Let's English

Last Christmas  Last Christmas, I ______ you my heart But the very next day you gave it away This year, to save me from tears _____ give it to someone special Last Christmas, I ______ you my heart But the very next day you gave it away This year, to save me from tears ______ give it to someone special Once bitten and twice shy I keep _____ distance But you still catch my eye Tell me, baby Do you ______ me? Well, it's ______ a year It doesn't surprise me (Merry Christmas!) I wrapped it up and sent it With a note ______, "I love you, " I meant it Now, I know what a fool ______ been But if you kissed me now I know you'd _______ me again Last Christmas, I _______ you my heart But the very next day you gave it away This year, to save me from tears ______ give it to someone special Last Christmas, I _______ you my heart But the very next day you gave it away This year, to save me from tears ______ give it to someone special A crowded room, friends...

How do I form indirect questions? 1. Tick the correct sentence in each pair. Can you tell me where is the bank? Can you tell me where the bank is? He asked me what does 'kitsch' mean? He asked me what 'kitsch' means. 2. Complete the sentences using the words in brackets.  Could you tell me __________(what time/ next/ train)? I don't know _________(where/ cinema). Could you tell me __________ (you come home/ late/ tonight)? They wondered ___________ (whether/ film/ start). Have you any idea __________(how/ I get to/ Oxford Street)? She asked me _________( I know/ Ellen). I asked her __________(what/ want/ birthday). He wanted to know _________(when/ her birthday). 3. Are these sentences right or wrong? Correct those which are wrong. When will you get back from Italy? I'm not sure where is the exhibition. They asked me if my sister still lived in New York. I'll have a shower as soons as I'll get home. He wondered what...

1. Match the sentences from 1 to 14 with one from a to n to make short exchanges. 1. 'Mumm I've dropped my glass of milk.' 2. 'The meeting will be held on Tuesday at 3pm.' 3. 'What time did she say she's going to get here?'  4. 'I told her to tidy her room but she won't.'  5. 'How much longer are you going to be?' 6. 'I feel awful. I think I'm going to faint.' 7. 'I'll come and help you clear the attic in a moment.' 8. 'Tessa seems to have gained a lot of weight.' 9. 'Shall we go now? I've had enough.' 10. 'Will you please shut the door?' 11. 'What shall I get for dinner?' 12. 'When am I going to see you again?' 13. 'What do you think you'll do when you finish?' 14. 'I'm just going to go to the post office.'  a. 'Shall I have a word with her?' b. 'I'll be with  you in just a minute.' c. ...

Homestyles A squat is an empty building where people start living without the owner's permission. A hovel  is a very poor, irty house or flat in a bad condition. A pied à terre  is a small flat or house in a city owned or rented by people in addition to their main home and used when they are visiting the city. A penthouse  is a luxury flat at the top of a building. Council housing  is provided by the state for people who cannot afford to buy their own home. High-rise flats are flats in a tall, modern building with a lot of floors. A granny flat  is a set of rooms for an elderly person, connected to a relative's house. Modern Lifestyle Today many people want to get out of the rat race  and live a less stressful or less conventional lifestyle. Feng Shui: a Chinese philosophy which states that the position of buildings and the arrangement of objects in the home affects the health and well-being of people living there. Minimalism: a style...

Conversation on the telephone Client: Can I speak to Mr Jones, please? Secretary: I'm afraid Mr Jones is in a meeting. Client: Ok, I'll call back  later. Client: Could you put me through  to Kathryn Parker, please? Receptionist: May I ask who's calling? Client: It's David Brown. We were talking a few minutes ago but got cut off. Sarah: It's a very bad line, isn't it? Paul: Do you think someone is listening in  on our conversation? Sarah: I think one of the kids must have picked up the extension upstairs. Jan, are you ther? Put the phone down  please. 1. Try to guess the meaning of the previous Phrasal Verbs that you can use on a telephone call. Conversations about telephoning Husband: Have you found out about costs for repairing the central heating yet? Wife: No, I phone around  a couple of companies. Husband: And? Wife: No-one was there so I left messages on the answering machines. But none of them have got back ...

