Indonesia Raises Sumatra Volcano Alert to Highest Status

Indonesian officials have raised the alert for the Mount Sinabung volcano in North Sumatra to the highest level. The status was raised from "stand-by" to "caution" - the highest alert for volcanic activity - on Sunday. People have also been warned to stay at least 5km (3 miles) from the crater. Mt Sinabung has been showing signs of life since September, after being dormant for three years. Over the weekend, it shot ash and rocks far into the air, prompting the alert move. More than 15,000 Indonesia Raises Sumatra Volcano Alert to Highest Statusvillagers in the area had already been moved to temporary shelters, disaster management officials said in a statement. Airlines have also been advised not to fly near the area. The disaster management agency said they had changed the alert level because they anticipated there would "more eruptions and because the intensity of eruptions has been increasing". A local official told Agence-France Presse agency that "loud thunderous sound and vibrations" accompanied the eruptions. No casualties have been reported so far. When the volcano last erupted in 2010, at least two people were killed and 30,000 others were displaced. Before 2010, Mount Sinabung had not erupted in 400 years. It is one of around 130 active volcanoes in the country. 1. The status was raised from "stand-by" to "caution" - the highest alert for volcanic activity - on Sunday. The Definition of Passive Voice The passive of an active tense is formed by putting the verb to be into the same tense as the active verb and adding the past participle of the active verb. The subject of the active verb becomes the ‘agent’ of the passive verb. The agent is very often not mentioned. When it is mentioned it is preceded by by and placed at the end of the clause : This tree was planted by my grandfather Active Tenses & Their Passive Equivalents Tense/Verb Form Active Voice Passive Voice Simple Present Keeps Is kept Present Continuous Is keeping Is being kept Simple Past Kept Was kept Past Continuous Was keeping Was being kept Present Perfect Has kept Has been kept Past Perfect Had kept Had been kept Future Will keep Will be kept Conditional Would keep Would be kept Perfect Conditional Would have kept Would have been kept Present Infinitive To keep To be kept Perfect Infinitive To have kept To have been kept Present Participle/gerund Keeping Being kept Perfect Participle Having kept Have been kept Uses of The Passive  When it is necessary to mention the doer of the action as it is obvious who he is/was/will be: The rubbish hasn’t been collected. Your hand will be X-rayed. The streets are swept everyday.  When we don’t know, or don’t know exactly, or have forgotten who did the action: The minister was murdered. You’ll be met at the station. My car has been moved! I’ve been told that . . .  When the subject of the active verb would be ‘people’ He is suspected of receiving stolen goods. (People suspect him of…) They are supposed to be living in New York. (People suppose that they are living…)  When the subject of the active sentence would be the indefinite pronoun one: One seed this sort of advertisement everywhere would usually be expressed: This sort of advertisement is seen everywhere. In colloquial speech we can use the indefinite pronoun you and an active verb: You see this sort of advertisement everywhere. But more formal English requires one + active verb or the more usual passive form.  When we are more interested in the action than the person who does it: The house next door has been bought (by a Mr. Jones). If, however, we know Mr. Jones, we would use the active: Your father’s friend, Mr. Jones, has bought the house next door. Similarly: A new public library is being built (by our local council) Though in more informal in more informal English we could use the indefinite pronoun they and an active verb: They are building a new public library While a member of the Council will of course say: We are/The council is building etc.  The passive may be used to avoid an awkward or ungrammatical sentence. This is usually done by avoiding a change of subject: When he arrived home a detective arrested him. Would be better expressed: When he arrived home he was arrested (by a detective). When their mother was ill neighbors looked after the children. Would be better expressed: When their mother was ill the children were looked after by neighbors.  The passive is sometimes preferred for psychological reasons. A speaker may use it to disclaim responsibility for disagreeable announcements: Employer : Overtime rates are being reduced/will have to be reduced. The active will, of course, be used for agreeable announcements: I/we are going to increase overtime rates. The speaker may know who performed the action but wish to avoid giving the name. Tom, who suspects Bill of opening his letters, may say tactfully: This letter has been opened! Instead of You’ve been opened this letter! 