Writing

You must use capital letters in all these situations.

Starting a sentence e.g.The dog is playing.
Days and Months: Tuesday September
**There are no capitals on seasons.
Holidays: New Years Day

e.g. My birthday is in the winter.

Fathers Day

Names of People: Michael Jordan Sherlock Holmes

Names of Places: Africa Germany Paris Main Street
Nationalities, Races, and Languages: Spanish Asian Canadian
Names of Specific Things: Eiffel Tower Grand Canyon
Titles:Dr. Mrs. Mr.
Brand and Company Names: Nike Google Burger King
Organizations, Teams, or Specific Groups of People: The United Nations The Rolling Stones
The New York Yankees
Titles of Movies, Songs, and Books: Spiderman Let It Be Oliver Twist
Religions, Religious Days and Books: Catholic Islam The Bible, the Koran Easter,
Christmas, Ramadan
Specific Historical Events: World War Two The Industrial Revolution
In general, use a capital if something is a proper noun, which is a specific thing.
My teacher is from a big city.

The teacher Daniel is from Mexico City.

Adjectives
Capitalize proper adjectives. e.g. German bakery Spanish omelette
Titles and Headings
Do not capitalize all words in a title or heading. Do not place capital letters on the following:

Articles (a, an, the)

Prepositions (to, of, with, for, etc.)

Conjunctions (and, but, or)

Here are some examples: The Great Wall of China

The Lord of the Flies

Concise Writing
Concise writing means to write directly and quickly. You dont want to use extra words. Why is concise
writing important? Because people do not have time to read extra information. Your readers want your
writing to be as fast as possible. They want the main idea quickly.You can use many tips and tricks to
write more concisely. Most of all, you need to have the attitude to write concisely. Everything you do

should be concise.
The tips below will help you write concisely.
Nominalizations
Nominalizations are making nouns from verbs. Here is an example: Verb: Decide Noun:
Decision
Try to use the verb as mush as possible. Why? Because nouns take up extra space. Look at the
examples above in sentences:

I will decide soon.

I will make a decision soon.

Notice how you needed to add an extra word (make)? That makes your writing less concise.
Follow this rule: Do not use the noun form when a verb is available.
Modifiers
Modifiers are almost always not necessary. They take up space and take away from the main verb or
adjective.
This is a sentence with a modifier: Clearly, we will not have time.
This sentence is fine without the modifier: We will not have time.
Here are some other examples you can eliminate: Obviously Easily Definitely
Phrases
Avoid redundant phrases. The phrases below are obvious or not needed: Each and every
This day and age Absolutely necessary Advance warning Added bonus
Brief moment Contributing factor The fact that
Notice how many of the phrases say the same thing twice. For example, "each" and "every" have the
same meaning. Don't waste your reader's time with these types of phrases.
Editing
Use spell checker.
Spell checker is a requirement. You need it to find the mistakes and typos. However, do not rely too
much on a spell checker. You must manually edit your writing too. Word processors do not pick up
many grammatical errors and do not find misplaced words that are spelled correctly. For example I
dont eat meet, or the party is in one weak.
Read your writing aloud.
When you read in your head you read what you think is on the screen, not what is actually written.
When you read aloud, you use your eyes, ears, and mouth, giving you three ways to catch mistakes.
Edit for common errors.
Be aware of the mistakes you often make when writing. Some examples include subject verb
agreement, article usage, and verb tense shifts. Paying attention to common mistakes will improve
your writing.

Formal Writing
Writing and speaking in English are much different. Vocabulary and grammar in speaking are not the
same in writing. Formal writing is important for academic and business situations.
The following are tips on writing more formally:
Do not write in the first person.
First person pronouns include I, my, we, our, us, etc. Formal writing should be in the third person.
Example:
Correction:

I believe dogs are better than cats.

Dogs are better than cats.

Write out contractions in full.

Error: Dont, wont

Correction: Do not, will not

Write out numbers.

Numbers below 10 are written and numbers above 10 can be shown as numbers. Examples:

There are three children living in the house.

The population of the town is 15, 000.

Do not abbreviate.
The first instance of a word should be spelled in full, and often it may be abbreviated afterwards.
Do not use clichs.
Clichs are unoriginal and redundant.
Here is a list of informal words and their formal translation.

Informal

Formal

Example

So

Very, Extremely

The movie was so

good.
The movie was very
good

Of course

Clearly, Evidently

Of course it had
rained.
Clearly it had rain.

Just

Simply, Only

There are just three

students today.
There are only three
students.

Kind of, Sort of

Somewhat

He kind of looks like

his brother.
He somewhat looks
like his brother.

Got to, Have to

Must, Need to

Ive got to finish my

project.
I need to finish my
project.

Used to

Accustomed to

I am used to the cold

Parallel Structure
Parallel structure is important when writing lists. When you list two or more things, you need to use the
same structure. Let's start with an example: I like soccer, sushi, and books.
This sentence is fine because everything in the list is a noun. Now, let's see a parallel structure mistake:

I like swimming, dancing, and to sing.

This is a parallel structure mistake. It has two items that are gerunds (swimming, dancing) and one item
that is an infinitive (to sing). This list is not parallel, making it an error.
Part of Speech

Use the same part of speech for all items in the list. Here is a mistake: I was happy, excited, and
had fun. The first two items are adjectives, the third item is a noun.
Verb Form
Use the same form of the verb in your list. The most common example is with gerunds and infinitives.
Here is the mistake: I like running, to dance, and reading. To dance is an infinitive, while the
other two are gerunds.
Verb Tense
Make sure you use the same tense for all verbs in a list. Take a look at this mistake: She watched
television, finished her homework, and has cleaned the kitchen.
The last item in this list is in the present perfect verb tense, while the other two are in the simple past.
Prepositions and Auxiliary Verbs
Watch out for those little words that can give your lists parallel structure problems. Take a look at this
mistake: I want to eat, rest, and to clean the house.
If you want to use "to", you need to use it with all the items in the list: I want to eat, to rest, and
to clean the house.
Or, you can choose to use it only at the beginning of the list: I want to eat, rest, and clean the
house.
If you use the tips above, you will be writing with parallel structure. People will be able to follow your
ideas and understand your lists.
Planning Your Writing
You need to plan your writing before you begin. This will save you time later and
give you higher quality writing. The two most important steps are the brainstorm
and the outline.
Planning Your Writing
Brainstorm
Brainstorming is taking the ideas from your head and putting them on paper. Any
ideas you have are fine in the brainstorming stage. Never reject an idea. You can
decide which ideas are good and which ideas are bad later. Now is the time to get
everything out of your head. Brainstorming can look different for everyone. These
are some of the most popular methods:
Mind Mapping
This is using pictures and diagrams to connect all your ideas. If you like visual
thinking, the mind map is good for you.
Free Writing
Free writing is a process that helps get your ideas on paper. The process is to
simply write anything that comes into your head. The important part is to not
worry about mistakes, poor ideas, or other things that would slow your writing.
Ideally, you should have a large number of sentences and ideas that you can later
use.

The Outline
The outline is the process of organizing the brainstorming. First, decide which
ideas you like. Remember, in the brainstorm you wrote down youre your ideas.
Some will be good, some will be bad. Now you choose. When you have decided on
your best ideas, it is time to put them into an outline. The outline follows the
structure of your writing. This could be an essay, memo, email, or
report. It is a good idea to use a master copy of your outline that you can
constantly change and improve as you write.
Punctuation
Apostrophes
They are used for two main purposes: 1. Contractions 2.Possession
CONTRACTIONS
The apostrophe is used to join two words together to make one word. Here are some common
examples: do not = don't I am = I'm has not = hasn't
The apostrophe takes the place of the missing letter. For example, in "don't", the apostrophe takes the
place of the "o" that is gone from "not". Here are some more examples of contractions: have not =
haven't is not = isn't she is = she's
Contractions are very common in spoken English. They are used in writing to be shorter.
POSSESSION
Apostrophes are used with nouns to show possession. Here are the rules:
Single Nouns
Add apostrophe and "s".e.g. The dog's bowl

The boy's hat

Plural Nouns
Add an apostrophe. e.g. The girls' toys The computers' screens
Irregular Plural Nouns
Add an apostrophe and "s". e.g. The children's toys The women's hats
Nouns that end in "S"
Singular
Add an apostrophe and "s".e.g. Charles Dickens's novel
Or, add only an apostrophe. e.g. Charles Dickens' novel
Plural
Add an apostrophe e.g. The Davis' home (Tom and Mary Davis, 2 people)
More than 1 Noun
The apostrophe goes on the last name in a group that shares possession.

