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

Reported Speech: Tense Transformations

Understanding how tenses change when converting direct speech to reported speech is crucial for accurate and effective communication. This document provides a clear breakdown of these transformations.

Was/Were Going To

Affirmative Sentences

To form the affirmative, use the correct form of 'to be' followed by 'going to' and a verb.

Subject + was/were + going to + verb + rest of the sentence.

Example: They were going to dance at a party.

Negative Sentences

To form the negative, negate the verb 'to be'.

Subject + wasn't/weren't + going to + verb + rest of the sentence.

Example: They weren't going to dance at a party.

Interrogative Sentences

To form a question, invert the verb 'to be' and the subject.

Was/were + subject + going to + verb + rest of the sentence?

Example: Were they going to dance at a party?

Hope and Wish

The word 'wish' is often used to talk about unreal situations.

Example: I wish I had more money. (I don't have much money)

'Hope' is used in... Continue reading "English Grammar Guide: Was/Were Going To, Hope/Wish, Adjectives, and Relative Clauses" »

Minutes: Page 35

Visitor Management

BG opened the meeting by reminding attendees that visitor numbers are strictly monitored. She stated that the number of ship passengers, the duration of their stay, and sites visited are recorded meticulously. She also pointed out that each ship receives a compulsory site schedule from the park, and visitors are not allowed free access to sensitive sites.

Sustainable Tourism Concerns

LC acknowledged that this scheme had been beneficial but felt that there should be an annual limit to the number of tourists. He warned that the present situation was unsustainable and urged the meeting to take action to protect the islands from further degradation. JB confirmed that this was indeed the case and was worried about... Continue reading "Sustainable Tourism and Visitor Management in the Galapagos Islands" »

Direct Speech Fundamentals

Direct speech involves quoting the exact words spoken, enclosed in quotation marks.

• Dr. Ames wrote, “Negative emotions are harmful and cause illness.”
• He continued, “But Cousins hasn’t proved anything.”
• Cousins said, “Laughter cured me.”
• We wrote, “He isn’t practicing laughter yoga.”
• She claimed, “We were telling the truth.”
• Doctors admitted, “We’ve learned from Cousins’s article.”
• He told her, “I’ll check to see how you’re feeling later.”
• Pam told us, “I can’t understand what happened.”
• He told me, “You have to see this funny movie.”
• The nurse told the little girl, “You must rest.”

Indirect Speech Transformation

Indirect speech (or reported speech) conveys what was said without... Continue reading "Mastering Reported Speech and English Humor Vocabulary" »

English Grammar: Verb Tenses

Present Simple: Habits and Routines

• Used to express habitual actions or permanent situations.
• Verb + -s (for third person singular).

Present Continuous: Ongoing or Temporary Actions

• Indicates actions happening at the moment of speaking.
• To be + verb + -ing.

Past Simple: Completed Past Actions

• Verb + -ed or irregular verb (V2).
• Used with did...? and didn't.
• Describes finished actions.
• Common time expressions: last..., a month ago, yesterday, when, once, in 2011.
• Example: She died in 1916.

Past Continuous: Actions in Progress in the Past

• Describes actions in progress at a specific time in the past.
• Was/Were + verb + -ing.
• Indicates unfinished actions.
• Common time expressions: while, as, yesterday at 9 AM.
• Example: The phone rang when

Reported Speech and English Grammar Essentials

Direct and Reported Speech

Time and Place Changes in Reported Speech

Question Words in Reported Speech

• What

Essential English Vocabulary

• Supportive: Apoyo
• Helpful: Servicial
• Outgoing: Extrovertida
• Extroverted: Extrovertido
• Truthful: Veraz
• Sincere: Sincero
• Enthusiastic: Entusiasta
• Energetic: Energético
• Dependable: Confiable
• Reliable: De confianza
• Responsible: Responsable
• Mature: Maduro
• Cruel: Cruel
• Mean: Media
• Optimistic: Optimista
• Positive: Positivo
• Sympathetic: Simpático
• Kind: Tipo
• Bitter: Amargo
• Angry: Enojado
• Eager: Ansioso
• Willing: Complaciente
• Dedicated: Dedicado
• Determined: Determinado

More Useful Words

• Bully: Matón
• Victims: Víctimas
• Star: Estrella
• Founder: Fundador
• Get involved: Involucrarse
• Get things done: Terminar las cosas
• Get better: Mejorar
• Get the feeling: Da la sensación
• Get permission: Obtener permiso
• Get used to: Acostumbrarse a
• Make an effort: Haz un esfuerzo
• Make

Appeal to - gustar a

Manufacture - producir

Purchase - adquirir

Target - estar dirigido a

Jumble sale - mercadillo

Use up - utilizar todo

Dump - vertedero

Waste - desperdicio

Foolish - insensato

Harmful - dañino

Hazardous - peligroso

Knowledgeable - culto

Environmentally friendly - ecológico

Rubbish dump - vertedero

Bring about - dar lugar a

Get across - transmitir

Point out - remarcar

Put off - aplazar

Fattening - que engorda

Fresh - fresco

Cut out - eliminar

Eat out - salir a cenar

Give up - dejar

Go on a diet - ponerse a régimen

Stick to - seguir

Ban on - prohibición de

Delighted - encantado

Dissatisfied - descontentado

Jog - estímulo

Peckish - con ganas de comer algo

Scent - satisfecho

Sprint - esprint

Stare - mirar fijamente

Starving - hambriento

Well built - fornido

Sight

Mastering the Passive Voice in English

Present Simple

Active: This singer writes many songs.

Passive: Many songs are written by this singer.

Past Simple

Active: This singer wrote many songs.

Passive: Many songs were written by this singer.

Future Simple

Active: This singer will write many songs.

Passive: Many songs will be written by this singer.

Present Continuous

Active: This singer is writing many songs.

Passive: Many songs are being written by this singer.

Past Continuous

Active: This singer was writing many songs.

Passive: Many songs were being written by this singer.

Present Perfect Simple

Active: This singer has written many songs.

Passive: Many songs have been written by this singer.

Past Perfect Simple

Active: This singer had written many songs.

Passive:... Continue reading "Mastering Passive Voice in English: Examples and Key Business Vocabulary" »