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

Physical Appearance

Build: stocky, strong, thin, well-built. Height: medium-height, short, tall. Hair: bald, blonde, curly, dark, fair, long, medium-length, short, spiky, straight, wavy. General: attractive, cute, good-looking, gorgeous, plain, pretty.

Personality Traits

affectionate, arrogant, artistic, bossy, cheerful, clever, confident, determined, easy-going, energetic, generous, hard-working, impatient, likeable, lively, loyal, optimistic, outgoing, patient, reliable, sensible, sensitive, serious, shy, talkative, tidy, well-organised.

Synonyms

attractive, beautiful, bright, calm, cheerful, childish, clever, cute, difficult, easy-going, elderly, energetic, friendly, generous, glad, good-looking, gorgeous, handsome, happy, hard, immature, intelligent,... Continue reading "Essential English Vocabulary and Grammar Reference" »

Part 1: My Favorite Online Hangouts

Digital Interests: Fashion, Photography, and Creative Sites

Obviously, we can use the Internet for lots of different things, such as reading blogs like this one! In this post, I'm going to tell you all about some of my favourite places online.

Personally, I'm crazy about fashion and photography, so I visit sites where I can find out more about them. Fortunately, there are lots of good ones!

Fashion and Beauty Resources

As far as fashion is concerned, I visit websites like The Blonde Salad and Song of Style because they're full of great ideas and tips. For instance, just last week I read about some fantastic beauty apps! Amazingly, most of them are free!

Photography Inspiration

When it comes to photography, Pinterest... Continue reading "Córdoba's Mezquita: Essential Tips for Visiting Spain's Iconic Monument" »

Personal Adjectives: Describing Character

A comprehensive list of adjectives used to describe personality and character traits:

• A: affectionate, aggressive, ambitious, arrogant, assertive.
• C: calm, caring, charming, committed, competitive, confident, conscientious, contrary, curious.
• D: discerning.
• E: empathetic, energetic, extrovert.
• F: fallible, frank.
• G: glib, guilty.
• H: hardworking, heartfelt, high-spirited, honest.
• I: idealistic, impatient, independent, insecure.
• L: loyal.
• M: modest.
• N: narrow-minded.
• O: obstinate, open-minded.
• P: perceptive, persistent, playful, powerful, practical, proud.
• Q: quiet, quick-tempered.
• R: rebellious, reliable, rewarding, ridicule (Note: typically a noun/verb).
• S: self-conscious, self-opinionated, self-righteous, sensible,

The Manager,
17 Manor Drive, Castletown, Co. Longford. June 14th, 2008

Jeans World,
Castletown, Co. Longford.

Dear Sir/Madam,

On Friday, June 9th, I bought a pair of Levi jeans in your shop. When I took the jeans home, I noticed two buttons were missing. I went back to the shop with the receipt and asked the shop assistant to exchange the jeans for a pair that were not damaged. She refused. She said the jeans were perfect when they were sold and said they had been damaged since leaving the shop. A quick look would have shown that buttons had never been sewn on and that it was most likely a fault that had happened in the factory.

I insist on my rights as a consumer and wish for an exchange or my money back. Please contact me at the above address as... Continue reading "Jeans Complaint, Job Application & Internet Shopping" »

Passive Voice Structures

• Simple Present: Object + am/is/are + past participle. Example: The lesson is explained by the teacher.
• Present Continuous: Object + am/is/are + being + past participle. Example: The dinner is being served by Axel.
• Present Perfect: Object + have/has + been + past participle. Example: The baby has been showered by my mom.
• Present Perfect Continuous: Object + has/have + been + being + past participle. Example: My phone has been being stolen.
• Simple Past: Object + was/were + past participle. Example: The bridge was built.
• Past Continuous: Object + was/were + being + past participle. Example: The homework was being checked.
• Past Perfect: Object + had + been + past participle. Example: The computer had been fixed.
• Past Perfect Continuous:

My Ideal Neighborhood

In my ideal neighborhood, there are several essential places near my house: a supermarket, a health center, and a train and bus station. I want a supermarket because I like to shop frequently, a health center because I need allergy medicine, and a station because I love to travel. Additionally, within a ten-minute walk, there is a swimming pool, a shopping center, and various cafes. I enjoy the pool for swimming, the shopping center for clothes, and cafes because I love to eat out.

My Childhood Hero: Maria Parado de Bellido

My childhood hero is Maria Parado de Bellido, a brave woman who fought for Peru's freedom. I admire her because she was a key informant who chose to give her life instead of betraying her people. She is... Continue reading "Personal Reflections, Peruvian Heroes and Madrid Cycling" »

Core Linguistic Concepts

Determiners and Modifiers

The **Zero Determiner** refers to indeterminacy, often seen in phrases like "human beings who are rational."

• **Verb vs. Adjective:** Verbs often use the continuous form (e.g., *be + -ing*). Adjectives allow gradation (e.g., *very entertaining*).
• **Adverb vs. Adjective:** Adverbs modify verbs; adjectives modify nouns.

English Verb Classification

Main Verb Types

Verbs are classified based on their complementation patterns:

• **Intransitive (H):** Requires only the head/subject (e.g., *She signed, I am eating*).
• **Copulative (H + PCS):** Links the head/subject to a Predicate Complement of the Subject (e.g., *Turned red, seems an interesting idea, in good condition*).
• **Transitive (H + DO):** Requires a Direct

A Kiss Before Dying

Key Events and Clues

1. A home that… CARAVAN
2. Be sick: THROW UP
3. After taking the pills: PAIN
4. He read the books: PAIN
5. All around the room: GELATIN CAPSULES
6. If he didn’t marry: SUSPICIOUS
7. The young man dropped: (Left Blank)
8. ''We have to go…: BIRTH CERTIFICATE
9. Personal FILES
10. A lawyer. A person: ATTORNEY

Questions and Answers

1. What do you know about Dorothy’s mother?

   She was married to Dorothy's father when Dorothy was born, but eight years later, her father realized that she was with another man. He broke up with her. She was ill when she was with Leo, but after he broke up with her, she died.

2. What is the relationship between the book La Casa de las Flores Negras and Dorothy’s suicide note?

   Bud told Dorothy that he didn’t know how to

English Grammar

Verb Tenses

Past Tense Transformations

• Present Simple (eats/eat) → Past Simple (ate)
• Don't/Doesn't → Didn't
• Present Continuous (am, is, are + v ing) → Past Continuous (was, were + v ing)
• Past Simple (-ed or irregular) → Past Perfect (had + past participle)
• Present Perfect (have, has + past participle) → Past Perfect
• Past Perfect (had + past participle) → Past Perfect
• Past Continuous (was, were + v ing) → Past Perfect Continuous (had + been + v ing)
• Present Perfect Continuous → Past Perfect Continuous
• Past Perfect Continuous → Past Perfect Continuous
• Future: Will + infinitive → Would + infinitive
• Can → Could + infinitive
• Must/Have to → Had to + infinitive
• May → Might + infinitive

Changes in Reported Speech

• Now → Then
• Today