Pages

Tuesday 18 May 2010

Writing & Reading: What did you do last weekend? Error correction practice

Read the following compositions ('What did you do last weekend?' and 'A postcard') written by two anonymous NB1 students. Correct the mistakes and try to improve the style/structures. Pay special attention to:

- grammar
- spelling
- punctuation
- use/correctness of vocabulary
- possible incoherences

COMPOSITION 1

COMPOSITION 1
*TRIPLE-CLICK IN THE SPACES TO SEE THE CORRECTIONS

0. What is what I did the weekend?
‘What did you do last weekend?’

1. On Friday I went to the college to giving my lessons and we had a few activities of carnivals.
On Friday I went to school to give my lessons/ to teach and we had a few carnival activities.
2. The children with the help of the teacher had to elaborate your disguise.
With the help of the teacher, the children had to elaborate their costumes.
3. We all were disguised of rabbits.
We were all disguised as rabbits.
4. Later they were going out to the court of the college to dance.
Later they went to the playground of the school to dance.
5. I after my classes me was to eating with my cousin and his husband.
After my classes, I went to have lunch with my cousin and her husband.
6. We ate paella of vegetables.
We had a vegetable paella.
7. On Saturday morning I bought myself my newspapers and read them in my terrace to the Sun.
On Saturday morning I bought my newspapers and read them in my terrace in the sunshine.
8. Later we went to eat to the Plaza Bohemia to a restaurant.
Later, we went to a restaurant in Plaza Bohemia to have dinner
9. In the night we stay to have dinner and to disguise ourselves with a group of friends.
In the evening, a group of friends and I met to have dinner and to disguise/dress up.
10. We were dancing in the discotheque and they gave to us a prize to the best disguise.
We danced in a disco and they gave us a prize for the best costume.
11. Since we were very tired, on Sunday we get up very late and we went away to eating a 'caldero' to the restaurant The Mosqui.
Since we were very tired, on Sunday we got up very late and we had a ‘caldero’ for lunch at El Mosqui.
12. In the evening we sleep a great siesta and in the night we saw a movie in the DVD.
In the afternoon, we slept a great siesta and in the evening we watched a DVD/film.
13. Monday was a holiday for the teachers of Cartagena and then I was useful to do my English homework.
Monday was a bank holiday for teachers in Cartagena, and then I did my English homework.
An anonymous NB1 student.

COMPOSITION 2: A postcard

1. Dear Pepi.

2. Hope you're OK.

3. I write to you from Miami.

4. We have thought of passing here the vacations of Holy Week.

5. The trip was very heavy, several flight schedule.

6. But we fly very well, they were giving drink free.

7. And I remembered you since be what you like.

8. Here we were to 32 degrees of temperature.

9. We lodge at the apartment of a friends at Miami beach.

10. It is opposite the beach.

11. We rent a car and we were doing visits.

12. We have done some purchases, and do not worry that I have remembered you...

13. We were in C.S.I Miami recording studios and I have taken photos of the actors.

14. We bath every day in the beach.

15. But I have not put dark man since I began protective cream.

16. To the return we meet to Ana Obregón with his son in the airport.

17. She also has done a good flight.

18. Many kisses and we meet in class.

An anonymous NB1 student.

Monday 10 May 2010

File 8: Song (Simply the Best)

File 8B. Grammar: Superlative adjectives

Hi,

Here's some more extra stuff for File 8B (Superlative adjectives):

a. Superlative Adjectives:
Superlative Adjectives A
Superlative Adjectives B
Superlative Adjectives C

b. What is the superlative of each of the adjectives below?
1 healthy
2 quiet
3 fast
4 casual
5 hot
6 difficult
7 noisy
8 easy


1 the healthiest
2 the most quiet/the quietest
3 the fastest
4 the most casual
5 the hottest
6 the most difficult
7 the noisiest
8 the easiest

c. What do you think is...
1 ... the most interesting book to read?
2 ... the most exciting place to visit?
3 ... the best food to eat?
4 ... the funniest person you know?
5 ... most comfortable way to travel?
6 ... the worst show on TV?
7 ... the best song in the charts at the moment?

Tuesday 4 May 2010

Topics for oral tests

Hi,

In case you still do not know what the topics for the oral test are, here's a list so that you can start preparing them:

1. FRIENDS
2. PERSONAL INFORMATION
3. FAMILY
4. DAILY ROUTINE
5. FREE TIME
6. TRAVEL
7. HOMES
8. CITIES
9. FOOD & RESTAURANTS
10. HOLIDAYS & PLANS
11. SHOPPING
12. CINEMA & TV

File 8A. Grammar: Comparative adjectives

Hi,

Here's some more extra activities for Unit 8 (comparatives):

Comparative Adjectives A
Comparative Adjectives B
Comparative Adjectives C

EXTRA COMPARATIVES:

a. Complete the following sentences with the comparative form of the adjectives.

1 Fruit and vegetables/healthy/chips
Fruit and vegetables are healthier than chips.
2 The countryside/quiet/cities
The countryside is more quiet/quieter than cities.
3 Racing cars/fast/normal cars
Racing cars are faster than normal cars.
4 Jeans/casual/suits
Jeans are more casual than suits.
5 Jamaica/hot/the UK
Jamaica is hotter than the UK
6 Level 6 Maths/difficult/level 2
Level 6 Maths is more difficult than level 2.
7 Play times at school/noisy/lesson times
Play times at school are noisier than lesson times.
8 Level 2 spelling/easy/level 4
Level 2 spelling is easier than level 4.

Which of the two-syllable adjectives admits two possibilities (i.e. more + adjective & adjective-er)?
quiet --> quieter & more quiet

ANSWERS:
Triple-click in the blank spaces to see the answers.