Gramática

Temas concretos de Gramática: verbos frasales, modales, voz pasiva, etc...

Léxico

Campos léxicos, sinónimos, antónimos, homónimos, falsos amigos, lenguaje tabú y un largo etcétera

Historias y humor

Pequeño cajón desastre para mis historias, anécdotas en mis clases, recuerdos...

Mis libros

Aquí podéis ver un pequeño resumen de mis libros más importantes

Charlas y conferencias

Las más significativas a lo largo de mi vida académica. Y las próximas

29/4/14

Preparing for the 'oposiciones': The Subjunctive.


The subjunctive in English has only one form, which coincides with the base of the verb (the infinitive without to), and is the same for all persons without the addition of -s in the third person singular: She demands that you/he see her as soon as possible (ella exige que tú la veas/él la vea lo antes posible).
It could be said that the subjunctive has a limited use in contemporary English, but it can be found mainly in the following cases:

- in subordinate clauses introduced by that when the verb in the main clause expresses request, command, order, suggestion, etc., the so-called mandative subjunctive with verbs such as to demand, to order, to request, to insist, to suggest, etc:


They demanded that all political prisoners be released (Exigieron que todos los prisioneros políticos fueran liberados)

He insisted that the visitors be well treated (Insistió en que los visitantes fueran bien tratados)
My boss suggested that I take German lessons (Mi jefe me sugirió que tomara clases de alemán)

- in subordinate clauses introduced by that, when the verb in the main clause expresses a feeling or an emotion, the so-called emotive subjunctive:


It is strange that he refuse to see us (es extraño que se niegue a vernos)

I'm surprised that he behave like that (me sorprende que se comporte así)

- in subordinate clauses introduced by that, when the verb in the main clause expresses possibility, impossibility, supposition or necessity, the so-called putative subjunctive:


It is impossible that this go on much longer (es imposible que esto continue mucho más tiempo)

I prefer that he drive (prefiero que conduzca él)

In all three cases, there is an alternative with should in Br.E:


They demanded that all political prisoners should be released

I'm surprised that he should behave like that
I prefer that he should drive

Note

Were has a subjunctive value in some subordinate clauses and can be used, as well as was, to translate the Spanish past subjunctive:

If I were/was rich, I would buy you anything you wanted (si yo fuera rico, te compraría todo lo que quisieras); he speaks as though he were/was the boss here (habla como si fuera el jefe aquí); I wish the journey were/was over (ojalá hubiera terminado el viaje).
However, in the fixed phrases if I were you (si yo fuera tú) and as it were (por así decirlo), only were is used. 

Other constructions equivalent to the Spanish subjunctive


Apart from the subjunctive with should or the subjunctive proper, there are other constructions that can be used to translate the Spanish subjunctive, the most frequent ones being:


- Accusative + infinitive, with verbs that express command, request, permission, advice and wishing and their opposites (to want, to wish, to like, to love, to tell, to ask, to order/command, to beg, to expect, to allow, to advise, to forbid, etc.):


I want you to stay - quiero que te quedes

He told me to wait - me dijo que esperara
The doctor advised me to give up smoking - el médico me aconsejó que dejara de fumar

- I wish/if only + simple past, past perfect or would:


I wish I knew - ojalá lo supiera

I wish you had told me - ojalá me lo hubieras dicho
I wish she would marry me - ojalá se casara conmigo

- indicative mood: the indicative is frequently used in English, equivalent to a Spanish subjunctive, especially in the following cases:


a) adverbial subordinates of time:

I'll give him your message as soon as I see him - le daré tu mensaje tan pronto como lo vea

b) second and third conditionals:

If it rained, we would stay at home - si lloviera, nos quedaríamos en casa
If it had rained, we would have stayed at home - si hubiera llovido, nos habríamos quedado en casa

c) in various other subordinate clauses, where English uses the present, past, future or conditional depending upon the idea inherent in the clause:

I don't think he's in London - no creo que esté en Londres
I don't think she murdered her husband - no creo que ella asesinara a su marido
I don't think we'll go to Italy this year - no creo que vayamos a Italia este año
They're looking for someone who speaks Russian - están buscando a alguien que hable ruso
He disguised himself so that nobody would recognize him - se disfrazó para que nadie lo reconociera

For a complete treatment of other constructions used in English to translate the Spanish subjunctive see my Gramática Inglesa, 9ª ed., Pearson-Longman, chapter 12, pp. 330-339.


EXERCISE


Translate the following sentences into English, using the subjunctive proper or an appropriate alternative:


1.- Las órdenes del coronel son que ataquemos al amanecer.

