Anna A
New member
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2010
- Member Type
- Student or Learner
- Native Language
- Russian
- Home Country
- Russian Federation
- Current Location
- Russian Federation
Hi everyone! My the pre-interview task for the CELTA course wasn't successful, but I can't understand what exactly was wrong about it. Could you please help me to understand. Thank you.
In the following sentences:
1) correct the error if you think there is one
2) name the tense of the verb if you can
3) comment briefly on the meaning of the tense and how it is used
Example: I read a book at the moment.
1) (corrected to) I’m reading a book at the moment.
2) (name of tense) Present continuous/progressive
3) (meaning and use of tense) Used here to express the idea of an action taking place at the moment of speaking.
1) She is getting up at six o’clock every day.
1) She gets up at six o’clock every day
2) Present indefinite/ simple
3) Used here to express the idea of a habitual action.
2) I’ve been to Italy two years ago.
1) I was to Italy two years ago
2) Past simple
3) Used here to point to an action that happened in the past and not linked to the present
3) A: Can you come for a drink tonight?
B: Sorry, I’ll go to see “Hamlet” at the National Theatre.
1) Sorry, I’m going to see “Hamlet” at the National Theatre.
2) Present Continuous
3) Used here to express the idea of a planned action
4. When I got to the station, I realised I left the tickets at home.
1) When I got to the station, I realised I had left the tickets at home
2) Past Perfect
3) Used here to express the idea of an action that happened in an earlier past
5. How would you explain the difference in meaning to a foreigner between these two
sentences?
He’s been to Bermuda.
He’s gone to Bermuda.
The difference in the meaning becomes more vivid if put these sentences into a situation. For example:
1.
– Hey Bob! Where have you been all this time?
– I’ve been to Bermuda. That was great!
2.
– Hello, can I speak to Bob please?
– Sorry, he is not at home. He has gone to Bermuda.
The first example indicates that “he” was to Bermuda and then came back. The second sentence means that “he” is “not here” but “left for Bermuda”.
Foreign learners often confuse words. Explain the difference between the following words.
Example: He robbed the bank.
He stole the money
You ‘rob’ people and places and you ‘steal’ money and objects, so ‘rob’ means to take something from someone or somewhere.
1. borrow vs lend ………………………………………………………………….
“to borrow something” means to take something for a period of time, “to lend something” means to give something for a period of time.
2. slim vs skinny
“slim” means “attractively thin”, synonymous to “slender”;
“skinny” means “very thin, in a way that is unattractive”
3. win vs beat ………………………………………………………………………
You “win” a game, a competition, a prize but you “beat” an opponent.
1. Look at the exchange below and the labels on the right.
A: Would you like to come to the cinema tonight? INVITING
B: Yes, I’d love to. ACCEPTING AN INVITATION
We call these labels (i.e. ‘inviting’, ‘accepting an invitation’) FUNCTIONS. It is simply a way of categorising the speaker’s intention. Look at the short dialogue below and label the function of each utterance. Put your answer in the column on the right.
A: Hey, Bob! ATTRACTING ATTENTION
B: Yeah? RESPONSE
A: Give me a hand with this suitcase, will you? ASKING FOR HELP
B: Sorry, but Jenny’s waiting for me. POLITE REFUSAL
A: O.K. Never mind. ACCEPTING THE REFUSAL
This dialogue is clearly a very informal one between two speakers who know each other. Write a similar dialogue in the space below on the same topic – using the same functions – between two people who don’t know each other.
A …Excuse me, Sir!
B …Yes, Madam?
A …Could you please give me the direction?
B …I’m so sorry, but I’m new to the city.
A …That’s all right.
How would you try to get across the meaning of the phrase “Would you like………”
(as in “Would you like a coffee?”) to a group of beginners?
In English we use “Would you like…” to make a polite offer or a request. For example, your friend comes to visit you. How will you offer him a coffee? You can either say “Do you want a coffee?” or “Would you like a coffee?”. In an informal context both variants are possible. But the second one sounds a lot nicer, a lot more polite.
