Boxing Day

A Christmas Carol: 'Let it snow' by Frank Sinatra

Listen to the song and complete the gaps. (The answers are in 'comments') 

Oh the (1) ___________________outside is frightful 
But the fire is so delightful 
And since we've no (2) ___________________ to go 
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow 
Oh it doesn't show signs of stopping 
And I brought some (3) ___________________ for popping 
The (4) ___________________ are turned down low 
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow 
When we finally (5) ___________________ goodnight 
How I hate going out in the storm 
But if you (6) ___________________ hold me tight 
All the way home I'll be warm 
Oh the (7) ___________________ is slowly dying 
And my dear we're still good-bying 
But as long as you (8) ___________________ me so 
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow 
Oh the (9) ___________________ is slowly dying 
And my dear we're still good-bying 
But as long as you (10) ___________________ me so 
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow 
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Past Perfect

We use the past perfect when we are already talking about the past and want to talk about an earlier action in the past. 

'She couldn't lend me some money because she had forgotten her wallet'

We make the past perfect with 'had' + the past participle of the main verb.

Activity 1.  Choose the correct answer.

Activity 2. Complete the sentences.

Activity 3. Complete the sentences. (don't use contractions!)

Activity 4. Write sentences in past perfect and check your answers.
(don't use contractions!)

Activity 5. Read an extract of 'The Canterville Ghost' and notice the highlighted verbs in the past simple. Then, do the reading comprehension exercises.

Activity 6. Listen to the sentences and complete the gaps.

Thanksgiving

Read this text about Thanksgiving and answer the questions.

Test your vocabulary! Do the Thanksgiving crossword.

Click here to correct your answers.

Now you can have some fun!

gobble/ˈɡɒb(ə)l/:to eat something quickly and often noisily.

giblets /ˈdʒɪbləts/: the liver, heart, and neck of poultry (=chickens etc) that you remove before you cook it. 

drumstick /ˈdrʌmˌstɪk/: the lower part of the leg of a chicken or other bird, cooked and eaten as food.

Phrasal Verbs

Click here to read some explanations and examples on the use of phrasal verbs.

Activity 1. Choose the correct answer.

Activity 2. Complete the sentences. 

Activity 3. Fill in the gaps with the correct phrasal verb.

Activity 4. Separable or non-separable? 

Make up: to become friendly after an argument / to put make-up on your face.

Sports and movement

Activity 1. Listen to six descriptions and identify the sports.  
 
Activity 2. Listen to some people talking about their favourite sports and answer the questions. 

Activity 3. Expressing movement 1. 

Activity 4. Expressing movement 2. 

Activity 5. Read and listen to the story 'Seven Year Old Boy Sets Swimming Record' and do the activities.

Activity 6. Listen to the people introducing two different sports centres and do the exercises.

The passive

Click here to read some explanations about the passive voice.
 
Activity 1. Choose the correct answer.

Activity 2. Complete the sentences. Use contractions where possible.

Activity 3. Fill in the gaps with the correct form of the verb.

Activity 4. Rewrite the sentences in the passive (present simple).

Activity 5. Rewrite the sentences in the passive (past simple).
 

31st October It's Halloween!

Watch the video and answer the questions: (the answers are in 'comments')


1. Who were the first people to celebrate Halloween? 
a) the Celts b) the Vikings c) the Romans

 2. Why did pagans used to gather and light fires at Halloween? 
a) to keep warm   b) to drive spirits back to the underworld   c) to see where they were going in the dark 

3. When did Halloween begin to merge with Catholic festivals?
a) int the twelfth century   b) in the seventh century   c) in the nineteenth century

4. When is All Saints Day celebrated?
a) 31st October   b) 2nd November   c) 1st November

5. What was All Saints Day originally called?
a) Alloween   b) Hallowmas   c) All Hallows Eve

6. Which group of people introduced the holiday to the United States?
a) Mexicans   b) Irish people   c) Italians

7. What is the custom of playing pranks at Halloween called?
a) trick or trash   b) treat or trick   c) trick or treat

Source: http://www.esolcourses.com

Object and subject questions

When we make questions in the past and present simple, we normally use an auxiliary verb:

'What time did you post the letter?'

When the question word (what?, who?, which?, how many'?) is the subject of the verb in the question, we do not use an auxiliary verb and the verb is in the third person.

'Who wrote 'Hamlet'?'

You'll find more examples here.

Activity 1: Choose the correct answer.
Activity 2: Complete the sentences.
Activity 3: Make object or subject questions.

Second conditional sentences

We use Second Conditional sentences to talk about an improbable/impossible or hypothetical future situation and its consequence.

Click here to read the grammar explanation and examples.

Click here to read and listen to some second conditional sentences.

Activity 1

Activity 2

Activity 3

Activity 4

Activity 5 (click on 'answers' at the bottom of the page to check your answers)

Activity 6. A perfect day. Watch the video of Anne talking about her idea of a perfect day, then practise your grammar by answering the questions on using the second conditional.

Activity 7. Listen to the song 'Tears in heaven' by Eric Clapton and complete the gaps with the correct verb form. You´ll find the answers as a comment to the post.

________ you _______ my name (know)
If I _________ you in heaven (see)
_______ it ________ the same (be)
If I ________ you in heaven (see)
I must be strong, and carry on
Cause I know I don't belong
Here in heaven

_________ you ________ my hand (hold)
If I __________ you in heaven (see)
_________ you ________ me stand (help)
If I _________ you in heaven (see)
I'll find my way, through night and day
Cause I know I just can't stay
Here in heaven

Time can bring you down
Time can bend your knee
Time can break your heart
Have you begging please
Begging please

Beyond the door
There's peace I'm sure.
And I know there'll be no more...
Tears in heaven

_________ you ________ my name (know)
If I ________ you in heaven (see)
__________ it _________ the same (be)
If I _________ you in heaven (see)
I must be strong, and carry on
Cause I know I don't belong
Here in heaven

Cause I know I don't belong
Here in heaven