Shark Week
I will send out some handy tips and useful exercises for adults learning to navigate and use the English language each week. Please feel free to share this newsletter with friends and colleagues.
Shark Week began on the Discovery Channel in 1988. It is a week dedicated to programming about sharks. It usually airs around the beginning of July as an homage to the classic film Jaws. This year shark week airs July 7-14th.
Reading Tip
Language Level – C1
Read this article to learn how shark week became a cultural phenomenon in America.
https://www.npr.org/2021/07/12/1015232438/shark-week-history
Listening Tip
Language Level – B2
Watch and listen to this Shark Week video. You can turn on the CC to read along as well.
Grammar Tip
Language Level B2
Using Modal Verbs
Modal verbs are a special class of auxiliary verbs that are used to modify the meaning of the main verb in a sentence and they are always used with another verb. They are used to express different kinds of meanings such as possibility, ability, permission, necessity, and more.
Modal verbs include:
- Can
- Could
- May
- Might
- Must
- Shall
- Should
- Will
- Would
Modal verbs are used on different verb tenses, but they never change form. For example, could is always could – it does not change with the tense.
Main format for using a modal verb is:
modal verb + base form
Examples: might fly, can call, would ride
To express modality in the past tense, this format is generally used:
modal verb + have + past participle
Examples: may have attended, could have eaten, should have emailed
It is often used in contracted form: could’ve eaten
It is important not to get it mixed up with of. It is easy to mix them up when you’re listening to the language because could’ve eaten sounds very close to could of eaten.
Let’s practice!
Choose a good modal verb for each of the blanks in the story below:
Before this year, I __ (not) move out of my parents’ house because I did not have a job. But now that I have finished college and have a job, I realize that living at home __ drive my parents and me crazy. Unfortunately, it’s not so easy to find to find an apartment in the city. Without an agent, you __ not be able to find all the available listings. Because of my agent’s help, I found a wonderful condominium this morning and signed the lease. Before now, I couldn’t sign a lease, but now I __ because I am twenty-one.
I asked my friends to help me move because I knew that I __(not) fit all my possessions into my little car. My best friend said, “ I __ help you move next week.” He added, “I __ help earlier in the morning than later in the afternoon.” My father also offered to help me move. He __ be really be eager to have me move out!
Another friend told me that he __ (help) me move, but he never showed up. What a flake! With the help of three friends, I __ get all my possessions into the new condo.
My parents are happy for me, but warned, “You __ spend all your money each month. Save a little extra money for unexpected emergencies.” I know that everyone __ save a little extra money, but it is hard with so many bills to pay. I made a few purchases. The first thing that I __ (have) was furniture. I __ (sleep) on the wood floor, but it was too hard, so I bought a sofa-bed.
It __ (take) about a year until I am able to completely furnish my apartment. By this time next year, I __ (learn) a lot about living independently.
Vocabulary Tip
Language Level – B2
A few vocabulary words from the Oxford 3000. A list of 3000 words someone should know if they are taking the CEFR (Common European Framework Reference) language tests.
- Annual (adj)
- Anxious (adj)
- Apparent (adj)
- Apparently (adv)
- Appeal (n, v)
- Approach (n, v)
- Appropriate (adj)
- Approval (n)
- Approve (n)
- Arise (v)
You will find the definitions for this list of B2- level words in this quizlet.
Each week new words are added to the same quizlet, so all of the B2 level words will be in one list for practice.
Weekly Challenge
Language Level –
Understanding Business English Idioms
Read each sentence and choose the answer with the closest meaning to the words in italics.
1. After leading the market for fifty years, the company went broke.
a) made smaller profits
b) made fewer products
c) became bankrupt
2. We’ve got a product in the pipeline that’s going to make millions.
a) being developed
b) being marketed
c) being shipped
3. We’ll be doing a roaring trade in heaters when the weather changes.
a) selling quite a few
b) selling a great many
c) selling fewer
4. The secret to running a small business is to keep your head above water.
a) learn from your mistakes
b) stay out of debt
c) make a good profit
5. Hisense cornered the market in smart TVs by selling high-quality units at low prices.
a) entered the market
b) dominated the market
c) improved its market share
6. Selling overpriced T-shirts is the cash cow tourist shops need just now.
a) brief source of income
b) illegal source of income
c) regular source of income
7. According to their CEO, the company has been in the red ever since it started.
a) losing money
b) making money
c) owing money
8. We’ve managed to keep our business in the black for another year.
a) with more money than debt
b) with more debt than credit
c) with more expenses than income
Questions?
