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ÁREA: IDIOMAS

INGLÉS BÁSICO (A2)

Queda prohibida toda la reproducción de la obra o partes de la misma por cualquier medio

sin la autorización previa

Área: Idiomas

Curso: Inglés básico (A2)

Edición: Diciembre 2011

INDEX

UNIT 1: YOU aND ME ON HOLIDaYS

UNIT 2: WHaT’S YOUR FaVOURITE TRaNSPORT?

UNIT 3: HOW MUCH IS IT?

UNIT 4: WHERE IS THE POST OFFICE?

UNIT 5: WHaT aBOUT VISITING MY FaMILY?

UNIT 6: aT SCHOOL I USED TO BE GOOD aT…

UNIT 7: THE BIG aPPLE.

UNIT 8: FORECaST: TORNaDOES aND HURRICaNES

Inglés Básico a2. Índice I.1

UNIT 1: YOU aND ME ON HOLIDaYS

1.1. Introduction

Hello and welcome to this English course! I hope you learn and enjoy doing it!

The name of this unit is YOU AND ME ON HOLIDAYS. In this unit you will revise

the vocabulary related to: dates, seasons and periods of time, as well as the

ordinal and cardinal numbers.

As for the grammar, we will revise the verb to be and to have, the personal

pronouns as subject and object, and the structure There is/there are.

You can practice the theory doing exercises in the Practice section and the

listening and the reading in the sections named Listening and Reading sections.

Finally, I am sure you will improve your English, too, playing some games and

learning a little about the city where Susan and I are spending some days.

Please read and listen carefully all the unit and try to learn as much as possible.

1.1Inglés Básico a2. You and me on holidays

Inglés Básico a2. You and me on holidays1.2

1.2. Listening

In this part of the topic we will practice the listening skill.

It’s important to pay attention and understand the dialogues.

1.2.1. Listening 1

Now you are going to listen to Susan and me. We continue travelling. Now we

are in Washington and are talking about summer time, holidays and the happy

we are.

John, a friend of Susan, is meeting us.

Matthew: Susan, I am very comfortable here in the United States and summer

is a beautiful season to enjoy as much as possible. We can do lots of things!

This season invites you to go out, to travel…you know what? I am happy

because it is summer and we are together on holidays. Are you happy, too?

Susan: Of course, it is a pleasure to be with you, Matthew. Now that we are in

the United States you can enjoy this culture that is a bit different from English

culture. In America we have different traditions and festivities that England

doesn’t have. For example, in two days it is Independence Day, on July 4th.

Now we are meeting my friend John from Chicago. He always tells us a funny

story about this day and how he celebrates it at home. He is here in Washington

for a week.

1.2.2. Listening 2

Susan: Matthew this is John.

Matthew: Hello John! Nice to meet you!

John: Hello nice to meet you, too. How are you?

Matthew: I am fine, and you? It is a pleasure to be here.

John: I’m perfect! I am now on holidays, I only have a week, but it isn’t a

problem. At least, I can celebrate the Independence Day with my friends in

Washington.

Susan: John, how is your family in

Chicago?

John: Oh! They are great! Thanks!

Susan: John, just one second…can

you tell Matthew how you celebrate

the 4th July?

John: Sure! In Chicago, the city does

a public fireworks show every July

3rd. The people can stay out late because they don't work on the 4th. I often

go to that and to my friend Mike's 4th of July party. He is a fun guy who goes

to Indiana, the state next door to Illinois, and there he buys fireworks where it

is legal. He buys about $1,000 worth of fireworks and then illegally transports

the explosives back into Illinois.

Susan: The fireworks are very expensive!

John: Yes they are, but he knows the police usually let you fire off fireworks on

4th of July. It's not a big risk. He has no problem with the authorities. Every

year I go on his roof and I am one of the guys who helps him fire off the

fireworks. It is dangerous, but fun. My nickname now is "8 Fingers Johnny".

