• Simple sentences

These are sentences that have only one independent clause.  An independent clause has one or more subjects, a single verb and usually some other words.

Examples:

John saw a strange man near the entrance.
In the new year my wife and I intend to get better jobs.

Other kinds of simple sentences are:

• Passive voice:

Examples:

A strange man was seen near the entrance.
The library was built over a hundred years ago.

• Sentences with subject-verb inversions 

     • Starting with negative words:

Examples:

     Not once has he studied adequately for a test.
     Rarely does the professor change a student’s marks.

     • Starting with limiting words

Examples:

     Little does he know about astronomy.
     Only once was she late for class.

• Starting with prepositional phrases of location

Examples:

     On his desk was the first draft of his term paper.
     Off the coast of B.C. lie the Queen Charlotte Islands.

• Compound sentences

These are sentences that have two or more independent clauses.  Between the two clauses is one of these conjunctions:  for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so, or a semicolon ( ; ).  With and, but, or the second clause doesn’t have to have a subject if it’s the same as the subject in the first clause.

Examples:

Peter was pleased with his results on the test, for he had studied many hours for it.
We decided to go to the park and have a picnic.
I am not buying her a present, nor am I going to her party.
Note:  After nor, the subject and verb are inverted.
Jack was tired, but he finished all his homework before bedtime.
She‘s studying at her friends house, or she‘s in the library.
Everything was quiet, yet there was an excitement in the air.
Cindy got promoted at work, so she and her friends went out to celebrate.
The professor was very pleased; all of the students were present and on time.

Special kinds of compound sentences are

• Sentences with paired conjunctions

Not only/but also:

Examples:

Not only is she a good athlete, but she is also a scholar.
Note:  When not only starts the sentence, the subject and verb that follow are inverted.
She not only writes poetry but she also composes songs.

Either … or:

Examples:

Either I’m going to pass all my courses, or I’m going to die trying.
I’m going to either pass all my courses or die trying.

Neither … nor:

Examples:

Neither is the team prepared for, nor is it capable of winning the game.
Note:  When neither starts a sentence, the subject and verb that follow are inverted.
He will neither fly nor will he take the train to visit his sister.

• Proportional sentences:

Examples:

The harder Jack works, the better his grades are.
The more fried food I eat, the fatter I get.

• Complex sentences

These are sentences that have one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses.  These dependent clauses could be adverb clauses, adjective clauses, or noun clauses, all of which start with markers.

Examples:

Jack went to bed before he finished all his homework.
Jack went to bed early, which was unusual for him.
What Jack told me was a secret.

Special kinds of complex sentences are conditional sentences.

• Conditional sentences

These are sentences that have an “if” clause (adverb clause) and an independent clause.

Examples:

If Jack doesn’t finish his homework, the teacher will be disappointed.
If Jack didn’t finish his homework, the teacher would be disappointed.
If Jack hadn’t finished his homework, the teacher would have been disappointed.

Another special kind of complex sentence is one with subject-verb inversions

     • Starting with negative words:

Example:

     No sooner had he arrived when everybody shouted, “Happy birthday.”

     • Starting with “so”

Examples:

     So great was his interest in medicine that he studied day and night.
     So far did he have to walk to school that he was always tired in class.

• Compound-complex sentences

These are sentences that have two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.

Examples:

Jack was very tired when he went to bed, so he didn’t get up until noon.
As soon as she gets home from work, she kicks off her shoes and lies on the sofa.

© 2013 Ambien Malecot

The following expressions of quantity ALWAYS take a singular verb:

Much:                        Not much gas is needed for the trip.

Much of                   Much of the forest was burned.

Little                          Little time is left to complete the project.

Little of                    Little of the water they had was wasted.

A little                       A little more studying is needed.

A little bit of           A little bit of snow was covering the grass.

A bit of                      A bit of salt is necessary to improve the taste.

Each                           Each person was told a different story.

Each of                     Each of the participants was given a T-shirt.

Every                         Every person in the class is invited to the party.

Every one of           Every one of his trophies was destroyed in the fire.

One                             One time is not enough.

One of                       One of your reasons was just an excuse.

The following expressions of quantity ALWAYS take a plural verb:

Many                         Many people are homeless.

Many of                   Many of the songs we heard were foreign.

Few                            Few students are still in school at 5:00.

Few of                       Few of the magazines on the table were new.

A few                         A few garden plants were still alive in December.

