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

Mastering English Grammar: Relative Clauses, Modals, and More

Relative Clauses

The boy was an old friend. I was staying at his house: The boy whose house I was staying at was an old friend.

The dog had long, pointed ears. It was lying on the sofa: The dog which was lying on the sofa had long, pointed ears.

The book was a bit frightening. John was reading it: The book which John was reading was a bit frightening.

PP died in 1973. He was from Malaga: PP, who was from Malaga, died in 1973.

This is the CD. A. Sanz signed an autograph there: This is the CD where A. Sanz signed an autograph.

Modal Verbs

It's necessary for me to go to work yesterday: I didn't need to go to work yesterday.

Perhaps Mike didn't get your phone call: Mike may not have got your

Passive Voice

Passive Voice:

• She cleans = is cleaned
• Is cleaning = is being cleaned
• Has cleaned = has been cleaned
• She cleaned = was cleaned
• Was cleaning = was being cleaned
• Had cleaned = had been cleaned
• She will clean = will be cleaned
• Is going to clean = is going to be cleaned
• Has to clean = has to be cleaned

Can be + 3C, Should be +3C, Must have been +3C

Desiderative Sentences

Desiderative Sentences:

1. WISH/ IF ONLY (I wish, he wishes) + finished, didn´t finish
2. WISH /IF ONLY (I wish, he wishes) + had arrived, hadn´t arrived 3C
3. WISH/ IF ONLY (I wish, he wishes) + COULD/WOULD + BASE FORM

Conditional Sentences

Conditional Sentences:

1st Conditional: IF/UNLESS + PRESENT SIMPLE (I work, she Works, I don't work, she doesn't work) == FUTURE SIMPLE (I will allow,... Continue reading "English Grammar Rules: Passive Voice, Conditionals, Reported Speech & More" »

An analysis of Hamlet’s personality traits

At the beginning of the play, Hamlet makes a statement talking about mankind, but also referring to himself. This helps us to understand that Hamlet should not be blamed entirely for his faults and that we should not take into account that on many occasions he cannot control his actions because he was born with these flaws. Hamlet’s fundamental flaw is his inability to act. And, through this big flaw, he reveals other faults in his character, like his impulsiveness. He also may be accused of thinking too much about the consequences and never getting around to doing anything. And, Hamlet’s final most significant flow is his callousness, particularly directed towards Ophelia. However, we see clearly... Continue reading "Personality Traits of Hamlet in Elizabethan Drama" »

My First Surfing Experience in Ajo, Cantabria

Learning to Surf

Two summers ago, when I was 14 years old, I went to a surf camp with my friend Celia in Ajo, Cantabria. It was our first time surfing, and it was an amazing experience!

We spent seven days at the camp with eight other people. Learning to surf and making new friends was incredible. I met a man and his two children, Julia and Jan, from Cataluña. Julia was deaf, and it was an exciting experience learning some gestures from the Deaf Language. There was also a couple, Marcos and Sara, from Zaragoza, and Martine, a girl from Ajo.

During the first few days, we surfed in the whitewash (foam) and learned how to stand up and balance on the board. By the end of the week, the instructors let us... Continue reading "My Surfing Adventure & BlaBlaCar Experience" »

18. Robert Bolt, A Man for All Seasons (1960) --

This is a fragment of the play "A Man for All Seasons", written by Robert Bolt in 1960. It deals with events from the 16th century, specifically it talks about Thomas More. Bolt was a socialist and agnostic playwright who considered More a hero because he was a man of conscience, who defended his principles under every circumstance; that is what the title of the book means. When the scene happens, Henry VIII, of the House of Tudor, is the king of England. He ruled England from 1509 to 1547. He made a very controversial move by marrying Princess Catherine of Aragon, the widow of his brother Arthur, despite the disapproval of the Church, since the Bible prohibits a marriage in those conditions.... Continue reading "A Man for All Seasons: The Story of Thomas More and Henry VIII" »

Reported Speech Examples

Here are some examples demonstrating the transformation from direct speech to reported speech, and vice versa.

Reporting Statements, Questions, and Commands

He said that he could fix the fence if that was convenient.

They told us that they would have to take the dog to the vet if she didn’t get better.

She asked me whether I wanted to go to her party.

Mum reminded me to look after my little sister.

Transforming Direct to Reported Speech

• Direct: "I don’t know how to do my homework!" said Katie (complained)

  Reported: Katie complained about doing her homework.

• Direct: "You should speak to Alice about the party," my mum said to me (suggested)

  Reported: My mum suggested that I should speak with Alice about the party.

• Direct: "I’ve

Many people wonder if it is more important to earn money at work or enjoy work, however the perfect balance is when you earn money and you are happy in your work at the same time. On one hand, you should have a job that you like because you will be in it for a long time. There are times when it is better to have less money, but more happiness because sadness can cause you a lot of problems. On the other hand, many people prefer money over happiness because in their life they have not been able to have money and they have gone through bad times. Furthermore, there is people who think that money can give you happiness. In my opinion, I would like to have a job in which I earn less money, but where I do something I like and have more time for

Verb Tenses

Past Simple vs. Past Continuous:

• We were about to leave when the phone rang. (Past Continuous for an interrupted action)
• I started working here eight years ago. (Past Simple for a completed action in the past)
• When I was a child, I didn't use to watch cartoons. (Used to for past habits)
• When I lived in Palm, I used to go swimming every day. (Used to for past habits)

Present Perfect vs. Past Simple:

• She hasn't stopped smoking yet. (Present Perfect for an action that started in the past and continues to the present)
• She has just finished doing her homework. (Present Perfect for a recently completed action)
• Children have stopped acting up and they have fallen asleep. (Present Perfect for a recent change of state)

Future Tenses:

• I'm looking forward

Mastering 'Unless' in English Sentences

• 1. People don't go to the doctor if they aren't ill. = People don't go to the doctor unless they are ill.
• 2. If there isn't a traffic jam, we'll be home by five o'clock. = We'll be home by five o'clock unless there is a traffic jam.
• 3. I won't know anything about my friends if they don't write to me. = I won't know anything about my friends unless they write to me.
• 4. They wouldn't have bothered you if they hadn't needed your help. = They wouldn't have bothered you unless they needed your help.
• 5. I'll punish you if you don't tell me the truth. = I'll punish you unless you tell me the truth.

Identifying Conditional Sentences (Zero, First, Second, Third)

• 1. Second Conditional: I would eat fish if there were nothing

Combine Sentences Using Relative Pronouns

Combine the sentences using the relative pronouns in brackets. Make any necessary changes. There may be more than one possible answer.

• [27] The flat where I live is bigger than the others.
• [28] Jake, who lives next door, is a collector.
• [29] I remember a time when you couldn’t drive.
• [30] Did you like the soup that my father made?
• [31] My phone, which is brand new, has many applications.
• [32] Is that the singer whose music you love?

Rewrite Sentences in Reported Speech

Rewrite the sentences in reported speech. Make any necessary changes.

• [41] Lisa admitted that she had to tell me.
• [42] I asked Sam if he had heard from Paul.
• [43] The teacher asked me if I could speak louder.
• [44] Amy promised she wouldn’t tell