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GRAMMAR
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NOUN 1 Countable Noun >< Uncountable Noun

Singular Plural without a/an/ -s

a /an/the
Regular Irregular

Noun –s/ es
Note 1
a means/series/species – means .. a thesis – theses
a child – children a diagnosis - diagnoses
a foot – feet a hypothesis – hypotheses
a tooth – teeth a parenthesis - parentheses
a louse – lice an axis - axes
a person – people an oasis - oases
a goose – geese a phenomenon – phenomena
a mouse – mice a criterion - criteria
a man – men a memorandum – memoranda
a woman – women a curriculum – curricula
on ox - oxen a bacterium - bacteria
a fish - fish a syllabus – syllabi
a carp – carp a cactus – cacti
a cod – cod a fungus – fungi
a salmon – salmon a stimulus – stimuli
a deer – deer a radius – radii
a sheep - sheep an appendix – appendices
a crisis – crises an index – indices
Note 2: Twelve nouns ending in f or fe drop the f or fe and ad ves
a calf - calves a life – lives a shelf - shelves
a half - halves a loaf - loaves a thief - thieves
a knife - knives -self - -selves a wife - wives
a leaf - leaves a sheaf - sheaves a wolf –wolves
But:
a hoof – hooves/hoofs a roof – roofs a cliff – cliffs
a safe – safes a handkerchief – handkerchiefs a belief- beliefs
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NOUN 2: Compound Nouns
1. Normally the last word is made plural
boyfriends city streets college
travel agents corner shops libraries
shop windows street markets driving
hitch-hikers spring flowers licenses
traffic wardens November fogs
river banks church bells
2. But when man and woman is prefixed both parts are made plural
men drivers women drivers
3. The first word is made plural with compounds formed of verb + er or compounds
composed of noun + preposition + noun
lookers-on runners-up sisters-in-law

NOUN 3: Quantifiers
1. Many/several/various/numerous/diverse >< Much
2. A number of/numbers of >< An amount of/amounts of
3. (A) few >< (A) little
4. Fewer/ the fewest >< Less/ the least

NOUN 4: Numbers
1. a /two/three… hundred/thousand/million/billion/trillion + Noun

2. hundreds/thousands/millions/billions + OF + Noun
3. Compound adjectives
A three-year-old boy
A 16,000-page book
4. one/two/three percent (no –s) of Noun ; but a/the percentage of Noun

VERB
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(1) Subject _ Verb Agreement
(2) Tenses
(3) Active >< Passive
Transitive V + Obj V + No Object /Prepositional phrase (by, in, with…)
(4) Form
a. After modal verb + Bare inf (can, could, may, might, shall, should, must, will,
would, would rather, had better, have to, ought to, be to, be supposed to)
V- ing ( active/ continuous tenses)
b. After ‘be’
P. P (passive)
c. After ‘have’ + P. P (perfect tenses)

d. Gerund >< Infinitive

e. Finite Verb >< Participle ( Present Participle >< Past participle)

PARALLEL STRUCTURE
1. ,
2. and
3. but
4. or
5. either …or
6. neither… nor
7. not only… but also
8. both … and
9. rather than
10. whether … or
11. as well as

PRONOUN
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1. Pronoun/Noun Agreement they >< it/he/she/we
their >< its/his/her/our
them>< it/him/her/us
themselves><itself/himself/herself/ourselves
who/whom>< which
that (of ) >< those (of) (plural)
2. Which type?
a. Subjective Pronouns (I/You/He/She/It/ We/You/They)
- Subject of a Verb
- After ‘Be’
b. Objective Pronouns (me/you/him/her/it/us/you/them)
- Object of a Verb
- Object of a Preposition
c. Possessive Adjectives (my/your/his/her/its/our/your/their)
- Before a Noun
- Before a Gerund: We are surprised by their nesting in such harsh
conditions
d. Possessive Pronouns (mine/yours/his/hers/ours/yours/theirs)
e. Reflexive Pro
(myself/yourself/himself/herself/itself/ourselves/yourselves/themselves)
3. Wrong spelling ( hisself/ theirselves/ ourself/ themself)
4. The >< Possessive Adjective
Ex: His snake is a reptile.

He devoted the life to science.

5. Double subject/object
Ex: Black Island in Long Island Sound it is surrounded by cold, dangerous waters.

6. Unnecessary relative pronoun >< Necessary relative pronoun

Ex: Certain types of turtles that may live as long as 100 years.
The woman lives next door is too nosy.

WORD FORM
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1. Adjectives
a. Before nouns
Ex: an important meeting
b. After ‘be’ and other linking verbs
- be/become
- look/seem/appear/sound
- taste/feel/smell
- stay/remain ( = continue to be)
- turn/get/grow/go (= become)
- prove/find
Ex: She looks angry.

c. Some adjectives end in –ly: friendly/costly/cowardly/lovely/lively/

lonely/likely/ugly/early/monthly/weekly/daily/hourly/nightly/year
ly/quarterly/timely/scholarly/womanly/manly/motherly/fatherly/
kindly
2. Adverbs
a. Modify verbs: Ex: Ann eagerly accepted the challenge.
b. Modify adjectives Ex: Ted seemed extremely curious about that topic.
c. Modify participles Ex: A rapidly changing situation / A brightly colored dress.
d. Modify prepositions/ clause markers: soon after / immediately after/ long before/
shortly before
e. Modify adverbs: Ex: The accident occurred incredibly quickly.
f. Modify the whole sentence
- general >< generally - possible >< possibly
- basic >< basically - probable >< probably
- particular >< particularly - usual >< usually
- original >< originally - innate >< innately
Ex: Generally, I like my class
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3. Note
a. fast (adj)  fast (adv)
b. long (adj)  long (adv)
c. hard (adj)  hard >< hardly
d. high (adj)  high >< highly (figurative meaning)
e. early (adj)  early (adv)
f. good (adj)  well (adv)

VERB NOUN ADJECTIVE VERB NOUN ADJECTIVE

Differ Difference Different Restrict Restriction Restrictive
Invent Invention Inventive Cultivate Culture Cultural
Compete Competition Competitive Agriculture Agricultural
Fertilize Fertilizer/fertility Fertile Empower Power Powerful
Decide Decision Decisive Importance Important
Prohibit Prohibition Prohibitive Significance Significant
Prevent Prevention Preventive Analyze Analysis Analytical
Beautify Beauty Beautiful Familiarize Familiarity Familiar
Originate Origin Original Popularize Popularity Popular
Emphasize Emphasis Emphatic Classify Classification Classifiable
Glorify Glory Glorious Categorize category Categorical
Mystify Mystery Mysterious Absent Absence Absent
Socialize Society Social Interest Interest Interesting
Generalize Generalization General Bore Boredom Boring
Simplify Simplicity Simple Fascinate Fascination Fascinating
Free Freedom Free Produce Production Productive
Construct Construction Constructive Necessitate Necessity Necessary
Live Life Live/living Collect Collection Collective

FIELD PERSON FIELD PERSON FIELD PERSON

Music Musician Surgery Surgeon Dentistry Dentist
Poetry Poet Architecture Architect Engineering Engineer
Administration Administrator Farming Farmer Finance Financier
Photography Photographer Biology Biologist Physics Physicist
Athletics Athlete Theory Theorist Science Scientist
Philosophy Philosopher Chemistry Chemist Invention Inventor
Creation Creator Politics Politician Crime/criminology Criminal
Law Lawyer Humor Humorist Mathematics mathematician
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History Historian Biography Biographer Manufacture Manufacturer
Editing Editor Writing Writer Acting Actor/actress
Magic Magician Geography Geographe Collection Collector
r
Forecast Forecaster Hunting Hunter Employment Employee/er
Training Trainer Dance Dancer Competition Competitor
Contest Contestant Beauty Beautician Labor Laborer
Discovery Discoverer Carpentry Carpenter

