Teaching Tips & Ideas

POSITION OF ADVERBS II

We usually place definite adverbs of time (yesterday, last week, Monday) at the end of a sentence.

e.g. I saw Miss Kelly yesterday
I intend to go to Tokio next week
I met her there last Sunday

We usually place adverbs of frequency before the main verb, except To Be. The following are adverbs of frequency: often, usually, generally, never, seldom, always, rarely.

e.g. Mary never studies her lesson.
Peter and Paul always come to their lesson late.
BUT:
You are often late for your classes

If the sentence contains an auxiliary verb, the adverb still goes before the main verb.

e.g. Dick has always been a very good student
She doesn’t usualy eat in the restaurant

In the sentences below place the adverb in its proper position in the sentence.

1.I see Jane in the cafeteria.(never)_____________________________________

2. Jack has been a very diligent student.(usually)______________________________

3. He goes to Paris on business trips.(often)__________________________________

4. She prepares her lesson.(rarely)__________________________________________

5.He is planning to visit me at my place.(always)_____________________________

6.She has spoken to her neighbor .(rarely)___________________________________

7.He goes for a walk in the park in the morning.(often)________________________________

8.Have you gone to Bahia?(ever)_________________________________________

9.He has been late for his classes.(never)___________________________________

10.She has been negligent about her appearance.(always)________________________

LAUGHTER'S THE BEST MEDICINE

ON THE WAY TO THE HOLY LAND

All the good knights were leaving for the Crusades. One knight told his best friend: "My bride is without doubt one of the most beautiful women in the world. It would be a terrible waste if no man could have her. Therefore, as my best and most trusted friend, I am leaving you the key to her chastity belt to use should I not return from the Crusade."

The company of knights were only a mile or so out of town when they noticed a cloud of dust approaching. Thinking it might be an important message from the town the column halted.

A horseman approached. It was the knight's best friend. He said:

"Hey, you gave me the wrong key!!"

GOD’S WORK

RIYADH - The leading executioner in Saudi Arabia, which implements strict Islamic sharia law, has no compunction about beheading convicts because it is "God's work".

"I sleep very well," Arab News daily quoted executioner Mohammed Saad al-Beshi as saying on Thursday in a rare interview that offered an insight into a job that is much-criticized in the West and by human rights groups. "It doesn't matter to me: two, four, 10. As long as I'm doing God's work, it doesn't matter how many people I execute."

Beshi's job is of prime importance in a kingdom that executes rapists, murderers, drug and alcohol smugglers, usually by beheading, and amputates the limbs of robbers. So far this year, Saudi Arabia has executed at least seven people. At least 45 people were put to death in 2002, 75 people in 2001 and 121 people in 2000.

Arab News said the 42-year-old Saudi national started working in1998 in the Red Sea city of Jeddah and would not reveal how much he gets paid or how many people he has executed so far.

Beshi is also proud of his sword, a gift from the government that he keeps razor sharp and cleans regularly from the bloodstains. For amputations, he uses a special knife.

"People are amazed at how fast it can separate the head from the body," the father of seven boasted. "Sometimes they (his children) help me clean my sword."

Beshi is also entrusted with training executioners and has already started with his 22-year-old son. Asked if he thinks people are afraid of him, Beshi said: "No one is afraid of me. I have lots of relatives and many friends and I live a normal life. There are no drawbacks to my social life."

QUOTE OF THE DAY

We shall show mercy, but we shall not ask for it.
Sir Winston Churchill, (1874-1965), speech in the House of Commons, July 14, 1940.

WORD OF THE DAY

Q and A

Function: noun (count)

Plural: Q and A’s

Meaning:

A period of time or an occasion when someone answers questions that are asked by a reporter, by the people in an audience, etc.

e.g.

There will be a brief Q and A following the speech.

Note: Q and A is often used before another noun.

e.g.

a Q and A session

IMAGE OF THE DAY

Gentlemen
The crisis is about this big!

LAUGHTER'S THE BEST MEDICINE

THE WRONG DOOR

The air hostess is at the back of the airplane preparing the trays for lunch. A little old lady comes in and speaks to her: “Where’s the ladies’ toilet ?”
“It’s right at the other end of the airplane – at the front!”
She walks to the front of the airplane and opens the door. She sees the captain and the other officers. They are all busy. They don’t see her. Then she returns to the air hostess.
“Is everything O.K.?” the girl asks the lady.
“Yes, but there are four men in the ladies’ toilet watching TV!”

MEDICAL ADVICE

By Dr. Samuel Quinn

Question - Dear Dr. Quinn: I seem to get colds all the time. Is there anything I can do to prevent them? What should I do after I’ve caught one? FRUSTRATED:

ANSWER

DEAR FRUSTRATED: The common cold is the most frequent of all illnesses. At any given moment, about one out of every eight people has one. Most people get colds by touching things that a person with a cold has used. You can even catch a cold by shaking hands. So if someone you know has a cold, you should not use the same cups, glasses, dishes, or telephone.

