2022年9月9日 星期五

英語聽力練習 - 9

 《英語聽力練習 - 9》


【分詞構句(participle sentence)】

英文裡面的分詞構句是指,將一個子句的主詞去掉之後,再用分詞開頭的方式來簡化句型。英文裡面的分詞有兩種,分別是現在分詞(Ving)跟過去分詞(p.p.)。


例:
Hit by a car, the young man was sent to the hospital.
被車撞後,這年輕人被送到醫院。

上面這句話原句其實是下面這句:

The young man was sent to the hospital because he was hit by a car.
這年輕人被送到醫院,因為他被車撞。

有沒有發現,經過英文分詞構句簡化之後,句子變得很簡潔。


但是,你或許會覺得,分詞構句其實對於聽的人反而沒有原句那麼容易好理解,所以在使用分詞構句的時候,要看情況使用喔。


【英文分詞構句文法須知】

另外,並不是所有句子都可以用分詞構句喔。分詞構句通常是由副詞子句簡化的,它是將原本用連接詞連接而且主詞相同的兩個句子做簡化,改成用分詞開頭。如果要使用分詞構句,通常有兩個文法規則:


1. 兩個句子必須有時間或是因果關係,例如連接詞是用and, before, after, when, while, as, because, since,….等連接的句子。


2.兩個句子的主詞必需一樣


例:
Having to get up early, Jenny went to bed at 9:30.
因為要早起,珍妮九點半就去睡了。

上面這句就是分詞構句,這句的原句是下面這句:

例:
Jenny went to bed at 9:30 since she had to get up early.
珍妮就點半就睡了,因為她要早起。

你會發現改成分詞構句的過程中,since she 被省略了


到底要怎樣將句子改成分詞構句呢,基本上步驟如下:


步驟一:找到符合上面兩條文法規則的句子

如果連接詞是and...so等對等連接詞時,將先發生的事情變成分詞構句,也就是以現在分詞(Ving)或過去分詞(p.p.)開頭。如果連接詞是before, after, when, while, as, because, since, …等等,將這些連接詞背後的句子變成分詞構句。


步驟二、將分詞構句的主詞拿掉,改成現在分詞(Ving)或過去分詞(p.p.)開頭


這裡要注意,並不是所有主詞都可以拿掉,如果連接詞是and,because, since, as…等等,可以將主詞拿掉。如果是before, after,則必須看情況,如果拿掉會影響句子意思,就必須保留。


另外如果連接詞是while或是when,則可以拿掉也可以保留。


最後,如果句子是主動語態,分詞構句以現在分詞(Ving)開頭。如果句子是被動語態,分詞構句以過去分詞(p.p.)開頭。


例:
Jenny can’t quit her job because she was a single mother.
珍妮無法辭去工作,因為她是單親媽媽。

上面是原句,連接詞為because,而且前後主詞相同,可以改成分詞構句,並且以現在分詞開頭,而且可以省略主詞。改成分詞構句之後變成如下:

例:
Being a single mother, Jenny can’t quit her job.
身為單親媽媽,珍妮無法辭去工作。


例:
While we were sitting in the restaurant, we watched the people walking by.
當我們坐在餐廳裡,我們看著人群走過。

上面句子改成分詞構句之後變成如下。

例:
(While) Sitting in the restaurant, we watched the people walking by.
坐在餐廳裡,我們看著人群走過。

上面改成分詞構句後,由於連接詞是while,所以可保留也可以省略。


連接詞是and,將先發生的事情變成分詞構句

例如 John had nothing to do, and John felt bored.

John had nothing to do」→ 先發生

可以改成 Having nothing to do, John felt bored.


分詞構句使用的規則如下:

  • 主詞相同的話,要省略一個主詞
  • 在被省略主詞後方的動詞,要改成分詞,也就是 Ving 或 V-ed。
  • 去掉連接詞(and, so, if 等等)


David was tired out, so David went to bed early.
大衛累壞了,就提早入睡了。

→ Being tired out, David went to bed early.

