1st Conditional

• Conditional tenses describe the result of something that might happen (in the present or future) or might have happened but didn’t (in the past).

 

Past Continuous

FORM

[was/were + verb-ING]

Examples:

• You were studying when she called.
• Were you studying when she called?
• You were not studying when she called.

USE 1 Interrupted Action in the Past

Use the Past Continuous to indicate that a longer action in the past was interrupted. The interruption is usually a shorter action in the Simple Past. Remember this can be a real interruption or just an interruption in time.

Examples:

• I was watching TV when she called.
• When the phone rang, she was writing a letter.
• While we were having the picnic, it started to rain.
• What were you doing when the earthquake started?
• I was listening to my iPod, so I didn’t hear the fire alarm.
• You were not listening to me when I told you to turn the oven off.
• While John was sleeping last night, someone stole his car.
• Sammy was waiting for us when we got off the plane.
• While I was writing the email, the computer suddenly went off.
• A: What were you doing when you broke your leg?
  B: I was snowboarding.

USE 2 Specific Time as an Interruption

In USE 1, described above, the Past Continuous is interrupted by a shorter action in the Simple Past. However, you can also use a specific time as an interruption.

Examples:

• Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner.
• At midnight, we were still driving through the desert.
• Yesterday at this time, I was sitting at my desk at work.

IMPORTANT

In the Simple Past, a specific time is used to show when an action began or finished. In the Past Continuous, a specific time only interrupts the action.

Examples:

• Last night at 6 PM, I ate dinner.
  I started eating at 6 PM.
• Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner.
  I started earlier; and at 6 PM, I was in the process of eating dinner.

USE 3 Parallel Actions

When you use the Past Continuous with two actions in the same sentence, it expresses the idea that both actions were happening at the same time. The actions are parallel.

Examples:

• I was studying while he was making dinner.
• While Ellen was reading, Tim was watching television.
• Were you listening while he was talking?
• I wasn’t paying attention while I was writing the letter, so I made several mistakes.
• What were you doing while you were waiting?
• Thomas wasn’t working, and I wasn’t working either.
• They were eating dinner, discussing their plans, and having a good time.

USE 4 Atmosphere

In English, we often use a series of parallel actions to describe the atmosphere at a particular time in the past.

Example:

• When I walked into the office, several people were busily typing, some were talking on the phones, the boss was yelling directions, and customers were waiting to be helped. One customer was yelling at a secretary and waving his hands. Others were complaining to each other about the bad service.

USE 5 Repetition and Irritation with "Always"

The Past Continuous with words such as "always" or "constantly" expresses the idea that something irritating or shocking often happened in the past. The concept is very similar to the expression "used to" but with negative emotion. Remember to put the words "always" or "constantly" between "be" and "verb+ing."

Examples:

• She was always coming to class late.
• He was constantly talking. He annoyed everyone.
• I didn’t like them because they were always complaining.

REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs / Mixed Verbs

It is important to remember that Non-Continuous Verbs cannot be used in any continuous tenses. Also, certain non-continuous meanings for Mixed Verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses. Instead of using Past Continuous with these verbs, you must use Simple Past.

Examples:

• Jane was being at my house when you arrived. Not Correct
• Jane was at my house when you arrived. Correct

ADVERB PLACEMENT

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

Examples:

• You were just studying when she called.
• Were you just studying when she called?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

Examples:

• The salesman was helping the customer when the thief came into the store. Active
• The customer was being helped by the salesman when the thief came into the store. Passive

 

EXERCISES AND RELATED TOPICS

• Verb Tense Exercise 3 Simple Past and Past Continuous
• Verb Tense Exercise 4 Simple Past and Past Continuous
• Verb Tense Exercise 16 Present and Past Tenses with Non-Continuous Verbs
• Verb Tense Exercise 17 Present and Past Tense Review
• Verb Tense Practice Test Cumulative Verb Tense Review
• Verb Tense Final Test Cumulative Verb Tense Review

Present Continuous

FORM

[am/is/are + verb-ING]

Examples:

• You are watching TV.
• Are you watching TV?
• You are not watching TV.

 

USE 1 Now

Use the Present Continuous with Normal Verbs to express the idea that something is happening now, at this very moment. It can also be used to show that something is not happening now.

