Describing Pictures

Some tips to describe a picture when doing a speaking activity or taking a test.

1. Describe what you see in the picture

There is a/some....

There's a/some...

There are some...

2.Say where the things or the people are. Use prepositions.

On the right/left

Near the house

By the door

In the box

On thetable

Under the tree

3. Describe actions. Use the Present Continuous form of verbs

The man is _______ ing

The woman is __________ing

The children are _________ing

4. Describe the people in the picture.
How old they are. (He is 45, he's in his 40s, ...)
What they look like. (they are tall, fat, ....) He's got gray hair and brown eyes...

What they are wearing? (She/He is wearing a / some....)

5. Give your opinion

I think...., It seems that...., I like/dislike it because....

The Legend of Saint George - English Children's Story

George and the Dragon

The story of George, patron saint of England, is a mixture of fact and fiction. He was a Christian martyr who was beheaded by the Emperor Diocletian on 23 April 303 AD. The story of George and the Dragon is a simple allegory expressing the triumph of Good over Evil.

Equivalence of Certificates, Diplomas and Degrees. Spain vs UK

Bachelor of Science Degree (BSc)
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
Master of Science (MSc)
Master of Arts (MA)
Master of Engineering (MEng), etc.
http://www.fromspaintouk.com/2013/04/15/equivalencias-de-estudios-y-titulos-espana-vs-uk/

Expressing Obligation/ No Obligation

OBLIGATION 
PRESENT  
Must and Have to: Generally, the difference between these depends on where the authority comes from:
You have to have a licence to own a gun ( an outside authority)   
You must come home at 10 o’clock ( the speaker’s authority)
I must study English (I’m telling myself)
I have to study English (It’s a duty)  
Should and Ought to: these suggest that the obligation is weaker, and may not be kept to:
I should talk to him (but I don’t have the courage) 
I ought to talk to him    
Is to/Are to: In formal and written language, they are used to express outside obligation, usually as a  part of a programme:   
Students are to arrrive by 9 o’clock 
Candidates are not to bring dictionaries into the examination. 
Had better: 
You’d better go home. 
She’d better not get up late again. 
 ***** MUSTN’T = prohibition.  You mustn’t smoke in the here.  
PAST 
had to (to express the Past tense of MUST and HAVE TO  
They had to pay at once  
Should have done/ Ought to have done: An event in the past did not take place, a mistake was made: 
You should have looked twice before turning left (you didn’t)  
He ought to have told her the truth (he didn’t)’
LACK OF OBLIGATION:  
PRESENT
Needn’t// don’t/doesn’t have to:
You needn’t bring your dictionaries
You don’t have to bring them
you don’t need to bring them
PAST
I didn’t have to go to school (it was unnecessary, I didn’t go)
I needn’t have gone to school (it was unnecessary, but I went) 
EXERCISE:
Rewrite the following sentences without changing the meaning of the original ones.Use the right modal.

1. It was silly of Barbara to be rude to her teacher.
2. It was a bad idea to ask him to do it. 
3. It wasn’t necessary to wait till midnight, so I went home.
4. It wasn’t necessary to wait till midnight, but I did it.
5. It’s a pity you didn’t write to her.
6. Come here!
7. Don't eat all the cake!
8. It isn't compulsory for her to work in the evening.
9. It was obligatory to write a poem.
10. It's compulsory to bring your books.(it's the rule)

Solutions:

Expressing Certainty and Uncertainty (Present and Past)

CERTAINTY AND UNCERTAINTY (POSSIBILITY) 
PRESENT TIME
 May/Might: There is little difference between them, although MIGHT seems less possible  
                       She might come tonight (Maybe she will come)
Questions: only MIGHT (formal)
Negatives: they must be written in full: He may /might not be at home
Could: 
He could still be at home
Could he still be at home?
He couldn’t be at home.     
Must and Can’t: They are opposites 
He must be at home. (He’s certain to be at home. It also implies a deduction)
He can’t be at home. (I don’t think he is at home. I’m sure he’s not at  home)
PAST TIME
May have and Might have: these both refer to events in the past which are uncertain:
You may have left it on the bus
He might not have gone there ( It  suggests a slight possibility)
Questions are not possible.
Could have: 
It could have been him I suppose.
Could it have been him?
Must have and Can’t have: These also express certainty, but as a deduction (an opinion of what it probably happened)
The butler must have done it (I think that’s what happened) 
You can’t have seen him yesterday, he’s in Australia  (this is my proof that it is impossible)

Exercise. Rewrite the sentences using a modal verb.
1.- Maybe Janet invited him here tonight. Janet...
2.- I’m sure she is quite angry. She...
3.- Perhaps he visited us, but we were away. He...
4.-He hasn’t contacted me. He clearly thought I was unsuitable for the job.  He...
5.- I'm sure she doesn't like onions. She...  