→ Tired out, David went to bed early.

💡 如果動詞是 be 動詞,會改成 being 嘛,這個 being 可以省略、可以不省略,不省略的話更有「因為」的意思喔!

His son didn't work hard, so the old man was very angry.
這位老先生的兒子不努力,因此他很生氣。

→ His son not working hard, the old man was very angry.

💡 這個例句的主詞不同,是獨立分詞構句。獨立分詞構句不需要省略主詞,其他的規則和普通的分詞構句一樣。

The teacher was not happy about the student's performance, so the teacher asked him to try again.
老師對這名學生的表現不滿意,便要他再試一次。

→ Being not happy about the student's performance, ....... 

→ Not (being) happy about the student's performance, ....... ✔︎

💡 變成否定分詞構句的時候,not 要放在前面喔!

We will go picnicking tomorrow if weather permits.
天氣允許的話,我們明天會去野餐。

→ We will go picnicking tomorrow, weather permitting.

💡 這也是獨立分詞構句!

If I am free, I'll do it.

我有空就會做這件事。

→ If free, I'll do it.

Unless I am tired, I won't take a rest.
除非我累了,否則我不會休息。
→ Unless tired, I won't take a rest.

💡 once、if、unless 後面如果句構是 「主詞+be+adj./V-ed」、而且主詞相同的話,也可以做分詞構句的變化。
  • Having done the work, I left early.

    💡 如果分詞片語在句首表示「更早發生的動作」,要使用 Having+V-ed 完成式分詞片語。


  • When tired, I'll take a rest.

    Though having little time left, I still managed to help David.

    💡 when、while、though 也可以做分詞構句喔!

  1. Many scientists doubt the safety of mineral water and encourage people to drink _____ water instead.
    (A) boil
    (B) the boil
    (C) boiling
    (D) boiled

許多科學家懷疑礦泉水的安全性,並鼓勵人們改喝白開水。

2. The CEO's personal experience was itself a ______ story.
(A) touching
(B) touched
(C) touchy
(D) to touch

CEO 的親身經曆本身就是一個感人的故事。
3. ______ such a problem before, the CEO knows how complicated it can be and how long it will take to solve it.
(The CEO 以前""處理過這類的問題)
(A) Dealt with
(B) Dealt in
(C) Having dealt with
(D) Being dealt with

以前處理過這樣的問題,CEO 知道它有多複雜,需要多長時間才能解決。
4. Weather ______, the morning activity will be a hike in the mountains or, for those who are interested in fine art, a visit to the museum.
(A) permits
(B) permit
(C) permitted
(D) permitting

如果天氣允許,早上的活動將是在山上徒步旅行,
或者對於那些對美術感興趣的人來說,參觀博物館。

5. ______ that the boss was standing behind him,
Peter kept speaking ill of him until he found his co-workers' faces changed.
(A) Not knowing
(B) Now knew
(C) Didn't know
(D) Not to know

不知道老闆站在他身後,彼得一直在說他的壞話,直到他發現他的同事臉色都變了。



















2022年9月8日 星期四

英語聽力練習 - 8

《英語聽力練習》 (8)
...........................................................................................................................................
【實力英語】

What does a dentist do to a bad tooth?

(A) take it off
(B) take it out
(C) take it away
(D) take it over

聽力練習

I’m going to tell you four different ways of using the phrasal verb take off.

First, we use take off to describe removing clothing.
It’s really hot here, so I’m going to take off my jumper.
You can also separate take and off and say “take my jumper off“.

Second, we use take off to describe something becoming successful.
I’m going to be rich. 
My business has taken off.

Third, we use take off to describe not going to work.
I’m going to take a day off work tomorrow.

Fourth, we use take off to describe depart from the ground.
 “Take off” is when the plane leaves the ground and begins to rise into the air.
The plane will take off on time. 
The plane takes off in 45 minutes.

