WAYS OF LOOKING.pdf

Escuela Oficial de Idiomas de Melilla

www.eoimelilla.com

Profesora: Sonia Heredia

1

WAYS OF LOOKING

look: give attention to what one is seeing; turn the eyes and see in a certain direction.

Look at that cute baby!

see: use the power of sight.

See! Here she comes!

watch: look at some activity or event; keep one's eyes fixed on something.

The boys watched television all the afternoon.

gaze: look at something for a long time, in surprise or admiration.

She gazed at him in disbelief when he told her the news.

stare: look at something for a long time with the eyes wide open.

She was staring into space.

gawk = gawp: stare impolitely.

Many people gathered to gawp at the crashed car.

gape: look at something with one's mouth open.

She gaped at him in surprise.

glance: have a quick look at something.

She glanced at her watch.

scan: look quickly at something without careful reading.

He scanned the newspaper over breakfast.

glare: stare angrily or fiercely.

She didn't answered, but just glared silently at me.

peer: look very carefully, as if not able to see well.

He peered at me over his spectacles.

peep: look quickly and cautiously.

He was caught peeping through the keyhole.

observe: watch carefully.

The police observed the man entering the bank.

glimpse: have a passing view of something or someone. Usually used in the expression

to catch a glimpse of.

He could catch a glimpse of the president among the crowd.

spot: recognize someone suddenly among many others.

He was spotted by the police boarding a plane for Berlin.


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behold: old use of the verb to see.

Behold the king!

view: (technical) look thouroughly; regard, consider.

That film hasn't been viewed by the censor yet.

sight: see for the first time.

The men in the ship finally sighted land.

leer: look in an unpleasant way, suggesting ill will or lust.

The man leered at the young girl

blink: shut and open the eyes quickly.

How long can you stare without blinking?

wink: close one eye briefly, as a signal to somebody.

He winked at me to show that he was just joking.

frown: look in a worried or angry way, moving down the eyebrows together.

He read the telegram, frowning at its contents.

scowl: frown angrily.

She was very angry and scowled at him while she talked.

squint: look with eyes half shut or turned sideways, or through a narrow opening.

She squinted through the letter-box and saw an envelope.

peek: look quickly and secretively.

She found her brother peeking at her diary.

ogle: look or stare (at a woman) suggesting sexual interest.

Most women hate being ogled at.

eyeball: look directly or closely.

Francis eyeballed a beautiful woman at the party.

take a gander at something: (informal) look at something.

cast an eye on/over something: look at something, examine something.

scrutinize: examine thoroughly and carefully.

John scrutinized the painting at the museum.

WAYS OF WALKING

walk: move on one's feet.

We walked to town.


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limp: walk unevenly because one leg is hurt.

That man is hurt, he's limping.

hobble: walk with difficulty.

The old man hobbled along the street with the aid of his stick.

stagger: walk unsteadily as if about to fall.

He was so drunk that he staggered all the way home.

lurch: stagger.

The drunken man was lurching along the street.

tiptoe: walk on the tips of one's toes.

She tiptoed to the bed so as not to wake the baby.

stroll: walk for pleasure.

They srolled around the park.

amble: walk at a slow, leisurely pace.

They ambled along for miles.

saunter: stroll.

They sauntered around the park.

wander: move without a fixed purpose or destination.

They enjoy wandering through the countryside.

roam: wander.

They roamed through the streets for hours.

ramble: walk for pleasure with no particular destination.

He likes rambling around in the country.

mooch: wander, walk slowly without any purpose.

John mooched about the shops.

meander: walk in a slow, relaxed way instead of taking the most direct way possible.

(Rivers also meander).

As I was sitting in the park, I watched as couples seemed to meander around happily.

stride: walk with long steps.

She strode across the fields.

strut: walk in a proud way, with the chest out and trying to look important.

He strutted past us, ignoring our greeting.

swagger: walk proudly, strut.

After winning the first prize, the player swaggered about proudly.

trudge: walk slowly and with effort because one is tired.


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We were very tired after trudging through the deep snow for two hours.

stump: walk heavily and stiffly.

They stumped up the hill.

plod: walk with heavy steps or with difficulty.

Labourers plodded home through the muddy fields.

pace: walk with regular steps.

He paced up and down the platform, waiting for the train.

march: walk with regular steps of equal length.

Demonstrators marched through the streets of the city.

parade: walk or march together to celebrate or protest.

Demonstrators paraded through the streets of the city.

crawl: move slowly with the body close to the ground or on hands and knees.

A baby crawls before he can walk.

toddle: walk with short unsteady steps.

Her two-year-old son toddled into the room.

edge: move gradually with small movements.

Paul decided to edge away from the crowd.

creep: move slowly and quietly with the body close to the ground.

The cat crept silently towards the bird.

sneak: go quietly and secretly in order to avoid being seen or heard.

The boy sneaked in without paying.

pad: walk softly and quietly.

The child padded barefoot down the stairs.

prowl: walk slowly and quietly because you are involved in a criminal activity or

because you are looking for something.

Street gangs usually prowl this alley.

slide: move smoothly over a surface.

I was sliding on the ice.

slip: slide accidentally.

She slipped on the ice and broke her leg.

dash: move quickly and suddenly, rush.

I must dash or I'll miss the train.

dart: move quickly and suddenly in the specified direction.

She darted away when I came in.


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scamper: run quickly and playfully.

The children were scampering up the steps.

sprint: run very quickly for a short distance.

The kids sprinted down the stairs.

jog: run slowly and steadily, as a way of exercising.

She goes jogging everyday.

trip over: catch one's foot on something and stumble or fall.

He tripped over the step and fell.

scuttle: move quickly with short steps, because you are afraid or do not want to be

noticed.

The mouse scuttled off when we entered the room.

scurry: move quickly with short steps, because you are in a hurry.

He was late so he had to scurry off to work.

skip: move forward with quick steps and jumps.

The child skipped with joy towards his father.

lope: run with long steps.

The man loped off after the ball.

lollop: run with long awkward steps.

The dog came lolloping down the path.

tear: run or move quickly in a dangerous or careless way.

When the storm started, they tore back into the house.

rush: hurry, move quickly because you need to get somewhere soon.

She was late so she decided to rush off down the hall.

hop: move by jumping on one foot.

The man hopped down the road after hurting his foot.

trip: walk with short quick steps, usually as young girls do.

The little girl tripped happily up the road.

lunge: make a sudden movement towards somebody or something.

The boxer lunged forward and grabbed his opponent by the arm.

scramble: climb up or down, or over something quickly and with difficulty.

They had to scramble up to the top of the hill to see the view.

hike: take a long walk in the mountains or countryside, as an adventure.

The group hiked up to the top of the hill.

trek: hike; make a long, difficult journey on foot.


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For ten days she trekked across the mountains of China.

paddle (GB), wade (US): walk for pleasure without shoes or socks in water that is not

very deep.

The children were paddling in the lake.

waddle: walk with short steps, moving the body from one side to another, used

especially to talk about birds or people with fat bodies.

The fat man waddled off to the restaurant for lunch.

prance: walk with high steps or large movements, in a confident way.

She pranced around her room, pretending to be an actress.

frogmarch: force somebody to walk by holding his arms tightly by his side, usually

because of bad behaviour.

The prefect frogmarched the boy to the detention room

WAYS OF SPEAKING

speak: make use of words in a normal voice.

May I speak to George?

talk: speak to give information, say things.

What are they talking about?

hesitate: be slow to speak (or act) because one is uncertain or unwilling to talk.

He hesitated before answering my question.

whisper: speak softly, without vibrating the vocal cords, privately or secretly.

