The Window Opposite (B2 Reading Story)
Iris works alone in a flat facing another woman’s window. A wave begins a friendship across the courtyard, until the window opposite unexpectedly goes dark.
B2 Upper Intermediate
B2 · UPPER INTERMEDIATE
You can join discussions on complex topics, watch films without subtitles, and use English confidently at work.
A1
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A2
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B1
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B2 · YOU
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C1
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C2
Start Here
All English verb tenses — past, present, future
A full map of every English tense in one place. Use this as your reference as you sharpen the rest of your grammar.
B2 Grammar · 14 lessons
Learn grammar
Advanced word pairs, punctuation rules, and literary devices like irony and hyperbole.
B2 Vocabulary · 1 lesson
Learn vocabulary
Upper-intermediate vocabulary — small but useful. More lessons coming as the site grows.
Reading · Graded Stories
Read short stories made for B2
Original graded stories written at your level — each with key words, a comprehension quiz, and a grammar tip. New stories added regularly.
Ready for C1?
Move on when you can argue, debate, and write at length without effort.
Out of Order (B2 Reading Story)
When the lift at Wren Court breaks down, nurse Priya begins to see how her neighbours live. A daily inconvenience becomes a shared struggle to get the building repaired.
The Fifth Bottle (B2 Reading Story)
A sealed bottle appears outside Nadia’s coastal bookshop, carrying an old message. Her employer’s reaction suggests it belongs to a story he has kept quiet for years.
What Is a Pun? Wordplay and Examples
Quick Answer A pun is a joke that plays with words. It works because one word has two meanings, or because two words sound the same. For example: “I used to be a baker because I kneaded dough” — “kneaded” sounds like “needed.” What Is a Pun? See How It Works A pun makes you…
What’s a Portmanteau: Meaning and Examples Unpacked
Quick Answer A portmanteau is a word made by mixing parts of two words together. The new word has a meaning from both words. br(eakfast) + (l)unch = brunch (a late morning meal) Breakfast + Lunch = Brunch — See How Portmanteaus Work Look at these words. Can you see how they are made? Did…
What’s a Hyperbole Definition: Understanding Literary Exaggeration
Quick Answer Hyperbole is when you exaggerate on purpose to make a strong point. It is not meant to be true — it is meant to show how you feel. Example: “I am so hungry I could eat a horse.” (You are not really going to eat a horse. You are just very hungry.) What…
What’s a Cliche Meaning: Unpacking Common Phrases and Expressions
Quick Answer A cliché is a phrase or idea that people have used so many times that it is not interesting or original anymore. For example: “Everything happens for a reason.” Common Clichés — You Have Heard All of These Before Look at these phrases. You probably know every single one: Did you notice? You…
What is the Present Tense: Forms and Usage Explained
Quick Answer The present tense has four forms. Each one shows a different way something happens “now”: simple present (habit: I eat), present continuous (right now: I am eating), present perfect (finished, but linked to now: I have eaten), and present perfect continuous (started before, still going: I have been eating). The Four Forms —…
What Are Verb Tenses Past Present Future: Understanding Time in Grammar
Quick Answer Verb tenses tell you when something happens. There are three main tenses: past (it already happened), present (it is happening now), and future (it will happen later). For example: “She walked” is past, “She walks” is present, and “She will walk” is future. Past, Present, and Future — See the Pattern Look at…
Verbal Irony Meaning Examples: Understanding the Nuances of Sarcastic Language
Quick Answer Verbal irony is when someone says the opposite of what they really mean. It is used for humour, emphasis, or gentle criticism. Example: You step outside into pouring rain and say, “Lovely weather we’re having.” You mean the exact opposite. Verbal Irony in Action — See the Pattern Read these four everyday moments….
