Beginners’ English: The passed is past – pronunciation guide

7th July 2020

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A quick blog to help with pronunciation.

In English, verb can be regular or irregular.

Regular verbs add -ed or -d in the past tense.

EXAMPLE:

I walk to work // I WALKED to work

I play guitar // I PLAYED guitar

She smiles on TV / She SMILED on TV

They dance in T-ara // They DANCED in T-ara

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-ed past tense verbs pronunciation

Words have 3 end sounds:

‘t’

‘d

‘id’

If the word ends with: 

ch / f / k / p / s / sh / thi – The sound is ‘t’ look = ‘lookt’

t /or / d/ – The sound is ‘id’ visit – ‘visitid’

Other sounds are ‘d’ bang = ‘bangd’

What is the correct pronunciation for these regular verbs ?

Look = Looked / laugh = laughed / end = 

beg = / visit = kiss = 

brush = / breath = love =

Read these sentences:

He cleared up the mess / He rolled up the newspaper / I have visited India

No Homework ! That sounded good / Teacher shouted, ‘No way !’

We all worked hard today / Tom talked so much / 

The students played many games and laughed.

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They have visited India

Beginners’ English: I was reading your blog – Past continuous

2nd July 2020

Past Continuous

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Talking, laughing, dancing and drinking

Subject + was / were + verb ing

I was reading a book

You were taking a rest

At the party, we were singing, playing music, eating, drinking, talking and laughing.

USES:

Something was happening in the past

When I came to class, teacher was playing music.

[The teacher was ALREADY playing]

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Compare with Past Simple:

When I got to class, teacher played music

[Teacher started playing AFTER I arrived]

Something was happening in the past:

Last night, I was reading the news.

Something that happens all the time OR a long time ago:

They are always shouting at each other [happens all the time].

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When he was young, he was always playing piano [a long time ago].

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Practice:

When I phoned my friends, they (play)———-Monopoly.

When I phoned my friends, they were playing Monopoly.

  1. Yesterday at six I (prepare)————–dinner.
  2. The kids (play)——in the garden when it suddenly began to rain.
  3. I (practice)———–the guitar when he came home.
  4. We (not / cycle)———all day.
  5. While Alan (work)——–in his room, his friends (swim) ——-in the pool.
  6. I tried to tell them the truth but they (not / listen )————-.
  7. What (you / do)———–yesterday?
  8. Most of the time we (sit)——–in the park.
  9. I (listen)———to the radio while my sister (watch)————-TV.
  10. When I arrived, they (play)————–cards.
  11. We (study)———English yesterday at 4:00 pm .

Beginners’ English: ‘Have to’ or ‘must’ ?

1st July 2020

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‘must’ or ‘have to’

‘have’ is a main verb, ‘must’ is a modal auxiliary verb

have can be followed by to + verb, and can be used in different tenses 

e.g. I have to go home

He has to do his homework

I had to write two reports (past tense)

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We have to wear a face mask

‘must’ is an auxiliary verb so:

is followed by a main verb

is never used with ‘to’

I must exercise NOT I must to exercise

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They must keep fit, they must exercise

‘have to’

an obligation made by someone else

‘must’

an obligation made by yourself

I have to get a visa to enter China OR not allowed into China

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I must do more exercise [This is MY choice, not forced.]

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I must do more exercise … I must do A LOT more exercise. I must stop eating pizza and pasta !

‘have to’

Sub + have to + infinite

POSITIVE: She has to try harder

NEGATIVE: He does not have to work tomorrow

QUESTION: Do you have to be so noisy ?

‘must’

Sub + must + base verb

I must sleep soon

You must go shopping

He must be nicer to his sister

Negative: Students must not (mustn’t) cheat in class

Question: Must we visit your family ?