She whispered the secret word in my ear.

hiss: say something in a loud whisper. (Snakes also hiss).

'Get out!' she hissed at me furiously.

mumble: speak unclearly, so that others can't hear.

He mumbled something at me which I didn't understand.

mutter: speak in a low voice, which is hard to hear.

She was muttering something to herself as she went out.

murmur: speak in a soft, quiet voice that is difficult to hear clearly.

The classmates murmured during the test.

hum: make a low continuous sound, when you take a long time deciding what to say.

She hummed at the beginning of the oral exam.


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grunt: make short sounds or say a few words in a rough voice, when you don't want to

talk. (Pigs also grunt).

She grunted a few words and left the table.

stammer: speak with pauses and repeating the same sound or syllable, habitually or

from fear or excitement.

'P-p-please give me the p-p-pen,' he stammered.

stutter: stammer.

'P-p-please give me the p-p-pen,' he stuttered.

lisp: speak with /th/ sounds instead of /s/ sounds.

You're very thilly, Thimon. (You're very silly, Simon.)

babble = gabble: talk foolishly, in a way difficult to understand.

Her fever made her babble without stopping.

ramble: talk continuously, in a confused way.

Stop rambling and get to the point, please!

slur: speak unclearly, without separating the words correctly.

He was so drunk that he slurred to the bartender for more.

chat: have a friendly informal conversation.

They chatted away in the corner.

chatter: talk quickly and at length about something unimportant.

Please stop chattering, I'm trying to listen to the TV!

gossip: talk about the affairs of other people.

She was gossiping about her neighbours all day.

call: speak in a loud clear voice, shout, cry.

They called for help.

shout: speak in a loud voice, in anger or to get attention.

He had to shout because the music was too loud.

whoop: shout loudly and happily.

The children whooped when we entered the fair.

cry (out): make a sharp noise, in pain or surprise.

She cried out in terror when the old man appeared suddenly.

yell: cry out loudly, in fear, pain or excitement.

She yelled in terror when she saw the dead cat.

scream: cry out very loudly on a high note, in fear, pain, anger or laughter.

The baby was screaming the whole day.


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shriek: scream.

The men shrieked with laughter.

bellow: shout in a deep voice.

The captain bellowed orders at the crew.

squeak: speak in a high-pitched voice.

She squeaked out a few words nervously.

squeal: speak in a high-pitched voice, with longer and louder sounds than in a squeak.

'Let me go!' she squealed.

cheer: shout because of happiness.

The public cheered when the team appeared.

croak: speak with a deep hoarse voice.

She had such a terrible cold that she could only croak.

blurt out: say something suddenly and tactlessly.

She blurted out the bad news before I could stop her.

WAYS OF SAYING "STRANGE"

Strange Not previously known, seen, felt; not familiar

Never accept gifts from strange men.

Odd Unusual, peculiar

She always wears odd clothes.

Bizarre Strange in appearance

This situation looks bizarre to me.

Funny Difficult to explain or understand; slightly insane

The car engine is making a funny noise.

A funny little man was walking down the street.

Queer Strange in an unpleasant way

This fish has a queer taste.

Weird Unnatural, unconventional


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He has a weird hairstyle.

Eerie Causing a feeling of mystery and fear because it's strange

I heard an eerie scream coming from the house.

Its eerie to walk through a dark forest at night.

Freak Very unusual event or action

It never rains like this here, it's a freak storm.

The region has been having a freak weather lately.

Quaint Attractively odd or old-fashioned

That lady has quaint old customs.

Peculiar Odd, in a troubling or displeasing way

I can distinguish that peculiar taste.

Whimsical Full of odd or playful behaviour

He's got a whimsical sense of humour.

Fishy (in slang) Strange, peculiar

This is a fishy business; I don't like it at all!

Uncanny Mysterious, not natural or usual

It was uncanny to hear his voice from such a distant place.

Fantastic Very strange

The painter drew fantastic shapes here.

Curious Strange and interesting

What a curious thing to say!

American and British English

American British


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antenna aerial

apartment flat

cab taxi

can tin

candy sweet

chips crisps

closet wardrobe

cookie biscuit

corn maize

cuff turn-up

diaper nappy

drapes curtains

dungarees overalls

elevator lift

eraser rubber

fall autumn

faucet tap

first floor ground floor

flashlight torch

fries chips

garbage rubbish

garbage can dustbin

garbage collector

gas pedal accelerator

gasoline petrol gasolina

gear shift gear lever

highway motorway

hood bonnet

jello jelly

kerosene paraffin

license plate number plate

line queue

mail post

movie film


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movie theater cinema

odometer milometer

pajamas pyjamas

pants trousers

period full stop

pinafore duster

Scotch tape Sellotape

side mirror wing mirror

sidewalk pavement

sneakers trainers

soccer football

splash guard mudflap

stove cooker

subway underground

suspenders braces

tire tyre

truck lorry

trunk boot

undershirt vest

vacation holiday

vest waistcoat

windshield windscreen

windshield wiper windscreen wiper

yard garden

zip code postal code

zipper zip

May 31, 2007

WAYS TO MOTIVATE YOURSELF to FCE

Put your plans on paper. Spell out your goals and ways to reach them.

Be specific. The advice you give yourself must be such that you can put it into

practice.

Break the task down into small pieces so that you can handle them easily.


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Establish checkpoints on your progress as well as rewards.

Remind yourself of the benefits you expect from your tasks completion.

Avoid temptations and circumstances that might sidetrack you.

Recognize your limitations. Dont set unrealistic goals.

Take advantage of your own energy peaks!

Use negative motivation. Remind yourself of the consequences of inaction.

Keep a time-control budget. Dont let one task take control over others.

Set deadlines and hold yourself to them.

Make an honest distinction between I cant and I dont want to.

Get started now. Dont stall.

Improve your self-persuasion ability. Learn the difference between reasoning and

rationalizing.

Be optimistic. Your chances for success will increase.

Decide how you want to start, what needs to be done first.

Read, especially literature related to your situation.

Use self-signaling devices notes, signs, cues, reminders.

Promise yourself rewards.

Use the stimulation provided by good news to do extra work.

Recognize conflicts and make a choice.

Give yourself the right to make mistakes. No one is perfect.

Exercise your sense of humor. Laughter indicates a realistic point of view

May 13, 2007

Getting things done

Suggesting a course of action (including the speaker):

let's + verb


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shall we + verb

we could + verb

what about + verb + ing

we might + verb

Requesting others to do something:

please + verb, would/could you (please) + verb

would be so kind as to...

would you mind + verb + ing

Inviting others to do something:

would you like + verb

what about + verb + ing

how about + verb + ing

Advising others to do something:

you should + verb

you ought to + verb

why don't you + verb

I can recommend

What does it mean to know a word ?

To understand it when it is written or spoken

To recall it when you need it

To use it with the correct meaning

To use it in a grammatically correct way

To pronounce it correctly

To know which other words you can (and cannot) use with it

To spell it correctly

To use it in the right situation

To know if it has positive or negative connotations

Thoughts about Learning Vocabulary:


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It is a branching process rather than a linear one (words are learnt in association with

others)

It is an intensely personal process (associations depend on our past and present

experience)

It is a social process, not a solitary one (we expand our understanding of meaning by

interchanging and sharing with others)

It is not simply an intellectual process, but an experiential hands-on process, too

(language is not an object - it has to be incorporated within the learner)

Apr 23, 2007

REPORT

Hints:

Decide on your target reader - it will help you to choose the appropriate register.

Use rather formal language.