NOUN VERB ADJECTIVE NOUN VERB ADJECTIVE

Strength Strengthen Strong Heat Heat Hot
Hardness Harden Hard Light Lighten Light
Softness Soften Soft Brightness Brighten Bright/brilliant
Depth Deepen Deep Thickness Thicken Thick
Ripeness Ripen Ripe Richness Enrich Rich
Solidity Solidify Solid Humidity Humidify Humid
Length Lengthen Long Flatness/flat Flatten Flat
Shortness Shorten Short Height Heighten High
Weight Weigh Weighty/weightless Darkness/dark Darken Dark
Blackness Blacken Black White/whiteness Whiten White
Fat Fatten Fat Largeness Enlarge Large
Nouns: hearing/sight/smell/taste/touch
Verbs: hear/see/smell/taste/touch

WORD CHOICE
1. Wrong choice of MAKE or DO
1) MAKE an agreement/ an announcement/ an attempt/an effort/ a
decision/a discovery/ an offer/a profit/ a promise/ advances in/ a
comparison/ a contribution/ a distinction/ a forecast/ a law/ a point/ an
investment/ a plan/ a prediction/ a sound/ noise/use of/ a choice/ a
loan/an appointment
2) MAKE UP OF (= be composed of ); MAKE UP (= compose)

3) DO an assignment/the dishes/ the washing-up/the shopping/ the

ironing/the cooking/a favor/homework/the laundry/ a paper//research/
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a job/ one’s work/ business with/ justice to/ wrong/ a kindness/one’s
duty/harm/one’s best/a service/damage/ wonder
2. Wrong choice of like/ alike/like or as
1) Like/Unlike A, B + Verb
2) A, like/unlike B, + Verb
3) A is like/unlike B
4) A and B are alike
5) Like + Noun Ex: My results were much like Paul’s

6) As + Subject +Verb Ex: I did my experiment just as Paul did

7) As + Noun (=in the role of)

8) serve as/ function as/ use sth as/ be used as/ be thought of as/ be
referred to as
9) regard/consider/name/choose/elect/select/designate/appoint/declare/

nominate/proclaim/announce s.o/sth (as) s.o/sth

3. Wrong choice of so, such, too

1) so + adjective/adverb + that Subject + Verb

2) so + many/few + Noun (c) that Subject + Verb
+ much/little + Noun (u) that Subject + Verb
3) so + adjective + a/an + Noun (c, singular) that Subject + Verb
4) such + (a/an) + Noun that Subject + Verb
5) too adjective + (for someone) + to do something
6) enough + noun +( for someone) to do something
7) adjective/adverb + enough + (for someone) to do something
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4. Wrong choice of because or because of; although or in spite

of /despite; when/while or during

Adverb clause markers + S+ V Preposition + Noun/NP

• because  because of/ due to/ on account of
• although/though/even though  in spite of/ despite
• when/while/as  during

5. Wrong choice of ANOTHER or OTHER

Another Other
Adjective another + Noun (singular) other + Noun (plural)

Determiner (the, some, any,

every, one, no) + other + Noun
(sing)
Pronoun another (an additional one) the other/the others
Ex: Give me another. Ex: Of the two teachers, one is
experienced, and the other is not.
Note: each other / one another
from one … to another

6. Other word form problems

BE CAREFUL WITH THESE PAIRS OF WORDS
1) no + noun >< not … any
2) no longer >< not … any longer/any more
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3) most + Noun
most of the Noun
almost all of the Noun/ almost no + Noun/almost every + Noun
the most +adj/adv (superlative)
4) almost + quantifier/adjective/adverb (Word Order)
5) twice (adjective) >< double (verb)
Note: be twice as… as…
6) earliest >< soonest
7) one /two/three…percent of >< a /the percentage of
8) after >< afterward (adv = after that )
9) ago >< before
10) tell so that >< say that/say to so that
Note: tell a story/a lie/lies/the truth/ a secret
11)hardly ever >< never
12)hard/hardly
13)and/but/or
14)be alive >< live + Noun
15)old > < of age
16)near (=close to) >< nearly (=almost)
17)some + Noun >< somewhat + adjective
18)affect so/sth >< effect of sth on so/sth
19)already (adv) >< be all ready ( adjective)
20)among (3 or more) >< between ( 2)
21)and (conjunction) >< also (adverb)
22)beside (=next to) >< besides (= in addition)
23)costume (=clothing) >< custom (traditional practice)
24)farther/further (distance) >< further (= more)
25)formally (=officially) >< formerly (=previously)
26)hard >< hardly
27)imaginary (= not real/fictional) >< imaginative (=creative)
28)later >< latter
29)lay laid laid laying +Object (= put/place)
lie lay lain lying (= be situated/located)
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lie lied lied lying (= not tell the truth)
30)loose (adj) >< lose (verb)
31)no>< not>< none
32)pass (verb) >< past (adj/noun/preposition)
Note: pass = go/come past
33)quiet (adj) >< quite (adv)
34)raise + object/ be raised (passive) >< rise (without an object)
35)set + object (=put/place) >< sit (without an object)
36)thorough (adj) >< through (adv)
37)out >< out of +Noun
38)away>< away from + Noun
39)out/in (preposition) >< outer/inner (adjective)
40)listen to >< hear
41)lone/live/sleeping + noun >< be alone/ alive/asleep

7. Redundancy
- connect together - important significant
- repeat again - carefully cautiously
- join together - established founded
- proceed forward - protect guard
- advance forward - original first
- only unique - rarely seldom
- new innovations - transmit send out
- reread again - single only
- return back - around
- same identical approximately
- sufficient enough - chief main
- separated away from - such as for example
- incorrect mistake - necessary needed
- progress forward

Inversion
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a) Inversion of the verb after certain adverbs

Hardly ever On no account

Hardly … when Only by/in/ at/once/recently
In no circumstances Only in this way
Neither/nor Rarely
Never Seldom
No sooner… than Scarcely ever
Not only Scarcely …when
Nowhere (So) + adj or participles
(Such) + be + Noun

Ex: I haven’t got a ticket. – Neither/Nor have I.

Never before had I been asked to accept a bribe.
Not only do they rob you, they smash everything too
On no account must this switch be touched
Only by shouting was he able to make himself heard.
Only in an emergency should you use this exit.
Rarely did this remedy fail
So suspicious did he become that …
So confusing was the map that we had to ask a police officer for directions.
Such is the popularity of the place that the theater is likely to be full every night.

b) The subject and verb of the second clause ( not the first clause) are inverted
when the following expressions occur at the beginning of a sentence

Not until Only if Only until

Only when Only because Only after

Ex: Not until he got home did he realize that he had lost it.
Only if you study hard can you pass the final exam.
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c) In written English adverb phrases introduced by preposition (down, from, in, on,
over, off, out of, round, up .etc.) can be followed by verbs indicating position
(crouch, hang, lie sit, stand, be etc.), by verbs of motion.
Ex: From the rafters hung strings of onions.
In the door way stood a man with a gun.
On a perch beside him sat a blue parrot
Over the wall came a shower of stone.
In front of the museum is a statue.
Off the coast of California lie the Channel Islands.

Note: Prepositional Phrase, S + V

Ex: Across the United States, the general movement of air masses is from west to east.

d) If + Subject + auxiliary can be replaced in formal English by inversion of auxiliary

and subject with if omitted.
Ex: If I were in his shoes … = Were I in his shoes …
If you should require anything… = Should you require anything …
If he had known … = Had he known…

Double Comparison
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The + comparative + S + (V), the +comparative + S + (V)

Note: the worse (not the worst), the less (not the least), the better (not the best)
Ex: The more he plays, the more he improves.

