jueves, 26 de octubre de 2017

HISTORY OF HALLOWEEN

Halloween history and customs

  1. Samhain: The origin of Halloween can be traced to this “ancient pagan festival celebrated by Celtic people over 2,000 years ago,” states The World Book Encyclopedia. “The Celts believed that the dead could walk among the living at this time. During Samhain, the living could visit with the dead.” However, the Bible clearly teaches that the dead “are conscious of nothing at all.” (Ecclesiastes 9:5) Thus, they cannot contact the living.
  2. Halloween costumes, candy, and trick or treat: According to the book Halloween—An American Holiday, An American History, some of the Celts wore ghoulish costumes so that wandering spirits would mistake them for one of their own and leave them alone. Others offered sweets to the spirits to appease them. In medieval Europe, the Catholic clergy adopted local pagan customs and had their adherents go from house to house wearing costumes and requesting small gifts. The Bible, on the other hand, does not permit merging false religious practices with the worship of God.2 Corinthians 6:17.
  3. Ghosts, vampires, werewolves, witches, and zombies: These have long been associated with the evil spirit world. (Halloween Trivia) The Bible clearly states that we should oppose wicked spirit forces, not celebrate with them.Ephesians 6:12.
  4. Halloween pumpkins, or jack-o’-lanterns: In medieval Britain, “supplicants moved from door to door asking for food in return for a prayer for the dead,” and they would carry “hollowed-out turnip lanterns, whose candle connoted a soul trapped in purgatory.” (Halloween—From Pagan Ritual to Party Night) Others say that the lanterns were used to ward off evil spirits. During the 1800’s in North America, pumpkins replaced turnips because they were plentiful as well as easy to hollow out and carve. The beliefs behind this custom—the immortality of the soul, purgatory, and prayers for the dead—are not based on the Bible.Ezekiel 18:4.

martes, 16 de mayo de 2017

jueves, 26 de enero de 2017

Spelling Rules -ING

English Grammar Notes


The following is a guide to the correct spelling of –ing forms of verbs and gerunds.
The general rule when changing a verb into its -ING form is just to add -ING to the end of the verb.
InfinitiveING form
to feelfeeling
to gogoing
to workworking
to sleepsleeping
  • She wasn't feeling very well.
  • He is working on a new project.
  • The children are sleeping so be quiet.

Spelling exceptions

The following exceptions exist when spelling words ending in ING:
1). If the verb ends in an E we remove the E and add ING.
InfinitiveING form
to liveliving
to havehaving
to makemaking
to taketaking
  • People are living longer now than they were 100 years ago.
  • We are making a chocolate cake.
  • He was taking his time to get ready.
2). If the verb ends in a consonant + vowel + consonant, we double the final consonant and add ING.
InfinitiveING form
to stopstopping
to sitsitting
to planplanning
to getgetting
to swimswimming
  • The policeman is stopping the traffic.
  • We are planning a surprise party for our teacher.
  • I think I am getting a cold.
3). If a two-syllable verb ends in a consonant + vowel + consonant, we do not double the final consonant when the stress is on the first syllable.
InfinitiveING form
to happenhappening
to enterentering
to offeroffering
to suffersuffering
  • What is happening?
  • They are offering a discount.
  • Many people are suffering from a lack of food and water.
4). But, we do not double the final consonant when the verb ends in W, X or Y or when the final syllable is not emphasized.
InfinitiveING form
to fixfixing
to enjoyenjoying
to snowsnowing
  • He fixing his bike.
  • We are enjoying this great weather.
  • It's snowing outside.
5). If the verb ends in IE we change it to YING.
InfinitiveING form
to lielying
to diedying
to tietying
  • I know you are lying to me!
  • You should water your plant more because I think it is dying.
  • The little boy is tying his shoelaces.
6). If the verb ends in consonant + vowel + L, we normally double the final L and add ING.
Note: In the United States (US) they do not double the L when the accent is on the first syllable.
InfinitiveING form
(UK)
ING form
(US)
to traveltravellingtraveling
to marvelmarvellingmarveling
  • I have been travelling around South America for 6 months.
  • He was marvelling at her beauty.
7). If the verb ends in a stressed vowel + R, we double the final R and add ING.
InfinitiveING form
referreferring
deferdeferring
  • Are you referring to this one or that one?
  • They are thinking of deferring payment of their mortgage.
8). If the verb ends in an unstressed vowel + R, we do not double the final R and add ING.
InfinitiveING form
to offeroffering
to suffersuffering
to whisperwhispering
  • I am offering you a special deal.
  • He is now suffering the consequences of his actions.
  • I wonder what he is whispering in her ear.

miércoles, 21 de diciembre de 2016

What is a Pronoun?

In grammar, a pronoun is defined as a word or phrase that may be substituted for a noun or noun phrase, which once replaced, is known as the pronoun’s antecedent. How is this possible? In a nutshell, it’s because pronouns can do everything that nouns can do. A pronoun can act as a subject, direct object, indirect object, object of the preposition, and more.

The Ramones - Merry Christmas (I Don't Want To Fight Tonight)