SOMETHING FOR A CHUCKLE :)

Pretty much every post on this blog has been about grammar or one of the other English skills that are tested in the FCE.  So what do you say we have a post that's a little bit more fun?  You like that idea?  Cool! :)

Enjoy your day! :)

THE WEEK BEFORE THE EXAM

Okay, so there's only one more week and then it's the exam!  Where did those 12 weeks go?!

And now you're probably thinking: Have I studied hard enough?  Do I remember all those grammar rules and that huge collection of vocab and expressions we covered?

Whatever your answer is, remember this:

DON'T PANIC!

I know, easy to say, not so easy to do.  But seriously, with one week to go, just take it a day at a time.  Work out a schedule.  Plan when you will study and for how long.  This final week is not for going out to the pub with friends or cranking up that copy of Skyrim: Special Edition which you just bought for your Xbox.  By working out a plan you become focused.  Put your mobile away during these times, because once you say "I'm just gonna check this one message", that's it, your mind has wandered and you're no longer thinking about English.

PRIORITISE!

Work out which areas you are good at, and which areas you need to improve.  If you're doing well in listening, don't waste your time trying to improve even more.  It's easier to increase your score from 55%-60% than it is from 85%-90%.  Review the exercises in the book and texts you did during the last 3 months and see where you went wrong.  These are the things you need to know.  If you had difficulty with prepositions or collocation, go back and learn them.

TIMING!

Do some practice tests to make sure you have enough time to complete the exam tasks.  One of the worst things that can happen to you in an exam is running out of time, losing points simply because you didn't answer a question.

RELAX!

On the night before the test, try not to study too much - or don't study at all.  You need this time to allow you and your brain a chance to let everything you've been studying settle down.  When people study the night before they often get all the information mixed up, and it confuses them even more.  Chill out.  Relax with a good movie.  Go for a leisurely stroll along the beach.  And go to bed early to ensure you get a good night's sleep!

However, if there are times when you feel a bit stressed, stop what you're doing and go for a quick walk.  Get out of the house (by yourself!) and wander around the block and get some sun on your face.  After 15-20 minutes, head back inside and start again.  The mini break will do you the world of good :)

SPEAKING EXAM!

Tomorrow (Wednesday) is the Speaking Exam for FCE.  Everyone's done a lot of practice, has a good understanding of the four different parts of the exam, and they know what to expect.  But remember these important tips:

• Speak slowly to give yourself time to think
• Speak clearly
• Be sure to answer the question!
• Make eye contact
• Learn useful expressions for speculating, comparing, etc.
• Reasons!

If you need a reminder of what to expect tomorrow, then watch these:

Above all, don't forget this:

You're going to be fine.  

You can speak well.

You can share opinions.

You can clearly say what you think. 

Just be yourself :)

THE PASSIVE

The passive voice is used when the focus is on the action.  It is not important, or sometimes not even known, who or what is performing the action.

Example: My car was stolen.  We do not know who stole the bike.
Example: The cake's been eaten.  We do not know who ate all the cake.

When rewriting active sentences in passive voice, remember:

• the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence
• the form of the be verb is changed + past participle
• the subject of the active sentence becomes the object of the passive sentence (or is not used at all)

 And now, due to popular demand, here are some exercises you can do to make sure you have a good understanding of how to use the passive voice:

Passive - Present Simple

Passive - Past Simple

Passive - Present Perfect

Passive - Mixed Tenses

EXTREME ADJECTIVES

Adjectives are words that give us more information about a noun or pronoun.  Some adjectives in English are gradable, meaning you can have different degrees or levels of that adjective.  For example: the weather can be a little cold, rather cold, very cold, or extremely cold.

Extreme adjectives are words that mean "extremely + adjective".  For example, "freezing" means "extremely cold."  The weather can't be "a little bit freezing" or "very freezing" because "freezing" means "extremely cold."

Here's some examples (the regular adjective is first, the extreme adjective is second):

angry/furious
bad/horrible
big/gigantic
clean/spotless
cold/freezing
crowded/packed
dirty/filthy
good/wonderful
hot/boiling
hungry/starving
interesting/fascinating
old/ancient
scary/terrifying
tired/exhausted
ugly/hideous

And here's (as always) some exercises you can do:

Exercise 01

Exercise 02

Long and Difficult Adjective Exercises

WISH, IF ONLY, & HOPE

We use wish/if only + past simple to say we would like a present situation to be different: I wish I had more Pokemon cards (because at the moment I don't have enough).  If only I was rich (I am not).