2.- Si yo fuera tú, no me pondría ese vestido.
3.- Si yo supiera nadar, no me importaría ir contigo en esa barca.
4.- No creo que (él) lo haga.
5.- Llegamos a la estación antes de que saliera el tren.
6.- ¡Ojalá no me hubiera casado tan joven!
7.- El juez ordenó que el prisionero fuera liberado.
8.- Si yo fuera rico, iría de vacaciones a México.
9.- ¡Ojalá Carlos no fuera tan grosero!
10.- Insistimos en que sea llevado al hospital inmediatamente.
11.- Es urgente que tu padre venga a verme cuanto antes.
12.- Que yo sepa, el jefe no ha llegado aún.

KEY


1.- The colonel's orders are that we attack at dawn.

2.- If I were you, I wouldn't wear that dress.
3.- If I knew how to swim, I wouldn't mind going with you on that boat.
4.- I don't think he'll do it.
5.- We arrived at/got to the station before the train left.
6.- I wish I hadn't married so young!
7.- The judge ordered that the prisoner (should) be released.
8.- If I were/was rich, I would go to Mexico for my holidays.
9.- I wish Charles wouldn't be so rude.
10.- We insist that he (should) be taken to hospital immediately/right away.
11.- It's urgent that your father (should) come to see me as soon as possible.
12.- As far as I know, the boss hasn't arrived yet.



27/4/14

Sir Francis: pedos 'históricos'

Entre los pedos ‘históricos’ más sonoros y olorosos, se encuentra sin duda el soltado por un tal Don Diego, caballero español del siglo XVI, en la catedral de St. Paul’s, en Londres. Otro pedo famoso, en la historia más próxima a nuestros días, sobre el que Sir Francis nos habló en cierta ocasión, es el lanzado por un caballo en la ceremonia de recepción a un jefe de estado portugués en el palacio de Buckingham. Dicen que la Reina, turbada por el ruidoso incidente, se disculpó ante su ilustre huésped, diciendo: «I’m sorry» y éste, quitándole importancia a lo sucedido, respondió: «It’s all right, Your Majesty, anyway I thought it had been the horse». («Lo siento». «No importa, Majestad, de todos modos creí que había sido el caballo»).

25/4/14

Preparing for the 'oposiciones': homographs

We say that two or more words are homographs when they are written the same, but pronounced differently. Here are some examples:

bow  /b@U/ - arco; lazo

bow   /baU/ - reverencia; proa

close  /kl@Us/ - cerca, junto a
to close  /kl@Uz/ - cerrar    
 
desert /"dez@t/ - desierto             

to desert  /dI"z3:t/ - desertar

house /haUs/ - casa          

to house  /haUz/ - albergar

job /dZQb/ - trabajo          

Job   /dZ@Ub/ - Job              

lead  /led/ - plomo              
to lead  /li:d/ - llevar, guiar, conducir            

live  /laIv/ - en directo             

to live /lIv/ - vivir      

minute /"mInIt/ - minuto                

minute  /maI"nju:t/ - diminuto
  
Polish /"p@UlIS/ - polaco
to polish  /"pQlIS/ - pulir            
 
to read /ri:d/ - leer

read  /red/ - pdo y participio pdo del verbo to read

(to) row  /r@U/ - fila, hilera; remar

row  /raU/ - pelea, riña

to sow  /s@U/ - sembrar

sow /saU/ - cerda

tear /tI@/ - lágrima

to tear  /te@/ - rasgar 

wind  /wInd/ - viento

to wind /waInd/ - dar cuerda; enrollar

wound  /wu:nd/ - herida

to wound  /waUnd/ - pdo y participio pdo del verbo to wind

Para homófonos, homónimos y ejercicios fonéticos, ver mi Manual de Pronunciación Inglesa Comparada con la Española, 5ª ed., Editorial Comares, pp. 185-193 y 271-289.




23/4/14

Preparing for the 'oposiciones': pares mínimos

Entendemos por 'par mínimo' (minimal pair) dos palabras que se diferencian en su pronunciación sólo en un fonema:

PARES MÍNIMOS  /V/ - /Q/

buddy        amigote                          

body          cuerpo

cup          taza                                              
cop          policía

cut           cortar                              
cot           cuna

duck        pato                                
dock        muelle 

hut         cabaña                            
hot         caliente

luck       suerte                              
lock       cerradura

puppy    cachorro                          
poppy    amapola

rub         frotar                               
rob         robar

lung       pulmón                            
long       largo

rung       peldaño                            
wrong     equivocado

suck        chupar                              
sock        calcetín

shut        cerrar                               
shot        tiro


EJERCICIO 1

Completar con una palabra que contenga /V/


a)  You can buy her a pair of g______.
b) My mother lives on a farm in the  c_____.
c)  He’ll come to visit us next m______.
d)  Would you like some more b______ on your toast?
e)   Lovely weather for d_______ !

f) My son is getting married on S_______ and begins his h_______ on M______.

