Grama Tica
Grama Tica
Grama Tica
Gramàtica
Index
MODULE 1A ................................................................................................................................. 24
UNIT 1 ...................................................................................................................................... 24
NUMBERS 1 TO 10 ............................................................................................................... 26
UNIT 2 ...................................................................................................................................... 28
POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVES...................................................................................................... 29
NUMBERS 11 TO 20 ............................................................................................................. 30
UNIT 3 ...................................................................................................................................... 32
UNIT 4 ...................................................................................................................................... 32
A/AN .................................................................................................................................... 32
NUMBERS 21 TO 99 ............................................................................................................. 34
UNIT 5 ...................................................................................................................................... 36
ADJECTIVES.......................................................................................................................... 37
CELEBRATIONS .................................................................................................................... 38
UNIT 6 ...................................................................................................................................... 39
PREPOSITIONS ..................................................................................................................... 39
UNIT 7 ...................................................................................................................................... 39
UNIT 9 ...................................................................................................................................... 45
UNIT 10 .................................................................................................................................... 46
POSSESIVE FORMS............................................................................................................... 47
UNIT 11 .................................................................................................................................... 49
IMPERATIVES ....................................................................................................................... 49
INVESTIGATING ................................................................................................................... 52
UNIT 12 .................................................................................................................................... 53
UNIT 13 .................................................................................................................................... 53
PREPOSITIONS ..................................................................................................................... 55
UNIT 14 .................................................................................................................................... 57
UNIT 15 .................................................................................................................................... 62
PARAGRAPHING .................................................................................................................. 62
UNIT 16 .................................................................................................................................... 62
WH - QUESTIONS ................................................................................................................. 64
UNIT 17 .................................................................................................................................... 65
TALKING ABOUT LIKES AND DISLIKES (like, love, hate and enjoy) ...................................... 65
UNIT 18 .................................................................................................................................... 69
EITHER … OR ........................................................................................................................ 69
MODULE 1B ................................................................................................................................. 70
UNIT 1 ...................................................................................................................................... 70
UNIT 2 ...................................................................................................................................... 73
PREPOSITIONS OF PLACE..................................................................................................... 73
UNIT 3 ...................................................................................................................................... 76
SEQUENCING ....................................................................................................................... 76
UNIT 4 ...................................................................................................................................... 77
UNIT 5 ...................................................................................................................................... 80
UNIT 6 ...................................................................................................................................... 83
UNIT 8 ...................................................................................................................................... 88
QUANTITIES ......................................................................................................................... 90
UNIT 9 ...................................................................................................................................... 92
UNIT 10 .................................................................................................................................... 93
UNIT 11 .................................................................................................................................... 96
GEOGRAPHY ........................................................................................................................ 99
THERE WAS, THERE WERE, WAS THERE …?, WERE THERE …? .......................................... 103
SUGGESTIONS.................................................................................................................... 139
BANKING............................................................................................................................ 146
BOTH AND NEITHER, ALL AND NONE, EACH AND ONE ..................................................... 201
DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES WITH WHOSE, WHERE, WHEN OR WHY ........................... 278
PRICES................................................................................................................................ 297
PROPOSALS........................................................................................................................ 413
TALKING ABOUT TRAINING AND LEARNING: CHECK THESE WORDS ................................ 418
SELLING.............................................................................................................................. 463
MAILSHOTS........................................................................................................................ 473
TO BE (SINGULAR AFIRMATIVE)
El verb to be (ser / estar) es fa servir per donar informació sobre un mateix i sobre els altres.
COMPTE! A diferència del que passa en català, en anglès el subjecte mai no s’omet i se situa
sempre abans del verb.
Les contraccions del verb to be es fan servir en l’anglès parlat i en textos escrits informals. Les
formes completes tan sols s’utilitzen en textos escrits formals.
En anglès, els pronoms he (ell) i she (ella) es fan servir per fer referència a una persona; it’s
s’utilitza per referir-se a un objecte o a una altra cosa.
COMPTE! Per expressar l’edat en anglès, es fa servir el verb to be, i no to have (tenir).
You’re cold. You have cold. She’s thirsty. She has thirsty. He’s hungry. He has hungry.
Tens fred. Té set. Té gana.
Les frases negatives amb el verb to be es formen afegint-hi not darrere la forma verbal
conjugada; al contrari del que fa el català, que situa el “no” davant el verb.
Les contraccions del verb to be es fan servir en l’anglès parlat i en textos escrits informals. Les
formes completes s’utilitzen, només, en textos escrits formals. Observa que not es contrau i es
transforma en n’t quan s’afegeix al final de la forma conjugada de to be. L’excepció d’aquesta
regla és la primera persona, I. En aquest cas, es contrau la forma conjugada del verb: I’m not.
Les preguntes amb to be es formen invertint l’ordre del subjecte i del verb.
Am I late? Are you Rod Samson? Is she here for the interview?
Que faig tard? Ets el Rod Samson? És aquí per l’entrevista?
Is he English? Is English?
Que és anglès?
NUMBERS 1 TO 10
El nombre 0
nought zero
zero zero
Número de telèfon
0
zero
Les salutacions
Els comiats
Goodbye. Goodnight.
Adéu / A reveure. Bona nit.
De manera semblant com passa en català, en anglès tan sols es fa servir goodnight (bona nit)
com a comiat.
Es poden fer servir les expressions següents per acomiadar-se d’algú que tornarem a veure
aviat:
Les presentacions
Les expressions següents es fan servir per saber com es diu algú i per presentar-se:
Nice to meet you too. How are you? Fine thanks, and you?
El gust és meu. Com va això? / Com anem? Bé, gràcies. I tu?
El present singular de to be té tres formes: I am, you are i he / she / it is. En canvi, el plural
només en té una (are) per a les tres persones: we are, you are, they are. Recorda que en
l’anglès parlat i en textos escrits informals es fan servir contraccions: ‘re per a les afirmatives i
aren’t per a les negatives. Les formes completes s’utilitzen tan sols en textos escrits formals.
COMPTE! La segona persona del singular i la del plural són iguals: you are. You es pot traduir
com a “tu”, “vostè” / “vós”. El context, però, sol aclarar si es parla d’una persona o de més
d’una.
Les preguntes amb el verb to be es formen invertint l’ordre del subjecte i del verb.
En català es pot contestar les preguntes dient simplement “sí’ o “no”; en anglès, però,
s’acostuma a fer servir una resposta curta (p. ex. Yes, we are / No, we aren’t). En les respostes
curtes afirmatives s’utilitzen les formes completes del verb (p. ex. We are / They are); en les
respostes curtes negatives, però, s’usa les contraccions (p. ex. We aren’t / They aren’t).
My name’s Tom. He’s in his room. This is our first day in the flat.
Em dic Tom. És a la seva habitació. Aquest és el nostre primer dia al pis.
També es poden fer servir per fer referència a la relació entre diferents persones.
COMPTE! No s’ha de confondre l’adjectiu possessiu its amb it’s. It’s significa it is o it has.
L’adjectiu possessiu its mai no porta apòstrof.
Colombia is famous for its coffee. Colombia is famous for it’s coffee.
Colòmbia és famosa pel seu cafè.
Els possessive adjectives es fan servir més sovint en anglès que no en català. Per exemple, en
anglès acostumen a utilitzar-los per referir-se a les parts del cos, mentre que en català s’hi fa
servir l’article. L’ús de l’article és menys freqüent en anglès.
Quan se sap a qui pertany un objecte, gairebé sempre es fa servir un adjectiu possessiu.
Observa que els nombres del 13 al 19 acaben en –teen. Per això als joves i als adolescents
compresos entre aquestes edats se’ls anomera teenagers.
teenager teenagers
adolescent adolescents
Observa també com canvia l’ortografia dels nombres si s’hi afegeix –teen.
Where are you from? I’m from Oxford. They’re from Madrid.
D’on ets? Sóc d’Oxford. Són de Madrid.
Are you from Ireland? Yes, I am. I’m from Dublin. No, I’m not. I’m from the
United States
Ets d’Irlanda? Sí, sóc de Dublín. No, sóc dels Estats Units.
Are you American? Yes, I am. No, I’m not. I’m Spanish
Que ets nord-americà? Sí, ho sóc. No, sóc espanyol.
Com en català, si dues frases comparteixen el mateix subjecte i el mateix verb, no cal repetir-
los.
UNIT 4
A/AN
L’article indeterminat es fa servir davant substantius singulars que comencen per consonant.
a car a muffin
un cotxe una magdalena
L’article indeterminat an es fa servir davant substantius singulars que comencen per vocal.
an apple an orange
una poma una taronja
Observa els exemples següents. Les paraules hour i honest comencen per h muda, per això el
primer so que es pronuncia és vocàlic. Per tant, les paraules hour i honest van precedides de
l’indeterminat an.
Però hi ha algunes excepcions a aquesta regla. Als exemples següents, tot i que els substantius
comencen per vocal, el primer so que es pronuncia és consonàntic. Aquests mots van
precedits, per tant, de a i no de an.
NOUN PLURALS
Canvis en l’ortografia
El plural dels substantius que acaben en consonant seguida de –y es forma substituint la –y per
–ies al final de la paraula.
El plural dels substantius que acaben en –s, –ss, –sh, –ch i –x es forma afegint –es al final de la
paraula.
glass > glasses dish > dishes watch > watches box > boxes
got > gots plat > plats rellotge > rellotges capsa > capses
Quan el plural acaba en –es, la pronúncia de la paraula canvia. La terminació –es es pronuncia
en una síl·laba addicional. Per exemple, bus, paraula d’una sola síl·laba, passa a ser un mot de
dues síl·labes.
Tots els substantius en què el plural es forma afegint-hi –es tenen l’accent sobre la primera
síl·laba.
Plurals irregulars
man > men woman > women child > children person > people
home > homes dona > dones nen > nens persona > persones
NUMBERS 21 TO 99
Els nombres del 20 en endavant es formen fent servir com a base les desenes.
A les desenes s’hi afegeixen les unitats, que se separen amb un guió en el llenguatge escrit.
twenty-one forty-two
vint-i-u quaranta-dos
Igual que abans, amb el nom de la moneda principal, el nom de la fraccionària també s’hi
afegeix després de la xifra.
EATING OUT
Les expressions següents s’usen en demanar alguna cosa per menjar o per beure:
Can I help you? Yes, a coffee and a fruit juice, please. Are you being served?
Què us ve de gust? Sí, un cafè i un suc de fruita, si us plau. Us atenen?
En què puc servir-vos? Us serveixen?
Yes, I am. Thank you. No, I’m not. I’ll have a tuna sandwich, please.
Sí, gràcies. No. Prendré un sandvitx de tonyina, si us plau.
Do you have anything smaller? No. Sorry, I don’t. Keep the change.
No teniu moneda menuda? No, em sap greu . Quedeu-vos el canvi.
Can I have a tray? There you go. Anything else? No. That’s all, thanks
Em doneu una safata? Vet aquí. Res més? No. Això és tot, gràcies.
Could I have some salt and pepper, please? Are you OK?
Que em podeu donar una mica de sal i de pebre, si us plau? Tot bé? / Necessiteu res?
UNIT 5
Per identificar un sol objecte, es fa servir el pronom it seguit de la forma verbal is. Per
identificar dos objectes o més, s’utilitza el pronom they seguit de la forma are.
En anglès, el pronom it designa objectes, situacions o altres coses, però mai persones. En
canvi, they es fa servir per a coses i per a persones.
COMPTE! Recorda que, a diferència del català, en anglès mai no s’omet el subjecte.
Les preguntes amb el verb to be es formen invertint l’ordre del subjecte i del verb.
COMPTE! Com es fa amb les frases afirmatives i negatives, en les preguntes mai no s’omet el
subjecte.
Quan es pregunta què és alguna cosa, el pronom interrogatiu what (què) se situa al principi de
la frase, davant el verb to be.
Quan es demana de part de qui ve alguna cosa, es fa servir l’estructura who ... from (de part de
qui … / de qui …).
ADJECTIVES
Una altra posició típica de l’adjectiu en anglès és, com en català, darrere el verb to be.
Recorda que l’article indeterminat a es fa servir quan l’adjectiu comença per consonant; si
comença per vocal, però, s’utilitza an.
Els articles a i an se situen davant els adjectius que acompanyen un substantiu singular, i some
es col·loca davant els adjectius que acompanyen un substantiu plural.
CELEBRATIONS
Per felicitar
Les expressions següents es fan servir per dir que t’agrada un regal:
PREPOSITIONS
Quan les preposicions “o” o “en” volen dir “a dins, a l’interior de”, en anglès se sol fer servir in.
Les combinacions “des de … fins a” i “de … a” equivalen a from … to en anglès. Es fan servir per
indicar l’horari d’obertura d’un establiment o la durada d’un fet o una acció.
Per indicar quin dia de la setmana s’esdevé una cosa, se situa davant el dia la preposició on,
que en aquest cas no té traducció al català.
UNIT 7
There is i there are signifiquen “hi ha” en català i es fan servir per parlar de substantius en
singular i en plural, respectivament.
There are es fa servir per parlar de substantius en plural i, a diferència de there is, mai no es
contrau.
COMPTE! Quan s’enumeren diversos substantius singulars, es fa servir there is, no there are.
La forma negativa de there is i there are es construeix afegint not darrere el verb. Recorda que
not es contrau i es converteix en n’t quan acompanya el verb to be.
Some i any
A les frases afirmatives amb there are s’acostuma a fer servir some davant els substantius en
plural. Com que en anglès els substantius no varien de gènere, no s’acostuma a traduir al
català.
A les frases negatives amb there aren’t se sol fer servir any davant els substantius en plural. De
la mateixa manera que some, any no varia de gènere i no s’acostuma a traduir al català.
Quan es pregunta per un substantiu en singular, s’inverteix l’ordre de there is; la forma verbal
is se situa davant la paraula there, que, alhora, va seguida del substantiu en singular.
Quan es pregunta per un substantiu en plural, la forma verbal are també se situa davant there.
Tot seguit, s’hi afegeix el determinant any seguit del substantiu en plural.
En català, es pot contestar les preguntes dient simplement “sí” o “no”, però en anglès se sol
fer servir una resposta curta (p. ex. Yes, there is / No, there isn’t) En les respostes curtes
afirmatives, s’utilitzen les formes completes del verb (p. ex. There is / There are), però en les
respostes curtes negatives es fan servir les contraccions (p. ex. There isn’t / There aren’t).
Is there a muffin? Yes, there is. Is there an orange? No, there isn’t.
Hi ha una magdalena? Sí, n’hi ha una. Hi ha una taronja? No, no n’hi ha.
Are there any folders? Yes, there are. Are there any birthday cards? No, there aren’t.
Hi ha carpetes? Sí, n’hi ha. Hi ha targetes d’aniversari? No, no n’hi ha.
GAME SHOW
Les expressions següents es fan servir per preguntar sobre les coses que ens envolten:
No, there aren’t any CDs. Is there anything else? No, there isn’t. That’s all.
No, no hi ha CD (discos compactes). Que hi ha res més? No, no hi ha res més. Això és
tot.
Les expressions següents es fan servir per felicitar algú que ha fet una cosa bé:
Les expressions següents s’usen per comprovar que s’ha entès una cosa i demandar ajuda si no
s’ha entès:
Yes. It’s easy! Can you repeat that, please? Can you help me, please?
Sí. És fàcil! Que m’ho pots repetir, si us plau? Que em pots ajudar, si us plau?
UNIT 8
El verb have got es fa servir per parlar de coses que es posseeixen, de mals o malalties que es
pateixen i de relacions personals.
I’ve got a Ferrari. She’s got a headache. The’ve got two children.
Tinc un Ferrari. Té mal de cap. Tenen dos fills.
Quan have got es fa servir amb la tercera persona del singular (he, she o it), la forma verbal
que s’utilitza és has got. Observa que la contracció de have got i la de has got és ‘s got.
Observa en els exemples següents que la contracció de has got coincideix amb la tercera
persona del singular del verb to be. El context permet saber de quin verb es tracta en cada cas.
La forma negativa de have got es construeix afegint not entre have i got. Observa que not es
pot contraure quan acompanya have o has; llavors es converteix en n’t.
Afirmativa Negativa
I’ve got I haven’t got
You’ve got You haven’t got
He’s / She’s / It’s got He / She / It hasn’t got
We’ve got We haven’t got
You’ve got You haven’t got
They’ve got They haven’t got
A les frases negatives amb have got, es fa servir any davant els substantius en plural.
En les preguntes amb el verb have got, el subjecte se situa entre have i got.
En les frases interrogatives amb have got, es fa servir any davant els substantius en plural.
Has she got any nice flatmates? Have we got any candles?
Té companys de pis agradables? Tenim espelmes?
Les respostes curtes es formen amb el verb have només, sense got. En les respostes curtes
afirmatives, es fa servir la forma completa del verb (p. ex. I have / He has); en les respostes
curtes negatives, però, s’utilitzen les contraccions (p. ex. I haven’t / He hasn’t).
How many …?
Per preguntar pel nombre de coses que es tenen, es fa servir l’interrogatiu how many
(quants/es) al començament de la frase, seguit del substantiu que les designa i de la forma
interrogativa del verb have got.
How many pens have we got? How many cars have they got?
Quants bolígrafs tenim? Quants cotxes tenen?
Les expressions següents es fan servir per parlar d’allò que es posseeix:
What make is your MP3 player? It’s a Sony What colour is it? It’s silver.
De quina marca és el teu P3? És Sony De quin color és? És gris metàl·lic.
How many seats has it got? It’s got six seats. How many DVDs are there?
Quants seients té / inclou? Inclou / té sis seients. Quants DVD hi ha?
There are ten. How many mirrors have they got? They’ve got three mirrors.
N’hi ha deu. Quants retrovisors tenen? Tenen tres retrovisors.
Les expressions següents es fan servir per expressar que ens agrada una cosa:
UNIT 9
L’adverbi also es tradueix al català com a “també”. Also sempre se situa davant el verb,
excepte quan acompanya els verbs to be i have got. Amb el verb to be, es col·loca al darrere, i
amb have got, entre have i got.
There is monorail and there are also water taxis on the canal.
Al canal hi ha un monocarril i també hi ha taxis aquàtics.
The Mall of Arabia has also got a spa and two 5-star hotels.
El Mall of Arabia també té un balneari i dos hotels de cinc estrelles.
There are also good shops in the mall. They’ve also got a new flat.
També hi ha bones botigues al centre comercial. També tenen un pis nou.
Com also, l’adverbi too es tradueix al català com a “també”. Too sempre se situa al final de la
frase.
There are 1,400 shops and a car park for 11,000 cars too.
Hi ha 1.400 botigues i també un aparcament per a 11.000 cotxes.
Els adjectius demostratius this (aquest/a) i these (aquests/es) fan referència a objectes que hi
ha a prop. This es fa servir davant substantius en singular, i these, davant substantius en plural.
Els adjectius demostratius that (aquest/a, aquell/a) i those (aquests/es, aquells/es) fan
referència a objectes que hi ha lluny. That es fa servir davant substantius en singular, i those
davant substantius en plural.
A banda de la funció adjectiva, els demostratius this, that, these i those poden funcionar com a
pronoms; en aquest cas, el substantiu s’omet. Compara aquests dos exemples:
Singular Plural
This flat is big These flats are big
This is big These are big
That flat is big Those flats are big
That is big Those are big
Les preguntes amb desmostratius es construeixen col·locant el verb to be davant this, these,
that o those, tant si hi funcionen com a adjectius:
O com pronoms:
Whose …?
Per preguntar de qui és una cosa, es fa servir la partícula interrogativa whose (de qui), que se
situa al principi de una frase amb el verb to be. Whose pot anar amb un substantiu, en funció
adjectiva, o tot sol, en funció de pronom.
Els possessius també es fan servir amb el verb to be per preguntar a qui pertany una cosa.
Observa que, a diferència dels adjectius possessius, que sempre acompanyen un substantiu,
els pronoms s’utilitzen tot sols.
‘s possessiu
En anglès, per indicar que un substantiu designa el posseïdor d’una cosa, s’hi afegeix l’apòstrof
seguit de –s (‘s). En català, s’utilitza la preposició “de”.
THE FAMILY
Familiars directes
Per parlar de la família política s’afegeix l’expressió –in-law als noms dels familiars.
father-in-law mother-in-law
sogre sogra
Si dues persones viuen juntes sense casar-se, normalment es refereixen l’un a l’altre com a:
my partner
la meva parella
Altres familiars
Per parlar de la relació familiar entre avis i néts, es fa servir el prefix grand.
Is this jumper yours? No, that isn’t mine. Whose are they?
Que és teu aquest jersei? No, aquest no és meu. De qui són?
They’re Carla’s That isn’t yours. It’s mine These aren’t hers. They’re Mike’s
Són de la Carla Això no és teu. És meu Aquests no són teus. Són del Mike
Les expressions següents s’utilitzen per parlar de les nostres coses preferides:
What’s your favourite film? My favourite film is The Devil wears Prada.
Quina és la teva pel·lícula preferida? La meva pel·lícula preferida és El diable es vesteix de
Prada.
They look really really cool! That looks good . Ah, this is nice!
Són força agradables! Fa bona pinta. Que bonic!
Fan molt de goig!
UNIT 11
IMPERATIVES
El mode imperatiu es fa servir per donar ordres, fer suggeriments o animar algú a fer alguna
cosa.
L’imperatiu té la mateixa forma que l’infinitiu del verb, però sense to. Quan es fa servir
l’imperatiu, el subjecte s’omet. La forma és la mateixa per distingir tant una persona com
diverses.
Come here!
Vine aquí!
Be good!
Fes bondat!
Phrasal verbs
Els phrasal verbs són verbs que canvien de significat quan van seguits de certes partícules
(adverbis o preposicions). Alguns phrasal verbs permeten situar l’objecte entre el verb i la
partícula, o al final. D’altres no permeten separar la partícula del verb, per això l’objecte es
col·loca sempre al final.
Let’s …
Els pronoms que substitueixen el subjecte se situen davant el verb, i els que substitueixen
l’objecte, al darrere. En els exemples següents, it (objecte) substitueix present, i they
(subjecte), doughnuts.
Here’s your present. Open it! Doughnuts are expensesive but they are nice.
Té el regal. Obre’l! Els Dònuts són cars, però són ben bons.
En anglès, es distingeix entre els pronoms que susbtitueixen el subjecte i els que substitueixen
l’objecte.
COMPTE! Deprés del verb to like (agradar) sempre s’hi afegeix un substantiu o un pronom
objecte.
OBJECT PRONOUNS
Els phrasal verbs turn on (engegar) i turn off (apagar) se solen fer servir amb els aparells
elèctrics.
En aquests phrasal verbs, l’objecte es pot situar entre el verb i la partícula, o al final.
Turn on the television. Turn off the radio. Turn the photocopier on.
Engega el televisor. Apaga la ràdio. Engega la fotocopiadora.
Energia i gas
Els verbs turn on (engegar) i turn off (apagar) també s’utilitzen per referir-se al
subministrament de gas, d’aigua o d’electricitat.
COMPTE! Els verbs open (obrir) i close (tancar) mai no es fan servir per referir-se al gas, a
l’aigua o a l’electricitat
Turn on the light. Open the light. Turn off the tap. Close the tap.
Encén el llum. Tanca l’aixeta.
INVESTIGATING
She’s over there That’s him mover there. that’s them over there.
És allà. És aquell d’allà. Són aquells d’allà.
No, that isn’t her. Are these the children? Yes, that’s them.
No, no és ella. Aquests són els nens? Sí, ho són.
Les expressions següents es fan servir quan no s’està segur d’una cosa o no s’ha entès:
UNIT 12
ADJECTIVE ORDER
COMPTE! A diferència del català, quan hi ha més d’un adjectiu davant un substantiu, no es
posa and entre aquests.
She’s got nice curly hair. She’s got nice and curly hair.
Té els cabells rinxolats i bonics.
Tanmateix, sí que es col·loca and quan els adjectius acompanyen el verb to be.
UNIT 13
PRESENT SIMPLE
En anglès, la forma afirmativa del present simple és igual que l’infinitiu del verb per a totes les
persones, excepte per a la tercera persona del singular.
Forma negativa
La forma negativa del present simple es construiex col·locant do not davant el verb principal.
Do not es contrau en l’anglès parlat i en textos escrits informals, i dóna lloc a don’t.
Forma interrogativa
A les preguntes, l’auxiliar do se situa al principi de la frase, seguit del subjecte i del verb
principal.
COMPTE! Per formar frases negatives i preguntes en present simple, cal afegir-hi sempre el
verb auxiliar do. En català, es pot contestar les preguntes dient simplement “sí”, o “no”, però
en anglès se sol fer servir una resposta curta (p. ex. Yes, I do / No, they don’t).
PREPOSITIONS
In
La preposició in (a) es fa servir per referir-se a un lloc que té límits físics clars, com ara un país,
una ciudat, un poble o un carrer.
La preposició in també s’utilitza per referir-se a un espai tancat o a l’interior d’una cosa.
At
La preposició at (a) es fa servir per referir-se a un lloc abstracte o amb límits físics poc definits.
By
La preposició by (amb / en) s’utilitza per fer referència als mitjans de transport.
From … to
Quan es descriu un trajecte, es fa servir from (de / des de) per referir-se al punt de partida i to
(a / fins a) per referir-se al de destinació.
Les expressions següents es fan servir per fer referència als mitjans de transport:
UNIT 14
Forma afirmativa
En anglès, la forma afirmativa del present simple és igual que l’infinitiu del verb per a totes les
persones, excepte per a la tercera persona del singular (he / she / it), en què a l’infinitiu s’hi
afegeix una –s al final.
Canvis a l’ortografia
En el present simple, a la tercera persona del singular dels verbs que acaben en –ss, –ch, –sh, –
x i –o, s’hi afegeix –es en lloc de –s.
Als verbs que acaben en vocal seguida de –y, però, només se’ls hi afeix –s.
La tercera persona del singural del present simple d’alguns verbs és irregular.
A les frases negatives amb la tercera persona del singular es posa does not davant el verb
principal. Does not es contrau en l’anglès parlat i en textos escrits informals, i dóna lloc a
doens’t.
Forma interrogativa
En les preguntes amb la tercera persona del singular, does es col·loca al començament de la
frase, seguit del subjecte i del verb principal.
En català, es pot contestar les preguntes dient simplement “sí” o “no”; en anglès, però, se sol
fer servir una resposta curta.
Els adverbis always (sempre), usually (normalment) i never (mai) es fan servir per expressar la
freqüència amb què es du a terme una acció.
A les frases afirmatives, els adverbis de freqüència s’acostumen a situar davant el verb
principal.
Tanmateix, si el verb principal és to be, els adverbis de freqüència se situen darrere el verb.
En anglès, tant a les frases interrogatives com a les negatives, els adverbis de freqüència se
solen situar entre el verb auxiliar i el verb principal.
COMPTE! L’adverbi de freqüència never té implícita la negació, per això mai no es fa servir
amb un verb en forma negativa.
Frases interrogatives
A les frases interrogatives, els adverbis de freqüència se situen entre el subjecte i el verb
principal.
When do they usually get up? When does she usually have lunch?
A quina hora acostumen a llevar-se? A quina hora acostuma a dinar?
Quan l’hora se situa en els primers trenta minuts, s’expressa així: minuts + past + hora.
Quan l’hora està compresa en els darrers trenta minuts, es diu de la manera següent: minuts +
to + hora.
09:15 (quarter past nine) 11:30 (half past eleven) 16:45 (quarter to five)
09:15 (un quart de deu) 11:30 (dos quarts de dotze) 16:45 (tres quarts de cinc)
En anglès oral, s’utilitzen les sigles a.m. i p.m. per indicar si l’hora és del matí o de la tarda /
vespre.
Per als primers nou minuts d’un hora, el zero es pronuncia com la o en anglès.
8:05
8:05 (les vuit ben tocades)
Les expressions següents es fan servir per indicar a quina hora es fa una cosa:
Les expressions següents es fan servir quan no se sap o no s’especifica l’hora exacta:
Les expressions següents es fan servir per indicar on s’acostuma a fer els àpats:
PARAGRAPHING
Un article és molt més fàcil de llegir si s’organitza en paràgrafs, de manera que cadascun
contingui frases sobre un mateix tema. Llegeix aquest article i fixa’t enla manera com hi estan
organitzades les idees.
My day doesn’t actually start until midday because that’s when I get up! I don’t get home from
work until 5 a.m., so I sleep all morning. I get up at about midday and then I have breakfast. I
usually have a big breakfast, like sausages or fried eggs.
During the afternoon I do the housework and buy some food. I go to the gym for an hour every
day, and after that I have a shower. At about 5 p.m. I start making my dinner. I always eat a lot
at dinner time and I usually cook Italian or Indian food.
My working day starts at about 7.30 in the evening. I call my taxi company, and they tell me
where to pick up my first passenger. I usually drive until around midnight, drop off my
passengers and stop for a sandwich. Then I pick up my next passenger.
I usually work five nights a week which always includes Friday and Saturday nights. I never
work on Sunday nights and I don’t usually work on Monday nights either.
I like my job because I love driving, but it’s quite difficult for me to meet my friends. When
they’re free I’m working, and when I’m free they’re working!
UNIT 16
El present simple és el temps que s’acostuma a fer servir per indicar l’horari d’obertura dels
establiments i els llocs d’interès turístic, els horaris dels mitjans de transport i les hores d’inici i
finalització de les classes, les reunions, etc.
Per dir que un establiment és obert o tancat, es fa servir el present simple del verb to be anb
els adjectius open (obert) o closed (tancat).
Preposicions de temps
Quan indiquen temps, la preposició at (a) se situa davant les hores i la preposició on, davant
els diez de la semana.
The train leaves at 13:15 The shopping centre doesn’t usually open on Saturday.
El tren surt a les 13:15. El centre comecial no acostuma a obrir els diumenges.
COMPTE! Com en català, llevat d’alguns casos concrets, en anglès no s’usa l’article determinat
the davant els diez de la semana, sinó la preopisició on. Tanmateix, the sí que es fa a servir
davant el mot weekend, acompanyat de la preposició at.
La preposició until (fins a) indica la finalització d’una cosa i es pot fer servir amb verb en forma
afirmativa o negativa:
Quan indica temps, la preposició in (en/d’aquí a) fa referencia al peíode que transcorre fins un
moment en el futur.
WH - QUESTIONS
Els interogatius what (què), where (on), what time (a quina hora) when (quan) i how (com)
s’acostumen a situar al principi de la pregunta.
What time does the post office open? What time opens the post office?
A quina hora obre l’oficina de correus?
What do you eat for breakfast? What does your husband do at the weekend?
Què prens per esmorzar? Què fa el teu marit els caps de semana?
