Speakout Starter

WRITING REFERENCE UNIT 1

Writing capital letters

1 Say if the following statements are true or false.

We use capital letters for:

1 the first word in a sentence. ____
2 names of people and places. ____
3 countries. ____
4 seasons. ____
5 cities. ____
6 the word I. ____
7 the word The. ____

2 Rewrite the sentences correctly with capital letters.

1 mike is from bolton.
__________________________________________
2 are you from france? yes, i am.
__________________________________________
3 lisbon is the capital of portugal.
__________________________________________
4 Bill and i like manchester united.
__________________________________________
5 is dave in liverpool today? yes, he is.
__________________________________________

Speakout Starter Writing Reference © Pearson Educación, S.A., 2012 1

WRITING REFERENCE UNIT 2

Writing contractions
We use contractions (we’re, isn’t, they’re, she’s etc.) in spoken English and in informal texts.

1 Rewrite the sentences with contractions.

1 I am from Poland.
__________________________________________
2 They are here.
__________________________________________
3 Maria is not from Italy.
__________________________________________
4 Delia and Paul are not American.
__________________________________________
5 I am not married.
__________________________________________

2 Rewrite the text message with contractions.

Hi, Cathy! I am at the cinema, but you are not here and Sam is not here. Where are you? And
what is Sam’s phone number?

______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

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WRITING REFERENCE UNIT 3

Writing linkers: and, but

We use and to add information and but to contrast information.

1 Translate the sentences.

1 This is my bag and this is your bag.
__________________________________________
2 This is my bag but these aren’t my keys.
__________________________________________

2 Complete the sentences with and or but.

1 Usain Bolt is black ____ Venus Williams is black.
2 Javier Bardem is from Spain ____ Daniel Craig is from England.
3 My T-shirt is white ____ my trousers are brown.
4 Arsenal’s colours are red ____ white.
5 Ewan McGregor is from Scotland ___ his wife is French.

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WRITING REFERENCE UNIT 4

Writing and, because

We use and to add more information and because to give a reason or an explanation.

1 Translate the sentences.

1 I like life in Japan because it’s very interesting.
__________________________________________
2 She lives in a big house and has a big car.
__________________________________________

2 Complete the text with and or because.

I am English 1________ I like England, but I am in Australia now 2________ life is good here. I
like the people in Australia 3________ I also like the food. I have a car 4_______ the distances
are very big. At the weekend I drive to the beach 5________ I swim in the sea.

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WRITING REFERENCE UNIT 5

Writing linkers to sequence

1 Read the text below by James McNab. Say if the following statement are true or
false.
1 James gets up at 10 o’clock. _____
2 James has a small breakfast. _____
3 James likes swimming. _____
4 James has lunch with his boss. _____
5 James has a TV. _____

2 Translate the underlined words.

A typical Saturday, by James McNab

On Saturday morning I get up at 9 o’clock. First, I have a cup of coffee. I don’t have a big
breakfast. After that, I often go to the gym or the swimming pool. Then I have lunch with my
family. Finally, after lunch I often watch TV or play video games.

3 Complete the description with the underlined words in the text.

On Monday morning, 1____ I have breakfast. 2____ I drive to work. 3____ I have a coffee.
4
____, I read my emails.

4 Complete the description with true information for you.

On Monday morning I get up at 1_____. Then I have 2_____ for breakfast. After that I 3 drive /
walk / cycle / take the bus / take the train to 4 work / school. I have lunch at 5_____.
Finally, I come home at 6______ .

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WRITING REFERENCE UNIT 6

Writing starting and ending an email

1 Read the text message below and answer the questions.

1 Is the text to Philip Shaw’s brother, friend or manager?
__________________________________________
2 Find two examples of formal language.
__________________________________________

Dear Mr Purley,
I am at home. There are no trains this
morning because the weather is bad.
Regards,
Philip Shaw

Sent from my iPhone

2 Choose the informal options to complete the email.

1
Hi / Dear Elaine!
I’m in a great restaurant with Rosie. The food is fantastic!
2
See you soon! / I hope to hear from you.
3
Take care, / Regards,

Emma
SEND DELETE SAVE AS

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WRITING REFERENCE UNIT 7

Writing punctuation review

1a) Write the punctuation marks that correspond to the names.

1 comma ______
2 full stop ______
3 exclamation mark ______
4 question mark ______

b) Identify the two capital letters: m, I, y, b, T, a

c) Which words (1-12) always begin with a capital letter?

1 Three
2 He
3 Paris
4I
5 The first letter in a sentence
6 The last letter in a sentence
7 Chicken
8 Monday
9 Morning
10 David
11 England
12 Spanish

2 Complete the email with punctuation marks (1-7). Also change six letters to capital
letters.

hi dave 1_____
how are you 2_____ i’m in rome with Natalie 3_____ Rick
and Veronica. We’re having a great time 4_____ Where are
you now 5_____
See you soon 6_____
best wishes 7_____

Charlie

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WRITING REFERENCE UNIT 8

Writing so and because

We use because to give a reason and so to give a result or a consequence.

1 Translate the sentences.

1 Norman went to Paris by train because he doesn’t like planes.
____________________________________________________
2 Norman doesn’t like planes so he went to Paris by train.
____________________________________________________

2 Complete the text with so or because.

We got up early in Cairo 1____ the weather was hot. We didn’t have any money 2____ we went
to the bank. After that we had breakfast in a café 3____ we were hungry. It was very cheap
4
____ I had two breakfasts! Then we bought some tickets 5____ we wanted to go to the
museum. There were a lot of people in the museum 6____ we didn’t have a good time there.

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WRITING REFERENCE UNIT 9

Writing about your favourite possession

1 Read the description below of Pete’s favourite possession. Answer the questions.
1 What is his favourite possession?
__________________________________________
2 Why does it have a special meaning for him?
__________________________________________
3 Where is it now?
__________________________________________

One of my favourite possessions is my pen. It’s a Mont Blanc. My girlfriend gave it to me for our
first anniversary. I like it because it writes very well, and because it has a special meaning for
me. I always keep it on my desk at home.

2 Complete the text about one of your favourite possessions. Include true information
about you.
One of my favourite possessions is my 1_______________ . My 2_______________ gave it to
me for 3_______________ . I like it because it 4___________________________ .
I keep it 5____________________________ .

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WRITING REFERENCE UNIT 10

Writing checking your work

1 Find the mistake in each sentence (1-6). Decide if the mistake is punctuation (p) or
grammar (gr). Then correct the sentences.
1 She is free on Saturday?
2 He live in a big house.
3 I think Madrid is the capital of spain.
4 Thanks for you email.
5 Are you French.
6 I can to see you tonight.

2 Read the email. Find and correct:

a) five mistakes with punctuation / capital letters

a) five grammar mistakes

hi colin
Thanks for you’re email. I’m sorry but i can’t to see you
tomorrow. I go to watch a football match with my friends?
You are free on Saturday? We can go the shops.
Cheers,
Sean

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