Introduction - Welcome

This blog will probably be most usefull at middle and upper-intermediate levels ( where all or nearly all of the material will be relevant), and can serve both as a basis for revision and as a means for practising new structures. It will also be usefull for some more advanced students who have problems with grammar and need a blog for reference and practice. The blog , as a matter of fact, is not intended to be used by elementary learners.

Id like to thank all my students for being my strenght and courage to get through everything. This blog is for all of you.

@@ If you live in Brazil and would like to improve your English by taking a personal English Course , I would love to be your private teacher.

## If you live in other countries and want to learn Portuguese in order to blow the roof of the mother during the World Soccer Cup and Olympics, I would love to prepare a special Course for you.

Just send me an email and let's do it!!!

j_b_english@hotmail.com
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1- Present Continuous - ( I am doing )

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* Pay attention on this example situation:

** Wilma is in her car. She is on her car to work. She is driving to work. I mean, she is driving now, at the time of speaking. The action is not finished.
AM/ARE/IS + verb + ing = present continuous

* drive = I am driving
* work = Anselmo is working
* travel = They are travelling again.
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## I am doing something = I'm in the middle of doing something; I've started doing it and I haven't finished it yet.
* Often the action is happening at the time of speaking.
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a) Please don't make so much noise. I'm working on a project. ( don't use " I work on a project")
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b) Where's your sister? " She is having a bath. ( not " She has a bath)
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c) Let's go out now. It isn't raining anymore. ( no " it doesn't rain").
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d) Are you enjoying the party? ( no " Do you enjoy")
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e) I'm tired. I'm going to bed now.
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## Sometimes the action is not happening at the time of speaking:
** Steve and Michael are talking in a snack bar. Steve says:
" I'm following an interesting blog about grammar on internet. I'll send the link to you by e-mail."
** Steve is not connected to internet at the time of speaking. He means that he is following it because he started to follow but he haven't seen everything yet. He is in the middle of following it.
** Some more examples:

a) Romulo wants to work in Canada, so he is learning English. ( but perhaps , at the time of speaking, he isn't learning English.)

b) Some friends of mine are working in the USA. ( depending on time zone , perhaps they aren't working right now, but they are there, they work there.)

c) My boss is building his new office. He hopes it will be finished before next summer.
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TEACHER TIPS:

*** We use the present continuous when we talk about things happening in a period around now.( today/this week/this evening/some hours,minutes ago)

* What is the correct way to say it?

a) You work hard today.
b) You're working hard today.
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a) Does William work this week?
b) Is William working this week?
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*** We also use the present continous when we talk about changes happening around now.
a) Unfortunately this horrible flu is spreading very fast and it is taking thousand and thousand of lives away.

b) Is your English getting better? ( don't say :" Does your English get better?).
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** If you are a teacher I would like to know your feelings about this blog. I'm aware of how hard it is to prepare a good explanation for each grammar you teach. Sometimes you find yourself running out of time or patience and it affects your progress as a teacher and certainly your students are going to have a hard work in class. This blog intends to be an important support to your classes. When you became a teacher you were aware of your important mission to give voice to your student and so Am I. Let me help you to abide by it. Send me your oppinion and I'll go all out to improve this blog in order to offer you better conditions to get succes. See ya
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2- Simple Present ( I do )

* Pay attention on this example situation:

** Altamir is a bus driver,but now he is in bed asleep. So, he is not driving a bus. (He is asleep)...but he is a bus driver, he drives a bus.
** drive/work/sleep = I,we,you,they = simple present
** drives/works/sleeps = he,she,it = simple present/third person

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# We use the simple present to talk about things in general. We are not thinking only about now. We use it to say that something happens all the time or repeatedly, or that something is true in general. It is not important whether the action is happening at the time of speaking.
* Teachers look after their students as if they were their own children.
* I usually wake up before 6am.
* Ronaldo plays for Corinthians.

