6 Free Stories

These stories are great for youmg or beginner students, they'll improve their Reading skill:


Click on a title to begin.

Boy Who Cried Wolf

Emperor's New Clothes

Gingerbread Man

Hansel And Gretel

Jack And The Beanstalk

Little Red Riding Hood

SOME AND ANY (VIDEO EXPLANATION)

From Vaugham television.com

AIN'T

Ain't is a contraction originally used for "am not", but also used for "is not", "are not", "has not", or "have not" in the common vernacular (SLANG). In some dialects it is also used as a contraction of "do not", "does not", and "did not" (i.e. I ain't know that). The word is a perennial issue in English usage. It is a word that is widely used by many people, but its use is commonly considered to be improper.

Related words and usage
Ain't was preceded by an't, which had been common for about a century previously. An't appears first in print in the work of English Restoration playwrights: it is seen first in 1695, when William Congreve wrote I can hear you farther off, I an't deaf, suggesting that the form was in the beginning a contraction of "am not". But as early as 1696 Sir John Vanbrugh uses the form for "are not": These shoes an't ugly, but they don't fit me. At least in some dialects, an't is likely to have been pronounced like ain't, and thus the appearance of ain't is more a clarified spelling than a new verb form. The related word hain't is an archaic and non-standard contraction meaning has not or have not. It can be found in literature, particularly in Mark Twain's stories such as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. It is reminiscent of hae (have) in Lowland Scots. Another old non-standard form is baint or bain't, apparently a contraction of "be not".

Future Simple and Future Perfect Practice (Intermediate)

This activity is perfect to distinguish between the Future Simple and Future Perfect. I hope you find it useful!!
Practice With Simple Future and Perfect Future

A DELICIOUS SONG : Jason MRAZ-- I'M YOURS

This song is fantastic to be listened in Summer, near the beach enjoying your holidays. Have fun!


Jason MRAZ I'M Yours
LYRICS:

Well, you done done me and you bet I felt it
I tried to be chill but your so hot that i melted
I fell right through the cracks, and i'm tryin to get back
before the cool done run out i'll be givin it my best test
and nothin's gonna stop me but divine intervention
I reckon it's again my turn to win some or learn some

I won't hesitate no more,
no more, it cannot wait i'm yours

Well open up your mind and see like me
open up your plans and damn you're free
look into your heart and you'll find love love love
listen to the music at the moment maybe sing with me
Ah, la peaceful melody
It's your god forsaken right to be loved loved loved loved Loved

So, i won't hesitate no more,
no more, it cannot wait i'm sure
there's no need to complicate our time is short
this is our fate, i'm yours

*scat*

I've been spendin' way too long checkin' my tongue in the mirror
and bendin' over backwards just to try to see it clearer
my breath fogged up the glass
and so I drew a new face and laughed
I guess what I'm a sayin'is there ain't no better reason
to rid yourself of vanity and just go with the seasons
it's what we aim to do
our name is our virtue

I won't hesitate no more, no more
it cannot wait, i'm sure
(there's no need to complicate
our time is short
it cannot wait, i'm yours 2x

no please don't complicate, our time is short
this is our fate, im yours.
no please don't hesitate no more, no more
it cannot wait, the sky is yours!)

well open up your mind and see like me
open up your plans and damn you're free
look into your heart and you'll find love love love love
listen to the music of the moment come and dance with me
ah, la one big family
it's your god forsaken right to be loved, loved, loved, loved
open up your mind and see like me
open up your plans and damn you're free
look into your heart and you'll find love love love love
listen to the music of the moment come and dance with me
ah, la happy family
it's our god forsaken right to be loved loved loved loved
listen to the music of the moment come and dance with me
ah, la peaceful melodies
it's you god forsaken right to be loved loved loved loved...

Practice with the song:

Question 1 : What is the song about?

Question 2: What does it mean this expression: It's your God forsaken right to be loved ?

Question 3: Find out the phrasal verbs in the song and their meanings.

(leave your answers in the comments and i'll check them )

Manners are Important for British People (CULTURE)

Do stand in line:

In England we like to form orderly queues (standing in line) and wait patiently for our turn e.g. boarding a bus. It is usual to queue when required, and expected that you will take your correct turn and not push in front. 'Queue jumping' is frowned upon.

Do take your hat off when you go indoors (men only)

It is impolite for men to wear hats indoors especially in churches.

Nowadays, it is becoming more common to see men wearing hats indoors. However, this is still seen as being impolite, especially to the older generations.

