I was reading when it rained (The Past Continuous Tense)

The past continuous tense (was/were + verb-ing) is commonly used when stating an action that was going on around a particular point in the past or another past action.

Examples:
She was writing an e-mail when the phone rang.
I was opening the meeting when he arrived.
We were deliberating on the project at 3pm.
What were you doing when you received the memo?

All the sentences above talk about a continuous action around a fixed point in the past.

Vocabulary/Helpful expressions:

make something come true: to achieve/accomplish/realize
e.g.
We all want to make our dreams come true.
We have until next week to make these goals come true.

Advise vs. advice
- Advise is a verb while advice is a noun.

e.g.
She advises him to take some days off.
My advice is to organize a meeting so a decision can be made.

Practice

I was advising the team to check everything in detail when the power outage happened. The outage went on for 5 hours, and with just one day before the deadline, we were in danger of not making our plans come true.




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Facilitating a Meeting: Giving the Meeting Outline

When facilitating a meeting, it is important that the participants know what to expect during the event. It is therefore, necessary that on the onset, you give them the outline.

An example of the spiel is shown below.

Facilitator:
Good afternoon, everyone! Thank you all for attending today's meeting. I called for this meeting to present to you our proposal concerning a new system that will affect the way we sell our products. But before anything else, as not all of us know each other, I would like that we take turns talking about ourselves by way of introduction. I will start. I am John Smith, head of the marketing department. Then, we go counterclockwise.

<Introductions>

Thank you. Now that we all know each other, let me tell you what to expect from today's meeting. First, a presentation on the current situation will be given by my colleague, Jane. Then, we will proceed with another presentation on the proposal itself. This will be done by yours truly. After which, we will go for a 15-minute coffee break. What follows will be a summary of the two presentations. And finally. we move on to Q&A or discussion on points that I am hoping you will raise. 

By the end of the meeting, we hope that we will be able to make a decision on whether to move forward with the proposal or schedule another meeting for more discussions.

I will now give the floor to Jane for her presentation.



*You may used the blocked expressions when opening or giving the outline of the meeting.


Note:
- If the facilitator and all the participants know each other, then there is no need for introductions. After the greeting, you may go directly to giving the agenda.
- Another important thing to remember is to have somebody who will take the minutes. That way, you will not lose very important points raised in the meeting or decisions made.


Vocabulary:

agenda- items to be discussed in a meeting
e.g. She e-mailed to the participants the agenda of the meeting

minutes- official records of things that took place in a meeting
e.g. Could you please send me the minutes of the meeting?

take turns- to alternate
e.g. They took turns reading.

counterclockwise- the direction opposite that of the clock (right to left)
e.g. Please pass the sheet counterclockwise.


Grammar points:
Discuss (vt.)
- It is a common mistake to use the preposition "about" with the word "discuss". This verb is transitive so it needs an object right after without the help of a preposition.

E.g.
We discussed the different issues experienced by sales.
I will discuss the needs of the project in the meeting tomorrow.

Discussion (n.)
- The noun "discussion", however, needs the preposition "on".

E.g.
The discussion on the new policy was very interesting.
There was a very long discussion on the proposed new strategy.


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The Conditionals

The conditionals or the if-clauses are used when talking about something that you know is sure to happen, might happen or might have happened. The sentence shows the possible cause and effect.

The Zero Conditional

- This is used when talking about matters that are factual.
- It follows the structure, If subj + verb, subj + verb.

Examples:
If the temperature falls below zero, water freezes. (It is a scientific fact that water freezes at 0 degrees Celsius).

Try it out:

What are some other facts that you know? Try using the zero conditionals to construct sentences describing them.

The 1st Conditional

- The 1st conditional is used when talking about something that will happen if the condition is satisfied.
- It follows the structure, If subj + verb, subj + will verb.

E.g.
If you get up late, you will be late for work.
I will go running if I have time later.
If you promise to do the dishes, she will cook dinner.

The 2nd Conditional

- This conditional is used to talk about hypothetical situations.
- This follows the structure, If subj + past verb, subj + would/could/should verb.

E.g.
If I only I had wings, I would fly around the world.

The 3rd Conditional

- The third conditional is used when referring to past situations.
-This follows the structure, If subj + had past participle, subj + would/could/should have + past participle.

E.g.
If I had only gotten up early, I would not have been late for work.
If I had had time, I would have gone running.
If you had promised to do the dishes, I would have cooked dinner.



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Have you done it? (Present Perfect Tense)

Grammar Point
Using the present perfect tense could be difficult at first, but it only needs getting used to. Once you are acquainted with it, you will ask how you have managed communicating in English without using this tense. It is used when talking about experience or about a past event that still has relevance to the present.

Consider the sentences below:
I have been to Argentina.
I have just had lunch. I don't feel hungry anymore.


The first sentence talks about one's experience of being in Argentina. It's not the past that she is interested in but focuses on the fact that she has been in the country some time before.

