Dependent Prepositions

Many of you don't know, but I have recently applied myself to a CAE (Certificate in Advanced English) preparatory course to try my hand at taking the exam by the end of this year. I always wanted to take these proficiency exams in order to keep up with my studies English language and to give a deeper and proper orientation to my students who are usually curious about them. Well, the time has finally come. 

Throughout this experience I intend to share some of my acquired knowledge, worries, fears, etc. This first post is to talk a little about Dependent Preposition...also known as "Hell" (JK).

As learners of English, prepositions are usually a tough part...also for native speakers. Surprise was when I faced the dependent prepositions in the CAE course. The blog You English Lessons Blog defines dependent preposition like:

In the English language, there are many verbs, nouns and adjectives which are followed by specific prepositions.  The prepositions are called dependent because their choice depends on the particular word and its meaning.

Although the prepositions depend on particular words, it does not mean you are free to change them as you wish. If they are dependent, it means they will always be together, they depend on each other, okay?

And then it pops up into our minds: How can we learn them by heart? Easy. Apply the same techniques used to study regular and irregular verbs: MEMORIZATION & PRACTICE!

Trying to make the way easier and softer, I'll share with you a list extracted from the Complete Guide to the TOEIC Test with the most common dependent prepositions. I thank Silvia, my teacher and tutor, for having shared it with me last week because it's old, but gold though. The PDF with a better quality is available by the end of this post.

A really cool way to check and confirm your "guesses" is to assess the Cambridge Dictionary because it brings examples where the dependent prepositions are in bold. For learners, it's a good idea to get the list above and try to create meaningful sentences applying each of them.

Remember: when you use verbs after prepositions, they must come in the -ing form. 
E.g.:

I'm not afraid of speaking in public.

They are interested in working in groups.

Would you like to practice? Click here and try the exercises to put into practice what you've learned about Dependent Prepositions.

If you want the list presented in this post in PDF with a better quality, click here.

Any contributions, don't hesitate to write to contato@teacherpedrobrandao.com.br or simply to leave a comment.

An Activity for Each Vacation Day

July is vacation time for most students of languages. It's really important to give the brain a break of too much systematic study. However, we've selected a fun activity per day so that you can keep in touch with the language throughout this period, but with pleasure, of course. They're just suggestions, feel free to modify or adapt the way you want. Enjoy!!

July 1st – Choose a TV series to follow during your vacation and watch 1 or 2 episodes. (Have you ever heard about Once Upon a Time?) There are lots available on Netflix or PopCorn Time. - remember to watch it subtitled!

July 2nd –  Click here to practice the Simple Present. Would you like to know what's going on around the world? Click here and see news in different English levels, from basic to advanced with audio, text, and video.

July 3rd – Practice your vocabulary with a Crossword game clicking here. Also, get to know Duolinguo, a fantastic app for language students.

July 4th – Click here to watch Vincent, a short film by Tim Burton. Try some Duolinguo.

July 5th – Watch more 1 or 2 episodes from the TV series you decided to follow. (Have you tried watching it with English subtitles?)

July 6th – How about practicing your listening with some conversations? Just click here. 

July 7th – Read the article “There is/ There are” by clicking here and here.

July 8th – Choose a song you like and study it. Collect the vocabulary you don't know, check the translation if you really think it's necessary. Sing it over and over again. 

July 9th – Watch the movie Night at the museum I. Pay attention to the vocabulary! It's a good idea to take notes of the new words.  It's available on PopCorn Time.

July 10th – Read more about Present Perfect here. If you have more time, check this short video about common mistakes in spoken English.

July 11th – Select a section of your New Headway book and review what you have studied in class so far. Try some Duolinguo.

July 12th – Watch the new Disney’s animation: Big Hero 6 (How about trying it with English subtitles!) It's available on PopCorn Time.

July 13th – Read “What Happened, Then?”  to discover what happened in your birth year! Click here to see the magic. After that, choose another song you like and study it. Sing out loud!!!

July 14th – Practice English Tenses here. Try some Duolinguo.

July 15th – Watch as much episodes as you can from your TV series.

July 16th – Shall we practice Can X Can’t? Click here. 

July 17th – Read this “Let it go” article and watch its music video. Try some Duolinguo.

July 18th – Select a section of your New Headway book and review what you have studied in class so far. Have you studied them all? So, why not another song from here?

July 19th – Watch Night at the Museum II. I'm sure you can use English subtitles now. Let's try?

July 20th – Practice Time Expressions here. If it's too hard, google "Time Expressions" first!

