English Vocabulary and Grammar: Money, Sports & Key Rules
Unit 6: Money Matters
Vocabulary Examples
- Can you lend me some money?
- I owe Jim $20.
- I got a discount on them.
- I thought I had a note (banknote) in my wallet.
- She’s a bit short of money.
- They made a very nice profit on the deal.
- My salary hasn’t arrived yet.
- I don’t have any cash on me.
- Could I borrow your pen?
- We need to consider the legal fees.
Money Idioms
- Cost an arm and a leg: Extremely expensive.
- Hard-earned money: Money made from working a lot.
- On the house: Paid for by a bar or restaurant.
- Splash out: Spend large amounts of money.
- Foot the bill: Pay all the expenses.
- Live beyond your means: Spend more money than you earn.
- Shop around: Look for the best price before buying.
- Go out of business: Permanently close a company or shop.
- Make ends meet: Have just enough money to live on.
- Shopping spree: A short period when you buy lots of things.
Related Vocabulary
- Request: A formal or written statement asking for something.
- Broke: Without money.
- Odd job: A casual or isolated piece of work.
- Deliver: To carry and hand over goods or mail.
- Budget: An estimate of income and expenditure.
- Valuable: Having considerable worth or importance.
- Attitude: A manner or way of thinking or feeling.
- Trend: The general course or prevailing tendency.
- Bargain: Something bought or offered for sale much cheaper than usual.
- Flavour (Flavor): The distinctive taste of food or drink.
- Compulsory: Obligatory, mandatory.
- Appeal: To attract or interest someone.
Unit 7: Sports and Achievements
Vocabulary Examples
- We were tired but happy as we finally crossed the finish line.
- The stranger became a superstar.
- …but then they made a turnaround…
- …but she was the runner-up.
- Our school team’s outlook is positive.
- The fans cheered loudly.
- They won three games in a row.
- She received an award for best performance.
- Athletes need to cope with pressure.
- Clara is always humble despite her success.
- You need to make more of an effort.
- He was in the lead during the race.
- Donald displayed all his skills.
- He was stressed about facing his opponent.
- They qualified to play in the championship.
Useful Phrases
- The vast majority live at a fast pace.
- We are well aware of the financial problems.
- Rapid growth can cause housing problems.
- That’s a very logical and valid point.
- The children were fast asleep.
Key Vocabulary
Turning-point, sportsmanship, morale, pride, curse, growth, worship, threat, speechless, display, locker, discipline.
Essential English Grammar Rules
Conditional Sentences (If Clauses)
- Zero Conditional: IF + Present Simple, … Present Simple. (General truths)
- First Conditional: IF + Present Simple, … WILL + Infinitive. (Future possibilities)
- Second Conditional: IF + Past Simple, … WOULD + Infinitive. (Hypothetical present/future)
- Third Conditional: IF + Past Perfect (had + Past Participle), … MIGHT/WOULD HAVE + Past Participle. (Hypothetical past)
The Passive Voice Transformations
- Present Simple (repair): is/are repaired
- Present Continuous (is repairing): is/are being repaired
- Past Simple (repaired): was/were repaired
- Past Continuous (was repairing): was/were being repaired
- Present Perfect (have repaired): has/have been repaired
- Past Perfect (had repaired): had been repaired
- Future Simple (will repair): will be repaired
- Future Perfect (will have repaired): will have been repaired
- Infinitive (to repair): to be repaired
- Perfect Infinitive (to have repaired): to have been repaired
- Gerund (repairing): being repaired
- Perfect Gerund (having repaired): having been repaired
- Modals (must repair): must be repaired
The Causative Structure (Have Something Done)
Form: Subject + have/get + object + past participle
Examples of ‘have’ forms used in the causative:
- Present Simple: have
- Past Simple: had
- Present Continuous: am/is/are having
- Past Continuous: was/were having
- Present Perfect: have/has had
- Past Perfect: had had
- Future Simple: will have
- Modals: must have
- Gerund: having
- Future Perfect: will have had
Reported Speech (Indirect Speech) Tense Changes
- Direct Speech -> Reported Speech
- Present Simple (like) -> Past Simple (liked)
- Present Continuous (am) -> Past Continuous (was)
- Past Simple (bought) -> Past Perfect (had bought)
- Past Continuous (was) -> Past Perfect Continuous (had been)
- Present Perfect (have) -> Past Perfect (had)
- Past Perfect (had) -> Past Perfect (had) (No change)
- will -> would
- would -> would (No change)
- can -> could
- could -> could (No change)
- shall (future) -> should/would
- should -> should (No change)
- may/might -> might
- must (obligation) -> must / had to
British vs. American English Vocabulary
- Parcel (UK) / Package (US)
- Wardrobe (UK) / Closet (US)
- Shopping centre (UK) / Mall (US)
- Shop assistant (UK) / Salesman/Salesperson (US)
- Flat (UK) / Apartment (US)
- Lift (UK) / Elevator (US)
- Cinema (UK) / Movie theater (US)
- Holiday (UK) / Vacation (US)
- Pavement (UK) / Sidewalk (US)
- Mad (UK – often means crazy) / Crazy/Mad (US)
- Film (UK) / Movie (US)
- Lorry (UK) / Truck (US)