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

30/1/15

Refranes españoles y sus equivalentes en inglés

La cosa va hoy de refranes, Es verdad que no se usan con tanta frecuencia como los modismos pero, en palabras de Delfín Carbonell, en la introducción a su espléndido Diccionario de Refranes, castellanos e ingleses (Ediciones del Serbal, 1996), "para dominar una lengua muy bien es necesario manejar su fraseología idiomática y sus refranes, por supuesto. Lo demás es arañar la superficie".
Ya en otras ocasiones http://sanchezbenedito.blogspot.com.es/2014/04/refranes-ejercicios.html, he tocado el tema, pero hoy se trata de plantearos unos cuantos modismos españoles, con el desafío de que encontréis sus equivalentes más próximos en inglés.
Me vais a permitir que dedique este post a la memoria de mi madre, a la que le encantaban los refranes (en español, claro) y que reunió pacientemente más de mil de ellos a lo largo de su vida. Aunque los refranes que hoy os dejo serían todos igual de fáciles para ella, de cara a nuestros alumnos he pensado que no es mala idea dividirlos en tres bloques, según su grado de dificultad:

A.- Facilillos

1.-  Bien está lo que bien acaba.
2.- Amigo en la adversidad es amigo de verdad.
3.- Lo bueno, si breve, dos veces bueno.
4.- Más vale ser cabeza de ratón que cola de león.
5.- La caridad bien entendida empieza por uno mismo.
6.- Dios los cría (y ellos se juntan).
7.- A quien madruga, Dios le ayuda.
8.- No es oro todo lo que reluce.
9.- De perdidos, al río.
10.- No se ganó Zamora en una hora.

B.- Regularcillos

1.- El que algo quiere, algo le cuesta.
2.- Aprendiz de mucho, maestro de nada.
3.- Más vale malo conocido que bueno por conocer.
4.- Quien mucho corre, atrás se halla.
5.- Quien calla, otorga.
6.- Los dineros del sacristán, cantando vienen y cantando se van.
7.- A Dios rogando y con el mazo dando.
8.-  A enemigo que huye, puente de plata.
9.- A buen entendedor, con pocas palabras/media palabra basta.
10.- El que espera, desespera.

C.- Dificilillos

1.- Hablando del rey de Roma, por la puerta asoma.
2.- Donde no hay harina, todo es mohína.
3.- En todas partes cuecen habas.
4.- Hasta el cuarenta de mayo, no te quites el sayo.
5.- Antes se pilla a un mentiroso que a un cojo.
6.- Muerto el burro, cebada al rabo.
7.- Nadie es profeta en su tierra.
8.- De todo hay en la viña del Señor.
9.- El comer y el rascar, todo es empezar.
10.- Cuando las barbas de tu vecino veas pelar, pon las tuyas a remojar.

KEY (suggested answers)

A.- Facilillos

1.- All's well that ends well.
2.- A friend in need is a friend indeed.
3.- Brevity is the soul of wit.
4.- Better be the head of a mouse than the tail of a lion.
5.-Charity begins at home.
6.- Birds of a feather (flock together).
7.- The early bird catches the worm.
8.- It isn't gold all that glitters/all that glitters is not gold.
9.- In for a penny, in for a pound/you may/might as well be hanged for a sheep as for a lamb.
10.- Rome wasn't built in a day.

B.- Regularcillos

1.- No pain, no gain.
2.- Jack of all trades, master of none.
3.- Better the devil you know (than the devil you don't know).
4.- More haste, less speed.
5.- Silence gives consent.
6.- Easy come, easy go.
7.- Put your trust in God, but keep your powder dry.
8.- Good riddance (to bad rubbish).
9.- A word to the wise is enough/a nod is as good as a wink.
10.- A watched pot never boils.

C.- Dificilillos

1.- Talk of the devil (and he's sure to appear).
2.- A light purse makes a heavy heart/when poverty comes in at the doors, love leaps out at the windows.
3.- Dogs bite in every country.
4.- Don't/never cast a clout till May is out.
5.- Lies have short legs.
6.- After death, the doctor/after meat, mustard.
7.- A prophet is without honour in his own land/country/ a prophet is not without honour save in his own country.
8.- It takes all sorts to make a world.
9.- Appetite comes with eating.
10.- There but for the grace of God go I.



26/1/15

Idioms with heart.

