THE SCHOOL CULTURE (moumen-med): 2010

السر في التعليم يكمن في احترام الطالب

What Makes A Good Teacher ?

UNESCO published a book entitled What makes a Good Teacher? (1996). Over 500 children from some 50 countries aged 8-12 contributed their opinions. What follows are some of their responses. You can also submit your ideas on the topic.

Response from our Web visitors
A great teacher Interacts with the child (physically, and mentally)
A great teacher gives affection to the pupils, makes them understand what emotion is.
A great teacher smiles to his/her pupils even when they screw him up.
A great teacher teaches not only text book materials but also The truth that's happening outside. Practice balanced with theory.
A great teacher dedicates him/herself to the job. They made a commitment. Then they have to do it.
A great teacher understands that a child is not only a tiny bundle of joy that can cry, smile, laugh. He/she must understand that in front of him stands a true miracle of life.
Yuventius, Jakarta, Indonesia

A good teacher is someone who teaches not only with mind, but also with heart.
Syanne Helly, East Java, Indonesia
A teacher should have 3 essential qualities.....
BACK GROUND KNOWLEDGE
PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
PERSONAL QUALITIES.
There is a saying,"GIVE ME A FISH AND I EAT FOR A DAY, TEACH ME TO FISH AND I EAT FOR A LIFE TIME". This must be a philosophy of a good teacher... She/he should be patient and kind, flexibile and resourceful, tolerant and open minded with a good sense of humour. Enthusiastic and enjoys teaching. should be honest, imaginative and creative. Efficient. Self-disciplined. Helpful. Humble and modest........ In my opinion teacher should be like this.
SHEEBA RAMACHANDRAN, BURAIDHA, KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA

One who help his students in all respects. He makes his students able to live better life. He teaches students to take decisions in all the conditions. Who is good teacher for his students and also good students for his students and society, having moral character and model for building new good society.
Prafull Bhasarkar, Babupeth, Chandrapur, India

I think that a good teacher should be a good and complete person: curious, passionate, interested about their pupils' interests, wishes, feelings... A really good teacher should be child in his soul which mean, creative, imaginative and ready for exploration etc.
Mirjana Kazija, Rijeka, Croatia

I was graduated as a teacher of english in Albania.What really makes a very good teacher is having a lot of intuition and intelligence because having these qualities you will have the power to understand your students'phsycology and behaviour and helping them out would be much easier.A teacher should also be super comprensive to understand what's going on in the students'world.And a teacher should the subject that he/she is teaching.
Migena Mullaj, Reseda, California, USA

A good teacher makes herself available to all students, however, knows which students need extra assistance.
A good teacher is an effective communicator, however, who knows when she needs to change her communicating techniques to be sure students can grasp instructional concepts.
A good teacher allows students to ask questions, however, does not answer questions without drawing from other students' learning experience first.
A good teacher has classroom rules and procedures which help students know what is expected from them and how the students can help themselves.
A good teacher encourages cooperation and sets an example with other students and faculty.
A good teacher is flexible and able to change lessons "spur of the moment" in order to accommodate the needs of her students.
A good teacher respects all students and encourages good performance.
Marie Garcia, Oyster Bay, NY, USA

A great teacher can be defined by two simple words. Best friend. Who better to trust than a best friend? Who better to love and be loved in return than a best friend? Who better to gain knowledge from, than a best friend? Finally, who better to remember throughout the days of your life, than a best friend? Let's all be teachers, shall we?
Marco Melendez, San Angelo, Texas, USA

A teacher must have motherly love with their students (Means he should be a mother in the school).
He must have Moral character and honesty.
He must be well prepared with his subjects.
He must have a good knowledge of his subjects.
Physically and mentally fit for the job.
He should be active and smart in the classroom.
While teaching he should use so many support materials.
The support material should be prepared himself.
The pupils should be joyful in the class.
Laxman Wadgire, Yavatmal, Maharashtra, India

A good teacher of children understands childhood in an engaging way. She understands that childhood culture is more universal than adult culture, and therefore easier to engage with any place any time.
KUKUBO BARASA, NAIROBI, KENYA

Everybody will have their own opinion on this because it is impossible to please everybody at the same time. It is very difficult to say what a good teacher is when I am still a student and have seen my share of what a teacher should do. I think that the qualities that a teacher should maintain are the abilities to relate to their students on their on level, make learning fun and easy to understand, be nice so students will listen, make the kids look forward to entering the classroom, and above all.... maintain control.
Katie, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.A.

