Beat the Best

You may wish to speak fuent English. In this case, you'll have to know some conversational cliches. They will certainly help you to deal with daily problems such as buying grocery, asking for direction, offering help, introducing people.

1. May I help you?

2. What can I do for you?

3. Is there something I can help you with?

How much is this?

Yes, I'd like to buy these razors.

I'm looking for the cameras.

No, I'm just browsing. Thanks anyway.

Okay, that'll be $6.85 with tax.

They're in Aisle Two.

Ok.

It's $4.95.

Such conversational phrases you will find here - elementary level and here - high intermediate level.

You can increase your vocabulary by learning topical vocabulary, i.e. words divided into categories by different topics such as Food and eating, School and studying, Shopping.
You can find some topical vocabulary here.

More topical vocabulary.
Family.
Jobs.   Jobs1. Jobs2.
The city.   Buildings in the city.   Downtown.
House. Rooms in the house. Places to live in. Things in a house.
Giving directions.
Shopping.
Clothes.  Clothes1. Shoes.

Food.   Fruit.   Vegetables.  Vegetables1. Breads. Desserts. Drinks.
Restaurants. Restaurants1. Restaurants2.
Kitchen.  Kitchen knives.  Dishes and plates.

Holidays, parties.  Holidays1. Party names.
Halloween.
Christmas. Food at Christmas.
Thanksgiving.
Valentine's Day.

Travel. Airport. Hotel.

Typical day.
Character and people.
School. School subjects. People at school.  Tests.
Weather.   Weather1.

Crime verbs. Types of crimes. Criminals.
Court and Justice.

Health and illness.   Injuries.  Aches and pains.

Animals. Animals1. Farm animals.   Cat breeds.  Dog breeds.
Car.  Car parts. "Car" verbs.
Flowers.
Reading.   Reading1. Parts of a book.  Types of books. Newspapers.
Sports.   Sports1.

You can find more topical vocabulary and exercises to do on this site.

Monday, November 26, 2012

English in Use

You can start using your English right now. There are different ways to do it.

First of all, keep a blog and post to it regularly.

Next, you may be willing to watch films in English. The site where you can enjoy watching films along with studying the language is here. Register, log in and you'll have a lot of fun.

You can watch educational films as well. Learning English and learning literature, science, biology at the same time! Kill two birds with one stone!

Some awesome! educational films you 'll find at ed.ted.com.
Leaving comments is also a good idea. Here you can Express English what you think about dreams, jealousy, christmas gifts, success and find out what other people think about them. Start participating in forum discussions.

If you're asked by your teacher to prepare to talk on the topic and don't know what points of a topic to consider, go to http://www.debate.org/ you will certainly find a lot of useful information here. For example, look through this discussion thread about television and its influence on us.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Present Perfect

Oh, such a difficult tense!

Use of Present Perfect

Time Expressions Used With The Present Perfect Tense from terefernan
Time Expressions: since or for 1
Time Expressions: never 2
Time Expressions: ever, never 3
Time Expressions: ever, never, lately, just, yet...4
Time Expressions: already, yet 5
Time Expressions: already, yet 6

Exercises

Present Perfect: word order 1
Present Perfect: has or have 2
Present Perfect: short answers 3
Present Perfect: affirmative and negative sentences, questions4
Present Perfect: affirmative and negative sentences, questions5
Present Perfect: multiple choice6
Present Perfect: have been (побывал) or have gone (уехал)7
Present Perfect: have been or have gone8
Present Perfect: affirmative and negative sentences, questions9
Present Perfect: What have you done today? 10
Present Perfect: Game 11

Present Perfect or Past Simple

Tests

Test on Present Perfect1
Test on Present Perfect2
Test on Present Perfect3
Test on Present Perfect and Past Simple A traveller's life 4
Test on Present Perfect and Past Simple 5
Test on Present Perfect and Past Simple 6
Test on Present Perfect and Past Simple 7
Test on Present Perfect and Past Simple 8
Test on Present Perfect and Past Simple 9

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Some or Any? A few or A little? Much of Many? A lot?

Some = несколько, некоторое количество.

We use SOME in positive sentences.
I have got some apples. = Я имею несколько яблок.
She has got some milk. = Она имеет некоторое количество молока.

Any = нисколько (in negative sentences)

Any = хоть сколько-нибудь (in questions)

We use ANY in negative sentences and in questions.
She hasn't got any water. = Она не имеет никакой(нисколько) воды.
They haven't got any pears. = Они не имеют никаких (нисколько) груш.
Have you got any cups? = У тебя есть сколько-нибудь(какие-нибудь) чашки?
Have you got any money? = У тебя есть сколько-нибудь денег?

Some or Any? 1
Some or Any? 2
Some or Any? 3
Some or Any? 4
Some or Any? 5
Some or Any? 6

Much or Many = A lot of=много

We use A LOT OF in positive sentences.

We use MUCH and MANY in negative sentences and questions.

Much + uncountable nouns ( неисчисляемые существительные)
Many + countable nouns (исчисляемые существительные)

Much or Many 1
Much or Many 2
How much or How many 3
Much, Many or A lot of 4
Much Many How much How many 5
Much Many A lot of 6

Few or Little=мало(не достаточно в данной ситуации) /

A few or A little= немного (но достаточно)

We use few / a few + countable nouns (исчисляемые существительные)
We use little / a little + uncountable nouns(неисчисляемые существительные)

A few or A little 1
Few or Little 2
Few or A few Little or A little 3
Few or A few Little or A little 4
Little or Few 5

Mixed Exercises

Some Any Many Much 1
Much Many A lot of 2
Few Little Much Many 3
A few A little How much How many 4
A lot Some Any Much Many 5
A lot Some Any Much Many 6
A lot Some Any Much Many Few Little 7
A lot Some Any Much Many Few Little 8

More difficult exercises for those who like challenge!

More difficult exercises 1
More difficult exercises 2
More difficult exercises 3

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Comparative and Superlative Degree

Comparative Degree - сравнительная степень

He is taller than his friend. (Он выше его друга)

She is more intelligent than her sister. (Она умнее ее сестры)

Men are more organised than women. (Мужчины более организованы, чем женщины)

Exercises:

Comparatives in sentences 6

Comparatives in sentences 7

Comparatives in sentences 8

Comparatives in sentences 9
Comparatives in sentences 10

Superlative Degree - превосходная степень

He is the tallest in class. (Он самый высокий в классе)
She is the most intelligent of all. (Она самая умная из всех)
This man is the most organised of all. (Этот мужчина самый организованный из всех)
Superlative Degree 1
Superlative Degree 2
Superlative Degree 3
Superlative Degree 4
Superlative Degree 5

Comparative and Superlative Degree

Comparative and Superlative Degree 1

Comparative and Superlative Degree 2

Comparative and Superlative Degree 3

Comparative and Superlative Degree 4

Comparative and Superlative Degree 5

Comparative and Superlative Degree 6
Make Comparative and Superlative Degree 7
Make Comparative and Superlative Degree 8
Comparative or Superlative ? 9
Comparative or Superlative ? 10
Put words in order 11

These exercises are as good as the ones above.

Эти упражнение такие же хорошие как те, что даны выше.

as ... as 1

as ... as 2

as... as 3