We use wish/if only + would to say we wany something to happen: I wish my car would start (I can't start it, but I want it to start).  If only the lesson would end (I want it to end, but I am still in class).  We also use wish/if only + would when we want someone to start doing something that they are not doing: If only you'd listen to me! or we want someone to stop doing something which annoys us: I wish you wouldn't use my Xbox without asking!

We use wish/if only + past perfect to talk about things which we are unhappy about, but which happened in the past: He wishes he had bought an Xbox instead of a PS4 (he did buy a PS4, but thinks an Xbox would be better).

If only means I wish.  When talking about other people we use he wishes, they wish, etc.  We use if only when we feel something very strongly.  If not, we use I wish.  We use hope when we want something to happen or to be true, and there is usually a good reason to think this: I hope you have a good holiday.  She hopes her boyfriend will buy her an Xbox for Christmas.  He hopes that the new Spider-Man movie will be really good.

We can use hope when we want something to be true about the past, but we don't know if it is true: I hope you bought the new Halo game (I don't know if she did).  I hope you had a fantastic holiday last week (I don't know if you had a fantastic holiday).

• Optimistic about something?  Use hope.
• Pessimistic about something happening, or sure it won't happen?  Use wish.
• Talking about a present situation?  Use wish + past simple: I wish I had an Xbox.
• Talking about something you would like to happen or something you would like someone to do?  Use wish + would: I wish you wouldn't spend so much time playing video games.
• Talking about past time?  Use wish + past perfect: I wish I hadn't bought No Man's Sky at full retail price.

And, as always, here are some links to exercises you can do:

Wish & If Only 01

Wish & If Only 02

Hope & Wish 01

Hope & Wish 02

MODAL VERBS

Modal verbs include can, must, may, might, will, would, and should.  They are used with other verbs to talk mainly about ability, obligation, and possibility.  Modal verbs are unlike other verbs.  They do not change their form, and they have no infinitive or participle.

And here are some exercises for you to practice your modal verbs! :)

Modal Verbs of Ability

Mixed Modals 01

Modal Verbs of Obligation

Past Modals

Mixed Modals 02

STATE & ACTION VERBS

Verbs in English are either state/stative or action/active verbs.  An action verb means something is happening: John is cleaning the room; Sarah put the books on the shelf.  A state verb means something staying the same, or not an action: Joe owns the house.  The shelf contained books.  It is usually action verbs that can be used in a continuous form: kick, eat, play, swim, talk, etc.

State verbs generally fall into 4 groups:

Emotion: love, hate, want, need
Possession: have, own, want, belong
Sense: see, hear, seem, smell
Thought: know, believe, remember, recall

But English is a crafty language, and some verbs can be both state and action verbs:

Example:
"I have a car." or "I am having a bath."
"I think that movie was fantastic." or "I am thinking of going to the movies."

So you want to do some state and action verb practice?  Excellent - you've come to the right place!  Below are some links to exercises you can do at home, on the bus, or even down at the beach - as long as you have an Internet connection you can do them wherever you please :)

State and Action Verbs 01

State and Action Verbs 02

State and Action Verbs 03

CONDITIONALS PRACTICE

Here are some more exercises you can do to ensure you have a good understanding of conditionals.  Coming to grips with conditionals will help you do well in Part 4 of the Use of English paper.  Hope you had a fantastic weekend! :)

Conditionals 01

Conditionals 02

Unreal Past Tenses

(This last link includes wish, if only, and hope)

PAST SIMPLE OR PRESENT PERFECT?

Here are some exercises for you to enjoy over the weekend! :)

Past Simple or Present Perfect 01

Past Simple or Present Perfect 02

Past Simple or Present Perfect 03

Past Simple or Present Perfect 04

THE "-ING" FORM

The "-ing" form is extremely versatile in English and can be used in a variety of ways.  Let's check some of them out:

It can be used as a noun, an adjective, or a verb:
* Smoking is forbidden
* I had a long working day
* I don't like dancing

It is used after prepositions:
* Before leaving, you need to hand in your essay
* After discussing it with her, I thought she was right
* Instead of feeling sorry for myself, I went out with my friends

When "to" is used as a preposition it can be followed by the "-ing" form:
* I don't object to working on a Saturday
* I'm looking forward to seeing that movie again
* I'm used to getting up very early

There are numerous verb + -ing combinations:
* I admit telling him
* I avoid working on the weekends
* He denied telling her
* I enjoy dancing
* I've given up working on Saturdays
* I don't mind playing golf
* I can't stand drinking beer

Here's some links to a number of "-ing" form exercises (be careful, some of the answers don't require an "-ing" form.  Instead, they need an infinitive):

Number 01

Number 02

Number 03 

MIXED TENSES - EXERCISES

As we get closer to the exam, it's always good to do some further grammar revision - and what better way to do that than with a series of exercises that enable you to put your knowledge of tenses to the test!

