To, in order to , as to, for, and so that are words that help us talk about purposes or goals clearly and fluently.
Time to practiceThe best way to improve your English is by practicing. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes. Remember that practice makes progress.
Although, though, even though, in spite of, and despite are words that help us connect contrasting ideas clearly and fluently. We use them to introduce a clause in a sentence which is in contrast to another clause in the same sentence.
You already know how to use basic connectors such as so and but. In the example below, but is a contrast connector.
Now, it’s time to learn other connectors that help us communicate more complex ideas.
NOTE: A dependent clause is NOT a full sentence. It is a phrase (group of words) that is incomplete, in other words, it is an incomplete thought. We need to complete the idea by using a connector and an independent clause.
An independent clause is a phrase that contains a subject and verb and expresses a complete thought.
Time to practiceThe best way to improve your English is by practicing. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes. Remember that practice makes progress.
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Reporting verbs are verbs which are used to tell someone what another person said. They are used in reported speech.
Say and tell are the most common reporting verbs. However, there are other reporting verbs that we can use instead of say and tell to communicate our ideas more clearly.
Example:
He said that he would drive me to the airport (this sentence is correct but long)
We can say instead:
He offered to drive me to the airport (this sentence is shorter and absolutely clear)
recommend and suggest are special verbs that can be followed by a “that clause” when we want or need to mention who is the recommendation/ suggestion for.
recommend/ suggest + that + someone + base form
Example:
I suggested watching a horror movie. (suggest + gerund)
If you want to be more specific and want to add information about who is the recommendation for, you can use a “that clause” (noun clause)
I suggested that my friends watch a horror movie.
My friends suggested that I study for the English test tonight.
My teacher recommended that Maria practice speaking with me.
Practice timeLevel of difficulty: 
Speaking PracticeLevel of difficulty:
Student A:
Student B:
Example:
Student A: If you stay in a hostel it will be cheaper (Hint: explain)
Student B: My friend explained to me that staying in a hostel would be cheaper.
Modal verbs or modals are special words that give extra meaning to verbs. They go before the main verb.
Examples of modal verbs: can, will, should, must, may, might, have to, used to, etc.
Some past modals are used to express certainty, possibility/ impossibility and advisability, in the past.
If you are still confused, you can find an easy explanation in your first language 🇪🇸 🇵🇹 🇨🇳 🇷🇺 🇺🇦 🇹🇷 🇯🇵 👇
The past modal of advisability is “should have” and it is used to talk about past actions or events that didn’t happen, but would have been a good idea if they had.
If you are still confused, you can find an easy explanation in your first language 🇪🇸 🇵🇹 🇨🇳 🇷🇺 🇺🇦 🇹🇷 🇯🇵 👇
Grammar Practice 
Speaking practiceExample:
We use used to/ didn’t use to + base form to talk about past habits or repeated actions or situations that have changed.
Example:
When I was a child I used to play video games every day = When I was a child I would play video games every day.
If you are still confused, you can find an easy explanation in your first language 🇪🇸 🇵🇹 🇨🇳 🇷🇺 🇺🇦 🇹🇷 🇯🇵👇
We use get used to + gerund to talk about a new situation that is becoming familiar or less strange.
Example: I’m getting used to studying after work. It’s not easy because after work I’m very tired.
If you are still confused, you can find an easy explanation in your first language 🇪🇸 🇵🇹 🇨🇳 🇷🇺 🇺🇦 🇹🇷 🇯🇵👇
We use be used to + gerund to talk about a situation that is NOT new because it is familiar or less strange.
Example: I’m used to studying after work. I’ve been doing it for almost one year.
If you are still confused, you can find an easy explanation in your first language 🇪🇸 🇵🇹 🇨🇳 🇷🇺 🇺🇦 🇹🇷 🇯🇵👇
Grammar PracticeLevel of difficulty:
Put the words in the correct order.
Level of difficulty:
Choose the correct answer.
Speaking Practice
Writing PracticePick a card. Write a comment (reply) below 
with your opinion.
This mini lesson includes a review of verb wish.
Verb wish is used to express our desire for something different from how it is now. Wish expresses a desire that is impossible or almost impossible to happen.
Grammar PracticeLevel of difficulty:
Put the words in the correct order
Speaking PracticeYou are going to make wishes about things that are or will be impossible.
You will need to use the I wish + simple past/ would to explain the things that you wanted to be real but you know they are not real
Give examples and reasons
Level of difficulty:
Student A:
Student B:
Student C:
Write the sentence on a piece of paper
Switch roles <>
QUIZ
(+) verbing
(-) not verbing
We use the gerund (verb + ing)
admit, avoid, deny, dislike, enjoy, feel like, finish, hate, keep, like, love, mind, miss, practice, prefer, recommend, spend time/money, stop, suggest, give up, go on, etc.
