Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Vocabulary
The following words are used to refer to and describe places where people live
Adjectives
Nouns
Spacious
apartment
Restored
condo
Brand-new
town home/house
Luxurious
villa
Ocean-front
residence
Pre-construction
units
High-rise
building
Compound Adjectives
In English, we can form 2-word adjectives by combining different kinds of words with a -and by placing these joined
words before nouns. The resulting combination functions as a one-word adjective and its meaning draws from the two
words it is made up of. For example, a 10-floor building is a building with ten floors and a brand-new apartment is an
apartment that has just been constructed and prepared for people to move in.
These are some of the possible combinations for creating compound adjectives:
1. Adjective + noun
High-rise (adj=high + noun=rise)
Low-rise (adj=low + noun=rise)
This is how we use compound adjectives, we just place them before nouns:
A high-rise building
Note: the combination of these two words makes the compound adjective!
The meaning comes from both words: a high rise building is a building that rises high or has many stories (floors)
Here is another example of an adjective-noun compound adjective:
Low-rice ceilings
(ceilings that rise low or are not too high)
Compound Adjectives
2. Noun + noun
Ocean-view
Ocean-view house
Water-front
Water-front apartment
4-bedroom
4-bedroom apartment
60-story
60-story skyscraper
Newlyremodeled
newly-remodeled condo
Nicely-decorated
nicely-decorated
apartment
3. Number + noun
ractice 2
Create compound adjectives with the words in parenthesis, then complete the following sentences:
1. I want to move to a
4. We are in that
5. The house has a
6. They want a
Practice 2b
Part a: Unscramble the following phrases. Write the correct combination in the blanks.
a 3-floor house
Reading
Jaime and his friend Peter are going to study at the University of Kansas. They are living with Peters aunt at the
moment. They are looking for an apartment not far from the university.
After reading the above advertisements from the DAILY SQUAWK at the beginning of this Unit and listening to the
dialogue decide which one Jaime and Peter select.
JAIME: We need to buy a map of this town.
PETER: What for?
JAIME: Well, so that we can get around and know where things are.
PETER: Yes, and to find somewhere to live, too.
JAIME: There are some apartments here in the Daily Squawk that are interesting.
PETER: How much is the rent?
JAIME: Theres a two-bedroom at $400 and one at $450 and a three bedroom at $500.
PETER: Well lets forget about the $500 one. Thats too expensive.
JAIME: Well, Theres a modern one at $450 and another one at $400.
PETER: How about parking?
JAIME: Well the $450 one has limited parking. That means sometimes there is no parking
space.
PETER: Oh, thats not so good.
JAIME: If we take the $400 we have to park in the street.
PETER: Hmmm. Thats worse!
JAIME: The three bedroom one has parking in the building.
PETER: Well thats $50 more but sounds better.
JAIME: Im going to call Roberto Narvaez.
PETER: Why?
JAIME: In order to ask if he wants to share an apartment with us.
PETER: Oh, youre going to see if he wants to share the rent between the three of us?
JAIME: Right.
PETER: Youre a genius, Jaime. Let me talk to aunt Jean so that she will know our plans.
JAIME: Good idea. Shes been so nice to us.
Practice 3
True
Grammar
To express purpose, we can use any of the following structures:
1. An infinitive
I am learning English to get a better job.
2. The expression in order to + simple form
The above structures are used to explain the reason (purpose) why we do something. They usually follow question
words, such as: why? , what for? and for what reason?. Look at the following extracts from the previous
dialogue:
Extract 1:
- We need to buy a map of this town.
- What for?
- Well, so that we can get around and know where things are.
- Yes, and to find somewhere to live, too.
Extract 2:
- Why?
- In order to ask if he wants to share an apartment with us.
- Oh, youre going to see if he wants to share the rent between the
three of us?
- Right.
- Youre a genius, Jaime. Let me talk to aunt Jean so that she will
know our plans.
Practice 5
Complete the blanks using:
a) an infinitive form, or
b) the expression in order to + simple form, or
c) the structure so that.
Read the sentences CAREFULLY before answering.
school.
3. What are we changing neighborhoods for?
We are changing neighborhoods
Speaking
Answer the following questions. Record your answers in an MP3 file and send it to your instructor.
You are looking for an apartment to rent. The realtor is asking you the following questions:
Practice 6
Review of vowel sounds.
Your instructor will read the following list of words. Listen carefully and indicate by number ( 1 - 4) the sound you hear
whichDOES NOT correspond to the phoneme above the first number.
1. [
]
2. [
3. [
4. [ I ]
5. [ u ]
6. [ ^ ]
7. [
8. [ ]
Practice 7
Review of Phonetic Transcription
Study the following words in phonetic transcription. You instructor will pronounce one of the words in each horizontal
row. Indicate the number corresponding to the word you hear.
1. a. [
I p]
: p] b. [
e I p] c. [
2. a. [
^ m p ] b. [
[ ^mp]
3. a. [ p I t
et
] b. [ p
^ m p ] c.
] c. [ p a
4. a. [
]
I n k ] b. [ s t I n k ] c. [ p I n k
5. a. [ w I
[w I d ]
6. a. [ k
ae
]
] b. [ w I t
] b. [ k
7. a. [ t a I m ] b. [ t
]
] c.
s t ] c. [ k
n ] c. [ t e I m
8. a. [ r a I m ] b. [ r
m]c[rum]
UNIT 2
bjetives
...Someone was breaking into their apartment...
