Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and exercises for English for University

Phrase Types and Structures

A phrase is a group of words that acts as a single unit but does not contain both a subject and a verb. Common types include:

• Noun phrases
• Verb phrases
• Prepositional phrases
• Adjective phrases
• Adverbial phrases

Noun Phrases

A noun phrase centers on a noun (the head) and may include determiners and modifiers. It functions as the subject, object, or complement in sentences (e.g., “the tall man”).

Verb Phrases

A verb phrase includes a main verb plus any auxiliary (helping) verbs and modifiers. It expresses the action or state of the subject (e.g., “was running quickly”).

Prepositional Phrases

A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition and ends with a noun or pronoun (its object), often giving information about time,...

Recycling and Waste Management Around the World

Interesting Facts

• In Japan, plastic from landfill sites gets into the sea and kills 10,000 fish each year.
• The Zabaleen take away rubbish from people who live in Cairo.
• In Senegal, people use old paper to wrap bread and fruit.
• People in India think cows are special animals.
• New Zealand has some interesting ideas about...
• The best recycling state in the USA is California.
• If you are driving around Germany, you will see recycling bins at all shopping places.
• In Switzerland, recycling is free, but throwing away your rubbish is expensive.
• Finland pays people to recycle their bottles and cans.
• You cannot bring plastic bags into Zanzibar.
• Gardeners like to make compost from bits of old fruit and vegetables.
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Common Minimal Pairs in English

Consonant Sounds

Voiced and Voiceless Consonants

• Bag / Back
• Log / Lock
• Wig / Wick
• Snag / Snack
• Girls / Curls
• Grime / Crime
• Grease / Crease
• Gold / Cold
• Anger / Anchor
• Stag / Stack
• Guards / -

• Big / Pig
• Bath / Path
• Cab / Cap
• Bin / Pin
• Bear / Pear
• Bees / Peas
• Bay / Pay
• Back / Pack
• Stable / Staple
• Crumble / Crumple
• Boring / Pouring
• Mob / Mop

• Bus / Boss
• Gun / Gone
• Puppy / Poppy
• Shut / Shot
• Sung / Song
• Cut / Cot
• Luck / Lock
• Colour / Collar

• Cap / Cup
• Hat / Hut
• Ran / Run
• Match / Much
• Ankle / Uncle
• Drank / Drunk
• Fan / Fun
• Cat / Cut
• Began / Begun

• Care / Car
• Fair / Far
• Stairs / Stars
• Bear / Bar
• Tear (verb) / Tar

• Cat / Cart
• Ham / Harm
• Ants / Aunts
• Back / Bark
• Shack / Shark
• Hat / Heart
• Had / Hard
• Am / Arm

• Day / They
• Doze / Those
• Den / Then
• Udders / Others
• Breed / Breathe
• Load / Loathe
• Header

Prepositional Phrases

Modify nouns and verbs while indicating various relationships between subjects and verbs. They are used to color and inform sentences in powerful ways.

A prepositional phrase will function as an adjective or adverb.

Prepositions functioning as adjectives.

It is giving us additional information about a noun or pronoun in the sentence.

As an adjective, the prepositional phrase will answer the question Which one?

The woman on the boat is my aunt Carol.

Which woman? The one on the boat.

The object of this prepositional phrase is 'boat'. The preposition 'on' is telling us the relationship between the boat and the 'woman'. Woman is a noun, so this is an adjective phrase.

The girl in the red shirt is my little sister. (gives relationship...

Simple Present Tense Practice: 30 Examples

Below are 30 examples demonstrating the affirmative, negative, and interrogative forms of sentences, primarily using the Simple Present Tense. Pay close attention to the use of auxiliary verbs ('do'/'does') and correct verb conjugation.

• 1. Affirmative: I live in New York.
  Negative: I do not live in New York.
  Interrogative: Do I live in New York?
• 2. Affirmative: I always brush my teeth.
  Negative: I don't always brush my teeth.
  Interrogative: Do I always brush my teeth?
• 3. Affirmative: All living creatures need water to live.
  Negative: All living creatures do not need water to live.
  Interrogative: Do all living creatures need water to live?
• 4. Affirmative: Hurricanes are very dangerous.
  Negative:

English Grammar Proficiency Exercises

Sentence Correction and Identification

1. By the time we got to the airport, the flight had already left. (C)
2. She went to the concert last night with her friends. (I)
3. The more you practice, the better you speak English. (C)
4. He was wearing a sleeveless blue French shirt and a pair of smart black shoes. (I)
5. They had been waiting for two hours before the airline announced the delay. (I)
6. I have known my best friend since elementary school. (C)
7. While the passengers were boarding, the crew was checking the cabin. (I)
8. If you heat water to 100 degrees, it boils. (I)
9. I will have been studying for three hours by 8 p.m. tonight. (C)
10. She had already left when I called her. (C)
11. She has been working at the airport for three years.

unit 9A

second conditional

if+simple past+would or wouldn't

ej if I saw a ghost, Iwould scream

I Would scream if saw a ghost

Unit 9B

for (periodo de) since (fecha)

I've worked here for a year

I've worked here since 2016

Algo que ocurrio en el pasado, pero sigue ocurriendo

Unit 9C

present perfect v/s Simple past

have + V(pp)              verb (past)

has                      

Siggie marley has won a grammy        Bob Marley die of cancer

Unit 10A

*passive

Tolkien wrote the LOTR

(ACTIVA)

Pasiva= The LOTR was written by toklen

act= Chile exorts copper...

Pass= Cooper is exported by Chile

*Used to

(+) I used to study a lot

(-) I didn't use to study

(?) Did you use to study?

unit 9A

second conditional

if+simple past+would or wouldn't

ej if I saw a ghost,

My Unforgettable Vacation in Mancora, Peru

My last trip was when my father told us to take a vacation to Mancora, Peru. And so it was fulfilled. We traveled to some of the most beautiful beaches of Peru. I felt so happy. That was the first time we went on vacation with my father, and we shared great moments with him. He was always distant with us and was very quiet; we were not very attached to him. But those days we were at the beach, he was very different. He behaved in a manner the opposite of what he usually was. We ate a lot of seafood, swam in the sea, and also spent time with my brothers. It was great. I was very happy, and so were they. The scenery was beautiful, and the sea also. We spent three days there and then returned to our home...

1. Complete with Correct to/ing

(e.g., Do you think it's worth...)

2. "Verbs on the Box" (get on with...)

3. Adverb and Adjective

4. Passive Form

English Grammar Transformation Exercises

Practice your English skills with these sentence transformation exercises, covering various grammatical structures.

1. Relative Clauses

• Original: Albert is coming back from hospital tomorrow. He has just broken his ankle.
• Transformation: Albert, who has just broken his ankle, is coming back from hospital tomorrow.

2. Reported Speech

• Original: “How much is this T-shirt?”, she asked.
• Transformation: She asked how much that T-shirt was.

3. Modal Verbs

• Original: If you want my advice, don’t eat so many cakes!
• Transformation: You shouldn’t eat so many cakes.

4. Wish Clauses

• Original: I’m sorry I didn’t work hard enough last year.
• Transformation: I wish I had worked hard enough last year.

5. Contrast Connectors

• Original: