Think about these examples (just listen, don't answer yet):
Have you seen patterns like these before?
🎙 Speak: What do you notice about how these sentences and words are built?
These structures let you build bigger, more interesting sentences. Instead of simple sentences ("I studied. I passed."), you can say "I studied because I wanted to pass." Instead of using the same 1000 words, you can create thousands more by learning prefixes and suffixes.
And phrasal verbs? They're everywhere in English. "Look up", "look after", "look forward to" — same verb, completely different meanings. You need to know them.
Let's build these skills so your English becomes more sophisticated and natural.
A complex sentence links two or more ideas. The connectors tell you HOW they relate.
Comma rule: When the dependent clause comes FIRST, use a comma: "When I woke up, I felt tired." When it comes second: "I felt tired when I woke up" — no comma.
Reason clause: "because I was exhausted" explains WHY I went to bed early.
Time clause: "After she left" tells us WHEN the house felt empty.
Result clause: "so we went home" shows the RESULT or CONSEQUENCE of it being late.
🎙 Speak: Pick one sentence. Tell me: is it time, reason, or result?
1. A time clause: "When/Before/After... [your sentence]"
Example: "After finishing breakfast, I check my emails."
2. A reason clause: "[Something] because... [your reason]"
Example: "I'm learning English because I want to travel."
3. A result clause: "[Situation], so... [result]"
Example: "The weather was beautiful, so we went to the beach."
🎙 Speak: Tell me your three sentences.
You don't have to memorise all English words. Learn roots + prefixes/suffixes, and you can create thousands.
-ment (action, result):
-ness (quality):
-ity (quality, state):
-ance / -ence (quality, action):
-able/-ible (can be done):
-ous (full of):
-ive (having quality of):
-al (relating to):
Negative prefixes: un-, in-/im-/ir-/il-, dis-, mis-
un- (most common):
in-/im-/ir-/il- (before certain letters):
dis- (not, opposite):
mis- (wrongly):
ir- (negative) + responsible = not responsible. When you see ir- before an 'r' word, it means the opposite.
achieve + -ment = the action or result of achieving something. Success or accomplishment.
un- (not) + forget + -able (can be) = cannot be forgotten. Memorable.
🎙 Speak: Pick one word. Explain: what's the root, what does each part mean?
For each root word, add a prefix or suffix to make a new word. Say it out loud:
1. possible + prefix:
Example: impossible
2. happy + suffix:
Example: happiness
3. create + suffix:
Example: creative
4. agree + prefix:
Example: disagree
5. care + prefix:
Example: careless or uncaring
🎙 Speak: Tell me your five words. Say each one clearly.
A phrasal verb = verb + preposition/adverb. The meaning changes. "Put" alone is different from "put up with", "put off", "put up".
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning & Example |
|---|---|
| look up | Find information (in a dictionary, online). "I looked up the word." |
| look after | Take care of. "She looks after her younger sister." |
| look forward to | Anticipate with pleasure. "I look forward to seeing you." |
| put up with | Tolerate, endure. "I can't put up with this noise." |
| put off | Postpone, delay. "Don't put off your homework." |
| put on | Wear, dress in. "Put on your coat." |
| give up | Stop trying, surrender. "Don't give up on your dreams." |
| give in | Surrender, concede. "He finally gave in." |
| run into | Meet someone by chance. "I ran into an old friend." |
| run out of | Have none left. "We ran out of milk." |
| get on with | Have a good relationship with. "I get on well with my colleagues." |
| get through | Complete, finish something difficult. "I got through the exam." |
| take up | Start a hobby or activity. "She took up painting." |
| take off | Remove, or (plane) depart. "He took off his jacket." |
| turn down | Reject, refuse. "She turned down the job offer." |
| turn up | Arrive, appear. "Where were you? I turned up at 5pm." |
Give up = stop doing something / surrender. She stopped smoking.
Run into = meet by chance. I met my teacher unexpectedly.
