TEST I

IE1
O

Abajo encontrars una serie de frases. Solo una es correcta en cada caso,
bien sea por razones gramaticales, bien sea por el contexto. Piensa la
respuesta muy bien antes de contestar y piensa por qu es correcta esa
respuesta y no las restantes. Encontrars las respuestas en la pgina
siguiente con sus correspondientes explicaciones.

The late Ronald Reagan annoyed him

Ronald Reagan, late, annoyed him
Late Ronald Reagan annoyed him
Ronald Reagan annoyed him late

D
D
D
D

U
I
9
l

Yesterday he bought a trouser in Bryant's

He yesterday bought a trouser in Bryant's
He boughted a trouser in Bryant's yesterday
Yesterday he bought some trousers in Bryant's

D
I I
D
D

SU
!H
u

The fraudster was sent to a prison

The fraudster was sent to the prison
The fraudster was sent to prison
The fraudster was sent to some prison

D
D

Barely I have any rice left

I barely have any rice left
I have any rice barely left
I have some rice barely left

D
D
D
D

However hard he pushed, he just couldn't open the door

However, hard he pushed, he just couldn't open the door
How hard he ever pushed, he just couldn't open the door
However much hard he pushed, he just couldn't open the door
I
I
I
I

SOI
13E1
0}

really like the Pedro's new car

like the Pedro's new car really
really like Pedro's new car
really like new Pedro's car

Will you be not able to go?

Will you can't go?
Won't you be able to go?
Will'n't you can go?
Horse have calves
Horses have foals
Horses have cubs
Horses have tadpoles

NOTAS

D
D

D
D
D
| |
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
| |
D
D
D

ANSWERS

1.a

Pero qu significa? Adivnalo! Se puede decir "the late Raner of Montecarlo" pero no
"the late Juan Carlos of Spain". Igual de aceptable sera "the late John Paul II". Por otro
lado, no se puede decir "the late John Paul I". Est claro? La respuesta viene a pie de
pgina.*

2.d

La colocacin de la palabra yesterday era simplemente para despistarte. Puede colocarse al

principio o al final de la frase. Obviamente la "C" incluye un pasado incorrecto. El truco
est en saber que en ingls siempre decimos "some trousers" o "a pair of trousers". "A
trouser" no existe.

3.c

Estamos hablando de un criminal: "a fraudster". Cuando hablamos de ciertas instituciones

(entre ellas "prisons, schools, hospitals and churches"), a veces se omite el artculo. Por
ejemplo: "A prisoner goes to pr/son. However, a relative goes to the pr/son to visit the
prisoner. A pupil goes to school. His parents go to the school to speak with his teachers. A
sick person goes to hospital. Similarly, a relative of that person goes to the hospital to visit
them. If you are a practising Catholic, you go to church every Sunday. As a tourist, on the
other hand, you go to the church to visit the crypt". Para que la "D" fuera correcta, hara
falta aadir ms informacin: "He was sent to some prison n the middle of nowhere", por
ejemplo.

4.b

Nuestro adverbio equivalente a "apenas" se sita inmediatamente antes de cualquier verbo

no auxiliar (regular o irregular), y despus de cualquier verbo auxiliar. Ojo! En este ejemplo,
el verbo have significa "tener" y no "haber", con lo cual, se comporta como un verbo no
auxiliar.

5.a

La palabra however tiene dos significados: "however+ adverbio + sujeto + verbo", como en
este caso, que significa "Por muy fuerte que empujara". El otro significado de however,
(seguido de una coma) es "sin embargo".

6.c

La "A" es quizs la que ms se oye en boca de un espaol, pero suena fatal. Tienes que
olvidar el artculo en ejemplos de este tipo. Por otro lado, la "D" significa que lo nuevo es
Pedro y no su coche!

7.c

No olvides que el futuro del verbo can (por cierto, un verbo incompleto) es wll be able to.
Para preguntas negativas el orden es siempre el siguiente: contraccin del auxiliar con
negacin (won't) + sujeto (you) + infinitivo (be able to).

8.b

Una simple cuestin de vocabulario! Cuntos caballos habis visto que paran terneros
(calves), cachorros de felinos o lobos (cubs) o renacuajos (tadpoles)?
"The late Ronald Reagan" s i g n i f i c a "el recin fallecido" o "el difunto".

How is he like?
What does he look like?
What does he look?
How does he look like?

I |
I I
I I
G

How many of you will there be?

3
How many of you will be?
l How many be you?
I How many are you?

G
G
G
I I

I People in Italy dresses elegantly

:
f
The Italian people dresses elegantly
>t
People from Italy dresses elegantly
H
Italian people dress elegantly

G
G
G
G

Why
Why
Why
Why

you haven't started yet?

haven't you started yet?
do you not have started?
you still haven't started?
like
like
like
like

to
to
to
to

G
G
G
I I

3Eft
jflil
EI
JEI

If anyone would
If anyone would
If anyone would
If anyone would

ask a question, fire away

question me, fire away
demand a question, fire away
make me a question, fire away

Et
JJjl
iT
tfii

When did it last take you three hours to get to work?

When did you take three hours to get to work for the last time?
When did you last three hours to get to work lately?
When have you lasted three hours to get to work lately?

G
G
G
I I

He
He
He
He

is used to make speeches

is using to make speeches
used to making speeches
is used to making speeches

O
O
CU
G

We
We
We
We

go there
go there
go there
go there

G
G
| |
G

all the years

each year
every year
all years

NOTAS

G
I I
G
O

1.b

Significa "Cmo es l fsicamente?". "Cmo es l?" (como persona) sera "What is he

like?" "Cmo est?" sera "How is he?". Las tres restantes no tienen mucho sentido.

2.a

Esta es una frase donde habitualmente los espaoles se equivocan, traduciendo de forma
literal del castellano (como en el ejemplo "D"). La respuesta normal es "There'll be five of
us." Otros ejemplos son "There were only three of us at the meeting." Y "/ interviewed many
candidates but only seven of them were any good."

3.d

Se puede decir perfectamente "The tallan people" (en los libros de historia), "People in
ltaly"y "People from Italy". Sin embargo, people en ingls, al contrario que en castellano,
es plural, con lo cual solo vale la ltima. Adems, tallan people junto con Italians son las
formas ms empleadas.

4.b

Una de las famosas preguntas en negativo en las que siempre tiene que haber presente un
verbo auxiliar. En estos casos, hay que invertir dicho "auxiliar + not + sujeto". Aqu
propongo ms ejemplos con el verbo auxiliar sealado en negrita: "Why don'tyou come?";
"What doesn't he like about it?"; "Why didn't she leave him?"; "Why can't you tell
me?";"Why isn't he here?"; "Why won't they let you?". Respecto a la "C", en cuanto
emplees el verbo auxiliar do, have ha de significar "tener", lo cual es imposible debido a la
presencia del participio.

5.a

Unos matices: "to question" significa "preguntar cuando hay motivo de sospecha" o
"interrogar" (interrgame, por favor!!!). "To demand" significa "exigir" (exigir una
pregunta?). "To make a question" -forma parte de ese mtico idioma spanglish que todava
cuenta con algunos adeptos. "To ask a question" es la nica vlida. "Fire away" equivale a
"Adelante!".

6.a

Significa "Cundo fue la ltima vez que tardaste tres horas en venir al trabajo?" Last aqu
funciona como adverbio. Es una forma ms natural que "When was the last time it took you
three hours to get to work?". "Tardar" = "to take"y se suele expresar en el impersonal (con
"it" como sujeto). "For the last time" quiere decir "por ltima vez". "To last" - "durar".

7.d

"Acostumbrarse" y "estar acostumbrado a" llevan la forma del verbo acabado en -ing. No hay
que confundirlo con "usedto+ infinitivo". Comparmoslos: "I am usedto workinglonghours"
= "Estoy acostumbrado a trabajar muchas horas". En este caso, sigo trabajando. "/ used to
work long hours" - "Antes trabajaba muchas horas". Aqu se supone que ya no trabajo
muchas horas.

8.c

En trminos generales, each y every son sinnimos pero hay dos ocasiones en las que solo
vale uno. Para decir "todos/as" refirindose a la frecuencia con la que hacemos algo, se
emplea every ("every week", "every Monday", "every summer") y cuando hablamos de solo
dos cosas ("cada una" o "ambas") hay que utilizar each.

TEST 3

The
The
The
The

news
news
news
news

John
John
John
John
It
It
It
It

bought
bought
bought
bought

would
would
would
would

Only
Only
Only
Only

disaster.
disaster.
disaster.
disaster.

Now-m-on, ufe will be even harder

From here forward, ufe will be even harder
Here-in-on, life will be even harder
Henceforth, life will be even harder

the cat from

the cat from
the cat from
the cat from

be a calamity
be a calamity
be a calamity
be a calamity

Bob.
Bob.
Bob.
Bob.

-No,
-No,
-No,
-No,

it was Peter who bought it

were Peter who bought it
was Peter who bought it
he was Peter who bought it

were the summit to fail

should the summit to fail
unless the summit to fail
if the summit to fail

by chance did Jack discover where the settlement was

by chance had Jack discover where the settlement was
by chance might have Jack discovered where the settlement was
by chance Jack discovered where the settlement was

Before
Before
Before
Before
He
He
He
He

s a
s a
s a
is a

their
their
their
their

trip,
trip,
trip,
trip,

they
they
they
they

had to
had to
had to
had to

incorprate lots of jabs. (Jabs = vacunas)

make lots of jabs
do lots of jabs
have lots of jabs

shoved the day before yesterday

shoved himself the day before yesterday
shaved himself the day before yesterday
shaved the day before yesterday

| |
I I
I I
G
O
G
d
O
G
O
Q
D
HJ
O
O
I I
Q
O
O
O
| |
O
O
O

He tooks the pen out his pocket

He took the pen out of his pocket
He took out the pen his pocket
He took out the pen of his pocket

D
O
d
O

He saught employment
He seeked employment
He soaked employment
He sought employment

O
I I
O
O

all last year

all last year
all last year
all last year

NOTAS

10

ANSWERS

1.d

Henceforth: una de nuestras expresiones para decir "de aqu en adelante". Las tres
restantes son errneas: deberan ser "now-on-in ', "from now on" y "here-on-in" para ser
correctas.

2.a

Hasta que no identifiquemos a una persona por su nombre utilizamos la forma impersonal
con el pronombre it, aunque estemos hablando de nosotros mismos. "It wasn't him, it was
me". El ejemplo ms comn es cuando descolgamos el telfono. "Quin eres?" se dice
"Who is it?"y "Soy Richard" se dice "It's Richard". Una vez identificado el sujeto, volvemos
a utilizar el pronombre personal habitual.

3.a

Esta es una forma alternativa y muy formal del segundo condicional, por muy raro que
suene. Summit significa "cumbre", tanto poltica como montaosa. La oracin compuesta
por "Were + sujeto + to + infinitivo" sustituye a la ms frecuente "If + sujeto + pasado
simple". Se suele utilizar esta forma cuando estamos hablando de un desenlace poco
probable en el contexto de un acontecimiento y periodo de tiempo especfico. "Should the
summit /a/7" sera otra alternativa, pero claro, no se puede escribir con to como en el
ejemplo "C" tratndose de un verbo auxiliar. La palabra o tambin sobra en el ltimo
ejemplo, donde el verbo tendra que ir en el pasado para ser correcto.

4.a

Esta es difcil. Cuando empezamos una frase con "On/y by chance" (Por pura casualidad)
hay que hacer lo siguiente: "On/y by chance + did + sujeto + infinitivo". Si esta forma
enftica te resulta complicada, simplemente escribe la frase as: "Jack only discovered
where the settlement was by chance. " Settlement significa "poblado".

5.d

Una simple cuestin de vocabulario. "Vacunarse" se dice get vaccinated, get nnoculated
o, entre la poblacin profana en el tema, have a jab. Jab es un "pinchazo".

6.d

Shove o shave? Shove significa "empujar" pero normalmente requiere un complemento y

no se usa de forma reflexiva. Nuestro verbo para "afeitarse" es shave. No se suele utilizar
con el reflexivo, al contrario que en castellano.

7.b

"Sacar algo de algn sitio" es take something out of a place. La "A" no vale porque solo se
aade una s despus de la tercera persona en el presente simple. Took, el pasado, no vara
en funcin de la persona. Falta of en la "C". En cuanto a la "D", cuando hay dos
preposiciones con un verbo, no se suelen separar. En dichos casos, al tratarse de un verbo
de movimiento, el complemento directo suele ir entre el verbo y la primera preposicin.

