WRITING 1

GRAMMAR: PRESENT TENSES

VOCABULARY: RELATIONSHIPS

A - GRAMMAR

Present Simple
Form

statement: I/you/we/they travel… He/she/it travels…

negative I/you/we/they don’t travel… He/she/it doesn’t travel…
question Do I/you/we/they travel…? Does he/she/it travel…?

Use Example

Current habits Toby walks to work.

To talk about how often things happen Angela doesn’t visit us very often

Permanent situation I work in the city but I live in the country.

States Do you have up-to-date passport?

Facts Birds migrate (di cư) in winter

Timetables/future events The sun rises at 5:16 tomorrow

We will have an exam on the 19th.
We have an exam on the 19th.

Note: We use do/does in present simple statements for emphasis.

“You don’t like going by bus, do you?” Actually, I do like going by bus for short distances.”
The bus isn’t quicker than the train but it does stop right outside the factory.

Advanced practice: Use the correct form of the verb to put in the blank.
1. There are (be) a variety of reasons behind this phenomenon. (a variety of~ plural)
2. None of the trains goes/go (go) to London. (None of what you heard is/are true.)
3. Each of us has (have) enormous potential to succeed in life. (each …)
4. Economics is (be) my favorite subject.
5. Either Tammy or her brothers clean (clean) the house every week.
6. Three years is (be) a very long time.
7. 10 dollars is/are a lot of money. / 10 dollars is/are dropped on the floor.
8. There is (be) so much nudity (khoả thân) and violence in the series Games of Thrones
(ngai vàng)
9. Sugar and flour are (be) in the cabinet.
Present Continuous

Form

statement I am driving… You/we/they are driving … He/she/it is driving…

negative I’m not driving…You/we/they aren’t driving … or You’re/we’re/they’re
not driving …
He/she/it isn’t driving … or he’s/she’s/it’s not driving …
question Am I driving …? Are you/we/they driving…? Is he/she/it driving…?

Use Example

Actions happening now Mike is driving to work at the moment. /ou/

Temporary situations Are they staying in a hotel near the Olympic

stadium?

Changing and developing situations Holidays abroad are becoming increasingly

popular.
Get become
I’m getting fatter.

*Annoying habits (with always, constantly Dad is always cleaning the car when I want to
- lien tuc) use it!
You are constantly complaining.

Planned events that happen in the near I am meeting my friends this weekend.
future

Note:
State verbs describe a continuing state, so do not usually have a continuous form. Typical
examples are:
believe, belong, consist, contain, doubt, have, know, like, love, mean, need, own, prefer, seem,
suppose, suspect, understand, want, wish

Some verbs have a stative meaning and a different active meaning. Typical examples are:
be, feel, have, measure, taste, think, weigh, depend
State Action

Jack is noisy. Jill’s being noisy.

Deirdre has a Porsche. We’re having an interesting conversation.

I think I like you. David’s thinking about getting a new job.

The fish tastes awful! (tội tệ) I’m just tasting the soup.

I feel that you are wrong. I’m feeling terrible.

This bag weighs a ton! We’re weighing the baby.
Advanced practice: Complete the sentences with the verbs given.
1. feel
What’s your shirt made from? It __feels__ like silk. (giống với, cảm giác với)
I won’t be coming to work today. I _am not feeling___ very well. (cảm thấy)
2. have
I had a postcard from Joanne on holiday in Spain. It sounds like she __is having__ a
really good time. (đang cảm thấy, có)
My sister _has___ long blonde hair. You’re bound to recognize her. (sỡ hữu)
3. attract
The new science museum is currently __attracting___ 10,000 visitors a month.
(temporary situations)
Flowers __attract___ bees with their brightly coloured petals (cánh hoa). (fact)
4. think
I haven’t decided yet whether to buy a new car or a second-hand one. But I’m thinking
about it.
I think there are many advantages to waking up early. (suy nghĩ)
5. get
The Earth is getting warmer every year because of climate change.
Present Perfect

Form

statement have/has + past participle have/has + V3

negative have not / has not + V3 haven’t / hasn’t + V3
question Have I/you/we/they + V3 Has He/she it + V3

Use Example

States that started in the past and are still I have lived in this neighborhood for 3 years.
true I have had that old car since 2000.

