Brighton and Hove Archives - English Lessons Brighton

Spot the Mistakes 2 – A Short History of Piers

Phil Williams — Thu, 01 Sep 2016 11:00:18 +0000

One of the things Brighton is most famous for, and a common sight in any great English seaside resort, is piers. Following on from my brief tale of Walking on the Beach, then, the subject of piers is a good topic for our next spot the mistake reading exercise. Again, the passage below contains mistakes that focus on the rules of the English tenses and verb use. These are designed to be tricky!

In the following reading exercise, see if you can spot 15 mistakes relating to English tenses. To help you out, a number in brackets indicates how many mistakes are in each paragraph – otherwise, it’s up to you! The answers, with brief explanations where necessary, are shown below.

A Short History of Piers – Spot the Mistakes 2 (English Tenses)

A pier is a raised platform supported by many pillars. As the pillars are spacing apart, the tides and currents of seas and rivers could flow through them, making them safe in flowing water. (2)

A pier can be any structure on pillars, for example the base of a bridge, building or walkway. This means they have several uses, to include supporting bridges and docks for boats. In different parts of the world, piers treat differently. In Europe, and particularly the UK, piers are associated with the pleasure pier of the Victorian era. (2)

Pleasure piers are platforms primarily going to be used for leisure. They may have once been used for docking ships, and since be converted, or they may be purpose built for pleasure. Such piers were first built in Britain during the early 19^th Century; with the first structures being the Ryde Pier (built in 1813/4), the Trinity Chain Pier (1821) and Brighton’s Chain Pier (1823). (2)

Increasing rail travel made it possible for larger numbers of tourists to be visiting seaside towns at this time. The sea were not always visible from dry land, due to changing tides, so piers were constructed to give pleasure-seekers the chance walk nearer the water. The world’s longest pleasure pier – in Southend-on-sea, Essex – stretches for 1.3 miles. (3)

Early pleasure piers were made of wood, though iron followed with the world’s oldest iron pier build in 1834 in Gravesend. The construction of the Margate Jetty, in 1855, started the use of iron in seaside piers. The pier has become a symbol of the British seaside holiday during the Victorian era, and by 1914 there were over 100 around the UK. (2)

Many piers are lost to bad weather, fires and other problems. In Brighton alone, only 1 out of 3 piers remained (the Palace Pier). However, with their various amusements on offer, and 55 piers still active on the UK coast, piers have become an icon of British culture that’s here staying. (3)

Answers to the Exercise

The mistakes are indicated in the text in bold below, with the correct answers following in brackets (with an explanation if necessary). How did you get on? Any questions, let me know! Enjoyed this exercise? Try the first reading exercise here.

A pier is a raised platform supported by many pillars. As the pillars are 1. spacing (spaced – passive present is appropriate here, which uses a past participle) apart, the tides and currents of seas and rivers 2. could (can – this sentence should be in present tense) flow through them, making them safe in flowing water. (2)

A pier can be any structure on pillars, for example the base of a bridge, building or walkway. This means they have several uses, 3. to include (including) supporting bridges and docks for boats. In different parts of the world, piers 4. treat (are treated – passive tense, as the active subject is not stated) differently. In Europe, and particularly the UK, piers are associated with the pleasure pier of the Victorian era. (2)

Pleasure piers are platforms primarily 5. going to be used (used – present simple is most appropriate) for leisure. They may have once been used for docking ships, and since 6. be (been – continuing the present perfect) converted, or they may be purpose built for pleasure. Such piers were first built in Britain during the early 19^th Century; with the first structures being the Ryde Pier (built in 1813/4), the Trinity Chain Pier (1821) and Brighton’s Chain Pier (1823). (2)

Increasing rail travel made it possible for larger numbers of tourists 7. to be visiting (to visit) seaside towns at this time. The sea 8. were (was) not always visible from dry land, due to changing tides, so piers were constructed to give pleasure-seekers the chance 9. walk (to walk) nearer the water. The world’s longest pleasure pier – in Southend-on-sea, Essex – stretches for 1.3 miles. (3)

Early pleasure piers were made of wood, though iron followed with the world’s oldest iron pier 10. build (built) in 1834 in Gravesend. The construction of the Margate Jetty, in 1855, started the use of iron in seaside piers. The pier 11. has become (had become or became – this was a complete past action) a symbol of the British seaside holiday during the Victorian era, and by 1914 there were over 100 around the UK. (2)

Many piers 12. are (have been / were – past event) lost to bad weather, fires and other problems. In Brighton alone, only 1 out of 3 piers 13. remained (remains – it is still true now) (the Palace Pier). However, with their various amusements on offer, and 55 piers still active on the UK coast, piers have become an icon of British culture that’s here 14. staying (to stay). (3)

Want more English exercises?

