Grammar in Progress

Pag. 478 es. 27
Sottolinea l’alternativa corretta.
1. Dad, don’t treat me as if I was a baby! I’m 18 years old!
2. They began to laugh as if they had never heard a joke before!
3. Emmanuel behaved like an adult when he was 11 years old.
4. The little child looked as if she was really frightened.
5. Come on, Yves! Going shopping isn’t like going to the dentist’s!
6. Sandy was continuously checking her mobile, as though she was waiting for a phone call.

Pag. 479 es. 28
Collega le frasi della prima colonna con quelle della seconda.
1. Why didn’t you do it in the way I had suggested to you?
2. I worked as a baby-sitter while I was studying at university.
3. They went to Paris on their honeymoon, as their parents had done many years before.
4. I’m exhausted, as if I’ve been working flat out all day!
5. Why are you so pale? You look like you’ve seen a ghost!
6. He spoke as if he knew we would never see each other again.
7. As we agreed, the invoices will be sent at the end of each month.
8. I don’t know why, but it sounded as if they were trying to deceive me.

es. 29
Completa le seguenti frasi inserendo as, as if e like.
1. You always talk as if you knew everything!
2. As I said, we had to work very hard.
3. Some years ago I would still have done as you told me. But that time is over...
4. As you all know, we are in the middle of an economic crisis.
5. In many countries women can’t go to university like men can.
6. I’m speaking to you now as if I was your friend, not like your brother.
7. I will never watch a film like that again!
8. Why are you acting as if you have won a million pounds?

es. 30
Completa le frasi usando as, as if / as though, (in) the way, like. Trova poi tutte le espressioni collegate all’area lessicale relativa all’uso di una lingua e traducile.
1. You must repeat this sentence in the way I’ve told you to pronounce it!
2. You can’t translate it as if / as though the automatic translator tells you to do. A good translation must be adapted to the real context!
3. I understand that looking for a word in a dictionary is as if / as though training for three hours in a gym, but you can’t do this exercise if you don’t know the meaning of the sentences!
4. Joshua, can you work for us as an interpreter for a couple of hours? You speak German fluently and next week we need somebody that speaks German.
5. You should use more formal language in this business letter. You are writing in the way you were chatting with your best friend!
6. You must study the grammar rules as I’ve told you to and do all exercises in your notebook!
7. After I had asked my question, the teacher looked at me as if / as though I had said something really absurd!
8. Like me, Carla hated communicating by email or text message.

es. 31
Ripensa alle strutture fin qui studiate [› 25.4 – 25.6] e rispondi alle seguenti domande.
1. Osserva la seguente frase: Era un lago così ghiacciato che ci si poteva camminare sopra. In italiano in una consecutiva così formulata l’ordine è “sostantivo + così + aggettivo + che”. E in inglese?
2. Osserva le seguenti due frasi: Il mio letto è così grande che possono dormirci tre persone. / Dammi quella penna così che possa scrivere un messaggio a Ted. Di che frasi si tratta? Posso usare lo stesso connettivo anche in inglese?
3. Paolo non sta bene e vuole dire che si sente come se avesse la febbre. Che struttura usa?

Answers:
1. In inglese “così” può essere tradotto con “such / so” ed il “che” può essere omesso.
2. I connettivi utilizzati nella prima frase sono connettivi per espressioni di conseguenza, mentre nella seconda si tratta di connettivi di scopo o precauzione. Perciò anche le subordinate saranno una consecutiva ed una finale.
3. Si usa il costrutto della modale as if / as though.

Pag. 481 es. 32
Laila si occupa della pagina culturale di un giornale e le sue severe recensioni sono tenute da attori, registi e scrittori. Completa le frasi sottolineando l’alternativa corretta. Trova poi tutte le espressioni collegate all’area lessicale dello spettacolo e dei mass media e traducile.
1. The musical has got a wonderful soundtrack and may have beautiful songs, but there aren’t really any good singers in the cast except for the soloist!
2. The novel is the most boring one I’ve ever read, especially the last three chapters. Although it could be perfect for all those who have trouble getting to sleep... Even so, buy the paperback edition, so as not to waste too much money!
3. Despite being a hit, the comedy is really awful. It takes place in a setting that is more appropriate for a fairy tale than a love story between two adults, and the whole storyline is absolutely meaningless!
4. On the one hand the cartoon has got astonishing special effects, on the other hand it would have been better not to have the animals speaking as they have been really poorly dubbed.
5. I’ve read the book and I liked it a lot. And yet, I was really disappointed with the film based on it, as its script has totally altered the beauty of the novel.
6. Even though I appreciate the idea of having a film that deals with the issue of young criminals, the fact that the characters speak in incomprehensible accents makes it hard to understand the dialogues. On the contrary,with some captions the film could have been really effective.

