USEFUL EXPRESSIONS

CÔ TẠ THỊ HÒA (IELTS 9.0)

A. WORK
1. Types of jobs and some of their characteristics
I’m working as a ……. at a company specializing in …….

Scenario 1:
It’s a stressful job as I find myself constantly on deadlines/ It’s a stressful job as
I am always up to my ears in (bận rộn) deadlines. I mean although I’m
supposed to leave the office at 6 as other nine-to-five office workers/ office
workers (nhân viên văn phòng), more often than not, I do not come home
until very late at night and you know what, I am no stranger to (quen với/
không xa lạ) working overtime or at the weekend.
→ That said, I do not think I’m gonna quit it/ I think I will still stick with it, at least in
the next 2 years. This is because I need to pay my bills and the salary here is
quite competitive. I’m not gonna risk it/ not gonna job hop until I can find a job
with a better compensation package (gói phúc lợi).
I’m not gonna quit it, though. Obviously it’s not because of my boss or a big
fat paycheck. It’s because of my amazing colleagues/ coworkers. We get
on really well with each other = We are on really good terms (hoà hợp/
có mối quan hệ tốt). During my years at this company, they have helped
me a lot, both professionally and personally. I don’t think that I can ever
find such wonderful people elsewhere.
Having said that, I’m gonna stick around (ở lại) for another couple of years
because there is still so much to learn here. My boss can be annoying at
times, I have to admit that he is one of the best people in the industry,
whom I can learn a lot from. And the best part is that he doesn’t just keep
things to himself (giữ cho riêng mình). He is always willing to share the ins
and outs (chi tiết) of the jobs/ all the tricks of the trade (tips/ mẹo) to us
→ So, I think that I’m not gonna stay here very long. I’ll quit as soon as I find new
opportunities. I mean of course, I’m gonna miss my current fat paycheck (lương
cao/ béo bở) and amazing coworkers a bit, but I believe that my work-life balance/
my mental health/ overall happiness should come first.

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Scenario 2:
There is nothing special about my job. It’s just another nine-to-five job with
many routine (lặp đi lặp lại) tasks.
→ I get bored sometimes, but I think it’s not wise/ sensible to change my job now
given the significant lay-off across the board (khắp mọi nơi/ ngành)
→ Many people may complain about this, calling it “tedious or monotonous”, but
it’s just perfect for a person who loves peace and predictability. I think these days
people are obsessed with “stepping out of their comfort zone” and anyone who is
content (hạnh phúc/ hài lòng) with their current situation is immediately labelled
“complacent” (tự mãn/an phận) or “unambitious”.
→ I feel like it’s a dead-end (bế tắc) job. The paperwork and the administrative
tasks just drive me crazy/ bore me to death. I always find myself daydreaming
during work. On top of that, the chances of progression are slim. I mean I don’t
see any higher positions in my company, so unless I am upskilled (đào tạo kĩ năng
khác) , I will be stuck here for good (= forever).

Scenario 3:
I’ve been working in this company for nearly 4 years now, and have gained
quite a lot of expertise and experience in this field. My goal is to climb the
corporate ladder to executive positions, maybe. I’m looking for opportunities
right inside my company because I just love the work environment here. It
values open communication, collaboration and employee wellness, which is
rare these days. My management always has our best interest at heart (luôn
mong điều tốt nhất cho ai) rather than trying to exploit us. My coworkers are
awesome as well. Although we are all highly motivated to advance our career
and there is definitely some competition going on, it’s a healthy and friendly
rivalry. They still have my back (= support) when I’m in need instead of
sabotaging (huỷ hoại) me/ stabbing me in the back/ badmouthing (đâm
sau lưng/ nói xấu) me.

Scenario 4:
There are so many perks of working as a freelancer. The first one is flexibility. I
can work pretty much anywhere: at the coffee shops, on my bed or during my
holiday rather than being confined to a boring four-walled office. Also,
because there are no fixed office hours, I can work at my most productive
time. You know, as a night owl, the last thing (không muốn làm gì) I want to
do is to wake up at 6 am to get to work on time at 8 am. So, as a freelancer, I
can sleep in (ngủ nướng) until 9 or 10 am as long as I get my work done on
schedule

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 Freelancing also spares (khiến ai không phải chịu điều gì khó chịu) me the
stress (= hassle) of daily commute. So, gone are the road rage (việc tức
giận/ cãi vã xảy ra trên đường) or the days of being stuck in traffic jams.
I can also have a say in (có quyền quyết định) which projects to take on or
who to work with. This means I no longer have to try to put on a happy
face when working with people I don’t like.

