English Expressions and Grammar Rules for Language Learners
We usually use HOW to reply to good or bad news:
| HOW + | ADJECTIVE |
|---|---|
| How+ | awesome! |
We use THAT’S also as a reply or to make a positive or negative comment:
| THAT’S + | ADJECTIVE / ADJECTIVE PHRASE |
|---|---|
| That’s + | great! really kind of you! |
When we want to express that something is always the same:
| WHAT + | A / AN + | NOUN PHRASE + SUBJ. + VERB |
|---|---|---|
| What What | a an | wonderful friend he is! amazing place this is! |
Direct and Reported Speech:
| Direct speech | Reported speech |
|---|---|
| “Go home,” she told me. | She told me to go home. |
| “Could you please open the door?” she asked me. | She asked me to open the door. |
| Will | Would |
|---|---|
| Can | Could |
| Must | Had to |
TIME:
| Now | then, at that time |
|---|---|
| today | that day, on Sunday, yesterday |
| tonight | that night, last night, on Sunday night |
| tomorrow | the next day/ the following day, on Sunday, today |
| yesterday | the day before/ the previous day, on Sunday |
| last night | the night before/ the previous night, on Sunday night |
| this week | that week, last week |
| two minutes ago | two minutes before |
| in one hour | one hour later |
| next year | the following year, in 2014 |
1: SAY say + (that) + clause
She said (that) she had already eaten.
(The direct speech for this is “I’ve already eaten”.)
2: TELL tell + someone + (that) + clause
I told John (that) I had seen the new film.
(The direct speech for this is “I’ve seen the new film”.)
A la hora de dar ordenes:
tell + someone + to + infinitive
She told the children to go to bed.
3: ASK ask + someone + if / question word + clause
I asked my boss if I could leave early.
She asked them where the station was.
For requests we use the pattern:
ask + someone + to + infinitive
I asked Lucy to pass me the salt.
4: ADVISE Advise + someone + to + infinitive
She advised him to see a doctor.
Advise + (that) + clause
The staff advise that you carry water at all times.
Advise + against + verb-ing
I’d advise against leaving early.
5: AGREE Agree + to + infinitive
We agreed to meet the following day.
Agree + (that) + clause
I agreed that the children could do their homework later.
6: APOLOGISE Apologise + (to + someone) + for + verb-ing
They apologised to us for being late.
She apologised for forgetting the book.
Apologise (+ to + someone) + for + noun
She apologised for the delay.
7: DECIDE Decide + to + infinitive
They decided to go to the cinema.
Decide + (that) + clause
They decided that they would go to the cinema.
8: ENCOURAGE Encourage + someone + to + infinitive
She encouraged him to take the exam again.
The teacher encouraged the students to ask questions.
9: EXPLAIN Explain + (that) + clause
The teacher explained that the course was finished.
Explain + noun + to + someone
She explained the grammar to the students.
NOT: She explained me the grammar.
Explain + question word + to + infinitive
John explained where to find the restaurant.
Explain + question word + clause
We explained what the exams would cover.
10: INSIST* Insist + on + verb-ing
He insisted on paying.
Insist + (that) + clause
He insisted that we sit down.
11: PROMISE Promise + to + infinitive
He promised to arrive early.
Promise + (someone) + (that) + clause
I promised him that I wouldn’t do it again.
12: RECOMMEND Recommend + verb-ing
I recommend visiting the British Museum while you’re in London.
Recommend + (that) + clause
I recommend that you visit the British Museum
13: REMIND Remind + someone + to + infinitive
She reminded him to take his keys.
Remind + someone + (that) + clause
They reminded me that there is a party tonight.
14: SUGGEST Suggest + verb-ing
I suggest leaving soon
Suggest + (that) + clause
I suggest that you come as soon as you can.
NOT: I suggest him to come.
15: WARN Warn + someone + (not) + to + infinitive
I warned them not to go in the water.
Warn + someone + about + something
She warned us about the dangerous roads.
FRIENDSHIPS AND RELATIONSHIPS:
Back up: Donar suport. The life and soul of the party: L’ànima de la festa. Bond: Vincle. Look out for: Cuidar de, tenir cura de. Fall out (with): Discutir (amb). Love at first sight: Amor a primera vista. Finish with: Tallar amb. Make memories: Crear records. Friendship group: Grup d’amistats. Make up: Reconciliar-se. Gossip (about): Cotillear (sobre). Rely on: Confiar en. Hurt sb’s feelings: Herir los sentimientos de alguien. Talk behind sb’s back: Hablar a las espaldas. Take an instant dislike to: Causar mala impresión. Split up: Romper. Let down: Dejar tirado. Upset: Decepcionade.
DEPENDENT PREPOSITIONS:
Approve of: Donar l’aprovació. Different from: Diferent de. Be ashamed of: Tener vergüenza de. Fearful of: Temorós/a de. Attitude towards: Actitud envers. Prevent from: Prevenir de. Be aware of: Ser conscient de. Protect from: Protegir de. Belong to: Pertenecer a. Puzzled by: Confundido por. Bias against /towards: Prejuicio contra. Result in: Resultar en. Decrease in: Disminuir en. Similar to: Similar a. Depend on: Depender de. Typical of: Típic de.
Bonfire: Hoguera. Hallowe’en: (Halloween – vigíliade Tots Sants). Celebrate: Celebrar. Harvest: Cosecha. Costume: Disfraz. Heat: Calor. Dress up (as): Disfrazarse (de). Lantern: Linterna. Dress up: Arreglar-se (elegant). Mask: Mascara. Explode: Explotar. Onlookers: Espectadors/es. Feast: Festin. Parade: Desfile. Firework display: Focs artificials. Roots: Raices. Get-together: Quedada. Set off: Partir (un viatge)