martes, 4 de mayo de 2010

The bench

This video belongs to a series of videos by VAUGHAN. Here this man describes what a bench is and the different places or circumstances where you can fin a bench. Pay attention to the way he pronounces the "B" and "CH" sound. Look at his lips!! Interesting to improve your vocabulary and pronunciation!!

Taken from: Youtube - Vaughan Inglés

sábado, 1 de mayo de 2010

Verb tenses

The sentence "He is to visit London next week" shows Spanish speakers many difficulties in order to translate it into Spanish. Here comes some explanations in Spanish with many examples in both languages. There are some exercises at the end of it. Try them!!!!

Taken from: menuaingles.blogspot.com

Para expresar planes futuros: "To be" (conjugado en "present tense", y en ocasiones en "past tense" )+ un verbo en infinitivo es una estructura formal que se utiliza para hablar acerca de planes futuros, sobre todo, si son de carácter oficial, por ello, se puede ver en los titulares de periódicos.

Por ejemplo:

- The President is to visit Paris next week.
El presidente visitará Paris la próxima semana.

Suele aparecer con una referencia futura. Por ejemplo: next week, next month, next year, etc. Pero esta referencia futura no siempre es necesaria.

Más ejemplos:

- They are to travel to London tomorrow. Ellos viajarán a Londres mañana.
- The Minister is to visit the prisioners. El Ministro visitará a los presos. Nota: en inglés "minister" es también pastor (de iglesia).
- He is to work with the Government in an international project. Él trabajará con el Gobierno en un proyecto internacional.
- I felt happy because I was soon to leave my job. Me sentí feliz porque pronto iba a dejar mi trabajo. Nota: Aquí tenemos un ejemplo con el verbo "to be" en pasado.

2) Para planes futuros que no llegaron a cumplirse

Es posible poner el verbo "to be" (conjugado en "past tense) + verbo en infinitivo para indicar que nuestros planes futuros no se cumplieron.

Por ejemplo:

He was to get a pay raise, but he didn't. Él iba a obtener una subida salarial, pero no fue así. Nota: Tengo "sujeto": "He", luego "was" (past tense "to be" para la tercera persona) y luego "to get" (el verbo "get" en infinitivo). En español, si te fijas he utilizado el pretérito imperfecto "iba". ¿Y no podría decir en inglés, por ejemplo: "He was going to get a pay raise"? Sí, claro que sí es posible. Pero con la el verbo "to be + infinitivo" decimos lo mismo de una manera más formal.

Para expresar planes futuros que no llegaron a cumplirse: To be (conjugado en "past tense") + un verbo en infinitivo se utiliza para hablar acerca de planes futuros que no llegaron a cumplirse.

Más ejemplos:

- She was to marry in June, but unexpectedly she changed her mind. Ella se iba a casar en junio, pero inesperadamente cambió de opinión.

- We were to move to France, but we had to stay in the UK for one more year. Nos íbamos a mudar a Francia, pero tuvimos que quedarnos en el Reino Unido un año más. Nota: Fíjate como en todos estos ejemplos he utilizado "but" para explicar porqué no se cumplieron los planes.

3) Para futuro desconocido

También podemos utilizar "to be" (conjugado en "past tense") + verbo en infinitivo para expresar que pensábamos que algo iba ocurrir de una manera y finalmente ocurrió de otra.

Por ejemplo:

-When she first saw him she didn't know they were to marry many years later. Cuando lo vio por primera vez ella no sabía que se casarían muchos años después. Nota: ¿Te has fijado? Estoy utilizando un tono narrativo y como narrador lo sé todo sobre el personaje "ella" (narrador omnipresente), que tiene un futuro oculto que desconoce.

4) Para dar órdenes

También podemos utilizar "to be" (conjugado en "present tense") + verbo en infinitivo para dar órdenes.

Este es un estilo que se suele utilizar con niños o adolescentes. En español podemos traducirlo por "debes".

- You are to clean your room before you leave. Debes limpiar tu habitación antes de marcharte.

- She is to be back before ten if she wants me to give her pocket money. Debe volver antes de las diez si quiere que le de la paga. Nota: ¿Te has fijado? "to be back" significa "estar de vuelta" o "volver".

