Mum's the word!
Post categories: Teacher blog
| 11:40 UK time, Thursday, 13 May 2010
Hi Mitzi
Thanks for your blog about Mother's Day. It's interesting that it's held on different days around the world. In Britain Mother's Day is always on a Sunday, the fourth Sunday in Lent. This year it was 14th March.
In Britain it's also known as Mothering Sunday and typically children give their mums a card, flowers or chocolate or at least a phone call! I heartily agree with all that you said about mums.
What is a 'mariachi'? Is it some kind of musician? Do tell us more.
I have a couple of suggestions for your writing.
You said that "some families make a big party". We don't really use the verb 'make' with party. A more natural verb is "to throw" - for example:
"Before I got married my best friend threw a fantastic party for me."
Be careful with gender agreement in English. In this blog you use 'him' when talking about mums. I think this may be a common thing for Spanish speakers. In English there are different pronouns for male and female - him and her / his and hers.
Prepositions are those little words in English that cause so many problems. They are words like: to, in, on, at, etc. It can be difficult to know which one to use or whether or not to use one at all.
Here are some examples from your blog:
"maybe it depends the families ..."
Depends always goes with the preposition 'on' - "maybe it depends on the families ..."
Here some more examples of words usually go with the same preposition
to be good at something
to be interested in something
to give something to someone
" ...prepare in the school different activities ..."
'at' is the best preposition to use here and usually we'd put the phrase with the preposition after the object of the verb (here, different activities) so this sentence could be rewritten as:
... prepare different activities at school ...
"congratulations all the Mums"
Although it is possible not to use a preposition with 'congratulations', it's more common to use the preposition 'to'
"congratulations to all the mums ..."
Now, I'm afraid, it's time for some homework. :(
Look at each of the sentences below. Are they right or wrong? If they are wrong, please write a correction.
1: I'm going to buy my mum some roses. They are his favourites.
2: My brother didn't like his dinner so I gave it on the dog.
3: "Where would you like to go at the weekend?" "That depends of you, you've got the car."
4: I'd like to say congratulations to all the students who passed their exams this term.
5: "Are you interesting in opera?" "No, I think it's bored."
6: I'm not very good at drawing.
7: What subject did you study on university?
8: This weekend we're throwing a big party for my mum's 70th birthday.
Vocabulary:
- heartily agree with
strongly agree with
Comment number 1.
At 13th May 2010, Qianya wrote:I'm going to buy my mum some roses. They are her favorites.
My brother didn't like his dinner so I gave it to the dog.
Where would you like to go on the weekend? That depends on you.You have a car.
#4 correct. I think.
Are you interested in opera? No, I think it's boring.
#6 correct.
What subject did you study at university?
This weekend we're going to throw a big party for my mum.It's her 70th birthday.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 1)
Comment number 2.
At 14th May 2010, oh wrote:This is my homework
1: I'm going to buy my mum some roses. They are his favourites.
I wanna to buy some roses for my mum.
2: My brother didn't like his dinner so I gave it on the dog.
My brother didn't like dinner, so I gave it to a dog.
3: "Where would you like to go at the weekend?" "That depends of you, you've got the car."
Where would you like to go for weekend? That depends on you, because you have the car.
4: I'd like to say congratulations to all the students who passed their exams this term.
I'd like to say congratulations on all the students who passed their exams at this term.
5: "Are you interesting in opera?" "No, I think it's bored."
Are you interested in the opera? No, I thinks it's boring.
6: I'm not very good at drawing.
I'm not very good with drawing
7: What subject did you study on university?
Which subject did you study in the university?
8: This weekend we're throwing a big party for my mum's 70th birthday.
During this weekend, we will throwe a big party for my mum's 70th birthday.
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Comment number 3.
At 14th May 2010, Tienhoa wrote:Hi Callum,
Thank you for your pieces of advice about English grammar that I'm more likely to struggle to cope with it.
Here is my answers
1: I'm going to buy my mum some roses. They are his favourites.
Correct: I'm going to buy my mum some roses. They are her favourites.
2: My brother didn't like his dinner so I gave it on the dog.
