Basics of English 7

Download as pdf or txt
Download as pdf or txt
You are on page 1of 31

The Basics

of
English

virtuallyfluent Virtually Fluent

Virtually Fluent V_Fluent

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCruRmAUROQZPoSEJsTh8ImQ
1

Greetings

PART 1: INTRODUCTION

Greeting Phonetics Formality Situation

Hello! hɛ​ləʊ Formal and Informal With family and friends

Hi! haɪ Informal With family and friends

Good gʊd​ ​mɔː​nɪŋ Formal In the morning, before


morning! 12pm

Good gʊd​ ​ɑːftə​nuːn Formal In the afternoon, between


afternoon! 12pm and 4pm

Good gʊd​ ​iːv​nɪŋ Formal In the evening, after 6pm


evening!

PART 2: QUESTION

Greeting Phonetics

How are you? haʊ​ ɑ​ ː​ ​juː​?

PART 3: ANSWER

Greeting Phonetics

I’m good thank you aɪm​ ​gʊd​ ​θæŋk​ j​ uː

PART 4: LEAVE

Greeting Phonetics Formality Situation

Goodbye! gʊd​ba​ɪ Formal With colleagues/at work

Bye! baɪ Informal With family and friends

Copyright © 2020 Virtually Fluent Ltd.


2

The English Alphabet (Uppercase)

Letter of the Phonetic Letter of the Phonetic


Alphabet Transcription Alphabet Transcription

A eɪ N ɛn

B biː O əʊ

C siː P piː

D diː Q kjuː

E iː R ɑː

F ɛf S ɛs

G ʤiː T tiː

H ʤiː U juː

I aɪ V viː

J ʤeɪ W dʌb​ljuː

K keɪ X ɛks

L ɛl Y waɪ

M ɛm Z zɛd

Copyright © 2020 Virtually Fluent Ltd.


3

The English Alphabet (Lowercase)

Letter of the Phonetic Letter of the Phonetic


Alphabet Transcription Alphabet Transcription

a æ n n

b bʌ o ɒ

c kʌ p pʌ

d dʌ q kwʌ

e ɛ r r

f fʌ s s

g gʌ t tʌ

h hʌ u ʌ

i ɪ v vʌ

j ʤʌ w wʌ

k kʌ x ks

l l y jʌ

m m z z

Copyright © 2020 Virtually Fluent Ltd.


4

Number 0

Saying Phonetic Use Example Sentence


Transcription

zero zɪ​roʊ Counting numbers 0,1,2,3


Temperature It’s 0ºC today

naught nɔt American English (not used often) 0.34


Decimals smaller than 1

nought nɔt British English 0.25


Decimals smaller than 1

oh oʊ Telephone numbers 01234567830


After decimal points 1.05
Years 1905
Public transport numbers Bus number 305
(hotel/route numbers) My address is 204 Happy
Addresses Street
Time Let’s meet at 5:08

love lʌv A score of 0 in tennis The score is 0-15

nil nɪl A score of 0 in football The score is 3-0

nada nɑ​də Slang for 0/nothing Do we have any chocolate?


No, nada.

zilch zɪlʧ Slang for 0/nothing I know zilch about physics

zip zɪp Slang for 0/nothing I know zip!

Copyright © 2020 Virtually Fluent Ltd.


5

Numbers 0-11

Copyright © 2020 Virtually Fluent Ltd.


6

Big Numbers

Examples;

4,591→ four thousand, five hundred and ninety-one


36,821 → thirty-six thousand, eight hundred and twenty-one
729,489 → seven hundred and twenty-nine thousand, four-hundred and
eighty-nine
1,456,763 → one million, four hundred and fifty-six thousand, seven hundred
and sixty-three

Copyright © 2020 Virtually Fluent Ltd.


7

Big Numbers with 0

Number Word Diagram

1,357,89​0 One million, If the last number is 0, this doesn’t change the number
three hundred because we use the last two digits together as a
and fifty-seven double-number (e.g. ninety)
thousand, eight
hundred and
ninety

1,357,9​0​6 One million, If the second-last number is 0, we don’t read the last two
three hundred digits together, we only read the last digit as a single
and fifty-seven number.
thousand, nine
hundred and six

1,357,​06
​ 7 One million, If the third-last number is 0, we delete the word “hundred”,
three hundred but we must keep the word and.
and fifty-seven
thousand, and
sixty-seven

1,35​0​,892 One million, If the fourth-last number is 0, this doesn’t change the
three hundred number because this is part of a two-digit number (e.g. fifty).
and fifty, eight
hundred and
ninety-two

Copyright © 2020 Virtually Fluent Ltd.


