My life

My name is Maria Fernanda Argüello Solano, and I decided to study english because now it is important to find a good job and also it is interesting. I have been studying at CCCN for one year and I really have learned a lot. This is my story, before CCCN I understood some words in English but I couldn't speak, maybe I was afraid of making mistakes, then I learned that it was part of learning, and I practice very hard. Now I can talk in English without feeling uncomfortable, even with strangers. This blog is a proyect for my class, I enjoyed and I learned creating this it.

Videos and practice (wishes)

This is a video that explains how to make wishes

Present Wishes – Real vs. Unreal

A WISH THAT CAN COME TRUE
We use wish followed by an infinitive clause to express a wish that can occur in the future. (A that-clause may follow hope or wish.)
SUBJECT	VERB	COMPLEMENT
We	wish	to go with you. (direct request / demand)
We	would like	to go with you.  (more formal request)
I	hope	(that) we can go with you. (suggestion / request)
I	wish	*(that) I can go with you.

AN IMAGINARY WISH
We use wish + preterit to express a wish about a hypothetical (imaginary) situation.   Optionally, use that before the clause that complements the verb.
SUBJECT	VERB	COMPLEMENT
I	wish	(that) I were¹ home in my country.  (a private thought; a longing)
I	wish	(that) I could go with you. (an excuse due to inability, or an expression of regret)
I	wish	(that) you would let me pay for dinner.(pretend regret, or upset)
I	wish	(that)  you would turn that TV off!  (low expectation request; anger, outrage)

preterit – the past tense verb form

was (informal) / were (formal)  If I was / were…  preterit verb form. Irrealis (Huddleston 3 §1.7)

*a that-clause is not used for a present (real) wish

Unreal Wishes (Hypothetical)

Present and Past

Past Wishes – Unreal

A PRESENT WISH ABOUT THE PAST
Wish followed by a clause with could have or would have expresses regret about a past action that did not happen.
SUBJECT	VERB	COMPLEMENT
I	wish	(that) I could have gone with you. (regret over a lost opportunity)
I	wish	(that) you would have remembered to take the dog out. (nagging, anger)

A PAST WISH ABOUT THE PAST
Wished follwed by a clause with could have, would have, or a past participleexpresses regret about a past action that did not happen.
SUBJECT	VERB	COMPLEMENT
I	wished	(that) I could have gone with you. (remembering a lost opportunity)
I	wished	(that) I had been old enough to drive. (remembering a wish)

And now that you understand how to make wishes you can practice here wishes

Making Wishes

We use wishes to express a disire, I wish to' can mean the same as 'I want to' but it is much, much more formal and much, much less common. 
1. Wishes about the present: I wish I could dance, but I can´t.
I live in an apartament, but I wish I lived in a hotel.

2. Wishes about the future: I wish she would talk to me tomorrow.
I wish you could cook dinner tonight.

Sometimes it can express complaints: I wish you wouldn't bother me.
I wish it would stop raining. We can´t go to the park in this weather.

Or it can express regrets: I wish I could help you to cook the dinner but I have a meeting.

Note: You can also use ´if only´, it has a similar meaning to sentences with wish but it focus on the desire to change a negative situation. 
Examples: If only I had a pet.
If only it would stop raining.

The websites that I recommend to practice English

I'm going to write about the websites that I like and I use to practice English. You can also study by yourself and have fun, all you need is internet connection and a computer or cellphone and you can practice everywhere, anytime.

* The first one is lyrics training it is an easy and fun way to improve your English skills, through the music videos and lyrics of your favorite songs. Also it helps you to learn new vocabulary and expressions, train your ear to recognize sounds and words in a very short time and you learn and listen to different accents. http://en.lyricstraining.com/

* Ororo.tv where you can watch original TV shows and movies with subtitles and if you don´t know the meaning of a word it also has a translator, just point a cursor at the word and there will be a translation. personally I enjoy watching The Simpsons. There are a lot of great TV shows there.  http://ororo.tv/en

* Duolingo is an App that you can have in your cellphone the lessons include a variety of speaking, listening, translation and multiple choice challenges. In my opinion it's verry funny to use this app.
https://en.duolingo.com/

