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

Mastering Passive Voice in English

Present Simple

am/are/is + past participle

Spanish is spoken here.

Present Continuous

am/are/is being + past participle

Your questions are being answered.

Future (Will)

will be + past participle

It will be painted by next week.

Future (Going To)

am/are/is going to be + past participle

Terry is going to be made redundant next year.

Past Simple

was/were + past participle

We were invited to the party, but we didn't go.

Past Continuous

was/were being + past participle

The hotel room was being cleaned when we got back from shopping.

Present Perfect

have/has been + past participle

The President of America has been shot.

Past Perfect

had been + past participle

When he got home, he found that all of his money had been stolen.

Future Perfect

will

Key Events and Discoveries

1. Morse met Anne at Mrs. Murdoch's party.
2. He initially believed there was a 50% probability concerning the murderer's identity.
3. He decided not to visit Anne because she was married.
4. The houses in Jericho were built for workers over 100 years ago.
5. When Morse arrived at the house, the door was unlocked.
6. Bell couldn't have kicked the chair.
7. George Jackson said he had done work inside the house.
8. Waters was worried about Morse.
9. A promise was made to give money to Conrad Richards.
10. The police doctor confirmed Anne Scott had been pregnant.
11. Anne Scott had been in the area for more than ten years.
12. Morse liked to listen to Mozart.
13. Morse was about fifty years old.
14. Celia was sure her husband had had many affairs.
15. Constable Walters asked questions.

Common Irregular Verbs with Spanish Translations

This table lists common English irregular verbs with their infinitive (present), past tense, past participle, gerund and the Spanish translation.

Logistics

Logistics: The logistician found a load match of two shipments going to the same place. By engaging in collaboration, the two companies were able to both make a profit. The truck's trailer was empty on the deadhead leg of the trip. The load configuration model showed the best way to load the truck. The workers were pleased with the load planning software the company installed on their computers. The regulatory agency fined the company for not being in compliance with the rules. During the cost optimization meeting, ideas were tossed around to save the company money. We were able to load two less than full truckloads. Where's the load going? Is it going to a distribution center? Let's see if we can find a load match using the software.... Continue reading "Logistics and Aviation: Load Matching, Cargo Transportation, and Reported Speech" »

Section A: Literary Elements

Characters: Merricat, Constance, Charles, Julien, Villagers/Blackwoods

This analysis pertains to the gothic novel written by Shirley Jackson.

Essay Structure Outline

• Introduction: Context, Contention, Summary of Arguments
• Body Paragraphs: Topic Sentence; Idea + Evidence + Analysis (What $\rightarrow$ How $\rightarrow$ Why); Link back to the Topic Question
• Conclusion: Contention; Author's Intentions

Themes in the Text

Isolation

Focuses on Constance and Merricat cutting themselves off from the town, positioning them as outsiders.

Power and Patriarchy

Examines the ruling of men. Note: The original text suggests Merricat, who murdered her family, is now controlling and makes her own decisions with Constance.

Quote: $\text{"They... Continue reading "Shirley Jackson Novel Analysis: Characters and Themes" »

A Serene Winter Morning

It was a bleak winter’s day, and the snow had come early. The grass glistened like a carpet of crushed diamonds in the early morning sunshine. The air smelled pure and fresh. Everything seemed quieter, almost muffled. There was a sense of serenity in the atmosphere.

The Weary Soldier Fred

Feeling numb and wet, tired, and exhausted, he made his way along the path through the trench. His fingers ached in the winter wind as he clenched and unclenched them, trying to keep the feeling in their tips. He was a tall, slim man with a long face, a nose like a pin, and a thin, sandy moustache. He had a face like a lion’s and an eye like a hawk’s. His name was Fred.

The Overwhelming Stench of War

As Fred trudged through the icy... Continue reading "Life and Death in the Winter Trenches" »

Mastering Second and Third Conditionals

Second Conditional Examples

They aren't going to offer him the job because he seems very shy. (If he … not seem)
If he didn't seem too shy, they would give him the job.

We're not booking that flight because there's a six-hour stopover. (If there wasn't / weren't)
If there wasn't a six-hour stopover, we would book it.

Sally can't go to the cinema because she has to work overtime today. (If Sally … not work)
If Sally didn't have to work overtime, she could go to the cinema.

I'm not taking the job because the salary isn't high enough. (If the salary was / were …)
If the salary were high enough, I would take the job.

We don't see you very often because you live so far away. (If you … not live)
If you didn't

I was going to talk about tennis, but many of my teammates have already covered that topic, and I believe you likely know even more about it than I do. Instead, I want to discuss one of my favorite things to do: traveling.

A Lifelong Passion

I have been fortunate that, since I was young, my parents have taken me to many different places—from Asia to America—and they still do today. From a very young age, I realized that traveling teaches you many things that you might otherwise ignore, such as:

• Different cultures and traditions
• Unique stories and histories
• Diverse cuisines
• New perspectives

You meet new people and often make friends who teach you even more about the world.

The Challenges of the Journey

The only aspect of traveling I dislike is sitting... Continue reading "The Transformative Power of Global Travel" »