# data[].attributes.body
USEFUL SENTENCES

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Preparing for an English Language qualification is a serious business and I know you have to face huge obstacles -you may find it difficult to find time to study, to stay motivated and in control of your learning, or to organise your time effectively.

Well, I want you to improve your confidence and command of English and, why not, to pass your exams.

I thought that this web could be an easy way to share resources with you. We can make use of it as a companion to your FCE or CAE course. You will find here many resources useful in learning English as a Second Language.

I hope you find this site to be interesting and informative and I look forward to seeing you here quite often.

Best wishes... and see you in class!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Preparing for an English Language qualification is a serious business and I know you have to face huge obstacles -you may find it difficult to find time to study, to stay motivated and in control of your learning, or to organise your time effectively.

# data[].attributes.body
ACTIVITIES

# data[].attributes.body
EXPLANATION

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
En la lección de hoy trabajaremos tres expresiones que tienen en común la palabra "used" y que muy a menudo son confundidas por los estudiantes. Lo que tienen en común es que hacen referencia a hábitos (presentes o pasados), pero las características formales de estas expresiones no son iguales.
USED TO
Se trata de la forma de pasado regular del verbo to use y hace referencia a hábitos pasados, que no continúan en el presente:

When I was at school, I used to wear a uniform.

Fijaros que esta expresión se utiliza acompañada por un segundo verbo en infinitivo ( wear) y que indica la acción que constituía el hábito.

Como se trata de un verbo, en las preguntas y las frases negativas se utiliza la forma de infinitivo:

Did you use to wear a uniform at school?

No, I didn't use to wear a uniform.

Importante:

Used to solamente se utiliza para hablar de hábitos en el pasado. Por lo tanto, no es correcto decir I'm used to wake up early. Para hablar de hábitos presentes, normalmente utilizamos el present simple:

I usually wake up early.
BE USED TO
En este caso, se trata del adjetivo used (acostumbrado). La expresión hace referencia a hábitos presentes, situaciones a las que estamos acostumbrados:

I'm a teacher. I'm used to working with young people.

Fijaros que el adjetivo used tiene una preposición obligatoria ( to) y el verbo que le sigue tiene la forma de gerundio ( working).

Como se trata de un adjetivo, su forma no cambia en las frases interrogativas o negativas:

Are you used to working with young people?

No, I'm not used to working with young people.
GET USED TO
Esta expresión contiene también el adjetivo used (acostumbrado), pero su significado es ligeramente diferente del de be used to. Se trata de emfatizar un cambio de hábitos que requiere un cierto esfuerzo.

When I arrived in Spain, I had to get used to having lunch late.

I haven't got used to not having a car anymore.

Fijaros que en este caso también tenemos una preposición obligatoria (to) y un segundo verbo en la forma de gerundio.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Estructuras fáciles de confundir: used to / be used to /get used to

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Hoy trabajaremos tres expresiones que tienen en común la palabra "used" y que muy a menudo son confundidas por los estudiantes. Lo que tienen en común es que hacen referencia a hábitos (presentes o pasados), pero las características formales de estas expresiones no son iguales.

# data[].attributes.body
GERUNDS AND INFINITIVES

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
How to use gerunds and infinitives - lots of explanations and free exercises

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Click here for a list of reported speech exercises.
Click here to download this explanation in PDF.
Reported Statements
When do we use reported speech? Sometimes someone says a sentence, for example "I'm going to the cinema tonight". Later, maybe we want to tell someone else what the first person said.

Watch my reported speech video:

Here's how it works:

We use a 'reporting verb' like 'say' or 'tell'. ( Click here for more about using 'say' and 'tell'.) If this verb is in the present tense, it's easy. We just put 'she says' and then the sentence:

Direct speech: I like ice cream.

Reported speech: She says (that) she likes ice cream.

We don't need to change the tense, though probably we do need to change the 'person' from 'I' to 'she', for example. We also may need to change words like 'my' and 'your'.

