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

Mastering Conditional Sentences and Hypothetical Wishes

Spanish and English Grammar Practice

This section provides practical examples illustrating various conditional structures, wishes, and related conjunctions in both Spanish and English, focusing on accurate translation and grammatical usage.

1. Si viajaras a India, verías lo que significa ser realmente pobre

   If you travelled to India, you would see what it means to be really poor.

2. No me iré a menos que vengas conmigo

   I won't go away unless you come with me.

3. Dave habría tenido más éxito si hubiera trabajado más duro

   Dave would have been more successful if he had worked harder.

4. Mary se habría quedado en Internet toda la noche si su madre no la hubiera obligado a acostarse

   Mary would have stayed

Crime and Punishment

• Crime doesn't pay - El que la hace la paga
• Shape - Forma
• Turn up - Aparecer/aumentar
• Gaze - Mirar
• Raise - Levantar
• Unfolded - Desdoblado
• Barely - Apenas
• Appointment - Cita
• Hand - Dar
• Lost track of - Pista perdida de
• Lean on - Apoyarse
• Scar - Cicatriz
• Steady - Estable
• Reassure - Asegurar
• Brought up - Levantar/mencionar
• Are going on
• Turn in
• Gave away
• Put down
• Back up
• Take out
• Mugger - Agresor
• Con artist - Estafador
• Pickpocket - Carterista
• Shoplifter - Ladrón
• Get caught - Quedar atrapado
• Let off - Dejar ir
• Proof - Prueba
• Safeguard - Salvaguardar
• Fine - Multa
• Gets away with - Salirse con la suya
• Guilty - Culpable
• Trial - Juicio
• Valuables - Objetos de valor
• Ran off with - Escapar
• Breaking into - Entrar ilegal

Money and Finance

• Cost an arm and a leg - Cuesta demasiado
• Well

Modal Verbs in English

1. Expressing Possibility

a) Can

Used to express the ability or possibility of doing something in the present tense.

Examples:

• I can speak English.
• You can smoke here.
• You can come now if you want.

b) May

Used to indicate possibility in the present or future. The situation is more likely to happen than with 'might'.

Examples:

• He may arrive (it's possible he will arrive).
• I may go to the mall (I am considering going to the mall).

c) Might

Used to express prediction or possibility in the present or future, but less certain than 'may'.

Examples:

• In the future, employees might not retire at the age of 65.

2. Expressing Obligation and Advice

a) Should

Used to give advice or make suggestions.

Examples:

• You should visit your friend. He is sick.
• You

Mastering Reported Speech in English

When transforming direct speech into reported (indirect) speech, several changes occur, primarily affecting verb tenses, pronouns, and time/place expressions. Here's a breakdown of common transformations:

Verb Tense Changes

• Present Simple: like → liked
• Present Continuous: am living → was living
• Past Simple: bought → had bought
• Past Continuous: was walking → had been walking
• Present Perfect: haven't seen → hadn't seen
• Past Perfect: had taken → had taken (no change)
• Future Simple (will): will → would
• Conditional (would): would → would (no change)
• Modal (can): can → could
• Modal (could): could → could (no change)
• Modal (shall): shall → would
• Modal (should): should → should (no change)
• Modal (may / might)

To Be

Present Past

I am (yo soy) I was (yo era)

You are (usted está) You were (usted estaba)

He is (él es) He was (él era)

She is (ella es) She was (ella era)

It is (eso es) It was (eso era)

We are (nosotros somos) We were (nosotros éramos)

They are (ellos son) They were (ellos eran)

To be (past) + verb (ing)

• Present Simple

- Affirmative: Personal Pronoun + Verb

Personal Pronoun + Verb + -s (3rd person singular)

- Negative: Personal Pronoun + do/hacer (does/hace) + not + Verb

Am and are = do; is = does

- Interrogative: Do/Does + Personal Pronoun + Verb?

