PRONUNCIATION: -ed ending for the past simple

Hi everyone!

Here is a very home-made video about the pronunciation of -ed, it's not big thing but I hope it will help you practise at home.

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

GRAMMAR: PRESENT PERFECT FOR THE RECENT PAST

Present Perfect

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.

VOCABULARY : Idioms (B1)

Now complete the sentences with the idioms. In some cases you will need to put the verb in the correct form.

A. hold your breath
B. kiss someone goodbye
C. hit the roof
D. think twice (about something)
E. kick the habit

F. drop someone a line



1. The best way to stop hiccups is to _____________________ and count to ten.
2. My parents _____________________ when I said I'd been to an all-night party.
3. I've tried so many times to stop biting my nails, but I just can't ______________________.
4. I almost bought a new sports car, but then I _______________________ about it and realised it wasn't such a great idea.
5. A: I lost my purse with 2000$ in it.
    B: Well you can _________ that money ________!
6. _______ me ___________ when you know what time you're coming, and I'll meet you at the station.



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

LISTENING: Hurricane - Bob Dylan (A2 / B1)

Listen to the song and put the verbs in the correct verb tense past simple or past continuous.

Bob Dylan - Hurricane

Pistols shots ring out in the barroom night

Enter Patty Valentine from the upper hall

She sees the bartender in a pool of blood

Cries out "My God they killed them all"

Here comes the story of the Hurricane

The man the authorities (1)__________ to blame (COME)

For something that he never done

(2)__________ him in a prison cell but one time he could-a been (PUT)

The champion of the world.

Three bodies lying there does Patty see

And another man named Bello moving around mysteriously

"I didn't do it" he says and he throws up his hands

"I (3)__________ only the register I hope you understand (ROB)

I (4)__________ them leaving" he says and he stops (SEE)

"One of us had better call up the cops"

And so Patty calls the cops

And they arrive on the scene with their red lights flashing

In the hot New Jersey night.

Meanwhile far away in another part of town

Rubin Carter and a couple of friends are driving around

Number one contender for the middleweight crown

(5)__________ no idea what kind of shit was about to go down (HAVE)

When a cop pulled him over to the side of the road

Just like the time before and the time before that

In Patterson that's just the way things go

If you're black you might as well not shown up on the street

'Less you wanna draw the heat.

Alfred Bello had a partner and he had a rap for the corps

Him and Arthur Dexter Bradley were just out prowling around

He (6)__________ "I saw two men running out they looked like middleweights (SAY)

They (7)__________ into a white car with out-of-state plates" (JUMP)

And Miss Patty Valentine just nodded her head

Cop said "Wait a minute boys this one's not dead"

So they (8)__________ him to the infirmary (TAKE)

And though this man could hardly see

They told him that he could identify the guilty men.

Four in the morning and they haul Rubin in

Take him to the hospital and they bring him upstairs

The wounded man looks up through his one dying eye

Says "What do you bring him in here for ? He ain't the guy !"

Yes here comes the story of the Hurricane

The man the authorities (9)__________ to blame (COME)

For something that he never done

(10)__________ in a prison cell but one time he could-a been (PUT)

The champion of the world.

Four months later the ghettos are in flame

Rubin's in South America fighting for his name

While Arthur Dexter Bradley's still in the robbery game

And the cops are putting the screws to him looking for somebody to blame

"Remember that murder that (11)__________ in a bar ?" (HAPPEN)

"Remember you said you saw the getaway car?"

"You think you'd like to play ball with the law ?"

"Think it might-a been that fighter you (12)__________ running that night ?" (SEE)

"Don't forget that you are white".

Arthur Dexter Bradley said "I'm really not sure"

Cops said "A boy like you (13)__________ use a break (CAN)

We got you for the motel job and we're talking to your friend Bello

Now you don't want to have to go back to jail be a nice fellow

You'll be doing society a favour

That son of a bitch is brave and getting braver

We want to put his ass in stir

We want to pin this triple murder on him

He ain't no Gentleman Jim".

Rubin could take a man out with just one punch

But he never (14)__________ like to talk about it all that much (DO)

It's my work he'd say and I do it for pay

And when it's over I'd just as soon go on my way

Up to some paradise

Where the trout streams flow and the air is nice

And ride a horse along a trail

But then they (15)__________ him to the jailhouse (TAKE)

Where they try to turn a man into a mouse.

All of Rubin's cards (16)__________ marked in advance (BE)

The trial was a pig-circus he never had a chance

The judge made Rubin's witnesses drunkards from the slums

To the white folks who (17)__________ he was a revolutionary bum (WATCH)

And to the black folks he was just a crazy nigger

No one doubted that he pulled the trigger

And though they could not produce the gun

The DA said he was the one who did the deed

And the all-white jury agreed.

