tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73635562929688160472024-02-21T07:12:37.588+01:00Ana Bueno's English CornerIf you want to keep your English alive and continue learning outside the classroom, this is the place for you!Ana Buenohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08401439195588360652noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7363556292968816047.post-41852387800652187382014-12-01T07:00:00.000+01:002014-12-01T07:00:01.497+01:00When do I use capital letters?<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The rules for using <strong>capital letters</strong> are different between languages, so here you have the rules for English!</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A6oq7Rx1TGc/VG3R4s_DzeI/AAAAAAAAAz4/tUhQ4Gs5-Ew/s1600/Rules-for-capitalisation.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVC9yDEQZFjyP3d404TBzQpIvQqwApGBJeL1AqbjJJiKApyjfsdTZAVVR2mWDE-d1avnWkCdI3tsI7SvTtxD6DRte-osxi8YNWrWMC6ZBKIurH1M4YdlyA3IVacsWUKgUL51x4if3d1E/s1600/Rules-for-capitalisation.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVC9yDEQZFjyP3d404TBzQpIvQqwApGBJeL1AqbjJJiKApyjfsdTZAVVR2mWDE-d1avnWkCdI3tsI7SvTtxD6DRte-osxi8YNWrWMC6ZBKIurH1M4YdlyA3IVacsWUKgUL51x4if3d1E/s1600/Rules-for-capitalisation.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Would you like to practise a little bit? Try this exercise on <a href="http://www.english-zone.com/spelling/caps01.html"><strong>capital letters</strong></a>. If you want something a bit more difficult, try this exercise to revise the <a href="http://www.mhhe.com/socscience/english/langan/sentence_skills/exercises/ch19/p4exk.htm" style="font-weight: bold;">rules for capitalization</a>!</span></div>
Ana Buenohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08401439195588360652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7363556292968816047.post-1209521888882039652014-11-12T07:00:00.002+01:002014-11-19T14:03:03.157+01:00Problems with commas? Not me! <div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hi there!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today I'm going to post a video that you're absolutely going to love!! And I'm sure it will help you a lot with your commas!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll summarize it for you and then you can watch it at the end of the entry :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So... there are three characters!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmkIdjfx06XMrsjr-zSUL9-_PrXRr8OERUFkindyh8t0T9R_Mi-1aOJ-AwrmCTg2i1Z2MsgiI1e7mWM-AQMksVHMQXbqugKns78kVjupDv6Da_Ods8E6n3hUNni_ifyyseQtTzungY5Tk/s1600/How-to-use-commas.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Comma rules" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmkIdjfx06XMrsjr-zSUL9-_PrXRr8OERUFkindyh8t0T9R_Mi-1aOJ-AwrmCTg2i1Z2MsgiI1e7mWM-AQMksVHMQXbqugKns78kVjupDv6Da_Ods8E6n3hUNni_ifyyseQtTzungY5Tk/s1600/How-to-use-commas.png" height="240" title="comma rules with conjunctions" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>tiny</b> <strong>conjunctions</strong> </span>are small, and they connect clauses, words and phrases. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because they are so small, they often need the help of a comma, but not always. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They are easy to remember with the word </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;">FANBOYS</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcW2qEUy0TEC16MZYaKm1dqKd6MeenQoN7Oa2haKtTZxkH-0z5S25sy2_i1XVbXwdTCzHvbn0KTFVGVeIi718ICNZAx3v-I4w4ZFhwFRuAIpc4jiyWPJ8RSkEJODmPuD1JfdcquG7OTQA/s1600/Conjunctions.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="comma rules" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcW2qEUy0TEC16MZYaKm1dqKd6MeenQoN7Oa2haKtTZxkH-0z5S25sy2_i1XVbXwdTCzHvbn0KTFVGVeIi718ICNZAx3v-I4w4ZFhwFRuAIpc4jiyWPJ8RSkEJODmPuD1JfdcquG7OTQA/s1600/Conjunctions.png" height="170" title="comma rules with conjunctions" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The <span style="color: #38761d;"><b>mighty</b> <strong>subordinants</strong></span> are the heavy-weight champions of sentences! They connect two unequal things, dependent and independent clauses:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDI5cfo6vDuxDaXkW8M1k87xcfG0nuNh9vvjzt32BiGFH1dycGpcQxix4zgW5RxfkI3NFifV7uVGoMqGPxE6Xibk1I_QBHHAwfpGYfx78sP1GRzGSBy6JH5bpmyfTiGtwvuyXK-ge_qLI/s1600/Subordination.