English vocabulary lessons

Vocabulary

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Focused vocabulary lessons, including six advanced lessons, and a vocabulary test are ready to use. Choose a focused activity, make the language personal and return for regular review.

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The woman drives an open-top sports car, hands naturally on the wheel, with Denis beside her.

MULTILINGUALA1–B2AudioEveryday verbs: 21–40I travel. Viajo. Je voyage. Viaggio.

Denis gives the blonde woman a small wrapped gift.

MULTILINGUALA1–B2AudioEveryday verbs: 1–20I go. Voy. Je vais. Vado.

100-word vocabulary lessons

A1 · 10 lessons

My family and the people I knowA1 · 100 entriesMy everyday worldfamily · friend · window Greetings and family introductionsA1 · 100 entriesMeeting people and sharing detailshello · date of birth · English The calendarA1 · 100 entriesTime and daily routinesWednesday · clock · last weekend Getting dressedA1 · 100 entriesClothes, bodies and descriptionsdress · shoulder · beautiful Shopping and choosingA1 · 100 entriesShopping, numbers and amountsbag · ten · cheap Around town and in public buildingsA1 · 100 entriesGetting around townbus stop · ride · here Everyday foodA1 · 100 entriesFood, meals and going outmeal · lemonade · make tea Games, hobbies and sportA1 · 100 entriesSchool, sport and free timetable tennis · watch a show · art Weather and seasonsA1 · 100 entriesWeather, home and the outdoorsweather · leaf · sheep How you feelA1 · 100 entriesFeelings, needs and simple conversationsexcited · it's all right · like

A2 · 20 lessons

Household Tasks and ManagementA2 · 100 entriesGetting Things Donelazy · customer · get in Cleaning actionsA2 · 100 entriesLooking After Your Homesweep the floor · clothes peg · throw out Preparing ingredientsA2 · 100 entriesPreparing a Simple Mealadd to · toast · mushroom Menus and coursesA2 · 100 entriesEating Out and Ordering Foodmain course · could I have · that's enough, thanks Comparing productsA2 · 100 entriesBuying, exchanging and returningchoice · right size · sale Routes and connectionsA2 · 100 entriesTravelling by Public Transportdirection · child fare · underground Planning a stayA2 · 100 entriesHolidays and Accommodationper night · private bathroom · take someone's coat Describing Symptoms and FeelingsA2 · 100 entriesHealth and Everyday Caremedicine · GP surgery · cards Study materialsA2 · 100 entriesLearning and Classroom Lifeworksheet · fill in the gaps · on time Public Facilities and ServicesA2 · 100 entriesNeighbourhoods and Local Servicescommunity centre · shopping centre · fact Common occupationsA2 · 100 entriesJobs and the Working Dayoffice worker · department · plant flowers Calling and messagingA2 · 100 entriesMessages Phones and Online Taskssend a text · save · use my name Invitations and repliesA2 · 100 entriesMaking Plans with Friendsjoin us · main entrance · outing Family connectionsA2 · 100 entriesFamily Life and Celebrationsdivorced · move house · paper plates Shape and sizeA2 · 100 entriesDescribing Objects and Materialsround · painted · ability Sports and venuesA2 · 100 entriesSports Fitness and Equipmentteam sport · racket · a small step Instruments and soundA2 · 100 entriesMusic Entertainment and Eventsinstrument · pianist · away game Animal features and careA2 · 100 entriesAnimals Gardens and Outdoor Lifewild animal · plant pot · feed the birds Forecasts and conditionsA2 · 100 entriesWeather Changes and Seasonal Activitiestemperature · carry water · pyjamas Life experiencesA2 · 100 entriesPast Experiences and Future Plansgive a talk · return home · lack of time

