If There’s One Thing
English Grammar
If There’s One Thing
What might Colin say in the situations below? Begin ‘If there’s one thing.
1. Someone’s singing in the bath. It’s getting on Colin’s nerves.
If there’s one thing that gets on my nerves, it’s people who sing in the bath.
2. Someone’s laughing at Colin. It’s infuriating him
If there’s one thing that infuriates me, its people who laugh at me.
3. Someone’s taken Colin’s pen without asking. He’s angry.
If there’s one thing that makes me angry, it’s people who take my pen without asking.
4. It’s after midnight, and the people next door are playing loud music, Colin objects to it.
If there’s one thing that makes me to object me, it’s people playing loud music next door after midnight.
5. Someone’s just spat in the street. Colin is offended.
If there’s one thing that makes me to offend , its people spatting in the street.
6. Colin’s just seen someone with purple and green hair. He can’t stand this.
If there’s one thing that can’t stand me, it’s people who see someone with purple and green hair.
1. Someone’s singing in the bath. It’s getting on Colin’s nerves.
If there’s one thing that gets on my nerves, it’s people who sing in the bath.
2. Someone’s laughing at Colin. It’s infuriating him
If there’s one thing that infuriates me, its people who laugh at me.
3. Someone’s taken Colin’s pen without asking. He’s angry.
If there’s one thing that makes me angry, it’s people who take my pen without asking.
4. It’s after midnight, and the people next door are playing loud music, Colin objects to it.
If there’s one thing that makes me to object me, it’s people playing loud music next door after midnight.
5. Someone’s just spat in the street. Colin is offended.
If there’s one thing that makes me to offend , its people spatting in the street.
6. Colin’s just seen someone with purple and green hair. He can’t stand this.
If there’s one thing that can’t stand me, it’s people who see someone with purple and green hair.
The Way
Write three sentences showing your attitude to each of the following, using the way
1. sports commentators
a. I like the way sports commentators give you the players’ background. (like)
b. One thing that annoys me about them is the way they shout too much (annoy)
c. What I can’t stand about them is the way (can’t stand)
2. Parents
a. I dislike the way they object to my decisions.
b. One thing that I appreciate about them is the way that they care me.
c. What makes me upset about them is the way they change the decision towards us (upset)
3. shopkeepers
a. I dislike the way the shopkeepers try to cheat us.
b. One things I like about them is the way they motivate us (like)
c. What makes me irritate about them is the way they force to buy something (irritate)
4. Cats
a. I love the way they walk (love)
b. One thing I get interested about them is the way jump from one place to another, (interest)
c. What I hate about them is the way they look, (hate)
1. sports commentators
a. I like the way sports commentators give you the players’ background. (like)
b. One thing that annoys me about them is the way they shout too much (annoy)
c. What I can’t stand about them is the way (can’t stand)
2. Parents
a. I dislike the way they object to my decisions.
b. One thing that I appreciate about them is the way that they care me.
c. What makes me upset about them is the way they change the decision towards us (upset)
3. shopkeepers
a. I dislike the way the shopkeepers try to cheat us.
b. One things I like about them is the way they motivate us (like)
c. What makes me irritate about them is the way they force to buy something (irritate)
4. Cats
a. I love the way they walk (love)
b. One thing I get interested about them is the way jump from one place to another, (interest)
c. What I hate about them is the way they look, (hate)
Character Definitions
What would you expect the following types of people to do ? Write definitions.
- A considerate person is someone who is careful not to hurt your feelings
- An unreliable person is someone whom you can’t trust easily.
- A stingy person is someone who doesn’t buy you a drink.
- A thick-skinned person is someone who is insensitive to blame.
- A vain person is someone who has a high opinion of himself/ who lacks proper understanding
- A sceptical person is someone who doubts what you will tell him.
- An optimistic person is someone, who always hopes for better things.
Duration
English Grammar
How long?
Ask these people questions with How long ? Write their answers using the words in brackets.
1. Tim telephoned his father this morning, (five minutes)
you: How long did you speak to him for?
Tim: I spoke to him for about five minutes.
2. Jane wrote an essay last night, (two hours)
you: How long did you spend to write essay ?
Jane: I spent two hours to write an essay last night
3. Tony plays golf, (four years)
you: How long will you play golf?
Tony: I will play golf for four years.
4. William doesn’t play the guitar anymore, (two years)
You: How long did you play the guitar?
William: I played guitar for two years.
5. Cindy is going away on holiday tomorrow, (three weeks)
You: How long are you going away on holiday?
Cindy: I will be away on holiday for three weeks .
6. Eleanor regularly files to America, (seven hours)
You: How long does it take to fly to America.
Elenor: It takes seven hours to fly to America.
7. Cyril slept well last night, (ten hours)
you: How long did you sleep last night?
Cyril: I slept for ten hours last night.
8. Liza has a cold, (three days)
you: How long have you had a cold?
Liza: I have had a cold for three days.
9. Mandy is going to drive to the coast this afternoon, (two-hour)
you: How long are you going to the coast this afternoon?
Mandy I am going to drive for 2 hours this afternoon.