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDI5cfo6vDuxDaXkW8M1k87xcfG0nuNh9vvjzt32BiGFH1dycGpcQxix4zgW5RxfkI3NFifV7uVGoMqGPxE6Xibk1I_QBHHAwfpGYfx78sP1GRzGSBy6JH5bpmyfTiGtwvuyXK-ge_qLI/s1600/Subordination.png" height="200" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Commonly used <strong>subordinants</strong> are:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjPNnzVTG3ZF25ddzm265qVDhAYiJl0ozQjkxv4WSPZEt_r4NtWorLa16BfCnuwe42uiYV7GqS-G0jzKHyM0n5hkhwnlGbDD0Ozwiu6KbHx0fJMuAfVwx6X4hKmWFkaONur7AE_2OknKE/s1600/Subordinants.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="comma rules" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjPNnzVTG3ZF25ddzm265qVDhAYiJl0ozQjkxv4WSPZEt_r4NtWorLa16BfCnuwe42uiYV7GqS-G0jzKHyM0n5hkhwnlGbDD0Ozwiu6KbHx0fJMuAfVwx6X4hKmWFkaONur7AE_2OknKE/s1600/Subordinants.png" height="322" title="comma rules with conjunctions" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They are very strong, so if the sentences are equally distributed on both arms, they don't need help. In other words, if the <strong>subordinate</strong> is in the middle of the sentence, commas are not needed.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5V_cBTYFurVeG9O6maS2xAUxpuoVDRee1vV0LAYNAGG8661xA_JgFqvSFq3xXk5aYTZmEnKOeWy9c3mvpMd4M9r_QUJBIyYrGmiozsAEO_FF5S8IJSz3fEi0T-VG_jz6YBXGala1uR4/s1600/Subordination-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="comma rules" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5V_cBTYFurVeG9O6maS2xAUxpuoVDRee1vV0LAYNAGG8661xA_JgFqvSFq3xXk5aYTZmEnKOeWy9c3mvpMd4M9r_QUJBIyYrGmiozsAEO_FF5S8IJSz3fEi0T-VG_jz6YBXGala1uR4/s1600/Subordination-1.png" height="161" title="comma rules with conjunctions" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><i>Bartheleme loves to sing <u><span style="color: #cc0000;">even though</span></u> he never sings in front of others.</i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, if the <strong>subordinate</strong> is at the beginning, we need a comma to help!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5x9AWDXwu8zI4NY-E_GkPGC8pdMa8YpFYQpFJLi5JYytCpcyZ-qxlGmwGRq9UpJNto6pMBis8QCZAJbhmKhWS64bPQyAZrhUobr2p3ZcpoFXj27KhXyFm2Ra4LVZqQERfsTzTqQfSAzw/s1600/Subordination-2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="comma rules" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5x9AWDXwu8zI4NY-E_GkPGC8pdMa8YpFYQpFJLi5JYytCpcyZ-qxlGmwGRq9UpJNto6pMBis8QCZAJbhmKhWS64bPQyAZrhUobr2p3ZcpoFXj27KhXyFm2Ra4LVZqQERfsTzTqQfSAzw/s1600/Subordination-2.png" height="283" title="comma rules with conjunctions" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><u><span style="color: #cc0000;">Even though</span></u> Bartheleme loves to sing<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><u>,</u></span> he never sing in front of others</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Tiny</b> <strong>conjunctions</strong> are not so strong, so they can ask for help when they connect <u>sentences</u>:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr_LvAQ_NGbIt9Pzznrsh4yhd52YIOgdABSpkvMWsC7RhmY-xVqKDKiVwYR39QSlRp1mkQLiPVlHq0rhuX7oIKbN0qY6_NBwJC6mskxNcAftP9SVYCrSsB2jAbe4bzZaAlcclsCQFMuzY/s1600/Conjunctions.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="comma rules" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr_LvAQ_NGbIt9Pzznrsh4yhd52YIOgdABSpkvMWsC7RhmY-xVqKDKiVwYR39QSlRp1mkQLiPVlHq0rhuX7oIKbN0qY6_NBwJC6mskxNcAftP9SVYCrSsB2jAbe4bzZaAlcclsCQFMuzY/s1600/Conjunctions.png" height="86" title="comma rules with conjunctions" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH7B2l_bcMNFJgcmfDsj64COrCDbF1RV3SLib2qSlVrIdeYfvUOq0hG8CDkr1-rez3QYhH4QLw-qLqkUZTUkRBvIIQuLNwwjaO4TKtlAnKNXsAQxqk8C-GyNxg_YGPQru3iPu2aO4FIA0/s1600/Conjunctions.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="comma rules" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH7B2l_bcMNFJgcmfDsj64COrCDbF1RV3SLib2qSlVrIdeYfvUOq0hG8CDkr1-rez3QYhH4QLw-qLqkUZTUkRBvIIQuLNwwjaO4TKtlAnKNXsAQxqk8C-GyNxg_YGPQru3iPu2aO4FIA0/s1600/Conjunctions.png" height="160" title="comma rules with conjunctions" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, the comma is not needed when they connect two phrases (<i>molecular biology or interpretive dance</i>):</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAgd60u0Zg5ajsXHWNRHOjwneRwPKux89CtzxdsmND4SLTY_oLoRLCZifpJd1H3OuAw0EXXzIMYi1TjbzFTfCxDcq127BeBRg9TpT5kIXbtEprw6-MtSSUIuQC_mY4A6HSzJFiWI3-_EI/s1600/Conjunctions.