Higher Education Study Preparation Programme at University of Central Lancashire HESPP Writing skills, session 1

What is a sentence?

Simple sentences & parts of a sentence
1 subject, 1 verb
My father is an engineer.
2 subjects, 1 verb
My brother and his wife live in Oxford.
1 subject, 2 verbs
He lives and works in Preston.
2 subjects, 2 verbs
Her mother and father were born and grew up in India.

Subject + Verb + Complement

I study English.
I don’t understand you.
His girlfriend is smart.
It isn’t raining now.

He lives in Preston.
The children are at school.

Capital Letters

I
First word of a sentence
Acronyms
Names/titles
Places
Nationalities/languages
Days/months

The writing process

Identify your audience

Define your purpose

Collect your ideas

Select the material

Structure your ideas

Write!

HESPP Compound Sentences

Grammar: Compound Sentences

Compound Sentences

A compound sentence is a sentence that contains two complete ideas (called
clauses) that are related. These two clauses are usually connected in a compound
sentence by a conjunction. The coordinating conjunctions are "and", "but", "for", "or",
"nor", "yet", or "so".
Example:
Batman is a hero. He is successful in catching the criminals in his city.
Batman is a hero, and he is successful in catching the criminals in his city.
OR…
Batman is a hero, for he is successful in catching the criminals in his city.
Directions: In the following exercises, turn the sentence pairs into single compound
sentences, each with a coordinating conjunction. You can rearrange or add words in
the sentence to make it sound better, but only if it's necessary.

1. The black dog has won many prizes. He doesn't know many tricks.
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2. She saw a cat run in front of her. She fell down while roller-skating.
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3. There was a meteor shower. The crew did not know how to avoid the meteors.
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4. I wanted to buy a baby Chihuahua. I started to save my money.
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5. Gillian did not like to read. She was not very good at it.
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6. Pam liked Wayne. Leena also liked Wayne.
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7. The little boy did not like going to school. He went anyway.
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8. You can cry like a baby. You can clean your room like an adult.
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Grammar: Compound Sentences
Name ______________________________________________ Date _____________
©2004abcteach.com
9. She didn't want to play with Jill. She didn't want to play with Tim.
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10. Arleen could not play with that boy. Arleen could not play with that other boy.
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11. Let's go to the swimming pool. It's hot inside the house.
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12. I don’t want to eat. I don't want to drink.
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13. I don’t want to practice playing my violin. I don’t want to disobey my mother.
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14. I want to own my own company. I want to pay all my workers a lot of money.
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15. I need to go to the store. I'm feeling too sick to drive.
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16. Rabbits make good pets. They don’t make too much noise and they are clean.
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17. I want to go to the circus. I want to ride a pony.
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18. I didn’t do my homework. My parents punished me.
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19. I have never visited Asia. I have never visited Africa.
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20. You can make a big poster. You can make a little clay statue.
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Answers (may vary):
1. The black dog has won many prizes, but he doesn’t know many tricks.
2. She saw a cat run in front of her, so she fell down while roller-skating.
3. There was a meteor shower in space, but the crew did not know how to avoid
the meteors.
4. I wanted to buy a baby Chihuahua, so I started to save my money.
5. Gillian did not like to read, for she was not very good at it.
6. Pam liked Wayne, and Leena also liked Wayne.
7. The little boy did not like to go to school, yet he went anyway.
8. You could cry like a baby, or you can clean your room like an adult.
9. She didn’t want to play with Jill, and she didn’t want to play with Tim.

HESPP Countable and Uncountable nouns

Nouns that can be Countable and Uncountable

Sometimes, the same noun can be countable and uncountable, often with a change of meaning.

Countable Uncountable

There are two hairs in my coffee! hair I don't have much hair.
There are two lights in our bedroom. light Close the curtain. There's too much light!
Shhhhh! I thought I heard a noise. noise It's difficult to work when there is too much noise.
Have you got a paper to read? (= newspaper) paper I want to draw a picture. Have you got some paper?
Our house has seven rooms. room Is there room for me to sit here?
We had a great time at the party. time Have you got time for a coffee?
Macbeth is one of Shakespeare's greatest works. work I have no money. I need work!