“Do you want a coffee?” would sound improper in a formal context. So, ““Would you like…” is a simple way to sound polite and respectful in any situation.
In the following sentences:
1) correct the error if you think there is one
2) name the tense of the verb if you can
3) comment briefly on the meaning of the tense and how it is used
Example: I read a book at the moment.
1) (corrected to) I’m reading a book at the moment.
2) (name of tense) Present continuous/progressive
3) (meaning and use of tense) Used here to express the idea of an action taking place at the moment of speaking.
1) She is getting up at six o’clock every day.
1) She gets up at six o’clock every day
2) Present indefinite/ simple
3) Used here to express the idea of a habitual action.
2) I’ve been to Italy two years ago.
1) I was to Italy two years ago
2) Past simple
3) Used here to point to an action that happened in the past and not linked to the present
3) A: Can you come for a drink tonight?
B: Sorry, I’ll go to see “Hamlet” at the National Theatre.
1) Sorry, I’m going to see “Hamlet” at the National Theatre.
2) Present Continuous
3) Used here to express the idea of a planned action
4. When I got to the station, I realised I left the tickets at home.
1) When I got to the station, I realised I had left the tickets at home
2) Past Perfect
3) Used here to express the idea of an action that happened in an earlier past
5. How would you explain the difference in meaning to a foreigner between these two
sentences?
He’s been to Bermuda.
He’s gone to Bermuda.
The difference in the meaning becomes more vivid if put these sentences into a situation. For example:
1.
– Hey Bob! Where have you been all this time?
– I’ve been to Bermuda. That was great!
2.
– Hello, can I speak to Bob please?
– Sorry, he is not at home. He has gone to Bermuda.
The first example indicates that “he” was to Bermuda and then came back. The second sentence means that “he” is “not here” but “left for Bermuda”.
Foreign learners often confuse words. Explain the difference between the following words.
Example: He robbed the bank.
He stole the money
You ‘rob’ people and places and you ‘steal’ money and objects, so ‘rob’ means to take something from someone or somewhere.
1. borrow vs lend ………………………………………………………………….
“to borrow something” means to take something for a period of time, “to lend something” means to give something for a period of time.
2. slim vs skinny
“slim” means “attractively thin”, synonymous to “slender”;
“skinny” means “very thin, in a way that is unattractive”
3. win vs beat ………………………………………………………………………
You “win” a game, a competition, a prize but you “beat” an opponent.
1. Look at the exchange below and the labels on the right.
A: Would you like to come to the cinema tonight? INVITING
B: Yes, I’d love to. ACCEPTING AN INVITATION
We call these labels (i.e. ‘inviting’, ‘accepting an invitation’) FUNCTIONS. It is simply a way of categorising the speaker’s intention. Look at the short dialogue below and label the function of each utterance. Put your answer in the column on the right.
A: Hey, Bob! ATTRACTING ATTENTION
B: Yeah? RESPONSE
A: Give me a hand with this suitcase, will you? ASKING FOR HELP
B: Sorry, but Jenny’s waiting for me. POLITE REFUSAL
A: O.K. Never mind. ACCEPTING THE REFUSAL
This dialogue is clearly a very informal one between two speakers who know each other. Write a similar dialogue in the space below on the same topic – using the same functions – between two people who don’t know each other.
A …Excuse me, Sir!
B …Yes, Madam?
A …Could you please give me the direction?
B …I’m so sorry, but I’m new to the city.
A …That’s all right.
How would you try to get across the meaning of the phrase “Would you like………”
(as in “Would you like a coffee?”) to a group of beginners?
In English we use “Would you like…” to make a polite offer or a request. For example, your friend comes to visit you. How will you offer him a coffee? You can either say “Do you want a coffee?” or “Would you like a coffee?”. In an informal context both variants are possible. But the second one sounds a lot nicer, a lot more polite.
“Do you want a coffee?” would sound improper in a formal context. So, ““Would you like…” is a simple way to sound polite and respectful in any situation.
