British

English

Personal
Best
Student’s Book
A2
Elementary

Series Editor
Jim Scrivener
Author
Louis Rogers
 CONTENTS

LANGUAGE SKILLS
GRAMMAR PRONUNCIATION VOCABULARY

1 You and me ▪▪ the verb be ▪▪ contractions of be ▪▪ countries and READING Learning

Curve SPEAKING
▪▪ possessive ▪▪ sentence stress nationalities ▪▪ a blog about a ▪▪ asking for and giving
1A Meeting and greeting p4 adjectives ▪▪ numbers summer spent in personal information
1B My summer blog p6 ▪▪ ‘s for possession 1 – 1,000 London ▪▪ asking for clarification
▪▪ personal objects ▪▪ approaching a text
1C Is that a man bag? p8
▪▪ simple statements PERSONAL BEST

1D Where's my wallet? p10

with be ▪▪ a conversation in a
lost property office

2 Work and play ▪▪ present simple: ▪▪ -s and -es endings ▪▪ jobs and job Learning
Curve LISTENING WRITING
positive and ▪▪ auxiliary verbs verbs ▪▪ a video looking at work ▪▪ opening and closing
2A What I do p12 negative do/does in ▪▪ activities (1) an informal email
and free-time activities
2B Weekdays, weekends p14 ▪▪ present simple: questions ▪▪ connectors: and, but
▪▪ listening for names,
questions and or
2C Find a flatmate p16 places, days and times
▪▪ introduction to the
2D A new city p18 PERSONAL BEST
sound /ə/ ▪▪ an email to a friend

1 and 2 REVIEW and PRACTICE p20

3 People in my life ▪▪ adverbs and ▪▪ sentence stress ▪▪ family READING Learning

Curve SPEAKING
expressions of ▪▪ -ing forms ▪▪ activities (2) ▪▪ a website about local ▪▪ making arrangements
3A Time together p22 frequency clubs and groups you ▪▪ accepting or declining
3B A new group p24 ▪▪ love, like, hate, can join
an invitation
enjoy, don’t mind ▪▪ scanning a text
3C Opposites attract p26 + noun/-ing form ▪▪ also and too PERSONAL BEST

3D A night out p28 ▪▪ making arrangements

with a friend to do an
activity

4 Home and away ▪▪ prepositions of ▪▪ sentence stress ▪▪ daily routine Learning

Curve LISTENING WRITING
time ▪▪ linking verbs ▪▪ a video about the ▪▪ describing a photo
4A 24 hours in the dark p30 ▪▪ present consonants ▪▪ the weather and
weather in different ▪▪ using personal
4B Weather around the continuous and vowels the seasons parts of the world pronouns
world p32 ▪▪ listening for the main PERSONAL BEST

4C A long weekend p34 idea

▪▪ an email describing
▪▪ sentence stress
4D A holiday with friends p36 a holiday

3 and 4 REVIEW and PRACTICE p38

5 What are you wearing? ▪▪ present simple ▪▪ dates ▪▪ clothes READING Learning
Curve SPEAKING
and present ▪▪ can and can’t ▪▪ ordinal numbers ▪▪ an article about ▪▪ shopping for clothes
5A Party time p40 continuous ▪▪ hobbies uniforms and if we like ▪▪ offering help
5B Don’t tell me what to ▪▪ can and can’t wearing them
wear p42 ▪▪ identifying facts and PERSONAL BEST

opinions ▪▪ a conversation in a
5C Do the things you love p44
▪▪ adjectives clothes shop
5D Can I try it on? p46

6 Homes and cities ▪▪ there is/there are, ▪▪ there’s/there are ▪▪ rooms and Learning
Curve LISTENING WRITING
some/any ▪▪ sentence stress furniture ▪▪ a video about unusual ▪▪ topic sentences
6A A small space p48 ▪▪ prepositions of ▪▪ common
homes ▪▪ describing places
6B Amazing homes p50 place adjectives ▪▪ identifying key points PERSONAL BEST
▪▪ modifiers ▪▪ places in a city
6C The Big Apple p52 ▪▪ contractions
▪▪ a description of your
6D Beautiful places p54 town or city

