English Today

Improving Your Style in Writing

Here are a few tips on how to improve your style in writing.

1.Always remember that you are writing in a foreign language, therefore you should make an effort to think in that language only! Do not think in your native language and then translate into English! This invariably leads to a disaster! Take the good habit to use words and expressions that you have learnt in class - it's the most effective way never to forget a word!

2. Plan your composition!!! A good planning always leads to a well-structured, well-organised composition.

3. Paragraph structure is important. Just like one word is not a sentence, one sentence is not a paragraph and ...one paragraph is not a composition! A paragraph is a mini composition. It has a beginning, a middle and an end (Introduction - Main Body - Conclusion). The topic sentence is the first sentence of your paragraph and introduces the basic idea you are going to develop. The next 2-3 sentences are the supporting sentences which illustrate and support the topic sentence. The last sentence will round off your paragraph by introducing a kind of conclusion relating to your topic sentence.

4. Paragraph coherence is also very important. Use linking words to join sentences and ideas.

5. Use a variety of vocabulary and structure and avoid commonplace, neutral words such as: nice, good, bad etc.

6. Take the good habit not to repeat a mistake once it has been pointed out to you.

Expressing the Future

http://cordelia.typepad.com/english_today/2010/01/the-future-continuous-tense.html

To express the future use:

Future Simple (will + basic verb) to express

1. On-the-spot decisions ~ Is it Myria's birthday? I'll send her a birthday card.
2. Promises ~ Don't worry, I'll water your plants when you are on holiday.
3. Suggestions (Shall I/we?) / offers (Shall I /we? )/ requests ~ (Will you?)
4. Predictions without evidence.

• Shall we dance?
• Shall I help you with the homework?
• Will you, please, be quiet?
• When you are 40, you will be rich and famous.

Present Continuous with a future meaning to express

1.  definite arrangements in the future.

• I'm having a party next Saturday. (This means that you have made all the arrangements and preparations for the party, like giving out invitations, ordering the food etc.)

COMPARE !  BE GOING TO + BASIC VERB

• I'm going to have a party next Saturday. (This means that you have only just planned this partry. You would like to have this party but no arrangements or preparations have been made. )

Present Simple with a future meaning to expres

1. Timetables and programmes

• The bus from Brighton arrives at 2:33 pm tomorrow.
• My flight leaves at 9:30 am next Tuesday.

  

The Future Continuous Tense

Download The_Future_Continuous

Phrasal Verbs - Give

Give Away

1. Present to someone free of charge.
He gave away all his kittens as he didn't have space for them.
2. Allow a secret/hiding place, etc to be known.
He spoke too freely and gave away the thieves' hiding place.

Give In

1. Admit defeat.
I give in! This crossword puzzle is too difficult.
2. To give something to someone, usually in authority.
I found a set of keys and gave them in to the police.
After the students had finished their exams, they gave them in.

Give Off

Produce smoke, smell, etc.
I like the colour of those flowers but they do give off a strange smell.

Give Out

1.Strength, supplies which become used up.
His strength gave out when the fourth man climbed on his back.
2. Distribute.
Maria, give these papers out to the other students.

Give Over

Stop saying, doing, thinking, etc something. (Usually imperative).
Oh John! Give over! You've been saying the same thing for half an hour.

Give Up

1. (As "give in") Admit Defeat.
2. Stop doing something.
I gave up trying to convince her to buy the dress as she was interested in a skirt.
I gave up drinking whiskey on my doctor's advice.
3. Sell something because of poverty.
I had to give up my house in the country after my uncle died.

.