Browse Worksheets

Illness Collocations

I. Find five verbs and five nouns or adjectives to make illness collocations:

0. FEEL SICK

1. _________________

2. _________________

3. _________________

4. _________________

5. _________________

II. Put the letters in order to make collocations.

    a). leef ciks

    b). ese a rctood

    c). amek na mpitntpoean

    d). vaeh na oiranpteo

    e). teg teertb

    f). etka rome scexiere

III. Complete the text with collocations from exercise 2. Use the correct form of the verbs.

     I was __0  feeling sick __  one day a few months ago. I didn`t think much about it, but the next day I was still feeling ill and I was also feeling very tired. It was the same the next day and the day after that. My wife told me I should __1 ________ . Now, I don`t really like going to the doctor`s, but I was starting to get a bit worried. Something just didn`t feel right. So I phoned the surgery that afternoon to __ 2 _________ for the next day.

   The doctor did a few tests and and he seemed really quite worried. In fact, he was so worried that he phoned immediately for an ambulance. I was rushed to hospital, where they did more tests. Finally, after about five hours, a doctor came and saw me. He said I could have a heart attack at any moment and that I needed to __ 3 __________ immediately.

    It was a real shock, but what could I say? So I followed the doctor`s orders and spent the next few months __ 4 __________ . I went for a check – up the other day and the doctor says I`m fine. I just need to eat a little less and __ 5 ________ .

Rewrite the following sentences using the passive voice. Begin each sentence as shown.

1. More and more people adopt a green lifestyle.

→ A green lifestyle is adopted by more and more people.

 2. The students didn’t put the rubbish in the bins after the party yesterday.

→ The rubbish wasn’t put in the bins after the party yesterday (by the students).

 3. We will plant more trees in the neighbourhood.

→ More trees will be planted in the neighbourhood (by us).

 4. Our club is going to organise a lot of clean-up activities this weekend.

→ A lot of clean-up activities are going to be organised this weekend by our club.

 5. They discussed important environmental issues at the meeting.

→ Important environmental issues were discussed at the meeting (by them).

Some sentences have been removed frim the text. Students have to choose from the given sentences the one that best fits into each gap,

Write a paragraph of the given topic.
Topic: Write about somebody who you know didn't give up.

1.  
2. This book is so __________! I can't stop reading it.
3. She worked with a lot of __________ to win the race.
4. The sun is very __________ today. Wear sunglasses!
5. You need to write your name on the __________ before handing it in.
6. I don't know for __________, but I think he is coming later.
7. He didn’t eat __________ food and now he is hungry.
8. Look! The plane is flying __________ the clouds.
9. I think I will go to the party, but I’m not __________ yet.
10. He didn’t __________ his painting on the wall yet.

Exercise 1: Complete the sentences with there was or there were in affirmative, negative or question form.

1. ________________ a new student in your class last week? Yes, ________________.

2. ________________ any students in the library at 3 o'clock yesterday.

3. I think ________________ a boy waiting for you yesterday.

4. ________________ any chicken left when I arrived home at lunchtime.

5. ________________ any water in the fridge last night? I don't think so.

6. ________________ any people at the museum?

Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks with was, were, there was or there were.

1. William Shakespeare ________________ a famous poet and playwright.

2. ________________ some people waiting for you at the door.

3. How many apples ________________ in the cupboard?

4. We ________________ very tired when we finished the PE lesson.

5. Your sister ________________ at the cinema with her friends last Friday.

6. How much milk ________________ in the fridge yesterday?

7. Miguel de Cervantes ________________ born in 1920.

8. The police ________________ investigating a crime in my area.

9. ________________ a lot of people at the concert last night.

10. We ________________ happy with the exam results.

Exercise 3: Give the past form of the following verbs.

1. meet → __________

2. do → __________

3. laugh → __________

4. help → __________

5. cry → __________

6. try → __________

7. speak → __________

8. stand → __________

9. tidy → __________

10. live → __________

11. play → __________

12. enjoy → __________

13. write → __________

14. stay → __________

15. plan → __________

16. study → __________

17. ask → __________

18. drive → __________

19. put → __________

20. sing → __________

21. sit → __________

22. stop → __________

23. agree → __________

24. buy → __________

25. run → __________

26. break → __________

27. build → __________

28. begin → __________

29. bring → __________

30. be → __________

Exercise 4: Change the given sentences into affirmative (+), negative (-), and question (?) form.

1. (+) He wrote a book.

                  (-) ___________________________

                  (?) ___________________________

2. (+) She was my boss.

