If You Could Meet Anyone, Who Would It Be and Why - Polonius of Hamlet Polonius, father of Laertes, in William Shakespear's

Hamlet, strikes me as someone exceptional. In the first act, he gives advice to his son who is departing on a journey. Polonius's advice guides me in almost every aspect of my life. I would like to talk with Polonius to gain more insight on life. Along with other advice, Polonius delivers one of the most famous quotes from Hamlet: "To thine own self be true." Polonius's quote helps me make tough decisions. Such an occasion arises when I have weighed the advantages and disadvantages of a choice, and they are equal. When faced with this situation, I ask myself, "would I be true to myself if I..." For example, I am temperate, and do not participate in certain activities harmful to me such as drinking or doing drugs. Occasionally, others try to influence me to drink. Sometimes, I am tempted; however, I know that I would not be true to myself if I submitted. I realize drinking is not something I want, nor is it in my best interest. Being true to myself involves acting in accordance with my values. I must conduct myself like a gentleman and use proper etiquette for the given situation. Thus, the quote acts as a reminder for me to act properly. The next few lines are "and it must follow as the day the night, / thou canst not then be false to any man." By acting like a gentleman, I can assure myself that I will not harm nor create conflict with many people. For example, I remain calm in situations that most people would become upset and swear. Then, I am in a better position to deal with the would-be conflict. Next, Polonius covers many aspects of life. He tells us how to choose and treat friends, as well as rules for listening and speaking. We are told not to lend or borrow items because "for loan oft loses both itself and friend," meaning one will end up losing a friend as well as what he lent "Be thou familiar but by no means vulgar" tells us to understand things that are immoral, but not to participate in them. I try to follow Polonius's advice in my daily life. I would like to meet Polonius because he has already assisted me in making choices for myself. He could give me insight on other things. Polonius gives his advice as Laertes is departing on a journey. I too will leave for college. Polonius could expand on the knowledge he has already provided. He could also explain how his advice relates to our time period. 'If' by Rudyard Kipling If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you, If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too; If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or being lied about, don't deal in lies, Or being hated, don't give way to hating, And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise: If you can dream - and not make dreams your master, If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim; If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

And treat those two impostors just the same; If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, (low life people) Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools: If you can make one heap of all your winnings (pile) And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss, (game on which who throw the nearest is the winner) And lose, and start again at your beginnings And never breathe a word about your loss; If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew (muscular power) To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!" If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch, If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you, (enemies) If all men count with you, but none too much; If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds' worth of distance run, Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son! Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)
Put the verbs in brackets into the gaps. Form a Conditional sentence - type I. Only use the willfuture in the main clauses.

1) If I (to study), I .. (to pass) the exams. 2) If the sun .. (to shine), we . (to walk) to the town. 3) If he .. (to have) a temperature, he ,,,,,,,, (to see) the doctor. 4) If my friends . (to come), I . (to be) very happy. 5) If she (to earn) a lot of money, she (to fly) to New York. 6) If we . (to travel) to London, we .. (to visit) the museums. 7) If you (to wear) sandals in the mountains, you . (to slip)on the rocks. 8) If Rita . (to forget) her homework, the teacher . (to give)her a low mark. 9) If they (to go) to the disco, they .. (to listen) to loud music. 10) If you . (to wait) a minute, I (to ask) my parents. Find the correct conditions (types of if-clauses). Mind the underlined verb forms. 1) If it rains, I'll wear a raincoat. type I (probable condition) type II (improbable condition) type III (impossible 2) If we had taken enough water, we wouldn't have been thirsty. type I (probable condition) type II (improbable condition) type III (impossible 3) If the children were older, they would go to the party. type I (probable condition) type II (improbable condition) type III (impossible 4) Harry could fly to Helsinki if he had more money. type I (probable condition) type II (improbable condition) type III (impossible 5) If Mark does the washing up, his mother will have more time for him. type I (probable condition) type II (improbable condition) type III (impossible 6) What would you do if you saw a burglar? type I (probable condition) type II (improbable condition) type III (impossible 7) We might have had a glass of hot chocolate if you had bought some milk.

condition) condition) condition) condition) condition) condition)

type I (probable condition type II (improbable condition) type III (impossible condition) 8) If I were you I should keep the secret. type I (probable condition) type II (improbable condition) type III (impossible condition) 9) Ron would understand more if the teacher spoke clearly. type I (probable condition) type II (improbable condition) type III (impossible condition) 10) If Doris had got up earlier, she wouldn't have been late for school. type I (probable condition) type II (improbable condition) type III (impossible condition) Put in the verbs in brackets and form Conditional sentences - type I or type II. Mind the negations.

