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

1. I wouldn't be able to eat. 2. I can't help but talk. 3. I was able to go. 4. I wouldn't have played.

2. English is spoken by many people all over the world. 3. The hamster can be kept in a cage. 5. The room hasn't been painted yet.

6. Your meal is being prepared by the chef. 7. When is the work going to be finished? 9. The doctor has ordered blood tests.

10. The door has to be locked before you leave.

3. 2. If I had studied more, I wouldn't have failed the test. 3. If I hadn't seen the stop sign, I wouldn't have had an accident. 4. If he could speak clearly, I could understand him.

5. I don't have to work, so I can meet you tomorrow.

4. 1. Get it cleaned. 2. Get it checked. 3. Get it marked. 4. Have you brought it? 5. I was having my hair cut.

Advanced English Grammar Guide

The Past Perfect Simple

The past perfect simple expresses an action taking place before a certain time in the past, putting emphasis only on the fact, not the duration.

Positive/Negative/Question

• I had spoken / I had not spoken / Had I spoken?

Example: Before I came here, I had spoken to Jack.

Usage with Time Expressions:

• Use after, as soon as, the moment that, until before using the past perfect simple.
  Example: After she had moved out, I found her notes. / I didn't say anything until she had finished talking.
• Use before, when, by the time before the past simple.
  Example: Before I knew it, she had run out the door. / By the time he phoned her, she had found someone new.

The Past Perfect Progressive

The past perfect progressive... Continue reading "Advanced English Grammar Guide: Mastering Complex Structures" »

My Cousin, Christopher

My cousin, Christopher, is the son of my father's brother. He's three years younger than me and we didn't know each other very well as children because he and his family lived on the other side of the country at that time. Since then, he's married and moved closer so we meet quite often and I've got to know him much better. There's nothing very remarkable about Chris's appearance. He's of average height and medium build, and he's got curly mousy hair and a fair complexion. As he's quite short-sighted like me, he wears glasses. The clothes he likes are mostly casual: jeans or shorts and a tee-shirt. I don't think I've ever seen him in a suit. He's a very active person who loves the outdoor life. He's extremely practical... Continue reading "Getting to Know My Cousin and Sister" »

Fairness in Hiring: Beyond Handwriting Analysis

It isn't fair to decide whether a person should get a job based on their handwriting, because, in my opinion, these studies are rarely accurate. I believe a person cannot be judged by their handwriting. For instance, someone with large handwriting might still be a shy person.

Archaeological Sites: Rules and Consequences

I think it's acceptable that the Greek authorities take measures when someone picks up an artifact at an ancient site. However, it must also be recognized that the tour guides did not warn Madeline about this. Therefore, arresting her and putting her in jail seems like a harsh measure, especially since she was unaware of the rules. Ultimately, I neither agree with her actions nor... Continue reading "Reflections on Modern Life: Society, Technology, and Personal Choices" »

Mastering English Irregular Verbs: Past Simple Forms

This list provides common irregular verbs, their past simple forms, and Spanish translations to aid your English learning.

Verb Conjugation Reference

• Infinitive | Past Simple | Translation
• Be | was / were | ser / estar
• Become | became | convertirse / llegar a ser
• Begin | began | empezar / comenzar
• Bet | bet | apostar
• Break | broke | romper
• Bring | brought | traer
• Build | built | construir
• Burn | burnt / burned | quemar
• Buy | bought | comprar
• Catch | caught | atrapar
• Choose | chose | elegir
• Come | came | venir
• Cut | cut | cortar
• Do | did | hacer
• Draw | drew | dibujar
• Dream | dreamt / dreamed | soñar
• Drink | drank | beber
• Drive | drove | conducir
• Eat | ate | comer
• Fall | fell | caerse
• Feed | fed | alimentar
• Feel |

Diego Ventura was born in a bull-fighting family so he has always been passionate about horses and bulls.
His first contact wuth the bull world were when he was 6, due to his father and Peralta brothers supported him and as a result Ventura started his professional career as a mounted bullfighter.
Diego Ventura didn´t like going to school because he preferred to ride horses or to walk among bulls.
He trained every day and due to his determination he reached his objetive, to be a very good mounted bullfighter.
As a result of his sacrifice, he has obtained a lot os awards, throughout his career.
I admire Ventura because he is a great lover of the animals and the nature although people can think another thing

The boy in striped pyjamas is about the... Continue reading "Advantages of Online Shopping vs. Traditional Shopping" »

Henry VIII

Henry VIII

By 1525, Henry's wife, Catherine of Aragon, had borne only one child, a girl named Mary. Henry decided to have the marriage annulled, or declared invalid based on church laws.

The Pope would not give his consent for King Henry VIII to divorce Catherine of Aragon.

Therefore, in 1534 he broke with the Catholic Church and the Act of Supremacy was passed, under which he appointed himself head of the Church of England or Anglican Church.

In 1533, Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII were secretly married.

After Parliament had declared Henry's marriage to Catherine null and void, Anne gave birth to a girl, Elizabeth.

Religious division in Europe

Religious division in Europe

In 1520, Pope Leo X excommunicated Luther, or expelled him from the Church.