Incorrect Article Choice

• a >< an
Ex: A eclipse of the sun may be either total or partial
• a/an >< without a/an (uncountable noun)
• a/an >< the
Ex: Rose Bird was a first woman in the history of California to serve on the State Supreme
Court
• a/an/the >< without a/an/the
Ex: Slag consists of waste material and impurities which rise to top of melted metals.
The most asteroids are beyond the orbit of the planet Mars.
• the >< possessive adjectives
Ex: The Ozark Mountains of Arkansas are known for the rugged beauty
Note:

- a university/ a European/ a one-parent family/a union/a unicorn/ a unique character

- an hour/ an honest man/ an honor/ an heir/ an heiress/ an MP/ an FBI
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1. Clause marker (a) S+ V(f)
(b) Present P , S+V
(c) Past P
(d) Adjective
Common clause markers:
a. Time: after , as, as long as, as soon as, before, by the time, now that,
once, since, until, when, while, whenever
b. Concessions/Contrast: although, even though, though, even if,
whereas, while, despite the fact that, in spite of the fact that, except
that/however
c. Reason: as, because, since, in that, in case

d. Results: so that, so … that, such… that

e. Manner: as if, as though

f. Place: wherever

g. Conditions: if, even if, only if, provided, unless

(,) (1) Clause marker

2. S + V + (Object) , (2) Conjunction S + V + (Object)

; (3) conjunctive adverbs ,

Conjunctions: - and, but, yet, for, so, or

Conjunctive advs - besides, likewise, moreover, in addition, additionally

- however, nevertheless, on the other hand, in contrast, in spite of
this
- therefore, as a result, accordingly, consequently
- otherwise
- then, meanwhile
- similarly, correspondingly, likewise
- for example, for instance
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ARTICLES
A/AN
1. Before singular countable nouns
Ex: Australia is a continent
2. To introduce a subject that has not mentioned before
Ex: I saw a tiger.
3. With certain expressions
a dozen a/one half
a couple a/one third
a/one hundred/thousand/million a/one quarter
a great many fifty miles an/per hour
a great deal ten kilometers an/per hour
a lot of $10 a/per day
4. With names of professions
Ex: He is an engineer. She is a doctor.

THE
1. Only one example of the thing/person or the identity of the person or thing is clear
Ex: The moon is full today.
Please open the door.
2. With certain expressions
the morning/afternoon/evening
the past/present/future
the front/back/center/top/bottom
the beginning/middle/end
the north/south/east/west
3. Before a singular noun representative of a class of things ( usually names of animals, plants,
inventions, musical instruments, and parts of the body)
Ex: The tiger is the largest cat
The heart pumps blood
The Wright brothers invented the airplane.
She plays the guitar.
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4. Before ordinal number (Note: No article is used before expressions with cardinal
numbers.)
Ex: The First World War (But: World War One)
The second chapter (But: Chapter Two)
The third gate (But: Gate Three)
The seventh volume (But: Volume Seven)
5. Before decades and centuries
Ex: the 1930s the fifties the sixties
the twenty-first century the 1800s the twentieth century
6. Before superlative adjectives
Ex: The biggest island on earth is Greenland.
7. Quantifier + of + the + noun
Many/ some/all/much/most/a few/all/... of the + Noun
Note: These expressions can also be used without the phrase of the
Ex: Many books not much paper
Some water a few pictures
8. Before a group of people or a nationality
Ex: The Vietnamese are very hardworking
The Swedish are proud of their ancestors, the Vikings.
Note: No article is used before the name of a language
Ex: She learned to speak Vietnamese when she lived in Hanoi.
9. The + adjective (= people who are...)
Ex: The rich should help the poor.
10. Before a specific noun
Ex: The coffee I had this morning was Brazilian (specific)
Coffee originated in Ethiopia. (general)
The rice that I bought today is in the bag. (specific)
Rice is a staple in many countries.(general)
The trees in this park are mostly evergreens. (specific)
Trees provide shade. (general)
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11. The + subject + of NP
Subject (used alone) --> no article
Adjective + Subject --> no article
Ex: The literature of the twentieth century
The history of The United States.
But: I major in literature
I study American history.
12. Before names of countries, states, cities, universities, colleges, and schools that
contain the word "of" or before countries that have a plural name or an adjective in the
name, except for Great Britain
Ex: The United States of America
The Socialist Republic of Vietnam (but: Vietnam)
The State of Florida (But: Florida)
The city of Boston ( But: Boston)
The University of Texas ( But: Boston University)
The Netherlands/ The Philippines
13. Before
a. oceans: Ex: The pacific Ocean
b. seas Ex: The Black Sea
c. gulfs Ex: The Gulf of Mexico
d. rivers Ex: The Nile
e. plural names of mountains Ex: The Appalachian Mountains (But: Mount Everest)
f. plural names of islands Ex: The Hawaiian Islands (But: Manhattan Island)
g. plural names of lakes Ex: The Great Lakes (But: Lake Michigan)
14. Before the names of ships, planes, trains and people's family names
Ex: The Titanic
The Orient Express
The Browns
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GERUND AND INFINITIVE
I. VERB + TO INF
afford beg expect manage pretend threaten
agree care fail mean promise want
appear consent forget need refuse wish
arrange decide hesitate offer seem try
ask desire hope plan struggle intend
attempt deserve learn prepare swear

Ex: Tom wants to become a doctor.

Susan pretended to sleep.
David promised not to be late again.

II. VERB + OBJECT + TO INFINITIVE

advise challenge forbid order teach invite
allow convince force permit tell recommend
ask dare hire persuade urge enable
beg encourage instruct remind want lead
cause expect invite require warn motivate
use

Ex: They begged us to come.

I warn you not to drive so fast.

Note: advise/allow/encourage/permit/recommend (1) + object + to inf

(2) + V-ing
Ex: He doesn’t allow smoking in his house
He doesn’t allow anyone to smoke in his house
Nobody is allowed to smoke in his house

III. VERB + V-ING

admit delay finish postpone resent miss
appreciate deny can’t help practice resist tolerate
avoid discuss keep quit risk involve
complete dislike mention recall stop understand
consider enjoy mind recollect suggest include

Ex: I dislike driving long distances

I can’t help worrying about it.
Would you mind not smoking in this class?
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IV. VERB + V-ING/ TO INFINITIVE

begin continue hate prefer

start can’t stand love like

Ex: It began to rain/ raining

Note: would like/love/prefer + to infinitive

Ex: I would like to play tennis today.

V. ADJECTIVE / PARTICIPLE+ TO INFINITIVE

anxious difficult willing boring
eager hard able interesting
usual dangerous pleased …
easy ready prepared

Ex: Tom is anxious to see his family.

It is very dangerous to drive in this weather.
We are ready to leave now.

Note: be busy/worth + V-ing.

Ex: He is busy doing his homework.
The book is worth reading.

VI. PREPOSITION + V-ING

1. VERB + PREPOSITION + V-ING
approve of succeed in think of look forward to dedicate to
give up count on depend on object to commit to
rely on keep on put off confess to
insist on think about dream about devote to

Ex: John gave up smoking three years ago.

I am looking forward to going back to school.

2. ADJECTIVE + PREPOSITION + V-ING

afraid of capable of tired of be/get accustomed to
interested in successful in fond of be/get used to

Ex: She is afraid of getting married now.

To gets used to getting up early.
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VII. SPECIAL CASES
1. STOP
He stopped smoking (He gave up smoking; he is not going to smoke any more.)
He stopped to smoke (He stopped doing something in order to smoke)
2. TRY
TRY + TO INF: make an effort to do something
Ex: I was very tire. I tried to keep my eyes open, but I couldn’t.
TRY + V-ING: do something as an experiment or test
Ex: I’ve got a terrible headache. I tried taking an aspirin, but it did not help.
3. REMEMBER
REMEMBER + TO INF: You remember to do something before you do it
Ex: Please remember to post the letter. (= Don’t forget to post the letter)
REMEMBER + V-ING: You remember doing something after you do it
Ex: I clearly remember locking the door before I left.
4. NEED
NEED + TO INF (ACTIVE)
Ex: John needs to paint the door.
My friend needed to learn Spanish
NEED + V-ING = NEED + TO BE DONE (PASSIVE)
Ex: The grass needs cutting/ to be cut.
The television needs fixing/to be fixed.
5. MAKE/LET/HAVE + OBJECT + BARE INFINITIVE
Ex: Sad movies always make me cry.
I had the mechanic repair my car. (I had my car repaired by the mechanic
My parents do not let me go out late at night.
6. VERBS OF PERCEPTION + V-ING/ BARE INFINITIVE

see look at listen to

notice observe smell
watch hear feel

Ex: I saw my friend running/run down the street.

