Basic Sentence Structure

In this book we are going to use some

terms to help us explain the structure of
English.

Noun
Pedro studies English. A noun is a naming word.
noun verb noun
It can be the name of:
a person, a place, or a thing.
Examples: Monica works in the URSE.
Lucy plays football. Person Mary Michael Tom
Oaxaca is a beautiful place . Place Oaxaca Italy hell
The pen is on the table. Thing pen money love
The noun that comes at the beginning of a
sentence is called the subject.

Verb
Monica works in the URSE. A verb is normally an action
noun verb prep noun The base form of a verb is the form that
you can find in the dictionary. It is the
Examples: Pedro and Sam study English. simple form. The infinitive is just to and
the base form.
The pen is red.
Lucy plays football. To + base form = Infinitive
Clare goes to the market.
Base form Infinitive
play to play
be to be
go to go

Mel cooks delicious food. Adjective

noun verb adjective noun Some common adjectives:
red interesting good sexy
The pen is red. tall expensive fast difficult
noun linking verb adjective An adjective is a word that describes a
noun.
Examples: The fast car is expensive. Adjectives come before the nouns that
I am reading an interesting book. they describe.
I have a tall sister. big car
Jennifer Lopez is sexy. interesting teacher
Or they are linked to nouns with a linking
verb. The most common linking verb is
the verb to be.
The car is big.
The teacher is interesting.

The pen is on the table. Preposition

noun verb preposition noun
Some common prepositions:
Examples: Monica works in the URSE. in on at with for
Mary goes to the market. to from about under near
I am thinking about Jennifer Lopez.
A preposition is used to connect a noun to
Pierre is from Spain. the rest of the sentence.

1
Basic Sentence Structure B. Match the “term” with its definition.
A. Label the parts of the sentence as
noun, verb, adjective, preposition. NOUN una palabra que
ex: The girl is happy. sustantivo habla de una acción
a. b. c.
PREPOSITION una palabra que
a. noun____ preposición califica a un sustantivo
b. verb___
VERB una palabra que da
c. adjective_ verbo un nombre a una
cosa, una persona o
1. The cat likes fish. un lugar
a. b. c.
a. __________ ADJECTIVE una palabra que
b. __________ adjetivo hace una conexión
c. __________ entre un sustantivo
y el resto de una
2. Charlie plays basketball. oración
a. b. c.
a. __________ Give four examples (in Spanish) of
b. __________ each “term”.
c. __________ Noun: ___________________
___________________
3. The truck is old. Verb: ___________________
a. b. c. ___________________
a. __________ Adjective: ___________________
b. __________ ___________________
c. __________ Preposition: ___________________
___________________
4. Max and Helen are smart.
a. b. c.
a. __________ C. Put the words in correct order.
ex: young the boys are
b. __________
The boys are young.
c. __________
1. young is Freddy
5. The man eats hamburgers. _________________________.
a. b. c. 2. has Grant a dog
a. __________ _________________________.
3. works at William a bank
b. __________
_________________________.
c. __________
4. Francis to walks the store
6. Mary is at school. _________________________.
a. b. c. d. 5. have Stan and Ginger a house red
a. __________ _________________________.
6. beautiful is the city
b. __________
_________________________.
c. __________
7. watches movies Bill many
d. __________
_________________________.
8. tacos delicious are
7. Big cars are in the street.
a. b. c. d. e. _________________________.
9. eat delicious Oaxacans food
a. __________
_________________________.
b. __________
10. plays fat the man Pedro baseball with
c. __________
_________________________.
d. __________ 11. Law students in the morning study
e. __________ _________________________.

2
 Be  is are Be is the base form of the verb am,
are. The infinitive of Be is To Be.
is,

In affirmative sentences the subject

always comes before the verb.

subject verb The verb to be is a link that joins the

subject to a location,
Mexico is a country.  noun
an adjective
The books are on the table.  location or a noun.

Monica is intelligent.  adjective

We use is with singular nouns. Singular means one.

singular noun Some common prepositions of place

in is physically inside
 something.
English is easy. in Eg. Joe is in the classroom.

on is physically on top of
subject verb something.

Examples: Janet is a doctor.

on Eg. The pen is on the table.
The dog is in the garden.
Grammar is difficult. at is more general. It is used
Oaxaca is in Mexico. to locate something without
My sister is an English student. at giving the exact location.
Pedro is happy.
Eg. Jane is at the hospital.

We use are with plural nouns. Plural means more than

one.
plural noun Normally a plural noun finishes in –s,
Eg. a dog  two dogs
 but there are a few irregular plural
Dogs are animals. nouns:

singular plural
man men
subject verb woman women
child children
Examples: Pedro and Lupita are at the URSE. person people
The books are heavy. foot feet
My children are in the United States of America. tooth teeth
Miguel and Sandra are teachers. fish fish
The offices are empty.
fruit fruit
The students are French.

3
To Be : is , are D. Choose the correct preposition.
A. Check the correct conjugation of the ex: The money is ____ his pocket.
verb to be.  in  at
1. The girls are ____ the store.
ex: The dogs _____ in the park.
 on  in
 is  are 2. Paul is ____ school.
1. The cat _____ on the table.  at  on
 is  are 3. The birds are ____ the statue.
2. France and Germany _____ in Europe.  on  in
 is  are 4. Elvis is _____ the building.
3. The monkey _____ fat.  on  in
 is  are 5. The food is _____ the table.
4. The boy _____ tall.  on  at
 is  are 6. Jenny is _____ the hospital.
5. The children _____ at school.  on  at
 is  are 7. We are _____ the street.
6. My parents _____ happy.  in  at
 is  are 8. The cats are _____ the bed.
7. The language _____ easy.  at  on
 is  are 9. The milk is _____ the refrigerator.
8. The houses _____ new.  on  in
 is  are 10. We are _____ Mexico.
9. The game _____ on TV.  in  at
 is  are
10. The students _____ here.
 is  are E. Read the following passage.
Robert is fifteen years old. He is a high school
student. His parents are intelligent. His mother is a
B. Fill in the blank with the correct form doctor and his father is a teacher. His sister Susan
of the verb to be: is or are. is nineteen years old. She is at the university. His
ex: The cat is on the bed. brother John is ten years old. He is in elementary
1. The boxes _____ in the car. school. His best friend is Paul. Paul is sixteen.
2. The traffic _____ bad. Check the correct answer.
3. The woman _____ Mexican. 1. Paul ____ sixteen.
4. China _____ a big country.  is
5. The books _____ interesting.  are
6. Jason and Marci _____ students. 2. His parents ______intelligent.
7. Charles _____ a big boy.  is
8. The cars _____ Italian.  are
9. The people _____ in the street. 3. Who is in elementary school?
10. Phil _____ a dentist.  Susan
 John
C. Choose the appropriate subject.  Paul
ex: _____ is expensive. 4. How old is John?
 10
 The house  The houses
 15
1. _____ are doctors.  19
 The sisters  Mary 5. Robert and Paul _______ students.
2. _____ is an excellent actor.  is
 De Niro  Pacino and Brando
 are
3. _____ is near the park.
 The schools  A store
4. _____ are in the building. F. Complete these sentences.
 The rat  The rats 1. My house _____ in _________________.
5. _____ is excellent. be location
 The music  The musicians
6. _____ are happy. 2. My classmates ______ _______________.
 The child  The children be adjective
7. _____ is bad today.
 The cars  The traffic 3. My father _____ a(n) _________________ .
be occupation
8. _____ is on the table.
 The milk  The glasses of milk

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 Be  am is are
We can use a subject pronoun instead of a
noun as the subject of a sentence.
The subject pronouns are:

I, you, he, she, it, we, and they

We can use pronouns instead of nouns as the subject. Singular Subject Verb to Be
pronoun
1st person I am
2nd person You are
He is
I am a student. 3rd person She is
It is
pronoun verb
Plural Subject Verb to Be
Examples: He is a friend = Bob is my friend. pronoun
She is in the garden = Mary is in the garden. 1st person We are
It is red = The car is red. 2nd person You are
You are a good doctor. 3rd person They are
They are Mexican = Pedro and Lupe are Mexican.
They are brothers = Harry and Charles are brothers.  You can be singular or plural.
We are intelligent = Linda and I are intelligent.
It is for a thing, an animal or
an abstract concept.
They is for two or more
people, things, animals or
This is my book. abstract concepts.

demonstrative verb Demonstrative pronouns are similar to he,

pronoun she, it and they, but demonstrative
pronouns show if something or somebody
is near or far from the speaker.
Examples: That is a modern factory.
These are my relatives. Singular Pronoun Be
Those are new. This is
This is my mother.

That is an interesting city.   That is
Those are Italian.
These are cheap stores. Plural Pronoun Be
 These are
  Those are

Contractions of a subject pronoun and be

I’m an English student. are possible in speaking and informal
writing. An apostrophe is used to show
contraction of the contraction.
pronoun and Pronoun + Be Contraction
verb I + am I’m
You + are You’re
Examples: He’s an engineer. He’s
He + is
It’s very good.
She + is She’s
They’re in the museum.
It’s a gym. It + is It’s
We’re Spanish. We + are We’re
That’s my book. They + are They’re
She’s angry. With that
That’s
That + is

5
To Be- Affirmative grandfather is (7)_______ the dentist. Their uncle
and aunt are (8)_______ the supermarket. The dog
A. Fill in the blank with is or are. is (9)_______ the rug and the cat is (10)_______
ex: Joe is a student the closet.
1. The gardens _______ green .
2. Mary ______ a secretary.
3. James _____ an architect.
F. Check the correct subject pronoun.
4. June and Ward _______ lawyers. ex: ___ are in the class.
5. The car _____ old. I  You
6. The books _____ necessary. 1. ___ am a good student.
7. The rabbit _______ in the park. I  You
8. Ann and Steve _____ nurses. 2. ____ is an intelligent boy.
9. Brian _______ a waiter.  He  She
10. My parents ______ doctors. 3. ____ are thin.
 She They
4. ____ is an eraser.
B. Fill in the blank with am or is.  This  These
ex: I am tired. 5. ____ are hungry.
1. I ______ a student. I  We
2. He ____ a boy. 6. ____ is a happy girl.
3. She _____ a girl.  He  She
4. I _____ tall. 7. ______ is crying.
5. He _____ fat.  We  It
6. Brad _____ an actor. 8. Those ____ difficult subjects.
7. Jennifer _____ a teacher.  is  are
8. Maria _____ pretty. 9. Are _____ sad?
9. Carlos and Peter_____ handsome.  you  she
10. I ____ happy. 10. That _____ good.
 is  are
C. Fill in the blank with am, is or are.
ex: You are a teacher. G. Change the underlined noun to a
1. They ______ dentists. subject pronoun.
2. I ______ from the United States. ex: It The book is interesting.
3. Paul ______ from England. 1. ________ Tom is a police officer.
4. He ______ a student. 2. ________ The dog is in the house.
5. My wife and I _____ from Mexico. 3. ________ The books are on the desk.
6. We ______ travel agents. 4. ________ The sky is blue.
7. Wendy _____ a doctor. 5. ________ Diana is young.
8. She _____ from Australia. 6. ________ The children are at school.
9. Tom and Eva _____ from Peru. 7. ________ The chairs are old.
10. I _____ a psychiatrist. 8. ________ Paul and Sue are tall.
9. ________ My father is fat.
D. Fill in the blank with am, is or are. 10. ________ Wendy and I are tired.
Hi. My name (ex) is Olga. I (1)_______ Russian. 11. ________ Math is a difficult subject.
12. ________ People are very different.
My brother and I (2)_______ students and my
13. ________ The furniture is ugly.
parents (3)_______ teachers. It (4)_____ summer
vacation and now, we (5)______ in Mexico. I 14. ________ Politics is very boring.
15. ________ Women are very busy.
(6)________ in Huatulco with my family. It
16. ________ Architects are very creative.
(7)_______ beautiful, but it (8)______ hot. The sky
17. ________ The twins are young.
(9)_______ blue and the sea (10)_______ green.
18. ________ The weather is very hot.
We (11)_______ very happy. My family and I
(12)_______ here for two weeks. Today my mother
19. ________ The food is cold.
(13)_______ in the pool and my father (14)_______
20. ________ Money is necessary.
in a hammock. I (15)_______ on the beach.
H. Complete the sentence.
E. Fill in the blank with in, on or at. I’m __________. I’m ______. I’m a __________.
name age ocupation
Mr. Grey is (ex) in his office and his things are
(1)______ his desk. His wife is (2)_______ home.
I’m __________ and __________.
Janet is (3)_______ her bedroom. Thomas is adjective adjective
(4)_______ a bike. Bob is (5)_______ the garden.
Their grandmother is (6)_______ the station. Their

6
 Be  isn’t, aren’t Not makes a sentence
negative.

negation
In negative sentences with the
Gloria is not my girlfriend. verb be it is common to use
contractions. Sometimes there is
subject verb
more than one possible
Examples: She is not Japanese.
contraction.
It is not on the table.
Monica’s sister is not in the library. Not can be contracted with
Their names are not difficult.
Its capital is not Washington D.C.
is and are but not am.
Our doctor is not wrong.
That is not our classroom. Pronoun Be Not Contraction
We are not lawyers. I am not I'm not
You are not You aren't
You're not

They aren't his friends. He is not He isn't

He's not
subject contraction of She is not She isn't
verb and not
She's not
It is not It isn't
Examples: It isn’t a cheap hospital.
They’re not Indian.
It's not
We aren’t twins. We are not We aren't
They aren’t at church. We're not
These aren’t easy examples. They are not They aren't
My sister isn’t a dentist. They're not
Pedro’s parents aren’t lazy.

Possessive adjectives are used in front of a noun to show possession.

The possesive adjectives are my, your, his, her, its, our and their.
 Like all adjectives, possesive adjectives don’t take an ‘S’ to make them plural.
Eg. Her book is red. Her books are red

Subject Possessive
Examples
pronoun adjective
I my My name is Pedro. I love my mother.
You your That isn't your book. Your brothers are at school.
he his His girlfriend is beautiful. He is in his house.
She her Her name is Martha. Her dogs are in the garden.
it its Mitla is famous for its ruins. I am from a small town. Its name is San Pedro.
We our Our class is at 10 o'clock. He is in our group.
They their Their teacher is late. Their classes are easy.

 It´s is the contraction for it is. Its is a possesive adjective.

Eg. I live in Mexico. Its capital is DF. It's a nice place.
 We often put –‘s for people to show possesion.
Eg. Ann’s camera, my brother’s camera, that woman’s name.

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To Be- Negative
7. hot not we are
A. Put “be” in the correct negative
__________________________
form. ex: The book is not new. 8. hungry are they not
1. We __________ in the class.
2. Patrick __________ happy.
__________________________
3. They __________ Spanish. 9. Beverly and Bill not ugly are
4. I __________ fast. __________________________
5. You __________ a good cook. 10. not is old it
6. Whales __________ fish. __________________________
7. It __________ blue.
8. The pens __________ in the bag. E. Check the correct word to complete
9. I __________ a student.
10. Wendy __________ at home.
the sentence.
ex: _____ car is green.
 He  His
B. Use the contraction of “be” and
1. I am from Oaxaca. ____ beaches are beautiful.
“not”. ex: He isn’t here.  It’s  Its
1. Oaxaca ________ cold. 2. That is _____ book.
2. Al and Steve ________ fat.  you  your
3. You ________ on the team. 3. _____ name is John.
4. Nancy ________ at school.  His  Her
5. We ________ at the beach. 4. New York is famous for _____ buildings.
6. The computers ________ big.  its  her
7. The pizza ________ expensive. 5. _____ books are old.
8. They ________ in my pocket.  They  Their
9. He ________ in the room. 6. _____ class is fun.
10. The dogs ________ outside.  Are  Our
7. This is _____ car.
C. Fill in the blank with the correct form  my  me
of “be”. Use the affirmative or negative form 8. _____books are on the table.
according to the statement.  Hers  Her
9. _____ classes are excellent.
ex: Oaxaca is a small city. It is not big.
 Their  Theirs
1. Nancy is sad. She ________ happy.
10. It is _____ house.
2. Sam and I _______ tall. We aren’t short.
 our  we
3. Tamales are cheap. They _______ expensive.
4. The floor isn’t wet. It _______ dry.
5. We _______ smart. We aren’t dumb. F. Read the following passage.
6. Chuck _______ fat. He’s thin. Tommy is worried about his family. His mother is
7. It isn’t Tuesday. It _______ Wednesday. busy. His father is angry. His sister is tired. His
8. Today is hot. It _______ cold. brother is difficult. His grandmother is thin and his
9. Pumas _______ a bad team. They’re good. grandfather is sad. Tommy's family is unhappy.
10. Fidel isn’t Mexican. He _______ Cuban. Check the correct answer.
1. How is Tommy's sister?
D. Arrange the sentences in the correct  She is happy.
 She is worried.
order.  She is tired.
ex: not you fat are 2. How is Tommy's mother?
You are not fat.  She is sad.
1. not are Jack and Jill here  She is busy.
__________________________  She is lonely.
2. sad am I not 3. How is Tommy's grandfather?
__________________________  He is sick.
3. they French not are  He is embarrassed.
 He is unhappy.
__________________________ 4. How is Tommy's grandmother?
4. is Helen ten years old not
 She is difficult.
__________________________  She is thin.
5. not tired Helen and I are  She is lonely.
__________________________
6. Bernard in the class not is
__________________________

8
Be ? Are you? Is she? In questions,
Be comes before
Yes / No Questions the subject.

? Be + Subject

Is she a doctor?
Are they on the table?
Why
Examples:
are
Question
you
Short answer
To make a question with the verb be you have
late?
Are they brothers? Yes, they are.
Am I late? No, you aren’t. to invert the subject and the verb
Is this a bookstore? No, it isn’t.
Are you Chinese? Yes, I am.
Is Sandra in Huatulco?
Is your husband a builder?
Yes, she is.
No, he isn’t.
She is a doctor. Statement
Are Lupita’s books new? Yes they are.

Is she a doctor? Question

Questions with Wh-words Wh-words are words that come at the

beginning of a question. They ask for an
answer with specific information. We call
them wh-words because most of them
begin with wh.
? Wh-word + Be + Subject
some common wh-words
Who For asking about people
Where is Maria? Where For asking about location
What For asking about things
When is the class? Why For asking about reasons
When For asking about
Why are you late? time

Examples: Question Answer  Some wh-words are made

Who is in the classroom? Pedro is in the classroom. up of several words. For example:
What are these? They are notes.
Why is Pilar sad? Because she is lonely. How For asking about age
When is your class? It is at 10 o’clock. old
What time is it? It is 10:30. How
Who is he? He’s my brother.
For asking about
many /
What color are your pens? They are red. quantity
much
What For asking about colors
color

9
To Be- Interrogative E. Put the words in correct order.
A. Fill in the blank with am, is or are. ex: the at store Ben is?
ex: Is she a student? Is Ben at the store ?
verb subject preposition art. object
1. _______ Rita and Peggy pretty?
2. _______ Peter from the United States? 1. they at school are?
3. _______ we intelligent students? ?
4. _______ they dentists? verb subject preposition object
5. _______ I handsome? 2. from Germany Helen is?
6. _______ it a chair? ?
7. _______ they math books? verb subject preposition object
8. _______ it big? 3. Tom from where is?
9. _______ the dogs happy? ?
10. _______ Robert and I friends? wh. word verb subject preposition
4. Spain they are in?
B. Match the “Wh” question words to ?
what they refer to. verb subject preposition object
Where A person 5. brother is your he?
When A thing or an action ?
Why A time verb subject adjective object
Who A reason
6. class I am your in?
What A place
verb subject preposition adjective object
C. Chose the correct “Wh” word. 7. happy is Jim?
who what where why when
ex: What is your name? verb subject adjective
1. _______ is the Post office? 8. is teacher who your?
2. _______ are those people?
3. _______ is that? wh. word verb adjective subject
4. _______ is her birthday?
5. _______ are they happy? 9. at the beach are we?

verb subject preposition article object

D. Check the correct answer. 10. on the table is it?
ex: _____ he here?
 Am  Are  Is verb subject preposition article object
1. Is ______ Italian?
 we  they  she
F. Unscramble the sentences.
2. _____ we happy?
ex: the students here are
 Am  Are  Is
3. _______ you American? Are the students here ?
 Am  Is  Are 1. good the is weather
4. ______ this John’s bag? ______________________________?
 Am  Is  Are 2. the is where bank
5. Are ______ Mexican? ______________________________?
 he  we  I 3. an is accountant who
6. ______ Bill from Canada? ______________________________?
 Am  Is  Are 4. are garden they in the
7. _____ Martin and Janet German? ______________________________?
 Am  Is  Are 5. your are mother who father and
8. _____ those Mary’s notes? ______________________________?
 Am  Is  Are 6. car big is Tony's
9. ______ that your book on the desk? ______________________________?
 Am  Is  Are 7. your where children are
10. Am ______ your partner? ______________________________?
 you  I  they 8. is table the on book the
______________________________?
9. cousin is young my
______________________________?
10. the what box in is
______________________________?

