English Grammar and Vocabulary Guide
Verbs
1. Past
1.1. Simple (soler)
S+V (ed/2nd column) Example: Hice – I did
1.2. Continuous
S+was/were+V(ing) Example: Estaba haciendo – I was doing
1.3. Perfect
1.3.1. Simple
S+had+V(participle) Example: Había hecho – I had done
1.3.2. Continuous
S+had+been+V(ing) Example: Había estado haciendo – I had been doing
2. Present
2.1. Simple (soler)
S+V(inf/inf+s) – Routines – Soler Example: hacer – do
2.2. Continuous
S+am/is/are+V(ing) – Now Example: Estoy haciendo – I am doing
2.3. Perfect
2.3.1. Simple
S+have/has+V(participle) – Finish Example: He hecho – I have done
2.3.2. Continuous
S+have/has+been+V(ing) – Unfinished Example: Lleva haciendo – I have been doing
3. Future
3.1. Will
S+will+V – Predictions – Instant Decisions – Opinions Example: Yo iré – I will go
3.2. Be Going To
S+to be+going to+V – Predictions based on a present situation – Intentions
3.3. Present Continuous (for future)
S+am/is/are+V+ing – Plans and arrangements Example: They are moving house next week
3.4. Future Continuous
S+will+be+V+ing
3.5. Future Perfect Simple
S+will+have+past participle
3.6. Future Perfect Continuous
S+will+have+been+V+ing
4. Conditionals
Zero Conditional
If + Present Simple, S + Present Simple (Present) (Obvious, 100% sure)
First Conditional
If + Present Simple, S + Will + Infinitive (Present and Future) (Very probable)
Second Conditional
If + Past Simple, S + Would/Could + Infinitive (Present) (Impossible)
Third Conditional
If + Past Perfect, S + Would/Could + Have + Participle (Past) (Hypothetical)
Reported Speech: Steps
1. Outside the quote
1.1. Present Verb Tense (outside quote): Verb tenses do not change, neither inside nor outside the quote.
1.2. Past Verb Tense (outside quote): Verb tenses change.
2. Reporting Verb
2.1. “Said to” becomes “told”
2.2. For questions, “said” becomes “asked”
3. Verb Tense Changes Inside the Quote
3.1. Present Simple becomes Past Simple
3.2. Past Simple becomes Past Perfect
4. Modal Verb Changes
4.1. Will becomes Would
4.2. Can becomes Could
4.3. Shall becomes Should
5. More Modal Verb Changes
5.1. May becomes Might
5.2. Must becomes Had to
6. Pronoun Changes
Pronouns in the 1st and 2nd person change, but not in the 3rd person.
7. Time and Place Word Changes
7.1. Here becomes There
7.2. This becomes That
7.3. These becomes Those
7.4. Now becomes Then
7.5. Ago becomes Before
8. More Time and Place Word Changes
8.1. Next week becomes The next week, Tomorrow becomes The next day, etc.
8.2. Last week becomes The week before, Yesterday becomes The day before, Last year becomes The year before, etc.
9. Questions in Reported Speech
9.1. Yes/No questions are reported using “if”
9.2. Do, does, and did disappear
9.3. Question Structure Changes:
9.3.1. Do/Does + S + V becomes S + V (Past Simple)
9.3.2. Did + S + V becomes S + had + Vpp (Past Perfect)
9.3.3. Aux + S + V/V+ing/Vpp becomes S + aux (changes according to rules)
10. Imperatives in Reported Speech
10.1. S + don’t + V becomes S + not to + V and S + V becomes S + to + V. Example: Don’t worry! Be happy! becomes Not to worry! To be happy!
11. Difficult Reporting Verbs
- Ordered, advised, reminded, begged -> S + to + V
- Agreed, threatened, refused, promised -> to + V
- Apologized -> to + S + for + Ving
- Denied, suggested, admitted -> Ving
- Accused -> S + of + Ving
Vocabulary
General Vocabulary
Look up: Buscar/Search for some information.
Stay on: Permanecer/Keep doing something.
Save up: Ahorrar/Keep your money to buy something.
Take up: Comenzar/Start.
Application form: The act of applying to a particular purpose or use.
Adverts: Short for advertisement.
Appointments: An arrangement to meet a person or be at a place at a certain time.
Achieve goals: Get the things you want to get.
Achievement: Something that has been accomplished, especially by hard work, ability, or heroism.
Aloud: In the normal tone and loudness of the speaking voice.
Burst into tears: To begin to cry suddenly.
Boss: A person who employs or superintends workers.
Be green: To take special steps to protect the environment.
Bright red: To blush.
Bottle bank: Large container where people throw away glass to recycle.
Challenging: Requires full use of all your abilities.
Couldn’t believe her eyes: That you were very surprised by it.
Challenging: Arduous, testing.
Diary: A journal.
Dump: The place where all the rubbish is.
Do replays: Play a role.
Fulfill: Satisfy.
Full-time: Standard weekly working hours.
Learn by heart: To memorize.
Make a difference: The state or relation of being different; dissimilarity.
Make an effort: The use of physical or mental power.
Make notes: A brief summary or record in writing, especially a jotting for future reference.
Make progress: Advancement toward a goal or to a further or higher stage.
Make lists: A series of items written one below the other.
Memorize: To learn (something) completely so that it can be repeated exactly.
Memory: The mental ability of keeping and recalling facts, events, or experiences.
Motivated: To provide with an incentive or a reason for doing something.
Memories: The ability of the mind to store and recall past sensations, thoughts, etc.