7. GO + V-ING
boating dancing jogging shopping swimming
GO bowling fishing climbing sightseeing
camping hiking running skating
canoeing hunting sailing skiing

Ex: My sister went sailing yesterday

8. TO INFINITIVE can be used after the first, the second…, the last, the only and
sometimes after superlatives.
Ex: She loves parties. She is always the first to come and the last to leave.
He is the second man to be killed in this way.
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9. TO INFINITIVE can be used after certain nouns

ability demand failure request
ambition desire offer scheme
anxiety determination plan willingness
attempt eagerness promise wish
decision effort refusal readiness

Ex: His ability to get on with people is his chief asset.

Ex: He made an effort to stand up.

10.
catch/find/leave + Object + V-ing
spend/ waste + Time + V-ing
have fun/ a good time + V-ing
have trouble/difficulty + V-ing
have a hard time/ difficult time + V-ing
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WORD ENDINGS

A. COMMON NOUN (THING) ENDINGS

1. –ism : baptism, criticism, organism, heroism, patriotism, alcoholism,
barbarism, dwarfism, parallelism
2. –nce : importance, significance, dependence, arrogance, resistance,
subsistence
3. –ness : bitterness, conceitedness, darkness, hardness, kindheartedness
4. –ion : excision, damnation, pollution, suggestion, a notion, an action,
vexation, concoction, completion.
5. –ment : abridgement, accomplishment, banishment, commencement,
embodiment, enhancement, excitement, fragment, garment, ornament,
treatment
6. –(i)ty : purity, authority, dubiety, majority, superiority, humidity, cruelty,
faculty, honesty, plenty, safety, subtlety
7. –age : baggage, carriage, cartage, damage, dotage, hermitage, homage
language, luggage, marriage, passage, tillage, tonnage, vicarage,
village.
8. –ship : ambassadorship, citizenship, headship, professorship, chairmanship,
fellowship, scholarship, companionship, friendship, hardship,
relationship, craftsmanship, entrepreneurship, horsemanship,
membership, courtship
9. –th : bath, birth, death, oath, growth, stealth, filth, health, length, strength,
truth, depth, breadth, wealth.
10. –dom : earldom, freedom, kingdom, officialdom, wisdom
11. –hood : childhood, falsehood, sisterhood, brotherhood, neighborhood,
likelihood, livelihood
12. –ure : closure, picture, scripture, legislature, nature, failure, pleasure,
treasure
13. –cy : bankruptcy, captaincy, democracy, privacy, delicacy, advocacy,
confederacy, accuracy, obstinacy, piracy, , aristocracy, expectancy,
efficiency, presidency, sufficiency, deficiency
14. –(t)ry: rivalry, ancestry, carpentry, industry, greenery, machinery, scenery,
bakery, brewery, bravery, slavery, archery
15. –logy : archaeology, geology, sociology, theology, zoology
16. –graphy : bibliography, biography
 25

B. COMMON NOUN (PERSON) ENDINGS

1. – or : actor, creator, doctor, monitor, sculptor, successor, guarantor,
conqueror, donor, governor, solicitor, tailor, visitor. bachelor
2. – er : hatter, geographer, astrologer, cottager, foreigner, Londoner,
New Yorker, northerner, villager, airliner, old-timer, sorcerer
3. – ee : employee, payee, devotee, escapee, conferee, absentee, refugee.
4. – ist : chemist, dramatist, economist, geologist; dentist, pianist, tobacconist;
Buddhist, Darwinist, idealist, Marxist, racist, optimist, pessimist
5. – ician : magician, physician, musician, electrician, beautician,
politician, statistician, mathematician, mortician,
6. – ant (10%) : assistant, accountant, consultant, contestant, inhabitant

C. ADJECTIVE ENDINGS
1. – ent : independent, sufficient, absent, ambivalent, ancient, apparent,
ardent
2. – ant : arrogant, expectant, important, significant , abundant, ignorant,
brilliant,
3. – ful : beautiful, graceful, powerful, grateful, forgetful, mournful,
Exceptions: handful, mouthful, spoonful are nouns
4. – ic : civic, classic, historic, artistic, economic,
5. – less : doubtless, fearless, hatless, powerless, countless, tireless, faceless,
legless, careless, helpless
6. – ive : authoritative, demonstrative, figurative, imitative, qualitative,
talkative, active, passive, comparative, possessive
7. – ous : dangerous, glorious, murderous, viscous, ferocious, hilarious,
8. – able : charitable, separable, bearable, reliable, comfortable, suitable.
9. – ible : audible, compressible, edible, horrible, terrible
10. – al : central, general, oral, colossal, tropical, tidal
Exceptions : rival, arrival, proposal, withdrawal, survival are nouns
11. – ory : mandatory, compulsory, predatory, satisfactory
Exceptions : dormitory, promontory, territory are nouns
12. – ary : arbitrary, budgetary, contrary, primary, temporary, necessary
13. – y : angry, happy, icy, messy, milky, tidy, chilly, haughty, slippery,
14. – ly : beastly, cowardly, queenly, rascally
15. – (r)ate (10%): temperate, accurate, considerate, immediate, literate
16. – ish: boorish, boyish, foolish, womanish, bookish, feverish, bluish, reddish
 26

D. COMMON VERB ENDINGS

1. – en/ en – : listen, happen, strengthen, lengthen, shorten, soften, ripen, deepen,
widen, entrust, enslave, enlighten, entangle, enlarge, encourage,
enable, enrich
2. – ate : assassinate, associate, fascinate, felicitate, hydrate, separate,
vaccinate, evacuate
3. – ize : characterize, idolize, agonize, apologize, sympathize, theorize,
authorize, extemporize, fertilize, fossilize, jeopardize, moralize,
Americanize, carbonize, oxidize
4. – ify : pacify, satisfy, petrify, solidify, horrify

E. COMMON ADVERB ENDING

1. – ly : amusingly, deservedly, firstly, fully, greatly, happily, hourly, truly,
firstly, secondly
2. – wise : crosswise, lengthwise, otherwise, clockwise
3. – ways : edgeways, endways, lengthways, sideways
4. – ward : backward, homeward, inward, onward, skyward, eastward
 27
SUBJECT – VERB AGREEMENT

A. BASIC SUBJECT – VERB AGREEMENT

1. Singular Subject + Singular Verb
2. Plural Subject + Plural Verb
Ex: My friend lives in Boston.
Growing flowers is her hobby.
My friends live in Boston.
B. SPECIAL CASES
1. Sing Subject 1 and Sing Subject 2 + Plural Verb

Ex: The actor and the singer are coming.

Jean and David are coming back to Australia.
Note: However, phrases connected by and can be followed by singular verbs if we think of them as
making up a single item.
Ex: Meat pie and peas is Tom’s favorite at the moment
Fish and chips is my favorite food

of
in addition to
2. with
Subject 1 + together with + Subject 2 + Verb
along with
as well as
no less than
like/ unlike

Ex: One of my friends is here.

You together with Tom are responsible for this failure.

Either or
+ Subject 1 + + Subject 2 + Verb
3. Neither nor

Ex: Neither John nor his friends are going to the beach
 28

4. There + be + Noun

Ex: There is a book on the shelf

There are three books on the shelf

5.
There/ Here + Verb + Noun

Ex: Here comes the Queen.

Here lie many unknown soldiers.

6.
Every Noun (singular)
Each + + Singular Verb
Either of the Noun (plural)
Neither

Ex: Each boy/ each of the boys has a gift.

Note: Each boy and each girl is to do this exercise.

7. Everyone Something Nobody

Everybody Anyone Nothing
Everything Anybody + Singular Verb
Someone Anything
Somebody No one

Ex: Everyone has his or her own idea.