10. John doesn’t live in England any more, (six months)
You: How long did you live in England?
John: I lived in England for six months.
1. Tim telephoned his father this morning, (five minutes)
you: How long did you speak to him for?
Tim: I spoke to him for about five minutes.
2. Jane wrote an essay last night, (two hours)
you: How long did you spend to write essay ?
Jane: I spent two hours to write an essay last night
3. Tony plays golf, (four years)
you: How long will you play golf?
Tony: I will play golf for four years.
4. William doesn’t play the guitar anymore, (two years)
You: How long did you play the guitar?
William: I played guitar for two years.
5. Cindy is going away on holiday tomorrow, (three weeks)
You: How long are you going away on holiday?
Cindy: I will be away on holiday for three weeks .
6. Eleanor regularly files to America, (seven hours)
You: How long does it take to fly to America.
Elenor: It takes seven hours to fly to America.
7. Cyril slept well last night, (ten hours)
you: How long did you sleep last night?
Cyril: I slept for ten hours last night.
8. Liza has a cold, (three days)
you: How long have you had a cold?
Liza: I have had a cold for three days.
9. Mandy is going to drive to the coast this afternoon, (two-hour)
you: How long are you going to the coast this afternoon?
Mandy I am going to drive for 2 hours this afternoon.
10. John doesn’t live in England any more, (six months)
You: How long did you live in England?
John: I lived in England for six months.
Time Expressions
Fill the gaps in the sentences below with for, in, until or by.
- She studied medicine by in the age of 25.
- They got the lunch ready by 12.30.
- He learnt to swim in six weeks.
- They lived in Newcastle until 1973.
- My father ran a bookshop for two years.
- We did all our housework in a couple of hours.
- We did some housework for a couple of hours.
- I finished my homework by suppertime.
- We discussed politics until three in the morning.
- They reached the top of the mountain in four hours.
- I borrowed my neighbor’s power drill for a few days.
- He got all the letters typed by four o’clock.
- The concert was over by half past nine.
- He saved up $200 by Easter.
- I studied French for five years.
- She became a qualified physiotherapist in twelve months.
- I dug the garden in a couple of hours.
- He stayed in bed until lunchtime.
Getting Delayed
Continue the following in two ways:
a. using didn’t. . . .for/till
b. using was before
1. They were sure they would find the oasis in a few hours (six days)
a. but they didn’t find it for six days.
b. but it was six days before they found it .
2. I was sure I’d finish the crossword in a few minutes (more than half an hour)
a. but I didn’t finish it for more than half an hour
b. but it was more than half an hour before I finished
3. His parents expected him to marry young (48)
a. but they didn’t marry till 48.
b. but he was 48 before he married
4. I meant tomorrow the lawn during the weekend (mid-week)
a. but I didn’t know the lawn till mid-week.
b. but it was mid-week before I mowed the lawn.
5. She thought she would go back home before long (several years)
a. but she didn’t go back home for several years.
b. but it was several years before she would go back home.
6.Everyone expected the war to be over in a few days (almost a year)
a. but it didn’t be over for almost a year
b. but it almost a year before it was over.
a. using didn’t. . . .for/till
b. using was before
1. They were sure they would find the oasis in a few hours (six days)
a. but they didn’t find it for six days.
b. but it was six days before they found it .
2. I was sure I’d finish the crossword in a few minutes (more than half an hour)
a. but I didn’t finish it for more than half an hour
b. but it was more than half an hour before I finished
3. His parents expected him to marry young (48)
a. but they didn’t marry till 48.
b. but he was 48 before he married
4. I meant tomorrow the lawn during the weekend (mid-week)
a. but I didn’t know the lawn till mid-week.
b. but it was mid-week before I mowed the lawn.
5. She thought she would go back home before long (several years)
a. but she didn’t go back home for several years.
b. but it was several years before she would go back home.
6.Everyone expected the war to be over in a few days (almost a year)
a. but it didn’t be over for almost a year
b. but it almost a year before it was over.
Reporting
English Grammar
Reported Speech
Report the following remarks, beginning He told me.
1. My father’s ill.
He told me his father was ill.
2. I’ll tell her when I see her.
He told me he would tell her when he saw her.
3. I’ve been sleeping very badly.
He told me he had been sleeping very badly.
4. If they’re waiting for you, you ought to go.
He told me if they were waiting for me, I ought to go.
5. The price of petrol is going to go up.
He told me the price of petrol was going to go up.
6. I’m sure she won’t mind if you use the phone.
He told me he was sure she wouldn’t mind if I used the phone.
7. I wasn’t invited to the wedding.
He told me I hadn’t been invited to the wedding.
8. I’ve had my car serviced.
He told me he had had his car serviced.
9. I’m reading that book you lent me.
He told me he uses reading that book I went him.
10. They don’t play as much tennis as they used to.
He told me they didn’t play as much tennis as they used to .
11. Since they’ve already got one, there’s no point in giving them one.
He told me since they had already got one, there’ was no point in giving them one.
12. You look as if you haven’t eaten for weeks.
He told me I looked as if I hadn’t eaten for weeks.