2. Mt Sinabung has been showing signs of life since September, after being dormant for three years. Over the weekend, it shot ash and rocks far into the air, prompting the alert move. Present Perfect Continuous FORM [has/have + been + present participle] Examples: • You have been waiting here for two hours. • Have you been waiting here for two hours? • You have not been waiting here for two hours. Complete List of Present Perfect Continuous Forms USE 1 Duration from the Past Until Now We use the Present Perfect Continuous to show that something started in the past and has continued up until now. "For five minutes," "for two weeks," and "since Tuesday" are all durations which can be used with the Present Perfect Continuous. Examples: • They have been talking for the last hour. • She has been working at that company for three years. • What have you been doing for the last 30 minutes? • James has been teaching at the university since June. • We have been waiting here for over two hours! • Why has Nancy not been taking her medicine for the last three days? USE 2 Recently, Lately You can also use the Present Perfect Continuous WITHOUT a duration such as "for two weeks." Without the duration, the tense has a more general meaning of "lately." We often use the words "lately" or "recently" to emphasize this meaning. Examples: • Recently, I have been feeling really tired. • She has been watching too much television lately. • Have you been exercising lately? • Mary has been feeling a little depressed. • Lisa has not been practicing her English. • What have you been doing? IMPORTANT Remember that the Present Perfect Continuous has the meaning of "lately" or "recently." If you use the Present Perfect Continuous in a question such as "Have you been feeling alright?", it can suggest that the person looks sick or unhealthy. A question such as "Have you been smoking?" can suggest that you smell the smoke on the person. Using this tense in a question suggests you can see, smell, hear or feel the results of the action. It is possible to insult someone by using this tense incorrectly. REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs/ Mixed Verbs It is important to remember that Non-Continuous Verbs cannot be used in any continuous tenses. Also, certain non-continuous meanings for Mixed Verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses. Instead of using Present Perfect Continuous with these verbs, you must use Present Perfect. Examples: • Sam has been having his car for two years. Not Correct • Sam has had his car for two years. Correct ADVERB PLACEMENT The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc. Examples: • You have only been waiting here for one hour. • Have you only been waiting here for one hour? 3. When the volcano last erupted in 2010, at least two people were killed and 30,000 others were displaced. Complex Sentence A complex sentence is made up of an independent clause and one or more dependent clauses connected to it. A dependent clause is similar to an independent clause, or complete sentence, but it lacks one of the elements that would make it a complete sentence. Examples of dependent clauses include the following: • because Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station before noon • while he waited at the train station • after they left on the bus Dependent clauses such as those above cannot stand alone as a sentence, but they can be added to an independent clause to form a complex sentence. Dependent clauses begin with subordinating conjunctions. Below are some of the most common subordinating conjunctions: • after • although • as • because • before • even though • if • since • though • unless • until • when • whenever • whereas • wherever • while A complex sentence joins an independent clause with one or more dependent clauses. The dependent clauses can go first in the sentence, followed by the independent clause, as in the following: Tip: When the dependent clause comes first, a comma should be used to separate the two clauses. 1. Because Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station before noon, I did not see them at the station. 2. While he waited at the train station, Joe realized that the train was late. 3. After they left on the bus, Mary and Samantha realized that Joe was waiting at the train station. Conversely, the independent clauses can go first in the sentence, followed by the dependent clause, as in the following: Tip: When the independent clause comes first, a comma should not be used to separate the two clauses. 1. I did not see them at the station because Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station before noon. 2. Joe realized that the train was late while he waited at the train station. 3. Mary and Samantha realized that Joe was waiting at the train station after they left on the bus. Complex sentences are often more effective than compound sentences because a complex sentence indicates clearer and more specific relationships between the main parts of the sentence. The word "before," for instance, tells readers that one thing occurs before another. A word such as "although" conveys a more complex relationship than a word such as "and" conveys. The term periodic sentence is used to refer to a complex sentence beginning with a dependent clause and ending with an independent clause, as in "While he waited at the train station, Joe realized that the train was late." Periodic sentences can be especially effective because the completed thought occurs at the end of it, so the first part of the sentence can build up to the meaning that comes at the end. Sources: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25048531 http://www.slideshare.net/mutia89/the-active-passive-voice http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/presentperfectcontinuous.html http://www2.ivcc.edu/rambo/eng1001/sentences.htm

