Make Complaints

November 26, 2025 teacherjulietaLeave a comment

We all have moments when something goes wrong. For example, a cold meal at a restaurant, a noisy hotel room, a delayed delivery. In English, it’s important to complain politely, not angrily. Here you will find useful expressions, examples, and a short practice activity.

1. When do we make complaints?

Here are common situations:

At a restaurant (the food is cold / wrong order)
In a hotel (room is dirty / too noisy)
In a store (item is broken / size is wrong)
With services (internet doesn’t work / package arrives late)

Complaints are usually made to solve a problem, not to argue.
So the language needs to be polite, clear, and calm.

Useful Phrases for Complaining

Function	Useful Phrases
Complaining	• I’m sorry, but there’s been a mistake with … • I’m afraid that there’s a problem with … • There seems to be a problem with … • Can I see your …, please? • I’d like to make a complaint.
Giving reasons for complaints	• The problem is … • The … doesn’t work. • The … is broken. • I’ve been waiting for …
Responding and offering solutions	• I’m very sorry about that. • Unfortunately, we can’t … • We’ll give you …
Asking for action	• I’d like to cancel the order / get a refund / speak to the manager, please. • I’d like you to (change it for a new one). • Please could you (bring the bill)?

Situation	Complaining	Giving Reason	Asking for Action
Cold food at a restaurant	I’m afraid that there’s a problem with my meal.	The food is cold.	Please could you heat it up?
Wrong order	I’m sorry, but there’s been a mistake with my order.	The problem is I ordered chicken, not fish.	I’d like you to change it for a new one.
Broken product (store)	There seems to be a problem with this.	The item is broken.	I’d like to get a refund, please.
Hotel room issues	I’d like to make a complaint.	The shower doesn’t work.	I’d like you to send someone to fix it.
Long waiting time	I’m afraid that there’s a problem with the service.	I’ve been waiting for 30 minutes.	Can I speak to the manager, please?
Incorrect bill	I’m sorry, but there’s been a mistake with the bill.	The problem is the price is wrong.	Please could you correct it?

Let’s Practice!

Practice 1

Speaking

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Practice 2

Reported Questions

November 26, 2025 teacherjulietaLeave a comment

Sometimes we want to talk about a question someone asked us in the past.
To do that, we use reported questions.

This lesson will help you understand how to change direct questions into reported questions in a simple, clear way.

1. What is a reported question?

A reported question tells us what someone asked, but we don’t use the exact words.

Direct Question	Reported Question

“Where are you going?”, she asked.

She asked where I was going.

Look at the differences:
✔ no question mark
✔ no question word order
✔ the tense changes (are going → was going)

2. How to change a question into a reported question

Here are the three rules you need to know.

Rule 1: Remove do / does / did

Many questions use do, does, or did. When we report the question, these words disappear and we change the tense.

Direct:
“How do you make that?”

Reported:
He asked me how I made that.

make → made

Rule 2: Change the word order

If the question uses am / is / are / can / will, move the auxiliary verb after the subject.

Direct:
“Where are you going?”

Reported:
She asked me where I was going.

No question form.
It looks like a normal statement.

**Rule 3: Use ask somebody to for requests**

If someone asks us to do something, we use:
ask + somebody + to + verb

Direct:
“Could you give me an example?”

Reported:
She asked me to give her an example.

✔ no “could”
✔ use to + verb

3. Reported Questions – Quick Table

Type	Direct Question	Reported Question	What changes?
Wh- + do/does/did	“How do you make that?”	He asked how I made that.	Remove do. Change tense.
Wh- + be/auxiliary	“Where are you going?”	She asked where I was going.	Change word order.
Yes/No question	“Do you like it?”	He asked if I liked it.	Use if/whether. Remove do.
Request	“Could you help me?”	She asked me *to help* her.	Use ask somebody to.

Let’s Practice!

Practice 1

Practice 2

Speaking

Practice 1

Transform the direct questions into reported questions

Reported Speech (Grammar review)

November 24, 2025 teacherjulietaLeave a comment

We use reported speech when we want to tell someone what another person said, without using their exact words.

Direct speech: “I’m tired,” she said.
Reported speech: She said she was tired.

Instead of repeating the original sentence word-for-word, we shift the grammar to fit the new context.

Reported speech helps you:

tell stories
explain conversations
share news
sound more natural in English

You will use it all the time in real life.