A series of actions continuing up to now I have traveled to Spain 3 times.

travel to Spain

Completed actions where the result is still I have broken my leg.

seen in the present Someone has snatched my purse (ví phụ nữ)

break my leg
snatch my purse

A recent event, without a time given I’ve seen a ghost

I have gone to the supermarket.

see a ghost /ou/

go to the supermarket

Note:
After the pattern It/This/That is/will be the first/second/… time…, we use the present perfect.

With time clauses after, when, until, as soon as, once (mot khi), by the time, the minute/
second / moment, we use the present perfect to refer to future events.

Advanced practice: Use the correct form of the verb.

1. I’ll contact you the minute I have got (get) my exam results.
2. Maria hasn’t wanted____ (want) to go swimming since she fell in the river.
3. If the score remains the same it will be the first time Germany has lost (lose) to France
since 1998. (lose - lost - lost)
4. Once/When you’ve finished (finish) your homework, I will let you go out with your
friends.
5. This is the last time I talk/ I’m talking (talk) to you.
Present Perfect Continuous

Form

have/has been + V-ing

Uses Examples

Actions continuing up to the present moment We have been driving for hours. Can’t we
have a break soon?

Actions stopping just before the present I’m out of breath because I’ve been running
moment to get here in time.

Note:
When we talk about the result of circumstances, we use the present perfect tense. When we
focus on the process, we often use the present perfect continuous tense or the present perfect
tense.

Advanced practice: Explain the difference between the two sentences (if any)
I have worked at the airport for four years. I have been working at the airport for four
years.

I have read that book about cruise ships. I have been reading that book about cruise
ships.

Prices have decreased by 7%. Prices have been decreasing recently.

HOMEWORK

A Circle the correct word or phrase.

1 Elizabeth usually goes / is usually going to bed at around eleven o'clock.
2 Dan talks / is talking on the other phone right now.
3 We don't eat / aren't eating any meat at the moment as we're both on a diet.
4 Does air travel get / Is air travel getting increasingly safe?
5 My mum calls / is calling me every weekend without fail.
6 How much do babysitters generally earn / are babysitters generally earning?
7 You always come / You're always coming up with excuses for not having done
your homework. It's so annoying!
8 I don't go /I'm not going out much during the week but I always try / I'm always
trying to go out somewhere on Saturday night.
9 No, the train does stop / is stopping at Cirencester on Saturdays.
10 My mum takes / is taking part in ice skating competitions almost every weekend.

B Rewrite correctly. Change the words or phrases in bold.

1 My dad is often getting up late on Saturday mornings.
________________________________________________________________________
2 Are you speaking any other languages apart from English?
________________________________________________________________________
3 I already buy all my Christmas presents and it's only October!
________________________________________________________________________
4 It's the first time I'm ever having a party at home.
________________________________________________________________________
5 Actually, I think Darren does works quite hard sometimes.
________________________________________________________________________
6 Carlo is never eating Chinese food before.
________________________________________________________________________
7 Sean already books a table for tonight.
________________________________________________________________________
8 Needs Melanie any help painting her new flat?
________________________________________________________________________

C Complete using the correct form of the verb in brackets.

1 It's the first time ___________ (I / ever / eat) octopus!
2 Sandy ___________ (not / see) his sister since she went to university.
3 They ___________ (go) on holiday to Spain and won't be back until the end of
the month.
4 Poor Tracy! She ___________ (write) that essay for hours now and she still
hasn't finished!
5 ___________ (you / ever / meet) anyone famous?
 6 ___________ (I / try) to get in touch with Jenny all morning but I can't find her
anywhere.
7 ___________ (I / not finish) the book yet so I can't tell you what happens.
8 ___________ (you / already / decide) where you're going this summer?
9 ___________ (We / live) here for the last six years.
10 ___________ (I / never / hear) such nonsense!

D Complete using the words in the box.

already before ever for just

rarely since so still yet

1 Have you ___________ dreamt of winning the lottery?

2 I haven't worked out how to set the timer on the video ___________ .
3 My dad's lived in the same house ___________ he was born.
4 The film's only been on ___________ a couple of minutes.
5 Bruce has knocked three men out of the competition ___________ far.
6 ___________ get the chance to get any exercise - I'm just too busy.
7 He's only ___________ got home.
8 It's eleven o'clock and Todd ___________ hasn't come home. Where could he be?
9 I've never met Ruth ___________ What's she like?
10 Have you finished ___________ ? That was quick!

E Choose the correct answer.