10
Existence I
When we want to say that something
There’s a party. exists, we begin the sentence with there
and then we put the verb to be and then
the subject.

There + be + noun
 There + is / are + noun In the present we use the forms is or are of
the verb to be. So,

There are 20 students. There is + singular noun

Examples: There is a clock on the wall.
There is a lot of time.
There are many architects in Oaxaca.
There’s a book on the table.
There are some beautiful women in Oaxaca.
There are many churches in Oaxaca.
There’s too much traffic.
There are + plural noun
 We often use the contraction
there’s instead of there is.
 This is a special structure. It
is unusual because the first word
in the sentence is there, it is not
the subject but it acts like it.

 There + is / are + not + noun  Do not confuse

there with they, Eg.
There are three doctors.
There isn’t time. They are three doctors.
Examples: There isn’t much industry in Oaxaca.
There aren’t many good jobs.
Some common “expressions of
There isn’t a seat for Miguel.
There aren’t enough books in the library. quantity” often used with
There isn’t any homework today! there is / are
There aren’t any pens on my table.
There isn’t enough water. some a lot much too

any a many enough

 Is / are + there + noun little

In a question, we change the order and

Is there a chair? put the verb to be before there.

Examples: Is there any homework?

Are there any windows?  Notice that the position of the
Is there enough time? noun is different in the two
Is there a restroom near here? question forms.
Are there any pay phones in the university?

We use much for uncountable

 Wh-word + noun + is / are + there nouns and many for countable
nouns.
Look at these examples:
How many cars are there? How much time is there?
Examples: How much time is there? There isn’t much.
How many people are there in your family? How many students are there?
How many students are there in the class?
There are many.
How much homework is there?
How many pages are there in the book? There are too many people.
There is too much pollution.

11
Existence I There is / There are
A. Fill in the blank with is or are.
ex: There is a book on the desk.
1. There _____ oranges in the basket.
2. There _____ five students.
3. There _____ some papers in my bag.
4. There _____ milk on the table.
5. There _____ a lot of culture in Oaxaca.
6. There _____ a lot of questions.
7. There _____ many dogs.
8. There _____ some sugar on the floor.
9. There _____ too many people.
10. There _____ a problem.
B. Use there isn’t or there aren’t to
complete the negative.
ex: There isn't any coffee in the pot.
1. __________ any classes this week.
2. __________ a public phone on campus.
3. __________ any water.
4. __________ beaches in Aguascalientes.
5. __________ enough money.
6. __________ bananas for breakfast.
7. __________ a desk for you.
8. __________ much gasoline in the car.
9. __________ many cars in the parking lot.
10. __________ a test today.
C. Put the words in the correct order to
form a question.
ex: are any movies there today
Are there any movies today ?
1. some there tortillas are
____________________________?
2. a test is today there
____________________________?
3. tourists there many are
____________________________?
4. enough are sandwiches there
____________________________?
5. is how money much there
____________________________?
6. soda there any is
____________________________?
7. many are pens there how
____________________________?
8. a there is game tonight
____________________________?
9. traffic is much how there
____________________________?
10. there a computer is
____________________________?
D. Check the correct answer.
ex: There ______ an Italian restaurant here.
 am not  isn't  aren't
1. ______ there any cookies?
 Am  Is  Are
2.There_______ a chair.
 am not  isn't  aren't
3. _______ you American?
 Am  Is  Are
4. ______ there students in the classroom?
 Am  Is  Are
5. Are ______ on the table?
 they  there  their
6. ______ Bill from Canada?
 Am  Is  Are
7. Martin and Janet _____ German.
 am not  isn't  aren't
8. There _____ a dog in the classroom.
 am not  isn't  aren't
9. ______ there a book on the desk?
 Am  Is  Are
10. ______ aren’t any students.
 There  They  Their
E. Read the following passage.
There is a lot to do in Oaxaca. There are many
historical and cultural attractions. There is an old
convent called Santo Domingo. There are many
museums and cultural centers. There is good food,
too, and there are many fine restaurants. There
aren't any big buildings or skyscrapers. However,
there is a lot of traffic because there are many cars
and the streets aren't very big.
Circle true or false according to the statement.
1. There are big buildings in Oaxaca. T F
2. There are a lot of attractions. T F
3. There isn't a convent in Oaxaca. T F
4. There are good places to eat. T F
5. There aren't many cars in Oaxaca. T F
6. There are small streets in Oaxaca. T F
F. Use how much or how many to form
questions.
ex: How much trash is there?
1. __________ people are there in the building?
2. __________ coffee is there?
3. __________ corn is there in the soup?
4. __________ buildings are there in the city?
5. __________ tests are there on Friday?
6. __________ cheese is there on the table?
7. __________ cats are there?
8. __________ money is there in the bank?
12
Present Continuous: I'm studying For talking about
now
When we want to talk about an action that
is happening now, that is in progress, we
 Subject + Be + -ing use a tense called the present continuous
auxiliary or present progressive. This is a
compound tense because it is made up of
Pedro is eating cereal. two parts, the auxiliary verb be (am, is, are)
and a present participle (verb + ing).

am, is, are + present

Examples: He is eating an apple. participle
Susan and I are talking. The present participle is formed by
It’s dying. adding ing to the base form of the verb.
They are studying English.
The students are playing football. Some examples:
My teacher is speaking to Mary. eat eating
It is raining.
We’re wearing the same clothes.
study studying
talk talking
See more examples in Appendix I p 100.
Sometimes there is a change in spelling.
Please refer to Appendix H page 99.
 Subject + Be + not + -ing
Verbs Change Example
auxiliary

We aren't studying math.

which end in -e:
e dance -
dancing
which end in die -
–ie: ie  y
dying
which end with sit –
Examples: Patty isn’t sleeping in class today.
a consonant sitting
My brothers aren’t living in Oaxaca. double
then a vowel stop -
She isn’t baking a cake for the party. letter
then a
We aren’t wearing black jeans. stopping
He isn’t helping.
consonant
They aren’t touching.
It’s not moving.
 We can make negative
The teacher isn’t looking. sentences in the present
continuous by adding not.

 Wh word + Be + subject + -ing

auxiliary
 Notice that the verb to be
What is she doing? comes before the subject in
the question form.
Are they working?
Examples: Are Luis and Anthony fighting?
Is she listening to Pedro?
Is your sister’s boyfriend sleeping?
What is he doing?
What are you cooking?
Why is it raining?
What program are you watching on TV?  This sentence translates
Where are they going? differently in Spanish

13
Present Continuous 4. come ___________12. use ___________
A. Fill in the blank with is or are. 5. cut ____________ 13. get ___________
ex: You are reading a book. 6. live ____________ 14. leave _________
1. Tom ____ going to school. 7. fry ____________ 15. win __________
2. We _____ studying English. 8. lie _____________ 16. sing __________
3. They _____ eating lunch.
4. Barry _____ drinking coffee.
5. Sandra ____ making a movie. F. Arrange the words in correct order.
6. Bob and Peg ______ watching TV. ex: watching Don TV is?
7. Dan ____ writing a letter.
Is Don watching TV?
8. My parents_____ going to work.
auxiliary subject verb object
9. We _____ doing homework.
10. My grandmother _____ sleeping. 1. she is singing?
?
B. Fill in the blank with am, is or are and auxiliary subject verb

the verb in present participle form. 2. football playing they are?

ex: I am eating lunch. (eat) ?
auxiliary subject verb object
1. I ______________ to my teacher. (talk)
2. Jill ____________ exercise. (do) 3. eating Don is breakfast.
3. Fred _____________ in the park. (walk)
4. His brother ___________ a book. (read) subject auxiliary verb object
5. Wendy and I ___________ soda. (drink) 4. they where going are?
6. Joe and Al ____________ football. (play)
7. I ___________ on the computer. (work)
?
wh. word auxiliary subject verb
8. Dave and Sue ________ in Puebla. (live)
5. milk Laura drinking and I aren't.
C. Fill in the blank with isn't or aren't
subject auxiliary verb object
and the verb in present participle form.
6. doing mother the my isn't dishes.
ex: We aren’t doing exercise. (do)
1. She _____________ breakfast. (eat)
adjective subject auxiliary verb article object
2. Ted and Sam __________ math. (study)
3. Sue and I _________ to the market. (go) 7. am French studying I?
4. The boys ___________ football. (play) ?
5. Victor ____________ to music. (listen) auxiliary subject verb object
6. The cats __________ on the table. (sit) 8. Jill is here living?
7. It ___________ today. (rain)
8. They ________ fish in the market. (sell)
?
auxiliary subject verb object
9. Smith Mr. and are Mrs. visiting me.
D. Fill in the blank with am, is or are and
the verb in present participle form. subject auxiliary verb object
ex: Are you watching TV? (watch)
10. brother is helping my Oscar.
1. _____ I _______ it correctly? (do)
2. _____ he _______ his homework? (do)
subject auxiliary verb object
3. _____ Jim and Ann _____ dinner? (have)
4. _____ Gina and I _______ tea? (drink)
5. _____ I _______ the drums? (play) G. Tricky verbs- check the correct
6. _____ we _______ salsa? (dance) answer.
7. _____ the plane _______ late? (arrive) 1. Arnold is _______ the guitar.
8. _____ Susan _______ a party? (plan)  touching  playing
9. _____ they ________ to school? (walk) 2. The children are _______ candy.
10. _____ you ________ French? (study)  drinking  eating
3. Karen is _______ to the teacher.
E. Form the present participle.  not hearing  not listening
4. Brian is _______ the bus.
ex: bite biting
 taking  drinking
1. run ____________ 9. die ___________ 5. Is Barry _______ a party?
2. stay ____________ 10. hope _________  having  making
3. swim ___________ 11. stop __________ 6. Are they _______ their homework?
 doing  making

14
Present Simple  I study English. For talking about
habits and truths
When we want to talk about something
Subject + verb that is true in general, for things that
happen sometimes, or all the time, for
habits or routines, characteristics, facts or

I eat fruit.
descriptions we use a tense called the
present simple. The present simple is
formed with the base form of the verb and
we have to add an s when the subject is in
Examples: We study English.
the third person singular.
Paul and Liz play basketball. For example, the verb to play conjugated in
I drink beer. the present simple:
We watch TV everyday.
Doctors study for many years. Singular Plural
Mexicans like parties. 1st person play play
They study Law. 2nd person play play
I need a vacation. 3rd person plays play
or with subject pronouns:

I play we play
you play you play
he / she plays they play
/ it
Subject + verb + S The verbs to have, go and do are irregular,
when we add the s there is a spelling
change, so the 3rd person singular becomes
Pedro loves María. have has
gogoes
Examples: The teacher gives a lot of homework. dodoes
My brother works in the government.
Some other verbs have spelling changes
The class ends at 12 o’clock.
too. Refer to Appendix H on page 99.
Oaxaca has many churches.
My mother washes clothes on the weekend. Change Example
He sells books. -es after pass - passes
She lives in Etla. s/sh/ch/x/z finish - finishes
Susan wears dresses.
y  ies after a study - studies
consonant but try – tries
not after a but

Examples of sentences with frequency adverbs. vowel buy -buys

He always eats pizza on Saturdays.

An adverb is a word which describes a
I never get up at 10 o’clock.
They usually eat lunch at home. verb or an adjective. Frequency
Roger often cheats. adverbs are words that tell us how often
I sometimes go to church. something happens. They are often used
in the present simple.
It never works.
always 100%
 Notice that the position of the adverb depends on the structure. usually
often
sometimes
He usually eats pizza on the weekend. seldom
rarely
She is never on time. almost never 0%
never
They are always talking.
15
Present Simple- Affirmative 4. go _________ 11. miss _________
A. Check the correct conjugation. 5. pass __________ 12. watch _________
ex: Wendy ____ lunch at home every day. 6. change_________ 13. buy __________
 eat  eats 7. do ____________ 14. cry __________
1. Rick ________ in an office.
 work  works
2. Her father _______ in Jalisco.
E. Check the correct verb tense-
 travel  travels Present Simple or Continuous.
3. We ________ in the URSE. ex: The team _____ every afternoon.
 study  studies  practices  is practicing
4. Jim and Dave ______ football. 1. Mark _____ a sandwich right now.
 play  plays  eat  is eating
5. Ann and I ________ fruit in the market. 2. They _____ dinner at 7o’clock every day.
 buy  buys  have  are having
6. James _______ a big motorcycle. 3. Sean _____ at the library in the evening.
 ride  rides  studies  is studying
7. Janet's cousin ________ a bus. 4. We _____ to the park at the moment.
 drive  drives  walk  are walking
8. Nora's sons ______ to the radio. 5. The school _____ this year.
 listen  listens  grows  is growing
9. My grandparents ____ many books. 6. The movie _____ at 9 p.m.
 read  reads  starts  is starting
10. The girl's dog ______ on the roof. 7. Now the girls _____ soccer.
 live  lives  play  are playing
8. My family ____ a vacation every summer.
 takes  is taking
B. Put the verb in parentheses in the 9. You _____ now.
correct form of the Present Simple.  work  are working
ex: The boys always walk to school. (walk) 10. John isn’t at home. He _____ his dog.
1. Maurice ________ your sister. (know)  walks  is walking
2. His Parents ________ music. (teach)
3. Barry and Ali ________ to work. (drive) F. Match the frequency adverbs.
4. The family ________ vegetables. (grow) 1. always nunca
5. People ________ routines. (have) 2. usually rara vez
6. Jenny ________ her bills. (pay) 3. often a menudo
7. We always ________ at the show. (laugh) 4. sometimes siempre
8. The chicken ________ $4.00. (cost) 5. rarely casi nunca
9. Joe ________ a skateboard. (use) 6. hardly ever usualmente
10. The cats ________ every night. (return) 7. almost never pocas veces
8. never algunas veces
C. Choose the verb that fits the best.
eat finish arrive study have go have G. Select the right Frequency Adverb.
do take play watch go ex: It is always cold in the North Pole.
Cathy (ex) studies Computer Science at the (always / sometimes)
University. She (1)_______ the bus to her 1. My boss __________ is late. She is punctual.
University at 6:45am and she (2)_______ at 7am. (always / never)
She (3)_______ two classes and then she 2. Brian is a good student. He ________ cheats.
(4)_______ breakfast. At 1pm she (5)_______ her (often / never)
classes and she (6)_______ home for lunch. In the 3. It _________ rains in Oaxaca in December.
afternoon she (7)_______ with her sister. (always / rarely)
Sometimes they (8)_______ TV, but they always 4. I ______ do my homework. I’m a good student.
(9)_______ a good time. At around 10pm she is (never / usually)
tired (10)_______ to bed. 5. In July it is ___________ hot in Oaxaca.
(usually / hardly ever)
D. Put the verb into the 3rd person. 6. He ________ watches TV. He prefers to read.
ex: play plays (almost never / always)
7. I go to the movies __________. I like films.
1. try _________ 8. have __________ (rarely / often)
2. stay __________ 9. close __________ 8. Jill has little money. She likes
3. wish _________ 10. catch _________ to travel. She ___________ takes the plane.
(always / sometimes)

16
Present Simple  I don't love you. Don't and doesn't are
signals, they say: the next
verb is in the present and
it's negative.
Subject + don't + verb
auxiliary in the base form To make a sentence negative in the present
simple we use an auxilary do or does and
not:

I
verb in
Anne and Tom don't smoke. We
You
do + not + base
form
They

Do + not are normally

Examples: I don’t have any friends.
The classes do not start at 10:00. contracted to form don't.
Your parents don’t speak French.
Oaxacans don’t eat vegetables.
I do not play football.
Mary and Sarah don’t teach Spanish.
I don’t think that.
We don’t like the teacher.

Does is used for the 3rd person singular

Subject + doesn't + verb He verb

She does + not + in base
auxiliary in the base form
It form

Does + not are normally

Adrian doesn't understand. contracted to form doesn't.

Here is the verb to play conjugated as an

example:
Examples: He doesn’t arrive on time.
It doesn’t mean that.
Singular
The teacher doesn’t laugh. 1st person I don’t play
Pedro does not cheat. 2nd person You don´t play
My father doesn’t work in a bank. He doesn’t play
She doesn’t wear skirts. 3rd person She doesn’t play
Oaxaca does not have many parks. It doesn’t play
My baby doesn’t cry.
Plural
1st person we don’t play
2 person You
nd don’t play
3rd person They don’t play

 When we use the auxilaries

don't and doesn't, the main verb
is always in the base form. We
never put -s on the main verb.
The auxilary does contains the -s.

17
Present Simple- Negative D. Change from the affirmative to the
A. Circle the correct auxiliary. negative form.
ex: You doesn’t / don’t have class. ex: We have class every day.
We don’t have class every day.
1. Gary doesn't / don't like chicken. 1. Matt looks for a job.
2. Mary and I doesn't / don't run in the park.
3. Bill's brothers doesn't / don't wash the dishes. _____________________________
4. Anita doesn't / don't fight in the classroom. 2. The people do exercise in the gym.
5. We doesn't / don't wash the clothes. _____________________________
6. Our teacher doesn't / don't speak German. 3. It stays in the garage.
7. The boys doesn't / don't help the girls. _____________________________
8. Jack doesn't / don't do his homework. 4. We jump the fence.
9. Colin's aunts doesn' t / don't drink milk. _____________________________
10. Nadia doesn' t / don't paint pretty pictures. 5. Sally rides a black horse.
_____________________________
B. Fill in the blank with the present 6. He understands the book.
simple negative- use the verb in _____________________________
parentheses. 7. Tom makes many decisions.
ex: I don’t feel well. (feel) _____________________________
1. We _____________ class on Saturday. (have) 8. She has many friends.
2. They ______________ to parties. (go) _____________________________
3. Paul ______________ pizza. (like) 9. The secretary types a lot of letters.
4. You ______________ history. (study) _____________________________
5. The children _____________. (work) 10. Jack pays the bills.
6. It _____________there. (go) _____________________________
7. Will and I _____________ soccer. (play)
8. She ____________ in Oaxaca. (live)
9. The people ____________ politicians. (trust) E. Fill in the blank with the correct form
10. We ____________ in the class. (talk) of the present simple- use the affirmative
or negative form according to the
C. Choose the correct answer. information given.
ex: The boys _____ dance. ex: My friend is very shy.
 doesn’t  don’t He doesn’t speak a lot. (speak)
1. He doesn’t _____ very much.
 study  studies 1. Fred likes books. He __________ a lot. (read)
2. We _____ understand. 2. They are vegetarians.
 doesn’t  don’t They ____________ meat. (eat)
3. _____ doesn’t speak French. 3. Pam and I study law.
 Ken I We _____________ psychology. (study)
4. Carol and Jim don’t _____ . 4. Steven works every day of the year.
 drive  drives He _____________ a vacation. (have)
5. The team _____ play well. 5. Pete goes to the movies all of the time.
 don’t  doesn’t He _____________ movies. (like)
6. _____ don’t work. 6. Our grandmother is almost blind.
 the cars  the car She ____________ very well. (see)
7. Your new clothing _____ look good. 7. Sissy ____________ exercise. (do)
 don’t  doesn’t She is fat and very out of shape.
8. Oaxaca doesn’t _____ many big cities. 8. Sal and Jason take the bus to school.
 have  has They ___________ . (drive)
9. _____ doesn’t have chilies. 9. My mother is a horrible cook.
 The cheese  The tacos She ___________ very well. (cook)
10. He doesn’t _____ a hat. 10. We ___________. (smoke)
 wears  wear We are very healthy.
11. Dogs _____ like cats. 11. I lived in Moscow for 5 years.
 doesn’t  don’t I ____________ Russian. (speak)
12. Mary and Brian _____ travel. 12. Carrie and I don’t have a lot of money.
 don’t  doesn’t We ____________ expensive things. (buy)
13. Charlie is afraid of water.
He ____________ swimming. (go)

18
Present Simple  Do you? Do and does are signals,
they say: the next verb is in
the present and it's a
Yes / no questions question.