"When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece" (Ruskin) It is fundamental that a teacher cares about humanity in general. Once we love, enjoy and appreciate the individuality of each and every child in our classroom - everything else falls into place. A good teacher takes cognisance of the fact that they are role models for children remembering that we teach more by what we do than by what we say! This is a challenge for the best of us!!!!
Judith Butler, county Cork, Ireland

Using his/her heart in teaching,he/she must love children and able to bring satisfaction in learning.
Dwi Rahayu, Jakarta,Indonesia

A good teacher is someone who can learn from his students, who can learn with them, and for them. He also must be honest in his relationships with students, and proud enough about his own value to work, from there, on helping his students to build their own self esteem.
Christian Berger, Santiago, Chile

A good teacher is someone who is a learner herself.
Astrid, Perth, WA, Australia

One who has no bias, no fixed point of view, open eyes to see and explore life and learning itself, is the best teacher for he is a child too!
Ashish, Mumbai, Maharshtra, India

I think a good teacher should always show his students the values behind the items he/she is teaching in an exciting and friendly way.
Aly AlSabbagh, Cairo, Egypt

I have been reading through this column - "What makes a good teacher?" The qualities mentioned are great, no doubt, but if a little bit more is added to the forum, I believe the teacher will be a model teacher.
The teacher should be loving, know the children personally in order to help them with their problems.
Caring and sharing nature will help the teacher to know the children better.
Children love and like the teachers more in whom they can confide.
To win their confidence should be the teacher's first aim - though strictness has to be in its place.
vinod Bala Jain, Meerut, U.P., India

A good teacher represents some of the following qualities:
has to be interested in his own subjects and at the same time open-minded for others and other topics.
has to be strict, self-confident and show authority, but at the same time he has to be the pupils' "helper" and quite often even something like their friend who they can talk to if problems occur.
has therefore to find a balance between him representing an authority or a friend.
likes to work with children.
enjoys teaching.
arrives in time to start a lesson and ends a lesson in time because of good organisation and planning.
uses different methods to liven up his lessons and therefore keep his pupils' attention.
has to gain the pupils' interest in his subject.
conveys information and keeps the pupils' attention.
has to be patient.
A good teacher still remains a human being like you and me so that it is obvious that the qualities listed above are useful to keep in mind to be or become a good teacher, but they are only few of the qualities teachers need to "survive" in their everyday life.
Birte Schneeweiß, Dagmar Schulz, Berit Hencke, Kiel, Germany

A good teacher needs (besides a lot of other important features) to provide feedback and consequences to students. It makes no sense if a teacher tells a pupil to leave the class five times. Advice can only be useful if they are taken seriously. Apart from that a good teacher, of course, has to be humorous, friendly (but not too friendly), and well prepared for the lessons. And it is important for a teacher to find the right way between passion for his subject and the interests of the class.
Thomas Tschirner, Kiel, Germany

In brief, a teacher needs self-confidence and knowledge about her subject(s), but the most important thing is that a teacher has to enjoy what she does! She has to be enthusiastic and she has to have a true interest in her pupils!!!
Hannah Gunther, Kiel, Germany

A good teacher
has to be patient
wants to improve his teaching methods
has mastery of his/her subject
has to be motivated to give his/her pupil the same interest for the subject that he has
has to understand how children act
has to remember how it was when he/she was a child
Franziska Lindenthal, Kiel, Germany

A good teacher should be friendly and consequently should listen to the pupils and he/she should care for every pupil in the class.
Christiane Stroeher, Kiel, Germany
A good teacher is well prepared for every session; knows what and how children/pupils want to learn about his/her subject and is so interested in pupils behaviour...; a teacher needs to be respected by the pupils as the teacher of the subject and so talk in a firm and gentle voice; has to make pupils feel successful and of course tries to really make them a successful student of his subject; he has to express/radiate his interest to his subject in a way that the pupils can feel it and start feeling the same...
Torben Wolgast, Kiel, Germany

A teacher should have various qualities. First of all he/she should love to be a teacher and fond of his/her subjects. He/she should be patient with his/her students and be able to explain the subject matter to them well. His/her class should be a mixture of learning by doing and theoretical learning and should be fun as well. A teacher should be a person you can always speak to and be able to give you some advice in case you need help. He/she also needs to be friendly but also a little strict so students pay respect.
Claudia Thiel, Kiel, Germany

A Teacher must know well about:
psychology of children
education psychology
his duties and obligations
the parental behaviour
the methods and techniques of teaching/learning.
Besides,he must have up-to-date knowledge of the subjects he is teaching.
Sajjad Haider, Islamabad, Pakistan

I want to be a guide for "my children": I want them to look to the world, ask themselves questions, see that they can do something, be surprised and curious to learn, grateful for what they have and have respect for eachother and for others... There are so many things that we can do.
Maaike Corteville, Ingelmunster, Belgium

A good teacher is the one who:
is a master in the subjects taught.
always thinks to improve the teaching techniques.
always tries to produce quality students (quality results).
does 'needs assessments' to help students meet the requirements.
Mohamad Hazawawi Yusof, Perak, Malaysia

One who doesn't 'teach' but instead is willing to 'learn' with the child and from the child. The minute one thinks one 'knows' something that very moment he/she doesn't!
Vivekananda Roy Ghatak, Gujarat, India

