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Wednesday, June 9, 2010

WELCOME


Welcome to the English 140 Blog.
The goal is to increase the communication between us, and also provide you with an opportunity to communicate with each other. If you post general questions about the assignments or the course, I will answer them. If you have detailed questions you want answered, then it’s probably better to e-mail your tutor.
Check in the Archives (see sidebar) for previous exercises and activities.
IMPORTANT: This blog site is open to the public; do not post personal information that could identify you--your first name is the only personal information you should post. 

WHAT'S HAPPENING?


 FATHER'S DAY
Sunday, June 19th is Father’s Day--it’s another good excuse for a barbecue and family get-together in the summer. The history of this day is interesting; there was not as much public support for this day of recognition as there was for Mother’s Day.


FEATURED COURSE

If English is not your first language, consider taking Engl 149: Advanced Speaking and Listening Skills. The instructor, who specializes in accent reduction, works one-on-one with students to help them achieve your goal of sounding more “Canadian”. The result is also more confidence in both social and employment situation.

COURSE ANNOUNCEMENT

Welcome
In June, we welcome the following new students to the course: Ryan, Angela, and Rebecca. We hope you will enjoy the course and participate in this blog. 

Previous Grammar Question
For instant; the way in which the correspondents course differ then classrooms , is that the equipments' costs are very expensive  for  students are ought to have computer, internet, and another modern up to date things.
1. Word form: The correct expression when providing an example is “for instance”.
2. Comparison: The items being compared need to be clear and comparable; it is courses that are being compared; you cannot compare a course and a classroom. The wording needs to make this clear.
3. Word form: “Correspondents” is a plural noun--a noun cannot modify another noun such as “course”; the adjective form needed is “correspondence”.
4. Number: Should it be “course” or “courses”? It doesn’t matter, but there are agreement issues that occur: “a correspondence course/a classroom course” or “correspondence courses/classroom courses”.
5. Word confusion: Many students confuse “then”--what happened next--with “than” a word used to make comparisons. They sound similar when we speak;-) However, here, the word “from” is needed “differ from”/”different than”.
6. Word form: “equipments” modifies the noun “costs”--as an adjective the form should be “equipment” and it cannot be plural or possessive.
7. Verb-iness: There are too many verb words in the expression “are ought to have”; simplify--use “need”
8. Number error: There are several students, so there should be more than one “computer”.
9. Preposition: In this sentence “for” means “because”; it would be clearer to use “because”, “since”, or “as”.
10. Agreement error: ”another” means “one other”--it cannot be used with a plural--use “other”/
11. Punctuation: A semicolon is used between independent clauses when there is no coordinating conjunction; for that reason, it should not be used after the phrase “for instance”. A comma is possible. Omit the comma before “is” as this separates the subject from its verb. Also omit the comma before “and” as the following structure is a phrase and not an independent clause. Finally, don’t forget to hyphenate compound adjectives such as “up-to-date”.
Possible Answer: For instance, the way in which correspondence courses differ from classroom courses is that equipment costs are very expensive since students need to have computers, internet, and other up-to-date things.
Next blog: The next blog will be available on Monday, June21st.

GRAMMAR QUESTION, June 9th, 2010


Correct the errors in the following sentence:
Everyone of the runners who are in the race are here but we can't get started with the first ones until you line up on a starting line.

PUZZLE, June 9th, 2010

Previous puzzle: Congratulations to Devika for solving the previous puzzle. Suggested answers
word pair              answer
1. Flat/Pump       =fat/plump
2. Feather/Crate =father/create
3. Bet/Stop        =best/top
4. Ear/Trip         =tear/rip
5. Lopes/Shills   =slopes/hills

New Puzzle: move a single letter from one word to the other, make a pair of synonyms, or near synonyms. For example: Boast - Hip, move the 's' from 'Boast' to 'Hip' creating two synonyms: Boat - Ship.

