ONLINE ENGLISH - English as an International Language of Understanding ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Please note OnlineEnglish archive at: http://194.44.190.35/win/online/rosetti.htm Lesson 19 by Paolo Rossetti Level : Advanced Topic : News Grammar: Commas (co-ordinate & subordinate clauses) ************************ Vocabulary MICROSOFT, SONY INK FOR TV, INTERNET LINK By Jon Herskovitz TOKYO (Variety) - In a development that may signal a growing alliance between the two global giants, Sony Corp. and Microsoft Corp. have agreed to develop interactive set-top boxes that will allow cable TV users to connect to the Internet. The two companies are aiming to have the new boxes hit the market in mid-1999, equipped with Microsoft's Windows CE as the operating system, Sony said. The two companies concluded a tie-up agreement in April, and their new set-top boxes are expected to be supplied to Tele-Communications Inc. and other cable operators in the U.S. The boxes can accommodate video-on-demand, online shopping and other interactive services. Microsoft chairman Bill Gates and Sony president Nobuyuki Idei said in an interview with the Nihon Keizai Shimbun newspaper that they expect their joint development program will help them seize the lead in the global digital home electronics market. The two said once they complete the set-top box project, they are looking for other joint development projects to keep the alliance moving into the 21st century. They are hoping to cooperate on such things as bringing Sony's movies, music and electronic games online with the help of Microsoft. Idei told the paper the companies decided to collaborate on projects in January when he met Gates at a gathering of the world's economic and political leaders in Davos, Switzerland. The development comes on the heels of the announcement Monday that Microsoft was buying a 10% stake in the cable Internet access joint venture operated by Time Warner and MediaOne. Compaq Computer took an equal $212.5 million stake. Sony returned to the personal computer market last year with the introduction of its Vaio series. Since introducing the Vaio series of notebook and desktop PCs last July, the notebook computer has become one of the leading sellers in the notebook class in Japan. Reuters/Variety ******************** EXERCISE 18.1 - Vocabulary Please match the words on the left with the meanings on the right. 1. a development a. percentage of ownership 2. a global giant b. start selling 3. an alliance c. follow closely 4. to hit the market d. very big multinational company 5. to equip e. provide with necessary things 6. to accommodate f. meeting 7. to seize the lead g. pact; agreement of mutual help 8. a gathering h. provide service to 9. to come on the heels of i. new event 10. a stake j. take control *********************** EXERCISE 18.2 - Grammar Commas (,) are used in several ways in English. Sometimes these can be confusing, even though they generally reflect a pause in speech. First of all - what NOT to do! The man was old, he lived in the city. (wrong!) A COMMA CANNOT SEPARATE TWO INDEPENDENT SENTENCES but, The man was old, and he lived in the city. WITH A CONJUNCTION (and, but, so, etc.) IT'S OK Also, one CANNOT: The man was old, and lived in the city. (wrong!) BECAUSE THE SECOND PART HAS NO SUBJECT (he) but, The man was old and lived in the city. IS OK WITHOUT A COMMA --- So, the first rule is, a comma can separate two independent sentences (complete sentences) before a conjunction. The man was old, and he lived in the city. The man was old, but he was still very strong. The man was old, so he walked slowly. --- However, when there aren't two independent sentences, the rules change a bit. An independent sentence: I love you. Not an independent sentence: If I love you. Of course, when we hear or read "If I love you.." we expect another sentence to help make the meaning clear. It makes no sense by itself. So it needs an independent sentence - maybe: "I will marry you." When they are together, the meaning is clear, and they are separated by a comma: If I love you, I will marry you. but, NOT I will marry you, if I love you. (wrong!) THE INDEPENDENT SENTENCE IS FIRST - NO COMMA so, I will marry you if I love you. IS OK WITHOUT A COMMA That's the second rule: A comma must separate a subordinate clause (not independent sentence) from its independent sentence. If I win the lottery, I will visit Egypt. When I get home, I have to cook dinner. Because of the heavy rain, I couldn't go to work. I couldn't go to work because of the heavy rain. Please insert a comma or period (.) if necessary. 1. Because the stock market is so volatile it is considered a high risk investment. 2. Fewer people are unemployed due to the recent improvements in the economy. 3. Ambition can be a powerful motivating force but it can also be a corrosive poison. 4. Air France was considering upgrading its fleet of aircraft to include the wide-bodied jumbos before the World Cup yet the decision was too late to assure delivery in time. 5. Shin Hae rarely makes spelling mistakes in her letters mostly because she is such a careful editor. ************************************ EXERCISE 18.3 - Reading Comprehension Please read the text and choose the correct answers. 1. What is the purpose of this text? (to explain about set-top boxes; to promote Sony and Microsoft; to inform about a recent business agreement) 2. Who is the chairman of Sony Corporation? (Nobuyuki Idei; Nihon Keizai Shimbun; no info given) 3. Where are set-top boxes located when they are installed? (on top of televisions; in computers; on the Internet) 4. What is a set-top box? (a box to enhance notebook and desktop computers; a telecommunications system for video and movies; a device that enables users to connect to the Internet through their TV) ********************** Answers Go to ---> OnlineEnglish Content