Lessons for the CAE 1

UNIT 01: GETTING TO KNOW YOU (PEOPLE & PLACES AND PARTS OF THE WORLD).
Literary description of famous cities of the world.
New Orleans (USA): The exuberant friction of a port city marked me forever; the beautiful
and the decrepit - wrought-iron 1balconies holding up the tottering2 facades3 of Royal and
Chartres Streets. It is a densely-packed city of half a million souls, with houses of the well-
to-do4 and the poor often side by side.
Sydney (Australia): I walked out for a good view of the world-famous building. The
Broadwalk, a promenade5 surrounding the Opera House, led me along to splendid vistas: to
the west, that magnificent structure, the Harbour Bridge, to the east, a bay with the Manly
hydrofoil6 ferry charging in on plumes of spray.
Cape Town (South Africa): It is March, a mild late-summer day here in the Southern
Hemisphere. I have spent a glorious morning hiking up Table Mountain through deep green
forests, up rocky ravines and finally out into wide-open moorland7 at the top.
Cairo (Egypt): The twin stream of History converge just below the delta, where the
greatest city in the Islamic world sprawls8 across the Nile towards the Pyramids, those
supreme monuments of antiquity, very visitor comes here.
Buenos Aires (Argentina): The background music in the cafe sound s like a distant Fellini
filmscore; a poster of Carlos Gardel, tango idol of the thirties, winks down9 from the wall.
Croissants are stacked along the blond wood bar. Outside the traffic has reached total
gridlock10, but no one is honking11.
Polite and impolite behaviours in society: (use of formal, informal and semi-formal registers
depending on the social context).
You are in a room with a number of people. Someone who is very near you but is not looking
in your direction accidentally drops some money on the ground. You want to catch their
attention in order to tell them they have dropped it. What do you say?
a) Look out! You're dropping money all over the place!
b) Excuse me. I think you might have dropped something.
c) I hope you don't mind my mentioning it but I think you've dropped something.
You are in a crowded bus and, by accident, bump into someone, slightly upsetting their
balance. What do you say?
a) Why don't you look where you're going!
b) I'm so dreadfully sorry. If was entirely my fault. I do hope you can forgive me.

1 Hierro forjado.

2 Balanceantes.

3 Fachadas.

4 Los ricos.

5 Paseo.

6 Hidro-deslizado/da, hidro-deslizador/a.

7 Pramo.

8 Se extiende.

9 Hace un guio (metfora).

10 Atasco.

11 Tocar la bocina, klxon.

 Lessons for the CAE 2
c) Sorry.
You are in a crowded bus and, by accident, bump into someone, slightly upsetting 12 their
balance, but on this occasion, you have clearly caused the person some pain. What do you
say?
a) I'm really sorry.
b) Actually, it was the driver's fault, not mine,
c) It doesn't look as though you need an ambulance, so there's no need to look at me like
that!
What does the person on the bus say as they experience the pain?
a) Yippee!
b) Yuk!
c) Ouch!
Someone you do not know very well is talking to you very quickly. The person doesn't know
that you have a train to catch and are desperate to leave. What do you say when you cut
short the conversation by interrupting?
a) Must go. Got a train to catch,
b) Well, it's been lovely talking to you....
c) I know you're going to think this terribly rude of me and I must apologise in advance,
but I'm afraid I have to leave you now.
What do you say when you answer the phone?
a) Hello.
b) I am (your name),
c) The (family name) residence.
SPEAKING PART: COMMUNICATION AND LANGUAGES
If you met someone from a different country who speaks a different language, which
language would you communicate in and why?
How many different languages do you think you need to know and why?
When you meet someone for the first time, how does your language vary according to
whether they are the same age as you, or older or younger than you?
Which questions do you think it is impolite to ask the first time you meet someone?
How do you begin a question when you are not sure if it is polite to ask it?
When you are listening to someone, what sort of body language, sounds and phrases do
you use to show you are interested and you are listening to them?
GRAMMAR: CONDITIONALS
Conditional sentences arc often considered to be one of four main types:
Zero conditional, to talk about common states or events. If / when+ present simple +
present simple. It acts as a philosophic syllogism or logic statement (All men are mortal.
Socrates is a man, then Socrates is mortal), such as programming a computer (If press button
A, then close the window). The actions that are anticipated can be appreciated as the logic
and immediate consequences of our acts or the context (If it rains, I open the umbrella). The
facts are 100% objective and immediate to the speaker, which considers it passively, either as
a mere observer or well being conditioned to act instinctively. Other examples from
Cambridge: If she knows you well, she is more talkative. When we see each other in the
street, we say hello. (Referential function)
First conditional, to talk about possible future states or events. If / when+ present
simple / continuous + will/ be going to. The acts are moderately anticipated in a medium
or long term: we make objective predictions and consider its major possibility of realisation at
99% of the cases because there are involved factors that could hinder it, for example: If you
study hard, you will pass your exams (in the real life, it depends also of the teacher, the type
of exam, etc). If you go away to study, you II meet a lot of new people. Im going to go without