Although there is no permanent cure for the cold, doctors believe that vitamins can help prevent one. Many doctors recommend vitamin C to prevent colds, and some doctors suggest that you take large amounts when you begin to get sick. Yet it is not really known whether vitamin C is truly helpful.

The body needs healthy food to fight a cold. If you have a cold, you should eat well, but not overeat, and you should drink lots of liquids, especially juices. Also be sure to get enough rest and stay warm. If your body aches, you can take one or two aspirins every four hours. Some research shows, however, that taking aspirin can make your cold last longer.

When you have a cold, you should also try to protect other people. Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. Put all your used tissues in a paper bag, and throw the bag yourself so that no one else will have to touch it. Wash all objects that you touch with very hot water before anyone else uses them.

IMAGE OF THE DAY

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"Never in the field of human conflicts was so much owed by so many to so few."

Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill - referring to the pilots of the Royal Air Force during The Battle of Britain.)

WORD OF THE DAY

LOLL
Function: verb

Inflected forms:
lolls; lolled; lolling

Meanings:
1 : to hang or bend loosely
e.g. a dog with its tongue lolling out
Her head was lolling to one side.

2 : to lie or sit in a relaxed or lazy manner
e.g. She was lolling by the pool.
He lolled about/around in his pajamas all day.

Note: Loll is always followed by an adverb or preposition.

Teaching Tips & Ideas

POLITE FORMS IN ENGLISH

There are many ways of asking people to do things. You can order people: “Stand up!” “Go to bed!” These are all right in military situations, but orders or commands like these are not usually very polite in ordinary conversation.

In everyday conversation, you request people to do things, not “order” them: “Stand up, please”. “Sit down, please”. “Go to bed, please”. And to be more polite, you ask people if they will do things. “Will you bring me a cup of coffee, please?” “Would you sit down, please?”

In general, direct commands or requests are not as polite as less direct ones. A direct order or request is “harsh”, and you can “soften” it with “Please…. “Will you….?” Or “Would you….?” In other words, you can soften it by making it less direct. The more you soften a request, the more polite it becomes.

Compare “Be quiet!” and “Would you please be quiet for just a few minutes?” Actually, the expression “be quiet” is a little bit harsh in meaning, and you can soften it by using “quiet down,” “lower your voice,” or …. not talk for a few minutes.”

In learning a language, it is very important to find out how speakers of that language show politeness. In English, people show politeness (or rudeness) by the use of three important features:

1 – Sentence structure Will you...please? Would you mind?

2 – Choice of words be quiet or quiet down, instead of the rude form shut up

3 – Intonation of the voice in general, final rise for politeness, instead of final fall.

LAUGHTER'S THE BEST MEDICINE

WHY A DOG IS BETTER THAN A WOMAN

A dog's parents will never visit you.
A dog limits its time in the bathroom to a quick drink.
A dog will not get mad at you if you forget its birthday.
A dog does not laugh about the previous dogs in your life.
A dog never expects flowers.
The later you are, the happier a dog is to see you.
And last but not the least...
A dog does not shop.

Jake and the Mule

Farmer Jake had a nagging wife who made his life miserable. The only real peace that he got was when he was out in the field plowing. One day when he was out in the field, Jake's wife brought his lunch to him.

Then she stayed while he quietly ate and berated him with a constant stream of nagging and complaining. Suddenly, Jake's old mule kicked up his back legs, striking the wife in the head, and killing her instantly.

At the wake, Jake's minister noticed that when the women offered their sympathy to Jake he would nod his head up and down, but when the men came up and spoke quietly to him, he would shake his head from side to side.

When the wake was over and all the mourners had left, the minister approached Jake and asked, "Why was it that you nodded your head up and down to all the women and shook your head from side to side to all the men?"

"Well," Jake replied, "The women all said how nice she looked, and her dress was so pretty, so I agreed by nodding my head up and down. The men all asked, 'Is that mule for sale?' and I shook my head, no."

Man Travels 500 Miles for Haircut

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW BLOOMFIELD, Pa. (AP)
Dave Gaskell is so finicky about how his hair is cut that he commutes 500 miles to his barber. About once a month since he started working for US Airways in September, Gaskell boards a plane in Cincinnati, rents a car and gets a haircut from Donald Stoops Jr. in New Bloomfield in central Pennsylvania.

"Why not?" said Gaskell, 54. "He gives a great haircut. I'm kind of particular about haircuts."

