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UNIT 1 PLACES
Scanning for numbers
Scanning helps you find specific information or details in a text. We often scan a text for numbers to find important facts and figures about a topic.
Adjectives
We use adjectives to describe nouns. We use the structure adjective + noun.
adjective +noun Beirut is an interesting city. There are many excellent restaurants. Adjectives are never plural.
a different place →
some differents places → some different places
Using a T-chart
We can use a T-chart to write about positives(+) and negatives(-). We write about the positives in one column and the negatives in the other column.
Sentence structure 1: Subject + verb
A sentence has to have a subject and a verb. The subject of a sentence can be a noun or a noun phrase. A noun phrase is a group of words that acts like a noun. The verb can also be one word or a group of words.
subject(noun or noun phrase) verb The people in the town are friendly. The village does not have a shop. My brother lives in the city.
There is / There are
We use there is / there are to explain the general features of places. in these sentences we do not have a subject.
There is a beach.
There are many cafes
We use there is when we talk about one thing(singular) and there are when we talk about many things(plural).
there is / there are noun / noun phrase singular There is a cinema there is not a theatre plural There are lots of shops There are not many beaches
Capital letters and full stops
We use a capital letter at the beginning of a sentence. We use a full stop(.) at the end of a sentence.
He lives in Abu Dhabi.
We also use a capital letter with a proper noun(专有名词).
france → France
istanbul → Istanbul
july → July
saturday → Saturday
We always use a capital letter for I.
I live in London.
UNIT 2 FESTIVALS AND CELEBRATIONS
Prepositions of time and place: on, in, at
ON: We use on with date or a day.
My birthday is on 1st may / on Saturday.
IN: We use in with a month and with the morning, the afternoon and the evening.
We also use in with a country or town.
My birthday is in May.
We eat dinner in the morning.
We celebrate New Year in France / in Paris.
AT: We use at with a time or with night and the weekend.
We also use at with school, college, university, work and home.
We eat dinner at 5 o’clock at night.
We have a party at school.
ADVERBS OF FREQUENCY
We use adverbs of frequency to talk about habits. They tell us how often someone does something. Adverbs of frequency go before the verb in a sentence.
nerver(0%) → sometimes(25%~50%)→often(75%)→usually(almost 100%)→ always(100%)！
Sentence structure 2: subject and verb order
A sentence needs to have a subject and a verb. The verb comes after the subject. After the verb, we can have a noun(usually called an object), an adjective or a prepositional phrase.
subject verb noun phrase I visit my family.
subject verb adjective The people are happy.
subject verb prepositional phrase The festival is in May.
Prepositional phrases
Sometimes a sentence can have an object and a prepositional phrase.
The prepositional phrase comes after the object.
noun phrase (subject)
verb phrase noun phrase (object)
prepositional phrase
People in Mexico eat a special meal in the evening
We can also put the prepositional phrase at the beginning of the sentence, followed by a comma.
prepositional phrase
noun phrase (subject)
verb phrase noun phrase (object)
In the evening People in Mexico eat a special meal
Paragraph organization 1: organizing sentences into a paragraph
In formal English, We put the sentences we write into paragraphs. A paragraph is a group of sentences about the same topic. When we start to write about a different topic, we start a new paragraph.
UNIT 3 SCHOOL AND EDUCATION
Skimming
When we skim a text, we read it quickly to find out the general topic of the text.
Skimming can help you decide if a text is useful. You can then decide whether to read the text again properly.
Using a wh- chart to generate ideas
When you are asked to describe something, it can be difficult to decide what to write. Using a wh- question planner can help. It breaks down the question into sections. This makes it easier to think of things to write about and helps you organize your thoughts.
How? When? Why? What? Who? Where?
Subject pronouns
Salma is my teacher. She is nice.
I study with my friends. They are very clever.
Notice how we use she to replace Salma in the second sentence. When we replace a noun at the beginning of the sentence (a subject), we need to use a subject pronoun.
singular subject pronouns plural subject pronouns I you he she it we you they
because and so
We use because and so to talk about reasons and results. We use because and so to join two sentences: a reason sentence and a result sentence.
reason: I want to work in different countries.
result: I’m studying English.
I’m studying English because I want to work in different countries.
I want to work in different countries so I’m studying English.
Paragraph organization 2: topic, supporting and concluding sentences
A paragraph has a topic sentence, supporting sentences and a concluding sentence. We write a paragraph in this order:
- The topic sentence describes what the paragraph is about. It is usually the first sentence in a paragraph.
- The supporting sentences tell us more about the topic, and give details and examples. They are in the middle of the paragraph.
