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Pronunciation Guide 
Consonants
p pen /pen/
b bad /bæd/
t tea /tiː/
d did /dɪd/
k cat /kæt/
ɡ get /ɡet/
tʃ chain /tʃeɪn/
dʒ jam /dʒæm/
f fall /fɔːl/
v van /væn/
θ thin /θɪn/
ð this /ðɪs/
s see /siː/
z zoo /zuː/
ʃ shoe /ʃuː/
ʒ vision /ˈvɪʒn/
h hat /hæt/
m man /mæn/
n now /naʊ/
ŋ sing /sɪŋ/
l leg /leɡ/
r red /red/
j yes /jes/
w wet /wet/

Vowels and diphthongs

iː see /siː/
i happy /ˈhæpi/
ɪ sit /sɪt/
e bed /bed/
æ cat /kæt/
ɑː father /ˈfɑːðə(r)/
ɒ got /ɡɒt/ (British English)
ɔː saw /sɔː/
ʊ put /pʊt/
u actual /ˈæktʃuəl/
uː too /tuː/
ʌ cup /kʌp/
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ɜː fur /fɜː(r)/
ə about /əˈbaʊt/
eɪ say /seɪ/
əʊ go /ɡəʊ/
aɪ my /maɪ/
ɔɪ boy /bɔɪ/
aʊ now /naʊ/
ɪə near /nɪə(r)/ (British English)
eə hair /heə(r)/ (British English)
ʊə pure /pjʊə(r)/ (British English)
     

Stress
Stress is very important in English — it can be used to distinguish the meaning
of similar-sounding words, compounds, phrasal verbs and idioms. The stress
patterns indicated in our dictionaries will enable the learner to sound natural and
clearly communicate their intended meaning.
The mark /ˈ/ shows the main stress — compare able /ˈeɪbl/, stressed on the first
syllable, and ability /əˈbɪləti/, stressed on the second. A stressed syllable is
relatively loud, long in duration, said clearly and distinctly, and made noticeable
by the pitch of the voice. A stressed syllable does not usually contain the weak
vowels /ə/, /i/ or /u/.

PRESENT SIMPLE

Affirmative

Verb (present
Subject  
tense)

I well.
You
We work
You
They

He/She/It works
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The present simple form of the verb is identical to the base form in all
persons except the third person singular. The third person singular is
formed by adding -s to the base form. Note the changes in spelling:

work » works
live » lives
stay » stays
try » tries (a final -y changes to -ie- after a consonant)
wash » washes; kiss » kisses; watch » watches; box » boxes (we add -
es after -sh, -s, -ch and -x)
go » goes (we add -es)
do » does (we add -es)
have » has

Negative

In the negative, we use the auxiliary do + not followed by the bare

infinitive in all persons except the third person singular. In the third
person singular we use does + not:

Auxiliar
Subject not Verb (bare infinitive)  
y

I
You
We do
You
not work well.
They

He/She/It does

The contracted forms don't and doesn't are often used instead of do

not and does not in spoken and in informal written language.
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Interrogative

In the interrogative, we use the auxiliary do followed by the subject and

the bare infinitive in all persons except the third person singular. In the
third person singular, we use does:

(Question word) Auxiliary Subject Verb (bare infinitive)

I
you
do we
you
How work?
they

does he/she/it

The verb BE in the present simple

The verb be has irregular present tense forms. In the present simple, the
auxiliaries do and does are not used in the negative and
interrogative if the main verb is be:

Affirmative Negative Interrogative

I am at home. I am not at home. Am I at home?

You are at home. You are not at home. Are you at home?
He/She/It is at He/She/It is not at Is he/she/it at
home. home. home?
We are at home. We are not at home. Are we at home?
You are at home. You are not at home. Are you at home?
They are at home. They are not at home. Are they at home?

The following contracted forms are often used in spoken and in informal
written language:
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I am » I'm
you are » you're
he/she/it is » he's/she's/it's
we are » we're
you are » you're
they are » they're

are not » aren't

is not » isn't

Present simple

We use the present simple to talk about:

1. something that is true in the present:
e.g.I'm nineteen years old.
e.g. I'm a student.
e.g. He lives in London.