Countable nouns are easy to recognize. They are things that we can count. For example: "pen". We can count pens. We can have one, two, three or more pens. Here are some more countable nouns:
• dog, cat, animal, man, person
• bottle, box, litre
• coin, note, dollar
• cup, plate, fork
• table, chair, suitcase, bag
Countable nouns can be singular or plural:
• My dog is playing.
• My dogs are hungry.
We can use the indefinite article a/an with countable nouns:
• A dog is an animal.
When a countable noun is singular, we must use a word like a/the/my/this with it:
• I want an orange. (not I want orange.)
• Where is my bottle? (not Where is bottle?)
When a countable noun is plural, we can use it alone:
• I like oranges.
• Bottles can break.
We can use some and any with countable nouns:
• I've got some dollars.
• Have you got any pens?
We can use a few and many with countable nouns:
• I've got a few dollars.
• I haven't got many pens.


"People" is countable. "People" is the plural of "person". We can count people:
• There is one person here.
• There are three people here.


Uncountable nouns are substances, concepts etc that we cannot divide into separate elements. We cannot "count" them. For example, we cannot count "milk". We can count "bottles of milk" or "litres of milk", but we cannot count "milk" itself. Here are some more uncountable nouns:
• music, art, love, happiness
• advice, information, news
• furniture, luggage
• rice, sugar, butter, water
• electricity, gas, power
• money, currency
We usually treat uncountable nouns as singular. We use a singular verb. For example:
• This news is very important.
• Your luggage looks heavy.
We do not usually use the indefinite article a/an with uncountable nouns. We cannot say "an information" or "a music". But we can say a something of:
• a piece of news
• a bottle of water
• a grain of rice
We can use some and any with uncountable nouns:
• I've got some money.
• Have you got any rice?
We can use a little and much with uncountable nouns:
• I've got a little money.
• I haven't got much rice.

HESPP Expressing Opinions

Expressing Opinions

1. Expressing Opinions: These terms are used to introduce an
opinion, either for or against:

I think……
I feel……..
I believe…….
As I see it……..
In my opinion…….
As far as I'm concerned……
My point of view is that…….
In my view……..
It seems to me that……..
I figure that…….
From my point of view…….

2. Agreeing with an Opinion:

My view about this is positive.
I agree with this idea.
I agree completely with this idea.
I agree partially with this idea.
This idea is absolutely right.
This idea is partially right.
I couldn't agree more on this.
I think this idea is good.
3. Disagreeing with an Opinion:
I think this idea is impossible/impractical/bad.
I think this idea is possible, but……
I think this idea cannot be implemented.
I don't agree with this idea.
I think it is a bad idea.
I'm not sure that I agree with this idea.
The project is feasible, but…….

4. Asking somebody's opinion

What do you think about...?

How d'you feel (about...)?

What d'you reckon (about...)?

What's your opinion of...?

(What do think about) that?

What are your views on...?

Where do you stand (on...)?

What would you say to... / if we...?

Are you aware of.....?

Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Year 2. Verbs dispensa 2010

Verbs page 6

1)went
2)to get to/getting to
3)had just driven
4)to keep (remind + infinitive)
5)caught on (to catch on = to understand a situation/realise/become familiar with). E.g. At first I didn’t catch on that my friend was only joking and I was a bit offended!
6)was sitting/was sat
7)couldn’t get over (to get over = to recover from e.g. illness, shock, surprise)
8)think about
9)were brought up (to bring sb up = to educate/look after)
10)have been driving/have driven
11)coping (to be used to + verb ing or noun)
12)can’t/won’t/shouldn’t be
13)going (to be up to + verb ing = to be capable of doing something e.g. do you think he is up to managing a large team?)
14)not hiring
15)should have left
16)to make
17)already had
18)did I eventually reach
19)to do
20)running out of

Page 7

1)I’ll ever go
2)to understand
3)to talk
4)to munch
5)are playing/play
6)was/would be/would have been
7)to introduce
8)pointed out
9)putting Raymond off
10)went up to
11)would go out
12)put
13)kept
14)talking
15)was playing/played
16)making/to make
17)to show
18)should/ought to get
19)to leave
20)have never felt

