Engleza I

Conf. univ. drd. Elena NISTOR

LIMBA ENGLEZ

Anul I

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Acest manual urmrete instruirea cursanilor n domeniul cunoaterii unor

noiuni eseniale privind gramatica i lexicul limbii engleze, avndu-se n vedere

dezvoltarea aptitudinilor de comunicare verbal i scris. Scopul final vizeaz

capacitatea cursanilor:

- de a se familiariza cu cteva aspecte ale modului de via tipic lumii anglo-

saxone;

- de a nelege i interpreta informaii detaliate dintr-un anumit domeniu;

- de a exprima opinii personale asupra unor teme cotidiene, utiliznd un

vocabular adecvat;

- de a redacta scurte texte argumentative pe o tem dat;

- de a-i dezvolta competena lingvistic prin identificarea, nelegerea i

nsuirea unor chestiuni de gramatic.

Pentru a se facilita o mai bun nelegere a subiectelor de gramatic, explicaiile

sunt oferite n limba romn, iar exemplele specifice problemei abordate apar att

n limba englez, ct i n limba romn.

Testele de verificare de la sfritul fiecrei uniti de studiu, precum i Testul final

urmresc, de asemenea, evaluarea cunotinelor acumulate de cursant pe parcursul

procesului de nvare.

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C O N T E N T S

UNIT 1 Personal Information

The article

UNIT 2 Home (I): Housing

The Noun (I)

UNIT 3 Home (II): Rooms and Furniture

The Noun (II)

UNIT 4 Transport (I): On the Road

The Pronoun

UNIT 5 Transport (II): Air and Water

The Adjective

UNIT 6 Shopping

The Numeral

UNIT 7 Food and Drink

The Verb (I)

UNIT 8 Health

The Verb (II)

UNIT 9 Work

The Verb (III)

UNIT 10 Leisure Time

The Verb (IV)

UNIT 11 Sports

The Adverb

UNIT 12 Holidays

The Preposition. The Conjunction

Test de evaluare

Basic English Vocabulary

Main Irregular Verbs

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UNIT 1

Personal Information

Exercise 1. Read the following text carefully and then sum up the main ideas of

the text:

My name is Alexandra Cosma and I am 26 years old. I live in Bucharest, the city

where I was born. At present, I am a student of the Faculty of Management,

Economic Engineering in Agriculture and Rural Development at the University of

Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine in my hometown. I also work as an

accountant with an agricultural company. I like my job very much and I intend to

stay there after graduation.

It is not always very easy for me because very often I work for 8-10 hours

a day at the office, and I also have to do all the housework and take care of my

twins. I can say I am fortunate that my husband helps me very much, otherwise I

would not manage.

Over weekends my programme is less busy and I even have a few hours

for myself and my hobbies. I like to go shopping with my husband. We often

enjoy going into one of the big stores downtown and wandering from one

department to another. We are also very fond of the theatres, music-halls and

cinemas in Bucharest.

But what I love most is to spend short holidays in the country, together

with my family. If you want to have a really quiet and healthy holiday, you must

go and stay on a farm. We prefer to go to my brothers farm not far from the city

where we enjoy ourselves immensely. There is always plenty to do on a farm and

of course we have to work very hard, but we do not mind; we really enjoy it,

particularly if the weather is nice.

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VOCABULARY

development = dezvoltare, extindere, progres, evoluie

hometown = ora natal

accountant = contabil

graduation = absolvire

housework = treburi casnice, gospodrie

twin = geamn

to manage = a reui, a izbuti, a se descurca

to enjoy = a se bucura de, a-i plcea (to enjoy oneself = a se distra, a petrece)

store = magazin

downtown = centru comercial (al unui ora)

to wander = a rtci, a hoinri, a cutreiera

in the country(side) = la ar

plenty = belug, abunden, prisos, bogie, mulime

to mind = a avea ceva mpotriv, a-i psa

Exercise 2. Fill in the following form with information about yourself:

Surname/Family name/Last name(s) .

Forename/Christian name/First name(s) ...

Nationality Citizenship .

Date of birth Place of birth ...

Address ..

Education ...

...

Job Position ..

Work experience ...

Interests ....

Other skills ....

Plans for the near future ....

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Exercise 3. Each of the fourteen people mentioned below is married to one of the

others. From the information you are given, find out who is married to whom

(note that there are three generations here):

ALAN is Carolines nephew and Larrys cousin.

BARBARA is Larrys mother and Maggies sister-in-law.

CAROLINE is Edwards daughter and Maggies sister-in-law.

DAVID is Gordons brother-in-law and Alans uncle.

EDWARD is Ingrids grandfather and Maggies father-in-law.

FANNY is Carolines mother and Alans grandmother.

GORDON is Helens son-in-law and Nigels brother-in-law.

HELEN is Barbaras mother-in-law and Larrys grandmother.

INGRID is Gordons niece and Davids daughter-in-law.

JOHN is Davids father and Gordons father-in-law.

KAREN is Gordons daughter-in-law and Maggies daughter-in-law.

LARRY is Johns grandson and Davids son.

MAGGIE is Larrys aunt and Fannys daughter-in-law.

NIGEL is Ingrids father and Fannys son-in-law.

Exercise 4. Write a short commentary expressing your opinions for, or against,

the ideas in the following text:

HISTORY OF NAMES

Have you ever wondered why your parents gave you the name they did: were you

named after an ancestor, is it family tradition, or do you carry the name of some

famous personality or film star?

Until about the 14th century, most people had only one name. It has been

estimated that in medieval England, for instance, three of five men carried the

name of Henry, Robert, John, William or Richard. As towns and cities grew, the

necessity to further identify individuals and families required a second or

surname.

With few exceptions there were four ways in which surnames or

permanent family names were adopted. They were:

1. patronymics - the fathers name with "son" immediately after it

(Peterson, Adamson, Woodson)

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2. place names - words that identify where a person or family lived or

came from (Hill, Lake, Wood, Glades, March)

3. occupational names - what a person did for a living (Miller, Butcher,

Baker, Tailor, Butler)

4. nicknames - usually based on a persons personality or characteristics

(Short, Long, Savage, White, Brown)

For several hundred years, the most popular names given to newborns

were those of biblical persons or saints. Even today, some religious faiths still

require a saints name at baptism and confirmation. In the 16th and 17th century,

people began giving their children not only a first or Christian name and surname,

but also a middle name as well. In America male children were often given the

maiden name of the mother as a middle name, thus honouring and preserving the

mothers family name.

Another common practice was to name children after the parents brothers

and sisters, and on occasion a combination of both. It is not unusual to find

several family members of one generation giving their children similar or

identical names.

Exercise 5. Fill in the following adjectives referring to character and personality,

according to the clue on the left:

ARIES/The RAM (Mar 21 Apr 20)

You wont find him in the corner at the party. o.tg.i.g

Thats her doing the can-can on the table. exv.rt

She has no problems. c..ef.ee

He never frowns. lt-h.a.t.d

She tells no lies. t.u.hf..

He has few secrets. o..n

Hell tell you if he doesnt like your make-up. c.n.id

Shell tell you if she doesnt like your after-shave. fk

Hes the person to ask for that five pounds you are owed. e..y-gg

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TAURUS/The BULL (Apr 21 May 20)

He knows what he wants and he usually gets it. s.r.n.-wi..ed

She never gives up without a fight. d.t.r.i.ed

He knows hes good. s.l.-as.u..d

She knows shes as good. s.l.-co..i..nt

She likes to be the boss, the one on top. d.m.n.nt

He wants to be even bigger, even better the best am..t.o.s

and expects high standards of performance from others. d.m.n.i.g

He works 18 hours a day, jogs, and plays squash. e.e.ge..c

She hates to lose, in business and at tiddlywinks. c.mpt..e

GEMINI/The TWINS (May 21 Jun 20)

She thinks shes good. p.o.d

He thinks hes superior to everyone. a.r.g..t

As the most experienced and sensible person present, I p.mp..s

Of course, I could have beaten him even more

easily, but I wanted to give him a chance. b..stf.l

She wont share her presents with her sister. s..f..h

He spends half the day in front of the mirror. v..n

She thinks the whole world revolves around her. s..f-c.n..r.d

He thinks hes the center of the universe. e.oc..t..c

She looks down on anyone who hasnt got a

heated indoor swimming pool at home. s.o.b..h

CANCER/The CRAB (Jun 21 Jul 20)

She seems to enjoy finding fault with others. c.itl

Hell take off marks if you dont dot your is. p.t.y

She can only ever see one side of things. naw-m.n..d

He always likes the fat taken off his bacon. f.s.y

Hes like a donkey. s.u.b.r.

Shes like a mule. o.s.in.t.