(As I'm sure you know, often, we can choose if we want to use 'that' or not in English. I've put it in brackets () to show that it's optional. It's exactly the same if you use 'that' or if you don't use 'that'.)

But, if the reporting verb is in the past tense, then usually we change the tenses in the reported speech:

Direct speech: I like ice cream.

Reported speech: She said (that) she liked ice cream.

* doesn't change.

Occasionally, we don't need to change the present tense into the past if the information in direct speech is still true (but this is only for things which are general facts, and even then usually we like to change the tense):

Direct speech: The sky is blue.

Reported speech: She said (that) the sky is/was blue.

Click here for a mixed tense exercise about practise reported statements.
Click here for a list of all the reported speech exercises.

Reported Questions

So now you have no problem with making reported speech from positive and negative sentences. But how about questions?

Direct speech: Where do you live?

How can we make the reported speech here?

In fact, it's not so different from reported statements. The tense changes are the same, and we keep the question word. The very important thing though is that, once we tell the question to someone else, it isn't a question any more. So we need to change the grammar to a normal positive sentence. A bit confusing? Maybe this example will help:

Direct speech: Where do you live?

Reported speech: She asked me where I lived.

Do you see how I made it? The direct question is in the present simple tense. We make a present simple question with 'do' or 'does' so I need to take that away. Then I need to change the verb to the past simple.

Another example:

Direct speech: Where is Julie?

Reported speech: She asked me where Julie was.

The direct question is the present simple of 'be'. We make the question form of the present simple of be by inverting (changing the position of)the subject and verb. So, we need to change them back before putting the verb into the past simple.
Here are some more examples:

Where is the Post Office, please?

She asked me where the Post Office was.

What are you doing?

She asked me what I was doing.

Who was that fantastic man?

She asked me who that fantastic man had been.

So much for 'wh' questions. But, what if you need to report a 'yes / no' question? We don't have any question words to help us. Instead, we use 'if':

Direct speech: Do you like chocolate?

Reported speech: She asked me if I liked chocolate.

No problem? Here are a few more examples:

Click here to practise reported 'wh' questions.
Click here to practise reported 'yes / no' questions.

Reported Requests

There's more! What if someone asks you to do something (in a polite way)? For example:

Direct speech: Close the window, please

Or: Could you close the window please?

Or: Would you mind closing the window please?

All of these requests mean the same thing, so we don't need to report every word when we tell another person about it. We simply use 'ask me + to + infinitive':

Reported speech: She asked me to close the window.

Here are a few more examples:

Please help me.

She asked me to help her.

Please don't smoke.

She asked me not to smoke.

Could you bring my book tonight?

She asked me to bring her book that night.

Could you pass the milk, please?

She asked me to pass the milk.

Would you mind coming early tomorrow?

She asked me to come early the next day.

To report a negative request, use 'not':

Direct speech: Please don't be late.

Reported speech: She asked us not to be late.

Reported Orders

And finally, how about if someone doesn't ask so politely? We can call this an 'order' in English, when someone tells you very directly to do something. For example:

Direct speech: Sit down!

In fact, we make this into reported speech in the same way as a request. We just use 'tell' instead of 'ask':

Reported speech: She told me to sit down.

Time Expressions with Reported Speech

Sometimes when we change direct speech into reported speech we have to change time expressions too. We don't always have to do this, however. It depends on when we heard the direct speech and when we say the reported speech.

For example:

It's Monday. Julie says "I'm leaving today".

If I tell someone on Monday, I say "Julie said she was leaving today".
If I tell someone on Tuesday, I say "Julie said she was leaving yesterday".
If I tell someone on Wednesday, I say "Julie said she was leaving on Monday".
If I tell someone a month later, I say "Julie said she was leaving that day".

So, there's no easy conversion. You really have to think about when the direct speech was said.