Page 8

1)woke up
2)had come to
3)was called
4)to be haunted
5)made up
6)will let
7)set off
8)will eat
9)get to
10)could make out
11)standing out
12)to take out
13)sounded like
14)shouting
15)dressed in
16)would/could/might find
17)looking for
18)got to
19)ran into
20)saying about

Page 10

1)are still trying
2)had been/were stolen from
3)might/could be
4)are thought
5)to have been taken
6)went
7)to check
8)was
9)was woken up
10)must have come
11)had already gone
12)immediately went down
13)to find out
14)was going on
15)were gone
16)getting
17)will/would probably end up
18)to move horses around
19)noticing
20)to look in on/around for

Page 12

1)to have gone up
2)is expected
3)have been complaining about
4)to be done
5)suggested
6)should/could/might put down
7)to deal with
8)came up
9)has been
10)came in
11)be said
12)cutting off
13)fill with
14)using
15)laying
16)to carry out
17)would be
18)comes up with
19)will just carry on
20)to put up with

Page 13

1)to walk
2)was staying
3)waiting for her
4)had never met
5)seeing
6)went up to = approached
7)held
8)have been looking forward to
9)meeting
10)shook
11)came out
12)couldn’t/can’t have already read
13)picked it up
14)couldn’t put it down
15)might/could/should go
16)would be
17)being disturbed
18)no sooner had they sat down
19)coming
20)heading for = going in a direction

Page 14

1)having
2)to clean up
9)to make
10)feel
4)helping
5)to get
6)lying down
7)hadn’t asked
8)to spend
11)could see
12)coming
13)will/must have fed
14)are they
15)won’t/shouldn’t be
16)to set off
17)will/am going to call
18)to find out
19)carry on
20)are all invited


Page 15

1)using
2)had just inserted
3)was about
4)came up to
5)to do
6)had she said
7)to be out of
8)might/must
9)’d check
10)to be found
11)realised
12)had been tricked
13)have been/am
14)gave up
15)couldn’t keep up with
16)was given
17)to fill in
18)was shocked
19)had withdrawn
20)will I do

Page 16

1)was murdered
2)looked into
3)have been found
4)called on
5)may have
6)to contact
7)speaking
8)were doing/had been doing
9)to run out of
10)to have left
11)makes/will make/is going to make
12)had been
13)had been respected
14)should be given
15)is/was involved
16)hadn’t gone out
17)has been missing
18)investigating
19)are currently looking around/out
20)won’t get out of/away with

Verbs page 17

1)was left/had been left
2)to spread the money out/around
3)referred to
4)got by
5)always broke down
6)went round/over
7)had bought
8)was really looking forward
9)to seeing
10)was clearly taken
11)were
12)bumped into
13)making
14)to speak
15)found out
16)Had complained/complained
17)not having
18)could/should/might
19)do
20)will be punished

Translation: mobile phones

We don’t find it at all strange, nowadays, if we see someone talking to “nobody” whilst walking, whereas ten years ago, we would have thought that person was mad. Of course/naturally, we know that they are on the telephone, even if they are not holding anything. Now that we are used to mobile phones, we have also become much more tolerant of phones that ring at the cinema, restaurant and during a meeting. In the early 90s, there weren’t many mobiles. Now however, those who don’t have one are considered the exception. For/in the case of young people, above all/in particular, life without a mobile is absolutely inconceivable. We have certainly gained a lot in terms of/regarding the comfort and flexibility in organising our daily lives, but could we have lost something? Maybe the capacity not to worry about whoever is not with us: a child on holiday with their friends, for example.

Translation:Immigration

Leaving your (one’s) own country and deciding to go and live in a different country, where the language, the customs and even the money (currency) is different from your (one’s) own, is hardly ever a free choice. In most cases, (the) foreigners (who are) in Italy have come to find work (a job). There are others, however (instead/on the other hand), who have had to flee (run away from) their country/countries (homeland) because of war or poverty. In Italy there are 191 different races (ethnic groups). There is no other European country (no other country exists) where so many people of different races (ethnic groups) live (are living) together. This makes Italy/our country a special place. Most of the foreigners who come to our country find a job (work) without much difficulty (many problems). Many (of them) work in the agricultural (farming) sector. Many other foreign citizens work in the catering sector (trade), many in the building sector (industry), and others devote their time (themselves) to helping the elderly (old people/the old) or take care of (look after) the homes and children.