Examples:

• You are learning English now.
• You are not swimming now.
• Are you sleeping?
• I am sitting.
• I am not standing.
• Is he sitting or standing?
• They are reading their books.
• They are not watching television.
• What are you doing?
• Why aren’t you doing your homework?

USE 2 Longer Actions in Progress Now

In English, "now" can mean: this second, today, this month, this year, this century, and so on. Sometimes, we use the Present Continuous to say that we are in the process of doing a longer action which is in progress; however, we might not be doing it at this exact second.

Examples: (All of these sentences can be said while eating dinner in a restaurant.)

• I am studying to become a doctor.
• I am not studying to become a dentist.
• I am reading the book Tom Sawyer.
• I am not reading any books right now.
• Are you working on any special projects at work?
• Aren’t you teaching at the university now?

USE 3 Near Future

Sometimes, speakers use the Present Continuous to indicate that something will or will not happen in the near future.

Examples:

• I am meeting some friends after work.
• I am not going to the party tonight.
• Is he visiting his parents next weekend?
• Isn’t he coming with us tonight?

USE 4 Repetition and Irritation with "Always"

The Present Continuous with words such as "always" or "constantly" expresses the idea that something irritating or shocking often happens. Notice that the meaning is like Simple Present, but with negative emotion. Remember to put the words "always" or "constantly" between "be" and "verb+ing."

Examples:

• She is always coming to class late.
• He is constantly talking. I wish he would shut up.
• I don’t like them because they are always complaining.

REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs/ Mixed Verbs

It is important to remember that Non-Continuous Verbs cannot be used in any continuous tenses. Also, certain non-continuous meanings for Mixed Verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses. Instead of using Present Continuous with these verbs, you must use Simple Present.

Examples:

• She is loving this chocolate ice cream. Not Correct
• She loves this chocolate ice cream. Correct

ADVERB PLACEMENT

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

Examples:

• You are still watching TV.
• Are you still watching TV?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

Examples:

• Right now, Tom is writing the letter. Active
• Right now, the letter is being written by Tom. Passive

 

EXERCISES AND RELATED TOPICS

• Verb Tense Exercise 1 Simple Present and Present Continuous
• Verb Tense Exercise 2 Simple Present and Present Continuous
• Verb Tense Exercise 9 Present Continuous and Present Perfect Continuous
• Verb Tense Exercise 10 Present Continuous and Present Perfect Continuous
• Verb Tense Exercise 15 Tenses with durations
• Verb Tense Exercise 16 Present and Past Tenses with Non-Continuous Verbs
• Verb Tense Exercise 17 Present and Past Tense Review
• Verb Tense Exercise 24 Simple Present, Simple Future, Present Continuous, and Future Continuous
• Verb Tense Practice Test Cumulative Verb Tense Review
• Verb Tense Final Test Cumulative Verb Tense Review

Past Simple

FORM

[VERB+ed] or irregular verbs

Examples:

• You called Debbie.
• Did you call Debbie?
• You did not call Debbie.

USE 1 Completed Action in the Past

Use the Simple Past to express the idea that an action started and finished at a specific time in the past. Sometimes, the speaker may not actually mention the specific time, but they do have one specific time in mind.

Examples:

• I saw a movie yesterday.
• I didn't see a play yesterday.
• Last year, I traveled to Japan.
• Last year, I didn't travel to Korea.
• Did you have dinner last night?
• She washed her car.
• He didn't wash his car.

USE 2 A Series of Completed Actions

We use the Simple Past to list a series of completed actions in the past. These actions happen 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and so on.

Examples:

• I finished work, walked to the beach, and found a nice place to swim.
• He arrived from the airport at 8:00, checked into the hotel at 9:00, and met the others at 10:00.
• Did you add flour, pour in the milk, and then add the eggs?

USE 3 Duration in Past

The Simple Past can be used with a duration which starts and stops in the past. A duration is a longer action often indicated by expressions such as: for two years, for five minutes, all day, all year, etc.

Examples:

• I lived in Brazil for two years.
• Shauna studied Japanese for five years.
• They sat at the beach all day.
• They did not stay at the party the entire time.
• We talked on the phone for thirty minutes.
• A: How long did you wait for them?
  B: We waited for one hour.

