English Survival Kit

This summary has been conceived as an everyday work tool for solving the
students' grammar problems that I have seen in the classroom at an ESO &
Batxiller level. As a result, many explanations have been simplified. For further
information you should consult English grammar books such as:

- Eastwood, John & Mack, Ronald A Basic English Grammar . Oxford Univ. Press.
- Thomson & Martinet A Practical English Grammar. Oxford University Press.
- Swan, Michael. Practical English Usage . Oxford University Press.

I hope you find these summaries useful both at our lessons here and in the future .

Joan Gallardo i Gallardo

[email protected]
I.E.S. Abastos
2/6/17
IES Abastos
Joan Gallardo

Table of contents
1.ARTICLES 4

2.DEMONSTRATIVES 4

3.TELLING THE TIME 4

4.NUMBERS 5

5.NOUNS 6
5.1Masculine & feminine 6
5.2Plural 6
5.3Possessive case (Saxon genitive) 6
5.4Countable & uncountable(= no plural) nouns 7

6.ADJECTIVES 8
6.1Comparison 8
6.2Adjective order 9

7.VERBS 9
7.1Modal Verbs 10
7.2Colloquial forms 10
7.3Tenses chart 11
7.4Question tags 13
7.5Verb patterns I 13

8.PERSONAL PRONOUNS (& adjectives) 15

9.WORD ORDER 16
9.1Basic word order. 16
9.2General word order: 16
9.3WH words 17

10.ADVERBS 18
10.1Adverbs of manner (after the objects)
10.2Adverbs of place & time
10.3Adverbs of frequency
10.4Adverbs of degree

11.PREPOSITIONS 19
11.1 Place
11.2 Movement
11.3 Time
11.4 Others

12.SUBORDINATE CLAUSES 20
12.1Relative clauses 20
12.2Time clauses 20
12.3Place clauses 20
12.4Purpose clauses 21
12.5Cause clauses 21
12.6Result clauses Translating "per tant…" "així que…" 21
12.7Contrast clauses 21

13.CONDITIONAL SENTENCES 22
13.1Type 1 (probable condition)
13.2Type 2 (improbable or impossible condition)
13.3Type 3 (the condition didn’t happen)

14.THE PASSIVE VOICE 24

15.REPORTED SPEECH 25

16. TYPICAL TRANSLATION PROBLEMS

17. SPELLING CHANGES

2
IES Abastos
Joan Gallardo

1. ARTICLES

a (an + vocal) the /đ∂/ ( /đi:/ + vocal)

-is used like un/una in our language, and: -is used like el/la/els/les in our
language, but not :
- to be + profession: he's a teacher - talking in general: I like cars
- quantity expressions: a hundred - at home, in/to bed at/to work
three times a (per) day at/to school
(al dia) but go home
- exclamations: what a girl! (countable) - not with parts of the body:
what weather! I wash my hair.

2. DEMONSTRATIVES

--X ----------X
X this that
XX these those

3. TELLING THE TIME

quarter to two
- What's the time? quarter past two
- What time is it? It's half past two
- What time do you make? two o'clock

3
IES Abastos
Joan Gallardo

4. NUMBERS

cardinal ordinal
one, twenty-one… 1st first, 21st twenty-first
two 2nd second
three 3rd third
four 4th fourth
five 5th fifth
six 6th sixth
seven 7th seventh
eight 8th eighth
nine 9th ninth /nainθ/
ten 10th tenth
twelve 12th twelfth
twenty 20th twentieth
forty 40th fortieth

a. 100-1,000-1,000,000: a(one) hundred, a(one) thousand, a(one) million

b. "and" before the last TWO figures (not in USA): i.e. 240 = two hundred and forty

c. decimals & thousands…: 3,404.5 = three thousand four hundred and four point five

d. 0
normally UK nought /no:t/
USA zero
figure by figure (USA zero) like letter "o"
measurements 0ْ C = zero degree Centigrade
team-games score (USA zero) Valencia 3 – Liverpool 0 = (nil)
tennis love

e.once, twice, three times…

f. Money
Europe USA UK
€1 one euro $1 one dollar ₤1 one pound
1c one cent 1c one cent 1p one penny,
one p /pi:/
2p two pence, two p
€1.20 one euro twenty $1.20 one dollar twenty ₤1.20 one pound twenty

g. Dates:

- 4th November 2000: the fourth of November, two thousand

- November 4th, 2000: November the fourth, two thousand

4
IES Abastos
Joan Gallardo

5. NOUNS

5.1 Masculine & feminine

Some nouns have different forms for masculine and feminine:

people jobs animals

boy girl actor actress bull cow
bachelor spinster conductor conductress cock hen
bridegroom bride heir heiress dog bitch
father mother hero heroine duck drake
gentleman lady host hostess gander goose
husband wife manager manageress lion lioness
man woman steward stewardess ram ewe
nephew niece waiter waitress stag doe
son daughter stallion mare
uncle aunt tiger tigress
widower widow

5.2 Plural

add -s a car, two cars

After "o, ch, sh, s, x": add -es /iz/ two tomatoes, churches, kisses, boxes
Exceptions: kilos, photos, pianos
- y > -ies 1 baby > 2 babies
1 day > 2 days
-f(e) > -ves 1 wife > 2 wives
1 wolf > 2 wolves
Exceptions: handkerchiefs, cliffs, safes
Special plurals ox>oxen child>children
foot>feet tooth>teeth man>men
goose>geese mouse>mice woman<women
/'wum∂n/>/'wim∂n/
No change fish, sheep, aircraft, quid (slang for ₤1)
Tricky! Everybody IS happy. The people ARE happy

5.3 Possessive case (Saxon genitive)

We normally use it with people, animals and countries. Also with:

- ships: the ship's bell (optional for other vehicles)

- time expressions: a day's work
- "worth": ₤1's worth of stamps

Add: -'s John's father

two children's father
Plurals ending in –s: add ' a boys' school
After names ending in –s: 's or ' Charles's girlfriend
Charles' girlfriend

Note: A friend of John's (un amic de John)

A friend of mine (un amic meu)

5
IES Abastos
Joan Gallardo

5.4 Countable & uncountable(= no plural) nouns

- Truc informal per saber si un substantiu és countable or uncountable:

"m'agraden les taronges > plural > COUNTABLE
"m'agrada el pa" >singular > UNCOUNTABLE

Countable Uncountable
singular plural
there is there are there is
Posit: a(n) some some
I want an orange I want some oranges I want some wine
Neg&Inter a(n) any any
there isn't an orange there aren't any oranges there isn't any water
= there is no orange = there are no oranges = there is no water

How many? How much?

Posit: a lot of (formal: many) Posit: a lot of
Neg&Inter many (*) Neg&Inter much (*)
a few a little

* for questions which expect a negative response we also use a lot of.

Tricky words:
countable uncountable
people (many people, people are…) money (much money, money is…)
(but everybody is...) information ( " information, information is…)
news
advice

- any shops
- any money

Any in positive sentences mean "qualsevol".i.e. You can ask me any questions.

Compounds with some-, any-, no-.

things places people

Positive something somewhere someone
= somebody
Negat. & Interrog. anything anywhere anyone
= anybody

there isn't anybody nothing nowhere no one

= there is nobody = nobody

6
IES Abastos
Joan Gallardo

6. ADJECTIVES

6.1 Comparison

LESS than TWO syllables: -ER i.e.: small, smallER, the smallEST
the -EST
-Y pretty, prettiER, the prettiEST
-ER clever, cleverER, the cleverEST
( -ow… narrow, narrower, the narrowest)

TWO syllables:

-ING MORE boring,the MOST boring

-FUL MORE awful, the MOST awful
etc...

