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10 Most Unusual Sports From Around The World

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How to use the third conditional - 6 Minute Grammar

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How to describe APPEARANCE in English - Essential Advanced Adjective Vocabulary Lesson

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1) The third conditional

We use the third conditional to talk about imagined past events: things that might have happened in the past, but didn't happen.

If I'd known it was your birthday, I'd have bought you a present.
If the taxi had arrived on time, he wouldn't have missed the plane.

A conditional sentence has two parts. In the third conditional, the if part is the imaginary situation in the past, and the main part is what could have happened (but didn't happen) as a result. We make the third conditional with if + past perfect, and would have + past participle.

If I'd known it was your birthday... (This is the imaginary situation in the past)

I'd have bought you a present. (This is the imaginary result of the situation in the past)

The two parts can come in any order. When we write, we put a comma between the if part and the result part. You don't use a comma when the result part comes first.

If I'd known it was your birthday I'd have bought you a present.

I'd have bought you a present if I'd known it was your birthday.

If the taxi had arrived on time, Jack wouldn't have missed the plane.

Jack wouldn't have missed the plane if the taxi had arrived on time.

We use the past perfect in the if part to show the situation is imaginary and didn't actually happen. The result part of the sentence tells us the imaginary result of this situation.

there had been any snow, we'd have gone skiing. (There wasn't any snow; we didn't go skiing.)

it hadn't been raining, we'd have had a picnic.(It was raining; we didn't have a picnic.)

Form

Positive
If you'd asked me to marry you, I'd have said no.
We'd have been in trouble if we'd missed the last train.

Negative
She wouldn't have become ill if she'd taken the medicine.
It would have been better if they hadn't come to the party.
If you hadn't been so friendly, I wouldn't have talked to you.

Question
What would they have done if they'd lost their jobs? him the truth, how would he have felt?

Short answer
In short answers, you use would/wouldn't. / No, I wouldn't.
Take note: past continuous

We can use the past continuous in the if part of the sentence.
If he'd been driving more carefully, he wouldn't have had an accident.
I wouldn't have met my girlfriend if I'd been living abroad.
Take note: modals

We can use other modal verbs in the result part, for example might. Might shows we are less certain than when we use will.
We might have been happier if we'd bought the other house.
If he hadn't got up so late, might not have missed the train.

Take note: 'I wish ...'and 'If only ...'
If only I'd stayed in bed this morning.
We use I wish or If only with the past perfect when we are sorry about something that happened in the past, and we imagine doing things differently.
I wish I'd stayed in bed this morning. (I'm having a bad day today.)

I wish I'd picked the other horse! (My horse didn't win the race.)

Spoken English

In the third conditional, we usually use a short form of had and had not when we speak: I had = I'd, I had not = I hadn't. We also use a short form of would and would not: I would = I'd, he would = he'd, I would not = I wouldn't, etc.

We'd have been unhappy if we'd lost the game.

We wouldn't have been happy if we hadn't won the game.

The third conditional is sometimes confusing because I'd can mean both I had and I would - so listen carefully! And remember that I'd in the if part is I had, and I'd in the result part is I would.

2) Double contractions

In spoken English, people often use contractions like this: I will becomes I'll and you would becomes you'd. Double contractions are when we shorten three words, like this:

I would have -> I'd've

could not have -> couldn't've

might not have -> mightn't've

must not have -> mustn't've

cannot have -> can't've

you would have -> you'd've

he would have -> he'd've

she would have -> she'd've

we would have -> we'd've

they would have -> they'd've

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BBC Learning English - Course: Upper-intermediate / Unit 1 / Grammar Reference

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We use the third conditional to talk about imagined past events: things that might have happened in the past, but didn't happen. If I'd known it was your birthday, I'd have bought you a present. If the taxi had arrived on time, he wouldn't have missed the plane.

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Wishes about the present or future
Download this explanation in PDF here.
Wish + (that) + past simple:
We can use 'wish' to talk about something that we would like to be different in the present or the future. It's used for things which are impossible or very unlikely.

I wish that I had a big house (I don't have a big house, but it's a nice idea!).

I wish that we didn't need to work today (we do need to work today, unfortunately).

I wish that you lived close by (you don't live close by).

I wish that John wasn't busy tomorrow* (he is busy, unfortunately).

(*In formal writing, you will see 'were' instead of 'was' after wish. This is correct, but it's also fine to use 'was', in the same way as with the second conditional.

'I wish I were rich' or 'I wish I was rich'.)

We also use 'wish' with 'could' to talk about things in the present or future that we would like to be different. In this situation, 'could' is the past simple of 'can'.

Of course, we use 'can' to talk about ability - if we know how to do something or not. For example, 'I can speak Spanish' or 'I can't drive'. We also use 'can' to talk about possibility - if things are possible or not possible. For example, 'we can't come to the party tonight' or 'John can help you clean up'. We use 'could' with 'wish' to talk about ability and to talk about possibility.

I wish that I could speak Spanish (but, unfortunately, I can't speak Spanish).

I wish that I could drive (I can't drive).

I wish that we could go to the party tonight (unfortunately, we're busy so we can't go).

I wish that John could help you clean up (John is at work, so he can't help).

Try an exercise about 'wish' here.

We don't usually use 'wish' in this way for things that are really possible in the future. Instead, we use 'hope'. Read more about 'hope' here.

I hope that you pass your exam (NOT: I wish that you passed the exam).

I hope that it's sunny tomorrow (NOT: I wish that it was sunny tomorrow).

I hope that Julie has a lovely holiday (NOT: I wish that Julie had a lovely holiday).