1 lan __________ a shower at the moment, so could you call back in about half an
hour?
A takes B is taking
C has taken D has been taking
2 __________ to Ipswich before?
A Do you ever go B Are you ever going
C Have you ever been D Have you ever been going
3 I __________ to all the local newspapers and TV stations to complain.
A already write B already writing
C have already written D have already been writing
4 __________ TV for the last four hours? Turn it off and get some exercise!
A Do you watch B Are you watching
C Watched you D Have you been watching
5 Eric, __________ hockey competitively or just for fun?
A do you usually play B are you usually playing
C have you usually played D have you usually been playing
6 That's the first time __________ an answer right today!
A I get B I am getting
C I have got D I have been getting
7 Jessica has __________ left, I'm afraid.
 A already B yet
C still D so far
8 Dan __________ in the living room while we redecorate his bedroom.
A sleeps B is sleeping
C has slept D does sleep
9 Unfortunately, Simone __________ a day off very often.
A doesn't get B isn't getting
C hasn't got D hasn't been getting

10 Actually, I __________ a cup of tea first thing every morning but then I switch to
coffee.
A do drink B am drinking
C have drunk D have been drinking

F Complete using the correct form of the words in the box.

be disagree do include know look see seem understand

Ancient aviators?
Everyone (1) ________ that humans have been flying for only a few hundred years. But (2)
________ it possible that ancient civilizations also had the ability and technology to fly?

In the Nazcan Desert in southern Peru, there are hundreds of lines which an ancient culture
drew in the dust. On the ground, they just (3) ________ like straight lines. But when you (4)
________ them from the air, you (5) ________ exactly what they are. They are incredible and
enormous pictures. The pictures (6) ________ animals, birds and symbols.

One bizarre theory, which most mainstream scientists (7) ________ with, is that the people who
made the lines thousands and thousands of years ago flew above the lines in balloons. It (8)
________ incredible, but a few people (9) ________ believe it's possible.

G Match to make sentences.

1 I think ________ A darker hair than her sister.

2 I'm thinking ________
3 Phil's looking ________
4 Phil looks ________
5 Claire has ________
6 Claire is having ________
7 Andy is .________
8 Andy is being ________
B I'm going to buy the new Racetrack CD.
C a haircut at the moment.
D for his glasses. Have you seen them?
E not old enough to drive a car.
F of getting Dad a CD for his birthday.
G very annoying at the moment!
H like he needs a holiday!

H Find the extra word in each line.

International friends
1 ___________ I've been to travelling round Europe all summer. It's the first time I've
2 ___________ ever been going abroad, and I've had a fantastic time! I've seen
3 ___________ loads of interesting places and I have to also made loads of new friends.
4 ___________ I've been decided to stay in touch with them now I'm back. One of
5 ___________ them, Giselle, is French. She was making on holiday too. We now send
6 ___________ text messages are to each other all the time. They're usually in English
7 ___________ because my French isn't very good! I'm planning to have visit her in
8 ___________ France next year sometime. I hope I can.I am love meeting people from
9 ___________ other countries! I want to have had lots of friends from all over the world!
10 ___________ Travelling certainly broadens the mind but it also is
broadens your circle of friends!

I Write one word in each gap.

Holiday Blues
‘You've (1) ___________ looking at that timetable for the last ten minutes. It can't be that
confusing!’ said Sheila angrily.
‘I (2) ___________ wish you'd be quiet! I've (3) ___________ a splitting headache thanks to
you!’ replied Matt.
‘Mum! Dad! Please!’ said Alison.’You're both (4) ___________ very silly. (5) ___________ is no
point at all in blaming each other. That's not going to help us find out what time the next train to
Budapest is due to leave.’
‘You (6) ___________ quite right, darling. I (7) ___________ sorry,’ said Sheila.
‘Me too,’ mumbled Matt. ‘Now, let's have another look at this timetable. Well, it (8) ___________
like we (9) ___________ definitely missed the last train today. That was the 18.20 we just
missed, wasn't it?’
‘I (10) ___________ so,’ said Sheila. ‘I mean, it did leave at 18.20. Whether it's actually going to
Budapest or not is another question.’
‘Well, one thing is (11) ___________ in doubt,’ said Matt.
‘What's that?’ asked Sheila and Alison together.
‘This is the worst holiday we've (12) ___________ been on,’ said Matt. ‘Next year, we're going
to try something far less adventurous.’
‘Agreed!’ said Sheila and Alison.