MORE than TWO syllables: MORE i.e.: MORE intelligent, the MOST intelligent
the MOST

1. Irregular adjectives: good better the best

bad worse the worst
far farther the farthest (for further information=
further the furthest per a més informació)
old older the oldest (regular)
elder the eldest (family members, i.e. my elder brother)

2. Structures:

2.1. Comparatiu de superioritat: Peter is taller THAN John

Peter is more intelligent THAN John

2.2. Comparatiu d’inferioritat: Peter is less clever THAN John

Peter is AS tall AS John

Peter isn't AS/SO tall AS John
2.3. Comparatiu d’igualtat:
Peter and John are JUST AS tall

2.4. Superlatiu: Peter is THE tallEST in the class

Peter is THE LEAST tall in the class

2.5. THE MORE you live, THE MORE you learn: QUANT MÉS vius, MÉS aprens:

2.6 smaller and smaller: cada vegada més xicotet.

3. Spelling -Y > i pretty, prettier

-R wide, wider

6. Doubling consonants: Dupliquen l´última consonant si són:

-monosíl.labes (o agudes)
-consonant + vocal + 1 consonant: hot, hoTTer

7
 IES Abastos
Joan Gallardo

6.2 Adjective order

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Noun
Opinion Size Shape Age Colour Origin Material Purpose
cool big long new red Italian aluminium racing CAR

7. VERBS

7.1 Modal Verbs I

Function Structure Past form

Advice You had better (not) give up smoking You should have studied
should(n’t)
ought to

Obligation You must study You had to study

have to
(‘ve got to)

Prohibition You mustn’t smoke

can’t You couldn’t smoke
aren’t allowed to You weren’t allowed to smoke

Lack of obligation You don’t have to help me. You needn’t have come
(no cal / needn’t
no hace falta)
Probability It may / might rain tomorrow.
can / could

Permission Can / Could I come in?

May

Ability He can swim.

(saber)
Logical conclusion The street is wet. It must have rained. → I’m sure it’s rained
She’s failed the exam. She can’t have studied → I’m sure she didn’t
study.

She may/might have studied → I'm not sure (Maybe, perhaps...)

To have + - ?

Possession (tener) I have (got) a car I haven’t got a car Have you got a car?
I don’t have “ “ Do you have “ “ ?
Auxiliary (haber) I have worked I haven’t worked Have you worked?
Obligation (tener que) I have to work I don’t have to work Do you have to work?

8
 IES Abastos
Joan Gallardo

Modal Verbs II

Present Negative Past Future Notes

(affirm.)
have (got) to don't have had to will have to "tener que", obligació
(not modal) to externa
must mustn't " " "deber", el que parla
(prohibition) està d'acord
amb l'obligació

should shouldn't "debería…"

= ought to = ought not to

Present Negative Past Future Notes

(affirm.)
can can't could will be able "poder"
= cannot
may may not was/were will be allowed to "poder" only for
allowed to permission and
possibility

could couldn't "podría"

= might (possibility) = mightn't

needn't "no cal..", "no es necesario que…"

- for to need as a normal verb,
consult a grammar book

Affirmative Negative Interrogative Notes

dare daren't Dare you…? "Atreverse"
= don't dare (to) = Do you dare (to)…?

Affirmative Negative Notes

will won't - Auxiliary verb for the Future tense
('ll) (I/we shall = I/ will)
- Requests (peticions): Will you repeat, please?
- Offers (oferiments) : Shall I translate?
would wouldn't - Auxiliary verb for the Conditional tense
('d)