July 21st – Find the pair of opposites with these Marble Game. Did you like this game? Check these!

July 22nd – Vacation is time to...Write Letters!!! See how to do it here and write a letter or an e-mail for a friend of yours that speak English too. (I'd love to receive news from you...hehehe) 

July 23rd – What's the difference between I x ME ? Check it here if you are right, and then learn specific vocabulary about how to behave at an AIRPORT!

July 24th – Let's practice Possessives. There's more about here and here.

July 25th – Watch “How to train your dragon”, “Rio”, or "Matilda". Most available on Netflix or PopCorn Time.

July 26th – Study Comparative vs. Superlative here and after see how many examples you can find in this song by Counting Crows or in this one by Kelly Clarkson. Maybe in this other by Justin...Bieber.

July 27th – Are good at finding things? Whatever...try this adjective wordsearch and have fun! Try some Duolinguo.

July 28th – Read this movie review of “Letters to Juliet” and in case you like it,  watch  it! You didn't like it or have already watched? Choose another movie you want to see. There are lots available on Netflix or PopCorn Time.

July 29th -Select a section of your New Headway book and review what you have studied in class so far. Have you studied them all? So, follow Amigo Gringo on Youtube and get real cool tips on the language.

July 30th – Read and watch the videos of “How good are you?”. Try some Duolinguo.

July 31st – End your vacation watching more of your TV series or watching “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” available on Netflix or PopCorn Time.

July is over! It's time to go back because your teacher is missing you =)

PRACTICING ENGLISH THROUGH MUSIC

Learning English doesn't have to be dry and boring rote memorization, Lyrics Training sharpens your skills through the music videos and the lyrics of your favorite songs.

It's a really fun approach to help you pick up your foreign language. All you have to do is choose a YouTube-hosted music video and select one of four mastery levels; Beginner; Intermediate; Advanced, and Expert. As the video begins to play, the song's lyrics appear underneath with lots of words missing. Your job if filling these blanket spaces with the words as they're sung.

If you get lost during the song or don't understand what was said, the video stops playing and give you time to figure out what the missing word is. But, if you really can't guess it, there's a "Give up!" button to see the words that confused you.

The site is free and don't require registration for use!!!! There's nothing better than descovering that learning can be fun and free at same!!

 LYRICS TRAINING

By Luiza Gomes

Good Evening X Good Night

As in Portuguese there's only one way to say "Boa Noite!", always happens a misunderstanding on choosing between "Good Evening!" or "Good Night!".

• GOOD EVENING is more commonly used to greet the hosts and guests at the moment you arrive at an event. To say Hi!

• GOOD NIGHT is used when you are leaving the event, to say Goodbye!

Follow the examples:

• Hello, good evening and welcome to our new store. 
• [...] Thank you so much for your attention. Good night everybody.

• - Good evening Mr. Banner, would you like some coffee?
• - I would love it, but I really have to go now. I'm sorry, good night!

By Luiza Gomes

HOME or HOUSE?

HOUSE:

Used to describe a particular type of bulding.

• We stayed overnight at Mike's (Mike's house)
• I'm going to buy Emma a doll's house for Christmas
• Maria paid someone to paint her house

HOME:

Is where you live and feel that you belong to. Used in a more sentimental way.

• It's not very big but it's my home
• Why don't you phone her? I think she's at home
• We were at home in bed when our car was stolen from outside the house

By Luiza Gomes

FRUIT or FRUITS?

The noun FRUIT is na exception where it is both countable and uncountable. So its plural can be either FRUIT or FRUITS.

 (1) When fruit refers to a group in a non-specific way, we tend to use the noun in its singular form:

• You should eat fruit every day.
• Would you like some fruit?
• There isn't much fresh fruit available in winter.

(2) When we are emphasising the different kinds of fruit, we use the noun in its plural form:

• My favorite fruits are bananas, apples and strawberries.
• I love oranges and other citrus fruits.
• The juice is made from a variety of fresh fruits.

A piece of fruit: used ro refer to one fruit without specifying which one is it:

• She Always has a piece of fruit for her breakfast.

The fruit of something: expression meaning the good results that you obtain:

• The award she received is the fruit of her hardwork. 

By Luiza Gomes

 

How do you say DAR AS CARTAS in English?

Dar as cartas can have two different meanings, so it has also two different translations:

Meaning (1)  "to take the decision, detein the power"

Dar as cartas: TO CALL THE SHOTS

>> If you want to talk bussines, you have to see Jerry. He is the one who calls the shots around here.