B1 · 30 lessons

Positive qualitiesB1 · 100 entriesPeople, feelings and relationshipsconfident · competitive · grateful Meeting and connectingB1 · 100 entriesStarting and Maintaining Friendshipsmeet through · get back in touch · do you fancy …?Household Roles and ResponsibilitiesB1 · 100 entriesFamily Responsibilities and Life Changeshousehold member · put someone first · unfair assumption Property descriptionsB1 · 100 entriesFinding a Home and Moving Inproperty · access · split the bills Faults and damageB1 · 100 entriesRepairs Maintenance and Household Problemsscratch · location of the fault · cashier Roles and dutiesB1 · 100 entriesWork and Career Choicesbe in charge of · accept an offer · work alongside Learning Goals and AspirationsB1 · 100 entriesLearning Skills and Making Progresslearning goal · mind map · suggest an alternative Priorities and tasksB1 · 100 entriesOrganising Time and Commitmentsone thing at a time · fully booked · mute notifications Devices, connections and accountsB1 · 100 entriesExplaining Everyday Technology Problemsdevice · scroll · technical Stating a viewB1 · 100 entriesOpinions Reasons and Everyday DecisionsI tend to think · after all · personal choice Travel arrangementsB1 · 100 entriesTravel Experiences and Disruptionsdestination · connecting flight · miss a connection Income and spendingB1 · 100 entriesMoney Budgets and Everyday Bankingspending · worth saving for · PIN Product Features and Consumer ChoicesB1 · 100 entriesShopping Choices and Consumer Problemsversion · quality · confirm delivery Ingredients and food preferencesB1 · 100 entriesFood Habits and Cooking for Othersingredient · takeaway · frying pan Daily health habitsB1 · 100 entriesHealth Habits and Wellbeingbalanced diet · keep you awake · limp Training and preparationB1 · 100 entriesSport Competition and Achievementtraining plan · kick-off · advanced Genres and settingsB1 · 100 entriesFilms Television and Storiesdocumentary · detective · chase Making and practising musicB1 · 100 entriesMusic Performance and Creative Hobbiesnote · opening night · steel People and eventsB1 · 100 entriesNews and Community Eventscouncil · quote · truth Habitats and speciesB1 · 100 entriesNature Wildlife and Environmental Habitshabitat · keep a distance · plastic waste Public spacesB1 · 100 entriesCity Life and Local Improvementspedestrian zone · rubbish collection · busy junction Welcoming visitors and describing accommodationB1 · 100 entriesVisitors Customs and Cultural Experienceshave company · bow · guided walk Setting intentionsB1 · 100 entriesPlans Ambitions and Personal Goalsintend to · research a course · higher education Recognising mistakesB1 · 100 entriesMistakes Apologies and Solving Disagreementsmisread · on purpose · apologise sincerely Asking for assistanceB1 · 100 entriesRequests Offers and Everyday Negotiationgive someone a hand · drop someone off · block Planning an eventB1 · 100 entriesEvents Parties and Group Activitiesprogramme · divide the work · campsite Appearance in contextB1 · 100 entriesDescribing Appearance Behaviour and Habitsresemble · backwards · get into Signs of wearB1 · 100 entriesObjects Wear Storage and Repairsin poor condition · matching pair · plastic packaging Degrees of certaintyB1 · 100 entriesCertainty Possibility and Expectationsabsolutely sure · sooner or later · risk Setting the sceneB1 · 100 entriesTelling Anecdotes and Explaining Experiencesthe other day · just as · slip

B2 · 30 lessons

Responsibility and organisationB2 · 100 entriesWork Decisions and Progressobligation · supervision · from another angle Applications and selectionB2 · 100 entriesRecruitment Careers and Professional Identityapplicant · adaptability · hand in your notice Roles and contributionsB2 · 100 entriesTeamwork and Collaborationsupporting role · agree priorities · handover Agendas and preparationB2 · 100 entriesMeetings Presentations and Follow Upagenda item · contribution · poster session Scope and planningB2 · 100 entriesProjects Deadlines and Deliveryproject plan · funding · still outstanding Interests and positionsB2 · 100 entriesNegotiating Agreements and Prioritiesunderlying interest · revise the figures · adjustment Evaluating workB2 · 100 entriesFeedback Performance and Improvementmeet a standard · balanced view · turn-taking Collecting informationB2 · 100 entriesEvidence Information and Informed Decisionsdocument · overlap · transparent Mixed emotionsB2 · 100 entriesComplex Feelings and Emotional Responsesmixed feelings · a lot at stake · just my luck Intent and interpretationB2 · 100 entriesCommunication Misunderstandings and Conflictliteral meaning · conflicting instructions · get defensive Leading and supportingB2 · 100 entriesLeadership and Motivationgive guidance · build momentum · parent company Business activitiesB2 · 100 entriesBusiness Customers and Servicesmanufacturer · buying habit · counter Personal financial prioritiesB2 · 100 entriesMoney Spending and Financial Choicesfinancial priority · loan term · cover the cost Housing choicesB2 · 100 entriesHousing Neighbourhoods and Quality of Liferental property · insulation · lift living standards Health informationB2 · 100 entriesHealth Fitness and Lifestyle Choicesmake an informed choice · prioritise rest · bear weight Learning environmentsB2 · 100 entriesEducation Learning and Opportunitylearning environment · specialist training · educational access Media Formats and TechniquesB2 · 100 entriesMedia Advertising and Persuasionfeature article · celebrity endorsement · emphasis Digital participationB2 · 100 entriesDigital Life Privacy and Online Behaviourfollower · withdraw consent · communicate risk Scientific processesB2 · 100 entriesScience Technology and Innovationdraw a conclusion · design brief · data storage Environmental pressuresB2 · 100 entriesEnvironment Sustainability and Resourcesenvironmental damage · wind energy · emission source Landscapes, weather and travel experiencesB2 · 100 entriesTravel Tourism and Cultural Encountersgale · put strain on · make way for Social groupsB2 · 100 entriesSociety, fairness and inclusioncommunity · financial hardship · shared heritage Rules and expectationsB2 · 100 entriesRules Responsibility and Public Safetycomply with · establish a link · put someone at risk Institutions and rolesB2 · 100 entriesPolitics Citizenship and Public Debatelocal authority · central question · tax credit Creative choicesB2 · 100 entriesArts Entertainment and Critical Reviewsdevelop a theme · sustain interest · double meaning Food production and preparationB2 · 100 entriesFood Production Consumption and Culturewhisk · local supplier · nuts Closeness, expectations and trustB2 · 100 entriesRelationships Boundaries and Trustquality time · damaged relationship · outer limit Goals and ambitionB2 · 100 entriesSuccess Failure and Resiliencepursue a goal · earn respect · direct consequence Describing trendsB2 · 100 entriesChange Trends and Future Possibilitiesdecline · cause · fade Starting and continuingB2 · 100 entriesPractical Phrasal Verbs in Everyday Discussionset out · crop up · get through to someone