Musical = commedia musicale
Soundtrack = colonna sonora
Soloist = solista
Paperback = copertina flessibile
Hit = successo
Comedy = commedia
Setting = ambientazione
Fairy tale = fiaba
Storyline = trama
Cartoon = cartone animato
Dubbed = doppiato
Script = copione
Captions = didascalie

es. 34
Riformula le frasi usando il connettivo tra parentesi.
1. Diana drinks two litres of water every day. In spite of that, she is always thirsty.
2. Laura doesn’t like mowing the lawn. She has to do it every Sunday, though.
3. Despite the fact that I had a bad cold, I went to my cousin’s birthday dinner.
4. Joe wasn’t very good at drawing. Nevertheless he wanted to become an architect.
5. Despite the awful food, the party was quite fun.
6. Although the test is difficult, you should try it!
7. I wanted to watch a love film, but my husband wanted to watch a football match.
8. Even though I read the instructions carefully, I couldn’t assemble all the pieces of the kite!

es. 35
Completa le frasi con i seguenti connettivi.
1. Despite the noise, it was quite a good hotel.
2. Whereas my parents think I should just stay at home and study, I think I need to have more fun!
3. In spite of being a tall and strong man, he is often ill!!!
4. Janine won the festival. I thought her song wasn’t that good, though.
5. Even if I tried to explain it again, I’m sure you wouldn’t understand!
6. They wanted to have a nap, but they couldn’t because our neighbours made a lot of noise!
7. You needn’t say sorry. After all it wasn’t your fault!
8. Even though I behaved well, Mum got angry with me!

Pag. 483 es. 36
Completa le frasi con if o whether. In alcuni casi sono entrambi corretti.
1. Whether you wear this dress ot the other one is the same. They both suit you very well.
2. She’s thinking whether to resign or not. She would like to have a more stimulating job.
3. Domitilla asked us whether we wanted to have a horror party for Halloween.
4. Please, let me know if / whether you can come to the meeting.
5. Whether the arrested man has committed the crime or not, he must be judged!
6. If I were in your shoes, I would ask them why they have got angry with you.
7. I’m not sure about whether to buy this cupboard. It’s big, but it’s a bit dark.
8. We wouldn’t have called you if we had been able to switch the heating system on.

es. 37
Talia è una ragazza piena di dubbi e chiede spesso consigli alla sua amica Arabella. Collega le frasi della prima colonna con quelle della seconda.
1. I don’t know whether to go to the party or not.
2. I’m uncertain whether to buy a pair of jeans or a pair of smart trousers.
3. Supposing I got a very bad mark, what should I do?
4. Shall I tell my parents I need more freedom?
5. Do you think I need to change the way I look?
6. I wonder if I’ll be anxious or not the night before the final exams.

a. It depends on whether you are going to a smart place or not.
b. It won’t happen, if you always study hard!
c. You can do, on condition that you find the right words.
d. No, as long as you are happy with the way you look.
e. Whether you are or not, you must take them!
f. Imagine you don’t go, would you have fun at home?

1 – g
2 – a
3 – b
4 – c
5 – e
6 – f

es. 38
Hai mai pensato a che cosa potrebbe succedere nel tuo futuro? Completa le frasi in modo personale usando almeno sei parole.
1. My partner will travel a lot provided he does everything at his expense.
2. I will carry on living in my home town as long as I leave this world forever.
3. I won’t go to Australia unless you pay me for the ticket.
4. I will enjoy myself if I go to Cole’s party tonight.
5. If I meet the right person, I get married and have a son.
6. I’ll learn a new language providing the teacher is able to teach well.
7. I wonder whether my favourite actor comes to Italy for a movie.
8. Supposing that I win the lottery, I would buy a new house for us.

es. 39
Traduci le seguenti frasi.
1. They aren’t fans of classical music. So I think if you invite them to the concert, they won’t come.
2. Although Fabio is a close friend, I don’t know whether to lend him my car. He doesn’t drive very well.
3. Even though I have washed the shirt three times, the spot is still visible!
4. I wonder if you understood what you have done or if you still think that you haven’t done anything serious.
5. Jason didn't know whether to fill in the form for a scholarship abroad this year or do it next year.
6. A Can I watch this program on TV tonight? B OK, you can watch it, as long as you go to bed immediately after it!
7. A Supposing (that) you had to move to another country, where would you go? B If I had to move abroad, I would go to Switzerland. I love mountains and chocolate!
8. A Imagine (that) you were on a desert island, what would you do to eat as you don’t like fish? B I would look for a coconut tree.