8.d

El pasado del verbo seek ("buscar") es sought. Sin embargo, es mucho ms comn usar
look for. Soaked es el pasado y el participio del verbo soak ("empapar") y los otros dos
simplemente no existen.

11

TEST 4

U
OJ
El

Nobody saw anything suspicious at any point

Anybody saw anything suspicious at any point
Somebody saw anything suspicious at any point
Nobody saw anything suspicious at no point

D
D
D
D

u
u

El

l'm not looking forward to start work again

l'm not looking forward of starting work again
l'm not looking forward for starting work again
l'm not looking forward to starting work again

D
D
I I
D

U
JU
fH

A part from my jewellery is missing

Apart from my jewellery is missing
Some of jewellery of mine is missing
Some of my jewellery is missing

D
D
D
D

He's a pain seen that he's always late

He's a pain although he's always late
He's a pain, however, he's always late
He's a pain inasmuch as he's always late

D
D
D
D

The country
The country
The country
The country

D
D
D
D

C3EI
Cffil

El
fu
El

ts^i]|
@EI
@EI
Hl

has a rapid immigrant expanding population

has a rapidly expanding immigrant population
has a rapid population expandingly immigrant
has an expandingly rapid immigrant population

He have just eaten his toast

He just has eaten his toast
He's just eaten his toast
He is just eaten his toast
He went
He went
He went
He went
She
She
She
She

D
I I
D
D

out despite of the fact that it rained

out in spite of it rained
out in spite of raining
out despite the rain

stood on the doormat

standed on the doormat
stoods in the doormat
stoods on the doormat.

D
D
D
D
D
D
D

NOTAS

12

ANSWERS

1.a

Aqu se trata de saber la diferencia entre anybody ("nadie") y anybody ("cualquiera").

Cuando viene precedido por un verbo o una expresin en negativo significa "nadie". Sin
embargo, cuando no es as, significa cualquiera. Adems, no puede haber ms de una
palabra estilo "no-body/thing/where" en la misma frase. A partir del primero, los dems
ejemplos sern "any-body/thing/where", por supuesto con connotacin negativa.
Repasemos las cuatro frases para ver lo que significan.
1.a "Nobody saw anythingsuspicious at any point".
"Nadie vio nada sospechoso en
ningn momento". (Versin correcta)
1.b "Anybody saw anything suspicious at any point". "Cualquiera vio cualquier cosa
sospechosa en cualquier momento".
(!) Un poquito raro, verdad?
1.c "Somebody saw anything suspicious at any point". "Alguien vio cualquier cosa sospechosa en cualquier momento". No!
Dos negativos, con lo cual no se
1 .d "Nobody saw anything suspicious at no point".
puede traducir.

2.d

Esta es una expresin que hay que aprender de memoria. Es realmente til para terminar
una carta: "l'm looking forward to hearing from you soon" - "Quedo a la espera de tus
noticias". Una de las pocas veces que to acompaa a un verbo acabado en ing.

3.d

"Some of myjewellery is missing" est bien. "Una parte de" = "a par OF" en ingls y, por
tanto, la primera respuesta est mal. "B": "exceptuando + sujeto + verbo" = "apart from
the fact that...". Para ser correcta, la tercera tendra que omitir el primer of: Somejewellery
of mine is missing.

4.d

l es un pesado PORQUE siempre llega tarde. En consecuencia, la segunda (aunque) y la

tercera (sin embargo), no tienen mucho sentido. El equivalente de "en vista de que" en
ingls puede ser nasmuch as, "seeing that" y since, entre otras.

5.b

En una cadena de adverbios y adjetivos siempre vamos del menos al ms esencial. De qu

se trata? De una poblacin (esto al final). Qu tipo de poblacin? Una poblacin de
inmigrantes (immigrant\ia penltimo). Qu est haciendo esta poblacin de inmigrantes?
Est creciendo (antepenltimo). Cmo est creciendo? Rpidamente (los adverbios
siempre van antes del adjetivo).

6.c

No olvides que el apostrofe + s puede representar has o is. Significa "l acaba de comerse
su tostada". Si alguien ha puesto la "A", me pego un tiro! La posicin errnea de la palabra
justdescarta la "B".

7.d

En la "A" sobra of. Se dice in spite of, pero el sinnimo despite no lleva preposicin. En la
"B" falta "the fact that" antes del sujeto it. La "C" es absurda, dejndonos con la "D" como
nica opcin posible.

8.a

Stand / Stood / Stood. La tercera persona solo lleva una s en el presente simple por
supuesto!

13

TEST 5

H
!l

You needn't smoke in the office

You mustn't smoke in the office
You don't have to smoke in the office
You shouldn't have to smoke in the office

U
O
I I
G

fe Pollution is something you have to suppose

I Pollution is something you have to live with
l Pollution is something you have to assume
ii
Pollution is something you have to support
I
I
i
l

>

31
ai
l

EJ
I3t
lii

I don't believe in the justice

I don't believe about justice
I don't believe in justice
I don't believe about the justice

D
I I
O
I I
Q
CU
HJ
d

The river is lOm deep at that point

The river is lOm of deep at that point
The river has lOm of depth at that point
The depth river is lOm at that point

Q
n
D
D

At that moment,
In this moment,
At this moment,
In that moment,

Len turned up out of the blue

Len turned up out of the blue
Len turned up out of the blue
Len turned up out of the blue

D
D
D
O

He earns twenty
He earns twenty
He earns twenty
He earns twenty

millions pesetas a year

million of pesetas a year
millions of pesetas a year
million pesetas a year

| |
G
O
O

Who's the bag?

Whose the bag is?
Whose bag is it?
Who's is the bag?

D
D
O
D

I won't
I won't
I won't
I won't

Q
O
O
O

go unless you not go

go unless you will go
go unless you won't go
go unless you go

NOTAS

14

1.b

Todas son correctas desde el punto de vista gramatical, pero la "B" es la nica que, por el
contexto, vale. Abajo tienes las traducciones de los cuatro ejemplos. Intenta traducirlo t
mismo con el fin de ver si hay alguna estructura que requiere un repaso,
1.a
1.b
l.c
1 ,d

"You needn't smoke in the office".

"You mustn't smoke in the office".
"You don't have to smoke in the office".
"You shouldn't have to smoke in the office".

"No es necesario fumar en la oficina".

"No debes fumar en la oficina". (Est prohibido)
"No tienes que fumar en la oficina".
"No deberas tener que fumar en la oficina". (!)

2.b

uve with = "soportar"; suppose support= "apoyar".

"suponer, imaginarse"; assume -

"suponer";

3.c

En ingls, "we be/ieve IN something". La Justicia, al igual que todos los nombres
abstractos, no lleva artculo.

4.a

Aqu se trata de la siguiente estructura: "nmero + sustantivo + adjetivo". Piensa en: "/ am
30 years od"; "My block is eght storeys hgh"; "The meeting was 15 minutes long".

5.a

Primero, turn up significa "presentarse en un sitio" y "out of the blue" se puede traducir
como "inesperadamente". "En este momento = At the moment"; "En aquel momento - At
that moment". Las dems suenan fatal.

6.d

En ingls decimos: "Two hundred pesetas", "Five thousand pesetas" y "Twenty million
pesetas". Cuando un nmero describe a algo nunca se pluraliza. Of est igualmente fuera
de lugar. Es spanglish puro y duro.

7.c

Veamos las posibles respuestas.

7.a "Who's the bag?"
"Quin es el bolso?"
7.b "Whose the bag is?" Imposible traducirlo.

No tiene sentido.
Completamente absurdo pero se oye en
Espaa!
7.c "Whose bag is t?" "De quin es el bolso?" Versin correcta.
7.d "Who's is the bag?" "Quin es es el bolso?" Por favor!
Sera igualmente aceptable decir: "Whose is the bag?" o "Whose is this bag?"
8.d

Esta oracin significa "Yo no ir a menos que t vayas". En un contexto futuro empleamos
el presente simple despus de un/ess.

15

TEST 6

I went to the station

I went at the station
I went the station
I was to the station

D
D
D
D

She's
She's
She's
She's

D
D
D
D

He's
He's
He's
He's

more big that me

bigger as me
bigger than me
more big than me

intelligenter that her

more intelligent that her
more intelligent than her
intelligenter than her

D
I I
D
D

Mine is red and the Christopher's is blue

Mine is red and Christopher's is blue
Mine one is red and Christopher's one is blue
The mine is red and the Christopher's is blue

D
D
D
D

31

U
H

I said I go
I said that I go
I said I had go
I said l'd go

D
D
D
D

This one is over there, that one is here

These ones are here, thats ones are over there
This one is here, thoses ones are over there
These ones are here, those ones are over there

I I
D
D
I I

Can you to help me?

Can you be able to help me?
Are you able help me?
Can you help me?

D
D
| |
D

Tve stopped
l've stopped
l've stopped
l've stopped

D
D
D
| |

going to the gym

to go to the gym
of go to the gym
of going to the gym

NOTAS

16

ANSWERS

1.a

Utilizamos la preposicin to con el verbo go cuando nos dirijmos hacia un sitio. At se

emplea con el verbo be para indicar el sitio donde nos encontramos. En espaol, la forma
verbal "fui" corresponde al pasado simple de los verbos "ser" o "ir". En ingls no es as,
por tanto la opcin "D" es incorrecta.

2.c

Comparativos: para adjetivos de una slaba se forma colocando eral final. En nuestro ejemplo
hay que aadir una segunda gal adjetivo. La siguiente palabra es siempre than. Por ejemplo,
"l'm taller than him"; "They're fster than me"; "He's shorter than them".

3.c

Sin embargo, cuando el adjetivo contiene dos slabas o ms, lo dejamos tal cual pero
colocamos la palabra more justo antes. Than sigue siendo la palabra que hay que usar
inmediatamente despus. Algunos ejemplos: "She's more interested in the project than I
am"; "They're more unpredictable than you are",

4.b

Una leccin muy importante. Olvida la palabra the cuando hablamos de "el mo, el de ella,
el nuestro, el de Paco, etc.". Hablamos siempre de "mine, hers, ours, Paco's". Segundo
punto: "mine - my one"; "yours = your one"; "his - his one"; "Laura's = Laura's one".

5.d

"Dije que ira." Lo que realmente dije fue "/ willgo", pero al comentarlo como oracin dicha
en el pasado hay que modificar will dando un paso hacia atrs en el tiempo. El pasado de
w/7/es wouldcuya contraccin es apostrofe + d. Por ejemplo, "l'll play"se relata "/ said l'd
play". "l'll helpyou" se convierte en "/ said l'd help you". Los primeros tres ejemplos son
incorrectos. Aunque puede que los dos primeros parezcan correctos, no lo son. "Dije 'voy'"
(entre comillas) sera "/ said 'l'm going'".

B.d

Pronombres demostrativos. Cuando queremos sealar un objeto que est al alcance de la

mano, empleamos this. Cuando el objeto que queremos indicar se encuentra fuera de
nuestro alcance, la palabra es that. Si estamos hablando de ms de un objeto, usamos these
para cosas que tenemos al lado y those para objetos ms lejanos. Muy relacionado con esto
es la diferencia entre here ("aqu") y over there ("all").

7.d

El verbo can es un auxiliar con lo cual siempre exige un infinitivo SIN to. Por otro lado, la
expresin sinnima be able s requiere to. La "B" es absurda ya que significa "Puedes
poder ayudarme?" (una redundancia total).

8.a

El verbo stop requiere infinitivo o gerundio en funcin de su significado. Cuando queremos

decir "parar para hacer algo" en un momento determinado, empleamos "stop + to +
infinitivo". Ahora bien, cuando queremos decir "dejar de hacer algo" refirindonos a un
hbito, utilizamos "stop + verbo en gerundio (-ing)". Por ejemplo, "/ stopped to answer my
mobile" frente a "I've stopped going to the public library".

17

TEST 7
He
He
He
He

wants that we go to the shop for some bread.

want that we go to the shop for some bread.
wants us to go to the shop for some bread. .
likes us to go to the shop for some bread.

u
D

Do that which s written in the manual!

Do which s written in the manual! . . .
Do that s written in the manual!
Do what is written in the manual! .
Did he has a nice time?
Had he a nice time?
Did he nave a nice time?
Did he have got a nice time?
I
I
I
I

wouldn't have run over the cat

would haven't run over the cat
hadn't have run over the cat if
wouldn't have ran over the cat

n
if I had seen it
if I have seen it
I wouldn't have seen it.
if I had seen it.