What time? (A quina hora?) es fa servir per preguntar l’hora a què es fa alguna cosa.
What time do they get up? What time does the coffee shop open?
A quina hora es lleven? A quina hora obre la cafeteria?
When? (Quan?) s’utilitza per preguntar el momento en què s’esdevé una cosa.
When does she start work? When does the train leave?
Quan entra a treballar? Quan surt el tren?
TALKING ABOUT LIKES AND DISLIKES (like, love, hate and enjoy)
Els verbs like (agradar, estimar-se, caure bé), love (estimar, encantar), hate (odiar) i enjoy
(agradar, gaudir de) s’usen per expressar els gustos i les preferències.
Like i love
En traduir els verbs like i love, de vegades canvia el subjecte. Per formar frases negatives i
interrogatives es fa servir l’auxiliar do / does. A les interrogatives, l’ordre de la frase és: do /
does + subjecte + verb principal.
I don’t like your mum. Do you love me? Does she like cheese?
No m’agrada la teva mare. M’estimes? Li agrada el formatge?
En anglès, per contestar aquestes preguntes es fan servir les respostes curtes, que, com hem
vist, es formen amb el verb auxiliar do / does.
Hate i enjoy
Les frases amb els verbs hate i enjoy es construeixen de la mateixa manera que les frases amb
like i love. En traduir-los, també pot canviar el subjecte.
En anglès, per expressar gustos i preferències amb like, love, hate i enjoy, aquests verbs
acostumen a anar seguits d'un verb en gerundi (la forma verbal acabada en –ing). En català,
aquests verbs van seguits d’infinitiu.
Esports amb go
El verb go es fa servir amb noms d’esports o amb activitats que acaben en –ing.
Esports amb do
El verb do es fa servir amb els esports o les activitats que no pertanyen a cap de les categories
anteriors.
Les expressions següents es fan servir per fer referència als gustos:
What do you prefer, the city or the country? I prefer the city.
Què t’estimes més, ciudat o a pagès? M’estimo més ciutat.
Les expressions següents es fan servir per fer referència a les activitats preferides d’algú:
Do you enjoy dancing? Yes, I love it. Do you like going ice-skating?
T’agrada ballar? Sí, m’agrada amb bogeria. T’agrada anar a patinar sobre gel?
No, I hate it. Do you enjoy doing athletics? Yes, I enjoy it a lot.
No, ho odio. T’agrada fer atletisme? Sí, m’agrada força.
No, no m’agrada gens.
EITHER … OR
You can either swim alone or listen to the instructions of our experienced swimming
teachers.
Pots nedar tot sol o seguir les instruccions dels nostres experts monitors de natació.
After all that exercise relax either in our sauna or in our giant Jacuzzi.
Després de tant exercici, relaxa’t a la sauna o al Jacuzzi gegant.
El verb can (poder, saber) es fa servir per expressar la capacitat de fer una cosa, sigui en una
situació concreta o en general.
Forma afirmativa
La forma afirmativa es construeix amb el verb can seguit del verb principal en infinitiu. Quan es
parla de capacitat, en la majoria dels casos el verb can es tradueix al català per “saber”.
Forma negativa
La forma negativa es construeix afegint not al final de can. Observa que not es transforma en
n’t quan s’afegeix a can. Aquesta contracció es fa servir en l’anglès oral i en textos escrits
informals. La forma completa constitueix una sola paraula, cannot (p. ex. I cannot / You cannot
/ We cannot), i s’utilitza només en textos escrits formals.
Forma interrogativa
Per construir preguntes amb can, s’ha d’invertir l’ordre del subjecte i del verb: can se situa
davant el subjecte i, darrere seu, s’hi afegeix l’infinitiu del verb principal.
COMPTE! Les respostes curtes amb el verb can mai no es formen amb l’auxiliar do / does.
We can’t cycle. We don’t can cycle. Can you sing? Do you can sing?
No sabem anar amb bicicleta. Saps cantar?
Com hem vist, el verb can es fa servir per parlar de capacitat i de destreses; llavors es pot
traduir per “saber”.
Forma afirmativa
La forma afirmativa del verb can s’utilitza, en aquest cas, per donar permís.
Forma negativa
La forma negativa del verb can es fa servir per prohibir que es faci res o per indicar que és
prohibit.
You can’t leave work early today. You can’t wear jeans to work.
Avui no pots plegar d’hora. No pots venir amb texans a la feina.
Forma interrogativa
Els interrogatius que comencen per Wh- es poden fer servir al principi de les preguntes amb el
verb can.
Les respostes curtes amb el verb can s’utilitzen per donar o negar permís.
Les expressions següents s’utilitzen quan es parla d’allò que hom sap fer:
Can you speak French? No, not very well. No, not really.
Saps parlar francès? No, no gaire bé. No, a dir veritat, no.
Les expressions següents es fan servir per referir-se a les coses que es posseeixen i al lloc on
són:
No, not here. Yes, it’s at my parents’ house. Yes, it’s at home.
No, aquí no. Sí, és a casa del meus pares. Sí, és a casa.
Les expressions següents es fan servir per indicar la freqüència amb què es du a terme una
activitat:
UNIT 2
PREPOSITIONS OF PLACE
Per situar un edifici en un cantó del carrer, es fa servir la preposició on (en / a).
Per situar un edifici de manera més precisa, es poden fer servir preposicions com ara between
(entre), opposite (davant / enfront de) i behind (darrere de).
Les preposicions angleses next to (al costat de) i in front of (davant de) estan formades per més
d’una paraula.
COMPTE! Observa que hi ha preposicions angleses que no equivalen a una preposició concreta
en català, sinó a una expressió o locució amb funció preposicional: a prop de (near), enfront de
(opposite), etc.
Per donar indicacions en anglès sobre la manera com arribar a un lloc, els verbs que més es fan
servir són go (anar), turn (girar) i take (agafar).
Go
L’imperatiu del verb go es fa servir seguit de preposició o, de vegades, d’adverbi, per indicar la
direcció o el tipus de moviment. La forma imperativa és igual que l’infinitiu del verb i no cal
subjecte.
És força habitual que el moviment que en anglès s’expressa amb el verb go seguit de
preposició, en català tan sols demani un verb: go past (passar), go across (creuar), etc.
Go through the park. Go across the bridge.
Travessa el parc . Creua el pont.
L’imperatiu del verb turn es fa servir seguit de left (a l’esquerra) i de right (a la dreta) per donar
indicacions. La forma imperativa és igual que l’infinitiu del verb i no cal subjecte.
Aquestes dues expressions també poden anar seguides de la preposició into (a / per) quan es
vol especificar per quin carrer s’ha de girar.
Turn right into Manchester Street. Turn left into School Road.
Gira a la dreta a Manchester Street. Gira a l’esquerra per School Road.
Take
La forma imperativa de take es fa servir per indicar quin carrer o quina sortida cal agafar.
ORDINAL NUMBERS
En anglès, els nombres ordinals es fan servir per indicar l’ordre numèric i les dates. La majoria
es formen afegint –th al final del nombre cardinal. Hi ha excepcions, però:
Per formar la resta dels nombres ordinals del vint en endavant, s’afegeix a les desenes l’ordinal
corresponent (des de first fins a ninth) separant-lo amb un guió.
twenty-first fifty-second
vint-i-unè cinquanta-dosè
COMPTE! Les dates en anglès sempre s’indiquen amb els nombres ordinals.
UNIT 3
SEQUENCING
Les expressions first (primer de tot / primerament), then (després), after that (tot seguit / a
continuació) i finally (per acabar / finalment) es fan servir per organitzar la informació d’un
text.
First …
First take the main road out of the airport towards Bristol for about ten kilometers.
Primer de tot, agafa la carretera principal des de l’aeroport en direcció a Bristol tirant uns deu
quilòmetres.
Then …
Then at the Red Lion pub turn right and go straight on.
Després, al bar Red Lion, gira a la dreta i continua tot dret.
After that, when you get to the village of Eagleswood, take the first left and the second right.
Tot seguit, un cop al poble d’Eagleswood, agafa el primer a l’esquerra i el segon a la dreta.
Finally …
Finally the Hotspot Hotel is about two kilometres down the road.
Finalment, l’Hotel Hotspot és a dos quilòmetres, aproximadament, per aquesta carretera.
UNIT 4
El present continuous es fa servir per parlar d’accions que tenen lloc just al moment en què es
parla.
La forma afirmativa del present continuous es construeix amb el present del verb to be seguit
del gerundi (forma –ing) del verb principal. La construcció anglesa és diferent de la catalana.
La forma negativa del present continuous es construeix amb la forma negativa del verb to be
seguit del gerundi (forma –ing) del verb principal.
La forma interrogativa del present continuous es construeix invertint l’ordre del verb to be i el
subjecte, i afegint-hi després el gerundi (forma –ing) del verb principal. L’estructura és la
següent: present de to be + subjecte + verb principal en forma –ing.
COMPTE! Recorda que, de la mateixa manera que a les frases afirmatives i negatives, el
subjecte mai no s’hi pot ometre.
Is he studying? Is studying?
Que estudia?
En català, es pot respondre les preguntes dient simplement “sí” o “no”; en anglès, però,
s’acostuma a fer servir una resposta curta (p. ex. Yes I am / No I’m not). En les respostes curtes
afirmatives s’utilitzen les formes completes del verb (p. ex. I am / You are), però en les
respostes curtes negatives es fan servir les contraccions (p. ex. I’m not / You aren’t).
Per fer preguntes més específiques es fan servir interrogatius com ara what? (què?) o where?
(on?). Com en català, l’interrogatiu se situa al principi de la pregunta.
COMPTE! En català, si una pregunta conté un interrogatiu unit a una preposició, aquesta se
situa al principi de la frase davant l’interrogatiu (a on?, amb qui?). En canvi, en anglès, la
preposició es col·loca al final de l’oració.
Who are you going with? With who are you going?
Amb qui vas?
DESCRIBING PEOPLE
Les expressions següents es fan servir per descriure allò que es veu en un moment determinat:
Les expressions següents es fan servir per descriure com vesteix algú:
Les expressions següents es fan servir per descriure allò que fan els altres:
UNIT 5
Present simple
What do you do every day? What are you doing every day?
Què fas cada dia?
Present continuous
El present continuous es fa servir per parlar d’accions que tot just ocorren al moment en què es
parla.
També es fa servir per parlar d’accions que es desenvolupen en un període de temps concret.
Amb el present continuous s’utilitzen expressions com today (avui), at the moment (en aquest
moment), right now (ara mateix) o this week (aquesta setmana). Com que aquestes
expressions fan referència a accions que transcorren en un moment o període de temps
concret, no es poden fer servir amb el present simple.
Els frequency adverbs (adverbs de freqüència) es fan servir amb els verbs en present simple per
expressar la freqüència amb què es du a terme una acció. Els frequency adverbs acostumen a
situar-se entre el subjecte i el verb principal, llevat que es faci servir el verb to be; llavors, es
col·loquen darrere el verb.
Tanmateix, l’adverbi de freqüència sometimes (de vegades, alguns cops) pot anar situat al
principi de la frase, entre el subjecte i el verb, o al final de la frase.
Els frequency adverbs també es fan servir per respondre a preguntes sobre la freqüència amb
què es fa alguna cosa.
Les expressions següents es fan servir per descriure accions que transcorren tot just al
moment en què parlem:
Are you using a computer at the moment? Yes, I am. No, I’m not.
Que fas servir l’ordinador en aquest moment? Sí. No.
Do you play computer games every day? Yes, I do. No, I don’t like them.
Jugues amb els videojocs cada dia? Sí. No, no m’agraden.
Les expressions següents es fan servir per indicar la freqüència amb què es du a terme una
activitat:
Do you often use a computer at home? Yes, sometimes . No, not usually.
Fas servir l’ordinador sovint a casa? Sí, de vegades. No, normalment, no.
UNIT 6
Els idiomes
Les festivitats
UNIT 7
WOULD LIKE
Les preguntes amb would like es formen amb el verb auxiliar would davant el subjecte: would +
subjecte + like.
En català, es pot contestar les preguntes dient simplement “sí’ o “no”; en anglès, però,
s’acostuma a fer servir una resposta curta (p. ex. Yes, I would / No, I wouldn’t). En les respostes
curtes afirmatives es fan servir les formes completes del verb (p. ex. I would / They would),
però en les respostes curtes negatives s’utilitzen les contraccions (p. ex. I wouldn’t / They
wouldn’t).
Do you like sparkling water? Would you like some potatoes with your fish?
Que t’agrada l’aigua amb gas? Que voleu patates amb el peix?
Per fer preguntes sobre informació concreta, la forma verbal would like es pot fer servir amb
diversos interrogatius, com ara what o which.
COMPTE! Observa que en les preguntes, el subjecte sempre se situa entre would i like.
Some i any es fan servir per fer referència a una quantitat indeterminada d’una cosa i, molts
cops, en català, no es tradueixen. El substantiu que acompanyen pot anar en plural o ser-ne un
dels anomenats “incomptables”: water (aigua), wine (vi). Els substantius incomptables
anglesos designen coses que no es poden comptar i, per tant, no es poden posar en plural. A la
unitat següent veurem més detalladament aquesta mena de substantius.
Some es fa servir a les frases afirmatives, va davant el substantiu i no varia de forma, tant si
aquest substantiu és plural com si és incomptable.
Have you got any doughnuts? They haven’t got any wine.
Que tens Dònuts? No tenen vi.
COMPTE! Observa que davant els substantius en singular que són comptables (és a dir, que sí
que es poden posar en plural), no es fan servir some o any, sinó els articles indeterminats a o
an.
Hem dit que en les preguntes cal fer servir any davant el substantiu; tot seguit, però,
expliquem dues excepcions en què cal utilitzar some.
Would you like some vegetables? Would you like any vegetables?
Que vols verdures?
Can I have some sausages, please? Can I have any sausages, please?
Que em podríeu posar salsitxes, si us plau?
Begudes
Menjar
Les expressions següents es fan servir per oferir una cosa a algú:
Would you like some crisps? No, thanks. I’d like some peanuts.
Que vols patates fregides? No, gràcies. M’estimo més cacauets.
Which starter would you like? I’d like smoked salmon, please.
Quin entrant prendreu? Voldria salmó fumat, si us plau.
Les expressions següents es fan servir per demanar coses educadament o per respondre a una
petició:
Have you got any chips? No, I’m very sorry. We haven’t.
Que teniu patates fregides? No, em sep greu. No en tenim.
UNIT 8
Substantius comptables
Els substantius comptables són els que designen una cosa que es pot comptar per unitats; per
tant, aquests substantius tenen singular i plural. Un substantiu comptable en singular sempre
porta davant un article (a / an o the), un adjectiu possessiu (my, your, etc.) o un altre
determinant semblant.
Substantius imcomptables
Els substantius imcomptables són els que designen una cosa que no es pot comptar per
unitats. Aquests substantius no tenen singular ni plural, no varien de forma. Com que no tenen
forma singular, no admeten els articles a / an, però sí que poden portar davant les paraules
some o any.
Some i any
Com hem vist a la unitat anterior, some i any es fan servir amb substantius comptables en
plural i amb substantius imcomptables. Some tan sols s’utilitza en frases afirmatives, i any, en
frases negatives i interrogatives.
Aquestes dues formes verbals equivalen a la forma verbal catalana “hi ha”. There is es fa servir
amb substantius comptables en singular i amb substantius incomptables. La contracció
corresponent és there’s. There are s’utilitza només amb substantius comptables en plural i no
té contracció.
Substantius comptables
Les expressions how many (quants/es), many (molts/es, gaires) i a lot of (molts/es, força, un
munt de) es fan servir amb substantius comptables en plural. How many s’utilitza per fer
preguntes; many, en frases negatives; i a lot of, en frases afirmatives.
How many cars have they got? She hasn’t got many tomatoes.
Quants cotxes tenen? No té gaires tomàquets.
Substantius imcomptables
Les expressions how much (quant/a), much (molt/a, gaire) i a lot of (molt/a, força, un munt de)
es fan servir amb substantius comptables. How much s’utilitza per fer preguntes; much, en
frases negatives; i a lot of, en frases afirmatives.
How much meat do you eat? There isn’t much tea in the teapot.
Quanta carn menges? No hi ha gaire te a la tetera.
COMPTE! Observa que a lot of es fa servir amb substantius comptables i també amb
incomptables, i que much no s’utilitza en frases afirmatives.
There’s a lot of wine in the fridge. There’s much wine in the fridge.
Hi ha un munt de vi a la nevera.
Respostes curtes
En les respostes curtes amb many, much i a lot of, el substantiu es pot ometre. En aquest cas, a
lot of es transforma en a lot.
COMPTE! No s’ha de confondre much i many; many tan sols es fa servir amb substantius
comptables, i much, amb incomptables (en interrogatives i negatives).
How much money have you got? How many money have you got?
Quants diners tens?
There aren’t many people here. There isn’t much people here.
No hi ha gaires persones.
QUANTITIES
Per referir-se a una quantitat d’un aliment, s’acostuma a fer servir l’expressió a piece of (un
tros de). Aquesta expressió és molt útil per als substantius incomptables, perquè no es pot dir
three cheeses, two breads, etc.
a piece of cheese
un tros de formatge
Les expressions següents es fan servir per fer referència al pa i a la xocolata, que en anglès són
substantius incomptables:
COMPTE! Per parlar d’un envàs ple s’acostuma a fer servir la fórmula següent: a + nom de
l’envàs + of + nom de l’aliment o de la beguda.
Les expressions següents es fan servir per demanar a algú si té, o no, una cosa:
Les expressions següents es fan servir per parlar de les característiques de les coses que té
algú:
UNIT 9
However (tanmateix) i on the other hand (d’altra banda) es fan servir per contrastar dues idees
que figuren en dues frases diferents d’un text. Aquests connectors se situen al principi de la
segona frase, i sempre van seguits d’una coma.
People in Italy who eat this diet live to an old age. However, there are other things that help
people have a long life.
Els italians que segueixen aquesta alimentació arriben a una edat avançada. Tanmateix, hi ha
altres factors que ens ajuden a viure més.
People have three meals a day. On the other hand, people don’t have time to cook good
food so they eat a lot of fast food.
La gent fa tres àpats per dia. D’altra banda, no té temps per preparar menjar sa i consumeix
molt menjar ràpid.
Although (malgrat que, encara que) es fa servir per contrastar dues idees diferents que figuren
a la mateixa frase. Es pot situar al principi de l’oració – llavors introdueix la primera idea –, o al
Although Japan is a very modern country, a lot of Japanese people don’t drive their cars
when they go to the shops.
Malgrat que el Japó és un país modern, molts japonesos no agafen el cotxe per anar a
comprar.
Japan is a very modern country, although a lot of Japanese people don’t drive their cars
when they go to the shops.
El Japó és un país molt modern, malgrat que molts japonesos no agafen el cotxe per anar a
comprar.
UNIT 10
El present continuous es fa servir per descruire una acció que transcorre tot just al moment en
què es parla, però també serveix per referir-se a plans i esdeveniments futurs.
I’m watching a DVD at the moment. He’s visiting his parents on Sunday.
Ara mateix miro un DVD. Diumenge visitarà els seus pares.
La forma afirmativa del present continuous es construeix amb el subjecte seguit del present del
verb to be i el verb principal acabat en –ing. La forma negativa es construeix de la mateixa
manera, però amb el present del to be en negatiu.
La forma interrogativa es construeix invertint l’ordre del subjecte i del verb to be. La fórmula és
aquesta: verb to be + subjecte + verb principal acabat en –ing.
Com acabem de veure, un ús força freqüent del present continuous és el de fer referència a
esdeveniments i a plans futurs.
COMPTE! Per parlar de plans i d’esdeveniments futurs, en català s’acostuma a fer servir el
futur i, de vegades, el present; en anglès, en canvi, s’utilitza el present continuous.
What are you doing this weekend? What do you do next weekend?
Què faràs aquest cap de setmana? / Què fas aquest cap de setmana?
Els verbs següents acostumen a fer-se servir en present continuous per parlar de plans i
d’esdeveniments futurs: go (anar), come (venir), meet (quedar), leave (anar-se’n) i have
(tenir/prendre). El verb see (veure) s’utilitza en present continuous per indicar que hem quedat
amb algú.
Tomorrow (demà) es pot fer servir tot sol o seguit de morning (al matí), afternoon (a la tarda),
evening (a la tarda / vespre) o night (a la nit). A diferència del català, aquestes expressions de
futur no porten preposicions ni articles.
Next (pròxim, vinent) és un adjectiu que se situa davant el dia, la setmana, el cap de setmana,
el mes o l’any de què es parla.
On i at
On és la preposició que es fa servir amb els dies de la setmana, i at, amb l’hora.
COMPTE! L’article determinat the no es fa servir davant els dies de la setmana (com en la
majoria de casos en català) ni de next.
I’m visiting my parents next week. I’m visiting my parents the next week.
La setmana vinent visitaré els meus pares.
This (aquest/a) es pot fer servir davant morning, afternoon, evening, week (setmana), month
(mes) i year (any) per parlar d’esdeveniments que tindran lloc en aquest moment o període.
COMPTE! A la llista anterior falta night, perquè l’equivalent anglès de l’expressió “aquesta nit”
és l’adverbi tonight, no this night.
Les expressions següents es fan servir per preguntar quins plans té algú i parlar-ne:
Are you doing anything on Sunday? Yes, I am. I’m seeing my old school friends.
Que faràs res diumenge? Sí, he quedat amb els amics d’escola.
Are you going out on Friday evening? No, I’m not. I’m staying in.
Que sortiràs divendres a la nit? No, em quedaré en casa.
What time are you meeting Chris? I’m meeting him at nine o’clock.
A quina hora has quedat amb el Chris? He quedat amb ell a les nou.
UNIT 11
Per referir-se a un pla de futur, a una decisió que s’ha pres o a una cosa que es vol fer, es fa
servir l’estructura següent: subjecte + present de to be + going to + infinitiu del verb principal.
COMPTE! Observa que, per fer preguntes amb going to, s’inverteix l’ordre del subjecte i del
verb to be, i l’estructura resta d’aquesta manera: present de to be + subjecte + going to +
infinitiu del verb principal.
En català, es pot contestar les preguntes dient simplement “sí” o “no”; en anglès, però,
s’acostuma a fer servir una resposta curta.
L’estructura to be + going to es fa servir per parlar de plans i d’intencions quan encara no s’han
concretat.
En canvi, el present continuous es fa servir quan els plans ja s’han concretat i són definitius.
Aquest plans, normalment, inclouen altres persones, i ja se sep quan i on tindran lloc.
We’re visiting New York next week. We’ve got our plane tickets.
Anirem a Nova York la setmana vinent. Ja hi tenim els bitllets d’avió.
It’s going to be sunny this evening. It isn’t going to snow this weekend.
Aquesta tarda farà sol. Aquest cap de setmana no nevarà.
El temps verbal de futur, que es construeix amb l’auxiliar will + l’infinitiu del verb principal,
també es pot fer servir per pronosticar què passarà. La contracció de will és ‘ll.
He’ll be late!
Farà tard!
La forma negativa del verb auxiliar will es construeix afegint-hi not al darrere (will not). En
l’anglès oral i en textos escrits informals, es fa servir la contracció won’t.
It won’t be ready.
No estarà a punt.
L’estructura going to es fa servir per fer prediccions si al moment en què es parla hi ha indicis
que passarà alguna cosa. Aquest ús de going to per fer prediccions s’acostuma a traduir al
català amb el futur simple.
L’article determinat the es fa servir amb els punts cardinals per fer referència a les regions
geogràfiques.
Per parlar de la localització d’un lloc específic en una regió geogràfica, es fan servir les
preposicions in (a) i of (de).
Great Britain (la Gran Bretanya) és un terme geogràfic i polític. Geogràficament, designa l’illa
més gran de les Illes Britàniques. Políticament, designa la unió de tres regions: England
(Anglaterra), Scotland (Escòcia) i Wales (Gal·les).
The United Kingdom (el Regne Unit) està format per Great Britain i Northern Ireland (Irlanda
del Nord).
Tots els ciutadans d’England, Scotland, Wales i Northern Ireland són British (britànics), malgrat
que cadascuna d’aquestes regions també té la seva pròpia nacionalitat.
COMPTE! Recorda que en anglès els adjectius que indiquen nacionalitat s’escriuen amb
majúscula.
Is it raining? Yes, it is. No, it isn’t. It’s cloudy but it’s dry.
Que plou? Sí. Està ennuvolat, però no plou.
Les expressions següents en fan servir per pronosticar el temps que farà:
Do you know the weather forecast for tomorrow? Yes, it’s going to be hot and sunny.
Que saps quina és la predicció del temps per demà? Sí, farà sol i calor.
Do you think it’s going to rain tomorrow? Yes, I think so. No, I don’t think so.
Creus que plourà demà? Sí, em sembla que sí. No, no ho crec.
Les expressions següents en fan servir per parlar dels plans o de les intencions que hom té:
GIVING EXAMPLES
For example (per exemple) es fa servir per introduir una informació nova que exemplifica allò
que s’acaba de dir o d’escriure. Sempre ha d’anar seguit d’una coma, i l’exemple en si pot ser
un substantiu o una oració completa.
It says that climate change is bad for the economy. For example, the report says summers
are going to be very hot .
S’hi afirma que el canvi climàtic és perjudicial per l’economia. Per exemple, l’informe diu que
els estius seran més calorosos.
En textos escrits, for example s’acostuma a abreujar fent servir e.g. (p. ex. o per ex.)
Such as (com ara, com) i like (com ara) només és es fan servir quan l’exemple que s’introdueix
és un o diversos substantius.
Tourists are going to stop going to countries like Spain, Greece and Portugal.
Els turistes deixaran de visitar països com ara Espanya, Grècia i Portugal.
I enjoy Spanish food such as paella. = I enjoy Spanish food like paella.
I enjoy Spanish food as paella.
M’agrada el menjar espanyol, com ara la paella.
UNIT 13
El verb to be en passat (past simple) té dues formes: was i were. Was es fa servir amb les
persones I, he, she, it; amb la resta, s’utilitza were. Les formes negatives són was not i were
Les preguntes amb el verb to be en past simple es formen invertint l’ordre del subjecte i del
verb: was o were + subjecte + …?
Per fer preguntes amb un interrogatiu, p. ex. what o where, se segueix el mateix esquema
anterior, però amb l’interrogatiu al començament de la frase.
Recorda que en les respostes curtes afirmatives es fan servir les formes completes del verb (p.
ex. I was / You were), però en les respostes curtes negatives s’utilitzen les contraccions (p. ex. I
wasn’t / You weren’t).
There was i there were signifiquen “hi havia” en català i es fan servir per parlar de substantius
en singular i en plural, respectivament. La forma negativa es construeix afegint-hi not; recorda,
però, que not es contrau quan acompanya el verb to be i dóna lloc, en aquest cas, a there
wasn’t i there weren’t.
COMPTE! Quan s’enumeren diversos substantius en singular, es fa servir there was, no there
were.
COMPTE! Per dir quanta gent hi havia en un grup, en una família, en una empresa, etc. es fa
servir there were, i no we were.
There were nine people in the office. We were nine people in the office.
Hi havia nou persones a l’oficina.
Per fer preguntes, s’ha d’invertir l’ordre de there was o there were i, després, situar-hi el
substantiu, singular o plural, segons pertoqui: was there o were there + substantiu singular o
substantiu plural + …?
A les frases afirmatives amb there were, s’acostuma a fer servir some davant els substantius en
plural. A les negatives i a les interrogatives amb there were, s’utilitza any en comptes de some.
Molts cops, some i any no es tradueixen al català.
EXTREME ADJECTIVES
Very i absolutely
L’adverbi very (molt, força) també serveix per intensificar el significant d’un adjectiu.
Per emfatitzar el significat d’un extreme adjective encara més, es fa servir l’adverbi absolutely.
COMPTE! Very no es pot fer servir amb extreme adjectives. En canvi, absolutely tan sols es fa
servir amb aquests adjectius.
Les expressions següents es fan servir per referir-se al lloc on ha estat algú:
Were you at home last night? Yes, I was. No, I was out.
Que eres a casa anit passada? Sí. No, era a fora.
Les expressions següents es fan servir per referir-se a l’acompanyant d’algú en un moment
determinat:
I was with Mark and Abbie Yes, I was No, I was with my sister
Era amb el Mark i l’Abbie. Sí. No, era amb la meva germana.
Les expressions següents es fan servir per parlar del temps que fa:
UNIT 14
El past simple es fa servir per parlar d’accions acabades que s’han esdevingut en el passat. A
diferència del català, la forma del past simple és la mateixa per a totes les persones. El past
simple del verbs regulars anglesos es construeix afegint –ed a l’inifitiu, però n’hi ha molts que
són irregulars.
Molts verbs irregulars no segueixen una fórmula específica per formar el past simple.
Tanmateix, n’hi ha que es poden agrupar en diferents patrons de formació del passat.
Canvis a l’ortografia
El past simple d’alguns verbs irregulars es forma introduint-hi determinats canvis ortogràfics.
Per formar el past simple d’aquests verbs, es canvia la lletra –i per una –o:
Els past simple d’alguns verbs irregulars s’escriu igual que l’inifitiu.
COMPTE! Malgrat que l’infinitiu i el past simple del verb read s’escriuen igualment, es
pronuncien de manera diferent.
Molts verbs irregulars no segueixen un patró específic. En aquest cas, no hi ha altre remei que
aprendre el past simple de memòria.
Com passa amb el present simple, les frases negatives i les interrogatives en past simple es
construeixen amb el verb auxiliar do. La forma de l’auxiliar do que es fa servir en aquestes
frases en past simple és la del passat: did.
Les frases negatives en past simple es construeixen amb la forma negativa de l’auxiliar did not,
seguida del verb principal en infinitiu. En l’anglès oral i en textos escrits informals es fa servir la
contracció didn’t.
Les preguntes en past simple es construeixen amb l’auxiliar did seguit del subjecte i del verb
principal en infinitiu. Si la pregunta conté un interrogatiu (p. ex. What? / Where?), aquest se
situa al principi de la frase.
Did you buy a new flat? Did he drink his coffee? When did they go to Paris?
Que t’has comprat un pis nou? Que s’ha begut el cafè? Quan han anat a Paris?
En català, es pot contestar les preguntes dient simplement “sí” o “no”; en anglès, però,
s’acostuma a fer servir una resposta curta.
COMPTE! Les frases negatives i les interrogatives en past simple sempre es construeixen amb
la forma auxiliar did i amb l’infinitiu del verb principal. En aquestes frases, el verb principal es
fa servir en past simple.
I didn’t have dinner with them. I didn’t had dinner with them.
No he sopat amb ells.