Gaskell, who retired from a 30 year teaching (no kidding) career last year, left Cincinnati around 6 a.m. Tuesday. Four hours later, his gray locks were being snipped at Stoops Barber Shop. He's been going to Stoops for decades. Stoops' father, Donald Sr., cut Gaskell's hair when Gaskell was a cadet at Carson Long Military Institute in New Bloomfield.

"I have yet to find another place that cuts hair like I like it," said Gaskell, who served 17 years in the military and likes his hair cropped just a certain way. As a US Airways ramp agent, Gaskell's plane travel is cheap - he pays just $80 a year for unlimited flights. He said he's flown to Orlando, Fla., and Seattle just for lunch.

To Stoops, who has been cutting hair since 1955, Gaskell's trips aren't unusual. Customers return from South Carolina and California for haircuts and good conversation and all for $5, he said.

"You'd be surprised where people come from," Stoops said.

IMAGE OF THE DAY

NO COMMENTS!!!

Olympic Animals

African elephant for weightlifting

No land animal on Earth can lift as much weight as the African elephant, which can pick up a one-tonne weight with its trunk.

When not showing off their physical prowess, they actually use their versatile trunk, an extension of the upper lip and nose, for communication and handling objects including food.

The African elephant, the world’s largest terrestrial mammal, continues to roam the continent, but remain under threat from poaching and habitat loss. Although poaching elephants for their ivory has declined since a 1989 ivory ban, it remains a widespread problem, particularly in west and central Africa.

As strong as they are, elephants still need additional protection from the illegal ivory trade.

Olympic Animals

Polar bear for swimming

Polar bears are excellent swimmers and can sustain a pace of 10kph (6.2mph) in cold icy waters by using their front paws like oars while their hind legs are held flat like a rudder.

They can swim for several hours at a time over long distances - some have been tracked swimming continuously for 100km (62 miles) - and can stay under water for as long as 2 minutes.

Its Latin name, Ursus maritimus, means “sea bear”, reflecting the fact that the species spends much of its life in and around water, and on offshore pack ice where they like to hunt.

Melting sea ice as a result of climate change, however, poses a severe threat to the polar bear’s survival, a threat that it may not be able to swim its way out of so easily.

Scientists believe polar bears may disappear in the wild within 100 years if global warming continues unabated.

Olympic Animals

Leatherback turtle for diving

Scientists have recorded leatherback turtles descending as deep as 1,230m - the deepest dive ever recorded for a reptile.

They are also excellent swimmers, finding their way as far north as Alaska and as far south as Africa's Cape of Good Hope.

Like other marine turtles species, leatherbacks are threatened by poaching for meat and egg collection, marine pollution and being caught accidentally in fishing nets. A combination of these threats has caused the world’s largest marine species to be listed as critically endangered.

The leatherback may have to dive a little deeper to escape detection.

Olympic Animals

Tiger for high jumping

Tigers can leap as high as 5m (16ft) and as far as 9-10m (30-33ft), making them one of the highest jumping mammals.

The tiger, largest of all cats, is one of the most charismatic and evocative species on Earth; it is also one of the most threatened. Only about 4,000 remain in the wild, most in isolated pockets spread across increasingly fragmented forests stretching from India to south-eastern China and from the Russian Far East to Sumatra, Indonesia.

Poached for its skin and body parts, the world has lost 3 of the 9 tiger subspecies in the past century - the Bali, Caspian and Javan tigers have all become extinct.

Can the remaining subspecies jump away from the brink of extinction?

Olympic Animals

Cheetah

The cheetah is the world’s fastest land mammal, and the most unique and specialized member of the cat family.

Aerodynamically built for speed, it can achieve speeds of up to 112kph (70mph). These nimble cats can make swift, sudden turns in pursuit of prey like gazelle and young wildebeest.

With approximately 10,000 left in the wild, the cheetah is endangered throughout its range in southern and eastern Africa due to habitat loss, reduced prey and poaching.

Will they be fast enough in the race for survival?

Teaching Tips & Ideas

The use of: “To Make and To Do”

e.g. To Make A Purchase – To Do Shopping

The above examples are enough to show you that it is sometimes very hard the use of these two verbs. Sorry but all you have to do is study both verbs and get acquainted with the use of them. Here are some expressions:


Make a check______________________________
Make a difference___________________________
Make a discount____________________________
Make a mess_______________________________
Make a reservation__________________________
Make a bet_________________________________
Make a phone call___________________________
Make a speech_____________________________
Make a question____________________________
Make a compliment_________________________
Make a mistake ____________________________
Make an effort_____________________________
Do a business______________________________
Do a favor_________________________________
Do a good action____________________________
Do a stupid thing____________________________
Do as you like______________________________
That will do________________________________
Do one’s best______________________________
Do good__________________________________
Do justice_________________________________
Do nothing________________________________
Do wrong_________________________________
Do the right thing___________________________


As you can see, it’s not that easy to deal with “Make” and “Do” ! You should go to the Dictionary and discover the meaning of the words and expressions and fill in the blanks. HC

LAUGHTER'S THE BEST MEDICINE

MUD PIES

A man pleaded with the psychiatrist,

- "You've got to help me. It's my son."
- "What's the matter?"
- "He's always eating mud pies. I get up in the morning and there he is in the backyard eating mud pies. I come home at lunch and he's eating mud pies. I come home at dinner and there he is in the backyard eating mud pies."

