Grammar in Progress

Pag. 486 es. 44
Correggi le seguenti frasi.
1. With reference to your requests, we are sorry to tell you that we cannot accommodate all of them.
2. We went to the town centre last Saturday. By the way, we didn’t know they had opened a new shopping centre in Leyton Square.
3. As regards the prices, it depends on whether you require full board or half board accommodation.
4. The teacher told me that our son is not doing his homework every week. To put it in another way, she wanted to tell me that he doesn’t study enough!
5. They speak German very well, even though they are not German. As a matter of fact, they lived in Germany for about ten years when they were young.
6. Ann was calling out to her son very loudly, or better, she was shouting so much that everybody was looking!

Pag. 487 es. 45
Completa le frasi con i seguenti connettivi.
1. As far as payment is concerned, you can pay either by cheque or by bank transfer.
2. Susan’s dress was not very nice. To tell the truth, it was really ugly and it didn’t suit her at all!
3. Jone plays cricket well. Actually, he comes from India where cricket is the national sport.
4. In the novel Oliver Twist, a reward of five pounds is offered to anybody who would take Oliver out of the workhouse. In other words, Oliver was sold for five pounds.
5. With reference to your booking, we are pleased to confirm you that you will be our guests from 10th to 20th August.
6. We met Nina last week and we discussed the contract. Incidentally, do you know she has got divorced from her husband?

es. 46
Completa le frasi liberamente utilizzando un connettivo per introdurre un argomento o per spiegare, chiarire o correggere quanto è stato detto.
1. I haven’t spoken to Roger for a long time. Actually, he wanted to end relationship with me.
2. Grace never suggests where to go on Saturday evenings. To tell the truth, since I know her she has never said her opinion.
3. Regarding their commitment during this school year, we would like to let you know we’re not satisfied with them.
4. We got to the disco very late, or rather, we wanted to keep waiting!
5. Mia and Greg can play beach volley brilliantly. In fact, there is a champion of this sport in their family!!!
6. With reference to your request, we regret to inform you that the goods are out of stock.
7. It was a very busy week. In other words, all I did was run around on business.
8. Monica called me yesterday. By the way, she told me to tell you that she can’t come to the wedding on Sunday.

es. 47
Lavorate a coppie. Uno dei due introduce uno dei seguenti argomenti; l’altro spiega, chiarisce o corregge quanto detto dal compagno.
1. A As for the use of technological devices (especially by teenagers), I think the situation is so negative. B In other words, you think they spend too much time with technology.
2. A In reference to the creation of new working opportunities, I think it can be a very useful thing. B In other words, you think that trough technology, the message can be understood by several people.
3. A Studying at university abroad is not easy. B To tell the truth, you think this because it can be difficult to settle down and stay away from your family.
4. A As for spending money in the best way, I think it’s right. B In other words, you think it’s fair to buy only the essentials.
5. A As far as the freedom for young people is concerned, I think everything has a limit. B You think this, or rather, that young people have to learn from adults.
6. A With reference to fast food vs slow food, I prefer slow food. B By the way, Slow food is a group that deals with spreading agricultural traditions and spreading junk food.
7. A Regarding following the latest fashion trends, I think it isn’t so positive. B Actually, I think you say this because everyone would be equal without a touch of originality.
8. A As for hip hop culture vs pop culture, I think the first is the best in the world. B In other words, you are belittling all the other styles.

es. 48
Traduci le seguenti frasi.
1. I saw your aunt yesterday. By the way, why didn’t you tell me she had retired?
2. The boss told Sandy he is thinking about giving her a task with greater responsibility. In other words, he wants to give her a promotion.
3. My niece can sing very well even though she has never attended a music school. Actually, she has a natural talent.
4. As far as any food allergy is concerned, the guests must immediately inform the chef.
5. With reference to the article published yesterday, we would like to point out that the situation you described does not correspond to reality.
6. It wasn’t a wonderful hotel as their website said. To tell the truth, it was quite old and the rooms were small and dark!

Pag. 489 es. 49
Laura è poco “tecnologica” e non capisce l’utilità dei social network di cui ha un’opinione molto negativa. Riordina le parole per formare frasi corrette.
1. First of all they make you spend hours in virtual conversations.
2. Secondly, your social life is limited because you spend your time on your computer instead of going out.
3. After that, they even can be dangerous because your private life becomes public.
4. Last, you usually share your thoughts with people that don’t care about you.
5. All things considered, it would be better to go back to a face-to-face conversation.
6. Moreover there’s more feeling when you talk face-to-face, from my point of view!

es. 50
Sarah, invece, non è così negativa sui social network e pensa che possano essere utili in alcuni contesti. Completa liberamente le frasi con cui Sarah ribatte alle affermazioni di Laura nell’esercizio precedente.
1. In the first place, social networks have made it possible to meet new people and make new friends.
2. In the second place, they help many people who don’t like going out to open up more.
3. In addition, social networks are useful for confiding in someone about our problems or talking about our life.
4. Lastly, you can compare yourself with other people on your idea.
5. In conclusion, through technology one can say things that one does not have the courage to say face-to-face.
6. That’s why, personally I think that is right, but not in some aspects.

es. 51
Leggi il brano sulla storia dell’animazione e completalo scegliendo l’alternativa corretta.

The elemento of motion has intrigued artists for thousands of years. In the first place cave paintings were created over 25,000 years ago and were later followed by the photographic studies of human and animal locomotion during the late 1800s. After that, film animation burnst onto the scene in the early 1900s. J. Steward Blackton produced the firts stop-frame animated cartoon, titled Humorous Phases of a Funny Face, in 1906.
To my mind, an early landmark was Winsor McCay’s Gertie the Dinosaur (1914), a popular animated feature consisting of 10,000 illustrations hand-drawn on rice paper by McCay and an assistant. In my opinion, the best known of these pioneering film animators was Walt Disney, who in 1928 produced Steamboat Willie starring Mickey Mouse, and who in 1937 brought to the American movie screen the first full-lenght animated film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Next, Disney introduced nemerous technical refinements and innovations into his animated features in order to provide greater realism and to heighten the illusion of depth.
According to records, since the early days, animators have used new technologies to their advantage. In my view, although the artist remains a dominant figure in the animation industry. In conclusion, computer automation is effectively cutting production time and costs and as far as I am concerned, it is also producing startling new effects and unprecedented results in the animation features and programmes being shown on our television screens, computer monitors, and movie screens.