22 - 01 english grammar and vocabulary.pdf
TRANSCRIPT
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Contents
Grammar Practice .......................................................................................................... 43 Groups of words expressing time: ................................................................................ 43
Numbers ........................................................................................................................ 43 The use of some prepositions ........................................................................................ 47 The use of articles in English ........................................................................................ 49
Adjectives - Degrees of comparison ............................................................................. 56 There is, there are constructions ................................................................................... 59 Expressing possession ................................................................................................... 59 The Noun ...................................................................................................................... 60 Quantifiers..................................................................................................................... 64 English Tenses .............................................................................................................. 65
1. Present simple ....................................................................................................... 65 2. Present continuous ................................................................................................ 65
3. Present simple or continuous ............................................................................... 66 4. Past simple ............................................................................................................. 67 5. Regular verbs......................................................................................................... 68
6. Irregular verbs....................................................................................................... 69 7. Present perfect ....................................................................................................... 72
8. Present perfect continuous ................................................................................... 73 9. Present perfect simple or continuous ................................................................... 74
10. Present perfect or past tense ............................................................................... 75 11. Past continuous ................................................................................................... 76
12. Past simple or continuous ................................................................................... 76 13. Past perfect .......................................................................................................... 77 14. Past perfect continuous ....................................................................................... 77 15. Past tense review 1 .............................................................................................. 78
16. Past tense review 2 .............................................................................................. 79 17. The imperative ..................................................................................................... 80 18. Going to … .......................................................................................................... 81 19. Will - future ......................................................................................................... 81
20. Going to … or will .............................................................................................. 82 21. Will - other uses................................................................................................... 83 22. Shall ..................................................................................................................... 84
22. Can ....................................................................................................................... 85 23. Could.................................................................................................................... 86 24. May / might.......................................................................................................... 87 25. Must or have to .................................................................................................... 87 26. Present forms for the future ............................................................................... 89 27. Zero conditional .............................................................................................. 89
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28. The first conditional ............................................................................................ 90
29. Second conditional .............................................................................................. 90 30. Third conditional................................................................................................. 92 31. The subjunctive ................................................................................................... 93
32. Wish ..................................................................................................................... 96 33. Asking questions 1 .............................................................................................. 97 34. Asking questions 2 .............................................................................................. 98 35. Question tags ....................................................................................................... 99
Reported speech 1 ....................................................................................................... 100
Reported speech 2 ....................................................................................................... 101
Annex 1Common Phrases ............................................................................................ 102 Annex 2. Phrasal verbs ................................................................................................. 104 Annex 3 Irregular verbs ............................................................................................... 142
Annex 4. Dialogues ........................................................................................................ 146 References ...................................................................................................................... 168
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Grammar Practice
Groups of words expressing time:
Every two minutes din două în două
minute
(days, months etc.)
(zile, luni etc.)
free time timp liber (prin
ingaduinta cuiva)
now and then când si când in due time la timpul fixat
from now on de acum înainte for a while pentru un răstimp
in the same time în acelaşi timp for a long time timp îndelungat
within this week în limita acestei
săptămâni
short time after puţin dupa aceea
all of a sudden dintr-odată all this time în tot acest timp
all the year round tot anul after some time după oarecare timp
all day long toată ziua from time to time din când în când
plenty of time o mulţime de timp for the time being deocamdată
spare time timp liber (prin
economisirea lui)
to spend one‟s time a-şi petrece timpul
years ago cu ani în urmă after some time după oarecare timp
the right time ora exactă at the last moment n ultima clipă
in no time, presently imediat today a week de azi într-o
săptămână
without delay fără întârziere how many times? de câte ori ?
in the course of time în cursul timpului on a weekly basis pe o bază
săptămânală
Numbers
1. Zero, oh and nought
For the number 0 on its own, we say zero. Before a decimal point we say either zero or
nought:
0.5 – zero point five or nought point five.
After a decimal point we say oh:
0.01 – nought point oh oh one.
We also say oh in telephone numbers, years, hotel room numbers, bus numbers etc.
0121 – 6020402 – Her number is oh one two one, six oh two, oh four oh five.
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1805 – The Battle of Trafalgar was in eighteen oh five.
Room 602 – I am on the top floor, in room six oh two.
For football scores we say nil: Real Madrid three, Ajax Amsterdam nil (3 – 0);
For tennis we say love: 15 – 0, fifteen – love.
2. Points and commas
In English we use a point (.) and not only a comma (,) for decimals. We only use commas
when writing numbers greater than 999:
15.001 – fifteen point oh oh one.
15,001 – fifteen thousand and one.
3. Decimals
In English, we usually read all the numbers (digits) after a decimal point separately,
especially if there are more than two decimal places:
0.125 – nought point one two five.
5.44 – five point four four.
3.14159 – three point one four one five nine.
0.001 – nought point oh oh one
Another way of saying 0.001 is 10-3
ten to the power minus three.
If you say 0.125 as zero point a hundred and twenty – five, an English speaker will
instinctively hear 125, and ignore the zero point, thinking that you have made a mistake,
or changed your mind while speaking. If you are doing deals on the telephone, you could
quickly lose a lot of money by getting this wrong. But if the number after a decimal point
represents a unit (of money, etc.) it is read like a normal number:
£ 1.50 – one pound fifty
$ 3.15 – three dollars fifteen
2 m 18 - two metres eighteen
4. Telephone and fax numbers
We usually say telephone and fax numbers (and cars registration numbers, bank account
numbers, and so on) as individual digits: 010 41 01273 315052 – oh one oh, four one, oh
one two seven three, three one five, oh five two.
An exception is “doubles”:
0171 – 225 3466 – oh one seven one, double two five, three four double six.
5. Hundreds, thousands, millions and billions
100 – a hundred
200 – two hundred (not two hundreds)
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1,000 – a thousand
100,000 – a hundred thousand (not thousands)
1,000,000 – a million (or 106, ten to the power six)
1,000,000,000 – a billion (or 109)
One difference between British and American English is that Americans do not use an
and between thousands and tens.
For the British, 134,457 is:
A hundred and thirty – four thousand, four hundred and fifty – seven.
In the singular, the words hundred, thousand or million are preceded by a or one:
We hired a hundred new workers.
There are over one million potential customers.
In imprecise numbers, hundreds, thousands or millions take the plural.
We’re selling thousands a month.
They are earning millions of pounds.
In precise numbers, or after several and a few, hundred, thousand or million do not take
the plural:
To be precise, we have sold eight thousand four hundred and twenty.
Several thousand people have bought the new model.
We expect to sell a few hundred a week from now on.
6. Years
The number 1,996 is:
One thousand nine hundred (and) ninety – six.
The year 1996 is:
Nineteen ninety – eight.
7. Square, cube and root
102 ten squared
103 ten cubed
V 5 ten squared root of 5
8. Fractions
Apart from ½ (a half), ¼ (a quarter) and 2/3 (three quarters, sometimes three – fourths in
the US), fractions are mostly like ordinal numbers (fifth, sixth, seventh, twenty – first,
thirty – second et.):
1/3, 1/5, 1/6 etc. a third, a fifth, a sixth etc.
3 ½ - three and a half
2 ¾ - two and three – quarters
9. Calculating
10 + 6 = 16 ten plus six is sixteen
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10 – 4 = 6 ten minus six equals sixteen
10 x 6 = 60 ten times six is (or equals) sixty
10 : 6 = 1.666 ten divided by six is one points six recurring
! Remember to pronounce the –s in fact [z] in equals. It is singular: the total of
everything on the left side equals everything on the right side.
The verbs are to add, subtract (or deduct, but not deduce), multiply and divide.
Other ways of saying divide are per:
$ / £ dollar per pound
10 % p.a. ten percent per annum
and over:
(x – y) / z x-minus-y, over z
X – y / z x minus y-over-z
The per in percent is never stressed: we say per‟ CENT.
10. Numbers as adjectives
When a number is used before a noun, like an adjective, it is always singular:
a fifty- minute lesson a twelve – week term
a twenty – minute walk a ten thousand pound car
a ninety – five dollar price cut a six- month waiting list
a one and a half litter bottle a twenty degree fall in temperature
Exercise 1. Match the figures and the words on the right.
1. 2,400 A two hundred and fifty six
2. -18C B eleven point five percent
3. 256 C fifteen square metres
4. 16th
D twenty four point three six
5. 15m2 E between thirty four and thirty seven
percent
6. 34 -37% F two thousand four hundred
7. 10.55am G three and a half million
8. 2.987 H sixteenth
9. 11.5% I forty seventh
10.3,500,000 J oh eight one three four seven two nine
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11. tel. 081 347 298 K minus eighteen degrees centigrade
12. 15 m3 L fifteen cubic metres
13. 24.36 M twelve pounds fifty
14. 6 x 7 = 42 N five to eleven in the morning
15. £ 12.50 O six times seven equals forty two
16. 47th
P two point nine eight seven
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
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Exercise 2. Can you give the following answers in full:
1. The unemployment rate in your country.
2. Your country‟s current inflation rate.
3. The number of people working in your company.
4. Interest rates in your country at the moment.
5. The average temperature in July.
6. The population of your town/city.
7. The cost of a kilo of coffee.
8. The average rent of a small flat in your country per month.
9. The population of your country.
10.The telephone number of the Fire Brigade in your country.
The use of some prepositions
In the morning
the afternoon
the evening
the summer
the middle of
the sky
in the field
the street
the armchair
January, …..
1998
the dark
the rain
At noon
midnight
dawn
sunset
9 o‟clock
Christmas
Easter
the weekend
On Monday, ….
June 26th
Christmas Eve
Easter Monday
Read and learn!
Here are ten common business word partnerships and the accompanying preposition:
1. in the red 6. on a trial period
2. by courier 7. in full
3. out of order 8. under a lot of pressure
4. just in time 9. out of stock
5. in trouble 10. in perfect condition
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Now use the phrases above to complete the following sentences:
1. When the goods left our warehouse they were ………………….
2. The bank has just rung to say that our no. 2 account is still……..
3. Since she took over marketing, Sarah has been …………………
4. I‟m afraid the goods cannot be dispatched until payment ………has been received.
5. Don‟t worry, I‟ll send you the contract …….... You‟ll have it in two hours.
6. We‟ll let you have the software ………….of two weeks.
7. The photocopier has been …………… all day.
8. I thought I was going to be late for Tessa‟s presentation, but I arrived …………..
9. I‟m afraid the parts you ordered are temporarily ………………
10.The company is losing money fast. They really are ……………
(Source: John Morrison Milne, Business Language Practice, Oxford Press, London,
2009, p.82)
The Preposition (1): at, by, for
For, at, by In, of, on Over, to, with
1. to ask for a glass of water
2. to be surprised /
astonished / amazed at
3. to be a candidate for
4. to sell by the kilo
5. at the university
6. to laugh at
7. by plane
8. to be good at
mathematics
9. (somebody's) support for
somebody
10. at somebody's request
11. to marry for love
12. she is older than me by
five years
13. to travel by night
14. medicine for a disease
15. to glance at somebody
16. I give you my fountain -
pen for this watch
17. by the end of the month
18. for a joke
19. to buy / to sell at a
certain price
20. to go by
1. to depend on
2. to make a fool of oneself
3. to approve of somebody's
attitude
4. in the morning
5. to make a joke on
somebody
6. to complain of something
7. in the middle of the
house / road
8. a packet of cigarettes
9. written in ink
10. typical of somebody
11. on somebody's initiative
12. in the end
13. in the rain
14. in the dark
15. to remind somebody of
something
16. on board of a ship
17. written in somebody's
handwriting
18. to bite somebody in the
leg
19. on the whole
20. to get rid of something
21. on the phone / the radio
1. to explain to somebody
2. to meet with an accident
3. to be married to
somebody
4. a dispute over something
5. to be polite to somebody
6. to stay with somebody
7. to apologize to somebody
8. advantage over
somebody
9. to be angry with
somebody
10.from place to place
11. duty / debt to somebody
12. over 100,000
13. the right to something
14.to help oneself to fruit
15. with all one's heart
16. to die with hunger
17. over the dinner
18. to my surprise
19. to reproach somebody
with something
20. to fall to the ground
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22. in the first person
23. on the contrary
24. to be on good terms
with somebody
25. in my opinion
26. on purpose
27. to congratulate
somebody on something
28. in leather
29. on duty
30. he is in the committee
The use of articles in English
The Definite Article – the
It is always used before a noun;
It has the same form for the masculine or feminine, singular or plural;
Use : 1. to refer to nouns that have already been mentioned:
We visited a company in the UK. The company was based in Bath.
2. when it is obvious what particular thing is being referred to:
The suggestion she made in her report were highly relevant.
3. to refer to organizations:
The police; the army; the Fire Brigade.
4. to refer to unique organizations:
The European Union; The World Bank; The Stock Exchange; The British
Council.
5. with abbreviations that have to be pronounced as single letters: The BBC; The
EU.
The in geography:
- chain of mountains e.g. the Carpathians; the Alps ( but not
peaks : Mount Everest)
- hills e.g. the Kentish Hills;
- gorges e.g. the Bicaz Gorges;
- canyons e.g. the Grand canyon;
- plains e.g. the Great Plains;
- valleys e.g. the Sun Valley;
- rivers (but not lakes) e.g. the Danube; the Mississippi; Lake
Michigan
- seas and oceans e.g. the Black Sea; the Atlantic Ocean;
- channels (canals for
those created by man) e.g. the English Channel; the Suez
Canal; the Panama Canal;
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- bays e.g. the Bay of Biscay (but not Harbours:
New York Harbour);
- islands (only in the plural) e.g. the Hebrides;
- deserts e.g. the Sahara;
The is not used before:
- continents e.g. Europe, Australia;
- countries and states e.g. Romania, Canada, France;
- counties e.g. Transylvania, Moldavia;
- cities e.g. Bucharest, Rome, Paris;
Excepts: the Argentina; the Congo; the Sudan; the United States; the UK; the Hague.
The in different other situations:
1.before some proper nouns showing:
- a family - The Browns are our new neighbours.
- a ship - The Queen Mary was an old ship.
- a newspaper - The Times was his favourite newspaper.
- an important building - the British Museum; the
Intercontinental Hotel.
2. before a unique noun - the sun ;the moon; the Earth; the public.
3. before a noun showing an idea - the good; the beautiful
(Source: Mariana Ţăranu, Limba engleză, probleme de gramatică şi exerciţii pentru elevi
p.25)
The indefinite article: A /An
Use : 1. before a singular noun which is countable;
Example : I need a visa.
2. when the noun is mentioned for the first time;
Example: He bought a computer.
3 . when the noun represents no particular person or thing;
Example : They work in an office.
4. when the noun is used as an example of a class of things;
Example : A car must be insured.
5. before a noun showing nationality ( used only for the singular ) ;
Example : Thomas is an American pilot.
Sylvie is a French singer.
Natalia is a Russian student.
6. before a noun showing a profession ( used only for the singular );
Example : I am a teacher.
Nick is a driver.
She is an accountant.
A / An is always placed after:
- such - atât de; e.g. Such a pretty girl!
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-what - ce (exclamativ); e.g.What a good car!
- half - jumatate; e.g. half an hour;
- quite - cât se poate de; e.g. quite a nice song;
- rather - destul de; e.g. rather an expensive lunch
- without - fără; e.g without a mistake
- a noun accompanied by an adjective preceded by so ( atât de) ; as (tot atât de); too
(prea); how( cât de):
E.g. So witty a writer
He has as clever a dog as you have.
It‟s too poor a market.
How beautiful a photo
(Source: Mariana Ţăranu, Limba engleză, probleme de gramatică şi exerciţii pentru elevi,
p. 19)
Groups of words including the indefinite article A / An :
a lot of - mult ,mulţi;
a little more - puţin mai mult;
a great many friends - mulţi prieteni;
of a size - de aceeaşi măsură;
twice a day , a month etc. - de două ori pe zi , pe
lună etc.
two hundred an hour - două sute pe oră;
seventy miles an hour - şaptezece de mile pe oră;
to have a care - a se îngriji;
to take a fancy - a urma o fantezie, un chef
de ceva;
at a blow - dintr-o lovitură;
to keep an eye on - a supraveghea;
for a time - pentru un timp;
two at a time - doi în acelaşi timp;
all of a sudden - deodată;
it is a pity - e păcat;
in a hurry - în grabă;
at a loss - în încurcătură;
for a change - pentru schimbare;
for a while - pentru un răstimp;
at a speed of - la viteza de;
for a short / long time - pentru scurt / lung timp;
as a result - ca rezultat;
as a matter of fact - de fapt;
to have a good time - a petrece bine;
to take a rest - a se odihni;
to go for a walk - a se plimba.
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(Source: Mariana Ţăranu, Limba engleză, probleme de gramatică şi exerciţii pentru elevi,
p.19)
Articles are not used in the following situations:
1. before plural countable nouns in general contexts;
e.g. Shareholders are invited to express their opinion.
2. before uncountable nouns;
e.g. There is sugar on the table.
3. before names of meals;
e.g. We have breakfast at nine.
We were all invited to dinner.
4.before nouns denoting seasons, months of the year, days of the week;
e.g. spring , March , Monday , etc.
5. before nouns denoting ideas , abstract nouns;
e.g. We struggle for happiness.
Life is wonderful.
6. before nouns denoting names of materials, substances ;
e.g. Chalk is white.
7. before names given to languages and studying objects ;
e.g. English is easy.
I am learning Geography with much pleasure.
This year they are studying German too.
8. before nouns denoting colours;
e.g. Blue is my favourite colour.
Notice that all these nouns use the before them if they are determined, there is a
certain specification mentioned:
i.e. Do you remember the Sunday we spent in the woods ? The happiness we struggle for
is not to be found easily. The chalk I got is not hard enough. The blue I prefer is the light
blue of the sky. The dinner he is looking forward to is going to be at 8 o’clock. The
English you know is quite good.
(Source: Mariana Ţăranu, Limba engleză, probleme de gramatică şi exerciţii pentru
elevi)
Groups of words without article:
at dawn în zori by heart pe de rost
at noon la prânz from morning
till night
de dimineaţa
până noaptea
at sunset la apusul
soarelui
from top to
bottom
de sus şi până
jos
at night la vreme de
noapte
in bed în pat (cu v.
to lie)
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at home acasă in debt în situaţie de
datornic
at school la şcoală in doubt în stare de
dubiu
at table la masă in love îndrăgostit
at liberty în stare de
libertate
in memory
(of)
în memoria
by
accident
din întâmplare
(nefericită)
on business cu scopul de a
face ceva
by chance din întamplare
(fericită)
to attend a
school
a frecventa o
şcoală
by ear după ureche without doubt fara îndoială
by good
fortune
datorită
norocului
side by side alături
by
mistake
din greşeală hand in hand de mână (a
ţine)
by phone prin telefon arm in arm braţ la braţ
by land pe uscat day after day zi după zi
by air prin aer week after
week
săptămână
după
săptămână
by sea pe mare year after
year
an după an
by train cu trenul
by coach cu diligenta; cu
autocarul But :
by car cu masina at the table
by boat cu barca to the school
by plane cu avionul to the market
by post prin poştă on the bed
by name pe nume
by sight din vedere
(Source: Mariana Ţăranu, Limba engleză, probleme de gramatică şi exerciţii pentru elevi,
p.25)
Exercise 1. Insert the definite article or the zero article:
1. He ran into … house and shut … door.
2. … milk is good for … children.
