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

Irregular Verb Conjugations

Essential English Vocabulary and Grammar Practice

Shopping and Financial Terminology

Review common phrases and concepts related to shopping, discounts, and personal finance:

• The dress is a bargain because it was $24 before and now it costs $12.
• The dress is cheaper now because it's in the sales.
• Matt can't afford to buy designer brands because they're too expensive.
• There was a discount of more than 50% on Matt's trainers.
• Olivia doesn't buy designer brands because they're a waste of money.

Affordability and Value Sentences

• I really like this bag, but I can't afford it. Could you lend me $5?
• I'm trying to save up for a laptop. The brand I want is expensive, so I'll need to borrow some money.
• That smartphone isn't worth $300. Don't buy it; it's a waste

• See off: To say goodbye. Don't worry about the journey to the airport; I'm coming to see you off.
• Take down: To write down. The other car didn't stop after the accident, yet I was able to take down its number.
• Try out: To test something (machine, product, etc.). The car's in quite good condition, but you can try it out before you make any decision.
• Bring up: To mention something. Would you like to bring up any other matters before the meeting closes?
• Bring up: To raise or educate someone. Her parents died when she was eight, so her uncle decided to bring her up himself.
• Get down: To make someone feel depressed. Stop worrying about it. Don't let this failure get you down.
• Call off: To cancel something. I'm afraid we'll have to call the meeting off

Oral Communication Skills in English Language Learning

The primary objective of teaching English is to equip students with the ability to communicate effectively using the language. Therefore, oral communication plays a pivotal role in our classrooms.

Developing Oral Competence

Developing oral competence involves two key aspects: receptive (listening) and productive (speaking). Our communication activities should aim to:

• Foster a genuine desire in students to communicate and receive information.
• Present an engaging communicative purpose that resonates with them.
• Incorporate the processing of diverse language elements.

Effective Classroom Activities for Oral Communication

Classroom Language

Encourage the use of English phrases for communication between... Continue reading "Enhancing Oral Communication Skills in English Language Learning" »

Looking for Alaska — Summary and Exercises

Grammar

1

1. shown
2. wanted
3. opening
4. arriving
5. sitting
6. sent
7. using
8. bought

2

1. 1 C
2. 2 B
3. 3 A
4. 4 B
5. 5 A
6. 6 B

3

1. What I want is lots of sun on my holiday.
2. What I’m looking forward to is meeting my sister’s boyfriend.
3. What I need is some time to finish this work.
4. What I’d like is to go shopping tomorrow.
5. What Sam enjoys is playing in football matches.
6. What she wants is a dog.

Vocabulary

4

1. jugglers
2. composer
3. painter
4. playwright
5. buskers

5

1. stage
2. concert
3. still
4. performance
5. gallery

Listening

1 A, 2 B, 3 A, B, 4 A, 5 A, B

Reading

1 T, 2 F, 3 F, 4 F, 5 T

Looking for Alaska — John Green Novel

In his first novel, Looking for Alaska, John Green captures that feeling with freshness, candor and heart. Miles Halter is a rising junior in a boarding school in rural Alabama.... Continue reading "Looking for Alaska: Summary, Characters & Exercises" »

Health Vocabulary and Grammar Exercises

1. Find the Words to the Description

A.        B

1. Bandage  D  ....a. what covers the body
2. Food poisoning  C  ....b. what you get from a bee
3. Pills  G  ....c. caused by something you eat
4. Skin  A  ....d. a piece of cloth that covers an injury
5. Neck  F  ....e. a photograph showing the inside of the body
6. Sting  B  ....f. the part of the body that holds the head
7. X-RAY  E  ....g. a type of medicine a doctor may give you

2. Complete the Sentences

1. Dylan can't join the army because he's got a problem with his heart.
2. The doctor said that the boy's temperature was too high.
3. I stayed in the sun too long at the beach and I burnt my back.
4. Liam began to CHEST.
5. Many people didn't come to work last week

A News Report: Stormy Day in Villahermosa

On July 4th, 2015, my friend and I were in a park when suddenly the wind surprised us. We were on our way to a party at Voladero disco when the wind broke a large tree branch and some bottles. The local police in Villahermosa arrived to assess the damages.

However, my friends and I went to our houses with some dust on our clothes. Later, my friend Rosa and I went to the pub in the square, and after a while, more people started to arrive. People were a little scared at first, but as time passed, they calmed down.

In conclusion, the party ended at the same time that the storm finished.

Informal Email to Anna

Hi Anna,

It's been a long time since we've seen or spoken to each other. I hope you are doing well in... Continue reading "A Stormy Day in Villahermosa and Other Stories" »

Mental Processes: Participants and Subtypes

Mental processes are constructed with main participants: the Experiencer (or Senser), the mental process itself, and the Phenomenon. These are processes of experiencing or sensing.

Subtypes of Mental Processes

• Perception: (see, hear, feel). Behavioural processes distinguish between non-volitional acts (see, hear) and volitional acts (look, watch, listen).
• Cognition: (know, understand, believe).
• Affection: (like, love, admire, miss).
• Desideration: (hope, desire, fear, want, wish).

There is always a conscious participant, the Experiencer or Senser, who perceives, knows, or likes. There is usually a second participant, the Phenomenon—that which is perceived, known, or wanted.

Present Progressive and Lexical

Reported Speech Practice and Sentence Transformation

Section 1: Commands, Requests, and Statements

• Tony reminded me not to forget to post the letter.
• The teacher told me to revise the vocabulary pages.
• The police officer ordered me to show my identity card.
• The IT operator explained that I needed to press 'Control' and 'F8'.
• Lydia asked if we should try the lobster.

Section 2: Complaints, Recommendations, and Promises

• Peter complained about revising for his exams.
• I recommend speaking to the manager at once.
• She promised to call at six o'clock.

Correct Examples

• He explained he would stay there that night.

Section 3: Dialogue and Suggestions

• Joe invited Eve to go to a restaurant that evening.
• Eve decided that was a good idea.
• Joe asked Eve what kind of food

This list includes the base form, past simple, and past participle of some common irregular verbs in English.

Verb Forms

Base Form - Past Simple - Past Participle

be - was/were - been (ser, estar)

become - became - become (convertirse en, hacerse)

begin - began - begun (empezar, comenzar)

bite - bit - bitten (morder)

blow - blew - blown (soplar)

break - broke - broken (romper)

bring - brought - brought (llevar, traer)

build - built - built (construir)

buy - bought - bought (comprar)

can - could - been able (poder)

catch - caught - caught (coger, atrapar, tomar)

choose - chose - chosen (elegir, escoger)

come - came - come (venir)

cost - cost - cost (costar)

cut - cut - cut (cortar)

do - did - done (hacer)

draw - drew - drawn (dibujar)

drink - drank - drunk (beber)... Continue reading "English Irregular Verbs" »