8

Number Word Diagram

1,3​06
​ ,892 One million, If the fifth-last number is 0, we don’t read the two thousand
three hundred digits together, we only read the last digit as a single
and six number.
thousand, eight
hundred and
ninety-two

1,​07
​ 6,234 One million, If the sixth-last number is 0, we delete the words “hundred
seventy-six and”, then continue reading the rest of the number as
thousand, two normal.
hundred and
thirty-four

Copyright © 2020 Virtually Fluent Ltd.


9

Personal Information

NAME
? What is your name?
? What are you called?
→ My name is …
→ I am called …
→ I am

AGE
? How old are you?
→ I am … years old

JOB
? What is your job?
? What do you do?
→ I am a/an

COUNTRY
? Where do you come from?
? Where are you from?
? Which country are you from?
→ I am from …

LIVE
? Where do you live?
? What is your address?
→ I live in
→ My address is ...

TELEPHONE NUMBER
? What is your number?
? What is your phone number?
? What is your telephone number?
→ My number is …
→ My phone number is …
→ My telephone number is …

Copyright © 2020 Virtually Fluent Ltd.


10

The Calendar

Days of the Week Months of the Year

Monday January
Tuesday February
Wednesday March
Thursday April
Friday May
Saturday June
Sunday July
August
September
October
November
December

Useful Phrases

Question Answer

What day is it? It is ​Wednesday


What is the day today? Today is W​ ednesday
Which day is it?
Yesterday was T​ uesday
Tomorrow is T
​ hursday

What is your favourite day? My favourite day is ​Saturday

What month is it? This month is ​July


What is the month? It is ​July
Which month is it?
Next month is ​August
Last month was ​June

What is your favourite month? My favourite month is ​December

In which month is your birthday? My birthday is in O


​ ctober
Which month is your birthday?

Copyright © 2020 Virtually Fluent Ltd.


11

Colours

Colours

black pink

blue purple

brown red

green white

grey yellow

orange

We can use the adjectives “dark” and “light” to describe a colour. This adjective
goes before the colour.​ E.g. dark blue, light blue.

Useful Phrases

Question Answer

What colour is this? The colour is b


​ lue
What is this colour? It is ​blue
What’s the colour?

What is your favourite colour? My favourite colour is ​green

What colours do you like? I like y


​ ellow
Which colours do you like?

Copyright © 2020 Virtually Fluent Ltd.


12

Verb To Be

The verb to be is a very useful verb in English. These are the basic forms of the
present simple tense.

Positive Positive Negative Negative


(contracted) (contracted)

I am I’m I am not I’m not


you are you’re you are not you aren’t
he is he’s he is not he isn’t
she is she’s she is not she isn’t
it is it’s it is not it isn’t
we are we’re we are not we aren’t
they are they’re they are not they aren’t

● I am​ happy
● He isn’t​ a teacher
● They are​ in the house
● We aren’t​ sad

Copyright © 2020 Virtually Fluent Ltd.


13

There Is and There Are

The expressions “there is” and “there are” are used to say that something exists.

Singular Plural

Positive There is There are


There’s

Negative There is not There are not


There isn’t There aren’t

● There are​ four people in my family


● There is​ a phone in my bag
● There isn’t​ a DVD in the TV
● There aren’t​ any dogs in the kitchen

Copyright © 2020 Virtually Fluent Ltd.


14

The Phonetic Chart

There are 44 sounds in English and they are all shown in the phonetic chart.

Resource: Alba English. (2017). Improve English Pronunciation with the Phonemic Chart. Available:
https://albaenglish.co.uk/blog/improve-english-pronunciation-phonemic-chart. Last accessed 26th
July 2020.

There are two types of sounds;

● Consonant Sounds
These are the sounds at the bottom of the chart (blue and green)

○ Voiced Sounds: the vocal cords vibrate when you say these sounds
○ Unvoiced Sounds: the vocal cords do not vibrate when you say these
sounds

● Vowel Sounds
These are the sounds at the top of the chart (orange). All vowel sounds are
voiced.

○ Monophthong Sounds: one individual vowel sound (we have long and
short sounds)
○ Diphthong Sounds: two individual sounds pushed together

Copyright © 2020 Virtually Fluent Ltd.


15

Question Words

Question words go at the beginning of a question. We can ask for specific


information in our questions.

Question Word Situation Phonetic Example Question


Transcription

Who? Person huː? Who is that?