7.2 Colloquial forms

colloquial gonna wanna gotta ain't yeah

formal going to want to have got to isn't, aren't, am not yes
haven't, hasn't

9
 IES Abastos
Joan Gallardo

7.3 Tenses chart Affirmative Negative Interrogative Short Answ. Remarks

Basic tenses
Present simple I work. I don't work. Do I work? Yes, I do. - 3rd person: -s: (-es: -o, -s,z,sh,x, -ch)
(he, she, it works) v s v No, I don't - cry > cries - play > plays
(he, she, it doesn't work) (Does he, she, it work?) - Usage: habitual actions. FreqAdv, every…
want, think, like, know…
Present continuous I'm working I'm not working. Am I writing? Yes, I am. - double cons:"aguda", (cvc)
('s, 're) to be No I'm not. i.e.: stop > sotpping, (but travelling)
(isn't, aren't) - cry > crying
play > playing
- Usage: - this moment (now, at present…)
- future plans
- Not used with: can, must…& verbs of
possession (belong, owe, possess)
"going to" I'm going to work I'm not going to work Am I going to work Yes, I am. Usage: future plans, and intentions
('s, 're) (isn't, aren't) No I'm not.
Future tense I'll work I won't work Will I work? Yes, I will. to be > I'll be.
v v No, I won't. - special : can > I'll be able (to…)
(won't = will not) must > I'll have to
('ll = will) - future
- Usage: -- requests: Will you repeat, please?
- offers: Shall I translate?
Conditional tense I'd work I wouldn't work Would I work? Yes, I would. can* > I'd be able (to…), I could
('d = would) (wouldn't = would not) No, I wouldn't. must* > I'd have to, I should
Simple past I worked I didn't work Did I work? Yes, I did. - double consonant. stop > stopped
No, I didn't. - Pronouncing –ed. /t/ /d/ /id/
- - cry > cried
play > played
- Irregular verbs
- Usage: finished actions, if time is given
- when, …ago, last…
Present perfect I've worked I haven't worked Have I worked? Yes, I have. - see Past simple.(doubling, -y,-ed, irr.)
participle No, I haven't - Usage: not finished actions & recent past
(he, she, it 's) (he, she, it hasn't) (Has he, she, it worked?) - been to/gone to
('ve=have, 's=has) ( haven't= have not) - since yesterday - for a week - …yet.
- Have you ever…? - I've just …-ed.

10
 IES Abastos
Joan Gallardo

Other tenses Affirmative Negative Interrogative Short Answ. Remarks

Past perfect I had worked I hadn't worked Had I worked? Yes, I had.
participle No, I hadn't
Past continuous I was working I wasn't working Was I working? Yes, I was. Typical use with two past actions:
(he, she, it was) No, I wasn't He was having a shower when she rang
(we, you, they were) While he was having a shower, he rang
Present perfect I have been working I haven't been working Have you been Yes, I have. Usage: like present perfect but the action is
continuous working? No, I haven't. (or is regarded as) continuous or repetitive
(porte treballant…)
Future perfect I will have worked I won't have worked Will I have worked? Yes, I will
participle No, I won't
Future continuous I will be working I won't be working Will I be working? Yes, I will
No, I won't
Conditional perfect I would have worked I wouldn't have worked Would I have worked? Yes, I would
participle No, I wouldn't
Past perfect I had been working I hadn't been working Had I been working? Yes, I had
continuous No, I hadn't
Future perfect I will have been working I won't have been Will I have been Yes, I will
continuous working working? No, I won't
Conditional perfect I would have been I wouldn't have been Would I have been Yes, I will
continuous working working working? No, I won't

Affirmative Negative
Imperative work! Don't work!

Let him/her/them work! Don't let him/her/them work!

Let's work! Let's not work!

11
 IES Abastos
Joan Gallardo

7.4 Question tags

They mean "veritat?" i.e.: You don't speak French, do you?

You would help, wouldn't you?
She is funny, isn't she?
7.5 Verb patterns I

verb + infinitive verb +…ing verb + to + infinitive

I can work I dislike working I want to work
(modal & auxiliary verbs) (most verbs)
can could dislike finish agree choose
shall should enjoy stop*(see VP II) decide expect
will would help hope
may might avoid suggest manage promise
must keep refuse afford

had better would rather don’t mind can’t stand want

feel like can’t help would like
would love ought to
to be/get used to would prefer have to
etc… to be + willing

used to etc…

Verb + sb + to + infinitive Verb + sb + infinitive (no to)

he wants me to go He lets me go
allow let somebody go
advise make
ask
encourage somebody to go
expect
help
invite
tell
want

Verb + ing or to + infinitive

like, love, hate, prefer I like singing / to sing

begin / start it started raining/to rain

continue

But: it's starting to rain I’d like to sing / I like living in Valencia
(would) (situations)

to use: - I used to read cartoons when I was a kid = solia llegir còmics quan…
- I'm used to listening to loud music = estic acostumat a escoltar…
to look forward: - I look forward to hearing from you soon.