Susan: Ha, ha, ha! John you are very funny! Please, let’s go for a walk, today

is a beautiful summer day.

1.2.3. Exercise

Now it is time to practice your listening.

Listen part of John’s speech again. Then write the words that he doesn’t say:

(In Chicago, the city does a major public fireworks show every July____. The

people can stay out late because they don't work on the _____. I often go to

that and to my friend Mike's 4th of _______party. He is a fun guy who goes to

Indiana, the state next door to Illinois, and there _____ buys fireworks where

____ is legal. He buys about $1,000 worth of fireworks and then illegally

transports the explosives back into Illinois.)

Word 1 ________________

Word 2 ________________



Word 3 ________________

Word 4 ________________

Word 5 ________________

1.3. Vocabulary

As you know, it’s important to know vocabulary in order to learn a language.

You have to know the meaning of some words.

In this topic you will learn vocabulary related to numbers (cardinal and ordinal),

dates, seasons, and periods of time.

Are you ready?

1.3.1. Numbers

Let’s learn the cardinal numbers, the spelling and pronunciation.

You know that we use cardinal numbers to count or enumerate things.

As you can see, it is always the same pattern. From 13 to 19 the ending is –

een, and in 20, 30, 40, 50, etc. the ending is –y.

As you can see, we have to put and after hundred and thousand

E.g.: 101 a hundred and one.

E.g.: 1,001 one thousand and one.


Once you know cardinal numbers let’s see ordinal numbers.

As you know they are used to show the order of something.

From 1st to 3rd are different, but in general the rest of the numbers follow the

same pattern, that is adding – th to the cardinal number.

Except the irregular ones: fifth, ninth, twelfth

Or when the cardinal number ends in –y, it is changed by an –ie and we added

– th.

Forty- fortieth

But pay attention to the exceptions!


Here we have some examples:

I am the third in the list.

Alonso was the first in the race.

It’s the fifth time I say this!

1.3.2 Dates

Remember that dates are different in British English and in American English.

There are different ways of writing dates.

2/11/99 2 November November 2nd 2nd Nov

In British English, the month goes before the day: 11/2/99

And the full date would be: Monday 2nd November, 1999.

And it is said:

The second of November, 1999 or November the second, 1999.

In the USA is: November second.

YEARS

In English we read the first two figures and then the two last ones, except from

the year 2000. Here we have some examples:

E.g.: 1998: nineteen ninety eight

1999: nineteen ninety-nine

2001: two thousand and one.

Here there are some useful expressions referring to times:

To refer to the Future: tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, next week, next

Monday, next month, next summer...

E.g.: I will see you tomorrow.

I’ll be back next month.


To refer to the Past: yesterday, the day before yesterday, last week, last

Monday, last month, last winter...

E.g.: I went to London last week.

You were there last Friday.

Let’s see some examples of dates:

E.g.: (21/6) the twenty first of June.

(8/3) the eighth of March.

(4/4) the fourth of April.

1.3.3. Seasons

There are four different seasons in the year. They are the following:

1.3.3. Periods of time

Here we have the days of the week.

Remember that the preposition used before days of the week is On.

DAYS OF THE WEEK:

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday.

E.g.:On Sunday I go to swim.

My favourite day is Saturday.

On Saturdays I don’t work.


SPRING SUMMER

It is lovely here in spring. In summer it’s too hot in Madrid.

aUTUMN WINTER

It’s warmer in autumn than inwinter.

I love winter, especially when itsnows

And here we have the MONTHS OF THE YEAR.

Remember that the preposition used before months is In.

January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October,

November, December.

E.g.:The school starts in September.

I go on holidays in August.

Days of the week and months are written in capital.

Look! Bellow you have some useful vocabulary about periods of time and their

definitions:

The calendar is a chart showing days, weeks, months of a year.

Quarter is a period of three months in negotiating.

Term is a period of three months in education.