Pag. 485 es. 40
Sottolinea l’alternativa corretta. Trova poi tutte le espressioni collegate all’area lessicale delle auto e della guida e traducile.
1. I like driving in any conditions, except on the motorway when it’s foggy.
2. Put it in first gear, or else the car won’t move!
3. It’s a very old car. Neither the clutch nor the handbrake work!
4. In addition to looking in the side mirror, you must look in the rear mirror when you park your car.
5. To pay the toll by credit card you can take either this lane or the one on the extreme left.
6. This car is too expensive. Besides, its driving seat is really uncomfortable!
7. As everybody fastened their seat belts also in the back seats, I did it, too.
8. Let’s stop now. The petrol gauge is broken. Furthermore, the speedometer doesn’t work.

Car keys = chiavi della macchina
Driving license = patente di guida
Motorway = autostrada
First gear = prima marcia
Handbrake = freno a mano
Side mirror = retrovisore esterno
Rear view = specchietto retrovisore
Toll = pedaggio
Lane = stradina
Driving seat = sedile
Seat belt = cintura di sicurezza
Back seat = sedile posteriore
Petrol gauge = spia della benzina
Speedometer = tachimetro

es. 41
Osserva la tabella e formula frasi utilizzando i connettivi e le parole tra parentesi. Devi aggiungere il soggetto.
1. Mark can windsurf, Olivia can also do it.
2. Mark can neither snowboard, Olivia can nor do it.
3. Jasy can not only skateboard, but also she can play tennis very well.
4. Jasy can skateboard as well as she can play tennis.
5. Both Mark and Jasy can’t skateboard, in addition to they can’t play tennis.
6. Olivia and Mark can neither play tennis nor can skateboard.
7. Mark and Olivia can’t play tennis and nor can skateboard.
8. None of them can play tennis except Jasy.

es. 42
Traduci le seguenti frasi.
1. They told me that I could neither take photos in the museum and nor could they speak with a loud voice.
2. Both Kyle and Matt play tennis well. In addition, they are also good at golf.
3. Eddie burned not only a pan, but also the meatballs!
4. Laura didn’t want to go on holiday to the sea and nor did she want to go to the mountains. She wanted to stay home!
5. You can bring the book back to me tomorrow or the day after. I don’t need it now.
6. You have to go shopping immediately, otherwise the shops will close.
7. In addition to working as a saleswoman in a clothes shop, Claire has just started designing her own fashion collection.
8. I love to travel by train. It’s comfortable and cheap. What’s more, you can relax and read a good book.

es. 43
Ripensa alle strutture fin qui studiate [› 25.7 – 25.9] e rispondi alle seguenti domande.
1. Osserva la seguente frase: Tua zia ha 75 anni. Eppure sembra molto più giovane! Se in inglese usi though, a che cosa devi stare attento? Traduci la frase.
2. Carlo sostiene che if e whether sono intercambiabili, Linda invece sostiene che dopo una preposizione e prima di un infinito non si possa usare if. Chi ha ragione? Formula delle frasi come esempio.
3. Osserva la seguente frase: Oltre a cucinare bene, Joanna prepara ottimi cocktail. In italiano si usa il connettivo “oltre” + l’infinito. In inglese?

Answers:
1. Se in inglese usi though, devi stare attento a metterlo alla fine della frase: Your aunt is 75 years old. She seems more young, though.
2. Ha ragione Linda, perché dopo una preposizione e prima di un infinito non si può usare if, bensì whether. Ex: dopo una preposizione: They could arrive tomorrow. It depends on whether they’ll have a day off or not. Ex: prima di un infinito: They wondered whether to complain about the dinner or to pay without saying anything.
3. In inglese si usa il connettivo “in addition (to)” + forma in –ing.