MONEY
purse wallet
portamonedes cartera (de butxaca)
bill receipt
factura, compte rebut
pay borrow
pagar demanar (en préstec)
I want to borrow £9,000 from the bank. I went to lend £9,000 from the bank.
Vull demanar 9.000 lliures al banc.
She always lends me her DVDs. She always borrows me her DVDs.
Sempre em deixa els seus DVD.
Les expressions amb el verb have es fan servir sovint per fer referència a menjar i a beguda.
You’re thirty today! Happy birthday! You have thirty today! Happy birthday!
Avui fas trenta anys! Per molts anys!
Les expressions següents es fan servir per fer referència a allò que s’ha fet en un moment
concret del passat:
Les expressions següents es fan servir per fer referència a accions dutes a terme en el passat:
UNIT 15
PUNCTUATION
Apòstrofs
Els apòstrofs es fan servir per formar contraccions dels verbs i per indicar pertinença amb la
forma possessiva ‘s.
Films don’t really give a true impression of the art thief’s world.
Les pel·lícules no representen com és, realment, el món dels lladres d’art.
Cometes
Les cometes es fan servir per reproduir les paraules exactes d’algú. Darrere el verb que
introdueix la citació sempre es posa una coma, a diferència del català, en què s’utilitzen els dos
punts.
Dos punts
En anglès, els dos punts es fan servir per introduir enumeracions o exemples.
Vincenzo Peruggia took a very famous painting from the Louvre art gallery: the Mona Lisa.
El Vincenzo Peruggia es va emportar un quadre molt famós del Museu del Louvre: la Mona
Lisa.
Malgrat que en anglès hi ha bastants verbs irregulars, també n’hi ha molts de regulars. El past
simple dels verbs regulars es forma afegint la terminació –ed a l’inifinitu. La forma és la
mateixa per a totes les persones.
Canvis a l’ortografia
Pronúncia
La terminació –ed del past simple no s’acostuma a pronunciar com una síl·laba independent.
Tanmateix, quan l’infinitiu acaba en –t o en –d, la terminació –ed sí que es pronuncia com una
síl·laba independent.
Les preguntes en past simple segueixen aquest esquema: auxiliar did + subjecte + infinitiu del
verb principal. Els interrogatius where (on), who (qui), what (què), which (quin / quins), what
time (a quina hora), when (quan), how (can) i why (per què) sempre se situen al principi de la
pregunta.
Which? es fa servir per demanar per objectes o per altres coses, quan el nombre de respostes
possibles és limitat.
Which car did you buy; the blue one or the red one?
Quin cotxe has comprat, el blau o el vermell?
What time did you leave yesterday? When did you arrive at the office?
A quina hora vas marxar ahir? Quan vas arribar a l’oficina?
How? es fa servir per demanar per la manera com s’ha fet una cosa. Why? s’utilitza per
preguntar la raó per la qual s’ha fet una cosa o la causa per la qual ha passat una cosa.
How did you make the cake? Why did he wait at the school?
Com vas fer el pastís? Per què es va esperar al col·legi?
A diferència del català, quan una pregunta comença per un interrogatiu i conté una preposició,
aquesta s’acostuma a situar al final de la pregunta.
Who did you buy the present for? Where did they go to?
Per a qui has comprat el regal? On van anar?
OFFICE SKILLS
Les paraules i les frases següents estan relacionades amb maneres de comunicar-se en una
oficina. Observa que post i phone són substantius que donen lloc a verbs.
post
un correu (postal) / enviar per correu (postal)
phone
un telèfon / trucar, telefonar
deliver
lliurar, repartir
Les paraules següents fan referència a ordinadors i a Internet. Observa que click, search i email
també són substantius que donen lloc a verbs.
to delete to download
suprimir, eliminar baixar, descarregar
Els verbs següents fan referència a diferents tasques que es duen a terme en una oficina:
DOCUMENTS
Aquestes paraules fan referència a documents oficials que calen en diferents àmbits: viatges,
feina, família, casa, etc.
Viatges
Feina
Família i casa
Correus electrònics
Les expressions següents es fan servir per parlar del correu electrònic:
Did you email anyone yesterday? Yes, I did. I emailed our clients.
Que vas enviar cap correu ahir? Sí, en vaig enviar als nostres clients.
How many junk emails did you receive? I don’t know. About fifty.
Quants correus brossa has rebut? No ho sé. Cinquanta, si fa no fa.
Converses telefòniques
Who did you phone? I didn’t receive any phone calls yesterday.
A qui has trucat? Ahir no vaig rebre cap trucada.
Repostes
UNIT 17
A les frases en past simple, els adverbis de temps s’acostumen a situar al final de l’oració.
Yesterday
L’adverbi yesterday (ahir) es pot fer servir tot sol o seguit de morning (al matí), afternoon (a la
tarda) o evening (a la tarda / al vespre).
COMPTE! Davant el substantiu night (nit) es fa servir l’adjectiu last (passat/ada, darrer/a), no
yesterday.
Last
L’adjectiu last (passat/ada, darrer/a) es fa servir per referir-se al dia, a la setmana, al cap de
setmana, al mes o a l’any anteriors a aquest.
Tom played the guitar last week. I didn’t meet them last month.
El Tom va tocar la guitarra la setmana passada. El mes passat no les vaig veure.
COMPTE! A diferència del català, l’article determinat the mai no es fa servir davant last.
Did Anita go to Portugal last week? Did Anita go to Portugal the last week?
Que va anar l’Anita a Portugal la setmana pasada?
Ago
Ago es fa servir amb el past simple per indicar el temps transcorregut des que ha passat una
cosa.
In, on i at
Les expressions de temps amb les preposicions in (per als mesos, els anys o les èpoques de
l’any), on (els dies de la setmana) i at (les hores) es fan servir de la mateixa manera amb el past
simple que amb altres temps verbals que ja hem vist.
Did you visit India in July? We went to the opera on Saturday evening.
Que vas anar a l’Índia al juliol? Vam anar a l’òpera dissabte al vespre.
Tant en anglès com en català hi ha verbs que van seguits, generalment, d’una preposició
determinada. Tanmateix, les preposicions que acompanyen aquests verbs acostumen a ser
diferents en cada idioma.
Aquests verbs van seguits de preposició en tots dos idiomes. Tanmateix, les preposicions no
són equivalents.
depend on laugh at
dependre de riure’s de
COMPTE! Amb el verb think (pensar) es fan servir les preposicions of i about. La preposició in
gairebé no s’hi fa servir mai.
She’s thinking about her new boyfriend. She’s thinking in her new boyfriend.
Tot just ara pensa en el seu nou xicot.
Hi ha verbs que no porten preposició en anglès, però sí que en duen en alguna traducció al
català.
change enter
canviar de entrar a
PERIODS OF TIME
day night
dia nit
Estacions de l’any
decade
dècada
century millennium
segle mil·lenni
Les expressions següents es fan servir per parlar d’allò que s’ha comprat i del preu:
Did you enjoy the music? Did you like the concert?
Et va agradar la música? Et va agradar el concert?
What did you think of the new album? It wasn’t a good CD.
Què t’ha semblat l’àlbum nou? No era un bon CD.
UNIT 18
So (per això) enllaça dues idees que figuren a la mateixa frase. La segona idea és conseqüència
de la primera. So és menys formal que altres connectors, per això s’acostuma a fer servir en
textos escrits informals i en l’anglès oral.
Their fans are happy so the bands are selling lots of albums and playing in full stadiums.
Els fans estan contents, per això aquests grups tot just ara venen molts àlbums i toquen en
estadis plens a vessar.
As a result (així doncs) acostuma a enllaçar dues idees que figuren en dues frases diferents.
Aquest connector sempre va seguit de coma.
These bands were very popular with teenagers in the nineties, only a decade ago. As a result,
they thought a comeback was a good idea and the band made new records.
Aquests grups eren força populars entre els adolescents dels noranta, fa tan sols una dècada.
Així doncs, van pensar que reaparèixer a l’escena musical era una bona idea i van enregistrar
discos nous.
Therefore (per tant, doncs) enllaça dues idees que figuren en una mateixa frase o en dues
frases diferents. Quan les dues idees figuren a la mateixa frase, therefore acostuma a portar
davant and.
However, they didn’t sell many CDs and therefore they are now making plans for a second
comeback!
Tanmateix, no van vendre gaires discos i, doncs, tot just planegen reaparèixer per segon cop!
Peticions
Per demanar alguna cosa en català, s'acostuma a preguntar-ho amb el verb “poder” o a
afirmar-ho amb un verb en imperatiu. En anglès, l'ús de I‘imperatiu no és gaire cortès, per això
per fer peticions es fa servir la forma interrogativa dels verbs can, could o may. Aquests dos
darrers verbs denoten més cortesia que no can. Observa que, per fer preguntes amb aquests
verbs, no es fa servir I’auxiliar do / does.
COMPTE! May se sol fer servir amb els pronoms I i we per fer peticions.
Can I have …?, Could I have …? I May I have …? normalment equivalen a “Que podeu / pots
donar-me ...?” o “Que podríeu / podries donar-me ...?”.
Les formes verbals want (voler) would like (m'agradaria, voldria, em vindria de gust) també es
fan servir afirmativament per fer peticions. Would like denota més cortesia que no want.
Oferiments
Can i may també es poden fer servir en forma irrterrogativa per oferir alguna cosa a algú.
Want i would like també s’utilitzen en forma interrogativa per fer oferiments.
Els adverbis too (massa) i enough (bastant, prou) acompanyen els adjectius per indicar l’excés
o el defecte de la qualitat que aquests expressen.
Too
Enough
En algunes frases amb too o enough pot figurar-hi for darrere l'adjectiu, seguit d'un substantiu
o d'un pronom que fa referència a algú.
That jumper is too small for you. That dress isn't long enough for you.
Aquest jersei et va massa petit Aquest vestit no és prou Ilarg per a tu.
COMPTE! Per dir com Ii van les talles de les peces de roba i els números de calçat a algú,
s’acostuma a fer servir el verb fit. Recorda que a les frases interrogatives i negatives cal
utilitzar els auxiliars do / does.
Quan Ia talla d’una peça de roba o el número de sabata és l'adequat, es fan servir aquestes
expressions.
SIZES
Els adjectius i les expressions següents es fan servir per fer referència a les talles de roba:
GOING SHOPPING
Have you got any cream jackets? I’d like to try on this shirt.
Que teniu cap jaqueta de color crema? Voldria emprovar-me aquesta camisa.
I’d like a navy one. I’d like some dark green ones.
El vodria blau fosc. Les vull en verd fosc.
Les expressions següents es fan servir per referir-se a les talles de les peces de roba i als
números de sabata:
How is it? It fits perfectly! It’s not big enough for me.
Que et va bé? Em va perfecte! No és prou gran per a mi. / Em va petit.
PAST CONTINUOUS
El past continuous es fa servir per parlar d’una acció que s’ha desenvolupat en un moment
determinat o durant un període de temps del passat. L’estructura de la frase és semblant a la
del present continuous.
La forma afirmativa del past continuous es construeix amb el subjecte seguit del past simple
del verb to be (was o were) i el verb principal acabat en –ing.
La forma negativa del past continuous es construeix amb el subjecte seguit del past simple del
verb to be en forma negativa (wasn’t o weren’t) i el verb principal acabat en –ing.
La forma interrogativa del past continuous es construeix invertint I’ordre del subjecte i de was
o were. El verb principal acabat en –ing se situa darrere el subjecte.
COMPTE! Recorda que, en les preguntes, el subjecte sempre se situa entre was o were i el verb
principal acabat en –ing. En català té més mobilitat.
En català es pot contestar les preguntes dient simplement “sí” o “no”; en anglès, però,
s’acostuma a fer servir una resposta curta (p. ex. Yes, I was / No, I wasn’t o Yes, you were / No,
you weren’t, ect.).
Tan el past simple com el past continuous es fan servir en anglès per parlar del passat, però cal
saber quan s’ha d’utilitzar I’un o I’altre.
Past simple
El past simple es fa servir per parlar d’una acció acabada que ha tingut lloc en un moment
concret del passat.
Past continuous
El past continuous es fa servir per parlar d’una acció que es desenvolupava en un moment
determinat o durant un període de temps del passat.
El past simple i el past continuous es poden fer servir a la mateixa frase par expressar dues
accions passades diferents. El past continuous fa referència a l’acció que l’ha interromput.
Davant el verb en past continuous es pot utilitzar when (quan) o while (mentre, quan). Davant
el verb en past simple s’acostuma a fer servir when.
COMPTE! En anglès, normalment, si les dues frases tenen el mateix subjecte, aquest es
repeteix.
He wrote a book while he was living in France. He wrote a book while was living in France.
Va escriure un llibre quan vivia a França.
CRIME
thief burglar
lladre (en general) lladre (que entra en un casa o en un local)
shoplifter pickpocket
lladre (que furta en botigues) carterista
vàndal smuggler
brètol/a, vàndal contrabandista
theft burglary
robatori (en general) robatori (en una casa o en un local)
shoplifting pickpocketing
furt (en una botiga) robatori de carteres
vandalism smuggling
bretolada, vandalisme contraban
victim punishment
víctima càstig
prison fine
presó multa
DESCRIBING AN EVENING
Les expressions següents es fan servir per parlar d’allò que ha passat en un moment del passat:
I was in my jeans.
Portava texans.
I was at work.
Era la feina.
Les expressions següents es fan servir per indicar amb qui érem en un moment del passat:
Yes, I was with my family. Yes, there were four of us. No, I was on my own.
Sí, era amb la meva família. Sí, n’érem quatre. No, estava tot sol.
Les expressions següents es fan servir per indicar que no s’ha dut a terme una acció:
UNIT 3
USING ADVERBS
Els adverbis suddenly (de sobte) i eventually (finalment) acostumen a situar-se al principi de la
frase i van seguits d’una coma. En canvi, immediately s’acostuma a col·locar al final.
El verb auxiliar will es pot fer servir en frases interrogatives per fer peticions.
El verb auxiliar will es por fer servir per fer preguntes en què es demana alguna cosa. Se situa
al principi de la frase, seguit del subjecte i de l’infinitiu del verb principal. Per fer peticions en
català, generalment s’utilitza el verb “poder”.
Please es pot afegir al principi o al final de la frase perquè la petició sigui més educada.
COMPTE! En les preguntes amb l’auxiliar will, mai no es fa servir to davant el verb principal.
En català, per contestar afirmativament una petició es pot dir simplement “sí”; en anglès, però,
s’acostuma a fer servir una resposta curta.
Yes, I will. Of course I will.
Sí. És clar que sí.
Per contestar negativament una petició, s’acostuma a fer servir la forma negativa del verb can.
No, I can’t.
COMPTE! Per educació, s’acostuma a afegir el motiu pel qual la resposta és negativa.
El verb auxiliar will es pot fer servir en frases afirmatives i negatives per fer oferiments o
promeses, i per expressar intencions o decisions.
La forma afirmativa de will es pot fer servir per oferir-se a fer alguna cosa. En l’anglès parlat i
en textos escrits informals s’utilitza la contracció ‘ll.
COMPTE! Es pot afegir la preposició for seguida d’un substantiu o d’un pronom per fer
referència a la persona a la qual s’ofereix l’ajut.
I’ll open the door for you. I’ll open you the door.
Ara t’obro la porta.
Les formes afirmativa i negativa de l’auxiliar will es poden fer servir per expressar intencions o
fer promeses.
La forma negativa de will es crea afegint-hi not. La contracció de will not és won’t, i es fa servir
en l’anglès oral i en textos escrits informals.
Will i won’t es poden fer servir per expressar decisions que es prenen mentre es parla i que es
duran a terme en un futur immediat.
COMPTE! Recorda que, per parlar de plans i d’intencions, no es fa servir will, sinó l’estructura
to be + going to.
I’m going to visit New York next summer. I’ll visit New Yor next summer.
Aniré a Nova York l’estiu vinent.
Les expressions següents es fan servir per expressar com ens sentim:
Les expressions següents es fan servir per demanar alguna cosa a algú:
Will you get me a glass of water? Will you make me a cup of tea?
Que em pots portar un got d’aigua? Que em fas un te?
Les expressions següents es fan servir per oferir-se a fer alguna cosa:
I’ll open the window. I’ll get you an aspirin. I’ll call the doctor.
Ara obro la finestra. Ara et porto una aspirina. Ara truco a cal metge.
Thank you so much. That’s very kind of you. That’s nice of you.
Moltíssimes gràcies. Gràcies per la teva amabilitat. Ets molt amable.
UNIT 5
Forma afirmativa
L’ estructura will + infinitiu es fa servir per fer referència a un fet que de ben segur que passarà
en el futur. Aquesta estructura equival al futur simple en català, i la forma verbal és la mateixa
per a totes les persones. Com hem vist a la unitat anterior, la contracció de l’auxiliar will és ‘ll.
Forma negativa
L’estructura will + not + infinitiu es fa servir per expressar que és ben segur que una cosa no
passarà en el futur. La forma verbal també és la mateixa per a totes les persones: will not; la
contracció corresponent és won’t .
COMPTE! Darrere les formes auxiliars will i won’t mai no es fa servir to.
She’ll cook dinner for us. She’ll to cook dinner for us.
Ens prepararà el sopar.
Forma interrogativa
Per fer preguntes sobre fets futurs, s’ha d’invertir l’orde del subjecte i del verb auxiliar will. El
subjecte va seguit de l’infinitiu del verb principal, que roman invariable. Aquesta estructura és
la mateixa per a totes les persones.
COMPTE! Per fer referència a fets futurs, també es pot fer servir l’estructura to be + going to,
especialment si hi ha indicis clars que es produirà alguna cosa.
Els verbs may i might es fan servir per fer referència a fets o accions que és possible que
s’esdevinguin en el futur, tot i que no se sap del cert. El significat indistintament.
Forma afirmativa
Les formes afirmatives de may i might van seguides del verb principal en infinitiu. En català,
equival a l’estructura “pot ser que” seguida d’una frase en subjuntiu, entre d’altres.
Brad may leave before the end. The theatre might sell food.
Pot ser que el Brad se’n vagi abans del final. Pot ser que venguin menjar al teatre.
Forma negativa
Les frases negatives amb may o might es formen intercalant not entre aquests verbs i el verb
principal en infinitiu. En català, equival a l’estructura “pot ser que” seguida d’una frase
negativa en subjuntiu, entre d’altres.
Forma interrogativa
Les preguntes amb may o might per parlar del que pot passar acostumen a anar precedides de
l’estructura Do you think ...?
Doy you think Brad may leave before the end? May Brad leave before the end?
Creus que el Brad potser se n’anirà abans del final?
Do you think the theatre might sell food? Might the theatre sell food?
Creus que potser vendran menjar al teatre?
COMPTE! Recorda que, per referir-se a un fet que ben segur que passarà en el futur, no es fa
servir may ni might, sinó will.
Brad will be hungry during the play. Brad won’t enjoy it.
Al Brad li entrarà gana durant l’obra. Al Brad no li agradarà.
Wil Brad stay until the end? No, he won’t. He’ll be too hungry!
Que es quedarà el Brad fins al final? No, tindrà massa gana!
En anglès, els segles s’anomenen amb els nombres ordinals seguits de la paraula century.
En anglès, la primera dècada d’un segle s’anomena afegint la paraula hundreds a les dues
primeres xifres:
MAKING AN ARRANGEMENT
Les expressions següents es fan servir per expressar que s’hi està d’acord:
UNIT 6
Cometes
Les cometes es fan servir per citar les paraules exactes d’algú. Les citacions acostumen a anar
acompanyades de frases amb verbs com ara say o tell (dir), i explain (explicar), que poden
situar-se davant la citació va sempre dins les cometes.
Ardwick says, ‘A week at Space World won’t cost more than the price of a family car.’
N’Ardwick diu: “Una setmana a l’Space World no costa més que un cotxe familiar”.
He tells us, ‘Guests will have a private room in one of the 50 capsules surrounding the theme
park.’
Ens diu: “Els hostes tindran una habitació privada en una de les 50 càpsules que hi ha al voltant
del parc temàtic”.
Aquí la coma se situa al final de la citació, davant el verb. A diferència del català, la coma va
dins les cometes.
‘The great thing about Space World is that you won’t have to go home at the end of the day’,
says designer Billy Ardwick.
“El bo i milior de l’Space World és que no cal tornar a casa quan s’acaba el dia”, diu el
dissenyador Billy Ardwick.
UNIT 7
SUGGESTIONS
Per demanar una opinió o un consell a algú amb una pregunta, es fa servir la fórmula shall + I /
we + verb principal en infinitiu. Es pot afegir un interrogatiu al principi de l’oració, davant
l’auxiliar shall.
Per suggerir o proposar alguna cosa amb un pregunta, es fa servir la fórmula shall + we + verb
principal en infinitiu. Aquesta mena de preguntes no admet interrogatius, per això l’auxiliar
shall sempre se situa al principi de la frase.
Shall també es pot fer servir amb el pronom personal / quan el parlant s’ofereix a fer alguna
cosa.
Let’s, why don’t i could també serveixen per fer propostes o suggeriments.
L’expressió why don’t es fa servir en preguntes i va seguida d’un subjecte i d’un verb en
infinitiu.
La forma verbal could es fa servir seguida de l’infinitiu del verb principal i sempre té un
subjecte davant.
Les expressions how about i what about introdueixen preguntes que també serveixen per
suggerir alguna cosa.
Quan s’expressa futur amb una oració subordinada que comença per when o if, el verb hi va en
present simple. En canvi, el verb de l’oració principal va en futur (subjecte + will + infinitiu del
verb principal).
When introdueix l’oració subordinada quan se sap amb seguretat que l’acció a què fa
referència el verb tindrà lloc.
If introdueix l’oració subordinada quan no se sap del cert si l’acció a què fa referència el verb
tindrà lloc o no.
Malgrat que s’inverteixi l’ordre de les oracions principal i subordinada, el significat de la frase
no canvia. No obstant això, si l’oració subordinada figura en primer lloc, ha d’anar separada de
l’oració principal per una coma.
COMPTE! A les oracions subordinades amb when i if, el verb va en present simple, mai no es fa
servir will.
I’ll write to you when I’m in India. I’ll write to you when I’ll be in India.
T’escriuré quan sigui a l’Índia.
If he passes his driving test, he’ll buy a car. If he’l passe his driving test, he’ll buy a car.
Si aprova l’examen de conduir, es comprarà un cotxe.
DECIDING WHAT TO DO
Les expressions següents es fan servir per demanar una opinió sobre una cosa que es vol fer:
Where shall we go? What time shall we meet? Who sall we go with?
On anem? A quina hora quedem? Amb qui hi anem?
Let’s go out.
Sortim.
Great, Iet’s do that. OK, that’s fine. Yes, I’d love to.
Fàntastic, fem-ho, doncs. D’acord, em sembla bé. Sí, m’encantaria.
Shall we eat out instead? How about going to a footblal match instead?
Et sembla que dinem fora? I si en comptes d’això anem a un partit de futbol?
UNIT 8
HAVE TO
Forma afirmativa
Forma negativa
La forma negativa del have to serveix per expressar que no hi ha obligació. Es construeix amb
la forma adient de l’auxiliar do. L’estructura en present simple és: subjecte + don’t I doesn’t +
have to + infinitiu del verb principal; i en past simple: subjecte + don’t + have to + infinitiu del
verb principal.
Forma interrogativa
Les preguntes amb have to també es construeixen amb la forma adient de l’auxiliar do.
L’estructura en present simple és: do / does + subjecte + have to + infinitiu del verb principal, i
en past simple: did + subjecte + have to + infinitiu del verb principal.
COMPTE!
Did you have to wear a uniform at school? You had to wear a uniform at school?
Que havies de portar uniforme a escola?
Respostes curtes
Les respostes curtes es formen amb el subjecte seguit de la contracció adient del verb auxiliar
do, afirmativament o negativament.
Need to es fa servir per expressar obligació o necessitat. L’estructura de les frases afirmatives,
de les negatives i de les interrogatives és la mateixa que la de have to.
Forma afirmativa
Forma negativa
Forma interrogativa
Did you need to go to the doctor’s? Did he need to buy a new car?
Que necessitaves anar a cal metge? Que necessitava comprar un cotxe nou?
El verb must expressa obligació, com have to, però més rotundament. La forma negativa,
mustn’t, serveix per indicar prohibició. L’estructura de la frase és: subjecte + must / mustn’t +
infinitiu del verb principal.
Recorda que mustn’t es fa servir per indicar prohibició, i don’t have to i don’t need to, per dir
que no és obligatori o necessari fer alguna cosa.
COMPTE! En past simple no es pot fer servir must; s’utilitza had to.
I had to walk home from work yesterday. I must walk home from work yesterday.
Ahir vaig haver d’anar caminant de la feina a casa.
PERSONAL FINANCE
De vegades, es fa servir la preposició for per fer referència a l’objecte que es paga.
BANKING
Els dos tipus de comptes bancaris més comuns en anglès són current account i savings
account.
Per fer referència als diners que s’ingressen en un compte bancari es fa servir la paraula
deposit, i per referir-se als diners que se’n treuen, withdrawal.
deposit withdrawal
ingrés reintegrament
Els diners es poden treure d’un cash machine si es disposa del PIN number.
income
ingressos
Un banc pot concedir un loan per comprar un cotxe o una mortgage per comprar una casa.
Ioan mortgage
préstec, crèdit hipoteca
interest
interès, interessos
El document que lliura el banc a un client amb informació sobre els moviments del seu compte
s’anomena statement.
statement
extracte (del compte)
debt
deute
Do you have to wear a uniform at work? Yes, I do. No, I need to wear a suit and tie.
Que has de portar uniforme a la fenia? Sí. No, hi he de portar vestit i corbata.
Les expressions següents es fan servir per referir-se a obligacions del passat:
Do you need to speak French for your job? Yes, I need it a lot.
Que has de parlar francès a la teva feina? Sí, I’hi faig servir força.
USING IMPERATIVES
L’imperatiu es fa servir per donar ordres, fer suggeriments o animar algú a fer alguna cosa. Els
fullets informatius acostumen a estar escrits en imperatiu.
Forma afirmativa
La forma afirmativa de l’imperatiu és igual que la de I’infinitiu del verb, però sense to. Quan es
fa servir I’imperatiu, el subjecte s’omet i la forma és la mateixa per adreçar-se tant a una
persona com a unes quantes.
Forma negativa
Don’t give anyone your personal details or credit card number over the phone.
No doneu a ningú les vostres dades personals ni el número de la vostra targeta de crèdit per
telèfon.
UNIT 10
SHOULD
Forma afirmativa
La forma verbal should es fa servir en frases afirmatives per fer recomanacions i donar
consells. L’estructura és: subjecte + should + infinitiu del verb principal. La forma és la mateixa
per a totes les persones. En català, equival a l’estructura “hauria de fer alguna cosa”.
You should buy a new car. He should look for a new job.
Hauries de comprar-te un cotxe nou. Hauria de cercar una altra feina.
Forma negativa
La forma negativa should not es fa servir per desaconsellar alguna cosa. La contracció de
should not és shouldn’t i l’estructura de la frase és: subjecte + shouldn’t + infinitiu del verb
principal. La forma és la mateixa per a totes les persones.
You shouldn’t buy a new car. You shouldn’t look for a new job.
No hauries de comprar-te un cotxe nou. No hauria de cercar una altra reina.
Forma interrogativa
Les preguntes amb should es fan servir per demanar consell o opinió, i es construeixen d’acord
amb aquesta fórmula: should + subjecte + infinitiu del verb principal. La forma és la mateixa
per a totes les persones. De vegades, també es pot utilitzar l’estructura Do you think davant la
frase amb should.
Respostes curtes
COMPTE! No s’ha de confondre should i must. Amb should es fa una recomanació, només; amb
must, però, es dóna una ordre o s’indica una obligació.
A few i a little
A few (uns quants, unes quantes) i a little (una mica de) són dues expressions que es fan servir
davant substantius per expressar una “petita quantitat”. Es diferencien perquè a few es fa
servir amb substantius comptables en plural, i a little, amb sustantius incomptables.
Per donar una resposta curta a una pregunta sobre quantitat es pot ometre el substantiu.
How many apples are there? A few. How much water is there? A little.
Quantes pomes hi ha? Poques. Quanta aigua hi ha? Poca.
COMPTE! Only es fa servir davant a few / a little per emfatitzar que la quantitat d’alguna cosa
és ben escassa. Per tant, té un matís negatiu.
Enough
Enough es fa servir per indicar si hi ha prou quantitat d’alguna cosa. Es fa servir davant
substantius comptables en plural, i també de substantius incomptables.
COMPTE! Tingues en compte que enough funciona com a adjectiu quan se situa davant un
substantiu, però també pot anar darrere un adjectiu; llavors fa funció d’adverbi de quantitat.
Too many i too much (massa) es fan servir davant substantius per expressar “excés”. Too many
va davant els substantius comptables en plural, i too much, davant els substantius
incomptables.
Les expressions següents es fan servir per demanar consell i per donar-ne:
You should eat more fruit and vegetables. They shouldn’t use any pesticide.
Hauries de menjar més fruita i verdura. No hi haurien de fer servir cap pesticida.
I don’t agree with you. I don’t think that’s such a good idea.
No hi estic d’acord. No em sembla una bona idea.
UNIT 11
En anglès es consideren short adjectives (adjectius curts) els adjectius d’una síl·laba, com ara
big; els adjectius de dues síl·labes acabats en –y, com ara happy, i alguns adjectius de dues
síl·labes que no acaben en –y, com ara quiet.
El grau comparatiu dels adjectius curts es forma afegint-hi la terminació –er big > bigger
(vegeu més endavant Ortografia). A les frases comparatives, l’adjectiu va seguit de la paraula
than (que). L’estructura “comparatiu en –er + than” equival en català a “més + adjectiu + que”.
The Nile is longer than the Amazon. Everest is higher than K2.
El Nil és més llarg que l’Amazones. L’Everest és més alt que el K2.
El grau superlatiu dels adjectius curts es forma afegint-hi la terminació –est i posant l’article
determinat the davant l’adjectiu: big > the biggest. En català, equival a l’estructura “el / la +
més + adjectiu”.
Quan es forma el comparatiu o el superlatiu d’un adjectiu curt acabat en –e, només s’hi afegeix
–r o –st, p. ex. large > larger > largest.
The Pacific is bigger than the Atlantic. The Pacific is the biggest ocean.
El Pacífic és més gran que l’Atlàntic. El Pacífic és l’oceà més gran.
Quan es forma el comparatiu o el superlatiu d’un adjectiu curt acabat en –y, aquesta es
converteix en –i en afegir-hi –er o –est, p. ex. healthy > healthier > healthiest.