Here are a few idioms with the word 'heart', but 'don't take it to heart' (no os lo toméis a pecho) if you can't remember them all:

Exercise

Who would you address the following remarks to? Match the numbers with the letters:

1.- My heart sinks when I see your house empty.

2.- Your heart is in the right place.

3.- Learn it by heart!

4.- You can open your heart to me.

5.- You're a man after my own heart.

6.- You're breaking my heart!

7.- Don't lose heart!

8.- Don't set your heart on it!


a.- Someone with a secret to share.

b.- A loved one who's leaving you.

c.- A kind person who's trying to do the right thing.

d.- Someone who has been evicted.

e.- Someone who has a rather unrealistic ambition.

f.- Someone who has your same tastes.

g.- Someone who has to give a speech.

h.- Someone who's upset after being criticised.

KEY

1-d; 2- c; 3- g: 4- a; 5- f; 6- b; 7- h; 8- e

23/1/15

Phrasal Verbs: transformation exercise

Phrasal Verbs Transformation Exercise

Re-write the sentences below using a phrasal verb with the particle given in brackets, so that they have the same meaning as the original. The initial letter of the verb in question is given in each case to make it a bit easier for you:

1.- I haven't calculated the cost yet (out)
1.- I haven't w ...... the cost yet.

2.- One of those bombs could destroy our village in a split second (out)
2.- Our village would ...... w...... one of those bombs in a split second.

3.- My headache is disappearing (off)
3.- My headache is w......

4.- My wife has left me (out)
4.- My wife has w....... me.

5.- If something new happens, I'll let you know (up)
5.- I'll let you know if something new t.......

6.- The blonde upstairs excites me (on)
6.- The blonde upstairs t......

7.- I'm longing to get home and relax (down)
7.- I'm longing to get home and w.....

8.- The old lady goes to bed early (in)
8.- The old lady t....... early.

9.- He only mentioned the issue briefly (on)
9.- He merely t...... the issue.

10.- He was trying to get rid of his pursuers (off)
10.- He was trying ..... t...... his pursuers.

11.- The teacher reprimanded the children for being late (off)
11.- The children ...... t........ the teacher for being late.

12.- We should dissuade Gerald from buying such an expensive car (out)
12.- We should t........ buying such an expensive car.

KEY

1.- worked out; 2.- be wiped out by; 3.- wearing off; 4.- walked out on; 5.- turns up; 6.- turns me on; 7.- wind down; 8.- turns in; 9.- touched on; 10.- to throw off; 11.- were told off by; 12.- talk Gerald out of

For more phrasal verbs with their non-phrasal equivalents, you can consult my Gramática Inglesa. 9ª ed. actualizada, appendix 8, pp. 700-726, Pearson-Longman.

Daddy finger: children's songs

Hoy un extra: una simpática cancioncilla en inglés dedicada a mis nietos y a vuestros peques (Daddy Finger):


19/1/15

English for Tourism: Hotel Facilities

Here's an exercise to practise English for Tourism.

Exercise: Here are some guests who have different wishes. Which section of the room information sheet should they look at? Write the number of each guest next to the appropriate section.

Hotel Facilities

1.- Elaine Lu would like to have her blouse cleaned.

2.- Ben Krozac wants to know about buses to the airport.

3.- The Nakatas would like breakfast in their room.

4.- Ms Lewis is feeling unwell.

5.- Mr Dixon needs clean shoes for the morning.

6.- Jutta Koch would like a massage and manicure.

7.- Mrs Peterson has to be sure she gets up early tomorrow morning.

8.- Marie Frelimo wants to call her friend in Barcelona.

9.- Tom Mosli would like a soft drink in his room.

10.- Yana Valk wants to know where to leave her car.

11.- Eric and Thomas wonder what they can do this evening.

12.- Edward Chung wants to know the prices for different rooms.


Information

Room service ....

Tariffs ....

Telephone .... 

Entertainment ....

Minibar ....

Shoe-cleaning service ....

Transport ....

Wake-up calls ....

Laundry .... 

Garaging ....

Medical help ....

Hairdressing and Beauty ....


KEY

Room service -3

Tariffs - 12

Telephone - 8

Entertainment - 11

Minibar - 9

Shoe-cleaning service - 5

Transport - 2

Wake-up calls - 7

Laundry - 1

Garaging - 10

Medical help - 4

Hairdressing and Beauty - 6


Source: Test Your Professional English. Hotel and Catering. Alison Pohl. Series Editing: Nick Brieger. Penguin English Guides, 2004.