He loves money, loves having things. m.t.r.a.i.t.c

Oh yes, hell help you if you make it worth his while. m.r.en.ry

She never lets her husband out of her sight. p.ss.ss..e

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LEO/The LION (Jul 21 Aug 21)

You never know what hes going to do. u.p.ed.ct..le

He never knows what hes going to do. i.d.c.s.ve

There are two things I dont like about her her face! t.o-fd

Be careful what hes saying about you behind your back. h.po.r.t.c.l

Be careful what shes doing while your back is turned. d.sh.n..t

He behaves like the weather in April. cha.g.a.le

She behaves like the proverbial primadonna. t.mp.r.m..t.l

He says what I want to hear, not what he thinks. i.s.nc.r.

He never does all the things he says hell do. u.r.l.a.l.

VIRGO/The VIRGIN (Aug 22 Sep 22)

Other peoples points of view always impress him. i.p.e.s.on..le

Shes believe you if you told her pizzas grew on trees. g.ll.ble

She lacks will-power. w..k-w.d

He lacks courage. c.w..d.y

He doesnt do much he just sits back and watches. p.s..v.

Shell do what shes told. ob.dt

You never know what hes thinking. s.cr.t..e

It was an honour just to be on the same court as Sampras.

How I beat him 6-0, 6-0, 6-0? It was just luck. m.d..t

LIBRA/The BALANCE, The SCALES (Sep 23 Oct 22)

He uses his common sense. s.n.i.le

She never does silly things under pressure. l.v.l-h..d.d

Shes like the Libran symbol of the scales. w..l-b.l.n.ed

Shed solve all the problems on a desert island, p.ac..c.l

and nothing would upset her. c..m

Hed be a good judge or referee. f..r-m..d.d

Shes got both feet on the ground and is really down-to-earth. r.al..t.c

His heart rarely rules his head. r.t..n.l

I think, therefore I am. Thats my approach. l.g.c.l

SCORPIO/The SCORPION (Oct 23 Nov 22)

Keep out of her way when she loses her temper. a.gr..s.v.

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Hes always the first one to put his fists up, v..l.nt

And hes quick to use them to the full. b.u.al

He may even add a boot or two for good measure. v.c.o.s

She wont let anything stand in her way. r..hl..s

He has no principles about hurting other people. u.sc.u.u.ous

He almost seems to enjoy causing trouble. m.l.c.ous

Shes a strong believer in an eye for an eye, sp.tl

and a tooth or, in her case, teeth for a tooth. v.n.i.t.ve

SAGITTARIUS/The ARCHER (Nov 23 Dec 20)

Those with some Latin blood in their veins. p.s.i.n.t.

They are fiery and emotional. h..-bl..d.d

Shes not afraid to go mountain climbing, b.a.e

or to join a mountain rescue team. c.ur.gs

He wants to go to wild and unexplored places. a.v.nt.r..s

Theyre vivacious, like champagne bubbles. l.v.l.

She puts her heart and soul into her profession. d.d.c.t.d

On the sinking ship, the dog never left its masters side. d.v.t.d

These friends do not desert you in a crisis. l.y.l

CAPRICORN/The GOAT, The SEA GOAT (Dec 21 Jan 19)

Hed always stop to help a disabled person across the road. c.ns.d.e

Thats her on the beach wiping oil off the sea birds feathers. t.nd..

She wouldnt hurt a fly. g.nt..

He leaves 10 tips. g.n.r..s

He wouldnt mind if she dyed her hair green. t.l.r..t

She lets him sleep when he gets back from a hard days work. u.d.rst.n.i.g

He defends her in any argument. p.o.ect.ve

She kisses him on the cheek every minute or so. a.f.c.i.n.te

She always sends a card on her parents anniversary. th..g.tf.l

AQUARIUS/The WATER BEARER (Jan 20 Feb 18)

If she likes you, shell fling her arms around you and say so. i.p.l.i.e

He jumps into the bath without testing the water. i.p.t.ous

Lose your way with her in the car? Youd better not! i.p.t.e.t

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Hes constantly like a child on Christmas Eve. ex.i.abl.

Hes a typical angry young man. r.b.l.i.us

Shes Trotsky, Castro and Guevara all rolled into one. rlut.o..ry

Hes got a memory like a sieve. f..g.tf..

He thought a double brandy would help the baby sleep. i.ress.ble

If she gets an idea in her head, theres no stopping her. u.c.n.r.l.a.l.

PISCES/The FISH (Feb 19 Mar 20)

There she is, over there, on her own in the corner. s.y

Hes afraid that the whole world is looking at him. s.l.-c..s..ous

She peeps round her front door like a mouse. t.m.d

Hes always the last to introduce himself. r.s..ved

Be careful not to upset her. Its easily done. s.n.i..ve

He can see beauty in a pile of rubbish. i..gin.e

He can then turn the pile of rubbish into a work of art. c.e.a.t.v.

I was moved to tears by the beauty of his sculpture. em.t.l

He doesnt know who he is, where he is, what to do or why. u.sta.le

Exercise 6. SUPPLEMENTARY READING

ETIQUETTE IN THE BUSINESS WORLD

Manners can make or break a relationship. By being considerate and

respecting others, you show sincerity in wishing others well. Making others feel

good will make you feel good, and for this you should take into consideration

some highlights (these situations refer to the business setting; rules for social

occasions may vary):

Nametags - that innocuous little addition to your carefully planned

wardrobe that becomes suddenly garish on your silk blouse. But they have a

purpose, and can better serve that purpose if handled correctly. First of all, print

your name clearly. Do not use script. A printed name is easier to read. If you want

to be referred to by your first name, print it larger than your last. If you want

others to refer to you by your title, include it on the nametag. Always wear the

nametag on your right shoulder or lapel. It is easier to read when shaking hands

with someone.

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Meeting Colleagues - First opinions are instant, therefore you must be

poised and gracious, your speech and actions confirming a favorable opinion.

How do you do this? Make the other party feel as if he or she the most important

person in the room. Look them in the eye and stand still. Don't rock back and forth

on your heels no matter how nervous you are. Speak clearly and in complete

sentences. Shake a hand if it is offered. In the work force, the highest-ranking

person would initiate the handshake. That may be you, so feel free to do so.

Introductions - It is a common business practice to introduce oneself with

first and last name only, although persons who have worked hard for their titles

sometimes use them. Rank plays a role in introductions, but customers rank over

everyone except dignitaries when it comes to business. The lower-ranking person

is introduced to the higher-ranking person. The subordinate to the boss, the

colleague to a customer. Verbalize the highest-ranking person's name first. For

example, if Sue is the colleague and Mary is the customer, the introduction is as

follows: "Mary, I'd like to introduce Sue to you. Sue, this is Mary."

When addressing a new colleague, it is better to use their title (Mr., Ms.,

etc.) until they give you permission to address them by their first name. Never

take the liberty of using a nickname unless it is offered. Be sure to repeat a name

in greeting and during ensuing conversations. Not only will the person appreciate

it, but saying it helps you remember the name for the future.

After the initial introduction, move on to small talk. Ask how they are,

then add a compliment or other statement. In the business world, this should not

be personal, that is, relating to clothes, family or the like. Also, in a group of

people, never single out a person and compliment them. If you must compliment

someone, compliment the group as a whole.

Conversations - A good rule of thumb is 'Think before you speak.' Listen

to what others are saying before you jump in. Stay away from negative comments.

Be generous with praise and careful of criticism. Be considerate of other's

feelings. Avoid slang, and don't dominate the conversation. And by all means, be

discreet. Confidences are just that-confidential.

Deadlines - Not only should you be on time to work or for appointments,

you should meet any deadlines and keep any promises you make. Emergencies

sometimes creep up, but if you have a reputation for reliability, you will more

likely be granted that extension you need.

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Dress - While acceptable attire varies from business to business, there are

some general guidelines to help choose the wardrobe right for you. Look at what

your boss or supervisor is wearing and dress similarly. Keep as conservative as

possible. Shorts don't belong in the office setting, nor do gaudy nails or glitter and

sequins. Skirts should not be higher than just above the knee, or fall below mid-

calf. Shoes should be well kept, with heels no taller than two to three inches. And

that perfume you love so much? Wear it for your enjoyment only.

So the next time that client meets you, smile, shake hands and say hello.

Make them feel as important as they are. You will be remembered not only for

your business skills, but also for your manners. Make that lasting impression a

favorable one. Once back in your hotel room or home, you can kick back, relax,

throw on the jeans and have that chewing gum again.

Exercise 7. Topics for discussion

1. Do you like your given name (the name given to you when you were born)?

Why (not)?

2. Does your name have a special meaning? (If it does, what does it mean?)

3. In what ways do you take after members of your family, in appearance and

character?

4. Which do you think is best: to be an only child, or to have brothers and sisters?

5. How often do you visit your relatives?

GRAMMAR

ARTICOLUL

(THE ARTICLE)

Este partea de vorbire utilizat pe lng un substantiv pentru a indica trstura

general sau particular a acestuia. Nu are neles de sine stttor (nu poate aprea

independent n propoziie). Are poziie fix - naintea substantivului.

n limba englez, exist trei tipuri de articol: hotrt, nehotrt, zero.