EJERCICIO 2

Completar con una palabra que contenga /Q/

a)   He’s got a cold and c______ a lot.
b)   There are too many p_____ and pans in the kitchen.
c)  Please l______ the door before you go to bed.
d)   She got l_______ in the fog.
e)  The q_______ of the service here has improved quite a l_______.

CLAVE

Ejercicio 1: a)  gloves; b) country; c) month; d) butter; e) ducks; f) Sunday, honeymoon, Monday.

Ejercicio 2: a) coughs; b) pots; c) lock; d) lost; e) quality, lot.

Para más pares mínimos, ver mi Manual de Pronunciación Inglesa Comparada con la Española, 5ª ed., Editorial Comares, pp. 137-183, y para más ejercicios fonéticos, pp. 271-289




21/4/14

English isn't as easy as you think.

Aquí os dejo un divertido artículo que me acaba de reenviar mi sobrino Antonio Sánchez-Benedito, al que a su vez se lo envió Cristina Queipo de Llano, antigua alumna mía. Espero os guste.

English Isn't As Easy As You Think. This Guy Nails It.



You think English is easy?

1) The bandage was wound around the wound.

2) The farm was used to produce produce.

3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.

4) We must polish the Polish furniture..

5) He could lead if he would get the lead out.

6) The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert..

7) Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.

8) A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.

9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.

10) I did not object to the object.

11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid.

12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.

13) They were too close to the door to close it.

14) The buck does funny things when the does are present.

15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.

16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.

17) The wind was too strong to wind the sail.

18) Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear..

19) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.

20) How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?

Let's face it - English is a crazy language. There is no egg in eggplant, nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren't invented in England or French fries in France . Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat. We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.

And why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham? If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth, beeth? One goose, 2 geese. So one moose, 2 meese? One index, 2 indices? Doesn't it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend? If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it?

If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat? Sometimes I think all the English speakers should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane. In what language do people recite at a play and play at a recital? Ship by truck and send cargo by ship? Have noses that run and feet that smell?

How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites? You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out and in which, an alarm goes off by going on.

English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race, which, of course, is not a race at all. That is why, when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible.

Preparing for the 'oposiciones': suffixes used to form verbs

Suffixes used to form verbs:

-en: to blacken (ennegrecer), to darken (oscurecer), to harden (endurecer), to lenghten (alargar), to sharpen (afilar), to shorten (acortar), to strengthen (fortalecer), to soften (ablandar, suavizar), to sweeten (endulzar), to weaken (debilitar), to whiten (blanquear), to widen (ensanchar)
-ate: to chlorinate (tratar con cloro), to dehydrate (deshidratar), to humiliate (humillar), to originate (originar)
-ize/-ise: to apologize (disculparse), to criticize (criticar), to legalize (legalizar), to organize (organizar)

-ify: to falsify [falsificar (hechos, recibos, documentos, etc)]horrify (horrorizar), to purify (purificar), to simplify (simplificar)

EXERCISE

Derive verbs from the words given; then translate into Spanish: 

a.- hyphen 
b.- deaf 
c.- glory 
d.- terror 
e.- vaccine 
f.- theory 
g.- person 
h.- loose 
i.- mummy (momia)
j.- damp
k.- authentic
l.- red

KEY

a.- to hyphenate (unir con guión)
b.- to deafen (ensordecer)
c.- to glorify (glorificar)
d.- to terrorize (aterrorizar)
e.- to vaccinate (vacunar)
f.- to theorize (teorizar)
g.- to personify (personificar)
h.- to loosen (aflojar)
i.- to mummify (momificar)
j.- to dampen (humedecer)
k.- to authenticate (autentificar)
l.- to redden (enrojecer)

For prefixes and suffixes, see my Gramática Inglesa, 9ª ed., Pearson-Longman, pp. 620-628.