Wish + (that) + would:
On the other hand, we use 'would' with 'wish' in a little bit of a special way. It's generally used about other people who are doing (or not doing) something that we don't like and we want that person to change. It's not usually used about ourselves, or about something which nobody can change though, exceptionally, we do use it about the weather.

I wish that John wouldn't eat all the chocolate. (John does usually eat all the chocolate and I don't like it. I want him to change his behaviour!)

I wish that the neighbours would be quiet! (They are not quiet and I don't like the noise.)

I wish that you wouldn't smoke so much! (You do smoke a lot and I don't like it. I want you to change this.)

I wish that you wouldn't work late so often.

I wish that it would stop raining!

We don't usually use 'would' when there's no feeling that we want somebody to change their behaviour.

NOT: I wish that tomorrow would be a holiday. (Instead: I wish that tomorrow was a holiday.)

NOT: I wish that I would work harder. (It's strange to use 'wish' + 'would' about yourself, as you can change your behaviour if you don't like it!)

Wishes about the past

Wish + (that) + past perfect:
We can use 'wish' with the past perfect to talk about regrets from the past. These are things that have already happened but we wish they'd happened in a different way. This use of 'wish' is very similar to the third conditional.

I wish that I had studied harder at school. (I didn't study hard at school, and now I'm sorry about it.)

I wish that I hadn't eaten so much yesterday! (But I did eat a lot yesterday. Now I think it wasn't a good idea.)

I wish that the train had been on time. (But unfortunately the train was late, and so I missed my interview.)

Other uses of 'wish'
Wish + to + infinitive:
We can use 'wish' with the infinitive to mean 'would like'. This is very formal. We don't usually use a continuous tense with 'wish' in this case.

I wish to speak to the headmaster. (This means the same as 'I would like to speak to the headmaster'.)

I wish to go now.

Wish + object + to + infinitive:
In the same way, we can use 'wish' with an object and an infinitive.

I do not wish you to publish this article.

I wish these people to leave.

Wish + somebody + something:
This is used mostly in set phrases.

I wished him a happy birthday.

They wished us Merry Christmas.

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Explanation about using 'wish' to talk about wishes and regrets in the past, present and future.

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Cities around the world are trying to clean up the air people breathe. One way of doing this is introducing low emission zones, which restrict or ban polluting cars. Last year, London introduced the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), and this year British cities including Bath, Leeds and Birmingham are also bringing in Clean Air Zones. 6 Minute English discusses this clean-air initiative and teaches some useful items of vocabulary.

This week's question

Which UK city recently announced it wants to be the country's first 'net zero' city - placing their greenhouse emissions at a neutral level. Was it...

a) Glasgow

b) Manchester, or

c) Cardiff

Listen to the programme to find out the answer.

Vocabulary

emissions
amounts of, usually, gas that is sent out into the air from things like cars

pollutants
substances that cause pollution

to focus the mind
to concentrate on one idea or thought

incentive
something that encourages someone to do something

complex
something that is complicated, difficult and involves many parts

concentrations
amounts of substances, or pollutants, within something

Transcript

Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript

Sam
Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I'm Sam...

Neil
And I'm Neil.

Sam
In this programme, we're discussing low emission zones and explaining some useful items of vocabulary along the way.

Neil
Well, that's good, Sam. But what exactly is a low emission zone?

Well, the noun emission is an amount of, usually, gas, that is sent out into the air and harms the environment - it's pollution. And a low emission zone is an area of a city where the amount of pollution is controlled.

Neil
Of course, and cities like London have them - most vehicles, including cars and vans, need to meet certain emissions standards or their drivers must pay a daily charge to drive within the zone - or they might even be banned altogether.

Sam
Exactly. It's all about making the air we breathe cleaner. And my question today is about one UK city which recently announced it wants to be the country's first 'net zero' city - placing their greenhouse emissions at a neutral level. But which one is it? Is it...

a) Glasgow

b) Manchester

c) Cardiff

Neil
Ah yes, I've heard about this and I'm sure it is a) Glasgow.

Sam
OK, I'll let you know if that was correct at the end of the programme. Now, Neil mentioned that London already has an ultra-low emission zone. But this year, other UK cities, including Bath, Leeds and Birmingham, are also bringing in Clean Air Zones.

Neil
And around the world, many other cities, like Beijing, Paris and Madrid have these zones. Although there are many types of emissions, such as from factories, these zones predominantly target exhaust fumes from vehicles - poisonous gases called nitrogen dioxide.

Alastair Lewis, Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry, University of York
Most of the evidence we have now on air pollution is that we continue to see health benefits by reducing pollution, even when you're below the target value. So, just because the city meets a particular value, there is still an incentive to continue to improve air quality, because the health benefits continue to build up as you do that. So, targets are very good at focusing the mind, but they shouldn't be the only thing that we're considering.

Neil
Alastair Lewis mentions 'targets'. These are official levels of something that need to be achieved. They give us something to aim for - in this case reducing air pollution.

And an incentive is something that encourages someone to do something. So, I think it's accepted that creating low emission zones is an incentive because it encourages people to either not drive into cities or to, at least, drive low-polluting vehicles.

Neil
And, of course, changing to electric-powered cars is one way to do this. There's more of an incentive to do this now, at least in the UK, because the government has said new diesel and petrol cars and vans will be banned from 2040.

Sam
But pollution from vehicles is just part of the problem, as Alastair Lewis points out...

