WELCOME!

Welcome to the English Skills blog for English 140 (Grammar), English 143 (Writing for Academic Purposes), and English 146 (Reading for Academic Purposes) at Athabasca University. These courses may be taken separately or as part of the English Language Proficiency Program. The goal is to increase communication between students and instructors, and to provide students with an opportunity to communicate with each other and to practice the skills taught in these courses. If you post general questions about the assignments or the course, they will be addressed in the blog. If you have detailed questions you want answered, then e-mail your instructor.

Feel free to post comments and suggestions for how to improve this site!

WELCOME NEW STUDENTS!

A hearty welcome to all the new students joining these courses. We hope you enjoy your studies and have fun participating in this blog.

Assignments marked with asterisks (*.*) are mandatory for ENGL140 students (Assignment 9).

For information on how to participate, please visit the instructions page or contact the administrator.

IMPORTANT: This blog site is open to the public; do not post personal information that could identify you--first name and the initial of your last name are the only personal information you should post. Please watch this video from the Canadian Government explaining privacy issues and social networking. 

Also, be sure to let your tutors know the nickname you have chosen for this blog; otherwise, they will not be able to give you the marks/bonus marks that you have earned for your participation.

Next blog: Friday, November 14, 2014.

WHAT’S HAPPENING?

Nov. 2nd : Return to Standard Time.

http://www.timeanddate.com/time/change/canada/ottawa

Daylight Savings Time ends for most Canadians and Americans – but note that some of Mexico and most of Europe already made the change last week.

Nov. 11th : Remembrance Day.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_Day

Rembrance Day is observed at 11:00 A.M. in Canada and other Commonwealth countries.

PREVIOUS GRAMMAR QUESTION

When the committee had met last week it is decided that they approved constructing of a new retiring centre for benefiting Seniors and there family’s which had been living in a surrounding area.

1.  Verb tense and consistency: 

Since the meeting took place at a definite moment in the past, the verb should be in the simple past tense ("met") and not in the past perfect. The following verb should also be in the simple past -- and in the active, not passive, voice ("decided"). Finally, because the centre would probably benefit the current residents, not those who were living there previously, "had been living" should be changed to "are living" -- or, even better, simply "live".

2. Noun-pronoun agreement: 

“Committee” is a collective noun, so unless you want to emphasize the individual members of the group, you should use the singular pronoun ("it").

3.  Phrasing error: 

You don't want to say that they decided something that already happened; they decided on a future course of action. Use the infinite to indicate the action of the main verb ("to approve"). Likewise, use the infinitive to indicate the purpose of the main verb ("to benefit")

4. Word form:

The committee approved something, so we need a noun. This may be a little tricky since "constructing" is a gerund (which also functions like a noun). But in this case, we should use "construction" (or possibly "the construction"). Also, we need a noun form to modify "centre" ("retirement") rather than the present participial adjective ("retiring").

5.  Word confusion: 

"There" is an adverb of place; here you need the possessive adjective ("their").

6.  Plural form: 

The plural of "family" is "families". Do not confuse it with the possessive ("family's").

7.  Relative pronoun:

When referring to people, you should use "who" not "which". 

8.  Article usage: 

When referring to something definite, use the definite article ("the"), not the indefinite one ("a"): "the surrounding area". Also, since we know precisely which seniors (and families will benefit, we can add the definite article there as well: "the seniors and their families").

9. Capitalization: 

"Seniors" is a not a proper noun, so it should not be capitalized.

10. Punctuation:  

After an introductory phrase or clause, use a comma.

Possible solution: 

When the committee met last week, it decided to approve construction of a new retirement centre to benefit the seniors and their families who live in the surrounding area.

*GRAMMAR QUESTION*

Correct the errors in the following sentence:

Not only you and you’re brother’s, but also your sister’s needs altaring there plans and  being home early: too clean a house preparing for our dinner’s  party and you will have to make the appetizers instead of laying on the couch for watching TV .

Solutions will be posted in the next edition of the blog.

PUZZLE

Solution to the previous puzzle:  

"Jumping up and down over good news."

New Puzzle:

Try to determine the three words suggested in this riddle:

I am a word of meanings three.
Three ways of spelling me there be.
The first is an odour, a smell if you will.
The second some money, but not in a bill.
The third is past tense, a method of passing things on or around.

*Note, the first person to post the correct answer will get the bonus point.