Exercises: (answers at end of blog)

1. Yesterday I ________ finish my geography project.

 must
 mustn’t
 had to

2. She will ________ wait in line like everyone else.

 must
 have to
 has to

3. All employees ________ on time for work.

 must be
 mustn’t
 have to

4. We ________ forget to take the chicken out of the freezer.

 have to not
 must
 mustn’t

5. If you are under 13 you _____ to get your parents’ permission.

 have
 must
 musn’t

6. Your daughter may ________ try on a few different sizes.

 have to
 had to
 must

7. You _____ get here as soon as you can.

 must
 mustn’t
 have to

8. Do you _____ work next weekend?

 have to
 must
 mustn’t

9. Bicyclists _____ remember to signal when they turn.

 mustn’t
 must
 has to

10. Angela, you _____ leave your clothes all over the floor like this.

 mustn’t
 must
 have to

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ANSWERS

1 had to // 2 had to // 3 must be // 4 mustn’t // 5 have // 6 have to // 7 must // 8 have to // 9 must // mustn’t //

Beginners’ English: Introducing yourself

25th June 2020

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Introducing youself:

Hello, my name is Paul and I’m from London. I’m an English teacher, and I have been in Vietnam for about 2 years. My hobbies are reading books, watching films and listening to music. In Vietnam, I have been to Ha Noi and Hue and I really want to visit Hoi An and Halong Bay.

about: with time. I have been studying English for about 6 months.

really: adverbs I am happy / I am really happy – stronger and more interesting

continuous verbs: I like to read / I like reading / She likes to read

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She likes reading

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They like watching movies

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She likes listening to music

Introduce yourself, and answer the questions:

Name

What is your hometown ?

How long have you lived in your town or city ?

What are your hobbies ?

Where do you want to visit ?

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present perfect: 

sub + have/has + verb 3 (past participle)

I have visited Ha Noi

She has eaten Thai food

We have seen Barcelona play football

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She has eaten Thai food

Look out for plurals and 3rd person verb endings

I like sports / he loves cooking /

I don’t like smoking / She doesn’t like smoking

I like playing computer games/ reading books/ watching films.

He likes playing football / going to the park / studying English

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Beginners’ English: Sentence building

24th June 2020

A lesson is how to use an auxiliary (or helping) verb, and then make your answers longer by using simple adjectives.

Today, we use the verb ‘like’

A simple question is:

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I like ice cream or I like fruit

To make your sentences longer:

I like strawberry or chocolate ice cream.

I like all fruit. My favourites are apples and bananas.

Now … Your Turn

Ask your friend or tell me, What do you like ?

I like …

Match the answers with the pictures:

keeping fit

drinking beer

shoes

shopping

cakes

Now make your sentences longer:

I + like + verbing + noun

I like buying shoes / I like eating cakes /

I like ___________ beer / I like ________ shopping

Do you go alone or with friends ?

I like going shopping with my sister

I like drinking beer with my ______

I like keeping fit with my _________

I like eating cakes with my _____

Finally, tell we where you like to do these things ?

Look how long the sentences are now !

I like to drink beer with my friends in the beergarden.

I like to go shopping with my friend at the market.

I like to eat cakes with my _______ at the _________

I like to buy shoes with my _______ (where ?)

where can people buy shoes today ?

Market / shop / Mall / Online / Store

Adult Speaking Class, level 1: What do they like ?

22nd June 2020

An exercise for lower-intermediates. Help to use basic verbs, and to build long sentences.

We can see five people:

Andrew, Fiona, Helen, Mark and Tina

We see what they eat (dinner), their job (occupation), what they do in their free time (hobby) and what that do on Saturday and Sunday (the weekend).

For example, Andrew likes to drink beer, Tina like to do karate

What do they do ?

Name // dinner // occupation // hobby // weekend 

Andrewsteak and chips
spaghetti
brewerfootball & beersports & cinema DOESN’T like shopping
Fionatuna salad
soups
accountantreading
driving
visits family & shopping DOESN’T like sports
Helensushi
Korean BBQ
marketingyoga & keep fit
craft beer 
exercises & cinema DOESN’T like loud clubs
Markfish and chips
kebabs
civil servantcars and bikes
sports
fixing cars & drinking beer DOESN’T like loud clubs
Tinapasta
pizza
dentistkaraoke
clubs
shopping and meeting friends DOESN’T like beer or sport.
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Andrew likes to watch football but his girlfriend does not (doesn’t)
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Fiona is an accountant
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Helen likes to eat sushi
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Mark likes to ride a bicycle
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Tina likes to do karate

Make sentences

Use so does with positives, neither does with negatives.

EXAMPLE:

Mark eats chips and so does Andrew. 

