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

Verb Tense Practice

G) Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense:

1. He often brings (bring) me flowers.
2. Did you meet (you / meet) Paul yesterday?
3. Father is working (work) in the garden now.
4. What are you doing (you / do) at the moment?
5. Mr. Jones painted (paint) his house last month.
6. She goes (go) to school on foot every day.
7. It was (be) hot yesterday.
8. The baby is not sleeping (not / sleep) now.
9. He never drives (drive) fast.
10. She left (leave) Paris in 1987.
11. She always goes (go) to church on Sunday.
12. I bought (buy) a new bicycle last week.
13. My family went (go) to the theatre yesterday.
14. Tom lived (live) in London three years ago.
15. My mother is making (make) some coffee now.
16. Sam went (go) to the circus yesterday.
17. I am talking (talk) on the telephone at the moment.

Common Abstract Nouns and Their Formations

• Sad → Sadness
• Happy → Happiness
• Amused (divertido) → Amusement (diversión)
• Scared → Fear
• Ashamed → Shame
• Afraid → Fear
• Believe → Belief
• Dead → Death
• Hate → Hatred
• Lose → Loss
• Poor → Poverty
• Fuerza → Might, Force, Strength, or Power

Nouns for Life Stages and Relationships

• Adult → Adulthood
• Child → Childhood
• Neighbour → Neighbourhood
• Friend → Friendship
• Partner → Partnership
• Member → Membership
• Relation → Relationship

Other Common Abstract Formations

• Bored → Boredom
• Free → Freedom
• Wise → Wisdom
• Ill → Illness
• Kind → Kindness
• Celebrate → Celebration
• Compete → Competition
• Imagine → Imagination

Descriptive Adjectives for Literature and Media

• Depressing: deprimente
• Entertaining: entretenido
• Fast-

Break down

If a machine or vehicle breaks down, it stops working. E.g. My car broke down on the way to Motril.

Catch sb out

To surprise someone and put them in a difficult position. E.g. The exam is designed to catch you out.

Come across

To find by accident. E.g. I came across my old school reports when I was clearing out my desk.

Count on / Rely on

To trust someone.

Cover up

To hide, try to stop people knowing. E.g. It was a real scandal, but the school tried to cover the whole thing up.

Find something out

To discover a fact or piece of information. E.g. We may never find out the truth about what happened.

Get back

To return to a place after you have been somewhere else. E.g. If you get back in time, you can come with us.

Get on / off

To enter (get on) or... Continue reading "Common English Phrasal Verbs: Definitions and Examples" »

Capable

• The camel can go for long periods without water.
• The camel is capable of going for long periods without water.

Succeed

• Management failed to convince the workers to end their strike.
• Management didn’t succeed in convincing the workers to end their strike.

Unable

• Although he can’t play any instruments, Steve wants to form a rock band.
• Despite being unable to play any instruments, Steve wants to form a rock band.

Able

• It’s a pity I couldn’t go to the concert with Leslie.
• I wish I had been able to go to the concert with Leslie.

Incapable

• He just cannot seem to get to meetings on time.
• He seems completely incapable of turning up to meetings on time.

Manage

• I’m afraid I wasn’t able to buy the brand of dog food you asked for.
• I’m afraid I didn’t

Act I questions:1. Why does Shakespeare open the play by showing the witches? Why is it good for Macbeth not to appear first? A: To make the groundlings interested because it’s important to get them involved. 2. How does Duncan reward Macbeth for his bravery in defeating the rebels? Duncan announces it and then Macbeth finds it out; why is this order important? A: a) thane of cawdor- title and land. B) for the suspense, makes Macbeth believe the witches 3. Macbeth calls the day of the battle “foul and fair.” what do you think he means? A:It means bad and good. The bad is that the people died and the good is that they won the war. 4. When Macbeth is told of his new title, how does he and Banquo react? Why the difference in

Carol Ann Duffy

Carol Ann Duffy was born in Scotland in 1955 and comes from a working-class background. Duffy grew up with four little brothers and was born into a Catholic family. She had a very good relationship with her mother, to whom she dedicated the poem 'Premonitions' after her death in 2005.

When Duffy was six years old, her family moved from Glasgow to Stafford. She attended the University of Liverpool and majored in Philosophy. After that, Duffy worked in some freelance jobs until the mid-80s when she decided to become a full-time poet.

Carol Ann Duffy wrote her first poem when she was 11 years old, and after realizing she had talent, her teachers encouraged her to pursue poetry. Currently, Duffy works as a professor of Creative Writing... Continue reading "Carol Ann Duffy: A Democratic Voice in Poetry" »

Analysis

The poem, A dialogue between the Soul and Body by Andrew Marvell contains vivid and concrete imagery, and makes use of a number of conceits imagery, and metaphysical kind. In fact, the very basis of the poem is the metaphysical kind. In fact, the very basic of the poem is the metaphysical concept that the Soul and the Body are separate entities. The body feeling itself to be a victim of the Soul tyranny, and the Soul believing itself to be a prisoner inside the Body are metaphysical conceits.

Stanzas

1. In the opening speech, we have a graphic picture of a prisoner being held in chains and fetters, and about to be hanged on the gallows
2. In the second speech, we have a vivid picture of the Body going about like a walking precipice.
3. We have the

Letters Giving Advice

Introduction

Paragraph 1 - Thanks for the letter and express understanding of the problem.

Main Body

Paragraphs 2, (3) - Suggestion(s) and reason(s).

Conclusion

Final paragraph - Closing remarks.

Useful Language for Letters Giving Advice

Opening Remarks

Formal

• Thank you for your letter requesting...
• I am writing in reply to your letter asking for advice about...
• I hope the following advice will be of some help to you, etc.

Informal

• I just got your letter and I think I can help you...
• I was sorry to hear about your problem. Here's what I think you should do, etc.

Suggestions

Suggestions can be introduced with expressions such as:

Formal

• I strongly recommend that...
• I would suggest that...
• I believe the best course of action is...
• I would advise