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

Comprehensive List of English Irregular Verbs

This list provides the base form, past simple, past participle, and Spanish translation for common irregular verbs.

• Be: was/were, been (ser/estar)
• Bear: bore, borne (soportar)
• Beat: beat, beaten (golpear)
• Become: became, become (convertirse)
• Begin: began, begun (comenzar)
• Bend: bent, bent (doblar)
• Bet: bet, bet (apostar)
• Bite: bit, bitten (morder)
• Blow: blew, blown (soplar)
• Break: broke, broken (romper)
• Breed: bred, bred (criar)
• Bring: brought, brought (traer)
• Broadcast: broadcast, broadcast (transmitir)
• Build: built, built (construir)
• Burn: burnt, burnt (quemar)
• Buy: bought, bought (comprar)
• Can: could (poder)
• Catch: caught, caught (atrapar)
• Choose: chose, chosen (elegir)
• Come: came, come (venir)
• Cost: cost, cost (costar)

Allegra Byron's Early Life in Venice

Allegra Byron lived with her father, Lord Byron, in a large house called the Palazzo Mocenigo. However, Lord Byron eventually realized that it was not a suitable home for a child. He entrusted Allegra to an English family in Venice. Allegra stayed in Venice for eight months with different families. When Allegra was four years old, Byron sent her to a convent school near Ravenna. Allegra was often cold and lonely there.

Grammar Notes

• Prepositions:
  • In for months (e.g., in May)
  • On for days (e.g., on Monday)
  • At for weekends and specific times (e.g., at the weekend, at 7 o'clock)
• Present Simple: After 'go', use the gerund form (-ing) (e.g., go swimming).
• Do/Does: Use 'do' or 'does' + person + verb for questions (e.g.

Botas

1.- 1E 2C 3D 4A 5B

2.-

A: ____ Could you clean up your shoes ?
(Make a request about the picture on the left)

B: __Ohh, sorry, but I don’t have time, I’ll clean
up in the afternoon.

3.-

1. __First, try not to put metal objects inside.
2. _ Remember to set up the clock.
3. _ Don’t forget to close the door before starting up.

4.-

1.What are robots used for? They are used in difficult tasks for humans and are also used for research in universities, among others.

2.How do computers make life easier? Computers make our lives easier because they help us to get information, do transactions, pay bills, among others. Nowadays, they are always present.

Silla

1.- 1B 2C 3D 4E 5A

2.-

A: __Please, put on your jacket_____________?
(Make a request about the picture

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