So, we can say take off my jumper, or take my jumper off, my business has taken off, the plane will take off , and lastly take a day off.
.....................................................................................................
I’m going to tell you four different ways of using the phrasal verb take off.

First, we use take off to describe removing clothing(脫衣服).
It’s really hot here, so I’m going to take off my jumper.
You can also separate take and off and say “take my jumper off“.

Second, we use take off to describe something becoming successful(某事變得成功).
I’m going to be rich. 
My business has taken off.

Third, we use take off to describe not going to work(不去上班).
I’m going to take a day off work tomorrow.

Fourth, we use take off to describe depart from the ground(離開地面).
 “Take off” is when the plane leaves the ground and begins to rise into the air.
The plane will take off on time. 
The plane takes off in 45 minutes.

So, we can say take off my jumper, or take my jumper off, my business has taken off, the plane will take off , and lastly take a day off.
.....................................................................................................
Hi, this is Kee from BBC Learning English. Today, I’m going to tell you three different ways of using the phrasal verb take off.
First, we use take off to describe removing clothing(脫衣服).
It’s really hot here, so I’m going to take off my jumper(穿在襯衣外的套頭衫).
You can also separate take and off and say “take my jumper off“.
Second, we use take off to describe something becoming successful (某事變得成功).
I’m going to be rich. My business has taken off.
Third, we use take off to describe not going to work(不去上班).
I’m going to take a day off work tomorrow.
So, we can say take off my jumper, or take my juper off, my business has taken off, and lastly take a day off.

‘Take off’ is a phrasal verb. This means it is a verb (take) followed by a particle (off). Phrasal verbs are tricky because they can have many different meanings depending on the context.
「Take off」 是一個動詞片語,它由動詞 「take」 和助詞 「off」 組成。動詞片語的用法較難,因為它們的意思可能會隨著語境的變化而發生改變。

1. Remove clothing
Take off can mean remove clothing. With this use, take off is separable. This means that the item of clothing can go between the verb and the particle.
「Take off」 可以表示 「脫衣服」。在表達這個意思時,動詞片語 「take off」 可以被分開,即:動詞 take + 衣物的名稱 + 助詞 off 。It’s warm here. I’m going to take off my jumper.
It’s warm here. I’m going to take my jumper off.
Please take off your shoes when you come inside.
Please take your shoes off when you come inside.

2. Something becoming successful
Take off can also mean become successful, especially suddenly.
「Take off」 還可以表示 「突然變得成功,開始走紅」。I’m going to be rich. My business has taken off.
I never liked his music, but it’s taken off quite recently. Everyone is listening to it.

3. Not go to work
Take off can be used with a time word to mean have time away from work.
「Take off」 可以與表示時間的詞語搭配使用,表示 「休假,不上班」。I’m going to take a day off work tomorrow
She asked to take a week off next month for a holiday.
...........................................................................................................................................
插入語(
parentheses):

插入語指的是: "插在句子中的一個詞、短語或句子",其作用是用來補充含義,或解釋說明。插入語獨立性強,一般用標點符號將其與其他句子成分隔開。在句中與其他部分沒有語法上的聯繫,將它刪掉之後,句子結構仍然完整。

片語動詞(Phrasal Verbs [ˈfreɪzl vɜrbz]):

片語動詞是一種慣用語,它是在動詞後面加上介系詞或副詞而形成與原來動詞不同意義的片語,整個片語應該當做動詞(多字動詞)來詮釋。一般片語動詞有三種形態:


某些片語動詞是不及物的,不及物的片語動詞不能有受詞。

The old lady passed away peacefully

老婦人安詳地去世了。

動詞 pass 加上副詞 away 形成片語動詞 pass away (去世) 與原來動詞 pass (通過) 意義不同。 pass away 當不及物動詞看待,後面另一個副詞 peacefully (安詳地) 修飾片語動詞 pass away。

某些片語動詞是及物的,及物的片語動詞要有受詞。

He asked me to look after his daughter while he was away.

