Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Other foreign languages

Present Simple Tense

Affirmative

• I, You, We, They + verb (e.g., I work, You work, We work, They work) - Without 's' or 'es' at the end of the verb.
• He, She, It + verb + s/es (e.g., He works, She works, It works) - With 's' or 'es' at the end of the verb.

Negative

• I, You, We, They + don't + verb (e.g., I don't work)
• He, She, It + doesn't + verb (e.g., He doesn't work) - No 's' or 'es' is added to the main verb because 'doesn't' already includes it.

Time Expressions

• Always
• Every (day, week, month, year...)
• Once (a day, a week...)
• Twice (a day, a week...)
• Never
• Normally
• Often
• Seldom
• Sometimes
• Usually
• Generally
• Rarely

Present Continuous Tense

Affirmative

• I + am + verb + -ing (e.g., I'm working)
• You, We, They + are + verb + -ing (e.g., You are working, We are working,

It dawned on me: I realized

I’ve lost count of: I can’t remember       Innovation: new idea    Incubation: development

Hunch: an idea based on feelings     Adjacent: next to    Without exception: In every case

In solitude: alone

I can’t come up with        I haven’t the faintest idea

I’m drawing a blank          It’s dawning on me

It occurs to me that          I’m coming to the realization that

I’m stuck for ideas             It strikes me that

Much to dismay of: causing quite a lot of upset for     Chuck: throw     Congregate: gather together

Become: self-perpetuating: makes itself worse     Stay put: remain in one

Got to the bottom of       Overcome obstacles

Solve the dilemma       ...

Key Events and Themes in 'The Outsiders'

1. Dally raises his weapon, leading the police to perceive a threat and fatally shoot him.

2. Dally wanted to die because Johnny was dead, and he couldn’t live without him.

3. Ponyboy was bothered by his school friends seeing his house because most of them came from "good homes."

4. He was worried that he and Soda would go to an all-boys home.

5. Ponyboy is acquitted, and the Curtis brothers get to stay together.

6. By the end of the novel, after the deaths of Bob and Johnny, Ponyboy has completely lost his innocence; his grades drop, and his attitude changes.

7. His grades suffer because he became detached, developed a bad attitude, and became depressed.

8. Pony can raise his grade to a C by writing an outstanding...

Modal Verbs

• Necessity: When something is needed (e.g., need to)
• Obligation: When something is obligatory (e.g., must, have to)
• Lack of Obligation: When something is not necessary (e.g., don't have to, needn't)
• Prohibition: When something is not allowed (e.g., mustn't, can't)
• Advice: Giving a suggestion (e.g., should(n't), ought (not) to)

Talking About Habits

Structures used for present and past habits:

• Used to (past habits)
• Always (present or past habits)
• Present Simple (present habits/routines)
• Present Continuous (annoying present habits, often with always)
• Past Simple (past habits/routines)

Using Be/Get Used To

• Used to + base verb: Refers to a past habit or state that no longer exists.
• Be used to + -ing/noun: Means to be accustomed to something.
• Get used

First Payment Reminder: Outstanding Invoice

We are writing to request that you check the status of Invoice NX, dated the 16th. We are surprised that, as of today, we have not received your remittance, nor have we heard from you regarding this matter. Therefore, we would like to remind you that your outstanding balance amounts to €.

Addressing Payment Delays

We are convinced that the reason your payment is now three weeks overdue is that our bill has inadvertently been overlooked. We understand that you likely have a valid reason for this delay. Please let us know if there is any issue regarding this payment default.

Action Required

We look forward to receiving your remittance soon. Please make the necessary arrangements to send the aforementioned...

Key Vocabulary and Their Meanings

• Rented: Tenant.
• Settle: A wooden seat.
• Harm: *Faire mal* (French).
• Bleak: *Ombrívol* (Catalan).
• Farmyard: Corral.
• Realize: To start to understand something.
• Haunt someone: To come back after death to visit someone; ghosts haunt people or places.
• Trembling: Shaking.
• Mistress: The woman in charge of the house.
• Cheated: Something dishonest or unfair.
• Treating: To behave in a certain way towards someone.
• Became lame: *Ser coix* (Catalan).
• Punish: To make somebody suffer because they have done something wrong.
• Swore: To speak very rudely and unpleasantly to someone.
• Ashamed: To feel unhappy or uncomfortable because you think you are not as good as other people.
• Revenge: To harm someone because they have harmed you.
• Pinched: To

Financial Vocabulary: English to Spanish

• Banknote: billete
• Cash: dinero en efectivo
• Cash machine: cajero
• Cheque book: chequera / talonario de cheques
• Coin: moneda
• Credit card: tarjeta de crédito
• Currency: moneda / divisa
• Purse: monedero
• Wallet: cartera
• Receipt: recibo
• Till: caja registradora
• To afford: permitirse
• To borrow: pedir prestado
• To lend: prestar
• To cost: costar
• To owe: deber
• To pay for: pagar por
• To save: ahorrar
• To earn: ganar
• To spend: gastar
• To change: cambiar

Everyday English Phrases & Expressions

• To spend a lot of time: pasar mucho tiempo
• Don’t get me wrong / Don’t misunderstand me: no me malinterpretes
• Gooseberry: sujetavelas
• Actually: en realidad / de hecho
• The boy/girl of my dreams: el chico/chica de mis sueños
• I got his/her reply straight

🔵 0. Zero Conditional

If + present simple, present simple

Used for general truths, scientific laws, and things that always happen.

• If you heat water to 100°C, it boils.

🔵 1. First Conditional

If + present simple, will + base verb

Used for possible future situations.

• If I study, I will pass the exam.

🔵 2. Second Conditional

If + past simple, would + base verb

Used for unreal or unlikely situations in the present or future.

• If I had more money, I would travel the world.

🔵 3. Third Conditional

If + had + past participle, would have + past participle

Used for impossible past situations (regrets).

• If I had studied, I would have passed.

🔶 Mixed Conditional: Type 3 → 2

(Past condition → present consequence)

If + had + participle, would + base verb

• If

Essential English Vocabulary

• Made improvements to: Hacer mejoras en
• Influencing: Influir en
• Make advances in: Hacer avances en
• Turning point: Punto de inflexión
• Transform life: Transformar
• Inspired: Inspirado
• Overcame these difficulties: Superó estas dificultades
• Remarkable achievement: Logro notable
• Seeking ways to improve: Buscar maneras de mejorar
• Considerable: Considerable, importante
• Dramatic: Dramático, radical
• Far-reaching: De largo alcance, trascendental
• Refreshing: Renovador, refrescante
• Subtle: Sutil
• Unexpected: Inesperado
• Looks back on: Recordar (el pasado)
• Stand up for: Defender (una causa, creencia)
• Get through: Superar (una dificultad)
• Miss out on: Perderse (una oportunidad, experiencia)
• Keep up with: Mantenerse al día con
• Get down with: (Coloquial)