A decade is a period of ten years.

A century is hundred consecutive years.

The following are some adverbs related to periods of time:

Monthly: once a month.

Fortnightly: once every fifteen days.

Weekly: every week.

Daily: everyday.


1.3.4. Exercises

Exercise 1. Match the numbers with the English word:

Exercise 2. Match the dates in British English:


14

8

38

9

10

11

13

25

30

33

22

eight

twenty-two

ten

fourteen

twenty-five

thirteen

thirty

eleven

thirty-three

thirty-eight

nine

22/10/1060

1/01/1870

19/08/2000

05/06/1914

30/09/1940

21/6/1817

01/06/1945

16/11/1990

25/12/2005

11/12/2009

the twenty-fifth of December, two thousand and five

the twenty-first of June, eighteen seventeen

the twenty second of October, ten sixty.

he thirtieth of September, nineteen forty

the fifth of June, nineteen fourteen

the first of January, eighteen seventy

the sixteenths of November, nineteen ninety

the first of June, nineteen forty-five

the eleventh of December, two thousand and nine

the nineteenth of August, two thousand

1.4. Grammar

Grammar is very important to learn a language. We need to have knowledge of

grammatical rules to use a language properly.

In this topic we will learn the verbs to be and to have, personal pronouns

(subject and object) and there is/there are.

If you are ready, let’s begin!

1.4.1. To be

The verb to be is an auxiliary verb that is used to talk about people (names,

feelings, etc.) and to describe the characteristics of someone or something

(what is it, the colour; whose is it, etc.)

It is also used with ages. E.g.: Jonh is sisteen.

-Nationality words. E.g.: She’s Turkish.

Jobs. E.g.: Are you a teacher?

Adjectives. E.g.: I’m happy.

This/ that. E.g.: Is that your seat?

Question words. E.g.: What time is it?

Let’s see the forms affirmative, interrogative and negative of to be.


Now here it is the interrogative form of this verb:

In the interrogative form of the verb To be, for questions, we have to change

the order of the subject (I, You, he…) and the verb (am, is, are) and put a

question mark (?) only at the end.

Now here it is the negative form of this verb:

As you can see, for the negative of To be we add “not” to the affirmative form.

The contracted form of is not is isn’t.

The contracted form of are not is aren’t.

Examples:I am not too young.You are not my friend.He is not a doctor.It is not my dog.We are not in London.They are not French.


1.4.2. To have

Have is often used to indicate possession (I have) or (I have got)..

It is an auxiliary verb used for the Present Perfect, too.

As a main verb means “tener”.

E.g.: I have got a big car.Can I have a coffee, please?Let’s have a party!We have got a book.Have a look! There is someone over there!He has a rest after working.

Let’s see the three forms:

Affirmative:

Interrogative:


Negative:

Examples:

I don’t have money.You don’t have a car.He doesn’t have a car.She doesn’t have a carIt doesn’t have four doors.We don’t have a car.You don’t have a car.They don’t have a car

1.4.3. Personal Pronouns

Here we will learn personal pronouns: subject and object.

Personal pronouns subject are placed before verbs, and they are always

necessary in English (in Spanish they are not always necessary).

Personal pronouns object are after verbs or prepositions.

In this chart you have both:


E.g.:I am at the university. You are my friend.He is John.She is Susan.We are in Spain.You are a family.They are happy.

1.4.4. There is /There are

We use there is followed by a singular noun (only one) and for uncountable

nouns.

We use there are when we have more than one thing (plural nouns).

They mean “hay”.

E.g.:There is a bed there (singular)There is some butter here (uncountable)There are four chairs in the room (plural)

-In the negative form it is added `not´ to the verb.

E.g.: There is not/ There isn’t a book on the shelf.

-In the interrogative form the verb goes at the beginning of the sentence.

E.g.:Is there a window in your bedroom?

Are there tables in the shop?


1.4.5. Exercises

Exercise 1. Put is, are in each space.

