Academic

Writing
Relative
Pronouns
 What are Relative Pronouns?
A relative Pronoun is a word that connects two clauses. One of these
sentences depends on the other to have meaning.

Ex.:
Venom is the alien who
clings on to Eddie Brock.

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Carlos Sidarta da Silva
 What are Relative Pronouns?
The most used relative pronouns are:

• Who (people – subject)

The woman who came to the door left flowers for you.
• Whose (people’s possessions)
He’s the guy whose car exploded.
• Whom (people – object)
I am not sure whom this book belongs to.
• Which (specific animal or thing)
Interpretative dance, which I find a bit disconcerting, is all the rage.
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Carlos Sidarta da Silva
 What are Relative Pronouns?
The most used relative pronouns are:

• What (nonliving things)

Is this what you were talking about?
• Where (place)
Jill has just been to Sweden, where her daughter lives.
• When (time)
She remembered the day when they met.
• That (basically anything)
She finally visited the coffee shop that had such great reviews.
Academic Writing Let’s practice!
Carlos Sidarta da Silva https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSegnYa01hTIZv_KFX4htluK5kAqg1_t9RQ3KdtqlqrZWzLe6w/viewform?usp=sf_link
 References

MURPHY, Raymond. English grammar in use: reference and practice book for intermediate students. 3.
ed. Cambridge [Reino Unido]: Cambridge Universtity Press, 1995. 307 p ISBN 0521436818.
https://grammar.yourdictionary.com/parts-of-speech/pronouns/relative-pronoun.html
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/relative-pronouns/
https://ielts.com.au/australia/prepare/article-grammar-101-who-vs-whom#grammar-quiz-answer-key

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Carlos Sidarta da Silva
Articles
 What are articles?
Articles are a type of determiners and they go before a noun.

What?!
Ok, let’s simplify.
Articles ‘a’/’an’ mean one!
They are indefinite articles and can only be used with things you can
count, and you have only one.
Now, ‘the’ is a definite article, so we use it to identify specific things.
We usually use ‘the’ when the speaker and the listener know what you
are talking about.
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Carlos Sidarta da Silva
 Is it that simple?
Technically, yes. Actually, no…
Let’s start comparing some examples:

Have you been The speaker is not asking about any one specific ice rink but is asking whether
to an ice rink? they have been to any ice rink (an doesn’t refer to a specific ice rink)

Have you been The speaker and listener know the ice rink which is being referred to (e.g., the
to the ice rink? one in their town/the local one). The makes the noun ice rink specific

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Carlos Sidarta da Silva
 Compare

Not specific Specific (‘the one you and I know’)

Would you like an apple? Would you like to try the apple pie?
Do you have a cat? Have you seen the cat?

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Carlos Sidarta da Silva
 What is the difference
between a and an?
We use a before a consonant sound.
Therefore, we use an before a vowel sound.

WARNING!
Some words that begin with a
Some words that begin with a
vowel letter in writing have a
consonant letter in writing
consonant sound:
have a vowel sound:
• a united group
• an hour
• a university
• an MP3 player
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• a one-year-old child
Carlos Sidarta da Silva
 And how about the?
The use of the can be a little tricky…

For example:
NEVER use the with names, e.g., Paulo, Ana, Brazil…

However…
We use the with mountain ranges and some mountains (the Alps),
groups of islands (the West Indies), rivers (the Danube), deserts (the
Gobi Desert), seas (the Black Sea), geographical regions or habitats (the
Amazon rainforest), motorways (the M42), the names of some countries
(the United States of America).
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Carlos Sidarta da Silva
 The uses of the?
Inventions, Musical Instruments and Cultural Institutions
When we talk in general about inventions, musical instruments or
cultural institutions (such as the cinema, the theatre, the circus, the
opera, the ballet), we often use the:

The computer must be the greatest invention ever.

(The computer as an invention in general, not a specific computer)

The violin sounds different to the viola.

I love a night at the opera.

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Carlos Sidarta da Silva
 The uses of the?
The things that are universally known
(the sun, the stars, the moon, the earth, the planet)

The with everyday things

I don’t buy the newspaper these days. It’s free on the Internet.
(newspapers in general)
They always take the train. (trains in general)

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Carlos Sidarta da Silva
 The uses of the?

The with groups within society

I think the rich should pay more tax and that the poor shouldn’t pay any.

The with dates

Speaking: ‘I’ll see you on the twenty fourth of May.’
Writing: I’ll see you on 24th May.

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Carlos Sidarta da Silva
 The uses of the?
The with go to, be at, be in hospital, school, prison

Compare
without the with the

She didn’t want to be in hospital but she She didn’t want to be in the hospital … (in
was too ill to go home. (in hospital means the hospital means being in the building)
being there as a patient)

When I was at school, we didn’t have When I was at the school … (at the
computers. (at school means being there school means being in the building)
as a student)

Academic Writing Let’s practice!

