John Wyndham - Day of the Triffids

John Wyndham's classic science-fiction tale, in which humanity is threatened by giant plants
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0072sxm

This is unabridged version consisting of 17 episodes.

Episode 1
Bill Masen wakes up in hospital to discover that the world he knew will never be the same again. Cult novel read by Roger May.

Of Withered Apples

As a beautiful woman picks its last withered apple, a dying ancient tree is determined to survive. Read by William Hootkins.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007jplz

Gerunds

SIMPLE
The teacher enjoys teaching.


PROGRESSIVE
Mr. Smith is really enjoying teaching his class.

PASSIVE
The students enjoy being taught.

PERFECT
The retired teacher recalled having taught.

PASSIVE + PROGRESSIVE.
The students are enjoying being taught by such an exciting new teacher.

PASSIVE + PERFECT
The older students recalled having been taught that already.


Reference:
http://www.englishpage.com/gerunds/part_3.htm

THE PERFECT INFINITIVE

The perfect infinitive is possible but less usual with claim, expect, hope, promise:
He expects/hopes to have finished by June =
He expects/hopes that he will have finished by June.

Reference:
http://www.english-test.net/forum/ftopic11868.html

causative verbs "let," "make," "have," and "get."

[let + person + verb]
This construction means "to allow someone to do something."
John let me drive his new car.


[make + person + verb]
This construction means "to force someone to do something."
My teacher made me apologize for what I had said.


[have + person + verb]
This construction means "to give someone the responsibility to do something."
Dr. Smith had his nurse take the patient's temperature.


[get + person + to + verb]
This construction usually means "to convince to do something" or "to trick someone into doing something."
Susie got her son to take the medicine even though it tasted terrible.


Get vs. Have
Sometimes "get someone to do something" is interchangeable with "have someone do something," but these expressions do not mean exactly the same thing.


Reference:
http://www.englishpage.com/minitutorials/let.html

• Have

Have + object + verb 3 (past participle) - have something done
Have + object + infinitive -- have someone do something

We use causative when arranging for someone to do something for us
They had their car repaired. (They arranged for someone to repair it)
Compare: They repaired their car. (They did it themselves

We use causative when someone does something to us.
Bill had his money stolen

We can use have someone do something to talk about giving instructions or orders (more common in American English).
I had my assistant type the report.
I'll have my lawyer look into it.


Get is possible instead of have, usually in informal spoken English.
I'm going to get my car fixed tomorrow.


http://www.eslbase.com/grammar/causative

French Language Resources

Top 10 Beginning French Mistakes
http://french.about.com/od/mistakes/a/beginning.htm


French Grammar(Deutsch)
http://www.franzoesisch-lehrbuch.de/grammatik/inhaltsangabe/deutsch_franzoesisch_grammatik_inhaltsverzeichnis.htm

French Grammar
http://www.laits.utexas.edu/tex/

French Grammar Tests Exercises
https://www.sis.gov.uk/careers/roles/language-specialists/test-your-skills/french.html

Italian Language Resources

Italian Grammar(Turkish)
http://www.italyan.com/aitalyancagramer/gramerliindex.asp

Italian Grammar(Deutsch)
http://www.italienisch-lehrbuch.de/grammatik/inhaltsangabe/italienisch_lernen_online_inhaltsverzeichnis.htm

German Language Resources

German Language Exercises Tests
http://www.prolog-berlin.com/en/german-language-course-online-test.htm
http://www.llas.ac.uk/materialsbank/mb100/Subordinating%20Conjunctions.html
http://www.deutsch-lernen.com/learn-german-online/beginners/uebung1_1.php


Common German Beginner Mistakes
http://german.about.com/cs/grammar/a/mistakes5.htm
http://www.vistawide.com/german/common_german_beginner_mistakes.htm

German Grammar(Francaise)
http://www.allemand-online.de/grammaire/contenu/franzoesisch_deutsch_inhaltsverzeichnis.htm

German Grammar(English)
http://www.german-grammar.de/grammar/content/english_german_table_of_content.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/german/lj/

German Grammar(Deutsch)
http://deutsch.lingo4u.de

Starke und gemischte Verben
http://deutsch.lingo4u.de/grammatik/verben/liste

German Prepositions

When going into buildings, “to” translates as “in”. Remember: Use “in” to express to go somewhere Inside.

Also when expressing to go to certain areas or countries, the correct translation of “to” would be "in"


I go to the movies. – Ich gehe ins Kino.
I go to the office. – Ich gehe ins Büro.

I go to Switzerland. – Ich gehe in die Schweiz.
I go to the Alps. – Ich gehe in die Alpen.




Use “Auf” When Going to Institutions

When visiting an institution, “to” mostly translates as “auf”.

“Auf” might be easier to understand when used for climbing a mountain or going on an island, since it literally means “on top of”

I will fly to an island. – Ich werde auf eine Insel fliegen.
I go to the post office. – Ich gehe auf die Post.
I go to the bank. – Ich gehe auf die Bank.
I have to go the town hall. – Ich muss aufs Rathaus.




Difference Between “Zu” and “Nach”

When traveling to different countries and visiting different cities, “to” is translated as “nach”.
Also when going home, German speakers use “nach” to express “to”.

I go to Germany. – Ich gehe nach Deutschland.
I go to Rome. - Ich gehe nach Rom.
I go home. – Ich gehe nach Hause.
BUT: I am at home. – Ich bin zu Hause.



The preposition “zu” is used to express “to” when visiting people or stores, buildings with a recognizable name.

I go to my friend. – Ich gehe zu meinem Freund.
I go to my parents. – Ich gehe zu meinen Eltern.
I go to Walmart. – Ich gehe zu Walmart.