B. STUDY

1. A high school student

Scenario 1:
I’m a high school student at a local public school. It is not that competitive
compared to top schools in my area. The workload is not so overwhelming,
so I feel quite relaxed and comfortable at school.
I am not exactly academically gifted (học giỏi, năng khiếu trong việc học),
and luckily, my parents are understanding = sympathetic and they do not
push me to be a straight-A student (hs giỏi, luôn đạt điểm cao). They just
want me to try my best and be able to get into a decent (ổn, chấp nhận
được) university.
To me, life is not all about grades and scores, so I’m not stressed about my
average/ mediocre (trung bình, nhàng nhàng) academic performance. I try
to make the most of my high school years by taking part in extracurricular
activities and making new friends.
Scenario 2:
I’m in grade 10 and I’m studying at the school for the gifted. From the name,
you can tell that it’s kinda difficult to get into this school (This school has a
very low acceptance rate - tỉ lệ tuyển đầu vào). I had to put in a lot of
blood, sweat, and tears (trầy da tróc vẩy, khó khăn lắm) to pass the
entrance exam.
Surrounded by high-achievers, I’m under a lot of pressure to keep up. I
constantly find myself staying till early hours to finish all the assignments or
revise for exams = cram for exams (ôn cấp tốc/ ôn dồn dập). Downtime/
Spare time/ Leisure time has become something of the= has become a
luxury = I do not have enough time to sleep, let alone (chứ đừng nói đến
chuyện) leisure time.
It’s exhausting, yet rewarding as “no pain, no gain”

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→ I feel overwhelmed at times, but then I pull myself together (lấy lại tinh thần)
and keep going, hoping that my efforts will pay off (đền đáp xứng đáng).

Future plans:

I haven’t made a decision yet regarding which university to attend or which

major to pursue. This is because I haven’t found my passion yet, but I think I
will just go with the flow (đến đâu hay đến đó/ thuận theo tự nhiên)
I’m not 100% sure but I think I will study economics at university. It’s not
because it’s something I’m passionate about or because I want to become an
entrepreneur; the fact is it is a safe choice for me. I don’t want to study highly
specialized fields like doctors or accountants because we have no idea how
the market may change over the next 4 years. In this case, studying
economics, which covers many areas, thus equipping students with a broad
set of knowledge and skills, may be my best bet (lựa chọn tốt nhất).
My parents already made the decision for me. They both work in the
pharmaceutical industry, so they said that I should follow in their footsteps
(nối nghiệp) and study at a university of pharmacy and pharmaceutical
sciences.
→ I’m not exactly happy with that, but I don’t want to disappoint them, so I can say
that it’s all settled (mọi thứ đã được định đoạt/ quyết định xong xuôi).
→ Unfortunately, it’s not something I’m interested in, so I’m still trying to change
their mind.

2. A university student

I’m a freshman/sophomore/ junior/ senior at …. My major is …..

→ Actually, it’s not something that I’m particularly keen on. I just chose this major
to please my parents who thought that a (marketing/accounting..) degree would
help me to land a well-paid job after graduation. Thinking back it’s not all that bad
because I didn’t know what I wanted to study back then, either. So their
suggestion kinda gave me an easy way out back then when I was surrounded by
too many options.
→ Actually, my firm choice (nguyện vọng 1) was Marketing, but it didn’t work out,
so I studied Accounting, which was my insurance choice (nguyện vọng 2). To be
honest, it wasn’t exactly my second favorite major. I just picked it randomly
because I was quite confident that I could get into Marketing, but then here I am.

