Prepositional verbs are a series of verbs which are included in a group called multi-word verbs, that is, a verb plus a particle. Depending on the category of the particle, a multi-word verb is a prepositional verb (if the particle is a preposition) or a phrasal verb (if it is an adverb). The main characteristic of prepositional verbs, which makes it different from phrasal verbs, is that the particle can never be separated from the verb.
Therefore, prepositional verbs are those that contain a preposition, which is always followed by its nominal object, either a noun group or a pronoun. Say, a more practical definition of prepositional verbs could be, as I explained in class, that they are verbs that always go with a certain preposition. Let's see some examples:
The exam consists of a written part and an oral part.
Your travelling abroad this summer will depend on your school final marks.
When someone speaks to you, please look at their face.
Prince Phillip got married to Letizia Ortiz.
John is very friendly. He always sympathises with everybody's problems.
They were listening to the news while I was waiting for the taxi.
As you can see in the above examples, these verbs always go with these prepositions and the meaning is always the same. However, there are some prepositional verbs which can change preposition with an implication of a change of meaning. For example:
I couldn't go out yesterday because I had to look after my sister. (look after = watch)
She lost my car keys and I looked for them everywhere in the house. (look for = search)
The police looked into him and discovered he was the murderer. (look into = investigate)
Remember: Prepositional verbs are not separable, that is, you cannot separate the verb from the particle, not even if the object is a pronoun:
John always dreams about Anna. (OK)
John always dreams about her. (OK)
John always dreams her about. (NEVER!!)
(Compare with phrasal verbs)
An article on Phrasal and prepositional verbs here.
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Jan 25, 2011
Jan 18, 2011
Homophones: Whose and Who's
Do you remember what I told you about homophones in class? Homophones are words that have different spelling but same pronunciation. The example I gave you was their, there and they're, all three pronounced /dea/. Other instances of homophones are your, you're /jo:/ or one, won /wAn/.
As regards relative pronouns, we should not leave aside two homophones that may cause confusion even to native speakers of English: whose and who's. The difference in form and meaning is obvious, the former is the relative adjective (Spanish 'cuyo-a,-os-as') and the latter is the contraction of the relative pronoun who and either the verb form is or has. Let's see this in the following examples:
I know a woman whose kids study here.
I know a woman who's been to Iraq twice.
I know a woman who's living in Iraq.
Some practice?
Exercise 1, Exercise 2.
Do you want to listen to it?
As regards relative pronouns, we should not leave aside two homophones that may cause confusion even to native speakers of English: whose and who's. The difference in form and meaning is obvious, the former is the relative adjective (Spanish 'cuyo-a,-os-as') and the latter is the contraction of the relative pronoun who and either the verb form is or has. Let's see this in the following examples:
I know a woman whose kids study here.
I know a woman who's been to Iraq twice.
I know a woman who's living in Iraq.
Some practice?
Exercise 1, Exercise 2.
Do you want to listen to it?
Jan 17, 2011
Task 1ºBach #1701: Relative Clauses
Complete the sentences with a relative pronoun or adverb.
1) Where's the restaurant ................you went to last night?
2) He doesn't like people ................are moody.
3) This is the cinema ..................I saw my first film.
4) I can remember the day .................I first started school.
5) These are the trousers ................I bought.
6) Is that the journalist ...................interviewed David Beckham?
Combine the sentences using relative pronouns or adverbs. Put the relative pronoun into brackets if you can omit it. Some can be defining and others non-defining clauses.
1) That's the girl. She spoke to me yesterday.
2) What's the name of the book? You wanted me to read it.
3) I rent a house. It's very small but comfortable.
4) The hotel was very expensive. We stayed in that hotel.
5) The car was stolen. It was a BMW.
6) The man smoked forty cigarettes a day. He died of a heart attack.
7) That's the building. I work there.
8) Those are the boys. Their mother works in the post office.
9) The businessman was very rich. I saw him last night.
10) That is the dog. Its owner is French.
11) Al arrived early. He went by moped.