A few of                   A few of our guests are staying an extra night.

A number of         A number of details were overlooked.

The number of    The number of errors was unacceptable.

© 2013 Ambien Malecot

ancient:      very very old
The pyramids of Egypt are ancient.
There is an ancient city in Peru called Machu Picchu.

athletic:   physically active and strong, good at sports
His son has  strong athletic abilities.
Juanita is more athletic than her brother Carlos.

attractive:   good-looking, beautiful, handsome
She is an attractive woman.
I don’t think he’s attractive at all.

available: easy to get, ready to use
There are no rooms available at this hotel.
How many chairs are available to us tonight?

Your diamond ring is brilliant.
That was a brilliant idea you had.

defective:   badly made, faulty
This smart phone is defective.  I’ll take it back to the store tomorrow.
The coffee maker doesn’t work.  I think it’s defective.

dim:      with very little light
It’s too dim in this room to read.
Dim lights are much more romantic that bright lights.

enraged:    very angry
Paul was enraged when he found out that his girlfriend cheated on him.
The citizens were enraged at their government’s inaction.

fragile:    easily broken
Be careful.  Those crystal glasses are very fragile.
Spider webs are strong and fragile at the same time.

manageable:   able to be done, doable
That problem is a manageable one.
The work I have to do is manageable.

rigid:    unbending, stiff
My father’s rules are very rigid.
As a  doctor, he has a very rigid schedule.

urban:    of the city
I prefer an urban lifestyle rather than a rural one.
Vancouver has good urban transportation.

valuable:    costing a lot of money, very important
This ring that I got from my grandmother is very valuable.
They learned a valuable lesson when they got arrested.

vast:      very large, of very great size
The Pacific Ocean is vast.
He has a vast knowledge of geography.

weary:    physically or mentally tired
After her 14-hour flight, she was weary.
He stayed up all night studying, so he was weary after the test.

Pronunciation Exercise: Listen and repeat the above vocabulary on the audio file below.

Use these flashcards to help you study.

When you think you’re ready, do the following exercise.

© 2013 Ambien Malecot

If you’re coming to Canada to improve your English, consider living in a homestay with a Canadian family.  There are several advantages to this.  First of all, you will learn about real Canadian culture.  These are people who have jobs and friends and who like to do activities for entertainment.  You will be immersed in Canadian culture.  Even the food you eat will be cultural.  Your meals are usually included in the price you pay for a homestay.  Laundry service is also usually provided.  Although you don’t have to, you can help clean up around the house, and it will be greatly appreciated by your homestay family.  They may thank you by including you in their activities where you will meet other Canadians and maybe make friends.  Lastly, your English will improve much faster at a homestay because everyone will be speaking English all the time.  On the other hand, there are some disadvantages to a homestay.  First, you have less freedom than if you lived alone or with a roommate.  You can’t make too much noise, be messy, or come home too late.  If you want to stay out late, be sure to tell them ahead of time.  You need to follow the house rules, such as meal times and quiet times.  Most homestay families will get to know your likes and needs and help you enjoy your stay in Canada.  To get the best from this experience, choose a host family that lives close enough to the school you’re going to.  Be friendly with the family by talking to them and getting to know them.  Your homestay time can be a wonderful experience and one that you will never forget.  To find a good homestay in Vancouver, visit http://www.vancouverhomestayagency.com/

Click on the audio recording below to hear the lesson.

Vocabulary:

immersed in – surrounded by
provided – given to you
appreciated – thanked
disadvantages – things that are wrong or bad
messy – leaving clothes, dishes and belongings everywhere.
ahead of time – before it happens
expecting – waiting for
rules – a list of things you can and cannot do
plenty – a lot
I can handle it – I can do it

Pronunciation Exercise: Listen and repeat the vocabulary above and below on the audio file below.

Conversation:

Wendy:  Hello.  My name is Wendy.  I called you earlier from the homestay office.

Rachel:  Yes, of course.  I’ve been expecting you.  Welcome to our home.  I’m sure you’ll enjoy it here.

Wendy:  I’m sure I will.  Is there anything you would like to know about me?

Rachel:  Well you can start with your age and where you’re from, and I’ll tell you a little bit about myself.  I’m sure we’ll learn a lot about each other over the next months.

Wendy:  When can I meet the rest of the family?

Rachel:  Not till dinnertime, at 6:00.  We always have dinner together at six.  It’s one of our family rules.

