Showing posts with label grammar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label grammar. Show all posts

Saturday 7 October 2017

GRAMMAR: Past Continuous (A2)

Watch the video from the British Council and go through the notes. After studying the grammar, do the activities.






Past Continuous




What were your family doing on Sunday at six o'clock in the evening?

Make correct sentences to answer the question.


1. My mum / cook dinner
2. My dad / watch football
3. My grandmother / water the plants
4. My grandfather / read the newspaper & smoke a cigar
5. My sister / have a shower
6. My two little brothers / play computer games
7. My cat / sleep
8. I / study English & listen to music


What about YOUR family? 

What were they doing on Sunday at six pm?











ANSWER KEY:



1. My mum was cooking dinner
2. My dad was watching football
3. My grandmother was watering the plants
4. My grandfather was reading the newspaper and smoking a cigar
5. My sister was having a shower
6. My two little brothers were playing computer games
7. My cat was sleeping
8. I was studying English and listening to music

GRAMMAR: Narrative Tenses (B1+ / B2)

Read the grammar theory and do the activity below.


Narrative Tenses





NARRATIVE TENSES
Fill the gaps with the correct tense of the verb in brackets.

James Bond 1. (need) a drink. The fight in the carpark with the dwarf 2. (make) him thirsty. He walked quickly along 46th Street in search of an air-conditioned bar where he could get out of the heat and think.

He 3. (walk) for only a few minutes, when it suddenly 4. (occur) to him that somebody 5. (follow) him. There was no evidence for it except for a slight itchy feeling on the top of his head. But he had faith in his sixth sense. It 6. (never / fail) him. He 7. (stop) in front of the shop window he 8. (pass) and 9. (look) casually back along the street. He 10. (examine) the Swiss watches in the window and then 11. (turn) and walked on.

After a few yards he turned into a shop doorway where a man 12. (look) at Japanese cameras. As he did so, something grabbed his right arm and a voice snarled, 'All right, Limey*. Take it easy unless you want lead for lunch', He 13. (feel) something press into his back just above his kidneys. Bond 14. (try) to swing his arm to hit whoever it was that 15. (hold) him, but a strong hand 16. (catch) his fist**. An amused voice , 17. (say) "No good, James. The angels have got you."

He turned his head to find himself looking into the grinning hawk-like*** face of Felix Leiter. A face he last 18. ( see) covered in bandages in a hospital bed in Cairo nine months earlier. The face of the American secret agent with whom he 19. (share) so many adventures.


* limey - an old fashioned American slang expression for an British person.
** fist - the shape of your hand when you hold your fingers and thumb tightly together when you want to hit someone.
*** hawk-like - like a hawk, a kind of hunting bird.



SOURCE: www.eltbase.com












ANSWER KEY:

1. needed 2. had made 3. had been walking 4. occurred 5. was following 6. had never failed 7. stopped 8. was passing 9. looked 10. examined 11. turned 12. was looking 13. felt 14. tried 15. was holding 16. caught 17. said 18. saw 19. had shared

GRAMMAR: Past Simple (A1 / A2)

We all like talking about what we did last weekend, yesterday, last summer or when we were children. To be able to talk about our past we need the past simple tense.

The past simple tense in English needs studying since there are many irregular verbs. Take your time, go through the notes, watch the video and study the irregular verbs. Then do the activity and check your answers with the list of verbs.






Irregular Verbs



Fill in the blanks with the past simple of the verbs in bold.
1.     Did you have a nice trip? Yes, I ________ a very nice trip, thanks.
2.     What time did you leave the house? I ________ at 8.30.
3.     Did you fly from Heathrow? No, we ________ from Gatwick.
4.     Did you see the Jacksons? Yes, we ________ them last week.
5.     Did you think about me? Of course I ________ about you.
6.     Did you take a coat? No, but I ________ a sweater.
7.     Did you give her my address? Yes, and I ________ her your telephone number.
8.     Where did you go on holidays? We ________ to Italy.
9.     What time did you wake up? I ________ at 8.00 a.m.
10. Did you get up early yesterday? No, I ________ at 11 o’clock.
11. When did they come back? They ________ back two days ago.
12. What did you eat for breakfast? I ________ cornflakes.
13. Would you like to drink something? No, thanks, I ________ some coffee earlier.
14. Did you write the report? Yes, I ________ it yesterday.
15. Did you read the newspaper? No, I just ________ a magazine.
16. Where did you put the tickets? I ________ in my bag.
17. He always loses his car keys, once he almost ________ his car!
18. He doesn’t speak English, so he ________ to me in Chinese.
19. What did you say? I ________ his name.
20. I don’t usually run, but I ________ 5 kilometres yesterday.
21. Did I tell you about my holidays? Yes, you ________  me yesterday.
22. Did you buy a new suit? No, I just ________ a new tie.
23. I don’t often break plates, but yesterday I ________ two.
24. Why did you fall down the stairs? Because you ________ (push) me!
25. Why did you hit me? I ________ you because I was angry.
26. Where did you sit? We ________ at the front.
27. Did you have to stand on the train? Yes, I ________ near the doors.
28. What did you wear last night? I ________ a black dress.
29. How did you tear your jeans? I ________ them on my car door.
30. Did you draw that picture? No, my son ________ it.

