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

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" »

Literary Fiction and Human Complexity

Reading Comprehension Answers

1. To commit a crime.
2. Who are consistent and predictable.
3. That people are complex beings that often defy expectations.

4. Literary Fiction's Impact

   Readers of literary fiction develop an awareness that people are complex beings that often defy expectations. Readers become emotionally involved with the characters.

5. Vocabulary in Context

   1. take into account
   2. infer
   3. reinforces
   4. defy
   5. fight

Vocabulary Exercises: Phrasal Verbs and Definitions

Exercise 1: Phrasal Verb Matching

1. turn up
2. brought up
3. take out
4. back up (support)
5. go on
6. give away
7. put down
8. back up (copy/reverse)

Exercise 2: Contextual Meanings

1. trust him
2. have space
3. we gave up our search
4. be careful
5. was caught in the end
6. of value

Exercise 3: Crime and Justice Terminology

1. guilty
2. raised
3. trial
4. forced
5. turn

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

Two years ago, I met again with a girl named Maite. Maite and I had been friends since we were little. We met in Barcelona, specifically in the Ramblas of Plaza Cataluña. She used to live here, in La Llagosta, but due to family problems, she had to move to France.

When we met, it was very strange because we didn't know how to react by simply saying hello or hugging each other. When we saw each other, we quickly went towards each other and hugged each other very tightly. It had been two years since we had seen or spoken to each other. We had completely lost touch. We started talking, and I told her that there were times when I talked to her, but she didn't get the messages and she told me that she had changed her cell phone and lost all of her... Continue reading "Reconnecting with Old Friends: Stories of Friendship and Change" »

Essential English Irregular Verbs

Here's a list of common irregular verbs in English to help you improve your grammar and vocabulary:

• B:
  • be - was/were - been (ser/estar)
  • beat - beat - beaten (golpear)
  • become - became - become (convertirse)
  • begin - began - begun (empezar)
  • bend - bent - bent (doblar)
  • bet - bet - bet (apostar)
  • bite - bit - bitten (morder)
  • bleed - bled - bled (sangrar)
  • blow - blew - blown (soplar)
  • break - broke - broken (romper)
  • bring - brought - brought (traer)
  • build - built - built (construir)
  • burn - burnt - burnt (quemar)
  • buy - bought - bought (comprar)
• C:
  • catch - caught - caught (coger)
  • choose - chose - chosen (elegir)
  • come - came - come (venir)
  • cost - cost - cost (costar)
  • cut - cut - cut (cortar)
• D:
  • dig - dug - dug (cavar)
  • do - did - done (hacer)
  • draw

Choosing the Right Career Path

Facts and Considerations

1. True: Choosing a career path is often a confusing and stressful experience.
2. True: You can begin by choosing a career that fits well with your skills.

Common Questions

1. Why is it difficult? It's challenging because, without experience, you don't know what a job truly involves, and careers can be unpredictable.
2. What should you look for? You should aim for a career you are good at and one that you will genuinely want to do.

Key Vocabulary

• Confusing
• Fits
• Reach
• Venture

Sentence Fragments and Answers

1. are motivated
2. best, have ever read
3. for, about
4. where
5. to choose a job she loved

Navigating the January Sales

Facts and Considerations

1. True: Consumers who visit shops are rewarded with discounts of up to 80%.
2. True: Online