Wendy:  I understand.  I will always be here at 6:00 for dinner.  Could I give you any help preparing dinner?  My ESL class ends at 2:00, so I’ll have plenty of time to help.

Rachel:  Sure you can help me set the table.  Let me show you to your room.  It’s upstairs.  Do you need help with your bags?

Wendy:  Thanks, but I only brought one suitcase.  I can handle it.

© 2012 Ambien Malecot

brief:     for a short time, quick
They spent a brief time in Greece last summer.
I hope this meeting is brief.  I have things to do.

common:    general, ordinary, widespread
Black hair is more common that blond hair.
Soccer is a common sport all over the world.

current:    present, happening now
Their current address is 2235 Main Street.
This newspaper is not current.  It’s from last week.

endless:    continuous, without an end
At the beginning of July the summer seems endless to students.
The possibilities are endless.

filthy:    very very dirty
Go wash those filthy hands before dinner.
Don’t use that filthy language in my home.

magnificent:    unusually beautiful or big
We can see magnificent mountains from our living room.
His house on the ocean is magnificent.

moist:     a little wet, damp
I am so nervous that my hands are moist.
Wipe up that spill with this moist sponge.

numerous:    many, a lot, a large number
I’ve seen him at the coffee shop numerous times.
In the courtroom, the spectators were numerous.

rapid:    fast, quick
The skytrain is the most rapid transportation in the city.
The patient has a rapid heartbeat, so he’s taking medication.

rural:    of the countryside
They live in a rural area of British Columbia.
Rural life is much slower than life in a city.

slender:    thin, slim
Miranda is a model, so she has to stay slender.
Her feet are very slender.

stingy:    not wanting to share
Don’t be so stingy.  Share that box of candy.
He’s a stingy old man.

sturdy:        well-built, strong, solid
Don’t stand on that chair.  It’s not very sturdy.
This porch is really sturdy.  The builders did a good job.

uneasy:    feeling that something is wrong
I had an uneasy feeling when I saw the envelope.
She felt uneasy when her friend didn’t come.

wounded:    hurt, bleeding
He picked up the wounded bird and took it home.
His father was wounded in the revolution.

Pronunciation Exercise: Listen and repeat the above vocabulary on the audio file below.

Use these flashcards to help you study.

When you think you’re ready, do the following exercises.

© 2013 Ambien Malecot

A.  Adjective clauses can be reduced in the following 3 ways:

1.  You can drop the marker (except “whose”) in an adjective clause when it is followed by a subject and a verb.

Examples:
The person whom I saw was wearing jeans.
The person I saw was wearing jeans.
The gift that you gave me was very thoughtful.
The gift you gave me was very thoughtful.
The day when we met was in late fall.
The day we met was in late fall.

NOTE:    When you drop “where”, you must add: to, at, in, on or from.

Examples:
The park where we went was north of the city.
The park we went to was north of the city.

The hotel where they stayed was near the airport.
The hotel they stayed at was near the airport.

The city where he was born was flooded.
The city he was born in was flooded.

The street where she lives is nearby.
The street she lives on is nearby.

The university where I graduated is in Toronto.
The university I graduated from is in Toronto.

However, you CANNOT drop the marker in an extra information adjective clause (with commas.)

Examples:

My sister, who lives in Tampa, is moving to Seattle.
NOT: My sister, lives in Tampa, is moving to Seattle.

(This is wrong because you have 2 verbs (live and are moving) and 1 subject (my sister) but no conjunction like “but.” to connect the 2 verbs.  It would be correct to use “but:”  My sister lives in Tampa but is moving to Seattle.)

The Nile River, which is 6,650 km. long, is the longest river in the world.
NOT:  The Nile River, is 6,650 km. long, is the longest river in the world.

(Again, the subject (Nile River) has 2 verbs (is and is) with no conjunction to connect them.  If you add “and,” it is correct:  The Nile River is 6,650 km. long and is the longest river in the world.)

2.  You can drop who, that, or which and the verb BE at the same time.

Examples:
The knife that was being used wasn’t very sharp.
The knife being used wasn’t very sharp.

The couple who were sitting in front of us were from Finland.
The couple sitting in front of us were from Finland.

The painting that had been stolen from the museum was recovered.
The painting stolen from the museum was recovered.

The tool which was used to take down the wasp nest was a long pole.
The tool used to take down the wasp nest was a long pole.