Jon and Bobs house

(They both possess the house)

Commas
(,)
Commas are used to separate the parts of the date. They are used between two numbers, or between
two words.

December 12, 2006

Monday, July 4

If the date is in the middle of a sentence, a comma goes after. He arrived on June 10, 2007, and left
three weeks later.
Lists
Commas separate items in a list.

I need bread, milk, eggs, and cheese.

Conjunctions
Commas go before a conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)

Jason spent fifteen minutes doing his homework, but it felt

like an hour.

I hadn't gone to class for most of the year, so I failed my

exam.

Adjectives
Commas separate two adjectives before a noun. e.g.I bought a new, red car. The big, black
dog is barking.
Interruptions or Non-Defining Relative Clauses
Commas are used to separate a non-defining relative clause from the rest of the sentence. This is used
to add extra information, or make interruptions.

The man, who had never been to Paris, was very excited.

After Introductory Words or Phrases

Use a comma after an introduction to a sentence including times and transitional words.

On Monday, the family travelled to Florida.

While watching television, the children ate dinner and

fought over their dessert.

However, her bank account did not match her records.

Separate Place Names

Commas are used to separate two place names, most

commonly cities and countries.

Tokyo, Japan

Mexico City, Mexico

Periods
Periods are common English punctuation marks. They are also called the full stop.
Periods are mostcommonly found at the end of sentences. However, they have other uses.
Signal the End of a Complete Sentence

The dog runs fast.

The boys studied mathematics.

Initials:

J.P. Franklin

I.M. Pei

Abbreviations and Acronyms: Y.M.C.A. U.S.A. P.E.T.A. Dr. Mr. Mrs

Question Marks
Question marks look like this: ???????????? Question marks are used to show a question. They go
at the end of a question. Here are some examples: Do you like football? Are you a doctor? Is
she cold? Does Greg work in a bank?
Here are some different types of questions that need question marks too:
Tag Questions

You don't have a brother, do you?

She isn't from China, is she?

Polite Requests

Could you pass the salt?

Would you like another drink?

Semicolons
Semicolons are English punctuation marks that look like this:;
Separate two related ideas in a sentence that are not connected with a conjunction

She always wanted to go the University of Toronto; her brother also went
there.

The best way to lose weight is to exercise regularly; eating less calories is
also important.

Separate items in a list that include commas

I have travelled to Toronto, Ontario; Montreal, Quebec; and Vancouver,

British Columbia.

Run-On Sentences
A run-on sentence is a problem in writing. It is a sentence that is too long. Often run-on sentences
contain: More than one idea More than one subject
Here are some examples:
I went to the store to buy milk and the milk was very
cheap because it was on sale.
I and the milk are both subjects. There are two ideas in this sentence as well. Take a look at other
examples of run-on sentences. The multiple subjects are underlined. Remember, these are all mistakes.
You want to avoid run-on sentences in your writing.

The boy is very happy, his sister is not.

Mr. Lewis and Mr. Jenkins are neighbours, they have known each other
for 5 years.

Follow this rule to avoid run-on sentences:

A sentence has one subject and one main idea.
Conjunctions are often used improperly to create run-on sentences, so be aware of words like and, but,
so, and then. Many people use commas incorrectly. The result is a run-on sentence called a comma
splice. Look at some examples of comma splices to see the mistake.

Please do not use your dictionary, they are not allowed on

the test.

The man has never visited France, his brother has.

Solutions to Run-On Sentences

Use these tips below to learn how to fix a run-on sentence.
Use a period to make two sentences.

Hank loves baseball and he plays every Sunday.

Hank loves baseball. He plays every Sunday.

Separate with a semicolon. (;)

Hank loves baseball and he plays every Sunday.

Hank loves baseball; he plays every Sunday.

Separate with a comma and add but, or, yet, so, for, and, nor.

Hank loves baseball and he plays every Sunday.

Hank loves baseball, and he plays every day.

Hank loves baseball, but he never plays.

Sentence Fragments
Sentences must be complete. If they are not complete, they are called sentence fragments. Sentence
fragments do not contain a complete thought. Lets start with an example: Although it was a
beautiful day.
This is not a complete idea. You need more, like this corrected example: Although it was a
beautiful day, I still stayed inside.
To understand sentence fragments, you need to understand independent and dependent clauses.
An independent clause can stand alone, like these examples: I have a dog. She likes baseball.
They played hockey for three hours.
A dependent clause need more, like these examples: Last week, Since you arrived, Instead of
making breakfast,
You can see these examples need more. What happened last week? What did you do instead of making
breakfast?
These independent clauses create sentence fragments. When you use them, you need to add more:

Last week, I visited my mother.

Since you arrived, we have been talking a lot.

Instead of making breakfast, we watched TV.

How can you fix sentence fragments? Add more! That's all. Add more information. If you look at the
sentence and it does not have a complete thought, add more information.
Topic Sentences
Topic sentences are important in writing. They are most common in essays, but you can also use them
in business or general writing. Topic sentences are at the beginning of the paragraph. A topic
sentence

Is often found at the beginning of the paragraph

Is often an opinion that must be proven

Is the base for all other supporting sentences

Here is a paragraph without a topic sentence:

The first reason I love running is because it keeps me in good shape. Also, it gives me a chance to have
some time to think and be alone. Another great reason why I love running is because it is simple and I
can do it all year round.
This paragraph lists all the reasons why the writer likes running. Clearly the topic sentence should say
something about how the writer like running.

Possible topic sentences:

My favourite sport is running.

I love running.

It is important to have a good topic sentence. This will be your focus and makes it easier to write a
well-structured paragraph.
Transitional Words
Transitional words help you in writing and speaking.
They help your writing look organized, plus your readers can follow more easily. Transitional words are
used in the middle of sentences or between two sentences. They make writing smoother and easier to
read because they connect two ideas together. Transitional words can be used in a variety of ways. The
list below shows the different ways to use transitional words
Addition
Add to an idea with these transitions:Moreover, in addition, additionally, as well, also,afterward, again,
furthermore
Negative
To introduce a different idea, use these: However, yet, nevertheless, on the other hand, in contrast,
contrastingly, in spite of, alternatively, although, conversely,
despite
Cause/Result
These transitional words show the effect of an idea or introduce a concluding idea.
Therefore, for this, as a result, accordingly, consequently,
for that reason, thus
Time
Use the transitional words below to show changes in time.
Then, next, after, afterwards, after that, at that point,
meanwhile
Comparisons
To compare two ideas, use these: Similarly, correspondingly, likewise
Examples
You can introduce examples with these: For example, for instance
Conclusion
Start your conclusion with these transitions: In conclusion, to summarize, finally, in summary,
therefore, to conclude
Sequence
Use these for a list of ideas.
First, second, third, then, next, finally
Listening

Listening is an important skill in English. To improve, you need to practise as much as possible.