12 Barrancos.
 Lessons for the CAE 3
him if he doesnt come soon. With this language, we try to affect the behaviour of the listener
to give confidence or general advice, imposing a condition that must become true at the end
of a process. (Conative function).
Second conditional to talk about unlikely or imaginary states or events in the present or
future. If + past simple / continuous + would/could I should/might. The anticipated
facts are probable at 65% or so, and we become into the inner mind of the speaker, because
its considerations are subjective. It can express a desire (If she spoke Spanish, she could
apply for the job in Madrid. If they had the money, they would leave their jobs and travel the
world) or giving an advice to someone based mainly on personal experience (If I were you, I
wouldnt take that train, boy). The negative consequences from our actions in the future still
can be avoided. With be, the second conditional uses were instead of was in formal contexts:
If I were / was good at languages, Id learn Japanese. (Expressive function).
Third conditional: imaginary states or events in the past impossible to undone. If + past
perfect + would/ could/ should I might + have+ past participle. It expresses regret, a
feeling of culpability about certain actions in the past that are irreversible and inevitably have
lead to negative consequences for the speaker or others, for example, appreciating it
absolutely from a subjective perspective of the speaker (depending on inner states). If we had
studied other cultures at school, we might have been more confident about travelling. If you
had arrived in Japan three months ago, you would have seen the cherry blossom.
Mixed conditionals: different conditional forms are sometimes mixed, particularly second
and third conditionals.
A third conditional cause is sometimes linked to a second conditional result to show the
imaginary present result of an imaginary past event or situation. If my parents had
never met, I wouldnt be here now!
A second conditional cause is sometimes linked to a third conditional result to show how an
ongoing situation produced an effect in the past. If I knew anything about computers, I
would have applied for a website design job.
Other conditionals. There are a number of other conditional sentences formed with different
patterns of tenses to the four main types described above. Some common examples of
alternative conditional structures are:
If + when+ present simple + imperative. This is used to make suggestions or to
give advice or instructions. If you need a translator, please let me know. Get off the train
when you get to the third station.
If+ when+ present simple/present perfect + can/could/would/should/might. This is
often used to make suggestions or offer advice. She could give Martin a message if she
sees him in Italy. If youve studied English, you should try to speak it. Notice that when the if
clause is first in the sentence, it is followed by a comma whereas there is no comma when
the main clause comes first.
We can use will after if when we talk about the result of something in the main clause, or
in polite requests. Post the parcel at the main post office if it will get there quicker. If you
will just wait a moment, Ill tell Mr Jackson youre here.
To make the request more polite, we can use would. If you would take a seat for a
moment, Ill let Mr Jackson know youre here.
We can leave out if and put should at the beginning of the clause, particularly in
formal or literary English. Should you wish to extend your stay, please inform reception.
We can use was/were not for or had not been for to say that one situation is dependent
from another situation or person. If it hadn't been for the tour guide, we would never have
seen those carvings in the caves.
We can use if+ was/were+ to + infinitive to talk about imaginary future situations. If the
technology were to become available, we would be able to travel across the world in just a
couple of hours.
TY FORMULA CHARAC CHAN FUNCTION + EXAMPLE
 Lessons for the CAE 4
PE TER CE
