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

Capítulos 1-8

Mastering Passive Voice in English

Present Simple

am/are/is + past participle

Spanish is spoken here.

Present Continuous

am/are/is being + past participle

Your questions are being answered.

Future (Will)

will be + past participle

It will be painted by next week.

Future (Going To)

am/are/is going to be + past participle

Terry is going to be made redundant next year.

Past Simple

was/were + past participle

We were invited to the party, but we didn't go.

Past Continuous

was/were being + past participle

The hotel room was being cleaned when we got back from shopping.

Present Perfect

have/has been + past participle

The President of America has been shot.

Past Perfect

had been + past participle

When he got home, he found that all of his money had been stolen.

Future Perfect

will

Logistics

Logistics: The logistician found a load match of two shipments going to the same place. By engaging in collaboration, the two companies were able to both make a profit. The truck's trailer was empty on the deadhead leg of the trip. The load configuration model showed the best way to load the truck. The workers were pleased with the load planning software the company installed on their computers. The regulatory agency fined the company for not being in compliance with the rules. During the cost optimization meeting, ideas were tossed around to save the company money. We were able to load two less than full truckloads. Where's the load going? Is it going to a distribution center? Let's see if we can find a load match using the software.... Continue reading "Logistics and Aviation: Load Matching, Cargo Transportation, and Reported Speech" »

It was a bleak winter’s day, and the snow had come early. The grass glistened like a carpet of crushed diamonds in the early morning sunshine. The air smelled pure and fresh. Everything seemed quieter, almost muffled. There was a sense of serenity in the atmosphere.

Feeling numb and wet, tired, and exhausted, he made his way along the path through the trench. His fingers ached in the winter wind as he clenched and unclenched them, trying to keep the feeling in their tips. He was a tall, slim man with a long face, a nose like a pin, and a thin, sandy moustache. He had a face like a lion’s and an eye like a hawk’s. His name was Fred.

As Fred trudged through the icy and frozen passageways, he nodded and weakly smiled at the soldiers that were... Continue reading "The Stench of War: A Soldier's Tale" »

Mastering Second and Third Conditionals

Second Conditional Examples

They aren't going to offer him the job because he seems very shy. (If he … not seem)
If he didn't seem too shy, they would give him the job.

We're not booking that flight because there's a six-hour stopover. (If there wasn't / weren't)
If there wasn't a six-hour stopover, we would book it.

Sally can't go to the cinema because she has to work overtime today. (If Sally … not work)
If Sally didn't have to work overtime, she could go to the cinema.

I'm not taking the job because the salary isn't high enough. (If the salary was / were …)
If the salary were high enough, I would take the job.

We don't see you very often because you live so far away. (If you … not live)
If you didn't

ADULTERY

Sex between a married person and someone who is not their husband or wife

BALCONY

A platform built on the upstairs outside wall of a building

BOSOM

A woman's chest, or the part of her clothing that covers it

CHEEK

Either side of the face below the eyes

COTTAGE

A small, simple house, usually in the country

DEVIL

A bad, evil person (the Devil is the enemy of God)

ELECTION

A time when people vote to choose a new government

EVIL

Very bad; harmful

FOREHEAD

The part of the face above the eyes

FORGIVE

To stop feeling angry with someone who has done something to harm or annoy you

GODLY

Living a good life that follows the laws of your religion

GOVERNOR

A person who controls part of a country

GRAVE

A hole in the ground where a dead person is buried

GRAVESTONE

A stone... Continue reading "Vocabulary and Definitions" »

The Enduring Appeal of English Literature

All of us have read at least one book of English origin that has significantly impacted literary history. English literature, in particular, offers a rich tapestry of expression. It employs diverse literary forms that imbue texts with richness and depth. For those who love reading and writing, it stands as a paramount subject, and for me, the most captivating within English Studies. English literature provides profound insights into the history and culture of various nations. Moreover, literature often serves as a testament to personal experiences and a vital historical legacy.

Cultivating a Lifelong Passion

My fascination with literature began in high school during Spanish literature classes, where I... Continue reading "Mastering English Studies: Literature, History, and Grammar" »

English Irregular Verbs in Spanish

Base Form, Past Simple, Past Participle, Spanish Translation

[v] Be. was/were. been. ser, estar.

[v] Beat. beat. beaten. golpear.

[v] Become. became. become. llegar a ser, convertirse.

[v] Begin. began. begun. empezar.

[v] Bend. bent. bent. doblar(se).

[v] Bet. bet. bet. apostar.

[v] Bite. bit. bitten. morder.

[v] Bleed. bled. bled. sangrar.

[v] Blow. blew. blown. soplar.

[v] Break. broke. broken. romper.

[] Bring. brought. brought. traer.

[v] Build. built. built. construir.

[] Burn. burnt/burned. burnt/burned. quemar.

[v] Buy. bought. bought. comprar.

[v] Catch. caught. caught. coger, agarrar.

[v] Choose. chose. chosen. elegir.

[v] Come. came. come. venir.

[v] Cost. cost. cost. costar.

[v] Cut. cut. cut. cortar.

[v] Dig. dug.