A/ CCH DNG T TRONG VN NI

1. Cch dng 'just', 'already' hay 'yet':

_ Ngi M dng t 'just', 'already' hay 'yet' trong th qu kh n gin- the simple past tense, trong khi
ti ngi Anh thng dng nhng t th hin ti hon thnh - the present perfect.
V d:
Ngi M ni: "I already had lunch." hay "She didn't arrive yet."
Cn ngi Anh ni: "I've already had lunch." hay...: "She hasn't arrived yet."
2. Cch ni gi
Nu mun ni 2:45 - 2h45 ti Anh, chng ta c th ni:
"Quarter to three", hay 3:15 - 3h15 c th ni "Quarter past three".
Trong khi , ti M, ni gi nh sau:
"Quarter of three" ch 2:45, hay "Quarter after three" ch 3:15.
3. Ngi Anh v ngi M cng khc nhau trong cch ni:
_ GOOD: ngi M dng good thay cho well, VD: I feel good (M) = I feel well (A)
_ Ngi Anh dng 'have got' hay 'has got' khi ni v s hu, trong khi ngi M th thng hay dng
'have' hay 'has'.
V d, ting Anh M, chng ta c th ni: "I have a new car."
Cn trong ting Anh Anh th thng l: "I've got a new car."
(V mt ngha, hai cu trn khng khc nhau)
_ Dng Past Participle ca GET, ngi M dng l GOT, cn ngi Anh dng l GOTTEN.
_ Vi ng t AIM, ngi M dng cu trc to aim to + V, cn ngi anh dng cu trc to aim at + V
ing.
V d: We aim to do something nice = We aim at doing something nice.
B/ MT S T THNG DNG
Lut s: Attorney (M) Barrister, Solicitor (A)
Hiu sch: Bookstore (M) Bookshop (A)
t: Automobile (M) Motor car (A)
Bn mu c ch trng in vo: Blank (M) Form (A)
Danh thip: Calling card (M) Visiting card (A)
Ko: Candy (M) Sweets (A)

Ca hng ko: Candy store (M) Sweet shop (A)

Toa xe la: car (M) coach, carriage (A)
Ng: Corn (M) Maize, Indian corn (A)
La m: grain, wheat (M) corn (A)
Th snh: City Hall (M) Town Hall (A)
Bnh quy: Cracker (M) Biscuit (A)
o din in nh: Director (M) Producer (A). Ch : M, producer l gim c, ch rp ht ( Anh
th dng manager, proprietor)
Trung tm doanh nghip thnh ph: downtown (M) city (A)
Hiu thuc: Drugstore (M) Chemists. Chemists shop (A)
Thang my: Elevator (M) Lift (A)
Xng: Gas hay gasonline (M) Petrol (A)
Du ha: Kerosene (M) Paraffin (A)
Ma thu: Fall (M) Autumn (A)
Tn (ngi): First name hay given name (M) Christian name (A)
Va h: Sidewalk (M) Pavement (A)
ng st: Railroad (M) Railway (A)
Ca hng t phc v: Supermarket (M) Self-service shop (A).
Sinh vin nm th nht: Freshman (M) First year student (A)
Sinh vin nm th hai: Sophomore (M) Second year student (A)
Sinh vin nm th ba: Junior (M) Third year student (A)
Sinh vin nm cui: Senior (M) Last year student (A)
Khi hc IELTS bn thng c khuyn l nn c nhiu sch bo bng ting anh ly idea. Nhng
thng thng, bn s phi mt rt nhiu thi gian lc cc kt qu tm kim mi gp c ngun ti liu
ph hp. Hm nay Ad Thu Trang s tng hp cho cc bn mt s bi bo, video thuc ch

"URBANISATION" - mt Topic cng kh "khoai s" trong Writing Task 2 nh:

1. Reading links:
a) The city triumphs, again: http://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2013/06/urbanisation
b) Urban Threats:
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/habitats/urban-threats2/
c) Managing Urban Traffic Congestion (read the foreword and key messages):
http://www.internationaltransportforum.org/Pub/pdf/07Congestion.pdf
d) Countryside planning revolution: 'new city' proposed for Midlands:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/hands-off-our-land/9165205/Countryside-planning-revolution-new-cityproposed-for-Midlands.html
e) Letting developers vandalise the countryside won't solve the housing crisis:
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/jul/14/developers-vandalism-countryside-housingcrisis
2. Videos:
a) Kent Larson: Brilliant designs to fit more people in every city:
http://www.ted.com/talks/kent_larson_brilliant_designs_to_fit_more_people_in_every_city
b) Stewart Brand: 4 environmental 'heresies':
http://www.ted.com/talks/stewart_brand_proclaims_4_environmental_heresies
3. Essay topics:
1. Overpopulation of urban areas has led to numerous problems. Identify one or two serious ones and
suggest the ways how governments and individuals can tackle these problems.
2. In cities and towns all over the world high volume of traffic is a problem. What are the causes of this
and what actions can be taken to solve this problem?
3. In many countries there is a shortage of housing due to a growing population. Some people argue that
new towns should be built in the countryside, others support the regeneration of cities. What are the
advantages and disadvantages of building new towns in the countryside?