Here's a table of some possible conversions:

today

yesterday / that day / Tuesday / the 27th of June

yesterday

the day before yesterday / the day before / Wednesday / the 5th of December

last night

the night before, Thursday night

last week

the week before / the previous week

tomorrow

today / the next day / the following day / Friday

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Practise reported speech - clear explanations and lots of exercises.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Use of Passive

Passive voice is used when the focus is on the action. It is not important or not known, however, who or what is performing the action.

Example: My bike was stolen.

In the example above, the focus is on the fact that my bike was stolen. I do not know, however, who did it.

Sometimes a statement in passive is more polite than active voice, as the following example shows:

Example: A mistake was made.

In this case, I focus on the fact that a mistake was made, but I do not blame anyone (e.g. You have made a mistake.).

Form of Passive

Subject + finite form of to be + Past Participle (3rd column of irregular verbs)

Example: A letter was written.

When rewriting active sentences in passive voice, note the following:

the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence

the finite form of the verb is changed (to be + past participle)

the subject of the active sentence becomes the object of the passive sentence (or is dropped)

Rewriting an active sentence with two objects in passive voice means that one of the two objects becomes the subject, the other one remains an object. Which object to transform into a subject depends on what you want to put the focus on.

.

As you can see in the examples, adding by Rita does not sound very elegant. That's why it is usually dropped.

Personal and Impersonal Passive

Personal Passive simply means that the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence. So every verb that needs an object (transitive verb) can form a personal passive.

Example: They build houses. - Houses are built.

Verbs without an object (intransitive verb) normally cannot form a personal passive sentence (as there is no object that can become the subject of the passive sentence). If you want to use an intransitive verb in passive voice, you need an impersonal construction - therefore this passive is called Impersonal Passive.

Example: he says - it is said

Impersonal Passive is not as common in English as in some other languages (e.g. German, Latin). In English, Impersonal Passive is only possible with verbs of perception ( e. g. say, think, know).

Example: They say that women live longer than men. - It is said that women live longer than men.

Although Impersonal Passive is possible here, Personal Passive is more common.

Example: They say that women live longer than men. - Women are said to live longer than men.

The subject of the subordinate clause (women) goes to the beginning of the sentence; the verb of perception is put into passive voice. The rest of the sentence is added using an infinitive construction with 'to' (certain auxiliary verbs and that are dropped).

Sometimes the term Personal Passive is used in English lessons if the indirect object of an active sentence is to become the subject of the passive sentence.

Exercises

Exercises on Passive (Form)

Exercises on Passive (Active → Passive)

Exercises on Passive (Active or Passive)

Grammar in Texts

Tests on Passiv

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Learn English - Passive Voice - English Grammar

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Passive Voice, short explanation and exercises

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
What are conditionals in English grammar? Sometimes we call them 'if clauses'. They describe the result of something that might happen (in the present or future) or might have happened but didn't (in the past) . They are made using different English verb tenses.
Download my infographic!

There are four main kinds of conditionals:

(Notice we can put 'if' at the beginning, or in the middle. It doesn't change the meaning. When 'if' is at the beginning of the sentence, we put a comma at the end of the 'if' clause. We don't use a comma when 'if' is in the middle of the sentence.)
Click here for conditional exercises

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
If I study conditionals, I will speak better English! That's the first conditional - find clear explanations and lots of practice exercises here.

# data[].attributes.body
Explanation + activities

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
What you can find on this page:

online exercises and grammar rules

pdf exercises and grammar rules

Future perfect exercises

Future perfect simple

Positive statement: I will have worked (I'll have worked), he will have written (he'll have written)
Negative statement: I will not have returned (I won't have returned), he will not have done (he won't have done)
Questions: Will you have cleaned? Will she have sent?
Negative questions: Will you not have cleaned? (Won't you have sent?)