5 and 6 REVIEW and PRACTICE p56

2 Language App, unit-by-unit grammar and vocabulary games

 CONTENTS

LANGUAGE SKILLS
GRAMMAR PRONUNCIATION VOCABULARY

7 Food and drink ▪▪ countable and ▪▪ some/any ▪▪ food and drink READING Learning
Curve SPEAKING
uncountable ▪▪ weak form of ▪▪ containers and ▪▪ an article about what ▪▪ in a restaurant
7A Food to your door p58 nouns + some/any portions people eat for lunch ▪▪ asking politely for
7B Stopping for lunch p60 ▪▪ quantifiers: around the world
something
(how) much/many, ▪▪ skimming a text
7C Are you hungry? p62 a lot of, ▪▪ pronouns and PERSONAL BEST

7D Out for dinner p64 a few, a little possessive adjectives ▪▪ ordering food in a
restaurant

8 In the past ▪▪ past simple of be, ▪▪ was and were ▪▪ inventions Learning
Curve LISTENING WRITING
there was/there ▪▪ -ed endings ▪▪ life stages ▪▪ a video about our ▪▪ planning and making
8A Technology through were ▪▪ irregular verbs notes
favourite inventions
the ages p66 ▪▪ past simple:
and inspirations ▪▪ sequencers
8B Life stories p68 irregular verbs ▪▪ listening for numbers, PERSONAL BEST
▪▪ past simple: regular
8C Life in the 1980s p70 dates and prices
verbs and past time ▪▪ a story about an
▪▪ phrases
8D What happened to you? p72 expressions experience you had

7 and 8 REVIEW and PRACTICE p74

9 Education, education! ▪▪ past simple: ▪▪ intonation in ▪▪ school READING Learning

Curve SPEAKING
questions questions subjects and ▪▪ an article about ▪▪ making suggestions
9A School days p76 ▪▪ verb patterns: verb ▪▪ ‘d like and like education different education ▪▪ sounding sympathetic
9B Lifelong learning p78 + to + infinitive ▪▪ resolutions experiences
▪▪ understanding words PERSONAL BEST
9C Change your life p80
that you don’t know ▪▪ describing and
9D What's the problem? p82 ▪▪ because and so responding to problems

10 People ▪▪ comparative ▪▪ -er endings ▪▪ adjectives Learning

Curve LISTENING WRITING
adjectives ▪▪ superlative to describe ▪▪ a video about ▪▪ writing a description of
10A First dates p84 ▪▪ superlative adjectives places a person
changing our
10B You look so different! p86 adjectives ▪▪ describing
appearance ▪▪ clauses with when
appearance ▪▪ listening for detailed
10C The yearbook p88 PERSONAL BEST
▪▪ personality
information (1)
10D Someone that I admire p90 adjectives ▪▪ a description of
▪▪ weak forms
someone you admire

9 and 10 REVIEW and PRACTICE p92

11 On the move ▪▪ have to/don’t ▪▪ have to/has to ▪▪ travel and READING Learning
Curve SPEAKING
have to ▪▪ sentence stress transport ▪▪ an article about the ▪▪ arriving at a hotel
11A Getting to work p94 ▪▪ be going to, future ▪▪ holiday unusual way Jordan ▪▪ checking information
11B Looking for Elizabeth time expressions activities Axani found a travel
Gallagher p96 partner PERSONAL BEST

▪▪ reading for detail ▪▪ a conversation at

11C Road trip p98
▪▪ adverbs of probability a hotel reception
11D At a hotel p100

12 Enjoy yourself! ▪▪ present perfect ▪▪ sentence stress ▪▪ entertainment Learning

Curve LISTENING WRITING
with ever and ▪▪ vowels ▪▪ opinion ▪▪ a video about books ▪▪ writing and replying to
12A Going out p102 never adjectives an invitation
that have become
12B The book was better! p104 ▪▪ present perfect
films ▪▪ articles: a/an, the or
12C A famous voice p106 and past simple ▪▪ listening for detailed no article
12D Would you like to come? p108 information (2) PERSONAL BEST
▪▪ linking consonants
▪▪ an invitation to a party
and vowels and a reply

11 and 12 REVIEW and PRACTICE p110

Grammar practice p112  Vocabulary practice p136  Communication practice p158  Irregular verbs p176

