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

Nouns from Verbs

You can make nouns from some verbs by adding the suffix -ion:

• instruct → instruction
• inform → information

Study Nouns

• communication
• concentration
• correction
• distraction
• education
• imagination
• information
• instruction
• motivation
• participation
• presentation

Reported Commands and Requests

To report commands, use tell + object + (not) + to + verb:

“Don’t run.” → He told us not to run.

To report requests, use ask + object + (not) + to + verb:

“Could you go inside?” → Mrs. Evans asked us to go inside.

Giving Examples

My desk isn’t very neat. There are lots of things on it, such as sticky notes and notebooks.

I write information about my homework assignments in my notebook, including when the teacher told us to hand them in.

Writing Resolutions

In... Continue reading "Study Skills and Language Techniques" »

I am writing this email in order to complain about a product of your shop. I bought a mobile phone 2 weeks ago. It cost around six hundred euros and it has several failures.

Failures:

• It does not charge well.
• The screen seems to be damaged and sometimes turns black.
• The mobile phone does not always turn on.

For these reasons, I would like to find a solution. The mobile phone has a guarantee, so could you repair it? If it is not possible, could you give me my money back? I am looking forward to your answer as soon as possible.

Yours sincerely,

The Ashby Family

Characters

Jane and Ruth

Jane and Ruth are identical twins. Jane is elegant and modest, while Ruth is friendly and always dressed in old riding clothes.

Eleanor

Eleanor is the older sister. She is similar to Jane in character. Brat Farrar and Roger Clint are both in love with her.

Nora and Bill

Nora and Bill are the parents of the Ashby family. They die in an airplane crash, leaving their five children orphaned.

Simon and Patrick

Simon and Patrick are twins, with Patrick being born 20 minutes before Simon. Simon kills Patrick by throwing him off a cliff. He then writes a suicide note in Patrick's handwriting and places it on the cliff to make it appear that Patrick committed suicide.

Brat Farrar

Brat Farrar is a man who returns to England... Continue reading "The Ashby Family: A Tale of Twins, Tragedy, and Deception" »

Devastating Flood Strikes Errenteria

This month, Errenteria, a large town in Gipuzkoa, is suffering one of the worst floods ever recorded in the area. Sadly, 20 people have already died, and at least 150 are missing. The floodwaters have destroyed many buildings and severely damaged infrastructure.

Cause and Immediate Effects

The flooding began after heavy rainfall at the start of the month, brought on by several storms associated with a cyclone. The intense rain resulted in accumulations of 100 liters per square meter. Consequently, the lowest flats in buildings are inundated, causing residents to lose many personal objects, electronic devices, photos, and other belongings.

As a result of the flood, the town has descended into chaos:

• Roads are

5 Qualifying Comparative Adjectives

Use these words and phrases to refer to big differences:

• far
• a lot
• much
• considerably
• not nearly as ... as

Cars are considerably faster and far more comfortable than bicycles.

Use these words and phrases to refer to small differences: a bit, a little, slightly.

The weather's a bit hotter than it was yesterday.

Use these words and phrases to refer to no differences: just, no.

It's no warmer than it was yesterday.

It's just as cold today as it was yesterday.

Adverbs

1- Regular and Irregular Adverbs

A. The majority of comparative and superlative adverbs are formed like this:

B. Irregular adverbs are formed like this:

Vocabulary Practice

3.1

1. Don't blame
2. Valerie is very dishonest
3. That is the final deadline
4. His behaviour is suspicious
5. I must warn
6. Your tennis will improve
7. Please speak up
8. If you try hard, you can achieve
9. All the workers attended
10. The fees

4.1

1. Mike had a great idea. He came up with it.
2. I can't carry on.
3. She was a drop out.
4. Dan invented the whole story. He made it up.
5. Please get in touch with us.

Grammar Practice

5.1

1. While I was talking to the shop assistant, my purse got stolen.
2. I haven't seen Andrew for a long time. I think I will call him.
3. If I had known you were in town the other day, I would have come to see you.
4. I won't tell Rachel your secret unless you give me permission.
5. I stayed in my house at the because it...

6.1

1. Oliver asked if Grace had already gone home.
2. Joe

1. "Where did you go on holiday last summer?" I asked Linda. I asked Linda where she had gone on holiday the previous summer.

2. "Do you know where Angela is living?" he said. He wanted to know where Angela was living.

3. "How much do you think it will cost?" he said. He asked me how much I/we thought it would cost.

4. "Watch the milk and don't let it boil over," she said. She ordered me to watch the milk and not to let it boil over.

5. "Let's go down to the harbour and see if we can hire a boat," he said. He suggested going down to the harbor and seeing if they could hire a boat.

6. "Did you enjoy the film?" I asked Tom. I asked Tom if he had enjoyed the film.

7. "Can I borrow some money for a fizzy drink?" Donna asked. Donna wondered if she could... Continue reading "Direct and Indirect Speech Examples" »

Informal Email, Friend

19 Gran Via, Murcia 30004, Spain, 7th February 2017
From: Raquel
To: Maria
Subject: Thanks

Hi Maria,
I’m really sorry for not writing earlier, but I’ve been very busy since I got back! I’m writing this email to say thanks for a wonderful weekend with you in London. I loved being in that nice city, and I had a good time. I’m very happy to meet your new English friend, Sophie, she’s intelligent and very friendly. I have really good memories. I’ve been living in Murcia for 3 weeks. I miss you a lot but I’m very happy in this city. I’ve been a bit stressed this week, because I’ve started studying at university and I’ve the exams soon. Also, I’m working in a private academy with primary students, they are very... Continue reading "Life Stories and Experiences: From Childhood Memories to Professional Achievements" »