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 My study is quite boring. I think it’s not the subjects; it’s just my problem. I
mean school stuff has never been my thing, so I guess it’s the same whatever
university or major I pursue. Now, I just try to pass all the subjects to graduate
on time.
→ At first, I wasn’t exactly interested in this major. But over time, it started to
grow on (khiến ai đó yêu thích) me. I realized that it’s pretty interesting to
understand [describe your major here], and these insights can come in handy
(tiện lợi, hữu ích) in my daily life as well

C. FINANCIAL SITUATION

1. High school Students in general

As a teenager, I’m still financially dependent on my parents. They give me an

amount of pocket money (allowance - tiền tiêu vặt) every month, which I use
for pretty much everything from buying school supplies (dụng cụ học tập),
lunches, cosmetics and that sort of thing. Once in a while, my dad would slip
me some extra money (tuồn/ lén cho thêm tiền), so I can buy clothes or gifts
for my friends. My mother, in contrast, tracks every cent I spent at school. That
is not to say that my mom doesn’ trust me nor she is stingy (bủn xỉn/ keo kiệt).
She just wants to make sure that I, a reckless (liều lĩnh), impulsive (bồng bột)
and stubborn teenager, spend the money wisely and responsibly.

2. University students

I have a part-time job as a tutor/ waiter/ bartender, so I am proud to say that I’m
only financially dependent on my parents to a certain extent. I mean they help
me pay for tuition fees and housing, which are pretty significant while I would
be responsible for the remaining expenses including food, clothes,
transportation and the like (những thứ tương tự).
One of the most beautiful things about working as a student is that (One of the
most meaningful lessons I’ve learned) I understand the value of money. So I
become very careful and responsible in spending my hard-earned money
rather than taking it lightly (xem nhẹ) as I did when I was a child. I mean back
then I always complained about how meager (ít ỏi) my allowance was. I may
sulk about (hờn dỗi) it all day long. I envied my rich friends who could buy
anything they wanted with their pocket money.

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3. Working adults
Scenario 1:
I don’t know what it’s like for people in other industries, but as a nine-to-five
marketing employee, my salary is far from (= not) enough for me to live
comfortably/ is far from generous. I can only cover necessities, with a little left
for savings. and I have to be really frugal (tiết kiệm) when it comes to non-
essentials like recreation, eating out or shopping. I may eat out once a month,
and every two or three months, I might treat myself to a new clothing item.
But I can’t afford to do it more often than that.
As I live paycheck to paycheck (sống dựa vào lương), I often find myself
strapped for cash (thiếu tiền), but I’m too proud to ask for help from my
parents or friends. So you know, sometimes I have to pretend that I’m busy
and take a rain check (hẹn lần khác) when my friends ask to hang out

Scenario 2:
I don’t wanna sound boastful (huênh hoang, tự cao), but I think my salary is
pretty good. It’s higher than the pay my friends get for the same position.

It allows me to live comfortably and to do the shopping without worrying too

much about the price tag. I can also support my parents, buy them new stuff,
and save for a rainy day (dự phòng cho bất trắc). I feel fulfilled now, at least
financially.

D. HOBBIES
1. Music
I’ve been into music for as long as I can remember. When I was a child, I loved
to sing along and dance to kid songs on TV, dreaming of standing on a big
stage when I grow up. Although this dream doesn’t come true as I realize I am
not that talented/ I don’t have what it takes (điều cần thiết) to become a
singer, music is still a big part of my life. I listen to music when I study, cook or
just chill at home.
My music taste has changed a lot over time. When I was a kid, I only listened to
upbeat (vui nhộn) songs, but now I’m much less picky (kén chọn) when it
comes to genres (thể loại nhạc). I listen to any songs that I can relate with. It
can be pop, rock or classical.
My choice of music would vary depending on my mood. If I am alone because I
feel down, I listen to sad songs. It sounds counterintuitive (ngược đời), right?
but you know it works like a charm (hiệu quả) in lifting my mood. When I need
to perk myself up (khiến ai đó vui vẻ, hứng khởi), I turn on some rock music.

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2. Movies
I’m a movie buff = Movies have always been a huge part of my life, and I’m not
picky at all. To me, it’s not about the genre, but the storyline, the acting and
the visual effects. I have a soft spot (sự yêu thích đặc biệt) for movies that
have an unpredictable ending = interesting plot twists = original storyline.
My favorite pastime is to binge-watch (xem liên tục) movies with my friends.
Actually, we make it a point to have a movie night every weekend. We would
dissect (mổ xẻ) every scene and every line (câu thoại) together, which is so
much fun.
If money is not a concern, I would always go to the cinema to watch a movie. I
mean the big screens and the high-quality sound system allow me to enjoy a
film to the fullest (trọn vẹn).

