Practice · Dr. Bashir

1 Corrections

How you said it, the natural version, and why. These are your own sentences.

How you said it

We ask you if you agree if you agree to extend the contract for 5 years.

The natural version

We're asking if you agree to extend the contract for five years.

Don't repeat the phrase. Use "agree to + verb."

How you said it

We need a new donnor.

The natural version

We need a new donor.

Spelling: one "n" — d-o-n-o-r (the person who donates).

How you said it

We'll review the budget on January.

The natural version

We'll review the budget in January.

Use "in" with months and years: in January, in July, in 2026.

How you said it

Do you hold your grounds?

The natural version

Do you stand your ground?

The idiom is "stand your ground" (singular) — to stay firm in your position.

How you said it

If I didn't do my financial works...

The natural version

If I didn't do my financial work...

"Work" is uncountable here — no "-s" and no "a work."

1b Already right

These needed no correction at all.

It was worth it.

Perfect natural phrase for something that took effort but paid off.

He admitted that he was wrong.

Great — "admit" works with "that" or with -ing (admitted feeling nervous).

2 Grammar tips

suggest something TO someone

"Suggest" takes a thing + "to" a person — never "suggest someone to do."

He suggested the idea to them.

"in" with months and periods

Use "in" for months, years, and parts of the year.

We distribute the profits in January and in July.

Verb + gerund (-ing)

After consider, avoid, miss, keep, admit, and "don't remember," use the -ing form.

I'm considering joining a course; he kept practising.

Uncountable nouns

Words like work, money, and advice have no plural and take no "a."

I finished my financial work (not "works").

Verb + infinitive (to + verb)

After promise, agree, seem, afford, need, plan, and remind, use "to" + base verb.

She promised to send the schedule; they agreed to move the lesson.

adjective + to + verb

Some adjectives are followed by "to": shocked to hear, curious to know.

I was shocked to hear that he had left the company.

be accountable / responsible for + noun

Use "for" + a noun or -ing to show what someone answers for.

You will be accountable for your lies.

worth + -ing

After "worth," use the -ing form. "It's worth checking."

It's worth checking your answers before you send the email.

3 New words and phrases

4 Pronunciation

·auditingAW-dit-ingStarts with "aw," like "awe." Stress the first part.
·committeekuh-MIT-eeStress the middle and hold the "t": kuh-MIT-ee.
·donorDOH-nerLong "o" first: DOH-ner. (Spelling: one "n.")

Practise these sounds

5 Practice sentences

01I'm considering joining a business English course next month.
02She promised to send me the updated schedule before Friday.
03We avoided calling the client until we had all the details.
04He seems to be more confident when he speaks in meetings.
05I don't remember studying this grammar rule before.
06They agreed to move the lesson to next week.
07I miss attending face-to-face classes sometimes.
08The teacher reminded us to submit our homework before the lesson.
09It's worth checking your answers before you send the email.
10I can't afford to take another course this month.
11She admitted feeling nervous during the oral test.
12We need to solve the problem before the next meeting.
13He kept practising even though he was tired.
14I was shocked to hear that he had left the company.
15They are planning to launch a new training program for employees.

6 Model sentences

Read these out loud three times.

We are distributing the profits to the shareholders in January.
The chair committee has equity in the hospital, so they hold shares too.
There's a fine line between being stingy and being careful with money.
A generous person gives with a good conscience and never counts every penny.
I was shocked to hear that the judge wanted to close our hospital.
If you work with ethics and know what you are doing, you have nothing to fear.
Going to hajj for two weeks kept me very busy, but it was worth it.
He finally admitted that he was wrong and made up his mind to apologize.

7 Mini-dialogue

A
How did the meeting with the committee go?
B
Difficult. They wanted to extend the contract, but I had to stand my ground.
A
Were you nervous?
B
I was shocked for a few minutes, but I knew the numbers from the audit.
A
Do they have equity in the hospital?
B
Yes, they hold shares, so we distribute the profits to them in January.
A
It sounds stressful. Was it worth it?
B
It was worth it. If you work with a good conscience, you sleep well at night.

Read A, say B's line yourself, then check.

8 Homework

Write 5 sentences with -ing verbs (I'm considering ___, I avoided ___, I miss ___).
Write 5 sentences with "to" + verb (I promised to ___, I agreed to ___, I can't afford to ___).
Use these 4 words in real sentences about your work: audit, distribute, equity, accountable.
Say these 6 words out loud 3 times: conscience, auditing, distribute, donor, committee, generous.
Write 2 sentences using "It's worth ___ing" and 2 using "There's a fine line between ___ and ___."
Record yourself reading the 8 Model Sentences and listen back for clear -ing and "to" endings.

9 Self-check

The hardest part this week was still choosing between the -ing form and "to" + verb. I'll keep the list close: consider, avoid, miss, keep, admit take -ing; promise, agree, need, plan, remind take "to."

The most useful expression for me is "It was worth it" — I can use it about hajj, about hard work at the hospital, and about studying English.

One question I still have: when do I say "stand your ground" versus just "don't change your mind"? I want to practise the idioms (fine line, upper hand, make up your mind) so they sound natural.