The psychiatrist reassured him,

- "Give the kid a chance. It's all part of growing up. It'll pass."
- "Well, I don't like it, and neither does his wife."

"PUREBRED POLICE DOG $25"

The ad in the local newspaper read: "Purebred Police Dog $25". Thinking that to be a great bargain, Mrs. Freeman ordered the dog to be delivered. The next day a van pulled up and left her the mangiest looking mongrel she had ever seen. In a rage, she telephoned the man who had placed the ad.

- "What do you mean by calling that mangy mutt a purebred police dog?"
- "Don't be deceived by his looks, Ma'am," he replied. "He's in the Secret Service."

WORD OF THE DAY

VEX

Function: verb (with object)

Inflected forms:
vexes; vexed; vexing

Status: old-fashioned

Meaning:
to annoy or worry (someone)
e.g. This problem has vexed researchers for many years.
We were vexed by the delay.

Derived form:
vexing - adjective
Comparative and superlative forms: more vexing; most vexing
e.g. a vexing problem (an irritating/annoying problem)

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise. Benjamin Franklin

THE OLYMPIC SPIRIT - NOW AND THEN

The Olympic Spirit celebrates the centennial of the modern Olympic movement, beginning with the very first Olympiad in Athens, Greece in 1896. From their beginnings, in 776 B.C., the Olympic Games have always represented the ultimate in athletic achievement. But for centuries the Olympics have also provided the world with an international stage from which art and culture have been celebrated, peace inspired and political agendas promoted. The Olympic Creed says “The most important thing is not to win but to take part. The essential is not to have conquered, but to have fought well”. Christian Byzantine Emperor Theodosius I abolished the games in 393 A.D. on the grounds that they were losing their true spirit and had been corrupted.

BEIJING 2008

A terrorist attack in a western Chinese province is raising security concerns just a few days before the start of the Olympics. The attack happened on the far side of China, in the Xinjiang region, near the Afghan-Pakistan border. Chinese authorities say it could be timed to the games. Sixteen policemen were killed in the city of Kashgar when two attackers driving a truck drove into a group of police officers who were out doing their morning exercises. The two attackers jumped from the vehicle and threw grenades, which exploded, and also attacked the police officers with knives. The Chinese authorities are calling this a terrorist attack

Teaching Tips & Ideas

PREPOSITIONS

AMIDST - Indica a posição de objetos e pessoas no meio de outros.
Emprega-se também em sentido figurado com substantivos abstratos.
e.g. - We saw her amidst the crowd.
The ship sank amidst the waves.
She found herself amidst the confusion.

AMONG - AMONGST - Entre. Indicam a posição de objetos misturados com outros.
Raras vezes são empregados em sentido figurado.
e.g. - They decided among themselves.
There never ought to be dissentions amongst friends.
I divided my books among them.

AROUND - Ao redor de. Em redor de. Por volta de.
e.g. - She tied a yellow ribbon around the Ole Oak Tree.
We’ll be there around midnight.
Around the world in 80 days.

RULES OF THUMB

The thumb is the short, thick finger on your hand, the one that helps you hold things.

Thumb Nouns

The noun “thumb” is used in a lot of expressions: to give someone the thumbs up/down
(to give someone approval/disapproval)

Thumb is also used as a verb.
e.g. to thumb a ride (informal) to hitchhike; to try to get a ride (lift)by standing on the road sticking out your thumb.

Thumb Idioms
Here are some idioms with thumb. Can you guess their idiomatic meanings by thinking about their literal meanings?

To stick out like a sore thumb:
Betty sticks out like a sore thumb in that yellow dress. Everyone else is wearing blue.
(Betty looks very different from everyone else; she looks a little foolish.)

A green thumb:
He has a green thumb. He is good at making plants grow. Everything in his garden flourishes.

A Rule of Thumb: (a practical rule) “You should pay your best attention to the Tips of Grammar as well as The Rules of Thumb listed in every issue of this BULLETIN”.

LAUGHTER'S THE BEST MEDICINE

Bad News

Leroy came home from the doctor looking very worried. His wife said,

- "What's the problem?"

He said,

- "The doctor told me I have to take a pill every day for the rest of my life."

- "So what? his wife said. Lots of people have to take a pill every day their whole lives.

