Content Language level Page. Mind map Bathroom All levels 2. Test Simply perfect and perfectly simple! Pre-intermediate (B1-) Advanced (C1) 6

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1 Study newsletter 2015, week 50 Content Language level Page Phrase of the week Pull the other one! All levels 1 Mind map Bathroom All levels 2 Czenglish Hopeless vs. impossible Pre-intermediate (B1-) Advanced (C1) 3 Business Writing Can and be able to Pre-intermediate (B1-) Advanced (C1) 4-5 Test Simply perfect and perfectly simple! Pre-intermediate (B1-) Advanced (C1) 6 Phrase of the week Pull the other one! We use this phrase when we think somebody has told us a lie to make a joke You can use this phrase in language. Spoken Informal Example 1 A: Did you know we have a sea in the Czech Republic? B: Oh, pull the other one! A: Yes, you're right. I was just kidding. Example 2 A: Guess what! I've just bought a Lamborghini. B: Oh, go on pull the other one. You're having me on. A: No seriously. I have inherited a lot of money from my uncle. 1

2 Mind map Learning new vocabulary in the most effective way Vyzkoušejte si interaktivní Mindmapy zde: Klikejte na slova, uslyšíte jednotlivá slovíčka namluvená rodilým mluvčím. Slovíčka Slovo Shower Tap Cabinet Bath Mirror Toothbrush Washbasin Towel Comb Soap Význam slova sprcha kohoutek skříň vana zrcadlo zubní kartáček umývadlo ručník hřeben mýdlo 2

3 Czenglish WRONG: RIGHT: I made another mistake? I am impossible today. I made another mistake? I am hopeless today. Fitting a whole water melon into your mouth is impossible. Trying to make yourself invisible is impossible. A person, however, cannot be impossible. But it's a mistake that some students make when they are having a bad English lesson. When they can't think of the right vocabulary, or they make silly mistakes, they say, "I am impossible today." But this is a very incorrect sentence. What they mean is that they are 'hopeless' or useless', or you can even say 'terrible'. You cannot say impossible. Tasks can be impossible, but a person, especially one learning English, cannot be! 3

4 Business Writing Modal verbs for ability: can and be able to I often see confusion about the differences between can and be able to. Sometimes we can replace one with the other, and sometimes we can t. Both are used to talk about ability. I thought I d try to clear up when and how we use these for you. Before I go into the detail, I want to highlight a couple of important things about can. 1. Can has only two forms: can (present) and could (past). 2. There is no present perfect form. 3. There is no infinite (to) form. Compare: And: I can t concentrate on work now. I haven t been able to concentrate on work this morning. We can finish this report tomorrow. We might be able to finish this report tomorrow. Present Ability and Possibility When we want to talk about present ability we use both can and be able to, but it s more common to use can. Be able to sounds more formal. Can you finish that report this afternoon? (Are you able to finish that report this afternoon?) I can get that done for you, but it won t be until tomorrow. (I am able to get that done for you, but it won t be until tomorrow.) Future Ability and Possibility When we talk about the future, we can only use will be able to. When I ve attended that training course, I will be able to create formulas on Excel. (not I can create... ) I will be able to finish that report when I get the data from marketing. (not I can finish... ) Decisions and Future Arrangements When it s about decisions, or future arrangements, we use either can or be able to. The boss can meet you next Thursday. (The boss is able to meet you next Thursday.) Right now I m busy, but if you give me ten minutes, I can help you out then. (Right now I m busy but if you give me ten minutes, I ll be able to help you out then.) Rather than us taking the train, can Jonathon drive us? (Rather than us taking the train, is Jonathon able to drive us?) 4

5 Past Ability When we talk about an ability that existed for a while in the past, but which isn t true now, we use could or was/were able to. When I was at uni, I could work all night and still stay awake during lectures (When I was at uni, I was able to work all night and still stay awake during lectures.) Action Verbs: Ability Related to a Single Event In this case we only use was able to or were able to. We were able to go to the meeting yesterday, even though we were running late, because the traffic was light. (Not We could go... ) I was able to finish the report this week. (Not I could finish... ) I was able to get a lot done at work yesterday because so many people were away. (not I could get a lot done... ) Stative Verbs: Ability Related to a Single Event We use either can or was/were able to with some stative verbs (e.g. see, hear, feel, taste). Were you able to see the new exhibition stand yesterday? (Could you see the new exhibition yesterday?) I was able to hear the speaker even though he didn t use a microphone. (I could hear the speaker even though he didn t use a microphone.) Because I was sitting towards the front, I was able to see the slides clearly. (Because I was sitting towards the front, I could see the slides clearly.) Negative Statements: single events and actions over a period of time For negative statements, whether they are single events or actions that took place over a period of time, we use couldn t and wasn t/weren t able to. I wasn t able to finish the report yesterday. (I couldn t finish the report yesterday.) She wasn t able to type so quickly before she did that new intensive typing course. (She couldn t type so quickly before she did that new intensive typing course.) We weren t able to register for the conference. (We couldn t register for the conference.) DALICE TROST, původem z Austrálie, je absolventkou magisterského studia managementu lidských zdrojů na University of Canberra v Austrálii. Lektorka je držitelkou certifikátu TEFL opravňující k výuce cizích jazyků. V rámci své profesní praxe zastávala vysoké manažerské pozice jako personalistka, senior supervizorka, HR manažerka, a to mimo jiné ve společnostech v Dubaji a Austrálii. Aktivně se věnuje publikační práci v oboru vzdělávání a anglického jazyka. Lektorka je autorkou knihy, ze které čerpáme tyto tipy: Business Writing-A Tip a Day for 30 Days 5

6 TEST: Simply perfect and perfectly simple! Jessica: So, Charles, are you settling in here OK? Charles: Oh, of course. Everyone (1) very friendly. I (2) to have quite a lot of problems. But to be honest I (3) any really. Not here or at work. Jessica: Do you mean there (4) other problems? Charles: Well, I (5) to move out of the flat. The one that I. (6). Jessica: Oh my, why you (7) to do that? Wasn't it comfortable? Charles: I know, it was a good flat! Unfortunately the journey to work was too long. The bus routes changed just before I (8) to work here. The journey (9) me two hours to get here every day. Jessica: I hope all the trouble (10) you sorry that you came here. 1. A have been B has been C was D were 2. A ve been expecting B ve expected C was expecting D expected 3. A haven't had B didn't have C haven't D haven't been having 4. A was B have been C has been D were 5. A had B have C s had D was having 6. A was having B ve had C had D s had 7. A -, had B did, had C did, have D had, - 8. A 've started B started C start D 've start 9. A 've taken B 've been taking C took D was taking 10. A hasn't made B haven't made C didn't made D hasn't make Správné odpovědi se dozvíte ihned po dokončení on-line testu zde: Správné odpovědi z minulého týdne (Present perfect and present II): 1C, 2D, 3A, 4C, 5B, 6D, 7A, 8A, 9B, 10C 6

Study newsletter. Phrase of the week. 2014, week 25. Someone s hands are tied. Someone is unable to change or help in a particular matter.

Study newsletter. Phrase of the week. 2014, week 25. Someone s hands are tied. Someone is unable to change or help in a particular matter. Study newsletter 2014, week 25 Content Language level Page Phrase of the week Someone s hands are tied All levels 1 Mind map Annual report All levels 2 Headline English True Al? Pre-intermediate (B1-)