INTRODUCTORY “IT”

Before we go futher, I will show you some lyrics of song that uses introductory “it” J 

It was enchanting to meet you ~ Enchanted by Taylor Swift

It’s time to face the music, I’m no longer your muse ~ The one that got away by Katy Perry

Every night it’s all the same ~ Something ‘bout love by David Archuleta

Keeping it inside, it’s killing me ~ Inconsolable by BSB

Let’s go to the materials :)

The Place of “it”

#1 When the subject is an infinitive phrase, the sentence often begins with it.Instead of saying ‘To find fault with others is easy’, we say, ‘It is easy to find fault with others’. More examples are given below.

§  It is easy to learn English. (More natural than ‘To learn English is easy’.)

§  It was not easy to understand his motive.

§  It may be advisable to consult a specialist.

§  It could be dangerous to drive so fast.

§  It was pleasant to sit on the beach.

However, when we want to emphasize the infinitive phrase, it may be put at the beginning especially if it is short.

§  To err is human.

§  To withdraw now will be sheer folly.

#2 When the subject is a phrase that includes a gerund, it is used as a provisional subject to begin the sentence. Instead of saying ‘Your trying to deceive us is no good’, we may say ‘It is no good your trying to deceive us’.

§  Will it be any good my talking to him about it?

§  It is no use arguing with him.

§  It won’t be much good complaining to the officer about it.

(Note: the gerund can be changed into the infinitive)

#3 When the subject is a clause, the sentence usually begins with it. Instead of saying ‘That she was once a famous artist is true’, we may say, ‘It is true that she was once a famous artist’.

§  It does not matter whether he comes or not. (= Whether he comes or not does not matter.)

§  It is doubtful whether he can pay the dues. (= Whether he can pay the dues is doubtful.)

§  It cannot be denied that the doctors did their best to save his life. (= That the doctors did their best to save his life cannot be denied.)

Uses of “it”

#1 Introductory it with seem, appear and look

Introductory it is also used with seem, appear and look when the subject is an infinitive phrase, a phrase with a gerund in it or a clause.

It looked doubtful whether she would come
It seemed strange that she should behave like that.
It seems possible that she may quit the job.
It appeared unwise to offend him.
It does not seem much good going on with the work.

#2 Introductory it as an object

It is sometimes used as the object of the verbs think, feel, deem, count, consider etc.

Don’t you think it dangerous to drive so carelessly?
I consider it a privilege to have this opportunity of welcoming you.
I think it odd that she doesn’t write to me these days.
I think it a pity that she could not win.
We think it improper that he should be so dictatorial.
He made it clear what he wanted.
I find it difficult to talk to him.

#3 Introductory it in questions

Who was it that broke the window?
It is Peter who broke the window.
Why was it that he stole the bread?
It was because he was poor that he stole the bread.
When was it that the manager came?
It was at 10 am that the manager came.

DESCRIPTIVE TEXT

Have you ever tell something in details? And have you ever tell your favorite thing to your friend?? If the answer is yes, truly you describe that using a kind of text named “descriptive text”

Here we go!!!!

®      Descriptive text is a text which say what a person or a thing is like.

®      Its purpose is to describe and reveal a particular person, place, or thing.

®      In spoken form, we sometimes use some fillera, such as: you know, er…, um…, etc.


The Generic Structure of Descriptive Text

1. Identification; identifying the phenomenon to be described.
2. Description; give the information of particular thing, person, place being discussed

®      Grammatical features of descriptive text :

·       Who? What?

·       Using Linking verb and Simple Present Tense

·       Epithet: adjective or adjective phrase

·       Attributive (the)

·       Use of attributive and identifying process

·       Focus on specific participants

·       Frequent use of epithets and classifier in nominal groups

Here.. I give you one example of descriptive text J

My Toy Clown

On one corner of my dresser sits a smiling toy clown on a tiny unicycle--a gift I received last Christmas from a close friend. (identification)

The clown's short yellow hair, made of yarn, covers its ears but is parted above the eyes. The blue eyes are outlined in black with thin, dark lashes flowing from the brows. It has cherry-red cheeks, nose, and lips, and its broad grin disappears into the wide, white ruffle around its neck. The clown wears a fluffy, two-tone nylon costume. The left side of the outfit is light blue, and the right side is red. The two colors merge in a dark line that runs down the center of the small outfit. Surrounding its ankles and disguising its long black shoes are big pink bows. The white spokes on the wheels of the unicycle gather in the center and expand to the black tire so that the wheel somewhat resembles the inner half of a grapefruit. The clown and unicycle together stand about a foot high. As a cherished gift from my good friend Tran, this colorful figure greets me with a smile every time I enter my room. (description)

Taken from : http://magazineforum.blogspot.com/2010/09/kumpulan-contoh-descriptive-text-bahasa.html

DIRECT AND INDIRECT SPEECH

Okay guys, In Indonesian Language Lesson you have studied about “direct and indirect speech”. And I’m sure you can understand that.

Noooo! I don't mean like that! 

I mean 

®    Direct Speech refers to reproducing another person’s exact words or saying exactly what someone has said (sometimes called quoted speech).

