JUST IN TIME GAME

Instructions: Player rolls the dice and moves forward to land on a clock. The player must read the time. If the time is incorrectly read, the move is canceled. Play continues until all players have reached the end.

I'm teaching to my students at 1st course of ESO (12 years) the time and this game was really funny!

Some , Any, A lot of

A lot, some, and any are used with indefinite amounts:
Example:
Q: How many students are there in the classroom:

A: There are a lot. (This is a large number). Or....
A: There are some students. (This is a small number but the number is not known.) Or....
A: There aren't any students. (This is zero or a very, very small number and the number is not known.

The "rules" that follow apply also to words containing some and any: somebody/anybody, something/anything, etc.
In general, some is used in positive sentences:
I got some nice presents for Christmas this year.
This job is going to take some time.
In general, any is used in negative sentences and questions:
I didn't get any nice presents for Christmas this year.
I looked in the cupboard but I couldn't find any biscuits.
I don't need any help.

In fact, the use of some/any is a little more complicated. Following are two common occasions when the above "rules" are "broken":
1. We can use some in questions when offering/requesting:
Would you like some more tea?
Could I have some milk, please?
Do you want something to eat?
2. We use any in positive sentences when we mean it doesn't matter which ..:
You can come and ask for my help any time.
Which book shall I read? - Any one. It's up to you.
You can sit anywhere but here. This is my seat!
DO a TEST about this topic here!

Embedded Questions- how it works!

This video explains how we can form embedded questions, it's really interesting!

HOWEVER ,

However

"However" is a transitional word that moves your ideas from one sentence to another. It's very similar to "but." It's used to show contrasts and differences.

Examples:

Having a car can be very convenient; however, it's expensive to buy and maintain one.

Walter has a lot of work to do; however, he's too tired to finish it.

Jim is in love with Graciella; however, he's not sure if she loves him.

However hard she tried, she could not open the door to get the office supplies.

However = No matter how

No matter how hard she tried, she ....

Bill doesn't mind working late; however, he's a little scared of walking home by himself at this time of the night.

Beekeeping is an important occupation; however, the beekeeper must keep himself covered at all times.

The Future - Grammar Tips

THE FUTURE

****** FUTURE SIMPLE(Future with 'Will'):

Form : S+ WILL+ Base form

Affirmative: I will go with you; It will rain tomorrow.
Negative: He will not / won’t live here next year.
Interrogative: Will you stop this quarrel?

Note: will is also a normal verb and means : querer; Will you marry me?

USES:

1. A prediction about the future.
i.e. The computer will break down// You’ll be a doctor in the future.
2. A spontaneous decision made at the moment of speaking.
e.g. Do you know what? I’ll buy it! // O.K. I’ll talk to my boss.
Note: i.e. (in exemplum) or e.g.(exempli gratia)
3. Make a Promise.

****** Be Going To:

Form: S+ be+ going to+ base form

Affirmative: She is going to live with you.
Negative: He isn’t going to help him.
Interrogative: Are they going to sell their house?

USES:

1. An intended action in the future.
(Intenciones o planes de futuro.)
i.e. The council is going to introduce a new surveillance system next year.
We are going to study abroad next semester.
2. An action which has a clear outcome, because you can see
the evidence. (Indica lo que está apunto de ocurrir, vemos indicios )
e.g. He has a gun in his hand , he is going to rob.

****** Present Continuous (Future idea):

Form: S+ Be+ (Verb+ ing)
Affirmative: He is flying to Manchester tomorrow.

USES:

1. A planned action for the near future.
( acciones planeadas que ocurrirán en un futuro próximo)
e.g. She is leaving her job tomorrow// The council is voting the new plan next week.

****** Future Continuous:

Form: S+ Will+ Be+ (Verb+ing)

USES:

1. An action in progress at a specific moment in the future.
i.e. Don’t call at 9.00. We’ll be watching a film
They will be getting married next Sunday.// At this time next year, he will be studying engineering. // When you arrive in Boston, I'll be sleeping soundly in my bed.// What will you be doing this time next week?

****** Future Perfect:

Form: S+ Will+ Have+ Past Participle.

USES:

1. A completed action at a specific time in the future. (to express something that will have been done up to a precise point in time in the future.)
(Expresa una acción acabada en un momento concreto del futuro)i.e.By the end of the course, you Hill have paid your debt.//By three o’clock we’ll have finished school tomorrow//She'll have read the book by the time you arrive./

Using COMMAS (Punctuation)

Commas can frequently be a nightmare, you can see here some of their uses:

1. Use a comma after phrases of more than three words that begin a sentence.
Correct Example: To get a gold medal, you must dedicate yourself to a training routine.


2. Use a comma after the date and year if they are used together. If its only the month and year, no comma is needed.
Correct Example: I was born on January 1, 1973, the same day the new year begins.


3. No comma is needed to separate nouns or noun clauses in a compound subject.

Incorrect Example (no comma needed): The music teacher from your high school, and the football coach from mine are married.

More tips:

The Pause: Just because you are pausing in your thoughts while typing doesn't mean that the reader is pausing in their reading!

Combining Sentences: Do not use a comma to simply join 2 complete sentences. Use a conjunction (remember Conjunction Junction?)

Incorrect Example: The Chicago Cubs are going to lose tomorrow, they really have bad pitching.

Correct Example: The Chicago Cubs are going to lose tomorrow because they really have bad pitching.
(from tips on using commas, dumb little man)

Future activities

Here you are a printable with different activities about the future: simple, going to, present continuous, future Perfect and future continuous. The level is intermediate and advanced. I hopt it will be useful.

DOWNLOAD THE PRINTABLE :

activities future.doc

Table of English Tenses

Press here to download the table of English tenses

Saint Valentine's Day is coming...

Saint Valentine is coming this Saturday, so you have to write your Saint Valentine's cards and messages, Don't forget!

What's your favourite book?

The results of the poll are the following:

1st. TWILIGHT.___42%

2nd. The Pillars of the Earth___28%

3rd. Laberynth, Romeo and Juliet, Codigo da vinci, Eragon___7%

I'll consider this poll to make some materials and activities with these books in the future. Thank you very much to those who voted, you're really kind, and you help me to improve my job.