MUSIC

Practice listening with some of the most popular songs in the world. Songs include music videos,
lyrics, and listening exercises.
Movies

Watch movies to improve listening and speaking skills. learnEnglish-online has trailers, movies, and
more.
Radio

Links to online radio stations

Television

TV can help you learn English. Watch television programs and improve your skills.
Videos
Different videos for holidays or themes
Vocabulary
Vocabulary is an important area to learn in English. You need to build your vocabulary and use it well.
Adverbs
What is an adverb? Adverbs are a part of speech in English. They often end in "ly". Let's start with
some examples of adverbs: Slowly Loudly Quickly
You can form adverbs by adding "ly" to the adjective. Take a look at this example: Adjective:
Quiet Adverb: Quietly
Here are some more examples: Sad Sadly Slow -- Slowly
Some adjectives change a little when they become adverbs. Adjectives that end in "y" need "ily".
Happy Happily Messy -- Messily
Not all adjectives have adverbs. For example, "young" does not make "youngly".
Adverbs have two purposes: they describe verbs and adjectives.
Adverbs describe verbs. He ran quickly. She talks quietly.
Adverbs answer questions with how. e.g.How does he sing? He sings loudly.
Adverbs describe adjectives. e.g. He is very tall. She is extremely rich.
Irregular Adverbs
Some adverbs are formed differently. Here is a list:
Adjective

Adverb

Good

Well

Fast

Fast

Hard

Hard

Early

Early

Late

Late

High

High

Low

Low

Do vs. Make
Do and make are two important verbs in English. They are often confused because they are so
similar. However, they must be used in different situations.
Do
You can use the verb do in the following situations.

General Activities
Use "do" for general activities when you don't use a specific verb: I want to do something.
What are you doing? What did you do yesterday There is a lot to do in Toronto.
Work
Use "do" to talk about work: What do you do? (What is your job?) Who does the
laundry in your house? I don't want to do any work today. I hate doing the
cleaning. Have you done your homework?
"Do" can replace another more exact verb (but only when the meaning is clear from the situation). This
is informal, but common in spoken English.

do the exam (write/take the exam)

do the dishes (wash the dishes)

do the laundry (wash the laundry)

Make
The verb make can be used in these situations.
Construction/Creating
"Make" often expresses the idea of construction or creation: I'll make a cake for Anthony's
birthday. This car was made in France. Did you make this table yourself?
Now compare:

Do the shopping. (We don't really create anything. We just "do" an activity.)

Make a cake. (We actually create something from nothing.)

In the next example, notice "make" is for creation (the cake) and "do" is for the general activity, even
though we're really talking about the same thing: I must make Anthony's cake. I'll do it now.
Here are some examples of phrases with "do" and "make":

do good
do harm
do well do badly do a favour do business do exercise do
the dishes do the laundry do homework do the project do the assignment do damage do
anything
do something do nothing do your best do research do chores do the cleaning do your hair
do your nails

make an attempt make a bed make a change/changes make a complaint make a decision
make a demand make an effort make an exception make an excuse make a loss make love
make a mistake make money make a noise/sound make an offer make peace make a phone call
make a profit make a suggestion make war make an appointment make up make food (e.g. lunch)
make a mess make sure make a choice make a promise make a point
Get
Get is an important word in English because it is very popular.
Get often replaces other, more formal verbs. The list below shows the verbs that get can replace:
Obtain

I went to the store to get some milk.

Receive

I got a bicycle for Christmas.

I got a B+ on my exam.

Arrive

I get to work everyday at 7am.

Understand

I dont get the math homework.

I dont get it.

Become

My friend spilled his drink on my pants and I got angry.

Its late and I am getting tired.

Its getting late. We should go home.

Buy/Order

I went out for dinner last night and I got a steak and my
friend got pasta.

Deal With

Can you get the phone please?

I will get the door.

Ill get it.

Prepare

It takes me 1 hour everyday to get ready. (the process of

becoming ready)

Force/ Persuade

How can I get my son to read more?

The government wants to get the people to pay their taxes

on time.

Possession (Have)

Do you got any money? (Very informal)

Get + Preposition
"Get" is used with many prepositions to make phrasal verbs.
Here is a list:
Get Up
Wake up

What time do you get up in the morning?

Stand up

The students got up out of their seats.

Get Down
To go down from somewhere high.

I got down from the tree.

Get On
Buses, Trains, Planes, Bicycles, Motorcycles

He got on the train 5 minutes before it left the station.

Get Off
Buses, Trains, Planes, Bicycles, Motorcycles

He got off his bicycle and started to walk.

Get Out
Imperative to tell someone to leave.

Get out of my bedroom right now!

Get Back
Return

When will you get back from school?

Move back/Watch out

Get back! There is a car coming.

Get Over
To no longer have emotional difficulty with something or
someone.

It took 2 months for him to get over his ex-girlfriend.

Get Through
To accomplish and complete a difficult task.

Training for the marathon was very difficult, but I got

through it.

Get Away With

To not be caught for doing something wrong.

I stole a chocolate bar from the store and got away with it.

Here is a list of other phrases that are common with "get."

Get married
trouble

Get cleaned up

Get divorced

Get ready

Get a job

Get a drink

Get stuck

Get in

Get dressed

Irregular Plural Nouns

Nouns are people, places, and things. There can be more than one noun, something called a plural. For
plural nouns, add an "s". Cat Cats Dog - Dogs
Some nouns have irregular plurals.The plural form of words is usually formed by adding S.
However, there are some irregular plural forms.
How to form the plural:

Ending

Plural

Example

S, X, CH, SH, Z

Add - ES

Boss bosses
Tax taxes
Church churches

Consonant + Y

Change Y to I and
add ES

Fly flies
Party - parties

FE

Change F to V and
add S

Knife knives
Life lives
Wife wives

Change F to V and
add ES

Half halves
Wolf wolves
Loaf loaves

Potato potatoes
Tomato tomatoes
Volcano volcanoes

Add ES

Single

Plural

Man

Men

Woman

Women

Person

People

Child

Children

Foot

Feet

Tooth

Teeth

Die

Dice

Mouse

Mice

Goose

Geese

Fish

Fish

Sheep

Sheep

Deer

Deer

Moose

Moose

Irregular Verbs
INFINITIVE

SIMPLE PAST

PAST PARTICIPLE

abide
arise
awake
be
bear
beat
become
befall
beget
begin
behold
bend
beseech
beset
bespeak
bestride
bet
bid
bind
bite
bleed
blow
break
breed
bring
broadcast
build
burn
burst
buy
cast
catch
choose
cling
come
cost
countersink
creep
crossbreed
cut
deal
dig
do
draw
dream

abode, abided
arose
awoke
was, were
bore
beat
became
befell
begot
began
beheld
bent
besought, beseeched
beset
bespoke
bestrode
bet, betted
bid, bade
bound
bit
bled
blew
broke
bred
brought
broadcast
built
burnt, burned
burst
bought
cast
caught
chose
clung
came
cost, costed
countersank
crept
crossbred
cut
dealt
dug
did
drew
dreamt, dreamed

abode, abided
arisen
awoken
been
borne, born
beaten
become
befallen
begotten
begun
beheld
bent
besought, beseeched
beset
bespoke(n)
bestridden
bet, betted
bid, bidden
bound
bitten
bled
blown
broken
bred
brought
broadcast
built
burnt, burned
burst
bought
cast
caught
chosen
clung
come
cost, costed
countersunk
crept
crossbred
cut
dealt
dug
done
drawn
dreamt, dreamed

drink
drive
dwell
eat
fall
feed
feel
fight
find
flee
fling
fly
forbear
forbid
forecast
forego
foresee
foretell
forget
forgive
forgo
forsake
forswear
freeze
get
give
go
grind
grow
hang
have
hear
heave
hide
hit
hold
hurt
inlay
interweave
keep
kneel
knit
know
lade
lay
lead
lean
leap
learn
leave

drank
drove
dwelt, dwelled
ate
fell
fed
felt
fought
found
fled
flung
flew
forbore
forbad(e)
forecast, forecasted
forewent
foresaw
foretold
forgot
forgave
forwent
forsook
forswore
froze
got
gave
went
ground
grew
hung, hanged
had
heard
hove, heaved
hid
hit
held
hurt
inlaid
interwove
kept
knelt, kneeled
knitted, knit
knew
laded
laid
led
leant, leaned
leapt, leaped
learnt, learned
left