 Solutions 

Expressing Suggestions

SUGGESTIONS:
COULD: to suggest doing something: We could go to the cinema on Friday.
SHALL WE: to suggest doing something with somebody else: Shall we sing?
SHALL I: to suggest doing something yourself. Shall I sing? (also to express offers)
MIGHT: very polite: You might want to try another shop.
WHAT ABOUT/HOW ABOUT going to Peter’s?
LET’S go outside
WHY DON’T I/WE/YOU give them what they want?

Expressing Instructions and Requests

INSTRUCTIONS AND REQUESTS: CAN, COULD, WILL, WOULD
Make coffee (please)
Make coffee, will you?
Can you make coffee?
Will you make coffee?
Would you make coffee?
Could you make coffee? (very formal)
I’d like to ask you a question. 
Would you mind helping me? 
Do you think you could help me?

Practice. Rewrite the sentences.

1. Will you help this lady with her bags? Do you mind.....                    
2. Stand up. I wonder if....                                                  
3. Play it again. Do you think.....                                           

Solutions:

Expressing Permission

PERMISSION 
CAN, COULD, MAY, are all used in asking permission:  
Can I use the phone?
Could I borrow your car? (polite)
May I come in? (more formal)
Might I speak to you? (very polite- old-fashioned.  
Use only can/can't when giving or denying premission. 
Could I stay out late tonight? No, you can't.  
BE ALLOWED TO  It’s used when talking about permission, but not when you are asking for it or giving it.  
You are not allowed to use calculators in exams.
It was only after several months that I was allowed to visit her
They have not been allowed to come.
 
Practice: Rewrite the sentences:

1. Do you mind if I sit down?                                              
2. I’d like to go to the concert, please.                                           
3. I’d like to speak next. Is it all right if......                       
4. It’s all right to have visitors after three o’clock (ALLOWED)
5. I’ll let you use my pen until I need it.                               

Solutions:

Expressing Ability

ABILITY : CAN, COULD, BE ABLE TO
1.- Present ability
                         Can, can’t: I can swim (I know how to swim)  I can lift it  ( I am able to lift it)
2.- Future ability
                          Can : I can come tomorrow (future reference)
                           Be able to : he will be able to come next week
3.- Past ability
                          Could, couldn’t: When I was ten, I could swim 
                          could vs be able to
He was a good swimmer, and could save people’s lives (we don’t  know)  
He was a good swimmer, and was able to save people’s lives (he actually did it)
                          could have
He was a good swimmer and could have saved people’s lives ( he didn’t use his ability)

Practice: Complete the sentences:
a.- There was a woman with a big hat in front of me. I ____________see a thing.
b.- I’m sorry you are in my light. I __________see what I’m doing.
c.- He had a strange ability: he _______________ move his ears really fast.
d.- She _____________ done it, but she left without trying.  
e.- When he was young he____________ run a marathon once, but he________ now.


Solutions:

Michael Jackson - Earth song - lyrics

Earth Day. April 22

Useful expressions

Could you.......? Do you mind....? Can I.....? Shall we.....? Why don't we....? 
 I agree with you 100 percent / I couldn't agree with you more / That's so true / That's for sure /
You're absolutely right./Absolutely / That's exactly how I feel/ Exactly / No doubt about it.

London's Big Ben

 The Houses of Parliament and Elizabeth Tower, commonly called Big Ben, are among London's most iconic landmarks.  