Read the text and then complete the sentences using the prompts.  Global warming: what are the consequences? What are the consequences of global warming? These are some predictions. A rise of only a degree or two in the temperature of the planet will cause floods in many parts of the world. This is because the melting of the ice caps will cause a big rise in sea level. We will lose a lot of important farmland, and people will have to leave some of the world's biggest cities.  Some deserts are growing so fast that we can see and measure the changes. Some scientists believe this is because of human activity (mainly cutting down trees), but others think that it is an effect of global warming. Good agricultural land is being changed into desert. Animals adapt to survive in the climate of the area where they live. If the climate change, it will become too hot for some animals and too cold for others. Insects like mosquitoes will move to new areas and take malaria ...

The Christmas Tree One of the most common traditions of Christmas is the Christmas tree. Homes across the world decorate an evergreen tree with ornaments, tinsel, and lights. Christmas gifts are placed underneath the tree where they stay until the time comes to open them. Many stores, offices, and businesses have decorated trees throughout the season. Many government offices and buildings also place trees as a way of celebrating the holiday. The idea of a decorating an evergreen tree or branch during winter began thousands of years ago in many parts of the world. Because an evergreen tree stays green even in winter, it symbolized eternal life and the hope that spring would come again. Historians believe the modern Christmas tree began in what is now Germany during the 1500s. Martin Luther, the Protestant reformer, is said to have been the first one to add lights to the tree by placing candles on the branches. It took several centuries for the Christmas tree to become a pop...

Complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first, using no more than 3 words. My parents prefer jazz to classical music. My parents think jazz___________than classical music. My parents can only go swimming at the weekend. On weekdays, my parents aren't ______________ go swimming.  If I finish my homework, I can go out at the weekend. I can't go out at the weekend _____________ finish my homework. My sister watches more TV than me. I don't watch TV ____________ my sister does.  My parents suggested going out for a meal. My parents said, ' Why______________ we go out for a meal?'  When she has to walk to the supermarket she finds it tiring. She gets ______________ when she has to walk to the supermarket. She is often driven to the supermarket by her neighbour. Her neighbour often _____________ a lift to the supermarket.  There are many tupes of coffee there. You can buy a ______________ types of coffee ...

An international young people's magazine is investigating the question: Do young people today really know what they want from life? Write a short article for this magazine on this topic based on your own experience.

Physical actions You can breathe through your nose or your mouth. Most people breathe  about 12-15 times a minute. People smile when they're happy, or to be polite; they laugh  when people say something funny; they may cry  when they're sad; they yawn when they're tired or bored. Many people nod  their hands too mean 'yes', and shake  their head when they mean 'no'. When you pick up something heavy, you must bend  your knees and keep your back straight. Common expressions It's really a pleasure to shake hands  with you at last. Please, blow your nose  instead of sniffing. He always folds his arms  when he is angry. Don't bite your nails ! It could be a problem. Comb your hair before going out, it's a completely mess. 1. Try to guess the meaning of the previous actions of the body. 2. Let's play Play Simon says using the previous vocabulary.

Describing problems - I've come up againts a brick wall. -  I've been left holding the baby. -  I put my foot in it. - They've got me over a barrel. - I'm in dire straits. - I've come up against a stumbling block. -I've dug myself into a hole. - I'm clutching at straws now. - I've spread myself too thin. - I've drawn a blank. - So now we are all going to have to face the music. 1. Try to guess the meaning of the previous Idioms. 2. Let's talk and write. Imagine that you are the responsible of the question and answer section of a newspaper. You have to write the problem and give a solution to it using the previous Idioms.