? Do + subject + verb To make a question in the present simple

we use the auxiliary do or does:
auxiliary in base form
I
Do they play football Do +
We
+
verb in
base
You form
Examples: Questions: Short answers: They
Do they like music? Yes, they do.
Do you study English? Yes, I do.
Do Oaxacans eat mole? Yes, they do.
Do your parents work? No, they don’t.
He verb in
Do pigs fly?
Do you listen to rock?
No, they don’t.
No, I don’t.
Does +
She
It
+ base
form

Here is the verb to play conjugated as an

example:
? Does + subject + verb
auxiliary in base form 1st person Do I play?
2nd person Do You play?
Does Pedro cook well? Does He play?
3rd person Does She play?
Examples: Questions: Short answers: Does It play?
Does your sister study? Yes, she does. 1st person Do we play?
Does it eat meat? No, it doesn’t. 2nd person Do You play?
Does the class finish soon? Yes, it does. 3rd person Do They play?
Does your child play football? Yes she does.
Does Manuel like chocolate? No, he doesn’t.
Does Silvia have a boyfriend? Yes, she does.  When we use the auxiliaries
do and does, the main verb is
always in the base form. We
never put -s on the main verb.
Information questions The auxiliary does contains
the -s.
? Wh-word + do/does + subject + verb Compare the present simple and the
auxiliary in base form present continuous:

Where do you live? Present

simple
Present
continuous
Do you play Are you
What time does she arrive? tennis? playing tennis?
I don’t play I am not
Examples: Questions: Answers: tennis. playing tennis.
He plays
Where do you live? I live in Oaxaca He is playing
When do you study? I study at night.
tennis. tennis.
What sport does Pedro play? He plays tennis.
How many friends do you have? I have 3 friends.
When does class finish?
Who do you love?
It finishes soon.
I love my mother.
 Remember you can’t use the
What does your brother do? He is a nurse. auxiliaries do, don’t, does or
Why do you study English? Because it’s cool! doesn’t with the verb be.

19
Present Simple- Interrogative C. Change to interrogative form.
A. Use interrogative in Present Simple. Remember the 3rd person ‘-s’.
ex: Does he do the homework? ex: You have four dogs.
1. _______ you watch many movies? Do you have four dogs?
2. _______ his sister make mole? 1. Gary visits his girfriend.
3. _______ Tomas read magazines? _____________________________?
4. _______ Betty and Francis live here? 2. Olga fights with her sister.
5. _______ we study biology? _____________________________?
6. _______ Dilip forget to do his homework? 3. The flowers grow in the garden.
7. _______ they write short stories? _____________________________?
8. _______ the computer work? 4. We ride our bicycles to school.
9. _______ our mother clean the kitchen?
10. _______ you take the bus?
_____________________________?
5. The baby drinks milk.
_____________________________?
B. Put the words in correct order. 6. Samuel does his homework.
ex: eat you when lunch do ?
_____________________________?
When do you eat lunch ?
7. Paul eats tacos everyday.
wh. word auxiliary subject verb object
_____________________________?
1. work does mother your where? 8. The teacher shows them the map.
_____________________________?
wh. word auxiliary adjective subject verb
9. The children draw pictures.
2. doesn’t he wash dishes the. _____________________________?
10. Vincent watches movies.
subject auxiliary verb article noun
_____________________________?
3. helps mother Sarah her.
D. Write the interrogative form of
Present Simple and Continuous.
subject verb adjective object
4. run don’t park in the we. ex: Is Al’s son cleaning the car?
1. ______ your brother have a car?
subject auxiliary verb prep. art. object 2. ______ you walk to work?
5. you go home why don’t? 3. ______ your sister eating cake?
4. ______ we getting tired?
wh. word auxiliary subject verb object 5. ______ I read many books?
6. ______ they having dinner?
6. they dishes do the wash where?
7. ______ they need a vacation?
8. ______ Mark help his mother?
wh. word auxiliary subject verb article object
9. ______ he staying in a hotel?
7. per costs $3 it kilo.
E. Decide if the sentence uses the
Present Simple or Continuous.
subject verb object preposition object
8. to movies they go the don’t. ex: What are you ______?
 do  doing
subject auxiliary verb prep. art. object 1. What do you usually _____ for breakfast?
9. car drives he a.  eat  eating
2. Pat _______ in the park every day.
subject verb article object  runs  Is running
3. Dave ________ to school now.
10. class when the finish does?  walks  Is walking
4. We ___________ food now.
wh. word auxiliary article subject verb  don’t buy  are not buying
5. Tony ___________ the bus every day.
 doesn’t take  Is not taking
6. Will and I _____ our beds every day.
 make  are making
7. Where is Bill _______?
 works  working
8. Carl never __________ a hat.
 wears  Is wearing

20
Object Pronouns: me, you, him, her, us and them
noun Most English sentences have a subject and
a verb. The subject can be a noun or a
Birds fly. subject pronoun.
subject verb Remember, a noun is a person, thing

They fly.
animal or abstract concept.

Remember, a pronoun refers to a noun

pronoun and is used in place of the noun.

Sometimes a verb is followed by an object.

The object receives the action.
Verbs that take objects are called
transative verbs.
The object of a verb can be a noun or an
object pronoun.

He loves Mary. noun

A subject pronoun replaces a noun that
acts as a subject in the sentence. An object
subject verb object pronoun replaces a noun that acts as an

He loves her. pronoun

Subject
object in a sentence.

Object
pronouns pronouns
Example: Alex took them. I me
We asked him. you you
They came to see us. he him
He made it. she her
He hit me! it it
Sam touched her. we us
I ate them.
they them

before the verb after the verb

She loves him.

He loves her.
verb

She gave the pen to Pedro. noun

subject verb object preposition object Many sentences have prepositional

She gave the pen to him. pronoun

phrases. A prepositional phrase is a
preposition and an object. The object of a
preposition can be a noun or a pronoun.

Example: The girl played with them.

Peter talked to her.
They went to the cinema with us.
She made it with him.

21
Object Pronouns 2. know we you don’t
A. Check the correct object pronoun. ______________________________________.
ex: We have classes.
3. them gave you it to
 it  them
1. Hugo likes Janet. ______________________________________.
 she  her
4. to he does them talk
2. They were eating pizza.
 they  it ______________________________________?
3. The boys were driving a red car.
5. him saw they
 It  they
4. The students talked to the teacher. ______________________________________.
 he  him
5. Gina kissed her children. 6. it and Fred made I
 them  they ______________________________________.
6. They missed the bus.
 it  they 7. have them don’t they
7. Brian was using the pens. ______________________________________.
 it  them
8. He worked with Richard and me. 8. her find you did
 us  we ______________________________________?
9. They didn’t like the weather.
 them  it 9. you study me with
10. They seranaded his girlfriend. ______________________________________.
 her  she
10. and bought she them I
B. Complete the chart of object ______________________________________.
pronouns.
subject pronoun object pronoun
E. Choose the correct word(s) from
I me____ below to replace the object pronoun.
you ___________ Susan our friends the cheese Kate and me
he ___________ buses pizzas George the car biology
she ___________ soccer a magazine
it ___________ ex: Winston sold it. the car
we ___________ 1. We eat them. __________
2. He ate it. __________
they ___________ 3. The boys play it. __________
4. We study it. __________
C. Use the object pronoun according to 5. My father drives them. __________
the noun/pronoun given in parenthesis. 6. She told us. __________
ex: They had a party for them . (the boys) 7. I went out with her. __________
8. You saw them. __________
1. Billy ate _____ . (the sandwich)
9. Fred read it. __________
2. We gave some presents to _____ . (Mary)
10. They hate him. __________
3. Pat told _____. (Janet and I)
4. He waited for _____. (Peter)
5. They went to lunch with _____. (their friends) F. Circle the correct pronoun.
6. He threw the ball to _____. (his sister)
7. The team won _____. (the game) ex: They / Them have a class with we / us.
8. My parents made it for _____. (I)
1. He / You makes it for I / me every Monday.
9. I drank _____. (three glasses of milk)
2. We / It like to visit they / them often.
10. We saw _____ last night. (the movie)
3. She / Her is nice to he / him.
4. I / Me am watching you / your.
D. Put the words in correct order. 5. Their / They play with we / us.
ex: sent to we it them 6. Our / We teacher told he / him to be quiet.
We sent it to them. 7. Its / It’s in you / your bag.
1. us the sang boys with 8. She / We likes her / she car.
______________________________________. 9. He / His class starts at 10 in our / us school.
10. You / Your homework is in me / my bag.

22
Past Simple  I went to school.
The verb Be in the past:
Subject +
For talking about
past events and
states.
When we want to talk about something
was / were that happened in the past or was true in
the past, we use a tense called the past
simple. Just as in the present, the verb to

I was tired.
be is different from other verbs. The verb
to be has two forms in the past was and
were.

Examples: I was we were

It was nice. you were you were
Pedro was in the class.
he / she was they were
You were sick yesterday.
Benito Juarez was a famous president.
/ it
Mexico was a Spanish colony.
Susan and John were on the table. All other verbs have just one past form.
Most verbs are regular, This means the
We were naughty when we were kids.
past form is made by adding –ed to the
It was cold yesterday. base form.
Your book was on the table a minute ago.
Eg. play  played
I was with Ana.
I played we played
you played you played
he / she played they played
Other verbs in the past: / it
Sometimes there is a spelling change

Subject + Past form of verb Verbs Change Example

dance -
which end in -e: add -d
danced
Pedro ate pizza. which end in
consonant +y: y  i
cry -
cried
which end with
Examples:
a consonant
It rained yesterday. double stop -
then a vowel
Monica woke up late this morning.
then a letter stopped
They studied last week.
consonant
Pedro studied math last night.
I bought a present for my girlfriend. Some verbs are irregular, and it is
Lucy went to the bank. necessary to learn the past form, for
We talked for a long time. example:
They played football with us. go went
She kissed him.
We went to see them. buy  bought
Ana had a party two months ago. Please refer to Appendix H on page 99.
She sold it.
Some words associated with the past:
I gave him the book.
He did it. Word Example
Peter and Mary watched TV all night. ago I went to London
three years ago.
last I saw him last year.
yesterday I got up early
was class president.
I yesterday.

I went to see the class president.  Was is not the same as

went.

23
Past Simple- Affirmative
A . Use was or were.
ex: Bert was a student last year.
1. The dogs _______ in the garden.
2. We _______ in the park.
3. Dan _______ in his room.
4. I _______ short when I _______ young.
5. The family _______ at home last night.
6. He and I _______ friends in elementary school.
7. Pedro Infante _______ a famous actor.
8. Bill _______ a good teacher.
9. His ex-girlfriend _______ pretty.
10. The children _______ at school yesterday.
B. Use regular verbs in the Past Simple.
ex: The audience listened to the band. (listen)
1. Shirley ______ the guitar. (play)
2. Victor ______ a movie. (watch)
3. She _____ elementary school. (like)
4. I _____ history. (study)
5. Hector ______ to be good. (try)
6. Mr. Holmes _____ to his office. (walk)
7. The teacher _____ to my mother. (talk)
8. Brian ______ his bedroom. (clean)
9. Letty ______ a new car. (want)
10. John and Pat _____ to see the dentist. (need)
C. Put the verbs in the Past Simple.
ex: become became
1. buy _________ 11. have _________
2. begin _________ 12. hit _________
3. build _________ 13. know _________
4. catch _________ 14. leave _________
5. come _________ 15. let _________
6. feel _________ 16. make _________
7. forget _________ 17. put __________
8. get _________ 18. read _________
9. go _________ 19. see _________
10. take _________ 20. think _________
D. Fill in the blank with the correct form
of the Past Simple of the verb given.
Last week I (ex) went (go) to visit my mom. She
lives in another town, so it (1)__________ (take)
several hours to get there. She (2)__________ (be)
quite happy to see me and she (3)____________
(prepare) a delicious lunch. After lunch we
(4)__________ (talk) and (5)__________ (drink)
tea. She (6)__________ (tell) me stories about
when I (7)_________ (be) a baby. Later in the
evening I (8)__________ (have) to leave, so she
(9)__________ (give) me a kiss and
(10)__________ (say) goodbye.
E. Use irregular verbs in the Past Simple.
ex: The boys bought comic books. (buy)
1. We _______ students two years ago. (be)
2. The secretary _______ her car. (sell)
3. Nora and I _______ lunch yesterday. (have)
4. Harold _______ a good movie. (see)
5. The accountant _______ the taxes. (pay)
6. Sheila _______ a birthday cake. (make)
7. Don _______ a big motorcycle. (ride)
8. They _______ milk. (drink)
9. The waiter _______ the check. (write)
10. My dog _______ the cookies. (eat)
F. Chose the correct verb from the list
below and use it in the simple past
form. Choose one of the following verbs:
solve agree break try bring hate
decide enjoy choose steal
ex: Alex __hated__ broccoli when he was young.
Now, it is his favorite vegetable.
1. Last week somebody _________ my car. I went
to the police to report the crime.
2. They _________ the mystery.
3. Fanny and Jude _________ the party. They had
a great time.
4. Last year she _________ to make some
changes in her life.
5. My mother and father _________ to let me take
the trip.
6. Chuck _________ his arm when he was ten.
7. We _________ a cake to the party.
8. Last night I _________ chapulines.
9. She _________ the red dress.
G. Check the correct form of the verb.
ex: Rod _______ Japanese.
□ speak  spoke
1. William _______ to the office yesterday.
□ go □ went
2. They ______ for permission last week.
□ asked □ ask
3. Martin and Francis _______ in the sea.
□ swam □ swims
4. The students _______ the movie last class.
□ sees □ saw
5. His dog _______ an accident a year ago.
□ have □ had
6. We _______ a new video.
□ buys □ bought
7. Tracey _______ on time the week before.
□ leave □ left
8. Nicholas _______ her the letter a month ago.
□ gave □ gived
9. Jim _______ for his car keys.
□ looking □ looked
24
Past Simple  I didn’t do it.
In the negative form of the past, the verb
to be is different from other verbs. To make
the verb to be in the past we use not after
was and were. We normally make a
contraction of was and not and were and

The verb Be in the past and in the negative: not to form wasn’t and weren’t.

Was + not  wasn’t

Subject + wasn’t / weren’t Were + not  weren’t

My class wasn’t boring.

Examples: I wasn’t we weren’t
It wasn’t very good. you weren’t you weren’t
We weren’t in the library.
he / wasn’t they weren’t
His sister wasn’t a good student.
My brothers weren’t born here.
she / it
Paul and Wendy weren’t sick yesterday.
They weren’t at home.
His homework wasn’t very good.

To make a sentence negative in the past

Other verbs in the past and in the negative: simple, we use the auxiliary did and not:

I
You
Subject + didn’t + verb He
verb in
She did + not +
auxiliary in the base form base
It
form
We
They
We didn’t take the exam. Did + not are normally contracted to form
didn't.
Examples:
He didn’t love her.
Didn't is a signal, it says:
Lucy didn’t do her homework. the next verb is in the past
It didn’t rain yesterday. and it's negative.
She didn’t study.
They didn’t talk to us.
Here is the verb to play conjugated as an
The students didn’t cheat on the exam.
example:
Sally didn’t buy it.
Michael and his sister didn’t go to the party. I didn’t play
The Chinese didn’t invent the computer. You didn’t play
My parents didn’t visit me yesterday. He didn’t play
The teacher didn’t help them.
She didn’t play
I didn’t like the movie.
It didn’t play
We didn’t want it.
We didn’t play
You didn’t play
They didn’t play

 When we use the

auxiliary didn't, the main
verb is always in the base
form.

25
Past Simple- Negative
A. Use wasn’t or weren’t.
ex: Jill wasn’t in the class yesterday.
1. It _______ hot yesterday.
2. We _______ at the movies last night.
3. You _______ home by midnight.
4. He _______ tired after school.
5. I _______ on vacation last month.
6. She ________ happy about the change.
7. The newspaper _______ expensive.
8. The economy _______ strong.
9. His friends _______ at the party.
10. The planets _______ visible.
B. Use the negative Past Simple.
ex: We didn’t study French. (study)
1. Tim _________ school early yesterday. (leave)
2. Kim __________ to the United States. (go)
3. Jane __________ breakfast. (cook)
4. We __________ our grandfather. (visit)
5. Nancy and I __________ pizza. (eat)
6. Wendy _________ to Peru. (travel)
7. The doctor _________ me any medicine. (give)
8. Sam __________ the noise. (hear)
9. Edward __________ his keys. (find)
10. They __________ to their friends. (listen)
C. Complete the sentences in the past
simple using the verb in parenthesis.
Yesterday, Dan (ex) went (go) to see his
girlfriend Gina. He (1)___________ (drive) his car to
her house, but her mother (2)____________ (not +
know) where she was. He (3)____________ (ask)
her father and he (4)___________ (say) that Gina
and her sister (5)____________ (be) downtown. Dan
(6)___________ (decide) to look for her. He
(7)____________ (go) to the shopping mall, but she
(8)____________ (not + be) there. He
(9)___________ (visit) the café and the cinema, but
he (10)__________ (not + find) her. Dan was sad, so
he (11)__________ (go) home and he
(12) __________ (not + do) anything.
D. Make the necessary corrections.
ex: They wasn’t at the party last week.
weren’t
1. The cat didn’t ate its food.
2. The class weren’t cancelled.
3. Children wasn’t invited to the wedding.
4. Mary didn’t be at work yesterday.
5. Ken and Josh didn’t played in the game.
E. Check the correct verb form.
Yesterday my sister and I __(1)__ to the movies with
our friends. We __(2)__ to see an action movie, but
we __(3)__ late. My sister __(4)__ a romantic movie,
but Tom and I didn't __(5)__ to see it. My sister and
Pamela didn't __(6)__ with us and so they __(7)__ to
see a comedy and we __(8)__
a suspense movie. After the movies we __(9)__
pizza but we didn't __(10)__ sodas.
1.  go  went
2.  want  wanted
3.  arrived  arrive
4.  suggest  suggested
5.  want  wanted
6.  agree  agreed
7.  chose  choose
8.  saw  see
9.  eat  ate
10.  drank  drink
F. Complete the sentence using the Past
Simple in either its affirmative or
negative form. Use the verb in
parenthesis. The answers must make sense.
ex: Billy and Jack didn’t go (go) to school
because they had colds.
1. Corey _______________ (see) his brother
because he arrived late.
2. We _______________ (have) class yesterday
because we are studying for the final exam.
3. They _______________ (watch) the movie and
thought it was entertaining.
4. Jon _______________ (eat) dinner. He ate a big
lunch and wasn’t hungry .
5. The dogs _______________ (escape) from the
yard. They were there when we returned home.
6. We _______________ (speak) to her and she
agreed with us about it.
7. It _______________ (rain) yesterday. The sun
was shining all day.
8. She _______________ (do) her homework, so
the teacher got angry with her.
9. Jason and Paul _______________ (drive) to the
party. They had to walk home after it was over.
10. Janet _______________ (buy) a present for her
sister and she gave it to her when she got home.
G. Make sentences from the prompts.
ex: I / not be / fat / 20 years ago
I wasn’t fat 20 years ago.
1. Roger / not study / last night
_______________________________
2, Your children / not be / in class
_______________________________
26
Past Simple  Why did you do it?
In the question form of the past, the verb
to be is different from other verbs. To make
a question with the verb to be in the past
we use was and were and then we put the
subject.

The verb Be in the past question form:

? Wh word + was / were + subject

Was I ?

