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Fairtrade Film "What If? (with English subtitles)

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Оксана Мироненко

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Past tenses online worksheet for intermediate. You can do the exercises online or download the worksheet as pdf.

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Grammar interactive worksheet for intermediate. You can do the exercises online or download the worksheet as pdf.

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T061 - A Hurt Foot

Gap-fill exercise

Fill in all the gaps, then press "Check" to check your answers. Use the "Hint" button to get a free letter if an answer is giving you trouble. You can also click on the "[?]" button to get a clue. Note that you will lose points if you ask for hints or clues!

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t061 - a hurt foot - past and past perfect tense - english grammar exercises

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Created with Hot Potatoes by Half-Baked Software, registered to Klaus Rosmanitz.

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T061 - A Hurt Foot - Past and Past Perfect Tense - English Grammar Exercises

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T061 - A Hurt Foot - Past and Past Perfect Tense - English Grammar Exercises

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Fill in the blanks. Answers 1. She left college last year. 2. Our team defeated them yesterday. 3. I was watching TV when dad arrived.

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Past simple

We use the past simple to talk about past events in chronological order; i.e. for the story's main events.

We also use the past simple to talk about past habits or past states.

Past continuous

We use the past continuous the set the scene in a story.

The sun was shining and lots of tourists were lying on the beach. Suddenly ...

We use the past continuous for actions in progress in the past or longer actions interrupted by shorter actions in past simple.

Past perfect simple

We use the past perfect simple to talk about an earlier past: events which happened before the main event.

Earlier single events

We use the past perfect simple to talk about earlier events and experiences, or single actions completed earlier in the past.

We use the past perfect simple (and not continuous) to say how much or how many we had done of something earlier in the past.

Duration from earlier in the past (stative verbs)

We use the past perfect simple with stative verbs to talk about states or situations that had started earlier in the past. We often use how long, for or since, always, etc.

Past perfect continuous

Duration from earlier in the past (dynamic verbs)

We use the past perfect continuous with dynamic verbs to talk about l onger continuous actions that started earlier in the past than the main events of the story.

Repeated actions from earlier in the past (dynamic verbs)

We use the past perfect continuous with dynamic verbs to talk about repeated actions from earlier in the past.

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Narrative tenses - all past tenses - Test-English

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Revise the use of narrative tenses in English. Revision of past simple, past continuous, past perfect simple and past perfect continuous

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Past tenses in English, simple past or present perfect - an interactive test with answers

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Look at these examples to see how used to, would and the past simple are used.

They used to live in London.
I didn't use to like olives.
We would always go to the seaside for our holidays.
But one holiday we went to the mountains instead.

Try this exercise to test your grammar.

Grammar explanation

When we talk about things in the past that are not true any more, we can do it in different ways.

Used to + infinitive

We can use used to to talk about past states that are not true any more.

We used to live in New York when I was a kid.
There didn't use to be a supermarket there. When did it open?
Did you use to have a garden?

We can also use used to to talk about past habits (repeated past actions) that don't happen any more.

I used to go swimming every Thursday when I was at school.
She used to smoke but she gave up a few years ago.

used to + infinitive should not be confused with be/get used to + -ing, which has a different meaning. The difference is covered here.

We can use would to talk about repeated past actions that don't happen any more.

Every Saturday I would go on a long bike ride.
My dad would read me amazing stories every night at bedtime.

would for past habits is slightly more formal than used to. It is often used in stories. We don't normally use the negative or question form of would for past habits. Note that we can't usually use would to talk about past states.

Past simple

We can always use the past simple as an alternative to used to or would to talk about past states or habits. The main difference is that the past simple doesn't emphasise the repeated or continuous nature of the action or situation. Also, the past simple doesn't make it so clear that the thing is no longer true.

We went to the same beach every summer.
We used to go to the same beach every summer.
We would go to the same beach every summer.

If something happened only once, we must use the past simple.

Do this exercise to test your grammar again.

Language level

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Past habits: 'used to', 'would' and the past simple

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Do you know how to talk about past habits using used to, would and the past simple? Test what you know with interactive exercises and read the explanation to help you.

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This page has an ESL politics reading task to help you understand the politics vocabulary. By doing reading tasks you are able to work slowly and have time to learn all the new words you come across.

Reading is a good way to learn English when you want to work alone. You can sit down with a reading passage and start to learn the words. When you read a passage you can learn new vocabulary as well as seeing how grammar should be used. If the text is difficult you can work slowly, while if you find it quite easy you can work a bit faster.

This page has an ESL politics reading passage that you should read and understand. If you need any help understanding any of the politics words used you can look at the ESL politics vocabulary page for a list of words with definitions. Then once you have understood the reading passage you can answer the questions that follow it. You can check to see how many of the questions you got correct by using the get score button that will show your score and the correct answers.

ESL Politics Reading Comprehension Passage

The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy, which means that the Queen is the head of state but she does not actively participate in politics. The British people vote for the members of parliament and they make the laws and run the country for the Queen. The Queen the signs all the laws passed by the politicians but she does not have any responsibility for saying what the laws should be about.

