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

Everyday English Conversations

These dialogues offer insights into common daily interactions, from meeting new people to managing business challenges and scheduling appointments.

Meeting New People: Michael and Zofia

Michael: Hi. My name is Michael.

Zofia: Pleased to meet you, Michael. I'm Zofia.

Michael: Sorry, what's your name again?

Zofia: It's Zofia – Z-O-F-I-A.

Michael: Oh, okay. Nice to meet you, Zofia.

Zofia: Where are you from, Michael?

Michael: I am from Spain, and you?

Zofia: I'm from Spain.

Michael: Oh, really? Whereabouts?

Zofia: Madrid. Do you know it?

Michael: Yes, I do.

Rescheduling a Dental Appointment: Abbey Dental Practice

Receptionist: Hello, Abbey Dental Practice.

Caller: Hello. I've got an appointment in June, but I'm afraid I can't... Continue reading "Daily English Conversations: Introductions, Appointments, & Business" »

The Destructive Nature of Ambition: Macbeth and Frankenstein

Victor Frankenstein: A Victim of His Own Creation

Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant mind from a young age, possessed an insatiable thirst for knowledge. Nurtured by a supportive family, his curiosity led him to pursue higher education. His fascination with the natural world and the mysteries of life ultimately consumed him. Blinded by ambition, Victor failed to foresee the potential consequences of his scientific endeavors, leading him to create a creature that would become his undoing.

Driven by an all-consuming desire to animate lifeless matter, Victor isolated himself from family and friends. This seclusion took a toll on his mental state. After two years of relentless work, he... Continue reading "The Pitfalls of Ambition: A Comparative Study of Macbeth and Frankenstein" »

My Amazing Vacation to Huanchaco Beach

Hi, I'm Anthony, but they call me Thonny. My last vacation was amazing! My family and I traveled to Huanchaco Beach and had a lot of fun. It was a nice place, cool at times, and hot at others.

I met new people and made new friends. I swam with my father and mother, and we ate a lot of fish and ceviche. The seafood was really delicious, but something I didn't like was the coconut milk. It wasn't delicious. My father said it's amazing and delicious, but I didn't like it. In conclusion, I can say that I had a wonderful and beautiful time with my family. I enjoyed the time and the moments I spent on that amazing beach. I hope we return there one day!

When I got home, I went out a few days a week with my friends... Continue reading "My Amazing Vacation to Huanchaco Beach, Peru" »

English Grammar Essentials

Passive Voice

• Present Simple: am, is, are + past participle
• Present Continuous: am, is, are + being + past participle
• Present Perfect: have, has + been + past participle
• Past Simple: was, were + past participle
• Past Continuous: was, were + being + past participle
• Past Perfect: had + been + past participle
• Future Simple: will + be + past participle
• Future Perfect: will + have + been + past participle

Conditionals

• Zero Conditional (Universal Truths): if + present simple, present simple
• First Conditional (Reality): if + present simple, will/can/must + verb infinitive
• Second Conditional (Unlikely): if + past simple, would/could/might + verb infinitive
• Third Conditional (Possible but Didn't Happen): if + past perfect, would/could/might

Predictions

Impossible: People DEFINITELY WON’T live on Mars. / Unlikely: People PROBABLY WON’T choose to have holidays in space. / IT’S UNLIKELY that the earth WILL be hit by a meteorite. / I DON’T THINK the use of smartphones WILL increase. / Possible: Food MAY become more expensive. / Tablets MIGHT replace textbooks. / IT’S POSSIBLE that everyone WILL speak English. / Likely: IT’S LIKELY that in the future we’LL import more. / The cost of mobile technology WILL PROBABLY fall. / I THINK the use of smartphones WILL increase. / Certain: The use of smartphones WILL DEFINITELY increase. / I AM SURE the use of smartphones WILL definitely increase.

Usage

Will: predictions about the future.
Might/May/Be Likely/Unlikely/Possible: degree... Continue reading "English Grammar and Vocabulary Guide" »

Common English Irregular Verbs (V1 & V3)

This is a reference list of common irregular verbs in English, showing the base form (infinitive) and the past participle form.

Irregular Verbs: A-F

Irregular Verbs: G-R

Irregular

Modal Verbs

1. Vera might... That must be... Italian can’t be that difficult if you can learn it so quickly! The teacher can’t... Jackie must... Wait! That might...

2.

• You must have heard about the accident. It was in all the newspapers.
• You must have gone to bed late. You look really tired.
• You can’t have seen this film before. It has only been in the cinema for a couple of...
• I might have left my notebook.
• The teacher can’t have gone yet because...
• I missed a call this morning. It might have been Simon.

3.

• If we’d arrived earlier, we would have gotten better seats.
• I wouldn’t have made so many mistakes if I had revised more.
• If they had been more careful, the disaster would never have happened.
• If I had known you were in town, I would have

English Vocabulary & Passive Voice

Key Vocabulary Terms

• Overshadowed: opacado / ensombrecido
• Appropriateness: idoneidad
• Achieve success: alcanzamiento
• Knowledge: conocimiento
• Traits: rasgos
• Self-esteem: autoestima
• Main: principal
• Actually: en realidad / de hecho
• Understanding: comprensión / entendimiento
• Which: cuales / las cuales / el cual
• Self-development: autodesarrollo
• Skills: habilidades / destrezas
• Rate: ritmo / velocidad
• Mistakes: errores
• Sensitivity: sensibilidad
• Agreement: acuerdo
• Aptitude: aptitud
• Able: capaz
• Worth: valer la pena

Rewrite Sentences Using Passive Voice

Rewrite these sentences using the passive voice.

1. In Britain today most people read newspapers online.

   In Britain today, newspapers are read online by most people.

2. Colourful leaflets advertise