®    Direct speech is showed by quotation marks (“….”) and it should be word for word.

®    Direct speech is divided into two kinds

-      Reporting verb/reporting sentence : kata kerja yang mnelaporkan

-      Reported words/reported speech : kata-kata yang dilaporkan

®    In making Direct Speech you should pay attention to the things below :

Note !

-      Reporting verb and reported words are apart with comma (,)

-      Reporting words is written with quotation marks (“”)

-      Reporting verb can be at first sentence or last sentence

®    Indirect speech  (sometimes called reported speech) refers to reproducing the idea of another person’s words that doesn’t use quotation marks to enclose what the person said and it doesn’t have to be word for word.

®    The tense usually changes when reporting speech. This is because we are usually talking about a time in the past and obviously the person who spoke originally spoke in the past.

®    ®    Time signal in indirect speech

Direct speech	Indirect speech
Now Today/tonight Yesterday Tomorrow Last week Next week Ago	Then That day/that night The day before/the previous day The next/following day The previous week The following week/the week after Before

®    Pronouns

Direct speech	Indirect speech
This/these Here Pronouns	That/those There They change according to the context

®    Sometimes we need to report someone’s questions. The reported question are introduced with the verb ask, inquire, wonder, want to know, etc.

Type	Form	Examples
Yes-No questions	Ask                    +  if/whether  +  subject  +  verb Wonder etc.	“Do you speak English?” - He wondered if I spoke English.
Wh-questions	Ask                    +  question word + subject +  verb Wonder etc.	“What are you watching?” - She asked what I am watching.

®    There are 3 kinds of indirect speech :

1. Imperrative (command/request)

2. interrogative (question)

3. Declarative (statement)

®    Example :
1. Imperrative (command / request)
Direct : Mrs. Rika said to Dina, "Don't worry about it."
Indirect : Mrs. Rika told Dina not to worry about it.

2. Interrogative (question)
Direct : Risa asked to Nico, "Are you a journalist?"
Indirect : Risa asked if / whether He was journalist.

3. Declarative (statement)
Direct : Mr. Dion said, "I worked hard yesterday."
Indirect : Mr. Dion said that he worked hard the day before

®    In command sentences, direct speech can changed to indirect speech with change "Said" to be "Ordered", "Told", and "Forbade".

Example :
1. Direct : Hamid said, "Open the door!"
Indirect : Hamid ordered to open the door.

2. Direct : Hamid said, "Dul, come here!"
Indirect : Hamid told Dul to come there.

3. Direct : Hamid said to Andi, "Do not disturb me!"
Indirect : Hamid forbade Andi to disturb him.

MODALS IN THE PAST FORM

Modals in the Past form dalam bahasa Indonesia adalah kata bantu pengandaian dalam bentuk lampau.

Modals
present	Past
can	could
will	would
shall	should
may	might

1. Could + Verb base

Ø  to offer suggestions or possibilities        

 Example:       Patrick               :  Oh, no! I left my shorts.

                    Spongebob          : Don’t worry, Patrick. You could borrow my shorts.

                                

Ø  to indicate that the ability existed in the past but doesn’t exist now     

 Example:     Tasya               : Ras, can you climb the durian tree?

                   Rasya               : Well… I could climb durian tree when I was so young.

     But I think I’m   too heavy to climb it.

Ø  to express polite requests      

Example:                   Could I borrow your pencil (please)?

                                Could you lend me your jacket now?

                                Could you please close the door?

                                Could you pass the salt?

2. Would + Verb base

Ø  for an action that was repeated regularly in the past        

Example:  - When I was a child, I would visit my grandparents every weekend.

-      On Sundays, when I was a child, we would all get up early and go fishing.

Ø  Insert rather into the pattern and use this expression to express preferences

Example:        

Justin    :  What would you rather do in the weekend, go to the party or stay home?

Eminem :  I would rather go to the party than stay home.

        

Demi           :  Which country would you rather visit?

Selena         :  I would rather visit Italia than Somalia.

Ø  to express polite requests     

Example:        Taylor                    :  Would you mind cycling with me, Kala?

                    Jennifer        :  No, not at all. It would be nice.

                                

Mikola           : Would you please pass the helmet, Bella?

Bella             :  No problem.

3. Should + Verb base

Ø  to give definite advice (advisability)      

Example:        

Bunda  :  Putri, you should study tonight. You will have English test tomorrow,

             Won’t you?

Putri   :    I will, Bunda.

Debby        :    You should paint your door, Bobby. It looks terrible.

Bobby        :    Yes, I know I should.

Ø  to express the subject’s obligation or duty

Example:     You should practice for more than an hour.

        They shouldn’t allow parking here; the street is too narrow.

        Application should be sent before March 25^th.

4. Might + Verb base

Ø  to tell possibilities   

Example:        David                :   Where is Deddy?

                    Copperfield        :   He might be in the studio with Kalina.

Ø  to express polite requests      

Example:        Tian                :   Might I borrow your coat?

                     Ringgo           :   I’m afraid not. It has been brought by Donny for weeks and I don’t know when he’ll return it.