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

Phrasal Verbs

• Ask for
• Eat out
• Crash into
• Make up
• Depend on
• Warm up
• Get on with
• Take to/in
• Give away/up
• Turn up/on/down
• Look after/out
• Set off/up
• Pick up
• Check in
• Hang up
• Call back
• Switch on
• Carry on
• Make into
• Find out
• Do up
• Go out
• Break up
• Throw it away
• Slow down
• Grow up
• Calm down
• Bump into
• Look forward to
• Plug in

Prepositional Phrases

• Congratulate on
• Details of
• Divide into
• Dress in
• Example of
• Increase in
• Interested in
• Kind to
• Look for
• Marry to
• Nice to
• Pay for
• Proof of
• Reason for
• Remind of
• Responsible for
• Take part in
• Translate into
• Typical of
• Novel/film by
• In my opinion
• In the picture
• In the rain
• On page 45
• Arrive at
• Good at

Formal Letter Writing

Greetings and Opening: Dear Sir, I'm writing in response to your request.

Body: Giving information and details: To begin with... Another important aspect...

Closing Remarks and Signing Off: In conclusion... I strongly believe... Yours faithfully, Javier

For and Against Essay Structure

Opening: Introduce topic... It is often said that... The question proposed is an interesting one because... It is a well-known fact that...

Body: Presents topic for both sides with supporting details... On the one hand... On the other hand...

Closing: Sums up the topic and presents the writer's opinion: Taking all these aspects into account, I believe that the plan, while well-intentioned, is unrealistic and totally unnecessary. In my view...

Formal

... Continue reading "Mastering Formal and Informal Writing: Letters, Essays, Reports, and Reviews" »

11.1. Their Great-aunt from England wants Herrnione eats ro stay with the Durrells.
11.2. They move to a villa srnaller so that they can tell Great-aunt Hermione that she cannot come to stay with thern Because they havent got enough room.
12.1. In the new town, Gerry has the opportunity to observe Sorne Ladybugs and green transparent Sorne CAJL gecko lizards.
12.2. With Mr Kralefsky, Gerry spends part of every Jesson talking about birds but I also Leams a lot of history, geography and French.
12.3. Kralefsky's mother tells Gerry that flowers talk and that they have long conversations, Although she can not understand their lan gauge.
12.4. The Magpies drop papers all over the floor and paper clips all over the carpet and bed. They make... Continue reading "My family and other animals" »

Essential Business English Vocabulary

Pursue

To follow or chase (someone or something); to strive to gain or accomplish (a goal) over a long period.

Boardroom

A room where a company's board of directors meets.

Storm

To enter suddenly and forcefully (e.g., storm the boardroom).

Account for

To represent or form a particular proportion or part of something.

Fulfilling

Achieving satisfaction or happiness through one's actions; satisfying.

Single-handedly

Done by one person alone; without help.

Slightly

To a small degree; not considerably; a little bit.

Gruffly

In a rough, stern, or abrupt manner.

Although

Conjunction meaning 'in spite of the fact that'; similar to 'but'.

Stepped back

To move back physically or mentally; to withdraw from a situation to gain perspective.

... Continue reading "Business English Vocabulary and Grammar Essentials" »

Essential English Vocabulary

Here's a list of useful English words and phrases, along with their meanings:

• To put off: To postpone or delay
• Stage: A step or phase in a process
• Prompt: On time or before the expected time
• Deadline: The last day or time by which something must be done
• Rush hour: Peak time when traffic is heaviest
• Sharp: Exactly on time (e.g., 9 o'clock sharp)
• Timing: The ability to do something at the right moment
• In a hurry: To be rushed or have a sense of urgency
• Plenty: A lot of; a large quantity
• Brief: Short in duration
• On time: Punctual; at the scheduled time
• At a time: At a particular moment
• Downtime: A period when you are less busy or doing fewer things
• Sidetracked: To be distracted from your main task
• Drag on: To continue for too long,

... Continue reading "Mastering English: Essential Vocabulary and Modal Verbs" »

Reported Speech

Reported speech, also known as indirect speech, is used to convey what someone else said without directly quoting them. The tense of the verb usually shifts back in time.

