brought or bought?

The Aussie network explains the difference in this video.  Enjoy!

present perfect vs. past simple

Can Could May Might

As an English speaker it is important to master proper usage of modal verbs. Each modal verb has one or more specific functions in the language. Here you can look at the formulation followed by function. 

        However, practice makes perfect, as grandmother is want to say!

Watch Video Here

This video presentation is compliments of anglolink.

Use of English - Sentence Transformations

Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between two and five words, including the word given.

1. It took her a long time to recover from her illness.

over

It took her a long time ______________________ her illness.

2.  I regret saying that to him.
 

wish

________________________that to him. 

3. I’m sure that wasn’t Tony we saw. He’s in London.
 

can’t

It ____________________Tony we saw. He’s in London.

              

4. It is important that I post this letter tonight.

need

I ____________________ this letter tonight.

5. I’m sure the children have been doing something terrible while we’ve been out.

up
 

I’m sure the children ________________ something terrible while we’ve been out.

6. The mechanic checked the tyres on my car.

had

 

I ___________________ on my car.

7. I think you should go to bed now.

time

It’s _________________ to bed.

8. It was difficult for me to read the number plate in the fog.

make

I couldn’t _______________ the number plate in the fog.

9. Please don’t tell Andrew about our conversation.

rather

I’d __________________ Andrew about our conversation.

10. Unless you start studying now, it’s possible that you will fail the exam.

could

You _______________you start studying now.

Answers


1. to get over
2. I wish I hadn't said
3. can't have been
4. need to post
5. have been up to
6. had the tyres checked
7. time you went
8. make out
9. rather you didn't tell
10.could fail the exam unless

Adrenalin Rush

Just what is an adrenalin rush?  Listen and read along with this ebook story.

Click Here:

http://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/EBooks/Adrenalin_Rush/#

Take the Challenge-Reported Speech

 

Have you spoken to one of your relatives recently? Who did you talk to and what did you talk about? Did you ask each other any questions? Use reported speech to tell about your conversation.


"My younger brother is 11 and he's paying me a visit next Saturday. I talked to my mum today and she asked me what I wanted him to bring me, things such my hairdryer, or clothes. She also wanted to know whether I had the flight details clear, and demanded me to call her the moment I saw him. Albert is very anxious and excited about this trip, and as we're going to Scotland he was wondering if we were going to see Nessie and whether he could buy a quilt. I'm really looking forward to seeing him... can't wait!"

Your turn.

Click here to begin a quiz.

thankyou BBC Learning English

The English We Speak

A white elephant

Listen

Finn tells Feifei that he is worried about what he's going to do with the white elephant his uncle is giving him. Is he going to have a new pet? Find out more with The English We Speak.

Does Finn have space to look after an elephant?

The script for this programme

(Finn and Feifei on a visit to the zoo)

Feifei: Hi. I'm Feifei and joining us here today in the zoo to present The English We Speak is Finn.

Finn: Hi.

Feifei: What's the matter, Finn? You sound worried. The zoo is a place of fun.

Finn: Yes, and I love animals too. But I don't know what I'm going to do with that white elephant.

Feifei: That one over there?

Finn: No. The one my uncle is giving me.

Feifei: Your uncle is giving you an elephant?

Finn: Yeah, he is moving to South Africa and he's giving away some of his things.

Feifei: And are you ready to take care of an elephant?

Finn: That's the problem. I'm not. It is beautiful...

Feifei: Oh yes, I'm sure it is!

Finn: ...and it is powerful...

Feifei: Yes, very powerful!

Finn: But it needs too much petrol!

Feifei: Petrol?!

Finn: Yes. Old sports cars need a lot of petrol, you know.

Feifei: That's a relief. You're talking about a car.

Finn: Of course! I wasn't talking about an actual elephant.

Feifei: The elephant sounds relieved too.

Finn: Yes, he does. In English, when you call something a 'white elephant' you mean that it's large, costs a lot of money to keep and has no useful purpose.
Feifei: A sports car is useful.

Finn: Not for me. I am a cyclist and I love my bicycle. Listen to some examples of how to use this expression.

• I've paid a lot of money for this posh designer dress that I never use. It is a white elephant!

• The new airport is a white elephant! It's got four runways and it's equipped with the latest technology, but not many people visit this region.

Feifei: Oh. So a 'white elephant' is something that might look good but in reality it's a waste of space.

Finn: Yes, it is.

Feifei: Unlike these elephants we have here in the zoo. They seem to be very popular.

Finn: Shall we go and have a look, Feifei?

Feifei: Indeed and they're grey, not white!

Finn: Bye.

Feifei: Bye.

from BBC Learning English

Robot Rampage!

They wanted to see the new 3D film at the cinema.
It was more complicated.

Click on this link to read along with the story.

http://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/EBooks/Robot_Rampage/

Face up to Phrasals

Mark's Email Mistake:

2: What Email?

"What email? I logged on ages ago but I didn't get an email about stupid Peter ..."

Episode 2

Listen to Ali

 

listen

Log on – logged on – logged on

Meaning: If you log on, you connect your computer to a system or network, usually by typing a username and password.

Grammar: This phrasal verb doesn't need an object. If you want to use an object, you need to use the preposition 'to'. The object must go after the preposition.

He logged on
He logged on to the network

He logged to the network on - NOT CORRECT

Example sentence: I haven't finished my work because there was a fault in the network and I couldn't log on until 4 o'clock.

Synonyms: log in, get in, get into, connect, access

Face up to Phrasals

Mark's Email Mistake:

1: Email fun?

"Hey Ali, did you check out that email I sent you – the one about stupid Peter, saying how stupid he is?"

Episode 1

Listen to Mark

Listen

 

Check out - checked out - checked out

Meaning: If you check something out, you look at it or examine it to find out more about it.

Grammar: This phrasal verb needs an object. It is possible to put the object between the verb and particle. If the object is a pronoun, it must go between the verb and particle.

We're going to check out the new club
We're going to check the new club out
We're going to check it out
We're going to check out it - NOT CORRECT

Example sentence: There's a great movie on TV tonight – you must check it out!

Synonyms: inspect, investigate, explore, examine, look into

from BBC Learning English

FCE Use of English - part 1

This free FCE Use of English Practice Test helps with the grammar and structure points that you need to master for the FCE.

Choose the best word to fill the spaces.

 

To begin

 

CLICK HERE

FCE listening - part 1

This free FCE Listening Practice Test contains a series of short unrelated extracts from monologues or exchanges between interacting speakers. There is one multiple-choice question per extract. 

 

 

Listen up!

You'll hear 8 people talking in 8 different situations.
For questions 1-8 choose the best answer.


To begin Click here