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="comma rules" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAgd60u0Zg5ajsXHWNRHOjwneRwPKux89CtzxdsmND4SLTY_oLoRLCZifpJd1H3OuAw0EXXzIMYi1TjbzFTfCxDcq127BeBRg9TpT5kIXbtEprw6-MtSSUIuQC_mY4A6HSzJFiWI3-_EI/s1600/Conjunctions.png" height="240" title="comma rules with conjunctions" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Watch the video now (activate the subtitles if you need to) and learn the whole story!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you want to know more about commas, don't miss these previous entries:</span><br />
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://anabuenoeoi.blogspot.com.es/2014/01/8-rules-for-using-comma.html" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8 rules for using commas</a></li>
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<li><a href="http://anabuenoeoi.blogspot.com.es/2014/01/when-not-to-use-commas-correcting-run.html" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When should you not use a comma: correcting a run-on sentence</a></li>
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Ana Buenohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08401439195588360652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7363556292968816047.post-25686301043295779952014-11-10T07:00:00.004+01:002014-11-18T19:53:53.392+01:00There is life outside wordreference!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is not the first time I've written about dictionaries other than bilingual ones (<a href="http://anabuenoeoi.blogspot.com.es/2011/11/using-monolingual-and-collocations.html">using monolingual and collocations dictionaries</a>). Today I'm going to focus specifically on collocations dictionaries, since they have an enormous potential, especially in levels B2 and C1.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A <b>collocations dictionary</b> is a dictionary that tells you which words work together (<i>collocate</i>). For example, do we say <i>aware <u>of</u> something</i> or <i>aware <u>about</u> something?</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoAq5dtHyD1VdpSIyOUR9wv8IaZx2vu1zSI_0sliTmpmas5winvL9WA3X04OQO8BDzVphD747LlBUnbtOsBLAKXtQb4ilTJaEvYtsivV7VfL0HWv3IwcR24j0TxorTh73vxJeDEjuBmlg/s1600/Collocations-dictionary-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Collocations dictionary" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoAq5dtHyD1VdpSIyOUR9wv8IaZx2vu1zSI_0sliTmpmas5winvL9WA3X04OQO8BDzVphD747LlBUnbtOsBLAKXtQb4ilTJaEvYtsivV7VfL0HWv3IwcR24j0TxorTh73vxJeDEjuBmlg/s1600/Collocations-dictionary-1.png" title="Using a collocations dictionary" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do you <i>spend money <u>on</u> </i>or <u><i>in</i></u><i> something</i>?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdWnYFJ650kxO8a_o-v97vMn4zl-HyARgrivDr6kmN_DbC1UJ1TesxEPTx-rFmYo8w_AVvUQlP1BCJ94b6THyyp6rAkGc4F7D8S86g2a_9kM7FhJlwAC0eJ_aPc_6vHqS7WbCpn_VTW4/s1600/Collocations-dictionary-2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Collocations dictionary" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdWnYFJ650kxO8a_o-v97vMn4zl-HyARgrivDr6kmN_DbC1UJ1TesxEPTx-rFmYo8w_AVvUQlP1BCJ94b6THyyp6rAkGc4F7D8S86g2a_9kM7FhJlwAC0eJ_aPc_6vHqS7WbCpn_VTW4/s1600/Collocations-dictionary-2.png" title="Using a collocations dictionary" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Which verbs can I use with <i>favour</i>?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_uZi77nLAXS3kytZ3oibnA46n2nrP4Rm_FYdpEFq5b2gXHcjkMhgI8KE29o6fg2OZnRNsCw6B_9ze9c8fBn5CGn2g-Qjs3F4xUwkoAT0XyABl-Ugcb6VtJgZOAuuhB74NX1r2YmDCwE/s1600/Collocations-dictionary-3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Collocations dictionary" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_uZi77nLAXS3kytZ3oibnA46n2nrP4Rm_FYdpEFq5b2gXHcjkMhgI8KE29o6fg2OZnRNsCw6B_9ze9c8fBn5CGn2g-Qjs3F4xUwkoAT0XyABl-Ugcb6VtJgZOAuuhB74NX1r2YmDCwE/s1600/Collocations-dictionary-3.png" title="Using a collocations dictionary" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">More than that, it can help us to improve our writing by providing us with plenty of synonyms. How can I say that something has a lot of potential?