Alastair Lewis, Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry, University of York
One has to accept that air pollution is an enormously complex problem with a very very large number of contributing sources, and there will never be any one single action that will cure the problem for us. So, low emission zones are one way to reduce concentrations, but they are not, in isolation, going to be the solution.

Sam
Yes, there are many sources - things that create these emissions. So, it's not possible to solve - or cure - the problem by doing one thing. Low emission zones are only one part of the solution to the problem.

Sam
Well, earlier, Neil, you had to concentrate your mind and answer a question about emissions. I asked which UK city recently announced it wants to be the country's first 'net zero' city - placing their greenhouse emissions at a neutral level. Was it...

a) Glasgow

b) Manchester, or

c) Cardiff

And, Neil, what did you say?

Neil
I said it's Glasgow.

Sam
And it is Glasgow! Well done, Neil. It wants to become the UK's first 'net zero' city. And later this year it is hosting a major United Nations climate change summit.

Emissions are amounts of, usually, gas that is sent out into the air from things like cars. They harm the environment. And pollutants are the actual substances that cause pollution...

Neil
So, in a polluted city, we might find high concentrations of nitrogen dioxide because of all the traffic - it's not great for our health, Sam.

Sam
Indeed, Neil - that's why we need low emission zones! And that brings us to the end of this 6 Minute English programme. See you soon. Bye.

Neil Goodbye.

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BBC Learning English - 6 Minute English / The benefits of low emission zones

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Cities around the world are trying to clean up the air people breathe. One way of doing this is introducing low emission zones, which restrict or ban polluting cars. Last year, London introduced the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), and this year British cities including Bath, Leeds and Birmingham are also bringing in Clean Air Zones.

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A SHORT PRESENTATION USING THE SECOND CONDITIONAL

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A SHORT PRESENTATION USING THE SECOND CONDITIONAL

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Grammar: 5 different ways to use 'wish' in English

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6 MINUTE ENGLISH: LOCKDOWN WITH CHILDREN

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6 MINUTE ENGLISH: LOCKDOWN WITH CHILDREN

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We use the zero conditional to talk about things which always happen if a particular action takes place. These can be scientific facts, or things we believe are always true.

We use the first conditional to talk about things which might happen if an action takes place. We use if for things which are likely to happen and when for things which are certain to happen.

Freddy later, I'll give him the book. (I'm not certain I'll see him.) Freddy later, I'll give him the book. (I'm certain I'll see him.)

to the beach, I'll take my swimsuit. (It isn't certain we'll go to the beach.) to the beach, I'll take my swimsuit. (It is certain we'll go to the beach.)

Form

Conditional sentences have two parts: the if/when part and the result ( main) part. The two parts can come in any order. When we write, we don't use a comma when the main part comes first.
stomach ache when I drink milk.
I'll take my swimsuit if we go to the beach.

Zero conditional:

The zero conditional uses if/when + present simple, and present simple:
If/When you heat water to 100°C, it boils. Positive Negative Question First conditional:
The first conditional uses if/when + present simple, and will + infinitive (without 'to'):
If/When we go to Paris, we'll visit the Eiffel Tower. Positive Negative Question
Take note: the zero conditional and time

We use the zero conditional to talk about things which are always true. We use the present tense, but we are talking about all time (past, present and future).
If you multiply 10 by 10, it makes 100.
Plants grow when they get water and sunshine.
Take note: the first conditional and modals
We might go shopping later if we have enough time.
If you don't feel well, you should stay at home tonight. If we miss our flight, we'll take the next one. (Not: ... we take the next one.)
They'll meet us at the airport if we arrive late. (Not: They meet us at the airport ...)

When we finish our homework, we could watch TV.
We can use modals instead of will in first conditional sentences. For example, we can use may, might, can or should. We use may or might in the main part to show we are less certain than will, should to give advice, and could for possibility.

Spoken English

In the first conditional, we often use the short form 'll in the main part instead of will. This short form can sometimes be difficult to hear, but it's important to include the 'll sound. If you use the present tense in both parts, your sentence will sound like a zero conditional - and it won't be grammatically correct!

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BBC Learning English - Course: intermediate / Unit 5 / Grammar Reference

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We use the zero conditional to talk about things which always happen if a particular action takes place. These can be scientific facts, or things we believe are always true. We use the first conditional to talk about things which might happen if an action takes place.

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Learn English > English lessons and exercises > English test #106653: Alternative medicine techniques

Alternative medicine techniques are a range of treatments for medical conditions that people use instead of or with Western medicine and treatment.

Homeopathy: It is very safe and non toxic. It is very popular in Europe but is growing in other countries too. It treats symptoms by enhancing the immune system. A physician, scholar, teacher and scientist, Dr. Samuel Hahnemann from Germany was t he founder of Homeopathy

Naturopathy: It believes in the healing power of nature. Benedict Lust was the father of naturopathy in America. Treatments by sunshine, herbs, certain foods, activities, exercises, mediation and changing one's lifestyle are recommended to help restore the body's balance.

oth originated in India. Ayurvedic medicine is a traditional medicine of India. It believes that everything in the universe is the creation from the five elements namely, Ether, Air, Fire, Water and Earth. T he imbalance of t hese elements in the human body is the main cause of disease. Yoga is all about the harmony of the body with the mind and breath through various breathing techniques, physical postures and meditation.

Aromatherapy: It uses natural oils extracted from flowers, barks, roots and other parts of the plants to heal mental and physical problems. The Inhalation of aroma from the oil stimulates brain function. Oil absorbs into the body through massage and heals the pain of the affected part.

