Cambridge B2 First — Tag 10 (26.04.2026)

FCE Prep — Session 1: Writing & Speaking

Subject-Verb Agreement (3rd person -s)

Im Präsens bekommt das Verb in der 3. Person Singular (he/she/it) ein -s. Auch bei abstrakten Subjekten. ✅ The book PROVIDES practical exercises. ❌ The book provide practical exercises. Plural-Subjekt → KEIN -s: ✅ Peer support groups GIVE students a safe space.

Modal + Base Form

Nach Modalverben (would, could, should, might, must, can) IMMER Infinitiv ohne -to und ohne -s. ✅ It would SUIT me perfectly. ❌ It would suits me perfectly. ✅ This could MAKE a big impact. ❌ This could made a big impact.

Reflexive Pronouns

myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves. ⚠️ "hisself" und "ourself" gibt es NICHT. ✅ He needs some time for HIMSELF. ✅ We need to learn more about OURSELVES.

Mixed Conditional (Type 3 → Type 2)

If + had + Past Participle, would + base verb → vergangene Ursache, gegenwärtige Folge. ✅ If I HAD STUDIED harder, I WOULD already BE at C1 level. Eleganter mit Inversion: ✅ HAD I studied harder, I would already be at C1.

Wish + Past Perfect (vergangenes Bedauern)

Für Bedauern über die Vergangenheit: wish + had + Past Participle. ✅ She WISHES SHE HAD APPLIED for the scholarship. Gegenwart: I wish I KNEW the answer. Andere Person: I wish you WOULD STOP shouting.

Inversion nach negativen Adverbien

Nach Rarely, Never, Seldom, Hardly, Scarcely, Not only, Little, No sooner, Under no circumstances, Not until → Hilfsverb VOR Subjekt. ✅ RARELY HAVE I seen such a well-organised event. ❌ Rarely I have seen such a well-organised event. ✅ NEVER HAVE I felt so embarrassed. ✅ NOT ONLY DID SHE pass — she got top marks.

Cleft Sentences mit "What"

Struktur: What + [Verbphrase] + is/was + [betontes Element]. Macht Sätze C1-elegant. ✅ WHAT CAUSED us to fail WAS the lack of preparation. ✅ WHAT STRIKES ME ABOUT the photograph IS the sense of calm. ✅ WHAT I REALLY NEED IS more practice.

The reason… is THAT (NICHT "is because")

Niemals "the reason is because" — das ist redundant. Immer: "the reason… is THAT" ✅ The reason I'm choosing this scenario IS THAT I haven't seen my friends in ages. ❌ The reason is because I haven't seen them.

Adverb-Wortstellung mit Modalverben

already, still, never, always stehen ZWISCHEN Modal und Hauptverb. ✅ I would ALREADY BE at C1. ❌ I would be already at C1. ✅ She has NEVER SEEN anything like it.

Even though ≠ Even

"Even" allein ist KEINE Konzessivkonjunktion. Du brauchst even though, even if oder despite. ✅ EVEN THOUGH they happened in the past, we still suffer. ❌ Even they are past, we still suffer.

German Calque: "in our hand" → "beyond our control"

Direkte Übersetzung von "in unserer Hand" gibt es im Englischen NICHT. ✅ The future is BEYOND OUR CONTROL. ❌ The future is not in our hand.

learn vs study (Prüfungsvorbereitung)

Study = die Tätigkeit (lernen, pauken). Learn = das Ergebnis (etwas können). ✅ I STUDIED for three hours. (Tätigkeit) ✅ I LEARNED a lot of new vocabulary. (Ergebnis)

Falscher Freund: actual ≠ aktuell

Actual (engl.) = tatsächlich, real. Aktuell (dt.) = current. ✅ the ACTUAL moment = der tatsächliche Moment ✅ aktuelle Nachrichten = CURRENT news ❌ actual news (für "aktuelle Nachrichten")

life (Nomen) vs live (Verb)

Life = das Leben (Nomen). Live = leben (Verb). ✅ to LIVE in the moment ❌ to life in the moment ✅ Life itself is beautiful.

