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
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
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]

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:
'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...
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]

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.
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 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]

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
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.

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. 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.

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:
· 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;
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...

FCE WRITING

DOs:
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.
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

Apr 22, 2007

Affixes


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

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

Apr 20, 2007

Speaking Part 1 Interview

Interlocutor:
Good morning
Candidates:
Good morning
Interlocutor:
Could I have your mark sheets please?
Johan:
Of course.
Katia:
Yes.
Interlocutor:
Thank you. Erm, my name's X and this is my colleague, Y. She's just going to be listening to us.
All:
Hello
Interlocutor:
So you are…?
Johan:
Johan
Interlocutor: Johan, and…?
Katia: Katia
Interlocutor: Katia. Thank you. Erm first of all, we'd like to know something about you, so I'm going to ask you some questions about yourselves. Erm. Let's begin with your home town. Er, Johan, where are you from?
Johan: Er I come from Sweden, I come from a small town called M***. It's only have 4,000 people, it's very small, and I live quite near the capital of Sweden, 'bout 7 miles and nice place to live in.
Interlocutor: Ok, Katia, where are you from?
Katia:I come from from France and I'm living in a small town too and it called Mouveau and it's near to Orly, a famous city now and er my city, my town, er, it's very quiet and the people are very nice.
Interlocutor: Mm mm, ok, and what about your family, do you have a large family or a small family?
Katia: Very small family because I'm the only child in my family.
Interlocutor: Hm hm. Okay. And, erm, Johan, do you have a large family or a small family?
Johan: A small family only have young one younger brother, who's 18, and that's it.
Interlocutor: Ok. And what about you, Johan, do you work or are you a student?
Johan: At a student at the moment and er no working for me.
Interlocutor: Ok. And how long have you been studying, you, you're studying English?
Johan: Yeah, er, I been studying English for 9 years and now 4 months more.
Interlocutor: Ok. Er. And... Er Katia, er let's move on to what you do in your spare time. Do you have any hobbies?
Katia: Er. Yes, a lot but my favourite hobby is to go to the cinema. I love that and except that, to go for walk with my friends, go a restaurant or the disco or something like that.
Interlocutor: Hm hm. OK. What is there to do in the evenings in Cambridge?
Katia: In Cambridge, it depends. Sometimes I'm working er because I have to, and sometimes I going out with my friend to disco and cinema, I told you…
Interlocutor: Ok. Now, Johan, thinking about the future, what do you hope to do in the next few years?
Johan: Er. Hopefully, I go to university and I'm not sure what I'm going to study yet but er I'm thinking maybe teacher or architect. I'm not sure yet.
Interlocutor: Hm hm. Okay. Thank you.

Facing FCE Speaking Part

Ask for explanations
If you don't understand what you are meant to do, ask the examiner to explain. For example, you could say: Could you repeat the question, please? I'm sorry, could you explain the meaning of the word .... ? Could you please ask the question in another way?
Use full sentences
Avoid answers which are single words or lists

Finish the task
When you are asked to compare and contrast two photos and to give your personal feelings about them, make sure that you leave some time for explaining your own views. If you are asked to reach a conclusion in the joint task, try to do this within the time you are given.

Keep speaking If you need time to think about something, try to keep speaking rather than remain silent.
You could say things such as:
Please give me a moment while I think about the answer
Let me see ... what do these photographs show?
Shall we start by describing what we see in the pictures?
What is your opinion?
To avoid wasting time, make it clear when you have finished talking. For example, say something like:
That's all I can think of at the moment

Practice before the exam, practice the test with another student (if you already know the other student who will be taking the speaking test with you, ask him/her to practice with you).

Apr 18, 2007

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 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!"

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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
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

Apr 16, 2007

Speaking Tips


Speak loudly and clearly.

• Record your voice and listen for mistakes.

• Speak in front of a mirror and make eye contact.


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!
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.

