Are you ready to test your knowledge of the verb "to be" and see how well you can use it correctly? Try this Quia activity and post your results!
http://www.quia.com/rr/57599.html
Monday, April 27, 2009
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Writing - Subjects & Verbs (Part 4)
Here's a fun Quia activity to test your knowledge on some of the most common irregular verbs. Try it & then report back with how you did!
http://www.quia.com/mc/1054976.html
Have fun!
http://www.quia.com/mc/1054976.html
Have fun!
Friday, April 24, 2009
Writing - Subjects & Verbs (Part 3)
Yesterday's blog post dealt with verbs, but more specifically, regular verbs. Recall that regular verbs fall into a "regular" pattern, especially when you think about the present, past, and past participle forms. Below is an example with the verb "dance."
Present tense: I dance all day long.
Past tense: He danced at the wedding last year.
Past participle: They have danced before.
However, irregular verbs don't follow that nice pattern, so they're harder to learn & use correctly. An example of an irregular verb is "sing." Look at the forms below for present, past, and past participle.
Present tense: I sing at choir practice.
Past tense: She sang at the audition.
Past participle: We have sung that song before.
Notice that with an irregular verb, like "sing," the format is changing each time! Plus, if you picked another irregular verb, like "buy," the form would change, but only some of the time! Other irregular verbs, like "cut," have no change at all! Gosh, isn't it tough?
Take a look at this list of irregular verbs by clicking here: http://www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/irregular-verbs-list.htm.
Pick 1 set of irregular verbs & write three sentences where you're illustrating correct use of the present, past, and past participle forms of the verb. Remember that the past participle form will always have a "helper" verb.
Here's an example.
Irregular verb: write
Present tense: I write letters to my family.
Past tense: Last year, I wrote over fifty memos.
Past participle: I have written many poems.
Now you try!
Present tense: I dance all day long.
Past tense: He danced at the wedding last year.
Past participle: They have danced before.
However, irregular verbs don't follow that nice pattern, so they're harder to learn & use correctly. An example of an irregular verb is "sing." Look at the forms below for present, past, and past participle.
Present tense: I sing at choir practice.
Past tense: She sang at the audition.
Past participle: We have sung that song before.
Notice that with an irregular verb, like "sing," the format is changing each time! Plus, if you picked another irregular verb, like "buy," the form would change, but only some of the time! Other irregular verbs, like "cut," have no change at all! Gosh, isn't it tough?
Take a look at this list of irregular verbs by clicking here: http://www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/irregular-verbs-list.htm.
Pick 1 set of irregular verbs & write three sentences where you're illustrating correct use of the present, past, and past participle forms of the verb. Remember that the past participle form will always have a "helper" verb.
Here's an example.
Irregular verb: write
Present tense: I write letters to my family.
Past tense: Last year, I wrote over fifty memos.
Past participle: I have written many poems.
Now you try!
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Writing - Subjects & Verbs (Part 2)
Verbs can be the hardest part of the English language. In fact, conjugating verbs (putting them in the correct forms depending upon what the subject is) can be tough! The verb "to be" can have many conjugated forms including the following: am, is, are, was, were, be, been, has, have, will, shall, etc. Part of what makes this so hard is that it's an "irregular verb" which means it doesn't follow a standard verb format like other "regular" verbs do (such as the verbs "ask," "call," or "dance").
For a list of 600 regular verbs, click here: http://www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/regular-verbs-list.htm.
Pick 1 of those regular verbs and write 5 sentences with it where the subjects are "I," "you," "she," "they," and "we." I'll do an example.
Verb: admire
I admire my cat's ability to sleep anywhere!
You admire your sister's creativity.
She admires her father's intelligence.
They admire people who can cook.
We admire anyone who works hard.
Now you try with a different verb from the list of regular verbs (using the link above).
For a list of 600 regular verbs, click here: http://www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/regular-verbs-list.htm.
Pick 1 of those regular verbs and write 5 sentences with it where the subjects are "I," "you," "she," "they," and "we." I'll do an example.
Verb: admire
I admire my cat's ability to sleep anywhere!
You admire your sister's creativity.
She admires her father's intelligence.
They admire people who can cook.
We admire anyone who works hard.
Now you try with a different verb from the list of regular verbs (using the link above).
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Back to Blogging!
Gosh, it's been a while since there was a new blog topic. (I apologize about that!) Actually, part of what kept me away was a GED conference. However, I came away with some great ideas on things that I can use as blog topics.