# Remember that... when we are refering to the third singular person we must follow a particular rule:
** The general rule asks you to add an "s"
* He works
* She buys
* it rains

** When the verb ends with = o/sh/ch/ss/x = you must add "es"

* he goes
* she watches
* it washes
* he fixes

** When the verb ends in a "y" with a consonant before = you cut off the "y" and add "ies".
* He cries
* She tries
* it flies
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## We use do/does to make questions and negatives sentences.
* do = I/you/we/they
* does = he/she/it

* don't = I/you/we/they
* doesn't = he/she/it

* I come from Brazil. Where do you come from?
* Would you like a cigarette? - No,thanks. I don't smoke.
* What does this word mean?
* Some foods don't grow in cold climates.
* My sister doesn't study with me.
* He doesn't know me very well but he knows my brother.
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## In the following examples "do" is also the main verb:
* What does she do? = what's her occupation? - I work in a shop.
* He's so lazy. He doesn't do anything to help me.

## We use the simple present when we say how often we do things:

* I get up at 7 o'clock every morning.
* How often do you read the blog?
* I don't use the internet very often.
* In winter Renato plays soccer once or twice a week.

## I promise/I apologise ...

*** Sometimes we do things by saying something. For example:

* When you promise to do something , you can say..." I promise..."
* When you suggest something , you can say..." I suggest..."

# Whe use the simple present in sentences like this:

** I promise I won't be there.
** What do you suggest I do ? - I suggest that you take a look on J.B's blogs.
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** If you are a teacher I would like to know your feelings about this blog. I'm aware of how hard it is to prepare a good explanation for each grammar you teach. Sometimes you find yourself running out of time or patience and it affects your progress as a teacher and certainly your students are going to have a hard work in class. This blog intends to be an important support to your classes. When you became a teacher you were aware of your important mission to give voice to your student and so Am I. Let me help you to abide by it. Send me your oppinion and I'll go all out to improve this blog in order to offer you better conditions to get succes. See ya next post!
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3- Present Continuous and Simple present ( I'm doing and I do)

* Study the explanation and compare the examples:

Present Continuous = I AM DOING

** Use the continuous for something that is happening at or around the time of speaking. The action is not finished yet.

a) The water is boiling. Can you turn it off?
b) Listen to those people. What language are they speaking?
c) Let's go out . It isn't raining now.
d) Don't disturb me. I'm writing the blog.
e) What are you doing?
f) Larissa is in the USA at the moment. She's improving her accent.

** Use the continuous for a temporary situation.

a) I'm working at night until I find a new job.
b) She is dating me but I'm not sure we will continue together.
c) I'm living with some friends until I find a flat.
d) They are working hard today, aren't they?

Simple Present = I do

** Use the Simple Present for things in general or things that Happen repeatedly.

a) Water boils at 100 degrees celsius.
b) Excuse, Do you live here?
c) It doesn't rain very much in summer.
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4- I am doing and I do - part 2

* We use continuous tenses only for actions and happenings.

- They are studying English at Plugnet with J.B.
- It is raining outside.

* Some verbs ( for example , know and like ) are not action verbs. You cannot say :

- I am knowing somebody
- They are liking to study English.

* You can only say :

- I know somebody.
- They like to study English.

Here is a list of verbs not normally used in continuous tenses:

like - love - hate - want - need - prefer - know - realise - suppose - mean - understand - believe - remember - belong - contain - consist - depend - seem

1- I'm tired . I need some time to rest ( not I'm needing ...)
2- Your class is very good . I understand better now. ( not I'm understanding ...)
3- Do you understand what I mean ? ( not Are you understanding what I mean? )
4- She believes in everything I say . ( not She is believing ...)

* When the verb "to think " means believe, do not use the continuous.

- What do you think will happen with me? ( not What are you thinking...)

* but you can use the continuous in these cases:

- You look serious. What are you thinking about? I mean : What is going on in your mind?

- I'm thinking of opening a new English group. Actually I'm considering that this is possible.

* When the verb "to have " means posses, do not use the continuous.

- We are enjoying our holiday. We have a nice room in the hotel.

* but you can use in this case:

- We are enjoying our holiday. We are having a great time here.
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5- Simple Past ( I did)

Study this example:

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozar was an Austrian musician and composer . He lived from 1756 to 1791. He started composing at the age of five and wrote more than 60 pieces of music. He was only 35 years old when he died.

lived/started/wrote/was/died are all past simple.
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6- Past Continuous ( I was doing)

Pay attention on this example:

Yesterday Yasmin and Sabrina studied English together . They began at 10 o'clock and finished at 11:30. So, at 10:30 they were studying English.

