Ege Academy Blog

Rewrite the sentences using the words in paranthesis

1. After we finished the training, we had a shower. ( before )

__________________________________________________________.

2. Cenk ate three cheeseburgers. He was still hungry. ( although )

__________________________________________________________.

3. She first got dressed, then went out. ( after )

__________________________________________________________.

4. I saw a strange object in the sky. I called NASA.  ( as soon as )

___________________________________________________________.

5. My boss walked into my room. He fell down. ( while )

___________________________________________________________.

6. I’ll take a map. I may get lost. ( in case )

__________________________________________________________.

7. Semih didn’t attend the meeting, because it was really boring. ( so )

__________________________________________________________.

8. She woke up very late. She couldn’t catch the bus. ( as )

__________________________________________________________.

9. It was an exciting film. We watched it with pleasure. ( such…that)

__________________________________________________________.

10. I won’t see Taner if I don’t leave the house soon. ( unless )

___________________________________________________________.

Key:

1. Before we had a shower, we had finished the training.

2. Although Cenk ate three cheeseburgers, he was still hungry.

3. She went out after she had got dresses.

4. As soon as I had seen a strange object in the sky, I called NASA.

5. While my boss walking into my room, he fell down.

6. I will take a map in case I get lost.

7. The meeting was really boring, so Semih didn’t attend it.

8. As she woke up very late, she couldn’t catch the bus.

9. It was such an exciting film that we watched with pleasure.

10. Unless I leave the house soon, I won’t see Taner.

SENTENCE TRANSFORMATION ( REWRITE QUESTIONS )

Complete the sentences using the words in brackets. Use two to five words.

1. Mehmet has a good relationship with his neighbours.  (get)

Mehmet_________________________________________ his neighbours.

2. It was difficult for my mother to set up the new software.  (found)

My mother _________________________________________ up the new software.

3. The escalator isn’t working; please use the stairs instead. (out)

The escalator___________________________; please use the stairs instead.

4. Shall I call Mr.Paro for you?  (me)

Would ________________________________ Mr.Paro for you?

5. Murat doesn’t mind driving for two hours to work everyday. (used)

Murat _______________________________________________ for two hours to work everyday.

6. “I’m sorry I broke your mug” Janet said.  (breaking)

Janet ________________________________________________ my mug.

7. They cancelled the flight because of thick fog. (off)

The flight ______________________________________ because of the thick fog.

8. The summit meeting will be held in Istanbul. (place)

The summit meeting _________________________________ in Istanbul.

9. Roberto took a month to design the concept car. (him)

It ________________________________________to design the concept car.

10. My father took up bowling three years ago. (been)

My father ___________________________________________ three years.

KEY

1. Mehmet gets on well with his neighbours.
2. My mother found it difficult to set up the new software.
3. The escalator is out of order;…………….
4. Would you let me to call Mr.Paro for you?
5. Murat is used to driving for two hours to work everyday.
6. Janet apologised for breaking my mug.
7. The flight was put off because of the thick fog.
8. The summit meeting will take place in Istanbul.
9. It took him a month to design the concept car.
10. My father has been playing bowling for three years.

EXERCISE 1. Join the following sentences using “when”.

1. I worked for 15 years at the company. I became the general manager.

_________________________________________________________________.

2. Guiza gained some experience. He received a big transfer offer.

_________________________________________________________________.

3. He kissed the children. He left the house.

_________________________________________________________________.

4. He drove fast. He got a fine.

_________________________________________________________________.

5. My father became the manager of the tennis club. He changed nearly all the rules.

__________________________________________________________________.

6. We moved to a different town. My brother found a new job.

__________________________________________________________________.

EXERCISE 2. PUT THE VERBS IN BRACKETS INTO THEIR “SIMPLE PAST, PAST PERFECT” OR “PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS” FORMS

1. I ______________ (never find) where Aylin ____________ (hide) my diary.

2. Seda ___________ (look) a lot healthier because she ___________ (give up) smoking.

3. They __________ (feel) too tired since they ___________ (do) exercise for so long.

4. I arrived at the train station and I suddenly ___________ (realise) that I ___________(leave) the TV and DVD player on.