The faster you run, the tireder you become

The fastest you run, the tiredest you become. . . .
How much faster you run that tireder you become.
The faster you run, the more ti red you become. . .
Indians
Indians
Indians
Indians

represent 10 per cent of population of Great Britain

represent the 10 per cent of the population of Great Britain.
represent 10% of population of Great Britain
represent 10 per cent of the population of Great Britain. . .

I
I
I
I

out about it
about it out
about it the
it about out

found
found
found
found

D
D
D
D
D

D
D

the other day.

the other day.
other day. . . .
the other day.

There are three left days only. .

There are left three days only. .
There are only three days left. .
Left, there are only three days.

..
..
..
..

NOTAS

18

1.c

Nunca decimos "/ want that" seguido de verbo aunque pueda sonar como una perfecta
traduccin del castellano, Por qu? Porque no tenemos subjuntivo en ingls con lo cual
hay que utilizar un complemento objeto (en muchas ocasiones un pronombre) + to +
infinitivo. La "B" tambin es incorrecta porque carece de la s necesaria en la tercera
persona singular del presente simple. La "D" simplemente suena rara.

2.d

"Lo que = what". No hay ms que hablar. Ahora te propongo algunos ejemplos: "/ like what
I saw." ("Me gusta lo que vi"); "What you said was interesting." ("Lo que dijiste fue
interesante"); "/ don't know what I am going to do." ("No s lo que voy a hacer").

3.c

D/c/es un verbo auxiliar que ya expresa la tercera persona con lo cual no puede seguirle has.
La "B" no vale. Had he solo se dice con un participio y el significado es "haber" y no
"tener". Have got solo sirve para decir "tener" en el contexto del presente. Had got es
"haba conseguido".

4.a

El condicional en el pasado. La "B" es una atrocidad lingstica. La "C" desobedece una

de las normas principales para formular un condicional: nunca se coloca ni la palabra would
ni tv///en la misma oracin que if. La "D" es gramaticalmente incorrecta, ya que los tiempos
compuestos requieren el participio (rur).

5.d

"The treder" no se dice, tratndose de una excepcin. "Cuanto ms... ms" es siempre
"the + comparativo... the + comparativo". "How much" en este contexto es spanglish total.

6.d

Igual que en castellano, hay que decir "de la poblacin". Cuidado con los porcentajes!
Nosotros nunca decimos "the 10%". The sobra.

7.a

Normalmente con los phrasal verbs se coloca el pronombre (it) entre el verbo y la partcula.
Sin embargo, en este caso, el verbo y sus dos preposiciones constituyen una unidad
indivisible por lo que hay que colocar it despus. Otro ejemplo sera "/ got away with it".

8.c

"Solo quedan tres das." Esta expresin necesita el verbo there is/are, y la palaba left al
final de la frase.

19

TEST 8

when
It hurts when
It hurts when
It hurts when

bees
bees
bees
bees

pinch
sting
pique
bite

G
G
| |
D

1 He assumeds a big risk

l He assumes a big risk
He took on a big risk
1 He rans a big risk

l
u
u

H
u
>

| |
G
G
G

I remember to play with my friends as a child

I remember for to play with my friends as a child
I remember playing with my friends as a child
I have memories to play with my friends as a child

G
G
D
G

I
I
I
I

G
| |
G
G

asked
asked
asked
asked

her that she help me

her for to help me
to her that she help me
her to help me

If it snows tomorrow, we will go to the mountains

If tomorrow it snows, we will go to the mountains
We go to the mountains if tomorrow it snows
If it will snow tomorrow, we will go to the mountains

G
| |
G
G

They are two of them in the room

They are two in the room
There are two of them in the
There are two of they in the room

G
G
G
G

I
I
I
I

don't
don't
don't
don't

room

know
know
know
know

who did do it
who did it
who did it do it
who it was that did do it

| |
G
| |
G

Do you know
Do you know
Do you know
Do you know

your route to her house?

your path to her house?
the path to her house?
your way to her house?

| |
G
G
G

NOTAS

20

ANSWERS

1.b

Cuando una abeja te pica utilizamos el verbo sting. El verbo >/ese utiliza para mosquitos,
araas u hormigas. Pinch significa "pellizcar" y piquees francs.

2.c

Assume significa "dar por hecho" o, a veces, "creer". "Asumir un riesgo" es take on a risk.
Podemos decir run a risk ("correr un riesgo") pero el pasado del verbo no puede llevar una
s al final como en el ejemplo "D".

3.c

Cuando hablamos de recuerdos empleamos el verbo remember con el gerundio (verbo

acabado en -ing). En cambio, cuando hablamos de cosas que tenemos que recordar o que
no hemos recordado utilizamos remember con el infinitivo ("to + verbo"). A continuacin
mostramos ejemplos de ambos. Con gerundio: "/ remember going to school for the first
time; I remember Ita/y winning the World Cup in 1982; I remember visiting the Lean ing
Tower of Pisa", y con infinitivo: "/ mus remember to phone my mother; I didn't remember
to go to the dentist's; Remember to tidy up when you finish".

4.d

El acusativo de nuevo. Igual que ocurre con el verbo want, ask requiere un complemento o
pronombre objeto ya que el subjuntivo no existe en ingls. Olvdate de la palabra that
despus de verbos como ASK, WANT, NEEDy BEG. Aqu proponemos un ejemplo de cada:
"He asked u$ to take part" ("l nos pidi que participramos"); "He wanted us to take part"
("l quiso que participramos"); "He needed us to take part" ("l necesit que
participramos"); "He begged us to take part" ("l nos suplic que participramos").

5.a

Dos cosas. Primero: NUNCA utilizamos el auxiliar WILL despus de IF en una oracin
condicional. Por dicho motivo, la "D" es incorrecta. Segundo: la expresin de tiempo
(tomorrow) no puede ir en medio de una oracin condicional. Tiene que colocarse al
principio o al final de la oracin.

6.c

"Son dos - There are two of them". De la misma manera, cuando reservamos en un
restaurante, suelen hacer la siguiente pregunta: "How many of you will there be?", a lo que
hay que contestar: "There'll be four of us" y NUNCA "We will be four".

7.b

No olvides que la segunda parte de la frase es una pregunta indirecta. La confusin puede
surgir debido a que el verbo en este caso es do, el mismo que utilizamos como auxiliar para
hacer preguntas directas. El orden ha de ser who + verbo en pasado.

8.d

"A path" es "un sendero" o "camino". Sin embargo, el camino a algn sitio es "the way".
Route se utiliza ms para un camino o recorrido habitual y no puntual.

21

TEST 9

Hurry
Hurry
Hurry
Hurry

up! l'm waiting

up! l'm waiting
up! l'm waiting
up! l'm waiting

for you. -l'm going

for you. -I come
for you. -l'm coming
for you. -I go

D
D
I I

?}
H
H

(Waiter serving you a drink)

(Waiter serving you a drink)
(Waiter serving you a drink)
(Waiter serving you a drink)

?!
3
H

Did you manage to cover back the bag you left on the bus?
Did you manage to get the bag you left on the bus back?
Did you manage to find the bag back you left on the bus?
Did you manage to recuprate the bag you left on the bus?

| |
D
D
D

ETft
HPt
31!

Are you married

Are you married
Are you married
Are you married

or solitary?
or single?
or alone?
or lonely?

D
| |
D
D

U
Sft

I didn't
I didn't
I didn't
I didn't

realize the difficult it was

realize difficult it was
realize what difficult it was
realize how difficult it was

D
D
D
D

MI

"Poor the you!"

3
s

"Little poor!"
"Little poor thing!"

D
D

"Poor you!"

They look so alike. I always get them confused up!

They look so alike. I always get mixed up them!
They look so alike. I always get them mixed up!
They look so alike. I always get confused them up!

D
D
D
| |

1&
U
H
H

It's
It's
It's
It's

D
| |
D
D

"Take it!"
"Hold it!"
"Here you are!"
"Take!"

a paper's plae
a plae made by paper
a plae from paper
a paper plae

NOTAS

22

D
I I
D
D

ANSWERS

1.c

En ingls, cuando decimos "voy" con la intencin de acercarnos a otra persona, gritamos
"l'm coming!". Por otro lado, cuando decimos "me voy" con la intencin de alejarnos de la
otra persona decimos "l'm going". En ambos casos hemos de emplear el presente continuo.

2.c

"Ah tiene." Curioso. Una frase tan cotidiana y qu poca gente hay que sepa decirlo bien!

3.b

"Recuperar un objeto personal" es recover somethmg o get something back. Recuprate

significa "recuperarse" despus de una enfermedad.

4.b

Si no ests casado, eres single. So/itary significa "solitario" mientras que alone es para
cuando estamos solos y lone/y para cuando nos sentimos solos.

5.d

La palabra clave aqu es how. Otros ejemplos: "/ didn't know how mportant t was" (No
saba lo importante que era); "/ didn't realize how big it was" (No me di cuenta de lo grande
que era).

6.d

"Pobrecito!" Tenemos dos formas para decir esto: "Pooryou!" o "Poor (little) thing!".

7.c

Cuando no somos capaces de distinguir a una persona de otra, expresamos nuestra

confusin de dos formas: "/ always get them mixed up" o "/ always get them confused".

8.d

"Un avin de papel" que tanto gusta a los nios es "a paper plae". La palabra pape/funciona aqu como adjetivo. En este caso no podemos utilizar el genitivo sajn porque el
avin no pertenece al papel. Cuando decimos que un objeto est hecho de algn material
solemos usar la preposicin ofo, a veces, from ("The box was made of wood").

23

The opera
The opera
The opera
The opera

|
U

Some of the people I work wth are English

Some of the people with I work are English
Some of the people with who I work are English
Some people with who I work are English

D
D
I I
I I

?|
U
H
U

It's embarrassed when you forget somebody's ame

It embarrasses when you forget somebody's ame
It's embarrassing when you forget somebody's ame
It's an embarrassment when you forget somebody's ame

D
D
| |
D

I
I
I
I

will
will
will
will

go to
go to
go to
go to

l'm tired
l'm tired
l'm tired
l'm tired

house s in front of the Royal Palace n Madrid

house face the Royal Palace in Madrid
house is opposite the Royal Palace n Madrid
house s in face of the Royal Palace in Madrid

the
the
the
the

party
party
party
party

in case she is there

in case she will be there
in case she might be there
in case she may be there

so l'd not rather to go

so I had rather not go
so I rather not to go
so l'd rather not go

D
D
D
D

D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D

In the end I gave up waiting

At the end I gave up waiting
Lately I gave up waiting
I gave up waiting endly

D
D
D
D

I
I
I
I

D
D
D
D

heard an interesting story in the radio the other day

listened an interesting story on the radio the other day
heard an interesting story on the radio the other day
listened an interesting story in the radio the other day

The
The
The
The

od
od
od
od

lady
lady
lady
lady

needs
needs
needs
needs

somebody
somebody
somebody
somebody

to
to
to
to

care for her 24 hours a day

care about her 24 hours a day
care of her 24 hours a day
care her 24 hours a day

NOTAS

24

D
D
D
D

ANSWERS

1.C

"Enfrente de" is opposite en ingls. In front of significa "delante de". In face of suena un
poco a francs. Se podra admitir la "B" si el verbo acabara en s.

2.a

Aunque es correcto decir "Some of the people wth whom I work are...", suena
excesivamente formal. Cuando un verbo con una preposicin forma parte de una oracin
subordinada, la preposicin suele colocarse tras el verbo. Aqu presentamos algunos
ejemplos ms: "The company I work for is based in Madrid" ("La empresa para la que
trabajo tiene su sede principal en Madrid"); "The book I asked for was out of stock" ("El
libro que ped estaba agotado").

3.c

Estas frases no tienen nada que ver con esperar un beb! Cuando nos referimos a una
situacin decimos "borING, interestING, embarrassING, etc.", en lugar de "borED,
interestED o embarrassED". "It's an embarrassment" no suena natural aqu.

4.a

In case significa "por si..." y, por tanto, la estructura verbal es exactamente la misma que
la de un condicional formal. Nunca JAMS utilizamos will despus de if en una oracin
condicional. De la misma forma, nunca decimos will despus de in case. La idea de
incertidumbre que transmiten may y might es redundante porque ya est implcita en in
case.

5.d

"l'd rather not go - Preferira no ir". En este caso, l'd = I wouldy no / had.