5) Para expresar pre-requisitos

También podemos utilizar "to be" (conjugado en "present" o "past tense") + verbo en infinitivo para expresar que una condición se tiene que cumplir para que otra cosa ocurra.

Esta formula se utiliza frecuentemente con estructuras condicionales.

Por ejemplo:

-You are to study hard if you want to pass the exam. Debes estudiar mucho si quieres pasar el examen.
- He is to be here on time if he wants me to help him. Él debe estar aquí a tiempo si quiere que yo le ayude.

6) Para dar instrucciones y advertir

En este caso ¡ojo! el verbo en infinitivo va en forma pasiva.

También podemos utilizar am/are/is (not) + "to be" + participio pasado del verbo en instrucciones o para hacer una advertencia. También es posible omitir el verbo to be conjugado (am/is/are) y poner sólo "to be" + verbo en participio pasado

Esta es la típica leyenda que viene en las medicinas, o en cualquier manual de instrucciones de una aparato.

- The door is not to be opened during the flight. No se debe abrir la puerta durante el vuelo. Nota: Participio del verbo "open": "opened" "Open" es también adjetivo. Puedes encontrar que se escribe "no to be open" también. Por ejemplo: He is an open person. Él es una persona abierta.
- Lid is not to be removed. No quitar la tapa. Nota: Participio del verbo "remove" (quitar) es "removed".
- To be taken twice a day with meals. Tomar dos veces al día durante las comidas. Nota: Participio de "take", "taken". Aquí no hemos utilizado el "to be" conjugado, si no en infinitivo.

Recapitulando:

El verbo "to be" conjugado en presente (am/is/are)/pasado (was/were) + un verbo en infinitivo (es decir "to work", "to leave", "to do") se utliza para:

1) Planes futuros: He is to leave tomorrow. Él se marcha mañana.
2) Planes futuros que no se cumplen: He was to leave but he finally he didn't go. Se iba a marchar pero finalmente no lo hizo.
3) Futuro desconocido: He didn't know he was to leave. Él no sabía que se iba a marchar.
4) Para dar órdenes: You are to leave now. Debes marcharte ahora.
5) Pre-requisitos en estructura condicional: You are to leave, if you want to get there soon. Debes marcharte si quieres llegar allí pronto.
6) En instrucciones y advertencias: The dog is not be disturbed. El perro no debe ser molestado. Nota: En este caso, se puede omitir am/is/are y "to be" va seguido del participio del verbo.

***********

Ahora a practicar

Traduce las siguientes oraciones (con la formula que hemos aprendido, claro está):

- El Rey viajará a Canadá en febrero.
- Si quieres llegar a tiempo date prisa.
- Debes empezar lo antes posible si quieres terminar a tiempo.
- No sabíamos que nos veríamos nuevamente.
- No se debe tragar.

******

Traducción:

- The King is to visit Canada in February.
- If you are to arrive on time, hurry up.
- You are to start as soon as possible if you want to finish on time.
- We didn't know we were to see each other again.
- Not to be swallowed.

miércoles, 21 de abril de 2010

Iceland volcano

Great amounts of money lost in the airline sector. Crisis in this sector? who's responsible for that? Read about what's going on in Iceland!!! Mother Nature , What is happening?????

Taken from: telegraph.co.uk

Iceland volcano eruption triggers fears for glacier

A volcano that has been dormant for almost 200 years has erupted in Iceland

by Our Foreign Staff
Published: 9:42AM GMT 21 Mar 2010

Link to this video

Authorities evacuated hundreds of people after a volcano erupted beside a glacier in southern Iceland, Iceland's civil protection agency said on Sunday, but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

The eruption occurred beside the Eyjafjallajokull glacier, the fifth largest in Iceland. Authorities initially said the eruption was below the glacier, triggering fears that it could lead to flooding from glacier melt, but scientists conducting an aerial survey in daylight located the eruption and said it did not occur below ice.

Thousands of Britons marooned abroad

British tourists resort to ingenious methods of getting home

Homes evacuated as volcano erupts in Iceland

Active Icelandic volcano - new pictures

Iceland volcano eruption

Iceland: Fly-fishing from a new angle

"The eruption is a small one," said Agust Gunnar Gylfason, a risk analyst at the Civil Protection Department.

