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

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

... Continue reading "English Grammar and Vocabulary Guide" »

Reported Speech

Types of Reported Speech

Yes/No Questions

Structure: S + reporting verb + if/whether + S + past tense verb

Example: He asked if he was late.

Wh- Questions

Structure: S + reporting verb + wh-word + S + past tense verb

Example: He asked where he had left his keys.

Orders and Requests

Structure: S + reporting verb + object + (not) + to + infinitive

Note: Use "told" for orders.

Example: He told me to be quiet.

Suggestions

Structure 1: S + suggest (tense) + (not) + verb-ing

Structure 2: S + suggest + that + S + should + infinitive

Example: She suggested going for a walk.

Reporting Verbs

Verbs followed by "to + infinitive"

Examples: agree, offer, refuse, promise, threaten

Example: We agreed not to buy a car.

Additional verbs with object: advise, invite,... Continue reading "Reported Speech: A Comprehensive Guide with Examples" »

Complete the sentences with the verbs below in Past Simple:

walk, enjoy, like, watch, travel, finish, listen

1. Lucy liked her birthday presents.
2. Last weekend I walked in the mountains for 2 hours.
3. We enjoyed the party very much.
4. Ken listened to his favorite CD yesterday.
5. My sister studied Maths for an exam.
6. They traveled to the USA in 2003.
7. Dad washed his car last weekend.
8. The film finished at 11:30.

Write the sentences in negative:

1. Lucy didn't like her birthday presents.
2. Last weekend I didn't walk in the mountains for 2 hours.
3. We didn't enjoy the party very much.
4. Ken didn't listen to his favorite CD yesterday.
5. My sister didn't study months for German.
6. They didn't travel to the USA in 2003.
7. Dad didn't wash his car last weekend.
8. The film didn't finish at 11:30.

... Continue reading "English Past Tense, 'Used To,' and Present Continuous" »

Distinctive Feature Theory

Distinctive Feature Theory challenges Phoneme Theory (PT) by focusing on the features that compose phonemes, rather than the phonemes themselves. This approach questions the validity of the phoneme concept, arguing that speech is not simply a series of discrete sounds.

Natural Class: A set of sounds sharing phonetic features, affected by the same environment, and having the same effect on surrounding sounds.

Major Class Features

• Vowels: [+SYLLABIC], [+SONORANT], [-CONSONANTAL] - form the syllable nucleus.
• Glides: [-SYLLABIC], [+SONORANT], [-CONSONANTAL].
• Sonorant Consonants (nasals and liquids): [+/-SYLLABIC], [+SONORANT], [+CONSONANTAL].
• Obstruents: [-SYLLABIC], [-SONORANT], [+CONSONANTAL].

Consonant Features

• Voice: [+/-VOICE]

... Continue reading "Phonetics and Phonology: Distinctive Features and Vowel Sounds" »

Orden of adjectives: O(opinion), S(size), SH(shape), A(age), C(colour), O(origin).
____________________________________________________
FUTURE:
-Will: Predictions, opinions, spontaneous, decisions.
-Be going to: plans for the future, intention of future, predictions with evidence.
-Present continuous: Arrangements(preparativos), dates(fechas).
-Future continuous: S+WILL+BE+GERUND. Finished action in the future.
-Future perfect: S+WILL+HAVE+PAST PART. Completed action in the future
____________________________________________________
Such...that / So...that:
Such + (a/an [singular]) + adjective + noun + that
It was such a cramped street that we couldn't walk.
So + adjective + that
The street was so cramped that we couldn't walk.

Conditional sentences:

First... Continue reading "Orden of adjectives, future, conditional sentences and wishes and regrets in English" »

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.

... Continue reading "Tragic Story of Allegra Byron: Unveiling a Venetian Mystery" »

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" »

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/

... Continue reading "Mastering Irregular Verbs: A Comprehensive English-Spanish List" »

Letter of Inquiry for Tennis Club Membership

Dear Sir and Madam,

I am interested in joining your tennis club. I have intermediate experience, having played tennis for five years at another club in my previous city. I would like to improve my skills and meet other tennis enthusiasts. Specifically, I am eager to refine my techniques and gain better control during matches.

I have a few questions: Could you provide me with information about membership fees and available schedules? Do you offer group or individual lessons? Do you organize tournaments for members?

Thank you for your consideration.
Yours faithfully,
Mrs. Ana Paula

---

Invitation to Join a Tennis Club

Dear Ana,

I thought I'd write to you about a new tennis club in our town that's offering classes.... Continue reading "Queen Letizia of Spain: A Role Model of Dedication and Grace" »

Irregular Verb Forms

A list of 100 common irregular verbs in English, showing the base form, past tense, and past participle.

1. Be - was/were - been
2. Beat - beat - beaten
3. Become - became - become
4. Begin - began - begun
5. Bend - bent - bent
6. Bet - bet - bet
7. Bite - bit - bitten
8. Bleed - bled - bled
9. Blow - blew - blown
10. Break - broke - broken
11. Bring - brought - brought
12. Build - built - built
13. Burn - burnt/burned - burnt/burned
14. Buy - bought - bought
15. Catch - caught - caught
16. Choose - chose - chosen
17. Come - came - come
18. Cost - cost - cost
19. Cut - cut - cut
20. Dig - dug - dug
21. Do - did - done
22. Draw - drew - drawn
23. Dream - dreamt/dreamed - dreamt/dreamed
24. Drink - drank - drunk
25. Drive - drove - driven
26. Eat - ate - eaten
27. Fall - fell - fallen
28. Feed - fed - fed
29. Feel - felt - felt
30. Fight - fought - fought
31. Find -

... Continue reading "Irregular Verb Forms: A Comprehensive List" »