German Calque: "empty the mind" → "clear the mind"

Den Kopf leeren = clear the mind (NICHT empty). ✅ Sport helps me CLEAR MY MIND. ❌ Sport helps me empty my mind.

German Calque: "stress situation" → "what I'm going through"

"Stress-Situation" ist ein Germanismus. Englisch: to talk about what you're going through / the pressure you're under. ✅ Students need to talk about WHAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH. ❌ …about their stress situation.

German Calque: "lead stressed people" → "support"

Im Deutschen "führt" man gestresste Menschen — im Englischen SUPPORTS man sie. ✅ Teachers should know how to SUPPORT struggling students. ❌ …how to lead stressed people.

C1: a wealth of (+ noun)

Ersetzt das schwache "plenty of". Deutlich C1. ✅ The book offers A WEALTH OF practical exercises. ✅ She brings A WEALTH OF experience to the role.

C1: all things considered

Eleganter Ersatz für "to sum up" / "in conclusion". ✅ ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, this is a profoundly rewarding read. ✅ All things considered, the trip was a success.

C1: set out to (do something)

Ersatz für "try to" / "want to" — stärker und absichtsvoller. ✅ The author SETS OUT TO teach readers how to live in the present. ✅ We SET OUT TO solve the problem from a different angle.

C1: What's your take on…?

Natürlicher als "What is your opinion about…?". Gesprächig-C1. ✅ WHAT'S YOUR TAKE ON peer support groups? ✅ What's your take on the new policy?

C1: to open up about (something)

Ersatz für "to talk about" bei emotionalen Themen. ✅ Students find it easier to OPEN UP ABOUT their stress in a group. ✅ He finally OPENED UP ABOUT his struggles.

C1: to spot the warning signs

High-value Kollokation für Wellbeing / Health / Mental Health. ✅ Trained teachers can SPOT THE WARNING SIGNS of burnout. ✅ It's important to spot the warning signs early.

C1: to catch up (with someone)

Idiomatisch für "jemanden wiedersehen / sich austauschen". ✅ It was the perfect opportunity to CATCH UP with my brother. ✅ We really need to CATCH UP soon.

C1: a profound impact on

Stärkere Kollokation als "a big effect on". ✅ The book had A PROFOUND IMPACT ON the way I think. ✅ The pandemic had a profound impact on education.

C1: to draw on / to fall back on

Ersatz für "to use" — bedeutet "auf etwas zurückgreifen". ✅ Students can DRAW ON breathing exercises when overwhelmed. ✅ She FELL BACK ON her years of experience.

C1: to be attuned to (something)

"Sensibel sein für" — viel besser als "to be sensitive in". ✅ Teachers should be ATTUNED TO their students' mental health. ✅ A good leader is attuned to the team's mood.

C1: Whereas X…, Y…

Wichtigster Vergleichsstrukturer für Speaking Part 2. ✅ WHEREAS the first photograph shows a solitary scene, the second captures a lively gathering. ✅ Whereas she enjoys quiet evenings, he prefers parties.

C1: It strikes me that… / What strikes me about… is…

Sophisticated speculation — perfekt für Speaking Part 2. ✅ WHAT STRIKES ME ABOUT the second photograph IS the sense of celebration. ✅ It strikes me that they look genuinely relaxed.

C1: to relish (someone's company / something)

Hochwertiges Verb für "genießen". ✅ They're clearly RELISHING each other's company. ✅ I RELISH the challenge of a difficult task.

C1: a real buzz / a sense of celebration

Zum Beschreiben lebhafter Szenen in Speaking Part 2. ✅ There's A REAL BUZZ about the gathering. ✅ The room had A SENSE OF CELEBRATION.

