PHRASAL VERBS
Translate the following sentences with one or two phrasal verbs, using the verbs in brackets
1. All'inizio gli sponsor sembravano entusiasti, ma all'ultimo minuto si sono ritirati dall'accordo, (back * *)
2. Nessun altro può decidere - dipende solo da te. (be * *)
3. I primi casi di influenza A sono scoppiati in Messico nel 2008. (break *)
4. L'era vittoriana provocò grandi cambiamenti sociali, (bring *)
5. Mi sono imbattuto in un vecchio amico l'altro giorno, (bump *)
6. È scoppiata in lacrime quando ha sentito la notizia, (burst *)
7. Questo lavoro richiede notevole abilità, (call *)
8. Era sconvolto quando ha saputo di aver perso il lavoro, ma poi si è calmato, (find*; calm *)
9. Tu vai avanti con le pulizie in casa - al giardino ci penso io. (carry * *; see *)
10. Dovrai correre se vuoi raggiungerli! (catch * *)
11. Le dispiace ripassare la relazione per vedere se ho dimenticato niente? (check *,miss *)
12. Si, potete fare la festa qui in casa - basta che mettiate in ordine dopo! (clear *)
13. Era stata una splendida giornata di sole, ma il ciclo si annuvolò proprio al
momento del barbecue! (cloud *)
14. Abbiamo trovato un sacco di foto vecchie mentre sgombravamo la casa dello zio
(come *; clear *)
15. Potete passare dopo cena a bere qualcosa se volete, (come *)
16. Dovrai trovare una scusa molto più convincente se vuoi essere perdonato! (come* *)
17. È una lavastoviglie veramente ecologica che ti permette di ridurre il consumo di energia e di acqua (cut * *)
18. L'abitudine di mandare le cartoline dai luoghi di villeggiatura sta scomparendo,(die *)
19. La nonna si appisola sempre davanti alla TV. (doze/nod *)
20. Avendo dovuto passare un mese in ospedale è rimasto indietro con gli studi, (fall*)
21. Non me la sento di rispondere a queste domande, (feel * *)
22. Quando hai saputo che si sono lasciati? (find *; break *)
23. Ha rubato in diverse case, ma l'ha sempre fatta franca, (get * *)
24. Come fate a vivere con un reddito così basso?" "Beh - in qualche modo ce la
facciamo" (get *)
25. Come si fa a riprendersi da uno shock del genere? (get *)
26. Sono sempre più preoccupato: ormai mio marito fa fuori due pacchetti di
sigarette al giorno, (get *)
27. Distribuivano campioni di crema antirughe davanti al supermercato. (give *)
28. Con il passare del tempo, si è infastidita sempre di più del suo atteggiamento,(go*)
29. Ha avuto i suoi difetti, ma Margaret Thatcher passerà alla storia per quello che ha fatto negli anni '80. (go * *)
30. Lui continua a fissarmi - mi da terribilmente fastidio! (keep *)
31. Chi baderà al gatto mentre sono in ospedale? (look *)
32. Mi sto davvero pregustando il concerto di Capodanno a Vienna! (look * *)
33. Lui ammira tantissimo il professore che l'ha aiutato a laurearsi in architettura,(look * *)
34. Mi puoi ospitare stasera? Sono disposto a dormire sul divano! (put *)
35. Non sono più disposto a tollerare questo modo di parlare! (put * *)
36. Abbiamo finito la farina! Allora niente crèpes stasera! (run * *)
37. Da chi hai preso? Dalla mamma o dal papa? (take *)
38. Le cose avrebbero potuto finire diversamente se lui avesse confessato prima,
(turn*)
39. Al colloquio di lavoro si sono presentati solamente in tre. (turn *)
40. Non riesco a calcolare quanto ti devo! (work *)
Friday, 30 October 2009
Translation - Perchance to dream
2) . . . Perchance To Dream
Passiamo sei anni della nostra vita a sognare: circa 50 mila ore. La nostra mente può fare tre cose: pensare, dormire un sonno profondo e appunto sognare. Gli uomini hanno sempre pensato che sognare fosse un bene. Per molte religioni il sogno è importante per capire cosa succederà nel futuro. Per alcuni popoli invece ha effetti pericolosi: i Masai in Kenya credono che non si deve svegliare una persona che sogna, perché il suo spirito potrebbe non tornare nel corpo. La forza del sogno sta nella sua somiglianza con la realtà: quando dormiamo e sogniamo, spesso pensiamo di essere svegli. Sognare è necessario e tutti i sogni hanno un loro significato. Molti psichiatri ancora oggi li considerano importante per capire la vite interiore di una persona.