3. … food in … restaurant near me is very good.
4. Please, put … butter, … bread, and … eggs in … refrigerator.
5. … lions are … wild animals.
6. One of Mark Twain‟s works is “Life on … Mississippi”.
7. In … Asia … elephants are used for carrying … goods.
8. … man on her right is … English.
9. We often go to … Manchester by … train.
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10. How many rockets have been sent to … moon?
11. He came to his room late at … night and told … uncle Theo how he had spent …
evening at … theatre.
12. We have … breakfast rather early.
13. Lizzie, … cook, left … Chapmans three weeks ago.
14. All the people in … village go to … church on … Sunday.
15. In some houses … dinner is … biggest meal of … day.
Exercise 2. Insert the indefinite article or the zero article:
1. He made … mistake in his addition.
2. Would you do me … favour?
3. The electric light was … important invention.
4. Where there‟s … smoke, there‟s … fire.
5. Meeting you has been … great pleasure.
6. He is studying … religion.
7. They asked him … difficult question.
8. She wants to become … nurse.
9. The lawyer gave his client … very good advice.
10. She likes to eat … good food.
11. … honesty and … loyalty are … rare virtues.
12. Eggs are 50 p. … dozen.
13. What … bad weather we are having today!
14. She bought … yellow dress and … pair of … shoes.
15. … Glasgow is … city in Scotland.
Exercise 3. Supply the required articles:
1. He speaks with … great authority on the subject. He is consulting with… authority on
urban development.
2. … water used in this beer comes from a special spring. In order to survive, we must
have … water.
3. … bread has been called the staff of life. … bread you baked is
delicious.
4. … silver in this ring is of inferior quality. … silver is used for money and jewellery.
5. … genius is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration. … genius of
Edison is universally recognized.
6. … fresh milk tastes good. … milk which I bought yesterday should still be good.
7. Everyone was impressed by … sincerity with which he spoke. We all admire …
sincerity.
8. After several attempts, he lost … courage. He showed … courage that surprised me.
Exercise 4. Fill in the blanks with the required articles:
Last year I stayed in … little town in … England called … Stratford-on-Avon. I wanted
to go to … theatre to see some of … plays of … Shakespeare. … theatre is near … River
Avon, … beautiful river in which you can bathe and sail … boats. When I arrived in …
Stratford, I was told to stay at … hotel called “… Dirty Duck”, but I couldn‟t find it. I
asked many people where it
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was, but no one knew it. I saw … policeman at … corner of … main street. I spoke to
him and asked him if he knew “... Dirty Duck”. He laughed and told me that he knew it
all right. It was just at … bottom of … street near “… Plaza” cinema. I walked to …
bottom of … street, saw … hotel and read … name above … door. It was called “…
Black Swan”!
Exercise 5. Fill in the blanks with the indefinite article a/an, before singular countable
nouns, or the indefinite pronoun some, before uncountable nouns or plural nouns:
1. He needs … hammer and … nails to fix the table.
2. They have bought … furniture.
3. For breakfast I had only … bread and … cup of tea.
4. They are building … house in my street.
5. Could you give me … information about this school?
6. … people are fond of telling stories.
7. There was … snow on the high mountain.
8. That little town lies in … lovely valley.
9. I have … very severe headache.
10. … words are never used in the plural.
11. … passengers were in a hurry to catch … train.
12. I can give you … advice, but I can‟t do the work for you.
Exercise 6. Complete the spaces using the correct article: a, an, or the.
a) Good morning. Let me introduce myself: My name is Tessa Lane, I‟m …………
accountant and I work for …………. medium - sized industrial finance company in
London. My company, Ajax Enterprises is one of ………… the most important
manufacturers in …………country. We produce ………..wide range of goods including
plastics for ………..automobile industry. I enjoy my job because it gives me the
opportunity to meet lots of interesting people and to travel abroad. …………only thing I
dislike about my job is having to work at …………weekend.
b) I got …………fax from Sigrid in Copenhagen this morning. She says she‟d like to
arrange ………..meeting with some us some time in ………..next two months. Would
you like me to give her ………..ring and fix ……….time?
c) I‟m writing to ask if anyone in your company is interested in attending
………….marketing conference in July. …………conference will be held in a beautiful
location near Paris. It will give your staff ………..excellent opportunity to look at
…………current state of some key European markets. We need to have ………...firm
decision by 30th
March at ………..latest.
d) …………Claymore is ………..luxury hotel located close to Edinburgh‟s business
centre. We provide everything you need for ……….comfortable and successful stay in
Scotland‟s capital. You need ………..fax machine? We can install one in your room. You
need …………important document typed or copied? No problem. We have
…………pool of trained secretaries ready to assist. You have ………….important
meeting? Don‟t worry. Our international conference centre is equipped with
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………….luxury boardroom where business becomes pleasure. …………Claymore is
Scotland‟s premier business destination. Give us…………ring today.
e) According to………..recent study, Swiss executives are still ……….highest paid in
Europe. ……….report published by …………Simon Hartner Consultancy also puts
Spanish executives among ………..top earners. However, ………….figures did not take
into account perks* like company cars and free medical insurance.
* perks = beneficii suplimentare
(Source: John Morisson Milne, Business Language Practice, p.58,)
Adjectives - Degrees of comparison
Antonyms: Good / bad; tall / short; fat / thin; long / short; large / small, little; wide /
narrow; cold / hot; clean / dirty; cheap/ expensive; sweet/ bitter; fast / slow; thick / thin;
happy / unhappy; merry / sad; easy / difficult; full / empty; beautiful / ugly; clever /
stupid; dark / bright; heavy / light; kind / unkind, rude; high / low; hard / soft ; etc.
A. Short adjectives
The positive The comparative The superlative
long longer (than) the longest
large larger the largest
clean cleaner the cleanest
small smaller the smallest
etc.
big bigger (than) the biggest
fat fatter the fattest
thin thinner the thinnest
hot hotter the hottest
funny funnier (than) the funniest
happy happier the happiest
easy easier the easiest
etc.
good better (than) the best
bad worse the worst
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B. Long adjectives
The positive The comparative The superlative
beautiful more beautiful (than) the most beautiful
important more important the most important
interesting more interesting the most interesting
comfortable more comfortable the most comfortable
etc.
The comparative of equity: as…as
e.g. John is as tall as his brother.
She is as beautiful as her mother.
The comparative of inferiority: less…
e.g. John is less tall than his father.
The film is less interesting than the novel.
Adjective intensifiers
There are some words which can be used to 'intensify' many adjectives – 'very' 'really'
'totally' 'absolutely' 'completely' 'utterly' 'entirely'.
o It's very tall.
o We're really happy.
o She's totally exhausted.
o I'm absolutely horrified.
o He's completely hopeless.
o You look utterly miserable.
o I'm entirely satisfied.
Certain adjectives have their own 'special' intensifiers which are often used with them.
Here are some common ones:
blind drunk
o He was blind drunk and behaved really badly.
bone dry
o I must have a drink. I'm bone dry.
brand new
o I've just bought a brand new car.
crystal clear
o The sea near Rhodes is crystal clear.
dead easy
o That exam was dead easy. I've certainly passed.
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dead lucky
o He's won three lottery prizes this year. He's dead lucky.
dead right
o I agree entirely. You are dead right.
dirt cheap
o I bought my car for a dirt cheap price from an old lady who had hardly
driven it.
fast asleep / sound asleep
o I was in bed and fast asleep by nine.
o I was sound asleep and I didn't hear anything.
paper thin
o These office walls are paper thin. You can hear everything said in the next
office.
pitch black
o There's no moon. It's pitch black out there.
razor sharp
o Be careful with that knife- it's razor sharp.
rock hard
o It's impossible to dig this soil – it's rock hard.
stark naked
o The hotel door slammed behind me and I was left standing stark naked in
the middle of the corridor.
stone deaf
o He can't hear a thing. He's stone deaf.
wide awake
o I was wide awake by six.
wide open
o Who left the door wide open?
(Source: www.better-english.com)
Read and learn (I)
at the expense of - pe cheltuiala (cuiva); pe seama;
in the nick of time - în ultima clipă;
to stand the chance - a avea şansa;
to take the bull by the horns - a lua taurul de coarne;
to beat around the bush - a bate câmpii; a nu vorbi la subiect;
on the other hand - pe de altă parte;
to feel the pulse - a simţi pulsul;
to be in the habit - a-i fi in obişnuinţă;
to become the fashion - a fi la modă
under the circumstances - în aceste împrejurări
on the whole - în întregime; în general vorbind; în linii mari
to give a cold shoulder - a face o primire rece; a fi distant
to cost the earth - a costa o avere
to be chicken - a fi laş
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to be in the blues - a fi prost dispus
to get the upper hand - a obţine un avantaj; a câştiga (o intrecere)
to give the creeps - a da fiori
on the spur of the moment - sub impulsul momentului
all to the good - odată pentru totdeauna
There is, there are constructions
There is , there are constructions
Rule: these constructions are placed before the logical subject of the sentence anticipating
it; these constructions have the same number and gender as the noun they anticipate.
Affirmative Interrogative Negative
Sing. There is … Is there … There isn‟t …
Pl. There are … Are there … There aren‟t …
Models: 1. There is a desk in the corner of the room. 2. There are many cars in this
parking area. 3. There is a dictionary on the table. 4. There are many people in the corner
shop.5. There are a lot of roses in this garden. 6. Is there a pen on the desk? 7. Are there a
lot of paintings on the wall? 8. Are there many students in the classroom? 9. There aren’t
many desks in this office.
Expressing possession
Personal
pronouns
Possessive
adjectives
Possessive
pronouns
I my mine
You your yours
He his his
She her hers
It its its
We our ours
You your yours
They their theirs
Read the sentences below and pay attention to the use of the possessive adjectives and
pronouns:
1. This is my car. It is mine. 2. That purse is yours, Mrs. White, isn‟t it? Yes, it is. It is not
hers.3. They have two children: a son and a daughter haven‟t they? Yes, they have. Those
are their balls. His is brown, and hers is red. 4. Our office is large, theirs is small. 5. Her
dress I new, mine is old. 6. This dog is very nice. Its fur is like brown velvet. 7. My
neighbours are very rude, yours are so kind! 8. Where is your watch? Mine is on my desk.
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The Noun
Besides other classifications, nouns can be:
A. Countable nouns – they do have a plural form;
B. Uncountable nouns – they do not have plural forms.
A. Countable nouns - the plural:
- general rule: singular + -s = plural
book - books
car - cars
doll - dolls
tree - trees
horse - horses
etc.
1) nouns ending in –tch, -sh, - ss, -s, -x, add –es for the plural
watch – watches
bush - bushes
dress - dresses
bus - buses
box - boxes
etc.
2) nouns ending in –o, add –es for the plural
potato – potatoes
tomato - tomatoes
hero - heroes
echo - echoes
etc.
but: piano – pianos
photo – photos
3) nouns ending in – y preceded by a consonant change it into –i and add – es
lady - ladies
country - countries
city - cities
cherry - cherries
berry - berries
etc.
but: boy - boys
toy - toys
key - keys
play –plays
etc.
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4) 12 nouns ending in -f or -fe change it into – v and add – es
life – lives elf – elves
wife - wives half - halves
leaf - leaves thief - thieves
loaf - loaves calf - calves
shelf -shelves self - selves
wolf - wolves knife – knives
but: roof - roofs
staff - staffs
5) irregular plurals: man - men (or: policeman – policemen)
woman - women
child - children
tooth - teeth
foot - feet (but: footprint – footprints)
goose - geese
mouse - mice
die - dice
6) nouns having no plural forms:
deer - deer (caprioară - căprioare)
sheep - sheep (oaie – oi)
trout - trout ( păstrăv- păstrăvi)
series - series
species - species
but: fruit: a) fruit(only apples)
b) fruits (apples, pears, etc.)
fish: a) fish (only carps)
b) fishes (carps, salmons, trout, etc.)
7) nouns having a singular form, a plural meaning, requiring a singular verb:
information
luggage
advice
knowledge + sing. Vb.
furniture
machinery
jewellery
(for the singular we use: a piece of…)
i.e. The information is good.
(Informaţiile sunt bune)
But: I need a piece of information, please.
(Am nevoie de o informaţie, te rog.)
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8) nouns having a plural form, a singular meaning, requiring a singular verb:
news
mumps (oreion)
measles (pojar)
mathematics
physics + sing. Vb.
economics
statistics
gymnastics
phonetics
etc.
i.e. Mathematics is a difficult subject.
What news is this?
Measles is a catching disease.
9) nouns having a plural form in English, a singular meaning in Romanian, requiring a
plural verb in English:
trousers alms (pomană)
pants pyjamas
scales spectacles
tongs glasses
scissors goggles (ochelari de scafandru)
surroundings outskirts (periferie)
under-wears bellows
etc.
10) nouns having two plural forms:
cloth - cloths genius - geniuses
- clothes = pl. vb. - genii (duhuri)
die - dies (stampă, matriţă) penny - pennies
- dice - pence
11) nouns having two or several meanings in the plural:
custom – customs a) obiceiuri
b) vama = pl. vb.
colour –colours a) culori
b) steaguri militare
ground – grounds a) terenuri
b) motive (pentru care)
c) zaţ (la cafea)
spirit – spirits a) spirite, duhuri
b) băuturi alcoolice
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B. Uncountable nouns:
a) Names of materials: salt, sugar, water, wine, milk, coffee, tea, beer etc. but also: gold,
silver, copper, coal, steel, aluminium etc.
b) Abstract nouns:
friendship humidity
ownership (proprietate) draught (secetă)
dictatorship sunshine
craftsmanship (măiestrie, îndemânare) masterpiece
mankind homeland (patrie)
humanity carelessness
traffic selfishness (egoism)
love pride
hate length
cowardice etc.
Note: Many uncountable nouns may become countable when they are used with the
meaning ’’ a kind of..., different kinds of..., a variety of...
Pluralia tantum and summation plurals
colour = culoare; pl. colours
colours (pl. tantum) = drapel
compass = busola; pl. compasses
compasses (pl. tantum) = compas
custom = obicei; pl. customs
customs (pl. tantum) = vama
damage = avarie; pl. damages
damages (pl. tantum) = despagubiri
effect = effect; pl. effects
effects (pl. tantum) = efecte; haine
glass = pahar; pl. glasses
glasses (pl. tantum) = ochelari
ground =teren, parc în jurul unei clădiri; pl. grounds
grounds (pl. tantum) = motivele; zaţ de cafea,
letter = scrisoare; pl. letters
letters (pl. tantum) = literatură, litere
minute = minut; pl. minutes
minutes (pl. tantum) = process verbal
manner = mod; pl. manners
manners (pl. tantum) = maniere, purtare
premise = premise; pl. premises
premises (pl. tantum) = local; imobil
pain = durere; pl. pains
pains (pl. tantum) = osteneala
quarter = sfert, cartier; pl. quarters
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quarters (pl. tantum) = locuinta; cantonament; sediu
receipt = chitanta; pl. receipts
receipts (pl. tantum) = incasari
scale = gama muzicala; solz; pl. scales
scales (pl. tantum) = cântar
spectacle = spectacol; pl. spectacles
spectacles (pl. tantum) = ochelari
term = perioada; termen; trimestru; pl. terms
terms (pl. tantum) = termeni; conditii; raporturi
Quantifiers
Quantifiers express number (many, few, several) or quantity (much, little) in a non-
defined way.
Many … (mult, multă, mulţi, multe) + countable nouns;
Much ... (mult, multă, mulţi, multe) + uncountable nouns.
Many trees Much traffic
Many children Much rain
Many buses Much wind
Etc. Etc.
A few ... (puţin; ceva mai mult decât 0; sens pozitiv);
.... few (foarte puţin / infim; sens negativ).
+ countable nouns
A little ... (puţin; ceva mai mult decât 0; sens pozitiv);
... little (puţin / infim; sens negativ)
+ uncountable nouns
Example:
There are a few people gathered into the meeting room. You may go and speak to them.
There are few people in the streets at this time of the night.
“Will lend me some money, please?”
“Yes, certainly. I have a little money left in my pocket.
Or
“No. I‟m afraid I can‟t. I have little money left in my pocket.”
Remember!
Money is an uncountable noun in English. We always use this noun only in the third
person singular.
Example: Money has no value in itself. It serves as a means of exchange between
commodities which do have a value to us.
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English Tenses 1. Present simple
We use the present simple to talk about actions we see as long term or permanent. It is a
very common and very important tense.
Here, we are talking about regular actions or events.
They drive to the office every day.
She doesn't come here very often.
The news usually starts at 6.00 every evening.
Do you usually have bacon and eggs for breakfast?
Here, we are talking about facts.
We have two children.
Water freezes at 0° C or 32° F.
What does this expression mean?
The Thames flows through London.
Here, we are talking about future facts, usually found in a timetable or a chart.
Christmas Day falls on a Monday this year.
The plane leaves at 5.00 tomorrow morning.
Ramadan doesn't start for another 3 weeks.
Does the class begin at 10 or 11 this week?
Here, we are talking about our thoughts and feelings at the time of speaking. Although
these feelings can be short-term, we use the present simple and not the present
continuous.
They don't ever agree with us.
I think you are right.
She doesn't want you to do it.
Do you understand what I am trying to say?
2. Present continuous
The present continuous is used to talk about present situations which we see as short-term
or temporary. We use the present simple to talk about present situations which we see as
long-term or permanent.
In these examples, the action is taking place at the time of speaking.
It's raining.
Who is Kate talking to on the phone?
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Look, somebody is trying to steal that man's wallet.
I'm not looking. My eyes are closed tightly.
In these examples, the action is true at the present time but we don't think it will be true
in the long term.
I'm looking for a new apartment.
He's thinking about leaving his job.
They're considering making an appeal against the judgment.
Are you getting enough sleep?
In these examples, the action is at a definite point in the future and it has already been
arranged.
I'm meeting her at 6.30.
They aren't arriving until Tuesday.
We are having a special dinner at a top restaurant for all the senior managers.
Isn't he coming to the dinner?
3. Present simple or continuous
The Present Simple is used for:
regular actions or events
He plays tennis most weekends.
facts
The sun rises in the east.
facts known about the future
We leave at 8.30 next Monday
thoughts and feelings about the time of speaking
I don't feel very well.
The Present Continuous is used for:
the time of speaking ('now')
Shut up, please. I'm trying to hear what they are saying.
things which are true at the moment but not always
We're looking for a new flat.
present plans for the future
We're having dinner with them next week .
Look at these examples:
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I don't usually have cereals for breakfast but I'm having some this morning
because there is nothing else.
I often cycle to work but I'm taking the car this morning because it's raining very
hard.
I'm thinking about having my hair cut short but I don't think my husband will be
very happy about it.
My parents live in Washington but I'm just visiting.
Note how, in all these examples, we use the present continuous to talk about events
which are temporary/limited in time and the present simple to talk about events which are
habits/permanent.
4. Past simple
We use the past simple to talk about actions and states which we see as completed in the
past.
We can use it to talk about a specific point in time.
She came back last Friday.
I saw her in the street.
They didn't agree to the deal.
It can also be used to talk about a period of time.
She lived in Tokyo for seven years.
They were in London from Monday to Thursday of last week.
When I was living in New York, I went to all the art exhibitions I could.