Chiropractic: Daniel David Palmer of the US was the founder of chiropractic. Chiropractic treatment is drug free. It is used mainly to treat the joints, back pain, neck pain and headache. It believes that adjusting the spine can cure such pains.

Tai-chi: It originated in China. It is a kind of physical exercise practised for defence training and also for mental and physical health. The movements are very gentle and graceful.

Reiki: Reiki is a kind of spiritual practice, originating in Japan. Rei means Universal and Ki means life force energy. Mikao Usui was the founder of Reiki. The practitioner places the palms of his hands on the parts of the patient's body to supply the healing energy.

Massage Therapy: It is a kind of action on muscles and joints of the body to relieve pain. There are many massage therapy styles based on pressures, movements, and techniques. It has a history around the world and so it is popular in most countries. It gives many emotional and physical benefits.

Acupressure and Acupuncture: Both originated in China. Acupressure is a method to cure illness by pressing the particular points of the body by thumbs and fingertips. Acupuncture is a method to cure the illness by inserting needles into the particular points of a person's body.

Choose the correct alternative medicine technique for the following exercise:

End of the free exercise to learn English: Alternative medicine techniques
A free English exercise to learn English.
Other English exercises on the same topic : Diseases | All our lessons and exercises

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Alternative medicine techniques are a range of treatments for medical conditions that people use instead of or with Western medicine and treatment. Homeopathy: It is very safe and non toxic. It is very popular in Europe but is growing in other countries too. It treats symptoms by enhancing the im...

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Talk about an accident-or accidents-waiting to happen: in Chongqing, a sprawling city in central China, authorities have set up a "cell phone lane." No, it's not quite as bad as it sounds: this is not a lane for drivers with their heads down pecking away on their phones instead of keeping their eyes on the road. The Chongqing cell phone lane is on a street heavily trafficked by pedestrians-a lane where people focusing on their phones can stroll without running into anyone NOT holding a phone. They can only run into each other.

The point of this remains elusive. Is it public safety? How a dedicated walking lane-for people with their heads down preoccupied with their phones-makes anyone safer is a little fuzzy. Maybe the idea was hatched at one of the cell phone makers competing frantically for the world's biggest market for handsets, with Samsung and Apple trying to fend off Huawei, Lenovo and a host of other domestic competitors. If you can get people to bump into each other and drop their phones maybe replacement sales go up?

Chongqing city officials couldn't be reached for an explanation, and a local journalist contacted by Newsweek said she had walked on the street over the weekend and found a lot of cell phone users were ignoring the demarcated lane. Which brings up the problem of enforcement. Is the municipality of Chongqing going to set up a branch of cell phone police to write tickets to anyone straying into the wrong lane? Maybe they can be like the religious police in Saudi Arabia, who roam the streets looking for women not adorned in full burqa and other such travesties. (Though presumably cell phone jaywalkers would not be caned for their offense.)

For answers to this and other questions, the municipal government in Chongqing was, alas, unresponsive. Suffice to say, for residents and visitors to the city-one of the gateways to Sichuan province, which is among China's most beautiful regions-when walking the streets there, best keep your head up.

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Chinese City Creates a Cell Phone Lane for Walkers

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Talk about an accident-or accidents-waiting to happen: in Chongqing, a sprawling city in central China, authorities have set up a "cell phone lane." No, it's not quite as bad as it sounds: this is not a lane for drivers with their heads down pecking away on their phones instead of keeping their eyes on the road.

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ABBA - Money, Money, Money (Official Music Video)

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Money spent on time makes you happy: BBC News Review

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COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE: AN INTERVIEW

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COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE: AN INTERVIEW

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Complementary And Alternative Medicine Video

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Coronavirus — How to Talk about It in English

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TED TALKS: THE NEXT OUTBREAK? WE'RE NOT READY

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TED TALKS: THE NEXT OUTBREAK? WE'RE NOT READY

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もし次の疫病大流行（アウトブレイク）が来たら？私たちの準備はまだ出来ていない

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2014年、世界はエボラの恐ろしい更なるアウトブレイクを免れる事が出来ました。何千人もの自らの犠牲を惜しまない医療従事者達の努力により―そして、率直に言えば単にとても幸運だったお陰で。
事態を振り返って、私たちにはもっとやるべきだった事が分かっています。アウトブレイクのシナリオに沿った計画立案からワクチンの開発、そして医療従事者達のトレーニング―ビル・ゲイツは今こそがあらゆる最善の方法やアイデアを実現する時だと訴えます。 「パニックに陥る必要はありません―でも今、始めなければならないのです。」

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This glossary of terms related to coronaviruses and in particular is intended for learners of English though it may be of interest to a wider audience. In times of crisis, knowing and understanding the terminology involved may help alleviate some of the fears and even panic that such times breed.

A virus is a micro-organism, too small to be seen without a microscope, that causes infectious disease in animals and humans.

In December 2019 a new disease was identified in China. On investigation, the disease was caused by a new virus of the coronavirus family, and has since been officially named COVID-19.

It is believed (subject to further investigation) that COVID-19 originated in a meat and live-animal market in the city of Wuhan in the province of Hubei in the country of China. It subsequently spread to other countries and was officially pronounced a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 11 March 2020.

