Why Are School Verbs Important for B1 Learners?

At B1 level, you need to talk about your daily life, including your school or study routine. School verbs are specific actions related to learning and education.

• They help you describe what you do every day at school or university.
• They are common in conversations about education, study habits, and academic tasks.
• Using the correct verbs makes your English sound more natural and accurate.

Verbs for Studying and Learning

These verbs describe actions you do to learn and complete academic tasks.

• Do homework: To complete school assignments given by a teacher.
  I always do my homework right after school.
• Make notes: To write down important information from a lesson or book.
  It helps me remember if I make notes during the lecture.
• Pay attention: To listen or watch carefully.
  Please pay attention to the teacher's instructions.
• Work in groups: To collaborate with other students on a task.
  For our project, we will work in groups of three.
• Use the computer lab: To go to a special room with computers for study.
  Sometimes, we use the computer lab for research.

Verbs for Your Daily School Routine

These verbs describe actions related to your daily schedule at school.

• Set off for school: To start your journey to school.
  I set off for school at 7:30 AM every morning.
• Have a break: To stop working or studying for a short time to rest.
  We usually have a break at 10 AM.
• Have lunch at school: To eat your midday meal at the school.
  Do you have lunch at school or do you go home?
• Go home: To leave school and return to your house.
  After the last class, I go home immediately.

Examples

• Every evening, I do my homework for about two hours.
• She always makes notes during history class to remember important dates.
• It's important to pay attention when the teacher explains new grammar.
• For our science experiment, we will work in groups.
• On Tuesdays, we use the computer lab for our IT lesson.
• What time do you set off for school in the morning?
• During the break, students often chat with friends or have a snack.
• Many students have lunch at school in the canteen.
• After school finishes, I go home and relax.

Practice

Common mistakes for Spanish speakers

Common Mistakes for Spanish Speakers

Spanish speakers sometimes make specific mistakes with these verbs due to direct translation from Spanish:

• Do homework vs. Make homework: In Spanish, you might say 'hacer los deberes'. However, in English, we always use do homework. Make homework is incorrect.
• Make notes vs. Take notes: Both are correct and mean the same thing. You can say I make notes or I take notes.
• Using 'go' instead of 'set off' for starting a journey: While you can say I go to school at 7:30, I set off for school specifically means starting the journey from your home, emphasizing the beginning of the trip.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between 'do homework' and 'make notes'?

Do homework means to complete assignments given by a teacher. Make notes means to write down information from a lesson or book to help you remember it.

Can I use 'go to school' instead of 'set off for school'?

Yes, you can. Go to school is a general phrase. Set off for school specifically means to begin your journey from home to school.

Why is it important to learn these verbs for the B1 Preliminary exam?

For the B1 Preliminary exam, especially in the Speaking and Writing parts, you might need to describe your daily routine, school experiences, or study habits. Using these specific verbs like pay attention or work in groups will help you express yourself accurately and naturally, which is important for a good score.

Is 'have a break' the same as 'take a break'?

Yes, both have a break and take a break mean the same thing: to stop an activity for a short period of rest. They are interchangeable.