invitation (written)

Invitation is a way to invite someone or more to go to a place or to do something.

There are two types of invitation :

a.        Formal Invitation

b.        Informal Invitation

(If you want to know more about types and some expressions of invitation, go to Invitation)

How to Write An Invitation :

1.          Before you write an invitation, decide on the tone, voice and level of formality, based on the event itself. This will dictate whether you hand-write the cards or have them printed, and whether you choose A preprinted or personalized invitation.

2.          Choose the type of invite you want, and order or buy a few more than you think you'll need. This will permit you to add some guests to your list at the last minute, if necessary. For small parties, you may want to hand-write the invitations on stationery or blank cards. For large gatherings, consider ordering printed invitations.

3.          Determine the wording of your invite based on the level of formality. For example, a formal invitation might say, 'Dr. and Mrs. Stanley request the pleasure of your company,' whereas a more casual note might say, 'Please join us.'

4.          Include the names of the host and/or hostess, as well as the place (with street address), time, date and purpose of the occasion, even if it's a simple get-together.

5.          Make sure to add RSVP information at the bottom of the invite if you need to know who will be attending; for example, 'RSVP' followed by your telephone number.

6.          Include a respond-by date on a formal invitation so you can get an accurate head count in time to adjust the amount of food, number of place settings and room size. For a wedding, charity function or other formal event, consider including a response card and a stamped, self-addressed envelope inside the envelope containing your invite.

7.          Mail invitations three weeks before most events, four weeks before a formal affair and three months before a wedding, to allow for airline reservations. For events held during the December holidays, send invitations around Thanksgiving.

What does R.S.V.P. mean?

R.S.V.P. stands for a French phrase, "répondez, s'il vous plaît," which means "please reply.“ The person sending the invitation would like you to tell him or her whether you accept or decline the invitation. That is, will you be coming to the event or not?

passive voice

Passive Voice

Passive voice is a grammatical voice in which the subject receives the subject receives the action of a transitive verb, and passive refers more generally to verb using this construction and the passages in which they are used.


When rewriting active sentences in passive voices note the following:
- The object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence
- The finite form of the verb is changed (to be + pas participate)
- The subject of the active sentence becomes the object of the passive sentence (or is dropped)

 AgentØ
In a passive clause, we usually we a phrase beginning with by if we want to mention the agent-the person or thing that does the action, or that causes what happens

Example :
My Mother makes sandwich every morning
Subject + V1+ S/es + O + C(adv. Of time)

Sandwich is made by my mother every morning
Subject + to be + V3 agent C(adv. Of time)

Present Continuous :
S + to be + being + V3 (past participle)

Present Perfect :
S + has/have + been + V3 (past participle)

Present Continuous :
Active : A young boy is catching a butterfly
Passive : A butter fly is being caught by a young boy

Asking for information

Asking for information

There are a number of formulas used when asking for information in English. Here are some of the most common:

• Could you tell me...?
• Do you know...?
• Do you happen to know...?
• I'd like to know...
• Could you find out...?
• I'm interested in...
• I'm looking for..

These two forms are used for asking for information on the telephone:

• I'm calling to find out...
• I'm calling about...

narrative text

Narrative text

Narrative text is a text which contains about story (fiction/ non fiction/ tales/ folktales/ fables/ myths/ epic) and in its plot consists of climax of the story (complication) then followed by the resolution.

Generic Structure

- Orientation

- Complication

- Resolution

Ø      Orientation : It is about WHO, WHEN, and WHERE the story happened

Ø      Evaluation : Is optional; it is usually used to make the story. Complication is the part of the story in which there is a conflict among the characters of the story (it is possible to make more than one conflict in a complication), and it is the climax of the story (the big problem in the story). A story can here more than one complication.

Ø      Resolution : It is the solution of the problem. It can be a happy or sad ending. In resolution, the solution or the way out of the conflict/ the big problem must be written

Ø      Coda : It is the change of one of the character or two, or the meaning of the story that can be caught as a moral value of life

Example : The story of Cinderella, Snow White, Snow Maiden, The Little Pear Girl, The Ugly Duckling, etc.