16/1/15

Nursery Rhymes with Riddles

Nursery rhymes are traditional verses for children.

Here are some which contain riddles, a challenge for your students:

1.- As I was going to St. Ives,
I met a man with seven wives.
Each wife had seven sacks,
Each sack had seven cats,
Each cat had seven kits:
Kits, cats, sacks, and wives,
How many were there going to St. Ives?

2.- Black I am and much admired.
Men may seek me till they are tired;
I weary horse and weary man,
Tell me this riddle if you can.

3.- What God never sees;
What the king seldom sees;
What we see every day;
Read my riddle, I pray.

4.- As I was walking in a field of wheat,
I picked up something good to eat;
Neither fish, flesh, fowl, nor bone,
I kept it till it ran alone.

5.- There was a king met a king
In a narrow lane; 
Said the king to the king, 
Where have you been?
I have been a hunting
The buck and the doe.
Will you lend me your dog?
Yes, I will do so;
Call upon him, call upon him.
What is his name?
I have told you twice
And won't tell you again.

KEY

1.- one; 2.- coal; 3.- equal; 4.- an egg; 5.- Bin

Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes, edited by Iona and Peter Opie, Oxford at the Clarendon Press, 1973.


11/1/15

Grammar Review: Practical exercises -5 (verb + preposition)

Verbs + preposition

Practical exercise -5 (Fill in the blanks with the correct preposition)

1.- I've learnt ...... bitter experience.
2.- Her family lives ...... her salary.
3.- I marvel ...... your insight.
4.- They named her Greta ...... the famous film star.
5.- They parted ...... friends.
6.- It's difficult to part ...... your loved ones.
7.- He didn't want to part ......his father's bureau.
8.- His father presented her ...... a gold watch.
9.- His wife persuaded him ...... buying a new car.
10.- We all rejoiced ...... success.

KEY

1.- from - to learn from - aprender de, por
2.- on - to live on - vivir de
3.- at - to marvel at - maravillarse (de)
4.- after - to name sb after sb - llamar a alguien por alguien
5.- as - to part as - separarse como
6.- from - to part from - separarse de
7.- with - to part with - desprenderse de
8.- with - to present sb with sth - regalar algo a alguien
9.- into - to persuade sb into doing sth - convencer a alguien para que haga algo
10.- at/over - to rejoice at/over sth - alegrarse de algo

For more verbs + preposition, you can consult my Gramática Inglesa, 9ª ed. actualizada- Pearson-Longman, appendix 4, pp. 662-667.

9/1/15

Léxico: antónimos (ejercicio)





EJERCICIO


Completa las siguientes frases con un antónimohttp://sanchezbenedito.blogspot.com.es/2014/03/preparing-for-oposiciones-antonyms.html del adjetivo subrayado que empiece con la letra dada:

1.- The baby’s not asleep, it’s a - - - -

2.- The film wasn’t exciting, I found it rather b - - - - -

3.- You shouldn’t be so contemptuous, you should be more r - - - - - - - -

4.- The road is quite narrow, I expected it to be w - - - -

5.- I don’t like long speeches, I prefer them to be b - - - -

6.- The street we live in isn’t peaceful at all, it’s rather n - - - -

7.- The letter wasn’t signed, it was u - - - - - - -

8.- That suit isn’t cheap, it’s a bit e - - - - - - - -

9.- He’s never idle, he’s always b - - -

10.- Your shirt isn’t smooth, it’s quite w - - - - - - -


KEY

1.- awake, 2.- boring; 3.- respectful; 4.- wider; 5.- brief; 6.- noisy; 7.- unsigned; 8.- expensive; 9,. busy; 10.- wrinkled

7/1/15

Modismos con nombres propios de persona.


En mi post de hoy encontraréis algunos modismos ingleses con nombres propios de persona, un ejercicio para practicar, la clave y algunas teorías acerca de su origen

Ejercicio: Completa las frases con el nombre propio de persona adecuado y traduce al español:

1.       It’s a Harley Davidson – the real ..............
2.       Now that the neighbours has bought a Mercedes, my wife       wants me to buy one too. To keep up with the ...................;     that’s all she cares about.
3.       Stop complaining. You’re living the life of ............
4.       Our new neighbour is a nosy ...............
5.       I don’t like him. He’s a Peeping ............    
6.       He’s always been a doubting ..................

