VOCABULARY - COUNTRIES AND NATIONALITIES

                 

COUNTRY	NATIONALITY
I am from...                                             I am...
Argentina	Argentinian
Australia	Australian
Belgium	Belgian
Brazil	Brazilian
Canada	Canadian
China	Chinese
Colombia	Colombian
Denmark	Danish
Ecuador	Ecuadorian
England	English
Great Britain	British
Ireland	Irish
France	French
Germany	German
Greece	Greek
Italy	Italian
Japan	Japanese
Mexico	Mexican
Morocco	Moroccan
Norway	Norwegian
Peru	Peruvian
Poland	Polish
Portugal	Portuguese
Romania	Romanian
Russia	Russian
Scotland	Scottish
South Africa	South African
Spain	Spanish
Sweden	Swedish
Switzerland	Swiss
The United Kingdom  (UK)	British
The United States of America (USA)	American
Venezuela	Venezuelan
Wales	Welsh

                                      

GRAMMAR - DEMONSTRATIVE ADJECTIVES AND PRONOUNS

SINGULAR		PLURAL
Near from the speaker	THIS ESTE, ESTA	Near the speaker	THESE ESTOS, ESTAS
Far from the speaker	THAT ESE, ESA, AQUEL, AQUELLA	Far from the speaker	THOSE ESOS, ESAS, AQUELLOS, AQUELLAS

GRAMMAR - GERUNDS AND INFINITIVES

I. VERBOS SEGUIDOS DE GERUNDIO O INFINITIVO CON CAMBIO DE SIGNIFICADO

Hay verbos cuyo significado varía según vayan seguidos de gerundio o de "to" + infinitivo:

1. STOP ≠ GO ON

A- I stopped to read a book.

B- I stopped reading books.

A- After discussing the company’s annual revenues, the CEO went on to talk about our sales figures.
B- We can’t go on living on one income.

A. Indica el inicio de una nueva actividad.
B. Indica que se interrumpe (“STOP”) o continúa (“GO ON”) la actividad que se está haciendo.


2. TRY

- I tried to lift the box but it was too heavy.
Se intenta algo difícil que requiere esfuerzo.

- Why don’t you try closing the window if the traffic is too noisy?
Se intenta un experimento, test o prueba para ver si funciona.


3. LIKE/LOVE/HATE/PREFER

- I hate to tell you, but your friend Paul is coming home this weekend.
Odio esta situación o momento en particular.

- I like getting up early.
Me gusta realizar la actividad en general.

Atención: Would like/love/hate/prefer" to + infinitivo.

Nota: Cuando el sujeto del gerundio es distinto al de la oración principal, lo indicamos  un pronombre personal objeto / sustantivo (opción favorita de los hablantes nativos) o con un adjetivo de posesión (forma preferida por las gramáticas tradicionales).

I like my children getting up early. I like them getting early. I like their getting up early.

4. NEED
- I need to work harder.
Tengo la obligación de hacer algo.

- This room needs painting.
Hay necesidad hacerlo (en voz pasiva)


5. REMEMBER ≠ FORGET

A. Remember to buy milk on your way home.
B. I remember kissing my first girlfriend.

A. I forgot to phone Dad on his birthday.
B. I’ll never forget seeing my wife for the first time.

A. Se refiere a recordar (“REMEMBER”) u olvidar (“FORGET”) cosas que tienes o tenías que hacer.
B. Se refiere a recordar (“REMEMBER”) u olvidar (“FORGET”) cosas que ocurrieron en el pasado.

6. REGRET

- We regret to inform you that your application for a loan of 5000 Euros has not been accepted.
Se utiliza para comunicar malas noticias.

- Do you regret leaving school early and not going to university?
Lamentar cosas que se hicieron en el pasado.

7. MEAN
- I didn’t mean to hurt you. (= "INTEND")
- Her new job will mean travelling abroad. (= "MAKE SOMETHING NECESSARY")

II. VERBOS SEGUIDOS DE GERUNDIO O INFINITIVO SIN CAMBIO DE SIGNIFICADO 

Algunos verbos pueden llevar detrás tanto gerundio como "to" + infinitivo sin que su significado cambie:

Advise, allow, begin, can't bear, cease, continue, permit, recommend, start.

Atención - Con advise, allow, permit y recommend:

- Utiliza el infinitivo si llevan complemento directo: I recommended her to travel.

- Emplea el gerundio si no lo llevan: I recommended travelling.