He said,

- "I know, but he only gave me four pills!"

Hot Temper

A member of the Senate, known for his hot temper and acid tongue, explodes one day in mid session and begins to shout,

- "Half of this Senate is made up of cowards and corrupt politicians!"

All the other Senators plead to the angry member that he withdraw his statement, or be removed from the remainder of the session. After a long pause, the angry member accepted.

- ”OK" he said, I withdraw what I said.

- “Half of this Senate is NOT made up of cowards and corrupt politicians...


I Lost My Wife

A man approached the very beautiful woman in the large supermarket and asked,

- "You know, I've lost my wife here in the supermarket. Can you talk to me for a couple of minutes?"

- "Why?" she asks.

- "Because every time I talk to a beautiful woman, my wife appears out of nowhere!"

WORD OF THE DAY

AWKWARD

Function: Adjective

Comparative and superlative forms: more awkward; most awkward

Meanings:
1 - a : not graceful : clumsy

e.g. She is awkward at dancing. He had large feet and his walk was awkward and ungainly. An awkward movement.
The story contained some awkward writing.

1- b Lacking skill
e.g. She is an awkward writer.

2 - Difficult to use or handle
e.g. The machine is very awkward to operate.
An awkward tool. The box isn't heavy, but it has an awkward shape and size. (its shape and size make it difficult to carry)

3 - a Not easy to deal with
e.g. It was an awkward (embarrassing) moment for everyone.
Do you often find yourself in awkward situations?
He was put in the awkward position of having to answer the question.
There was an awkward pause in the conversation.

3 - b Not socially graceful or confident. Uneasy or uncomfortable.
e.g. I feel awkward (about) having to ask you to help.
He feels awkward with/around strangers.

Derived forms:
Awkwardly (adverb)
e.g. The baby was crawling awkwardly on her hands and knees.
He fell and landed awkwardly.
An awkwardly written sentence.

Awkwardness noun
Plural: awkwardnesses
e.g. (noncount) A moment of awkwardness occurred after the introduction.
The awkwardness of the writing
There was an awkwardness between us when we last saw each other.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"Nothing is more costly, nothing is more sterile than vengeance."
Winston Churchill

THE FAMOUS SEA CAPTAIN

Once upon a time there was a famous sea captain. This captain was very successful at what he did. For years he guided merchant ships all over the world. Never did stormy seas or pirates get the best of him. He was admired by his crew and fellow captains. However, there was one thing different about this captain. Every morning he went through a strange ritual. He would lock himself in his captain quarters and open a small safe. In the safe was an envelope with a piece of paper inside. He would stare at the paper for a minute, then lock it back up. After that, he would go about his daily duties.

For years this went on, and his crew became very curious with each passing day. Was it a treasure map? Was it a letter from a long lost love? Everyone speculated about the contents of that strange envelope. One day the captain died at sea. After laying the captain’s body to rest, into the ocean, the first mate led the entire crew into the captain’s quarters. He opened the safe, got the envelope, opened it and…

The first mate turned pale and showed the paper to the others. Four words were on the paper: “Portside = left. Starboard = right.”

Teaching Tips & Ideas

RULES OF THUMB

Fun and Funny

If you have problems with the words "fun" and "funny," look at these two sentences and see if you can feel the difference:


1. George is so funny. Every time I talk to him he makes me laugh.

2. I really enjoy going to the beach. It's so fun!

Both words here are adjectives. We use "fun" to say that something is enjoyable; we like doing it. We use "funny" to talk about things that make us laugh. Here are some more examples:

Funny

- Larry's joke about the Portuguese student was so funny I almost died laughing.

- Chaplin’s movies are always funny. Everyone in the theater ends up laughing.

- Mary is really funny. She has a great sense of humor, and always makes people laugh.

Fun

- My vacation in Rio was so fun! I went to Copacabana beach and to the Sugar Loaf.

- Jane's a really fun girl. It's always an adventure going out with her.

- Thank you for inviting me to your birthday party. It was really fun.

- I don't like going windsurfing. I think going to the movies is much more fun.

LAUGHTER'S THE BEST MEDICINE

What's Up, Doc?

A woman went to the Community Hospital. After about 15 minutes with one of the new doctors, she went screaming down the hall. Another doctor stopped her and asked what the problem was and she explained.

The second doctor went back to the first and said,

- "What's the matter with you? Mrs. Terry is 63 years old. She has four grown children and seven grandchildren and you told her she was pregnant?"

The new doctor simply smiled and said,

- "I cured her hiccups didn't I”?


At the barber Shop

I was getting my hair cut at a neighborhood shop, and I asked the barber when would be the best time to bring in my two-year-old son.

Without hesitation, the barber answered, "When he's four."