Put up with = tolerate, endure. I can't accept or stand this anymore.
🎙 Speak: Pick one phrasal verb from the table and create your own sentence with it.
Create a real sentence using each phrasal verb:
1. "look forward to":
Example: "I look forward to the summer holidays."
2. "give up":
Example: "I will never give up on my goals."
3. "run out of":
Example: "I always run out of coffee by Wednesday."
🎙 Speak: Tell me your sentences. Be specific about your life.
How you write changes the meaning. Commas matter. So does tone: formal or informal?
Rule 1: Dependent clause FIRST = use comma
Rule 2: Dependent clause LAST = usually no comma
Rule 3: Lists = commas between items
Rule 4: Introductory phrases = comma
Remember: Commas separate ideas. They show readers where to pause.
| Formal (Email, Report, Interview) | Informal (Text, Chat, Friends) |
|---|---|
| "I would like to inquire about..." | "Hey, can you tell me about...?" |
| "With regard to your suggestion, I believe..." | "About your idea — I think..." |
| "I shall provide the information at my earliest convenience." | "I'll send it ASAP." |
| "It is imperative that we address this matter." | "We need to sort this out." |
| "Furthermore, the data suggests..." | "Also, the info shows..." |
| No contractions: "I will", "it is" | Contractions: "I'll", "it's" |
| Complex sentence structure | Simple, direct sentences |
| Advanced vocabulary | Common, everyday words |
Formal. "Sincerely", "appreciate", "kind attention" — these are formal words and structures.
Informal. "Hey", "Whatcha", "grab" — casual, friendly language.
🎙 Speak: Tell me: when would you use formal English? When would you use informal?
Original (Informal): "Hi! I'm really sorry, but I can't come to the meeting tomorrow. Stuff came up."
🎙 Speak: Rewrite this as a formal email. Make it professional.
Now you'll use complex sentences, word formation, phrasal verbs, and appropriate tone.
Finish this complex sentence about your life:
"After [time clause], I decided to [infinitive] because [reason]."
Example: "After finishing my degree, I decided to travel because I wanted adventure."
🎙 Speak: Tell me your sentence.
Take the word "develop". Create a noun using -ment. Now use it in a sentence:
Example: "The development of this project took six months."
🎙 Speak: Create your sentence with your formed word.
Choose one phrasal verb and make a sentence about your future plans:
Example: "I look forward to finishing this course and celebrating."
🎙 Speak: Tell me your sentence.
Formal version: Write a sentence requesting help with a work project.
Example: "I would appreciate your assistance with this project when you have availability."
Informal version: Write the same idea as a text to a friend.
Example: "Hey! Can you help me with this project when you're free?"
🎙 Speak: Say both versions out loud. Notice the difference.
...use complex sentences with time, reason, and result clauses; build new words with prefixes and suffixes; use phrasal verbs correctly; and match my tone to my audience (formal or informal).
No notes. Answer from memory. Speak out loud.
1. Name the four types of word formation we studied today.
Noun suffixes (-ment, -ness, -ity, -ance/-ence), adjective/verb suffixes (-able, -ous, -ive, -al), negative prefixes (un-, dis-, in-/im-/ir-/il-, mis-), and phrasal verbs.
2. When do you use a comma in a complex sentence?
When the dependent clause comes FIRST. "After I finished, I went home." When it comes second: "I went home after I finished" — no comma.
3. What does "put up with" mean?
Tolerate, endure, accept something unpleasant. "I can't put up with this noise."
4. What prefix means "opposite" or "not"?
un-, dis-, mis-, in-/im-/ir-/il- (depending on the root word)
Which part of today's lesson will actually help your English the most?
🎙 Speak: Pick one. Explain how you'll use it in real English.
🎙 Speak: Tell me about a goal you have, using: a complex sentence with "because", a word you formed with a prefix/suffix, and a phrasal verb. Make it real.