Adjectives ending in ED. Special Pronunciation

A few adjectives ending in -ed have a special pronunciation: the last syllable is
pronounced /Id/ instead of /d/ or /t/

aged /'eId3Id/ (= very old)
blessed /,blesId/
beloved /bI'IAvId/
dogged /,dUgId/
crooked /'krukId/ l
earned /'13:md/
cursed /,k3:SId/
sacred /,seIknd/
naked /'neIkId/
wicked /,wIkId/
ragged /'negId/
wretched /,retSId/
rugged /'rAgId/
 one/three/four-legged /'legId/

Note that aged is pronounced /eId3d/ when it means 'years old' (as in He has a
daughter aged ten), or when it is a verb.

Panyee Football Club

This is a true story about a group of boys who challenged the norm and became a great inspiration.

Swearing Fine

 A $20 fine for cursing in public places!!

CLICK HERE to see the a CNN video on the subject.

Take a Chance on Me

Have you ever danced to the tune of this all-time favourite..?

"Take A Chance On Me"

1. Complete with the expressions from the box.

put me to the test  - feeling down

pretty birds - let me know - change your mind

If you____________, I'm the first in line
Honey I'm still free, Take a chance on me
If you need me, ____________ , gonna be around
If you've got no place to go, if you're ____________
If you're all alone when the ____________ have flown
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me
Gonna do my very best and it ain't no lie
If you ____________, if you let me try

Take a chance on me
(That's all I ask of you honey)
Take a chance on me

2. Fill in the gaps with a word or phrase.

We can go ____________, we can go ____________, as long as we're together
____________ some music, maybe just ____________, get to know you better
'Cos you know I've got
So much that I wanna do, when I dream I'm alone with you
It's magic
You ____________ leave it there, afraid of a love affair
But I think you know
That I can't let go

(repeat first stanza)

Take a chance on me
(Come on, give me a break will you?)
Take a chance on me
Oh you can ____________ baby, I'm in no hurry, know I'm gonna get you
You don't wanna hurt me, baby don't worry, I ain't gonna let you
Let me tell you now
My love is strong ____________ to last when things are ____________

It's magic
You say that I ____________ but I can't get you off my mind
No I can't let go
'Cos I love you so

(repeat first stanza)

For you to think...What do the informal expressions in red mean?

And here's the key...

"Take A Chance On Me"

If you change your mind, I'm the first in line
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me
If you need me, let me know, gonna be around
If you've got no place to go, if you're feeling down
If you're all alone when the pretty birds have flown
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me
Gonna do my very best and it ain't no lie
If you put me to the test, if you let me try

Take a chance on me
(That's all I ask of you honey)
Take a chance on me

We can go dancing, we can go walking, as long as we're together
Listen to some music, maybe just talking, get to know you better
'Cos you know I've got
So much that I wanna do, when I dream I'm alone with you
It's magic
You want me to leave it there, afraid of a love affair
But I think you know
That I can't let go

If you change your mind, I'm the first in line
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me
If you need me, let me know, gonna be around
If you've got no place to go, if you're feeling down
If you're all alone when the pretty birds have flown
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me
Gonna do my very best and it ain't no lie
If you put me to the test, if you let me try

Take a chance on me
(Come on, give me a break will you?)
Take a chance on me
Oh you can take your time baby, I'm in no hurry, know I'm gonna get you
You don't wanna hurt me, baby don't worry, I ain't gonna let you
Let me tell you now
My love is strong enough to last when things are rough
It's magic
You say that I waste my time but I can't get you off my mind
No I can't let go
'Cos I love you so

If you change your mind, I'm the first in line
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me
If you need me, let me know, gonna be around
If you've got no place to go, if you're feeling down
If you're all alone when the pretty birds have flown
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me
Gonna do my very best, baby can't you see
Gotta put me to the test, take a chance on me
(Take a chance, take a chance, take a chance on me)

Ba ba ba ba baa, ba ba ba ba baa
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me
Gonna do my very best, baby can't you see
Gotta put me to the test, take a chance on me
(Take a chance, take a chance, take a chance on me)

Ba ba ba ba baa, ba ba ba ba baa ba-ba
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me

Expressions in red:

gonna: going to

ain't: am not, is not, are not, has not, or have not

'cos: because

wanna: want to

give me a break: stop it!