The distinguishing feature of any report is its layout. Reports are rather stiff - you may

need to start as if you were making a memo. Do not panic! It is OK with this form to

begin simply with:

1. To:

2. From:

3. Date:

4. Subject:The body of your report has to be clearly divided into sections:

Introduction

Make your introduction brief but clear. State the purpose of your report. Again, try to

imagine that you are the only one who knows what is going on. Assume that everybody

else needs explanation why you are writing this report. Repeat the question from the

task but try to reword it.

You may start like this:

The aim/purpose of this report is to show exemplify illustrate depict


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This report is concerned with...is intended to...is written to analyse...deals with...relates

to...points in which you present your opinion

You may use separate headings for advantages and disadvantages and describe them in

two paragraphs or just present them in a list of points.

The advantages/ disadvantages are as follow...

The most convincing arguments in favour of ... are ...

I would mention...as the most discouraging feature of...

Here is the list of benefits...

Evaluation/recommendation (if it is required by the question)

I would recommend...because...

I would not hesitate to recommend...

I would suggest...

In my opinion, it would be worth... +ing

Conclusion/summary

It is a good idea to repeat here why you are writing. It will show that you keep in mind

the purpose of this report.

In conclusion I would like to stress that...In my opinion...It is a fact that...It appears to/

seems to/ tends to There is no doubt that...Given this, it can be concluded that...Having

proved/presented this, I would like to...

Sample answer:

Q: A group of American students is going to participate in a workshop organised by

your school. They have never been in your town before so their tutor, Mr. Franklin, has

asked you to write a report about places that are worth visiting in the area. Write a

report describing the places and explain why you think they may be of any interest to

the group.

To: Mr. Franklin

From: Francesca Wilson

Date: 12 November 20...

Subject: Places to visit during your stay in XX

Introduction:This report is written to analyse places of interest that may be worth

visiting by your group. I have called the tourist information office to check admission

fees and opening hours that would be suitable for you.Places to visit in XX


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There are many places in the area which are worth recommending but unfortunately

some of them are open to public only in summer peak season. However, there are two

attractions that may be taken into consideration as they seem suitable for you:1. The

Dungeon is a very popular tourist attraction in XX. It is a former (overkill, drop it) jail

tower from the 17th century. Today you can visit the prisoners' cells and see there a

great collection of arms from previous centuries.2. The Labyrinth is the place where you

can have a lot fun. There is a number of dead-end corridors and some leading to the

exit. You are supposed to find the way out in a given time. The place is open on

weekends and there are big discounts for groups.Conclusion:I would not hesitate to

recommend both of these places to your group. These attractions are well-known and

popular among foreign visitors.

[192 words]

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article

Hints:

Just imagine you really write an article :-)

Think of an appropriate, eye-catching title.

You may refer to your title in your article - that will show that your text is coherent.

Do not use very formal language, however try to keep in mind where you are writing to

(school newspaper; daily paper; magazine) and adjust your register.

Use questions and question tags.

Address your reader directly. Try to get him/her involved in what you are writing about.

Be careful with tenses. The article may refer to the present or to the past. Read carefully

what you are expected to do in the task.

Focus on your introduction and conclusion - try to avoid one-sentence

introduction/conclusion.

There are several ways in which you may begin your article:

a quotation or saying:


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'It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune

must be in want of a wife' *.

Detailed study of matrimonial offers given to magazines proves that this is still the case.

75 per cent of men ready to wear wedding rings declare financial independence and

stability.

At last everything has been completed. The vans and trucks are loaded, equipment is

checked and people are ready for their journey.

It took over a year to prepare the whole action but for them it is just the beginning. The

humanitarian aid is due to cross the border of our country today night at 2 a.m.

an anecdote:On 26 November 1922 Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon entered the new

discovered tomb in necropolis near Luxor. After 3000 years they were the first people

who passed the 'blind gate' and saw the Pharao's treasure. The legend claims that the

discovery was accompanied by several signs of gods' disapproval and that ignorance of

European archeologists cost them their lives.Nowadays the famous legend attracts

hordes of tourists. The ancient spell that was to protect prince's eternal life turned

against him. The 'house' of his soul is devastated year after year.

a question:Have you ever imagined climbing the Mountain? You think it is not possible

without months of previous training and preparations, right? Here you are wrong. All

you need to get ready is... your bank account number. Mount Everest, called the

Mountain by people who feel respect to it, is now offered as a tourist attraction for those

who can afford such a trip.

Good ending is very crucial. It may be the summary of the points made in the article,

the rhetorical question or the paraphrase of the statement made before.

Useful expressions:

Let's...

How about...?

Would you...?

I think you will agree that...

I hope you can imagine...

What would you do if...

All in all...

To sum up...


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The conclusion is...

Sample answer:

Q: You work for the student newspaper. You have been asked to write an article about

the theatre group that is going to make a performance in your town.

All in one - come and watchHave you ever been asked to make a decision and choose

only one thing out of many that you really like? I am sure you have. And then you

always wonder what would have happened if you had chosen the alternative. Maybe

you just missed something really special... You do not particularly like that feeling, do

you? There is a group of young people who decided once that it is ridiculous to choose

if you can have all in one - do you want to meet them? Actually, you will have a chance

soon.The Red Dragon Theatre Group is coming to our town next week. They will bring

a lot of good sense of humour, music, dance, and anything you can think of that should

appear on stage. Their main concern is to make you think, laugh, maybe cry a bit, but

above all to give you a great time. I bet you will love them at first sight.To make the

long story short - you cannot miss this event! The group is going to perform in The

Globe theatre and they have promised to meet your expectations. The choice is obvious

this time... Simply, come and watch.[200 words]

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Informal Letter

Hints:

Imagine that you write to a real friend of yours.

Friends usually have names ;-) so address him/her with a name: begin the letter with

Dear Joey/ Tim /Rebecca, etc.


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Begin your letter with some general statements. Refer to the letter you have received

from your friend and thank him/her for it or apologise for the fact that you have not

answered the last letter soon enough.

Use the proper register. The letter is supposed to be informal so you can use

contractions, informal linking words like well, by the way, anyway, so, colloquial

expressions, etc.

You can use more-conversation-like statements or questions in your letter: You know

that I had this exam, right? You think he will be able to come to the party?

Use questions to ask about your friend - arrange the next meeting, send greetings to

his/her friends and family, etc.

End your letter in informal way: Best wishes; Love; Regards.

Useful expressions:

Thank you for your letter. It was nice to hear from you.

Your last letter was a real surprise. It was so nice of you to remember about...

Thanks a lot for the information you've sent me in your last letter.

I've just received your letter. I'm so happy to hear that...

I'm sorry I haven't answered earlier but I was really busy with my school.

I'm sorry I haven't written for so long but...

Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Well, that's all for now. Will talk to you soon.

Give my regards to your Mummy.

I hope we will be able to arrange a get-together.

Do write back as I'm waiting for the news from you.

Sample answer:

Q: You are abroad spending your holidays in a very exciting places you have always

wanted to visit. The people you travel with are really nice so you enjoy their

companionship. Write a letter to your friend describing what you have been doing so far

and what you still plan to do.

Dear Amy,

Thank you a lot for your last letter. It was a nice surprise to hear from you. I'm sorry I

haven't written to you earlier but I had to organise some things concerning my trip.As


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you probably remember I've always wanted to visit some unusual places. And now, at

last, off I went! But you'd never guess where I've chosen to spend my holiday. It's

Antarctica! You would never think of it, would you? I'm so excited about the whole

event!The people I travel with are incredible. It's their fourteenth expedition there. They

know every path in the snow by heart and they are very helpful. They share their

knowledge and experience with me. Would you believe that here everything is

different? You even need to set your tent in a special way. It's all very challenging.