Statements

Direct: "Many customers have requested puppy's breath," he explained.
Reported: He explained that many customers had requested puppy's breath.

Questions

Direct: "Can you create nasty smells?" they asked Fred.
Reported: They asked Fred if he could create nasty smells.

Direct: "What perfume are you buying today?" Laura asked me.
Reported: Laura asked me what perfume I was buying that day.

Orders

Direct: "Turn on the aroma generator," the boss told her.
Reported: Her boss told her to turn on the aroma generator.

Direct: "Don't tell anyone my secret formula,"... Continue reading "Key English Grammar Rules for Effective Communication" »

Mastering English Grammar and Vocabulary

Grammar and Sentence Practice

1. Peter was looking forward to escaping from Auschwitz with Mary.
2. In spite of women having a professional life, they still have to do most of the housework.
3. Peter and Mary were given two different books in the afternoon.
4. He isn't attracted by the wages and the working conditions.
5. Mary has pushed the table into the corner.
6. Mary, whose purse has been stolen, was very upset.
7. If Peter tried harder, he could find a job.
8. If he hadn't arrived so late, he would have seen the famous writer.
9. Mary doesn't mind working hard for the organization.
10. The teacher asked the students to stop those attacks.
11. They used to live in peace when they were children.
12. Unless you return my trainers, I will tell the teacher.

... Continue reading "Practical English Language Exercises" »

Letter to a Friend About a Trip

From: [Your Name]

To: [Friend’s Name]

Subject: My Trip to Canada

Hi [Friend’s Name],

How are you? I have amazing news! I’m going to Canada for three weeks to study English!

I’ll be arriving on January 15th and staying at a student residence close to the school. My course has 20 lessons a week, and I’ll take morning classes. In the afternoons, I plan to join some activities, like city tours and maybe trying fun things like ice skating. I also want to explore and enjoy Canadian food. It’s going to be so exciting!

I hope you’re doing well. Do you think I should pack anything special for the trip? Let me know!

Take care,

[Your Name]

Family Vacation in La Serena, Chile

I went on vacation in February with my family... Continue reading "Canada Trip & Family Vacation: Travel Stories & Johnny Depp Bio" »

Passive Voice & Quantifiers

Passive Voice

• do → is done
• is doing → is being done
• did → was done
• was doing → was being done
• have done → has been done
• had done → had been done
• will do → will be done
• is going to do → is going to be done

Quantifiers

• Large: a lot of, much (uncountable), many (countable), plenty of
• Small: a few (countable), little (uncountable)
• More or less: too big, too many, enough
• Zero: any, no

Relative Clauses

• that → who/which (ese/que)
• who → people (quien)
• which → things/animal (cual)
• where → places (dónde)
• whose → mean possession (cuyo)

Modals

must have → el conductor se debería haber perdido

might/may have → se debe haber comprado una casa nueva

could have → podrías haber evitado el accidente

should have → debería... Continue reading "Mastering English Grammar: Passive Voice, Clauses & Conditionals" »

Past Simple

Affirmative

I/you/he/she/it/we/they watched. Translation: I watched.

Negative

I/you/he/she/it/we/they didn't watch.

Interrogative

Did I/you/he/she/it/we/they watch?

Past Continuous

Affirmative

I/he/she/it was watching Translation: I was watching.

we/they/you were watching

Negative

I/he/she/it wasn't watching

we/they/you weren't watching

Present Simple

Affirmative

I/you/we/they play Translation: I play

he/she/it plays

Negative

I/you/we/they don't play

he/she/it doesn't play

Present Continuous

Affirmative

I am reading Translation: I am reading

He/she/it is reading

we/they/you are reading

Negative

I am not reading

He/she/it isn't reading

we/they/you aren't reading

Present Perfect

Affirmative

I/you/we/they have finished Translation: I have finished

he/she/it has finished

Negative

I/... Continue reading "Essential English Grammar Reference" »