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HANDOUT
Upper Intermediate Topic 1(A)
Reported Speech
When we report statements we often use the verbs say or tell followed by a that-clause.
For example:
He told me that Peter was here a minute ago.
He said that he would go.
Generally, the that-clause takes a different verbal tense than the one used in the original state-
ment.
However, if the action reported is a permanent situation or still exists, the verbal tense of the that-
clause may remain in present tense. Examples:
Note that with ‘say’ and other common reporting verbs such as: agree, mention, notice, promise and
think the use of the word THAT is optional.
Examples:
I promise I will pay you a visit. She promised (that) she would pay me a visit.
We think we can go to the ceremony. They thought (that) they could go to the cere-
mony.
She is tired. She said (that) she was tired.
reporting questions
Question reported speech
Where does Peter live? She asked me where Peter lived/lives.
What will you do tomorrow? She asked me what I would do tomorrow.
reporting commands
command reported speech
Sit down. Ann told me to sit down.
Don’t smoke. Lucy told us not to smoke.
Conversation
Upper Intermediate Topic 1(b)
Practice
Activity
Yesterday you met a friend of yours, Noah. Here are some things Noah told you:
1. I’m living in London now. 7. I haven’t seen Diane recently.
2. My father isn’t very well. 8. I’m not enjoying my job much.
3. Sharon and Paul are getting married next 9. You can come and stay at my flat if you are
month. ever in London.
4. Margaret has had a baby. 10. My car was stolen yesterday.
5. I don’t know what Fred is doing. 11. I want to go on holiday but I can’t afford it.
6. I saw Helen at a party in June and she 12. I’ll tell Ann I saw you.
seemed fine.
Conversation
HANDOUT
Upper Intermediate Topic 2
$$$ M O N E Y $$$
i. Fill in the gaps using the past tense of verbs from the box. Be careful; most of them are
irregular.
buy spend lose pay cost sell win waste find give
ii. What can you say in these situations? Do not use the underlined words or phrases.
Conversation
HANDOUT
Upper Intermediate Topic
4(A) Traveling
For each of the specific requests listed below, a tourist planning a trip would ask “What do you re -
commend/suggest?” Provide a recommendation from one of the places in the pictures. Use all the
pictures.
Example:
A: I’m interested in nightlife. What do you suggest?
b: Well, why don’t you go to the Starlight dance club? They play great music!
Conversation
Upper Intermediate Topic 4(b)
i. A guest is phoning the Rex Hotel to book a room. Number the dialog in the right order (1-14).
The first one has been done for you.
American Express. The number’s 7662 368 127 44 38. Will you need a deposit?
Hello, I’d like to book a room, please.
Yes, it’s Harry Stevens, and the address is 30 Lime Walk, Slough.
Certainly, sir. When would you like to come?
An individual booking - it’s for our wedding anniversary.
No, but you’ve been recommended to us by friends.
I’lljustcheckavailability.Yes, that’s fine.Is this a company booking or an individual booking,
sir?
OK, 30 Lime Walk. May I ask if you’ve stayed with us before?
No, a deposit won’t be necessary. If you’d like to make a note of your reservation number,
it’s R 116.
1 Rex Hotel, Reservations. Scott Thompson speaking.
That’s nice to hear. How will you be paying?
Right, in that case we’ll provide complimentary flowers and champagne. May I have your
name, please?
On May 11, for two nights. A double room for myself and my wife.
Thank you very much. Goodbye.
ii. Use the information from the dialog above to fill in this reservation card.
Reservation Card
Name ................................................................................
Nº of nights ................................................................................
Company/Individual ................................................................................
Address ................................................................................
Reservation nº ................................................................................
Conversation
HANDOUT
Upper Intermediate Topic 5(A)
Connectors
Connectors are words or groups of words which link two or more sentences or ideas adapting their
meaning according to the context, e.g.:
Conversation
HANDOUT
Upper Intermediate Topic 5(b)
Linking Expressions & Useful Transitions
Conversation
HANDOUT
Upper Intermediate Topic 7
Basic Banking
iii. Opening a checking account, a savings account, depositing money to your account, and with-
drawing money from an automatic teller are some of the things you can do in a bank. Put the
procedures in the right sequence and then compare your answers with someone else. Use the
following expressions: First ..., Second ..., Next ..., After that ...,Then ..., Finally ...
iv. Follow up: Express your thoughts, in English, about technology applied on banking today. (au-
tomatic tellers, other services, the use of the telephone, fax, internet, etc.)
Conversation
HANDOUT
Upper Intermediate Topic 12(A)
Passive Voice
subject object
Somebody built this house in 1930. (active)
This house
was built in 1930. (passive)
subject
When we use the passive, who or what causes the action is often unknown or unimportant.
