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

English Verb Tenses

• Present Simple: Our bus leaves at 5 o'clock.
• Future Perfect: We'll have walked miles by the time we finish.
• Future Simple: I think that robot will win the championship.
• Future Continuous: I hope that I'll be designing F1 cars in 10 years' time.
• Present Continuous: We're all meeting for lunch at 1 o'clock.
• To be going to: I'm going to enter that competition.

The Evolution of the Book

The evolution of the book began approximately in 3000 BC, when clay tablets were engraved with words. One of the oldest surviving literary fragments from this period is The Epic of Gilgamesh, a long poem about a mythical king. Only incomplete verses from the era survive on 12 clay tablets. These were discovered in 1853 in the ancient Assyrian city of... Continue reading "English Grammar and Historical Evolution of Books" »

Reported Speech Rules

Direct speech: "My parents are vegetarian." -> Reported speech: He said that his parents were vegetarian.

Tense Changes in Reported Speech

• Present Simple (I take) -> Past Simple (I took)
• Present Continuous (I am taking) -> Past Continuous (I was taking)
• Past Simple (I took) -> Past Perfect Simple (I had taken)
• Present Perfect Simple (I have taken) -> Past Perfect Simple (I had taken)
• Will (I will take) -> Would (I would take)
• Can (I can take) -> Could (I could take)
• Must (I must take) -> Had to (I had to take)

Example: "If you don't sit down, I will send you out!" (The teacher to a pupil) -> The teacher said to a pupil that if he didn't sit down, he would send him out.

Time and Place Expressions

• Here ->

Conditionals

Understanding and correctly using conditional sentences is crucial for clear communication in English. Here's a breakdown:

• Zero Conditional: If + present simple, present simple. (Used for general truths or facts)
• First Conditional: If + present simple, will + infinitive. (Used for real or likely future possibilities)
• Second Conditional: If + past simple, would + infinitive. (Used for hypothetical or unlikely situations)
• Third Conditional: If + past perfect, would have + past participle. (Used for unreal past situations and their hypothetical results)

Mixed Conditionals (less common, combining different types):

• If + past perfect, would + infinitive (Example: If I had studied harder, I would be a doctor now.)
• If + past simple, would have

Verbs Followed by 'to' + Infinitive

Certain verbs are commonly followed by the infinitive form with "to." These include:

• Afford
• Expect
• Intend (plan)
• Refuse
• Agree
• Fail
• Learn
• Prepare
• Seem
• Appear
• Forget
• Manage
• Pretend
• Want
• Attempt
• Help
• Need
• Promise
• Wish
• Decide
• Hope
• Offer
• Propose
• Would like

Verbs Followed by Object + Infinitive

Some verbs require an object before the infinitive. Examples are:

• Advise
• Allow
• Ask
• Expect
• Encourage
• Forbid
• Force
• Invite
• Persuade
• Prefer
• Order
• Help
• Remind
• Recommend
• Teach
• Tell
• Want
• Warn
• Would like

For instance, "I asked them to come."

After Adjectives and Adverbs

Infinitives are used after adjectives and adverbs, especially with "too" (too much) or "enough" (sufficient).

For example, "It's easy to learn." or "She is too young to get married."

After "is/was + adjective + of

Comparatives and Superlatives

Comparative Forms

• 1-2 Syllables: Adjective + -er (e.g., is bigger than).
• 2-3 Syllables: More + Adjective (e.g., is more expensive than).

Superlative Forms

• 1-2 Syllables: The + Adjective + -est (e.g., the biggest).
• 2-3 Syllables: The most + Adjective (e.g., the most expensive).