Practice

1. When I first saw the new student he ..... me of my brother.
A. reminded
B. remembered
C. recorded
D. recalled
2. We’ll 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 tomorrow’s concert: there isn’t 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
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 year’s 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
C. rather
D. like
15. The tax inspector will call next month to ..... the company’s 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. I’m not going out tonight; I must write ..... my notes from this morning’s 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. I’ve just heard ..... interesting news: Barbara and David are engaged to be married!
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 isn’t very far: if there’s no traffic we should be there in ..... an hour.
A. less
B. below
C. over
D. under
25. Tonight’s performance has been cancelled ..... the sudden illness of the principal singer.
A. owing to
B. due
C. because
D. considering

Apr 8, 2007

Use of English: Error Correction

Complete and send to paolaraya@hotmail.com

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

Use of English: OpenCloze

Complete and send to paolaraya@hotmail.com
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.

Use of English:Key Word Transformation

Complete these sentences and
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.

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.

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."
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?"



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)

"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

"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)."

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):

"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:

"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.):

"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
"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:
"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):

"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?"

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."

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
"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.



make for (inseparable): go to or toward.

Her teen-aged children are always hungry. As soon as they arrive home from school, they make for the refrigerator."

mark down (separable): reduce the price (as an incentive to buy):
"These shoes were really a bargain! The store marked them down by 40%!"

mix up (separable): cause to become confused:

"I didn't complete the assignment because I didn't know how. The directions mixed me up."

nod off (no object): fall sleep (usually unintentionally):
"The speech was so boring that several people in the audience nodded off before it was finished."

pass away (no object): die:

"I was very sorry to hear that your grandfather passed away."

pass out (1. no object): faint; lose consciousness:

"When Ella heard that she'd won a million dollars, she was so shocked that she passed out."

pass out (2. separable): distribute:

"Everyone in the room needs one of these information sheets. Who will help me pass them out?"

pick out (separable): choose; select:

"Billy's grandmother especially liked her birthday card because Billy had picked it out himself."

pick up (1. separable): lift; take up:

"Those books don't belong on the floor. Will you help me pick them up?"

pick up (2. separable): get; buy:

"The children just drank the last of the milk. Could you pick some more up on your way home this evening?"

pick on (inseparable): bully; intentionally try to make someone upset:

"You should be ashamed of teasing your little brother, Bob! Pick on someone your own size!"

pull over (no object): drive a vehicle to the side of the rode:
"When the policeman indicated that I should pull over, Iknew he was going to give me a ticket."

put away (separable): return something to the proper place:
"I just took these clothes out of the dryer. Will you help me put them away?"

put off (1. separable): postpone; delay; avoid:

"I can't put this work off any longer. If I don't do it soon, it'll be impossible to finish it in time."


put on (separable): begin to wear; don:

"It's a little bit chilly outside. You'd better put a sweater on."



put up (separable): provide someone with a place to sleep:

"There's no need for you to check into a hotel. I'll be happy to put you up."

put up with (inseparable): tolerate:
"It's really important to come to work on time. The boss won't put up with lateness."

put back (separable): return something to the proper place:
"I've finished with these books. Do you want me to put them back on the shelves?"

rip off (separable): cheat; take advantage of; charge too much:
"Don't even think about buying a car there. They'll rip you off."

round off (separable): change from a fraction to the nearest whole number:

"Round all prices off to the closest whole-dollar amounts. For example, round £33.73 off to £34.00."

run into (inseparable): meet by chance:

"Yesterday at the supermarket, Jan ran into her former roommate. Before yesterday, they hadn't seen each other for nearly five years."

run out of (inseparable): use the last of:
"On the way home from work, Arthur ran out of gas." set up (separable): make arrangements for something:
"You'll see Mr. Thomas tomorrow. I've set a meeting up for 9:30 AM."

slip up (no object): make a mistake

"You slipped up here. The amount should be £135.28, not £132.58."

stand out (no object): be noticeably better than other similar people or things:
"Good job, Ann! Your work really stands out!"

stand up (1. no object): rise to a standing position:

"When the Chairperson entered the room, everyone stood up."

stand up (2. separable): make a date but not keep it:
"Angela was supposed to go to the dance with Fred, but she stood him up and went with Charles instead."

show up (no object): arrive; appear:

"The boss was very upset when you didn't show up for the meeting. What happened?"


