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

Mastering Reported Speech: Tense Transformations

When reporting what someone said, the tenses often shift. Here's a breakdown of common tense changes:

• Present Simple (makes) → Past Simple (made)
• Present Continuous (is making) → Past Continuous (was making)
• Past Simple (made) → Past Perfect (had made)
• Past Continuous (was making) → Past Perfect Continuous (had been making)
• Present Perfect (has made) → Past Perfect (had made)
• Present Perfect Continuous (has been making) → Past Perfect Continuous (had been making)
• Past Perfect (had made) → Past Perfect (had made) (no change)
• Past Perfect Continuous (had been making) → Past Perfect Continuous (had been making) (no change)
• Future Simple (will make) → Conditional Simple (would make)
• Future

Morphological Analysis

This section details the morphological characteristics observed in early Middle English texts.

Nouns

Examples include: boc (book), Englisca boc (English book), Latin (Latin), Albin (Albin), Austin (Austin), feire (fair), fulluht (baptism), Frenchis clerc (French clerk), quene (queen), kinges (king), leaf (leaves). Note that boc (book) uses the singular form, while leaf (leaves) is the plural form. The pluralization of leaf does not follow the modern -s or -es form, illustrating historical variation.

Verbs

Examples include: bi-won (obtained), nom (took), makede (made), broute (brought), leide (laid), wende (turned). bi-won (obtained) shows the prefix bi-, which is less common in Modern English. The past tense forms nom (took)... Continue reading "Early Middle English Linguistic Analysis" »

Allegra Byron's Early Life in Venice

Allegra Byron lived with her father, Lord Byron, in a large house called the Palazzo Mocenigo. However, Lord Byron eventually realized that it was not a suitable home for a child. He entrusted Allegra to an English family in Venice. Allegra stayed in Venice for eight months with different families. When Allegra was four years old, Byron sent her to a convent school near Ravenna. Allegra was often cold and lonely there.

Grammar Notes

• Prepositions:
  • In for months (e.g., in May)
  • On for days (e.g., on Monday)
  • At for weekends and specific times (e.g., at the weekend, at 7 o'clock)
• Present Simple: After 'go', use the gerund form (-ing) (e.g., go swimming).
• Do/Does: Use 'do' or 'does' + person + verb for questions (e.g.

Conditionals

Zero Conditional

If + present simple, ... present simple

First Conditional

If + present simple, ... will + infinitive

Second Conditional

If + past simple, ... would + infinitive

Third Conditional

If + past perfect, ... would + have + past participle

The Passive Voice (Active/Passive)

Present Simple

Active: The waiter serves the customers.

Passive: The customers are served by the waiter.

Present Continuous

Active: The waiter is serving the customers.

Passive: The customers are being served by the waiter.

Past Simple

Active: The waiter served the customers.

Passive: The customers were served by the waiter.

Past Continuous

Active: The waiter was serving the customers.

Passive: The customers were being served by the waiter.

Present Perfect Simple

Active:... Continue reading "English Grammar and Vocabulary Guide: Conditionals, Passive Voice, and More" »

Essential Vocabulary and Phrases

Customer Service & Complaints

• Poor quality / Bad service
• Delivery (repartiment)
• Refund (retornar)
• Exchange (intercanvi)
• Free of charge (gratis)
• Disappointed with the service

Complaint Phrases:

• "I am writing because I would like to complain about the [product/service] which I ordered by post from your factory."
• "I think that you should..."
• "I would appreciate it if you would..."
• "Please reply as soon as possible."

Movie Review Terminology

• Dramatic (espectacular)
• Disappointing
• A masterpiece (obra mestra)
• A box-office hit (èxit de taquilla)
• "It's directed by..."
• "Is well worth seeing" (va valdre la pena)
• "You won't regret it" (no te'n penediràs)
• "Reported that..."
• "Added that..."

Reading Comprehension Exercises

Athlete Retirement

Mastering Irregular Verbs in English and Spanish

This list provides common irregular verbs in English, along with their past simple and past participle forms, and their Spanish translations.

• beat/beat/beaten: ganar
• eat/ate/eaten: comer
• drive/drove/driven: conducir
• dream/dreamed/dreamed: soñar
• draw/drew/drawn: dibujar
• do/did/done: hacer
• cost/cost/cost: costar
• come/came/come: venir
• choose/chose/chosen: elegir
• catch/caught/caught: coger
• buy/bought/bought: comprar
• build/built/built: construir
• bring/brought/brought: llevar
• break/broke/broken: romper
• blow/blew/blown: soplar
• bite/bit/bitten: morder
• bend/bent/bent: doblar
• begin/began/begun: empezar
• understand/understood/understood: entender
• sleep/slept/slept: dormir
• mean/meant/meant: significar
• lose/lost/lost: perder
• make/

Letter of Inquiry for Tennis Club Membership

Dear Sir and Madam,

I am interested in joining your tennis club. I have intermediate experience, having played tennis for five years at another club in my previous city. I would like to improve my skills and meet other tennis enthusiasts. Specifically, I am eager to refine my techniques and gain better control during matches.

I have a few questions: Could you provide me with information about membership fees and available schedules? Do you offer group or individual lessons? Do you organize tournaments for members?

Thank you for your consideration.
Yours faithfully,
Mrs. Ana Paula

Invitation to Join a Tennis Club

Dear Ana,

I thought I'd write to you about a new tennis club in our town that's offering classes.... Continue reading "Queen Letizia of Spain: A Role Model of Dedication and Grace" »

This collection presents a variety of common English sentences, perfect for language learners and those looking to improve their everyday communication skills. Each sentence demonstrates practical usage in different contexts.

Diverse English Sentence Examples

1. The documents will be posted to you on Monday morning.

2. If I hadn’t broken my leg last week, I would be in the dance competition tonight.

3. I haven’t had a puncture for two years.

4. Tom asked who had been using his computer.

5. The dress Mark’s wife was wearing last night was beautiful.

6. My secretary might know his address.

7. Her parents told Lydia to get her coat.

8. His parents got angry with him because he hadn’t behaved himself.

9. Ann was tired and needed a rest because she had been working all day.

Titanic: A Timeless Romantic Drama Review