A good teacher is the one that takes his/her own initiatives to prepare the students to become valuable assets to his/her own country.
A good teacher is the one who cares and is committed to his/her work for the children.
A good teacher is the one with a big HEART.
A good teacher is the one that provides good coaching for his/her students.
A good teacher is the one that has excellent end results.
Stanley Ret, Colonia, Yap State FM

A good teacher never forgets what it is like to be a learner - vulnerable, anxious and dependent! Remembering this, a good teacher looks at a student and sees "only the soul of a human being". A student is a teacher's equal - both leading each other to grow in knowledge, both learning about 'self' and not playing a power struggle for today, both smiling in satisfaction for a job well done!
Susan Sheldon, USA

One who is child friendly, caring, kind hearted, humble, patient, who has the fear of God, who is always ready to give a listening ear, who is not jealous (because most teachers are always jealous and envious of their students), a motherly love.
I feel there should be a rule and punishment for teachers who maltreat and call children names. Teachers are suppose to be children's best friends instead they are their worst enemies. In fact, some children refuse to go to school because of their teachers. Children are not suppose to learn with fear.
I work with a children NGO and they children complain a lot to me about their teachers.
Ngozi Ekwerike, Nigeria

A real friend is someone who knows all about you and still he loves you. A good teacher is a good friend. A good teacher is someone who teaches us like children with love.
Arif Raza, Pakistan

Good teaching is keeping yourself in the shoes of your students.
A good teacher should live his/her life in such a way that those who are watching him/her will not be led astray.
A good teacher should have a teachable heart.
Fe Espiritu, Philippines

A good teacher does not dictate what is written on the book or the curricullum. A good teacher shows the whole wide world to the students.
Mario Martino Rustan (age 18), Indonesia

Today's child will be a man of tomorrow.Teachers must be a symbol of kindness and love.
Zahid Shah, Pakistan

I think a good teacher must guide the student throughout his needs, both textual and personal. He should love, serve and honour the child.
Amritanshu, India

A good teacher is like a loving parent... fair, respectful, flexible and able to bounce back after even the gravest challenges.
Enitan Mason, USA

A good teacher means someone who plays a role as children's mate in learning, and she/he should be someone who thinks and acts at the best of her/his children's view and growth.
Linda Ivonne, Indonesia

A good teacher is one who challanges her students to be all that they can be.
from Barbara Murphy, USA

Everyone in the world is a teacher in a sense. We all teach something to someone at one point in our lives. However, some of us succed to be great teachers. I believe this happens when a teacher believes in the power of education. When you teach with the certitude that everyone can learn from you. When the student does not learn the way the teacher teaches, then the good teacher teaches the way the student learns.
Ana Laura Garcia Gutierrez, Special Education Teacher, Mexico

A good teacher must be prepared to be foolish if that will help his pupil attain wisdom.
A good teacher, like the good shepherd, must "lay down his life" (sacrifice all) so that the pupil can be solidly grounded in wisdom and understanding.
A good teacher derives absolute satisfaction from seeing his pupil contribute to making life more meaningful to fellow human beings.
A good teacher is always willing to learn from (and of) his pupil.
A good teacher sits at his pupil's feet tirelessly.
A good teacher disciplines himself before anyone else.
Ruth Agamah, Nigeria

A good teacher is someone who will do everything in their power to make every child feel loved and sucessful in some way because all children learn differently and are their own unique individuals.
Mary Kalix, USA

A good teacher must be patient, with gentle but firm voice, can go down to the level of his pupils and willing to learn from them.
from Regina Z. Ubana, Philippines

To be a good teacher, it is fundamental:
to feel like a child
to think like a child
to act like a child
to reason and react as an understanding adult, remembering that one has once been a child, and it's time to revive that child
from Oscar Pacheco

A good teacher must first have been a good student.
from Deborah Barger, USA

"A good teacher is one who can express his\her point of view clearly, who can understand a child's problem, who is ready to help at any time, who knows what is right and what is wrong. A teacher who is very hardworking and friendly too. Who can light the future of child."
from Aruna Hissaria
(submit your opinions on what makes a good teacher) from UNESCO (1996) What makes a good teacher? Paris: UNESCO
The teacher is to the students what the rain is to the field.
Zaira Alexandra Rodriguez Guijarro, 11, (Mexico)
A good teacher should treat all pupils like his own children. He should answer all questions, even if they are stupid.
Fatoumata, 11, Chad
To become a good teacher, you not only teach the children but you also have to learn from them.
Tasha-Leigh, 12, Jamaica
A good teacher answers the needs of the pupils and not only the needs of the chosen programme.
Omar, 12, Morocco
I like a teacher who helps me think and get answers for myself.
Bongani Sicelo, 9, Zimbabwe

Others have emphasised the central role of teachers:
see Delors, J. (1996) Learning: The Treasure Within Paris: UNESCO
Teacher Dale Gordon has written her own manifesto for helping her students learn.
Best wishes from MOUMEN-MOHAMED (Teacher of English in Annaba/Algeria)

IRREGULAR VERBS

Verbes irréguliers anglais
Les 35 verbes irréguliers en rouge foncé ont une forme régulière aussi.Un astérisque (*) signifie un verbe irrégulier assez rare.Il y a aussi des exercices sur les verbes irréguliers, voir l'index des exercices.