En anglès es consideren long adjectives (adjectius llargs) els adjectius que tenen tres síl·labes, o
més, i uns quants adjectius de dues síl·labes:
El grau comparatiu dels adjectius llargs es forma amb l’estructura “more + adjectiu + than”,
que equival en català a “més + adjectiu + que”, o amb l’estructura “less + adjectiu + than”, que
equival a “menys + adjectiu + que”.
El grau superlatiu dels adjectius llargs es forma afegint the most (el més ... / la més ...) o the
least (el menys ... / la menys ...) davant l’adjectiu.
Adjectius irregulars
Les formes comparatives i les superlatives d’alguns adjectius, com ara good o bad, són
irregulars i cal memoritzar-les: good > better > best; bad > worse > worst.
Les expressions següents es fan servir per descriure els membres de la família:
Les expressions següents es fan servir per comparar els membres de la família:
Les expressions següents s’utilitzen per indicar que no se sap la resposta a una pregunta o no
s’està segur d’una cosa:
UNIT 12
STATISTICS
Per fer referència a estadístiques, s’acostuma a fer servir percentages (percentatges) i fractions
(fraccions). Observa que a diferència del català, mai no s’afegeix l’article davant el
percentatge.
Les expressions següents es fan servir per fer referència a estadístiques aproximades:
over 80%
més del 80%
UNIT 13
El present perfect es fa servir per referir-se a allò que s’ha fet, o no, sense especificar quan. Es
construeix amb el verb auxiliar to have (haver), seguit del participi del verb principal.
Participis regulars
El participi (past participle) dels verbs regulars es forma afegint –ed a l’infinitiu, com passa amb
el past simple.
L’estructura de la forma afirmativa és: subjecte + have / has + participi del verb principal. En
l’anglès parlat i en textos escrits informals, have i has es contrauen amb el subjecte i donen
lloc a les contraccions ‘ve i ‘s.
L’estructura de la forma negativa del present perfect és: subjecte + haven’t / hasn’t + participi
del verb principal.
Have you finished the rice? Has she opened the tin of tuna?
T’has acabat l’arròs? Que ha obert la llauna de tonyina?
En català, s’acostuma a respondre a aquestes preguntes dient “sí” o “no”; en anglès, però, es
fa servir una resposta curta (p. ex. Yes, I have / No, I haven’t).
COMPTE! Les contraccions de la tercera persona del singular dels verbs to be i to have són
iguals: ‘s. El context indica de quin verb es tracta.
Com ja sabem, el present perfect es forma amb el verb auxiliar have i el participi del verb
principal, que en el cas dels verbs regulars es forma amb la terminació –ed. Els irregulars no
segueixen una regla de formació específica i cal memoritzar-los. No obstant això, n’hi ha que
formen grups que segueixen patrons comuns.
see > saw > seen steal > stole > stolen
veure > va veure > vist robar > va robar > robat
buy > bought > bought have > had > had
comprar > va comprar > comprat tenir > va tenir > tingut
sped > spent > spent win > won > won
gastar > va gastar > gastat guanyar > va guanyar > guanyat
put > put > put cut > cut > cut
posar > va posar > posat tallar > va tallar > tallat
hit > hit > hit read > read > read
copejar > va copejar > copejat llegir > va llegir > llegit
És difícil saber si un verb és regular o irregular. Per això, consulta el diccionari al menú d’Extres.
Gone i been
Gone, el participi del verb to go (anar), es fa servir en present perfect per indicar que algú se
n’ha anat a un altre lloc i no hi ha tornat encara.
Been, el participi del verb to be (ser / estar), es fa servir en present perfect per indicar que algú
ha estat en un altre lloc però ja n’ha tornat.
You’re brown. Where have you been? I’ve been on holiday in Turkey.
Estàs morena. On has estat? He estat de vacances a Turquia.
Els verbs següents es fan servir per descriure maneres de preparar els aliments abans de
cuinar-los:
Els verbs següents es fan servir per descriure accions que es duen a terme durant la preparació
i la cocció dels aliments:
El verb taste equival en català a “tastar” o a “fer gust de”, segons el context.
COOKING
Les expressions següents es fan servir quan algú cuina amb una altra persona:
UNIT 14
Ever (algun cop) i never (mai) es fan servir amb el present perfect per indicar que ha passat, o
no, alguna cosa, en un moment determinat del passat.
Ever es fa servir en preguntes en present perfect per saber si s’ha fet alguna cosa algun cop.
Ever se situa entre el subjecte i el participi del verb.
Ever es pot fer servir en frases afirmatives en present perfect amb l’expressio It’s the first time
... (És el primer cop que ...). En aquestes frases, ever se situa entre el verb to have i el participi
del verb principal. En aquest cas, la frase en català va en present i ever no es tradueix.
COMPTE! Recorda que les frases que comencen amb l’expressió It’s the first time ... sempre
tenen el verb en present perfect, no en present simple.
It’s the first time she’s travelled alone. It’s the first time she travela alone.
És el primer cop que viatja tota sola.
Never
Never es fa servir en frases afirmatives en present perfect per fer referència a accions o fets
que mai no han tingut lloc. Never se situa davant el participi.
We’ve never lived in London. He’s never been to the United States.
Mai no hem viscut a Londres. No se n’ha anat mai als Estats Units.
COMPTE! En català, “mai” es por fer servir en una frase afirmativa o en una de negativa, però
pot canviar el sentit i per això en les negatives se sol afegir l’adverbi “no”. Never, però, porta
implícita la negació i per això sempre va amb el verb en forma afirmativa.
Harry has never been to Scotland. Harry han’t never been to Scotland.
El Harry mai no ha anat a Escòcia.
El present perfect es fa servir per fer referència a un fet o a una acció que ha passat en un
moment indeterminat del passat.
El past simple, en canvi, es fa servir per referir-se a un fet o a una acció que ha passat en un
moment concret del passat. Per això, es fan servir adverbis o expressions de temps que
especifiquen aquest moment; per exemple: yesterday (ahir), ago (fa ...), last night (anit
passada) o in 2005 (el 2005); tots acompanyen el verb en past simple.
COMPTE! El present perfect mai no es fa servir amb aquesta mena d’adverbis o expressions.
You spent a week there in 1999. You’ve spent a week there in 1999.
Hi vas passar una setmana el 1999.
El present perfect fa referència a accions o a fets passats en termes generals, i el past simple
especifica quan han passat exactament, és a dir, els situa en el temps.
I’ve been to Venice. Oh, really? When did you go? I went three years ago.
He estat a Venècia. Ah, sí? Quan hi has anat? Hi vaig anar fa tres anys.
COMPTE! El present perfect mai no es fa servir en preguntes que comencen amb when o what
time, perquè aquests interrogatius serveixen per demanar pel moment exacte en què ha
passat una cosa. Per tant, amb aquesta mena de preguntes sempre es fa servir el past simple.
When did you visit Bangkok? When have you visited Bangkok?
Quan vas visitar Bangkok?
Les expressions següents es fan servir per parlar dels llocs que algú ha anat a veure:
Which part of the United States have you been to? I’ve never been to the United States.
A quina part dels Estats Units has estat? Mai no he estat als Estats Units.
Les expressions següents es fan servir per parlar de les experiències viscudes:
Have you seen Big Ben in London? Yes, I have. It’s very nice.
Que has vist el Big Ben de Londres? Sí, és molt maco.
Have you ever eaten Chinese food? No, I’ve never eaten Chinese food.
Que has menjat algun cop menjar xinès? No, mai no he tastat el menjar xinès.
Les expressions següents es fan servir per parlar del lloc de naixement o de procedència:
I’m from the south. I’m from a small village near Paris.
Sóc del sud. Sóc d’un poblet a prop de París.
Les expressions in other wods, on the whole i on the contrary es fan servir per realcionar idees
en un text, i acostumen a anar situades al principi de la frase.
In other words (és a dir) es fa servir quan el parlant vol explicar el que acaba de dir utilitzant
unes altres paraules.
Don’t take things from the country’s natural environment. In other words, things like plants,
shells and coral should stay where you see them.
No ens hem d’emportar coses que formen part de l’entorn natural del país; és a dir, les
plantes, les conquilles i el coral han de romandre allà on són.
In the whole (en general) es fa servir per introduir una afirmació general o indicar un fet
habitual, però sense entrar-hi en detalls.
On the contrary (al contrari, per contra) serveix per introduir una idea oposada a la que s’acaba
d’exposar.
But have they reduced tourism? On the contrary, the Egyptian Tourist Authority wants
tourists to visit Egypt because tourism employs thousands of local people.
Però, que ha minvat el turisme? Al contrari, la Secretaria de Turisme egípcia vol que els turistes
vinguin a Egipte, perquè el turisme dóna feina a millers d’egipcis.
UNIT 16
Els adverbis just, already (ja) i yet (encara, ja) es fan servir en present perfect per donar més
informació sobre el moment en què ha passat una cosa. Aquests adverbis no s’usen amb el
past simple, perquè no es refereixen a un moment específic.
L’adverbi just es fa servir amb el present perfect, generalment en oracions afirmatives, per
indicar que un fet o una acció acaben de produir-se. Just se situa entre el verb auxiliar have i el
participi. En català no s’acostuma a traduir, perquè fem servir l’estructura “tot just + acabar”.
He’s just finished the book. They’ve just been for a coffe break.
Tot just ha acabat de llegir el llibre. Tot just s’acaben d’aturar per prendre cafè.
COMPTE! Recorda que just mai no es fa servir amb el past simple per indicar que tot just
s’acaba de fer alguna cosa.
Already
L’adverbi already (ja) es fa servir per indicar que un fet o una acció han tingut lloc abans del
que s’esperava. Acostuma a figurar en oracions afirmatives situat entre el verb auxiliar have i
el participi del verb. De vegades, already es pot posar al final de l’oració, sobretot en l’anglès
oral.
Yet
L’adverbi yet (encara, ja ) es fa servir per indicar que alguna cosa que ha de tenir lloc encara no
ha passat. Yet s’utilitza en oracions negatives i interrogatives, i sempre se situa al final de
l’oració. En les negatives equival a “encara” i en les interrogatives, a “ja”.
Has she had a coffee yet? Have you done the labels yet?
Que ja s’ha pres un cafè? Que ja has fet les etiquetes?
I haven’t been to the hospital yet. I haven’t yet been to the hospital.
Els verbs irregulars no seguiexen una regla específica per formar el participi, per això cal
memoritzar-los. No obstant això, n’hi ha que es poden classificar en grups que segueixen
patrons comuns.
Canvis ortogràfics
Quan la darrera síl·laba de l’infinitiu del verb conté la vocal “i”, en el past simple aquesta vocal
esdevé una “a”, i en el participi, una “u”.
drink > drank > drunk ring > rang > rung
beure > va beure > begut trucar > va trucar > trucat
sing > sang > sung swim > swam > swum
canta > va cantar > cantat nedar > va nedar > nedat
break > broke > broken drive > drove > driven
trencar > va trencar > trencat conduir > va conduir > conduït
Forget > forgot > forgotten take > took > taken
Oblidar > va oblidar > oblidat prendre > va prendre > pres
Alguns verbs en anglès tenen dos conjugacions possibles, una de regular i una altra d’irregular.
Totes dues es poden fer servir indistintament.
Passa el mateix amb els verbs learn (aprendre), smell (olorar) i spell (lletrejar).
fall > fell > fallen feel > felt > felt
caure > va caure > caigut sentir > van sentir > sentit
find > found > found found > founded > founded
trobar > va trobar > trobat fundar > va fundar > fundat
leave > left > left live > lived > lived
marxar > va marxar > marxat viure > va viure > viscut
ADVERBS OF MANNER
En anglès, hi ha molts adverbis que es formen afegint la terminació –ly (–ment) a l’adjectiu.
COMPTE! Els adjectius acabats en –ly com friendly (amable), lonely (sol/a), lovely
(encantador/a) i lively (animat/ada), no tenen adverbi en –ly. En aquests casos es fa servir
l’estructura adverbial in a + adjectiu + way.
Hi ha adverbis, com ara fast, amb la forma igual que l’adjectiu. En el cas de l’adverbi well (bé
de salut), però, l’adverbi significa “fer alguna cosa bé”.
I’m very well thanks, and you? The team played really well.
Va bé, gràcies, i tu? L’equip va jugar força bé.
COMPTE! L’adverbi hardly no significa “de valent”, sinó “amb prou feines”.
I’ve hardly slept all night. I’ve alept hardly all night.
Amb prou feines he dormit aquesta nit.
UNIT 17
El present perfect es pot fer servir per parlar de fets o d’accions que han començat en el passat
i que continuen en el present.
We’ve lived in this house for ten years. He’s worked here since 2005.
Vivim en aquesta casa des de fa deu anys. Treballa aquí desde el 2005.
COMPTE! A diferència del català, el present simple mai no es fa servir per parlar d’un fet o
d’una acció que ha começat en el passat i que continua en el present.
I’ve known Sarah since I was a child. I know Sarah since I was a child.
Conec la Sarah des que era petita.
How long ...? es fa servir amb un verb en present perfect per preguntar quant temps fa que
passa un fet o una acció.
How long have they had satnav? How long has she been in Russia?
Quant temps fa que tenen GPS? Quant temps fa que és a Rússia?
COMPTE! La paraula time mai no es fa servir en preguntes amb How long ...?
How long have you had your car? How long time have you had you car?
Quant temps fa que tens el cotxe?
For es fa servir amb un verb en present perfect per indicar la durada d’un fet o d’una acció que
ha començat en el passat i que continua en el present. En aquest cas, equivalen en català a
“des de fa”.
For també es pot fer servir amb un verb en past simple per fer referència a la durada d’un fet o
d’una acció que s’ha acabat. En aquest cas, equival en català a “durant” i, molts cops, ni tan
sols es tradueix.
Since
Since es fa servir amb un verb en present perfect per indicar el moment exacte del passat en
què ha começat un fet o una acció que continua en el present. Equival en català a “des de”.
They’ve been in Pisa since Monday. I liked football since I was 12.
Són a Pisa desde de dilluns. M’agrada el futbol des que tenia 12 anys.
How long es fa servir en oracions interrogatives amb el verb auxiliar will per demanar per la
durada d’alguna cosa que passarà en el futur.
COMPTE! How long mai no es fa servir amb verb en present simple per a aquesta mena de
preguntes.
Igual que passa amb How long + present perfect + ...?, a les respostes a How long + will + ...?
també es fan servir preposicions que indiquen la durada del fet o de l’acció, o el moment en
què s’acaba.
For
La preposició for (durant) es fa servir amb un verb en futur per indicar la durada d’un fet o
d’una acció que s’esdevindrà.
Lily will live in Sydney for two years. We’ll rent the car for three days.
La Lily viurà a Sydney (durant) dos anys. Llogarem el cotxe tres dies.
COMPTE! For mai no es fa servir en aquest sentit amb verbs en present simple.
Until
La preposició until (fins) es fa servir amb un verb en futur per indicar el moment en què
acabarà un fet o una acció.
Transport
motoway freeway
autopista
Menjar
biscuit cookie
galeta
chips fries
patates fregides (de fregidora)
Edificis
flat apartament
pis
lift elevator
ascensor
toilet bathroom
lavabo
Roba
vest undershirt
samarreta (de roba interior)
trousers pants
pantalons
Educació
Temps
autum fall
tardor
holiday vacation
vacances
Les expressions següents es fan servir per demanar dades personals i per donar-ne:
Yes, of course.
Sí, és clar.
Les expressions següents es fan servir per indicar la durada d’un fet o d’una acció:
Les expressions següents es fan servir per parlar de la durada d’un fet o d’una acció en el futur:
UNIT 18
La preposició during (a, durant) introdueix el període de temps en què un fet o una acció tenen
lloc. During sempre va seguit d’un sintagma nominal.
We’ve been on holiday for three weeks. We’ve been on holiday during three weeks.
Hem fet vacances (durant) tres setmanes.
While (mentre, quan) uneix dues frases completes en què les accions es produeixen alhora.
While I was working as an accountant, I was spending more and more time on a computer.
Quan treballava com a comptable, cada cop passava més temps davant l’ordinador.
L’adverbi at present (actualment, ara) introdueix un fet o una acció que passen en el present.
At present és una mica més formal que at the moment (en aquest moment) i s’acostuma a
situar al principi de la frase.
Els pronoms indefinits que comencen per some i any designen persones o coses la identitat de
les quals es desconeix o no es vol especificar. Segueixen les mateixes regles que some i any.
Somebody (algú), something (alguna cosa) i somewhere (en algun lloc) s'acostumen a fer servir
en frases afirmatives.
Somebody, something i somewhere també es fan servir en preguntes per fer oferiments i
peticions.
Anybody (algú, ningú), anything (alguna cosa, res) i anywhere (enlloc) es fan servir en frases
negatives i interrogatives.
COMPTE! Observa que, quan anything té sentit negatiu i significa “res” va amb el verb en
forma negativa. En canvi, com veurem a la pantalla 7 d'aquesta secció, nothing (res) mai no es
fa servir amb el verb en negativa.
Somebody/someone i anybody/anyone
Somebody i someone tenen el mateix significat (algú). Anybody i anyone (“ningú” en negatives i
“algú” en interrogatives) també són sinònims.
Somebody has lost this book. Someone has lost this book.
Algú ha perdut aquest llibre. Algú ha perdut aquest llibre.
+ - and ?
People Someone / Sombeody Anybody / Anyone
Things Something Anything
Things Somewhere Anywhere
Nobody (ningú), nothing (res) i nowhere (enlloc) són pronoms indefinits negatius. A diferència
dels pronoms anybody, anything i anywhere, es fan servir en frases amb el verb en forma
afirmativa. Aquests pronoms també es poden utilitzar tot sols per respondre a preguntes.
COMPTE! Nobody, nothing i nowhere mai no van amb el verb en forma negativa.
I don't know anything about the Internet. I dont know nothing about the Internet.
No sé res d'Intemet.
He didn't know anybody at the party. He didnt know nobody at the party.
Els pronoms indefinits everybody (tots, tothom), everything (tot) i everywhere (arreu, a tot
arreu) serveixen per designar un tot o el total dels components d'un grup. Quan funcionen
com a subjecte de l’oració, el verb va en tercera persona del singular, com si es tractés dels
pronoms he, she, it.
COMPTE! Quan hom vol fer servir el pronom indefinit “tot” per referir-se a objectes, en anglès
s'utilitza everything, i no all.
Everything at the auction was really cheap. All at the auction was really cheap.
Tot allò que hi havia a la subhasta era molt barat.
Nobody i no one tenen el mateix significat (ningú). Everybody i everyone (tots, tothom) també
són sinònims.
THE INTERNET
Els substantius següents fan referència a elements habituals a Internet. Observa que la paraula
blog també es pot fer servir com a verb:
Els verbs següents descriuen accions relacionades amb Internet. Observa que la paraula email
és tant un verb com un substantiu:
click /click on
fer clic / fer un clic (en, sobre), clicar
double click
fer doble clic, fer un doble clic (en, sobre)
download
baixar, descarregar (d’Internet)
email
enviar un correu electrònic; correu electrònic
Seguretat a Intemet
log in
iniciar la sessió, connectar-se, entrar
username
(nom d’) usuari
password
Adreces d’Internet
En l'anglès oral, el símbol de l'arrova (@) es pronuncia at. “Punt com” es diu dot com.
LARGE NUMBERS
A o one?
En anglès es pot dir a hundred, a thousand, a million, o one hundred, one thousand, one
million. En l'anglès oral, però, és més habitual fer servir la forma amb l'article a.
Singular o plural?
Hundred, thousand i million es fan servir en singular quan van precedits d’una xifra.
two hundred and fifty people Two hundreds and fifty people
dues-centes cinquanta persones
Quan hundred, thousand i million no van precedits d'una xifra, es fan servir en plural.
hundreds of people
centenars de persones
COMPTE! A diferència del català, quan hundred, thousand i million van precedits d’una xifra,
mai no els segueix la preposició of.
Les xifres entre 1100 i 1900 es poden expressar de dues maneres. La segona només
s’acostuma a fer servir per als nombres rodons i és més informal.
COMPTE! Per separar els milers, en anglès es fa servir una coma en lloc d'un punt. P. ex. mil
cent: 1,100 (no 1.100).
SOCIALIZING
Les expressions següents es fan servir per acceptar o rebutjar un pla o una proposta:
UNIT 2
Object questions
Quan en una pregunta hi ha un interrogatiu que funciona com a objecte, es fa servir aquesta
estructura: interrogatiu + verb auxiliar + subjecte + infinitiu del verb principal. Aquestes
oracions sempre necessiten un verb auxiliar. En els exemples següents, what i which (què)
funcionen com a objectes del verb:
What (què), Which (què, quin/a, quins/es), Who (qui) i How many (quants/es) són els
interrogatius que s'acostumen a fer servir més com a subjecte o part del subjecte d’una
pregunta. De vegades which i what es poden utilitzar indistintament, però, en general, which
s'usa per demanar per un nombre limitat de coses o quan hi ha dues o tres opcions per triar.
What s'empra per fer preguntes genèriques amb respostes que poden ser molt variades.
COMPTE! Recorda que, quan el subjecte d'una pregunta és interrogatiu, no s'acostuma a fer
servir els auxiliars do / does / did.
INFINITIVES OF PURPOSE
Els infinitives of purpose (infinitius que expressen finalitat o intenció) es fan servir per indicar el
motiu o la finalitat amb què algú fa alguna coca. Es formen amb el verb en infinitiu precedit de
la preposició to.
Aquests infinitius s'acostumen a fer servir per respondre a preguntes amb why.
In order to i so as to
Les expressions in order to i so as to (a fi de, per) es fan servir sovint davant els infinitives of
purpose per expressar finalitat. Totes dues signifiquen el mateix i s’utilitzen, sobretot, en
l’anglès formal.
RELATIONSHIP
La majoria d'aquestes expressions es refereixen a relacions amoroses, tot i que n'hi ha unes
quantes que es poden fer servir per a les relacions familiars o d'amistat.
Durant Ia relació
go on honeymoon
fer el viatge de noces
Harry married Jane last month. Harry married with Jane last month.
El Harry es va casar amb Ia Jane el mes passat.
Les expressions següents es fan servir per referir-se a una relació amb problemes o al final
d'una relació:
SPORT
a match
un partit
Aquests verbs serveixen per parlar del resultat final en una competició esportiva.
En anglès, quan un jugador o un equip no marca cap punt, es fan servir diferents termes per a
cada esport. En tenis, s'utilitza la paraula love (zero), i en futbol, nil (zero). La paraula zero no
s’acostuma a emprar en aquests contextos.
IN A RESTAURANT
En entrar a un restaurant
Are you ready to order? Not yet. I'm waiting for a friend.
Ja sabeu què voleu demanar? Encara no. Espero un amic.
Can we have a few more minutes? Can I get you a drink while you're waiting?
Que podem pensar-ho una mica més? Us porto res per beure mentre espereu?
We asked for red, not white, wine. Can I bring you anything else?
Hem demanat vi negre, no blanc. Que voldreu res més?
UNIT 3
La conjunció because (perquè, com que) es fa servir per introduir una oració subordinada de
causa. Aquesta subordinada pot anar davant l’oració principal o al darrere. Quan se situa al
davant, se separa de l’oració principal amb una coma.
Because not everybody is honest in their profiles, there are sometimes problems.
Com que no tothom diu la veritat al seu perfil, de vegades sorgeixen problemes.
L’expressió because of (per, a causa de) serveix per introduir la causa per la qual s'ha
esdevingut una cosa. Sempre va seguida d'un substantiu o d'un pronom objecte, i pot anar al
principi de la frase o al final. Quan se situa al principi, el sintagma que forma se separa de la
resta de frase amb una coma.
COMPTE! Because of mai no va seguit d'una oració, ni es fa servir amb els pronoms de subjecte
(I, he, we, etc.).
We didn't play because it was raining. We didn’t play because of it was raining.
No vam jugar perquè plovia.
Una defining relative clause és una oració subordinada que va introduïda per un pronom
relatiu (that, which, who, etc.) i que aporta informació essencial o especifica sobre allò a què
es fa referència.
En l'exemple anterior, la relative clause “that sells mobile phones” especifica per a quina mena
d'empresa treballa la Sandra. Les defining relative clauses s'utilitzen per unir en una mateixa
frase dues oracions curtes. El substantiu o pronom de la primera oració se substitueix en la
segona per that, which, etc., per no repetir-lo.
They work for the company which wants to build a new shopping centre.
They work for the company with it wants to build a new shopping centre.
Treballen per a l'empresa que vol construir un centre comercial nou.
Which i that
Els pronoms relatius which i that es fan servir a les defining relative clauses per introduir
informació essencial sobre animals o coses. That pot substituir which i a l’inrevés, però that
s'utilitza molt més en l'anglès oral.
A les relative clauses, per substituir-hi pronoms indefinits, com ara something, anything i
everything, s'acostuma a fer servir that, no which.
I've got everything that was in the car. I’ve got everthing which was in the car.
Tinc tot el que hi havia al cotxe.
Les relative clauses amb who o that també es fan servir per unir dues oracions curtes en una
mateixa frase. El substantiu o el pronom de la primera oració se substitueix a la segona per
who o that.
Who i that
Els pronoms relatius who i that introdueixen defining relative clauses que es fan servir per
descriure persones, perquè aporten informació essencial o específica sobre aquestes. That pot
substituir-hi who i a l’inrevés, però that es fa servir molt més en l’anglès oral.
FACIAL APPEARANCE
Els adjectius dark i fair es fan servir per referir-se al color de la pell.
Borrissol
Els substantius següents es fan servir per referir-se als tipus de borrissol:
beard
barba
moustache
bigoti
Els adjectius següents es fan servir per descriure el color dels cabells:
brown
castanys
Els adjectius següents es fan servir per descriure els tipus de cabells:
BEING A WITNESS
Les expressions següents es fan servir per confirmar allò que es diu:
No, that's not correct. No, that's not true. No, that's not right.
No, no és cert. No, no és veritat. No, no és així.
UNIT 5
La veu passiva en present simple es construeix amb la forma adient del verb to be en present i
el participi del verb principal. Aquesta forma es fa servir per emfasitzar la persona o l’objecte
sobre els quals recau l’acció, o quan no es coneix la persona o l’objecte que du a terme l’acció
o no es considera important. En aquest exemple, es vol ressaltar les sabates i el fet que són
fetes a la Xina, però no qui les ha confeccionades.
La passiva, molt més freqüent en anglès que no en català, s'acostuma a traduir amb una frase
impersonal, generalment amb un verb pronominal.
Our office is cleaned every day. Cheese isn't sold in this shop.
La nostra oficina es neteja cada dia. En aquesta botiga no es ven formatge.
La veu passiva en present simple s'acostuma a fer servir en contextos formals com ara
informes d'empresa o anuncis publicitaris.
COMPTE! Per indicar qui du a terme l'acció del verb, mai no es fa servir la preposició for, sinó
by.
La veu passiva en past simple es construeix amb la forma adient del verb to be en past simple i
el participi del verb principal. Com hem vist, es fa servir per emfatitzar la persona o l'objecte
sobre els quals recau l’acció, i s’utilitza més sovint en anglès que no en català. En català,
gairebé sempre equival a una frase amb un verb pronominal o en veu activa.
La veu passiva en past simple es fa servir, sobretot, per parlar d'esdeveniments històrics,
d'invencions, etc.
To be born
To be born és una estructura anglesa en veu passiva que equival al verb “néixer” en català.
Aquesta estructura es pot fer servir en present simple i, també, en past simple. Observa que en
COMPTE! Be born, tant si s'especifica la data o el lloc de naixement com si no es fa, mai no es
fa servir en veu activa.
FABRICS
leather velvet
pell, cuir vellut
Teixits sintètics
Les expressions següents es fan servir per dir amb quin material s'ha fet una cosa:
Les expressions següents es fan servir per parlar del lloc on s'han fabricat els objectes:
Where were they made? Do you know? They were made in South Korea.
On s'han fet? Ho saps? S'han fet a Corea del Sud.
Les expressions següents es fan servir per dir que ens agrada alguna cosa:
UNIT 6
EXPRESSING OPINIONS
I think, I don't think, Personally, In my opinion i As far as I'm concerned són expressions que es
fan servir per donar una opinió. Normalment, se situen al principi de la frase. El verb think
COMPTE! Quan s'indica un parer, el verb think mai no es fa servir en present continuous. Si el
parlant pensa que no passarà una cosa, el verb que hi figura en forma negativa és think, i no el
verb de la frase principal, que roman en forma afirmativa.
I think they're going to win the game. I’m thinking they’re going to win the game.
Em sembla que guanyaran el partit.
Personally, In my opinion i As far as I'm concerned es fan servir per recalcar que el parlant
expressa la seva opinió personal. Personally acostuma a acompanyar el verb think. Totes
aquestes expressions van separades de la frase principal per una coma.
Personally, I don't think we'll ever stop reading books made of paper!
Personalment, no crec que deixem de llegir mai llibres en paper.
UNIT 7
Present simple
El present simple es fa servir per parlar d'accions habituals, de fets generals, de gustos i de
preferències. En tercera persona del singular (he, she, it), al verb s'hi afegeix la terminació –s.
En preguntes i en frases negatives, porta do o does.
El present continuous es fa servir per parlar d'accions que passen tot just al moment en què es
parla o en un període concret.
I'm working in a hospital this week. She's driving home right now.
Aquesta setmana treballo en un hospital. Ara mateix condueix cap a casa.
Going to futur
L'estructura to be + going to + infinitiu es fa servir per parlar de plans, de decisions que s'han
pres o d'allò que es vol fer.
I'm going to buy a car next month. She's going to get married in May.
També es fa servir per fer prediccions quan, al moment en què es parla, s'observen indicis que
passarà alguna cosa.
Will futur
L'estructura will + infinitiu es fa servir per fer referència a una decisió que es pren justament
quan es parla.
The phone is ringing. I'll answer it. It's raining. I'll take an umbrella.
Sona el telèfon. Jo contestaré. Plou. Agafaré el paraigua.
També s'utilitza per fer prediccions sobre alguna cosa que es pensa que passarà de ben segur.
REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS
Com en català, els pronoms reflexius es fan servir en anglès quan el subjecte i I'objecte directe
d'una frase són la mateixa persona.
I hurt my leg. She cut her finger. They burnt their hands.
He pres mal a la cama. S'ha tallat el dit. S’han cremat les mans.
John poured Anna a cup of coffee. John poured himself a cup of coffee.
El John ha servit a l'Anna una tassa de cafè. El John s'ha servit una tassa de cafè.
Els pronoms reflexius també es fan servir per recalcar qui fa l’acció, i el fet que es fa sense cap
intervenció aliena. En aquest cas, s'anomenen emphatic pronouns (pronoms emfàtics).
