English Grammar: Verbs, Prepositions, and Vocabulary

Infinitive Versus Verbs + ING

Infinitive (to + verb)

• To state the purpose of an action (e.g., "to accept").
• To explain why something exists (e.g., "to reduce").
• After the adverbs "too" and "enough".

Verbs + ING (Gerund)

• After any preposition.
• As the subject or object of a sentence.
• After verbs such as: admit, avoid, celebrate, delay, enjoy, finish, keep, miss, practise, regret, risk, stop, suggest.
• After expressions like: "It's no (good, worth, use)" or "It's a waste of time" (also includes "can't stand," "help").

Vocabulary: Ambition, Career, Experience, and Job

To achieve a certain ambition, one needs experience to build a career.

• Ambition: achieve, fulfil, realise.
• Career: build, make, pursue, start out on.
• Experience: gain, get, have, look for.
• Job: apply for, find, look for, offer, turn down.

Audience, Spectators, and The Public

• Audience: Individuals watching a specific performance (concerts, plays, etc.).
• Spectators: A large group of people gathered to watch an event (like a football match or horse racing).
• The Public: The collective spectators present at any public event.

Prepositions: At, In, On

At

1. Specific locations or points (e.g., "at the door").
2. Specific dates or times (e.g., "at Christmas").
3. Referring to a number of people (e.g., "at the seminar").
4. Institutions like school or university.
5. Shops or establishments.

In

1. A defined area or enclosed space (e.g., "in the hotel").
2. Months, seasons, or years.
3. Vehicles without aisles or space to walk (e.g., a car).
4. Specific states or places: class, hospital, prison, court.
5. People or things forming a line (e.g., "in a queue").
6. Referring to the world (e.g., "in the world").

On

1. Position in contact with a surface (e.g., "on the terrace").
2. Borders, coasts, roads, or ways (e.g., "on the road").
3. Vehicles with aisles or space to walk (e.g., a bus).
4. Technologies (e.g., "on the phone").
5. Directions relative to the body (e.g., "on the left").

Vocabulary: Describing Success and Personality

Elements of a Good Life

• Being admired by people around you.
• Being part of a loving family.
• Doing really well in work or studies.
• Having enough money to live well.
• Having lots of friends.
• Having a lot of time to spend on things you enjoy doing.
• Living in a nice neighbourhood.
• Not having to work too hard.

Personality and Action Verbs

• Stubborn (tossut)
• Honest (sincer)
• Bossy (mandona)
• Cautious (prudent)
• Sensitive (sensible)

Action Verbs

• Achieve (lograr)
• Carry out (llevar a cabo/realizar)
• Devote (dedicarse a algo – tiempo, energía)
• Stay (quedarse)
• Spend (gastar/pasar tiempo)
• Pass (pasar por un lugar)
• Make (hacer/crear)
• Cause (causar/provocar)
• Have (tener/haber)

Grammar: Certainty and Possibility

Modal Verbs for Deduction

• Certainty (Positive): Use must.
• Possibility: Use might, may, or could + have been...
• Certainty (Negative): Use can't.