Many more exercises like this are available in The English Tenses Exercise Book; if you found this useful, check out the book!

Learn More

The post Spot the Mistakes 2 – A Short History of Piers appeared first on English Lessons Brighton.

Walking on the Beach – Spot the Mistakes 1 (Tenses)

Phil Williams — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 11:00:57 +0000

An excellent way to test your understanding and boost confidence in learning English is to approach a full text and see if you can spot the mistakes. This is especially challenging if you don’t know where the mistakes are – as to decide if a sentence is incorrect, you need to know what makes a sentence correct! With that in mind, this is the first in a series of reading exercises to practice this skill.

In the following reading exercise, see if you can identify 14 mistakes. The number of mistakes in each paragraph is indicated in brackets. Your only clues is that all the mistakes are something to do with English tenses. The answers are given below. This is a true story about Worthing beach.

Walking on the Beach – Spot the Mistakes 1 (English Tenses)

I love going for walks on the beach. It was very peaceful there, and also beautiful. I am fortunate, because I am living just a few minutes from the beach, and can walk there whenever I has some spare time. As long as the weather is nice. (3)

Actually, I also like walk on the beach when the weather is stormy. It can be very dramatic, and it is fascinating to watch the violent sea. I have been on the beach during tremendous storms, and the waves been incredible! (2)

The beach here is covered in pebbles, or shingle – lots of small rocks, instead of sand. When the tide is going out, you can see sand beyond the pebbles. There had been shingle on the beaches in this area for many years, though some people believe it was once mostly sand. The sand that was here before was took for the purposes of building, so while the beach is not manmade, it has certainly been altered by human activity. (3)

Having a shingle beach has many benefits over sand. You never get sand in your shoes, or hair, and it will stay cool in hotter weather. People love to throwing pebbles into the sea and I often see people playing games, like throwing small stones at a bigger one or to hunt for specific colours. The pebbles are more difficult to walk on than sand, though, and can be uncomfortable for sitting. (3)

What about swimming?

Well, watersports like kite surfing are very popular here, but the water is rather cold. I went swimming once or twice so far and it felt like I was going to shrivel up in coldness. Swimming in the sea is exhilarating but requires a lot of courage, so most people be happy just to walk or sit. This is rather typical of the English coastline. On a hot day, however, if you watch carefully, you will be seeing plenty of brave souls charging into the water. (2)

Most of them regret it.

Answers to the Exercise

The answers are given in the same piece of text below, with the mistakes shown in bold and explanations given in brackets. If you have any questions, or spotted extra mistakes, let me know in the comments! And if you find it challenging choosing between different tenses, be sure to check out my full grammar guide.

I love going for walks on the beach. It 1. was (is – the passage starts in present, so this is a general, present rule) very peaceful there, and also beautiful. I am fortunate, because I 2. am living (live – the continuous for “to live” suggests a temporary arrangement) just a few minutes from the beach, and can walk there whenever I 3. has (have) some spare time. As long as the weather is nice.

Actually, I also like 4. walk (to walk / walking – for actions, like must be followed by an infinitive or an –ing form) on the beach when the weather is stormy. It can be very dramatic, and it is fascinating to watch the violent sea. I have been on the beach during tremendous storms, and the waves 5. been (were / are – a simple tense is appropriate here) incredible!

The beach here is covered in pebbles, or shingle – lots of small rocks, instead of sand. When the tide 6. is going (goes – this is a general rule) out, you can see sand beyond the pebbles. There 7. had (has – present perfect because it is still relevant/true now) been shingle on the beaches in this area for many years, though some people believe it was once mostly sand. The sand that was here before was 8. took (taken – the passive form uses a past participle) for the purposes of building, so while the beach is not manmade, it has certainly been altered by human activity.