12
 IES Abastos
Joan Gallardo

Verb patterns I I
Verb + ing or to + infinitive BUT with different meanings.

stop - I stopped drinking. (= finish, give up)

- I stopped to drink. (= in order to)

try - I tried to pass English, but I couldn't. (= make an effort)

- I tried doing exercise to lose weight . (= experiment, “provar”)

mean - Studying Batxiller means working hard (significar)

- I didn’t mean to hurt you (voler, tindre la intenció de...)

go on - He worked as a musician, then he went on to work as a teacher (next, a change)

- As the Titanic sank, the band went on playing music (continue)

remember The action takes place in different times:

forget
regret - I regret (1st) to tell(2nd) you the bad news.
- I've failed the exam because I didn't study last evening.
I regret(2nd) going out(1st) last evening..

Adjective + infinitive (to) Preposition + gerund (-ing)

- That story is hard to believe - Clean your teeth after eating.
adjective preposition

Verbs as nouns
(Subject/Object...) (-ing)
- Smoking is a bad habit
general meaning

13
 IES Abastos
Joan Gallardo

8. PERSONAL PRONOUNS (& adjectives)

Personal pro. Object pro. Possessive adj. Possessive pro. Reflexive pro.
I me my mine myself
you you your yours yourself
he him his his himself
she her her hers herself
it it its its itself
we us our ours ourselves
you you your yours yourselves
they them their theirs themselves
I'm English Tell me the time This is my car This car is mine. I do it myself

Note:. The same forms are used for the plural:

- this is my book.
- these are my books.

14
 IES Abastos
Joan Gallardo

9. WORD ORDER

9.1 Basic word order.

Interrogative Negative Short Question

answer tag (veritat?)
Normal verbs Do you speak English? You don't speak Eng. Yes, I do Do you?
Do+Subject+Verb doesn't v No, I don't Don't you?
does didn't
did
(WH.)
to be, can, must, Yes, I am Are you?
should, ought to, Are you happy? You aren't happy. No, I'm not Aren't you?
may… verb + Subj.
will, would verb

Note: to have uses both forms:

Affirmative Interrogative Negative Short

answer
haver Have you worked? You haven't Yes, I have.
You have to study worked No, I haven't
tindre Have you got a car? You haven't got a car Yes, I have.
No, I haven't
You have (got) a car Do you have a car? You don't have a Yes, I do
car No, I don't
tindre que You have(got) to Do you have to study? You don't have to Yes, I do
(sic.) study. study No, I don't
have to
prendre you have a bath Do you have a bath? You don't have a bath Yes, I do
No, I don't

Note: in British English have to (tindre que) is also possible without do.

Special uses. - I had my car cleaned = Vaig fer netejar el meu cotxe .
- You'd better study = Seria millor que estudiares
(had better)

9.2 General word order:

Frequency adverbs
The postman gave the packet to my neighbour carefully at the post office yesterday
Subject+ Verb + Direct + Indirect + Adverb + Adverb + Adverb
object object manner place time

15
 IES Abastos
Joan Gallardo

9.3 WH words

- who, what, which, when, where, whom (a qui? & after preposition) whose, why,
- how many, how much, how long, how often, how old…
- what else, who else…

- who/what as a subject: Who speaks French?

- " " an object: Who are you talking to?

16
 IES Abastos
Joan Gallardo

10. ADVERBS

10.1 Adverbs of manner (after the objects)

slowly carefully easily loudly bravely happily kindly badly
badly/well somehow quickly, fast hard …

i.e.: He drives his car very carefully

10.2 Adverbs of place & time (at the end or beginning of the sentence)
Place: here there somewhere anywhere nowhere …

Time: today yesterday tomorrow now then afterwards soon

at once till=until recently eventually lately …

i.e.: He arrived yesterday

10.3 Adverbs of frequency

sometimes
usually
always
I normally work at home.
never verb
I am seldom happy.
to be hardly ever
often (very / quite often)