We spend six years of our life dreaming: about 50 thousand hours. Our minds can do three things: think, sleep deeply and dream. Man has always thought that dreaming were a good thing. A lot of religions maintain/think that dreams are important for understanding what will happen in the future. On the other hand, some people believe they can have negative effects: The Masai in Kenya think that you shouldn’t wake a dreaming person because their spirit might not be able to return to their body. The strength of dreams lie in their similarities with reality: when we sleep and when we dream, we often think we are awake. Dreaming is necessary and every dream has its own meaning. A lot of psychiatrists today regard them as important for understanding a person’s inner being/self.
Passiamo sei anni della nostra vita a sognare: circa 50 mila ore. La nostra mente può fare tre cose: pensare, dormire un sonno profondo e appunto sognare. Gli uomini hanno sempre pensato che sognare fosse un bene. Per molte religioni il sogno è importante per capire cosa succederà nel futuro. Per alcuni popoli invece ha effetti pericolosi: i Masai in Kenya credono che non si deve svegliare una persona che sogna, perché il suo spirito potrebbe non tornare nel corpo. La forza del sogno sta nella sua somiglianza con la realtà: quando dormiamo e sogniamo, spesso pensiamo di essere svegli. Sognare è necessario e tutti i sogni hanno un loro significato. Molti psichiatri ancora oggi li considerano importante per capire la vite interiore di una persona.
We spend six years of our life dreaming: about 50 thousand hours. Our minds can do three things: think, sleep deeply and dream. Man has always thought that dreaming were a good thing. A lot of religions maintain/think that dreams are important for understanding what will happen in the future. On the other hand, some people believe they can have negative effects: The Masai in Kenya think that you shouldn’t wake a dreaming person because their spirit might not be able to return to their body. The strength of dreams lie in their similarities with reality: when we sleep and when we dream, we often think we are awake. Dreaming is necessary and every dream has its own meaning. A lot of psychiatrists today regard them as important for understanding a person’s inner being/self.
Monday, 26 October 2009
The Continuous Aspect
The Continuous Aspect
Continuous forms can:
1) emphasise that an action lasts for some time
e.g. we were waiting for ages!
2) emphasise that an action is repeated
e.g. I rang you this morning
I was ringing you all morning!
3) describe an action that is in progress at a particular time
e.g. He was just having breakfast when the postman came
4) describe a situation which is temporary
e.g. They’d been staying at their sister’s house for a few days.
Compare the following pairs of sentences:
I’ve cut my finger
I’ve been cutting firewood
She’s visited her relatives in Canada
She’s been visiting her relatives in Canada
We’ll have dinner at eight
We’ll be having dinner at eight
Solution:
I’ve cut my finger (= action lasts a moment only)
I’ve been cutting firewood (= action lasts some time)
She’s visited her relatives in Canada (= one visit)
She’s been visiting her relatives in Canada (= she’s visited several people)
We’ll have dinner at eight (= the meal will begin then)
We’ll be having dinner at eight (= the meal will be in progress)
Continuous forms can:
1) emphasise that an action lasts for some time
e.g. we were waiting for ages!
2) emphasise that an action is repeated
e.g. I rang you this morning
I was ringing you all morning!
3) describe an action that is in progress at a particular time
e.g. He was just having breakfast when the postman came
4) describe a situation which is temporary
e.g. They’d been staying at their sister’s house for a few days.