Watch Your Manners

The man was seated in the cafeteria when a woman and her two children sat down nearby and began to eat. Suddenly the man belched.

"Sir," said the woman haughtily, "Are you in the habit of doing that before your children?"

"Well, I'll tell ya, ma'am," he replied. "There ain’t no rules in my house. Sometimes I go first, sometimes they go first."

WORD OF THE DAY

YOU KNOW WHAT

Function: noun (noncount)

Status: informal

Meanings:

1 - You-know-what is used in speech to refer to something that is not named but is known to both the hearer and speaker.

e.g. I’ve hidden the you-know-what in the closet.

2 - You-know-what is used in place of a rude or offensive word in order to express anger or annoyance.

e.g. He's a complete you-know-what. That's a big pile of you-know-what.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
Martin Luther King Jr.

TWO DIFFERENT VISIONS OF LIFE

The rich industrialist from the North was horrified to find the southern fisherman lying lazily beside his boat, smoking a pipe.

- "Why aren't you out fishing?" asked the industrialist.

- "Because I have caught enough fish for the day," said the fisherman.

- "Why don't you catch some more?"

- "What would I do with them?"

- "You could earn more money," was the industrialist's reply. "With that you could have a motor fixed to your boat and go into deeper waters and catch more fish. Then you would make enough to buy nylon nets. These would bring you more fish and more money. Soon you would have enough money to own two boats . . . maybe even a fleet of boats. Then you would be a rich man like me."

- "What would I do then?" asked the fisherman.

- "Then you could really enjoy life."

- "And, said the fisherman, what is it you think I am doing right now?"

Teaching Tips & Ideas

Prepositions




BEYOND – Além de. Fora do alcance. Inacessível.
e.g.: - Do not go beyond this place.
He lives beyond his income. It is quite beyond my will.

BY – Por intermédio de. Junto de. Por.

Usada com Expressões de Tempo indica que a ação será concluída naquele tempo determinado.

Empregado com os Reflexivos
tem o sentido de “Só”. “Isolado”. Emprega-se também nos Juramentos.

e.g.: - Richard was despised by all.
I always go to Rio by plane.
“Blue Eyes” was known by his voice.
You should never swear by God.
I’d like to sit at that table by the window.
I will have it ready by the end of May.
The investigation shall be finished by Xmas.
Nobody helped me. I was by myself.
By my honor! By all means!
By night. By no means!
By land. By sight.
By the way. By name.
By heart. By the way.
By day. By chance.
By sea. By the by.

LAUGHTER'S THE BEST MEDICINE

TWO OF A KIND

Emergency

A man spoke frantically into the phone.

- “My wife is pregnant and her contractions are only two minutes apart”!
- Is this her first child? The doctor asked.
- No, you idiot! “This is her husband!”

Happy Birthday

Teacher - What is your date of birth?
Little Johnny - July fifteenth.
Teacher - What year?
Little Johnny - Every year!

WORD OF THE DAY

Uh-Huh

Function

Informal

Meaning


Uh-huh is used to show that you agree or understand.
e.g. "Is that your dog?" "Uh-huh." (yeah, yes)
"Do you know what I mean?" "Uh-huh. I sure do."

Note: Uh-huh is sometimes used to encourage someone to continue talking.
e.g. "I'm still kind of worried about tomorrow." "Uh-huh."

QUOTE OF THE DAY

If only God would give me some clear sign! Like making a large deposit in my name in a Swiss bank.

Woody Allen US movie actor, comedian, & director (1935 - )

THE VIRTUE CALLED DEVOTION

"One day, a young man saw his father walking down the road lugging a large basket. When he got closer, the young man could see that his old grandfather was in the basket.


- "Where are you taking Grandpa, Father?" the boy asked.

- "I'm taking him to the canyon", his father said.

- "He's old and no good for anything now, so I'll throw him over the cliff."

- "Okay Father, you go right ahead" the young man said, "but be sure to save the basket. Someday I shall need it for you".

Someday we, too, will be old and feeble. Let us hope that loving families will not forget The Virtue Called Devotion.

Teaching Tips & Ideas

THE WORD WHEN

You have probably heard children use the phrase when I grow up. It means "when I get older."

When I grow up, I want to be a soccer player.
When I grow up, I want to be a teacher.
When I grow up, I want to be a movie star.
When I grow up, I want to work at the University.

Notice that the phrase “when I grow up” uses the present tense. In English, if we use "when" to talk about the future, we often use the present tense.

Here are some more examples:

When I go to the store, I'll buy you a pack of gum.
I want to have seven children when I'm older.
When I'm the president of this country, everyone will get a raise.
I want to visit the Statue of Liberty when I go to New York.