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5mH9hdd6d8s3MZn2IjljKGYHvDv8wXU_KowaE_sL2QYlzYX2YZscn0JJXAm1v9s6I_xcVsnZX4NlR1Lb3KNDX3QY-OHuH1QNzwxdr0m2xH_NsB5LjC6GrFviKc8d_GRbw5RI_ECHJGxE/s1600/Collocations-dictionary-4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Collocations dictionary" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5mH9hdd6d8s3MZn2IjljKGYHvDv8wXU_KowaE_sL2QYlzYX2YZscn0JJXAm1v9s6I_xcVsnZX4NlR1Lb3KNDX3QY-OHuH1QNzwxdr0m2xH_NsB5LjC6GrFviKc8d_GRbw5RI_ECHJGxE/s1600/Collocations-dictionary-4.png" title="Using a collocations dictionary" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rather than buying one, I recommend you to use the <b><span style="color: #38761d;">Oxford Collocations Dictionary Online</span></b>, available at <a href="http://www.ozdic.com/"><b>www.ozdic.com</b></a>. Enter the website and practise a little bit. Can you improve the following sentences?</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.scribd.com/doc/244399478/Practise-with-a-collocations-dictionary-pdf" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View Practise with a collocations dictionary.pdf on Scribd">Practise with a collocations dictionary.pdf</a> by <a href="https://www.scribd.com/AnaBueno_LearnEnglish" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View AnaBueno_LearnEnglish's profile on Scribd">AnaBueno_LearnEnglish</a></div>
<iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" data-aspect-ratio="0.7080062794348508" data-auto-height="false" frameborder="0" height="600" id="doc_86645" scrolling="no" src="https://www.scribd.com/embeds/244399478/content?start_page=1&view_mode=scroll&access_key=key-kRwBcwfn6p1oE86aZdtW&show_recommendations=true" width="100%"></iframe>Ana Buenohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08401439195588360652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7363556292968816047.post-8303272963641297792014-10-31T07:00:00.001+01:002014-11-01T11:44:38.642+01:00Let's try mini sagas!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglsh0tKXQZsAj3U34OtIkPf8WHG7vsGgFF_uWNttdrjs5T4eVUyMKnF_LpKbCTBw7BPdnjGAkuUX_pf3j8OoX2NjWSkon1MMnwbSEXGcSvQ3gULxSUWSI82o6fC6Kk6OwsFArFJy_l4_s/s1600/mini_saga.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglsh0tKXQZsAj3U34OtIkPf8WHG7vsGgFF_uWNttdrjs5T4eVUyMKnF_LpKbCTBw7BPdnjGAkuUX_pf3j8OoX2NjWSkon1MMnwbSEXGcSvQ3gULxSUWSI82o6fC6Kk6OwsFArFJy_l4_s/s1600/mini_saga.jpg" height="145" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You'll probably think that writing compositions is one of the most boring parts of language learning... Sitting down in front of a blank paper not knowing what to write about or how best to do it... Even in our own language it is difficult to be a good writer!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But why don't we change the rules of the game?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Writing can also be an exciting, entertaining and funny activity! And it's even better if you do it in groups! In a previous entry (<strong><a href="http://anabuenoeoi.blogspot.com.es/2013/10/want-to-stretch-your-english-writing.html">how to improve writing skills</a></strong>) I gave you a few ideas to give writing a different <b>twist</b>, and also to train your brain in generating ideas.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today I give you another possibility... <strong>MINI SAGAS</strong>!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A <strong>mini saga </strong>is a short story consisting of exactly <b>50 words</b>, not including the title. It must tell a story and have a beginning, middle and end (normally with a twist!). Here you have three examples!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb9kt11ghyXqeadoofxTJBkIcYkJEeQ6aWbMtqQsHuv4WYcGp3EhBaLMS5O6YwWNm6XGEN_OzGeIdnfgdC1BJBhfRZo-OMDX3Wx6287NrRL8SzdnYHChBVFYqabDMk2eE819E1kNIrZAU/s1600/Mini-saga-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb9kt11ghyXqeadoofxTJBkIcYkJEeQ6aWbMtqQsHuv4WYcGp3EhBaLMS5O6YwWNm6XGEN_OzGeIdnfgdC1BJBhfRZo-OMDX3Wx6287NrRL8SzdnYHChBVFYqabDMk2eE819E1kNIrZAU/s1600/Mini-saga-1.png" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlsW7oeFYlibdraNOJXiVkCwcJ9NJQ72cH6HrYnGa7L4btgYrdVA-6xK9T9SH85vZRxtY6eCv9Dh31AZz_KDVZRssYKKDakWlQtm3yakYAz0bh_y9z5aMLItsL7lepWAZkbXl1ZTOLLyk/s1600/Mini-saga-2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlsW7oeFYlibdraNOJXiVkCwcJ9NJQ72cH6HrYnGa7L4btgYrdVA-6xK9T9SH85vZRxtY6eCv9Dh31AZz_KDVZRssYKKDakWlQtm3yakYAz0bh_y9z5aMLItsL7lepWAZkbXl1ZTOLLyk/s1600/Mini-saga-2.png" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuE0SFyT6vDNY08ixHMBVgzEbTZe9O87fUlRS0u-PZpmSt7unNVP4_naQ8GfIcUTvN8F_rfKEl9bEsVQ8D57r4SYfjURjD5d8Qi_8SGQiZwj8jH2iqrLWsUfhDA15rajHWeVjoBlSXgDs/s1600/Mini-saga-3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuE0SFyT6vDNY08ixHMBVgzEbTZe9O87fUlRS0u-PZpmSt7unNVP4_naQ8GfIcUTvN8F_rfKEl9bEsVQ8D57r4SYfjURjD5d8Qi_8SGQiZwj8jH2iqrLWsUfhDA15rajHWeVjoBlSXgDs/s1600/Mini-saga-3.png" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(<i>Taken