English/Spanish blog from somewhere in La Mancha / Blog en inglés y español de un lugar de La Mancha

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Tuesday, 29 April 2014

There was, there were, etc.

Don Quijote

Wasn´t there a reason why I was learning English?

¿No había una razón por la que yo estaba aprendiendo inglés? 



Sancho

There were several. But let´s not talk about that. Allow me to bring up a different subject. There was an interesting bit of news on Mortal TV today. Do you know they are using the latest technology to find the remains of our daddy? They are searching in the convent where he is believed to have been buried. 
    
Había varias. Pero no hablemos de eso. Permíteme cambiar de tema. Dieron una noticia interesante en tele mortal hoy. ¿Sabes que están utilizando la tecnología más punta para encontrar los restos de nuestro papá? Están buscando en el convento donde se supone que fue enterrado.

 
Don Quijote 

Was there anything to be found? Nothing yet? Well, I really hope they find him. We could go to pay our respects and put some flowers on his grave.But for the present, let us review there was, there were, there wasn´t and there weren´t. I know eight rules.

¿Se pudo encontrar algo?  ¿Todavía nada? Pues espero que le encuentren. Podríamos ir a visitarle y a poner flores en su tumba. Pero de momento, repasemos there was, there were, there wasn´t y there weren´t. Yo me sé ocho reglas.

Para singular: there was, there wasn´t
Para plural: there were, there weren´t
Con some: there was, there were (sólo afirmativa)
Con no: there was no, there were no  
 Con any: there wasn´t any, there weren´t any (sólo negativa)
Con any: was there, were there, wasn´t there, weren´t there (interrogativa)

En la interrogativa, se usan wasn´t there o weren´t there para las preguntas cuya respuesta ya crees que sabes. Sólo preguntas para que te confirmen esa respuesta.
También se usan wasn´t there y weren´t there en la interrogativa para expresar sorpresa.
 
There was, there were, there wasn´t, there weren´t.
___1. There (a)was b)were) flowers in the vase.
___2. There (a)were b)weren´t) any people in the room.
___3. There (a)was b)weren´t) many windows. At least six.
___4. There (a)was b)were) some milk in the fridge.
___5. There (a)wasn´t b)weren´t) any children in the park.
___6.  There (a) was b)were) enough chairs.
___7. There (a) was b)were) many posters on the walls.
___8. There (a)wasn´t b)weren´t) anyone at home.
___9. There (a)was b)were) somebody outside waiting for you.
___10. There (a)were b)weren´t) no  red pencils in the pencil case.
___11. There (a)were b)weren´t) any of my friends at the party.
___12. I saw that there (a)was b)were) two men in the dark blue van.
___13. There (a)was b)weren´t) many students in class today. Most were on a field trip.
___14. There (a)were b)weren´t) no lemons growing on the tree.
___15. There (a)was b)were) some peanuts in a small green bowl.

Was there, were there, wasn´t there, weren´t there:
___1. (a)Was b)Were) there any apples in the fruit basket?
___2. (a)Wasn´t b)Weren´t) there any water?
___3. (a)Was b)Wasn´t) there a teacher in the classroom? How strange!
___4. (a)Was b)Were) there two cars in the garage?
___5. (a)Was b)Were) there children in the cinema?
___6. (a)Was b)Were) there a rainbow in the sky?
___7. (a)Weren´t b)Were) there any biscuits? I bought a lot.
___8. (a)Wasn´t b)Was) there a candy shop in this street when we were little? I think there was one. Do you remember it?
___9. (a)Was b)Were) there many stalls in the mediaeval market?
___10. (a)Was b)Wasn´t) there a girl named Sandra in our class? A redhead?
___11.(a)Wasn´t b)Weren´t) there any sandwiches left?
___12. (a)Wasn´t b)Weren´t) there a Jewish family living near your house? The Meirs? 
___13. (a)Was b)Were) there any Italians in your English class?
___14. (a)Was b)Were) there cherry trees in Grandpa´s orchard? 
___15. (a)Wasn´t b)Were) there any sugar? 

ANSWERS: / RESPUESTAS:


Tuesday, 22 April 2014

Wild Flowers for Earth Day / Flores silvestres para el día de la tierra


Today is Earth Day and we are going to plant wild flowers.
/ Hoy es el Día de la Tierra y vamos a plantar flores silvestres. 

Saturday, 19 April 2014

Pysanky / Pisankas




The kids are surprised and delighted by the mysterious decorated eggs hanging from a little branch of the Easter tree.

Los niños están sorprendidos y encantados con los misteriosos huevos decorados que cuelgan de una ramita del árbol de Pascua Florida.

  Alpin

Why haven´t you asked me if I painted those eggs? Think only the bad and never the good of Alpin. You didn´t hesitate to accuse me of stealing them, Thistle, you suspicious skinflint.