19/4/14

Grammar review: Practical exercises-4 (verb + preposition)


Today we're going to review verbs + prepositions http://sanchezbenedito.blogspot.com.es/2013/08/verbo-preposicion.html

PRACTICAL EXERCISE

Fill in the gaps with the correct preposition:

1.- We'll appeal ..... the High Court.
2.- The farmers will benefit .......... the recent rains.
3.- He consented .......... being interviewed.
4.- They embarked ........... an exciting adventure.
5.- Someone's knocking ...........the door.
6.- If he doesn't get better, we'll have to operate ....... his back.
7.- He pleaded .......... the bank manager ..... more time to repay the loan.
8.- I hadn't reckoned ..... such a delay.
9.- His statement admits ...... one interpretation only.
10.- The thieves robbed the old man ..... all his money.
11.- The pickpocket stole the purse ...... her.
12.- His behaviour strikes me ...... a bit odd.

KEY

1.- to; 2.- from; 3.- to; 4.- on/upon; 5.- at/on; 6.- on; 7.- to, for; 8.- on; 9.- of; 10.- of; 11.- from; 12.- as

For more information about verb + preposition, see my Gramática Inglesa, 9ª ed., Pearson-Longman, appendix 4 (pp. 662-677).

17/4/14

Grammar review: practical exercises-3 (conditionals)

Hoy vamos a revisar las oraciones condicionales http://sanchezbenedito.blogspot.com.es/2013/09/oraciones-condicionales.html

haciendo un par de ejercicios prácticos:

EJERCICIO-1

Pon los verbos entre paréntesis en el tiempo adecuado:

1.- She wouldn't marry him if he .............(not be) a millionnaire.
2.- The lid ...........(leak) if you don't do it up tightly.
3.- If he wasn't/weren't so vain, he ..........(have) more friends.
4.- I'd like to drive a racing car if I........(have) the chance.
5.- If I had invested in The Costa del Sol, I ........(be) rich now.
6.- If he............(be) honest, he would have returned the money.
7.- If it ............(rain), I'll give you a lift.
8.- If water is frozen, it ...... (expand).
9.- If I ............(practise) more, I wouldn't have failed my driving test.
10.- If I had been more careful, I...........(not cut) my finger.

EJERCICIO- 2

Transforma las oraciones en (a), usando unless en todas ellas y empezando con la palabra dada en (b):

1a.- If it doesn't get more money, the hospital will close.
1b.- The ....................
2a.- Speak to him only if he speaks to you first.
2b.- Don't ...........................
3a.- Without a change in your attitude, you'll never be a champion.
3b.- You'll.........................................
4a.- If the economy doesn't pick up, I'll go back to my country.
4b.- I'll.............................................................
5a.- You will be taken to court if you don't pay up.
5b.- Unless ...................................................
6a.- My brother-in-law will sell the car to somebody else if I don't telephone him today.
6b.- Unless ..........................................................


CLAVE

EJERCICIO 1

1.- wasn't/weren't; 2.- will leak; 3.- would have; 4.- had; 5.- would be; 6.- had been; 7.- rains; 8.- expands; 9.- had practised; 10.- I wouldn't have cut. 

EJERCICIO 2

1b.- The hospital will close unless it gets more money.
2b.- Don't speak to him unless he speaks to you first.
3b.- You'll never be a champion unless you change your attitude.
4b.- I'll go back to my country unless the economy picks up.
5b.- Unless you pay up, you will be taken to court.
6b.- Unless I telephone him today, my brother-in-law will sell the car to somebody else.



15/4/14

Grammar review: practical exercises-2 (that/which)



To continue with our grammar-review program, today I suggest an exercise to give you the opportunity to practise the two relative pronouns which and that
http://sanchezbenedito.blogspot.com.es/2013/06/cuando-se-usa-that-y-cuando-which.html

EXERCISE

Fill in the gaps with that or which as adequate. In some cases, you'll find that both are possible:

1.- He has hundreds of books, most of ..........are unread.
2.- A computer and a few CDs was all .........was taken in the robbery.
3.- We were told that we would be held responsible for anything ........went wrong.
4.- We didn't like the hotel at .......... we stayed to last summer.
5.- He kept me waiting for two hours, ..........annoyed me intensely.
6.- The cheque ...........he was given by the buyers was returned by the bank.
7.- The thought of going home to his family was all ........kept him happy while he was working abroad.
8.- The biggest event next year will be the Olympic Games, .........will be held in July.
9.- This is the bridge from .........he jumped.
10.- That's a tradition ...........goes back to the 17th century.
11.- There was little ..........interested me at the exhibition.
12.- Take that lift over there; it's the only one ........ works.