She is Mary, my sister

What? Object/ wɒt? What is that?


Information It is an apple

Where? Place weə? Where do you live?


I live in London

When? Time/ date wɛn? When is our class?


It is at 4pm

Why? Reason waɪ? Why are you sad?


Because I lost my phone

Which? Choice wɪʧ? Which is your favourite colour- blue or


pink?
My favourite colour is blue

How often? Frequency haʊ​ ​ɒf​ən? How often do you play tennis? Every day

How? Manner haʊ? How are you?


I’m good thank you

How much? Quantity haʊ​ m


​ ʌʧ? How many cakes do you want?
How many? I want 4 cakes, please

Copyright © 2020 Virtually Fluent Ltd.


16

Telling the Time

Time-Telling Devices Times of the Day

Clock Day
Hour hand Night
Minute hand Dawn
Second hand Sunrise
Clock face Morning
Watch Early
Watch strap Late
Sundial Midday
Hourglass Afternoon
Pocket watch Evening
Stopwatch Dusk
Sunset
Midnight
Middle of the night

We can tell the time using the 12-hour or the 24-hour method.

12-hour time

E.g. 4.20am → four twenty am

1. Number before the “.” (four)


2. Number after the “.” (twenty)
3. AM for morning or PM for night

24-hour time

● When the minute hand is between 12 and 6


1. Convert 12 to 0
2. Count the number of minutes between 0 and the minute hand
3. Say “past”
4. Say the number immediately ​before​ the hour hand

● When the minute hand is between 6 and 12


1. Convert 12 to 0
2. Count the number of minutes between 0 and the minute hand
3. Say “to”
4. Say the number immediately ​after​ the hour hand

Copyright © 2020 Virtually Fluent Ltd.


17

Basic Phrases

Phrase Explanation Phonetics

Please This is a polite expression when you pliːz


ask for something.

Of course This is the same as yes when the ɒv kɔːs


answer “yes” is obvious.

Thank you This shows appreciation for θæŋk juː


something.

Thank you very This increases the basic expression θæŋk juː vɛri mʌʧ
much “thank you”.

Thanks This is an alternative to “thank you”. θæŋks

You’re welcome! This is the response when jʊə wɛlkəm!


somebody says “thank you” to show
that you accept their thanks.

Could you repeat If you want to listen a second time, kʊd juː rɪpiːt ðæt?
that? you can ask this question. The
person will say their phrase again.

Nice to meet you Polite phrases to say when naɪs tuː miːt juː
somebody tells you their name. This
Lovely to meet you is only used the first time somebody lʌvli tuː miːt juː
tells you their name.
It’s a pleasure to ɪts ə plɛʒə tuː miːt
meet you juː

Excuse me A polite expression to get the ɪkskjuːs miː


attention of somebody.

I’m sorry A phrase to apologise for aɪm sɒri


something.

I’m so sorry This increases the expression “I’m aɪm səʊ sɒri
sorry”.

I don’t understand This phrase explains that you have aɪ dəʊnt ʌndəstænd
no comprehension. Maybe the
language is too difficult or it’s a
strange accent.

Copyright © 2020 Virtually Fluent Ltd.


18

Phrase Explanation Phonetics

Never mind These expressions mean that it is nɛvə maɪnd


not important and you can forget
It doesn’t matter something. ɪt dʌznt mætə

Let’s This expression is always followed lɛts


by a verb (let’s + infinitive verb).
This is used to make a suggestion.

What do you think? This means “what is your opinion”. wɒt duː juː θɪŋk?

That sounds great! This means it is a good idea and the ðæt saʊndz greɪt!
person is interested.

How can I help This is a question that offers help to haʊ kæn aɪ hɛlp juː?
you? somebody.

I really appreciate it This is a polite expression after aɪ rɪəli əpriːʃɪeɪt ɪt


“thank you”. This means you are
very happy and grateful for
somebody’s help.

Could you speak If you don’t understand because kʊd juː spiːk sləʊə?
slower? somebody is talking very fast, you
can use this expression. This is a
polite question to ask somebody to
speak slowly.

Here you go! You can use this expression at the hɪə juː gəʊ!
same time as giving something to
somebody.

That helps a lot This is an expression to say ðæt hɛlps ə lɒt


something was useful and helpful.

No problem This is an expression to say you are nəʊ prɒbləm


happy to help with something and it
was not a problem for you.

