Let's English

1. Fill in each space with an appropiare word from the list, forming a compound noun. word      table      worker      washing      piece     meal      time     wife     book    up     electrical     washer     computer     sitter     house A house husband My wife is a social 1.____ and she works for the local council and has a very busy time 2.____ every day. She obviously can't be in full-3._____ work and be a house 4.______ at the same time. This means I've been a 5.______ husband for mant years now, because my job as a text 6._____ writer for students of English can be done from home working on a personal 7._____. As we can't afford a baby-8.____ I'm in charge of the baby as well as having to do all the cooking and washing-9.____. My job is made much easier by the variety o...

Verbs connected with beliefs and opinions I'm convinced  we've met before. I've always held  that compulsory education is a waste of time. She maintains that we're related, but I'm not convinced. I feel she shouldn't be forced to do the job. I reckon  they'll get married soon. I doubt  we'll ever see total world peace. I suspect  a lot of people never even think about pollution when they're driving their own car. 1. Try to guess the meaning of the previous verbs and the differences between them. Phrases for expressing opinion In my view/ in my opinion , we haven't made any progress. She's made a big mistake, to my mind. If you ask me, he ought to change his job. From a teacher's point of view , the new examinations are a disaster. 2. Try  to guess the meaning of the previous expressions Prepositions used with belief and opinions words Do you believe in  God? What do you think of   the new bos...

Fill in the gaps, using the words given. You may use some words more than once. ago    since    already    before    still    until    while    for    yet    during    in     from Flying home A couple of months ago Charles was in Athens on his way back to the States from a business trip. It had been ages 1.____ he had felt so angry. He had been at the airport 2._____ seven o'clock in the morning 3._____ now, waiting for a flight to New York. An announcement had 4._____ been made to say that the plane was delayed due to 'technical problems'. Half an hour 5._____ that, another announcement had said there was to be a delay caused by air traffic congestion. Now the plane had been sitting on the runway 6._____ at least an hour but it was 7._____ not ready to board. 8._____ this delay, Charles tried to complete his report, which he hadn't finisged 9._____, though his bos...

Cause and Reason Owing  to the icy conditions, the two lorries collided. The collision was due to the icy conditions. The collision was caused by   ice on the road. The cause of   the collision was ice on the road. The rise in prices sparked off  a lot of political protest. The President's statement gave rise to/ provoked/ generated a lot of criticism. The new law has brought about/ led to   great changes in education. This problem stems from the inflation of recent years. The court-case arose out of   allegations made in a newspaper. 1. Try to guess the meaning of the previous linking words. Reasons for and purposes of doing things Her reason for   not going with us was that she had no money. I wonder what his motives  were in   sending that letter? I wonder what prompted him to send that letter? She wrote t the press with the aim of exposing the scandal. I've invited you h...

Since and For They haven't met since  the wedding. I haven't seen Eva for ages. Over /During vs Since Over/During the last eighteen months there have been three tax increases. Since  the middle of the last year there have been three tax increases. From ... to/till/until Dinner is from eight o'clock to   ten o'clock I waited from ten till/until two. I was training from ten o'clock. From and Since The minister was her from ten o'clock. They've been here since ten o'clock. For and During He was with the company for forty years. During  that year he rose from deputy manager to managing director. During or While? We didn't see anybody during  the holidays. We didn't see anybody while   we were on holidays. Ago, Already, Before, Still and Yet I come to Rome exactly six months ago. Is the taxi already  here? I went to the airport las Monday to meet Sue. I hadn't been to the airport...

What do you do? What do you do?                     I'm a(n)...     ex: I'm a banker What's your job?                     I work in (+ place or general area)     ex: I work in a bank What do you do for living?     I work for (+name of company)     ex: I work for Union Bank What does that involve? When people ask you to explain your work/job, they may want to know your main responsibilities  or something about your daily routine . They can ask like this: What does that involve? Main responsibilitis I'm in charge of / responsible for  all deliveries out of the factory. I have to deal with  any complaints. I run the coffe bar and restaurant in the museum. Daily duties/ routines I have to go to/ attend a lot of meetings. I visit/see/meet clients. I advise clients . It involves...

Verb+ suffix = noun 1.  Write down the following words adding the correct suffix to create a noun.               - ment     -ion     -ation     -ing Spell___ Improve___ Discuss___ Organise___ Jog___ Manage___ Elect___ Inform___  Adjective+ suffix= noun 2. Write down the following word adding the correct suffix to create a noun -ness     -ity Smilar___ Weak___ Happy___ Punctual___ Dark____ Stupid___ Jobs 3. Write down the following words adding the correct suffix to create a noun -er      -or      -ist Murder___ Translate___ Employ___ Art___ Farm___ Translate___ Economy___ Drive___ Direct___ Journal___ Manage___ 

Similar sounds This book is quite  good. My bedroom is very quiet. If you lose something, you do not know where you can find it. These trousers are very loose. Yesterday I fell and broke my arm. I felt ill yesterday, but I feel OK today. This cooker costs $500. He is a very good cook . Similar or related meanings Sam: Will you lend me your bicycle? Rita: Yes, of course, here you have. Lucas: Can I borrow  your car? Louis: Yes, of course. You can get it. The passport officer checked  my passport. The mouse controls  the computer. Other words often mixed up In English the afternoon  is from about 12 o'clock till 5 or 6 p.m. The evening  is from 5 or 6 p.m. until about 9 or 10 p.m. After 9 or 10 p.m., it is the night. They're waiting for the bus. I hope I pass my exams. I have not studied; I expect I'll fail my exams. 1. Try to guess the difference between these words. 2. Let's...