from New English File Upper-Intermediate)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Apart from being very creative, mini sagas also help you to look for synonyms, expand sentences, reduce others, to obtain exactly 50 words. Playing with language that way is very useful for your English :) And you have fun at the same time!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are a teacher, check this <a href="http://www.onestopenglish.com/skills/writing/lesson-plans/pdf-content/writing-skills-mini-saga-lesson-plan/147395.article">lesson plan</a> to work with mini sagas in your classrooms!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So... do you dare to write one? If you need some tips, you can check <a href="http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Mini-Saga"><strong>how to write a mini saga</strong></a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope to see some in the comments below :)</span></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Ana Buenohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08401439195588360652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7363556292968816047.post-84702304887668178432014-01-23T10:00:00.000+01:002014-11-19T14:03:09.461+01:00When should you not use a comma: correcting a run-on sentence<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hi there!</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QEAjN9hrQGo/Ut-_8orZorI/AAAAAAAAAOM/pM3INR5cVb4/s1600/36_ht_avoid_run_on_sentences_xxxlarge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh87Du24Q1C5J9KB2W1U43LvbMIG575IS2n1iIIlzwastXVWuZNUs0rHFHqYWEIzZQux-Ifr3tdS96YuFTVOJAQPtp8zWvJX-w_ITwRL1K24XHBzvaeWPAFU9Uc-I545oGAaVj1ZEaDegc/s1600/comma-rules.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="comma rules" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh87Du24Q1C5J9KB2W1U43LvbMIG575IS2n1iIIlzwastXVWuZNUs0rHFHqYWEIzZQux-Ifr3tdS96YuFTVOJAQPtp8zWvJX-w_ITwRL1K24XHBzvaeWPAFU9Uc-I545oGAaVj1ZEaDegc/s1600/comma-rules.jpg" height="152" title="when should you not use a comma" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A couple of days ago I published an entry about <strong><a href="http://anabuenoeoi.blogspot.com.es/2014/01/8-rules-for-using-comma.html">rules for using commas</a></strong>. Today we're going to focus on the opposite: <strong>when should you not use a comma</strong>! More specifically, we're going to focus on run on sentences, which appear over and over again in your compositions. (You have some <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><b>practice</b></span> at the end of the entry).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A <strong>run on sentence </strong>(or<strong> run together sentence</strong>) is composed of two separate sentences punctuated as if they were only one. Normally, run-on sentences happen because you have in mind two closely related ideas and write them down quickly, with only a comma in between. For example,</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everyone felt happy, it was the first warm day of the year.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mike forgot the matches, I forgot the salt.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She likes quiz programs, he likes Westerns.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since you are concentrating on the meaning, you do not stop to notice that you have written two complete sentences which must be appropriately separated...!</span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">WARNING SIGNAL</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The second sentence of a run-together often begins with one of the following words: <i>then, there, now, he, she, it, we, they</i>. When you spot one of these "warning signals" in the middle of a sentence, check it carefully. There is a good chance that it is a run-together!!</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First she told us how to get there, <b>then</b> she drew a map.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jack didn't lie, <b>he</b> just exaggerated.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don't wear the orange coat, <b>it</b> clashes with your dress.</span></i></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CORRECTING RUN-TOGETHER SENTENCES</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is more than one way to correct a run-together sentence. You decide which one to use!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">1.</span></b> Divide the run-together using a full stop:</span><br />