You will often find the past simple used with time expressions such as these:
Yesterday
three weeks ago
last year
in 2002
from March to June
for a long time
for 6 weeks
in the 1980s
in the last century
in the past
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5. Regular verbs
Verb (short infinitive) + -ed [ t [; [ d ]; [ id ]
[ - t ] [- d]
ask asked remember remembered
cook cooked travel traveled
talk talked arrive arrived
walk walked love loved
knock knocked live lived
work worked enjoy enjoyed
book booked play played
wash washed stay stayed
finish finished hurry hurried
push pushed carry carried
rush rushed cry cried
vanish vanished try tried
miss missed study studied
kiss kissed copy copied
dress dressed lie lied
fix fixed ski skied
mix mixed join joined
help helped etc.
stop stopped
etc.
[-id]
complete completed
point pointed
plant planted
count counted
melt melted
paint painted
heat heated
want wanted
wait waited
recite recited
skate skated
etc.
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6. Irregular verbs
Remember! All new verbs in English are regular.
I photocopied the report.
She faxed it to me.
They emailed everybody about it.
I googled my name and got more than 20 000 responses.
There are approximately 180 irregular verbs. You don‟t need to learn all of them because
some of these are very rare but many others are very useful and you do need to know
them.
What‟s the easiest way to learn them? Some people think you should learn a list „by
heart‟. Others think you should not learn them at all – you will just gradually acquire
them over time.
One useful method is to note down new irregular verbs as you meet them. It is useful to
write these verbs (or any vocabulary you want to learn) in sentences and learn those
rather than the individual word.
Which is easier to learn?
stick stuck stuck
I stuck the photo into my album.
Another technique is to classify the irregular verbs into 4 categories.
1. All forms the same
set set set
cost cost cost
2. Similar sound groups
beat beat beaten
eat ate eaten
blow blew blown
throw threw thrown
drink drank drunk
sing sang sung
speak spoke spoken
wake woke woken
3. The second and third forms are the same.
bend bent bent
sleep slept slept
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spend spent spent
bring brought brought
buy bought bought
teach taught taught
have had had
pay paid paid
say said said
4. The “unclassifiables”
come came come
do did done
go went gone
show showed show
Read and learn!
The Infinitive The past simple The past participle
(the 3rd
form)
To cast
(to broadcast)
To cost
To cut
To hit
To hurt
To let
To put
To shut
To set
cast
(to broadcast)
cost
cut
hit
hurt
let
put
shut
set
cast
(to broadcast)
cost
cut
hit
hurt
let
put
shut
set
To take
To break
To shake
To speak
To choose
To steal
To eat
To drive
To write
To ride
To rise
To arise
To fall
To beat
To bite
took
broke
shook
spoke
chose
stole
ate
drove
wrote
rode
rose
arose
fell
beat
bit
taken
broken
shaken
spoken
chosen
stolen
eaten
driven
written
ridden
risen
arisen
fallen
beaten
bitten
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To hide
To get
To forget
To give
To forgive
To wake
hid
got
forgot
gave
forgave
woke
hidden
got/gotten
forgotten
given
forgiven
woken
To buy
To bring
To teach
To think
To catch
To fight
bought
brought
taught
thought
caught
fought
bought
brought
taught
thought
caught
fought
To grow
To draw
To fly
To blow
To know
grew
drew
flew
blew
knew
grown
drown
flown
blown
known
To ring
To sing
To run
To begin
To swim
To shrink
To drink
Rang
Sang
Ran
Began
Swam
Shrank
drank
rung
sung
run
begun
swum
shrunk
drunk
To meet
To feel
To feed
To sleep
To leave
To keep
To kneel
To bleed
met
felt
fed
slept
left
kept
knelt
bled
met
felt
fed
slept
left
kept
knelt
bled
To build
To send
To spend
To bend
To lend
built
sent
spent
bent
lent
built
sent
spent
bent
lent
To bear
To tear
To wear
To swear
bore
tore
wore
swore
born
torn
worn
sworn
To say
To pay
To lay
said
paid
laid
said
paid
laid
To lie lay lain
To find found found
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To win
To dig
To stick
To make
To mean
To read
To grind
To sit
To stand
To have
won
dug
stuck
made
meant
read
ground
sat
stood
had
won
dug
stuck
made
meant
read
ground
sat
stood
had
To go
To do
went
did
gone
done
To be was/were been
Etc.
7. Present perfect
(Please note that British and American English have different rules for the use of this
tense. The explanation and exercises here refer to British English. In American English, it
is often acceptable to use the past simple in some of these examples.)
A. We use the present perfect when we want to look back from the present to the past.
We can use it to look back on the recent past.
I've broken my watch so I don't know what time it is.
They have cancelled the meeting.
She's taken my copy. I don't have one.
The sales team has doubled its turnover.
B. When we look back on the recent past, we often use the words 'just' 'already' or the
word 'yet' (in negatives and questions only).
We've already talked about that.
She hasn't arrived yet.
I've just done it.
They've already met.
They don't know yet.
Have you spoken to him yet?
Have they got back to you yet?
C. It can also be used to look back on the more distant past.
We've been to Singapore a lot over the last few years.
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She's done this type of project many times before.
We've mentioned it to them on several occasions over the last six months.
They've often talked about it in the past.
D. When we look back on the more distant past, we often use the words 'ever' (in
questions) and 'never'.
Have you ever been to Argentina?
Has he ever talked to you about the problem?
I've never met Jim and Sally.
We've never considered investing in Mexico.
8. Present perfect continuous
This tense is used to talk about an action or actions that started in the past and continued
until recently or that continue into the future:
A. We can use it to refer to an action that has finished but you can still see evidence.
Oh, the kitchen is a mess. Who has been cooking?
You look tired. Have you been sleeping properly?
I've got a stiff neck. I've been working too long on computer.
B. It can refer to an action that has not finished.
I've been learning Spanish for 20 years and I still don't know very much.
I've been waiting for him for 30 minutes and he still hasn't arrived.
He's been telling me about it for days. I wish he would stop.
C. It can refer to a series of actions.
She's been writing to her regularly for a couple of years.
He's been phoning me all week for an answer.
The university has been sending students here for over twenty years to do work
experience.
D. The present perfect continuous is often used with 'since', 'for', 'all week', 'for days',
'lately', 'recently', 'over the last few months'.
I've wanted to do that for ten years.
You haven't been getting good results over the last few months.
They haven't been working all week. They're on strike
He hasn't been talking to me for weeks.
We've been working hard on it for ages.
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I've been looking at other options recently.
He's been working here since 2001.
9. Present perfect simple or continuous
Often there is very little difference between the present perfect simple and the present
perfect continuous. In many cases, both are equally acceptable.
They've been working here for a long time but Andy has worked here for even
longer.
I've lived here for 10 years and she has been living here for 12 years.
To emphasize the action, we use the continuous form.
We've been working really hard for a couple of months.
She's been having a hard time.
To emphasize the result of the action, we use the simple form.
I've made fifteen phone calls this morning.
He's written a very good report.
Look at the difference in these examples.
I've been reading this book for two months but I've only read half of it. It's very
difficult to read.
She's been trying to convince him for 20 minutes but she hasn't managed to yet.
They've been talking about this for month and they still haven't found a solution.
When an action is finished and you can see the results, use the continuous form.
The phone bill is enormous. You've been calling your boyfriend in Australia,
haven't you?
You're red in the face. Have you been running?
When you use the words 'ever' or 'never', use the simple form.
I don't know them. I've never met them.
Have you ever heard anything so strange in your life?
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10. Present perfect or past tense
(Remember that British and American English have different rules for the use of the
present perfect. The comments and the exercises here refer to correct grammar for British
English. In American English, it is often considered acceptable to use the past simple in
some of these examples.)
The past simple is used to talk about actions in the past that have finished. It talks about
'then' and definitely excludes 'now'.
The present perfect simple is used to look back on actions in the past from the present.
It always includes 'now'.
These sentences are in the past with no connection to the present.
I first got to know him 10 years ago.
I started work here in 1989.
I had too much to eat at lunchtime.
Now look at these same situations seen from the present.
I've known him for 10 years.
I've worked here since 1987.
My stomach hurts. I've eaten too much.
We use time expressions like 'yesterday', 'ago', 'last year', 'in 1999' with the past simple.
We spoke to him yesterday.
He came in a few moments ago.
We made our last purchase from them over a year ago.
She joined the company in 1999.
We use time expressions like are 'ever', 'never', 'since' with the present perfect.
I've never seen so many people here before.
Have you ever been more surprised?
I've done a lot since we last talked about it.
Typical time expressions used with the present perfect in British English but often used
with the past simple in American English are 'already', 'just', 'yet'.
I haven't done it yet. (UK)
I didn't do it yet. (US)
I've just done it. (UK)
I just did it. (US)
I've already done it. (UK)
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I already did it. (US)
We can use the time phrase 'for' with both forms, but with different meanings.
I lived in Paris for a couple of years before I moved here.
I've lived in Paris for a couple of years and still love it.
11. Past continuous
We use the past simple to talk about actions and states which we see as completed in the
past.
We can use it to talk about a specific point in time.
We use the past continuous to talk about past events which went on for a period of time.
We use it when we want to emphasize the continuing process of an activity or the period
of that activity. (If we just want to talk about the past event as a simple fact, we use the
past simple.)
While I was driving home, Peter was trying desperately to contact me.
Were you expecting any visitors?
Sorry, were you sleeping?
I was just making some coffee.
I was thinking about him last night.
In the 1990s few people were using mobile phones.
We often use it to describe a "background action" when something else happened.
I was walking in the street when I suddenly fell over.
She was talking to me on the phone and it suddenly went dead.
They were still waiting for the plane when I spoke to them.
The company was declining rapidly before he took charge.
We were just talking about it before you arrived.
I was making a presentation in front of 500 people when the microphone stopped
working.
12. Past simple or continuous
Both the past simple and the past continuous refer to completed actions in the past.
Most of the time when we are talking about such actions, we use the past simple. This is
by far the most common way of talking about the past.
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I lived there for 6 years.
I only found out a few moments ago.
I asked her but she didn't know anything.
The company made 100 people redundant last year.
Only use the past continuous when you want to emphasize the continuity of the action.
Everybody was talking about it all evening.
They were really trying hard but couldn't do it.
I was thinking about you the other day.
Were you expecting that to happen?
When we use these two forms in the same sentence, we use the past continuous to talk
about the "background action" and the past simple to talk about the shorter completed
action.
It was raining hard when we left the building.
I was reading the report when you rang.
He was going out to lunch when I saw him.
The company was doing well when I last visited it.
13. Past perfect
We use the past perfect simple to talk about what happened before a point in the past. It
looks back from a point in the past to further in the past.
I hadn't known the bad news when I spoke to him.
I checked with the supplier and they still hadn't received the contract.
She had already told him before I got a chance to give him my version.
The company has started the year well but was badly hit by the postal strike.
The past perfect simple is often used when we report what people had
said/thought/believed.
He told me they had already paid the bill.
He said he believed that John had moved to Italy.
I thought we had already decided on a name for this product.
14. Past perfect continuous
We use the past perfect continuous to look back at a situation in progress.
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It was a good time to invest. Inflation had been falling for several months.
Before I changed jobs, I had been working on a plan to reduce production costs.
We had been thinking about buying a new house but then we decided to stay here.
We use it to say what had been happening before something else happened.
It had been snowing for a while before we left.
We had been playing tennis for only a few minutes when it started raining.
He was out of breath when he arrived because he had been running.
We use it when reporting things said in the past.
She said she had been trying to call me all day.
They said they had been shopping.
I told you I had been looking for some new clothes.
15. Past tense review 1
We can use the past simple to talk about actions and states which we see as completed in
the past.
I left school when I was sixteen.
I was very happy then.
He told me all about his childhood.
We can use the past continuous to talk about past events which went on for a period of
time.
While I was driving home, Peter was trying desperately to contact me.
I was thinking about him last night.
I was walking in the street when I suddenly fell over.
We can use the present perfect when we want to look back from the present to the past.
I've broken my watch so I don't know what time it is.
She hasn't arrived yet.
We've been to Singapore a lot over the last few years.
Have you ever been to Argentina?
The Present Perfect Continuous can be used to talk about an action or actions that
started in the past and continued until recently or that continue into the future.
You look tired. Have you been sleeping properly?
I've been waiting for him for 30 minutes and he still hasn't arrived.
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He's been phoning me all week for an answer.
We can use the past perfect simple to talk about what happened before a point in the
past. It looks back from a point in the past to further in the past.
I hadn't known the bad news when I spoke to him.
I thought we had already decided on a name for this product.
We can use the past perfect continuous to look back at a situation in progress.
We had been thinking about buying a new house but then we decided to
stay here.
It had been snowing for a while before we left.
She said she had been trying to call me all day.
16. Past tense review 2
We can use the past simple to talk about actions and states which we see as completed in
the past.
I left school when I was sixteen.
I was very happy then.
He told me all about his childhood.
We can use the past continuous to talk about past events which went on for a period of
time.
While I was driving home, Peter was trying desperately to contact me.
I was thinking about him last night.
I was walking in the street when I suddenly fell over.
We can use the present perfect when we want to look back from the present to the past.
I've broken my watch so I don't know what time it is.
She hasn't arrived yet.
We've been to Singapore a lot over the last few years.
Have you ever been to Argentina?
The Present Perfect Continuous can be used to talk about an action or actions that
started in the past and continued until recently or that continue into the future.
You look tired. Have you been sleeping properly?
I've been waiting for him for 30 minutes and he still hasn't arrived.
He's been phoning me all week for an answer.
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We can use the past perfect simple to talk about what happened before a point in the
past. It looks back from a point in the past to further in the past.
I hadn't known the bad news when I spoke to him.
I thought we had already decided on a name for this product.
We can use the past perfect continuous to look back at a situation in progress.
We had been thinking about buying a new house but then we decided to
stay here.
It had been snowing for a while before we left.
She said she had been trying to call me all day.
17. The imperative
We can use the imperative to give a direct order.
1. Take that chewing gum out of your mouth.
2. Stand up straight.
3. Give me the details.
We can use the imperative to give instructions.
1. Open your book.
2. Take two tablets every evening.
3. Take a left and then a right.
We can use the imperative to make an invitation.
1. Come in and sit down. Make yourself at home.
2. Please start without me. I'll be there shortly.
3. Have a piece of this cake. It's delicious.
We can use the imperative on signs and notices.
1. Push.
2. Do not use.
3. Insert one dollar.
We can use the imperative to give friendly informal advice.
1. Speak to him. Tell him how you feel.
2. Have a quiet word with her about it.
3. Don't go. Stay at home and rest up. Get some sleep and recover.
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We can make the imperative 'more polite' by adding 'do'.
Do be quiet.
Do come.
Do sit down.
18. Going to …
There is no one 'future tense' in English. There are 4 future forms. The one which is used
most often in spoken English is 'going to …' not 'will'.
We use 'going to …' when we want to talk about a plan for the future.
I'm going to see him later today.
They're going to launch it next month.
We're going to have lunch first.
She's going to see what she can do.
I'm not going to talk for very long.
Notice that this plan does not have to be for the near future.
When I retire I'm going to go back to Barbados to live.
In ten years time, I'm going to be boss of my own successful company.
We use 'going to' when we want to make a prediction based on evidence we can see now.
Look out! That cup is going to fall off.
Look at those black clouds. It's going to rain soon.
These figures are really bad. We're going to make a loss.
You look very tired. You're going to need to stop soon.
We can replace 'going to go' by 'going'.
I'm going out later.
She's going to the exhibition tomorrow.
19. Will - future
Some people have been taught that 'will' is 'the future' in English. This is not correct.
Sometimes when we talk about the future we cannot use 'will'. Sometimes when we use
'will' we are not talking about the future.
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We can use 'will' to talk about future events we believe to be certain.
The sun will rise over there tomorrow morning.
Next year, I'll be 50.
That plane will be late. It always is.
There won't be any snow. I'm certain. It's too warm.
Often we add 'perhaps', 'maybe', 'probably', 'possibly' to make the belief less certain.
I'll probably come back later.
He'll possibly find out when he sees Jenny.
Maybe it will be OK.
Perhaps we'll meet again some day.
We often use 'will' with 'I think' or 'I hope'.
I think I'll go to bed now.
I think she'll do well in the job.
I hope you'll enjoy your stay.
I hope you won't make too much noise.
We use 'will' at the moment we make a new decision or plan. The thought has just come
into our head.
Bye. I'll phone you when I get there.
I'll answer that.
I'll go.
I won't tell him. I promise.
20. Going to … or will
When we want to talk about future facts or things we believe to be true about the future,
we use 'will'.
The President will serve for four years.
The boss won't be very happy.
I'm sure you'll like her.
I'm certain he'll do a good job.
If we are not so certain about the future, we use 'will' with expressions such as 'probably',
'possibly', 'I think', 'I hope'.
I hope you'll visit me in my home one day.
She'll probably be a great success.
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I'll possibly come but I may not get back in time.
I think we'll get on well.
If you are making a future prediction based on evidence in the present situation, you may
use 'going to …'.
Not a cloud in the sky. It's going to be another warm day.
Look at the queue. We're not going to get in for hours.
The traffic is terrible. We're going to miss our flight.
Be careful! You're going to spill your coffee.
At the moment of making a decision, use 'will'. Once you have made the decision, talk
about it using 'going to'.
I'll call Jenny to let her know. Sarah, I need Jenny's number. I'm going to call her
about the meeting.
I'll come and have a drink with you but I must let Harry know. Harry, I'm going to
have a drink with Simon.
21. Will - other uses
Older textbooks often refer to 'will' as 'the future tense' and this has confused a lot of
learners.
It is important to remember that when we talk about the future we cannot always use
'will' and that when we use 'will' we are not always talking about the future.
Here 'will' is clearly referring to the future.
If I speak to her, I'll tell her about it.
I'll probably visit Sue when I go to Oxford.
Next birthday she'll be 32. Or so she says.
In these examples, however, 'will' is referring to events happening at the present.
The car won't start.
If that's the phone, I'll get it.
Will you have another cup of coffee?
When we use 'will' referring to the present, the idea being expressed is usually one of
'showing willingness' or 'will power'.
My baby won't stop crying. I've tried everything and I'm really exhausted.
I am the boss. You will do as I say.
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I need quiet to write this but he will keep on talking to me. I wish he would leave
me alone.
We use 'will' for requests, orders, invitations and offers.
Will you give me a hand?
Will you please take a seat?
Will you have some cake?
I'll help you.
We use 'will' to make promises or threats.
I'll do it at once.
I'll phone him back immediately.
I won't forget this.
I'll get my own back some day.
We use 'will' for habit.
A cat will always find a warm place to sleep.
My car won't go any faster than this.
We use 'will' for deduction.
I expect he'll want us to get on with it.
The phone's ringing. That will be Mark.
Look again at all of these examples of 'will'. They are all to do with the present or are
'timeless'.
22. Shall
We don't use 'Shall' very frequently in modern English, particularly in American English.
It is used to make offers and suggestions and to ask for advice.
What time shall we meet?
Shall we vote on it now?
What dress shall I wear?
Shall I open the window?
You only really need to know that about 'shall' in modern English. Read the rest of this
only if you want to know more about how some older speakers still use 'shall'.
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Formerly, in older grammar, 'shall' was used as an alternative to 'will' with 'I' and 'we'.