Translation: The Public Telephone

The public telephone (payphone) is a species threatened with extinction (an endangered species). There are fewer and fewer on the streets and many of those that have survived only work with a prepaid card (perhaps because it costs too much to send someone to collect the coins). Should we be sorry about their disappearance? We can say that those who own a mobile/cell phone no longer need a landline in public places. Indeed/in fact, hardly anyone would stay outside in the cold when they can sit comfortably in a bar, have a drink and contact friends and relatives by pressing just one button/a single button without even having to remember the number. The United Kingdom, though, has a particular reason to regret the loss of the public telephone. For nearly/almost a century, the traditional red phone box has been part of the country’s image, along with the red buses and black taxis, icons that are now gradually being replaced by more modern models.

Translation: TV Technology

Few people today are able to imagine a world/life without T.V. What do you do, then, if there is only one television set at home and someone wants to watch a film, while someone else has “booked” a football match? In the past you would have argued or recorded the programme on video, but of course in that case you could only see it after, and who would want to miss out on all the fun of watching the live match? Maybe a solution has already been found: a new type of screen that shows a different picture depending on the position (right or left) from which you are watching. It is not known when this new technology, developed in Japan, will be available for all, but it’s use in cars has already been thought about. The driver follows the navigation system whilst the passenger relaxes with a film.

Modals

Modal Verbs

Present & Future

Must = ‘internal’ obligation
Have to/don’t have to = ‘external’ obligation
No obligation e.g. you don’t have to insure your car for theft.
Need to/needn’t or don’t need to = weaker obligation

Must not = negative obligation e.g. you mustn’t speak to your father like that!

Should/ought to = advice, duty


Past Modals


Should / shouldn’t have + PP

= (1)criticize past actions
e.g. you should have bought the milk!

= (2)to talk about events that you expect/were supposed to happen.
e.g. I should have done a test today, but I was ill.


Must/ mustn’t have + PP = very strong deduction/possibility e.g. She mustn’t have passed the exam, she is upset.

Had to = past obligation
e.g. I had to pay lots of tax last year.(external obligation)
We had to wash the car, it was very dirty.(internal obligation)

Will have to = future obligation

Couldn’t or wasn’t/weren’t allowed = past prohibition
e.g. I couldn’t use my ID card for travelling.


Needn’t have + PP = action completed, but wasn’t necessary e.g. I needn’t have hurried because the lesson started late.

Didn’t need to + inf = action (performed or not) wasn’t necessary
e.g. I didn’t need to hurry because I was early.

Can, could, be able to = ability

Past (positive): could = general ability e.g. I could never understand my teacher when she spoke.
Was/were able = specific instances of ability e.g. I was able to finish the race.
Past (negative): wasn’t/weren’t able to/couldn’t, have same meaning.

Inversion

1)She had to pay a fine and she lost her driving licence.

2)Not only did she have to pay a fine, but she also lost her driving licence.

• Subject and auxiliary verb is inverted (=reversed)

• If there is no auxiliary verb nor verb “to be”, use do, does, did etc.

• Used after certain negative adverbials e.g. not, not until, not once, not for one minute, only then, only later, nowhere, no way, rarely, hardly ever, hardly…when, no sooner…..than…


Examples:

I never thought about home while I was on holiday.
=
Not once did I think about home while I was on holiday.

They hardly ever complain about the amount of homework.
=
Hardly ever do they complain about the amount of homework.

As soon as I had left the house, I realised I’d forgotten my keys.
=
No sooner had I left the house, than I realised I’d forgotten my keys.