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<i><strike><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First she told us how to get there, then she drew a map.</span></strike></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First she told us how to get there<b>.</b> <b>Then</b>, she drew a map.</span></i></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">2.</span></b> Use a semicolon (;) instead of a comma:</span><br />
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<i><strike><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had to leave Fluffy at home, Grandma doesn't like cats.</span></strike></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had to leave Fluffy at home<b>; Grandma</b> doesn't like cats.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">3.</span></b> Insert a connector like <i>and, but </i>or <i>because </i>after the comma, depending on how the sentences are related:</span><br />
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<i><strike><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The living-room is beige, the bedroom is green.</span></strike></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The living is beige<b>, and</b> the bedroom is green.</span></i></div>
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<i><strike><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last summer I did nothing, this summer I'm going to camp.</span></strike></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last summer I did nothing<b>, but</b> this summer I'm going to camp.</span></i></div>
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<i><strike><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ben wore his sunglasses to school, his regular glasses were broken.</span></strike></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ben wore his sunglasses to school<b>, because</b> his regular glasses were broken.</span></i></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PRACTICE</span></b><br />
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Now it's time for you to practice! Click to take a quiz on <a href="http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/quizzes/runons_quiz.htm"><strong>run-on sentences</strong></a>!</span><br />
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Ana Buenohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08401439195588360652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7363556292968816047.post-92114915757648082762014-01-21T13:47:00.003+01:002014-11-19T14:03:14.512+01:008 rules for using commas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-kmAGdFqrRh40vEuJ7Hv_OD9598EAjd_Zi6WyO8L7QfLLB_cptGdh6H7WYZjdAtYc37T7BV3hPh4xHhszFVLlakX-cflHM-HkB82PCJA-rVDZL0U6hED5xbCOBPbSUO3Wum4WRj_rpY/s1600/comma-rules.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="comma rules" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-kmAGdFqrRh40vEuJ7Hv_OD9598EAjd_Zi6WyO8L7QfLLB_cptGdh6H7WYZjdAtYc37T7BV3hPh4xHhszFVLlakX-cflHM-HkB82PCJA-rVDZL0U6hED5xbCOBPbSUO3Wum4WRj_rpY/s1600/comma-rules.png" height="190" title="rules for using commas" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We all know that punctuation is not easy, and we very often have trouble when writing our compositions. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today we're going to focus on </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><strong style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">rules for using commas</strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> that I hope will help you!</span><br />
