Going further 1

Hello, 

After the first written task you have done in class I have seen some mistakes related to grammatical aspects that maybe you still don´t know. 

                     

 

Here is a selection of grammatical aspects you should study: 

            1. Difference between «for» and «during»

We use during to say when something happens, if it happens in or over a period of time. We use for to talk about how long something lasts.

           2. Difference between «after» and «afterwards»

We commonly use «after» as a preposition. Therefore, «after» as a preposition must be followed by a noun, a verb or even a sentence (e.g. after lunch (noun), after having lunch (verb), I will call my parents after I arrive home (sentence)).

We always use «afterward» or «afterwards» as an adverb. Therefore, «afterward» or «afterwards» can be used on their own (solos) (e.g. Kai got the job and received a promotion afterward(s). «Afterward» without -s is much more common in British English and less formal American English. There is no difference in meaning between «afterward» and «afterwards». 

           3. What to use after «every» a singular noun or a plural noun?

After «every» we always use a noun in singular (e.g. every Monday -todos los lunes- every day -todos los días-)

           4. Difference between «very» and «many»

«Very» means «muy» and «many» means «muchos/as», so we can´t say «There are very people», but «There are many people»

           5. Difference between «dress» and «dress up»

«Dress» means: 

           1.to put clothes on yourself/somebody  (e.g. I often dress quickly)

Verb patterns: 

• dress in something e.g. He had dressed in a black T-shirt and jeans.
•  dress somebody/yourself in something e.g. She dressed the children in their best clothes.
•  dress yourself e.g. You’re old enough to dress yourself now.
•  dress somebody/something e.g. The children spend hours dressing and undressing their dolls.

«Dress up» means: 

      1. to wear clothes that are more formal than those you usually wear  (e.g. You don´t have to dress up) With this meaning the verb is intransitive, so we can´t use an object (e.g. *She dress up a dress -wrong use of «dress up») 

      2. to put on special clothes, especially to pretend to be somebody/something different (e.g. Kids love dressing up). These are the verb patterns of «dress up» with the meaning of «disfrazarse»: 

• dress up (as somebody/something) | be dressed up (as somebody/something) e.g. The boys were all dressed up as pirates

        6. Difference between «relaxed» and «relaxing»

Click on «theory» below to know the difference between adjectives with -ing and adjectives with -ed. Remember this rule: when you use an adjective with -ing the translation of the verb «to be» is «ser» and when you use an adjective with -ed the translation of the verb «to be» is «estar»

e.g. She is bored (Ella está aburrida)

e.g. She is boring (Ella es aburrida) 

e.g. Sleeping is a relaxing activity (Dormir es una actividad relajante)

e.g. Peter is always relaxed (Peter siempre está relajado)

Theory and Practice 

               7. Prepositions used with «arrive» 

The only prepositions we can use with «arrive» are «in» or «at. We use «in» with towns, cities or countries, continents. However, we use «at» with other places. Finally, we must know that when we use the noun «home» after «arrive» we don´t use any prepositions (e.g. arrive home)

e.g. We arrived in London at 3pm,

e.g. We arrived at school very late. 

e.g. We arrived at the airport by taxi.

e.g. We arrived in Andújar with some friends. 

                 8. Punctuation 

In relation to punctuation, you need to know that we need to use a comma after a connector or a sequencer (e.g. In short, //Later, //etc.). In addition, we have to know that we need to use a comma before «but» (I like English, but I hate German), but not a comma before «because» (e.g. I like English because it is a language easy to learn). Finally, we use Capital letters (mayúsculas) with days and months (e.g. I was born in July//Today is Sunday)