                  (-) ___________________________

                  (?) ___________________________

3. (+) ___________________________

                 (-) They didn’t build a new house.

                 (?) ___________________________

4. (+) ___________________________

                 (-) I wasn’t at the concert last Sunday.

                 (?) ___________________________

5. (+) ___________________________

                 (-) ___________________________

                 (?) Did you buy clothes in this clothes shop?

6. (+) ___________________________

                 (-) ___________________________

                 (?) Were they born in Korea?

7. (+) He swam in the lake.

                 (-) ___________________________

                 (?) ___________________________

8. (+) We were at the gym last week.

                 (-) ___________________________

                 (?) ___________________________

9. (+) ___________________________

                 (-) She didn’t go to her office by car.

                 (?) ___________________________

10. (+) ___________________________

                 (-) He wasn’t a good person.

                 (?) ___________________________

Exercise 5: Give the past form of the verb in brackets.

1. I knew Sarah was busy, so I (not disturb) ________________ her.

2. I was very tired, so I (leave) ________________ the party.

3. The bed was very uncomfortable. I (not sleep) __________ very well.

4. The window was open and a bird (fly) ________________ into the room.

5. The hotel wasn’t expensive. It (not cost) ________________ much.

6. I was in a hurry, so I (not have) ________________ time to phone you.

7. It was hard carrying the bags. They (be) ________________ very heavy.

8. Linda (buy) ________________ that car last week.

9. She (do) ________________ doing gymnastics when she was four.

10. Last winter my family (go) ________________ on a skiing holiday in France.

11. My dad (decide) ________________ to travel around the world after university.

12. I (compete) __________ in a skateboarding competition last week.

13. I haven’t got any homework this weekend because I (do) __________ it all last night!

14. There (not be) _______________ any money in my wallet.

15. Jennifer Lawrence (become) ________________ famous after The Hunger Games.

16. Tom Schaar (start) ________________ to skateboard when he was very young.

17. We (win) __________ the school basketball match last year!

18. They (live) __________ in Paris in 2010.

19. Yesterday there (be) __________ a fire in the town centre.

20. There (be not) _______________ any eggs for breakfast this morning.

Sandra lives in a beautiful house with her family. There are 15 people in her family, so that’s quite a lot of people. Her house is located on a hill in the south of the country. It covers an area of 1000 square kilometers. Her grandfather started building this house in 1960. It took him 11 years to finish it. It cost him 5490 dollars to build the house. Last year, someone wanted to buy it for 800 thousand dollars. But he didn’t want to sell it.

1. Two people were .......... injured in the accident. (serious/seriously)

2. The driver of the car had serious injuries. (serious/seriously)

3. I think you behaved very .... .(selfish/selfishly)

4. Rose is .... upset about losing her job. (terrible/terribly)

5. There was a .... change in the weather. (sudden/suddenly)

6. Everybody at the party was .... dreesed. (colourful/colourfully)

7. Linda likes wearing .... clothes. (colourful/colourfully)

8. Liz fell and hurt herself quite .... . (bad/badly)

9. Joe says he didn't do well at school because he was .... taught. (bad/badly)

10. Don't go up that ladder. It doesn't look .... . (safe/safely)

Example: Why       did      people      use   to     read by the fire at night?

A. did/ use to                      B. do / used to                 C. did / used to

1. People ______________________ have electric lights.

1. A. didn’t used to                             B. didn’t use to                 C. did use to

2. 2. It was difficult to see at night. The electric light was a good _______ to a big ________.

1. A. solution / problem                   B. problem / solution         C. used / problem

3. 3. The electric light is a ___________________________.

1. A. useful problem                 B. useful solution              C. useful invention

4. 4. Do you think you need a good ____________________ to _____________ things?

1. A. solution / invent               B. imagination / invent    C. problem / invent

5. 5. Yes, I do. __________ must have many good __________.

1. A. You / ideas                      B. He / problems              C. You / solutions

Idioms: 

• give the boot
• a lame duck
• feeling the pinch
• in the red
• hit rock bottom
• in the black
• playing with fire
• step into his shoes
• a firm hand
• pay dividends
• After months of poor performance, the company decided to __________ the CEO and look for a replacement.
• Ever since the elections, the outgoing president has been seen as __________, with very little influence.
• Due to the economic downturn, many families are __________ and struggling to make ends meet.
• The business was struggling for years, constantly __________, unable to turn a profit.
• When he lost his job and his savings, he truly __________ and didn’t know where to turn.
• After years of hard work, the company finally got __________ and started making a profit.
• Be careful with your investments; you’re __________ by putting all your money in high-risk stocks.
• When the manager resigned, it was difficult for anyone to __________ and maintain the same level of leadership.
• The new leader ruled the team with __________, ensuring discipline and focus at all times.
• Consistently investing in employee training will surely __________ in the long run, improving performance and morale.

