English Vocabulary & Grammar: Debates, Art, and Collocations

The Debate Over School Uniforms: Pros and Cons

Many educational institutions require uniforms, leading to a significant debate: some students are strongly in favor of this policy, while others are completely against it.

Arguments in Favor of School Uniforms

On the one hand, the idea of using uniforms has some advantages:

• Saves Time: If people wear uniforms, they won't waste too much time in the morning thinking about the clothes they are going to wear.
• Reduces Criticism: Furthermore, everybody will wear the same, so they cannot criticize one another's clothing.

Arguments Against School Uniforms

On the other hand, there are clear disadvantages:

• Lack of Freedom: You can't have the liberty to choose what you want to wear.
• Aesthetics: The majority of uniforms are often considered unattractive or ugly.

Personal Stance on Uniforms

From my point of view, it is much better to go to school without a uniform. I don't like skirts for going to school because I find them very uncomfortable.

Essential English Vocabulary Lists

Art and Aesthetics Terminology (English-Catalan)

• Art Dealer - comerciant d'art
• Exhibition - exposició
• Masterpiece - obra mestra
• Painting - pintura
• Postmodernism - posmodernisme
• Prehistoric - prehistòric
• Renaissance - Renaixement
• Sculptor - escultor
• Surrealism - surrealisme
• Canvas - llenç
• Easel - cavallet
• Frame - marc
• Landscape - paisatge
• Portrait - retrat
• Two-dimensional - bidimensional
• Bronze - bronze
• Marble - marbre
• Three-dimensional - tridimensional
• Background - fons
• Centre of Interest - centre d'interès
• Composition - composició
• Foreground - primer pla
• Mood - humor
• Perspective - perspectiva
• Technique - tècnica

Collocations: DO vs. MAKE

These lists cover common set phrases using DO (work, activities) and MAKE (creation, results).

DO Collocations (Work and Activities)

• Part-time work
• School work
• Exercises
• Something
• A hobby
• An English class
• Someone a favor
• Your best
• A course
• A degree

MAKE Collocations (Creation and Results)

• A model
• Dinner
• An impact
• A difference
• Money
• A suggestion
• A visit
• A journey
• A plan
• A decision
• A promise
• The grade

Vocabulary for People and Relationships

Nouns Describing People (English-Catalan)

• Acquaintance - conegut
• Ally - aliat
• Bystander - espectador
• Colleague - col·lega
• Enemy - enemic
• Extrovert - extravertit
• Follower - seguidor
• Introvert - introvertit
• Leader - líder
• Loner - solitari
• Mate - company
• Pal - camarada
• Participant - participant
• Relative - relatiu
• Blood Relative - parent sanguini
• Casual Acquaintance - conegut casual
• Pen Pal - amic per correspondència
• Romantic Partner - parella romàntica
• Work Colleague - company de treball
• Classmate - company de classe
• Party Animal - juerguista

Relationship Phrasal Verbs (English-Catalan)

• Ask someone out - demanar sortir
• Fall for - enamorar-se
• Fall out - barallar-se
• Get together (with) - estar amb
• Go out - sortir
• Make up - reconciliar-se
• Split up - trencar una relació

Grammar Focus: Reporting Verbs Structures

Common reporting verbs and the grammatical structures they require:

• Admit: that / (not) + -ing
• Agree: that / (not) to + infinitive
• Apologize for: (not) + -ing
• Insist: that
• Invite: (not) to + infinitive
• Offer: (not) to + infinitive
• Promise: that / (not) to + infinitive
• Recommend: that / (not) + -ing
• Say: that
• Tell: that / (not) to + infinitive
• Warn: that / (not) to + infinitive