English Level A1

CEFR GENERAL ENGLISH LEVEL A1

Grammar

•  To be •  To have •  Present simple •  Present progressive (for actions in progress now) •  Past simple •  Future (present progressive for arrangements, “going to” for intentions and predicting the future based on present evidence, will for decisions taken at that moment) •  Can (ability/permission) / could (permission or request) •  Must* / mustn’t* •  Would like (I’d, you’d etc.) •  Prepositions of place •  Prepositions of movement •  Prepositions of time •  Have got •  Definite and indefinite article, zero article •  Possessive adjectives and pronouns •  Demonstrative adjectives

•  Personal pronouns (subject) •  Personal pronouns (object) •  Plurals (regular, irregular) •  There is/there are •  Some/any •  Countable/uncountable nouns •  Possessive “s” (Peter’s house) •  Much/many/a lot of •  Like / love / enjoy / hate + -ing •  Frequency adverbs •  Comparatives and superlatives •  Imperatives •  Impersonal use of ‘you’* •  Basic adverbs (slowly / quickly, etc.) * •  Good / well* •  And, but, or •  Present time expressions: every day, on •  Mondays, now, at the moment, in this period •  Past time expressions: ago, in the 80s, last Monday, yesterday, yesterday evening / last night etc.

Vocabulary
• Alphabet, numbers and colors • Countries and nationalities • Jobs • Days of the week, months and seasons • Classroom language • Office vocabulary • Rooms and furniture • Parts of the body • Family members • Clothes • Appearance and personality	•  Food and drink •  Music, sports, hobbies •  Means of transport •  Time •  Weather •  Holidays and travel •  Health/illnesses •  Places •  Shops •  Personal routine •  Everyday objects (identity card, driving license, tissues, matches, etc.)

Functions

• Introducing yourself and asking questions about others • Greeting people / meeting people • Asking and saying what people do • Describing people’s appearance and character • Asking for and giving personal details: age, height, etc. • Describing a place • Describing a photo (N.B. essential for the second part of the oral paper) • Asking for information • Asking and saying how much things are • Ordering a meal • Asking for and telling the time • Asking and telling the day / date • Talking about people’s homes • Talking about likes and dislikes • Talking about routine activities • Talking about the weather • Talking about ability and skills • Talking about one’s health

• Talking about the future: arrangements • Asking and saying how often • Asking for and giving directions • Asking and saying what is happening • Asking and saying what people are wearing/doing • Asking and saying what people usually wear/do • Asking and saying how you feel • Describing objects and giving information (shape, size, weight, colour, purpose) • Talking about the past • Making comparisons • Expressing preferences and giving opinions (like / don’t like / I think) • Asking for permission • Talking about one’s holidays • Basic telephone language • Writing a postcard • Recognition and interpretation of simple notices and instructions • Filling in of simple forms, e.g. boarding cards

Useful Expressions

·  Anything else? ·  Give (me) a hand ·  Give (me) a lift ·  Let’s go! ·  What is X like? / What was X like? ·  What’s on (at the cinema/on television)? ·  To be + adjective (cold / hot / thirsty / hungry / right / wrong) ·  To be afraid of ·  To be asleep ·  To be away ·  To be busy ·  To be (at) home ·  To be interested in ·  To have a bath / shower / a break / a rest / a good journey / a holiday, etc. ·  To have a good time / a good holiday, etc.

·  To have flu / a cold / a cough / a temperature / stomach-ache / toothache / a headache / backache / a sore throat ·  How long does it take ….? ·  To be well / ill ·  To have (breakfast / lunch / dinner, a snack, etc.) ·  To be in a hurry ·  To be late / early / on time ·  To be out / in ·  See you on …. ·  Here you are! ·  Hurry up! ·  To get a fine ·  Take part in ·  Spend (time) + ing ·  I think so / I don’t think so ·  I’m afraid (sorry) ·  See you …