Was she happy?

Were you ?
Was he ?
Was she ?

Where were they? Was

Were
it
we
?
?
Were they ?
Examples:
Question: Answer:
What color was it? It was red.
Was she beautiful? Yes she was.
Where were you born? I was born in Mexico.
Why were they late? Because they had an exam.
Were you a good child? Yes I was.
How was the class? It was interesting.

With other verbs we use an auxiliary to

Other verbs in the past question form make a question in the past. In the present
we use do and does and in the past we use
did. Notice that there is only one auxiliary
for questions in the past.
? Wh word + did + subject + verb
auxiliary in the Did is a signal, it says: the
base form next verb is in the past and
it’s a question.

Did you study?

What did they say?  When we use the

auxillary did, the main verb
Examples:
is always in the base form.
Question: Answer:
Here is the verb to eat conjugated as an
Did he love her? No, he didn’t.
example:
Why did you do it? Because I had to.
Which color did you like? I liked the red one.
Did they play with you? Yes, they did.
Did we win? No, we didn’t. Did I play ?
When did you finish the report? I finished at 10. Did You play?
Did Peter drink a lot? Yes, he did. Did He play?
Why did he fight? Because he was angry. Did She play?
What time did you arrive? I arrived at 7. Did It play?
What did you do? I called the police. Did We play?
What movie did you see? We saw Star Wars.
Did You play?
When did Benito Juarez die? He died in 1872.
Did They play?

27
Past Simple- Interrogative 3. went school we to.
A. Make questions using was or were. subject verb preposition object
ex: Was Janet at the party?
1. _____ we on time? 4. eat didn’t John home at.
2. _____ she very tall?
3. _____ the climate okay? subject auxiliary verb preposition object
4. _____ the laboratories clean? 5. do you homework your why didn’t?
5. _____ the food well-cooked? ?
6. _____ it useful? wh. word auxiliary subject verb adjective object
7. _____ she there?
6. did they go where?
8. _____ the furniture new?
9. _____ the grades good? ?
wh. word auxiliary subject verb
10. _____ they alone?
7. Sarah gossiped with she.
B. Form the interrogative Past Simple.
Use the verbs in parenthesis when available. subject verb preposition object

ex: Did you see the movie? 8. it take a long time didn’t.
1. _____ your teacher arrive early?
2. Did Gary _______home? (drive) subject auxiliary verb art. adjective object
3. _____ the students eat lunch? 9. a they dog had.
4. Did they ____ to the dentist? (go)
5. ____ I speak to your teacher? subject verb article object
6. Did the dog ______on my chair. (sleep)
7. _____ you _____ the books? (bring) 10. cousin your when did arrive?
8. ______ it rain? ?
9. Did my brother _____ ? (arrive) wh. word auxiliary adjective subject verb
10. _____ they _____ friends? (make)
E. Read the following passage.
C. Use the correct “Wh” word from the Ted had an adventure. His father gave him
list bellow. More than one answer may be permission to go on vacation with his friends. Ted
and his friends went to Puerto Vallarta and rented a
correct. who what where when why
beach hut and they ate in the restaurant of a hotel.
ex: When did the game start? The boys went swimming and surfing, but they didn't
1. ________ did you go to the dentist? go fishing. On the last day of vacation he fell off his
2. ________ were you late? surfboard and broke his leg. Ted returned home, but
3. ________ did you see the movie? he didn't go back to work because of his injury.
4. ________ did they go on vacation? Check the best answer.
5. ________ did you eat dinner with? 1. Where were Ted's friends last week?
6. ________ did you do yesterday?  at the beach
7. ________ did she say that?  at home
8. ________ was your father's birthday?  at work
9. ________ did you study for the test? 2. Where did Ted and his friends stay?
10. _______ was his name?  at a hotel
 in a restaurant
D. Arrange the words in correct order.  in a beach hut
ex: football play where he did ? 3. What didn't the boys do on vacation?
Where did he play football?  go surfing
wh. word auxiliary subject verb object  go fishing
 go swimming
1. study did brother your what?
4. How did he break his leg?
?  He fell when he swam.
wh. word auxiliary adjective subject verb
 He fell while surfing.
2. didn’t she make bed the.  He fell while fishing.
5 Why didn't Ted return to work after his vacation?
subject auxiliary verb article object  He didn't want to.
 He had an accident.
 He didn't enjoy work.

28
Past Continuous I was doing it.
The Past continuous or progressive is used
to describe an activity that was in progress
(was happening) at a time in the past. It is
formed with the auxiliary verb to be in the
past (was / were) and the present
 subject + was / were + -ing participle (the base form + ing).

auxiliary For example, the verb play conjugated in

the past continuous:
She was studying. I was playing
You were playing
Example: He was playing
Peter was playing when I saw him. She was playing
They were driving when it started to rain.
It was playing
As I was finishing, Melinda arrived.
It was raining at 5:00 yesterday.
We were playing
While I was sleeping, Mary was studying. They were playing
When I switched on the TV, Shakira was singing.
I was living in New York in 1989. The past continuous is often used in a
sentence with the past simple to show
what was happening when some other
event occurred. For example:

 subject + wasn’t / weren’t + -ing I was studying when Jack arrived.

auxiliary

Nancy wasn’t eating. Past continuous past simple

progress.
This action was in

and interrupted it.

Then Jack arrived
Example:
They weren’t kissing when I saw them.
He wasn’t studying.
She wasn’t doing anything when I called her.
Mary wasn’t cheating.
They weren’t working when they got married.
It wasn’t raining when I woke up.
They weren’t playing football an hour ago.

Or graphically:

 Wh-word + was / were + subject + -ing now

Jack ww
auxiliary

were you flying?

arrived

Where was she going? past future

Example:
I was
Question: Answer:
Where were you living in 1986? I was living in L.A.
studying
Who were you talking to? I was talking to my sister.
What was he doing? He was studying.
Were they doing anything? No they weren’t. Common words used in the past
Was she kissing him? Yes, she was. continuous: while, when, as.
What music was he listening to? He was listening to rock.
Why were you crying? Because I was sad.
Where were you going? I was going to the bank.

29
Past Continuous D. Read the following passage.
A. Check was or were plus verb +ing. Greg Barnes lives in New York. Last week, Greg
ex: The twins _________ the television. was visiting his parents in Seattle. It was raining
□ was watching  were watching and Greg wasn't wearing a raincoat. He was
waiting at the bus station from 4pm until 6pm. His
2. David ___________ lunch.
parents were working downtown until 5pm. They
□ was having □ were eating
were in their offices and had to pick him up late.
3. Patricia and Janet __________ food.
Greg wasn't happy. He was feeling cold and wet
□ was eating □ were buying and a little angry, too. His parents were sorry, but
4. His aunt _________ at the photos. the traffic was terrible that’s why they were so late.
□ was looking □ were seeing
Check the best answer.
5. I ___________ at the party.
1. Where is Greg living?
□ were having □ was dancing
□ New York
6. My friends __________ in the park.
□ Seattle
□ were skating □ was riding
2. Who was traveling to Seattle?
7. Nigel and Carol _________ to music.
□ Greg
□ was hearing □ were listening
□ His parents
8. The book __________ on the floor.
3. Why was Greg cold and wet?
□ was lying □ were sitting
□ because of the time
9. The cars _______ in the lot.
□ because of the weather
□ was staying □ were parking
4. Where were his parents at 5:30pm?
10. The sun ________ yesterday.
□ they were working in their office
□ were going □ was shining
□ they were driving to the station
5. Why were they late?
B. Use wasn't or weren't and the verb (in □ there were many traffic problems
parenthesis) in the present participle. □ there was a problem with their car
ex: You weren't reading a magazine. (read)
1. Diana ______________ yesterday. (study) E. Put the words in the correct order.
2. Jacob and I ____________ on the phone. (talk) ex: was dinner yesterday making.
3. Our parents ______________ lunch. (cook) I was making dinner yesterday
4. Sandra _______________ at the airport. (work) subject auxiliary pres. part. object
5. Our cousins ____________ this morning. (shop)
6. People _______________ questions. (ask) 1. was her she homework doing not.
7. The police officer __________ the traffic. (direct)
subject auxiliary neg. pres. part. adjective object
8. The family _______________ in the park. (jog)
9. Mr. and Mrs. Nunn _________ the laundry. (do) 2. playing were basketball where they?
10. The men ________________ volleyball. (play) ?
wh. word auxiliary subject pres. part. object

C. Decide if the verb is in the past 3. were fun having not we

simple or continuous. subject auxiliary neg. present participle object
Last Friday __(ex)__ a beautiful day. My friend
Delia and I __(ex)__ of what to do, and we 4. were you what doing?
__(1)__ to go shopping. We __(2)__ along the ?
street when a man __(3)__ past us. Then, we wh. word auxlliary subject pres. participle
__(4)__ a woman. She __(5)__ at the man. She 5. were Vera and I studying.
__(6)__ the man __(7)__ her purse. Delia and I
__(8)__ the man, but he __(9)__ very fast. Luckily, subjects auxiliary present participle
a police officer was nearby and __(10)__ the man. 6. standing you there why were?
?
ex: was (was / was being) wh. word auxiliary subject pres. participle adverb
ex: were thinking (thought / were thinking)
7. suit wasn't a Josh wearing.
1.__________________ (decided / were deciding)
2.____________________(walked / were walking) subject auxiliary pres. participle art. object
3.____________________ (ran / was running)
4.____________________ (saw / were seeing) 8. to driving when you school were?
5.___________________(shouted / was shouting) ?
wh. word auxiliary subject pres. participle prep. object
6.____________________ (said / was saying)
7.____________________ (stole / was stealing)
8.___________________(chased / were chasing)
9.____________________ (ran / was running)
10.___________________ (caught / was catching)

30
Future: Going to I’m going to do it. For speaking about
future events and
actions.
 Subject + be + going to + verb
auxiliary in base form

I am going to study. am
verb
going + in base
Examples: is +
She’s going to be here in 20 minutes. to form
I’m going to go on vacation next year. are
Mary is going to study Law.
We’re going to visit London. Because this structure uses the verb to be
I’m going to eat pizza tonight. as the auxiliary, the order of the subject
They are going to come with us. and the verb to be in the affirmative,
The teacher is going to give us an exam. negative and question form is the same as
we saw in the units for the verb be.

 Subject + be + not + going to + verb

auxiliary in base form

Monica is not going to come.

Examples:
They aren’t going to study tomorrow.
Max isn’t going to go away.
Sam and I aren’t going to play.
Common words used with the future:
They aren’t going to go to the movies.
It isn’t going to work. word: example:
Soon I`m going to eat soon.
Next He’s going to come
 Wh + be + subject + going to + verb next week.
Tomorrow I`ll call you tomorrow.
word auxiliary in base form
In We’re going to go in 10
minutes.
Are you going to study? In a while I’ll be back in a while.
Later
Where is she going to live? I`m going to call you
later.

Examples:
Questions: Answers:
Are you going to study? Yes, I am.
When is it going to start? It is going to start at 6.00.
When are they going to be ready? They’re going to be ready soon.
Is he going to play? No, he isn’t.
Why are you going to go there? Because I want to.
Who are you going to ask? I’m going to ask Mary.
Are they going to have time? Yes, they are.

31
Future- Going to
A. Fill in the blank with the correct form
of be to form the future be going to.
ex: She is going to be a doctor.
1. We _______ going to have a party next Saturday.
2. Jessica ______ going to visit her family next month.
3. You _____ going to have fun at the beach.
4. It ______ going to rain this afternoon.
5. They ______ going to study history at the
university.
6. I ______ going to be late for class.
7. She _____ going to eat pizza tonight.
8. We _______ going to watch a movie on TV.
9. Ann and Steve _____ going to feel sick if they
eat a lot of cake.
10. Brian _______ going to go to Mexico City.
11. I _____ going to eat lunch with a friend.
B. Use be going to to complete the
sentence- use the verb in parenthesis.
ex: They are going to arrive this afternoon. (arrive)
1. Chuck _________________ in a museum. (work)
2. Ed and Francine ______________ the bus. (take)
3. We ____________________ at midnight. (leave)
4. I ________________ classes on Monday. (start)
5. She __________________ a coffee. (drink)
6. Sally and Wally __________________ it. (finish)
7. Harry __________________ here at 9 pm. (be)
8. France __________ against the resolution. (vote)
9. Dave and I __________________ dinner. (make)
10. The movie ___________________ popular. (be)
C. Use be going to in its negative form.
ex: We are not going to have it tomorrow. (have)
1. Wally and I _______________ the game. (watch)
2. You ___________________ late again. (be)
3. Hester __________________ married. (get)
4. Bart and Lisa ___________ to school today. (go)
5. My class ______________ the meeting. (attend)
6. The children ______________ their bikes. (ride)
7. Her sister __________________ a baby. (have)
8. We __________________ to Mexico City. (fly)
9. The town ______________ a festival. (celebrate)
D. Use be going to to form questions.
ex: Is Mr. Jones going to sell his car?
1. _____ you ________ attend the event?
2. _____ Carol ________ visit Bangkok?
3. _____ we _________ eat dinner?
4. _____ I _________ go on the trip?
5. _____ Mario and Kate _________ be there?
6. _____ the two sisters _________ play tennis?
7. _____ you and I ________ watch a movie?
8. _____ the doctor ________ operate today?
9. _____ the team ________ go to the tournament?
10. _____ the children ________ take a nap?
E. Use be going to or not be going to and
one of the following verbs:
watch invite have buy rain build
have do paint study come have
ex: It’s the anniversary of the URSE. They are
going to have a parade.
1. Mike bought some paint. He ________________
his house.
2. It's my girlfriend's birthday today. I
________________ her a present.
3. Fred and Cindy didn't get tickets, so they
________________ with us.
4. A: What ______ you ______________ tonight?
B: I __________________ a movie.
5. Nate ___________________ a house because
he doesn't have any money.
6. There aren't any clouds in the sky. It
____________________ .
7. Rufus wants to be a doctor. He
_____________________ medicine.
8. A: What's for dinner?
B: We ____________________ fried chicken.
9. You _____________________ class tomorrow
because of the holiday.
10. Wanda and Joe are having a party. They
_____________________ many people.
F. Put the words in the correct order.
ex: going to / they / not / are / to the game / go
They are not going to go to the game.
1. you / go / are / tomorrow / going to / to class
_________________________________?
2. next week / are / we / visit / going to / my aunt
__________________________________.
3. going to / when / he / work / is / start
_________________________________?
4. are / eat / Pauline and Ted / going to / at home
__________________________________.
5. not / the dog / in the house / is / sleep / going to
__________________________________.
G. Use be going to in affirmative, negative
or interrogative form.
ex: Chester is going to run in the race.
1. The mechanic _______________ get the
part you need to fix your car.
2. A: What ____ you ______ do on Saturday?
B: I _____________ play soccer.
3. They ___________ buy a car because
they don't have any money.
32
Future: Will I’ll be back. Will and won’t are signals,
they say: the next verb is in
the future.
 Subject + will + verb in base form There is more than one way to speak
about future events and actions in English.
One way is to use the auxiliary will. Will
Pedro will study. is used with the base form of a verb to
give it a future meaning. Will + not is
used to give the verb a future, negative
Example: I’ll do it tomorrow. meaning. Will and not are often
contracted to won’t
They’ll try to come.
She will go out tonight. Will + not  won’t
It will be ready tomorrow.
For example the verb play conjugated in
We will have a test in a week.
the future:

 
I will play won’t play
 Subject + won’t + verb in base form You will play won’t play
He will play won’t play
She will play won’t play
They won’t come. It will play won’t play
We will play won’t play
Example: He won’t pass the exam. They will play won’t play
Harry and Gabriela won’t get married.
It won’t be a good idea.  We always use the base
The teacher won’t come today. form with will and won’t, we
They won’t do it.
never add an –s to the verb.
Will and won’t are never
followed by to.
Wh + will + subject + verb in In the question form, will comes before
word base form the subject:

?
Will I play ?
Will you go? Will you play ?
Will he play ?

What will you do? Will

Will
she
it
play ?
play ?
Will we play ?
Examples:
Will they play ?
Questions: Answer:
Where will you stay? I’ll stay with my uncle.
Will he pass the exam? Yes, he will. Will is often contracted with subject
Will the questions be difficult? No, they won’t. pronouns to’ll.
What will you wear? I’ll wear my blue jeans. For example:
When will it be ready? It will be ready in two days.
Will you love me forever? Of course I will ! I will study  I’ll study

It is also possible to replace will with may

Maybe I will study.
or might to express a possibility in the
I may study.
= future, or won’t with might not or may
I might study. not. May and might have the same
meaning. May and might are followed by a
verb in the base form.

33
Future- Will
A. Fill in the blank with will or won't.
ex: Al will make dinner tonight. He likes to cook.
1. I ______ buy a car because I don't have money.
2. We ____ have a party tomorrow for his birthday.
3. She _____ pass the test. She studied last night.
4. They ______ come to class next week because
they have vacation.
5. You _____ enjoy the movie. It is very funny.
6. Steve _____ get a job because he is lazy.
7. Bill and Sally _____ finish the work on time.
They are very busy.
8. He _____ be 36 years old on his next birthday.
9. You _____ arrive on time because there is a lot
of traffic.
10. I _____ help you tonight because I don't have to
work.
B. Change to the question form.
ex: The students will eat at school?
Will the students eat at school ?
1. Wesley will help us.
______________________________?
2. You will do me a favor.
______________________________?
3. Laurel and Stan will pass the exam.
______________________________?
4. Gary and I will come tomorrow.
______________________________?
5. Nancy will arrive on time.
______________________________?
C. Put the words in the correct order.
ex: next week/ be / she is / in Japan / will
She will be in Japan next week.
1. have / Jerome and Kitty / will / a party / not
__________________________________.
2. to New York / Sean / go / next year / will
__________________________________.
3. you / finish / will / the homework
_________________________________?
4. tomorrow / will / rain / not / it
__________________________________.
5. will / them / they / next week / help
__________________________________.
6. Sal / do / his / will / homework
_________________________________?
7. will / me / help / he
__________________________________.
8. the beach / go to / they / will / on Friday
_________________________________?
D. Label the sentence as correct or
incorrect. Make necessary changes to
incorrect sentences.
ex: Phil wills be at the party. incorrect
will
1. Josh will to go to school tomorrow.
2. Will do you finish your work on time?
3. I won't going on the trip with you.
4. Sally and Robert will be on time.
5. They not will eat dinner tonight.
6. You will being in class next week.
7. Sam will to play soccer tomorrow.
8. Will the students to finish the exam?
E. Read the following passage.
Transportation in the future
In the future cars are going to be more efficient.
Scientists are developing “hybrid” cars that run on
gasoline and electric power. They say that in 10
years “hybrid” cars will be able to drive over 100
kilometers with just one liter of gasoline. Another
option, scientists say, is the hydrogen fuel cell. “The
use of the hydrogen fuel cell is going to be the most
revolutionary development in transportation in the
last 50 years!” claims scientist Günter Schultz. The
advantage of hydrogen fuel cells will be the lack of
pollution. The only exhaust created with a hydrogen
fuel cell is water. Hopefully, sometime soon
scientists and automotive manufacturers will join
together to make these cars available to consumers
worldwide.
Check the best answer.
1. What are going to be alternative fuel systems?
Clean diesel and unleaded gasoline
Hybrid engines and hydrogen fuel cells
Hydrogen fuel cells and propane gas
2. What will be the main benefit of these systems?
Less pollution
Faster cars
More reliable engines
3. When will these developments likely take place?
In 100 years
In 50 years
In 10 years
4. Who will be able to buy these cars?
Scientists
Race car drivers
The public in general
34
Modal auxiliaries
Modal auxiliaries are a group of auxiliary
verbs that are used with other verbs to
give special meanings. For example
ability, permission, necessity and
obligation. Many modal verbs have more
than one meaning.
 Subject + Modal + Verb Modal auxiliaries are always accompanied
auxiliary in the base form by a verb in the base form, without to.

Verb
 Modal +
I can swim. in base form
For example, the modal auxiliary can and
the main verb play:

Examples: I can play football.