Look at each text. What does it say? Mark your option. Please ring bell once and wait for door to open automatically. A. Someone will open the door when you ring the bell. B. The door will open after you ring the bell. C. You can open the door after ringing the bell. Claire. Tom needs to get the concert tickets. If you don't want to go, can you tell him? If he doesn't hear from you, he'll buy you one. A. Tom wants Claire to get a concert ticket for him. B. Tom can't go to the concert and wants Claire to use his ticket. C. Tom will get Claire a ticket unless she tells him not to. Trip cancelled on Thursday. Go to office for refund. A. You can get the money you paid for Thursday's trip from the office. B. If you haven't paid for Thursday's trip, you should go to the office. C. The trip which was cancelled will now take place on Thursdy. Mum,  The computer store can deliver your new computer tomorrow or you can collect it. They close a...

Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. I last saw him at my 21st birthday party. since I __________ my 21st birthday party.  'You've broken my radio, Frank!' said Jane accused Jane__________ her radio. My car really needs to be repaired soon. must I really _________ repaired soon.  Susan regrets not buying that house. wishes Susan _________ that house. I could never have succeeded without your help. you I could never have succeededd ____________ me.   I thought I might run out of cash, so I took my cheque-book with me. case I took my cheque-book with me _________ out of cash.  Linda's plans for a picnic have been spoilt by the weather. fallen Linda's plans for a picnic __________ because of the weather. The bread was too stale to eat. fresh The bread _________ to eat.  Perhaps Brian went home early. may Brian __________ home early. I c...

Which verbs don't have a continuous form? 1. Tick the correct sentence in each pair. I think this spaghetti is great. I'm thinking this spaghetti is great. I don't know the answer to the question. I'm not knowing the answer to the question. 2. Tick the sentences which are correct. In some pairs both sentences are correct. a. I'm liking to get up early.___          b. I like to get up early.___ a. What is this word meaning?___         b. What does this word mean?____ a. How are you feeling?____           b. How do you feel?___ a. I'm not needing anything, thank you.___       b. I don't need anything, thank you.___ a. I'm thinking about buying a car.___       b. I think about buying a car.___ a. This soup is tasting really nice.___         b. This soup tastes really nice.____ a. My mother is looking tired.___  ...

Complete the following text with the correct sentence from those that you have below. There is one extra sentence that you don't need to use.  Rhythm of Life Scientists have discovered that our bodies operate on a 25-hour day. So tuning into your bodyclock can make things really tick, says Jenny Hope, Daily Mai Medical Corresspondent. Choosing the right time to sleep, the correct moment to make decisions, the best hour to eat - and even go into hospital -  could be your key to perfect health. Centuries after man discovered the rhythms of the planets and the cycles of crops, scientists have learned that we too live by precise rhythms that govern the ebb and flow of everything from our basic bodily functions to mental skills. A_____ But it's not just the experts who are switching on the way our bodies work. B______ Prince Charles consults a chart which tells him when he will be at his peak on a physical, emotional and intelletual level. Boxer Frank Bruno is another w...

1. Use will or going to + the verb in brackets. Next year you have to choose between two lessons, either biology or a second foreign language. Make your decision. I've made up my mind. (do)______________________ You have to miss school to see the dentist, but you promise your teacher to be back at two o'clock. What do you say? (be)_______________________  You are doing an experiment in science, and you can see that it isn't going well. (work)__________________________ Your teacher asks you who you want to sit with. You decide to sit with Helen. (sit)______________________________  Your teacher asks you about your career plans, and you say you are planning to study engineering.  (do)__________________   2. Complete the following sentences using will or going to. A: Why are you turning on the TV? B: I ________(watch) the news. A: Oh, I've just realised. I haven't got any money. B: Haven't you? Well, don't worry....

