MY ENGLISH BLOG

Rafael Suarez 4to B N°37

Question Tags

The Question Tags are shorts questions in the end of a sentence and whose structure is in opposition to the previous sentence. Q.T are common in the spoken language.

1- When the sentence is affirmative the question is negative

• She is an artist, in't she?
• They are schoolmates, aren't they?

2- If the sentence is negative the question is affirmative.

• He doesn't work here, does he?
• We don't drink one, do we?

*If there is an auxiliary verb in the statement, we use it to form the question tag.

•  I don't need to finichs it today, do I?

*Sometimes there isn't an auxiliary verb in the statement, when the verb in the statement is present or past and is positive, we use "Don't, doesn't or didn't"

• Laura eats cheese, doesn't she?

*If the verb in the statement is "to be" in the present or past, we use "to be" to make question tag.

• The bus stops over here, isn't it?

*When the verb in the statement is a modal verb we use the modal verb to make the Q.T

• They could hear me, couldn't they?

*If the main verb or auxiliary verb in the statement is "am" te positive Q.T is "am I?" but the negtive Q.T is usually "aren't I?"

Reported Speech

Change of pronouns from direct to indirect speech:

• I - he/she
• We - They
• My - his/her
• Your - My
• Our - Their
• Me - Him/Her
• Us - Them

Change of places and time from direct S. to indirect S.

• Now - Then
• Today - That day
• Here - There
• This - That
• Tomorrow - The following day / the next day / the day after
• Yesterday - The previous day / the day before
• Last week - The previous week / the week before
• Ago - Previous / before 
• Tonight - That night
• The day before yesterday - two days before
• The day after tomorrow - in two days

Tense Changes in R.S from direct to indirect speech

• Present simple - Past simple
• Present Continuous - Past continuous
• Present perfect - Past perfect
• Simple pas - Past perfect
• will - would
• can - could
• may - might
• must - had to
• have to - had to

Reported speech it's when you tell somebody what you or another person said before.

Diferent types of reported speech: 1-statements, 2-questions,3-request/commands, 4-other types.

A- Reporting statements: When transforming statements check weter you have to change: pronouns, tense, place and time expression.

1.  Pronouns: In reported speech, ou often have to change the pronoun depending on who says what. Ex: she says "My dad likes roast chicken" / she says that her dad likes roast chicken.
2. Tenses: If the sentence starts in present, there is no backshift of tenses in reported speech. If the sentence starts in the past, there isoften a backshift of tenses reported speech.
3. Modal verbs: the modal vebrs could, would, should, might, needn't ought to and used to do not normally change. Ex: He said "She might be right" / he said that she might be right.                    He told her "you needn't see a doctor" / He told her that she needn't see a doctor.
4. Place, demonstratives and time expressions: This change if the context of the reported statement is different.
5. Reporting Questions: When transforming question check whether you have to change: the pronouns, the place and time expressions. the tenses (backshift). Also, note that you have to change: transform the question word (where, when, what, how or if/whether.

Types of questions

*Whit question words what, where, why, how

Direct: Why don't you speak english?

Indirect: He asked me why I did't speak english

*Without question words (yes / no question)

Direct: Do you speak english?

Indirect: He asked me wether / If Ispoke English

 6. Reporting request / commands

When transforming request and commands check whether you have to change: pronouns / Place and time expressions.

Direct: "Nancy do the exercise" "She said sit down"

Reported Speech: "He told her to do the exercise" "she asked me to sit down"

Christmas in Italy

Marcos Pacheco

How is Christmas celebrated in Italy?

On December 24, the celebration of the festival "vigilia di natale" begins in Italy with its traditional "cenone", which means "great dinner"

The cenone begins with the antipasti, that is, the starters, followed by pasta, fish, fried vegetables, fruit and nougat.

On December 25, Christmas, to which is added December 26, Santo Esteban, the first martyr of the Christian tradition, this day is usually used to visit family and friends.

The Christmas tree in Italy is made on December 8 and is dismantled on January 6. Originally the pine was decorated mainly with dried fruits, orange cookies, candles. Today these are replaced by colored lights, decorated balls, ribbons and bows.

David Pinzón

Characteristics:

• Christmas begins in december 8
• Eat fish at christmas dinner
• They make several rites to have a lot of abundance
• Throw old things out of the windows
• The NewYear is celebrated with firecrackers and fireworks
• They play the Tombola
• They have Christmas markets
• The favorite dessert is the Panettone
• Typical dishes: zampon, tortellini in brodo cappone and Lasagna.

Andrés Jaimes

Long celebrations. 

 Do not eat meat on Christmas Eve. 

Visit the Vatican for night Mass. 

 Skiing at Christmas. 

 Bagpipes in the piazzas. 

Gifts from the Good Witch. 

Sweet treats.

 Ceppo di natale – Christmas Log

Rafael Suarez

Italian phrases to english

• É quasi Natale - It's almost christmas
• Buon Natale - Merry christmas
• Buone feste - Happy holidays
• Ti auguro un Natale pieno di felicita - I wish you a christmas full of happiness and love
• Buon Natale a te e alla tua famiglia - Merry christmas to you and your family.