The political leader of the UK is the Prime Minister, who is also called the PM. This person is the leader of the political party that has the most seats in the House of Commons. Normally in the UK there is one party with a majority in the House of Commons, which means they have more than half of the seats, that forms the government to run the country. Some times if one part does not have enough seats to form a majority it will need to form a coalition with another party, and they will run the country together.

The UK is divided into many different constituencies, and each constituency is represented by one member of parliament, also called an MP. Nearly all the MP in the UK belong to a political party. The two biggest parties are the Conservatives and Labour. There are then several smaller parties, such as the Liberal Democrats, Green Party, UK Independence Party (UKIP) or SNP (Scottish Nationalist Party). Some MPs may also be independents, which means they are not linked to any party.

Normally there are elections every five years in the UK. The polling day is normally a Thursday. When there is an election, polling stations are set up all around the country so everyone can go and vote. Everyone who is on the electoral register has one vote. Most people go to polling stations where they get a ballot paper. On the ballot paper there is a list of all the candidates that are standing for election, and the person needs to make a mark by the name of the person they want to vote for. When they have done this they put their ballot paper in the ballot box.

In the UK, the candidate with the most votes in a constituency is the winner. They get to go to London and become an MP in the Houses of Parliament. It is their job to represent their constituents and try to run the country in a fair and proper way.

ESL Politics Reading Comprehension

Reading comprehension questions that go with the above reading passage.

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This page has an ESL politics reading task to help you understand the politics vocabulary. By doing reading tasks you are able to work slowly and have time to learn all the new words you come across. Reading is a good way to learn English when you want to work alone.

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How does an election work? Watch this speedy one-minute guide to the UK's General Election and you'll be an election expert!

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The Prime Minister is the head of government in Britain and the queen (or king) is the head of state. British people vote in elections for Members of Parliament (MPs) to represent them. There are lots of political parties in the UK but the big three are the Labour Party (the main left-wing party), the Liberal Democrats (the main centre party) and the Conservatives (the main right-wing party). There are also parties representing different parts of the UK, such as the Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru in Wales.

Voting

The UK voting system operates on a majority vote system. The political party that wins the most votes wins the election. For a political party in the UK to form a government, they need an overall majority. This means that the ruling party needs to have more Members of Parliament than all the other parties put together. If the winning party does not have an overall majority then there is a hung parliament.

Coalition government

What often happens in the case of a hung parliament is that one large party will join up with a smaller party to form a coalition. By doing this, they exclude the main opposition and still have power - although it is now shared between the two coalition parties.

Young people and politics

All British citizens over the age of 18 can vote in general elections. Some people think that young people in Britain are apathetic and don't care about politics. About 43% of 18- to 24-year-olds voted in the 2015 general election. The overall turnout is usually around 65% of the population.

This is what some young people said about British politics.

I can't relate to any of the politicians. They all seem fairly similar and rarely listen to young people. If politicians really listened to the voters, I think more young people would vote.
Fiona, 20, from London

I didn't vote in the last election but I do care about my country. Thousands of people protested on the streets against the government's plans to cut financial help with university fees earlier this year. Only rich people will be able to go to university if we have to pay thousands of pounds to study! I was at the protest and so were most of my friends at uni. I'll vote in the next election if things don't change.
Sean, 19, from Leeds

Politicians need to start listening to us. We would get engaged in mainstream politics if we felt that our opinions were respected
William, 24, from Sheffield

Of course I voted in the last election. Everyone should vote! Young people need to start voting in general elections. If we don't vote, we won't change anything
Pippa, 23, from Fleet

General elections are held approximately every five years. Will more young people decide to vote in the next election? We'll have to wait and see.

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The Prime Minister is the head of government in Britain and the queen (or king) is the head of state. British people vote in elections for Members of Parliament (MPs) to represent them.

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Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on World Fair Trade Day. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:

Your browser does not support this audio player.

READ

World Fair Trade Day is celebrated every year on the second Saturday in May. It is organized by the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), which operates in 80 countries around the globe. The WFTO boasts a membership of 350 different fair trade organizations and represents 110 million people. WFTO members are called FT100 because of their 100 per cent commitment to fair trade. The majority of WFTO members are from developing economies and poorer countries. The organization's mission is to promote a global trading system "based on dialogue, transparency and respect, that seeks greater equity." The first World Fair Trade Day was in 2002. It had its roots in the European World Shops Day that started in 1996.

Many events take place around the world on World Fair Trade Day. These include fair trade breakfasts, lectures, concerts, fashion shows, carnivals and street protests. There are also many markets that showcase and sell fair trade products. Fair trade campaigners call for justice in trade and ask countries to promote sustainable environmental policies. The WFTO has called on countries to bring about free trade quickly. It said: "It's taken 60 years to get to World Fair Trade Day 2009. It's vital that it doesn't take another 60 years to correct the imbalance in trade that leaves millions of people living in poverty with the threat of climate change and a financial crisis hanging over us all."

Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted sites.

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Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on World Fair Trade Day. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article: Your browser does not support this audio player. World Fair Trade Day is celebrated every year on the second Saturday in May.

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"Holiday Traditions"

Level:

Topic:

Speakers:

Length:

easy

holidays

man and interviewees

01:32

Pre-Listening Exercise

Christmas, Thanksgiving, and New Year's Day are some of the major holidays in the United States. From what you understand, how are these holidays celebrated (food, family activities, local celebrations, games and recreation, etc.)?

Idioms

" see eye to eye" = agree on this, have the same opinion
" Even though we come from different countries, we see eye to eye on many different issues."

" stick out like a sore thumb" = very visible because something is different
" If we don't follow the traditions, language, and body language of the culture, our actions might stick out like a sore thumb."

Listening Exercise

A. Listen to the recording and answer the questions.

Vocabulary Practice

Do the vocabulary quizzes with the words from the conversation for more practice:

Post-Listening Exercise

Imagine an international exchange student is coming to live with you for a year. Talk about one holiday in your country, its meaning and significance, and what activities are held on that day.

Online Investigation

What are the three most important holidays in your country? What are three Web sites in English that can explain these holidays to others? Use the Internet to find this information.

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Holiday Traditions - Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab

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What are the many holiday traditions in the United States? Listen and learn.

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Wedding Anniversary - Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab

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What are some common ways to celebrate your anniversary? What do people do, where do they go, and what gifts do they buy for their spouses? " once in a blue moon" = very rarely" We go on vacation once in a blue moon."

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Special events like family get-togethers, barbecues, and weddings form part of our everyday relationships with relatives and friends. Listen to the words below and consult a dictionary if you need a definition. Write a sample sentence for each word to learn how it is used in context. You can use the Internet to find such sentences.

A. Listen to the recording and answer the questions.

Do people in your country have special events and celebrations throughout the year for weddings, graduations, the birth of children, and other special times? If so, who is usually invited, what foods and drink are served, and are there any traditional games that are played on these days? Also, collect information on how such events are celebrated in different countries.

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Celebrations - Vocab - Randall’s ESL Cyber Listening Lab

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Celebrations are a part of our everyday lives. Listen and learn.

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"Christmas is Coming!"

Level:

Topic:

Speakers:

Length:

easy

Christmas gifts

man - two children

01:11

Pre-Listening Exercise

Christmas is a time when children hope to receive presents from their parents, other family, and friends. Imagine that you are one of the children in this conversation (a three-year-old boy and a six-year-old girl). What Christmas gifts would you like to receive?

Idioms

" nose around" = look for something private or hidden
" The kids sometimes nose around the house for Christmas gifts."

" umpteen (also, umpteenth)" = a great number of
" I have umpteen presents to buy before Christmas Eve. "

Listening Exercise

A. Listen to the recording and answer the questions.

Vocabulary Practice

Do the vocabulary activities using the words from the conversation for more practice:

Post-Listening Exercise

Is Christmas celebrated in your country? If so, in what ways? What other religious and secular traditions and holidays are held during this same season? Interview other international students or friends and research how the year-end holidays are celebrated around the world, including popular gifts that people exchange at this time of year.

Online Investigation

Use the Internet and find at least two Web sites where they can find these gifts. Compare the prices of the same or similar item for each site. What are the shipping fees for sending the items to your location? What about the time for delivery?

a silk necktie

a popular board game

a smartphone of our choosing

a laptop computer

some holiday flowers

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Christmas is Coming - Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab

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Buying Christmas gifts for family members, especially children, can be difficult, but fun. Listen to this conversation with two children and their father.

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Happy Birthday - Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab

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Celebrate your birthday in style. Listen and learn.

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St.Patricks Day Traditions ESL Conversation

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Chinese New Year - A2 English reading test - Test-English

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A2 Reading comprehension test. Read the following text about the Chinese New Year and chose the correct answers for the questions.

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exam training unit 2 Foreign Language Flashcards - Cram.com

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Trying to learn Hungarian? We can help! Memorize these flashcards or create your own Hungarian flashcards with Cram.com. Learn a new language today.

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Learning Resources (Matching Columns Game): exam trainer unit 2 (Second Language - 11 középiskola) - matching

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Log in with your user on Educaplay to create free educational resources.

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Learning Resources (Crossword Puzzle): people and society (Second Language - 11 középiskola) - crosswords

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Log in with your user on Educaplay to create free educational resources.

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MWC028 - British Politics and Government - Missing Word Cloze

appointed cabinet candidates century commons constituency divided elected election govern history lords majority monarchy parliament state treaty

english-grammar.at

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Created with Hot Potatoes by Half-Baked Software, registered to Klaus Rosmanitz.

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MWC028 - British Politics and Government - Missing Word Cloze

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MWC028 - British Politics and Government - Missing Word Cloze appointed cabinet candidates century commons constituency divided elected election govern history lords majority monarchy parliament state treaty english-grammar.at