introductory it

When the subjective is an infinitive phrase

We begin a sentence with it when the real subject is an infinitive phrase. So instead of saying, ‘To accept your advice is difficult’, we say, ‘It is difficult to accept your advice’.

Structure: It + verb + subject complement + infinitive phrase (real subject)

- It is easy to learn English. (= To learn English is easy.)

- It is easy to find fault with others. (= To find fault with others is easy.)

- It is difficult to know his motive. (= To know his motive is difficult.)

- It is difficult to find a good job during these troubled times.

- It is dangerous to play with fire.

- It could be dangerous to drive so fast.

Note that when we wish to emphasize the infinitive phrase, it may be put at the beginning, especially when it is short.

- To err is human. (OR It is human to err.)

- To become a well known writer was his life-long ambition. (OR It was his lifelong ambition to become a well known writer.)

- To invest all your money in shares is foolish. (OR It is foolish to invest all your money in shares.)

When the subject is a gerund phrase

When the real subject is a phrase that includes a gerund, it is used as a provisional subject to begin the sentence. So instead of saying ‘Your trying to fool us is no good’, we say, ‘It is no good your trying to fool us.’

-  It won’t be any good complaining to the manager. (Complaining to the anager won’t be any good.)

- It is silly throwing away this opportunity. (Throwing away this opportunity is silly.)

- Will it be any good my talking to him about it? (Will my talking to him about it be any good)

- It is no fun having so many children to look after. (Having so many children to look after is no fun.)

Note that it is possible to change the gerund into an infinitive.

- It won’t be any good for me to complain to the manager.

- It is silly (for you) to throw away this opportunity.

- Will it be any good for me to talk to him about it?

offering

The expression of “ Would you like....”is normally used for offering something to someone.

Woni               : Would you like a cup of tea, Mr,gema?

Mr. Gema      : Yes, please. Thank you. Hmmm...this tea tastes good....and smells fragrant too.......

Woni              : thank you. I’m glad you like it.

Ways to say it

• Would you like a cup of coffee, Mr Green?
• Should I get you a bottle of water?
• Could I offer you a glass of milk, Mr. kiki?
• Would you care some salad?

Ofering to friends:

• Want some?
• Have some?
• Chocolate?
• Grab some for yourself 

Less formal expressions:

• Would you like to have a pancake?
• Why don't you have some lemonade?
• What can I get for you?
• What will you have?

Declining an offering 

• No, thanks.
• No, really won't, thanks
• Not for me, thanks.

Accepting an offering:

• Thank you.
• Yes, please
• I'd like it very much 
• That would be very nice 

surprises and disbeliefs

To express surprise!

- What a surprise!

- (Well), that’s very surprising!

- Really?

- What

- Are you serious? You must be joking!

- You’re kidding!

- Fancy that!

- I must say … surprises me

- I find that hard to believe

Example of expressing surprise

A : I can’t believe it!

B : That’s true

When you got a surprising fact, you can say:

- Do you know what

- Believe it or not

- You may not believe it, but

- Can you believe this?

You can respond to the surprising fact using these expression :

- Really?

- Are you joking?

- Oh?

- Where? Show me

invitation (written)

Invitation is a way to invite someone or more to go to a place or to do something.

There are two types of invitation :

a.        Formal Invitation

b.        Informal Invitation

(If you want to know more about types and some expressions of invitation, go to Invitation)

How to Write An Invitation :

1.          Before you write an invitation, decide on the tone, voice and level of formality, based on the event itself. This will dictate whether you hand-write the cards or have them printed, and whether you choose A preprinted or personalized invitation.

2.          Choose the type of invite you want, and order or buy a few more than you think you'll need. This will permit you to add some guests to your list at the last minute, if necessary. For small parties, you may want to hand-write the invitations on stationery or blank cards. For large gatherings, consider ordering printed invitations.

3.          Determine the wording of your invite based on the level of formality. For example, a formal invitation might say, 'Dr. and Mrs. Stanley request the pleasure of your company,' whereas a more casual note might say, 'Please join us.'

4.          Include the names of the host and/or hostess, as well as the place (with street address), time, date and purpose of the occasion, even if it's a simple get-together.

5.          Make sure to add RSVP information at the bottom of the invite if you need to know who will be attending; for example, 'RSVP' followed by your telephone number.

6.          Include a respond-by date on a formal invitation so you can get an accurate head count in time to adjust the amount of food, number of place settings and room size. For a wedding, charity function or other formal event, consider including a response card and a stamped, self-addressed envelope inside the envelope containing your invite.