So, without anything further, here are the links :)

Mixed Tenses 01

Mixed Tenses 02

Mixed Tenses 03

Mixed Tense 04

Verb Patterns

What Tense Is It?

PREFIX/SUFFIX EXERCISES

During the Use of English part of the exam you will sometimes have to change the form of a given word by adding a prefix or a suffix.

It is extremely important that you read the whole text first, because then you will understand the context, and it will make it easier for you to understand what form of the word you will need to put into the gaps.

Focus on the word that comes before or after the gap.  Is it a noun?  Is it a verb?  If the word is a noun, then there's a pretty good chance you'll need an adjective.  If the word is a verb, then it's likely you'll need an adverb.

And when you have some free time read as much as you can.  Read something online, read a magazine, read a newspaper, read a novel - just read.  And make sure it's in English ;)

Now it's practice time! :)

Prefixes

Prefixes & Suffixes

Suffixes

ARTICLES - AGAIN! :)

Here's some more links to exercises about articles (a, an, the), because they're a super important part of the English language.  If used correctly they provide extra detail when you're trying to express or explain something.

Remember, an article is basically an adjective.  Like adjectives, they modify nouns.

Articles are the, a, and an.  The is used to refer to specific or particular nouns.  A/an is used to modify non-specific or non-particular nouns.

For example:

If I say "let's see the movie" I am talking about a specific movie, one that you and I have already discussed.

If I say "let's see a movie" I am talking about any movie rather than a specific one. There are many movies, and I don't care which one I see.

And, as promised, here are the links:

Articles 01

Articles 02

Articles 03

Articles 04

PREPOSITIONS!

Due to popular* demand, here are some links to a variety of exercises about prepositions.  Do them tonight, tackle them on the weekend, or organise a party with a group of friends and instead of watching a movie you could all sit around and do them together - you'll have fun while learning! :)

Whatever you get up to this weekend, I hope you enjoy it! :)

* In this context, my definition of popular may differ from yours...or that of a dictionary.

Prepositions with Verbs

Various Prepositions Quiz

Prepositions after Nouns

WORD FORMATION EXERCISES

Knowing how to change the form of a word (for example, from a noun to an adjective, or from a verb to a noun) will ensure you not only do well in the First Certificate exam, but it will also increase your vocabulary and give you heaps more confidence when speaking to people.  It's a win-win situation! :)

Tips:

* What form do I have to change the word to?  A verb?  A noun?  An adjective?  An adverb?

* Nouns often end with ment, ion, ness, ity.

* People nouns often end with er, or, ist, ian.

* Adjectives often end with able, ible, ive, al, ic, ed, ing.

* Some verbs end with ise, ate, en.

* Adverbs often end with ly.

* If the new word is negative, then you may need a prefix (un, im, in, dis...)

And remember: if you don't know the answer, then guess!  It's much better than not trying at all.

Word Formation 01

Word Formation 02
Word Formation 03

Word Formation 04

Word Formation 05

READING IMPROVES YOUR ENGLISH...SERIOUSLY :)

One of the very best ways to improve your English (especially the grammar side of it) is by reading.  Reading books, short stories, articles - pretty much anything that will engage you for more than fifteen minutes at any one sitting.  Flicking through Facebook updates or checking out the posts on  reddit is not the same!

But why is reading going to help improve my English?

* You can learn vocabulary in context.

* You can see words and phrases used naturally, instead of in a textbook.

* You can see structures and expressions that you can use when you write.

* You can go fast, slow - at any speed you wish!  You can read 10 pages in ten minutes, thirty minutes, or even an hour.  It's doesn't matter.  Take your time.  The choice is yours.

* You can choose something that you like to read.  If you like soccer, then read about soccer.  If you like gripping thrillers, then read them.  If you're interested in historical Rome, find something about that.  Read whatever you want! :)

Above all, read regularly.  It's a skill, like speaking, so the more you use it the better you get at it.

So what do I read?

If you're not into novels or short stories, then surf the web for a web site that is about a subject you like.  Find an article and read it.  If it's boring, then find a better one.  Just don't give up!

However, if you're interested in short stories or short novels (sometimes called novellas), one of the best sites to go to is http://english-e-books.net.  They're numerous fictional stories on this site which you can download (for free!), and each of them (did I tell you they're free?) has been altered to match the level you're at, so there's no excuse not to check them out.

(I told you they're free, didn't I?)

For my FCE evening students, here's the entire text of Ira Levin's A Kiss Before Dying.

