*TIME CHANGE*

Change the time in the following sentences by using a different verb tense and replacing any necessary time clues. Each student should choose a different verb tense.

While I was working in the office yesterday, I was imagining all the things I would do when I finally retired. 

*SENTENCE COMBINATION*

Learning to combine ideas into more complex sentences is an important writing skill. There are many ways to do this. Try to combine the following three sentences.

Sentence 1: The weather is cold.

Sentence 2: This weather will continue for a while.

Sentence 3: Soon it will be spring.

BUILD-A-SENTENCE

Write a sentence using the vocabulary and grammar indicated.

Add a time-related adverb clause to the following:

...I am going to study for the exam...

WELCOME!

Welcome to the Effective Writing Blog for ENGL 155, 177 and 189. These courses may be taken separately or as part of the English Language Proficiency Program. The goal is to increase the level of communication between students and instructors, and to provide students with an opportunity to communicate with each other and to practice the grammar and mechanics taught in these courses. If you post general questions about the assignments or the course, they will be addressed in the blog. If you have detailed questions you want answered, then e-mail your instructor.

Feel free to post comments and suggestions for how to improve this site. 

WELCOME NEW STUDENTS!

A hearty welcome to all the new students joining this course. We hope you enjoy your studies and have fun participating in this blog.

For information on how to participate, please contact the administrator.

IMPORTANT: This blog site is open to the public; do not post personal information that could identify you. Your first name and the initial of your last name are the only personal information you should post. Please watch this video from the Government of Canada about privacy and social networking issues.

Also, be sure to let your tutors know the nickname you have chosen for this blog; otherwise, they will not be able to give you the bonus marks that you have earned for your participation.

Next blog: Friday, February 20, 2015.

PREVIOUS GRAMMAR QUESTION

I am always eating my dinner late while I get home at 8:00 pm but the food is warmed quick in a microwave we brought at a neighbours garage sale.

1. Verb tense:

For repeated actions use the simple present tense: change “am eating” to “eat”.

2. Word confusion:

With a specific time reference, use ‘when” not “while”.

3. Word form:

The adverb is “quickly”--“quick” is an adjective.

4. Word confusion:

The word needed here is “bought”. The simple past tense of “buy” (“brought” is the past tense of “bring”).

5.  Missing word:

The correct usage is “to warm [something] up”: “the food is warmed up”.

6.  Article usage:

A specific microwave is referred to, so it might be best to use the definite article (“the”).

7. Punctuation:

Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction (but) when it separates 2 independent clauses. Also note that an apostrophe is needed in neighbours (neighbour’s) because it is a possessive noun.

8. Capitalization:

Capitalize PM. (MLA format).



Suggested solution:

I always eat my dinner late when I get home at 8:00 PM, but the food is quickly warmed up in the microwave we bought at a neighbour’s garage sale.

*GRAMMAR QUESTION*

Correct the errors in the following sentence:

As the matter of fact, she was a person who hard being convinced for instant, she certainly would likes to thinks that his opinion are the corrected then any one else view.

Solutions will be posted in the next edition of the blog.

PUZZLE

Solution to the previous puzzle:  

1. bleep
2. pang
3. hassle
4. dumbfound
5. brash
6. chortle
7. intercom
8. blurt

New Puzzle:

Insert one word in each pair to link the two words together.
The end of the first word is the beginning of the second.

1. Push __ __ __ Cushion
2. Digital __ __ __ __ __ __ Shy
3. Crystal __ __ __ __ Park
4. First __ __ __ __ __ Clown
5. Bed __ __ __ __ Candy

*Note, the first person to post the correct answer will get the bonus point.

IDIOMS

There are three idioms that use the colour silver:

Watch this video, and then write a sentence that uses one (or more) of these three idioms.

Try not to use the same idiom as the other posters.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/theteacher/2009/04/090423_teacher_colour_silver.shtml

*ALL CHANGE!*

Change the words in the following sentence as indicated.

The doctor happily told us the good news about our friend in the hospital.

Please change only the exact word in the sequence given. Each participant should build on the changes made by the previous participant.

For instance, Participant 1 writes #1 Subject Noun, and changes the subject noun; Participant 2 writes #2 Direct Object Noun, and changes the direct object noun, etc.

You are free to make as many changes as you wish. Just remember to number each change (and indicate the part of speech) so it is clear to everyone where we are on the list.

When all 7 changes have been made, return to the top of the list and continue.

Changes:                                                                                                                          

1. subject noun
2. direct object noun          
3. indirect object noun                  
4. adjective(s)
5. adverb(s)    
6. verb name      
7. verb tense

AFFIXES

The word stem -cred- (meaning "to believe") occurs in many words. 

Add an affix (either a prefix or a suffix) to this stem to make another word. 

Each participant should add a different word to the list.

*COMPLETE THE SENTENCE*

Follow the instructions below to create three different sentences from the following clause:*

… tomorrow is another day…

Sentence 1. Add a phrase      
Sentence 2. Add a dependent clause
Sentence 3. Add an independent clause


*Add your words to the beginning or end of the clause (but not both).

*NUMBER CHANGE*

If the sentence is singular, change it to the plural; if it is plural, change it to the singular.

My birthday dinner was a real pleasure; the food was good and the company even better!

*VOCABULARY*

Vocabulary building is important for both reading comprehension and writing. 

Use the following two words in one sentence (note the parts of speech).

credulous (adjective) and discredit (verb).

To further improve your vocabulary, remember to check out the Word of the Day. 

The site also has word games and puzzles.

http://dictionary.reference.com/

SYNONYMS AND ANTONYMS

We can describe something believable as credible.

Provide a synonym and an antonym for this word. Each participant should suggest a different word.

*ACTIVE vs. PASSIVE*

Write two sentences using the word ring.

In the first sentence, use the word in the active voice; in the second sentence, use it in the passive voice.

*TIME CHANGE*

Change the time in the following sentences by using a different verb tense and replacing any necessary time clues. Each student should choose a different verb tense.

Pancake Day is coming soon. We will celebrate by cooking a huge stack of pancakes. Some people may go out to eat, but we think the ones made at home taste best. Tradition calls for using lemon juice and sugar on top of the pancakes, but we'll add whatever we have available. The idea is to use up lots of good, rich ingredients before the start of Lent. 

*SENTENCE COMBINATION*

Learning to combine ideas into more complex sentences is an important writing skill. There are many ways to do this. Try to combine the following three sentences.

Sentence 1: The world is uncertain.

Sentence 2: In this world, we cannot cannot know what the future will bring.

Sentence 3: We must be prepared for any eventuality.

BUILD-A-SENTENCE

Write a sentence using the vocabulary and grammar indicated.

Write a sentence using a conditional with the past perfect and an independent clause.