Zer Present Objective 100% - Logical anticipation (If it is raining, then I
o simple/continuous Comm open the umbrella).
+ on - Utter logical syllogisms (If all men are
present simple states mortals and Socrates is a man, then Socrates
/continuous or is mortal).
events - Give instructions with imperative (If it is
raining, take the bus).
1st Present Objective 95- - Give general objective advices (If you study
simple/continuous 99% hard, you will pass the exams.
+ possibl - Secure predictions (If you eat so much, you
Present simple/ e will get fat).
continuous
Or
Will/ to be going to
2nd Past Subjective 50% - Give personal advices based on experience
simple/continuous Hypotheti or less (If I were you, I would ask your teacher).
+ cal or - Desire: If I spoke English, I would work in
Would + infinitive unlikely to England.
happen. - Consequences: If I were good at dancing, I
would be a dancer.
3th Past perfect Subjective 0% - Regret: If I have known the answers, I would
+ Facts in have passed the exam!
Would have+ past the past
participle that
cannot be
undone
3+ Past perfect Subjective 0% imaginary present result of an imaginary
2 + Imaginary past event or situation.
Would + infinitive facts If my parents had never met, I wouldnt be
here now!
2+ Past Subjective 0% show how an ongoing situation produced
3 simple/continuous an effect in the past.
+ If I knew anything about computers, I would
Would have+ past have applied for a website design job.
participle
If + when+ Objective 99% make suggestions or give
present simple + advice/instructions.
imperative If you need a translator, please let me know.
Get off the train when you get to the third
station.
If+ when+ present Subjective 50% Make suggestions/ offer advice.
simple/present She could give Martin a message if she sees
perfect + him in Italy. If youve studied English, you
can/could/would/s should try to speak it.
hould/might
We can use will Formal 99% Result of something in the main clause or in
after if polite requests.
Post the parcel at the main post office if it will
get there quicker.
If you will just wait a moment, Ill tell Mr
Jackson youre here.
Idem with would Formal Request more polite:
(more polite) If you would take a seat for a moment, Ill let
Mr Jackson know youre here.
Should (=If) Formal Should at the beginning of the clause,
particularly in formal or literary English.
Should you wish to extend your stay, please
 Lessons for the CAE 5
inform reception.
was/were not for Subjective 50% One situation is dependent from another
or had not been situation or person. This type of inversion
for expresses a relief about a danger or problem
that has not occurred (avoiding an immediate
or imminent danger):
If it hadn't been for the tour guide, we would
never have seen those carvings in the caves.
if+ was/were+ to Subjective ????? Imaginary future situations.
+ infinitive as If the technology were to become available,
science- we would be now able to travel in time!
fiction

Transforming sentences:
a) Should you experience any difficulties, please do not hesitate to contact me.
b) Had it not been for Janes intervention, the meeting would have gone on far too long.
c) Turn on the air conditioner if it will make you feel m ore comfortable,
d) If you would take your seats ladies and gentlemen, the concert will begin,
e) If you happen to see Tom, could you tell him Ive gone home.
HOW NOT TO EMBARRASS YOURSELF IN JAPAN: given, if so, unless, otherwise,
provided
Before you go to any country where the culture is quite different, you should get to know
something about the country, otherwise you might end up embarrassing yourself and those
around you. Given that for most Europeans Japanese culture is very' different, there are a few
tips you might like to take note of. You could be invited to a Japanese home. If so, remember
that you should take your shoes off when you enter the house or flat. Dont wear your normal
outdoor shoes inside unless you really want to offend your host. Provided you follow a few
basic house rules both you and your hosts should have a mutually interesting time.
 Lessons for the CAE 6

VOCABULARY SECTION