Unit 2

speak

verb (spoke, spoken)

to say (words) or talk

He can’t speak

He spoke a few words to us.

spell

verb (spelt/spelled, spelt/spelled)

to name or give in order the letters of (a word)

I asked him to spell his name for me.

spill

verb (spilt/spilled, spilt/spilled)

to (cause something to) fall orrun out (usually accidentally)

He spilt milk on the floor

Vegetables spilled out of the burstbag.

spoil

verb (spoilt/spoiled, spoilt/spoiled)

to damage or ruin; to make bador useless

If you touch that drawing you’ll spoil it.

stand

verb (stood, stood)

to be in an upright position, notsitting or lying

His leg was so painful that he could hardly stand

After the storm, few trees were leftstanding.

steal

verb (stole, stolen)

to take (another person’s property), especially secretly, without permission or legalright

Thieves broke into the house and stole money and jewellery

He was expelled from the schoolbecause he had been stealing (money).

stick

verb (stuck, stuck)

to push (something sharp or pointed) into or through something

She stuck a pin through the papers to hold them together

Stop sticking your elbow into me!

strike

verb (struck, struck)

to hit, knock or give a blow to

He struck me in the face with his fist

Why did you strike him?

The stone struck me a blow on the side of the head

The enemy troops struck at dawn

sweep

verb (swept, swept)

to clean (a room etc) using abrush or broom

The room has been swept clean.

swim

verb (swam, swum)

to move through water usingarms and legs or fins, tails etc

The children aren’t allowed to go sailing until they’ve learnt to swim

I’m going / I’ve been swimming

She swam to the shore

swing

verb (swung, swung)

to (cause to) move or sway in acurve (from side to side or forwards and backwards) from a fixed point

You swing your arms when you walk

The children were swinging on a ropehanging from a tree

The door swung open

think

verb (thought, thought)

(often with about) to have orform ideas in one’s mind

Can babies think?

I was thinking about my mother.

throw

verb (threw, thrown)

to send through the air with force; to hurl or fling

He threw the ball to her / threw her the ball.

tear

verb (tore, torn)

(sometimes with off etc) to make a split or hole in (something), intentionally or unintentionally, with a sudden or violent pulling action, or to remove (something) from its position by such an action or movement

He tore the photograph into pieces

You’ve torn a hole in your jacket

I tore the picture out of a magazine.

tell

verb (told, told)

to inform or give information to (a person) about (something)

He told the whole story to John

He told John about it.

understand

verb (understood, understood)

to see or know the meaning of (something)

I can’t understand his absence

Speak slowly to foreigners so that they’ll understand you.

wake

verb (woke, woken)

to bring or come back toconsciousness after beingasleep

He woke to find that it was raining

Go and wake the others, will you?

wear

verb (wore, worn)

to be dressed in or carry on (apart of) the body

She wore a white dress

Does she usually wear glasses?

win

verb (won, won)

to obtain (a victory) in a contest; to succeed in coming first in (a contest), usually by one’s own efforts

He won a convincing victory in the election

Who won the war/match?

He won the bet

He won (the race) in a fast time / by a clear five metres.

write

verb (wrote, written)

to draw (letters or other forms of script) on a surface,especially with a pen or pencilon paper

They wrote their names on a sheet of paper

The child has learned to read and write

Please write in ink.

The past continuous is used to describe:

• activities that were already happening at a moment in the past: We were doing a maths exam in class when my mobile rang. (=We were in the middle of the exam when the phone rang). While I was walking to school, I met a friend. (=On my way to school I met a friend)
• Activities when we are not interested in when the activity started and we do not know if this activity is finished or not: The sun was shining and I was feeling happy. (=We know that the sun was shining at the same moment as I was feeling happy, but we don't knwo when these activities started or when they finished.

We often use the past simple and the past continuous together to show that an action happened in the middle of an activity: I was watching television when the telephone rang. (=We started watching television and in the middle of this activity, the telephone rang.) (We don't know if I stopped watching TV after the telephone rang.)

Remember: state verbs are not normally used in the past continuous.

• We can use when, while or as to introduce an activity in the past continuous:

When / While / As I was watching TV, the telephone rang.

• We generally use when to introduce an action in the past simple:

I was watching TV when the telephone rang.

Used to is used to describe things that happened regularly in the past but don't happen now: 

I used to wear a school uniform but now I don't

We didn't use to get homework when we were younger but now we do.

Note: Used to is only used in the past. To talk about things that happen regularly in in the present, use the present simple with an adverb like usually, every day, etc.: I usually drink water with my lunch. He catches the same train every day.

fry

verb (Past tense fried)

to cook in hot oil or fat

Shall I fry the eggs or boil them?

take

verb (past tense took, past participle taken)

(often with down, out etc) toreach out for and grasp, hold,lift, pull etc

to get, receive, buy, rent etc

He took my hand

He took the book down from the shelf

I’m taking French lessons

I’ll take three kilos of strawberries

pass

verb

to move towards and then beyond (something, by going past, through, by, over etc)

to (judge to) be successful in (an exam etc)

I pass the shops on my way to work.

The procession passed along the corridor

I passed my driving test.

fail

verb

to be unsuccessful (in); not tomanage (to do something)

They failed in their attempt

I failed my exam

I failed to post the letter

miss

verb

Usually you miss something which happens, such as an event, a train leaving, or an opportunity

He missed the 8 o’clock train.

You’ve missed your opportunity.

lose

verb

Usually you lose a thing; to put (something) where it cannot be found

She has lost interest in her work

I have lost my watch

He lost hold of the rope.

learn 

verb (learnt/learned, learnt/learned)

to gain knowledge or skill (in)

I want to learn how to drive.

teach

verb (taught, taught)

to give knowledge, skill orwisdom to a person; to instructor train (a person)

She teaches English / the piano

Experience has taught him nothing.

study

verb

to give time and attention to gaining knowledge of a subject

What subject is he studying?

He is studying French

scared

adjective

frightened

I’m scared of spiders

a scared little girl.

feel

verb (past tens felt, past participle felt)

to become aware of (something) by the sense of touch

She felt his hand on her shoulder.

suddenly

adverb

He suddenly woke up

Suddenly she realized that the stranger had a gun.

appear

verb

to come into view

A man suddenly appeared round the corner.

nowhere

adverb

in or to no place; not anywhere

It was nowhere to be found

‘Where have you been?’ ‘Nowhere in particular.’

exchange

verb

to give, or give up, in return for something else

Can you exchange a dollar note for two 50-cent pieces?