Telephoning (listening)

Flight to Caracas

Click on the numbers you hear:
http://englishallyear.com/listening15/exercise43.html

Complete the dialogue:
http://englishallyear.com/listening15/exercise44.html

Reorganize the text:
http://englishallyear.com/listening15/exercise45.html

-----------------------------

Date change

What is the problem?
http://englishallyear.com/listening16/exercise46.html

True or False
http://englishallyear.com/listening16/exercise47.html

Click on the best response
http://englishallyear.com/listening16/exercise48.html

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Not in the office

Who wants to speak to who
http://www.englishallyear.com/listening17/exercise49.html

Who says what?
http://www.englishallyear.com/listening17/exercise50.html

Put in the correct order
http://www.englishallyear.com/listening17/exercise51.html

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Take the message
http://www.englishallyear.com/listening18/exercise52.html

Listen and complete the dialogue
http://www.englishallyear.com/listening18/exercise53.html

Listen and write the expressions
http://www.englishallyear.com/listening18/exercise54.html

to be or being (with listening)

The annual conference

Click on what you hear:  http://www.englishallyear.com/listening13/exercise37.html

Listen and match: http://www.englishallyear.com/listening13/exercise38.html

Complete the conversation: http://www.englishallyear.com/listening13/exercise39.html

The budget

True and false: http://www.englishallyear.com/listening14/exercise40.html

Complete the sentences: http://www.englishallyear.com/listening14/exercise41.html

Put the words in order: http://www.englishallyear.com/listening14/exercise42.html

Pearson Brown - New course starting

Hello again.

 

Thank you to everybody who wrote to me about living without the Internet. I got a lot of very interesting replies.

 

I want to let you know about a new free course that I am starting. It is going to look at grammar from a different angle by examining different words and phrases. We call this Word Grammar and it is a great way of improving your English.

 

As always this is free for you and is financed by advertising and sponsorship. 

 

All you have to do is to go to the site below and fill in the subscription form. Then click on the link in the email you get.

 

http://lexiconintl.com/

 

 

I really hope you will sign up for this.

 

Pearson BROWN

238 Abingdon Road, Oxford, Oxford OX1 4SP, UNITED KINGDOM 

The Zero Conditional

http://englishallyear.com/grammar13/exercise37.html

http://englishallyear.com/grammar13/exercise38.html

http://englishallyear.com/grammar13/exercise39.html

Prepositions plus -ing

Here are some examples of prepositions followed by the -ing form.

Match up the sentences 
http://englishallyear.com/grammar12/exercise34.html

Put the words in order
http://englishallyear.com/grammar12/exercise35.html

Complete the sentences 
http://englishallyear.com/grammar12/exercise36.html 

Multi Word Verbs

Here are some more examples of useful multi-word verbs.
Match up the verbs
Who says what?
Complete the dialogue

Infinitive or ing?

Here are three exercises to help you learn about when to use the -ing form and when to use the infinitive. I have put a grammar explanation under to help you.
EXERCISES
To do or doing?
Choose the correct form
Put the words in order 

GRAMMAR EXPLANATION

The –ing form can be used like a noun, like an adjective or like a verb.

• Smoking is forbidden.
• I have a long working day.
• I don't like dancing.

When it is used like a noun it may or may not have an article before it.

• Marketing is a very inexact science.
• The marketing of the product will continue for a few months yet.

It can also be part of a 'noun phrase'.

• Speaking to an audience is always stressful.
• Swimming after work is very relaxing.

In formal English, we would use a possessive with the –ing form. In informal English, many people do not.

• I'm angry about his missing the meeting.
• I'm angry about him missing the meeting.
• Do you mind my coming?
• Do you mind me coming?

As an adjective, the –ing form can be used before a noun.

• I was met by a welcoming party at the airport.
• Let's go to the meeting room.

The –ing form is used after prepositions.

• Before leaving, you need to speak to Sarah.
• After discussing it with her, I've changed my mind.
• Instead of feeling sorry for yourself, do some work for charity.

Notice that when 'to' is used as a preposition, it is followed by the –ing form.

• I don't object to working this Sunday.
• I'm looking forward to seeing him again.
• I'm used to working long hours.

There are many verb + -ing combinations. Here are some common ones:

• I admit telling her.
• I appreciate having the raise.
• I avoid speaking to him.
• I consider blowing your nose in public to be wrong.
• I delayed coming until the last possible moment.
• He denied telling her.
• I detest going to parties.
• I dislike speaking in public.
• I enjoy dancing.
• I feel like having a party.
• I've finished writing the report.
• I've given up going to the gym.
• I can't help thinking about it.
• I can't imagine ever leaving this company.
• I don't mind doing that.
• He put off talking to her as long as he could.
• I can't stand drinking beer.

Some verbs can be followed by either the infinitive or –ing form but with different meanings. Here are some common ones:

• I stopped smoking last month. (I no longer smoke.)
• I stopped to smoke a cigarette. (I stopped what I was doing and had a cigarette.)
• I remember telling him. (A memory of the past.)
• I must remember to tell him. (Something to remember for the future.)
• I'm interested in finding out more details. (Interested about the future.)
• I was interested to read his report. (Interested about the past.)

Some verbs can be followed by either the infinitive or –ing form but with the same meaning.

Here are some common ones:

• I love to go shopping.
• I love going shopping.
• I'm afraid to fly.
• I'm afraid of flying.
• I started to learn English 5 years ago.
• I started learning English 5 years ago.

Pearson's comment:
This is a complicated area of grammar. (In my experience, many English teachers feel unsure about teaching this area!) Keep a little notebook and write down 'real' examples of the -ing form that you see.