Phrasal Verbs
·  Ask for ·  Call back ·  Get up ·  Get in/out of (car) ·  Get on/off (bus, etc.) ·  Go out with ·  Hold on ·  Pay (somebody) for ·  Wake up ·  Turn on/off	·  Switch on/off ·  Put on /take off (clothes) ·  Take off (plane) ·  Try on (clothes) ·  Look at ·  Look for ·  Look after ·  Wait for ·  Wake up ·  Fill in

General (It is impossible to cover all lexical fields here. This section should be further developed according to students’ needs, ability and interests)

·        Adjectives to describe appearance and personality: pretty, beautiful / ugly; fair / dark; fat / thin, slim; happy / sad, unhappy; old / young; strong / weak; tall / short; hungry; ill / well; thirsty; hungry; angry; tired, exhausted; shocked; stressed; busy; lazy; poor / rich; kind; famous; stupid, silly / intelligent, clever, smart ·        General adjectives: cheap / expensive; clean / dirty; easy / difficult; late / early; fast, quick / slow; nice, good, fantastic / bad, terrible, horrible; boring / interesting; useful / useless; heavy / light; old / new / old / young; cold / hot, warm ·        Adjectives to describe weather: cloudy; sunny; windy; cold / hot; freezing; foggy; rainy, wet; damp; humid; grey, dull; stormy ·        Adjectives to describe towns, villages: quiet / noisy; industrious; agricultural; busy; crowded; polluted ·        Expressions and words linked to restaurants: menu; names of food and drink; course; waiter; knife, fork, spoon; bill; I’ll have; I’d like; Would you like ..?; book a table ·        Expressions and words linked to shopping: to do the shopping; to go shopping; can I help you?; can I try it on?; what size are you?; have you got a larger / smaller size?; suit; fit; just looking; anything else?; changing room; shop window; tight / loose; pay by credit card, debit card, cheque, in cash / I’ll buy, pay etc. ·        Expressions and words linked to giving directions: Excuse me. Can you tell me the way to …?; the (first) on the right / left; turn right, turn left; go straight on; go past the … ; you can’t miss it; roundabout; traffic lights; as far as; car park; crossroads; junction; level crossing; pedestrian / zebra crossing; flyover; bridge; subway; over there; Is there a (bank) near here? ·        Expressions and words linked to travel: catch a train / a bus; miss a train / a bus; (the train) is now boarding; platform; ticket office; information desk; gate; book a single / double room / a flight; ferry-boat; arrive at / in ·        Holiday language: to go on holiday / to be on holiday; to go to the seaside; to go to the mountains; at the seaside; in the mountains; stay in a hotel; beach – sandy, stony, rocky; sea – calm, rough, polluted, clean; crowded / deserted; sun bed; protective cream; sunbathe; tanned; deck chair; towel; (build) sand castles; night life; promenade; hotel, guest house; half board, full board; go for a walk; climbing; surfing; swimming; look for (mushrooms); go sightseeing; rent a flat ·        Talking about health: have a headache; have toothache; have stomach-ache; have a cold; have a sore throat; have a pain (in the leg / arm); suffer from … ·        Expressions and words linked to telephone conversations: Hello; Can I speak to …?; Can I take a message?; This is … ; … (John) speaking; hold on; call back later; I’m afraid he’s in a meeting /out ·        Compound nouns: alarm clock; bus stop; compact disc (CD); police station; swimming pool; telephone number; baby-sitter; driving licence; air conditioning; mineral water; science fiction; junk food; native speaker ·        Describing pictures: in the foreground / background / the middle; at the bottom / top (of) ·        Set phrases: ·        Yes, please; No, thank you; You’re welcome; Don’t mention it; How are you?; Fine, thanks; How do you do?; Pleased to meet you; Nice to meet you ·        Easily confused words: to miss / to lose; to borrow / to lend ·        Prepositional phrases and prepositions to be used with nouns, verbs and adjectives: by car, etc.; in front of; in the end; off the coast; on foot; on the phone; on the beach; on the corner; on the (first) floor; on the left / on the right; on the train; on TV; on the radio; on the Internet; to speak to; married to; in good condition