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" »

Immigration and Early American Prosperity

Reasons for Irish Emigration

1. Due to a great famine and severe poverty in Ireland, living conditions were extreme. Immigrants decided to leave their country to seek better opportunities and conditions abroad.

The Price of American Prosperity

2. The narrator suggests that current American prosperity is built upon the hard work and suffering of early immigrants. Prosperity in America was achieved at the cost of significant hardship for these newcomers.

Protagonist's Achievements

3. The protagonist achieved American citizenship, acquired a small farm, and raised a large family. He participated in politics, and several of his children graduated from high school.

True/False Statements and Vocabulary

4. FALSE (lines 1-2)... Continue reading "Key Concepts in History, Culture, and Scientific Achievement" »

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" »

Essential English Vocabulary and Grammar Rules

English-Spanish Vocabulary: Key Phrases

• In the lead: Liderar
• Fast asleep: Profundamente dormido
• Defeat: Derrotar
• Heavy traffic: Tráfico abundante
• Let us down: Decepcionar
• Bright future: Futuro brillante
• Sportsmanship: Deportividad
• Poor health: Mala salud
• Broke a record: Batir un récord
• Valid point: Punto válido / Buen punto
• Effort: Esfuerzo
• Slight accent: Acento leve
• Spectators: Espectadores
• Rapid growth: Rápido crecimiento
• Opponent: Oponente
• Tournament: Torneo
• Trophy: Trofeo
• Go wild: Volverse loco
• Beat: Vencer
• Cheer: Aclamar, animar
• Score: Marcar
• Speed: Velocidad
• Championship: Campeonato
• Awards: Premios
• Finish line: Meta
• Guidelines: Reglas
• Turnaround: Cambio
• Superstar: Superestrella
• Runner-up: Segundo puesto
• Teammates:

The Rapid Advance of Technology

Today, technology is advancing at an incredible speed, profoundly impacting the society in which we live. Its influence spans across various domains, from computers and video games to mobile phones and countless other electronic devices.

Benefits of Modern Technology

Technology offers numerous advantages that enhance our lives:

• Anticipation and Communication: It allows us to anticipate potential events and communicate instantly with friends and family, bridging distances.
• Entertainment and Leisure: Video games and other digital platforms provide significant entertainment and recreational opportunities.
• Crime Solving: Advanced technological tools assist law enforcement in solving crimes by providing insights that human

Aesthetic Definition and Scope

Aesthetic: A combination of things that are pleasing to look at, relating to the enjoyment or study of beauty. It is used to talk about beauty or art, and people's appreciation of beautiful things.

Notable Epigrams

• “There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.”
• “Being natural is simply a pose, and the most irritating pose I know.”
• “I make a great difference between people. I choose my friends for their good looks, my acquaintances for their good characters, and my enemies for their good intellects.”
• “The only difference between a caprice and a lifelong passion is that the caprice lasts a little longer.”

Analysis of Epigrammatic Structure

Let's... Continue reading "Aesthetic Principles and Literary Wit Analysis" »

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

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