Preparing for the 'oposiciones': We'll Meet Again (Vera Lynn)

Comparto hoy con vosotros We'll Meet Again, cantada por Vera Lynn, que hoy debe de tener cerca de cien años. Ésta fue la canción por excelencia de las tropas aliadas en la 2ª Guerra Mundial, pero podría perfectamente aplicarse a cualquier otra guerra, pues es un homenaje a los héroes que van al frente a combatir por su patria y un deseo de que vuelvan sanos y salvos. A mí me encanta la música y la letra de esta canción y viene a mi memoria cuando me despido de algún buen amigo o amiga que se va fuera de España y que no sé si volveré a ver en esta vida: We'll meet again, don't know where, don't know when, but I know we'll meet again some sunny day..... 
En otro orden de cosas, opino que We´ll meet again es un canto de despedida al partir, pero también de esperanza en volver, por lo que me parece apropiado para poner punto final a mi programa preparing for the 'oposiciones'. Mi mensaje para mis seguidores que se presentan como candidatos a las oposiciones a profesor de enseñanza secundaria que empiezan dentro de pocos días es el siguiente: Conseguir o no plaza depende de muchos factores, que no están todos en vuestras manos, pero seguir adelante después, con renovada ilusión, dependerá siempre de vosotros mismos. 
Por ahora os diré cómo se le dice en Inglaterra a los actores el día del estreno: break a leg! 
Nota. Hay muchas explicaciones sobre el origen de esta expresión, siendo la más simple que en el mundillo del teatro existe la superstición de que desear buena suerte, trae mala suerte. 
En España, se suele decir ¡mucha mierda! (del francés 'merde!, porque también en Francia, en el mundo del teatro se usaba antiguamente esta expresión para desear buena suerte a los actores, según parece porque cuantos más señores de alta alcurnia asistieran al teatro en lujosos carruajes tirados por muchos caballos, más excrementos de estos animales quedaban esparcidos por el suelo en la entrada del teatro, lo que venía a significar que más posibilidades había de que estos grandes señores lanzaran monedas al escenario si les gustaba la obra). Según algunas versiones, esta curiosa explicación está relacionada también con break a leg!, por la posibilidad que había de que un actor se rompiera una pierna, en su intento por recoger tantas monedas. Naturalmente, nada de esto es científico, sino simple folclore, pero no cabe duda de que, como yo suelo decir a menudo, parodiando a Doolittle, Eliza's father, in My Fair Lady musical, a little bit of luck es siempre necesario en la vida.
Bueno, aquí tenéis la letra de la canción, que puede servir de despedida para mi programa de preparación para las oposiciones, pero en ningún caso (espero) de mis queridos seguidores y amigos:

LYRICS

We'll meet again

Don't know where
Don't know when
But I know
We'll meet again
Some sunny day

Keep smilin' thru
Just like you
Always do
'Til the blue skies drive
The dark clouds
Far away

So will you please say hello
to the folks that I know
Tell'em I won't be long
They'll be happy to know
That when you saw me go
I was singing this song

We'll meet again
Don't know where
Don't know when
But I know
We'll meet again
Some sunny day

We'll meet again
 Don't know where
Don't know when
But I know
We'll meet again
Some sunny day

Keep smilin' thru
Just like you always do
'Til the blue skies
Drive the dark clouds
Far away

So will you please say hello
To the folks that I know
Tell'em I won't be long
They'll be happy to know
That when you saw me go
I was singing this song

[with choir]
We'll meet again
Don't know where
Don't know when
But I know
We'll meet again
Some sunny day

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

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Preparing for the 'oposiciones': key word transformation (advanced level)

Here's the final test, 'the acid test'. If you do this sentence transformation exercise correctly, it will mean that you are ready for the great day:

1.- He decided that he'd ask to be transferred to another department. (put)
1.- He decided .............. a request for a transfer to another department.

2.- He thought it unfair that his team resented him for not scoring a goal. (hold) 
2.- He thought it unfair that his team should ............for not scoring a goal.

