PHRASAL VERB 2

TODAY'S PHRASAL VERB

set back:

to make something happen more slowly, or at a later time, than it would have

Ex: A change of government would set back the process of health reform.

He's had another small stroke, and this will set his recovery back a bit, I'm afraid.

IDIOM 1

TODAY'S IDIOM:

keep something in mind: remember some information or advice and consider it at some time in the future.

Ex: When you go for your interview, keep what I said in mind and you'll be fine.

Now try to use this idiom in at least three different sentences.

ORAL TESTS: HOW TO DESCRIBE A PICTURE STEP BY STEP

HOW TO DESCRIBE A PICTURE IN AN ORAL TEST STEP BY STEP

1st) Look at this picture. What can you see? 

• This picture shows ...
• In this picture I can see
• There is / There are ...
• There isn't a / There aren't any ...

2nd) Describe as much as you can. Say what is happening using the Present Continuous.

• In the foreground / in the background 
• On the right / on the left
• The man / woman  is ....
• The people are ...
• It's raining ...
• It's sunny ...

3rd) Where in the picture ... ?

• At the top / botton of the picture ...
• In the middle of the picture ...
• On the left / right of the picture ...
• nex to ...
• in front of ...
• behind ...
• near ...
• on top of ...
• under ...

4th) Use your imagination to make assumptions / to guess.

• I think ...
• Maybe / Perhaps ...
• Modal verbs of deduction (must, can't, might be)
• They look ... (parece ... feliz, triste, etc.)
• They look like ... (my little sister, my own family, etc.)

5th) Use personal stories and examples from your life to speak more. Talk about yourself. 

6th) Think about the WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, WHY and HOW of each picture.  

7th) Think about the subject, environment, time of day, weather, location, culture ... 

Here you have some examples: 

http://writefix.com/?page_id=443

http://www.elllo.org/SwiffStep/PDG01b.swf

http://www.elllo.org/english/Games/G041-T

And finally a sample of a PET (Preliminary English Test) speaking test:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNjfWh3uPRs

PRACTICE EVERYDAY DESCRIBING WHATEVER YOU SEE AROUND YOU!

HOW TO USE THE SPANISH VERB "TENER" CORRECTLY

 There are uses of “tener" that are used differently in Spanish:

Many everyday expressions in Spanish begin with “tener”. Where in English it is common to use to be + adjective, in Spanish the construction is often: tener + noun.

tener frío – to be cold; Ex: It's very cold today.

tener calor – to be hot; Ex: It's very hot today.

tener hambre – to be hungry; Ex: The baby is so hungry that he's crying all the time.

tener sed – to be thirsty; Ex: I've been running for an hour and I'm very thirsty.

tener sueño – to be sleepy; Ex: Yesterday I went to bed very late, so I'm very sleepy today.

tener años – to be years old; Ex: She's twenty years-old.

tener miedo – to be afraid; Ex: My sister used to be afraid of dogs when she was younger.

tener prisa – to be in a hurry; Ex: Sorry, I can't talk, I'm in a hurry.

tener cuidado – to be careful; Ex: Be careful, you are  going to drop the glass!!!

tener (la) razón – to be right; Ex: Ok, sorry you are right and I was wrong.

tener suerte – to be lucky; Ex: He's been always very lucky.

tener celos – to be jealous; Ex: Don't be jealous, she's just a good friend.

tener éxito – to be successful; Ex: She is successful in her workplace.

tener (mucho) gusto en – to be (very) glad to; Ex:s I'm so glad to meet you.

tener gracia – to be funny; Ex: This soap is so funny!

“To be warm” and “to be cold” translate as “hacer calor” and “hacer frío”, respectively, when referring to the weather, and as “estar caliente” and “estar frío”, respectively, when referring to things.

PHRASAL VERBS 1

TODAY'S PHRASAL VERBS

Today we're going to learn new phrasal verbs:

drop in:

Examples:

Drop in any time you want! = visit (dejarse caer/pasarse).

He dropped in on Julie yesterday night = drop in someone's house (pasarse/dejarse caer por casa de alguien)

check out:

Examples:

We should check out before 12:00 pm. (of hotel)

Check out the girl in the pink shirt!!! = look at / pay attention to something.

call up:

Examples: 

My friend Alice called me up yesterday night. (phone).