Boost Your English: Vocabulary, Grammar, and Conversation
Describing People
- A person who works a lot is hard-working.
- A person who is not afraid is brave.
- A person who is optimistic is also positive.
- A person who likes to give things to others is generous.
- A person who likes to do things on his/her own is independent.
- A person who tells other people what they have to do is bossy.
- A person who likes rules and discipline is strict.
- A person who works hard to reach their objectives is determined.
- A person who expects a lot from others is demanding.
- A person who is supportive of other people is caring.
Question Formation
Quest for Answers 1
- My sisters were born in America. Where were your sisters born?
- I speak 4 languages. How many languages do you speak?
- My father is playing the guitar now. What is your father playing now?
- I went to France last summer. Where did you go last summer?
- I visit Maria 3 times a week. Who do you visit 3 times a week?
- I watched Harry P 5 years ago. When did you watch Harry P?
- After the meeting, they went to the bar. When did they go to the bar?
- Yes, she came to my house 3 days ago. Did she come to my house 3 days ago?
- Tom was happy because he had passed. Why was Tom happy?
- There were 3 coats in the wardrobe. How many coats were there in the wardrobe?
Quest for Answers 2
- They brought the food at 9 o’clock. What time did they bring the food?
- Ana studied last night for three hours. How long did Ana study last night?
- Yes, I took the car to the garage yesterday. Did you take the car to the garage yesterday?
- Frank went to Australia in August. Where did Frank go in August?
- Frank flew to Australia in August. When did Frank fly to Australia?
- Frank spent his holiday in Australia. Who spent his holiday in Australia?
Past Simple Contrast
- Mark usually drinks tea for breakfast, but yesterday he drank some coffee.
- He usually walks to school, but yesterday he went by bus.
- He usually leaves school at 1 p.m., but yesterday he left school at 2 p.m.
- He usually plays tennis in the afternoon, but yesterday he played golf.
- He usually eats a sandwich at 5 p.m., but yesterday he ate an apple.
- He usually meets his girlfriend in the pub, but yesterday he met her in the cinema.
Infinitive vs. Gerund
Complete with the verb in the infinitive or -ing form:
- My father likes cooking/to cook for his friends and family.
- I’d like to work in a restaurant.
- Gita doesn’t like eating/to eat fish.
- Gustavo would like to ban fast food.
- Allan likes preparing/to prepare vegetarian meals.
- Caroline would like to eat more healthy food.
Do vs. Would
- Would you like to be a chef?
- Do you like eating/to eat foreign foods?
- Do you like going/to go to restaurants?
- Would you like to be a vegetarian?
- Do you like shopping/to shop for food?
- Do you like trying/to try unusual foods?
- Would you like to own a restaurant?
- Do you like drinking/to drink wine?
- Do you like visiting/to visit other countries?
- Would you like to be a famous chef?
- Do you like to cook for a lot of people?
Past Simple Transformations
- We never drink alcohol. We never drank alcohol.
- I’m very happy to see her again. I was very happy to see her again.
- I don’t have breakfast. I didn’t have breakfast.
- Do you live in the town centre? Did you live in the town centre?
- They buy the newspaper in a kiosk near their house. They bought the newspaper in a kiosk near their house.
- Where do you keep your documents? Where did you keep your documents?
Correct Order – Past Simple
They rang my friends to see if they wanted to play tennis.
In the afternoon we went to the cinema and saw a horror film.
In the evening we caught a bus to go to the disco.
We played tennis for about two hours.
I didn’t eat much because I wasn’t that hungry and danced there for a couple of hours.
Finally, I said goodbye to my friends and returned home at about 10 o’clock.
I had some toast and marmalade and drank two cups of coffee, and then I went back home for lunch.
It was brilliant, so we left the disco very soon.
The music wasn’t very good.
Last Tuesday I didn’t go to school because it was a holiday.
I got up later than usual and had some breakfast.
After breakfast, I had a shower and got dressed.
Translations
- Dónde desayunaste ayer? Where did you have breakfast yesterday?
- No entendí bien la pregunta. I didn’t understand the question well.
- Vimos a tu padre hace 2 días. We saw your father 2 days ago.
- Qué hicísteis anoche? What did you do last night?
- Peter puso la televisión para ver el partido de fútbol. Peter turned on the TV to watch the football match.