3.- Being rude is inexcusable. (excuse)
3.- ..........................rude.

4.- How can I make him understand that I don't want to see him anymore. (across)
4.- How can I .................that I don't want to see him anymore,

5.- I don't care what you do. (concerned)
5.- ....................you can do what you like.

6.- It was a mistake not to write her address down. (point)
6.- I should ...................her address down.

7.- Can you possibly leave the flat empty before the end of the month. (appreciate)
7.- I ................ leave the flat empty before the end of the month.

8.- He'd been struggling in vain to think of a really original present for her daughter. (come)
8.- No matter how he tried , he couldn't ......... an idea for a really original present for her daughter.

9.- Because it snowed heavily during the night, the motorway is closed. (due)
9.- The motorway is closed ..................... that it had snowed heavily the night before.

10.- Although he was an excellent painter, none of his works was ever exhibited during his lifetime. (as)
10.- ...................................................... , none of his works was ever exhibited during his lifetime.

KEY

1.- to put in; 2.- hold it against him; 3.- There's no excuse for being; 4.- get (it) across to him; 5.- As far as I'm concerned; 6.- have made a point of writing; 7.- would appreciate it if you could; 8.- come up with; 9.- due to the fact; 10.- Excellent painter as he was

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Preparing for the 'oposiciones': word formation exercise

Fill in the gaps with a word derived from the one given in brackets:

1. It isn't very ........ that Paula is at home, is it? She usually works at this time. (like)

2. Megan was told by her dietician that she was becoming ........ thin and should eat more. (danger)

3. ........ is the spice of life, says the proverb and everyone should try and do new things and meet new people to avoid becoming bored. (vary)

4. Harry had a difficult ..... and was brought up by an aunt and uncle living in the country. (child)

5. The whole dispute began after a small  ....... over the money needed to finance the new company. (agree)

6. The introduction of insecticides in the 20th Century ........ agriculture across the world. (revolution)

7. All the coastal towns in this area are ........  by strong tradition of dance and there is a festival of dance that takes place every August. (character)

8. My company has spent a lot of money building a new, ........ factory which will nearly double production. (computer)

KEY

1.- likely; 2.- dangerously, 3.- variety, 4.- childhood; 5.- disagreement; 6.- revolutionised/revolutionized; 7.- characterised/characterized; 8.- computerised/computerized.

From www.esl-lounge.com, where you will find many other word formation exercises.

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Preparing for the 'oposiciones': phrasal verbs exercise: come/go.

Fill in the gaps with a come or go phrasal verb:

1.- He knocked himself out as he fell and it took him ten minutes .........
2.- He took the meat out of the fridge and pulled a face. It had obviously ..........
3.- The gymnast tried a triple somersault, but it didn't ........
4.- When the bomb ...... all the windows were shattered.
5.- Father promised to buy me a bike, but he's ............ his word.
6.- What it all ......... is that you don't care about anybody but you.

KEY

1.- to come round (IBr)/around (IAm)/to; 2.- gone off; 3.- come off; 4.- went off; 5.- gone back on; 6.- comes down to.

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Preparing for the 'oposiciones': phrasal verbs exercise: bring/break.

Fill in the blanks with a bring or break phrasal verb:

1.- She's ............... spots. I think it must be chickenpox.
2.- Last night's heavy gales........several large trees.
3.- The fall of the government was ........by a scandal involving a cabinet minister.
4.- Have you got any change? I don't want ....... a twenty-pound note.
5.- These are the statistics of Liverpool population ..............by age and sex.
6.- It's best not to ...........that subject while his mother is here.

KEY

1.- broken out in; 2.- brought down; 3.- brought about; 4.- break into; 5.- broken down; 6.- bring up.

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Preparing for the 'oposiciones': familiar Spanish idioms (2nd part)

Today, some more Spanish idioms of a familiar style, difficult to translate into English. Dare you translate them?:

1.- Andando/arreando/marchando, etc. que es gerundio!
2.- Arrieros/arrieritos somos (y en el camino nos encontraremos).
3.- Aguantar carros y carretas/carretas y carretones (regional)
4.- Como Pedro por su casa.
5.- Estar con algo como Mateo con la guitarra/estar como niño con zapatos nuevos.
6.- Como el gallo de Morón, sin plumas y cacareando.