The second sentence talks about how she is not hungry anymore because she has already had lunch. The focus is on the fact that she is no longer hungry.

Note that the verb should follow the form, has/have + past participle.

Other examples:
I have done skydiving. (Experience)
I have seen the movie, "007".
She has left the office. (Focus is on the fact that she is no longer in the office).


Vocabulary/Helpful Expressions
Imperative- necessary; essential
Crucial- extremely important

e.g.
It is imperative that we get to the meeting place on time.
It is imperative that you are present in the teleconference.
Being able to make a decision by Monday is crucial.
What are the crucial parts of the presentation.


Practice
I have never given a presentation in front of more than 10 people. I feel that to do that successfully, it is imperative that I prepare days before. The visual aids will also be very crucial in the success of the presentation. I have just finished my power point file, so now, all I need to do is practice the delivery.



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I Had Done It Before You Did (Past Perfect)

Grammar Point

Talking about the past is not usually as simple as describing one event. In some cases, you need to describe an event that had happened before another one took place. To be able to do that, you will need to use the past perfect tense effectively. This tense is for when talking about a past event before another past event happened.

Take the example: We had left the house when it rained. (two past events)

This means that first the event, "We had left the house", had taken place before another event, "it rained", happened.

Other examples:
I had prepared dinner when she invited me out. (First event: had prepared dinner)
They had finished the meeting when the fire alarm went off.
She had found another job before she tendered her resignation letter.

Vocabulary/Helpful Expressions

Get back to (somebody): used when you are not ready to give the information about something or when you are not ready to do something with somebody

Examples:
I will get back to you on your question.
She said she would get back to me on the matter.
My client will get back to me on our offer.

NEVER: Confuse this expression with "get back at". When used with the preposition "at", this means to take revenge.

Examples:
They will get back at us tomorrow after throwing them at lot of difficult questions during their presentation.
He will get back at me for not taking his side.
I never thing of getting back at anyone no matter what they have done to me.


Practice
I had already finished my presentation when he asked a question. As there was no longer any time left for a discussion, I told him that I would get back to him on that. I would put everything in an email. He still pushed for answers even after I had closed my computer. I think it was his way of getting back at me for not helping him with his project.



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Some plan you had

Grammar Point

There are times when plans just do not happen. Often, before we articulate our disappointment, we need to state the facts first.
A good way to talk about a plan that did not materialize is by using was going to do (was/were going to + verb).

Example:
I was going to watch Lifehouse concert last weekend, but I got sick.
They were going to start the project. Levi, the team leader, canceled because of an emergency.


Vocabulary
Effective vs. Efficient

These two words are often confused in English.
Effective is used to mean that something works while efficient is used to mean that something or someone is able to carry out something without spending too much effort, energy, time and other resources.

Consider the difference:
I bought an air conditioner last weekend, since the summer heat is getting into me. It is very effective in the sense that I am now able to get my 7 hours of sleep! However, it is not energy efficient. I can only imagine the electricity bill next month.

She is a very efficient employee. She never wastes any minute of her 8-hour work day. However, most of the solutions she provides are rarely ever effective.

Other examples:
1. Sam is a very effective public speaker. People who listen to him always get convinced.
2. I want to look for an effective means to reduce stress.
3. His efficiency is due to the fact that he starts his week with a to-do list and makes sure that everything in his list is done by Friday.


Add-on
Wish is always used with a past verb as in the following sentences.
- I wish I could help you, but I am cramming for my exams this week.
- She wishes it rained the whole day.
- They wish the concert was postponed.

If wish is in the past tense, then use had + past participle in the next clause as in:
- I wished I had seen you at the party.
- He wished he had gotten up earlier. He would not have been late.


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I should have!

Grammar Point

Since it is close to impossible to know the outcomes of our decisions, it happens that sometimes we choose one that can make us regret. It is therefore, important that we know how to communicate regrets clearly. 

A very powerful phrase that can be used is, should have.

Example:

I should have just stayed home. I would not have lost my ipad.

She should have chosen the blue trainers. They look better on her.

As you notice, should have is used to describe a situation that did not happen, but would have been better if it did.
Notice, as well, that should have is always followed by the past participle of the verbs (chosen, stayed, given, etc.)

Vocabulary

Rain check: when you give a rain check that means you agree that an appointment or a date is postponed and that another one will be arranged for when he is available

E.g. 

We will give you a rain check, since you can't make it to the poker game tonight. You should have canceled your other dates.

Sorry, I should have told you sooner that I am a bit tied up at the moment. I will take a rain check.

Add-ons

Despite vs. In spite (always two words)

Despite does not need of while in spite is always coupled with the preposition of.

E.g.

Despite her persistence to win, she finished only second in the race. She should have practiced more.

In spite of all the negative things that happened to him, he is still one of the most optimistic people I know.




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