IDIOMS

There are three idioms that use the word BIRD:

Watch this video, and then write a sentence that uses one (or more) of these three idioms.

Try not to use the same idiom as the other posters.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/theteacher/2009/03/090311_teacher_animal_bird.shtml

*ALL CHANGE!*

Change the words in the following sentence as indicated.

The costumed boys and girls happily accepted candy from their amused neighbours.

Please change only the exact word in the sequence given. Each participant should build on the changes made by the previous participant.

For instance, Participant 1 writes #1 Subject Noun, and changes the subject noun; Participant 2 writes #2 Direct Object Noun, and changes the direct object noun, etc.

You are free to make as many changes as you wish. Just remember to number each change (and indicate the part of speech) so it is clear to everyone where we are on the list.

When all 7 changes have been made, return to the top of the list and continue.

Changes:                                                                                                                          

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

AFFIXES

The word stem ven- or -vene (meaning "to come") occurs in many words. 

Add an affix (either a prefix or a suffix) to this stem to make another word. 

Each participant should add a different word to the list.

*COMPLETE THE SENTENCE*

Follow the instructions below to create three different sentences from the following clause:*

… November 11th is Remembrance Day …

Sentence 1. Add a phrase      
Sentence 2. Add a dependent clause
Sentence 3. Add an independent clause


*Add your words to the beginning or end of the clause (but not both).

*NUMBER CHANGE*

If the sentence is singular, change it to the plural; if it is plural, change it to the singular.

While the other boys and girls knocked on doors and asked for treats this Halloween, my neighbours' children stayed at home because their parents did not believe it was appropriate for them to participate in a pagan festival that celebrated death and the occult. 

*VOCABULARY*

Vocabulary building is important for both reading comprehension and writing. 

Use the following two words in one sentence (note the part of speech).

complement (verb) and disparate (adjective).

To further improve your vocabulary, remember to check out the Word of the Day. 

The site also has word games and puzzles.

http://dictionary.reference.com/

SYNONYMS AND ANTONYMS

We can describe things that are comparable as being analogous. 

Provide a synonym and an antonym for this word. Each participant should suggest a different word.

*ACTIVE vs. PASSIVE*

Write two sentences using the word remember.

In the first sentence, use the word in the active voice; in the second sentence, use it in the passive voice.

*TIME CHANGE*

Change the time in the following sentences by using a different verb tense and replacing any necessary time clues. Each student should choose a different verb tense.

As a sports fan, this is one of my favourite times of the year: Major League Baseball ended with another thrilling World Series, the NFL has just crossed the mid-point of an historic season in which several important records have been broken, and both hockey and basketball have started up again. 

*SENTENCE COMBINATION*

Learning to combine ideas into more complex sentences is an important writing skill. There are many ways to do this. Try to combine the following three sentences.

Sentence 1: Many people attended Remembrance Day ceremonies on Nov. 11th.

Sentence 2: In the United States, November 11th is called Veterans Day.

Sentence 3: Many people wear poppies to commemorate the flowers that grew in many World War I battlefields.

BUILD-A-SENTENCE

Write a sentence using the vocabulary and grammar indicated.

Write a sentence that includes a dependent clause in the past perfect progressive tense and an independent clause in the past perfect and an independent clause in the simple past.

WELCOME!

Welcome to the English Skills blog for English 140 (Grammar), English 143 (Writing for Academic Purposes), and English 146 (Reading for Academic Purposes) at Athabasca University. These courses may be taken separately or as part of the English Language Proficiency Program. The goal is to increase communication between students and instructors, and to provide students with an opportunity to communicate with each other and to practice the skills taught in these courses. If you post general questions about the assignments or the course, they will be addressed in the blog. If you have detailed questions you want answered, then e-mail your instructor.

Feel free to post comments and suggestions for how to improve this site!

WELCOME NEW STUDENTS!

A hearty welcome to all the new students joining these courses. We hope you enjoy your studies and have fun participating in this blog.

Assignments marked with asterisks (*.*) are mandatory for ENGL140 students (Assignment 9).

For information on how to participate, please visit the instructions page or contact the administrator.

IMPORTANT: This blog site is open to the public; do not post personal information that could identify you--first name and the initial of your last name are the only personal information you should post. Please watch this video from the Canadian Government explaining privacy issues and social networking. 

Also, be sure to let your tutors know the nickname you have chosen for this blog; otherwise, they will not be able to give you the marks/bonus marks that you have earned for your participation.

Next blog: Friday, October 31, 2014.

