Answers to “Confusing words and grammar”

1. How many offices are there in this building?
2. The tickets were checked at the gates
3. You need to control your spending; we are on a limited budget. (= limit)
4. If you save money in a bank account you earn interest.

We pay interest on our loan.

5. I saw him 5 years ago.
6. I got married in July 2015. It was such a beautiful ceremony.
7. Please finish your work by 5 o’clock. (=deadline)    Please pay your invoice by the end of the month.
8. I lived in London for 10 years.
9. I will meet her later today.
10. It’s so hot! I need to find some shade. (= no sun)      Shade loving plants.
11. He was asked to speak briefly on the subject.
12. Please take a seat and the doctor will be with you shortly. (=soon)
13. It was such a boring meeting he fell asleep.
14. The meeting was so boring he fell asleep.
15. You’re such a bore! Stop talking now.
16. The weather was so bad we had to cancel the match.
17. It was such bad weather that we cancelled the match.
18. I got married in July 2015. It was such a beautiful ceremony.
19. My grandparents were married for 50 years.
20. I have been married for 20 years.
21. I haven’t seen him for 5 years. (= how long?  How many years/days/hours?)
22. I haven’t seen him for/since 2005. (a time reference)
23. Nice glasses! They really suit you. (= appearance)
24. This doesn’t fit me. Do you have a smaller size? (=size)

 

a (wild) boar

The bear enclosure was very big

Yesterday I saw…

• the students doing their homework
• someone running for the bus. He caught it just in time.
• a cat catching/watching/stalking/hunting a bird.
• a dog barking at a cat.
• a bus going/driving too fast
• a mother feeding/breastfeeding her baby
• a musician playing the piano

They saw the movie star walking/shopping at the mall.

She heard the birds singing outside her window early in the morning.    (the seagulls being noisy/screaming noisily)

We heard our favourite song ­­­­­­­­playing on the radio as we were driving home.

I heard him laughing at the joke.

a pram/baby carriage

It’s so expensive to travel by train. The  fares have really gone up this year.

The trains are packed during the rush hour.    Urgh! The bread is stale.

The children were playing in the shallow end.

He got cramp(s) while he was running and had to stop.

It’s absolutely filthy!

 

Talk about…

• something you did outside at the weekend
• a person you spent time with this weekend
• an interesting text you read/got/sent
• an enjoyable conversation you had with someone
• a delicious meal you tasted/ate/cooked
• some good news
• something that made you laugh/happy
• something you did/saw/experienced for the first time

 

Fit and Healthy

1. Do you think it’s important to stay fit and healthy? Why or why not?
2. What are some ways you like to stay active in your daily life?
3. Do you enjoy exercising? If yes, what kind of exercises do you like to do?
4. Do you do any sport?
5. Are there any habits or activities that you think are bad for your health?
6. Do you get enough sleep every night? Why or why not?
7. What’s your favourite outdoor activity to stay active?

 

I aim to walk at least 10 000 steps a/per day.

My feet were really sore after walking so much at the weekend.

My arm muscles were really sore after the workout.

stiff  (not flexible)

slip  –  sleep

I slipped on the wet bathroom floor.

It’s a slippery road.

 

Jonnie Peacock

What couldn’t he do after his illness?

After he got his artificial leg, what could he do?

a prosthetic leg

He was determined to succeed.  He had a lot of determination.

Next year, he will be able to vote in the elections.

When I was younger, I couldn’t swim very well, but then I took lessons with a friend and I’ve got much better.

 

• something you could do/couldn’t do in the past
• something you can do today
• Something you hope to be able to do in the future

 

Which  household chores did you need to do?(= things you have to do at home)  “tchore”

• to do the washing up/to wash the dishes
• to the laundry/ to do the washing/ to put on (dark/light) wash
• to cook dinner
• to clean the house/flat/apartment/the kitchen
• to water the plants
• to take care of the pets
• to organise my kid’s /kids’ toys? (2+)
• my kid’s toys (=1)
• put your things away (=put them in the  right place)
• to vacuum the floor
• to iron my shirt/ to do the ironing
• to sew

 

 

I love

I really like looking after plants.

I like/I enjoy cooking sometimes.

I don’t mind looking after babies.

I don’t like vacuuming.

I hate cleaning and washing the dishes