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

Words and Their Meanings

• Abdicate: To renounce, resign, or quit.
• Trivial: Unimportant or small.
• Rustic: Relating to the countryside; rural.
• Ostentation: Flashiness, showiness, or display.
• Impertinent: Rude or disrespectful.
• Pernicious: Malicious or evil.
• Chagrin: Embarrassment or humiliation.
• Flummox: To confuse.
• Enigma: A mystery or riddle.
• Chronometer: A timepiece or watch.

Key Facts from *The King's Speech*

Who was King George V?

David and Albert's father, the King of England during World War I.

Countries in the British Empire

England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, India, Canada, Australia, and Hong Kong.

What is a book that holds a person's daily thoughts?

A diary.

What did doctors tell King George VI to do to relax?

They advised him to smoke.

King George

Irregular Verbs in English

This is a comprehensive list of irregular verbs in English, presented in a clear and easy-to-read format. Each verb is listed with its base form, past simple tense, and past participle.

Base Form - Past Simple - Past Participle

Dear Mr John,

English Vocabulary and Grammar Practice

Vocabulary & Phrasal Verbs

1. Got the sack
2. Call off
3. Controversial
4. Rose
5. Prevent
6. Convicted
7. Apologise
8. Stuck
9. Odd
10. Appeal
11. Approve of
12. Keeps track

Verb Tense Examples

1. Used to play / broke / haven’t been able
2. Have been interviewed / was selected
3. Won’t have finished
4. Would you have said / were insulted
5. Have had / taken
6. Hasn’t written / changed / hear / will get
7. Broke / couldn’t have braked

Sentence Correction Exercises

1. Sam, whose father is an artist, is a very good piano player.
2. I am visiting the small village which has a very nice museum.
3. If I had been more careful, I wouldn't have broken my sister's new toy.
4. Unless you have a ticket, you cannot get into the theatre.
5. If I had brought a map, I wouldn't have gotten lost in the mountains.

IDIOMS:

Throw the towel in = gave up (tirar la toalla)

The ball’s in your court = it’s your turn to act (te toca mover ficha)

Hitting below the belt = cruel (un golpe bajo)

Learn the ropes = understand how things work (pillar el tranquillo)

Had a head start = started before the others ( salir en cabeza)

VERBS COLLOCATIONS:

Win (guanyar): a medal, a prize, a match, an argument, a competition, a war

Raise (pujar): an issue, a question, a helicopter, a salary, a flag, a building

Set (coleccionar): a precedent, a table, a record, an alarm, a date

Take up: a sport, photography

Join: a club, friends for lunch

Overcome: a problem, an illness

Fail: an exam, an audition

rise = subir
raise = aumento
bite = mordedura
beat = golpear

PRESENT PERFECT: 

+ HAVE / HAS 

The characters are Mr. Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Mortimer, and Dr. John Watson. They talk about the Baskerville Papers.

Dr. Mortimer's Revelation

Dr. Mortimer took out a scroll and read it. It was about a legend about the curse of the Baskerville. Later, he took out the newspaper where it was covered the death of Sir Charles Baskerville, the owner of the mansion, and said that he had died for a cause of love.

Investigation Begins

Mortimer tells Holmes and Watson that Mr. Charles stayed in part of a while, since there were cigarettes. Holmes asks him what he needed from his service, which was to ask what to do with Sir Henry, who was the heir of Mr. Charles. Sherlock thinks to do for 24 hours and tells his assistant, Watson, that Mr. Charles was running... Continue reading "The Hound of the Baskervilles Summary and Analysis" »

important announcements from
THE READING CLUB!
sessions
Who wants to disconnect from reality for a while? We are trying to push a couple reading sessions through the week for new members on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We'll meet at the local library at 6 p.M.
Social events.
We are excited to announce that the club is hosting a fair for all members soon in the city park. It is a tradition of the club in which the people who attend can exchange literary interests and take a walk while buying books and other objects related to this world. Remember to bring your membership cards
Visit for Collen Hoover
All members are invited to a special event next Friday with romance writer Collen Hoover, who is coming to talk to us about her early writing. Collen will... Continue reading "Absolutismo" »

Present Simple (Yo voy)

He/She/It - goes (Do/Does?)

Habit or routine, general truth

• Always
• Usually
• Generally
• Regularly
• At night
• In the morning
• Every week

Present Continuous (Estoy jugando)

am/is/are + -ING

Action which is happening now, temporary action

• Now
• Right now
• At the moment
• Today
• This month
• Next day

Past Simple (Caminé)

-ED / 2nd col. (Did?)

Completed action in the past

• Yesterday
• Last week
• A year ago
• In 2007
• When

Past Continuous (Estaba estudiando)

was/were + -ING

An incomplete action in progress in the past

• Last night/week
• When
• While
• As

Present Perfect Simple (He trabajado)

have/has + -ED/2nd col.

An action that began in the past and continues until the present

• Ever
• Never
• Already
• Just
• Yet
• Recently
• For
• Since
• In recent years

Past Perfect Simple (Yo había llegado)

Had + -ED

A completed... Continue reading "English Verb Tenses Cheat Sheet" »

English Vocabulary and Grammar

Phrasal Verbs and Vocabulary

Breathtaking (asombroso), look into, look out for (tener cuidado), flock (birds), herd (elephants), pack (dogs), pride (lion), school (dolphin), troop (monkey), dam (manada), once you've done it. Come across (cruzar), get away (irse), get off (bajar), see off (despedir), set off (activar), speed up, stop over, take off (despegar), blizzard (ventisca), breeze (brisa), drizzle (llovizna), frost, gale (vendaval), hailstorm, mist (niebla), sleet (aguanieve), score, be in a league of their own, neck and neck, no match for, get off to a good start, put up a good fight, be about to (a punto de).

Agree, complain (quejarse), reply, amateur (aficionado), newcomer, script (guion), sketch, spotlight,... Continue reading "English Vocabulary and Grammar: Key Concepts" »