1. Articolul hotrt (THE) se pronun (aproximativ) d atunci cnd se

afl naintea unui substantiv care ncepe cu o consoan: the box, the child, the girl,

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the mountain, the river, the town etc.; se pronun (aproximativ) di atunci cnd

substantivul ncepe cu o vocal: the actor, the address, the event, the eye, the idea,

the university. Articolul hotrt se utilizeaz cu substantive numrabile (care au

att form de singular, ct i de plural).

Indic un anumit obiect, clar individualizat.

The book is on the table. (Cartea se afl pe mas.)

The books are on the table. (Crile se afl pe mas.)

The trip was interesting. (Cltoria a fost interesant.)

The carpets are dirty. (Covoarele sunt murdare.)

The student is learning English. (Studentul nva englezete.)

Pe lng aceast funcie, exist cazuri cnd articolul hotrt apare n mod

obligatoriu:

cu substantive care denumesc lanuri i vrfuri muntoase; ape (oceane,

mri, ruri), cu excepia lacurilor; insule, golfuri, canale etc.: The Carpathians

(Carpaii), The Alps (Alpii), The Caucasus (Caucazul), The Danube (Dunrea),

The Thames (Tamisa), The Atlantic (Ocean) (Oceanul Atlantic), The Black Sea

(Marea Neagr), The Mediterranean (Sea) (Marea Mediteran), The Shetlands

(Insulele Shetland), The Orkneys (Insulele Orkney), The Gulf of Mexico (Golful

Mexic), The Gulf of Alaska (Golful Alaska), The Suez Canal (Canalul Suez), The

English Channel (Canalul Mnecii).

cu substantive compuse care denumesc ri: The United States (of

America) (Statele Unite ale Americii), The United Kingdom (of Great Britain and

Northern Ireland) (Regatul Unit al Marii Britanii i Irlandei de Nord), The Arab

Republic of Egypt (Republica Arab Egipt).

cu substantive care denumesc instituii oficiale: The White House (Casa

Alb), The Kremlin (Kremlin), The University of Bucharest (Universitatea

Bucureti), The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministerul de Externe).

cu substantive care denumesc obiecte unice: The Sun (soarele), The

Moon (luna), the sky (cerul), the world (lumea).

cu substantive care denumesc ambarcaiuni: The Titanic, The Augusta,

The Christina.

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cu substantive care denumesc evenimente istorice: The First World War

(Primul Rzboi Mondial), The Gulf War (Rzboiul din Golf), The Plague

(Ciuma).

cu substantive precedate de prepoziii: on the table (pe mas), in the

room (n camer), to the office (ctre birou), at the airport (la aeroport).

cu substantive care fac parte din construcii genitivale formate cu of:

the streets of the town (strzile oraului), the rooms of the house (camerele

casei), the event of the year (evenimentele anului), the waves of the sea (valurile

mrii).

cu substantive urmate de o propoziie relativ (care rspunde la

ntrebrile care?, ce fel de?):

The man who is speaking is my brother.

(Brbatul care vorbete este fratele meu).

He is the first person that I met there.

(Este prima persoan pe care am ntlnit-o acolo.)

This is the house which I live in.

(Aceasta este casa n care locuiesc).

cu adjective pe care le substantivizeaz, indicnd clasa, grupul

persoanelor de acelai fel (cei...; poporul...): the rich = bogaii, the poor = sracii,

the blind = orbii, the sick = bolnavii, the English = englezii, the French =

francezii, the Irish = irlandezii, the Swiss = elveienii, the Americans = americanii,

the Romanians = romnii, the Italians = italienii, the Russians = ruii.

Not: De regul, numele de persoane nu primesc articol. Exist, ns, un caz

particular: atunci cnd articolul hotrt apare cu un nume de familie la plural,

numele capt sensul de familia...: the Browns = familia Brown; the Kramers =

familia Kramer; the Williamses = familia Williams.

2. Articolul nehotrt (A/AN) se pronun atunci cnd se afl naintea unui

substantiv care ncepe cu o consoan: a box, a child, a girl, a mountain, a river, a

town etc., precum i naintea substantivelor care ncep cu u, w, y: a university, a

window, a year; se pronun n atunci cnd substantivul ncepe cu o vocal (cu

excepia vocalei u): an actor, an address, an event, an eye, an idea. Articolul

nehotrt se utilizeaz cu substantive la singular.

Indic un obiect oarecare, o singur unitate.

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There is a book on the table. (Pe mas se afl o carte.)

Somebody asked me a question. (Cineva mi-a pus o ntrebare.)

We need a friend. (Avem nevoie de un prieten.)

Pe lng aceast funcie exist cazuri cnd articolul nehotrt apare

obligatoriu:

cu substantive care denumesc meserii, profesii, naionaliti precedate

de verbele to be, to become:

Mr. Brown is a teacher. (Domnul Brown este profesor.)

He is a Frenchman. (El este francez.)

My sister became a doctor. (Sora mea a devenit medic.)

cu numeralele hundred, thousand, million, billion, pentru a indica o

cifr aproximativ (dac cifra este cunoscut cu precizie, se folosete one):

(about) a thousand people

(aproximativ o mie de oameni)

dar: one thousand two hundred and forty-five people

(o mie dou sute patruzeci i cinci de oameni)

cu pronumele little (puin, puin) i few (puini, puine), crora le

confer un plus de cantitate:

I have little time. (Am puin timp, aproape deloc.)

dar: I have a little time. (Am ceva timp, destul.)

I read few English books.

(Am citit puine cri englezeti, aproape deloc)

dar: I read a few English books. (Am citit multe cri englezeti.)

cu denumiri de msuri (timp, distan, cantitate): once a day (o dat pe

zi), twice a week (de dou ori pe sptmn), three miles an hour (trei mile pe

or), five dollars a pair (cinci dolari perechea).

3. Articolul zero desemneaz lipsa articolului. Articolul este absent n cazul

substantivelor la plural, care indic obiecte oarecare, uniti ale aceleiai clase.

Books are on the table. (Pe mas se afl cri.)

Stop asking questions! (Nu mai pune ntrebri!)

Everybody needs friends. (Toat lumea are nevoie de prieteni.)

Exist cazuri obligatorii cnd articolul este absent:

la substantive care denumesc zilele sptmnii, lunile anului,

anotimpurile:

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Ill meet you on Monday. (Ne ntlnim luni.)

He left in June and returned in December.

(A plecat n iunie i s-a ntors n decembrie.)

I like summer. (mi place vara.)

la substantive care denumesc continente i ri:

Last year, we visited South America and Australia.

(Anul trecut, am vizitat America de Sud i Australia.)

The United Kingdom is made up of Scotland, England, Wales and

Northern Ireland.

(Regatul Unit este format din Scoia, Anglia, ara Galilor i Irlanda

de Nord.)

la substantive care denumesc localiti (excepie face The Hague,

singurul ora care primete articol naintea numelui):

Have you ever seen Paris? (Ai vzut vreodat Parisul?)

He lived in San Francisco for five years.

(A locuit n San Francisco timp de 5 ani.)

la substantive care denumesc materii i substane:

People prefer coffee to tea.

(Lumea prefer cafeaua n locul ceaiului.)

This blouse is made of cotton.

(Bluza aceasta este fcut din bumbac.)

la substantive abstracte care nu au form de plural: love, hate, joy,

happiness, wisdom, health, friendship, knowledge etc.

Thats life! (Aa e viaa!)

Some people believe in love at first sight.

(Unii oameni cred n dragoste la prima vedere.)

Not: Atunci cnd substantivele bed, table, church, school, hospital, market,

court, jail, prison, harbour, port, sea, shore, town sunt folosite aratnd c

locurile respective sunt utilizate n scopul pentru care exist, se ntrebuineaz cu

articol zero; pentru alte situaii, aceste substantive sunt nsoite de articol hotrt:

Im exhausted, I am going to bed.

(Sunt epuizat, m duc la culcare.)

dar: The little boy has put the books on the bed.

(Bieelul a pus crile pe pat.)

The criminal was sent to prison.

18

(Delincventul a fost trimis la nchisoare.)

dar: They turned the prison into a museum.

(Au transformat nchisoarea n muzeu.)

Exercise 8. Fill in the spaces with the definite or indefinite article, wherever

necessary:

1. He is violonist we all expected to hear.

2. I thought I had shut front gate, but it is still open.

3. It was on beach, close down by sea, that I found them.

4. man who is waiting for you has already called twice.

5. road between trees was covered with fallen leaves.

6. This is spot where we camped last year.

7. It is very book I need.

8. They were sitting at table, engaged in lively talk.

9. He lived happy life among people he loved best.

10. What is distance from your house to institute?

Exercise 9. Translate the following into Romanian, paying attention to the use of

the articles:

1. His sister had a genius for acting.

..

2. I did not speak of the Adamses, but of one of my friends.

3. There is no such thing as a friendless man.

4. Wait a minute! You are the man I was looking for to help me.

5. What trouble you are taking with me!

6. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

7. He roamed about the forest, gun in hand.

19

8. A rolling stone gathers no moss.

9. A man who has been bitten by a snake, fears a rope.

10. A friend in need is a friend indeed.

Exercise 10. Supply (a) little, (a) few in the following sentences:

1. I should like to make remarks in connection with

the topic under discussion.