drunk
driven
dwelt, dwelled
eaten
fallen
fed
felt
fought
found
fled
flung
flown
forborne
forbidden
forecast, forecasted
forgone
foreseen
foretold
forgotten
forgiven
forgone
forsaken
forsworn
frozen
got
given
gone
ground
grown
hung, hanged
had
heard
hove, heaved
hidden
hit
held
hurt
inlaid
interwoven
kept
knelt, kneeled
knitted, knit
known
laden
laid
led
leant, leaned
leapt, leaped
learnt, learned
left

lend
let
lie
light
lip-read
lose
make
mean
meet
miscast
misdeal
mishear
mishit
mislay
mislead
misread
misspell
misspend
mistake
misunderstand
outbid
outdo
outgrow
outrun
outsell
outshine
overbid
overcome
overdo
overdraw
overeat
overfeed
overfly
overhang
overhear
overlay
overpay
override
overrun
oversee
oversell
overshoot
oversleep
overspend
overtake
overthrow
overwind
partake
pay
prepay

lent
let
lay
lit, lighted1
lip-read
lost
made
meant
met
miscast
misdealt
misheard
mishit
mislaid
misled
misread
misspelt, misspelled
misspent
mistook
misunderstood
outbid
outdid
outgrew
outran
outsold
outshone
overbid
overcame
overdid
overdrew
overate
overfed
overflew
overhung
overheard
overlaid
overpaid
overrode
overran
oversaw
oversold
overshot
overslept
overspent
overtook
overthrew
overwound
partook
paid
prepaid

lent
let
lain
lit, lighted
lip-read
lost
made
meant
met
miscast
misdealt
misheard
mishit
mislaid
misled
misread
misspelt, misspelled
misspent
mistaken
misunderstood
outbid
outdone
outgrown
outrun
outsold
outshone
overbid
overcome
overdone
overdrawn
overeaten
overfed
overflown
overhung
overheard
overlaid
overpaid
overridden
overrun
overseen
oversold
overshot
overslept
overspent
overtaken
overthrown
overwound
partaken
paid
prepaid

proofread
put
quit
read
rebind
rebuild
recast
redo
redraw
remake
rend
repay
rerun
resell
reset
resit
retake
retell
rethink
rewind
rewrite
rid
ride
ring
rise
run
saw
say
see
seek
sell
send
set
sew
shake
shed
shine
shoe
shoot
show
shrink
shut
sing
sink
sit
slay
sleep
slide
sling
slink

proofread
put
quit, quitted2
read
rebound
rebuilt
recast
redid
redrew
remade
rent
repaid
reran
resold
reset
resat
retook
retold
rethought
rewound
rewrote
rid
rode
rang
rose
ran
sawed
said
saw
sought
sold
sent
set
sewed
shook
shed
shone, shined
shod
shot
showed
shrank
shut
sang
sank
sat
slew
slept
slid
slung
slunk

proofread
put
quit, quitted
read
rebound
rebuilt
recast
redone
redrawn
remade
rent
repaid
rerun
resold
reset
resat
retaken
retold
rethought
rewound
rewritten
rid
ridden
rung
risen
run
sawn
said
seen
sought
sold
sent
set
sewn
shaken
shed
shone, shined
shod
shot
shown
shrunk
shut
sung
sunk
sat
slain
slept
slid
slung
slunk

slit
smell
smite
speak
speed
spell
spend
spill
spin
spit
split
spoil
spread
spring
stand
steal
stick
sting
stink
strew
stride
strike
string
strive
swear
sweep
swell
swim
swing
take
teach
tear
tell
think
throw
thrust
tread
unbend
unbind
underbid
undercut
underfeed
undergo
underlie
underpay
undersell
understand
undertake
underwrite
undo

slit
smelt, smelled
smote
spoke
speeded, sped
spelt, spelled
spent
spilt, spilled
spun
spat
split
spoilt, spoiled
spread
sprang
stood
stole
stuck
stung
stank, stunk (US)
strewed
strode
struck
strung
strove
swore
swept
swelled
swam
swung
took
taught
tore
told
thought
threw
thrust
trod
unbent
unbound
underbid
undercut
underfed
underwent
underlay
underpaid
undersold
understood
undertook
underwrote
undid

slit
smelt, smelled
smitten
spoken
speeded, sped
spelt, spelled
spent
spilt, spilled
spun
spat
split
spoilt, spoiled
spread
sprung
stood
stolen
stuck
stung
stunk
strewn, strewed
stridden
struck
strung
striven
sworn
swept
swollen
swum
swung
taken
taught
torn
told
thought
thrown
thrust
trodden
unbent
unbound
underbid
undercut
underfed
undergone
underlain
underpaid
undersold
understood
undertaken
underwritten
undone

unfreeze
unmake
unsay
unwind
uphold
upset
wake
waylay
wear
weave
wed
weep
win
wind
withdraw
withhold
withstand
wring
write

unfroze
unmade
unsaid
unwound
upheld
upset
woke
waylaid
wore
wove
wed, wedded
wept
won
wound
withdrew
withheld
withstood
wrung
wrote

unfrozen
unmade
unsaid
unwound
upheld
upset
woken
waylaid
worn
woven
wed, wedded
wept
won
wound
withdrawn
withheld
withstood
wrung
written

Part of Speech
These are the four most important parts of speech:

Verbs

Nouns

Adjectives

Adverbs

Verbs
Verbs show action. Here are some examples:

Run

Play

Dance

They change with the verb tense. Here is the present, past, and past participle for the verb "go":

Go, Went, Gone,

Verbs can be irregular or regular. The table has some examples:

Nouns
Nouns are people, places, and things. Here are some examples:
People

Tom, Brad Pitt, The Teacher, A Girl

Places

Toronto, Spain, The School, The Park

Things

The Television, The Chair, A Dog

Nouns can be countable or uncountable. They often come

after the verb "have" or after articles (a, an, the).

I have a dog. The boy is tall.

Adjectives
Adjectives describe or modify nouns. They go before or after the noun.
Before

The tall boy likes pizza.

After

The boy is tall.

Adverbs
Adverbs are like adjectives, but they end in LY.

Quickly

Slowly

Adverbs describe verbs: The boy ran quickly.

They also describe adjectives: The man is very tall.
When you learn the parts of speech, you can use words correctly. You can also expand your vocabulary
by learning the different forms of the words. For example, quick and quickly, or create, creative, and
creatively.
Stative and Dynamic Verbs

Activity Verbs
These are for activities. They are actions we can see or hear. They can be used in all verb tenses in
English. Here are some examples: Play, jump, talk, smile.
State Verbs
These are states or feelings. They can't be seen or heard. They are never used in continuous tenses.
These are some examples:
The main thing to consider is these words can't be used in continuous tenses.
INCORRECT Examples: I am loving baseball.
dinner.

I was wanting pizza for

I am needing ten dollars.

Some stative verbs can be used actively in special situations:
Be

You are annoying.

You are being annoying.

Think

I think studying history is important.

I am thinking about my girlfriend.

Have

I have a dog.

I am having a party.

I am having a good time.

Feel

I am not feeling well.

I feel that the test is difficult.

Senses
Verbs of the senses can be complicated. Use these rules to understand which verbs are active and which
are stative.
Ears
Listen is active and hear is stative.

I am listening to the radio.

I am hearing the radio. (Incorrect)

Eyes
Watch and look are active and see is stative

I am watching television.

I am looking at the news paper.

I am seeing the bird. (Incorrect)

Watch is used for things that move or show actions. (Television, sports, etc.)
Look is for things that do not move.(Art, Books, etc.)
Nose
Smell can be active or stative depending on the situation.

I am smelling (the action of smelling)

Mouth
Taste can also be active or stative.

I smell something burning.

I am tasting the soup. (Action)

However, it is better to say I am trying the soup.