Did you know that one of the most missed language arts questions on the GED test deals with subject-verb agreement? Problems with subject-verb agreement can impact you negatively on both the multiple choice section and the actual essay part. Don't let something give you double deductions!
Try this short Quia game & see how you do on some questions for subject-verb agreement. Then come back here & post your results. After that, write 2 more sentences telling me if you feel comfortable with this topic. Be sure you have correct subject-verb agreement in your sentences!
Quia game link: http://www.quia.com/pop/38406.html
Did you know that one of the most missed language arts questions on the GED test deals with subject-verb agreement? Problems with subject-verb agreement can impact you negatively on both the multiple choice section and the actual essay part. Don't let something give you double deductions!
Try this short Quia game & see how you do on some questions for subject-verb agreement. Then come back here & post your results. After that, write 2 more sentences telling me if you feel comfortable with this topic. Be sure you have correct subject-verb agreement in your sentences!
Quia game link: http://www.quia.com/pop/38406.html
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Tell me a story - April's edition
April 15th will be "tax day" when income tax returns are due. In a strange "celebration" of this, let's have April's "tell me a story" blog topic. I'll give you a portion of a sentence to start with and then you can take that in any direction. Please finish up the sentence and add 3-6 correctly written sentences to help create your story. Have fun with it!
Maria called her tax account and was flabbergasted when he said . . .
Maria called her tax account and was flabbergasted when he said . . .
Monday, April 13, 2009
Vocabulary - Use It Or Lose It (Part 25)
Here's the last installment of the Quia vocabulary list. Are you ready to learn more important words? Take a look at what's below.
Which 2-3 words did you already know? Post those words with their definitions.
Which 2-3 words did you not know (or not know too well)? Post those words with their definitions.
Which 1 word do you think you could use the most in your writing or speaking? Post that word, its definition, and then use it in a sentence.
| inhabitant | resident |
| numb | unfeeling |
| pacify | to make peaceful or calm; soothe |
| ravenous | starved |
| refute | to prove incorrect |
| remorse | guilt |
| setback | failure |
| smug | conceited |
| synopsis | outline, brief summary |
| tarry | dawdle |
Which 2-3 words did you already know? Post those words with their definitions.
Which 2-3 words did you not know (or not know too well)? Post those words with their definitions.
Which 1 word do you think you could use the most in your writing or speaking? Post that word, its definition, and then use it in a sentence.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Writing - Brainstorming (Part 3)
Hopefully you participated in yesterday's blog post about brainstorming. (If not, please go to that post by clicking here and then coming back to this blog topic.)
We're going to experiment with a website called Wordle (http://www.wordle.net/create). Go to that website by clicking the link. Once there, you'll see a screen like the image shown below.
Type your brainstormed words & phrases (from yesterday's blog post) into the big box and then click the button underneath it that says "Go." Give the website a minute or so to load. (It will take some time for the image to come up, but that's ok!) Once the image loads, scroll down & look below it. There will be a button near the bottom right corner that says "Save to public gallery." Click that and then give your picture a title. For the user name, type in just your first name, and then click "Ok." When your image comes up next, look up top in the address bar of your browser. That's the web address of your image!
Let's see what you come up with in Wordle! Highlight that web address, go up to the "Edit" menu of your browser, click on that, and go to "Copy." Then, come back to this blog, reply to the topic, and paste your web address in the box. (To paste it, click in the blog box like you're going to type in a reply, go up to "Edit," and then go to "Paste.")
Want to see what I did using Wordle? Click here: http://www.wordle.net/gallery/wrdl/732584/GED_Online
We're going to experiment with a website called Wordle (http://www.wordle.net/create). Go to that website by clicking the link. Once there, you'll see a screen like the image shown below.
Type your brainstormed words & phrases (from yesterday's blog post) into the big box and then click the button underneath it that says "Go." Give the website a minute or so to load. (It will take some time for the image to come up, but that's ok!) Once the image loads, scroll down & look below it. There will be a button near the bottom right corner that says "Save to public gallery." Click that and then give your picture a title. For the user name, type in just your first name, and then click "Ok." When your image comes up next, look up top in the address bar of your browser. That's the web address of your image!
