Permission, obligation, and prohibition

Permission is when someone is allowed to do something. Obligation is when someone must do something. Prohibition is when someone is not allowed to something.


My mother gave me permission to go to the movie so I will meet you at the theater at 15:00. I am obligated to bring my sister with me although I wish my mother did not make me. I am prohibited from buying my sister candy or soda because then she will be hyper when she comes home. 


In order to indicate permission, a person might use "can" or "to be allowed to."


In order to indicate obligation, a person might use "have to" or "have got to."


In order to indicate prohibition, a person might use "cannot" or "to be not allowed to."


I can go shopping with my friends. I am allowed to go shopping with my friends.


He has to call his girlfriend or she will be angry with him. He has got to call his girlfriend or she will be angry with him.


They can't come to class because they forgot their books. They are not allowed to come to class because they forgot their books.


In order to practice, imagine you are an English teacher. What rules would you create to permit, oblige and prohibit your students?


Imagine you are the king or queen of a country. What laws would you create to permit, oblige and prohibit your subjects (the citizens of your country)? 


Questions?

Modals and adverbs

Modals are verbs which usually enhance or restrict the main verb. In some cases, modal verbs are used to express possibility. 


might/may: something has the possibility of occurring, but it is not certain.
could: something has the possibility of occurring, but it is not certain. However, "could" is stronger (more likely to occur) than "may" or "might"
must: something will occur. It is stronger than "could."


It might rain tomorrow. (You do not know).
It could rain tomorrow. (There is a definite possibility it will rain).
It must rain tomorrow. (It is certain it will rain). 


*following each modal is a second verb which should always be in its base form.


Another way to express certainty/uncertainty is through adverbs. Adverbs modify things which are not nouns, usually verbs. 


Maybe/Perhaps: something has the possibility of occurring, but it is not certain. These are placed at the beginning of the sentence.
possibly/probably: something has the possibility of occurring, but it is not certain. However, "possibly" and "probably" are stronger (more likely to occur) than "Maybe" or "Perhaps." These are placed immediately after the subject.
definitely: something will occur. It is stronger than "possibly" or "probably." This is placed immediately after the subject.



Maybe it will rain tomorrow. (You do not know).
It possibly will rain tomorrow. (There is a definite possibility it will rain).
It definitely will rain tomorrow. (It is certain it will rain). 

Nifty Vocab for Unit 13

iceberg: a large piece of frozen water in the ocean


sink: fall to the bottom of the ocean


in a row: consecutively; one after the other 


burglar: a person who steals things from your home


the hamburglar*: someone who tries to steal hamburgers *not an actual word


witchcraft, wizardry: using magic to make things happen
witch: a female magical person, wizard: a male magical person


phenomenon: something special because it is very different or unusual


make up: invent; create


cast: the characters in a book or movie


battle: fight; combat


darkness: evil


unexpected: surprising

Relative clauses

Sometimes sentences have both a main clause, a clause that is able to stand on its own, and a relative clause, a clause that explains or gives information about the main clause.


Main clause                            Relative clause
He's the actor                         who won two Academy Awards.


*A relative clause joins two sentences together.*


There are three possible relative clauses:
1. who: used in reference to people
2. which: used in reference to things
3. that: used in reference to people and things


Who is Daniel Radcliffe?
He is an actor who portrayed Harry Potter in the Harry Potter films. 


Have you seen Hulk?
Oh, that is a movie which stars a big green superhero, right?


Is Pirates of the Caribbean any good?
It is a movie that has many wonderful actors.
Johnny Depp is an actor that is so good as Captain Jack Sparrow.


Now you practice!


