Learn English Advanced - British People

Exercise. In a hotel. Level - beginners

Vocabulary exercise to learn words to talk about staying in a hotel.

http://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/grammar-vocabulary/vocabulary-exercises/hotels

Vocabulary exercises to help learn words to talk about air travel. For beginners

Exercise
Air Travel
http://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/grammar-vocabulary/vocabulary-exercises/air-travel

Voicemail messages

Do you always understand your voicemail messages? These activities are to help you understand the way people say numbers, to help you pick out the important words in a message and hear the smaller words in between.

https://esol.britishcouncil.org/dictations/voicemail-messages

Defining relative clauses

Defining relative clauses are quite easy to understand and use. The name of the grammar sounds horrible but in fact you just need to know when you should use the words “which”, “that”, “who” and “whose”.
In this post on defining relative clauses you can find a mind map and three games to practise the grammar point.

Now that you understand the theory it is time to try it out in the real world. You can find here three games to practise defining relative clauses. First is called “Penalty”. Your task is to choose the correct option and then to score a goal.

Defining relative clauses – Penalty

The second game is slightly more difficult. It is called En garde and you have to be careful because most of the time you have to choose the option which is NOT correct. However, there are one or two items where you should choose the correct one. So pay attention.

Defining relative clauses – En Garde.

The last exercise might not seem like a game at all. It looks more like a test. You have to fill in the missing words. However, if you manage to get more than 80% of your answers correctly you will get to a page where you can play a game called “Angry finches” as a reward. So give it a try.

Defining relative clauses – Cloze test.

Prepositions AT IN ON for time

Many students have problems with the prepositions AT, IN, ON. Prepositions are such small words with nearly the same meaning that it seems that you can use any of them. But that is not true. If you want to sound well, you have to be careful with the prepositions. And believe me, it is not so difficult to use the prepositions AT, IN, ON for time expressions correctly. There are many clear rules and only a few exceptions.

If you want to really learn the prepositions correctly, you should practise them as often as and as much possible. Here there are three games to make your training more enjoyable. In the games there are 48 different phrases with the prepositions AT, IN, ON. If you finish all the games I am confident that you will know the usage of these prepositions fairly well.

The first game is called Teacher invaders. You should shoot all the Invaders and after some time you have to fill in the correct preposition in the sentences. Good luck.

Prepositions AT IN ON – Teacher invaders game.

The second game, HOOP SHOOT, is slightly easier as you have to pick the correct option and then stop the sliders in the center of the basket.

Prepositions AT IN ON – Hoop shoot game.

The third game is a more of a traditional quiz. Read the text and complete it with the prepositions AT IN ON. If you get more than 70% of your answers correct you will get to play the game called Indiara. Good luck!

Prepositions AT IN ON – Cloze test.

Why Learning English Can Change Your Life!

Learning English might sound like a really difficult task – but it’s also very rewarding too! From helping you to see the world, to making new opportunities in your career, learning English can really open new doors for you.

Still not convinced? Then read on to learn just why studying English will make a difference in your life.

Explore the globe

Think you can only use English in “English speaking” countries like the UK or US? Think again!

English is in fact one of the most commonly spoken languages on the planet – wherever you are in the world. In fact, nearly 2 billion people speak English, and another billion are learning everyday.

Boost your career

As the world becomes smaller and interconnected, being able to communicate with people from different countries becomes a really valuable skill. Learning English can really boost your employment opportunities and help you to expand your talents – across a worldwide stage.

Use it wherever you go

From Oslo to Osaka, Delhi to Denver, learning English will be your passport to see the world. English is often used as the most common language for official purposes, after a country’s main language.

Definitely useful to know when you’re trying to find your way out of a foreign airport!

Enjoy the world’s culture

Love pop music and blockbuster movies? Get the most out of them by experiencing them as they really are – in English. Seeing your favourite movie actors or singing along to the biggest stars on stage is extra fun when you know the words in English!

Discover a world of knowledge

If you want to expand your knowledge, study further or carry out research, then English will be an invaluable tool. English is used by the world’s top universities, journals and publishers. It’s also one of the most common languages used for presentations and conferences – especially when you are speaking to an international audience.

5 Ways to Make Learning Languages a Little Easier

Is learning a new language tougher than you expected? Struggling to remember all that vocabulary? Don’t worry! While getting to grips with a new language isn’t always easy – there are some handy tricks and tips that can make it all a little smoother.

So check out our 5 top tips and you’ll find yourself zipping through all that new lingo in no time!

1. Once a day – every day

The most important rule to follow when you’re learning something new is to have a regular and consistent pattern. Don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to do too much – you’ll only make excuses later on when you can’t keep it up!

Instead do a little bit – but do it every day. By dedicated just 5 minutes every day, you’ll be surprised how much you get through.

2. Keep it bite size

As well as consistency, keeping your aims realistic and manageable is important too. While you might want to start speaking like a pro in a few weeks, trying to learn a lot of new vocabulary or grammar in one go can be difficult.

So break it down to bite size portions – try learning just 5 new words a day, or one new piece of grammar.

3. Do what you love

A great way to motivate your learning is to study something you really enjoy. Love food? Check out culinary specialities and recipe buzzwords. Or are you passionate about art? Whatever it is you enjoy, this is a great way of learning a new language.

4. Keep it fun

Learning a language doesn’t mean doing boring study sessions all the time.

Discover a whole new universe by checking out films and popular music in that language – subtitled films are a great way to pick up new vocabulary, and you’ll be surprised at how much you learn to recognise!

5. Have a chat

You might only know a few words and basic phrases – but don’t be afraid to put them into action! The best way to memorise a new language and improve your skills is by speaking – so if you know some native speakers, have fun and practice with them.

Talking about Future Plans

In English we use different tenses to talk about our plans for the future. It’s important to know the difference between them, so that you can start to really sound like a native speaker.

Will

When we make a decision about our plans for the future at the time of speaking, we use will.

For example…

• Johnny the phone’s ringing! OK, I’ll get it mum! (He decides to answer the phone as he replies to his mum. He didn’t plan to answer it beforehand – and didn’t know it was going to ring)
• I just can’t make up my mind what shoes to wear tonight. I know. I’ll wear my new sparkly white ones!

Going to

When we already have decided on plans for the future, before the time of speaking, we use going to.

For example…

• I’m going to ring Johnny this evening. I told him I’d call after football practice at 8pm (He already had the plan to ring Johnny earlier in the day, before speaking).
• We’re going to order Chinese food today. We’ve already looked at the menu.
• I know there isn’t any bread. I’m going to buy a loaf. It’s on my shopping list.

Present Continuous

We use the present continuous for future plans when we have already made an ‘arrangement’. This usually means that more than one person is involved in the plan and we know the place and time.

• I’m having dinner with Mike tonight at 7pm.
• We’re celebrating Sarah’s birthday next Friday – are you up for it?
• What are you doing tomorrow? (It is very common to use this tense when asking about other people’s plans for the future)

Quick Practice

Which future tense would you use in these situations?

1. Oh no – it’s raining outside! I (take) an umbrella
2. Sorry I can’t come. I (go) to the cinema with Jason tonight.
3. I want to be more healthy. I know! I (start) playing tennis.
4. What’s your plan for today? I (study) until the evening and then relax!
5. I’ve got some big news! I (ask) Lily to marry me tomorrow!

Your Turn

It’s important to practice using these tenses as much as possible, to really get a feel for them. Write half a page about your future plans, and try to use each of these 3 tenses at least twice. Good luck!

(Answers)

1. I’ll take an umbrella
2. I’m going to the cinema with Jason tonight.
3. I’ll start playing tennis.
4. I’m going to study until the evening and then relax!
5. I’m going to ask Lily to marry me tomorrow!

Time is an essential part of our lives – in fact, we never seem to have enough of it! That’s why time forms a major part of the English language – and we use it in all sorts of ways to communicate how we deal with everyday activities. Phrasal verbs to do with time are just one of the ways we do this – discover more with our easy list!

 1. Fit in 

Ever feel as if you have to squeeze in as much as possible into your day? You can use this phrasal verb to describe scheduling different activities into the time you have.

E.g. “I’ll try and fit in a doctor’s appointment in between my lectures.”

 2. Hang on

This phrasal verb is used to describe waiting for someone, or giving extra time to do something.

E.g. “Hang on for a few minutes – they’re just on their way here now!”

 3. Run out 

This describes coming to the end of a specific time period, such as the time allocated to a task or deadline.

E.g. “We couldn’t complete the task because we ran out of time to do it all!”

 4. Get on

Phrasal verbs might sound similar – but they can mean completely different things! You can use this phrase to describe moving ahead in time, and not staying fixated with the past.

E.g. “After we broke up, I decided the best way to get on with life was to have a fresh start.”

Quick Practice

Which phrasal verb would you use in the following events?

1. To describe your ambitions to progress with your career, after a difficult start.
2. When you only have a few days left to prepare for a big party.
3. Your friend is impatient to leave the dinner table, but the waiter will soon come.
4. You have to visit several different people all on one day.

Your turn

Practising using phrasal verbs really is the best way to learn and understand them, so have fun and make up a conversation with a group of people! Try and use each phrase at least once – and discover the different ways you can use them.

How to Use the Passive Voice

In English, we can give sentences an active or passive voice, whatever tense it is. In the active form we start with the subject and we use this form to say what the subject does. E.g.

• I play football in the park every Friday.
• I fixed my bicycle after that accident.

We use the passive voice to say what happens to people and things, to say what is done to them. So the object of the sentence is moved to the beginning, while the subject goes to the end or is not included at all.

We make a passive sentence using the verb ‘to be’ and the past participle.

E.g.

• Football is played here.
• My bicycle is being fixed.

We use the passive form when we don’t know who did the action. It is often used like this in news reports. For example:

• The crown jewels were stolen last night!
• The toys are made in China.

We also use the passive voice when the action is more important than the subject (who did it). For example:

• The baby was born on Friday.
• I was told the bad news by Jim last week.

Here are some examples of how active sentences can be changed into passive ones. Notice how the tense always remains the same.

A man attacked me yesterday = I was attacked (by a man) yesterday
They’ll drive her to the airport at 11 = She’ll be driven to the airport at 11
Someone was burgling the house = The house was being burgled

Your Turn

Turn the active sentences into passive ones, and the passive sentences into active ones!

1. She completed the project at 8pm.
2. They sent the parcel to Johnny on Friday.
3. He was arrested by the police for drug smuggling.
4. You should cook the chicken for 25 minutes.
5. This bank has never been robbed by anybody.

Answers…

1. The project was completed (by her) at 8pm. (Active into passive)
2. The parcel was sent to Johnny on Friday. (Active into passive)
3. The police arrested him for drug smuggling. (Passive into active)
4. The chicken should be cooked for 25 minutes. (Active into passive)
5. Nobody has ever robbed this bank. (Passive into active)

Free English Lesson: 4 Everyday Money Idioms!

The English language is full of interesting idioms that take their inspiration from all sorts of things! Money is an important part of life, but can these money idioms be used to describe other situations too? Read on to find out!

1. Blank cheque

This is used to describe giving someone a limitless amount of resources to do something. While it can be used to describe money, it can also be used for other items as well.

E.g. “Her parents gave her a blank cheque to do whatever she wanted for her wedding.”

2. Have a penny for every time… 

This idiom is used to describe when something happens very often to you. It is often used to emphasise how common it is.

E.g. “If I had a penny every time I saw that poster, I’d be a millionaire by now!”

3. Cut your losses 

This means to get out of a bad situation, before it gets any worse and causes you more difficulty.

E.g. “I decided to cut my losses and forget about the broken furniture.”

4. Mint condition 

You can use this idiom to describe doing something that is in excellent condition. It is usually used to describe something old, that looks as good as new.

E.g. “The vintage car he got for the party was in absolutely mint condition!”

Quick Practice

Which idioms would you use in the following events?

1. You are looking to buy a rare, collectable toy.
2. People keep asking you to spell your name wherever you go.
3. Your friends are having a birthday party, and plan to make it very extravagant and special.
4. The hotel room you booked turns out to be a disaster.

Your turn

The best way to improve your understanding of English is to keep practicing whenever you can. Try and write a conversation between a group, using each of the lesson’s idioms, at least once for each person. Remember to think about how they can be used, and what they mean!

Common ‘Money’ Phrasal Verbs

Using phrasal verbs in English is just one of the many ways you can add a little colour to the things you say. While they might seem a little complicated, they’re actually very easy to use! They’re often used when it comes to talking about different things about money in particular.

So are you ready to add a few to your vocabulary? Read on and take a look!

1. Rip off

This is used to describe when someone is charging an extremely high amount of money for something, and more than what it is probably worth.

E.g. “The market seller was trying to rip you off with those bags – they’re not even worth £20!”

2. Lend out

This phrasal verb is used when giving something to someone, with the intention that it is only for a certain period, and not forever! You would expect someone to return something that you lend out to them.