What does it mean? If you don’t understand something, wɒt dʌz ɪt miːn?
you can ask this question. This asks
somebody to help you understand
something. You can replace the
word “it” too. E.g. “what does this
message mean?”

I don’t know This means you do not understand aɪ dəʊnt nəʊ


something.

Copyright © 2020 Virtually Fluent Ltd.


19

Countries

Europe
Austria (Austrian) Belgium (Belgian) Denmark (Danish)
Finland (Finnish) France (French) Germany (German)
Greece (Greek) Hungary (Hungarian) Ireland (Irish)
Italy (Italian) The Netherlands (Dutch) Norway (Norwegian)
Poland (Polish) Portugal (Portuguese) Russia (Russian)
Spain (Spanish) Sweden (Swedish) Switzerland (Swiss)
Ukraine (Ukrainian) The United Kingdom (British)

The Americas
Argentina (Argentinian) Bolivia (Bolivian) Brazil (Brazilian)
Canada (Canadian) Chile (Chilean) Colombia (Colombian)
Costa Rica (Costa Rican) Cuba (Cuban) Ecuador (Ecuadorian)
Guatemala (Guatemalan) Honduras (Honduran) Mexico (Mexican)
Nicaragua (Nicaraguan) Panama (Panamanian) Paraguay (Paraguayan)
Peru (Peruvian) Uruguay (Uruguayan) Venezuela (Venezuelan)
Puerto Rico (Puerto Rican) The Dominican Republic (Dominican)
The United States of America (American)

Asia
Bangladesh (Bangladeshi) China (Chinese) India (Indian)
Japan (Japanese) Malaysia (Malaysian) The Philippines (Filipino)
Singapore (Singaporean) Turkey (Turkish)
Saudi Arabia (Saudi Arabian) The United Arab Emirates (Emirati)

Africa
Botswana (Botswana) Egypt (Egyptian) Ghana (Ghanaian)
Kenya (Kenyan) Morocco (Moroccan) Nigeria (Nigerian)
Tunisia (Tunisian) Zambia (Zambian) Zimbabwe (Zimbabwean)
South Africa (South African)

Oceania
Australia (Australian) Fiji (Fijian) New Zealand (New
Zealander)
Samoa (Samoan) Tonga (Tongan) Papua New Guinea (Papuan)

Copyright © 2020 Virtually Fluent Ltd.


20

Seas and Oceans


North Pacific
South Pacific
North Atlantic
South Atlantic
Arctic
Southern
Indian

The Compass

Useful Phrases

? Which continent do you come from?


→ I am from + noun
→ I come from + noun
→ I am + adjective

? Where do you come from?


? Which country are you from?
→ I am from + noun
→ I come from + noun

? What is your nationality?


→ I am + adjective

Copyright © 2020 Virtually Fluent Ltd.


21

In the Classroom

Book Calculator

Chair Clock

Computer Desk

Door Folder

Highlighter Laptop

Magnet Paper

Pen Pencil

Photos Rubber

ruler Scissors

Whiteboard Whiteboard pen

Whiteboard window
rubber

Copyright © 2020 Virtually Fluent Ltd.


22

Classroom Commands

Classroom Commands Classroom Rules

Stand up Don’t be late


Sit down Don’t cheat
Close Do your homework
Open Be quiet
Turn something on Help each other
Turn something off Don’t sleep
Go to the toilet Don’t talk
Ask a question Respect each other
Answer a question
Take something out Classroom Activities
Put something away
Clean the board Match
Point at something Fill in the gaps
Raise your hand Work in pairs
Come here Work in groups
Come in Work together
Listen to the audio
Classroom Phrases Listen to the teacher
How do you pronounce …? Write in your books
How do you say … in English? Write on the board
Can you explain that again? Read
Is this OK? Say
Can you speak louder? Complete the activity
What page are we on? I’m ready!
When is the exam?
When is the homework due?
Can I borrow a/an …?

Copyright © 2020 Virtually Fluent Ltd.


23

Demonstrative Adjectives

Demonstrative adjectives are used to draw attention to something.

Singular Plural

Close This These

Long Distance That Those

● Look at ​this​ person!


● Look at ​that​ dog over there!
● I am holding t​ hese​ shoes
● Look at ​those​ children in the park!

Copyright © 2020 Virtually Fluent Ltd.


24

Sports

Badminton Baseball Basketball

Dancing Fishing Football


(Am:soccer)

Hockey Ice-skating Ride a bike

Roller-skating Running Sailing

Skateboarding Swimming Table tennis

Tennis Walking

Sports Verbs

Bounce
Catch
Hit
Hop
Jump
Kick
Run
Throw

Copyright © 2020 Virtually Fluent Ltd.