¿Por que no me has preguntado si yo pinté esos huevos? Pensad sólo lo malo y nunca lo bueno de Alpin. No dudaste en acusarme de robar esos huevos, Cardo, rácana desconfiada.


 Thistle

That will do. You´ve made your point. We are four and there are five eggs. One for each of us and one for the mysterious painter. You get to choose one first, Alpin. That should make you feel better.

¡Ya basta! Lo has dejado claro. Somos cuatro y hay cinco huevos. Uno para cada uno de nosotros y otro para el misterioso pintor. Tú serás el primero en elegir, Alpin. Eso debería hacer que te sientas mejor. 

 
Come on, choose!

 ¡Venga, escoge!

 Arley

Be careful with those eggs. It would be enough that they are pretty, but they are also talismans meant to ward off evil.

Tened mucho cuidado con esos huevos. Bastaría con que sean bonitos, pero es que además son talismanes que ahuyentan el mal.  

 Heather
 
It´s funny, what you´ve just said. Last night I dreamt that the world would exist only while eggs were painted. It would go with the last painted egg. A snake would swallow it. Oh, well. The night before that I dreamt I made good at the stock market. I didn´t even know what a stock market was before I dreamt about it. I guess I learn something new every night.
  
Es curioso que hayas dicho eso. Anoche soñé que el mundo sólo seguiría existiendo mientras se pintasen huevos. Se iría con el último huevo pintado. Una serpiente se lo tragaría. Bueno, anteanoche soñé que me fue bien en la bolsa. Yo ni sabía lo que era la bolsa hasta que soñé con ella. Supongo que cada noche aprendo algo nuevo.

 
  Kikicheeky / Kikimorrito
 
Keep painting eggs!

¡Seguid pintando huevos!

 
Happy Easter / ¡Feliz Pascua Florida!

   

Thursday, 17 April 2014

Say or Tell



 Sancho

This is something like are you saying this or are you telling it to me but a trifle more complicated. There are a few details you should bear in mind. 

Esto es algo así como me lo dices o me lo cuentas pero en bastante más complicado. Hay unos cuantos detalles que conviene recordar.

Para decir algo, usa “say.”
Para decirle algo a alguien, usa “tell.”
I said I was happy. / Dije que estaba contento.
I told you I was happy. / Te dije a ti que estaba contento.

Pero se puede decir algo a alguien con “say to…”
I said to her that I was happy. / Le dije a ella que estaba contento.
Es imprescindible el “to.” Y esto no siempre suena muy bien, aunque sea correcto.

Tell se usa para:
- contar un cuento /  tell a story
Susan told (us) a very funny story during lunch. / Susana (nos) contó una historia muy graciosa durante el almuerzo.
- contar un chiste / tell a joke
That comedian tells really funny jokes. / Ese cómico cuenta chistes realmente graciosos. 
- decir la verdad / tell the truth
Bill finally told (his wife) the truth about where he went last night. Guille por fin contó (a su mujer) la verdad sobre dónde estuvo anoche.
- contar o decir una mentira /  tell a lie
Peter tells (everybody) the most unbelievable lies. / Pedro cuenta (a todo el mundo) las mentiras más increibles.
- decir la hora / tell the time
Can you please tell me what time it is?
¿Puedes por favor decirme que hora es?
- predecir el futuro /  tell one´s fortune
The fortuneteller told Jane´s fortune.
La adivina predijo el futuro de Juana.

Say y tell se pueden usar en preguntas normalmente:
Did she say she was coming? / ¿Dijo que iba a venir?
Did she tell you she was coming? / ¿Te dijo a ti que iba a venir?
What did she say? / ¿Qué dijo?
When did she tell you that? / ¿Cuándo te dijo eso?

Pero no se pueden usar ni say ni tell con preguntas indirectas. Hay que usar ask.
She asked (us) what we were doing in her house.
Nos preguntó (a nosotros) que estábamos haciendo nosotros en su casa.
I asked Mary why she was sad.
Le pregunté a María por qué estaba triste.
The cook asked Fred if he was hungry.
El cocinero le preguntó a Fede si estaba hambriento.

