GENERAL INFORMATION: DO

Be careful to answer fully the question(s) from the pen friend. Remember that it is an informal letter, so use informal language. Use confident and natural language. Link the sentences coherently. Use the article correctly. Use a range of structures this is not elementary le!el. Use good !ocabulary for the same reason. Use correct punctuation. "lose and sign off correctly.

DONT
#rite more than $%& words. #rite less than '& words. (ake basic grammatical mistakes. (ake mistakes with the tenses. (ake spelling mistakes. )igress from the sub*ect. +n!ent or guess words.

15 marks are awarded for the "omposition

,o obtain full marks your composition should be of the correct length. all the content elements (up to .) are co!ered without digression and with some elaboration. all the content elements are organised coherently. grammatical accuracy so that the composition reads well. ha!e good punctuation the composition has been appropriately closed and signed off. confident and ambitious use of /0, language. wide range of structures and !ocabulary within the task set. be informal with contractions. contain coherent linking of sentences using simple cohesi!e de!ices. ha!e only minor errors, due to ambition, but do not impede communication.

,o obtain a low mark like out of $& language is simplistic2limited2repetiti!e inadequate range of structures and !ocabulary some incoherence3 erratic punctuation numerous errors which sometimes impede communication requires considerable effort by the reader

4eneral 5d!ice for the "omposition.

Before you start your composition it is a good idea to$. 6. .. 8. &. )efine the task (how many questions do you ha!e to answer gi!e them equal importance). 7ote down your ideas. /ut them in order. #rite. "heck.

"lose the letter appropriately with one of the followingLooking forward to + 9ing e.g. Looking forward to Best wishes, /lease write back soon, :ee you soon. Lo!e,

getting your letter meeting you soon hearing from you

4eneral 5d!ice for the Language.

Language used should be reasonably ambitious. replace !erbs like to go, to walk, to look, to see, to say etc. with more ambitious !erbs, for e;ample, to stroll, to stride, to ga<e, to grumble. combine two ad*ecti!es, for e;ample, long, curly hair3 fascinating, 4othic cathedral. use informal ad!erbs for cohesion for e;ample, anyway, in any case, so, e!en if, whereas, what=s more, by the way, in fact 99 use relati!e pronouns to make more comple; sentences- the car that + hired broke down after & km.3 the stairs which led to the cellar were slippery. include con*unctions like if, but, or- the party was interesting, but it went on for a long time. try to include a couple of phrasal !erbs (no more than two)- set off, run into, come across, break down. find one (not more than one) idiomatic e;pression- it was raining cats and dogs3 we were o!er the moon3 e!ery cloud has a sil!er lining.

COMMON MISTAKES IN COMPOSITION WRITING

,he following is *ust a selection of mistakes made by /0, students in this >aculty recently. #ithout any special order of priority. #ell?known place names should be translated and not left in +talian e.g. London, >lorence, the ,re!i >ountain, the "olosseum. )o not write capital letters in the middle of a sentence without reason. +t is almost always gi!en as a mistake e.g. @+ don=t know why Ahe was so angry with me. Remember to punctuate your letter correctly. ,he suffi; f l should ne!er be full e.g. wonderfull, beautifull, but wonderful and beautiful. Bnly @full= has the double l. @Beautiful= is used too often and often in the wrong conte;t. ,ry to use a different ad*ecti!e. ,he !erb @to en!"#= can=t be used as follows- @+ en*oyed so much= it must be followed by a refle;i!e pronoun or a direct ob*ect e.g. + en*oyed myself so much3 + en*oyed the meal. ,o mee$2to %n"& are often confused. ,o meet is used when we encounter somebody for the first time. + met my boyfriend in :ardinia. 7ot + knew my boyfriend in :ardinia . #e use to get to know somebody, when we mean the procedure of making friends. #hen we like a person we do not say he2she is @sympathetic= this word has another meaning say a @pleasan$= person. Pe's"n2pe"ple. Usually we do not use the plural @persons= it is better to use $ person, 6 people. S"ns2c()l*'en. Bne child, 6 children. Aa!e you got childrenC 7ot ha!e you got sonsC :ons are male children. 0!en people of D% years old can be asked @Aa!e you got childrenC= P"ss)+)l)$# of2 "pp"'$ n)$# to. Remember that after a preposition in 0nglish a !erb takes the 9.)n, form. ,he possibility of playing football. ,he contracted form of has s can=t be used without a past participle after it. ,his makes it a mistake, because it is interpreted as @is=. e.g. +t=s plenty of flowers, should be- @+t has plenty of flowers= or @+t=s got plenty of flowers=. Pa'$)c la'2 n s al, spec)al- #e do not use particular in the +talian way. e.g. @+t was a particular day= should be it was a special day. Tell2sa#- ,ell, told, told should be followed by a direct ob*ect. :ay, said, said should be followed by to we