3.  You can drop who, that, or which and change the verb to the –ing form.  (present participle.)

Examples:
The islands which lie to the west are the Queen Charlottes
The islands lying to the west are the Queen Charlottes.

I remember the old oak tree that gave shade to the backyard.
I remember the old oak tree giving shade to the backyard.

The cherry tree which grows next to the barn is full of fruit this year.
The cherry tree growing next to the barn is full of fruit this year.

4.  You can drop the subject and change have to having in the present perfect or past perfect.  This can only be done when the adjective has extra information and has commas.

Examples:
The Martins, who have stayed at Yosemite every summer for the past ten years,  are familiar with the area.
The Martins, having stayed at Yosemite every summer for the past ten years,  are familiar with the area.
Johnny, who had found his lost dog, was very happy.
Johnny, having found his lost dog, was very happy.
My bicycle, which had been stolen last week, was returned to me undamaged.
Having been stolen last week, my bicycle was returned to me undamaged.

B.  Some adjective clauses start with prepositions, although it is more common and less formal to place the preposition at the end of the clause.  After these prepositions you can only use which (for things), whom (for people), and whose (for possession.)

Examples:
The car for which I bought the part was a 1954 Chevy. (formal)
The car (which) I bought the part for was a 1954 Chevy. (less formal)

Jamie, with whom I used to be best friends, is getting married. (formal)
Jamie, whom I used to be best friends with, is getting married. (less formal)

The person at whose house I’m staying is my cousin George. (formal)
The person whose house I’m staying at is my cousin George. (less formal)

C.  Some adjective clauses start with expressions of quantity.  Again, only
which (for things), whom (for people), and whose (for possession) can be used.

Examples:
I have three brothers, one of whom is a doctor.
She reads many books, some of which are non-fiction.
John, many of whose friends are still living, celebrated his 95th birthday.

D.  Reduced adjective clauses can be placed before the nouns they modify.

Examples:
Arrested for causing trouble, Paul called his parents.
(Paul, who was arrested for causing trouble, called his parents.)

Running for class president, Henry has to shake a lot of hands.
(Henry, who is running for class president, has to shake a lot of hands.)

Being very popular, Julia is invited to every party during the year.
(Julia, who is very popular, is invited to every party during the year.)
NOTE: Use “being” before adjectives and nouns rather than no verb at all.

Having saved up enough money, his older brother bought a motorcycle.
(His older brother, who had saved up enough money, bought a motorcycle.)

E.  Adjective clauses (reduced or not) are separated from the independent clause by commas if:

•    they are at the beginning of the sentence.

Examples:
Coming home after midnight, Jim had to use his key.
Not caring what others thought, Nadine got a tattoo on her neck.
Positive that she was going to win the award, Julie started to stand up.

•    they add extra information to the noun they modify.

Examples:
My brother, whom I haven’t seen in years, is coming to visit me.
Vancouver, lying on the west coast of Canada, is a major port.
The Earth, which has a rotation of 24 hours, is the third planet from the sun

•    they modify the whole sentence.

Examples:
Mary forgot her husband’s birthday, which wasn’t very thoughtful.
(It wasn’t the birthday that wasn’t very thoughtful; it was Mary forgetting his birthday that wasn’t very thoughtful.)

Everyone fell asleep on the floor, which was a strange thing to do.
(It wasn’t the floor that was a strange thing to do; it was falling asleep on the floor that was a strange thing to do.)

The teacher fell off the podium, which made the students laugh.
(It wasn’t the podium that made the students laugh; it was the teacher falling off the podium that made the students laugh.)

Study this page well, and when you think you’re ready, do the exercise below.

© 2013 Ambien Malecot

A.    An adjective clause is a group of words that gives more information about a noun.  In an adjective clause there is a marker (or relative pronoun), a subject, and a verb.

Examples:
The mountain that I see is covered with snow.
(“that I see” tells us which mountain)
The hospital where I  was born closed down.
(“where I was born” tells us which hospital)

B.  Sometimes the markers who, that, and which are also the subjects.

Examples:
The man who sat next to me was very old. (who is the subject of sat)
The color that goes best with green is grey. (that is the subject of goes)

C.  The adjective clause markers are:

(The adjective clause is in bold print.)

WHO  – used for people:

Examples:
The doctor who set my broken arm has retired.
I can’t remember the name of the person who helped us at the airport.

WHOM  – used for people:

Examples:
She won’t tell me the name of the man whom she called.
William, whom she loves deeply, gave her a diamond ring.