1. Rode - Can =
2. Font - Farce =
3. Tory - Stale =
4. Dire - Cash =
5. Self - Shill =

ALL CHANGE! June 9th, 2010


Change the words in the sentence below as indicated. You can only change the exact word in the sequence given; after someone else has posted the next change, then you can post another change. For instance, student 1 writes #1 Subject Noun, and changes the subject noun; Student 2 writes #2 Direct Object Noun, and changes that noun. Each student only makes one change at a time and keeps to the order indicated. If you complete all 7 changes, then start making more changes again from 1 to 7. Each student should build on the changes that the previous students make

My younger brother happily lent his best friend his new bicycle.
Changes: 1. subject noun       2. direct object noun             3. indirect object noun              4. adjective(s)      5. adverb(s)           6. verb name           7. verb tense

COMPLETE THE SENTENCE, June 9th, 2010

Use each (all three) type of clause, phrase, or grammar indicated to complete the following sentence; you can add the phrase or clause before or after (not both) to the clause below:

I welcome the chance to celebrate Father’s Day
1. Use a phrase 2. Use a dependent clause 3. Use an independent clause

VOCABULARY, June 9th, 2010


Vocabulary building is important for both reading comprehension and writing. Use the following two words (note the part of speech) in one sentence.
autonomy (noun) + discredit (verb)
To further improve your vocabulary, check Word of the Day every day! There are also word games and puzzles on this site.

THE PASSIVE, June 9th, 2010

Where possible, change an active voice sentence to the passive voice, or change a passive voice sentence to the active voice.

The tutor corrected all of the errors the student made on the assignment.

EXAM PRACTICE, June 9th, 2010

The following question is similar to the one in part 3 of the Engl 140 final exam. There are many possible answers. Write a sentence using the vocabulary and grammar indicated.
The students in the course + drive ( past perfect, passive voice) + go (simple past)

LAUGH WITH ENGLISH


In case you needed further proof that the human race is doomed through stupidity, here are some actual label instructions on consumer goods ....

On store bought Tiramisu dessert (printed on bottom) -- "Do not turn upside down."
(well...duh, a bit late, huh!)

Friday, May 28, 2010

GRAMMAR QUESTION, May 28th, 2010


Correct the errors in the following sentence:
For instant; the way in which the correspondents course differ then classrooms , is that the equipments' costs are very expensive  for  students are ought to have computer, internet, and another modern up to date things.

PUZZLE, May 28th, 2010

Previous puzzle: Suggested answers

1. stop doing--that thing (quit/it)
2. peculiar behaviour--annoy (quirk/irk)
3. subatomic particle--large boat (quark/ark)
4. small game bird--to be unwell (quail/ail)
5. large feather pen--unwell;faulty (quill/ill)
6. nausea; uncomfortable--simple (queasy/easy)
7. unit of liquid measure--product of creativity (quart/art)
8. misgivings; scruples--donations to the poor (qualms/alms)

New Puzzle: move a single letter from one word to the other, make a pair of synonyms, or near synonyms. For example: Boast - Hip, move the 's' from 'Boast' to 'Hip' creating two synonyms: Boat - Ship.
1. Flat / Pump ?
2. Feather / Crate ?
3. Bet / Stop ?
4. Ear / Trip ?
5. Lopes / Shills ?

ALL CHANGE! May 28th, 2010

Change the words in the sentence below as indicated. You can only change the exact word in the sequence given; after someone else has posted the next change, then you can post another change. For instance, student 1 writes #1 Subject Noun, and changes the subject noun; Student 2 writes #2 Direct Object Noun, and changes that noun. Each student only makes one change at a time and keeps to the order indicated. If you complete all 7 changes, then start making more changes again from 1 to 7. Each student should build on the changes that the previous students make

The simple answer generally hides the deeper complexity of an issue.

Changes: 1. subject noun 2. direct object noun 3. indirect object noun 4. adjective(s) 5. adverb(s) 6. verb name 7. verb tense

COMPLETE THE SENTENCE, May 28th, 2010

Use the type of clause, phrase, or grammar indicated to complete the following sentence; you can add the phrase or clause before or after (not both) to the clause below:

I find it harder to study in summer …
1. Use a phrase 2. Use a dependent clause 3. Use an independent clause

VOCABULARY, May 28th, 2010

Vocabulary building is important for both reading comprehension and writing. Use the following two words (note the part of speech) in one sentence.

circumlocution (noun) + either adverse (adjective) or adversely (adverb)
To further improve your vocabulary, check Word of the Day every day! There are also word games and puzzles on this site.