他要我當他不在的時候照顧他的女兒。

動詞 look 加上介系詞 after 形成片語動詞 look after (照顧) 與原來動詞 look (看) 意義不同。 look after 當及物動詞看待,後面可以有受詞 his daughter。

不定詞片語 (Infinitive Phrase)

不定詞片語 (Infinitive Phrase [ɪnˈfɪnɪtɪv freɪz]是由不定詞和相關的受詞、補語或修飾語所形成。不定詞片語具有名詞形容詞、或副詞的功能。

從屬子句

從屬子句是以從屬連接詞關係代名詞起頭,它如同一般子句,既有主詞又有動詞的字群。從屬子句無法表達完整的思維,它不能單獨存在。從屬子句又稱為附屬子句 — 意謂著它必須依附在其他獨立子句,才能表達完整的思維。

從屬子句依其在句子裡所扮演的功能,基本上又可歸納為名詞子句關係子句 、和副詞子句



當這婦人讀了這封信時,... 然後呢?她喜出望外,還是傷心欲絕?因為它不能表達完整的思維,顯然不是一個完整的句子。如果加入一個獨立子句 "her eyes welled up with tears." 那就形成一個漂亮的句子(複句)。

When the woman read the letter, her eyes welled up with tears.

當這婦人讀了這封信時,她熱淚盈眶。

"well" 當動詞解釋時有「(液體慢慢地)湧出」的意思。
"welled up with tears" - 熱淚盈眶。


從屬連接詞引導從屬子句,與主要子句結合形成為一個複句。從屬連接詞主要是在句子中兩種概念之間提供了必要的轉變,此轉變牽涉到時間、地點、條件、讓步或因果關係。

Where there is smoke, there is fire.

無風不起浪。

若是從屬子句在前,主要子句在後,中間經常要加個逗號「,」。

Jane is reading the book that I bought for her.

Jane 正在讀我買給她的書。

若是從屬子句在主要子句之後,這個逗號「,」通常不需要。

Poverty, _______ it means a daily fight for subsistence, is humankind's natural state.

(A) as long as (B) as soon as (C) insofar as (D) just as


就貧困而言,在意味著每天為生存而戰的情況下,這是人類的自然狀態。

從屬連接詞 "insofar as" - “到…的程度,在...範圍內”。
從屬子句若夾在主要子句中間,前後要加逗號「,」隔開。

公司不再招人,因為消費者不肯花錢。
Corporations are not hiring. Because consumers are not spending.
Corporations are not hiring because consumers are not spending.

從屬子句 "Because consumers are not spending" 不能單獨存在。我們把兩句合併為一句:
Corporations are not hiring because consumers are not spending.
或是重組句子成:
Because consumers are not spending, corporations are not hiring.

從屬子句也能由下列的關係代名詞起頭:


關係代名詞起頭的從屬子句又叫做「關係子句」。關係子句有「限定性關係子句」和「非限定性關係子句」兩種。

限定性關係子句

限定性關係子句(從屬子句)與主要子句不能被逗號「,」隔開。拿掉限定性的關係子句,會失去句子的核心意義。

I always buy name brand clothes that are cheap.

我總是買便宜的名牌衣服。

先行詞 clothes 是複數, 關係代名詞 that 用複數動詞 are。
這裡的關係子句 "that are cheap" 是限定用法。拿掉限定性的關係子句,會失去句子的核心意義。

The woman who lives by the lake is my aunt.

住在湖邊的那個女人是我的姨媽。

woman - "女人" 是一般的名詞。關係子句(形容詞子句) "who lives by the lake" 強調住在湖邊的那個女人,它是一種限定用法。


_______ thought of that idea is an idiot.

(A) Whoever (B) Whomever (C) whichever

想到這個主意的人都是白痴。

關係子句 "Whoever thought of that idea" 也是個名詞子句,作主詞用。

You may invite _______ you like to the party.