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Read the rules and the examples below carefully, and check them again when you write your next composition. If you do this regularly, little by little these rules will become automatic and you won't need to look back at them! :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Adapted from <a href="http://www.eslbasics.com/blog/student-posts/15-rules-for-using-a-comma/">www.eslbasics.com</a>)</span></div>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">RULE #1:</span></b><br />
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Use commas to separate words or phrases in a series of three or more.</span><br />
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<i>I need to pick up bananas, tuna, bread, and ice cream from the grocery store today.</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><b>RULE</b><b> #2:</b></span></span><br />
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Use a comma to separate independent clauses when they are joined by <i>and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet</i>. You do not need to use a comma if both independent clauses are short.</span><br />
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<i>We agreed to come with Sarah, but we told her that we would need to leave early.</i></span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">RULE #3:</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Use commas when the relative clause is non-defining, that is, when it gives extra, unnecessary information.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mr. Perryman, who enjoys playing golf, decided to retire in Florida.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The boy who lives next door to us is in the fourth grade.</span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><b>RULE</b><b> #4:</b></span></span><br />
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Use commas after introductory phrases and clauses that come before the main clause. If the introductory phrase has less than three words, the comma is optional.</span><br />
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<i>When the clock struck midnight, the carriage turned back into a pumpkin.</i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After you leave school, make sure to pick up the mail.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next Saturday we will be getting married.</span></i><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">RULE #5:</span></b></span><br />
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Use commas before and after "interrupting words" such as <i>however</i> and <i>therefore</i>.</span><br />
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<i>I would, therefore, like to continue this conversation at another time.</i></span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">RULE #6:</span></b></span><br />
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Use a comma after introductory adverbs.</span><br />
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<i>Fortunately, Samir had remembered to back up his files.</i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unsurprisingly, Raul passed the class with flying colours.</span></i><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">RULE #7:</span></b></span><br />
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Use commas when directly addressing a person (vocative).</span><br />
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<i>Have you, Millie, considered going to college?</i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What do you think that means, Doctor?</span></i><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">RULE #8:</span></b></span><br />
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Use a comma before question tags.</span><br />
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<i>You're a senior in college, aren't you?</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope you have found this entry useful! Now make sure you also check the entry <a href="http://anabuenoeoi.blogspot.com.es/2014/01/when-not-to-use-commas-correcting-run.html"><b>When should you not use a comma</b>: <strong>correcting a run-on sentence</strong></a>. Little by little we'll become punctuation experts! :)</span>Ana Buenohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08401439195588360652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7363556292968816047.post-33708554004027959682013-10-14T12:40:00.002+02:002014-10-18T12:15:38.154+02:00How to improve writing skills!