WHOSE  – used for possessions (things that belong to someone or something)

Examples:
The parents whose daughter had won the award stood up and cheered.
The next building whose exterior needed painting was city hall.

WHICH  – used for things or for an entire phrase:

Examples:
The fitness club which they just joined is close to their home.
The clown slipped on the banana peel, which made everyone laugh.

THAT  – used for people or things:

Examples:
The person that lives in that house is my best friend.
The furniture that we bought  will arrive tomorrow afternoon.

WHERE  – used for places or situations:

Examples:
The town where he was born is located in the Alps.
That’s the scene where the hero dies.

WHEN  – used for times:

Examples:
Do you remember the time when we got lost downtown?
The weekend when we went to Las Vegas was really exciting.

NOTE:  You can also use that for times.

Examples:
Do you remember the time that we got lost downtown?
The weekend that we went to Las Vegas was really exciting.

WHY  – used only after “the reason”:

Examples:
The reason why I was late was because my car had a flat tire.
I don’t know the reason why she hates me so much.

NOTE:  You can also use that after “the reason.”

Examples:
The reason that I was late was because my car had a flat tire.
I don’t know the reason that she hates me so much.

D.  You can drop who (whom,) that, which, when, and why (but never whose) when they are followed by a subject and a verb.

Examples:
I know the person who she lives with.
I know the person whom she lives with.
I know the person she lives with.

The book that he lost was his geometry textbook.
The book he lost was his geometry textbook.

I don’t agree with the choice which she made.
I don’t agree with the choice she made.

Sunday is the day when it‘s most likely to rain.
Sunday is the day it‘s most likely to rain.

The reason why I can’t stay is simple.
The reason I can’t stay is simple.

E.  Adjective clauses go right after the noun they describe:

Examples:
I once knew a man who could walk on his hands.
Vancouver, which has a growing population, is B.C.’s largest city.

Exception:    If there is a short prepositional phrase or a time after the noun, then the adjective clause goes after it.

Examples:
I didn’t see anyone in danger that I could help.
The man over there, whose name I don’t remember, is a famous artist.
The party last Saturday night, which was a lot of fun, ended at 3:00.
My history class this term, which I absolutely love, has been canceled.

Be careful.  Sometimes it seems like an adjective clause can describe two different nouns.
When this happens, place the adjective clause after the more general noun.

Examples:
An axe is a tool that you use to cut down a tree.
(NOT:  An axe that you use to cut down a tree is a tool.)
(Tool is more general than axe, so the adjective clause goes after tool.)

The day that I saw her was last Monday.
(NOT:  The day was last Monday that I saw her.)
(Day is more general than Monday, so the adjective clause goes after day.)

F.  There are two general types of adjective clauses.  One type has necessary information and the other type has extra information.

To know if a clause has necessary or extra information, ask yourself:
Do I know what the noun is without this information?
If the answer is yes, then the adjective clause has extra information and takes commas before and after it.
Also, if the adjective clause has extra information, then you can drop it, and the sentence is still understandable.

Examples:
My brother, whom I haven’t seen in years, is coming to visit.
I know who my brother is and don’t need the information “whom I haven’t seen in years.”  Also, I can drop the adjective clause (My brother is coming to visit.), and the sentence is understandable.
This information is extra and therefore has commas.

Vancouver, which lies on the west coast of Canada, is a major Canadian port.
[I know what Vancouver is and don’t need the information which lies on the west coast.]
Also, I can drop the adjective clause (Vancouver is a major Canadian port.), and the sentence is understandable.

Note:
If the noun is a proper noun (the name of someone or something starting with a CAPITAL letter) like Vancouver, the adjective clause will always be extra information and will have commas.

But:
The person that I want to see isn’t in his office.
That I want to see is necessary information because I don’t know who the person is without it.  Also, I cannot drop the adjective clause (The person isn’t in his office) because now I don’t know who the person is.  I need the information that I want to see.  Therefore, there are no commas.

G.  When you have an extra information adjective clause (with commas), you cannot use that.  You must use which for things and who/whom for people.

Examples:
I got my first bicycle, which was red, when I was six years old.
(NOT: I got my first bicycle, that was red, when I was six years old.)
His father, who was a jazz musician, lived into his nineties.
(NOT:  His father, that was a jazz musician, lived into his nineties.)
Jonathan, whom I met at a party last fall, is now my roommate.
(NOT:  Jonathan, that I met at a party last fall, is now my roommate.)

