Study Skills and Language Techniques

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 future, I’m going to keep my study area neat and clean.

My plan is to turn off my phone.

I’ve decided to take regular breaks.

Study Verbs

• analyze
• brainstorm
• check
• compare
• discuss
• memorize
• plan
• practice
• report
• research
• review
• study
• test

Reported Questions

The word order in reported questions is the same as in sentences, and the verb usually moves one tense back. After the reporting verb ask, the object (who you asked) is optional.

If the question contains a question word, repeat it in the reported question:

“What are you reading?” → I asked each member of my family what they were reading.

Use if when there isn’t a question word. Don’t include do or did:

“Do you prefer e-readers or books?” → I asked if they preferred e-readers or books.

Writing a Summary

Writing a summary of a text helps you remember what you read:

1. First, underline the main ideas.
2. Then, circle key words or phrases that support the main ideas.
3. Next, create a mind map with the main ideas and the key words and phrases.
4. Finally, use the mind map to write a summary.

Listening for Points of View

You will often hear people express a point of view, or opinion, of something: Do they like it? Did they have a good or bad experience? Listen for their tone of voice and words such as like, hate, great, stressful, happy, depressing or nice.

Poster: How to Be a Better Student

Make a poster about how to be a better student. Include the qualities of a successful student and ideal school facilities.

Intensifiers with Adjectives

Very makes base adjectives stronger: very hungry, very big.

Strong adjectives express extreme qualities:
starving = very hungry
huge = very big

These intensifiers make strong adjectives even stronger: quite, really, absolutely, totally (but not very).

Strong adjectives make descriptive language more interesting.

Expressing Wishes: Wish + Past Simple and Could

Use wish + past simple to talk about unrealistic changes that you want:

I wish I was with all my friends again!

Use wish + could to talk about unrealistic abilities or possibilities:

I wish I could try again!

Figurative Language

Figurative language, such as similes and metaphors, describes things by making comparisons. It uses words to create a vivid picture in the reader’s mind.

A simile compares two things using the words like or as: I slept like a log.
The classroom was as hot as a sauna.

A metaphor uses an unusual word or phrase to describe something: Chloe’s eyes burned with tears. In this case, Chloe’s eyes aren’t literally on fire, but we can imagine the experience.

Literal language, on the other hand, describes things exactly as they are: I slept very deeply.

Reported Questions (Revised)

The word order in reported questions is the same as in sentences. The verb usually moves one tense back. Include the question word in the reported question (what, when, where, how, etc.). If there is no question word, use if. Do not include do or did. After the reporting verb ask, the object (who you asked) is optional.