1. Freddy Mercury was a singer. He was the lead singer of "Queen."


2. Fast and the Furious is a movie. It is liked by many students.


3. Life is Beautiful is a movie about WWII. It has won many awards.


4. Lady Gaga is a singer. She wears bizarre clothes.


5. Modern Family is a TV show. It is hilarious.


6. Michael Jordan was a basketball player. He won six championships.


7. The Notebook is a book by Nicholas Sparks. It was made into a movie.


8. The Diary of Anne Frank is a sad book. It has become one of the highest-selling books of all time.  


9. Twilight is a popular book. It is horrible.


10. Natalie Portman is an actress. She won an Oscar for her role in Black Swan.


1. Brad Pitt is an actor...


2. Angelina Jolie is an actress...


3. Daddy Yankee is a rapper...


4. Rihanna is a singer...


5. Shrek is a movie...


6. The Simpsons is a TV show...


7. Barcelona is a city...


8. Real Madrid is a soccer team...


9. Goblins (Duendes) are creatures...


10. Coke is a drink...


Questions?

Past perfect vs. present perfect (optional)

Past Perfect

[had + past participle]

Examples:

• You had studied English before you moved to New York.
• Had you studied English before you moved to New York?
• You had not studied English before you moved to New York.

Complete List of Past Perfect Forms

USE 1 Completed Action Before Something in the Past

The Past Perfect expresses the idea that something occurred before another action in the past. It can also show that something happened before a specific time in the past.

Examples:

• I had never seen such a beautiful beach before I went to Kauai.
• I did not have any money because I had lost my wallet.
• Tony knew Istanbul so well because he had visited the city several times.
• Had Susan ever studied Thai before she moved to Thailand?
• She only understood the movie because she had read the book.
• Kristine had never been to an opera before last night.
• We were not able to get a hotel room because we had not booked in advance.
• A: Had you ever visited the U.S. before your trip in 2006?
  B: Yes, I had been to the U.S. once before.

USE 2 Duration Before Something in the Past (Non-Continuous Verbs)

With Non-Continuous Verbs and some non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, we use the Past Perfect to show that something started in the past and continued up until another action in the past.

Examples:

• We had had that car for ten years before it broke down.
• By the time Alex finished his studies, he had been in London for over eight years.
• They felt bad about selling the house because they had owned it for more than forty years.

Although the above use of Past Perfect is normally limited to Non-Continuous Verbs and non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, the words "live," "work," "teach," and "study" are sometimes used in this way even though they are NOT Non-Continuous Verbs.

IMPORTANT Specific Times with the Past Perfect

Unlike with the Present Perfect, it is possible to use specific time words or phrases with the Past Perfect. Although this is possible, it is usually not necessary.

Example:

• She had visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996.

MOREOVER

If the Past Perfect action did occur at a specific time, the Simple Past can be used instead of the Past Perfect when "before" or "after" is used in the sentence. The words "before" and "after" actually tell you what happens first, so the Past Perfect is optional. For this reason, both sentences below are correct.

Examples:

• She had visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996.
• She visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996.

HOWEVER

If the Past Perfect is not referring to an action at a specific time, Past Perfect is not optional. Compare the examples below. Here Past Perfect is referring to a lack of experience rather than an action at a specific time. For this reason, Simple Past cannot be used.

Examples:

• She never saw a bear before she moved to Alaska. Not Correct
• She had never seen a bear before she moved to Alaska. Correct

Past Perfect

[had + past participle]

Examples:

• You had studied English before you moved to New York.
• Had you studied English before you moved to New York?
• You had not studied English before you moved to New York.

Complete List of Past Perfect Forms

USE 1 Completed Action Before Something in the Past

The Past Perfect expresses the idea that something occurred before another action in the past. It can also show that something happened before a specific time in the past.

Examples:

• I had never seen such a beautiful beach before I went to Kauai.
• I did not have any money because I had lost my wallet.
• Tony knew Istanbul so well because he had visited the city several times.
• Had Susan ever studied Thai before she moved to Thailand?
• She only understood the movie because she had read the book.
• Kristine had never been to an opera before last night.
• We were not able to get a hotel room because we had not booked in advance.
• A: Had you ever visited the U.S. before your trip in 2006?
  B: Yes, I had been to the U.S. once before.

USE 2 Duration Before Something in the Past (Non-Continuous Verbs)

With Non-Continuous Verbs and some non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, we use the Past Perfect to show that something started in the past and continued up until another action in the past.