Tomorrow we plan to move further North so I may not be able to stay in touch for a

while.Anyway, I'd like to meet you when I get back. Hope you are enjoying your

holiday.

Do write back soon.

Love,

Becky

[184 words]

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TRANSACTIONAL LETTER

Hints:

Remember to write in a formal letter format

Begin your letter with:

Dear Sir/Madam (if you do not know the name of your addressee) or

Dear Mrs Penney (if the name is given in the task)

Explain who you are and why you are writing this letter


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Do not copy phrases from the question.

State clearly and politely what actions you want to be taken.

Do not use contractions.

Use formal language.

In this type of letter you may need to use a construction that is called a dependant

question. Regular (independent) questions in English are formed by inversion:

Where is my book?When does it start?

However, if you precede these questions by phrases like: I do not know; Could you tell

me; I want to ask, the word order remains like in the statement, not question. Note that

these sentences do not end with question marks, either. Compare:

Could you tell me where my book is.I want to ask when it starts.

Useful expressions:

1. Complaining:

I am writing to complain about...I am sorry to inform you that...I was very disappointed

with...I have some complaints about...

2. Requesting:

I am writing for information about...I would like to learn/ know more about...I would

like to ask whether/ if...I would be grateful if you could...

3. Asking for particular actions:

I would like to ask you for...I would suggest that you/ your company...I think that I can

ask for some compensation.In the light of the above, I would like to ask you for...

Sample answer:

1. Letter of complaint

Q: You invited your friend to a fancy restaurant. You found their advertisement in the

local newspaper and it looked convincing. Unfortunately, the place did not meet your

expectations and you were disappointed. Write a letter to Mrs Talker, the manager of

the restaurant, and ask for some money back.


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Advertisement:Restaurant 'Romantica' is the best place you can meet your friend and

spend a nice evening in a good company. The place is designed to ensure lots of

privacy. Comfortable armchairs and quiet soothing music in the background make the

place perfect for those tired of everyday rush. Discreet service is our first priority. Our

menu is created by people who worked for the best restaurants in the world. Great

choice of vegetarian dishes. Come and enjoy! Satisfaction guaranteed!

Dear Mrs Talker,

I am writing to inform you that I was very disappointed with my visit to your restaurant

two days ago. I read your advertisement in the newspaper and decided to spend an

evening there with my friend. Unfortunately, I have a couple of complaints concerning

this visit.According to your advertisement the place is perfect for having private

conversations in relaxing atmosphere. However, it turned out that the music was so loud

that I could hardly concentrate on the chat with my friend. The waiter asked to turn the

music down shrugged his shoulders and said that other guests liked it that way. Is that

what you mean by 'discreet service'?To make matters worse, the place was crowded and

waiting for an ordered meal was intolerably long. I must admit that the cuisine was

quite good but the prices were way too high.I would like you to take my points under

consideration and I expect a refund from your restaurant. I trust you will give this

matter immediate attention. I look forward to receiving a reply from you.Yours

sincerely,David Beckham

[186 words]

2. Letter for information

Q: You are going to participate in a young writers competition. You still have some

questions concerning the deadline and the form in which the text should be presented.


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You want to know if you can send them your essay on CD. Write a letter to the

organizers of the competition and ask for more information.

3. Letter of application

Q: You want to apply for a summer job in Brighton. You have found the advertisement

in local newspaper offering seasonal work for students in one of the hotels in the area.

Write a letter to the manager of the hotel in which you present your qualifications, skills

and interests.

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HOW TO WRITE A SHORT STORY

Hints:

Narrative story also needs paragraphing. You can start your paragraphs with the

expressions listed below.

Use the variety of tenses.

Try to keep the chronological order of events. It will help you avoid traps of

sequencing.

Short sentences create suspense, which makes your story more interesting. Do not make

the plot of your story too complicated.

You can incorporate short dialogues into your story.

Try not to overuse Past Perfect/Past Perfect Continuous. These tenses are not used very

often. Sometimes they are necessary for the sake of clarity, but as their construction is

such a complex one, they make your sentences longer. If you want to keep your

narration brisk and vivid, you may want to find some other ways to convey your

message. Use before and after instead.Compare:

Before she left for her holiday, she checked all the locks in the house. Before she left

for her holiday, she had checked all the locks in the house.

The second sentence is correct, but it carries double information on what happened

earlier: there is information in the word before = earlier and then it is repeated in the

tense used.Compare:


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She checked all the locks in the house, after that she left for her holidays. After

checking all the locks in her house, she left for her holidays.

After (afterwards) = later

Even if you do not want to resign from the Past Perfect tenses, you can write some

sentences like those above in your story - just to change the pattern of the sentence.

Narrative tenses:

Past Simple:

to describe simple facts and states

She opened her eyes, yawned, and slowly got up.

to describe events that follow each other

She left the building, went to the shop where she realised she did not have enough

money and returned home.

Past Continuous:

to set the scene

The wind was blowing, dark clouds were gathering over his head and he was getting

cold.

(used with Past Simple) to show that the continuity of one action is interrupted by

another action

Tom was watching the news when a strange noise came from the basement.

Past Perfect/ Continuous:

'past in the past'- to indicate that something happened earlier than the action described

She stared at him trying to remember where she had seen that face before.

to indicate that what happened earlier was a longer activity

She was dirty and sweaty as she had been playing volleyball all day.

Useful expressions:

the first thing that happened; at first; it began with; it started with;


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after that; just then; afterwards; when; once (meaning after); just as; then; after some

time;

suddenly; out of the sudden; gradually; step by step; slowly;

in the end; eventually; finally; it ended with;

Sample answer:

Q: Write a short story that would begin with the following words: Jane woke up in the

middle of the night. Her room was filled with the moonlight.

Jane woke up in the middle of the night. Her room was filled with the moonlight. She

lay in her bed for a while watching weird figures appearing on the wall. 'Hmm. It is

strange. The moonlight does not cast shadows' - Jane observed but she was too drowsy

to give it a deeper thought. The girl began falling asleep again when she heard a strange

whisper. The sound was unusual enough to draw her attention. Jane got up and tiptoed

to the window. Hidden behind the curtain and unnoticed by anyone, she witnessed an

extraordinary meeting. It was sort of an animal counsel. There were a lot of different

species participating in this specific get-together. They sat together in two circles -

bigger animals found place on the ground and birds shared the branches above them.

The group discussed something - Jane was sure of that, but she did not understand a

single word of their language. Next morning Jane woke up on the floor next to her bed.

She still thought of her funny dream while making breakfast. Her cat was sitting on the

sill, watching her with narrowed eyes...

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FCE WRITING

DOs:


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1. Before you start writing... read others. Make use of every text that you find

interesting, note out words and expressions that you like or find useful. Even if you

know them. Words and expressions have a mysterious tendency to slip your mind the

moment you need them most. Sometimes it is good to copy the whole sentence in which

an expression you know from different context appears.

2. Have a list of your favourite expressions - the ones you are entirely sure of as far as

their correctness is concerned, and which you will always remember. It is better to put

down something less lofty but correct than wrestle under time pressure with your own

memory, wondering how this 'stupid thing went'.

3. Always keep in mind who your target reader is. Even if you know that your 'letter to

a friend' will be read by an examiner... write to a friend. If you have problems with

determining the potential addressee of your writing, assume that he or she is an

educated person in his/her thirties. But usually it is indicated in the task.

4. Make your writing interesting. Put yourself in the reader's shoes. Would you fancy

reading boring stuff?