We make the simple tense with will + have + past participle. The past participles are different for regular verbs and irregular verbs. See also how to make the future perfect in the passive.
Use
In the English language we use the future perfect simple tense for activities that will be completed before or at a certain time in the future. It is often used with a time expression beginning with by: by then, by that time, by midnight, by the end of the year ... On the other hand, you must be careful with other time expressions, because this tense cannot be used in time clauses with expressions such as when, while, before, after, as soon as, if, unless, etc., which are normally used in the time clauses with other tenses.

The time can also be given by other time expressions (on Sunday, before 31 June) or actions.

I will have sent the project by Friday.
On 11 August this year we will have been married for five years.
When the mountaineers get back to the base, they'll have been in the snowstorm for two days.
We'll have reached the top before noon.
How long will she have worked here by the end of this year?

In all these examples, at a given time the actions will be in the past.

Future perfect continuous

Positive statement: I will have been writing (I'll have been writing), he will have been studying (he'll have been studying)
Negative statement: I will not have been doing (I won't have been doing)
Questions: Will you have been travelling?
Neg. questions: Will you not have been dancing? (Won't you have been dancing?)

We use the future perfect continuous tense for activities that will continue until a point of time and will not be completed. It is also normally used with by or other time expressions and future events.

I'll go home on 20 June. By then I'll have been staying at this hotel for a fortnight.
At six o'clock we'll have been waiting here for three hours.
When you arrive, we'll have been sitting in the classroom all day.
Compare the simple and continuous tense
The continuous tense is used for incomplete, uninterrupted actions. If we refer to a number of individual events or events that were repeated, we must use the simple.

When I am sixty, I'll have been building houses for thirty years. (one incomplete activity)
When I am sixty, I'll have built more than fifty houses. (fifty individual actions)
By 5 o'clock I'll have been washing this car for an hour and a half. (one uninterrupted activity)
By 5 o'clock I'll have washed this car and replaced the tyres. (two completed activities that will be done one after another)

In this respect they are similar to other English tenses, which you can study on this website to get more examples.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
What you can find on this page: online exercises and grammar rules pdf exercises and grammar rules Positive statement: I will have worked (I'll have worked), he will have written (he'll have written) Negative statement: I will not have returned (I won't have returned), he will not have done (he won't have done) Questions: Will you have cleaned?

# data[].attributes.body
TIME PREPOSITIONS

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Download this explanation in PDF here.
See my explanation about the causative verbs 'let' and 'make' here.

We use a causative verb when we want to talk about something that someone else did for us or for another person. It means that the subject caused the action to happen, but didn't do it themselves. Maybe they paid, or asked, or persuaded the other person to do it. For example, we can say:

I cleaned my house. (This means I cleaned it myself).

If I paid someone to clean it, of course I can say:

A cleaner cleaned my house.

But, another way is to use a causative construction. So I can also say:

I had my house cleaned.

In a sense, using a causative verb is similar to using a passive. The important thing is that the house is now clean. We don't focus on who did the cleaning.

Have + object + past participle (have something done)

We usually use 'have something done' when we are talking about paying someone to do something for us. It's often used for services. The form is 'subject + have + object + past participle'.

I had my car washed.

John will have his house painted.

Get + object + past participle (get something done)

We can also use 'subject + get + object + past participle'. This has the same meaning as 'have', but is less formal.

The students get their essays checked.

I'll get my hair cut next week.

He got his washing machine fixed.

Try an exercise about 'have something done' and 'get something done' here.

Have someone do something (have + person + infinitive)

We can also use the construction 'subject + have + person + infinitive'. This has a very similar meaning to 'have something done', which we've already talked about, but this time we say who did the thing - we talk about the person who we asked to do the thing for us.

I had the electrician look at my broken light.

The doctor will have the nurse call the patients.

The teacher had the students write the answers on the whiteboard.

Get someone to do something (get + person + to + infinitive)

Finally, we can also use the construction 'get + someone + to + infinitive'. Again, this means that you cause the other person to do the action, maybe by paying them to do it, or by asking them to do it, or by persuading them to do it.

