Identifying patterns of text organization.

Identify description, step-by-step explanation, directions, comparison and contrast, analysis, analogy, and definition in the following paragraphs:

1. ELF is not bad or deficient English – it is just different in form from native speaker English and serves different functions. It does not in principle lack the potential to be effective for all the communicative purposes it is appropriated for. It can occur in any kind of intercultural communication ranging from the most rudimentary utterances to highly elaborate arguments.

2. ELF is essentially a ‘contact language’ for people of different first languages for whom English is the chosen means of communication, including native speakers of English when they engage in intercultural communication. However, ELF is emphatically not the English as a property of its native speakers, but is democratized and universalized in the ‘exolingual’ process of being appropriated for international use.

3. ELF is individually shaped by its users and by implication not 'the English language'. Rather, it is a variable intercultural adaptation based on English,... ELF does not represent a restricted language resource. It can potentially take any form - from simplified to complex – and can potentially fulfill any function – from a basic interaction to the most elaborate argument. It is 'non-territorial' in the sense that it could take place everywhere, in any constellation. It potentially integrates all speakers of English who use it in an intercultural mode.

 

Section 2. Grammar workout

Errors involving plural forms of numbers and measurement

Some errors involve numbers + measurements: They went for a 6-mile walk. They walked 6 miles. In the first sentence, the number + measurement is used as an adjective, and the measurement is singular. In the second, the measurement is a noun, and is therefore plural.

Numbers like hundred, thousand, and million may be pluralized when they are used indefinitely – in other words, when they do not follow other numbers:

Seven (many, a few, several) thousand acres – (many, a few, several) thousands of acres

five (many, a few, several) million dollars – (many, a few, several) millions of dollars

Example

The U.S. president serves a maximum of two four-years terms. Incorrect – When used before a noun, a number + measurement is singular.

Thousand of antibiotics have been developed, but only about thirty are in common use today. Incorrect – The plural form thousands should be used.

Some errors involve many + nouns: Many artists come here but Many an artist comes here.

Verb errors involving tense

Most tense errors involve the Simple (Indefinite) Present Tense, the Simple Past Tense, and the Present Perfect Tense.

The Simple Present Tense is a general-time tense. It usually indicates that a condition is always true or that an action always occurs. It may also indicate that an action regularly occ urs.

The Earth rotates round the Sun.

The atmosphere surrounds the Earth.

John often stays at this hotel.

Generally, the lectures of this professor are very interesting.

The Simple Past Tense indicates that an action took place at a specific time in the past.

They moved to Simferopol five years ago. This house was built in the 1990s. Dinosaurs lived millions of years ago.

The Present Perfect Tense usually indicates that an action began at some time in the past and continues to the present. It may also indicate that an action took place at an unspecified time in the past.

Mr. Brandon has worked for this company since 1990. Mary hasn't been to a doctor for a year. Nick has recently returned from the US.

For a Ukrainian/Russian speaker it is often difficult to see the difference between the Simple (Indefinite) Tense and the Progressive (Continuous) Tense. Compare the following sentences:

John often stays at this hotel (in general). John is staying at this hotel (now, this week, this summer).

John drives to his office (usually). John is driving to his office (now, today, in the immediate future).

If you want to state a fact you will say: The Earth rotates round the Sun. If you want to emphasize that it is an everlasting process you will say: The Earth is permanently rotating round the Sun (with the adverbs always, constantly, ever, permanently).

If you want to state a fact you will say: She is beautiful. If you want to sound humorous or critical about much effort she takes at the moment to try and look beautiful you will say: She is being beatiful.

 

 

Unit 1-4. RECEPTIVE MULTILINGUALISM