Complimenting and praising I know it doesn't sound very formal but I think you should take it as a compliment. The manager should pay her staff compliments more often. She paid me with a back-handed compliment and I couldn't help but complain. I was paid with a double-edged compliment even though I knew I didn't drive very well. My brother works so hard that he is a praiseworthy person. The contestants were highly praised after their performance. A considerable number of soldiers were widely praised due to the amount of effort they made to help the children. The children were praised to the skies after their Christmas performance. Fans shower praise on celebrities. The manager damn the new employee with faint praise. This band pays tribute to Queen. The choir was given a standing ovation At the meeting, the leader extolled the virtues of doing exercise in the morning. No one knew Maria, but currently she's the toast of Hollywood. The teacher patted the child on the back to show her how happy she was with his work. The performance won plaudits because it reflects how society behaves nowadays. The Minister received laudatory comments once the prisoner was sent back to jail. There is no need to lick the boss' boots. He is such a crawler! He only does it to get a discount. Smarmy employees are not well seen by the rest of the employees. Flaterry will get you nowhere!

Phrasal verbs with the particle "up". C2 level You can leave the bicicle propped up against the wall. The government decided to shore up the organization so that they didn't lose their members. I know these asparragus are bland but you can pep them up with some mayonnaise. That dress is gorgeous! I would jazz it up with a colourful scarf though. If he keeps hanging out with those people he will land up in trouble with his family. The story was blown up by our neighbour just to make us realise how bad the situation was. There is a nail sticking up from the floor, so what out! His fleckles show up in summertime. Our theory did not stand up and out tutor told us to find another approach. The reporter picks up on the recent rumours that the couple will split up. Will you set up an interview to discuss the recent changes in the company?

Sentences with the words and expressions I have learnt this week (C2 level) Every week I study for my C2 exam of English. I normally write down sentences where I include the vocabulary I have learnt. Unfortunately, spiders are my pet hate. I feel so comfortable when I work with him! He's such a light-hearted person. Why are you leering me like that? I knew he was doing something wrong so I squinted and he realised. I winced when the iron fell on my arm. Employers should not smirk at their employees. We should look at the project with a different outlook. My foresight is that by 2020 there will be flying cars. The rules were followed in blind subservience. The machine veered and twenty people were hurt. Following this method, we will deflect the curious. The country will rebound from the crisis in next to no time. Keep your hair on! All I wanted to do was to help you. I couldn't help but being lofty everytime I talked about her. When the childen was bitten by the bunny, his eyes were glistening like pearls. I have no other option but to confront her after all the warnings. I grimly looked at him and he continued doing his homework. You shouldn't fritter away the money because you never know when you will need it. My mother was the one who kept the house on an even keel despite the problems we had there. How did you get to stun her? No one has ever done it before. His untamed sense of fun was something that everyone admired. Can you feel the strain that living with her is causing us? The bunny rose on his hind legs. Would you like to saunter around the town? There are a few things I need to buy I cannot believe his pet has absconded. Where will it be? The celebrities were treated endearingly. He was a bit bemused when he saw the letter on the table. Maria left the house remorseless. We shouldn't pander the kids. In the long run, it won't benefit us. A compendium of his best novels has been launched this week. The artist included a discernible touch of the nineteenth century. Through no fault of my own, I found myself in a very difficult financial situation. The last few weeks have been a whirl because of the moving of the house and the holidays. We should tell her that she cannot receive wall-to-wall comforts. How can he live off his parents at the age of 35? Don't leave anything to chace because you never know what is going to happen in 20 years. You should get a tailor-made suit for your wedding! Will you be able to carry that hefty book? People are happy when they are unencumbered.

Getting the go-ahead The mayor of the town acceded to the changes. The minister acquiesced in the plan to cut down on expenses. The Labour Party assented to the opposition's plans. Only authorised people can enter the building. Staff would condone the use of mobile phones in area, regardless of its dangers. Would you countenance abolishing taxes? The president has endorsed the new laws. The government gave them carte blanche to investigate the cause of the problem My parents have given me the go-ahead for a party in the house. I was given the green light to celebrate my birthday at home. Three students were barred from going in the pub because there were teenagers. The border has decided to clamp down on illegal trade. A sign outlawing the use of mobile phones has been hung at the door. The president vetoed the proposal.

Phrasal verbs with the particle "off". -The bride told her female guests to kick off their high heels and enjoy the party. -We ran away so we could shake off the teacher. -I started doing exercise to work off my frustration. -You know how easy-going Peter is. He is shrug off the problem. -I remember the times when I was in college. I was the only one studying Law so I was a bit cut off. -The cut off our electricity because of our inability to pay the bills. -The teachers split off the project and started teaching on their own. -When the crowds took over the spot where the murder took place, the police told them to back off. -The police have cordoned off the area due to the President's arrival. -He handed me a sheet to start off. -The match is kicking off shortly. -I need my Sundays away to switch off and forget about work. -After the prank I told her to shove off. -As soon as I round off the meal, I will message you. -The meeting is finishing me off. -Will you leave off playing that boring music? -The manager gave me a ticking off for using the phone when it was out of bounds. Beatriz Rísquez Follow my page "Essential English" or @essentialenglishwithbea

Modality: expresssiong facts, opinions and desires C2 English I must confess that I like learning languages, no matter how hard it can be sometimes. You are willing to spend ten euro on the cinema to watch that film. You must be joking! You have passed the English exam! You must be overjoyed! What, may I ask, was the point of letting him go without my permission? I was on the street when who should I see but Peter. Don't worry about the broken glass. Accient will happen. That will be the pet making the noise. Don't worry about it. It is true that we are not working very much at the moment. You might well be offered other jobs in the future! I should be so lucky! There are not many job offers here for the time being. The odds are he will visit her next Christmas. The odds are against me getting more work to do. They are bound to be together for the rest of their lives. She is unquestionably the best cook in the world. It is apparent that a person who has studied the language from scratch can understand people's fears and weaknesses. In all probability they will have another child before 2018. There's every likelihood that the price of the food will rise this Autumn. It is essential to wear a black shirt. It is obligatory to wear a sleeveless t-shirt. The weather is miserable. We had no option but to stay at home doing nothing. We had an obligation to water the plants while she was away. The course is optional but, if I were you I'd do it. I am determined to study until I pass the exam. I am eager to work hard in order to save some money. He yearns to work harder. My sister longs to have a healthy life. I am an ambitious person. The woman has aspirations to become the next President. Beatriz Risquez. English and Spanish teacher. Follow my page on facebook "Essential English" @essentialenglishwithbea