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

English Word Components and Expressions

Prefixes and Their Meanings

Understanding prefixes helps in determining the meaning of many words. Here are examples grouped by their common prefixes:

• ANTI-: war, learning, coeducational, exist, cooperation
• MIS-: behave, print, understand
• OUT-: perform, play, run
• OVER-: charge, confident, work
• RE-: write, do
• UNDER-: achieve, cook, estimate
• DIS-: approve, honesty, loyalty
• IL-: legal, legible
• IM-: mature, polite, possible
• IN-: compatible
• IR-: rational, responsible
• UN-: comfortable, usual

Nouns Related to Personal Qualities

A list of important personal attributes:

ABILITY, AMBITION, CAUTION, DETERMINATION, ENCOURAGEMENT, ENJOYMENT, HAPPINESS, IMAGINATION, INSPIRATION, PATIENCE, PERFORMANCE, REALITY, TOUGHNESS, VIOLENCE,

Finding Joy in Your Work

Happiness at Work

If you want to be happy at work, remember that all problems can be solved.

Another way to be happy is to enrich your work environment with photos and flowers.

Working Conditions

Builders have worse working conditions than bankers.

Job Satisfaction

I love developing new products. It's the most fascinating job in the company.

Information technology specialists are slightly happier than real estate agents.

Legal Profession

I am a lawyer specializing in real estate law. My work is always interesting.

I handle all the legal work related to the sale of buildings and land.

I work 60 hours a week and sometimes get very stressed, but I'm happy most of the time.

Fitness Industry

I am a personal trainer. I love this job because

**That's a Real Point in Favor of a Working Mother**

And this is very well-paid. My schedule is much more flexible than in some of the larger accounting firms.

**I'm a Public Employee and Work for the Board**

I'm in a department with eight others. Our job is to attract investment to the area. I love the teamwork.

**This is the Most Stimulating Work I've Ever Had**

In addition, my work is very secure. I'm happier in my job than most of the people I know.

**When I'm Not at Work, I Spend All My Time with My Children**

Allow me to say a few words about myself. I was born in the United States and now work on the West Coast.

**I Love to Go Back to My Hometown Whenever I Can**

I really miss my family. I grew up in the North of England, but my family moved

Mrs. Doubtfire

A Story of a Divorced Family

Chris, Natty, and Lydia are torn between their divorced parents. They live with their responsible mother, Miranda, but desperately miss their fun-loving father, Daniel.

Daniel, a dedicated but childish man, struggles with keeping his house clean. Miranda wants the children to stay with her due to Daniel's uncleanliness and infrequent visits.

Desperate to see his kids, Daniel devises a plan. Miranda seeks a housekeeper to care for the children and the house. Daniel, seizing the opportunity, disguises himself as Mrs. Doubtfire, a charming and capable nanny.

Mrs. Doubtfire cares for the children daily, keeping the house immaculate. However, Miranda becomes suspicious. One day, she discovers Mrs. Doubtfire'... Continue reading "Mrs. Doubtfire: A Family Comedy" »

English Vocabulary and Grammar Notes

Health and Fitness Vocabulary

• Disease: enfermedad
• Endurance: resistencia
• Mood: humor
• Pressure: presión
• Self-discipline: autodisciplina
• Sign: síntoma
• Trainer: entrenador

Health and Fitness Verbs & Phrases

• Avoid: evitar
• Break up: romper / disolver
• Chase: perseguir
• Come down with: coger una enfermedad
• Cut down on: reducir el consumo de
• Deal with: ocuparse de
• Enable: permitir
• Get over: recuperarse de
• Give up: rendirse
• Improve: mejorar
• Injure: lesionar
• Kick in: empezar a hacer efecto
• Last: durar
• Put on: ganar peso
• Run away: huir
• Sense: sentir
• Strengthen: fortalecer
• Take up: empezar a practicar
• Warm up: calentarse
• Work out: hacer ejercicio

Health and Fitness Adjectives

• Exhausted: agotado
• Fed up with: harto de
• Miserable: triste
• Nutritious:

Essential Technical Vocabulary (English-Spanish)