She gets her son to do his homework by promising him ice cream when he's finished.

I got the cleaner to clean under the cupboards.

Sometimes, this construction has the feeling that we needed to convince someone to do something, while the other constructions on this page are neutral.

Try an exercise about 'have someone do something' and 'get someone to do something' here.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learn about the causative verbs 'have' and 'get' here.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Form

See also explanations on Simple Past and Past Perfect Simple

Use

We use Simple Past if we give past events in the order in which they occured. However, when we look back from a certain time in the past to tell what had happened before, we use Past Perfect.

Normal order in the past or looking back to an event before a certain time in the past?

Do you just want to tell what happened some time in the past or do you want to tell what had happened before/up to a certain time in the past?

Simple Past

Past Perfect Simple

some time in the past

Example:

Jane got up at seven. She opened her birthday presents and then the whole family went to the zoo.

Example:

Before her sixth birthday, Jane had never been to the zoo.

Signal Words

*Note: "After" is only used as a signal word for Past Perfect if it is followed by a subject + verb, meaning that one action had been completed before another action began (the new action is in Simple Past).

Example:

After the family had had breakfast, they went to the zoo.

However, if "after" is followed by object + subject + verb, the verb belongs to the new action and is therefore in Simple Past.

Example:

After her visit to the zoo, Jane was exhausted.

More exceptions with signal words

When

Depending on the situation, "when" can be used with Simple Past or Past Perfect. Compare the following examples:

Example:

When Jane saw the elephants, she was amazed. (at the same time)

When Jane had seen the elephants, she wanted to see the giraffes. (second action happened after the first action had been completed)

When Jane went to see the elephants, she had already seen the lions. (second action had been completed when the first action took place)

Before

"Before" as well can either be used with Simple Past or Past Perfect. If the action after "before" is a new action, use Simple Past. If the action after "before" started (and was not completed) before a certain time in the past, use Past Perfect. Compare the following examples:

Example:

Jane had read a lot about elephants before she went to the zoo.

Jane went to the zoo before she had finished reading her new book about elephants.

Exercises on Simple Past and Past Perfect Simple

Tests on Simple Past and Past Perfect Simple

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
See also explanations on Simple Past and Past Perfect Simple We use Simple Past if we give past events in the order in which they occured. However, when we look back from a certain time in the past to tell what had happened before, we use Past Perfect.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
When to use the present perfect or past simple tense in English.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
How to write an article for the New FCE exam? Here's a sample topic that has been divided into paragraphs and each of the sections explained.

Part 2

You must answer this question.

You see this competition in an international magazine.
Imagine you were on a desert island. What would you miss most? Write an article briefly describing an important object, person or place in your life and give reasons for your choice. The best article will be published and the writer will receive £500.
Write your article in 140- 190 words in an appropriate style on the separate answer sheet.
Sample answer: Life away from home
How would you feel about living on a desert island? I can't imagine anything worse. I would miss a lot of things, but most of all I would miss my home.

You start with Paragraph 1- Introduction
In the introduction you :

- think of a title that will catch the reader's attention

- include the topic- you might not know the reader personally, but still, you can address him/her directly (e.g. ask them a question)
Phrases you can use in the introduction:

I must tell you about ...

REMEMBER : It's a semi-formal/ informal piece of writing make it interesting by including a range of language, e.g. adjectives and adverbs, phrasal verbs, collocations, relative clauses, linkers, one or two idioms.

DON'T copy out the task- use synonyms

My home is a small house on the outskirts of a city. It was built about fifty years ago and has a small garden. In the summer our country gets very hot but our house is always cool.

Note that the question/topic says the description should be 'brief'.
Phrases you can use to in the 2nd and 3rd paragraph:

It's absolutely stunning / terrible (strong adjective).

It took my breath away.

I will never forget it.

There's nothing in the world like it.

Adding and developing ideas

For a start .. Secondly. / Thirdly./ Finally....