Today, 'will' is normally used. When we do use 'shall', it has an idea of a more personal,
subjective future.
I shall go to see the boss and I shall ask him to explain this decision.
Notice that the negative of 'shall' can be 'shall not' or 'shan't' – though the second one is
now very rare in American English.
I don't like these people and I shall not go to their party.
I shan't object if you go without me.
22. Can
We use 'can' to talk about 'possibility'.
Can you do that?
I can't manage to do that.
You can leave your car in that parking space.
You cannot smoke in here.
Notice that there are two negative forms: 'can't' and 'cannot'. These mean exactly the
same thing. When we are speaking, we usually say 'can't'.
We use 'can' to talk about 'ability'.
I can speak French.
I can't drive.
We use 'can' to ask for and give permission. (We also use 'may' for this but is more
formal and much less common.)
Can I speak to you or are you too busy?
You can use my phone.
You can't come in.
We use 'can' in offers, requests and instructions.
Can I help?
Can you give me a hand?
When you finish that, you can take out the garbage.
We use 'can' with 'see' 'hear' 'feel' 'smell' 'taste' to talk about something which is
happening now . (Where you would use the present continuous with most other verbs.)
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I can smell something burning.
Can you hear that noise?
I can't see anything.
We can use 'can't' for deduction. The opposite of 'can't' in this context is 'must'.
You can't be hungry. You've just eaten.
You must be hungry. You haven't eaten anything all day.
He was in London one hour ago when I spoke to him. He can't be here yet.
23. Could
'Could' can be used to talk about the past, the present or the future.
'Could' is a past form of 'can'
When I was living in Boston, I could walk to work.
He phoned to say he couldn't come.
I could see him clearly but I couldn't hear him and then the videoconference line
went dead.
'Could' is used to make polite requests. We can also use 'can' for these but 'could' is more
polite.
Could you help me, please?
Could you lend me some money?
Could I have a lift?
Could I bother you for a moment?
If we use 'could' in reply to these requests, it suggests that we do not really want to do it.
If you agree to the request, it is better to say 'can'.
Of course I can.
I could help you if it's really necessary but I'm really busy right now.
I could lend you some money but I'd need it back tomorrow without fail.
I could give you a lift as far as Birmingham.
'Could' is used to talk about theoretical possibility and is similar in meaning to 'might'.
It could rain later. Take an umbrella.
He could be there by now.
Could he be any happier?
It could be Sarah's.
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24. May / might
May
We can use 'may' to ask for permission. However this is rather formal and not used very
often in modern spoken English
May I borrow your pen?
May we think about it?
May I go now?
We use 'may' to suggest something is possible
It may rain later today.
I may not have time to do it today.
Pete may come with us
Might
We use 'might' to suggest a small possibility of something. Often we read that 'might'
suggests a smaller possibility that 'may', there is in fact little difference and 'might is
more usual than 'may' in spoken English.
She might be at home by now but it's not sure at all.
It might rain this afternoon.
I might not have time to go to the shops for you.
I might not go.
For the past, we use 'might have'.
He might have tried to call while I was out.
I might have dropped it in the street.
25. Must or have to
We can use 'must' to show that we are certain something is true. We are making a logical
deduction based upon some clear evidence or reason.
There's no heating on. You must be freezing.
You must be worried that she is so late coming home.
I can't remember what I did with it. I must be getting old.
It must be nice to live in Florida.
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We also use 'must' to express a strong obligation. When we use 'must' this usually means
that some personal circumstance makes the obligation necessary (and the speaker almost
certainly agrees with the obligation.)
I must go to bed earlier.
They must do something about it.
You must come and see us some time.
I must say, I don't think you were very nice to him.
We can also use 'have to' to express a strong obligation. When we use 'have to' this
usually means that some external circumstance makes the obligation necessary.
I have to arrive at work at 9 sharp. My boss is very strict.
We have to give him our answer today or lose out on the contract.
You have to pass your exams or the university will not accept you.
I have to send a report to Head Office every week.
In British English, we often use 'have got to' to mean the same as 'have to'.
I've got to take this book back to the library or I'll get a fine.
We've got to finish now as somebody else needs this room.
We can also use ' will have to' to talk about strong obligations. Like 'must' this usually
means that that some personal circumstance makes the obligation necessary. (Remember
that 'will' is often used to show 'willingness'.)
I'll have to speak to him.
We'll have to have lunch and catch up on all the gossip.
They'll have to do something about it.
I'll have to get back to you on that.
As you can see, the differences between the present forms are sometimes very small and
very subtle. However, there is a huge difference in the negative forms.
We use 'mustn't' to express strong obligations NOT to do something.
We mustn't talk about it. It's confidential.
I mustn't eat chocolate. It's bad for me.
You mustn't phone me at work. We aren't allowed personal calls.
They mustn't see us talking or they'll suspect something.
We use 'don't have to' (or 'haven't got to' in British English) to state that there is NO
obligation or necessity.
We don't have to get there on time. The boss is away today.
I don't have to listen to this. I'm leaving.
You don't have to come if you don't want to.
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He doesn't have to sign anything if he doesn't want to at this stage.
I haven't got to go. Only if I want to
26. Present forms for the future
We use the present continuous to talk about things that we have already arranged to do in
the future.
I've got my ticket. I'm leaving on Thursday.
I'm seeing Julie at 5 and then I'm having dinner with Simon.
He's picking me up at the airport.
The company is giving everyone a bonus for Christmas.
In many situations when we talk about future plans we can use either the present
continuous or the 'going to' future. However, when we use the present continuous, there is
more of a suggestion that an arrangement has already been made.
I'm going to see him./I'm seeing him.
I'm going to do it./I'm doing it.
We use the present simple to talk about events in the future which are 'timetabled'. We
can also use the present continuous to talk about these.
My plane leaves at 6 in the morning.
The shop opens at 9.30.
The sun rises a minute earlier tomorrow.
My plane is leaving at 8.30.
The shop is closing at 7.00.
The sun is rising at 6.32 tomorrow.
27. Zero conditional
When we talk about things that are generally or always true, we can use:
If/When/Unless plus a present form PLUS present simple or imperative
If he gets there before me, ask him to wait.
When you fly budget airline, you have to pay for your drinks and snacks.
Unless you need more space, a small car is big enough for one person.
Note that we are not talking about a specific event but something which is generally true.
In the condition clause, we can use a variety of present forms. In the result clause, there
can only be the present simple or imperative.
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If you visit London, go on the London Eye.
If unemployment is rising, people tend to stay in their present jobs.
If you've done that, go and have a coffee.
When you go on holiday, take plenty of sun cream. It'll be very hot.
When I'm concentrating, please don't make so much noise.
When I've finished an article, I always ask Kate to read it through.
Notice that 'unless' means the same as 'if not'.
Unless he asks you politely, refuse to do any more work on the project.
Unless prices are rising, it's not a good investment.
Unless you've been there yourself, you don't really understand how fantastic it is.
28. The first conditional
We use the First Conditional to talk about future events that are likely to happen.
If we take John, he'll be really pleased.
If you give me some money, I'll pay you back tomorrow.
If they tell us they want it, we'll have to give it to them.
If Mary comes, she'll want to drive.
The 'if' clause can be used with different present forms.
If I go to New York again, I'll buy you a souvenir from the Empire State Building.
If he's feeling better, he'll come.
If she hasn't heard the bad news yet, I'll tell her.
The "future clause" can contain 'going to' or the future perfect as well as 'will'.
If I see him, I'm going to tell him exactly how angry I am.
If we don't get the contract, we'll have wasted a lot of time and money.
The "future clause" can also contain other modal verbs such as 'can' and 'must'.
If you go to New York, you must have the cheesecake in Lindy's.
If he comes, you can get a lift home with him.
29. Second conditional
The Second Conditional is used to talk about 'impossible' situations.
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If we were in London today, we would be able to go to the concert in Hyde Park
If I had millions dollars, I'd give a lot to charity.
If there were no hungry people in this world, it would be a much better place.
If everyone had clean water to drink, there would be a lot less disease.
Note that after I / he/ she /it we often use the subjunctive form 'were' and not 'was'. (Some
people think that 'were' is the only 'correct' form but other people think 'was' is equally
'correct' .)
If she were happy in her job, she wouldn't be looking for another one.
If I lived in Japan, I'd have sushi every day.
If they were to enter our market, we'd have big problems.
Note the form 'If I were you' which is often used to give advice.
If I were you, I'd look for a new place to live.
If I were you, I'd go back to school and get more qualifications.
The Second Conditional is also used to talk about 'unlikely' situations.
If I went to China, I'd visit the Great Wall.
If I was the President, I'd reduce taxes.
If you were in my position, you'd understand.
Note that the choice between the first and the second conditional is often a question of the
speaker's attitude rather than of facts. Compare these examples. Otto thinks these things
are possible, Peter doesn't.
Otto – If I win the lottery, I'll buy a big house.
Peter – If I won the lottery, I'd buy a big house.
Otto – If I get promoted, I'll throw a big party.
Peter – If I got promoted, I'd throw a big party.
Otto – If my team win the Cup, I'll buy champagne
for everybody.
Peter – If my team won the Cup, I'd buy champagne
for everybody.
Note that the 'If clause' can contain the past simple or the past continuous.
If I was still working in Brighton, I would commute
by train.
If she were coming, she would be here by now.
If they were thinking of selling, I would want to
buy.
Note that the main clause can contain 'would' 'could' or 'might.
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If I had the chance to do it again, I would do it
differently.
If we met up for lunch, we could go to that new
restaurant.
If I spoke to him directly, I might be able to
persuade him.
Also note that sometimes the 'if clause' is implied rather than spoken.
What would I do without you? ("if you weren't
here")
Where would I get one at this time of night? ("if I
wanted one")
He wouldn't agree. ("if I asked him")
30. Third conditional
We can use the Third Conditional to talk about 'impossible' conditions, impossible
because they are in the past and we cannot change what has happened.
If I had worked harder at school, I would have got better grades.
If I had had time, I would have gone to see him. But I didn't have time.
If we had bought that house, we would have had to rebuild the kitchen.
If we had caught the earlier train, we would have got there on time but we were
late.
Notice that the main clause can contain 'would', 'could' or 'might.
If I had seen him at the meeting, I would have asked him. (But he wasn't there so I
didn't.)
If I had seen him at the meeting, I could have asked him. ( But he wasn't there so
it wasn't possible.)
If I had seen him at the meeting, I might have asked him. (But I'm not sure.
Perhaps if the opportunity had arisen.)
If I had paid more attention in class, I would have understood the lesson.
Also notice that sometimes the 'if clause' is implied rather than spoken.
I'd have done it. ("if you had asked me but you didn't.")
I wouldn't have said that. ("if I'd been there.")
He wouldn't have let him get away with that. ("if he had tried that with me.")
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31. The subjunctive
The subjunctive expresses a possible action, or unreality, improbability.
The Synthetically Subjunctive
- The Present Subjunctive
It is used:
1. to express wishes or set expressions:
God save the Queen!
Damn you!
God bless you!
Long live peace!
Suffice it to say that ...
2. in subordinate "that" clauses:
It is advisable that you come back soon.
- The Past Subjunctive
It is used:
1. in conditional clauses:
If I were you, I wouldn't borrow money from the bank.
2. after wish, it's (high) time, as if/though, even if/though, would rather/sooner/better.
I wish I were back home.
It's (high) time you finish writing.
He is looking at me as if he knew me.
He would rather go to the mountains than stay at home.
He would rather I stayed home.
-The Past Perfect Subjunctive
It is used:
1. in conditional clauses to express a Past Conditional:
I would have sold the car if I had found a client.
2. after wish or even if/though:
I wish you hadn't done this.
Mike was speaking Spanish as if/though he had been a Spaniard.
Even if/though I had seen him, I wouldn't have informed you.
The Analytical Subjunctive
Shall + Infinitive
Shall I compare you with a champion?
Should + Infinitive
Why shouldn't you come earlier?
It is necessary that you should arrive in time.
If he should come, just tell me.
(= happened to come)
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We ran away lest he should catch us up.
May all your dreams come true!
No matter how difficult the task might be he still wants to do it.
They wish she would pass the exam.
She practiced a lot so that she could win the contest.
Should
We use 'should' for giving advice.
You should speak to him about it.
He should see a doctor.
We should ask a lawyer.
We use 'should' to give an opinion or a recommendation.
He should resign now.
We should invest more in Asia.
They should do something about this terrible train service.
'Should' expresses a personal opinion and is much weaker and more personal than 'must'
or 'have to'. It is often introduced by ' I think'.
I think they should replace him.
I don't think they should keep the contract.
Do you think we should tell her.
Should have
We can use 'should have' to talk about past events that did not happen.
I should have let her know what was happening but I forgot.
He should have sent everybody a reminder by email.
They should have remembered that their guests don't eat pork.
We can also use 'should have' to speculate about events that may or may not have
happened.
She should have got the letter this morning. I expect she'll give us a call about it
later.
He should have arrived at his office by now. Let's try ringing him.
They should have all read that first email by this stage. It's time to send the next
one.
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We can use ' should not have' to speculate negatively about what may or may not have
happened.
She shouldn't have left work yet. I'll call her office.
He shouldn't have boarded his plane yet. We can probably still get hold of him.
They shouldn't have sent the report off for printing yet. There is still time to make
changes.
We can also use 'should not have' to regret past actions.
I shouldn't have shouted at you. I apologize.
We shouldn't have left the office so late. We should have anticipated this bad
traffic.
They shouldn't have sacked him. He was the most creative person on their team.
Can have / Could have
We can use 'could have' to talk about something somebody was capable of doing but
didn't do.
I could have gone to Oxford University but I preferred Harvard.
She could have married him but she didn't want to.
They could have bought a house here 20 years ago but chose not to.
Often, there is a sense of criticism.
You could have phoned me to let me know.
They could have helped me instead of just sitting there.
I could have done more to help you. Sorry.
We can use 'couldn't have' to talk about something we were not capable of doing.
I couldn't have managed without you.
I couldn't have got the job. He was always going to appoint his nephew.
I couldn't have enjoyed myself more. Thank you for a lovely day.
We can use 'could have' to speculate about what has happened. (We can also use 'may
have' or 'might have' in these situations.)
She could have taken the earlier train.
Simon could have told her.
They could have overheard what we said.
We can also use 'can have' to speculate about what has happened but only in questions
and negative sentences and with words such as 'hardly', 'never' and 'only'.
Can she have forgotten about our meeting?
He can't have seen us.
They can hardly have thought that I was not interested in the job.
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We can also use 'could have' to speculate about something that didn't happen.
You could have broken your neck, jumping out the window like that.
He could have hurt somebody, throwing a bottle out of the window like that.
I could have done well in my exam if I'd worked harder.
You can also use 'could have' to talk about possible present situations that have not
happened.
I could have been earning a lot as an accountant but the work was just too
boring.
32. Wish
Let's start off with the easy part. ' I wish to' can mean the same as 'I want to' but it is
much, much more formal and much, much less common.
I wish to make a complaint.
I wish to see the manager.
You can also use 'wish' with a noun to 'offer good wishes'.
I wish you all the best in your new job.
We wish you a merry Christmas.
Notice that when you want to offer good wishes using a verb, you must use 'hope ' and
not 'wish'.
We wish you the best of luck.
We hope you have the best of luck.
I wish you a safe and pleasant journey.
I hope you have a safe and pleasant journey.
However, the main use of 'wish' is to say that we would like things to be different from
what they are, that we have regrets about the present situation.
I wish I was rich.
He wishes he lived in Paris.
They wish they'd chosen a different leader.
Notice that the verb tense which follows 'I wish' is 'more in the past' than the tense
corresponding to its meaning.
I'm too fat. I wish I was thin.
I never get invited to parties. I wish I got invited to
parties.
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It's raining. I wish it wasn't raining.
I went to see the latest Star Wars film. I wish I
hadn't gone.
I've eaten too much. I wish I hadn't eaten so much.
I'm going to visit her later. I wish I wasn't going to
visit her later.
In the case of 'will' , where 'will' means 'show willingness' we use 'would'.
He won't help me. I wish he would help me.
You're making too much noise. I wish you would be
quiet.
You keep interrupting me. I wish you wouldn't do
that.
Where 'will' means a future event, we cannot use 'wish' and must use 'hope'.
There's a strike tomorrow. I hope some buses will
still be running.
I hope everything will be fine in your new job.
In more formal English, we use the subjunctive form 'were' and not 'was' after 'wish'.
I wish I were taller.
I wish it were Saturday today.
I wish he were here.
33. Asking questions 1
The basic rule for asking questions in English is straightforward: Invert the order of the
subject and the first auxiliary verb.
It is snowing. = Is it snowing?
He can speak German. = Can he speak German?
They have lived here a long time. = Have they lived here a long time?
She will arrive at ten o'clock. = Will she arrive at ten o'clock?
He was driving fast. = Was he driving fast?
You have been smoking. = Have you been smoking?
If there is no auxiliary, use part of the verb 'to do'.
You speak fluent French. = Do you speak fluent French?
She lives in Brussels. = Does she live in Brussels?
They lived in Manchester. = Did they live in Manchester?
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He had an accident. = Did he have an accident?
Most questions with question words are made in the same way:
How often does she use it?
Why don't you come?
Where do you work?
How many did you buy?
What time did you go?
Which one do you like?
Whose car were you driving?
Note who, what and which can be the subject. Compare:
Who is coming to lunch? (who is the subject of the verb)
Who do you want to invite to lunch? (you is the subject of the verb)
What happened? (what is the subject of the verb)
What did you do? (you is the subject of the verb)
Note the position of the prepositions in these questions:
Who did you speak to?
What are you looking at?
Where does he come from?
34. Asking questions 2
In the section Questions 1, we looked at how to ask direct questions. To make a question,
we invert the order of the subject and the first auxiliary verb.
Where is Johnny?
Has he found it yet?
If there is no auxiliary, use part of the verb 'to do'. For example:
What time did he arrive?
How often do you play tennis?
However, when we ask for information, we often say 'Do you know…?' or 'Could you
tell me….?' These are indirect questions and more polite.
Note that the word order is different. For example:
Do you know where Johnny is?
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Have you any idea if he has found it?
Note that we don’t use do, does or did. For example:
Could you tell me what time he arrived?
Would you mind telling me how often you play tennis?
Use if or whether when there is no question word.
Has he done it? = Do you know if he has done it?
Is it ready? = Can you tell me if it is ready?
The same changes in word order happen when we report questions. Note that in reported
questions, the verb changes to the past:
What are you doing? = He asked me what I was doing.
What have you done about it? = He asked me what I had done about it.
Do you work with Pamela? = He asked me if I worked with Pamela.
35. Question tags
We use tags in spoken English but not in formal written English.
They are not really questions but are a way of asking the other person to make a comment
and so keep the conversation open.
Making a tag is very mechanical. To make a tag, use the first auxiliary. If there is no
auxiliary, use do, does or did. With a positive sentence, make a negative tag and with a
negative sentence, make a positive tag.
It's beautiful, isn't it?
He has been, hasn't he?
You can, can't you?
It must be, mustn't it?
You know him, don‟t you?
He finished it, didn't he?
He will come, won't he?
It isn't very good, is it?
It hasn't rained, has it?
It can't be, can it?
Jenny doesn't know James, does she?
They didn't leave, did they?
He won‟t do it, will he?