25

Sports Equipment

ball bat bike

boat goal ice skates

net player roller skates

score skateboard sports centre

stick swimming pool tennis racket

towel

Copyright © 2020 Virtually Fluent Ltd.


26

Play, Do and Go

The verbs play, do and go are used to say that an action happens. These are
normally used with sports and free time activities.

Play Sports with a ball and competitive Tennis, basketball, baseball, football,
hockey

Go Sports that end in ING Running, ice skating, roller skating,


skateboarding, fishing, sailing, swimming,
dancing

Do Individual sports with no Karate, yoga, exercise


equipment

Copyright © 2020 Virtually Fluent Ltd.


27

Free Time Activities

drawing driving fly a kite

go shopping go to a party go to the cinema

listen to music listen to the play a board


radio game

play the guitar play the piano play with toys

read a book read comic read my emails


books

read my texts sing a song spend time with


my pets

take a photo watch a DVD watch a film


take a picture (Am: movie)

watch television camera doll

helicopter lorry robot


(Am: truck)

teddy bear train

Copyright © 2020 Virtually Fluent Ltd.


28

Opinion Verbs

There are numerous opinion verbs in English.

OPINION VERB + NOUN


When an opinion verb is followed by a noun, the structure is: ​subject + opinion
verb+ noun​. For example, ​I hate chocolate, I like apples​.

OPINION VERB + VERB


When an opinion verb is followed by another verb, the structure is: ​subject +
opinion verb + verb+ING​. For example,​ I like reading a book, I hate playing tennis.

TYPICAL OPINION QUESTIONS


● What is your favourite … ?
● Do you like … ?
● What do you think of … ?
● What is your opinion of … ?

Copyright © 2020 Virtually Fluent Ltd.


29

Course List
Course 1 Greetings
Link: https://virtually-fluent.com/courses/greetings/
YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/hBVequEEoAQ

Course 2 The English Alphabet


Link: https://virtually-fluent.com/courses/the-english-alphabet/
YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/qVVqgVJ2zL4

Course 3 Cardinal Numbers


Link: https://virtually-fluent.com/courses/cardinal-numbers/
YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/HINKo5nW7ic

Course 4 Personal Information


Link: https://virtually-fluent.com/courses/personal-information/
YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/-dYi_If3AZs

Course 5 The Calendar


Link: https://virtually-fluent.com/courses/the-calendar/
YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/WVGsZQIzixM

Course 6 Colours
Link: https://virtually-fluent.com/courses/colours/
YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/0DWVJJINzP8

Course 7 Verb To Be
Link: https://virtually-fluent.com/courses/verb-to-be/
YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/2JuEB2AKQbc

Course 8 There Is/There Are


Link: https://virtually-fluent.com/courses/there-is-there-are/
YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/8fJ1u03kvy0

Course 9 The Phonetic Chart


Link: https://virtually-fluent.com/courses/the-phonetic-chart/
YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/09mGGrbgYOY

Course 10 Question Words


Link: https://virtually-fluent.com/courses/question-words/
YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/YuR2PhlCw9w

Copyright © 2020 Virtually Fluent Ltd.


30

Course 11 Telling the Time


Link: https://virtually-fluent.com/courses/telling-the-time/

Course 12 Basic Phrases


Link: https://virtually-fluent.com/courses/basic-phrases/

Course 13 Countries
Link: https://virtually-fluent.com/courses/countries/

Course 14 In the Classroom


Link: https://virtually-fluent.com/courses/in-the-classroom/
YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/07EeXQEkVB0

Course 15 Classroom Commands


Link: https://virtually-fluent.com/courses/classroom-commands/

Course 16 Demonstrative Adjectives


Link: https://virtually-fluent.com/courses/demonstrative-adjectives/
YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/Tte9yR26gqU

Course 17 Sports
Link: https://virtually-fluent.com/courses/sports/
YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/5Qhn7wmYIiA

Course 18 Play, Do and Go


Link: https://virtually-fluent.com/courses/play-do-and-go/

Course 19 Free Time Activities


Link: https://virtually-fluent.com/courses/free-time-activities/

Course 20 Opinion Verbs


Link: https://virtually-fluent.com/courses/opinion-verbs/

Signup: ​https://virtually-fluent.com/pre-a1-academy-courses/

Copyright © 2020 Virtually Fluent Ltd.

You might also like