Image
What this chapter covers
- I can talk about appearance, fashion and art, and give an opinion about photo manipulation and installation art (p.111-112, 118)
- I can use the causative form have / get something done to say that someone else does a job for us (p.113)
- I can form opposites and related words with dis-, mis- and -less, and choose between similar words such as fake, false and unreal (p.114)
- I can use conditional sentences type 3 to talk about unreal situations in the past (p.115)
- I can use common phrasal verbs about relationships, such as fall out with, take after, turn to and make up (p.116)
- I can ask for and give advice, and write an advice letter with greeting, opening, main part, closing and signing off (p.116-117)
- I can use wish and if only with the Past Simple, could, would and the Past Perfect to express wishes and regret (p.119)
- I can name colours and forms of art and talk about art as a hobby (p.120-121)
- I can write a report with To / From / Subject, headings and recommendations in an impersonal style using the passive (p.122-123)
- I can read an extract from a story and use foreshadowing, cliffhangers and direct speech to talk about it (p.124-125)
This unit is about image: how we look, what we wear, and the art we see. It covers the causative form, conditional type 3, wishes and regrets, the advice letter and the report. These build the skills for SPM Paper 1 (grammar and vocabulary in context) and Paper 2 (writing).
8.1The causative form
Use have (or get in informal speech) + object + past participle when someone else does a job for us, or something is done to us. The doer is often not mentioned.
| Tense | Example |
|---|---|
| Present Simple | We have our lawn mown every month. |
| Present Continuous | He is having his house painted. |
| Past Simple | Did you get your car checked after the accident? |
| Future | Rita will have a dress made by a designer. |
| Modal | You should have that tooth fixed. |
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8.2Word building and words that are easy to mix up
| Prefix or suffix | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| dis- | opposite (adjectives, nouns, verbs) | like, dislike; obey, disobey; approve, disapprove; organised, disorganised; satisfied, dissatisfied |
| mis- | do wrongly or badly (verbs) | understand, misunderstand; lead, mislead; spell, misspell; behave, misbehave; judge, misjudge |
| -less | without (nouns to adjectives) | harm, harmless; hope, hopeless; end, endless; worth, worthless; mean, meaningless; rest, restless |
| Group | How they differ |
|---|---|
| fake / false / unreal | fake: made to copy something real (a fake beard, fake designer jeans). false: not true, or artificial (a false statement). unreal: so strange that it seems not to be real (It felt unreal to talk to a celebrity). |
| genuine / realistic / real | genuine: not a copy (genuine leather). realistic: looks like real life (a realistic painting). real: actually existing (real flowers). |
| beautiful / handsome / good-looking | beautiful: for women, girls, places, things. handsome: for men and boys. good-looking: for any attractive person. |
| approve / agree / accept | approve of an idea (think it is good); agree with a person; accept an offer or invitation. |
Appearance and fashion phrases: a fashion victim (a person who wears every new fashion), make a fashion statement, a good image, come back into fashion, dress appropriately (suitably), good looks.
Words from the reading text on photo manipulation: conform (follow other people's rules or ideas), take off (suddenly become successful), bend the truth (change something so that it is not exactly true), rebel (fight against), appreciate (recognise the value of), disapprove (think something is not good).
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8.3Conditional sentences type 3
Type 3 talks about an unreal situation in the past: something that did not happen, and what would have happened. The result is imagined, and it is too late to change it.
| If-clause | Main clause |
|---|---|
| If + Past Perfect (had + past participle) | would have + past participle |
| If she had dyed her hair red, | it would have made her look older. |
| If I had known, | I would have done it earlier. |
The if-clause can come second: He would not have gained weight if he had not stopped exercising. Use a comma only when the if-clause is first. Could have and might have can replace would have.
| Type | Time | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Possible, now or future | If I wear this, people will notice. |
| 2 | Unreal, now | If I wore this, people would notice. |
| 3 | Unreal, past | If I had worn this, people would have noticed. |
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8.4Wish and if only
| Pattern | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| wish / if only + Past Simple | unreal present: we would like it to be different | I wish I lived closer to the city centre. |
| wish / if only + could + verb | a wish about ability | If only I could draw as well as my sister. |
| wish / if only + would + verb | a wish that someone stops or changes a (usually annoying) habit | I wish you wouldn't keep telling me what to do. |
| wish / if only + Past Perfect | regret about the past | I wish I hadn't stepped in that puddle. |
If only is stronger than wish and often sounds more emotional. The verb after wish goes one step back in time, and were can be used for all persons (I wish I were taller).