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Notice these:
There isn't an ATM here, is there?
Let's have a cup of coffee, shall we?
To reply, use the same auxiliary:
It's beautiful, isn't it? ~ Yes, it is. I think it's fabulous.
It isn't very good, is it? ~ No, it isn't. In fact, it's terrible.
Although, the rules are very simple and mechanical, in order to use them easily in
conversation, they have to be automatic. So you need to hear and practice them very
often.
Source: http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/ 30.07.2013
Reported speech 1
We use reported speech when we are saying what other people say, think or believe.
He says he wants it.
We think you are right.
I believe he loves her.
Yesterday you said you didn't like it but now you do!
She told me he had asked her to marry him.
I told you she was ill.
We thought he was in Australia.
When we are reporting things in the present, future or present perfect we don't change the tense.
He thinks he loves her.
I'll tell her you are coming.
He has said he'll do it.
When we tell people what someone has said in the past, we generally make the tense 'more in the
past'.
You look very nice. = I told him he looked very nice.
He's working in Siberia now. = She told me he was working in Siberia now.
Polly has bought a new car. = She said Polly had bought a new car.
Jo can't come for the weekend. = She said Jo couldn't come for the weekend.
Paul called and left a message. = He told me Paul had called and had left me a message.
I'll give you a hand. = He said he would give me a hand.
However, when we are reporting something that was said in the past but is still true, it is not
obligatory to make the tense 'more in the past'. The choice is up to the speaker. For example:
"The train doesn't stop here."
He said the train doesn't stop here.
He said the train didn't stop here.
"I like Sarah."
She said she likes Sarah.
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She said she liked Sarah.
When we are reporting what was said, we sometimes have to change other words in the sentence.
We have to change the pronoun if we are reporting what someone else said. Compare these two
sentences. In each case the person actually said "I don't want to go."
I said I didn't want to go.
Bill said he didn't want to go.
We have to change words referring to 'here and now' if we are reporting what was said in a
different place or time.
Compare these two sentences. In each case the person actually said "I'll be there at ten
tomorrow."
(If it is later the same day) He said he would be there at ten tomorrow.
(If it is the next day) He said he would be there at ten today.
Now compare these two sentences.
(If we are in a different place) He said he would be there tomorrow at ten.
(If we are in the place he is coming to) He said he would be here at ten tomorrow.
Reported speech 2
We also use reported speech when we are saying what other people asked or wanted to know. We
do not use do or question marks in indirect questions.
"What time is it?" = He asked me what time it was.
"Why hasn't he come? = She wondered why he hadn't come.
"When will you be arriving?" = He wanted to know when we would be arriving.
"What were you doing?" = They questioned him about what he had been doing.
We use the same structure when we report answers.
"147 Oak Street." = I told him what my address was.
"I didn't have time to do it." = She explained why she hadn't done it.
"Look at this dress and bag." = She showed me what she had bought.
"Put the paper here and press this button." = He demonstrated how the scanner worked.
Yes/no questions are reported with if or whether.
Do you want a ride? = Mike asked me if I wanted a ride.
Are you coming? = They wanted to know if I was coming.
Will you be here later? = She asked me whether I would be here later.
Source: http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/ 30.07.2013
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Annex 1. Common Phrases
Common Phrases
1.Many thanks for your enquiry of ....................
(solicitarea dvs. din ......)
2.We are pleased to have your enquiry about ............
(Am primit cu placere solicitarea dvs. in legatura cu ........)
3.We thank you for your letter of ..., in which you enquire about ... ).
4.Replying to your enquire of ... we are pleased to inform you that ....
5.In reply to your enquire of ... we are enclosing ....
a) the brochures you requested
b) full particulars of our export models
c) our revised price-list
6.We thank you for your letter of ... and we have sent you today, by separate post ....
a) samples of all our wax polish
b) patterns of our cotton fabrics (panzeturi)
c) specimens of our latest ballpoint pens
(exemplare)
d) a full range of samples
7.With regards/respect to your letter of ....
a) we quote you ... (specificam preturile noastre)
b) we can quote you for ... as follows:/as below:
c) we have forwarded to you today a few samples of the goods we have in stock
8.We thank you for the business you intend to place with us, and offer you ....
9.You will receive, under separate cover, all our new export models, which we hope will interest
you.
10.In order to acquaint you with our goods, we are sending you today our pattern-book.
11.Your name has been given to us by the Romanian Chamber of Commerce in Bacau.
12.The Romanian Embassy in .... has advised us to get in touch with you concerning ....
13.We saw your products demonstrated at the International Fair in Budapest earlier this year and
would like to know whether ....
14.We have seen you advertisement in "Electronic Product News" and would be very grateful if
you would let us have details of ....
15.Your advertisement in this month's issue of "Systems" states that you can offer ... (issue =
număr de revistă)
16.These fancy goods are in demand during the tourist season. (fancy goods = articole de modă)
17.Demand for this type of machine is not high, but sales this year will probably exceed 50%.
18.There is no market here for articles of this type in the higher price ranges, but less expensive
models sell very well throughout the year.
19.Will you please send us your catalogue and price list for....
20.Will you please quote prices for the following item in the quantities stated.
21.We are also interested in your terms of payment and in discounts offered for regular purchases
and large orders. (regular purchases =
cumpărări constante)
22.If we place orders with you we will have to insist on prompt delivery. Can you guarantee
delivery within three weeks of receiving orders?
23.We would appreciate a sample of each of the items listed above.
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24.Kindly let me know/have your lowest price.
25.Please inform/tell us what/how much you would charge ....
26.Kindly let me have a description of ....
27.On what terms are you ready/willing to send us ...?
28.We are looking forward to hearing from you.
29.We would appreciate a prompt answer.
30.We hope you will be able to make us an offer within a fortnight from today's date.
31.In reply to your enquiry of... (date), we are happy to inform you/let you know, that we are able
to supply you the goods you solicited.
32.The price will be ..., packing included. Delivery on the .... Payment can be made by:
Documentary Letter of Credit opened in you favour within .... days of the delivery, and valid for
... days.
33. The advance payment of ... % of the total value of the contract should be made by simple
invoice.
34. The present offer is firm until ... days of the mailing date.
35. Top quality products at competitive prices (samples enclosed), will, hopefully, arise your
interest.
36. Subject to the delivery terms you require, we reserve the right to change the price within
acceptable boundaries.
37. New prices will be applied due to increase in raw materials prices. The increase will
represent ...%.
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Annex 2. Phrasal verbs
A set of phrasal verbs
'to ask after' someone means to ask for information about how they are and what they are doing.
Sue was asking after you. I told her you were fine.
He asked after my mother. He wanted to know how she was doing.
'to ask around' means to ask several people for help or information.
I asked around to see if anyone knew someone who could rent me a room.
When I needed to buy a new car, I asked around and someone offered me this one.
'to ask for' means to say that you want something.
I asked for the chicken but you have brought me the beef.
I must remember to ask for a receipt so that I can get reimbursed.
'to ask for' can also mean to do something which is likely to lead to trouble or problems.
Walking around the streets alone at night was asking for trouble.
If you go to that part of town, you're asking for trouble. It's very dangerous there.
'to ask for someone' means to ask to speak to them.
He asked for Carol but there is no one working here called Carol.
If you need anything, ask for Henry. He'll be able to help you.
'to ask someone in' means to invite them into the room or your home.
If someone comes to the door, don’t ask them in.
Sometimes when I'm out in the garden, the neighbours ask me in for a drink.
'to ask someone out' means to invite them to go somewhere with you.
He asked me out so I expected him to pay for dinner.
We often invite our friends out for a drink in the pub.
'to ask someone over' means to invite them to come visit you in your home.
I've asked Diane from across the road over for a cup of coffee later.
He asked me over to see what they had done in the garden.
*
„to back away from‟ something or someone means to retreat or move backwards from
something, usually slowly, because you are frightened of them.
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When I saw the snake, I slowly backed away from it and called for help.
He tried to back away from the man with the knife but was trapped.
„to back away from‟ an idea or suggestion means to disassociate yourself from it and not support
it.
He was going to say yes to the proposal but then backed away from it and didn’t.
He backed away from plans for a vote of no confidence.
„to back down‟ means to admit that you were wrong or that you have been defeated.
When he was confronted with the facts, he quickly backed down.
He wouldn’t back down. He maintained his position in spite of all the evidence.
„to back off‟ means avoiding a difficult situation by not becoming involved in it.
Let me deal with this. Just back off .
At first she was very aggressive but then she backed off.
„to back onto‟ describes how the back of a house or building faces in a specific direction.
The house backs onto the river. We have a lovely view.
The building backs onto the car park in the city centre.
„to back out‟ means to withdraw from an agreement that has been made.
He is no longer going to pay the amount we agreed. He has backed out of our agreement.
We were going to go on holiday together but then he backed out at the last minute.
„to back out‟ your car means to reverse it from a place or position.
I broke the mirror backing out of the parking lot.
It is illegal to back out of your garden on to the road.
„to back up‟ means to give an idea support or to prove it.
He had figures from some very reliable sources to back up his arguments.
He didn’t have any receipts to back up his insurance claim after the burglary.
„to back up‟ also means to make a copy of something in case the original is damaged, especially
on the computer.
Before you start installing new software, back up your files.
I have to back up my work regularly so that I don’t lose it if the computer goes down.
„to back someone up‟ means to support or to help them.
That’s exactly what happened. The others will back me up.
Nobody backed me up. I was left alone to defend myself against the criticism.
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*
'to be away' means to have gone to another place.
Sandra won't be back until next month, she is away in China at the moment.
I'm sorry but Martin is away on holiday this week. Can I help you?
'to be down' means to be unhappy or depressed.
Until I found a new job, I was down for a long time.
Sue has been down since she turned 50.
'to be down' can also mean the opposite of 'to be up', to have fallen or got smaller.
The dollar is down one cent against the euro.
Profits are down this quarter due to bad sales in Europe.
'to be in' means to be at home.
I tried to phone Donna last night but she wasn't in so I couldn't speak to her.
I'll be in this afternoon if you'd like to come for tea.
'to be off' means to leave or to start on a journey.
I'll see you tomorrow morning, I'm off now. Have a nice evening.
We're off to Florida on Tuesday. The flight leaves at ten o'clock.
'to be off' can also mean that food is old and has gone bad.
Don't eat that yoghurt, I think it's off. It's been in the fridge for ages.
Smell the milk, I think it's off.
'to be on' means that something is taking place
That documentary is on TV tonight but I don't know which channel it is on.
Let's go shopping on Saturday. The sales are on at the moment.
'to be on' can also mean to be working or switched on.
I think he must be deaf, the TV was on very loud.
When I arrived, the lights were on but nobody was at home.
'to be out' is the opposite of 'to be in' so means to not be at home or to be absent.
I'm sorry but Jack's out. Can I take a message?
Marie is out until lunchtime. She's got an appointment at the dentist this morning.
'to be up' means to have risen, got higher.
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Prices are up more than ten per cent.
Unfortunately our costs are up more than twenty per cent because of the increase in the
cost of petrol.
'to blow about' means that the wind moves something in different directions.
After the concert, there was a lot of litter blowing about in the park.
We tried to collect up all the rubbish and plastic bags that were blowing about in the
wind.
'to blow away' means that the wind blows something from the place it was in to another.
We fixed the tent securely so that it wouldn't be blown away in the strong wind.
The wind blew all the labels away so I didn’t know what I had planted in the garden.
'to blow back' means that the wind blows something in the direction it came from.
When I turned the corner, the wind was so strong I just got blown back.
The wind blew the smoke back down the chimney into the room.
'to blow down' means that the wind makes something fall to the ground.
A tree was blocking the road. It had been blown down in the storm.
The hurricane had blown down the traffic signals and electricity cables all over town.
'to blow off' means that the winds removes something from a position on something.
I was trying to pick up my hat that had been blown off in the wind.
The wind was so strong, I got blown off my bicycle.
'to blow out' means to extinguish a fire or flame.
I couldn't light the campfire. The wind kept blowing it out.
Happy Birthday! Blow out the candles on your cake.
'to blow over' means that an argument or some trouble has come to an end.
I thought that the argument would quickly blow over but it didn't.
All that has blown over now. We've forgotten about it.
'to blow up' means to destroy something by an explosion.
The vehicle was blown up when it drove over a landmine.
They were carrying homemade bombs to blow up the plane mid-flight.
'to blow up' also means to lose your temper, to become very angry.
He was furious. He just blew up and started shouting at everyone.
My parents blew up when they found me smoking. They were so angry.
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'to blow up' also means to put air into something.
That tire looks flat. I must go blow it up.
I spent the afternoon blowing up balloons for the party.
'to break away' means to stop being part of a group because you disagree with them.
Several members broke away and formed their own group.
Some of the members of the party disagreed with their policy and broke away to form
their own party.
'to break away' also means to separate or move away from someone who is holding you.
She broke away from her mother and ran out of the room.
Although he was holding her by the arms, she managed to break away.
'to break down' is used when a machine or vehicle stops working.
We broke down about two kilometres out of town and had to walk home.
This machine is very old and is always breaking down. We need to change it.
'to break down' is also used when a discussion or arrangement fails due to disagreement.
Talks have broken down. They are unable to reach an agreement.
Negotiations broke down when the unions turned down the company's latest offer.
'to break down' an idea or work means to separate it into small pieces in order to deal with it
more easily.
If you break down the big jobs into individual tasks, they are much more manageable.
We have broken the costs down by area so we can see what regions are less profitable.
'to break down' also is used when someone starts crying uncontrollably or becomes very ill
when they cannot cope with their problems.
When we told her what had happened she broke down and cried.
When she broke down after a long period of stress and was hospitalized for several
months.
'to break in' means to enter a property by force or illegally.
Burglars have broken into several properties in the area recently.
They broke in through the window and stole jewellers, cash and my laptop.
'to break in' also means to interrupt someone when they are speaking.
As usual, when I was talking, she broke in and didn't let me finish my story.
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We were talking about Ralph when Sue broke in and said we didn't know anything about
him.
*
'to come across' means to find something by chance.
Here is an old photo of me. I came across it when I was looking for my passport.
I love this painting. I came across it in the attic when I was cleaning up.
'to come apart' means to break into separate pieces.
It broke when I picked it up. Everything just came apart.
It's quite big but you can pack it into a small box. It comes apart very easily.
'to come down' means to fall, to decrease.
The price of petrol has come down since the beginning of the year. It's much cheaper
now.
She has taken some aspirin so her temperature has come down.
'to come from' = to have as your country or place of origin.
You know by his accent that he comes from South Africa.
I come from York, a beautiful city in the north of England.
'to come out' = to be released, to be available to the public
His new book comes out next month. I'm sure it will be a bestseller.
Their new CD came out only a few weeks ago and has already sold millions.
'to come out' can also mean to leave a room or a building
He stayed in his office until he had finished the report. He didn't come out all day.
He was waiting for me when I came out of work.
'to come up' = to arise unexpectedly
I'm sorry but I'll be late. Something has come up.
A great opportunity has just come up for a job in the marketing department.
'to come up' = to be mentioned, talked about
We were talking about different people we knew and his name came up in the
conversation.
I don't want to talk about it so I hope it doesn't come up.
'to come up with' = to think of, imagine a solution or idea
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I asked Larry for some suggestions and he came up with a lot of very good ideas.
I'm sorry but I haven't come up with any solution yet. I don't know what we can do.
'to come off' = to become unstuck
I don't know what is in the box, the label has come off.
When I tried to open the door, the handle came off in my hand!
'to cut across' means to take a shortcut over an area instead of going around the edge.
o It'll be quicker to cut across the field.
o She quickly cut across the car park to where he was standing.
'to cut back' means to reduce the amount of money being spent.
o The government has cut back on education with less teachers.
o I've had to cut back on my spending as I'm not making any money at the moment.
'to cut down' means to remove a tree or plant by cutting it near the base.
o To make bigger fields, the farmer has cut down a lot of the hedges.
o We cut down the old tree in the garden as it blocked all the light.
'to cut down' also means to reduce the number or quantity of something.
o The article was too long and so I had to cut it down to fit the space.
o I have cut down the number of hours I work to only thirty a week now.
'to cut in' = to interrupt someone when they are speaking.
o I was trying to explain it when she cut in and started talking.
o He really annoys me. He's always cutting in and never lets me speak.
'to cut off' = to stop supplies of something like electricity or water
o They didn't pay the bills and the electricity was cut off.
o The water was cut off while they repaired the leaking pipes.
'to cut off' can also mean to stop a telephone connection.
o I'll ring him back. We got cut off in the middle of the conversation.
o I'm sorry but I pressed the wrong button and cut you off.
'to cut out' = when an engine or piece of machinery suddenly stops working
o There's a problem with my car. The engine keeps cutting out.
o When I stopped at the lights, the engine cut out.
'to cut through' difficulty means to be able to deal with the problems or bureaucracy quickly
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o To get the permits in time, we had to find a way to cut through all the
bureaucracy.
o She can cut through the complex legal language and get to the point.
'to cut up' = to divide something into smaller pieces
o It was too big to go into the bin so I cut it up.
o At the end, there was a cake left so we cut it up and each took a piece home.
*
'to do away with' means to get rid of something or to stop using something.
We did away with all the old equipment and invested in some new.
Let's do away with formality and use first names.
'to be done in' is used to mean you are very tired, totally exhausted.
When I got home, I collapsed into bed. I was completely done in.
Working in the garden really did me in. I'm going to have an early night.
'to do out' means to clean and tidy a place thoroughly.
I've done my wardrobes out and given away all my old clothes.
I can't get the car in the garage anymore. I'm going to have to do it out and make
some space.
'to do out in' means to decorate a place in a certain colour or style.
The bedroom was done out in blue and looked very cold.
The whole house was done out in a country style with lots of wood and flowers
everywhere.
'to do over' means to do something again.
I don't like it, so I have decided to do it over and paint it another colour.
I had to do it over because my computer crashed and I hadn't saved it.
'to do up' means to fasten something.
Can you do the zip up for me, please? I can't do it myself.
Do up your laces before you trip over them.
'to do up' also means to renovate an old building or house.
They bought an old house in France and spent a few years doing it up.
Old warehouses along the river have been done up and made into beautiful flats.
'to do with' is used to explain there is a connection from one thing to another.
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It's got nothing to do with me. I'm not responsible for that.
He's something to do with health but I don't think he is a doctor.
'to do with' is also used to say that you would like to have something.
I could do with something to eat. I haven't eaten since breakfast.
I could do with a good night's sleep. I haven't had one for weeks.
'to do without' means you manage to live despite not having something.
I forgot to buy milk so we'll just have to do without.
I don't need your help. I can do without it.
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'to fall in with' means to become friendly with a group.
He stopped going to school when he fell in with a bad crowd.
At university, she fell in with a group that introduced her to the theatre.
'to fall into' a category or group means that it belongs to that group.
It isn't a romantic comedy or a drama. It doesn't really fall into either category.
The work falls into three distinct parts; administrative, planning and financial.
'to fall off' means to separate from something it was attached to.
When I got home I was surprised to see that picture had fallen off the wall.
I still haven't picked up the apples that fell off during the strong winds last week.
'to fall off' also means to become less or lower.
Demand for our products is falling off in Europe although it remains high in America.
The number of tourists falls off during the wet season but quickly goes back up as soon as
it is over.
