. Computer room.
1. finish activities on passive.
2. practice writing an article on this page
http://www.examenglish.com/FCE/Cambridge_First_writing_part2_article.htm
welcome
Welcome to this blog. I hope it becomes a useful and interesting tool.
martes, 28 de febrero de 2017
miércoles, 22 de febrero de 2017
WRITING AN ARTICLE
Five Things You Need to Know about Writing Articles
In Cambridge First or Cambridge Advanced, you might be asked to write an article. But do you know what makes an article different from other types of writing?
1 The reader is identified
An article is like a direct conversation with the reader. The exam question might tell you who your readers are. For example, the students at a school, or the people living in a town or people who are interested in sports. Everything you write must speak to that reader and engage their interest right from the first sentence.
2 It has to get attention
If you're anywhere on the internet these days, you'll be bombarded with articles with headlines that pull the reader in. It's called "click baiting" and all the writer is trying to do is make you open the page to read their article. You need to think like a journalist when you're writing your article.
Look at the heading and the first line of this article. How did I get your attention?*
3 It has to be interesting
For an article to work, it has to be engaging enough to read all the way through. Remember how bored the examiner must be after reading fifty exam papers. Make it easier for them to get a good impression about your writing by entertaining them. Add humour, real life or made up examples, or make up quotes.
4 It has to be easy to read
Use subheadings to break up the text and make clear paragraphs. Write in a semi-informal, conversational style. And make sure there is organisation to your ideas. The planning stage is vital for this. Spend 5-10 minutes brainstorming ideas and choose the best three or four. Think what your subheadings might be and then write a short introduction that lets the reader know what to expect.
Keep in mind that you want the reader to keep reading, so don't tell them exactly what they will read. This is not an essay! In an essay you usually restate the question, explain how you will answer it and maybe say why it's important. In an article, that will kill the reader's interest.
Look back at this paragraph. What sentence style have I used that makes it semi-informal and speak directly to the reader?**
5 Write a good ending
In an essay you sum up the points that have gone before and draw a conclusion from that. But in an article, it's better to give the reader something to think about, perhaps by asking them another question or giving them a call to action. Often, the best endings link back to the starting point in some way.
Here are two endings I could use for this article:
1 The reader is identified
An article is like a direct conversation with the reader. The exam question might tell you who your readers are. For example, the students at a school, or the people living in a town or people who are interested in sports. Everything you write must speak to that reader and engage their interest right from the first sentence.
2 It has to get attention
If you're anywhere on the internet these days, you'll be bombarded with articles with headlines that pull the reader in. It's called "click baiting" and all the writer is trying to do is make you open the page to read their article. You need to think like a journalist when you're writing your article.
Look at the heading and the first line of this article. How did I get your attention?*
3 It has to be interesting
For an article to work, it has to be engaging enough to read all the way through. Remember how bored the examiner must be after reading fifty exam papers. Make it easier for them to get a good impression about your writing by entertaining them. Add humour, real life or made up examples, or make up quotes.
4 It has to be easy to read
Use subheadings to break up the text and make clear paragraphs. Write in a semi-informal, conversational style. And make sure there is organisation to your ideas. The planning stage is vital for this. Spend 5-10 minutes brainstorming ideas and choose the best three or four. Think what your subheadings might be and then write a short introduction that lets the reader know what to expect.
Keep in mind that you want the reader to keep reading, so don't tell them exactly what they will read. This is not an essay! In an essay you usually restate the question, explain how you will answer it and maybe say why it's important. In an article, that will kill the reader's interest.
Look back at this paragraph. What sentence style have I used that makes it semi-informal and speak directly to the reader?**
5 Write a good ending
In an essay you sum up the points that have gone before and draw a conclusion from that. But in an article, it's better to give the reader something to think about, perhaps by asking them another question or giving them a call to action. Often, the best endings link back to the starting point in some way.
Here are two endings I could use for this article:
- Look at your internet browsing history from the last day. Which articles got your attention? Can you see how they did it?
- So, now you know how to write an article, why don't you write one giving advice on something you know about?
Common mistakes students make in articles
- The language is too formal and more suited to essays. Avoid words like: to sum up, some people say, nevertheless, on one hand etc.
- They don't use quotes or examples
- They either use not enough, or too many, questions. The questions, called rhetorical questions because they don't require an answer, shouldn't be more than one per paragraph. Good examples are:
- Have you ever ……..?
- What do you think about ……..?
- Are you one of those people who thinks that ……?
- What would life be like if ……?
- Will the future bring us ….. ?
* A title which makes the subject immediately clear. For some reason, people like reading lists! And a direct, rhetorical question in the first paragraph to make readers want to find out the answer.