 29
A/the majority of
A number of
8. a. A lot of + Plural Noun + Plural Verb
Plenty of
Some of
None of
Half of
No

Ex: A number of refugees have been turned back at the border.

Plenty of potatoes are grown here.
None of the answers are correct.

b. The number of + Plural Noun + Singular Verb

Ex: The number of books in the library has risen to over five million.

c. Any of
None of
The majority of
A lot of + Uncountable Noun + Singular Verb
Plenty of
All (of)
Some (of)

Ex: All the furniture was destroyed in the fire.

council company government staff Singular Verb ( if they

association crowd group team are referred to as a group)
9. audience department jury university
class electorate orchestra faculty
club enemy population choir
college family press gang Plural Verb ( if they are seen
committee firm public couple as a collection of individual)
community generation school cabinet

Ex: The team is winning. (the team as a group)

The team are going back to their homes. (meaning individual members of the
team)
 30
belongings riches glasses
clothes savings pliers
congratulations stairs pants
10. earnings surroundings + Plural Verb
goods thanks
outskirts scissors
particulars shorts
premises jeans

Ex: The pants are in the drawer.

(A pair of pants is in the drawer)

police
people + Plural Verb
11. cattle
poultry

Ex: The police are looking for the missing child.

12. news measles rabies

physics statistics diabetes
politics mathematics gymnastics + Singular Verb
mumps physics athletics
economics phonetics linguistics

Ex: Physics is difficult.

The news is alarming.
13. The titles of books, plays, movies, etc., always take a singular verb
Ex: The Los Angeles Times is on the desk.
Gulliver’s Travels is a well-known children’s book.
14. Nouns stating an amount of time, money or measurement always take a singular verb
Ex: Five minutes is not enough to do this exercise.
Thirty-five dollars is too much for this shirt.
Four -hundred miles is too much to drive in one day.

15. The + Adjective + Plural Verb

Ex: The poor need help.

 31

Uncountable Noun + Singular Verb

16.
baggage clothing equipment food fruit furniture
garbage hardware jewelry junk luggage machinery
mail makeup money cash change postage
Fluids
water coffee tea milk oil soup
gasoline blood

Solids ice bread butter cheese meat gold

iron silver glass paper wood wool

Gases
steam air oxygen nitrogen smoke pollution

Particles rice chalk corn dust grass hair

pepper dirt salt sand flour wheat

beauty confidence courage education enjoyment fun

Abstraction happiness health help honesty hospitality importance
intelligence justice knowledge laughter music luck
patience peace pride progress recreation sleep
truth violence wealth …

advice information news evidence proof time

space energy homework work grammar slang
vocabulary

Activities driving swimming traveling working

baseball soccer tennis chess

weather dew fog hail heat humidity

Natural lightning rain sleet snow thunder wind
phenomena darkness light sunshine electricity fire gravity

Ex: Smoking is harmful to your health.

 32
PREPOSITIONS

1. PREPOSITIONS OF TIME
A. In
• century ( in the twenty-first century)

• decade ( in the 1970s; in the nineties)

• year (in 2007)

• season ( in the summer)

• month ( in July)

• parts of the day ( in the morning; in the afternoon; in the evening)

• the past/ future
• amounts of time ( in/within an hour)

B. On
• date (on September 11)

• day (on Monday; on Sunday morning)

C. At
• time of day (at 9:20)

• night/ midnight/ noon /dawn/dusk/sunrise/sunset/the moment/the same

time/present/ first/last
D. During
During is used with periods of time

• It snows a lot in Montreal during the winter

• His company grew rapidly during the 1980s

During is NOT used with dates or days of the week.

E. Until
Until is used with points of time to indicate that an action continues up to that point

• Helen practiced the piano until noon

• They won’t arrive until tomorrow

F. From …. To/until and between … and

These phrases are used with starting points and ending points
 33
• From 1990 to/until 1993, Mr. Nolan was in charge of the sales division.

• Between 1990 and 1993, Mr. Nolan was in charge of the sales division.

G. Since/ For
Since and for are generally used with a perfect tense

• We've been waiting here since two o'clock.

• The factory has been here since the 1970s.

• We had been talking for a good half hour.

2. PREPOSITIONS OF PLACE
A. In
• the world
• continent (in Asia)

• country ( in China)

• state/province (in California; in Ontario)

• in city ( in Munich)

• building (in the Empire State Building)

• room (in the living room)

B. On
• earth (the origin of life on Earth)

• street ( on Wall Street)

• coast ( on the East Coast)

• floor ( on the second floor)

C. At
• address (at 634 Sutter Street)

• building (at the museum)

• home/school/college/work

D. From … to and between … and

• They're building a new road between Manchester and Sheffield.

• They're building a new road from Manchester to Sheffield.

 34

3. OTHER COMMON PREPOSITION COMBINATIONS

A. In
• clothes ( in a gray suit)

• language ( written in Vietnamese)

• book ( in the Complete Guide to TOEIC)

• newspaper ( in the International Herald-Tribune)

• magazine ( in Times)

• department ( in the sales department)

• field ( in computer science)

• one’s opinion (in her opinion)

• a car / a taxi (I've left my bag in the car.)

• trouble (I think I'm in trouble with Dad.)

• danger of (The bridge was in danger of collapsing.)

• part (The failure of the project was due in part to his lack of leadership.

• front of (He walked along in front of me, holding the lantern.)

• the middle of (Jo was standing in the middle of the room.)

• the back of (Two men were sitting in the back of the car.)

• the rear (a passenger traveling in the rear of a car)

• line (The kids were standing in line waiting for their teacher.)

• the process of (The company is in the process of moving to new offices.)

B. On
• a vehicle ( on a bus; on a train; on a plane)

• foot (It takes about 30 minutes on foot, or 10 minutes by car.)

• a trip (We were all going on a trip.)

• business (She's in New York this week on business)

• holiday (I'm away on holiday until the 1st of June.)

 35
• sale (These gloves were on sale for only $9.)

• the market (Handguns are freely available on the open market)

• schedule (The majority of holiday flights depart and arrive on schedule.)

• time (Jack was worried about whether he'd be able to get there on time.)

• (the) television/radio (Later that evening we watched it all on television again.)

• the phone (Bridget's on the phone all day long.)

• a farm (Joe had worked on the farm all his life.)

• the other hand (I'd like to eat out, but on the other hand I want to save money.)

• purpose (Fire investigators believe the fire was set on purpose.)

C. BY
 By is used before a point of time to indicate the latest time. By, in this
case, means “no later than”.
• I will be home by noon.

By can mean “next to”

• She is standing by her friend.

By is used after passive verbs to identify the agent of the action.

• This report was written by Peter.

By is used with means of transportation and communication

• by car/plane/e-mail
Note: in a/my car; on a plane
Other
By chance/ hand/ far/check/credit card/ means of

D. With
With is used to express the idea of accompaniment or ownership

• I went to the restaurant with Andrea.

• The man with the briefcase is the vice-president.

With is also used to indicate the tool or instrument used to complete something
• He opened the door with his key.
• He paid for the bill with a credit car
 36
E. Without
Without means “ not having, experiencing or showing something”; “not in the company
of someone” or “not doing the action mentioned”
• They had gone two days without food.

• He found the place without difficulty.

• She spoke without much enthusiasm.

• Don't go without me.

• I don't know what I'd do without you.

• The rest of the group set off without him.

• Don't go out without your coat.

• He left without saying goodbye.

• You can't make an omelet without breaking eggs.

• Suddenly and without any warning, the army opened fire.

• He had gone out without his parents' permission.

F. Within
Within can mean “during a particular period of time”

• We should have the test results back within 24 hours.

• He fell sick and died within a matter of weeks.

• Within an hour of our arrival, Caroline was starting to complain.

• Within the space of a year, three of the town's factories have closed down.

Within can mean “less than a certain distance from a particular place”

• The invading troops came within 50 miles of Paris.

• We live within easy reach of (=close to) the shops.

