Halloween is a festival, but why?

         

 Quick Quiz. Choose the best word to complete the sentences. Begin HERE

Grammar alert: verb patterns - to +infinitive or -ing

 

 In order to remember verb patterns in English we have to memorise the usage,  which means to say: 

...see it 

...say it 

...use it

...write it

.......and put it into our brain forever.

Why?

Look at these examples to see how these verb patterns work.

The bus stopped picking up the children.
The bus stopped to pick up the children. 

I want to try studying with a friend to see if it helps us stay more motivated.
I'm trying to study but it's impossible with all this noise.

Let's give it a go.  At the bottom of the explanations there is an exercise

Thank you British Council

Linking words from yesterday

 And here are the solutions.

I hope you noted the commas and the formal vs informal tones. No?  Look again.  Is the sentence proper? What connector did it use?

Is the information a contrast or extra information?

LINKING WORDS

solutions

 

Their team has got the best players. Besides, their coach is fantastic.

Anna is talented at music as well as art.

In London we saw the Queen’s palace. In addition we visited the British Museum.

When I was young, I wanted to become a doctor. I also wanted to be famous.

The service at this restaurant is excellent. Moreover, the food is delicious.

Roger works very hard to help his parents. Furthermore, he’s also a good student.

I’m keen on Ice cream as well as chocolate.

 

 

Their team has got the best players. Nevertheless, they lost the last game.

Lorena seems to be quite clever. However, she often gets low marks.

Jordi is a careful driver. Nevertheless, he has had several accidents.

Although Jordi is a careful driver, he has had several accidents.

I’d love to come. However, I really haven’t got time.

Although they get on very well, they are not best friends.

Tina gets good grades because she works hard whereas Kate is simply lazy.

Tina gets good grades because she works hard. Kate, in contrast, is very lazy.

Tina is very hard-working. Kate, on the other hand, is lazy.

 

 

Chris did not revise before the test. Consequently, he got a poor grade.

Lena works very hard at school. As a result, she is one of the best students.

I forgot to bring my homework again. Therefore, I had to stay behind after school.

Linking word practice

..are an absolute must in essay writing.  Let's take a look at some of the most common ones and place them in their appropriate place. 

Not sure? Come back tomorrow for the solutions.

LINKING WORDS

 1. Use one of the words to complete the sentences. 

besides        furthermore        also        moreover        in addition        as well as

 

Their team has got the best players. _____________, their coach is fantastic.

Anna is talented at music ____________ art.

In London we saw the Queen’s palace. ______________, we visited the British Museum.

When I was young, I wanted to become a doctor. I ________ wanted to be famous.

The service at this restaurant is excellent. ______________, the food is delicious.

Roger works very hard to help his parents. _________________, he’s also a good student.

    I’m keen on Ice cream _______________ chocolate.

 

2. Use one of the words in the box to complete the sentences.

however       nevertheless        on the other hand        although        whereas    in contrast

 

Their team has got the best players. ______________, they lost the last game.

Lorena seems to be quite clever. ________________, she often gets low marks.

Jordi is a careful driver. _________________, he has had several accidents.

________________ Jordi is a careful driver, he has had several accidents.

I’d love to come. __________________, I really haven’t got time.

________________ they get on very well, they are not best friends.

Tina gets good grades because she works hard ______________ Kate is simply lazy.

Tina gets good grades because she works hard. Kate, ________________, is very lazy.

Tina is very hard-working. Kate, ____________________, is lazy.

 

3. Use one of the words in the box to complete the sentences. 

therefore        consequently        as a result

 

Chris did not revise before the test. __________________, he got a poor grade.

Lena works very hard at school. __________________, she is one of the best students.

I forgot to bring my homework again. ________________, I had to stay behind after school.

 

A short story

Every Saturday Daniel and his family go to the beach. They live far from the beach, but once a week the family gets into the car and Daniel's father drives for hours until they arrive.

Daniel's parents love the beach. Daniel and his sister and brother love the beach. The family's dog loves the beach very much.

But it is a problem to go to the beach every week. Daniel's father gets tired from driving so many hours. The rest of the family gets tired from sitting in the car for so many hours. Daniel's mother says: "It's fun in the beach, but it takes too much time to get there and back!"

Daniel and his sister and brother are very sad. They want to go to the beach, but it is a problem. They try to go the swimming pool, but it is not the same thing.

One day Daniel's parents come to talk with the kids. They say: "We have a problem to go to the beach every week, but we love the beach, and you love the beach, and the dog loves the beach. So we have a solution. We need to live near the beach!"

Daniel and his sister and brother are very happy! Now they live near the beach. They go to the beach every day!

THE END

Time for some fun vocabulary learning!

Opposites are a fun way of learning new words.

Give it a go HERE