+ told that she was blonde should be @+ told her that she was blonde= :he said me it was hea!y should be @:he said to me that it was hea!y= A'').e is not a mo!ement !erb. :o, @arri!e to= is wrong. Use @arri!e at=. Remember that mo!ement !erbs take the preposition to. But arri!e home, go2come home without a preposition.

S c( as2l)%e @we !isited many beautiful places as the cathedral.= Like is usually used for similarity. @,hat coat is like mine=. @we !isited many beautiful places such as the cathedral= C"llec$).e n" ns information, ad!ice, furniture etc. do not take the plural @s= informations F 'n)$ 'e2f 'n)s()n,s are different. >urnishings are soft curtains, cushions etc. P 'p"se when we e;press purpose we use the full infiniti!e with a !erb @he went to meet his sister at the airport= and @for= before a noun. @+ always go there for a holiday=. 7e!er- @for to meet= T()n% / p'ep"s)$)"n 7ormally we use to think of2about, something specific2general. 7e!er think to Am s)n,2f nn# >unny usually makes us laugh. e.g. a funny *oke. 5musing is pleasant and rela;ing. A.a)la+le2(elpf l usually places are @a!ailable= and people are @helpful=, people can also be a!ailable, meaning that they ha!e time for you. Place*2l"ca$e* 0,he house is placed in the centre of town= should be @the house is located in the centre of town=. ,o $a%e p("$",'ap(s take is the correct !erb for photography. E.e'#$()n, 1 e.e'#+"*#2all we use @e!erything= or @e!erybody= on its own. @5ll= usually has to be followed by an ob*ect. @#e en*oyed all= should be @we en*oyed e!erything.= Be careful with 0false f')en*s @actually=, @attend=, @e!entually=, @sensible= etc. all ha!e different meanings from their +talian @friends=. 0nglish sentences don=t start with a day of the week without a preposition first in the same way as +talian sentences e.g. @:unday we went for a walk9= should be @Bn :unday we went for a walk9= but @:unday was a lo!ely day, so 9= is all right.