(A) whomever (B) whoever (C) whichever


你可以邀請任何你喜歡的人來聚會。

whomever = any one whom,複合關係代名詞 whomever 結合先行詞 any one 與關係代名詞 whom。
You may invite any one whom you like to the party.

非限定性關係子句

非限定性關係子句(從屬子句)若是被嵌入於主要子句內,前後須有逗號「,」隔開。拿掉非限定性的關係子句,句子的核心意義還是存在的。

The scandal, which was first reported by Reuters, allegedly spans seven years.

最早由路透社揭露,這起醜聞據稱長達七年之久。

關係子句"which was first reported by Reuters"被嵌入於主要子句內,前後須有逗號「,」隔開。

Professor Chen, who is my uncle, teaches English at this college.

我叔叔陳教授在這所大學教英語。

Professor Chen - "陳教授",已經明確指出其人,關係子句(從屬子句)"who is my uncle" 已削弱它的影響力,它是非限定用法,拿掉它不會影響句子的核心意義。

Professor Chen, my uncle, teaches English at this college.

把上一句的 "who is" 拿掉,my uncle 變成 Professor Chen 的同位語,句子簡潔更漂亮。

2022年9月6日 星期二

英語聽力練習 - 7

《英語聽力練習》 (7)



wisdom meaning

the ability to use your knowledge and experience to make good decisions and judgments
運用知識和經驗做出正確決策和判斷的能力

Without wisdom a person cannot make the best decisions.

沒有智慧,一個人無法做出最好的決定。

The great Tao flows and permeates everywhere indeed ; it influences all. All things rely on it to spawn and flourish, yet it does not proclaim itself to be so. It claims no credit in its accomplishments. Tao embraces and nurtures the physical beings of all but never claims to be their master.

【原文】

大道汜兮,其可左右。
萬物恃之以生而不辭,功成而不有。
衣養萬物而不為主,可名於小;
萬物歸焉而不為主,可名為大。
是以聖人,終不為大,故能成其大。

【譯文】

大道廣泛而普遍地流行,它可左可右,無所不在。
萬物依靠它而生長而它也不推辭,功業成就而不據為己有。
它覆蓋萬物而不自以為主宰,可以稱它為「小」.
它萬物歸依而不自以為主宰,可以稱它為「大」。
由於它最終不自以為大,所以才能成就它的大。


【使役動詞 (Causative Verbs)】

使役動詞有 let、make、have、get 、help。這些動詞具有「使(某人)做(某事)」或「使(某事)發生」的意涵。

使役動詞 let

使役動詞 let 有「讓、允許」的意思。使役動詞 let 後面的動詞必須是動詞原式(不帶 to 的不定詞)。

let(允許) + 人事物 + 動詞原式


If you need any help, let me know.
如果您需要任何幫助,請讓我知道。
(使役動詞 let 後面必須用動詞原式 know。)

If I finish my homework before eight o'clock, Mom will let me watch TV for one hour.
如果我八點之前完成作業,媽媽會允許我看一個小時電視。
(使役動詞 let 後面必須用動詞原式 watch。)

較 let 更為正式的動詞是 allow,但 allow 後面必須跟著帶 to 的不定詞
If I finish my homework before eight o'clock, Mom will allow me to watch TV for one hour.

Will your boss let you leave early tomorrow?
你的老闆會讓(准許)你明天早點離開嗎?
(使役動詞 let 後面必須用動詞原式 leave。)

較 let 更為正式的動詞是 permit,但 permit 後面必須跟著帶 to 的不定詞
Will your boss permit you to leave early tomorrow?