Each of the following terms, listed in alphabetical order, has 1) a basic definition and 2) an example sentence showing how the term may be used in context.

asymptomatic (adjective): showing no symptoms of a particular disease - She had no idea her husband had coronavirus because he was asymptomatic.

carrier (noun): a person or animal that transmits a disease to others, whether suffering from it themselves or not - People who are asymptomatic can still be carriers.

carry (verb): be infected with a disease and able to transmit it to others, whether symptomatic or asymptomatic - Some people may carry coronavirus without knowing it.

community spread (noun): transmission of a disease directly within a community and not by importation from a foreign source - With this many new positive cases, the evidence suggests that we now have community spread right here in our county.

contact tracing (noun): identification and monitoring of people who may have had contact with an infectious person - By insisting on strict contact tracing as soon as someone was potentially infected, they managed to control the spread of the disease.

contagious (adjective): describing a disease that can pass from person to person, usually by direct contact; describing a person with such a disease. See infectious - Patients who are still contagious are kept in isolation.

COVID-19 (noun): official name for the novel coronavirus disease that emerged in China in 2019. COVID-19 = COrona VIrus Disease-20 19 - All countries are requested to report any new confirmed case of COVID-19 within 48 hours.

epidemic (noun): occurrence of a particular disease in a large number of people in a particular area. See outbreak, pandemic - The city was devastated by an epidemic of cholera in the 19th century.

herd immunity (noun): an indirect protection from a disease resulting from a large percentage of the population gaining immunity (either through vaccination or through recovering from the disease) - This virus is unlike the seasonal flu because there is currently no vaccine or herd immunity, he said.

infectious (adjective): describing a disease that can be transmitted through the environment; describing a human or animal capable of spreading an infection. See contagious - Avoid the dogs as they may still be infectious.

isolation (noun): separation of infected people from healthy people for serious contagious diseases like COVID-19 - Travellers arriving from the infected area were immediately put in isolation.

mask (noun): a piece of fibre or cloth that fits over the nose and mouth to protect other people from the wearer's germs and/or the wearer from germs in the air - The World Health Organization recommend that people should not wear masks unless they may be carrying COVID-19 (to protect other people) or are caring for anyone suffering from COVID-19 (to protect themselves).

outbreak (noun): a sudden occurrence of a disease (or other unpleasant thing). See epidemic, pandemic - There was another outbreak of the disease in 1993 but the cause was uncertain.

pandemic (noun): occurrence of a particular disease throughout a whole country or the world. See epidemic, outbreak - Just after the First World War there was a pandemic of flu which killed up to 40 million people worldwide.

patient zero (noun): the person identified as the first to become infected with a disease in an outbreak - Authoritites usually try to determine who patient zero was in any given outbreak as can help answer important questions about how, when and why it started.

quarantine (noun): isolation and monitoring of people who seem healthy but may have been exposed to an infectious disease to see if they develop symptoms - For centuries it's been common for ships arriving from infected areas to be kept in quarantine at the docks, originally for 40 days which is where the term comes from.

SARS-CoV-2 (noun): Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoronaVirus 2; final official name for the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. (This virus was previously known as 2019-nCoV.) - SARS-CoV-2 is the name of the virus and COVID-19 is the name of the disease.

self-isolate (verb): isolate oneself; put oneself in quarantine, away from other people - The prime minister's wife has tested positive for COVID-19 and the couple are now self-isolating and working by phone and Skype.

social distancing (noun): practice of encouraging people to minimize contact and closeness, whether by banning large or even small groups/meetings (football matches, nightclubs), or by maintaining a minimum distance between people (for example one metre or two metres) - The government has instructed schools to take social distancing measures to slow the spread of the virus.

superspreader (noun): person infected with a virus etc who transmits or spreads it to an unusually large number of people - One so-called "superspreader" in South Korea infected at least 37 people at her church with the virus.

vax (noun, informal): vaccine, vaccination - Have you had your flu vax this year? | anti-vaxer, anti-vaxxer (noun): a person opposed to vaccines and vaccination on principle - Some anti-vaxxers are against vaccines on religious grounds and others just believe vaccines are dangerous to health.

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This glossary of terms related to coronaviruses and in particular is intended for learners of English though it may be of interest to a wider audience. In times of crisis, knowing and understanding the terminology involved may help alleviate some of the fears and even panic that such times breed.

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Coronavirus: Italy takes action: BBC News Review

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Passive Voice - English Grammar Exercises

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Passive Voice - Learning English with our free Online Exercises

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BBC Learning English - Course: intermediate / Unit 12 / Grammar Reference

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In English, we can express sentences in two different ways: active voice and passive voice. The active voice is used when the focus is on the subject (or agent) of the main verb. This is the person or thing doing the verb.

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Present and past passives - 6 Minute Grammar

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PUSH YOUR LUCK

People often push their luck after already achieving success. They take a big risk on what they have already gained in the hopes of getting or achieving more. The problem is if something goes wrong, they risk creating a big problem for themselves or losing what they have already achieved.

Consider a gambler in a casino. The gambler bets £10 and plays a game of cards. Through excellent luck, they win £200. They might decide to push their luck and risk this £200 in order to win more money - but they could lose everything!
Example Sentences

I can't believe we managed to get a table reservation so late in the evening! Do you think we can push our luck and ask for a bigger table?

You've turned in three late reports this month and no one noticed. But now the CEO is visiting and checking everything. Don't push your luck this time, eh?

I managed to avoid paying the parking fine because of a technicality, but I'd be pushing my luck if I parked there again!

Now You Try
Tell us about a time that you've pushed your luck! Chat with us.

You can also share it with everybody on our , and pages.

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BBC Learning English - Friday Phrase / Push your luck

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People often push their luck after already achieving success. They take a big risk on what they have already gained in the hopes of getting or achieving more. The problem is if something goes wrong, they risk creating a big problem for themselves or losing what they have already achieved.

