English Vocabulary, Grammar, and Usage: A Comprehensive Resource

Essential English Vocabulary and Phrases

Here's a list of common English words and phrases, along with their meanings:

Exhibit: Exhibición, Firm: Firma, Flavor: Sabor, Mood: Humor, Odor: Olor, Pattern: Modelo, Purchase: Compra, Rhythm: Ritmo, Scent: Perfume, Approach: Acercamiento, Remain: Permanezca, Stare: Mirar fijamente, Stink: Apestar, Store: Tienda, Stroke: Golpe, Trigger: Gatillo, Whisper: Susurro, Accurate: Exacto, Bitter: Amargo, Bright: Brillante, Deafening: Ensordecedor, Disgusting: Asqueroso, Faint: Desmayo, Nasty: Repugnante, Pale: Pálido, Pleasant: Agradable, Rough: Áspero, Savory: Salado, Smooth: Liso, Tasty: Sabroso, Tough: Duro, Weird: Extraño, Bring back: Llevar al fondo, Bring along: Llevar, Set off: Salir, Set back: Retrasar, Set up: Configurar, Start out: Comenzar, Start over: Empezar de nuevo, Start up: Poner en marcha, Have a sweet tooth: Ser goloso, Give a taste of his own medicine: Dar un poco de su propia medicina, Common sense: Sentido común, Go in one ear and out the other: Entrar por un oído y salir por el otro, Keep in touch: Mantenerse en contacto, See eye to eye: Estar de acuerdo, All the rage: A la moda, Mouth-watering: Delicioso, Take advantage of: Aprovechar

Unit 1: Verb Tenses and Gerunds

Practice Exercises

1. Laura started to play the clarinet when she was 10 years old. She still plays the clarinet. Laura has been playing the clarinet since she was ten years old. Nancy worked as a waitress until she went to university. How long had Nancy worked as a waitress? All my friends were swimming in the pool. I got there half an hour later. By the time I got to the pool, all my friends had been swimming for half an hour. My grandfather started growing fruit trees when I was born. He still grows them. Since I was born, my grandfather has been growing fruit trees.

2. Your brother is too young to ride on your motorbike. Sailing in rough seas can be very dangerous. The car needs to be repaired. It has been making strange noises for weeks. The thief admitted to taking the money. Sorry! Jeff isn’t here right now, but he has left you a message.

Unit 2: Modal Verbs

Practice Exercises

3. + Don’t run so fast. You might fall and hurt yourself. + We should have caught the early train. We’ve arrived much too early. + Toby came home with an injured knee today. He must have fallen off his bike again. + Jenny can’t stop crying. You had better not tell her the sad news. + I got to work very late today. I should have taken the short cut. + Jane wasn’t able to find her winter shoes, so she wore sandals in the park. + Ellen isn’t answering her phone. She may have gone on holiday. + There’s a light in the window. They must be at home.

4. + You broke my window. You should pay for my window. + Dad needs the car at 6 o’clock. You shouldn’t be later than 6 o’clock. + There’s a lot of traffic on the motorway. They had better leave early.

Unit 3: Passive Voice and Causative

Practice Exercises

6. They gave Jim an award for his bravery. Jim was given an award for his bravery. / An award was given to Jim for his bravery. Somebody has just sent me some beautiful flowers. I have just been sent some beautiful flowers. / Some beautiful flowers have just been sent to me. We’re forwarding the attachment to everyone at work. The attachment is being forwarded to everyone at work. / Everyone at work is being forwarded the attachment. We should have told our parents the truth. Our parents should have been told the truth. / The truth should have been told to our parents. Everyone knows that dogs are loyal pets. It is known that dogs are loyal pets. / Dogs are known to be loyal pets.

7. The party was amazing. We had the food prepared by a professional chef. If you want to know more about your future, you should have your fortune told.

Units 1-2-3: Review

Practice Exercises

8. They haven’t said anything yet. Nothing has been said yet. Has the garden been watered? Has someone watered the garden? It’s not a good idea for Hal to play football so soon after his accident. Hal shouldn’t play football so soon after his accident. I’m sure I heard her playing the piano yesterday. She must have been playing the piano yesterday. It’s not necessary to arrive early. You needn’t arrive early.

9. + Andrew is looking forward to appearing in his school play. + She finished reading the book she had borrowed from the library only the day before. + Bob’s house is nearly finished. He has been building it for over two years now. + They didn’t know what time the program was on. They forgot to check in the local newspaper. + It’s no use calling him again today. He’s already left. + They were tired because they had been climbing the hill for over an hour. + On receiving her e-mail, I realized I had made a mistake.