Key English Terms and Usage Rules

Essential English Vocabulary and Grammar Review

Vocabulary Definitions

• Blow away: To move by the wind.
• Burn down: To destroy by fire.
• Come out: To appear in the sky.
• Hang out: To spend time with someone.
• Put out: To make something stop burning.
• Slip up: To make a mistake (terminar - *Correction: This usually means 'to make a mistake' or 'to fail slightly', not 'to finish'*).
• Pouring: Raining a lot.
• Power: Energy.
• Forecast: Report the weather.
• Lightning: Rayo (A flash of light in the sky).
• Flood: A large amount of water.
• Tornado: Dangerous wind.
• Rise: To increase.
• Flow: To move along without stopping.
• Mend: Repair.
• Create: Produce.
• Recycle.
• Customize: Change something to make it suitable.
• Design: Dibujar (To draw or plan).
• Stick: Pegamento (Glue) or to adhere.
• Decorate.
• Sew: Reparar (Correction: Sewing is joining fabric with thread; 'reparar' is repair).
• Rebuild: Construir de nuevo (To build again).
• Fix: Arreglar (To repair).
• Invent: Inventar.
• Discover.
• Sunburn: Quemarte (Skin damage from the sun).
• Toothache: Muela (Pain in a tooth).
• Achieve: To succeed in doing something.
• Achievement: Something very good.

Entertainment Vocabulary

Advertisements and Performers

• Advert: Concern/Notice.
• Concerthall.
• Channel.
• Advertise: To tell people about something.
• Entertain: To amuse interested people.
• Entertainer: Someone whose job is to entertain.
• Entertainment: Show.
• Guitarist.
• Live performer: Someone who entertains people acting.

Adjectives for Things

• Brand new: Completely new.
• Classic.
• Cosy: Comfortable.
• Fresh: New and different.
• Historic.
• Modern.
• Original.
• Recent: Happening a short time ago.
• Spectacular.
• Traditional: Following the customs.
• Unusual.
• Comfortable: Providing physical ease and relaxation.

Comparative and Superlative Forms

Note on comparison:

• Er/More/Most: Used for comparatives and superlatives (e.g., faster, more comfortable, the most spectacular).
• Normal: Base adjective form.
• Less/Least: Used for lower degrees of comparison.

Quantifiers: Some, Any, Much, Many, A Lot Of

Some and Any

Some: Algo de / Alguna(s).

Any: Indica nada de en negativa, y algo de en preguntas.

Much and Many

• Much: Used with uncountable nouns, typically in negative sentences and questions. Example: I don’t have much money. (No tengo mucho dinero.)
• Many: Used with countable nouns, typically in negative sentences and questions. Example: There aren’t many pictures on the wall. (No hay muchos cuadros en la pared.)

A Lot Of

A lot of: Used with both countable and uncountable nouns to indicate a large quantity. It is preferred in affirmative sentences over 'much' and 'many'. Example: There are a lot of pictures on the wall. (Hay muchos cuadros en la pared.)

Other Quantifiers

• Few / A few: Pocos / Unos pocos (countable).
• Little / A little: Poco / Un poco (uncountable).

Other 'Any' Phrases

• Any more: Nada más.
• Anywhere: Lugar.
• Any longer: Ya no.
• Anything.
• Anyone: Personas.
• Any better / Any good.

Expressions of Interest and Ability

• I'm good at...
• Keen on / Interested in.
• Crazy about.
• Afraid of.
• Tired of.

Competition and Achievement Verbs

• Enter a competition.
• Win a prize.
• Join a club.
• Have a go at something.
• Score a goal.
• Lose a game.
• Beat the other team.
• Give (someone) a chance.
• Miss an opportunity.

Verb Tenses: Present Continuous vs. Present Simple

a) Present Continuous (Be + Verb-ing)

a.1) Use: Describes actions that are occurring at this precise moment. Example: I am reading the newspaper (I am reading it now).

b) Present Simple

b.1) Use: Describes habitual actions, current states, or general truths that are not necessarily happening at this precise moment. Example: I work in a bank.

Modal Verbs of Obligation and Advice

• Must: Obligation (Deber).
• Have to: Obligation (Tener que).
• Mustn't: Prohibition (No deber).
• Don't have to: Lack of obligation (No tener que; no ser necesario).
• Should / Shouldn't: Mild obligation or advice. Example: You should save some money. / You shouldn't smoke so much.