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Linking words of contrast

We use words and phrases like though, although and even though to link two clauses together. We call them linking words of contrast. We use despite and in spite of in front of nouns and gerunds.

Marta broke her leg a year ago. Marta ran a marathon last weekend.

Despite breaking her leg a year ago, Marta ran a marathon last weekend.

Binh loves football. Binh has never been to a professional football match.

Though Binh loves football, he's never seen a professional match.

Where to use them

Although, even though and though go in front of a clause. They can go at the beginning or middle of a sentence.

Endang worked hard, she failed her exams.

Endang failed her exams, although she worked hard.

Though it was cold, Katya only wore a t-shirt.

Katya only wore a t-shirt, though it was cold.

Despite and in spite of go in front of nouns or gerunds. They can also go at the beginning or middle of sentences.

Despite smoking 40 cigarettes a day, my grandfather lived to 100.

My grandfather lived to 100, despite smoking 100 cigarettes a day.

In spite of the terrible weather, they had a nice holiday.

They had a nice holiday, in spite of the terrible weather.

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BBC Learning English - Course: Towards Advanced / Unit 4 / Grammar Reference

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We use words and phrases like though, although and even though to link two clauses together. We call them linking words of contrast. We use despite and in spite of in front of nouns and gerunds. Marta broke her leg a year ago. Marta ran a marathon last weekend.

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KEY FACTORS FOR SUCCESSFUL MEDIATION 2020

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to pass

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English Tenses - Free Grammar Exercises - Learning English

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Lots of reported speech exercises - practise using free interactive quizzes.

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Task No. 4443

Use the verbs in brackets in the correct future tenses - will-future, going to-future, Simple Present or Present Progressive.

Show example

Example:

The weather nice on Sunday. (to be)

Answer:

The weather will be nice on Sunday.

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Future tenses in English, Grammar Exercises Online for free

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How to use the third conditional - 6 Minute Grammar

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How to talk about the future - 6 Minute Grammar

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ST. VALENTINE'S: SPEED DATING IS TOUGH!!!

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ST. VALENTINE'S: SPEED DATING IS TOUGH!!!

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Speed Dating | A Singleton Struggles To Make A Connection l Award-Winning Comedy Short | Isaac Feder

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How to tell if your boyfriend is a slob | Learn English | British Council

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Reported Speech: The Grammar Gameshow Episode 25

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How to use reported speech - 6 Minute Grammar

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REPORTED SPEECH: THE PRINCESS WHO NEVER SMILED

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REPORTED SPEECH: THE PRINCESS WHO NEVER SMILED

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The Princess Who Never Smiled (Reported Speech Practice) - English ESL video lesson

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ESL video lesson with an interactive quiz: Grammar practice .

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7 & 8 REVISE AND CHECK (2NB)
GRAMMAR 1 A 2 C 3 B 4 C 5 B 6 A 7 A 8 C 9 C 10 B 11 A 12 B 13 B 14 C 15 C

VOCABULARY A 1 MEET 2 TELL 3 MISS 4 HOPE 5 WEARS B 1 FORGET 2 LEARN 3 TRY 4 PROMISE 5 ENJOY 6 MIND 7 HATE 8 FINISH C 1 VERY 2 INCREDIBLY 3 BIT 4 RATHER 5 QUITE D 1 LOST 2 HOME / BACK 3 BETTER 4 TICKETS 5 ON 6 DIVORCED 7 FROM PRONUNCIATION A 1 GIVE 2 CHILD 3 CHOOSE 4 SANDWICH 5 WEAR...

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7 & 8 REVISE AND CHECK (2NB) GRAMMAR 1 A 2 C 3 B 4 C 5 B 6 A 7 A 8 C 9 C 10 B 11 A 12 B 13 B 14 C 15 C VOCABULARY A 1 MEET 2 TELL 3 MISS 4 HOPE 5 WEARS

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6 Minute Grammar: How to use narrative tenses

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The past perfect tense - 6 Minute Grammar

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NARRATIVE TENSES: FUNNY VIDEO IN A BORING TOWN

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NARRATIVE TENSES: FUNNY VIDEO IN A BORING TOWN

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PRESENT PERFECT EXERCISES

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PRESENT PERFECT REVISION

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NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS 6ME PODCAST WORKSHEET

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The effects of severe drought and climate change is having an impact on one of the world's great natural wonders, Victoria Falls.

Elisha Moyo, Principal Climate Change Researcher at Zimbabwe's Ministry of Environment, Climate and Tourism. tells Hardtalk's Stephen Sackur that the average flow over the falls in 2019 is down by almost 50%

Mr Moyo said "The low falls are becoming more frequent...

"Who knows maybe one year there will be no falls completely, no water."

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BBC World News - HARDtalk, HARDtalk, Could Victoria Falls dry up?

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The effects of severe drought and climate change is having an impact on one of the world's great natural wonders, Victoria Falls. Elisha Moyo, Principal Climate Change Researcher at Zimbabwe's Ministry of Environment, Climate and Tourism. tells Hardtalk's Stephen Sackur that the average flow over the falls in 2019 is down by almost 50% Mr Moyo said "The low falls are becoming more frequent...

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PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE AND CONTINUOUS: EXERCISES

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PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE AND CONTINUOUS: EXERCISES

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Task No. 4441

Put in the words in brackets into the gaps. Use either the Present Perfect or the Present Perfect Progressive. Mind the word order.

Show example

Example:

How long ? (your sister/to drive)

Answer:

How long has your sister been driving?

