News news news....

News is not always good. 

But it is important to keep up-to-date with the world around us.  

The New York Times is a neutral international agency. 

 Newest video shows largest hydrogen bomb ever exploded. Wow!

The English alphabet

Is it important? Yes! Why? When you go to an international airport, you show your identity card / passport. Often the airport personnel (Mitarbeiter) ask you to 'spell' you name. 

 Let's give it a go shall we?

CAE writing linking words - time

Over the last weeks we have looked at ways to chese your writing.  Here is yet one more reminder: linking words are a must!

CAE Writing: Linking Words

Time

Click on the answer A or B that completes each sentence. Find the solutions under the exercise.

1) ........ I didn't really enjoy the course, but after a while I really started to enjoy it.

  A    In the beginning

  B   At the beginning

2) ........ of the film the main character arrives in town looking for somewhere to stay.

  A    In the beginning

  B   At the beginning

3) We waited ages for a bus. ........ we decided to walk home.

  A    Eventually

  B   At last

4) The audience waited patiently for the delayed performance to start. ........ the curtain rose.

  A    Lastly

  B   At last

5) I waited for you ........ 10.00. I finally decided you weren't coming.

  A    before

  B   until

6) I managed to get the house tidy ........ my parents got home.

  A    before

  B   until

7) ........ had I gone to bed than I heard the phone ring.

  A    Hardly

  B   As soon as

8) I played a lot of tennis ........ I was on holiday.

  A    during

  B   while

Solutions: 1A              2 B            3A              4B              5B              6A              7A             8B

CAE writing linking words - reason

When we write about a topic we often need to give reasons to support our thoughts.  Here is a way to practice that:

CAE Writing: Linking Words

Reason

Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first using the word given. Use no more than SIX words and do not change the form of the word in capitals. Find the solutions under the exercise.

1) The accident happened because of terrible weather.

RESULT

The accident.............................................. bad weather.

2) The train was cancelled so I missed my appointment.

CONSEQUENCE

....................................... the train cancellation I missed my appointment.

3) They decided to buy a new car because of the problems they were having with their old one.

SINCE

They decided to buy a new car ................................... problems with their old one.

4) We were unable to contact you as communications were so poor.

OWING

We couldn't contact you ...................................... communications were so poor.

5) You have been late every morning this week so we have deducted the lost time from your wages.

DUE

We have deducted money from your wages ................... you have been late every morning this week.

6) I was sent home from school because I was feeling sick.

ACCOUNT

The student was sent home ................................................................. the fact that he was feeling sick.

7) It was too far to walk so we caught the bus.

ENOUGH

We got the bus as ........................................................... to walk.

8) The film was so boring that we decided to leave early.

SUCH

........................................................ we decided to leave early.

Solutions:

1) was a result of       

2) As a consequence of               

3) since having                            

4)owing to the fact that              

5)due to the fact (that)      

6)on account of                   

7) it wasn’t near enough             

8) It was such a boring film

Current topics

 

Help with the 'comma'

Comma after ‘so’

When so is used to mean therefore, it is a transitional adverb. So, it should be followed by a comma.

I was not feeling well. So, I decided to consult a doctor.

Semicolon before ‘and’

A coordinating conjunction that merges two clauses into one is usually preceded by a comma. However, the comma can be left out when the clauses connected by the conjunction are very short.

The boys sang, and the girls danced.

The comma is not exactly necessary in the example given above because the clauses are short. However, it is possible.

If one or both of the clauses connected by a conjunction contains a comma, we sometimes use a semicolon instead of a comma. Note that although a semicolon is possible here, it may look dated.

Alan, Sophie and Mira absolutely love the steak pie; but Maria, a staunch vegetarian, detests it.

Here the two clauses are connected by the coordinating conjunction but. However, we separate them using a semicolon because the second clause contains two commas.

Note that a semicolon is not exactly necessary here. A comma will work just fine. In fact, a comma tends to be more common than a semicolon.

Alan, Sophie and Mira absolutely love the steak pie, but Maria, a staunch vegetarian, detests it.

‘that’ -clauses

Commas are not used before that-clauses.

She said that she would come. (NOT She said, that she would come.)

Notes

A that-clause is essentially a noun clause that serves as the subject or object of the verb in the main clause.

Comma before subordinate clauses

When subordinate clauses come at the beginning of sentences we usually separate them with a comma. The comma can be left out when the subordinate clause goes after the main clause.

Because he had been reading my letters without my knowledge, I was quite angry with him.

I was quite angry with him because he had been reading my letters without my knowledge.