C1 · 30 lessons

Evidence and reasoningC1 · 100 entriesIdeas Evidence and Influencelend credence to · empirical · affiliate link Types of evidenceC1 · 100 entriesEvaluating Claims and Sourcesempirical evidence · editorial oversight · establish convergence Premises and assumptionsC1 · 100 entriesReasoning Assumptions and Counterargumentsunderlying assumption · sufficient condition · circularity Framing a messageC1 · 100 entriesPersuasion Framing and Audienceframing · loaded language · qualify an appraisal Expressing reservationsC1 · 100 entriesDiplomatic Disagreement and Consensusgrounds for concern · evasive · resist a characterisation Strategic prioritiesC1 · 100 entriesStrategy Leadership and Organisational Changestrategic direction · hold someone accountable · silo Stakeholder interestsC1 · 100 entriesNegotiation Stakeholders and Competing Interestsalign interests · reservation point · calculating Research designC1 · 100 entriesResearch Methods and Academic Discussionresearch protocol · semi-structured interview · interpretive tradition Patterns and variationC1 · 100 entriesTrends Data and Interpretationtime series · marginal increase · aligned Principles, fairness and conductC1 · 100 entriesEthics Principles and Difficult Choicesprincipled stance · as appropriate · partisanship Economic outputC1 · 100 entriesEconomic measures and how to discuss themnominal output · price shock · abstract noun Trade relationshipsC1 · 100 entriesTrade Resources and Economic Powertrade surplus · maintain continuity · corrosion Credit and debtC1 · 100 entriesMoney Credit and Financial Systemsdebt servicing · channel savings · asset purchase Legal ReasoningC1 · 100 entriesLaw Justice and Accountabilityapplicability · assert jurisdiction · misdirection Political authorityC1 · 100 entriesPolitics Governance and Institutionsexercise authority · separation of powers · turnout Policy Aims and RationaleC1 · 100 entriesPublic Policy and Social Outcomesstrategic objective · behavioural intervention · accountability gap Scientific explanationC1 · 100 entriesScience Uncertainty and Public Understandingrefine a theory · inconclusive result · predictive accuracy Innovation processesC1 · 100 entriesTechnology, design and materialscommercialisation · textured · innovate Narrative constructionC1 · 100 entriesMedia Narratives and Information Qualityconstruct a narrative · commissioning editor · clickbait Identity formationC1 · 100 entriesIdentity Culture and Belongingidentity formation · oral tradition · boundary case Knowledge and expertiseC1 · 100 entriesEducation Expertise and Intellectual Growthdisciplinary knowledge · transfer of learning · accreditation Health service organisationC1 · 100 entriesHealth Systems Wellbeing and Public Communicationhealth workforce · cordiality · discourage participation Climate processes and coastal conditionsC1 · 100 entriesClimate Resources and Environmental Policysurf · water stress · turn the tide Urban planningC1 · 100 entriesUrban Development Housing and Infrastructureland-use plan · rent burden · close-out Form and compositionC1 · 100 entriesArt Design and Aesthetic Judgementvisual hierarchy · texture · experimentation Narrative perspectiveC1 · 100 entriesLiterature Narrative and Critical Responseshifting perspective · humanise a figure · emotional aftereffect Attention and cognitionC1 · 100 entriesPsychology Motivation and Behaviourselective attention · crave recognition · risk perception Professional credibilityC1 · 100 entriesProfessional Relationships Reputation and Trustsound judgement · credibility assessment · temper your praise Business modelsC1 · 100 entriesBusiness Innovation Competition and Marketscost structure · positioning statement · balancing mechanism Assessing situationsC1 · 100 entriesAdvanced Collocations and Idiomatic Judgementdraw a comparison · avoid overcommitment · call a halt

