Grammar #13: Would rather (due Thursday)

1. You're doing your homework at this moment, but where would you rather be and what would you rather be doing?

2. The most disgusting person on earth asks you out on a date. What do you tell him or her? Begin your answer with "I'd rather..."

Musical Lesson #4: Would rather

This is an American classic...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pHhItkhc7o

I'll post the words as a comment here.

Powerpoint Presentation: Modals with Multiple Meanings

Modals from holly_cin

I will add more as we go along. 

Grammar # 12: Modals of Advice (due Monday at noon)

I'm planning to visit your country at the end of this term, and I need your advice. Please tell me what I need to know in order to have a safe and enjoyable visit. Use several of the modals/expressions for advice and suggestions that we've practiced so far: should, shouldn't, had better (not), must (not), ought to, could, why don't you, don't have to, and have to. Your response should be in paragraph form.

You can start your response like this:

Holly, I'm so excited that you've decided to come visit my country. In order for you to have a safe and enjoyable visit in (YOUR COUNTRY), here is what you need to know. First, ... Second, ... Third,... and Lastly,... You have to DEVELOP your paragraph, which means you MUST provide enough support for each point you make. A good paragraph should have 12-15 complex sentences. I want just ONE PARAGRAPH.

Grammar #11: Modals (Expressing prohibition) (due Sunday)

What are 3 things that I MUST NOT do as a guest in your home or in your country?

Grammar #10: Modals of Necessity

We use HAVE TO, HAVE GOT TO, and MUST to express necessity. The past tense for all 3 is HAD TO.  The negative is DON'T HAVE TO.

1. Think about your plans for this week. What are 2 things you don't have to do and 1 thing that you have to do?

2. Think about your activities last week. What were 2 things you had to do and one thing you didn't have to do?

3. What is something that all citizens must do in your country?

Grammar #9: Modals of Advice

Part 1:
For this post, ask for advice for a physical, mental, or other problem you have. Use SHOULD, OUGHT TO, SHOULDN'T, HAD BETTER and HAD BETTER NOT

Example: I have had the hiccups for the past three days and I cannot get rid of them. Please tell me what I should do. Be CREATIVE with your problem.

Part 2:
Respond to the next 2 people after you. Give them advice using a variety of modals.

Grammar #8: Modals of Possiblity

We can use the modals MAY, MIGHT, or COULD to express possibility. We can also the adverb MAYBE.

Leila isn't in class today. Why isn't he here?

Coordinating Conjunctions with BUT and SO

I don't really like grammar...


I was really tired last night...

Coordinating conjunctions with AND

What are your partner's favorite sports?

Grammar test

Our first grammar test on chapters 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7 will be either next Thursday, or the following Tuesday. We will review all of the grammar that we have covered so far the class before the test.

Grammar #7: Modals of Ability (Can, Could, and Couldn't) due Thursday

Expressing ABILITY with CAN, COULD, CAN'T, and COULDN'T


1. Physical ability: Can,and Can't
Ex: I can lift my t.v. by myself, but I can't lift my refrigerator.

2. We frequently use CAN and CAN'T with the five senses.
Ex:  Can you see the board? Can you hear the birds singing? No, I can't.

3. Acquired skill\: Can and Can't
Sarah can play the piano. She can't play the guitar.

4.  Possibility: Can, Can't, and Could
Ex: Can you pick up the kids from school today? Is it possible?
Could you pick up the kids from school today? I can't do it.
You can/can't/could get your prescription filled at Walmart. It is (or isn't) possible.

5. To give permission in informal situations: Can and May
Ex: You can leave early if you need to.
You may leave early if you need to (more formal).

The past tense of can is COULD and COULDN'T. It works in the following examples.
1. Yesterday, I couldn't lift the box. I needed help. (Physical ability)
2. Yesterday, I couldn't see the board, but today I can. (5 senses)
3. Last year, Sarah couldn't play the piano, but now she can. (Acquired skill)


Answer the following questions:
1. Name a physical ability that you have and a physical ability you don't have.

