Relative Pronouns

 - A relative pronoun is used to connect a clause or phrase to a noun or pronoun. 

Use of the relatives pronouns:

1-Who: It can only be used to refer to people.

Ex: The driver who ran the stop sign was careless.

Explanation: "who" refers to the driver, which is a person.

2- Whom: It is used to refer to an indirect object of the verb (who is frequently used in place of whom).

Ex: This is John, whom I met the last week.

Explanation: "whom" refers to John, which is the object.

3- Whose: It is used to indicate posession, both for people and things.

Ex: That is the kid whose parents got divorced last month.

Explanation: The parents who got divorced are the parents of that specific kid.

4- Which: It is used only to refer to things. 

Ex: The house which I lived ten years burned down yesterday.

Explanation: "which" refers to the house, a thing.

5- That:  It is used to refer to people or things (usually is used instead of which who, or whom).

Ex: This is the book that everyone is talking about is very good.

Explanation: "that" refers to the book, a thing.

Ex: My friend is that guy over there.

Explanation: "that refers to the friend, aperson.

My experience:

 This topic is very to understand and basic. However, it is important to use the correct relative pronoun according to the situation, especially in essays.

(click here to watch a video about relative pronouns)

Embedded Questions

 - An embedded question is a question that is included inside another question or statement.

- Usually they are use after an introductory paragraph, such as:

I wonder
Could you tell me
Do you know
Can you remember
Let's ask
We need to find out
I'd like to know

There are certain rules in order to use an embbededed question correctly.

1- In first place, if the embedded question is a part of a statement, it is necessary to use a period at the end not a question mark. Also, it is necessary to omit auxiliary verbs, such as do, does or did, and use the verb in the appropiate form.

Ex: 

Direct Question	What time did he leave?
Embedded Question	I wonder what time he left.

2- Secondly, If the embedded question includes the verb to be, it is necessary to reverse the position of the subject and the verb.

Ex: 

Direct Question	Can you help me?
Embedded Question	I wonder if you could help me.

Direct Question	Is he a doctor?
Embedded Question	Do you know if he is a doctor?

3- Thirdly, when there is no question word in the sentence, embedded questions should be introduce by whether, whether or not, or if.

Ex:

Direct Yes/No Question	Will he be there?
Embedded Question	Do you know if he will be there? Do you know whether or not he will be there? Do you know whether he will be there or not?

4- Finally, in embedded questions an infinitive can follow a question word.

Ex: 

Direct Question	What should I do?
Embedded Question	Please tell me what I should do.
Embedded Question with an Infinitive	Please tell me what to do.

My experience: 

I found this topic a bit complex, since there are different rules and structures to make an embbededed question correctly. However, with practice and analyzing the examples it is quite easy to understand.

(click here to watch a video about embedded questions)

Transitive and Intrasitive verbs

 Transitive verbs

Transitive verbs require an object to complete their meaning.

Ex: She likes pizza.

Explanation: The verb "like" is a transitive verb, so it needs an object after the verb. Otherwise, the sentence is incomplete, or  it may lose its meaning.

Other examples of transitive verbs: 

Intransitive verbs

Intransitive verbs cannot have or do not need have a direct object after them.

Ex: He arrived.

Explanation: In this case the verb arrive do not need and object after it to be a complete sentence, it expresses an action that is complete in itself.

Other examples of intransitive verbs: 

Transitive and Intransitive verbs

Some verbs can be transitive in one sentence and intransitive in another sentence.

Ex: I stopped the car. (transitive)

      The car stopped.  (intransitive)

Other examples of transitive and intrasitive verbs: 

My experience:

In my case, this topic was quite easy to understand. The context helps a lot to identify if it is a transitive or intransitive verbs. Also, there are a variety of lists on the internet to memorize them.

(click here to watch a video about Transitive and Intrasitive verbs)

Adjective, Adverb, and noun clauses

 

Independent clause: It is a sentence that can stand by itself.

Ex: Summer is very relaxing.

Dependent clause: It is a sentence that cannot stand by itself.

Ex: Since there is no school summer is very relaxing.

Types of clauses

1. Adjective clause: It is a subordinate clause that describes a noun or a pronoun.

Ex: Summer, which is my favorite season, is fun an enjoyable

2. Adverb clause: It is a subordinate clause that modifies a verb, an adjective, or an adverb.

Ex: The lake is very enjoyable, as long as the water isn’t freezing cold.

3. Noun clause: It is a subordinate clause used as a noun (it can be used as a subject, direct or indirect object, object of a preposition, or a predicate noun).

Ex: Whoever had a fun summer doesn’t like returning to school.

