Practising English

These are the B2 time adverbs you should learn for the speaking and writing of the Cambridge FCE exam. Listen for them in the podcast, and decide which I am referring to in the dialogue section at the end of the podcast. (B1 students also invited!) firstly, etc. lastly, (often at the beginning of a sentence) instantly (often at the end of a sentence) temporarily (often at the end of a sentence) cu...

' Rather' and its uses FORM/USE: 'RATHER THAN' + PHRASE B1 Use a specialist book rather than the Internet. A book is more reliable. Take the stairs rather than the lift. It’ll keep you fitter. FORM: 'RATHER THAN' + NON-FINITE CLAUSE B2 I’d prefer to go camping rather than stay in a hotel. It’s nice to be out in the fresh air. Rather than sitting around doing nothing,...

Stative verbs Thoughts and opinions believe know understand suppose think (I would sit and think about her every day.) (People used to think that smoking was good for you.)   Emotions love I used to love watching children's TV when I was a kid. TV programmes for kids used to be better then than they are now. hate dislike detest appreciate Senses see (I used to see Jane every day as she walked...

Emphasis is used with lots of auxiliary verbs: - I MUST get to the shop before it closes. - You SHOULD try and finish the painting today. I'm fed up with smelling paint all over the house. - I do like your new tie. It's so colourful! - I do want to go and see that new film Anora. You know, the film that won all those oscars. - Well, I saw it. I don't think it's suitable for you...

The Visitors This is the full version of my story The Visitors recorded in October of last year. The level is B2, but my B1 students are also invited, of course! ;-)  These are the comprehension questions: (the answers are further down - but don't look at those yet!! 1) Who said he didn't want to be rescued and why? 2) What is the bridge of a ship, and why did the scientists and naval of...

Adjectives with hyphen at B1 level good-looking (only with hyphen) - attractive (for people, often men) well-known - a lot of people have heard of it and know it/him/her old-fashioned (only with hyphen) - (often criticising something) not new, not in fashion well-dressed - dressed in attractive clothes, smart, elegant up-to-date - (usually technology) the newest in software, hardware, computers et...

Words and expressions for emphasis - The reason is I like working with people, I have experience of looking after elderly people and I enjoy volunteering work.  - The problem is I’m a little lazy, I am often late for work because I sleep in.  - The fact (of the matter is) is that the planet is warming and many species are dying.  - The fact is we need computers to function better in business.  - I...

Future Forms in English I'm not going to talk about future tense and predictions, but other uses of future tense. Going to and present continuous for future Going to – plans and intentions that we have; I'm going to pay Mum a visit later today. She's not feeling well. Strong intentions. I'm going to learn German next year. It's something I've always wanted to do. Pres...

Now it's interesting that we use get as a verb of motion. Often, when it's difficult to actually move. Have you noticed that we say, Would you like to get into my car. Now, you go into your house, you open the door and you walk in. You don't usually get into your house, but you get into a car. Why? Because you have to bend down usually to get in. So you get into a car. Perhaps you&a...

Why my students say 'enter the classroom' Where there is movement, there's a preposition, and a preposition is used in the same way we use preposition of place (where things are)   He ran across the street. The dog ran after the cat. Go / run / walk / swim etc. along this street until you get to the crossroads and then turn right. I walked among the all the people. They travelled al...

In today's story, I'll be looking at some B2-level phrasal verbs. I explain 5 of the phrasal verbs below in the podcast: 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10. You can listen to all ten of these phrasal verbs. They are in the order you'll hear them. 1) figure something out - try to find the answer to a problem 2) get on with something - continue an activity you were doing earlier 3) get round to someth...

To write a successful story for the Cambridge PET exam (Preliminary English Test) Here is some of the help and advice I talk about in the podcast. I will also read you a model story. You are always given a first sentence, which you must use. 'When Jasmin looked down at the soft ground, she could see quite clearly that the tiger had recently come this way.' Use of 'when' here. &...

