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

Essential English Language Reference

This document provides a concise reference for key English vocabulary and fundamental grammar rules, designed to enhance your language skills and aid in achieving fluency.

Core Vocabulary & Concepts

General Terms & Opposites

• Reclaim - reclamar
• Interaction - interacción
• Understatement - infravaloración
• Extracurricular - extraescolar
• Judgement - criterio, indecisión
• Weakness - debilidad, fuerza
• Apathy - indiferencia, iniciativa
• Dishonesty - deshonestidad, integridad
• Willingness - disposición, reticencia

Specialized Vocabulary Sections

Legal & Justice Terminology

• Kidnap - secuestrar
• Bribe - soborno
• Witness - testigo
• Culprit - criminal
• Suspect - sospechoso
• Trial - juicio
• Court - tribunal
• Judge - juez
• Statement - declaración
• Burgle

French-English Job Vocabulary

A

• Agent de voyage: Travel Agent
• Agent immobilier: Estate Agent
• Apprendre vite: Be a Fast Learner
• Arriver: Turn Up
• Assistant social: Social Worker
• A tout moment: At Any Time
• Avoir besoin de: Require
• Avoir de l'exp. en: Have Experience Of
• Avoir honte: Feel Ashamed
• Avoir l'idée de: Come Up With
• Avoir les compétences: Possess Skills
• Avoir une vue excellente: Have Excellent Eyesight

C

• Candidat approprié: Suitable Candidate
• Charpentier: Carpenter
• Chercher du travail: Look for a Job
• Commerce de détail: Retail
• Compétences personnelles: Personal Skills
• Comptable: Accountant
• Compter sur: Rely On
• Confus: Confused
• Courageux: Brave

D

• Dégoutant: Disgusting
• Dégouté: Disgusted
• Dég qqun de qqch: Put Somebody Off Something
• Démissionner: Resign From

The Writing Process Stages

1. Pre-writing

This is the planning phase of the writing process, when students brainstorm, research, gather, and outline ideas, often using diagrams for mapping out their thoughts. Audience and purpose should be considered at this point, and for older students, a working thesis statement needs to be started.

2. Drafting

Students create their initial composition by writing down all their ideas in an organized way to convey a particular idea or present an argument. Audience and purpose need to be finalized.

3. Revising

Students review, modify, and reorganize their work by rearranging, adding, or deleting content, and by making the tone, style, and content appropriate for the intended audience. The goal of this phase of the... Continue reading "Mastering the Writing Process Steps" »

Le Système Scolaire

• L'école maternelle - Jardín de infancia
• L’école élémentaire - Escuela primaria
• L’écolier - El colegial
• Le directeur - El director
• Le collège - El colegio
• Le collégien - El colegial
• Le principal - El director
• Le lycée général - La escuela secundaria general
• Le lycée technologique - Instituto tecnológico
• Le lycée professionnel - Instituto de formación
• Le lycéen - Instituto
• Le proviseur - El director
• L’université - La universidad
• L’étudiant - El estudiante
• Le recteur - El rector
• Les grandes écoles - Las escuelas grandes
• Le brevet des collèges - El diploma de los colegios
• Le bac (baccalauréat) - Bachillerato
• Le diplôme - Diploma
• Les notes (1-20) - Las calificaciones
• La moyenne (10/20) - El promedio
• Le contrôle - El

Word Formation: Building Blocks of Language

Key Word Transformations

• Adapt / Adaptation
• Clone / Cloning
• Design / Designer
• Develop / Developer / Development
• Discover / Discoverer / Discovery
• Idea
• Inspiration / Inspire
• Invent / Invention / Inventor
• Observation / Observe / Observer
• Replace / Replacement
• Research / Researcher
• Revolution / Revolutionary / Revolutionize
• Test / Tester

Common Prefixes

• Anti-: Antibiotic, Anti-globalization, Anti-social, Anti-technology
• Bio-: Biotechnology, Bioterrorism
• Inter-: Interactive, Intergalactic, International
• Micro-: Microorganism, Microwave
• Mis-: Misunderstand
• Multi-: Multicolored, Multi-ethnic, Multinational, Multi-talented, Multi-purpose, Multi-story
• Over-: Overproduce, Overspend, Overeat
• Pro-: Pro-GM, Pro-democracy, Probiotic
• Re-

Conditional Sentences in English

• Zero Conditional: Present + Present
  • If you heat water, it boils.
• First Conditional: Present + Future
  • If we leave now, we will catch the bus.
• Second Conditional: Past Simple + Would + Base Verb
  • If you played well, you would win.
  • If you were on Venus, you would see the sun.
• Third Conditional: Past Perfect (Had + Past Participle) + Would Have + Past Participle
  • If I had seen you, I would have said hello.

Protecting Our Planet: Simple Steps for a Big Impact

We've heard it since we were young: the Earth is in trouble. Our planet's health is deteriorating. But how can one person make a difference? There are many ways to help, and many are tied to your daily life.

Everyday Actions for Environmental Care

• Shopping Bags: When you go

Should Flying Become More Expensive?

Drafting an argument requires clear structure. Here is an analysis of the proposition: “The government should make flying more expensive.” Do you agree?

At the moment, flying is relatively cheap, and many people choose to travel by air. However, in my opinion, flying should become more expensive.

Environmental Concerns and Flight Frequency

Firstly, flying damages the environment. I feel very strongly that we all need to fly less because planes cause so much pollution. Research has shown that people fly more when prices are low. For example, at the moment the average European takes five or six flights a year.

Funding Greener Transport Alternatives

Secondly, if the government increased the tax on air travel,... Continue reading "Increasing Air Travel Costs: Environmental and Economic Benefits" »

Enhance your English proficiency with this comprehensive resource covering essential vocabulary and fundamental grammar rules.

Boost Your English Vocabulary

Expand your English lexicon with practical terms covering various aspects of daily life, from personal wellbeing to global issues.

Fitness & Wellbeing Terminology

Slang:

Jerga

Cut off:

Se corta

Signed up:

Estar apuntado

Take part:

Participar

Wellbeing:

Bienestar

Drop out:

Abandonar

Sporty:

Deportista

Get through:

Llegar

Teammates:

Compañeros de equipo

Cheer:

Animar

Balanced:

Equilibrado

Set a goal:

Establecer una meta

Positive focus:

Enfoque positivo

Enrol:

Inscribirse

Get your heart rate up:

Acelerar tu ritmo cardíaco

Get in shape:

Ponerse en forma

Keep-fit:

Mantenerse en forma

Immunity:

Inmunidad

Take up:

Ocupar / Empezar

Sentence Structures

Green paint can be made by mixing...
My mother is said to sell books.
Books are sold by my mother.
Korea is known to have scored the last goal.
The last goal was scored by Correa.

You mustn't cheat in exams.
Someone must have seen Sabela yesterday.
Shall I help you with your...?
She can't be hungry because...

She shouldn't smoke because...
Angel was such a nice boy that he had many friends.
Would you like to have a coffee?
You'd better not do that.
I wish I had gone shopping...
If I had known it was you, I would have opened the door.
Shannon suggested going for a walk.
She is having her car repaired next week.
Although I worked hard, I didn't feel tired.
If only you didn't say nasty things.
The tall man, who she was working with, is my father.... Continue reading "English Grammar and Idiomatic Expressions" »