Hey there! I’ve noticed throughout our lessons that more practice related to word formation is needed. Here I´m leaving you all the possible choices regarding this topic. Wish you good luck, and for queries, see you in class!
Here I’m leaving some exercises according to your level! Good luck! 🙂
We add question tags to the end of statements to turn them into questions. They are used in spoken language, especially when we want to check something is true, or invite people to agree with you.
They are mainly used in speech when we want to:
Question tags are formed with the auxiliary or modal verb from the statement and the appropriate subject.
A positive statement is followed by a negative question tag.
A negative statement is followed by a positive question tag.
When the verb in the main sentence is in the present simple we form the question tag with do / does.
If the verb is in the past simple we use did.
When the statement contains a word with a negative meaning, the question tag needs to be positive
Practice
Have + object + past participle (have something done)
We usually use ‘have something done’ when we are talking about paying someone to do something for us. It’s often used for services. The form is ‘subject + have + object + past participle’.
We can also use ‘subject + get + object + past participle’. This has the same meaning as ‘have’, but is less formal.
Have someone do something (have + person + infinitive)
We can also use the construction ‘subject + have + person + infinitive’. This has a very similar meaning to ‘have something done’, which we’ve already talked about, but this time we say who did the thing – we talk about the person who we asked to do the thing for us.
Get someone to do something (get + person + to + infinitive)
Finally, we can also use the construction ‘get + someone + to + infinitive’. Again, this means that you cause the other person to do the action, maybe by paying them to do it, or by asking them to do it, or by persuading them to do it.
Sometimes, this construction has the feeling that we needed to convince someone to do something, while the other constructions on this page are neutral.
Practice:
An active sentence like I drank two cups of coffee has the subject first (the person or thing that does the verb), followed by the verb, and finally the object (the person or thing that the action happens to).
So, in this example, the subject is ‘I’, the verb is ‘drank’ and the object is ‘two cups of coffee’.
But, we don’t always need to make sentences this way. We might want to put the object first, or perhaps we don’t want to say who did something. This can happen for lots of reasons (see the explanation further down the page). In this case, we can use a passive, which puts the object first:
We make the passive by putting the verb ‘to be’ into whatever tense we need and then adding the past participle. For regular verbs, we make the past participle by adding ‘ed’ to the infinitive. So play becomes played. Click here to learn about irregular verbs.
| Tense | Active | Passive |
| present simple | I make a cake. | A cake is made (by me). |
| present continuous | I am making a cake. | A cake is being made (by me). |
| past simple | I made a cake. | A cake was made (by me). |
| past continuous | I was making a cake. | A cake was being made(by me). |
| present perfect | I have made a cake. | A cake has been made (by me). |
| pres. perf. continuous | I have been making a cake. | A cake has been being made (by me). |
| past perfect | I had made a cake. | A cake had been made(by me). |
| future simple | I will make a cake. | A cake will be made (by me). |
| future perfect | I will have madea cake. | A cake will have been made (by me). |
Exercises here:
Exercise 1: present simple passive
Exercise 2: past simpel passive
Exercise 3: present perfect passive
Exercise 4: Future simple passive
A REVIEW is usually written for an English-language magazine, newspaper or website. The main purpose is to describe and express a personal opinion about something which the writer has experienced (e.g. a film, a holiday, a product, a website etc.) and to give the reader a clear impression of what the item discussed is like. Description and explanation are key functions for this task, and a review will normally include a recommendation to the reader.
What I liked
What I disliked
Reviews of books
Reviews of concerts
Reviews of exhibitions
Reviews of films
Reviews of TV programmes
Reviews of hotels, restaurants, etc
Criticism
Recommendations
TASK
You have seen this announcement in your college English-language magazine.
Have you been to a great music concert recently?
Write us a review of the concert, telling us about the band or singer and their performance. Say whether you would recommend seeing them perform live.
We will publish the best reviews next month.
Write your review in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.
A gig to remember
Without doubt, the British rock band Arctic Monkeys have given this year’s best live show. As teenagers a few years ago, they made the fastest selling album ever but seemed shy and awkward on stage. Now they have matured and become an amazing live act.
