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

Mastering English: Time, Word Building, and Connectors

Time Vocabulary and Expressions

Verbs related to time:

• Give: dar
• Have: tener
• Kill: matar
• Make up for: compensar
• Run out of: quedarse sin
• Save: guardar
• Spare: sobrante
• Take: tomar
• Take up: absorber
• Waste: perder

Prepositions of Time:

• At: en
• Before: antes
• By: por
• For: para
• From: desde
• In: dentro de
• Off: apagado
• On: sobre
• To: a

Common Time Expressions:

• With time to spare: con tiempo de sobra
• The whole time: todo el tiempo
• Time's up: se acabó el tiempo
• Short of time: poco tiempo
• I've got time on my hands: tengo el tiempo en mis manos
• For the time being: siendo por el momento
• A question of time: una cuestión de tiempo
• A long time ago: hace mucho tiempo
• There isn't much time left: no queda mucho tiempo
• The time next week:

Common Expressions and Collocations with the Verb Do

• Anything (no hacer nada): My brother does not do anything in my house.
• A job (hacer un trabajo): My brother does a job with my friend.
• Badly (hacer mal): My brother does your homework badly.
• Nothing (no hacer nada): My father does nothing in my house.
• A burp (hacer un eructo): My brother does a burp after dinner.
• A painting (hacer un cuadro): My cousin does a painting in the afternoon.
• Business (hacer un negocio): My mother does business with my family.
• Right (hacer las cosas bien): My mother does right in my house.
• A course (hacer un curso): My brother does an English course.
• A service (hacer un servicio): The electrician does a service in the mall.
• Damage (hacer daño): My brother does damage to me.

English–Spanish Vocabulary

• Earn: ganar
• Write his: escribir su
• An application form: un formulario de solicitud
• An advert: un anuncio
• Vacancy: vacantes
• Started work: trabajo iniciado
• A part-time job: un trabajo a tiempo parcial
• Filled: lleno
• Application form: formulario de aplicaciones
• Offered: ofrecido
• A job: un trabajo
• Successful: exitoso
• Worried: preocupado
• Businessman: empresario
• About: acerca de
• Someone: alguien
• Remembering: recordando
• First: primero
• Looking: mirando
• Start: comienzo
• Would like: gustaría
• Expect: esperar
• Don't mind: no importa
• Spend time: pasar el tiempo
• Want: querer
• Learn: aprender
• Need: necesidad
• Doing: obra
• Thinks: pensar
• Abroad: en el extranjero

Common Objects and Question Words

• Paper aeroplane: avión de papel
• Place again: lugar de nuevo
• Same: mismo
• Sense

First Conditional

Structure: If + simple present + simple future

• If I study for the exam, I will get a good grade.
• If it rains today, I'll stay at home. (Si llueve hoy, me quedaré en casa)
• If it is cold, you must wear warm clothes. (Si hace frío, debes usar ropa abrigada)
• If he is busy now, I will come back tomorrow. (Si está ocupado ahora, regresaré mañana)

Question Tags

If a statement is positive, it should be tagged with a negative statement, and vice versa.

• All of you will take an exam after holidays, won't you?

Questions and Negatives

• Question: If Clara is free tomorrow, will he invite her? (¿Si Clara está libre mañana, la invitará él?)
• Negative: If Clara isn't free tomorrow, he won't invite her. (Si Clara no está libre mañana, él no

Introduction: hacer introducción general del tema, Ej: Some people claim/believe/say (algunas personas afirman/creen/dicen), It is sometimes said (a veces se dice) Arguments in favor: damos argumentos de lo que apoyemos (poner unos cuantos) Ej: Let me start by saying (déjame empezar diciendo), On the one hand (por un lado). Arguments against: si no es lo que defiendes poner pocos Ej: On the other hand...(por otra parte), Secondly (en segundo lugar) Conclusion: poner tu opinión Ej: In conclusión (en conclusion).EXPRESSIONS: However (sin embargo), still (todavia) though (aunque), that (que) while (mientras que) In fact (de hecho) actually (actualmente) owing to (debido a) bebidas (además). INTRODUCCIÓN: Las personas suelen estar acostumbradas

The Sophists: Masters of Rhetoric and Philosophy in Antiquity

The Sophists in Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire

The Sophists were a specific type of teacher in both Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire. Many Sophists specialized in using the tools of philosophy and rhetoric, although other Sophists taught subjects such as music, athletics, and mathematics. In general, they claimed to teach areté ("excellence" or "virtue"), predominantly to young statesmen and nobility.

The early Sophists' practice of charging money for education and providing wisdom only to those who could pay led to condemnations, notably by Socrates. Despite these criticisms, many Sophists flourished in later periods, especially during the era of Roman history known as the... Continue reading "Sophists: Teachers of Ancient Greece and Rome" »

Modal Verbs for Speculation

When you are sure something is true:

• Ex: He must be rich. He drives a Ferrari.
• He hasn't come to class. He must have fallen asleep.
• He must be sleeping.

When you are not sure something is true (50-50):

• Ex: He hasn't come to class. He might/may/could be ill.
• He hasn't passed the exam. He may/might not have studied very much (do not use 'could' in negatives).

When you are sure something is not true:

• Ex: He can't be Spanish. He only speaks English.
• He got a 0 in the exam. He can't/couldn't have studied very much.

'Should' for Expectations:

• Ex: The classes aren't complicated this year. The exam SHOULD BE quite easy.

Inversion

• Not only is my brother lazy, but he's also very selfish.
• Not until you can behave like an adult will we treat

VOCABULARY:

accomplishment (14): èxit

background (11): orígens, experiència

defeat (6): derrota

draw (4): dibuixar

gift (4): tenir un don

guidance (8): direcció

move (4): moviment

referee (7): àrbitre 

self-esteem (4-6): autoestima

sportsmanship (13): esportivitat

stamina (7): resistència

teammate (8): company d'equip

willpower (9): força de voluntat

beat (4): batre

catch up with (5-2-4): posar-se al dia amb

devote (oneself) (6): dedicar-se

enhance (7): millorar

excel (5)/excel at (5-2): ser molt bo en

flee (4): fugir

go in for (2-2-3): anar per

let down (3-4): deixar tirat

sit out (3-3): seure

tell apart (4-5): diferenciar

try out for (3-3-3): provar per

stunning (8): fantàstic

a bad loser (1-3-5): mal perdedor 

(be) a good sport ((2)1-

English Language Essentials

Key Vocabulary for Global Issues

• War (guerra)
• Peace (paz)
• Terrorism (terrorismo)
• Immigration (inmigración)
• Famine (hambruna)
• Malnutrition (malnutrición)
• Poverty (pobreza)
• Racism (racismo)
• Pollution (contaminación)
• The environment (el medio ambiente)
• Disease (enfermedad)
• Illiteracy (analfabetismo)

Mastering the Verb 'Get'

• Get fatter: become
• Get home: arrive
• Get presents: receive
• Get a medal: obtain
• Get a sandwich: buy
• Get someone a glass of water: bring

Useful Expressions for English Dialogue

• So do I/Neither do I (Yo también/yo tampoco)
• I suppose so (Supongo que sí)
• Do you think so? (Usted cree?)
• I agree/I don't agree (Estoy de acuerdo/No estoy de acuerdo)
• I'm not sure. Maybe you're right. (No estoy seguro, quizás tengas razón).

Core