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

The Spanish Political System

What is a constitution?

The constitution is the fundamental law that controls the Spanish government.

What are the powers of the state?

The powers of the state are divided into three branches:

• Legislative Branch: Makes the laws.
• Executive Branch: Enforces the laws.
• Judicial Branch: Interprets laws and judges those who violate them.

What is the political system of Spain?

Spain has a monarch (a king or queen) who is the head of state. The monarch's role is mainly ceremonial, but they also represent the country internationally.

The Cold War and Global Conflicts

What was the Cold War and when did it end?

The Cold War was an ideological confrontation from 1945 until the dissolution of the USSR. The United States led the Western... Continue reading "Spain's Government, Cold War History & Global Agencies" »

Body Parts

English / Español

MOUTH / BOCA

CALF / PANTORRILLA

WRIST / MUÑECA

HEEL / TALÓN

NECK / CUELLO

TONGUE / LENGUA

HIP / CADERA

CHEEK / MEJILLA

CHEST / PECHO

ELBOW / CODO

WAIST / CINTURA

NAVEL / OMBLIGO

Medical Conditions

English / Español

COUGH / TOS

HEADACHE / DOLOR DE CABEZA

STRIP / TIRITA

WOUND / HERIDA

SWOLLEN ANKLE / TOBILLO HINCHADO

RASH / ERUPCIÓN

SORE THROAT / GARGANTA IRRITADA

TOOTHACHE / DOLOR DE MUELAS

BACKACHE / DOLOR DE ESPALDA

Phrases

English / Español

THERE IS A WATER TRAY NEXT TO THE SAND TRAY / HAY UNA BANDEJA DE AGUA AL LADO DE LA BANDEJA DE ARENA

THERE ARE SOME TOYS ON THE TABLE / HAY ALGUNOS JUGUETES EN LA MESA

SHE IS GOING TO LOSE HER MIND / ELLA VA A PERDER LA CABEZA

QUITE SURPRISED / BASTANTE SORPRENDIDA

POINT OF VIEW / PUNTO DE VISTA

ACHIEVE... Continue reading "English-Spanish Vocabulary List: Body Parts, Emotions, Cooking Verbs & More" »

Business English Essentials

Vocabulary Building

Acquire / Reject / Grow / Succeed / Benefit / Innovate / Flex / Operate / Profit / Increase / Fall / Install / Stress / Motivate / Create / Excite

Stressful / Lawyer / Responsibilities / Motivating / Employees / Illness / Communication / Training / Unnecessary / Recognize / Relationship (Relate) / Management / Performance

Grammar Practice

Modal Verbs and Expressions of Obligation

1. It’s not obligatory to wear a tie. You don't have to / needn't wear a tie. (Although, we could use "should").
2. This road is too bumpy. You shouldn't / mustn't drive so quickly.
3. Tomorrow is a holiday. We don't have to get up early in the morning.
4. You must drive on the right side of the road in England.
5. If you go sailing, you must

Mastering English Grammar & Vocabulary

English Tenses and Time Expressions

• Present Simple: Actions, habits, facts. (e.g., do/don't)
• Present Continuous: Actions happening now. (e.g., is/are + -ing)
• Present Perfect: Actions that started in the past and continue or have a result in the present. (e.g., have/has + past participle)
• Present Perfect Continuous: Actions that started in the past, continue up to the present, and emphasize duration. (e.g., have/has + been + -ing)
• Past Simple: Completed actions in the past. (e.g., -ed or irregular verbs)
• Past Continuous: Actions ongoing in the past. (e.g., I was working)
• Past Perfect: Actions completed before another past action. (e.g., I had worked)
• Past Perfect Continuous: Actions ongoing before another past

Marie Curie: A Pioneer of Radioactivity

Early Life and Education

Marie Curie was born in Poland in 1867. She pursued her passion for physics at the Sorbonne in Paris.

Marriage and Scientific Discoveries

There, she met Pierre Curie, a physics professor, whom she married a year later. Together, the Curies made groundbreaking discoveries, isolating the radioactive elements radium and polonium. Their experiments revolutionized scientific understanding of radioactivity.

Legacy and Impact

Marie Curie's research on radium and polonium revealed their potential to treat tumors, a discovery that has profoundly impacted cancer treatment. Her remarkable contributions to science earned her two Nobel Prizes. While her work with radioactivity benefited millions,... Continue reading "Marie Curie's Life, Legacy, and the Meaning of Friendship" »

1. The Canovas System and Its Foundations

1.1. Bases of the Canovas System

Cánovas' ideology drew inspiration from French doctrinal liberalism and Spanish moderatism. He advocated for a British-style system based on bipartisanship, where the Conservative Party and the Liberal Party would alternate in power and opposition.

This bipartisanship excluded Carlists and Republicans from the political system.

The intended peaceful alternation of power under Cánovas' system did not work as expected and became a facade. Both parties used pacts and a tacit agreement based on:

• Peaceful transfer of power
• Calling elections
• Electoral fraud

Electoral fraud involved caciquismo, encasillado, and pucherazo. Caciquismo refers to a pyramidal patronage network where high-... Continue reading "Understanding Spain's Political System: From the Canovas System to Opposition Movements" »

The Complete List of Irregular English Verbs

This comprehensive resource provides the infinitive, past simple, and past participle forms for essential irregular verbs, along with their corresponding Spanish meanings. Use this table to improve your English conjugation skills.