** I've used the imperative to give instructions. E.g. Think…Keep in mind…Write…Spend…
** I've used the imperative to give instructions. E.g. Think…Keep in mind…Write…Spend…
4th dates
1. Wednesday 1st march. Cosmic units 8, 7. Writing. An article
2. Tuesday 7th March. Literatur. Jane Austen, the traditional novel and Pride and prejudice.
2nd PMAR dates
Oral presentation. The city. Wednesday 1st MARCH.
Test unit 4. Wednesday 8th March.
Notebooks units 3,4. 8th March.
martes, 21 de febrero de 2017
3B DATES
27TH FEBRUARY. UNITS 10. GOLD EXPERIENCE
6TH MARCH 7TH MARCH. ORAL PRESENTATIONS, PLEASE ON PEN DRIVE.
10TH MARCH. CHAUCER AND THE CANTERBURY TALES.
lunes, 20 de febrero de 2017
4th eso. THE PASSIVE VOICE
READ AND REVISE HOW THE PASSIVE FORM IS USED (we studied in the beginning of year). make a mind map with the most important points. Attention to impersonal passives.
do activities on the link at the end of this page.
Use of Passive (from https://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/passive)
Passive voice is used when the focus is on the action. It is not important or not known, however, who or what is performing the action.
Example: My bike was stolen.
In the example above, the focus is on the fact that my bike was stolen. I do not know, however, who did it.
Sometimes a statement in passive is more polite than active voice, as the following example shows:
Example: A mistake was made.
In this case, I focus on the fact that a mistake was made, but I do not blame anyone (e.g. You have made a mistake.).
Form of Passive
Subject + finite form of to be + Past Participle (3rd column of irregular verbs)
Example: A letter was written.
When rewriting active sentences in passive voice, note the following:
- the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence
- the finite form of the verb is changed (to be + past participle)
- the subject of the active sentence becomes the object of the passive sentence (or is dropped)
Examples of Passive ![Level 2](https://www.ego4u.com/images/misc/level-2.png)
Tense | Subject | Verb | Object | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Simple Present | Active: | Rita | writes | a letter. |
Passive: | A letter | is written | by Rita. | |
Simple Past | Active: | Rita | wrote | a letter. |
Passive: | A letter | was written | by Rita. | |
Present Perfect | Active: | Rita | has written | a letter. |
Passive: | A letter | has been written | by Rita. | |
Future I | Active: | Rita | will write | a letter. |
Passive: | A letter | will be written | by Rita. | |
Modal verbs | Active: | Rita | can write | a letter. |
Passive: | A letter | can be written | by Rita. |
Examples of Passive ![Level 4](https://www.ego4u.com/images/misc/level-4.png)
Tense | Subject | Verb | Object | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Present Progressive | Active: | Rita | is writing | a letter. |
Passive: | A letter | is being written | by Rita. | |
Past Progressive | Active: | Rita | was writing | a letter. |
Passive: | A letter | was being written | by Rita. | |
Past Perfect | Active: | Rita | had written | a letter. |
Passive: | A letter | had been written | by Rita. | |
Future II | Active: | Rita | will have written | a letter. |
Passive: | A letter | will have been written | by Rita. | |
Conditional I | Active: | Rita | would write | a letter. |
Passive: | A letter | would be written | by Rita. | |
Conditional II | Active: | Rita | would have written | a letter. |
Passive: | A letter | would have been written | by Rita. |
Passive Sentences with Two Objects ![Level 3](https://www.ego4u.com/images/misc/level-3.png)
Rewriting an active sentence with two objects in passive voice means that one of the two objects becomes the subject, the other one remains an object. Which object to transform into a subject depends on what you want to put the focus on.
Subject | Verb | Object 1 | Object 2 | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Active: | Rita | wrote | a letter | to me. |
Passive: | A letter | was written | to me | by Rita. |
Passive: | I | was written | a letter | by Rita. |
.
As you can see in the examples, adding by Rita does not sound very elegant. That’s why it is usually dropped.
Personal and Impersonal Passive
Personal Passive simply means that the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence. So every verb that needs an object (transitive verb) can form a personal passive.
Example: They build houses. – Houses are built.
Verbs without an object (intransitive verb) normally cannot form a personal passive sentence (as there is no object that can become the subject of the passive sentence). If you want to use an intransitive verb in passive voice, you need an impersonal construction – therefore this passive is called Impersonal Passive.
Example: he says – it is said
Impersonal Passive is not as common in English as in some other languages (e.g. German, Latin). In English, Impersonal Passive is only possible with verbs of perception (e. g. say, think, know).
Example: They say that women live longer than men. – It is said that women live longer than men.
Although Impersonal Passive is possible here, Personal Passive is more common.
Example: They say that women live longer than men. – Women are said to live longer than men.
The subject of the subordinate clause (women) goes to the beginning of the sentence; the verb of perception is put into passive voice. The rest of the sentence is added using an infinitive construction with 'to' (certain auxiliary verbs and that are dropped).