They were studying = They were in the middle of studying . At 10:30 they had not finished studying yet.

* was / were + ing = past continuous

I was playing / doing / working
He, she, it was calling/ kissing/ dreaming

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We you they were singing/crying/enjoying
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7- Present Perfect ( I have done )

Study this example situation:
Larissa is looking for her key. She can't find it. She has lost her key. It means that Larissa lost the key and still hasn't got it.

Have / has lost = present perfect simple

I/we/they/you *** Have finished/lost/done/been /caught/found

He/she/it *** Has cleaned/found/cried/studied
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8- I have done - part 2

I have a student named Anselmo Ribeiro. He works as a coach for a private Social club in Brazil.

J.B. ___ Have you travelled a lot , Anselmo?
Anselmo ___ Yes, I've been to lots of places in Europe.
J.B. ___ Really ? Have you ever been to Finland?
Anselmo ___ Yes! I've been there twice.
J.B. ___ What about Italy ?
Anselmo ___ No, I haven't been to India.

### When we talk about a period of time that continues from the past until now, we use the present perfect. (Have been/ have travelled ) . Here, Anselmo and I are talking about the places Anselmo has visited in his trips as a coach. ( Which is a period that continues until now.)
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9- Present Perfect Continuous

We use the present perfect continuous for an activity that has recently stopped or just stopped.

* Is it raining Tayna ?
## No, but the ground is wet.
* So it has been raining.

I/we/they/you + have + been + verb with ing

____________________

He/she/it + has + been + verb with ing

____________________

*** There's a connection with "now".

1- You are out of breath.
* Have you been running?
* You are out of breath now.

2- Teacher J.B. is very tired.
* He's been working very hard.
* He is tired now.
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10- Present Perfect Continuous and simple

Jane's clothes are covered in paint. She has been painting the door.

** Has been painting is the present perfect continuous.

* Let's just be focused in the activity. We are interested in it. It does not matter whether something has been finished or not. In this example , the activity ( painting the door) has not been finished yet.

The door was green. Now it is black and white. She has painted the door.

** Has painted is the present perfect simple.

* Here , the important thing is that something has been finished. " Has painted" is a completed action. The act of painting is done. We are interested in the result of the activity ( the painted door) , not in the activity itself.
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11- How long have you ( been)?

@ Vanusa and Jorge are married. They got married exactly 14 years ago, so today is their 14th wedding anniversary.
@ They have been married for fourteen years.

## We say: They are married - this sentence is in the present.
## But ... how long have they been married? - It's not correct to say " how long are they married? "
## And the answer for this question is : They have been married for 14 years.

___________________________________________________
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12- When/how long/...for / since

Compare When + past simple / and How long + present perfect

John - When did start raining?
Peter - It started raining an hour ago at 1 o'clock.

John - How long has it been raining?
Peter - It's been raining for an hour since 1 o'clock.

_-------------------------------------------------------

John - When did Anselmo and Suzana first meet ?
Peter - They first meet a long time ago when they were at school.

John - How long have Anselmo and Suzana Known each other?
Peter - They've known each other for a long time since they were at school.

_ ------------------------------------------------------

* Weuse both for amd since to say how long something has been happening.
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13 - Present Perfect/Simple Past - I have done - I did

Study this example situation:

Ellen is looking for her keys. She can't find it. She has lost her keys. ( present perfect). This means that she doesn't have her keys now.

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TEN MINUTES LATER...

Now Ellen has found her keys. She has them now.

Has she lost her keys? - present perfect
No, she hasn't . She has found them.
Did she lose her keys? - past simple
Yes, She did.
She lost her keys. - past simple
But now she has found them. - present perfect.
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14- Present Perfect/Simple Past - part 2

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15 - Past Perfect - I had done

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16 - Past Perfect Continuous - I had been doing

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17- Have and Have got

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18- Used to ( do)

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19- ( I'm ) going to ( do)

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20- Present Tenses ( I am doing/I do) for the future

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21- Will/ Shall ( first part)

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22- Will/ Shall ( second part )

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23- I will and I'm going to

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24- Will be doing and Will have done

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25- When I do/ When I've done - When and if

Look at these examples:

Jhonatan - What time will you phone me tomorrow ?
William - I'll phone you when I get home from work.