I taste salt in this soup. (State)

Suffixes

Suffixes are the endings of words. They change the type of word. Suffixes are at the end of words.
Some examples include

ing

ed

tion

The suffix can often show the type of word. For example, "ed" is used for past tense verbs. The
following is a list of all the major suffixes for each type of word.
NOUNS
Here are some of the most common noun suffixes.
tion/sion
solution, pollution, collision, conclusion
ity
productivity, capacity, personality

ment
payment, treatment, punishment
ness
happiness, loneliness, laziness
Often "ness" suffixes are added to adjectives that end in "y". This makes them a noun.
happy happiness
crazy -- craziness
er/or/ist
The people or things that do a verb can be created by adding ER, OR, or IST. ER is the most
common of the three.
Teach --- teacher Print --- printer
doctor, operator pianist, biologist, scientist
hood
parenthood, fatherhood, neighbourhood
ship
friendship, partnership, relationship
ence
patience, distance, reliance
dom
freedom, kingdom, boredom
ADJECTIVES
Adjective suffixes often are used to create words that show nouns displaying the quality of
something.For example, Heroic is an adjective that shows someone has the qualities of a hero.
Adjectives are words that modify nouns. Therefore, they are found before nouns, or often after the
verb HAVE.
Here are some examples of suffixes that form adjectives:
ing (describes things and their qualities)
exciting, boring, interesting
ed (describes feelings)
excited, bored, interested
ive
creative, abusive, persuasive
ic
futuristic, heroic, public
al
global, final, traditional
able
breakable, affordable, possible
y
sticky, shiny, healthy
ous
glamorous, fabulous, glorious
ful (full of)
harmful, hateful, successful, beautiful
less (without)
pointless, endless, homeless
ish

selfish, foolish, childish

VERBS
ed
Regular verbs end in "ed" in the past and past participle forms: played, jumped
en
broken, taken, forgotten
"En" is common for past participles: gotten, written,
ize
symbolize, materialize, realize
ate
create, skate, donate
ify
solidify, qualify, quantify
ADVERBS
Most adverbs in English are created by adding -LY to the adjective.
Adjective

Adverb

Quiet

quietly

Slow

slowly

Quick

quickly

Word Form
Words have 4 major forms:

Verbs

Nouns

Adjectives

Adverbs

Verbs

Actions

Many Forms (past, present, continuous, etc.)

Irregular or Regular

Gerunds & Infinitives

Nouns

People

(Tom, Brad Pitt, Teacher, Girl)

Places

(Toronto, School, Canada)

Things

(Television, Dog, Chair)

Ideas

(Freedom, Love, Justice)

Nouns can be countable or uncountable. They often come after the verb "have" or after articles (a,
an,the)

I have a dog.

The boy is tall.

Adjectives

Describe nouns

Go before nouns

Go after the verb to Be

(The tall boy)

(The boy is tall)

Adverbs

Describe verbs

(The boy ran quickly)

Describe adjectives

(The man is surprisingly tall.)

IELTS
The IELTS is an English proficiency exam. It is also used for acceptance to college or university,
immigration, and other times.
IELTS Listening
The IELTS listening section is 30 minutes. You listen to 4 parts and answer 40 questions.
Part 1
information and the other person is giving the information. An example could be a person asking about
class times and prices. This is a conversation between 2 people. 1 person is asking for for swimming
lessons.
Common Questions:

Fill in the Table/Chart/Note

Part 2
This part is a single person speaking about a topic of general interest.
Common Questions:

Maps/Directions

Part 3
This is a conversation between more than 2 people. The topic is academic.
Common Questions:

Summary Completion

Diagram Labelling

Matching

Part 4
The final part is an academic lecture by 1 person.
Common Questions:

Flowchart

IELTS Listening Question Types

The IELTS listening section has a variety of question types:
Multiple Choice questions ask for main ideas, opinions, and
specific information.
Short Answer questions ask you to fill in the blanks with nor more than 2/3 words.
Form Completion questions ask you to fill in a form based on information one of the speaker's
is giving.
Sentence Completion questions give single sentences to complete. They are not in the form of
a paragraph like summary completion.
Summary Completion questions are fill in the blank questions in a summary paragraph.
Flow Chart questions go in chronological order as the speaker helps you complete a chart of
information.
Diagram questions need to be completed in chronological order as the speaker discusses the
diagram.
Map/Plan questions give you a map to fill in. Listen as the speaker will talk about each item in
the map.
Classification questions give you three choices to match with sentences.
IELTS Listening Strategies

1. Have a purpose for listening.

Skim the questions before you begin to listen. This will give you a purpose and an idea of what
to listen for.
2. Know the patterns of each question type.
Most are in chronological order.
3. Do not write more words than the maximum given.
This is usually three. Don't write more than they ask for. You will receive a penalty.
4. Be ready for introductions.
Some questions have introductions before they start discussing the answers. They don't have
any important information.
5. Be ready for transitional words.
Understand how speakers use transitional words to move from point to point.

6. Think about what type of information is being asked

for.
This could be a date, time, name, etc. Understanding what you need to answer makes it easier.
7. Watch out for common distractors.
Just because you hear a word, does not mean it is the answer.
8. Be ready for synonyms.
Synonyms are extremely important. It is not usual for the exact word to be on the paper and in
the listening. You are expected to be able to connect synonyms.
9. Be ready for different accents.
The speakers have different accents, for example British or American.
10. Be ready for a conversational tone.
The speakers will use conversational vocabulary, such as slang, idioms, contractions, and
reduced pronunciation.
11. Answer every question.
There is no penalty for a wrong answer. Guess if you run out of time.
IELTS Reading
IELTS Reading Question Types
IELTS Reading Strategy
The IELTS reading section is 40 questions in 60 minutes. All questions are worth one point.
There are three readings. Manage your time for about 20 minutes per reading.
There are several types of questions:

Multiple Choice

True/False/Not Given

Yes/No/Not Given (Writers Claims)

Short-Answer Questions

Matching

Headings

Features

Sentence Endings

Completion

Sentence

Summary

Note

Table

Flowchart

Diagram/Label

Here are some strategies for the main question types:

Multiple Choice
Limit your choices to 1-2 options. One is usually very wrong or crazy. One is usually the opposite.
Then you have two options that are close. Choose between those two.
True/False/Not Given
You only have three options for these questions. The important strategy is to understand the difference
between these three options. Lets look at an example to show the difference.
In the reading, you see this sentence:

Paul likes pizza.

These are your three options:

True is directly in the passage, like these examples:

Paul likes pizza.

Paul enjoys pizza.

False says the opposite in the passage. It must be mentioned in the passage.

Paul doesnt like pizza.

Not given means the idea is not mentioned in the passage.

These are some examples:

Paul likes sushi.

Paul likes pasta.

Completion
Any time you need to fill in the blank, pay attention to the
words before the blank. Watch out for grammar that impacts
the words in the blank.
Take a look at this example:

Paul enjoys __________.

In this example, you know the word in the blank must be a noun or a verb plus ING. It can't be an
infinitive because that doesn't follow "enjoy". Here is another example:

Paul arrived at ______________.

The preposition "at" tells you this is a time. It is not a day because you can't say "at Monday" for
example. Use these words before the blanks as clues to the answer.
Fill in the blank (Completion) questions often have the same pattern:
Keyword (in text) + synonym + grammar word + _________
Here is an example:

In the Text: The elephant was unsure when it became too

close to the alligator.

Question: The elephant was hesitant near the _________.

You need to understand that hesitant and unsure have the same meaning.
Understanding these reading question types will help you prepare for the test. Next, let's look at some
strategies.
Before the Test
1. Reading is the best way to practice for the test.
Read anything you can. Newspapers, Internet articles, books, magazines are all great sources. Any
reading practice will help you on the test.
2. Learn the types of questions and how to answer each.
The lesson above shows you the types of questions. As you take practice tests, recognize these
questions and develop your strategies appropriately.
During the Test
1. The questions are in chronological order.
Most of the time, the question numbers follow the order of the reading passage. So you will find the
answer to question 1 before the answer to question 2, etc.
2. Synonyms connect the questions with the reading passage.
Synonyms are words that have the same meaning, for example like and enjoy. The reading passage
usually has one word, while the question has the synonym. This is an example:

Reading Passage: Paul likes pizza.