Language App, unit-by-unit grammar and vocabulary games 3

 American
English

Personal
Best
Student’s Book
B1
Pre-intermediate

Series Editor
Jim Scrivener
Authors
Bess Bradfield with
Graham Fruen

641774 p001-003 prelims_FINAL-14.indd 1 24/10/2017 12:09

 CONTENTS

LANGUAGE SKILLS
GRAMMAR PRONUNCIATION VOCABULARY

1 All about me ▪▪ simple present ▪▪ final -s/-es sound ▪▪ personality Learning

Curve LISTENING WRITING
and adverbs and ▪▪ -ng sound adjectives ▪▪ a video about our ▪▪ making notes
1A The only friends you need p4 expressions of ▪▪ hobbies and ▪▪ expressing reasons
hobbies and how we
frequency socializing
1B 21st century hobbies p6 socialize and results (so,
▪▪ present ▪▪ useful verbs because, that’s why)
1C Famous families p8 ▪▪ listening for the main
continuous and
idea
1D Me in three objects p10 simple present PERSONAL BEST
▪▪ contractions
▪▪ a blog post about
personal objects

2 Stories and pictures ▪▪ simple past and ▪▪ -ed endings ▪▪ -ed/-ing READING Learning
Curve SPEAKING
time expressions ▪▪ question adjectives ▪▪ a text about Andrew ▪▪ showing interest
2A That’s me in the photo! p12 ▪▪ question forms intonation ▪▪ life stages Jackson’s parties at the ▪▪ telling a personal
2B Party like it’s 1829. p14 White House
story
▪▪ approaching an article
2C Behind the camera p16
▪▪ sequencers (then, after, PERSONAL BEST

2D That reminds me of … p18

later) ▪▪ talking about a
personal story

1 and 2 REVIEW and PRACTICE p20

3 Keep on traveling. ▪▪ comparatives, ▪▪ sentence stress ▪▪ useful adjectives Learning

Curve LISTENING WRITING
superlatives, (not) ▪▪ was/were ▪▪ vacation ▪▪ a video about ▪▪ writing a narrative
3A Tourist or traveler? p22 as ... as activities ▪▪ adverbs of manner
the popularity of
3B Staycation or vacation? p24 ▪▪ past continuous
staycations
and simple past ▪▪ identifying key points
PERSONAL BEST
3C A traveler’s tale p26
▪▪ a story about a travel
▪▪ sentence stress
3D Travel problems p28 problem

4 The working world ▪▪ will, may and ▪▪ want/won’t ▪▪ jobs READING Learning
Curve SPEAKING
might for ▪▪ going to and ▪▪ phrases about ▪▪ a text about how ▪▪ dealing with
4A The future of work p30 predictions want to work boredom can improve difficulties
4B I’m so bored! p32 ▪▪ be going to creativity ▪▪ telephone language
and present ▪▪ skimming a text
4C The secret boss p34 continuous ▪▪ pronoun referencing PERSONAL BEST

4D Can I leave a message? p36 for plans and ▪▪ making arrangements

arrangements
by phone

3 and 4 REVIEW and PRACTICE p38

5 Mind and body ▪▪ should/shouldn’t ▪▪ should/shouldn’t ▪▪ health and Learning

Curve LISTENING WRITING
for advice and ▪▪ ‘ll contraction medicine ▪▪ a video about how we ▪▪ writing an informal
5A Should I see a doctor? p40 suggestions ▪▪ verb collocations e-mail
react to stress
5B Modern life is stressful. p42 ▪▪ first conditional (do, make, have ▪▪ modifiers
▪▪ listening in detail
and take)
5C How to be happy p44 ▪▪ linking consonants and PERSONAL BEST
▪▪ emotions and
5D I need your advice. p46 vowels ▪▪ an informal e-mail
feelings
to a friend asking for
advice

6 Risks and experiences ▪▪ present perfect ▪▪ irregular past ▪▪ phrasal verbs READING Learning
Curve SPEAKING
with ever and participles ▪▪ the natural world ▪▪ an article about Aron ▪▪ taking turns
6A Try something new! p48 never ▪▪ sentence stress Ralston’s survival story ▪▪ agreeing and
6B An amazing story p50 ▪▪ second ▪▪ guessing the meaning
disagreeing
conditional of words from context
6C Into the wild p52
▪▪ linkers to add extra PERSONAL BEST

