Cool Grammar Webpage

This webpage is really cool if you want to practise some grammar, if you have some questions that you are not sure about. Type in the word or piece of grammar (into the search box at the top right) you are not sure about (for example, "Whether" or "Present Perfect" or "Third Conditional") and it will give you an explanation, lots of examples and then a quiz to test if you have the idea. Check it out..

Listening

Hi Guys,

I have just come across this fantastic webpage with lots of listening practice from native speakers.

Check it out.

Arnie Soundboard

Learn how to speak like Arnold Schwarzenegger

Three Letters for English Exams

Request Info
Dear Mr Humphries,

I am the secretary of a large company based in Dublin and I am writing to request further information about your night classes which I saw advertised in The Irish Times on March 17th 2007. I would be very grateful if you would be able to answer the following questions.

We are interested in taking the Japanese course. Would you mind telling me if the teacher is a native speaker? Also, we would like to know what time the classes finish.

Several members of our group are allergic to milk so I was wondering if your canteen has any milk alternatives, such as soy milk.

Finally, I would like to know if you offer discounts on larger bookings. Ten members of our group are interested in starting the course together.

Many thanks for taking the time to answer these questions.

I look forward to hearing from you in the near future.

Yours Sincerely,

Letter of Complaint
Dear Mr Humphries,

I am writing to complain about the service which I received in your restaurant, The Blue Lagoon, on March 22nd, 2007. I have been a customer of yours for several years and I am deeply dissatisfied for the following reasons.

Although the food was excellent the service we received was appalling. We were waiting twenty five minutes for our main course and the waiter treated us very rudely.

Despite asking for a vegetarian lasagna I was given one that contained meat. When I complained to the waiter he told me he was too busy to change it.

Finally, when we asked for the bill we were charged for six coffees when we only had two. Again, the waiter treated us very impatiently.

I expect a full refund of €50 for the cost of the meal at your earliest convenience otherwise I shall be forced to take my business elsewhere.

I look forward to hearing from you in the near future.

Yours Sincerely,

Job Application Letter
Dear Mr Humphries,

I am writing to apply for the position of Sales Manager which I saw advertised in the Irish Times on July 2nd, 2007. I feel that I would be a suitable candidate for this position for the following reasons

I have lived in England for the last two years and in that time I have gained considerable experience in working through English.

Prior to that I worked in a hotel for three years and this gave me the opportunity to improve my customer service skills. I believe that this experience could help me greatly in the position of Sales Manager.

I also spent one year working in a large shipping company where I was responsible for the buying and selling of large orders.

Many thanks for taking the time to consider my application. I have attached a copy of my resume for your consideration. I am available for interview at your convenience.

I look forward to hearing from you in the near future.

Yours Sincerely,

Listening

Here are some links to online listening practice

number one

number two

number 3

number 4

Present Simple

The Present Simple is for usual actions

I usually play tennis on Saturdays

The Present Simple is for things that are always true

I have black hair and I am Irish.

The Present Simple is for permanent jobs.

I work in a bank. I am a teacher.

The 1st song uses lots of Present Simple (I am) for things that are always true.

Right Said Fred ~ I'm too sexy

I'm too sexy for my love too sexy for my love
Love's going to leave me

I'm too sexy for my shirt too sexy for my shirt
So sexy it hurts
And I'm too sexy for Milan too sexy for Milan
New York and Japan

And I'm too sexy for your party
Too sexy for your party
No way I'm disco dancing

I'm a model you know what I mean
And I do my little turn on the catwalk
Yeah on the catwalk on the catwalk yeah
I do my little turn on the catwalk

I'm too sexy for my car too sexy for my car
Too sexy by far
And I'm too sexy for my hat
Too sexy for my hat what do you think about that

I'm a model you know what I mean
And I do my little turn on the catwalk
Yeah on the catwalk on the catwalk yeah
I shake my little tushy on the catwalk

I'm too sexy for my too sexy for my too sexy for my

'Cos I'm a model you know what I mean
And I do my little turn on the catwalk
Yeah on the catwalk on the catwalk yeah
I shake my little tushy on the catwalk

I'm too sexy for my cat too sexy for my cat
Poor pussy poor pussy cat
I'm too sexy for my love too sexy for my love
Love's going to leave me

And I'm too sexy for this song

The second song uses a lot of Present Simple for usual actions. (It also has a very young Monica from friends in the video).

Bruce Springsteen ~ Dancing in the Dark

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoBgFxNl41g

I get up in the evening, and I aint got nothing to say
I come home in the morning, I go to bed feeling the same way
I aint nothing but tired, man Im just tired and bored with myself
Hey there baby, I could use just a little help

You cant start a fire, you cant start a fire without a spark
This guns for hire even if were just dancing in the dark

Message keeps getting clearer, radios on and Im moving round the place
I check myself out in the mirror I wanna change my clothes my hair my face
Man I aint getting nowhere just sitting in a dump like this
Theres something happening somewhere baby I just know that there is

You cant start a fire...

You sit around getting older theres a joke here somewhere and its on me
Ill shake this world off my shoulders come baby this laughs on me

Stay on the streets of this town and theyll be carving you up alright
They say you got to stay hungry hey baby Im just about starving tonight
Im dying for some action Im sick of sitting round here trying to write
This book
I need a love reaction come on now baby give me just one look

Recipes

Here is a nice simple recipe I used recently for a little bit of a spicy dish.

Bombay Chicken Masala

Ingredients

-1 chopped onion
-6 fresh green chillies, chopped, take out the seeds
-6 chopped garlic cloves
-2 teaspoons grated ginger
-1 tablespoon ground coriander
-2 teaspoons of cumin
-large bunch of coriander leaves chopped
-150ml of water
-2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
-400g of chicken, cut up
-250ml of vegetable or chicken stock
-salt and pepper

Step One

Put the onion, chillies, garlic, ginger, ground coriander, cumin, fresh coriander and water into a blender and blend it until it is a smooth, green mixture.

Step Two

Heat the oil in a large frying pan. Add the green mixture. Fry for 1 min, stirring all the time. Then add the chicken. Fry for 2-3 minutes. Then add the stock. Mix together. Then cover the frying pan and cook gently for 12 minutes. Make sure chicken is cooked properly and then add salt and pepper. You can serve with rice and its gorgeous.