U12

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VOCABULARY

Family and relationships

be close to - knowing somebody very well and liking them very much

be devoted to

be left out - not included or mentioned

be spoilt by

bring joy to

bring up - care for a child as they grow up, teaching him or her

care for

get on someone's nerves

look up to - go to someone for help or advice

take after - look or behave like an older member of your family

tell off - speaking angrily to someone because they did something wrong

turn to someone

twin, sister-in-law stepfather, second cousin, niece, sibling, aunt, godparent

Life event and choices

courage

date

making up

row

setting down

missing out

investment

mean

career path

quality time

property

turning down

pension

standing up

Compound adjectives

CA are made of two words They are usually written with a hyphen, but occasionally they are written as a single word. Here are me of the common forms they take.

ending in a past participle: high-heeled, handmade

ending in a present participle: good-looking, tight-fitting

ending in a noun: last-minute, full time

ending in an adjective: sugar-free, brand new

ending in a preposition: worn-out, rolled-up

Some CA ve a hyphen before a noun but not after a verb (e.g a well-known band BUT the band is well known)

Reflecting in life events and choices

Looking back

In retrospect, ...

With hindsight, ...

Things that have gone well

I'm so pleased/glad I ... I'm so/very/'ll be forever grateful to (person) ... for ... (+ing).

Thank goodness I ... It was a blessing in disguise.

It's so lucky I ... ... was a good call

I feel very fortunate to have ...

I couldn't have wished for a better...

Things you regret Expressing resignation

I kick myself about it now What's done is done.

What was I thinking? There's no point in crying over spilt milk.

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GRAMMAR

Conditional sentences to talk about unreal situations

Unreal conditional (or "second conditional")

if + past, + would/might/could + infinitive

To talk about an unreal situation in the present or future

If we hadn't worked together, we might not have met.

If every couple in a rich country had one less child, they would save tonnes of carbon dioxide.

Unreal past conditional (or "third conditional")

if + past perfect, + would/might/could have + participle

To talk about an unreal situation in the past

If we hadn't worked together, we might not have met.

If I'd had more children, I'd have been less happy.

Mixed conditionals: Mix the second and third conditionals

To talk about an unreal situation in the past which has a present result

if + past perfect, + would

If you'd listened properly you'd know what to do.

If I'd had children ... my travels would be limited to school vacations and child-friendly destinations.

To talk about the possible past result of an unreal situation in the present

if + past, + would have

If he was more confident, he'd have asked her out.

Wish and if only

We use wish + past simple or continuous

To talk about wishes for unlikely things in the present.

I wish we lived by the sea

2. We use wish + past perfect

To express regrets about the past

I wish I hadn't sold my car.

3. We use wish + person/thing + would

To talk about things we want other people to do or not do. It often expresses annoyance or dissatisfaction

I wish she would top shouting.

4. We can use if only instead of wish in all these situations. It is more emphatic than wish.

If only I could turn back time!