- The concluding sentence ends the paragraph. It usually summarizes the main idea in the paragraph. Some short paragraphs do not have a concluding sentence.
UNIT 4 THE INTERNET AND TECHNOLOGY
Compound nouns
In English, we often use certain words or groups of words together. When you learn new words, it is useful to learn the words that are used together.
A compound noun is a noun that is made of a group of two or three different words. Compound nouns are very common in English.
A newspaper is made of pieces of paper with the news printed on them
A bus stop is the place where the bus stops for people to get on or off.
A mother-in-law is the mother of someone’s husband or wife.
Giving opinions
In academic writing, we use the phrases I think that, I believe that, It seems to me that and In my opinion to talk about our opinions.
opinion: Video games are bad for children.
I think that video games are bad for children.
I believe that video games are bad for children.
It seems to me that video games are bad for children.
In my opinion, video games are bad for children.
and, also and too
We use the linkers and, also and too to add information. Using linkers makes our writing better and easier to understand.
We use and to join two sentences together.
My sister uses her computer a lot. She has a smartphone.
My sister uses her computer a lot and she has a smartphone.
We use also and too to connect the ideas in two separate sentences.
My sister uses her computer a lot. She also has a smartphone.
My sister uses her computer a lot. She has a smartphone, too.
Notice how we put also before the main verb. We put too at the end of the sentence, and we put a comma before it.
but and however
We use the linkers but and however to talk about opposite or different information or ideas.
My children play video games. They do their homework and do sports.
My children play video games but they do their homework and do sports.
My children play video games. However, they do their homework and do sports.
Notice how we use but to join two sentences into one sentence. We use however at the start of a new sentence, followed by a comma.
Topic sentences
In a paragraph, the topic sentence tells you the main idea of the paragraph.
The topic sentence tells you the main idea of the paragraph.
The topic sentence is usually the first sentence in a paragraph.
Look at the example below.
There are many advantages and disadvantages to the internet. On one hand, you can find information quickly and keep in touch with your friends. On the other hand, companies can use your private details and it can be dangerous for children.
UNIT 5 LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION
Reading for main ideas
When we read, it is important to understand the main ideas in the text. In a text, each paragraph usually has one main idea. We can find the main ideas of each paragraph by reading the topic sentences. The topic sentence tells us the main idea of the paragraph. It is usually the first sentence in the paragraph.
Countable and uncountable nouns
Countable nouns are nouns that we can count.
one word → two words
Uncountable nouns are nouns that we cannot count. Uncountable nouns often refer to food, liquids and ideas.
informations→ information
Articles: a, an or no artichle
We use a or an before:
- a singular countable noun
a word
We use a before
– a noun that starts with a consonant
a sentence
We use an before:
- a noun that starts with a vowel (a,e,i,o,u)
an example
We do not use a or an before:
- a plural countable noun
words
- an uncountable noun
information
Quantifiers: some, many, a lot of, a few, a little
We use quantifiers before a noun to say how many or how much there is of something.
Some languages use alphabets.
We use different quantifiers with countable and uncountable nouns.
quantifiers with countable nouns quantifiers with uncountable nouns a lot of / many / some / a few a lot of / some / a little
Supporting sentences
The topic sentence explains the main idea of a paragraph. The supporting sentences in a paragraph give us more information about the topic sentence. They explain or give more information about the main idea.
Topic sentence
People have used codes throughout history.
Supporting sentence
The remans used alphabet codes.
Giving examples: like, such as and for example
In a supporting sentence, we often give examples to support the main idea. We use like, such as and for example to give an example, or a list of examples.
Turkish uses an alphabet like English, but it also uses extra symbols, like ‘S’ and ‘C’.
Turkish uses an alphabet like English, but it also uses extra symbols, such as ‘S’ and ‘C’.
Turkish uses an alphabet like English, but it also uses extra symbols, for example, ‘S’ and ‘C’.
Notice how we use a comma before like and such as. We use a comma after for example.
UNIT 6 WEATHER AND CLIMATE
Analyze a graph
We use graphs to show numbers or data. When we look at a graph, we can see the most interesting information quickly and easily. When we write about graphs, we choose the most interesting information to write about. When we do this, we often look at the highest and lowest numbers.
Comparative and superlative adjectives
We use comparative adjective + than to compare people, things, actions and events.
The Sahara desert is hotter than Cairo.
We use the + superlative adjective to say how something is number one in a group.
The Sahara desert is the hottest place in Egypt.
We use as + adjective + as to say that people or things are equal.
Cairo is as hot as Dubai.