Phrasal Verbs List

account for

add on

add up

allow for

answer back

apply for

ask after

ask for

ask out

back away

back down

back off

back out

back up

be against

be away

be back

be for

be in

be in for

be off

be out

be over

be up

be up to

bear out

bear up

blow down

blow out

blow over

blow up

boil away

boil over

break away

break down

break in

break into

break off

break through

break up

break out of

break out

bring about

bring back

bring down

bring in

bring off

bring on

bring round

build in

build up

bump into

burn down

burst in

burst into

burst out

call at

call away

call back

call for

call in

call off

call on

call out

call up

calm down

care about

care for

carry off

carry on

carry on with

carry out

catch on

catch up

catch up with

check in

check out

check over

check through

cheer up

clean out

clean up

clear away

clear off

clear out

clear up

close down

close in

close up

cloud over

come about

come across

come apart

come back

come down

come down with

come in

come in for

come into

come off

come out

come out in

come round

come round to

come to

come up

come up against

come up to

come up with

count down

count in

count out

count for

count on

count up

crack down

crop up

cross out

crowd around

crowd in

cry out

cut back

cut down

cut down on

cut in

cut off

cut out

cut out for

= be cut out for

cut up

deal with

die away

die down

die out

do away with

do in

do up

do with

do without

doze off

draw back

draw up

dress up

dress down

drop in

drop in on

drop off

drop out

eat out

eat in

eat away

eat up

end up

face up to

fade away

fall back

fall back on

fall behind

fall down

fall for

fall in

fall in with

fall on

fall out

fall out with

fall through

feed = be fed up

with

feel down

feel for

feel up to

fight off

fight for

fill in

fill up

find out

fit in

fix up

follow up

fool around

get about

get across

get along with

get around

get at

get away

get away with

get back

get by

get down

get down to

get in

get off

get off with

get on

get on for

get on with

get out

get out of

get over

get rid of

get round

get round to

get through

get up

get up to

give away

give back

give in

give off

give out

give up

go about

go after

go ahead

go ahead with

go along with

go away

go back

go back on

go by

go down

go for

go in for

go into

go off

go on

go on with

go out

go over

go round

go through

go through with

go up

go with

go without

grow on

grow out of

chill out

grow up

hand down

hand in

hand out

hand over

hang about

hang around

hang back

hang on

hang out

hang on to

hang up

have it in for

have on

have someone on

hit it off (with)

hit (up)on

hold back

hold off

hold on

hold on to

hold out

hold up

hold with

join in

join up

keep back

keep off

keep on

keep out

keep up

keep up with

knock off

knock out

knock up

laugh off

lay down

lay in

lay off

lay out

lay up = be laid up

lead up to

leave off

leave out

let down

let in

let in on

let off

let on

let out

live down

live off

live on

live up to

liven up

lock out

lock up

look after

look ahead

look around

look at

look back

look back on

look down on

look for

look forward to

look in

look into

look like

look on

look out

look over

look round

look someone up

look through

look up

look up and down

look up to

make for

make off with

make out

make up (3)

make up for

measure out

measure up to

miss out

miss out on

mistake for

mix up

mix up in/with

move in

move on

move out

note down

order about

own up

pack in

part with

pass away

pass on

pass out

pay back

pay for

pay in

pay off

pay out

pay up

pick off

pick on

pick out

pick up

play down

play up

plug in

point out

pop in

pour down

pull away

pull down

pull in

pull off

pull out

pull over

pull through

pull up

push on

put about

put across

put aside

put away

put back

put by

put down

put down to

put forward

put in

put in for

put off

put on

put oneself out

put out

put someone up

put through

put up

put up with

ring back

ring off

ring up

rip off

round off

round up

round down

rub out

rule out

run across

run after

run away

run away with

run down

run down

= be/feel run down

run into

run out

run out of

run over

run through

run to

run up

run up against

rush into

scare away

scare off

see about

see off

see someone off

see through

see to

sell off

sell out

send away

send away for

send for

send in

send off

send off for

send on

send up

set (up)on

set about

set back

set down

set in

set off

set out

set up

settle down

settle in

settle up

settle up with

shake off

share out

shop around

shout down

show around

show in

show off

show up

shut away

shut down

shut up

side with

sink in

sit down

sleep through

slip out

slip up

slow down

sort out

speak up

split up

split up with

stand by

stand for (2)