6D Would you take the risk? p54

information (too, and, ▪▪ having a group
also, as well) discussion

5 and 6 REVIEW and PRACTICE p56

2 Language App, unit-by-unit grammar and vocabulary games

641774 p001-003 prelims_FINAL-14.indd 2 24/10/2017 12:09

 CONTENTS

LANGUAGE SKILLS
GRAMMAR PRONUNCIATION VOCABULARY

7 City living ▪▪ present perfect ▪▪ just and yet ▪▪ city features Learning
Curve LISTENING WRITING
with yet and ▪▪ for and since ▪▪ transportation ▪▪ a video about ▪▪ writing an essay
7A Life in the city p58 already ▪▪ giving opinions
commuting around the
7B The daily commute ▪▪ present perfect
p60 world
with for and ▪▪ listening for facts and
PERSONAL BEST
7C A life in three cities p62 since ▪▪ an opinion essay
figures
7D I think it’s a great idea! p64 about a problem
▪▪ final /t/ sound

8 Food for thought ▪▪ too, too many, ▪▪ too much sugar ▪▪ food and drink READING Learning
Curve SPEAKING
too much, and ▪▪ sentence stress ▪▪ adjectives to ▪▪ an article about a ▪▪ sounding polite
8A Sweet, but dangerous p66 (not) enough describe food course offered by a ▪▪ making and
8B Ice cream university p68 ▪▪ have to, not Gelateria in Bologna
responding to
have to, and ▪▪ scanning for specific
8C You have to eat your invitations
can't information
vegetables! p70
▪▪ linkers to contrast PERSONAL BEST

8D First dates p72 information (although, ▪▪ making plans to go

but, however) out with a friend

7 and 8 REVIEW and PRACTICE p74

9 Money and shopping ▪▪ used to ▪▪ used to/use to ▪▪ money verbs Learning

Curve LISTENING WRITING
▪▪ the passive ▪▪ sentence stress ▪▪ shopping ▪▪ a video about the ▪▪ writing a formal e-mail
9A He used to be poor. p76 simple present importance of ▪▪ noun forms of verbs
9B What a bargain! p78 and past shopping centers
PERSONAL BEST
9C Going, going, gone! p80 ▪▪ identifying attitude and
▪▪ an e-mail complaining
opinion
9D I’d like a refund! p82 about a purchase
▪▪ filler expressions

10 Sports and fitness ▪▪ past perfect ▪▪ ‘d and hadn’t ▪▪ sports and READING Learning
Curve SPEAKING
▪▪ reported ▪▪ weak form of competitions ▪▪ an article about ▪▪ being helpful
10A Winning is everything! p84 speech that ▪▪ parts of the wheelchair rugby ▪▪ making inquiries
10B Rock ’n’ roll on wheels p86 body ▪▪ finding information in

10C He said it had changed a text PERSONAL BEST

▪▪ giving examples ▪▪ asking for information

his life. p88
about a service or
10D Could you tell me …? p90 product

9 and 10 REVIEW and PRACTICE p92

11 At home ▪▪ -ing/infinitive ▪▪ sentence stress ▪▪ household Learning

Curve LISTENING WRITING
verb patterns ▪▪ the items ▪▪ A video about what ▪▪ making writing
11A Dream home p94 ▪▪ articles (a/an, ▪▪ housework
we really think of interesting
11B The truth about housework p96 the, no article) ▪▪ words to housework ▪▪ adjective order

11C Technology you can wear p98 describe ▪▪ understanding PERSONAL BEST
materials and and interpreting
11D House exchange p100 clothes ▪▪ writing an interesting
information
description of a house
▪▪ omission of words

12 People and relationships ▪▪ restrictive ▪▪ sentence stress ▪▪ relationships READING Learning

Curve SPEAKING
relative clauses ▪▪ word stress ▪▪ relationship ▪▪ an infographic showing ▪▪ responding modestly
12A Bring your parents to work p102 ▪▪ uses of the -ing verbs how much time we ▪▪ saying thanks
12B In our lifetime p104 form and the spend on different
12C Long-distance love p106 infinitive activities PERSONAL BEST

▪▪ interpreting data ▪▪ thanking someone for

12D Thanks a million! p108
▪▪ expressing approximate a favor
quantities

11 and 12 REVIEW and PRACTICE p110

Grammar practice p112  Vocabulary practice p136  Communication practice p158  Irregular verbs p175