conditional clause

Conditional Clause and Main Clause If I have enough money, conditional clause I will go to Japan. main clause I will go to Japan, main clause if I have enough money conditional clause First, Second, and Third Conditional 1. First conditional: If I have enough money, I will go to Japan. 2. Second conditional: If I had enough money, I would go to Japan. 3. Third conditional: If I had had enough money, I would have gone to Japan. Conditional clause Main clause 1. If + Present Tense will + inf / present tense / imperative a. If you help me with the dishes (if + pres), I will help you with your homework. (will + inf) b. If the sum of the digits of a number is divisible by three, the number is divisible by three (Pres. tense) c. If you see Mr Fox tonight, tell him I am ill. (imperative). 2. If + Past Tense would + inf 3. If + Past Perfect Tense would have + past participle We do not normally use will or would in the conditional clause, only in the main clause. Uses of the Conditional 1. First conditional a. Nature: Open condition, what is said in the condition is possible. b. Time: This condition refers either to present or to future time. e.g. If he is late, we will have to go without him. If my mother knows about this, we are in serious trouble. 2. Second conditional a. Nature: unreal (impossible) or improbable situations. b. Time: present; the TENSE is past, but we are talking about the present, now. e.g. If I knew her name, I would tell you. If I were you, I would tell my father. Compare: If I become president, I will change the social security system. (Said by a presidential candidate) If I became president, I would change the social security system. (Said by a schoolboy: improbable) If we win this match, we are qualified for the semifinals. If I won a million pounds, I would stop teaching. (improbable) 3. Third conditional a. Nature: unreal b. Time: Past (so we are talking about a situation that was not so in the past.) e.g. If you had warned me, I would not have told your father about that party.(But you didn't, and I have). Remember! 1. The conditional construction does not normally use will or would in if-clauses. EXCEPTION: If will or would express willingness, as in requests, they can be used in if-clauses. e.g. If you will come this way, the manager will see you now. I would be grateful if you would give me a little help. (= ± please, come this way; please, give me...) 2. For the second conditional, were replaces was: If I were a rich man... 3. After if, we can either use "some(-one, -where...)" or "any(-one, -where...). If I have some spare time next weekend....or : If I have any spare time... 4. Instead of if not, we can use unless. e.g. I'll be back tomorrow unless there is a plane strike. He'll accept the job unless the salary is too low. 5.There is a "mixed type" as well, for the present results of an unreal condition in the past: If + Past Perfect - would + inf. If you had warned me [then], I would not be in prison [now]. Source : http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/conditional2.htm Comment : According to me, this article which has discussion about Conditional Clause is good enough. The discussion is almost complete and the source includes the example of Conditional Clause, so the reader can understand what the topic is. For additions, the explanation about the topic is quite clear and understandable.

active&passive voice

The active & passive voice from mutia89

active and passive voice

active and passive voice

invitation letter

GW

Grand World Ltd.

135 Fifth Avenue Street

New York, NY 13245

United States of America

March 3, 2013

Dear Vincent Freinz,

I'm pleased to invite you to become a member of the Grand World Business Advisory Board for 2013-2018. As one of the pioneers of the Virtual Assistant (VA) Industry, being a member of Grand World's Advisory Board provides you with a stellar opportunity to continue to shape the VA industry. My company Grand World Ltd., needs new direction. A person with your experience and insight would be the perfect person to help me determine whether my company should break new ground or whether there's still value to be gleaned from traditional territory.

            Operating since 2002, Grand World Ltd. provides a spectrum of business services to clients, ranging from data-processing through graphics design. First started as a one-woman operation run from a basement, Grand World Ltd. now has three full-time employees and a host of part-time contract workers. We continue to focus on filling our clients' needs completely and fully; our company motto is "We'll do it right".
            The main purpose of the Grand World Ltd.'s Business Advisory Board is to provide management advice about the direction the company should follow. Specific goals for this year include developing a niche market strategy and revamping/updating the company's Web presence by creating and implementing a social media plan.
            The Advisory Board will meet three times this year, each meeting consisting of a dinner and following two hour discussion. There may also be some follow-up questions/discussions by email. Because of the nature of the matters to be discussed, members will need to sign a confidentiality agreement.

            Thank you for taking the time to read this letter and to consider being a part of Grand World Ltd.'s Advisory Board. I will be in touch with you soon but in the meantime, I’m available to discuss any questions you may have. You can reach me by phone at (724) 666-7878 or via email at grandworld@gmail.com

Yours sincerely,

Gerard H. Milton

Gerard H. Milton

Head of Director

application letter

Alexandre John Street 6

Italy 20121

                                                                                               

June 20, 2013

Mrs. Gracia Gresten

Mills Real Estate Ltd

Steinberg Street 8

Italy 20032

Dear Madame,

I would like to apply for the post of secretary that Mills Real Estate advertised in today’s Italian Post.

As you can see in my curriculum vitae, my education and work experience as personal secretary have given me excellent secretarial skills.

I enclose mu curriculum vitae and would be glad to meet you for an interview any day.

I look forward to hearing from you

                                                                                                                        Yours faithfully

                                                                                                                        Rachel M. Swan

Rachel M. Swan

Enc : Curriculum Vitae

CURRICULUM VITAE

Rachel M. Swan

Date of birth               :  August 7, 1986

Age                             :  27

Nationality                  :  Indonesia

Home Address                        :  Mahoni street 46

                                        Jakarta 14270

Marital Status              : Single

Education                    :  Elementary School

                                       Junior High School

                                       Senior High School

                                       International Secretary Collage

                                       Indonesia Secretarial Institute

Activities                     : Collage of Arts and Sciences Service Center

                                       Chaired Discipline Committee

Work Experience        : 2008-2010 Personal Secretary to Sales Manager of International          

                                       Computer Inc.

                                       2010-2012 Secretary to Marketing Manager of Roma Business    

                                       Production Ltd.

Skills                           : Typing, Word Processor, Secretarial Procedures, Shorthand,       

                                       Commercial Correspondence

Reference                    : Forwarded upon request

Interest                        : Photography

                                      Coordinating social events for non-profit Modern Talk Show

Language                    : Fluency in Indonesian, English and Italian