stand in

stand in for

stand out

stand up

stand up for

stand up to

stay in

stay up

step down

step up

stick out

stick up for

stir up

stop over

sum up

switch off

switch on

tail back

take aback

= be taken aback

take (it) out on

take after

take apart

take away

take back

take back

take down

take for

take in

take off

take on

take out

take over

take to someone

take up

talk back

talk into

talk over

talk out of

tear down

tear up

tell apart

tell off

think about

think of

think out

think over

think through

throw away

throw off

throw up

throw out

tie down

tie in with

tie up

tone down

touch on

toy with

track down

try on

try out

tune in

turn against

turn away

turn back

turn down

turn in

turn into

turn off

turn on

turn out

turn over

turn to

turn up

wait on

walk out

walk out on

wash out

wash up

watch out for

watch over

wear away

wear off

wear out

wind down

wind up

wind forwards

wind backwards

wipe out

work in

work off

work out

work up

write away for

write off

write off for

Translation: Believing The News

“Non credere a tutto quello che leggi sui giornali!” È un consiglio che sentiamo spesso. Ma dovremmo davvero considerare inattendibili le notizie che ci arrivano dalla stampa, dalla TV o da Internet? Il crollo delle Torri Gemelle è stato causato dagli aerei che vi si sono schiantati contro, o era già tutto organizzato prima? La famiglia reale inglese ha pianificato la morte della principessa Diana per evitare scomodi eredi musulmani? Elvis Presley è morto nel 1977 o è ancora in vita? Marilyn Monroe si è davvero suicidata? Sapremo mai la verità sulla scomparsa di Michael Jackson?
Ora si parla molto del riscaldamento del pianeta, ma chissà se anche questa teoria è giusta. Se vediamo in TV un orso polare intrappolato su un pezzo di ghiaccio galleggiante o il distacco di un gigantesco muro di ghiaccio è logico pensare che le calotte polare si stanno sciogliendo. Ma può darsi anche che ne siamo convinti perché ci è stato detto ripetutamente. Il 2009 sarà ricordato come l’anno della grande recessione mondiale, ma questa crisi non è forse stata causata, almeno in parte, dalle tante previsioni negative con le quali i media ci hanno bombardato?

"Do not believe everything you read in the papers!" It is advice that we hear often/we are often advised. But should we really consider unreliable the news coming to us from the press, TV or Internet? Was the collapse of the Twin Towers caused by planes that crashed into them, or was it all organized beforehand? Did the British royal family plan the death of Princess Diana to avoid awkward Muslim heirs? Did Elvis Presley die in 1977 or is he still alive? Did Marilyn Monroe really commit suicide? Will we ever know the truth about the death of Michael Jackson?
Now there is much talk of global warming, but who knows if this theory is correct. If we see on TV a polar bear trapped on a piece of floating ice or detachment of a gigantic wall of ice it is logical to think that the polar ice caps are melting. But it may also be because we believe what we have been told repeatedly. 2009 will be remembered as the year of the great global recession, but might this crisis have been caused, at least in part, by the many predictions of doom with which the media bombarded us/which the media bombarded us with?

Translation: The Italian Diet

L’Italia è uno dei primi produttori mondiali di frutta e verdura – per quantità, qualità e varietà. E siccome la crescita di tumore, allergie e malattie correlate ci sta costringendo a prendere le distanze dai pesticidi, siamo anche i più bravi nelle colture bio. Eppure è come se questo primato non ci toccasse: i carrelli della spesa debordano di cibi pronti, snack, insaccati, e poco, pochissimo ‘fresco’. Certo, l’aumento dei prezzi non ha giovato ai consumi, ma frutta e verdure di stagione – soprattutto se si evitano i fruttivendoli costosi – sono alla portata di tutte le tasche. Eppure i consumi sono in diminuzione. La contrazione dei tempi dedicati alla preparazione dei pasti e l’esaurirsi della cultura alimentare tramandata in famiglia ci sta ‘disitalianizzando’. Forse la tendenze preoccupante riguarda i bambini, che mettono in cima alla classifica degli ortaggi le patate surgelate fritte e in fondo gli spinaci. In quanto alla frutta, si consuma soprattutto quella già pronta nello yogurt.

Italy is one of the world's largest/main producers of fruit and vegetables - for quantity, quality and variety. And since the growth of cancer, allergies and related diseases is forcing us to distance ourselves from pesticides, we are also the best in bio crops. Yet it is as if this record does not affect us: shopping carts/trollies overflowing with pre-prepared/convenience food, snacks, cold cuts, and little, very little 'fresh' food. Of course, higher prices did not benefit/have not benefited consumers, but fruit and vegetables in season - especially if you avoid the costly fruit and vegetable sellers/shops - are affordable for every budget. Yet consumption is declining. The reduction of time devoted to the preparation of meals and the depletion of food culture handed down in the family is 'de-italianising'. Perhaps the main cause for concern is the children who put frozen chips at the top and spinach at the bottom of their list of favourite vegetables. As for fruit, that contained in pre-prepared yogurt is consumed the most.

