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

English Verb Tenses Explained

Present Simple

Para hábitos y cosas que son ciertas todo el tiempo o que vemos como permanentes.

• He often eats lunch at his desk.
• We play basketball every Tuesday.

Present Continuous

Para cosas que están pasando ahora mismo y situaciones que pensamos que no durarán para siempre.

• He is studying at university.
• I am making dinner.

Past Simple

Para expresar que una acción terminó.

• Tom stayed at home last night.
• I received the good news and immediately called my husband.

Past Continuous

Para expresar acciones que se estaban llevando a cabo en el pasado cuando otra acción las interrumpe.

• Caroline was skiing when she broke her leg.
• When the fire started, I was watching television.

Future with 'Will'

Para situaciones futuras no planeadas,

Analysis of the Heart and the Salamander

Fahrenheit 451 is currently Bradbury's most famous written work of social criticism. It deals with serious problems of control of the masses by the media, the banning of books, and the suppression of the mind (with censorship). The novel examines a few pivotal days of a man's life, a man who is a burner of books and, therefore, an instrument of suppression. This man (Montag) lives in a world where the past has been destroyed by kerosene-spewing hoses and government brainwashing methods. In a few short days, this man is transformed from a narrow-minded and prejudiced conformist into a dynamic individual committed to social change and to a life of saving books rather than destroying them.

Before you begin... Continue reading "Analysis of Fahrenheit 451: Themes and Characters" »

Cry Freedom is a story based on the life of the black people who lived in South Africa. The story begins with a journalist named Donald Woods, from the Daily Dispatch, who often writes about the hard life of the blacks. Moments later, a black doctor, named Mamphela (a woman), enters his office to talk to him about an article he had published about Biko's Black Consciousness. She tells Woods to go talk to Biko (a black boy who wanted to end race inequality), since he is confined. Then Donald Woods goes to talk to Biko, and they agree that Biko will show him how black people live. One of the places that Biko shows Woods is a poor area of South Africa where life is not life, and makes a comparison with the lives of white people. Woods decides... Continue reading "Cry Freedom: The Story of Black Struggle in South Africa" »

Advanced English Sentence Structures and Usage

Examples 87–128: Grammar Points

The following examples demonstrate various complex grammatical structures, including conditionals, passive voice, reported speech, and modal verbs.

87. Causative Verb: I had my hair cut yesterday morning.
88. Relative Clause: This is the man whose dog bit my brother in the park.
89. Conditional Type 3: If my foot hadn’t hurt, I would have gone to the gym.
90. Reported Speech: The teacher said that we had to hand our papers in at the end of that class.
91. Conditional (Unless): Unless your boyfriend arrives before eight, we will have to leave.
92. Reason Clause: As it was raining, the children couldn’t go out to the playground.
93. Present Perfect (Duration): We have not seen that movie for six

Thursday the 4th of August

was the last working day for Inspector Salahadin El Nur in the heat of Cairo. Leila will take over his place when he is in London for three weeks. Salahadin’s job is to stop people who want to take ancient things along to another country.

Saturday at 15:00

he arrived at a small hotel in Gower Street, nearby a British museum. A friend of Salahadin works in that museum, and Salahadin was going to help his friend during his vacation. He was walking when it was still raining. He arrived at a bookshop and he bought a card for Leila and a book about Queen Axtarte. He went to a snackbar and after that he went to the cinema. Back in the hotel he went to sleep when it was late.

The following morning at breakfast

he was called... Continue reading "Mystery of Queen Axtarte: Cairo Adventure" »

The Debate on Video Games and Adolescent Development

Many people think that video games have negative effects on adolescents and they should be limited. They say that video games are a distraction from their chores. However, others think they are necessary. The question is, should parents limit the time of play video games or ban it?

Positive Effects of Video Games

On the one hand, others believe that video games are essential in this time, as they help develop qualities such as improving English skills, playing in other languages, and increasing mental speed. Video games also act as a communication bridge with other countries and cultures, as well as a form of entertainment.

Negative Effects of Video Games

On the other hand, video games also have... Continue reading "The Debate on Video Games and Sexual Education" »

Mastering English Verb Forms: Gerunds and Infinitives

The Gerund (V-ing)

• As a Noun: Swimming is a good exercise.
• After Specific Verbs: Verbs like love, like, dislike, hate, enjoy, and prefer are often followed by the Gerund.
• After Phrasal Verbs and Expressions: Expressions such as look forward to, be/get used to, in addition to, and object to are followed by the Gerund.
• After Prepositions: Any preposition (e.g., about, at, after, before, behind) must be followed by the Gerund.

Verbs Followed Only by Gerunds (Examples)

Verbs like suggest and avoid require the Gerund (e.g., She suggested attending the meeting; Avoid walking alone.)

The Full Infinitive (To + V-inf)

• Purpose or Intention: Used to express purpose (e.g., I went to the store to buy milk.)
• After

My Summer Vacation Memories

My last vacation was longer, and I think I've learned to pass the time well. I enjoyed friends and family, and I met new people too, because I was in different places during the summer, and I wanted to meet people everywhere.

Adventures in Roses, Catalonia

The first place I visited was Roses, a town in Catalonia, because I was invited for a few days by a family member who has a house there. I went with my family, and we were there only five days, but it was long enough to want to return next summer.

We stayed on the beach for hours. In the morning, we just slept and slept so as to have energy for the rest of the days and nights. We danced, met people, and enjoyed walking near the beach while watching the moon in silence.... Continue reading "Summer Adventures: Catalonia, Disneyland, and Exchange Plans" »

Etymology

The origin of a word and the historical development of its meaning:

Example: ‘the etymology of the word ‘devil’’

Coinage

Coinage is the word formation process in which a new word is created either deliberately or accidentally.

Examples: Kleenex, Aspirin, Xerox

Borrowing

Process by which a word from one language is adapted for use in another.

Examples: croissant (French), yogurt (Turkish), piano (Italian)

Blending

Join two words together by taking parts of both words and combining them into a new whole.

Examples: Breakfast + lunch = brunch, Smoke + fog = smog, Motor + hotel = motel

Clipping

The process of cutting the beginning or the end of a word, or both, leaving a part to stand for the whole.

Examples: Prof (professor), Photo (photograph)... Continue reading "Word Formation Processes in English: A Comprehensive Guide" »