Information Sheet 1.2-1

Information Sheet 1.2-1: Interpret basic signage and notices

What is a signage?

Signage is the design or use of signs and symbols to communicate a message. Signage also means signs collectively or being considered as a group. The term signage is documented to have been popularized in 1975 to 1980.

What is the main purpose of signage?

In general, they serve several common purposes: to promote, identify, provide information, give directions or to raise safety awareness. Basic signage and its meaning:

Notice signs are perfect for passing along an urgent message worker cannot afford to miss. In the busy world of worksites and industrial facilities, it’s important that safety notifications stand out and catch the eye of workers.

Some of the vocabulary words use in Public Notices and Signages

sign

eating

quiet

public

classroom

library

bathroom

granola bar

men’s restroom

women’s restroom

food

cafeteria

smoking

gas station

art room

Verb noun collocations

read	the signs
be quiet	in the library
public	notices
put on	your shoes

Key Sentences:

Forming Imperative Sentences

*Public Notices*	*Public Places*
Be quiet	in the library
Do not eat	in the classroom
No smoking	at the gas station
No running around	in the art room
Don’t throw food	in the cafeteria
No talking	in the library

*Imperative form*	*Full Sentences (should & allowed)*
1. Be quiet in the library.	1. You should be quiet in the library.
2. No eating in the classroom.	2. Eating is not allowed in the classroom.
3. No smoking at the gas station.	3. Smoking is not allowed at the gas station.
4. No running around in the art room.	4. You shouldn’t run around in the art room.
5. Don’t throw food in the cafeteria.	5. Throwing food is not allowed in the cafeteria.
6. No talking in the library.	6. Talking is not allowed in the library.

Dialogue Script

Freddie: This is so yummy.

Ms. Ann: Freddie, are you eating in my class?

Freddie: Yes, Ms. Ann.

Ms. Ann: Freddie, did you read the sign?

Freddie: No, Ms. Ann.

Ms. Ann: Class, this sign says there is no eating in my classroom. You have to read the signs that are posted when you go into a public place.

Sally: Like where, Ms. Ann?

Ms. Ann: Why don’t we take a trip to find out?

Ms. Ann: Freddie, will you read the sign?

Freddie: It says that if you aren’t wearing shoes, you won’t be served.

Ms. Ann: Why is it important to read that sign?

Sally: So, you can put shoes on if you need to.

Ms. Ann: We have more signs near the bathroom. What do they say?

Sally: Men’s restroom.

Bob: Women’s restroom.

Ms. Ann: It’s very important to read this sign, what would happen if you didn’t?

Freddie: You’d go into the wrong bathroom!

Ms. Ann: Class, I would like for each of you to make a public notice for us to put around the school.

Freddie: Mine is going in the library. It will say “No talking in the library.”

Sally: That’s a good idea, Freddie. It’s important to be quiet in the library.

Bob: Mine is going in the art room. It says “No running with scissors.”

Freddie: That would be very dangerous! It’s a good idea to tell people not to do that.

Sally: Mine is going in the cafeteria. It says “Don’t throw food!”

Freddie: That’s good! I will eat my granola bar their next time, but I won’t throw it.

Simple Timetable and Schedules in English Vocabulary

#1 and #2 SCHEDULE OR TIMETABLE? (noun)

When we are speaking about a chart for bus times / train times / lesson times, “schedule” is more common in American English and “timetable” is more common in British English.

I need to download the bus schedule. I need to download the bus timetable.

But, if we are just speaking about our work or the things we need to do, “schedule” is the more common word.

What does your schedule look like for tomorrow?

#3 a TIGHT SCHEDULE (noun)
definition: you have lots of things to do, but not much time

Tomorrow, I’ll be very busy. I have a tight schedule.

Next week, my schedule will be pretty tight.

#4 a PLANNER (noun)
definition: a book / app / calendar that you write dates and appointments in

Without my planner, I would forget all of my appointments.

According to my planner, Lorraine and Nathan are coming over for dinner on the 12th.

#5 a FIXED WORK SCHEDULE (noun)
definition: your schedule is the same every day, you cannot change it

I have a fixed work schedule. I work Monday to Friday from 9 to 5.
I used to have a fixed work schedule, but now I have more flexible hours.

#6 a FLEXIBLE WORK SCHEDULE (noun)
definition: you choose when you work

As a mom, I’m so happy that I have a flexible work schedule.

During the pandemic, we all adopted a flexible work schedule.

#7 to HAVE SHIFTS to WORK SHIFTS (noun)
definition: your schedule changes every day / week /month

I have the morning shift this week and the night shift next week.

I’m a nurse and I enjoy working the night shift. The hospital is less busy.

#8 NINE-TO-FIVE (adjective)
definition: used to describe a job with standard office hours

Most people who work in an office have a nine-to-five job.

I don’t want a nine-to-five job. I want to have flexible working hours and travel the world.

#9 to be SELF-EMPLOYED (adjective)
definition: you are your own boss, you do not have a boss

I love being self-employed. I don’t need to answer to anyone.

My friend Chris in an electrician. He’s been self-employed for over 10 years.