:tudy )''e, la' .e'+sE >or the e;aminer there is nothing worse than reading @buyed= or @thinked= instead of @bought= and @thought= it tells him what a weak candidate has written the letter. )o not assume that place names you know are also known to the e;aminer e.g. @Bn :unday we went to :ila9= you should write @Bn :unday we went to the :ila mountains. @5ccording to me2you= is always a mistake, use @In m# "p)n)"n 2 +n your opinion=. @5ccording to him2her2them= is correct. )o not use @>or me=, again use @+n my opinion=. Be suspicious when you see a double @will= in a sentence. ,his is !ery rare. Usually the problem is a $)me c"n! nc$)"n2 these are always followed by the present tense. ,hey may introduce two clauses or separate two clauses. 0.g. @5s soon as + see her, +=ll phone you=3 @+=ll phone you as soon as + see her=. 7B, @5s soon as +=ll see her, +=ll phone you=3 nor @+=ll phone you as soon as +=ll see her=. Am s)n,3f nn# @funny= has the sense of laughter (ha haE) so use it for *okes etc. @#e had an amusing funny time= because @amusing= means pleasantly entertaining. Wa#3'"a* 0way= can be used as the direction for somewhere or to mean @manner=, but it is wrong to write @ there is a bus stop on my way, *ust opposite my house=. L""% a$3&a$c(3see to see is a perception !erb and so doesn=t go in the progressi!e form in most cases. @+=m seeing a dog= should be @+ can see a dog=. ,o look at is used for something not in motion @look at that poster= to watch, for something in motion @watching the hockey match=. )o not write e$c- it re!eals a lack of !ocabulary. 0.g. @we saw the "olosseum, the ,re!i >ountain, the >orum etc. and ,ra*an=s column= or @we saw the "olosseum, the ,re!i >ountain, the >orum etc. and so on. )o not start sentences with @but= or @and= or any other ob!ious *oining word. )o not use the :a;on geniti!e for $&" $()n,s e.g. the kitchen=s door life=s way way of life etc. the kitchen door3

W"'* "'*e' is all important. Usually we do not separate a .e'+ from its *)'ec$ "+!ec$. + like !ery much walking by the sea !ery much. ,ry ne!er to separate them. Fou should try to remember (/, (manner, place and time) these often follow the !erb (and its direct ob*ect when applicable) e.g. @#e played football with the children happily (() in the park (/) all afternoon (,)= S ,,es$ is a difficult !erb. @+ suggest G 9.ing= or @+ suggest that G personal pronoun2noun= e.g. @+ suggest going to the cinema= but less ambiguous is C + suggest that you go to the cinema=EE

,he dictionary uses @one= or @oneself= meaning that you should choose the person for the construction e.g. first person singular dictionary- @on one=s own + did it on one=s my own=. @:he en*oyed oneself herself=. /lural refle;i!e pronouns change from self to sel!es- themsel!es not themsel!es Lac%3m)ss @+ feel the lack of my family= should be @+ miss my family= @lack= is used for the absence of some possession, time or !irtue, whereas @miss= is used as a sentiment. Sm", in 0nglish is the deadly mi;ture of fog and smoke. #e do not use it for traffic. Aere you should use @traffic fumes= or @e;haust fumes=.
HHHHH ,here are many other mistakes that can be made while writing 0nglish. Reading 0nglish a lot helps to a!oid errors. :tudying 0nglish grammar also helps to a!oid many grammatical errors such as misuse of tenses. ,he abo!e mistakes are only indicati!e, they are not meant to be comprehensi!e.

T4PICAL COMPOSITIONS 5 G""* an* n"$ s" ,""*- 6W')$$en +# " ' s$ *en$s an* p +l)s(e* &)$( $(e)' %)n* c"nsen$ 5 an"n#m)$# , a'an$ee*7778 ,wo months ago you mo!ed from the countryside to a large town. 7ow you are writing to an 0nglish?speaking friend to tell him2her all about it. )escribe where you li!e, say something about your new way of life and e;plain how you feel about it. 9e'e )s $(e f)'s$ le$$e' 6)ncl *)n, $(e fe& m)s$a%es8: )ear :arah, ,here=s an interesting piece of news to tell you. ,wo months ago my family mo!ed to (ilan and + went with them. 7o dubt (ilan is a great 0uropean city3 +t=s an attracti!e place, and it has an interesting way of life. ,here are lots of things to do, + can=t afford to be tired. 5t the beginning + felt alone and depressed, but in consequence + adapted to (ilan lifestyle. 7ow +=m ha!ing a great time. 0!erything=s full of history and tradition here. ,he only thing + don=t like is the weather, it=s cold and rains a lotE ,hat=s all for nowE Looking forward to getting your reply Lo!e, Signature ,his composition responds to the task and is written in good, fluent 0nglish. ,he language le!el is good enough without being too ambitious. ,here are only three mistakes, which do not impede comprehension. + think this composition would recei!e a high mark. 9e'e )s an"$(e' ,""* c"mp"s)$)"n "n $(e same $(eme 6)ncl *)n, $(e fe& m)s$a%es8: )ear 7ino, :orry, but + couldn=t reply immediately to your letter, because two months ago + mo!ed from my little !illage to the big and fren<ied city of Rome. + decided to come here to study at the local uni!ersity. Life is !ery hard- now +=m li!ing in a !ery small flat with three girls, but + think +=ll lea!e it because my >aculty is a long way off and my fellow tenants are too untidyE + would like to ha!e some peacefulness, the peacefulness + had when + li!ed in my !illageE + feel lonely. + miss my family and my friends. Bn the other hand life at Uni!ersity is !ery interesting3 + knew many new friends who + go out with. 7ow + ha!e to go but +=m writing you another letter when + e;plain you better than now my new way of lifeE #rite soon, Signature