2. I know of the man. There is nothing definite that

I could say.

3. Please, make haste, there is time left.

4. She has a fairly good command of French and, besides, knows

German.

5. weeks from now hell be miles and miles away.

6. There are books on computer science in our

library and they are all out-dated.

7. Its no use asking him about it. He has

experience in this matter.

8. The chairman said words about our success.

9. There was very water in the flower-pot, so he

sprayed some more on the flowers.

10. There is soup left so I cannot give you a second

helping.

REMEMBER!

a(n) refers to any unspecified object (pl. some)

the (sg./pl.) refers to a certain object, known to everybody

20

CHECK-UP TEST

I. Choose the right variant:

1. Mail this letter without delay.

A. C. the

B. a D. an

2. He is not man I am looking for.

A. C. the

B. a D. an

3. story which I am about to tell is quite unusual.

A. C. the

B. a D. an

4. There was once man who lived by the seaside.

A. C. the

B. a D. an

5. man can adapt himself to any climate.

A. C. the

B. a D. an

6. He speaks English quite fluently.

A. C. the

B. a D. an

7. We shall talk about it at supper.

A. C. the

B. a D. an

8. Their son is at college.

A. C. the

B. a D. an

9. He was taught violin when he was very young.

A. C. the

B. a D. an

10. Next day snow in front of my window thawed.

A. C. the

B. a D. an

21

II. Write a 300-word composition about your name: its special meaning, its origin,

etc.

REFERENCES

1. Cambridge International Dictionary of English, Cambridge: Cambridge

University Press, 1995

2. Ilovici, Edith, Mariana Chioran, Maria Ciofu, A Practical Guide to English

Grammar. Exerciii de gramatic, Ediia a II-a, Bucureti: Editura Didactic i

Pedagogic, 1972

3. Wellman, Guy, The Heinemann English Wordbuilder, Oxford: Heinemann

International, 1992

22

UNIT 2

Home (I): Housing


the text:

Almost everybody in Britain dreams of living in a detached house; that is, a house

which is a separate building. The saying, An Englishmans home is his castle is

well-known. It illustrates the desire for privacy and the importance attached to

ownership which seem to be at the heart of the British attitude to housing.

The most desirable house is a large, detached house which not only

ensures privacy but is also a status symbol. Such a house is an unrealistic dream

for most people, but even a small detached house, surrounded by garden, gives the

required suggestion of rural life which is dear to the hearts of many British

people.

Most people try to avoid living in blocks of flats (what the Americans call

apartment blocks). Flats do not suit the British attitudes. People feel cut off from

the world; they miss the neighbourliness. Besides, flats involve uncertainties. You

share the corridor outside your front door, but whom with: the other residents on

the same floor, or all the residents in the building? What about the foyer

downstairs: is this only for the use of the people who live in the block, or for the

public in general? These uncertainties perhaps explain why the communal

living expected of flat-dwellers has been unsuccessful in most of Britain.

VOCABULARY

saying = zical, proverb

well-known = binecunoscut, vestit

privacy = intimitate, singurtate

ownership = proprietate, posesiune

housing = locuin, adpost

23

desirable = de dorit, dezirabil, oportun

to ensure = a garanta, a (se) asigura, a lua msuri

status = statut, stare, condiie, situaie

to surround = a nconjura, a mprejmui, a ngrdi

to avoid = a evita, a ocoli, a se feri (de)

neighbourliness = bun vecintate, sociabilitate, prietenie

to involve = a se implica, a se amesteca

to share = a mpri, a mprti, a se bucura (de)

downstairs = jos, la parter

dweller = locuitor

Exercise 2. Answer the following questions, using some of the vocabulary given

below:

1. Whats your address?/Where do you live? (In English, the typical order is:

number, road, town/city, county, post-code)

2. What part of the town do you live in?/What part of the town would you like to

live in? (right) in the centre; in the suburbs; not far from(the railway station/the

post-office/the Town Hall); on a main road; in a side street/off the main road

3. If you live in a block of flats, which floor is your flat on? in the basement; on

the ground floor; on the first/second/third floor

4. Has your block got a lift/a fire-escape? How many staircases are there?

5. What are the (dis)advantages of a balcony/terrace?

6. Has your house got a garden? What is it like? a (large/small) garden in front

of/at the back of the house; an asphalt yard where the children play; flower-beds;

a lawn; a few fruit-trees; an orchard; a kitchen-garden; bushes and shrubs

Exercise 3. Which is the difference between the following: street, road,

boulevard, drive, lane, close, avenue, crescent, alley? Consider:

24

a long piece of hard ground that people can drive along from one place to

another;

a road, usually with private houses, not open at one end;

a track for vehicles which leads to a house;

a wide road with trees on both sides especially one which leads to a large

house;

a road built in a curve;

a road in a city, town or village with buildings along one or both sides;

a narrow path or road between buildings, or a path in the park or garden;

a narrow road in the countryside or in a town;

a wide road in a city, usually with trees on each side or along the centre.



INDIVIDUALITY AND CONFORMITY

Flats are unpopular not only because they do not give enough privacy, but also

because they do not allow enough scope for the expression of individuality.

People like to choose the colour of their own front door and window frames, and

also to choose what they are going to do with a little bit of outside territory,

however small that may be.

The opportunity which it affords for individual self-expression is another

advantage of the front garden. In any one street, some are paved, some are full of

flowerbeds with paths in between, others are just patches of grass, others are a

mixture of these. Some are demarcated by walls, others by fences, others by

hedges, and some have no barrier at all. Possibilities for variety are almost

endless!

However, not everything about housing in Britain displays individuality.

Because most houses are built by organisations, not individuals, they are not

usually built one at a time. Instead, whole streets, even neighbourhoods (often

called estates), are built at the same time. For reasons of economy, all the houses

on an estate are usually built to the same design. That is why adjacent streets in

British towns often seem to be full of houses that are identical.

Still, every single house is different the residents make sure of that! In

suburbs and towns, there is a constant battle going on between the individualistic

25

desires of the householder and the necessity for some element of regimentation in

a densely populated area. The contest is illustrated by the fact that anybody who

wants to build an extension to their house must first get planning permission

from the local authorities.

Exercise 5. Match the following types of dwelling (1-10) with the proper

definition (a-j):

1. bungalow

2. mobile home (Br.)/trailer house

(Amer.)

3. brownstone

4. terraced (Br.)/row (Amer.)

5. semi-detached house

6. thatched cottage

7. council house

8. condo(minium) (Amer.)

9. tower block

10. detached house

a) a house in the country with a

thatched roof

b) (a flat in) a block of flats of which

each one is owned by the people

living in it

c) a house that is one of a pair of

joined houses

d) a house which is a part of a terrace

e) a house which is all on ground

level

f) a vehicle which is lived in as a

home and has its own engine

g) a house with a front of soft

reddish-brown stone

h) a house or flat owned by the local

town or country council, for which

the family living in it pays rent

i) a house not connected on any side

with any other buildings

j) a tall block of flats or offices

26

Exercise 6. Complete the following sentences with the suitable word or phrase:

at home rental landlord/landlady

mortgage rent block of flats/apartment

ownership homely housewives

estate

1. We let the spare room at a monthly of 55.

2. The is threatening to evict me if I do not pay the

rent by the end of the week.

3. If you fail to repay the , the bank will repossess

your house.

4. Housebuyers are now much less inclined to believe what

agents tell them about potential new homes.

5. Nowadays, when they get married, women do not necessarily give up their

jobs and become

6. He has made himself in the lounge and shows no

signs of leaving.

7. Jack and his sister live in the same

8. Property is quite expensive in this part of the

city.

9. Rates of home have remained relatively constant.

10. The hotel was and comfortable.


1. Explain the popularity of the different types of dwelling in the UK. Compare it

with the situation in Romania.

2. Do you prefer living in the suburbs or in the center of the town? Why?

3. What are the steps one must take when looking for somewhere to live?

4. What are the (dis)advantages of living in a rented flat/house?

5. The importance of home.

27

GRAMMAR

SUBSTANTIVUL (I)

(THE NOUN)

Reprezint partea de vorbire care exprim nume de obiecte (fiine i

lucruri). Substantivele se pot clasifica n funcie de form i coninut.

1. Dup form, substantivele pot fi:

simple (formate dintr-un singur element): man, child, hill, bed, bus, city,

day, game, job, mother, page, house, park, town, year, tree, problem, grass,

peace, ear, head, colour, map etc.;

compuse (formate din dou elemente): newspaper, armchair, friendship,

holiday, homework, breakfast, blackboard, forename etc.

