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

Part 1: Short Dialogues

Berta's Absence

4. Sorry, Berta is off today. She went to see a doctor yesterday, but she is still sick.

A. She will probably be here tomorrow.

Studying and Grades

5. Son, if you work hard and you don't answer your cellphone or chat on your cellphone while you are studying...

A. I know; I will get better grades, right?

A Gloomy Evening

6. This is a cold winter evening. It's really cloudy out there. I feel sad.

A. I guess it will be a nightmare night for you.

Late to Work

7. Today I arrived late for the first time in six years and my boss gave me a memo. It's not fair.

B. From now on, you'll have to be more careful.

Vacation Plans

8. What are you going to do on vacation?

B. We're going to party a lot.

Taking Over

9. Who's going to take... Continue reading "Short Answers and Dialogues" »

English Grammar and Verb Exercises

Reading Comprehension Answers

Reading:

• Yes, he did.
• He continues the subject at university.
• Yes, it was.
• No, they won't.
• That we have to work hard but also to have a good time.
• The writer wanted to dye her hair because it had been [previously done/a certain way].
• Yes, they did.
• She wants to volunteer.
• No, she isn't.
• No.

Would you like:

• Won't have
• Will do
• Arrives
• Are going to celebrate
• Won't be
• Will suffer
• Are going to come
• Will go
• Seeing
• Won't get
• Close

Present Perfect Sentences and Questions

• I haven't written about the job yet.
• Have you ever worked with children?
• She has already had an interview.
• Has he ever studied a foreign language?
• They hadn't decided on a profession yet.
• Have they ever worked abroad?
• How long has the family worn glasses?

Sentence Structure

Sentence: is a word or word group that contains a subject and a verb that expresses a complete thought. Ex. Tony the outstanding baseball player on the team, is my brother.

Fragment: Is a word or word group that is capitalized and punctuated as a sentence but does not contain both a subject and a verb. Ex. Tony the outstanding baseball player on the team.

Complete Subject: Consists of the simple subject and any words that modify the simple subject. Ex. The flowers in the vase are wilted.

Complete Predicate: Consists of the verb and all the words that modify the verb and complete its meaning. Ex. She has pasted the notice.

Understood Subject: In a request or a command, the subject is usually not stated. In such sentences, you is... Continue reading "Understanding Sentence Structure: Definitions and Examples" »

English Adjectives and Product Descriptors

Enhance your English vocabulary with this list of common adjectives and product descriptors, complete with their Spanish translations. These terms are essential for describing objects, qualities, and features.

Attractive / Unattractive

Atractivo / No atractivo

Bacon-shaped

Con forma de tocino

Battery-operated

De pilas

Boot-shaped

Con forma de bota

Ceramic

Cerámica

Child-friendly

Apto para menores

Chocolate-shaped

Con forma de chocolate

Delicious

Delicioso

Disposable

Desechable

Dustproof

A prueba de polvo

Eco-friendly

Ecológico

Economical

Económico

Eye-catching

Llamativo

Funky

Original / Moderno

Giant-sized

Tamaño gigante / familiar

Glass

De cristal

Handy-sized

De tamaño práctico

Heart-shaped

Con forma de corazón

High quality

De alta

William Shakespeare: Literary Legacy and Macbeth's Tragedy

One of the most well-known English writers is William Shakespeare. Shakespeare is famous for both his plays and his poems. He was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564, where he lived for many years. Later, he also lived in London. His plays first appeared in London theatres in the 1590s. Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, and Macbeth are some of Shakespeare's most popular plays.

The Enduring Influence of Shakespeare's Plays

Shakespeare's works continue to inspire various adaptations, including films, operas, novels, and comic books. One notable example is Macbeth, a powerful tragedy about a Scottish army general who commits regicide and other murders to become the King of Scotland. In this play,... Continue reading "Literary Classics and Cryptid Legends: Unveiling Famous Stories" »

English Grammar Exercises

voca: ej1: 1. browsing 2. delivered. 3. exchanged 4. afford. EJ2c1. spreeing. 2.belt.3bugged.4.mouth EJ3. 1.recycled. 2.pollutant 3. incinerator. 4.compost EJ4: 1. manufactures 2. changing room. 3. by credit card. 4. till we drop. REA: 1.D 2.A 3.B EJ 2: 1. secure, 2. long-term. 5. plant-pots 6. sweat. GR EJ 1: 1.was arrested 2. was stolen 3.are checked 4. is lock EJ 2: be bought 2. were sold 3. he given 4. has been abandoned. EJ 3: 1. Mary has / gets her hair washed 2.Jonathan is having / getting a cake made. 3. you will hace your car stolen if yo leave it unlocked 4. i enjoy having/getting my gifts wrapped. EJ 4: 1 has your computer ever been accessed by a hacker? 2. I had my password stolen 3. Should i have /get my... Continue reading "English Grammar Exercises and Vocabulary" »

Our story begins with an unnamed narrator, who directly addresses the reader, insisting on his sanity despite a chilling confession: he has taken the life of an old man. He clarifies that his motive wasn't driven by passion or greed, but by an irrational fear of the man's pale, blue eye. He emphasizes his meticulous planning and execution, believing these actions demonstrate his sanity rather than madness.

Every night, the narrator would stealthily enter the old man's apartment, observing him as he slept. He would then retreat, maintaining a facade of normalcy during the day. After a week of this routine, he decides, seemingly on a whim, that the time has come to carry out his sinister plan.

On the eighth night, however, the old man awakens with... Continue reading "The Tell-Tale Heart: A Descent into Madness" »

Reported Speech

Verb Tense Changes in Reported Speech

• Present Simple becomes Past Simple
  • -s/-es changes to -ed or irregular verb form
• Present Continuous becomes Past Continuous
  • am/is/are + verb-ing changes to was/were + verb-ing
• Past Simple becomes Past Perfect
  • -ed or irregular verb form changes to had + past participle (3rd column)
• Present Perfect becomes Past Perfect
  • have/has + past participle changes to had + past participle
• Past Perfect remains Past Perfect
  • had + past participle remains had + past participle
• Present Perfect Continuous becomes Past Perfect Continuous
  • have/has + been + verb-ing changes to had + been + verb-ing
• Past Perfect Continuous remains Past Perfect Continuous
  • had + been + verb-ing remains had + been + verb-ing
• Future Simple

A Conversation at the Louvre

Part 1: The Mona Lisa

A: It is great to be on our own again.

M: Yes.

A: Is this the first time you have been to the Louvre?

M: Uh-huh.

A: What is the matter? Is this about the meeting because I agreed with Jacques and not with you?

M: Yes, well, we knew it would not be easy working together, I mean.

A: It is difficult for me as well. But if I don't agree with you...

M: I know, you are the boss.

A: And I have to do my job. I really thought that Jacques' idea was better. And so did Scarlett.

M: It is not a big deal, Allie. I am fine, really. So, who exactly was the Mona Lisa?

A: I am not sure. I think she was the wife of a banker.

M: Is that why she is smiling? Because her husband has a good salary?

A: I also read somewhere that... Continue reading "Gender Differences in Reading and Shopping Preferences" »