USE 4 Habits in the Past

The Simple Past can also be used to describe a habit which stopped in the past. It can have the same meaning as "used to." To make it clear that we are talking about a habit, we often add expressions such as: always, often, usually, never, when I was a child, when I was younger, etc.

Examples:

• I studied French when I was a child.
• He played the violin.
• He didn't play the piano.
• Did you play a musical instrument when you were a kid?
• She worked at the movie theater after school.
• They never went to school, they always skipped class.

ADVERB PLACEMENT

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

Examples:

• You just called Debbie.
• Did you just call Debbie?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

Examples:

• Tom repaired the car. Active
• The car was repaired by Tom. Passive

 

EXERCISES AND RELATED TOPICS

• Verb Tense Exercise 3 Simple Past and Past Continuous
• Verb Tense Exercise 4 Simple Past and Past Continuous
• Verb Tense Exercise 5 Simple Past and Present Perfect
• Verb Tense Exercise 6 Simple Past and Present Perfect
• Verb Tense Exercise 11 Simple Past and Past Perfect
• Verb Tense Exercise 12 Simple Past, Present Perfect, and Past Perfect
• Verb Tense Exercise 15 Tenses with durations
• Verb Tense Exercise 16 Present and Past Tenses with Non-Continuous Verbs
• Verb Tense Exercise 17 Present and Past Tense Review
• Verb Tense Practice Test Cumulative Verb Tense Review
• Verb Tense Final Test Cumulative Verb Tense Review

Present Simple

FORM

[VERB] + s/es in third person

Examples:

• You speak English.
• Do you speak English?
• You do not speak English.

USE 1 Repeated Actions

Use the Simple Present to express the idea that an action is repeated or usual. The action can be a habit, a hobby, a daily event, a scheduled event or something that often happens. It can also be something a person often forgets or usually does not do.

Examples:

• I play tennis.
• She does not play tennis.
• Does he play tennis?
• The train leaves every morning at 8 AM.
• The train does not leave at 9 AM.
• When does the train usually leave?
• She always forgets her purse.
• He never forgets his wallet.
• Every twelve months, the Earth circles the Sun.
• Does the Sun circle the Earth?

USE 2 Facts or Generalizations

The Simple Present can also indicate the speaker believes that a fact was true before, is true now, and will be true in the future. It is not important if the speaker is correct about the fact. It is also used to make generalizations about people or things.

Examples:

• Cats like milk.
• Birds do not like milk.
• Do pigs like milk?
• California is in America.
• California is not in the United Kingdom.
• Windows are made of glass.
• Windows are not made of wood.
• New York is a small city. It is not important that this fact is untrue.

USE 3 Scheduled Events in the Near Future

Speakers occasionally use Simple Present to talk about scheduled events in the near future. This is most commonly done when talking about public transportation, but it can be used with other scheduled events as well.

Examples:

• The train leaves tonight at 6 PM.
• The bus does not arrive at 11 AM, it arrives at 11 PM.
• When do we board the plane?
• The party starts at 8 o’clock.
• When does class begin tomorrow?

USE 4 Now (Non-Continuous Verbs)

Speakers sometimes use the Simple Present to express the idea that an action is happening or is not happening now. This can only be done with Non-Continuous Verbs and certain Mixed Verbs.

Examples:

• I am here now.
• She is not here now.
• He needs help right now.
• He does not need help now.
• He has his passport in his hand.
• Do you have your passport with you?

ADVERB PLACEMENT

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

Examples:

• You only speak English.
• Do you only speak English?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

Examples:

• Once a week, Tom cleans the car. Active
• Once a week, the car is cleaned by Tom. Passive

 

EXERCISES AND RELATED TOPICS

• Verb Tense Exercise 1 Simple Present and Present Continuous
• Verb Tense Exercise 2 Simple Present and Present Continuous
• Verb Tense Exercise 16 Present and Past Tenses with Non-Continuous Verbs
• Verb Tense Exercise 17 Present and Past Tense Review
• Verb Tense Exercise 21 Simple Present and Simple Future
• Verb Tense Exercise 22 Simple Present and Simple Future
• Verb Tense Exercise 24 Simple Present, Simple Future, Present Continuous, and Future Continuous
• Verb Tense Practice Test Cumulative Verb Tense Review
• Verb Tense Final Test Cumulative Verb Tense Review