III. USOS DEL GERUNDIO E INFINITIVO

USOS DEL GERUNDIO:
1. Después de las preposiciones.	She left without kissing me.  We’re thinking of going to Italy.
2. Después de los verbos que expresan gustos u opiniones:   can’t stand – enjoy – dislike – don’t/wouldn’t mind – hate – like – love – prefer – fancy - detest	I enjoy eating out. Do you mind giving me your address?
3. Como el sujeto de una oración cuando se habla de hechos o acciones en general.	Smoking is bad for you. Skiing is expensive. He considered attending the lecture. She gave up smoking a long time ago.
4. Gerundio como objecto directo:   admit, advise, avoid, complete, consider, discuss, finish, give up, imagine.
4. Con el verbo go para referirse a deportes y otras actividades.	Go climbing / dancing / fishing / shopping / swimming
5. Después de algunas formas verbales:	Be/get used to, can’t help, feel like

 

USOS DE  “TO” + INFINITIVO:
1. “INFINITIVE OF PURPOSE”: PARA + INFINITIVO FORMA NEGATIVA: NOT TO	Why did you stop working? To spend more time with my children.     I hope not to arrive late.		- Los verbos más frecuentes que solemos encontrar con “to” + infinitivo son:   AFFORD, AGREE, APPEAR, ARRANGE, ASK, ATTEMPT, BEG, CHOOSE, DARE, DECIDE, DEMAND, DESERVE, EXPECT, FAIL, HESITATE, HOPE, INTEND, LEARN, MANAGE, OFFER, PREPARE, PRETEND, PROMISE, REFUSE, SEEM, THREATEN, WAIT, WANT, WISH.   - Estos verbos pueden llevar tanto verbo + “to”+ infinitivo como verbo + objeto Indirecto + “to” + infinitivo:   ASK, BEG, EXPECT, HELP, MEAN, WANT, WOULD LIKE/LOVE/HATE/PREFER.   - Usamos “to” + infinitivo detrás del objeto indirecto de ciertos verbos:   ENABLE, FORCE, INVITE, ORDER, PERSUADE, REMIND, TEACH, TELL, WARN
2.  Detrás de sustantivos, adjetivos y adverbios.	I’d the privilege to work for him. I was happy to see you It’s too late to go out.
3. Sujeto de hechos concretos.		To give up your studies would be a mistake.

USOS DEL INFINITIVO SIN “TO”:

1. Detrás de los verbos modales, have to, be going to (I must / have to) go. I am going to play.

2. Detrás de make, let, would rather (preferir) y verbos de percepción (hear, feel, see) : He made me do it. I would rather study than go to the cinema. I heard  him play.

GRAMMAR - ENGLISH VERB TENSE REVIEW

1. PRESENT SIMPLE – PRESENT CONTINUOUS

Present Simple: 
Adverbs or expressions of frequency, days of the week.

STATIVE VERBS - CATEGORIES: 1. Emotions and feelings: LOVE, LIKE, DISLIKE, HATE, HOPE, PREFER, WANT. 2. Thought and opinion: THINK, BELIEVE, FORGET, KNOW, REMEMBER, UNDERSTAND, (DIS)AGREE, MEAN, RECOGNISE, REALISE, SEEM, SUPPOSE. 3. Perception and senses: SEE, HEAR, FEEL, SMELL, TASTE, SOUND, TOUCH. 4. Possession: HAVE, OWN, BELONG. 5. Prices and measures: COST, MEASURE, WEIGH

Present Continuous: now, right now, at the moment // this … these + time expression (this week, these days)// nowadays, currently, at present // next …, today, tonight, tomorrow (Present Continuous with future meaning)// With expressions like Look!, Listen!

2. PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE (have – has + v-ed/ 3^rd column) – PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS (have – has been + v-ing)

P.P. Simple: 

- To talk about quantity: “How much?/How many?”

Example: I have attended 5 yoga classes.

- We also use the Present Perfect Simple with "stative verbs", “be” and “have”. 

Example: I have been to London very often.

- When we indicate the result of something. 

Example: As a result, I have studied English.

P.P. Continuous: Emphasis on time: “How long?”.

- Particles to measure time: “For”, “Since”  

Example: I have been living here for five years.

- Repetitive actions: Focus on continuity.

Example: I have been going to clases since I left college (focus on time not number of classes).

What has been here stated can also be applied to the contrast between the PAST PERFECT SIMPLE (HAD / HADN’T + V-ED/3RD COLUMN) and the PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS (HAD/HADN’T BEEN + V-ING).

3. PAST SIMPLE – PAST CONTINUOUS

Contrast in a sentence:

When + Simple Past, Past Continuous: When Mary came in, I was watching TV.

While / As + Past Continuous, Past Simple: As/While he was driving, he suddenly saw a car crash.

