General English Lower Intermediate Level
Lessons 1

Welcome

welcome

1. Watch the video about the people and their countries


Expressions to work on

I work for the BBC as a researcher= work for as a……

I live in London but I come from = come from= I come from America= I am from America= I am originally from Australia

What do you like about it (your country)?

I like the sea, the sun and the people

I like the openness of the United States

I like the summer days when they are long and bright for many hours

It is quite quiet, serine and picturesque

There are lots of shops, bars and restaurants

What don’t you like about it?

I don’t like the dominance of big corporations

I don’t like the noise

We don’t have a real transport system as you have

Crime and the rubbish

2. Points to talk about

  1. Where do you come from?
  2. What do you like about your country?
  3. What don’t you like about your country?
  4. What would you like to change in your country?
who are you?

3. Getting to know each other

Watch the video how people get to know each other


Transcripts
Alice
Hi, I'm Alice.
Sophie
Hey, I'm Sophie.
Amith
And I'm Amith. Alright? OK, question one: Who do you love most in the world?
Alice
This is a tricky one. I can't pick one person. I'd have to say my family.
Sophie
I think like a lot of people I'd probably say my mum. She's my rock and my best friend.
Alice
My turn. Question two: What makes you scream?
Sophie
Rollercoasters. I'm absolutely terrified of being upside down.
Amith
Dentists. I scream like a baby.
Sophie
My turn. Question three: How do you take your coffee?
Amith
It's never just coffee. I prefer cappuccinos, darling!
Alice
I'm more of a typical British tea drinker. If I do have a coffee I usually have an Americano with cold milk. Cold milk is very important.
Can I do another one? Question four: When did you last cry?
Amith
When I became an uncle.
Sophie
I think mine was the last time I went to see a musical. The show was so beautiful I was moved to tears.
Amith
Question five: Are you feeling excited?
Sophie
Yes! It's really exciting to be here and I'm quite an excitable person.
Alice
Yes, very excited.
Sophie
OK, question six. This comes in three parts. Do you speak another language?
Amith
Yes, I have attempted to learn several languages.
Sophie
Which ones?
Amith
Bengali, Hindi and Urdu are my strongest and I'm learning Farsi and French.
Alice
I've studied French and Mandarin and Japanese, but I'm not very good at any of them.
Sophie
And can you sing a song in French?
Alice
How about Frere Jacque? (Sings) Come on Amith - your turn.
Amith
OK, a song in Hindi (Sings).
Sophie
That was lovely Amith! I think that's all we've got time for with questions. I think we know each other a little better now.
Alice
I think we do!

4. To do

Who prefers coffee? Who loves their mother the most? Who can sing in Hindi? Can you remember? Try the quiz to find out.

What do you know about our presenters?
Grammar

Grammar Reference
Question forms

Meaning and Use

In English, there are two basic types of question.

  1. Yes/no questions often begin with the verb to be, but can also begin with other auxiliary verbs, such as do. We ask these when we want a yes or no answer.

    • Dave: Are you hungry?
    • Mike: Yes, I’m starving. 

    • Sarah: Did you get here on time?
    • Emily: No, I missed the bus!

  2. Wh-questions start with a question word, such as who, what, where, when, why or how. We ask this type of question when we want different kinds of information. These questions cannot be answered with a yes or no.

    • Dave: Why are you so hungry?
    • Mike: I didn’t eat breakfast.

    • Sarah: When did you get here?
    • Emily: About half an hour ago.


Form
  • Yes/no questions that begin with the verb to be are made with to be + subject.

    • Are you playing football tomorrow?
    • Was the weather nice yesterday?

  • If we start with an auxiliary verb, the order is auxiliary + subject + main verb.

    • Can Jenny speak Chinese?
    • Did you go to the cinema on Saturday?

  • Wh-questions can be used to ask about the subject or object of the verb. Compare these questions:

    • Who loves Lucy?
    • Who does Lucy love?

  • For subject questions, the order is question word + verb + object.

    • Who wants ice cream for dessert?
    • Who broke the mirror in the dining room?
    • Who answered the phone?

  • The object question form is question word + auxiliary + subject + verb.

    • What did you do at the weekend?
    • Where does your brother work?
    • Who will you ask for help?


Take Note

Asking questions with ‘how’

The question word how is usually combined with other words when asking for information, such as size, someone’s age, or the price of something.

  • How big is your apartment?
  • How old are your children now?
  • How much is the black dress in the window?

Spoken English

In formal situations, it is common to respond to a yes/no question by repeating the auxiliary in a complete sentence.

  • Max: Can you use a computer?
  • Jill: Yes, I can.

In casual spoken English, we do not need to repeat the auxiliary. Answers do not always contain 'yes' or 'no'.

  • Peter: Do you know the way to the train station?
  • William: Not really.

  • Lucy: Shall we order sushi?
  • Sally: Absolutely!

Practice

Rearrange the words to make 'yes/no' and wh-questions.

  1. anywhere did you weekend interesting last go?
  2. grow up did you where?
  3. did for your car new much how pay you?
  4. into your when you did move new house?
  5. listening to what you are?
  6. the game basketball who won?
  7. I borrow can your phone?
  8. you do watch want movie a tonight to?
Homework

1. Learn the expressions from the lesson

I work for BBC as a researcher= work for as a……

I live in London but I come from = come from = I come from America = I am from America= I am originally from Australia

What do you like about it (your country)?

I like the sea, the sun and the people

I like the openness of the United States

I like the summer days when they are long and bright for many hours

It is quite quiet, serine and picturesque

There are lots of shops, bars and restaurants

What don’t you like about it?

I don’t like the dominance of big corporations

I don’t like the noise

We don’t have a real transport system as you have

Crime and the rubbish

2. Watch the song, write the words to the song, and try to learn it.

3. Grammar Practise

Ask for the underlined part. Write the complete English question into the gap.
  1. John is writing a letter.
  2. She walks home from school.
  3. The children are sitting in the garden.
  4. Peter runs with his dog on Sundays.
  5. My rabbit has a cage in the garden.
  6. They go to work by bus.
  7. David likes cats because they are nice.
  8. Jenny isn't sleeping late today.
  9. We are going to the cinema.
  10. I'm leaving now.
Ask for the underlined part. Write the complete English question into the gap.
  1. She never cleans the van.
  2. Kim and Tina are playing ball in the garden.
  3. They are running home.
  4. Mr Johnson has been living in Montreal for ten years.
  5. Anne likes her new job very much.
  6. The Barnes are planning a trip to Norway.
  7. The shop will be closed until next month.
  8. Beverly usually gets up at 6.30 am.
  9. He can't meet Sharon because she is very ill.
  10. Every evening Steven listens to his new CDs.