are some exercises about the structure "so/neither do I":

4th March: Grammar Day (USA)

To celebrate Grammar Day (4th March), The New York Times published some tips on how to be aware about some uses of grammar while reading the newspaper. Some of the tips could be useful in order to find authentic materials for an EFL lesson (i.e. the use of the passive voice to emphasize topic). Click on the picture to read the article or click on the title of the post to find out more ways to "celebrate" Grammar.

If I hadn't slipped, I wouldn't have sprained my ankle

Hi, everybody!

As you know I'm on a sick leave due to a sprained ankle (a serious one, believe me) but I can still post here and want to use my situation to introduce/revise the third conditional in the context of "regrets", one of the commonest uses.

This is the uninteresting story of the sprain (but if you don't read it now and ask me how it happened when I get back, I'll make you read it as homework):

"Last Wednesday I went to the gym after breakfast. I got changed and was ready to start when I felt the need to visit the toilet. On my way to the toilet I noticed something strange in my left eye and as I was passing in front of a mirror, I turned to check if there was something wrong. Unfortunately, this mirror was above a washbasin and the floor was wet. It was when I was turning that I placed my foot in the wrong position and on the slippery floor. And then it happened, my ankle twisted and I felt a very intense pain while the whole weigh of my body fell on it. I had to get a taxi to go to the doctor's and now I must spend 15 days without leaning on that foot. A silly accident with serious consequences. Something to regret. If I hadn't gone to the gym, I wouln't have sprained my ankle...(but I did and there's nothing I can do to change the past, is there?)

Conditional sentences: If + past perfect (type III)

Task 1.

Can you think of other situations in which you could use this structure to express regrets?

You can write a composition beginning or ending with a third conditional and then explaining your story and the reason for your regret. I'll be happy to read it in my (hopefully brief) retirement.

Here you are another story in which someone has something to regret. And it also happens in a changing room! (You can also find it in Yapper, where you can read the subtitles but try first without any help)

But not everything must be about regretting. Watch the following video and send your answer to this question as a comment.

What would you have done if you had been there?

Songs and conditional sentences

We've been working with conditional sentences in class and these are some songs to practise them:

If + present
(type zero and type I)

If you don't know me by now (Simply Red)





You can get it if you really want (Jimmy Cliff)

If + past simple
(type II)

If I had a hammer (Trini López)

If I were a bell (from Guys and Dolls, Doris Day version suggested by María)

If I were a rich man, a classical from Fiddler On The Roof. In this song you will also find some first type and mixed type (second and third) conditional sentences.

More than words, by Extreme (one of my favourite songs). Although the version below is clearer, this group sang this song live in Seville at the Expo 92. If you were lucky enough to see them (I wasn't), here is a reminder: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yE1XRob6KkU

In the following song, the subjunctive "if I were..." is replaced by the more and more frequently used simple past "if I was...", something considered incorrect from a traditional grammar perspective:


All I want is you (

Barry Louis Polisar), from the film "JUNO"

I also think "If I could" by Seal is a good song for this purpose but I couldn't find a listenable version on the web. Any more suggestions?

ABILITES

Abilities and resolutions are somehow connected, especially when we think about learning new skills. Most of the times, what we can do and what we would like to be able to do are two different things and that means needing a lot of will and effort to gain a new ability. One of these abilities is learning a new language, which is what we are trying to do with English, isn't it?

In class we heard the song "Spanish Lesson" by

Madonna, where she becomes the Spanish teacher in spite of being far from speaking the Spanish language. We have to thank her, though, for her love of Spanish culture and the "type-1 conditional sentence" she introduces: If you do your homework, baby I will give you more.

Here is a link to the song: SPANISH LESSON

And now a little homage to someone who is able to surprise us with his skills on the court. Click on the photo and read the article in the Australian press (The Australian on line):

Appearances

WHAT DOES HE/SHE LOOK LIKE?

This is a link where you can find some vocabulary (a lot, actually) about physical appearance. It is from a site to learn Spanish but the list is as valid for learners of English:

WORDS TO DESCRIBE PHYSICAL APPEARANCE, FROM

FALSE APPEARANCES

Who are these people?

They look like celebrities but they are not, they are Sophia Loren's, Robin William's and Prince's look-alikes.

Definition of "look-alike" (Wikipedia): A look-alike is a living person who closely resembles another living person. In popular Western culture, a look-alike is a person who bears a close physical resemblance to a celebrity, politician or member of royalty.

Definition of "impersonator" (Wikipedia): An impersonator is someone who imitates or copies the behavior or actions of another.

While look-alikes base their skills on mere resemblance, impersonators use make-up and other elements (clothes, wigs, etc.) to look like the person they try to copy but remind us of the person mostly because of their behaviour, voice and/or way of acting.

Who does she remind you of?

Watch the video and you will have not doubt about it:

Students sometimes impersonate their teachers or fellow students. Do you know of any cases? Did they get into trouble? Do you like that idea or you find it offensive?

Christmas diet and New Year's Resolutions

To learn more about Britain and British traditions, it is worthwhile visiting the following link:


At Christmas, food and drink play an important role to make you feel at home. These are some elements to take into account in the UK:

Xmas Dinner Xmas Crackers Xmas Pudding

After all this food, it is not surprising that one of the most popular among New Year's Resolutions is "to lose weight".

Most Popular Goals

• Lose Weight
• Pay Off Debt/s
• Save Money
• Get a Better Job
• Get Fit
• Eat Right
• Get a Better Education
• Drink less Alcohol
• Quit Smoking
• Reduce Stress Overall
• Reduce Stress at Work
• Take a Trip
• Volunteer to Help Others
• reduce diabetes & improve quality of life

But, how can we really achieve our goals?

Adapted from The Guardian, Friday 29 December 2006:

Five tips to help keep resolutions:

1) The first is to make only one resolution: if you are an obese, misanthropic, SUV-driving smoker, Prof Wiseman recommends picking just one aspect of life to improve, to increase your chances of success.

2) Planning your resolution in advance, instead of waiting until New Year's Eve. The extra time will allow you to reflect on what you really want to achieve.

3) Another tip is to avoid repeating a previous resolution, or at least try a different technique to keep it. So if trying to lose half a stone did not work last year, plan to exercise more instead. "If people think they can do it they probably can, but if they've already tried and failed, their self-belief will be low," Prof Wiseman said.

The remaining tips include keeping resolutions specific (4) and rewarding yourself (5) by buying a new book or CD if you manage to lose a few pounds or cut down on smoking.


More interesting links to help you achieve your goals:




You can also use New Year's Resolutions with your students. Click here to find how:

20 HEALTHY NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS FOR KIDS

Having said that, I have already chosen my goal for 2009: "I will reduce stress"
(I must confess I also want to get fitter, learn Portuguese and five other things, but stress reduction is the main objective for 2009)

Which are your resolutions for 2009?

Express yourself (send your resolutions) and have a Happy Resolutive New Year.

To finish, a bit of grammar in use: remember the difference between a promise (I will....) and a plan (I'm going to...). Resolutions are like promises that we make to ourselves.