2. something that happens regularly in the present:

e.g. I play football every weekend.

3. something that is always true:

e.g. The human body contains 206 bones.
e.g.Light travels at almost 300,000 kilometres per second.
4. We use  present simple with adverbs of frequency :
sometimes,  always ,  never 
e.g.I sometimes go to the cinema.
e.g.She never plays football.
e.g. I always help my mother in the kitchen.

5. timetable
e.g.The school term starts next week.
e.g.The train leaves at 19.45 this evening.
e.g.We fly to Paris next week.
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6. In Subordinate Clauses of TIME (when,as soon as,

after, until)
and
In Subordinate Clauses of CONDITION ( if, whether,
unless=if not)
When in the main Clause there is a FUTURE !!!
e.g.I will talk to John when I see him.
e.g.When I see him, I will talk to John.
e.g. You must finish your work before you go home.

e.g. If it rains, we'll get wet.

e.g.We’ll get wet if it rains.
e.g.He won't come unless you ask him.

e.g.Unless you ask him, he will not come.

/ənˈles/-( daca nu )

7.telling a story:
e.g. I was walking down the street the other day when
suddenly this man comes up to me and tells me he has
lost his wallet and asks me to lend him some money. Well,
he looks a bit dangerous so I'm not sure what to do and while
we are standing there …

8. summarising a book, film or play:

e.g.Harry Potter goes to Hogwarts School. He has two close
friends, Hermione and …
e.g.Shakespeare's Hamlet is the Prince of Denmark. One night
he sees his father's ghost. The ghost tells him he has been
murdered …
9. sports commentaries:
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e.g. It comes to Mike Catt, he kicks it high into the stand. The whistle
goes. It is all over, and England are the 2003 World Champions.
10. recipes: /ˈresəpiz/ -retete de bucate

e.g. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Add salt and pepper
and cover. Simmer about 1 hour or until the beans are tender. Stir
occasionally and add more water if necessary to keep the beans
covered.
11. State / Stative verbs

These verbs are most often about 1.thoughts,

2. feelings,
3. possession
4 .senses.

e.g. I want to get a new t-shirt. [state is true]

e.g. I don’t want to get a new t-shirt  [state is false]
e.g. I’m thinking about what to do this weekend.
e.g.He said he is feeling sick today.

Vocabulary for talking about 1. feelings:

like, dislike, love, hate, want, wish, prefer, adore, despise,

e.g. I like this new TV show.

e.g. She dislikes the business course.

2. possession:

Belong, have, have got, own, possess, 

e.g. This book belongs to my mother.

e.g. I have three pets.

Note: Have can be continuous when it does not mean ‘possess’ in

expressions like:
Have breakfast; Have lunch; Have dinner; Have fun
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(usually when it’s an auxiliary):

e.g. They are having lunch at the moment.
e.g. We are having a great time on holiday.

3. senses

Smell, taste, hear, see, feel

e.g. This sauce tastes wonderful.

e.g. I hear you better now, the call audio is fixed. 
e.g. Do you see that building over there?

Note:  We use “can” with sense verbs to show we are talking about this
present moment:
(right now) I can see the beach from the window.
(right now) I can hear music from the room next door.

Note: Taste and smell can be continuous when they describe the

action:

e.g. I’m tasting the sauce to see if it needs more salt.

e.g. They are smelling different perfumes in the boutique.

Note:  See can be continuous when it means ‘meet’:

e.g. Are you seeing Lisa today?

Other state verbs:

Contain, deserve, fit, seem, look (as in seem), look like, matter,

weigh 

 e.g.This food contains nuts.

She weighs 65 kilos.

Note:  Weigh can also be continuous when it describes the action:

e.g. She is weighing her suitcase.

PRACTICE:
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Sarah (get up) (1)________ at six o'clock. She (have)

(2)________ her breakfast and then she (go) (3)________ to
the bathroom. She (take) (4)________ a shower and (brush)
(5)________ her teeth. Then, she (put) (6)________ on her
clothes.

