Topics (theme)
Grammar
A. The verb
Present Time: Present Simple and Present Continuous
Future Time how to express it; differences in usage
Past Simple and Present Perfect
Past Simple vs. Past Continuous (?)
Past Perfect Simple vs. Continuous
Expressing conditions
Expressing wishes, hopes, dreams, preferences unreal times and
subjunctives
Dont have to vs. must not
Shall and should
Can and could
May and might
Will and would
relative and non-finite clauses
Infinitive or -ing?
phrasal verbs
B. articles
C. neither nor/ either or
D. emphasizing; inversions
Vocabulary
Topics
A: Customer relations:the importance of politeness when dealing
with customers
B: Training:how to ensure training opportunities are taken up by
as many staff as possible
C: Advertising:the issues to consider when drawing up an
advertising budget for a new product
Linking words and expressions
British English vs. American English differences (spelling
vocabulary)
Common Mistakes
1. Common spelling mistakes
its vs. its
their, there, theyre
ve, of (couldve, wouldve, shouldve)
to, too, two
of, off
your, youre
then, than
affect, effect
loose, lose
principal vs. principle
bellow vs. below
practise vs. practice
advice vs. advise
farther vs. further
2. Common grammar mistakes
any vs. some
who vs. whom
whos vs. whose
us vs. we
me, myself, I
improper use of the apostrophe (especially with plurals)
told vs. said
double negatives
informations, news, luggages, advices etc.
fewer/ less
more easier comparatives
Irregular past simple forms (taught not teached, drew not
drawed, threw not throwed , spoke vs. speaked etc.)
The dangling participle
lie vs. lay
When I will know..../ If I will... (relative clauses)
Whether and If
Many writers seem to assume that whether is interchangeable with
if." It isnt. Whether expresses a condition where there are two or
more alternatives. If expresses a condition where there are no
alternatives. e.g.,I dont know whether Ill get drunk tonight.e.g.,
I can get drunk tonight if I have money for booze.
Double subjects (its working the heater)
Ending sentences with prepositions
3. Vocabulary mistakes
amount vs. number
invite vs. invitation
i.e. and e.g.
which vs. witch
with vs. whit/ wit/ wheat
weather vs. whether
write/ right
were/ where/ wear
quite/ quiet
through/ threw/ thorough
so vs. such
disinterested vs. uninterested
improper use of anxious
literally, actually, like repetition & improper use
accept vs. except
here vs. hear
4. Style
Sincerely yours or faithfully yours? Best regards, kind
regards?
SMS English (C.U., U2, gr8, str8, c u 2nite, lol, omg, brb,
l8er)
What abbreviations can you use in business correspondence? (c.
u. vs. ASAP, OOO, COB, FYI) . Appropriate contexts to use them
Punctuation