Modal in the past form

Modal in the past form

Present	Past
Can	Could
Will	Would
Shall	Should
May	Might

1. Could + Verb base
- To offer suggestions or possibilities
Example        
Doraemon     : Oh no! left my short’s
Nobita                        : Don’t wori, Dora you could borrow my shorts
- To indicate that the ability existed in the past but doesn’t exist now
Example
Ruther                        : Ton, can you climb the aple trees
Tony               : Well … I could climb apple tree when I was so young. But I thing I’m to heavy to climb it
- To Express polite requests
Example :
 Could I borrow your pencil (please)?Ø
 Could you lend me your jacket now?Ø
 Could you please close the doorØ
 Could you pass the saltØ
2. Would + Verb base
- For an action that was repeated regularly in the past
Example
When I was a child, I would visit my grandparents every weekend
- Insert rather into the pattern and use this expressions to express preferences
Example
Angga             : Ehich country would you rather visit?
Maria             : I Would rather visit Tara than somelia
- To express polite requests
Example :
Budi                : Would you mind cycling with me, Nada?
Nada                : No, not at all. It would be nice
3. Should + Verb base
- To give definite advice (advisability)
Example :
Derby              : You should paint your door, Romeo. It looks terrible
Romeo           : Yes, I know I should
4. Might + Verb base
- To tell possibilities
Exmple :
David                         : Where is Deddy?
Copperfield    : He might be in the studio with Kalina
- To express polite requests
Example :
Tian                : Might I borrow your coat?
Chris                : I’m afraid not. It has been brought by Danny for week sand I don’t know when he‘ll return it

surprises and disbeliefs

SURPRISES & DISBELIEFS

To express surprise!

- What a surprise!

- (Well), that’s very surprising!

- Really?

- What

- Are you serious? You must be joking!

- You’re kidding!

- Fancy that!

- I must say … surprises me

- I find that hard to believe

Example of expressing surprise

A : I can’t believe it!

B : That’s true

When you got a surprising fact, you can say:

- Do you know what

- Believe it or not

- You may not believe it, but

- Can you believe this?

You can respond to the surprising fact using these expression :

- Really?

- Are you joking?

- Oh?

- Where? Show me

introductory it

Introductory it

When the subjective is an infinitive phrase

We begin a sentence with it when the real subject is an infinitive phrase. So instead of saying, ‘To accept your advice is difficult’, we say, ‘It is difficult to accept your advice’.

Structure: It + verb + subject complement + infinitive phrase (real subject)

-          It is easy to learn English. (= To learn English is easy.)

-          It is easy to find fault with others. (= To find fault with others is easy.)

-          It is difficult to know his motive. (= To know his motive is difficult.)

-          It is difficult to find a good job during these troubled times.

-          It is dangerous to play with fire.

-          It could be dangerous to drive so fast.

Note that when we wish to emphasize the infinitive phrase, it may be put at the beginning, especially when it is short.

-           To err is human. (OR It is human to err.)

-           To become a well known writer was his life-long ambition. (OR It was his lifelong ambition to become a well known writer.)

-           To invest all your money in shares is foolish. (OR It is foolish to invest all your money in shares.)

When the subject is a gerund phrase

When the real subject is a phrase that includes a gerund, it is used as a provisional subject to begin the sentence. So instead of saying ‘Your trying to fool us is no good’, we say, ‘It is no good your trying to fool us.’

-          It won’t be any good complaining to the manager. (Complaining to the anager won’t be any good.)

-          It is silly throwing away this opportunity. (Throwing away this opportunity is silly.)

-           Will it be any good my talking to him about it? (Will my talking to him about it be any good)

-          It is no fun having so many children to look after. (Having so many children to look after is no fun.)

Note that it is possible to change the gerund into an infinitive.

-           It won’t be any good for me to complain to the manager.

-           It is silly (for you) to throw away this opportunity.

-           Will it be any good for me to talk to him about it?