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

English Verb Tenses: Active and Passive Voice

Past Perfect

• Affirmative: Subject + had + past participle
• Negative: Subject + hadn't + past participle
• Interrogative: Had + subject + past participle + ?

Passive Voice

• Present Simple: writes ~ is written
• Past Simple: wrote ~ was written
• Future (will): will write ~ will be written
• Present Continuous: is writing ~ is being written
• Past Continuous: was writing ~ was being written
• Present Perfect: has written ~ has been written
• Past Perfect: had written ~ had been written
• Be going to: is going to write ~ is going to be written
• Modal Verbs: can write ~ can be written

Past Perfect

• Affirmative: Subject + had + past participle
• Negative: Subject + hadn't + past participle
• Interrogative: Had + subject + past participle + ?

Victor's Journey to Geneva and Encounter with the Monster

1. On his journey to Geneva, Victor spent the night in the village of Secheron, but he couldn't sleep.

Victor couldn't sleep, and he decided to go and find the place where William had been murdered. During the storm, he saw a figure standing beside some trees; it was the monster.

Justine's Trial and Conviction

2. Justine defended herself in court.

Justine was called to defend herself. Crying, she told them what she remembered.

But it did no good. The judge had reached his verdict, and Justine had been found guilty. She was sentenced to death and would be executed the next day.

The Monster's Plea and Victor's Reaction

3. The monster raised his hand and began to speak.

Victor was shocked.

The monster... Continue reading "Frankenstein: Key Plot Points and Analysis" »

The Luis Rubiales Case: Context and Controversy

Good morning, everyone.

We are… (insert names), and today, we will present the Luis Rubiales case. This case became highly relevant because he was the former president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) at the time it occurred, along with many other circumstances that will be discussed later.

We have chosen this case because of the relevance it had and still has in Spanish society. Before starting, we must point out that this case still has not been resolved by the Spanish justice system.

Pre-Tournament Controversy

The whole situation was complicated because, even before the incident took place, another controversial situation had been ongoing before the competition even started. Key issues... Continue reading "The Luis Rubiales Scandal: Non-Consensual Kiss and RFEF Fallout" »

Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens wrote thirteen novels published in the year of his death. His first great success was The Pickwick Papers (1836-1837). Dickens soon moved forward from this old-fashioned view of England. In Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby, he writes of the social problems faced by young boys like Oliver and Nicholas. The sufferings of children were a main theme of Dickens's writing. He advocated for education for all children and showed his readers the kind of problems children faced in the cities, where poor people had no chance to share in the success of the nation. Dickens went on to write novels that criticized society in a more general way. David Copperfield is his most positive novel about growing up. This novel was based... Continue reading "The Impact of Charles Dickens on Literature and Society" »

The 1967 novel The Outsiders, written by S.E. Hinton, examines the challenges adolescents face as they strive to achieve greatness while under immense pressure. Through the lens of Ponyboy, the strategically implemented setting, and the book's carefully chosen language features, Hinton significantly showcases the conflict between personal desires and the pressure to succeed. Ultimately, the novel highlights how the demand for success can be stressful for teenagers in modern society.

Ponyboy Curtis and the Burden of Expectation

The characterization of Ponyboy plays an important role in showcasing how teenagers are pressured to achieve, specifically by highlighting his intelligence and sensitivity. He cogitated, "I make good grades and have a high... Continue reading "Adolescent Pressure and Identity in The Outsiders" »

The Crucial Role of English Proficiency Today

In past years, many people could build a career with only basic English knowledge. However, things have changed, and now a high level of English is often required for any career or job. For example, in Spain, to pursue a career, one must pass a selectividad exam, and English is one of the required subjects. Therefore, if you don't speak English, it will be very difficult to establish a career.

Also, in Spain, students can obtain Becas Erasmus (Erasmus scholarships) to travel to another country and study their chosen field for a year. Knowing English also allows you to study or work in English-speaking countries like England, which is a very interesting country. Furthermore, having a career path may... Continue reading "Essential Skills for Today: Language Proficiency and Technology Use" »

Responsible Mobile Phone Usage

A mobile phone is a device that allows us to communicate with others. It's very modern and useful. But, do we use mobile phones correctly? Many people use them in a proper way. For example, when an accident happens, they use it to ask for help or when they are in a difficult situation. However, other people use mobile phones in class. This is a bad habit and is very impolite. Mobile phones are practical, and that is why we should use them correctly.

The Vara del Pescado Festival in Gran Canaria

The Vara del Pescado is one of the most popular festivals in Agüimes on the island of Gran Canaria. It takes place in late August at Arinaga Beach. This festival has its origin in 1995. Traditionally, the Vara del Pescado... Continue reading "Modern Living: Technology, Culture, and Travel Insights" »

Characters of The Importance of Being Earnest

John "Jack" Worthing

Jack is the play's protagonist and most sympathetic character. He was found in a handbag on a railway line and feels less at home in aristocratic society than does Algernon. He lives in the country but has invented a wicked brother named "Ernest" whose scrapes require Jack's attendance in the city.

Algernon Moncrieff

Algernon, Jack's foil, is a hedonist who has created a friend named Bunbury. Bunbury's status as a permanent invalid allows Algernon to leave the city whenever he pleases. He believes this activity, Bunburying, is necessary, especially if one is going to get married—something he vows never to do.

Lady Bracknell

Lady Bracknell is the play's antagonist, blocking both... Continue reading "Oscar Wilde's Earnest: Character Insights" »

Year-Old Lancashire Voter: Alfie McKenzie

A 14-year-old boy from Lancashire who voted in the general election said he did it because he “wanted to make a difference.”

Questions

• FALSE: Alfie McKenzie voted Tory (line 1).
• FALSE: Alfie’s mum wanted him to vote (line 17).
• FALSE: Alfie McKenzie is not interested in politics (line 11).
• TRUE: Alfie McKenzie received a polling card (final lines 17–18).

Lexicon

• Revealed in private — confided
• Discovered — caught
• Distrust — suspect
• Get — received

Phonetics

• Needed — (confided, decided)
• From — (after, difference)

Use of English

• Original: "The case has being looking by the police." — Corrected: "The case has been looked into by the police."
• Original: "Alfie had been asked him not to vote for her mum.

Grandparents and Childhood Obesity

Grandparents increase the risk of obesity in children.

Phonetics

• Heat (three, between)
• Church (children, grandchildren)

Use of English

• Madrid is not as big as New York.
• Lets have lunch together, Carol.
• If they hadnt missed the train, they wouldnt have been late.
• Mr. Block told me to have a seat.
• All the photographs will be taken by a professional photographer.
• Who is an expert climber?

Higher Education in the US: What Does It Cost?

Phonetics

• Mouth (about)
• Heat (eighteen)
• Short (published)

Use of English

• Jennifer Egan, who won the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, is an American novelist.
• Ethan was told not to play football in the garden.
• Unless you study harder, you wont get a scholarship.
• When did you have your air conditioning