* " I'll phone you when I get home from work" is a sentence with two parts.

The main part - " I'll phone you'
The " when " part - " When I get home from work".

Observe : Even though the time in the sentence is future ( tomorrow) William used the present tense of GET in the ' when' part of the sentence.

* This happened because William knows that he can't use the future will in the When part of the sentence.
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26- Can/Could and ( be ) able to

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27- Could do/ Could have done

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28- Must / Can't

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29- May and might ( first part)

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30 - May and might ( second part )

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31- Must and have to

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32 - Must - Musn't - Needn't

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33 - Should ( first part)

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34 - Should ( second part )

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35 - Had better - It's time

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36 - Can - Could - Would you?

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37 - If I do / If I did

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38 - If I knew - I wish I knew

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39 - If I had known - I wish I had known

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40 - Would - I wish ...would

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41- Passive ( first part ) Is done / was done

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42 - Passive ( second part) be/been/being done

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43 - Passive ( third part)

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44 - It is said that/ He is said to/ (be) supposed to

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45 - Have something done

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46 - Reported speech ( first part) He said that

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47 - Reported speech ( second part)

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48 - Questions ( first part)

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49 - Questions ( second part) Do you know where?/ She asked me where

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50 - Auxiliar verbs - (have/do/can etc) I think so/I hope so

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51 - Question tags ( do you? isn't it? etc)

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52 - Verb + ing ( enjoy doing / stop doing )

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53 - Verb + to ( decide to do/ forget to do )

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54 - Verb + (object) + to ( I want (you) to do ...

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55 - Verb + ing or to ( first part) remember/regret etc...

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56 - Verb + ing or to ( second part ) try/need/help etc

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57 - Verb + ing or to ( third part) like/would like ...

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58 - Prefer and would rather

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59 - Preposition ( in/for/about etc) + ing

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60 - Be/get used to something ( I'm used to ...)

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61- Verb + preposition + ing

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62 - Expressions + ing

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63 - To /for/ and so that ...purpose

We use to...

__ To say why somebody does something = the purpose of an action.

* Why did you go out? - To post a letter.
* Anderson phoned to invite me to Henrique's first birthday.
* We shouted to warn everybody of the danger.

__To say why something exists or why somebody has/wants/needs something.

* This wall is to keep people out of the garden.
* The president Obama has a team of bodyguards to protect him.
* I need a bottle opener to open this bottle.
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64 - Adjective + to ...

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65 - To... (afraid to do ) and preposition + ing ( afraid of - ing)

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66 - See somebody do and see somebody doing

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67 - ing clauses ( feeling tired , I went to bed early)

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68 - Countable and uncountable nouns ( first part)

* Countable

I eat a banana every day.

* Uncountable

I eat rice every day.


## Banana is a countable noun. A countable noun can be singular or plural ( bananas).
## Rice is an uncountable noun. An uncountable noun has only one form. Uncountable nouns are things we cannot count. It's wrong to say " two rices', three rices ...
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69 - Countable and uncountable nouns ( second part)

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70 - Countable nouns with A/AN and SOME

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71 - A/AN and THE

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72 - Definite article - THE ( first part)

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73 - Definite article ( second part) School/ the school

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74 - Definite article ( third part) children/the children

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75 - The ( fourth part) The giraffe/the telephone/ the + adjective

Study these sentences:

* The giraffe is the tallest of all animals.
* The bicycle is an excellent means of transportt.
* When was the telephone invented?
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76 - Names with and without The ( first part)

We do not use " the " with names of people ( João Batista and not " the João Batista"). In the same way, we do not normally use ' the " with names of places. For example:

Continents - Africa, Europe, South America ( never "The Africa")
Countries - France , Argentine, Brazil ( not "The Brazil" )
States, regions etc - Texas, São Paulo,Central Europe ( not " the Texas " )
Islands - Corsica, Sicily , Bermuda - ( not ' the sicily" )
Cities, towns - Cairo, Rio de Janeiro , Madri - ( never ' the Rio de Janeiro")
Mountains - Corcovado, Everest , Kilamanjaro - ( not " the kilamanjaro")
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77 - Names with and without " the" ( second part)

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78 - Singular and Plural

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79 - Noun + noun ( a tennis ball/ a headache)

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80 - s' ( The girl's name ) and ... the name of the book)

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81 - A friend of mine / My own house / On my own / by myself

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82 - Myself / yourself / themselves

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83 - There ...and it ...

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84 - Some and any

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85 - No / None / Any

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86 - Much / Many / Little / Few / A lot / Plenty

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87 - All/ All of / Most / Most of / No / None of ...

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88 - Both / Both of / Neither / Neither of / Either / Either of

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89 - All / Every / and Whole

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90 - Each and every

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91 - Relatives Clauses ( first part ) Who/ That/ Which

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92 - Relative Clauses ( second part ) with or without

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93 - Relatives Clauses ( third part ) - Whose/Whom/Where

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94 - Relatives Clauses ( fourth part) " extra information'

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95 - Relative Clauses ' extra information - 2

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96 - ing and ed clauses ( the woman talking to J.B.

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97 - Adjectives ending in ' ing and ed " ( boring/ bored)

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98 - Adjectives: word order ( a nice new house)

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99 - Adjectives and adverbs ( first part) quick/quickly)

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100 - Adjectives and adverbs ( second part) well/fast/late ...

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101 - So and such

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102 - Enough and too

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103 - Quite and rather

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104 - Comparision ( first part ) cheaper, more expensive

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105 - Comparison 9 second part)

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106 - Comparison (third part) - as..as / than

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107 - Superlatives - the longest/ the most enjoyable

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108 - Word order ( first part) verb+ object: place and time

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109 - Word order ( second part) - adverbs with the verb

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110 - Still/yet/already - anymore/any longer/no longer

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111 - Even

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112 - although/though/even though/in spite of/ despite

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113 - In case

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114 - Unless/ As long as / Provided/ Providing

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115 - As ( reason and time)

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116 - Like / as

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117 - As if

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118 - For / during / while

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119 - By and until - By the time

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120 - At /on/ in time

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121- On time / in time/ at the end/ in the end

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122 - In - at - on ( first part)

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123 - in/at/on ( second part)

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124- In - At - on ( third part)

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125 - To/ At/In/Into

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126 - On - in - at ( other uses)

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127 - by

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128 - Noun + preposition ( reason for, cause of)

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129 - Adjective + preposition ( first part)

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130 - Adjective + preposition ( second part)

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131 - Verb+ preposition ( first part) at and to

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132 - Verb+ preposition ( second part) about/for/of/after

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133 - Verb + Preposition ( third part ) about and of

Some verbs can be followed by about or of , usually with a difference of meaning.

## Dream about ...

* I dreamt about you last night. ( When I was asleep).

## Dream of being something

* I often dream of becoming famous as an English teacher.

## Dream of doing something

* Don't tell anyone what I said. ( I would never dream of it) ... I would never do it.
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134 - Verb + preposition ( fourth part) of/for/from/on

Verb + of

## Accuse/suspect somebody of

* My girlfriend Andrelina accused me of being selfish.
* Three students were suspected of cheating in the examination.

## Approve of

* His parents don't approve of what he does , but they can't stop him.

## Die of ( an illness )

* I heard that Bin Laden died of a heart attack when he saw the american soldiers coming toward him.

## Consist of

* We had an enormous meal. It consisted of seven courses.
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135 - Verb + preposition ( fifth part) in/into/to/on

Verb + in

## Believe in

* Do you believe in God? I mean , do you believe that God exists?
* I believe in saying what I think. I mean, I believe it is right to say what I think.

## Specialise in

* Helen is a Lawyer. She specialises in company law.
* My girlfriend specialised in making me a fool.