Tools Vocabulary

Cutting Tools

• File - lima
• Saw - sierra
• Scissors - tijeras
• Cutter - cúter
• Chisels - cincel

Gripping Tools

• Vice - tornillo de banco
• Pliers - alicates
• Spanner - llave inglesa
• Box Wrench - llave de tubo
• Allen Keys - llave de Allen
• Socket Wrench - llave de vaso
• Nippers - tenazas
• Screwdrivers - destornilladores

Measuring Tools

• Calliper - calibre
• Measuring Tape - metro
• Torque Wrench - dinamométrica
• Spirit Level - nivel
• Micrometer - micrómetro
• Multimeter - polímetro

Other Tools and Fasteners

• Hammer - martillo
• Hydraulic Jack - gato hidráulico
• Torch - linterna
• Grinder - esmeril
• Welding Torch - soplete
• Screws - tornillo roscachapa
• Washers - arandela
• Bolts - tornillo
• Nuts - tuerca
• Nails - clavos

Prepositions for Location

• In

TEMA 6: HOW MUCH?

CONSUMERISM

• Borrow: To take money or goods with the promise of returning them later.
• Coin: A small, flat piece of metal used as money.
• Earn: To receive money for work done.
• Exchange (n): The act of giving or receiving one thing in return for another.
• Exchange (v): To give or receive one thing in return for another.
• Lend: To give money or goods to someone with the expectation of being repaid.
• Make money: To earn money.
• Manage money: To control and plan how money is spent and saved.
• Note: A piece of paper money.
• Owe: To be obligated to pay back money or goods.
• Pocket money: Money given to a child for personal expenses.
• Rent: To pay for the use of something, such as a house or car.
• Save: To put money aside for future use.
• Spend: To use money

Personal Correspondence

Hi, thanks for your email; it was great to hear from you. It sounds like things are going well. I was delighted to receive your message.

Regarding your question about… I will start with that. To tell you the truth…

Oh, and one more thing, regarding your point about… honestly…

I will leave it at that for now. Drop me a line if you have any more questions or want further information. By the way, give my love to your mum and dad.

Cheers,
Omar

Correspondencia Personal

Hola, gracias por tu correo electrónico; fue muy bueno saber de ti. Parece que las cosas van bien. Estaba encantado de recibir tu mensaje.

Sobre tu pregunta relacionada con… empezaré por ahí. Para decirte la verdad…

Oh, y una cosa más, sobre tu punto... Continue reading "Professional Correspondence and Essay Structure Analysis" »

English Grammar Cheat Sheet

Past Simple vs. Present Perfect

Past Simple

Use for completed actions in the past.

Time markers: yesterday, last week, two days ago, when

Present Perfect

Use for actions that started in the past and continue to the present.

Time markers: never, ever, already, just, yet, lately, for, since

For negative sentences, use the corresponding positive tense.

Questions

Use the same tense as the original statement.

Structure: (wh + verb + subject + verb + rest of the sentence)

If there's only one verb, conjugate the verb 'to be' in the corresponding tense.

Question words:

• What - qué
• When - cuándo
• Where - dónde
• How many - cuánto
• Who - quién
• Why - por qué
• Which - cuál

Relative Clauses

Defining

No commas needed. If the relative pronoun is the... Continue reading "English Grammar Cheat Sheet: Mastering Key Concepts" »

Part One: Radio Silent Morning Schedule

You are going to hear a radio announcer giving information about the morning's programmes on a local radio station, Radio Silent. As you listen, choose the best way to fill in the missing information in the following summary. Mark A, B, or C on your answer sheet.

The Morning's Radio Programmes

• 8:00 (1) __________

  1. National news
  2. Local news
  3. Financial news

• 8:10 Weather Forecast

• 8:15 Start the Day – with David Humphrey talking about (2) __________

  1. His book on the Queen
  2. A musician
  3. The environmental conference in Japan

• (3) __________ Round the Centre – A look at Bournemouth’s new Convention Centre

  1. 9:10
  2. 9:20
  3. 9:30

• 10:00 Your Choice – with (4) __________, local news, and comments

  1. Travel information
  2. Interviews
  3. Music

• 10:45 The