Don Quixote was riding his old, thin horse named Rocinante. He believed he was a brave knight searching for adventure...

My B1-level extract from Cervantes' Don Quixote.

The B1 words we'll study are:

1. Set off

• Definition: To start a journey, usually to go to work or a business meeting.
• Examples:
  • I set off for the office at 7 a.m. every day to miss the morning traffic.

2. Ahead

• Definition: In the future, or earlier than planned.
• Examples:
  • We have a very busy week ahead of us at the factory.

3. Shake one's head

• Definition: To move your head from side to side to mean 'no'.
• Examples:
  • I asked my boss for a pay rise, but she just shook her head.

4. Absolutely certain

• Definition: Completely sure about something.
• Examples:
  • Are you absolutely certain that you saved the report on the computer?

5. At the top of one's voice

• Definition: As loudly as possible.
• Examples:
  • The factory is so noisy that the workers have to shout at the top of their voices to speak to each other.

6. Refuse to admit

• Definition: To say firmly that you will not accept that you are wrong about something at work.
• Examples:
  • The shop assistant made a mistake with the money, but he refused to admit it.

7. Wish

• Definition: To want a situation to be different from how it is right now.
• Examples:
  • I wish I had a better job with a higher salary.

Contact Mike Bilbrough with a question or enquiry about advertising on Practising English Podcasts: https://www.practisingenglish.com/contact.htm

My NEW book: "B1 English Vocabulary Builder - 22 Short Stories for Learning the Words and Phrases Students Need to Pass the B1 Exam" is now available! This book gives the learner enough vocabulary to pass any B1 exam (special help for Cambridge exams).
To read more about my book, click here (you can access it from any Amazon platform):
https://amzn.to/46AVFe9

Learners studying towards B2 level will be interested in my B1 to B2 reader: The Tudor Conspiracy (includes audio version) https://amzn.to/4gPsj0i

For very young learners (from 8-10), I recommend my picture reader book for children learning A1 to A2 English. It comes with a fully dramatised audio version: https://amzn.to/46TCWvv

Oxford Bookworm Graded Readers: Read stories at your level to improve your English. I recommend Oxford Bookworms as the best series of books for learners: https://amzn.to/4r7YVHg

At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, free grammar help and exercises and other English learning ...

We are going to practise the use of the auxiliary verb 'do' for emphasis.

In this first section, we are going to practise using DO, DOES, or DID WHEN WE WANT TO EMPHASISE AN ACTION. We use this to make a statement stronger or to show strong feelings about something.

For more explanation on DO, DOES and DID for emphasis, see my podcast:

https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-231.htm

Contact Mike Bilbrough with a question or enquiry about advertising on Practising English Podcasts: https://www.practisingenglish.com/contact.htm

My NEW book: "B1 English Vocabulary Builder - 22 Short Stories for Learning the Words and Phrases Students Need to Pass the B1 Exam" is now available! This book gives the learner enough vocabulary to pass any B1 exam (special help for Cambridge exams).
To read more about my book, click here (you can access it from any Amazon platform):
https://amzn.to/46AVFe9

Learners studying towards B2 level will be interested in my B1 to B2 reader: The Tudor Conspiracy (includes audio version) https://amzn.to/4gPsj0i

For very young learners (from 8-10), I recommend my picture reader book for children learning A1 to A2 English. It comes with a fully dramatised audio version: https://amzn.to/46TCWvv

Oxford Bookworm Graded Readers: Read stories at your level to improve your English. I recommend Oxford Bookworms as the best series of books for learners: https://amzn.to/4r7YVHg

At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, free grammar help and exercises and other English learning ...

Today, we are going to practise the use of NEITHER / NOR.

Example:
I don't speak French. I don't speak German.
Answer: I speak neither French nor German.

I also have another full podcast on neither and nor:

https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-108.htm

Contact Mike Bilbrough with a question or enquiry about advertising on Practising English Podcasts: https://www.practisingenglish.com/contact.htm

My NEW book: "B1 English Vocabulary Builder - 22 Short Stories for Learning the Words and Phrases Students Need to Pass the B1 Exam" is now available! This book gives the learner enough vocabulary to pass any B1 exam (special help for Cambridge exams).
To read more about my book, click here (you can access it from any Amazon platform):
https://amzn.to/46AVFe9

Learners studying towards B2 level will be interested in my B1 to B2 reader: The Tudor Conspiracy (includes audio version) https://amzn.to/4gPsj0i

For very young learners (from 8-10), I recommend my picture reader book for children learning A1 to A2 English. It comes with a fully dramatised audio version: https://amzn.to/46TCWvv

Oxford Bookworm Graded Readers: Read stories at your level to improve your English. I recommend Oxford Bookworms as the best series of books for learners: https://amzn.to/4r7YVHg

At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, free grammar help and exercises and other English learning ...