- Nos comimos un sandwich porque teníamos hambre. We ate a sandwich because we were hungry.
- Durmieron durante 10 horas. They slept for 10 hours.
- No bebimos nada en la fiesta. We didn’t drink anything at the party.
Correct Mistakes
- Did you go to school yesterday?
- We thought that you were ill.
- I studied French at school.
- Mary didn’t work last week.
- What happened to you yesterday?
- My parents didn’t do the shopping last Saturday.
- We bought this house two years ago.
- She makes the beds before going out.
Conversations
Conversation 1
-Good morning, Cafe Singapore.
-Good morning, I’d like to book a table for lunch tomorrow please.
-Certainly. For how many people and what time?
-For two at 1 o’clock please.
-No problem. What name is it please?
-It’s for Caroline Lo from MN GlbAccess.
-Very good. We look forward to seeing Ms Lo and her guest tomorrow at 1 o’clock.
-Thank you.
Conversation 2
-Good afternoon. I have a reservation under the name Lo.
-Yes, Ms Lo. A table for 2 at 1 o’clock?
-Yes, that’s right.
-Come this way please. Would you like a table by the window?
-Yes, we would.
–Follow me. This way please.
Conversation 3
–Are you ready to order?
–What do you recommend?
-The beef noodle soup is especially good!
-Perhaps for you, Hattie?
-Yes, I’d like that, and some stir-fried aubergines?
–I’ll have steamed prawns and the Chinese mushrooms with extra chilli please – not too much salt!
(Some time later)
-What’s the soup like, Hattie?
-It’s delicious and very spicy. I like eating Asian food. Do you like your food?
-Yes, the mushrooms are great. Would you like to try them?
-Yes, please. Would you like to try my aubergines?
-No, thank you. They look very greasy.
-Caroline, you are a very fussy eater!
-I know. Would you like to try a prawn?
-Yes, please. The prawns are enormous, they look like langoustines.
Conversation 4
–Could I have the bill, please?
-Certainly, Madam.
–Did you enjoy your meal?
-Yes, very much, thank you.
–Are you paying by card or in cash, Madam?
-By card. Here you are.
-Thank you, Madam. Please, key in your PIN. Here’s your receipt.
-Thank you.
-We look forward to seeing you again soon.
-Yes, we’ll be back! Bye.
Conversation 5
-Good morning, The Market Restaurant.
-Good morning. I’d like to book a table for dinner this evening please, for two people.
–What time would you like the table?
-About 8.30.
–What name is it please?
-The name’s Matthews.
Conversation 6
-Good evening, Sir.
-Good evening, I have a reservation under the name of Matthews.
–Would you like a table by the window?
-Yes, please. That would be nice.
–This way, please.
-Thank you.
Conversation 7
–Are you ready to order?
–What do you recommend?
-The prawns are excellent; Would you like to try?
-Yes, please; and I’ll have chicken for my main course.
–And to drink?
-Could I see the wine list, please?
-Certainly.
Conversation 8
-Could I have the bill, please?
-Here you are. Did you enjoy your meal?
-Yes, it was excellent. I’ll be back!
–Are you paying by card or in cash?
-By card.
–Please key in your PIN.
-Thank you.
-Thank you. Here’s your receipt.
Correct the Mistakes
- What is British food like? – It has a bad reputation, but I like it.
- What does the waiter look like? – He’s tall and quite attractive.
- What does your secretary look like?
Complete with was, were, can, or could
- How old were you when you had your first mobile? I was 15.
- Was your boss at work this morning? No, he wasn’t.
- Can you speak Japanese? Yes, I can.
- Could your colleagues use spreadsheets before they worked for this company? Yes, they could.
- Can you design websites? Yes, I can.
- Where did you study when you were learning English? In Cambridge.
Company History – Past Simple
In 1946, William, aged 72, finally retired and Henry took over. M E N changed its product line again to adapt to changes in society. More people now worked in offices and needed shirts and suits. They also wanted casual clothes for the weekend and comfortable and affordable baby’s and children’s clothes. Henry hired more workers to satisfy the demand. He also invested money in new machinery and research into synthetic materials. He looked for more finance, offered shares to his relatives, and transformed the company into a Ltd.