Have She's probably upstairs having a bath . We had dinner  and then went for a walk. I'll collapse if I don't have a drink  soon. I must have a bit to eat ; I'm starving. He has no experience of running a large company. You can't stop people from having fun. Its almost a year since we had a real holiday. Before I had the operation  I could hardly walk. We're having a party on Saturday. Can you come? If it's sunny we could have a picnic . I'm just going to lie down and have a rest. I don't have time  now. Do you have time ? Take Take a taxi - it's quicker. Who takes care of their small children when they're at work? She took control of the situation. When did you take the decision  to resign? She took a deep breath  and dived off the cliff. Why do we have to take so many exams ? Don't forget to take your medicine. I don't take part in plays but I like to watch. The concert took place at Wembley. Take...

Booking travel and holidays A scheduled flight  is a normal, regular flight; a charter flight  is a special flight taking a group of people, usually to the same holiday destination. Apex  fares normally have to be booked a fixed number of days in advance and they offer value for money . Budget  fares are usually cheaper but may have restrictions  (e.g. you can only travel on certain days) and are usually non-refundable  (you can't get your money back) or if you cancel, you may have to pay a cancellation fee . Some tickets allow a stopover  (you may stay somewhere overnight before continuing to your destination). All- in packages  normally include accomodation and transfers (e.g. a bus or coach to and from your hotel). Sea travel is normally on a ferry, and the journey is called a crossing, but you can have a holiday on the sea if you go on a cruise . For some people a luxury cruise is the holiday of a lifetime  (one you will always r...

Prepositions of Place                                    1. Let's talk! Describe  using the previous Prepositions of Place some rooms of your house.   Using the following map, try to explain how to arrive to different places using the prepositions.

Cold Weather In Scandinavia, the chilly  days of autumn soon change to the cold days of winter. The first frosts  arrive and the roads become icy. Rain becomes sleet  and then snow, at first turning to slush  in the streets, but soon settling , with severe bizzards  and snowdrifts  in the far north. Freezing weather often continues in the far north until May or even June, when the ground starts to thaw  and the ice melts  again. 1. Try to guess the meaning of the previous bold words related with the cold weather. Warm/ Hot weather The atmosphere in the room was close. It's stifling in here! Open some windows quick! The weather was very humid  today. Even though it's still May, it's scorching  outside. It's boiling  today; I wish the office had air conditioning. The weather in France is mild . We had a heatwave  last month. 2. Try to guess the meaning of the previous bold words related with warm a...

1. Write down the following words adding the correct suffix to create an adjective. Some of them can appear in two groups. Danger     Enjoy      Care     Drink      Help      Music      Cloud      Wash     Attract     Economics      Knowledge     Suit      Create     Pain     Use      Break       Comfort     Industry     Fame     Dirt     Music -ous: -al: -y: -ive: -able: -ful: -less: 2. Try to guess the meaning of each suffix. 3. Complete the list with other adjectives that use these suffixes. 4.  Let's talk! Use some of the previous adjectives to describe the following words:  the weather someone who is a very bad driver Wolfgang Amadeus M...

Marketing Servicing:  the act of mating by male animals. Advertise : make publicity for; try to sell. Operational:  pertaining to a series of actions for achieving a result. Motivate:  give an incentive for action. Implement:  a piece of equipment or a tool used for a specific purpose. Brand:  a name given to a product or service. Delivery:  voluntary transfer of something from one party to another. Timely:  done or happening at the appropriate moment. Innovate:  being like nothing done or experienced or created before. Dashboard:  protective covering . Initiative:  readiness to embark on bold new ventures. Oversee:  watch and direct. Strategic:  relating to an elaborate and systematic plan of action. Tracking: t he pursuit by following tracks or marks they left behind. Quantitative:  expressible as an amount that can be measured. Enhance:  increase. Accountability:  responsibility to ...

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...

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.

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...

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...

The Living Room 1. Link the number with the correct word - Picture                      -Grille                          -Receiver                            -Curtain                             -Furniture                    -Magazine rack                  -Vase                   -Lamp                  - Parquet flooring              -Cupboard                    - Shelf                   -DVD  ...

Marketing  Implementation:   the act of providing a means for accomplishing something. Internal control:  an accounting procedure or system designed to promote efficiency or assure the implementation of a policy or safeguard assets or avoid fraud and error etc. Quantitative analysis:  chemical analysis to determine the amounts of each element in the substance. Promotional material:  a message issued in behalf of some product or cause or idea or person or institution. Enhancement:  an improvement that makes something more agreeable. Pricing:  the evaluation of something in terms of its price. Optimize:  make optimal; get the most out of; use best. Profitability:  the quality of affording gain or benefit or profit. Promotional:  of or relating to serving as publicity. Analytical:  using or skilled in using reasoning. Maximize:  make as big or large as possible. Interpersonal:  occurring among or involvi...