Unit 2 "Information, please" Lesson 1

Unit 2 " Information, please" Lesson 1

1. Read the following excerpt from famous books. Notice the information highlighted.

"The Ministry of Truth, which concerned itself with news, entertainment, education and the fine arts. The Ministry of Peace, which concerned itself with war. The Ministry of Love, which maintained law and order. And the Ministry of Plenty, which was responsible for economic affairs. Their names, in Newspeak: Minitrue, Minipax, Miniluv and Miniplenty."

"He found himself understanding the wearisomeness of this life, where every path was an improvisation and a considerable part of one’s waking life was spent watching one’s feet."

As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect. He was lying on his hard, as it were armor-plated, back and when he lifted his head a little he could see his dome-like brown belly divided into stiff arched segments on top of which the bed quilt could hardly keep in position and was about to slide off completely. His numerous legs, which were pitifully thin compared to the rest of his bulk, waved helplessly before his eyes.

2. What books from the above are the excerpts from? Think about the titles of the rest of the books.

3. Get some practice on the use of these relative words on this link: http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/relative-clauses-exercise-1.html

Unit 2 "Information, please" Lesson 2

Summary: there are two ways to use these relative words (who, which, that, where, when, why, whose, whatever, whoever, etc.) When we are saying something about someone or something that is important in the message: I like the woman who lives next door.(If I don't say 'who lives next door', then we don't know which woman I mean).

When we give extra information about something. we don't need this information to understand the idea: I live in London, which has some fantastic parks.(Everybody knows where London is, so 'which has some fantastic parks' is extra information).

1. Let's use some prepositions now. The relative structure and prepositions are very common in English questions and sentences, but there's difference between written and spoken English! EXAMPLES Everyday EnglishIs that the man (who) she arrived with? Does he know the girl (that) John is talking to? The person (who) he is negotiating with is the Chairman of a large company. It is a club (which) many important people belong to. He liked the people (that) he lived with. The tree (that) they had their picnic under was the largest and oldest in the park. It was the river (that) the children preferred to swim in. The jungle (that) the tribe lived in was full of strange and unusual animals. Formal English Is that the man with whom she arrived? Does he know the girl to whom John is talking? The person with whom he is negotiating is the Chairman of a large company. It is a club to which many important people belong. He liked the people with whom he lived. The tree under which they had their picnic was the largest and oldest in the park. It was the river in which the children preferred to swim. The jungle in which the tribe lived was full of strange and unusual animals.

2. Exercise: The second option here is more informal. Use a preposition and which or whom to complete the second idea. Send your answers on a private message to me. 1. I made a new rule that everyone is complaining about. · I made a new rule _____ _______ everyone is complaining. 2. This is a class that we discuss current events in. · This is a class _____ _______ we discuss current events. 3. She is the girl who/whom I had a relationship with a long time ago. · She is the girl _____ _______I had a relationship a long time ago. 4. Head Teacher is the job that I was recommended for. · Head Teacher is the job _____ _______ I was recommended. 5. Which country are we at war with? · _____ _______ country are we at war?