Direct speech

“I’m tired,” she said.
→ You repeat the exact words.

Reported speech

She said she was tired.
→ You change the sentence to report the idea.

We usually change:

pronouns
verbs (the tense)
time words

Don’t worry—here are the basic steps!

Pronoun Changes

We change the pronouns depending on who is speaking.

Direct: “I like this class.”
Reported: He said he liked the class.

Direct: “We are hungry.”
Reported: They said they were hungry.

3. Verb Changes (Backshift)

In reported speech, the verb usually moves one step back in time.

Direct Speech	Reported Speech
“I am tired.”	She said she was tired.
“We are studying.”	They said they were studying.
“I went home.”	He said he had gone home.

Backshift of Tenses – Reported Speech (Intermediate Level)

Direct Speech	Reported Speech (Backshift)	Example
Present Simple	Past Simple	“I work here.” → He said he worked there.
Present Continuous	Past Continuous	“I’m studying.” → She said she was studying.
Present Perfect	Past Perfect	“I have finished.” → He said he had finished.
Past Simple	Past Perfect	“I went home.” → He said he had gone home.
Will	Would	“I *will* call you.” → She said she would call me.
Can	Could	“I can help.” → He said he could help.
May	Might	“I may be late.” → She said she *might* be late.
Must	Had to (usually)	“I *must* leave.” → He said he had to leave.
Shall	Should / would (rare in modern English)	“I shall return.” → He said he would return.

(At B1, this is the main rule to remember. There are more verb tenses and some exceptions that you will learn later)

4. Time Word Changes

Some time words also change:

Direct	Reported
today	that day
tomorrow	the next day
yesterday	the day before
now	then

Let’s Practice!

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Practice 2

Speaking

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Practice 2

Say, Tell, Speak & Talk

November 23, 2025 teacherjulietaLeave a comment

Easy guide for Reported Speech

These three verbs can be confusing, but the rules are actually simple.

1. SAY

**Use say + words / sentence**

We use say when we only report the words.

She said she was tired.
He said he didn’t understand.

❌ We cannot use say + a person.
(Not: She said me…)

✔️ Use say to + person

She said to me that she was tired.

2. TELL

**Use tell + a person**

We use tell when we say who we are talking to.

She told me she was tired.
They told us they were not ready.
My friend told her the news.

✔️ Always: tell + someone + something

3. SPEAK

**Use speak to talk about languages or formal communication**

We don’t usually use speak to report exact words.

She speaks French.
He spoke to the class yesterday.

🌟 Not for reported speech:
❌ She spoke she was tired. (incorrect)

4. TALK

**Use talk for general conversations**

We use talk when two or more people have a conversation.

We talked about our weekend.
She talked to her teacher after class.
They talked about the exam.

➡️ talk to / talk with / talk about
All are common in everyday English.

❌ Not usually used to report exact words:
She talked she was tired. (incorrect)

5. Quick Summary

Verb	Use	Example
say	the message (no person)	She said she was late.
say to	person + message	She said to me that she was late.
tell	always needs a person	She told me she was late.
speak	languages / formal talk	She speaks French.
talk	general conversation	They talked about the test.

Let’s practice!

Practice 1

Practice 2

Speaking

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Third Conditional

November 20, 2025 teacherjulietaLeave a comment

For lower levels

1. What is the Third Conditional?

We use the third conditional to talk about imaginary past situations.

Imaginary past situations are things that did NOT happen, but we imagine a different result.

👉 We use it to express regret, relief, or “what could have happened.”

2. Form

Part	Structure	Example
If-clause	if + had + past participle	if he had studied
Result clause	would have + past participle	he would have passed

Grammar structure:

If + had + past participle, would have + past participle.

*had + past participle = past perfect

Positive Forms

What happened (real past)	Imaginary result (third conditional)
She didn’t set an alarm, so she woke up late.	→ If she had set* an alarm, she would have woken up on time.*
They didn’t bring a map, so they got lost.	→ If they had brought* a map, they wouldn’t have gotten lost.*
I didn’t study, so I didn’t pass the test.	→ If I had studied, I would have passed* the test.*

Negative Forms

If-clause (negative)

If she hadn’t forgotten her keys…

Result clause (negative)

…she wouldn’t have been late.