Sarah (leave) (7)________ her house and (close) (8)________

the door. She (go) (9)________ to the bus stop and (wait)
(10)________ for the number 32 bus. When the bus (arrive)
(11)________, she (get on) (12)________ the bus and (go)
(13)________ to her job at the hospital.

1. The film (start)   every day at 8 p.m.

2. Many children (drink)   milk with their meals.

3. Our cat generally (sleep)   a lot during the day.

4. Julie (write)   a letter to her mother once a week.

5. Tom and Julie (live)   in a big city in the south of the
country.

6. Usually tourists (not/go)   to Egypt to play golf.

7. Jimmy always (take)   the bus to go to school.

8. We all know that many children (not/like)   vegetables.

9. Ann (think)   it's a good idea to do English exercises.

10. If you want to be healthy, you must (eat)   good food.

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Hello, my name is Julia and this is my family. My mother’s name is Rachel. She
is a housewife and she is 37 years old. She __________ (get up) at seven
o’clock and __________ (prepare) breakfast for us. She __________ (clean) our
house and __________ (cook) delicious meals. She __________ (enjoy)
listening to the radio and watching films on TV. She sometimes __________
(read) magazines. My father’s name is David and he is 40 years old. He is an
office worker. He __________ (go) to work after breakfast and __________
(come) back home at about five in the afternoon. He is a successful tennis
player and he __________ (play) tennis in his free time. My younger brother’s
name is Tony and he is 7 years old. He is very naughty. He __________ (study)
at a primary school near our house. Sometimes he __________ (not do) his
homework. He usually __________ (play) with his friends in the playground or
__________ (go) online. My elder brother James is 15 years old and he is a
student at a high school. He __________ (like) music very much and he
__________ (play) the guitar in a band. He __________ (attend) a football
course three days a week. My sister Pam is 12 years old and she is a student,
too. Her school is far from our house, so she __________ (take) the bus. She is
a hardworking student. She always __________ (do) her homework and
__________ (get) good marks. She __________ (love) going to the cinema and
reading adventure novels, but she __________ (hate) playing video games. My
uncle Henry is 42 and he __________ (live) with us. He __________ (work) in a
factory that makes bicycles. He __________ (go) to work early in the morning,
so he __________ (have) breakfast there. When he __________ (come) home
after work, he __________ (watch) films on TV and __________ (go) online. He
usually __________ (go) to bed late. I __________ (love) him very much
because he always __________ (play) games with me. All the family members
__________ (spend) time together at weekends. On Saturdays, we usually
__________ (go) to a shopping mall. We __________ (do) some shopping and
__________ (watch) a film at the cinema. After shopping, we __________
(drive) to the seaside and __________ (drink) something at a cafe. On Sundays,
we always __________ (stay) at home and __________ (do) the housework.
My father and my uncle __________ (water) the plants, __________ (wash) the
car and __________ (sweep) the floor. My sister, my brothers and I
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__________ (help) our mother with the rest. In the afternoon, we __________
(sit) in the living room and __________ (talk) about our weekly plans. I
__________ (love) my family very much and I __________ (enjoy) spending
time with them

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

AM / IS / ARE + PRESENT PARTICIPLE (VERB-ING)

The present continuous (also called the present progressive) is formed

with am / is / are (the present tense forms of be) + the present participle -
ing form of the verb.

Affirmative

Verb (present
Subject Auxiliary  
participle)

I am

He/She/
is
It
sleeping in the garden.

You
We
are
You
They

Negative

Subject Auxiliary no Verb (present participle)  

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I am

He/She/
is
It
not sleeping in the garden.

You
We
are
You
They

Interrogative

(Question word) Auxiliary Subject Verb (present participle)

Am I

he/she/
Is
it
(Where) sleeping?

you
we
Are
you
they

The following contracted forms are often used in spoken and in informal
written language:

I am » I'm
you are » you're
he/she/it is » he's/she's/it's
we are » we're
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you are » you're

they are » they're

are not » aren't

is not » isn't

We use the Present continuous

1. for actions in progress at the time of speaking

e.g. I am learning the Present Continuous now.