ON time or IN time ????

Have you ever asked yourself about the difference between these two expressions? Here's some help!

On time means 'at the planned time', 'neither late nor early'. The opposite is 'early' or 'late'. It is often used to refer to timetabled events.

e.g.
- Only one of the last six trains has been on time. (NOT ... in time.)
- Peter wants the discussion to start exactly on time. (NOT ... in time.)

In time means 'with enough time to spare', 'before the last moment'. The opposite is too late.

e.g.
- We arrived in time to get good seats. (NOT. .. on time to get good seats.)
- He would have died if they hadn't got him to hospital in time. (NOT ... -got him to hospital on time.)
- I nearly drove into the car in front, but I stopped just in time.


Do you want to test yourself? Click here for an exercise on line

Film Reviews Project

Hello everyone!

Welcome!

Here I am going to post your recommendations.

What film would you recommend us for this weekend?

THE PROJECT:

Choose a film you liked very much and write a short comment about it. If you want it, I will post the corrected version on the blog, together with some pictures and the movie trailer.

Information needed (you can add more):

Title of the movie.

Where and when does the story take place?

What is it about?

Why did you like it?

Remember the comment will be posted ONLY if you want it. 

I hope you enjoy the activity!

USEFUL EXPRESSIONS 

• What I liked

What I liked most was …..
The thing I liked most was ….
I was pleasantly surprised by …..
….. would appeal to …..
If you get a chance to ….

• What I disliked

What I disliked most was …..
I was disappointed by ……
I was disappointed with …..
I was very disappointed by …..
I was very disappointed with ….

• About the movie

lead role
star role
star
star actor
star actress
starring
secondary role
He plays a …….
She plays a …….
written by ….
is set in …..
based on a true story …..
believable
true to life
not very believable
far-fetched
comedy
romance
science fiction
ending

Confusing words!

Pride and Prejudice

My strong recommendation for this delicate yet ironic movie.
Beautiful landscapes and witty dialogues.
An English classic.
A superb adaptation.

Click on the link below for a short activity on one of the scenes.




Pride and Prejudice , by egatti
Find this and other movies exercises in English Exercises .org

Notting Hill

A light-hearted comedy. Yes.

Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant at their best. 

Plus, a bunch of brilliant British guys.

American and British accent and expressions. 

SO I STROGLY RECOMMEND IT FOR THESE HOLIDAYS!

In the meantime, enjoy this short on-line activity, humbly made by... MYSELF! 

Notting Hill - Dinner scene, by egatti

A Poem...Why not?

Why not give ourselves a minute of... some poetry?

IMAGINATION

Form in your mind an image

Of situations others are in.

The imagine serves as antenna,

And sympathy will begin.

Form in your mind an image

Of any system or thing.

The image resonates

And understanding will bring.

Form in your mind an image

Of what you would like to do.

The image then serves as template

For making it come true.

Form in your mind an image

of the ideal ultimate goal

Cling to this image firmly.

It will draw upward your soul.

By Elsa Grover


(With special thanks to Antonio, who kindly shared this)

The British Isles

Have you ever wondered about the difference between UNITED KINDOM / ENGLAND / GREAT BRITAIN ???

Let's see if this can help:

The British Isles include:

United Kindom

+

Ireland 

Here's the map of these two states:

NOW, the United Kindom (=UK) includes:

Wales

+

Scotland

+

England

+

Nothern Ireland

If you put together these four flags, you'll have...

UNITED KINGDOM

So, to sum up:

BRITISH ISLES

Hope it's been useful!