Monthly Archives: July 2012
Crossword – Irregular Verbs 5 (solution)
Posted on 2012/07/16
Crossword – Irregular Verbs 5
Posted on 2012/07/15
To complete this crossword, use the appropriate past tense / past participle of the verb in the parentheses.
Across
1 John (lead) the horse to water for a drink. (3)
3 Grandmother (sit) in the rocking chair. (3)
5 Have you (write) a thank-you note yet? (7)
6 The baby (fall) down a lot when she was learning to walk. (4)
7 The governor (swear) an oath to fulfill the duties of his public office. (5)
9 I had trouble getting the pants zipper (unstick). (7)
10 Jane (unwind) the ribbon as she opened her birthday present. (7)
12 The alcoholic had (backslide) and started drinking again every weekend. (11)
14 If we work together, we will be (do) before you know it. (4)
15 The vegetables are (quick-freeze) at the peak of freshness. (5-6)
18 The snake (shed) its skin. (4)
19 The house was well-built, and (withstand) the violent storm. (9)
21 Have you (eat) breakfast this morning? (5)
23 Don’t go into the (forbid) zone. (9)
26 Mother (make) a cake for my birthday. (4)
27 (Do) you go to France on your vacation? (3)
28 Father (let) little Tom help him wash the car. (3)
29 All Jack’s troubles (begin) when he quit his job last month. (5)
30 I would have (take) the subway if I had known the traffic was going to be bad. (5)
31 After an exhausting day, Mary (sleep) like a baby. (5)
Down
1 The plane (leave) on time. (4)
2 Uncle Bob (misunderstand) what I was saying. (13)
3 The children (see) many different animals at the zoo. (3)
4 The scolded dog (slink) into the corner. (5)
5 John went to bed early because he (is) tired. (3)
7 The fine, tailored suit was hand-(sew). (4)
8 Jacob won the race because he had (run) the fastest. (3)
10 Our design team (underspend) the competiion by 15%. (10)
11 Tim (draw) a picture of a cat in art class. (4)
13 The first baseman (catch) the ball. (6)
14 Lisa (daydream) all day about her upcoming wedding. (9)
16 Aunt Else (knit) a sweater for the baby. (4)
17 Dave (rewind) the old cassette tape after he finshed listening to it. (7)
20 As a company, we have (strive) to be number one in the industry. (7)
22 The cable man (preset) our TV remote to all our favorite channels. (6)
23 Mother (feed) the baby applesauce. (3)
24 The ticket agent (input) our personal information into her database. (5)
25 Steve was so thirsty he (drink) three glasses of water. (5)
Idiom Focus: Animal Idioms 30
Posted on 2012/07/14
Every Saturday I’ll give you a couple of idioms to learn. An idiom is a saying or phrase whose meaning cannot be taken from the literal meanings of the words.
smell a rat: be suspicious, feel that something is wrong
Example:
The accountant knew he smelled a rat when he examined the books and found some money was missing from the bank account.
straight from the horse’s mouth: directly from the person or place where something began
Example:
Did you know that Jack and Mary are moving to Georgia next month? I heard it straight from the horse’s mouth.
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Writing Assignment: At the Beach (Solution)
Posted on 2012/07/14
Click for larger image
1. Where was this picture taken?
This picture was taken at the beach.
2. Who do you see in this picture?
In this picture we see some children and a couple of adults.
3. What are the people in this picture doing?
The children are playing in the sand, and the adults are swimming in the water.
4. What is the weather like?
The weather is sunny, and perhaps a little windy.
5. What do people usually do at the beach?
At the beach, people usually go swimming or sunbathing.
6. What other activities can you see at the beach?
At the beach you can also see people walking along the shore, playing beach volleyball, having a picnic, or building sandcastles. You can also see children playing in the water or in the sand.
7. What can you find if you walk along the shore?
If you walk along the shore, you can find seashells.
8. What is the special name for a wooden sidewalk at the beach?
The wooden sidewalk at the beach is called a boardwalk.
9. What do you call the clothes you wear when swimming?
The clothes you wear when you go swimming are called swimsuits.
10. At the beach, where can you change into your swim clothes?
At the beach, you can use a bathhouse or beach house to change into your swimsuit.
