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

Essential Phrases for Professional Communication

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       ... Continue reading "The modern subject is the subject of the sciences." »

Driving Vocabulary: Road & Car Terms

• A One-Way Street: calle de un solo sentido
• Lane: carril
• Motorway/Highway/Freeway: autopista
• Rage: rabia
• Honk/Sound Your Horn: tocar el claxon
• Pledge: compromiso, garantía
• Crossroads/Junction: cruce
• Overtake: adelantar
• Roundabout: rotonda
• Fatal: mortal
• Motorist: conductor
• Rush Hour: hora punta
• A Flat Tyre: neumático pinchado
• Delay: retrasar
• Tough: duro
• Stuck: atascado / Traffic Jam: atasco
• Oncoming: en dirección opuesta
• Seatbelt: cinturón de seguridad
• Inattentive: distraído
• Boot/Trunk: maletero
• Bonnet/Hood: capó
• Lorry/Truck: camión
• Car Park/Parking Lot: aparcamiento
• Petrol/Gas: gasolina
• Complaint: queja
• A Dead End: callejón sin salida
• A Head-on Collision: choque frontal
• Claims Lives: cobrarse la vida de
• Slow Motion: a cámara

Past Simple

The past simple is formed by using the second column of irregular verbs or by adding -ed to regular verbs.

Use when with the past simple.

Past Continuous

The past continuous is formed with was/were + verb + -ing.

Use as or while with the past continuous.

Past Perfect

The past perfect is formed with had + past participle.

When used with the past simple and past perfect, it always goes before the past simple.

The Future

Will-Future

Will + infinitive is used for:

• Predictions
• Promises
• Spontaneous decisions
• Probability
• First conditional

Going to-Future

Going to + infinitive is used for:

• Future plans
• Intentions
• Predictions based on present evidence (e.g., "It's going to rain because there are clouds.")

Present Continuous

Am/is/are + -ing is used for plans.

Future

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

This section provides practical examples of common Spanish grammatical structures, including expressions of wishes, conditional clauses, and passive voice constructions. Each example is presented with its English translation to aid understanding.

Expressing Wishes and Regrets (Ojalá)

• Ojalá no me hubiera casado cuando tenía dieciocho años. I wish I hadn't got married when I was eighteen years old.
• Pat está desempleada desde hace tres meses. Ojalá encuentre un trabajo. Pat has been unemployed for three months. I wish she would find a job.
• Mi mujer quiere que tome clases de baile. Ojalá me gustara bailar. My wife wants me to take dance lessons. I wish I liked dancing.
• Estoy interesado en el deporte desde que era un chico, pero soy tan torpe.

Essential English Vocabulary and Grammar

Common Phrases and Idioms

Work and Everyday Life

• Paid peanuts: Pagar una miseria (To be paid very little)
• Got sacked: Despidieron (To be fired)
• Show you the ropes: Mostrar como funciona (To show someone how to do a job)
• Pulling your weight: Ponerte las pilas (To do your fair share of work)
• Homesick: Tener morriña (To miss home)
• Make yourself at home: Sentirse como en casa (To feel comfortable)
• Suburbs: Barrios residenciales (Residential areas outside of a city)
• Success: Éxito (Achievement)

Examples:

• Earn money, respect: Ganar dinero, respeto
• Teamwork: Football match, group project
• Profit: Selling things, investing money
• Pack: Suit, toothbrush
• Deliver: Pizza, message
• Dare: Come late, make personal phone calls

Other Useful

Mastering Formal Letters and Academic Essays

Formal Letter Structure and Etiquette

Formal letters require specific conventions for addressing and closing:

• Salutation: Begin with Dear Sir/Madam (if the recipient's name is unknown) or Dear Mr./Ms. [Surname] (if the name is known).
• Closing:
  • Use Yours faithfully if you started with Dear Sir/Madam.
  • Use Yours sincerely if you started with Dear Mr./Ms. [Surname].
• Signature: Your name should follow your signature.
• Paragraphing: Use separate paragraphs to state your purpose, provide details, and conclude.
• Opening: Clearly state the reason for writing the letter immediately.

Formal Letter Examples: Job Applications

Use these phrases when applying for a position:

• "I was interested in the advertisement in [newspaper/

Essential English and Catalan Phrases

Household and Daily Life

• Do something out of love (without getting anything in return): Hacer alguna cosa por amor al arte
• Chores: Tasques
• Household chores/jobs: Tasques domèstiques
• How kind: Qué adorable (mono)
• Businesslike manner: Hombre de negocios (hacer negocios)
• It's worth it: Vale la pena
• It's worth five pounds: Vale 5 libras
• Grumpily: Mal humor
• Accuse somebody of doing something: Acusar algú d'alguna cosa
• Windscreen: Parabrisas
• Traffic lights: Semáforo
• At least: Al menos
• Save money: Estalviar diners

Family and Relationships

• Family values: Valores de la familia
• A single working mum: Madre trabajadora soltera
• Do the washing: Lavar la ropa
• Do the washing-up: Lavar los platos
• Big age gap: Diferencia d'edad
• Babysitting:

Enola Holmes: A Captivating Mystery Film

The film Enola Holmes, based on the book series by Nancy Springer and directed by Harry Bradbeer, introduces us to the spirited younger sister of the renowned Sherlock Holmes. The main characters include Enola Holmes, the enigmatic Marquis of Tewkesbury, and the famous detective Sherlock Holmes himself.

Setting the Scene: Victorian England

The story unfolds in late 19th-century Great Britain. Enola lives a secluded life in the countryside with her unconventional mother, who has diligently taught her a unique set of skills and knowledge, preparing her for an independent future.

The Disappearance and Enola's Quest

On the morning of her sixteenth birthday, Enola awakens to find her mother has mysteriously vanished.... Continue reading "Enola Holmes Film Analysis: Story, Characters, and Reception" »