KEY

1.- which; 2.- that; 3.- that (which is also possible, but not common); 4.- which (though the hotel we stayed at is much more common); 5.- which; 6.- that/relative omitted (which is also possible, but not common); 7.- that; 8.- which; 9.- which (this is the bridge he jumped from is more colloquial); 10.- that/which; 11.- that; 12.- that (which is also possible, but quite uncommon).

13/4/14

Grammar review: practical exercises - 1 (simple past/present perfect)

Today begins our Holy Week, and I'm sure you are going to be too busy watching our splendid processions to study any grammar or vocabulary, but I suggest you reserve a minute to review some of my grammar posts and do some practical exercises. 
Today we'll begin with the difference between the simple past and the present perfect http://sanchezbenedito.blogspot.com.es/2013/08/present-perfectsimple-past.html

PRACTICAL EXERCISES

EXERCISE -1

Only two of the eight sentences below are correct. Put the incorrect ones right:

1.- My grandfather, who died two months ago, has worked in            India for five years.
2.- When I was young, I've spent many years travelling around            Spain.
3.- I've never seen anyone play so well in my whole life.
4.- I have known a woman once who had six dogs and eleven cats.
5.- Derek drove to York last week to visit his parents.
6.- Jane felt hungry. Then she has remembered that there was              some salad left in the fridge.
7.- Phone for an ambulance. I think Philip just broke his leg.
8.- The Earth has been formed more than four million years ago.

EXERCISE 2

Find a verb that fits both sentences in each pair below. Alternate the simple past and the present perfect:

9.- (a)  The Bible..........more copies than any other book.
    (b)  When it became clear that we would be moving to                   Australia,     we ....... the house to my brother-in-law.
10.- (a) The price of houses ............dramatically in recent years.
       (b) Unemployment ............every year since the '90s, but then         it started to rise.
11.- (a) So far it's been so cold that we  ....... in the house all day. 
       (b) We ........ with my wife's parents last weekend.
12.-  (a) I ........... skiing ever since I live in Switzerland.
        (b) He once ....... the support of the majority of the                       Democratic Party.
13.-  (a) At his wedding, he ......... a green suit and red tie.
        (b) These are the glasses I ........... ever since I was forty.
14.-  (a)  When I picked up the coffee I ..... surprised to find that it         was cold.
        (b) This .......... her home for over 50 years and she doesn't           want to leave it.

KEY

EXERCISE 1

1.- My grandfather, who died two months ago, worked in India for five years.
2.- When I was young, I spent many years travelling around Spain.
3.- correct
4.- I knew a woman once who had six dogs and eleven cats.
5.- correct
6.- Jane felt hungry. Then she remembered that there was              some salad left in the fridge.
7.- Phone for an ambulance. I think Philip has just broken his leg.
8.- The Earth was formed more than four million years ago.

EXERCISE 2

9.-  (a) has sold; (b) sold
10.- (a) has fallen; (b) fell
11.- (a) have stayed; (b) stayed
12.- (a) have enjoyed; (b) enjoyed
13.- (a) wore; (b) have worn
14.- (a) was; (b) has been




11/4/14

Jesus Christ Superstar: This Jesus Must Die


Soon we'll be celebrating the Holy Week and I think it is not a bad idea to remember this beautiful song from the musical Jesus Christ Superstar, which had such a resounding success when it was released in 1973. I really like this musical and I love 'this' Jesus. For me, he was a revolutionary of his time, but his doctrine couldn't be more simple: love and forgiveness, forgiveness and love, and that was all. But it was actually this doctrine that the Pharisees found dangerous, so they decreed that he had to die. And I can't help thinking that the hypocrites in power of our day would not hesitate to do the same:





(I have downloaded this video with an educational purpose: to help my students practise and improve their English, while enjoying this beautiful song).

LYRICS

Good Caiaphas, the council waits for you
The Pharisees and priests are here for you
Ah gentlemen, you know why we are here
We've not much time, and quite a problem here

Hosanna, Superstar
Hosanna, Superstar
Hosanna, Superstar
Hosanna, Superstar

Listen to that howling mob of blockheads in the street
A trick or two with lepers, and the whole town's on its feet

He is dangerous
Jesus Christ Superstar
He is dangerous
Tell us that you're who they say you are

That man is in town right now to whip up some support
A rabble rousing mission that I think we must abort

He is dangerous
Jesus Christ Superstar
He is dangerous

Look Caiaphas, they're right outside our yard
Quick Caiaphas, go call the Roman guard
No, wait
We need a more permanent solution to our problem

What then to do about Jesus of Nazareth?
Miracle wonder man, hero of fools
No riots, no army, no fighting, no slogans
One thing I'll say for Him, Jesus is cool

We dare not leave Him to His own devices
His half-witted fans will get out of control
But how can we stop him? His glamor increases
By leaps every minute, He's top of the poll

I see bad things arising
The crowd crown Him king
Which the Romans would ban
I see blood and destruction
Our elimination because of one man
Blood and destruction because of one man

Because, because, because of one man
Our elimination because of one man
Because, because, because of one
'Cause of one, 'cause of one man

What then to do about this Jesus mania?
How do we deal with a Carpenter King?
Where do we start with the man who is bigger
Than John was when John did His baptism thing?

