Ferrari move is dream come true - Alonso

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/8286742.stm

Champion Nadal out of Wimbledon

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/8085394.stm

Pau Gasol is a "Laker"

Speaking

• Marcadores más frecuentes para:-
- Dirigirse a alguien (Excuse me)
- Saludar (Hi there);
- Empezar a hablar (Well.....)
- Apoyar al interlocutor (Really? That’s interesting!)
- Reaccionar e interaccionar ( You’re joking! Kidding!; that’s incredible!
- Implicar al interlocutor ( I see, I know)
- Tomar la palabra ( In my opinion)
- Iniciar una explicación (so, basically)
- Mostrar duda (maybe, perhaps)
- Mostrar acuerdo (sure, no doubt, of course)
- Mostrar desacuerdo (Sorry but I don’t agree, I don’t know about that)
- Contradecir en parte ( I understand /I can see your point but ...)
- Clarificar las opiniones y reformular ( I mean, in other words)
- Pedir repeticiones ( could you say that again...)
- Presentar conclusiones (so, in conclusion)

Spanish Omelette

Ingredients

1/2 pint of olive oil
5 medium (40 oz each) baking potatoes, peeled, sliced and lightly sprinkled with salt
1/2 yellow onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
5 eggs
Salt

Preparation
Heat the olive oil in a 9-inch skillet and add the potato slices carefully, because the salt will make the oil splatter. Try to keep the potato slices separated so they will not stick together. Cook, turning occasionally, over medium heat for 5 minutes. Add the onions and garlic and cook until the potatoes are tender. Drain into a colander, leaving about 3 tablespoons of oil in the skillet.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk the eggs with a pinch of salt. Add the potatoes, and stir to coat with the egg. Add the egg-coated potatoes to the very hot oil in the skillet, spreading them evenly to completely cover the base of the skillet. Lower the heat to medium and continue to cook, shaking the pan frequently, until mixture is half set.

Use a plate to cover the skillet and invert the omelette away from the hand holding the plate (so as not to burn your hand with any escaping oil). Add 1 tablespoon oil to the pan and slide the omelette back into the skillet on its uncooked side. Cook until completely set. Allow the omelette to cool, and then cut it into wedges. Season it with salt and sprinkle with lemon juice to taste (optional).

Serve warm or at room temperature.

Ordering Food and Eating at a Restaurant

David is finished with work at the conference and is taking Annie out to dinner. Pay attention to how the waiter asks what they want to drink and eat. Listen to David and Annie’s responses. Follow along through the whole dinner process to improve your English. From getting a table, then ordering their food and finally asking for the check.

http://www.worldenglishclub.com/improve-english/david-annie-series/eating-at-restaurant

Joe's Hamburger Restaurant

http://www.esl-lab.com/fastfood/fastfoodrd1.htm

Listen to the conversation again as you read

http://www.esl-lab.com/fastfood/fastfoodsc1.htm

Questions with or without auxiliaries

When the interrogative is also the subject we don't use an auxiliary.

Who saw you? ( subject question) Who did you see ( object question)

You can practise this grammar point on these links:

http://www.oup.com/elt/global/products/englishfile/preint/a_grammar/file02/grammar02_c01/

http://www.oup.com/elt/global/products/englishfile/preint/a_grammar/file02/grammar02_c02/

English Action and State verbs

English Action and State verbs

In English language there are verbs that are not normally used in the Continuous Tense, because they describe rather state than an action. They are called state verb (stative verbs, non-progressive verbs).

The verbs that can be used in the Continuous Tense are called action verbs (dynamic verbs).

Some verbs can be both state and action verbs depending on their meaning.
Here are some verbs that are not normally used in the Continuous Tense.

like, dislike, love, hate, prefer, remember, forget, believe, mean, seem, understand,
want, need, know, belong, own

Here are a few verbs that can be both state and action verbs depending on their meaning.
I think you made a mistake. think = believe

I am thinking about my mum now. think = mental process
I have two cars. have = possess, own
I am having my lunch now. have = eat
I am seeing my friend tomorrow evening. see = meeting with
I see what you mean. See = understand

English Action and State Verbs - Practice

http://www.eclecticenglish.com/grammar/PresentContinuous1H.html

Present Continuous

The Present Continuous is used:

1. For actions taking place now, at the moment of speaking.

e.g She's cooking dinner.