• Adjust the driver's seat so that all the controls are within reach (=close enough to
touch)
Within can also mean “ inside the range or limits of something”

• We have to operate within a very tight budget.

• Private security firms have to work strictly within the law.

• You can go anywhere you want within reason (=within reasonable limits)

• He finds it hard to live within his income.

 37
G. Beyond
Beyond can mean “more or greater than a particular amount, level, or limit”

• More people are choosing to work beyond retirement age.

• Inflation has risen beyond the 5% level.

• Such tasks are far beyond the scope of the average school kid.

• Expensive luxuries that are beyond the reach of ordinary people

Beyond can be used to say that “something is impossible to do”

• Scott's equipment was damaged beyond repair.

• The town centre had changed beyond all recognition.

• Due to circumstances beyond our control the performance has had to be cancelled.

• Why Joan ever married such an idiot in the first place is beyond me.

READING COMPREHENSION
STRATEGIES
 38

READING STRATEGIES
1. OVERVIEW QUESTIONS
The most common overview question asks about the purpose or main topic of the passage. Other
overview questions ask about the writer of the passage or the reader of the passage.
 What does this article/the memo mainly discuss?
 What is this form?
 What is the purpose of this letter/announcement/notice…?
 Why was this notice/letter written?
 In what business is the writer of the passage?
 What kind of business is Mr. ________ probably in?
 Who issued/wrote this notice?
 What is the author’s opinion of ______?
 Who were these instructions written for?
 Who would be most interested in the information in this announcement?
 For whom is this advertisement/notice intended?
- Don’t answer the initial overview questions until you have answered the other
questions
 39
- Usually focus on the title and the first sentence(s) of each paragraph for the
topic and main idea; also focus on the last sentence for the conclusion and a
possible restatement of the topic and main idea.
- Skim (read very quickly) the rest of the passage for the key words that will
confirm the topic and main idea.
- Read the answer choices and eliminate the distractors which may have one of
these characteristics:
a. too general
b. too specific (detailed)
c. incorrect
d. irrelevant (not mentioned)

II. DETAIL QUESTIONS

1. Information/Factual Questions often begin with the phrases “According to the
passage/the author, wh- questions...”
2. Negative Questions contain the words NOT, EXCEPT, or LEAST
- Focus on one or two key words in the question
- Scan the passage looking for the key words or related words (synonyms, word
family)
- Carefully read the sentence in which the key words occur. (You may have to
read the sentence preceding or following that sentence as well.)
- Choose the correct answer

III. REFERENCE QUESTIONS

1. --------------------------------- . A -------------------------------------
- Initial position ---> usually read the previous sentence and find the noun that the
referent replaces
2. ---------------------------------------------------------- A----------------------.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A.
 40
- Middle/Final Position ---> usually read the whole sentence in which the referent
occurs
3. This/ That usually refer to the whole previous sentence or phrase. So, read the previous
sentence or phrase and summarize it.
4. Another ---> Look for One + Noun
5. Others ----> Look for Some/Many + Noun
6. The former/the later/ respectively

IV. VOCABULARY IN CONTEXT

1. Look for synonyms in the passage because the author may avoid repeating the
same word.

2. Look for examples

- for example, for instance, such as

3. Look for contrast

- but, yet, still
- however, nevertheless, on the other hand,
in contrast, in spite of this
- although, even though, though, even if,
whereas, while, despite the fact that, in
spite of the fact that, except that
- not
- rather than, instead of

4. Focus on the general context and see if context clues in the sentence or in the
sentences before or after can help you guess the meaning
 41
- Literal Meaning >< Figurative meaning
Example: * He grasped my hand firmly
* I don’t think you have quite grasped the seriousness of the situation.

V. INFERENCE QUESTIONS
Inference Questions usually include such words as “infer, imply, suggest, guess, probably, or
likely” or such phrases as “Why … mention?” “What …. to do next?” “Which of these ….. is
probably true?” and “ What …..probably do?”

Answer choices to inference questions require students to

1. understand what the question is asking and know where to find the answer in the
passage
2. relate the information in the answer choice to a synonym or paraphrase of information in
the passage; and
3. determine what is true and not true in the answer choices
• Note: Answer choices that contain such words as always, never,
all, and only are usually NOT correct.

LISTENING STRATEGIES
 42

PART 1: Strategies for sentences about photographs

1. Always complete each item as quickly as possible so that you can preview the photograph
for the next item. Don’t wait for the statement that says, “Now look at photograph number
______”
2. If you are previewing a photograph that involves a person or people, ask yourself these
questions
 What are the people doing?
 Where are they?
 Who are they? (Is there a uniform or a piece of equipment or anything else that indicates
their profession or role?)
 What distinguishes them? (Is there a hat, a mustache, a purse, a pair of glasses, a tie or
anything else that differentiates the people?)
 What do the people’s expressions tell you? (Do they look happy? Unhappy? Excited?
Bored? Upset?)
3. If you are previewing a photograph of an object, ask yourself these questions
What is it?
What is it made of?
What is it used for?
 43
Where is it?
4. I If you are previewing a photograph of a scene, ask yourself these questions
Where is it?
What is in the foreground (the front of the picture)?
What – if anything – is happening?
What is in the background (the distant part of the picture)?
5. Don’t mark an answer until you have heard all four choices. When you hear a choice that
you think is correct, rest your pencil on that oval on your answer sheet. If you change
your mind and hear a sentence that you think is better, move your pencil to that choice. Once
you have heard all four sentences, mark the oval that your pencil is resting on. (This technique
helps you remember which choice you think is best.)
6. Try to eliminate choices with problems in
Sound
Meaning
Sound & Meaning
7. Never leave any blanks. Always guess before going on to the next item.
8. As soon as you have finished marking the answer, stop looking at and thinking about the
photograph and move on to the next item.

PART II: Strategies for Questions/Responses

1. Identifying time

Words you might hear in the questions Words you might hear in the answers

- When did …. - yesterday/ last/ ago/ in (month, year)/ this

morning…
- When will/ is/ is …expected, due / be… - at + time/ tomorrow/next/ in …/ this afternoon/
V-ing/ can on (date)
- How long - for/since/ over ….
- What time - at…
- When did Christopher arrive? - Last Wednesday.
- When will the advertising seminar - At two o’clock sharp.
begin?
- When is Maria’s birthday? - On March 3.
- When was Mr. Chen born? - In 1953.
- When will my laundry be ready? - In about two hours.
- When does Mr. Gustavson predict the - In about a month.
construction of the building will be
finished?
- How long will this session last? - For another hour, perhaps.
 44
- How long has the photocopying - Since 10:00 this morning.
machine been out of order?
- What time does your flight leave? - At 7:30.
- What time is the news on television? - It’s on at 11.

2. Identifying people

Words you might hear in the questions Words you might hear in the answers

- Who - Name/ Occupation title

- A man/woman … who ….

- Whose - Possessive case (It’s + name’s)

- Who will go with you on the business - Ms. Preston
trip?
- Who’s the new chef at the Fontaine’s - A man who worked at the Central Pastry
bakery? Shop.
- Who did Mrs. Martelli pick to fill the - A young intern from the marketing
position? department was chosen.
- Who can deliver this memo to Mr. - I can do it when I’ve finished typing this
Wantanabe for me? letter.
- Who’s going to pick him up at the - I was planning to.
station?
- Whose coffee cup is this on my desk? - I was wondering where I left it!
- Whose scarf is this? - It’s Fran’s.

3. Identifying a thing, an action or idea

Words you might hear in the questions Words you might hear in the answers

- What …?  Something (…)

- What kind/type of  I don’t know

- What do you think I should wear to the party - A suit and a tie.
- What is the fine for overdue books? - It’s ten cents a day.
- What was that loud noise I just heard? - I don’t know.
- What kind of work does Ms. Garcia do? - She’s a computer programmer.
- What kind of novel do you like? - I prefer adventure stories.
- What’s the name of the travel agency this - I think it’s called All Points Travel.
company uses?
- What are your total production figures for this - Over 1000 units a week.
factory?
- What do you plan to do when school is - Work for my father.
finished?
- What do you estimate your firm’s profit will - Optimistically speaking, about 20
be in December? percent.

