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,...

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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...

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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/ -...

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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 ...

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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. bluebell http://www.tickld.com/funny/t/763779 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...

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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...

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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...

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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,...

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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...

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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,...

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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...

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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...

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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) .........

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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...

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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.-...

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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,...

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