              

KEY

1.- McCoy - Es una Harley Davidson, la auténtica.
2.- Joneses - Ahora que los vecinos se han comprado un Mercedes, mi mujer quiere que yo compre uno también - seguir el mismo tren de vida que los vecinos o amistades , aun sin poder permitírselo; eso es todo lo que le importa
3.- Riley . Deja de quejarte. Te das la gran vida/vives a cuerpo de rey.
4.- Parker - Nuestro nuevo vecino es un metomentodo.
5.- Tom - No me gusta. Es un mirón
6.  Thomas - Siempre ha sido un incrédulo, como Santo Tomás.

          Origen de los modismos

1.- the real McCoy

Frase de origen incierto. Hay varias teorías: Podría venir del nombre de un famoso boxeador estadounidense (Kid 'the Real McCoy'), de finales del siglo XIX, o tal vez de un canadiense de mediados de dicho siglo, Elijah McCoy, inventor entre otras cosas de una tabla de planchar y de un aspersor para el césped, que la gente demandaba especialmente por su gran calidad. Sea como sea, lo que parece fuera de toda duda es que en Escocia, gran exportadora de esta bebida a EE.UU. y Canadá, desde aprox. 1880 dan este nombre al whisky auténtico.

2.- to keep up with the Joneses

Frase inventada por Arthur R. Mommand ('Pop'), dibujante de tiras cómicas, para una serie de ese nombre, que apareció por primera vez en el periódico Globe, de Nueva York el 1 de abrl de 1913 y que siguió publicándose durante 28 años. Al parecer, el autor se inspiró en sus propios intentos de seguir el mismo tren de vida que sus vecinos, sin poder permitírselo en realidad.

3.- to live the life of Riley

La expresión 'to live the life of Riley', 'pegarse la buena vida', viene de la canción cómica 'Is That Mr Reilly', cantada por Pat Rooney, muy popular en los Estados Unidos en la década de los 1880, que describía qué haría el tal personaje si se hiciera rico de la noche a la mañana.

4.- to be a nosey/nosy Parker

Según afirma Brewer, en su famoso Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, la expresión, aplicada a una persona entrometida, un 'metomentodo', viene de Matthew Parker, arzobispo de Canterbury en tiempos de Enrique VIII (siglo XVI), nombrado para investigar los bienes y la conducta de los clérigos, tras la disolución de los monasterios. Por razones de su cargo, tenía que hacer muchas preguntas en sus visitas, por lo que se decía que era 'very nosey' (muy fisgón). No hay constancia, sin embargo, de que la expresión 'nosey Parker' o 'nosy Parker' empezara a usarse hasta 1907. Al parecer, antes de esa fecha, 'nosey' se decía de personas narigudas, como el Duque de Wellington.

5.- a Peeping Tom

La frase viene de la leyenda de Lady Godiva, esposa de Leofric, duque de Mercia, que en 1040, cabalgó desnuda por la ciudad de Coventry, de la que era 'protectora', porque su marido le había prometido que si lo hacía, eliminaría unas tasas abusivas, que acababa de imponer a los ciudadanos. En el día señalado, todos los habitantes de Coventry mostraron su respeto quedándose en sus casas, a excepción  de un sastre llamado Tom, que se asomó a la ventana para verla, quedándose ciego como castigo y recibiendo el apodo de 'Peeping Tom' ('mirón'). El apodo hizo fortuna y sigue usándose desde entonces. Desde 1768, el hecho se conmemora en Coventry con una procesión en la que una moderna Lady Godiva cabalga por las calles de dicha ciudad, sin más ropa que una malla ajustada a su cuerpo. 

6.- to be a doubting Thomas

La expresión, aplicada a una persona incrédula, que no cree nada sin tener pruebas fehacientes, viene del apóstol Santo Tomás que, según se cuenta en el Evangelio de San Juan (20: 25-29), no creyó que Jesús había resucitado hasta que no metió su mano en la herida de su costado. 

Fuente principal: Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, revisado por Adrian Room, Cassell, 2000.

4/1/15

Selección de mis posts favoritos - 8: The World Week of Phrasal Verbs

The World Day of this, the World Day of that, the World Week of this, the World Week of that, but no world day or week of phrasal verbs. Well, this week is going to be 'The World Week of Phrasal Verbs' for us, OK?