Examples:

• We had had that car for ten years before it broke down.
• By the time Alex finished his studies, he had been in London for over eight years.
• They felt bad about selling the house because they had owned it for more than forty years.

Although the above use of Past Perfect is normally limited to Non-Continuous Verbs and non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, the words "live," "work," "teach," and "study" are sometimes used in this way even though they are NOT Non-Continuous Verbs.

IMPORTANT Specific Times with the Past Perfect

Unlike with the Present Perfect, it is possible to use specific time words or phrases with the Past Perfect. Although this is possible, it is usually not necessary.

Example:

• She had visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996.

MOREOVER

If the Past Perfect action did occur at a specific time, the Simple Past can be used instead of the Past Perfect when "before" or "after" is used in the sentence. The words "before" and "after" actually tell you what happens first, so the Past Perfect is optional. For this reason, both sentences below are correct.

Examples:

• She had visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996.
• She visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996.

HOWEVER

If the Past Perfect is not referring to an action at a specific time, Past Perfect is not optional. Compare the examples below. Here Past Perfect is referring to a lack of experience rather than an action at a specific time. For this reason, Simple Past cannot be used.

Examples:

• She never saw a bear before she moved to Alaska. Not Correct
• She had never seen a bear before she moved to Alaska. Correct

Participles as adjectives

Participles as adjectives

1. A participle is a verb form which can be used as an adjective to
describe a noun.

     an interesting book
     an interested student

2. When the present participle (-ing from) is used, the noun it describes is (or was) the performer of the activity is named by the participle.  For example, in the sentence "The dog barks," the dog is the performer of the action (bark). It is a barking dog.

3. When the past participle (-ed, -en form) is used, the noun it describes is (or was)
   acted upon.  For example, in The child is frightened by the dog, the child is the
   receiver of the action and is described as a frightened child.

4. The use of the present or past participle does not depend on the verb tense of the
   sentence, but rather on the performer/receiver situation.

The dog barks	It is a barking dog
The dog barked	It was a barking dog
The dog frightens the cat.	It is a frightening dog.
The dog frightened the cat.	It was a frightening dog.
The problem confuses the students.	It is a confusing problem.
The students are confused by the problem.	They are confused students.
The story amused the children.	It was an amusing story.
The children were amused by the story.	They were amused children.
The class bores the students.	It is a boring class.
The students are bored by the class.	They are bored students.

5. The use of participles is not restricted to the subject of a
sentence. In other words, the same statement can produce both a
present (active) and a past (passive) participle.

Examples:

The dog frightens the cat.	The frightening dog runs after the cat. The frightened cat runs away.
The problem confuses the students.	The confusing problem frightens the students. They are confused students.
The story amused the children.	It was an amusing story. The amused children laughed a lot.
The class bores the students.	What a boring class it is! The bored students have stopped listening to the teacher.

6. Participles used as adjectives often come after the noun they modify, following a linking verb like

Be, Become, or Seem


Mathematics is interesting.


My friends are interested in sports


You seem comfused


Problems often become frustrating.


I am fascinated by my children.


My children quickly became tired at school.


School can be tiring for young children

Practice once again!:

http://www.grammar-quizzes.com/passive3a.html (at the bottom of the page)

http://esl.about.com/library/vocabulary/blinged1.htm

http://english-zone.com/grammar/prtcplsnj.html

What questions do you have?

Nifty Vocab for Unit 12

In ages: for a long time.


Lately: recently.


How come? : Why?


I'm almost out of money! : I have very little money left.


Praise: expression of strong admiration or approval.


Perform: do an artistic act for the public. (Examples: music, theater, etc.)


Soloist: a person who performs music alone.


Orchestra: a group of musicians playing different instruments together, usually classical music.


Record: copy sound or images onto magnetic tape.


Warn: tell someone about a possible danger.


Prove: show or demonstrate.


Teens: people aged between 13 and 19 years old.


Inks: colored liquids used for writing or drawing.


Watercolors: paints that can be mixed with water.