1. This ___ my family.

2. These____ my parents.

3. Lucy ___ my sister, she isn’t my friend.

4. We ____ in our garden, we aren’t at the beach.

5. My friends ___ in this photo.

6. They ___ at the park.

7. My dog ___ in this photo.

8. He ___ at the park too.

9. It___ too hot today.

10. This answer ___ wrong. Try again!

Exercise 2. Put the correct form of the verbTo Have:

1. My dog ___ a broken leg.

2. My friends_____ a baby.

3. This exercise ___ two answers.

4. He ____ a piano.

5. We ____ a new friend.

6. My grandparents ___ a very big house.

7. You ____ a problem.

8. They ____ a new computer game.


9. I ____ an exam tomorrow.

10. My cat ____ a new toy.

Exercise 3. Replace the words in brackets by the correct personal pronouns.

Note that Susan is the person speaking.

1. My name is Susan. (Susan) ___am English. And this is my family.

2. My mum's name is Paula. (Paula)____ is from Italy.

3. Peter is my dad. (My dad)____ is a waiter.

4. On the left you can see Paul. (Paul)____ is my brother.

5. Our dog is a girl, Judy. (Judy) ____is two years old.

6. (Susan, Paul, Paula and Peter)____ live in Oxford.

7. (Oxford) ___is not far from London.

8. My grandparents live in London. (My grandparents)____ often come and

see us.

9. My aunts live in Ireland. (My aunts) ____ don’t come to visit us.

10. I have a friend called John. (John) ____ is very handsome



Now it is time to read two texts. The texts are very easy, please pay attention

to them and read slowly.

Remember it is very important to understand the reading and do correctly the

comprehension exercises.

1.5.1. Text

Now, read the first text, it is about the Independence Day, a national holiday

in The United States.

An important American Holiday

Independence Day is an annual celebration commemorating adoption of the

Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the

Kingdom of Great Britain.

The United States has many holidays and the Independence Day is one of them.

We can say that Independence Day is the birthday of the United States of

America. Every year Americans celebrate on July 4 the anniversary of the day

of Independence with barbecues, picnics, and family meetings. Some people

watch the fireworks at home from the front porch, they are pretty good views.

And others put an American flag out of the front yard. Parades are in the

morning and fireworks at night.

It is a very important day, for that reason in this country is a national holiday.

1.5.2. Reading Comprehension

Read these sentences and tick the wrong sentence:

1. Many countries celebrate the Independence Day on July 4.

2. Independence Day is in winter.

3. Independence Day is a great day for Americans.


4. Independence Day is a local holiday.

5. Independence Day is celebrated every two years.

6. There aren’t fireworks in Independence Day

7. Independence Day is in summer time.

8. American work on July 4

1.5.3. Text

Read the postcard that I have written to two of my friends from Washington.

A post card form Washington

Dear Peter and Julie,

Greetings from Washington, D.C. Susan and I are in this beautiful city. There

are many monuments and museums to visit. I am very happy and excited.

Susan is very funny and we are enjoying ourselves very much. John, Susan’s

friend is very nice. I hope you are very good, too.

Write soon. I miss you!

Matthew

1.5.4. Reading Comprehension

Imagine you are on holidays in other country. Write a similar postcard to a

friend:

1.8. English World

Washington

We are now in Washington D.C, the capital of the United States. It is legally

named the District of Columbia, but known as Washington, D.C.

It is a very interesting city. There are many things to see. And one good thing

is that the museums are for free, they are the Smithsonian National museums.

The Smithsonian Institution is dedicated to public education, national service

and scholarship in the arts, sciences and history. The Institution was born in

when James Smithson, an English scientist, gave money to the United States

“for the increase and diffusion of knowledge”.

Ten Smithsonian museums are located on the National Mall between the

Washington Monument and de U.S. Capitol. Six other museums and the Zoo in

the Washington Metropolitan area.