Sometimes the term Personal Passive is used in English lessons if the indirect object of an active sentence is to become the subject of the passive sentence.
Exercises
Form of Passive
Subject + finite form of to be + Past Participle (3rd column of irregular verbs)
Example: A letter was written.
When rewriting active sentences in passive voice, note the following:
- the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence
- the finite form of the verb is changed (to be + past participle)
- the subject of the active sentence becomes the object of the passive sentence (or is dropped)
Examples of Passive ![Level 2](https://www.ego4u.com/images/misc/level-2.png)
Tense | Subject | Verb | Object | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Simple Present | Active: | Rita | writes | a letter. |
Passive: | A letter | is written | by Rita. | |
Simple Past | Active: | Rita | wrote | a letter. |
Passive: | A letter | was written | by Rita. | |
Present Perfect | Active: | Rita | has written | a letter. |
Passive: | A letter | has been written | by Rita. | |
Future I | Active: | Rita | will write | a letter. |
Passive: | A letter | will be written | by Rita. | |
Hilfsverben | Active: | Rita | can write | a letter. |
Passive: | A letter | can be written | by Rita. |
Examples of Passive ![Level 4](https://www.ego4u.com/images/misc/level-4.png)
Tense | Subject | Verb | Object | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Present Progressive | Active: | Rita | is writing | a letter. |
Passive: | A letter | is being written | by Rita. | |
Past Progressive | Active: | Rita | was writing | a letter. |
Passive: | A letter | was being written | by Rita. | |
Past Perfect | Active: | Rita | had written | a letter. |
Passive: | A letter | had been written | by Rita. | |
Future II | Active: | Rita | will have written | a letter. |
Passive: | A letter | will have been written | by Rita. | |
Conditional I | Active: | Rita | would write | a letter. |
Passive: | A letter | would be written | by Rita. | |
Conditional II | Active: | Rita | would have written | a letter. |
Passive: | A letter | would have been written | by Rita. |
Passive Sentences with Two Objects ![Level 3](https://www.ego4u.com/images/misc/level-3.png)
Rewriting an active sentence with two objects in passive voice means that one of the two objects becomes the subject, the other one remains an object. Which object to transform into a subject depends on what you want to put the focus on.
Subject | Verb | Object 1 | Object 2 | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Active: | Rita | wrote | a letter | to me. |
Passive: | A letter | was written | to me | by Rita. |
Passive: | I | was written | a letter | by Rita. |
As you can see in the examples, adding by Rita does not sound very elegant. That’s why it is usually dropped.
Personal and Impersonal Passive
Personal Passive simply means that the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence. So every verb that needs an object (transitive verb) can form a personal passive.
Example: They build houses. – Houses are built.
Verbs without an object (intransitive verb) normally cannot form a personal passive sentence (as there is no object that can become the subject of the passive sentence). If you want to use an intransitive verb in passive voice, you need an impersonal construction – therefore this passive is called Impersonal Passive.
Example: he says – it is said
Impersonal Passive is not as common in English as in some other languages (e.g. German, Latin). In English, Impersonal Passive is only possible with verbs of perception (e. g. say, think, know).
Example: They say that women live longer than men. – It is said that women live longer than men.
Although Impersonal Passive is possible here, Personal Passive is more common.
Example: They say that women live longer than men. – Women are said to live longer than men.
The subject of the subordinate clause (women) goes to the beginning of the sentence; the verb of perception is put into passive voice. The rest of the sentence is added using an infinitive construction with 'to' (certain auxiliary verbs and that are dropped).
Sometimes the term Personal Passive is used in English lessons if the indirect object of an active sentence is to become the subject of the passive sentence.
Exercises
Exercises on Passive (Form)
- Exercise on Passive with Simple Present
- Exercise on Passive with Simple Past
- Exercise on Passive with Present Perfect
- Exercise on Passive with Future I
Exercises on Passive (Active → Passive)
- Exercise on Passive with Simple Present
- Exercise on Passive with Simple Past
- Exercise on Passive with Present Perfect
- Exercise on Passive with Future I
- Exercise on Passive with Auxiliary Verbs
- Mixed Exercise on Passive with Passive
- Sentences with 2 Objects (Indirect Object, Personal Passive)
- Sentences with 2 Objects (Direct Object)
- Personal Passive (verbs of perception)
- Exercise on Passive with Present Progressive
- Exercise on Passive with Past Progressive
- Exercise on Passive with Past Perfect
- Exercise on Passive with Future II
- Exercise on Passive with Conditional I
- Exercise on Passive with Conditional II
Exercises on Passive (Active or Passive)
- Exercise on Simple Present
- Exercise on Simple Past
- Exercise on Present Perfect
- Exercise on Future I with will
- Exercise – The Statue of Liberty
(neu)
- Exercise – Portal Dolmen
(neu)
- Summary – The Fellowship of the Ring, part 2, part 3
Grammar in Texts
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