Friday, May 14, 2010

GRAMMAR QUESTION, May 14th, 2010


Correct the errors in the following sentence:
Every one: women, elders, and children were cried when we had arrived with the survivors who had terrifyingly been injured and burned in a crushable plain.

PUZZLE, May 14th, 2010


Previous puzzle: Suggested answers
original word (a)
original word (b)
new word (a)
new word (b)
burn
bead
bun
bread
rid
tripe
ride
trip
grove
rout
groove
rut
charm
rush
harm
crush
cream
sweep
scream
weep

New Puzzle:  Let’s “behead” a few more words;-)
Remove the first letter(s) and still have a valid word. The clue for the longer of the two words is first (behead the first word).
Example: a. Begin  b. Sour, acidic         Answer: Start and Tart.

Word A
Word B
Answer
1.
stop doing
that thing
?
2.
peculiar behaviour
annoy
?
3.
subatomic particle
large boat
?
4.
small game bird
to be unwell
?
5.
large feather pen
unwell; faulty
?
6.
nausea; uncomfortable
simple
?
7.
unit of liquid measure
product of creativity
?
8.
misgivings; scruples
donations to the poor
?


ALL CHANGE! May 14th, 2010


Change the words in the sentence below as indicated. You can only change the exact word in the sequence given; after someone else has posted the next change, then you can post another change. For instance, student 1 writes #1 Subject Noun, and changes the subject noun; Student 2 writes #2 Direct Object Noun, and changes that noun. Each student only makes one change at a time and keeps to the order indicated. If you complete all 7 changes, then start making more changes again from 1 to 7. Each student should build on the changes that the previous students make

A small deer lazily nibbled the lush grass around the tall trees.
Changes:  1. subject noun   2. direct object noun                 3. indirect object noun                       4. adjective(s)      5. adverb(s)           6. verb name           7. verb tense

COMPLETE THE SENTENCE, May 14th, 2010


Use the type of clause, phrase, or grammar indicated to complete the following sentence; you can add the phrase or clause before or after (not both) to the clause below:

... hockey season will soon be over ...

1. Use a phrase            2. Use a dependent clause        3. Use an independent clause

VOCABULARY, May 14th, 2010

Vocabulary building is important for both reading comprehension and writing. Use the following two words (note the part of speech) in one sentence.


proclivity (noun) + obsessive (adjective)

To further improve your vocabulary, check Word of the Day every day! There are also word games and puzzles on this site.

THE PASSIVE, May 14th, 2010


Where possible, change an active voice sentence to the passive voice, or change a passive voice sentence to the active voice.

All the grammar errors that were made on the assignment were corrected when the paper was returned.

EXAM PRACTICE, May 14th, 2010

The following question is similar to the one in part 3 of the Engl 140 final exam. There are many possible answers. Write a sentence using the vocabulary and grammar indicated.

a dependent clause in the past perfect progressive introduced by “since + an independent clause in the simple past using the verb “learn”

Monday, May 3, 2010

GRAMMAR QUESTION, May 3rd, 2010

Correct the errors in the following sentence:


If you shouldn't mind me to ask where you are going when me and my sister’s seen you last week as you had been getting on bus on the Main street.

Remember that there is more than one possible correct answer.

PUZZLE, May 3rd, 2010


Previous puzzle: Suggested answers
1. a. Outer layer                       b. Oxidized metal          Crust / Rust
2. a. Defraud; violate rules        b. Thermal energy in transit  Cheat / Heat
3. a. Sensation of cold b. Local land elevation Chill / Hill
4. a. Go upward                       b. Jointed appendage; branch Climb / Limb
5. a. Strong metal rope             b. Having necessary skill  Cable / Able
6. a. Confined; restrained          b. Old; grew older  Caged / Aged
7. a. Stop; discontinue b. Freedom from hardship  Cease / Ease
8. a. Lacking dirt                      b. Lacking fat 8. Clean / Lean

New Puzzle: Take the given words, and by moving a single letter from one word to the other, make a pair of synonyms, or near synonyms. For example, given: Boast - Hip, move the 's' from 'Boast' to 'Hip' creating two synonyms: Boat - Ship.

1. Burn - Bead
2. Rid - Tripe
3. Grove - Rout
4. Charm - Rush
5. Cream - Sweep

ALL CHANGE! May 3rd, 2010


Change the words in the sentence below as indicated. You can only change the exact word in the sequence given; after someone else has posted the next change, then you can post another change. For instance, student 1 writes #1 Subject Noun, and changes the subject noun; Student 2 writes #2 Direct Object Noun, and changes that noun. Each student only makes one change at a time and keeps to the order indicated. If you complete all 7 changes, then start making more changes again from 1 to 7. Each student should build on the changes that the previous students make

The hungry girl quickly ate the tasty food on her plate.

Changes: 1. subject noun   2. direct object noun                 3. indirect object noun                       4. adjective(s)      5. adverb(s)           6. verb name           7. verb tense

COMPLETE THE SENTENCE, May 3rd, 2010

Use the type of clause, phrase, or grammar indicated to complete the following sentence; you can add the phrase or clause before or after (not both) to the clause below:

...Mother’s Day is a very special celebration...

1. Use a phrase 2. Use a dependent clause 3. Use an independent clause

VOCABULARY, May 3rd, 2010

Vocabulary building is important for both reading comprehension and writing. Use the following two words (note the part of speech) in one sentence.

Recidivist or recidevism (noun) + gratuitous (adjective)

To further improve your vocabulary, check Word of the Day every day! There are also word games and puzzles on this site.

Friday, April 23, 2010

GRAMMAR QUESTION, Apr. 23rd, 2010

Correct the errors in the following sentence:

Samirs always been borrowing his red stylish sporty-looking newer car to his brother who’s lending it while his old battered rust-spotted white vehicle is in the garage for repairing.

Remember that there is more than one possible correct answer.

PUZZLE, Apr. 23rd, 2010

Previous puzzle: Suggested answers
1. a. Barrier b. Everything.....Wall/All
2. a. Full amount b. An opening.....Whole/Hole
3. a. Season b. Bury.....Winter/Inter
4. a. Roll around in mud b. Permit.....Wallow/Allow
5. a. Females b. Prophetic sign.....Women/Omen
6. a.Twist forcibly b. Circular band.....Wring/Ring
7. a.Being victorious b. Baseball game division.....Winning/Inning
8. a. One of the five W's b. Head covering.....What/Hat

New Puzzle: When beheading a word, remove the first letter and still have a valid word. The clue for, longer of the two words is first (behead the first word).

Example: a. Begin b. Sour, acidic Answer: Start and Tart.

1. a. Outer layer b. Oxidized metal
2. a. Defraud; violate rules b. Thermal energy in transit
3. a. Sensation of cold b. Local land elevation
4. a. Go upward b. Jointed appendage; branch
5. a. Strong metal rope b. Having necessary skill
6. a. Confined; restrained b. Old; grew older
7. a. Stop; discontinue b. Freedom from hardship
8. a. Lacking dirt b. Lacking fat

ALL CHANGE! Apr. 23rd, 2010

Change the words in the sentence below as indicated. You can only change the exact word in the sequence given; after someone else has posted the next change, then you can post another change. For instance, student 1 writes #1 Subject Noun, and changes the subject noun; Student 2 writes #2 Direct Object Noun, and changes that noun. Each student only makes one change at a time and keeps to the order indicated. If you complete all 7 changes, then start making more changes again from 1 to 7. Each student should build on the changes that the previous students make.

The young man enthusiastically took the sociology course at the local college.

Changes:
1. subject noun 2. direct object noun 3. indirect object noun
4. adjective(s) 5. adverb(s) 6. verb name 7. verb tense

COMPLETE THE SENTENCE, Apr. 23rd, 2010

Use the type of clause, phrase, or grammar indicated to complete the following sentence; you can add the phrase or clause before or after (not both) to the clause below:

... April is a month that can't seem to make up its mind ...