Some of these museums are:

The American Art Museum,

The African American History Museum,

The American History Museum, the Natural History Museum,

The National Gallery of Art, the Postal Museum,

The Freer Gallery,

The Smithsonian Castle, the Hirshhorn Museum,

The Air and Space Museum and the American Indian Museum.

Susan and I want to go to visit some of them!

Smithsonian Information

Susan: I am very happy we have the opportunity to see different museums for

free. Mathew, here I have some information about the hours and the museums.

Matthew: Really? Cool! Can you read aloud, please?

Susan: The Washington D.C. museums are open daily, except December 25.

Summer hours are determined annually. The Smithsonian Information Center

in the Castle is open daily. The national Museum of African Art exhibits the finest

examples of traditional and contemporary art from Africa.


Matthew: It sounds good! And how about the National Air and Space museum?

Susan: Yes! There is inside a Planetarium called Einstein Planetarium that

projects images about space and astronomy and there is a gallery for children

“How things fly” explains the principles of flight, live demonstrations and more

than fifty interactions stations! It has hundreds of aviation and space aircrafts.

Matthew: It is a good idea to visit these two museums. Tomorrow we can go

there.

Susan: Superb!



To communicate in English it is very important you practice speaking. Pay

attention to the phonetics and the intonation.

Now it’s time you practice. Susan will talk to you. Don’t be rude and answer

her questions.

But first let’s learn some phonetic rules.


1.7. Practice

1.7.1. Vocabulary

Exercise 1. Choose the correct option

387 three hundred and seventy eight

three thousand and eighty seven

three hundred and eighty seven

3245 three thousand two hundred and forty five

three thousand four hundred and forty six

thirty thousand forty five

478 forty one hundred

four hundred and seventy eight

four seven eight

200 two thousand

two billion

two hundred

111 eleven

one hundred and eleven

one hundred and twelve

230 two hundred and thirty

two hundred and thirteen

two hundred and three

1345 two hundred and seventy

one hundred and thirty five

one thousand three hundred and forty five

Exercise 2. Choose the correct option in each sentence:

me, you, her, him, it, us or them:

1. Look at ___! This is my best dress.

2. My sister is very young. I love ___ a lot.

3. They are reliable people. Trust ____, please.

4. I am very ill, I need the doctor take care of ____.

5. The sofa is very comfortable. I like ____ very much.

6. My head aches. Look at ____ I am very pale.

7. He has got blue eyes! I like ____.

8. Come with Peter and me! Come with ___!

9. Look at ____! You are very tall and smart!

10. Sorry she is late. Pardon ____.

Exercise 3. Choose the correct option in each case:

1. Are there 10 boxes on the floor?

Yes, there are

Yes, it is

2. Is there a book on the table?

Yes, there are one

Yes, there is one

3. Are there three flowers in the garden?

Yes, there are

Yes, there is

4. Is there a black cat in your house?

No, there isn’t

No, there is


5. Are there apples in the plate?

Yes, you are

Yes, there are

6. Are there public buses in the city?

Yes, it is

Yes, there are

7. Is there sugar in the coffee?

No, it isn’t

No, there isn’t

8. Are there many taxis in New York?

Yes, there is

Yes, there are

9. Is there any problem with the fridge?

No, they aren’t

No, there isn’t

10. Is there a lot of traffic in Madrid?

Yes, it is

Yes, there is

Exercise 4. Click on the correct answer:

13/10/1940 the first of June, nineteen forty-five

the twenty-first of March, eighteen seventeen

the thirteenth of October, nineteen forty

1/1/2000 the thirteenth of October, nineteen forty

the twenty-first of August, ten sixty

the first of January, two thousand

12/2/1914 the first of January, two thousand

the twenty-second of March, eighteen seventeen

the twelfth of February, nineteen fourteen







the first of June, nineteen forty-six

22/3/1817 the thirteenth of July, nineteen forty

the thirteenth of October, nineteen fifty


15/8/1978 the thirteenth of October, nineteen forty


the fifteenth of August, nineteen seventy eight

26/7/1978 the twenty- sixth of July, nineteen seventy eight


the thirteenth of October, nineteen fifty

1.7.2. Grammar

Exercise 5. .- Complete the sentences using are, aren’t, is, isn’t:

1. My shoes/ very clean. ___________________________________

2. They/ my old friends. __________________________________

3. This car/ not very old. __________________________________

4. Mary/ married to Paul? ________________________________

5. You/ not very tall and thin. _______________________________

6. My father/ not a teacher. _________________________________

7. The children/ now at school. ______________________________

8. My book/ open on the table. ______________________________

9. She/ not my sister. ______________________________________

10. Argentina/ a big country. _________________________________


Exercise 6. Write these sentences in the interrogative and negative form:

1. My shoes are very clean. ______________________________

2. They are my old friends. ______________________________

3. This car is very old. ______________________________

4. Paula and Peter are nice people. ______________________________

5. You are very tall and thin. ______________________________

6. My father is a teacher. ______________________________

7. The children are now at school. ______________________________

8. My book is open on the table. ______________________________

9. She is my sister. ______________________________

10. Argentina is a big country. ______________________________

Exercise 7. Write sentences using the verb to have and the words in brackets:

1. (she / a big car?) ________________________________________

2. (you/ not/ many friends here) ___________________________________

3. (my mother/ a headache?) _____________________________________

4. (The book/ not/ many pages) ___________________________________

5. (I/ two brothers and two sisters) _________________________________

6. (you/ potatoes in the bag?) ____________________________________

7. (Ana/ a new pullover?) ________________________________________

8. (The computer/ not a big screen) _________________________________

9. (they/ a problem) ________________________________________


10. (The students/ not/ books) _________________________________


1.8. English World

Washington

We are now in Washington D.C, the capital of

the United States. It is legally named the

District of Columbia, but known as

Washington, D.C.

It is a very interesting city. There are many

things to see. And one good thing is that the

museums are for free, they are the

Smithsonian National museums. The Smithsonian Institution is dedicated to

public education, national service and scholarship in the arts, sciences and

history. The Institution was born in when James Smithson, an English scientist,

gave money to the United States “for the increase and diffusion of knowledge”.

Ten Smithsonian museums are located on the National Mall between the

Washington Monument and de U.S. Capitol. Six other museums and the Zoo in

the Washington Metropolitan area.

Some of these museums are:

The American Art Museum,

The African American History Museum,

The American History Museum, the Natural History Museum,

The National Gallery of Art, the Postal Museum,

The Freer Gallery,

The Smithsonian Castle, the Hirshhorn Museum,

The Air and Space Museum and the American Indian Museum.

Susan and I want to go to visit some of them!


Smithsonian Information

Susan: I am very happy we have the

opportunity to see different museums for

free. Mathew, here I have some

information about the hours and the

museums.

Matthew: Really? Cool! Can you read aloud, please?

Susan: The Washington D.C. museums are open daily, except December 25.

Summer hours are determined annually. The Smithsonian Information Center

in the Castle is open daily. The national Museum of African Art exhibits the finest

examples of traditional and contemporary art from Africa.

Matthew: It sounds good! And how about the National Air and Space museum?

Susan: Yes! There is inside a Planetarium called Einstein Planetarium that

projects images about space and astronomy and there is a gallery for children

“How things fly” explains the principles of flight, live demonstrations and more

than fifty interactions stations! It has hundreds of aviation and space aircrafts.

Matthew: It is a good idea to visit these two museums. Tomorrow we can go

there.

Susan: Superb!


Documents

ÁREA: IDIOMAS - Cursos de formación online en Madrid prohibida toda la reproducción de la obra o partes de la misma por cualquier medio sin la autorización previa Área: Idiomas