Common English Idioms, Proverbs, and Grammar Essentials
Common English Idioms
- An arm and a leg
- Off the top of my head
- All ears
- A pain in the neck
- Pulling my leg
- Time flies
- A whale of a time
- Once in a blue moon
- The eleventh hour
- Buy time
- Under the weather
- Cats and dogs
- Don’t have the foggiest idea
- Right as rain
- On cloud nine
- A piece of cake
- Couch potato
- Go bananas
- In a nutshell
- Hold your horses
- A fish out of water
- Bugs
- Bookworm
- When pigs fly
Common English Proverbs
- An apple a day keeps the doctor away
- Home is where the heart is
- Two in distress makes sorrow less
- A man is known by the company he keeps
- The early bird catches the worm
- No bees, no honey; no work, no money
- The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence
Types of Crimes in English and Catalan
Here are some types of crimes with their Catalan translations:
- Felony: Delicte greu
- Homicide: Assassinat
- Manslaughter: Homicidi imprudent
- Smuggling: Contraban
- Assault: Agressió
- Arson: Incendi premeditat
- Piracy: Pirateria
- Swindling: Estafa
- Perjury: Perjurament
- Terrorism: Terrorisme
- Criminal attempt: Intent de cometre un crim
- Speeding: Excés de velocitat
- Mugging: Robatori amb violència
- Slander: Difamació
- Larceny: Robatori
- Shoplifting: Furt a botigues
- Burglary: Robatori amb força en les coses
- Hijacking: Segrest d’avions o vaixells
- Blackmail: Xantatge
- Kidnapping: Segrest
- Sexual harassment: Assetjament sexual
- Bribery: Suborn
- Robbery: Robatori
- Theft: Robatori
- Vandalism: Vandalisme
English Connectors and Linking Words
Contrast
- But
- Yet + clause
- In spite of
- Despite
- Although
- Even though
- In spite of the fact that
- However
- Nevertheless
- Even so
- On the contrary
- On the one hand… On the other hand…
- While
Cause and Reason
- As
- Since
- Seeing that
- Because of
- Due to
Purpose
- In order (not) to
- So that
Example
- For example
Addition
- Moreover
- Furthermore
- Besides
- In addition
- In addition to
- As well as
- Apart from
- Except
Sequence
- First of all
- To begin with
- First
- Finally
Conclusion
- In short
- In conclusion
Result
- Therefore
- Consequently
- For this reason
- As a result of + noun
Condition
- If
- Provided
- Providing
- As long as
- Unless
Time
- When
- While
- As soon as
- Until
- Before
- After
Modal Verbs in English
Obligation
- In the past, use had to to express obligation.
- In the future, use will have to.
- In the present perfect, use have/has had to.
- In the present, must means you find something necessary. It’s your responsibility.
- In the present, have to means that you have no alternative. It’s a strong obligation. There’s a rule, a law, or a special circumstance.
- Mustn’t expresses prohibition.
- Don’t/Doesn’t have to means there is no obligation or need to do something.
Prohibition
- Can’t
- Couldn’t
- Mustn’t
- May not
- Might not
- Shouldn’t
- Oughtn’t to
Ability
- Could expresses general ability in the past.
- Was/Were able to or managed to express ability to do something on a particular occasion, or exceptionally.
Advice
- Should
- Shall
Permission
- Can
- May
Probability
- Can
- May (50% probability)
Prediction and Spontaneous Decision
- Will
Useful English Vocabulary
- Proverbs: Proverbis
- Fluently: Fluent
- Slang: Jerga
- Get through: Passar
- Predictive text: Corrector
- Sedentary: Sedentari
- Wellbeing: Benestar
- Drop out: Abandonar
- Cheer: Animar
- Browse: Navegar
- Sweatshops: Tallers
- Bargains: Gangas
- Ripped off: Arrancar de
- Biodegradable: Biodegradable
- Break down: Descomponer
- Carbon footprint: Huella de carbono
- Disposed of: Desechado
- Dumped: Tirat
- Landfill sites: Vertederos
- Sustainable: Sostebible
- Zero waste: Residus zero