Infinitif
Prétérit
Participe Passé
Traduction et notes
1.*
abide
abode
abode
demeurer
2.
awake
awoke
awoken
(se) réveiller, aussi awake/awoke/awoke
3.
be
was/were
been
être
4.
bear
bore
borne
porter/supporter/soutenir
5.
beat
beat
beaten
battre
6.
become
became
become
devenir
7.*
beget
begat
begotten
engendrer, aussi beget/begot/begotten
8.
begin
began
begun
commencer
9.
bend
bent
bent
se courber, etc.
10.*
bereave
bereft
bereft
déposséder/priver
11.*
beseech
besought
besought
supplier
12.
bet
bet
bet
parier
13.
bid
bade
bidden
ordonner, etc., bid/bade/bidden ou bade ou bid
14.
bind
bound
bound
lier
15.
bite
bit
bitten
mordre
16.
bleed
bled
bled
saigner
17.
blow
blew
blown
souffler
18.
break
broke
broken
casser
19.
breed
bred
bred
élever
20.
bring
brought
brought
apporter
21.
build
built
built
construire
22.
burn
burnt
burnt
brûler
23.
burst
burst
burst
éclater
24.
buy
bought
bought
acheter
25.
cast
cast
cast
jeter, etc.
26.
catch
caught
caught
attraper
27.*
chide
chid
chidden
gronder/réprimander, aussi chide/chid/chid
28.
choose
chose
chosen
choisir
29.*
cleave
cleft
cleft
fendre/coller, aussi cleave/clove/clove
30.
cling
clung
clung
se cramponner
31.
come
came
come
venir
32.
cost
cost
cost
coûter
33.
creep
crept
crept
ramper/se glisser/se hérisser
34.
crow
crew
crowed
chanter (un coq)/jubiler
35.
cut
cut
cut
couper
36.
deal
dealt
dealt
distribuer/traiter
37.
dig
dug
dug
bêcher
38.
do
did
done
faire
39.
draw
drew
drawn
tirer/dessiner
40.
dream
dreamt
dreamt
rêver
41.
drink
drank
drunk
boire
42.
drive
drove
driven
conduire
43.
dwell
dwelt
dwelt
habiter/rester
44.
eat
ate
eaten
manger
45.
fall
fell
fallen
tomber
46.
feed
fed
fed
nourrir
47.
feel
felt
felt
(se) sentir
48.
fight
fought
fought
combattre
49.
find
found
found
trouver
50.
flee
fled
fled
fuir
51.
fling
flung
flung
jeter
52.
fly
flew
flown
voler
53.
forbid
forbade
forbidden
interdire
54.
forget
forgot
forgotten
oublier
55.
forgive
forgave
forgiven
pardonner
56.*
forsake
forsook
forsaken
abandonner
57.
freeze
froze
frozen
geler
58.
get
got
got
obtenir
59.*
gird
girt
girt
ceindre
60.
give
gave
given
donner
61.
go
went
gone
aller
62.
grind
ground
ground
broyer/moudre
63.
grow
grew
grown
cultiver/pousser/grandir
64.
hang
hung
hung
pendre, régulier si c'est une forme d'exécution
65.
have
had
had
avoir
66.
hear
heard
heard
entendre
67.
heave
hove
hove
lever, etc.
68.*
hew
hewed
hewn
couper/tailler
69.
hide
hid
hidden
(se) cacher, ou hide/hid/hid
70.
hit
hit
hit
frapper
71.
hold
held
held
tenir
72.
hurt
hurt
hurt
nuire
73.
keep
kept
kept
garder
74.
kneel
knelt
knelt
s'agenouiller
75.
knit
knit
knit
tricoter
76.
know
knew
known
savoir/connaître
77.
lay
laid
laid
étendre/coucher, etc.
78.
lead
led
led
mener
79.
lean
leant
leant
pencher
80.
leap
leapt
leapt
sauter/bondir
81.
learn
learnt
learnt
apprendre
82.
leave
left
left
quitter/laisser
83.
lend
lent
lent
prêter
84.
let
let
let
laisser/louer
85.
lie
lay
lain
reposer/être couché, régulier lorsqu'il signifie 'mentir'
86.
light
lit
lit
allumer
87.
lose
lost
lost
perdre
88.
make
made
made
faire
89.
mean
meant
meant
vouloir dire/signifier
90.
meet
met
met
rencontrer
91.
mow
mowed
mown
faucher/tondre
92.
pay
paid
paid
payer
93.
prove
proved
proven
prouver, régulier d'ordinaire