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Present Perfect or Present Perfect Progressive - Exercise

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Exercise on the Present Perfect or the Present Perfect Progressive in English

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THE GRAMMAR SHOW: PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE AND PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

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THE GRAMMAR SHOW: PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE AND PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

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The Present Perfect Simple and Continuous: The Grammar Gameshow Episode 4

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PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE AND PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

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PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE AND PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

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Look at these examples to see how the present perfect simple and continuous are used.

We've painted the bathroom.
She's been training for a half-marathon.
I've had three coffees already today!
They've been waiting for hours.

Try this exercise to test your grammar.

Grammar test 1

Grammar B1-B2: Present perfect simple and present perfect continuous: 1

Read the explanation to learn more.

Grammar explanation

We use both the present perfect simple ( have or has + past participle) and the present perfect continuous ( have or has + been + -ing form) to talk about past actions or states which are still connected to the present.

Focusing on result or activity

The present perfect simple usually focuses on the result of the activity in some way, and the present perfect continuous usually focuses on the activity itself in some way.

Ongoing states and actions

We often use for, since and how long with the present perfect simple to talk about ongoing states.

How long have you known each other?
We've known each other since we were at school.

We often use for, since and how long with the present perfect continuous to talk about ongoing single or repeated actions.

How long have they been playing tennis?
They've been playing tennis for an hour.
They've been playing tennis every Sunday for years.

Sometimes the present perfect continuous can emphasise that a situation is temporary.

I usually go to the gym on the High Street, but it's closed for repairs at the moment so I've been going to the one in the shopping centre.

Do this exercise to test your grammar again.

Grammar test 2

Grammar B1-B2: Present perfect simple and present perfect continuous: 2

Language level

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Do you know the difference between We've painted the room and We've been painting the room? Test what you know with interactive exercises and read the explanation to help you.

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STATE VERBS AND VERBS WITH TWO MEANINGS: STATE AND ACTION

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STATE VERBS AND VERBS WITH TWO MEANINGS: STATE AND ACTION

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'play', 'do' or 'go'? English In A Minute

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STATIVE VERBS: LIST, EXPLANATION AND TEST

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STATIVE VERBS: LIST, EXPLANATION AND TEST

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Look at these examples to see how stative verbs are used.

I think that's a good idea.
I love this song!
That coffee smells good.
Do you have a pen?

Try this exercise to test your grammar.

Read the explanation to learn more.

Grammar explanation

Stative verbs describe a state rather than an action. They aren't usually used in the present continuous form.

I don't know the answer. I'm not knowing the answer.
She really likes you.She's really liking you.
He seems happy at the moment.He's seeming happy at the moment.

Stative verbs often relate to:

Verbs that are sometimes stative

A number of verbs can refer to states or actions, depending on the context.

I think it's a good idea.
Wait a moment! I'm thinking.

The first sentence expresses an opinion. It is a mental state, so we use present simple. In the second example the speaker is actively processing thoughts about something. It is an action in progress, so we use present continuous.

Some other examples are:

I have an old car. (state - possession)
I'm having a quick break. (action - having a break is an activity)

Do you see any problems with that? (state - opinion)
We're seeing Tadanari tomorrow afternoon. (action - we're meeting him)

He's so interesting! (state - his permanent quality)
He's being very unhelpful. (action - he is temporarily behaving this way)

This coffee tastes delicious. (state - our perception of the coffee)
Look! The chef is tasting the soup. (action - tasting the soup is an activity)

Do this exercise to test your grammar again.

Language level

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Look at these examples to see how stative verbs are used. I think that's a good idea. I love this song! That coffee smells good. Do you have a pen? Try this exercise to test your grammar. Read the explanation to learn more. Stative verbs describe a state rather than an action.

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Buying food on the street is nothing new but in the UK this idea is really taking off. It's a great way of sampling freshly cooked dishes from around the world. Rob and Neil discuss the subject and hear from an expert who explains the popularity in this type of food - plus you can learn some new vocabulary along the way.

This week's question:

Recently archaeologists in Jordan discovered what they believe is the oldest remains of bread. How old is this bread? Is it...
a) 18,000 years old
b) 14,000 years old
c) 5,500 years old

Listen to the programme to find out the answer.

Vocabulary

phenomenal
something that is amazing, remarkable and extraordinary

to take off
to become popular

provinces
areas of a country that aren't the major cities

captures the imagination
makes you interested in something

authentic
real, genuine, not a fake or a copy

microwave food
food prepared in a microwave oven

Transcript
Note: This is not a word for word transcript
Neil
Hello. Welcome to 6 Minute English, I'm Neil.

Rob
And I'm Rob.

Neil
Now Rob, you like your food, don't you?

Rob
Oh yes, yum yum, food! One of my favourite things.

Neil
And what do you think of street food?

Rob
I love street food. There are some great places in London where you can find delicious foods from all over the world, cooked in front of you in market stalls on the street.

Neil
It's quite new though, isn't it - not really a British tradition?

Rob
I guess not, but it seems to be much more popular these days.

Neil
Well our topic today is street food, but before we tuck into that, here is today's question. Recently archaeologists in Jordan discovered what they believe is the oldest remains of bread. How old is this bread? Is it...

a) 18,000 years old

b) 14,000 years old, or

c) 5,500 years old?

What do you think?

Rob
I don't know - but what I do know is, I wouldn't really want to try a sandwich made from that bread!

Neil
Mmm, it might be a bit mouldy.

Rob
Yes! Anyway, I'm going to have a guess and say c) 5,500 years old.

