Grammar in Context: Prepositional Collocations

Task 1:

Complete the sentences below with the correct verb or adjective followed by an appropriate preposition (e.g., for, to, with, about).

thank	apply	inform	respond
inquire	upset	interested	complain
invite	sorry	concerned	apologize

1. I would like to .........apologize for......................my absence at the meeting.

2. I am ..concerned about......................the lack of supervision in the playground.

3. I am writing to .......complain to.........................the poor service I received at your store.

4. I am very ...sorry about...................... not being able to meet the deadline.

5. We would like to ......invite..............you........to......... the ABC Company’s open house on Saturday, June 16 at 1:00 p.m.

6. I am writing to ...inform ......................you about the new budget proposal.

7. I would like to take this opportunity to ........thank............you .....for...........  being a loyal customer over the years.

8. I am ................interested in............ finding out about the training programs that you offer.

9. I am very ........upset about...........................the way I was treated by one of your admin staff.

10. I am writing to .........inquire about..................... the position you have available.

11. I am ............responding  to.. ........................your advertisement in the Globe and Mail on June 3, 2009.

12. I would like to .........apply .for....the position of Sales Manager that was advertised in the Kingston Whig Standard on September 31, 2010.

Task 2:

Write six sentences of your own using prepositional collocations.

 1, I blame my son for making the mess at home.
 2, I will come over to your place around 2 pm.
 3, After settling down in Canada, the first thing that I have to do is to pass drive license.
 4, Please pay attention about your class.
 5, I can not agree with you.
 6, I would like to contribute to my all energy on this project.

Task 3:

Errors in Letter-writing Conventions

This letter has nine errors relating to proper business letter conventions. Underline the mistakes and correct them.

Mrs. Lucinda Minto, Manager

Bright Star Lighting Store

11 Glendale Ave.

Oshawa, ON 
L1H 8K9

Monday, September 12, 2009

Dear Lucinda:

I am writing to you to explain a situation happened on me. I purchased a floor lamp in your store on August 25th, 2009,. Unfortunately, I was not able to use it, because it did not work properly. Every time I switched it on, it switched off by itself after about 30 minutes. I took the lamp back to the store, but the salesgirl refused to refund me my money back. I had a telephone conversation with you about it and you confirmed that your store’s policy is to exchange faulty merchandise rather than refund the money. Unfortunately, the lamp that I am looking for is no longer available at your store. After giving these circumstances, I would like to request to refund the money back to me. I will so appreciate about it.

I am looking for reply from you.

Sincerely,

Peter Wu

Marisa Romer

Task 4:

Answer the questions.

1. What is the purpose of the letter? explain the problem and ask for refunding money.

2. What is the problem? he bought a lamp didn't work, but there wasn't the some one in the store that could be changed.

3. What is the customer requesting? refunding money.

4. Is it a reasonable request? Why? Yes, it is. Because he can not find the same lamp in the store.

Degrees of Formality

Task 1:

Rewrite the sentences below, replacing the words in italics with their formal equivalents from the box. Make sure you use the correct form of the verb.

review	concerned	angry	ensure	receive
purchase	complete	assure	request	would like

1. I can assure this will never happen again.

2. We will ensure the computer is repaired by one of our technicians.

3. The book I purchased online was damaged.

4. I would like you to give me my money back.

5. I hope you received the package I sent last week.

6. He’s really angry about the service he received at our store.

7. The work will be completed by the end of the month.

8. The manager is concerned that they won’t meet their deadline.

9. Please review the proposal and make any necessary changes.

10. She requested  the information a long time ago.

Task 2:

Read the sentences below and decide whether or not they use the degree of formality appropriate for the given situation. Revise the sentences if necessary.

1. a note to a co-worker: The meeting is at 10 sharp. Don’t be late. Change to please be on time.

2. a letter to a Member of Parliament: Thank you for your help in this matter Change to I’m so appreciate your help in this matter

3. an email message to a friend: I am looking forward to seeing you there :) 

4. a note to a child’s teacher: I would greatly appreciate it if you could inform me when I could meet with you.

5. an email message to a superior: I’ll let you know about the time of the meeting ASAP. Change to I would like to inform you about the time of the meeting.

6. a manager to her subordinates: Thanks for your hard work, guys! Change to thanks to your hard work, everyone!

7. a letter accompanying your résumé: Here is my résumé. Change to please enclosed find my resume on the attachment below.

8. a note to the office cleaner: I would appreciate it if you could kindly clean under my desk in a timely fashion change to may i ask you to clean under my desk when you come to my office.

Education in your home country and in North America

Education in China and in North America totally shows different concepts and ways. Education in China force on follow, but education in North America force on creation.

First of all, Chinese teachers teach students only from textbooks. They just tell students what you need to know, you must remember knowledge only, do not need to understand why these exist and it is not supposed to be doubt and advanced. North America teaches always teach students methods and reasons. They encourage students to create their new idea in the class and daily life.  Student’s individual developments are respected in there educated stages.

Secondly, Education System in China controlled by Chinese government, purpose of education by Chinese government is domination of people’s minds. Government does not allow different opinion result from people educated deeply. In deeded, government scared about instability from people knows more things by educated. By contrast, Education runs in North America in according to people’s requirements and society’s progresses. Government severs education and put its position higher than political power.

Furthermore, different education makes different result between China and North America. Youths in China have strong ability to copy and follow, but their creativity have been destroyed under their educational environment. Youths in North America have the totally opposite features. They confident to create, they brave to show up, they aspire to change world better.

To sum up, I prefer to education in North America. It is much more suit for generations’ growth, because I do not want my kids become a “copy machine”. In stand of, I would like they keep their original characters and abilities to live with them free and comfortable in their life.

Women's suffrage

1 Manitoba women were the first to vote in Canada.
2 Women's votes up in house.
3 Nurse could vote.

The test for the article about psychometric test

Psychometric test: Psychometric test is an objectively test used by certain companies which can test your potential character and ability that employees consider about.

Deliberately: After deliberately thinking, she decided to divorce.

Calm …down: No matter how nerves you are, you must to calm down during your interview process.

Impressed in: I impressed in you always have brave to face on the difficulty.

Inaccuracy: The quality of this product is wrong. It is an inaccuracy.

Turn down: Please turn down the radio, let my baby sleep well.

Preferable: You need make a preferable choice between these two men to be your boyfriend.

Suspicious: We should not put our suspicious and judgment to persons that are living with you.

Vocaroo Voice Message about job interview

Vocaroo Voice Message