PREVIOUS GRAMMAR QUESTION

Its important that we are on time for todays meeting on affective marketing techniques so please be picking Bryan and I up prompt at 8 am avoiding the trouble with the boss.

1. Mood: 

Noun clauses that express urgency or importance usually take the subjunctive mood, which uses the simple (base) form of the verb. In this case, use "be" instead of "are".

2. Apostrophe use: 

In most cases, we add an apostrophe and an "s" to indicate the possessive. In this case, "todays" should be "today's".

3. Word confusion: 

"Affective" and "effective" are often confused. In this sentence we need "effective", not "affective".

4. Punctuation: 

As a rule, it is best to insert a comma before a coordinating conjunction (like "so") that introduces an independent clause. 

5. Command (imperative): 

When producing this form of sentence, the subject is omitted and the simple (base) form of the verb is used. In this case, use "pick" instead of "be picking".

6. Object pronoun: 

Bryan and the speaker are both the object of the verb "pick up", so the pronoun must be in the objective case: "me" (rather than "I"). This is often confused because such phrases frequently form the subject of the verb ("Bryan and I picked up our friends at school"/"Our friends picked up Bryan and me and at school").

7. Word form: 

“Prompt” is an adjective. But we need a word to modify the verb ("pick up"). That is, we need an  adverb: "promptly".

8. Infinitive:

In this sentence, "avoiding" indicates the purpose or intention of the action ("pick up"). In such cases, we use the infinitive ("to avoid") rather than the gerund ("avoiding").

9. Abbreviations: 

Lower case abbreviations generally require a period after each letter ("a.m."). Upper case abbreviations do not require any periods ("AM"). Either form is acceptable.

10. Article: 

Unless you are expecting some specific (i.e. "definite") type of trouble, omit the definite article ("the"). Use "trouble" rather than "the trouble".

Possible solution: 

It’s important that we be on time for today’s meeting on effective marketing techniques, so please pick Bryan and me up promptly at 8 a.m. to avoid trouble with the boss.

*GRAMMAR QUESTION*

Correct the errors in the following sentence:

When the committee had met last week it is decided that they approved constructing of a new retiring centre for benefiting Seniors and there family’s which had been living in a surrounding area

Solutions will be posted in the next edition of the blog.

PUZZLE

Solution to the previous puzzle:  

1. Humility 2. Proclaim 3. Terrible 4. Vexation 5. Overtake

New Puzzle:

New Puzzle: What phrase is represented by the following?

JG

UN

MI

PP

IM

NU

GJ

Good

New

New

*Note, the first person to post the correct answer will get the bonus point.

IDIOMS

There are three idioms that use EYE:

Watch this video, and then write a sentence that uses one (or more) of these three idioms.

Try not to use the same idiom as the other posters.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/theteacher/2009/03/090306_teacher_body_eye.shtml 

*ALL CHANGE!*

Change the words in the following sentence as indicated.

The talented young pianist played music regularly for the appreciative seniors.

Please change only the exact word in the sequence given. Each participant should build on the changes made by the previous participant.

For instance, Participant 1 writes #1 Subject Noun, and changes the subject noun; Participant 2 writes #2 Direct Object Noun, and changes the direct object noun, etc.

You are free to make as many changes as you wish. Just remember to number each change (and indicate the part of speech) so it is clear to everyone where we are on the list.

When all 7 changes have been made, return to the top of the list and continue.

Changes:                                                                                                                          

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

AFFIXES

The word stem -audi- (meaning "to hear") occurs in many words. 

Add an affix (either a prefix or a suffix) to this stem to make another word. 

Each participant should add a different word to the list.

*COMPLETE THE SENTENCE*

Follow the instructions below to create three different sentences from the following clause:*

… many young children come to my door on Halloween …

Sentence 1. Add a phrase      
Sentence 2. Add a dependent clause
Sentence 3. Add an independent clause


*Add your words to the beginning or end of the clause (but not both).

*NUMBER CHANGE*

If the sentence is singular, change it to the plural; if it is plural, change it to the singular.

Many young children will eagerly ring the doorbells in their neighbourhoods on Halloween, while their parents stand on side walks shivering in the cold or sit in cars parked at strategic locations, watching the excited youngsters from a distance.  

*VOCABULARY*

Vocabulary building is important for both reading comprehension and writing. 

Use the following two words in one sentence (note the part of speech).

squeamish (adjective) and manipulate (verb).