Is this room cleaned every day (does somebody clean it? - it’s not important who)
If we want to say who does or what causes the action, we use by...:
This house was built by my grandfather.
factory invented
employed was
that the
in are telephone
people when
five hundred ?
was London
written born
Don Quixote was
Cervantes she
by in
money taken
How much my
stolen camera
? hotel room
was was
milk from
cheese produced
made cotton
is in the South
of is
the
Conversation
Example: Are apples grown in South Dakota? Where is cheese produced? What is produced in
...?
Conversation
HANDOUT
Upper Intermediate Topic 13(A)
Idioms & Fixed Expressions
ii. Replace the underlined words in each dialogue with a suitable idiomatic expression.
A: Is Reed here?
B: Yes, wait a minute I’ll get him.
A: Does it take long to get there?
B: No, I know a quick way.
A: Could I borrow this for a minute?
B: Yes, take it.
A: Sorry I can’t come on Saturday.
B: That’s OK. Don’t worry.
A: What’s the matter?
B: Nothing. Why?
A: Can you look after my things for a minute?
B: Yeah, sure.
A: Do we have to go now?
B: Yes, hurry up, otherwise we’ll be late.
A: You’ll have to decide soon.
B: Yes I know, but it’s very difficult.
iii. Complete the expressions in these sentences using the following words.
1. What a vacation! For a the beach was a long way from our hotel.
2. To make worse, the car broke down and we had to walk to the beach.
3. Fortunately, we took looking after the children.
4. I asked about the times of buses but nobody could tell me off-
5. Hitch-hiking! forget it. I don’t enjoy making talk with strangers.
6. After failing the exam she was down in the
Conversation
HANDOUT
Upper Intermediate Topic 13(b)
The "Business" Of Idioms
mind your own business : Pay attention to your own work; don’t interfere with other
people’s lives.
When I asked Mary about her new boyfriend, she told me
to mind my own business.
Conversation
Upper Intermediate Topic 13(c)
The "Business" Of Idioms
High roller : One who takes high risks or spends large sums of money
(refers to rolling dice).
To see big gains, Bill knew he would have to be a high-
roller.
stand one’s ground : Stand up for one’s rights or beliefs; resist attack or criti-
cism. Questioned relentlessly by the board members, the
company director stood his ground and made no
concessions.
To tighten one’s belt : Spend less money; work with a smaller budget.
Since our office budget was dropped 3%, we have to tighten
our belts and reduce the number of our programs.
.
Taken from English Teaching Forum April 1995
Conversation
Upper Intermediate Topic 13(D)
The «Business» Of Idioms
Profit Margin : The earnings remaining after all costs have been paid.
With this kind of profit margin, the company can expand
into new product lines.
Conversation
Upper Intermediate Topic 13(e)
The "Business" Of Idioms
Conversation
HANDOUT
Upper Intermediate Topic 15
Technology
Discussion
b. Prepare a short talk to persuade others that your order is the right one!
d. What would your life have been like without the machines you usually use or work with?
Use your imagination Make up a name and purpose for each item.
What would you have used these for in the last century?
Conversation
HANDOUT
Upper Intermediate Topic 18
Expressing Emotions and Feelings
Announcer: ... and Susie is top of her class, and has won the annual prize for the most
popular student of the year ... again.
iii. Find the adjectives that correspond to the reactions above (praise doesn’t have an equivalent
adjective).
Key Check
Conversation
HANDOUT
Upper Intermediate Topic 23
Health: Illnesses, Diseases and Injuries
i. Discuss and take notes about the main symptoms for these conditions:
1. a bad cold
2. hay fever
3. a hangover
4. diarrhea
2. A: ...the next day the eye was really swollen and he had bruises down his
cheeks.
B: My goodness. What did he tell his parents?
A: More or less the truth. He said .
3. A: ...tried to get up again but I couldn’t move. It was incredibly painful, but
fortunately there were a few people on the sidewalk to help me.
B: That’s lucky. But what were you doing?
A:
Conversation
HANDOUT
Upper Intermediate Topic 31(A)
Praising and Complaining about Goods and Services
Complaining Politely
Requesting A Solution
Sure, no problem.
I can change your room tomorrow. I’m sorry, I can’t.
I’d be glad to.
Accepting an Apology
Conversation
HANDOUT
Upper Intermediate Topic 31(b)
Praising and Complaining about Goods and Services
i. Create a dialog between a hotel guest and the front desk clerk.
Complain about the following:
1. You asked for an ocean view but you can only see the parking lot.
2. You asked for single beds but you got a double bed.
3. You asked for a double room but you got a single room.
Now, create another dialog between a passenger on a long flight and a flight attendant.
The
passenger makes the following complaints:
ii. Activity 2: You are staying in a nice hotel, but there are a few things wrong. Identify the problem
and request a solution.
Then, decide how management responds with a solution, including saying when the action can
be taken.
problem solution
1. not enough towels 1. send more towels
2. the air condition doesn’t work 2. send a technician
3. noisy people next door 3. ask them to be quiet
4. the mini bar is locked 4. send someone to open it
iii. Choose one of the following problems, and prepare a conversation. One person will complain,
request a solution and accept an apology. The other person in the conversation will
make an apology and suggest a solution.