Let's see what you come up with in Wordle! Highlight that web address, go up to the "Edit" menu of your browser, click on that, and go to "Copy." Then, come back to this blog, reply to the topic, and paste your web address in the box. (To paste it, click in the blog box like you're going to type in a reply, go up to "Edit," and then go to "Paste.")
Want to see what I did using Wordle? Click here: http://www.wordle.net/gallery/wrdl/732584/GED_Online
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Writing - Brainstorming (Part 2)
Let's take a detour from the vocabulary studies & have some fun with something else. (Vocabulary is fun, right?) I'd like you to brainstorm some words or short phrases that come to mind when you think of your online class.
Make a short list below with 3-6 items. It can be anything that comes to mind when you think of your online class: subjects you study, technology you use, skills you've learned, etc.
:-)
Make a short list below with 3-6 items. It can be anything that comes to mind when you think of your online class: subjects you study, technology you use, skills you've learned, etc.
:-)
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Vocabulary - Use It Or Lose It (Part 24)
Our April exploration of vocabulary (at least for this word list) is quickly coming to an end. Look at this next set of words.
Which 2-3 words did you already know or have you seen before in writing? Post those words and their definitions. Which 2-3 words were you least familiar with? Post those words with their definitions. Then try using each of those words in a correctly written sentence to show that you now know the word!
| revocation | cancellation; withdrawal |
| scan | to look closely but quickly |
| strand | a beach; to abandon; thread |
| strife | fighting; struggle |
| topple | fall down |
| acute | with a sharp point; keen and alert |
| bluster | rant, talk in a threatening way |
| bungle | blunder; work clumsily |
| commentary | explanation |
| duration | the length of time that something lasts |
| eerie | causing fear; frightening |
| facet | characteristic |
| fidelity | loyalty |
| fray | a brawl, noisy quarrel, unravel |
| headstrong | willful; stubborn |
Which 2-3 words did you already know or have you seen before in writing? Post those words and their definitions. Which 2-3 words were you least familiar with? Post those words with their definitions. Then try using each of those words in a correctly written sentence to show that you now know the word!
Monday, April 6, 2009
Vocabulary - Use It Or Lose It (Part 23)
More vocabulary is here! (Don't you just love it?!)
Which 2-3 words do you think you could use the most in your writing & speaking? Post those words with their definitions. Then use 1 of them in a correctly written sentence.
| acquit | to be found innocent |
| deem | to think or believe |
| devastate | to destroy; wreck |
| discredit | to damage a reputation |
| elusive | hard to understand or catch |
| generate | to start; create |
| idolize | to worship as a god; adore |
| ingratitude | lack of thankfulness |
| keepsake | souvenir |
| mortal | a being that eventually will die; human |
| ovation | applause; cheers |
| petty | unimportant |
| plight | a sad condition |
| repent | to feel sorry for something you did; regret |
| reverie | daydream |
Which 2-3 words do you think you could use the most in your writing & speaking? Post those words with their definitions. Then use 1 of them in a correctly written sentence.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Vocabulary - Use It Or Lose It (Part 22)
Get ready for more great vocabulary terms!
Today, identify 2-3 words from that list that you knew. Show that you know 1 of those word by correctly using it in a sentence. After that, identify 2-3 words that you didn't know (or didn't know well) before this activity. Post each word with its definition. Then write individual sentences to correctly use each of those words. You can do it!!!
| gloat | look at with great satisfaction |
| global | worldwide |
| illusion | deception, false idea |
| infuriate | to make very angry |
| motivate | encourage |
| pacifist | peacemaker |
| queue | line of people |
| restrict | hold back |
| sage | wise |
| slake | to satisfy, quench thirst |
| terrain | the landscape |
| vocation | career |
| vow | word of honor |
| waylay | entrap, ambush |
| wither | shrivel, dry up |
Today, identify 2-3 words from that list that you knew. Show that you know 1 of those word by correctly using it in a sentence. After that, identify 2-3 words that you didn't know (or didn't know well) before this activity. Post each word with its definition. Then write individual sentences to correctly use each of those words. You can do it!!!
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Vocabulary - Use It Or Lose It (Part 21)
Let's continue on with our quest for good vocabulary skills! Look at this next set of words.