Phrasal Verbs for Monday

Complete each sentence with a phrasal verb with the same or almost the same meaning as the verb given in brackets. As an additional help,  the initial letter of each phrasal verb is provided:

1.- Last year the company decided to b..... ......  into some new lines [expand]
2.- Capital punishment was d.....  .....   ..... in Britain fifty years ago [abolish]
3.- They l.....   ..... extra trains during the rush hour [provide]
4.- Jim f.....    .....   ..... his brother when they were in their twenties, and they didn't see each other for fifteen years [quarrel with]
5.- The TV program was so boring that I d.....   ..... [fall asleep]
6.- That music will never  c......   ..... [become popular]
7- Nick always relies on his wife to s.....   ..... all the arrangements for their holidays [organise]
8.- Our business went through a bad patch last year, but things seem to be  p.....   ..... now [improve]

Phrasal Verbs for Tuesday

Replace the verb in italics with a phrasal verb with the same meaning:

1.- The plane has just landed. You have an hour before it leaves again
2.- They were despised by almost everybody who knew them
3.- I'm not prepared to tolerate insolence from you
4.- I'm a bit squeamish. I always faint at the sight of blood
5.- A well known company is thinking of establishinga new factory in this town
6.- It was clear from the way they were huddled together in a corner that they were plotting something
7.- Raising a family on a teacher's pay is extremely difficult
8.- If you admit the offence, we shall deal with you leniently

Phrasal Verbs for Wednesday

Complete the sentences with an appropiate compound of to give or to take:

1.- As you can see, the rear of the building ......   ..... the river.
2.- The boy is quite gullible and easy to .....   .....
3.- I want you to .....   ...... everything I say
4.- Have you .....   ..... the money you borrowed from him earlier in the month?
5.- The rotten eggs were .....   ..... a most unpleasant odour
6.- This gentleman is going to .....   .....   ..... me while I'm away
7.- There was a tremendous crash as the roof .....   .....
8.- A man standing on the corner was trying to ....   ..... five-pound notes. but most people thought there was a catch in it

KEY

Monday: 1.- branch out; 2.- done away with; 3.- lay on; 4.- fell out with; 5.- dozed off; 6.- catch on; 7.- sort out; 8.- picking up

Tuesday: 1.- touched down, takes off; 2.- looked down on; 3.- put up with; 4.- pass out; 5.- setting up; 6.- were up to; 7.- Bringing up; 8.- own up to

Wednesday: 1.- gives onto; 2.- take in; 3.- take down; 4.- given back; 5.- giving off; 6.- take over from; 7.- gave way; 8.- give away

Here you have your phrasal verbs for Thursday and Friday, to complete the World Phrasal Verbs Week. On Friday, we bring to a close our 1st World Week of Phrasal Verbs. No phrasal verbs por Saturday or Sunday, as I guess you have better things to do on the weekend.

Phrasal Verbs for Thursday

Fill in the gaps with the appropriate particle:

1.- This computer is sold with the printer thrown .......
2.- I wish you would stop showing me ...... in front of my friends 
3.- The stress of her husband's illness is beginning to tell ...... her
4.- Someone will stand ......    ...... the main actor in that dangerous scene
5.- She set ...... her work with great enthusiasm
6.- Don't let your imagination run .......    ...... you
7.- He's really good at putting his message ......
8.- Stop frittering money ...... on clothes you're never going to wear

Phrasal Verbs for Friday

Complete each sentence with a phrasal verb with the same or almost the same meaning as the verb given in brackets. As an aditional help, the initial letter of each phrasal verb is provided:

1.- We'll w.......   ..... our campaign with a meeting in Madrid [end]
2.- It's rumoured that, because of the recesion, 20% of the workers are to be l.....   ..... next month [dismiss]
3.- As he passed the table he accidentally k.....   ...... a glass of beer [upset]
4.- The papers are all full of the scandal, but in a few days it will all have b.....   ...... [be forgotten]
5.- The government has made a serious mistake but, of course, they're doing what they can to  p...... it ...... [minimise]
6.- He was very ill last year but, thank goodness, he p.....   ..... [recover]
7.- They've r....   ..... a large phone bill [accumulate]
8.- Cholera was s.....   ...... in this country long ago [eradicate]

KEY

Thursday: 1.- in; 2.- up; 3.- on: 4.- in for; 5.- about; 6.- away with; 7.- across; 8.- away

Friday: 1.- wind up; 2.- laid off; 3.- knocked over; 4.- blown over; 5.- play down; 6.- pulled through; 7.- run up; 8.- stamped out