They must study. You can play football.
She would like to be a doctor. He can play football.
It might be broken. She can play football.
They should go to the doctor.
It can play football.
He could be at home.
We can play football.
Mary will go with us.
They can play football.
 We never put an s on the
main verb or to before it
 Subject + Modal + not + Verb when we use a modal
auxiliary in the base form auxiliary.
Verb
He shouldn’t cheat.  Modal + not + in base
form
For example, the modal auxilary should in
the negative form and the main verb eat:
Examples:
He can’t swim. I shouldn’t eat meat.
They mustn’t get home after midnight. You shouldn’t eat meat.
I wouldn’t do that. He shouldn’t eat meat.
We might not go to the beach. She shouldn’t eat meat.
Fay won’t study tonight. It shouldn’t eat meat.
We shouldn’t be late for English class. We shouldn’t eat meat.
They shouldn’t eat meat.

Often the modal and not

are contracted.
 Wh-word + Modal + Subject + Verb
auxiliary in the base form Some common modals:
Modal Significado Use
may possibility
Why must we go? might podría request
possibility
could
Examples: podía past ability
Questions: Answers: can puedo ability
What should I take? You should take two aspirin. should debería advice
Can we go to the restroom? Yes, of course you can. must debo obligation
What homework must I do? You must study page 101.
will -á eg. will go  irá
Could you help me? Yes, of course.
would -ía eg. Would go  iría
What would you like to eat? I’d like a pizza, please.
Please refer to Appendix G page 98.

35
Modal Auxiliaries
A. Circle the correct modal.
ex: A frog can / can’t jump, but it can / can't fly.
1. Lucero can/could sing very well.
2. When I was young I can /could climb trees,
but now I can’t/couldn’t.
3. Six months ago Jake can/could fit into these
pants, now he can’t/couldn’t because he has
lost 20 pounds.
4. Last night I can’t/couldn’t sleep because the
dogs were barking.
5. Where is Max? He can/could be sick.
6. What is the matter? I think you can/could
have an infection.
7. When your father was young can/could he
play baseball well?
8. They can/could play ping-pong for hours thirty
years ago, but today they can/could only play
a game or two with out getting tired.
9. Can/Could you ride a horse when you were
younger?
B. Use should or must in affirmative or
negative form. Decide if it is advice or
an obligation.
ex: He must get a haircut because he is
going into the army.
1. They __________ have a visa to visit China.
2. I __________ take a break because I am tired,
but I can continue if it is necessary.
3. Brenda __________ eat so many tacos. She is
getting a little fat.
4. You __________ open the box. You will be in
trouble if you do.
5. What __________ I do? I want your advice.
6. Jack __________ study for the test. If he
doesn’t he will fail the class.
7. Eddie is smart, however he __________ study
for the test if he wants to get a good grade.
8. My house is a mess and my mother-in-law is
coming for a visit. I __________ clean my
house.
C. Fill in the blank with will or might.
ex: I might eat dinner at home tonight, but
I'm not sure.
1. I _______ go to a movie this Saturday. My
girlfriend bought the tickets.
2. They ______ have a test next week, but the
teacher hasn't decided yet.
3. We ______ have vacation at the end of this
semester. I can't wait!
4. I _______ finish my English homework in 20
minutes, but I need your help.
For the exercises below, please refer to
Appendix G at the back of the book
D. Circle the "use" of the modal.
ex: Can you speak Zapoteco? obligation / ability
1. They shouldn't go to the party tonight. They
get up early tomorrow. advice / request
2. Chuck mustn't leave his room. He's
punished. impossibility / prohibition
3. Susan won't come, so don't wait for her.
suggestion / ability
4. Must I get a haircut? obligation / advice
5. There might not be food at the party, so let's
eat before we go. prohibition / possibility
6. Would you help us with this? ability / request
E. Match the meaning with the modal.
modals:
1. He MUST go to school. D_
2. They MAY / MIGHT / COULD go to school.____
3. We SHOULD go to school.____
4. You CAN go to school.____
meanings:
A. It is possible to go to school.
B. It is a good idea to go to school.
C. You are able to go to school.
D. It is absolutely necessary to go to school.
F. Which modal is correct? Circle the
best answer.
ex: I must / should eat to stay alive.
1. We would / should finish the work before the
class ends because it is an easy assignment.
2. The baseball team may / must win the game,
but I'm not sure.
3. I could / would go to the party because I don't
have any other plans.
4. Felicia might / would come with us if she had
the money.
5. Ralph must be / should be sick because he
isn't in class today.
6. You may / should see the art show at the
museum. It is really interesting.
7. We must / might do the work because it is
obligatory.
8. Theodore and Karen could / would dance very
well 25 years ago.
9. Ken must / might go to the doctor because
he has just broken his arm.
36
Direct and Indirect Objects

Intransitive verbs don´t

Max sings well. take an object.
subject verb

Many verbs are transitive

Sue loves me. and take an object.
subject verb direct object The direct object answers the questions
What? Or Who?
For example:
Sarah plays the trumpet. Who does she love?
subject verb direct object
What does she play?

Some transitive verbs take

two objects.

I bought a book for Melanie.

One is the direct object and the other is
the indirect object.
subject verb direct object indirect object The direct object comes first and then the
indirect object.
The indirect object always comes after the
words to or for.
Joe gave it to me. The indirect object answers the questions
to whom? Or for whom?
subject verb direct object indirect object
For example:
For whom did you buy a book?

My mother made a cake for us. To whom did you give it?
subject verb direct object indirect object For whom did she make the
cake?

There are a few verbs that

can use another structure.
Julia made Sarah the dress. The indirect object can come first without
the prepositions to or for and then comes
subject verb indirect object direct object the direct object.
We could say:

Julia made the dress for her.

We gave them the book.
subject verb indirect object direct object
We gave it to them.

37
Direct and Indirect Objects 7. wrote song the he her for.
A. Label the underlined parts of the subject verb art. object prep. indirect obj.
sentence. Use the following abbriviations: 8. a Gary wrote us letter.
S- subject, V- verb, Prep- preposition, DO-
direct object, IO- indirect object. subject verb indirect obj. art. object
Then replace the objects with object pronouns.
9. me shopping went for he.
ex: Harold enjoys movies
S V DO them subject verb object prep. indirect obj.
1. We play basketball. 10. information them for found the he.

2. They finished the tests. subject verb art. object prep. indirect obj.

3. I ate a salad. C. Answer the questions and use the

direct and indirect objects given.
4. Did you see Sarah? ex: To whom did you throw the ball? (Stan)
I threw the ball to Stan.
5. He gave the homework to the teacher.
1. Who did you help with their homework? (Jane)
6. I told Henry the story. ______________________________________
2. What did you buy for your mom? (some flowers)
7. They didn’t give the notes to Peter and me.
______________________________________
8. We gave the teacher our work. 3. To whom did you write a letter? (my cousins)

9. The bird took the worms to its baby. ______________________________________

4. For whom did you paint a picture? (Bob)
10. She made dinner for the students.
______________________________________
B. Put the words in correct order. Note 5. For whom did you buy a gift? (my friend)
the position of the indirect object. ______________________________________
ex: took money him from they the.
They took the money from him.
subject verb object prep. indirect obj D. Fill in the blanks using the list of
1. gave Tony the to him book. objects. Use the objects only once.
sweater her ball us dogs uncle
subject verb article object prep. indirect obj. pozole me song baby money guests
me us house Johnny ring car
2. the mailed we to them letter.
ex: We cooked pozole for our guests .
They had never eaten real Mexican food.
subject verb article object prep. indirect obj.
1. My parents bought a _______ for _______.
3. reservation for her Susan boss made a. Now, I can drive to school.
2. Carla’s boyfriend bought _______ a _______.
subject verb art. object prep. adj. indirect obj. He wants to marry her.
4. passed ball to James the him. 3. Millie made a _______ for her _______. It is
made out of wool and is very nice.
subject verb art. object prep. indirect obj.
4. Frank passed _______ the _______. Then, I
scored a goal.
5. Betty him a place for saved. 5. The mariachis played ________ a _________.
We were celebrating our graduation.
subject verb art. object preposition indirect obj. 6. We collected ________ for _______. He was
6. brought I for the present them. in an accident and couldn’t pay the hospital bill.
7. I built my ________ a ________. Now, they will
subject verb art. object prep. indirect obj. be warm and dry.
8. Glenda watched the _________ for ________.
She likes children and is very responsible.

38
Present Perfect I have done it.
The present perfect is a tense that has
many uses in English. It is formed by
using the verb have as an auxiliary and
putting the main verb in the past
When the verb have is followed by a past participle this participle form:
is the present perfect tense. Have/ has + past participle
In regular verbs the past participle is
 Notice the difference: formed by adding –ed to the base form. It
is identical to the past form.

play  played
stop  stopped
I have a dog. study  studied
subject verb object For irregular verbs the past participles
must be learned. Please refer to Appendix
In this sentence, have is the main verb. This sentence is in I on page 110. Some examples:
the present simple. drink  drunk
go  gone
be  been

I have seen a dog. Here is the verb play conjugated in the

present perfect:
subject auxiliary past participle of verb object
I have played soccer.
In this sentence, have is the auxiliary. The main verb is see. You have played soccer.
This sentence is in the present perfect. He has played soccer.
She has played soccer.
It has played soccer.
We have played soccer.
When we use the present perfect there is always a connection with
They have played soccer.
now. The action is in the past but the result is now:

I have lost my key. We use the present perfect to:

Talk about actions that started in the past
(I don’t have it now.) and continue in the present:
I have lived here for 2 years.
The picture has fallen down. Talk about things that happened at some
unspecified time before now:
(It is on the floor now.) I have been to Acapulco twice.
Talk about changes between the past and
the present:
We use the present perfect to talk about a period that continues from
You have cut your hair.
the past until now. The time period is unfinished:
Talk about things that happened recently

I have never played tennis. and have a result now:

I have just eaten a big meal.
(In my life) (and I’m full now.)

Some words commonly used

She has worked hard this week. with the present perfect:
(The week hasn’t finished) Never Once Since
For Twice Three
times
Yet Just Already

I have lived here since January. starting point  For is used to talk about a
period of time and since is used to
I have lived here for six months. period talk about a starting point.

39
Present Perfect
A. Fill in the blank with the correct
auxiliary.
ex: You have drunk two cups of coffee.
1. He ______ left the building.
2. We ______ lived here for 6 months.
3. Sally ______ watched TV all day.
4. The children ______ done their work.
5. The dog ______ dug many holes.
6. The people ______ read the paper.
7. The family ______ eaten dinner.
8. Chuck and Ed ______ finished.
9. I ______ seen the movie.
10. Grant and I ______ been to a game.
B. Check the box that agrees with the
use of the word “have” as an auxiliary or
as a main verb “tener”.
ex: They have learned a lot.
 auxiliary main verb
1. She has gotten good grades.
auxiliary main verb
2. We have a lot of work.
auxiliary main verb
3. Paul and I have eaten a snack.
auxiliary main verb
4. The store has many snacks.
auxiliary main verb
5. Susan has an exam next week.
auxiliary main verb
6. The students have studied for the exam.
auxiliary main verb
7. We have gone to the party.
auxiliary main verb
8. They have forgotten the number.
auxiliary main verb
9. We have a new telephone number.
auxiliary main verb
10. Billy has listened to it many times.
auxiliary main verb
D. Translate the following sentences.
 Sometimes you will have to change
the tense to make a good translation.
ex: Peter has gone to Acapulco.
Peter ha ido a Acapulco.
1. John has studied English for 2 years.
____________________________
2. I have been to the United States twice.
_______________________________
3. We have a new car.
________________________________
4. I have already eaten.
________________________________
5. I have had my car since January.
________________________________
6. Henry has studied a lot recently.
________________________________
7. The children have seen the movie before.
________________________________
8. They have read many books.
________________________________
E. Use since or for to complete the
sentence.
ex: We have lived here for six years.
1. Kate has been here ______ the morning.
2. We have been dating ______ last winter.
3. Wanda has been studying _____ 6 PM.
4. You have been waiting _____ an hour.
5. I have been sick _____ Saturday.
6. They have been gone _____ a long time.
7. My mother has been cooking _____ noon.
8. It has rained _____ two weeks.
9. We have been married _____ 20 years.
10. His family has lived here _____ 1964.

F. Check the answer that fits the best.

C. Complete the chart of past ex: You _____ had a lot of work.
participles.  has  have  are
ex: be been 10. fight _________ 1. I have ____ my presents.
1. go _________ 11. send _________  open  opening  opened
2. eat _________ 12. have _________ 2. He has ____ a ticket to Japan.
3. see _________ 13. feel _________  buy  have  bought
4. drink _________ 14. sit _________ 3. We have ____ the movie.
5. fly _________ 15. write _________  see  saw  seen
6. cut _________ 16. find _________ 4. Joe has ____ a new car.
7. bite _________ 17. swim _________  drove  buying Ø
8. hear _________ 18. put _________ 5. The boys ____ been to the game.
9. sew _________ 19. drive _________  has  have  are
6. Our class has ____ the classroom.
 left  leave  leaving
7. They have ____ four children.
 been  gone Ø
8. He ____ written the book.
 have  has Ø

40
Present Perfect
In informal writing and spoken English
   we can make a contraction of have and
has when it is used as an auxiliary.
Possible contractions:
I have gone I’ve gone
Subject + have / has + past participle You have gone You’ve gone
He has gone He’s gone
auxiliary
She has gone She’s gone
Prices have gone up. It has gone It’s gone
We have gone We’ve gone
Examples: He’s bought a new car. They have gone They’ve gone
The students have finished the exam.
The weather has been terrible recently. Contractions are only possible
That is the best meal I’ve ever had. when have / has is used as an
Mary has studied music since she was a child.
auxiliary, not when it is the main
verb.

The contraction ‘s can cause

confusion becaue it is the
contraction of both is and has.
 Subject + haven’t + past He’s running a marathon.
hasn’t participle He is running a marathon.
auxiliary
He’s run a marathon.
Paul hasn’t finished. He has run a marathon.
In the negative form of the present perfect
Examples: Taxes haven’t risen this year. we use the auxiliary have or has and not
I haven’t eaten anything since breakfast. and then the past participle of the main
Pedro has never driven a car. verb. Have and not are normally reduced
We’ve never been to Cancun. to haven’t and has and not are normally
Mary hasn’t worked very hard this semester. reduced to hasn’t.

Have + not  haven’t

Has + not  hasn’t
Using the verb play as an example:
I haven’t played.
 Wh + have + subject + past You haven’t played.
He hasn’t played.
has participle She hasn’t played.
auxiliary
It hasn’t played.
Has it arrived? We haven’t played.
They haven’t played.

Where have they gone?  In the present simple the

negative form of have is don’t
Examples: Why have they changed the schedule? have and has is doesn’t have. But
Has Ron found his keys yet? in the present perfect it is haven’t
How long has Diana lived here? and hasn’t.
How many exercices have you completed?
Where have you been? I don’t have a dog.
I haven’t gone the dog.

41
 Present Perfect E. Put the words in the correct order.
A. Use has or have. ex: already gone Dan has ?
ex: Bob and I have eaten lunch. Has Dan already gone ?
auxiliary subject adverb verb
1. We _______ studied English.
2. She ______ visited her grandfather. 1. finished yet has Janet?
3. The boys ______ drunk soda. ?
4. He ______ watched an exciting movie. auxiliary subject verb adverb
5. We ______ cleaned our house. 2. they just left have.
6. The cat ______ been to the vet.
7. My parents______ gone to bed.
subject auxiliary adverb verb
8. Wendy ______ done her homework.
9. The weather ______ been terrible. 3. you done what have?
?
B. Fill in the blank with hasn't or wh. word auxiliary subject verb
haven't. 4. Peter yet arrived hasn't.
ex: Sheila hasn’t had breakfast.
1. They ________found a house. subject auxiliary verb adverb
2. It ________ snowed. 5. you already have dishes washed the.
3. Brad and I ________ sold our car.
4. The group ________ played volleyball.
auxiliary subject adverb verb art. object
5. Tina ________ lost her bag.
6. Vincent and I ________ listened to music. 6. seen yet it you have?
7. The buses ________ arrived on time. ?
8. The children ________ seen the eclipse. auxiliary subject verb object adverb
9. Jim's dad ________ gone to Puebla. 7. gone has where Victor?
?
C. Use Has or Have in questions. wh. word auxiliary subject verb
ex: Has he left?
8. already mailed he has letter the.
1. ________ you brought the music?
2. ________ they worked in the store?
subject auxiliary adverb verb article object
3. ________ the mail arrived?
4. ________ the women finished?
5. ________ Matt and I won? F. Read the passage.
6. ________ Dan swum in the pool? The Jones family hasn't had a good month. Mr.
7. ________ he read the newspaper? Jones hasn't had a lot of work. Mrs. Jones hasn't
8. ________ your wife returned? been very well. Gary Jones hasn't gotten very good
9. ________ you invited them? grades. His brother Terry has finished with his
girlfriend. Gary is also worried about his sister
Freda. She has gone to the United States and
D. Check the correct form of “have”. hasn't called them. Their cat has had 5 kittens and
ex: Pat _______ held hands with Joe. their dog has been jealous. To make things worse,
 hasn't □ haven't the weather has been terrible recently and so Gary
1. The dogs ________ chased the cat. hasn't played baseball with his friends.
□ hasn't □ haven't Check the best answer.
2. The results ____ been excellent. 1. Who has been sick?
□ has □ have □ Terry □ Mrs. Jones □ Gary
3. ______ the teacher given the exam? 2. What is Gary's problem?
□ Has □ Have □ He’s sick □ He hasn’t called □ Bad grades
4. The climate _____ changed a lot. 3. Why has Gary been upset about his sister
□ hasn't □ haven't Freda? □ She finished with her boyfriend
5. The men _____ finished their work. □ She hasn’t called □ She’s jealous
□ hasn't □ haven't 4. What has made the dog jealous?
□ Freda □ the cat’s kittens □ A new baby
5. Why hasn’t Gary played baseball with his
friends? □ The weather’s been bad. □ His grades
have been bad. □ He’s been sick.

42
Passive Voice
The passive is used when the object of the
It will be done. action is more important than the subject.

Alebrijes are made in Arrazola

by Pepe.
These two sentences have the same meaning:
Alebrijes are more important than Pepe, so
we start the sentence with Alebrijes, then

Bill drinks milk. (active)

we use the verb to be and the past
participle.

We use an active verb to say

Milk is drunk by Bill. (passive)
what the subject does.
We use a passive verb to say
what happens to the subject.
subject verb object The passive is very common in English,
especially in technical texts and for

Bill drinks milk. (active)

describing processes.

The passive is always made with the

auxiliary be and the past participle. Notice
that the verb be can be in any tense:

Be + past participle
Milk is drunk by Bill. (passive)
am, is, are eaten
subject verb prepositional phrase am being eaten
is being eaten
are being eaten
More examples: was
was being
eaten
eaten
were eaten
People make tortillas from corn. (active) were being eaten
has been eaten
have been eaten
Tortillas are made of corn. (passive) will be eaten
Be past participle could be eaten
should be eaten
must be eaten
The secretary is printing the exam. (active) etc.
Refer to Appendix F page 97 at the back of

The exam is being printed. (passive)

this book for more examples of the passive
voice in different tenses
Be past participle For regular verbs the past participle ends
in –ed. Some participles are irregular.
Refer to the list of past participles in
They have stolen the money. (active) Appendix I on page 91.

The money has been stolen. (passive)

 Sometimes passive sentences
don’t translate well into Spanish
Be past participle because in Spanish there is also se
which is like the passive. For
example ‘Se come tortillas en
The news surprised me. (active)
Oaxaca’ is in English: ‘Tortillas
are eaten in Oaxaca.’
I was surprised by the news. (passive)
Be past participle
We only use the by-phrase
when it is important to specify
who or what does the action.

