LESSON

EXCUSES

DURING A PERSONAL CALL

My battery is running out. (a minha bateria está acabando)
There’s someone on the other line.
I have guests. (Estou com visitas)
There’s someone at the door. (tem alguém na porta)

ON THE OFFICE
I was just about to go to a meeting. (Estava a caminho para uma reunião).
He’s in a meeting.
The boss is out of town.
Our computers are/were down.
I didn’t have any time. (não deu tempo)
Something came up at the last minute. (surgiu um imprevisto)

FOR ARRIVING LATE

Traffic was horrible/ a mess.
The traffic is horrible this morning.
I got stuck in traffic.
My flight was delayed.
I lost track of time. (perdi a noção do tempo)
My alarm clock didn’t go off. (meu despertador não tocou)
FOR NOT-SO-PERFECT ENGLISH
My English is a little rusty.
I used to speak much better.
I understand more than I speak.
I’m not used to your accent. (não estou acostumado com seu sotaque)
I’m still studying. (ainda estou estudando)

FOR NOT HAVING ANY MONEY

I forgot to go to the ATM. (Esqueci de passar no caixa eletrônico)
I just got finished paying off the house. (Acabei de pagar a casa)

I had some unexpected expenses last month. (Tive uma série de imprevistos
mês passado).

FOR DECLINING AN INVITATION

I have another commitment. (compromise)
I’m going to be out of town.
I can’t at that time. (não vou poder essa hora)
Now’s not a good time. (Agora não é uma boa hora)

FOR CANCELING NA ENGAGEMENT

Something’s come up. (surgiu um imprevisto)
Something come up at the last minute (algo surgiu no ultimo minute)

We have a situation at work and there’s no way I can get out of it,
unfortunately.
I WONDER
(= I want to know)

I wonder where Mary is.

how bad the accident was.
what shape he is in.
why he missed class.
when they’ll be back.

He hasn’t called yet.

I wonder when he’ll call us.

She hasn’t justified her absence yet.

I wonder when she’ll justify her absence.

REFLEXIVE PRONOUS

I wanted to cut the bread but I cut myself

you wanted to cut the bread but you cut yourself.
He wanted to cut the bread but he cut himself.
She wanted to cut the bread but she cut herself.
BY ONESELF = ALONE

My friends didn’t want to go, so I went by myself.

her friends didn’t want to eat, so she ate by herself.
His wife didn’t want to stay, so he stayed by himself.

REMEMBER IN YOUR MOTHER TONGUE

ADVÉRBIOS

O advérbio, assim como as outras classes gramaticais, possui uma função

específica: a de indicar circunstância em que se encontra o processo verbal.
Modificam um verbo ou um adjetivo ou um outro advérbio. Nunca modificam
um substantivo.
ADVERBS

Are formed adding the suffix Ly to the adjective. This suffix never affects
stress. They are used to modify a verb, an adjective or another adverb.

happy happily She’s happily married.

awful awfully We’re awfully tired after the long trip.

noisy noisily The child’s birthday was celebrated noisyly.

healthy healthily Healthily raised children hardly ever get sick.

bad badly They’re badly informed as usual.

loving lovingly She’s looking lovingly at her boyfriend.
high Highly This doctor is highly respected professionally.

serious seriously He’s seriously interested in English.

angry angrily They spoke angrily.

beautiful beautifully The concert was good and she played beautifuly.

Attention:
His English is good.
He speaks English well.
Generally, adverbs go into a sentence in the order: 1. Manner, 2. place and 3.
time.
1. Manner – How?
2. Place – Where?
3. Time – When?
She sang beautifully on tv last night.
FREQUENCY ADVERBS

- never
- rarely
- seldom
- ever
- sometimes
- frequently
- usually
- often
- always

Usually placed:
- before the main verb:
He never comes late.
- after the verb to be:
He is always late.
- after auxiliary verbs:
He has never arrived on time.

MANNER ADVERBS
(are usually placed after the main verb or after the object if there is one)

He drives carefully.
He drives his car carefully.

How does he/she speak?

He speaks quickly.
She speaks slowly.
I live happily with my family.
I speak quickly on the phone.
I walk slowly on the beach.
I drive dangerously in town.
Attention:
Good – Well
Fast – Fast
Hard – Hard

They’ve done awfully on the test.

Charles has never behaved well.
John has seldom waited patiently.
Oliver hasn’t drunk heavily.
Pamela hasn’t left urgently.
Steve hasn’t greeted us coolly.
Walter hasn’t answered angrily.
Victor hasn’t spent a weekend quietly.
Roger hasn’t reacted calmly.

Attention to the use of adjectives after certain verbs

that describe the subject.

The dress looks new.

The motor sounds old.
The food smells good.
The cake tastes terrible.
The material fells smooth.

Adjectives and adverbs with the same form: like, fast,

late, low.

A fast (adj) car goes fast (adv).

