Clay Lane: the Blog

17 28 Apr

Eusebius, Bishop of Caesarea from about 313, tells us here how St Mark’s Gospel came to be written. Drawing on testimony going back to the Apostles themselves, he explains that the Gospel should be heard as an echo of the living voice of St Peter, as he preached the good news in Rome.

The Making of Mark

St Mark wrote his Gospel as a summary of the preaching of St Peter.

18 28 Apr

Zheng He and the Rise of Malacca

Bustling trade hub Malacca, on the Malaysian Peninsula, was a British possession from 1825 to 1957. It was founded in about 1400 by Parameswara, ex-king of Singapura, as a refuge from the empire of Majapahit based in Java. That Malacca held out for more than a century was largely owing to Zheng He, the most celebrated admiral in Chinese history.

Zheng He and the Rise of Malacca

Malacca became a refuge from the overbearing empires of the Far East, thanks to a celebrated Chinese admiral.

19 27 Apr

Confusables

To what extent are these words synonymous? Illustrate your answer with sentences in which one of these words is suitable, but the other two are not.

IAcknowledge. IIAdmit. IIIRecognise.

For Example

Admit.

John was admitted to hospital last night.

Confusables

Compose sentences to bring out the similarities and differences between these words.

20 26 Apr

Jill and I

Include yourself in these sentences along with Jill, e.g. Jill went to London → Jill and I went to London.

1 They’ve asked Jill to organise transport.

2 You’ll get your turn after Jill.

3 That’s the man Jill saw in the pharmacy yesterday.

4 Do you want Jill to be there?

5 That’s for Jill to decide.

6 Jill’s the one you’re looking for.

7 Brian said he thought Jill ought to be asked to do it.

8 If you find out, will you let Jill know?

9 Jill will do it, won’t you Jill?

10 You can trust Jill to get it done.

11 Tell him Jill doesn’t like the idea.

12 It’s going to be dark before Jill gets there.

For example:

Jill is delighted with it.

Jill and I are delighted with it.

Let Jill do it.

Let Jill and me do it.

21 24 Apr

Saddled

Use each of the following words in sentences. Try to use your word as a verb in at least one of them.

IPalm. IISaddle. IIIWeed.

Useful Words

Card. Coin. Debt. Garden. List. Responsibility.

22 22 Apr

Approachable

In the sentence below, it is possible to replace the verb can with other verbs, e.g. must, should, won’t. How does your choice of verb affect the meaning or mood of the sentence? Illustrate your ideas by using the sentence in a little dialogue.

I can talk to him.

Suggestions

Must. Ought to. Shall. Should. Will. Would.

Mustn’t. Oughtn’t to. Shan’t. Shouldn’t. Won’t. Wouldn’t.

Based on an exercise in English Exercises 12-13 (1933) by NL Clay.

The Blog

Donate