• Once upon a time there was a little mouse named Miguel who lived in a hole in the wall of a house. Miguel was a very curious mouse and was always looking for adventures. One day, while he was exploring the house, he found a golden key. Miguel didn't know what the key was for, but he was sure it was very important. He decided that he had to find the lock that matched the golden key. So he began the search for him.
• Miguel searched all over the house, but he couldn't find the right lock. Then he decided to leave the house and search the garden. There he found a door closed with a golden lock. Miguel was excited. He knew he had found the right lock. He inserted the golden key into the lock and the door opened. Behind the door was a beautiful garden full of flowers and fruit trees. Miguel was so happy to have found the secret garden. He decided to explore the garden and enjoy its beauty.
• While he was exploring the garden, Miguel found an apple tree. The apples were so big and juicy that Miguel couldn't resist. He began to eat an apple, then another, and another. But suddenly, he heard a noise. He was the owner of the house that came towards the garden. Miguel got scared and ran towards the door. But the door closed behind him and he couldn't find the golden key. Miguel was trapped in the secret garden.
• The owner of the house found Miguel and trapped him in a cage. Miguel was sad and scared. But then he remembered that he was a very curious mouse and was always looking for adventure. He decided that he had to escape the cage. So he started looking for a way out. Finally, he found a hole in the top of the cage. Miguel was a very clever mouse and managed to escape from the cage. He ran to the garden gate and found the golden key. He inserted the key into the lock and the door opened. Miguel ran out of the garden and returned to his hole in the wall. He was happy to be home again, but he was also excited about all the adventures he had had that day.

Dear David,

How are you? I hope this email finds you well and ready for a good story! I wanted to tell you about an adventure that I had recently, which I thought you may find funny!

Last Friday, I went to the park with my brother and friend Tony. It was a beautiful sunny day and everyone was having fun. Everything was going well until I decided to walk near the little pond. I didn’t notice the very slippery ground so I ended up slipping and falling down! Everyone turned to look at me. I was so embarrassed, but luckily, I didn’t injure myself.

But my misfortune didn’t end there. As we were walking home from the park, I tripped over a small rock. You can imagine what happened next…I fell again and this time I injured my leg. As it turned out, I sprained my ankle and had to go to the doctor! I am now recovering in bed, but my ankle is still in pain!

Anyway, I hope you had a better weekend than me! Haha! Please write back soon, I’m looking forward to your news!

Love,

Theano

Watch the video then fill in the blanks

The third conditional is used to talk about past situations that did NOT happen and to imagine a different result in the past.
We use it to express regret, criticism, hypothetical outcomes, or analysis, especially in aviation when reviewing incidents or procedures.

Structure

If + Past Perfect, … would have + Past Participle

• “If the crew had noticed the leak…”

• “…the incident would have been avoided.”

Meaning

We use the third conditional to say:

• “This didn’t happen, but here is what would have happened if it did.”

• It is 100% unreal past — we are imagining an alternative history.

Example (aviation)

If the pilots had checked the weather earlier, the flight would have departed on time.
→ They didn’t check it early, so the flight was delayed.

Negative forms

• hadn’t + V3

• wouldn’t have + V3

Example:
If the engine hadn’t failed, we wouldn’t have diverted.

The third conditional is used to talk about past situations that did NOT happen and to imagine a different result in the past.
We use it to express regret, criticism, hypothetical outcomes, or analysis, especially in aviation when reviewing incidents or procedures.

Structure

If + Past Perfect, … would have + Past Participle

• “If the crew had noticed the leak…”

• “…the incident would have been avoided.”

Meaning

We use the third conditional to say:

• “This didn’t happen, but here is what would have happened if it did.”

• It is 100% unreal past — we are imagining an alternative history.

Example (aviation)

If the pilots had checked the weather earlier, the flight would have departed on time.
→ They didn’t check it early, so the flight was delayed.

Negative forms

• hadn’t + V3

• wouldn’t have + V3

Example:
If the engine hadn’t failed, we wouldn’t have diverted.

(Everyone turns.)

Gillian: Who are you?

Zoe: Do you have brains?

(Ad-libbed responses: “Fair enough,” “Good idea,” “Safer that way,” etc.)