4. Identifying an opinion
Words you might hear in the questions
- How
- What’s your opinion of …?
- Do you think Tom will ….?
- What do you think of ….?
- How did you like that new movie?
- What do you think of Scott Graham’s latest
novel?
- What do you think of your new supervisor?
5. Identifying a choice
Words you might hear in the questions
- …. A or B?
- …. prefer?
- … like better?
- Which does that artist produce more of –
paintings or sculptures?
- Will you arrive in the morning or the
evening?
- Do you want milk or sugar in your coffee?
- Should I wait here at the counter or follow
you back to the warehouse?
- What do you think, plain or patterned carpet
in the waiting room?
- Will the conference be held here or at the
45
Words you might hear in the answers
 Adjectives: great/ good/ terrific/
excellent / wonderful/ happy/ busy/
terrible/ boring…
 Verbs: love/like/enjoy/prefer/believe/
 Expressions: It’s a good/great idea
- I enjoyed it, but my husband didn’t.
- It’s terrific.
- I don’t know her well enough to say.
Words you might hear in the answers
 A/B will be repeated in the answer
choice
 Neither one/Both, please
 Either one
Note: The speaker can offer a third option
- Lately, she has been doing a lot of
paintings.
- In the morning, I think.
- Neither one.
- Oh, come with me please.
- Either one is fine with me.
- It’s scheduled for this building.
 46
headquarters?
- Should they move the file cabinet to the right - I think it looks good where it is.
or over by the copy machine?
- Shall I put this file on your desk or back in the - I’ll take it.
filing cabinet?
- Can you locate the files on the merger, or - I’ll have them ready for you in a minute.
should I ask Mr. Chan to do it?

6. Identifying an invitation, offer, request

Words you might hear in the questions Words you might hear in the answers

- Why don’t we …?  OK
- Why don’t you…?  I’d love to!
- Don’t you want to..?  Of course
- I was wondering if you’d like to ….  Sure
- Let’s ….  That sounds like fun/ That’s a good idea/
- What/How about ….? Great, …
- Shouldn’t we/ Shall we …?
 Yes, please (accept the offer)
- Would/Wouldn’t you like me to ….?
- Can I…?  No, thanks …. (turn down the offer)
- Couldn’t you …?  Thank you, but …( turn down the offer)
 Sorry, I’ve already made plans/ I have other
plans. …( turn down the offer)
 Sorry, but ……( turn down the offer)
- Would you like to join us for a game of - We’d love to – thanks!
tennis?
- Would you like to order a calendar for - Thanks, but I already have one
next year?

- Shall we send you a reminder for your - Yes, that would be helpful.
next dental appointment?
- Why don’t we go out this evening? - Sorry, I’ve already made plans
- Why don’t we take the earlier train - Great, I’m exhausted.
home?
- How about a movie when we finish up - That’s a good idea.
here?
- Would you mind opening you bag so I - Not at all
can inspect it, sir?
- Don’t you want to go to the reception - Sorry, but I’m not feeling well.
for Miss Gunther?
- I was wondering if you’d like to join us - Sorry, I have other plans.
for dinner this evening?
- Couldn’t you stop at the post office - I might have time after lunch.
today?
- What about visiting the flower show over - Wednesday afternoon would be better for me.
the weekend?
-

7. Identifying a reason
Words you might hear in the questions
- Why
- Why is this train running late?
- Why didn’t you let us know you’d be
late?
- Why did the board of directors change its
policy?
- Why did the meeting begin so early?
- Why didn’t Mr. Danforth bring the
situation to the attention of his
supervisor?
- Why didn’t you get to work on time?
- Why does Ms. Ortiz want to see the
invoices?
8. Identifying a description
Words you might hear in the questions
- What is … like?
- What does ….look like?
- What are your new co-workers like?
- What’s the weather like here in the winter?
9. Identifying manner or a method
Words you might hear in the questions
- How will/can..?
47
Words you might hear in the answers
 To do sth
 Because/ Because of
Note: An implied reason ( usually a certain
problem) can be given
- I think there are mechanical problems.
- I couldn’t find a phone.
- There had been too many complaints.
- Everyone was in a hurry.
- He though he could handle it himself
- The traffic was terrible.
- There’s a problem with the shipment.
Words you might hear in the answers
- an adjective or adjectives
- They seem very pleasant
- It’s cool and often rainy
Words you might hear in the answers
- By ( a means of transport …)

- How will you get to work tomorrow?
- How can we be sure that the order will arrive
on time?
- How can I get more letterhead and
envelopes?
- How do you handle inquiries?
10. Identifying a location
Words you might hear in the questions
- Where…?
- How far …?
- Where should we meet so we can all go to
the game together?
- Where are you staying ion Paris?
- Where did Maria leave the Oceanview
contract?
- How far would you say Conrad Park is from
here?
11. Yes/No Questions & Tag Questions
Words you might hear in the questions
- Do/Does/Did/ Have….?
- Don’t/ Doesn’t/ Didn’t …?
- Have they delivered our lunch yet?
- Has the director already left?
- Didn’t anyone train the new employee to use -
the copier?
- Did you ask them what time their flight would
arrive?
- Your managing director resigned yesterday, -
48
- With …
- I’ll get my car back from the mechanic.
- Express service is very reliable.
- Contact Ms. McKay in the stockroom.
- I send out this pamphlet.
Words you might hear in the answers
- Names of the places
- Prepositions of places (in/ next to/ near/
beside/ under/ over/ on/ on top of/ at/ from/
behind/ right/ left/ downtown / at the end
of…
- … minutes away/ walk/drive
- … km
- Let’s meet at the stadium entrance.
- At the Grand Hotel.
- She put it in Ms. Garcia’s mailbox.
- It’s about 10-minute walk.
Words you might hear in the answers
- Yes /No/ Not
- Yes, it’s here.
- Yes, he had an appointment.
Mike showed him everything works.
- No, I didn’t think of it.
Yes, it was quite a surprise.
 49
didn’t he?
- Wilma gets reimbursed for the cost of driving - Yes, but she has to submit a claim form.
her car to the meting, doesn’t she?
- This new product should sell well, shouldn’t - Yes, it is priced fairly.
it?
- You want me to retype this document, don’t - I would appreciate it
you?
- You don’t want to start a new project this late - I still have time
in the day, do you?

Part 3: Short Conversations

I. Strategies
1. Between each question is an eight-second pause. That means there are twenty-four seconds
between each conversation. You can accomplish quite a bit during this time. You need to mark
your answers for the three questions and then preview the next three questions and answer
choices. They tell you what to listen for.
2. While listening to each conversation, keep your eyes on the corresponding set of three questions
and answer choices. Don't close your eyes or look away. Try to evaluate the four choices as you
are listening.
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3. Remember that distractors are sometimes mentioned in the conversations but are not answers to
the question. Don't choose an answer just because you hear a word or two from the answer in
the conversation.
4. If the correct answer is not obvious, try to eliminate answer choices that seem to be incorrect. If
more than one answer choice is left, take a guess.
5. Mark your answers as quickly as possible so that you can preview the next item.
6. Never leave any answers blank. If you are not sure, always guess.

II. Question types

A. Overview questions
B. Detail questions
C. Inference question

A. Overview Questions
Types of over view questions Question Words
1. Questions about locations Where..?
2. Questions about occupations Who…?
3. Questions about activities What …doing?
4. Questions about topic What…talking about?