SUGGESTED ANSWERS

1.- Get a move on!; come on, chop-chop!
2.- I'll get back at you (for what you've done to me), just you wait!
3.- To take it lying down; to put up with anything.
4.- As if he owned the place.
5.- To be like a kid with a new toy; to be like a dog with two tails.
6.- Beaten/thrashed, but still proud/crowing.

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Preparing for the 'oposiciones': familiar Spanish idioms (1st part)

Now, for the 'home stretch', we'll pay special attention to idioms, phrasal verbs and grammar transformation.

To begin with, here are some Spanish idioms of a very colloquial or familiar character, which are not always easy to find in general dictionaries. Dare you find some English equivalents?:

1.- A quien Dios se la dé, San Pedro se la bendiga.
2.- A la vejez, viruelas.
3.- Darle un baño a alguien/mojarle la oreja.
4.- Ahumársele a alguien el pescado.
5.- A toro pasado.
6.- Tocarle a alguien bailar con la más fea.

SUGGESTED ANSWERS

1.- Each one to his own, it's none of my business.
2.- Fancy that happening at his age; there's no fool like an old fool.
3.- To wipe the floor with sb.; to take sb. to the cleaner's.
4.- To get all steamed up.
5.- With the benefit of hindsight; wise after the event.
6.- To get the short end of the stick; to draw the short straw.

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Preparing for the 'oposiciones': inversion of subject (exercise)

Let's review the cases of 'inversion of subject' inversion-del-sujeto and do a new exercise:

Rewrite the following sentences using subject inversion:

1.- The doctor had no sooner arrived than she began to feel better.
2.- You had hardly left the party when your boyfriend came in with Laura .
3.- The chairman had scarcely finished his report when the secretary raised his first objection.
4.- The defence counsel pleaded in vain for clemency.
5.- London seldom suffers from fog, in spite of what foreigners think.
6.- Children should not be left alone in the house under any circumstances.
7.- This couldn't have happened anywhere else in the world except in the U.S.A.
8.- In the field of human conflict, so much has never been owed by so many to so few.

KEY

1.- No sooner had the doctor arrived than she began to feel better.
2.- Hardly had you left the party when your boyfriend came in with Laura.
3.- Scarcely had the chairman finished his report when the secretary raised his first objection.
4.- In vain did the defence counsel plead for clemency.
5.- Seldom does London suffer from fog, in spite of what foreigners think.
6.- Under no circumstances should the children be left alone in the house.
7.- Nowhere else in the world could this have happened except in the U.S.A.
8.- Never in the field of human conflict, has so much been owed by so many to so few.

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preparing for the 'oposiciones': pronunciation of i/y, ir/yr

Pronunciación de las grafías i/y

Nota: Nos referimos a la y vocálica; la y consonántica se pronuncia siempre /j/: year /jI@/, yield  /ji:ld/, etc.

GRAFÍAS i/y

/aI/ : Bible, file, strife, blind, sign, sigh, dry, type, island, spider, etc.

/I/ : big, ill, mill, trip, lift, give, sin, grist, oxygen, rhythm, etc.

/i/ : any, easy, happy, body, pretty, taxi, etc.

/i:/: magazine, submarine, antique, intrigue, machine, etc.

/@/ : raisin, pencil, cousin, devil, medicine, etc. 

/-/ : business, medicine, etc.

GRAFÍAS ir/yr

/3:/ : bird, birth, circus, dirt, third, virtue, myrtle, etc.

/I@/ : emir, fakir, souvenir, etc.