6.a

In the end equivale a "al final". Cuando empleamos at the end siempre hay que
proporcionar informacin adicional. Por ejemplo: "At the end of the match", "At the end of
the day", "At the end of the meeting". Late/y significa "ltimamente" y endly simplemente
no existe.

7.c

Normalmente, "We listen to the radio" pero "We hear something on the radio". De forma
similar, "We watch televisin" pero "We see somethingQR televisin".

8.a

Care for somebody es "cuidar de alguien". Care about somebody significa "preocuparse por
alguien". Si has respondido "C", te has confundido con la expresin take care of somebody,
que s es sinnima de care for somebody. Care sin preposicin es intransitivo y, por tanto,
no va acompaado de un complemento.

25

l'm
l'm
l'm
'm
I
I
I
I

encouraged him to persevere

encouraged that he persevere
encouraged him that he persevere
encouraged to him to persevere

Are
Are
Are
Are

01
m

sorry for getting angry with you the other day

sorry o get angry with you the other day
sorry to have got angry with you the other day
sorry getting angry with you the other day

they
they
they
they

coming? -I
coming? -I
coming? -I
coming? -I

think
think
think
think

D
D
D
D

that yes
yes
they do
so

D
D
D
I I

The house was built for my grandfather. It took him three years
The house was built by my grandfather. It took him three years
The house was builded by my grandfather. It took him three years
The house was builded for my grandfather. It took him three years
I
I
I
I

waited
waited
waited
waited

It won't
It won't
It won't
It won't

two hours the bus

the bus two hours
for two hours the bus
two hours for the bus
take
take
take
take

longer
longer
longer
longer

than
than
than
than

D
D
D
D

D
D
| |
D
D
D
D
D

half hour
half of an hour
the half of an hour
half an hour

D
I I
D
D

Mil

As far the company's concerned, it's a big risk

As
far as the company's concerned, it is a big risk
As far that the company is concerned, it is a big risk
As far than the company's concerned, it's a big risk

D
D
D
D

CEI
0H
Q
Q[|

When this novel was published?

When has this novel been published?
When was this novel published?
When did this novel be published?

D
D
D
D

NOTAS

26

ANSWERS

1.a

Muy simple: cuando nos lamentamos de un hecho pasado utilizamos "l'm sorry + for".
Como for es una preposicin, si quieres utilizar un verbo despus, tiene que ser en gerundio.
Por otro lado, cuando nos disculpamos por algo que estamos a punto de hacer, la estructura
es "l'm sorry + to + verb". Un ejemplo sera "l'm sorry to tellyou we've decided not to renew
your contract" ("Siento decirte que hemos decidido no renovar tu contrato").

2.a

Encourage ("animar") se comporta igual que los verbos want, asky tell. Es decir, despus
hay que emplear un objeto o un pronombre objeto (me, you, him, her, us, them) y luego "to
+ verbo".

3.d

"Creo que s" es siempre igual en ingls, independientemente del tipo de verbo utilizado en la
pregunta: / think so. Lo contrario, "creo que no", es simplemente / don't think so.

4.b

Primero: el pasado (y participio) del verbo build es builtcon lo cual podemos descartar las
dos ltimas posibilidades. Segundo: la diferencia entre la "A" y la "B" se resume en la
diferencia entre "para" (que no tiene sentido aqu) y "por" que siempre se traduce con by
dentro de un contexto verbal pasivo.

5.d

El verbo wait cuando lleva complemento siempre requiere la preposicin for. Para complicar
las cosas podemos optar por emplear la misma preposicin en cuanto al periodo de tiempo
que esperamos. Pero, al contrario de la primera, esta segunda for no es de rigor.

6.d

"Media hora = halfan hour". Conviene memorizar y practicar esta frmula ya que es la nica
forma utilizada en ingls.

7.b

"En cuanto a...": otra expresin digna de estudio. Es necesario emplear as far as ms el
sujeto, la correspondiente persona del verbo be y el adjetivo concerned. A continuacin,
unos ejemplos: "As far as l'm concerned, it's a waste of time" ("En lo que a m respecta,
es una prdida de tiempo"); "As far as my boss is concerned, t isn't a priority" ("En lo que
a mi jefe respecta, no es una prioridad"); "As far as England's hopes are concerned, l'm
not optimistic" ("En cuanto a las expectativas de Inglaterra, no soy optimista").

8.c

Para expresarse bien en la voz pasiva es simplemente cuestin de seguir las reglas del verbo
be. Es decir, cuando formulamos una pregunta, el orden siempre es el mismo/ "verbo +
sujeto + participio". Espero que no hayas puesto la "D", ya que se trata de una aberracin.
Nunca empleamos el auxiliar do/did con otro verbo auxiliar (be}. La "B" es incorrecta por el
tiempo utilizado. Por el contexto es obvio que la novela ya ha sido publicada, por lo que
automticamente recurrimos al pasado simple.

27

T E S T 12

I
I
I
I

didn't
didn't
didn't
didn't

To fool
To fool
To fool
To fool
That
That
That
That

want
want
want
want

the
the
the
the

any problems
any problems
any problems
any problems

Plice,
Plice,
Plice,
Plice,

so I refused to get involved

so I denied to get involved
so I negated to get involved
so I rejected getting involved

he refused involvement
he negated involvement
he denied involvement
he rejected involvement

I I
| |
D
D

book belongs to her

book belongs of her
books belong to her
book belong to her

D
D
D
| |

All of we were studying at the same school

All we were studying at the same school
We were studying at the same school all
We were all studying at the same school
He
He
He
He

V:H
p

got nine
got nine
got nine
got nine

D
| |
* D
D

out of ten in the exam

of ten in the exam
from ten in the exam
over ten in the exam

I I
D
| |
D

These two wines are extremely similar...

There's slightly any difference between them
There's hardly some difference between them
There's slightly some difference between them
There's hardly any difference between them

31
H
U

Helen's
Helen's
Helen's
Helen's

so elegant.
so elegant.
so elegant.
so elegant.

D
I I
D

She gets dressed really well

She wears really well
She dresses herself really well
She dresses really well

Lisa wasn't used to the speed of life n the city

Lisa wasn't get used to the speed of life in the city
Lisa wasn't accustomed herself to the speed of life in the city
Lisa didn't be used to the speed of life in the city

NOTAS

28

D
D
D
D
D
D
I I
D
D
I I
D
D

ANSWERS

1.a

Aqu estamos ante cuatro verbos que suelen provocar confusin. Solo el primero es correcto,
ya que refuse significa "negarse". Deny es "negar", mientras que reject significa
"rechazar". Negate ("invalidar una teora") se emplea muy poco.

2.C

Esta vez, por el contexto, el verbo es deny ("negar"). La frase significa lo siguiente: "Para
engaar a la polica, neg haber estado involucrado".

3.a

El equivalente
preposicin to.
simple hay que
demostrativo a

4.d

Para indicar "todos" como sujeto del verbo, hay que colocar all despus del sujeto y del
verbo si se trata de un verbo auxiliar y entre el sujeto y el verbo para cualquier verbo no
auxiliar. Propongo un ejemplo de cada: "We all went to the concert" ("Fuimos todos al
concierto"); "We are all excitad about the news" ("Estamos todos ilusionados con la
noticia"). Una alternativa es "all of us" que en ambos casos preceden al verbo: "All of us
went to the concert" ("Fuimos todos al concierto"); "All of us are excited about the riews"
("Estamos todos ilusionados con la noticia").

5.a

En este caso es simplemente cuestin de aprender esta frmula hecha. Practiquemos: 7/10
("seven out of ten"); 4/5 ("four out of five")-, 3/4 ("three out of four").

B.ti

Slightly significa "ligeramente" en el sentido de "poco". Nuestra forma de decir "apenas"

es hardly. Hace falta emplear any cuando la utilizamos junto con un sustantivo (contable o
no): "There are hardly any books left" ("Apenas quedan libros"); "There was hardly any
sugar left" ("Apenas quedaba azcar").

7.d

Dresses "vestir" o "ir vestido". El verbo wear requiere que se cite la prenda en cuestin ya
que significa "llevar" o "llevar puesto".

8.a

"Lisa no estaba acostumbrada al ritmo de vida en la ciudad". Be used to significa "estar

acostumbrado a" y no debe confundirse con get used to ("acostumbrarse a"). La ltima
respuesta supone una barbaridad lingstica!

en ingls al verbo "pertenecer" es belong. Normalmente requiere la

Como el sujeto del verbo est en tercera persona del singular del presente
aadir la s. Para que la "C" fuera correcta, habra que cambiar el pronombre
those.

29

T E S T 13
There's
There's
There's
There's
l'd
l'd
l'd
l'd

a
a
a
a

rather
rather
rather
rather

man at the door

man on the door
man in the door
man over the door

D
| |
D

sit
sit
sit
sit

D
I I
D
D

at the shade
in the shadow
at the shadow
in the shade

I had rather have an ice cream

I I did rather have an ice cream

I would rather have an ice cream

i
I should rather have an ice cream
He
He
He
He

himself the nose

himself his nose
his nose
him the nose

D
D
D
D

l'm really bored; this class is really boring

l'm really boring; this class is really bored
I really bore; this class really bores me
I really boring; this class is really bored

hurt
hurt
hurt
hurt

I I
D
D
D

I I
D
I I
D

He is doing this every day

He do this every day
He's doin' this every day
He does this every day

D
D
D
D

Is
Is
Is
Is

D
D
D
D

it
it
it
t

possible
possible
possible
possible

her to come with us?

that she come with us?
that she comes with us?
for her to come with us?

Ten sheep perished in the snow

Ten sheepes perished in the snow
Ten sheepies perished in the snow
Ten sheeps perished in the snow

D
D
D
D

NOTAS

30

ANSWERS

1.a

Preposiciones! Cuando alguien est en la puerta hace falta la preposicin at. El uso de on
implica que la puerta ha sido derribada, in da la idea de un hombre incrustado en la misma
puerta, mientras que over describira a un hombre con alas!

2.d

Una aclaracin: en ingls existen dos palabras para referirse a "sombra". Shade es
"sombra" en general y shadow la de una persona u objeto en particular. Por cierto, la
preposicin adecuada es in.

3.c

l'd ratheres nuestra forma de decir "preferira". La apostrofe + drepresenta el verbo auxiliar
would. Utilizamos esta expresin mucho ms que / would prefer. El verbo preferse usa para
hablar de nuestras preferencias en general, pero para describir una preferencia en un
momento dado o ante un par de opciones, l'd ratheres, mucho ms comn.

4.c

No olvides que las partes del cuerpo requieren un adjetivo posesivo. No es suficiente con
emplear el artculo. Suena rarsimo. "Me duele la cabeza", por ejemplo, sera "My head
hurts". Adems, el verbo hurt no es reflexivo en ingls.

5.a

La eterna duda para miles de espaoles. Aclarmosla de una vez por todas, "l'm bored"
significa "Estoy aburrido." Por otro lado, "l'm boring" quiere decir "Soy aburrido", o sea
que es una frase que no se suele decir hablando de uno mismo! "/ bore" tampoco se oye
ya que el verbo significa "aburro a los dems".

B.d

Muy fcil. Cuando hacemos algo todos los das usamos el presente simple. No hay otra
alternativa. Como en este caso estamos hablando de la tercera persona singular con un
verbo que acaba en o (do), es imprescindible emplear la es al final.

7.d

Olvida "Is it possible that?". Es una traduccin literal del espaol y no se dice en ingls.
Hay que aprender la estructura. Practica con otros ejemplos para ganar agilidad:
"Is it possible for them to help us?"
"Es posible que nos ayuden?"
"Is it possible for us to be invited?"
"Es posible que nos inviten?"
"Is it possible for me to take part?"
"Es posible que participe?"

8.a

Nuestro plural para "ovejas" es irregular. Hay que aprenderlo. "One sheep. Two sheep." No
cambia.

31

T E S T 14
John's the only here
John's the unique one here
John's the only one here

G
D
| |

John's sol here

:?

