Grammar is the system of a language. People sometimes describe grammar as the \”rules\” of a language; but in fact no language has rules*. If we use the word \”rules\”, we suggest that somebody created the rules first and then spoke the language, like a new game. But languages did not start like that. Languages started by people making sounds which evolved into words, phrases and sentences. No commonly-spoken language is fixed. All languages change over time. What we call \”grammar\” is simply a reflection of a language at a particular time.
Do we need to study grammar to learn a language? The short answer is \”no\”. Very many people in the world speak their own, native language without having studied its grammar. Children start to speak before they even know the word \”grammar\”. But if you are serious about learning a foreign language, the long answer is \”yes, grammar can help you to learn a language more quickly and more efficiently.\” It\’s important to think of grammar as something that can help you, like a friend. When you understand the grammar (or system) of a language, you can understand many things yourself, without having to ask a teacher or look in a book.
So think of grammar as something good, something positive, something that you can use to find your way - like a signpost or a map.
* Except invented languages like Esperanto. And if Esperanto were widely spoken, its rules would soon be very different.
Kamis, 17 Februari 2011
Chicken or the Egg ?
The chicken or the egg causality dilemma is commonly stated as “which came first, the chicken or the egg?” To ancient philosophers, the question about the first chicken or egg also evoked the questions of how life and the universe in general began.
Cultural references to the chicken and egg intend to point out the futility of identifying the first case of a circular cause and consequence. It could be considered that in this approach lies the most fundamental nature of the question. A literal answer is somewhat obvious, as egg-laying species pre-date the existence of chickens. However, the metaphorical view sets a metaphysical ground to the dilemma. To better understand its metaphorical meaning, the question could be reformulated as: “Which came first, X that can’t come without Y, or Y that can’t come without X?”
An equivalent situation arises in engineering and science known as circular reference, in which a parameter is required to calculate that parameter itself. Examples are Van der Waals equation and the famous Colebrook equation.
Cultural references to the chicken and egg intend to point out the futility of identifying the first case of a circular cause and consequence. It could be considered that in this approach lies the most fundamental nature of the question. A literal answer is somewhat obvious, as egg-laying species pre-date the existence of chickens. However, the metaphorical view sets a metaphysical ground to the dilemma. To better understand its metaphorical meaning, the question could be reformulated as: “Which came first, X that can’t come without Y, or Y that can’t come without X?”
An equivalent situation arises in engineering and science known as circular reference, in which a parameter is required to calculate that parameter itself. Examples are Van der Waals equation and the famous Colebrook equation.
Tips for Making School Cool
Follow these tips to prepare the way for a successful all the days that follow:
- Get enough sleep so you’ll be able to stay awake in class.
- Eat a balanced breakfast to give you the energy you’ll need.
- Try to go to school with a positive attitude every day (although it’s OK to have a blue funk sometimes).
- Give school your best effort.
- Develop good work habits. That means writing down your assignments and turning in your homework on time.
- Take your time with assignments in and out of the classroom. If you don’t understand something, ask the teacher.
- Keep a sense of humor. One teacher we know shows his new students a picture of himself graduating high school - a grinning ape in a red graduation cap and gown. This usually makes the kids laugh, and it’s a good way to remind them that school is fun!
TOEFL Lessons 3
Irregular Plurals
The vast majority of nouns in the English language are made plural by adding an “s” or “es” to the end of the word. For example, book, apple, house, table, door, cat, bush, boss are just some of the millions of words that become plural with the simple addition of an “s” (books, apples, houses, tables, doors, cats, bushes, bosses). However, certain nouns have “irregular” plurals which do not behave in this standard way.
EXAMPLES
• There are 4 mouses in my room.
• There are 4 mice in my room.
Non-count nouns
• have no plural form because they are assumed to be plural.
• Example:
• Hair à There are many different styles of hair.
• Grass à There are several kinds of grass.
• Mud à There are three different kinds of mud.