5. Use linking words to form paragraphs and join your ideas in a logical way. They

make reading easier, which counts a lot if your piece is longer.

6. Be careful with pronouns. They are tiny and look innocent, but can cause a lot of

commotion.

7. DO write! As much and as often as you can. Make yourself mock tests - with time

restrictions and word limits. Do not worry if you forget some words and get stuck -

better now (when you still have the chance to look these words up in a dictionary), than

during the exam.

DONTs:

1. Do not panic!

2. Do not forget that you are writing, not speaking. What would go in a friendly chat,

will not work with writing.

3. Do not forget that you write to communicate something, not to practice caligraphy. If

certain fragments of your essay do not convey any relevant message, cut them out.

Unnecessary wordiness shows that you have problems with controlling your language.

4. Do not ask your reader to read your mind. You are the one who knows. If you do not

mention something in your essay, it is not there.


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5. Avoid line-lifting. It means that you should not repeat the sentences used to set the

task.

6. Do not write very long sentences, unless you are perfectly sure how to punctuate

them.

7. Do not try to impress your reader with vocabulary. Do not use words you don't know.

8. Do not scribble! If your reader struggles to decipher your handwriting, do not expect

him or her to focus on the content.

Part 1:

It is compulsary

It consists of a transactional letter in response to a request for action, or to initiate

action. It will lead to further action on the part of the recipient of the letter.

the letter may be formal or informal, the instructions will make it clear which style is

more appropriate

the letter should include normal letter-writing conventions

the letter has to be based on input in the form of text, notes and possibly illustrations

all points in the input must be covered in the candidate's letter

the aim of the task is to achieve a positive effect on the target reader

Part 2

http://www.cambridgeesol.org/teach/fce/writing/aboutthepaper/part2/index.htm

0 comentarios

Apr 22, 2007

Affixes


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The words in the alphabetical list may be extended by the use of one or more of these

affixes:

mini- with nouns, sometimes without a hyphen, e.g. minibus, mini-tour

non- with nouns and adjectives, e.g. non-essential

re- with verbs and their related nouns, usually without a hyphen,e.g. rename, renaming

self- with nouns and adjectives, e.g. self-importance, self-confident

un- negative prefix, e.g. unsafe

-able with verbs, to form adjectives, e.g. affordable

-ed (-d) with verbs, to form adjectives, e.g. limited, used

-er (-r) with verbs, to form nouns, e.g. teacher, advertiser; shopper, also comparative

forms, e.g. brighter

-ese for nationalities/languages, e.g. Japanese-ess referring to a woman or female

animal, e.g. princess, lioness


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N.B. it is less common to refer to women in this way nowadays, and usually safer to use

the standard form e.g. actor, author

-est superlative forms, e.g. tallest

-ful with nouns, for amount contained, e.g. spoonful; with nouns to form adjectives

denoting characteristics or qualities, e.g. painful, peaceful

-ing with verbs, for activity or state, e.g. reading, frightening

-ish for nationalities or languages, e.g. Swedish; with nouns to form adjectives, e.g.

childish

-ist with nouns, for occupations, e.g. novelist, guitarist

-less with nouns to form adjectives, e.g. breathless

-ly with adjectives to form adverbs, e.g. seriously; with nouns to form adjectives, e.g.

friendly

-ment with verbs to form nouns, e.g. enjoyment

-or with verbs to form nouns, for people, e.g. inventor-y with nouns to form adjectives,

e.g. hairy, sunny


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Letter of advice from a Cambridge ESOL oral examiner

Dear Students,

I have been an examiner for many years and what I would like to tell you as you are

preparing to do the Speaking Test is this - doing any oral test is a bit of a nerve-

wracking experience but we all survive!

Always remember that it is up to you to show the examiner what your English is like

and to do that you must speak as much as possible, but don't overdo it, never letting

your partner or the examiner get a word in!! This is as bad as not saying anything.

Listen very carefully and answer the questions as fully as you can. Don't just give a one-

word answer or the basic information - that's not what we do in real life. We usually

expand a bit and add something we think will interest the person we are talking to.

Say hello to your partner while you are both waiting outside the room if you don't know

each other. And remember you are being assessed on your own ability and even if your

partner seems better than you, don't let that worry you. Just do the best you can and

participate as much as possible.

Try not to have too many bits and pieces with you when you go into the room, and if

you are wearing a coat take it off beforehand as you should feel more comfortable that

way. Smile and take a deep breath before you begin.

Remember to speak to the examiner in the first 2 parts and don't interrupt your partner

during their long turn even if they get stuck. In Part 3 when you have to work together,

turn your chair towards your partner as this will help you to remember to speak to them

and not to the examiner. The examiner will probably avoid looking at you here so don't

try to catch their eye.

Remember you need to show that you know how to discuss something with another

person and that means you must be polite and not dominate the discussion. Listen to


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your partner's ideas and opinions and then follow them up by developing them and

giving your own opinion. If you are a bit shy, you still must try to initiate by asking a

question or saying what you think before inviting a response from your partner.

Remember this is a test and it is important that you 'play the game'.

Good luck!"

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Listening Strategies

What are the strategies we all use when we are listening?

Listening is an interactive skill - when we listen to something, we invariably respond in

some way. If we are watching a comedy on TV, we laugh; if a friend is talking to us, we

reply. Usually, our response is oral; however, for exam purposes it isn't possible to

evaluate students' listening in that way. Instead, written responses are required and these

responses are kept very short and simple.

There are a number of factors that we all bring to any listening experience. Here are

some of them, and how they relate to the FCE Listening test.

Whenever we listen to something, we have expectations about what we are going to

hear and how it will be presented to us. The FCE Listening test gives clear introductory

information to candidates so they can prepare themselves mentally for what they are

going to hear.


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We always listen with a purpose, whether it is to find out news or to build a social

relationship. The FCE Listening test gives tasks with clear purposes which reflect the

ways we understand things we listen to in real life.

We rarely listen with the intention or need to understand every detail of what is being

said; rather, we aim to understand the overall meaning. The FCE Listening test focuses

mainly on testing candidates' ability to understand the general message from a spoken

text or select specific detailed information.

Spoken English is not as direct and well-organised as written English; listeners have to

deal with repetitions, mistakes, paraphrasing, words and phrases with no real meaning

and so on. The FCE Listening test uses natural styles of speech from a wide range of

sources, including phone conversations, discussions, anecdotes, announcements, talks,

interviews and so on.

0 comentarios

Reading strategies

How do we read texts?

We use different approaches to read different texts.

We can read quickly or slowly, skimming for the general ideas or scanning for a

specific point.


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How we read depends on the text - its length, its type - and our purpose in reading it -

for pleasure, for information, for the general idea, etc.

In the FCE Reading paper, candidates need to identify the text type and the purpose of

the task and to apply the appropriate approach.

Our relative success as readers is shown in the outcome of our reading - do we find the

information we want, or understand the general idea - which depends on applying

different reading strategies to different types of text.

The range of tasks and text types in the FCE Reading paper requires candidates to apply

these different strategies effectively.

Here are some situations in which you would apply different approaches to reading:

When you read the back of a book trying to choose what to read on your holiday, you

read for gist.

When you look at the front page of the newspaper on the bus but you only have a few

minutes before your stop, you read for the main points.

When you assemble something using an instruction manual, you read for detailed

understanding.

When you look for a location on a department store floor guide, you read for specific

information.

When you look at a sign in a language you don't know, you have to deduce the meaning.

When you read a short story, you follow a narrative.