3. Cooking
To me, cooking is more than just a necessity or a survival skill; it’s my passion. I
love experimenting with new recipes and watching my family enjoy the food.
The kitchen has become my safe haven (chốn ẩn náu an toàn) where I can
process my thoughts and find peace.
I haven’t taken any culinary courses (khoá học nấu ăn), which are pretty
expensive for me. On top of that, I don’t intend to become a professional chef,
and when it comes to cooking for my family, I’m confident that I understand
their taste and preferences to adjust the recipes.

4. Sports
I wasn’t always this sporty (yêu thích thể thao). Several years ago, I was a
couch potato who hated exercise of all sorts. It wasn’t until my health was
going downhill (xuống dốc) and until I was diagnosed with all sorts of
diseases did I start to take up a sport. The very first sport I practiced was
jogging because you don’t really need experience or equipment to go for a jog.
The first few days were a sheer torture (sự tra tấn) for a night owl (cú đêm)
like me to wake up early and head to the park. I was out of breath (hết hơi)
after the first lap (vòng chạy) and I came home with so many pains in my leg
and feet.
After 2 months, I got used to it and my body no longer ached. Going for a run
is now my morning ritual (thứ luôn luôn làm vào buổi sáng). It’s only about
staying in shape, but also about adopting a healthier lifestyle. Now, running at
the park is my digital detox (khoảng thời gian tách khỏi thiết bị điện tử) when
I can separate from phones or the virtual world and be present.

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E. PERSONALITIES
1. Introverts
I have always been an introverted person since I was a kid. Back in the day,
unlike other kids who loved to play outdoors, I preferred my own company
(thích 1 mình) with my favorite books or cartoons, and it’s pretty much the
same when I grow up. That’s not to say that I am a reclusive (thích cô độc)
kind of person who doesn't talk with or befriend anyone. Once in a while I am
also in a mood for a get-together with my friends; it’s just I would feel drained
of energy (cạn kiệt năng lượng) if I am surrounded by too many people for too
long. So to be honest, I often find myself silently celebrating a cancelled plan
for a social gathering.
I tend to keep a small circle of truly close friends rather than making new
acquaintances all the time. For an introvert like me, it’s always quality over
quantity.
I prefer one-on-one conversations to idle chatter (cuộc nói chuyện vô nghĩa/
chuyện phiếm) in a large group. I can spend hours on end talking with my
friends about our future or passion but I cannot stand gossips in a group chat
for more than 15 minutes. As you can guess, partying is not my thing, either.
Nothing is more terrifying than walking into a room full of people talking and
dancing to loud music. I shudder at the thought of small talks and faking a
smile with a bunch of strangers during parties. So, I would definitely turn
down a party invitation unless my close friends accompany me.
This personality trait also carries over into (chuyển sang/ lan sang) my school
work/ workplace. I prefer working alone than team work. It’s tiring to argue
with others about things we don’t see eye to eye with (không đồng tình).
2. Extroverts
I am a typical extrovert who draws energy from the crowd. I always feel really
excited to meet and talk with new people. There is no difficulty for me to strike
up (bắt đầu/ khởi xướng) a conversation with strangers. I can’t even remember
the number group chats I’ve become a member of, and my phone is buzzing
with notifications all the time.
I feel suffocated (ngột ngạt) if I have to stay at home alone. Parties and social
gatherings make me energized and alive.

3. Ambiverts
I think that I’m an ambivert. I enjoy socializing, of course with not only my
friends but also new faces but I just need breaks in-between to recharge my
battery before immersing in a crowd again.

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 I don’t mind starting up a conversation with strangers, but it may take time for
me to open up to (mở lòng) them.
I can be a team player, but it’s also totally fine if I have to work alone

F. ABILITIES

1. Expressing yourself

I’m not very articulate (giỏi ăn nói/ nói năng rõ ràng). In a conversation,
especially with new acquaintances, I often wonder what to ask, and I overthink
what to say.
I struggle to put my thoughts into words, especially in stressful or emotional
situations. So, as you can guess, public speaking is not my forte (thế mạnh). I
often have to memorize the script, but more often than not my mind just goes
blank when I’m on stage. I may start to stutter (nói vấp) and pause a lot. Fear
and anxiety is written all over my face (hiện hết lên mặt).