Question: Paul enjoys pizza. (True)

3. Grammar affects possible choices.

Especially look at the word before blanks.
4. Restrictive words can eliminate options.
These are words that mean 100% or 0%. Some examples are never, always, every, none, and all. These
will limit the answer options.
5. You only have 60 minutes.
The reading section is the most common area where people lose track of time. Manage your time so
you have about 20 minutes for each reading.

6. Active reading strategies are crucial.

Use the three key active reading strategies: survey, skim, scan.
Survey
Before you begin reading, look at the entire article for about 10 seconds. Ask yourself these questions:

What is the title?

What is the article about?

What do you already know about the topic?

How long is the reading?

How is it organized?

This prepares you to begin reading. By asking yourself questions, you are preparing your mind to
understand the information.
Skim
Skimming is reading the material quickly. Dont try to understand everything. Focus on two main
goals:
1. Understand the main idea
2. Discover where key information is located
After skimming, you should be able to explain the main idea of the passage. Ask your self the question,
what is this about? The answer is the main idea.
You should also be able to know where key information is, or the organization of the reading. Think
about some of the common ways a reading could be organized:

Chronological history

Persuasive argument with main points

List of features

When you understand how the reading is organized, you can find the information you need.
Use some key features to help you skim. The title tells you the main idea. Topic sentences (the first
sentence) tell you what each paragraph is about. Numbers and dates are easy for your eyes to recognize
when skimming. Use them to give you an understanding of where key information is located.
Scan
Scanning is finding information. You know the information you are looking for, so you scan through
the article to find it.
Scanning is done after skimming so you are prepared to find information. For example, if you skim a
reading about the history of the telephone, you know to scan the first paragraph to find the year the
telephone was first invented.
Use scanning on the IELTS after you have read the questions. For each question, scan the reading to
find the answer. When you find the section with the answer, read in detail to make sure you find the

correct answer.
IELTS Writing
The IELTS writing section is 60 minutes.
You have two tasks, a description writing and an essay.
Writing Task 1
The first IELTS writing task is a 150 word description. You must analyze a graphic element and discuss
and compare its features. The options are as follows:

Bar Graph

Line Graph

Circle Graph

Table

Flow Chart

You must look at the graphic element and write about its main features. The most common task is to
compare different components of the information.
Use these tips to help you on writing task 1.
1. Make sure you have at least 150 words.
You will receive a penalty if you do not have enough words.
2. Talk about all the information on the graphic elements.
Sometimes, you see two elements. Make sure you discuss both.
3. Do not give your opinion.
This is not a persuasive writing exercise or an argument. Write about what is shown in the graphic
element.
5. Use multiple paragraphs.
When you have a new idea, use a new paragraph. You should try for about 5 paragraphs.
6. Stay organized.
Use an introduction and a conclusion to make your writing organized. A common organizational
strategy look likes this:

Introduction (1-2 sentences)

Overview (3-5 sentences)

Analysis (5-8 sentences, perhaps 2 paragraphs)

Conclusion (1-2 sentences

7. Use key words to show the movement of data.

These are some common examples.

Increase, Rise, Climb, Jump

Decrease, Fall, Decline, Drop

8. Practice your grammar for comparing.

You should review comparative and superlative adjectives.
Writing Task 2
The second writing task is a 250-word essay. You must write on a question you are given.
You need to write a persuasive essay where you take one side and argue it. Some of the options are as
follows:

Defending an Opinion

Providing Solutions

Uses these tips to write a high-scoring IELTS essay.

1. Write at least 250 words.
You will receive penalties if you do not write enough words.
2. Use proper essay format.
These are requirements of an essay:

Leave a blank line between paragraphs.

Indent a new paragraph.

Do not use bulleted or numbered lists, charts, or pictures.

Always use full sentences.

3. Write in a logical order that is easy to follow.

Organize your points in an order that makes the most sense. Your paragraphs and sentences should be
easy to follow and understand.
4. Stay on track.
Stay focused on the topic. Everything you write should have a purpose and should support your thesis
or main point.
5. Use specific examples.
Examples make your ideas stronger and clearer. They also show you can organize a paragraph. Make
sure your examples are specific and related to your idea.
6. Use transitional words.
Transitional words make your writing easier to follow. They also show you are organized.
7. Use an academic writing style.
The IELTS is a formal, academic writing exercise.
IELTS Speaking
The IELTS speaking test is 3 parts.
IELTS Speaking Parts
IELTS Speaking Scoring
The IELTS speaking section is scored in four categories:

Fluency and Coherence

Lexical Resource

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

Pronunciation

Find out more about the scoring from the official IELTS band
descriptors:
IELTS Speaking Band Descriptors
The IELTS speaking section has three parts:

Personal Questions

Long Turn

Discussion

Use the tips below to succeed on each part.

Part 1: Personal Questions

Overview
The first part of the test is an introductory conversation about you. The assessor will ask you a variety of questions about a
personal topic.

Strategies
1. It is easy to give short answers. Dont. Expand your answers as much as possible. Using examples helps.
2. The questions are about you, so you should have no difficulty with the topic.
3. Focus on what the question is asking. Listen for the question words (e.g. Where, When, etc.).

Part 2: Long Turn

Overview
In part 2 of the speaking test, you are given a card with a topic and some key points. You are expected to speak about that
topic for 1-2 minutes.
Here is an example question:
Describe a vacation you have taken.
You should say:

Where you went

What activities you did on the vacation

How much you enjoyed the vacation and if you would

return to the same place

Strategies
1. Brainstorm and take notes. Use your notes to guide your answer.
2. Address each point on the card. Use the order as an outline for your speech.
3. Use the vocabulary on the card as a prompt. For example, using the question above, you would say something like this:

Some activities I did on my vacation were

4. Give specific examples and reasons.

5. Use transitional words.

Part 3: Discussion
Overview
In Part 3 of the speaking test, you are asked to have a discussion about the topic in Part 2. The examiner asks you
questions about the topic.
Here are some example questions:

What strategies do people use to find a job?

What is the difference between a successful and

unsuccessful worker?

How do you think the job market will change in the future?

These questions are more detailed than the questions in the first two parts of the test. You are expected to think more deeply. There are a
number of tasks you may need to complete:

Discuss the past

Provide an opinion

Persuade and convince

Compare and contrast

Discuss current trends

Speculate about the future

Describe a process

Recommend solutions to problems

Strategies
1. Use the proper verb tense or grammar structure depending on the question.
2. Use examples to expand on your answers.
3. Use phrases to state your opinion:

In my opinion,

I believe,

I feel,

Those are the three question types. Now, let's look at some speaking strategies that help for all parts of the speaking
section.

IELTS Speaking Scoring

The IELTS speaking section is scored in four categories:

Fluency and Coherence

Lexical Resource

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

Pronunciation

Find out more about the scoring from the official IELTS band descriptors:

IELTS Speaking Strategies

Before the Test
1. Practice your speaking as much as possible.
Any practice will help. Chat with your friends, classmates, or teachers. Even talking to yourself will help!

2. Study the 3 different parts of the speaking section.

Use the information above to understand each of the three parts.

3. Improve your grammar and vocabulary skills.

This is evaluated in the speaking section.

4. Improve your pronunciation.

This is also evaluated in the speaking section.

During the Test

1. Speak clearly and loudly.
The assessor needs to understand and hear you to give you a good score.

2. Use proper body language.

Make eye contact, use good posture, and smile.

3. Speak formally.
Dont use slang or informal words. This is a formal activity.

4. Stay on topic.
Focus on the question and dont discuss unrelated ideas.

5. Use the question in your answer.

This will keep you organized and allow the assessor to follow your ideas. For example, you could start a question like this:

One reason I enjoyed my last vacation was

6. Have a clear conclusion to each of your answers.

This is similar to the point above. A good conclusion will help with organization. For example:

That is why I enjoy reading.

