English in Madrid

Source:  Glen Carrie en Unsplash Just because there are few new posts doesn't mean there is nothing to do. You should use the archive to look through old posts. Here are the links to stories from February: 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Remember to use the scroll bar to find previous posts. And don't forget to tell me which posts you have read .

Source:  Dave McDermott en Unsplash The other day while I was explaining the word bribery , the Caso Gürtel  came up in the conversation. Nobody knew why the investigation was given the name Gürtel. Well, Gürtel is the German for Correa. Francisco Correa is alleged to be at the centre of the corruption scandal. There are different ways to say correa in English: a lead (for a dog) a strap (for a watch / handbag) Apparently correa can be like cinturón. We'd say "a belt" though I suppose it's the same as strap. We had corporal punishment when I was at school. If you were badly-behaved , you could get the strap / belt . Read more about the Gurtel Case .   Source: Wikipedia In the UK, police investigations are normally called operations. Read  how the police choose the name  for their operations .    Source: BBC News And scandals that appear in newspapers are referred to as something-gate. The first gate scandal wa...

Source:  Tyler Nix on Unsplash Here is the story (English File Pre-Int) that we heard about in class the other day: How long-lost love letter led to couple marrying after 16 years apart A couple have married after they were reunited when a long-lost love letter sent ten years ago was found unopened behind a fireplace. Steve Smith and Carmen Ruiz-Perez, both 42, walked down the aisle on Friday following a separation of 16 years. The pair fell in love and got engaged in their 20s after Carmen moved to England as a foreign student. But after a year-long relationship the couple drifted apart when she had to move back to France.  A few years later Steve wrote to her in a bid to rekindle their romance - but Carmen's mother put it on the mantlepiece and it slipped down the back of the fireplace.  It remained there unopened for the next decade until the fireplace was removed for renovations.  Carmen - who had remained single and never forgot the love of her lif...

During a discussion about "diet and lifestyle", Juan informed us that a beer after some exercise is better than water. There is no better incentive. So I'm looking forward to jogg ing tomorrow... Source:  Foto de Pixabay Beer after sport 'is good for the body' A beer after playing a game of football, a long run, or a strenuous round of golf can be good for the body, scientists say. In a rare piece of good news for those who like a pint, Spanish researchers say beer can help someone who is dehydrated retain liquid better than water. Prof Manuel Garzon, of Granada University, also claimed the bubbles in beer help to quench the thirst and that its carbohydrate content can help to replace lost calories. Prof Garzon asked a group of students to do strenuous exercise in temperatures of around 40ºC (104ºF). Half were given a pint of beer, while the others received the same volume of water. Prof Garzon, who announced the results at a press conference in Gran...

Source: You Tube (Vassar Drive Music)   Key Words: Cola Super Bowl beautiful) Coca-Cola Super Bowl Commercial Sparks Controversy If you tuned into the Super Bowl Sunday night — or at least the commercials — maybe you caught Coca-Cola's "It's Beautiful" ad . Coca-Cola ad "America the Beautiful" It featured the patriotic tune in a number of different languages and showed cultures from all around the world. The ad even showed a gay family for the first time in Super Bowl commercial history. (Via NBC) In a statement Coke's president of North American brands said, “‘It’s Beautiful’ is exactly what Coca-Cola is all about: celebrating the diversity that makes this country great and the fact that anyone can thrive here and be happy. We hope the ad gets people talking and thinking about what it means to be proud to be American.” (Via Coca-Cola) But as TIME puts it, Coca-Cola’s “'It’s Beautiful' Super Bowl Ad Brings Out Some Ugly...

Source: congerdesign from Pixabay So many students have difficulties with another and other . Nuria asked me if there was a post on it; well there is now. I am always happy to take requests. Consider the following sentences: (a) I'm going to order another bottle of wine. 😍  (b) I'm going to order other bottle of wine. 😡  We generally use another with singular countable nouns. It's like saying one more . My husband wants other   another son . I'd prefer a daughter.  (We already have a son) I have a student who is from Peru and other   another who is from Venezuela. Would you like other   another slice of chocolate cake? We should give him  other   another chance . Another can also have the meaning of  a different one . This pen doesn't work. Do you have other   another one ? I'm on holiday next week so you'll have other   another teacher while I'm away. Let's go to other   another bar . I...