"An eruption in and close to this glacier can be dangerous due to possible flooding if the fissure forms under the glacier," he said. "That is why we initiated our disaster response plan."

The last time the volcano erupted was in the 1820s.

Scientists can see lava flows in the half-mile long fissure, and authorities are watching for further activity.

Authorities evacuated some 450 people in the area 100 miles southeast of the capital, Reykjavik, as a precaution, said Vidir Reynisson, the department manager for the Icelandic Civil Protection Department.

A state of emergency has been declared in communities near the 100 square mile glacier, and three Red Cross centers were set up for evacuees in the village of Hella.

The Icelandic Civil Aviation Administration has ordered aircraft to stay 120 nautical miles away from the volcano area, essentially closing it off.

Three Icelandair flights from the U.S. - departing from Seattle; Boston; and Orlando, Florida - bound for Keflavik airport in Reykjavik were turned back to Boston. All domestic flights were also canceled until further notice, the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service reported.

Keflavik international airport, Reykjavik airport and Akureyri airport are all closed due to the possibility of ash getting into engines of the planes. The only airport that is open is Egilsstadir airport in the eastern part of the country as a back up international airport.

Gudjon Arngrimsson, a spokesman for Icelandair, said he could not immediately comment.

A European volcanic island in the North Atlantic, Iceland is largely an arctic desert with mountains, glaciers and volcanoes and agricultural areas in the lowlands close to the coastline.

Iceland volcano

Iceland volcano eruption triggers fears for glacier

A volcano that has been dormant for almost 200 years has erupted in Iceland

by Our Foreign Staff
Published: 9:42AM GMT 21 Mar 2010

Link to this video

Thousands of Britons marooned abroad

British tourists resort to ingenious methods of getting home

Homes evacuated as volcano erupts in Iceland

Active Icelandic volcano - new pictures

Iceland volcano eruption

Iceland: Fly-fishing from a new angle

"The eruption is a small one," said Agust Gunnar Gylfason, a risk analyst at the Civil Protection Department.

"An eruption in and close to this glacier can be dangerous due to possible flooding if the fissure forms under the glacier," he said. "That is why we initiated our disaster response plan."

The last time the volcano erupted was in the 1820s.

Scientists can see lava flows in the half-mile long fissure, and authorities are watching for further activity.

A state of emergency has been declared in communities near the 100 square mile glacier, and three Red Cross centers were set up for evacuees in the village of Hella.

The Icelandic Civil Aviation Administration has ordered aircraft to stay 120 nautical miles away from the volcano area, essentially closing it off.

Gudjon Arngrimsson, a spokesman for Icelandair, said he could not immediately comment.

A European volcanic island in the North Atlantic, Iceland is largely an arctic desert with mountains, glaciers and volcanoes and agricultural areas in the lowlands close to the coastline.

Grammar

USED TO / BE USED TO:
How can I write "Solía, suelo, sueles tú.., Estoy acostumbrado a..." etc...? The answer on this page:
Taken from: www.englishclub.com

Be used to

Do not confuse be used to with with the special construction used to do. They have different meanings.

Be used to something
Be used to doing

Be used to is an expression. It is not a tense. If I say "I am used to Thailand", it is like saying "I am accustomed to Thailand."

Structure of Be used to

The structure is:

subject + be + used to + object

	subject	main verb be	not	used to	object
+	I	am		used to	horses.
-	He	is	not	used to	horses.
-	We	aren't		used to	horses.
?	Are	you		used to	horses?

If the object invoves a verb, we use the -ing form:

I	am	not	used to	being lied to.
He	is		used to	working late.
We	aren't		used to	taking the bus.
Are	you		used to	cooking?

Why do we use -ing for a verb after be used to? Because we always use -ing for a verb after a preposition - and the to is a preposition.

Use of Be used to

The be used to expression is for talking about something that is familiar to us or easy for us. For example:

I am used to driving on the left.

It means that it is not a problem for me to drive on the left of the road. I am Japanese. In Japan, people drive on the left. Now I am living in the USA where people drive on the right. Of course, I drive on the right in the USA, but when I go to Japan it is easy for me to drive on the left because "I am used to it".