Language App, unit-by-unit grammar and vocabulary games 3

641774 p001-003 prelims_FINAL-14.indd 3 24/10/2017 12:09

 British
English

Personal
Best
Student’s Book
B1+
Intermediate

Series Editor
Jim Scrivener
Author
Graham Burton
 CONTENTS

LANGUAGE SKILLS
GRAMMAR PRONUNCIATION VOCABULARY

1 Communication ▪▪ present simple ▪▪ sentence stress ▪▪ communication READING Learning

Curve SPEAKING
and continuous; ▪▪ question ▪▪ say, tell, speak ▪▪ a text about surviving ▪▪ making small talk
1A Connected p4 action and state intonation and talk without a smartphone ▪▪ keeping a conversation
verbs
1B Smart living? p6 ▪▪ skimming a text
going
▪▪ question forms
1C Liar, liar p8 ▪▪ actually, in fact
PERSONAL BEST

1D Small talk p10 ▪▪ having an informal

conversation

2 Tell me a story ▪▪ narrative tenses ▪▪ /d/ in the past ▪▪ -ed and -ing Learning
Curve LISTENING WRITING
▪▪ used to and perfect adjectives ▪▪ a video looking at the ▪▪ making a narrative
2A What a coincidence! p12 usually ▪▪ sentence stress ▪▪ phrasal verbs
role of luck in our lives interesting
2B Do we make our own luck? p14 ▪▪ listening for the ▪▪ time linkers

2C Radical changes p16 main idea PERSONAL BEST

▪▪ linking consonants
2D It happened to me p18 ▪▪ a blog post about a
and vowels memorable event

1 and 2 REVIEW and PRACTICE p20

3 People ▪▪ future forms: ▪▪ going to ▪▪ personality READING Learning

Curve SPEAKING
present ▪▪ pausing in adjectives ▪▪ an article about birth ▪▪ giving and responding
3A It’s a plan p22 continuous, relative clauses ▪▪ relationships order and personality to news
be going to
3B Born to rebel p24 ▪▪ reading for specific ▪▪ giving bad news
and will information
3C Good neighbours, ▪▪ defining and
▪▪ linkers of reason PERSONAL BEST
bad neighbours p26 non-defining and result ▪▪ exchanging news with
3D I have some news p28 relative clauses
a friend

4 Places and homes ▪▪ quantifiers ▪▪ sentence stress ▪▪ compound Learning

Curve LISTENING WRITING
▪▪ comparatives and ▪▪ /ə/ sound nouns ▪▪ a video looking at how ▪▪ writing an informal
4A What makes your superlatives, ▪▪ common verb
we feel about where email
city great? p30 as … as phrases we live ▪▪ informal discourse
4B City or country? p32 ▪▪ describing ▪▪ understanding key markers
homes points
4C A place to stay in NYC p34 PERSONAL BEST
▪▪ linking similar
4D Hope to hear from ▪▪ an email catching up
consonant sounds with a friend
you soon! p36

3 and 4 REVIEW and PRACTICE p38

5 Money and shopping ▪▪ zero and first ▪▪ intonation ▪▪ money READING Learning
Curve SPEAKING
conditional; ▪▪ word stress ▪▪ shopping ▪▪ an article about the ▪▪ explaining what’s
5A Spend, spend, spend p40 future time Black Friday shopping wrong
clauses phenomenon
5B Black Friday p42 ▪▪ taking something
▪▪ predictions: will, ▪▪ identifying opinions
5C Tomorrow’s world of back to a shop
be going to, ▪▪ even, just
shopping p44 may/might PERSONAL BEST

5D It isn’t working p46 ▪▪ getting a refund

or exchange

6 Work and education ▪▪ present perfect ▪▪ present perfect ▪▪ work and Learning
Curve LISTENING WRITING
and past simple, and past simple careers (1) ▪▪ a video looking at how ▪▪ writing a covering letter
6A Career change p48 already, yet, ▪▪ weak form of ▪▪ work and ▪▪ prepositions after
we feel about our jobs
recently been careers (2)
6B Dream job p50 ▪▪ understanding specific verbs, nouns and
▪▪ present perfect ▪▪ education adjectives
6C School days p52 information
continuous and
▪▪ sentence stress
6D I am writing to apply … p54 simple PERSONAL BEST