References:
http://josefine-koehn-haskins.suite101.com/how-to-say-go-to-in-german-a175661
http://german.about.com/library/weekly/aa061900a.htm

The Passive Voice in German

ACTIVE/AKTIV
Ich schreibe den Brief.
I'm writing the letter.


PASSIVE/PASSIV
Der Brief wird von mir geschrieben.
The letter is being written by me.


To form the passive, German uses
werden (to become) + the past participle,





Substitutes for the Passive:

"man": This construction uses the active voice but still manages to avoid identifying the subject:

Man kann den Wagen leicht reparieren.
One can repair the car easily.

Man schleppt den Wagen ab.
One tows the car away


"sich lassen": This construction often implies "können:"
Der Wagen lässt sich leicht reparieren.
The car is easy to repair/can be repaired easily.


reflexive: with some verbs, there is an English equivalent, without the reflexive, but usually not:
Wie schreibt sich dieser Name?
How do you spell this name?
Das versteht sich von selbst.
That goes without saying.

"sein" + "zu": This construction implies "können," "müssen," or "sollen," and sometimes is equivalent to "is/are to" + passive
Der Wagen ist leicht zu reparieren.
The car is easy to repair.


References:
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~german/Grammatik/Passive/Passiv.html
http://german.about.com/library/weekly/aa012901a.htm

von vs aus

"Wir kommen aus Madrid." ="We are from Madrid"
indicates that you're from Madrid and therefor spanish.

"Wir kommen von Madrid" = "We're coming from Madrid"
means that you arrived at a new place from Madrid. This version does not indicate nationality but where you come from (geographically)


Ich komme vom Ordnungsamt. (=means you work there or you have just visited the office)

Ich komme aus dem Ordnungsamt (=you left the office/building)


"Von" is used for person or activities.
Ich komme von meiner Oma.
Ich komme vom Gitarrenunterricht/von der Fahrstunde

Poison Farm: A Murderer Unmasked After 60 Years

Poison Farm: A Murderer Unmasked After 60 Years

he true story of a philandering farmer who was poisoned in 1938, leaving police baffled as to the killer's identity. Read by Robert Lindsay
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00g490t

Miss Marple

• Miss Marple - 4.50 From Paddington

The spinster sleuth's friend spies a murder on a passing train, but where is the corpse? Agatha Christie whodunnit with June Whitfield
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007jvgc

• Stephen Sheridan - Murder By the Book

Two elderly librarians decide to emulate Miss Marple when a corpse is discovered in their crime section. Stars Mary Wimbush.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00y95fv

The Teahouse Detective

The York Mystery
A ragged old customer applies his uncanny deductive powers to a bookmaker's murder. Stars Bernard Hepton and Suzanne Burden.


The Metropolitan Line Murder
A journalist seeks help from an enigmatic old customer in a London teahouse. Baroness Orczy dramatisation with Bernard Hepton.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007jmhd

The Dublin Mystery
A dying businessman appears to have settled his will, but revenge wreaks family havoc. Stars Bernard Hepton and Suzanne Burden

The Brighton Mystery
Teahouse dedective is dragged to Brighton to solve the mystery of an ex-husband who blackmails his ex-wife and her current husband.

The Body in the Barge
A River Thames corpse sparks a complex mystery for the astute old teahouse customer. Stars Bernard Hepton and Suzanne Burden.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00cwpvb


The London Mystery
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007jmlx
The canny man in the corner helps Polly, when a gambler accused of murder seems to have the perfect alibi. Stars Bernard Hepton.

The Lost Special

The Lost Special
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's story of the mysterious disappearance of a train en route from Liverpool. Read by David Schofield.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01c8cbn

Thrilling Stories of the Railway

Thrilling Stories of the Railway
Detective stories written by Victor Whitechurch
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00fy3d2

The Affair of the German Dispatch-Box
Edwardian amateur sleuth and railway expert Thorpe Hazell has a daring plan to retrieve a vital document. Read by Benedict Cumberbatch.


Sir Gilbert Murrell's Picture
Thorpe Hazell investigates a disappearing wagon of valuable paintings from a non-stopping train. Read by Benedict Cumberbatch.


The Affair of the Corridor Express
A multi-millionaire's son is snatched from a moving train, so Hazell must track the kidnappers. Read by Benedict Cumberbatch.

The Affair of the Birmingham Bank
Can Edwardian sleuth Thorpe Hazell foil a gold bullion robbery? By Victor Lorenzo Whitechurch, read by Benedict Cumberbatch.


The Stolen Necklace
A passenger begs for Thorpe Hazell's help after her aunt's diamonds are stolen from her luggage. Read by Benedict Cumberbatch.

Arthur Machen - The White People

Exploring the nature of good and evil, and the origin of sin, via a teenager's diary. Read by Ioan Meredith and Louise Collins
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007k30x

Zoran Zivkovic - Alarm Clock on the Night Table

A chain of events forces an elderly woman to confront a tragedy from her past. Read by Anna Massey.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007k2ty

Hell Screen

A mighty medieval Japanese Lord's clash with an arrogant painter sparks tragedy. Ryunosuke Akutagawa's story read by Togo Igawa.
Medieval Japanese painter Yoshihide puts his daughter's life in terrible danger. Ryunosuke Akutagawa's story read by Togo Igawa.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007k2c2

indicativo imperfetto

It expresses the English "used to" and is used to describe actions or conditions that lasted an indefinite time in the past. It's also used to express an habitual action in the past and to describe time, age, and weather in the past.


To describe a past action/fact in its duration (as going on and not completed):


Guardavo la televisione quando c’è stato il terremoto.
I was watching TV when the earthquake struck.



For past actions repeated regularly as a habit:


Prendevamo sempre il cafffè alle 11.
We used to have a coffee at 11 o'clock.