'to fall out' means to have an argument and no longer be friendly with that person.
It's not that important. I don't want to fall out over it.
They fell out over money when they started a business together and haven't spoken since.
'to fall out' also means something drops to the ground from the container it was in.
When I opened the cupboard, it fell out and broke on the floor.
I held on very tightly to the side of the boat. I couldn't swim so I didn't want to fall out.
'to fall over' means to become unbalanced and end up lying on the ground.
I tripped on the edge of the sidewalk and fell over into the road.
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During the play, some of the stage set fell over and hit one of the actors on the head.
'to fall through' is used about a plan or arrangement that goes wrong and cannot be completed.
I'm not doing anything this weekend. Our plans have fallen through.
The deal fell through when the seller started demanding too much money.
'to fall apart' means to break into pieces because it is badly made.
It was a cheap dress. The first time I wore it, it fell apart.
I had terrible problems assembling the shelves, then they fell apart as soon as I put
something on them.
'to fall apart' also means to stop working properly or efficiently.
The group fell apart when two or three members left and no one replaced them.
Without Joe's leadership, the department just fell apart and was unable to work as it had
before.
'to fall back on something' means to use something when everything else has failed, to use
something reliable.
If I don't get this job, I don't have any savings to fall back on.
They don't have very much capital to fall back on if this venture fails.
'to fall behind' means to do something more slowly than others so that you are behind.
I couldn't walk as fast as everyone else and soon fell behind.
When she fell behind the other runners, no one thought she would catch up and win the
race.
'to fall behind' also means to not be on schedule.
We didn't want to fall behind so we worked late into the night.
The problems we have had mean that we have fallen behind and won't meet the deadline.
'to fall down' means to go from a vertical position to the ground.
The old oak tree in the garden fell down in the storm.
I slipped on the sidewalk and fell down and hurt my back.
'to fall down' means an argument or an idea is not complete or doesn't work.
That's where your argument falls down. What you say isn't logical.
This is the difficult part where everyone falls down. Nobody knows how to do it.
'to fall for' means to fall in love with.
He is besotted. He has really fallen for her in a big way.
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He fell for her the first time he saw her and asked her to marry him the second time!
'to fall for' also means to be taken in by a trick or something that is not true.
That is such an obvious lie. Nobody is going to fall for that.
He told me he was going to invest the money for me and I fell for it.
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'to get across' means to communicate, make people understand.
I'm not sure I got that across very well. I don't think they really understood.
He's an excellent speaker. He can get across even the most complicated ideas.
'to get away' means to go on holiday.
We had a lovely holiday. We got away for a few days on the beach.
I don't think we can get away until the end of the month. We're too busy.
'to get back' means to return from a trip or a journey.
She's still in Taiwan. She doesn't get back until next week.
I get back on Friday afternoon. I'll call you then.
'to get back' can also mean to have returned something you lent to someone.
I lent him some money last year and I never got it back.
We have only got back fifty percent of the questionnaires we gave out.
'to get back to' = to speak again with someone or to return a phone call
When I have more information, I'll get back to you.
He got back to me yesterday afternoon with his answer.
'to get by' means to just have enough money or to just manage financially
At the end of the month, I have no money left. It is difficult to get by on my salary.
If we are careful, we can get by on less than $20 a day.
'to get down to' means to start some work or a task
If everybody is here, let's get down to business.
I didn't start it until the last moment. I just couldn't get down to it.
'to get in' means to arrive home or at the office
I'm really tired this morning. I didn't get in until after midnight last night.
He's always the last to arrive. He never gets in before 9.30.
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'to get in' can also mean to enter
He opened the door so I could get in the car.
You need to have some photo id to get in the company.
'to get off' means to leave a bus, train or plane
Take the 23 bus and get off at the last stop. I live very near there.
To go to the National Gallery, take the underground and get off at Trafalgar Square.
'to get behind' means to be late or behind schedule.
I'll stay late and finish it today. I don't want to get behind with my work.
We don't want to get behind schedule on this project.
'to get into' means to become involved in, for example trouble or debt.
I thought he'd get into trouble after the problems he caused.
We got into debt when we had a lot of unexpected bills to pay.
'to get on' means to have a good relationship.
I like working with him. We get on really well.
He's not an easy person. I don't get on with him very well.
'to get on' can also mean to continue an activity.
I must get on or I will never get this report finished.
I can't get on. He is always interrupting and asking me to jobs for him.
'to get out' means to leave a car or building
I often don't get out of work until after seven pm.
After the accident, the door was stuck and I couldn't get out of the car.
'to get out of' means to avoid doing something.
I don't want to do it. How can I get out of it?
He is always getting out of the difficult jobs and I have to do them!
'to get over' means to communicate, to make people understand.
They are not convinced. I didn't get my ideas over very well.
I just can't get over the idea we need to be more careful. They just don't want to
understand.
'to get over' can also mean to recover from something.
I still don't feel very well. I haven't got over that bad cold.
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She has not got over Richard. He broke her heart.
'to get round to' means to finally do something after a time
Two months later, he finally got round to finishing that report.
I'm sorry but I haven't done it yet. I haven't got round to it.
'to get through' means to contact by phone
I've been trying all day. I can't get through to her.
I rang her ten times. I didn't get through until almost seven in the evening.
'to give away' means to give something for free, for no payment.
In this issue of the magazine, they are giving away a free CD
I gave away all my old clothes that were too small for me.
'to give back' means to return something borrowed.
I still have your book at home. I must remember to give you it back.
Every time he borrows money from me, he never gives it back.
'to give in' means to stop making an effort.
You're doing really well. Don't give in now. Keep going.
He has refused again and again. He's not going to give in and change his mind.
'to give out' means to distribute.
As people arrive, can you give out these questionnaires for them to fill in.
He was giving out leaflets on the street.
'to give out' means to break down or stop working from tiredness or overuse
It was a very old machine. It's not surprising it has given out.
My car finally gave out last week. I will have to buy a new one.
'to give up' means to stop doing something permanently.
I haven't had a cigarette for over a month. I have given up smoking.
I have given up playing football. I'm too old for it.
'to give up' means to abandon or end, a search for example.
The key is nowhere to be found. We have given up looking for it.
I've given up waiting for him. He is not going to come so I'm going home.
to go about' means to deal with or tackle a task or job.
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Do you know how to enroll on the course? I don't know how to go about it.
How can I go about getting a copy of my birth certificate?
'to go after' means to try to get.
I sent in my application today. I'm going after that job.
He went after a very well paid job but didn't get it.
'to go after' can also mean to follow or chase.
Michelle left suddenly then Pierre went after her.
I didn't go after her when she left. I think she needed to be on her own.
'to go ahead' means to begin or proceed with something.
Even though the risks were high, we decided to go ahead with the project.
It went ahead without any problems. We're very happy.
'to go along with' means to agree with a person or idea.
I said it wouldn't work. I didn't go along with it from the beginning.
In the end, he went along with Jack even though he had said he agreed with me.
'to go away' means to leave a place or a person's company.
Did you stay at home or did you go away over the holidays?
Please go away. I'd like to be alone for a while.
'to go back' means to return to a place.
We had a great holiday in Spain last year. We are going back this year.
I had forgotten my passport and had to go back to get it.
'to go back on' means to change your position on a promise or agreement.
I said I would do it. I can't go back on it now.
He went back on his promise and didn't help me out.
'to go by' for time means to pass
A couple of hours went by before he phoned me back.
Twenty years went by before I saw him again.
'to go by' can also mean to go past or pass
I love sitting at a street café watching the world go by.
He didn't see me. He just went by without saying a word
'to go down' means to get smaller or decrease.
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They are much cheaper than before. The price has gone down by at least ten percent.
The price of laptop computers has gone down considerably over the last five years.
'to go down' can also mean be received or be reacted to.
Everybody laughed. I think my speech went down well.
The news didn't go down well. Everyone is now worried about their jobs.
'to go for' means to choose.
He doesn't like spending money so he went for the cheapest option.
We have decided to go for the house in Dunbar Street. It's lovely.
'to go in' means to enter.
He went in his office and closed the door.
She didn't knock on the door, she just went in.
'to go in' can also mean to fit in something.
I've got too many clothes. They won't go in my suitcase.
The sofa is too big. It won't go in the sitting room.
'to go into' means to describe something in detail.
We can talk about the problem later. I don't want to go ;into it now.
We don't have time to go into all the details.
'to go into' can also mean to enter a place.
She often goes into that shop and tries on lots of clothes but never buys anything.
We'll go into the sitting room. We'll be more comfortable there.
'to go off' means to stop functioning (of a light, electricity or heating).
I was only half way up the stairs when the light went off.
The heating goes off at midnight and comes back on before we get up.
'to go off' can also mean to stop liking someone or something.
I used to love this café but I've gone off it since the waiter changed.
I don't want to do it now. I've gone off the idea.
'to go off' can also mean to decay or go bad.
I think the milk has gone off. It smells.
Don't eat it, it has gone off.
'to go on doing something' means to continue doing something.
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He didn't even look at me. He just went on working.
I can't go on working so hard. I'm going to make myself ill.
'to go on to do something' means to move on to something after you have finished.
First he told us about the present situation, then he went on to tell us about the future.
If you have no further questions, I'd like to go on to the next part of my talk.
'to go on' means to happen.
What's going on outside? There's a lot of noise.
There's not much going on this afternoon. It's very quiet.
'to go out' means to leave home to go to the cinema or the pub for example.
I won't be home tonight. I'm going out with Kelly.
We're going out for a beer tonight. Would you like to come?
'to go over' means to review something to check it.
I'm not sure my figures are accurate. Can we go over them again?
He went over the main points again to be sure we had understood.
'to go through' means to experience an unpleasant or difficult time.
It was terrible. I don't want to go through that again.
He's going through a very difficult time what with his divorce etc.
'to go through' also means to examine something carefully.
The customs officer went through their bags looking for drugs.
I've been through his papers but I can't find the one I'm looking for.
'to go under' means to fail or go bankrupt.
Three thousand companies have gone under so far this year.
Cash flow is the reason that most companies go under.
'to go up' means to increase or rise.
The number of jobless went up 0.5 percent last month.
It's very expensive now. The price has gone up by ten percent since January.
'to go with' means to support an idea or the people proposing a plan.
I think Jack's right. I have to go with him.
We should go with Sue's idea. It's the best idea yet.
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'to hold back' means to restrain or stop something working.
High rates of tax are holding back economic growth.
He could easily get promotion if he were more a team player. His attitude is holding him
back.
'to hold back' can also mean to not say or do something.
I wanted to tell him but something held me back.
Although she didn't agree, she held back and didn't say anything.
'to hold down' means to stop something increasing.
Government is trying to hold down public spending.
We have to hold down costs if we want to increase our margins.
'to hold down' also means to keep a job even if it is difficult.
There are lots of women who hold down high powered jobs and have children.
She was holding down a very responsible position when she was only twenty-three.
'to hold off' means to delay doing something or delay making a decision about it.
That house won't be on the market very long. Don't hold ;off making an offer.
You can't hold off much longer, you have to give him an answer.
'to hold on' means to wait for a short time.
Let's see if he arrives. We can hold on a couple of minutes.
We can't hold on much longer, we're going to miss the train. We'll have to go without
him.
'to hold on' is used frequently on the phone to ask people to wait a few moments.
I'll just check that for you if you'd like to hold on.
Could you hold on please while I see if he's available?
'to hold out' means to put something in front of you.
He was very formal. He held out his hand for me to shake it.
She held out her glass so that I could refill it.
'to hold out for' means to wait for what you want and not accept less.
They were on strike for a long time. Holding out for a 10% increase in salary.
I think we should hold out for a better price. House prices are beginning to rise again.
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'to hold up' means to delay something.
The construction was held up by bad weather.
Jim was late again. He got held up in heavy traffic on the motorway.
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'to keep at' something means to continue doing something even if it is hard or unpleasant.
Learning phrasal verbs is hard so you have to keep at it every day.
I had to finish so I kept at it for an hour before I took a break.
'to keep back' means to not use or give away all of something.
Keep back some of the cream to put on top of the dessert.
We kept back some of the money for emergencies.
'to keep down' means to stop the number or level of something from rising.
If we want to make a profit this year, we have to keep costs down as much as possible.
I try to eat well and exercise regularly to keep my weight down.
'to keep off' = means to not go onto an area.
Please keep off the grass.
Keep off the motorway in the morning, there are always traffic jams at that time.
'to keep off' can also mean to not talk about a particular subject.
He started talking about it. I tried to keep off the subject.
He can't keep off the question of climate change, he never stops talking about.
'to keep on' means to continue with something.
All night long he kept on asking me questions about it.
I asked him to stop but he just kept on.
'to keep out of' means to not get involved in something.
It's not my business. I keep out of their arguments.
It's got nothing to do with me. I'm keeping out of it.
'to keep to' means stay on a subject when talking.
We don't have much time so can we keep to the agenda, please?
Can you keep to the point, please?
'to keep up' means to go at the same speed as someone or something.
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She was walking so fast that I couldn't keep up with her.
I've got too much to do at the moment. I can't keep up with my work.
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'to let down' means to disappoint someone.
I promised to do it, I can't let her down.
They let us down badly by not completing the work on time.
'to let in' means to allow someone to enter.
I have a front door key. I can let myself in.
They're at the door. Can you let them in?
'to let in' can also mean to allow water, light or air into something which is normally sealed.
I opened the curtains to let in the sunshine.
I need some new boots for winter. These let water in.
'to let in for' means to be involved in something difficult or unpleasant.
This job is very hard. I didn't realize what I was letting myself in for.
She didn't realize how much work she was letting herself in for doing this course.
'to let in on' means to tell someone about something which is secret.
I don't know what they're doing. They wouldn't let me in on their plans.
She let me in on her secret. She's getting married!
'to let off' means to not punish someone when they have done something wrong.
He was caught smoking in the office but they let him off because it was the first time.
I'll let you off this time but if you do it again, you'll be severely punished.
'to let off' can also mean to allow someone to not do something they should do.
I owed him some money but he let me off. I didn't have to pay him back.
I was supposed to work until 10 pm but my boss let me off at 9.
'to let out' means to allow someone to leave a place, usually by opening a door.
He stopped at the traffic lights to let me out.
Let me out at the end of the road. I can walk the rest of the way.
'to let out' means to make a particular sound.
When she heard the news, she let out a huge sigh of relief.
They all let out a groan when they heard the bad news.
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'to let up' means to cease or to decrease in intensity.
We'll go out for a walk if the rain lets up.
The pressure at work is non-stop. It never lets up.
'to look after' means to take care of someone or something.
When I have to travel on business, my parents usually look after my children.
I look after the office when my colleagues are away on business.
'to look ahead' means to think about and plan the future.
We have to look ahead and try to estimate our needs for the next few years.
In this business, it's very difficult to look ahead and predict what will happen.
'to look at' means to read something quickly and not very thoroughly.
Could you look at my report and tell me if you think it's OK?
I looked at your figures and they seem fine to me.
'to look at' can also mean to investigate or think carefully about a problem or situation.
Costs are getting out of control. We need to look at them closely.
John looked at renting cars but it would be too expensive.
'to look back' means to think about something that happened in the past.
I realize I was very naive when I look back.
If we look back over the last three years, we can see many times when we were very
successful.
'to look down on' means to think something or someone is inferior.
The people who work in Headquarters always look down on the people in the branches.
Don't look down on him just because he left school at 16. He has been very successful.
'to look for' means to try to find something lost or that you need.
My assistant is leaving at the end of the month. I'm looking for a new one.
He has been looking for a job for ages now.
'to look forward to' means to feel excited and happy about something that is going to happen.
I'm seeing him on Tuesday. I'm really looking forward to it.
We're looking forward to our holidays. It will be wonderful to get away.
'to look in' means to visit someone for a short time.
I'll look in on my way home and we can have a cup of tea.
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Look in on Jenny and check that she is still working.
'to look into' means to examine a problem or situation.
My boss asked me to look into ways to do it more efficiently.
We have set up a working group to look into the problem.
'to look on' means to watch something happen.
The Police just looked on as the demonstrators marched peacefully through the streets.
Nobody helped me. They just looked on as I struggled to get up off the street.
'to look on' also means to consider someone or something in a special way.
We are very close. I look on him as my brother.
Don't look on not getting the job as a failure. It's not.
'to look out' means be careful. It is always an order.
Look out! The boss is coming.
Look out! You're going to fall.
'to look out for' means to watch carefully around you so you will notice something or someone
in particular.
When you go to the conference, look out for Anna. She will be there.
Janet is twenty next week. Can you look out for a present when you are in the shops?
'to look out for' can also mean to take care of someone.
Will is a great brother. He always looks out for his sisters.
She's very selfish. She just looks out for herself.
'to look over' means to quickly examine something.
At the end of the exam, I only had a few minutes to look over what I had written.
The doctor quickly looked him over before sending him for an x-ray.
'to look round' means to walk through a building or place to have a look at it.
When you travel on business, you don't have time to look round the places you visit.
The first time we looked round the house, we knew it was the house for us.
'to look through' means to quickly examine a text or some things.
I decided to give half my clothes away when I had looked through them.
We looked through the list of applicants and made a shortlist of the six best qualified.
'to look up' means to find a piece of information in a book or other source of information.
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I didn't know the word so I looked it up in the dictionary.
I looked their address up in the Yellow Pages.
'to look up to' means to respect and admire someone.
My father's wonderful. He's the person I most look up to.
All his employees look up to him and admire him.
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'to make for' means to go on the direction of.
He got up and made for the exit.
When he came into the room, he made straight for me.
'to make of' means think of, have an opinion about.
He's a complete mystery to me. I don't know what to make of him.
What do you make of his new girlfriend?
'to make off' means to leave somewhere very quickly, often to escape.
The car didn't stop after the accident but made off at speed towards the town centre.
He snatched her bag and made off down the street through the crowd.
'to make off with' means to steal and escape with something.
The thieves made off with over one million dollars in cash.
They broke into the house and made off with jewellery and silver.
'to make out' means to manage to be able to see or hear something.
He was speaking very quietly. I couldn't make out what he was saying.
It was too dark to see. I couldn't make him out clearly.
'to make out' can also mean to pretend that something is true.
He made out he was very rich when, in fact, he wasn't.
She often makes out she is the boss when, really, she is only an assistant.
'to make up your mind' means to decide.
I bought them both because I couldn't make up my mind which one to buy.
Make your mind up! Which one do you want?
'to make up' means to say or write something that is not true, to invent a story.
It wasn't true at all. They just made it up.
I told him I couldn't go and made up an excuse.
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'to make up' can also mean to forgive someone and become friendly with again after an
argument.
We had a huge argument and but made up later.
Half the fun of arguing is making up afterwards!
'to make up for' means to compensate for something bad that they have done or that has
happened.
He bought me some flowers to make up for being late.
What can I do to make up for forgetting your birthday?
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'to pull apart' means to separate two or more things.
I didn't like the dress when I had finished, so I pulled it apart and started again.
The teacher had to pull the two boys apart to stop them fighting.
'to pull apart' can also mean to criticize an idea or something written.
She pulled my argument apart in about thirty seconds.
The newspaper critics pulled his latest novel apart saying it wasn't as good as his last.
'to pull away' is when a vehicle starts moving .
He knocked the cyclist over as he was pulling away from the junction.
The bus pulled away just as I arrived at the stop.
