In the First Weeks of May...

Week 7th -14th May

Hello again!

Last month was a bit confusing with having lessons every one week, so let’s get restarted!

What did we do in the first weeks of May?

In the first week of May, we finished the module in the same way we had started it; that is, talking about participles and relative clauses.

We listened and read about ‘Jumbolair’ the only housing estate (residential area) where the super- rich can commute (travel) to work by plane!

But don’t be sad, remember: ‘Money can’t buy happiness’.

Jumbolair’s most famous resident is Hollywood film star John Travolta, whose $3.5 million mansion is big enough to park a row of aeroplanes, including a Gulfstream executive jet, a two-seater jet fighter, and a four-engined Boeing 707.

Travolta holds a commercial pilot’s license, which means he’s qualified to fly passenger jets.

Now that we have finished the module, don’t forget that:

There are two types of relative clauses: defining and non-defining, also called extra information clauses.

Defining relative clauses are essential for the meaning of the whole sentence. Extra information (non-defining), can be omitted without affecting the meaning of the sentence. They just “add” information.

Bear in mind (pay attention to)these differences:

Non-defining relative clauses.

·         They go between commas.

·         The relative pronoun can’t be left out (omitted).

·         “That” can’t be used instead of which or who.

Defining relative clauses.

·           “That” can be used instead of who or which.

·           The relative pronoun can be left out as long as it is the object of the sentence; that is, when it goes after the subject of the sentence.

Compare:

·           The girl who (that) is speaking is my neighbour’s daughter.

·           Is that the dog which (that) your brother gave you at Christmas?

·           Is that the dog your brother gave you at Christmas?

·           (no relative because the subject of the clause is “your brother”)

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·      Sue, who (that, is not possible) is speaking about the environment, is my neighbour’s daughter.

·      Mike’s new Mercedes, which (that is not possible; nor can it be omitted) he bought last year, is very elegant.

We also spent ‘A Night at the Oscars’

Yes! Your “Thanks, speech” was really moving. Obviously you were absolutely astonished and delighted to receive that wonderful award. And you were really grateful to those wonderful people who had voted for your film.

http://www.tinyteflteacher.co.uk/learning-english/FCE/adverbs-adjectives.html

So, that was about the first week of May, what about the second?

In the second week we started talking about friends, friendship and social networks.

Would you use a social network or a website to get in touch with old friends you haven’t heard about for years? It seems to me you wouldn’t. Neither would I. As you said, if you are really interested in your friendship, you would never lose touch in the first place.

And we learnt how to talk about habit.

PRESENT HABIT	PAST HABIT
A simple fact	A past habit now finished
My sister works in a bank	I used to live in Rome, but now I live in Paris.
My attitude to this habit of hers	A situation which is familiar and no longer strange
She’s always borrowing my clothes without asking me.	I’ve lived next to the airport for years, so I’m used to the noise.
Characteristic behaviour	A situation which is still strange, but becoming easier
She’ll go out on Friday night and won’t be back until morning.	I’m getting used to travelling on the metro.

And this was what we did in the first weeks of May!

See you!