2. For temporary actions; that is actions that are going on around now but not at the moment of speaking.

e.g. She is working hard these days.

3. With always when we want to express our irritation at actions which happen too often.

e.g You're always forgetting to pay the bill.

4.For actions the we have already arranged to do in the near future, especially when the time and place have been decided.

e.g She's getting married at 3 this afternoon.

5. For changing or developing situations.

e.g These days everything is changing. Cities are becoming bigger and busier every year, technology is developing faster than ever before.

The present continuous is used with the following time expressions: now, at the moment, these days, at present, tonight, nowadays, still, etc.

Spelling rules for the formation of the present participle.

Some verbs change their spelling when the ending ing is added to form the present participle.

a. Verbs ending in a silent e

When a verb ends in a silent e, the silent e is dropped before the ending ing is added. For example: make - making

However, when a verb ends in an e which is not silent, the final e is not dropped before the ending ing is added. For example: to be- being to see- seeing

b. Verbs ending in ie When a verb ends in ie, the ie is changed to y before the ending ing is added. to die -dying to lie -lying

When a verb ends in y, no change is made before the ending is added. fly-flying

c. One-syllable verbs ending in a single consonant preceded by a single vowel.

Except in the case of the final consonants w, x and y, when a one-syllable verb ends in a single consonant preceded by a single vowel, the final consonant must be doubled before the ending ing is added. The reason for this is to reflect the fact that the pronunciation of the single vowel does not change when the ending ing is added. put-putting

d. Verbs of more than one syllable which end in a single consonant preceded by a single vowel.

When a verb of more than one syllable ends in a single consonant other than w, x or y preceded by a single vowel, the final consonant is doubled to form the present participle only when the last syllable of the verb is pronounced with the heaviest stress.

In these examples, the syllables pronounced with the heaviest stress are underlined. For example: to ex'pel- expelling to be'gin-beginning to o'ccur- occurring to o'mit-omitting

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/1535_gramchallenge20/

Quizz :Match the beginnings of the sentences to the correct endings by dragging the arrows.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/1535_gramchallenge20/page2.shtml

The Present Simple

The present simple is used for:
1. Permanent states.
2. Repeated actions or daily routines (often with adverbs of frequency such as: always, never, usually etc.).
Mr Jones is a businessman. He lives in New York. (permanent state)
He usually starts work at 9 a.m. He often stays at the office until late in the evening. (daily routine)
3. General truths or laws of nature.
The moon moves round the earth.
It rarely rains in the desert.
4. Programmes or timetables. ( trains, buses etc.).
The plane to London takes off at 6.50 a.m.
The bus leaves in 10 minutes.
5. For sports commentaries, reviews and narration.
Ronaldo kicks the ball and passes it to KaKa. (sports commentary)
So, the prince tells her ....... (narration)

Spelling rules
1. Most verbs take -s in the third person singular, I read- he reads
2. Verbs ending in -ss,- sh,-ch,-x and -o, take -es. I kiss- he kisses. I brush- he brushes. I teach- he teaches, I fix- he fixes, I go- he goes.
3. Verbs ending in a consonant + y, drop the -y and take -ies. I try- he tries
4. Verbs ending in a vowel+ y, simply take -s. I buy- he buys

Pronunciation
In the present simple the suffix of the third person singular is pronounced
/s/ when the verb ends in a /f/, /k/, /p/ or /t/ sound.
laughs, drinks, sleeps, hates
/iz/ when the verb ends in a /s/, /ʃ/, /tʃ/, /dʒ/ or /z/ sound.
misses, wishes, matches, arranges, rises
/z/ when the verb ends in any other sound.
dreams, stays, begins, stands, saves.

Listen and practise the pronunciation of the suffix
http://evaeaston.com/pr/s-z-Iz-pattern.html

TYPICAL TRADITIONAL BRITISH DISHES

Meals and meal times
http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/questions/food/meals.htm

Typical British dishes

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/questions/food/dishes.htm#13