Compare the following pairs of sentences:
I’ve cut my finger
I’ve been cutting firewood
She’s visited her relatives in Canada
She’s been visiting her relatives in Canada
We’ll have dinner at eight
We’ll be having dinner at eight
Solution:
I’ve cut my finger (= action lasts a moment only)
I’ve been cutting firewood (= action lasts some time)
She’s visited her relatives in Canada (= one visit)
She’s been visiting her relatives in Canada (= she’s visited several people)
We’ll have dinner at eight (= the meal will begin then)
We’ll be having dinner at eight (= the meal will be in progress)
Phrasal verbs - Grammatical form
Phrasal Verbs
Lexical verb + adverb/prep
1)Intransitive e.g. come to (recover consciousness).
2)Transitive inseparable e.g. look into (investigate). Must take an object after verb.
3)Transitive separable e.g. Put off (postpone). Object goes: between verb & particle, or, after verb (not pronoun).
4)Three-part e.g. put up with (endure). Always transitive & inseparable.
Need to think about:
- transitivity
- separability
- idiomatic meaning
- style i.e. slang
- multiple meanings
Lexical verb + adverb/prep
1)Intransitive e.g. come to (recover consciousness).
2)Transitive inseparable e.g. look into (investigate). Must take an object after verb.
3)Transitive separable e.g. Put off (postpone). Object goes: between verb & particle, or, after verb (not pronoun).
4)Three-part e.g. put up with (endure). Always transitive & inseparable.
Need to think about:
- transitivity
- separability
- idiomatic meaning
- style i.e. slang
- multiple meanings
Future forms
Futures
What are these future forms and when do we use them?
The film starts at 20.00
I’m meeting my boss in 10 minutes
I’m going to stay in and read a book this evening
Are you cold? I’ll close the window
By 18.15 we’ll have finished the lesson
At 14.00 tomorrow, we’ll be doing the lesson
The film starts at 20.00: present simple (timetabled or scheduled events)
I’m meeting my boss in 10 minutes: present continuous (arrangements)
I’m going to stay in and read a book this evening: going to (intentions, plans and predictions)
Are you cold? I’ll close the window: will (spontaneous decisions, facts, predictions)
By 18.15 we’ll have finished the lesson: future perfect (actions which will be completed at a future time)
At 14.00 tomorrow, we’ll be doing the lesson: future continuous (actions in progress at a certain time)
What are these future forms and when do we use them?
The film starts at 20.00
I’m meeting my boss in 10 minutes
I’m going to stay in and read a book this evening
Are you cold? I’ll close the window
By 18.15 we’ll have finished the lesson
At 14.00 tomorrow, we’ll be doing the lesson
The film starts at 20.00: present simple (timetabled or scheduled events)
I’m meeting my boss in 10 minutes: present continuous (arrangements)
I’m going to stay in and read a book this evening: going to (intentions, plans and predictions)
Are you cold? I’ll close the window: will (spontaneous decisions, facts, predictions)
By 18.15 we’ll have finished the lesson: future perfect (actions which will be completed at a future time)
At 14.00 tomorrow, we’ll be doing the lesson: future continuous (actions in progress at a certain time)
Dictation: The English Language
Dictation (23.10.09)
1. THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
English has changed so greatly that a speaker of 1300 would not have understood the English of 1500 nor that of today. Changes of every sort have taken place in sounds, distribution and grammar. Although the pronunciation has changed greatly since the 15th century, the spelling has altered very little over the same period. As a result, English spelling is not a reliable guide to the pronunciation of the language. Many common modern words are derived from the lexicon of the earliest English, from words acquired with Latin Christianity and those from Nordic settlers. French words were introduced shortly before the Norman Conquest and the
influence of classical languages that began with the Renaissance has continued ever since.
1. THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
English has changed so greatly that a speaker of 1300 would not have understood the English of 1500 nor that of today. Changes of every sort have taken place in sounds, distribution and grammar. Although the pronunciation has changed greatly since the 15th century, the spelling has altered very little over the same period. As a result, English spelling is not a reliable guide to the pronunciation of the language. Many common modern words are derived from the lexicon of the earliest English, from words acquired with Latin Christianity and those from Nordic settlers. French words were introduced shortly before the Norman Conquest and the
influence of classical languages that began with the Renaissance has continued ever since.
