Macmillan Practice Online is the easy way to get all the benefits
of online learning – and with over 100 courses to choose from,
covering all competence levels and ranging from business
English to exam practice and from academic to general English,
you’re sure to find the one that suits your needs.
Take a look at the syllabus below for a complete list of the
resources offered by this Macmillan Practice Online course.
Straightforward Intermediate Practice Online
This course accompanies 'Straightforward Intermediate'. There are twelve units in this course.
Resources are grouped into five categories: Language Focus, Grammar, Vocabulary, Reading and
Listening, and 'Pronunciation'.
UNIT 1
Lessons 1A-1C
This syllabus item provides practice of the kind of language we use to talk about people . It also
provides practice of stative verbs, questions and present tenses.
Reading and Listening Listening to a journalist from a men's fashion magazine, CHAPS, stopping four men in the street and asking them about their self-image and rearranging words to make correct questions. Understanding global meaning by choosing the correct answer to five multiple-choice questions on a text about an unusual child.
Language Focus Contrasting the present simple and present continuous. Practising the present simple and the present continuous. Practising question words.
Vocabulary Practising phrasal verbs that describe what people are doing. Practising word formation. Practising phrasal verbs.
Salvador Dali Vocabulary Activity Winston Churchill Vocabulary Activity
You are what you wear Listening Activity Paper 1 Reading Part 4 Exam Preparation
Exercise
UNIT 2
Lessons 2A-2C
This syllabus item provides practice of the kind of language we use to talk about travelling around
the world. It also provides practice of the present perfect and the past simple.
Pronunciation Identifying the correct tense in sentences.
Vocabulary Practising words for journeys. Practising collocations.
Grammar Checking your knowledge of the difference between the use of the past simple and the present perfect. Checking your knowledge of the use of the prepositions of time, 'for' and 'since'. Checking your knowledge of the use of 'ever' and 'never'.
Language Focus Practising the present perfect and the past simple. Practising the past simple. Practising separable and non-separable phrasal verbs.
Reading and Listening Listening to information about Framlingham Castle and choosing the correct answers. Deciding if statements about a text on a trip to Arundel Castle are true or false. Past simple v
present perfect Grammar Reference Unit Prepositions of
time: for v since Grammar Reference Unit Adverbs of frequency:
ever and never Grammar Reference Unit Timeways travel Language Exercise Last winter ... Language Exercise
Phrasal verbs Language Exercise Travel around the world Vocabulary Activity Describing journeys Vocabulary Activity Take a holiday Vocabulary Activity Framlingham Castle Listening Activity Paper 1 Reading Part 3 Exam Preparation
Exercise
UNIT 3
Lessons 3A-3C
This syllabus item provides practice of the kind of language we use to talk about accommodation
and homes. It also provides practice of modals of obligation, permission and prohibition and making
requests.
Reading and Listening Listening to a teenager describing his bedroom. Understanding people's opinions and feelings as well as specific information by listening to a couple talking about inviting an exchange student to stay with them and their daughter,
Vocabulary Practising vocabulary associated with things you might say or be told in a hotel. Reading three advertisements offering accommodation and matching vocabulary and abbreviations with their definitions. Practising ways of making requests.
Language Focus Practising the modal verbs 'can't' and 'must'. Practising the modal verbs 'mustn't', 'don't have to', 'don't need to' and 'needn't'. Practising making offers and requests. Grammar Checking your knowledge of using can, may or be allowed to to ask for and give
permission. Checking your knowledge of using forms of 'must', 'need' and 'have to' to talk about obligation and necessity.
Pronunciation Identifying polite or impolite intonation in requests. Permission: can, may,
be allowed to Grammar Reference Unit Obligation/necessity:
need, needn't, must, mustn't, have to, don't have to, needn't have, didn't need to.