In 1976, Henry retired and his son Graham followed in his footsteps. Because of increasing competition from Asian countries like India and China, Graham expanded the company. He transformed it into an import-export company and reinvented it as MN Global Access Ltd. During the economic boom of the mid to late eighties, the company earned a lot of money and built a new, state-of-the-art head office in Manchester. They also opened the first branch offices abroad. When Graham stopped working in 2008, his daughter Helena became Managing Director. She was the first woman to manage the company. She launched it further, opened more offices abroad, and effectively used Marketing and Advertising to promote its services.
Past Simple Practice
The meeting started at 9 o’clock and finished at 1 o’clock.
When I was a student, I worked as a waiter during the holidays.
My parents saved money for many years to buy a house.
I could read when I was 5.
His first company produced computer components, but later he expanded/changed and started making screens as well.
Reading Comprehension
What does Caroline say about Chinese food? In general, she likes it very much.
Caroline says she’s a fussy eater. What do you think this means? She’s very careful about what she eats.
Why does Gita say she doesn’t often cook Indian dishes? Because they’re complicated to make.
What do Gita and her family often eat at the weekend? Italian food.
What’s Gustavo’s favourite food? Meat.
What does he say about vegetarian food? He thinks it’s unhealthy.
What does Marta say about British food? There are many traditional British dishes she enjoys.
What does Marta think is strange about her flat mates? Although they’re very good cooks, they often eat frozen pizza.
Useful Phrases
- I’d like to book a table for lunch tomorrow, please.
- Would you like to try a prawn?
- I like eating Asian food.
- What’s the difference between: I like eating Asian food and I’d like to eat Asian food?
Questions and Answers
- What’s the soup like, Ana?
- About the characteristics of the soup?
- The prawns are enormous, they look like langoustines!
- The prawns are similar to langoustines?
Company History – Key Facts
- William died in 1964.
- He wasn’t a strict father.
- William’s parents worried about the insecurity of setting up a company.
- His wife Margaret controlled the money.
- Henry wanted to study something practical.
- His sister Nelly was a nurse.
Regular and Irregular Verbs
Regular Verbs: Lied; helped; tried; talked; arrived; opened; traveled; permitted; tasted; justified; referred; stopped; robbed; played; healed
Irregular Verbs: catch-caught; become-became; speak-spoke; buy-bought; see-saw; come-came; write-wrote; read-read; run-ran; eat-ate; think-thought; bring-brought; find-found; keep-kept; mean-meant
Business Vocabulary
- make: produce-manufacture
- give work to someone: employ
- start a company: found-establish
- make/do a variety of things: diversify
More Business Vocabulary
- Produce – to make
- Possess – to have
- Start suddenly; especially wars, revolutions, epidemics – to break out
- Start a company – set up
Irregular Verbs List
Be, am, are, is – Was, Were – Been Ser, Estar
Become – Became – Become Llegar a Ser
Begin – Began – Begun Empezar
Bet Apostar
Blow – Blew – Blown Soplar
Break – Broke – Broken Romper
Bring – Brought Traer, llevar
Build – Built Edificar, const
Buy – Bought Comprar
Can – Could Poder, saber
Catch – Caught Coger
Come – Came – Come Venir
Cost Costar
Cut Cortar
Choose – Chose – Chosen Elegir
Deal – Dealt Tratar
Do (Does) – Did – Done Hacer
Dream – Dreamt – Dreamt Soñar
Drink – Drank – Drunk Beber
Drive – Drove – Driven Conducir
Eat – Ate – Eaten Comer
Fall – Fell – Fallen Caer
Feed – Fed Alimentar
Feel – Felt Sentir
Fight – Fought Luchar
Find – Found Encontrar
Fly – Flew – Flown Volar
Forget – Forgot – Forgotten Olvidar
Get – Got Obtener
