giovedì 30 ottobre 2014

First Reading Part 2 (removed sentences)

Go to the link below and complete the Auto English online FCE Reading Part 2 exercise.

You must not take more than 20 minutes to complete the exercise

http://www.autoenglish.org/listening/TQMReading.htm


martedì 21 ottobre 2014

Past Simple versus Present Perfect

Can you identify the correct form for talking about finished actions and continuous actions which began in the past?

Look at these exercises and use the time marker adverbials to help you identify when to use the past simple form and when to use the present perfect form.





Passive Question Form


The Passive Voice in Questions Exercise

Why hasn’t the washing-up been done?

Change the sentences from the active to the passive.

1 Do they make cars in Korea? ........................................................................................................ ?
2 Do the hounds kill the fox? ................................................................................................................................... ?
3 Will The King inaugurate the new bridge? ........................................................................................................ ?
4 Is a doctor going to examine you? ........................................................................................................ ?
5 Did the bull kill the matador? ........................................................................................................ ?
6 Did they catch the thief? ...................................................................................................................................?
7 When did they hijack the plane? ...................................................................................................................................................?
8 How did your host family treat you? ........................................................................................................ ?
9 Have the police found the body? ...................................................................................................................................?
10 Has anyone cleaned the oven yet? ........................................................................................................ ?
11 Why has the government banned the film? ........................................................................................................ ?
12 Would Tai Chi classes interest you? ...................................................................................................................................................?

www.autoenglish.org Written by Bob Wilson ©Robert Clifford McNair Wilson 2007
Modals of Deduction

Practise this modal verb of deduction online exercise from Auto-English

http://www.autoenglish.org/modalverbs/pastmodalsdeduction.htm


Past Modal Verbs of Deduction Exercise
She must have gone out
I might have made a mistake
He can't have been there.
You should have apologised
You shouldn't have said that.

- There is strong evidence. - There is a possibility that I made a mistake. - It's impossible. - A criticism - A criticism


A Fill the gaps with must have, might have or can't have.

1 She ................................studied really hard. She passed all her exams with excellent grades.
2 You ................................ shouted at him. He'll never forgive you.
3 He ................................ arrived by now. It's only a 20 minute journey.
4 The concert was fantastic. You really ................................ come.
5 The boss is in a terrible mood. The meeting ................................ been good.
6 Sarah ................................ been so happy when she found out she was being promoted.
7 I had to wait 45 minutes for a bus yesterday. There ................................ been an accident or maybe a strike.
8 He ................................ bought a new car. He doesn't have any money.
9 Andrew did no revision for the exam but he's passed. I think he ................................ cheated.
10 I left my bicycle in front of the library and it's disappeared. Someone ................................ stolen it.
11 Clara was very upset with you yesterday. You ................................ apologised for saying she was lazy.
12 John has forgotton about the meeting. We ................................ reminded him about it yesterday.
13 I'm sorry but Samantha isn't here. She ................................ already left the office.
14 You ................................ tried to fix the roof yourself. You might have fallen off and been badly injured.
15 He ............................ known it was your birthday. Otherwise, I'm sure he would have wished you a happy day.



B Now write some examples of your own.

1 ..........................................................................................................................................
2 ..........................................................................................................................................
3 ..........................................................................................................................................
4 ..........................................................................................................................................

www.autoenglish.org Written by Bob Wilson ©Robert Clifford McNair Wilson 2013
Word Transformation (Modals)

Here's an online word transformation exercise from Auto-English

Follow the instructions using the arrow to move on or clicking the buttons for help or correct answers












Click here to go to the link


Can, Could, May and Might Exercise

Use one of the modal verbs in brackets to fill each gap.