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbEFdeROOfl-_D9O_amlO495Hxl3BTeVvwHuVctj2FOMk2EH1pUhSkoZDfcn7BO00hMVd7Da3kEbaHomo6HZ381xf2dU8ZF1_euU1lV0tpnw8c_Zv_-7MF8XL0etna1BCElZJLhIXOmUU/s1600/how_to_improve_writing_skills.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbEFdeROOfl-_D9O_amlO495Hxl3BTeVvwHuVctj2FOMk2EH1pUhSkoZDfcn7BO00hMVd7Da3kEbaHomo6HZ381xf2dU8ZF1_euU1lV0tpnw8c_Zv_-7MF8XL0etna1BCElZJLhIXOmUU/s1600/Writing_skills.jpg" height="132" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you want to <strong>improve your writing skills</strong>, try one of these fun writing activities! They might seem a bit crazy but they do work!!</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">Taken from </span><a href="http://www.eslbasics.com/blog/student-posts/writing-activities-to-stretch-your-english-writing-skills/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">ESL Basics</a></i></div>
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<ol style="line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 1.5em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: decimal; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 3px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Write a story that is made up of 26 sentences, where each sentence begins with a different letter of the alphabet. The first sentence will start with “A”, the second sentence will start with “B”, and so on.</span></li>
<li style="list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: decimal; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 3px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Practice using the common suffix “-ion” by writing a paragraph that includes at least 15 words that end in “-ion”.</span></li>
<li style="list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: decimal; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 3px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Write a sentence that contains no nouns.</span></li>
<li style="list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: decimal; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 3px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Write a sentence that contains four nouns, three verbs, two adjectives, and one adverb.</span></li>
<li style="list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: decimal; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 3px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Write a sentence in which each word only has one vowel in it.</span></li>
<li style="list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: decimal; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 3px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Write a sentence that contains every letter of the alphabet at least once.</span></li>
<li style="list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: decimal; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 3px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Write the longest sentence that you can – without using the letter “e”.</span></li>
<li style="list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: decimal; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 3px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Write a paragraph about your most valued possession, using as many possessive pronouns as possible (my, mine, your, yours, his, her, hers, its, our, ours, their, and theirs).</span></li>
<li style="list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: decimal; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 3px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Write a dialogue between two people with as many questions as possible.</span></li>
<li style="list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: decimal; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 3px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Write down the lyrics of one of your favorite songs. Then use formal English formatting and language to transform those lyrics into a business letter.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">Choose one/some of these activities and leave us a comment with your experience! :)</span></span></div>
Ana Buenohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08401439195588360652noreply@blogger.com1