William: De’Ath? Don’t you mean Death?

Gillian: Murder? Hang on, why aren’t you scared of us? Boo!

Bella: Slightly? We’re dead, and you’re having a chat like it’s tea time!

Winnie: Zoe likes open minds too—different reason though.

Malcolm: Of course I am!

Bella: (Fake sobbing.) Oh, Victor! My darling! Who could do this to you?

Winnie: Ernest.

Gillian: (Hands De’Ath the card.)

Bella: Don’t forget Patti.

Zoe: Patti the Poltergeist.

Malcolm: Well, technically, we all did.

William: Wait. You said murder? You can’t mean this is murder!

Bella: Oh, must this take long? If Victor—or Ernest or whatever—stays dead, I’ll need a new potential husband. They’re all dressed so splendidly… clearly wealthy enough to keep me in the manner I deserve.

Zoe: Basingstoke?

Gillian: True. I became a ghost immediately after dying. Didn’t even have time to dry off.

Winnie: Unless the CCTV shows nothing, it’s unclear who did it.

(A beat.)

Zoe: Oh, shame—I wanted to watch this on YouBoo.

Malcolm: Zoe, you don’t need to watch—you’re here.

Winnie: Just a minute, Inspector. If one of us is nicked, how do you punish a ghost?

Gillian: Why me?

Winnie: Because you’re easiest to imagine not being there.

Zoe: What? No! I done nothing.

Bella: That’s just how she talks, Inspector. She don’t know no different.

De’Ath: So one or more of you is responsible for the deaths of Professor Ernest Jones and Patti the Poltergeist. I intend to find out who!

Zoe: And then what?

De’Ath: Then the guilty will face consequences.

Malcolm: Consequences! Missed that one.

Zoe: (To Gillian) What did he say?

Gillian: You’ll be nicked.

Zoe: But I didn’t do nothing!

(All groan.)

Gillian: Life? Are you sure?

Zoe: We’re already dead… haha.

Malcolm: A week in Basingstoke?

Gillian: (To audience.) We have a murder to solve. So, ladies and gentlemen, let us see if we can, between us, solve these crimes, as we open up the floor to questions from the audience.

(Audience questions – see production notes.)

Scene 2 – The Reveal

Winnie: Her real name was Sharon.

Zoe: Sharon?

Winnie: Yes, she told me while I was doing her hair before we came out tonight.

William: She didn’t have any ingredients for potions.

Bella: Oh, well surmised, Inspector! Bravo!

Malcolm: (To Gillian) So we can go?

Zoe: What? Me? No! I liked Patti. She was my friend.

Malcolm: That doesn’t sound like Zoe. She only pulls hair off if she’s going to eat their… B-R-A-I-N-S.

William: Real wine!

Winnie: What? Me? No, don’t be silly. Why would I want to kill Victor? And why would I want to kill Patti? I helped her get ready for tonight, for goodness’ sake. I helped her with her hair!

William: So that’s why you wanted me to spend time with Patti! You wanted her sneezes to use in your spells! She and Gillian are the only ones who are officially spooks!

Winnie: Yes, yes, OK. I stabbed him, but I didn’t know then he wasn’t a vampire. He accused me of shoddy spells.

Zoe: Is that near Cognito?

Bella: Yes Zoe, yes, it is. Just down the road.

Gillian: Look, Inspector – Victor, or Ernest, whoever he was, must have known the risks when he came to live with us. Anyone could have found out at any time he wasn’t a vampire. It wouldn’t have taken a genius.

William: Keeping up standards, Winnie, good girl.

Malcolm: Zoe, I’m sorry to say, the house belonged to Victor, I think we’re all going to have to move to… (braces himself) Basingstoke!

(All except De’Ath.) Nooooooo!

(Curtain.)

(Everyone turns.)

Gillian: Who are you?

Zoe: Do you have brains?

(Ad-libbed responses: “Fair enough,” “Good idea,” “Safer that way,” etc.)

William: De’Ath? Don’t you mean Death?

Gillian: Murder? Hang on, why aren’t you scared of us? Boo!

Bella: Slightly? We’re dead, and you’re having a chat like it’s tea time!

Winnie: Zoe likes open minds too—different reason though.

Malcolm: Of course I am!

Bella: (Fake sobbing.) Oh, Victor! My darling! Who could do this to you?

Winnie: Ernest.

Gillian: (Hands De’Ath the card.)

Bella: Don’t forget Patti.

Zoe: Patti the Poltergeist.