1. Use a phrase 2. Use a dependent clause 3. Use an independent clause

VOCABULARY, Apr. 23rd, 2010

Vocabulary building is important for both reading comprehension and writing. Use the following two words (note the part of speech) in one sentence.


anachronism (noun)   + either   perverse (adjective) or perversely (adverb)

To further improve your vocabulary, check Word of the Day every day! There are also word games and puzzles on this site.

THE PASSIVE, Apr. 23rd, 2010


Where possible, change an active voice sentence to the passive voice, or change a passive voice sentence to the active voice.

When we don’t deal with issues in the present, they can wait for us in the future.



EXAM PRACTICE, Apr. 23rd, 2010

The following question is similar to the one in part 3 of the Engl 140 final exam. There are many possible answers. Write a sentence using the vocabulary and grammar indicated.

an independent clause in the past with a modal verb + a dependent clause in the simple past using the verb “visit”.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

GRAMMAR QUESTION, Apr. 13th, 2010

Correct the errors in the following sentence:


The blue foreign unusual car has been driving erratic when it'd went off the road and the driver Jack Lemay is injured serious.

Remember that there is more than one possible correct answer.

PUZZLE, Apr. 13th, 2010

Previous puzzle: Suggested answers
1. a. Mark left after healing b. Vehicle...............scar/car
2. a. To have hit b. Vehicle...............struck/truck
3. a. Intelligent b. Individual store......smart/mart
4. a. Tiny b. Large retail complex..small/mall
5. a. Take illegally b. Bluish green .........steal/teal
6. a. Clean the floor b. Cry...................sweep/weep
7. a. Expressed in words b. Give assistance ......said/aid
8. a. Talk b. Highest level.........summit speak/peak

New Puzzle: When beheading a word, remove the first letter and still have a valid word. The clue for, longer of the two words is first (behead the first word).
Example: a. Begin b. Sour, acidic Answer: Start and Tart.

1. a. Barrier b. Everything
2. a. Full amount b. An opening
3. a. Season b. Bury
4. a. Roll around in mud b. Permit
5. a. Females b. Prophetic sign
6. a.Twist forcibly b. Circular band
7. a.Being victorious b. Baseball game division
8. a. One of the five W's b. Head covering

ALL CHANGE! Apr. 13th, 2010

Change the words in the sentence below as indicated. You can only change the exact word in the sequence given; after someone else has posted the next change, then you can post another change. For instance, student 1 writes #1 Subject Noun, and changes the subject noun; Student 2 writes #2 Direct Object Noun, and changes that noun. Each student only makes one change at a time and keeps to the order indicated. If you complete all 7 changes, then start making more changes again from 1 to 7. Each student should build on the changes that the previous students make.


The avid gardener waited for Easter before excitedly planting her flower beds.

Changes:
1. subject noun 2. direct object noun 3. indirect object noun
4. adjective(s) 5. adverb(s) 6. verb name 7. verb tense

COMPLETE THE SENTENCE, Apr. 13th, 2010


Use the type of clause, phrase, or grammar indicated to complete the following sentence; you can add the phrase or clause before or after (not both) to the clause below:

…This year I will celebrate Earth Day …

1. Use a phrase            2. Use a dependent clause        3. Use an independent clause

VOCABULARY, Apr. 13th, 2010

Vocabulary building is important for both reading comprehension and writing. Use the following two words (note the part of speech) in one sentence.


incredulous (adjective) + antagonist (noun)

To further improve your vocabulary, check Word of the Day every day! There are also word games and puzzles on this site.

THE PASSIVE, Apr. 13th, 2010

Change an active voice sentence to the passive voice, or change a passive voice sentence to the active voice.

The chocolate eggs and bunnies have all been eaten by my children; thankfully, all of that energy was used up by playing in the park.

EXAM PRACTICE, Apr. 13th, 2010


The following question is similar to the one in part 3 of the Engl 140 final exam. There are many possible answers. Write a sentence using the vocabulary and grammar indicated.

a dependent clause in the past perfect progressive using the verb "ride" + an independent clause in the simple past using the verb "see"