To further improve your vocabulary, remember to check out the Word of the Day. 

The site also has word games and puzzles.

http://dictionary.reference.com/

SYNONYMS AND ANTONYMS

We can describe someone who is self-satisfied as being complacent. 

Provide a synonym and an antonym for this word. Each participant should suggest a different word.

*ACTIVE vs. PASSIVE*

Write two sentences using the word steal.

In the first sentence, use the word in the active voice; in the second sentence, use it in the passive voice.

*TIME CHANGE*

Change the time in the following sentences by using a different verb tense and replacing any necessary time clues. Each student should choose a different verb tense.

Last Halloween, we went trick or treating with the neighbours and their young children. At first, the little kids didn’t know what to make of the activity, but by the time we reached the third house on our route, they had it all figured out. The little ghosts and goblins ran up to the house before all of the bigger kids and excitedly rang the doorbell. 

*SENTENCE COMBINATION*

Learning to combine ideas into more complex sentences is an important writing skill. There are many ways to do this. Try to combine the following three sentences.

Sentence 1: Where were you on Thanks Giving?

Sentence 2: I thought you were going to have dinner at your grandparents' house.

Sentence 3: I stopped by, but you were nowhere in sight, and you weren't answering your phone.

BUILD-A-SENTENCE

Write a sentence using the vocabulary and grammar indicated.

Write a sentence that includes a dependent clause in the present progressive tense and an independent clause in the simple present.

WELCOME!

Welcome to the English Skills blog for English 140 (Grammar), English 143 (Writing for Academic Purposes), and English 146 (Reading for Academic Purposes) at Athabasca University. These courses may be taken separately or as part of the English Language Proficiency Program. The goal is to increase communication between students and instructors, and to provide students with an opportunity to communicate with each other and to practice the skills taught in these courses. If you post general questions about the assignments or the course, they will be addressed in the blog. If you have detailed questions you want answered, then e-mail your instructor.

Feel free to post comments and suggestions for how to improve this site!

WELCOME NEW STUDENTS!

A hearty welcome to all the new students joining these courses. We hope you enjoy your studies and have fun participating in this blog.

Assignments marked with asterisks (*.*) are mandatory for ENGL140 students (Assignment 9).

IMPORTANT: This blog site is open to the public; do not post personal information that could identify you--first name and the initial of your last name are the only personal information you should post. Please watch this video from the Canadian Government explaining privacy issues and social networking. 

Also, be sure to let your tutors know the nickname you have chosen for this blog; otherwise, they will not be able to give you the marks/bonus marks that you have earned for your participation.

Next blog: Friday, October 17, 2014.

PREVIOUS GRAMMAR QUESTION

Peter and me are needing knowing to who to address the letter before its written in it's envelope and than being posted by us too the company in the states.

1. Pronoun confusion: 

"Peter" is the subject of the verb "are needing" -- and so is the pronoun, which should therefore be "I" rather than "me".

2. Verb tense: 

For something that is generally true and not specifically ongoing, use the simple present tense ("need") instead of the present progressive ("are needing").

3. Relative Pronoun confusion: 

"Who" is the subject pronoun, but in this case we need the object pronoun, which is "whom".

4. Apostrophe confusion: 

In this sentence, "it's" is meant to be possessive. And this is normally how we signal the possessive: by adding an apostrophe s. For example, the possessive form of "envelope" is "envelope's". "It", however, is a special case. By adding an apostrophe s, we are indicating that the word is a contraction of "it is". If we want the possessive form, we just add the s: "its".

5. Word confusion: 

Be careful not to confuse "than" with "then". "Than" is used in comparisons; "then" is used to order events in time. Also, be careful not to confuse "to" (a preposition) with "too" (an adverb).

6. Verb form: 

"Being posted" is the progressive form of the verb. This is easily confused with Here, however, here the passive voice can be confusing as the word is “been”; they sound very similar.

7. Capitalization: 

Whether we say "the United States" or just "the States", we are referring to the name of a country, which is a proper noun that must be capitalized.

8. Passive voice:

As a rule, it is better to use the active voice as it usually makes the the meaning clearer. Instead of saying "it's written", we should say "we write"; and instead of "posted by us", we should say "we post".

9. Preposition:

We write the address "on" an the envelope, not "in" it.

Possible solution: 

Peter and I need to know to whom to address the letter before we write on its envelope and post it to the company in the States.