Look at these examples.

I am used to hard work.

I am used to working hard.

He is not used to New York.

He isn't used to living in New York.

Are you used to fast food?

Are you used to eating quickly?

Tenses

We can use be used to in any tense. We just conjugate the verb be in the tense that we need. Look at these examples:

When we lived in Bangkok, we were used to hot weather.

I have been used to snakes for a long time.

You will soon be used to living alone.

Now check your understanding »

Used to do

Do not confuse used to do with with the expression be used to. They have different meanings.

We use used to do to talk about the past. It is not a tense but it is like a tense. It is a special expression. We use the expression used to do for the past only.

Structure of Used to do

The structure is:

	subject	auxiliary did	not	main verb use	infinitive
+	I			used	to do.
-	I	did	not	use	to do.
?	Did	you		use	to do?

Used or use?

when there is did in the sentence, we say use to (without d)

when there is no did in the sentence, we say used to (with d)

Use of Used to do

We use the used to do expression to talk about:

an activity that we did regularly in the past (like a habit)

a situation that was true in the past

I used to smoke.
//////
past	present	future

Look at these examples.

the past	the present
She used to work in a shop.	Now she works in a bank.
He used to watch a lot of TV.	Now he doesn't watch much TV.
They used to be married.	Now they are divorced.
There used to be a cinema here.	Now there is a supermarket here.
I didn't use to go swimming.	Now I go swimming.
Did you use to smoke?

Grammar

USED TO / BE USED TO:
How can I write "Solía, suelo, sueles tú.., Estoy acostumbrado a..." etc...? The answer on this page:
Taken from: www.englishclub.com

Be used to

Do not confuse be used to with with the special construction used to do. They have different meanings.

Be used to something
Be used to doing

Be used to is an expression. It is not a tense. If I say "I am used to Thailand", it is like saying "I am accustomed to Thailand."

Structure of Be used to

The structure is:

subject + be + used to + object

	subject	main verb be	not	used to	object
+	I	am		used to	horses.
-	He	is	not	used to	horses.
-	We	aren't		used to	horses.
?	Are	you		used to	horses?

If the object invoves a verb, we use the -ing form:

I	am	not	used to	being lied to.
He	is		used to	working late.
We	aren't		used to	taking the bus.
Are	you		used to	cooking?

Why do we use -ing for a verb after be used to? Because we always use -ing for a verb after a preposition - and the to is a preposition.

Use of Be used to

The be used to expression is for talking about something that is familiar to us or easy for us. For example:

I am used to driving on the left.

Look at these examples.

I am used to hard work.

I am used to working hard.

He is not used to New York.

He isn't used to living in New York.

Are you used to fast food?

Are you used to eating quickly?

Tenses

We can use be used to in any tense. We just conjugate the verb be in the tense that we need. Look at these examples:

When we lived in Bangkok, we were used to hot weather.

I have been used to snakes for a long time.

You will soon be used to living alone.

Now check your understanding »

Used to do

Do not confuse used to do with with the expression be used to. They have different meanings.

We use used to do to talk about the past. It is not a tense but it is like a tense. It is a special expression. We use the expression used to do for the past only.

Structure of Used to do

The structure is:

	subject	auxiliary did	not	main verb use	infinitive
+	I			used	to do.
-	I	did	not	use	to do.
?	Did	you		use	to do?

Used or use?

when there is did in the sentence, we say use to (without d)

when there is no did in the sentence, we say used to (with d)

Use of Used to do

We use the used to do expression to talk about:

an activity that we did regularly in the past (like a habit)

a situation that was true in the past

I used to smoke.
//////
past	present	future

Look at these examples.

the past	the present
She used to work in a shop.	Now she works in a bank.
He used to watch a lot of TV.	Now he doesn't watch much TV.
They used to be married.	Now they are divorced.
There used to be a cinema here.	Now there is a supermarket here.
I didn't use to go swimming.	Now I go swimming.
Did you use to smoke?

domingo, 18 de abril de 2010

videos in english

This is a video specially created for begginers and allows them to understand short conversations in British English. (very interesting).