Translation: Brain Power
Translation: Brain Power (23.10.09)
page 42
Il corpo umano è una macchina meravigliosa che riesce a compiere contemporaneamente tante funzioni, tutte perfettamente coordinate e controllate. Ogni giorno anche il nostro cervello svolge diverse funzioni: riceve le informazioni che provengono dall'esterno, le analizza, associa le idee in modo da creare storie fantasiose, controlla la temperatura del nostro corpo, e molto altro ancora. Se però diciamo "usa il cervello!" intendiamo dire di esercitare con attenzione almeno una - forse la più importante - di queste funzioni: il pensiero. Non tutti sembrano farlo. Basti pensare al numero di incidenti stradali dovuti ad eccesso di velocità o alle vittime di chi guida sotto l'effetto di alcol o droga. Il problema poi è anche economico. Gli incidenti stradali costano miliardi di euro ogni anno, eppure si investe sempre meno in sicurezza. I rischi maggiori si corrono in città, dove oggigiorno anche salire su un autobus può costare la vita.
The human body is a wonderful machine that is capable of performing many functions at once, all of them perfectly coordinated and controlled. Every day our brain also performs several functions: it receives information from the outside, it analyzes it, it associates ideas so as to invent fanciful stories, it controls the temperature of our body, and many other things besides. But if we say “use your brain!” we mean to perform carefully at least one – perhaps the most important one! – of these functions: thinking. Not everybody seems to do so/this. Think of the number of road accidents due to excessive speed or the victims of those who drive under the effect(s)/influence of alcohol or drugs. The problem then becomes an economic one too. Road accidents cost billions of euros every year, still/and yet governments invest less and less in safety. The highest risks are run in cities where nowadays even getting on a bus can cost you your life.
page 42
Il corpo umano è una macchina meravigliosa che riesce a compiere contemporaneamente tante funzioni, tutte perfettamente coordinate e controllate. Ogni giorno anche il nostro cervello svolge diverse funzioni: riceve le informazioni che provengono dall'esterno, le analizza, associa le idee in modo da creare storie fantasiose, controlla la temperatura del nostro corpo, e molto altro ancora. Se però diciamo "usa il cervello!" intendiamo dire di esercitare con attenzione almeno una - forse la più importante - di queste funzioni: il pensiero. Non tutti sembrano farlo. Basti pensare al numero di incidenti stradali dovuti ad eccesso di velocità o alle vittime di chi guida sotto l'effetto di alcol o droga. Il problema poi è anche economico. Gli incidenti stradali costano miliardi di euro ogni anno, eppure si investe sempre meno in sicurezza. I rischi maggiori si corrono in città, dove oggigiorno anche salire su un autobus può costare la vita.
The human body is a wonderful machine that is capable of performing many functions at once, all of them perfectly coordinated and controlled. Every day our brain also performs several functions: it receives information from the outside, it analyzes it, it associates ideas so as to invent fanciful stories, it controls the temperature of our body, and many other things besides. But if we say “use your brain!” we mean to perform carefully at least one – perhaps the most important one! – of these functions: thinking. Not everybody seems to do so/this. Think of the number of road accidents due to excessive speed or the victims of those who drive under the effect(s)/influence of alcohol or drugs. The problem then becomes an economic one too. Road accidents cost billions of euros every year, still/and yet governments invest less and less in safety. The highest risks are run in cities where nowadays even getting on a bus can cost you your life.
Tuesday, 20 October 2009
Music and the Net - Translation
17 – MUSIC AND THE NET p36
Una volta si registravano le canzoni preferite dalla radio sulle cassette, ora invece le canzoni vengono scaricate da siti Internet e masterizzate su CD. Dove sta la differenza e perché l’industria discografica sta facendo di tutto per impedire ai consumatore di rubare la musica in questa maniera? Quando nei primi anni Ottanta è stato inventato il “walkman”, copiare canzoni su cassetta è diventata parte integrante della cultura giovanile, pratica che non è cambiata molto quando sono arrivati i CD. Con la nuova tecnologia, tuttavia, la copia ottenuta è perfetta, a differenza delle cassette, che sono sempre inferiore dal punto di vista qualitativo. Da una parte i consumatori sono stufi di spendere cifre alte per la musica che ora possono procurarsi gratis, dall’altra i discografici stanno cercando trucchi sempre più sofisticati per arrestare la pirateria che ora non è solo musicale ma anche cinematografica. Qualcosa dovrà cambiare, ma chi vincerà?