/@/ : elixir

EJERCICIO

Clasifica las siguientes palabras, según se pronuncien las grafías i/y, ir/yr:

strip, stripe, birch, simple, delight, unique, fakir, wind (dar cuerda), triple, tyrant, myrrh, stir, ski, sky, army, flint, bind, live (en directo), cousin, ordinary, morphine, mercy, alibi, khaki, evil, anvil, anybody, benign, souvenir, symbol, squirm, martyr, limb, marine

CLAVE

/aI/ : stripe, delight, wind (dar cuerda), tyrant, sky, bind, live (en directo), alibi, benign

/I/ : strip, simple, triple, flint, symbol, limb, 

/i/ : ski, army, mercy, khaki, anybody

/i:/: unique, morphine, marine

/3:/ : birch, myrrh, stir, squirm

/I@/ : fakir, souvenir

/@/ :  cousin, evil, martyr, anvil (tamb. /I/)

/-/ : ordinary

Para la pronunciación de otras grafías, ver mi Manual de Pronunciación Inglesa Comparada con la Española, 5ª ed-, ed. Comares, pp. 213-241.

      

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Preparing for the 'oposiciones': polysemous phrasal verbs

It is quite frequent for a phrasal verb to have several meanings according to the context. Thus, for example, in a good dictionary, you will probably find about 12 meanings for to go off, and more than 15 for to pick up. We can call these verbs 'polysemous phrasal verbs'.

EXERCISE

Test yourself on polysemous phrasal verbs. Find the wrong meaning for each of the following:

1.- to pick sb/sth up

a.- to contract an illness; b.- to collect sb/sth; c.- to arrest sb; d.- to detect (a mistake); e.- to buy (sth cheap, a bargain); f.- to learn (a language); g.- to enter the priesthood; h.- to improve (situation).

2.- to go off

a.- to leave; b.- to divorce; c.- to explode; d.- to ring (alarm clock); e.- to turn sour (milk); f.- to stop liking something or somebody; g.- to happen; h.- to fall asleep.

3.- to knock off

a.- to make fun of somebody; b.- to stop work; c.- to reduce (from a price); d.- to improvise (a song, verses, an article); e.- to arrest; f.- to obtain; g.- to murder; h.- to steal something.

4.- to come in

a.- to arrive (train, bus, plane, ship); b.- to finish a race (in a specified position); c.- to become fashionable; d.- to rise (tide); e.- to get into a car; f.- to win an election and begin governing a country; g.- to be received (call, information, money); h.- to become involved (in a plan, deal, enterprise).

5.- to turn out

a.- to confuse or distract someone from the matter in hand; b.- to produce, to manufacture; c.- to admit openly one’s homosexuality; d.- to empty (one’s pockets); e.- to clean thoroughly (one’s room); f.- to be present (at a meeting); g.- to happen in a particular way; h.- to expel someone from a place.

            

       6.- to put down

       a.- to place sth on the table; b.- to make a note of sth; c.- to          kill an animal because it is too old or sick; d.- to suppress (a        rebellion); e.- to humiliate; f.- to kneel; g.- to put a baby to         bed; h.- to pay a specified sum as a deposit.

       KEY

        1-g; 2-b; 3-a; 4-e; 5-c; 6-f

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Preparing for the 'oposiciones': here/there/where compound adverbs

The adverbs here, there and where combine with various prepositions to form complex adverbs, very formal in style, and often used therefore in legal documents, official papers, etc. Some of the most important are:

hitherto          hasta ahora, hasta aquí/este momento

herewith         adjunto, con la presente, con esto 

hereby            por la presente, por este medio                           

hereinafter     de ahora en adelante

thereof           de esto/eso, del mismo, de la misma

thereafter        después de eso, a partir de entonces                 whereby          por lo/la/los que, por el cual    

whereupon      a lo que, después de lo cual, con lo cual

EXERCISE

Fill in the gaps  with the appropriate here/there/where compound  adverbs:

1.- We enclose ........ two copies of the contract.

2.- Is the property or any part ........ used for commercial activity?

3.- Mr Alan Scott, .................. referred to as the tenant.

4.- They've discovered a ..............unknown species of insect.

5.- Linda married at 16 and gave birth to her first child  shortly..........

