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

Understanding Human Traits

Autocratic Management

My manager's autocratic personality often leads him to dismiss my suggestions for departmental improvement.

Smugness and Ignorance

Her smug expression would have been more irritating if her words hadn't revealed her ignorance of the situation's gravity.

Parsimony and Wealth

Despite his wealth, the parsimonious millionaire refused charitable donations.

Vulgarity and Discipline

Students using vulgar language in class receive after-school detention.

Introspection and Art

The introspective artist constantly questioned their painting skills.

Common Touch and Seniority

Unlike many senior judges, he consistently demonstrates a common touch.

Venality and Corruption

The mayor's venality made him readily accept bribes... Continue reading "Understanding Human Traits and Behaviors" »

Present Tenses

• Present Simple: Subject + infinitive (3rd person +s) + complement / don't or doesn't (usually, often, always, never, sometimes; routines and timetables)
• Present Continuous: Subject + am/is/are + v-ing + complement (actions now, fixed plans and temporary actions; now, at the moment, today, this week...)
• Present Perfect: Subject + have/has + past participle (duration, things that happen in the recent past, life experiences; just, yet, already, for, and since)
• Present Perfect Continuous: Subject + have/has + been + v-ing (duration and intensity of an action; for and since)

Past Tenses

• Used To: To describe past habits/repeated actions or states which are not true.
• Past Simple: Subject + past verb + -ed / Subject + didn't + infinitive (past

Simple Present

Once a week, Tom cleans the house.

Once a week, the house is cleaned by Tom.

Present Continuous

Right now, Sarah is writing the letter

Right now, the letter is being written by Sarah.

Simple Past

Sam repaired the car.

The car was repaired by Sam.

Past Continuous

The salesman was helping the customer when the thief came into the store.

The customer was being helped by the salesman when the thief came into the store

Present Perfect

Many tourists have visited that castle.

That castle has been visited by many tourists.

Present Perfect Continuous

Recently, John has been doing the work

Recently, the work has been being done by John.

Past Perfect

George had repaired many cars before he received his mechanic's license

Many cars had been repaired by George... Continue reading "English Passive Voice Examples and Rules" »

Firstly, I woke up at 7:00 am. I brushed my teeth and got dressed quickly to catch the bus. Then, I headed to school. In the afternoon, I studied with my mom and completed my homework. As it started to get dark, I faced a challenge when the shower broke. However, my dad came to the rescue and fixed it. Finally, I enjoyed a delightful dinner with my grandmother, followed by a fun-filled party.

The Mystery of Montego Bay

Part 1: The Disappearance

Where is Montego Bay?

Montego Bay is located on the east coast of Florida, near Miami.

Who founded Montego Bay?

The town was founded in the seventeenth century by pirates.

What can you see in the Wax Museum?

The Wax Museum features wax figures of famous explorers, buccaneers, sea captains, slave merchants, and criminals.

Who is Mr. O’Nell?

Mr. O’Nell is the history teacher.

What happened to him?

He disappeared one day in the Bermuda Triangle.

Part 2: The Halloween Party

Bill works in the supermarket, and Michelle takes the neighbors' dogs for walks.

Where do they have a Halloween party?

They have a Halloween party on a boat.

What is strange about the picture?

They saw a ghost in the picture.

What do Bill

Sara: How hot is it here!!! BUFF

Claudia:

Next slide:

Claudia:

Sara:(Sara looks at the people and speaks to them)OH I'm so sorry. Aloha. (Greets while she continues dancing the Hawaiian dance)

Claudia:

Sara y Claudia: And welcome to the WORLD WHALE DAY.

Sara: As you know, World Whale Day is…

Claudia:

Sara: OH. Sorry. But Claudia, if they don't know anything about it, we have to explain it to them.

Claudia:

Sara: Sorry.

Claudia: It doesn't matter. First, its location.

Next slide:

Sara: This festival takes place in the Hawaiian Islands, specifically in Maui Island.

About Maui, it is part of Maui County in the State of Hawaii, along with Lanai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai Islands. It is the second-largest island in the archipelago, with a population of 117,644... Continue reading "World Whale Day in Maui: Celebrating Whales in Hawaii" »

Living Together in London

Last year I was working on a TV program when suddenly my boss offered me a main job in London as a reporter with an old classmate. We decided to rent an apartment together in London downtown. At first, everything went well, but our relationship deteriorated due to disagreements and neglecting housework. Eventually, we decided to part ways for a better coexistence.

Flatmate Troubles in London

When I moved to London, I shared a flat with an old classmate named Lizzy. Initially, we got along, but as time passed, she neglected household chores and preferred partying. After two months, I moved out and lived alone, which was a better experience.

Awkward Family Christmas Dinner

During last Christmas dinner, tensions arose among... Continue reading "Friendship Challenges: Living Together, Celebrating, and Growing Apart" »

English Vocabulary

• aford: permetre’s
• antique: antiguitat
• bargain: oferta, ganga
• barter: intercanviar
• bill: factura
• borrow: demanar
• brand name: article de marca
• bring in: portar
• cash: efectiu
• cheap: barat
• computer science: informática
• customer: client
• deal with: ocupar-se
• discount: descuento
• earn: guanyar
• environment: medi ambient
• exchange: intercanvi
• expensive: car
• gift certificate: xec regal
• half-price: mitad precio
• keep: deixar
• last: durar
• lend: prestar
• lift: viatge
• look after: tenir cura de
• look around: fer una ullada
• look into: investigar
• make money: fer diners
• manage money: administrar diners
• mobile payment: pagament mòbil
• note: bitllet
• offline: fora de línia
• on sale: rebaixat
• owe: deure diners
• pay back: tornar diners
• pay for: pagar per
• pay out: desemborsar
• pick on: ficar-

Write a short profile about yourself for a social website. Make it interesting! Write at least ten lines.

Hello my name is Ayrton Méndez Pila, I'm 21 years old, I am of Ecuadorian nationality and I live in Murcia since I was 11 years old. I have a little sister.

I really like animals, especially dogs, I have two dogs that call Kyra y Laky. I like sports and my favorite sport is football, I am a Barcelona fan and my favorite player is Luis Suarez. I also like bikes and I am a follower of Marc Marquez.

I have been working at a gas station for 8 months, while I am still studying to improve. I would like to continue studying veterinary medicine at university.

Write approximately five lines to complete the following situation.

Last summer I went back... Continue reading "Ayrton Méndez Pila: Short Profile for Social Website" »

Common English Noun Phrases

• a piece of advice
• a large number of trees
• that bit of government
• a great piece of news
• a great deal of effort
• the amount of food
• a cash box
• an advice column
• an accommodation agency
• an interesting item of news
• a flight of stairs
• a sheet of paper
• a lump of coal
• a head of hair
• a slice of toast
• an information centre
• a luggage trolley
• a set of cutlery
• a single blade of grass
• by a clap of thunder
• a bread knife
• a spelling mistake
• a parking space
• a lightning conductor
• a cookery lesson

English Articles: A/An, The, Zero Article

Indefinite Articles: a/an

• Use with singular, countable nouns mentioned for the first time.
• Use when talking about jobs (e.g., He is an engineer).
• Don't use with uncountable nouns or plural countable nouns.

Definite Article: the

• Use