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Understanding FCE Writing Part 1 tasks

It is important that the candidates understand the following points about Part 1:

it is compulsory

it consists of a transactional letter in response to a request for action, or to initiate

action. It will lead to further action on the part of the recipient of the letter.

the letter may be formal or informal, the instructions will make it clear which style is

more appropriate

the letter should include normal letter-writing conventions

the letter has to be based on input in the form of text, notes and possibly illustrations

all points in the input must be covered in the candidate's letter

the aim of the task is to achieve a positive effect on the target reader

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What does the FCE exam involve?

FCE has five papers:

Reading

Writing

Use of English

Listening

Speaking

Each of the written papers is returned to Cambridge for marking and assessment. The

Speaking Test is conducted by two locally based examiners who examine you face to

face. All examiners are accredited by Cambridge ESOL.

Reading (Paper 1), 1 hour 15 minutes


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This paper assesses your ability to read and understand texts taken from fiction and non-

fiction books, journals, newspapers and magazines. You are expected to be able to show

understanding of gist, detail and text structure, and deduce meaning.

Writing (Paper 2), 1 hour 30 minutes

This paper assesses your ability to write non-specialised text types such as letters,

articles, reports, compositions and reviews of 120-180 words covering a range of topics

and target readers and also set texts.

Use of English (Paper 3), 1 hour 15 minutes

This paper requires you to demonstrate your knowledge and control of the language

system by completing various tasks at text and sentence level. These include filling

gaps, transforming words and phrases, and identifying errors in texts.

Listening (Paper 4), 40 minutes (approx.)

This paper assesses your ability to understand the meaning of spoken English, and to

extract gist and meaning from spoken text. The texts are taken from a variety of text

types including interviews, discussions, lectures and conversations.

Speaking (Paper 5), 14 minutes

The Speaking Test assesses your ability to interact in conversational English in a range

of contexts. It contains four parts, including an interview section, individual long turns

of about one minute, a collaborative task and a discussion. You are provided with

stimulus material such as photographs and drawings. You will normally take the

Speaking Test in pairs

0 comentarios

Apr 16, 2007

Speaking Tips

Speak loudly and clearly.


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Record your voice and listen for mistakes.

Speak in front of a mirror and make eye contact.

0 comentarios

Apr 10, 2007

Paraphrasing using the keyword

1. This is a 'no smoking' office.

allowed

You ........................................ in this office.

2. Maria didn't listen carefully to the news broadcast.

attention

Maria didn't ........................................ the news broadcast.

3. Sally decided not to do her homework and went to a nightclub.

instead

Sally went to a nightclub ........................................ homework.

4. I expect you were completely exhausted by the end of the evening!

must

By the end of the evening ........................................ exhausted!


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5. "Is cleaning the room now really necessary?

have

"Does this room ....................................... now?

6. Lisa's grandfather is teaching her Chinese.

taught

Lisa ........................................ her grandfather.

7. It's too cold for swimming today.

if

We could go swimming ........................................ cold today.

8. If you're not traveling more than 10 kilometers from the city centre, you can use this

ticket. within

If you're traveling ........................................ the city centre, you can use this ticket.

9. Did you mean to hit him or did it happen accidentally?

purpose

Did you hit him ........................................ an accident?

10. 'I'm sorry I forgot your birthday,' Harry told Mary.

for

Harry apologised ...................................... her birthday.

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Practice

1. When I first saw the new student he ..... me of my brother.

A. reminded


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B. remembered

C. recorded

D. recalled

2. Well take the motorway to the airport ..... to avoid the heavy traffic in the town

centre.

A. in case

B. so that

C. in order

D. as

3. The old woman did not say a word but only ..... her head in agreement.

A. moved

B. nodded

C. shook

D. turned

4. He is planning to go ..... business with his best friend.

A. onto

B. into

C. in

D. to

5. The shop assistant said there would be no problem in giving me my money back ..... I

produced the receipt.

A. unless

B. only

C. although

D. provided that

6. We are late to get tickets for tomorrows concert: there isnt a single ..... left.

A. space

B. room

C. seat

D. place

7. When my grandmother moved into a smaller house, she sold ..... old furniture.

A. many

B. a lot of

C. all


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D. several

8. As soon as she ....., please ask her to telephone me.

A. is arriving

B. will arrive

C. arrived

9. This job will give you the ..... to travel abroad frequently.

A. possibility

B. offer

C. opportunity

D. probability

10. If you want to lose weight, you must cut ..... fried food, cakes and chocolates!

A. back

B. off

C. out

D. away

11. After the forest fire ..... you could see for miles was thick black smoke.

A. everything

B. all

C. only

D. just

12. The audience were enjoying the show immensely, ..... their feet in time to the music.

A. hitting

B. tapping

C. clapping

D. beating

13. You are looking at last years timetable: the information given there may no longer

be .....

A. accurate

B. true

C. suitable

D. contemporary

14. Nowadays it is as cheap to buy a new radio ..... to repair the old one.

A. than

B. as


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C. rather

D. like

15. The tax inspector will call next month to ..... the companys accounts.

A. check

B. arrange

C. control

D. research

16. Paul left his last job when he realised there was no chance ..... promotion.

A. about

B. in

C. to

D. of

17. The police stopped the car because the motorist had been driving ..... over the speed

limit.

A. much

B. well

C. long

D. far

18. Im not going out tonight; I must write ..... my notes from this mornings lecture.

A. over

B. in

C. up

D. down

19. Crossing a busy street can be a problem for ..... people.

A. elderly

B. ancient

C. mature

D. senior

20. In no ..... should this switch be touched.

A. occasion

B. reason

C. way

D. circumstances

21. Ive just heard ..... interesting news: Barbara and David are engaged to be married!


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A. some

B. an

C. these

D. about

22. The label states taht this product has been fully ..... for safety.

A. applied

B. tried

C. tested

D. proved

23. I wish you ..... your room more tidy, Jim, said his mother.

A. were keeping

B. would keep

C. have kept

D. keep

24. My parents house isnt very far: if theres no traffic we should be there in ..... an

hour.

A. less

B. below

C. over

D. under

25. Tonights performance has been cancelled ..... the sudden illness of the principal

singer.

A. owing to

B. due

C. because

D. considering

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Apr 8, 2007

Use of English: Error Correction


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Complete and send to [email protected]

Read the text below. Some of the lines contain an extra, incorrect word. If there is an

extra, incorrect word in the line, write the word on the right of the line. If the line is

correct, write 'OK'.There is an example at the beginning.

Example: 0 over

00 ok

A Holiday Job

0 Congratulations on getting over your teaching diploma. Your

00 parents must be really proud of you. I've got some great news.

1 one of my father's friends who has a small travel agency, and

2 she has been very kindly given me a holiday job. It was

3 difficult in the beginning because I tend to find it very hard to

4 get up in the morning. My boss is very keen on some punctuality,

5 and because I was often late I got into terrible trouble

6 at first. So I make sure of I'm always on time now. I have to

7 work very hard and, although the pay isn't much good, I'm

8 quite enjoying myself so far yet. The main thing I've learnt

9 to do is how to give up detailed information to customers over the

10 phone. Unfortunately, I also have to make the coffee and do other

11 boring things! Sometimes there's no-one except from me in the

12 office and it gets really busy. I intend to working until the end of

13 the month and then I'm going off on a short holiday by the

14 sea, where I just hope I'll manage to relax myself on the

15 beach before going back to college in next month


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0 comentarios

Use of English: OpenCloze

Complete and send to [email protected]

For Questions 1-15, read the text below and think of the word which best fits each

space. Use only one word in each space.