What happened (real past)	Third Conditional (Negative)
She forgot her wallet, so she went back home.	If she hadn’t forgotten her wallet, she wouldn’t have gone back home.
They arrived late, so they lost their seats.	If they hadn’t arrived late, they wouldn’t have lost their seats.
I didn’t save my work, so I lost my project.	If I hadn’t forgotten to save my file, I wouldn’t have lost my project.

Let’s Practice!

Practice 1

Practice 2

Speaking

Practice 1

Spin the wheel.

Complete the sentences

Practice 2

Answer the questions

Practice 3

Flip a card.

Read the situation.

Make a sentence using the third conditional.

Passive voice (B1 verb tenses)

November 19, 2025 teacherjulietaLeave a comment

Learning the passive voice help us focus on the action and the result, rather than on who performs the action. In many real-world situations. For example, in news, formal writing, academic reports, and instructions, the doer of the action is unknown, unimportant, or obvious. That’s where the passive becomes essential.

This lesson reviews the form and use of the passive in all main verb tenses included at B1 level.

1. Why We Use the Passive Voice

We use the passive when:

The doer is unknown:
My wallet was stolen.
The doer is not important:
These phones are made in Korea.
The result is more important than the person:
The meeting has been cancelled.
The sentence sounds more formal or objective:
The survey will be analysed next week.

2. How to Form the Passive

The structure is always:

BE + Past Participle (V3)

The verb BE changes according to the tense.
The past participle stays the same.

3. Passive voice (different verb tenses)

Tense	Form	Example

Present Simple

am / is / are + past participle

English is spoken in many countries.

Past Simple

was / were + past participle

The window was broken last night.

Present Continuous

am / is / are being + past participle

The room is being cleaned right now.

Past Continuous

was / were being + past participle

The documents were being printed when the machine stopped.

Present Perfect

has / have been + past participle

The emails have been sent.

Future with “will”

will be + past participle

Dinner will be served at 7 pm.

Be Going To (future plans)

am / is / are going to be + past participle

A new road is going to be built.

Modal Verbs (can, must, should, etc.)

modal + be + past participle

This form must be completed.

4. When to Include the Agent (by + person)

We add by + agent only when the doer is important or surprising:

The painting was created by a ten-year-old.
The project will be reviewed by the CEO.

In most cases, we omit the agent.

🧠 Quick Comparison: Active vs Passive

Active	Passive
People speak Spanish here.	Spanish is spoken here.
Someone stole my phone.	My phone was stolen.
They will announce the winner tomorrow.	The winner will be announced tomorrow.
They are repairing the road.	The road is being repaired.

Passive Voice (present and past)

Let’s practice

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Speaking

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Make Excuses

November 18, 2025 teacherjulietaLeave a comment

In everyday life, we sometimes arrive late, forget to do something, or make a small mistake. When this happens, we need to give a clear and polite excuse.
Making excuses helps people understand what happened and why.

This lesson will help you learn useful English expressions to explain situations politely and naturally. 😊

What Does “Make an Excuse” Mean?

To make an excuse means to give a reason for something you didn’t do or for something that went wrong.

Sometimes excuses are real.
Sometimes they are not.
But in English, we often use excuses to explain situations politely.

Examples:

“I made an excuse for being late.”
“She always makes excuses for not finishing her homework.”

Making excuses is useful in daily life, at school, at work, and with friends.

Here’s a table of useful phrases to help you get started:

Useful Phrases Table

Making Excuses	Apologising	Accepting / Rejecting Excuses
Well, you see…	I’m really sorry… 😔	OK / Never mind. I understand. 😊
I meant to, but…	It was very stupid of me. 😣	These things happen. 🤷
I had to…	I won’t do it again, I promise! 🤞	That’s no excuse. ❌

You can combine these sentence starters with a reason.

For example if you are late you can make the following excuses:

Starter Phrase	Reason (Complete the sentence)

Well, you see…

…the traffic was terrible. 🚗💨

I meant to, but…

…I overslept. 😴

I had to…

…help my sister before leaving. 👧

I had to…

…go back home to get something. 🏠

Conversation 1 — Being Late

A: You’re late again!
B: Well, you see… the bus was really slow today.
A: You should leave earlier.
B: I know. I meant to, but I couldn’t find my keys.

Conversation 2 — Forgetting Something

A: Did you bring the book I lent you?
B: I meant to, but I left it on my desk at home.
A: You always forget things!
B: I know… I’ll bring it tomorrow.

