English Language Skills: Grammar, Vocabulary & Usage

Ethical Language & Fair Conduct

Complete the sentences using appropriate words related to fairness and honesty:

1. Calling names to your classmates is not an acceptable thing to do.
2. In fact, doing so is not justifiable. Every person has their own name.
3. Foreigners are people like you and me. Try not to have any prejudice against them.
4. It's unethical to be sharing others' private videos on the internet without permission.
5. I can't believe you paid that much for the concert. That's not reasonable at all.

Legal Terminology & Courtroom Phrases

Match the following definitions with their correct technical legal phrases:

• To give information in a court: To give evidence
• To ask to go to a higher court for another trial: To appeal
• The lawyer who tries to prove that someone is innocent: The defense lawyer
• To not give information that is important in a trial: To withhold evidence
• Someone who says in court what they know or saw: A witness
• To be told that you will spend the rest of your life in prison: To be sentenced to life imprisonment
• To say that the confession you made before was not true: To retract a confession

Mastering Negative Inversion in English

Complete the following sentences using a different negative inversion structure and the verb provided:

1. Not until had the teacher given you permission to go to the toilet, as it has recently been prohibited.
2. No sooner had I arrived late for school yesterday than I also got soaked to the bone and was told off by my teacher.
3. In no case have we had more than two exams a day. Sometimes we do, but not often; school rules state we cannot have more.
4. Rarely has Ron found such an unspoiled place to sit and read Los Hermanos Karamazov. It's a very dark future for a reader like him.
5. Hardly had the inner bell rung when all the students were sitting quietly in their places.
6. Never have you seen me reading an e-book. I love paper books, and nothing like an e-book will ever be in my hands.

Understanding Spoken Discourse Markers

Explore the functions of various discourse markers in spoken English:

• To change the topic, you can use phrases like anyway and by the way.
• One way to make a concession is by using that being said.
• What is "while" used for? It is used to contrast two ideas, often balancing them. Example: While I like chocolate, I prefer vanilla.
• A contrast word similar to "however," starting with "never," is nevertheless.
• You can give your opinion using "If," as in the example: If you ask me, this is the best option.
• Is "The thing is" used for concessions? No. It is used to introduce explanations or justifications rather than concessions.

Key Phrases for Higher Education

Complete the sentences with appropriate phrases from the Higher Education context:

1. I sailed through my exams at university in the first term. I had all top marks.
2. I want to validate my dissertation on American Literature. It is in two years' time, and I will have to speak to a university court.
3. I am going to take a gap year before university. I am thinking of traveling and learning a fourth language.
4. He studied in Poland, and when he finished, he returned to Spain as a fully qualified engineer.
5. I have finished my studies in Spain, and next year I am starting my bachelor’s degree in Architecture.

Common Verb Patterns with "Do"

Complete the following verb patterns, focusing on the correct form of "do":

• Insist on doing something
• Convince someone to do something
• Decide to do something
• Apologize for doing something
• Blame someone for doing something
• Promise to do something