H.  There is a difference between who and whom, which is easy to remember.   Who is used before a verb, and whom is used before a subject and verb.  However, most English speakers don’t use whom but use who or that instead.

Examples:
The doctor who set my broken arm has retired.
She won’t tell me the name of the person whom she called.
Most people write:   She won’t tell me the name of the person who she called.
or:        She won’t tell me the name of the person that she called.
My brother, whom I haven’t seen in years, is coming to visit.
Most people write: My brother, who I haven’t seen in years, is coming to visit

I.  Which can also be used to modify a whole sentence.  In this case the adjective clause is extra information and must have a comma before it.

artificial:    made by humans, not natural
This candy has artificial colors and flavors.
After the accident, he got an artificial leg.

circular:    in the shape of a circle
Be careful with that circular saw.  You can lose a finger.
He cleaned the windows using a circular motion.

daily:    happening every day
Do you read the daily newspaper?
I always take my daily vitamins .

enormous:    very large
His feet are enormous.
The Rocky Mountains are an enormous range.

entire:    all, whole
I can’t believe I ate the entire cake.
The entire school welcomed the returning war hero.

fancy:    much better than ordinary
She made a fancy dinner for her in-laws.
I think I’ll wear something fancy on my date.

forgetful:    not able to remember
She’s becoming more and more forgetful.
When I’m very busy, I sometimes become forgetful.

hilarious:    very funny
That was a hilarious speech you gave to the students.
It’s hilarious that you can’t remember your own phone number.

miserable:    very uncomfortable or uneasy
It’s been raining for 3 days.  I don’t like this miserable weather.
Everyone feels miserable when they have a cold.

narrow:    thin, not wide
His truck is too wide for these narrow streets.
Her hair is brown and her nose is narrow.

obedient:    doing what you are told to do
I trained my dog well, and now he’s very obedient.
What an obedient child you have!

plentiful:    lots, much, many
The apples on my tree are plentiful this year.
The fish are plentiful in this lake.

reckless:    careless, unconcerned about results
My friend is a reckless driver, and it scares me.
He is reckless with his money.

stubborn:    not wanting to change your mind
When she gets stubborn, she won’t listen to you.
He wants to have dinner at 6:00, and he’s stubborn about it.

wealthy:    rich, having a lot
There are many wealthy people living in Vancouver.
He has a wealthy knowledge of history.

Pronunciation Exercise: Listen and repeat the above vocabulary on the audio file below.

Use these flashcards to help you study.

When you think you’re ready, do the following exercise.

© 2013 Ambien Malecot

The International Student Identity card (ISIC) is the only official proof that you are a full-time student studying in a high school, college or university. It is accepted in 120 countries in the world, including Canada.  The International Student Identity card can give you big savings on things like travel rates, shopping, accommodations, and even entertainment.  It’s easy to get one.  First, you need to have a photocopy of your current school ID or a photocopy of your transcript or report card for this academic year.  You also need a driver’s license or a passport, which shows a current picture of you and states your age.  A birth certificate won’t work because there’s no picture of you.  Lastly, you’ll need one passport-sized photo (2×2 inches) with your name printed in ink on the back.  You can go to an ISIC office in person or apply online.  If you apply online, you have to email your documents to them, and it will take 3 to 4 weeks to get your card.  If you’re in Canada, go online to: http://www.isic.org, and click on “Get ISIC card.”  If you apply in person, you can get your card while you wait.  You can find the nearest office on the website.  The price of the ISIC is around $20.00 and is good for one year.  After a year, you can renew it.  In most places you can pay with cash, Visa or Mastercard.  Members of the Canadian Federation of Students can get an International Student Identity card for free through the federation.

Click on the audio recording below to hear the above lesson.

Vocabulary:

rates: costs
accommodations: rented rooms to live in
current: present, now
transcript: a record of the courses you’ve taken and the marks you’ve gotten
academic: school
in person: face to face at the office
documents: official papers, such as a driver’s license.
renew: make it good again

Pronunciation Exercise:  Listen and repeat the vocabulary above on the audio file below.