2. change and development

e.g.I feel that things are getting better.

e.g.More and more people are giving up smoking.

3. annoying or irritating actions with time expressions such

as :

always, constantly, continually ,  all the time.

e.g. Adults are always asking little kids what they want to be.

e.g.Her mother is constantly checking up on her.
e.g.Why are you continually criticising me?

4. for temporary habitual actions :

e.g. Lucy is taking piano lessons these days.

e.g. Are you still seeing that guy from the hiking club?

5.Near Future Plans ( arranged)

e.g. I am flying to Paris tomorrow.

e.g. I am meeting my friend after school.

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6. with state verbs which show an Action:

e.g.I am having my breakfast now.

e. g. I am tasting the soup.

1. They (dislike)   talking about it.

2. They (never help)   me and I am sad about it.
3. I (mean)   what I say, do you hear me?
4.  he (come)   with us tonight?
5. Children (love)   kittens.
6. Why   you (not/do)   your homework?
7. She (always/come)   to class late.
8. We (have)   a party next Sunday.
9. The shirt (fit)   you perfectly.
10.The number of applicants (increase)   throughout the whole
period.

1. I  (not see)   Peter tonight.

2. She (realize)   everything quite clearly.
3. We (believe)   this situation is temporary.
4. You (always lose)   your cellular phones.
5. I (not read)   any books right now. 
6. They really (hate)   staying on their own.
7. He (hear)   strange noises now and then.
8. We can see that the amount of waste (reduce)   gradually.
9.  he (walk)   or (run)   ?
10.I (imagine)   my vacation on the beach.  
11.She (never tell)   the truth and it is annoying.
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12.  you (listen)   to music or can I turn it off?

13.I (write)   this exercise.
14.The situation (depend)   on our decision.
15.I (not/like)   them because they (always
complain)   about everything.
16.She (visit)   her cousin next month.
17.It (always/impress)   me greatly.
18.The process (stabilize)    steadily.
19.They (always/get)  up early in the morning and they like it.
20.She is a misery guts! She (constantly complaining)   about
the weather.
21.The price (include)   service.
22.The representatives (involve)   us into this project.
23.What   you  (do)   here?
24.The TV (always break)  .
25.They (owe)   us a fortune.

Present Simple or Present Continuous Gap-Fill

Fill in the gaps with the correct form of an appropriate verb in the present
simple or present continuous.  Some of the verbs are given in brackets,
some of the verbs you have to think of yourself.

I   (love) playing football. At the moment I (play)   for a

team in my home town, but I think I will be able to move to a team in a
higher division if I continue to play as well as I   (play) now.
I   (train) every Tuesday and Thursday, and the matches   
( be) on Sunday mornings. Currently, the team   ( win) nearly
every week. In fact, we haven't lost for 4 months, so we   (climb)
up the league table.
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My dad actually   (manage) the team, which    ( have)its

advantages and disadvantages. I sometimes feel a little

bit uncomfortable having my father as a manager, as he   (shout)

at me more than the other players, but it    ( give) me a lot of

motivation. Also, he   (get) calmer as he  ( get)  older.

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What is success?
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Is it wealth? Is it happiness? Is it fame?

The late Zig Ziglar was one of the most respected modern day experts on
success, motivation, and leading a balanced life. In his book Born to
Win!, he argues that success cannot be defined in one sentence, but
instead it is comprised of many things. One could argue that the
definition depends on the individual and that one size does not fit all [1].

Here are 19 different definitions of success. Not all of these will resonate
with you, but chances are at least a few of them will. Use these or find
inspiration here to create your own definition of success that can be
applied to your unique life.

1. Success is always doing your best.

Success can be achieved when you try your best in all aspects of
everything you do, even if that doesn’t lead to big results. If you’ve done
your best, you should feel proud of your efforts.

2. Success is setting concrete goals.

Be realistic and concrete when setting goals. Success does not come from
setting abstract goals. If you know where you’re heading, that is a success
in itself, even if you don’t ultimately arrive to the planned destination.