11. What kinds of accessories are useful to have at the beach?
When you are at the beach, it is useful to have things like a blanket or a towel to sit or lie on. It is also handy to have a beach umbrella to give you some shade from the sun. If you have children with you, it is also useful to have some sand toys such as a sand bucket and shovel, and some blow-up toys like a beach ball or inflatable swim ring.
12. What do children like to do at the beach?
At the beach, children like to play in the water, or dig in the sand and make sandcastles. They also like to collect pretty shells.
13. Who helps keep people safe at the beach?
The lifeguard helps to keep people safe at the beach.
14. What is dangerous about swimming in water?
When swimming, you have to be careful. You could get a leg cramp, which would make it difficult or painful to swim. Sometimes there are also strong currents, such as undertows or rip tides (rip currents) that can exhaust even an experienced swimmer and cause him to drown. Because of situations like these, you should never swim alone.
15. What can he use to help people in distress?
If a lifeguard sees a person in distress, he can use a life preserver to help them stay afloat and bring them to safety.
16. Why might people need a lifeguard to assist them?
People might need a lifeguard to assist them if they get a leg cramp or become exhausted or are otherwise unable to swim. They may also need a lifeguard’s assistance if they find they have swum out too far or are in water that is too deep for them.
17. What do you call the movement of the water?
There are different ways water can move. If it is windy, the water will move in waves that come against the shore. In a river, ocean, or sea, the water will move because of a current. The water in oceans and seas also move up and down twice a day because of the moon’s gravitational influence – this is called the tide.
18. What can you do if you get hungry or thirsty at the beach?
If you get hungry or thirsty at the beach, you can go to the concession stand and buy something to eat or drink. If you have brought picnic supplies, you can find something to eat or drink from your own cooler.
19. How can people protect themselves from the sun?
People can protect themselves from the sun by using a beach umbrella. But a lot of sunlight is still reflected off the water and the sand, so you can still get some sunburn even if you’re under an umbrella. You can use sunblock to help prevent the sun’s ultraviolet rays from damaging your skin. If you want to work on a suntan, you can apply suntan lotion to help you get a tan.
20. What can happen if you get too much sun?
If you get too much sun, you can get sunburned. If you get an excessive amount of sun, you could get not only sunburned, but you could also get a sunstroke, which could be serious, and might require medical attention.
Paragraph: A Day at the Beach
When I was younger, my grandparents lived in Florida. We often visited them at Christmastime, and I would enjoy the nice Florida weather by going swimming at the beach. One year I spent too much time at the beach, and got a horrible sunburn. Part of the reason why the sunburn was so severe was because my skin was used to winter weather, and I had lost my summer suntan to protect my skin from the Florida sun. I felt fine during the day, but when I went home in the evening, my skin was as red as a tomato. I think I also must have had a touch of sunstroke, because I also felt sick and nauseous from too much exposure to the sun. The next day I did not feel nauseous, but I was still miserable because my skin felt like it was on fire. It took much longer to get over the sunburn, but I learned my lesson: Do not spend all day at the beach without using some sort of protection, such as sunblock, or even wearing a t-shirt.
Writing Assignment: At the Beach
Posted on 2012/07/13
Click for larger image
Vocabulary
sun
water
sand
shore
waves
sunbathe
sunblock
suntan lotion
suntan
sunburn
sunstroke
shade
beach umbrella
towel
blanket
cooler
picnic basket
beach ball
blow-up toy
swim ring
sand bucket / sand pail
shovel
sandcastle
swim
swimsuit
concession stand
beach house / bathhouse
boardwalk
beach volleyball
seaweed
seashells
leg cramp
drown
lifeguard
life preserver
current
undertow
tide
rip tide / rip current
1. Where was this picture taken?
2. Who do you see in this picture?
3. What are the people in this picture doing?
4. What is the weather like?
5. What do people usually do at the beach?
6. What other activities can you see at the beach?
7. What can you find if you walk along the shore?
8. What is the special name for a wooden sidewalk at the beach?
9. What do you call the clothes you wear when swimming?
10. At the beach, where can you change into your swim clothes?
11. What kinds of accessories are useful to have at the beach?
12. What do children like to do at the beach?
13. Who helps keep people safe at the beach?
14. What is dangerous about swimming in water?
15. What can he use to help people in distress?
16. Why might people need a lifeguard to assist them?
17. What do you call the movement of the water?
18. What can you do if you get hungry or thirsty at the beach?
19. How can people protect themselves from the sun?
20. What can happen if you get too much sun?
Paragraph: A Day at the Beach
Have you ever gone to the beach? What did you do there? Did you swim and have fun in the water, or did you just get a suntan? Write a brief paragraph about a time you went to the beach.