Neil
Right, we will find out the answer later in the programme. Mark Laurie is from the Nationwide Caterers Association. He is an expert in the business of street food in the UK. He appeared on BBC radio's The Food Programme and was asked how the business of street food has changed in recent years. In his answer he talks about the areas where there is most growth in street food. What are those areas?

Mark Laurie
It's been phenomenal the growth in street food - it's really taken off, it's really become quite mainstream. Part of the cultural fabric of the country really, or it's beginning to be, certainly in the bigger cities and increasingly in the sort of provinces, if you like.

Neil
So where does he say the popularity of street food is growing?

He says that it's in the bigger cities and also in the provinces. The provinces is a word which means 'the parts of a country outside of the cities'.

Neil
So essentially, he's saying it's getting more popular everywhere.

Yes he says that it's really taken off. Taken off is one of those phrasal verbs that can be used in many different ways. In this sense, when something takes off it means it becomes successful and popular.

Neil
Well, let's listen again to Mark Laurie talking about the growth of street food in the UK.

Mark Laurie
It's been phenomenal the growth in street food, it's really taken off, it's really become quite mainstream. Part of the cultural fabric of the country really, or it's beginning to be, certainly in the bigger cities and increasingly in the sort of provinces, if you like.

Mark Laurie goes on to talk about why street food has become popular. What kind of food does he say it's not like?

Mark Laurie
Yeah, it's just really captured the imagination of the public. It's honest food, it's authentic food and it's people that you can trust making it. It's not some microwave food or whatever that you might get in your local pub.

Neil
So street food is many things, but what isn't it?

You know I quite like a microwave meal now and then - and I reheat my leftovers in the microwave.

Neil
Well, all this talk of food is making me hungry, so let's get the answer to the quiz and review today's vocabulary before we head off and grab a bite to eat. We asked about the age of bread discovered by archaeologists in Jordan. Was it a) 18,000 years old, b) 14,000 years or c) 5,500 years.

Rob
Mmm, and I said it was c) 5,500 years.

Neil
And I'm afraid it's a lot mouldier than that. The answer was 14,000 years.

Then we had to take off, a phrasal verb which means to become popular. Street food has really taken off in the UK: it's become really popular.

And one thing which has captured the imagination of the British public is authentic street food. Something authentic is real, it's genuine, it's not a fake or a copy.

And finally we had microwave food, food prepared in a microwave oven. And that kind of food is not seen by some as authentic.

Neil
Well, it's time to eat, so that's all we have time for today. Join us again next time and remember you can find us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and of course on our website bbclearningenglish.com. See you soon, bye.

Rob
Bye!

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BBC Learning English - 6 Minute English / Street food: Why is it becoming so popular?

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Buying food on the street is nothing new but in the UK this idea is really taking off. It's a great way of sampling freshly cooked dishes from around the world. Rob and Neil discuss the subject and hear from an expert who explains the popularity in this type of food - plus you can learn some new vocabulary along the way.

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FUNCTIONS IN ENGLISH: AGREEING, DISAGREEING, GIVING AND ASKING FOR OPINIONS, ETC

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FUNCTIONS IN ENGLISH: AGREEING, DISAGREEING, GIVING AND ASKING FOR OPINIONS, ETC

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Exercises - relative pronouns

1. Who, which, where - exercises

2. Who, which, where: quiz 1

3. Test 1: who, which, where.

4. Write: who, which or where.

5. That, who, which, where - exercises

6. Who, whose, which - test 1

7. Who, whose, which - test 2

8. That, who, whose, which, where: quiz 2

9. Test 2: that, who, whose, which, where

10. Test 3: that, who, whose, which, where.

11. Test 4: that, who, whose, which, where.

12. Relative pronouns 1

13. Relative pronouns 2

14. Who / which / whose - pronouns

relative clauses- intermediate -

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Exercises: relative pronouns and relative clauses in English. Adjective clauses

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Comparing and contrasting - modifying comparatives

When we want to talk about similarities and differences we can use adjectives in their comparative forms ...

or we can use (not) as (adjective) as

Her hair is as long as mine.

This one's not as interesting as his first book. Remember that 'not as interesting as' means 'less interesting than'.

We can also use expressions like different from, similar to and the same as.

She's very different from her sister. They're very different.

Sri Lankan food is similar to Indian food. They're similar.

Andrew is the same age as Lily. Their ages are the same. We use same with nouns.

Modifying comparisons

A big difference - much, a lot, far

We can modify comparative adjectives to show that there is a big difference between things.

Sales in July were much higher than sales in June.

She's a lot taller than you.

This one's far more expensive than the blue one.

We can also say that things are completely or totally different from each other.

They may be twins but they're completely different from each other.

A small difference - slightly, a little, a bit, not much

We can show there is a small difference.

Sales in August were slightly lower than sales in July.

You're a bit younger than me.

These are not much more expensive than those.

No difference - exactly, more or less, roughly

We can show that there is no difference or almost no difference.

He's exactly the same age as me. ( No difference)

The figures for December are more or less the same as the figures for November. (a tiny difference)

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Comparing and contrasting - modifying comparatives

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When we want to talk about similarities and differences we can use adjectives in their comparative forms ... or we can use (not) as (adjective) as Her hair is as long as mine. This one's not as interesting as his first book. Remember that 'not as interesting as' means 'less interesting than'.

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ADVANTAGES OF DRINKING TEA AND COFFEE: AN EXPERT TALKS

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ADVANTAGES OF DRINKING TEA AND COFFEE: AN EXPERT TALKS

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Dinner on a crane 100ft in the air - London in the Sky

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The Money Pit (2/9) Movie CLIP - The Stairs Are Out! (1986) HD