Saturday 30 September 2017

GRAMMAR: Describing Habits (C1)

Have a look at the notes below and check all the structures you can use to talk about your habits either in the present or in the past.

Note that you can also talk about someone else's habits and you can even express your annoyance.











Now complete the sentences with ONE word.


1. I have a _____________ to forget people's birthdays.

2. As a child I _____________ to be very mischievous.

3. As a _____________, I never make arrangements for Sunday morning because we like to sleep in.

4. I _____________ to panic if I don't feel I'll be able to hand in the projects by the deadline.

5. She _____________ talk incessantly for hours and tell you all about her husband and kids.

6. He _____________ on making the same mistakes, he's a lost cause.

7. After school, I _____________ get home, have something to eat and do my homework.

8. She _____________ always texting me silly things. I'm fed up!

9. He had always been _____________ to headaches, even as a child.

10. Nine _____________ out of ten, she would get it wrong. She can't be trusted!





ANSWER KEY
1. tendency
2. used
3. rule
4. tend
5. will
6. keeps
7. would
8. is
9. prone
10. times

Wednesday 17 February 2016

GRAMMAR: Infinitive of purpose (A2)



Infinitive of Purpose
We use to + infinitive to say why you do something:
  I came to this school to learn English

  NOT for learn English

Now match the two halves to make correct sentences.

1. I drive
2. I'm on a diet
3. He's working
4. He's learning German
5. I'm calling you

a. to loose some kilos
b. to move abroad and look for a job
c. to forget my problems
d. to wish you good-bye
e. to save money and study in the USA

ANSWER KEY:
1. C
2. A
3. E
4. B
5. D

Wednesday 16 December 2015

GRAMMAR: PRESENT PERFECT FOR THE RECENT PAST




Watch the video from the British Council, it will help you understand the use of the present perfect.







Analyse the following sentences and decide where can you put the words yet, already and just.


1. I have done the washing-up.
2. Have you finished your breakfast?
3. I have seen your sister.
4. She hasn't tidied up her clothes.
5. Have you lain the table?
6. We've cleaned all the house.
7. They've made the beds.
8. You haven't picked up your clothes.
9. Has he taken out the rubbish?
10. Have you made your homework?






ANSWER KEY:

1. I've already/just done the washing-up.
2. Have you finished your breakfast yet?
3. I have already/just seen your sister.
4. She hasn't tidied up her clothes yet.
5. Have you lain the table yet?
6. We've just/already cleaned the house.
7. They just/already made the beds.
8. You haven't picked up your clothes yet.
9. Has he taken out the rubbish yet?
10. Have you made your homework yet.

Monday 26 October 2015

GRAMMAR: Possessive Adjectives (A1 / A2)

Go through the notes and do the activities below.


Possessive Adjectives







1. Complete the sentences with the correct possessive adjective.

1. Do you like .............. job?

2. I know Mr Watson, but I don't know .............. wife.

3. Alice and Tom live in London. .............. son lives in Australia.

4. We're going to have a party. We're going to invite all .............. friends.

5. Anna is going out with .............. friends this evening.

6. I like tennis. It's .............. favorite sport.

7. "Is that .............. car?" "No, I haven't got a car".

8. I want to phone Maria. Do you know .............. phone number?

9. Do you think most people are happy in .............. jobs?

10. I'm going to wash .............. hair before I go out.

11. This is a beautiful tree. .............. leaves are of a beautiful colour.

12. John has a brother and a sister. .............. brother is 25, and .............. sister is 21.



2. Complete the sentences with the correct possessive adjective.


1. She's goes to the gym with me. .............. name is Jane.

2. We're in room 5. .............. teacher is Michael.

3. New York is famous for .............. theatres.

4. How do you spell .............. name, Ricardo?

5. My friends are from Italy. .............. are Tito and Micaela.

6. This is my husband. .............. name is Steve.

7. I live in Oxford. .............. adress is 1 Ross House, Southcote Road.

8. Rita is in my class, but .............. husband is in a different class.

9. Italy is famous for .............. ice-creams.

10. We are neighbours. .............. house is next to your house.






ANSWERS: 
1) 1. your 2. his 3. their 4. our 5. her 6. my 7. your 8. her 9. their 10. my 11. its 12. his / his.
2) 1. her 2. our 3. its 4. your 5. their 6. his 7. my 8. her 9. its 10. our



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Thursday 22 October 2015

GRAMMAR: Questions with "like" (A2 / B1)

"Like" is a common word in English and it has different uses.
Match the questions with the correct answers.