(+) to + verb
(-) not to + verb
We use the infinitive
(can’t) afford, agree, decide, expect, forget, help, hope, learn, need, offer, plan, pretend, promise, refuse, remember, seem, try, want, would like, etc.
More verbs take the infinitive than the gerund.
We use the base form
Watch the following video for examples Grammar ReviewLevel of difficulty:
Grammar PracticeComplete the sentences using the correct form of the verb
Flip the tile to check your answer.
Speaking PracticeLevel of difficulty:
Ask and answer the following questions
A New Year, new opportunities to improve your English! It’s time to start thinking about New Year resolutions.
A resolution is a firm decision to do or not to do something in the future. In English there are different ways to talk about our resolutions depending on how determined we are to accomplish them.
There are different websites with useful information about how to make and keep New Year’s resolutions. However, here I’m going to talk about the grammar behind talking about our resolutions in English.
In the table below you can find some useful sentence starters that you can use to talk about your New Year’s resolutions.
| Sentence starter | Meaning | Example |
| (+) I’m going to + base form (-) I’m not going to + base form | It’s a plan or intention for the future | I’m going to practice English every day. I’m not going to eat junk food. |
| (+) I‘m planning to + base form | Things that you are almost definitely going to do. Things that you have already scheduled or made some preparations for. | I’m planning to take English classes during the summer. |
| I hope to + base form I‘d like to + base form | Things you want to do but you it’s not a definite plan | I hope to travel more. I’d like to lose weight. |
| I might + base form I may + base form I‘m thinking about + gerund | Things you are considering, but you’re not sure if you will do it or not. | I might travel to Brazil. I may apply to grad school. I’m thinking about changing careers. |
Practice timeExamples:
I’m going to stop taking selfies after zumba.
I’m not going to stop taking selfies after zumba.
I hope to stop taking selfies after zumba.
I‘m thinking about stopping taking selfies after zumba.
Share your resolutions with us.
Let’s talk about verb be and verb go
You already know that:
| Base form | simple past | past participle |
| be | was/ were | been |
| go | went | gone |
Now, let’s say that you want to talk about your trips. If you want to talk about your trips and the places that you have visited in the past you can’t use verb go in the present perfect form.
| simple present | 1. I usually go to Paris in the summer. ✔️ |
| simple past | 2. I went to Paris last year. ✔️ |
| present perfect | 3. I have gone to Paris many times. ❌ I have been to Paris many times ✔️ |
Why?
Because…
| been to | completed visits (round trip) |
| gone to | one-way trip |
In the video below I explain how to use been to and gone to correctly
Practice timeNow it’s your turn.
Complete the following sentences with been or gone:
Phrasal verbs are two-word verbs. They include a verb and a particle. The particle can be a preposition or an adverb. Common particles are: up, down, back, out, on, off, or in.
When a verb and a particle are put together the resulting verb phrase has a complete different meaning.
Examples:
I usually eat out on Sundays. (I usually eat in a restaurant on Sundays.)
My computer broke down suddenly. (My computer stopped working suddenly.)
Mike works out every day. (Mike does exercise every day.)
Phrasal verbs are divided into 2 big groups:
Remember that the object is the person or the thing that receives the action of the verb. The object of the sentence is the answer to the question who or what the subject does something to.
Example of objects:
| Susan opened the door. | I will invite Tony to the cinema. |
| Subject: Susan | Subject: I |
| Verb: invited | Verb: will invite |
| object: the door (what) | object: Tony (who) |
Examples of intransitive phrasal verbs:
Sit down, please
Can you stand up for a moment?
They will come back tomorrow.
2. The particle always comes immediately after the verb.
Examples:
Can you stand for a moment up?
Can you stand up for a moment? ✅
We will go next weekend away.
We will go away next weekend. ✅
Transitive phrasal verbs need an object. Transitive phrasal verbs can be divided in 2 groups:
Some phrasal verbs have an object and are separable. That means that you can put the particle before or after the object.
Example:
Take out your shoes before getting in the house.
Take your shoes out before getting in the house.
Take out them before getting in the house.
Take them out before getting in the house. ✅
Some phrasal verbs have an object and are inseparable. That means that you cannot put the object between the verb and the particle.
Example:
Look your keys for.
Look for your keys. ✅
My friend is friend is sick, so I offered to take her dog after.
My friend is sick, so I offered to take after her dog. ✅
Practice timeLabel the phrasal verbs T (transitive) or I (intransitive) according to their use in the sentence. Circle the object