Since the frontman Alex decided to cut his hair and dress like a skinny rock star of the 1950s, he moves confidently around the stage, waving his arms and encouraging us to shake our hips. The crowd were ecstatic!
The set began with their hit, Do you wanna know. The guitar playing was tight, as always, and the rhythm supported by Matt’s powerful drumming. The band were on top form throughout, winning fans with a list that combined older with new hits.
My only reservation is that although the songs have clever lyrics and great melodies and sound fresh every time, some lack the emotional and poetic force of their best.
But this is a minor criticism. Overall, it was a performance to remember and all fans should try and catch them while they’re on tour.
[+/- 185 words]
TASK
You have seen this announcement in an international magazine.
Have your read a book recently with a story that has held your attention? Write a review of the book, explaining what the story is about and whether the characters are convincing. Tell us whether or not you would recommend it both to younger and older readers
The best reviews will be published in the magazine.
Write your review in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.
Animal Farm, by George Orwell
This is an unusual book, set on a farm. The characters, led by the pigs, are mainly animals, who get rid of the cruel, drunken human owner and take over the farm. They set up a government of their own.
The story isn’t exciting but it’s clever. At first, after the revolution, the animals are equal but later the pigs become more powerful and start to change everything. By the end of the novel, the animals realise they have gone back to where they started.
In one way, the story is obviously not a true story but in another way, it is meant to tell the story of communism from a satirical point of view.
The characters are very convincing. Napoleon, the leader of the pigs, is strong and corrupt. Other animals are honest but weak. They all represent people and the events in Russia in the 1920s and 30s.
Although I enjoyed this book, I can imagine older people who were brought up when communism was still strong in the world and have probably read a lot about the Russian Revolution, would enjoy it even more.
[+/- 190 words]
A REPORT is usually written for a superior (e.g. a teacher) or a peer group (e.g. members of an English club). Candidates are expected to give some factual information and make suggestions or recommendations. A report should be clearly organised and may include headings.
Stating the purpose of the report (paragraph 1)
Describing how you got the information (paragraph 1)
Reporting your results (paragraphs 2, 3, …)
Presenting a list
Making recommendations (Last paragraph)
TASK
Your English teacher has asked you to write a report on where people can eat out in your area. You should include the views of visitors and local people, comment on any recent trends and dissatisfaction and make a recommendation.
Write your report in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.
Local eating places
The main purpose of this report is to give an overview of the town’s eating facilities. As part of the survey, both tourists and local residents were asked their views.
Cafés, pubs and restaurants
There are a number of good quality restaurants in the area, which cater for most tastes: pizza houses, sushi bars, exclusive French restaurants and gastro pubs. We are also fortunate to have several cafés and sandwich bars, which are very popular in the mornings with young mothers and children and with office workers at lunchtime.
Recent trends/Dissatisfaction
It was reported that in recent years most of the fast food restaurants had extended their hours, with most open until midnight. It was also stated that prices had gone up dramatically in some of the better restaurants and, as a consequence, people are going out less than they used to or eating at cheaper restaurants.
Room for improvement/Recommendations
The main area of concern among a number of people interviewed was the lack of vegetarian meals available in many of the restaurants and it is recommended that restaurants are made aware of this view.
[+/- 185 words]
TASK
Your college has been asked to accept a group of 50 students from another country for two weeks. Your principal has asked you to write a report. What would be the advantages and disadvantages of accepting this group? What would you recommend?
Write your report in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.
Report on proposed visit by 50 overseas students
Introduction
The purpose of this report is to consider the advantages and disadvantages of accepting a large group of students from overseas for two weeks. I have discussed the issue with all the senior members of college staff.
Advantages
All those I interviewed believe that for students, this would be an exciting opportunity to explore a foreign culture, both in the classroom and socially. Overall, they thought the visit would be stimulating for the college at a quiet time of the year.
Disadvantages
Some members of staff are concerned that:
- there would be insufficient seating in the library at busy times.
- the visitors might be more interested in enjoying themselves than studying.
- the restaurant queue would be very slow at lunchtime.