10.4 Adverbs of degree

- very/really/pretty extremely so too
- a bit=a little much = a lot = far
- "bastant, prou":quite, fairly (+), rather (-), colloquial: kind of, sort of
- "sufficient": tall enough /i'n۸f/, (but: enough water)
adj. noun
- "casi (castellà), gairebé": almost = nearly
- "a penes": hardly = scarcely = barely

i.e.: He's fairly polite but rather silly

i.e.: He almost passed all the exams
i.e: It hardly rained last year

17
 IES Abastos
Joan Gallardo

11. PREPOSITIONS

11.1 Place
behind beside/by/next to
on the car the car close to the bank
near the car
BANK HOTEL
in the car
SCHOOL

under the car opposite the bank

in front of the car

BANK
in/inside out/outside in cities, towns & countries
the bank the bank I work in Valencia
"en"

at concrete places
I work at the high school

11.2 Movement Pub

along
the road
from across
A to B the road
past the pub
A ……………B
up to
onto the box
into the room out of
the room down the stairs
through
the door

up the stairs
towards the door

11.3 Time 11.4 Others

at in till = until with – without

at six o'clock morning of
at midnight in the afternoon since to
evening against
at Christmas, Easter in December Durant according to
at the weekend in summer - for + amount of time about
at night in 1985 - during + a period for
in two weeks' time beside = next to
on after - before by passive
on Saturday transportation
on Monday morning between / among
on May 24th oXo ooXooo
oooooo

18
 IES Abastos
Joan Gallardo

12. SUBORDINATE CLAUSES

12.1 Relative clauses

Defining relative clauses (no commas)

a. Traduït "que"
people who
That's the woman that I love
S
Ø
things which
That's the car that I like
S
Ø
- L'opció Ø només és possible si va seguit d'un subjecte.
- Si l'oració subordinada va separada per comes, només who i which són possibles.

b. whose = cuyo
c. Other pronouns: when, where, why & whom (a qui)

Non-defining relative clauses (between commas)

- The information added is not essential.
- That and Ø are NOT possible.

12.2 Time clauses

after before when while as (=when or while)

since till/until as soon as

i.e. wait until I call you

12.3 Place clauses

where wherever

i.e. you can go wherever you like

19
 IES Abastos
Joan Gallardo

12.4 Purpose clauses

a. Translating "per a"

Before a noun/pronoun This letter's for me
object pron.
Before a verb in infinitive I study to pass exams.
(purpose clause) in order(not)to
so as (not) to
" but expressing the The chalk is for writing on the blackboard
purpose of an object
Before a verb NOT in infinitive I explain it so that you understand.
(purpose clause) in order that S

b. in case (en cas que) lest (no siga que…)

12.5 Cause clauses

because as/since (ja que) for (not usual) because of/due to

As
i.e. Since it was raining, he stayed at home.

12.6 Result clauses Translating "per tant…" "així que…"

so/therefore as a result/consequently that's why

i.e It was raining, so I stayed at home

12.7 Contrast clauses

but however /nevertheless (al)though in spite of/despite whereas/while

i.e. It was raining, so I stayed at home

20
 IES Abastos
Joan Gallardo

From A Practical English Grammar, Thomson & Martinet

13. CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

13.1 Type 1 (probable condition)

if + present, future

i.e. “If it rains, I’ll stay at home”

Notes:
- will, can be replaced by: - another modal verbs.
- an imperative
- another future tense
- the present simple can be replaced by the present perfect.

13.2 Type 2 (improbable or impossible condition)

if + past, conditional

i.e. “If it rained, I’d (=would) stay at home”

(if I were (was)…)

Notes: - might or could may be used instead of would.

- past continuous or past perfect may appear instead of past simple.
- If I were (was)

13.3 Type 3 (the condition didn’t happen)

if + past perfect, perfect conditional

i.e. “If it had rained, I’d (=would) have stayed at home”

Notes: - could & might may be used instead of would

- had can be placed first and if omitted:
“Had I known you were coming, I’d have met you”

Synonyms of IF

Even if = even though

As long as
If by any chance

Providing = Provided
In case
unless = if ...not

21
 IES Abastos
Joan Gallardo

Important notes:

1. - will/would may appear in an if clause in POLITE requests:

“ I would be very grateful if you wouldn’t mind” ... meaning to want.