Translation - Kites

L’aquilone ha più di duemila anni, ma non li dimostra. Nato in Cina, il “cervo volante” è comparso prima o dopo in tutti i cieli del mondo. In ogni tempo e in ogni paese, dappertutto dove c’era un po’ di vento, l’uomo ha cercato di far volare qualcosa. Tracce di aquiloni si sono trovate un po’ in tutto il mondo. Ogni popolo ha usato materiali diversi: canne di bambù , foglie, carta, stoffa . . . Gli aquiloni nell’Oriente antico hanno un significato simbolico: collegano la terra con il cielo e quindi il mondo dei vivi con quelli dei morti. Nella tradizione giapponese simboleggiano la vita, e venivano liberati quando nasceva un bambino. In alcuni paesi del Sudamerica invece rappresentano ancora oggi le anime che salgono in cielo, e perciò li si vede volare durante i funerali. Solo nel Medioevo gli aquiloni cominciano a esistere anche in Europa: è Giovanni Battista Della Porta nel 1200, che per la prima volta costruisce un aquilone.

The kite is more than two thousand years old, but it doesn’t seem it/you would never know. Born in China, the “flying deer” appears/is present in the sky all over the world. At any time and in any place, anywhere where there is a bit of wind, man has tried to fly something. You can find traces/signs of kites all over the world. Every population has used different materials: bamboo cane, leaves, paper, material/fabric . . . Old oriental kites have a symbolic meaning: connecting the sky with the earth and, therefore, the world of the living with that of the dead. In Japanese tradition, symbolizing life and being freed when a baby is born. Even today, in some South American countries, they represent spirits rising in the sky, and so can be seen flying during funerals. Kites only began to exist in Europe in medieval times: it was Giovanni Battista Della Porta, in 1200, who made a kite for the first time.

Phrasal Verbs - dispensa, page 44 & 45, answers

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 * *)

At the beginning the sponsors seemed enthusiastic, but at the last minute they backed out of the agreement.

2. Nessun altro può decidere - dipende solo da te. (be * *)

(be up to) Nobody else can decide – it’s up to you.

3. I primi casi di influenza A sono scoppiati in Messico nel 2008. (break *)

(break out) The first cases of swine flu broke out in Mexico in 2008.

4. L'era vittoriana provocò grandi cambiamenti sociali, (bring *)

(bring about) The Victorian era brought about big social changes.

5. Mi sono imbattuto in un vecchio amico l'altro giorno, (bump *)

(bump into) I bumped into an old friend of mine the other day.

6. È scoppiata in lacrime quando ha sentito la notizia, (burst *)

(burst into) She burst into tears when she heard the news.

7. Questo lavoro richiede notevole abilità, (call *)

(call for) This job calls for notable skill.

8. Era sconvolto quando ha saputo di aver perso il lavoro, ma poi si è calmato, (find*; calm *)

(find out; calm down) He was upset when he found out he had lost his job, but then he calmed down.

9. Tu vai avanti con le pulizie in casa - al giardino ci penso io. (carry * *; see *)

(carry on with; see to) You carry on with the housework – I’ll see to the garden.

10. Dovrai correre se vuoi raggiungerli! (catch * *)

(catch up with) You’ll have to run if you want to catch up with them.

11. Le dispiace ripassare la relazione per vedere se ho dimenticato niente? (check *,miss *)

(check over; miss out) Would you mind checking over the report to see if I’ve missed anything out?

12. Si, potete fare la festa qui in casa - basta che mettiate in ordine dopo! (clear *)

(clear up) Yes, you can have the party here at home – just clear up afterwards!

13. Era stata una splendida giornata di sole, ma il cielo si annuvolò proprio al momento del barbecue! (cloud *)

(cloud over) It was a lovely sunny day, but the sky clouded over right at the moment of the barbecue!

14. Abbiamo trovato un sacco di foto vecchie mentre sgombravamo la casa dello zio (come *; clear *)

(come across; clear out) We came across lots of old photos when we were clearing out uncle’s house.