1. Questions about locations

Questions
Where are they?
Where are the speakers?
Where is the man/woman?
• Where is the conversation
taking place?
Tactics
Listen for vocabulary that is associated
with a certain location
- Terminal /carousel/check-in/departure
lounge/ gate/ hangar /run-way 
Airport
- Rolls/cake/bread  Bakery
- Stage/cast/scene/box office/  Theater
- Chain/ring/necklace/bracelet  Jewelry
store
- Menu/terminal/keyboard  Computer
Examples
M: We don’t have any
reservations. Is it still
possible for us to get a
table for two?
F: You’re in luck — a party
of two just canceled their
reservations. We can
seat you in about fifteen or
twenty minutes.
M: Great! I was worried,
 51
store but I guess this is our
- Bulldozer/hard hat/crane  lucky night!
Construction site
- Dryer/hangars/detergent  Where are they?
Laundromat A. At a theater
- Pen/envelopes/letterhead/postcard  B. At a party
Post office C. At an airport
- Account/balance/statement /checkbook / D. At a restaurant

deposit/credit/loan/ interest rates 

Bank
- Surf/towel/umbrella/wave/sunbathe 
Beach
- Lawyer/judge/witness/defendant/plaintiff/
jury  Courtroom
- Spectators/ cheer/ clap/ match/ player
 Stadium
- Lane/driver/exit  Freeway
- Suite/front desk/reservation/ room/
receptionist/room service/ housekeeper
 Hotel
- Waiter/waitress/bill/menu/order/table/
seat/ reservation  Restaurant

2. Questions about occupations

Questions Tactics Examples

Who is the man/woman?
Who are they?
What is he/she?
What are they?
• What is the man/woman’s
profession / occupation/jon?
Listen for vocabulary that is associated M1: There’s something
with a certain occupation wrong with this switch.
- Kitchen/pot/knife  Cook Can you fix it?
- Parking tickets/law/illegal/fine  M2: It’s not just the switch,
Police officer I’m afraid. This whole
- Class/exam/student  Teacher building needs rewiring.
- Software/keyboard/monitor  M1: But that will cost a
Computer programmer fortune!
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- Money/deposit/withdrawal  Bank Who is the second
teller speaker?
- Order/tip/guests  Waiter An electrician
- Runner/training/game  Athlete A banker
An engineer
- Medicine/nurse/hospital/patient 
A jeweler
Doctor
- Instrument/orchestra/note  Musician
- Stage/drama/theater  Actor F: I want to put a new
deck on the back of my
- Passenger/Fare/Tip  Taxi driver
house. Do you know
- Cash register/change/receipt  Sales
anyone who does that kind
clerk
of work?
- Newspaper/write/report/article 
M: Why don’t you ask
Journalist
Thomas? He did a great
- Switch/rewiring/ fix  Electrician
job repairing the wooden
- Pipe/sink/faucet/leak/drip/fix  Plumber stairway in my house.
- Wood/furniture/ saw/ plane/ chisels/ F: I asked him, but he’s
hammer/nail  Carpenter working on a new
construction job.
Who is Tomas?
A sailor
A mechanic
A plumber
A carpenter

3. Questions about activities

Questions Tactics Examples

What are they doing? Listen for vocabulary that is associated
• What is happening now? with a certain activity
• What is the man doing? - Drinking coffee: cup, spoon, sugar,
• What is going to happen? cream, coffee break
- Watching a movie: film, screen,
theater, popcorn
- Going to the post office: mail, stamps,
postal clerk, letter, package
M: I’ve been waiting here
15 minutes. How often do
the buses come?
W: One stops here every
twenty minutes
M: Good, we only have
five minutes to wait, then.
 53
- Reading a book: novel, pages, cover, What are the speakers
character doing?
- Making a telephone call: number, Getting on a bus
receiver, dial, answer, hang up Waiting for a bus
- Using a computer: keyboard, monitor, Taking a taxi
screen, software, crash Paying a fare
- Ordering food at a restaurant: menu,
waiter, waitress, table, drink
- Buying clothes: suit, pants, dress, skirt,
jeans, dressing room
- Eating dinner:

- Waiting for a bus:

- Moving furniture:

- Buying a plane ticket:

- Parking a car:

- Driving a car:

4. Questions about topics

Questions Tactics Examples
• What/ whom are they discussing? - Listen for vocabulary that is W: Is there a dress code
• What are they referring to? associated with a certain at your company?
• What is the topic of the topic. M: No, but most of the
conversation? - The answer choices will be men wear coats and
• What are they talking about? four plausible topics. Incorrect ties, and the women
• What is the conversation about? answers may include details wear dresses or suits.
that are mentioned in the W: Oh, it’s pretty formal
• What is the subject of the
conversation but that are not then.
conversation
the main subject of the
 54
conversation
What are they discussing
A. A new
outfit that the woman
is wearing
B. How
people dress at the
man’s company
C. Where
to buy clothes for
work
D. A
social event that the
man attended

B. Detail Questions

Types of over view Question Words Examples

questions
1. Questions about time • When….? When does Claudia want to go
• How often…? to the play?
 55
• At what time…? A. Monday
• How long…? B. Wednesday
C. Thursday
D. Saturday
W1: I need to call the theater to
order tickets for Wednesday.
W2: Why don’t you see the play
over the weekend Claudia?
W1: It runs only Monday through
Thursday.
2. Questions about • Why did … happen…? Why is Mrs. Sompong leaving?
reasons • Why is the man/woman going A. To join another company
to…? B. To start her own business

• Why does the man/woman C. To enter a race

want to…? D. To have a break from

working
• Why is the man/woman
M: Do you hear about Mrs.
upset/ happy/ puzzled…?
Sompong’s resignation?
• Why did … not happen?
W: Yes. Our competitors made
• Why does the man/woman
her an offer she couldn’t resist.
not want to…?
M: I’ll wonder if they’ll appoint
her as their new marketing
manager?
3. Questions about plans • What is theman/woman What is the woman going to do?
planning/going to do? A. Sell the camera
• What does the man/woman B. Pay by check
plan to do next? C. Fill out a form
• What plan has been D. Write her name on the
suggested? card

• What does the man/woman M: And how would you like to

plan to do? pay for the camera?
W: Could I write you a check?
M: Certainly. I’ll need some form
of identification or a major credit
card.

4. Questions about • What is the matter with …? What is Ms. Kim worried about?
problems • What is the problem here? A. Whether she has enough

• What’s wrong with money for her vacation.

B. Whether she returned
• What is the man/woman
the book on labor
concerned/ worried about?
 56
• What is the man/woman’s dispute.
problem? C. Whether the airline will
• What is bothering the be operating or not.
man/woman? D. Whether her union will
get higher wages.

M: Are you all set for your

vacation on Friday, Ms. Kim?
W: Yes, but now I’m waiting to
see if the airline we’ve booked
our return flight on will go out
on strike that day.
M: Oh yes. I head that’s a
possibility. The company claims
it has no money to meet the
union’s demands.

5. Questions about • What does the man/ woman

opinions think of/ about …?
• What is the man/woman’s
opinion of …?
• How does the man/woman
feel about …?
6. Questions about advice • What is the man/woman’s What does Martha advise Dan
suggestion? to do?
• What does the man/woman A. make a better work
advise … to do? schedule
• What is the man/woman B. Walk to the office
suggesting? C. Turn on the lights
• What is the man/woman’s D. Give a shorter report
advice? M: I’ll never get this report
finished before the weekend.
W: You’ve got to allocate your
time more carefully, Dan.
M: I guess you’re right. I’ll
probably wind up working at the
office all night again.

(See the strategies for part 2)


C. Inference Questions
Questions
• What does the man/woman imply?
• What is the man/woman saying
about …?
• What can be said about…?
• What is known about …?
• What can be inferred from the
conversation?
• What does the man/woman mean?
• What is probably true about?
• What are they likely to…?
Tactics
- The answers for inference
questions are not directly stated
in the conversations. Instead you
have to draw a conclusion based
on the information that is
presented by the speakers.
- Read the question carefully and
focus on one or two key words
- Listen for key words that help
you make a logical conclusion
57
Examples
What are they likely to eat
out for lunch?
A. Soup
B. Salad
C. Sandwiches
D. Hamburgers
M: I’ve heard nothing but
praise for that new health
food restaurant.
W: Same here. And I’ve
got a coupon for the salad
bar – buy one, get one
free.
M: I’m always looking to
save some money. Let’s
check it out for lunch
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