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

Resumen de la Novela Esperanza

La novela Esperanza trata de una mujer que vive en Guatemala. Su esposo, Alberto, tiene problemas con el gobierno y tiene que escapar a los Estados Unidos. Esperanza se queda en Guatemala con sus dos hijos. Un día, ella recibe una llamada de Alberto. Él dice que está en los Estados Unidos y está seguro. Esperanza decide salir de Guatemala porque no es seguro para ellos. Sus hijos tienen que quedarse con su madre por un tiempo y Esperanza viaja sola. El viaje es muy difícil y peligroso. Ella cruza México y tiene miedo muchas veces. Al final, ella llega a los Estados Unidos, pide asilo y se reúne con sus hijos. La historia muestra el amor de una madre y los desafíos de los inmigrantes.

English Summary: The

Relative Pronouns

who, which, when, that (no comma / defining relative), where, whom, whose, why, what (the things that — what she needs)

Reported Speech: Tense Changes

He said that:

• Present Simple: "he takes" → reported: he said he took.
• Past Simple: "he took" → reported: he said he had taken.
• Present Continuous: "he is taking" → reported: he said he was taking.
• Past Continuous: "he was taking" → reported: he said he had been taking.
• Present Perfect / Present Perfect Continuous: "he has taken" / "he has been taking" → reported: he said he had taken / had been taking.
• Past Perfect: "he had taken" → reported: no change (remains had taken).
• Future with will: "he will take" → reported: he said he would take.

Questions

Yes/No questions: Ana... Continue reading "Reported Speech Rules and Common English Vocabulary" »

Argumentative Essay Templates

Lately, this has not only been a popular topic, but it has also led some collectives to voice criticism of the mainstream attitude. It should be a crucial target for society, the state, the government, the administration, and educational establishments due to reliable sources. I firmly believe that this is a serious problem for us and our society.

Key Arguments and Evidence

• Firstly: It has been widely proven that...
• Evidence: An experiment that took place in [place] [number] years/months ago showed that... Indeed, if the experiment had not taken place, these shocking results would not have been brought to light.

On the whole, it is clear to me that... Furthermore, [x] ought to take action to fix this as soon as possible.... Continue reading "Effective Essay Writing Templates for Academic Success" »

Irregular English Verbs: Pronunciation & Spanish

This list presents irregular English verbs with pronunciation (IPA), past forms, past participles and Spanish meanings. All original entries have been corrected for spelling, punctuation and capitalization.

be /biː/

Past: was /wɒz/ ; were /wɜːr/ — Past participle: been /biːn/ — Spanish: ser, estar

beat /biːt/

Past: beat /biːt/ — Past participle: beaten /ˈbiːtən/ — Spanish: golpear

become /bɪˈkʌm/

Past: became /bɪˈkeɪm/ — Past participle: become /bɪˈkʌm/ — Spanish: llegar a ser

begin /bɪˈɡɪn/

Past: began /bɪˈɡæn/ — Past participle: begun /bɪˈɡʌn/ — Spanish: empezar

bend /bend/

Past: bent /bent/ — Past participle: bent /bent/ — Spanish: doblar(se)

bet

Relative Clauses

Defining vs. Non-Defining

• **Defining relative clauses** (no commas): Provide essential information to identify the noun.
• **Non-defining relative clauses** (commas): Add extra, non-essential information.

Types of Relative Clauses

• People: *who* and *that*
• Things: *which* and *that*
• Places: *where*
• Times: *when*
• Possession: *whose*

Formal vs. Informal Structure

• **Formal:** The preposition precedes the relative pronoun, and *whom* is used instead of *who*.
• **Informal:** The preposition follows the verb.

Connectors

• **Addition:** *also*, *in addition*, *as well as*, *besides*
• **Contrast:** *but*, *however*, *although*, *while*, *even though*
• **Others:** *in conclusion*, *it is important to*, *in my opinion*

Verb Tenses and Forms

• **Stative verbs**

Sustainable Waste Management: Reducing Pollution

Taking care of the environment is crucial for the future of the planet. A fundamental way to contribute is by managing the waste we produce more effectively. By reducing the amount of trash and handling it properly, we can prevent pollution and significantly improve our quality of life.