7. Use a wide range of grammar structures.

Recognize the difference in grammar in each question. Some ask about the present, others the future, past, or hypothetical situations.

8. Use transitional words and signposting

This will help with organization too. (e.g. Also, next, therefore, however, another, the second)

9. Use examples when possible.

Examples help build your content. Introduce your examples with the right phrases:

For example

Such as...

10. Dont memorize your answers when preparing.

You don't want you answers to sound rehearsed. Also, you really don't know which questions you will get, so memorizing is a waste of
time.

11. Use descriptive words when describing things.

Instead of saying good, use words like incredible or exceptional. This will really help your vocabulary score.

12. Explain any name from your own language.

Examples could include festivals, holidays, foods, locations, or events.
Here is an example:

My favourite food is Paella, which is a traditional Spanish

dish made with seafood, rice, and vegetables.

13. Don't ask for explanations.

The assessor cannot explain a question. He or she can repeat the question, so ask if you do not understand:

Could you repeat the question please?

14. Explain and elaborate completely.

The assessor will not help you or prompt you for more information. You must elaborate and say enough to receive a good score. Think
about the differences in these three answers: What is your favourite sport?

I dont have a favourite sport.

I like baseball.

I like baseball. I play every Saturday on a team. I am the

pitcher. I have played for the last 5 years.

The third answer is much better because it is detailed.

15. Never give up.

Even if you make mistakes, dont know what to say, or cant think of anything, keep going. Scoring half the points is better
than zero.

TOEFL
The TOEFL is the Test of English as a Foreign Language. It is an English proficiency test from ETS.
The most common use of the TOEFL is for applications to English-speaking universities and colleges.
The TOEFL reading section tests your ability to understand academic texts.
The TOEFL reading passages are 600-800 words. Each passage has 12-14 questions.
The TOEFL reading section has two versions:
1.

60 minutes to read 3 passages

2.

80 minutes to read 4 passages

You don't know which version you will write until the day of the test.
You have 20 minutes per passage. However, the questions are not divided, so you have the full 60 minutes to complete all passages. So
you need to manage your time. After you consider the time it takes to read, you should take about 1 minute per question.

Reading Passages
There are 3 types of reading passages:
Exposition

An explanation or description of a topic

Narrative/Historical

Stories, past events, or biographies

Argument

Opinions with evidence and support

There are 10 multiple choice question types:

Multiple Choice (11-13)
1.
Vocabulary in Context (3-5)
2.
Factual Information (3-6)
3.
Negative Factual Information (0-2)
4.
Inferences (0-2)
5.
Reference (0-2)
6.
Rhetorical Purpose (0-2)
7.
Essential Information (0-1)
8.
Insert a Sentence (0-1)
Reading to Learn (1)
9.
Prose Summary

10.
Table
TOEFL Listening
The TOEFL listening section tests your ability to listen to and understand spoken English.
The TOEFL Listening sections asks you questions to test different listening abilities. These are the most important:
Comprehension questions test your understanding o content, purpose, and details.
Pragmatic understanding questions test your understanding of function and attitude from the speaker.
Connecting information questions see if you understand how the speaker organizes ideas.
Inferences questions check if you can make inferences about implied information.

TOEFL Listening Strategies

Uses these strategies to help you succeed on the TOEFL listening section:
1. Be ready for casual speaking, such as slang, idioms, reduced speech, linking, contractions, and phrasal verbs.
2. Pay attention to attitude, opinion, and purpose. The TOEFL listening questions ask you more than just simple details.
3. Listen for transitional words from the speakers. They use these to move from point to point, or to give contrasts or examples.
4. Speakers are not perfect. Sometimes they will correct themselves, use filler words (uh, um, like), or hesitate. The speaking is
supposed to sound natural.
5. Take notes. You can't remember everything, so take notes of key information.
6. If you don't know the answer, guess. There is no penalty for a wrong answer.

TOEFL Speaking
You will speak in 6 different tasks. There are independent and integrated tasks. The independent tasks are only speaking, while the
integrated tasks ask you to read and listen too.

Independent Speaking
Personal Preference

Choose and discuss a personal choice

Choice

Choose between two behaviours

Integrated Speaking
Campus Situation

Read and listen to a campus related issue then summarize

Academic Course Topic

Read and listen to a lecture and then summarize

Campus Situation

Listen to a conversation then summarize

Academic Course

Listen to a lecture then summarize

TOEFL Speaking Strategies

1. You can prepare your independent answers by studying possible questions.

Favourite teachers, holidays, activities, and sports

Achievements, embarrassing moments

2. Quickly make a choice and stay with it.

Don't take too much time to think about your answer. You don't have a lot of time to plan. This is especially true with question 1 and 2
3. Plan your introduction so you make a good start.
A strong start sets you up for the rest of the speaking.
4. Use a conclusion to summarize your choice.
A good concluding sentence shows you are organized.
5. Use transitional words.
Use transitional words between different ideas and examples.
6. Dont worry about mistakes.
Even if you have no ideas, say something. You can score part marks for the things you say. If you stumble or make an error,
do not stop. Use these strategies to get a high score on the speaking section of the TOEFL. If you would like more strategies and tips, try
the 20-Day TOEFL program.

TOEFL Writing

There are two types of questions:

Integrated

Independent

Integrated
In the integrated questions, you must read and listen and then write a summary. This may include reading a passage and
listening to a lecture, then writing a summary.
For detailed information and strategies for the integrated writing task, click on this link:

TOEFL Integrated Writing

Independent
In the independent section, you must write an essay based on a question you are given. You have 40 minutes to write the
essay.

TOEIC
The TOEIC is an English proficiency test called the Test of English for International Communication.
It tests a candidates ability to use English in a business context.There are actually two tests:

Listening and Reading

Speaking and Writing

learnEnglish-online has resources for the Listening and Reading test. Use the links below to learn more about the
TOEIC:

TOEIC Listening

The TOIEC listening section has 4 parts: photographs, question-response, conversations, and short
talks.
These sections test your ability to understand spoken English and answer questions based on what you
hear.The TOEIC listening section is as follows:

45 Minutes

4 Sections

100 Questions Total

Number of Questions
Topic
10
Photographs
30
Question-Response
30
Conversations
30
Short Talks

Part 1: Photographs
Directions:

See a photo

Hear four statements

Choose the most appropriate statement

Part 2: Question-Response
Directions

Listen to a question

Listen to 3 possible answers

Choose the best answer

Part 3: Conversations
Directions

Listen to a conversation between 2 people

Listen to and see 3 questions

Choose the best answers

Part 4: Short Talks

Directions

Listen to a speech by a single speaker

Listen and see 3 questions

Choose the best answers

English Grammar Being Tested on the TOEIC Listening Section

Modal Verbs

WH Questions

Yes/No Questions

Tag Questions

Negative Words (not, never, etc.)

English Listening Skills Being Tested

Similar sounds

Right words used inaccurately

Confusing words

Answers that are not completely true

Words that dont talk about the picture

TOEIC Reading

The TOEIC reading section has three parts:

Incomplete Sentences

Text Completion

Reading Comprehension

Number of Questions
Topic

40

Incomplete Sentences
12
Text Completion
48
Reading
Comprehension

The TOEIC reading section is 75 minutes to complete the 100 questions.

TOEIC Incomplete Sentences
The best strategy is to follow the process.
1.

Read a sentence with a missing word or phrase.

2.

Choose the missing word/phrase from the options.

The incomplete sentences section tests you on grammar and vocabulary.

Vocabulary
Here is an example of a question that tests your vocabulary skills:
The updated ____________ was released in November.
a)
budget
b)
responsibility
c)
target market
d)
human resources
This is a vocabulary question because the words are different from one another. You must choose the best option for the sentence. In this
example, the answer would be "budget".