2. Dup coninut, substantivele se pot clasifica dup cum urmeaz:

proprii, care denumesc un obiect anume (fiine, locuri geografice,

evenimente istorice, naionaliti, zilele sptmnii i lunile anului etc.): David,

John, Mary, Europe, Asia, Ireland, Canada, The War of the Roses, The Gulf War,

Frehch, Romanian, American, June, October, Monday, Saturday.

comune, care indic unul sau mai multe obiecte de acelai fel. n aceast

categorie intr mai multe tipuri de substantive:

* numrabile (au form att pentru singular, ct i pentru plural): animal,

artist, carpet, brush, bird, hall, day, eye, model, man, woman, station, tree,

university, pig, plant, ray etc. Aceste substantive primesc adjectivele

many, (a) few.

* nenumrabile (au numai form pentru singular): cotton, flour, water,

tea, coffea, steel, snow, meat, nature, heaven, hell, east, north, sun,

universe etc. Aceste substantive primesc adjectivele much, (a) little.

* colective (denumesc o pluralitate de obiecte, considerate unitar): army,

family, crew, corporation, club, pack, fleet, public, council, ministry,

flight, team etc.

* concrete (denumesc obiecte palpabile): cat, dog, tree, rose, table, pencil,

child, house, rain, star, jewel, shirt etc.

28

* abstracte (denumesc noiuni: stri, sentimente, senzaii): health, joy,

love, hate, friendship, wisdom, beauty etc.

Substantivul prezint cteva categorii gramaticale specifice: numrul, genul,

cazul.

Genul

n limba englez exist patru genuri ale substantivului:

masculin (desemneaz fiine de sex masculin care pot fi nlocuite n

propoziie prin pronumele personal he): father, son, uncle, brother, Sir, king, man,

prince, dog, bull, cock, fox, stallion;

feminin (desemneaz fiine de sex feminin care pot fi nlocuite n

propoziie prin pronumele personal she): mother, daughter, aunt, sister, Madam,

queen, woman, princess, bitch, cow, hen, vixen, mare;

neutru (desemneaz fiine al cror sex nu intereseaz i obiecte care pot

fi nlocuite n propoziie prin pronumele personal it): cat, dog, bear, baby, house,

book, room, chair, shirt;

comun (desemneaz substantive cu o singur form pentru ambele sexe,

care n propoziie pot fi nlocuite fie prin he, fie prin she, n funcie de context):

child, cousin, friend, doctor, teacher, student, parent, bird, animal, horse.

Exercise 8. Use the verbs in brackets according to the meaning of the sentence,

bearing in mind that collective nouns can take either a singular (if they refer to a

single group or unit) or a plural verb (if they mean a number of individuals):

1. My family (is/are) at the seaside.

2. Our basketball team (is/are playing) tonight.

3. The whole gang (was/were) arrested.

4. People (likes/like) travelling today.

5. Our group (is/are) made up of fifteen students.

6. The crowd (was/were) cheering the speaker.

7. The audience (was/were) delighted with the

performance.

8. The government (has/have) agreed to improve the

conditions.

29

9. The staff (consists/consist) of almost twenty persons.

10. The army (is/are) camped near the river.

Exercise 9. Give the Romanian equivalents of the following English proverbs,

paying attention to the use of the abstract nouns and then make up your own

sentences using these:

1. Time and tide wait for no man.

..

2. Wealth is nothing without health.

..

3. A good beginning makes a good ending.

..

4. Charity begins at home.

..

5. Necessity is the mother of invention.

..

6. Speech is silver, but silence is gold.

..

7. Where there is a will there is a way.

..

8. Haste makes waste.

..

9. No gains without pains.

..

10. Beauty is only skin deep.

..

Exercise 10. Rewrite the following text, making all the nouns and pronouns

feminine wherever possible:

As the boy is walking along, he sees a horse with a man on its back. He asks the

man if his son has left home yet. The man says that the boy has stayed at home

because he is expecting his uncle and grandfather to come and see him. The boys

uncle is an actor and his grandfather is a manager of a theatre. Just then, a

30

policeman comes up and asks the boy if he has seen a bull wandering down the

road. The boy says he has seen nothing but a cock, two drakes and a gander,

which he thinks belong to the gentleman who lives in the big house, Lord

Wembley, a widower with ten children. The policeman asks who is helping in

keeping the house. The boy says he thinks it is Lord Wembleys brother-in-law.

The policeman says that if his brother-in-law is keeping house for all those

children he is a hero.

REMEMBER!

Concrete nouns can be either singular or plural; abstract nouns are only singular.

Uncountable nouns are only in the singular: kinds of foods, substances, material,

qualities.

Gender: usually, the same word refers to either a male or a female; sometimes,

there are different words for male and female.

CHECK-UP TEST


1. Death is essential to the of life.

A. understatement C. understanding

B. understudy D. undertaking

2. You have eaten too cakes, no wonder you feel sick.

A. much C. little

B. many D. few

3. The female form for gander is

A. she-gander C. goose

B. ganderess D. geese

4. Like father, like

A. mother C. sister

B. son D. brother

5. Im afraid we dont have time left.

A. much C. little

B. many D. few

31

6. She is the highest-paid in Hollywood.

A. actor C. actress

B. actoress D. actrice

7. The is camped near the river.

A. army C. armys

B. armies D. armie

8. Their goes back to when they were at school together.

A. friendliness C. friend

B. friendless D. friendship

9. So people came to the party that one could harldy find a chair to

sit down.

A. much C. few

B. many D. little

10. Cinderellas fairy helped her go to the ball.

A. grandfather C. grandmother

B. godfather D. godmother

II. Write a 300-word composition about the way you imagine the house of the

future.

REFERENCES



2. Gleanu-Frnoag, Georgiana, Doina Sachelarie-Lecca, Limba englez n

conversaie, Bucureti: Editura tiinific i Enciclopedic, 1982



Pedagogic, 1972


International, 1992

6. ODriscoll, James, Britain. The Country and Its People, Oxford: Oxford


32

UNIT 3

Home (II)


the text:

A typical British house has two floors, the ground floor and the first floor. On the

ground floor (downstairs) there are: the entrance hall, a living-room, a dining

room, and a kitchen with a pantry.

The living-room is large: the first thing you notice is a piano with a low

music stool in front of it. Next to the piano is a tall bookcase and, under the large

window on the left, there is a sofa with two cushions on it. The fireplace is at the

other end of the room, and on each side of it there is an armchair. Opposite the

fireplace there is a small table with a TV set on it. The floor of the room is

covered with a thick carpet. An electric light is hanging from the middle of the

ceiling: at night, the curtains are drawn and the lights are switched on.

The dining-room is for meals: breakfast in the morning, lunch at midday,

tea in the afternoon, and supper or dinner in the evening. In the middle of the

room there is a round table with six chairs. The dining-room table is covered with

a white cloth. On the sideboard standing against the wall there is a bowl of fruit:

apples, pears, plums, grapes, oranges or bananas according to the season.

Next to the living-room is the kitchen where there is a gas range, a

refrigerator, a kitchen sink, a large table under the window and a cupboard in

which plates and saucers, cups and glasses are arranged on the shelves. In the

drawers of the cupboard there are: forks, spoons and knives. On the right wall is

the door of the pantry, while another door leads into the backyard. Under the

kitchen there is the cellar.

From the entrance hall, a staircase leads to the first floor (upstairs), where

there are three bedrooms, a nursery or childrens room, a bathroom and a lavatory

or toilet (often separate). The furniture of the bedrooms is simple and in very good

taste: large beds with night-tables on either sides, chests-of-drawers, wardrobes,

and settees under the windows. There are reading lamps on each night-table, and

thick carpets cover the floors.

33

In the nursery there are two divans, a low table between them, a wardrobe,

and bookshelves around the walls. There is also a large case in which the sheets,

blankets and pillows are kept during the day. On the left wall there is the door of

the bathroom with tub, shower and a wash-basin.

VOCABULARY

living-room = camer de zi

dining room = sufragerie

fireplace = emineu

kitchen = buctrie

pantry = cmar

stool = scaun, taburet

to switch on = a deschide, a aprinde

sideboard = bufet

(kitchen) sink = chiuvet (de buctrie)

cellar = pivini, beci

chest-of-drawers = scrin, comod

settee = divan, canapea, banchet

blanket = ptur, cuvertur

pillow = pern

wash-basin = chiuvet (de baie)


below:

1. What kind of heating system have you got? central heating (radiators, boiler);

electric fires; gas fires; coal stoves; wood-burning stoves; open fireplaces

2. How do you cook? by electricity (on a plate, in an oven); by gas (on a gas

cooker/stove, in an oven)

34

3. Has cooking by gas any (dis)advantages over cooking by electricity?

4. List the following labour-saving devices in the order of their importance (for

you): refrigerator (fridge); deep-freeze; washing-machine; dish washer; vacuum-

cleaner; gas-cooker; automatic water-heater; electric mixer

5. Which of the above could you do without?

6. Which pieces of furniture do you consider essential? Give reasons for your

choice.