7.          Mail invitations three weeks before most events, four weeks before a formal affair and three months before a wedding, to allow for airline reservations. For events held during the December holidays, send invitations around Thanksgiving.

What does R.S.V.P. mean?

R.S.V.P. stands for a French phrase, "répondez, s'il vous plaît," which means "please reply.“ The person sending the invitation would like you to tell him or her whether you accept or decline the invitation. That is, will you be coming to the event or not?

narrative text

Narrative text is a kind of text to retell the story that past tense. The purpose of the text is to entertain or to amuse the readers or listeners about the story.

The generic structure of Narrative text :

1. Orientation :

It set the scene and introduce the participants (it answers the question : who, when, what, and where).

2. Complication :

Tells the problems of the story and how the main characters solve them.

3. Resolution :

The crisis is revolved, for better or worse.

4. Re-orientation :

The ending of the story.

5. Evaluation :

The stepping back to evaluate the story or the moral message of the story

Linguistic features :

1. Use active verbs.

2. Use past tense.

3. Use conjunction.

4. The first person (I or We) or the third person (He, She, or They).

5. Use specific nouns.

6. Use adjective and adverbs

Kind of Narrative text :

1. Legend : Sangkuriang, Malin Kundang, etc.

2. Fable : Mousedeer and crocodile.

3. Fairy tale : Cinderella, Snow white, Pinocchio, etc.

4. Science fiction

Example of Narrative text :

Sleeping Beauty

Long ago there lived a King and Queen who said every day, "If only we had a child!" But for a long time they had none.

One day, as the Queen was bathing in a spring and dreaming of a child, a frog crept out of the water and said to her, "Your wish shall be fulfilled. Before a year has passed you shall bring a daughter into the world."

And since frogs are such magical creatures, it was no surprise that before a year had passed the Queen had a baby girl. The child was so beautiful and sweet that the King could not contain himself for joy. He prepared a great feast and invited all his friends, family and neighbours. He invited the fairies, too, in order that they might be kind and good to the child. There were thirteen of them in his kingdom, but as the King only had twelve golden plates for them to eat from, one of the fairies had to be left out. None of the guests was saddened by this as the thirteenth fairy was known to be cruel and spiteful.

An amazing feast was held and when it came to an end, each of the fairies presented the child with a magic gift. One fairy gave her virtue, another beauty, a third riches and so on -- with everything in the world that anyone could wish for.

After eleven of the fairies had presented their gifts, the thirteenth suddenly appeared. She was angry and wanted to show her spite for not having been invited to the feast. Without hesitation she called out in a loud voice,

"When she is fifteen years old, the Princess shall prick herself with a spindle and shall fall down dead!"

Then without another word, she turned and left the hall.

The guests were horrified and the Queen fell to the floor sobbing, but the twelfth fairy, whose wish was still not spoken, quietly stepped forward. Her magic could not remove the curse, but she could soften it so she said,

"Nay, your daughter shall not die, but instead shall fall into a deep sleep that will last one hundred years."

Over the years, the promises of the fairies came true -- one by one. The Princess grew to be beautiful, modest, kind and clever. Everyone who saw her could not help but love her.

The King and Queen were determined to prevent the curse placed on the Princess by the spiteful fairy and sent out a command that all the spindles in the whole kingdom should be destroyed. No one in the kingdom was allowed to tell the Princess of the curse that had been placed upon her for they did not want her to worry or be sad.

On the morning of her fifteenth birthday, the Princess awoke early -- excited to be another year older. She was up so early in the morning, that she realized everyone else still slept. The Princess roamed through the halls trying to keep herself occupied until the rest of the castle awoke. She wandered about the whole place, looking at rooms and halls as she pleased and at last she came to an old tower. She climbed the narrow, winding staircase and reached a little door. A rusty key was sticking in the lock and when she turned it, the door flew open.

In a little room sat an old woman with a spindle, busily spinning her flax. The old woman was so deaf that she had never heard the King's command that all spindles should be destroyed.

“Good morning, Granny," said the Princess, "what are you doing?"

"I am spinning," said the old woman.

"What is the thing that whirls round so merrily?" asked the Princess and she took the spindle and tried to spin too.

But she had scarcely touched the spindle when it pricked her finger. At that moment she fell upon the bed which was standing near and lay still in a deep sleep.