Please pick out 1-2 words that you're most comfortable with and post those words with definitions. Then pick out 2-3 words that you don't know (or don't know that well) and post those words with definitions. Try correctly using at least 2 of those words in separate sentences.
| groundless | without any good reason or cause |
| hypocrite | phony person |
| incomprehensible | impossible to understand |
| manipulate | to handle or use skillfully |
| maximum | largest amount possible |
| mimic | copycat |
| ruffle | to wrinkle |
| serene | peaceful, calm |
| sheepish | embarrassed |
| stamina | endurance, staying power |
| barrage | bombardment |
| bigot | racist |
| designate | choose, point out |
| diversity | dissimilarity |
| enigma | riddle, mystery |
Please pick out 1-2 words that you're most comfortable with and post those words with definitions. Then pick out 2-3 words that you don't know (or don't know that well) and post those words with definitions. Try correctly using at least 2 of those words in separate sentences.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Vocabulary - Use It Or Lose It (Part 20)
Here's another set of vocabulary words that are important to know & be able to use correctly.
Which 1-2 words did you already know quite well? Post those words & definitions. Which 2-3 words did you not know too well? Post those words with the definitions & then write a sentence correctly using each one.
| libel | a statement that unfairly harms the reputation |
| misgiving | worry, doubt |
| oaf | a stupid person |
| recede | retreat, back up |
| repast | a meal, food |
| adverse | unfavorable, negative |
| arid | extremely dry |
| assailant | attacker |
| billow | a large wave, to rise |
| confront | to meet face-to face |
| constrain | to force, hold back |
| contemporary | present-day |
| depict | to portray, to represent |
| disinterested | impartial, fair minded |
| encompass | surround |
Which 1-2 words did you already know quite well? Post those words & definitions. Which 2-3 words did you not know too well? Post those words with the definitions & then write a sentence correctly using each one.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Vocabulary - Use It Or Lose It (Part 19)
Look at this next set of vocabulary terms (with meanings).
Which 1 or 2 words did you already know? Which 2-3 words did you not know that well (prior to this activity)? Please post those words with their meanings. Then, challenge yourself to use one of them in a correctly written sentence!
| A | B |
|---|---|
| apparel | clothing |
| beseige | blockade |
| compress | shrink |
| denounce | to condemn openly |
| dispatch | report, kill |
| douse | soak |
| expressly | plainly |
| famished | starving |
| forsake | to give up, to leave |
| gainful | profitable |
| immense | very large or great |
| inept | totally without skill |
| ingenious | imaginative |
| instantaneous | done in an instant |
| irk | to annoy |
Which 1 or 2 words did you already know? Which 2-3 words did you not know that well (prior to this activity)? Please post those words with their meanings. Then, challenge yourself to use one of them in a correctly written sentence!
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Writing - Happy April Fools' Day
Today, April 1st, is commonly known as April Fools' Day. (Writing connection: Do you see the apostrophe used with the word "Fools" in the name? That means it is a day that belongs to the fools!)
Want to know more about this day? Read the information below (from this Wikipedia page).
April Fools' Day or All Fools' Day, although not a holiday in its own right, is a notable day celebrated in many countries on April 1. The day is marked by the commission of hoaxes and other practical jokes of varying sophistication on friends, family members, enemies, and neighbors, or sending them on fool's errand, the aim of which is to embarrass the gullible. Traditionally, in some countries, the jokes only last until noon: like UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, someone who plays a trick after noon is called an "April Fool".[1] Elsewhere, such as in Ireland, France, and the USA, the jokes last all day. Another origin is that April 1 was counted the first day of the year in France. When King Charles IX changed that to January 1, some people stayed with April 1. Those who did were called "April Fools" and were taunted by their neighbors.
Did you participate in any pranks or jokes for today? Please correctly write 1-2 sentences telling us what you did (or didn't) do.
Want to know more about this day? Read the information below (from this Wikipedia page).
April Fools' Day or All Fools' Day, although not a holiday in its own right, is a notable day celebrated in many countries on April 1. The day is marked by the commission of hoaxes and other practical jokes of varying sophistication on friends, family members, enemies, and neighbors, or sending them on fool's errand, the aim of which is to embarrass the gullible. Traditionally, in some countries, the jokes only last until noon: like UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, someone who plays a trick after noon is called an "April Fool".[1] Elsewhere, such as in Ireland, France, and the USA, the jokes last all day. Another origin is that April 1 was counted the first day of the year in France. When King Charles IX changed that to January 1, some people stayed with April 1. Those who did were called "April Fools" and were taunted by their neighbors.
Did you participate in any pranks or jokes for today? Please correctly write 1-2 sentences telling us what you did (or didn't) do.
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