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/

1. Multiple Choice Answers

1: B / C / E / A / D

2: appeals / bargain / dependable / bighearted

3. Sentence Construction

• a) I think fashion magazines can influence young people.
• b) Martina is great. She knows how to get things done.
• c) We should make an effort to help others.
• d) There is a small charge for a plastic bag.
• e) They are advertising their new product on TV.

4. Present Tense Corrections

• a) The sun does not go around the Earth.
• b) The Olympic Games take place every four years.
• c) Look! Those children are feeding the cows.
• d) Today Helen is not wearing a jumper because it is not cold.
• e) Do you usually swim in this river?

5. Past Tense Usage

• a) I was hiking in the hills when I fell.
• b) My mum sold her old car last week.
• c) The child broke his leg while

Valentine's Day

True or False Statements:

• 1. True: It is also for someone you secretly love.
• 2. True: Traditionally, it involves boyfriends or girlfriends.
• 3. False: Some people give an unusual gift.
• 4. False: Valentine's Day is a popular day to get married.

Lexicon

• 1. Anonymous
• 2. Amusement
• 3. Cash
• 4. Propose

Phonetics

• 1. Custom
• 2. Greeting
• 3. /ɪd/
• 4. /s/

English Grammar Practice

• 1. Fito is thought to be a talented musician.
• 2. She asked him if he had played football with his cousin the week before.
• 3. If my girlfriend had not been very tired, she would have gone to the party.
• 4. Although the weather was good, we didn't enjoy the walk in the woods.
• 5. Jane is the most attractive person I have ever met.
• 6. Is John picking you up at the airport tomorrow?

An Exercise

The Siege of Amaiur: A Historical Account

The castle of Amaiur stood atop a hill, surrounded by lush green mountains. Its walls were tall and gray, bearing the scars of ancient battles. On that fateful morning in 1512, the sky was overcast and the air bitingly cold. A heavy silence hung over the fortress, as if the stones themselves sensed an impending tragedy.

Iñigo: A Young Defender of Navarre

Iñigo, a sixteen-year-old Navarrese soldier, stood watch. With dark hair, a weary face, and a small wound on his hand, he clutched a sword inherited from his father, wearing armor that hung loosely on his frame. Despite his fear, his resolve to protect his homeland remained unshaken.

The Impending Castilian Threat

From the ramparts, Iñigo recalled the... Continue reading "The Siege of Amaiur: A Tale of Navarrese Valor" »

Opinion Essay Template

Introduction

Nowadays, there is a lot of discussion about __________. Some people have different opinions on this issue. In this essay, I will explain my point of view.

Body Paragraph 1

First of all, I believe that __________ can have several benefits. It can make people’s lives easier and help them in different situations. For example, many individuals use it regularly and find it useful. Therefore, it can have a positive impact on society.

Body Paragraph 2

Furthermore, another important aspect is that __________ may provide opportunities for people to improve different areas of their lives. However, it is important to use it responsibly and be aware of possible disadvantages.

Conclusion

To sum up, although there are different... Continue reading "Master English Writing: Essay, Article and Email Templates" »

Huckleberry Finn: Chapter 1 Analysis

Why did Huck run away from Widow Douglas’s house?

Answer: The widow had too many strict rules. The house was clean and uncomfortable; Huck hated the tidy, regular life and missed his free old clothes and barrel home.

Why did Huck return to the widow’s home?

Answer: Tom Sawyer wanted to start a robber gang, and he said Huck could only join if he lived a respectful life with the widow.

Why didn’t Huck care about Moses?

Answer: Huck said he did not take stock in dead people—he only cared about living, real things.

Why did Miss Watson get mad at Huck?

Answer: Huck said he wanted to go to the bad place (hell) because he wanted a change from the boring, strict life at home.

What bad luck sign scared Huck at night?