Obligation There's no bus service, so I have to walk to work. I really must  get a bicycle to avoid it. The company is obliged  to give a refund if the tour is cancelled. You will be liable  to pay tax if you work. The bank robbers forced  him at gunpoint to open the safe. We had no choice/ alternative but  to sell our home; we owed the bank $100.000. The death sentence is mandatory  for drug-smuggling in some countries. Was sport compulsory/ obligatory  at your school? No, it was optional  at mine. I am exempt  from tax as I'm a student.  You don't need to/ don't have to/ needn't wash up; we've got a dishwasher. 1. Try to guess the meaning of the previous words in bold and in which situations you have to use them. Need The grass needs  cutting. This plant is  in need of water. The miners dies through a lack of oxygen. There is a shortage of doctors. There's a need for  more discussion on...

Jay Z & Alicia Keys "Empire State of Mind" Yeah Yeah, I'm up at Brooklyn, now I'm down in Tribeca _________ next to DeNiro, but I'll be hood forever I'm the new Sinatra and since I made it here I can make it anywhere, yeah, they love me ___________ I used to cop in Harlem, all of my Dominicanos Right there up on Broadway, brought me ________ to that McDonald's Took it to my stash spot: 560 State Street Catch me in the __________ like the Simmons whippin' pastry Cruising down 8th Street, off-white Lexus ___________ so slow, but B.K. is from Texas Now I'm up at Bed-Stuy, home of that boy Biggie Now I live on billboard and I brought my boys with me Say what up to Ty Ty, still sippin' Mai Tais Sittin' courtside Knicks and Nets give me _________ fives Nigga I be spiked out, I can trip a referee Tell by my attitude that I most definitely from In New York Concrete jungle where ____________ are made of There...

Going on a journey Don had had a busy time at work so he was glad to get away  from London for a month's holiday. He set off/out last Saturday. His journey really started off  at Waterloo Station when he got on the Eurostar train to Paris. He was heading for a villa in the south of France buy was planning to stop off  in Paris for a couple of days before continuing south. 1. Try to guess the meaning of the previous Phrasal Verbs related with going on a journey. Travel in general - When we arrived at the hotel, Maria went to reception and checked in while I was parking the car. - I went to the hotel hoping to meet Sam but he had already checked out. -  My plane gets in at 15-30 - The train pull in exactly on time. - Unfortunately, the train I'd hope to catch was pulling out  just as I arrived on the platform. 2. Try to guess the meaning of the previous Phrasal Verbs. Air travel Debbie was lucky enough to get a standby  to...

1. Complete the sentence using the verbs in brackets. If Alexander the Great (march)________ west instead of east, he (conquer)_______ the whole of Europe. If more Vikings (go)________ to North America, the Viking settements (succeed)_______. If the ancient Egyptians (build)________ bigger boats, they (cross)________ the Atlantic and (land)_______ in America. If a storm (not hit)_________ Bartolomeu Dias's ship off the coast of Africa in 1487, they (not arrived)___________ in the Indian Ocean by accident. If Cheng Ho and other Chinese explorers (continue)_______ further on their voyages, they (sail)_________ up the west coast of Africa and reached Europe in the early 15th century. If Columbus (not read)________ about Marco Polo's trip to China, he (not try)________ to sail there by crossing the Atlantic. If Columbus (sail)_________ east in 1492, he (reach)__________ China or Japan. If the Aztecs (not think)__________ that Cortes and his men were gods, the Spaniards (no...

Complete the following text with the words which you think that best fit. Use onl one word in each gap. From black pepper to chilli pepper In the 15th century, Europeans knew nothing of the chilli pepper, but they held black pepper in high regard and had used it in cooking ________ Greek and Roman times. Ships travelling east brought the black pepper from the Spice Islands in South East Asia but this _________ a long time. In 1492, Christopher Colombus was asked to find a shorter route to the Spice Islands, going westwards ________ than eastwards, and so he set ________ from Spain across the Atlantic Oceaan. Columbus didn't succeed _______ finding the Spice Islands but he _______ manage to discover the Americas. There he _______ across another pepper, the chilli, which had been used in cooking in South America for thousands of years. Soon _______ Columbus's discovery, large quantities of chillies were being shipped back to Spain from the Caribbean. Later, people realise...