Taken from: bbclearning.com

videos in english

This is a video specially created for begginers and allows them to understand short conversations in British English. (very interesting).

Taken from: bbclearning.com

domingo, 11 de abril de 2010

Interesting websites



	www.educa.aragob.es/eoizara2/public_html
	mimosa.pntic.mec.es/~csanjuan/index.htm
	www.learnenglish.org.uk/
	www.world-english.org
	www.tolearnenglish.com
	www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish
	elc.polyu.edu.hk/cill/default4.htm
	www.cla.univ-fcomte.fr/english/index_s.htm
	www.manythings.org
	www.miguelmllop.com/index.php
	www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/
	www.eslhome.org
	www.mansioningles.com/
	www.isabelperez.com/
	web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/index.htm
	pagesperso-orange.fr/michel.barbot/hotpot/exercises.htm
	malted.cnice.mec.es/descargas/index_php.php
	www.onestopenglish.com/
Expresión oral

	english.specialist.hu/a3/xtt/thteme.htm
	www.eslpartyland.com/teachers/nov/conv.htm#reading
	speakingactivities.googlepages.com/
	corsiadistanza.polito.it/corsi/pdf/02ETFN/pdf/PET_Speaking_Exam_advice_sheet_for_tutorials.pdf
	www.english-at-home.com/speaking/
	iteslj.org/questions/
	www.britishcouncil.org/languageassistant-arc-essuk.htm
	www.splendidspeaking.podomatic.com/
Comprensión oral

	english.baladre.org/sedaviwebfront/listenings.htm
	www.streema.com/
	www.current.tv
	www.voanews.com/specialenglish/index.cfm
	www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/webcast/
	www.carolinebrownlisteninglessons.com
	www.ompersonal.com.ar/singinggrammar/index.htm
	www.focusenglish.com/index.html
	www.australianetwork.com/learnenglish/
	www.poets.org/audio.php
	www.vaughantelevision.com
	learnenglishfeelgood.com/eslvideo/
	www.dy-tech.info/hotpot/quiz_page.html
	www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/newsenglish/witn/index.shtml
	www.englishbaby.com/lessons/index
	www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/films/
	www.npr.org/
	www.xtec.net/~ncasas12/
	www.americanrhetoric.com/
	www.englishlistening.com
	www.esl-lab.com/index.htm
	www.inglesmundial.com/
	www.vaughanradio.com/
	www.britishcouncil.org/professionals-podcast-english-listening-downloads-homepage.htm
	www.elllo.org/
Comprensión escrita y vocabulario

	www.promo.net./pg/
	www.bbc.co.uk/sn/hottopics/climatechange/
	www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/errors.html
	www.booksshouldbefree.com
	www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish-central-magazine-current-2.htm
	www.cdlponline.org/
	literacynet.org/cnnsf/archives.html
	www.penguindossiers.com/
	www.wordfocus.com
	www.fun-with-words.com
	www.zapdramatic.com/mod1.htm
	www.bookcrossing.com/
	www.soon.org.uk/
Expresión escrita

	www.spellingcity.com/
	www1.aucegypt.edu/academic/writers
	www.geocities.com/soho/atrium/1437/index.html
	eolit.hrw.com/hlla/newmainlinks/writ.jsp
	www2.actden.com/writ_den/tips/essay/index.htm
	www.grapheine.com/bombaytv/index.php
	www.explorewriting.co.uk/
	members.tripod.com/~lklivingston/essay/index.html
	www.teacherjoe.us/Write.html
	depts.gallaudet.edu/englishworks/writing/letter/writingletters.html
	www.eslbee.com/
	www.xtec.es/~jrodrig6/#
	www.xtec.es/~iboluna/swim/
	owl.english.purdue.edu/
	www.utoronto.ca/writing/advise.html
	www.writefix.com/argument
	sentencesleuth.blogspot.com/
Pronunciación

	fds.oup.com/www.oup.com/pdf/elt/products/nef_int_bookmark_bw.pdf
	www.soundsofenglish.org/
	www.phon.ucl.ac.uk/home/johnm/eptotd/tiphome.htm
	lc.ust.hk/~material/pl/index.html
	international.ouc.bc.ca/pronunciation/
	cambridgeenglishonline.com/Phonetics_Focus/
	club.telepolis.com/phonetics/index.html
	www.howjsay.com/
	www.fonetiks.org/
	evaeaston.com/pr/home.html
Gramática