This coffee's quite sour; you might want some sugar

This coffee's quite bitter; you might want some sugar
I
This coffee's quite tart; you might want some sugar
l This coffee's quite acrid; you might want some sugar

G
O
O
| |

H Seldom do I eat fish

I I eat fish seldom
Seldom I eat fish
ii I eat seldom fish

G
G
G
G

I didn't
I didn't
I didn't
I didn't

know if to go up the street or down it

know if go up the street or down it
know whether go up the street or down it
know whether to go up the street or down it

jjl
fl
SJll
SH

Would you like to go to the cinema with

Would you like to go to the cinema with
Would you like to go to the cinema with
Would you like to go to the cinema with

flEl
fl
SH
3BI

He got fined for parking on a double yellow line

He got found for parking on a double yellow line
He got founded for parking on a double yellow line
He got multed for parking on a double yellow line
All
All
All
All

she wants
she wants
she wants
she wants

me? -Yes, l'd love it

me? -Yes, l'd love
me? -Yes, l'd love to
me? -Yes, l'd love going

is someone with who talk

is someone with to talk
is someone talk with
is someone to talk to

G
G
-G
| |
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
I I
O
O
O

Do you intend to go to Albacete?...

If so> you should give my cousin a cali
If you intend, you should give my cousin a cali
If yes, you should give my cousin a cali
If you are, you should give my cousin a cali

NOTAS

32

G
O
Q
G

l.c

"El nico aqu" se traduce por "the only one here". En este contexto onlyes un adjetivo y
requiere un sustantivo o pronombre. Unique significa "nico en su genero".

2.b

Cuatro palabras que significan ms o menos lo mismo, pero con diferentes matices. Sour
es "agrio" y se utiliza mucho para describir fluidos como vino, leche o crema. Tari significa
"cido" y se suele usar para ctricos y manzanas. Acrid se asocia con un sabor a "azufre",
mientras que bitter, que significa "amargo", se emplea para hablar del caf o del chocolate
(o de personas!).

3.a

Seldom ("rara vez") se comporta como la mayora de los adverbios de frecuencia. Es decir
que se coloca justo antes de los verbos no auxiliares y justo despus de los verbos auxiliares.
Por tanto, la "B" y la "D" se pueden descartar. Sera correcto decir "/ seldom eat fish"
("Rara vez como pescado"). Sin embargo, cuando empezamos una oracin con seldom hay
que emplear un verbo auxiliar antes del sujeto. Para los verbos no auxiliares el auxiliar es
do (igual que para formar el interrogativo y el negativo) mientras que para los verbos
auxiliares, incluido el verbo be, es suficiente invertir el mismo verbo con el sujeto. Por
ejemplo, "Seldom am I late" ("Rara vez llego tarde").

4.d

Con los verbos remembery knowen negativo y seguidos por dos posibles acciones se suele
utilizar la palabra whethery no if, sobre todo cuando utilizamos un infinitivo. Otro ejemplo:
"/ couldn't remember whether to cali or to go in person" ("No me acordaba si haba que
llamar o ir en persona").

5.c

Con los verbos like, love y want, si queremos referirnos a otro verbo ya mencionado sin
repetirlo, hay que utilizar to. "Do you want to have some ice cream? I want to but I can't"
("Quieres tomar helado? Quiero pero no puedo").

6.a

Cuando te multan decimos "you get fined". Found es el participio del verbo find
("encontrar"); founded es el participio del verbo found (fundar) y multed es spanglishl

7.d

"Alguien con quien hablar" ("Someone to talk to"}. Los dems son incorrectos.

8.a

En este caso, if so es una forma de no repetir "ifyou intend to go". Esta frmula se emplea
con cualquier tipo de verbo. "Are you willing to he/p? If so (if you are willing to help], give
me a ring" ("Ests dispuesto a ayudar? Si es as, dame un toque").

33

I
I
I
I

wish
wish
wish
wish

it would stop raining!

it stopped raining!
that it stops raining!
it is stopping raining!

Do you think
Do you think
Do you think
Do you think

you'll
you'll
you'll
you'll

Q
\^\
| |
D

have to work
have to work
have to work
have to work

at Christmas? -I
at Christmas? -I
at Christmas? -I
at Christmas? -I

hope no
hope that no
don't hope so
hope not

She wishs she didn't have said that

She wishs she hadn't said that
She wishes she didn't have said that
She wishes she hadn't said that

H
U
H
U
u

It's time that we leave

It's time for we to leave
It's time for to leave

O
Q
Q

It's time we left

You should
You should
You should
You should

be ashamed of hit him

be ashamed for to have hit him
be ashamed of hitting him
be ashamed in hitting him

Q
G
O
Q

I
I
I
I

money
money
money
money

Q
O
O
O

ran out
ran out
ran out
ran out

My
My
My
My

of
of
of
of

and
and
and
and

I don't
I don't
I don't
I don't

feel
feel
feel
feel

O
Q
D
O

I won't
I won't
I won't
I won't

H
. ?I
:;

come with you;

come with you;
come with you;
come with you

O
D
O
O

on to it
up to it
over to it
down to it

must ask Tom to lend me some

had to ask Tom to lend me some
must have asked Tom to lend me some
musted ask Tom to lend me some

boss agreed that I take Monday off

boss agreed to my taking Monday off
boss was agree that I take Monday off
boss agreed with me taking Monday off

| |
| |
O
O

O
O
O
Q

NOTAS

34

1.a

Veamos las expresiones "ojal!" o "me encantara que". Cuando alguien quisiera que otra
persona o cosa hiciera algo en el momento, o algo imposible, utilizamos "/ wish + segundo
sujeto + would + verbo". Es una frmula que expresa bastante exasperacin o desesperacin.
Para ilustrarlo mejor, proponemos ms ejemplos: "/ wish you would hurry up!" ("Me
encantara que te dieras prisa!"); "/ wish he would stop talking!"(" Ojal se callara!"); "/ wish
England would win the World Cup" ("Ojal Inglaterra ganara el Mundial!").

2.d

"Espero que no!" A diferencia de la expresin "creo que no" ("/ don't think so"), decimos
"/ hope not!".

3.d

Lo primero es que estamos ante un verbo que acaba en sh, con lo cual en tercera persona
del singular del presente simple tiene que acabar en es. Cuando nos lamentamos de haber
hecho algo y nos gustara no haberlo hecho se suele utilizar el verbo wish. Como nos
referimos a un pasado irreal, no hay que emplear el pasado del siguiente verbo sino "el
pasado del pasado", es decir, el pasado compuesto ("had+ participio"). Ojo! "didn't have"
corresponde al pasado del verbo have cuando significa "tener". En cambio hadn't es el
pasado del verbo have cuando significa "haber".

4.b

Una frase hecha que significa "No me siento con fuerzas/ganas". Hay que aprenderlo y
punto.

5.d

"Ya es hora de que nos vayamos." La estructura es sencilla: "It's time + sujeto + verbo en
pasado". Para darle ms nfasis a la frase podemos decir "it's high time". Dos ejemplos: "It's
time I stopped smoking" ("Ya es hora de que deje de fumar"); "It's high time I phoned my
brother" ("Ya es hora de que llame a mi hermano").

6.c

"Estar avergonzado de algo" es "to be ashamed of something". Cuando va con un verbo, se

emplea la forma -ing. De hecho casi siempre despus de una preposicin hay que utilizar
un gerundio.

7.b

Musfes un verbo "modal" que no tiene pasado. Cuando queremos expresar obligacin en
el pasado mustse convierte en had to. La "C" contiene un ejemplo de la forma de expresar
must en el pasado, pero cuando dicho verbo se usa para transmitir una suposicin ("debe
de...") y no una obligacin.

8.b

Agree to somebody doing something significa "dar permiso a alguien para que haga algo".
Muchas veces, en vez de emplear un pronombre objeto, expresamos el segundo "sujeto"
utilizando un adjetivo posesivo personal (my, your, his, etc.). "She agreed to his going"
("Ella le dio permiso para que fuera"). Nunca decimos "My boss was agree" (la "C"). Un
pecado lingstico mortal! Agree with someone es "estar de acuerdo con alguien" (la "D")
que por el contexto no tiene sentido aqu.

35

T E S T 16

We met though a mutual friend

We met thorough a mutual friend
We met thought a mutual friend
We met through a mutual friend

O
Q
O
O

H
jf
H
II

Daniel arrived early, who surprised his English teacher

Daniel arrived early, which surprised his English teacher
Daniel arrived early, that surprised his English teacher
Daniel arrived early, what surprised his English teacher

O
I I
D
Q

4
H

1>

The sheets
The sheets
The sheets
The sheets

G
O
O
Q

on your
on your
on your
on your

When
When
When
When

you
you
you
you

What
What
What
What

colour
colour
colour
colour

It's
It's
It's
It's

Hl
SI
3J

been
been
been
been

I work
I work
I work
I work
Not
Not
Not
Not

meet
meet
meet
meet

your
your
your
your

suit
suit
suit
suit

two
two
two
two

bed need changing

bed need change
bed need to change
bed are needing to change
opponent,
opponent,
opponent,
opponent,

was the
was the
was the
was the

weeks
weeks
weeks
weeks

and
and
and
and

the
the
the
the

candidate
candidate
candidate
candidate

lesser you say, the better

less you say, the better
less you say, the best
lesser you say, the best
wearing you saw yesterday?
wearing yesterday you saw?
you saw yesterday wearing?
you saw wearing yesterday?

O
I I
O
Q

I still haven't received an answer. It's a disgrace!

I have still received an answer. It's a disgrace!
I haven't still received an answer, It's a disgrace!
I still have received an answer. It's a disgrace!

CU
O
Q
Q

at the night
for the night
during the night
by the night

many
many
many
many

people
people
people
people

like
like
like
like

| |
O
CJ
O

him;
him;
him;
him;

Q
O
O
D
he has little friends
he has few friends
he has a few friends
he has a little friends

NOTAS

36

O
CU
O
Q

ANSWERS

1.d

La preposicin "a travs" se escribe through y se pronuncia "zru". Por cierto, en la "A"
though significa "aunque" y se pronuncia "zou". En la "B", thorough significa
"concienzudo" y se pronuncia "zara", Y en la "C", thought significa "pensado" y se
pronuncia "zot". Unas palabras preciosas. No las confundas!

2.b

Una subordinada relativa que significa.- "Daniel lleg temprano, lo que sorprendi a su
profesor de ingls". En dichos casos cuando "lo que" se refiere a una accin verbal, lo
traducimos con wh/ch.

3.a

La estructura "need + -ng" es una forma pasiva de decir "x necesita hacerse". Es muy
comn.

4.b

"Cuanto menos (o ms)... mejor". Estamos ante una comparacin, por lo cual se requiere
el comparativo better. Best es el superlativo e incorrecto en esta frase. Lesser no suele
usarse salvo en unas frases hechas como: "the lesser of two evils" ("el mal menor"); "to a
lesser degree" ("en menor grado").

5.C

Estars pensando que siempre decimos que hay que colocar las referencias temporales al
final de la oracin. Y es cierto. Lo que pasa en este caso es que las palabras "you saw
yesterday" constituyen una oracin subordinada relativa en s. Describen la palabra
candidate y toda esta informacin tiene que ir antes del verbo principal wearing. Otro
ejemplo: "Where was the watch you bought last week made?".

6.a

La palabra s/7/ no suele usarse en frases negativas. Sin embargo, cuando quieres ser un
poco ms enftico, s que se puede. "It's a d/sgrace!" significa "Es una vergenza!", por
tanto, s/7/ en este contexto vale.

7.c

La "A" sera correcta si no fuera por el artculo the. La "B" y la "D" son totalmente
incorrectas. La nica opcin es during. Ten en cuenta que la regla es siempre "during +
sustantivo" y nunca "during + perodo de tiempo". Decir "during two hours" est
completamente prohibido!

8.b

La nica que es gramaticalmente incorrecta es la "D". La "A" puede significar que tiene
amigos pequeos y la "C" que tiene unos pocos amigos (una frase con un matiz positivo que
no cuadra con la primera sin conjuncin). La traduccin de la respuesta correcta es: "No le
cae bien a mucha gente. Tiene pocos amigos."

37

T E S T 17

Fancy to meet you here!

Fancy meet you here!
Fancy meeting you here!
Fancy meets you here!

D
D
D
D

P
T|
H
H

All the Information was lost - as it sometimes happens in such cases

All the information was lost - as sometimes it happens n such cases
All the information was lost - as sometimes happens in such cases
All the information was lost - as sometimes happens it in such cases

D
D
D
I I

U
H
H
H

He put the
He put the
He put the
He put the

II
U

How long does it last to get there?

How long do you last to get there?
How long does t take to get there?
How long do you take to get there?

U
i!