Conclusion and recommendation
Clearly, the visit might involve some practical difficulties, but on the whole, everyone thought that it should be seen as an opportunity not to be missed. I would therefore suggest that the college accepts the group.
[+/- 170 words]
TASK
You work for the Student Travel Agency of your college. The principal of the college is interested in the experiences of students who have worked abroad during their summer holidays. She has asked you to write a report on the advantages and disadvantages of such work. In particular, she wants to know whether the college should recommend “working holidays” to its students.
Write your report in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.
Working holidays for students
Introduction
The purpose of this report is to consider the advantages and disadvantages of working holidays abroad. In order to obtain this information, I interviewed more than 30 students who had worked in different countries.
The benefits of working holidays
A large number of the students I spoke to said that they had enjoyed working abroad and had become more open-minded as a result. Apparently, they felt they had learnt a lot about the local people and their way of life by working side by side with them.
The disadvantages of working holidays
Not surprisingly, many students complained that they had worked too hard in certain countries. They believed that they had been exploited by their employers, who paid them very little money. According to some students, there had also been problems with documents such as work permits.
Conclusions and Recommendations
It appears that the majority of students found the experience of working abroad very beneficial. Therefore, I believe that the college should recommend “working holidays” to its students. However, it should also warn them about the problems they could face and the precautions they need to take.
[+/- 190 words]
Formal letters may be written to an individual or to an organisation. The purpose may be, for example,
In many exam questions, you will be told what to include in your reply. Make sure that your reply answers any questions that you were asked in the task and takes into account any additional information that you have been told to mention. It is important that you include these in order to get a good grade.
[2.1] Opening
The first paragraph states the reason(s) for writing and, if needed, what you are responding to (an advert, a prospectus…). In addition, an opening paragraph is needed to make reference to previous correspondence.
Useful phrases for the opening
[2.2], [2. .] Main content
The rest of the body will be organized in paragraphs: that will make reading easier and the effect on the target reader will be better. For example, an application letter may have this layout and paragraphing:
For any type of formal letter, paragraphing is just a matter of common sense, grouping ideas logically (covering two points or questions in one paragraph, two other points or questions in another paragraph…). You should aim for three to five paragraphs
Other useful phrases
Asking politely
Complaining
The end of your letter is as important as the beginning. You usually state what you would like the recipient to do, make a reference to a future event, offer to help…
Depending on how you started your letter (See “Salutation or Greeting” above), you will end your letter with
[5] Sign your name and then print your name clearly underneath on another new line
Moe Szyslak
Moe Szyslak
Dear ……
I am writing to apply for a/the job of ….. which I saw advertised in “The Guardian” newspaper.
I am 26 years old and at the moment I am studying … at …. Having studied English for over seven years I am a fluent speaker of the language. My qualifications also include Proficiency certificates in both French and German. As far as experience is concerned, I have worked as …………. for ……….. As for my character, people tell me I am ……………
I feel I would be suitable for this job because ………… . This will give me the opportunity to ….. . I would also like the chance to….
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours …
name
Other things to consider
Range: It is important that you use grammatical expressions and vocabulary appropriate to the level of the exam. Even if there are no mistakes in your writing, you will not be able to get a good grade if you use only the language and vocabulary that you learnt at elementary level.
Formal language
Connectors: All good writing makes good use of connectors. You need to use some of the connectors that are more specific to formal language.
TASK
You see this advertisement in a student newspaper.
Lifeguard assistants wanted
We are looking for someone in August to assist our lifeguards, provide supervision during beach activities and observe swimmers.
Write to the Lifeguard Manager, saying what your experience and qualifications are and stating the reasons why you are suitable for the job.
Write your email in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am looking for outdoor work during the summer holidays and I would like to apply for the position of lifeguard assistant, which I saw advertised in my university’s student newspaper.
I am 20 years old and at present I am studying Physical Education. I am a strong swimmer and have recently had first aid training. I very much enjoy working with people and for the last two summers I have benn working as an assitant ranger in a National Park, where I had to provide information to the public about using the park and provide emergency assistance to park users. Now I am looking for something different.
