English Language Essentials: Vocabulary, Grammar, and Verb Patterns

I. Film and Entertainment Vocabulary

• BOOM: Auge
• DUB: Doblar (una película)
• AWESOME: Impresionante, increíble
• BOX-OFFICE HIT: Taquillazo
• LOOK ON: Quedarse mirando
• FAST-PACED: Trepidante
• CAST: Reparto / Dar un papel a
• OUTNUMBER: Superar en número a
• OUTRAGEOUS: Indignante
• CHARACTER: Personaje
• REFLECT: Reflejar
• PREDICTABLE: Previsible
• FIGURE: Cifra
• RELEASE: Estrenar (se)
• WISE: Sensato
• FILMGOER: Espectador
• SELL OUT: Agotarse (entradas)
• GENDER: Sexo
• STAND OUT: Destacar
• LEADING ROLE: Papel principal
• PLOT: Argumento
• SCRIPT: Guion
• SET: Decorado

II. Essential Collocations

• MAKE A CHOICE: Tomar una decisión
• TAKE PLACE: Tener lugar
• STUNT: Escena de riesgo / Especialista
• MAKE A SUGGESTION: Hacer una sugerencia
• TAKE RESPONSIBILITY: Asumir la responsabilidad
• MAKE AN APPOINTMENT: Concertar una cita
• TAKE ONE'S TIME: Tomarse su tiempo
• APPEAL TO: Atraer a
• MAKE MONEY: Recaudar / Ganar dinero
• BEHIND THE SCENES: Entre bastidores
• MAKE PROGRESS: Hacer progresos
• BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS: A pasos agigantados
• MAKE SENSE: Tener lógica
• MOVE WITH THE TIMES: Modernizarse
• RAISE A QUESTION: Plantear una pregunta
• (BE) WORTH SEEING: Merecer la pena ver
• RAISE AWARENESS: Crear conciencia
• RAISE CHILDREN: Criar (hijos)
• RAISE ISSUES: Plantear problemas
• RAISE MONEY: Recaudar fondos
• RAISE ONE'S VOICE: Alzar la voz
• TAKE A RISK: Correr un riesgo
• TAKE ACTION: Pasar a la acción
• TAKE PART: Formar parte

III. Verb Patterns

A. Verbs Followed by TO + Infinitive

Used after the following verbs:

• afford
• plan
• choose
• offer
• hope
• agree
• propose
• decide
• help
• expect
• attempt
• arrange
• would like
• promise
• want
• tend
• prepare
• refuse
• seem
• wish
• intend
• manage
• fail
• look
• need
• pretend
• dare
• learn
• threaten

Examples:

• I can’t afford to pay that house.
• I agreed to lend her some money.
• He attempted to reach it.

B. Verbs Followed by Object + TO + Infinitive

When the verb is followed by an object (verb + object + infinitive):

• ask
• enable
• expect
• would prefer
• force
• help
• invite
• order
• persuade
• remind
• teach (how)
• tell
• want
• warn
• would like

Examples:

• I asked Mary to come to the party.
• She has forced them to tell the truth.
• They persuaded me to do it.

C. After Adjectives and Adverbs

Example:

• It’s interesting to learn languages.

D. After "It is/was + adjective + of + noun/pronoun"

Example:

• It was very kind of you to help the old lady.

E. After "Adjective + for + object"

Example:

• It was very difficult for us to find out the truth.

F. With Interrogative Pronouns (except 'why')

Examples:

• I didn’t know what to say.
• Why do it now? (Note: 'why' is followed by bare infinitive)

IV. Bare Infinitive (Infinitive without 'TO')

Used after:

• make
• let
• help

Examples:

• He made her write a long essay.
• She doesn’t let me go out.
• Can you help me do the exercises?

Also used after modal verbs:

• can
• could
• must
• should
• would
• may
• might
• ...and others.

Examples:

• They could find the way.
• You should visit her.

V. Gerund Usage (-ING Form)

Used after the following verbs:

• admit
• deny
• cease
• practice
• enjoy*
• consider
• detest
• finish
• risk
• love*
• imagine
• dislike
• give up
• suggest
• like*
• mind
• delay
• resist
• keep on
• hate*
• involve
• postpone
• look forward to
• carry on
• avoid
• put off
• miss
• go on

*Note: Verbs like 'enjoy', 'love', 'like', 'hate' can sometimes be followed by an infinitive with 'to' depending on the context or specific meaning.

