Thursday, November 12, 2015

Words that Rhyme

Do you want to write a poem or a song? 
Look for words that rhyme. 

Click on the link to enter the Rhyme Zone.
Some examples:






Monday, November 9, 2015

Time Clauses: Grammar and Exercises

Future with time expressions 
(after, as soon as, before, till, when, while ... )

The time clauses in the English language are introduced by conjunctions such as after, as soon as, before, till, until, when, whenever, while or time expressions such as the minute, the moment, etc.

We do not use the future tense (will) in a time clause to describe future activities.



Compare:

  • I'll come back home and I'll do it.  
      I'll do it when I come back home.  (when I come is the time clause)
  • You will push this button and the door will open. 
       As soon as you push this button, the door will open.

  • Don't stand up. First I'll tell you. 

       Don't stand up till (until) I tell you.

  • You'll need my car. Take it. 

      Whenever you need my car, you can take it.

  • You'll tidy up the house and I'll do the shopping. 
       You'll tidy up the house while I do the shopping.

  • You will drop the bomb and it will explode. 
       The moment you drop the bomb, it will explode.

Similarly, other future forms also change to the present simple tense.

  • He is going to leave. The room will be empty. 

      As soon as he leaves, the room will be empty.

  • We are moving next week. Then we'll call you.
       When we move next week, we'll call you.

If we describe an action that is happening at the same time as another future action (the two activities are simultaneous), we use the present continuous tense in time clauses.


  • We are going to cut the grass. You'll pick the apples. 

       While we are cutting the grass, you'll pick the apples.

* The future perfect simple and continuous become the present perfect simple and continuous.


  • I'll have finished my grammar exercises in ten minutes. Then I'll go out. 

      After I have finished my grammar exercises, I'll go out.

  • They will have repaired our car by the weekend. And we will go on a trip. 
      As soon as they have repaired our car, we will go on a trip.

Exercise 1
Exercise 2
Exercise 3

                                                                                                                                                              (e-grammar.org)

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Guy Fawkes Day in the United Kingdom


Guy Fawkes Night celebrates the foiling of an attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London on November 5, 1605. The attack was planned by a group of Catholic conspirators, which included Guy Fawkes. The explosives would have been set off when King James I of England (King James VI of Scotland) and many parliamentary members were in the building. The conspirators were later arrested, tortured and executed.
The Guy Mask

Guy Fawkes Night is annually held on November 5. It is sometimes known as Bonfire Night and marks the anniversary of the discovery of a plot organized by Catholic conspirators to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London in 1605. Many people light bonfires and set off fireworks. 

What Do People Do?

light bonfires
set off fireworks

 

Popular foods:

 toffee apples

bonfire toffee

potatoes baked in the ashes of the fire

 The conspiration