Saturday, November 25, 2006
This week we are studying Unit 8. One of the structures we have to practise is 'have to'! So, let me tell you about my week... On Sunday, I have to go to the Women's College at 12:00 because I have to do oral exams for the PET with the lady students. After that, I have to go and see my financial advisor. Then, on Monday, I have to teach in Madinat Zayed. On Tuesday, I have to miss some of my classes because I have to go to a workshop with a famous teacher trainer from England. My students don't have to come to class, but they will have to work independently.
What else?
My life has changed recently because my daughter has gone to the UK to study. Last year I had to get up really early because I had to take my daughter to school, but now I don't have to get up so early - and in England she has to catch the bus every morning. My daughter likes cooking, so last year I didn't have to cook, but this year I have to cook. In England she doesn't have to cook because she lives in a hall of residence where there is a cafeteria.
When I was a child I had to walk to school. I also had to tidy my room every week, but I didn't have to do any housework. Sometimes I had to do some gardening, too.
I hope you understand this structure. I hope I don't have to write any more examples!
What have you learnt from my sentences about 'have to'?
What is the present, past and future of this structure?
How do you make 'have to' negative?
What do you have to do to make questions with 'have to'?
Oh! Why did I use the present perfect in some sentences?
What else?
My life has changed recently because my daughter has gone to the UK to study. Last year I had to get up really early because I had to take my daughter to school, but now I don't have to get up so early - and in England she has to catch the bus every morning. My daughter likes cooking, so last year I didn't have to cook, but this year I have to cook. In England she doesn't have to cook because she lives in a hall of residence where there is a cafeteria.
When I was a child I had to walk to school. I also had to tidy my room every week, but I didn't have to do any housework. Sometimes I had to do some gardening, too.
I hope you understand this structure. I hope I don't have to write any more examples!
What have you learnt from my sentences about 'have to'?
What is the present, past and future of this structure?
How do you make 'have to' negative?
What do you have to do to make questions with 'have to'?
Oh! Why did I use the present perfect in some sentences?
Monday, November 20, 2006
Today it rained! It never usually rains in the UAE. It was a big surprise! When I was working at my desk the weather outside started to get darker and darker... The trees were blowing from side to side and the sky was very grey. Then suddenly the rain started. I hate the rain. In England it rains a lot so I like living in the UAE because we usually have sunshine here!
Thursday, November 16, 2006
This week I have taught the Present Perfect in my classes. The students have worked very hard. I haven't been to the college in Madinat Zayed this week. I have had a team meeting, too.
I have had dinner with a friend, I have been shopping and I have watched some movies on TV. I have also used my computer a lot at home and I have sent in 2 proposals for presentations at a Conference.
That's it - it has been a boring week!
I have had dinner with a friend, I have been shopping and I have watched some movies on TV. I have also used my computer a lot at home and I have sent in 2 proposals for presentations at a Conference.
That's it - it has been a boring week!
Saturday, November 11, 2006
Our topic this week is the Present Perfect ...
Today is 11 th November but I have already done a lot of things this month:
I have just re-read this and I have made a decision...
I am going to close the computer and go out - my life is too boring!
Questions:
How do you make the Present Perfect?
What are the key words for this tense and how do we use them?
Today is 11 th November but I have already done a lot of things this month:
- I have spent a weekend in Fujairah.
- I have organised a conference for teachers.
- I have given 2 presentations.
- I have attended a technology conference in Sharjah.
- I have marked a lot of exam papers.
- I have entered grades.
- I have taught classes at Madinat Zayed.
- I have made a website.
- I have created some web albums.
- I haven't been shopping yet this month.
- I haven't slept much so far this month.
- I haven't cooked anything!
- I haven't read a book yet this month - in fact I haven't read a book for a long time.
- I haven't been to the gym.
- I haven't swum in the pool in my building - in fact, I haven't swum there since September!
I have just re-read this and I have made a decision...
I am going to close the computer and go out - my life is too boring!
Questions:
How do you make the Present Perfect?
What are the key words for this tense and how do we use them?
The last grammar topic we did in class was comparisons ...
What can I compare?
In the Eid holiday, I went to the UK to see my daughter. The UK is much colder than the UAE, and much wetter, too, so I wore some thicker clothes and took an umbrella with me everywhere!
I did a lot of driving and petrol is definitely more expensive in the UK - in fact, it is much more expensive than here. When I hired a car, they tried to give me a big car and I said, 'No, give me a smaller one because I will spend less on petrol!" The drivers are maybe a bit crazier here than in the UK, but in some ways UK roads are more dangerous than UAE roads because they are busier and in the countryside they are much narrower and are not as straight as the roads here - there are many more bends. In the cities, however, there is a better bus service than here so it is more common for people (even businessmen) to use public transport.
Food in restaurants is more expensive in the UK, too, so, if you don't want to spend a fortune, you must be more careful when you choose from the menu!
What is good in the UK?
Well, the bookshops are better and there is a greater variety of shops in the malls. Unfortunately, I find it easier to spend money in the UK! There are also more theatre shows, art exhibitions, concerts and museums, so there is a bigger choice of things to do.
What can I compare?
In the Eid holiday, I went to the UK to see my daughter. The UK is much colder than the UAE, and much wetter, too, so I wore some thicker clothes and took an umbrella with me everywhere!
I did a lot of driving and petrol is definitely more expensive in the UK - in fact, it is much more expensive than here. When I hired a car, they tried to give me a big car and I said, 'No, give me a smaller one because I will spend less on petrol!" The drivers are maybe a bit crazier here than in the UK, but in some ways UK roads are more dangerous than UAE roads because they are busier and in the countryside they are much narrower and are not as straight as the roads here - there are many more bends. In the cities, however, there is a better bus service than here so it is more common for people (even businessmen) to use public transport.
Food in restaurants is more expensive in the UK, too, so, if you don't want to spend a fortune, you must be more careful when you choose from the menu!
What is good in the UK?
Well, the bookshops are better and there is a greater variety of shops in the malls. Unfortunately, I find it easier to spend money in the UK! There are also more theatre shows, art exhibitions, concerts and museums, so there is a bigger choice of things to do.