2. Name an acquired skill that you have and an acquired skill that you don't have.

3. What is something that a woman can do that a man cannot?

4. What is something that a man can do that a woman cannot?

5. What is something you could do as a child that you can't do now?

Modals chart

	+	--	Past
Necessity/obligation	Have to Have got to Must		Had to
Prohibition		Must not
Expectation	Is/are supposed to	Is/are not supposed to	Was/were not supposed to
Advice	Should Ought to	Shouldn’t Ought not to	Should or shouldn’t have + past participle Ought to or ought not to have+ part participle
Strong advice/warning with a consequence	Had better	Had better not	*
Suggestion/possibility	Could Might Let’s + SV Why don’t you + SV		Could have  + past participle
Lack of necessity		Don’t have to	Didn’t have to

Grammar #6: Past Perfect (due Thursday)

You had an appointment with me yesterday after class. You didn't come because something happened which prevented you from coming. Be creative. Extra points if you make me laugh. Use the past perfect.

Question for Thursday's Class

Could you bring a laptop or a tablet to class on Thursday? I'd like to turn the class into a little computer lab for grammar class, and possibly for writing class.

Please respond by posting a comment.

Present perfect/present perfect progressive (QUANTITY VS. DURATION)

I have been learning at HCC since last month. EMPHASIS ON DURATION
I have learned a lot of English since last month. EMPHASIS ON QUANTITY
I have been driving for 3 hours.EMPHASIS ON DURATION
I have driven 200 miles.EMPHASIS ON QUANTITY 
I have been reading this book for days.EMPHASIS ON DURATION
I have read 300 pages so far.EMPHASIS ON QUANTITY

Which event happened first? Some rules for you.

A. I opened my umbrella when I left my house.

1. Left house
2. Opened umbrella

RULE: Two events in the simple past, the when-event happened first.




B. When Eric woke up this morning, I had already run five miles.

1. Holly ran 5 miles
2. Eric woke up.

RULE: Two events in the past, one is past perfect; the past perfect event happened first.

C. I was talking with my mother when the thunder roared outside.

1. Talking with mother
2. Thunder roared

RULE: Two events in the past, one in the past progressive and one in the simple past; the progressive event happened first.

Joining sentences with conjunctions

1. The books are on the table, BUT I don’t know where the papers are.
2. The cat drank her milk noisily, AND the dog just gulped down his raw meat.
3. I will go to Canada this summer BECAUSE I want to hike in the mountains.
4. The table will have to go near the piano, OR we will have to rearrange the whole room.
5. This is the best movie I have ever seen, SO I’m glad I’m here.
6. She was the best student in her class, SO naturally, she got the highest grade.
7. The piano is terribly out of tune. I can’t stand listening to it anymore.The piano is terribly out of tune, SO I can’t stand listening to it anymore.
8. He’s always late for parties, BUT no one seems to mind.
9. The students look very tired, SO they probably need a break.
10. You must take the dog out for a walk every night, OR we’ll have to get rid of him.
11. The orange shirt is a bit too big, BUT I’ll buy it anyway.

Independent clauses are underlined, AND conjunctions and prior commas are highlighted.

Writing your next paragraph

Hi Guys. I hope you're having a great weekend. I want to remind you about the work that is due on Tuesday.

Go to p. 78-79. Choose one of the six topics and write a paragraph that includes a clear topic sentence, supporting points with examples and explanations, and a concluding sentence. Your paragraph should be between 10-15 sentences.

On Tuesday, bring your outline and your first draft. We will do peer editing in class on Tuesday. Then you will bring your final draft on Thursday along with your outline, first draft, and peer editing sheet.

After this paragraph, we will be ready to start working on essays.

Any questions? Post a comment and I will respond (will=promise).

Grammar #5: Present Perfect (due Sunday)

Answer the following questions:

1. What are some interesting experiences you have had in your lifetime?

2. What are some things you have not yet done in your lifetime but would like to do?

3. What are some of the places you have visited in the world or in your country, and when did you visit them?

Musical Lesson #3: Present Perfect (duration)

Online explanations and practice for present perfect and present perfect progressive

This is OPTIONAL, but I think it is EXTREMELY HELPFUL.

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/presentperfect.html

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/presentperfectcontinuous.html

These pages explain everything you need to know about present perfect and present perfect progressive IN GREAT DETAIL. You will notice, however, that their "use 1" is my "case 2" and their "use 2" is my "case 1" for the present perfect.

Go to the exercises at the bottom of the page. They're EXCELLENT.

Musical Lesson #2.1: Future Time Clause

"Cups (You're Gonna Miss Me)"

Powerpoint Presentation: Present Perfect and Present Perfect Progressive

Presentperfectandprogressive l3 from holly_cin

Online help: Future tense

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/simplefuture.html

Read the excellent explanation to review what we did this week and then try the exercises at the bottom of the page.

