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

Opinion Essay Essentials

Useful Vocabulary and Phrases

Enhance your writing with these key expressions:

• Expressing Opinion: In my opinion (En mi opinión), Personally (Personalmente), I think/believe (Yo creo firmemente), I agree/disagree (Estoy de acuerdo/no), It seems to me that (Me parece que), As I see it (Como yo lo veo), From my point of view (Desde mi punto de vista), I am sure (Estoy seguro).
• Connecting Ideas: My main reason is (Mi razón principal), Nowadays (Hoy en día), Also/Furthermore (Además), Because/Since/Due to (Porque/Ya que/Debido a), It is clear (Es claro), It is true that (Es cierto que), For example (Por ejemplo), However (Sin embargo), Whether (Ya sea), Luckily (Por suerte), Firstly/Secondly/Thirdly (En primer lugar...)

Mastering the Passive Voice in English

Present Simple

Active: This singer writes many songs.

Passive: Many songs are written by this singer.

Past Simple

Active: This singer wrote many songs.

Passive: Many songs were written by this singer.

Future Simple

Active: This singer will write many songs.

Passive: Many songs will be written by this singer.

Present Continuous

Active: This singer is writing many songs.

Passive: Many songs are being written by this singer.

Past Continuous

Active: This singer was writing many songs.

Passive: Many songs were being written by this singer.

Present Perfect Simple

Active: This singer has written many songs.

Passive: Many songs have been written by this singer.

Past Perfect Simple

Active: This singer had written many songs.

Passive:... Continue reading "Mastering Passive Voice in English: Examples and Key Business Vocabulary" »

English Passive Voice Examples

Transforming active voice sentences to passive voice:

• Open → is opened
• Is opening → is being opened
• Has opened → has been opened
• Opened → was opened
• Was opening → was being opened
• Had opened → had been opened
• Will open → will be opened
• Is going to open → is going to be opened

Conditional Sentence Structures

• First Conditional (1º): If / Unless / As long as + Present Simple, ... Will + Infinitive. (e.g., If I cook..., I will eat...)
• Second Conditional (2º): If + Past Simple, ... Would + Infinitive. (e.g., If I cooked..., I would eat...)
• Third Conditional (3º): If + Past Perfect, ... Would Have + Past Participle. (e.g., If I had cooked..., I would have eaten...)

Using Gerunds (-ing form)

Use a gerund:

• When the

Passive Voice Conjugations

• Present: buy / are bought / are being bought
• Past: were bought / were being bought
• Future: will be bought / are going to be bought
• Perfect: have been bought / had been bought / will have been bought
• Modals: can be bought / could be bought / should be bought / should have been bought

Conditional Sentences

• First: If + present simple + future simple (will)
• Second: If + past simple + conditional simple (would)
• Third: If + past perfect + conditional perfect (would have + participle)

Reported Speech

Verb Shifts: buy → bought, are studying → were studying, called → had called, have seen → had seen, will → would, can → could, may → might, must → had to.

Time and Place Expressions

now → then, today → that day, here... Continue reading "English Grammar Reference: Verb Tenses, Conditionals and Modals" »

Present simple; He, she, it playS (doesnt) (does). I, You, We, They, Play (dont) (do), always, usually, often, sometimes, never, every week, rarely, how often?. Past S.  Did, didnt, (did?), yesterday, last week, two days ago, in 2007, when, then. Present C. I am, You are, he, she, it: is, we you they: are, this year, today, at present, this evening, tonight, tomorrow, week, year. Past C. I was, you were, he she it: was, we you they: were. Last night, week, year, at 4 oclock, when, while, as. Present perfect S V3. I/ you Have Worked, He/ She/ It: Has, We/ You/ They have. (never, ever, already, just, yet, recently, lately, how long.., for, since,) acciones que empezaron en el pasado y que continúan en el presente. Past perfect S. V3 I/You/... Continue reading "What is the time of the pet" »

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" »

Quantifiers and Question Tags Rules

Quantifiers (Context)

• Some: Used in positive statements.
• Any: Used in negative statements or questions.
• Something / Someone / Somewhere: Used in positive contexts.
• Anything / Anyone / Anywhere: Used in negative contexts.

Question Tag Examples

• He likes [it], doesn’t he? (Positive statement, negative tag)
• [She] ran [fast], didn’t she? (Past simple example)
• [They] have been [working], haven't they? (Correcting polarity for 'Have been...')
• I’m [tired], aren't I? (Special case for 'I am')
• Imperative: [Close the door], will you?

Common English False Friends (Falsos Amigos)

This section highlights common words that sound similar in English and Spanish but have different meanings.

• Actually (De hecho) / Actualmente (Nowadays)

Invention:                         Years:
Automobile                      1900
vacuum cleaner                1901
electric typeriritor            1902
airplane                            1903
refrigerator                       1911
credit card                         1920
television                           1927
velero                                1940
correction pen                   1956
ynternet                             1973
compact disc                      1980
cell chone                           1983
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