Thc t l d cho bi vit ca cc bn dng nhiu cu trc cu, nhiu t vng, idiom, idea
khng b nhng cu vn li sai nhng li ng php ti c bn th liu bn c th c im
cao cho bi vit khng? Xin tha l khng. Mnh xin gii thiu vi cc bn bi vit lit k mt
s li cu c bn trong bi vit IELTS. Li ng php khng n thun ch l li v th, m cn
nhiu vn khc, c bit l vi vn phong Academic.

* Li th nht: A sentence fragment - y l mt li rt ph bin, l vic vit cu khng hon

chnh. Theo nh ngha v 1 cu trong ting Anh academic English, th phi c ch ng, ng t.
Tuy nhin, rt nhiu bn cha chc v ng php rt c bn ny, khi hc vit IELTS vit thiu cc
yu t c bn cu thnh nn cu kia, hoc i khi l vic vit ch c mt mnh ph thuc m
khng c mnh c lp. Do , cu khng c ngha. Mt s v d di y cc bn thy c
cc li sai trong vn ny, ng thi c cch sa li bn di rt kinh nghim.
Incorrect: Studying very hard on weekends. (Thiu ng t, s sp xp sai v tr ca prepositional
phrase).
Correct: Studying on weekends is very hard.

Incorrect: Because some students work part-time while taking a full load of courses. (thiu mnh
c lp, do cu ny khng c ngha trong vn vit.)
Correct: Because some students work part-time while taking a full load of courses, they have very
little free-time.

Incorrect: Tests of the Shroud of Turin have produced some curious findings. For example, the
pollen of forty-eight plants native to Europe and the Middle East.
Correct: Tests of the Shroud of Turin have produced some curious findings. For example, the cloth
contains the pollen of forty-eight plants native to Europe and the Middle East.

Incorrect: Scientists report no human deaths due to excessive caffeine consumption. Although
caffeine does cause convulsions and death in certain animals.
Correct: Scientists report no human deaths due to excessive caffeine consumption, although
caffeine does cause convulsions and death in certain animals.

* Li th hai: A run-on sentence - y l dng li khi ngi vit vit nhiu hn mt mnh c
lp, nhng li khng s dng coordinator (lin t) hoc subordinator, hoc khng s dng hoc s
dng sai punctuation (cu ghp c th c ghp gia 2, hay nhiu mnh c lp bng vic s
dng du ;).

Trong cc v d mu di y, cc bn thy ngi vit sa li li ca h bng cch s dng du

; hoc s dng coordinator hoc subordinator (s c t trong du ngoc kp).

Incorrect: His family went to Australia then they immigrated to Canada.

Correct: His family went to Australia; then they immigrated to Canada

Incorrect: Learning a new language is similar to learning to swim it takes a lot of practice.
Correct: Learning a new language is similar to learning to swim since it takes a lot of practice.
Correct: Learning a new language is similar to learning to swim; it takes a lot of practice.

Incorrect:

The experiment failed, it had been left unobserved for too long.

Correct: The experiment failed; it had been left unobserved for too long.
Correct: The experiment failed because it had been left unobserved for too long.

Incorrect: A newly arrived international student faces many problems, for example, he has to cope
with a new culture.
Correct: A newly arrived international student faces many problems; for example, he has to cope
with a new culture.

* Li th ba: A choppy sentence - y l li m chng ta thng gp khi mi bt u chuyn t

ni hay vit trong general English sang academic English. Cc bn cn bit rng, trong vn phong
academic th vic vit cu ngn c coi l qu ngho nn v phong cch mc d n hiu qu v
mt ngha miu t vn . Cch gii quyt l xem li v vn cu trc cu, cch vit cc loi
cu phc, ghp, hn hp v c bit l phi bit cch s dng noun phrases ko di cu hn.
Ti s phn tch r rng hn trong cc v d di y, hi vng cc bn s rt ra c nhng kinh
nghim trnh vic ny.

Incorrect: Wind is an enduring source of power. Water is also an unlimited energy source. Dams
produce hydraulic power. They have existed for a long time. Windmills are relatively new.
Correct: Both wind and water are enduring sources of power. Dams have produced hydraulic
power for a long time, but windmills are relatively new. ( y, ngi vit ghp cu 1 v cu 2
bi 2 cu ny v mt ngha l tng ng nhau bng cch s dng both and , ghp 2 cu tip
theo bng t for vi prepositional phrase, v a cu cui vo vi cu ny thnh 1 cu ghp
bng cch s dng t but ni 2 mnh c tnh tng phn nhau.)