If you aren’t sure how to set an effective goal, grab the free guide – The
Dreamers’ Guide To Taking Action And Reaching Goals
here. You will learn how to set and reach your goals with this step-by-
step guide.

3. Success is having a place to call home.

Home is where your heart soars. You are always successful when you can
call a place home. Home doesn’t have to be a specific structure. It can be
a country, a city, or even a person. If you have a place you feel
comfortable and safe, you’re already achieving something great.

4. Success is understanding the difference between need and want.

If you can meet your monthly obligations and fulfill your basic needs, you
are successful. Being able to identify when you absolutely need
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something and when you can do without it often leads to financial

stability and is a great way to succeed.

5. Success is believing you can.

If you believe you can, you will succeed. Self-belief doesn’t come
naturally to everyone, so if you’re able to tell yourself that you can
achieve the goals in your plans, you’re doing great.

When people don’t believe in you, you still need to work on your own
confidence! Here’s how:

6. Success is remembering to balance work with passion.

Work without passion creates undue stress and empty
achievements. Focus on what excites you. If you’re happy at your job,
that’s great. However, even if you aren’t, you can balance your formal job
with hobbies or volunteer work you’re passionate about.

7. Success is taking care of your needs.

Remember to put on your own oxygen mask before assisting others. Self-
care is essential if you want to have any meaningful impact on the world
around you.

8. Success is learning that you sometimes have to say no.

Success only comes with a balanced life. Part of balance is learning to say
no. Saying no doesn’t mean you are selfish; it simply means you have
priorities and know what you need to give your attention to at any given
time.

9. Success is knowing your life is filled with abundance.

Love, health, friends, family…life is filled with abundance. Recognizing
this is an important step to feeling grateful for all life has given you. If
you can feel this, you are already experiencing success.
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10. Success is understanding you cannot keep what you don’t give
away.
You will only succeed if you help others succeed. Learning to give instead
of always take is part of creating a world we all want to live in. When you
help others, you will also create an environment where others want to
help you.

11. Success is overcoming fear.

Conquering a fear makes you feel invincible. Even if it’s confronting just
one small fear each week, that is certainly something to feel proud of. The
bigger fears will take more time, but any work you do to overcome
fear will lead to success.

12. Success is learning something new each day.

Successful people understand that learning never stops. Take time each
day to converse with someone with opposing views, read an interesting
article on a topic you know little about, or watch a TED talk on new
research. It doesn’t take long to learn, so get started now.

13. Success is learning that losing a few battles can help you win a
war.
Successful people choose their battles wisely. When you know which
battles will ultimately help you achieve your goals, you will be successful.

14. Success is loving and being loved back.

Opening your heart to others is difficult and can produce fear. Having the
courage to love and accept love from others is a step toward a fulfilling
life and great success.

15. Success is standing your ground when you believe in

something.
Successful people never give up on things they believe with all their
heart. You may hold views that many people disagree with, but if you’ve
done your research and know that it’s the right belief for you, you
shouldn’t let it go without a fight.
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16. Success is not giving up.

Perseverance creates grit, and grit achieves success. Even if it takes years
to achieve a goal, persisting is key if you want success.

When you feel like giving up, remind yourself what you’re fighting for. As
long as you have a strong “why” you will be able to persist. Don’t know if
your “why” is strong enough? Join the free Fast-Track Class Activate
Your Motivation. In this focused session, you will learn how to dive
deep into your inner drive and build yourself a sustainable motivation
engine. Join now for free!

17. Success is celebrating small victories.

Anytime a goal is reached or an obstacle is overcome, take time to
celebrate, even if it’s something small. All goals require smaller objectives
to be achieved first, so each time you complete one, take time
to appreciate the work you put into it.

18. Success is never letting a disability hold you back.

Disabilities do not define a person’s success. The body and mind will
compensate. Just because you can’t do absolutely everything doesn’t
mean you can’t do something. Do what your body and mind allow and
always push yourself. That is true success.

19. Success is understanding that you control your destiny.

Your destiny is controlled by you and you alone. Take responsibility for
your actions and their consequences and you’ll find that you naturally
become more successful.
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