2. Numbers/ science

Scenario 1:
I think that I have a knack for = have a head for numbers (giỏi/ có tài năng)
and science in general. When I was a child, my favorite pastime was doing
Sudoku puzzles in the newspapers. It felt so rewarding and satisfying when I
broke my own records. At school, I was always a high-achiever (học sinh có
thành tích cao) in science subjects. I find it fascinating to get to know how
things around us work.
Science subjects help me foster my logical thinking and problem-solving skills.
One of the things I love most about science is that it’s black and white. Unlike
subjects that are open to opinion or personal interpretation (khác nhau tuỳ
quan điểm/ cách diễn giải), science gives you clear answers, and I find that
really satisfying.

Scenario 2:
Numbers and science in general have never been my thing. No matter how
hard I try, I just can't wrap my head around (hiểu) the complex scientific
concepts and formulas. Back in school, I always dozed off in science classes.
Math and physics tests were my worst nightmares. I could stare at an equation
for ages and still not have the slightest clue what to do

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3. Art

I have always been keenCÔon TẠart. Ever (IELTS

THỊ HÒA since 9.0)
I was a child, I derived great
pleasure from (vui thích việc gì đó) sketching on any blank space I could find
—whether it was the margins of my notebooks or the back of old newspapers
While other kids were out playing sports, I would be indoors, completely
absorbed in (đắm chìm) my drawings, experimenting with different colors.
With the advent of the Internet, digital art has now become my new interest.
To me, art is not just about creating something visually appealing; it’s a form
of self-expression, a way to communicate emotions that words sometimes fail
to capture.
I love going to exhibitions and galleries to admire and study the works of great
artists. There’s something stimulating in getting to know the story and
emotion behind each artwork. This is also the reason why I don’t think that AI
can replace artists. AI-generated artworks, albeit (dù) technically impressive,
are lacking in soul because there is no story to tell - something that may
resonate with viewers (chạm tới trái tim/ khiến ai đó cảm thông/ rung động).
The idea that there is no absolute right or wrong in art makes it so appealing.
Unlike math or science, art is open to interpretation. This freedom allows
people to express their emotions, ideas, and perspectives in unique ways
without the fear of being “wrong.”

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 TỪ LOẠI VÀ CẤU TRÚC TỪ
(PARTS OF SPEECH AND WORD FORMATION)
THẦY NGUYỄN HOÀNG HUY (IELTS 9.0)

1. Tổng quan về từ loại trong tiếng Anh

Tiếng Anh có tám từ loại chính, mỗi loại có chức năng và đặc điểm riêng.
Việc hiểu rõ các từ loại và cách sử dụng chúng giúp người học xây dựng câu
chính xác và diễn đạt ý tưởng một cách hiệu quả.

Các từ loại chính:

1. Danh từ (Nouns): Chỉ người, vật, nơi chốn, ý tưởng. Ví dụ: student, city, happiness.
2. Động từ (Verbs): Diễn tả hành động hoặc trạng thái. Ví dụ: run, think, be.
3. Tính từ (Adjectives): Bổ nghĩa cho danh từ, cho biết đặc điểm. Ví dụ: beautiful, large,
intelligent.
4. Trạng từ (Adverbs): Bổ nghĩa cho động từ, tính từ hoặc trạng từ khác. Ví dụ: quickly,
very, well
5. Giới từ (Prepositions): Liên kết danh từ hoặc đại từ với phần còn lại của câu. Ví dụ: in,
at, on.
6. Đại từ (Pronouns): Thay thế cho danh từ. Ví dụ: he, she, it, they.
7. Liên từ (Conjunctions): Kết nối từ, cụm từ hoặc mệnh đề. Ví dụ: and, but, because.
8. Mạo từ (Articles): Xác định tính xác định của danh từ. Ví dụ: a, an, the.

2. Các lỗi thường gặp về từ loại và cách sửa

2.1. Danh từ (Nouns)

Lỗi 1: Sử dụng sai dạng số ít và số nhiều
Sai: She has many child.
Sửa: She has many children.
Giải thích: "Child" là danh từ bất quy tắc, số nhiều là "children".
Lỗi 2: Thiếu "s" ở danh từ số nhiều đếm được
Sai: There are several book on the table.
Sửa: There are several books on the table.
Lỗi 3: Sử dụng danh từ không đếm được như danh từ đếm được
Sai: I need some advices.
Sửa: I need some advice.
Giải thích: "Advice" là danh từ không đếm được, không thêm "s".