The King, Queen and servants had all started their morning routines and right in the midst of them fell asleep too. The horses fell asleep in the stable, the dogs in the yard, the doves on the roof and the flies on the wall. Even the fire in the hearth grew still and went to sleep. The kitchen maid, who sat with a chicken before her, ready to pluck its feathers, fell asleep. The cook was in the midst of scolding the kitchen boy for a mess he'd made but they both fell fast asleep. The wind died down and on the trees in front of the castle not a leaf stirred.

Round the castle a hedge of brier roses began to grow up. Every year it grew higher until at last nothing could be seen of the sleeping castle.

There was a legend in the land about the lovely Sleeping Beauty, as the King's daughter was called, and from time to time Princes came and tried to force their way through the hedge and into the castle. But they found it impossible for the thorns, as though they were alive, grabbed at them and would not let them through.

After many years a Prince came again to the country and heard an old man tell the tale of the castle which stood behind the brier hedge and the beautiful Princess who had slept within for a hundred years. He heard also that many Princes had tried to make it through the brier hedge but none had succeeded and many had been caught in it and died.

The the young Prince said, "I am not afraid. I must go and see this Sleeping Beauty."

The good old man did all in his power to persuade him not to go, but the Prince would not listen.

Now the hundred years were just ended. When the Prince approached the brier hedge it was covered with beautiful large roses. The shrubs made way for him of their own accord and let him pass unharmed.

In the courtyard, the Prince saw the horses and dogs lying asleep. On the roof sat the sleeping doves with their heads tucked under their wings. When he went into the house, the flies were asleep on the walls and the servants asleep in the halls. Near the throne lay the King and Queen, sleeping peacefully beside each other. In the kitchen the cook, the kitchen boy and the kitchen maid all slept with their heads resting on the table.

The Prince went on farther. All was so still that he could hear his own breathing. At last he reached the tower and opened the door into the little room where the Princess was asleep. There she lay, looking so beautiful that he could not take his eyes off her. He bent down and gave her a kiss. As he touched her, Sleeping Beauty opened her eyes and smiled up at him.

Throughout the castle, everyone and everything woke up and looked at each other with astonished eyes. Within the month, the Prince and Sleeping Beauty were married and lived happily all their lives.

gratitude, complement and congratulation

Gratitude is expression that used to said thank you to other people.


Kind of gratitude expression are :

v Thank you very much.

v Thanks.

v I’m grateful to…….

v I want to thank.

v I want to express my gratitude to……..

v I keep forgetting to thank you for…….


Respond of expressing :

v You are welcome.

v Don’t mention it.

v Not at all

v It was nothing at all.

v No problem

v Glad to be of help.

v (it was) my pleasure.

v I’m glad I could help.

v I’m glad I could do it.

v I’m glad I could be of help.


Compliment is expression that used to give praising to other people. Some people use compliment to better up someday or to flatter in order to increase good will.


Expressing :

* What a nice dress.
* You look great.
* You look very nice.
* I really must express my admiration for you………
* Good grades.
* Excellent.
* Nice work.


Time to express compliment :

* On his/her general appearance.
* If you notice something new about the person’s appearance.
* When you visit someone’s hous for the first time.
* When other people do their best.

Congratulation is expression that used to said congratulate to someone when get a success.

Expressing :

* Let me congratulate you.
* Congratulations on you successful business.
* My congratulations on your success.
* Congratulations on your promotion.
* Good!
* Tha’s great!
* Isn’t that wonderful!
* How fortunate.
* Splendid!
* Pretty good!


Responding :

· Thank you.

· Thanks, I needed that.

· That’s very kind of you.

· It’s very kind of you to say that.

· Do you really think so?

· You’ve made my day!

· The same to you.

· I’m glad you like it.

· Thank you. It’s nice of you to say so.

news item

A news item text is a factual text which information reader of daily newspaper about events of the day which are regarder as newsworth or important.

The structure of the text consist of three parts :
1. Newsworthy event
Recounts the events in summary form.
2. Background events
Elaborate what happened, to whom, and in what circum stances.
3. Source
Comments by participants in, witnesses to, and authorities expert on the event.

Language features ( tata kebahasaan ) :
1. Terfokus pada orang, binatang, dan benda tertentu.
2. Informasi singkat tertuang dalam kejadian inti.
3. Menggunakan action verb, misalnya : eat, dan lain-lain.
4. Menggunakan saying verb, misalnya : say,tell.
5. Menggunakan keterangan waktu dan tempat.
6. Menggunakan kata keterangan, misalnya : badly dan lain-lain.
7. Laporan menggunakan past tense : was, dan lain-lain.
8. Disusun sesuai dengan urutan kejadian.

Tenses usually used is Simple Past.