Encouraging Recycling and Reuse Strategies

Recycling and reusing are simple yet highly effective methods for waste reduction. Key strategies include:

• Governments and businesses should create robust programs to separate materials such as plastic, paper, and glass.
• Placing recycling bins in accessible locations.
• Offering incentives to encourage broader public participation.

Furthermore, reusing items like clothing or furniture... Continue reading "Essential Knowledge: Sustainability Practices and Human Anatomy" »

Essential Vocabulary: Clothes and Accessories

• Accessory — Accesorio
• Casual / Formal — Informal / Formal
• Baggy — Ancho
• Chunky — Fornido / Grueso
• Fitted — Ajustado
• Smart / Elegant — Elegante
• Flip-flop / High-heels — Chanclas / Tacones altos
• Loose-fitting — Suelto
• High-waisted / Low-waisted — Cintura alta / baja
• Plain — Liso
• Striped — A rayas
• Spotted — A puntos
• Patterned — Estampado
• Stylish — Estiloso
• Tattoo / Piercing — Tatuaje / Piercing
• Hairdo — Peinado
• Sportswear — Ropa de deporte
• Suit / Dress — Traje / Vestido
• Jeans — Vaqueros
• Leather jacket — Chaqueta de cuero
• Trend — Tendencia

Common English Collocations

• Do business — Hacer negocios
• Do damage — Hacer daño
• Do research — Hacer investigación
• Do someone a favour —

Common English Idioms

• Break the ice: Romper el hielo
• Break a promise: Romper una promesa
• Break a record: Batir un récord
• Break someone's heart: Romper el corazón a alguien
• Break the law: Infringir la ley
• Break the news: Dar la noticia
• Break a habit: Dejar un hábito
• Speak one's mind: Hablar claro
• Like talking to a wall: Como hablarle a la pared
• Straight from the horse's mouth: De primera mano
• Don't breathe a word: No decir ni una palabra
• Get a word in edgeways: Decir apenas algo
• I'm all ears: Soy todo oídos
• Beat about the bush: Andarse con rodeos

Essential Phrasal Verbs

Stand

• Stand by: Apoyar
• Stand up to: Hacer frente
• Stand up: Levantarse
• Stand in for: Sustituir
• Stand for: Significar
• Stand out: Destacar

Come

• Come round: Venir a visitar
• Come through: Sobrevivir
• Come

English Grammar & Vocabulary Essentials

Conditional Expressions and Modals

Conditional Conjunctions

• As long as / Providing that (Únicamente si; 1º y 2º condicional)
• Unless (A menos que)
• Even if (Aunque)
• If only (Ojalá)

Perfect Modal Verbs

• Might / May / Could have + Past Participle (Algo que era posible en el pasado)
• Could have + Past Participle (Alternativa posible en el pasado)
• Must have + Past Participle (Certeza o deducción lógica en el pasado)
• Can't have + Past Participle (Algo era imposible en el pasado)
• Should have + Past Participle (Opinión sobre el pasado, ahora es tarde)
• Shouldn't have + Past Participle (Arrepentimiento o crítica sobre el pasado)

Other Modal Structures

• Had better + Infinitive or Had better not + Infinitive (Amenaza)

Common

English-Spanish Vocabulary List

autumn-fall: otoño annoyed: preocupado

as long as: si tu... allowed: permitir

a good deal: mucho above all: sobre todo

assortment: variedad afford: permitir

abroad: en el extranjero apply for: solicitar

afford: permitirse avoid: evitar

approach: acercar appreciate: apreciar

all in all: a pesar de todo burst into tears: romper a llorar

boot: maletero bottom line: resultado final

begged: suplicar boarding school: internado

banned: prohibido be about to: estar a punto de

brings on: producir bring forward: avanzar

bring in: ganar, invitar bring up: quitar, educar

bring back: devolver bring down: bajar

crowded: atestado change for the better: cambiar a mejor

collapsed: colapsar confident: confidente

complicated: complicado cope with:... Continue reading "English Vocabulary List: Phrasal Verbs, Idioms and Key Words with Spanish Translations" »