6.- He told her she was a liar, ............ she burst into tears.

KEY

1.- herewith; 2.- thereof, 3.- hereinafter; 4.- hitherto; 5.- thereafter; 6.- whereupon.

To know more about this type of complex adverbs, you can consult my Gramática Inglesa, 9ª ed., Pearson-Longman, pp. 431-432.                  

                              

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Preparing for the 'oposiciones': modismos (ejercicio)

Elige la opción correcta

1. If somebody “joined the great majority”, they
a) died
b) voted for the majority party
c) got married

2 «The year dot» is
a) a long time ago
b) a prosperous year
c) the year the world crisis began

3. If somebody asks you: «What’s the damage?” you probably are
a) a teacher
b) a doctor
c) a waiter

4. If somebody calls you «a square», he’s calling you
a) fat
b) old-fashioned
c) a dirty ol man.

5. If a friend tells you «to shake a leg», he’s asking you
a) to mix him a drink
b) to go to sleep
c) to hurry up

6. If you were left «out on a limb», you’d be
a) delighted to be alone with your girlfriend
b) annoyed because nobody was backing you
c) dead.

7. If you’re at a loose end
a) you’re far from home
b) you have nothing to do
c) you are all by yourself

8. A tall order is
a) a real pleasure
b) a nasty trick
c) somehing very difficult to do

9. If something is not on the cards
a) it isn’t likely to happen
b) it isn’t for sale
c) it’s too dangerous to do

10. If you’re on the ball
a) you’re playing football
b) you’re sound asleep
c) you’re alert

CLAVE

1-a: 2-a; 3-c; 4-b; 5-c; 6-b; 7-b; 8-c; 9-a; 10-c

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Preparing for the 'oposiciones': ejercicios fonéticos

EJERCICIO 1

Completar con palabras que contengan /S/ o /tS/, según convenga:

a) Will you pay c______ or by _______?

    b) Can you do the d______ while I w______ the clothes?

    c) The fisherman wants to c______  a big f______.

    d) The w_______ granted her three wishes.

EJERCICIO 2

Indicar cuáles de estas palabras se pronuncian con /g/, cuáles con /dZ/ y cuáles con /Z/:

mirage; target; ginger; virgin; beggar; prestige; linger; gimlet; suggest; giddy; manage; gimmick; gilt; garage; gypsy; garbage; beige; bourgeois; giggle; Egypt.

CLAVE

Ejercicio 1 

a.- cash/cheque; b.- dishes/wash; c.- catch/fish; d.- witch

Ejercicio 2

/g/  target; beggar; linger; gimlet; giddy; gimmick; gilt; giggle

/dZ/ ginger; virgin; suggest; manage; garage (IBr); gypsy; garbage; Egypt

/Z/ mirage; prestige; garage (IAm); beige; bourgeois.

Para más ejercicios fonéticos, ver mi Manual de Pronunciación Inglesa Comparada con la Española, ed. Comares, pp. 291-299.

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Vocabulary of the day: breeds of dog

Breeds of dog:

Afghan (afgano)

Alsatian/German shepherd (pastor alemán)

basset (hound) (basset)

beagle (podenco)

Belgian sheepdog (pastor belga)

bloodhound (sabueso)

boxer (bóxer)

bull terrier (bullterrier)

bulldog (bulldog)

chihuahua (chihuahua)

chow/chow chow (chow-chow)

cocker spaniel (cócker)

collie (colie, pastor escocés)

dachshund/sausage dog (perro salchicha)

Dalmatian (dálmata)

Dobermann (dóberman)

English setter (setter, perro de muestra inglés)

fox terrier (foxterrier)

foxhound (perro raposero)

Great Dane (gran danés)

greyhound (galgo)

griffon (grifón)

husky (perro esquimal)

Labrador (Labrador)

mastiff (mastín)

mongrel (chucho, perro mestizo, sin pedigrí)

Newfoundland (dog) (perro de Terranova)

