English Language Laboratory

The topics included in this syllabus provide an indication of the range of grammatical items, functions, vocabulary and topics that candidates will be expected to demonstrate . These topics are specified in the descriptors for level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). 

GRAMMAR:

Verb tenses (Affirmative, negative, interrogative, short answers) 

• Present simple (states and habits)
• Present continuous (future plans, present actions)
• Present simple vs continuous
• Past simple (past events) 
• Past continuous (past actions, continuous actions interrupted by the past simple)
• Past simple vs continuous 
• Past perfect simple (narrative, action which occurs before another in the past)
• Present perfect simple (recent and indefinite past; unfinished past with for and since) 
• Present perfect continuous (unfinished action with for – visible result of an action)
• Future: future simple; present continuous; “be going to” for intentions and predicting the future based on present evidence; will and shall
• Future will vs Be going to 
• Used to/would for past habits, routines and states. Be used to/Get used to
• Would like to: to express preferences
• Conditionals “ZERO”, first and second

Modal verbs expressing:

• Ability (can, be able to, manage to) 
• Ability, possibility in the past (could, was allowed to) 
• Possibility (may/might/could) 
• Obligation (have to, ought to, must, supposed to, need to) 
• Permission (can, to be allowed to) 
• Prohibition (mustn’t, not allowed to, can’t) 
• Necessity or lack of (need or needn’t) 
• Suggestion (ought to, should)

Passive Voice, Present, past, present perfect and future forms (verb To Be + Past Participle). Adjectives (Common adjectives/-ed and –ing form; order of adjectives). Adverbs (Adverbs of manner, adverbs of frequency, adverbial phrases, adverbs of degree (rather and quite), place and direction, regular and irregular). Connectors (However, although, even though, in case, despite, in spite of, due to, because of, unless, in other words, in order to , so that, therefore, as well as, such as, yet). Comparatives and superlatives (Regular and irregular adjectives, Comparative and superlative forms of adverbs, as….. as, not so/as .... as). Countable and uncountable nouns. Articles with countable and uncountable nouns, quantifiers. Gerunds and Infinitives (infinitives with and without to after verbs, gerunds after verbs and prepositions, gerunds as subjects and objects). Direct/Indirect/Negative questions, indirect and embedded questions: Know, wonder, etc. Prepositions to indicate: location (on, inside...) / time (in, during…)/ direction (in, out of...)/prepositional phrases (at the beginning…)/ prepositions preceding and following nouns (by bus, at last) prepositions in phrasal verbs. Reflexive pronouns (Myself, yourself, itself, himself, herself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves, oneself etc.). Relative pronouns and clauses (Defining/non-defining or extra information clauses). 

FUNCTIONAL ENGLISH 

Apologising, criticising and complaining, Asking for and giving information on a variety of topics, Describing past events and states in the past, Describing recent activities and completed actions, Describing feelings and personalities, Describing routines and habits, Describing people (appearance and personality), Expressing ability and inability in the past, Talking about obligations, possibility and ability, Warning and talking about prohibition, Giving advice, Making arrangements, Making comparisons and expressing degrees of difference, Making predictions/ talking about future plans and intentions, Making spontaneous decisions, Making suggestions, Offering, inviting, refusing. 

TOPICS

Careers/work/education, Entertainment (books, films, culture and art), Weather, Environment and Pollution, Feelings and opinions, Food and drink, Health and fitness/sports, Interests and free time, Technology and media, Travel and tourism.