English Grammar and Vocabulary Guide
Phrasal Verbs & Expressions
take out (sacar) run up (ejecutar hasta) find out (averiguar) make up (hacer) hack into (obtener info ilegal) sort out (resolver problema) run up (a bussines) Spite of = a pesar de, take into = tener en, get = obtener, drop out of = abandonar la, offer a broad range of = ofrecer una amplia gama de, set = establecer, be faced with = se enfrenta con, Where someone/something stands = to be in certain position; stand back = to maintain distance, either literally or figuratively; stand a chance = to have the possibility of doing something; standing = a rank of position; it stand to reason = to be the logical conclusion; standard = an acceptable level of quality or achievement; stand out (destacar) = to be easily noticed or very obvious; outstanding = extremely good or impressive
Conditional Sentences
Types of Conditional Sentences
- Zero Conditional (Present, Present): Used for general truths and facts.
Example: If you heat plastic, it melts. - First Conditional (Present, will): Used for possible future events.
Example: If I work hard, I will make money. - Second Conditional (Past Simple, Past Simple/would): Used for unreal or unlikely present situations.
Example: If I were taller, I would play basketball. - Third Conditional (Past Perfect, would have + past participle): Used for unreal or impossible past situations.
Example: If I had been in a bilingual school, I would have passed the placement test.
Mixed Conditionals
- Current/General Situation with Past Result: If clause in 2nd conditional + result clause in 3rd conditional.
Example: If my university weren’t so high-tech, I wouldn’t have been able to do international online projects. - Past Event/Situation with Present Result: If clause in 3rd conditional + result clause in 2nd conditional.
Example: If I had studied engineering, my college degree might be obsolete by now!
More on “Stand”
Stand back (no dejarse llevar); to maintain distance. Stand a chance (1a oportunidad); to have the possibility of doing something. Standing a rank of position. It stands to reason (es logico); to be logical conclusion. Standard an acceptable level of quality or achievement. Stand out (destacar) to be easily noticed or very obvious. Outstanding (sobresaliente); extremely good or impressive.
Using Connectors
Connectors with Commas
- and, but, or, so: Use a comma before the connector. Example: Paul has excellent leadership and communications skills, so he got a good promotion.
- because, since, although, when, after, before:
- If the clause with the connector comes first, use a comma. Example: Because we didn’t plan our project well enough, it went over budget.
- If the clause with the connector comes second, don’t use a comma. Example: Our project went over budget because we didn’t plan it well enough.
- however, nevertheless, therefore, furthermore, in addition:
- The clause with the connector always comes second.
- Use a period or semi-colon before the connector and a comma after the connector. Example: You need IT skills. Furthermore, you should improve your communications skills. or You need better IT skills; furthermore, you should improve your communications skills.
Future Passive
Form: Will be + Past Participle
Examples:
- Jane will buy a new computer… A new computer will be bought.
- Millions of people visit the museum… The museum will be visited by millions of people.
- You will not do it… It won’t be done by you.
- Will the plumber repair the shower?… Will the shower be repaired by the plumber?
Useful Expressions
every now and then = de vez en cuando; by making the service free = haciendo el servicio gratuito; for people to do this = esto se hace para la gente
Countable/Uncountable Nouns
Countable: A chicken = one animal, a pizza, a cake, a candy, a fish (when referring to a specific animal)
Uncountable: Chicken = an amount of that meat, pizza, cake, candy, fish (in general, when referring to the food)
Adverbials
- Adverbial of Time: (When?) Example: Last week, all of these items appeared.
- Adverbial of Frequency: (How often?) Example: Freecycle.org is a group that is used by many people every day.
- Adverbial of Place: (Where?) Example: Freecycle™ keeps “junk” out of landfills.
- Adverbial of Manner: (How?) Example: Join Freecycle by signing up online. By distributing items to people who want them, Freecycle keeps “junk” out of landfills.
- Adverbial of Purpose: (Why?) Example: People use it to give away and get things in their local communities.
Vocabulary
capable = capaz; conceivable = concebible; crew = equipo; float = flotar; shuttle = lanzadera; docked = acoplado; since = desde; unless = a menos que; as long as = siempre que; in case = en caso; provided that = siempre que
Future Passive with Modals
Form: will/may/might/could + be + verb
Example: A probe will visit Pluto before the end of the decade → A probe will/may/might/could be visited Pluto before the end of the decade.
Common Adverb + Adjective Combinations
Over/under (populated/estimated/utilized); highly (successful/dangerous/effective); well/badly/poorly (organized/done/thought out); most/least (organized/effective/successful)
Subject-Verb Agreement with “None”
- None of this pet food is good. (Uncountable noun, verb remains singular)
- None of the kittens have been fed today. (Countable noun, verb takes plural form)
Future Perfect and Future Perfect Passive
Future Perfect: will/won’t + have + past participle
Future Perfect Passive: will/won’t + have been + past participle
Examples:
- In 20 years, machines will have taken over many jobs that humans do now… → In 20 years, many jobs that humans do now will have been taken over by machines.
- By the year 2025, robots won’t have replaced humans beings in factories… → By the year 2025, humans beings won’t have been replaced by robots in factories.
Adjective + Preposition Combinations
Be alarmed by… be frightened or worried
Be overwhelmed by… be unable to concentrate on something
Be focused on… concentrate on a particular aim
Be suspicious of… Feel that someone or something cannot be trusted
Be susceptible to… Be easily influenced or affected by something
Be aware of… Know about a situation or fact
Be distracted by… be unable to deal with a large amount of something
More Useful Expressions
come to town = llegado a la ciudad; fill the shoes of = llenar los zapatos de; geared toward = dirigido a; Have a part to play = tener un papel que desempeñar; helping hand = echar la mano; over the long haul / in the long run = a largo plazo