Introductory sentences for descriptive paragraphs about a graph
When we write about a graph, we use the phrase the graph shows to describe the topic of the graph.
The graph shows the temperature in degrees celsius over a day in the Sahara desert.
Notice how we use the following order:
The graph shows + what is measured + time period + place.
Scanning to predict content
Before we read a text, we often scan for key words. Key words are usually nouns, verbs and adjectives. The key words tell us what the text is going to be about.
Prepositions of movement
We use prepositions of movement to describe where somebody or something is going. We use prepositions of movement to give directions.
Walk past the shop and across the road.
past a building 经过一座建筑物
through a tunnel 穿过（有覆盖物）
across a lake 穿过
around the track 四周转
along the road 沿着
over a bridge 上面走
under the bridge 下面走
Subject and verb agreement
In a sentence, we have to use the correct form of the verb to match the subject.
We use the singular form of the verb with singular subjects.
The race begins at 3 pm.
Last years’s winner is at the start of the race.
We use the plural form of the verb with plural subjects.
The footballers play three times a week.
Football and tennis are popular sports.
Ordering events in a process
When we write about a process, we usually write about events in the order that they happen. We use linkers to organize our ideas and show the order in our writing.
We use the linkers first, second, third and finally to show the order that events happen in a process. We also use next, then and after that to show order.
First, the participants run 10km. Second, they swim across the river. Participants run 10 km. Then, they swim across the river.
We use these linkers at the beginning of a sentence, followed by a comma.
UNIT 8 BUSINESS
Past and present tenses
We use the present simple to talk about events that happen in the present or to talk about a general truth. We use the past simple to talk about events that happened in the past.
Apple technology is very intelligent.
Steve Jobs was the co-founder, chairman and CEO of Apple.
Clauses with when
We use when with a clause to describe the date or time that something happened.
He started the business when he was sixteen.
If we want to make the time of the event more important, we can put the when clause first and follow it with a comma.
When he was sixteen, he started the business.
Adding detail
In a narrative paragraph, we add detail to the main facts to make what we write more interesting.
UNIT 9 PEOPLE
Noun phrases with of
In English, we often use the word of to join two nouns together and make a noun phrase.
He is the president of the country.
He invented a type of technology.
We write a conclusion at the end of an essay.
Subject and object pronouns
We use subject pronouns to replace nouns or noun phrases that act as the subject of a sentence.
My father works hard. He owns his own business.
We use object pronouns to replace nouns or noun phrases that act as the object of a sentence.
The women’s football team are very good. I really admire them.
We also use object pronouns after prepositions
The book is about her.
subject pronoun object pronoun I me you you he him she her it it we us they them
Possessive adjectives
Possessive adjectives tell us who or what owns something. We use my, your, his, her, its, our and their before a noun.
What’s your number?
Her job is difficult.
my your his her its our their
Concluding sentences
The concluding sentence is the last sentence in a paragraph. The concluding sentence gives your opinion or the main ideas in the paragraph. It repeats the main idea of the paragraph using different words.
UNIT 10 SPACE AND THE UNIVERSE
Give evidence and supporting an argument
In an essay, we have to support our arguments with evidence. We often talk about research, studies and reports to support our arguments. We use the verbs think or believe for a person, and the verbs show or suggest for a piece of work.
should and it is important to
In academic writing, we use should or it is important to say what we believe is the right or best thing to do.
It is important to study the science of space.
We should spend more money on the space programme.
The negative of should is should not.
We should not spend more money on the space programme.
Evaluating arguments
It is important to think about how good the different arguments about a topic are. Some arguments are stronger than others, We evaluate arguments when we decide how strong an argument is. This can help us decide which arguments to include in an essay.
Developing sentence structure
We can add phrases to the beginning of a sentence to make a complex sentence.
Some people think that + sentence
Studies show that + sentence
Scientists believe that + sentence
There must be life on other plants. → Some scientists believe that there must be life on other plants.
Infinitive of purpose
We can use to + infinitive when we want to say why we do something.
NASA sent robots to Mars to find water.
Essay organization
An essay is a group of paragraphs about the same topic. Essays are common in academic writing. We write an essay to respond to an essay question.
An essay has an introduction, a main body and a conclusion.
Introduction → Main body → Conclusion
A: Space exploration is very expensive. …………
B：On the one hand, space exploration is important in many ways.……
C：On the other hand, space exploration is very expensive and some people think it is not a useful way to spend money.
D：In conclusion, I think that we should / should not spend money on space exploration.
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【学习笔记】UNLOCK 2 LISTENING & SPEAKING SKILLS