And then there's the fact that ..

As if this wasn't enough, ...

Giving examples .... such as ../.. particularly .../ ....like...

You would probably think our house is nothing special, but I have lived there all my life and all my friends live nearby. It is a happy place, where I feel completely safe. Whenever I go away, I look forward to coming back, lying on my bed, reading a book and listening to my brother and sister arguing downstairs!

In the 3rd Paragraph you :

- give specific examples to bring your article to life

- use informal language to involve the reader

- don't forget to express your opinion

I love travelling and meeting new people, but if I were on a desert island I would be away from the place I love most - my home - and I would hate that.

In the last paragraph you :

- finish with a sentence which summarises what you have said

- end with an interesting last sentence

- give your opinion or express your feeling

Phrases you can use to end the letter

Giving a personal response

Personally, I think / find / believe ...

It seems to me ... In my view.... One thing I love / remember ...

Over to you:

You have seen this advertisement in an international magazine.

INSPIRING PEOPLE

Tell us about a person you admire and why they inspire you.

Write your article . Write your answer in 140- 190 words in an appropriate style on the separate answer sheet.

Once again, over to you:

You have seen this advertisement on an international travel website.

CITY BREAKS

Write your answer in 140- 190 words in an appropriate style on the separate answer sheet.

report this ad

* write a catchy title that gives the main idea

* try to involve the reader by using lively, chatty, semi-formal style, don't sound too formal

* you can address the reader directly (I'm sure you'll agree that ...) or ask one or two questions (Have you heard ...?)

* make your article more interesting by including a range of language, e.g. adjectives and adverbs, phrasal verbs, collocations, relative clauses, linkers, one or two idioms.

* give personal opinions, include description, examples, stories to support your views. Think of a suitable start and finish for your article

* use colourful language, such as phrasal verbs, collocations and idioms

*make sure you answer all the points in the question

*use the correct number of words

*check your work for accuracy

report this ad

How to write an article for the New FCE exam? Here's a sample topic that has been divided into paragraphs and each of the sections explained.

Part 2

You must answer this question.

You see this competition in an international magazine.
Imagine you were on a desert island. What would you miss most? Write an article briefly describing an important object, person or place in your life and give reasons for your choice. The best article will be published and the writer will receive £500.
Write your article in 140- 190 words in an appropriate style on the separate answer sheet.
Sample answer: Life away from home
How would you feel about living on a desert island? I can't imagine anything worse. I would miss a lot of things, but most of all I would miss my home.

My home is a small house on the outskirts of a city. It was built about fifty years ago and has a small garden. In the summer our country gets very hot but our house is always cool.

You would probably think our house is nothing special, but I have lived there all my life and all my friends live nearby. It is a happy place, where I feel completely safe. Whenever I go away, I look forward to coming back, lying on my bed, reading a book and listening to my brother and sister arguing downstairs!

I love travelling and meeting new people, but if I were on a desert island I would be away from the place I love most - my home - and I would hate that.

Over to you:

You have seen this advertisement in an international magazine.

INSPIRING PEOPLE

Tell us about a person you admire and why they inspire you.

Write your article . Write your answer in 140- 190 words in an appropriate style on the separate answer sheet.

Once again, over to you:

You have seen this advertisement on an international travel website.

CITY BREAKS

Write your answer in 140- 190 words in an appropriate style on the separate answer sheet.

report this ad

* write a catchy title that gives the main idea

* try to involve the reader by using lively, chatty, semi-formal style, don't sound too formal

* you can address the reader directly (I'm sure you'll agree that ...) or ask one or two questions (Have you heard ...?)

* make your article more interesting by including a range of language, e.g. adjectives and adverbs, phrasal verbs, collocations, relative clauses, linkers, one or two idioms.