JOB INTERVIEW
Per presentar-se
What did you do in your last job? I worked from Monday to Friday.
Que fèieu a la vostra feina anterior? Treballava de dilluns a divendres.
UNIT 8
Past simple
El past simple es fa servir per parlar d'accions o de fets acabats que han passat en un moment
concret del passat.
COMPTE! Per formar preguntes i frases negatives en past simple, cal fer servir l'auxiliar did. Les
frases en past simple acostumen a incloure una expressió que especifica quan ha ocorregut I’
acció (on Sunday, last night, etc.).
Did Sam play golf last weekend? Sam played golf last weekend?
Que el Sam va jugar a golf el cap de setmana passat?
Past continuous
El past continuous es fa servir per parlar d'accions o de fets que s'han desenvolupat en un
moment determinat o durant un període de temps del passat. El moment d'inici i d'acabament
de l’acció no es coneix o no és important.
Expressions de temps
For es fa servir amb el past simple i amb el past continuous per indicar el període de temps que
ha durat l’acció. En aquests casos no s'acostuma a traduir.
He lived in London for four years. I was staying with friends for a week.
Ha viscut quatre anys a Londres. He estat una setmana amb uns amics.
During (durant) es fa servir amb el past simple i amb el past continuous per indicar el període
en què s'ha produït l’acció.
I woke up twice during the night. We weren't listening during the class.
M'he despertat dos cops durant la nit. No ateníem durant la classe.
When (quan) es fa servir quan en una mateixa frase coincideixen dues accions passades
diferents. Si són consecutives, els dos verbs van en past simple. Si una té lloc mentre passa
l'altra o la interromp, el verb de l'acció més curta va en past simple, i el de la més llarga, en
past continuous.
While (quan, mentre) només es pot fer servir amb verbs en past continuous.
El present perfect es fa servir per parlar d'accions o de fets que s'han esdevingut en el passat,
però que continuen tenint relació amb el present.
Ever (algun cop) i never (mai) es fan servir en frases en present perfect per referir-se a una cosa
que pot haver-hi succeït algun cop en un moment indeterminat del passat o que no ha passat
mai.
Les preposicions for (des de fa) i since (des de) es fan servir amb verbs en present perfect per
indicar que una acció que ha començat en el passat continua en el present. For introdueix un
període de temps determinat i since indica el moment en què ha començat la acció.
I've had my car for six months. I've known her for ages.
Tinc el cotxe des de fa sis mesos. La conec des de fa anys.
COMPTE! En anglès mai no es fa servir el present simple per parlar d'accions o de fets que han
començat en el passat i continuen en el present.
She's had the same job for a year. She has the same job for a year.
Fa un any que és a la mateixa feina.
Just es fa servir amb el present perfect per indicar que l’acció acaba de produir-se. Already (ja)
es fa servir en frases afirmatives per indicar que alguna cosa ha tingut lloc abans del que
s'esperava. Yet (encara, ja) s'utilitza en frases negatives per indicar que l’acció encara no ha
tingut lloc, i en frases interrogatives, per demanar si ja s'ha acabat l’acció.
I've just arrived home. She's already left. Have you had lunch yet?
Tot just acabo d'arribar a casa. Ja ha marxat. Que ja has dinat?
COMPTE! Amb adverbis com ara yesterday, ago, etc. i en preguntes amb when o what time, es
fa servir sempre el past simple; el present perfect, mai.
I lived in France two years ago. I’ve lived in France two years ago.
Vaig viure a França fa dos anys.
When did you visit Paris? When have you visited Paris?
Quan vas visitar París?
What time did you arrive in Rome? When have you visited Rome?
A quina hora vas arribar a Roma?
L'adjectiu haunted (encantat/ada) es fa servir per fer referència a un lloc habitat per
fantasmes.
Als fantasmes se’ls acostuma a atribuir accions com ara knock i frighten.
knock frighten
picar (a Ia porta ...) espantar
I les seves víctimes acostumen a reaccionar amb accions com shout i scream.
scream shout
xisclar cridar
Altres accions habituals de les víctimes de les històries de fantasmes són shake i hide.
shake hide
tremolar amagar
Els adjectius scared, frightened i afraid (espantat/ada) es fan servir per descriure sensacions de
por.
Els adjectius terrified (esfereït/ïda) i petrified (mort/a de por) es fan servir per descriure
sensacions de por més intenses.
Els adjectius dark (fosc/a), gloomy (gris/a, lúgubre) i dimly-lit (poc il·luminat/ada) es poden
utilitzar per descriure l'ambient d'un lloc que fa por.
UNIT 10
Both i neither
Both (tots/es dos/dues) i neither (cap) es fan servir per referir-se a dues persones o coses. Both
s'utilitza amb el substantiu i el verb en plural, i neither, amb el substantiu i el verb en singular.
La forma del verb és afirmativa en tots dos casos.
Both of i neither of es fan servir amb un pronom (us, you, them) o amb un substantiu plural
precedit d'un determinant (my parents, the boys, etc.). En frases amb neither of el verb sempre
va en afirmatiu.
all, no i none
All (tots/es) i no (cap) es fan servir per referir-se a diverses persones o coses. All va amb
substantius en plural, i no, amb substantius en singular.
All of i none of es fan servir amb un pronom (us, you, them) o amb un substantiu precedit d'un
determinant (my family, the answers, etc.). Observa que el verb pot anar-hi en singular o en
plural.
COMPTE! La preposició of, situada entre all i el determinant, s'hi acostuma a ometre.
Each i one
Each (cada) es fa servir amb el substantiu i el verb en singular per designar cadascun dels
elements d'un grup, i one (un/a), per designar-ne un de sol.
Each of i one of es fan servir amb un pronom (us, you, them) o amb un substantiu precedit d'un
determinant (your books, the numbers, etc.). El verb va sempre en singular.
Els adverbis always (sempre), usually (normalment), often (sovint), sometimes (de vegades),
hardly ever (gairebe mai) i never (mai) es fan servir per indicar amb quina freqüència té lloc un
fet o una acció.
A les frases afirmatives, els adverbis de freqüència acostumen a anar situats davant el verb
principal; quan aquest verb és to be, però, se situen al darrere.
A les frases negatives, els adverbis de freqüència acostumen a anar situats entre el verb
auxiliar i el verb principal.
En les preguntes, els adverbis de freqüència acostumen a anar darrere el subjecte, entre el
verb auxiliar i el verb principal. En preguntes amb el verb to be, l’adverbi de freqüència sempre
se situa darrere el subjecte.
Les expressions de freqüència solen anar al final de la frase. Les expressions següents es fan
servir per indicar quants cops passa una cosa en un període determinat. Observa que només
once (un cop) i twice (dos cops) tenen formes irregulars:
Les expressions all the time (contínuament, sempre), most of the time (gairebé sempre) i some
of the time (de vegades) indiquen una freqüència aproximada.
I speak English all the time at work. I'm late some of the time.
Parlo anglès a la feina contínuament. De vegades faig tard.
How often did you go running? Have you ever missed your flight?
Cada quant temps anaves a córrer? Que has perdut mai cap vol?
MATHEMATICS
subtract divide
restar dividir
plus (+) > 15 plus 18 > 15 and 88 minus (-) > 60 minus 12
més > 15 més 18 > 15 i 88 menys > 60 menys 12
Per indicar el resultat d'una operació es pot fer servir la paraula equals (fan, igual a) o el verb
to be:
En anglès es fa servir un punt, en comptes d'una coma, per separar els decimals. En l'anglès
oral, cada xifra decimal es pronuncia individualment.
10.5: ten point five 3.142: three point one four two
Les fractions més habituals en anglès són half (mig) i quarter (quart).
Les expressions següents es fan servir per indicar si algú té facilitat per a fer alguna cosa o no:
Yes, I do.
Sí.
Yes, sometimes.
Sí, alguns cops.
Les expressions següents es fan servir per fer preguntes i donar respostes en matemàtiques:
What's 5 x 24?
Quant fa 5 x 24?
What's 30 / 6?
Quant fa 30 entre 6?
What's 47 + 22?
Quant és 47 més 22?
107 - 58 = 49 107 - 58 = 49
It's 49. És 49. / Fa 49.
UNIT 11
Want + substantiu
El verb want seguit d'un substantiu es fa servir per indicar que es vol alguna cosa.
Want + infinitiu
L'estructura want + infinitiu es fa servir per indicar que es vol fer alguna cosa.
Aquesta estructura es fa servir quan volem que algú faci alguna cosa. Darrere want va el nom
de la persona o el pronom objecte corresponent.
INFINITIVE PATTERNS
Infinitius de finalitat
Els verbs en infinitiu precedits de la preposició to es fan servir per expressar la finalitat o el
motiu pel qual es fa alguna cosa. En anglès es coneixen com a infinitives of purpose i equivalen
en català als infinitius de les orations subordinades de finalitat.
COMPTE! For (per / per a) mai no es fa servir en anglès per expressar finaIitat.
Adjectiu + infinitiu
En anglès hi ha uns adjectius determinats que poden anar seguits d’un infinitiu.
Sovint es fa servir l'infinitiu darrere els pronoms indefinits, com ara something, anything, etc.
The old lady has nobody to talk to. They asked everyone to come.
La vella no té amb qui parlar. Van demanar a tothom que vingués.
COMPTE! Observa que a les frases negatives es fa servir anything en comptes de nothing.
JOB TITLES
El consell d'administració
director chairperson
director/a president/a
chairman shareholder
president accionista
La gestió o administració
head of department
cap de departament
Els empleats
secretary salesperson
secretari/ària dependent/a
salesman saleswoman
agent de vendes, comercial agent de vendes, comercial
Les expressions següents es fan servir quan volem intentar parlar amb algú que està enfeinat:
Sorry to interrupt.
Em sap greu interrompre.
Yes, I have.
Sí.
Yes, of course.
Sí, per descomptat.
Yes, no problem.
Sí, no hi ha cap problema.
UNIT 12
Quan es fa referència als resultats d'una enquesta, es poden fer generalitzacions utilitzant les
expressions the majority (la majoria) i the minority (la minoria). Com també pot ser en català,
aquestes expressions van seguides d'un verb en plural.
Les expressions most people (gairebé tots), some people (uns quants, algunes persones) i few
people (uns quants, poques persones) es fan servir igualment per expressar resultats, i també
van seguides d'un verb en plural.
Most people also say they won't move while they're enjoying the job they're in.
Gairebé tots diuen que no canviaran de feina mentre continuïn contents amb la que tenen.
UNIT 13
Els verbs tell i say es fan servir per indicar-li, a algú, què ha de dir a una altra persona. Tot i que
els dos verbs es poden traduir al català com a “dir”, en anglès es fan servir de manera diferent.
Tell
El verb tell va seguit d'un objecte indirecte (un substantiu o un object pronoun) i d'una frase
amb that (que), que funciona com a objecte directe i indica què s'ha de dir a la persona. La
paraula that s'hi pot ometre.
Tell his mother that he's OK. Tell his parents we've found him.
Digues a la seva mare que està bé. Digues als seus pares que l'hem trobat.
Tell her that he's OK. Tell them we've found him.
Digues-li que està bé. Digues-los que l'hem trobat.
El verb tell també es fa servir en certes expressions, com ara tell a story (explicar una història),
tell lies (dir mentides) i tell the truth (dir la veritat).
She tells stories about the past. Oscar's always telling lies.
Explica histories del passat. L'Oscar sempre diu mentides.
Say
A diferència de tell, el verb say mai no va seguit d'un objecte indirecte, sinó d'una frase amb
that que funciona com a objecte directe i que indica què cal dir. En aquest cas, that també s'hi
pot ometre.
Say that there's a man on the roof. Say the man is dangerous.
Digues que hi ha un home a la teulada. Digues que l'home és perillós.
COMPTE! Observa que say mai no va seguit directament d’un objecte indirecte, però pot
portar-lo al final de la frase precedit de la preposició to, com s'indica en els exemples que hi ha
al final d'aquestes explicacions.
Tell them we need some help. Say them we need some help.
Digues-los que necessitem ajut.
L'estructura tell + substantiu o pronoun object + infinitiu es fa servir per dir-li, a algú, que faci
alguna cosa.
L'estructura ask + substantiu o pronoun object + infinitiu es fa servir per demanar a algú que
faci alguna cosa.
COMPTE! Observa que, en català, la frase que comença per “que” té el verb en subjuntiu,
mentre que en anglès sempre s'hi fa servir l'infinitiu.
Tell him to put his hands in the air. Tell him that he puts his hands in the air.
Digues-li que aixequi les mans.
Per donar ordres o indications en forma negativa, s'ha de col·locar la paraula not davant
l'infinitiu del verb principal.
Ask him not to talk so loudly. They asked us not to make a noise.
Digues-li que no parli tan alt. Ens van demanar que no féssim soroll.
She told me not to go into the building. She told me that I didn’t go into the building.
Em va dir que no entrés a l'edifici.
She asked him not to be late. She asked that he wasn’t late.
Li va demanar que no fes tard.
Les expressions següents es fan servir quan algú no pot atendre el telèfon:
Could you ask him to call Jenny on 0871 789 3642, please?
Que podríeu dir-li que truqui a Ia Jenny al 0871 789 3642, si us plau?
UNIT 14
May i might
L’estructura may i might + infinitiu es fa servir per fer predictions sobre un fet que pensem que
pot passar, tot i que no ho sabem del cert.
COMPTE! A les frases amb may o might mai no es fa servir to davant infinitiu.
L’estructura may not / might not + infinitiu es fa servir per fer predictions sobre un fet que
pensem que no s’esdevindrà.
She might not arrive on time. He may not go on holiday this year.
Potser no hi arribarà a temps. Potser no faré vacances aquest any.
I might not get married next year. I mightn’t get married next year.
Potser no em casaré l’any vinent.
Will / going to
L'estructura will + infinitiu es pot fer servir per fer predictions, quan és ben segur que passarà
alguna cosa.
L'estructura going to + infinitiu també es pot fer servir per fer predictions sobre un fet quan, al
moment en què es parla, hi ha prou indicis per saber que passarà.
Adjectius
sure i certain
Els adjectius sure i certain (segur/a) tenen el mateix significat. Tots dos poden anar seguits
d'una frase amb that (que) en què s'expressi el fet del qual estem segurs o no.
I’m sure that you'll meet a stranger. I'm not certain they'll get married.
Estic segur que coneixeràs algú. No estic segur que es casin.
It's possible I'll win the quiz. It's unlikely that she'll go to London.
És possible que guanyi el concurs. És poc probable que vagi a Londres.
COMPTE! En aquests casos cal fer servir likely / unlikely, i no probable / improbable.
Adverbis
A les frases negatives aquests adverbis se situen entre el subjecte i l'auxiliar won’t.
COMPTE! Observa que probably es fa servir amb I'auxiliar will. L'estructura it’s probable that ...
gairebé mai no s'utilitza en anglès.
I'll probably change my job. It’s probable that I’ll change my job.
Probablement canviaré de feina.
IN THE COURTROOM
Als tribunals
Càstigs i penes
Les expressions següents es fan servir per demanar per fets futurs:
Les expressions següents es fan servir per referir-se a allò que pot passar:
I may go abroad.
Estic per anar-me'n a l'estranger.
Les expressions següents es fan servir per indicar el grau de probabilitat que passi res:
It's possible.
És possible.
It might happen.
Pot passar. / Podria passar.
It's impossible.
És impossible.
UNIT 15
Els adjectius poor (dolent/a), awful (horrible), terrible (fatal, terrible), horrible (horrible),
disastrous (desastrós/osa) i appalling (horrible, espantós/osa) són sinònims, o intensificadors,
de bad (dolent/a).
UNIT 16
FIRST CONDITIONAL
El first conditional (condicional amb if + present simple) es fa servir per referir-se a un fet que
passarà en el futur si es compleix una condició determinada.
Les frases en first conditional tenen dues parts: la primera expressa la condició i comença per if
(si): If it rains. La segona expressa l'acció principal: I’ll watch a DVD, que només tindrà lloc si es
compleix la condició expressada a la primera part.
La part que expressa la condició té el verb en present simple. La part que expressa l'acció
principal té el verb en futur (will / won't + infinitiu).
If l see her tomorrow, I'll tell her. If l’ll see her tomorrow, I'll tell her.
Si la veig demà, li ho diré.
Com en català, l’ordre de les dues parts de la frase es pot invertir sense que n'afecti el
significat. Quan la part que expressa l’acció principal va en primer lloc, però, la coma que
separa totes dues parts s'omet.
I'll oversleep if I don't set my alarm. = If l don't set my alarm, I'll oversleep.
M'adormiré si no connecto l’alarma del despertador. = Si no poso el despertador, m'adormiré.
Forma interrogativa
Les preguntes en first conditional segueixen aquesta estructura: interrogatiu + will / won’t +
subjecte + infinitiu. La part amb if + present simple sol anar al final.
COMPTE! Observa que en les preguntes, will sempre se situa davant el subjecte.
When (quan), before (abans de), after (després de) i as soon as (així que, tan bon punt) es
poden fer servir per unir dues frases i indicar en quin ordre té lloc cada acció. Aquestes
expressions introdueixen una frase temporal de futur que especifica quan tindrà lloc l’acció
principal; el verb acostuma a anar en present simple. En canvi, la frase de l’acció principal
acostuma a portar el verb en futur (will + infinitiu).
Els verbs may, might i can es poden fer servir en comptes de will a la frase de l’acció principal
per expressar que aquesta acció pot tenir lloc o no.
COMPTE! A les frases temporals de futur, el verb es pot fer servir no solament en present
simple, sinò també en present continuous o en present perfect.
She'll clean the house when the children are playing in the park.
Netejarà la casa quan els nens siguin al parc jugant.
El verb make (fer) s'acostuma a fer servir en expressions que signifiquen crear o preparar
alguna cosa.
make a dress make the dinner make a sandwich make the bed
El verb make també es fa servir en expressions que signifiquen fer que existeixi una cosa o que
s'hi produeixi.
Les expressions següents es fan servir per parlar d'allò que es pensa fer:
Yes, I will.
Sí.
No, I won't.
No.
I will if I remember.
Si me'n recordo, sí.
Les expressions següents es fan servir per especificar quan es farà una cosa:
Les expressions següents es fan servir per dir què ocorrerà si passa una cosa:
UNIT 17
SECOND CONDITIONAL
El second conditional (condicional amb if + past simple) es fa servir per fer referència a una
situació imaginària o hipotètica.
Les frases en second conditional tenen dues parts: la primera expressa la situació imaginària i
comença per if (si): If I had a car. La segona expressa l’acció principal: l'd drive to work every
day.
La part que expressa la situació imaginària té el verb en past simple. La de l'acció principal
porta el condicional simple (would / wouldn't + infinitiu).
Com en català, l'ordre de les dues parts de la frase es pot invertir sense que n'afecti el
significat. Quan la part que expressa l’acció principal se situa en primer lloc, però, la coma que
separa totes dues parts s’omet.
I’d have a tea if we had some milk. If we had some milk, I’d have a tea.
Em prendria un te si tinguéssim llet. Si tinguéssim llet, em prendria un te.
En aquestes frases, quan if va seguit del verb to be, es poden fer servir les formes verbals was
o were amb els pronoms I, he i she.
If I were rich, I'd live in a palace. = If l was rich, I'd live in a palace.
Si fos ric, viuria en un palau.
COMPTE! Observa que a la frase If I were you mai no es fa servir la forma was.
If I were you, I'd leave your husband. If I was you, I'd leave your husband.
Si jo fos de tu, deixaria el teu marit.
Forma interrogativa
What would you do if a dog bit you? What would you do if you were here?
Què faries si un gos et mossegués? Què faries si fossis aquí?
Diferència de significat
El first conditional es fa servir per fer referència a un fet que tindrà lloc en el futur si es
compleix una condició determinada; per tant, indica una possibilitat real present o futura.
A les frases en first conditional, la part que indica la condició (if) té el verb en present simple, i
la que indica l’acció principal el té futur (won't + infinitiu).
A les frases en second conditional, la part que indica la condició (if) té el verb en past simple, i
la que indica l’acció principal el té condicional (would I wouldn't + infinitiu).
If I were you, I'd look for a job. If I were you, I wouldn't eat that.
Jo si fos de tu, em buscaria feina. Jo si fos de tu, no em menjaria això.
If I were you, I'd buy a new car. If I was you, I'd buy a new car
Si jo fos de tu, em compraria un cotxe nou.
Observa la diferència de significat d'aquestes dues frases: el first conditional es fa servir per
expressar una possibilitat real, i el second conditional, per expressar una situació imaginària o
hipotètica.
If I ran every day, I'd feel healthier. If I ran every day, I'd feel healthier.
Si corro cada dia, em sentirè més bé. Si corregués cada dia, em sentiria més bé.
I’m employed.
Tinc feina. / Estic en actiu.
If I were you, I'd take an aspirin. If I were you, I'd leave him.
Jo si fos de tu, em prendria una aspirina. Jo si fos de tu, el deixaria.
I'd call the police if I were you. You should cancel your cards.
Si jo fos de tu, trucaria a la policia. Hauries d'anul·lar les targetes.
You shouldn't have a double whisky. Why don't you talk to a friend?
No hauries de beure’t un whisky doble. Per què no en parles amb un amic?
UNIT 18
Adreces
En anglès, l'adreça s'acostuma a escriure al cantó superior dret de la pàgina. Observa que el
número de l'habitatge sempre va situat davant el nom del carrer.
La data s'acostuma a escriure a sota l'adreça, al cantó dret de la pàgina. Observa que la xifra
corresponent al dia s'expressa amb un nombre seguit de −st, −nd, −rd o −th (aquestes lletres
són les dues darreres del nombre ordinal corresponent).
first > 1st second > 2nd third > 3rd fourth > 4th
primer segon tercer quart
Les cartes informals comencen amb la paraula Dear (Estimat/ada) seguida del nom del
destinatari. Observa que la salutació va seguida de coma, com en català. En general, en una
carta informal no s'inclouen els cognoms del destinatari.
Les paraules love, best wishes i from es fan servir com a comiat en una carta informal. En
anglès, mai no es fan servir expressions com ara kisses (petons). Observa que la frase de
comiat va seguida de coma, com en català.
Lots of love, Mum Love from, Lucy Best wishes, Steve From, Dad
Amb amor, la mama Petons, Lucy Salutacions, Steve El papa
QUESTION FORMS
Word order
Questions are usually made by changing the word order of the sentence. The auxiliary verb
comes before the subject. The main verb comes after the subject.
Has she had a coffee break? Will you phone the office?
We place do / does before the subject to make questions in the present simple.
We place did before the subject to make questions in the past simple.
Note! In questions in the past simple, remember to use the main verb in the infinitive and
never in the past simple form.
Did Ben walk to the office? Did Ben walked to the office?
Question words
In questions that start with a question word, we normally use an auxiliary verb before the
subject. Again, the main verb is placed after the subject:
We combine how with other words to ask questions about frequency, duration, quantity and
distance, and to ask for descriptions.
Frequency
Duration
How long have you lived there? How long time have you lived there?
Quantity
Distance
Note! How long is not used to talk about distance. We use how far.
How far is Madrid from Granada? How long is Madrid from Granada?
Note! Tall is usually used to talk about people and buildings. High is usually used to talk about
mountains.
UNIVERSITY LIFE
University teaching
undergraduate graduate
postgraduate student
term year
Academic activities
degree research
dissertation exam
Degrees
DESCRIBING PERSONALITY
The following adjectives can be used to talk positively about someone’s personality:
She’s very sensitive and caring Don’t get upset. You’re too sensitive!
The following adjectives can be used to talk negatively about someone’s personality:
I’m 33
No I’m single
By bus
UNIT 2
The gerund (the –ing form of a verb) is used after certain verbs, after prepositions and as the
subject of a sentence.
The gerund is often used after verbs expressing likes and dislikes:
The gerund is often used after the verb go to talk about activities such as sport and recreation:
Wash your hand before eating She’s talking about writing a book
After visiting Karen, we went for a drink After to visit Karen, we went for a drink
The gerund is often used as the subject of a sentence, especially to talk about an activity in
general:
Adjectives ending in –ing are used to talk about people or things which cause a person to feel
something:
Adjectives ending in –ed are used to say how a person feels about something or someone:
I’m very interested in this film I’m bored of Mike and his jokes
She was surprised by the novel Harry’s very tired after work
annoying/annoyed disappointing/disappointed
embarrassing/embarrassed exciting/excited
exhausting/exhausted frightening/frightened
satisfying/satisfied shocking/shocked
Types of writers
author novelist
playwright poet
Types of literature
play poem
Non-fiction
autobiography biography
Fiction
mystery romance
contents index
chapter
blurb
paperback hardback
cry hug kiss love She hugged him and said she loved him
You’re welcome
I prefer biographies
UNIT 3
The adjectives depressed, disappointed and upset can be used instead of unhappy:
The adjectives annoyed, cross and furious can be used instead of angry:
The adjectives attractive, gorgeous and pretty can be used instead of beautiful. Beautiful and
pretty are usually used to refer to women, not men:
The adjectives popular, renowned and well known can be used instead of famous:
Word order
Embedded questions with ask + object + if are used to ask someone to get information.
Normally, we change the word order of the sentence to make questions. In embedded
questions, the word order of the sentence does not change:
Is she going to live in Italy? Ask her if she’s going to live in Italy
To make normal questions, we use do / does before the subject in the present simple and did
in the past simple. The infinitive of the main verb comes after the subject. In embedded
questions, do / does / did is not used. The word order is the same as for affirmative sentences:
Has he got any food? Ask him whteher he’s got any food
Does she know Lisa? Ask her whether she knows Lisa
Word order
Embedded questions with ask + object + question word are also used to ask someone to get
information. As for embedded questions with if, in embedded questions with question words,
the word order of the sentence does not change:
What has she got in that bag? Ask her what she’s got in that bag
How many cakes has he had? Ask him how many cakes he’s had
Who will they see later? Ask them who they’ll see later
As for embedded questions with ask + if, in embedded questions with ask + a question word,
we do not use do / does / did:
When do they leave for Peru? Ask them when they leave for Peru
Ask them when do they leave for Peru
Which colour does she prefer? Ask her which colour she prefers
How much do they charge? Ask them how much they charge
What kind of food does he like? Ask him what kind of food he likes
What time did she arrive? Ask her what time she arrived
Verbs
call answer
phone ring
battery reception
landline mobile
Phrasal verbs
break up top up
put someone on
People
agent captain
chairman/woman coach
manager player
bonus commission
Revenue
UNIT 5
EMBEDDED QUESTIONS
Can you tell me, Could you tell me, Do you know and Have you any idea are used with question
words to ask for information. In embedded questions, the subject comes before the verb, as in
an affirmative sentence:
Can you tell me / Could you tell me / Do you know / Have you any idea + question word +
subject + verb …?
Where are they from? Can you tell me where they’re from?
Why has he got two cars? Do you know why he’s got two cars?
What has she bought? Have you any idea what she’s bought?
Who will they meet? Could you tell me who they’ll meet?
How much can he pay? Do you know how much he can pay?
Again, the subject comes before the verb, as in an affirmative statement. Whether can be used
instead of if:
Can you tell me / Could you tell me / Do you know / Have you any idea + if / whether + subject
+ verb …?
Did she phone earlier? Have you any idea if she phoned earlier?
In embedded questions with question words in the past, the past simple or past continuous
can be used after the question word. The subject comes before the verb, as in an affirmative
sentence:
Did + subject + infinitive + question word + subject + verb in the past simple / past continuous
…?
Where did she go? Did you see where she went?
Why did they phone? Did they tell you why they phoned?
How much did it cost? Did she say how much it cost?
What were they saying? Did you hear what they were saying?
In embedded questions in the past with if or whether, the past simple or past continuous can
be used. Again, the subject comes before the verb, as in an affirmative sentence:
Did + subject + infinitive + if / whether + subject + verb in the past simple / past continuous …?
Were they seeing clients? Did they say if they were seeing clients?
Did they finish the project? Did you hear if they finished the project?
Did she catch the train? Did you see whether she caught the train?
look forward to
look like
look nice
just looking
see someone
see you
let’s see
watch out
watch TV
UNIT 6
Reference words are used to refer back to something that has already been mentioned and to
avoid repetition.
They and them refer to people or things. It refers to a things, action, situation or idea:
Some professionals take painkillers so they can continue to play while they’re injured
There are teams named after the companies which have invested money in them
Their performance is crucial. And some athletes even resort to drugs in order to improve it
People sometimes sat that the most important thing in sport is not to win, but to take part.
But is it really true?
(it = the idea that the most important thing in sport is to take part)
That can refer back to something that has just been mentioned, especially in expressions such
as that’s why and that’s where:
UNIT 7
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
The present perfect continuous can be used to talk about an action that started in the past and
continues in the present or has just stopped.
Questions in the present perfect continuous are formed using this structure: question word +
has / have + subject + past participle of to be (been) + -ing form …?
Note! Some verbs such as have (to express possession), know, like, understand and want are
not usually used in the continuous form:
How long has Mary had her car? I’ve known him for years
The present perfect continuous can be used to say how long an action has been continuing for.
The action started in the past and continues in the present or has just stopped:
The present perfect simple can be used to say how many times we have done something, how
many things we have done or how much we have done of something:
The present perfect continuous can be used to emphasize the process of an action, especially
when it has continued for some time:
I’ve been reading ‘War and Peace’ for ages. It’s very long!
She’s been writing the report all day. She’s really busy
The present perfect simple can be used to say whether or not an action has been completed,
with less emphasis on the process of the action. It is often used with the time adverbs already,
just, still and yet:
un-
in-
The prefix in- is used before many adjectives to form their opposites:
dis-
The prefix dis- is also used before many adjectives to form their opposites:
il-
Adjectives beginning with the letter l often have the prefix il-:
im-
Adjectives beginning with the letters m or p often have the prefix im-:
ir-
Adjectives beginning with the letter r often have the prefix ir-:
Excuse me!
I won’t be long
UNIT 8
USED TO
Used to + infinitive is used to talk about things that happened regularly in the past but no
longer happen, and about past states and situations that no longer exist.
Used to + infinitive is only used to talk about the past. It has no present form.
Used to (affirmative)
Note! Used to + infinitive is not used to talk about things that happen regularly in the present.
The present simple is used instead, sometimes with usually:
Used to (negative)
All subjects take the same form: subject + didn’t use to + infinitive
They didn’t use to have a car but now they’ve got a Ferrari
Used to (interrogative)
All subjects take the same form: Did + subject + use to + infinitive …?