5. After Cenk _____________ (work) on the reports for about an hour, he__________ (stop) and __________(decide) to go out to get some fresh air.

6. Most of the fields and farm houses ___________ (be) under water as it __________(rain) heavily all day long.

7. Most of the doctors we ___________(invite) to the congress came, but the one who was supposed to make a presentation __________ (appear).

8. As Ferit ___________(forget) to buy the batteries, I _________(get) furious.

EXERCISE. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of  can / have to / be able to

A) Aysel has been pregnant for three months now. Her doctor, Mr.Tuna, says she ___________ (1) have a big breakfast from now on as she is very thin and __________ (2) walk at least 25 minutes everyday but she __________(3) attend her aerobics class anymore because that may be dangerous for her baby. Aysel says she goes out a lot with her husband Kemal these days because as soon as she has her baby she __________ (4) go out a lot, she ____________(5) spend a lot of time with her new born baby then.

B) Roberto Carlos has just stopped football so from now on he ____________ (1) do training any more. He ___________(2) travel to other countries and have a chance to visit his relatives in Brazil. He __________(3)be a coach for his team but first he ___________ (4) take coaching classes and degree. What makes him so unhappy is that he __________ (5) play football with his team mates as much as he used to.

C) I made up my mind and finally left my job last week. In my former job I ___________(1) work 40 hours a week so I __________ (2) spend a lot of time for myself and I _________(3) wear a suit and tie but now where I work is really different. I only ___________(4) work 20 hours a week so I ___________(5) have some free time for my friends and at the same time I ___________(6) wear a suit and tie. I __________(7) wear my favorite jeans and t-shirts. In my former job I __________(8) use my Chinese but now I __________(9) since my new company does business with Chinese people.

ANSWER KEY

PART 1

1. is thinking of  2. am staying  3. is becoming  4. depends  5. barks

PART 2.

6. b  7. c  8. c  9. a  10. d

PART C

11. already  12. While  13. since  14. ago / for  15. for

GRAMMAR TEST 1 (test your grammar)

PART A. Underline the correct form of the tenses.

1. My father thought / is thinking of setting up a new business but he hasn’t decided yet.

2. Since I’m having my house redecorated, I am staying / stay at a cheap hotel this month.

3. Air transportation has become / is becoming cheaper and cheaper nowadays.

4. Whether Güiza play against Arsenal on Tuesday is depending / depends on his condition.

5. My dog’s only bad habit is that it is barking / barks too much at night.

PART B. Choose the correct form of the verbs.

6. This time last summer Tarkan _______________ for the concert in Antalya.

a. has prepared  b. was preparing  c. has been preparing  d. was prepare

7. By the time Merve called, Ozan __________ the house, so she had no reply.

a. has left  b. was leaving  c. had left  d. left

8. When the earthquake hit my hometown, I __________ to the USA for business.

a. flied  b. had flown  c. was flying  d. have flown.

9. After three hours of questioning she admitted that she __________ the money from the manager’s office.

a. had stolen  b. has stolen  c. was stealing  d. had stole

10. When Fenerbahçe transferred Roberto Carlos in 2007, Alex ___________ for Fenerbahçe for 3 years.

a. has been playing  b. played  c. was playing  d. had been playing

PART C. Choose the correct word.

11. I’ve ___________ eaten two hamburgers and I don’t want to eat anyhing.

a. still  b. yet  c. before  d. already

12. __________ I was having holiday in Cunda, Ayvalik, I ran into my ex girlfriend.

a. Until  b. While  c. Since  d. Before

13. My hometown Karsiyaka has changed a lot __________ I moved to Istanbul.

a. after  b. during  c. since  d. for

14. I really had a serious accident three years _______ and I couldn’t drive _______ five weeks.

a. before / for  b. later / since  c. ago / yet  d. ago / for

15. She has been going out with Demir __________ three months and she is very happy at the moment.

a. since  b. ago  c. until  d. for

***Answers will be in the next post in the ANSWER KEY section.

IELTS ACADEMIC WRITING

In this part you have two writing tasks and 60 minutes.