* Vocabsushu is the Website for anyone looking to learn vocabulary. It is ideal for students studying for standardized tests, and is also perfect for anyone looking to expand his or her vocabulary to communicate more precisely. http://www.vocabsushi.com/

* Wespeke where you can practice with native speakers, you choose how to practice it could be by sending text messages, audios or videos. I always use this, you just create a profile, like facebook and then you can meet people from different countries, that are learning English or native speakers that will help you to learn. http://en-us.wespeke.com/

I hope you like it and have fun using this websites and Apps, they are very usefull, but also funny and free.

Real and unreal conditionals

When are real conditionals used?

Real conditionals are used to express a cause and a result that are likely to happen. The present real conditional is used to talk about what you normally do in real-life situations. You can express routines and habits, predictions and promises, advices, warnings or instruccions.
*Expressing certainty: When the speaker is certain that the results will occur whenever the condition in the if clause is true.
Example: If she buys a product, the store deliver it in her house.
* Routines and Habits: If I take a the bus, I arrive to work at 7:00.
*Predictions: If it rains today, they will stay home.
* Promises: If you help me, I will help you too.
*Advice: If you feel bad, you should stay home.
*Warnings: If you don't come tomorrow, she will be mad.
*Instructions: If your cell phone has a red light, charge it.


Real conditionals are divided in two types:

    1. Zero conditional: It is used to express a general truth, the cause and result will always be the same. Zero conditionals can be used to communicate scientifics facts.

FORM

[If / When ... Simple Present ..., ... Simple Present ...]

[... Simple Present ... if / when ... Simple Present ...]

Examples: If you cross an international date line, the time changes.

Phosphorus burns if you expose it to air.
If I wake up early, I go jogging.

NOTE: you can use "when" instead of "if".

     2. First conditional: It expresses conditions and their possible results whether be in the present or in the future. 

FORM

[If / When ... Simple Present ..., ... Simple Future ...]

[...Simple Future ... if / when ... Simple Present ...]

Examples: If you save money, you will be able to buy the car.

If I have enough time, I'll watch the football match. 

now that you know how to use real conditionals you can practice here:

Test what you have learned 

When are unreal conditionals used?

Unreal Conditional is used to talk about what you would generally do in imaginary situations.

You can give advices and opinions or ask for permission using the unreal conditional.
* Advices: If I were you, I would read more.
*Permissions: Would it be ok if I stay here?

FORM

[If ... Simple Past ..., ... would + verb ...]

[... would + verb ... if ... Simple Past ...]

Examples: 

If I owned a car, I would drive to work. But I don't own a car.

She would travel around the world if she had more money. But she doesn't have much money.

I would read more if I didn't watch so much TV.

Mary would move to Japan if she spoke Japanese.

If they worked harder, they would earn more money.

A: What would you do if you won the lottery?
B: I would buy a house.

A: Where would you live if you moved to the U.S.?
B: I would live in Seattle.

 exercise 

1. REAL—TRUE
   The present tense in a conditional clause expresses that the activity may occur–is likely to occur. (Conditions are favorable for the action to happen).
   PRESENT	LIKELY CONDITION
   Jack mows the grass — He does this routinely whenever he has time.	if he has time.
   FUTURE	LIKELY CONDITION
   Jack will mow the grass — He doesn't know if he will have time yet.	if he has time.
   PAST	LIKELY CONDITION
   Jack mowed the grass — He did it whenever he had time.	if he had time.

   UNREAL—UNTRUE / HYPOTHETICAL
   The past or past perfect in a conditional clause expresses that the activity isunlikely to occur. (Conditions are unfavorable for the action to happen.) Also called a "remote conditional".
   PRESENT	UNLIKELY CONDITION
   Ted would mow the grass – He doesn't have time.	if he had time.
   FUTURE	UNLIKELY CONDITION
   Ted would mow the grass – He won't have time.	if he had time.
   PAST	UNLIKELY CONDITION
   Ted would have mowed the grass  – He didn't have time.	if he had had time.