J Complete each second sentence using the word given, so that it has a
similar meaning to the first sentence. Write between two and five words in each
gap.
1 What's the price of the tickets, Jimmy? much
How ____________________________________ , Jimmy?
2 Are these your trainers? to
Do ____________________________________ you?
3 Sasha's not keen on team sports at all. like
Sasha ____________________________________ team sports at all.
4 It's only her second time in a recording studio. been
She ___________________________________ in a recording studio once before.
5 We got here three hours ago. have
We ____________________________________ three hours.
6 I started writing this hours ago and it's still not right. writing
I ____________________________________ hours and it's still not right.
7 This is my first experience of flying alone. time
It is the first ____________________________________ alone.
8 Sharon's in the bath at the moment. a
Sharon ____________________________________ at the moment.
9 Paul enjoys surprises apart from on his birthday. does
Paul __________________________________ surprises, just not on his birthday!
B - VOCABULARY

GROWING UP AND DEVELOPMENT

1.1 Scan the text below and underline these words:

rewarding sibling relate accommodating

adolescence interaction nurture

Study links early friendships with high-quality sibling relationships

Children who experience a rewarding friendship before the birth of a sibling are likely to
have a better relationship with that brother or sister that endures throughout their childhood,
said Laurie Kramer in a University of Illinois study published in December's Journal of Family
Psychology.

'When early friendships are successful, young children get the chance to master sophisticated
social and emotional skills, even more than they do with a parent. When parents relate to a
child, they do a lot of the work, figuring out what the child needs and then accommodating
those needs,' says Kramer. However, this is not usually the case when two children are
interacting.

The research showed that the benefits of early friends are long-lasting. Children who had a
positive relationship with a best friend before the birth of a sibling ulcimarely had a good
relationship with their sibling that lasted throughout adolescence, Kramer said. And children
who as preschoolers were able to coordinate play with a friend, manage conflicts, and keep an
interaction positive in tone were most likely as teenagers to avoid the negative sibling
interaction that can sometimes launch children on a path of anti-social behavior, she added.
‘From birth, parents can nurture and help develop these social competencies (or skills) by
making eye contact with their babies, offering toys and playing with them,” she said.

1.3 Read the text again and say whether these sentences are true (T) or false
(F). Underline the part of the text that gave you your answer.
1 If young children have good friends then they will have a good relationship with
their brother or sister. TRUE
2 Parents help their children develop more social and emotional skills than friends
do. FALSE
3 Friends will give you what you want more often than your parents do FALSE
4 Teenagers who fight with their brothers or sisters may behave in a way that is
socially unacceptable TRUE
5 If parents play with their children more then they will learn how to be more
sociable TRUE
 1.2 Read the text and match the words you have underlined to the following
definitions.
1 help someone/something develop and grow nurture (nuôi dưỡng)
2 agreeing to a demand accommodate those needs
3 brother or sister sibling
4 respond to somebody relate to
5 the stage between childhood and adulthood adolescence
6 giving a lot of pleasure rewarding
7 communication

1.4 A lot of words connected with families and relationships can also be used
in a different context. Complete the sentences with a word from the box.

adopt nurture relationship conflict

related relative family relation

1 The wolf is a member of the dog family.

2 The company decided to adopt (áp dụng) a new approach (cách tiếp cận/ phương
pháp) to staff recruitment (sự tuyển dụng)
3 The study found a strong _relationship_ between a lack of friends and sibling
rivalry. (rivally: sự ganh đua)
4 Whether you think the price of goods is high is relative to the amount of money
you earn.
5 Studies have shown that stress in adulthood can be related to an unhappy
childhood.
→ Studies have shown the relationship between stress in adulthood and an unhappy
childhood.

6 Good teachers identify the talents of their students and nurture them.
7 This evidence seems to conflict with (ngược lại với) the findings from previous
studies.
8 I am writing in relation to the job advertisement in yesterday's paper.

I’m in a relationship.
The relationship between being rich and being happy.
The relationship between wealth (su giau co) and happiness.
The relationship between A & B.

Vocabulary note
Note these collocations with the word relationship.
Verbs: build a relationship, develop a relationship, establish a relationship, form a
relationship, have a relationship
Adjectives: a close relationship, a long-standing relationship, a working relationship, a
successful relationship
Prepositions: a relationship with someone, a relationship between two things or people (NOT
relationship to someone)
 1.5 COMPOUND NOUNS Match the words in box A with the words in box B to
make 10 compound nouns. You will need to use some words more than once.