Give – Gave – Given Dar
Go (Goes) – Went – Gone Ir
Grow – Grew – Grown Crecer
Have – Had Haber, tener
Hide – Hid – Hidden Ocultar
Hold – Held Agarrar, sujetar
Know – Knew – Known Saber, conocer
Lead – Led Conducir
Learn – Learnt Aprender
Leave – Left Dejar
Lend – Lent Prestar
Let Permitir
Lose – Lost Perder
Make – Made Hacer
Mean – Meant Significar
Meet – Met Encontrar
Pay – Paid Pagar
Put Poner
Quit Parar, dejar
Read Leer
Ride – Rode – Ridden Montar
Ring – Rang – Rung Llamar
Rise – Rose – Risen Levantarse
Run – Ran – Run Correr
Say – Said Decir
See – Saw – Seen Ver
Sell – Sold Vender
Send – Sent Enviar
Set Poner(se)
Shoot – Shot Disparar
Show – Showed – Shown Mostrar
Sing – Sang – Sung Cantar
Sink – Sank – Sunk Hundir
Sit – Sat Sentarse
Sleep – Slept Dormir
Speak – Spoke – Spoken Hablar
Spend – Spent Gastar
Stand – Stood Estar en pie
Steal – Stole – Stolen Robar
Take – Took – Taken Coger
Teach – Taught Enseñar
Tell – Told Decir
Think – Thought Pensar
Throw – Threw – Thrown Arrojar, tirar
Understand – Understood Entender
Wake – Woke – Woken Despertarse
Win – Won Ganar
Withdraw – Withdrew – Withdrawn Retirarse
Write – Wrote – Written Escribir
Food Vocabulary
- apple: manzana
- aubergine: berenjena
- ice cream: helado
- jam: mermelada
- prawn: langostinos
- lemon: limon
- lentils: lentejas
- milk: leche
- mushroom: setas
- onion: cebolla
- orange: naranja
- chicken: pollo
- crab: cangrejo
- eggs: huevos
- flour: harina
- garlic: ajo
- bread: pan
- meat: carne
- cheese: queso
- potatoes: patatas
- strawberry: fresa
- tomato: tomate
- yoghurt: yogur
Describing Food
- fried: frito
- frozen: congelado
- greasy: graso
- grilled: asado a la parrilla
- healthy: saludable
- heavy: pesado
- hot: caliente
- light: ligero
- mild: suave
- processed: procesado
- roast: asado
- crunchy: crujiente
- fresh: fresco
- baked: horneado
- bland: soso
- boiled: hervido
- chewy: dificil de masticar
- savoury: sabroso
- seasonal: de temporada
- soft: blando, suave
- spicy: picante
- stale: duro
- steamed: al vapor
- stir-fried: salteado, frito
- strong: fuerte
- sweet: dulce
- tinned: enlatado
- unhealthy: poco saludable
- chilli: chile
- pepper: pimiento
Restaurant Vocabulary
- meal: comida
- dessert: postre
- dish: plato
- fast food: comida rapida
- fixed price menu: menu del dia
- fusion: fusion
- included: incluido
- main course: plato principal
- pub: bar
- served: servido
- service, charge: servicio (opcional)
- set menu: menu del dia
- specials: ofertas especiales
- starter: primer plato
- traditional: traditional
- vegetarian: vegetarian
- wine list: carta de vinos
- certainly: por supuesto
- receipt: recibo, fra
- guest: huésped, invitado
- chops: chuletas
- ham: jamon
- red cabbage: lombarda
- ribs: costillas
- rice: arroz
- salmon: salmon
- salt: sal
- steaks: filetes
- roast chicken: pollo asado
- fried eggs huevos fritos
- although aunque
- perhaps quiza
Business English Vocabulary
- develop: desarrollar
- diversify: diversificar
- employ: emplear
- establish: establecer
- expand: expandir
- factory: fábrica
- hire: contratar
- industry: industria
- invest: invertir
- launch: lanzar, presenter
- look for: buscar
- look like: parecer
- manufacture: manufacturar
- station: estación
- subway: metro
- train: tren
- produce: producir
- underground: metro
- reinvent: reinventar
- casual: informal
- repair: reparar
- run: dirigir
- suit: traje
- uniform: uniforme
- start: comenzar, empezar
- transform: transformar, convertir
- ambitious: ambicioso
- bossy: autoritario
- brave: valiente
- caring: cariñoso
- demanding: exigente
- determined: decidido
- services manager: gerente de servicio
- generous: generoso
- hard-working: trabajador
- helpful: útil
- independent: independiente
- patient: paciente
- positive: positivo
- punctual: puntual
- sensible: sensato, prudente
- sensitive: sensible
- strict: estricto
- strong: fuerte