Essential English Grammar Review: Tenses, Clauses, and Advanced Vocabulary

English Tenses: Usage and Structure

Present Perfect Simple vs. Past Simple

Present Perfect Simple

• Structure: Subject + have/has + (not) + Past Participle. Question: Have/Has + Subject + Past Participle.
• Usage:
  • Actions started in the past and continuing now.
  • Finished actions with results relevant to the present.
• Time Markers: Already, since, just, for, yet, lately, ever, never.

Past Simple

• Structure: Subject + Verb + -ed (or irregular form). Negative: Subject + didn't + Verb (infinitive). Question: Did + Subject + Verb (infinitive).
• Usage:
  • Actions finished at a specific moment in the past.
  • Consecutive actions in the past.

Future Tenses

Future Simple (Will)

• Structure: Subject + will (not) + Verb (base form).
• Usage: Predictions, schedules, sudden decisions (e.g., this evening, at...).

Be Going To

• Structure: Subject + to be + going to + Verb (base form). Question: To be + Subject + going to + Verb (base form).
• Usage: Intentions, plans, and decisions made prior to speaking.

Future Perfect Simple

• Structure: Subject + will (not) have + Past Participle. Question: Will + Subject + have + Past Participle.
• Usage: Actions that will be completed before a specific point in the future.

Future Continuous

• Structure: Subject + will be (not be) + Verb -ing. Question: Will + Subject + be + Verb -ing.
• Usage: Actions that will be in progress at a definite moment in the future.

Advanced Vocabulary Sets

Vocabulary Set 1: Sports, Ability, and Challenge

• Able-bodied: Sano (Healthy/Fit)
• Blades
• Overcome: Superar (To conquer)
• Overturn: Anular (To reverse/annul)
• Space-age
• Request
• Advances
• Fail
• Seek: Buscar (To look for)
• Accomplishment: Logro (Achievement)
• Lengthen
• Take up: Comenzar (To start a hobby/activity)
• Unfair
• Deal with
• Enhance: Mejorar (To improve)
• Pointed out: Señalar (To indicate)
• Join
• Devastating
• Disability
• Limbs
• Willpower, Strength, Endurance, Speed, Performance
• Challenge
• Broke a record
• Defeat
• Struggled
• Beat an opponent
• Achieve a goal
• Tried very hard
• Gave up
• Lose (To suffer defeat)

Vocabulary Set 2: Architecture, Geography, and Travel

• Shore, Spare, Source, Ruler, Huge, Resort
• Bare: Árido (Arid/Naked)
• Surface: Superficie
• Reached for: Alargar (To stretch out for)
• Breathtaking: Imponente (Awe-inspiring)
• Running out
• Leisure: Ocio/Lleure
• Major, Luxury
• Iron, Steel, Stone, Concrete (Materials)
• Office block
• Bridge, Landmark
• Narrow: Estrecho
• Storey (Floor/Level)
• Main street, Mall, Movie theater, Car parks

Connectors and Relative Clauses

Connectors and Conjunctions

• Despite / In spite of: Followed by a Noun Phrase or Gerund.
• Even though / Although: Followed by a Subject + Verb clause.
• As well as: Followed by a Noun or Gerund.

Relative Pronouns

Defining Relative Clauses (Essential Information)

• Who: For people.
• Which: For objects.
• Whose: For possession.
• When: For a moment in time.
• Where: For a particular place.

Non-Defining Relative Clauses (Extra Information)

• Use the same pronouns (Who, Which, Whose, When, Where).
• Crucial Rule: Never use that.
• The clause must be separated by commas.

Vocabulary Set 3: General Terms and Idioms

• Pick up: Recoger (To collect)
• Cosy: Acogedor (Comfortable/Warm)
• Lifelong, A dream come true
• Miss: Perder (To miss/lose)
• Short of: Cortos de efectivo (Lacking, especially money)
• Hectic: Frenético
• Claimed: Afirmar (To state/assert)
• Owner, Fee (Tarifa), Rent, Customer (Cliente)
• Better off: Mejor (In a better situation)
• No matter what: No importa qué
• Fad (Trend)
• Advantage, Relevant (Pertinente), Possible, Fair, Convenient, Logical
• Among: Entre
• Not enough: No es suficiente

Animal Vocabulary and Idioms

• Cage: Jaula
• In captivity
• Breed: Raza
• Fierce: Feroz
• Wild: Salvaje
• Cub: Cachorro (Young animal)
• Tame: Domar (To domesticate)
• Released: Liberados
• Endangered: En peligro de extinción
• Hunting: Caza
• Let the cat out of the bag: Irse de la lengua (To reveal a secret)
• A fish out of water: Fuera de lugar (Someone uncomfortable in a situation)
• Hold your horses: Wait/Be patient.
• Kill two birds with one stone: Achieve two things simultaneously.
• Smelled a rat: Gato encerrado (Suspected something was wrong/a trick).