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  • Demonstrative Adjectives in English

    Demonstrative Adjectives in English

    Demonstrative adjectives are essential components of English grammar that help specify and indicate particular nouns in relation to distance, number, and context. These adjectives modify nouns by pointing out specific items or groups of items. In this blog post, we will explore their usage, types, rules, and various situations in which they are used.

    List of Demonstrative Adjectives

    The four primary demonstrative adjectives in English are:

    Demonstrative AdjectiveExample Sentence 1Example Sentence 2
    ThisThis book is very interesting.I love this dress.
    ThatThat house is very old.Can you see that bird?
    TheseThese shoes are comfortable.These cookies are delicious.
    ThoseThose cars are expensive.Those mountains are breathtaking.

    Situations Where Demonstrative Adjectives Are Used

    1. Indicating Physical Distance:
      • This and these refer to objects that are close.
      • That and those refer to objects that are farther away.
    2. Singular and Plural Forms:
      • This (singular, near) vs. These (plural, near)
      • That (singular, far) vs. Those (plural, far)
    3. Contextual Clarity: Used to distinguish between objects, ideas, or events in speech and writing.
    4. Emphasizing Specificity: Demonstrative adjectives clarify which particular noun is being referenced.
    5. With Countable Nouns: Used only before countable nouns.
    6. With Definite Articles: Demonstrative adjectives replace ‘the’ when specifying a particular noun.
    7. In Questions and Exclamations: Used to express curiosity or emotions.

    More Example Sentences

    1. This pen belongs to me.
    2. That restaurant serves the best pasta.
    3. These flowers are blooming beautifully.
    4. Those children are playing in the park.
    5. I bought this laptop yesterday.
    6. Do you like these earrings?
    7. That movie was fantastic!
    8. Those birds are migrating south.
    9. I will take this seat.
    10. Can you pass me that notebook?

    Fill in the Blanks

    1. ______ car is parked outside our house. (Near)
    2. ______ apples are fresh and juicy. (Near, plural)
    3. ______ dog belongs to my neighbor. (Far)
    4. ______ books are on the table. (Far, plural)
    5. ______ phone is brand new. (Near)
    6. I love ______ shoes you are wearing. (Near, plural)
    7. ______ bag on the chair is mine. (Far)
    8. ______ paintings in the gallery are beautiful. (Far, plural)
    9. ______ cake is delicious! (Near)
    10. ______ trees provide shade. (Far, plural)

    Answers:

    1. This
    2. These
    3. That
    4. Those
    5. This
    6. These
    7. That
    8. Those
    9. This
    10. Those

    Things to Keep in Mind

    • Demonstrative adjectives always come before a noun.
    • They must agree in number with the noun they modify.
    • They are different from demonstrative pronouns, which stand alone.
    • They can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
    • They are essential in providing specificity and clarity in communication.

    Conclusion

    Demonstrative adjectives play a crucial role in English by pointing out specific people, places, and things. Understanding their usage in different contexts helps improve clarity and precision in writing and speech. By practicing with examples and exercises, learners can master their application and enhance their overall English proficiency. Keep practicing, and soon, using demonstrative adjectives will become second nature!

    If you enjoyed this lesson, be sure to check out more posts like this on my blog at My Language Classes. Don’t forget to subscribe my YouTube channel and follow me on Instagram for the latest language learning tips and lessons. Leave a comment below to share your thoughts, or ask any questions you have about nouns.

    Happy learning! 😊

  • Causative-Passive Form of verbs in Japanese | My Language Classes

    Causative-Passive Form of verbs in Japanese | My Language Classes

    Causative-Passive Form in Japanese

    The causative-passive form (使役受身, shieki ukemi) in Japanese is an important grammatical structure that conveys a sense of being forced or made to do something against one’s will. This form is frequently used in formal speech, written language, and storytelling.

    Formation of Causative-Passive Verbs

    To form the causative-passive form, we first conjugate the verb into its causative form and then change it into its passive form.

    Group 1 (Ichidan) Verbs

    1. Convert the verb to its causative form:
      • Drop る and add させる (for positive causative)
    2. Convert the causative form to its passive form:
      • Drop る and add られる

    Example:

    • 食べる (たべる, taberu) → 食べさせる (たべさせる, tabesaseru) → 食べさせられる (たべさせられる, tabesaserareru)

    Group 2 (Godan) Verbs

    1. Convert the verb to its causative form:
      • Change the u sound to a and add せる
    2. Convert the causative form to its passive form:
      • Change せる to せられる or される

    Example:

    • 書く (かく, kaku) → 書かせる (かかせる, kakaseru) → 書かせられる (かかせられる, kakaserareru)

    Group 3 (Irregular) Verbs

    1. する → させる → させられる
    2. くる → こさせる → こさせられる

    Usage of the Causative-Passive Form

    The causative-passive form is primarily used in the following situations:

    1. Expressing Forced Action
      • “I was made to do something.”
    2. Indicating an Unwanted Situation
      • “I ended up in an unfavorable situation.”
    3. In Formal Writing & Passive Expressions
      • Commonly used in news articles, literature, and business settings.
    4. Indirect Authority or Control
      • Used when talking about school, work, or hierarchical relationships.
    5. Apologizing or Explaining a Difficult Situation
      • “I was put in a tough spot.”