1 They (can/might)........................... be away for the weekend but I'm not sure.
2 You (may/might)........................... leave now if you wish.
3 (Could/May)........................... you open the window a bit, please?
4 He (can/could)........................... be French, judging by his accent.
5 (May/Can)........................... you play the piano?
6 Listen, please. You (may not/might not)........................... speak during this exam.
7 They (can't/may not)........................... still be out!
8 You (couldn't/might not)........................... smoke on the bus.
9 With luck, tomorrow (can/could)...........................be a sunny day.
10 You (can/might)........................... be right but I'm going back to check anyway.
11 The exam (can/might)........................... be easy. You never know.
12 I (can/might)........................... go to the party but I'm not sure yet.
13 Students (may/might)........................... study in the library from five to nine in the evening.
14 (May/Could)........................... you lend me 40 Euros til Monday?


lunedì 20 ottobre 2014


QIS Learners Questionnaire

Please go to the link below and complete the online questionnaire.

mercoledì 15 ottobre 2014

venerdì 10 ottobre 2014

First Speaking Test Part 3

Describing pictures

Watch this video clip of part 3 of the First Speaking Test and make a note of the modal verbs and thier functions.
Decide who spoke the most and who you think was the better candidate.
Write a list of adjectives that you heard them using during the test.

Click here to go to the link

mercoledì 8 ottobre 2014

FCE Use of English Part 4

Use of English Practice - Part 4 - Word Transformation

Have a go at resolving these questions from FCE Use of English Part 4.

Rewrite the sentences so that they have the same meaning as the example given. Use the modal verb provided. Use the hint if you are stuck.

Also try the second exercise in the second link below. This time remember to change between active and passive voice in order to maintain the significance of the original sentence.

Click here to go to the link

http://www.autoenglish.org/FCEUse/ReportedSpeechTransformations.htm


sabato 4 ottobre 2014

Modals for Deduction


Modals – deduction (present)


Read the grammar reference below and then try the exercise from the link below
 

Modals – deduction (present)

We use modal verbs to say how sure we are about something.

1 must

We use must when we feel sure that something is true because there’s very strong evidence.
  • He must live near here because he comes to work on foot. We don’t know where he lives but we’re sure it’s not far away.
  • Come inside and get warm – you must be freezing out there.
  • You’re a zookeeper? That must be very interesting.
Notice that must is followed by an infinitive without ‘to’.

2 might, may, could

We use mightmay or could to say that we think something is possible but we’re not sure.
  • Did you hear that? I think there might be a burglar downstairs. She’s not sure there’s a burglar but she thinks it’s possible.
  • We’ll try to get there early but we may arrive late if there’s a lot of traffic.
  • Don’t put it up there. It could fall off and hit someone.
Mightmay and could are also followed by an infinitive without ‘to’.

3 can’t

We use can’t when we feel sure something is not true.
  • It can’t be a burglar. All the doors and windows are locked. He doesn’t know it’s not a burglar but he feels sure it’s not.
  • It can’t be far away now. We’ve been driving for hours. Where’s the map?
  • Really? He has to work on Christmas Day? He can’t feel very happy about that.
Like the other verbs, can’t is followed by an infinitive without ‘to’.

Remember that all of these modal verbs – mustmightmaycould and can’t have other uses. These are covered in another section.
- See more at: http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/grammar-reference/modals-deduction-present#sthash.aCsc5svX.dpuf

Click here to go to the British Council link


Changes to FCE


Changes to First Certificate 2015

Have you been asking yourself how First test papers are changing for 2015?

Check out the official Cambridge English website for updated details on the changes to test papers for the year 2015.




mercoledì 1 ottobre 2014

Delexical Verbs

Delexical Verbs

Sometimes you transfer verbs from your first language into English language, but they can be false friends or incorrect for the context.

This commonly happens with verbs such as make, do and have, for example.
Do you make a shower or have a shower?

Practise your knowledge of these verbs with the exercises in the link below.

British Council English Grammar - Delexical Verbs


Verbs and Prepositions


Verbs and Prepositions

Do you know which preposition to use after each verb?

Try this fun exercise from British Council.
Choose a preposition for each question and type your answer. Then check your final score or press HELP for a clue.