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khempejjer
read my profile sign my guestbook Name: Kartali László Birthday: 1/7/1988 Gender: Male Interests: Music Expertise: English Occupation: University Student Message: message me MSN: khempejjer@hotmail.com ICQ: 200810044 Member Since: 10/11/2006

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Thursday, March 15, 2007

Wow! Ain't it EZ? #4 [It's time/it's high time]

When writing, in order to make our compositions well worded, we have to bear a few things in mind.
Perhaps the most important one is to avoid the repetition of words, phrases, or even sentences. We can do so by rephrasing them.

Sometimes we have to be careful, though, as this act may result in grammatical changes as well.
Let me demonstrate it with the help of some useful examples:

It's time for us to begin a new life. = It's time we began a new life.

It's time for me to post the letter. = It's high time I posted the letter.

It's time for you to marry Sue. = It's high time you married Sue.

It's time for us to sit down to dinner. = It's time we sat down to dinner.

Note: In the right hand sentences, the verbs are in the past tense.

So, ain't it EZ?

6:24 PM - 12 views - add eprops - add comments - email it

Wow! Ain't it EZ? #3 [As if/as though]

It looks + as if/as though + going to/will + present /present perfect/simple past (Úgy néz ki, hogy...)

It looks as if it's going to rain. (there are dark clouds in the sky)
It looks as he is going to be sick. (he's as white as a ghost)
It looks as if the car has hit a tree. (the car is smashed)
It looks as if the mirror has been smashed. (it's broken into pieces)

It looks as if/as though + past perfect (Úgy néz ki, mintha...)

It was as though the world had turned upside down.
You look as if you hadn't eaten for days.
He speaks as if he had been threatened.
It seems as if the mirror had been smashed. (note the difference: it is not, but there's a funny jig on it which makes it look smashed)

So, ain't it EZ?

6:05 PM - 5 views - 2 eprops - 2 comments - email it

Wow! Ain't it EZ? #2 [Regular and Irregular Plurals of Nouns]

When dealing with plural constructions, in certain cases, we have to pay extra attention to the appropriate usage of them.
Regular plurals - a piece of cake. Irregular ones - a bit more difficult.
Check the following tables.

Regular
Singular	Plural
quiver	quivers
numbat	numbats
yoke	yokes
janitor	janitors
tweezer	tweezers

Nouns that end with -f or -fe
Singular	Plural
wolf	wolves
loaf	loaves
half	halves
leaf	leaves
knife	knives
life	lives
wife	wives

Nouns that end with -o
Singular	Plural
potato	potatoes
tomato	tomatoes
volcano	volcanoes

Nouns that end with -us
Singular	Plural
terminus	termini
hyppopotamus	hyppopotami
nucleus	nuclei
syllabus	syllabi
cactus	cacti
focus	foci

Nouns that end with -is
Singular	Plural
basis	bases
thesis	theses
analysis	analyses
crisis	crises

Nouns that end with -um
Singular	Plural
curriculum	curricula
medium	media
datum	data

Nouns that end with -on
Singular	Plural
criterion	criteria
phenomenon	phenomena

Nouns that don't change

advice

furniture

nonsense

equipment

gossip

permission

homework

fun

information

work

damage

news

sheep

deer

Nouns that end with -y
Singular	Plural
activity	activities
university	universities
BUT!
beauty	beaux

Other
Singular	Plural
man	men
goose	geese
tooth	teeth
louse	lice
mouse	mice
ox	oxen
person	people

So, ain't it EZ?

5:44 PM - 4 views - 4 eprops - 4 comments - email it

Sunday, March 11, 2007

Wow! Ain't it EZ? #1 [ + to-infinitive or + -ing-form? ]

I have always had difficulties figuring out whether to use the +to-infinitive or the +-ing-form after some verbs.

+ to-infinitive	+ -ing-form
Agree, appear, arrange, ask, attemt, beg, can't afford, can't wait, choose, claim, decide, demand, desire, expect, fail, guarantee, happen, help, hope, manage, offer, plan, prepare, pretend, promise, prove, refuse, seem, tend, threaten, turn out, undertake, want, wish	Admit, avoid, can't face, can't help, can't resist, can't stand, carry on, consider, delay, deny, detest, dislike, enjoy, excuse, fancy, finish, give up, imagine, involve, justify, keep, mention, mind, postpone, practise, put off, resent, risk, save, suggest, tolerate

+ to-infinitive:

Peter agreed to let me go early.
Sarah appears to be a perfectly normal person.
I can't afford to buy this T-shirt.
I can't wait to see those photos.
We chose to go by train.
I don't claim to be an expert.
Eventually, we decided to take the test.
I demand to see the manager.
Fewer people desire to live in the south of the country.
I expect to be paid promptly for the work.
Richard failed to pay taxes yesteryear.
We guarantee to deliver our goods within a week.
You don't happen to know her name, do you?
Vicky helped me to choose a present.
We hope to set off around two.
Luckily I managed to find my way.
She will probably offer to repair the walkman for you.
We plan to arrive some time after three.
I had to prepare to leave.
He pretended not to notice.
Mike promised to change the light bulbs.
Our forecast proved to be correct.
Geoff refused to undergo the surgery.
Jan seems to be tired.
I tend to forget my telephone number.
The hijackers threatened to kill one passanger every hour.
Our idea turned out to be a success.
Joey undertook to finish the job by Friday.
I want to break free.
I don't wish to be rude.

+ -ing-form:

She admitted having driven too fast.
You should avoid mentioning his divorce.
Yesterday I couldn't face doing any housework.
I can't help falling in love with you.
It was so beautiful that I couldn't resist buying it.
I can't stand learning that much in the afternoon.
Matthew carried on studying at the university.
We're considering buying a new car.
Joe delayed telling Susan the news.
He denies attempting to murder his wife.
Ann detests listening to pop music.
Andrew dislikes being away from his family.
I really enjoy being here.
Excuse my interrupting you.
Do you fancy going out for a meal?
I've finished doing my homework.
I've given up trying to convince him.
I can't imagine being so greedy.
The test will involve answering the questions discussed earlier on.
How can they justify paying such huge salaries?
Keep stirring the mixture until it boils.
You mentioned moving abroad, didn't you?
I don't mind doing the washing up.
It was an unpopular decision to postpone building that skyscraper.
Practice reversing the car into the garage.
Eli keeps putting off going to the dentist.
He bitterly resents being treated like a child.
He's grown a beard to save shaving.
Someone suggested having a party.
I can't tolerate being called a liar.

So, ain't it EZ?

12:19 PM - 3 views - 2 eprops - 1 comment - email it

Thursday, March 08, 2007

	IWD Happy women's day!
	8:52 AM - 10 views - 2 eprops - 2 comments - email it

<< Previous 5 | Next 5 >>

Wow! Ain't it EZ? #4 [It's time/it's high time]

Wow! Ain't it EZ? #3 [As if/as though]

Wow! Ain't it EZ? #2 [Regular and Irregular Plurals of Nouns]

Wow! Ain't it EZ? #1 [ + to-infinitive or + -ing-form? ]

IWD