Month: January 2015

Posted in Exam Preparation Class, Vocabulary Classes

Phrasal Verb Test FCE

Posted on by Tim Warre

This is a worksheet based on this quizlet set of essential phrasal verbs for FCE:

http://quizlet.com/59899439/flashcards

Download the worksheet here:

Phrasal verb test FCE

Phrasal verb test

Replace the words in brackets or complete the sentence with a phrasal verb:

  1. John and Sarah have (separated) after 20 years of marriage.
  2. I ______ up with a great idea for the summer party.
  3. We arrived at the hotel ______ ___ and had a shower.
  4. He has decided to ______ _____ ____ (smoke less) cigarettes.
  5. I brought her some flowers to _______ her____ . (make her happier)
  6. My dog went to the vet’s and they ____ ____ out some tests on him. (did)
  7. The teacher was so angry that she threw a pen at me, but after a few minutes she _____ ______. (became less angry)
  8. After his parents died his grandparents had to _____ him _____. (educate, feed, protect)
  1. We were talking on the phone when suddenly it _____ _____. (disconnected)
  2. Scientists think that the woolly mammoth ______ ______ 100,000 years ago. (became extinct)
  3. My mum _____ me _____ at school in her BMW every morning. (leaves me)
  4. John and Danny _____ _____ last week and haven’t spoken to each other since. (had a big argument)
  5. The builders are ______ ____ our house at the moment. (renovating/redecorating)
  6. I passed all my exams! I ______ ______ yesterday. (discovered)
  7. If you want to get a visa to go to the USA you have to _____ _____ lots of forms. (complete)
  8. The man who stole my bicycle ____ _____ from the police. (escaped)

Key:

  1. broken up
  2. came
  3. checked in
  4. cut down on
  5. cheer up
  6. carried out
  7. calmed down
  8. brought up
  1. cut off
  2. died out
  3. drops off
  4. fell out
  5. doing up
  6. found out
  7. fill in/out
  8. got away
Posted in Exam Preparation Class, Grammar Classes

Might/may…. but worksheet

Posted on by Tim Warre

This is a worksheet on might/may… but for qualifying criticism.

You can download the worksheet here:

might may… but

Might/may  – qualifying criticism

Messi may/might be small, but he’s the best Player in the world.

She might/may not speak much in class, but she always does well in the exams.

We use “may/might…., but” as another way of expressing “although/even though”

Even though he’s small, Messi is the best player in the world.

Although she doesn’t speak in class, she always does well in exams.

Match the sentence halves together.

1.    It might be cold, a.     But he’s fitter than me.
2.    He might be handsome, b.    But it has charm.
3.    She might look stupid, c.     But it’s sunny.
4.    He may be a heavy smoker, d.    But he’s great company.
5.    Exeter might be a small city, e.     But when you get to know him he’s really sweet.
6.    The dog might be really annoying, f.       But he’s a nasty piece of work.
7.    He might seem unfriendly, g.     But it gets me from A to B.
8.    It might not be the best car in the world, h.    But she knows a lot more than you.

Key: 1-c, 2-f, 3-h, 4-a, 5-b, 6-d, 7-e, 8-g

Make sentences about these celebrities using the structure:

Posted in Exam Preparation Class, Grammar Classes

Inversion Revision Worksheet CAE/CPE

Posted on by Tim Warre

This is a worksheet to revise 3 different inversion phrases for CAE/CPE students:

Download the worksheet here:

Inversion Revision

Inversion Revision.

  1. No sooner + had + subject + past part….. + than + sub +verb.

No sooner had I walked in the door, than the phone rang.

Invert these sentences:

As soon as the ball hit the back of the net, all the fans started cheering.

…………………………………………………

As soon as I saw her I fell in love.

…………………………………………………

As soon as the teacher entered the class the students fell silent.

…………………………………………………………

  1. Hardly/scarcely/barely + had + subject + past part…. + when + sub + verb

Scarcely had he left the house when it started to rain.

Invert these sentences:

As soon as the concert started his phone rang.

…………………………………………………………

As soon as his head hit the pillow he fell asleep.

…………………………………………………………

As soon as I saw her face I knew something was wrong.

………………………………………………………….

  1. Under no circumstances/On no account + should/must + sub + verb. (prohibitions)

Under no circumstances/On no account + to be + sub + infinitive

Under no circumstance is this door to be left open.

On no account should you eat on the bus.

On no account are you to speak during the exam.

Invert these sentences:

You mustn’t leave your bags on the table.

…………………………………………………………….

You mustn’t smoke in the school.

…………………………………………………………….

You mustn’t disturb the sleeping babies.

…………………………………………………………….

Posted in Recommended Websites, Video Classes, Vocabulary Classes

Idiom Video Clips

Posted on by Tim Warre

I just came across this amazing set of short video clips which illustrate English idioms literally. Show the first, acted out section students have to guess the idiom, then they have to deduce the meaning.

Update: Pearson have moved their content but you can now find the videos on youtube:

Here’s a little gap fill and conversation exercise I’ve made for the first 6 idioms:

Expressions