Lesson 7
“Condition” clause
Open condition: in the “Condition” clause we have the Simple (Indefinite) Present Tense. In the Principle Clause we have the Simple Future Tense.
- If you laugh before breakfast, you’ll cry before supper.
- If you run after two hares, you will catch neither.
Where there is an implied negative we use the Subjunctive Conditional: Subjunctive Present Conditional or Subjunctive Past Condutuonal:
Subjunctive Present Conditional
- If there were no clouds, we should not enjoy the sun.
- If things were to be done twice, all would be wise.
Subjunctive Past Condutuonal
- If I had known where I should fall, I should have put some hay there in advance.
- If my aunt had been a man, she would have been my uncle.
Answer these questions:
- What would you do if you were Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark?
- What would you do if you were Little Red Hood?
- What would you do if you were Ugly Duckling?
- What would you do if you were Cinderella?
- What would you do if you were musketeer?
Ask yourself constantly: “What should I do if I were…”
Lesson 8
Degrees of comparison
Degrees of comparison:
-er older more more expensive
-est oldest most most expensive
Fairy tale
Little Lion:
- Who am I?
Mother Lion:
- You are the strongest, the fastest, the cleverest, the best and most beautiful of all the animals.
A bee:
- Hello. Who are you?
Little Lion:
- Hello. I’m the strongest, the fastest, the cleverest, the best and most beautiful of all the animals.
A parrot:
- Hello. Who are you?
Little Lion:
- Hello. I’m the strongest, the fastest, the cleverest, the best and most beautiful of all the animals.
An Owl:
- Hello. Who are you?
Little Lion:
- I am the strongest! I am the fastest! I am the most beautiful!
An Owl:
- Never say that you the strongest, the fastest and so on. There are animals which are stronger, faster, cleverer, better and more beautiful than you.
Little Lion:
- Thank you, Mr. Owl, for this wise lesson.
Proverbs
- East or west home is best.
- Better late than never.
- Two heads are better than one.
- As old as the hills.
- As drunk as a lord.
- As plain as the nose on a man’s face.
Idioms
As wet as a fish As bold as a thief
As strong as a horse As dry as a bone
As white as a lily As round as a ball
As weak as a cat As sly as a fox
As poor as a rat As live as a bird
As black as a coal As gay as a lark
As free as an air As hot as a oven
As light as a feather As warm as a toast
As uncertain as a weather As cold as a frog
As sick as a dog As red as a rose
Read these idioms every day.
Pronounce “as … as” and “a” in the weak way.
Don’t stress “as … as”.
Then embody them in sentences of your own.
Proverbs
- On-lookers see most.
- Fish like the bottom deeper; man also looks for what is better.
- A good name is sooner lost than won.
- A good name is better than riches.
- Better untaught than ill-taught.
- Better to do well than to say well.
- Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t.
- Better lose a jest than a friend.
- Better deny at once than promise long.
- As the call, so the echo.
- As the tree, so the fruit.
- As welcome as flowers in may.
- As welcome as water in one’s shoes.
- The least said the soonest mended.
- A friend is easier lost than found.
- Be slow in choosing friends, slower in changing them.
- A still tongue makes a wise head.
Discuss why too much talking isn’t good. Do you remember another English proverb which says “The greatest talkers are always the least doers”.
What does it mean?
- A good name is better than a good face.
Discuss how important it is for a person to be respected by everybody.
What should he(she) do to be respected?
- Who knows most says least.
What is the best way to show one’s knowledge?
What does a modest person do if he knows much?
- Doing is better than saying.
- Actions speak louder than words.
- It’s better to do well than to say.
Here are three English proverbs. Give examples of some persons who speak little but do much.
- Speak little but listen well to what others say.
It’s a good proverb, but what is very important in learning to speak English?
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