Note! When used to + infinitive is used in negative or interrogative sentences, the final letter –
d is not used:
WOULD
Would is used to talk about repeated actions and routines that happened regularly in the past
but no longer happen:
When they lived in Paris they would meet for lunch every week
Would + infinitive is not used to talk about past states and situations that no longer exist. We
use used to instead:
Would + infinitive can be used to talk about someone’s routine during a certain period in the
past:
In Victorian times, whole families would go to work in the same factory. The hours were long
and they would work about ten hours a day. They would have Sundays off, but they would
work on Saturdays
Note! Would + infinitive is not used to say how often something happened. The past simple is
used instead:
We went skiing three times last year We would go skiing three times last year
UNIT 9
After
After shows that one event follows another in time, place or order. It is usually followed by a
noun or the –ing form of a verb:
After the execution, people said they could see her ghost
Later
Later refers to an event which takes place after the time being talked about. It can be used at
the beginning or end of a sentence, or in the middle:
In the end
In the end refers to an event which finally happens after a long period of time, or after a series
of events or discussions. It suggests the event happens after a period of change or uncertainty.
It can be used on its own, at the beginning or end of a sentence, or in the middle:
He spent thirteen years in the Tower but in the end he was released
So and neither / nor can be used before be, have and other auxiliary verbs like can and should
to mean ‘also’. Be, have or the auxiliary verb is placed before the subject in this case.
So is used after an affirmative sentence. Neither / nor is used after a negative sentence.
Neither and nor have the same meaning:
‘I’m from London’, ‘So am I’ ‘I’ve got two sisters’, ‘So have I’
‘I can come to the meeting’, ‘So can I’ ‘I should leave soon’, ‘So should I’
Note! When neither / nor is used, the verb that follows is always in the affirmative form:
Do / did
If the verb is not be or have and an auxiliary verb is not used before the main verb, do is used
after so / neither / nor in the present simple. Did is used in the past simple.
‘I watched TV last night’, ‘So did I’ ‘I didn’t see him’, ‘Neither did I’
Too and neither are used in informal short answers after the pronoun me: Me too, Me neither.
‘I’ve got three children’, ‘Me too’ ‘I can’t speak Italian’, ‘Me neither’
‘I love going to the beach’, ‘Me too’ ‘I didn’t enjoy the film’, ‘Me neither’
So and neither / nor can also be used before be, have and other auxiliary verbs like can with
other subjects: so / neither / nor + be, have, can, should, etc + subject
The verb used after so and neither / nor must agree with the subject which follows:
They haven’t got time. Nor has he You’re British and so is she
She wasn’t happy. Neither were we We hadn’t eaten. Nor had they
I’ve been to France and so have you David can’t come. Neither can Joe
Again, if be, have or an auxiliary verb is not used before the main verb, do / does is used after
so / neither / nor in the present simple. Did is used in the past simple: so / neither / nor + do /
does / did + subject
She likes tennis and so do you They don’t read much. Nor does he
Possessive pronouns
So and neither / nor can also be used before be, have and other auxiliary verbs like can with
possessive pronouns: so / neither / nor + be, have, can, should, etc + mine / yours / his / hers /
hers / ours / theirs
The verb used before the possessive pronoun must agree with the subject at the beginning of
the sentence:
Again, if be, have or an auxiliary verb is not used before the main verb, do / does / did is used
after so / neither / nor:
so / neither / nor + do / does / did + mine / yours / his / hers / ours / theirs
His grandmother didn’t work after she got married. Nor did hers
MUSIC
Types of music
Performers
Other people
join in meet up
So do I
Me too
Nor am I
So am I
So does my sister
Neither do I
So is mine
So have I
UNIT 11
EXPRESSING REASON
Because, as and since are used to explain the reason or cause for something. The conjuction
because is used before a subject and a verb. It is used when the reason is the most important
part of the sentence. It can be used at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence. When it is
used at the beginning of a sentence, the two parts of the sentence are separated by a comma.
The conjuctions as and since are similar to because. They are used when the reason is obvious,
or when it is less important than the rest of the sentence. They are also used before a subject
and a verb. They can be used at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence. When they are
used at the beginning of a sentence, the two parts of the sentence are separated by a comma:
As and since are not used in short answers. Because and because of are used instead:
EXPRESSING CONTRAST
Although, though, even though, in spite of and despite are used to express contrast.
She loved the film, though she’d never heard of the actors
Even though is used in the same way as although and though but it is used to give greater
emphasis to the contrast:
She didn’t get the job, even though she was well qualified
In spite of and despite are followed by a noun, pronoun and –ing form. They are not followed
directly by a sentence or clause that has a verb. They can be used at the beginning or in the
middle of a sentence. When they are used at the beginning of a sentence, the two parts of the
sentence are separated by a comma:
The environment
Issues
Pollution is increasing
Solutions
I know I should
UNIT 12
COMMON MISTAKES
We’ve also got a secondary carbon footprint from our shopping habits
False friends
Some English words look like words in other languages but have a different meaning. These are
called false friends:
When police officers attend a crime scene, there are specially trained officers who look for
fingerprints
MODULE 3B
UNIT 1
A question tag is a mini question at the end of a sentence which we use to check information
and ask for agreement.
Question tags always contain an auxiliary verb followed by a pronoun. When the verb in the
sentence is affirmative, the verb in the question tag is normally negative
You were at home, weren’t you? They walked to work, didn’t they?
When the verb in the main sentence is an affirmative form of the verb to be, we use the
corresponding negative form in the question tag.
The question tag of an affirmative verb in the present and past continuous is formed in the
same way
He’s studying medicine, isn’t he? They were working, weren’t they?
When the verb in the main sentence is an affirmative form of the present or past simple, we
use don’t/doesn’t or didn’t in the question tag.
You drink coffee, don’t you? She lives near here, doesn’t she?
He broke his leg, didn’t he? They won the match, didn’t they?
When the verb in the main sentence is an affirmative form of the present perfect, we use
haven’t/hasn’t in the question tag.
She’s left home, hasn’t she? You’ve been to London, haven’t you?
When the verb in the sentence is an affirmative modal verb (e.g. will, must), we use the
negative of the modal verb in the question tag.
An affirmative question tag is used to check information or ask for agreement when the verb in
the sentence is negative.
You weren’t at home, were you? They didn’t walk to work, did they?
When the verb in the main sentence contains a negative form of the verb to be, we use the
corresponding affirmative form in the question tag.
When the verb in the main sentence is a negative form of the present or the past simple, we
use do/does or did in the question tag.
You don’t drink coffee, do you? She doesn’t live here, does she?
When the verb in the main sentence is a negative form of the present perfect, we use have /
has in the question tag.
She hasn’t left home, has she? You haven’t been to London, have you?
When the verb in the sentence is a negative form of a modal verb (e.g. won’t, mustn’t), we use
the affirmative of the modal verb in the question tag.
She won’t pass, will she? They can’t swim, can they?
Note! The question tag for let’s is shall we? In this case, both the question tag and the main
sentence are affirmative.
CHECKING INFORMATION
It isn’t a very nice day, is it? You didn’t phone yesterday, did you?
You understand my questions, don’t you? She’s got a new car, hasn’t she?
Expressing certainty
Reassurance
UNIT 2
Short adjectives
Short adjectives are adjectives of one syllable, and adjectives of two syllables ending in –y. To
form the comparative, -er is added to the adjective. Than is used after the adjective:
To form the superlative, the is used before the adjective and –est is added to the end:
To form the comparative, more or less is sed before the adjective. Than is used after the
adjective:
To form the superlative, the most or the least is used before the adjective:
Note! Some two-syllable adjectives are ‘long’ and some are ‘short’. For example, boring and
often are ‘long’ while quiet and narrow are ‘short’.
Are westerns more boring than action films? She’s quieter than him
Are westerns boringer than action films? She’s more quiet than him
Irregular adjectives
Some adjectives (e.g. good and bad) are irregular in the comparative and superlative
Good > better > the best Bad > worse > the worst
(NOT) AS + ADJECTIVE/ADVERB + AS
(not) as + adjective + as
The construction as + adjective + as is used to emphasize that two things are the same.
The construction not as + adjective + as is used to emphasize that two things are different.
The word not usually forms a contraction with the predecing verb (usually be).
Not as + adjective + as can have the same meaning as a comparative sentence. For example,
you aren’t as tall as me means that the speaker is taller than the listener.
Note! We never use the comparative or superlative form of an adjective with as… as.
(not) as + adverb + as
The construction as + adverb + as is used to say that two actions are the same in some aspect.
The construction not as + adjective + as is used to say that two actions are different in some
aspect.
The word not usually joins the preceding auxiliary verb to form a contraction.
Comparaisons
It’s more comfortable than yours It’s more modern than mine
Praise
Problems
UNIT 3
If we know the name of the person we are writing to, we use their title Mr, Mrs or Ms with
their surname, and finish with Yours sincerily.
If we do not know the name of the person we are writing to, we star with Dear Sir or Madam
and finish with Yours faithfully.
Style
We use a more formal style to write a formal letter. We do not use contractions.
If I do not hear from you in the next 14 days, I will inform the Consumer Association.
Paragraphs
In the first paragraph, we explain why we are writing. In the following paragraphs, we give
more details about the problem and in the final paragraph, we say what we expect the reader
to do.
UNIT 4
PASSIVE EXTENSION
We use the passive to emphasize the object or person affected by the action, or when it is not
important who, or we do not know who performs the action.
Pasta is eaten all over the world Kimonos are worn in Japan
To change the tense of the passive, we use a different tense of the verb to be
The room is cleaned every day How many books are printed a year?
The party has been cancelled The bed hasn’t been made yet
The car will be fixed on Saturday. The players won’t be chosen today.
The picture was painted by Picasso The picture was painted for Picasso
Have something done is used when we arrange for someone else to do something for us.
I have my hair cut every month She’s having her eyes tested
They had their house painted last year They had painted their house last year
I didn’t have my hair cut last week She hasn’t had her eyes tested
Have you had your hair cut? Where did you have your eyes tested?
Note! Remember to use an auxiliary verb in a question with have something done if necessary.
Where do you have your car repaired? Where have you your car repaired?
Get something done has the same meaning and construction as have something done, but is
more informal. It is usually used in spoken English.
I’m going to get my hair cut She got her shower replaced last week
Note! Sometimes have something done has a different meaning. We can use it when
something unpleasant happens to somebody. Get something done is not used in this way.
They had their house burgled. He’s had his passport stolen
She had her car clamped She got her car clamped
Separable phrasal verbs are verbs with two words (a verb and a particle) which often appear
together, but which can also be separated by an object.
When the object is a noun or a name, it can be placed between the verb and the particle or
after the complete phrasal verb.
He dropped off his sister at work He dropped his sister off at work
Note! When the object is a pronoun, it must be placed between the verb and the particle.
Good behavior
(give support to someone) (care for someone until they are an adult)
Bad behavior
We’re having the living room painted The windows need cleaning
I’ve just been to the hairdresser’s She’s had her hair dyed
He’s had his hair cut I had my eyes tested last year
She’s had her legs waxed He’s had his beard shaved off
Complaining
I’m not very happy with this I’m afraid I’m not satisfied
UNIT 5
Permission
The modal verbs can, could and may are used to ask for permission.
Can I use your car? Could I read your book? May I open the window?
You can leave when you’ve finished You may use my phone
Can and can’t are used in rules or laws which give or do not give permission to do something
must and have to are used to say that it is necessary todo something.
I must go now, because it’s late I have to go now, because it’s late
Must and have to often have the same meaning. However, they can also have slightly different
meanings. Must suggests the speaker thinks something is necessary, whereas have to suggests
an obligation imposed by someone else.
To talk about an obligation in the past, we always use had to, not must.
Should / ought to and shouldn’t / ought not to are used to give advice. Should is more common
than ought to.
Prohibition
You don’t have to drive. There’s a bus. You mustn’t drive. There’s a bus
Permission
Be allowed to is a passive verb form which is often used with the infinitive of another verb to
talk about what is permitted.
I’m allowed to leave work early Are you allowed to have a day off?
Be permitted (to) is a passive verb form which is used in formal (often written) notices to state
what is or is not permitted.
Smoking is permitted in the allocated areas Mobile phones are not permitted in the exam
Be supposed to and be meant to are passive verb forms which are used with the infinitive of
another verb to talk about an obligation.
What time are you supposed to start work? What time are you meant to start work?
Prohibition
Be prohibited (to) and be forbidden (to) are passive verb forms which are used in formal (often
written) notices to stay what people are prohibited from doing.
Passive verbs can be used in the past simple by changing the form of the verb to be
UNIT 6
ADDING INFORMATION
The most common expressions used to add information are too, also and as well.
Too and as well are always placed at the end of a clause or sentence.
Also is placed before the main verb, but after the verb be or a modal verb like must, can or
should. Remember that also never goes at the end of a sentence
Make sure you turn the heater off too, whenever you leave the house.
Furthermore, in addition
Furthermore and in addition are more formal expressions used to add information.
They are usually placed at the beginning of a sentence or clause, followed by a comma.
In addition, you should use a bathmat on the bathroom floor to stop people slipping.
A defining relative clause is a part of a sentence which begins with the relative pronouns who,
which or that, and provides essential information to define exactly which person, object or
animal we are talking about.
the relative pronouns who and that are used in defining relatinve clauses to introduce
essential information about people.
That can substitute who and vice versa. That is more common in spoken English.
The relative pronouns which or that are used in defining relative clauses to introduce essential
information about objects and animals.
That can substitute which and vice versa. That is more common in spoken English.
The relative pronouns who, which and that can act as the subject or the object of the relative
clause.
When the relative pronouns who, which or that are the object of the relative clause, they can
be omitted.
This is the dress that she bought This is the dress she bought
In the example below, that is the subject of the relative clause. It cannot be omitted.
This is the dress that was in the sale This is the dress was in the sale
Whose, where, when and why can also be used to introduce defining relative clauses:
Whose
The relative pronoun whose substitutes a possessive adjective (her, his, their, etc) in a defining
clause. It is always followed by a noun.
Whose usually refers to people, but it can sometimes refer to other nouns.
Where
Where is used in relative clauses to refer to a place. Where often substitutes the word there.
It cannot be omitted.
When is used in relative clauses to refer to a particular time, day, year, etc.
My sister left home one day. It was the longest day of the year
The day (when) my sister left home was the longest day of the year
Why
NEWSPAPERS
A news story is called an article. Newspaper articles always have a title, or a headline.
Article Headline
The most important news appears on the front page. The editorial, in the middle of a
newspaper, expresses the editor’s opinions on key issues.
The news can be divided into local news, home news and world news.
You can also find the following in a newspaper: a feature, a review, a gossip column, the
weather, the crossword and the TV guide.
I read the news on the internet I read a free newspaper on the train
I often listen to the news on the radio I only have time to glance at the headlines
UNIT 8
The past perfect shows that one past action or event happened before another.
In the example below, the past perfect (the film had started) shows that the film started
before the past simple action (we arrived)
Note! When one short action immediately follows another, we use the past simple for both,
not the past perfect.
When the phone rang, we jumped. When the phone had rung, we jumped.
The negative form of the past perfect is formed with the negative of had (had not) and the
past participle of the main verb.
The adverb just is used after had to indicate that something had happened immediately before
the second action or event.
The adverb yet is used at the end of a negative past perfect clause or question to say that
although something was expected to happen, it had not happened up to that moment.
He was still asleep because his alarm hadn’t gone off yet.
Affirmative Negative
I’d finished I hadn’t finished
You’d finished You hadn’t finished
He’d / she’d / it had finished He / she / it hadn’t finished
We’d finished We hadn’t finished
You’d finished You hadn’t finished
They’d finished They hadn’t finished
Interrogative
We use the past perfect in questions asking if one past action or event happened before
another.
Questions are formed by placing the auxiliary verb had before the subject and the past
participle of the main verb:
Often, only one past action is mentioned in the question. The past action which happened
afterwards is implicit, as in the first example below.
Had he paid for the ticket? Had he paid for the ticket before he arrived?
The adverbs already, yet and before are often used in past perfect questions.
Already is placed before the past participle or at the end of the sentence:
Had she already gone to bed? Had they been on honeymoon yet?
Note! The past participle is never placed before the subject in a past perfect question.
Short answers
Note that full forms (e.g. you had) are used in affirmative short answers, but contractions (e.g.
you hadn’t) are used in negative short answers.
“Had you met him before?’ ‘Yes, I had.” “Had she passed?’ ‘No, she hadn’t”
A compound adjective is an adjective composed of more than one word. The words are often
joined by a hyphen to show that they form one adjective.
Some compound adjectives contain numbers. A hyphen is placed after the number, and the
noun is always singular.
Time
The words minute, hour, day, week, month and year are used in compound adjectives related
to time.
Note that two hyphens are used in compound adjectives describing age.
Measurements
The words centimetre, metre, kilometre, gram and litre are used with numbers to form
compound adjectives related to measurements.
Buildings
The words storey and bedroom can be used with numbers to form compound adjectives
related to the height and size of buildings.
COLLOQUIAL ENGLISH
The words kid (child), guy (man), mate (friend) and yob (aggressive young person) are
colloquial terms for people.
The words telly (television), bike (bicycle), loo (toilet) and wellies (rubber boots) are colloquial
terms for objects.
The words booze (alcohol), veg (vegetable), cuppa (cup of tea) and bangers (sausages) are
terms for food and drink.
We’ve got loads of booze He doesn’t eat enough fruit and veg
The words grand (thousand pounds), quid (pound), fiver (five pounds) and tenner (ten pounds)
are terms for money.
Had you had your dinner by 9 o’clock? Had you been out earlier in the day?
We’d gone for a sandwich We’d had a few drinks in the pub
How long had you been there? What time did you come home?
I’d been there for half an hour Around three quarters of an hour
UNIT 9
Formal
Articles in serious newspapers have a more objective and formal style. This includes:
Nine members of Britain’s largest forgery gang were given prison sentences today.
Terence Brady, who had led the operation, was sentenced to seven years in prison
Formal words:
Informal
Articles in tabloids have a more sensationalist and colloquial style. This includes:
When we report something someone said, we are usually talking about the past, so verbs
usually change to a past tense in reported speech.
Pronouns and possessive adjectives may also change in reported speech. In the example
below, my changes to his.
Joe said, ‘My dog is very ill’ Joe said that his dog was very ill
Susan said ‘I don’t eat meat’ Susan said that she didn’t eat meat
Tom said ‘ I’m going running’ Tom said that he was going running
Jack said ‘ I’ve caught a fish’ Jack said that he had caught a fish
Kim said ‘I didn’t have lunch’ Kim said that she hadn’t had lunch
The verbs say and tell are often used in reported speech. Tell is only used when we say who is
being spoken to.
Jill said that her parents were out Jill told me that her parents were out
Kate said, ‘I called him yesterday’ Kate said that she had called him the day before
Some modal verbs change when they are transformed from direct to reported speech. The
most common are will, can, may, have to and must.
Mark said, ‘I will call you’ Mark said that he would call me
Daisy said, ‘I can make a cake’ Daisy said she could make a cake
Dan told Gina, ‘I may stay at home’ Dan told Gina he might stay at home
They said, ‘We have to leave’ They said they had to leave
Must usually changes to had to in reported speech. It can stay the same in some instances, but
had to is always correct.
Some modal verbs do not usually change when they are transformed from direct to reported
speech. The most common are would, could, might, should and ought to
Kerry said, ‘I would like a rest’ Kerry said she would like a rest
In English, we can form new words by adding prefixes and suffixes to verbs. The suffixes –
ment, -ation and –ion are used to change a verb into a noun
Some nouns are formed from a verb + the suffix –ation. Note that in some cases the final –e of
the verb is omitted.
HAVING AN ARGUMENT
Expressing frustration
UNIT 11
REPORTED QUESTIONS
The past simple of the verb ask can be used to report a question.
Asked can be followed by an object pronoun or a noun. Question marks are not used when we
report questions.
When we report a question, the tense of the verb moves back in time, as in reported speech.
The word order also changes so the new verb goes after the subject, not before it.
When the direct question contains a question word (what, when, where, who, which, how,
etc), this is repeated in the reported question:
Note! In reported questions, the auxiliary verb do / does and did are not used.
Ask + if / whether
When the direct question does not contain a question word (what, where, etc), and could be
answerd with just ‘yes’ or ‘no’, the words if or whether are used in the reported question:
Note! Pronouns and time expressions also change when we report a question.
‘Have you been out today?’ She asked me if I had been out that day
Reported commands
The past simple of the verb tell can be used to report a command.
Told is always followed by an object pronoun (for example me, her), the word to and the
infinitive of another verb:
We make a negative reported command by placing the word not before to:
Reported requests
The past simple of the verb ask can be used to report a request.
Asked if followed by an object pronoun, the word to and the infinite of another verb:
We make a negative reported request by placing the word not before to:
Please don’t leave the light on He asked me not to leave the light on
Note! We do not use an auxiliary verb to report negative commands and requests.
She told me not to take any money She asked him to not smoke
She told me don’t take any money She asked that he didn’t amoke
CV VOCABULARY
Personal details
Education
Information about your secondary and university education. You might have a degree or a
diploma in a particular subject. You may also have done particular courses relevant to the
workplace.
Work experience
Skills
Your skills that are relevant to the job. This section can also include languages.
References
A CV can finish with the names and addresses of two referees, although we often just say:
In English, many nouns for people are formed by adding the suffixes –ant, -or and –er to the
verb.
Note that nowadays, account is usually used as a noun. We say that an accountant does the
accounting / accounts
The suffix –er in this context indicates the person or organization that is doing the action.
The suffix –ee indicates the person who is affected by the action.
Train > Trainer > Trainee Interview > Interviewer > Interviewee
A JOB INTERVIEW
How long have you been in your current job? I’ve been in this job for ten years
What sort of things are you good at? I’m good at organizing people
What aren’t you good at? I’m not very good at typing
Where would you like to be in five years’ time? I’d like to be managing a team
Can you speak any languages? Yes, I can. I speak fluent English
UNIT 12
Nevertheless is used to contrast two ideas in two separate sentences. Nevertheless usually
starts the second sentence, followed by a comma.
Whereas contrasts two ideas in the same sentence. When whereas comes before the second
idea in the sentence, it is always preceded by a comma.
Despite and in spite of are used to introduce an idea which contrasts with another idea in the
same sentence. They go either at the beginning or in the middle of the sentence.
Despite and in spite of can be used with a noun, a gerund or before the fact that.
A man will go out for lunch with someone despite having had an argument with them
CONTINUOUS TENSES
Continuous tenses are used to talk about actions which are temporary, incomplete or in
progress at a particular time.
Present continuous
The present continuous is used to talk about an action which is in progress at, or around, the
moment of speaking.
Note! The present continuous is not used to talk about something that is permanent, complete
or a habit. The present simple is used instead.
Past continuous
The past continuous is used to talk about an action that was in progress at or around, a certain
time in the past.
The past continuous is often used in sentences with the past simple. The past continuous
describes the longer action that was in progress when the shorter action happened.
It was raining when I woke up. I saw Tom while I was shopping.
Note! The past continuous is not used to talk about finished actions in the past. The past
simple is used instead.
They left and went home. They were leaving and were going home.
The present perfect continuous is used to talk about an action that started in the past and is
still in progress in the present or has just stopped. The present perfect continuous emphasizes
the duration of an action.
She's been talking all evening. We've been studying for two hours.
Note! The present perfect continuous is not used when a number or quantity is mentioned in
the sentence. The present perfect simple is used instead.
I've done six levels of 'My English' I've been doing six levels of 'My English'.
FUTURE CONTINUOUS
The future continuous is used to describe an action that will be in progress at a certain time in
the future.
This structure is the same for every person. The contracted forms of will and will not are ‘ll and
won't
Interrogative form
Questions in the future continuous are formed using this structure: Will + subject + be + -ing
form ... ?
In English, a short answer is usually used, e.g. Yes, I will, No, he won’t.
May, might and could are used instead of will in the future continuous when we are not sure
what action will be in progress at a particular time in the future. They are used to say that
perhaps something will be happening in the future.
Note! To talk about an action that will definitely be in progress in the future you use will, not
may, might or could.
This time followed by a future time expression is frequently used with the future continuous.
PRICES
The following words and expressions are used to talk about price reductions:
discount
I got it at a discount.
on (special) offer
The following expressions are used to say what we think about prices:
That's cheap
What a bargain!
That's expensive.
It cost a bomb!
dirt cheap
extortionate
priceless
a priceless painting
to be worth a fortune
worthless
UNIT 2
Time conjunctions
The time conjunctions when, as soon as, before and after are used to talk about two actions in
one sentence. They show that one action happened after another.
The past perfect is often used to talk about the earlier action. The past perfect emphasizes that
the first action is completely separate from the second action, and that the first action was
completed before the second started.
She sat down when she'd reached the top of the hill.
However, when one action happens as a result of the other, the past simple is used for both
actions.
After I'd read the email, I wrote a reply. I felt better as soon as I'd eaten.
The past perfect continuous is used to describe an action that had been in progress for some
time in the past before something else happened. The past perfect continuous emphasizes the
duration of an action.
The contracted forms of had been and had not been are ‘d been and hadn't been.
I'd been living in Brazil for six years before I got married.
Interrogative form
Questions in the past perfect continuous are formed using this structure:
In English, a short answer is usually used, e.g. Yes, he had, No, I hadnt
The past perfect continuous (had been doing) is the past form of the present perfect
continuous (have been doing). The present perfect continuous describes actions that are in
progress up to the present. The past perfect continuous describes actions that had been in
progress up to a time in the past and which have finished.
Note! The past perfect continuous is not used to talk about complete actions in the recent
past. The past perfect simple is used in these cases.
I hurt myself.
Yes, I did.
To sequence events
Poor you!
Oh, dear!
UNIT 3
NARRATING EVENTS
We can use the following structures to write complex sentences when narrating events:
We use these together in a sentence to say that an intended action did not happen because
something else happened.
I was just about to do an interview with someone when there was a problem with the phone
and we were cut off.
while
This is used with the past continuous to talk about two actions that were in progress at the
same time.
While radio listeners were eagerly awaiting news from the courtroom, Block was playing
records to entertain them.
UNIT 4
The gerund (-ing form) or infinitive is used after certain verbs with a difference in meaning
We use forget + the gerund when we forget something after doing it.
We use forget + infinitive when we forget something that we have to do before doing it.
We use remember + the gerund when we remember something after doing it.
We use remember + infinitive when we remember something that we have to do before doing
it.
We use regret + the gerund when we are sorry for doing something in the past.
Go on doing / go on to do
Affirmative responses
We use so after I think, I hope and I'm afraid to make affirmative short answers. This way, we
avoid repeating information in the question.
We can use so after I expect, I imagine and I suppose in the same way.
Negative responses
We always use not after I hope and I'm afraid to make negative short answers. However, we
usually use don't ... so with think (not / think not).
'Did Sophie enjoy her date with Kevin?' 'I don't think so.'
We can use either not or don't ... so to make negative short answers with I expect, I imagine
and I suppose.
'Has the film finished?' ‘I expect not.' /'I don't expect so.'
'Are they going to get married?' ‘I imagine not.' / ‘I don't imagine so.'
'Can he afford to go skiing?' 'I suppose not.' / 'I don't suppose so.'
EATING OUT
We use the followings expressions to say what we want to eat and drink at a restaurant:
I hope so.
Is that mustard?
Apologizing
Never mind
UNIT 5
be used to
We use this structure to talk about actions that we are or are not accustomed to doing:
We use this structure to talk about something that we are or are not accustomed to:
They aren't used to the food. They aren't use to the food.
get used to
To talk about the process of becoming accustomed to something new, we use this structure:
Note! When we use a verb after be I get used to, it must be in the -ing form.
Always is used with the present continuous to say that something happens too often. It is
often used in this way to talk about annoying habits. Notice the position of always before the
main verb ending in -ing:
used to
Used to + infinitive is used to talk about things that happened regularly in the past but no
longer happen now. It also refers to past states and situations that no longer exist. Used to +
infinitive is only used to talk about the past. It has no present form. Remember that in negative
or interrogative sentences, we omit the final -d in used.
Note! Do not confuse used to + infinitive with be used to + gerund I noun. We use used to +
infinitive to talk about past habits that no longer exist. We use be used to + gerund / noun to
talk about something we are accustomed to.
would
Would + infinitive is used to talk about repeated habits and routines that happened regularly in
the past but no longer happen. The contracted form of would is ‘d
Note! Would + infinitive is not used to talk about continuous states in the past or situations
which no longer exist. We use used to instead.
Would + infinitive can be used to talk about someone's routine during a certain period.
We'd go on fantastic camping holidays when we were kids. It'd take Dad ages to put up the
tent and, although we wanted to help, we'd make things even more difficult for him!
I'm sorry.
Yes, I do.
UNIT 6
Some adjectives are gradable. They describe a quality that exists in different degrees (e.g. you
can be more or less angry). Other adjectives are not gradable because they describe an
extreme (e.g. you cannot be more or less furious). Here are some pairs of gradable and
extreme adjectives:
The adverbs very, terribly and extremely are normally used to intensify gradable adjectives.
The adverbs absolutely, completely and utterly are usually used to emphasize extreme
adjectives.
UNIT 7
The modal verb can is used to talk about the ability to do something in the present.
She can speak fluent English. You can see the town from here.
The verb can does not have an infinitive. To say that someone will have the ability to do
something in the future, we use will be able to (not will can).
The contracted forms of will and will not are ‘ll and won’t
I’ll be able to help you later. We won't be able to take the car.
Questions with will be able to are formed by placing the subject between will and be able to:
The modal verb must is used to talk about obligation in the present.
Like can, must does not have an infinitive. We use will have to (not will must) to express the
idea of obligation in the future. The structure is the same for every person:
The contracted forms of will and will not are ‘ll and won't.
You'll have to get up early on Sunday. I won't have to take any money.
Questions with will have to are formed by placing the subject between will and have to:
As you know, the verb can expresses ability and it does not have an infinitive. Neither does it
have a past participle. To form the present perfect (have / has + past participle), we use been
able to:
The contracted forms of have and has are ‘ve and ‘s.
I’ve been able to read the book. She's been able to ski for years.
The negative of have / has been able to is have not / has not been able to:
The contracted forms of have not and has not are haven't and hasn't.
Have you been able to sleep? Where has she been able to go?
Like can, must does not have a participle. When we talk about obligation in the present
perfect, we use the past participle had to:
The contracted forms of have and has are 've and 's.
We've had to phone the police. He's had to leave the company.
The negative form of this structure is have / has not had to followed by the infinitive:
The contracted forms of have not and has not are haven’t and hasn't.
We haven't had to call the engineer She hasn't had to buy a new car.
Questions with have had to are formed by placing the subject between have and had to:
Note! When an adverb is used, it goes between have / has and the past participle:
We use the following expressions with time when we are not in a hurry:
UNIT 8
The following structure with the verb let means 'give permission for someone to do
something'. It means the same as allow someone to do something, but let is less formal.