12) The boys were brothers. They went by bus.
13) The girls were OK. They had pizza.
14) Sue and Karen went home early. Their fathers came to the café.
15) She remembered the day. Her baby dog was born on that day.
16) My parents organised a party. It was my birthday.
17) This is the mobile phone. It costs €300.
18) The Sierra Nevada are the mountains. I had a skiing accident.
19) This is the teacher. She is always friendly.
20) I met a boy. He can speak three languages.
21) She usually wears the designer clothes. I bought them for her birthday.
22) My brother has met a girl. Her boyfriend is English.
23) The hospital is very modern. She went there after her accident.
24) The trainers are now reduced in the sports shop. I bought them last week.
25) My sister is a fantastic swimmer. Her legs are very long.
1) Where's the restaurant ................you went to last night?
2) He doesn't like people ................are moody.
3) This is the cinema ..................I saw my first film.
4) I can remember the day .................I first started school.
5) These are the trousers ................I bought.
6) Is that the journalist ...................interviewed David Beckham?
Combine the sentences using relative pronouns or adverbs. Put the relative pronoun into brackets if you can omit it. Some can be defining and others non-defining clauses.
1) That's the girl. She spoke to me yesterday.
2) What's the name of the book? You wanted me to read it.
3) I rent a house. It's very small but comfortable.
4) The hotel was very expensive. We stayed in that hotel.
5) The car was stolen. It was a BMW.
6) The man smoked forty cigarettes a day. He died of a heart attack.
7) That's the building. I work there.
8) Those are the boys. Their mother works in the post office.
9) The businessman was very rich. I saw him last night.
10) That is the dog. Its owner is French.
11) Al arrived early. He went by moped.
12) The boys were brothers. They went by bus.
13) The girls were OK. They had pizza.
14) Sue and Karen went home early. Their fathers came to the café.
15) She remembered the day. Her baby dog was born on that day.
16) My parents organised a party. It was my birthday.
17) This is the mobile phone. It costs €300.
18) The Sierra Nevada are the mountains. I had a skiing accident.
19) This is the teacher. She is always friendly.
20) I met a boy. He can speak three languages.
21) She usually wears the designer clothes. I bought them for her birthday.
22) My brother has met a girl. Her boyfriend is English.
23) The hospital is very modern. She went there after her accident.
24) The trainers are now reduced in the sports shop. I bought them last week.
25) My sister is a fantastic swimmer. Her legs are very long.
Jan 13, 2011
Relative Pronouns & Adverbs
Hello pupils!
I hope this post will serve you as a reminder of last day's lesson on relative pronouns and adverbs.
(A) Relative pronouns
WHO: Person, Subject/Object, Defining/Non-defining
WHOSE: Person/Thing, Possessive, Defining/Non-defining
WHICH: Person/Thing, Subject/Object, Defining/Non-defining
THAT: Person/Thing, Subject/Object, Defining
"Zero": Person/Thing, Object, Defining
We call "zero-pronoun" to the omission of the pronouns who, which or that. This omission is only possible when the pronoun is not the subject of a defining relative clause. It is not acceptable in non-defining clauses.
Some examples (in grey colour the relative clauses):
I told you about the woman who lives next door.
The woman who you saw with me yesterday is Mary's sister.
Do you see the cat which is lying on the roof?
I'm going out with the girl whose mother is a nurse.
The teacher that punished Tom without going out to the playground is new here.
I don't like the table that stands in the kitchen.
The car I bought last month is second-hand.
Subject and object pronouns cannot be distinguished by their forms -who, which, that- but you can identify them as follows: if the relative pronoun is followed by a verb, the pronoun functions as a subject. Subject pronouns must be always used: The apple which/that is on the table. However, if the relative pronoun is not followed by a verb but by a noun or pronoun, it functions as an object. Object pronouns can be omitted in defining relative clauses, which are called Contact clauses: The apple (which/that) George lay on the table.