My own sentences:

Adjective clause:

1. Apple, which is my favorite fruit, is very healthy.

2. That man, who is very tall, is my father.

Adverb clause:

1. I played videogames until my hands heart.

2. I’m going to drink the tea, as long as it still hot.  

Noun clause:

1. Whoever pick that restaurant has a good taste.

2. Where I come from is very beautiful.

Cause and effect essay practice

1- Because of the pendemic's current situation, many people have become unemployed.

2- As a result of many people not following health orders, half of the population has become infected.

3- The incorrect use of the facial mask resulted in hundreds of people infected.

4- Not respecting the social distancing is one of the causes of the amounth of Covid-19 cases in the country.

5- Affecting the lungs is one of the reasons there is a high-risk population group.

Pag. 149 and 150 of the book Writters at Work.

 

Response Essay

 Yoicer Andrey Camacho Meza

2020

Outline:

I- Introduction

-       Hook: Are you sure about buying that videogame?

-       Background: Video games have become a common thing in these days; many children, teenagers and even adults enjoy the opportunity of playing a video game. As a result of this popularity, there is a great variety of these games such as puzzles, sports, adventure, platform and even violent videogames. However, have you ever wondered the effect that these video games can have on you, especially the last example?

-       Thesis Statement: There is evidence that video games can have effects on our behavior.

II- First main idea: Although playing video games is a decision of each person, some studies point out that certain video games can make people more aggressive.

1. In a study of 430 children those who had more aggressive behaviors such as verbal or physical aggression were those who played more violent video games.
2. Many violent video games offer rewards for violent behaviors and actions in the game

II- Second main idea: Even though some video games may have negative characteristics, many others can be very positive for people.

A.   In medicine there are programs and virtual games that help students learn in a practical way without compromising a patient.

 

C.   As Schaffer (2007) mentioned some Therapists are using virtual reality as a tool to treat patients with a phobia or post-traumatic stress disorder.

 

Conclusion: In conclusion, violent video games can have a negative impact on our behavior, so we must be careful with them. However, not all video games are bad and many of them can be very useful and positive for people's lives. 

Yoicer Andrey Camacho Meza

2020 

The Impact of the Video games

 

Are you sure about buying that video game? Video games have become a common thing in these days; many children, teenagers and even adults enjoy the opportunity of playing a video game. As a result of this popularity, there is a great variety of these games such as puzzles, sports, adventure, platform and even violent videogames. However, have you ever wondered the effect that these video games can have on you, especially the last example? There is evidence that video games can have effects on our behavior.

Do I have to stop playing video games? Although playing video games is a decision of each person, some studies point out that certain video games can make people more aggressive. According to Schaffer (2007) violent video games can generate aggressive behavior in children. This occurs because children take and apply certain video game behaviors to real life; for instance, as Schaffer (2007) mentioned, in a study of 430 children those who had more aggressive behaviors such as verbal or physical aggression were those who played more violent video games. Furthermore, “games may also encourage kids and adults to rehearse aggressive solution to conflict” (Schaffer, A, 2007). Many violent video games offer rewards for violent behaviors and actions in the game, which could have an impact on a kid's or adult's attitude when facing a situation. In short, violent video games have many features that can encourage people to be more aggressive and violent.

Are all video games bad? Even though some video games may have negative characteristics, many others can be very positive for people. As Schaffer concluded, “when video games aren’t about violence, their capacity to teach can be a good thing” (Schaffer, A, 2007). Nowadays there is a great variety of games with many useful applications; for instance, in medicine there are programs and virtual games that help students learn in a practical way without compromising a patient. Also, in education there are interactive games for kids to learn math, history and even a new language. Moreover, as Schaffer (2007) mentioned some Therapists are using virtual reality as a tool to treat patients with a phobia or post-traumatic stress disorder. In other words, when video games have a proper approach, they can be very useful and positive.

In conclusion, violent video games can have a negative impact on our behavior, so we must be careful with them. However, not all video games are bad and many of them can be very useful and positive for people's lives. 

 

References

Schaffer, A. (2007). Don’t Shoot: Why Video Games Really Are Linked to Violence, Slate magazine. https://slate.com/technology/2007/04/why-video-games-really-are-linked-to-violence.html

Exercise of analyzing

Here is a video of an exercise I did with a classmate where we analyzed different graphics, essays, and articles.

What is this blog about?

 Hello to everyone my name is Yoicer Andrey Camacho Meza, and I create this blog for three different reasons.

1. Improve writing skills 

First of all, this blog was made to help me, and other people to improve their written communication skills in the English language. On this site you will find posts about topics related to written communication, different types of essay written by me and my progress.

2. Share knoledge 

In second place, on this site I will share information on relevant and useful topics for written English communication. All topics will be explained as best as possible and I will provide extra information and tools that may be helpful.

3. Show my experience 

Last but not least, here you will find my point of view about all the topics I will share, such as how hard was to understand a topic, which are the main points of a topic, and which tools and techniques I used to understand and improve.