Do say "Excuse Me":

If someone is blocking your way and you would like them to move, say excuse me and they will move out of your way.

Do Pay as you Go:

Pay for drinks as you order them in pubs and other types of bars.

Do say "Please" and "Thank you":




It is very good manners to say "please" and "thank you". It is considered rude if you don't. You will notice in England that we say 'thank you' a lot.

Do cover your Mouth:




When yawning or coughing always cover your mouth with your hand.

Do Shake Hands:
When you are first introduced to someone, shake their right hand with your own right hand.

Do say sorry:

If you accidentally bump into someone, say 'sorry'. They probably will too, even if it was your fault! This is a habit and can be seen as very amusing by an 'outsider'.

Do Smile:

A smiling face is a welcoming face.

Do Drive on the left side of the road

Find out more about driving

Do open doors for other people

Men and women both hold open the door for each other. It depends on who goes through the door first.

Do not greet people with a kiss:
We only kiss people who are close friends and relatives.

Avoid talking loudly in public

It is impolite to stare at anyone in public.
Privacy is highly regarded.
Do not ask a lady her age
It is considered impolite to ask a lady her age

Do not pick your nose in public:
We are disgusted by this. If your nostrils need de-bugging, use a handkerchief.

Avoid doing gestures such as backslapping and hugging
This is only done among close friends.
Do not spit.
Spitting in the street is considered to be very bad mannered.

Do not burp in public
You may feel better by burping loudly after eating or drinking, but other people will not! If you can not stop a burp from bursting out, then cover your mouth with your hand and say 'excuse me' afterwards.

Do not pass wind in public
Now how can we say this politely? Let's say that you want to pass wind. What do you do? Go somewhere private and let it out. If you accidentally pass wind in company say 'pardon me'.

(From Project Britain.com)

Connectors 2 (Disyuntive conectors)

Los conectores o conjunciones son palabras que usamos para unir dos o más frases o dos palabras dentro de la misma oración. / Connectors are words used to join two or more sentences or words in a sentence.

This post will show the Disyunctive Connectors and how to use them:

or - o
either...or... - o...o...
neither...nor... - no...ni...
whether...or... - si...o...
or else... - o sino...
otherwise - de otro modo

or - o

We'd better leave right now or we'll miss our bus.
Es mejor que nos vayamos ahora o perderemos el autobús.

Can you do that by yourself, or you need my help?
¿Puedes hace eso solo, o necesitas mi ayuda?

either...or... - o...o...

Either you shut your mouth and listen or you leave the class.
O te callas la boca y escuchas, o te vas de la clase.

That clerk is either incompetent or too lazy to be efficient.
Ese oficinista es incompetente o demasiado perezoso para ser eficiente.

neither...nor... - no...ni...

The musician neither played the piano well nor sang good songs.
El músico no tocó bien el piano ni cantó buenas canciones.

Jack neither wrote nor telephoned.
Jack no escribió ni llamó por teléfono.

whether...or... - si...o...

We must decide whether to go there today or tomorrow.
Debemos decidir si ir allí hoy o mañana.

Mary wondered whether to travel or to stay and save the money.
Mary se preguntaba si viajar o quedarse y ahorrar el dinero.

or else... - o sino...

We have to hurry up, or else we'll miss our bus.
Tenemos que apurarnos o de lo contrario perderemos el autobús.

You have to pay the rent of the house, or else you will be evicted.
Usted tiene que pagar el alquiler de la casa, o sino será desalojado.

otherwise - de otro modo

You'll have to hurry up, otherwise you'll be late.
Tendrás que darte prisa, o de otro modo llegarás tarde.

Leave right now, otherwise you'll be caught.
Vete ahora, de otro modo te atraparán.

English Exam of Selectividad 2003

This is the first of a series of Selectividad test( The test to accede to University) of English in Spain. This one is from year 2003.
(The answers will be provided if you ask any doubts about them.)

selectividad 2003

Esperanza Aguirre talks about Bilinguism in Spain

This is an extraordinary and interesting video in which the President of Madrid talks about the importance of a Bilingual Teaching in Spain.

The relevant fact is that Esperanza Aguirre talks in English with Vaughan.

Listening Comprehension ,Answer the questions:

1.Where did she go to study English during her Degree?

2. Which subjects will not be taught in English in Spain?

3. How old was she when she travelled to the States?

4. How many years did she stay in a bilingual school?