The infinitive, past simple and past participle of the verb are all the same: let.
Note! The verb let cannot be used in the passive. We use be allowed to instead.
The following structure with the verb make means 'insist someone does something they do
not want to do'. It can also mean 'cause someone to do something.
The following structure with the verb force means 'make someone do something they do not
want to do'. It implies using authority, threats or physical strength to do this.
The man forced her to get in the car. The man forced her get in the car
had better
The expression had better + infinitive (without to) is used to make a strong recommendation. It
is a stronger way of giving advice than should or ought to.
We always say had (not have) better, but it refers to the present or the future, not the past.
The contracted form is 'd better.
We make the negative form by putting not between ‘d better and the main verb:
She'd better not go out today. We'd better not make too much noise.
Note! Hadn’t is not used to make the negative form of had better.
would rather
The expression would rather followed by an infinitive without to is used to say what you would
prefer to do.
We make the negative form by putting not between had rather and the main verb:
We'd rather see a film than go for a meal. I'd rather not stay late.
Note! Wouldn't is never used to make the negative form of would rather.
She'd rather not eat meat. She wouldn’t rather not eat meat.
We use this structure with would rather to say that we would prefer another person to do
something:
Although the verb is in the past, the structure refers to the present or the future.
I'd rather you spoke to them. They'd rather we didn't wear jeans.
Note! The contracted form of had and would is the same: 'd. Use the context to decide
whether 'd means had or would.
He'd better go. (He'd = He had) He'd rather go. (He'd = He would)
CHARITY
We use the following words and phrases to talk about charities and the people involved in
them:
donor donation
Actions
do voluntary work
Disaster areas
victim refugee
rescue worker
These are things that charities provide for people in disaster areas:
food blankets
tents medicine
HAVING AN OPINION
Preferences
UNIT 9
EXPRESSING PURPOSE
to, in order to y so as to
We use an infinitive with to (an infinitive of purpose) to explain why someone does something.
The expressions in order to and so as to are used in the same way, especially in formal written
English.
We can also use for to explain why someone does something, but it must be followed by a
noun, not an infinitive. To describe the function or purpose of a thing (not a person), we use
for + gerund (-ing form).
so that
We can also use so that to say why someone does something. It is often followed by can, can't,
will or would in the present, or could, couldn't, would or wouldn't in the past. In informal
English, we often omit that.
Mitty rushed to the bathroom for some soap so (that) he could get the ring off.
UNIT 10
Remember that the passive is used to emphasize the person or object to which something
happens. We use it when we do not know who or what does something or it is not important.
The passive is used frequently in English.
The picture was painted in 1908. Tickets are sold every day.
We use the present continuous passive to talk about something that is in progress now. It is
formed using the present continuous form of the verb to be
Note! The adverb still is often used with the present continuous passive to say that something
is taking longer than expected to complete. Note the position of still between is / are and
being in affirmative sentences, and between the subject and being in interrogative sentences:
The meal is still being cooked. The meal still is being cooked.
Is the room still being cleaned? Is still the room being cleaned?
The past continuous passive is used to talk about something that was in progress for a time in
the past. It is formed with the past continuous form of the verb to be:
Note! To indicate who or what is responsible for an action, we use the preposition by, and not
for.
PASSIVE INFINITIVE
The passive infinitive is used after modal verbs such as can, must and will. The passive infinitive
is formed with be followed by the past participle of the main verb:
The form of the passive infinitive never changes. In negative sentences, it is the modal verb
which is made negative:
subject + negative modal verb (can’t, mustn't, won’t, etc.) + be + past participle
Questions are formed by putting the subject between the modal verb and be:
modal verb (con, must will, etc.) + subject + be + past participle ...?
This car will be sold next week. This car it will be sold next week.
It’s by Picasso
I've no idea.
Giving opinions
UNIT 11
The relative pronouns who, which or that are used in defining relative clauses to introduce
essential information about the person, object or animal we are talking about. That can
substitute who and which and vice versa, though that is more common in spoken English.
She's the girl who came to the party. This is the letter which I sent.
I met your friend who lives here. I met your friend which lives here.
Whose, where, when and why can also be used in defining relative clauses. Whose replaces the
possessive adjectives her, his or their, and is always followed by a noun. Where refers to a
place, when refers to a time, day or year, and why is used to give the reason for something.
That's the man whose car was stolen. Today's the day when spring begins.
I love the house where I grew up. I know the reason why its hot.
The relative pronouns who, which and that can be the subject or object of the relative clause.
Look at the sentences below.
Tom's the person who scored the goal. (who is replacing the subject He)
Tom's the person who I met. (who is replacing the object him)
Who, which and that can only be omitted when they replace the object.
Tom's the person (who) I met. Tom's the person scored the goal.
When and why can both be omitted from relative clauses. However, whose and where cannot
be omitted.
Is there a time (when) we can meet? That's the reason (why) he left.
A non-defining relative clause is the part of a sentence which begins with a relative pronoun
and provides extra information about the person, object or animal we are talking about. The
person, object or animal has already been clearly identified.
In written English, a comma is always used at the start of the non-defining relative clause, and
at the end if necessary
The Mini, which first appeared in 1959, has been a great success.
In non-defining relative clauses, who is always used for people and which for things. Who and
which cannot be omitted from the sentence.
Note! That cannot be used to replace who or which in non-defining relative clauses.
whose, where and when can also be used in non-defining relative clauses.
Note! In spoken English, the contracted form who's (who is) sounds the same as whose. Be
careful not to confuse them when writing.
EXPRESSIONS WITH IN
In can be used to talk about doing things quickly or with a sense of urgency:
Books
Who's it by?
Films
Music
UNIT 12
Reporting with a passive verb is common in formal written English. We use this structure to
report what people know, think or say.
It's known that six million people visit her every year.
Another way of saying what people know, think or say is to use this structure:
It's said that it's the most famous painting in the world.
It's known that six million people visit her every year.
To report something that happened in the past, we can use this structure:
subject + passive verb (is / 's + past participle) + perfect infinitive (to have + past participle)
MODULE 4B
UNIT 1
The definite article the is used before a noun when it is obvious to both the speaker and
listener which noun is being referred to.
Where’s the key? The post office closed down last week.
I visited the Great Wall of China. We’ve been to the British Museum.
I like the food in that restaurant. She enjoyed the film last night.
In the following examples, the first sentence refers to wine in general, whereas the second
sentence refers to some specific wine.
The definite article the is not used with institutions such as prison, school, university, church or
hospital when referring to the general idea of the institution.
The prison is two hours away. I’ve worked in the hospital for a year.
Both of / neither of
Both of and neither of are used as the subject of a sentence to refer to two people or things.
Both of is used with a plural affirmative verb and has a positive meaning.
Neither of is used with a singular or plural affirmative verb and has a negative meaning.
all of / none of
All of and none of are used as the subject of a sentence when referring to more than two
people or things.
All of can be used with a plural affirmative verb and has a positive meaning.
None of can be used with a singular or a plural affirmative verb and has a negative meaning.
Note! When the people or things are the object of the sentence, we use any of with a negative
verb, not none of.
Several of, some of, a lot of and a few of are used to refer to a certain number of people or
things. When they are used with a plural affirmative verb, they have a positive meaning, and
when they are used with a negative plural verb, they have a negative meaning. The same form
is used for the subject and object of a sentence.
AT THE HOSPITAL
ward
medicine tablets
antibiotic temperature
X-ray injection
scan check-up
anaesthetic test
My grandmother is in hospital.
UNIT 2
must
We use must + the infinitive of another verb when we are sure that something is true.
Helen must have a lot of money. She’s got four houses and six cars.
That can’t be your brother. You don’t look anything like him!
We use might, may and could + the infinitive of another verb when we think something is
possibly true.
We use might not and may not + the infinitive of another verb when we thank something is
possibly not true.
He might not have any money. He lost his job last week.
She may not like that DVD. She doesn’t like horror films.
Note! Could not has a different meaning. It is used to say that we are sure something is
impossible.
can’t
we use can’t + the infinitive of another verb when we are sure that something is impossible.
VERBS OF PERCEPTION
The verbs look, sound, feel, taste and smell are verbs of perception.
When verbs of perception are used with a noun, the word like is placed after the verb.
She looked like her mother. That band sounds like U2.
That shirt felt like silk. This meat tastes like chicken.
Note! The word like is never used when an adjective follows a verb of perception.
Verb + as if + clause
When verbs of perception are used with subject and a verb, the words as if are placed after
the verb of perception.
Your finger feels as if it’s broken. My tea tastes as if it’s got salt in it.
WORLD REGIONS
Continents
English speakers think of the world as being divided up into seven continents. Here are their
names:
Regions
the East the West the Middle East the Far East
Note! Note the use and non-use of the definite article the in the following examples:
The following words are used to describe the rulers of different countries:
The prime minister is the leader of the government of the United Kingdom.
France has a president and a prime minister. Japan has an emperor as its head of State.
You don’t look like you mother at all. That must be you brother.
You look as if you had a great time. It sounds as if you enjoyed yourself.
UNIT 3
The verbs voice, insist, explain, declare, allege, confirm and state can be uses instead of the
verb say when writing an account.
A number of people voice the opinion that they had learnt a lot from medical programmes.
Another paramedic declared that he’d seen a man deal with a patient having a fit by putting
a coin in the patient’s mouth.
The paramedic alleged that the man’s action had endangered the patient’s life.
One man stated, ‘If everything was totally realistic, it would be boring.’
UNIT 4
The first conditional is used to refer to an action which will happen if a particular condition is
fulfilled. The present simple form of the verb is used after the word if. Will / won’t is used with
an infinitive in the main part of the sentence:
The second conditional is used to refer to an imaginary or hypothetical situation. The past
simple form of the verb is used after the word if. Would / wouldn’t is used with an infinitive in
the main part of the sentence:
If she didn’t smoke, she’d feel better. I wouldn’t walk to work if I had a car.
even if
Even if means ‘whether or not’. In the following example, the man will be late whether or not
he hurries.
In the following example, the woman would not go to the party whether or not the people
invited her.
Unless means ‘except if’. It often means the same as if... not.
Unless they score, they’ll lose. If they don’t score, they’ll lose.
Wish and If only are both used to say that we would like things to be different from how they
are. If only is more emphatic than wish.
The past simple is used after wish / if only to refer to a present situation we would like to be
different even though it is unlikely to change.
I don't work for a high company. I wish I worked for a big company
Note! When the verb to be is used after wish / if only, were can be used instead of was after I,
he, she and it, especially in more formal English.
She smokes in the car. I wish she wouldn't smoke in the car.
Finance
get behind with something They got behind with the project.
get nowhere with something He's getting nowhere with the report.
DISCUSSING PROBLEMS
UNIT 5
Present simple
The present simple can be used to talk about future time, especially when referring to
timetables.
Present continuous
The present continuous can be used to talk about fixed plans and arrangements.
going to
He’s going to buy a new car this year. She isn’t going to resign.
Going to can also be used to make predictions about the future, especially when there is some
evidence at the moment of speaking that makes us believe an event or action will happen.
Will / won’t can be used to make predictions about something we feel sure will or will not
happen in the future. It can also be used to talk about decisions made at the time of speaking.
You won’t enjoy the film. ‘Tea or coffee?’ ‘I’ll have coffee, please.?’
Future continuous
The future continuous can be used to talk about an action in progress at a certain time in the
future.
FUTURE PEFECT
The future perfect is used to say that something will or will not have happened by a certain
time in the future. It is often used with expressions of time such as before, by / by the time,
when and yet.
She won’t have saved any money by the end of the month.
Note! In English, a short answer is usually used (e.g. Yes, I will. / No, I won’t.)
What time does your train leave? Our flight leaves at 9 a.m.
How are you getting to the airport? What will you be doing during the flight?
What will you be doing this time tomorrow? I’ll be watching a film.
You’ll be exhausted.
Suffixes can be added to nouns or verbs to form adjectives. Sometimes this involves a change
in spelling.
-able
a pleasurable experience
-ic
artistic decor
a romantic dinner
-ive
attractive cushions
-ous
luxurious duvets
The modal verbs must, might, may, could, and can't are used to express certainty and
probability.
must
When we deduce that something is very probable, we use the modal verb must followed by the
verb to be and the gerund (–ing form) of the main verb.
Based on the fact that John is in the bathroom, we deduce that he's very probably getting
ready to go out.
In this case, we observe that they're carrying suitcases. Based on this fact, we deduce that
they're very probably going on holiday.
When we think that something is possible, we use the modal verbs might, may and could
followed by the verb to be and the gerund (–ing form) of the main verb.
In this case, the supposition that Kate is possibly talking to the manager is based on the fact
that she isn't at her desk
We do not use could not to say that something possibly isn't happening. It would be incorrect
to say.
She may not be working right now. It’s nearly six o’clock.
She could not be working right now. It’s nearly six o’clock.
can’t
When we are sure that something is not happening, we use can't followed by the verb to be
and the gerund (–ing form) of the main verb.
The supposition that they can't be sunbathing is a logical conclusion based on the fact that it's
raining.
Likewise, if he hasn't got any money, then logically he can't buy a car.
The modal verbs must, might, may, could and can’t can also be used to talk about possibility
and certainty in the past.
must
Must is used with have and the past participle of another verb when we are sure that
something has happened.
They’re still on the platform. They must have missed the train.
might, may and could are used with have and the past participle of another verb when we
think it is possible that something has happened.
He might have broken his leg. They may have got lost.
Mary can’t find her purse. She could have left it at home.
Might not and may not can also be used with have and the past participle of another verb
when we think it is possible that something has not happened.
It isn’t very late. They may not have gone to bed yet.
Note! Couldn’t has a different meaning. It is used to say that we are sure that something has
not happened.
She might not have got up yet. She has a lie-in on Saturdays.
She could not have got up yet. She has a lie-in on Saturdays.
can’t
Can’t is used with have and the past participle of another verb when we are sure that
something has not happened.
She can’t have taken the car. It’s still in the garage.
Types of criminals
When did you last have it? You might have left it somewhere.
You could have left it in the coffee shop. Someone must have stolen it.
To comment on speculation
UNIT 8
THIRD CONDITIONAL
The third conditional (conditional with if + past perfect) is used to refer to an imaginary or
hypothetical situation in the past.
There are two parts to a sentence in the third conditional. The first is the imaginary situation,
starting with if: if he had read the book. The second is the main part of the sentence: he would
have known.
The past perfect form of the verb is always used after if. Would / wouldn’t + have is used with
the past participle in the main part of the sentence:
If + subject + past perfect + subject + would (‘d) have / wouldn’t have + past participle
If I had seen you before, I would have told you the news.
We can change the order of the two parts of the sentence without affecting the meaning.
Notice that the comma is omitted if the main part of the sentence comes first:
Subject + would (‘d) have / wouldn’t have + past participle + if + subject + past perfect
If he would have got up earlier, he wouldn’t have been late for work.
Interrogative
(question word) + would + subject + have + past participle + if + subject + past perfect …?
A question word can be used before would. The if + past perfect part of the sentence is
normally placed at the end of the question.
Would she have accepted the job if they’d offered her more money?
What would the manager have said if his team had lost the match?
Wish and if only are both used with the past perfect to say that we would like things in the past
to have been different from how they were. If only is more emphatic than wish.
The past perfect is used after wish / if only to express regret about a past situation we would
like to have been different.
Our son didn’t go to university. If only our son had gone to university!
He told her about the party. If only he hadn’t told her about the party?
The adverb never can be used after wish to express a stronger regret.
I wish we hadn’t bought it. > I wish we’d never bought it.
I sent the email to her by mistake and now she’s really upset.
I wish I hadn’t sent it. > I wish I’d never sent it.
BOOK PUBLISHING
The following word are used to talk about people involved in publishing.
The following word are used to talk about different stages of a book.
The following words describe things that happen after a book is published.
The following expressions with off are written with more than two words:
To express regrets
I wish I hadn’t said anything now. If only I’d been more careful!
What would you have done? I’d have bought you a present.
I’d have arranged a surprise party. I’d have invited everyone you know.
I wouldn’t have told anyone. I wouldn’t have gone out last night.
UNIT 9
COMMON MISTAKES
Child > children foot > feet life > lives person > people
UNIT 10
The verbs expect, forget, offer, refuse, agree, decide, threaten and promise can be used to
report what someone said before.
The negative is formed by placing the word not before to and the infinitive:
With agree, decide and promise it is also possible to use this structure:
The verbs encourage, invite, persuade, remind, advise, convince, order and warn can be used
to report what someone said before. They are used with an object (a person’s name, a noun or
an object pronoun) and an infinitive with to:
‘Would you like to have dinner?’ She invited a friend to have dinner.
‘We think you should buy it.’ They persuaded us to buy it.
The negative is formed by placing the word not before to and the infinitive of the main verb:
‘I really don’t think you should go.’ She convinced Lucy not to go.
With persuade, remind, convince and worn, it is also possible to use this structure:
The suffix –ful means ‘with’. Adjectives can be formed by adding the suffix –ful to the following
nouns:
The suffix –less means ‘without’. Adjectives can be formed by adding the suffix –less to the
following nouns:
Both –ful and –less can be added to the following nouns, forming two different adjectives:
care > careful > careless use > useful > useless
help > helpful > helpless harm > harmful > harmless
pain > painful > painless thought > thoughtful > thoughtless
Can you lend me £50? Will you lend me the money for the tickets?
What do you need £50 for? What’s the matter with your car?
So, why do you need my car tonight? A friend has invited me out for dinner.
But you agreed to stop going to concerts. But I advised you to drive more carefully.
But I convinced you to stop doing it. I promised not to go out every night.
UNIT 11
The reporting verbs admit, insist an, apologize for, consider, regret, deny, recommend and
suggest are used to report what someone said before. They have more precise meanings than
say.
All of these verbs can be used with the gerund of another verb:
‘No, I’m not going to pay.’ > He insisted on not paying the bill.
The negative is formed by placing not before the gerund of the main verb:
‘I might not accept the job.’ > She considered not accepting the job.
The verbs admit, insist, deny, recommend and suggest can also be used with this structure:
‘Yes, I took your money.’ > He admitted that he had taken my money.
‘No, I’m not going to pay.’ > He insisted that he wouldn’t pay the bill.
‘No, I didn’t steal his wallet.’ > She denied that she had stolen his wallet.
‘Don’t see that film.’ > You recommended that we didn’t see the film.
‘Why don’t we go for a walk?’ > I suggested that we went for a walk.
Note! Insist is followed by that when it is used with a subject and a verb. We do not include on.
She insisted that she would drive. She insisted on that she would drive.
DIRECT SPEECH
A dialogue tag is used in writing with direct speech. It tells us who said what and how they said
it. The most common ones are say (e.g. she said), ask (e.g. they asked) and tell (e.g. he told
her).
Hannah said, ‘You look nice.’ Daniel asked, ‘What are you doing?’
Notice that there is a comma between the dialogue tag Hannah said and the direct speech.
The direct speech, including the final punctuation, is enclosed in single quotation marks: ‘You
look nice’.
‘Go away,’ she said, ‘I’m busy.’ ‘You’re late, ‘ he told me, ‘very late.’
A comma is always placed at the end of the first part of the sentence, inside the quotation
marks, a full stop or a comma can be used after the dialogue tag. The second part of the
sentence begins with a capital letter if a full stop is used.
‘Enjoy your trip,’ my sister said. ‘Where are you going?’ Beth asked.
A comma is placed at the end of the direct speech if there is no question mark or exclamation
mark. It is usually possible to invert the order of the subject and the verb in the dialogue tag if
the subject is a name or a noun. Note that the verb tell cannot be inverted.
‘Enjoy your trip,’ said my sister. ‘Where are you going?’ asked Beth.
Other verbs can also be used in dialogue tags. Notice that they follow the same rules as the
previous examples.
WAYS OF SPEAKING
The following verbs are used to indicate loud and soft voices.
The following verbs are used when someone asks or answer a question:
The following verbs are used to give more information about what is being said.
VERB PREFIXES
The prefix under- is used before a verb to mean ‘not enough’. It can often be used with the
same verbs as the prefix over-.
UNIT 12
NARRATIVE TENSES
The three main tenses that are used to tell a story are the past simple, the past continuous and
the past perfect.
The past simple is used to describe consecutive actions that occurred in the past.
Jeff restarted his laptop and inserted yet another copy of the disc.
The past continuous is used to describe a longer, continuous past action. This is often an action
that was already in progress when another action happened.
The figure made similar noises into the silver box that she was carrying.
MODULE 5A
UNIT 1
CULTURAL AWARENESS
His presentation was brilliant – you could tell that he had really done his homework
dull boring
upmarket designed for or used by people who belong to a high social class or
have a lot of money
melting pot place or situation in which large numbers of people, ideas, etc. are
mixed together
I’m not very keen on the idea of moving to the Moscow office
Before starting a business you should get professional advice to avoid the potential pitfalls
Sales are falling rapidly but we can’t pin down the reason
Expressing doubt
Avoiding commitment
Being persuasive
We can’t go wrong.
Dismissing obstacles
Starting an advantage
The major advantage is… The pros definitely outweigh the cons.
The client has told us that the site is likely to be around the Krakow area.
I had been looking around Krakow for a couple of days by that point.
TENSES REVIEW
Present simple
Present continuous
2. to talk about a very current activity, taking place around the time of speaking
The IT guys have changed all the PCs and access codes
2. to talk about actions that started in the past and are still going on
Use the present perfect continuous to talk about a recently completed action. The focus is on
the activity, not the result
The IT guys have been changing all the PCs and access codes
Past simple
1. to talk about past actions which are over at the time of speaking
I heard from the locals that there were several interesting sites
Past continuous
Use the past continuous to talk about being in the middle of a past action – there is likely to be
an interruption (in the past simple) in the sentence
Past perfect
Use the past perfect to put events in the past in sequence. The past perfect indicates that the
action it refers to happened before a reference to the past simple
I had heard from the locals that there were several interesting sites
Use the past perfect continuous to refer to an action in progress before something else
happened
He was the one who had been working on the project, but his boss was the one who got all
the credit
TENSES REVIEW
Should
You should have gone this morning – it was quite an interesting meeting
Future forms
2. Use be going to + infinitive when we are talking about an action we have already given
some thought to
We’re going to have to point out the training need to the client
4. Use the future perfect to refer to events which finish before a given time
I told her what I thought but she didn’t take my advice on board
jettison get rid of or reject something that you no longer think is useful or
likely to be successful
benchmark something that can be measured and used as a standard that other
things can be compared with
Last year’s sales figures were benchmark against which this year’s performance will be
measured
My responsibilities include…
This entails…
I’d like to point out that over the years, I’ve been continually…
I can’t wait to share our expertise with you and to help you…
UNIT 2
uplift an increase
wheeling and dealing doing a lot of complicated business deals, sometimes in a dishonest
way
jargon words and expressions that are used by a particular profession or group and
which are difficult to understand
The people in the IT Department are always using computer jargon. I don’t understand a
word they say
get up rise; go up
He’s not going to get up to chief executive officer unless he improves his attitude
ruthless hard and cruel; determined to get what you want whatever the cost
She works for one of the most prestigious accountancy firms in the world
turnover the rate at which employees leave a company and are replaced
Involving people
Go ahead
I’m not sure what your feelings are about this, but…
Yes. It’s just as well I brought you along. Arun, as you’re the one who’s…
If I’d thought about it, I could have brought one of the recruitment consultants…
It would have been good if we’d made a bit more progress today
But suppose I hadn’t been there to present the other side of the argument?
What would have happened if I hadn’t suggested improving our graduate intake?
Third conditional
3. to congratulate ourselves or others for the actions they took, or to express relief
If we had followed the consultant’s advice, we’d have probably gone bankrupt
Perfect modals
I would have finished the presentation on time, but the power went off
I would have told my manager straight away, rather than hiding everything
Fixed phrases
There are many fixed phrases that can be used to express our attitude to the past
We can use I’m (so) glad … and It’s a good thing… with the past simple to express satisfaction
We can use It’s just as well… with the past simple to express relief
We can use Suppose / Supposing… and Imagine if… with the past perfect to express relief
scale the relation between the actual size of something and its size on a map or
diagram
The plans for the new offices are drawn to the same scale
in-tray a container on a desk for letters and documents that are waiting to be looked
at
I’m sure you appreciate how difficult it is for the Sales Department in the current economic
climate
Can we trial the software for a month before we decide whether or not to buy it?
Reformulating
In other words, …
Summarizing
Basically, …
To summarize, …
UNIT 3
He went back to his hotel room for some peace and privacy
splinter a small, thin, sharp piece of wood or glass that has broken off a larger piece
I don’t like the way she talks to people. It’s very overbearing
CULTURAL DIFFERENCES
Attempting to do something
I’m really good / quite good at… -ing I’m quite good at speaking German
I’m not bad at… -ing I’m not bad at learning new vocabulary
I’m not very good at… -ing I’m not very good at remembering phrases
I’m really / quite bad at… ing I’m really bad at meeting new people
There are obvious differences when… -ing There are obvious differences when socializing
There have a different idea of… They have a difference idea of time in Asia
There are differences with regards to… There are differences with regards to punctuality
Contrasting ideas
…, whereas…
They tend to eat lunch at about 2pm, whereas we like to eat earlier
…, but…
COVERING LETTERS
covering letter / cover letter (BrE / AmE) a letter containing extra information that you
send with something such as a job application
UNIT 4
update make something more modern by adding new parts or changing old ones
supplement a book or section at the end of a book that gives extra information
fleece a soft warm sweatshirt made from a fabric that feels like sheep’s wool
preserve an activity, job or interest that is thought to be suitable for one particular
person or group
The rank and file of the workforce need to be consulted about this
IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS
Let’s see if we can dispel some of the myths once and for all
Since then, the annual event has gone from strength to strength
a means to an end a thing not valued in itself but useful for achieving an aim
On the face of it, there doesn’t seem much sense in chatting about the weather
The British are the first to admit that fish and chips is not exactly the height of culinary
sophistication
UNIT 5
CHANGE MANAGEMENT
warehouse a building where large quantities of good are stored, especially before they
are sent to shops to be sold
The company is expanding its warehouse in order to increase its stock capacity
The new strategy will be lucky if it has a shelf life of more than a few months
layout the way in which the parts of something such as a building are arranged
driver one of the main things that influence something or cause it to make progress
Do we have enough stock to fulfil all these orders in time for Christmas?
seamless without any difficulties or delays between one stage and the next
There was a seamless transfer of power from the director to her replacement
lay out plan how something should look and arrange it this way
Our office is laid out in an open plan style without individual cubicles
sponsor a person who introduces and supports a proposal for a new law, plan, etc.
commuting travelling regularly by bus, car, train, etc., from your home to your place of
work
Outlining a structure
As I said earlier…
Ensuring understanding
By … I mean…
This is where…
That’s when…
To sum up, …
The flexible working revolution means that management will become more about resourcing
and measuring results
It’s estimated that by 2050 most people will have been working flexibly for more than a
decade
It’s anticipated that as many as twelve million people in the UK will be working from home
by 2020
The trend towards home working could have other positive social side effects
By the mid-21st century a major cultural change will have taken place
You’re running late? OK, well. I’ll start the presentation without you
Use going to
1. Use the future continuous (will + be + -ing form) to say that something will be in
progress at a time in the future. The focus is on the future actions, rather than their
result
This time next year, I’ll be playing golf on afternoons like this
2. Note that going to + be + -ing form is also possible, especially for plans and intentions
3. Use the future perfect (will + have + past participle) to say that something will be
finished at a time in the future
Our end-of-year figures will have come out by the time of our next meeting
4. Use the future perfect continuous (will + have + been + -ing form) to stress the
continuation of an action, seen from a later time in the future
Our companies will have been working together for ten years in May – we should
plan a celebration
SHOWING UNDERSTANDING
SHOWING UNDERSTANDING
I hear what you’re saying I can see where you’re coming from
I totally understand
It’s quite hectic over here, too I know this is a tricky time for a lot of you
UNIT 6
AN INVESTMENT BANKER
close complete and formally agree on a piece of business such as a project, deal,
sale, etc.
pay off when a risk you have taken brings good results
Being self-employed has its upside – you decide how you manage your time
let alone used after a statement to emphasize that because the first thing is not true or
possible, the next thing cannot be true or possible either
There isn’t enough room for us, let alone any guests
sound adj. sensible; that you can rely on and that will probably give good results
the other side of the coin the aspect of a situation that is the opposite of or contrasts
with the one you have been talking about
Most of the factories in the city have closed, but the other side of the coin is that technology
start-ups are moving in
Income from tourism accounts for a sizeable proportion of the area’s total income
I know it’s a pipe dream, but I’d love to be CEO one day
carbon offsetting calculating your carbon emissions and purchasing ‘credits’ from
emission reduction projects
Quick Air is the first airline in Europe to offer carbon offsetting to passengers
termite mound a pile of earth that is built by a group of termites (insects similar to
ants) as their home
uptake the use that is made of something that has become available
Checking understanding
With respect …
That’s interesting Thomas… but I think it’s probably best left for another meeting
Well, if you remember, we did explore this last year – that was just before you joined us
Khalid – and we decided… it wasn’t the route to go down
It’s been quite hard – but I think we’ve made the right decision. It would have been risky to…
Referring backwards
It, this and that can be used to refer back to something that has just been mentioned. All three
words can refer back to a person or thing, a situation or a thought / idea / proposition, etc.
He said the greater the risk, the greater the potential reward. This might well be true
Here’s our prototype. It gives a pretty good idea of what we hope to make
John was arguing for cuts in the R&D budget. That’s the last thing we need
Emphasis
1. It is used for neutral reference: as a simple way of continuing the discussion, without
giving special emphasis to the information being referred to
There’s also a subsidized canteen. It’s OK, but no better than in most companies
2. This and that are more often used to add emphasis to the information: they draw our
attention to what has just been said
And we have a gym exclusively for staff. That’s one of the best things about working
here
3. This in particular is used when there is something new or especially relevant about the
information introduced
Finally, there’s our final salary pension scheme. This has been praised throughout
the industry
Reference
1. In sentences where several things are mentioned, it is usually used to refer to the
main topic, whereas this / that more often refer to the last topic mentioned
There’s a meeting in the Kennedy Suite. It’s very important and could go on for hours
(it = the meeting)
2. Generally, this refers to things that are near to us (in space, in time or conceptually –
thought of as close and relevant); that refers to things we think of as more distant
Carlos asked about the depreciation of the dollar. This will affect us all, he said
Carlos asked about the depreciation of the euro. That was unlikely in the
foreseeable future, Kate answered
1 When the information referred to has a plural form, they is used instead of it, these instead
of this, and those instead of that
We discussed several options during the brainstorming sessions. They were all considered
impractical, though
We discussed several options during the brainstorming sessions. These were quite good fun,
by the way, but hard work
New information
This can refer toward to new information. We do not use that or it in this way
Craig isn’t a great team player. This is his main problem, though – his lack of creativity (refers
forward to the new information about his lack of creativity)
Craig isn’t a great team player. That’s his main problem (refers back to the information about
the fact that he is not a great team player)
rapport a friendly relationship in which people understand each other very well
compliment something nice that you say to or about someone to praise them
echoing the other person to encourage them to say more = repeating part of what someone
says as a question so that they give more information
picking up on a key word in order to extend the conversation = asking someone a question
repeating an important word they have used
e.g. A: Going down the Amazon was a real nightmare B: In what way was it a nightmare?