Happy Reading! :)

VOCABULARY - COMMON MISTAKES

There are numerous words in English that look (and sound) very similar to each other, which can make it confusing when you want to use them in the right context.  Moreover, you want to make sure that you spell each of these words correctly, because in the FCE incorrect spelling means an incorrect answer.

So below are five links to some common mistakes FCE students make in the exam when it comes to words that are similar to each other.  Check them out, and I hope you do well :)

Common Mistakes 01

Common Mistakes 02

Common Mistakes 03

Common Mistakes 04

Common Mistakes 05

COLLOCATIONS - HERE THEY COME AGAIN! :)

As you already know, a collocation is a pair or group of words that are often used together.  There are many different grammatical categories of collocations, of which these are some of the most common:

* Adjective + Noun
* Adverb + Adjective
* Noun + Verb
* Verb + Adverb
* Verb + Noun
* Verb + Preposition

And collocations are extremely important when speaking English, because if you get them wrong it can change the meaning of what you say, or make no sense whatsoever.  Moreover, they are a big part of getting yourself a decent score in the Use of English part of the exam.

So what do you say we do some more collocation exercises, huh?  Excellent! :)

Collocations 01

Collocations 02

FCE LISTENING TIPS & PRACTICE

TIPS:

Part 1
* Underline key words and try to predict what you may hear
* If you can't think of the right answer, move on to the next one
* If possible, choose all your answers on the first listening, and check them on the second

Part 2
* Try to predict the type of missing information (Is it a number, name, place, etc?)
* Use no more than 3 words to fill in the gap
* Listen a second time and check your answers
* Check for spelling mistakes

Part 3
* Read the instructions to find out what topic the speakers will be talking about
* Try to predict ideas or words you expect to hear
* Decide on your answers during the first listen, check them during the second listening

Part 4
* Again, try to predict ideas or words you expect to hear
* Think of synonyms that will go with the words in the questions

Below is a link to a site where you can practice the listening part of the exam - complete with transcript and answers! :)

And remember, although doing some study this weekend is important to improving your English skills, make sure you also find some time to relax and soak up the sun :)

Listening Exam Practice - Parts 1 to 4

PODCASTS

Podcasting is being able to listen to any sort of subject you want - and when you want.

There are hundreds of thousands of podcast channels out there, ranging in topics from gardening to aeronautics, movies to extispicy, soccer to Greek food, ancient history to anime...the list is almost endless.  The variety of content you can download to your mobile phone or tablet is staggering!  You can even listen to audio books from your favourite authors!

Every podcast channel adds news episodes on their specific topic every week/fortnight/month, and all you need to gain access to it is an Internet connection.  And best yet?  Most of them are free!  Kind of like Youtube, but without the video.

They are also a great way of enhancing your English listening skills.  Fire up your podcast app on your phone, check out the topics you're interested in, choose one, click play, and away you go.

Sometimes the hardest part of listening to podcasts is knowing which podcast channel to choose.  But just try one out - if you don't like the people speaking, or don't find them interesting, select another podcast channel.

You can listen to them while relaxing with your eyes closed.  You can listening to them while driving, running along the beach, or at the gym.  You can listen to them anywhere!

So what are you waiting for?  Get your podcast app up and running, find something of interest, and practice your listening - you might even have fun in the process :)

Here are some places to get started:

Halloween Podcasts
The Guardian - 50 Best Podcasts 2016
The 30 Best Podcasts 2016
13 Podcasts You Need To Listen To Right Now
Podcast Categories

USE OF ENGLISH, PART 4

Part 4 of the Use of English paper is often considered to be one of the hardest parts of the whole exam.  It tests your grammar and vocabulary.  You are given a sentence and a keyword, from which you have to complete a second sentence so that it has the same meaning as the first sentence, using only 2-5 words.

Here's an example:

Italian food is better than British food.

AS

British food ___________________ Italian food.

The answer is: British food is not as good as Italian food.


REMEMBER:

* You must use the keyword - and you can't change the form of the keyword.
* You must use between 2-5 words for your answer.
* Contractions count as two words.  Won't - will not.  Don't = do not.
* Your spelling must be correct.
* On the answer sheet your answer must be in capital letters.
* Make sure your nouns and verbs agree with each other.
* Don't waste time!  If you have been staring at the one question for five minutes, move on to the next.
* Because of the scoring system, it's possible to get 50% in this section without getting any of the questions 100% correct.  So yes, try and answer every question, as incomplete answers may also get points.