'to pull back' means to move something in a backwards direction.
He thought I was standing too close to the edge so he pulled me back.
When I pulled back the covers, I found a little kitten hidden in the bed.
'to pull down' means to demolish a building or other structure.
The old theatre was pulled down and replaced by a block of flats.
They pulled down a lot of houses when they built the new ring road around the city.
'to pull down' can also mean to move something from a higher position to a lower one.
The sun was shining in my eyes so I pulled down the blinds.
Her T-shirt was too short. She had to keep pulling it down to cover her stomach.
'to pull in' is when a vehicle is driven to a place to stop.
The bank's over there. Stop and pull in behind that car. I'll get out here.
We have very little petrol left. We'll have to pull in at the next service station and get
some.
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'to pull in' can also mean to attract.
He's a very popular singer at the moment. He can pull in an enormous crowd.
The music festival pulls in huge numbers of tourists every year.
'to pull off' means to succeed in doing something.
We'll make a lot of money if we can pull off this deal.
I don't know how good she is. Do you think she can pull it off?
'to pull on' means to put on clothes quickly.
Come on, get dressed. Pull on a sweater and let's go.
When I arrived he was almost ready. He was just pulling on his hat and gloves.
'to pull out' means to extract something.
It was very painful. The dentist pulled out two of my teeth.
Somebody had pulled some pages out of the book.
'to pull out of' means decide not to continue with an activity or agreement.
We signed a contract. We can't pull out of the deal.
They pulled out of the negotiations after only two hours.
'to pull out' is used when a vehicle driven out of a place into the road.
I didn't see the man on the bicycle as I was pulling out of the car park.
The car pulled out in front of the bus.
'to pull over' means to drive a car to the side of the road.
The car was making a strange noise so I pulled over to have a look at it.
I pulled over to ask someone the way.
'to pull through' means recover after a serious illness.
The doctor came to tell me that John would pull through.
Nobody thought he'd pull through after the accident.
'to pull yourself together' means to regain control of your emotions.
Stop crying. It's time to pull yourself together.
He took a long time to pull himself together.
'to pull together' means to cooperate and work as a group to achieve something.
We can do this, if we all pull together.
We have to pull together during difficult times.
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'to pull up' is used when a car slows down and stops.
It started to rain just as we pulled up in front of the restaurant.
A taxi pulled up just as I came out of the airport.
'to pull up' a chair means you move it in order to sit down.
Come and join us. Pull up a chair.
He pulled up a chair and sat down.
'to pull up' also means to criticize someone when they make a mistake.
If you make a mistake, they will pull you up on it every time.
He's always pulling me up on my grammar.
'to put across' means to explain or to express something.
We have to put the message across a little bit more clearly.
Not a very good presentation. He didn't put his ideas across very well at all.
'to put aside' means to save money
He's got enough money. He has put some aside.
I've put aside £100 a month for over a year.
'to put at' means to roughly calculate a cost or figure.
The first estimate put the damage at about £10 000.
I think he's the same age as my father. I would put him at 50.
'to put away' means to replace something in the place it is normally kept.
Can you put all your toys away please, darling?
I've put the clean clothes away except your shirts. I don't know where to put them.
'to put back' means to return something to its original place.
I put the books back on the shelf after I had looked at them.
When you have finished, can you put everything back, please?
'to put back' can also mean to change the time of an event until a later time.
I can't make it on Thursday. Can we put it back until Friday?
My appointment has been put back until next month.
'to put behind' means to try to forget about something unpleasant.
I've forgotten all about it. I've put it behind me.
You have to put everything behind you and move on with your life.
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'to put down' means to stop carrying or holding something.
My bag was heavy so I put it down on the floor.
Don't put your cup down there. It will leave a mark on the table.
'to put down' can also mean to criticize someone or their ideas.
He's always criticizing, always putting people down.
You never support me. You are always putting me down.
'to put down' the phone means to end a phone call.
I was so angry, I just put the phone down on him.
After I put the phone down, I remembered why I'd called you.
'to put forward' an idea or opinion means to suggest something for discussion.
A few suggestions have been put forward for consideration.
Jan put forward a few ideas for raising money for the charity.
'to put forward' a person or a name means to suggest someone for a job or position.
He put his name forward as a candidate for election.
I've put Peter's name forward for the post in accounts.
'to put in' means to install new equipment or a new system.
We have put in a more powerful engine in the new version.
We've just had a new bathroom put in.
'to put in' money means to invest.
I've put a lot of money in this project. I hope to make a good profit.
I've put all my money in government bonds.
'to put in for' means to request a transfer or to apply for a job.
I hope I get the job in Toronto. I've put in for a transfer there.
She's put in for the job in the Export department but I don't think she's qualified for it.
'to put into' If you put time, money or energy into something, it means that you invest a lot in it.
I'm not happy with the result even though I've put a lot of time into it.
She put a lot of effort into getting it right.
'to put off' an event means to postpone it to a later time.
Tomorrow will be too late. Don't put it off.
She's put the wedding off until her father has recovered from his illness.
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'to put someone off' means to stop them doing something by disturbing them.
I wish he would let me work quietly. His talking puts me off my work.
All the people watching put him off his game. He didn't play very well at all.
'to put someone off' another person means to make them dislike someone.
His arrogant attitude puts people off him very quickly.
The stories I heard about him really put me off him.
'to put off' the light means to switch it off.
I couldn't sleep. I finally put the light off at two in the morning.
Can you put the light off, please? It'll be easier to see the screen.
'to put on' a piece of clothing means to place it over a part of the body to wear it.
It's cold in here. I'm going to put a sweater on.
Before going out, he put his boots, coat and hat on.
'to put on' the light means to turn it on.
It's dark in here. Can you put the light on, please?
I didn't put the light on because I didn't want to disturb you.
'to put on' weight means to gain a few kilos.
I must go on a diet, I've put five kilos on since the holidays.
He was looking a little fatter. I think he has put some weight on.
'to put out' a light means to turn it off.
We don't need the light now. Could you put it out?
We put out the light and sat in the dark.
'to put out' something burning means to extinguish it.
You can't smoke in here. Please put that cigarette out.
It took only a few minutes for the fire-fighters to put the fire out.
'to put out' somebody means to cause them extra trouble.
Please don't go to any trouble. I don't want to put you out.
I'd be happy to do it. You're not putting me out at all.
'to put over' an idea or opinion means to express it.
He expresses himself very well and puts his ideas over very clearly.
I don't think I put my point of view over very well.
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'to put someone through' something means you make them do something unpleasant or to suffer
it.
I'm sorry, we have to do it. But believe me, I really don't want to put you through it.
We can't put him through the ordeal of more surgery. He isn't strong enough.
'to put someone through' on the phone means to connect the caller to another person.
Please hold the line, I'm putting you through.
Good morning. Could you put me through to Mr. Davies, please?
'to put something together' means to assemble it.
This modern flat pack furniture is very easy to put together.
We've put together an excellent team to work on this project.
'to put money towards' something means to use a sum of money to pay a part of the cost of
something.
When he died, he left me some money which I am going to put towards a house.
I'm going to put my Christmas bonus towards my summer holiday.
'to put up' a building or structure means to erect.
Where the old theatre used to be, they have put up a new apartment block.
They're putting up a new sports stadium just outside the town.
'to put up' something which is folded means to open it.
She hit me with her umbrella as she was putting it up.
It only took fifteen minutes to put up the tent.
'to put up' money means to provide money for a project.
Without guarantees, the bank won't put up any money for the project.
The people in the city put up most of the money for the restoration of the theatre.
'to put up' a price means to increase it.
We're not making a profit. We need to put up our prices.
Their prices are really high now because they have put them up by ten per cent.
'to put someone up' means to let them stay in your home for a short time.
If you go to Australia, I'm sure some of the family will put you up during your stay.
I can put you up for a few days while the painters finish your flat.
'to put someone up to' If you put someone up to something you encourage them to do something
wrong or silly.
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I don't think it was his idea. I think someone put him up to it.
I wonder if John put him up to it. He wouldn't have done it alone.
'to put up with' something means to tolerate it
He's impossible to work with. I don't know how you put up with him.
I really don't like it but I know I'm going to have to put up with it.
*
'to run across someone' means to meet them by accident.
I hadn't seen Gloria for ages when I ran across her in the supermarket.
I ran across an old friend in town today. I hadn't seen him for ages.
'to run around' means to be very busy doing lots of things.
I'm always running around trying to get everything done on time.
I spent all morning running around trying to find the things you needed.
'to run away' means to leave, often secretly, because you're unhappy.
He was very unhappy in boarding school and ran away twice.
She ran away from home at sixteen and went to live with a friend in London.
'to run down' means to move quickly to a place in a lower position.
When I called her, she ran down so fast she nearly fell.
When I heard the news I ran down the street to tell Lily who lives at the bottom.
'to run down' also means to deliberately reduce the size of something, for example stock.
Stock is very expensive. We're trying to run it down to a minimum.
They are running the company down by not replacing people who leave.
'to run someone down' means to hit a person when driving your car.
I was crossing the road when a car nearly ran me down.
She's in hospital after being run down by a car on Market Street.
'to run into' problems means to meet or encounter difficulties.
We ran into huge financial difficulties when the construction went over budget.
The company has run into difficulties since the introduction of the euro.
'to run into' something when you're driving means to hit something.
When I was parking, I ran into a post.
I didn't brake quickly enough and ran into the car in front.
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'to run off' means to escape or leave a place quickly.
The boys took some sweets from the shop and ran off laughing.
She waved goodbye and ran off to play with her friends.
'to run off with' something is to steal it.
They hit the man and ran off with his wallet and mobile phone.
The financial manager ran off with half a million of the company's money.
to run into' someone means to meet them unexpectedly.
I ran into Jane in reception. I hadn't seen her for ages.
Sara ran into her ex-boyfriend in the supermarket. She said it was very embarrassing.
'to run on' diesel or electricity means to use them for power in order to function.
The motor runs on electricity so it's very quiet.
We have a generator that runs on diesel which we use during power cuts.
'to run out of' something means to have no more left.
I can't make a cake, we've run out of eggs.
When I was a student and my money ran out, I lived on pasta.
'to run out' means to pass the time limit or expire.
I need to get a new passport. It runs out next month.
I hope they will give me a new contract when my present one runs out at the end of he
month.
'to run over' means to hit with a vehicle.
He's in hospital. He was run over by a car last night.
You need to know where everything is in case I'm run over by a bus!
'to run through' means to repeat or rehearse something to practice or check
We quickly ran through the program to check that everything was OK.
Can we run through it again just to be sure we haven't forgotten anything.
'to run to' means to go to someone for help.
She always runs to me when she needs some help.
I'm too old to go running to my parents every time I need some money.
'to run up' debts or bills means to owe money.
He very quickly ran up an enormous debt on his credit card.
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We ran up a big bill in the hotel drinking in the bar.
'to run up against' problems means to meet difficulties unexpectedly.
We had no idea about the difficulties we would run up against.
We ran up against a few problems at the beginning but now it's fine.
'to send away for' something means to write to an organization to have something delivered to
you.
I couldn't find it in the local shops. I had to send away for it.
I don't know what they are like. I'm going to send away for some samples.
'to send back' means to return something because it is not right or damaged.
The food was cold when it was served so we sent it back.
When it arrived, I didn't like the colour so I sent it back.
'to send for' means to send a message asking someone to come to see you
The baby was very ill so she sent for the doctor.
I knew I was in trouble when the boss sent for me.
'to send in' means to send something to an organization.
Please send in the completed forms before January 31st.
The TV show is funny family videos that viewers send in.
'to send someone in' means to tell a person to enter a room or office.
I'd like to speak to James. Can you send him in, please?
I'm ready now. Can you send in the first patient?
'to send off' means to post a letter or parcel.
You should have got it by now. I sent it off two days ago.
I packed everything up and sent it off last week.
'to send on' means to forward a document or mail.
Here is my new address. Can you send my mail on to me?
My colleague is dealing with this. I'll send a copy of your email on so she can deal with
it.
'to send out' means to send to a lot of people at the same time.
The wedding is in two months. We need to send out the invitations.
We sent out copies of the new brochure to all our existing clients.
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'to send out' also means to emit a sound or light.
This tiny transmitter sends out a signal strong enough to be picked up a kilometre away.
The phone mast sends out radio waves that some people think are dangerous.
'to send out for' means to phone an order to a restaurant for food to be delivered
I don't want to cook. Let's send out for a pizza.
It's almost lunchtime. Shall we send out for some sandwiches or snack.
'to set about' is to dealing with something in a particular way.
I need to find a new flat but I'm not sure how to set about looking for one.
I don't think you are setting about it the right way.
'to set against' means balance one thing against another.
The advantages are not so big when set against the disadvantages.
We can set our expenses against the tax.
'to be set against' something means to be opposed to doing it.
He won't change his mind. He is absolutely set against it.
His parents were set against him becoming a musician and made him study engineering.
'to set aside' means to use something, often time or money, for a specific purpose.
I have enough money for the deposit set aside.
I've set aside Monday and Tuesday to work on it.
'to set back' is to cause a delay.
Bad weather was the reason that the launch of the rocket was set back until Monday.
The whole project has been set back by the late delivery of some of the parts.
'to set down' something you are holding means to put it down.
She lifted up the teapot but set it down again without pouring any tea.
The waitress set down an enormous plate of steak and salad in front of me.
'to set down' your ideas or some facts means to record by writing them.
Here is the leaflet where we have set down guidelines for our employees.
We were all asked to set down our views on what had happened.
'to set in' is when something unpleasant starts and seems likely to continue.
It looks as if the rain has set in for the afternoon.
Panic didn't really set in until just before I was due to give my presentation.
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'to set off' means to start on a journey.
Sorry we're late. We didn't set off until half past eight.
The weather was perfect when we set off but it was raining when we got back.
'to set something off' means to cause it to start or happen.
The smoke form my cooking set the smoke alarm off.
The proposals for a new shopping centre have set off a very heated debate in the town.
'to set someone off' means to start them laughing, crying or talking.
Every time Jake used that silly voice, it started me off laughing.
Kelly started crying and that set everybody off too.
'to set on' means to begin a physical attack.
If I went into the garden, she said she would set the dog on me.
Coming out of the pub, he was set on by a gang of boys and his money stolen.
'to set out' is to start on a journey.
We wanted to get there before lunch so we had to set out just before dawn.
They packed their bags and set out early as they had a long walk.
'to set out' to do something means that you have a clear idea of what you intend to achieve.
We didn't achieve what we'd set out to do.
He didn't set out to invent the microwave oven. He discovered it while doing other
research.
'to set out' facts or opinions is to explain them clearly in writing or in speech.
All the terms and conditions are set out in this document.
Your terms of employment are set out in your contract.
'to set something out' is to organize it so that it is ready to use.
When I arrived all the materials and equipment were set out ready for use.
The chairs were set out in a circle ready for the class to begin.
'to set up' means to start a company or organization.
After a few years developing the products, they needed to set up a company to sell them.
The UN was set up when representatives of fifty countries signed the charter in 1945.
'to set up' also means to make arrangements for a meeting, a committee, or an investigation.
I'd like to discuss that in more detail. Can we set up a meeting with everyone concerned?
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The government has set up a committee to investigate possible fraud.
'to set up' a structure or building means to erect it.
It took almost an hour to set up the tent in the rain.
The Police set up road blocks throughout the county to try to find the thieves.
*
'to take after' means to resemble a parent or family member.
She's blond with blue eyes. She takes after her father.
He is good at maths. He doesn't take after me!
'to take along' means you take someone or something with you when you go somewhere.
I took Sue along to the party. She really enjoyed it.
Shall we take a bottle along? That is always appreciated.
'to take apart' means to separate something into the parts it is made up of.
He took the machine apart and couldn't reassemble it.
The machine needs taking apart and cleaning and oiling then it'll work.
'to take back' means to return something you have bought or borrowed.
When I got home I discovered it didn't work so I took it back to the shop.
When you've finished using it, can you take it back to the kitchen and put it away, please?
'to take down' means to go to a lower level or place with something.
I took them down to the beach for the day as the weather was beautiful.
Can you take that down, please? It shouldn't be up here in your bedroom.
'to take down' also means to remove something that is attached to a wall or other object.
When I went into the sitting room, I noticed that he had taken down all the pictures.
Now the election is over, all the posters have been taken down.
'to turn against' means to change opinion to not liking or agreeing with someone or something.
Since they declared war, the country has turned against the government.
He is always spreading nasty stories in an attempt to turn everyone against me.
'to turn around' means to turn so that you are facing the opposite direction.
When I'm speaking to you, turn around and look at me.
I recognized him even from behind. He didn't need to turn around so I could see his face.
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'to turn someone away' means to refuse them entry to a place.
We only have fifty places so we have to turn people away every day.
The restaurant has a strict dress code. It turns away anyone in shorts and T-shirt.
'to turn away' also means to refuse to help someone.
Nobody is turned away. We help everyone who comes to us.
He's my nephew, I can't turn him away without giving him some money.
'to turn back' means to fold a part of something so that it covers another part.
She marked her place in the book by turning back the page.
When we arrived in the room, the maid had turned back the bedcovers.
'to turn back' also means to return to the place you came from.
The road was impassable after the snow so we had to turn back.
I forgot to pick up the street map and guide book so we had to turn back and go get them.
'to turn back' also means to change your plans.
There was no turning back once she had said she was going to do it.
We have invested a lot of time and money in this project, there's no turning back now.
'to turn down' means to refuse something.
He was offered a job there but he turned it down as it was too far from home.
I turned down an invitation to dinner to come and spend the evening with you.
'to turn down' also means to reduce the amount of heat or sound produced.
Turn the TV down. It is far too loud.
It's rather hot in here. Shall I turn the heating down now?
'to turn in' means to give something to someone in authority to deal with it.
To get a new driver's license, I had to turn in my old one.
There was an amnesty and you could turn in guns and knives without any consequence.
'to turn in' means to go to bed.
It's very late, I'm going to turn in.
Come on, let's turn in and get a good night's sleep.
'to turn in' also means to produce results, usually very good results.
The company turned in it's best results yet. Turnover is up 20% on last quarter.
All of the students turned in excellent work this term.
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'to turn into' means to change and become something different.
If we are not careful, this little setback could turn into a major problem.
The old warehouses along the river have been turned into very expensive flats.
'to turn off' means to use a switch to stop something working.
Before you go up to bed, remember to turn the TV off.
Don't turn off the light in the hall. I usually leave it on all night.
'to turn off' also means to leave a road to travel on a different one.
After a couple of miles, you turn off the main road and go down a little lane.
You turn off the motorway at junction 6 and follow the signs to the airport.
'to turn on' means to use a switch to start something working.
First thing I do in the morning, is turn on my computer and the coffee machine.
It was dark in the house when I went in. Nobody had turned the lights on.
'to turn on' also means to attack or criticize someone.
They had always supported the Prime Minister but now they have turned on him.
That race of dog is very unpredictable, they can suddenly turn on you.
'to turn out' means to have a particular result.
We had a very good afternoon. The weather turned out well.
I was so pleased with the food. Even the cakes turned out perfectly.
'to turn out' also means to produce, often in big quantities.
They turn out hundreds every day which they sell all over the country.
The new machines in production mean we can turn out twice as many at half the price.
'to turn out' also means people go and participate at or watch an event.
Thousands turned out to see the Queen when she opened the new hospital.