Mind: The part in a conscious being that reasons, thinks, feels, wills, perceives, judges, etc.
Over the moon: Extremely pleased and happy.
Position: A post of employment; a job.
Part-time: For or during less than the customary or standard time.
Put pressure on: To apply weight or pressure to something.
Packaging: The box or wrapping in which a product is offered for sale.
Pronounce: To utter or articulate (sounds, words, sentences, etc.).
Remember: To recall to the mind.
Recall: To bring back from memory.
Reuse: To use again.
Recycle: To put or pass through a cycle again, as for further treatment.
Record: To set down in writing or the like, such as for the purpose of preserving evidence.
Revise: To change or alter, especially after thinking about (something).
Remind: To cause (a person) to remember.
Scared stiff: To be scared to death.
Strength: The state or quality of being physically or mentally strong.
Spell: To name or write in order the letters constituting (a word).
Satisfying: To fulfill the need, desire, or expectation of.
Throwaway: To get rid of as useless.
Vacancy: An unoccupied position or job.
Write down: To write on a piece of paper.
Weakness: The state or condition of lacking strength.
Waste: To use something inefficiently.
Wage: A fixed regular payment.
Experience: Perceptions over time.
Reference: The action of mentioning or alluding to something.
Employer: Boss, person.
Ads: Short for advertisement.
Job centre: A government office where unemployed people can go for advice and information about jobs that are available.
Filled in: Replaced.
Interview: A formal meeting in which one or more persons question, consult, or judge the worth of another person.
Post: A position of employment, especially an appointed public office.
Applied for: Related to or put to practical use.
Applicant: A person who applies for or requests something.
Crossing: Journey across water.
Flight: Plane trip.
Journey: Extended travel.
Travel: Move from place to place.
Trip: Journey.
Voyage: Long journey.
Control: Restrict.
Hall: Large room.
Lounge: In an airport.
Reclaim: Take back.
Departure: Leaving.
Baggage: Luggage.
Homesick: Temporarily missing home.
Hometown: Town of birth.
Foreign: From another country.
Custom: Habit, usual behavior.
Culture shock: Anxiety in an unfamiliar culture.
Mother tongue: Native language.
Abroad: Outside one’s own country.
Inhabitant: Person; resident.
Expatriates: Living abroad.
Borders: Frontier line.
Currency: Money system.
Allowance: An amount of money given regularly.
Change mind: Had a change of opinion.
Encourage: Inspire, motivate.
Earn: Getting money for work that you do.
Highlighted: To emphasize or make (something) stand out.
Skip lessons: Avoid going to, miss.
Straight away: Immediately.
Summarized: To make or be a summary of; express concisely.
Acquaintances: People you know but not really your friends.
Advice: Opinion about what could or should be done about a situation or problem.
Ask out: To invite (someone) to a social engagement.
Argue: To put forth reasons for or against.
Breaks his heart: Devastates.
Break up: Split up.
Cheat on: To be unfaithful.
Clown: A buffoon or jester who entertains by jokes, antics, and tricks in a circus, play, or other presentation.
Close friends: Best friends.
Couple: A pair.
Chat up: To talk informally with (someone), especially in a flirtatious manner.
Classmates: People in your class.
To date: Go out with a boy or girl.
Discuss: To talk about a topic.
Ex: A former spouse or partner.
Fall out with: Argue with somebody, not be friends anymore.
Gossip: Talk about private lives.
Flirt with: To tease or trifle with someone alluringly.
Get on with: Have a friendly relation.
Get together: To have a relationship.
Hit it off: Get on really well.
Habits: Things you do every day.
Love at first sight: An immediate and powerful attraction.
Make up with: Return to being friends.
Make up for: To compensate for something.
Pop the question: Propose marriage.
Pick on: Bully a person all the time.
Row: To have an argument with somebody.
Relatives: Members of your family (parientes).
Struggle: Strife.
Stand up for: Defend a person who is being bullied or treated unfairly.
Stand up: To jilt.
Stand, tolerate: Soportar.
Survey: To consider or study in a general way.
Warning, notice: Advice to be cautious.
The love of her life: The partner of her dreams.
Tie the knot: Get married.
Turn into: Become into something.
Trust: Believe that a person won’t disappoint you.
Turn out: To develop in a certain kind of way.
To make up: To put cosmetics on yourself.
To make up your mind: To decide something.
To make something up: To invent something.
To make up for: To compensate.
Underpaid: Not paid enough.
Overeat: Eat too much.
Endangered species: A species of plant or animal at risk of extinction.
Human guinea pigs: People used in medical experiments.
Wildlife: Animals living in the wild.
Free-range: Permitted to graze or forage for grain, etc., rather than being confined to a feedlot or a small enclosure.
Factory farm: A large industrialized farm.
Ethical: In accordance with principles of conduct that are considered correct.
Captivity: Imprisonment.
Winning a competition: Getting a victory in a series of games.
Bring in: To earn (Traer).
Build up: To make something increase.
Fit in: Adapt to somewhere.
Grow up: To become older.
Go on: To continue doing something.
Look up to: Want to be like somebody.
Set up: To build or make something (Preparar).
Take off: To become successful (Despegar).
Court: Juzgado.
Defendant: Acusado.
Evidence: Evidencia.
Fine: Multa.
Judge: Juez.
Jury: Jurado.
Lawyer: Abogado.
Trial: Juicio.
Verdict: Veredicto.
Witness: Testigo.
To pickpocket: To steal from pockets.
To mug: To hold up.
To steal: To take without right or permission.
To smuggle: To traffic.
To burgle: To break into a house.
To rub: To apply pressure and friction to.