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2.2. Động từ (Verbs)
Lỗi 1: Sử dụng sai dạng động từ sau các động từ khuyết thiếu
CÔ TẠ THỊ HÒA (IELTS 9.0)
Sai: She must goes now.
Sửa: She must go now.
Giải thích: Sau động từ khuyết thiếu (must, can, should), dùng động từ nguyên thể
không "to".
Lỗi 2: Sử dụng sai dạng động từ sau "to"
Sai: I want learning English.
Sửa: I want to learn English.
Giải thích: Sau "want", dùng "to" + động từ nguyên thể.
Lỗi 3: Nhầm lẫn giữa động từ nguyên thể và động từ "-ing"
Sai: She enjoys to read books.
Sửa: She enjoys reading books.
Giải thích: Sau "enjoy", dùng động từ dạng "-ing".
2.3. Tính từ (Adjectives)
Lỗi 1: Sử dụng tính từ thay vì trạng từ
CÔ TẠ THỊ HÒA (IELTS 9.0)
Sai: She sings beautiful.
Sửa: She sings beautifully.
Giải thích: "Beautifully" là trạng từ, bổ nghĩa cho động từ "sings"
Lỗi 2: Sử dụng tính từ không phù hợp
Sai: He is a scared person. (Ý muốn nói "dũng cảm").
Sửa: He is a brave person.
Giải thích: "Scared" nghĩa là "sợ hãi", trái nghĩa với "brave" (dũng cảm).
Lỗi 3: Nhầm lẫn giữa tính từ so sánh hơn và so sánh nhất
Sai: She is the more intelligent student in the class.
Sửa: She is the most intelligent student in the class.

2.4. Trạng từ (Adverbs)

Lỗi 1: Sử dụng sai vị trí của trạng từ
Sai: He speaks English fluently always.
Sửa: He always speaks English fluently.
Giải thích: Trạng từ chỉ tần suất (always) thường đứng trước động từ chính.
Lỗi 2: Dùng trạng từ thay vì tính từ
Sai: She feels happily.
Sửa: She feels happy.
Giải thích: Sau động từ liên kết (linking verbs) như "feel", dùng tính từ.
Lỗi 3: Thiếu trạng từ khi cần thiết
Sai: She drives careful.
Sửa: She drives carefully.

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2.5. Giới từ (Prepositions)
Lỗi 1: Sử dụng giới từ không phù hợp
CÔ TẠ THỊ HÒA (IELTS 9.0)
Sai: She is good at mathematics.
Sửa: She is good at mathematics.
Giải thích: "Good at" là cụm cố định.
Lỗi 2: Thiếu giới từ sau động từ
Sai: They are looking the keys.
Sửa: They are looking for the keys.
Lỗi 3: Thừa giới từ không cần thiết
Sai: Where did you go to yesterday?
Sửa: Where did you go yesterday?

2.6. Đại từ (Pronouns)

Lỗi 1: Sử dụng sai đại từ nhân xưng
CÔ TẠ THỊ HÒA (IELTS 9.0)
Sai: Me and him went to the park.
Sửa: He and I went to the park.
Giải thích: Chủ ngữ của câu phải ở dạng chủ cách (I, he).
Lỗi 2: Nhầm lẫn giữa "its" và "it's"
Sai: The dog wagged it's tail.
Sửa: The dog wagged its tail.
Giải thích: "It's" = "it is", "its" là tính từ sở hữu.
Lỗi 3: Sử dụng sai đại từ phản thân
Sai: She looked at hers in the mirror.
Sửa: She looked at herself in the mirror.

2.7. Liên từ (Conjunctions)

Lỗi 1: Sử dụng sai liên từ
Sai: I am tired, so I didn't sleep well.
Sửa: I am tired, because I didn't sleep well
Giải thích: "Because" diễn tả nguyên nhân.
Lỗi 2: Thiếu liên từ kết nối câu
Sai: He is smart. He is lazy.
Sửa: He is smart, but he is lazy.
Lỗi 3: Sử dụng liên từ không phù hợp về nghĩa
Sai: She studied hard, or she failed the exam.
Sửa: She studied hard, yet she failed the exam.

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 2.8. Mạo từ (Articles)
Lỗi 1: Thiếu mạo từ khi cần thiết
CÔ TẠ THỊ HÒA (IELTS 9.0)
Sai: She bought book yesterday.
Sửa: She bought a book yesterday.
Lỗi 2: Sử dụng mạo từ không phù hợp
Sai: He is an European.
Sửa: He is a European.
Giải thích: "European" bắt đầu bằng âm /j/, không phải nguyên âm.
Lỗi 3: Dùng mạo từ "the" khi không cần thiết
Sai: She goes to the school every day.
Sửa: She goes to school every day.