1. What's she like?
2. What does she look like?
3. What does she like?
4. What would she like?



A. She likes everything, but she prefers fish and vegetables.
B. She's quite tall and slim and she has long blonde hair.
C. She'd like a glass of wine.
D. She's very nice. I'm sure you'll like her.





ANSWER KEY:
1.D
2.B
3.A
4.C

GRAMMAR: Present Continuous (A1/A2)

Have a look at the notes about the present continuous and do the activity below to practise.

Present Continuous



You might find this video from the Bitish Council Learn English useful as well.








What are they doing? Make questions and answers using the present continuous.







1. What / Mr. Goth /read?            What is Mr. Goth reading? He’s reading the newspaper.
2. What / Faun /do?
3. What / Faun /wear?
4. What / Flora /do?
5. What / Mrs. Goth /watch?
6. What / Blurt the dog / do?
7. What / Yin and Yang /do?
8. Where / Mr Goth / sit?



ANSWER KEY:
2. What is Faun doing? He is playing with his train.
3. What is Faun wearing? He is wearing a pair of jeans and a shirt.
4. What is Flora doing? Flora is playing with a ball.
5. What is Mrs. Goth watching? She is watching the news on the TV.
6. What is Blurt the dog doing? Blurt the dog is sleeping.
7. What is Yin and Yang doing? They are fishing.
8. Where is Mr Goth sitting? Mr Goth is sitting on the sofa.

What about YOUR family? What are they doing?


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Wednesday 21 October 2015

GRAMMAR: Frequency Adverbs (A1/A2)





Go through the notes and do the activity below.



Frequency Adverbs



Now put the words in the correct order to make sentences.

1. go I never shopping.
2. hardly come ever to they class.
3. the she doctor goes rarely to.
4. English always he is he tells people.
5. work we never are late for.
6. on cat the always the sleeps bed me with.
7. books you do always your carry?
8. talking does never he stop?
9. often I school drive to.
10.you are they meet happy always to.



ANSWER KEY:
1. I never go shopping.
2. They hardly ever come to class.
3. She rarely goes to the doctor.
4. He always tells people he is English.
5. We are never late for work.
6. The cat always sleeps on the bed with me.
7. Do you always carry your books?
8. Does he never stop talking?
9. I often drive to school.
10. They are always happy to meet you.


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Tuesday 20 October 2015

GRAMMAR: Present simple for daily routines (A1/A2)

Let's start the school year by making sure we all know how to speak about our daily routines. For this, we need to use the present simple
Read the notes, watch the videos from British Council:Learn English and do the activity below.









How to make questions in the present simple.


Word Order in Questions


Now to practise a little bit, re-order the words to make correct questions:

1. you / at / what / weekends / do / the / usually / do ?

2. from / are / family / where / your ?

3. in / you / house / a / live / do / a / or / in / flat ?

4.  to / prefer / what / tea / you / coffee / do / drink / or ? 

5. do / music / like / to / what / listening / kind / you / of ?

6. instrument / do / play / musical / you / a ?

7. have / children / many / got / how / you ?

8. TV / what / you / watch / programmes / do ?



ANSWERS:
1. What do you usually do at the weekends?
2. Where are your family from?
3. Do you live in a house or in a flat?
4. What do you prefer to drink tea or coffee?
5. What kind of music do you like listening to?
6. Do you play a musical instrument?
7. How many children have you got?
8. What TV programmes do you watch?



Now make correct sentences using the present simple.

1. Tom / start / work at 8 am.
2. We / go / to school by bus.
3. My grandparents / live / next door.
4. Sheila / not like / animals.
5. They / be / in your class?
6. You / eat / meat?
7. Where / Mary / play tennis?
8. They / not have / children.
9. His sister / study / with my daughter.
10. I / not like / chocolate.



ANSWER KEY:
1. Tom starts work at 8am.
2. We go to school by bus.
3. My grandparents live next door.
4. Sheila doesn't like animals.
5. Are they in your class?
6. Do you eat meat?
7. Where does Mary play tennis?
8. They don't have children.
9. His sister studies with my daughter.
10. I don't like chocolate.


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