I don't think
I don't think
I don't think
I don't think

':<$
:'M

'"Qt

This soup
This soup
This soup
This soup

keys
keys
keys
keys

into
into
into
into

a small wooden black

a wooden small black
a black small wooden
a small black wooden

is delicious; could you give

is delicious; could you give
is delicious; could you give
is delicious; could you give

D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D

you should do that; it's dangerous

you may do that; it's dangerous
you could do that; it's dangerous
you must do that; it's dangerous

They're over there looking at their

They're over their looking at there
There over their looking at they're
Their over they're looking at there
We
We
We
We

box
box
box
box

me the receipt?
me the recipe?
me the formula?
me the instructions?

chair
chair
chair
chair

D
D
D
D
D
D
|
D
D
D
D
D

had no difficulties finding the office

hadn't difficulties finding the office
had none difficulties finding the office
hadn't any difficulties finding the office

NOTAS

38

I I
I I
D
D

ANSWERS

1.c

Esta frase significa "Qu casualidad encontrarme contigo aqu!". De hecho, la palabra
fancy, cuando se usa como una interjeccin, no tiene una traduccin directa en espaol.
Casi siempre expresa sorpresa o incredulidad, y va seguida del gerundio. Aqu hay ms
ejemplos: "Fancy that!" ("Mira t!"); "Fancy do/ng a thing like that!" ("Cmo se le ocurre
hacer una cosa as!"); "Fancy hlm being e/ected Presldent!" ("Quin iba a decir que le
elegiran como Presidente!").

2.c

"Qu? La segunda oracin va sin sujeto?". Pues s. En este caso, la primera oracin en su
totalidad constituye el sujeto de la segunda.

3.d

Normalmente los adjetivos de opinin vienen antes que los adjetivos de hecho. Pero cuando
tenemos varios adjetivos de hecho juntos, como en el ejemplo, deberan seguir un orden
especfico: 1) Tamao, 2) Edad, 3) Forma, 4) Color, 5) Nacionalidad, 6) Material, y
Sustantivo. Por ejemplo: "She wore a huge red woo/len jumper"; "We bought a big od
Engsh house"; "They sat at a large rectangular wooden table".

4.c

El verbo take significa "tardar" mientras que el verbo /as se traduce por "durar". Aunque
oirs la "D" en pases angloparlantes, no se considera buen ingls personalizar este verbo.
El sujeto debe ser it.

5.a

Como se trata de una recomendacin subjetiva (como indica el verbo think), el verbo modal
correcto es should (debera).

6.b

La traduccin de recipe es "receta". Ten cuidado con la pronunciacin: "re sapi". En la "A"
receipt significa "recibo" o "ticket" y se pronuncia "resit".

7.a

La contraccin they're (they are), el adjetivo posesivo theiry el adverbio there. No es tan
difcil distinguirlos por escrito. Sin embargo, los tres se pronuncian "zer".

8.a

Podemos descartar la "B" y la "D" porque la contraccin hadn't solo se dice cuando
estamos hablando del verbo auxiliar equivalente a "haber" y no del verbo equivalente a
"tener". La "C" tambin es incorrecta porque la palabra none nunca va delante de un
sustantivo.

39

T E S T 18

OH

My mother-in-law will be staying for two weeks with us

My mother-in-law will be for two weeks staying with us
My mother-in-law will be staying with us for two weeks
My mother-in-law for two weeks will be staying with us

03EI
$301
QH
E!

I couldn't
I couldn't
I couldn't
I couldn't

avoid to laugh when I saw her hat

help laughing when I saw her hat
avert to laugh when I saw her hat
annul laughing when I saw her hat

jtf?l
B
fcwtl

l'm
l'm
l'm
l'm

enough
enough
enough
enough

Q
CTl
CT
OS

He remembers being told how to count to ten

He remembers that being told how to count to ten
He remembers that to be told how to count to ten
He remembers that they told how to count to ten

3E1
dH
3RI
fSH

Is it a possibility that I might can use your phone, please?

Would you be so kind as to let me use your phone, please?
Would t be possible that I could to use your phone, please?
Do you think you would allow me use your phone, please?

D
D
D
D

OEI
I2JJ;
Ql
dH

London
London
London
London

D
D
D
D

*<

smart
smart
smart
smart

to get in the
to get in the
to get in the
to get in the

restaurant, am not I?
restaurant, amn't I?
restaurant, isn't I?
restaurant, aren't I?

is the biggest city of the UK

is the bigger city in the UK
is the most big city the UK
is the biggest city the UK

What will
What will
What will
What will

happen
happen
happen
happen

He suggested
He suggested
He suggested
He suggested

if
if
if
if

someone finds
someone finds
someone finds
someone finds

D
D
'D
D

out?
over?
in?
under?

D
D
D
D

me that went to the doctor's

me go to the doctor's
that I go to the doctor's
me to go to the doctor's

| |
D
D
D

NOTAS

40

ANSWERS

1.c

Las referencias temporales suelen ir al final de la frase, aunque a veces pueden colocarse
al principio de la misma, pero casi nunca en medio. Por ejemplo, "Last year I went to
Berln" o "/ went to Berln lastyear".

2.b

La traduccin directa del espaol avoid ("evitar") en el ejemplo "A" suena muy forzada. No
sera un error demasiado grande si no fuera por el infinitivo que viene despus. Siempre
decimos "avoid + verbo acabado en -ing". Huelga decir que los verbos de la "C" y la "D"
son completamente errneos, primero porque avert significa "apartar" (los ojos, por
ejemplo), mientras que annul significa "anular", y segundo porque ninguno de estos verbos
puede funcionar junto a otro verbo. Para decir "no lo puedo evitar" tenemos una expresin
hecha: / can't help it.

3.d

Esta frase significa "Voy suficientemente bien vestido para entrar en el restaurante no?".
Curiosamente, amn'tno existe al resultar imposible de pronunciar. Una alternativa a "aren't
/"sera "..., am I not?", aunque suena muy formal.

4.a

El gerundio tellingse convierte en being told en la voz pasiva. "He remembers being told"
expresa lo mismo que "He remembers someone tel/ing him". Otro ejemplo: "/ don't lke
being callea at home without a good reason" ("No me gusta que la gente me llame a casa
sin una buena razn").

5.b

La "A" no vale porque hay dos verbos modales juntos mighty can. En la "C", el verbo modal
couldebe ir con el infinitivo sin to. En cambio, en la "D", el verbo allowva con el infinitivo
con to. Parece mentira, pero la "B" es correcta, aunque muy educada y particular. Algo ms
informal sera, "Can I use your phone, please?".

6.d

Despus de los superlativos usamos in con lugares (pueblos, ciudades, edificios) y of con
referencias de tiempo. Por ejemplo, "the hottest month of the year"; "the happiest day of
my IIfe"; "the most expensive house in the village"; "the rnost important bank in the city".
No confundas los superlativos con los comparativos (la B)!

7.a

Un phrasal verb muy til que significa "enterarse" o "averiguar". Los otros tres ejemplos
(find over, find in y find under) no existen como verbos compuestos.

8.c

Nunca colocamos un pronombre personal (objeto) directamente despus del verbo suggest.

41

T E S T 19

We
We
We
We

need
need
need
need

to
to
to
to

l'd
l'd
l'd
l'd

rather
rather
rather
rather

listen to music than do my homework

listen to music that do my homework
to listen to music than to do my homework
listen music than do my homework

We
We
We
We

showed
showed
showed
showed

There's
There's
There's
There's

I
I
I
I

went
went
went
went

She
She
She
She
My
My
My
My

order
order
order
order

some
some
some
some

our work
our work
our work
our work

to
to
to
to

news office furniture

new office furnitures
new office furniture
news office furnitures

a good
a good
a good
a good

friend
friend
friend
friend

of us
of we
of ours
of our

no pont in buying a piano if you're never going to play it

no purpose in buying a piano if you're never going to play it
no meaning n buying a piano if you're never going to play it
no reason in buying a piano if you're never going to play it
to England
to England
to England
to England

for learn English

for to learn English
for learning English
to learn English

has been
has been
has been
has been

staying
staying
staying
staying

with
with
with
with

d
D
d

Q
D
d
I I
I I

cutted her finger with the knife

cutted herself the finger with the knife
cut her finger with the knife
cut herself the finger with the knife

mother-in-law
mother-in-law
mother-in-law
mother-in-law

I I
I I
I I

us for the last week

us since a week
us for a week ago
us since the last week

The smoking is bad for your health

To smoke is bad for your health
Smoking is bad for your health
The smoke is bad for your health

I I

d
d
d
d
d
d
d
d
d

NOTAS

42

ANSWERS

1.c

En primer lugar, la palabra fumture no existe en plural. Es incontable. Por eso podemos
descartar la "B" y la "D". Los adjetivos tampoco tienen forma plural, as que la "A" tampoco
vale.

2.a

La estructura "preferira + verbo + que" se traduce por would rather + verbo bsico sin to
+ than, lo cual descarta la "B" y la "C". La "D" es incorrecta porque falta la palabra to
despus del verbo listen.

3.c

Para decir "un buen amigo nuestro" decimos "a good friend of ours", empleando el
pronombre posesivo personal. De la misma manera decimos "a good friend of mine; a good
friend of yours; a good friend of his; a good friend of hers; a good friend of theirs".

4.a

"No sirve de nada." La frmula que usamos en ingls es: "there's no point in + verbo en
gerundio (-ing)". Podemos igualmente decir "it's no use + verbo en gerundio (-ing)". Por
cierto, la palabra parpse significa "propsito".

5.d

Normalmente en ingls "para + verbo" es "to + verbo". Cuando digo normalmente me

refiero al 99,99% de los casos, as que conviene memorizarlo. Solo decimos "for + verbo"
cuando hablamos de la funcin de algo. Un ejemplo sera: "A corkscrew is for opening
bottles" ("Un sacacorchos sirve para abrir botellas"). La B se oye mucho en la Pennsula
Ibrica pero solo entre los espaoles! No se dice nunca for to.

6.c

Hay que tener en cuenta dos cosas para dar aqu con la respuesta correcta. La primera es
que el pasado del verbo cut es cut (y el participio tambin). La segunda es que el verbo
"cortarse" deja de ser reflexivo en ingls cuando mencionamos la parte del cuerpo que
cortamos. Nosotros desplazamos el aspecto reflexivo empleando el adjetivo posesivo con la
parte del cuerpo. Propongo ms ejemplos: "/ cut my face" ("Me cort en la cara"); "She
cut her leg" ("Ella se cort en la pierna").

7.a

Cuando una accin se realiza durante un periodo de tiempo determinado empleamos la

palabra for justo antes de la referencia a dicho periodo. Since se utiliza cuando la accin
se realiza desde un momento puntual. Podramos decir "My mother-in-law has been staying
with us since last Monday". "A week ago" hace referencia a un tiempo pasado, con lo que
el verbo tendra que ir en pasado.

8.c

Verbos sustantivados: en ingls se usa el gerundio, pero sin el artculo.

43

T E S T 20

QH

Some
Some
Some
Some

SH
BI
MPi
MB

Last
Last
Last
Last

^
HJf
H

tff
fu

(@QI
w<;S
OH

U
||*
fu
II

weekend
weekend
weekend
weekend

I spent
I spent
I spent
I spent

much money
many money
a lot of money
lots money

I |
D
D
D
D
| |
| |
D

The bar was plenty with people

The bar was plenty of people
The bar was full of people
The bar was crowded of people

D
I I
D

Nobody doesn't tell him nothing

Nobody doesn't tell him anything
Anybody tells him nothing
Nobody tells him anything

D
| |
D
D

What
What
What
What
The
The
The
The

II

of people watched the event from the roadside

of the people watched the event from the roadside
the people watched the event from the roadside
people watched the event of the roadside

time
time
time
time

couple
couple
couple
couple

shall
shall
shall
shall
I
I
I
I

we meet?
we meet us?
we meet ourselves?
we meet each others?

met on
met on
met on
met on

D
D
D
D

holiday were such nice people

holiday were so nice people
holiday was such nice people
holiday was so nice people

There's a supermarket
There's a supermarket
There's a supermarket
There's a supermarket

just
just
just
just

around
around
around
around

the crner;
the crner;
the crner;
the crner;

it's
it's
it's
it's

very comfortable
very opportune
very fortnate
very convenient

Ahhhh! There's a huge black spider in the ceiling!

Ahhhh! There's a huge black spider at the ceiling!
Ahhhh! There's a huge black spider on the ceiling!
Ahhhh! There's a huge black spider under the ceiling!