C2 · 30 lessons

Certainty and ambiguityC2 · 100 entriesPrecision Tone and Diplomacyconjectural · obsequious · sardonic Implied claimsC2 · 100 entriesImplication Inference and Unspoken Meaningimplicature · gainsay · as much as to say Formal institutional languageC2 · 100 entriesRegister Formality and Social Distancethereof · to all appearances · spare someone the embarrassment of Ironical stanceC2 · 100 entriesIrony Understatement and Verbal Humourironic distance · be something of an understatement · superfluous Premises and conclusionsC2 · 100 entriesArguing a case and testing objectionsgrant the premise for the sake of argument · argument from silence · reason by contraposition Indirect objectionsC2 · 100 entriesDiplomacy Mediation and Face Savingenter a note of caution · without conceding the wider point · cut off one's nose to spite one's face Mixed motivesC2 · 100 entriesCharacter Motives and Moral Ambiguitysalve your conscience · unswerving · insolent Subtle emotional statesC2 · 100 entriesEmotional Nuance and Interpersonal Judgementrueful · resentfulness · hold someone at a distance Expressing admirationC2 · 100 entriesAppraisal, praise and criticismingratiating flattery · damn with faint praise · vouch for Categories and prototypesC2 · 100 entriesDefining ideas and drawing distinctionsexhaustive classification · decision-making authority · not altogether without merit Narrative voiceC2 · 100 entriesLiterary Voice Imagery and Narrative Effectsself-conscious narration · metaphorical · establish a sense of foreboding Aesthetic positionsC2 · 100 entriesArts Criticism and Cultural Commentaryaesthetic autonomy · posterity · edification Court proceedings and evidenceC2 · 100 entriesLaw, evidence and public authoritythe probative value of evidence · discretionary relief · a condition subsequent Dependencies and mechanismsC2 · 100 entriesCauses, systems and unintended effectsprecipitating event · a ripple effect · anticipate second-order effects Sampling and study designC2 · 100 entriesResearch, statistics and uncertaintya sampling artefact · a point estimator · blinding of assessors Incentives and allocationC2 · 100 entriesMarkets, strategy and negotiationa negative externality · counterparty risk · a hostile takeover Revealing and concealing informationC2 · 100 entriesIdioms of disclosure, conflict and adversityread someone like a book · work at cross purposes · hit one's stride Softening and distancingC2 · 100 entriesConversational Subtlety and Stanceas it were · dissension · give someone a piece of one's mind Word formation and borrowingC2 · 100 entriesHow words and sentences make meaningborrowing · a fronted adjunct · hyponymy Governance and legitimacyC2 · 100 entriesPower, accountability and social changelegitimacy deficit · an oversight body · skew the playing field Pitch and vocal qualityC2 · 100 entriesVoice, sound and musical performancemellifluous · a falling cadence · talk someone round Light and shadeC2 · 100 entriesSeeing, depicting and interpretingpenumbra · a saturated hue · transpose Movement and postureC2 · 100 entriesHow things move, change and breakseesaw back and forth · put one's foot down · percolate Taste and aftertasteC2 · 100 entriesDescribing experience with precisionmouth-puckering · a discordant jangle · permeable Landforms in contextC2 · 100 entriesLandscape, weather and the language of placeescarpment · a pall of smoke · floe Material qualitiesC2 · 100 entriesMaterials, Surfaces and Craftsmanshipductile · a brushed-metal finish · brim Principles and obligationsC2 · 100 entriesEthical judgement and competing obligationsa competing duty · be complicit in an omission · diminished responsibility Timing and durationC2 · 100 entriesTime, change and consequencestransience · entrench · at the best of times Formal social conductC2 · 100 entriesSocial Ritual, Courtesy and Transgressionstand on ceremony · philanthropy · an embarrassing climbdown Established allusionsC2 · 100 entriesAllusion, Metaphor and Cultural Referencesa Sisyphean task · source domain · a Kafkaesque ordeal

