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?

invitation

invitation

To invite someone

* I would like you to …

* We would be pleased if you could …

* Would you like to …?

* Shall we …?

* How about …?

To accept an invitation

* Thank you. Yes, I would like to …

* Yes, I would. Thanks.

* That would be very nice. Thank you.

* All right!

* O.K.!

To refuse/decline an invitation

* I would love to, but …

* That’s nice/great. Unfortunately/However …

* That’s very kind of you, but …

* Sorry, that wouldn’t be possible. Thanks anyway.

noun phrase

 Noun Phrase

A noun phrase is other a single noun or any group of words containing noun or a pronoun that function together as a noun or pronoun, as the subject or object of adverb.

For example, ‘they’ , ‘books’, and ‘the books’, are noun phrases, but ‘book’ is just a noun, as you can see in these sentences (in which the noun phrases are all in bold)

> Structure of Noun Phrases:
> A beautiful old painting on the wall

When you use a noun in front of another noun, you never put adjectives between them, you put adjectives in front of the first noun.
Example : We just spoke with a young American boy

Noun phrase can be in form of gerund (base + ing) or gerund and other nouns compounding.

finite verbs

 

Finite Verbs

A finite verbs is a verb that is inflected for tense according to the rules and categories of the languages in which it occurs. Finite verbs can form independent clauses, which can stand by their own as complete sentences.

Every grammatically correct sentence or clouse must contain a finite verb; sentence fragments not containing finite verb are described as phrases.

Some interjections can play the same role. Even in English, a sentence like thanks for you help! Has an interjection where it could have a subject and a fibite verb form compare I appreciate your help!

A verb is a world that expression an occurrence, act, or made, of being, finite verbs, sometimes called main verbs, are limited by time (see tense), person, and number.

Verb forms that are not finite include the infinite
Participles (e.g, the broken window..!, The wheezing gentleman…”)

Gerunds and gerundives
English has three kinds of verbals : participles, which function as adjectives, which have noun-like, adjective –like, and adverb-like functions each of these is also used in various common constructs; for example, the past participle is used in farming the perfect aspect (to have done).

Other kinds of verbals, such as gerunds and gerundives, exist in other languages.
Example :
The Finite verbs are the under lived work

                                         
THE CROWN AND THE FOX

One day a crow finds a tasty piece of cheese she picks it up, flaps her wings, and flies to a high branch of a tree to eat it. (…)
Source : International Story

direct and indirect speech

direct and indirect speech

Direct Speech refers to reproducing another person’s exact words or saying exactly what someone has said (sometimes called quoted speech).
We use quotation marks (“______________”) and it should be word for word.
For example:
Nicky said, “It’s hot”.
Or
“It’s hot,” Nicky said.
Indirect speech refers to reproducing the idea of another person’s words that doesn’t use quotation marks to enclose what the person said and it doesn’t have to be word for word.
Indirect speech is sometimes called reported speech.
The tense usually changes when reporting speech. This is because we are usually talking about a time in the past and obviously the person who spoke originally spoke in the past.
The verbs therefore usually have to be in the past too.

▪ Note: The reporting verbs that are usually used to report imperative sentences are: Tell, order, command, ask, warn, remind

▪ Don’t forget to mention the indirect object. Father warned me not to drive fast.

For example:
Direct speech Indirect speech
Present simple Past simple
Vita said, “I eat fried rice. Vita said that she ate fried rice.
Past simple Past Perfect
Mother said, “I went to market yesterday”. Mother said (that) she had gone to market the day before.
Future simple Past Future
Lea said, “I am going to wash my clothes”. Lea said (that) she was going to wash her clothes.
Dave said, “I will buy an I-Pod next week”. Dave said (that) he would buy an I-Pod the week after.
Present continuous Past continuous
Gama said, “I am playing football”. Gama said he was playing football.
Past continuous Past perfect continuous
She said, “I was teaching earlier.” She said she had been teaching earlier.
▪ When we want to report what someone said, we do not usually repeat their exact words, we use our words. We can use reporting verbs, such as tell, say, ask followed by ‘that-clause’.
Example: My mother said that she got up at 4 o’clock.
▪ When reporting verbs is in the Present, Present Perfect, or Future, there is no change of tense in the words reported.
Example: She will tell you
She says (that) she doesn’t know.
She has just said
In time expressions and pronouns

Direct speech	Indirect speech
Now Today/tonight Yesterday Tomorrow Last week Next week Ago	Then That day/that night The day before/the previous day The next/following day The previous week The following week/the week after Before
This/these Here Pronouns	That/those There They change according to the context

Sometimes we need to report someone’s questions. The reported question are introduced with the verb ask, inquire, wonder, want to know, etc.

Type	Form	Examples
Yes-No questions	Ask + if/whether + subject + verb Wonder etc.	“Do you speak English?” - He wondered if I spoke English.
Wh-questions	Ask + question word + subject + verb Wonder etc.	“What are you watching?” - She asked what I am watching

simple future

Simple Future

Simple Future has two different forms in English: "will" and "be going to." Although the two forms can sometimes be used interchangeably, they often express two very different meanings. These different meanings might seem too abstract at first, but with time and practice, the differences will become clear. Both "will" and "be going to" refer to a specific time in the future.