Fools! You have no perception!
The stakes we are gambling are frighteningly high
We must crush Him completely
So like John before Him, this Jesus must die

For the sake of the nation, this Jesus must die
Must die, must die, this Jesus must die
So like John before Him, this Jesus must die
Must die, must die, this Jesus must, Jesus must, Jesus must die


MEMORY TEST


Fill in the gaps with the missing words: 

Good Caiaphas, the ...... waits for you
The ........... and priests are here for you
Ah gentlemen, you know why we are here
We've not much time, and quite a .........here
..............................

Listen to that .......... mob of blockheads in the street
A trick or two with ........., and the whole town's on its feet
....................................

That man is in town right now to whip up some ........
A rabble rousing ......... that I think we must abort
....................................

Look Caiaphas, they're right outside our yard
Quick Caiaphas, go call the Roman ........
No, wait
We need a more .......... solution to our problem

What then to do about Jesus of Nazareth?
Miracle wonder man, hero of fools
No ......., no army, no fighting, no slogans
One thing I'll say for Him, Jesus is .........

We dare not leave Him to His ........ devices
His half-witted fans will ....... out of control
But how can we stop him? His ......... increases
By leaps every minute, He's top of the ........

I see ...... things arising
The crowd ....... Him king
Which the Romans would ban
I see ........ and destruction
Our elimination because of one man
Blood and destruction because of one man
...........................

What then to do about this Jesus .........?
How do we deal with a .......... King?
Where do we start with the man who is bigger
Than John was when John did His ........ thing?

Fools! You have no ...........!
The stakes we are gambling are frighteningly high
We must ........ Him completely
So like John ........ Him, this Jesus must die

For the ....... of
 the nation, this Jesus must die
Must die, must die, ..... Jesus must die
So like ....... before Him, this Jesus must die
Must die, must die, this ....... must, Jesus must, Jesus must die


9/4/14

preparing for the oposiciones: countables/uncountables (exercise)

Countables/uncountables http://sanchezbenedito.blogspot.com.es/2013/07/contable-o-incontable.html

EXERCISE -1

Insert a/an if necessary:

1.- She left the stage to .......rapturous applause.
2.- I wonder if you could give me ......accommodation for the night.
3.- He's had ......very strict education.
4.- Outnumbered by four to one, he knew that .......resistance was useless.
5.- After a while we seemed to develop ........resistance to mosquitoes.
6.- Martha gave .......paper at the conference on the psychological effects of divorce.
7.- The use of .........recycled paper is saving thousands of trees from being cut down each year.
8.- We had to listen to .......long and boring speech after the meal.
9.- Don't be misled by  .......... deceitful publicity.
10.- We had ......lovely weather last weekend.

EXERCISE -2

Fill in the gaps with an appropriate partitive:

11.- I'd like two ..........toast with my breakfast.
12.- It's the last time I buy a ..........trousers in that shop.
13.- Three ..........furniture got broken in the fight.
14.- This morning I heard a strange ..........news on the radio.
15.- I need two ...... of glasses: one for reading and one for driving.
16.- Take six eggs and three ...........sugar and beat in a bowl.
17.- My mother gave me two important ...... advice before I left home.
18.- He got a .......... applause when he finished.
19.- There was a sudden ............laughter at the Queen's sally.
20.- When he heard that he was dismissed, he was seized with a violent..........anger.

KEY

Exercise 1: 1.- _; 2.- _; 3.- a; 4.- _; 5.- a; 5.- a; 7.- _; 8.- a; 9.- _; 10.- _

Exercise 2: 11.- pieces/slices of; 12.- pair of; 13.- pieces/items of; 14.- piece/item of; 15.- pairs; 16.- spoonfuls of; 17.- pieces of; 18.- round of; 19.- burst/roar of; 20.- fit/outburst of.