TASK 1: you should spend 20 minutes. ( at least 150 words )

TASK 2: you should spend 40 minutes. ( at least 250 words )

TASK 1

In this task you look at a diagram, a table, or short piece of text and present the information given in your own words.

Your paper will be evaluated by checking your skill to

- organise, present and compare data.

- describe the stages of a process.

- describe an object or an event.

- explain how something works.

Your ability to

• answer the question without straying from the topic
• write in a way which allows your reader to follow your ideas
• use English grammar correctly
• use appropriate language in terms of style and content

will also be evaluated.

TASK 2

In the second task you present an argument or discuss a problem.

Criteria

• your ability to present the solution to a problem.
• your ability to justify an opinion
• your ability compare and contrast evidence and opinions.
• your evaluate and challenge ideas, evidence, or an argument

ACADEMIC READING MODULE

• There are 3 reading passages you must read. Passages contain nearly 1500-2500 words.
• There are between 38 and 42 questions.

• You have 60 minutes to complete the reading part.

WHAT DO WE READ? ( Types of material )

You will face various articles from magazines, newspapers, journals and textbooks.

TYPES OF QUESTIONS

• multple choice
• short answer question
• sentence completion
• choosing from a bank of headings
• identification of writer’s views or attitudes ( Yes / No / Not given )
• classification
• matching lists
• matching phrases

IELTS exam consists 4 different parts.

Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking are the four parts of the test.

LISTENING PART ( 4 different sections. 30 min. )

• In this part you must listen to 4 different sections and answer the questions as you listen
• The tape will be played once only.
• This part consists of between 38 and 42 questions. It takes about 30 minutes.
• You will be given time to read the questions during the test and time to write them on to the answer sheet at the end of the test.

FIRST TWO SECTIONS OF THE LISTENING PART are based on SOCIAL SITUATIONS

• Converstaion between two people
• Monologue

THE SECOND TWO SECTIONS are based on EDUCATIONAL or TRAINING context

• Conversation with up to 4 speakers.
• Lecture or talk of general academic interest.

WHAT ARE THE QUESTION TYPES?

You will be asked;

• multiple choice questions
• short answer questions
• sentence completion ( summary, notes, table completion, flow chart )
• labelling a diagram which has numbered parts
• matching questions.

MODAL VERBS showing ABILITY

CAN = BE ABLE TO

We use ‘can’ or ‘be able to’ to express present ability.

Check these sentences.

I can drive a car. = I’m able to drive a car.

She can cook Turkish dishes very well. = She’s able to cook Turkish dishes very well.

Nilay can repair a bike. = Nilay is able to repair a bike.

Although my grandfather is old, he can climb a mountain.

She can’t swim fast. = She isn’t able to swim fast.

Sedat and Murat can’t speak French. = They aren’t able to speak French.

( ? )

Can you ride a camel? = Are you able to ride a camel?

Can she use a typewriter? = Is she able to use a typewriter?

Can Will and Jack translate this article? = Are Will and Jack able to translate this article?

can and be able to have the same meaning. They both express present ABILITY.

We often use ‘be able to’ in written English.

PAST ABILITY

Past form of can is COULD.

Check these sentences.

When Dora was a child, he could climb the trees easily.

My grandfather could speak seven languages.

I couldn’t swim when I was 12.

ATTENTION!!!!!

****could and was/were able to don’t have the same meaning.****

• ‘could’ shows a general ability in the past. ( I could swim when I was a child )

• BUT

• was / were able to shows an ability in one single event in the past.

Although Alex didn’t play well in the last match, he was able to score two great goals. ( This is an ability in a single event. )

There was a fire at Hilton Hotel yesterday. Fortunately, the firefighters came on time and they were able to put out the fire.

I always beat Murat in tennis. However in the last game he was able to beat me.

was / were able to = managed to

As soon as she understood what the problem was, she managed to repair it.

Fenerbahçe managed to beat Chelsea in Istanbul last year. (ability in single event)

couldn’t = wasn’t / weren’t able to

**There is no difference in meaning with the negative forms.