Let’s Practice

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Speaking

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Practice 2

Non-Definining Relative Clauses

November 17, 2025November 17, 2025 teacherjulietaLeave a comment

Non-defining relative clauses help us add extra information about a person, place, or thing.
This information is not essential to understand the sentence. The clause contains an additional, interesting detail.

👉 We always use commas with non-defining relative clauses.
👉 We NEVER use “that” in non-defining clauses.

What Is a Non-Defining Relative Clause?

A non-defining relative clause:

gives extra information
is separated with commas
uses relative pronouns like who, which, where, when, whose
can be removed and the sentence still makes sense

How to Form Non-Defining Relative Clauses

Non-defining relative clauses give extra information about a person, place, or thing.
This information is not essential to understand the main idea.
We always use commas to separate the extra information.

1. Structure

Main clause, relative pronoun + extra information, rest of the sentence.

2. Common Relative Pronouns (for Non-Defining Clauses)

Relative Pronoun	Used For	Example
who	people	My English teacher, who is from Canada, is very friendly.
which	things / animals	The book, which I finished yesterday, was fantastic.
where	places	Vancouver, where my cousins live, is beautiful.
when	times	2010, when I finished high school, was an important year for me.
whose	possession	Anna, whose car broke down, arrived late.

📝 Important:

Always add a comma before and after the clause (unless it ends the sentence).

Don’t use “that” in non-defining clauses.

3. Comma Rules

Put a comma before and after the non-defining relative clause
(unless it’s at the end of the sentence; then you only need one comma).

4. Key Points for Low-Level Learners

You can remove the extra information and the sentence still makes sense.
The verb form inside the clause follows normal grammar rules.
Do not use these clauses to identify someone/something.
(Those are defining clauses.)

Examples:

My brother, who lives in Mexico, is visiting next month.
(extra info: he lives in Mexico)
The Eiffel Tower, which is in Paris, is very popular.
(extra info: its location)
September, when the weather is mild, is my favorite month.
(extra info: weather in September)
Chichén Itzá, where millions of tourists go each year, is amazing.
(extra info: visitors)

🧠 Compare: Defining vs. Non-Defining

Type	Purpose	Example	Commas?	Use “that”?
Defining	Necessary information	The man who works here is kind. The man that works here is kind.	❌ No	✔ Yes
Non-defining	Extra information	My uncle Bob, who works here, is kind.	✔ Yes	❌ No

Defining Relative Clauses

Let’s Practice

Practice 1

https://wordwall.net/play/59455/198/330

Practice 2

https://wordwall.net/play/5321/134/938

Speaking

Practice 1

https://wordwall.net/play/34506/750/995

BOARD GAME

🎯 Expressing Purpose

November 12, 2025November 12, 2025 teacherjulietaLeave a comment

We often want to say why we do something, our goal or reason.
There are several ways to express purpose in English.
Let’s learn and compare them!

1. TO + Base Form

We use to + base verb to show purpose, the reason for an action.

Structure	Example	Meaning
verb + to + base verb	I study hard to pass the exam.	I study for this reason.
verb + to + base verb	She went to the gym to get stronger.	She went there with a goal.

🧠 Tip: Use this for short, direct purposes.

I’m calling to ask a question.
He moved to Canada to find a job.

2. IN ORDER TO + Base Form

We use in order to when we want to sound more formal or emphasize the purpose.
It means the same as to, but it’s a bit stronger.

Structure	Example	Meaning
verb + in order to + base verb	She left early in order to catch the train.	She left early so she could catch it.
verb + in order not to + base verb	He spoke quietly in order not to wake the baby.	He didn’t want to wake the baby.

🧠 Tip: Use in order to in writing or formal speech.

I’m taking this course in order to improve my skills.

3. SO (THAT) + Subject + Modal + Verb

We use so (that) to explain the purpose of an action, especially when there is a different subject.
It’s often followed by can / could / will / would / may / might / should.

Structure	Example	Meaning
so (that) + subject + modal + verb	I’m studying so (that) I can pass my exam.	My goal is to pass.
so (that) + subject + modal + verb	She left early so that she could catch the bus.	She left early to catch it.

🧠 Tip:
You can say so that or just so in informal English.

4. FOR + Gerund (-ing)

We use for + -ing to say the general use or purpose of something.
It answers “What is this used for?”