## Succeed in

* I hope you succeed in that job interview. You should do fine.
* Will Rio de Janeiro succeed in hosting the Olympics? ( I sincerely hope so)
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136 - Phrasal verbs ( get up / break down / fill in ...

We often use verbs with the following words:

in - on - up - away - round - about - over - by - out - off - down - back - through - along - forward

* So you can say:

* put out
* get on
* take off
* run away

# These verbs are phrasal verbs
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137 - Is your phone out of order

The following is a dialogue between Larissa and Vítor. While studying it, think of the following questions.Read the dialogue as many times as you want.


Did Vítor get a hold of Larissa on the phone?
Was there something wrong with Larissa's telephone?
Did Larissa feel about Ruben's being unable to get through to her?
What did Vítor suggest that Larissa should do?


Is your phone out of order ?

Vítor : Is your phone out of order ?
Larissa : What do you mean? I tried to you, but I couldn't .
Vítor : I tried calling you all last night, but I couldn't .
Larissa : Oh, I was on the phone all night. Sorry about that.
Vítor : Well, you might wanna add call-waiting to your phone service if you're always on the phone .
Larissa : I guess so.
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138 - bad connection on the phone

The following is a dialogue between Wesley and Bruno. While studying it, think of the following questions. Read the dialogue as many times as you want.


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Can Wesley hear Bruno clearly?
Is there something wrong with the telephone?
What does Wesley ask Bruno to do?
Is Wesley going to hang up and try calling Bruno again?

The following is a dialogue between Howard and Nick. While listening, think of the following questions. Play the dialogue as many times as you want.


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We seem to have a bad connection on the phone


Wesley : I can hardly hear you, Bruno!
Bruno : Oh, we seem to have a bad connection on this phone.
Wesley : Could you speak up, please?
Bruno : I'm talking as loud as I can.
Wesley : I'm going to hang up and call again.
Bruno : All right!
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139 - We seem to have a bad connection

J.B. - Hello Anselmo, can you hear me?
Anselmo - J.B? Is that you? I can hardly hear you, Nick!
J.B - Oh, we seem to have a bad connection on this phone.
Anselmo - Could you speak up, please?
J.B. - I'm talking as loud as I can.
Anselmo - I'm going to hang up and call again.
J.B. All right!

Questions :



1- - Can Anselmo hear J.B clearly?
2- Is there something wrong with the telephone?
3- What does Anselmo ask J.B. to do?
Is Anselmo going to hang up and try calling J.B. again?
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140 - My telephone is disconnected

The following is a dialogue between João Luís and Renata. While studying it, think of the following questions. Read the dialogue as many times as you want.


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Was Renata able to get a hold of João Luís?
Was there anyone able to get a hold of him by phone last night?
What happened to João's telephone?
Did João do anything wrong?

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Renata : What's wrong with your phone, João? I tried to call you all night last night.
João : I'm sorry. No one was able to get through yesterday. My telephone was disconnected by the phone company.
Renata : What happened? Didn't you pay the bill ?
João : Well...er...I forgot.
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141- You're so difficult to get through to

You're so difficult to get through to!



Renato : Did you call Andre last night?



J.B. : Yes. I tried to get a hold of him last night, but it was so difficult get through .



Renato : That's strange. Maybe he was on the Net.



J.B. : That's probably it! No wonder the line was busy all the time! Maybe he ought to get another line.


Renato : Or he should get call - waiting.


Vocabulary Builder

1- get a hold of somebody
2- get through something
3- get another line
4- get call - waiting
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142 - I kept getting a busy signal

The following is a dialogue between Andrelle and Juninho. After studying it , think of the following questions. Read the dialogue as many times as you want.

I kept getting a busy sinal



What was Andrelle unhappy about?
How did Juninho explain to Andrelle?
Was Andrelle convinced?
So what do you think really happened?



Andrelle : Why didn't you call me yesterday?
Juninho : I tried to get a hold of you, but I couldn't .
Andrelle : What time did you call?
Juninho : I tried all morning .
Andrelle : Then I can't understand why you couldn't get through.
Juninho : I kept getting a busy signal .
Andrelle : Hm.....
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143- Would you care to leave a message?

J.B : Hello, may I speak to Mrs Ribeiro ?

