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

Summer Adventures in Spain

By Paul Alonso, a student from Granada, Spain

My last holidays were my longest holidays, and I think that I learnt how to spend the time. I enjoyed a lot with my friends and my family, and I met new people too, because I was in different places during the summer, and I wanted to meet people everywhere.

Calpe: Beach Days and Nightlife

The first place I visited was Calpe, a town in Alicante, because I was invited for some days by a friend who has a house there. I went with some friends, and we just spent five days there, but it was enough time to want to come back next summer! We stayed on the beach for hours in the mornings, just lying and asleep, taking enough energy for the rest of the day and for the night! At night,... Continue reading "Summer Adventures in Spain: Calpe, Salou, and Madrid" »

The Passive with Reporting Verbs

We can use passive reporting verbs in two ways:

1. Subject of the subordinate clause + verb in the main clause is the passive + to + infinitive of the verb in the subordinate clause.

The university is said to be one of the best in the country. (= Se dice que la universidad es una de las mejores del país.)

The exam is expected to be really difficult this year. (= Se espera que el examen sea más difícil este año.)

2. It + passive form of the reporting verb + that + subject + verb

It is believed that the class will be very popular. (= Se cree que la clase será muy popular.)

It's thought that boys prefer exams to coursework. (= Se cree que los chicos prefieren los exámenes al trabajo diario.)

Reporting Verbs:

• accept
• hope
• say
• believe
• know
• think
• claim

Be; Was/were; been; ser, estar

Beat; beat; beaten; golpear

Become; became; become; llegar a ser

Begin; began; begun; empezar

Bend; bent; bent; doblar

Bet; bet; bet; apostar

Bite; bit; bitten; morder

Bleed; bled; bled; sangrar

Blow; blew; blown; soplar

Break; broke; broken; romper

Bring; brought; brought; traer

Build; built; built; construir

Burn; burnt; burnt; quemar

Buy; bought; bought; comprar

Catch; caught; caught; coger

Choose; chose; chosen; elegir

Come; came; come; venir

Cost; cost; cost; costar

Cut; cut; cut; cortar

Dig; dug; dug; cavar

Do; did; done; hacer

Draw; drew; drawn; dibujar

Dream; dreamt; dreamt; soñar

Drink; drank; drunk; beber

Drive; drove; driven; conducir

Eat; ate; eaten; comer

Fall; fell; fallen; fallen; caer

Feed; fed; fed; alimentarse

Feel; felt;... Continue reading "Common Irregular Verbs in English" »

Used to vs. Would

To talk about habits and continuous actions in the past, we can use used to or would.

• We use used to with both action and stative verbs.
• We only use would with action verbs.
• We use both would and used to with repeated actions.

Adverbs and Adverbial Phrases

We often form adverbial phrases with:

• in a/an + noun/adjective + way
• with/without + noun/adjective

Obligation, Permission, and Prohibition

To express obligation or necessity, we can use have to or must. To say something is (or isn't) a good idea, we can use should. To express no obligation or necessity, we can use don't have to or don't need to. To express permission, we can use let, and to say that something is not permitted, we use not to be allowed to.

Necessity: Didn't Have To,

Holidays: Exploring Menorca

The Island's Charm

Imagine a place where relaxation meets vibrant fun. Menorca, nestled next to Mallorca in the Balearic Islands, offers just that. Every summer, the island's population swells with tourists drawn to its pristine beaches and coves. Escape the stress of urban life and find tranquility in Menorca's captivating landscapes.

Binibeca: A Picturesque Village

My stay in Binibeca, a charming fishing village, was unforgettable. Whitewashed houses adorned with colorful flowers create a picturesque setting. Every detail on this island enchants its visitors.

A Place of Self-Discovery

Menorca is more than just a destination; it's an experience. The peaceful sea views and captivating landscapes leave you speechless.... Continue reading "Menorca & The Maze Runner" »

Louise Bourgeois: A Sculptor's Life and Enduring Legacy

Louise Bourgeois, one of the world’s most respected and celebrated contemporary sculptors, was born in Paris on Christmas Day, 1911. Her pieces are sometimes abstract, and the symbolic interpretations of her art are based on relationships. She explored different artistic modes, from abstract to realism, and her work can be found in the best museums around the world.

Early Life and Artistic Journey

Louise’s parents restored decorative wall hangings, called tapestries, which provided her first contact with art. Her parents’ turbulent relationship made her anxious to search for form and order as a child. She studied mathematics at France’s most prestigious university, the Sorbonne, but... Continue reading "Artistic Legacies and Beloved Urban Retreats" »

Positive and negative aspects of my life in 2175----Is it really beneficial to live in 2175? UTTERLY, my life in 2175 is AWESOME. Living here is very different; PUNCTUALLY my life, my family and my careers have changed a lot. The positive aspects are more than the negative ones and they are AWESOME, however, the negative aspects are CHILLY and INSUFFERABLE due to the lack of emotions.-----The positive aspects are INCREDIBLE and they are more than the negative ones due to the following reasons. First, I have some robots that do the housework for me, so I do not have to clean it anymore. Second, I have studied many careers, and changed my job many times, so I had the opportunity to study five careers in college. It was TOLERABLE to have worked... Continue reading "Life in 2175: A Futuristic Perspective" »

Essential Vocabulary: Definitions for Modern Life

Expand your understanding of key terms across various domains, from fashion and social interactions to careers and global issues.

Fashion & Style Terminology

• Stud: A small, decorative metal object used as an embellishment for clothing or accessories.
• Baggy: Loose-fitting, often referring to clothing.
• Fringe: Hair cut short and worn over the forehead; also, a decorative border of hanging threads.
• High Heels: Shoes with a raised heel, typically worn by women.
• Plain Denim: Denim fabric without embellishments or patterns, offering a simple aesthetic.
• Tie-Dyed Cotton: Cotton fabric decorated with a tie-dye pattern.
• Striped Silk: Silk fabric featuring a pattern of stripes.
• Flowy Velvet: Velvet fabric with

A Typical Day in My Life

I get up at eight o'clock in the morning. I go to school by car. I study and I always write in my notebooks. I sometimes have lunch in a cafeteria, and I attend my classes in the afternoon. I finish school at four o'clock. On Mondays and Wednesdays, I go to the swimming pool. I arrive home at six o'clock and I have dinner. I often watch TV in the evening, and I don't play computer games. I usually go to sleep at eleven o'clock.

Discovering Barcelona: A Beautiful City

Barcelona is one of the biggest cities in Spain. It is a very beautiful city, and it has many interesting places to visit. The cathedral is in the old city center, and next to it, there are lots of streets full of shops. There, people buy souvenirs and clothes.... Continue reading "Daily Routines, Barcelona, Travel, and More" »

English Irregular Verbs

Complete List with Translations