Exercise 3. Which is the difference between the following: cellar, basement,

pantry, storeroom, shed, wardrobe, cupboard, sideboard, oven, stove,

fireplace? Consider:

a room in a house where food is kept;

a piece of furniture with a door or doors behind which there is space for

storing things, usually on shelves;

a space in the wall of a room for a coal or wood fire to burn in, or the

decorated part which surrounds this space;

the lowest part of a building, partly or wholly below ground level;

a piece of furniture with a flat top and cupboards at the bottom, usually used

for holding glasses, plates, etc.;

a roofed shelter for storing things or for keeping tools, fuel, woodwork;

a room for keeping items in while they are not being used;

an underground room used for storing coal, wine, etc.;

a tall cupboard in which one hangs clothes;

a piece of equipment which burns fuel or uses electricity in order to heat a

place;

an enclosed space with a door, usually part of a piece of equipment used to

cook food or heat other substances.

35



INTERIORS: THE IMPORTANCE OF COSINESS

Just as the British idea of home is a mental concept as much as a physical reality,

so is their idea of domestic comfort. The important thing is to feel cosy that is,

to create an atmosphere which seems warm. This desire usually has priority over

aesthetic concerns: most British people would rather buy several items of cheap,

mass-produced furniture, with chairs and sofas covered in synthetic material, than

one more beautiful and more physically comfortable item.

To many, tradition is part of cosiness, and this can be suggested by being

surrounded by old items of furniture. And, if you cannot have old furniture, you

can always have other things that suggest age. The open fire is an example. In

Britain, the real fire (as it is often called) is the perfect traditional symbol of

warmth because it is what most people used in the past to keep warm. So strong is

the attraction of a real fire that many houses have an imitation open fire,

complete with plastic coal which glows red when it is switched on.

Most older houses, even very small ones, have one general living-room

and a reception room, which maintains privacy (which is linked to cosiness). This

arrangement allows the front room to be kept for formal visits, while family

members and close friends can spend their time, safely hidden from public view,

in the back room. Although most modern smaller houses are built with just one

living room, privacy must be preserved so they normally have a hall onto which

the front door opens. It is rare for it to open straight into the living-room.

Exercise 5. Match some of the following household items (1-12) with their use (a-

n):

1. blankets (bedspread/duvet)

2. dishcloth (scourer)

3. duster

4. flannel

a) to sleep between

b) to clean and polish table tops

c) to wash your face with

d) to dry your face with

36

5. floor cloth

6. handkerchief

7. nappy

8. net curtains (blinds)

9. serviette (napkin)

10. sheets

11. table cloth

12. table mat

13. tea-towel (teacloth)

14. towel

e) to pipe your mouth with after

eating

f) to put round babys bottom

g) to keep you warm in bed

h) to blow your nose with

i) to wash up with

j) to dry the dishes with

k) to cover the table before laying it

l) to put hot dinner plates on

m) to clean the floor with

n) to stop people peeping through the

windows at you

Exercise 6. Complete the following sentences with the suitable word or phrase:

bathroom bedrooms dining-room flats

entrance hall first floor front door gate

fruit-trees garage garden landing

ground floor houses kitchen lounge

kitchen garden lawns living-room shrubs

nursery pantry path staircase

reception room storeys

1. Many English families live in , but most English

people live in their own

2. I too have a small house not far from London. My house, like most

ordinary English houses, has two

3. It stands a little back from the road, and in front of it there is a small

4. A leads from the to the

of the house.

5. In front of the house there are neat and

6. At the back of the house there are some and a

37

7. At the side of the house there is a , where I keep

my car.

8. On the downstairs) are the

; one large serving as a

general and as a for

visitors; a ; and a with a

9. A leads from the hall to the

of the

10. On this floor (upstairs) are the , the

and the or childrens

room.


1. What do(nt) you like about the place where you live?

2. What would you like to do to improve your room/flat/house?

3. In your opinion, which is the most important room of a house?

4. Describe the house of your dreams.

5. How do you imagine the house of the future?

GRAMMAR

SUBSTANTIVUL (II)

(THE NOUN)

Substantivul prezint cteva categorii gramaticale specifice: genul (prezentat deja

n UNIT 2), numrul, cazul.

Numrul

Ca i n limba romn, exist numrul singular (care indic un singur

obiect) i numrul plural (care indic mai multe obiecte de acelai fel).

38

n mod obinuit, forma de plural a substantivului const n terminaia s

adugat la forma de singular.

bed beds station stations

map maps forename forenames

war wars student students

Exist, ns, cazuri cnd aceast terminaie determin transformri n

structura substantivului:

substantivele terminate n s, -ss, -z, -zz, -x, -ch, -sh adaug -es :

bus buses box boxes

class classes watch watches

buzz buzzes brush brushes

substantivele terminate n y, dup consoan i schimb terminaia n

-ies la plural; cele terminate n -y dup vocal primesc numai s :

baby babies dar: toy toys

country countries day days

story stories boy boys

unele substantive terminate n f, -fe se transform n ves la plural;

altele nu sufer transformri :

leaf leaves dar: roof roofs

wife wives gulf gulfs

half halves chief chiefs

unele substantive terminate n o se transform n oes la plural; altele

rmn neschimbate:

potato potatoes dar: piano pianos

tomato tomatoes radio radios

hero heroes photo photos

Not: Exist cteva substantive care formeaz numrul plural altfel dect prin

adugarea terminaiei s la forma de singular: man-men, woman-women, child-

children, foot-feet, tooth-teeth, mouse-mice, goose-geese.

De asemenea, exist substantive cu o singur form:

numai pentru singular (se acord cu verbul la singular): information,

advice, furniture, luggage, baggage (pentru referirea la un obiect unic, se

folosete construcia a piece of); knowledge, news, business, money (n limba

39

romn se traduc de obicei prin plural); rice, sand, meat, peace, happiness,

thunder, lightning etc.

Information is useful. (Informaiile sunt utile.)

They gave us a piece of advice. (Ne-au dat un sfat.)

Money is power. (Banii nseamn putere.)

numai pentru plural (se acord cu verbul la plural): measles, mumps,

rickets; braces, shorts, trousers, jeans; glasses, binoculars, scissors, spectacles

(pentru referirea la un obiect unic, se folosete construcia a pair of);

I have bought a new pair of glasses.

(Am cumprat o pereche nou de ochelari.)

Give him those trousers! (D-i pantalonii aceia!)

numai pentru plural (se acord cu verbul la singular): athletics,

economics, gymnastics, mathematics, informatics, politics, therapeutics.

Mathematics is fascinating. (Matematica este fascinant.)

Informatics has become a fashion today.

(Informatica a devenit o mod n ziua de azi.)

Cazul

n limba englez exist patru cazuri:

nominativul este cazul de baz al substantivului, artnd obiectul care

desfoar aciunea exprimat de verb. Este, deci, cazul subiectului i rspunde la

ntrebrile cine?, ce?.

genitivul arat posesiunea, apartenena. Este cazul atributului i

rspunde la ntrebarea al, a, ai, ale cui?. n limba englez, exist dou tipuri de

genitiv:

* sintetic (s) - de obicei, se folosete numai pentru fiine (n cazuri excepionale,

poate aprea i la lucruri); la substantivele care formeaz pluralul prin adugarea

terminaiei s, se adaug numai apostroful.

This is the students book. (Aceasta este cartea studentului)

These are the students books. (Acestea sunt crile studenilor)

* analitic (of) - este general, se folosete pentru fiine i lucruri.

This is the book of the student. (Aceasta este cartea studentului.)

These are the books of the students.

(Acestea sunt crile studenilor.)

This is the cover of the book. (Aceasta este coperta crii.)

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These are the covers of the books. (Acestea sunt coperile crilor.)

Not: Unele substantive pot fi folosite la cazul genitiv fr a mai aprea cel de-al

doilea substantiv - the butchers (= mcelarie), the chemists (= farmacie),

florists (florrie), dentists (stomatologie) -, subnelegndu-se

shop/place/surgery/office.

dativul este cazul complementului indirect i rspunde la ntrebarea

cui?. Se indic prin prezena prepoziiei to sau, uneori, for.

Speak to me, please! (Vorbete-mi, te rog!)

He brought the newspaper to/for me. (Mi-a adus ziarul.)

acuzativul este cazul complementului direct i rspunde la ntrebrile

pe cine?, ce?

I met my brother yesterday. (L-am ntlnit pe fratele meu ieri.)

Read the letter, please! (Citete scrisoarea, te rog!)

Orice substantiv precedat de o prepoziie se afl n cazul acuzativ, cu excepia

prepoziiei to (specific pentru cazul dativ).

Not: Atunci cnd n aceeai propoziie apar un substantiv n cazul dativ i unul n

cazul acuzativ, poziia lor dup verb poate fi inversat; ns, n cazul n care

substantivul n dativ apare imediat dup verb, prepoziia specific (to/for) este

absent.

Mr. Jones brought his wife a bunch of flowers.

= Mr. Jones brought a bunch of flowers to/for his wife.

(Dl. Jones i-a adus soiei sale un buchet de flori.)

The postman has given my neighbour a letter.

= The postman has given a letter to/for my neighbour.

(Potaul i-a dat o scrisoare vecinului meu.)