Strong B1 to B2-level story. Today, as I'm still on holiday, I'm offering you the complete version of the very popular story I published in September - A Window on Time. Read and listen to the comprehension questions before you start listening. 1) What was the bad news Geoffrey received at the beginning of the story? 2) What physical changes happened to Geoffrey when he entered the class...

Victims of Nature Complete Version (B1, B2) This is the full version of the two story parts published last September.  Comprehension questions 1) What reasons did Alberto's mother give Alberto for leaving the Alpujarra? 2) What did Gustavo mean by the comment "we're just victims of nature"? 3) The story says, "When Alberto saw the pink clouds at dawn, he knew bad weather w...

B1 B2-level story with exra Christmas idioms included. I have re-written this story for my English students. Ebenezer Scrooge visits his nephew for Christmas dinner and surprises Bob Cratchit with some astonishing news. Phrases to listen for. What is the context of each phrase in the story? You can see the answers after you listen in the audioscript below.   1) Give somebody the cold shoulder To b...

"Scrooge jumped out of bed and rushed over to the window, opened it, and put his head out. There was no fog, no mist; it was a clear, bright, cheerful day...." This is the last chapter of Charles' Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol adapted to B2 level. B2 phrases to listen for. What is the context of each word? 1) seasonal - refers to a time of year e.g. seasonal decorations (during...

Jonathon goes to the bank to claim his prize, but he comes away with something he didn't expect.  B2 phrases to listen for. What is the context of each phrase? 1, get rid of - try to make disappear 2, be taken in - makes you believe something bad 3, live for - be a very important thing in your life 4, fall apart - collapse, disappear so it exists no longer 5, see to something - make something...

English podcast story for B1, B2 levels (intermediate - upper intermediate) - Jonathon Baxter has spent ten years walking around Britain, playing his harmonica to survive. Then he decides to return to his home, but what will he find? B2 phrases to listen for. What is the context of each phrase? 1, more or less (finished etc.) = nearly 2, obliged to = you have to 3, not have the slightest intention...

B1 words and expressions studied: In this B1-level podcast today, I'll also discuss 6 interesting intermediate B1-level words, which you can listen for while you listen to the short story. Intermediate-level words and expressions: lack of something - not enough of something get rid of somebody - tell somebody to leave out of work - to have lost your job try your best - do a task the best way...

In this B1-level podcast today I'll use lots of important vocabulary and expressions to talk about daily actions. I'll also discuss 10 interesting B1-level words, which you can listen for while you listen to the short story. I'll analyse these intermediate-level words and expressions: no going back - you cannot go to where you were earlier, or if you start something, you cannot leav...

The upper-intermediate phrsal verbs studied in today's episode are: look up to - admire somebody because of their qualities fall apart - to break into pieces, probably because it's old date from - saying how old something is, from what year something is think sth over - consider something carefully take on - offer a contract of work to somebody miss out - not to take advantage of an oppo...

This is another podcast on B1 intermediate phrasal verbs - those a little difficult to learn. The ones I will talk about are: put on - to switch on or activate some device (electrical?) sign up - to join or becme part of a club etc. show up - to arrive somewhere unexpectedly. deal with - to try to resolve a problem take up - to begin a new sport, hobby or other activity carry on - to continue, oft...

The six B1 phrasal verbs studied are: give up - stop doing some activity e.g. smoking, or a game because you are losing. end up - to finish in a place probably you didn't expect to find yourself in. put off - to do some activity at a later time. set off - to start a journey. run out - to find you have no more of something e.g. petrol in your car, milk in the fridge. look forward - wait excite...

Intermediate (B1) and upper-intermediate (B2) English expressions and vocabulary. Words to explain: binoculars - a device used to see objects far away UFO - unidentified flying object (alien spaceship) What the hell is going on? - What is happening? fin - wing-like structure of a creature that lives in the sea B2 phrases to listen for. What is the context of each phrase? 1, failed to comprehend 2,...

Words to explain: extraterrestrial - from another planet alien - life from another planet life forms - beings which are living electro-magnetic field - this surrounds the Earth and protects us from harmful rays from space orbit - going around the sun etc. meteorite - an object that may crash into the Earth evolve / evolution - life that grows and changes over long periods of time cosmic - from the...