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8.5Phrasal verbs and asking for advice
| Phrasal verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| fall out with | have an argument and no longer be friendly |
| make up | become friends again |
| take after | look or behave like an older member of your family |
| turn to | go to somebody for help or advice |
| work out | think and find a solution |
| stand by | continue to support somebody in a difficult situation |
| look up to | admire or respect |
| break down | lose control and start crying |
| Asking for advice | Giving advice |
|---|---|
| I need your advice about something that's troubling me. What should I do about ...? What would you do if you were me? How should I deal with the situation? | I think you should / had better ... If I were you, I'd ... Why don't you ...? It would be a good idea to ... If I were in your shoes, I would ... |
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8.6Writing a letter giving advice
An advice letter answers a person who has a problem (for example a letter to a magazine advice column). The style is friendly and informal, but kind and clear. Follow this plan.
| Part | What to do | Useful phrases |
|---|---|---|
| Greeting | Use the person's first name or pseudonym | Dear Troubled, Dear Alan, |
| Opening paragraph | Refer to the problem and say why you are writing | I was sorry to hear that ... I understand what you're going through. Here are some tips to help you deal with your problem. |
| Main part (1 to 2 paragraphs) | Give advice and suggestions; one new paragraph for each main point; link the points | If I were in your shoes, I'd ... Maybe you should ... How about ...? I strongly advise you to ... One thing you can do is ... |
| Closing paragraph | A final comment that encourages the reader | I hope everything goes well. Good luck! Let me know how everything turns out. You'll get over it. |
| Signing off | Signature ending and your first name | Best wishes, / Yours, / Take care, |
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8.7Writing a report
A report suggests ways to improve something (a school magazine, a TV channel, a classroom). It is read by a person in charge, so it is formal (or semi-formal for classmates) and impersonal, with headings.
| Part | What to do | Useful phrases |
|---|---|---|
| Top | To: / From: / Subject: | To: the Head Teacher |
| Introduction | State what the report is about | The purpose of this report is to ... This report focuses on / deals with ... |
| Main part (2 to 4 paragraphs) | One heading and one paragraph for each point: give information, then recommend | It is a fact that ... For example, ... In addition, ... Last but not least, ... |
| Conclusion | State your overall opinion | To sum up, ... All in all, ... On the whole, ... |
We should add more variety. becomes More variety should be added.
People have asked for more shows. becomes More shows have been asked for.
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8.8Reading: photo manipulation, installation art and a story extract
Photo manipulation (p.112). The text explains that most photos of models and celebrities are edited. Editing is almost as old as photography itself, but computer software made it common, even moving pictures. The writer says everyone draws the line at a different point, but warns about the effect on young people, such as the wish for plastic surgery. Some celebrities rebel by posting unedited photographs, and a UK association asked for edited images to be labelled.
Installation art (p.118). Installation art first became popular in the late 1960s. Artists use many materials and many senses to change the way people see a space. Examples in the text: The Weather Project (a glowing sun and a giant mirror), The Traffic Light Tree (public art in London), Melting Men (little ice men that melt, a warning about global warming) and crate men (figures made of milk crates, by unknown artists in Melbourne).
| Question type | How to answer |
|---|---|
| Purpose of the text | Ask what the whole text does (inform, persuade, show pros and cons), not one paragraph. |
| Gapped sentences | Look at the sentence before and after the gap for linking words (However, This, They) and for names or dates. |
| True or false statement | Find the exact lines. Options with always, never, only are often too strong. |
| Vocabulary in context | Decide the part of speech, then replace the word with each option. |
Let's Read 4 (p.124-125, the extract set in a desert). Useful story techniques:
- Foreshadowing: a hint of what will happen later.
- Cliffhanger: ending in suspense (a cloud of dust and nomads coming).
- Direct speech: the character's exact words in quotation marks. It makes the scene real and shows character.