*GRAMMAR QUESTION*

Correct the errors in the following sentence:

Its important that we are on time for todays meeting on affective marketing techniques so please be picking Bryan and I up prompt at 8 am avoiding the trouble with the boss.

Solutions will be posted in the next edition of the blog.

PUZZLE

Solution to the previous puzzle:  

1. Pass by→Temporary failure (elapse/lapse)
2. Picture→ Wizard (image/mage)
3. Brave →Fortunate (plucky/lucky)
4. Enthusiastic meetings →Partners (rallies/allies)
5. Attacked →Helped (raided/aided)
6. Choose →Choose (select/elect)
7. Fragments →Dice game  (scraps/craps)
8. Customary practice→ Spiritual mentor (usage/sage)

New Puzzle:

Hint: Without changing the order of the letters, place the four letter words on the spaces below to form eight letter words.

Veto, Rake, Hilt, Clam, Tile

1. __ um__ __ i __ y

2. Pro __ __ __ i __

3. __ err __ b __ __

4. __ __ xa __ i __ n

5. Ove __ t __ __ __

*Note, the first person to post the correct answer will get the bonus point.

IDIOMS

There are three idioms that use DOG:

Watch this video, and then write a sentence that uses one (or more) of these three idioms.

Try not to use the same idiom as the other posters.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/theteacher/2009/03/090311_teacher_animal_dog.shtml

*ALL CHANGE!*

Change the words in the following sentence as indicated.

The old man quickly paid the overdue bill to the newly trained bank teller.

Please change only the exact word in the sequence given. Each participant should build on the changes made by the previous participant.

For instance, Participant 1 writes #1 Subject Noun, and changes the subject noun; Participant 2 writes #2 Direct Object Noun, and changes the direct object noun, etc.

You are free to make as many changes as you wish. Just remember to number each change (and indicate the part of speech) so it is clear to everyone where we are on the list.

When all 7 changes have been made, return to the top of the list and continue.

Changes:                                                                                                                          

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

AFFIXES

The word stem -mort- (meaning "death") occurs in many words. 

Add an affix (either a prefix or a suffix) to this stem to make another word. 

Each participant should add a different word to the list.

*COMPLETE THE SENTENCE*

Follow the instructions below to create three different sentences from the following clause:*

... I always look forward to the fall ...

Sentence 1. Add a phrase      
Sentence 2. Add a dependent clause
Sentence 3. Add an independent clause


*Add your words to the beginning or end of the clause (but not both).

*NUMBER CHANGE*

If the sentence is singular, change it to the plural; if it is plural, change it to the singular.

When my friends went fishing at various lakes these last few months, sometimes they were lucky and actually caught several varieties of fish, but at other times they just enjoyed the weather, some quiet times, and the views they had of nature.

*VOCABULARY*

Vocabulary building is important for both reading comprehension and writing. 

Use the following two words in one sentence (note the part of speech).

predictability (noun) and biodegradable (adjective).

To further improve your vocabulary, remember to check out the Word of the Day. 

The site also has word games and puzzles.

http://dictionary.reference.com/

SYNONYMS AND ANTONYMS

We can describe something that is diverse in composition or character as having heterogeneity. 

Provide a synonym and an antonym for this word. Each participant should suggest a different word.

*ACTIVE vs. PASSIVE*

Write two sentences using the word believe.

In the first sentence, use the word in the active voice; in the second sentence, use it in the passive voice.

*TIME CHANGE*

Change the time in the following sentences by using a different verb tense and replacing any necessary time clues. Each student should choose a different verb tense.

When I took my vacation early last month, I toured the mountain parks in Alberta. I started by driving to Waterton Lakes National Park, and then I drove north through Kananaskis Country to Banff National Park, and then I continued north to Jasper National. The weather was good, so I enjoyed hiking in the mountains, and I certainly enjoyed the views.

*SENTENCE COMBINATION*

Learning to combine ideas into more complex sentences is an important writing skill. There are many ways to do this. Try to combine the following three sentences.

Sentence 1: Because the price of gasoline has increased so much over the past few years, more people are now using public transport.
Sentence 2: Many blame the increase in the cost of gas this week on the upcoming long weekend, when many people will be travelling.

Sentence 3: There always seems to be one excuse or another for raising the price of gasoline.

BUILD-A-SENTENCE

Write a sentence using the vocabulary and grammar indicated.

Write a sentence that includes a participial adjective and the word "students" along with the word "drive" in the passive voice.