    List of Causative-Passive Verbs with Examples

    VerbCausative-Passive FormExample Sentence 1RomajiEnglish MeaningExample Sentence 2RomajiEnglish Meaning
    書く (kaku)書かせられる (kakaserareru)先生に作文を書かせられた。Sensei ni sakubun o kakaserareta.I was forced to write an essay by the teacher.上司にレポートを書かせられた。Joushi ni repooto o kakaserareta.I was made to write a report by my boss.
    食べる (taberu)食べさせられる (tabesaserareru)嫌いな野菜を食べさせられた。Kirai na yasai o tabesaserareta.I was made to eat vegetables I dislike.子供のころ、嫌いな魚を食べさせられた。Kodomo no koro, kirai na sakana o tabesaserareta.When I was a child, I was made to eat fish I disliked.
    話す (hanasu)話させられる (hanasaserareru)上司に長いスピーチを話させられた。Joushi ni nagai supiichi o hanasaserareta.I was made to give a long speech by my boss.友達に嘘を話させられた。Tomodachi ni uso o hanasaserareta.I was forced to tell a lie by my friend.
    読む (yomu)読まさせられる (yomasaserareru)先生に長い本を読まさせられた。Sensei ni nagai hon o yomasaserareta.I was forced to read a long book by the teacher.上司に新聞を読まさせられた。Joushi ni shinbun o yomasaserareta.I was made to read the newspaper by my boss.
    行く (iku)行かさせられる (ikasaserareru)先生に学校に行かさせられた。Sensei ni gakkou ni ikasaserareta.I was made to go to school by the teacher.父に病院に行かさせられた。Chichi ni byouin ni ikasaserareta.I was forced to go to the hospital by my father.

    More Example Sentences

    1. 先生に漢字を100回書かせられた。
      Sensei ni kanji o hyakkai kakaserareta.
      I was forced to write kanji 100 times by the teacher.
    2. 母に部屋を掃除させられた。
      Haha ni heya o souji saserareta.
      I was made to clean my room by my mother.
    3. 部長に遅くまで働かさせられた。 Buchou ni osoku made hatarakasaserareta. I was made to work late by my manager.
    4. 先生に難しい問題を解かさせられた。 Sensei ni muzukashii mondai o tokasaserareta. I was forced to solve a difficult problem by the teacher.
    5. 親に謝らさせられた。 Oya ni ayamarasaserareta. I was made to apologize by my parents.

    Conclusion

    The causative-passive form is a useful grammatical structure for expressing situations where someone is forced to act against their will. While it is more common in written and formal contexts, mastering this form will greatly enhance your Japanese comprehension and expression skills. Keep practicing with different verbs and real-life situations to fully grasp the nuances of this construction!

    If you enjoyed this lesson, be sure to check out more posts like this on my blog at My Language Classes. Don’t forget to subscribe my YouTube channel and follow me on Instagram for the latest language learning tips and lessons. Leave a comment below to share your thoughts, or ask any questions you have about nouns.

    Happy learning! 😊

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    Japanese Verb Conjugation: Dictionary, ます, and Negative Forms
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    Mastering Polite Forms in Japanese:ます/ません
    Mastering the Japanese Te-Form: A Comprehensive Guide
    Mastering the Japanese たい Form: A Comprehensive Guide
    Mastering the Expressions of Ability in Japanese
    Understanding ～たら in Japanese
    Volitional Form in Japanese
    Expressing Ability in Japanese
    Potential Form of Verbs in Japanese
    Passive Form of Verbs in Japanese
    Causative Form in Japanese
    Causative-Passive Form in Japanese
    〜ながら Form in Japanese
    〜そうだ (Hearsay): Expressing Reported Speech in Japanese
    〜そうだ (Appearance): Expressing ‘Looks Like’ in Japanese
    〜そうだ (Hearsay) vs 〜そうだ (Appearance): Understanding the Difference

  • Time Expressions in Spanish: Hace + Time + Que, Desde, Desde Hace, and More

    Time Expressions in Spanish: Hace + Time + Que, Desde, Desde Hace, and More

    When learning Spanish, mastering time expressions is crucial for effective communication. Expressions like hace + time + que, desde, and desde hace help describe durations, points in time, and ongoing actions. In this blog post, we’ll explore these expressions in detail, provide examples, and offer practice exercises.