NOTAS

44

D
D
D
I I
D
D
| |
D
D
D
D
D

ANSWERS

1.b

Si no tenemos en cuenta la ltima parte de las frases, nos quedan como correctas la "B" y
la "D", pero con una clara diferencia en cuanto al significado de cada una de ellas. "Some
of the people" significa "algunas de las personas" y "Some people", "algunas personas".
Lo mismo vale para otras palabras, como most, many, few-. "Most people", "Most of the
people". Finalmente, el error al usarse la preposicin of descarta la "D".

2.c

El dinero es incontable. Por muy raro que parezca, gramaticalmente hablando, contamos
euros, libras, dlares, o lo que sea, pero no el dinero en s! Decir "many money" (la "B")
es un error tremendo. En la "D" falta la preposicin of, y tampoco solemos usar la palabra
much como aparece en la "A", en frases afirmativas, lo cual nos deja la "C" como nica
opcin correcta.

3.c

El nico adjetivo que vale aqu es full ("lleno"). La palabra plenty significa "ms que
suficiente"; por tanto, "El bar fue con ms que suficiente gente" no tiene mucho sentido.
En cambio, en la "D", crowded ("abarrotado") estara bien si no fuera por la preposicin of:
en ingls siempre utilizamos with con este adjetivo.

4.d

En la "A" tenemos un triple negativo y en la "B" un doble negativo. En ingls solo podemos
utilizar un negativo por oracin. Para nosotros es algo lgico, igual que en matemticas: dos
negativos es igual a un positivo. La "C" carece de todo sentido.

5.a

En ingls, el verbo meet ("encontrarse con/quedar") no es reflexivo: la reciprocidad se

sobreentiende. S se puede decir meet each other(sm la sque aparece en la "D"), pero es
ms normal omitirlo o incluso usar el phrasal verb meet up\ "What time shall we meet up?"
("A qu hora quedamos?").

6.a

Recuerda las siguentes estructuras: "so + adjetivo" o "such + adjetivo + sustantivo en

plural". Por tanto, podemos decir: "The people were so nice" o "They were such nice
people". Huelga decir que people es plural. Reptelo mil veces: "people are", "people
were", "people are", "people were", "people are", "people were"...

7.d

Empleamos el adjetivo comfortable cuando hablamos de comodidad fsica (un silln grande,
cojines, etc.) o psquica ("tener confianza con alguien"). No solemos utilizar la palabra
opportune salvo en el ejemplo "an opportune moment", pero realmente suena un poco
pretencioso hoy en da. Convenient indica que algo nos viene bien o que nos facilita la vida.

8.c

Aunque la araa est under ("bajo el techo"), usamos la preposicin on para expresar que
est en contacto con la superficie.

45

TEST 21
s*::

The safety features on this car will protect you in an accident

The features safety on this car will protect you in an accident
The security features on this car will protect you in an accident
The features security on this car will protect you n an accident

[~|
| |
| |
G

My
My
My
My

husband
husband
husband
husband

G
G
G
| |

He
He
He
He

bought
bought
bought
bought

runs a lot in his car

courses a lot in his car
drives fast in his car
runs fast in his car

his wife
his wife
his wife
his wife

a little roundabout for her birthday

a little runabout for her birthday
a little runaway for her birthday
a little running for her birthday

C1PI
CJ5
Cffif

Get out! l'm sure we can squeeze another person in

Get in! l'm sure we can squeeze another person in
Get off! l'm sure we can squeeze another person in
Get up! l'm sure we can squeeze another person in

jjfffl
fell
J5IP
UI

I think
I think
I think
I think
He
He
He
He

have breaked
have spent
have wrong
have gone

swerved
swerved
swerved
swerved

and just
and just
and just
and just

.-

G
G
G
G
| |
G
G
G

broke really hard but still hit the car in front

breaked hard but still hit the car in front
bruck really hard but still hit the car in front
braked really hard but still hit the car in front

She
She
She
She

301
:ffl
3EI

my brakes
my breaks
my brakes
my brakes

G
G
G
G

lost the od lady

mist the od lady
missed the od lady
evited the od lady

G
O
G
G
G
O
G
G

My car is a bit rusty

My car is a bit oxidated
My car is a bit corroded
My car is a little bit oxidated

G
G
G
G

NOTAS

46

ANSWERS

1.a

Cuando hablamos de seguridad en trminos de proteccin en caso de accidente, la palabra

adecuada es safety. El vocablo security significa "seguridad" en contra de personas
malvadas (ladrones, asesinos, etc.). Ahora veamos el orden de las palabras: cuando dos
sustantivos van juntos y se complementan, el primero siempre describe al segundo. En este
caso estamos hablando de prestaciones, as que safety debe preceder a features.

2.c

En ingls no se dice run a lot para correr mucho en coche. Se dice drive fast. Run es correr
fsicamente y a una mente angloparlante le suena absurdo asociarlo a un coche. El verbo
course es un verbo en peligro de extincin. Se utiliza hablando de sangre: "Your blood
courses through your veins" ("La sangre corre por tus venas").

3.b

Cuestin de vocabulario. No vas a comprar un roundaboutpara una persona querida ya que

significa "rotonda". Espero que tampoco se te ocurra regalar un runawayya que son difciles
de localizar tratndose de "fugitivos". Podemos decir "/ did a little runningyesterday" que
significara "hice un poco de footing ayer" pero running no es un objeto que se compre.
Todo esto nos deja con la opcin runabout, un trmino carioso que significa "cochecito",
o sea un coche pequeo para uso en la ciudad.

4.b

Cuando subimos a un coche utilizamos el verbo get in ya que un coche es un espacio

reducido y hay que agacharse para entrar. El antnimo sera get out. Obviamente, por el
contexto donde estamos invitando a otra persona a entrar en un coche la "A" no tiene
sentido. Get off ("bajar") es lo contrario de get on ("subir"), pero solo se utiliza cuando nos
referimos a medios de transporte grandes como autobuses, trenes, aviones o barcos.

5.d

"Creo que me he quedado sin frenos." En ingls decimos en este momento de pnico
absoluto, que "se nos han ido los frenos". Ahora viene lo ms importante: existen dos verbos
homnimos (que se pronuncian igual) break ("romper") y brake ("frenar"). El primero es
irregular. Su pasado simple es bmkeas que la "A" es incorrecta. Es ms, estamos hablando
de frenos brakes, por lo que descartamos la "B". La "C" es totalmente incorrecta desde el
punto de vista gramatical.

6.d

Seguimos hablando de los mismos dos verbos. En este caso estamos hablando de frenar, un
verbo regular cuyo pasado es brakedy cuyo participio perfecto tambin es braked. La "C"
es un invento, fruto de nuestra creatividad!

7.c

"Ella dio un volantazo y por poco no atropello a la anciana." Cuando no golpearnos a una
cosa o persona por poco, utilizamos el verbo miss, cuyo pasado es missed y no mist que
significa "neblina". Lose no tiene sentido en este caso. Aunque sera muy cmodo para los
espaoles, evite no existe en ingls, lo siento!

8.a

Otra vez estamos ante una cuestin de vocabulario. "Oxidado" es rusty, que se pronuncia
"rasti". Corrode existe en ingls pero se usa muy poco, y en este contexto nunca. Por
cierto, si estabas dudando entre la "B" y la "D" (ambas incorrectas), no hay ninguna
diferencia entre a little bit y a bit.

47

TEST 22

You were quite right to mention it

You were very right to mention it
You were much right to mention t
You were super right to mention t

D
D
D
D

U
U
u
J|

I know her not much

I hardly know her
I know her very little
I don't know her very good

D
D
D
D

31
H

Don't disturb Tom;

Don't disturb Tom;
Don't disturb Tom;
Don't disturb Tom;

he's really concentrated

he's very concentrating
he's very concentrated
he's really concentrating

D
D
I I
D

Everybody
Everybody
Everybody
Everybody

the concert a lot

very much the concert
a lot the concert
really much the concert

D
D
D
D

enjoyed
enjoyed
enjoyed
enjoyed

Mil
HH

Thank
Thank
Thank
Thank

you.
you.
you.
you.

I
3J
3
HU

I agree with
I agree with
I agree with
I agree with

That's
That's
That's
That's
you,
you,
you,
you,

very kind on your part

awfully kind of you
very amiable on you
very pleasant of your part

D
D
D
D

until a certain point

reaching a certain point
getting to a certain point
up to a certain point

D
D
D
D

If l'd know it was you, I would've answered the cali

Had I known it was you, I would've answered the cali
If l'd known it was you, l'd answered the cali
If l'd have known it was you, I would've answered the cali

D
I I
D
D

Did you remember

Did you remember
Did you remember
Did you remember

D
D
D
| |

to lock the front door?

locking the front door?
lock the front door?
locking of the front door?

NOTAS

48

ANSWERS

1.a

Antes de ciertos adjetivos, la palabra quite (normalmente "bastante") significa

"completamente"; por ejemplo, sure, true, wrong, different, certain: "Are you quite sure?"
("Ests completamente seguro?") "My idea is quite different" ("Mi idea es completamente
distinta"). El adverbio very no suele ser empleado con be right. Otros adverbios que s se
utilizan con rightsori: absolutely, total/y, utterly, complete/y. Much nunca puede acompaar
a un adjetivo mientras que super suena a spang/ish total.

2.b

La traduccin de "la conozco rnuy bien" es "/ know her very well". Sin embargo, la frase "no
la conozco muy bien" o "la conozco muy poco", solo tiene una posibilidad en ingls: "/ don't
know her very well". Puesto que esto no aparece, solamente la "B" ("Apenas la conozco") vale.

3.d

En ingls el adjetivo equivalente a "concentrado" (concentrated) no suele usarse para

referirse a personas, sino para sustancias qumicas o lquidos. Si queremos expresar la idea
de una persona "muy concentrada", normalmente utilizamos el verbo concntrate. La "B"
es incorrecta debido a que la palabra very nunca puede modificar un verbo en gerundio. El
adverbio correcto es really.

4.a

Una regla general que te vendr bien recordar ya que omos errores de este tipo tan a
menudo es que, en ingls, el verbo y el complemento directo casi nunca vienen separados
por otras palabras. Por lo tanto, en este ejemplo, el verbo enjoyy el objeto "the concert"
deben ir juntos.

5.b

La "A" y la "D" son traducciones literales del espaol que no valen. La traduccin correcta
de "Muy amable por su parte" es "That's very kind of you". Desafortunadamente, eso no
aparece como opcin. La palabra amiable (la "C") no se usa mucho y adems nunca con la
preposicin on, lo cual nos deja solo la "B". Algunos adverbios que parecen algo negativos
pueden tener una funcin enftica y positiva (terribly, awfully, desperately, frightfully),
aunque debes tener en cuenta que suenan un poco pos/7.

6.d

La palabra "hasta" en la expresin "hasta cierto punto" no se traduce en ingls con until
(la "A"); en general, utilizamos esta palabra con referencias a momentos puntuales en el
tiempo. Para hablar de periodos de tiempo o cosas fsicas (o en este caso metafricas)
empleamos la expresin up to.

7.b

En la "A" falta la "n" al final de know para formar el participio perfecto. En la "C" falta la
palabra have en la segunda oracin antes de answered. Y finalmente, en la "D" sobra la
palabra have en la primera oracin. La "B" es una variante vlida del tercer condicional.
Expresada de la manera ms comn sera: "If l'd known it was you, I would've answered
the cali".

8.a

Recuerda que hay dos usos del verbo remember. El primero tiene que ver con recordar algo
por necesidad ("acordarse") y el segundo tiene que ver con conservar algo en la memoria.
La estructura gramatical del verbo remember cambia segn cul de los dos usos
pretendamos emplear. En el primer caso sera "remember + to do something" y en el
segundo "remember + doing". La "B" es tcnicamente correcta pero, por el contexto, suena
algo absurda. Es ms, casi nunca hacemos la pregunta con remember doing en el pasado.
Se suele preguntar "Doyou remember doing...?".