94.
put
put
put
mettre
95.
quit
quit
quit
quitter/abandonner
96.
read
read
read
lire
97.*
rend
rent
rent
déchirer
98.
rid
rid
ridden
se débarrasser, aussi rid/ridded/rid
99.
ride
rode
ridden
monter (cheval, etc.)
100.
ring
rang
rung
sonner/résonner
101.
rise
rose
risen
se lever
102.
run
ran
run
courir
103.
saw
sawed
sawn
scier
104.
say
said
said
dire
105.
see
saw
seen
voir
106.
seek
sought
sought
chercher
107.
sell
sold
sold
vendre
108.
send
sent
sent
envoyer
109.
set
set
set
mettre, etc.
110.
sew
sewed
sewn
coudre
111.
shake
shook
shaken
secouer
112.
shear
sheared
shorn
tondre
113.
shed
shed
shed
perdre (feuilles)/laisser tomber (larmes/sang), etc.
114.
shine
shone
shone
briller
115.
shoe
shod
shod
chausser
116.
shoot
shot
shot
tirer/tuer par balle/filmer, etc.
117.
show
showed
shown
montrer
118.
shrink
shrank
shrunk
(se) contracter/(se) rétrécir, aussi shrink/shrunk/shrunk
119.*
shrive
shrove
shriven
absoudre
120.
shut
shut
shut
fermer
121.
sing
sang
sung
chanter
122.
sink
sank
sunk
enfoncer/couler, etc., aussi sink/sunk/sunk
123.
sit
sat
sat
s'asseoir, etc.
124.
slay
slew
slain
tuer
125.
sleep
slept
slept
dormir
126.
slide
slid
slid
glisser
127.
sling
slung
slung
lancer
128.
slink
slunk
slunk
aller furtivement
129.
slit
slit
slit
(se) fendre
130.
smell
smelt
smelt
sentir/flairer
131.*
smite
smote
smitten
frapper/vaincre
132.
sow
sowed
sown
semer
133.
speak
spoke
spoken
parler
134.
speed
sped
sped
se presser
135.
spell
spelt
spelt
épeler/orthographier
136.
spend
spent
spent
dépenser
137.
spill
spilt
spilt
(se) renverser/(se) répandre
138.
spin
span
spun
faire tourner/filer, aussi spin/spun/spun
139.
spit
spat
spat
cracher, aussi spit/spit/spit
140.
split
split
split
(se) fendre
141.
spoil
spoilt
spoilt
abîmer/gâter, etc.
142.
spread
spread
spread
étendre
143.
spring
sprang
sprung
bondir, aussi spring/sprung/sprung
144.
stand
stood
stood
être debout
145.*
stave
stove
stove
défoncer/crever
146.
steal
stole
stolen
voler
147.
stick
stuck
stuck
coller
148.
sting
stung
stung
piquer/brûler
149.
stink
stank
stunk
puer, aussi stink/stunk/stunk
150.*
strew
strew
strewn
semer/joncher
151.
stride
strode
stridden
marcher à grands pas, aussi stride/strode/strode
152.
strike
struck
struck
frapper/se mettre en grève
153.
string
strung
strung
ficeler, etc.
154.
strive
strove
striven
s'efforcer
155.
swear
swore
sworn
jurer
156.
sweep
swept
swept
balayer
157.
swell
swelled
swollen
gonfler
158.
swim
swam
swum
nager
159.
swing
swung
swung
balancer
160.
take
took
taken
prendre
161.
teach
taught
taught
enseigner
162.
tear
tore
torn
déchirer
163.
tell
told
told
raconter
164.
think
thought
thought
penser
165.
thrive
throve
thriven
prospérer
166.
throw
threw
thrown
jeter
167.
thrust
thrust
thrust
pousser
168.
tread
trod
trodden
piétiner/fouler/marcher
169.
understand
understood
understood
comprendre
170.
wake
woke
woken
(se) réveiller/(se) ranimer, aussi wake/woke/woke; régulier s'il s'agit d'un rite funéraire
171.
wear
wore
worn
porter/user
172.
weave
wove
woven
tisser/tresser/tituber
173.
wed
wed
wed
épouser/marier
174.
weep
wept
wept
pleurer
175.
wet
wet
wet
mouiller
176.
win
won
won
gagner
177.
wind
wound
wound
remonter, etc.
178.
wring
wrung
wrung
tordre
179.
write
wrote
written
écrire

