Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for English

Essential English Vocabulary and Phrases

Common Phrasal Verbs

• Stay on: To continue in a place, position, or situation.
• Save up: To accumulate money for future use.
• Look up: To search for something on the internet or in a book.
• Look up to: To admire someone or something.

Money and Education

• Earning money: Getting money for work that you do.
• Allowance: An amount of money given regularly.
• Changed my mind: Had a change of opinion.
• Encourage: To inspire or motivate.
• Skip: To avoid going to; to miss.
• Immediately: Straight away.
• Career: A chosen pursuit; a profession or occupation.
• Degree: An academic title conferred by universities and colleges upon completion of studies, or as an honorary recognition of achievement.
• A-level: Exams which students in England and

English Language Practice: Advanced Skills Review

1. Essential Collocations and Phrases

• a. They are engaged.
• b. Don't ignore.
• c. I envy you.
• d. A very nice discount.
• e. Could I borrow?
• f. They got divorced.
• g. My favorite shopping spree.
• h. If you can lend, pay back.
• i. In my budget.
• j. We have grown apart.

2. Mastering Prepositions

• Don't stare at.
• Are going to be on.
• Always depend on.
• Complaining about.
• We have run out of.

3. Gerunds and Infinitives in Use

• Keen on going.
• Have decided to buy.
• We can afford to eat.
• Smoking is a bad habit.
• We stopped to say.

4. Business and Money Idioms

• Been on another shopping spree.
• They will go out of business.
• Only just make ends meet.
• I'm going to be worth it.
• I'm not sure it will foot the bill.
• Is going to shop around.
• If you live beyond

Finding Belonging: A Migrant's Journey

The Challenge of "Country"

Initially, the concept of "country" seemed too broad. However, discussions revealed its potential for exploring the impact of place on identity and belonging. This piece delves into the complexities of migrating to an unfamiliar country, focusing on the search for security through employment.

A Migrant's Internal Struggles

The narrative aims to provide readers with a deeper understanding of the everyday challenges faced by migrants. It targets those who have personally experienced migration or know someone who has. The story is told from the first-person perspective of a woman grappling with isolation after arriving in Australia.

Inspiration and Literary Techniques

Inspired by "The... Continue reading "Finding Belonging: A Migrant's Journey of Identity and Employment" »

Reported Speech

Statements

1. She said (that) he worked in a bank.
2. She told me (that) they went out last night.
3. She said (that) she was coming.
4. She told me (that) she had been waiting for the bus when he arrived.
5. She said (that) she had never been there before.
6. She told me (that) she didn't go to the party.
7. She said (that) Lucy would come later.
8. She told me (that) he hadn't eaten breakfast.
9. She said (that) she could help me tomorrow.
10. She told me (that) I should go to bed early.
11. She told me (that) she didn't like chocolate.
12. She said (that) she wouldn't see me tomorrow.
13. She said (that) she was living in Paris for a few months.
14. She told me (that) she visited her parents at the weekend.
15. She said (that) she hadn't eaten sushi before.
16. She said (that) she hadn't travelled

Present Continuous

The present continuous, also known as the present progressive, is a verb tense used to describe actions happening now, or around now.

Affirmative, Interrogative, and Negative Forms

• Affirmative: Subject + am/is/are + verb (present participle -ing)
• Interrogative: Am/Is/Are + subject + verb (present participle -ing)?
• Negative: Subject + am/is/are + not + verb (present participle -ing)

English Grammar Practice: Set 1

1. I’m looking forward to trying the new restaurant.
2. She asked me where I had bought that jacket.
3. When did you move to Spain?
4. We shouldn’t have left the house without a jacket.
5. I have my car revised every February.
6. The match was cancelled due to heavy rain.
7. That is the city where we lived for four years.
8. An event is being organized to raise money for charity.
9. She apologised for breaking my mug.
10. At 10:30, she will be playing football.
11. It is thought that she is one of the best actors in the world.
12. If you went to bed earlier, you wouldn’t always be tired.
13. I wish I had revised English grammar.
14. We have been sent an invitation.
15. She said that they were going to visit their grandparents the next day.

English Grammar Practice: Set

Regency England: Society and Social Norms

Marriage and Inheritance Customs

At this time, the most influential sector was comprised of wealthy landowners, who often did not work but lived on large properties in the countryside. Family properties could not be divided; all land and income passed to the eldest son, while other siblings had to learn a profession. Daughters faced even greater complications; they could neither inherit land nor pursue a profession. Most remained at home, awaiting a suitable husband who could offer financial security.

Marriages at this time were often for convenience. Mothers sought wealthy, landed husbands for their daughters, while men, conversely, sought brides from affluent families. For example, in Pride and Prejudice,... Continue reading "Pride and Prejudice: Social Norms and Enduring Themes" »

The Ring's History and Curse

1. The deacons deposited the ring in the glass case of a fashionable jeweler.
2. The Earl of Essex was imprisoned in the Tower of London.
3. The red glow of the diamond symbolizes the presence of the evil spirit within the ring.
4. The Countess of Shrewsbury came to visit the Earl, pretending to be his friend, but actually wanting to get revenge on him for some past slight.
5. The ring was stolen from the Earl's tomb by Cromwell's soldiers when they desecrated the church and robbed the vaults many years after his death.
6. After crossing the Atlantic, the ring ended up being thrown into the contribution box of a church in New England.
7. The ring brought sorrow, deceit, and misfortune to all who possessed it due to the evil spirit dwelling

Common Grammatical Corrections

Here are some common grammatical corrections to improve your English:

• We must make the most of it.
• Honestly, it doesn't matter.
• Could you speak more slowly? / Were you able to understand?
• What's the answer? Subtract eight from eight.
• Three hundred students took part in the competition.
• The students will have finished by tomorrow.
• Three will have run out of time.
• My sister isn't very keen on horror movies.
• Peter asked if he had eaten the chocolate.
• Bob hadn't seen her since she had gone by.
• I needed a cup of coffee. / I could have done with a cup of coffee.
• I'm not going to tolerate this. / I'm not capable of putting up with this.
• We went for a walk in spite of the rain.
• I'm sure it will be fine. / It is bound to be fine.
• Could

Phrasal Verb Examples

1. Break Down

   Tina's computer broke down in the middle of her paper.

2. Turn Down

   She turned down all the men who asked her to marry them.

3. Look Up To

   That teacher is someone I look up to.

4. Get On With

   Does Sheila get on well with her parents?

5. Look Into

   Have scientists ever looked into the way animals communicate with humans?

6. Get By

   It is difficult for the family to get by on the money they have.

7. Look Forward To

   The girls are looking forward to seeing their grandparents again.

8. Come Up With

   The inventor came up with a solution to the problem in a dream.

9. Put Off

   They have put off the meeting until next Friday.

10. Work Out

    It was difficult to work out what was happening in the story.

11. Look Up

    Will you look up this word in the dictionary?

12. Drop Out

    I didn't know