3. Cấu trúc từ và hình thành từ (Word Formation)

Word formation là quá trình tạo ra từ mới bằng cách thêm tiền tố (prefix) hoặc
hậu tố (suffix), hoặc bằng cách ghép từ (compounding).
3.1. Tiền tố (Prefixes): được thêm vào đầu từ gốc để thay đổi nghĩa.
Ví dụ:
Un-: mang nghĩa phủ định . happy → unhappy
Re-: mang nghĩa làm lại. write → rewrite
Dis-: phủ định hoặc trái nghĩa. agree → disagree
3.2. Hậu tố (Suffixes): được thêm vào cuối từ gốc để thay đổi loại từ hoặc nghĩa
Ví dụ:
-er: danh từ chỉ người thực hiện hành động. teach → teacher
-ness: danh từ chỉ trạng thái. happy → happiness
-ly: trạng từ. quick → quickly
3.3. Các lỗi thường gặp về cấu trúc từ
Lỗi 1: Sử dụng sai loại từ do không nhận biết hậu tố
Sai: She is a success woman.
Sửa: She is a successful woman.
Giải thích: "Successful" là tính từ, mô tả danh từ "woman".
Lỗi 2: Sử dụng tiền tố không phù hợp
Sai: He is inresponsible.
Sửa: He is irresponsible.
Giải thích: Tiền tố phủ định của "responsible" là "ir-".
Lỗi 3: Nhầm lẫn giữa từ gốc và từ biến thể
Sai: They made a great improve.
Sửa: They made a great improvement.
Giải thích: "Improvement" là danh từ, "improve" là động từ.
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4. Chiến lược nhận diện và sửa lỗi
4.1. Xác định chức năng từ trong câu
Hỏi xem từ đó đang làm gì trong câu: làm chủ ngữ, động từ, tính từ, trạng từ...
Dựa vào vị trí của từ để xác định loại từ cần thiết.

4.2. Nhận diện hậu tố và tiền tố

Hậu tố thường cho biết loại từ (danh từ, động từ, tính từ, trạng từ).
Tiền tố thường thay đổi nghĩa từ gốc (phủ định, lặp lại, đối lập).

4.3. Sử dụng từ điển và tài liệu tham khảo

Tra cứu từ điển để hiểu nghĩa và cách sử dụng của từ.
Học thuộc các từ thường gây nhầm lẫn và cách phân biệt chúng.

4.4. Thực hành viết và nói

Tạo câu sử dụng từ mới học để ghi nhớ cách sử dụng.
Luyện tập với các bài tập phân loại từ và sửa lỗi.

5. Bài tập thực hành

Bài tập 1: Chọn từ đúng để hoàn thành câu
1. She was very (success/successful) in her career.
Đáp án: successful
2. He behaves very (childish/child).
Đáp án: childishly
3. The (information/informations) you provided is helpful.
Đáp án: information
4. They (accept/except) the offer
Đáp án: accept
5. She is looking forward to (meet/meeting) you.
Đáp án: meeting
Bài tập 2: Sửa lỗi sai trong các câu sau
1. He is a (fastly) runner.
Sửa: He is a fast runner.
2. They (was) happy to see us.
Sửa: They were happy to see us.
3. She sings (beauty).
Sửa: She sings beautifully.
4. Do you know where (is) he?
Sửa: Do you know where he is?
5. She is interested (on) art.
Sửa: She is interested in art.
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Bài tập 3: Chuyển đổi từ trong ngoặc để hoàn thành câu
1. Her (perform) was outstanding.
Đáp án: performance
2. He is very (create) and always has new ideas.
Đáp án: creative
3. They need to (strength) their teamwork skills.
Đáp án: strengthen
4. The project was a great (succeed).
Đáp án: success
5. She acted (profession).
Đáp án: professionally
Bài tập 4: Điền giới từ phù hợp vào chỗ trống
1. She is good ___ math.
Đáp án: at
2. They are waiting ___ the bus.
Đáp án: for
3. He apologized ___ being late.
Đáp án: for
4. The book belongs ___ me.
Đáp án: to
5. She is afraid ___ spiders.
Đáp án: of

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