Mastering English: Vocabulary, Tenses, and Suffixes

English Vocabulary Essentials

Nouns

• Ancestor - Ancestro
• Ban - Prohibición
• Belief - Creencia
• Freedom - Libertad
• Manners - Modales
• Misconception - Idea equivocada
• Owner - Propietario
• Path - Camino
• Request - Petición
• Roots - Raíces
• Stereotype - Estereotipo
• Traditional costume - Traje regional

Verbs

• Attempt - Intentar
• Come back - Volver
• Consider - Considerar
• Find out - Encontrar
• Ignore - Ignorar
• Miss - Perderse algo
• Refuse - Rechazar
• Stay behind - Quedarse
• Surround - Rodear

Adjectives

• Appropriate - Adecuado
• Customary - Habitual
• Disturbing - Inquietante
• Forbidden - Prohibido
• Gigantic - Gigantesco
• Narrow-minded - Cerrado de mente
• Open-minded - Abierto de mente
• Proper - Adecuado
• Treacherous - Peligroso
• Typical - Típico

Expressions

• Culture shock - Choque cultural
• Keep... alive - Mantener algo vivo

English Verb Tenses Explained

Present Tenses

Present Simple

Affirmative: Subject + verb (base form / -s for 3rd person singular)

Negative: Subject + do/does + not + verb (base form)

Interrogative: Do/Does + subject + verb (base form)?

Common Expressions: always, usually, generally, regularly, occasionally, frequently, often, sometimes, rarely, seldom, never, at 1 o’clock, at night, in the morning, on Fridays, every week, once a month, how often.

Present Continuous

Affirmative: Subject + am/are/is + verb + -ing

Negative: Subject + am/are/is + not + verb + -ing

Interrogative: Am/Are/Is + subject + verb + -ing?

Common Expressions: now, right now, at the moment, this year, at present, today, these days, this month, this evening, tonight, tomorrow, next Friday/week/year.

Present Perfect Simple

Affirmative: Subject + have/has + verb (past participle)

Negative: Subject + haven’t/hasn’t + verb (past participle)

Interrogative: Have/Has + subject + verb (past participle)?

Present Perfect Continuous

Affirmative: Subject + have/has + been + verb + -ing

Negative: Subject + haven’t/hasn’t + been + verb + -ing

Interrogative: Have/Has + subject + been + verb + -ing?

Past Tenses

Past Simple

Affirmative: Subject + verb + -ed (or irregular past form)

Negative: Subject + didn’t + verb (base form)

Interrogative: Did + subject + verb (base form)?

Common Expressions: yesterday, last week/year, two days ago, in the 1980s, in the 18^th century, when, then.

Past Continuous

Affirmative: Subject + was/were + verb + -ing

Negative: Subject + wasn’t/weren’t + verb + -ing

Interrogative: Was/Were + subject + verb + -ing?

Past Perfect Simple

Affirmative: Subject + had + verb (past participle)

Negative: Subject + hadn’t + verb (past participle)

Interrogative: Had + subject + verb (past participle)?

Past Perfect Continuous

Affirmative: Subject + had + been + verb + -ing

Negative: Subject + hadn’t + been + verb + -ing

Interrogative: Had + subject + been + verb + -ing?

Future Tenses

Future Simple (Will)

Affirmative: Subject + will + verb (base form)

Negative: Subject + won’t + verb (base form)

Interrogative: Will + subject + verb (base form)?

Future Simple (Be Going To)

Affirmative: Subject + am/is/are + going to + verb (base form)

Negative: Subject + am/is/are + not + going to + verb (base form)

Interrogative: Am/Are/Is + subject + going to + verb (base form)?

Future Perfect Simple

Affirmative: Subject + will have + verb (past participle)

Negative: Subject + won’t have + verb (past participle)

Interrogative: Will + subject + have + verb (past participle)?

Future Continuous

Affirmative: Subject + will be + verb + -ing

Negative: Subject + won’t be + verb + -ing

Interrogative: Will + subject + be + verb + -ing?

English Suffixes for Word Formation

Suffixes to Create Nouns

• -tion / -sion (e.g., information, decision)
• -ment (e.g., development, agreement)
• -ness (e.g., happiness, kindness)
• -ance / -ence (e.g., importance, difference)
• -ship (e.g., friendship, leadership)
• -ity (e.g., ability, creativity)

Suffixes to Create Adjectives

• -al (e.g., national, cultural)
• -able / -ible (e.g., comfortable, visible)
• -ous (e.g., famous, dangerous)
• -ive (e.g., active, creative)
• -ful (e.g., beautiful, helpful)
• -less (e.g., careless, endless)