    Common Spanish Time Expressions

    Below is a list of commonly used time expressions in Spanish, their meanings, and example sentences:

    Time ExpressionMeaningExample 1Example 2
    Hace + time + que“It has been (time) since…”Hace dos horas que estudio. (I have been studying for two hours.)Hace un mes que vivo en Madrid. (I have been living in Madrid for a month.)
    Desde“Since (a point in time)”Vivo en Madrid desde 2020. (I have lived in Madrid since 2020.)No como carne desde enero. (I haven’t eaten meat since January.)
    Desde hace“For (a duration of time)”Trabajo aquí desde hace cinco años. (I have been working here for five years.)No veo a Juan desde hace meses. (I haven’t seen Juan for months.)
    Hace + time“(Time) ago”Fui a España hace tres años. (I went to Spain three years ago.)Terminó la tarea hace una hora. (He finished the homework an hour ago.)
    Llevar + time + gerundio“To have been (doing something) for (time)”Llevo dos años aprendiendo español. (I have been learning Spanish for two years.)Lleva tres horas esperando. (He has been waiting for three hours.)
    Hace tiempo que“It’s been a long time since…”Hace tiempo que no te veo. (I haven’t seen you in a long time.)Hace tiempo que no viajo. (I haven’t traveled in a long time.)
    Desde que“Since (something happened)”Desde que me mudé, estoy feliz. (Since I moved, I am happy.)Desde que empezó el curso, estudio más. (Since the course started, I study more.)
    Al cabo de“After (time period)”Al cabo de dos años, me fui. (After two years, I left.)Al cabo de un mes, nos casamos. (After a month, we got married.)
    En cuanto“As soon as”En cuanto llegué, comimos. (As soon as I arrived, we ate.)En cuanto lo vi, supe la verdad. (As soon as I saw him, I knew the truth.)

    More Example Sentences

    1. Hace cinco minutos que llegué. (I arrived five minutes ago.)
    2. No veo a mi primo desde hace tres semanas. (I haven’t seen my cousin for three weeks.)
    3. Estudio español desde el año pasado. (I have been studying Spanish since last year.)
    4. Desde que cambié de trabajo, soy más feliz. (Since I changed jobs, I am happier.)
    5. Llevo un mes sin fumar. (I haven’t smoked for a month.)
    6. Hace dos años que conozco a Marta. (I have known Marta for two years.)
    7. Al cabo de unos meses, aprendí a nadar. (After a few months, I learned to swim.)
    8. En cuanto terminó la reunión, salimos. (As soon as the meeting ended, we left.)
    9. Hace tiempo que no voy al cine. (I haven’t been to the cinema in a long time.)
    10. Desde que empezó la pandemia, trabajo desde casa. (Since the pandemic started, I have been working from home.)

    Fill in the Blanks

    Fill in the blanks with the correct time expression.

    1. _______ dos horas que espero tu llamada.
    2. No veo a mi amigo _______ un año.
    3. Trabajo en esta empresa _______ hace cinco años.
    4. _______ empezó el curso, estudio mucho más.
    5. Mi hermano llegó _______ tres días.
    6. _______ un mes que no salimos a cenar.
    7. Llevo dos meses _______ practicar yoga.
    8. _______ compré este coche, no he tenido problemas mecánicos.
    9. _______ lo vi, me di cuenta de su felicidad.
    10. Al cabo _______ un año, decidimos mudarnos.

    Answers

    1. Hace
    2. Desde hace
    3. Desde hace
    4. Desde que
    5. Hace
    6. Hace
    7. Sin
    8. Desde que
    9. En cuanto
    10. de

    Things to Keep in Mind

    • Gender and Number: Some time expressions require agreement in gender and number. For example, Hace un mes (one month) but Hace dos meses (two months).
    • Articles: Desde hace is often followed by a duration (e.g., Desde hace tres años). However, desde alone is used with specific dates or points in time (e.g., Desde 2020).
    • Different Uses: Hace + time is used for the past (e.g., Hace un año que fui a España), while Desde hace emphasizes duration.
    • Llevar + gerund: This expression is similar to hace + que but emphasizes ongoing action (e.g., Llevo dos años estudiando español).

    Conclusion

    Time expressions in Spanish are essential for discussing events, durations, and actions. Understanding the differences between hace + time + que, desde, and desde hace will help you communicate fluently. Practice using these expressions in different contexts to improve your Spanish skills!

    If you enjoyed this lesson, be sure to check out more posts like this on my blog at My Language Classes. Don’t forget to subscribe my YouTube channel and follow me on Instagram for the latest language learning tips and lessons. Leave a comment below to share your thoughts, or ask any questions you have.

    Happy learning! 😊