49

TEST 23

CT
mi

She s the most beautiful woman in the world

She s the woman most beautiful n the world
She is the beautifulest woman n the world
She s the more beautiful woman in the world

ME1
dH
CJ
d5l

I was said very clearly

I was told very clearly
I was signaled very clearly
I was spoken very clearly

D
D
I I
D

tJEI
QH
ca

I would
I would
I would
I would

D
D
D
I I

;i

had have to work as a slave

have must work like a slave
have must to work as a slave
have had to work like a slave

The cocktail pianist was playing a lovely music

The cocktail pianist was playing any lovely music
The cocktail pianist was playing a lovely piece of music
The cocktail pianist was playing a lovely music piece
Suddenly,
Suddenly,
Suddenly,
Suddenly,

P!
II
SU

the
the
the
the

The woman
The woman
The woman
The woman

piano's lid slammed on his fingers

piano lid slammed on his fingers
lid of the piano it slammed on his fingers
piano's lid it slammed on his fingers

sitting next to me passed out

who was sat next to me she passed out
who was sat next to me passed down
sat next to me passed down

Unfortunately, there wasn't any doctor in the bar

Unfortunately, there weren't doctors in the bar
Unfortunately, there were no doctors n the bar
Unfortunately, there weren't no doctors in the bar

u
'Qi
J

Luckily, an ambulance arrived shortly after

Luckily, an ambulance arrived after nothing
Luckily, an ambulance arrived with little time
Luckily, an ambulance arrived in timely moment

NOTAS

50

D
D
D
D

D
D
I I
D
| |
D
D
D
I I
| |
| |
D
D
D
D
D
D
| |
D
D

ANSWERS

1.a

Dos cosas. Primero, los adjetivos, sean normales o superlativos, preceden a los sustantivos
que describen. Y segundo, para convertir un adjetivo de tres slabas o ms (y la mayora de
los de dos slabas) en superlativo, simplemente le anteponemos las palabras "the most".

2.b

El verbo $ay no se usa en pasiva de forma personal. S podemos decir "it was said" (fue
dicho). La misma regla nos sirve para el verbo speak, aunque este se emplea an menos en
la voz pasiva. Un ejemplo sera "The words were spoken soft/y"("Las palabras fueron dichas
suavemente"). Tampoco usamos el verbo signa! en voz pasiva con un sujeto personal sino
con uno impersonal. Por ejemplo, "The roadworks were badly signalled" ("Las obras
estaban mal sealizadas").

3.d

"Habra tenido que trabajar como un esclavo." Hay una clara diferencia entre "work lke a
slave" ("trabajar como un esclavo") y "work as a slave" ("trabajar como esclavo").
Afortunadamente, hoy en da en Espaa nadie puede decir "/ work as a slave". Had nunca
puede ir despus de would ya que este ltimo es un verbo auxiliar que, como todos los
verbos auxiliares, siempre requiere el infinitivo sin to. Have must tampoco es una
combinacin correcta.

4.c

"Msica" es un sustantivo incontable, por lo que en ingls solemos decir music a secas o
"some music". Si quieres hablar de una pieza de msica, decimos "a p/ece of music" y no
"a music p/ece".

5.b

Cuando hablamos de partes de una totalidad y esta totalidad es un objeto inanimado, no

usamos el genitivo sajn (apostrofe + s). Colocamos la parte (en este caso lid) justo detrs
de la totalidad (piano). Otro ejemplo: "piano keys" ("las teclas del piano"). No caigas en el
error de emplear dos sujetos para el mismo verbo: it sobra ya que hemos puesto "piano lid".

6.a

Primero, el phrasal verb pass down (la "C" y la "D") significa "dejar en herencia": "This
watch was passed down to me by my grandfather" ("Este reloj lo hered de mi abuelo").
Sin embargo, pass out significa desmayarse, lo cual tiene mucho ms sentido en este
contexto. Segundo, y como ya hemos visto en el nmero 5, no se puede repetir el sujeto
para el mismo verbo (la "B").

7.C

Doble negacin (la "D")? Ni en broma! En la "B" solo falta la palabra importantsima any
antes del sustantivo en plural. Y para arreglar la "A", tendramos que sustituir la palabra
any por el artculo "a".

8.a

Shortly after y shortly before ("poco despus" y "un poco antes") se usan mucho en ingls:
"Shortly after we arrived" ("Poco despus de que llegramos"), "Shortly before midday"
("Poco antes del medioda"). Sin embargo, los otros tres son productos de la imaginacin
de una persona sobreexpuesta a estudiantes de ingls!

51

What
What
What
What

did you be doing when he arrived?

you was doing when he arrived?
were you doing when he arrived?
was you doing when he arrived?

D
D
I I
D

|
B
H
H

I wash wasing the car when he arrived

I was washed the car when he arrived
I was washing the car when he arrived
I was washed to the car when he arrived

D
D
D
D

31
u
H
3

Was he wearing a tie when he arrived?

Was he wearing tie when he arrived?
Was he dressing tie when he arrived?
Was he woring a tie when he arrived?

D
D
D
D

Was he saluting when he arrived?

Was he greeting when he arrived?
Was he saying helio when he arrived?
Did he say "helio" when he arrived?

D
D
D
D

Was he talking to himself when he arrived?

Was he talking with himself when he arrived?
Was he talking him when he arrived?
Did he talk with himself when he arrived?

D
D
D
D

I
I
I
I

D
D
D
D

H
H

NOTAS

couldn't
couldn't
couldn't
couldn't

I didn't
I didn't
I didn't
I didn't

tell whether he was talking or not

know whether he was talking or not
know whether or not he was talking
tell whether was he talking or not

realise how important was he

realize how important he was
realise the important he was
realize the importance was he

He didn't introduce to him

He didn't present him
He didn't present himself
He didn't introduce himself

I I
D
D
I I
D
D
D
D

ANSWERS

1.c

En primer lugar, nunca empleamos el verbo auxiliar do/does/did con el verbo be. Segundo,
estamos buscando la pregunta correctamente formulada en pasado continuo. Hay que
invertir sujeto y verbo. Adems hay que emplear el verbo be en segunda persona: were. Est
claro, no?

2.c

La misma estructura. La "A" es una trampa ptica para pillarte. El uso del verbo en pasiva
en la "B" y la "D" no tiene sentido alguno. Por cierto, es raro usar el verbo wash en voz
pasiva hablando de personas, a no ser que sea en el contexto de personas enfermas,
incapaces de lavarse ellos mismos.

3.a

Llevar puesta una corbata es simplemente weary nunca dress, que significa "vestir a otra
persona". El gerundio (obviamente) es wearing. La "D" es una mezcla extraa del gerundio
y el pasado simple del verbo (wore). Cuando hablamos de llevar una prenda singular, es
necesario emplear el artculo a. Por ejemplo: "l'm wearing a tie" ("Llevo corbata").

4.d

El verbo que solemos utilizar para saludar a una persona es say helio. Como se trata de una
accin que no se prolonga en el tiempo, no lo expresamos en un tiempo verbal continuo. Se
saluda y ya est. No se puede estar saludando durante un rato. Aparte de esto, el verbo greet
apenas se usa hoy en da. Por otro lado, el verbo salute significa "saludar" pero en un
contexto militar.

5.a

Al contrario que en el ejemplo anterior, la opcin correcta tiene que estar en pasado continuo.
Hablar con uno mismo no es una accin momentnea, sino una que se prolonga en el tiempo.
Adems, aunque se puede decir tanto talk to someone como talk with someone, cuando
empleamos el verbo de forma reflexiva solo vale talk to yourself.

6.a

Cuando llegamos a una conclusin (o no) de forma intuitiva, es muy comn emplear el verbo
tell. Por ejemplo "/ can't tell" ("No sabra decirte"). Casi nunca se usa el verbo know en
conjuncin con el verbo can. La "D" est mal por el orden incorrecto del sujeto y el verbo
be-, "was he talking" es una pregunta directa. Se puede decir "whether or not he was
talking" o "whether he was talking or not". La palabra whether es sinnima de if, pero es
preferible emplearla cuando aadimos "or not".

7.b

Existen dos posibilidades de escribir "darse cuenta", ortogrficamente hablando: realise

(ortografa britnica) y realize (ortografa norteamericana). Cuando no sabemos / no nos
damos cuenta de lo importante o lo grande que es algo, traducimos "lo + adjetivo" por "how
+ adjetivo". Propongo ms ejemplos: "/ didn't know how late it was" ("No saba lo tarde que
era") "/ didn't realise how far it was" ("No me di cuenta de lo lejos que estaba"). La "A" es
incorrecta ya que el orden empleado es el de una pregunta directa.

8.d

El verbo que empleamos para "presentarse a otra persona" es introduce oneself (to
someone). "I introduce myself-, you introduce yourself; he introduces himself; she
introduces herself; we introduce ourselves; they introduce themselves". Presentse usa para
"presentar algo". Por ejemplo, "She presented the company figures last night" ("Present
las cifras de la empresa anoche").

53

T E S T 25
.;*
OH
tflTI

The company s such big that l'll need a map to find his office
It's such a big company that l ' l l need a map to find his office
It's so big the company that l'll need a map to find his office
So big is the company that l'll need a map to find his office

I I
O
CU
O

SU
SU
&
fu

Yesterday, I almost lost myself

Yesterday, I almost was lost
Yesterday, I almost became lost
Yesterday, I almost got lost

D
D
O
D

H
!
&
Su

My boss told me he was wanting a new secretary

My boss told me he is wanting a new secretary
My boss told me he wanted a new secretary
My boss told me he want a new secretary

CU
O
CU
CU

frjl

PIP
@G|
Iini

ii
fli

He wants
He wants
He wants
He wants

that I hire a secretary as soon as possible

me to contract a secretary as soon as possible
that I contract a secretary as soon as possible
me to hire a secretary as soon as possible

CU
CJ
'CU
O

The report will be ready by Friday

Cu

The report will be ready for the Friday

The report will be ready on the Friday
The report will be ready to Friday

CU
CU
CU

How
How
How
How

CU
CJ
| |
CU

many
many
many
many

are you in the company?

of you are there in the company?
of there are you in the company?
you are in the company?

My collegue's desks are always tidy

My collegues' desk is always tidy
My collegues' desks are always tidy
My collegues's desk is always tidy

O
I I
CU
D

The
The
The
The

D
O
O
I I

company
company
company
company

is to the edge of bankruptcy

is to the border of bankruptcy
is on the boundary of bankruptcy
s on the brink of bankruptcy

NOTAS

54

ANSWERS

1.b

Aqu se trata de dos estructuras muy fciles de confundir. El problema radica en que en
ingls tenemos dos palabras (soy such), y en espaol solo hay una ("tan"). Con la palabra
so la estructura es "sujeto + be + so + adjetivo". Y con la palabra such la estructura es
"sujeto + be + such (a /an) + adjetivo + sustantivo". La nica que usa correctamente esta
estructura es la "B".

2.d

El verbo "perderse", como muchos verbos reflexivos en espaol, se traduce como "get +
participio". Te proponemos ms ejemplos: get dressed ("vestirse"), get married("casarse"),
get tired (cansarse).

3.c

Hay varios verbos (normalmente se llaman "non-action verbs") que no suelen expresarse en
los tiempos continuos. En ingls hablado, la "D" sonara bien si no fuera por la falta de la
s al final del verbo want. Sin embargo, cuando estamos relatando lo que alguien ha dicho
es mejor emplear el pasado.

4.d

"Quiere que contrate..." Como no tenemos subjuntivo en ingls, en esta estructura (el
acusativo) expresamos la misma idea con el pronombre complemento seguido del infinitivo.
Solemos usar el verbo contract para contratar los servicios de una persona u organizacin,
por ejemplo un abogado o fontanero. Cuando contratamos a un empleado decimos ire.
'

5.a

Podemos descartar la "B" y la "C" porque no se puede usar el artculo definido con los das
de la semana sin aadir ms informacin. O sea, es posible decir "the Friday after Easter"
o "the Friday before my holidays" pero no "the Friday" a secas. Las preposiciones fory on
estn bien, pero la palabra toen la "D", por supuesto, no tiene ningn sentido.

6.b

"Cuntos sois?" Se traduce en ingls literalmente como "Cuntos de vosotros hay?"

Cuando contestamos a este tipo de pregunta decimos "hay x de nosotros / ellos". Por
ejemplo: "There will be 15 of them" (Sern 15).

7.c

Dnde se pone el maldito apostrofe? La "A" es gramaticalmente correcta pero un poco

improbable puesto que dice que tu compaero de trabajo tiene ms de una mesa de trabajo.
En cambio, la "B" implica que tienes varios compaeros que comparten una sola mesa de
trabajo. La "D" es la nica que es gramaticalmente incorrecta.

8.d

Tambin se puede decir "on the border of bankruptcy" o "on the edge of bankruptcy" o
incluso "on the verge of bankruptcy". Ms ejemplos del uso de la palabra brink: "I was on
the brink of te/ling him" ("Estaba a punto de decrselo"); "The country is on the brink of
war" ("El pas est al borde de la guerra"); "He pulled the firm back from the brink" ("l
salv a la empresa del desastre").

55