Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for English

Conditionals

Zero Conditional

If + present simple, ... present simple

First Conditional

If + present simple, ... will + infinitive

Second Conditional

If + past simple, ... would + infinitive

Third Conditional

If + past perfect, ... would + have + past participle

The Passive Voice (Active/Passive)

Present Simple

Active: The waiter serves the customers.

Passive: The customers are served by the waiter.

Present Continuous

Active: The waiter is serving the customers.

Passive: The customers are being served by the waiter.

Past Simple

Active: The waiter served the customers.

Passive: The customers were served by the waiter.

Past Continuous

Active: The waiter was serving the customers.

Passive: The customers were being served by the waiter.

Present Perfect Simple

Active:... Continue reading "English Grammar and Vocabulary Guide: Conditionals, Passive Voice, and More" »

Essential Vocabulary and Phrases

Customer Service & Complaints

• Poor quality / Bad service
• Delivery (repartiment)
• Refund (retornar)
• Exchange (intercanvi)
• Free of charge (gratis)
• Disappointed with the service

Complaint Phrases:

• "I am writing because I would like to complain about the [product/service] which I ordered by post from your factory."
• "I think that you should..."
• "I would appreciate it if you would..."
• "Please reply as soon as possible."

Movie Review Terminology

• Dramatic (espectacular)
• Disappointing
• A masterpiece (obra mestra)
• A box-office hit (èxit de taquilla)
• "It's directed by..."
• "Is well worth seeing" (va valdre la pena)
• "You won't regret it" (no te'n penediràs)
• "Reported that..."
• "Added that..."

Reading Comprehension Exercises

Athlete Retirement

The Chemical Company Scandal

John Duncan went to a chemical company and asked David Wilson for a job. Wilson gave him an opportunity. John investigated the new paint the company produced alongside his new coworker, Mary. The results were nasty: baby rats were born with six legs or no eyes.

At that moment, John Duncan lived in a very big house near the river. One day, they saw news in a newspaper stating that baby seals were dead. Christine, who was married to Simon and had a baby, was involved. Before this, John confessed the truth.

The factory was closed. John sold his house, and in the end, he lived in a little house near the sea.

Character Profiles

• John Duncan: An old, unfortunate, and sociable man.
• Christine: John Duncan's daughter, who eventually

Gossip Girl — TV Series

My favorite TV series has to be Gossip Girl. It's a glamorous and dramatic show based on the novels written by Cecily von Ziegesar. The series is set in modern-day New York City and follows the lives of privileged teenagers living on the Upper East Side, whose secrets and scandals are exposed by an anonymous blogger known only as "Gossip Girl." The main characters include Serena van der Woodsen, played by Blake Lively, and Blair Waldorf, portrayed by Leighton Meester. Their complicated friendship, love lives, and personal struggles make the series both engaging and emotionally intense.

I love this series mainly because it's full of drama and plot twists, while still managing to portray themes like friendship, betrayal,... Continue reading "Gossip Girl & Matilda: Top Teen Drama and Family Film Picks" »

Mastering Irregular Verbs in English and Spanish

This list provides common irregular verbs in English, along with their past simple and past participle forms, and their Spanish translations.

• beat/beat/beaten: ganar
• eat/ate/eaten: comer
• drive/drove/driven: conducir
• dream/dreamed/dreamed: soñar
• draw/drew/drawn: dibujar
• do/did/done: hacer
• cost/cost/cost: costar
• come/came/come: venir
• choose/chose/chosen: elegir
• catch/caught/caught: coger
• buy/bought/bought: comprar
• build/built/built: construir
• bring/brought/brought: llevar
• break/broke/broken: romper
• blow/blew/blown: soplar
• bite/bit/bitten: morder
• bend/bent/bent: doblar
• begin/began/begun: empezar
• understand/understood/understood: entender
• sleep/slept/slept: dormir
• mean/meant/meant: significar
• lose/lost/lost: perder
• make/

Letter of Inquiry for Tennis Club Membership

Dear Sir and Madam,

I am interested in joining your tennis club. I have intermediate experience, having played tennis for five years at another club in my previous city. I would like to improve my skills and meet other tennis enthusiasts. Specifically, I am eager to refine my techniques and gain better control during matches.

I have a few questions: Could you provide me with information about membership fees and available schedules? Do you offer group or individual lessons? Do you organize tournaments for members?

Thank you for your consideration.
Yours faithfully,
Mrs. Ana Paula

Invitation to Join a Tennis Club

Dear Ana,

I thought I'd write to you about a new tennis club in our town that's offering classes.... Continue reading "Queen Letizia of Spain: A Role Model of Dedication and Grace" »

This collection presents a variety of common English sentences, perfect for language learners and those looking to improve their everyday communication skills. Each sentence demonstrates practical usage in different contexts.

Diverse English Sentence Examples

1. The documents will be posted to you on Monday morning.

2. If I hadn’t broken my leg last week, I would be in the dance competition tonight.

3. I haven’t had a puncture for two years.

4. Tom asked who had been using his computer.

5. The dress Mark’s wife was wearing last night was beautiful.

6. My secretary might know his address.

7. Her parents told Lydia to get her coat.

8. His parents got angry with him because he hadn’t behaved himself.

9. Ann was tired and needed a rest because she had been working all day.

Book Details: Pompeii by Louanne Piccolo

The book Pompeii is written by Louanne Piccolo. It belongs to the Burlington Books collection. The title refers to the famous Roman city destroyed by Mount Vesuvius. It’s a short and educational book suitable for learning about history in an engaging way.

Structure and Length

• Pages: Approximately 40–50 pages.
• Chapters: Divided into 6 chapters, making it easy to read and follow.

Reviewer's Personal Opinion

I think Pompeii is an excellent book because it combines history with an interesting story. The vocabulary is simple and easy to understand, which is perfect for students with an intermediate level of English (B1). The book also includes fascinating historical facts, and the activities help reinforce... Continue reading "Louanne Piccolo's Pompeii: A Historical Fiction Review" »

Cleft Sentences and Their Structure

What is a Cleft Sentence?

A cleft sentence is one where a single message is divided (cleft) into two clauses.

Unmarked Word Order for Declarative Sentences

The unmarked word order for a declarative sentence in English is SVO (Subject-Verb-Object).

When Can Inversion Be Used?

Inversion can be used in clefts.

Usage of "Who"

The pronoun "who" is used for humans.

Defining Subordinate Clauses

Subordinate clauses are dependent clauses.

Types of Relative Clauses

• Restrictive
• Non-restrictive

Inversion with "Never" and "Rarely"

When "never" and "rarely" are in front position, they require subject-auxiliary inversion.

Characteristics of Existential Sentences

Existential sentences have an indefinite subject.

Forms of the Object Complement

The... Continue reading "Key Elements of English Sentence Construction" »

Titanic: A Timeless Romantic Drama Review