“If he would tell me what he wants...”
“If he won’t listen to me...”

- will/would like/care is a politer way for if + want/wish:

“If you would like to come, I will show it to you”

- if should in type 1 can be used to express that although the condition is probable,
some difficulties may occur:

“If you should have any difficulty, call me up”

or “Should you “ “ “ “ “ “

2. if + were = if + was:

“If I were a rich man...”

3. If may be replaced by:

- Unless (=if not): “Unless you start at once, you’ll be late”

- But for: “But for ( =if it were not for) that, I wouldn’t be here”
- Otherwise: “We must be back, otherwise we’ll be locked out”
- Provided (that): “You can camp here provided you leave no mess”
- Suppose/ing = What if: “Suppose/What if the plane is late?”
- Inversion of subject and auxiliary: “Were I in his shoes...”
“Should there be a delay...”
“Had he known it before...”
- In case: “I’ll come in case Mary wants”

4. If only = I wish/I hope: “If only he came in time” = “I hope he’ll come in time”

22
 IES Abastos
Joan Gallardo

14. THE PASSIVE VOICE

I opened the door

S D.O.

The door was opened by me

S to be + participle + Object
Pronoun

1.- Translation: sometimes the translation of a passive sentence sounds strange, in this case we normally
translate using the pronoun “se”:

“German is supposed to be a hard language” = se suposa que l’alemany és un idioma difícil.

2.- Usage: The passive voice is used in English when it is more convenient or interesting to stress the
thing done then the doer of it, or when the agent is unknown.

3.- Passive with auxiliary + infinitive:

Active: I must/can/should/etc open the door

infinitive
Passive. The door must/can/should/etc be opened by me

4.- Passive questions: Active: Who wrote it? Passive. Who was it written by?

5. Two objects: Active: They gave awards to the winners

Passive: The winners were given awards

Awards were given to the winners

6.- Infinitive constructions: After believe, feel, find, know, say, think, understand, etc two passive
forms are possible:

Active: People said that he was jealous Passive: - It was said that he was jealous
- He was said to be jealous
Infinitive
7.- “suppose”: You are supposed to know how to drive = Se suposa que saps conduir.
It is supposed that you know how to drive.

8.- have/get.

Get your hair cut! = Que te corten el pelo! Have your car serviced! = Que te revisen el coche!

9.- made/let
Active: He made us work
Passive: We were made to work

Active: They let us go

Passive: we were let go

23
 IES Abastos
Joan Gallardo

15. REPORTED SPEECH

15.1 We can report: Direct Speech Reported Speech

Commands Come Tom! He told Tom to come

Don’t come Tom! He told Tom not to come

(also with ask, invite, order,want...)

WH What’s that? He asked what that was
questions
Questions (also with wonder, enquire...)
Yes/No Are you happy? He asked if/whether I was happy
questions (also “ )

Statements I’m tired He said (that) he was tired

(also say, remark...)

15.2 When reporting PAST sentences the following changes take place:

Direct Speech Reported Speech

Tenses Present simple Past simple

Present continuous Past continuous
Present perfect Past perfect
Simple past “ “
Future Conditional
may Might
must had to

Pronouns I He
we they
me him, her
mine his, hers
ours theirs
myself himself, herself
this, these that, those

Adverbial expressions now then, at that time

today that day
yesterday the day before
tomorrow the day after
last week the week before
next week the week after
here there

24
 IES Abastos
Joan Gallardo

Direct Speech Reported Speech

Requests Can He asked me to repeat.
Could you repeat?
Will
Suggestions Would you like to watch a film? He suggested watching a film
Shall we “ ? “ that we watch a film
Why don't we “ ?
Let's “ ?
How / What about watching a film?

