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

Main Characters

1. Mary Lennox

Mary Lennox is a young, orphaned girl with blonde hair who is described as initially unpleasant. After her parents die of cholera in India, she is sent to live with her uncle, Mr. Craven, at Misselthwaite Manor in Yorkshire. Over time, her temper improves, and she becomes happier.

2. Martha

Martha is a kind servant at Misselthwaite Manor who befriends Mary. She is Dickon's sister and plays a significant role in helping Mary adjust to her new life.

3. Mr. Craven

Mr. Craven is Mary's uncle and Colin's father. He is a recluse who hates the locked garden because his wife died there. He has a crooked back and is often gloomy.

4. Mrs. Craven

Mrs. Craven is Mr. Craven's deceased wife who loved the garden. She taught Ben Weatherstaff... Continue reading "The Secret Garden: Character Guide" »

Mastering English Verb Patterns and Sentence Structure

This practice set focuses on correcting common grammatical errors, particularly those involving verb forms (gerunds and infinitives), capitalization, and punctuation. Review these fixed sentences to solidify your understanding of essential English structures.

Verbs Requiring the Gerund (-ing)

• This film is worth watching.
• I'm looking forward to taking some great photos.
• I started working here eight years ago.
• His new order means working overtime.
• I avoided bumping into the car in front by braking.
• John suggested going to see the new play tonight.
• I feel like going to an Indian restaurant.
• I love playing tennis but I dislike watching it.
• I can't imagine getting good marks at the end of the term.
• I couldn'

At a restaurant:

waiters: lay the table, take an order, recommend a dish, carry a tray, serve customers, pour the wine

customers: book a table, order food, try the wine, send something back, ask for the bill, leave a tip. food, plate, dish, meal, course

DIY and repairs:

change, drill, mend, put together, put up, set up, sew, stick, tie

Looking after yourself:

have your hair: bleached, curled, dyed, put up, straightened have: a blow-dry, a perm, a shave, a treatment, a trim, highlights

equipment: an exercise bike, a running machine, weights, a rowing machine, a cross-trainer, a yoga mat exercises: do sit-ups, do press-ups, do stretches, do aerobics, do spinning, do yoga/pilates manicure, pedicure, facial, massage, waxing, fake tan

helmet, archer, arrow,... Continue reading "Vocabulary and Grammar Practice" »

A

Arise > Arose > Arisen > Surgir, Levantarse
Awake> Awoke > Awoken > Despertarse
Be > Was/Were > Been > Ser / Estar

B

Bear> Bore > Borne/Born > Soportar, dar a luz
Beat> Beat > Beaten > Golpear
Become> Became > Become > Llegar a Ser
Begin> Began > Begun > Empezar
Bend> Bent > Bent > Doblar
Bet> Bet > Bet > Apostar
Bind > Bound > Bound > Atar, encuadernar
Bid > Bid > Bid > Pujar
Bite> Bit > Bitten > Morder
Bleed > Bled > Bled > Sangrar
Blow > Blew > Blown > Soplar
Break > Broke > Broken > Romper
Breed > Bred > Bred > Criar
Bring > Brought > Brought > Traer/Llevar
Broadcast > Broadcast >... Continue reading "Complete List of Irregular Verbs in English" »

Verbs with Gerund or Infinitive Differences

• Go On:
  • (G) Continue doing the same thing.
  • (I) Change the activity.
• Need:
  • (G) Passive meaning (e.g., The bedrooms need painting).
• Regret:
  • (I) To inform.
• Mean:
  • (G) Has to be done to get a result.
  • (I) Intend to do.
• Try:
  • (G) Experiment with different methods.
• Stop:
  • (I) Takes on the meaning of "in order to."
• Forget:
  • (G) To forget that you have done something (memory).
  • (I) To forget that you need to do something.
• Remember:
  • (G) To remember that you need to do something (memory).
  • (I) To remember that you have done something.
• Hate/Love/Prefer:
  • (G) Emphasis on the action (e.g., like making jam).
  • (I) Habit (e.g., I like to make).

Verb Forms: Infinitive, Gerund, and Bare Infinitive

The Infinitive

Used for: Purpose (why), nouns, used to... Continue reading "Essential English Grammar: Verbs, Tenses, and Linking Words" »

Relative Pronouns Practice

Complete each sentence with who, where, why, that, or when.

1. The person who scores the most points is the winner.
2. This is the place where I found some money.
3. This is the shop where you can buy very cheap clothes.
4. That's the year when we moved house.
5. That's the reason why I don't want to go.
6. A secret is something that you only tell one person.

Verb Tense Correction Exercises

Put the verbs in parentheses into the correct tense.

1. She will go (go) on holiday tomorrow morning.
2. Mary got up (get up) at 7:00 last Tuesday, but she normally gets up (normally get up) at 8:00.
3. I don't watch (not/watch) TV very often.
4. She went (go) home three days ago.
5. Alan usually goes (usually/go) to work by car, but today he went (go) by train.
6. Where's Tom?

There are people who think there is no way to stop the increasing of global warming, but I think that if all of us do a little, we could make a change on the environment.

At first, we should begin recycling the garbage in its own container. In addition, plastic bags could be forbidden in order to use more environmentally friendly materials.

Secondly, solar energy could be a good alternative to harmful energy sources that are being used nowadays like fossil fuels. Everybody should have solar panels on their roofs, especially in countries where the sun hours are longer like Spain.

In conclusion, there are many things that we can do to improve the situation of the planet. We only have one planet and we have to look after it.

1) Passive Voice

• It's thought

I. Victorian London

Victorian London refers to the period of Queen Victoria's reign. It is the era during which the novel Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was written. Robert Louis Stevenson lived during this time and drew upon it to craft his novels. While specific historical markers may not be immediately apparent throughout the text, the atmosphere is deeply rooted in the history of London. This era was preceded by the Georgian period and succeeded by the Edwardian period. Today, England is under the reign of Queen Elizabeth, though it functions as a democracy with a parliament.

II. Masters and Servants

A master is an individual who employs another person, known as a servant. The servant is expected to carry out the orders of the master. In the novel,... Continue reading "Themes and Historical Context in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" »

Present Simple

Affirmative: I like tennis, she likes football, they like sport.

Negative: I don't like tennis, she doesn't like football, they don't like sport.

Interrogative: Do you like football? Yes, I do. Does she play tennis? Yes, she does. Does he live in France? No, he doesn't. Do they go cycling? No, they don't.

There's / There Are

There's is used with singular countable nouns and uncountable nouns.

There are is used with plural countable nouns.

Affirmative: Use a or an with singular countable nouns. Use some with plural and uncountable nouns.

Negative and Interrogative: Use a or an with singular countable nouns. Use any with plural and uncountable nouns.

How much/how many: How much is used with uncountable nouns. How many is used with plural... Continue reading "English Grammar Essentials: Tenses and Structures" »