Malcolm: Well, technically, we all did.

William: Wait. You said murder? You can’t mean this is murder!

Bella: Oh, must this take long? If Victor—or Ernest or whatever—stays dead, I’ll need a new potential husband. They’re all dressed so splendidly… clearly wealthy enough to keep me in the manner I deserve.

Zoe: Basingstoke?

Gillian: True. I became a ghost immediately after dying. Didn’t even have time to dry off.

Winnie: Unless the CCTV shows nothing, it’s unclear who did it.

(A beat.)

Zoe: Oh, shame—I wanted to watch this on YouBoo.

Malcolm: Zoe, you don’t need to watch—you’re here.

Winnie: Just a minute, Inspector. If one of us is nicked, how do you punish a ghost?

Gillian: Why me?

Winnie: Because you’re easiest to imagine not being there.

Zoe: What? No! I done nothing.

Bella: That’s just how she talks, Inspector. She don’t know no different.

De’Ath: So one or more of you is responsible for the deaths of Professor Ernest Jones and Patti the Poltergeist. I intend to find out who!

Zoe: And then what?

De’Ath: Then the guilty will face consequences.

Malcolm: Consequences! Missed that one.

Zoe: (To Gillian) What did he say?

Gillian: You’ll be nicked.

Zoe: But I didn’t do nothing!

(All groan.)

Gillian: Life? Are you sure?

Zoe: We’re already dead… haha.

Malcolm: A week in Basingstoke?

Gillian: (To audience.) We have a murder to solve. So, ladies and gentlemen, let us see if we can, between us, solve these crimes, as we open up the floor to questions from the audience.

(Audience questions – see production notes.)

Scene 2 – The Reveal

Winnie: Her real name was Sharon.

Zoe: Sharon?

Winnie: Yes, she told me while I was doing her hair before we came out tonight.

William: She didn’t have any ingredients for potions.

Bella: Oh, well surmised, Inspector! Bravo!

Malcolm: (To Gillian) So we can go?

Zoe: What? Me? No! I liked Patti. She was my friend.

Malcolm: That doesn’t sound like Zoe. She only pulls hair off if she’s going to eat their… B-R-A-I-N-S.

William: Real wine!

Winnie: What? Me? No, don’t be silly. Why would I want to kill Victor? And why would I want to kill Patti? I helped her get ready for tonight, for goodness’ sake. I helped her with her hair!

William: So that’s why you wanted me to spend time with Patti! You wanted her sneezes to use in your spells! She and Gillian are the only ones who are officially spooks!

Winnie: Yes, yes, OK. I stabbed him, but I didn’t know then he wasn’t a vampire. He accused me of shoddy spells.

Zoe: Is that near Cognito?

Bella: Yes Zoe, yes, it is. Just down the road.

Gillian: Look, Inspector – Victor, or Ernest, whoever he was, must have known the risks when he came to live with us. Anyone could have found out at any time he wasn’t a vampire. It wouldn’t have taken a genius.

William: Keeping up standards, Winnie, good girl.

Malcolm: Zoe, I’m sorry to say, the house belonged to Victor, I think we’re all going to have to move to… (braces himself) Basingstoke!

(All except De’Ath.) Nooooooo!

(Curtain.)

Tom went back to his old school to tell them about his trip. Look at these extracts, then read the report and choose the correct form of the verbs.

'I've always wanted to travel as much as possible.'

I already have plans for my next trip because I didn't have enough time.'

We're interested in glaciers.'

'It was the best part of my trip.'

'Next time, I'll take more comfortable boots.'

'Nothing is impossible.'

'You can do anything you really want to do.'

'Old boy' Tom Chambers returned to school last week to talk about his amazing trip to Kazhakstan.

He told us he 'always wanted / had always wanted to travel as much as possible, and he said that he already had / has plans for his next trip because he 'hadn't had / hasn't had enough time to do everything the first time! We told him we 'had been / were interested in glaciers, so he showed us some photos of his trip to the Manshuk Mametova glacier. He said it Shas been / had been the best part of his trip - but he also said that next time he had taken / would take more comfortable boots! Before the talk, I'd never really thought about going on a trip like that. It sounded too adventurous and a bit scary too - but at the end of his talk Tom said that nothing was / had been impossible and that we would / could do anything we really want / wanted to do-so maybe I'll start planning too!

Tom went back to his old school to tell them about his trip. Look at these extracts, then read the report and choose the correct form of the verbs.

'I've always wanted to travel as much as possible.'

I already have plans for my next trip because I didn't have enough time.'