Grammar Basics: Unit 52 – work / working, go / going, do / doing (Solution)
Posted on 2012/07/13
Exercise. Complete the sentences. Use either “eat breakfast” or “to eat breakfast.”
Example:
I’ll _____________. ==> I’ll eat breakfast.
John’s going _____________. ==> John’s going to eat breakfast.
1. I could eat breakfast.
2. You must eat breakfast.
3. Mary wants to eat breakfast.
4. He may eat breakfast.
5. They have to eat breakfast.
6. We can eat breakfast.
7. I want to eat breakfast.
8. You should eat breakfast.
9. She might eat breakfast.
10. Father used to eat breakfast.
Exercise. Complete the sentences with a verb from the list. Choose either the base form (sleep/play) or the –ing form (sleeping/playing).
Example:
Shhh – the baby is (sleep/sleeping). ==> Shhh – the baby is sleeping.
Do you (play/playing) a musical instrument? ==> Do you play a musical instrument?
1. I might need your help later this afternoon.
2. Make sure to set the alarm – I’m getting up early tomorrow morning.
3. What are you wearing for the costume party next week?
4. Did John practice the piano after school?
5. Mark didn’t write his thank-you note yet.
6. They must be tired after their long journey.
7. Does the hotel have a swimming pool?
8. Mary said she would bring some salad for the picnic.
9. Our team is playing the Southsiders tomorrow.
10. The ice cream stand doesn’t take credit cards.
Exercise. Put the verb in the correct form. Choose either the base form, the infinitive form, or the –ing form.
Example:
May I _____________ you? (help) ==> May I help you?
I have _____________ a movie for my history class. (watch) ==> I have to watch a movie for my history class.
The children _____________ hopscotch. (play) ==> The children are playing hopscotch.
1. We would like to rent a cabin for our vacation.
2. Does this vending machine work?
3. I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.
4. They’re going to build a new school across the street.
5. We will give you a call as soon as we get home.
6. The janitor is cleaning the boys’ bathroom right now.
7. We must hear the orchestra play Mozart’s requiem – I’ve heard it’s an excellent performance.
8. Uncle Howard doesn’t like opera.
9. I would like to visit the Grand Canyon someday.
10. Mother couldn’t open the pickle jar.
11. What time does your plane leave tomorrow morning?
12. When did you come home last night?
13. Father used to sing in the choir when he was a young man.
14. I have to return the library book today.
15. The children want to go to the museum this weekend.
Grammar Basics: Unit 52 – work / working, go / going, do / doing
Posted on 2012/07/12
Let’s review some of the things we’ve covered here in Grammar Basics so far.
When we use modal verbs (will, shall, might, may, can, could, must, should, would), we use what is called the base form, or dictionary form, of the verb:
will: John will wash the dishes.
shall: I shall call you later today.
might: It might rain tomorrow.
may: Tom may come to the party.
can: Bobby can write his name now.
could: We could go to the park.
must: You must stand up.
should: He should get a new car.
would: I would be quiet if I were you.
The base form / dictionary form is also used with do/does and did:
do/does:
Do you see John anywhere?
Does your dog have a leash?
The phone doesn’t work.did:
When did you come home last night?
I didn’t eat the cupcake.
We also use the base form / dictionary form after the infinitive marker to:
going to: I’m going to go to bed now.
have to: Tom has to do his homework after school.
want to: We want to build a sand castle.
would like to: I would like to have some tea, please.
used to: We used to play by the river when we were kids.
–ing is used for the continuous form:
am/is/are –ing:
Our school is putting on the play, The Diary of Anne Frank.