LAUGHTER'S THE BEST MEDICINE

The Wishes
A 60 year old couple was celebrating their 40 years of marriage. During the celebration a fairy appeared! "Because you have been such a loving couple all those years, I would like to give you each one wish." The wife said,

- "I want to travel around the world." The fairy waved her wand and, POOF! She had the tickets in her hand.

Next it was the husband's turn. He paused for a moment, then said shyly,

- "Well, I'd like to have a wife 30 years younger than me." The fairy picked up her wand and, POOF!

-He was 90!

The Klopman Curse

A businessman boarded a plane to find, sitting next to him, an elegant woman wearing the largest, most stunning diamond ring he had ever seen. He asked her about it.

- "This is the Klopman diamond," she said. "It is beautiful, but there is a terrible curse that goes with it."

- "What's the curse?" the man asked.

- "Mr. Klopman, she said!"

Remark: Do not get excited because of Mr. Bush's pic above.
His face is actually a third joke. H.C.

WORD OF THE DAY

VINTAGE

ADJECTIVE

Note: Vintage is always used before a noun.

Meanings
1 - vintage is used to describe a wine usually of high quality that was produced in a particular year which is identified on the bottle.
e.g.That restaurant has a fine selection of vintage wines.

2 - Vintage is used to describe something that is not new but that is valued because of its good condition, attractive design, etc.
e.g. a collection of vintage cars. Vintage clothing shops

3 - Vintage is used to describe something that has the best qualities or characteristics of the things made or done by a particular person, organization, etc.
e.g. Vintage Frank Sinatra songs. This painting is vintage Van Gogh.

Idiom:
Vintage Year
Meanings
1 - The year in which a vintage wine is produced.
e.g. The date of the vintage year is marked on the bottle.

2 - A very good or successful year.
e.g. This has been a vintage year for independent films.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"A classic is something that everybody wants to have read and nobody wants to read." Mark Twain

NOISE POLLUTION

If indeed silence is gold, it is also becoming as rare as gold. It seems that this so called progress of man includes a rising volume of noise. In every home a most modern stereo or television will fill the rooms with “sound”. Between sunrise and sunset, streets and highways are a constant source of noise from cars, busses, and trucks. You can pass any factory or construction area and the roar of its machinery will make your ears ring. Music is played in every supermarket, most restaurants, and many offices. Big cities of the world are well known for their noisiness. Noise pollution is the new side effect of our technological age along with the lack of respect. For man and for the environment. Day or night, the sound of noise fills the air. It seems that the soothing effects of silence are nowhere to be found. Even the quiet of our carefully protected wilderness areas can be invaded by a passing airliner. We are learning, finally, that silence is a natural resource and must be protected by law. It appears that we all find company in sound, but at the same time, we all demand a little quietness and respect from time to time. Extracted from NEC–Teacher’s Annotated Edition.

Teaching Tips & Ideas

Prepositions

ABOUT - Em torno de. Cerca de. A respeito de.

1 - Indica a localização de objetos que cercam outro. (em torno de)
e.g.: - The outskirts about London are very beautiful.
We walked about the city.

2 - Indica proximidade a certo número, quantidade e tempo. (cerca de)
e.g.: - This city has about 500 thousand inhabitants.
Cesar lived about the year 44 B.C.
I’ll be home about midnight.

3 - Significa “a respeito de”.
e.g.: - I don’t want to talk about her to my parents.
What are you talking about ?
Are you talking about the UFO we saw last night ?

4 - “Indica que algo está a ponto de acontecer”.
e.g.: - She was about to burst into tears when he finally arrived.
The plane’s about to leave.

5 - Equivale a “com”, quando se trata de coisas pertencentes à pessoa, tais como: dinheiro, hábitos etc.
e.g.: - I’m sorry, but I have no money about me.
There is a certain air of dignity about her.

LAUGHTER'S THE BEST MEDICINE

THE GOLDEN TWELVE
- "Do you think you are earning enough to support a family?", the older man asked the suitor.
- Yes, sir, replied Richard, "I'm sure I am."
- "Think carefully now," said Jane's father warningly.
- "There are twelve of us!"

The Prescription
A very nervous man, accompanied by his nagging wife, was examined by a doctor. After checking the chart, he nodded and wrote the man a prescription for a
powerful tranquilizer. The man asked,

- "How often do I take these?"

- "Let's start off with one every six hours." But they're not for you, replied the doctor.

- "They're for your wife!"