Helen doesn’t drink beer neither does Tina.

Tina likes shopping …

Mark doesn’t like loud clubs …

Make questions

EXAMPLE:

Who likes beer ? Who eats Italian food (pizza, pasta, spaghetti) ?

IELTS Project: Holidays and travel language

16th June 2020

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Theme: travel

Vocabulary builder

Read this excerpt from a travel blog. How many adjectives can you see ?

This is my first visit to Turkey. It’s a wonderful place ! The people are friendly and the meals are delicious. Farmers here grow many different crops including many kinds of fruit. They also grow a lot of wheat, and the bread in Turkey is really good. Of course, the geography and climate in different parts of Turkey affect the kind of food farmers can produce in each region. In central Anatolia, the land is almost flat, and the weather is usually warm and dry. It’s a good place to grow crops and to raise animals such as cattle and sheep. High up in the mountains of eastern Turkey, farmers also keep animals as they can’t grow crops. Today, I’m visiting the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in southern Turkey. The weather here is hot and humid, but the fish and seafood are excellent.

meals / crops / geography (dʒɪˈɒɡrəfi) / climate / flat / humid (hjuːmɪd)

describes land without mountains

plants grown for food

breakfast, lunch and dinner

features of a place, such as mountains, rivers, forest, desert

air with a lot of water in it

normal weather in a certain area

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Turkish food
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Welcome to Turkey

Grammar practice: past tense

Tell about your favourite, or more memorable holiday (UK English). You will have to use the past tense. Try to use adverbs and adjectives to describe the vacation (US English). 

Activity:

Present a holiday using a mixture of advertising slogans and practical information. Remember:

It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it

Make your voice sound excited, as if this were the best holiday ever !

Holiday terms:

transfers / half-board / inclusive / amenities / package tour / itinerary

Language:

breathtaking / stunning / sensational / incredible / remarkable / exclusive

once in a lifetime experience / never to be forgotten / unbeatable prices

book now to avoid disappointment / best decision you’ll ever make

holidays to suit all budgets , from 7* luxury to backpacking

Structure:

To begin with / furthermore … additionally / the fact is … / therefore

Demonstration with an advert for London:

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Now is the perfect time to visit London, England’s glorious capital.

To begin with, the weather is perfect for walking, so you can enjoy the lush parks, world-famous museums and incredible, unbelievable shops. 

Furthermore, there is something for everyone … and more ! Like sports ? Go to one of the many Premier League football games. Love shopping ?

The fact is, everything is here – shop till you drop !

Additionally, if you adore culture – soak up hundreds of years of history.

Flights from TSN airport daily. Seven-day all-inclusive package tour starting from only 50m VND ! All transfers and transport included. Air-conditioned mini bus with Vietnamese-speaking guide.

Therefore, don’t delay … book TODAY !

Sell a holiday

Advertising vocabulary and intonation

Prepare a presentation to market / sell a holiday.

New vocabulary:

sensational / once in a lifetime / luxury / all-inclusive / unforgettable experience / mysterious / majestic / breathtaking 

book now to avoid disappointment / exhilarating / world-famous

local food / new cultures / visit our website / worth every penny

fun for all the family/ the perfect getaway /

Plan a tour of your city for my friend

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My friend Ethan is coming to visit your hometown

It is his first time in your hometown. He likes history, traditional food, and he wants to buy souvenirs.

Think about:

What time to start

What to do first 

Where to go (remember the heat OR the rain could be an issue / a problem).

Explain your choices

Try to incorporate (use) these adjectives:

interesting // historical // fascinating // authentic

typical // bustling // lively // thought-provoking

Beginners’ English: Let’s start building

5th June 2020

Sentence Building

A blog to help beginners start to speak and write in longer sentences.

Who / Doing / What / When / Where / Why What do you do … When … Why ?

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I exercise in the morning at home to be healthy.

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He eats rice … When … Where

NOW … Your Turn

He (what is he doing // where is he doing it // why ? He feels …)

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She

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We

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They

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ANSWERS

I exercise in the morning at home to be healthy.

He eats rice at lunch time on the steps because he’s very hungry !

He plays in the garden to practice. He feels very happy.

She teaches at a school because she’s an English teacher.