The children are quiet. (adjective)
The play quietly. (adverb)
but some words that end in ly are adjectives not adverbs.
ex: friendly, lovely, ugly, silly, lonely, likely, deadly, elderly (idoso).

but some other words that end in ly can be both adjectives and adverbs.
ex: daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, early.

He is friendly. (adjective)
He plays in a friendly way. (adverb)

The song was lovely. (adjective)

She sang beautifully. (lovely cannot be used)

We get up early (adj.) to be on time for an early (adj.) class.

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
(Continuous = ING forms express the continuity of an action.)

I am working now.
I was watching tv when she called last night.
I have been studying hard recently.

When an action began in the past, continues in the present and may continue
in the future.

I have worked hard recently.

I’ve been working hard recently.
(both forms are correct)

* When in doubt, use the present perfect (simple).

I’ve been working too hard recently.

I’ve been sleeping too much recently.
She’s been resting too little recently.
He’s been relaxing too little recently.
They’ve been living here since they were born.
They’ve looking better since they had plastic surgery.
John had a bad accident last weekend. It isn’t the only one he’s had since his
father gave him his first car about two years ago.

As a matter of fact (= considering the facts) he has already had a half a

dozen, including three bad ones. Where he completely wrecked the cars.
Although John hasn’t killed himself yet, there’s a chance he will if he doesn’t
drive more carefully.
John’s father is a wealthy (= rich) businessman who gives John a lot of money
but hardly ever (= almost never) any time and love. He says that he wants his
son to have better life than he’s had, but probably John’s life will be much
shorter than his father’s.
John’s father is not completely responsible for his son dangerous driving. If he
stops buying John new cars every time he wrecks them it will help, but it’s
important that John start growing up. He has already failed (= not have a
success) the college entrance exams three times because he learns more
slowly than he drives. John says that he’s very unhappy because the world is
against (= contrary) him, but by the way he drives, it seems to be the other
way round (= vice-versa).
 PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
It shows a continuity of action which the present perfect doesn’t show.

I’ve built a house. (it’s ready)

I’ve been building a house. (it isn’t ready yet)

You’ve cooked a meal. (it’s ready)

You’ve been cooked a meal. (still cooking it)

He’s taken that course. (he has finished the course)

He’s been taking that course. (he still has class)

They’ve painted the house. (ready)

They’ve been painting the house. (still painting it).

They’ve been studying engineering for two years.

civil engineering
electrical engineering
electronics engineering
mechanical engineering

We’ve been studying business administration for 3 years

law
physics
marketing
mathematics since march.
nuclear physics
chemistry
We’ve been studying biochemistry since march.
political science
philosophy
medicine
psychology

She’s been studying at a nursery school close to home.

a kindergarten
an elementary school
a junior high school
a high school
a college

IT TAKES ME
(Duration of an action)

How long does it take to finish the course?

It takes two years to finish the course.

How long does it take you to brush your teeth?

It takes me five minutes to brush my teeth.

It takes me ten minutes to take a shower.

five minutes to have a breakfast.
twenty minutes to get home by car.
at least one hour to have lunch.

thirty seconds to get undressed (= to take my

clothes off).
SINCE X FROM NOW ON
* From now on = starting at this moment and continuing in the future.

He hasn’t been studying hard since last year.

He’ll study hard from now on.

She hasn’t been working hard since last semester.

She’ll work hard from now on.

They haven’t been paying attention since last year.

They’ll pay attention from now on.

She hasn’t been memorizing the diologs since last year.

She’ll memorize the dialogs from now on.

OWN
(used to emphasize possession)

He’s been cooking his own meals.

She’s been cleaning her own room.
I’ve been washing my own clothes.
They’ve been taking their own children.
We’ve been fixing our own appliances.
He’s been running his own business.
They’ve been driving themselves too hard.
They’ve been killing themselves with drugs.
They’ve working themselves to death.
She’s never forced herself to the limit.
Ruth has always been curious, intelligent, and eager (= anxious) to learn new
things. She went through grammar and junior high school without any
problems. She learned early that hard work is necessary for success. Her
parents have given her a lot more time and love than money. They have
always discussed Ruth’s problems with her and have never blamed (=
condemnation) others for her mistakes.

Ruth has passed her college entrance exams with excellent grades. She can
choose from the best colleges in the country. People say that she is lucky to
have gotten such high grades, but this is not true.
Because she has helped herself with a lot of serious hard work.
For years she has dreamed of going to medical school and soon that dream
will come true (= dream materialize). Ruth has already enrolled at the
University and she’ll be a freshman in march.

College Students
1st year – freshman
2nd year – sophomore
3rd year – junior
4th year - senior
COULD YOU HELP ME?

Could you show me some blouses my size?

Could you show me some slacks my size?
Could you show me some light/have overcoats my size?

This blouse is too tight. Do you have a larger size?

This blouse is too loose. Do you have a larger size?

This skirt is too short. Do you have a longer one?

This pullover is too coarse. Do you have softer one?

I’m allergic to wool (lã).

nylon.
polyester
synthetics.

