Leveling Workshop. B2.

1
Unit 4

1. Vocabulary
1.1. Match each picture with a situation given below. Number the corresponding box.

1. To curl up with a book 2. To skim through pages 3. To read aloud

4. A cliff-hanger 5. A page turner 6. Hard to follow

Phrase Statement
Early in the morning, I didn't have too much time to read the newspaper so I just had a quick
2 look at it.
I really get stressed when reading a book series. I cannot stand that the books end in the best
part of the story and I have to wait too much time for the resolution.
Our professor stood up and raised his voice with a book on his hands. We were about to
listen to his brilliant book stories.
If you are fond of horror stories, Stephen King's books won't let you get bored and you will
want to keep reading them.
Ulysses by James Joyce has been the most challenging book I've ever read.
I just lie down in my sofa, curve my body and get comfortable when reading a book that I
have passion for.

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1.2. Paraphrase the previous situations using the vocabulary phrases you were given at
the beginning.

Example:

 Early in the morning, I didn’t have much time to read the newspaper so I just
skimmed through its pages.

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2. Grammar clues
2.1. Noun clauses

A noun clause is simply a group of words acting together as a noun. These clauses are
always dependent clauses, which means they do not form a complete sentence and must
be accompanied by other words to get meaning.
www.grammar.yourdictionary.com
Example:

 “The Shining” is the movie that I heard exposes the hoax of the moon landing.
 Stephen King didn’t like the version that Kubrick made of his book.

In the example above, we can notice that the statement: “I heard exposes the hoax of
the moon landing”; wouldn’t have a meaning by itself; it requires the statement ““The
Shining” is the movie that…” to be contextualized and therefore mean something.

In this noun clauses, the expression “that” can be omitted.

Example:

 “Les Fleurs du mal” is the book of poetry that I enjoyed the most.
 “Les Fleurs du mal” is the book of poetry I enjoyed the most.

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 2.2. Noun clauses: Embedded questions

In a sentence, you can have a question inserted (embedded or indirect question). This one
doesn't have the structure of a question. It is important to identify whether they are
“yes/no questions” or “wh questions” and we will see why:

 In the normal questions you will use an auxiliary “Do, Did, Will…” whereas in the
embedded question the auxiliary is not needed but the verb must be conjugated
in the tense the auxiliary in the normal question is used.

Did you copy ….?

Tell me if you copied …

Does she need to ….?

I want to know if she needs to…

 When the normal question is a “Yes/No” question, the embedded question must
contain the expression “if” right after the introductory phrase.

Did you copy the book?

Tell me if you copied the book.

 “Wh Questions” do not have “if” in their embedded version.

When will you go to the reading club?

Let me know when you will go to the reading club. (Correct)
Let me know if when you will go to the reading club (Incorrect)

2.2.1. The verb to be in the embedded question.

To understand the way “verb to be” changes in an embedded question, it is important to

be aware of the fact that this verb acts as an auxiliary itself. That is why we never use “Do,
Did” in a sentence in which the main verb is “to be”

Is she the writer of the amazing book we read in less than a month?
Does she is the writer of the amazing book we read in less than a month?

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 Once we fully understand the function of “to be” as an auxiliary, let’s think about the verb
“to be” in an “embedded question”.

As we said before, in “embedded questions” the auxiliary is not needed. Then, how would
it be since the verb “to be” is its own auxiliary? It means it disappears? No, it does not
disappear, it is simply moved to the verb place (after the noun). Let’s see the following
example.

 Normal question with “to be”:

Where is the bible we bought yesterday after the mass?

 Embedded question with “to be”

Remind me please where (is) the bible we bought yesterday after the mass is.
Noun

 In a shorter sentence:
Where is the dictionary?
Tell me where the dictionary is.

The following chart shows from a general perspective everything explained above about
“embedded questions”.

3. Practice the clues

3.1. Noun clauses
3.1.1. Complete the following sentences taking into account what was explained about
“noun clauses”, select the correct option by placing the corresponding number. See the
example.

you told me had written about the possibilities of

1 That is the sheet (that)
a Second World War before it happened.
Last night I watched on T.V. an
2 I had a paper cut with. It really hurts!
interview to the writer (that)
Have you seen the book of recipes I bought in the book fair last year. I lose the page
3
(that) every time I close my book.
I can’t remember where I put the Grandma gave us to find something delicious to
4 3
bookmark (that) prepare for Christmas eve?

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 3.1.2. Write three sentences using noun clauses.

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3.2 Change the questions to embedded forms.

Note: Remember some introduction phrases can be:
 Tell me…
 I want to know…
 I wonder…
 Let me know…
 Do you know…?
 Do you happen to know…?

 Where can I find the nearest book store?

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 Who made the translation of this book?

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 When is the lecture going to take place?

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 Do you think this webpage is reliable?

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4. Clues in context

Let's be honest. I can't remember the last time

(that) I read a book. Probably it was when I turned
18 years old because my mother gave me the best -
seller of that time: “The Maze Runner”. I remember
that I started reading it aloud to practice my voice
projection. I couldn't believe how pleasant it was
curling up in bed with a page-turner. The only
thing that I didn't enjoy much was having to wait for
a year for the second part to be published. I wonder
if there is going to be a third.

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 5. Use the clues
Answer the following questions by using the grammar practiced before.
 What are your preferences when reading? If you are not a book lover, what kinds
of things do you read in your daily life?
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 Would you recommend a book? In the case you don't read, recommend a
website, a webpage you think is worth reading.
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