• Past Simple

- Affirmative: Personal Pronoun + Verb (-ed or irregular)

Examples of irregular verbs: blow/blew, forget/forgot, understand/understood, tell/told, run/

1. Career Roles and General Vocabulary

Job Titles and Professional Roles

Chief Accountant

Computer Programmer

Customer Service Clerk

(Atención al cliente)

Financial Director

Head of IT

Head of Research and Development

Human Resources Director

(Director de RR. HH.)

Junior Administrative Assistant

Laboratory Technician

Managing Director

Sales Representative

(Representante de ventas)

Miscellaneous Terms and Verbs

Vote

(Votar)

Sweetener

(Edulcorante)

Teaspoon

(Cucharilla)

Greet

(Saludar)

Offer

(Ofrecer)

Show

(Enseñar)

Take

(Coger)

Appointment

(Cita)

Career

(Carrera)

2. Office Locations and Directions

Building Areas and Locations

Car Park

(Aparcamiento)

Conference Room

Ground Floor

Lift

(Ascensor)

Lobby

(Vestíbulo)

Maintenance Department

(Mantenimiento)

Stairs

(Escalera)

Stockroom

(Almacén)

English Vocabulary and Expressions

General Vocabulary

• Referee: Árbitro
• Overhead: Oír por casualidad
• Flee: Huir
• Buried: Enterrar
• Nodded: Asentir con la cabeza
• Cheered: Animar
• Grateful: Agradecido
• Self-centred: Egocéntrico
• Fake: Fingir

Common Expressions

• Nothing to do with: No tiene nada que ver
• Get to: Tener oportunidad
• Settled for: Conformarse
• Take a break: Hacer un descanso

Family and Relationships

• Sibling: Hermano/a
• Cousin: Primo/a
• Single: Soltero/a
• An only child: Hijo único
• Niece: Sobrina
• Nephew: Sobrino
• Widow: Viuda
• Relative: Pariente
• Great-grandfather: Bisabuelo
• Brother-in-law: Cuñado
• Spouse: Marido o mujer
• Engaged: Comprometido
• Pregnant: Embarazada
• Inherit: Heredar
• Jealous: Celoso
• Bond: Vínculo
• Raised: Criado

Phrasal Verbs: Relationships

• Turn into: Convertirse en
• Fight

Corrected English Passive Voice Examples

Basic English Vocabulary

Days of the Week

• Monday
• Tuesday
• Wednesday
• Thursday
• Friday
• Saturday
• Sunday

Months of the Year

• January
• February
• March
• April
• May
• June
• July
• August
• September
• October
• November
• December

Simple Questions and Answers

1. When is your birthday? - ¿Cuándo es tu cumpleaños?
2. Who is your best friend? - ¿Quién es tu mejor amigo?
3. What is your favorite color? - ¿Cuál es tu color favorito?
4. What is your favorite film? - ¿Cuál es tu película favorita?
5. Who is your favorite singer or actor? - ¿Quién es tu cantante o actor favorito?
6. What is your nickname? - ¿Cuál es tu apodo?
7. Who is Diego Forlán? - ¿Quién es Diego Forlán?
8. How old are you? - ¿Cuántos años tienes?
9. Maria is from Uruguay? - ¿María es de Uruguay?
10. Miranda is not 12? - ¿Miranda no tiene 12

My 21st Birthday Celebration

My 21st birthday party was a great time. I was surrounded by the people that love me, friends and family.

In the morning, I went to the beach with my friends. We played ping pong, card games, listened to music, and had a great time until sunset. We took a lot of photos and selfies. On the way home, we had some milkshakes; mine was Ferrero Rocher, my favourite!

The best time was at night because my family made me a special surprise. They reserved a private lounge in a new karaoke bar for us. We tried different food of all varieties, which was a new experience for me, for example, snails in spicy sauce, pigs' ears, etc. Then we sang a few songs, we danced, had some drinks and great cocktails like Mojitos, my favourite!... Continue reading "Memories of a Special Birthday and Island Getaway" »