stand for (1. no object): represent:
"These letters seem to be an abbreviation. Do you know what they stand for?"

stand for (2. inseparable): tolerate; permit (usually negative):

"I'm not surprised that Mrs. Johnson rejected your report. She won't stand for shoddy work."

take after (inseparable): resemble; favor (in appearance):
Note: used for people.
"Both my sister and I take after our father."

take / bring back (separable): return:
"This book is due tomorrow. I guess I should take it back to the library."

take care of (inseparable): provide care for; watch one's health:
"Lois has been taking care of her father since he returned home from the hospital."

take off (1. separable): remove (something you're wearing):
"Please take your hat off when you go inside a building." take off (2. no object): leave; depart (often suddenly or quickly):
"When does your plane take off?"

take up (separable): begin (a hobby or leisure-time activity):
A: "Do you like to ski?"
B: "I've never been skiing, but I think I'd like to take it up."



tell (someone) off (separable): speak to someone bluntly and negatively, saying exactly what she/he did wrong: zbesztać.
"Julie was really angry at Bob; she told him off in front of all of us."

tick off (separable): show that something has been completed by putting a tick (check) beside it:

"Here are the things you need to do. Tick each one off when you finish it."

throw away (separable): discard; put in the garbage:

"You shouldn't throw those newspapers away; they're recyclable."

throw out (1. separable): discard; put in the garbage:

"This food smells bad. You'd better throw it out."

throw out (2. separable): forcibly make someone leave (usually because of bad behavior):
"Those people are drunk and making everyone uncomfortable. The manager should throw them out."

throw up (usually no object; with an object, separable): vomit
"Paul was so nervous about his job interview that he threw up just before he left for it."

try on (separable): wear something briefly to check its fit, how it looks, etc.:

"I'm not sure that jacket is large enough. May I try it on?"



try out (separable): use a machine briefly to determine how well it works
"I really like the way this car looks. May I try it out?"

turn around (usually no object): move so that you are facing the opposite direction
"Everyone turned around and stared when I entered the meeting late."

turn down (1. separable): decrease the volume:
"Your music is giving me a headache! Please turn it down or use your headphones!"

turn down (2. separable): refuse:
"I thought I could borrow some money from Joe, but when I asked, he turned me down."

turn in (1. separable): give / deliver / submit to someone:
"I've written my report, but I haven't turned it in."

turn in (2. separable): report or deliver wrongdoers to the authorities
"Two days after the robbery, the thieves turned themselves in."

turn off (separable): stop by turning a handle or switch:
"I'm cold. Do you mind if I turn the air conditioner off?" t



turn on (1. separable): start by turning a handle or switch
"It's cold in here. I'm going to turn the heater on"



turn on (separable): interest very much; excite (often sexually) (very informal):
"What kind of music turns you on?"

turn up (1. separable): increase the volume:
"I can barely hear the TV. Can you turn it up a little?"



turn up (2. no object): appear unexpectedly

"We were all surprised when Pam turned up at the party. We didn't even know she was in town."

wait on (1. inseparable): serve (usually customers in a restaurant, shop, etc.):

"I want to make a complaint. The person who just waited on me was very impolite."

wake up (no object): stop sleeping:

"I usually wake up around 5:00 AM each day."



watch out for (inseparable): be careful of; beware of

"If you take that road, watch out for ice during the winter."



wear out (1. separable): wear something / use something until it can no longer be worn / be used:

"I need a new pencil sharpener. I wore this one out."

wear out (2. separable): cause to become exhausted; cause to become very tired

"I had four different meetings today. They wore me out."



work out (1. no object): exercise (usually in a gym, etc.) to build muscles, body tone, etc

"Instead of eating lunch on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, Sheila goes to the recreation centre to work out."



work out (2. separable): solve a problem / resolve a difficult situation (usually by working together):

"I know we disagree on many points, but I believe we can work things out."

wrap up (1. no object): wear enough clothes to keep warm:
"It's really cold today. Be sure you wrap up when you leave the house."

write down (separable): record something in writing:
"Could you tell me your e-mail address again? I want to write it down."