Pekinese (perrito pequinés)

pit bull (terrier) (pitbull terrier, bull terrier de pelea)

pointer ( pointer, perro de muestra, perro rastrero)

Pomeranian (lulú)

poodle (perro de lanas)

pug (dog) (doguillo)

retriever (perro cobrador)

rottweiler (rottweiler)

sheepdog (perro pastor)

spaniel (perro de aguas)

St Bernard (dog) (San Bernardo)

trackhound (perro perdiguero)

EXERCISE

What breeds of dog do the following definitions stand for:

a.- a large hunting dog with a sharp sense of smell, used for tracking people or animals

b.- a hunting dog that stops with its nose pointed towards a hunted animal or bird that it has smelt

c.- a type of thin dog with long thin legs that can run very fast in hunting and esp. in racing

d.- a large long-haired dog used for looking after sheep or kept as a pet

e.- a fierce-looking dog of German origin, often used as a guard dog

f.- a small dog with short legs and a long body, resembling a sausage

g.- a small, fat, short-haired dog with a wide flat face and a short flat nose

h.- a very large tall dog with smooth hair

i.- a large strong Swiss dog used, esp. formerly, for helping lost mountain travellers

j.- a dog with thick curling hair often cut in special shapes, kept as a pet

k.- a type of large short-haired dog that is white with black spots

l.- a lap-dog with short legs, long silky hair and a snub nose

KEY

a.- bloodhound; b.- pointer; c.- greyhound; d.- collie; e.- Dobermann; f.-dachshund/sausage dog; g.- pug; h.- Great Dane; i.- St Bernard; j.- poodle; k.- Dalmatian; l.- Pekinese

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Preparing for the 'oposiciones': French borrowings

Borrowings/loanwords

Throughout its history the English language has incorporated words from many other languages: from French (antique, chef, entrée, rouge), from Italian (opera, piano, umbrella), Spanish (guerrilla, hammock, mosquito, tobacco), German (hamburger, waltz), Dutch (cruise, yacht), Russian (vodka, steppe), Norwegian (fjord, ski), etc. You’ll find below some examples of French borrowings of a literary  character, which accounts for their keeping their French pronunciation and spelling.


EXERCISE

Match the letters with the numbers:

a.- de rigueur

b.- savoir faire

c.- nom de plume

d.- enfant terrible

e.- cul de sac

f.- dèjá vu

g.- faux pas

h.- force majeure

1.- a street or passage closed at an end; a course or route leading nowhere

2.- a tactless mistake; a social indiscretion

3.- required by custom or etiquette

4.- an illusory feeling of having already experienced a present situation

5.- an assumed name under which a person writes

6.- an unforeseeable course of events excusing a person from the fulfilment of a contract/honouring an agreement, etc.

7.- a person who causes embarrassment by indiscreet or unruly behaviour

8.- the ability to act suitably in any situation

KEY 

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

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Preparing for the 'oposiciones': phrasal verbs with two particles

EXERCISE 1

Replace the verb in italics with a synonymous phrasal verb with two particles:

1.- He was despised by almost everybody who knew him.

2.- That old law was abolished long ago.

3.- I am not prepared to tolerate insolence from you!

4.- Well, I attribute his failure to the recent death of his mother.

5.- If you admit the offence, we shall deal with you leniently.

6.- In life one has to confront a good many problems of this kind.


KEY

1.- looked down on; 2.- done away with; 3.- put up with; 4.- put his failure down to; 5.- own up to; 6.- face up to.

EXERCISE 2

Rewrite using the correct tense of a phrasal verb with the word given in brackets:

1.- Sorry, Sir, we have no more shirts your size. (sell)
1.- Sorry, Sir, ........................................ shirts your size.

2.- David and his partner have started their own catering business. (set)
2.- David and his partner ........................caterers.

3.- He left his girlfriend when she got pregnant. (run)
3.- When his girlfriend got pregnant ...................

4.- She can't be serious. Her husband's peculiar sense of humour must have affected her. (rub)
4.- She can't be serious. Her husband's peculiar sense of humour must .....................her.