Carlos Sidarta da Silva https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScpLKfHTsyawI9yQorpSnSw8FzAyyiy3ioe4crN4SYspeMSng/viewform?usp=sf_link
 References

MURPHY, Raymond. English grammar in use: reference and practice book for intermediate students. 3.
ed. Cambridge [Reino Unido]: Cambridge Universtity Press, 1995. 307 p ISBN 0521436818.
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/a-an-and-the?q=articles
https://www.englishpage.com/articles/index.htm
https://www.verbling.com/articles/post/how-to-use-articles-in-english-advanced-

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Carlos Sidarta da Silva
Prepositions
 Prepositions

Prepositions
A preposition is a word that links a noun, pronoun, or
noun phrase to some other part of the sentence.

It can be used to show direction, location, time or to

introduce an object.
 Prepositions

Prepositions
They should be followed by a noun or
pronoun, which are called objects.
That’s why we should use object pronouns
after prepositions.
•This is from my wife and me.
•That’s between him and her.
•Mary gave it to them.
 Prepositions

Prepositions

That is also why when we need to use a verb after a preposition,

it should be in the gerund.

PS: Talking about verbs, don’t you like phrasal verbs? Those are verbs that when
combined with a preposition give you a completely different meaning.
 Prepositions

Prepositions
So, avoid ending sentences in prepositions!
(unless it’s an expression, and you need it to keep the meaning… e.g., “I turned the TV on”)

It’s also important to pair prepositions properly.

•George would love to attend the party.
•You’re capable of anything you set your mind to.
•Shelly’s been preoccupied with work lately.
•The teacher is concerned by Janette’s consistent tardiness.
•Employees are prohibited from smoking on company property.
 Prepositions

Basic Prepositions Funnel

In

On

At
 Prepositions

In

Used to indicate a shape, color, or size:

• This painting is mostly in blue.
• The students stood in a circle.
• This jacket comes in four different sizes.

In
 Prepositions

In

Used to express while doing something:

• In preparing for the final report, we revised the tone
three times.
• A catch phrase needs to be impressive in marketing a
product.

In
 Prepositions

In

Used to indicate a belief, opinion, interest, or

feeling:
• I believe in the next life.
• We are not interested in gambling.

In
 Prepositions

In

Don’t confuse “in” and “into”.

•I swam in the lake. (Indicating location)
•I walked into the pub. (Expressing motion)
•Look in the cupboard. (Indicating location)
•She drove into the city. (Expressing motion)

In
 Prepositions

In
Used for unspecific times during a day, month,
season, year:
• She always reads newspapers in the morning.
• In the summer, we have a rainy season for three
weeks.
• The new semester will start in March.

In
 Prepositions

In

Used to indicate a location or place:

• She looked me directly in the eyes.
• I am currently staying in a hotel.
• My hometown is Los Angeles, which is in California.

In
 Prepositions

On

Used to express a surface of something:

• I put an egg on the kitchen table.
• The paper is on my desk.
• The book is on the table

On
 Prepositions

On
Used to specify days and dates:
• The garbage truck comes on Wednesdays.
• I was born on the 14th day of June in 1988.

On
 Prepositions

On
Used to indicate a device or machine, such as a
phone or computer:
• He is on the phone right now.
• She has been on the computer since this morning.
• My favorite movie will be on TV tonight.

On
 Prepositions

On
Used to indicate a part of the body:
• The stick hit me on my shoulder.
• He kissed me on my cheek.
• I wear a ring on my finger.

On
 Prepositions

On

Used to indicate the state of something:

• Everything in this store is on sale.
• The building is on fire.

On
 Prepositions

At

Used to point out specific time:

• I will meet you at 12 p.m.
• The bus will stop here at 5:45 p.m.

At
 Prepositions

At
Used to indicate a place:
• There is a party at the club house.
• There were hundreds of people at the park.
• We saw a baseball game at the stadium.

At
 Prepositions

At
Used to indicate an email address:
• Please email me at abc@defg.com.

Used to indicate an activity:

• He laughed at my acting.
• I am good at drawing a portrait.
At
 Prepositions

Quiz
Choose a correct preposition in the sentence.
1. I want to lose 5 kilogram on in atone month.

2. Could you get me this pants on in ata larger size?

3. She seems to be interested on in atPsychology.

4. I will come to pick you up on in at 2 pm tomorrow.

5. This class will be held on in atMondays.

Let’s practice!
Quiz https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfl-GmlU1VEKrvhCOggIhCOxBzfFgJkmyjO2luJoovbKbet5w/viewform?usp=sf_link
 Prepositions

Referrences
MURPHY, Raymond. English grammar in use: reference and practice book for intermediate students. 3. ed.
Cambridge [Reino Unido]: Cambridge Universtity Press, 1995. 307 p ISBN 0521436818.
https://grammar.yourdictionary.com/parts-of-speech/prepositions/rules-for-prepositions.html
https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/grammar/intermediate-to-upper-intermediate/verbs-and-prepositions
https://www.englishclub.com/grammar/prepositions-rules.htm
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/prepositions?q=Prepositions