Exercise 8. Translate the sentences into English.

1. В этом журнале есть несколько интересных рассказов. 2. Много веков тому назад вокруг Сити была стена. 3. Прогноз погоды сообщает, что завтра будет гроза. 4. Сколько гостей будет на обеде? 5. Времени осталось немного. 6. В этой группе мало студентов. 7. Весной здесь почти не бывает дождей. 8. В холодильнике есть масло, молоко, сыр, но нет мяса. 9. Если в магазине есть рыба, купи, пожалуйста. 10. На этой стороне улицы есть кинотеатр. 11. В семье много детей, и поэтому всегда много работы по дому. 12. В комнате были стол, два стула и диван, больше ничего не было. 13. На этом перекрестке нет светофора. 14. Сколько экзаменов будет зимой? 15. Сегодня по телевидению нет ничего интересного. 16. Спорить не о чем. 17. После собрания был концерт? 18. Кажется, нет надежды. 19. В ее лице было что-то знакомое. 20. Нет ничего лучше чашки крепкого кофе рано утром.

Exercise 9. Translate the sentences into Russian. Mind the meaning of the predicate.

1. As the number of radio transmitters grew, there developed an annoying number of instances where two stations were operating near enough to each other so that the program of one would be imposed upon the sound of the other. 2. While Europe in the 9th century was still a disorder of war and pillage, there flourished a great Arab Empire in Egypt and Mesopotamia. 3. It always seemed to them that there hung about the house faintly the acrid (едкий) smell of opium. 4. There entered John and Lucy holding each other’s hands.

Exercise 10. Translate the sentences into English using the construction «there is/are». Use either the verb ‘to be’ or any other suitable verb.

1. 2. В том доме жила очень странная пара. 3. В XVIII — XIX веках во многих европейских городах появились биржи. 4. В колониальный период в Америке появилось много новых газет. 5. В комнате пахло табачным дымом. 6. В последнее время в России появилось множество мобильных телефонов. 7. В этом языке наблюдаются значительные диалектные различия. 8. В XIV веке в Европе был значительный дефицит рабочей силы. 9. В 2003 году в Америке прошли митинги против войны в Ираке. 10. За этим процессом стоит долгая историческая традиция.

Exercise 11. Translate the sentences into Russian. Mind their modal meaning.

1. When David saw that there was no persuading Daniel to stay, he ceased to urge it. 2. After all, there was no harm in trying. 3. There’s no need to speak about it any further. 4. There is no knowing what he is going to do. 5. Once the conflict spins out of control, there is no stopping it. 6. There is no point in talking about this again. 7. Although there was a lot of competition between the radio and the newspapers in the 1920s, there was no stopping radio’s ability to cover major events.

IMPERSONAL SENTENCES

Impersonal sentences begin with the pronoun ‘it’. They are used to talk about time, day (months, season), distance, weather, states: (nice, easy, hard, good, necessary, difficult, interesting, cool, exciting, wonderful, thrilling, awful, terrible, important).

It’s half past ten.

It’s Monday. It’s the 16^th of December.

It’s three miles from our house to the centre of the city.

It’s a long way from here to the station.

It’s raining.

Does it snow very often?

It’s warm / cold / windy / sunny.

It is – There is

We use ‘it’ as a meaningless subject with expressions referring to time, weather, temperature or distance.

It is + adjective - It is foggy today. It will be hot in Rome tomorrow.

We use ‘there’ as a kind of preparatory subject in sentences which say that something exists.

There is + noun – There is fog today. There will be heavy rain in Madrid today.

Note! Don’t confuse «it’s» and «its».

«It’s» = it is ( a personal pronoun and the verb “to be”):

It’s (it is) very nice here.

«Its» is a possessive pronoun followed by a noun:

I bought a new skirt. Its colour is blue.

EXERCISES

Exercise 1. Use «it» or «there».

A. 1.... is winter.... is a lot of snow. 2.... was Christmas.... were a lot of presents for the children under the Christmas tree. 3....were a lot of clouds in the morning. Now... is clear again. 4. I think... is time to begin. 5. What is...? 6.... is wonderful music in this film. 7. Our class went to a concert.... was a success. 8.... is a student from Britain in our group.... is a swimming pool near my house, but... is no water in it. 10.... were a lot of rains last autumn.

B. 1. What is... you wanted to tell me? 2. Since... was nothing much to see, we left. 3. Where... is life,... is hope. 4.... is no use telling him the truth.... is nothing to him. 5.... is important to keep in mind that... is left-side traffic in Britain. 6. Is... any I news? 7. Is... enough food in the house? —... is enough to feed the whole group. 8.... is nothing like walking about the countryside when... is warm and... is sunshine and... isn’t a single cloud in the sky and... is not going to rain and... is someone to make you happy. 9. Along time ago... used to be a fortress on that hill. 10.... is nothing but the result of her nervous disorder. 11.... is nothing I can do to help you. 12.... a medieval castle in the woods.... has existed since the 14th I century. 13.... comes my bus.... is number 17. 14.... no time to waste.... is high time we take some steps. 15.... was here that we met Ethel. 16. «I like... when I’m alone», she said. 17.... was something extremely civilized about her so that … surprised you to see her in those surroundings. 18. Let... be so. 19. Let... always be sunshine. 19.... is no smoke without fire. 20.... never rains but... pours.

Exercise 2. Say what you keep:

a) in the draw of your desk;

b) in your safe;

c) in you pocket, bag, wallet/purse.