martes, 20 de noviembre de 2012

Charles Dickens 

was an English writer and social critic who is generally regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian period and the creator of some of the world's most memorable fictional characters.During his lifetime Dickens's works enjoyed unprecedented popularity and fame, and by the twentieth century his literary genius was fully recognized by critics and scholars. His novels and short stories continue to enjoy an enduring popularity among the general reading public.
Born in Portsmouth, England, Dickens left school to work in a factory after his father was thrown into debtors' prison. Though he had little formal education, his early impoverishment drove him to succeed. He edited a weekly journal for 20 years, wrote 15 novels and hundreds of short stories and non-fiction articles, lectured and performed extensively, was an indefatigable letter writer, and campaigned vigorously for children's rights, education, and other social reforms.
Dickens sprang to fame with the 1836 serial publication of The Pickwick Papers. Within a few years he had become an international literary celebrity, celebrated for his humour, satire, and keen observation of character and society. His novels, most published in monthly or weekly instalments, pioneered the serial publication of narrative fiction, which became the dominant Victorian mode for novel publication.The instalment format allowed Dickens to evaluate his audience's reaction, and he often modified his plot and character development based on such feedback. For example, when his wife's chiropodist expressed distress at the way Miss Mowcher in David Copperfield seemed to reflect her disabilities, Dickens went on to improve the character with positive lineaments.Fagin in Oliver Twist apparently mirrors the famous fence, Ikey Solomon;His caricature of Leigh Hunt in the figure of Mr Skimpole in Bleak House was likewise toned down on advice from some of his friends, as they read episodes. In the same novel, both Lawrence Boythorne and Mooney the beadle are drawn from real life – Boythorne from Walter Savage Landor and Mooney from 'Looney', a beadle at Salisbury Square. His plots were carefully constructed, and Dickens often wove in elements from topical events into his narratives. Masses of the illiterate poor chipped in ha'pennies to have each new monthly episode read to them, opening up and inspiring a new class of readers.

lunes, 19 de noviembre de 2012


The Forms of “To Be”

The Greek sea god, Proteus, was (like the sea) capable of changing form in an instant. In order to get any decent information out of him, you had to grab him and hold on tight while he went through his various forms — lion, wild boar, snake, tree, running stream — it wasn't easy. The verb “To be” is said to be the most protean of the English language, constantly changing form, sometimes without much of a discernible pattern. Considering that we use it so often, it is really too bad that the verb “To be” has to be the most irregular, slippery verb in the language.

Present Tense
I amWe are
You areYou are
He/She/It isThey are


We must choose carefully among these various forms when selecting the proper verb to go with our subject. Singular subjects require singular verbs; plural subjects require plural verbs. That's usually an easy matter. We wouldn't write “The troops was moving to the border.” But some sentences require closer attention. Do we write “The majority of students is (or are) voting against the referendum"? Review carefully the material in our section on Subject-Verb Agreement, and notice how often the choices we make require a familiarity with these forms of the “To be” verb.

Use of Passive

 

Passive voice is used when the focus is on the action. It is not important or not known, however, who or what is performing the action.
Example: My bike was stolen.
In the example above, the focus is on the fact that my bike was stolen. I do not know, however, who did it.
Sometimes a statement in passive is more polite than active voice, as the following example shows:
Example: A mistake was made.
In this case, I focus on the fact that a mistake was made, but I do not blame anyone (e.g. You have made a mistake.).

Form of Passive

Subject + finite form of to be + Past Participle (3rd column of irregular verbs)
Example: A letter was written.
When rewriting active sentences in passive voice, note the following:
  • the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence
  • the finite form of the verb is changed (to be + past participle)
  • the subject of the active sentence becomes the object of the passive sentence (or is dropped)
TenseSubjectVerbObject
Simple PresentActive:Ritawritesa letter.
Passive:A letteris writtenby Rita.
Simple PastActive:Ritawrotea letter.
Passive:A letterwas writtenby Rita.
Present PerfectActive:Ritahas writtena letter.
Passive:A letterhas been writtenby Rita.
Future IActive:Ritawill writea letter.
Passive:A letterwill be writtenby Rita.
HilfsverbenActive:Ritacan writea letter.
Passive:A lettercan be writtenby Rita.

jueves, 9 de agosto de 2012

Reported Speech


Direct Speech



When we tell exactly what someone else has said, we use the direct style. With this style that the person has said is placed in quotes and must be word for word.

  • Ejemplos:
  • "I am going to London next week," she said.("Voy a Londres la semana que viene," ella dijo.)
  • "Do you have a pen I could borrow," he asked. ("Tienes un bolígrafo que puedas prestarme," él preguntó.)
  • Alice said, "I love to dance." (Alice dijo, "Me encanta bailar.")
  • Chris asked, "Would you like to have dinner with me tomorrow night?" (Chris preguntó, "Te gustaría cenar conmigo mañana por la noche?")

Reported Speech (El estilo indirecto)



The indirect style, unlike the direct style, does not use the quotes and need not be word for word. In general, when using reported speech, the tense changes. Below is an explanation of the changes they undergo tenses.

It is sometimes used "that" in the affirmative and negative sentences to introduce what the other person said. On the other hand, interrogative phrases can be used "if" or "whether".

Direct SpeechReported Speech
Present SimplePast Simple
"He's American" she said. She said he was American.
"I'm happy to see you", Mary said. Mary said that she was happy to see me.
He asked, "Are you busy tonight?" He asked me if I was busy tonight.
Present ContinuousPast Continuous
"Dan is living in San Francisco," she said. She said Dan was living in San Francisco.
He said, "I'm making dinner" He told me that he was making dinner.
"Why are you working so hard?" they asked. They asked me why I was working so hard.

Past SimplePast Perfect Simple
"We went to the movies last night," he said. He told me they had gone to the movies last night.
Greg said, "didn't go to work yesterday." Greg said that he hadn't gone to work yesterday.
"Did you buy a new car?" she asked. She asked me if I had bought a new car.
Past ContinuousPast Perfect Continuous
"was working late last night," Vicki said. Vicki told me she'd been working last night.
They said, "We weren't waiting long." They said that they hadn't been waitinglong.
He asked, "Were you sleeping when I called?" He asked if I'd been sleeping when he called.
Present Perfect SimplePast Perfect Simple
Heather said, "I've already eaten." Heather told me that she'd already eaten.
"We haven't been to China,they said. They said they hadn't been to China.
"Have you worked here before?" I asked. I asked her whether she'd worked there before.
Present Perfect ContinuousPast Perfect Continuous
"I've been studying English for two years,"he said. He said he'd been studying English for two years.
Steve said, "We've been dating for over a year now." Steve told me that they'd been dating for over a year.
"Have you been waiting long?" they asked. They asked whether I'd been waiting long.
Past Perfect SimplePast Perfect Simple (*NO CHANGE)
"I'd been to Chicago before for work," he said. He said that he'd been to Chicago before for work.



Verbs

                                                               SLEEP


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                                                                          DANCE


                                                                              READ


                                                                              RUN


   SPEAK


                                                              DRIVE


                                                             TRAVEL


PLAY


                                                                FLY