Correct: My brother didn't like his dinner so I gave it to the dog.
3: "Where would you like to go at the weekend?" "That depends of you, you've got the car."
Correct: Where would you like to go at the weekend? That depends on you, you've got the car.
4: I'd like to say congratulations to all the students who passed their exams this term.
Correct
5: "Are you interesting in opera?" "No, I think it's bored."
Correct: Are you interested in opera? No, I think it's boring.
6: I'm not very good at drawing.
Correct
7: What subject did you study on university?
Correct: What subject did you study at university?
8: This weekend we're throwing a big party for my mum's 70th birthday.
Correct
Regards,
Tienhoa
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Comment number 4.
At 14th May 2010, Felicitas wrote:Hello Callum, here my homework.
1. I'm going to buy my mum some roses. They are her favourites.
2. My bother didn't like his dinner so I gave it to the dog.
3. "Where would you like to go at the weekend?" "That depends on you;
you've got the car."
4. correct
5. "Are you interesting in opera?" "No, I think it's boring."
6. correct
7. What subject did you study at university?
8. correct
Have a nice weekend.
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Comment number 5.
At 16th May 2010, Emat from Kazakhstan wrote:Hi Calum,
thanks for your extremely important advice about the prepositions, particularly this part of your tips:
"...usually we'd put the phrase with the preposition after the object of the verb..."(c)
(I decided it would not be a bad idea to give it repeatedly, so I'm doing it without permission, sorry).
I like such short and clear explanations. Thanks again, Calum. God bless you and your family!
Have a nice day,
Emat.
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Comment number 6.
At 16th May 2010, Mahjabeen wrote:Hello Callum,
Your blog related to prepositions are really interesting and very useful. Here is my HW. I've written the sentences with correct preposotions.1: I'm going to buy my mum some roses. They are her favourites.2: My brother didn't like his dinner so I gave it to the dog.
3: "Where would you like to go at the weekend?" "That depends on you, you've got the car." 4: I'd like to say congratulations to all the students who passed their exams in this term.5: "Are you interesting in opera?" "No, I think it's boring."6: I'm not very good in drawing.
7: What subject did you study at university? 8: This weekend we're throwing a big party for my mum's 70th birthday.(correct)
Have a nice day!
Mahjabeen.
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Comment number 7.
At 16th May 2010, Ashish wrote:Here's the homework.
1: I'm going to buy my mum some roses. They are his favourites.
Correct: I'm going to buy my mum some roses. They are her favourites.
2: My brother didn't like his dinner so I gave it on the dog.
Correct: My brother didn't like his dinner so I gave it to the dog.
3: "Where would you like to go at the weekend?" "That depends of you, you've got the car."
Correct: "Where would you like to go at the weekend?" "That depends on you, you've got the car."
4: I'd like to say congratulations to all the students who passed their exams this term. (Correct)
5: "Are you interesting in opera?" "No, I think it's bored."
Correct: "Are you interested in opera?" "No, I think it's boring."
6: I'm not very good at drawing. (Correct)
7: What subject did you study on university?
Correct: What subject did you study at university?
8: This weekend we're throwing a big party for my mum's 70th birthday. (Correct)
Complain about this comment (Comment number 7)
Comment number 8.
At 18th May 2010, He wrote:1: I'm going to buy my mum some roses. They are his(->her) favourites.
2: My brother didn't like his dinner so I gave it on(->to) the dog.
3: "Where would you like to go at the weekend?" "That depends of(->) you, you've got the car."
4: I'd like to say congratulations to(->on) all the students who passed their exams this term.
5: "Are you interesting(interested) in opera?" "No, I think it's bored
(->boring)."
6: I'm not very good at drawing.(=correct)
7: What subject did you study on(->at) university?
8: This weekend we're throwing a big party for my mum's 70th birthday.
(-=correct)
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Comment number 9.
At 18th May 2010, Elisa wrote:Hi callum!
As you said, I've sent you some questions for the interview for my dissertation.
Thank you very very much :)
Elisa
Complain about this comment (Comment number 9)