We travel every week to the beach because it’s hot and quiet and fun.

They are shopping in the market in Barcelona because the food is very fresh.

Ask each other: when do you go shopping ? What do you buy ?

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I go shopping at the weekend because …

I shop in the in the afternoon because …

I shop on Monday mornings because …

Verbs

Choose from these, or add your own. Good list of 100 verbs in all tenses at:

http://www.linguasorb.com/english/verbs/most-common-verbs/

Make short sentences using modal verb ‘like’ and ‘need’.

to practise // to dance // to study // to shop // to cook // to travel // to shout // to order // to book

I like to dance on Saturday nights

I need to study English

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Adding information

Use adjectives (describe the noun) or adverbs (describe the verb)

I saw a man begging

I saw a poor old man desperately begging for money.

We heard a girl playing piano

He likes to walk in the park

She thought the museum was interesting

I hated the film

My cat eats fish.

Adding a reason

I hate coffee because it keeps me awake

I only eat healthy food because

Although I find Burger King very tasty, I avoid eating there because

(I find = I think something is  //avoid= keep away from)

Internet cafes are very convenient but you should be careful because

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To disagree: Formal with multiple reasons

Example: You can just use an internet cafe to book your ticket.

I disagree for the following reasons. Firstly,

I disagree for the following reasons. Firstly, I don’t think it’s a good idea to enter my personal data on a public server and secondly, I don’t know who’s watching me. 

Adult Speaking Class, Level 3: Leaving on a jet plane.

31st May 2020

Airport Dialogue Practice

A chance to get away, and practice everyday informal conversation at an airport.

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Grammar: I want to go on a holiday // I need to stop working for a while

subject + modal verb + infinite verb …

I + want / need + to go / to stop / to relax etc

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Steve and Vic (Victor)

Steve and Vic are going on holiday. They are waiting for their plane (airplane / aeroplane)

Steve Finally, a holiday ! I need to get away from the city.

Vic City life is so stressful. So much hustle and bustle.

Steve I want to relax. Peace and quiet. No work, no traffic.

Vic What time is the flight ?

Steve Quarter past four. Gate B21.

Vic Where is the Duty-Free ? I want to buy some whisky.

Steve We can buy some after we’ve gone through security.

Vic Ok but first I need to find an ATM. There’s one over there.

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Colourful ATMs at Phuket Airport, Thailand

After they go through security they wait in the departure lounge.

Steve What kind of holiday do you prefer ?

Vic I enjoy activity holidays, but I prefer the beach.

Steve Swimming is great. I need to keep fit. Too much beer !

Vic What time can we board ?

Steve Let me see … We can board at quarter to four. Do you need sun cream?

Vic No, I have some in my luggage. Where’s the guide book ?

Steve In my carry on bag. Here. Singapore is going to be a big culture shock !

Vic The food, the language, the weather. How do we get to our hotel ?

Steve The taxis are outside the baggage claim, after we go through customs.

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Beginners’ English: How was your day ?

26th May 2020

How was your day ?

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Did you have a good day ? So-so day or bad day ?

What is wrong here:

In the morning, I went to my company then I go to the bank. After that, I travelled to home .

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In the morning, I went to my company then I went to the bank. After that, I travelled home (NOT ‘to home’).

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After lunch I went the customer and we spoke about the payment. After we said goodbye, I came here !

Replace ‘went’ with: visited / travelled to / saw / had to go to / 

Occupation = work, job

verb: to dance – job = dancer

What is your occupation ?

I am a dancer

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I am a pilot

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I am a chef

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I’m a travel agent. I books tickets and hotels and tours

What did you do yesterday ?

In the morning I went to my company and I worked (workt) with numbers because I’m an accountant. My job is interesting.

Then, I went to the bank where I withdrew money from the company account. After that, I travelled home.

I had lunch at home. In the afternoon, my husband and I saw my baby’s school. Next we went to the Vincom Mall where we ate pizza.

Finally, we went home by car.

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Adjectives– describe nouns – my job (noun) is interesting(adjective)

pronounce adjectives with feeling 

GOOD – great / fantastic / excellent / interesting

BAD terrible / boring / dreadful / awful 

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Having a fantastic time
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Having a terrible boring time