Grammar Reference Unit
Can't, and must Language Exercise Modal verbs Language Exercise
Offers and requests Language Exercise When in Rome ... Vocabulary Activity Bills included? Vocabulary Activity Requests Vocabulary Activity My bedroom Listening Activity Paper 2 Part 4 Exam Preparation
Exercise
Intonation Pronunciation Activity
UNIT 4
Lessons 4A-4C
This syllabus item provides practice of the kind of language we use to talk about being lucky and
taking risks. It also provides practice of past tenses and linkers.
Past simple v past
continuous Grammar Reference Unit Past simple v past perfect Grammar
Reference Unit Determiners - quantifiers:
both ... and, either ... or, neither ... nor
Grammar Reference Unit Connectors: time Grammar
Reference Unit Past simple and
past continuous Language Exercise
Past simple v past perfect Language Exercise A day at school Language Exercise If you walk under
a ladder ... Language Exercise Paper 1 Reading Part 3 Exam Preparation
Exercise
Lucky charms Listening Activity Weak and strong forms Pronunciation Activity
UNIT 5
Lessons 5A-5C
This syllabus item provides practice of the kind of language we use to talk about buying and selling.
It also provides practice of comparatives and prefixes.
Language Focus Practising comparatives using '-er ... than', 'more ... than' and 'less ... than'. Practising comparative and superlative adjectives and adverbs. Using prefixes to make negative adjectives.
Grammar Checking your knowledge of irregular comparatives. Checking your knowledge of '(not) as ... as' and 'less ... than'. Checking your knowledge of the comparatives of adverbs.
Vocabulary Practising negative adjective prefixes. Practising words associated with marketing. Reading and Listening Listening to a telephone sales person trying to sell an advertisement. Reading a text
about IKEA and looking for specific information. Pronunciation Practising the consonants /s/, /z/ and /ʃ/. Comparative adjectives:
irregular comparatives Grammar Reference Unit Comparative adjectives:
(not) as ... as; less ... than Grammar Reference Unit Comparison of adverbs:
comparatives Grammar Reference Unit Our holiday Language Exercise Supermarket reviews Language Exercise
Prefixes Language Exercise Negative adjective prefixes Vocabulary Activity A successful exhibition Vocabulary Activity Selling advertisements Listening Activity Reading Part 5 Exam Preparation
Exercise
UNIT 6
Lessons 6A-6C
This syllabus item provides practice of the kind of language we use to talk about holidays and plans
for travelling. It also provides practice of future tenses and indirect questions.
Language Focus Practising the present continuous. Practising 'will', 'going to' or the present continuous to complete short conversations. Practising the future with 'will' and 'won't'. Practising embedded questions.
Vocabulary Practising verbs with 'go' and 'get'. Practising words for journeys. Playing a game identifying words that collocate in sentences related to travelling in order to get through the haunted graveyard.
Pronunciation Practising syllable stress.
Grammar Checking your knowledge of when to use the future with 'will/won't'. Checking your knowledge of the different uses of the future with 'going to'. Checking your knowledge of the different tenses to talk about the future.
Reading and Listening Listening to an aircraft announcement. Future with will/won't: use Grammar
Reference Unit Future with going to: use Grammar
Reference Unit Future tenses: will/
won't v going to v present continuous
Grammar Reference Unit Sally's diary Language Exercise What are your plans? Language Exercise
Peter telephones Sally Language Exercise Hotel requests Language Exercise Why did I go on holiday? Vocabulary Activity Travel around the world Vocabulary Activity
Ghosts Game
An aircraft announcement Listening Activity Words with more
than three syllables Pronunciation Activity
UNIT 7
Lessons 7A-7C
This syllabus item provides practice of the kind of language we use to talk about changes and
dilemmas in life. It also provides practice of the present perfect continuous and giving advice.
Vocabulary Practising phrasal verbs used to talk about relationships.