Grammar
Grammar questions have options that are from the same word family. Here is an example:
The ___________________ budget was released in November.
a)
update
b)
updated
c)
updating
d)
updates
This is a grammar example because all the words are from the same word family. The question is testing your ability to choose the correct
form of the word. As a strategy, look at the words around the blank to know what type of word you need. (Noun, Verb, Adjective, Adverb)

TOEIC Text Completion

You read four different passages. Inside each passage are 3 fill in the blank questions. Examples of passages include standard business
writing, like memos, letters, and advertisements. Although this section looks different than the incomplete sentences, it is almost the same.
The questions test your ability on grammar and vocabulary.

TOEIC Reading Comprehension

The types of passages you may see on this section of the TOEIC test include:

Letters, Emails

Notices

Charts, Tables

Advertisements

Bulletins

Business English

Business English Vocabulary

Business English has its own set of vocabulary words and phrases.

Requests
Could you please + base verb

Could you please send the file?

Instructions
Please

Please turn off computer at the end of the day.

Offers
Would you like + noun/infinitive

Would you like another copy of the document?

Would you like to meet next week to discuss?

Apologies
I apologize for + verb + ING

I apologize for sending the wrong file.

I Apologize for being late.

Asking for Questions

Please let me know if you have any questions.

If you have any questions, please let me know.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to

contact me. (Formal)

Future Events
Look forward to + Verb + ING

I look forward to hearing from you.

I look forward to meeting you.

Email Writing
Email has changed business communication. The traditional letter, memo, andtelephone call have all
been replaced by email.

Email Format
To:
The email should be sent to the person who needs to take action or the person who directly needs to know the information.

CC:
Copy in people who need to be aware of what is happening in the email. This often includes supervisors. People who are copied in are not

required to take action on the email.

From:
Most companies provide work email addresses, which make it clear who the email is from. If you are not using a work email, be sure your
email name is appropriate. This is especially true when applying for a job.

Subject Line:
The subject line is the first impression of your letter. Therefore, it must be catchy, clear and precise. Considering the large amount of
SPAM people receive, it is important to differentiate your email from the others that people will send to the trash. The subject line should

be clear,

be concise,

be directly related to the body of the email, and

contain action verbs.

Before You Write

Before you write an email, consider the following questions:

Who are you writing to?

Why are you writing?

What reaction do you want?

Is this email necessary?

After answering these questions, you will be able to write the content of your email more effectively.

Opening
Start with the reason you are writing. In an internal email, this may include the action you want from the receiver. In a formal letter, the
opening may look like this:

I am writing to inquire about.

I am writing to request.

Body
The body paragraph or paragraphs, should contain the details of the email. This may include things like further information,
statistics, explanations, or details.

Conclusion
Emails should end with an action. This should be either what you are going to do or what you need done. This can also be the place for
deadlines.

Writing Strategies for Effective Emails

Follow these strategies for better emails.
Include on action.
One action is more likely to be completed than several
Announce attachments.
Attachments are easy to miss. Make sure your receiver knows they are included.
Make your emails visually pleasing.
Bullets and numbered lists make things easier to read and understand. Bold, italics, and underline help people find key
information.

Email Etiquette

Etiquette is important when using the Internet and email. There are certain behaviours that are different on the Internet than in traditional
written communication. To be polite, consider these ideas:

Only send emails that are important.

Try to send individual emails. Mass emails are impersonal.

DONT USE ALL CAPITALS, which on the Internet is the

equivalent of yelling.

Make your attachments important. Many people are

suspicious of attachments as they are known to carry
viruses. They also take more time to access, so dont waste
peoples time with useless attachments.

Be careful with humour in emails. A letter lacks body

language, and tone of voice and can often be
misinterpreted.

Resume Writing
The resume is the first step in trying to obtain a job. It is your chance to market yourself and show an
employer you deserve an interview.
Resume Order
You should design your resume in the order that best fits your skills. For example, if you have little experience and your best asset is your
education, put education at the beginning. However, if you have a good amount of experience, then it is a good idea to place that first.
Normally employment experience is presented in reverse chronological order.

Resume Length
There is no strict rule for the length of a resume. Two pages is most common. Someone with less experience could go for one page. More
than two pages is normally not a good idea.

Resume Layout and Style

A good resume is pleasant to read and guides the reader throughout the page. Use these in your resume:
White Space
Include white space throughout your resume to make it easier to read.
Headings
Use headings for each section of the resume.
Bulleted Lists
Bullets are effective for showing job responsibilities.

Resume Tips
Job Specific
Your resume should always be job specific. Research and know the skills needed for the job and focus your resume on your skills that best
fit the job. A job-specific resume also highlights the most applicable work experience and education for each specific job. In general, use a
different resume for each job.
Quantify
Factual accomplishments are more important than vague responsibilities. Use numbers to show the results you achieved with your old job.
Words like contribute, assist, and support do not tell exactly what you did. Make sure you give concrete examples of how you did each of
these things. You can provide numbers for things such as reduced costs, number of people managed, revenue, or budget amount. Think:
How in numbers did you benefit the company?

Writing tips for a successful resume

Avoid personal pronouns.
(I, me, my, etc.)
Use past tense for past jobs and present tense for your current job.
Use action verbs.
Examples:
Correct

Managed the marketing department.

Incorrect

Was the manager of the marketing department.

Cover Letters
The cover letter is the first thing a potential employer sees before considering you for a job. It is your
opportunity to begin selling yourself.
The goal of the cover letter is to get your resume read, which will get you an interview, which will get you a job.
Follow these tips for a good English cover letter.

Good Writing
Make it concise.
The cover letter must be clear and concise. Remember that hiring managers are busy people who do not have time to read an essay on why
you are a great person.

Check for grammar and spelling.

Great experience or education can be wasted by a coverletter full of grammar and spelling mistakes. Check yourcover letter multiple
times. Dont rely on spell-check only.

Use action verbs to show what you have done in your previous jobs.
This means writing in active voice (not passive) and usingaction verbs to show your previous responsibilities andachievements.

Make it visually pleasing.

Like a resume, the cover letter needs to be visually pleasing. Use short paragraphs with plenty of white space. This will make it easier to
read.
Always limit the cover letter to one page. Likewise, the cover letter should contain three short paragraphs with a greeting and a salutation.
The section below outlines what to include in the cover letter.

Greeting
The greeting should be formal, yet warm. If you know the name of the hiring manager, always write it in the greeting. If you do not know
the name, try to find it. This can be done by checking the website or phoning the company. If you can't find the name, start with "Dear
Hiring Manager:"

1st Paragraph
The first paragraph is the purpose. You may include where you found the job posting. These are some examples:

I am writing to inquire about the receptionist position

posted on the Canada Job Bank.

I am writing to apply for the accountant position listed at

Monster.ca.

If someone recommended the job to you, put his/her name in the opening sentence, like in this example:

I am writing to apply for the sales position, which was

recommended to me by Jane Smith.

2nd Paragraph
The 2nd paragraph is a chance to talk about you. In a few short sentences, discuss your most relevant experience and why you are a good
candidate for the position. You may also list some achievements in your previous positions. Do not rewrite everything that is on your
resume.
Example Sentences:

I have experience as a waiter in casual and fine dining.

I have worked in sales for 6 years, and was recently

awarded top salesperson at my company.

3rd Paragraph
Like in any letter, the final paragraph should be the call to action. This is the time to tell the reader what you will do and what you want
him/her to do. In a cover letter you ask for an
interview:

I have attached my resume, and I would like a chance to

speak with you about the position.

I would like the opportunity to discuss this position further

in an interview.

Do not use timelines that put perceived pressure on the reader:

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Please contact me as soon as possible.

These statements rush the reader to take an action, which can appear rude.

Salutation
The salutation is not the place for creativity. There is nothing wrong with using the same salutation in every cover letter.
The best option is the following:
Sincerely,
(Signature)
Your Name