stg-VA

Contextual reference words

Contextual References are words which substitute other words (to avoid using the same word
over and over). They refer back to words that have been used. Also, they may refer forward to
ideas that will be stated.

For example:

A computer, like any other machine, is used because it does certain job better and more
efficiently than humans.

In this example it is used to avoid repeating the word computer again.

Most of the time, pronouns, nouns and clauses are used as contextual references. Let's analyze
when can we use each of them.

Personal pronouns

Look at this example:

This is Jane. She is Mark's wife. He loves her.

The words in boldface are called subject personal pronouns. They are the subjects ofthe verb. It
means that they represent a person or a thing.

ingula plural

You

You
They

She

It
-We use he or she to refer to people in the singular form.
Examples:

She is drinking a cup of tea.

He is playing video games.

-We use it for singular things and most animals.

Example:
Look at this cow. It is eating grass.
Exceptioñs:

o If the family is a family pet, you can use he or she.

Example:
A: where is Toby?

B: He is in the garden.

o Ships are female.

Example:
The Titanic was a British ship. She sank in 1912.

o We also use it to identify somebody.

Example:
A: Who is that?

B: It is Johnny Deep o We use it to describe time, weather,

temperature and distance.
Examples:
It is raining.
It its fifty miles to London.
t is four o'clock.
It is 300C outside.

o We use it to make a general comment or remark.

Example:
It is terrible. My sister is too ill to go to Japan.

-You can be used both for singular or plural. You have to look at the context.

Examples:
You are the most amazing person I have ever met.
You have been my friends since I was at the
university.

-We and they are used in plural form.

Examples:

We went to watch a movie together.

They like to visit Ometepe island on summers.
 Personal pronouns can be also divided into object personal pronouns.

plural
ingular
You

You
Them
Him

Her

It
We use object personal pronouns in three situations:

o As a direct object:
Examples:
Jane likes him.

Mark saw us in Chinandega today.

o As an indirect object:
Examples:
David gave me a present.
She is telling them a joke.

o As an object of the preposition:

Mark talked to her this morning.
I am waiting for you.
Now, let's practice. Complete the sentences using the corresponding personal pronoun.

1. Look at that blue dress. is beautiful.

2. My sister is coming to see me tonight. will be at 7:00 0'clock.
3. Jane's parents can't come to the party. are in New York.
4. We are going to the cinema. Do you want to come with
5. This is Mark's cellphone number. Call if you need help.
6. The neighbors are making a lot of noise. I am going to ask to stop.
Possessive pronouns and possessive adjectives:

Possessive Possessive
Pronouns Adjectives
 o Possessive pronouns indicate possession: mine
Example:
yours
This book is yours.
ours
It is a pronoun when it is replacing a noun.
theirs

o Possessive adjectives show ownership: his

Example:

This is your book. its

It is describing something about the book, so it is an
adjective. Do not forget that we out an adjective
before a noun.

Relative pronouns
They give extra information:

Examples

1. A programming language refers to high-level programming languages which have a

unique set of keywords and a special syntax for organizing program instructions.
2. The program used to manage and control the hardware components and which allow
interaction between the hardware and the other types of software is what is technically
called system software.

Deleted nouns:
They are used to leave out the nouns which have already been mentioned.

Examples:
1. Often, the most obvious outward symptom of a malware infection is that the computer
becomes unstable. However, the worst symptoms of malwares are often the ones
that you do not see.
2. Some crashes produce error messages, while others may cause a program or the entire
system to hang or freeze.
3. Web designers and web developers are usually people who have a great interest in
computers and possess knowledge about programming languages. Nevertheless, there
are certain different between these professionals.
Specific words:

We use specific words that give specific meanings.

Examples:
1. Dr. Lee's project got ten thousand dollars on grant money. Prof. Green's received a
similar amount.
2. The web designer who has both a creative eye and technical computer knowledge uses
these attributes to build or redesign websites.

Pro clause:

We begin a sentence with 'that, it, this, or which' to refer to the idea in the previous sentence.

Example:
Technology has been developed increasingly, which makes our lives more convenient.

Sequence of two items: words thåt show the order of situations and events

Example:
Gerry Nichol and Bob Smith were at the conference. The former gave an outstanding
demonstration of his new theory. The latter, though, failed at convincing the audience about his
latest results.
Computer engineering

Practice class

Strategies for getting the meaning of unknown words

Activity l:
Video: Applications of computer

Watch the video and answer the following questions:

1. Which are the fields given in the video where you can find computers? Give one
example for each field.
 2. When did you last use a computer?

ll. Divide the examples given in the video if there is the same or if there is not according to
the context in our country.

There is There is not

Alarm clock Metro station

Ill. Write the meaning of the words according to the context.

1. Book

2. Forecast
3. Withdraw

Activity Il:
Circle the meaning of the words in boldface.

1. The rock singer was very popular. A crowd was waiting at the park to listen to her songs.
'Crowd' means
a. a lot of people
b. few

2. I helped my friend in math. He was very grateful. He thanked me again and again. A
grateful person is
a. appreciative of someone's favor.
b. indifferent to

3. He ate large amounts of food, so he got very fat. 'Large amounts offood' is
a. a little food.
b. a lot of
 4. They bothered me all the time. They had no consideration for my privacy or my need to
rest. 'To have consideration' means
a. not to care about other people's feelings.
b. to care

5. "Excuse me," said the girl, "l thought you were someone else." She was very
embarrassed. When you are embarrassed you are
a. proud
b. uncomfortable
c. satisfied.

lt. Fill in the gaps with the correct word.

1. Did you know that Chrissie got (embarrassed / pregnant) on holiday

in Ibiza?
2. The (signature / subject) I hate most is Mathematics.
3. Begonia is a very (kind / sympathetic) person.
4. Keep (removing / stirring) the soup the whole time.
5. I couldn't agree more. That's a very (sensible / sensitive) idea.
6. The film The Quiet American was a box-office (exit / success).
7. How many (idioms / languages) can you speak?
8. (Actually / Nowadays) I'm living with my parents again.
9. The poor live in the (slums / suburbs).
10. The police came to my (assistance / attendance).
11. I've got (a cold / constipation). Pass me a tissue, please.
12. I was only living with my parents(eventually / temporarily).

13. The government have (inverted / invested) a lot of money in the new
scheme.
14. Do not(invert / invest) this package.

15. All my immediate family live in England but I have a lot of(parents / relatives) in Canada.
16. Myis from 8 am to 5 pm but it only takes me twenty
minutes to get to the office. (journey / working day)

Activity Ill:
Question: About how much time do you spend on-line every day?

Complete the statements with the words on the table.

Attachment Blog Delete Document Download e-book e-mail File
address
In-box Keyboard Laptop Link On-line Password Sign in Reload

1. I can send you an e-mail message if you tell me your

2. If you click on that it will take you to a new website.

3. I sent you a message this morning. Did you check your
4. How many hours a day are you
5. I brought mycomputer at the university.

6. How do you upload andfiles?

7. Be careful when you decide to open

athat you download. It may have a virus.
8. I often write about my travel experiences in my own personal

9. You can any computer document or an e-mail you do not want to

keep.
10. Oh no! I have just spilled my coffee on my
computerMy mom will be angry.
11. I almost never buy books on the bookstore anymore. I usually reads.

12. You canto your e-mail account with your username and password.

13. Our teacher sent us an e-mail with an attachment called *homework doc'- doc means

14. Myis a secret. I only know it.

15. I took a photo to our university yesterday and sent it to you as a