Two actions expressed in the Simple Past: (acciones concatenadas). I watched TV and then I went  to bed.

Two actions expressed in the Past Continuous: (acciones simultáneas): While I was cooking, he was watching TV. It was so unfair!.

Past Simple (one simple clause):

Yesterday, last night, ago, past years / decades (e.g.: in the 80s) / centuries (e.g.: in the 19^th century).

Past Continuous (one simple clause):

Yesterday/last ….. at + hour // all day yesterday


4. PAST PERFECT (former action) - PAST SIMPLE (latter action)

Contrast in a sentence:

- Past Perfect/ Past Simple:

After + Past Perfect: After I had written the e-mail, I turned off the computer.

“I regretted / was sorry that” + Past Perfect: I regretted / was sorry that I had been rude to him.

……. because + Past Perfect: I apologized because I had been rude to him.

- Past Simple/ Past Perfect:

Before / By the time + Past Simple: Before I turned off the computer, I had written the e-mail.

……….until + Past Simple: I hadn’t spoken in English until I went to England.

Time expressions:

Before / By (the time) / When / Until + Past Simple.

After / As soon as + Past Perfect.

5. PAST SIMPLE OR PRESENT PERFECT?

Past Simple (one simple clause): Definite time in the past.

Yesterday, last …, ……ago, in + past year/century.

Present Perfect (one simple clause): Indefinite time in the past. Actions beginning in the past and continuing up to now, repetitive actions, personal experience. 

Time expressions:

So far, over the years, lately, recently, in the last…, before.

Ever, just, already (affirmative), yet (negative, interrogative) / For, since.

6. FUTURE TENSES

Future Simple (will): Predictions (no evidence), far in time (+ one year), spontaneous decisions.

Examples: I hope – I suppose – I think – I promise – I imagine - I am sure/certain that…

Future “be going to”: Predictions (evidence), ± within a year, planned actions / intentions.

Examples: I’ve decided / planned…

Future perfect: Will have + V-ed/ 3^rd column. A COMPLETED action at a certain future time. 

By this time, by the end, in two years,...

Future continuous: Will be +V-ing. Action IN PROGRESS at a certain future time. 

(At) this time …, in the next decades, for the next weeks, Next X (day) between (time) and (time)…

PRACTICE - ENGLISH VERB TENSE REVIEW

 1. USE THE PRESENT SIMPLE OR THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS:   

1.  The assistant is speaking too quick. I ______________________ (not understand) him.

2.  I can’t carry this suitcase. It __________________ (weigh) too much.

3.  ___________ your parents’ house ____________________ (belong) to you now?

4.  Look! Michelle ________________________ (wear) a really beautiful dress.

5.  At the moment this house _____________ (cost) too much. I can't afford to buy it.

6.  Look! Michelle ________________________ (wear) a really beautiful dress.

2. USE THE PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE OR PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS:

1.  She _______________ always ____________________________ (play) tennis.

2.  I ________________________________ (work) since I left college.

3.  They _______________________________ (attend) four business meetings.

4.  How long ________________ you _______________________________ (swim)?

5. As a result of her success, she ___________________________ (write) an autobiography. 

6. How much ice cream ______________ you ______________ (eat)?

3. COMPLETE THE SENTENCES, USING THE PAST SIMPLE, THE PAST CONTINUOUS OR THE PAST PERFECT OF THE VERBS IN BRACKETS:  

1. After Janet __________________________ (finish) her homework, she __________________________ (go) out with her friends.

2. As the students ___________________________ (chat), the teacher _____________________ (enter) the classroom.

3. By the time we ____________________________ (arrive) at the airport, the plane _____________________________ (leave).

4. Jane ___________________________ (not catch) a tram until she _______________________ (travel) to Cologne.

5. I__________________________________ (sit) on the sofa when a sudden noise ______________________________ (wake) me up.

6. I ______________________ (be) sorry that I __________________________ (speak) to her so rudely.

4. COMPLETE THE SENTENCES, USING THE FUTURE SIMPLE, "BE GOING TO", FUTURE PERFECT OR FUTURE CONTINUOUS OF THE VERBS IN BRACKETS:  

1.  Sam drives too fast. He _____________________________ (cause) an accident one of these days!

2.  At this time next week, I ______________________________ (sunbathe) in Hawaii.

3.  Is that book only 3 euros? I _________________________ (buy) it!

4.  By the end of June, the students ____________________________ (finish) the exams. 

5.  I am sure that you ______________________________ (succeed) in your new career.
6.  It _________________________________  (rain) in London for the next weeks, so take your umbrella.