A2–B1 foundations

ANIMALSA1–A2Animals and wildlifeA sheep, a fox and a hedgehog.NATUREA2Nature and landscapesA leaf, a valley and a waterfall.HOME CAREA2Cleaning and laundryA dustpan, a clothes airer and an iron.SPORT & LEISUREA2–B1Sports and leisure equipmentA tennis racket, a kettlebell and a snorkel.MUSICA2–B1Musical instruments and equipmentA clarinet, a tambourine and a music stand.EVERYDAY COOKINGA2-B1AudioCooking a simple mealChop the vegetables, then stir.SOCIAL PLANSA2-B1AudioMaking plans with friendsAre you free on Saturday?FOOD AND DRINKA1–A2AudioEveryday food and drinkBread, cheese and milk.FRUIT AND VEGETABLESA1–A2AudioFruit and vegetablesA carrot, a pepper and an onion.TOOLSA1–A2AudioTools and garden equipmentA spade, a rake and a watering can.HOMEA1–A2AudioAround the homeA sofa, a rug and a lamp.CLOTHESA1–A2AudioEveryday clothes and accessoriesA scarf, a jacket and a belt.KITCHENA2AudioKitchen essentialsPass me the colander.STATIONERYA1–A2AudioStationery essentialsA stapler, a notebook and a pen.SHOPPINGA2-B1AudioShopping: prices, receipts and returnsKeep the receipt for a refund.A2–B1AudioEveryday vs Every DayAn everyday habit. I do it every day.A2–B1AudioApart vs A PartWe live apart. I’m a part of the team.

B1–B2 vocabulary

FILMS AND STORIESB1-B2AudioDescribing films and storiesThe plot has a surprising twist.EVERYDAY TECHNOLOGYB1-B2AudioExplaining everyday tech problemsThe screen has frozen.TIME MANAGEMENTB1-B2AudioPlans, deadlines and progressWe’re on track to meet the deadline.B1–B2AudioSometime, Some Time or Sometimes?Let’s meet sometime. I need some time.B1–B2AudioAltogether vs All TogetherWe’re all together. That’s £20 altogether.

EVERYDAY OBJECTSB1–B2 · VIPAudioSmall Signs of WearA chipped cup. A frayed sleeve.
EVERYDAY OBJECTSB2 · VIPAudioFinding and Storing Small ThingsRummage in a drawer. Come across a cable.

B1–B2Almost vs NearlyThe glass is almost full.B1–B2Especially vs SpeciallyI love fruit, especially strawberries.B1–B2AudioCommon English CollocationsMake a decision. Take a break.B1–B2 + C1 extensionAudioAffect vs EffectRain affects the crops. That’s its effect.B1–B2AudioThen vs ThanTea first, then coffee. More tea than coffee.B1–B2 · C1 extensionAudioCompliment vs ComplementA compliment is praise. Colours complement each other.B1–B2AudioAdvice vs AdviseUseful advice. I advise you to check.B1–B2AudioPrincipal vs PrincipleOur principal aim. A guiding principle.B1–B2AudioLie vs LayLie down. Lay the book on the table.TRAVELB1–B2AudioEssential Travel VocabularyA sleeper train. A spacious cabin.

C1–C2 advanced vocabulary

Six lessons for precise word choice, nuanced judgements, evidence-based argument and economics.

DIPLOMATIC DISCUSSIONC1-C2AudioDiplomatic disagreementI have reservations about the timing.ART AND DESIGNC1-C2AudioReviewing art and designAn evocative image. An understated design.C1–C2AudioAdvanced Word Formation: Precision Beyond Prefixes and Suffixesrely → reliable → reliabilityC1–C2AudioAdvanced English Idioms: Judgement, Decisions and Hidden MeaningThe deadline is a sticking point.C1–C2AudioAcademic Vocabulary: Weigh Evidence and Challenge ClaimsThe records substantiate the claim.ECONOMICSC1AudioGrowth, prices & living standardsInflation, real wages and purchasing power.ECONOMICSC1AudioTrade, resources & economic powerA supply chain. A costly bottleneck.ECONOMICSC1AudioMoney, credit & central banksInterest rates, loans and credit.

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Planned vocabulary topics

These topics are in development and are not available as lessons yet.

A1–A2 foundations

Everyday Routines and Useful Objects
Food, Shopping and Prices

B1–B2 independent English

Feelings, Reactions and Personality
Work, Projects and Collaboration

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1. NoticeMeet the words in a clear topic and natural examples.

2. ConnectLearn useful phrases, collocations and word families.

3. UseComplete practice, then make the language personal.

4. ReviewReturn later and retrieve the words from memory.

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