Nota : les verbes beset (entourer de, assaillir) et upset (boulverser, [se] renverser, déranger) sont comme le verbe set. Aux Etats-Unis, le verbe to sneak (se glisser furtivement, etc.) peut être irrégulier : to sneak, snuck, snuck

PREPOSITIONS OF TIME: at / on / in (moumen-med)

Prepositions of Time: at, in, on

We use:

•at for a PRECISE TIME

•in for MONTHS, YEARS, CENTURIES and LONG PERIODS

•on for DAYS and DATES

at in on

PRECISE TIME MONTHS, YEARS, CENTURIES and LONG PERIODS DAYS and DATES

at 3 o'clock in May on Sunday

at 10.30am in summer on Tuesdays

at noon in the summer on 6 March

at dinnertime in 1990 on 25 Dec. 2010

at bedtime in the 1990s on Christmas Day

at sunrise in the next century on Independence Day

at sunset in the Ice Age on my birthday

at the moment in the past/future on New Year's Eve

Look at these examples:

•I have a meeting at 9am.

•The shop closes at midnight.

•Jane went home at lunchtime.

•In England, it often snows in December.

•Do you think we will go to Jupiter in the future?

•There should be a lot of progress in the next century.

•Do you work on Mondays?

•Her birthday is on 20 November.

•Where will you be on New Year's Day?

Notice the use of the preposition of time at in the following standard expressions:

Expression Example

at night The stars shine at night.

at the weekend I don't usually work at the weekend.

at Christmas/Easter I stay with my family at Christmas.

at the same time We finished the test at the same time.

at present He's not home at present. Try later.

Notice the use of the prepositions of time in and on in these common expressions:

in on

in the morning on Tuesday morning

in the mornings on Saturday mornings

in the afternoon(s) on Sunday afternoons

in the evening(s) on Monday evening

When we say last, next, every, this we do not also use at, in, on.

•I went to London last June. (not in last June)

•He's coming back next Tuesday. (not on next Tuesday)

•I go home every Easter. (not at every Easter)

•We'll call you this evening. (not in this evening)

CONTRACTIONS ( moumen-med)

Contractions

We often "contract" or shorten words in English. For example, we may say "he's" instead of "he is". Note that we usually insert an apostrophe (') in place of the missing letter or letters in writing. Here are some example sentences:

I haven't seen him. (I have not seen him.)

Who's calling? (Who is calling?)

They're coming. (They are coming.)

We do this especially when we speak. We do not contract words so much in writing

These pages show the most common contracted forms.

Positive Contractions

Negative Contractions

Other Contractions

Informal Contractions

Positive Contractions

Notes

Be careful. Some contractions can have two or three meanings. For example, he'd can be he had or he would. It depends on the rest of the sentence. Look at these examples:

He'd like to go. (He would like to go.)

He'd finished when I arrived. (He had finished when I arrived.)

The contraction 's (= is or has) is not used only with pronouns. It can also be used with nouns, names, question words and words like "here" and "there", for example: The train's late. John's arrived. Where's the phone? Here's your change. There's a policeman.

Negative Contractions >

Short form

Long form

I'm

I am

I've

I have

I'll

I will/I shall

I'd

I would/I should/I had

you're

you are

you've

you have

you'll

you will

you'd

you had/you would

he's

he has/he is

he'll

he will

he'd

he had/he would

she's

she has/she is

she'll

she will

she'd

she had/she would

it's

it has/it is

it'll

it will

we're

we are

we've

we have

we'll

we will

we'd

we had/we would

they're

they are

they've

they have

they'll

they will

they'd

they had/they would

Negative Contractions

Notes

With the verb "to be", two negative forms are possible - we aren't or we're not etc.

In questions, am not is contracted to aren't, for example: I'm late, aren't I?

Other Contractions >

Short form

Long form

aren't

are not

can't

cannot, can not

couldn't

could not

daren't

dare not

didn't

did not

doesn't

does not

don't

do not

hasn't

has not

haven't

have not

hadn't

had not

isn't

is not

mayn't

may not

mightn't

might not

mustn't

must not

needn't

need not

oughtn't

ought not

shan't

shall not

shouldn't

should not

wasn't

was not

weren't

were not

won't

will not

wouldn't

would not

Other Contractions

Here are some more examples showing some very common contractions.

It is possible, and common, to contract three words, for example: I'd've thought so = I would have thought so.

Informal Contractions >

Short form

Long form

Example

here's

here is

Here's your meal.

there'll

there will

There'll be nobody here tomorrow.

there's

there is

There's a taxi!

that's

that is

That's my car!

that'll

that will

That'll be $10, please.

how's

how is?

How's your wife?

what'll

what will?

What'll people think?

what's

what is?

What's the matter?

when's

when is?

When's the wedding?

where's

where is?

Where's the cinema?

who's

who is?

Who's your teacher?

who'd

who would?

Who'd like ice-cream?

who'll

who will?

Who'll be there?

Informal Contractions

Informal contractions are short forms of other words that people use when speaking casually. They are not exactly slang, but they are a little like slang.

For example, "gonna" is a short form of "going to". If you say "going to" very fast, without carefully pronouncing each word, it can sound like "gonna".

