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

Literary Profiles

Song of Myself: Walt Whitman (1819–1892)

There are two Walt Whitmans: the real person and the self he invented. The real Whitman grew up in Brooklyn and held many jobs. During the Civil War, he traveled to Washington D.C. to nurse his brother. The invented Whitman is larger than life.

What fact is enough for Whitman?

I'm Nobody: Emily Dickinson (1830–1886)

From Amherst, Massachusetts, she wrote 1,775 poems and became famous after her death. Are you nobody, too?

Me: Walter de la Mare (1873–1956)

By night, he wrote poems for adults. In Me, Walter compares his uniqueness to that of various trees and flowers.

Vocabulary Practice

• Accessory: She was wearing a beautiful leather accessory.
• Already: They have already finished the test.

Essential English Vocabulary

Remember: Always state the minutes and then the hour.

Example: It's twenty-five to five.

Modal Verbs

• Possibility
  • Can/Can't (to be able to/to know how to)
  • Could/Couldn't (was able to/could for formal requests)
• Advice
  • Should/Shouldn't (ought to)
  • Ought to (should)
• Obligation or Prohibition
  • Have to/Don't or Doesn't have to (must)
  • Must/Mustn't (to have

Essential English Phrases and Verbs

Expressions with "Get"

• Get the impression -> Tener la impresión de
• Get the wrong end of the stick -> Entender mal
• Get the chance -> Tener la oportunidad
• Get the joke -> Entender la broma
• Get to know -> Descubrir algo
• Get hold of -> Conseguir
• Get rid of -> Deshacerse de algo
• Get one's own back on -> Tomar revancha
• Get into trouble with -> Meterse en problemas
• Get out of the way -> Moverse al otro sitio / Quitarse del medio

Idioms with "Get"

• Get real -> Abre los ojos
• Get a life -> Haz algo útil con tu vida / Haz algo con tu vida
• Not getting anywhere -> No llegar a nada
• Gets on my nerves -> Me pone nervioso
• Get her act together -> Hacer las cosas como se debe
• Get on like a house

To wonder -> To ask yourself questions about

To get hold of -> To obtain something

To turn out -> To become or result in; to appear, to end up being

To do/go cold turkey -> The unpleasant symptoms caused by suddenly ceasing to take a drug to which one is addicted: stopping the drug may result in cold turkey.

To be dealt a bad hand -> To be very unlucky

To cope with a situation -> To manage a situation

To binge on something -> A period of excessive indulgence in an activity, especially drinking alcohol or eating:

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To feel entitled to something -> When you feel you deserve something...just because

Self esteem -> Confidence in yourself

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Peer pressure -> A feeling that... Continue reading "Common Idioms and Expressions with Definitions" »

Puerto Rico: Island Highlights

(Exercise Note: b a d a)

• Old San Juan: A historic district located at the "northwest triangle" of the islet of San Juan.
• El Yunque National Forest: A tropical rainforest in northeastern Puerto Rico.
• Coquí: The common name for several species of small frogs native to Puerto Rico.

Spanish Food and Meals

(Exercise Note: b d c a)

Common Meal Combinations

• Comen cereales con leche y huevo con pan. (They eat cereal with milk and eggs with bread.)
• Comen sándwiches de jamón y queso con fruta. (They eat ham and cheese sandwiches with fruit.)
• Comen pizza y hamburguesas. (They eat pizza and hamburgers.)

Essential Spanish Vocabulary

Question Words

• ¿Dónde? (Where?)
• ¿Qué? (What?)
• ¿Cómo? (How?)
• ¿Por qué? (Why?)

Common Verbs

• Beber (to

English Grammar Essentials

Verb Tenses

• Present Simple: He, she, it + s. (e.g., "I don't play...", "Do you play...?")
• Present Continuous: I am playing / You aren't playing / Is he playing?
• Past Simple: Uses "didn't" and -ed or 2nd column irregular verbs.
• Past Continuous: I was eating / We weren't eating.
• Present Perfect: I have/has + 3rd column or -ed. (e.g., "She has walked", "Have you walked?")
• Future Forms: "Will" (will/won't) and "Going to" (e.g., "I'm going to eat", "She is going to eat", "Am I going to eat?")

Adverbs and Quantifiers

• Yet: Used for "todavía" or "ya", always at the end of the sentence.
• Already: Used for "ya" (always in affirmative sentences).
• Ever: Used for "alguna vez".
• How much / Much: Used for uncountable nouns.
• How many / Many: Used

Career Vocabulary

• apply for a job -> aplicar a un trabajo / solicitar un trabajo
• claim benefits -> reclamar beneficios
• do a course -> hacer un curso
• do a degree -> obtener un título universitario
• do an assignment -> hacer una tarea / hacer un encargo
• do business -> hacer negocios
• do your homework -> hacer los deberes
• drop out (of university) -> abandonar la universidad
• get a job -> conseguir un trabajo
• get fired -> ser despedido
• get good/bad grades -> obtener buenas/malas calificaciones
• get paid -> recibir el pago / ser pagado
• get promoted -> ser ascendido
• graduate from university -> graduarse de la universidad
• leave school -> dejar la escuela
• pass an exam -> pasar un examen
• pass with flying colours -> aprobar

Past Simple:

Cuando ha terminado la acción en el pasado.
Con -ed los regulares. (No pondrá con how long)
Regulares:
+ I stayed with friends.
- I didn't stay in a hotel.
? Did you stay for the weekend?
Yes, I did. - No, I didn't.

Present Perfect:

I have finished my homework. Have/has + verbo -ed
She has cleaned the kitchen. Have/has + verbo en irregular ej: has done
He hasn't done the washing up.
Has she turned off her phone? No, she hasn't.
Es la experiencia. Algo que paso en el pasado y sigue aún (no ha terminado). No importa cuando ocurrió. ''How long...''

Present Perfect + for or since:

Casi siempre adverbio de tiempo.
-For: periodo de tiempo (2 weeks, 10 years, a long time...)
ej: I have had this car for three months.
-Since: Comienza un periodo... Continue reading "English Grammar Review" »

Using 'Wish' in English

• Present Wishes: Use 'wish' + Past Simple to talk about present situations you'd like to be different.
• Using 'Could' with 'Wish': Use 'wish' + 'could' to express desire for a different ability or possibility in the present.
• Past Regrets: Use 'wish' + Past Perfect (had + participle) to talk about things you regret from the past.
• Complaints/Annoyance (Present): Use 'wish' / 'if only' + subject + 'would' + infinitive (not 'I' or 'we') to complain about a present situation or someone's behaviour.
• Future Wishes: Use 'wish' / 'if only' + subject + 'would' + infinitive (often about changing someone's behavior or a future event).
• Expressing Regret: Use 'regret' + -ing form for past actions you wish you hadn't done.

It's Time & Would

Introduction: Some people claim that young people should obtain their driving license as soon as possible. In my country, the minimum age to drive is 18. Getting a driving license when turning 20 presents both advantages and disadvantages.

Arguments in Favor of Driving at 20

Let me start by saying that one significant advantage is the increased independence. On the one hand, being able to drive allows young adults to commute to university or work without depending on their parents for transportation. Furthermore, at age 20, individuals are generally more mature and better equipped to handle the responsibility associated with owning and operating a car.

Arguments Against Driving at 20

On the other hand, there are considerable disadvantages. For... Continue reading "Driving Age 20: Pros and Cons of Early Licensing" »