15. Potete passare dopo cena a bere qualcosa se volete. (come *)

You could come over after dinner for a drink if you like.

16. Dovrai trovare una scusa molto più convincente se vuoi essere perdonato! (come* *)

(come up with) You’ll have to come up with a more convincing excuse than that if you want to be forgiven!

17. È una lavastoviglie veramente ecologica che ti permette di ridurre il consumo di energia e di acqua (cut * *)

(cut down on) It’s a really ecologic dishwasher that allows you to cut down on electricity and water.

18. L'abitudine di mandare le cartoline dai luoghi di villeggiatura sta scomparendo,(die *)

(die out) The habit of sending postcards from holiday places is dying out.

19. La nonna si appisola sempre davanti alla TV. (doze/nod *)

(doze/nod off) Grandma always dozes/nods off in front of the TV.

20. Avendo dovuto passare un mese in ospedale è rimasto indietro con gli studi, (fall*)

(Fall behind) Having spent a month in hospital, he fell behind with his studies.

21. Non me la sento di rispondere a queste domande. (feel * *)

(Feel up to) I don’t feel up to answering these questions.
22. Quando hai saputo che si sono lasciati? (find *; break *)

(Find out; break up) When did you find out that they had broken up?

23. Ha rubato in diverse case, ma l'ha sempre fatta franca, (get * *)

(Get away with) He burgled different houses, but always got away with it.

24. Come fate a vivere con un reddito così basso?" "Beh - in qualche modo ce la facciamo" (get *)

(Get by) “How do you manage to live on such a low salary?” “Well, somehow we get by”.

25. Come si fa a riprendersi da uno shock del genere? (get *)

(Get over) How do you get over a shock like that?

26. Sono sempre più preoccupato: ormai mio marito fa fuori due pacchetti di sigarette al giorno. (get *)

(Get through) I’m getting more worried: now my husband gets through two packets of cigarettes a day.

27. Distribuivano campioni di crema antirughe davanti al supermercato. (give *)

(Give away) They are living away samples of anti-wrinkle cream outside the supermarket.

N.B. (Hand out) They are handing out leaflets outside the supermarket.

28. Con il passare del tempo, si è infastidita sempre di più del suo atteggiamento.(go*)

(Go on) As time went on, she got more and more annoyed with his attitude.

29. Ha avuto i suoi difetti, ma Margaret Thatcher passerà alla storia per quello che ha fatto negli anni '80. (go * *)

(Go on in) She had her defects, but Margaret Thatcher will go on in history for what she did in the 80s.

30. Lui continua a fissarmi - mi da terribilmente fastidio! (keep *)

(Keep on) He keeps on staring at me – it really gets on my nerves/it’s really annoying!

31. Chi baderà al gatto mentre sono in ospedale? (look *)

(Look after) Who is going to look after the cat while I’m in hospital?

32. Mi sto davvero pregustando il concerto di Capodanno a Vienna! (look * *)

(Look forward to) I’m really looking forward to the New Years Eve concert in Vienna.

33. Lui ammira tantissimo il professore che l'ha aiutato a laurearsi in architettura,(look * *)

(Look up to) He really looks up to the professor who helped him graduate in Architecture.


34. Mi puoi ospitare stasera? Sono disposto a dormire sul divano! (put *)

(Put up) Can you put me up tonight? I’m prepared to sleep on the sofa/couch.

35. Non sono più disposto a tollerare questo modo di parlare! (put * *)

(Put up with) I’m not prepared to put up with this way of speaking/the way he speaks!


36. Abbiamo finito la farina! Allora niente crèpes stasera! (run * *)

(Run out of) We have run out of flour! So no crepes/pancakes tonight!

37. Da chi hai preso? Dalla mamma o dal papa? (take *)

(Take after) Who do you take after? Your mum or your dad?

38. Le cose avrebbero potuto finire diversamente se lui avesse confessato prima,
(turn*)

(Turn out) Things could have turned out differently if he had confessed earlier.

39. Al colloquio di lavoro si sono presentati solamente in tre. (turn *)

(Turn up) Only three people turned up for the job interview.

40. Non riesco a calcolare quanto ti devo! (work *)

(Work out) I can’t work out how much I owe you!