Please remember that these are informal contractions. That means that we do not use them in "correct" speech, and we almost never use them in writing. (If you see them in writing, for example in a comic strip, that is because the written words represent the spoken words or dialogue.) We normally use them only when speaking fast and casually, for example with friends. Some people never use them, even in informal speech.

It is probably true to say that informal contractions are more common in American English.

Also note that, unlike normal contractions, we do not usually use apostrophes (') with informal contractions when written.

On the right are some common informal contractions, with example sentences. Note that the example sentences may be a little artificial because when we use a contraction we may also use other contractions in the same sentence, or even drop some words completely. For example:

What are you going to do? >>

Whatcha going to do? >>

Whatcha gonna do?

or

Do you want a cake?

Do you wanna cake?

D'you wanna cake?

D'ya wanna cake?

Ya wanna cake?

Wanna cake?

These informal contractions are not "correct" English. Do not use them in a written exam, for example, except in appropriate situations.

ain't = am not/are not/is notI ain't sure.You ain't my boss.

ain't = has not/have notI ain't done it.She ain't finished yet.

gimme = give meGimme your money.Don't gimme that rubbish.Can you gimme a hand?

gonna = going toNothing's gonna change my love for you.I'm not gonna tell you.What are you gonna do?

gotta = (have) got aI've gotta gun.I gotta gun.She hasn't gotta penny.Have you gotta car?

gotta = (have) got toI've gotta go now.I gotta go now.We haven't gotta do that.Have they gotta work?

kinda = kind ofShe's kinda cute.

lemme = let meLemme go!

wanna = want toI wanna go home.

wanna = want aI wanna coffee.

whatcha = what are youWhatcha going to do?

whatcha = what have youWhatcha got there?

ya = youWho saw ya?

http://www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/prefixes.htm

Prefixes

A prefix is placed at the beginning of a word to modify or change its meaning. This is a list of the most common prefixes in English, together with their basic meaning and some examples. You can find more detail or precision for each prefix in any good dictionary. The origins of words are extremely complicated. You should use this list as a guide only, to help you understand possible meanings. But be very careful, because often what appears to be a prefix is not a prefix at all. Note also that this list does not include elements like "auto-" or " bio-", because these are "combining forms", not prefixes.

Prefix

Meaning

Examples

a-

also an-

not, without

atheist, anaemic

a-

to, towards

aside, aback

in the process of, in a particular state

a-hunting, aglow

a-

of

anew

completely

abashed

ab-

also abs-

away, from

abdicate, abstract

ad-

also a-, ac-, af-, ag- al-, an-, ap-, at- as-, at-

movement to, change into, addition or increase

advance, adulterate, adjunct, ascend, affiliate, affirm, aggravate, alleviate, annotate, apprehend, arrive, assemble, attend

ante-

before, preceding

antecedent, ante-room

anti-

also ant-

opposing, against, the opposite

anti-aircraft, antibiotic, anticlimax, Antarctic

be-

all over, all around

bespatter, beset

completely

bewitch, bemuse

having, covered with

bejewelled

affect with (added to nouns)

befog

cause to be (added to adjectives)

becalm

com-

also co-, col-, con-, cor-

with, jointly, completely

combat, codriver, collude, confide, corrode

contra-

against, opposite

contraceptive

counter-

opposition, opposite direction

counter-attack, counteract

de-

down, away

descend, despair, depend, deduct

completely

denude, denigrate

removal, reversal

de-ice, decamp

dia-

also di-

through, across

diagonal

dis-

also di-

negation, removal, expulsion

disadvantage, dismount, disbud, disbar

en-

also em-

put into or on

engulf, enmesh

bring into the condition of

enlighten, embitter

intensification

entangle, enrage

ex-

also e-, ef-

out

exit, exclude, expand

upward

exalt, extol

completely

excruciate, exasperate

previous

ex-wife

extra-

outside, beyond

extracurricular

hemi-

half

hemisphere

hyper-

beyond, more than, more than normal

hypersonic, hyperactive

hypo-

under

hypodermic, hypothermia

in-

also il-, im-

not, without

infertile, inappropriate, impossible

also il-, im-, ir-

in, into, towards, inside

influence, influx, imbibe

infra-

below

infrared, infrastructure

inter-

between, among

interact, interchange

intra-

inside, within

intramural, intravenous

non-

absence, negation

non-smoker, non-alcoholic

ob-

also oc-, of-, op-

blocking, against, concealing

obstruct, occult, offend, oppose

out-

surpassing, exceeding

outperform

external, away from

outbuilding, outboard

over-

excessively, completely

overconfident, overburdened, overjoyed

upper, outer, over, above

overcoat, overcast

peri-

round, about

perimeter

post-

after in time or order

postpone

pre-

before in time, place, order or importance

pre-adolescent, prelude, precondition

pro-

favouring, in support of

pro-African

acting for

proconsul

motion forwards or away

propulsion

before in time, place or order

prologue

re-

again

repaint, reappraise, reawake

semi-

half, partly

semicircle, semi-conscious

sub-

also suc-, suf-, sug-, sup-, sur-, sus-

at a lower position

submarine, subsoil

lower in rank

sub-lieutenant

nearly, approximately

sub-tropical

syn-

also sym-

in union, acting together

synchronize, symmetry

trans-

across, beyond

transnational, transatlantic

into a different state

translate

ultra-

beyond

ultraviolet, ultrasonic

extreme

ultramicroscopic

un-

not

unacceptable, unreal, unhappy, unmanned

reversal or cancellation of action or state

unplug, unmask

under-

beneath, below

underarm, undercarriage

lower in rank

undersecretary

not enough

underdeveloped

INDIFINITE ARTICLES (moumen-med)

The indefinite articles are A or AN.