* give personal opinions, include description, examples, stories to support your views. Think of a suitable start and finish for your article

* use colourful language, such as phrasal verbs, collocations and idioms

*make sure you answer all the points in the question

*use the correct number of words

*check your work for accuracy

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
how to write an article for new fce exam

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How to write an article for New FCE exam

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
How to write an article for the New FCE exam? Here's a sample topic that has been divided into paragraphs and each of the sections explained. Part 2 You must answer this question. You see this competition in an international magazine. Imagine you were on a desert island.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
English Exam Help | English FCE, CAE and IELTS exam Resources

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How to write an essay for New FCE exam | English Exam Help

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Como ya hemos visto varias veces, el Writing B2 First (FCE) consiste de 2 partes. En la primera, tienes que escribir un Essay. En la segunda parte, debes elegir entre varios tipos de writings, entre los que puede que quieras elegir escribir un email informal. Por esta razón, en el post de hoy te voy a enseñar exactamente cómo escribir un email informal para FCE Writing parte 2. Además, veremos un buen ejemplo de email informal para FCE y podrás descargar una guía completa para el Writing del FCE, donde encontrarás más ejemplos de emails, cartas y otro tipo de writings.

DESCARGAR POST EN PDF

Cómo escribir un email informal para FCE Writing Part 2

Un email es un ejemplo de una interacción escrita, lo cual quiere decir que estamos escribiendo a alguien y no solamente para que alguien lo lea. Por este motivo, los emails y las cartas son un tipo muy particular de Writing del FCE en comparación con los essays, artículos, reviews o informes. Así que, antes de ver un ejemplo de email informal, veamos las características de un email informal:

Propósito de un email informal: El propósito de un email informal dependerá de cada tarea. Algunas tareas implicarán dar información importante, mientras que en otras tendremos que dar consejo. Lo más común es que un amigo o un familiar nos pregunte algo, ya sea sobre nuestra ciudad o sobre otra cosa relacionada con nosotros.

Registro lingüístico: Dado que estaremos escribiendo a un amigo o familiar cercano, nuestro lenguaje ha de ser relajado y amistoso, lo cual podríamos denominar como registro informal. De este modo, debemos hacer uso de formas contraídas, phrasal verbs comunes, expresiones coloquiales e incluso de una forma flexible de puntuar (Por ejemplo: utilizando guiones largos "-")

Estructura: Una de las cosas guays de los emails es que siempre siguen la misma estructura. Por lo general, siempre necesitamos una fórmula de apertura y otra de cierre; un párrafo introductorio y otro de cierre; y un cuerpo principal, que consistirá del número de ideas principales que tengamos que exponer.

Temas comunes: Muchos emails informales a amigos o familiares te piden que des consejo sobre algún tema. Por ejemplo, pueden pedirte consejo sobre visitar tu ciudad, mantenerse en forma, qué ciudades visitar en tu país, organizar una fiesta para un amigo, etc. Muchas veces estos temas aparecen combinados.

Número de palabras: al igual que el resto de Writings del FCE, un email informal debe estar escrito en unas 140 - 190 palabras.

Ejemplo de email informal para FCE Writing

Ahora que estamos familiarizados con las características de un email informal para el First (FCE) Writing, echemos un vistazo a un ejemplo de email informal de nivel B2, tanto a la tarea como a una respuesta de ejemplo.

DESCARGAR POST EN PDF

Instrucciones de un email informal

Es extremadamente importante prestar atención a estas instrucciones, pues de ahí sacaremos exactamente lo que tendremos que hacer en nuestro email. En este caso podemos ver lo siguiente:

El destinatario: an English friend of yours

El contexto: is visiting your city next summer

Las ideas/los párrafos principales: tell him about the places he should visit / and the clothes / invite him to stay with you

Y así es como sabremos cómo tenemos que organizar nuestro email y de qué tendremos que hablar.
TE INTERESA: FCE Speaking Test: Una descripción completa
Ejemplo de respuesta

Ahora que tenemos un ejemplo de tarea, veamos un ejemplo de email informal respondiendo al enunciado anterior. Presta atención no solo al lenguaje, sino a la clara estructura que viene marcada en rojo.