Favourite songs used to be recorded from the radio onto cassettes. Now, instead, songs are downloaded from internet sites and recorded onto CD. What is the difference and why is the record industry doing its best to prevent consumers from stealing music in this way? When the “walkman” was invented, in the early eighties, copying songs onto cassette became an integral part of youth culture, a practice that did not change much with the arrival of CDs. Yet, with the new technology a perfect copy can be obtained, different from cassettes that have always been lower quality. On one side, consumers are fed up of spending a fortune on music that they can now get for free, on the other side, record labels are always looking for more sophisticated ways to stop pirating, not only music, but also film/cinematography. Something has to change, but who will win?
Una volta si registravano le canzoni preferite dalla radio sulle cassette, ora invece le canzoni vengono scaricate da siti Internet e masterizzate su CD. Dove sta la differenza e perché l’industria discografica sta facendo di tutto per impedire ai consumatore di rubare la musica in questa maniera? Quando nei primi anni Ottanta è stato inventato il “walkman”, copiare canzoni su cassetta è diventata parte integrante della cultura giovanile, pratica che non è cambiata molto quando sono arrivati i CD. Con la nuova tecnologia, tuttavia, la copia ottenuta è perfetta, a differenza delle cassette, che sono sempre inferiore dal punto di vista qualitativo. Da una parte i consumatori sono stufi di spendere cifre alte per la musica che ora possono procurarsi gratis, dall’altra i discografici stanno cercando trucchi sempre più sofisticati per arrestare la pirateria che ora non è solo musicale ma anche cinematografica. Qualcosa dovrà cambiare, ma chi vincerà?
Favourite songs used to be recorded from the radio onto cassettes. Now, instead, songs are downloaded from internet sites and recorded onto CD. What is the difference and why is the record industry doing its best to prevent consumers from stealing music in this way? When the “walkman” was invented, in the early eighties, copying songs onto cassette became an integral part of youth culture, a practice that did not change much with the arrival of CDs. Yet, with the new technology a perfect copy can be obtained, different from cassettes that have always been lower quality. On one side, consumers are fed up of spending a fortune on music that they can now get for free, on the other side, record labels are always looking for more sophisticated ways to stop pirating, not only music, but also film/cinematography. Something has to change, but who will win?
Thursday, 8 October 2009
Summary - Height
Original Passage I:
Height connotes status in many parts of the world. Executive offices are usually on the top floors; the underlings work below. Even being tall can help a person succeed. Studies have shown that employers are more willing to hire men over 6 feet tall than shorter men with the same credentials. Studies of real-world executives and graduates have shown that taller men make more money. In one study, every extra inch of height brought in an extra $1,300 a year. But being too big can be a disadvantage. A tall, brawny football player complained that people found him intimidating off the field and assumed he "had the brains of a Twinkie."
Let’s first identify the main points in the original passage.
Height connotes status in many parts of the world. Executive offices are usually on the top floors; the underlings work below. Even being tall can help a person succeed. Studies have shown that employers are more willing to hire men over 6 feet tall than shorter men with the same credentials. Studies of real-world executives and graduates have shown that taller men make more money. In one study, every extra inch of height brought in an extra $1,300 a year. But being too big can be a disadvantage. A tall, brawny football player complained that people found him intimidating off the field and assumed he "had the brains of a Twinkie."
Let’s first identify the main points in the original passage.
Unreal Past 08/10/09
Unreal Past for hypothetical or imaginary situations in the present:
e.g. It’s raining now, if it wasn’t raining we could eat outside
Is it raining?
Can we eat outside?
Can we change the fact that it’s raining?
e.g. I live in Italy, if I lived in U.S, I would speak English everyday
e.g. If I were you, I’d stop smoking
Wish sentences:
e.g. I wish I could speak Spanish
Can I speak Spanish?
Do I want to speak Spanish?
Wish & would (n’t):
(to express annoyance)
e.g. I wish people wouldn’t be so rude!
I wish she would hurry up!