Sounds

The indefinite articles are A or AN.We use A before a consonant-sound.We use AN before a vowel-sound.The difference depends on the sound of the vowels and consonants, not the spelling!

2. Examples

a teachera peacha womana housea mana useful booka universitya European

an English teacheran orangean old womanan houran honest manan heiran honouran Irish person

3. Use

A or AN is used before names of professions:He is a painter.My sister is studying to be a doctor.It's really nice to be a student.

A is used before words like couple, dozen, hundred, thousand, million, ...:A couple of years ago I was living in Britain.There were a thousand people in the stadium.

A or AN means 'every' or 'each' in some expressions of time, speed, price,...:She visits me twice a year.He drives 50 miles an hour.

Don't put A or AN before uncountables:I don't like milk.Silence is golden.We're having soup for lunch.

The definite article is THE.

Sounds

The definite article is THE.It is used for singular and plural.The pronunciation differs before a vowel or consonant.The difference depends on the sound of the vowels and consonants, not the spelling.

2. Examples

THE / ð¶ /

THE / ði: /

a teachera peacha womana housea mana useful booka universitya European

an English teacheran orangean old womanan houran honest manan heiran honouran Irish person

Explanation of the symbols: these symbols help you to use the correct pronunciation./ ð¶ / You pronounce / ð / it like th in these. You pronounce the / ¶ / like e in answer/ ði: / You pronounce / ð / it like th in these. You pronounce the / i: / like ee in see

3. Use

THE is used before names of instruments:I play the piano.My sisters play the violin.My teacher plays the guitar.

Don't put THE before names of meals, except when we talk about a particular meal:Dinner is served.What time do you have lunch.BUT: The dinner we had yesterday was delicious.

Don't put THE before names of seasons, except when we talk about a particular season:We have a long holiday in summer.Flowers bloom in spring.BUT: The winter of 1966 was the coldest in history.

No THE before names of mountains:Mount Everest is 8,862 metres high.We stood on top of Etna.

No THE before abstract nouns used in general use:I love nature.Life is short.

1. Conjugation

Affirmative

Negative

Interrogative

I workYou workHe worksShe worksIt worksWe workYou workThey work

I do not workYou do not workHe does not workShe does not workIt does not workYou do not workWe do not workThey do not work

Do I work ?Do you work ?Does he work ?Does she work ?Does it work ?Do we work ?Do you work ?Do they work ?

Contracted forms: do not = don't / does not = doesn't

2. Spelling of 3rd person singular (he, she, it)

General rule: infinitive without 'to' + Sto work ==> worksto play ==> plays Verbs ending in O, SS, X, CH, SH : infinitive without 'to' + ESto go ==> goesto kiss ==> kisses Verbs ending in Y, preceded by a consonant: Y changes into IESto cry ==> criesto fly ==> flies

Much and many

Much and many

We use much and many in:- negative sentences- interrogative sentences (questions)- affirmative senteces with so, as, too

2. A lot of

We use a lot of in affirmative sentences.(In spoken English much and many is often replaced by a lot of.)

3. Scheme

Ask yourself these questions. Follow the arrows and you will get the right answer.

Regular

1. Regular

General rule: singular + S:girl - girlsboy - boysNouns ending in -S, -SS, -SH, -CH, -X get -ES:box - boxesbus - busesSome nouns ending in -O behind a consonant get -ES:potato - potatoestomato - tomatoesNouns ending in -Y behind a consonant change -Y into -IES:lady - ladiesbaby - babiesSome nouns ending in -F or -FE change -F(E) into -VES:knife - kniveswife - wives

Irregular

2. Irregular: learn them by heart!

manfootwomantoothgoosemouselousechildpenny

men feetwomenteethgeesemicelicechildrenpence

3. Always singular, always plural

Some nouns are always plural:clothes, jeans, trousers, shorts, people, police, glasses, scissors, mathematicsSome nouns (abstract, materials, kinds of food) are always singular:bread, tea, cheese, jam, soup, soap, snow, cotton, wood, water, information, advice, knowledge, furnitureSome nouns have the same form for singular and plural:Names of kind of fish: cod, herring, salmon, trout, ...Names of some animals: deer, sheep, swine, ...