      Se você quer falar de negócios, precisa se encontrar com Jerry. É ele quem da as cartas por aqui.

Meaning (2) "in a card's game"

Dar as cartas: TO DEAL THE CARDS

>> You're cheating, and I won't let you deal the cards again!

       Você está roubando, e não vou deixá-lo dar as cartas de novo!

Other card's game vocabulary:

Suit: naipe

To shuffle the cards: embaralhar as cartas

To have a good hand: ter uma boa mão (boas cartas)

The Deck: o baralho

By Luiza Gomes

American Slang

Slang: informal language consisting of words and expressions that are not considered appropriate for formal occasions. It's the characteristic language of a particular group.

As every country, Americans have also their own way of speaking, some of the common slangs are:

What's up: How are you?

To ace (test, exam): To pass an exam

A dime a dozen: something so easy to find that it don't have much value

As if: used to suggest that something is not likely to happen

Awesome (adjective): great, fantastic

A piece of cake: when something is really easy

Break a leg: to wish good luck, especially between actors

To cost an arm and a leg: to cost really expensive

You can check INFOSQUARES for more commonly-used American Slang
or Watch this video:

By Luiza Gomes

COMPARATIVE vs. SUPERLATIVE

COMPARATIVE
Is used to compare differences between two objects.

e.g.: Maria is smarter than Joana.

SUPERLATIVE

Is used to describe an object which is at the upper or lower limit of a quality. It's used in sentences where the subject is compared to a group of objects.

e.g.: Maria is the smartest of the class.

FORMING COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE

1 syllable adjectives: add -er (comparative)  or -est (superlative)

This bag is cheaper than the other.

This bag it the cheapest in the store.

1 syllable adjectives ending in consonant-vowel-consonant: double the last consonant and add -er (comparative)  or -est (superlative)

My house is bigger than Maria's.

My house is the biggest on the street.

2 syllable adjectives ending in -y: change the -y to -i and add -er (comparative) or -est (superlative)

Are you happier today?

My mom is the luckiest person I know.

Adjectives with 2 or more syllables: use more (comparative) or the most (superlative) with the unchanged adjective

My sister ir more careful with her writing than I am with mine.

She is the most careful person I know.

Yet, some adjectives are irregular and require other rules:

Examples:

My grades are better than yours, but Jo's is the best in our class.

Today might be the worst day in my life. At least it started worse than yesterday.

This store sells less than the others because it's the least known.

Let's practice? Click on Superlative or Comparative and download free exercises.

MAKE vs. DO

There aren't any restricted rules about the use of "make" or "do" but some tips may help!

 'MAKE' is used to create or construct something:

• Last night, we made a cake.
• He made me a cup of tea.
• Did she really make the dinner?

'DO' is used for general activities, often used with 'something', 'nothing', 'anything' or 'everything':

• She does her own clothes.
• Yesterday, my mom did all the work by herself.
• Did she do the dishes?
• Are you planning to do anything cool today?

Some games can be usefull to the learning process:

Click on Teachers Invaders and have fun!

By Luiza Gomes

"I" or "Me"?

The two personal pronouns I and me are often used wrongly, usually in sentences in which I is being used with another noun. Here are some tips to help you get it right:

• Use the pronoun I, along with other subjective pronouns such as we, he, she, you, and they,when the pronoun is the subject of a verb:

He went to bed.

We waited for the bus.

Clare and I are going for a coffee.

In the last example, the pronoun I, together with the proper noun Clare, forms the subject of the sentence, so you need to use I rather than me.

• Use the pronoun me, along with other objective pronouns such as us, him, her, you, and them,when the pronoun is the object of a verb:

Danny thanked them.

The dog followed John and me to the door.

In the last example, the pronoun me, together with the proper noun John, forms the object of the verb follow, so you need to use me rather than I.

• Use the pronoun me, along with other objective pronouns such as us, him, her, you, and them,when the pronoun is the object of a preposition:

Rose spent the day with Jake and me.

Me, together with Jake, forms the object of the preposition with, so you need to use the pronoun me rather than the pronoun I.

An easy way of making sure you’ve chosen the right pronoun is to see whether the sentence reads properly if you remove the additional noun:

√ I am going for a coffee	X Me am going for a coffee
√ Rose and I went for a coffee	X Rose and me went for a coffee
√ The dog followed me	X The dog followed I
√ Rose spent the day with me	X Rose spent the day with I

Source: Oxford Dictionaries