Key English Language Concepts

Essential English Vocabulary

Sports Venues & Equipment

• Badminton Court = Pista de bàdminton
• Boxing Ring = Ring de boxa
• Diving Board = Trampolí de piscina
• Golf Course = Camp de golf
• Ice Rink = Pista de gel
• Martial Arts Gym = Gimnàs d'arts marcials
• Race Course = Hipòdrom / Pista de curses
• Rugby Pitch = Camp de rugbi
• Ski Slope = Pista d'esquí

Sports Equipment

• Ball
• Boots
• Clubs
• Gloves
• Goggles
• Horses (for equestrian sports)
• Racket
• Skates
• Snow (for skiing/snowboarding)
• Water (for water sports)

Crime & Justice Vocabulary

• Prison Sentence = Sentència de presó
• Millionaire = Milionari
• Murders = Assassinats
• Hostage = Ostatge
• Thief = Lladre
• Commit (a crime) = Cometre (un crim)
• Crime = Crim
• Arrest = Arrestar
• Forge = Falsificar
• Hijack = Segrestar (vehicle)
• Kidnap = Segrestar (persona)
• Rescue = Rescatar
• Witness = Testimoni
• Steal = Robar (objecte)
• Rob = Robar (lloc/persona)
• Vandalism = Vandalisme

Understanding the Passive Voice

Forming the Passive Voice

We form the passive voice with the correct form of the verb "to be" + the past participle.

When we change sentences into the passive voice, the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence. The verb tense remains the same.

Passive Voice Examples by Tense

Present Simple Passive

• Active: They grow lots of flowers in Holland. (Present Simple of 'grow')
• Passive: Lots of flowers are grown in Holland. (Present Simple of 'be', followed by the past participle of 'grow')

Present Continuous Passive

• Active: They are building a new prison. (Present Continuous of 'build')
• Passive: A new prison is being built. (Present Continuous of 'be', followed by the past participle of 'build')

Past Simple Passive

• Active: The judge sentenced the thief yesterday. (Past Simple of 'sentence')
• Passive: The thief was sentenced yesterday. (Past Simple of 'be', followed by the past participle of 'sentence')

Past Continuous Passive

• Active: They were robbing a bank. (Past Continuous of 'rob')
• Passive: A bank was being robbed. (Past Continuous of 'be', followed by the past participle of 'rob')

Present Perfect Passive

• Active: Somebody has stolen my wallet. (Present Perfect of 'steal')
• Passive: My wallet has been stolen. (Present Perfect of 'be', followed by the past participle of 'steal')

Past Perfect Passive

• Active: They had arrested the forger before he circulated the fake money. (Past Perfect of 'arrest')
• Passive: The forger had been arrested before he circulated the fake money. (Past Perfect of 'be', followed by the past participle of 'arrest')

Future Simple Passive

• Active: They will investigate the crime. (Future Simple of 'investigate')
• Passive: The crime will be investigated. (Future Simple of 'be', followed by the past participle of 'investigate')

Mastering English Future Tenses

English offers several ways to talk about the future, each with specific uses. Here's a breakdown:

Present Simple for Future

Used for timetables and schedules (e.g., transport, cinema times, school timetables).

• The train leaves at 10:00.

Present Continuous for Future

Used for fixed plans (when we have already decided and arranged something).

• I am meeting my friends tomorrow.

"To Be Going To" for Future

Used for intentions (when we plan to do something) and for predictions (when we see evidence).

• I am going to study medicine at university. (Intention)
• Look at those dark clouds! It's going to rain. (Prediction with evidence)

Future Simple (Will)

Used for spontaneous decisions, promises and offers, and predictions (without evidence).

• I will help you with your homework. (Spontaneous decision)
• I will call you later. (Promise)
• I think it will snow tomorrow. (Prediction without evidence)