QUESTIONS: The Reproductive System

1. What are the primary sex characteristics?
2. What are the secondary sex characteristics?
3. When do secondary sex characteristics start appearing?
4. When do boys usually go through puberty?
5. What happens to a girl’s hips during puberty?
6. What parts of a woman’s body produce egg cells?
7. What is the menstrual cycle? Explain it.
8. How long is a woman’s menstrual cycle?
9. What are the external sex organs of the female reproductive system?
10. What are the internal organs of the female reproductive system? Where are they located?
11. What are the female gametes called?
12. What is the muscular canal between the vulva and the uterus called?
13. What parts of the male reproductive system are external?
14. Which parts of the man’s body produce sperm cells?
15. What is the bag of skin around the testicles called?
16. What do the seminal vesicles produce?
17. What protects the glans at the end of the penis?
18. How does fertilisation occur?
19. When does the embryo join itself to the wall of the uterus?
20. What does the afterbirth include?

VOTE FOR US...

Baby Fertilization

JORNADA DE ABSENTISMO 2014

FELIZ DÍA DE LA MADRE

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!!!!

We hope you have a wonderful day!!!

 

23 de abril: DIA DEL LIBRO

22 de abril: DÍA INTERNACIONAL DE LA TIERRA

Reconociendo que la Tierra y sus ecosistemas es nuestro hogar y resaltando la necesidad de promover armonía con la naturaleza y el planeta, en abril de 2009 la Asamblea General de la ONU designó el 22 de abril como Día Internacional del la Madre Tierra (resolución 63/278),

Al proclamar esta fecha la Asamblea reconoció que “Madre Tierra” es una expresión común en varios países y regiones, reflejando la interdependencia que existe entre los seres humanos, otras especies y el planeta que habitamos. Solicitó que los Estados Miembros, los órganos de Naciones Unidas, organismos internacionales, regionales, subregionales, organizaciones no gubernamentales y la sociedad civil observen y creen conciencia del Día.

Mensaje del Secretario General sobre el Día Internacional de la Madre Tierra

22 de abril de 2015

La palabra «madre» es sumamente evocadora. Nos trae a la memoria poderosos recuerdos de la mujer que nos trajo al mundo, nos crió y nos ayudó a convertirnos en quienes somos ahora. La Tierra es la madre por antonomasia: un planeta asombroso que desde tiempos inmemoriales ha sustentado la vida en una miríada de formas. Con el tiempo, los seres humanos dejamos de necesitar el cuidado materno constante; sin embargo, nunca dejamos de depender de la Madre Tierra. Durante toda la vida, necesitamos aire, agua, tierra fértil y la infinidad de otros dones con que nos obsequia el planeta.

Esta dependencia hace aún más sorprendente, si cabe, que hayamos permitido que el rápido y a menudo imprudente desarrollo humano haya hecho peligrar tantos de los delicados sistemas que llevan funcionando en armonía desde hace milenios. Cada vez somos más conscientes de los estragos que ha causado nuestra especie: la contaminación, la progresiva escasez de recursos, la extinción de especies de flora y fauna y la precipitación hacia puntos de inflexión que podrían alterar la forma en que funciona nuestro planeta. Ni sabiéndolo hemos cambiado nuestra forma de actuar.

Pero estamos a tiempo de enmendarnos y 2015 nos brinda una oportunidad inmejorable para hacerlo. Este año, el mundo se propone acabar de definir la agenda para el desarrollo sostenible después de 2015 y concertar un nuevo acuerdo universal sobre el cambio climático que sea constructivo. Estos procesos podrían encauzarnos hacia un futuro mejor al erradicar la pobreza extrema en todas sus formas y redefinir nuestra relación con el planeta y todos y cada uno de los seres vivos que lo habitan.

Las grandes decisiones que tenemos por delante no corresponden solo a los legisladores y los dirigentes mundiales. Hoy, en este Día de la Madre Tierra, hago un llamamiento para que todos nosotros seamos conscientes de las consecuencias que tienen nuestras decisiones sobre el planeta y lo que supondrán para las generaciones futuras. No todos tenemos a nuestro alcance obrar de manera sostenible, pero quienes tenemos esa posibilidad podemos transformar el mundo, entre los miles de millones de personas que somos, con simples decisiones como optar por bombillas de bajo consumo o comprar solo lo que vayamos a consumir. El cambio comienza con nosotros.

