First Period
English III – Study Guide
VOCABULARY
• Phrasal verbs
Learning and thinking Health
Think through Throw up
Get in Get over
Backed up Get down
Face up to Come round
Mix up Come down with
Focus on Calm down
• Arts and media
Appearance Bestseller
Broadcast Cast
The charts Classic
Piece Series
Shoot Stream
Track
• Perdonality: Adjective + preposition
Addicted to Adventurous with
Aware of Bothered about
Cautious about Critical of
Decisive about Hopeless at
• Abstract nouns
Agreement Ambition
Belief Development
Drive Luck
Problem-solving Success
Thought
• Verb + preposition
Apologise for Compare with
Cope with Depend on
Do without Have heard of
Laugh at
GRAMMAR
• Simple, continuous or perfect
• Present perfect simple vs present perfect continuous.
We use the present perfect simple and present perfect continuous for events which happened
some time before or up to the present (we do not mention when). We use the present perfect simple:
1. a completed action, especially one which has a present result.
Example: She has designed this computer game. What do you think of it? (The game is
ready to play.)
2. how often something has happened before now.
Example: I’ve visited that shop three times.
We use the present perfect continuous (has/have (not) been + past participle) to talk about
1. an action that may or may not be complete, where the focus is on the action more than the
result.
Example: He has been designing a computer game. (We don’t know if it’s ready to play,
perhaps he’s still working on it.)
2. how long something has been happening, up to and possibly including the present moment.
Example: She’s been trying to find a bag like yours for weeks. (We don’t know if she’s
found one yet.)
NOTE We do not use the present continuous to say how long something has been happening.
She’s trying to find a bag like yours for weeks.
Some common verbs describe actions which normally last for a period of time, so their meanings
are not usually different in the present perfect simple or continuous. They include live, stay, study,
wait, work.
Example 1: I’ve worked in the fashion industry for 30 years.
Example 2: I’ve been working in the fashion industry for 30 years.
• Modals: Necessity, Obligation, Prohibition and Advice
Necessity = The speaker believes it is necessary to do this: need to / need + verb.
Example 1: You need to take a fitness test to join the team.
Example 2: Do I need to / Need I take a fitness test before I join the team?
Example 3: I don’t need to / I needn’t take a fitness test before I join the team0.
Obligation = The speaker believes it is obligatory to do this, there is no choice: must / have to / ’ve
got to + verb.
We can often use any of these forms:
Example 1: You must / have to / ’ve got to pass a fitness test to join the team.
We usually prefer must or ’ve got to when the idea comes from the speaker, to give an order or
express a feeling.
Example 1: You must show me your new boots!
Example 2: I’ve got to buy some new shorts, these are too small.
We usually prefer have to when the obligation is not the speaker’s idea, for example to explain a
rule.
Example 1: She has to wear a red sweatshirt for training.
Example 2: We have to play until the whistle is blown.
NOTE For the past of must, we use had to.
Lack of obligation = The speaker believes it is not necessary to do this, although it is possible.
There is a choice: don’t have to / haven’t got to / don’t need to / needn’t + verb.
Example 1: You don’t have to / haven’t got to / don’t need to / needn’t pass a fitness test to join
the team.
Prohibition = The speaker believes you are not allowed to do this: mustn’t.
Example 1: You mustn’t play football in the classroom.
• Present and Past habits
Present Habits
1. We often use the present simple with an adverb of frequency to talk about present habits.
Example 1: He drinks coffee in the morning once in a while.
Example 2: He doesn’t always/usually/often/normally drink coffee in the morning.
Example 3: Does he drink coffee in the morning all the time?
2. We use always, constantly and continually with the present continuous to express a
complaint or a criticism.
Example 1: She’s always using my phone and she never offers to pay for her calls.
Example 2: He’s constantly leaving dirty dishes on the table.
3. We can use the present continuous to describe something that’s happening a lot, but it’s
only temporary and it isn’t necessarily as the moment of speaking.
Example 1: I’m studying a lot because I’m studying for an exam.
Example 2: Is Sara having fun on her judo course? Yes, she’s loving it
Past Habits
1. We use the past simple (sometimes with an adverb of frequency) to talk about past habits.
Example 1: She hardly ever visited her sister when she was in Milan.
Example 2:Did she visit her sister once in a while when she was in Milan?
Example 3:She didn’t always/usually/often/normally visit her sister when she was in Milan.
Example 4:Jon played bass guitar when he was in a band.
Example 5:Did you read comics as a child?
2. We can also use would to describe a past habit.
Example 1: He would always tidy his desk before leaving the room.
Example 2: They wouldn’t normally put their bags on the table.
3. We use used to to describe a habit or state in the past.
Example 1: He always used to tidy his desk before leaving the room.
Example 2: They didn’t normally use to put their bags on the table.
Example 3: She used to live in Brighton. NOT She would live in Brighton.
4. We use always, constantly and continually with the past continuous to express a
complaint or a criticism.
Example: They were continually asking for more money.
CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE WRITING PART.
ESSAY
The essay is a compulsory task that is written to convince someone of something or to simply
inform the reader about a particular topic.
An essay can be organised in different ways, but it is useful to write one idea in one paragraph and
add a short introduction and conclusion.
Introduction
Present the essay topic in your own words.
1st body paragraph
Comment on the first point
2nd body paragraph
Comment on the second point
3rd body paragraph
Comment on the third point (your idea)
Conclusion
Give final opinion
Characteristics
• It analyzes a topic, problem, or situation
• It presents arguments for and against
• It reaches a conclusion
• It is supported by examples
• It uses neutral or formal language
Tips for writing an essay
• Read the task fully: Carefully check the question, the given notes, and think of one more
idea to add.
• Comment on all the points: Discuss each note provided, plus your own idea. Support them
with reasons and examples; if you lack ideas, create relevant details, but make sure they fit
the topic logically.
• Divide into paragraphs: Put one main point in each paragraph. Connect ideas with linking
words such as “firstly,” “however,” “in addition,” or “in conclusion” for better flow.
• Use advanced vocabulary and formal language: Include a variety of words, idioms, and
complex sentence structures where possible. Always keep the tone formal to show your
language skills.
• Express your opinion in the final paragraph: Clearly state your view at the end, after
summarizing the key arguments. This makes your position strong and easy to follow.
• Practice useful phrases: Learn and use expressions like “I believe that,” “On the other
hand,” or “To sum up” to improve organization and express ideas effectively.
ARTICLE
An article is typically written for publication in a magazine, newspaper, or website.
It needs to be engaging, informative, and opinion-based to keep the reader interested.
You should express your views clearly while making it enjoyable to read!
Structure
[Link]
Think of an interesting title which will make people want to read your article
[Link]
Start your article in an interesting way. You could ask the reader a question or make a
strong statement.
3. Body (2-3 paragraphs)
Develop your ideas, answer the task questions, and give examples
[Link]
Finish the article in an interesting way. This could be humorous or thought-provoking
Tips for writing an article.
• Give your article a title.
• Try and engage the reader’s attention and interest. Ask questions at the beginning.
• There should be a link between the opening sentence and the title.
• Personalize the article using true stories or anecdotes.
• If you decide to take a light-hearted approach or a more serious one, maintain the
same style throughout the article.
• Check your work for accuracy, punctuation and spelling.
Articles could be light or serious (but should be consistent), depending on who the
target reader is. May use some rhetorical questions e.g. Can you imagine a school where
every student enjoys themselves?