1) If Tracy had a mobile phone, she .. (to phone) all her friends. 2) I (to be) very angry with Nick if he forgets my CD again. 3) If the boys (to win) this match, their coach will invite them to a barbecue. 4) If you don't read these articles, you .. (not/to know) the facts about Africa. 5) You would get very wet if you . (to walk) in this rain. 6) The engine .. (not/to start) if Ben connected these two cables. 7) If he has time, he .. (to buy) her some sweets. 8) Maria . (to play) in the school orchestra if she practised the trumpet more often. 9) We won't fetch something to drink if Jim .. (not/to bring) some sandwiches. 10) If he . (to carry) the rucksack, I'd pull the suitcase.

Select one of the topics and organize it as an impromptu speech Impromptu Public Speaking Topics (interesting samples on http://www.buzzle.com/articles/speech-topics/)
1. My biggest concern for the future is... 2. If I were an animal I'd be a... 3. When I retire... 4. If I ruled the world... 5. What would you rather be - wise or intelligent? 6. If you could know your future, what would you like to know?

Will/be going to

Michael: Do you think the Republicans or the Democrats (win) . the next election? Jane: I think the Republicans (win) .. the next election. John: No way! The Democrats (win.. 2. Susan: We (go) . camping this weekend. Would you like to come along? Sam: That sounds great, but I don't have a sleeping bag. Susan: No problem. I (lend) . you one. My family has tons of camping gear. 3. Barbara: I (buy) .. a new car this weekend, but I'm a little worried because I don't really know much about cars. I'm afraid the salesman (try) . to take advantage of me when he sees how little I know. Dave: I used to work for a mechanic in high school and I know a lot about cars. I (go) . with you to make sure you are not cheated. 4. Gina: Fred and I (visit) Santa Fe next summer. Have you ever been there? Margaret: My family lives in Santa Fe! I (give) . you my parents' phone number. When you get to Santa Fe, just call them and they (give) . you a little tour of the town. They can show you some of the sights that most tourists never see.

5. Pam: Can you see my future in the crystal ball? What (happen) next year? Fortune Teller: You (meet) .. a man from the East Coast, perhaps New York or maybe Boston. You (marry) . that mystery man. Pam: Forget the man! I want to know if I (get) a new job. Present/future Today after I (get) . out of class, I (go) to a movie with some friends. 2. When you (arrive) .. in Stockholm, call my friend Gustav. He show) you around the city and help you get situated. 3. A: Do you know what you want to do after you (graduate) . B: After I (receive) my Master's from Georgetown University, I (go) to graduate school at UCSD in San Diego. I (plan) to complete a Ph.D. in cognitive science. 4. If it (snow) this weekend, we (go) . skiing near Lake Tahoe. 5. Your father (plan) . to pick you up after school today at 3:00 o'clock. He (meet) you across the street near the ice cream shop. If something happens and he cannot be there, I (pick) you up instead. 6. If the people of the world (stop, not) . cutting down huge stretches of rain forest, we (experience) .. huge changes in the environment during the twenty-first century. 7. If Vera (keep) drinking, she (lose, eventually) her job. 8. I promise you that I (tell, not) your secret to anybody. Even if somebody (ask) . me about what happened that day, I (reveal, not) .. the truth to a single person. 9. She (make) .. some major changes in her life. She (quit) . her job and go back to school. After she (finish) . studying, she (get) a better-paying job and buy a house. She is going to improve her life! 10. Tom (call) .. when he (arrive) in Madrid. He (stay) .. with you for two or three days until his new apartment (be) . available.