Lesson 30

Module 08 · Grammar in Use

B1+

Module 08 —Open Gap-Fill Essentials

Reading 6 (open gap-fill) · articles, prepositions, auxiliaries · one word only

60 min Mixed skill · Grammar in use

PET

Teacher Notes

PET parts in this lesson · mixed-skill spiral

Reading 6GrammarStrategy

Why this lesson now? Second pass at Reading 6 from Lesson 08.

CEFR Pathway · You are here

A0/A1Beginner
A1/A2Elementary
A2/B1Pre-Intermediate
B1/B1+Intermediate
B2Upper-Intermediate
C1Advanced
C2Proficiency

Get ready · 01

5 min

Get talking

reflection

Six families recap

In 30 seconds, list as many of the six grammar-word families as you can: article, preposition, auxiliary, pronoun, linker, quantifier.

activity

Spot the type

'She's been working here ____ March.' What family of word is missing, and what's your answer?

discussion

Timing check

How many minutes should you spend on a 6-gap open gap-fill text in the real exam?

Grammar for the Exam · 02

8–10 min

Trickier gaps: two-word verbs, comparatives and fixed phrases

Grammar Bank: Trickier gaps: two-word verbs, comparatives and fixed phrasesJumps straight to this rule — full explanation, examples & practice

Quick rule

If the gap is inside a fixed phrase ('in spite of', 'as well as', 'so that'), learn the phrase as a block, not word by word.

Examples

By this stage you already know the six grammar-word families from your first Reading Part 6 lesson. This lesson pushes further into the gaps that catch stronger students out: comparative structures ('the ____ better', 'as ____ as'), phrasal patterns ('in spite ____', 'as well ____'), and gaps that depend on a word earlier or later in the sentence, not just the words right next to the gap. The key strategy is always the same — read the whole sentence (sometimes the whole paragraph) before choosing, because Part 6 gaps are often controlled by something outside the immediate gap.

→ Comparative: 'The harder you work, the ____ you improve.' → more/better
→ Fixed phrase: 'She passed the exam in spite ____ being ill.' → of
→ Whole-sentence link: 'I'd never been to Rome before, ____ I didn't know what to expect.' → so

Question 1.'The more you practise, ____ you improve.' Type one word:

Question 2.'He succeeded in spite ____ having no experience.' Type one word:

Question 3.'I was tired, ____ I went to bed early.' Type one word:

Question 4.'As well ____ English, she speaks French.' Type one word:

Answer all items, then check.

Quick check 1.What should you do before choosing a gap answer?

Answer all items, then check.

Exam Vocabulary · 03

5–7 min

Words & phrases to own

Open Vocabulary BankTap any word below to jump straight to its entry

in spite of

despite; without being affected by

Use it

Finish: 'In spite of the rain, we…'

as well as

in addition to

Use it

Finish: 'As well as English, I can speak…'

so that

with the purpose that; in order that

Use it

Finish: 'I got up early so that I could…'

the more…the more

a comparative pattern showing two things increasing together

Use it

Finish: 'The more I practise, the more…'

as long as

provided that; on condition that

Use it

Finish: 'You can borrow it as long as…'

even though

despite the fact that (+ clause)

Use it

Finish: 'Even though it was late,…'

instead of

in place of

Use it

Finish: 'Instead of driving, I…'

due to

because of, caused by

Use it

Finish: 'The match was cancelled due to…'

Use it now

Activation · Personalise · Recycle

Use these fixed phrases as whole blocks, not word by word.

Ask your partner

Task 1

Ask your partner

Tell me something you did in spite of feeling tired.
Tell me something you enjoyed even though it was difficult.

Usein spite ofeven though

Complete it

Task 2

"You can come to the party as long as…"as long as

Your opinion

Task 3

Have any of your plans this month changed due to the weather? What did you do instead of your original plan?

Give your answer + one reason.

Usedue toinstead of

Quick write

Task 4

Write two sentences about studying for exams, using both phrases.

Useso thatthe more…the more

Pronunciation for Speaking · 04

3–4 min

Stress in fixed phrases

Say it like this

In fixed phrases, the content word carries the stress, not the small linking words: 'in SPITE of', 'as WELL as'.

• In spite of the rain, we went out.
• As well as tennis, she plays chess.
• So that I could finish, I stayed late.
• Even though it was cold, we swam.

Reading Skills · 05

8–10 min

PET Reading Part 6 (open gap-fill) — Learning to cook

I never learned to cook properly [[1]] I moved away from home at eighteen. In spite [[2]] living alone, I mostly ate toast and cereal for the first few months. Then my flatmate, [[3]] loved cooking, offered to teach me one dish a week. The more lessons I had, [[4]] confident I became. As well [[5]] learning recipes, I picked up useful habits like reading the whole recipe before starting. Now, even [[6]] I'm busy, I always cook a proper meal at least three times a week.

Question 1.When did the writer move away from home?

Question 2.What did the writer mostly eat at first?

Question 3.Who taught the writer to cook?

Question 4.What useful habit did the writer pick up?

Question 5.How often does the writer cook a proper meal now?

Answer all items, then check.