Incorrect: Our results were inconsistent. The program obviously contains an error. A revision of
the program is required.
Correct: A revision of the program is required because it produced inconsistent results. (s dng
because ni v nguyn nhn)

* Li th t: A sprawl sentence - l li m ngi vit vit qu nhiu mnh , vi qu nhiu cc

subordinator v coordinator trong mt cu, iu ny tri vi li choopy bn trn, dn ti ngi c
s thy kh hiu. Tng t, li loose sentence th l do ngi vit s dng qu nhiu cc phrases
v mnh nhng ng php v kt cu ca cu li thiu cht ch, sp xp cc thnh phn trn
khng theo mt trt t no c, ngi c s thy rt kh hiu vi cu ny. Vi li ny, cc bn ch
cn tch cu di thnh 2,3 cu ngn hn (tt nhin vn cn trnh li choopy), ng thi sp xp
li cc phrases v mnh hp l. Cc bn theo di cc v d di y nhn bit v rt kinh
nghim cho li sai ca mnh.

Incorrect: In the event that we get the contract, we must be ready by June 1 with the necessary
personnel and equipment to get the job done, so with this end in mind a staff meeting, which all
group managers are expected to attend, is scheduled for
Correct: An all-staff meeting including all group managers is scheduled for February 12. During this
meeting we should discuss the issue of personnel and equipment preparation and schedule a plan
for completing the contract by June 1st, if the contract is received.

Incorrect: The lack of rainfall has caused a severe water shortage, so people have to conserve
water every day, and they also have to think of new ways to reuse water, but the situation is
improving.

Correct: The lack of rainfall has caused a severe water shortage. Although the situation is
improving, people have to conserve water every day, and think of new ways to reuse water.

Incorrect: Although the blue whale has been protected for over 30 years and its numbers are
increasing, especially in the North Pacific, where whale hunting has been banned, it is still at risk of
extinction as its habitat is being polluted by waste from oil tankers and its main food, the plankton, is
being killed off by harmful rays from the sun, which can penetrate the earths atmosphere because
there is a huge hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica.
Correct: The blue whale has been protected for over 30 years, especially in the North Pacific.
Although its numbers are increasing, it is still at risk of extinction. This risk is primarily caused by
waste from oil tankers polluting whale habitat. Moreover, a huge hole in the ozone layer over
Antarctica allows harmful rays from the sun to penetrate the earths atmosphere and kill the
plankton, which is whale main food.

Incorrect: The hearing was planned for Monday, December 2, but not all of the witnesses could be
available, so it was rescheduled for the following Friday. [There are no grammatical errors here, but
the sprawling sentence does not communicate clearly and concisely.]
Correct: The hearing, which had been planned for Monday, December 2, was rescheduled for the
following so that all witnesses would be able to attend.

* Li th nm: Non-parallel structures - l li rt ph bin vi ngi Vit Nam khi vit academic
English. Vit vit s dng cc cu trc song song l iu rt cn thit trong khi vit academic, c
bit l s dng so snh, tuy nhin, chng ta thng li ch lit k ra thng tin m khng h ch
ti mt yu cu khi s dng cu trc song song parallel structure l 2 v phi thc s tun theo
cng mt lut v ng php v cu trc. Cc v d di y s gip cc bn nhn r nht vn ny.

Incorrect: The teacher wanted to know which country we came from and our future goals.
Correct: The teacher wanted to know which country we came from and what our future goals were.
( cu u tin, li thng gp l vic s dng c noun clause cho v 1 m li khng s
dng cho v 2. Cch sa li n gin nht l s dng noun clause cho v th 2)

Incorrect: This report is an overview of the processes involved, the problems encountered, and
how they were solved.
Correct: This report is an overview of the processes involved, the problems encountered, and the
solutions devised. ( cu u tin, li nm v th 3, y l li khi s dng prepositional phrase.
Ngi vit s dng noun phrase trong khi 2 v trc th l noun phrase vi mnh quan h rt
gn. Cch gii quyt l s dng ng cu trc nh 2 v trc, ng thi tm t ng ngha
soulutions devised thay cho t to be solved.)

Incorrect: The candidates goals include winning the election, a health program, and education.
Correct: The candidates goals include winning the election, enacting a national health program,
and improving the educational system.

Incorrect: Some critics are not so much opposed to capital punishment as postponing it for so long.
Correct: Some critics are not so much opposed to sentencing convicts to capital punishment as
they are to postponing executions for so long.
Nhn chung, li sai v cch vit cu trong khi vit academic a phn u n t cc l hng v mt
ng php, do , trc khi bt tay vo hc vit IELTS, TOEFL hay academic English ni chung, cc
bn cn nn b sung v mt ng php trc. Trong qu trnh vit nn ch cn thn v mt ng
php, nn t c thi quen xem li bi vit v tp luyn t cha bi essay cho chnh bn thn mnh.
(nn t cha sau 1-2 tun).