I’m looking for a cotton (algodão) shirt.

linen (linho)
silk (seda)
satin (cetim)
denim (brim)

I haven’t found what I want. I haven’t found the style I

need.
I haven’t found the size I want. I haven’t found the pattern I
need.

I haven’t found the color I want. I haven’t found the type/kind I

want.
PAST PERFECT

is formed by the auxiliary verb + to had + the main verb in the participle.
is used to express an action in the past before another past action.

We had eaten breakfast before we ate lunch.

The thieves had escaped before the police arrived.
He had bought a new surfboard before sold the old one.
He had fastened the seatbelt before the plane took off.

The before clause may be in the simple past, or in the gerund, or may use a
specific incident or noun.

I had studied French before I began to study English.

I had studied French before beginning to study English.
They had prepared the exercise before class.
I had been there twice before my last trip.

PAST PERFECT X SIMPLE PAST

Did you see that film last night?

No, because I had already seen it.

Did you phone Peter last night?

No, because I had already phone him.

Did you pack your clothes last night?

No, because I had already packed them.
 She had seen that film before she traveled.
fixed the car

phoned Peter
made the reservations
bought the coat
packed the clothes

You had gotten angry about this before.

You had dry-cleaned that coat before.

Attention:
to get angry about something.
to get angry at/with someone.

Nobody knows what’s fashionable this season.

It’s hard to know ...
I wonder ...

We’re going to pick it up but we changed our minds.

I’m going to go back there but I changed my mind.
She’s going to drop out (=desist) but she changed her mind.
They’re going to look for Bill but they changed their minds.
PRESENT PERFECT X PAST PERFECT

Present Perfect – Action finished, indefinite time in the past.

Past Perfect – Action finished before another action in the past.

When are you going to clean your room?

I’ve already cleaned it.
I had cleaned it before you arrived.

Mary had been flirting with Paul before she met John.
She had been dating John for two years When she proposed.
They had been saving for a long time before they got married.
They had been planning this trip for a long time.
They had been buying new clothes for weeks.
They had been packing their suitcases for two days.
Jane likes to wear the latest (= most recent) fashions which she follows to the
smallest detail. She considers herself independent, but she’s never had a job
and spends her parent’s money freely (= without worry).
Last night she heard that the style had changed in New York, so this morning
for the first time in weeks she woke up before eleven and rushed to her
favorite boutique. She was afraid that one of the girlfriends was going to wear
the new style before her.
At the store, the sales girl showed her the latest in slacks, blouses, dresses,
shorts, Bermudas, jeans and t-shirts. After looking at and trying on lots of
clothes, Jane still didn’t know what to buy.
She was extremely disappointed, but she did not want to leave the store
empty-handed. She finally chose a pair of pink see-through slacks which she
asked the salesgirl to tighten a little at the hips.

Look at = to see
Looking for = to discover
Looking in to = to investigate
Have a nice day.
weekend.
holiday.
stay.
trip.

MAY
(ASKING PERMISSION)

May = can
May is more polite tha can.

May I call you Bill?

smoke?
come in?
see your passport?
take this seat?
open the window?
hold the baby?

take a look at your

camera?

May I have some coffee please?

beer
wine
orange juice

* Some is used in interrogative just for offer.

WHAT NOT TO DO IN BED

You can read.

You can rest.
You can sleep.
You can make phone calls.
You can eat breakfast.
You can watch television.
You can listen to music.
You can exercise.
You can snore (= roncar).
You can even eat crackers.
Provided you’re alone.
And yes, you can snuggle (= aconchegar-se).
But don’t ever light up a cigarrete
When you are in bed
Because if you doze off (= cochilar) just once,
All your dreams can go up (= subir) in smoke.
I can’t reach the ceiling. It’s too higher for me.

It’s important to be on time for class.

work.
lunch.
dinner.
the plane.

It’s been disgusting to listen to some politicians.

It’s been profitable to study English.

*Profitable = lucrative
DIRECTION

Turn right.
Turn left.
Cross the street.
Go up the street.
Go down the street.
Ask a cop.
That’s a one way street.

It’s in front of the bank.

It’s next the post office.
It’s across the street.
It’s across the street from the bank.
It’s on the corner of main street.
It’s two blocks away.
It’s on the other side of the street.
It’s just around the corner.
He’s the most adventurous person, I’ve ever seen.
He’s the most extraordinary person, I’ve ever known.
He’s the most ambitious person, I’ve ever heard of.
He’s the most fabulous person, I’ve ever met.
 Psalm 23
The Lord the Shepherd - A song of David.

1. The Lord is my shepherd. I have everything I need.

2. He gives me rest in green pastures. He leads me to calm water.

3. He gives me new strength. For the good of his name, he leads me on paths
that are right.
4. Even if I walk through a very dark valley, I will not be afraid because you
are with me. Your rod and your shepherd’s staff comfort me.

5. You prepare a meal for me in front of my enemies. You pour oil of blessing
on my head. You give me more than I can hold.
6. Surely your goodness and love will be with me all my life. And I will live in
the house of the Lord forever.