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We use indirect questions when we want to ask a question in a more polite way.
Let’s compare direct questions and indirect questions:
Grammar PracticeLevel of difficulty: 
Speaking PracticeLevel of difficulty:
Change the direct question into an indirect one
Discuss the question with your group. Give as many details as possible
Presentations are very common in academic and work settings, and they can be a bit challenging.
Here you can find some sentence starters that will help you organize your ideas to sound professional and fluent.
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.
A sense verb or a verb of sense is a verb that describes one of the five senses: sight, smell, taste, feel, and hearing.
There are three different patterns that we can use to describe how people and things look, smell, taste, feel or sound.
In the table below you can find the grammar patterns and some examples.
Grammar practicePut the adjectives in the correct column.
SpeakingStudent A:
What does it look/ feel/ taste/ smell/ sound like?
Student B:
_(noun)___ looks/feels/ tastes/ smells/ sounds __(adjective)___.
Writing practiceThe best way to improve your writing and speaking is to practice. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes. Remember that practice makes progress.
Describe a typical dish from your country. (Describe its appearance, flavor, texture, smell, etc)
Type your answer in the comments below
for the B1 Cambridge test (PET)
In some English exams you have to speak or write about photos or pictures.
Here is a list of useful vocabulary and expressions for describing pictures or photos for oral/written exams.
| What is there in the picture? (people, things, animals, places, etc) | In the picture I can see … There is a/ an +(adjective)+ singular noun There are (a couple/some/ a lot of) + (adjective) + plural noun There isn’t a + (adjective) + singular noun There aren’t any + (adjective) + plural noun |
| What is happening? (actions & weather) For actions use present continuous | The person/ animal is +verb-ing The people are + verb-ing It’s raining/ snowing, etc. It’s bright/ dark/ sunny/ cold/ hot, etc. |
| What might be happening? (If something in the picture is not clear you can make a guess) | It looks like a + noun It looks as if + person/animal + verb … It looks as though + persona/animal + verb … It seems that person/animal is … Maybe the person/animal is + verb-ing The person/animal might be +verb-ing |
| What could have happened before? (You can use your imagination and make a guess about the actions that happened before the picture was taken) | The person/animal might have + past participle … The person/animal may have + past participle … The person/animal could have + past participle … The person/animal couldn’t have + past participle … |
| Where in the picture? (location/ position) | At the top/bottom of the picture … In the foreground … In the background …. In the middle/ center of the picture … On the left/right of the picture … next to in front of across from behind near on top of under |
Now that you know the vocabulary and phrases that should be included in picture description, let’s see an example:
| I think this is a family photo. There are five people, all of them are smiling. They are having lunch in the dinning room. The dining room is so bright and modern. In the background we see the kitchen and some appliances. For example, a microwave and a coffee maker. In the foreground we see the mother sitting at the head of the table. It seems that she is taking a selfie. Her children are sitting around the table. On the left side of the photo there is a boy and a girl. The girl is smiling. The boy has his mouth open, and he looks as he is going to eat the whole spaghetti. There are two teenagers sitting across from the children. The young man is smiling, and the young woman is posing for the photo. The young man has his arm around the young woman. There are five plates with spaghetti, three glasses of orange juice, and two glasses of red wine on the table. There might be some bread in the middle of the table. The food looks very delicious. They might be having a video call with the father. The father could have travelled for work to a different city. It looks as though they are having a good time. This photo reminds me when I was younger, and I used to have lunch with my family every Sunday. |
Time to practiceThe best way to improve your writing and speaking is to practice. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes. Remember that practice makes progress.
Choose ONE picture and describe it.
What can you see in the picture? Write your answer in the comments below
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 advisability, certainty, possibility/ impossibility in the past.
Practice time
Speaking practiceWhat could have happened? Give some advice
Adverbs are words that describe an action (e.g. She speaks slowly) or modify adjectives (e.g. This car is incredibly expensive) or other adverbs (e.g. He works very hard). They can be one word (e.g. often) or a phrase (every now and then).
2. Adverbs of frequency tell us how often an action is performed.
3. Adverbs of time and place tell us when and where an action is performed
4. Adverbs of degree describe how much something is done, or modify the adjective
5. Comment adverbs give the speaker’s opinion about a particular topic.
Watch the following videos to find more examples and exercises Practice time
Teacher Julieta 