A very high percentage of voters turned out to vote at the last elections.
'to turn over' means to move yourself or something so that you or it are facing in the opposite
direction.
I'd like to see the other side. Can you turn it over, please?
Turn over and lie on your back.
'to turn over' means to give something to someone in authority.
During the investigation all the documents were turned over to the police.
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They were turned over to the immigration authorities as soon as they landed at the
airport.
'to turn round' means to make a business profitable after an unsuccessful period.
It lost a lot of money last year but the new management have turned it round.
All political parties promise to turn the economy round if elected but they never do!
'to turn round' also means to change the way something is expressed or considered.
Let's turn that question round and look at it from a different point of view.
He always turns what I say round to make me look stupid.
'to turn to' someone means to ask them for help or sympathy.
I need help and I don't know who to turn to.
She doesn't seem to have any friends to turn to when she needs help.
'to turn to' can also mean to focus on something.
Let's turn our attention to the question of finance next.
Let's move on and turn to an important problem we are facing – drop in sales.
'to turn up' means to increase the amount of something, especially heat or volume.
It is cold in here. Can you turn up the heating, please?
I can't hear it. Can you turn it up, please?
'to turn up' also means to arrive at a place.
He finally turned up at my house half an hour late.
You don't need to book. You can just turn up and buy a ticket at the door.
'to turn up' can also mean that someone or something arrives when not expected.
You'll find a job. I'm sure something will turn up quite soon.
Jane didn't call to ask if she could come, she just turned up and stayed the weekend.
*
'to write away for' something means to send a letter or form asking for something.
I want a free copy so I'll write away for one.
She has written away for a brochure with details of the course.
'to write back' means to reply.
I sent him a letter but he didn't write back.
I wrote back saying that we would be happy to accept their invitation.
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'to write down' means to record something on paper.
So I don‟t forget, can you write that down, please?
I wrote down his phone number on a piece of paper but I can't find it now.
'to write in' to an organization means to send a letter to them.
To give us your comments on today's show, write in to the usual address.
The first one hundred people who write in will receive a free copy.
'to write off' means that you decide someone or something is unimportant or not to be considered
further.
Children who are not academic are often written off by schools instead of being helped.
Most companies write off any employee over fifty-five as they assume they are
profitable.
'to write off' a car means to crash it so that it cannot be repaired.
She has had only one accident but she did write the car off.
There really isn't much damage to the car. It won't be written off by the insurance.
'to write off' a debt means to cancel it.
The rich countries in the West should write off the debts of the Third World.
We had to write off quite a lot of bad debts at the end of the year.
'to write out' means to note all the necessary information on a cheque or prescription.
Can you write me out a receipt for my accounts, please?
The doctor wrote out a prescription for the drugs and handed it to me.
'to write up' your notes means to record them on paper in a neat form.
After every class, I always write up my notes straight away.
She wrote up the minutes of the meeting and distributed them the next day.
'to write up' means to note something on a notice or board on a wall.
The teacher wrote her name up on the board.
If you want to join, just write your name up on the notice board.
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Annex 3 Irregular verbs
LIST OF IRREGULAR VERBS
infinitive simple past past participle
be was/were been
beat beat beaten
become became become
begin began begun
bet* bet bet
blow blew blown
break broke broken
bring brought brought
build built built
burst burst burst
buy bought bought
catch caught caught
choose chose chosen
come came come
cost cost cost
cut cut cut
deal dealt dealt
do did done
draw drew drawn
drink drank drunk
drive drove driven
eat ate eaten
fall fell fallen
feed fed fed
feel felt felt
fight fought fought
find found found
fly flew flown
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infinitive simple past past participle
forget forgot forgotten
freeze froze frozen
get got got, gotten (AE)
give gave given
go went gone
grow grew grown
hang hung hung
have had had
hear heard heard
hide hid hidden
hit hit hit
hold held held
hurt hurt hurt
keep kept kept
know knew known
lay laid laid
lead led led
leave left left
lend lent lent
let let let
lie lay lain
light* lit lit
lose lost lost
make made made
mean meant meant
meet met met
pay paid paid
put put put
read read read
ride rode ridden
ring rang rung
rise rose risen
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infinitive simple past past participle
run ran run
say said said
see saw seen
sell sold sold
send sent sent
set set set
shake shook shaken
steal stole stolen
shine shone shone
shoot shot shot
show* showed shown
shut shut shut
sing sang sung
sink sank sunk
sit sat sat
sleep slept slept
slide slid slid
speak spoke spoken
spend spent spent
spring sprang sprung
stand stood stood
stick stuck stuck
swear swore sworn
sweep swept swept
swim swam swum
swing swung swung
take took taken
teach taught taught
tear tore torn
tell told told
think thought thought
throw threw thrown
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infinitive simple past past participle
understand understood understood
wake* woke woken
wear wore worn
weave wove woven
win won won
write wrote written
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Annex 4. Dialogues
1. Meet someone
James : Hello.
Lisa : Hi.
James : How are you?
Lisa : I'm good. How are you?
James : Good. Do you speak English?
Lisa : A little. Are you American?
James : Yes.
Lisa : Where are you from?
James : I'm from California.
Lisa : Nice to meet you.
James : Nice to meet you too.
2. Get to know each other
Mary : Excuse me, are you American?
Robert : No.
Mary : Do you speak English?
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Robert : A little, but not very well.
Mary : How long have you been here?
Robert : 2 months.
Mary : What do you do for work?
Robert : I'm a student. How about you?
Mary : I'm a student too.
3. What’s your name?
John : Excuse me, what's your name?
Jessica : My name is Jessica. What's yours?
John : John.
Jessica : You speak English very well.
John : Thank you.
Jessica : Do you know what time it is?
John : Sure. It's 5:10PM.
Jessica : What did you say?
John : I said it's 5:10PM.
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Jessica : Thanks.
John : You're welcome.
4. Asking for information
Amy : Hi Michael.
Michael
: Hi Amy. What's up?
Amy : I'm looking for the airport. Can you tell me how to get
there?
Michael
: No, sorry. I don't know.
Amy : I think I can take the subway to the airport. Do you know
where the subway is?
Michael
: Sure, it's over there.
Amy : Where? I don't see it.
Michael
: Across the street.
Amy : Oh, I see it now. Thanks.
Michael
: No problem.
Amy : Do you know if there's a restroom around here?
Michael
: Yes, there's one here. It's in the store.
Amy : Thank you.
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Michael
: Bye.
Amy : Bye bye.
5. Let’s eat something
Thomas : Hi Sarah, how are you?
Sarah : Fine, how are you doing?
Thomas : OK.
Sarah : What do you want to do?
Thomas : I'm hungry. I'd like to eat something.
Sarah : Where do you want to go?
Thomas : I'd like to go to an Italian restaurant.
Sarah : What kind of Italian food do you like?
Thomas : I like spaghetti. Do you like spaghetti?
Sarah : No, I don't, but I like pizza.
6. Having lunch
Patrick : How do you like the food?
Diane : It tastes really great. Did you cook it?
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Patrick : Yes. I made it this afternoon. Would you like some more?
Diane : OK, just a little though. I'm really full.
Patrick : Oh. Would you like some soup instead?
Diane : What kind is it?
Patrick : Tomato and rice. Have you had that before?
Diane : No. This is my first time. How does it taste?
Patrick : It's good, try it. What do you think?
Diane : Wow. It is good. Did you make that also?
Patrick : Yes.
Diane : You're a really good cook.
Patrick : Thanks, next time I'll make chicken soup for us.
Diane : That sounds good. Did you study cooking in school?
Patrick : No, I learned by myself. I have a good cook book that I read
when I have time.
7. Would you like something to eat?
Susan : David, would you like something to eat?
David : No, I'm full.
151
8. Planning the day
Linda : Hi Mark.
Mark : Hi.
Linda : What are you planning to do today?
Mark : I'm not sure yet.
Linda : Would you like to have lunch with me?
Mark : Yes. When?
Susan : Do you want something to drink?
David : Yes, I'd like some coffee.
Susan : Sorry, I don't have any coffee.
David : That's OK. I'll have a glass of water.
Susan : A small glass, or a big one?
David : Small please.
Susan : Here you go.
David : Thanks.
Susan : You're welcome.
152
Linda : Is 11:30AM OK?
Mark : Sorry, I didn't hear you. Can you say that again please?
Linda : I said, 11:30AM.
Mark : Oh, I'm busy then. Can we meet a little later?
Linda : OK, how about 12:30PM?
Mark : OK. Where?
Linda : How about Bill's Seafood Restaurant?
Mark : Oh, Where is that?
Linda : It's on 7th Street.
Mark : OK, I'll meet you there.
9. At the restaurant
Host : Hello sir, welcome to the French Garden Restaurant. How
many?
Charles : One.
Host : Right this way. Please have a seat. Your waitress will be
with you in a moment.
Waitress : Hello sir, would you like to order now?
Charles : Yes please.
153
Waitress: What would you like to drink?
Charles: What do you have?
Waitress: We have bottled water, juice, and Coke.
Charles: I'll have a bottle of water please.
Waitress: What would you like to eat?
Charles: I'll have a tuna fish sandwich and a bowl of vegetable
soup.
10. Introducing people
Michael : Robert, this is my friend, Mrs. Smith.
Robert : Hi, Nice to meet you.
Mrs.
Smith : Nice to meet you too.
Robert : Mrs. Smith, what do you do for work?
Mrs.
Smith : I'm a doctor.
Robert : Oh. Where do you work?
Mrs.
Smith :
New York University hospital in New York City. What
do you do?
Robert : I'm a teacher.
Mrs.
Smith : What do you teach?
154
Robert : I teach English.
Mrs.
Smith : Where?
Robert : At a high school in New Jersey.
Mrs.
Smith : That's nice. How old are you?
Robert : I'm 32.
11. Asking for direction
Paul :
Excuse me, I'm looking for the Holiday Inn. Do you
know where it is?
Nancy : Sure. It's down this street on the left.
Paul : Is it far from here?
Nancy : No, it's not far.
Paul : How far is it?
Nancy : About a mile and a half.
Paul : How long does it take to get there?
Nancy : 5 minutes or so.
Paul : Is it close to the subway station?
Nancy : Yes, it's very close. The subway station is next to the
hotel. You can walk there.
155
Paul : Thanks a lot.
12. Knowing each other better
Carol : Brian, do you know how to speak English?
Brian : Yes.
Carol : Where did you learn?
Brian : I learned in college.
Carol : You speak really well.
Brian : Thank you.
Carol : How long have you been in the U.S.?
Brian : 3 weeks.
Carol : Is your wife with you?
Brian : Yes, she just got here yesterday.
Carol : Have you been to California before?
Brian : No. I've never been there.
Carol : Have you ever been to Las Vegas?
Brian : Yes. I went there once on a business trip.
156
13. A telephone call
James : Hello?
Linda : Hi, is James there please?
James : Yes. Who's calling?
Linda : Linda.
James : One moment please.
Linda : OK.
James : Hello?
Linda : Hi James, it's Linda.
James : Hi Linda.
Linda : What are you doing now?
James : I'm working.
Linda : Are you busy?
James : Yes. It's been really busy here all day.
Linda : What time do you get off of work?
James : 8:30PM
Linda : I'll call you back after 8:30PM
157
James : OK. Talk to you later.
Linda : Bye bye.
14. Making a hotel reservation
Receptionist Hello, Marriott Hotel, how may I help you?
Nancy : Hi. I'd like to make a reservation.
Receptionist Just a moment. OK, for what date?
Nancy : July 25th.
Receptionist How many nights will you be staying?
Nancy : 2 nights. What's the room rate?
Receptionist 75 dollars a night plus tax. Would you like me to reserve
a room for you?
Nancy : Yes please.
Receptionist Your name?
Nancy : Nancy Anderson.
Receptionist Miss Anderson, how will you be paying?
Nancy : Visa.
Receptionist Card number please.
158
Nancy : 4198 2289 3388 228.
Receptionist Expiration date?
Nancy : 1/9/2012
Receptionist OK, You're all set. We'll see you on the 25th.
15. Making an appointment to the doctor
Adam : Hi, I'd like to see the doctor, please.
Receptionist Do you have an appointment?
Adam : No.
Receptionist When would you like an appointment?
Adam : Is today possible?
Receptionist
: Yes. Today is fine. What time would you like?
Adam : As soon as possible. My stomach really hurts.
Receptionist Please wait a moment. I'll see if the doctor is available.
Adam : OK.
Receptionist
Sorry, he's with a patient right now. It's probably going
to be about another 30 minutes. Would you mind waiting
a little longer?
Adam : No problem.
Receptionist
: May I see your insurance card please.
Adam : Here you are.
159
Receptionist Thanks. That's going to be 25 dollars for today's visit.
Adam : Really? I didn't think it would be that much.
Receptionist I know how you feel.
Adam : I'll pay with cash.
Receptionist Thank you.
Adam : Would you please turn on the heat? It's really cold in
here
16. Eating out with a friend
Rebecca This looks like a nice restaurant.
Scott : Yeah, it is. I come here all the time.
Rebecca Let's sit over there.
Scott : OK.
Rebecca : Can you pass me a menu please.
Scott : Sure. What are you going to have to drink?
Rebecca : I'm going to have a glass of beer. How about you?
Scott : I think I'll have a glass of wine.
Rebecca : Do you want to order an appetizer first?
Scott : Not really, maybe we can just order some bread.
160
Rebecca : OK. What are you going to have to eat?
Scott : I'm not sure. I haven't decided yet. Can you recommend
something?
Rebecca : Sure, I've had the steak and the lobster before. They're
both very good.
Scott : I think I'll have the lobster. What are you going to have?
Rebecca : I'm not that hungry. I think I'm just going to have a salad.
Scott : I'm gonna go to the bathroom. When the waitress comes
back, will you order for me?
Rebecca : Sure. No problem.
17. Geography and direction
Mandy : Professor, where's Canada?
Professor : Canada is north of here.
Mandy : Can you show me on the map?
Professor : Sure. Look here. Canada is north of the United States.
Mandy : Oh, I see. Where's Mexico?
Professor : Mexico is south of the United States.
Mandy : How about Connecticut? Where's that?
Professor : Connecticut is east of New York.
161
Mandy : What state is west of Pennsylvania?
Professor : Ohio.
Mandy : OK, Where's Los Angeles?
Professor : Los Angeles is in California. It's southeast of San
Francisco.
Mandy : Where's Boston.
Professor : Boston is in the northeast part of the country.
Mandy : Where is Las Vegas?
Professor : Las Vegas is in the southwest.
18. Going shopping
Tom : It's almost Christmas. What are you doing this weekend?
Sara : Nothing special, just working. Why do you ask?
Tom : Well, I still haven't finished my Christmas shopping. Do
you want to go shopping with me this weekend?
Sara : I'd like to, but I'm not sure if I can. Work has been really
busy lately. Why don't we go on Friday instead?
Tom : Friday's not good. I think the stores will be very crowded
and I have to work.
Sara : OK, then let's try to go this weekend. I should know if I can
go by Friday. Is it OK if I call you then?
Tom : Yeah, that's fine.
162
Sara : What's your number?
Tom : 233-331-8828. Let me give you my email address too. It's
Sara : OK, I'll talk to you soon.
Tom : OK.
19. Doctor’s visit
Doctor : Hello Mrs. Wilson.
Mrs.
Wilson : Hi Doctor.
Doctor : How are you feeling?
Mrs.
Wilson : I don't feel good.
Doctor : What's bothering you?
Mrs.
Wilson : I have a stomachache and a headache.
Doctor : Where does it hurt?
Mrs.
Wilson : Here.
Doctor : Do you have a fever?
Mrs.
Wilson : No, I don't think so.
Doctor : OK. Let me look at your throat. Open your mouth. Your
throat's red. Does it hurt?
163
Mrs.
Wilson : Yes. It's sore.
Doctor : When did it start to feel this way?
Mrs.
Wilson : Last week.
Doctor : I think you have a virus. It might be the flu. I'm going to
give you a prescription for some medicine.
Mrs.
Wilson : Thank you.
Doctor : Try to get some rest, and be sure to drink lots of water and
orange juice.
20. Checking at the hotel
Receptionist : Good evening.
Jim : Hi. Do you have any vacancies tonight?
Receptionist : Yes. The rate is 55 dollars.
Jim : Do the rooms have internet access?
Receptionist : We have wireless. If you have a computer you can use
the wireless network for an additional 5 dollars.
Jim : OK, I'd like a room please.
Receptionist : Would you like a smoking or a non-smoking room?
Jim : Non-smoking.
Receptionist : How will you be paying?
164
Jim : Visa. Here you are.
Receptionist : How many people?
Jim : Two.
Receptionist : Would you like a king size bed or two double beds?
Jim : King size please.
Receptionist : You're in room 237. It's on the second floor. Here's
your key. Sign here please.
Jim : What time is checkout?
Receptionist : 11:30AM
21. Birthday present
Jimmy : Angela, come in.
Angela : Happy Birthday!
Jimmy : Thanks. I can't believe you remembered that.
Angela : Well, I have a calendar in my computer. It helps me
remember things like that. What are you up to?
Jimmy : I'm reading a book my cousin gave me for my birthday.
Angela : Let me see. Oh, I have this book at home. I want to give you
a present too.
Jimmy : Wow, it's a guitar. I already have one, but I like this one
better. Thank you.
165
Angela : You're welcome. Do you know how to play the guitar?
Jimmy : Yeah, I know how to play. My father taught me when I was
young.
Angela : Will you play it now? I want to listen to some music.
Jimmy : OK. Do you know this one?
Angela : Yeah, I've heard that one. I could sing that song when I was
in middle school.
Jimmy : It's an old one. It makes me feel old. When I was in college
they use to play it on the radio all the time.
22. Dinner invitation
Barbara : Hi James, it's good to see you again.
James : Hi Barbara.
Barbara : Are you here for work?
James : Yes.
Barbara : Is Steve with you?
James : No I'm here alone. Steve couldn't come this time.
Barbara : How long will you be staying?
James : 4 days. I'm going back on Friday.
Barbara : My brother and I are getting together for dinner. Do you want
to come with us?
166
James :
Yeah, that would be nice. I have a meeting in an hour. I can
meet you afterwards, if that's OK. The meeting shouldn't last
long.
Barbara : That's fine. Who is your meeting with?
James : The Boston Insurance Company. I'll call you when it's over.
Barbara : OK.
James : Can I use your phone? I left mine in the car and I want to call
them to get directions.
Barbara : Sure, here you go.
22. Dating someone
Paul : Betty, are you and John still dating?
Betty : Yeah, things are going really good.
Paul : Where did you meet him?
Betty : I met him at the library a couple of weeks ago. We were
sitting at the same table and he asked to borrow my pen.
Paul : Wow, that's a nice story.
Betty : I was telling Jim about it the other day. He thought it was
pretty romantic.
Paul : Do you two have plans for tonight?
Betty : Yes, I think we're going to rent a movie. Have you seen
anything good lately?
Paul : I saw Spider-Man the other day.
167
Betty : I've heard that's a really funny movie.
Paul : Are you kidding? That movie's not funny. It's sad. I was
crying at the end.
Betty : You're really sensitive, aren't you?
Paul : I guess so. Maybe that's why I can't find a girlfriend.
Source: http://www.englishspeak.com/english-lessons.cfm (30.07.2013)
168
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