Anselmo : It's her husband speaking...May I help you?

J.B. : I'm afraid you can't. Isn't she at home?

Anselmo : She just left.

J.B : When do you expect her back?

Anselmo : What's going on?

J.B. : I'm from the job agency. She has applied for a position.

Anselmo : I'm sorry, but she's gone for the day. Would you care to leave a message?

J.B. : Could you tell her that João Batista called and have her call me back tomorrow?

Anselmo : Sure. May I have your phone number?

John: I think she has my number.

Anselmo : Thank you, João I'll tell her you called.

J.B : Thanks.
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144- Would you like to leave a message?

Larissa : Hello, May I speak to Mr. Holanda?

Secretary : I'm sorry. He's out to lunch. Would you like to leave a message?

Larissa : Could you please tell him that his student Larissa has called?

Secretary : Larissa? From where?

Larissa : From Barra Funda . What time do you expect him back?

Secretary: Mr. Holanda should be back in half an hour.

Larissa : Thank you. I'll try back later

________________________________________

*** May I speak to ...?

1- Let me see if she is in... I am sorry. She is out to lunch. Would you like to leave a message?

2- I am sorry. He is not in yet. Would you care to leave a message?


*** Would you like/care to leave a message?

1- No, thank you. I will just call back later.
2- Yes, ask her to call me back as soon as possible.

____________________________________________

*** : Susana-s secretary is answering a phone call.

A: Is Susana in yet?

B: Yes, but she just stepped away. Would you care to leave a message?

A: Well...hm....

B: Hold on a second. Oh, she just came back. I will put you through.
_____________________________________________
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145 - Let me get back to you

Waldo : Denise , can you come to a meeting on Friday?

Denise : I'm not sure. Let me check my schedule. When are you having it?

Waldo : We're planning on having it around noon.

Denise : Let me get back to you in a few minutes.

Waldo : Sure. If I'm not in, could you leave a message on my answering machine?

Pamela: Sure thing.

__________________________________________

1- Can you come to our party?

** I'm not sure. When are you having it?

2- Can you help me with this question? I don-t know how to answer it.

** I am not sure if I can answer it, either. Let me read the book and get back to you later.

3- Did you get the message I left on your answering machine?

** Yeah. Thanks so much! You really saved my life!

4- Could you help me fix the computer? It froze on me again!

** Sure thing.

_________________________________________________
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146 - I've put him on hold

There's a call for you. I've put him on hold.


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Larissa is busy making some copies when a call comes in for her. Larissa's colleague J.B. answers the phone and puts that person on hold....


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J.B. : Larissa, there's a Victor on the phone who wants to talk to you.

Larissa : I'm busy at the moment. Can you ask him to hold? Tell him I'll talk with him in a few seconds.

J.B. : Sure. I'll do that for you.

Larissa : Thanks, J.B.


______________________________________________________________________________
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147 - Telephone Service

I'd like to get telephone service.
Dave makes a phone call to the telephone company requesting phone service....


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Operator: Pacific Bell. May I help you?
Dave: Yes. I'd like to set up a telephone service, please.
Operator: Do you presently have service?
Dave: No. This is new.
Opeator: All right. I'll connect you with our customer service department. Please hold.
Dave: Thanks.

.....................................

I'd like to have a phone installed.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sean makes a phone call to the phone company requesting telephone service....


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Sean: I'd like to have a phone installed, please.
Customer Service: May I have your name and address, please?
Sean: Sure. My name is Sean Kobluk. K-O-B-L-U-K. My address is 1600 Iowa Avenue, Apartment 16.
Customer Service: May I have you date of birth and your social security number, please?
Sean: Sure. My date of birth is June 11, 1980. My Social Security Number is 554-66-9980.
Customer Service: Thank you very much. The earliest day for connection is this Friday. Is that OK?
Sean: That's fine. Thanks.
Customer Service: Thank you very much, Mr. Kobluk. Have a nice day!

