LLEM – Inglese 1 Mod. A

USE OF SWAN

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HANDBOOK

Michael Swan,

Practical English Usage,

Oxford University Press,

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Oxford University Press,

Third Edition.

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STUDY THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS:

� Don’t say it! 130 common mistakes

pp. xxvi-xxvii

� 1 Abbreviated styles p. 1

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� 1 Abbreviated styles p. 1

� 2 Abbreviations and acronyms p. 2

� 15 Adjectives (4): order before nouns

pp. 11-12

etc. (see file “B_Programma_2013-

2014_ital” on Didattica Web)

Sample page from book

2 Abbreviations and acronyms p. 2

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Sample page from book

15 Adjectives (4): order before nouns pp. 11-12

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Swan: not a traditional grammar

descriptive

vsvs

prescriptive

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prescriptive grammar

tells people how language

should be used,

rather than describe how it israther than describe how it is

actually used

gives rules of language use

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descriptive grammar

tends to describe how

language is actuallylanguage is actually

used,

even when usage is

divided

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examples of “divided usage”

SPELLING

all right and alright

The standard spelling is all right. Alright is common, but some Alright is common, but some

people consider it incorrect, and

that it should not be used in formal

writing.(See section 41)

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more examples of “divided usage”(See section 309.3)

so-called “correct form”

John and I went to the cinema

so-called “mistake”

John and me went to the cinemaJohn and me went to the cinema

“correct”: Somebody’s dropped his or her keys

“mistake”: Somebody’s dropped their keys

“correct”: Fewer people

“mistake”: Less people

(cfr. Swan 320)11

Less – Fewer (Swan, section 320)

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but

These examples of “divided usage” are referred to native

speakers of English.

They are “mistakes” made by They are “mistakes” made by native speakers.

Some consider them incorrect

forms, but they have become very common in everyday use.

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Learner mistakes are different.

They are mistakes made by people

who are learning English,

and are the result of incomplete knowledge of grammar

They have to be kept in control

according to grammar regularity.

Here are some common learnermistakes:

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Some basic mistakes to avoid (Swan: p. xxvi)

It’s often raining here

It often rains here

I have seen Louis yesterday

I saw Louis yesterdayI saw Louis yesterday

The life is difficult

Life is difficult

I have done a mistake

I have made a mistake

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Some intermediate mistakes to avoid(Swan: p. xxvii)

If I’ll have time, I’ll go home

If I have time…

She told me she has a headache

…she had a headache

My parents wanted that I study

… wanted me to study

You must stop to smoke

You must stop smoking

He has much money

He has a lot of money 16

LLEM – Inglese 1 Mod. A

USE OF SWAN

HANDBOOK

vs

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vs

USE OF

PHOTOCOPIES

Using the book to

solve doubts

“La ragazza rischia

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“La ragazza rischia

di perdere quasi

tutto il lettorato”

Risk (verb) followed by:

to + infinitive?

of + -ing form?

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of + -ing form?

“La ragazza rischia di

perdere quasi tutto il

lettorato”:

She risks…

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She risks…

…of loosing?

…to loose?

(Swan, Index)

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(Swan, section 296)

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(Swan, section 296, ctd)

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See separate PDF’s

of “risk” from Swan book

“The student

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“The student

risks losing

her lettorato classes”

THEREFORE,

Photocopies are for your exam.

The book is for your learning.

If

you

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you

are

here

to learn.