Apologies (I'm ) sorry, I'm late He apologized for being late

25
 IES Abastos
Joan Gallardo

16. TYPICAL TRANSLATION PROBLEMS

16.1 Translating "que"

1. Questions What are you doing?

2. Comparison I'm older than you
3. "tener que" I've got to work
have (got) to
4. Exclamations -What a man!
noun
- How expensive!
adjective
5. The rest: That's the film that I saw.
(Relative sentences,
reported speech…)

16.2 Translating "com"

Questions How are you?

Asking for description. What's he like?
Comparing He speaks like a father (he isn't a father)
He speaks as a father (he is a father)

16.3 Translating "durant" (during/for)

During a period of time It rained during the summer.

For an amount of time It rained for two hours. (a, many, several…)

16.4 Translating "també"

John speaks Russian too. - In final position

John speaks Russian as well. - John doesn't speak Russian either .(tampoc)
John also speaks Russian. - Before the verb (after to be)
verb

jo també: so do I = me too
jo tampoc: nor/neither do I = me either (cif. either/neither)

16.5 Translating "muy, mucho/s, más"

English Spanish
Very good Muy…
Many books Muchos…
Much water Mucho...
More intelligent Más…
The most intelligent El más…

26
 IES Abastos
Joan Gallardo

16.6 Translating "menos, poco/pocos”

English Spanish
Less problems Menos…
(a) few problems (unos) pocos…
(a) little water (un) poco de...
bit of

16.7 Translating "ja no…" (castellà: ya no)

He doesn't live here any longer / any more = He no longer lives here

16.8 Translating "encara"("todavía, aún")*

Positive: - I still live in Valencia Negative & Interrogative: He hasn't arrived yet.
verb (final position)
- I 'm still in Valencia
to be

*for still in negative sentences and yet in positive, consult a grammar book.

16.9 Translating "hi ha" ("hay")

English Valencià Castellà
There is/are hi ha hay
There was/were hi havia había
There will be hi haurà habrá
There has been hi ha hagut ha habido
There would be hi hauria habría

16.10 Translating "seria millor que…"

You'd better study

(had better)

16.11 Translating "preferiria…"

I'd rather stay at home

(would rather)

16.12 Translating "estar a punt de…"

Your credit is about to expire

27
 IES Abastos
Joan Gallardo

16.3 Translating "either/neither"

You can have either meat or fish o…o

neither nor ni…ni
- I don't like fish either tampoc m'agrada el peix
We can go either way, right or left podem anar pels dos camins, dret o esquerre
noun

16.14 Translating "get"

- I get what I want - aconseguir

- I got a letter - rebre
- I got to the station at 4 o'clock - arribar

in - entrar
out - salir
up - pujar
get dow - baixar
n - baixar d'un tren, autobús
off
…

I'll get better - ficar-se + adjective

+ adjective
I've got a car - tindre

16.15 Other, others, the other, another

English Catalan Spanish

Another book Un altre llibre Otro libro

ADJECTIVE The other book L’altre llibre El otro libro

The other books Els altres llibres Los otros libros

English Catalan Spanish

The others Els altres Los otros
NOUN

28
 IES Abastos
Joan Gallardo

16.16 Translating “fer” Make / Do

MAKE (made, made) DO (did, done)
make food do my best, do your best...
make a cup of tea / coffee do good
do well
make my bed do badly
make an exception do harm
make an effort
make me happy, make my day do a favour
make me laugh, make me feel… do exercise
do a job
make plans do nothing
make arrangements
make a deal do the ironing, the shopping...
make a decision do the dishes, the laundry
make sure do housework
make friends do homework

make a mistake do my hair, my nails, my teeth

make money
make a mess
do for a living
make noise do a job
do business
make an excuse do for a living
make a fuss
make a remark
make a comment
make a suggestion
make a complaint
make a phone call

make do

17. SPELLING CHANGES

-ed, -er -s -ing
CVC* Stop > stopped stops stopping
Consonant+Vowel+Consonant
Consonant+Y Cry > cried cries crying
Vowel+Y Play > played plays playing

* x, w, y never double: fixing, rowing...

29
 IES Abastos
Joan Gallardo

18. PHRASAL VERBS

30
 IES Abastos
Joan Gallardo

31