A active family maternal sibling stable

extended immediate physical striking

B family instinct rivalry upbringing

gatherings resemblance role

active role : vai trò chủ động

Family gatherings: tụ họp gia đình
Extended family: gia đình nội ngoại
Immediate family: gia đình gồm anh chị cha mẹ.
Maternal instinct: bản năng người mẹ
sibling rivalry: tranh đua anh chị em
Striking resemblance: sự tương đồng nổi bật
Stable upbringing: sự lớn lên ổn định

1.6 Think about your answers to these questions. Then listen to a student's
answers and tick the phrases you hear in 2.1.
1 Tell me about your family.
My immediate family is relatively (tuong doi) small.
My Extended family is very large.
Cousins: anh chi em ho
Our family gatherings are chaotic (hon loan) but fun.
We’re a very close-knit family. (close-knit community)
When we were little, there wasn’t very much sibling rivalry.
We had stable upbringing
Our parents play a very active role

2 Who are you most similar to in your family?

Maternal grandmother: ba ngoai
The physical resemblance between … and … is striking.

3 What do you think it takes to be a good parent?

I have very strong maternal instinct

1.7 Read this text about development in adolescence. Then complete the
following sentences with words from the text.

The final stage before adulthood is adolescence. This is a period of transition for
teenagers and there are many crucial milestones. Socially and emotionally, teens worry
 that they may not be developing at the same rate as their peers. They become extremely
self-conscious and may be overly sensitive about their appearance. Teens may rebel
against their parents but are also more able to accept the consequences of their actions.

This is also a period of enormous physical change and adolescents experience changes
in their physical development at a rate unparalleled since infancy. These changes
include significant gains in height and weight. Within a year, boys and girls can gain an
average of 4.1 inches and 3.5 inches in height respectively. This growth spurt typically
occurs two years earlier for girls than for boys and can tend to make both sexes go
through a clumsy phase. In terms of their cognitive development, adolescents have
greater reasoning skills and have developed the ability to think logically and
hypothetically. They are also able to discuss more abstract concepts. They should also
have developed strategies to help them study.

1 First-year students often struggle with the transition from high school to university.
2 The ___________ at which a change occurs can cause problems for both the
very young and the elderly.
3 It can be less stressful to make a presentation to your ___________ rather than
to your teachers.
4 The increase in violence among young people may be a ___________ of
watching too much violence on TV and in video games.
5 Petrol prices are increasing at a speed that is ___________ since the oil crisis of
the 70s.
6 Teenagers __________ rebel against their parents between the ages of 14 and 16.
7 In part three of the speaking test you are expected to be able to talk about more
___________ topics.
8 Infinity is a very difficult ___________ for children to grasp.

1.8 What stage would you associate the following words and phrases with?
Write the words in the correct column below.

crawling irresponsible overindulgent patient throw a tantrum

unsteady immature nurturing overprotective rebellious tolerant

Childhood Parenthood

Clumsy (hau dau) Mature

Crawling (bò) overindulgent (nuông chiều) → accommodate
irresponsible your needs
throw a tantrum patient
Unsteady nurturing
immature Overprotective
Rebellious (nôi loạn) tolerant
Vocabulary note
The prefix im- is often in front of adjectives beginning with b, m or p to form the opposite or to
show that something is lacking: immature, impossible. Similarly, ir- often comes in front of
words beginning with r, il- often comes in front of words beginning with / and in- in front of other
words: irresponsible, illegal, insensitive. However, there are exceptions: unbelievable,
displeased, unlikely, unpopular etc. The prefix over- can also be negative, meaning too much:
overdeveloped, overdue, overcrowded, oversensitive.

1.9 Match the phrases in A with the definitions in B.

A B
1 keep an open mind E
2 bear in mind D
3 have something in mind G
4 have something on your mind F
5 my mind went blank(trống) C
6 it slipped (trượt) my mind B
7 put your mind at ease (H)
8 broaden the mind A
A increase your knowledge
B I forgot
C I couldn't remember a thing
D remember
E try not to judge before you know
the facts
F be worried about something
G have an idea
H stop you from worrying

Reading helps you broaden the mind.

HOMEWORK
Write about your childhood (at least 100 words)
Try to use the words you learned today.
- Describe your siblings (character)
- Describe your parents (character)
-