Having a shingle beach has many benefits over sand. You never get sand in your shoes, or hair, and it 9. will stay (stays – this is a general rule, not a future event) cool in hotter weather. People love 10. to throwing (to throw or throwing) pebbles into the sea and I often see people playing games, like throwing small stones at a bigger one or 11. to hunt (hunting – like throwing, this process agrees with playing) for specific colours. The pebbles are more difficult to walk on than sand, though, and can be uncomfortable for sitting.

What about swimming?

Well, watersports like kite surfing are very popular here, but the water is rather cold. I 12. went (have been – present perfect because it is an event that can still be changed, indicated by “so far”) swimming once or twice so far and it felt like I was going to shrivel up in coldness. Swimming in the sea is exhilarating but requires a lot of courage, so most people 13. be (are) happy just to walk or sit. This is rather typical of the English coastline. On a hot day, however, if you watch carefully, you will 14. be seeing (see – simple future) plenty of brave souls charging into the water.

Most of them regret it.

The post Walking on the Beach – Spot the Mistakes 1 (Tenses) appeared first on English Lessons Brighton.

English language school locations in Brighton

Phil Williams — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:01:07 +0000

There a numerous English schools in Brighton, in very different locations. If you come to Brighton to study English, where you have your lessons can be as important as who you choose to learn from. There are schools in central Brighton, to the East (in an area called Kemp Town, for instance), to the West, in Hove, and at the university campuses. Do you want to learn somewhere busy and exciting, or quiet and beautiful? Here’s a list of some of the most popular English language schools in Brighton, explaining their locations.

English schools in Central Brighton

St Giles International – one of the busiest language schools in the city centre. St Giles is at the edge of the North Lanes, the busiest area in Brighton where all the most popular shops, bars and clubs can be found. It is a great location for shopping and partying, but is loud and may be difficult to find accommodation nearby.

Brighton Language College and Berlitz – these two schools are across the road from St Giles. They are in a slightly quieter location, but are on a very busy road.

All three of these schools are very close to the Pavilion, and the seaside, so you will have lots to do around your English lessons.

Embassy English – based in an incredible modern building, this is directly next to Brighton railway station. Excellent to get to other locations, and only a short walk from the Lanes, for all the shops and bars, but also an expensive location to stay in. The Friends Centre, across the road from Embassy, in another new building, also offers more casual classes (I am based above the Friends Centre, myself).

Castle School – about ten minutes from Brighton railway station, this is a short walk from Brighton’s main shopping centre, Churchill Square, and the more popular clubbing district of West Street. This location is more commercial (mainstream) than the Lanes, but equally well positioned for all the variety of Brighton.

Kemp Town

English First – a large and internationally renowned school, EF is about 30 minutes walk from the centre of Brighton. It is in the beautiful Sussex Square, near the fashionable area of Kemp Town. There are bars and shops here, and the lovely sea view, but it is a bit quieter than the centre of Brighton. I used to work at this school, and found the environment friendly, but slightly restrictive for night-life and shops.

Hove

West of central Brighton, Hove has a wide variety of schools if you don’t mind being a little removed from the main shops and bars. Hove has wider roads and more, cheaper accommodation than central Brighton. Most of the schools are about 20 minutes walk from central Brighton, and the railway station, but Hove station is nearby. Hove has its own shops and bars, though they are not as busy as the Brighton selection. Ideal if you want a quieter stay, or don’t mind a little walking. The English Language Centre, ISE and Stafford House schools are all based in a similar central location of Hove, on the main street. The Brunswick Square is a nice patch of park, and the beach is only a few minutes down the road.

Brighton University

Brighton University offers English lessons in two campuses, Falmer and Moulescomb. Falmer is based outside the city, a 10 minute train journey or a very long walk from the centre of Brighton. It is a beautiful location with country backing onto the South Downs, so is good for quiet study, but you will have to make a long journey into Brighton for shops and activities. Moulescomb is halfway between Falmer and central Brighton, in a more affordable living area.

Alternatively, of course, you can choose a location you feel comfortable in and hire a private tutor, like myself, to come to you!

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