註:上面三個例句的使役動詞 let 的受詞都是指「人」。
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Don’t let your ambition ruin your life.
不要讓你的野心毀了你的生活。
(使役動詞 let 後面必須用動詞原式 ruin。)

I shouldn’t let my emotion affect my decision.
我不應該讓我的情緒影響了我的決定。
(使役動詞 let 後面必須用動詞原式 affect。)

Let the steak rest for 5 minutes before slicing it.
切片前讓牛排靜置 5 分鐘。
(使役動詞 let 後面必須用動詞原式 rest。)

註:上面三個例句的使役動詞 let 的受詞都是指「事物」。

讓孩子有時挫敗是件好事。
It’s good to let kids to fail sometimes.
It’s good to let kids fail sometimes.
(使役動詞 let 後面必須跟著不帶 to 的不定詞 fail。)

讓你的良心指引你。
Let your conscience guides you.
Let your conscience guide you.
(使役動詞 let 後面必須用動詞原式 guide。)
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慣用語:
let go
let go of + 受詞

1. 放開,鬆手
Hold on tight and don't let go!
抓緊,別鬆手!
Let go of my hand, you're hurting me!
放開我的手,你弄痛我了!

2. 放下(不再想過去的某事或因之而惱怒)
She finds it hard to let go of a grudge.
她發現很難放下過去的怨恨。

《When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.》
當我放開我的本來面目時,我就變成了我可能成為的樣子。

What does that mean? 這意味著什麼?

It talks about being stuck in the past. What you are now is based on what has gone before. But if you stay where you are, you will find it difficult to reach your full potential. The quote says when they let go of what they are now, they give themselves the room necessary to grow into the person they could become.
它談到了關於被困在過去的問題。

This quote is all about taking risks, and about growth. It also mentions that you have to let go of what you are presently if you are to continue to grow. Like the caterpillar, you have to let go of what you are if you are to become a beautiful butterfly.

When you let go, you allow yourself to accept the changes in life. Sometimes life changes anyway, but to reach your full potential, you have to let go of your old limits, and those things that hold you in this place. They might be old beliefs, they might be old values, and they might be old places. Sometimes, moving to the next level is as much about what you gain as what you leave behind.

Why is embracing change important?
It’s not always easy to let go and embrace change, but it is necessary. As a child, you have to let go of your parents to go play with your friends. As a youth, you have to let go of your parents to go to school. As a young adult, you have to let go of your family and strike out on your own. In each case, you have to let go and embrace change, if you are to become all that you might be.

If you don’t embrace change, will you be able to, by yourself, stop progress? Unfortunately, the answer is yes, if the subject is your own changes. If you continue in a childish mindset, you can stop progress, but you will never become what you might be as an adult. Unfortunately, it’s such a common phenomenon, it has it’s own name, Arrested Development.

Where can I apply this in my life?
What in your life is ready for a change? What within you, or around you needs to be freshened up a bit? If you want to update the kitchen, you’re going to have to let go of the old layout, appliances, tile, or cabinets. In some cases, you’ll be willing to embrace this without hesitation. Other times, it may be a bit more trying.

Similarly, if you want to move on in your life, you may need to let go of some of what you think you are. I still think of myself as a bit of an introvert, but I’ve been stepping out from behind the label, as it is keeping me from what I might be. I’m not sure what that “might be” might be, but I know the introvert label and my belief in it is holding me back.
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【聽力練習】

If we wish students to write spontaneously, we must give them opportunities to acquire confidence in their ability to write.
如果我們希望學生能夠自發地寫作,我們就必須給他們機會,讓他們對自己的寫作能力獲得信心。




 

2022年9月5日 星期一

英語聽力練習 - 6

《英語聽力練習》 (6)

"Responsibility" meaning

something that is your job or duty to deal with

It's her responsibility to ensure the project finishes on time.