Si nos fijamos en el ejemplo de email informal, podemos ver las siguientes características:

La presentación del email es muy clara: Esto se consigue utilizando fórmulas y párrafos de apertura y cierre, una firma, y dejando un espacio claro entre los diferentes párrafos.

Cada párrafo tiene un objetivo claro, que en este caso viene marcado en rojo.

Los párrafos de apertura y cierre se utilizan para decir "hola" y "adiós" de manera educada.

El párrafo introductorio se usa normalmente para reaccionar a noticias (It's great to hear from you... / I'm so excited about...) y para introducir el tema del email.

El cuerpo principal se encarga de responder a cada una de las sub-tareas (ideas), que en este caso son: qué visitar, qué ropa llevar e invitar a nuestro amigo.

El párrafo de cierre se usa para comenzar a despedirnos y para pedir una respuesta a nuestro correo.

El registro es informal:

Contracciones: It's great, I'm, you'll have, etc.

Phrasal verbs: put you up, check out.

Expresiones coloquiales: How are you doing?, you should totally, you can't miss, drop me a line, etc.

Escribir como pensamos: Oh, By the way, Anyway,

Puntuación flexible: ...viewpoint - you'll have the best...

Éste es un buen ejemplo de email informal para el FCE Writing. Debes tener en cuenta que he tratado de imitar un nivel B2 fuerte, sin llegar necesariamente al nivel C1.

TE INTERESA: Como escribir un essay para el FCE Writing

DESCARGAR POST EN PDF

Expresiones útiles para escribir un email informal para FCE Writing

Así que si quieres aprender a escribir un email informal para FCE, necesitas tener una serie de expresiones listas para usar. Algunas de ellas son las siguientes:

DESCARGAR POST EN PDF

Pregunta común: ¿Qué pasa si escribo más de 190 o menos de 140 palabras?

Tal y como expliqué aquí, los correctores de Cambridge English no malgastan su tiempo contando cuántas palabras tiene tu email informal para penalizarte o no. Pero piensa esto: si has escrito más de lo necesario, probablemente estés incluyendo información innecesaria. Del mismo modo, si escribes menos de 140 palabras, probablemente te falte información esencial. Por lo tanto, siempre recomiendo escribir como mucho 10 o 20 palabras más del límite. De ese modo, casi garantizamos no perder puntos por eso.

Guía para el FCE Writing con ejemplos (pdf)

Aunque publicaré más artículos explicando cómo hacer cada tipo de writing, ya puedes descargarte la guía oficial de KSE Academy para el Writing del FCE. En esta guía encontrarás lo siguiente:

Cómo escribir un essay (ensayo) y 3 ejemplos

Como escribir un article (artículo) y 3 ejemplos

Cómo escribir una review (reseña) y 3 ejemplos

Como escribir un report (informe) y 3 ejemplos

Cómo escribir un email o letter (carta) y 3 ejemplos

Más de 300 expresiones útiles los Writing del FCE

¿Quieres ver una muestra? Aquí lo tienes.
VER GUÍA DE FCE WRITING

¿Te ha parecido útil este post? Cómpartelo con otros estudiantes y profesores de inglés. Y suscríbete a nuestro newsletter del blog de noticias para estar al día de todo. Síguenos en Facebook Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Google+ y YouTube. 🙂

Also published on Medium.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Cómo escribir un email informal para FCE Writing

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Como ya hemos visto varias veces, el Writing B2 First (FCE) consiste de 2 partes. En la primera, tienes que escribir un Essay . En la segunda parte, debes elegir entre varios tipos de writings, entre los que puede que quieras elegir escribir un email informal.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
English Grammar Reference and Exercises on Tenses and all other Grammar Topics.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Access Google Sites with a personal Google account or Google Workspace account (for business use).