5.- He isn't capable of doing that vile action. Someone must have instigated him. (put)
5.- He isn't capable of doing that vile action. Someone must ...............it.

6.- We all admired our English teacher. (look)
6.- We all .............our English teacher.

KEY

1.- we have/we've sold out of; 2.- have set themselves up as; 3.- he ran out on her; 4.- have rubbed off on; 5.- have put him up to; 6.- looked up to

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Preparing for the 'oposiciones': grammar transformation exercises

Re-write the sentences using the word given in brackets, so that the second sentence has the same meaning as the first:

Exercise 1

1.- I don't have enough money to buy that iPad. (too)
1.- That iPad.......................to buy.

2.- I walked quietly because I didn't want to wake the baby. (so)
2.- I walked quietly................................ to wake the baby.

3.- I graduated from college a year ago today. (time)
3.- I graduated from college ...................year.

4.- I am sure it will snow tomorrow. (bound)
4.- ........................tomorrow.

5.- It wasn't obligatory to go to work today. I thought it was. (gone)
5.- .................................to work today.

KEY

1.- is too expensive for me
2.- so as not
3.- this time last
4.- It's bound to snow
5.- I needn't have gone.

Exercise 2 (from Flo-Joe CPE Practice Tests)

1,. The mistakes in the accounts was not noticed until the figures were re-checked (light)
1.- The mistake in the accounts only ..................the figures were re-checked.

2,. I had no problems at all during my trip to France (plan)
2.- Everything ................. during my trip to France

3.- The heavy downpour brought their picnic to an abrupt end (cut)
3.- They had to ..............because of the heavy downpour.

4.- The reforms will not succeed unless they are carefully planned (crucial)
4.- Careful ................of the  reforms

5.- They think that Helen's brother stole the money (suspected)
5.- Helen's brother ..................the money

6.- I feel completely exhausted when I've listened to Marion for half-an-hour (leaves)
6.- Half-an-hour ..............completely exhausted 

Key

1.-came to light when/after/once; 2.- went according to plan; 3.- cut short their picnic/cut their picnic short; 4.- planning is crucial to/for the success/plans are crucial to/for the success; 5.- is suspected of stealing/having stolen; 6.- (of) listening to Marion leaves me (feeling)

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Vocabulary of the day: hairstyle

 HAIRSTYLE:

Afro (peinado afro)

bald (calvo)

balding (con poco pelo, quedándose calvo)

bob (estilo paje, a lo chico)

bun/chignon (moño)

bunches (coletas)

crew cut (al cero, rapado)

cropped (muy corto)

curly/frizzy (rizado)

dreadlocks (rizos estilo rasta)

flat-top (al cepillo)

French plait (trenza en espiga)

fringe (IBr)/bangs (IAm) (flequillo)

layered (cortado a capas)

lock (mechón)

long (largo, melena)

Mohican (BrE)/Mohawk(AmE) (con cresta a lo mohicano)

permed (con la permanente)

pigtails [colas (trenzadas), trenzas]

plait (BrE)/braid (AmE) (trenza)

ponytail (cola de caballo)

receding (con entradas)

short (corto)

spiky (de punta)

straight (liso)

wavy (con ondas)

EXERCISE

Match the letters with the numbers

a.- bob

b.- bun

c- curly

d.- dreadlocks

e.- pigtails

f.- ponytail

g.- straight

h.- layered

i.- bunches

j.- spiky

k.- wavy

l.- French plait

1.- cola de caballo

2.- trenzas

3.- coletas

4.- trenza de espiga

5.- cortado a capa

6.- ondulado

7.- liso

8.- en punta

9.- moño

10.- rizado

11.- estilo paje

12.- rizos estilo rasta

KEY

a-11; b-9; c-10; d-12; e-2: f-1; g-7; h-5; i-3; j-8; k-6; l-4.

