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English Grammar: Verb Tenses

Present Simple

• Used for actions that happen regularly (but are not happening at this moment).
• Examples: schedules, calendars

Present Continuous

• Used for actions happening now.
• Examples: fixed and sure plans, orders

Past Simple

• Used for actions that were completed in the past.
• Regular verbs: Verb + -ed
• Irregular verbs: second column of the irregular verb list
• Negative: didn't + subject + verb
• Interrogative: did + subject + verb

Past Continuous

• Used for actions that lasted for a long time in the past (often with specific times or dates).
• Affirmative: subject + was/were + verb + -ing
• Negative: subject + wasn't/weren't + verb + -ing
• Interrogative: was/were + subject + verb + -ing

Past Perfect Simple

• Used for an action that happened before

Essential English Connectors and Their Meanings

Here's a list of common English connectors with their Spanish translations:

• First of all - En primer lugar
• In my opinion - En mi opinión
• Personally - Personalmente
• As far as I am concerned - Por lo que a mí respecta
• From my point of view - Bajo mi punto de vista
• To begin with - Para empezar
• Firstly - Primeramente
• Secondly - En segundo lugar
• That's why - Esto es por lo que
• Therefore - Por lo tanto
• As a result of - Como resultado
• Consequently - En consecuencia
• As - Como
• So - Así que
• Whereas - Mientras que
• So...that... - Tan...que...
• Such a...that... - Tan...que...
• On the one hand - Por una parte
• However/Nevertheless - Sin embargo
• Anyhow - De todas formas
• Anyway - De cualquier manera
• In spite of/Despite - A pesar de
• On

Ability

Expressing ability with modal verbs:

• Can (present ability): Can you speak French?
• Will be able to (future ability): She will be able to speak French in two months.
• Could (past ability, unrealized potential): I could have gone to university when I was younger.
• Be able to (general ability): She is able to speak Chinese.
• Was/were able to (past ability, achieved action): We were able to escape the fire.
• Couldn't/were not able to (negative past ability): We couldn't/were not able to finish the project.

Possibility

Expressing degrees of possibility:

• May (higher probability): He may be in his office.
• Might (lower probability): She might be 30 years old.

Certainty

Expressing certainty or impossibility:

• Must (certainty): He must be over 70.
• Can't (impossibility)

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

About to (+ verb)

A punto de (+ a verb)

According to (PREP)

Según lo que dice (referencing a source)

Actually (S)

Realmente, de hecho, por cierto

After all (BOTH)

Al fin y al cabo - (like “the bottom line”)

All in all (S)

En resumen / tomando todo en cuenta

All over (PREP)

Por todo (mundo, país), en todo

On the Contrary (S)

Todo lo contrario

Although (S)

Aunque

Anyway (S)

En todo caso, de todas maneras, de todas formas

As (BOTH)

Como, mientras, Dado que

As far as (S)

Hasta lo que ---- this expression is essentially just used with AS FAR AS I KNOW and AS FAR AS I’M CONCERNED

As for (PREP)

Referente a, en relación a, con respecto a

As a matter of fact (S)

De hecho, en realidad

As to (PREP)

Referente a, respecto a

As well (AT THE END)

También (use only at the end

TEMA2 VOCABULARY

• adopt an approach to
• analyse
• conduct
• demonstrate the possibility that
• field of study
• major breakthrough
• observe
• procedure
• process data
• provide evidence
• test a theory
• variety of sources
• guinea pig
• light years ahead
• quantum leap
• rocket science
• side effects
• trial and error
• come about
• come to light
• discomfort
• distinguish
• make out
• mutation
• personal hygiene
• pick up
• treatment
• widespread
• bring up
• go over
• hook up
• look at
• plug in
• rely on
• show off
• take after
• take away
• take in

TEMA 3 VOCABULARY

• influence
• make advances in
• make improvements to
• make the world of difference
• overcome difficulties
• remarkable achievement
• seek ways to improve
• transform
• turning point
• considerable change
• dramatic change
• far-reaching change
• refreshing change
• subtle change
• unexpected change
• city-dwelling
• complex
• doorstep
• expand
• go

SUJETO + am/are/is going to + VERBO EN INFINITIVO.

Modal Verbs

1. Ability

• Present: Can/Can't (e.g., I can speak 3 languages)
• Past: Could/Couldn't (e.g., I could play tennis when I was ten)

2. Advice

Should/Shouldn't (e.g., You should go to the doctor)

3. Obligation

• Have to (has, had...): The obligation does not come from the subject. (e.g., She has to do it)
• Must: The obligation comes from the subject. (e.g., You must study)

4. Lack of Obligation

Don't have to/Doesn't have to (e.g., You don't have to come, it's not necessary.)

5. Prohibition

Mustn't

• You mustn't exceed the speed limit when you drive.
• You mustn't insult your classmates.

6. Certainty

• If I am sure it is true: Must (e.g., He must be rich)
• If I am sure it is not true: Can't (e.g., He can't be your teacher, he's 19)
• If I am not sure it

VOCABULARY

TYPES OF FAMILIES

• The Extended Family: This family is composed of parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and other family members who live in the same household.
• The Stepfamily: In this type of family, also known as a blended family, the children are not biologically related to one of the parents. The parents have a new partner or spouse due to divorce or death.
• The Single-Parent Family: Also known as a lone-parent family, it is made up of one parent who is raising one or more children by him or herself.
• The Childless Family: This family includes a husband and wife but doesn't include children.
• The Nuclear Family: This is the traditional type of family, which consists of two parents and an only child or siblings. The parents are usually

Unit 8: Modal Verbs

Modals of Ability

• Can, Could, Be Able To - Express ability

Modals of Permission

• Can, Be Allowed To, Could - Express permission

Modals of Advice

• Should, Ought To - Give advice and make recommendations
• Had Better - Give advice, express intentions, and make warnings

Modals of Necessity, Obligation, and Prohibition

• Must - Express obligation
• Mustn't - Express prohibition
• Have To - Express obligation
• Don't Have To - Express no obligation
• Needn't - Express no obligation

Modals of Possibility and Certainty

• May/May Not/Might/Might Not/Could - Express possibility (present and future)
• Can't - Express that something seems impossible
• Must - Express certainty that something is true

Modals + Perfect Infinitive

• Might/May/Could + Have + Past Participle - Express