Do you remember…?
Paying a compliment
And anyway, X, I’ve heard quite a lot about you, too. You …, didn’t you?
A: I’m not sure about Jack. I find him a bit distant B: Distant in what way?
CANDIDATES
adrenalin a substance produced in the body when you are excited, afraid or angry
background the circumstances or past events explaining why something is the way it is
Can you give me some more background on the political situation in China?
rehearsal an experience that helps you to prepare for something that is going to happen
SKYPE INTERVIEWS
branch out start an activity that you haven’t done before, especially related to work or
business
INTERVIEW EXPERIENCES
Do you get…?
Yes, I do get…
read about…
do a rehearsal of…
CVs
CV also curriculum vitae (BrE) / résumé (AmE) a written record of your employment and
education that you send when you apply for a job
She single-handedly wrote the presentation, the report and the prospectus
UNIT 8
borough a part of the city that has its own local government
commute travel regularly between work and home by bus, train, car, etc.
hustle and bustle busy noisy activity of a lot of people in one place
We escaped from the hustle and bustle of the city for the weekend
mindset a set of attitudes or fixed ideas that someone has and that are often difficult
to change
You won’t get him to try anything new – he has a very conservative mindset
The same scenario plays out all over the country every Monday morning
tag along go somewhere with someone, especially when you have not been asked or
invited
I have no intention of going into the whys and wherefores of the current situation
I hope you have gained some insight into the difficulties we face
AMERICAN ENGLISH
momentarily in a moment
pants trousers
He took a clean shirt from the closet and started to get dressed
The issue became moot after the company changed its policy
UNIT 9
FREELANCE OR EMPLOYED?
sole trader a business that is owned and controlled by one person, although they may
employ workers
I was going to go into business with a friend, but in the end I decided to run my company as
a sole trader
absent-minded tending to forget things, perhaps because you are not thinking about
what is around you, but about something else
pinpoint be able to give the exact reason for something or to describe something
exactly
neglect not give enough attention to something; fail to take care of something or
someone
liaise work closely with someone and exchange information with them
He had to liaise directly with the client while writing the report
chairperson the person in charge of a meeting, who tells people when they can speak, etc.
I need to know…
I can’t just…
Offering a compromise
ADDING EMPHASIS
The reason why I say this is because if we get it right this time, any future campaigns should
run more smoothly
In which case, Riccardo, can I leave you to liaise with the printer…?
What really concerns me is the way this has been handled so badly by the printers
Not only do we have a major error on our hands, but we’re also not sure how this happened
ADDING EMPHASIS
Cleft sentences
Cleft sentences begin with it or what and emphasize a particular word or group of words
John broke the photocopier > It was John who broke the photocopier
We can use many fixed phrases to add emphasis such as The reason I say this is…, Which is
why…, Not only… but, etc.
Fronting
Fronting is when we place the information we want to emphasize at the beginning of the
sentence
I liked the first candidate. I thought the second was arrogant > The first candidate I liked. The
second I thought was arrogant
Adverbs of degree
We can use adverbs of degree to add emphasis to most adjectives and adverbs, for example:
very, really, absolutely, just so…
ADDING EMPHASIS
Adverbs of degree
1. Adverbs of degree can add emphasis to most adjectives and adverbs. These include:
very, really, extremely, so, just so, very… indeed
It’s absolutely vital that you inform me of things like that (Not: It’s very vital that you
inform me of things like that)
Fronting
1. In most active sentences, the subject of the verb comes first. However, we can alter
the word order to place the information we want to emphasize at the beginning of the
sentence. This is called ‘fronting’
I liked the conference hall, but I thought the accommodation was awful > The
conference hall I liked. The accommodation I thought was awful
2. Note that subject and verb / auxiliary are inverted after negative expressions, after
only and after participles
It-clefts
What-clefts
We can also use phrases such as the person / people who / that, the place where, the reason
why, the thing that to add emphasis
The thing that annoys me most is that no one contacted us about the problem
RESPONDING TO FEEDBACK
point out mention something in order to give someone information about it or make
them notice it
RESPONDING TO FEEDBACK
Thanks for your support – it’s good to know I’m on the right track
Oh, I see. Well it seems a pity to…, but maybe you’re right
UNIT 10
EXPANSION OF A SUPERMARKET
no-frills including only the basic features, without anything that is unnecessary,
especially things added to make something more attractive or comfortable
The Conservatives lost a lot of ground to the Liberal Democrats at the election
entrepreneur a person who makes money by starting or running businesses, especially when
this involves taking financial risks
There are no hard and fast rules for pronouncing English words
the bottom line the amount of money that is a profit or a loss after everything has
been calculated
get the creative juices flowing starting thinking in a creative and lively way
brainstorming a way of making a group of people all think about something at the
same time, often in order to solve a problem or to create good ideas
Couldn’t we consider…?
I’m not sure how this would work in practice, but how about…?
It was actually one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done
Adverbs of degree
1. Many adverbs of degree are used to qualify the gradable adjective or adverb they
precede, e.g. quite, rather, pretty, fairly, a bit, a little, somewhat
2. We can use most of these words with adjective + noun combinations. Note the word
order with quite
3. We can also use an adverb of degree with not, e.g. not very, not really, not absolutely.
We can also say not at all
I’m not very / not at all concerned about the canteen’s closure
4. Note that not really can mean both not very and not, in fact. The word stress in the
sentence helps to convey the different meanings
I’m not really angry about her resignation, just disappointed (not angry, in fact)
Note that putting the adverb before not isn’t possible with very
Focus adverbs
1. The adverbs even, just and only focus our attention on one part of a sentence. They
usually come before a main verb, but after an auxiliary or be
Exetica only had better results than us in May (not June, etc.)
2. If these adverbs refer to a noun phrase then they come before it, and the meaning is
changed
Only Exetica had better results than us in May (no other company)
I don’t understand why team A didn’t complete just the first away day task (they
managed to complete all the others)
I don’t understand why just team A didn’t complete the first away day task (all the
other teams managed to do it)
Even Jo couldn’t remember all the details (Jo is usually good at remembering and the
fact that she couldn’t indicates there were a lot of details)
Functional adverbials
Adverbials are often used to refine the message conveyed by the sentence, without altering
the meaning of any individual words
Of course, you’re right about that, but… (also: no doubt, obviously, evidently,
certainly)
rationale the principles or reasons which explain a particular decision, course of action,
belief, etc.
I seem to remember
Giving feedback
UNIT 11
yacht a large sailing boat, often with an engine and a place to sleep on board
tempt attract somebody or make them want to do something, even if they know it is
wrong
She gave me very explicit instructions on how to look after the dog
drastically extreme in a way that has a sudden, serious or violent effect on something
I’m aiming to… I’m aiming to lose weight before the summer
It’s possible (that) I’ll be… -ing It’s possible I’ll be working abroad
Indicating time
in five / ten / twenty’ years time I want to be retired in ten years’ time
in the next few days / weeks / months, etc. I’m going to New Zealand in the next few
weeks
this October / winter, etc. I’m going to try and learn to drive this summer
by the end of the year / next month / then, etc. I want to have a new job by next December
PROPOSALS
peak times moments when the greatest number of people are travelling
Nurses should be allowed to concentrate on their core activity – looking after patients
UNIT 12
gold rush a situation in which a lot of people suddenly go to a place where gold
has recently been discovered
The California Gold Rush started in 1848 when gold was discovered in Coloma
outskirts the parts of a town or city which are furthest from the centre
wary careful when doing something because you think there may be a
danger
Kiwi (informal) a person from New Zealand; from, of or relation to New Zealand
When you go to New Zealand, if you want to understand the Kiwis, you need to learn some
Kiwi slang
heck (informal exclamation) used to show that you are slightly annoyed or surprised
pervasive existing in all parts; spreading gradually to all parts of a place or thing
truck a large road vehicle for carrying heavy goods and materials; a lorry
If you try to be different, the great big clobbering machine will get you
We took a wrong turn and had to take a tiki tour back to Wellington
The trampers took a tiki tour so they wouldn’t get hit by any trucks on the road
TRAINING
role-play a learning activity In which a person acts how another person might behave In
a particular situation
The folk in our office are unhappy with the new timetable.
upheaval a big change that causes a lot of confusion, worry, and problems
radical concerning the most basic and important bars of something; thorough and
complete
Some bosses like their employees to be assertive; others like them to be deferential.
geared towards
designed or organized to achieve a particular purpose
the bottom line the amount of money that is a profit or a loss after everything has
been calculated
remit the area of activity over which a person or group has authority or control
We need all our software to be compliant with the Data Protection Act.
tailor-made made for a particular person or purpose and therefore very suitable
Checking facts
Checking understanding
Resuming
Faced with the need to be fully compliant with the new legislation by early next year, I think
we ..
Working on the principle that they can all pass the content on to their own staff, we should
have
Given the limited number of companies offering this training, we don't actually have much
choice.
I was going to contact her this week, but apparently she's on holiday.
They were supposed to call me before 2 p.m., but I haven't heard anything.
PARTICIPLE CLAUSES
Participle clauses
1. An adverbial clause begins with a conjunction (eg. because, when, after) and gives
extra information.
Often we can use a clause with a present participle instead. This is called a participle
clause.
2. We can use most conjunctions (e.g.. after, when, while, before) before the participle,
but not because.
After travelling by train, I needed some fresh air. (Not: Because travelling by train, I
allowed plenty of time.)
3. Usually we use the present participle (verb + -ing) for present and recent situations,
in place of the present simple / continuous / perfect and past simple / continuous.
Since living in Dubai, I've learnt to cope with the hot weather. (= since I have lived ...)
Learning English, I often wrote difficult words on post-it notes. (= when I learnt / was
learning ...)
4. Having + past participle is used in place of the past perfect (for a past action before
another past action).
Having decided to hire Fatima Mattar, we made her a job offer. (= after we had
decided ...)
Offered the job, I wasn't sure whether to accept it. (= when I had been offered the job
...)
6. Note also the use of given, which has a meaning similar to because + be
Given his reluctance to accept criticism, you'll have to be careful how you word your
email (= because he is reluctant...)
Was going to
1. We can use was going to to talk about the future from a point of view in the past, to
talk about former plans and intentions.
I was going to visit our Alicante office too, but the plane was delayed.
2. It is the intention that is in the past and has now changed. The time the plan or
intention refers to can still be in the future.
3. The time the intention or plan refers to may also be in the past.
Yesterday I was going to have a meeting with my boss, but she was ill.
4. We use this structure to explain why something didn't happen, to make excuses, to
explain changes to plans, and to give background to our current intentions or
thoughts.
5. We can also use perfect tenses with going to for a different perspective in the past.
She’s been going to visit this office for ages - I don't think she ever will.
They had been going to make me redundant, if l hadn't taken early retirement.
Other structures
1. The past continuous can be used for former arrangements (just as we would use the
present continuous for current arrangements).
I was meeting their sales rep at 3 p.m., but he‘s just cancelled. (Compare with: I'm
meeting their sales rep at 3 pm.)
2. Was to / were to is possible as the past form of be to, particularly to talk in a formal
style about past plans and arrangements.
We were to launch the new products at the International Spring Convention but
there were delays.
EXPRESSING DISSATISFACTION
I don't think she can take on this project; she's got a lot on at the moment
EXPRESSING DISSATISFACTION
This is ridiculous.
JOB SATISFACTION
commission an amount of money that is paid to somebody for selling goods and
which increases with the amount sold
The opening ceremony for the new offices will start at midday.
correlation a connection between two things in whim one thing changes as the other
does
So, that's the broad plan - now let's get down to the specifics.
brainstorming having a group of people think about something all at the same time.
often in order to solve a problem
Signalling intention
USING QUESTIONS
If it was just one or two individuals, then just how useful are the results?
It's probably best if I just highlight some of the ideas we came up with, don't you think?
Using questions
yes / no questions
Yes / no questions are questions that could be answered yes or no. They usually begin with an
auxiliary verb or be, followed by the subject. It is often polite and appropriate to give extra,
more detailed information along with the answer.
wh- questions
Wh- questions ask for specific information about people, places, etc, and begin with what,
where, when, why, how, which, how many, etc, followed by inversion of subject and auxiliary
(note the inversion of did and you in the example below).
1. statement can sometimes have the function of a question. In writing, this is shown by
a question mark.
1. In indirect questions, the question that asks for information is contained within
another question or a statement. Unlike with standard questions, there is no inversion
of subject and auxiliary.
I'd like to know how many days annual leave you offer. (More direct: How many days
annual leave do you offer?)
Would you say that you're a team player? (More direct. Are you a team player?)
May I ask if you'd be likely to accept the job? (More direct: Are you likely to accept
the job?)
Could I check whether you've signed in with security? (More direct: Did you sign in
with security?)
Question tags
It's probably best if we deal with that later, don't you think?
2. Note that it is possible to have a positive tag after a positive statement, to express, for
example, a reaction to something you have just heard.
Functions of questions
Questions can have a range of functions beyond asking for information. We can use them
What are our objectives for the coming year? Well, first of all, we hope to...
And then, erm, how can I put this? Well, we have decided that...
And you really believe that these measures will have an effect, do you?
The spokesman refused to disclose details about the takeover to the press.
Admitting ignorance
Refusing to answer
UNIT 3
The traditional Christmas and New Year festivities took place in the centre of town.
wrap a piece of fabric that a woman wears for decoration or to keep warm
carnival a public festival that usually happens at the same time every year, involving
music, dancing and colourful clothes
More and more people are moving from rural areas into the cities.
The council has promised to prop up declining industry in the local area.
subsidy money that is paid by the government or an organization to reduce the costs
of services or of producing goods so that their prices can be kept low
We have outdated products and no money to develop new ones. This business is doomed to
fail.
TRADITIONS
…vary from region to region / place to place. Traditions vary from place to place.
You can tell someone from … from someone who's from You can tell someone from the
north from someone who's from the south.
People don't wear… People don't wear those costumes every day.
They wear them for celebrations / festivals / festivities / carnival / special occasions.
For the women / men / children it would be…For the children it would be special hats.
It's quite different from… It's quite different from what happens in other countries.
There's a great tradition of… There's a great tradition of music and dancing.
…not as popular anymore / as they used to be. They are not as popular as they used to be.
REPORTS
doorstep a step outside the door of a building or the area that is very close to the door
UNIT 4
GEORGE ORWELL
surveillance the act of carefully watching a person suspected of a crime, or a place where a
crime may be committed
satire a way of criticizing a person, an idea or an institution in which you use humour
to show their faults or weaknesses
hack secretly find a way to look at and / or change information on somebody else's
computer without permission
tramp (disapproving) person with no home or job who travels from place to place, usually
asking people in the street for food or money; a homeless person
It's very sad to see young people living rough in this day and age.
NINETEEN EIGHTY-FOUR
pedant a person who is too concerned with small details or rules especially when
learning or teaching
afterthought a thing that is thought of, said or added later, and is often not carefully
planned
ORWELLIAN LANGUAGE
The following words and expressions from the extract of Nineteen Eighty-Four were invented
or popularized by George Orwell. They are now commonly used in English:
newspeak language that is not clear or honest, for example the language that is used in
political propaganda
Big Brother a person or organization exercising total control over people's lives
Big Brother will be watching you from next week when security cameras start to operate in
London.
You have to be careful about what you write online, in case you are accused of committing a
thoughtcrime.
The following colloquial words and expressions also appear in the extract
gabble talk quickly so that people cannot hear you clearly or understand you
get on used to talk or ask about how well somebody is doing in a particular situation
Oh, I‘ve forgotten the name of the film… it's on the tip of my tongue.
be written in / on someone's face be very obvious to other people from the expression
on somebody‘s face
UNIT 5
The sudden resignation of the financial director put the company in a very vulnerable
position.
fuel poverty the condition of being unable to afford to keep one's home adequately
heated.
Poor insulation of homes and rising fuel prices both contribute to fuel poverty.
tariff a set of fixed charges paid for a service or supply such as electricity or water
topical connected with something that is happening or of interest at the current time
cynic a person who believes that people only do things to help themselves rather
than for sincere reasons
Don‘t be such a cynic! I'm sure they‘re doing it for all the right reasons.
intangible something that does not exist as a physical thing but which is still valuable
admin administration
She can easily cope with the stresses and strains of the job.
In the worst-case scenario, more than ten thousand people might be affected.
Basically, we don't have much choice... We can either... or we (accept that) ...
Reaching agreement
USING CONDITIONALS
There's no point in investing in a system upgrade if we don't have the space, the personnel,
or the finances…
If the IT system is updated, you'll be more efficient in terms of your customer admin.
If we made them our key users, we could gradually train up the rest.
If you'd recruited more young employees at the start, they would have had some IT
knowledge from school.
Zero conditional
1. Use zero conditionals when the relationship between the situation and result is always
true or always the same; there is no element of doubt.
First conditional
1. Use the first conditional when a situation is very likely to have the result given.
If you arrive late, you'll miss the first part of the meeting.
2. The present continuous and present perfect are possible in the if-clause.
3. Other modal expressions such as can, may, be going to are possible in the result.
I'm going to change distributors if Kikibo don't get their act together.
Second conditional
2. The second conditional is also useful to make suggestions, offers, warnings, etc. more
polite.
Third conditional
1. Use the third conditional to talk about past situations that did not happen, to express
regret, or for criticisms.
USING CONDITIONALS
Mixed conditional
If you cared more about your work, you would have been promoted years ago.
2. More often we use a third conditional if-clause with a second conditional result.
If I had got the job, I would be commuting for four hours a day.
Passives
Passive forms are possible in all types of conditional sentences, in either clause.
1. In many conditional sentences, when can replace if. This makes the situation sound
more likely. The same is true of every time.
2. In zero, first, and second conditionals, we can use unless to mean ‘except if’ or ‘if not‘.
Unless we keep our contract with Zimiercz, we'll be without a Polish partner
company.
3. Participles such as providing, provided, assuming, and supposing, and phrases such as
on the condition that and as long as, can also replace if.
Providing the building goes well, our new offices will be ready in May 2018.
net profit the actual profit after working expenses not included in the calculation of
gross profit have been paid.
shift a period of time worked by a group of workers who start as another group
finishes
That's not really what I meant - what I actually wanted to say was...
UNIT 6
LEADERSHIP
status quo the situation as it is now or how it was before a recent change
bombastic seeming important and impressive but actually with little meaning
His speech didn't carry much weight - it was nothing more than bombastic rhetoric.
It's my first week here so I'm not completely au fait with the system.
prima donna (disapproving) a person who thinks they are very important because they are
good at something and who behaves very badly when they do not get what they want
He's been a prima donna ever since he landed the Texicom contract.
He's an autocratic boss who doesn't like to hear other people's opinions.
delegate give part of your work or power to someone in a lower position than you
disparate made up of parts or people that are very different from each other
instil gradually make somebody feel, think or behave in a particular way over a
period of time
fuselage the main part of an aircraft in which passengers and goods are carried
We had to wait at the boarding gate while engineers inspected the fuselage.
vice versa used to say that the opposite of what you have just said is also true
You can look at the report first and then do the numbers, or vice versa.
daunting something which makes you feel nervous and less confident
e-banking banking in which the customer conducts transactions electronically via the
Internet
core markets the main people to whom a business sells goods or services
We need to target our core markets otherwise we're wasting our time.
The implementation of the new software is taking longer than we had planned.
proactive controlling a situation by making things happen rather than waiting for things
to happen and then reacting to them
recoup get back an amount of money that you have spent or lost
It is proposed that…
My understanding is…
Apparently…
As I understand it…
Expressing concerns
I like the idea of…, but I‘m not very happy about…
Responding to concerns
I understand your concerns, but I think we need to look at the positive side.
Ok, you're all aware that a decision was taken at last week's strategy meeting that affects all
of us.
It has been agreed that we are going to combine our e-banking systems
Forms
1. In all tenses (simple, continuous. or perfect) we form the passive with be in the
appropriate tense + past participle.
Have to, going to, etc. all follow the same rules.
I‘m delighted to have been offered the post, but unfortunately I must decline.
4. A passive -ing form is being + past participle. A passive perfect -ing form is having been
+ past participle.
5. The object of an active sentence becomes the subject of a passive sentence. If a verb
has two objects, either object can become the subject.
Verbs that do not take an object (e.g. go, come. full) cannot be made passive.
Profits fell last year. (Not: Profits were fallen last year)
Use
1. We use the passive to focus attention on the action mentioned, or on the object of the
action (the person or thing affected by it.) We do not know who does the action, or it
isn't important.
The office has been redecorated. It looks so much better than before!
2. Using the passive helps create an impersonal style. This is often appropriate in formal
English, for example in business letters and reports, where a personal style would not
be appropriate.
Results for the first quarter were published on 6 April, and were strong.
3. The passive is a useful way of adding distance between an action and those doing it,
for example, when giving people bad news.
Regrettably, redundancies will have to be mode. Some of those sitting here will be
affected. (Compare: I'll have to make redundancies. It will affect some of you.)
4. In discourse, we often use the passive if it provides a better link with the sentence
before. In these cases, we can say who does the action using by.
Passive reporting
1. We use the passive with reporting verbs when we don't know, or would prefer not to
say, whose words we are reporting - for example, if their identity is confidential or
sensitive.
Some reporting verbs do not take an indirect object, so cannot form passives in this way. These
include: agree, allege, announce, argue, claim, decide, imply, predict, propose, report, say,
state, and suggest. Instead we use them in a structure with an empty subject: it + be + past
participle + that.
interference the act of getting involved in and trying to influence a situation which doesn‘t
concern you
Such as?
Personally speaking…
I have to say…
To be perfectly honest…
Honestly?
Personally, I think...
My attitude is...
UNIT 7
GETTING PERSONAL
I know him fairly well, but I wouldn‘t say we were really close friends.
acquaintance a person that you know but who is not a close friend
catch up with talk to someone who you haven't seen for a long time
We've been out and about talking to people all over town.
smug looking or feeling too pleased about something you have done or achieved
forge put a lot of effort into making something successful or strong so that it will last
go out on a limb risk doing something that other people are not prepared to do
I wouldn't go out on a limb like this if l didn‘t have the data to justify it.
shy hard-working
When I was younger… When I was younger, I went out more often.
As I've got older… As I've got older I stay in with my family a lot more.
I find now that… I find now that my social life is not so important.
I've got about… or so really good friends. I‘ve got about five or so really good friends.
I've known them since / for… I‘ve known them since university.
LETTERS OF AGREEMENT
exclusivity the quality of being used by only one particular person or group
UNIT 8
The weather this year means there will be a very good apple harvest.
marching band a group of musicians who play while they are marching
for starters used to emphasize the first of a list of reasons. opinions, etc. or to say what
happens first
IRISH ENGLISH
be after doing used in place of present perfect with 'just' for recently finished actions
I'm after going to the corner shop. = I've just been to the corner shop.
So, what's the story with you and your man there?
Give us give me
There you go now! Here you are! (when giving someone something)
B. Not a bother.
When I crossed over the way your man was coming in the other direction
UNIT 9
ruin to make somebody or something lose all their money, their position, etc.
scandal behaviour or an event that people think is morally or legally wrong and which
causes public feelings of shock or anger
irretrievably in a way that you can never get back or never make right
REACHING AN AGREEMENT
backlog a quantity of work that should have been done already, but has not yet been
done
The staff will have to do overtime as there is a backlog that needs to be cleared.
at stake that can be won or lost, depending on the success of a particular action
pushy trying hard to get what you want, especially in a way that seems rude
out of the question impossible or not allowed and therefore not worth discussing
REACHING AN AGREEMENT
We have reached the point where we have no other option than to...
We can't possibly...
Agreeing on a solution
Not only has one of our contracts just trebled their order, but another new contract has just
come in.
Had I been given more notice of these other jobs, this wouldn‘t have happened.
Questions
The most common uses of inversion are in questions and short answers.
B. No, I haven‘t.
C. Neither have I.
3. Ordinary verbs be and have and modal auxiliaries do not require do.
Negative expressions
1. Inversion is used after the negative words neither and nor, and after phrases with not
and no.
Not without careful thought am I writing this letter. Nor is it without having
consulted several of my closest associates.
2. We also use inversion after adverbs such as seldom, rarely, scarcely, hardly (ever) and
little that restrict the meaning / reference of the verb that follows.
Little did we know that she had accepted a position with our rivals.
Only
When only is used with time expressions or prepositional phrases, the verb that follows is
inverted.
Participles
When participles are moved to the front position, inversion takes place in formal English.
Conditionals
Instead of saying if I had, if she was, etc, we can use inversion. Note that was becomes were.
Had the minister announced the tax increases more openly, he would have faced a storm of
criticism. (= If the minister had ...)
Had I been told about the dress code, I wouldn't have felt such a fool. (= If I had ...)
We can use the inverted structure should + subject as another way of expressing condition.
Should we require further information, we will contact you again. ( = If we require ...)
UNIT 10
SELLING
charcoal a black substance made by burning wood slowly in an oven with little air. Used
as a fuel or for drawing
long hard slog a difficult and long period of hard work or effort
The project was a long hard slog but we‘ve finally finished it.
passed from pillar to post be forced to go from one person or situation to another
without achieving anything
I‘ve been passed from pillar to post all morning and I still haven‘t got the forms signed.
The negotiations took place over a protracted period but were eventually concluded
satisfactorily.
We need to tap into the skill and expertise of the people we already have.
hook catch
make or break be the thing that makes something either a success or a failure
SELLING AN IDEA
diversify develop a wider range of products, skills, etc. in order to be more successful or
reduce risks
Our new range of products will allow us to diversify into new markets.
fall short fail to reach the standard that you expected or need
cash cow the part of the business that always makes a profit and that provides money
for the rest of the business
We need to milk this cash cow for all that it's worth.
guru a person who is an expert on a particular subject or who is very good at doing
something
If we don't…
In addition to that…
I accept that... but we have to recognize that... / put this into perspective…
Because...
DISCOURSE MARKERS
I've been doing some research into our position in the market and what opportunities are
available to us, and to tell you the truth, I'm excited.
Basically, studies show that most companies only invest a small percent of their advertising
budget in print media.
Ravi, our key account manager, actually comes from the field of online advertising so he's
going to be our guru, so to speak.
DISCOURSE MARKERS
Truthfulness
1. honestly and frankly are used to claim that the speaker is telling the truth. Often they
introduce criticism or negative remarks. Quite adds emphasis to both words.
Strengthening arguments
All of the following discourse markers stress the importance of the point that follows.
1. We can use in fact, as a matter of fact and after all to suggest that an opinion is not
personal, but is based on evidence.
2. We can use if you ask me and I must say to suggest that it is personal.
If you ask me, the government is to blame for ruining the economy.
3. We can use clearly, of course, naturally, obviously, undoubtedly, and after all to
suggest that what will follow is not controversial or will not be questioned.
Concession
1. We can use admittedly, to be sure, it's true that, to acknowledge that someone has
made a good point before disagreeing with them or to concede a negative point
before making a different point. The sentence that follows the sentence containing
these phrases often begins with but or however.
Admittedly, the result could have been better. However, we retained our position as
market leader.
2. We can concede that someone else has a point before making our own point, to make
our own point sound stronger or more carefully thought out. To do this, admittedly, to
be sure, and it's true that… but / however are possible.
B. It's true that we are dealing with an incredibly large workload at the moment, but I
know that we can meet this deadline.
DISCOURSE MARKERS
Discourse patterns
Some discourse markers draw attention to the discourse itself - the pattern of what is said.
Your holiday could cause a real problem… well I mean, we need to amend the
schedules, really.
2. We can use the following to link to a new topic: now, anyway, mind you, moving on,
actually, indeed.
So, that's the plan for the next two months. Anyway, didn't you want to ask me
about the sales figures?
3. We can use the following to return to a previous topic: anyway, as l was saying.
Some discourse markers show that language is being used in a way that is different from its
usual, literal meaning: so to speak, as it were, if you will, if you like.
If you start speaking too quickly, you must put the brakes on, as it were, so that the audience
can understand you clearly.
Successful marketing depends on a number of complex factors. It's a science, if you like.
There has been, as it were, a rebellion among the staff over the reduction in holidays.
I'I be giving out a handout at the end of the meeting summarizing everything.
Giving compliment
I like your…
Great design.
I love...
Responding to compliments
Thanks.
I don‘t know how you can say that, but thanks anyway.
UNIT 11
whatnot used when you are referring to something but are not being exact and do not
mention its name
He can sometimes go overboard when he's talking about the places he's visited.
ECO TOURISM
commend recommend
The upside of this plan is that we make more money in the short-term.
I told him to stay put until we come and get him in the car.
TRAVEL
impressive / fantastic place was… I'd say the most remarkable place was the Pyramids
in Egypt.
It's probably… It's probably when I went to the Great Barrier Reef.
I don't think about it as much as… I don‘t think about it as much as some people.
MAILSHOTS
We've been trying to get our hands on the software update for ages.
hacker a person who secretly finds a way of looking at and / or changing information
on somebody else's computer system without permission
We've had a hacker trying to get into the system to steal credit card details.
UNIT 12
souvenir a thing you buy or keep to remind yourself of a place, an occasion, or a holiday
The country has been threatened with isolation from the international community.
initiative a new plan for dealing with a particular problem or for achieving something
This project began slowly but now we're really building up a head of steam.
hamper (often passive) prevent someone from easily doing or achieving something
The Colonel is a very buttoned-up individual but then he is from a different generation.
jargon words and expressions that are used by a particular profession or group and
which are difficult to understand
The people in the IT Department are always using computer jargon. I don't understand a
word they say.
buzzword a word or phrase that has become popular and fashionable and is used a lot in
newspapers, etc.
AUSTRALIAN ENGLISH
I spilt my coffee on him and he went off like a bucket of prawns in the sun.
I'm flat out like a lizard drinking doing eight in the morning till eight at night.
Sheila gave me a lovely birthday prezzie - her blood's worth bottling, mate
I'm thinking of getting a new car but it'll cost big bikkies.
arvo afternoon
sunnies sunglasses
mozzies mosquitoes
bikkies biscuits