Rubin Carter was falsely tried

The crime was murder 'one' guess who testified

Bello and Bradley and they both baldly lied

And the newspapers they all (18)__________ along for the ride (GO)

How can the life of such a man

Be in the palm of some fool's hand?

To see him obviously framed

Couldn't help but make me feel ashamed to live in a land

Where justice is a game.

Now all the criminals in their coats and their ties

Are free to drink martinis and watch the sun rise

While Rubin sits like Buddha in a ten-foot cell

An innocent man in a living hell

That's the story of the Hurricane

But it won't be over till they clear his name

And give him back the time he's done

Put him in a prison cell but one time he could-a been

The champion of the world

ANSWER KEY:

1. came 2. put 3. was (only) robbing 4. saw 5. had 6. said 7. jumped 8. took 9. came 10. put 11. happened 12. saw 13. could 14. did 15. took 16. were 17. watched 18. went

LISTENING: The Royal Baby (A2 / B1)

Listen to the podcast about the royal baby George Alexander Louis, The Duke and Duchess' of Cambridge son, and decide if the sentences are true (T) or false (F):


1. The baby's full name is George Alexander Lucy.

2. He was born 21 July 2013.

3. The queen is great-grandmother.

4 .Only the British are interested in the new baby.

5. The sex of the baby was a surprise.

6. The baby was expected 30 July so it was early.

7. The name was decided 2 days after the birth.

8. Prince William's name was decided immediately.

9. Prince Charles' name was decided 4 weeks after his birth.

10. George is a traditional name.

11. George is the king of 7 names in the past.

12. George VI was really called Albert

13. After Elizabeth II Prince Charles will be king.

14. Prince William cannot change his name to Georfe.

15. Jackie wants George to be a king one day.



Look at the photos below. Kate is holding George and Diana is holding William. What do they look like?

ANSWER KEY:

1. F
2. F
3. T
4. F
5. T
6. F
7. T
8. F
9. T
10. T
11. T
12. F
13. F
14. T
15. T

LISTENING: Women in the Arab World (B1)

Women in the Arab World

Below I propose you do a listening activity on stereotypes. Before you watch the video, think about the following questions:

• What is your idea about Arab women? 
• Does Queen Rania of Jordan stick the idea of the typical Arab woman?

Now watch the video and complete the questions below. Do not use more than three words.

People frequently ask Queen Rania the following questions:

     Do all Arabs (1) ________ Americans?

     Can Arab women (2) ________?

     Are there any "you tubers" (3) ___________?

She thinks YouTube is a (4) ________ for dialogue.

She hopes to receive from Youtubers the (5) ___________ that they have and the (6) ___________ that they hear about the Arab world.

Queen Rania wants people to know the (7)____________.

What do you think of Queen Rania's iniciative? Do you think it can help to break down stereotypes?

ANSWER KEY:

1. hate 2. work 3. in Jordan 4. great platform 5. questions 6. common stereotypes 7. real Arab world.

LISTENING: Haven't met you yet - Michael Bublé (A2 / B1)

Listen to the song in the blanks with a correct verb. 
The verbs can be in the present simple, past simple, present perfect or in the future form with “going to”.

I'm not surprised
Not everything lasts
I(1) __________ my heart so many times,
I (2) __________ keeping track.
Talk myself in
I talk myself out
I get all worked up
Then I let myself down.

I (3) __________ so very hard not to lose it
I came up with a million excuses
I thought, I thought of every possibility

And I (4) __________ someday that it'll all turn out
You'll make me work so we can work to work it out
And I promise you kid, that I'll give so much more than I get
I just (5) __________ you yet

I might have to wait
I'll never give up
I (6) __________ it's half timing
And the other half's luck
Wherever you are
Whenever it's right
You (7) __________ out of nowhere and into my life

And I know that we can be so amazing
And baby your love is (8) __________ me
And now I can see every possibility

But somehow I know that will all turn out
And you'll make me work so we can work to work it out
And I promise you kid, I'll give so much more than I get
I just haven't met you yet

They (9) __________ all's fair
In love and war
But I won't need to fight it
We'll get it right
And we'll be united

And I know that we can be so amazing
And being in your life is (10) __________ me
And now I can see every single possibility

Mmm

And someday I know it'll all turn out
And I'll work, to work it out
Promise you kid, I'll give more than I get
Than I get, than I get, than I get

Oh you know it will all turn out
And you'll make me work, so we can work, to work it out
And I promise you kid, to give so much more than I get
Yeah I just haven't met you yet

I just haven't met you yet
Oh promise you kid
To give so much more than I get

I said love, love, love, love, love, love, love
I just haven't met you yet
Love, love, love, love, love, love
I just haven't met you you


Now watch the video with the lyrics and check your answers.

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