Irregular Adjectives

• Good: Better / The best
• Bad: Worse / The worst
• Little: Less / The least
• Far: Further / The furthest
• Much: More / The most
• Old: Older / Oldest

Types of Comparison

1. Adjective + -er / more than
2. As + Adjective + as
3. Less + Adjective + than / Not as + Adjective + as

Time Expressions and Adverbs

• For (durante): Period of time with a beginning and an end.
• Since (desde): Specific moment in the past.
• Just (acabar de): Placed between verbs.
• Already (ya)

Past Simple

• Affirmative: 2nd column of irregular verbs.
• Negative: didn't + infinitive.
• Interrogative: Did + subject + infinitive?

Present Perfect Simple

Structure: have/has + 3rd column (past participle).

Used for actions or situations from the past that have an effect on the present, or actions that started in the past and continue to the present. Keywords: already, ever, for, just, never, since, yet.

Past Perfect Simple

Structure: had + 3rd column.

Used for actions that happened before another past action, or actions developed prior to a specific moment in the past. Keywords: for, since, already, by, before.

Future Tenses

Will

Structure: will/won't + infinitive. Used for predictions, opinions about the future, and spontaneous decisions.

Going to

Structure:... Continue reading "English Verb Tenses and Grammar Structures Explained" »

Verb Tenses

PASSIVE (3 columns): Delivers- is/are delivered. Delivered- were/was delivered. Will deliver- will be delivered. Is/are delivering-is/are being delivered. Was/were delivered-Was/were being delivered. Is going to deliver-is/are going to be delivered. Has/have delivered-have/has been delivered. Had delivered-had been delivered. Has to deliver-have to be delivered. Must deliver- must be delivered. +BY Y LA PERSONA +FOR TOMORROW (EL TIEMPO VA EL ULTIMO) Causatives: HAVE/GET +OBJECT+PAST PARTICIPLE (Sheila had her hair dyed or SUBJECT+HAVE+PERSON+INFINITIVE. REPORTED: Stays-stayed. Is staying- was staying. Stayed-had stayed. Was staying-had been staying. Has stayed-Had stayed. Has been staying-Had been staying. Had stayed- had stayed.... Continue reading "English Grammar Rules and Examples for Beginners" »

English Vocabulary Builder

Essential Words and Phrases

Verbs

Action Verbs

• Blow up: explode
• Wipe out: make everything disappear/eliminate
• Wrap up: envelop
• Carry out: llevar a cabo
• Collide with/Crash into: estrellar/chocar
• Pick up: recoger/ir a buscar
• Put off: postpone
• Take off: quitarse una prenda/despegar
• Call off: cancel
• Catch on: understand
• Work out: find out
• Try out: try

Phrasal Verbs

• Show someone the ropes: explain to someone how to do an activity
• Pull your weight: work as hard as other people
• Hire: contratar/alquilar
• Break down: romperse
• Deal with: tratar con
• Slack off: vaguear
• Share profits: compartir las ganancias
• Dare: atreverse
• Take for granted: no saber valorar
• Take sides: tomar partido
• Run wild: descontrolarse
• Run short of: quedarse sin
• Run an errand: hacer

EMPEZAR:

At first: At first; At first sight (vista); First at all; Firstly; To begin with (para empezar); Secondly, Thirdly; Initially (inicialmente)

OPINION:

As far as I am concerned: From my point of view; Talking from my experience; I agree/disagree; In my opinion/view; It is true that; To be honest; Personally; In fact; Actually; Most people; Nowadays = currently.

MAS INFO:

And eventually: Finalmente; Aparte from (aparte de); In addition/Moreover/besides = Ademas; Furthermore (asimismo); Another point is that (habría que añadir que); After that (después de eso); Meanwhile (mientras tanto); Next (luego); Doubtless (sin duda); That is (es decir)

CONCLUIR:

All in all: Resumiendo; In conclusion; Eventually (finalmente); Afterwards (más tarde);... Continue reading "Effective Spanish Email Writing Tips and Vocabulary" »

This vocabulary list provides key phrases for structuring effective opinion essays, complete with Spanish translations, categorized by function.

1. Expressing Opinions and Beliefs