8/4/14

My way by Frank Sinatra




I share with you today this beautiful song by the great Frank Sinatra (The Voice). It's one of my favourites and I hope you like it too:


(This video has been downloaded from YouTube for educational purposes exclusively)





EXERCISE

Here are the lyrics; you just fill in the gaps:

And now the end is near
And so I face the final (1) .......
My friend, I'll say it (2) .......,
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain.

I've lived a life that's full,
I've travelled each and every (3) ..........
But more, much more than this,
I (4) ...... it my way.

Regrets, I've had a few,
But then again, (5) ......few to mention.
I did what I had to do
and saw it through without exemption.

I planned each charted course,
Each careful (6) .......along the highway,
But more, much more than this,
I did it my way.

Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew
When I bit off more than I (7) .........chew.
But through it all, when there was doubt,
I ate it up and spit it (8) ........
I faced it all and I stood tall,
And did it my way.

I've loved, I've laughed and (9) .....
I've had my fill; my share of losing.
And now, as tears subside,
I find it all so (10) .........

To think I did all that,
And may I say - not in a (11) .......way.
No, oh not me,
I  did it my way.

For what is a man, what has he got?
If not himself, then he has (12) ........
To say the things he truly feels,
And not the words of one who (13) .......
The record shows I (14)......the blows -
And did it my way!

KEY

1.- curtain; 2.- clear; 3.- highway; 4.- did; 5.- too; 6.- step; 7.- could; 8.- out; 9.- cried; 10.- amusing; 11.- shy; 12.- naught; 13.-  kneels; 14.- took.

7/4/14

Refranes: ejercicios

Los refraneshttp://sanchezbenedito.blogspot.com.es/2013/06/some-common-proverbs.html se usan hoy día con bastante menos frecuencia que en épocas anteriores, sin embargo, no es tampoco tan raro encontrar algunos de ellos, sobre todo en lenguaje literario o periodístico. Así, por ejemplo, aunque en lenguaje coloquial no se oigan ya refranes con sabor ligeramente arcaico como better the devil you know, than the devil you don't know ('más vale malo conocido que bueno por conocer'), no es para nada extraño encontrarlo, usado por algún periodista, haciendo referencia a una situación que no es muy buena que digamos, pero con la que hay que conformarse, porque podría ser peor. Lo mismo ocurre con you can take/may lead a horse to the water, but you can't make it/him drink ('treinta monjes y un abad no pueden hacer beber al asno contra su voluntad'), que se encuentra alguna vez para expresar la idea de 'hay siempre un punto en el que es imposible lograr que alguien haga lo que nosotros creemos que debe hacer, o que siga por el camino que queremos que siga'. 
En otros casos, el refrán ha desaparecido al cambiar los hábitos sociales. Esto es lo que ocurre, por ejemplo, con spare the rod, spoil the child ('deja de usar la vara y malearás al niño', equivalente más o menos al castellano 'la letra con sangre entra'), muy frecuente en otros tiempos, pero poco usado hoy día, porque los castigos físicos están totalmente desterrados de las escuelas en la actualidad. Sin embargo, eran completamente normales antiguamente y siguieron usándose en Inglaterra con cierta frecuencia hasta bien entrado el siglo XX. Significativas son, a este respecto, las palabras del gran Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) que, ya en su edad adulta, agradecía en una de sus cartas que su maestro en Lichfield, su ciudad natal, hubiera usado la vara en clase, diciendo textualmente "he whipped the boys severely to save them from the gallows” ('azotaba severamente a los muchachos para salvarlos de la horca').
Algunos refranes, sin embargo, siguen usándose hoy día, como podéis comprobar si hacéis el siguiente ejercicio:

EJERCICIO

Completa los siguientes refranes y da el equivalente más próximo en español:

1.- There's no .............for taste(s).
2.- A new broom .........clean.
3.- One swallow doesn't make a ...........
4.- Too many .......spoil the broth.
5.- A friend in ........is a friend indeed.
6.- When the cat is away, the .........will play.
7.- Don't look a ........horse in the mouth.
8.- You can't teach an old ...........new tricks.
9.- When in Rome, do as the ...........do.
10.- (There's) no ..........without fire.
11.- Prevention is better than .........
12.- The proof of the .......is in the eating.