Functions
Objectives
Prepositions are small words used to describe mental and physical states and conditions, and to indicate place, location, time,
manner, direction, etc.
They rarely stand on their own, but are usually combined with other words (nouns, verbs, etc) to create new meaning.
This is the case of phrasal verbs and prepositional phrases, which are special grammatical constructions where
apreposition usually accompanies another word and adds up to its meaning.
Note: For a complete list of prepositions open the Red Book above.
particle
Turn
on (the light)
Turn
Turn
up (the volume)
Turn
Verb
particle
Run
out of sugar
Run
out of gas
JAIME:
Oh, man. You wont believe this, I missed the first Math quiz.
My car broke down and I was in the garage for three hours while
they repaired it.
PETER:
Well its only the first quiz, did you ask for a make-up? (a repetition of the test)
JAIME:
I went to the professors office but while I was explaining the phone rang.
PETER:
Hmmm. I see
JAIME:
Then, it was weird (strange), while I was sitting there he just jumped up and ran
out the office without saying a word to me.
PETER:
JAIME:
Later that day at the university. Peter sees Jaime at the cafeteria.
PETER: Hello, Jaime. You look happier now than you did this morning
JAIME:
Yes, he was very apologetic about this morning. It seems while he was talking to
his wife someone was breaking into their apartment.
JAIME:
Yes, but while he was driving home like a maniac through the streets the police got
to his house first.
No, he escaped through the back door while the police were entering the house.
The professor told me it was OK to take the make-up and thanked me for
understanding the situation in the office this morning.
Practice 2
The underlined expressions below correspond to a paraphrased form of the boldfaced 2-word verbs in the reading
(see Red Book above). Select the verb that corresponds from the following options:
A. broke down
B. jumped up
C. speak to
D. breaking into
Practice 3
PARAPHRASING: As you learn more English you will be able to create more expressions and also paraphrase, that is say
the same thing in different (other) words.
Using the previous dialogue (also in the Red Book), paraphrase the following sentences.
This is an off/line activity. Send your sentences to your instructor before the next chat session.
Copy to Clipboard
In
the cafeteria
Preposition
Object of a preposition
In Unit 4 we learned to use ing forms as subjects, objects and adjectives. In this unit, we will learn to use gerunds (-ing
forms that function as nouns) as objects of a preposition.
In practical terms this means that:
ractice 4
Complete the following sentences with the gerund of the verbs in parenthesis. The sign means your sentence is
negative.
1. He thanked me for
for exams.
3. I am worried about
(say) a word.
Time Clauses
Past Progressive vs. Simple Past
Continuous vs Interrupted Actions
To talk about two continuous actions, like:
While he was talking to his wife someone was breaking into their apartment
The diagram indicates that these two actions were taking place at the same time in the past.
Note: For simultaneous actions in the past, use the Past Progressive.
Plural Subjects
Subject
Ing
form
was
talking
He/she/it
was
sleeping
Subject
We /
you
They
were
Ing
form
studying
eating
For example:
I was talking on the phone.
If we wanted to join these sentences, and create a longer sentence, all we need to do is the following:
I was talking on the phone while she was sleeping in her room.
We were eating in the cafeteria while they were studying in the library.
Practice 5a
Complete the following sentences with a verb from the list in past progressive. Use each verb only once.
have - give - escape - try - talk - read
3. The teacher
to catch a robber.
about a break-in in his neighborhood.
Grammar
Sometimes something is happening, an action is in progress, when something sudden and unexpected interrupts it:
While I was sitting there he just jumped up and ran out the office
We use the past progressive for the action in progress
And the simple past for the sudden, unexpected action that interrupts it:
Practice 7
Complete the following sentences with the verbs in parenthesis in simple past or past progressive. Use each verb only once.
Read the sentences CAREFULY to know which verb tense to use. Remember to use was for singular
subjects andwere for plural subjects.
1. The goal-keeper
when the boy
and
(listen) in fascination,
(perform) on stage.
(practice) ice-skating
4. The lights
(go) off
when they
5. She
while a fire
6. He
rest of us
7. While the terrorists
the President
8. We
our parents
Speaking
Complete the following short conversations. Record your answers and save them in MP3 format. Send
them to your instructor.
Conversation 1
What were you guys doing while I was looking for you?
Well, we were.. I was .and Martha was.
Conversation 2
What was tour mother doing when man landed on the moon?
Mi mother .
And your father?
He .
Conversation 3
What happened when you were taking a walk?
While we were taking a walk .
Conversation 4
Why didnt you finish your homework?
I was doing my homework when . And then .
Guided Composition
Continuous and Interrupted Actions, Past Continuous and Simple Past.
EXAMPLE: Shiela was talking on the telephone when James came in.
In this example we have the act of Shiela talking on the telephone for an unspecified period was talking... But we
know that James act was at a specific time and of short duration ..came in..
Part A. Online Practice
In the following descriptive exercise put the verb in ( ..) into the past progressive to be (was, were) + (verb)-ing,
and past simple. If the negative sign (- ) is placed after the verb put it into the negative form: was/were not (verb )ing or ..did not (verb) etc.
in front
quickly but,
driver of
the second, Mr Peter Pumkineater said he (expect ) (- )
Mikes car to stop so suddenly . He (see) ( - )
the dog.