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UNIT 7

DATE: THURSDAY, JANUARY 5TH, 2016


TOPIC:
SPELLING RULES FOR PAST SIMPLE TENSE OF REGULAR VERBS
1. If the verb ends in a consonant, add ed.
return returned

help helped

cook - cooked

2. If the verb ends in e, add d.


live lived create created

die - died

3. In one-syllable words, if the verb ends in a consonant-vowel-consonant combination then double the last
consonant and add -ed.
hop hopped

rub - rubbed

However, do not double one-syllable words ending in w, -x, or y.


bow bowed

play played

mix - mixed

4. In words of two or more syllables that end in consonant-vowel-consonant combination, double the last consonant
only if the last syllable is stressed.
prefer - preferred (last syllable stressed)

visit - visited (last syllable isnt stressed)

5. If the verb ends in a consonant + y, change the -y to -i and ed.


worry worried

copy - copied

6. If the verb ends in a vowel +y, add -ed. (Do not change the y to i.)
play played

annoy - annoyed

Exception: pay - paid, lay - laid, say said

UNIT 7
DATE: THURSDAY, JANUARY 5TH, 2016
TOPIC:
PRONUNCIATION OF REGULAR PAST TENSE VERBS

1. Pronounce / t / after all voiceless consonant sounds: / f, k, p, sh, ch, s, x, /, except / t /.


2. Pronounce / d / after all voiced consonant sounds: / b, g, j, l, m, n, r, v, z / and after vowels / a, e, i, o, u / , except / d /.
3. Pronounce / id / after / t / and / d /

UNIT 7
DATE: MONDAY, JANUARY 9TH, 2017
TOPIC: HOW TO DESCRIBE A PICTURE?
Do:

Look at your picture carefully and take a few moments to think before you start talking.
Talk for all the time you are given. If you have one minute to do the task, use every second.
Practise the useful language below so you can explain which part of the picture you are talking about.

Dont:

Panic if you dont know the words for all the things in the picture. You dont need to know all the words for
everything in the picture if you know what to say when you don't know an exact word.

Get distracted and start talking about something else. Focus on the photo or picture.
Panic if your mind goes blank. Take a deep breath, look at the picture and start again.
If you are asked to describe a photo or a picture in the exam, here is some language you can use:
What is in the picture?
In the picture I can see ...
Theres / There are ...
There isnt a ... / There arent any ...
Say what is happening with the present continuous
The man is ...ing
The people are ...ing
Its raining.
Where in the picture?
At the top/bottom of the picture ...
In the middle of the picture ...
On the left/right of the picture ...
next to
in front of
behind
near
on top of
under
If something isnt clear
It looks like a ...
It might be a ...
He could be ...ing
Maybe its a ...

UNIT 8
DATE: MONDAY, JANUARY 16TH, 2017
TOPIC: COLLOCATION
What is a collocation?
A collocation is two or more words that often go together. These combinations just sound "right" to native English speakers,
who use them all the time. On the other hand, other combinations may be unnatural and just sound "wrong". Look at these
examples:
natural English...

unnatural English...

the fast train


fast food

the quick train


quick food

a quick shower
a quick meal

a fast shower
a fast meal

Why learn collocations?

Your language will be more natural and more easily understood.

You will have alternative and richer ways of expressing yourself.

It is easier for our brains to remember and use language in chunks or blocks rather than as single words.

Tell me who you go with and I'll tell you who you are.
How to learn collocations

Be aware of collocations, and try to recognize them when you see or hear them.

Treat collocations as single blocks of language. Think of them as individual blocks or chunks, and learn strongly
support, not strongly + support.

When you learn a new word, write down other words that collocate with it (remember rightly, remember
distinctly, remember vaguely, remember vividly).

Read as much as possible. Reading is an excellent way to learn vocabulary and collocations in context and
naturally.

Revise what you learn regularly. Practise using new collocations in context as soon as possible after learning them.

Learn collocations in groups that work for you. You could learn them by topic (time, number, weather, money,
family) or by a particular word (take action, take a chance, take an exam).

You can find information on collocations in any good learner's dictionary. And you can also find specialized
dictionaries of collocations.

Types of collocation
There are several different types of collocation made from combinations of verb, noun, adjective etc. Some of the most
common types are:

adverb + adjective: completely satisfied (NOT downright satisfied)

adjective + noun: excruciating pain (NOT excruciating joy)

noun + noun: a surge of anger (NOT a rush of anger)

noun + verb: lions roar (NOT lions shout)

verb + noun: commit suicide (NOT undertake suicide)

verb + expression with preposition: burst into tears (NOT blow up in tears)

verb + adverb: wave frantically (NOT wave feverishly)

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