Future time and If clauses (creating complex sentences)

WHEN

Silvina is going to buy an apartment (then)
Silvina is going to have enough money (first).
When Silvina HAS enough money, she is going to buy an apartment.
Silvina is going to buy an apartment when she HAS enough money.

BEFORE
I’m going to clean up my apartment (first).
My friends are going to come over (then).
I’m going to clean up my apartment before my friends COME OVER.
Before my friends COME OVER, I’m going to clean up my apartment.

WHEN

The storm will be over (in an hour or two).
I’m going to do some errands (then).
I’m going to do some errands when the storm will be IS over.
When the storm IS over, I’m going to do some errands.

IF

(Maybe) you won’t learn how to use a computer.
(As a result), you will have trouble finding a job.
You will have trouble finding a job if you will not DO NOT LEARN how to use a computer.

AS SOON AS

Julio is going to meet us at the coffee shop.
He is going to finish his report (soon).
 As soon as Julio goes to meet at the coffee shop, he is going to finish his report.
 As soon as Julio FINISHES his report, he is going to meet us at the coffee shop.

AFTER
Bow will wash and dry the dishes.
(Then) she will put them away.
After Bow WASHES and DRIES the dishes, she will put them away.

IF
They may not leave at seven.
(As a result), they won’t get to the theater on time.
If they DON'T LEAVE at seven, they won’t get to the theater on time.
They won’t get to the theater on time if they DON'T LEAVE at seven.

Coherence in a paragraph

There are 4 ways to prepare a chicken. The first way to cook a chicken is to bake it in the oven. You can do this with many different spices to achieve many different tastes. One of my favorite recipes is Moroccan chicken which uses exotic spices. Another way chicken can be prepared is to grill it. Grilling is a favorite method for many Texans because we have such a long summer and we spend many days outside. The third way to prepare a chicken is to fry it. Frying is used in many popular recipes such as southern fried chicken and abc. Finally, the easiest way to make a chicken is to boil it. All you have to do is take the chicken and place it in boiling water (but don’t forget to add salt). As you can see, there are 4 ways to cook a chicken.

There are two ways that we achieve coherence in a paragraph. The first way to achieve coherence is by using the appropriate transitions such as first, next, then, and last if we are explaining a process. The second way to achieve coherence is by repetition of the key words. The key words are the ideas that should repeat themselves throughout your paragraph. In the above paragraph, "ways to cook a chicken" are the key words, and as you can see, these words repeat several times in the paragraph, functioning like a map for the reader to follow. However, the key words do not have to be repeated exactly word for word. We can substitute a synonym, or a different form of the word, or the pronoun (he/she/it). For example, if I want to discuss my teacher Holly, you can refer to me as "Holly," or as "Mrs. Cin," or as "my grammar teacher," or as "the new teacher at HCC whom all the students love."

First paragraph is due Tuesday

On Tuesday, you will turn in the following in your paragraph packet:

1. Outline
2. First draft
3. Peer editing sheet
4. Final draft

REMEMBER:

1. Final draft should be typed and double spaced.
2. First line of paragraph should be indented (press TAB).
3. Paragraph should contain between 8 and 11 sentences

1. Topic sentence.
2. First supporting point
3. Example or explanation (or both)
4. Second supporting point
5. Example or explanation (or both)
6. Third supporting point
7. Example or explanation (or both)
8. Concluding sentence.

Grammar #4: Future Tense (due Sunday)

Tell the class about your plans after you finish taking English classes at HCC.

Outline for your paragraph

1. Topic sentence (main idea)
   1. Supporting point 1
      1. Examples
      2. Explanations
   2. Supporting point 2
      1. Examples
      2. Explanations
   3. Supporting point 3
      1. Examples
      2. Explanations

Musical Lesson #2: Future Time Clause

"When I'm 64," by the Beatles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGtSpsYURAQ

When I get older, losing my hair, many years from now
Will you still be sending me a valentine, birthday greetings, bottle of wine?
If I'd been out 'til quarter to three, would you lock the door?
Will you still need me, will you still feed me when I'm sixty-four?

