MARCH 11

Look at this picture and try to describe it. What do you think is happening?

Sometimes it is difficult to understand exactly what is happening.

See Page 110 of Insight Into PET to find some phrases to describe probability.

We can use modal verbs to describe how certain we are about something.

100% - must - He must be a thief

50% / 60% - could - The door could be broken

30/40% - may - The keys may be lost

10/20% - might - He might be a mechanic

0% - can't - He can't be the owner

What do you think is happening in this situation?

You can try to describe the photos on page 133 of Insight into PET.

You can also use modal verbs to speculate about the past. In this case use the modal verb plus have plus past participle

See here for more examples

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1_B2HZ_bIslSGhRUGhfaWFWRGM/view?usp=sharing

and practise here

https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/my-drive?ltmpl=drive

For more grammar exercises on modal verbs, see this book

https://fernandamaterial.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/cambridge-grammar-for-first-certificate.pdf

MARCH 12

Look at these signs. What do they mean? How can you explain these signs to foreigners?

No Smoking

Do not smoke

You are not allowed to smoke here

You must not smoke here

Warning / Danger of death

Don't touch / enter

Keep away

Don't speed

Drive slowly

You must reduce your speed

You should drive slower

Wash your hands

You can wash your hands here

You should wash your hands

Here we see that we can give commands / orders in three ways

1. Using the imperative

For a positive command use the verb in the base form without subject

Walk! Come! Enter!

For a negative imperative, add Do not or Don't

Don't smoke!

Do not enter!

You can see examples of imperatives you can find around the home on Page 6, exercise 1 of Insight Into PET.

2. Using modal verbs

must - FOR ME, IT IS NECESSARY - I must call my mother

have to - THE LAW OR THE RULES SAY IT IS NECESSARY - You have to have a passport to go to the USA

In the negative form these verbs have a different meaning

must not - IT IS FORBIDDEN-  You must not smoke in public places

don't have to - IT IS NOT NECESSARY - I don't have to work on Sundays

Try to use these verbs to complete these phrases about life in Italy

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1_B2HZ_bIslUzFPVEpGb2VJV1E/view?usp=sharing

There is more information about modals of obligation on Page 110 of Insight Into PET.

Try also Exercise 15.

3. Using alternative phrases such as - It is allowed / forbidden etc

To practice using these alternatives look at exercise 2 on Page 6 of Insight Into PET.

These terms are important in the PET exam because in the Reading Test you can asked to understand signs and short messages, many of which include modal verbs.

Try the test on Page 10 of Insight Into PET.

In the FCE, there are no direct tests on modals but they are important in paraphrasing exercises and using them in the writing or speaking tests can earn you extra points.

FEBRUARY 5 2016

A good way to learn new words is to practise describing a photo.

What can you see in the photo?

When describing a photo you can think of different elements.

You can find them here.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1_B2HZ_bIsleU15QlFXakhKSFE/view?usp=sharing

You describe what the people are wearing, what they are holding and what they are doing. You can use the present continuous.

For more information on the present continuous see Page 104 of Insight Into PET.

  

To  review prepositions of place see Page 82 of  Insight Into PET

To give your opinion about events in a picture you can use expressions with look . See Page 84 of
Insight Into PET.

You can listen to people describing a picture with exercises on Page 85 of  Insight Into PET, exercise 5. 

Try to describe the photos on Pages 89 and 90.