Big Ben Facts  

•  Big Ben is the name given to the massive bell inside the clock tower, which weighs more than 13 tons (13,760 kg).
• Each dial is seven metres in diameter.
• The minute hands are 4.2 metres long and weigh about 100kg.
• The numbers are approximately 60cm long
• There are 312 pieces of glass in each clock dial
• A special light above the clock faces is illuminated when parliament is in session.
• Big Ben's timekeeping is strictly regulated by a stack of coins placed on the huge pendulum.
• Big Ben has rarely stopped. Even after a bomb destroyed the Commons chamber during the Second World War, the clock tower survived and Big Ben continued to strike the hours.
• The chimes of Big Ben were first broadcast by the BBC on 31 December 1923, a tradition that continues to this day. 
• In June 2012 the House of Commons announced that the clock tower was to be renamed the Elizabeth Tower in honour of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. 

                                              Why Ben?

The origin of the name Big Ben is not known, although two different theories exist.

• The first is that is was named after Sir Benjamin Hall, the first commissioner of works, a large man who was known affectionately in the house as "Big Ben".

• The second theory is that it was named after a heavyweight boxing champion at that time, Benjamin Caunt. Also known as "Big Ben", this nickname was commonly bestowed in society to anything that was the heaviest in its class.

                                                                                                               Adapted from Visit London

HOT CROSS BUNS

Hot cross buns
Traditional spiced, sticky glazed fruit buns with pastry crosses. Served as a classic Easter treat, the buns can also be enjoyed at any time of year.

SMS ENGLISH

Easter's coming! Time for chatting and texting.

How to Decorate Easter Eggs

Curriculum Vitae

The Europass Curriculum Vitae helps you present your skills and qualifications effectively and clearly. You can create your CV online using tutorials or download the template, examples and instructions.

The History of English in 10 Minutes

Subtiles are optional

Want to speak better than 90% of native English speakers? Then learn to ...

Expressions with TAKE

Do or Make?

Click  here for activities to practise the difference between do and make

Expressions with GET

Expressions with MAKE

Expressions with GO

Expressions with DO

Say or Tell?

Present continuous for future use

The Little Pianist: Learn English with subtitles

Azul loves to play the piano and he wants to become not just a good pianist but a great pianist. See how he learns the secret.

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS ETIQUETTE, MANNERS AND CULTURE

Welcome to your information source for international business etiquette, manners, and cross cultural communication. As global business continues to expand and bring everyone closer, the critical element of a successful business outcome may be the appreciation and respect for regional, country, and cultural differences - known as cultural diversity and requiring good intercultural communication. In these pages you will find a wealth of information and resources on international business etiquette and manners to utilize during your international travels and overseas assignments. In fact, you may want to print a copy to review during your next international flight.

 http://www.cyborlink.com/
executiveplanet.

Business Etiquette Quiz

 Take this Business Etiquette Quiz to know if you are ready for business in a foreign country.

Working Abroad

In this site you'll read and listen about different issues connected with working abroad and about some people's personal experiences.There are also vocabulary pages, exercises and quizzes to help you develop and test your English.

The Origins of Easter Celebrations

The Origins of Easter Celebrations

The meaning of the many different customs observed during Easter Sunday have been buried with time. Their origins lie in both pre-Christian religions and Christianity. In one way or another all the customs are a "salute to spring" marking re-birth.

The white Easter lily has come to capture the glory of the holiday. The word "Easter" is named after Eastre, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring. A festival was held in her honor every year at the vernal equinox.
People celebrate Easter according to their beliefs and their religious denominations. Christians commemorate Good Friday as the day that Jesus Christ died and Easter Sunday as the day that He was resurrected. Protestant settlers brought the custom of a sunrise service, a religious gathering at dawn, to the United States.

Who is the Easter Bunny?

Today on Easter Sunday, many children wake up to find that the Easter Bunny has left them baskets of candy. He has also hidden the eggs that they decorated earlier that week.

Children hunt for the eggs all around the house. Neighborhoods and organizations hold Easter egg hunts, and the child who finds the most eggs wins a prize.

The Easter Bunny is a rabbit-spirit. Long ago, he was called the "Easter Hare", hares and rabbits have frequent multiple births so they became a symbol of fertility. The custom of an Easter egg hunt began because children believed that hares laid eggs in the grass. The Romans believed that "All life comes from an egg." Christians consider eggs to be "the seed of life" and so they are symbolic of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Why we dye, or color, and decorate eggs is not certain. In ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome and Persia eggs were dyed for spring festivals. In medieval Europe, beautifully decorated eggs were given as gifts.
By Mary Bellis