We are going on vacation next month.
I am taking a shower.was/were –ing:
I was sleeping when you called.
The boys were playing outside when Grandfather arrived.
Exercise. Complete the sentences. Use either “eat breakfast” or “to eat breakfast.”
Example:
I’ll _____________. ==> I’ll eat breakfast.
John’s going _____________. ==> John’s going to eat breakfast.
1. I could _____________.
2. You must _____________.
3. Mary wants _____________.
4. He may _____________.
5. They have _____________.
6. We can _____________.
7. I want _____________.
8. You should _____________.
9. She might _____________.
10. Father used _____________.
Exercise. Complete the sentences with a verb from the list. Choose either the base form (sleep/play) or the –ing form (sleeping/playing).
Example:
Shhh – the baby is (sleep/sleeping). ==> Shhh – the baby is sleeping.
Do you (play/playing) a musical instrument? ==> Do you play a musical instrument?
be/being
bring/bringing
get/getting
have/having
need/needing
play/playing
practice/practicing
take/taking
wear/wearing
write/writing
1. I might _____________ your help later this afternoon.
2. Make sure to set the alarm – I’m _____________ up early tomorrow morning.
3. What are you _____________ for the costume party next week?
4. Did John _____________ the piano after school?
5. Mark didn’t _____________ his thank-you note yet.
6. They must _____________ tired after their long journey.
7. Does the hotel _____________ a swimming pool?
8. Mary said she would _____________ some salad for the picnic.
9. Our team is _____________ the Southsiders tomorrow.
10. The ice cream stand doesn’t _____________ credit cards.
Exercise. Put the verb in the correct form. Choose either the base form, the infinitive form, or the –ing form.
Example:
May I _____________ you? (help) ==> May I help you?
I have _____________ a movie for my history class. (watch) ==> I have to watch a movie for my history class.
The children _____________ hopscotch. (play) ==> The children are playing hopscotch.
1. We would like _____________ a cabin for our vacation. (rent)
2. Does this vending machine _____________? (work)
3. I’m so hungry I could _____________ a horse. (eat)
4. They’re going _____________ a new school across the street. (build)
5. We will _____________ you a call as soon as we get home. (give)
6. The janitor _____________ the boys’ bathroom right now. (clean)
7. We must _____________ the orchestra play Mozart’s requiem – I’ve heard it’s an excellent performance. (hear)
8. Uncle Howard doesn’t _____________ opera. (like)
9. I would like _____________ the Grand Canyon someday. (visit)
10. Mother couldn’t _____________ the pickle jar. (open)
11. What time does your plane _____________ tomorrow morning? (leave)
12. When did you _____________ home last night? (come)
13. Father used _____________ in the choir when he was a young man. (sing)
14. I have _____________ the library book today. (return)
15. The children want _____________ to the museum this weekend. (go)
Culture Focus: Good Luck / Bad Luck
Posted on 2012/07/11
Lucky Horseshoe – with ends pointing up so the luck won’t run out
Superstitions vary from culture to culture. What is considered good luck in one culture may be considered bad luck in another. Today in our Culture Focus, we are going to look at some things that Americans consider good luck, and what things are considered bad luck.
Good Luck
There are different ways to bring about good luck. Of course, you can wish a friend or acquaintance “Good luck!” when they face some big event in their life – going on a trip, getting married, taking a test, and so on. For actors, musicians, and other stage performers, it is common to wish them good luck by telling them to “Break a leg!” This is because people used to believe that by pretending to wish something bad on a person, an evil spirit would do the opposite, and end up actually bringing good fortune to the person.
Another way of bringing about good luck is by doing some lucky action. Picking up a pin is considered lucky. So is picking up a penny:
“Find a penny,
Pick it up,
All day long
You’ll have good luck.”
Finding a four-leaf clover is another action that is said to bring good luck. Another common way of bringing good luck is by rubbing or touching something – a statue, for example. At Lincoln’s Tomb in Springfield, Illinois, the bust of Lincoln’s head has a shiny nose from countless numbers of schoolchildren touching it for good luck!