True / False

Decide if each statement is True or False

Q1.The writer's flatmate disliked cooking.

Q2.The writer feels more confident cooking now.

Answer all items, then check.

Listening Skills · 06

8–10 min

PET Listening recycle — a cooking class

Listening audio

Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.

Show transcript

Marta:How was your first cooking class last night?

Jack:Great, actually. In spite of being nervous, I managed to make a decent curry.

Marta:Nice! What did the teacher focus on?

Jack:Mostly timing — getting the rice ready at the same time as the sauce.

Marta:That's the hardest part for me too. Are you going again?

Jack:Yes, as long as I can get a place. It gets booked up quickly.

Marta:Maybe I'll come along, even though I'm a total beginner.

Jack:You should — the more people who come, the cheaper it is per person!

Question 1.What did Jack make in his cooking class?

Question 2.What did the teacher mostly focus on?

Question 3.What condition does Jack mention for going again?

Question 4.How does Marta describe herself?

Question 5.What happens the more people who join the class?

Answer all items, then check.

Tick what you hear

Tick the fixed phrases you actually hear in the dialogue.

Answer all items, then check.

Exam Strategy · 07

5 min

PET Reading Part 6 — handling fixed phrases and comparatives

Strategy

Read the whole sentence first, spot any fixed phrase, then decide the missing word.

Task

Complete a 6-gap open gap-fill text, some gaps depending on words elsewhere in the sentence.

Example

'The more I practised, ____ I got.' → look at the comparative pattern → 'the better'.

Writing Task · 08

5 min

Put it in writing

Sentence transformation

Type a short answer (1–3 words)

Q1.Gap 1 — type ONE word: 'I never learned to cook properly ____ I moved away from home.'

Q2.Gap 2 — type ONE word: 'In spite ____ living alone, I mostly ate toast.'

Q3.Gap 3 — type ONE word: 'My flatmate, ____ loved cooking, offered to teach me.'

Q4.Gap 4 — type ONE word: 'The more lessons I had, ____ confident I became.'

Q5.Gap 5 — type ONE word: 'As well ____ learning recipes, I picked up useful habits.'

Q6.Gap 6 — type ONE word: 'Even ____ I'm busy, I always cook a proper meal.'

Answer all items, then check.

Writing Part 2Write an article

≈100 words

Write a short paragraph (60–80 words) about learning a new skill. Use 'in spite of', 'as well as' and 'even though' at least once each.

Your writing draft

0 words Saved

Show model answer & examiner comment

In spite of having no experience, I signed up for a pottery class last year. As well as learning to shape a bowl, I picked up a lot of patience! Even though my first three attempts collapsed on the wheel, my teacher kept encouraging me. Now I make small cups for my whole family, and I'm proud of how far I've come.

Examiner comment

Reward range, organisation and style. Penalise lists, off-topic or under-length answers.

Mark scheme extract

5	All content points covered; consistent style; range of structures; minor errors only.
3	Content mostly covered; mostly suitable style; some range; errors don't stop the reader understanding.
1	Limited content; intrusive errors; very basic structures; under-length.

Speaking Task · 09

10–15 min

Make it a real conversation

Open Expressions BankConversation phrases and functional language from across the course

Discuss together: 'Is it better to learn a new skill from a class or by yourself online?' Use at least two fixed phrases from this lesson.

Useful phrases

Optional · Teacher-led

Teacher Activities

Push students beyond single-word recall into whole-sentence reasoning. ~20 min total

Homework · 10

Take-home

Take it home

Self-study — everything you need is included below. All four skills are covered so you keep the spiral going between lessons; pick the order that suits you.

ReadingReceptive

PET Reading Part 6 mock — complete the six-gap cooking text again from memory, then check your answers.

Your response

0 words Saved

Materials included

Task

Cover the answer key and rewrite all six gaps from the 'Learning to cook' passage in Section 32. Time yourself: aim for 5 minutes.

Attempt the task first, then check your answers.

GrammarLanguage

Fixed-phrase gap-fill — complete the sentences below with one word each.

Your response

0 words Saved

Materials included

Sentences

1. He passed the test in spite ___ being nervous. 2. She speaks Spanish as well ___ Italian. 3. ___ though it was late, we kept talking. 4. The flight was delayed due ___ fog. 5. You can stay as long ___ you're quiet.

Attempt the task first, then check your answers.

WritingProductive

Write your own six-gap open gap-fill text (60–80 words) about any topic, then swap with a partner to solve.

Your response

0 words Saved

Materials included

Instructions

Choose 6 grammar words to remove from your text (mix of articles, prepositions, auxiliaries, pronouns, linkers, fixed phrases). Mark each gap with [[1]], [[2]], etc.

Attempt the task first, then check your answers.

Recap · 11

2–3 min

What you've learned

Strong Part 6 answers often depend on the whole sentence, not just the words next to the gap.
Fixed phrases (in spite of, as well as, even though) should be learned as blocks.
Comparative patterns ('the more…the more') need two linked gaps to make sense.
Always re-read the completed sentence to check it sounds natural.
Timing target: about one minute per gap in the real exam.

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