#10 to WORK FOR ONESELF (phrase)
definition: to be self-employed

I love working for myself. I don’t need to answer to anyone.

My friend Chris in a electrician. He’s been working for himself for over 10 years.

#11 to work FULL-TIME (adjective/adverb)
definition: to work approximately 40 hours per week

When can I possibly find time to exercise? I have two kids and a full-time job.

I work and study full-time.

#12 to work PART-TIME (adjective/adverb)
definition: to work fewer hours than a full-time job

I used to work full-time, but after my baby was born, I starting working part-time.

I would like a part-time job just to earn a little bit of money while at university.

#13 opening hours

#14 opening times

#15 business hours

definition: the times a store, café, restaurant, bank, etc. are open

Excuse me, what are your weekend opening hours?

Their business hours are Monday to Saturday from 10 to 10.

#16 alternate (adjective)
definition: something happens every other day

During the height of the COVID pandemic, everyone in our office worked alternate days. Group A worked on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Group B worked on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

not always work related: My sister made this amazing cake with alternate layers of chocolate crepes and cream.

#17 alternate (verb)
definition: to do something every other day

When I exercise, I alternate between cardio and yoga.

#18 staggered (adjective)
definition: the start times are different for different groups

The entrance to the school is never busy because all of the start times are staggered.

Grades 1-3 arrive at 8:30.
Grades 4-6 arrive at 8:45.
Grades 7 and 8 arrive at 9:00.

*staggered schedules usually have a zigzag shape

#19 to SHOW UP (phrasal verb)
definition: a more formal way to say “arrive”

Two people didn’t show up for the meeting.

My bus showed up 20 minutes late.

#20 to be AWAY (adjective / adverb)
definition: to not be at your workplace because of a vacation OR work-related reasons

Mara is away on maternity leave.

#21 to be OFF (adjective / adverb)
definition: to not be at your workplace because you want to rest and relax

Next month, I’ll be off for two weeks. I’m going to Hawaii.

Jim and Karen are off this Tuesday. is away on a business trip.

Watch this video:

Past events and situations

We use the past simple to talk about:

something that happened once in the past:
The film started at seven thirty.
We arrived home before dark.

something that was true for some time in the past:
Everybody worked hard through the winter.
We stayed with our friends in London.

When we talk about something that happened several times in the past, we use the past simple:

Most evenings, we stayed at home and watched DVDs.
Sometimes they went out for a meal.

or used to:

Most evenings, we used to stay at home and watch DVDs.
We used to go for a swim every morning.

or would:

Most evenings, he would take the dog for a walk.
They would often visit friends in Europe.

We do not normally use would with stative verbs. We use the past simple or used to instead:

He ~~would~~ looked much older than he does now. (NOT ~~would look~~)
We ~~would~~ used to feel very cold in winter. (NOT ~~would feel~~)

We use the past continuous:

for something that happened before and after a specific time in the past:

It was just after ten. I was watching the news on TV.
At half-time we were losing 1–0.

for something that happened before and after another action in the past:

He broke his leg when he was playing rugby.
She saw Jim as he was driving away.

The past in the past

We use the past perfect when we are looking back from a point in the past to something earlier in the past:

Helen suddenly remembered she had left her keys in the car.
When we had done all our shopping, we caught the bus home.
They wanted to buy a new computer, but they hadn’t saved enough money.
They would have bought a new computer if they had saved enough money.

The past and the present

We use the present perfect:

for something that started in the past and continues in the present:

We have lived here since 2017. [and we still live here]
I have been working at the university for over ten years.

for something that happened in the past but is important in the present:

I can’t open the door. I‘ve left my keys in the car.
Jenny has found a new job. She works in a supermarket now.

The future in the past

When we talk about the future from a time in the past we use:

would as the past tense of will:

He thought he would buy one the next day.
Everyone was excited. The party would be fun.

was/were going to:

John was going to drive and Mary was going to follow on her bicycle.
It was Friday. We were going to set off the next day.

the past continuous:

It was September. Mary was starting school the next week.
We were very busy. Our guests were arriving soon and we had to get their room ready.

The past with modal verbs

could is the past tense of can:

You could get a good meal for a pound when I was a boy.

would is the past tense of will:

He said he would come but he forgot.

We use may have, might have and could have to show that something has possibly happened in the past:
I’ll telephone him. He might have got home early.
She’s very late. She could have missed her train.

We use should have as the past form of should:

I didn’t know he was ill. He should have told me.
You shouldn’t have spent so much money.

We use would have and could have to talk about something that was possible in the past but did not happen:
I could have gone to Mexico for my holiday but it was too expensive.
I would have called you, but I had forgotten my phone.
They would have gone out if the weather had been better.

Reference:
https://www.literacymn.org/sites/default/files/beginning_signs_week_1_of_1.pdf
https://www.mysafetysign.com/notice-signs?srsltid=AfmBOooE5ZUT8wCoSpZ8Uz55Da7jTQUeyce8gMV0gcSUXfy4DHRHNxzq
https://www.fredisalearns.com/unit-3-public-notices/
https://arnelseverydayenglish.com/vocabulary-for-appointments-and-schedules/#google_vignette
https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/grammar/english-grammar-reference/talking-about-past