MIXED FAMILIES

AUDIO SCRIPT

1. Akane
In Dad’s family, everybody always hugs and kisses and pats everyone on the shoulders, but Mum doesn’t like it because Japanese people are much more reserved when it comes to showing feelings. I’m more Japanese in that respect.

2. Klaus
Mum’s Indian and her family and relatives are very important to her. But Dad is not used to meeting his family so often and he grumbles over endless visits of aunts and uncles and cousins.

3. Moira
Dad expects Mum and me to do the cooking, cleaning, and shopping because that was normal in his family, so we always fight over that. But I know Dad won't change because he was brought up in a patriarchal family.

4. Marisol
When I was 12, we moved to Spain and I was devastated because it meant no more playing and hanging out with my Slovenian friends, and no more visits to Nona and Nono. I cried almost every night for a couple of weeks when we arrived. I missed everybody so much. But eventually I made new friends and got over it.

GRAMMAR LOG 1

Adverbs

Types of adverbs

There are many different kinds of adverbs and they can be divided into these main types:
- adverbs of manner answer the question HOW?
Examples:

wonderfully, slowly, slightly

- adverbs of time answer the question WHEN?
Examples:

today, now, tomorrow

- adverbs of place answer the question WHERE?
Examples:

there, everywhere, nowhere

- adverbs of degree answer the question TO WHAT DEGREE?
Examples:

very, too, quite

- adverbs of quantity answer the question HOW MUCH?
Examples:

little, much

- adverbs of frequency answer the question HOW OFTEN?
Examples:

never, always

There are some other types of adverbs such as adverbs of evaluation (e.g. surprisingly, fortunately), linking adverbs (thus, however, so), and many more.

Position of adverbs

The position of adverbs in a sentence can vary. Some can be used at the beginning, in the middle, at the end, or in two or even three positions.

At the beginning
Adverbs typically used at the beginning: only, even, tomorrow, yesterday, once, here, or actually.
Example:

Tomorrow Will is leaving for Málaga.

In the middle
Adverbs typically used in the mid-sentence, usually before the verb: never, always, calmly, recently, usually, rarely, only, simply, also. . . .
Example:

She never said she disliked you.

If the verb has many parts (e.g. has been done, can do), the adverb comes after the first part.
Examples:

It has already been done.
She can really do it in a day.

At the end
Adverbs typically used at the end of a sentence: late, well, suddently, often, outside, yearly,daily, badly, well, too
Example:

Grandpa is walking outside.

Many adverbs can go in two or even all three positions.
Examples:

Slowly she put down her glasses.
She slowly put down her glasses.
She put down her glasses slowly.

GRAMMAR LOG 2

Forming adverbs

Adverbs are typically formed from adjectives by adding -ly
Example:

beautiful (adjective) beautiful+ly = beautifully (adverb)

However, not all words ending in -ly are adverbs. They may be adjectives (e.g. friendly, lovely).
Examples:

He is a friendly boy. (adjective)
He speaks friendly. = He speaks in a friendly way. (adverbial phrase)

Some adverbs have the same form as adjectives:
Examples:

She ran fast. (adverb)
He can climb very high. (adverb) 

A large number of adverbs have no typical ending.
Examples:

here, now, so

GRAMMAR LOG 3

Comparison of adverbs

Most adverbs have no comparative and superlative forms (e.g. always, so, too). But the ones that do have them, mostly form them with more and most.
Example:

more softly, most softly

There are a few adverbs that form comparative and superlative forms with -er and -est. Here are some of them: early, fast, hard, late, long, near, and soon.
Examples:

You'll arrive sooner if you take a cab.
You will have to work harder to finish on time.
This is the fastest the child can walk.

Examples:

He spoke worse than a day ago although he practices more.
He spoke less fluently alhough he practiced all day long.