(B) Relative adverbs
WHERE: Place, Adverbial, Defining/Non-defining
WHEN: Time, Adverbial, Defining/Non-defining
WHY: Reason, Adverbial, Defining
A relative adverb can be used instead of a relative pronoun plus a preposition, when denoting time or place. This often makes the sentence easier to understand:
This is the shop in which I bought my bike = This is the shop where I bought my bike
I'll never forget the day on which I met you = I'll never forget the day when I met you
That's the reason for which we met yesterday = That's the reason why we met yesterday
For practice:
Exercise 1, Exercise 2, Exercise 3, Exercise 4
Do you want to listen to it?
I hope this post will serve you as a reminder of last day's lesson on relative pronouns and adverbs.
(A) Relative pronouns
WHO: Person, Subject/Object, Defining/Non-defining
WHOSE: Person/Thing, Possessive, Defining/Non-defining
WHICH: Person/Thing, Subject/Object, Defining/Non-defining
THAT: Person/Thing, Subject/Object, Defining
"Zero": Person/Thing, Object, Defining
We call "zero-pronoun" to the omission of the pronouns who, which or that. This omission is only possible when the pronoun is not the subject of a defining relative clause. It is not acceptable in non-defining clauses.
Some examples (in grey colour the relative clauses):
I told you about the woman who lives next door.
The woman who you saw with me yesterday is Mary's sister.
Do you see the cat which is lying on the roof?
I'm going out with the girl whose mother is a nurse.
The teacher that punished Tom without going out to the playground is new here.
I don't like the table that stands in the kitchen.
The car I bought last month is second-hand.
Subject and object pronouns cannot be distinguished by their forms -who, which, that- but you can identify them as follows: if the relative pronoun is followed by a verb, the pronoun functions as a subject. Subject pronouns must be always used: The apple which/that is on the table. However, if the relative pronoun is not followed by a verb but by a noun or pronoun, it functions as an object. Object pronouns can be omitted in defining relative clauses, which are called Contact clauses: The apple (which/that) George lay on the table.
(B) Relative adverbs
WHERE: Place, Adverbial, Defining/Non-defining
WHEN: Time, Adverbial, Defining/Non-defining
WHY: Reason, Adverbial, Defining
A relative adverb can be used instead of a relative pronoun plus a preposition, when denoting time or place. This often makes the sentence easier to understand:
This is the shop in which I bought my bike = This is the shop where I bought my bike
I'll never forget the day on which I met you = I'll never forget the day when I met you
That's the reason for which we met yesterday = That's the reason why we met yesterday
For practice:
Exercise 1, Exercise 2, Exercise 3, Exercise 4
Do you want to listen to it?
Jan 12, 2011
'Gone to' or 'Been to'?
Did you know that the verb 'to go' has two different irregular past participles? Yes, one is gone and the other one is... been ! Wow, what a confusion! So, when is been the past participle of go and when of be? Look at the examples below:
(a) I've gone to London.
(b) I've been to London four times.
(c) I've been in a Thai restaurant four times.
In sentences (a) and (b), the infinitive of the past participles is go. Notice that the place is introduced by the preposition 'to'. However, in sentence (c), the infinitive of the past participle is be, so the place goes after the preposition 'in'.
Have been is used to talk about completed visits, whereas Have gone implies that the person has not yet returned. Look at these situations.
Have you ever been to America?
Yes, I've been to America once. (= I've gone and returned)
Where is Tom?
He's gone to America. (= He's gone and he's still there, he hasn't returned yet)
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(a) I've gone to London.
(b) I've been to London four times.
(c) I've been in a Thai restaurant four times.
In sentences (a) and (b), the infinitive of the past participles is go. Notice that the place is introduced by the preposition 'to'. However, in sentence (c), the infinitive of the past participle is be, so the place goes after the preposition 'in'.
Have been is used to talk about completed visits, whereas Have gone implies that the person has not yet returned. Look at these situations.
Have you ever been to America?
Yes, I've been to America once. (= I've gone and returned)
Where is Tom?
He's gone to America. (= He's gone and he's still there, he hasn't returned yet)
Want to listen to it?