Grammar Checking your knowledge of when to use the present perfect continuous. Checking your knowledge of the use of the present perfect simple and continuous. Checking
Present perfect
continuous: use Grammar Reference Unit Present perfect simple
v continuous Grammar Reference Unit Advice/opinion:
should, ought to Grammar Reference Unit Present perfect continuous Language Exercise Present perfect simple
and continuous Language Exercise
Ibiza - paradise lost Language Exercise Advice from an old hand Language Exercise Chat room introduction Vocabulary Activity No regrets! Listening Activity Are you sure you
want that new job? Pronunciation Activity Speaking with feeling Pronunciation Activity
UNIT 8
Lessons 8A-8C
This syllabus item provides practice of the kind of language we use to talk about crime and the
news. It also provides practice of the second and third conditionals and making offers.
Grammar Checking your knowledge of the uses of the second conditional. Checking your knowledge of the uses of the third conditional. Checking your knowledge of how to use 'would' with the second and third conditionals. Checking your knowledge of how to use 'would' to make offers.
Pronunciation Distinguishing the sounds /ʊ/ and /u:/ in single words.
Language Focus Practising the second conditional. Practising zero, first, second and third conditional sentences. Completing sentences using the first, second and third conditional. Practising making offers and requests.
Vocabulary Practising different types of news categories. Playing a game recognizing and matching phrasal verbs with drawings.
Reading and Listening Listening to a plan to kidnap a racehorse for money. Second conditional: use Grammar
Reference Unit Third conditional: use Grammar
Reference Unit Would: conditional Grammar
Reference Unit Would: offers Grammar Reference Unit Second conditional Language Exercise
Conditional sentences Language Exercise Conditionals Language Exercise Offers and requests Language Exercise Here is the news ... Vocabulary Activity A kidnap plan Listening Activity Usual Suspects Game
UNIT 9
Lessons 9A-9C
This syllabus item provides practice of the kind of language we use to talk about shops and
shopping. It also provides practice of articles, determiners and quantifiers.
Language Focus Practising 'so' and 'enough', and 'so/too' followed by 'much/many', 'little' and 'few' and choosing the correct answer to complete sentences. Using determiners to complete a newspaper article about a survey asking people about social issues. Using articles to complete a text about marketing strategies.
Vocabulary Practising phrases you might need while shopping. Using common compound nouns to complete a text about email. Practising phrasal verbs with 'take'. Practising the use of collocations relating to telephone language.
Reading and Listening Listening to two people talking about a late delivery and noting the details which need to be included in an email to the customer. Listening to someone making a complaint. Grammar Checking your knowledge of '(not) enough' and 'too + adjective + infinitive' and
putting the words in the correct order. Checking your knowledge of' 'little/a little', 'few/a few' and choosing the right words to complete the sentences. Checking your knowledge of 'all', 'half', 'none', 'the whole', 'most' and selecting the correct words to complete the sentences.
Determiners - quantifiers: (not) enough, too
+ adj + infinitive
Grammar Reference Unit Determiners - quantifiers:
little/a little, few/a few Grammar Reference Unit Determiners - quantifiers:
all, half, none, the whole, most
Grammar Reference Unit Modifiers and quantifiers Language Exercise Social issues survey Language Exercise
Marketing strategies Language Exercise Going shopping Vocabulary Activity Compound nouns Vocabulary Activity Phrasal verbs with take Vocabulary Activity Telephone calls Vocabulary Activity Delayed deliveries Listening Activity Complaining about
UNIT 10
Lessons 10A-10C
This syllabus item provides practice of the kind of language we use to talk about mysteries and
secrets. It also provides practice of modals of deduction, certainty and possibility and the use of the
infinitive.
Pronunciation Identifying the main stress in pairs of sentences with changing information. Grammar Checking your knowledge of using 'must' and 'can't' to talk about things you are
certain of and to make deductions. Checking your knowledge of using 'can', 'could', 'may', and 'might' to talk about possibility. Checking your knowledge of the structure verb + object + infinitive. Checking your knowledge of the structure object + infinitive without 'to'.
Reading and Listening Listening to the description of the Nazca Lines in Peru. Focusing on detailed comprehension of points made, opinions expressed and vocabulary used in a text about UFOs.