	www.phrasalverbdemon.com/index.html
	www.theirregularverbs.com/index.php
	grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/default.aspx
	www.pearsonlongman.com/ae/azar/grammar_ex/
	club.telepolis.com/englishweb/index.html
	www.agendaweb.org
	www.englishpage.com/
	www.english-at-home.com/
	perso.wanadoo.es/autoenglish/freeexercises.htm
	grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/
	www.xtec.es/~psanz/tick/exang/index.htm
	a4esl.org
	www.english-online.org.uk
	www.better-english.com
	www.learn-english-online.org/
	www.ompersonal.com.ar/
	www.ego4u.com
	www.edufind.com/english/grammar/TOC.CFM
Periódicos, revistas y enciclopedias

	www.thebigproject.co.uk/news/
	www.onlinenewspapers.com
	www.msnbc.com
	www.nationalgeographic.com/
	www.britishpapers.co.uk/
	www.world-newspapers.com
	encarta.msn.com
	en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
	www.nytimes.com
	www.britannica.com
Diccionarios

	www.yourdictionary.com/
	pewebdic2.cw.idm.fr/
	www.idiomconnection.com
	www.wordreference.com/
	espanol.babelfish.yahoo.com/fr?=avbbf-xxes
	www.oup.com/elt/catalogue/teachersites/oald7/?cc=gb
	www.merriam-webster.com/
	www.enchantedlearning.com/Dictionary.html
	dictionary.cambridge.org/
	www.peevish.co.uk/slang/links.htm#british
Cultura y civilización

	www.visitscotland.com/
	www.visitlondon.com/
	www.theholidayzone.com/
	www.tourismireland.com
	www.usatourist.com/
	www.holidays.net/
	www.theus50.com
	projectbritain.com
	holidays.kaboose.com/
	www.learnenglish.de/britishculture.htm
	bogglesworldesl.com/holidays.htm
	www.great-britain.co.uk
Aprender a aprender

	www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/studyguides/
	www.eslgo.com/classes/mi/
	www.linguanet-europa.org/y2/
	www.pnte.cfnavarra.es/eoip/letraviva/guia/portada.html
	eugenia.atspace.com/
Portfolio Europeo de las Lenguas

	www.eeooiinet.com/portfolio/triptico_portfolio.pdf
	www.oapee.es/
	www.ecml.at/edl/
	europass.cedefop.europa.eu/
	www.ecml.at/
	www.helsinki.fi/project/ceftrain/index.html
	www.coe.int/T/DG4/Portfolio
	www.dialang.org/
	www.eun.org/portal/index.htm
Estancias en el extranjero

	europa.eu/youth/volunteering_-_exchanges/index_eu_es.html
	www.travel-work.com
	www.accommadrid.com
	www.injuve.mtas.es/
	www.europaplus.net
	www.worldlink-education.com
	www.aseproce.org
	www.interway.es
	www.educacion.es/educacion/becas-y-ayudas/para-tus-estudios/aprender-idiomas.html
	www.do-it.org.uk
	europa.eu.int/eures/
	www.worldatlas.com
	www.globalstudy.com
	www.studyabroad.com
	www.embassyworld.com/
	www.studyusa.com/
	www.au-pair-box.com

ENGLISH ON A CLICK

martes, 4 de mayo de 2010

sábado, 1 de mayo de 2010

miércoles, 21 de abril de 2010

Iceland volcano eruption triggers fears for glacier

A volcano that has been dormant for almost 200 years has erupted in Iceland

Related Articles

Iceland volcano eruption triggers fears for glacier

A volcano that has been dormant for almost 200 years has erupted in Iceland

Related Articles

Be used to

Structure of Be used to

Use of Be used to

Tenses

Used to do

Structure of Used to do

Use of Used to do

Be used to

Structure of Be used to

Use of Be used to

Tenses

Used to do

Structure of Used to do

Use of Used to do

domingo, 18 de abril de 2010

domingo, 11 de abril de 2010