Present Perfect Simple vs. Present Perfect Continuous
Hi there!
This week we've studied the contrast between the two Present Perfect forms, i.e. Present Perfect Simple and Present Perfect Progressive or Continuous. Did you understand all my explanations in class? Yes? Not quite? Umm Don't worry. I'll try to make all this clear in this post. First, look at the following examples:
(a) I've written five letters this week.(b) I've been writing for five hours.
Both tenses are used to express that an action began in the past and is still going on or has just finished. In many cases, both forms are correct, but there is often a difference in meaning: we use the Present Perfect Simple mainly to express that an action is completed or to emphasise the result. We use the Present Perfect Progressive to emphasise the duration or continuous course of an action.
Result or Duration?
Do you want to express what has happened so far or how long an action has been going on yet?
Present Perfect Simple for result (signal words: what?, how much?, how often?):
I've written two poems (how many poems have you written?, what have you written?)
I've been to London twice (how often have you been to London?)
Present Perfect Continuous for duration (signal words: how long?):
I've been writing for an hour (how long have you been writing?)
She's been working here since last Monday (how long has she been working here?)
Completion or Duration?
Do you want to highlight the completion of an action or its continuous course (how has somebody spent their time)?
Present Perfect Simple for emphasis on completion:
I have done my homework (= my homework is completed now)
Present Perfect Continuous for emphasis on duration:
I have been doing my homework (= that's how I've spent my time, maybe I haven't finished it)
Longer periods or Shorter periods?
Present Perfect Simple for longer periods which somehow relate to permanent situations:
John has lived in this town for ten years (= he's a permanent resident in this town)
Present Perfect Continuous for shorter periods which somehow relate to temporary situations:
John has been living here for two months (= maybe he's a temporary resident in the town)
Don't forget!!
Stative verbs can only be used with the Present Perfect Simple, for they do not admit continuous forms: be, have, feel, hear, know, notice, realise, think, believe, understand, want...
For practice:
Exercise 1, Exercise 2, Exercise 3, Exercise 4
Do you want to listen to it?
This week we've studied the contrast between the two Present Perfect forms, i.e. Present Perfect Simple and Present Perfect Progressive or Continuous. Did you understand all my explanations in class? Yes? Not quite? Umm Don't worry. I'll try to make all this clear in this post. First, look at the following examples:
(a) I've written five letters this week.(b) I've been writing for five hours.
Both tenses are used to express that an action began in the past and is still going on or has just finished. In many cases, both forms are correct, but there is often a difference in meaning: we use the Present Perfect Simple mainly to express that an action is completed or to emphasise the result. We use the Present Perfect Progressive to emphasise the duration or continuous course of an action.
Result or Duration?
Do you want to express what has happened so far or how long an action has been going on yet?
Present Perfect Simple for result (signal words: what?, how much?, how often?):
I've written two poems (how many poems have you written?, what have you written?)
I've been to London twice (how often have you been to London?)
Present Perfect Continuous for duration (signal words: how long?):
I've been writing for an hour (how long have you been writing?)
She's been working here since last Monday (how long has she been working here?)
Completion or Duration?
Do you want to highlight the completion of an action or its continuous course (how has somebody spent their time)?
Present Perfect Simple for emphasis on completion:
I have done my homework (= my homework is completed now)
Present Perfect Continuous for emphasis on duration:
I have been doing my homework (= that's how I've spent my time, maybe I haven't finished it)
Longer periods or Shorter periods?
Present Perfect Simple for longer periods which somehow relate to permanent situations:
John has lived in this town for ten years (= he's a permanent resident in this town)
Present Perfect Continuous for shorter periods which somehow relate to temporary situations:
John has been living here for two months (= maybe he's a temporary resident in the town)
Don't forget!!
Stative verbs can only be used with the Present Perfect Simple, for they do not admit continuous forms: be, have, feel, hear, know, notice, realise, think, believe, understand, want...
For practice:
Exercise 1, Exercise 2, Exercise 3, Exercise 4
Do you want to listen to it?
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