Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and exercises for English for Secondary education

Physical Appearance

Build: stocky, strong, thin, well-built. Height: medium-height, short, tall. Hair: bald, blonde, curly, dark, fair, long, medium-length, short, spiky, straight, wavy. General: attractive, cute, good-looking, gorgeous, plain, pretty.

Personality Traits

affectionate, arrogant, artistic, bossy, cheerful, clever, confident, determined, easy-going, energetic, generous, hard-working, impatient, likeable, lively, loyal, optimistic, outgoing, patient, reliable, sensible, sensitive, serious, shy, talkative, tidy, well-organised.

Synonyms

attractive, beautiful, bright, calm, cheerful, childish, clever, cute, difficult, easy-going, elderly, energetic, friendly, generous, glad, good-looking, gorgeous, handsome, happy, hard, immature, intelligent,...

Societal Constraints and Individual Desire in Ethan Frome

The constraint social and moral concerns place on individual desire is perhaps the novel’s most prominent theme, since Ethan Frome’s plot is concerned with Ethan’s desire for a woman who is not his wife. By denying Zeena a single positive attribute while presenting Mattie as the epitome of glowing, youthful attractiveness, Wharton renders Ethan’s desire to cheat on his wife perfectly understandable. The conflict does not stem from within Ethan’s own heart; his feelings for Mattie never waver. Instead, the conflict occurs between his passions and the constraints placed on him by society, which control his conscience and impede his fulfillment of his passions.

Again and again,...

English Grammar

Grammar Rules

Relative Pronouns: Use who/that for people, which/that for objects, that for people or objects, when for time, whose for possession, and where for place.

Defining vs. Non-Defining Clauses: Non-defining clauses provide extra information and are set off by commas. Defining clauses provide essential information and are not set off by commas. Defining clauses can often omit the relative pronoun.

Modal Verbs

Expressing Ability: can, be able to

Giving Advice: should, shouldn't

Expressing Obligation: have to, must

Expressing Lack of Obligation: don't have to, needn't

Expressing Possibility: may, might

Expressing Certainty (True): must

Expressing Certainty (Impossible): can't

Making Polite Requests: could, would

Expressing Prohibition:

Summary of the Book

This narrative is based on the confessions of Nicolás Pertusato, a boy whom fate forces into extraordinary and previously ignored events. Portrayed in the famous painting Las Meninas, this young man recounts his life, struggling to maintain his dignity despite his physical condition, and details his enigmatic relationship with the painter Velázquez, which leads him to undertake a difficult task.

Early Life and Origins

The story begins in Alexandria della Paglia with the birth of Nicolás Pertusato around 1643 or 1644. His father resented him because his mother died during childbirth, resulting in a difficult and sorrowful childhood marked by abuse. Eventually, a man named Acedo takes Nicolás to Spain, leaving his father...

Present Simple

• Positive: Subject + verb + complement. I go to school.
• Negative: Subject + don't/doesn't + verb + complement. I don't go to school.
• Question: Do/Does + subject + verb + complement? Does she go to school? Do you go to school?

Present Continuous

• Positive: Subject + to be + verb-ing. I'm watching TV.
• Negative: Subject + to be not + verb-ing. I'm not walking in the park.
• Question: To be + subject + verb-ing? Am I doing well?

Past Simple

• Positive: Subject + verb (past). I went to the party.
• Negative: Subject + didn't + verb (present). I didn't work.
• Question: Did + subject + verb (present)? Did you walk a lot?

Past Continuous

• Positive: Subject + was/were + verb-ing + complement. She was talking.
• Negative: Subject + wasn't/weren't + verb-ing + complement.

Defining and Classifying the Noun Phrase

Define and type the noun phrase Elemene you may have.

A phrase is a unit of function, i.e., one or more words that play a role within the sentence unit. There are many types of phrases, distinguished by their autonomous word classes, as the nucleus. We distinguish between:

• Noun Phrases (NP): Consisting of nouns functioning as the nucleus (N) of the phrase.
• Adjective Phrases (AdjP): Nucleus is an adjective.
• Adverbial Phrases (AdvP): Nucleus is an adverb.
• Verb Phrases (VP): Nucleus is a verb.

Identifying Noun Phrases and Nuclei

Underline the noun phrases and the nuclei of each noun phrase:

• African children suffer a great famine.
• Winter evenings are very short. People prefer the summer.
• Heavy rains caused serious

The Enigma of Woodend's Corner Shop

This story tells about a stranger, Dave Slatin, who comes to a small village in Woodend, and very strange things happen since his arrival. The stranger bought a house in Woodend, where he established a corner shop at the front. The sign read: The Corner Shop, Proprietor: Dave Slatin.

Anna and The Corner Shop

The new assistant in The Corner Shop was Anna. Sometimes her friend, Peter, helped at the shop. Within the shop was a room accessible only to Dave. A notice on the door of the room read: Special Orders Only: Keep Out.

Miss Greta Gordon's Visit

One day, a strange woman came to the shop. Her name was Miss Greta Gordon. She was a beautiful woman, wearing expensive clothes, and she wished to meet Dave Slatin....

Characters of the Jara

Main Characters

Charito

The largest child, born deformed and unable to speak or move. Charito's cries resemble terrifying screams. She shares a bond with her uncle, Azariah, possibly due to their shared innocence, referred to by Mr. Delibes.

Ivan

The master of the farm, holding some appreciation for Paco's hunting skills, appointing him as his secretary. Ivan is the son of the Marchioness and shows special attention to Pura, Peter the Expert's wife. Selfish and focused on his welfare and social image, he neglects Paco, even resorting to physical punishment.

Peter the Expert

Socially superior to Paco but subservient to Ivan. He endures Ivan's flirtations with his wife, Pura. A man without agency, trapped in an unhappy marriage....