Number 15 – SVOMPT (Word Order) / November 2009

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Number 15                                                                                   November  2009

Editorial SVOMPT stands for S – subject, V – verb, O – object, M – manner, P – place, T – time. It is about word order in English, which is extremely important for this language. Only by the place of a noun in a sentence you can distinguish a subject from an object. Confusing the subject with the object can quite change the meaning of the sentence and hence your thoughts. It could cause a variety of ambiguities and complications when communicating. For this reason non-native speakers should fix the English word order by heart and use it automatically in oral and written communication. The abbreviation SVOMPT characterises the word order in affirmative (or declarative) sentences. In interrogative (or question) sentences the word order differs from that and is regulated in compliance with proper rules. The article  Basic word order in English clearly explains the rules of English sentences construction and illustrates them with examples.   Exercises Find below exercises based on the technical texts in Windows 7 , History of Microsoft Windows , Windows Development . Look through the texts again and do exercises. Doing the exercises helps you to fix the word order in affirmative and interrogative English sentences. Last exercise 3 serves for practising quick alignment and comprehension when reading.   Exercise 1  Make sentences putting the given words into a correct order using the text above: has – Microsoft – system – Windows 7 – specifications – published – just – running – minimum – for a  – their –. recommendations – are – for the – editions –  32-bit  – much –  the same as – for premium – version –  of Vista – Requirements –. 32-bit – versions –  the 64-bit –  versions –  have – than the – However, –  requirements – higher –. has –  advisor –  upgrade – company  – The – released an –  recently –  Microsoft –. with – This  – advisor – scans a – compatible – see if  – it is  – Windows 7 – computer to –. Center –  for a – hub –  living–room TV – Media – serves – Windows – home-entertainment – as a –.   Exercise 2  Make questions beginning with the words in bold: Windows 7 can be used on different kinds of personal computers.   Where … ? Windows Vista introduced a large number of new features.   What … ?  (write two questions) The company Microsoft was using a variety of new tracing tools for measuring the performance of the operating system.   What tools … ? A tablet personal computer is equipped with a touch screen instead of a keyboard or a mouse.   What … with? A graphic tablet/screen hybrid enables to operate the computer with a stylus or a digital pen, or a fingertip.   What … ?  (write two questions) A 10-foot Graphical user interface lets users easily read from a display at a distance of 10 feet (approximately 3 m).   What distance … at?    Exercise 3   Match the words in Column A to the expressions in Column B:   Column A   Column B 1 tablet personal computer a application with a 10-foot user interface designed to serve as a home-entertainment hub for a living-room TV 2 pinning b standard Red Green Blue colour space created cooperatively by Hewlett-Packard and Microsoft for use on monitors, printers, and the Internet 3 Windows Media Center c technique used when assembling large or heavy model kits. It involves drilling a hole in two pieces of the model to be joined, and using a “pin” to strengthen the bond when they are glued. 4 sRGB  d a laptop or a slate-shaped mobile computer equipped with a touch screen or a graphic tablet/screen hybrid to operate the computer with a stylus or a digital pen, or a fingertip, instead of a keyboard or a mouse. Vocabulary  English Russian Czech advisor советчик poradce, rádce affirmative sentence утвердительное предложение oznamovací věta application прикладная программа aplikace display дисплей obrazovka, monitor home entertainment hub центр домашних развлечений domácí zábavné centrum interrogative (sentence) вопросительное (предложение) věta tázací n. tázací zájmeno/příslovce performance of the operating system производительность операционной системы výkonnost operačního systému ”pin” крепить ”шпилькой” ”sešpendlit” printer принтер, печатающее устройство tiskárna scan a computer просматривать, изучать компьютер prohledávat (podrobně, pečlivě) slate shaped mobile computer в виде шиферной плиты přenosný počítač ve tvaru břidlicové tabulky stylus игла звукоснимателя hrot (snímací) tablet personal computer лэптоп, небольшой портативный компьютер c сенсорным экраном laptop,přenosný počítač s obrazovkou ovládanou dotykem touch screen сенсорный экран obrazovka ovládaná dotykem upgrade модернизация, апгрейд modernizace, zlepšení/ vylepšení   PS:   Find keys to the exercise at  Keys to exercises on this blog    How good is your English?  Find out in just 20 minutes! Try English Online Quiz   Take the EF Standardized English Test (EFSET)!  After taking the test, you will know: Your overall English language skill level Your level in Grammar, Listening and Reading The recommended learning plan based on your skill level Englishtown.com/free