Boost Your English: Adjectives, Adverbs, Tenses, Conditionals & Key Vocabulary

Understanding Noun Phrases and Adjectives in English

Groups of People

• "The young," "the old," "the sick," "the blind," "the deaf," "the homeless," "the dead."

Nationalities

Nationalities Ending in -ch, -sh, -ese, and -ss

• "The French," "the Spanish," "the British," "the Japanese," "the Irish," "the Swiss," etc.

Plural for Other Nationalities

• "The Brazilians," "the Poles," "the Turks," "the Hungarians," "the Argentinians," etc.

Adjective + People

• Example: "Poor people," "homeless people," "old people," "French people."
• Important: For singular, use "a Japanese woman," "a rich man," NOT "a Japanese," "a rich."

Order of Adjectives Before Nouns

When using multiple adjectives to describe a noun, follow this general order:

1. Opinion (e.g., lovely, beautiful)
2. Size (e.g., long, small)
3. Age (e.g., old, new)
4. Shape (e.g., round, square)
5. Color (e.g., fair, red)
6. Pattern (e.g., striped, polka-dotted)
7. Origin/Location (e.g., Italian, French)
8. Material (e.g., leather, wooden)
9. Noun

Examples:

• "A lovely old cottage."
• "Long fair hair."
• "A beautiful Italian leather belt."

Quick Reference: Adverbs in English

Adverbs of Manner (Adverbios de Manera)

• Position: After the verb or verb phrase.
• Examples: Slowly (Lentamente), fluently (Fluidamente), seriously (Seriamente).

Adverbs of Frequency (Adverbios de Frecuencia)

• Position: Before the main verb or after the verb "to be."
• Examples: Hardly ever (Casi nunca), always (Siempre), never (Nunca).

Adverbs of Time and Place (Adverbios de Tiempo y Lugar)

• Position: Normally at the end of the sentence or clause.
• Examples: Yesterday (Ayer), here (Aquí), now (Ahora), today (Hoy).

Adverbs of Degree (Adverbios de Grado)

• Position: Before the verb or verb phrase; before the adjective or adverb they modify.
• Examples: Nearly (Casi), extremely (Extremadamente), incredibly (Increíblemente), a lot (Mucho), very (Muy), a little (Un poco).

Comment Adverbs (Adverbios de Comentario)

• Position: At the beginning of the sentence or clause.
• Examples: Unfortunately (Desafortunadamente), ideally (Idealmente).

Other Adverbs (Otros Adverbios)

• Position: Many are in a mid-position in the sentence.
• Examples: Normally (Normalmente), often (A menudo), even (Incluso), probably (Probablemente).

Quick Reference: Future Perfect and Future Continuous

Future Perfect

• Form: will have + past participle
• Usage: To express that something will be completed before a certain moment in the future.

Future Continuous

• Form: will be + verb in -ing
• Usage: To express that an action will be in progress at a specific moment in the future.

Quick Reference: Conditionals and Future Time Clauses

Zero Conditional (Condicional Cero)

• Form: if + simple present in both clauses.
• Usage: To talk about something that is always true or always happens as a result of something else.

Future in Time Clauses (Futuro en Cláusulas Temporales)

• Expressions: as soon as, when, until, unless, before, after, in case + present tense.
• Usage: Similar to the Zero Conditional, but with temporal expressions.
• Example: "Send me a message when your train's coming into the station."

First Conditional (Primer Condicional)

• Form: if + simple present in the conditional clause and simple future or imperative in the other.
• Usage: To talk about something probable in the future as a result of something else.
• Example: "If the photos are good, I'll send them to you."

Using "In Case" (En Caso de)

• Usage: Preparation for future situations.
• Example: "Take your umbrella in case it's raining when you leave work."

English Vocabulary and Translation: Adjectives

Common Adjectives and Their Meanings

• Miserable: Miserable
• Homesick: Nostálgico
• Disappointed: Decepcionado
• Lonely: Solitario
• Proud: Orgulloso
• Fed up: Harto, cansado
• Grateful: Agradecido
• Upset: Contrariado, molesto
• Relieved: Aliviado
• Offended: Ofendido

Additional Adjectives and Related Terms

• Beloved: Amado
• Stuck: Atrapado
• Stranger: Desconocido
• Abroad: En el extranjero
• Disappear: Desaparecer
• Missing: Perdido
• Boring: Aburrido
• Wedding: Boda

Intense Emotions and States

• Astonished: Asombrado
• Desperate: Desesperado
• Bewildered: Desconcertado
• Delighted: Encantado
• Overwhelmed: Abrumado
• Horrified: Horrorizado
• Stunned: Aturdido
• Thrilled: Emocionado

Informal or Strong Emotional States

• Scared stiff: Asustado hasta la rigidez
• Down: Deprimido
• Shattered: Agotado, destrozado
• Gobsmacked: Asombrado, boquiabierto
• Sick of: Harto de
• Gutted: Devastado

Positive Feelings Summary

• Delighted: Encantado/a
• Proud: Orgulloso/a
• Grateful: Agradecido/a
• Relieved: Aliviado/a