Plurals That Change its Form
• Mouse à mice
• Tooth à teeth
• Goose à geese
• Foot à feet
• Louse à lice
• Man à men
• Fungus à fungi
• Child à Children
• Person à People
• Curriculum à curricula
• Datum à data
• Analysis à analyses
Other Irregular Plurals
• For words that end in “fe,” you change the letter “f” to the letter “v” and then add “s” Knife = knives —–Wife = wives
• For words that end in “f” you change the “f” to a “v” and add “es” Half = halves —Loaf = loaves
• For words that end in “us,” change the “us” to an “i” —–Syllabus = syllabi
• For words that end in “o” add “es”—-Tomato = tomatoes
Un-changing nouns
• Fish à fish
• Deer à deer
• Sheep à sheep
• Series à series
• Bison à bison
Let's Guess!
Read This ;)
1. When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling.
Live your life to the fullest so that when you die, you’re smiling and everyone around you is crying!
2. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past. You can’t go on well in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.
3. The happiest people don’t necessarily have the best of everything, they just make the most of everything that comes along the way.
4. A careless word may kindle a strife. A cruel word may wreck a life. A timely word may level stress. A lovely word may heal and bless.
5. Always put yourself in other’s shoes. If you feel that it hurts you, it probably does hurt the person too.
6. The best kind of friend is the one you could sit on a porch, swing with, never saying a word and then walk away feeling like that was the best conversation you’ve had.
7. May you have…Enough happiness to make you sweet
Enough trials to make you strong
Enough sorrow to keep you human
And enough hope to make you happy.
8. Dream what you want to dream, go where you want to go, be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you want in life.
9. When one door of happiness closes, another opens. But we often look so long at the closed door, that we don’t see the one which has been opened for us.
10. Giving someone all your love is never an assurance that they’ll love you back. Don’t expect love in return, just wait for it to grow in their hearts but if it doesn’t, be content it grew in yours.
Live your life to the fullest so that when you die, you’re smiling and everyone around you is crying!
2. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past. You can’t go on well in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.
3. The happiest people don’t necessarily have the best of everything, they just make the most of everything that comes along the way.
4. A careless word may kindle a strife. A cruel word may wreck a life. A timely word may level stress. A lovely word may heal and bless.
5. Always put yourself in other’s shoes. If you feel that it hurts you, it probably does hurt the person too.
6. The best kind of friend is the one you could sit on a porch, swing with, never saying a word and then walk away feeling like that was the best conversation you’ve had.
7. May you have…Enough happiness to make you sweet
Enough trials to make you strong
Enough sorrow to keep you human
And enough hope to make you happy.
8. Dream what you want to dream, go where you want to go, be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you want in life.
9. When one door of happiness closes, another opens. But we often look so long at the closed door, that we don’t see the one which has been opened for us.
10. Giving someone all your love is never an assurance that they’ll love you back. Don’t expect love in return, just wait for it to grow in their hearts but if it doesn’t, be content it grew in yours.
Ordinary Girl - Miley Cyrus
I love who I am I don't wanna be ungrateful It probably sounds strange I really love the role I play The songs I sing But with all the fame The things that seem so simple, suddenly, so far out of reach Wish that they could see that underneath... I'm just an ordinary girl! Sometimes I'm lazy I get bored I get scared, I feel ignored I feel happy, I get silly I choke on my own words I make wishes, I have Dreams And I still want to believe Anything can happen in this world, For an ordinary girl (Like you, Like me) For an ordinary girl (Like you, Like me) How are you? Hello, Good-bye One day here, One day there And again it's time to go Miss popular always on the road But my best foot forward Gotta get on with the show Strike a pose for the front cover of a magazine Every where I arrive, I get high-5's They pay me larger than life (Yeaheaaaa) I'm just an ordinary girl! Sometimes I'm lazy I get bored I get scared, I feel ignored (Yeah) I feel happy, I get silly I choke on my own words I make wishes, I have Dreams And I still want to believe Anything can happen in this world, For an ordinary girl So give it everything or nothin' at all Get back on your feet when You stumble and fall A little luck can go a long way So don't you worry about what people say Who knows when the wind may blow For an ordinary girl..(Mmmm) I'm just an ordinary girl Sometimes I'm lazy I get bored I get scared, I feel ignored I feel happy, I get silly I choke on my own words (I choke on my own words) I make wishes, I have dreams And I still want to believe Anything can happen in this world, For an ordinary girl (Like you, Like me) (Yeah) For an ordinary girl (Like you, Like me) For an ordinary girl (Mmmmm) For an ordinary girl Like me, like you....
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