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

Grandpa was always on the move, and once he decided to go, he didn't waste time looking back. He was only four when his mother died, and as soon as he was old enough, he left Irwin, Missouri, and traveled the world before settling in Kansas City in the early 1920s.

"Okay, good night, God bless you, see you tomorrow, Della Kay." Curiosity got the best of him, and he decided to pay her a surprise visit.

For 60 years.

I'm the firstborn child of that marriage.

Because we were always together, I was quickly dubbed his "little buddy." My sister arrived five years after I did, and things seemed to fit perfectly when she and my grandmother bonded in much the same way.

My sister and I tried to fill the void in their lives and became even richer for it.

The... Continue reading "A Grandfather's Journey: Love and Resilience in Kansas City" »

Samuel Beckett: A Nobel Laureate with a Rebellious Spirit

Early Life and Education

Born into an Anglo-Irish upper-class family in Dublin, Samuel Beckett studied French at Trinity College. He also served as a teaching assistant in Paris, where he encountered literary giants like James Joyce.

Return to Dublin and Career Change

After returning to Dublin, Beckett became a professor. However, the discipline required for the job proved unsuited to his temperament, leading him to resign.

European Travels and Resistance

Beckett embarked on a journey across Europe, eventually settling in France. During World War II, he joined the French Resistance movement and later hid on a farm for safety.

Post-War Success and Nobel Prize

After the war, Beckett returned to... Continue reading "Samuel Beckett and Shelagh Delaney: Challenging Conventions" »

Hello Kata, how are you? I hope you're doing well. The truth is, I haven't had a good week. I'm actually not okay because it turns out that Maggie isn't the girl she appears to be. Yesterday, we were at her house working on a project, but she wasn't doing anything. When I asked her for help, she told me to do it myself. While I was working on it, she just watched. Honestly, I wasn't surprised by her attitude, but I'm going to tell the teacher about it. The next day, I told the teacher that I did the work myself. But hey Kata, I won't bore you anymore. I wish you a very good week. Many kisses, love.

Vocabulary: Health and Feelings

Complete the exercise with one of the words given.

1. There are specific departments in hospitals to treat chronic illness.
2. My back pain is getting worse. I'll have to go to the doctor.
3. He hurt her feelings and she doesn't want to see him anymore.
4. She can hardly speak. She has a sore throat.
5. He loves eating hearty meals, but afterward, he often has stomach ache.
6. Mary is pregnant and she often feels sick in the mornings.
7. Mental disorders are quite dangerous for our health.

Grammar: Comparatives and Superlatives

Complete the following sentences using the comparative and superlative form of the adjectives in brackets.

1. This computer is newer than your computer.
2. Lucy is the youngest in the class.
3. This house is bigger than my house!

1- The lottery is conducted on June 27th around ten o’clock. The titular lottery chooses one person from the town to be stoned to death every year for no other reason than tradition.

All the people of the town gather together and the heads of the extended families each draw one slip from the black box, but they do not unfold them until all the slips have been drawn. The one with the black dot on it goes to a second round of drawing to choose one household within the family. For the final drawing, one slip is placed in the box for each member of the household and the person with the black dot is stoned to death. In the story, this person is Tessie Hutchinson.

2- Old Man Warner responds to Mr. Adams who tells him that another village had given... Continue reading "Purpose and content of" »

Francois is awoken in the middle of the night by his sister, who calls him to the factory. There, he finds her husband dead, and she confesses to killing him. It is discovered that Helene had operated a machine that smashed down upon Andre's head and arm. Commissioner Charas, who is investigating the case, attempts to get an answer from her about what happened, but her only response to "why" is that she cannot say. Her actions land her in an insane asylum as the case is sorted out, where she spends her time catching flies and examining them closely. Regular visits from Francois and the Commissioner ensue, but to no progress. One day, Francois is talking to Helene's son, who explains about a fly Helene was obsessed with finding that had a white... Continue reading "The Fly: A Tale of Science, Obsession, and Tragedy" »

Verb Infinitive with 'to'

agree offer refuse advise ask forbid warn admit recommended

instruct invite remind suggest

Verb Object Infinitive with 'to'

boast of insist on congratulate sb on insist propose request

suggest recommend advise

Verb Preposition Gerund

boast of insist on congratulate sb on insist propose request

suggest recommend advise

Verb Object Preposition Gerund

boast of insist on congratulate sb on insist propose request

suggest recommend advise

Verb That Should

boast of insist on congratulate sb on insist propose request

suggest recommend advise

pres perf(have/has)/pas simpl = past perfe(had)

past perfe=past perfe

have to /has to=had to

would=would

should=should

will=would

GLORY BE

can=could

Glory be to the Father,

and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit,... Continue reading "Verb Infinitive with 'to' and Verb Object Infinitive with 'to'" »

Infinitive          Past Simple          Past Participle

leave                left                                  left     

lend                  lent                                 lent

let                     let                                   let

lie                     lay                                  lain

lose                  lost                                 lost

make                made                             made

meet                 met                                met

pay                   paid                    ... Continue reading "Irregular Verbs in English: A Comprehensive Guide" »

People

Which / That

Use "which" or "that" to talk about things. Use "where" to talk about places. They usually come after the noun they refer to.

Omit "which" or "that" if they are followed by a personal pronoun or noun.

Second Conditional

Use the second conditional to talk about:

• Imaginary situations in the present:
  Example: If I were rich, I would live in a huge house.
• Improbable events in the future:
  Example: If he left home earlier, he would never be late for work.

Was I/he/she/it

Were you/we/they

Modal Verbs for Obligation and