A. Common Expressions with the Gerund

Normally with expressions like:

• can’t help
• can’t stand
• can’t bear

B. Fixed Expressions with the Gerund

Always with expressions like:

• it’s (not) worth
• it’s no use
• to be used to / to get used to

Examples:

• It’s no use talking to her, she won’t listen.
• They got used to driving on the left.

C. After Prepositions

Example:

• I watched TV after doing the washing up.

D. As the Subject of a Sentence

Example:

• Smoking is not healthy.

E. For Short Prohibitions

Example:

• No smoking.

VI. Work and Employment Vocabulary

• CLERK: Empleado
• GLARE: Fulminar con la mirada
• FOND OF: Encantado con
• DEADLINE: Fecha límite
• MUMBLE: Murmurar
• PART-TIME: A media jornada
• FIELD: Campo / Área (profesional)
• REHEARSE: Ensayar
• RELIABLE: Responsable, fiable
• NONSENSE: Tonterías
• TRACE: Localizar
• REWARDING: Gratificante
• OVERTIME: Horas extras
• SEASONAL: De temporada
• PAY RISE: Aumento de sueldo
• PEOPLE SKILLS: Habilidades sociales
• PERK: Ventaja (laboral)
• POSITION: Puesto (de trabajo)
• QUALIFICATION: Título / Requisito
• RESIGNATION: Dimisión
• SHIFT: Turno (de trabajo)
• SICK LEAVE: Baja por enfermedad
• SLAVE: Esclavo
• STARVATION: Inanición
• STEADY JOB: Empleo estable
• TEAMWORK: Trabajo en equipo
• WAGE: Sueldo, salario (por hora/semana)
• BURN OUT: Quemado (por el trabajo)
• MAKE UP ONE’S MIND: Decidirse
• DEAD-END JOB: Trabajo sin futuro
• OUT OF WORK: Desempleado
• GET FIRED: Ser despedido
• PULL ONE’S WEIGHT: Hacer su parte del trabajo
• GET (ONE’S) FOOT IN THE DOOR: Meter la cabeza (en una empresa/industria)
• RAT RACE: Competitividad (laboral)
• GET PAID PEANUTS: Cobrar una miseria
• ROOM FOR ADVANCEMENT: Posibilidad de ascenso
• HOLD DOWN A JOB: Conservar un empleo
• TEAM PLAYER: Trabajador en equipo
• MAKE A LIVING: Ganarse la vida
• TRICKS OF THE TRADE: Trucos del oficio
• WORK (ONE’S) WAY UP: Subir puestos

VII. Relative Clauses

A. Defining Relative Clauses (No Commas)

• PERSONA: WHO, THAT, WHOM (for objects, less common)
• OBJECTS/THINGS: WHICH, THAT
• POSSESSION: WHOSE (cuyo/a, cuyos/as)
• MOMENT IN TIME: WHEN, THAT
• PARTICULAR PLACES: WHERE, THAT

B. Non-Defining Relative Clauses (Use Commas)

The same relative pronouns are used, but they provide extra, non-essential information and are always separated by commas.

• WHO, WHICH, WHOM, WHOSE, WHEN, WHERE

VIII. Passive Voice Transformations

1. Present Simple

• Active: Many tourists visit Spain every year.
• Passive (Affirmative): Spain is visited by many tourists every year.
• Passive (Negative): Spain isn’t visited by many tourists every year.
• Passive (Interrogative): Is Spain visited by many tourists every year?

2. Present Continuous

• Active: He is painting the rooms.
• Passive (Affirmative): The rooms are being painted by him.
• Passive (Negative): The rooms aren’t being painted by him.
• Passive (Interrogative): Are the rooms being painted by him?

3. Past Simple

• Active: Tolkien wrote The Lord of the Rings.
• Passive (Affirmative): The Lord of the Rings was written by Tolkien.
• Passive (Negative): The Lord of the Rings wasn’t written by Tolkien.
• Passive (Interrogative): Was The Lord of the Rings written by Tolkien?

4. Past Continuous

• Active: The new students were doing the project.
• Passive (Affirmative): The project was being done by the new students.
• Passive (Negative): The project wasn’t being done by the new students.
• Passive (Interrogative): Was the project being done by the new students?

5. Present Perfect Simple

• Active: The government has built the new road.
• Passive (Affirmative): The new road has been built by the government.
• Passive (Negative): The new road hasn’t been built by the government.
• Passive (Interrogative): Has the new road been built by the government?

6. Past Perfect Simple

• Active: My sister had made dinner.
• Passive (Affirmative): Dinner had been made by my sister.
• Passive (Negative): Dinner hadn’t been made by my sister.
• Passive (Interrogative): Had dinner been made by my sister?