E.g. “I’ll lend you the money for a new bike so you don’t have to wait to buy it.”

3. Splash out

You use this phrasal verb to describe spending excessively on something, as a treat for yourself or others, and it will probably be something you do not normally have or buy.

E.g. “For our last night on holiday, we splashed out on a really fancy dinner in a posh restaurant.”

4. Get by

You can see this as the opposite of splashing out – this verb means to have just enough money to survive on the basics, without any extra left over.

E.g. “My student loan was delayed but I could just about get by with the tips from my job.”

Quick Practice

Which phrasal verb would you use in the following events?

1. Your friend wants to buy a new coat but hasn’t got her bank card with her.
2. Your parents treat you to a special lunch.
3. You have very little money to spend on holiday.
4. A shop is charging three times the price for a DVD compared to all other shops.

Your turn

To help you learn and understand phrasal verbs, the best way to practice is by using them in conversation! So why not put together a little chat between a group of friends? Try and use each phrase at least once.

Free English Lesson: Common Food. Idioms

Food is an everyday part of our lives, no matter what language we speak, so it’s not surprising that it’s an important part of language, too! In the English language, food idioms are very common, and are a great way of adding extra emphasis when you are saying something.  Check out this list of food idioms to find out more!

1. The apple of my eye

This idiom is used to describe someone who is very important and loved to you, especially a child, or someone younger than yourself.

E.g. “He always spoilt her – she was the apple of her grandfather’s eye”.

2. Recipe for disaster

You would use this idiom when you have a collection of events, people or things that are bound to cause a problem together.

E.g. “I should have known that leaving the cats inside with the fish-tank would have been a recipe for disaster.”

3. Wake up and smell the coffee

If you are trying to get someone to pay attention to things more closely, this is the perfect idiom. It is often used to express that the reality of things is very different to what is imagined.

E.g. “If she thinks she can just keep skipping classes and still pass, she needs to wake up and smell the coffee.”

4. Pinch of salt

This is used in a situation that is not very believable or likely to be exaggerated.

E.g. “He might act like he’s very rich, but you should take anything he tells you with a pinch of salt – he’s usually just faking it.”

Quick Practice

Which idioms would you use in the following events?

1. Your aunt has invited her favourite niece to visit her.
2. A friend keeps promising to take you out for dinner, but you know she will cancel on you at the last minute.
3. Your boyfriend and ex-boyfriend are both at the same party, and they don’t like each other.
4. Your colleague insists the boss won’t notice that a mistake has been made– even though everyone else already knows about it.

Your turn

Idioms might seem complex, but the best way to learn how to use them is to work them into everyday conversation. So why not try to use them in a conversation between friends? Imagine a group of people talking, and try and use each idiom at least once.

Useful Phrasal Verbs about Food

Think phrasal verbs are all boring? Think again!

In this lesson, we look at one of the most enjoyable parts of everyday lives – food. We think about and talk about food in all sorts of ways – and phrasal verbs about food are a great way of learning the language.

1. Whip up

Ever wanted to make yourself something quick to eat? This phrasal verb is all about preparing something quickly and easily. Use this verb to describe making a fast meal or snack.

E.g. “I didn’t have time for breakfast at home – I’ll just whip up an omelette while he gets changed.”

2. Cut out

This phrasal verb is used to describe removing certain items from your daily diet – often for health or other personal reasons.

E.g. “I really need to lose weight so I’m cutting out all chocolate for a month.”

3. Eat out

This describes eating outside the home – usually at a restaurant or café, or anywhere else you might be able to purchase and eat something substantial.

E.g. “We decided to eat out as nobody wanted to cook after we got home.”

4. Mix in

You can use this phrasal verb to express combining different ingredients, often when you are preparing a recipe, or putting together a meal.

E.g. “After combining the eggs and sugar, mix this in with all the dry ingredients.”

Quick Practice

Which phrasal verb would you use in the following events?

1. Adding a dollop of Greek yoghurt to some soup.
2. Going out to have a birthday meal at your favourite restaurant.
3. Preparing a meal for some surprise guests.
4. Someone has stopped eating any dairy products.

Your turn

Get to know phrasal verbs better by putting them into action! Food is a part of our everyday lives, so try using these phrasal verbs at every mealtime. Why not write your own little scenario where you can experiment with using these phrases in different ways? You’ll discover that it’s the perfect way to memorise and become familiar with them.