Example: (0) doing

Department Stores

In 1846 an Irish immigrant in New York named Alexander Stewart opened a business

called the Marble Dry-Goods Palace. By (0) ... so, he gave the world something

completely new - the department store. Before this, no-one (1) ... tried to bring together

such a wide range of goods (2) ... a single roof. The business did very (3) ... . It

expanded rapidly and soon had (4) ... staff of two thousand. For Stewart even that was

not enough, (5) ... . In 1862 he moved to an eight-storey building nearby, (6) ... he

renamed A.T. Stewart's Cast Iron Palace. It was, (7) ... for many years would remain,

the largest shop in the world.Others followed Stewart's example and soon there were

stores (8) ... his in many major cities in the United States. We don't (9) ... when people

started calling them department stores. The expression wasn't used in print (10) ... 1893,

when it appeared in Harper's Magazine, but the way that it is used there (11) ... it clear

that it was already widely understood.(12) ... is certain is that department stores

completely changed the shopping experience for millions of people. They offered not

only an enormous range of goods, (13) ... also levels of comfort, luxury and excitement

previously unknown to customers. Almost from the start they had restaurants, toilets

and many (14) ... facilities, so (15) ... was no need to go elsewhere for anything.

0 comentarios


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Use of English:Key Word Transformation

Complete these sentences and

send them to [email protected]

For questions 1-10, complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the

first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use

between two and five words, including the word given.

Example: I haven't seen you for years.

ages

It's (been ages since I) saw you.

1. Why are you interested in taking up a new hobby? want Why

........................................ up a new hobby?

2. "Have you seen my gloves anywhere, Eric?" asked Mrs Noble. seen Mrs Noble asked

Eric ........................................ her gloves anywhere.

3. Suzanne was too excited to sleep. that Suzanne was ........................................ not

sleep.

4. Robert has not had a job for two years. out Robert has ........................................ for

two years.

5. "I will complete the work only if you pay me 500 pounds extra," said Frank. not "I

will ....................................... you pay me 500 pounds extra," said Frank.


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6. The thief ran past you so I'm sure you saw his face. must The thief ran right past you

so ........................................ his face.

7. The clients demanded to stay in a first-class hotel. staying The clients

........................................ in a first-class hotel.

8. I don't object to the council building a new road here. objection I

........................................ the council building a new road here.

9. The author wrote her latest novel while she was staying in Majorca. was The author's

latest novel ........................................ stay in Majorca.

10. The newspaper offered Lynda 5,000 pounds for her story, but she refused. turned

Lynda ...................................... of 5,000 pounds from the newspaper for her story.

0 comentarios

Apr 6, 2007

Phrasal Verbs for FCE

act like (inseparable): behave in a way that's like.

What's wrong with Bob? He's acting like an idiot."


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Note: This phrasal verb is very informal.

add up (no object): logically fit together.

"His theory is hard to believe, but his research adds up."

Note: This phrasal verb is often negative: "His theory seems, at first, to be plausible, but

the facts in his research don't add up."

add up to (inseparable): to total

"The bills add up to 734.96. That's more than I expected!"

back off (no object): not follow a threat

"Tom was ready to call the police when I told him I'd wrecked his car, but he backed off

when I said I'd pay for the damages."

back up (separable): confirm a story, facts, or information:

"If you don't believe me, talk to Dave. He'll back me up."

blow up (1. separable): inflate:

"We needs lots of balloons for the party. Will you blow them up?"


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blow up (2. separable): explode; destroy by exploding

A: "That old building really came down quickly!"

B: "That's because the construction company used dynamite to blow it up."

break down (1. separable): separate something into component parts

"We spent a lot of money at the supermarket. When we broke the total cost down, we

spent more on cleaning supplies than food."

break down (2. no object): stop working / functioning:

"We planned to discuss overtime pay in the meeting. Why didn't someone bring that

topic up?"

bring up (2. separable): raise; rear:

"Lucy's parents died when she was a baby. Her grandparents brought her up."

brush up on (inseparable): review / study thoroughly for a short time

"If you're going to travel to Peru, you'd better brush up on your Spanish."

burn down (no object): become destroyed / consumed by fire

"Lightning struck Mr. Kennedy's barn last night. It burned down before the fire fighters

arrived."

butt in (no object): impolitely interrupt (a conversation, an action)


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"Hey, you! Don't butt in! Wait for your turn!"

call off (separable): cancel something that has been scheduled

"We don't have school today. The mayor called classes off because of the snow."

call on (inseparable): ask someone for an answer in class

"I don't know why the teacher never calls on you. You always know the answer."

calm down (with or without an object; with an object, separable): become calm / less

agitated or upset; help someone become calm / less agitated or upset.

"Why are you so upset? Suzie didn't intend to spill orange juice on you. Calm down!"

care for (1. inseparable): like; want:

break in (often no object; with an object, break into-- inseparable): enter by using force

(and breaking a lock, window, etc.)

"Jane's apartment was burgled last night. Someone broke in while Jane was at the

movies."

"Somebody broke into Jane's apartment while she was at the movies.

break up (usually no object; with an object, break up with

[inseparable)]): end a personal relationship

"Tim and Julie aren't going steady any more. They got really angry with each other and

broke up."

bring / take back (separable): return something


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"This book is due tomorrow. I guess I should take it back to the library."

bring up (1. separable): mention (as a topic of discussion):

Note: This phrasal verb is usually negative, though it may be used affirmatively in

questions.

care for (2. inseparable): take care of; supply care to; attend /watch

"Amy's father got out of the hospital last week. The family is caring for him at home."

catch up (with) (often without an object; with an object, inseparable): stop being behind

"Terry stopped to rest for a few minutes. He'll catch up / catch up with us later."

check in (to) (inseparable): register for / at a hotel, conference, etc.; let someone know

officially that you have arrived

"My plane will arrive around 5:00 PM. I should be able to check into the hotel by 6:00

or 6:30."

check off (separable): make a mark to indicate that something on a list has been

completed

"Here are the things you need to do. Please check each one off when you've finished it."

check out (of) (inseparable): follow procedures for leaving (a hotel, etc.)

"Don't forget to take your room key to the front desk when you check out (when you

check out of the hotel)."


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cheer up (separable): help someone feel less worried /depressed / sad.

"Suzie's brother was depressed about not getting a promotion, so she sent him a funny

card to cheer him up."

drag on (no object): last much longer than expected or is necessary

"I thought the meeting would be a short one, but it dragged on for more than three

hours."

draw up (separable): create a formal document

"The Ajax and Tip-Top Banks have decided to merge. Their lawyers will draw all the

official documents up sometime this month."

drop off (separable): deliver something; deliver someone (by giving him/her a ride):

"Yes, I can take those letters to the post office. I'll drop them off as I go home from

work."

drop in (on) (inseparable): visit informally (and usually something--often at the last

minute without scheduling a specific time

"If you're in town next month, we'd love to see you. Please try to drop in. (Please try to

drop in on us."

clam up (inseparable): suddenly become quiet / refuse to talk drop by (inseparable):

visit informally (and usually without about something

"Lila wouldn't talk about the accident. When I asked her what happened, she clammed

up."

come across (inseparable): find (unexpectedly):


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"I've lost my extra car keys. If you come across them while your're cleaning the room,

please put them in a safe place."

drop out (of) (inseparable): stop attending / leave school or an organization:

"No, Paul isn't at the university. He dropped out. / He dropped out of school."

eat out (no object): have a meal in a restaurant:

"George won't be at the office today.

come to (1. inseparable): total

"Your charges come to 124.38. Will you pay by check, in cash, or with a credit card?"

come to (2. no object): regain consciousness

"When I told Gina that she'd won a million dollars, she fainted. When she came to, I

told her it was a joke and she almost hit me!"

