Essential English Vocabulary, Grammar, and Writing Skills
Essential English Vocabulary
Phrasal Verbs: put on = ponerse; take off = quitarse; get on = subirse; get off = bajarse; fill in = rellenar; cut out = recortar; put in = introducir; take out = sacar; pick up = coger; cut down = talar; turn up = subir volumen; turn down = bajar volumen; run away = huir; look back = mirar atrás; throw away = tirar la basura; give back = devolver
Adjectives: sensible = sensato; silly = ridículo; reliable = fiable; unreliable = falso; patient = paciente; impatient = impaciente; modest = modesto; big-headed = creído; honest = honesto; dishonest = deshonesto; tidy = ordenado; untidy = desordenado; cheerful = feliz; miserable = infeliz; polite = educado; impolite = maleducado; kind = simpático/amable; unkind = poco amable; sociable = sociable; unsociable = insociable; easy-going = despreocupado; tense = preocupado; ambitious = ambicioso; unambitious = poco ambicioso; sensitive = sensible; insensitive = insensible; loyal = leal; disloyal = desleal
Nouns: height = altura; length = longitud; width = anchura; thickness = espesor, grosor; depth = profundidad, fondo; weight = peso.
Adjectives: high = alto; long = largo; wide = ancho; thick = espeso/grueso; deep = profundo; heavy/light = pesado.
Writing Practice
How to make an omelette:
First, some eggs are taken. Then, they are broken into a dish. Next, they are whisked with a fork. After that, some oil is heated in a frying pan and the eggs are poured into the pan. Next, the omelette is flipped over. Finally, the omelette is turned upside down and is ready to eat and enjoy.
Complaint Letter Example
Complaint: Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to complain about the very poor service that my wife and I recently received from your hotel. I booked a double room for Friday 9 October. However, when we arrived at the hotel, the receptionist told me that there was no record of my booking in the computer. I don’t understand this, as I had made the booking five days previously. The receptionist apologized, but she told me that there was only a single room available. It was very inconvenient and disappointing as it was our wedding anniversary. This is completely unacceptable. If I don’t receive a written apology, I certainly won’t be using your hotel again. Yours faithfully, R. Guzmán.
Essay Writing Example
Essay: The theme I am going to talk about is competition between local markets and supermarkets.
Nowadays people prefer to go to supermarkets because there they can find a great variety of products and offers, which is not the case in local markets. Another point to analyze about supermarkets is that they are large chain companies that buy their products wholesale.
One of the advantages of buying in the local market is that you support the small business and contribute to the local economy.
In my opinion, supermarkets are a good place to shop on a weekly or monthly basis, because you buy a lot of products that you don’t usually find in the local markets, but nevertheless the local markets also provide us with a series of products that we couldn’t find in the supermarkets.
Grammar: Passive Voice
Grammar:
- Present Simple: I write a letter = The letter is written.
- Present Continuous: I’m writing a letter = The letter is being written.
- Past Simple: I wrote a letter = The letter was written.
- Past Continuous: I was writing a letter = The letter was being written.
- Present Perfect: I’ve written a letter = The letter has been written.
- Past Perfect: I had written a letter = The letter had been written.
- Future Simple: I will write a letter = The letter will be written.
- Future (going to): I’m going to write a letter = The letter is going to be written.
- Modals (have to): I have to write a letter = The letter has to be written.
- Modals (should): I should write a letter = The letter should be written.
- Modals (must): I must write a letter = The letter must be written.