Bnce again, this composition is !ery well written. ,he mistakes do not impede comprehension and the task is !ery competently fulfilled. ,he punctuation is clear and techniques are used to make the letter flow. 5nother high mark. Aere is a bad composition (complete with the few correct wordsE))ear Ihon, (John) Aow are youC + hope good. (e too. ,wo months ago + ha!e mo!ed to >iren<e now li!e in skyscraper (sicE) on second floor. ,here are four bedroom, chikten, and big li!ingroom. ,his town has got a lot shop, but too many smog. Before + ha!e gone to Uni!ersity with bike throught trees but now + must can to breathe bad air. +t=s hard life=s way but + will hope for better. Jisses, (dont write this ed.) Signature #ell 99 this is not so good and the student knows itE +n fact, he says he=s not ready for the /0, and + 54R00 with himEEE 5part from the many basic grammatical mistakes, he has more or less co!ered the task, but the language le!el, when correct is !ery low. + doubt whether this would get more than 82$%.

False f')en*s >alse friends are words which are similar to words in your own language, but ha!e a different meaning. Below is a list of *ust some of the common, +talian false friends. 0nglish word >alse friend (eaning of 0nglish word actually (ad!) attualmente !eramente3 perfino argument (n) argomento discussione3 litigio annoyed (ad*) annoiato infastidito attend (!) attendere frequentare bra!e (ad*) bra!o coraggioso camera (n) camera macchina fotografica cold (ad*) caldo freddo e!entually e!entualmente prima o poi e;pensi!e (ad*) espansi!o costoso factory (n) fattoria fabbrica firm (n) firma ditta, impresa library (n) libreria biblioteca maga<ine (n) maga<<ino ri!ista noisy (ad*) noioso rumoroso notice (n) noti<ia a!!iso occasionally (ad!) occasionalmente ogni tanto parent (n) parente genitore2genitrice pretend (!) pretendere fingere reco!er (!) rico!erare ricuperare scope (n) scopo possibilitK, ambito sensible (ad*) sensibile di buon senso, raggione!ole straight (ad*) stretto diritto, liscio stranger (n) straniero sconosciuto, forestiero

T9E :SE OF T9E ARTICLE T(e In*ef)n)$e A'$)cle

Used for singular countable nouns for general meaning. ? the first mention of a noun ? numbers and fractions ? means @e!ery= with e;pressions of time ? to describe a person=s *ob or situation e.g. ,here is a strong wind, the wind is often strong here e.g. +t=s a quarter of the total. e.g. ,ake the pills three times a day e.g. :he=s an architect, he=s an engineer.

N" a'$)cle is used withcities, towns and !illages possessi!e ad*ecti!es lakes sports 2 games countries and regions streets islands festi!als continents meals indi!idual mountains years countable plural nouns (general sense) uncountable nouns (general sense) named shops

T(e Def)n)$e A'$)cle

the superlati!e ordinal numbers the ad*ecti!e @only= nouns representing a class of people 2 things groups of islands newspapers musical instruments nationalities oceans, seas, ri!ers republics mountain ranges something unique in!entions species shops