Exercise 8. Choose the correct form of the verb:

1. Mathematics (is/are) an exact science.

2. Toms trousers (was/were) new.

3. His advice (proves/prove) very useful.

4. The 9 oclock news (was/were) very useful.

5. The information (is/are) not correct.

6. All the evidence (points/point) to him.

7. The furniture in this room (is/are) very old.

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8. My scissors (is/are) in the drawer.

9. Money (does/do not) grow on trees.

10. Measles (is/are) less common now than in the

past.

Exercise 9. Translate the following sentences into Romanian, paying attention to

the genitival forms:

1. She was late because she went to the hairdressers.

2. My composition is almost ready but I still need a few hours work to finish it.

3. We can always find fresh vegetables at the greengrocers.

4. They had a two hours walk in the countryside.

5. Will you buy some bread for me at the bakers next door?

6. Bring me some cigarettes when you come home; the tobacconists is near the

tram stop.

7. Lets go to the grocers I need some sugar.

8. My new suit is not ready yet; it is still at the tailors.

9. Ill have my shoes mended at the shoemakers.

10. Have you read yesterdays newspapers?

Exercise 10. Translate these sentences into English, paying attention to the two

forms of the dative (wherever possible):

1. De ce nu deschizi ua doamnei?

42

2. Profesorul explic studenilor cuvintele noi.

3. I-a spus bun ziua prietenului su i a plecat.

4. Medicul prescrie medicamente pacientului.

5. D-i, te rog, sarea i mutarul.

6. John le scrie o scrisoare prinilor si.

7. Putei s-mi spunei ct e ceasul, v rog ?

8. De ce spui minciuni, nu ar fi mai bine s le spui adevrul ?

9. Trebuie s i cumprm un costum nou.

10. Toi le-au urat fericire tinerilor cstorii.

REMEMBER!

Plural: add -(e)s to the singular form. There are also irregular forms (other than

(e)s).

Nouns that have only singular (agreement with the verb in the singular):

economics, mathematics, news, information, etc., or only plural (agreement with

the verb in the plural): people, police, binoculars, glasses, etc.

Case: Genitive (sg. s/pl. s; of)

Dative (to/for)

CHECK-UP TEST


1. She lost two of her front in an accident.

A. tooth C. teeth

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B. tooths D. teeths

2. I have broken one of my

A. skies C. ski

B. skis D. skys

3. Her ethics faultless.

A. is C. has

B. are D. have

4. Could you tell the time, please?

A. me C. myself

B. I D. to me

5. They have bought the most expensive he could find.

A. furniture C. furnitures

B. furniture D. furniturs

6. No news good news.

A. are C. has

B. is D. is

7. Give all the necessary information!

A. she C. her

B. to she D. to her

8. She bought some lamb chops from the

A. grocer C. butcher

B. grocers D. butchers

9. I saw coming to your house.

A. they C. to them

B. them D. for them

10. There were some unusual before he arrived.

A. phenomenon C. phenomena

B. phenomenons D. phenomens

II. Write a 300-word composition about the most important room of your house.

44

REFERENCES



2. Gleanu-Frnoag, Georgiana, Doina Sachelarie-Lecca, Limba englez n

conversaie, Bucureti: Editura tiinific i Enciclopedic, 1982



Pedagogic, 1972

4. Lord Evans et al., English Course, London: Linguaphone Institute Limited,

1979


International, 1992

7. ODriscoll, James, Britain. The Country and Its People, Oxford: Oxford


45

UNIT 4

Transport (I): On the Road


the text:

Nearly three-quarters of households in Britain have regular use of a car and about

a quarter have more than one car. A possible reason for the British being so

attached to their cars would be the obvious status indicators such as size and

speed. Apart from these, the British system of vehicle registration introduces

another: registration plates (number plates) give a clear indication of the age of

cars there is a different letter of the alphabet for each year.

Another possible reason is the opportunity of privacy. Being in a car is like

taking your castle with you wherever you go. Perhaps that is why the occasional

attempts to persuade people to car pool (to share the use of a car to and from

work) have met with little success.

The privacy factor may also be the reason why British drivers are less

communicative than those of many other countries. They use their horns very

little, are not in the habit of signalling their displeasure at the behaviour of other

road users with their hands and are a little more tolerant of both other drivers and

pedestrians. They are also a little more safety-conscious. Britain has the best road

safety record in Europe. The speed limit on motorways is a little lower than in

most other countries (70 m.p.h. = 112 k.p.h.) and people go over this limit to a

somewhat lesser extent.

Another indication of the car as a private space is that, in spite of its

concern for safety, Britain was one of the last countries in western Europe to

introduce the compulsory wearing of seat belts. This measure was, and still is,

considered an infringement of personal liberty.

The British are not very keen on mopeds or motorcycles, not private

enough for British tastes. Every year twenty times as many new cars as two-

wheeled motor vehicles are registered. Millions of bicycles are used, especially by

younger people, but they are not as common as in other parts of Europe.

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VOCABULARY

quarter = sfert, ptrime

obvious = evident, vdit, clar

registration plate = plac cu numrul mainii

to persuade = a convinge

horn = claxon

to be in the habit (of) = a avea obiceiul (s)

pedestrian = pieton

motorway = osea, autostrad

m.p.h. (miles per hour) = mile pe or

k.p.h. (kilometres per hour) = kilometri pe or

extent = lungime, ntindere, durat, msur

compulsory = obligatoriu

seat belt = centur de siguran

infringement = nclcare, violare

moped = motoret


below:

1. What parts of the street are used by pedestrians? road; pavement; island;

pedestrian/zebra crossing

2. What/Who is traffic directed by? Are policewomen more efficient than

policemen? Why (not)? traffic-lights; traffic policemen/women

3. What are the following for? lamp-posts; bus/tram-stops; road markings/signs;

milestones

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4. What kind of roads are these? In which of them can you find the heaviest

traffic? in town; main streets; side streets; one-way streets; thoroughfares;

avenues; in the country; motorways; lanes; paths

5. Which roads are better for traffic? long short; broad (wide) narrow; two-

lane four-lane; straight winding; paved unpaved; cobbled - asphalted

6. Describe travelling by bus, using the following expressions: to get on/off a bus;

bus-stop; request-stop; to pay the fare; change; ticket; vacant/occupied seat; rush-

hours

Exercise 3. Fill in the sentences below with the correct word:

tyres (foot) brake bodywork choke

boot (sparking) plugs carburettor bumper

accelerator battery clutch gear

dashboard

1. It wont start: either the is flat, or the

are dirty.

2. Its got a nice spacious for your luggage, all-weather

to reduce the risk of skidding in wet weather, and a

showing you everything from the time you have been

travelling to the you should be in at any given moment.

3. Fortunately, the was not damaged when we drove into

the back of me, but the is quite badly bent.

4. The first thing you do for an emergency stop is take your foot off the

and press both feet down on the

and the

5. If you have the out for too long, the

. will be flooded with petrol.

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Exercise 4. Match the following expressions (1-8) with their proper equivalents

(a-h):

1. to drive a coach and horses through

an argument

2. to drive under the influence

3. drive-in backs, cinema or restaurant

4. to be in the driving seat

5. to drive somebody mad/crazy/insane

6. to drive ones message/point home

7. to drive a hard bargain

8. driving force

a) to be in charge or in control of a

situation

b) to make somebody extremely

annoyed

c) to drive after having drunk more

alcohol than legally allowed to

d) to force people to hear ones

message/point

e) to expect a lot in exchange for what

one pays/does

f) to destroy an argument completely

g) the person or thing which has the

greatest effect on what happens

h) a place that one can use/visit while

staying seated in a car



PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN TOWNS AND CITIES

Britain is one of the few countries in Europe where double-decker buses (i.e., with

two floors) are a common sight. Although single-deckers have also been in use

since the 1960s, London still has more than 3,000 double-deckers in operation. In

their original form they were hop-on, hop-off buses that is, there were no

doors, just an opening at the back to the outside. There was a conductor who

walked around collecting fares while the bus was moving. However, these days

most buses, including double-deckers, have separate doors for getting on and off

and no conductor (fares are paid to the driver).

The famous London Underground (also known as the Tube) is feeling

the effects of its age. First opened in 1863, it is now one of the dirties and least

efficient of all such systems in European cities. However, it is still heavily used

49

because it provides excellent connections with the main line train stations and

with the suburbs surrounding the city.

Another symbol of London is the distinctive black taxi (the cabbie).

According to the national stereotype, the owner-drivers of these cars are friendly

people who never stop talking. While it may not always be true, they all have to

demonstrate, in a difficult examination, detailed familiarity (the knowledge)

with Londons streets and buildings before they are given their licence. Normally,

these traditional taxis cannot be hired by phone: you simply have to find one on

the street. But there are also many taxi companies that get most of their business

over the phone. Their taxis are known as minicabs.

However, both taxis and minicabs are expensive and most British people

rarely use them, except when going home late at night, after public transport has

stopped running.