Test: Fill in with say, tell, or ask
1. The concierge ­­­____________ me a man was waiting for me in the hall.
2. Clara ____________ that she had received many beautiful birthday presents.
3. Don´t believe George. It´s clear he´s lying. Look how he´s laughing.  He is ____________ you a lie.
4. Jane ____________ that it was twelve o´clock when the phone rang.
5. Mary can´t ___________ us what time it is. She doesn´t have a watch either.
6. The teacher ___________ the pupils to keep their books.
7. Ralph always ___________ interesting stories.
8. They ____________ they had bought the red car.
9- Herbie _____________ that he liked our cookies.
10. “The Storyteller” is a TV show where an old man and his dog ___________ children´s stories.
11. My boss _____________ that I was a good employee.
12. Mr. White _____________ the maid to open the door.
13. Julia _____________ me if I had received her e-mail.
14. Mrs. Ellis __________ her daughter to remember to buy rice.
15.  The French boy ___________Alice that his name was Pierre.
16. She _____________ us not to forget to turn off the lights.
17. The policeman ____________ the little boy where he lived.
18.  Sylvia _______________ her boyfriend a terrible lie.
19. He ________________ that he had to leave.
20.  What did Bill ________________ Alice?
21. Paula ___________ me where she could buy a beautiful dress for little money.
22. Alfred ____________ if Jenna was at home.
23. Rita ___________ her husband if he still loved her.
24. Rita´s husband ___________ her that he still loved her.
25. Rita´s husband __________ that, yes, he still loved her.
26. Robert __________ his sister that she had to help him.
27. Robert __________ his sister to help him.
28. Charles is very honest. He always __________ the truth.
29. Use the tarot cards to _____________ Kay´s fortune.
30. Dr. Abu _________ Monica to take this medicine twice a day.
31. “Go away!” __________ Angela.
32. “Where is Alex?” __________ his sister.
33. “I want to buy some ice-cream,” Lorena _________ me.
34.  “Let me pay for the tickets,” _________ Matt.
35. “I´m awfully tired tonight,” _________ Paul.
36.-37.  ______ something funny. _________ us one of your jokes. 
38. Why are you ___________ me this?
39. Nell __________ me  some very interesting gossip. 
40. Abigail and Howie are always ___________ absurd stuff.
41. Don´t _________ me you forgot to fetch Keith!
42. They ________ Alanna is a very beautiful girl.
43. How must I __________ you that you can´t smoke here?
44. That sign _________ you can´t park here.
45. There is a poster on the wall that _________ we must keep calm and carry on.
46. If you´ve heard the latest news, __________ it to me. I have no idea what is going on in the world.
47. What did you _________ when they asked you for your passport?
48. Who _________ it is better to give than to receive?
49. I __________ what was happening, because I didn't know.
50. People _________ the food in that restaurant is very good.

Answers/ Respuestas







Monday, 14 April 2014

The Easter Egg Tree / El árbol de huevos de Pascua



The kids have hung the eggs they coloured with natural dyes from a tree in Titania´s garden. To their surprise, a mysterious someone else has hung some carefully decorated eggs from a little branch.

Los niños han colgado los huevos que colorearon con tintes naturales de un árbol en el jardín de Titania. Para su sorpresa, alguien más y muy misterioso ha colgado de una ramita unos huevos cuidadosamente decorados. 

 To be continued.  / Continuara.

Wednesday, 2 April 2014

Past Simple Test / Test del Pasado Simple

PAST SIMPLE TEST

I – Fill in the blanks with the past simple.
1. Jane ____________ (have) a cold last week.
2. The boys ____________(not come) to school today.
3. Peter ____________(plant) pumpkins in a patch. (pedazo de terreno)
4. The hyacinths ___________ (bloom) beautifully.(florecer)
5. My grandfather ___________ (not drive) a  bus.
6. Robert´s barber ___________(cut) his hair  yesterday.
7. Last night, we ___________(dine) at a French restaruant.
8. Anne ___________ (celebrate) her birthday in our house.
9.-10. Jack ____________(not fix) Mary´s computer. Paul _______ (do).
11. Helen _________ (swim) very well.
12. Alfred __________ (not forget) to buy bread.
13. Marcello __________ (speak) Italian.
14. Pauline and her brother __________ (climb) up the hill.
15. Frank almost ___________(fall) from his motorcycle.

II – Write questions for these answers:
1.
We played golf at the Country Club.

2.
She received presents on Christmas Day and her birthday.

3.
He painted the Easter eggs with natural dyes.

4.
He painted the Easter Eggs with natural dyes.

5.
I sent Mary an invitation because she is my cousin.

6.
John´s horse won the race.

7.
I found the Roman coins with a metal detector.

8.
No, you didn´t hurt me.

9.
Yes, she brought her little sister with her.

10.
No, Picasso didn´t paint the Mona Lisa.

11.
I shut the door.

12.
Alfred spelled the words correctly.

13.
They remembered it was Mother´s Day.

14.
They hid the jewels in a cave.

15.
Aloysius found the toy his son lost.

III – Fill in the blanks with the past simple.