Good luck can also be brought about by possessing some sort of lucky charm, or talisman. Common objects considered to bring good luck are a rabbit’s foot, a four-leaf clover, or wearing a special piece of clothing – hat, shirt, shoes, etc. Profession athletes sometimes insist on wearing a particular hat or shirt, or a jersey with a particular number on it. Lucky objects can also be placed in, on, or around a person’s home or property. A horseshoe is often put on a door, or over a door, to bring good luck – and to make sure that the good luck stays, the ends of the horseshoe must be pointing up.
Certain numbers can also be lucky – often this would be 7 or 11, but sometimes individuals can have their own number that they consider lucky.
Sometimes instead of bringing good luck, people do or say things that at least prevent bad luck from happening. The “break a leg” wish mentioned above is an example of this. Another example: if you spill some salt, you should throw a pinch of it over your left shoulder to prevent bad luck from coming your way. And, if you say something positive and you want things to stay positive, you can follow your statement with the phrase “knock on wood”: “I haven’t been in a car accident yet, knock on wood.”
Bad Luck
The opposite of good luck is bad luck, and there are certain actions or situations that should be avoided if one does not want to bring bad luck upon themselves. Walking under a ladder, opening an umbrella in the house, and having a black cat cross your path are all said to bring bad luck. If you break a mirror, you will have seven years of bad luck. Children learn a rhyme: “Step on a crack, break your mother’s back” – which would certainly be bad luck for the mother.
There are also unlucky numbers and unlucky days. 13 is considered to be the unluckiest number – some hotels and other buildings might actually skip over the 13th floor, or skip room 13 because of 13’s status as an unlucky number. If there are 13 people invited to a dinner party, the host will probably invite another person to avoid the unlucky number. As for unlucky days, Friday is considered to be unlucky – sailors did not want to set out on a voyage on Friday, and by extension modern travelers are warned about starting a trip on Friday. To do something to your bed on Friday, like change the sheets or turn the mattress, will also invite bad luck in the form of a bad dream, or sleeplessness.
In particular, the combination of the unlucky number (13) and the unlucky day (Friday) is said to be extra unlucky: Friday the 13th is supposed to be a day of bad luck. Of course, it is no luckier or unluckier than any other date on the calendar, but it may just seem like an unlucky day: on that day people pay more attention to any and every bad thing that happens to them.
This coming Friday is Friday the 13th. If you are superstitious, you can try to find a four-leaf clover, or carry a lucky rabbit’s foot with you. But if not, you can always stay in bed all day and wait for Saturday the 14th 🙂 .
Grammar Basics: Unit 51 – She said that…, He told me that… (Solution)
Posted on 2012/07/11
Exercise. Report what the following people said by writing sentences using “X said (that)…”
Example:
George: “I can’t tell a lie.” ==> George said that he can’t tell a lie.
1. Jack: “Our band has a concert tonight.”
Jack said his band had a concert tonight.
2. Sharon: “I have to go to the store.”
Sharon said she had to go to the store.
3. Dean: “I’ll wash the dishes.”
Dean said he would wash the dishes.
4. Marcia: “I’m going to have a baby in September.”
Marcia said she was going to have a baby in September.
5. Tom: “I don’t like history class.”
Tom said he didn’t like history class.
6. Kelly: “I feel so tired today.”
Kelly said she felt tired today.
7. Kevin: “There’s a new movie coming out this Friday.”
Kevin said there was a new movie coming out this Friday.
8. Chris: “I can’t stay up late tonight. I have to get to bed early.”
Chris said he couldn’t stay up late tonight – he had to get to bed early.
9. Steve: “My mother won’t let me eat candy.”
Steve said his mother wouldn’t let him eat candy.
10. Tim: “My father is on a business trip.”
Tim said his father was on a business trip.
Exercise. Use said or told to complete the sentence.
Example:
She _______ she was buying a new car. ==> She said she was buying a new car.
Jack _______ me he climbed up the beanstalk. ==> Jack told me he climbed up the beanstalk.
