English in life

What are the relative clauses? A  relative clause  is a subordinate clause that modifies a noun or a noun phrase. Example: The  man   who is smoking  is the murderer The noun  the man  is modified by the relative clause  who is smoking . Relative clauses give essential information to define or identify the person or thing we are talking about. How to use relative clauses They are used to provide extra information. This information can either: define something (defining clause), Example : The girl who is standing there is a world champion in karate. or provide unnecessary, but interesting information (non-defining clause). Example : Michael Jackson, who was a famous singer, died of an overdose. Relative clauses can be introduced by: A relative pronoun:  who, whom, which, that, whose . Example:  "The man  who  is standing there is a famous writer." A relative adverb:  where, why and when. Example:  " The restaurant  where  I have dinner is nice.&quo

a grammar lesson on prepositions: in , at and  on Prepositions of place: at, in and on At, in and on The prepositions at in and on can be confusing sometimes. The following is an explanation of how to use these prepositions. At At  is used to locate something at a certain  point : Examples: at the bus station at the entrance at the crossroads at the junction at the top of the mountain at John's house We were waiting  at  the bus stop when it started to rain. He was  at  the entrance of the theater when he heard the noise. In It  is used to locate something  enclosed in a space : Examples: In a box In a car In a building In my pocket In my bag In New York In Spain They found a lot of money  in  his pocket I 've lived  in  London for two years On On  is used to indicate the position above and in contact with the  surface  of something: Examples: On the wall On the door On the table On the ceiling On the carpet On the pag

Grammar: reported speech  and reflexive pronouns  Reflexive pronouns The reflexive pronouns are: singular: myself yourself himself herself itself plural: ourselves yourselves themselves We use a reflexive pronoun as a  direct object  when the object is  the same as the subject  of the verb: I  am teaching  myself  to play the piano. Be careful with that knife.  You  might cut  yourself . We can use a reflexive pronoun as a direct object with  verbs , but these are the most common: amuse blame cut dry enjoy help hurt introduce kill prepare satisfy teach Be careful! We do not use a reflexive pronoun after verbs which describe things people usually do for themselves: He  washed  in cold water. He always  shaved  before going out in the evening. Michael  dressed  and got ready for the party. We only use reflexives with these verbs for emphasis: He  dressed himself  in spite of his injuries. She’s old enough to  wash herself . Level: intermedia

 do and make  expressions  with a quiz do/make  Expressions Here are some standard expressions that you should learn. Notice that as main verbs we use  make  more often than  do : do good do harm do well do badly do a favour do business make an attempt make a bed* make a change/changes make a complaint make a decision make a demand make an effort make an exception make an excuse make a loss make love make a mistake make money make a noise make an offer make peace make a phone call make a profit make a suggestion make war *  make a bed  usually means "tidy the bedclothes" but it could also mean "manufacture the furniture" In general, you will not hear a native English speaker say   do the bed.   The idiom is   make the bed.  This phrase can have one of two meanings in its everyday usage. The first meaning starts with a bare mattress, and means that the person is to put sheets, blankets, and bedspreads or duvets on a mattress