Listen the following audio and answer the questions that you will find while you listen it.

Comple the following letter with the correct form of the Present Simple or the Present Continuous. Use each verb in the list once. stand     seem     write     be      make     shine      stay      taste      look     cost       feel Dear Jill, I _______ to you from Granada where everything ________ to be going just fine; we _______ nice and relazed. We ________ in a gorgeous hotel just down the road from the Alhambra, which ________ an old fortress built by the Moors. It _________ at the top of the hill just opposite our hotel and we can see this wonderful building through our window. It _______ absolutely magnificent! The hotel is lovely, but unfortunately it _______ a lot to stay here! Eating out is great. Have you heard of gazpacho? It's a cold cucumber and tomato soup which they ______ with oil, vinegar and garlic and it ...

Conditions You can't come in unless  you have a ticket. In case of fire, dial 999. You can borrow the bike on condition   that  you return it by five o'clock. You can stay, as long as you don't mind sleeping on the sofa. Providing/ Provided that you don't mind cats, you can stay with us. Supposing/ What if he doesn't turn up; what shall we do then? However  you do it, it will cost a lot of money. You'll get to the railway station, whichever  bus you take. Whoever  wins the General Election, nothing will really change. That box is so big it will be in the way wherever  you leave it. No matter  how you do it, it will cost a lot of money. A good standard of English is a prerequisite for studying at a British University. What are the entry requirements  for doing a diploma in Management at your college? I would not move to London under any circumstances . It's awful! 1. Answer the following questions: Are there...

Knowing He knows  the system inside out. When it comes to geography, he certainly knows his stuff. That book title has a familiar ring to it . I think I read it a long time ago. I'm not sure if I know her, but the name rings a bell . Not Knowing I haven't got/ don't have a clue how to use this camera. I haven't got/ don't have the faintest idea  where she lives. I haven't got/ don't have the foggiest idea what this switch is for. I can't for the life of me remember her first name. I'm a bit out of touch  with computers these days. I'm sorry, that name doesn't ring any bells with me. 1. Try to guess the meaning of the previous Idioms. Coming to conclusions I didn't actually know where you were staying, but Mark said you were with a relative. So I put two and two together  and guessed it was that aunt of yours in Manchester. I'm sorry, I got the wrong end of the stick . I thought you were complaining...

Explore the Villages around Hartbridge Many visitors come to Hartbridge to see the wonderful art galleries and museums, the beautiful buildings and the fantastic parks. Few people go outside the city, and so they miss out on experiencing the scenery and the fascinating history of this beautiful area. This brochure will tell you what you can see if you take a short bus ride out of the city. Camberwell The historic village of Camberwell was once the home of the wealthy Hugo family. They lived in a huge country house, Camberwell Court, and owned all the land in the area. The family sold their house in the 1940s, and it is now open to the public. You can spend a whole day walking around the house and gardens. There is a small exhibition about the family, a children’s play area, a gift shop and a restaurant. But the village of Camberwell is also worth a visit. There are some beautiful cottages with well kept gardens, and there is a small church which dates back to the eleventh century. T...

1. Complete the following conversation using the verbs in brackets with to infinitive or -ing. Lucas: I've decided _________(leave) my job next month. Susan: But I thought you enjoyed _________(work) in an architect's office. Lucas: Oh, I do. But I feel like ________(do) something different for a while. Susan: Didn't you promise _________(stay) there at least two years? Lucas: Yes, I di but I just can't stand ________(work) with those people. One of them refuses _______(stop) talking while she works, another one keeps _________(sing) to himself. And then there's a man who also ________(tell) awful jokes all the time, which he always gets wrong. I detest _________(work) with all that noise around me. Susan: It sounds quite a cheerful place to me. Can't you manage _________(ignore) them and get on with your work? Lucas: No, I can't. I just can't carry on ________(go) there every day. I 'm hoping ________(go) abroad for a bit. Susan: Wel...