Yesterday, Jane ____________ (go) to have her picture taken by the best photographer in town. She _____________ (want) to send the picture to her boyfriend, Earl, who was in Berlin. He ____________(have) to spend a year there and she ___________(be) afraid he might forget her if he _____________(not see) her face everyday. So she _____________ (decide) to send him a beautiful picture of herself. The photographer _____________ (take) three good pictures of Jane, but she _____________ (not like) any of  them. She ____________ (feel) she ______________ (not look) good enough in any of the three. The photographer __________ (tell) her to go to the beauty parlour and fix her hair. Jane _____________(not think) much of the new look the hairdresser created for her. She ___________(think)  she ____________ (look) awful. Finally, Jane __________ (buy) an airplane ticket to Berlin and ___________ (visit) her boyfriend in person.

IV - Write these sentences in English.
1. Ayer vimos a Ana en el supermercado.
2. Julia vendió el collar de oro.
3. Mi tío salio a pasear temprano esta mañana.
4. Pedro se sentó entre sus dos amigos.
5. Tú ganaste el concurso de cartas de amor.
6. El jueves pasado, Alicia y yo estudiamos juntas.
7. Anoche vimos la tele.
.

ANSWERS / RESPUESTAS












Tuesday, 1 April 2014

Every-,Some-, Any-, No- Test

Everything, Something, Anything, Nothing
Everything significa todo.
Something significa algo, usa esta palabra en oraciones afirmativas solamente de momento.
Anything también significa algo, pero úsala sólo en oraciones negativas e interrogativas por ahora.
Nothing es nada, pero como dos negativas no pueden ir juntas, sólo se puede usar en oraciones que parecen afirmativas.

Everybody, Somebody, Anybody y Nobody
Everybody significa todos. Úsala en afirmativas y siempre con el verbo en singular.
Somebody significa alguién. Úsala en afirmativas y también con el verbo en singular.
Anybody también es alguién, pero se usa en negativas e interrogativas y tambien con el verbo en singular.
Nobody significa nadie.Úsala en oraciones que parecen afirmativas con el verbo en singular.
Recuerda, todas se usan con el verbo en singular.

Everyone, Someone, Anyone, y No one
Estas son exactamente lo mismo que everybody, somebody, anybody y nobody. Y exactamente lo mismo significa que también se usan con el verbo en singular. Da igual usar una de las terminadas en one que usar una de las terminadas en body.

Everywhere, Somewhere, Anywhere, Nowhere
Everywhere significa en todas partes. Verbo en singular.
Somewhere significa en alguna parte. Se usa en afirmativas. Verbo en singular.
Anywhere es en alguna parte. Para negativas e interrogativas. Verbo en singular.
Nowhere significa en ninguna parte. Se usa en oraciones que parecen afirmativas. Verbo en singular.

Ojo: Como ves, todas estas palabras se usan con el verbo en singular.

Estas son las normas más básicas. Las excepciones y complicaciones con estas palabras las veremos en otra ocasión.

TEST
1. ____________ is already here. All the people you invited came.
2. ____________ ate my cookies.Who do you think ate them?
3. Is there ____________ in the office on Saturday?
4. ___________ wants to have problems. People want to be happy.
5. I don´t have my address book. I must have left it ___________.
6. I can´t find my address book ____________.
7. It is ____________ to be seen. I can´t see it. Can you?
8. I saw Jonathan ____________ yesterday. But I can´t remember where.
9. Is there a clothes shop ____________ in this neighborhood?
10. John lives ____________ in Alaska.
11. Is _____________ interested in learning French with Marie?
12. ____________ says Helen is very beautiful.
13. ____________ cooks as well as my grandmother cooks.
14. ____________ called you this afternoon. It was a woman, but she didn´t say who she was.
15. I don´t want to speak with _____________ today.
16. I want to go to Australia. I don´t want to spend my vacations ____________ else.
17. Are you going _____________ this August?
18. Muskuslandia is ______________ on the map. Are you sure it exists?
19.- 20 _____________ wants to lose. _____________ wants to win.
21. I don´t want to have _____________ for dinner. I had too much to eat for lunch.
22. The children are hiding ____________ in the garden.
23. We can´t see ___________ in this contract that says you can´t buy a new car.
24. I won´t pay for _____________. Mark will invite me.
25. There is ____________ in the fridge. It´s empty.
26. Is ___________ happy? I want you all to have fun.
27. I don´t want to go that school. I don´t like ____________ in that class. 
28. John travels a lot. He has been _____________.
29. - 30. I´m bored. Let´s do _____________! Let´s go ___________!
31. It rained, so we didn't go ___________.
32. ___________ is ready. We can serve dinner.
33. I want to be ____________ someday. I want to be important.
34. I have a pencil ___________ in my bag. Here it is. 
35. I didn´t tell ___________ that Ida was coming to visit us. It´s a surprise.


ANSWERS / RESPUESTAS


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