Here are some exercises that I have no doubt you're dying to do :)

Use of English - Part 4 01

Use of English - Part 4 02

Use of English - Part 4 03

RELATIVE CLAUSES

Relative clauses connect two parts of a sentence with a word such as who, which, that, where, etc.  They may add meaning, but as the examples further below will show, they are not always necessary.  

And there are two types: defining clauses, and non-defining clauses.  A defining clause tells us which specific person or thing we are talking about.  If a defining clause is removed, the meaning of the sentence changes significantly.

Example:

* The woman who visited me in hospital was very kind.
(If we take out the defining clause the sentence reads: "The woman was very kind."  What woman?)
* The man who stole my wallet has been arrested.
(If we take out the defining clause the sentence reads: "The man has been arrested." What man?)
* The weather that we had in September wasn't very good.
(If we take out the defining clause the sentence reads: "The weather wasn't very good." What weather?)

A non-defining clause gives us more information about the person or thing we are talking about.  If it is removed from the sentence we lose some detail, but the overall meaning of the sentence remains the same.

Example:

* The farmer, whose name was Fred, sold us 10 kilos of carrots.
(Without the non-defining clause: "The farmer sold us 10 kilos of carrots.")
* Elephants, which are the largest land animals, love to eat grass.
(Without the non-defining clause: "Elephants love to eat grass.")
* My mother, who is 75, lives in London.
(Without the non-defining clause: "My mother lives in London.")

And now, as always, here are some links to exercises you can do to practice relative clauses:

Relative Clauses 01

Relative Clauses 02

Relative Clauses 03

Relative Clauses 04

READING, PART 5-7

Part 5 is the first part of the Reading section in the exam, and should take you no longer to complete than 15 minutes.  It is a long text with multiple-choice comprehension questions.  You have to show that you can understand what the writer wants to say.  The more you practice, the faster you can do this part of the exam.

Part 6 of the exam is where you read an article and some sentences have been removed from it.  You then have to choose from the removed sentences which one fits each gap - and remember, there is one extra sentence which you do not need to use.

Part 7 is where you read an article in which four people make comments.  For questions 1-10 you have to choose from the people A-D.  It is perfectly fine for A, B, C, or D to be chosen more than once - or else you wouldn't be able to complete this part of the exam :)

REMEMBER in Part 5:
* Read the text before the questions.  This is the best way to ensure you locate the answers quicker and with more accuracy.
* If a word in an answer is also a word in the text, it's most likely not the answer.

REMEMBER in Part 6:
* Read the text with the gaps first.  It's good to know what the text is about before you have to find the answers.
* The most important sentences are the ones before and after each gap.

REMEMBER in Part 7:
* You have to find synonyms.  If a word is in both the text and the question it is, again, most likely not the answer.
* Many of these questions are about people's thoughts and feeling, so learn as much as that kind of vocabulary as possible.

And now, without further ado, here are some practice exercises:

Reading - Part 5

Reading - Part 6

Reading - Part 7

LINKING PHRASES

You can use words or short phrases which help to guide your reader through your writing, and to link sentences, paragraphs and sections both forwards and backwards.  Good use of linking phrases will make what you have written easy to follow.

Linking words and phrases are often used to combine two sentences or clauses presenting contrast, comparison, purpose, reason, addition, etc.  They allow us to establish clear connection between ideas.

Here are some links for you to do some linking words/phrases practice:

Enjoy your weekend! :)

Expressing Contrast

Addition

Purpose or Reason

Time

MODAL VERBS

Modal verbs are used to show if we believe something is certain, probable or possible (or even not possible).  We use modal verbs to talk about ability, to ask permission, to make requests and offers.  They are a type of auxiliary verb.  And yes, they are a major part of the English language, used every day by English speakers.

To practice modal verbs, click on the links below:

Modal Verbs of Ability

Modal Verbs of Obligation

Modal Verbs of Probability

USE OF ENGLISH, PART 1 PRACTICE

The first part of the Reading/Use of English paper in the FCE is multiple choice cloze where you have to choose the correct word from four similar given words.

* The best way to prepare for this part of the exam is to read.  And read a lot.

* Remember to read the title, as it can be of help.

* Think of what prepositions (if any) go with each of the four options.

Here are some links you can check out to practice this part of the exam:

Multiple Choice 1

Multiple Choice 2

VOCABULARY EXERCISES

A wide variety of vocabulary is used in the FCE exam, all centered on numerous topics.  Below are some exercises you can do to check/improve your vocabulary:

Family and Relationships Vocabulary

Travel Vocabulary

Computer Verbs

Opposite Verbs

Activities and Interests Vocabulary

Personality Opposites

Phrasal Verbs - Make/Do

Phrasal Verbs - Get