KEY

1.- accounting - 'sobre gustos no hay nada escrito'.
2.- sweeps - 'escoba nueva barre bien', una persona recién nombrada para un puesto de responsabilidad entra siempre con muchas ganas de hacer cambios, introducir mejoras, etc.
3.- summer - 'una golondrina no hace verano'.
4.- cooks - 'demasiados cocineros estropean el caldo', 'obra de común, obra de ningún', 'muchos componedores descomponen la olla'.
5.- need -  'amigo en la adversidad es amigo de verdad', en la adversidad es cuando se ve a los buenos amigos.
6.- mice - 'cuando el gato duerme, bailan los ratones', 'cuando el gato no está, los ratones bailan'.
7.- gift - 'a caballo regalado no le mires el diente'.
8.- dog - 'loro viejo no aprende a hablar', es difícil hacer cambiar de ideas, hábitos, etc. a las personas mayores.
9.- Romans - 'donde fueres, haz lo que vieres'.
10.- smoke - ''no hay humo sin fuego', 'cuando el río suena, agua lleva'.
11.- cure - 'más vale prevenir que curar'.
12.- pudding - 'el movimiento se demuestra andando', para saber si algo es bueno, antes hay que probarlo, no se puede saber si algo es bueno o no hasta haberlo probado.




5/4/14

Preparing for the oposiciones: fonética (pares mínimos

PARES MINIMOS

 Par mínimo: Dos palabras que se diferencian en su pronunciación sólo en un fonema. Aquí tienes algunos ejemplos con /i:/ - /I/:

cheap (barato) - chip (patata frita)
eat (comer) - it (ello)
eel (anguila) - ill (enfermo)
feel (sentir) - fill (llenar)
heal (curar) - hill (colina)
heat (calor) - hit (golpear)
meal (comida) - mill (molino)
reach (alcanzar)- rich (rico)
sheep (oveja) - ship (barco)
sleep (dormir) - slip (resbalar)

EJERCICIO 1

Completar los siguientes pares mínimos:

1.- sheet/........
2.- ...../bit
3.- ....../kill
4.- leak/ ........
5.- ........./pick
6.- feat/ ........
7.- ........../still
8.- ......../lip
9.- seal/........
10.- sleeper/..........

EJERCICIO 2
     
Completar con una palabra que contenga /i:/ o /I/:

1.- Did you r........ my letter?
2.- Would you like some ch.......?
3.- I never d..........whisky with my m........
4.- My uncle is i....... He has a bad cold.
5.- Have the p........caught the t......?
6.- He still lives by the m........on the h........
7.- I can see t.......green t....... on the f.......
8.- It's a p........Jim didn't pay the b.......

KEY

Ejercicio 1: shit; 2.- beat/beet; 3.- keel; 4.- lick; 5.- peak/pick; 6.- fit; 7.- steal/steel; 8.- leap; 9.- sill; 10.- slipper

Ejercicio 2: 1.- read; 2.- cheese; 3.- drink; meals; 4.- ill; 5.- police; thief; 6.- mill; hill; 7.- three; trees; field; 8.- pity; bill.

Para más ejemplos de pares mínimos con vocales, diptongos y consonantes, podéis consultar mi Manual de Pronunciación Inglesa Comparada con la Española, 5ª ed., ed. Comares, pp. 137-183, y para ejercicios fonéticos, pp. 271-289. 

    




3/4/14

Preparing for the 'oposiciones': synonyms (exercise)


Here are some synonyms or near-synonyms of some words, but there is an odd man out in each case. Find it:

1.- to despise (despreciar) : to deride, to disdain, to hoard, to look down on, to shun, to scorn, to slight, to spurn 
2.- to cry (llorar): to heal, to shed tears, to sob, to sniff, to snivel, to wail, to whine
3.- pale (pálido): emaciated, foul, gaunt, haggard, pallid, sallow 
4.- fat (gordo): chubby, lanky, plump, obese, overweight, porky, stout, tubby
5.- magnificent (magnífico): admirable, gorgeous, grand, great, splendid, superb, spectacular, striking, glorious, weird, wonderful
6.- to confuse (confundir): to baffle, to ban, to bewilder, to confound, to disconcert, to mistify, to perplex
7.- horrible (horrible): awful, appalling, dreadful, frightful, soothing
8.- astute (astuto): artful, clever, crafty, cunning, guileful, harassed, shrewd
9.- to tolerate (tolerar):  to bear, to endure, to get away with, to put up with, to suffer
10.- thin (delgado): bony, fleshy, skinny, underweight, scrawny, scraggy, puny, skeletal


KEY

1- to hoard (atesorar); 2-to heal (curar); 3-foul (asqueroso); 4-lanky (larguirucho); 5-weird (extraño); 6-to ban (prohibir); 7- 
soothing (tranquilizador); 8-harassed (acosado); 9-to get away with (quedar impune); 10-fleshy (carnoso); gordo).