43
Passive Voice 1
A. Decide if the sentence is in the past or
present then add the correct form of be
(is / are / was / were).
ex: Now, houses are built with concrete. Present
1. The laboratory _____ used by the students
yesterday.
2. The Guelaguetza _____ celebrated every July.
3. Students _____ tested many times last month.
4. Tests _____ given at the end of each month.
5. I _____ given opportunities by my teachers
when I was young.
6. They _____ helped by their friends a year ago.
7. Today, the patients _____ consulted by the
doctor.
8. The boys _____ taken care of by the babysitter
each time their parents aren’t home.
9. Six prizes _____ awarded to the best students
last semester.
10. Each winner _____ handed a trophy at last
night’s ceremony.
B. Fill in the correct form of the past
participle. Choose from the list below:
eat find produce draw feel
transport build give make print
ex: The wallet was found in the street.
1. A new building is __________ each year.
2. Alebrijes are __________ in Oaxaca.
3. Gifts are __________ to the couple.
4. 16 tons of trash are ________ away each day.
5. Earthquakes sometimes are _______ in
Oaxaca.
6. Many chapulines are __________ in Tlacolula.
7. The newspapers are _________ every
morning.
8. Cocaine is __________ by plane.
9. Portraits are __________ by the art students.
10. New animal species are ________ by
scientists every year.
C. Use the correct form of the verb and
label the sentence as active or passive.
Use verbs from the following list:
cleaned / cleaned gave / given drove/ driven
ate / eaten thought / thought
ex: He was given money by his uncle. passive
He __gave__ me some money. active
1. The rock stars were _______ to the concert.
Edwina _______ a bus for 25 years.
2. The dinner was _______ by the entire family.
Jack and May _______ at the cafe last week.
3. The group _______ about the proposal.
Once it was _______ that the world was flat.
4. The classroom was _____ an hour ago.
Helen _______ her room yesterday.
D. Translate the following sentences.
 Sometimes you may have to change the sentence
to make a good translation.
ex: The child was found in the park.
El niño fue encontrado en el parque.
1. The food is stored in the refrigerator.
___________________________________
2. The elections were won by the PRD.
___________________________________
3. Oaxaca was founded in 1519.
___________________________________
4. Cars are made in Aguascalientes.
___________________________________
5. The house was sold.
___________________________________
6. The super highway has been finished.
___________________________________
7. The rivers are being polluted.
___________________________________
8. The university was founded in 1970.
___________________________________
9. My uncle is fixing my car.
___________________________________
10. The prices will be fixed by the government.
___________________________________
E. Put the sentences in the passive
voice.
Be careful if the sentence is present or past.
ex: I broke the window.
The window was broken by me.
1. The French drink wine.
____________________________.
2. My mother makes cakes.
____________________________.
3. Jamie and Wayne fix radios.
____________________________.
4. The teacher uses the internet everyday.
____________________________.
5. Gene walked the dogs.
____________________________.
6. Geoff painted the house.
____________________________.
7. The fisherman caught some fish.
____________________________.
8. Frank copied the notes.
____________________________.
9. The students finished the report.
____________________________.
10. His children bought the cake.
____________________________.
44
Passive Voice   The passive voice uses the
auxiliary be so the structure of the
affirmative sentence, negative
sentence and question are
identical to those we have seen
 subject + be + past before.
auxiliary participle For example:
A lot of beef is produced in

Rice is grown here. Mexico.

Beef isn’t eaten in India.
Examples: Exams are taken every month.
Is corn grown in your
Salsa is taught in Candela.
The classrooms are being renovated. hometown?
Last night, the freeway was being painted.
In December, the new governor will be elected.
New bathrooms have been built.
They were arrested by the police.
Some extra points:
In English, birth is passive.

I was born in Oaxaca.

He wasn´t born in Africa.
 subject + be + not + past
Where were you born?
auxiliary participle

It wasn’t stolen. We gave Pedro the

information.
Examples: Engineering isn’t taught at the URSE. This verb has two objects so there are two
possible passive sentences:
Alcohol wasn´t allowed at the party.
Parking spaces haven´t been allocated yet. Pedro was given the
The coffee hasn’t been made yet.
information.
Lunch won’t be served before two o’clock.
The projects weren’t completed on time.
or
The bathrooms aren’t being cleaned enough. The information was given to
Pedro.

 wh-word + be + subject + past Sometimes get can be used

auxiliary participle instead of be in the passive:

I got invited to the party.

What color was it painted ? He got arrested by the police.

Examples: When was Colosio assassinated?

Where were the Beatles born?
Why has the freeway been closed?
When will the house be finished?
What is being done about noise pollution?
What color has your classroom been painted?
Why are the students being punished?

45
Passive Voice 2
A. Change the active voice to passive.
ex: Edgar Allen Poe wrote the story “the Raven”.
The story "the Raven" was written by Poe.
1. Oscar Neimeyer designed the city of Brasilia.
_________________________________
2. Velázquez painted the painting “Las Meninas”.
_________________________________
3. The people elected Fox as president in 2000.
_________________________________
4. The hurricane destroyed the town.
_________________________________
5. Did Carlton crash the car?
_________________________________
6. The fire didn’t burn the buildings.
_________________________________
7. Bach composed the “Goldberg Variations”.
_________________________________
8. Does France make Renault cars?
_________________________________
9. Sammy didn’t spill the paint.
_________________________________
B. Put the words in the correct order.
ex: was by the dog bitten Barry.
Barry was bitten by the dog.
1. in you injured were the accident?
_________________________________
2. flowers grown were by Bob the.
_________________________________
3. the song Susan written by was.
_________________________________
4. was not the woman with the crime charged.
_________________________________
5. they the reward given were?
_________________________________
6. built when was the building?
_________________________________
C. Change the affirmative to a question.
ex: Don Quixote was written in the 16th century.
Was Don Quixote written in the 16th century?
1. Manhattan Island was bought for a string of beads.
__________________________________
2. Mole is made with more than 20 ingredients.
__________________________________
3. Many houses are built with adobe.
__________________________________
4. The meeting was finished on time.
__________________________________
5. Tamayo's paintings are shown at the museum.
__________________________________
D. Make all necessary corrections so that
the sentences are in passive voice.
ex: The sculptures were make by Steven.
made
1. The painter was painted by the wall.
2 Did he helped by his friends?
3. The book wasn’t wrote by Nick.
4. The presents was given by he.
5. They were found in the park?
6. Each poster were designed by a students.
7. The pieces of cake was ate by Joey.
8. These plates were buyed not in Japan.
E. Read the following passage.
One of the greatest dangers to current and future
generations of living organisms on this planet is
pollution. Land, water and air are contaminated
everyday by humans. Garbage is commonly thrown
in the streets in cities. In the countryside, trash is left
in fields and sometimes discarded in river beds. Air
pollution is also another serious problem. As the
streets are filled with more and more fossil fuel
burning vehicles, the more smoggy and hazy the
skies will become. Industrial factories, tremendous
users of fossil fuels, can also be blamed for the
increase in contaminated air. Unlike land and air
pollution, water pollution is almost unnoticed by the
population in general. This is because a water
source is often contaminated by pollutants that have
traveled from afar. Environmental specialist Dr.
Louis Reed states “rivers are contaminated by
miniscule quantities of mercury from batteries that
are thrown away over 100 miles from where the
contamination was found”.
Answer the questions.
1. Circle the best synonym for smoggy:
old clear sunny polluted
2. Name some fossil fuels:
_________________________________
3. What does discarded mean (in Spanish)?
_________________________________
4. Name two sources of air pollution:
_________________________________
5. Choose the best title for this passage:
A) The Earth and its problems
B) Pollution threatens the Earth
C) Fossil fuel and its dangers
46
Past Modals: I should have studied for my English exam.
We have already seen the group of
 Subject + modal + have + past auxiliaries called modals, including:
could, would, should, may, might, must,
auxiliary auxiliary participle will and can.
But we only used them to speak in the

Pedro should have studied.

present or the future.

I might go to the beach soon.

Examples:
Lucy might have left her glasses at home.
Lucy should go to the doctor.
By the time I am 30, I will have bought a BMW.
I would have told the teacher.
Some of these modals can be used to
We should have been more careful.
speak in the past as well, but we need to
You got a 10 on the exam! You must have studied. change the form.
It could have been a UFO! All modal auxiliaries are accompanied by
a verb in the base form (without to)

 Subject + modal + not + have + past modal + verb

in base form
auxiliary auxiliary part.
In the past form the modal is always

He couldn’t have lied.

accompanied by the base form have and
the past participle:

Examples:
modal + have + past
You shouldn’t have told her about the party.
Pedro might not have remembered about the party. participle
I wouldn’t have said anything.
The class won’t have finished in 10 minutes.  Have is followed by the
Aburto couldn’t have killed Colosio.
past participle so it
translates as haber not tener.
 Wh + modal + subject + have + past
 I would have
word auxiliary auxiliary part. can be contracted to
I’d have.
What would you have done?
 In the negative form,
Examples:
What should I have done?
Couldn’t have doesn’t have
Where could Michael have left the money? the same meaning as might
Will you have had children by the time you are 30? not have and may not have.

Meanings of Past Modals

I could have possibility Pude haber I would have conditional Habría
I couldn’t have impossibility No pudo haber I will have future Habrá
I may have possibility Pude haber I should have regret Debería haber
I might have possibility Pude haber you should have advice Deberías haber
I may/ might A lo mejor almost
possibility I must have certainty Debí haber
not have no….

47
Past Modals
A. Use the past participle form of the
verb to complete the past modal.
ex: I should have gotten a better grade. (get)
1. You could have ___________ the movie. (see)
2. He must have been _________ in traffic. (catch)
3. Bill shouldn’t have __________ that. (do)
4. The girls may have _______ not to come. (decide)
5. Would you have _________ him the story? (tell)
6. We should have _________ tickets last week. (buy)
7. She might not have __________ on time. (wake up)
8. Could he have __________ a home run? (hit)
9. I wouldn’t have _________ to the party. (go)
B. Use the correct modal to complete the
sentence. Choose from the list below.
Use each modal only once.
should should would might may must
ex: They may have already gone to the party
because they are not at home right now.
1. We ________ have left earlier. There is a lot of traffic.
2. I ________ have passed the test, but I’m not sure.
3. We ________ have gotten sick from those tacos we
ate last night. I’m certain that the meat was bad.
4. You ________ have called if you knew you were
going to be late. It is the polite thing to do.
5. They ________ have kept the dog if it hadn’t been
aggressive with their children.
(no hubiera)
D. Put the words in correct order.
ex: written Joyce it have wouldn’t
Joyce wouldn’t have written it.
1. seen I have not sign must the
____________________________________
2. me you helped have would
___________________________________?
3. vacation not on they might gone have
____________________________________
4. taken I the medicine have should
____________________________________
5. the party you gone to should have
___________________________________?
6. lost it have I must
____________________________________
7. it he have seen couldn’t
____________________________________
8. could Saul have where been
___________________________________?

C. Check the correct word.

ex: I coudn’t have ____ the money. I was at home last
E. Respond to the statements using the
night.  stole  stolen words in parenthesis.
1. They shouldn’t have _____ so rude. ex: I didn’t have money last year. (get a job)
 been  be
2. Would you ______ said that? You could have gotten a job.
 has  have
1. Kate felt sick last night. (take a pill)
3. Chuck ______ have eaten more. I think he is thin.
 would  should _You should____________________________
4. We ______ have gone to the game. We didn’t
have any money. 2. Sid wasn’t prepared for the test. (forget)
 couldn’t  might not
__He might_____________________________
5. She must have ___ sick. She never misses class.
 feel  felt 3. We were promoted at work. (do good work)
6. They might have _____ something else to do.
 had  have __You must_____________________________
7. ______ the boys have broken the window? They 4. You were sad yesterday. (talk to me)
were playing ball in front of the house yesterday.
 Should  Could __You could_____________________________
8. That answer _____ have been correct. There
weren’t any other possibilities. 5. They were hungry. (eat anything)
 may  must _They must not__________________________
9. The letter _____ have arrived sooner if it had
been sent by airmail. 6. Sara was tired. (win the race)
 would  must (hubiera)
__She would__________________________
10. I would have _____ a doctor if I had finished
medical school.
 been  studied
48
Existence II:
In the first section we looked at
There will be a party. There is or there are
to talk about existence.
For example:
There is a book on the table.
 There + be + noun This sentence is in the present tense but
we can talk about existence in many
tenses.

There was an earthquake. All of the sentences contain there and the
verb to be, but the verb is conjugated in the
appropriate tense.
For example:
Examples:
There is going to be an exam tomorrow.
There have been many accidents recently. There Be Spanish
There should be less traffic in the center.
There is
There is a lot of traffic, I think there must be a protest. Hay
There are
There was
Hubo /
There were Había
 There + not + be + noun Ha
There has been
habido

There won’t be time. There have been

Han
habido
There will be Habrá
Examples: There is going to be Va a
There hasn´t been enough rain this year. haber
There are going to be
There wasn’t any toilet paper in the restroom.
Debería
There isn’t going to be time to study for the exam. There should be
There shouldn’t be so many exams.
haber
There
could be Podría
There might be haber
 There is more than one way to There may be
Debe
There must be
form a question about existence. haber
There would be Habría
There could have been Pudo
Were there many students? haber
habido
be + there + noun
Questions about existence can have
several different structures. There is not
Is there going to be an exam? the real subject but it acts like one, and in
the question form it changes places with
auxiliary + there + be + noun ? the verb be.
For example:
Examples:
Is there going to be food at the party?
There was an accident.
Will there be a test tomorrow?
How often are there earthquakes in Oaxaca?
How many world wars have there been? Was there an accident?
But some structures use an auxiliary and
 Notice that with wh-words the position of the noun can vary. this changes places with there in the
question form.
How many deaths were there? For example:

noun There will be an exam.

Why were there so many deaths?
Will there be an exam?

49
Existence II
A. Fill in the blank with was or were.
ex: There was a lot of work yesterday.
1. There _______ a party last week.
2. There _______ six sandwiches on the table.
3. There _______ a lot of noise last night.
4. There _______ some rain yesterday.
5. There _______ many children at the movie.
6. There _______ a few questions before the test.
7. There _______ a lot of traffic on the way home.
8. There _______ juice in the refrigerator.
B. Fill in the blank with was / were or is /
are depending on the time expression.
ex: There is a good movie on TV tonight.
1. There _____ nice weather last week.
2. Now, there _____ many tourists.
3. _____ there food at the party yesterday?
4. There _____ not a game today.
5. There _____ concerts last week.
6. _____ there any tortillas today?
7. There _____ some soda if you are thirsty.
8. _____ there any bananas left? I’m hungry.
C. Put the words in order.
ex: a where there party was ?
Where was there a party ?
1. students in there the were class
_____________________________?
2. was test a there ?
_____________________________?
3. cows there were in the fields ?
_____________________________?
4. there problems why were ?
_____________________________?
5. last rain was week there ?
_____________________________?
D. Check the correct answer.
ex: There ________ many people at the party.
Dan is a very popular guy.
 should be □ won’t be
1. There ________ a test next Thursday.
□ will be □ has been
2. There ________ a leak. I can smell gas.
□ will be □ must be
3. There ________ free elections. It is the
democratic way.
□ should be □ would be
4. There ________ some rain tonight. There are
many clouds in the sky.
□ might be □ have been
5. There ________ trouble if the other team wins.
□ must be □ could be
6. There ________ a concert on Saturday. Do you
want to go with me?
□ was □ is going to be
7. There ________ several accidents in that
intersection. There was one just the other day.
□ will be □ have been
8. There ________ peace in the world if people
weren’t so greedy.
□ would be □ should be
9. There _________ many students in class this
afternoon because there is a school event today.
□ will be □ won’t be
10. There ________ a lot of work this week.
□ has been □ have been
E. Put the words in correct order then
write a translation of the sentence.
ex: be death should the there penalty
Should there be the death penalty?
Debería haber la pena de muerte?
1. storm be a there could
________________________________.
________________________________.
2. been hasn’t noise there any
________________________________.
________________________________.
3. people will many be there
________________________________?
________________________________?
4. there be is to music going
________________________________?
________________________________?
5. complaints there have many been
________________________________.
________________________________.
6. must cheating be the there not exam on
________________________________.
________________________________.
7. won’t there be an exam
________________________________.
________________________________.
8. time be not might there
________________________________.
________________________________.
9. solution there might a be
________________________________?
________________________________?
10. shouldn’t a there be problem
________________________________.
________________________________.
50
Verbs: I enjoy studying Law, so I want to be a Lawyer.

I offered to help him.

When one verb follows another in a
sentence, the second verb is usually in the
infinitive. The structure is:
verb + infinitive
Examples: I promise to bring my book tomorrow.
I decided to go to the market. I offered to help
Sarah always forgets to do her homework. Some examples
The senators agreed to help the farmers.
offer hope agree
decide learn
plan promise forget
 The second verb translates as an infinitive in Spanish.
‘Lucy disfruta estudiar inglés.’
But after a few verbs the second verb is in
the gerund. The structure is
Lucy enjoys studying English. verb + -ing

Lucy enjoys studying

Examples: Mary can’t imagine being a teacher.
I miss swimming in the ocean.
Some examples
Thomas has finished doing his homework. stop avoid mind
I am imagining kissing her. miss finish imagine
consider enjoy hate

Some verbs can use either with no change

in meaning:

I started to study English two months ago. Some examples

begin like
I started studying French two months ago. start
continue love

With some verbs it is possible to put an

object between the verb and the infinitive:
Verb (+ object) + infinitive
I want to study English.
Some examples
I want you to study English. want help expect
would like would love
would prefer would hate

And with other verbs the object is always

necessary:
Verb + object + infinitive
I told him to memorize the irregular verbs.
Some examples
I got them to help me. tell warn get
order teach force

 make and let are special

cases. They follow the structure:
She made me do it.
Verb + object + base form
The teacher didn’t let Pedro take the test. (without to)

51
Verbs
A. Choose the correct answer.
Both answers may be correct.
ex: He plans ___ a new car.
 to buy  buying
1. My parents promised ___ to the beach.
 taking me  to take me
2. When did you learn ___ the piano?
 playing  to play
3. He considers ___ to be rude.
 burping  to burp
4. Would you mind ___ your cigar?
 putting out  to put out
5. She wants ___ her debt next month.
 paying off  to pay off
6. Peter decided ___ at the airport.
 picking me up  to pick me up
7. You must stop ___ about your problem.
 thinking  to think
8. Finish ___ your work before you go out.
 doing  to do
9. We must start ___ dinner soon.
 making  to make
10. Does she enjoy ___ as a doctor?
 working  to work
B. Choose the correct answer.
Both answers may be correct.
ex: He didn't want ___ goodbye
 to say  saying
1. How can I avoid ___ the test?
 failing  to fail
2. They agree ___ on weekends.
 working  to work
3. Ralph decided ___ his job.
 changing  to change
4. They like ___ at that restaurant.
 eating  to eat
5. She misses ___ with her family.
 being  to be
6. We hope ___ a child in the next few years.
 having  to have
7. Don’t forget ___ the door when you leave.
 locking  to lock
8. I can’t imagine ___ without music.
 living  to live
9. On vacation I plan ___ to the mountains.
 going  to go
10. He continued ___ a good student until
he graduated.
 being  to be
C. Choose the correct sentence.
ex:  They would hate miss the show.
 They would hate to miss the show.
1.  I told to you clean your room.
 I told you to clean your room.
2.  He helps to you to understand English.
 He helps you to understand English.
3.  The teacher teaches us to read.
 The teacher teaches to read to us.
4.  My mother got to go me to the dentist.
 My mother got me to go to the dentist.
5.  His boss expects him to arrive on time.
 His boss expects to arrive him on time.
6.  You mustn’t force to her to go to class.
 You mustn’t force her to go to class.
7.  The police warned to stop to him.
 The police warned him to stop.
8.  Her parents let her go to the party.
 Her parents let her to go to the party.
9.  You can’t make to me to do that!
 You can’t make me do that!
10.  Bill wants us to arrive at 8.
 Bill wants to arrive us at 8.
D. Read the following passage.
A change of lifestyle
If you decide to study in the university, it is
important to consider making some changes in
your daily life. First you must stop being a child
and start to act mature. It is also a good idea to
begin taking responsibility for your actions and
learn to manage your time and recourses well. If
you intend to graduate on time, you should plan to
study a lot and avoid failing classes. Another way
to make the transition to the “university life” is to
arrange to visit a university campus before you
enroll, so that you can talk to students and
experience classes. Regardless of where you
decide to attend, or what major you decide to
study, it is important not to forget to feel fortunate
at having been given the chance to study. Also,
among all of the personal changes that you might
make, don’t forget to enjoy being a university
student.
Answer the following questions according to
the text:
1. What type of changes might be necessary for a
student going on to study at the university?
 change your clothes
 become more responsible and mature
 respect your parents
2. Name some tips to graduate on time.
 go to the library
 make friends with the teachers
 study and avoid failing classes
3. What is a good idea to do before you decide to
go to university?
 visit a university
 get a student loan
 buy books to help you study
4. What is something not to forget as a university
student?
 decide on a major
 feel lucky and enjoy yourself
 get lots of rest and eat well
52
Gerunds and Present Participles
I’m thinking about doing it!
Both the present participle and the gerund
are made by taking the base form of a verb
and adding –ing.
 Gerunds in English usually translate as infinitives in Spanish some examples:
‘Vivir in Oaxaca es agradable.’ base gerund / present
form participle
think thinking
Gerunds as subjects play playing
smoke* smoking
Living in Oaxaca is nice cut* cutting
* See Appendix H on page 99 for spelling
subject verb changes.

