25/11/2009

MAKE Vs DO (Part 1)

Last week, during my usual Wednesday class, I was asked to explain the difference between the verbs “make” and “do”; no easy matter, I can tell you! I started by saying that we use do mainly for duties and obligations, whereas make is used for building something (this was no time, and certainly not the right level, for complicated explanations). Some of the examples I used were, “make a car” and “do your homework”. The ensuing silence seemed to indicate that no further explanations were needed.

I was just about to change the subject when someone asked:” Can I make a favour?” “No,” I said. “You don’t make favours, you do favours”. “And, can I do a suggestion?” “No, you can’t,” I replied. “You make a suggestion.” Fifteen pairs of unconvinced eyes stared at me during several seconds. They were obviously confused. Just then, a shy female voice from the back row asked: “Why?”!!!!! I was trapped. “Look,” I said, “I understand you. You’d like to know the difference, but it isn’t easy to see it. English is based more on the evolution of the Anglo-Saxon languages and the influences of French and Latin than on rigid rules. So, you will find occasional contradictions and/or situations where both verbs can be used. Why don’t we discuss it at our next lesson and I’ll bring you some notes to help you see it more clearly.”

So, there goes my weekend! I shall prepare the material I need for my class and post it here at the same time. In the meantime, here are some links with interesting quizzes to test your understanding of the two verbs in question. Some are aimed at Spanish speaking students so the instructions may be in Spanish. Enjoy.
Quiz http://esl.about.com/library/vocabulary/blmakedo1.htm
http://www.better-english.com/vocabulary/makedo.htm
http://www.quia.com/pop/84958.html?AP_rand=840467976
http://www.iescampanillas.org/ingles/activities/make%20and%20do/make_do.htm
http://www.iescampanillas.org/ingles/activities/make%20and%20do/makedo2.htm

16/11/2009

I'M NOT WRITING..... JUST THINKING!

I've sat in front of my PC, day in, day out, for the last ten days trying to write something.... but No, nothing comes out. My mind has gone dry and I cannot think of anything I really want to talk about. I feel like a desert in search of an oasis, a sky looking for a star, a field without a single tree in sight. How can that be, considering the number of things happening around the world, around the country, around me! It just doesn't seem possible: the financial crisis, the anniversary of the Berlin wall, Obama's visit to China, this latest animal flu, my grandson's birthday, the local wine trade fair.... my goodness there are hundreds of subjects out there I could write about, but NO, NOTHING COMES OUT!

So, I have resolved to leave it at that. My current post will be a non-post. In other words, I'm writing about NOT WRITING, if you can follow me.

I'm sure this NON-WRITING phase will not last very long and I'm confident that very soon I shall have something interesting to put down on paper. Bye for now.