Most of you said, they wanted to improve their communication skills, based on good grammatical foundations. Therefore, two main foci will be grammar, and vocabulary.
Language is made up of various aspects, its main two pillars being grammar and vocabulary. It is possible to generate meaning without grammar: "Yesterday. Pub. Friends. Good times." is a sentence that can be fully understood. To make meaningful sentences without proper vocabulary, on the other hand, is not reasonable: "Your table ate my cat.".
Spelling rules are also pronunciation rules, and vice versa.
See the grammar section for spelling rules.
Higher Writing Test Part 2: Report
We looked at titles, functional vocabulary and phrases (see SB p77), linking words (and how they basically work), the report structure, paragraphs, sentences, and verb tenses.
See the writing section for mor input.
The past simple is used to make facts about the past, e.g. telling a story.
Regular verbs take the ending -ed (walked, lied, hammered, etc.).
Irregular verbs can be categorized into three groups:
1.) no change: cut - cut - cut
2.) 1 change: buy - bought - bought
3.) 2 changes:
3a) break - broke - broken
3b) take - took - taken
The past continuous is used to describe ongoing actions (processes) in the past:
'Yesterday at 7 I was eating dinner.' means that I started eating before 7, and ended eating dinner after seven. If an ongoing process in the past is interrupted by a new element to the story, this is signalled by the use of the past simple form: 'When I was eating dinner, the telephone rang.'
See grammar for irregular verbs and exercises.
Example sentences:
1.) I have lost my key. (result: I don't have a key now.)
2.) We have just bought a house. (result: we own a house now.)
3.) This is the first time I have driven a car.
Example sentences:
1.) Paul has been learning English for three years. (he is still learning)
2.) I have been trying to call her the whole morning. (assumingly unsuccessful attempt; recently stopped)
Links concerning your homework
1.) go to grammar section
2.) go to grammar section
3.) go to vocabulary section
4.) check your note books ;-)
The BEC Higher Reading Test lasts 60 minutes and consists of six parts. The three first parts we have looked at. You can find more tests in Reading.
Writing formal letters (or emails) is the second part of the BEC Higher Writing Test. The word limit of 200-250 words must be met. You can find more writings in Writing.