Examples: Smoking is bad for you. Present participles

Being a lawyer must be difficult. The present participle is part of a verb
Failing an exam is depressing. tense when it comes with the auxiliary
Going to jail must be scary. verb be. Look at the examples with the
present participle eating:

subject auxiliary be present

participle
Gerunds as objects I am eating
I was eating
I will be eating
Sheila enjoys watching TV. I am going to eating
subject verb object I have been eating
I had been eating

Examples: I like smoking.

I enjoy being a lawyer.
I hate failing exams. Gerunds
Jack doesn’t like going to jail. In English, when we want to use the name
of a verb, i.e. when we want to use a verb
as a noun then we use the gerund.
Nouns can come in three places in a

Gerunds as objects of prepositions sentence, as the subject of a verb, as the

Patrick is worried about passing.
subject verb preposition
Examples: I am thinking about smoking.
I am interested in being a lawyer.
I am worried about failing.
Jack is afraid of going to jail.
object of a verb and as the object of a
preposition, so we can use gerunds in
these three places too.
Note that in Spanish the name
object
of a verb, i.e. the noun form is the
base form.
Look at these examples:
Studying English is fun!
¡Estudiar Ingles es divertido!

I love eating.
Me encanta comer.

I am interested in studying.
Me interesa estudiar.

53
Gerunds / Present Participles
A. Write the correct form of the following
gerunds with spelling changes.
ex: study studying
1. make _____________
2. lie _____________
3. stop _____________
4. dance _____________
5. swim _____________
6. write _____________
7. run _____________
8. come _____________
9. get _____________
10. tie _____________
B. Put the verb in gerund form.
Chose from the following: watch talk go
ride walk wait fly eat smoke learn cheat
ex: Cheating is for loosers.
1. __________ is not allowed in the classroom.
2. Pat is afraid of ________. She doesn't like planes.
3. He got heartburn after _________ a lot of chiles.
4. __________ for a friend who is late isn’t fun.
5. They enjoy _________ in the mountains.
6. You can get in shape by __________ a bike.
7. I don't like __________ a lot of TV; it is boring.
8. __________ to the dentist is not enjoyable.
9. After _________ another language I got a job.
10. We solved the problem by __________ to her.
C. Check the sentence with the gerund.
ex:  I can’t help falling in love with you.
‫ ڤ‬Raindrops are falling on my head.
1. ‫ ڤ‬The car is not smoking.
‫ ڤ‬Smoking isn’t allowed in the car.
2. ‫ ڤ‬He said eating candy can cause tooth decay.
‫ ڤ‬He is eating candy and his teeth are
decaying.
3. ‫ ڤ‬She is watching a lot of movies.
‫ ڤ‬She thinks watching movies is fun.
4. ‫ ڤ‬He can’t help being a nice guy.
‫ ڤ‬He’s being a nice guy.
5. ‫ ڤ‬We’re going to the beach.
‫ ڤ‬We dream about going to the beach.
D. Label the word in bold italics as
gerund or present participle.
Remember a present participle translates
as ‘-ando’ (eg. jugando) in Spanish.
ex: He likes painting. gerund
1. The men were working outside.
2. Swimming is his favorite sport.
3. Are you interested in buying a computer?
4. Saul is walking to school.
5. Paula enjoys drinking beer.
6. Are we taking the bus to the concert?
7. Chauncey has a lot of shopping to do.
8. They are shopping in the market.
9. Teaching is a wonderful profession.
10. Stan has been teaching for 25 years.
E. Translate the following sentences
into Spanish.
Be careful of gerunds and present participles.
ex: Living in Oaxaca is fun.
Vivir en Oaxaca es divertido.
1. Eating mole is excellent.
_____________________________
2. Washing your hands before eating is healthy.
_____________________________
3. We like going to the movies.
_____________________________
4. They are thinking about flying to Cancun.
_____________________________
5. William played with the knife without cutting his
hand. ____________________________
________________________________
6. Firing a gun can be exciting.*
_____________________________
7. Having good friendships is important.
_____________________________
8. He didn’t like waiting for his girlfriend.
_____________________________
9. The walking was the most difficult thing about
the tour.*________________________
_______________________________
10. Something that I really like is cooking.*
_____________________________
F. Read the following passage.
Sports are an important aspect of society. They
help us in many ways and have many advantages.
Playing sports, or even participating in any
physical activity, is fundamental to developing
many skills. These skills are not exclusively
physical. Being active in sports is obviously good
for your body, but also it is an excellent way of
formenting social skills and relaxation techniques,
and increasing brain activity. Every time you are
doing intensive physical activity the heart is
pumping huge quantities of blood through the body
and the muscles are flexing . At the same time, the
central nervous system is responding to external
stimuli and even the person is interacting with
other people (like in team sports). Jogging,
swimming, riding bicycles, playing basketball are
only a few examples of excellent and exciting ways
to obtain a healthy body and mind.
Answer the questions.
1. Being physically active only benefits the body.
T/F
2. Name three benefits of playing sports: _______
_________________________________
3. Sports help in stimulating the brain. T / F
4. List four sports that are mentioned in the reading:
___________________________________
5. Playing soccer can help you be more sociable.
T/F
( * = difficult!)
54
Comparatives The Pumas are better than America!
When we make comparisons we often use
the comparative form of an adjective.
To make the comparative form we either
add the suffix –er to the adjective or put
the word more before it.

Comparatives using adjectives/adverbs: tall  taller than

beautiful  more beautiful than
comparative
A verb
form
than B A comparative form is
always followed by than.
Mary is taller than Lucy. -er or more?
Max works harder than Peter. For one syllable adjectives –er is added
For two syllable adjectives more is used,
except for adjectives that end in –y ,for
Examples these the –y is dropped and –ier is added.
with England is colder than Mexico. For longer adjectives with three or more
adjectives: My girlfriend is more beautiful than your girlfriend. syllables more is used.
Mexico city is more polluted than Oaxaca.
Alejandra Guzman is fatter than Paulina Rubio.
No. of
adjective comparative
Examples syllables

1
with Sharon speaks more slowly than Charles. long longer
adverbs: I get up later than you. tall taller
I speak English better than you.
fat fatter*
Julian speaks more quietly.
2 happy
pretty
happier
prettier
ends in y

2
boring more boring
famous more famous

3+
polluted more polluted
serious more serious
Comparatives using nouns: Irregular good better
adjectives bad worse
more far farther
A verb noun than B
/ less
* See Appendix H on page 99 for spelling
changes.

Puebla has more shops than Oaxaca.

Examples:
John smokes more cigarettes than Michael.
 The opposite of more is less.
Puebla has more industry thn Oaxaca.
Soccer players make more money than teachers.
Doctors have less free time than architects.

 It is different for adverbs. Most

adverbs end in -ly and more is used.
Eg.
slowly  more slowly

55
Comparatives
A. Circle the best answer.
ex: His cat is fatter / more fat than yours.
1. My grandpa is more old / older than yours.
2. Ed’s dog is more mean / meaner than Al’s.
3. A Ferrari is more expensive / expensiver than
a Vocho; it ‘s more fast / faster, too.
4. Morelos is more small / smaller than Oaxaca.
5. Swimming in the sea is more dangerous /
dangerouser than swimming in a pool.
6. Watching TV is more boring / boringer than
going to the beach.
7. Bill Gates is more rich / richer than me.
8. Is Stan more helpful / helpfuler than Kate?
9. Wood is more weak / weaker than steel.
10. Oaxaca is more beautiful / beautifuler than
Tijuana.
B. Fill in the blank with the appropriate
form of the adjective.
Use the following adjectives only once:
good large important healthy hard wet
expensive funny scary green sweet
ex: Clowns make funnier faces than judges.
1. Terror movies are __________ than comedies.
2. My team is ____________ than yours.
3. Salads are ____________ than tacos.
4. Diamonds are ___________ than quartz; they
are _________________, too.
5. Ripe mangos are __________ than green ones.
6. Horses are _______________ than donkeys.
7. July is ____________ than January; it rains
more in the summer.
8. A forest is ____________ than a junk yard.
9. Being honest is __________ than being rich.
C. Compare the following nouns- use
more or less.
ex: Mexico City has more streets than Oaxaca.
1. Carlos Slim has ______ money than I do.
2. Brasil has won ______ World Cups than Mexico.
3. Mexicans eat _______ tortillas than Americans.
4. The French drink ______ wine than the Chinese.
5. Workers earn ______ money than executives.
6. Canada has ______ ice than Equador.
7. Adults play ______ video games than children.
8. A cow eats ______ food than a goat.
9. Sharks have ______ teeth than whales.
10. Americans play ______ soccer than Mexicans.
D. Read the statement and answer the
question.
ex: A horse is faster than an elephant.
Which is slower? an elephant
1. Tolucal scores more goals than America.
Who is better? _______________
2. Mexico is hotter than France.
Which is colder? _______________
3. An atom is bigger than a neutron.
Which is smaller? _______________
4. Dinner is more expensive than lunch.
Which is cheaper? _______________
5. Monte Alban is older than Mitla.
Which was built first? _______________
6. Brazil has more birds than Sweden.
Which has less birds? _______________
7. Gold is heavier per volume than aluminium.
Which is lighter? _______________
8. A fresh rose smells better than an old fish.
Which smells worse? _______________
9. Spinich has more vitamins than lettuce.
Which is healthier? _______________
10. A pit bull is more aggressive than a labrador.
Which dog is safer? _______________
E. Arrange the words in the correct
order.
ex: a smaller bird bee than is a
A bee is smaller than a bird.
1. bigger Venus than is Jupiter
_____________________________
2. a mouse than an elephant heavier is
_____________________________
3. beer mezcal stronger than is
_____________________________
4. more Iraq than is Australia violent
_____________________________
5. silver more gold is than expensive
_____________________________
6. faster a turtle rabbit isn’t than a
_____________________________
F. Make the necessary changes so that
the sentence is correct.
ex: A pillow is softer a brick.
than
1. Sheldon is more smart than his brother.
2. The Lerma river is more polluted Atoyac river.
3. Their house is more nice than ours.
4. Sam doesn’t have hard work than Chuck.
5. That movie was interestinger than the other.
6. Today is more wet than yesterday.
7. Moscow isn’t hotter Miami.
8. Oaxaca is expensive than London.
9. I don’t have more dogs you.
10. China has a population than Mexico.
56
Superlatives The Pumas are the best!
When we make superlatives we always
use the superlative form of an adjective.
Superlatives using adjectives/adverbs: To make the superlative form we either
add the suffix –est to the adjective or put
the word most before it.
superlative
Subject verb the (complement) tall  the tallest
form
beautiful  the most beautiful

Victor is the tallest in the class. A comparative form is

always preceded by the.
Clare runs the fastest.
-est or most?
Examples
with You are the most boring person I know. For one syllable adjectives –est is added
adjectives; Jennifer is the prettiest girl in the class. For two syllable adjectives most is used,
except for adjectives that end in –y ,for
Michael Jordan is the most famous basket ball player.
these the –y is dropped and –iest is added.
My mother is the kindest woman. For longer adjectives with three or more
syllables most is used.
Examples
with James works the hardest.
No. of
adverbs: Betty gets up the earliest. adjective superlative
Frank works the most carefully. syllables

1
Hank lives the farthest from school. long the longest
tall the tallest
fat the fattest*
2 happy
pretty
the happiest
the prettiest
ends in y

2
boring the most boring
famous the most famous
Superlatives using nouns:
3+
polluted the most polluted
serious the most serious
the most /
Subject verb noun (complement) Irregular good the best
least
adjectives bad the worst
far the farthest
David has the most money. * See Appendix H on page 99 for spelling
changes.

Examples:
Jack has the least hair.
Matt has the most girlfriends.
Joanne has the least freetime.
 The opposite of most
Mexico city has the most pollution. is least.

 It is different for adverbs. Most

adverbs end in -ly and most is used.
Eg.
slowly  the most slowly

57
Superlatives
A. Complete the chart. D. Circle the correct form.
adjective / ex: We have the hardest / most hard clases.
comparative superlative
adverb
1. Mary drinks the most / more coffee than I do.
good better the best 2. Antartica is the colder / coldest continent.
worse 3. Living in the country is quieter / the
the ugliest quietest than living in the city.
beautiful 4. Living in an English speaking country is the
cheaper best / better way to learn the language.
fun 5. Is Mexico City more polluted / the most
gentle polluted than Oaxaca?
the happiest 6. The Pacific Ocean is the biggest / bigger
far on Earth.
the most slowly 7. China has a higest / higher population than Egypt.
harder 8. Who is funnier / funniest, Tin Tan or Cantinflas?
busy 9. Hummingbirds are the smallest / smaller bird
faster in the animal kingdom.
carefully 10. Which is more delicious / the most delicious,
mole negro or coloradito?
B. Circle the superlative.
E. Read the paragraphs and answer the
ex: Al is the most smart / smartest in the class.
true / false questions.
1. A cheetah is the most fast / fastest cat.
2. A whale is the most big / biggest mammal. Latin American Writers
3. The Pico de Orizaba is the most tall / tallest Latin American has always produced great writers.
mountain in Mexico. For example the Chilean Pablo Neruda (1904-
4. Have you been to the most expensive / 1973) won the nobel prize in 1972. Colombia’s
expensivest restaurant in Oaxaca? Gabriel Garcia Márquez (1928- ), a 1982 Nobel
5. My neighbors have the most mean / meanest Prize winner, is famous for his book “100 Years of
dog on the block. Solitude”. Octavio Paz (1914-1998), Juan Rulfo
6. Charlie is the most young / youngest in the (1918-1986) and Carlos Fuentes (1928- ) are
class. Mexican ; Paz won the Nobel in 1990. Argentinians
7. Octavio Paz is the most famous / famousest Jorge Luis Borges (1899-1986) and Julio Cortazar
mexican writer. (1914-1984) are well known for their experiments
8. She is the most good / best player on the team. with structure.
9. Yesterday’s test was the most hard / hardest. 1. Pablo Neruda lived longer than J.L. Borges.
10. Fido is the most intelligent / intelligentest T/F
dog I know. 2. Garcia Márquez is as old as Carlos Fuentes.
T/F
3. Octavio Paz died younger than J. L. Borges.
C. Put the words in correct order. T/F
ex: gives directions best he the 4. Neruda was younger than Márquez when he
He gives the best directions. won the Nobel. T / F
1. planet is farthest Pluto the 5. Argentina is the country with the most writers
______________________________ listed above. T/F
2. has voice nicest the she
______________________________ Rivers of the World
3. the richest Carlos Slim is Mexico man in Some of the longest rivers in the world are found
on four different continents. The Volga is in Europe
______________________________ and is 2290 miles long. The Yangtze is found in
4. intelligent they most teachers the are
Asia and measures 3430 miles. The Amazon, in
______________________________ South America, is 3300 miles long. While, the Nile,
5. you best look the measuring 3485 miles, covers almost half the
______________________________ continent of Africa.
6. ugliest is dog the it 1. The Yangtze is the longest river. T / F
______________________________ 2. The Volga is shorter than the Amazon. T / F
7. mole his makes delicious most the mother 3. The Nile is as long as the Yangtze. T / F
______________________________ 4. The Amazon isn't as great as the Yangtze. T / F
8. is Mexican the woman Ana Guevara fastest 5. The longest river in Asia isn’t as long as the
longest in Africa. T / F
______________________________

58
Comparisons using as ....as: You’re as sweet as candy.

We can also make comparisons with

Comparisons with adjectives and adverbs. as...as. In Spanish this translates as
tan..como.
With adjectives and adverbs the structure
adjective / is:
Subject A verb as as Object B
adverb
(not) adjective
+ or + as
as
John isn’t as funny as Josh. adverb

Examples: You are as intelligent as her.

A bike isn’t as fast as a car.
 Notice that we do not
I didn’t play as well as you did. use the comparative form
Boys aren’t as organized as girls. when we use as...as.
Tom works as hard as I do. For example we say:
Lucy isn’t as big as Ruth.
as big as
not
as bigger as

When we make comparisons with nouns

we use as much...as or as many...as. In
Spanish this translates as tanto...como.
Comparisons with nouns: We us as much for countable nouns
Eg. Children, cars, beers

as much and as many for uncountable nouns.

Subject A verb (noun) as Object Eg. Money, water, time
/ as
B
many With nouns the structure is:

(not) + uncountable + as
I drank as many beers as you. as noun
Examples: I don´t smoke as many cigarettes as you.
much
We played as much as they did. or
You don’t have as much money as me.
Oaxaca doesn’t have as much industry as Puebla. (not) + countable + as
The URSE doesn’t have as many students as the UABJO.
We have as much homework as they do.
as noun
many

59
As....as D. Use the adjective in parenthesis to
A. Make comparisons using as....as with complete the sentence.
the words given. Use affirmative or negative. ex: Mitla is farther than Yagul. (far)
ex: whisky/mezcal Whisky is as strong as mezcal. 1. Wim is __________ in his class. (smart)
2. Grapes aren’t as ________ as limes. (cheap)
ex: silver/gold Silver isn’t as valuable as gold.
3. My grade was _______ on this test than on the
1. a dog/a horse __________ big as ____________. last. (good)
2. Chinese/Korean _______________ difficult to 4. She is the _______ girl I know. (happy)
learn as _____________. 5. They are the ________ family. (friendly)
3. lions/tigers ___________ dangerous as ________. 6. This book is _________ than the last one I read;
4. birds/monkeys _____________ smart as _______. it is ___________, too. (sad), (boring)
5. Havana/Merida ____________ hot as _________. 7. This meal is the ______ I have ever eaten. (bad)
7. basketball/golf ____________ boring as _______. 8. The _______ person in the world is 113 years
8. limes/oranges ____________ sweet as ________. old. (old)
9. vegetables/fruit ___________ healthy as _______.
10. a car/a plane ____________ fast as __________.
E. Read the following passage.
As the season comes to an end the playoff
B. Use the information given to make situation is unclear. The Bucks are better than the
comparisons. Sixers and the Lakers have a better defense than
name height weight name height weight the Kings and the Supersonics. However, the
Joe 178cm 65kg Mary 155cm 52kg Knicks have the strongest defense and the Heat
Bill 185cm 74kg Sue 163cm 59kg have the worst. The Wolves have the fastest
Sam 167cm 80kg Jill 149cm 48kg offense, but their scoring isn’t as high as the
Phil 178cm 88kg Ann 167cm 65kg Mavericks. The Rockets are as good as the
Bob 163cm 74kg Sara 165cm 59kg Hornets, but both aren’t as good as the Nets. The
Lakers don’t score as many points as the Celtics,
ex: Bill and Bob (heavy) but they let fewer points be scored. The Pacers
Bill is as heavy as Bob. have the most intelligent coach and their center is
the tallest in the league. They are also the hardest
ex: Sue and Sam (tall)
working team in the NBA, so maybe that is why
Sue isn’t as tall as Sam. they are a likely favorite to win. So, to pick a
1. Ann and Sara (short) winner of the NBA championship, your guess is as
_______________________________ good as mine.
2. Phil and Jill (light) Answer the following questions.
1. Which team has the best defense?
_______________________________ _________________________________
3. Mary and Bill (tall)
2. Who has the better team, the Rockets or the
_______________________________ Nets? _________________________
4. Joe and Ann (heavy) 3. Who has a better defense, the Kings or the
_______________________________ Supersonics?___________________
5. Sara and Bob (short) 4. Who scores more points, the Lakers or the
_______________________________ Celtics? _______________________
6. the rest of the class and Bill (tall) 5. Which team could be the winner?
_______________________________ _________________________________

C. Make comparisons with the noun in F. Put the words in order.

parenthesis.
ex: We watched as many movies as you. (movies)
1. He didn’t eat _________________ me. (tacos)
2. We got ____________________ them. (points)
3. Fred read _________________ Carmen. (books)
4. I don’t use __________________ my dad. (salt)
5. They have ____________________ us. (dogs)
6. Sonora doesn’t get _____________ Chiapas. (rain)
7. Ted uses _________________ Claudia. (paint)
8. My son has __________________ me. (patience)
9. Our house has ________________ yours. (rooms)
10. Al works ___________________ you. (time)
ex: my does as well father as not see me
My father does not see as well as me.
1. drive Greg as him carefully doesn’t as
_____________________________
2. father is tall he as as his
_____________________________
3. as Japanese not difficult English as is
_____________________________
4. smart sister she as is as her
___________________________________

60
Possesive Pronouns: mine, yours, hers, his, ours, theirs
These two sentences have the same

It is my pen.
meaning. They both show possesion.
My is a possesive adjective, it has to go
before a noun.
Mine is a possesive pronoun, it is used
It is mine. alone. It replaces the possesive adjective
and the noun. The other possesive
pronouns are yours, his,hers,ours and
theirs.
adjective pronoun Examples
my your
my  mine It is my pen. It is mine.
your  yours It is your pen. It is yours.
her his its + noun
our their
his  his It is his pen. It is his.
her  hers It is her pen. It is hers.
its  ------ mine yours
our  ours it is her pen. It is ours. his hers (alone)
their  theirs It is their pen. It is theirs. ours theirs

 There is no possesive
Examples: Are these books mine or yours?
pronoun for the possesive
I didn’t have a pen, so Peter gave me his. adjective its
That isn´t my book, it’s yours.
My car is blue. Theirs is red.
 The same possesive
This is his homework. Where is ours? pronoun replaces plural or
She doesn’t have a handsome boyfriend. Hers is ugly. singular nouns.
This is your present and that is hers. Eg: It is your book.
It is yours.
They are your pens.
They are yours.