Exercise 6. Which is the difference between the following: road, pavement, bus-

stop, bus station, bus-shelter, motorway, lane, bus, coach, taxi? Consider:

a large motor vehicle in which people are driven from one place to another

a long road vehicle on which people travel

a place, usually marked by a pole with a sign, where a bus stops to let

passengers get on and off

a specially marked trip of a road, sports track or swimming pool that is

used to keep vehicles or competitors separate

a car with a driver whom one pays to be taken somewhere

a path with a hard surface used especially for walking

a place to wait for buses that has a roof and usually sides to prevent people

from getting wet if it rains

a wide road built for fast moving traffic travelling long distances

a long piece of hard ground that people can drive along from one place to

another

a place where buses start and end their journeys

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1. What is your favourite means of transport in a town/city? Why?

2. What are the rush-hours in a large town?

3. What are the (dis)advantages of the underground in the city?

4. Why are cars more necessary nowadays than they used to be?

5. Which are the most common causes of traffic accidents?

GRAMMAR

PRONUMELE

(THE PRONOUN)

Este partea de vorbire care ine locul unui substantiv. Pronumele poate fi

clasificat n funcie de form i coninut.

1. Dup form, pronumele pot fi:

simple: I, you, he, she, which, what, who, that etc.;

compuse: myself, yourself, herself, somebody, anyone, everybody,

nothing, each other, whatever, the same etc.

2. Dup coninut, pronumele pot fi:

personale, care prezint forme diferite, n funcie de persoan i numr,

precum i n funcie de caz (forma de dativ fiind identic cu aceea de acuzativ,

sensul fiind ns diferit):

Nominativ

(cine ?, ce ?)

Dativ (+ to)

(cui ?)

Acuzativ

(pe cine ?, ce ?)

I = eu (to) me = mie, mi me = pe mine, m

you = tu (to) you = ie, i you = pe tine, te

he = el (to) him = lui, i him = pe el, l

she = ea (to) her = ei, i her = pe ea, o

it = el, ea (to) it = lui, ei, i it = pe el, l, pe ea, o

we = noi (to) us = nou, ne us = pe noi, ne

You = voi (to) you = vou, v you = pe noi, ne

they = ei, ele (to) them = lor, le them = pe ei, i, pe ele, le

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Not: n limba englez nu exist pronume de politee. Formele dumneata,

dumneavoastr, sunt exprimate n context prin pronumele personal you, nsoit

de apelativele Madam, Sir, Miss (fr nume) sau Mrs, Mr, Miss(cu nume de

familie).

Pe lng funcia de nlocuitor al unui substantiv care denumete un lucru,

pronumele it poate aprea n construcii impersonale de tipul:

It rains. (Plou.)

It is snowing. (Ninge.)

It is cold. (Este frig.)

It is late. (Este trziu.)

It is important to ... (Este important s ...)

It is not difficult to ... .(Nu este greu s ...)

It does not matter if ... .(Nu conteaz dac ...)

posesive, care nlocuiesc numele posesorului unui obiect (are forme

asemntoare cu adjectivul posesiv, cu deosebirea c pronumele apar independent,

n vreme ce adjectivele nsoesc obligatoriu un substantiv; n limba romn,

pronumele i adjectivul posesiv au traducere identic):

mine = al meu, a mea, ai mei, ale mele

yours = al tu, a ta, ai ti, ale tale (dumneavoastr)

his = al lui, a lui, ai lui, ale lui (pentru persoane)

hers = al ei, a ei, ai ei, ale ei (pentru persoane)

its = al lui / ei, a lui / ei, ai lui / ei, ale lui / ei (pentru lucruri)

ours = al nostru, a noastr, ai notri, ale noastre

yours = al vostru, a voastr, ai votri, ale noastre (dumneavoastr)

theirs = al lor, a lor, ai lor, ale lor.

demonstrative, care indic distana unui obiect fa de un alt obiect sau

identitatea acestuia cu sine nsui (pronumele i adjectivul demonstrativ prezint

forme identice):

this = acesta, aceasta

that = acela, aceea

these = acetia, acestea

those = aceia, acelea

the same = acelai, aceeai, aceiai, aceleai

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relative, care introduc o propoziie relativ (o propoziie care determin

un substantiv din propoziia principal): who = care (pentru persoane); that = care

(pentru fiine i lucruri, cu sens restrictiv); which = care, care dintre (pentru

lucruri i fiine, cu sens selectiv)

The young man who is here was my classmate.

(Tnrul care este aici a fost colegul meu de clas.)

I dont remember what/which is this.

(Nu-mi amintesc ce/care este aceasta.)

interogative, care apar n ntrebri, pentru a nlocui substantivul ateptat

ca rspuns: who = cine (pentru persoane); what = ce (pentru lucruri); which =

care, care dintre (pentru lucruri i fiine, cu sens selectiv).

Who are you? (Cine eti/suntei?)

What have you got there? (Ce ai acolo?)

What/Which do you like more? (Ce/Care i place mai mult?)

Which is the best? (Care este cel mai bun?)

Pronumele relativ i cel interogativ au forme identice cu adjectivele

corespunztoare, cu diferena funcional specific.

Not: Pronumele who este singurul care prezint forme diferite n funcie de caz:

Nominativ - who = cine; care

Genitiv - whose = al, a, ai, ale cui/crui/crei/cror

Dativ - to whom = cui; cruia, creia, crora

Acuzativ - who (m) = pe cine; pe care

reflexive (apar dup verb i au sensul singur, fr a fi ajutat) i de

ntrire (apar dup cuvntul pe care l accentueaz i au sensul chiar, n

persoan):

myself = eu nsumi/nsmi

yourself = tu nsui/nsi

himself = el nsui

herself = ea nsi

itself = el nsui, ea nsi (pentru lucruri)

oneself = el nsui (cu sens impersonal)

ourselves = noi nine/nsene

yourselves = voi niv/nsev

themselves = ei nii, ele nsele/nsei

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nehotrte, care nu ofer nici o indicaie precis asupra obiectului

(prezint forme identice cu adjectivele nehotrte):

some = ceva, ctva, nite - de obicei, apare n propoziii afirmative, dar

poate aprea n ntrebri, atunci cnd se exprim o rugminte, o

dorin sau o ofert.

any = ceva, nite, civa, cteva, unii, unele, vreun, vreo, oarecare apare n

ntrebri sau n propoziii negative (cu negaia not la verb).

no = nici un, nici o, nu - apare n propoziii negative (cu verbul la forma

afirmativ) i este numai adjectiv.

none (no one) = nici unul, nici una - apare n propoziii negative (cu verbul

la forma afirmativ).

Not: Spre deosebire de limba romn, n limba englez nu este posibil

existena a dou negaii n aceeai propoziie: se poate nega fie verbul,

fie subiectul sau obiectul.

I didnt see anybody = I saw nobody. (N-am vzut pe nimeni.)

Some, any i no ajut la formarea urmtoarelor pronume compuse:

someone = cineva, careva

somebody = cineva

something = ceva

anyone = oricare, careva; nimeni

anybody = cineva, oricine; nimeni

anything = ceva, orice; nimic

no one = nici unul/una

nobody = nimeni

nothing = nimic

Alte pronume nehotrte sunt: every = fiecare (cu compuii everyone = toi,

fiecare; everybody = toi, toat lumea; everything = tot, totul); other = alt, alt,

ali, alte; another = un altul, o alta, nc un, nc o; the other = cellalt, cealalt;

both = amndoi, amndou, ambii, ambele; several = civa, cteva; all = tot,

toat, toi, toate; one = un, unul, una, cineva; much = mult, mult; many = muli,

multe; (a) little = puin, puine; (a) few = puini, puine; either = oricare (dintre

dou elemente); neither = niciunul, niciuna (dintre dou elemente).

Exercise 8. Translate into Romanian, paying attention to the use of the pronoun it:

1. In this region it often rains cats and dogs.

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2. It is hard to say if they will come or not.

3. It is generally accepted that he is a great writer.

4. It is all the same to me.

5. It seems that it will rain tomorrow.

6. It is not necessary to take any further steps.

7. It was natural that he should behave like that.

8. It is believed that he will return soon.

9. It is bad manners to eat with your mouth open.

10. In the morning it was all over.

Exercise 9. Translate the following into English, paying attention to the

possessive pronouns:

1. Greeala este a mea.

2. Cartea aceasta nu este a lui, este a ei.

3. Haina aceasta este dumneavoastr?

4. Acest creion rou este al tu?

5. Valizele din vestibul sunt ale lor.

6. Numele lui este Martin, iar al ei este Anne.

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7. Nu tiu unde mi-e stiloul; d-mi-l pe al tu un moment.

8. Amndoi avem pantofi noi, dar ai lui sunt mai scumpi dect ai mei.

9. Nu are niciodat dicionar; mereu l folosete pe al meu.

10. Apartamentul vostru este mai nou dect al lor?

Exercise 10. Supply the compounds of some, any and no in the following

sentences:

1. Has seen my coat?

2. If call, tell him I am busy.

3. May I have pudding, please?

4. Didnt he give you in ex

Engleza I

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Transcript of Engleza I