WORD OF THE DAY

UNGAINLY

Adjective

Comparative and superlative forms: more ungainly; most ungainly

Meaning
moving in an awkward or clumsy way - not graceful
e.g. a large, ungainly animal. He was tall and ungainly.>

Derived form
UNGAINLINESS noun [noncount]

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"The world of tomorrow belongs to the person who has the vision today."
Robert Schuller

HOW IT WAS ALL ABOUT - THE 4th OF JULY NOW AND THEN

In 1774, a group of leaders from the American colonies met to discuss another form of government. In 1775, the Revolutionary War broke out between the colonists and English soldiers. Finally, Thomas Jefferson wrote The Declaration of Independence to show England that the colonies wanted to govern themselves. On July 4, 1776, this document was signed and a new nation was born.. People rang bells and fired guns to announce the birth of The United States of America. Today, bell-ringing and noisy fireworks are still popular ways to celebrate the Fourth of July. During the day, people get together with friends and family for a barbecue or a picnic. Many city parks feature open-air concerts and play favorite American tunes. Sometimes there are speeches about the nation’s history. At night, spectacular displays of fireworks light up the sky. Most fireworks are illegal to use at home, but many community organizations sponsor exciting fireworks programs in parks, stadiums, and even at the beach. The dazzling colors and exciting explosive sounds give the audience feelings of joy and pride on this national holiday.

RULES OF THUMB

“There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy”. William Shakespeare

“Prepositions for instance”. H.Caldas.

AT – Em, A, Na, No, De, etc. Presença em determinado local. Usa-se para dizer as horas, referir-se a um período de tempo, expressões idiomáticas, o número do endereço e a pequenas localidades.

e.g.: - She was at school yesterday.

Who is at the door?
At the beginning of....
At the end of....
They laughed at me.
He was in the armchair at the fireside.
She looked at me with joy.
At Xmas. At Easter.
At 25 Monroe Street.
At 7 o’clock.
At war. At work.
At once. At last.
At noon. At present.
At least. At night.

LAUGHTER'S THE BEST MEDICINE

I Would But...

A wife, one evening, drew her husband's attention to the couple next door and said...

- "Do you see that couple? How devoted they are? He kisses her every time they meet and every time he leaves for work.. Why don't you do the same?"

- "I would love to, dear - replied the husband - but I don't know her well enough!"

At The Shrink

Patient: - Doc, I had the worst dream of my life last night. I dreamed I was with twelve of the most beautiful chorus girls in the world. Blondes, brunettes, redheads, all dancing in a row on the stage...

Psychiatrist: - Hold it! That doesn't sound so terrible.

Patient: - Oh yeah? "In the dream, I was the third girl from the left!"

WORD OF THE DAY

Bird's-Eye

Adjective:

Meaning: seen from high above

Note: Bird’s-eye is always used before a noun.

e.g. We had a bird's-eye view/perspective of the city as we flew over it.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it”!
George Bernard Shaw.

DRIVING

A permission to drive a car is called a License. In most countries you need to take a written test and a practical driving test to get a Driver’s License. In Massachusetts USA for example, a person who is 16 years old can get a Learner’s Permit that allows them to drive with a licensed driver. With this permit, they are not allowed to drive between the hours of 12:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. unless they are driving with a parent who is a licensed driver. Learners can get a Driver’s License when they are 18 years old. The cost for a Learner’s Permit is $15.00 US. For a Driver’s License is $20.00 for the driving test and $33.75 for the Picture License.

Teaching Tips & Ideas

Look at these two meanings of “Drive”:

Drive as a verb – means to control a car or any other vehicle

e.g. we usually drive to school.

Drive as a noun – means to have purpose and energy for a goal or plan

e.g. He has the drive to succeed.
When we drive a car, we usually have a location/place we want to reach.
When we have drive we have the purpose/energy to get to our goal/destination - which may or may not be a location/place.


Which sentences refer to driving a car ?

a) My wife drives very fast. (She really does)
b) He has a lot of drive.
c) Jack and Jill are driving to the airport now.
d) She is driven to finally reach her goal.

Remember: “DRIVE CAREFULLY AND DEFENSIVELY”


LAUGHTER'S THE BEST MEDICINE


The Yellow Dress

My three-year-old daughter and I went shopping with my mother. A rather large woman, Mom sometimes has a tough time finding just the right fit. When my mother picked out a yellow dress, my daughter went into the dressing room with her. A moment later Mom asked her how she liked the outfit. My daughter replied,

"Oh, Grandma, you look so pretty, just like a big yellow school bus."

The yellow dress stayed in the dressing room…

WORD OF THE DAY

VIA

Function: preposition

Meanings:

1 - By going through (a particular place) By way of (a particular place)

e.g. She flew to New York via Chicago.

2 - By means of a person, machine, by using something or someone

e.g. I'll let her know via one of our friends. He did some research via computer. We went to school via a shortcut.

QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first”! (Ronald Reagan)

THIS KIND OF MISDEED CAN HAPPEN TO THE MOST RESPECTABLE FAMILIES

Look attentively at these three photographs.

Did Prince Philip F...?

What do you think?

The expressions are priceless!

Observe Her Majesty's face!