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【英文字彙】

instill 
[ɪnˈstɪl]:vt. 逐漸灌輸

a sense of duty:責任感

We must instill a sense of duty in our children.
我們必須向我們的兒童灌輸一種責任感。

They tried to instill such new ideas into students'minds.
他們努力將這些新觀念灌輸到學生的頭腦中去。

It is part of a teacher's job to instill confidence in/into his or her students.
教師的部分職責是逐漸培養學生的信心。

It 當虛主詞,代替後面的真主詞 "to instill confidence in/into his or her students",避免頭重腳輕的感覺。


From a young age, my mother instilled in me a sense of responsibility and inspired me to lead by example.
從小,我的母親就給我灌輸了責任感,並激勵我以身作則。

英語聽力練習 - 5

 《英語聽力練習》(5)

2022年9月3日 星期六

英語聽力練習 - 4

《英語聽力練習》(4)

Learning to think in English will make you more confident speaking English because you'll speak more naturally and fluently with less hesitation.

I can already hear you saying "But Emma, I need to think in my native language to translate! It's too hard, I don't know enough vocabulary to do it!"

But listen, that is the long, slow and painful road to English fluency. When you do this, your English sounds unnatural because the sentence structure is different in your language and it probably takes you a long time to say what you need to say because you're translating in your head as you speak. We're going to learn a few strategies to help train your brain to think in English.

So start with very simple vocabulary. When you're at home, think about the English word for things that you see around you. Shoes, flowers, desk, door.

When you're on the train or you're driving to work, look out the window and think of the English word for the things that you see. Dog, factory, busy, windy, people.

In fact, we're going to try it right now!

So, I want you to close your eyes, take a deep breath. Because when you open your eyes you're going to look around the room in front of you and think in English - only in English - not in your native language. You're going to think in English of the words for everything that you see around you.

Okay, so take that deep breath again. And open your eyes and look around you. Thinking of the English words only.

Great! Now, if that was easy, we can move on to the next level. If it was hard that's okay too! But you'll need to practise every day doing the same thing in different places - it will become easier. You're training yourself to think in English. So you can do it at home or at work, on the train or when you're at the cafe waiting for a friend.

Then you can move on to simple sentences. For example, your hair's really long or what's he eating for lunch? Or that chair looks really uncomfortable.

So do the same thing now. I want you to look around the room and make three simple sentences about what you see. Remember, no translating! You're not allowed to think in your native language at all. And if this is too difficult, go back to thinking of simple vocabulary words. Okay, so close your eyes, take a deep breath, go. Okay, if that was easy, you can move to the next level which is to plan your day in English - thinking in English. So when you wake up in the morning and you're still lying in bed, think about everything that you need to do that day - in English.

After I eat breakfast I'll walk to the bus stop and I'll catch the bus to work. On the bus, I'm going to read my book. I'm meeting Matilda for lunch today and I think we're going to get takeaway and eat it in the park. It's going to be such a nice day.

So when thinking in English sentences and planning your day with simple sentences becomes easy, move on to thinking in conversation. Now, this is great when you're sunbaking on the beach or hiking up a mountain or you're in the shower getting ready for your day and you have some time alone in your head. So there's nothing to distract you!

Now thinking in conversation is really great because you're asking the questions then thinking of answers to those same questions and also ways to keep the conversation going, so it's really great conversation practice.

Now, if talking to yourself in your head sounds strange or silly...well I guess it probably is! Get one of your friends to help. And no, I don't mean ask one of your friends to have a shower with you, that would get maybe a little bit weird and awkward. You might not have the same relationship again after that. I just mean, imagine that they are part of the conversation in your head, so when you're asking the questions, how would they answer? What would they think about the things you're saying?

As you're walking down the street, in your head you could be saying "It's so hot today, isn't it?" "Yeah it is! I wish I brought my hat, that sun is scorching! It reminds me of a week that I spent in Dubai actually. It was over 40 degrees Celsius!" "Hey are you sure that Sally's meeting us here? We've been waiting for so long now!"

Practising this skill and doing it regularly will help train your brain to think in English.

I recommend that you find a time in your day where you always do this every day. So for example, every morning after you brush your teeth, spend five minutes thinking in conversation or planning your day. Or it could be on your lunch break. Work on it every day and you will make it happen! You will train your brain to think in English so that when it comes to speaking in English, it flows.