Vocabulary Grouping nouns with their related nouns and adjectives. Practising negative adjective prefixes.
Language Focus Practising the modal verbs 'can't' and 'must'. Practising modals of deduction, 'must' and 'can't', and of possibility, 'might' and 'could'. Practising the past simple and present perfect to complete a text about UFOs. Practising the structure of verbs followed by objects plus the infinitive.
Certainty/deduction:
must, can't Grammar Reference Unit Possibility: could,
may, might Grammar Reference Unit Verb + object + verb:
object + infinitive Grammar Reference Unit Verb + object + verb:
object + infinitive without to
Grammar Reference Unit Can't, and must Language Exercise Certainty and possibility Language Exercise
Mr Smith and the UFO Language Exercise Verbs followed by an
object and infinitive Language Exercise Word building Vocabulary Activity Negative adjective prefixes Vocabulary Activity Mysteries: the Nazca Lines Listening Activity Unidentified flying objects Listening Activity Paper 1 Part 1 Exam Preparation
Exercise
UNIT 11
Lessons 11A-11C
This syllabus item provides practice of the kind of language we use to talk about sport. It also
provides practice of the passive, 'have something done', 'make' and 'do', and question tags.
Reading and Listening Listening to a conversation about windsurfing.
Grammar Checking your knowledge of active and passive voice. Checking your knowledge of passive modals. Checking your knowledge of the way in which we use 'have something done'. Checking your knowledge of question and reply tags. Checking your knowledge of question tags. Checking your knowledge of nouns and noun phrases used with 'make' and 'do'.
Language Focus Practising all forms of the passive. Contrasting active and passive verbs. Practising question tags.
Vocabulary Practising phrasal verbs used to talk about sports and hobbies. Practising names of sports. Playing a game to identify words that collocate relating to sports.
Pronunciation Practising the /ıə/ and /eə/ vowel sounds. The passive:
passive v active Grammar Reference Unit The passive: modals Grammar
Reference Unit Uses of have: have
something done Grammar Reference Unit Question, reply tags: use Grammar
Reference Unit Question tags: word order Grammar
Reference Unit Make v do: A-L Grammar
Reference Unit
Make v do: M-W Grammar Reference Unit Passive forms Language Exercise The World Cup Language Exercise Question tags Language Exercise Why I love my hobby Vocabulary Activity What's your
favourite sport? Vocabulary Activity The Magic Forest Game
Windsurfing Listening Activity Same spelling,
UNIT 12
Lessons 12A-12C
This syllabus item provides practice of the kind of language we use to talk about money. It also
provides practice of reported speech.
Reading and Listening Reading a text about the Wall Street Crash of 1929.
Grammar Checking your knowledge of the tense changes used in reported speech. Checking your knowledge about reported speech. Checking your knowledge of reporting verbs. Checking your knowledge of 'Wh-' reported questions. Checking your knowledge of 'yes/no' reported questions.
Pronunciation Identifying polite or impolite intonation in questions. Identifying polite or impolite intonation in requests.
Language Focus Practising reporting verbs. Practising reported statements. Practising reported questions. Practising direct and reported speech.
Vocabulary Practising words used to talk about money. Matching business and money words with the correct definition. Practising words that are often confused. Playing a problem-solving game by creating a successful business on a new planet.
Reported speech:
tense changes Grammar Reference Unit Reported speech: changes Grammar
Reference Unit Reporting verbs: list Grammar
Reference Unit Reported questions:
wh- questions Grammar Reference Unit Reported questions:
yes/no questions Grammar Reference Unit Direct and reported
speech Language Exercise Reported statements Language Exercise
Interview questions Language Exercise Reported speech Language Exercise A banking complaint Vocabulary Activity Money and business Vocabulary Activity All about money Vocabulary Activity Terraformer - Average Game
Academic Reading Passage 3: The Wall Street Crash (Task 2)
Exam Preparation Exercise
Intonation Pronunciation Activity Intonation Pronunciation Activity