Structure	Example	Meaning
for + verb-ing	This brush is for painting.	The brush is used to paint.
for + verb-ing	These shoes are for running.	They’re made for that.

🧠 Tip:
Don’t say ❌ for to — just for + -ing.

I use this blog for learning English.

5. FOR + Noun

We also use for + noun to show purpose, especially with things.

Structure	Example	Meaning
for + noun	This medicine is for headaches.	You take it when you have a headache.
for + noun	The bag is for my laptop.	The bag’s purpose is to carry it.

🧠 Tip:
Use for + noun when you’re not using a verb.

This room is for meetings.
These lessons are for students.

🧠 Summary Table

Structure	Use / Meaning	Example
to + base verb	general purpose	She studies to learn English.
in order to + base verb	formal / emphasized purpose	He left early in order to catch the train.
so (that) + subject + modal + verb	purpose with the same or different subject	I’m saving money so that I can travel.
for + verb-ing	the use of an object or activity	This knife is for cutting bread.
for + noun	general purpose of something	This cream is for dry skin.

Linking Ideas: Because, So, and To

Let’s Practice!

Practice 1

Practice 2

Speaking

Practice 1

Structures for Giving Advice

November 5, 2025November 5, 2025 teacherjulietaLeave a comment

We give advice when we tell someone what is a good idea or a bad idea.

In English, we can give advice in different ways:

should / shouldn’t
If I were you, I’d…
could (soft suggestion)
ought to (strong or formal advice)

1. SHOULD / SHOULDN’T

We use should to say something is a good idea.
We use shouldn’t to say something is a bad idea.

Type	Structure	Example	Meaning
Positive	Subject + should + base verb	You should drink more water.	Good idea
Negative	Subject + shouldn’t + base verb	You shouldn’t stay up so late.	Bad idea
Question	Should + subject + base verb?	Should I talk to him?	Asking for advice

More examples:

You should take a break.
You shouldn’t ignore your health.
Should I call the doctor?

Grammar tip: Use the base form after should / shouldn’t.
✔ You should go.
✘ You should to go.

2. IF I WERE YOU, I’D…

We use this to give polite, indirect advice.
It means: This is what I would do in your situation.

Type	Structure	Example	Use / Meaning

Positive

If I were you, I’d + base verb

If I were you, I’d change jobs.

Friendly suggestion

Negative

If I were you, I wouldn’t + base verb

If I were you, I wouldn’t wait.

Friendly warning

More examples:

If I were you, I’d talk to her.
If I were you, I’d save some money.
If I were you, I wouldn’t buy it now.

3. COULD (Soft Advice)

We use could to give a suggestion, not strong advice.

Type	Structure	Example	Meaning
Suggestion	You could + base verb	You could try meditation.	A possible option
Extra option	You could also + base verb	You could also ask a friend.	Another idea

More examples:

You could get help online.
You could take a break this weekend.
You could also email customer service.

4. OUGHT TO

Ought to is similar to should, but sounds stronger or more formal.

Type	Structure	Example	Meaning
Positive	You ought to + base verb	You ought to apologise.	Strong advice
Negative	You ought not to + base verb	You ought not to lie.	Strong warning

More examples:

You ought to take this seriously.
You ought to tell the truth.
You ought not to ignore the doctor.

🔍 Compare the Four Forms

Meaning	Softer	Stronger
Polite suggestion	You could talk to her.	—
Friendly advice	You should talk to her.	You ought to talk to her.
Empathetic advice	If I were you, I’d talk to her.	—

✅ Use could for options
✅ Use should for normal advice
✅ Use ought to for strong advice
✅ Use If I were you… to sound kind and personal

💬 PRONUNCIATION TIP

Word / phrase	Natural pronunciation	Notes
should	/ʃʊd/ → “shud”	“o” and “l” are silent
shouldn’t	/ˈʃʊdənt/ → “shu-duhnt”	“t” is very soft
could	/kʊd/ → “kud”	“l” is silent
ought to	/ˈɔːtə/ → “aw-tuh”	“gh” is silent, “to” sounds like “tuh”

Practice saying:

You should rest.
You shouldn’t worry.
You could try again.
You ought to be more careful.

Other ways to ask for and give advice

Advice

Let’s practice!

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Practice 2

Practice 3

Speaking

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Practice 2