Compare:
I wish you’d be more positive (= possibility of change)
I wish you were taller (= no possibility of change)
e.g. It’s raining now, if it wasn’t raining we could eat outside
Is it raining?
Can we eat outside?
Can we change the fact that it’s raining?
e.g. I live in Italy, if I lived in U.S, I would speak English everyday
e.g. If I were you, I’d stop smoking
Wish sentences:
e.g. I wish I could speak Spanish
Can I speak Spanish?
Do I want to speak Spanish?
Wish & would (n’t):
(to express annoyance)
e.g. I wish people wouldn’t be so rude!
I wish she would hurry up!
Compare:
I wish you’d be more positive (= possibility of change)
I wish you were taller (= no possibility of change)
Translation - Being a parent
Translation
Fare genitori è sempre stato un mestiere difficile, ma in questi ultimi anni lo è diventato molto di più. Oggi, poche madri possono permettersi di rimanere a casa per fare la mamma a tempo pieno, e anche quando riescono a dedicare del tempo ai figli, devono competere con la televisione, i videogiochi e altre attrattive tecnologiche che non favoriscono la creazione di buoni rapporti in famiglia. È vero che i padri sono più coinvolti adesso di una volta, ma in generale entrambi i genitori passano poco tempo con i figli e si sentono in colpa. Per quanto riguarda la disciplina, quasi nessuno adotta più i metodi permissivi degli anni settanta, ma picchiare i bambini è considerato un gesto quasi criminale. Cosa fare, quindi, quando tua figlia di tre anni si rifiuta di vestirsi? Come reagire al figlio che va male a scuola? Una cosa è certa: i genitori hanno un’enorme influenza sullo sviluppo dei figli e dovrebbero fare di tutto per crescerli nel mondo più equilibrato possibile.
Being a parent has always been a difficult job, but over the last few years it’s become much more so. Nowadays, few mothers are able to stay at home full time and even when they manage to dedicate some time to their children, they have to compete with the television, videogames and other technological attractions that/which do not help in the creation of good family relations. It is true that fathers are more involved now than in the past, but generally, both parents feel guilty about not spending enough time/spending little time with their children. In terms of discipline, hardly anyone adopts/ uses the permissive methods of the seventies anymore, but hitting children is considered to be almost criminal. So, what do you do when your three year old daughter refuses to get dressed? How do you react when your son does badly at school? One thing is certain, parents have an enormous influence on the development of their children and should do their utmost/best to bring them up in the most balanced environment as possible
Fare genitori è sempre stato un mestiere difficile, ma in questi ultimi anni lo è diventato molto di più. Oggi, poche madri possono permettersi di rimanere a casa per fare la mamma a tempo pieno, e anche quando riescono a dedicare del tempo ai figli, devono competere con la televisione, i videogiochi e altre attrattive tecnologiche che non favoriscono la creazione di buoni rapporti in famiglia. È vero che i padri sono più coinvolti adesso di una volta, ma in generale entrambi i genitori passano poco tempo con i figli e si sentono in colpa. Per quanto riguarda la disciplina, quasi nessuno adotta più i metodi permissivi degli anni settanta, ma picchiare i bambini è considerato un gesto quasi criminale. Cosa fare, quindi, quando tua figlia di tre anni si rifiuta di vestirsi? Come reagire al figlio che va male a scuola? Una cosa è certa: i genitori hanno un’enorme influenza sullo sviluppo dei figli e dovrebbero fare di tutto per crescerli nel mondo più equilibrato possibile.
Being a parent has always been a difficult job, but over the last few years it’s become much more so. Nowadays, few mothers are able to stay at home full time and even when they manage to dedicate some time to their children, they have to compete with the television, videogames and other technological attractions that/which do not help in the creation of good family relations. It is true that fathers are more involved now than in the past, but generally, both parents feel guilty about not spending enough time/spending little time with their children. In terms of discipline, hardly anyone adopts/ uses the permissive methods of the seventies anymore, but hitting children is considered to be almost criminal. So, what do you do when your three year old daughter refuses to get dressed? How do you react when your son does badly at school? One thing is certain, parents have an enormous influence on the development of their children and should do their utmost/best to bring them up in the most balanced environment as possible
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