......................................................
I'd like to have my phone disconnected.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jefferey is moving to another city. He makes a phone call to the phone company requesting his phone be disconnected...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Customer Service:
Pacific Bell. May I help you?
Jefferey:
I'd like to have my phone disconnected.
Customer Service:
May I ask why?
Jefferey:
Well, I'm graduated and am moving to California for a new job there.
Customer Service:
Congratulations!
Jefferey:
Thanks.
Customer Service:
All right. May I have your phone number, please?
Jefferey:
Sure. My phone number is 377-765-8769.
Customer Service:
And the name on the account, please?
Jefferey:
My name is Jefferey Schaefer.
Customer Service:
For security purposes, Mr. Schaefer, may I have your date of birth, please?
Jefferey:
It's June 5, 1978.
Customer Service:
Thank you. Now, when would you like it to be disconnected?
Jefferey:
Tomorrow by 5:00 PM.
Customer Service:
Sure. The telephone will be disconnected at 5:00 PM tomorrow.
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148 - Don't beat around the bush!

Anderson : George, may I talk with you for a minute?

Teacher : Sure. What's on your mind?

Anderson : Hm...nothing, really. Hey! Nice weather, isn't it?

Teacher : Come on. Don't beat about the bush. Just tell me what's on your mind.

.............................................
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149 - It tastes stale

The two people in the dialogue below want to fix pork chops for dinner, but they later find out that the meat has gone bad....


Wayne: What are we going to eat for dinner?
Lilia: I'm going to fix some pork chops.
Wayne: I'm afraid the meat is rotten.
Lilia: That's strange! I just bought it the day before yesterday.
Wayne: Well, I forgot to put it in the refrigerator.
Lilia: Good for you! Now what should we eat?
Wayne: Why don't we eat out?
Lilia: Again? Weren't you just complaining that it's too expensive to eat out?
Wayne: Not when you're hungry.

.............................................
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150- I can't stand him any longer

Anselmo : What's going on between you and Andrelina ? Did you guys have a fight or something?

J.B. : I can't stand hER any more. SHe has such a short fuse that even a little piece of friendly advice sets her off.

Anselmo : So what did you tell her ?

J.B : I told her that if she could be more patient and try not to lose her temper so easily, she would be more popular.

Anselmo : No wonder she threw a fit. Her popularity is really a sore spot.

J.B. : Well, I guess I'll just keep my mouth shut. That'll teach me to give advice!

Anselmo : Not unless you want to die!

.................................

1- Did you get a hold of Sidney?

** No, he had already left for the day when I got there.

2- I wasn-t able to get through to the customer service department.

** Well, they must be very busy then.

3- I hate trying to call JB.

** I know how you feel. His line is busy all the time

4- I guess Ellen is either on the phone or on the Internet. I keep getting a busy signal.

** Or maybe she got cut off by the phone company.

__ You really think so?

** Well, she has forgotten to pay her bills several times already.

...............................................
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151 - Don't take it out on me!

Michele's husband had a bad day. He flared up at Michele at the slightest provocation..


Michele : Anderson , can you do the dishes tonight? I'm very tired.

Anderson : Can't we just put them in the dish-washer? I've had a very bad day, too! I just want to kick back and relax.

Michele : Hey! Just because you had a bad day today doesn't give you permission to take it out on me!

Anderson : Just leave me alone!

Michele : Why are you being such a turd! I wish I hadn't gotten married!

.............................................
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152 - No wonder you're livid

** J.B. tells Andrelina that he was ripped off by a garage. Andrelina sympathizes with J.B. and suggests that he file a complaint with the consumer protection agency.


Andrelina : You look so angry. What happened?

J.B. : Nothing. I'd rather not talk about it. Just don't ask.

Andrelina : Come on. I think you need to let off some steam. Besides, you shouldn't keep your feelings pent up. They'll eat you alive. So, talk to me.

J.B. : All right. This morning I took my car to the garage to have them check the air-conditioner. They only gave it a once-over, refilled it with some Freon, and charged me 300 bucks!

Andrelina : No wonder you're livid. I'd be mad, too if someone ripped me off like that.

J.B. : Yeah. And they were rude. They said I didn't know anything about cars, which I don't, but they didn't have to be so blunt!

Andrelina : Sounds like you got a raw deal! Maybe you should file a complaint with the Consumer Protection Agency.
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