▪▪ an email to apply
for a job

5 and 6 REVIEW and PRACTICE p56

2 Language App, unit-by-unit grammar and vocabulary games

 CONTENTS

LANGUAGE SKILLS
GRAMMAR PRONUNCIATION VOCABULARY

7 Entertainment ▪▪ the passive ▪▪ past participles ▪▪ films READING Learning

Curve SPEAKING
▪▪ modals of ▪▪ /eɪ/ and /ʊ/ ▪▪ TV and music ▪▪ an article about ▪▪ giving directions
7A Lights, camera, action! p58 ability and sounds Vic Armstrong, ▪▪ asking for information
7B Action man p60 possibility stunt performer
▪▪ guessing the meaning PERSONAL BEST
7C Got talent p62
of words from context ▪▪ asking a stranger
7D Could you tell me where ▪▪ referencing: for directions
it is? p64 this and that

8 Sport and health ▪▪ question tags ▪▪ intonation ▪▪ sports, places Learning

Curve LISTENING WRITING
▪▪ modals of ▪▪ sentence stress and equipment ▪▪ a video about what we ▪▪ writing a report
8A On the pitch, in the pool p66 obligation ▪▪ health and
do to get fit ▪▪ adding information
8B So many ways to get fit p68 and advice fitness verb ▪▪ understanding facts
phrases PERSONAL BEST
8C Is there an app for that? p70 and figures
▪▪ a report about sport
▪▪ intonation
8D Sport in my country p72 in your country

7 and 8 REVIEW and PRACTICE p74

9 Food ▪▪ uses of like ▪▪ /dʒ/ sound ▪▪ food and READING Learning

Curve SPEAKING
▪▪ -ing forms and ▪▪ -ing cooking ▪▪ an article about the ▪▪ making and responding
9A Chefs at home p76 infinitives ▪▪ eating out benefits of chocolate to suggestions
9B Chocolate – the world’s ▪▪ reading for detail ▪▪ making a group decision
favourite superfood p78 ▪▪ substitution: one, ones
PERSONAL BEST
9C Eating out p80
▪▪ having a group
9D Why don’t you try the curry? p82 discussion and
making a decision

10 Right and wrong ▪▪ reported ▪▪ sentence stress ▪▪ crime Learning

Curve LISTENING WRITING
speech ▪▪ conditionals ▪▪ making nouns ▪▪ a video about our ▪▪ writing a for-and-against
10A Smooth criminals? p84 ▪▪ second from verbs experiences with the essay
10B Emergency! p86 conditional, emergency services ▪▪ useful phrases for topic
would, could ▪▪ listening in detail sentences
10C Do the right thing p88 and might
▪▪ final /t/ and /d/ sounds
10D For and against p90 PERSONAL BEST

▪▪ a for-and-against essay

9 and 10 REVIEW and PRACTICE p92

11 The natural world ▪▪ articles ▪▪ the ▪▪ the natural READING Learning

Curve SPEAKING
▪▪ third ▪▪ weak form of world ▪▪ an article about living ▪▪ making
11A Nature goes viral p94 conditional have ▪▪ extreme near one of the world’s recommendations
11B A disaster waiting to happen p96 adjectives most dangerous ▪▪ checking and clarifying
volcanoes
11C I will survive p98 information
▪▪ understanding the
11D The great outdoors p100 writer’s purpose PERSONAL BEST

▪▪ understanding ▪▪ recommending the best

noun phrases natural places to visit in
your country

12 Getting away ▪▪ So/Neither do I ▪▪ auxiliary verbs ▪▪ phrases with Learning

Curve LISTENING WRITING
▪▪ modals of and stress go and get ▪▪ a video looking at how ▪▪ writing an online review
12A Dream destinations p102
deduction ▪▪ sentence stress ▪▪ air travel
we feel about flying ▪▪ adverbs of attitude
12B Fly away p104
▪▪ identifying agreement PERSONAL BEST
12C Around the world p106 between speakers
▪▪ an online review of a hotel,
12D Five-star review p108 ▪▪ linking: /w/ and /j/
restaurant or service

11 and 12 REVIEW and PRACTICE p110

Grammar practice p112  Vocabulary practice p136  Communication practice p156  Irregular verbs p175

Language App, unit-by-unit grammar and vocabulary games 3