C1: there's no way around it

Ersatz für "you won't get around it". ✅ If you want to work internationally, THERE'S NO WAY AROUND English. ✅ There's no way around the fact that we need more practice.

C1: through the roof

Idiom für "extrem hoch". ✅ Sugar consumption among teenagers is THROUGH THE ROOF. ✅ Rents in Zurich have gone THROUGH THE ROOF.

C1: from all walks of life

Sophisticated für "different kinds of people". ✅ Travelling lets you meet people FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE. ✅ The event attracted people from all walks of life.

Spelling: students

✅ STUDENTS ❌ sutdents Merksatz: STU-DENTS (zwei Silben, klar trennen beim Schreiben).

Spelling: exactly

✅ EXACTLY ❌ excactly Merksatz: EX-ACT-LY (kein zweites C).

Spelling: communicate

✅ COMMUNICATE ❌ comunicate Merksatz: doppeltes M (com-MM-unicate).

Spelling: immediately

✅ IMMEDIATELY ❌ imediately Merksatz: doppeltes M (im-MM-ediately).

Spelling: around

✅ AROUND ❌ arround Merksatz: nur EIN R.

Spelling: college

✅ COLLEGE ❌ collague Merksatz: COL-LEGE (nicht "colleague" = Kollege!).

Spelling: tough

✅ TOUGH ❌ taff Merksatz: T-O-U-G-H (wie "enough").

Spelling: through

✅ THROUGH ❌ trugh Merksatz: T-H-R-O-U-G-H (durch).

Spelling: choosing

✅ CHOOSING ❌ chosing Merksatz: doppeltes O (CHOO-sing).

Spelling: combination

✅ COMBINATION ❌ comination Merksatz: COM-BI-NA-TION (B nicht vergessen).

Spelling: immense

✅ IMMENSE ❌ emens Merksatz: doppeltes M (IM-MENSE).

Spelling: crucial

✅ CRUCIAL ❌ curcial Merksatz: CRU-CIAL (R direkt nach C).

Spelling: as well (zwei Wörter)

✅ AS WELL (zwei Wörter!) ❌ aswell Beispiel: I enjoy reading AS WELL.

there vs their

there = dort/da (Ort, Existenz) their = ihr/ihre (Possessiv) ✅ THERE is a buzz in the room. (Ort) ✅ They enjoy THEIR moment. (Besitz)

Spelling: little

✅ LITTLE ❌ litte Merksatz: doppeltes T (LIT-TLE).

Spelling: story

✅ STORY (Singular) / STORIES (Plural) ❌ storie Merksatz: STO-RY (kein E am Ende im Singular).

Spelling: effective

✅ EFFECTIVE ❌ effectiv Merksatz: doppeltes F + E am Ende (EF-FEC-TIVE).

Spelling: actual

✅ ACTUAL ❌ acutal Merksatz: AC-TU-AL (T nach C, nicht U).

Spelling: overwhelmed

✅ OVERWHELMED ❌ overwelmth Merksatz: OVER-WHELM-ED (mit H + ED am Ende).

Spelling: godmother

✅ GODMOTHER ❌ goodmother Merksatz: GOD (Pate kommt von "God-parent"), nicht "good".

Spelling: opportunity

✅ OPPORTUNITY ❌ opportunitie Merksatz: doppeltes P + Y am Ende (OP-POR-TU-NI-TY).

Spelling: equally

✅ EQUALLY ❌ equale Merksatz: EQUAL + LY (Adverb-Endung).

Adverb: thoroughly (statt extremely)

"Thoroughly enjoyed" klingt natürlicher als "extremely enjoyed". ✅ I THOROUGHLY enjoyed the evening. ❌ I extreamly enjoyed the moment. Spelling: THO-ROUGH-LY

Spelling: couldn't

✅ COULDN'T (Apostroph!) ❌ coudn't Merksatz: could + not → could-N'T (das L bleibt).