Como comunidad mundial, tenemos la oportunidad de hacer que 2015 sea un hito decisivo en la historia de la humanidad. Puede ser el año que nuestros hijos y nietos recuerden como el momento en que decidimos construir un futuro sostenible y resiliente, tanto para la Madre Tierra como para todos aquellos que el desarrollo ha dejado rezagados hasta ahora. Aprovechemos, juntos, esta oportunidad histórica.

What a Wonderful World

Once Upon a Life... THE MUSCLES and THE FAT

Once Upon a Life... BONES and THE SKELETON

Questions and Answers: CIRCULATORY and EXCRETORY SYSTEMS

1. Why does the body need nutrients and oxygen? How are they carried around our bodies?

The body needs nutrients and oxygen to live. They are carried around our bodies by the circulatory system.

2. What does the body do with the substances it doesn’t need or which are harmful?

It eliminates them by the digestive and the excretory system.

3. What does the circulatory system do?

The circulatory system takes oxygen and nutrients to all the tissues of the body, it also picks up waste products like carbon dioxide, and it takes them to organs that eliminate them.

4. Which systems are involved in the process of waste elimination?

The digestive system and the excretory system are involved in the process of waste elimination.

5. Explain: pulmonary circulation and general circulation.

Blood flows around the body in two different circuits: pulmonary circulation and general circulation.

During pulmonary circulation, blood flows from the heart to the lungs. In the lungs, the blood releases carbon dioxide and picks up oxygen. Then the blood flows back to the heart. This oxygenated blood is a bright red colour.

During general circulation, oxygenated blood flows from the heart to the rest of the body. The oxygen goes into the tissues of the body and the blood picks up carbon dioxide. Then the blood flows back to the heart. This deoxygenated blood is a dark red colour.

6. What is the difference between oxygenated blood and deoxygenated blood?

The oxygenated blood is a bright red colour and the deoxygenated blood is a dark red colour.

 7. What does the blood carry? What does it contains?

The blood carries oxygen to the heart and carbon dioxide to the lungs.

The blood contains liquid plasma and solid blood cells.

8. How many types of blood cells are there? Name them and say what their functions are.

There are three types of blood cells: red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.

The red blood cells carry oxygen and also contain some carbon dioxide.

The white blood cells fight infections in the body.

The platelets help to form a solid clot when there is a cut in a blood vessel.

9. Where do the blood vessels go?

The blood vessels are special tubes that carry blood all around the body.

10.  Which blood vessels carry blood to the right atrium?

The pulmonary veins carry blood to the right atrium.

11. What are the capillaries?

Capillaries are tiny blood vessels that connect the smallest arteries to the smallest veins.

12.  How many chambers has the heart got? How are they called?

The heart contains four open spaces called chambers. The two upper chambers are the right atrium and the left atrium. The two lower chambers are the right ventricle and the left ventricle.

13.  Which chamber of the heart pumps blood around the body?

The ventricles pump blood out of the body.

14.  What does the septum do?

The septum divides the heart into two sides: right and left.

15.  Where does blood pick up oxygen?

The blood picks up oxygen in the lungs.

16.  What are the functions of the excretory system? Name the two main parts of the excretory system.

The excretory system eliminates waste products and harmful substances from the body.

The two main parts of the excretory system are the sweat glands and the urinary tract.

17.  What do sweat glands do? What does sweat contain?

Sweat glands produce sweat which is a liquid that contains water, waste products and mineral salts.

18.  What are the main parts of the urinary tract? And what are their functions?

The main parts of the urinary tract are the kidneys, the ureters, the bladder and the urethra.

19.  Explain the process of eliminating waste products and harmful substances through the urinary tract.

The kidneys filter the blood to remove waste. Then they mix the waste with water to produce urine. The ureters carry urine from your kidneys to your bladder. The bladder stores urine until you go to the toilet. The urethra carries the urine out of your body when you go to the toilet.

20.Where are the kidneys? What vessels carry blood to the kidneys?

The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs that are next to your spinal column.

The vessels that carry blood to the kidneys are the renal arteries.

Once Upon a Time... LIFE - Blood

Once Upon a Time... LIFE - Circulation and Respiration