1. The teacher said the book report is due on Tuesday.
2. Tom said we should go to Disneyworld sometime.
3. Sally told her mother she wanted to learn to play the piano.
4. Mark said he could only stay a few minutes.
5. The boss told us we needed to meet our monthly quota.
6. Jack told Jill to fetch a pail of water.
7. My tennis instructor told me I had to practice my serve.
8. Grandmother said she would go to Florida for the winter.
9. Father said he was going to get a haircut after work.
10. He told her he loved her.
Grammar Basics: Unit 51 – She said that…, He told me that…
Posted on 2012/07/10
When we want to report on something someone has said, we can use the form “X said (that)…” and then change the verb from the present to the past. (Using that is optional.):
am ==> was:
Tom: “I’m hungry.”
==> Tom said (that) he was hungry.will ==> would:
Mother: “Hurry up or you’ll be late for school.”
==> Mother said (that) I should hurry up or I would be late for school.are ==> were:
Kent: “We are going camping for our vacation this year.”
==> Kent said (that) they were going camping for their vacation this year.have ==> had:
Jane: “I have to do my homework.”
==> Jane said (that) she had to do her homework.can ==> could:
Mike: “I can’t go to the party.”
==> Mike said (that) he couldn’t go to the party.do ==> did:
Betsy: “I don’t know how to whistle.”
==> Betsy said (that) she didn’t know how to whistle.look ==> looked, seem ==> seemed, feel ==> felt, etc. :
Dave: “It looks like it will rain.”
==> Dave said (that) it looked like it would rain.Nancy: “You seem angry.”
==> Nancy said (that) I seemed angry.You: “I feel sick.”
==> I said (that) I felt sick.
We can also use “X told me / you / him / her / us / them (that) …” in almost the same way:
Tom said (that) he was hungry.
==> Tom told Jack (that) he was hungry.Mother said (that) I should hurry up or I would be late for school.
==> Mother told me (that) I should hurry up or I would be late for school.Kent said (that) they were going camping for their vacation this year.
==> Kent told us (that) they were going camping for their vacation this year.Jane said (that) she had to do her homework.
==> Jane told her friends (that) she had to do her homework.Mike said (that) he couldn’t go to the party.
==> Mike told Mr. Smith (that) he couldn’t go to the party.Betsy said (that) she didn’t know how to whistle.
==> Betsy told him (that) she didn’t know how to whistle.Dave said (that) it looked like it would rain.
==> Dave told her (that) it looked like it would rain.Nancy said (that) I seemed angry.
==> Nancy told Mother (that) I seemed angry.I said (that) I felt sick.
==> I told you (that) I felt sick.
Note:
- “X told me (that)…” NEEDS an object (me, you, him, her, etc.)
Mike told (that) he couldn’t go to the party. (You need Mr. Smith after told.)
- “X said (that)…” does NOT need an object.
Tom said me (that) he was hungry. (You shouldn’t have me after said.)
Exercise. Report what the following people said by writing sentences using “X said (that)…”
Example:
George: “I can’t tell a lie.” ==> George said that he can’t tell a lie.
1. Jack: “Our band has a concert tonight.”
2. Sharon: “I have to go to the store.”
3. Dean: “I’ll wash the dishes.”
4. Marcia: “I’m going to have a baby in September.”
5. Tom: “I don’t like history class.”
6. Kelly: “I feel so tired today.”
7. Kevin: “There’s a new movie coming out this Friday.”
8. Chris: “I can’t stay up late tonight. I have to get to bed early.”
9. Steve: “My mother won’t let me eat candy.”
10. Tim: “My father is on a business trip.”
Exercise. Use said or told to complete the sentence.
Example:
She _______ she was buying a new car. ==> She said she was buying a new car.
Jack _______ me he climbed up the beanstalk. ==> Jack told me he climbed up the beanstalk.
1. The teacher _______ the book report is due on Tuesday.
2. Tom _______ we should go to Disneyworld sometime.
3. Sally _______ her mother she wanted to learn to play the piano.
4. Mark _______ he could only stay a few minutes.
5. The boss _______ us we needed to meet our monthly quota.
6. Jack _______ Jill to fetch a pail of water.
7. My tennis instructor _______ me I had to practice my serve.
8. Grandmother _______ she would go to Florida for the winter.
9. Father _______ he was going to get a haircut after work.
10. He _______ her he loved her.