What's new on IELTS with Fiona

We practised phrasal nouns in the Speaking class today.

What's a phrasal noun? It's when a phrasal verb becomes a noun.

e.g. What time does the plane take off? What time's take-off?

Notice how the stress changes - when it's a noun the stress is on the first syllable, like most nouns.

[a check-up, a takeaway, a drive-in, a breakthrough etc].

When it's a verb, the stress is on the preposition "off".

'A rip-off' is a useful slang word, meaning something that is not worth what you pay for it.

$300 for that shirt? - That's a complete rip-off!