Parallel terms

Luiz writes:
Usually we write "I have intermediate level of spoken and written English". However, how would you include "listen skills"?

In the example, does the word "listen" suit best?
English: listen (advanced); spoken, written (intermediate).

Very interesting! We could express this idea several ways:

I speak and write English at the intermediate level, and listen at the advanced level.
My spoken and written English is at the intermediate level, and at the advanced level in listening.
I have scored at the intermediate level in speaking and writing English, and at the advanced level in listening.

Notice that all these versions use "parallelism"—similar phrases and parts of speech:
I speak and write...and listen...
at the intermediate level, and at the advanced level...
I have scored at...in speaking and writing...and at...in listening

Using these parallel forms makes it easier to understand related ideas.

Comments

[Luiz]

Hi again professor Crawford.

Thanks for your time to answer my first question. As you were so kind, I am willing to make a second one. I need to fill in my curriculum with straight words (less talking, more impact). I am a bit pressed for space tough and I cannot write the whole phrase as you've suggested.

So, is that "listen" grammatically okay if I only write :

English : listen (advanced); spoken, written (intermediate) ?

Best wishes on your site !

yours,
Luiz

[asma]

I have problem to speak english easily even i knew the words what shall i do and i'm styding English at Sibawaih school

[Crawford Kilian]

Hi, Asma--

I suggest you listen to English speakers and copy the way they pronounce words. Many podcasts are designed for students like you--look in the ESL/EFL Resources list. It will take a lot of practice, but you can do it!