INSTITUTO SUPERIOR MUTASA

DELEGAÇÃO DE CHIMOIO

English Language Learning: A Complete Guide to Grammar, Skills, and

Practice

Author: Castelo Caero Matambo

Chimoio, 2025
English Language Learning: A Complete Guide to Grammar, Skills, and Practice

Language Focus 1: Possessive Adjectives & Genitive Possessive

Key Concepts

 Possessive adjectives:

o My, your, his, her, its, our, your, their

 Genitive possessive:

o Examples: John's book, Anna's house.

 Whose + possessive pronouns:

o Example: Whose book is this? It's his.

Exercises

1. Fill in the blanks with the correct possessive adjective:

o This is (I) book.

o Is this (you) pen?

o (he) name is David.

o (we) house is near the park.

2. Complete the sentences with the correct genitive possessive form:

o This is (John) jacket.

o I met (Anna) mother yesterday.

o (Sarah) car is parked outside.

3. Whose + possessive pronouns:

o Write questions using "Whose":

 _______ phone is this?

 _______ shoes are these?

o Answer these questions using possessive pronouns.

Reading Skills:

1. Improving reading speed:

o Skim the following text and underline the main ideas.

2. Reading an academic text for gist:

o Read the passage and summarize in 3-4 sentences.

3. Taking notes from an academic text:

o Choose a short academic text. Take notes highlighting key ideas.

Language Focus 2: Present Simple & Habitual Actions

Key Concepts

 Present Simple for habitual actions and truths.

o Example: He smokes twenty cigarettes a day.

o Example: The sun rises in the east.

o Example: She works in a bank.

Exercises

1. Fill in the blanks with the correct verb in the present simple:

o She _______ (go) to the gym every day.

o I _______ (like) chocolate.

o They _______ (eat) dinner at 7 PM.

2. Write sentences about your daily habits using the present simple.

3. Guessing the meaning of new words in context:

o Read the passage and guess the meaning of the bolded words using the
context.

Reading Skills:
 1. Using an English-English Dictionary:

o Look up the following words and write their meanings:

 E.g., "sustainable," "advocate," "innovative"

2. Inferring meanings from academic texts:

o Read a short academic text and identify unknown words. Try to guess
their meanings from the context.

Language Focus 3: Present Continuous

Key Concepts

 Present Continuous to express actions happening at the moment:

o Example: I’m having a bath.

 Present Continuous for activities happening near the present time:

o Example: Annie’s reading it now.

Exercises

1. Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in the present
continuous:

o I _______ (study) for my exam right now.

o He _______ (play) soccer at the moment.

o We _______ (travel) to Paris next week.

2. Describe your current activity using the present continuous.

3. Roleplay: Ask a classmate about their activities at the moment.

Speaking Skills:

1. Giving a short presentation:

o Choose a topic and prepare a 3-5 minute presentation.

o Structure your presentation: introduction, main points, conclusion.

 2. Questioning speakers:

o Ask for clarification when you don’t understand.

o Practice with a partner.

Language Focus 4: Past Simple

Key Concepts

 Past Simple + time expressions:

o Example: I went to Vilankulos last year.

o Time expressions: yesterday, last year, ago

Exercises

1. Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in the past simple:

o I _______ (go) to the beach last weekend.

o They _______ (eat) pizza last night.

o She _______ (read) the book two days ago.

2. Write about your last holiday:

o Where did you go? What did you do?

3. Writing skills:

o Write a short summary of a text in your own words.

Language Focus 5: Past Continuous

Key Concepts

 Past Continuous for activities happening in the past:

o Example: What were you doing at 8:00 last night?

 Descriptive use:
 o Example: The sun was shining, and the birds were singing.

Exercises

1. Complete the sentences with the past continuous:

o I _______ (watch) TV when you called me.

o She _______ (read) a book yesterday.

o They _______ (travel) to Italy when we met.

2. Write a description of a place you visited recently using the past continuous.

3. Compare and contrast:

o Compare your hometown with another city, using both past simple and
past continuous.

Language Focus 6: Future with Going to vs. Will

Key Concepts

 Going to for future intentions:

o Example: We’re going to move to Nacala.

 Will for decisions made at the moment:

o Example: I’ll buy her some flowers.

Exercises

1. Complete the sentences with will or going to:

o I think I _______ (go) to the cinema tonight.

o They _______ (move) to a new house next month.

o She _______ (call) you later.

2. Write about your future plans using going to and will.

Speaking Skills:

1. Debate:
 o Take part in a debate on the topic: "The role of technology in education."

o Practice agreeing and disagreeing politely.

Language Focus 7: Present Perfect Simple

Key Concepts

 Present Perfect Simple:

o Example: Have you ever been to Russia?

o To express unfinished past: I have lived here for ten years.

o To express present result: She has broken her leg.

Exercises

1. Complete the sentences with the present perfect:

o I _______ (visit) Paris three times.

o She _______ (live) here since 2010.

o They _______ (finish) their homework already.

2. Write about your experiences using present perfect.

Listening Skills:

1. Listen to a short lecture and identify the main points.

2. Take notes during the lecture and summarize key details.

Language Focus 8: First, Second, and Zero Conditionals

Key Concepts

 First Conditional: Possible condition and probable result:

o Example: If you leave before 10:00, you will catch the train.

 Second Conditional: Hypothetical condition and result:

 o Example: If I had enough money, I would eat in restaurants all the time.

 Zero Conditional: Always true, automatic results:

o Example: Flowers die if you don’t water them.

Exercises

1. Complete the sentences using the correct conditional form:

o If I _______ (be) you, I _______ (study) harder.

o If it _______ (rain), we _______ (stay) indoors.

o If you _______ (heat) ice, it _______ (melt).

2. Write 3 conditional sentences based on each type.

Listening Skills:

1. Listen to a short talk/lecture and take notes. Summarize the lecture in your
own words.

Bibliography

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Cambridge University Press.

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Biber, D., Conrad, S., & Leech, G. (2002). Longman Grammar of Spoken and Written
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