We're interested in glaciers.'

'It was the best part of my trip.'

'Next time, I'll take more comfortable boots.'

'Nothing is impossible.'

'You can do anything you really want to do.'

'Old boy' Tom Chambers returned to school last week to talk about his amazing trip to Kazhakstan.

He told us he 'always wanted / had always wanted to travel as much as possible, and he said that he already had / has plans for his next trip because he 'hadn't had / hasn't had enough time to do everything the first time! We told him we 'had been / were interested in glaciers, so he showed us some photos of his trip to the Manshuk Mametova glacier. He said it Shas been / had been the best part of his trip - but he also said that next time he had taken / would take more comfortable boots! Before the talk, I'd never really thought about going on a trip like that. It sounded too adventurous and a bit scary too - but at the end of his talk Tom said that nothing was / had been impossible and that we would / could do anything we really want / wanted to do-so maybe I'll start planning too!

Complete the text with used to/ didn't use to and the verbs in brackets.

Complete the sentences using the correct form of the verb in brackets.

🟩 Exercise

1. I regret not __________ (apply) for that job.
   👉 I wish I {had applied}

2. He stopped skateboarding years ago.
   👉 If only he {hadn't stopped} skateboarding.

3. I don’t have enough time now. (have)
   👉 I wish I {had} more time now.

4. She isn’t very confident. (be)
   👉 If only she {had been} more confident.

5. My friend is too negative. (not be)
   👉 I’d rather my friend {weren’t} so negative.

6. I didn’t study enough for the exam. (study)
   👉 I wish I {had studied} enough.

7. He can’t play like before. (can)
   👉 I wish he {could play} like before.

The Simple Past Tense describes finished actions in the past using S + V2/ed (regular/irregular verbs) or was/were (to be). To form negatives or questions, use the auxiliary did + V(inf), such as "Did you go?" or "I didn't see." Look for signal words like yesterday, ago, last week, or use it after specific structures like "It's time," "I wish," and in Second Conditional if-clauses.

Overall, the image helps learners understand the basic form of the past simple tense in a clear and easy way.

    Prefixes

• UN/DIS/RE/IL/ANTI

1. It is important to __________ (cycle). 
2. That many is a bit strange. He wears ________ (usual) clothes.
3. I can't find my phone anywhere, it has _________ (appeared). 
4. It is________ (legal) to chew chewing gum in Singapore. 
5. A. What is the opposite of clockwise? B. It's___________ (clockwise).
6.  
7.  
8. Suffixes

• NESS/LESS/OUS/ISE/ATION

1. Lion's are one of the most __________ (danger) animals in the world.
2. The word _____________ (happy) is a noun meaning 'the state of being happy.
3. He is the total opposite of careful. He is _______ (care). He is always dropping things and bumping into people.
4. A. What is the verb of the word 'Advert'? B. It's ___________ (advert).
5. Today I created a new ________ (create).

1. Identify the Prefix or Suffix
2. He walked quietly so that he didn't wake his parents.
3. It is impossible for humans to fly.
4. We must coordinate before the meeting. I have some things to discuss with you.
5. What is your superpower?
6. You are the most helpful person I know.
7.      

Have you ever been to the beach? Did you see a man with a headset pointing a long pole at the ground? If so you might have seen a person using a metal detector. People use these devices to find metal. Metal detectors make magnetic waves. These waves go through the ground. The waves change when they hit metal. Then the device beeps. This lets the person with the device know that metal is close. The first metal detectors were meant to help miners. They were big. They cost a lot of money. They used a lot of power. And worst of all, they didn't work well. People kept trying to make them better. Metal detectors got smaller. Now they are light and cheap. They also work better. That is why people bring them to the beach. They can look for rings in the water. They can look for phones in the sand. Metal detectors help them find these things. They usually just find junk though. Metal detectors also protect people. They help to keep guns out of some places. They are in airports. They are in courthouses. Some schools use them. They help guards look for weapons. Guards use special wands to find metal on a person.

These devices save lives in other ways too. During wars, people plant bombs in the ground. When the war ends, they don't clean up their messes. This is unsafe for the people who live in those places. Others use metal detectors to find bombs. They remove them and help the people. These devices also make clothes safer. It sounds funny, but it's true. Most clothes are made in big factories. There are lots of needles in these places. Needles break from time to time. They get stuck in the clothes. They would poke people trying them on. They don't though. That's because our clothes are scanned for metal. Isn't that nice? Let's hear it for metal detectors. They make the world a safer place