Welcome to B1 Intermediate English. At this level, you can handle most everyday situations and begin to express your ideas on familiar topics. Grammar covers present perfect tense, passive voice, first and second conditionals, relative clauses, gerunds and infinitives, and irregular verb groups. Vocabulary grows to include education, work, technology, and social topics. You will also learn common confusing word pairs and punctuation rules that help your writing look more professional. Lessons include more detailed explanations, longer examples, and practice exercises. If you can already have basic conversations in English and want to become more confident, this level is for you.
Quick Answer A principle is a rule or belief. A principal is the main person or thing (like the head of a school). “Honesty is an important principle.” “The principal spoke to the students.” Principle and Principal — See the Difference These two words sound exactly the same, but they mean different things. Look at…
The use of “illicit” implies a judgment about the legality or appropriateness of an action, such as “illicit trade.” Whereas “elicit” focuses on the action of extracting or bringing forth a reply or reaction, as in, “The question elicited a strong response.” It’s important to not only recognize the grammatical differences—adjective versus verb—but also to…
Quick Answer Ensure = make sure something happens. Insure = buy insurance (money protection). Assure = tell a person “do not worry.” “I will ensure the door is locked.” “We insured the car.” “She assured me it was safe.” Ensure, Insure, and Assure — See the Difference These three words look and sound almost the…
Quick Answer Awhile (one word) means “for a short time.” Use it after a verb. A while (two words) means “a period of time.” Use it after words like for, in, or after. ✓ Stay awhile. (= Stay for a short time.) ✓ Stay for a while. (= Stay for a period of time.) Awhile…
Quick Answer Cite means to mention or quote a source. Site means a place or location. Sight means the ability to see, or something you see. They all sound the same, but they mean three very different things. Cite, Site, and Sight — See the Difference These three words sound exactly the same when you…
Quick Answer The past tense of show is showed. With “have,” “has,” or “had,” use shown. Every day: I show my work to the class. Yesterday: I showed my work to the class. Many times: I have shown my work to the class before. Show, Showed, Shown — See the Pattern Read these sentences. Look…
Quick Answer It depends on the sentence. Write Dad with a capital letter when you use it as a name. Write dad with a small letter when you say “my dad”, “your dad”, or “her dad.” Example: I asked Dad for help. / My dad helped me. Dad or dad — See the Difference Look…
Quick Answer The past tense of shake is shook. With “have” or “has,” use shaken. Every day: I shake the bottle. Yesterday: I shook the bottle. Many times: I have shaken the bottle before. Shake, Shook, Shaken — See the Pattern Read these sentences. Look at how the verb changes: Did you see the pattern?…
Quick Answer PS means “postscript.” It is a short note you add after you finish and sign a message. Think of it as saying “Oh, one more thing!” at the end of a letter, email, or text. Best wishes, SarahPS: Do not forget to bring your umbrella tomorrow! PS in Action — See How It…
The English language is replete with words that challenge the pattern when it comes to forming their plurals. One such word is “axis,” a term essential in various fields such as mathematics, geography, and anatomy. The plural of “axis” adheres to a pattern seen in words that hail from Greek origin, transforming singular words ending…
