1.Some adjectives with -ic and –ical:
classic
a very good, or well-known, example of a category.
‘I like classic English novels, by writers like Jane Austen or Charles Dickens.’
classical
describes a formal and often quite old style of art in forms such as painting, theatre, architecture etc.
‘I don’t like modern buildings at all. I much prefer classical architecture.’
historic
very important for a lot of people; it will be remembered for a long time.
‘Nelson Mandela’s release from prison was a historic event in world history.’
historical
connected to stories about the past.
‘I also like non-fiction; especially books about interesting historical characters.’
economic
connected to economics, the study of money and finance.
‘The economic situation is not good. Our sales have fallen again.’
economical
cheap; good value for money.
‘Mostly, I borrow books from the library. It’s much more economical.’
2.Mixed tenses
Present simple and present continuous:
We use the present continuous for things that are happening now and for temporary situations. We often use time expressions like at the moment, this week, these days.
We’re staying in a fantastic hotel in Goa this week.
What are you doing these days?
I hope you aren’t working too hard.
We use the present simple for things that we do regularly and for permanent situations. We often use adverbs of frequency and time expressions like every day, on Saturdays.
I swim every day before breakfast.
Jake doesn’t get up that early though.
It usually begins around June.
Past simple and present perfect:
We use the past simple tense when an action or situation happens and finishes in the past. We usually say or know when it happens.
We arrived two days ago.
I didn’t realise before that it usually begins around June.
Did you manage to book that hotel while there was a cheap offer?
We use the present perfect in several ways.
- to talk about our experiences in the past. We don’t say when these happened because we are interested in the experience, not the time or date. We often use the words ever and never.
Have you ever been here?
I’ve never been to Goa.
- to talk about situations that started in the past and are continuing now. We sometimes ask a question with how long + the present perfect and we answer it with the words for or since.
How long has Mia been in Goa?
She’s been there for two days. / She’s been there since Wednesday.
It’s been really hot since then.
- to say whether an action has happened or not at the present time. The words just, already and yet are very common with this use of the present perfect.
I’ve already done some sunbathing.
We haven’t seen much yet.
The sun’s just disappeared!
Present continuous and be going to for future
We use the present continuous to talk about the future when we have made an arrangement to do something. Perhaps we have already booked tickets for something.
We’re coming home next Wednesday.
We use be going to + infinitive for future plans.
We’re going to visit the Saturday Night Market tomorrow.
Are you going to go to Egypt in September?
We also use be going to for something that we expect to happen because we know that it is very likely. We can’t use the present continuous in this way.
They say that the rainy season is going to start soon.
Examples of form
Present simple
• I/We/You/They swim.
• He/She/It swims.
• I/We/You/They do not swim.
• He/She/It does not swim.
Present simple questions
• Do I/we/you/they swim?
• Does he/she/it swim?
Present continuous
• I am swimming.
• He/She/It is swimming.
• We/You/They are swimming.
• I am not swimming.
• He/She/It is not swimming.
• We/You/They are not swimming.
Present continuous questions
• Am I swimming?
• Is he/she/it swimming?
• Are we/you/they swimming?
Past simple
• I/He/She/It/We/You/They started.
• I/He/She/It/We/You/They did not start.
Past simple questions
• Did I/he/she/it/we/you/they start?
Present perfect
• I/We/You/They have started.
• He/She/It has started
• I/We/You/They have not started.
• He/She/It has not started.
Present perfect questions
• Have I/we/you/they started?
Going to + infinitive
• I am going to stay.
• He/She/It is going to stay.
• We/You/They are going to stay.
• I am am not going to stay.
• He/She/It is not going to stay.
• We/You/They are not going to stay.
Going to questions
• Am I going to stay?
• Is he/she/it going to stay?
• Are we/you/they going to stay?
3.vocabulary
audition
(as a noun) a short performance where you sing, dance, or act so that someone can decide if you are good enough to perform in a film, play, concert etc
celebrity
famous person, particularly in sport, music or film
celebrity culture
(here) the lives and activities of people who are famous and the people who are interested in them
directs
takes charge in making a film and tells actors and technical staff what to do
fascinated
very interested by someone or something
five minutes of fame
(idiom) being famous for a short period of time (but not literally five minutes!)
obsessed
always thinking about or being too interested in someone or something
role
the character played by a particular actor in a film
romcoms
informal name for romantic comedy films
stage name
name a performer uses instead of their real name
starred
was a main actor in a film, play or story
thriller
exciting but dangerous story usually about crime
reality TV show
television programme using ordinary people not actors, in real life situations
personality
confidence and lively attitude that makes people think you are fun interesting
sensitive
(here) kind, caring and thoughtful about other people’s feelings
auditioned
performed a short dance, song or act so that the person watching could decide if you were good enough to perform in something like a film
total strangers
people who you have never met before
exclusive
not available to most people because of cost
massive
huge; very big
charity
an organisation that helps people in need, for example poor or sick people
Daisy goes global
musical
a film or play that uses songs and music to tell the story
London’s West End
an area of central London that has many famous theatres
cash in
to make money from the success of something
exploded
(here) arrived and had a big impact
reality TV
TV programmes that film ordinary people in different situations
made headlines
was in newspapers and the news
pop sensation
a singer who is very popular and causes a lot of excitement
hit song
a tune that is very successful
global celebrity status
fame around the world
pursue a solo career
(here) make music on her own, not as part of a group
number one record
a song that sells better than any other
version
(here) a form of the TV show that is slightly different
hosts
presents; talks to guests on
talk show
a TV programme in which people are interviewed and/or talk about a topic
rehearsing
prepare and practise for a public performance of a drama or piece of music
play
act the part of in a drama
character
a person who appears in a story
autobiography
a book written by someone about their own life
rise to fame
the process of becoming famous
an unknown
someone who is not famous at all
documentary
film, radio or television programme that gives facts about something
lead singer
the person who sings the main part in a musical group
stars
famous singers, actors or sports players
talent
a natural ability to do something
attitude
how we think and feel about something
disease
illness; sickness
fame
being known by many people
celebrity
famous person, particularly in sport, music or film
the media
television, radio, newspapers, magazines and the internet
international audiences
TV viewers in different countries
top
(here) best or most important
judges
(here) people who decides who has won a competition
gossip
talk or untrue stories about other people’s private lives
private life
personal relationships with family and friends; different to public or professional life
celebrity culture
(here) ideas that people have about being famous
damage
harm to something or someone
late
used to refer to a person who is dead
apparent
seeming to be real
teens
teenage years; the period in a person’s life from age 13 to age 19
overcome
to defeat an enemy or deal with a problem
shyness
feeling uncomfortable and nervous in the company of other people
stand-up comedy
a style of comedy performance where one person stands on the stage and talks to the audience
breakthrough
an event which starts a successful period in someone’s career
alien
a creature from another planet
spin-off
a TV programme involving characters from a previous TV programme
vehicle
a film, TV programme, etc., which shows the talents of a particular actor
nomination
an official suggestion that someone should get a prize
inspirational
someone or something that encourages you and makes you feel confident or creative
strict
tough; imposing strong rules, or threatening serious punishment if someone doesn’t obey the rules
one of a kind
someone or something which is unique
make sense of
understand
get off his chest
tell other people something that is worrying him so that he feels better
cheering up
making someone feel happier
pain
emotional suffering
hatred
strong dislike
spirit
soul, inner self