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

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/

About Myself

(Sent by Andrés Eloy, a student from Caracas, Venezuela)

Hi, I'm a student. My name is Andrés. I like studying a lot, but I don't like studying mathematics because it's so hard or difficult. My friends say that I'm boring, but nobody can change that; this is my way.

My hobby is playing baseball. I love playing it because it's very interesting. Since I was a child, I have watched that sport on TV. I love it.

I'm a good person, I guess. Thanks for everything. Bye.

Sobre mí

(Enviado por Andrés Eloy, estudiante de Caracas, Venezuela)

Hola, soy un estudiante. Me llamo Andrés. Me gusta estudiar mucho, pero no me gusta estudiar matemáticas porque es difícil. Mis amigos dicen que soy aburrido, pero nadie puede cambiar eso; esta es mi manera.... Continue reading "Student Personal Stories and Reflections" »

Reported Speech: Rules and Examples

Statements (Enunciativas)

Direct: "I'm exhausted."
Reported: He said he was exhausted.

Questions (Preguntas)

Yes/No Questions

Direct: "Do you live in Malaga?"
Reported: He asked me if I lived in Malaga.

Wh- Questions

Direct: "Where do you go?"
Reported: He asked me where I went.

Commands (Órdenes)

Direct: "Don't talk," she said to him.
Reported: She told him not to talk.

Suggestions (Sugerencias)

Direct: Ellie: "Let's watch a comedy."
Reported Options:

• Ellie suggested watching a comedy.
• Ellie suggested that we watch a comedy.
• Structure: suggest + verb-ing or suggest + that + subject + verb.
• Ellie suggested we should watch a comedy.

Tense and Time Transformations

When converting to reported speech, tenses and time expressions... Continue reading "English Reported Speech and Professional Vocabulary Mastery" »

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" »

Mastering English: Phrasal Verbs, Jobs & Career Vocabulary

Common Phrasal Verbs and Their Meanings

• carry out (a study) (realizar un estudio)
• deal with (tratar con algo)
• embark on (embarcarse)
• get away with (salirse con la suya)
• get out of (escapar)
• hang on (esperar)
• lay off (despedir)
• look down on (mirar por encima del hombro)
• make up (constituir)
• pick up new skills (adquirir nuevas competencias)
• step down from a job (dimitir)
• take off (prosperar)
• try out (probar)
• work things out (que las cosas funcionen)
• cut out (recortar)
• draw up a list (elaborar una lista)
• fall out (discutir / pelearse)
• get on (progresar)
• give in (ceder)
• kick out (echar)
• lead on (engañar / dar falsas esperanzas)
• look up to (respetar)
• make up for (compensar)
• put off (aplazar)
• take in (adoptar)