I think I would be a suitable candidate for the position because I have been described as calm in a crisis and someone who works well with others.
I am available for the whole of August and would be happy to attend an interview at any time. I look forward to hearing from you at any time in the near future.
Yours faithfully,
Ivan Ivienen
(+/- 175 words)
TASK
You recently helped organise a college ski trip and you have received this email from a parent of one of the students who went.
I understand you were one of the organisers of our son’s ski trip. I have to say my husband and I were extremely dissatisfied with the arrangements. My son has informed us that the ski slopes were poor, the lessons were fewer than promised and the accommodation was inadequate.
Can you please give us a satisfactory explanation?
Nora White
Write your email in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.
Dear Ms White,
First, let me apologise for any disappointment your son experienced on our ski trip. It is true that there were several concerns. Since we had been led to believe by the company that there would be sufficient slopes for both beginners and advanced skiers, we were extremely upset when this turned out to not to be the case. It was also unfortunate that lack of snow meant that artificial snow had to be used instead.
As for the question of lessons, if you look at the letter we sent you, you will see that only five one-hour lessons were included in the price and that extra hours would have to be paid for separately.
In relation to accommodation, I am not quite sure what you are referring to. I know that in one room there were not enough beds but this was not the case in your son’s room.
We would like to assure you that we take all complaints seriously. We have already decided that next year we will change the company and the location for our trip and we hope that your son will consider joining us again.
Yours sincerely,
Ernest Omate
(+/- 195 words)
TASK
You see this announcement in an English-language college prospectus.
Scholarships
Every year, two scholarships are offered to candidates from overseas who can show how our one-year course in English and American studies would help their career.
Scholarships cover fees, accommodation and food, but not transport or personal spending money.
To apply, write a letter explaining why you think you deserver a scholarship.
Write your letter in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.
Dear Sir/Madam,
I would like to apply for one of the scholarships I saw advertised in your prospectus.
At present, I am training to be a secondary school teacher of English and I finish my course at the end of June. However, I feel I still have a lot to learn about the language and culture of the English-speaking world and would benefit considerably from a course in an English-speaking country.
The reason I am applying for a scholarship is that I cannot afford the cost of studying abroad. I have no income except for my student grant, so if I am fortunate enough to be given a scholarship, I would have to work part-time to save some personal spending money. My parents will borrow som money for my airfare if I am successful.
I would appreciate being given the opportunity to study at your college and would be very grateful if you would consider my application.
Yours faithfully,
Pedro Gadicto
(+/- 160 words)
An informal letter or email is usually between people who know each other fairly well. In addition to giving news, they are often used to request information, congratulate people, give advice and ask questions. There are a lot of similarities between informal letters and conversation. Informal letters ask a lot of questions, show interest and enthusiasm, and imagine a lot of shared information.
In many exam questions, you will be told what to include in your reply. Make sure that your reply answers any questions that you were asked in the task and takes into account any additional information that you have been told to mention. It is important that you include these in order to get a good grade.
Openings
When writing an informal letter, you are usually replying to another letter. You would normally start with a greeting, then acknowledge the letter to which you are replying. It is often a good idea to acknowledge some key information given in the original letter too. You can also make a comment on your own reply.
Useful phrases for the opening
Other useful phrases
Referring to news
Giving news
Apologies
Invitations
Requests
Thank you / Congratulations / Good Luck
Making suggestions and recommendations
The end of your letter is as important as the beginning. There are some standard ways of finishing an informal letter or email.
Other things to consider
Range: It is important that you use grammatical expressions and vocabulary appropriate to the level of the exam. Even if there are no mistakes in your writing, you will not be able to get a good grade if you use only the language and vocabulary that you learnt at elementary level. Even in informal writing, there is a good range of language you can use (conditional sentences, a range of perfect and continuous tenses, indirect questions…)
Informal language, including phrasal verbs, informal vocabulary (“I guess you loved the pics“), contractions, question tags.
Simpler sentence structure: I’ll be late for the party. It’s because of my French exam.