FORM Will

[will + verb]

Examples:
You will help him later.
Will you help him later?
You will not help him later.
FORM Be Going To

[am/is/are + going to + verb]

Examples:
You are going to meet Jane tonight.
Are you going to meet Jane tonight?
You are not going to meet Jane tonight.

Complete List of Simple Future Forms
USE 1 "Will" to Express a Voluntary Action

"Will" often suggests that a speaker will do something voluntarily. A voluntary action is one the speaker offers to do for someone else. Often, we use "will" to respond to someone else's complaint or request for help. We also use "will" when we request that someone help us or volunteer to do something for us. Similarly, we use "will not" or "won't" when we refuse to voluntarily do something.

Examples:
I will send you the information when I get it.
I will translate the email, so Mr. Smith can read it.
Will you help me move this heavy table?
Will you make dinner?
I will not do your homework for you.
I won't do all the housework myself!
A: I'm really hungry.
B: I'll make some sandwiches.
A: I'm so tired. I'm about to fall asleep.
B: I'll get you some coffee.
A: The phone is ringing.
B: I'll get it.
USE 2 "Will" to Express a Promise

"Will" is usually used in promises.

Examples:
I will call you when I arrive.
If I am elected President of the United States, I will make sure everyone has access to inexpensive health insurance.
I promise I will not tell him about the surprise party.
Don't worry, I'll be careful.
I won't tell anyone your secret.
USE 3 "Be going to" to Express a Plan

"Be going to" expresses that something is a plan. It expresses the idea that a person intends to do something in the future. It does not matter whether the plan is realistic or not.

Examples:
He is going to spend his vacation in Hawaii.
She is not going to spend her vacation in Hawaii.
A: When are we going to meet each other tonight?
B: We are going to meet at 6 PM.
I'm going to be an actor when I grow up.
Michelle is going to begin medical school next year.
They are going to drive all the way to Alaska.
Who are you going to invite to the party?
A: Who is going to make John's birthday cake?
B: Sue is going to make John's birthday cake.
USE 4 "Will" or "Be Going to" to Express a Prediction

Both "will" and "be going to" can express the idea of a general prediction about the future. Predictions are guesses about what might happen in the future. In "prediction" sentences, the subject usually has little control over the future and therefore USES 1-3 do not apply. In the following examples, there is no difference in meaning.

Examples:
The year 2222 will be a very interesting year.
The year 2222 is going to be a very interesting year.
John Smith will be the next President.
John Smith is going to be the next President.
The movie "Zenith" will win several Academy Awards.
The movie "Zenith" is going to win several Academy Awards.
IMPORTANT

In the Simple Future, it is not always clear which USE the speaker has in mind. Often, there is more than one way to interpret a sentence's meaning.
No Future in Time Clauses

Like all future forms, the Simple Future cannot be used in clauses beginning with time expressions such as: when, while, before, after, by the time, as soon as, if, unless, etc. Instead of Simple Future, Simple Present is used.

Examples:
When you will arrive tonight, we will go out for dinner. Not Correct
When you arrive tonight, we will go out for dinner. Correct
ADVERB PLACEMENT

The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.

Examples:
You will never help him.
Will you ever help him?
You are never going to meet Jane.
Are you ever going to meet Jane?
ACTIVE / PASSIVE

Examples:
John will finish the work by 5:00 PM. Active
The work will be finished by 5:00 PM. Passive
Sally is going to make a beautiful dinner tonight. Active
A beautiful dinner is going to be made by Sally tonight. Passive

preposition in, on and at

Prepositions of Time: at, in, on

We use:

• at for a PRECISE TIME
• in for MONTHS, YEARS, CENTURIES and LONG PERIODS
• on for DAYS and DATES

at	in	on
PRECISE TIME	MONTHS, YEARS, CENTURIES and LONG PERIODS	DAYS and DATES
at 3 o'clock	in May	on Sunday
at 10.30am	in summer	on Tuesdays
at noon	in the summer	on 6 March
at dinnertime	in 1990	on 25 Dec. 2010
at bedtime	in the 1990s	on Christmas Day
at sunrise	in the next century	on Independence Day
at sunset	in the Ice Age	on my birthday
at the moment	in the past/future	on New Year's Eve

Look at these examples:

• I have a meeting at 9am.
• The shop closes at midnight.
• Jane went home at lunchtime.
• In England, it often snows in December.
• Do you think we will go to Jupiter in the future?
• There should be a lot of progress in the next century.
• Do you work on Mondays?
• Her birthday is on 20 November.
• Where will you be on New Year's Day?

Notice the use of the preposition of time at in the following standard expressions:

Expression	Example
at night	The stars shine at night.
at the weekend	I don't usually work at the weekend.
at Christmas/Easter	I stay with my family at Christmas.
at the same time	We finished the test at the same time.
at present	He's not home at present. Try later.

Notice the use of the prepositions of time in and on in these common expressions:

in	on
in the morning	on Tuesday morning
in the mornings	on Saturday mornings
in the afternoon(s)	on Sunday afternoons
in the evening(s)	on Monday evening

When we say last, next, every, this we do not also use at, in, on.

• I went to London last June. (not in last June)
• He's coming back next Tuesday. (not on next Tuesday)
• I go home every Easter. (not at every Easter)
• We'll call you this evening. (not in this evening)