WRITING scrivi una cartolina (minimo parole - …docenti.unimc.it/benjamincharles.pim/teaching/2014/...WRITING – scrivi una cartolina (minimo 100 parole - massimo 150). You are on

WRITING – scrivi una cartolina (minimo 100 parole - massimo 150).

You are on holiday in Florence and are sending a

postcard to your English friend, Wayne. In your postcard to Wayne you should:

• Describe what you have seen

• Describe your hotel

• What you like the most about Florence

• Why he should visit Florence

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Look at the following situations. Decide which is the best sentence

for each one.

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Future tenses: will or going to?

Before we saw people using will and going to for their intentions in the future.

So when do they use will and when do they use going to?

Look back at the four correct sentences and see if you can decide. Think about time.

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• We use will when we decide to do something at the time of speaking.

• We use going to when we have already decided before we speak.

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Read what Julian is saying. Which room is he describing A,B or C?

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Now read what Val is saying. Which is her kitchen A,B or C?

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Look at this situation. Is James talking to Tracey or Dorothy?

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Present continuous – future use Did you choose Tracey or Dorothy?

In fact, both are possible.

The man could say:

‘I’m going to Paris now.’ to Tracey.

or…

‘I’m going to Paris tomorrow.’ to Dorothy.

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The present continuous works in the present and in the future.

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Now look at this picture. Is she talking about every day – or tonight. What do you think?

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Present simple – future use

Once again, both are possible. She could say:

‘The Liverpool train leaves at seven o’clock every evening’.

or…

‘The Liverpool train leaves at seven o’clock tonight’.

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The present simple also works in the present and in the future.

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countable and uncountable

nouns

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• most nouns add -s to form the plural

• there are irregular nouns like man / men, knife / knives, life / lives, loaf / loaves, person / people, child / children, mouse / mice

• some nouns like sheep, fish, aircraft do not normally add plural –s

• some nouns are always plural and have no singular form: clothes (cloth is a material), belongings, congratulations, goods, stairs, surroundings, thanks, news

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• many nouns are uncountable, and do not have plural -s, or have a different meaning when countable or uncountable. Uncountable nouns normally use a singular verb.

countable trees uncountable electricity

countable woods (small forests) uncountable wood (material)

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• many nouns have an uncountable general meaning, and a countable particular meaning which can have plural –s

• general

Few people are in favour of war.

• particular

There have been several wars between the two countries.

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most uncountable nouns are things which we clearly

cannot count. We use zero article, or some.

Gas, liquid, material

air water iron paper

Grains etc. rice sugar flour coffee

Abstract ideas health time fun peace

Feelings anger pity courage boredom

Activities travel work research behaviour

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Other common nouns which do not normally have plural -s, and use a singular

verb:

accommodation, advice, cash, clothing, equipment, experience, furniture, hair, information, knowledge, luggage, money, rubbish, scenery, traffic, weather, work

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note changes of meaning when uncountable nouns are used as countables with a / an and can have plurals:

• The doctor had many years of experience. (knowledge of life)

• Helen had a bad experience at her last school. (something that happens to you)

• Many people here are looking for work. (jobs)

• This is a work of 1926. (a work of art: a painting etc)

• Can you buy a paper? (a newspaper)

• We had a good time last night. (when you do something)

• There’s a hair in my soup! (a single one)

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Other countables with specific meaning:

• an iron

an object used to make clothes smooth

• a coffee, a beer etc

a cup or glass etc of a liquid

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some uncountable nouns have a different countable word

• bread - a loaf

• money - a note, a coin

• travel - a journey, a trip

• luggage - a bag, a case

• work - a job

• accommodation - a room, a flat etc

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• many uncountable nouns have a scientific or technical use in countable form. Always use your dictionary to check which meaning is being used.

Sugars are also classified by the number of carbons they contain.

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singular nouns ending in -s plural

• Some nouns end in a plural-s but have no singular, and have a singular verb.

the news

mains electricity

mathematics / physics / economics

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a There are more than a thousand sheep / sheeps on this farm.

b Please accept my thank / thanks for your beautiful present.

c Helen is the only person / people I know with

three cars.

d There are two knife / knives in the top drawer.

e Alan hurt his leg when he fell down the

stair / stairs.

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f Kate decided to change her style and bought new cloth / clothes.

g Paul found his belonging / belongings outside in the street.

h Would you like to try a chocolate mouse / mice?

i World Airways has bought 20 new aircraft/

aircrafts·

j We have already sent the good / goods you ordered.

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Answers… • a sheep • b thanks • c person • d knives • e stairs • f clothes • g belongings • h mouse • i aircraft • j goods

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a Martin had some very strange ___when he stayed in the old castle.

A experience B experiences

b I've always enjoyed __, which is why I have worked abroad a lot.

A travel B journey

c The teacher was upset at the children's __.

A behaviour B behaviours

d Some people think that if they don't eat __, they will lose weight.

A bread B loaf

e The computer printer has run out of __.

A paper B papers

f In this part of the country, it isn't easy to find a __.

A work B job

g Can you take my __upstairs, please?

A luggage B luggages

h Kate is earning a lot of __in her new job.

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Answers… • aB

• bA

• cA

• dA

• eA

• f B

• gA

• hA

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Complete the sentence with a singular or a plural form of be.

a The news __on Channel Five at nine o'clock.

b These loaves __ really fresh.

c I think that maths__ the most difficult subject.

d The coffees you ordered__ on the table over there.

e The works of Shakespeare__ still popular.

f Everyone says that money__ hard to come by these days.

g The people I know__ all on holiday at the moment.

h The traffic_really terrible this evening.

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Answers..

• a is

• b are

• c is

• d are

• e are

• f is

• g are

• h is

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