Contrastive Conjunctions

Read the dialogue!

Inana     : I've just found out that your sister can speak English very well.

Hasna    : Well, that's the truth. Even though, she never lives in an English speaking country, she can speak the language fluently.

Inana     : Wow! That's cool!

The word in bold in the dialogue above is a contrastive conjunction. The word is used to emphasize the contrast between the two ideas, that are she never lives in an English speaking country, and she can speak English fluently.

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Modal Perfect

Read the following dialogue!

Agha    : I didn't see Maya in the farewell party last night.

Naufal  : Really? She might have gone to Surabaya.

Agha    : Why was she in a hurry?

Naufal  : She has to join the university entrance test soon.

The word 'might have' is a modal perfect. A modal perfect is always followed by past participle.

Study the functions of modal perfect and their examples below.

1.  Should have

    Function : to express the belief that an event or situation was right and desirable. However, the  event didn't happen.

     Example : I've got flu. I should not have played football in the rain.

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Expresing Intention

Read the following dialogue!

Rudi     : Nita, what are you doing with these pictures?

Nita      : Please, help me choose some good pictures. I want to follow a student photography contest.

Rudi     : Do you? That's great! I'll help you then. I hope you win.

Nita      : Thanks.

Here are some expressions to show intention.

Expressing Intention
I really want to do it. I wish I could....... I'm really longing for ........... I intended to continue my study in a medical school. I really want to take a part-time job. I wish I pass the final exam with satisfying marks. I plan to spend coming holiday in Bali. We intend to buy a house rather than renting one.

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Admitting Mistakes

Read the following dialogue!

Dodi    : What have you done with my magazine? How did it get so dirty?

Nadia   : Sorry, it's my fault. I accidentally dropped it in the puddle.

Dodi    : How come?

Nadia   : I was shocked when I saw a rather deep puddle in front of me. I jumped to avoid the puddle, but the magazine slipped out of my hands.

Dodi    : How terrible!

Nadia   : I've tried to clean it, but not very successfully. I'm so sorry.

Here are expressions to admit a mistake or fault.

Admitting Mistakes/Faults
You're right. I'm fully responsible for this mess. I admit what I did was wrong. I didn't intend it that way. I didn't mean to. I admit what I have done is wrong. Yes, I take the blame. You're right. I shouldn't have done that.

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Accusing Someone

Read the following dialogue!

Dani      : Are you looking for me, Ma'am?

Teacher : Yes, please have a seat.

Dani      : Thank you. What's the matter, Ma'am?

Teacher : Dani, one of your classmates told me that you cheated in the test this morning. I'm afraid, you did it. That's why you've got a very good mark.

Dani      : Absolutely not, Ma'am. I will never do such a thing. Please ask Retno who sat next to me.

Teacher : O.K. I trust you.

The sentence "I'm afraid, you did it." is used to accuse someone.

Here are some other expressions of accusing someone.

Accusing Someone	Responding
I think you're the only person who could have done it. No one else would do such a thing but him. You're the one to blame. You did all this, didn't you? It's your fault. Admit it that you often bother me on the phone.	No, I'm not. Trust me. You're probably right. No way! I've never done such a thing! No, I didn't do it. Yeah. Sorry. I didn't mean it.  But, I never do it.

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Making Promises

Read the following dialogue!

Rudi     : When will you pick me up to watch the football match?

Tirtana : At about three.

Rudi     : Don't be late. Otherwise, we will miss the match.

Tirtana : O.K. I promise you.

The following are some expressions to make promises and their responses.

Making Promises	Responding
I promise that I will help you. I swear I won't do it again. I promise to call you every weekend. I assure you that I will attend your party.	Thank you. O.K. Really? O.K. I'll wait for you.

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Relative Clause

Introduction

A clause is a group of words containing a subject and a verb.

An independent clause is a complete sentence. It contains the main subject and verb of a sentence.

A dependent clause is not a complete sentence. It must be connected to an independent clause.

An adjective clause is a dependent clause that modifies a noun. It describes, identifies, or gives further information about a noun. (An adjective clause is also called a relative clause.)

Using Subject Pronouns : Who (used for people), Which (used for things).

I thank the woman.

She helped me.

I thank the woman who helped me.

----> I thank the woman = an independent clause.

         who helped me = an adjective clause

The adjective clause modifies the noun woman.

The book is mine.

It is on the table.

The book which is on the table is mine.

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Announcement

Listen everyone,

There will be a lunch and learning program tomorrow at 11.45 a.m. All of you are invited to join. The program will be started ten minutes before the lunch period. You can come with a friend to listen to a talk by a well-known Clinic Dietician just this time! It is about healthy eating habits, portion sizes, and how the food pyramid works. You may bring your lunch pack or grab something quickly at the cafetaria. Don't miss it.

The text above is an announcement in spoken form. An announcement is a statement that informs people about something. We can hear it at a public place such as schools, malls, public libraries, stations or airports. It usually starts with an expression of gaining attention or salutation and sometimes ends with an expression of thanking. It gives people information or news. It is usually short so that people can remember easily what it is about.