count on (inseparable): depend on; trust that something will happen or that someone

will do as expected:

"I'm counting on you to wake me up tomorrow. I know I won't hear the alarm."

cross out (separable): show that something written is wrong or unnecessary by making

an X across it:


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"We can't afford to buy everything on your shopping list, so I've crossed all the

unnecessary things out."

cut back (on) (often without an object; with an object, cut back on [inseparable]): use

less of something:

egg on (separable): urge / encourage greatly toward doing something (usually

something negative):

"At first Bob and Chuck were just having a mild argument, but Bob's friends egged

them on until they started fighting."

end up (1. no object): finally arrive at; arrive at an unexpected place

"We got lost last night and ended up in the next town."

end up (2. no object): arrive somewhere as a result or consequence

"You're working too hard. If you don't take it easy, you'll end up in the hospital!"

face up to (inseparable): admit to; take responsibility for:

"You can't pretend that you're doing OK in this course, Joe. Sooner or later, you'll have

to face up to the fact that you're failing it."

fall through (no object): not happen. (Note: describes something that was planned but

didn't happen.):


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"We had originally intended to go to Mexico for our vacation, but our trip fell through

when I got sick."

feel up to (inseparable): feel strong enough or comfortable enough to do something

"I know the accident was a terrible shock. Do you feel up to talking about it?"

figure out (1. separable): logically find the answer to a problem; solve a problem by

thinking about it carefully

"For a long time I couldn't understand the last problem, but I finally figured it out."

figure out (2. separable): understand why someone behaves the way she/he does:

"I can't figure Margie out. Sometimes she's very warm and friendly and sometimes she

acts as if she doesn't know me."

fill in (separable): add information to a form

"The office needs to know your home address and phone number. Could you fill them

in on this form?"

fill in for (inseparable): temporarily do someone else's work; temporarily substitute for

another person:

get by (no object): survive, financially, in a difficult situation


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"It's going to be hard to pay the rent now that you've lost your job, but somehow we'll

get by."

get in (1. inseparable): enter a small, closed vehicle

"I don't know where Carole was going. She just got in her car and drove away."

get in (2. no object): arrive

"Do you know what time Fred's plane gets in?"

get on (inseparable): enter a large, closed vehicle

"I'm sorry, but you're too late to say goodbye to Angela. She got on the plane about 20

minutes ago."

get off (inseparable): leave a large, closed vehicle

"When you get off the bus, cross the street, turn right on Oak Street, and keep going

until you're at the corner of Oak and Lincoln Street."

get out of (1. inseparable): leave a small, closed vehicle:

"There's something wrong with the garage door opener. You'll have to get out of the car

and open it by hand."

get out of (2. inseparable): escape having to do something:

fill out (1. separable): complete a form by adding required information

"Of course I completed my application! I filled it out and mailed it over three weeks

ago!"

fill out (2. no object): become less thin; gain weight:


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"Jerry used to be really skinny, but in the last year he's begun to fill out."

find out (about) (inseparable): learn / get information (about

"I'm sorry that you didn't know the meeting had been cancelled. I didn't find out (find

out about it) myself until just a few minutes ago."

get across (separable): make something understood; communicate something

understandably.

"Alan is really intelligent but sometimes he has problems getting his ideas across."

get along (with) (inseparable): have a friendly relationship (with); be friendly (toward):

"Why can't you and your sister get along? Everyone else gets along with her just fine!"

get around (inseparable): avoid having to do something:

"Teresa got around the required math classes by doing well on a math proficiency test."

"Lisa said she had a terrible headache and got out of giving her speech today."

get over (inseparable): recover from an illness or painful experience

"Katy was really upset when she failed the test. She thought she would never get over

feeling so stupid."

get rid of (inseparable): dispose of; give away or throw away

"That shirt is really ugly. Why don't you get rid of it?"

get up (usually no object; with an object, separable): leave bed after sleeping and begin

your daily activities:

"I know I won't hear the alarm tomorrow morning. Can you get me up at 6:00 AM?"

give up (1. separable): stop doing something (usually a habit):


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"He knows smoking isn't good for his health, but he can't give it up."

give up (2. no object): decide not to try (unsuccessfully) to solve a problem

A: "What's black and white and red all over?"

B: "I give up. What?"

A: "An embarrassed zebra!"

go out (inse parable): have a date with

"You went out with Sharon last night, didn't you?"

go with (1. no object): look pleasing together. (Note: for clothes, furniture, etc.)

"You should buy that shirt. It will go well with your dark brown suit."

go with (2. no object): date regularly and steadily

"Is Gina going with Jim? I see them together all the time."

grow up (1. no object): spend the years between being a child and being an adult

"Did you know that Frank grew up in Malaysia?"


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grow up (2. no object): behave responsibly; behave as an adult, not a child

A: "Lee really irritates me sometimes. He's really silly and childish."

B: "I agree. I wish he would grow up."

hand in (separable): submit homework, an assignment, etc:

"You'd better get started on your report. You know that you have to hand it in at 8:30

tomorrow morning!"

hand out (separable): distribute

"Why don't you have a course description and list of assignments? The teacher handed

them out on the first day of class."

hang up (no object): end a phone conversation by replacing the receiver

"I'd like to talk longer, but I'd better hang up. My sister needs to make a call."

hold up (separable): delay

"I'm sorry I'm late. There was an accident on the freeway and traffic held me up."

hold up (separable): rob; threaten someone with harm unless he/she gives her/his money

or other valuable things

"Sarah is very upset. When she was walking home last night, two men held her up and

took her purse and jewellery."

keep on (inseparable--followed by an -ing verb): continue:

"I'm not ready to stop yet. I think I'll keep on working for a while."


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kick out (separable): expel; force someone to leave because of his/her poor performance

or unacceptable behaviour "Jim's club kicked him out because he didn't pay his dues or

come to meetings."

knock out (separable): make unconscious

"The boxing match ended when one boxer knocked the other one out."

lay off (separable): dismiss someone from a job because of lack of work or money (not

because of poor performance)

"I feel really sorry Sally's family. Her father was laid off yesterday."

leave out (separable): forget; omit

"Oh, no! When I made the list of those who attended the meeting, I left your name out!"

let down (separable): disappoint

"I know I let you down when I didn't do what I promised. I'm really sorry."

look down on (inseparable): hold in contempt; regard as inferior

"It's not surprising that Fred has few friends. He seems to look down on anyone who

doesn't like the same things that he does."

look forward to (inseparable): anticipate pleasantly; think about a pleasant thing before

it happens:

"I'm really looking forward to vacation. I can't wait for it to begin!"

look into (inseparable): investigate / get more details about something


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"Someone said there was a meeting at 9:30 but I haven't heard anything about it. Shall I

look into it?"

look like (inseparable): resemble (in appearance):

"Does he look like his father or his mother?"

look over (separable): check; review:

"I think I may have some typos in this report. Could you look it over?"

look up (separable): find something in a reference work:

"I'm sorry, but I don't know what that word means. I'll have to look it up."

look up to (inseparable): respect:

"Everyone looks up to Joyce because she always makes time to help others."

make fun of (inseparable): make jokes about (usually unkindly

"I agree that Bob looks ridiculous since he shaved his head, but don't make fun of him.

You'll hurt his feelings."

make up (separable): invent / create (imaginary) information:

"Judy's story is hard to believe. I'm sure she made it up." make out (separable): see /

hear something well enough to understand what it means.


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make for (inseparable): go to or toward.

Her teen-aged children are always hungry. As soon as they arrive home from school,

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