Spelling: grass

✅ GRASS (doppeltes S) ❌ gras Merksatz: GRA-SS (wie glass, class, pass).

Spelling: travel (BrE)

✅ TRAVEL (ein L im Infinitiv) ✅ TRAVELLING / TRAVELLED (BrE: doppeltes L) ✅ TRAVELING / TRAVELED (AmE: ein L) Cambridge nutzt BrE → also TRAVELLING.

Plural: reasons

Im Englischen oft Plural, wo Deutsch Singular nutzt. ✅ for business REASONS (Plural!) ❌ for business reason Auch: for safety reasons, for various reasons.

Review-Hook: "Few books genuinely change…"

Strong opening für Review-Tasks (Writing Part 2). ✅ FEW BOOKS GENUINELY CHANGE THE WAY YOU LIVE, but Eckhart Tolle's "The Power of Now" is one of them.

Review-Hook: "Rarely does X deliver…"

Sophisticated opening mit Inversion — sofort C1. ✅ RARELY DOES A SELF-HELP BOOK DELIVER on its promises, but this one does.

Review-Phrase: "Widely regarded as a landmark in…"

C1-Phrase zur Einordnung eines Werks. ✅ WIDELY REGARDED AS A LANDMARK IN the self-development genre, this book…

Review-Phrase: "What sets X apart is…"

Cleft sentence zum Hervorheben einer Stärke. ✅ WHAT SETS THIS BOOK APART IS its accessibility.

Review-Phrase: "X's central argument is deceptively simple"

Eleganter Übergang zur Inhaltsbeschreibung. ✅ TOLLE'S CENTRAL ARGUMENT IS DECEPTIVELY SIMPLE: most suffering stems from dwelling on the past.

Review-Phrase: "I cannot recommend it highly enough"

Confident closing recommendation. ✅ I CANNOT RECOMMEND IT HIGHLY ENOUGH.

Review-Phrase: "It would appeal to anyone who…"

Nuancierte Empfehlung mit Zielgruppe. ✅ IT WOULD APPEAL TO ANYONE WHO feels overwhelmed by modern life.

Review-Phrase: "Sceptics may find X, but…"

Balanced recommendation für 20/20. ✅ SCEPTICS MAY FIND Tolle's tone preachy, BUT readers willing to suspend their cynicism will find this genuinely transformative.

Speaking Part 2: "Whereas…, …"

Wichtigster Vergleichsstrukturer. ✅ WHEREAS the first photograph shows a quiet scene, THE SECOND captures a lively gathering.

Speaking Part 2: "It looks as if / It strikes me that…"

Sophisticated speculation language. ✅ IT LOOKS AS IF they haven't seen each other for a while. ✅ IT STRIKES ME THAT they're genuinely relaxed.

Speaking Part 3: "I'd go along with that"

Agreement-Phrase im Decision-Phase. ✅ Yes, I'D GO ALONG WITH THAT.

Speaking Part 3: "I'm not entirely convinced that…"

Höfliches Disagreement (C1). ✅ I'M NOT ENTIRELY CONVINCED THAT extra free periods would help.

Speaking Part 3: "I'd go further than that"

Building on someone's point (C1). ✅ I'D GO FURTHER THAN THAT — I think peer support is essential.

Phrasal Verb: open up about

Über etwas Emotionales sprechen. ✅ Students find it easier to OPEN UP ABOUT their stress in a small group. ✅ He finally opened up about what was troubling him.

Phrasal Verb: come up with

Eine Idee/Lösung erfinden, sich ausdenken. ⚠️ NICHT für "verwenden" / "zurückgreifen"! ✅ She CAME UP WITH a brilliant solution. ❌ tools that they can come up with (für "use" → benutze "draw on")

Phrasal Verb: catch up

Sich austauschen / aufholen. ✅ Let's CATCH UP next week. ✅ I need to CATCH UP on my reading.