A blog where you can find ongoing resources that will help you in your studies of the English language. Writings, use of English, readings, grammar, listenings, idioms, collocations, fixed expressions and more. Prepare for Cambridge FCE, CAE, CPE.
Friday, 22 August 2014
Thursday, 7 August 2014
Use of English - Rephrasing #004 (CAE)
There is no upper and lower limit in the number of words here. Answers are in white below its respective sentences. Highlight them to be able to read them.
25. She said she would lend me her
notes.
promised
She me her notes.
She promised to lend me her
notes.
26. Although she studied very hard,
she didn’t do very well in the exam.
despite
She didn’t do very well in the
exam very hard.
She didn’t do very well in the
exam despite studying very hard.
27. My father often played the piano
while we sang.
used
My father while we sang.
My father used to play the piano
while we sang.
28. If I don’t feel better tomorrow,
I’ll go to the doctor.
unless
I’ll go to the doctor tomorrow better.
I’ll go to the doctor tomorrow
unless I feel better.
29. You mustn’t talk during the test.
supposed
You during the test.
You are not supposed to talk
during the test.
30. I couldn’t tolerate her bad
behaviour any longer.
put
I couldn’t her bad behaviour any longer.
I couldn’t put up with her bad behaviour
any longer.
31. I have a degree and also
extensive sales experience.
addition
I have extensive sales experience
a degree.
I have extensive sales experience
in addition to a degree.
32. She lost her job because her work
was careless.
carefully
If she ,
she would not have lost her job.
If she had carefully done her
work, she would not have lost her job.
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
Collocations - MAKE in use
Here is an example of a very important collocation with the verb MAKE, extracted from The Casual Vacancy, from J. K. Rowling:
But she had seen far worse: welts and sores, gashes and burns, tar-black bruises; scabies and nits; babies lying on carpets covered in dog shit; kids crawling on broken bones; and once (she dreamed of it, still), a child who had been locked in a cupboard for five days by his psychotic stepfather. That one had made the national news.
Monday, 4 August 2014
Collocations - DO vs. MAKE (example sentences)
Here are some collocations with do/make used in full sentences.
1. Don’t make excuses! You didn’t do your homework and
that’s that!
2. Could you do me a favour and lend me your notebook?
3. I want to make notes while the teacher is explaining.
4. I’ve lost my wallet. What am I going to do?
5. My parents expect me to do things in the house such as
making my bed, helping my brothers do the washing up and so on.
6. My father does the ironing and he also makes the best
spaghetti sauce in the universe!
7. I didn’t realise they were making fun of me. I suppose
I made a fool of myself.
8. If you want to do well in the exam, you’ll just have
to make more of an effort.
9. I know I always make a lot of mistakes, but I really
am doing my best.
10. Make sure you come to class tomorrow. We’re going to
do a test.
11. Take a day off and do nothing for a change. It won’t
do you any harm. In fact it will probably do you the world of good.
12. I didn’t want to make a fuss, but I really felt I had
to make a formal complaint. They hadn’t done the job properly at all.
13. Doing business with you has been a great pleasure. I’m
sure both our companies will make a lot of money out of it.
14. I am afraid that the company has made a massive loss
this financial year.
Friday, 1 August 2014
Use of English - Rephrasing #003 (CAE)
There is no upper and lower limit in the number of words here. Answers are in white below its respective sentences. Highlight them to be able to read them.
16. ‘But I tried to phone him yesterday,’ said Laura.
admitted
Laura him the day before.
Laura admitted having tried to contact him the day before.
17. ‘Perhaps I could meet your parents,’ said Steve.
suggested
Steve Laura’s parents.
Steve suggested meeting Laura’s parents.
18. ‘No, I will not speak to him,’ said Laura’s mother.
refused
Laura’s mother Steve.
Laura’s mother refused to speak to Steve.
19. ‘Try being a bit more understanding, Mrs
Carter,’ said the doctor.
encouraged
The doctor a bit more understanding.
The doctor encouraged Mrs Carter to be a bit more understanding.
20. 'I have made up my mind. I’m going to ask Steve to lunch on Sunday,’ said
Laura’s mother.
decided
Laura’s mother Steve to lunch on Sunday.
Laura’s mother decided to ask Steve to lunch on Sunday.
21. ‘Would you like to have lunch with us on Sunday, Steve?’ said Laura’s
mother.
invited
Laura’s mother have lunch with them on Sunday.
Laura’s mother invited Steve to have lunch with them on Sunday.
22. ‘I think you’re right. Laura is too young to stay out so late,’ said
Steve.
agreed
Steve too young to stay out so late.
Steve agreed she was too young to stay out so late.
23. ‘Next time we could take Andrew with us,’ said Steve.
offered
Steve Laura’s younger brother with them the next
time.
Steve offered to take Laura’s younger brother with them the next time.
24. ‘Perhaps it would be better to go out in the afternoons,’ said Laura’s
father.
recommended
Laura’s father in the afternoons.
Laura’s father recommended going out in the afternoons.
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