Connectors: All good writing makes good use of connectors. However, many of the connectors you have learnt for other styles of writing are inappropriate in an informal letter or email. For informal writing, you need to use some of the connectors that are more specific to spoken language.
TASK
You have received this email from an English-speaking boy called Simon.
Hello,
I would like to get to know someone from your country and a friend has told me that you would like to practise your English. Perhaps we could email each other. Could you tell me a bit about yourself and your family? Could you suggest how we might meet sometime in the future?
Thanks,
Simon
Write your email in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.
Hello Simon,
I’m glad you’re interested in my country. As your friend said, I’d like us to email each other to help me improve your English.
Let me start by telling you a bit about myself and my family. My name’s Ivo and I live in Kutna Hora, which is about 45 minutes from Prague by car. I used to work for a medical company but now I’m learning to be a salesperson. In the future I want a job where I can travel for my work. I’ve already been to a few places in Europe but I’ve never been to an English-speaking country.
I live at home with my parents, which is convenient, as I don’t have to do much housework and my meals are cooked for me. My younger brother is studying at university. Although he is four years younger than me, we get on quite well. We both enjoy snowboarding and music.
What about you? Have you ever been to the Czech Republic? It would be great if you could come over one day and we could fix up a meeting. Why don’t you let me know your plans?
Anyway, I must go and get on with my work! Looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Best wishes,
Ivo
(+/- 190 words)
TASK
You have received this email from your English-speaking friend, Jean.
I hear you organised a surprise birthday party for your mother. I’d love to hear about it. What kind of party did you organise? Who did you invite? How did it go? Do tell me.
Love,
Jean
Write your email in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.
Note: The following model answer includes some notes to help
Open with an informal greeting
Hi Jean,
Start your reply by referring to the sender's email/letter.
Good to hear form you again. I hope you’re still enjoying your job.
Give reason for replying
I’m glad you asked me about the party I planned for my mother’s birthday. Well, I have to say it was a fantastic success. I told my mother we were taking her out for a quiet meal at a local restaurant with just the family, but in fact I’d(1) hired a large room in a hotel and invited all her old friends!(2)
Start a new paragraph as the topic has changed slightly.
Use an informal linking word/phrase
Anyway, I picked my mother up and told her I’d changed my mind. We were going to have a meal in a hotel. You should have seen her face when she walked into the room and everyone cheered! She just couldn’t believe it and burst into tear(3). Then the party got going and it didn’t finish until four in the morning. We were absolutely exhausted, but my mother had had a wonderful time.
When you close, make an excuse to finish.
Must dash now – I’ve got to go to college. Hope to hear from you (4).
Make sure you finish with an informal phrase
Love,Tania
(1) Use contractions
(2) Use some exclamation marks (but not too many) to express emotion.
(3) Use a range of appropriate vocabulary and informal expressions
(4) Short sentences are acceptable(+/- 150 words)
TASK
Your recently helped organise a college ski trip and you have received this email from a parent of one of the students who went.
I understand you were one of the organisers of our son’s ski trip. I have to say my husband and I were extremely dissatisfied with the arrangements. My son has informed us that the ski slopes were poor, the lessons were fewer than promised and the accommodation was inadequate.
Can you please give us a satisfactory explanation?
Yours sincerely,
Nora White
Write your email in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.
Note: As you are writing to a parent the register of this letter should be semi-formal, which is characterized by:
Dear Mrs White,
First, let me apologize for any disappointment your son experienced on our ski trip. It is true that there were several concerns. Since we had been led to believe by the company that there would be sufficiente slopes for both beginners and advanced skiers, we were extremely upset when this turned out not to be the case. It was also unfortunate that lack of snow meant that artificial snow had to be used istead.
As for the question of lessons, if you look at the letter we sent you, you will see that only five one-hour ski-lessons were included in the price and that extra hours would have to be paid separately.l
In relation to accommodation, I am not quite sure what you are referring to. I know that in one room there were not enough beds but this was not the case in your son’s room.
We would like to assure you that we take all complaints seriously. We have already decided that next year we will change the company and the location for our trip and we hop that your son will consider joining us again.
Yours sincerely,
Waylon Smithers
(+/- 190 words)
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