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Preparing for the 'oposiciones': Idioms (exercise)

Tomando como base las frases del primer bloque de ejemplos, coloca los nombres de pila que faltan en el segundo bloque:

1. Doris is dead to the world.
2. Jenny is a smasher.
3. Alice is at the crossroads.
4. Andrea is in a fix.
5. Palmira is out of sorts.
6. Gloria is under a cloud.
7. Tamara is knackered.
8. Paloma is hot stuff.
9. Adela is a bit touchy.
10. Marion is on edge.


a. .......................is feeling a little ill.
b........................ is very sexy.
c........................ is easily offended.
d. .......................is fast asleep.
e........................ is in trouble.
f. ....................... is in disgrace.
g. ...................... is undecided.
h. ...................... is very tired.
i. ....................... is expecting somehing bad to happen.
j. ....................... is very pretty.

KEY

a-Palmira; b-Paloma; c-Adela; d-Doris; e-Andrea; f-Gloria; g-Alice; h-Tamara; i- Marion; j- Jenny

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Preparing for the 'oposiciones': participle clauses as adverbial subordinates

Participle clauses can have the value of an adverbial subordinate of time, reason, result, etc, especially in formal style:

Feeling tired, she went to bed early (= as she was feeling tired, she went to bed early,or she went to bed early because she was feeling tired)
Being imported, those cars are more expensive (=as they are imported..... or those cars are more expensive because...)
Opening her eyes, the baby began to cry (= when she opened her eyes.....)
Having lost the last bus, I had to walk home (= as I lost.......or I lost the last bus, so I had to walk home)
Not wanting to wake her, he tiptoed into the bedroom (= as he didn't want to..... or he tiptoed into the bedroom because he didn't......)
Used economically, one tin can last for two weeks (=if it is used economically, one tin....)

As you can see, the subject of the participle clause is usually the same as the subject of the main clause: 

Knowing his tastes, I bought him a science-fiction novel (I is the subject of both knowing and bought)

If the subject is not the same, we have a 'misrelated participle' (also called 'dangling participle'), which is generally considered to be incorrect:

* Leaving the office, my head was in a swirl (the subject of leaving is I, the subject of was being my head)

However, 'misrelated participles' are acceptable in the following cases:

- when the verb in the participle clause has its own subject expressed:

Nobody having any more to say, the meeting was closed.
The last train having gone, we had to stay in London for the night.

- when the main clause has it or there as 'anticipatory subject':

Being English, it is surprising that she doesn't like tea.
Having so little time, there isn't much we can do.

- in some fixed expressions referring to the speaker's attitude:

Generally speaking, women are better students than men.
Taking everything into consideration, he should be given another chance.

EXERCISE 1

Rewrite the sentences beginning with a participle clause:

1.- Sandra left work early because she didn't feel too well.
2.- When he had finished his work, he went home.
3.- The inscription was written in an unknown language, so it couldn't be deciphered.
4.- As I didn't want to offend him, I said nothing about his paintings.
5.- The manager extended Anne's contract because he was impressed by her work.

EXERCISE 2

Match the sentence halves getting new ones beginning with an       -ing participle clause:

1.- He was a doctor
2.- Clara had been a teacher for 15 years
3.- David had been unemployed for 9 months
4.- He didn't speak Italian
5.- I didn't expect anyone to be in the house

a.- He found life in Milan difficult
b.- He knew what side effects the medicine could have
c.- I walked straight in
d.- He accepted the first job he was offered
e.- She knew how to motivate children

KEY

EXERCISE 1

1.- Not feeling too well, Sandra left work early.
2.- Having finished his work, he went home.
3.- (Being) written in an unknown language, the inscription couldn't be deciphered.
4.- Not wanting to offend him, I said nothing about his paintings.
5.- (Being) impressed by Anne's work, the manager extender her contract.

EXERCISE 2

(1-b) Being a doctor, he knew what side effects the medicine could have.
(2-e) Having been a teacher for 15 years, Clara knew how to motivate children.
(3-d) Having been unemployed for 9 months, David accepted the first job he was offered
(4-a) Not speaking Italian, he found life in Milan difficult.
(5-c) Not expecting anyone to be in the house, he walked straight in.

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