English Grammar Rules and Vocabulary
Present Continuous for Future Use
Short term plans. We often mention specific time or place: We are travelling to Paris in December.
Future Continuous
Future actions which take place over a period of time: I can't meet you tomorrow – I will be visiting my grandmother. Future actions which have already been planned: We will be leaving on the day after Christmas.
Future Perfect
Talk about something that will be completed by a specific moment in the future. Usually use by: We will have learnt how to ski perfectly by the end of the holiday.
Relative Pronouns/Adverbs
- Who/that: people – The boy who/that works at the library loves me.
- Which/that: things – School is a place which/that gives you an education.
- Whose: possession – There is whose marks are worse than mine.
- When: time – There are times when my mind goes completely blank during lessons.
- Where: places – School is a place where I was happiest.
Omission of Them
That is the film (that/which) we saw. He is the teacher (that/who) I can't stand.
Defining Relative Clauses
Essential info about the noun that they follow. Without it, the sentence is incomplete: She is the teacher who gave interesting lessons.
Non-Defining Relative Clauses
Extra info not essential. If we remove it, it still makes sense: Jamie's sister, who's a teacher, is called Maria.
What and That
What: noun+relative (the things which) – What you did was awful. What not used as ordinary relative pronoun after noun/pronoun. Can use that instead – I haven't got everything that I need.
Relative Pronouns and Prepositions
Preps before relatives – more formal: This is the city in which my mum was born. More informal: This is the city which/that my mum was born in. Prep before who, it becomes whom – formal: Do you know Jack, with whom I went to school? Informal: Do you know Jack, who I went to school with?
Phrasal Verbs
Swallow up(tragar completamente) Feel like(querer) Saw through(no parar hasta que acabe) Listen out for(estar a la escucha de) Touch on(mencionar) Look into(investigar) Hear of(escuchar sobre) Sniff around for(husmear) Bring in(introducir) Cover up(encubrir) Find out(descubrir) Let on(revelar) Own up to(admitir) Set up(culpar) Stamp out(eliminar) Stand up to(desafiar)
Idioms
Be above board(ser sincero) Catch someone red-handed(pillar con las manos en la masa) Face the music(asumir consecuencias) Get to the bottom of(descubrir la verdad sobre) Keep your nose clean(evitar problemas) Step out of line(pasarse la raya)
Crime Criminal Verb
Murder, murderer(asesino) murder/shoplifting, shoplifter(ladrón de tiendas) shoplift/burglary, burglar(ladrón de casas) burgle/smuggling, smuggler(contrabandista) smuggle/arson, arsonist(meter fuego con maldad) to set fire to/kidnapping, kidnapper(secuestrador) kidnap/Terrorism/ Blackmail (chantaje)/Drug-trafficking (traficar)/Forgery (falsificación)/Assault (agresión)/Pickpocketing (robar carteras)/Mugging (atraco) Sentence to (sentenciar) Acquit of (absolver) Fine (multar) Be tried (ser juzgado) Get away with (salirse con la suya) Go to court (ir al juzgado) Punish (castigar)
Texts
Relatives who lived a long time before you (ancestors) Causing death or illness if you eat or drink it (poisonous) Hold tightly between your thumb and first finger (pinch) a little(enough) it's impossible to explain why people like certain things (alike) with the function of saying goodbye (farewell) disappear (fade) groups of shops that belong to the same company (chains) people or businesses that sell goods to the public (retailers) becoming less important (in decline) double the amount of (twice as much) lack of success (failure) the money that a person earns from work (income) absent from his job (off work) be in harmony with (fit in with) a generous act (a good deed) became very scared (panicked)