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Gerund

Read the dialogue!

Dika   : What do you like to do in your spare time?

Cinta  : I like gardening. What about you?

Dika   : Playing football is my favorite.

The word 'gardening' in the sentence is a gerund. It functions as the object of a verb.

Meanwhile, the word 'playing' in the sentences is also a gerund. It functions as the subject of a verb.

A gerund is the -ing form of a verb which functions as a noun.

1. Gerund as a Subject

    Examples:

• Smoking is prohibited in this room.
• Writing poems is Rinta's hobby. 

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Passive Sentences

Read the dialogue!

Yahuri    : Do you know the life cycle of a butterfly?

Sabnu     : Yes, I do. It has been explained by Mr. Ruswanto, my biology teacher.

Yahuri    : Can you tell me about it?

Sabnu     : Sure.

The sentence "It has been explained by Mr. Ruswanto,....." uses passive form.

A verb is in the passive voice when its form shows that something is done to the person or thing denoted by the subject. We use verbs participle in the passive sentences.

Look at the difference of the following sentences!

Active    : Nadia waters the flowers every day.

Passive   : The flowers are watered by Nadia every day.

Examples of Passive

Tense		Subject	Verb	Object
Simple Present	Active	Rita	writes	a letter
	Passive	A letter	is written	by Rita
Simple Past	Active	Rita	wrote	a letter
	Passive	A letter	was written	by Rita
Present Perfect	Active	Rita	has written	a letter
	Passive	A letter	has been written	by Rita
Future	Active	Rita	will write	a letter
	Passive	A letter	will be written	by Rita
Present Continuous	Active	Rita	is writing	a letter
	Passive	A letter	is being written	by Rita
Past Continuous	Active	Rita	was writing	a letter
	Passive	A letter	was being written	by Rita
Past Perfect	Active	Rita	had written	a letter
	Passive	A letter	had been written	by Rita

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Giving an Instruction

Read the following dialogue!

Son       : Ooops, sorry?

Mother : You should be more careful next time. Now, clean up the mess.

Son       : Sure, Mom.

The sentences in bold in the dialogue is an expression to instruct someone to do something.

The following are some sentences to instruct someone and their possible responses.

Instructing Someone	Responding
Read the text thoroughly so you can answer all the questions. Don't litter. It will clog the drain. Spend your time effectively to prepare the national exam. Please stop here. I need to buy some drink.	Yes, thanks No, I won't. O.K. Dad, I will Sure.

Remember! Use verb without to (verb base) when you give an instruction (ask someone to do something). Use Don't when you ask someone not to do something.

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Giving a suggestion

Read the following dialogue!

Nanda  : There will be a try out in the stadium next Sunday. Do you think I should join?

Nita      : Definitely! I suggest you to join any try out. It will improve your knowledge and skill.

The sentences in bold in the dialogue is an expression to give a suggestion.

The following are some sentences to give a suggestion and their possible responses.

Giving a suggestion	Responding
We'd better make an English conversation club. Why don't you ask your friend to do the task together? I think you should take a private course. Perhaps you need to repair your motorcycle tomorrow. Why not asking Ms.Ifana to check our work?	That's good idea. It's good suggestion. You are right. I think so. Good idea.

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Asking about possibilities

Read the following dialogue!

Rahmat  : Is it possible that it will rain today?

Sarah     : I think it is. It's cloudy, you know.

Rahmat  : But..... the weather is unpredictable, right?

Sarah     : You are right.

The sentences "Is it possible that it will rain today?" is used to ask about possibilities.

The following are some sentences used to ask about possibilities and their responses.

Asking about possibilities	Responding
Is it possible that Anis will come to my party? Do you think we can finish our work on time. Is there any possibility of going abroad to study for everyone? Perhaps we can join together to do the experiment. What do you think?	I think so. I'm sure. That's impossible. No big deal.

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Expressing Curiosity

Read the following dialogue!

Linda  : Did you know that Ifana and her team won a math Olympiad?

Cinta   : Yes, I did. Actually I wonder how they could win it.

Linda  : They are smart and creative.

Cinta   : You're right, but I want to know more about the key of their success.

The sentences "Actually I wonder how they could win it." and "I want to know more about the key of their success." are used to express curiosity.

We usually feel curious about something when we find something strange or amazing.

The following are some expressions to show curiosity and their responses.

Expressing Curiosity	Responding
I really want to know.... I'm curious about it. I wonder why he did such a foolish thing. It's very embarrassing. How can it happen.  I'm interested to know....	Ask your teacher about it. Don't worry. I'll show you the process. I don't know. You'd better ask him. Let me tell you about it. So am I. Let's see it together.

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Announcements and E-mails

Spoken Text

Read the following text.

Attention to all students,

Tomorrow some students from this school will represent us in the English debate contest in SMA 1 at four p.m. We are going to have two groups in the contest. All students are expected to come to support our teams.

Thank you.

The text is an announcement in spoken text form. An announcement is a statement that informs people about something. It can be spoken or written.

Written Text

 

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