You'll be older too
Ah, and if you say the word, I could stay with you

I could be handy, mending a fuse when your lights have gone
You can knit a sweater by the fireside, Sunday mornings, go for a ride
Doing the garden, digging the weeds, who could ask for more?
Will you still need me, will you still feed me when I'm sixty-four?

Every summer we can rent a cottage
In the Isle of Wight if it's not to, dear
We shall scrimp and save
Ah, grandchildren on your knee, Vera, Chuck and Dave

Send me a postcard, drop me a line stating point of view
Indicate precisely what you mean to say, yours sincerely wasting away
Give me your answer, fill in a form, mine forever more
Will you still need me, will you still feed me when I'm sixty-four?

Musical Lesson #1: Future Tense (promise)

"I Will Always Love You," by Whitney Houston

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_a35UwZlFvs

If I should stay,
I would only be in your way.
So I'll go, but I know
I'll think of you every step of the way.

And I will always love you.
I will always love you.
You, my darling you. Hmm.

Bittersweet memories
That is all I'm taking with me.
So, goodbye. Please, don't cry.
We both know I'm not what you need.

And I will always love you.
I will always love you.

I hope life treats you kind
And I hope you have all you've dreamed of.
And I wish to you, joy and happiness.
But above all this, I wish you love.

And I will always love you.
I will always love you.
I will always love you.
I will always love you.
I will always love you.
I, I will always love you.

You, darling, I love you.

Powerpoint Presentation: Future Tense

Writing # 3: Writing supporting sentences (due Tuesday, 9/6)

I made a mistake on the writing homework. Here is the corrected writing homework from last week:  p.33, pp. 35-36, pp. 38-39 (in the book) and p. 34 on the blog.

For this post, go to p. 34.  Choose 2 of the sentences on p. 34 and write 3 supporting sentences for each one.

Notes from today's class on time clauses

I head home after I go to the store.

After I go to the store, I head home.

 Before I go to bed each night, I brush my teeth.

I brush my teeth before I go to bed each night.

You missed the test because you were late for class.

Because you were late for class, you missed the test.

 Before class started, some students ate lunch.

1: Lunch

2: Class

Some students ate lunch before class started.

1. Lunch
2. Class

After class ended last week, Bow had a question.

1. Class ended
2. Bow had a question

While I was driving, I was listening to the radio.

While I was driving, I saw an accident on the road.

I saw an accident on the road while I was driving.

First, the a/c died.

Then, Mahi fell asleep.

As soon as the a/c died, Mahi fell asleep.

Mahi fell asleep as soon as the a/c died.

 As soon as Mahi fell asleep, the a/c died.

1. Mahi fell asleep
2. a/c died 

As soon as I finish this lesson, I will give you a break. (FUTURE TIME CLAUSE)

1. Finish the lesson
2. Give a break

When the rain began, I opened my umbrella.

1. Rain
2. Umbrella

As soon as I opened my umbrella, the rain began.

1. Umbrella
2. Rain

I woke up. The sun rose.

When I woke up, the sun rose.

1. I woke up
2. The sun rose

The sun rose when I woke up.

1. I woke up
2. The sun rose

When the sun rose, I woke up.

1. The sun rose
2. I woke up

I woke up when the sun rose.

1. The sun rose
2. I woke up

My neighbor knocked at the door.

I answered it.

When my neighbor knocked at the door, I answered it.

1. Neighbor knocked
2. I answered

I answered the door when the neighbor knocked.

What’s the rule? If 2 events happened in the simple past with when (or as soon as), the when-event (or the as soon as-event) happened first.

Grammar #3: Past habit (due Monday, 9/5)

Today in class I told you about my nighttime ritual when I was a kid, remember? How my mother used to tuck me into bed and tell me a special story?

Then we heard Maz Jobrani tell us what he used to do when he was a kid and how he used to feel when his father would come get him from the park.

For this post, I want you to tell us about something that you used to do when you were a kid. I do not want one sentence. I want a good explanation so we can really experience what you experienced :)

Remember: We can use USED TO + SV to express past habit.
               We can also use WOULD + SV to express past habit.

However, we cannot use WOULD + SV to express activities that didn't repeat in the past.
For example, I can say I USED TO LIVE IN NEW YORK or I USED TO WORK AT RICE UNIVERSITY but I cannot say I WOULD LIVE IN NEW YORK or I WOULD WORK AT RICE because that does not express a past habit (a habit is an action that repeats).

Maz Jobrani: Past habit

The title should be "Growing Up in America."