1. My father’s ill.
He told me his father was ill.
2. I’ll tell her when I see her.
He told me he would tell her when he saw her.
3. I’ve been sleeping very badly.
He told me he had been sleeping very badly.
4. If they’re waiting for you, you ought to go.
He told me if they were waiting for me, I ought to go.
5. The price of petrol is going to go up.
He told me the price of petrol was going to go up.
6. I’m sure she won’t mind if you use the phone.
He told me he was sure she wouldn’t mind if I used the phone.
7. I wasn’t invited to the wedding.
He told me I hadn’t been invited to the wedding.
8. I’ve had my car serviced.
He told me he had had his car serviced.
9. I’m reading that book you lent me.
He told me he uses reading that book I went him.
10. They don’t play as much tennis as they used to.
He told me they didn’t play as much tennis as they used to .
11. Since they’ve already got one, there’s no point in giving them one.
He told me since they had already got one, there’ was no point in giving them one.
12. You look as if you haven’t eaten for weeks.
He told me I looked as if I hadn’t eaten for weeks.
Reporting Verbs: Facts
Report each conversation below in two sentences, using the verbs in brackets.
1. Smith: It was you who stole the car, wasn’t it ?
Brown: Nonsense. Of course I didn’t.
a. Smith accused Brown of stealing the car (accuse)
b. Brown denied that he had not stolen the car (deny)
2. Smith: But your fingerprints were found all over it.
Brown: I’m innocent, I tell you ! Innocent!
a. Smith pointed out that Brown’s finger prints had been found all over the car. (printout)
b. Brown insisted that he was innocent, (insist)
3. Brown: The owner lent it to me.
Smith: If you keep on lying, you’ll be in trouble.
a. Brown claimed that the owner had lent it to him (claim)
b. Smith warned Brown he kept on lying he would be in trouble.
4. Brown: Well, all right, I took the car.
Smith: Look, if you tell us what happened, you won’t be prosecuted.
Brown : I had to take it, because someone was following me and use it to escape in.
a. Brown admitted that he had taken the car.(admit)
b. Smith assured him if he told them what had happened he wouldn’t be prosecuted (assure)
c. Brown explained that he had had to take it because someone had been following him and he had used that to escape in. (explain)
1. Smith: It was you who stole the car, wasn’t it ?
Brown: Nonsense. Of course I didn’t.
a. Smith accused Brown of stealing the car (accuse)
b. Brown denied that he had not stolen the car (deny)
2. Smith: But your fingerprints were found all over it.
Brown: I’m innocent, I tell you ! Innocent!
a. Smith pointed out that Brown’s finger prints had been found all over the car. (printout)
b. Brown insisted that he was innocent, (insist)
3. Brown: The owner lent it to me.
Smith: If you keep on lying, you’ll be in trouble.
a. Brown claimed that the owner had lent it to him (claim)
b. Smith warned Brown he kept on lying he would be in trouble.
4. Brown: Well, all right, I took the car.
Smith: Look, if you tell us what happened, you won’t be prosecuted.
Brown : I had to take it, because someone was following me and use it to escape in.
a. Brown admitted that he had taken the car.(admit)
b. Smith assured him if he told them what had happened he wouldn’t be prosecuted (assure)
c. Brown explained that he had had to take it because someone had been following him and he had used that to escape in. (explain)
Reporting Verbs: Influencing and Talking Action
choose one of the verbs in the list to report each of the remarks below.
promise advise suggest urge
threaten recommend insist beg
1. I can’t tell you how important it is for you to give up smoking.
He urged me to give up smoking.
2. You’ve got to lend me the money! Oh, please, Please!
He begged me to lend him the money.
3. Why don’t you paint the ceiling yellow?
He suggested me to paint the ceiling yellow
4. I’ll buy you an ice cream if you’re good
He promised me that he would buy / to buy me an ice cream.
5. You should spend a week in Scotland-it’s lovely.
He recommended me to spend a week in Scotland. It’s lovely
6. No, I’ve already told you-I’m going to pay.
He ring, is ted me to tell him, he was going to pay.
7. You really ought to have your roof repaired, you know.
He advised me to have my roof repaired .
8. I’ll report you to the police if you don’t do what I say.
He threatened me to report to police. If I didn’t do what he said.
promise advise suggest urge
threaten recommend insist beg
1. I can’t tell you how important it is for you to give up smoking.
He urged me to give up smoking.
2. You’ve got to lend me the money! Oh, please, Please!
He begged me to lend him the money.
3. Why don’t you paint the ceiling yellow?
He suggested me to paint the ceiling yellow
4. I’ll buy you an ice cream if you’re good
He promised me that he would buy / to buy me an ice cream.
5. You should spend a week in Scotland-it’s lovely.
He recommended me to spend a week in Scotland. It’s lovely
6. No, I’ve already told you-I’m going to pay.
He ring, is ted me to tell him, he was going to pay.
7. You really ought to have your roof repaired, you know.
He advised me to have my roof repaired .
8. I’ll report you to the police if you don’t do what I say.
He threatened me to report to police. If I didn’t do what he said.