Conversation:

Student:   Hello.  I’d like to apply for an International Student Identity card.
Clerk:         Okay.  Did you bring the required documents?
Student:    Yes.  I have photocopies of my passport and college transcript.
Clerk:         Good.  Did you bring a photo?
Student:    Yes I did.  Here’s everything. 
Clerk:         Okay.  The cost is $20.00.  How are you paying?
Student:    I’ll put it on my Mastercard.  Here.
Clerk:         Thank you.  I’ll be right back.  Okay.  Here’s your card back.  Please sign.
Student:   How long will it take to get the card?
Clerk:         Not long.  Have a seat in the waiting room, and I’ll bring it to you when it’s ready.

© 2012 Ambien Malecot

The cell phone you used in your country may not work in Canada.  Even if it does, it will be more expensive to make local calls.  Therefore, it’s a good idea to buy a cell phone in Canada and sign up for service, especially if you plan to make a lot of local calls.  Go on-line to: http://cell-phone-providers-review.toptenreviews.com/ to see a comparison of the top 10 carriers.    Of course, you can always use a landline phone, which won’t cost you very much.  If you live in a homestay, you have to share the phone, so you need to be considerate.  Don’t make too many calls, and don’t stay on the phone for a long time.  Someone else may need to use the phone, or someone may be trying to call your homestay family.  Because you probably have an accent, when you speak English on the phone, try to pronounce your words very clearly.  Also, speak more slowly, and be really careful with those problem areas, such as /r/ and /l/, /b/ and /v/, and /s/ at the end of words.  Ask the caller to slow down if they’re talking too fast.  Also, repeat important information you heard to make sure it’s correct. Following are some words and expressions you need to understand when you use the phone.

Click on the audio recording below to hear the above lesson.

Vocabulary:

landline:  connected through wires
considerate:  nice to other people

Vocabulary of phone calls:

dial a number:  push the number buttons to connect with someone
pick up:  answer the phone
hang up:  end the phone call
look up a number:  get someone’s number from the phone book or the Internet
area code:  the first 3 digits of the phone number
make a long-distance call:  a call to someone out of your area code
make an international call:  a call to someone out of the country
make a local call:  a call in your area
take a message:  write down a message from someone
leave a message:  give someone a message to write down
leave a voice mail:  leave a recorded message
hold the line:  wait for a moment
put (someone) through:  connect (someone)
the line is busy:  the person is talking with someone else
texting:  sending someone a written message using your smart phone

Pronunciation Exercise:  Listen and repeat the vocabulary above on the audio file below.

Expressions:

Asking to speak to someone

Extension 123, please. (someone’s personal number at a business)
Could I speak to Jason Mathews, please?
Hello.  Is Jason Mathews available?

Asking who the caller is 

Excuse me, who am I speaking to?
Can I ask who’s calling?
Could (Can, May) I tell him who’s calling?

If someone is not available

I’m afraid he’s not available at the moment.
Mr. Mathews isn’t in right now.
Mr. Mathews is out at the moment.

Taking a Message

Could (Can, May) I take a message?
Would you like to leave a message?

Pronunciation Exercise:  Listen and repeat the expressions above on the audio file below.

Conversation 1 – personal:

Jason:  Hello.  Is Lisa there?
Julie:  Yes.  I’ll get her.  Can I tell her who’s calling?
Jason:  Yes.  It’s Jason
Lisa:  Hi, Jason.  What’s up?
Jason:  Hi, Lisa.  I was just calling to find out if you’re busy on Sunday.  I’m having some friends over for a barbecue, and I’d like you to come.
Lisa:  Thanks for the invitation, but I promised Julie that I would go shopping with her.
Jason:  I’ve got an idea.  Why don’t you both come.  There is plenty of food for everyone.
Lisa:  Okay.  I’ll ask her and call you back.
Jason:   Wonderful.  Talk to you later.  Bye.
Lisa:  Bye.

Conversation 2 – business:

Receptionist:  Hello, Mobile Phone Company.  How can I help you?
Jason:  This is Jason Mathews.  I’d like to speak to someone about cell phone service.
Receptionist:  Certainly.  I’ll put you through to our sales department.
Jason:   Thank you.
Sales person:  This is Paul Stewart.  How can I help you?
Jason:  I’d like cell phone service for a year.  Can you tell me about your different plans?
Sales person:  Yes, our basic plan is $30 a month for 200 hours of local calling.
Jason:  That sounds good.  How do I sign up?
Sales person:  You should come in to the store first and pick out a phone, and we can go from there.
Jason:  Thank you Paul.  I’ll be in this afternoon.
Sales person:  Okay, I’ll see you then.
Jason:  Bye.

© 2012 Ambien Malecot