Review: I / me / my / mine
subject pronouns object pronouns possesive adjectives possesive pronouns
I me my mine
you you your yours
he him his his
she her her hers
it it its ------
we us our ours
they them their theirs
You can also make a possessive adjective by adding 's to a noun.
Eg. Pedro's car (The car of Pedro), Oaxaca's ruins (The ruins of Oaxaca).
.
If the noun ends in s, you just put the apostrophe.
Eg. Jesus' car (The car of Jesus). The teachers' room (The room of the teachers).
 With possesives the apostrophe doesn't show a contraction.

61
Possesive Pronouns
A. Complete the sentences with the
correct possesive pronoun, mine,
yours, his, hers, ours or theirs.
Ex. That’s my car. It’s mine .
2. It is our house. It’s _________.
3. That is her money. It’s ___________.
4. Those are his glasses. They are _________.
5. It is your sandwich. It’s ________________.
6. I can’t find my pen. Can you lend me ______?
7. I lost my book. I will ask Max to lend me______.
8. I forgot my pen. I’ll ask Vicky to lend me ____.
9. My ticket cost $100 and their ticket cost $150.
My ticket was cheaper than ___________.
10. We have two dogs. They are___________.
B. Replace the underlined words with
possesive pronouns.
Ex. My house is bigger than your house.
__yours__
1. Julia has a big car, but, my car is bigger
. ______
2. My sister is pretty, but her sister is prettier.
________
3. That house isn’t Joe’s house, his house is red.
_________
4. Your report isn’t as good as our report.
________
5. My teacher is good, but their teacher is better.
___________
6. Our car is red. Their car is green.
________
7. Your boyfriend is younger than my boyfriend.
____________
8. My class is more difficult than her class.
_________
9. Their party was good, but our party was better.
________
Review exercises
A. Choose the correct word.
Ex. Julia’s friends are lazy. My / Mine are messy.
1. This is their / theirs car, not our / ours.
2. That is a beautiful pen. Is it your / yours?
3. These are not my / mine shoes. My / Mine are
black.
4. Your / Yours dog is bigger than my / mine.
5. He has two sisters, what are their / theirs
names?
6. Can I borrow your car? Our / Ours is broken.
7. Janet is talking with her / hers friends.
8. Our / Ours books are on the table.
9. Where are your / yours glasses?
10. Did you go in your car or their / theirs?
B. Complete the sentences following
the model of the example.
He gave us his notes and we gave_him_ ours_.
You gave them your notes and they gave you ___.
I gave him my notes and he gave me ____.
You gave me notes and I gave you mine.
He gave me notes and I gave him mine.
We gave him our notes and he gave ____ his.
She gave him her notes and he gave____ his.
They gave us their notes and we gave ____ ____.
We gave them notes and they gave us ____.
I gave her notes and she gave____ ____.
C. Choose the correct pronoun.
Ex. Henry called me / I.
1. Mr. Jones sent me a message.
He / him wanted to talk with I / me.
2. Charles ate with we / us.
3. Greg watched TV and I / me went to the bank.
4. I want to buy some shoes.
You should buy it / them in the market.
5. I saw Oliver and Frank and I told they / them.
6. George invited I / me to go out with he / him.
7. He / Him is the boy who I / me saw with she /
her.
8. What was she / her doing to he / him?
9. I / me saw he / him with she / her. He / Him
was kissing she / her.
D. Replace the nouns with pronouns.
Ex. Sarah forgot her books.
_She_ __them_
1. Jenny and Alison were talking to Sam and Joe.
____________ ___________
2. I put my books in my bag.
______ ______
3. I gave my pen to Julia and Julia said ‘thanks’.
______ ____ ___
4. Rob asked Greg to talk to Julia.
___ ____ ____
5. Ed saw Harry talking to Joe and Kathy.
__ ____ ___________
62

Appendix A
Review exercises
A. Choose the correct form of the verb.
Pay special attention to the time
expression.
Ex. We go / went to the supermarket last night
1. I watch / am watching TV now.
2. Jack won’t / don’t play Tennis tomorrow.
3. I have lived / lived in Oaxaca since I was a
child.
4. I have seen / saw Titanic three years ago.
5. Sarah is eating / eats cereal everyday.
6. Mary doesn’t / didn’t study yesterday.
7. Diodoro Carasco is / was the Governor of
Oaxaca.
8. Henry played / is going to play football in two
days.
9. Monica hasn’t eaten / doesn’t eat red meat for
3 years.
10. They didn’t / don’t live here last year.
B. Choose the correct word to
complete the sentence.
Ex. Mary doesn’t like / likes papaya.
1. Sarah is play / playing Tennis.
2. Howard didn’t sleep / slept very well.
3. My dog hasn’t / didn’t eaten its food.
4. Does Linda drive / drives?
5. Do / Are they students?
6. Does / Is your sister living with her boyfriend?
7. Do / Are Peter and Jane study hard?
8. Where has / did Peter go?
9. The teacher will give / gives us a test.
10. Did Lucy enjoy / enjoyed the party?
C. Choose the correct form to complete
the sentence.
Ex. He has eaten / eating the pizza.
1. Pedro has been run / running.
2. What subjects have you studied / studying?
3. Pedro is made / making a cake.
4. Mole is eaten / eating in Oaxaca,
63
5. The students have / have been worked hard.
6. Janet is / has finished the homework.
7. Cars have / are produced in Aguascalientes.
8. Frank was study / studying English.
9. The highway will be finishing / finished soon.
10. Tom might be dancing / danced.
D. Complete each by putting the verb in
the correct tense.
Ex. We ____________ (have) an exam next week.
1. Daniel ________________ (eat) mole last night.
2. The politician _____________(speak) tomorrow.
3. Jennifer _____________________(dance) now.
4. Harry _________ (start) work at 8 am everyday.
5. Michael ___________(w ork) here since last year.
6. Julia _________________(be) a doctor one day.
7. Henry __________________(be) sick yesterday.
8. Wendy and Sue _______ (be) in the library now.
9. John and Jason ________(travel) at the moment.
10. The UABJO _________________ (have) a lot of
problems in the last few years.
E. Choose auxiliaries from the box and
use them to complete the sentences.
Use each auxiliary only once.
do didn’t is will
was isn’t did has
have are won’t
Ex. Frank ______ eating because he is sick.
1. What ______ you eat yesterday?
2. Where ______ you go next week?
3. Why _______ Greg sleeping in class
yesterday?
4. What time _______ you wake up everyday?
5. How long ______ you studied English?
6. Paul _______ come to class yesterday because
he was sick.
7. Many houses _________ made of adobe.
8. Monica _________ watch TV tonight because
she has a lot of homework.
9. Lucy _________ been sick since Monday.
10. Japanese _________ spoken in Japan.
Translation exercise
Check the box that corresponds to the
best translation of the phrase.
1. Is she working?
 ¿Está trabajando?
 ¿Trabaja ella?
 ¿Dónde trabaja?
2. Where were you?
 ¿En dónde estuviste?
 ¿Adónde fuiste?
 ¿Dónde estás?
3. She lived in Oaxaca 3 years ago.
 Ella vivió en Oaxaca hace tres años.
 Tiene tres años viviendo en Oaxaca.
 Ella vivió en Oaxaca cuando tenía tres
años.
4. I must clean the windows.
 Quizás limpie las ventanas.
 Podría limpiar las ventanas.
 Debo limpiar las ventanas.
5. There weren't any classes.
 No hubo clases.
 Las clases no estuvieron allí.
 No fueron a sus clases.
6. Will there be a test tomorrow?
 ¿Allí estará el examen mañana?
 ¿Habrá un examen mañana?
 ¿Su examen será mañana?
7. Their classes are boring.
 Sus clases son aburridas.
 Hay clases aburridas.
 Las clases son aburridas.
8. Do you like the fish?
 ¿Te gusta el pescado?
 ¿Te gusta este pescado?
 ¿Te gustó el pescado?
9. There were not many people at the party.
□ No fue mucha gente a la fiesta.
□ Estuvo mucha gente en la fiesta.
□ No hubo mucha gente en la fiesta.
10. The smallest boy couldn’t run very quickly.
 El niño muy chico no podía correr muy
rápido.
 El niño más chico no podía correr muy
rápido.
 El niño chico no podía correr muy rápido.
12. Liz is the most serious girl in her English
class.
 Liz es una niña muy seria en su clase de
ingles.
 Liz es más seria en su clase de ingles.
 Liz es la niña más seria en su clase de
ingles.
13. Dan has studied here since last August.
 Dan estudió aquí durante el agosto
pasado.
 Dan tiene estudios durante el mes de
agosto.
 Dan ha estudiado aquí desde el agosto
pasado.
14. It is raining in Oaxaca.
 Llueve en Oaxaca.
 Esta lloviendo en Oaxaca.
 Oaxaca es muy lluvioso.
15. I often play basketball.
 Enseguida veo los partidos de
básquetbol.
 Juego básquetbol con frecuencia.
 Estoy jugando básquetbol mucho.
16. He doesn’t work.
 El no tiene trabajo.
 El no hace trabajos.
 El no trabaja.
17. How often do you take a bath?
 ¿Con qué frecuencia te bañas?
 ¿Cuántas veces vas al baño?
 ¿Dónde esta el baño?
18. What does she do?
 ¿Qué está haciendo ella?
 ¿Qué hizo ella?
 ¿ A qué se dedica ella?
19. It was very difficult.
 Esto fue muy difícil.
 Es muy difícil.
 Fue muy difícil.
20. I have worked in the government.
 Tengo trabajo en el gobierno.
 Tengo que trabajar en el gobierno.
 He trabajado en el gobierno.
23. Experiments are done in the laboratory.
 Hacen experimentos en el laboratorio.
 Han hecho experimentos en el
laboratorio.
 Se hacen experimentos en el
laboratorio.
25. We might go to the disco.
 Iremos al disco.
 Quizás vayamos al disco.
 Nos gusta ir al disco.
64
Appendix B
Practice Partial English Exam 1
Rellene Ud. el cuadro que corresponda a la respuesta que completa la frase.

1. The students _____ at school. 2. _____ it difficult?

 am  Are
 is  Is
 are  Am

3. What _____ her name? 4. They ____ living in Puebla.

 am  aren't
 is  isn’t
 are  don't
5. The children _____ happy. 6. Richard____ studying.
 am not  am
 isn't  is
 aren't  are

7. ______ are dentists. 8. _______ she like pizza?

 They  Does
 He  Is
 She  Do
9. What______ he reading? 10. He is a strict Mormon. He ____ drinks
 is beer.
 are  always
 am  never
 sometimes
11. My pen is _____ my pocket.
 in 12. John _____ eat fruit.
 on  isn't
 at  don’t
 doesn't
13. _______do you live?
 What 14. What ______ that?
 Where  is
 When  do
 are
15. The teacher _____ in the URSE.
 work 16. There _____ a pen on the table.
 works  is
 working  are
 doesn’t
17. Thomas ____ work at the clinic.
 don’t 18. ____ you a doctor?
 doesn't  Do
 isn’t  Are
 Is
19. _____ Frank study English?
 Don't 20. She is my sister. ______ name is Mary.
 Does  His
 Do  Her
 She

65
Practice Partial English Exam 2
Rellene Ud. el cuadro que corresponda a la respuesta que completa la frase.

1. Peter talked to ____about the problem. 2. The exam ____ difficult.

 we  are
 our  was
 us  were
3. Mary and Frank_____ in class last week 4. My father _____ in the UNAM 10 years
 aren’t ago.
 wasn’t  study
 weren’t  studied
 are studying
5. My girlfriend _____ me yesterday.
 wasn't call 6. The tourist _____ Mitla.
 didn’t call  didn’t visit
 didn’t calling  didn’t visited
 didn’t visits
7. Frank ____ a car a year ago.
 buy 8. I was walking on Hidalgo when _____.
 buyed  I saw an accident.
 bought  I see an accident
 I was seeing an accident
9. At 10 o’clock last night I was ____ TV
 watch 10. ____ the movie good?
 watched  Were
 watching  Was
 Are
11. ____ you play football yesterday?
 Were 12. What did you ____ in the restaurant?
 Do  eat
 Did  ate
 eating
13. We ___ going to have a party!
 am 14. They aren’t going to ____ volleyball later.
 is  played
 are  play
 playing
15. I am going to read a book_____.
 yesterday 16. I will _____ the homework tonight.
 now  do
 later  doing
 to do
17. When _______ call me?
 you will 18. The test is obligatory. The
 will you students___take the test.
 you  could
 should
19. I can’t ____ very well.
 must
 study
 studying 20. What ____ she doing yesterday?
 to study  were
 was
 are

66
Practice Partial English Exam 3
Rellene Ud. el cuadro que corresponda a la respuesta que completa la frase.
1. My mother made it for ____. 2. How long ____ you lived in Oaxaca?
 us  was
 our  have
 we  did
3. I have ______ a lot of pizza. 4. The students ___ finished the exam.
 eat  has
 ate  didn’t
 eaten  have
5. Paula and Mary _____ gone. 6. He has studied English _______.
 didn’t have  for two years
 haven’t  two years ago
 don’t have  in two years

7. What cities ____ they visited? 8. He hasn’t ______ football before.

 did  play
 has  plays
 have  played
9. Where have you ____? 10. Alebrijes ____ made in Arrazola.
 be  is
 been  are
 being  have

11. Santo Domingo ___built by the 12. Where is mescal ______?

Dominicans.  made
 is  makes
 was  making
 have
14. Was the car crashed _____?
13. The classroom ____ cleaned tomorrow.  for us
 will be  by him
 were  her
 are
16. I shouldn’t have ___ to the party last
15. ___ Monte Alban built by the Zapotecs? night.
 Has  go
 Did  went
 Was  gone

17. Lucy never misses class, but today 18. I didn’t study for the test and I failed.
she didn’t come. She_____been sick. I _______ studied.
 must have  will have
 should have  should
 would have  should have
19. There ____ an earthquake yesterday. 20. How many accidents____?
 was  there have been
 were  have there been
 is  have there

67
Practice Partial English Exam 4
Rellene Ud. el cuadro que corresponda a la respuesta que completa la frase.

1. Paul stopped _____ cigarettes. 2. Jessica wants __ to play.

 of smoke  that he
 smoke  to him
 smoking  him
3. George likes _____ President. 4. She hopes ___with them.
 being  goes
 be  go
 been  to go
5. ______ English is fun. 6. I am thinking about ___to the movies.
 To speak  to go
 Speaking  go
 Speak  going
7. A Jetta is _____ a Vocho. 8. Shakira is _____ than Lucero.
 faster than  more famouser
 more faster than  the most famous
 more fast than  more famous
9. I speak English _____than you. 10. Julia is _____ in the class.
 better  prettiest
 gooder  the prettiest
 best  the most pretty
11. Mexico city is the__ city in the world. 12. I am the _____ in the class.
 more polluted  bad
 most beautiful  worst
 pollutedest  baddest

13. Tequila is _______ mescal. 14. I don’t have ____ Peter.

 as good as  as money as
 as better as  as much money as
 as good than  so money as
15. I enjoy ____ soccer. 16. My car is red. What color is ___?
 play  your
 to play  yours car
 playing  yours

17. Janet is a cook. ___cakes are great. 18. Your homework is better than ____.
 Hers  my
 She  mine
 Her  me
19. Your candidate is good, but ___ is 20. Mary kissed Peter. She kissed ____.
better.  he
 us  him
 ours  his
 our

68
Practice Ordinary Exam
Rellene Ud. el cuadro que corresponda a la respuesta que completa la frase.

1. My friends ____ students. 2. _____ is on the table.

 am  It
 is  They
 are  You

3. Edgar _____ happy. 4. His friends ____ in the class.

 am not  aren't
 isn’t  isn’t
 aren’t  am not
5. What time ____ it? 6. ____ are Mary and Frank not here?
 am  What
 is  Why
 are  When

7. There ____ many exams. 8. How many students _____?

 am  is there
 is  there is
 are  are there
9. Danny is ______ in the park. 10. What _____ they eating?
 run  are
 runs  do
 running  is
11. The children _____ with their mother. 12. _______ eats fish.
 live  Nancy and Paul
 lives  Nancy’s friends
 living  Nancy

13. I don’t ___ medicine. 14. My sisters ___ play tennis.

 study  don’t
 studies  doesn’t
 studying  isn't

15. Why does he____ ? 16. What time ______ the game start?
 listen  is
 listens  does
 listening  do

17. Mary loves her boyfriend. She loves __. 18. I put ____ on the table.
 him  they
 her  them
 he  their

19. The girls ____ very happy yesterday. 20. She _____ her coffee 10 minutes ago.
 is  drink
 were  drank
 was  drinked

21. I didn’t ____ to the party last night. 22. William and I _____ friends.
 went  wasn’t
 go  weren’t
 goes  didn’t

23. Where was_____ ? 24. Why did Robert _____ his clothes?
 the book  washes
 the pens  wash
 play  washed

69
25. The teacher was ______ the exams. 26. Why __________
 correct
 was Pedro crying?
 correcting
 Pedro was crying?
 corrected
 was crying Pedro?
27. I ____ study for the exam tonight. 28.John isn’t going to_______ TV later.
 watch
 going to
 watches
 am going to
 watching
 am going
29. Sarah will ____ with her friends tomorrow. 30. I ______ see you tomorrow.
 won’t
 to go
 don’t
 goes
 didn’t
 go
31. It might ____ on the table, I’m not sure. 32. Smoking is very bad, we ____ smoke.
 shouldn’t
 is
 can’t
 be
 couldn’t
 being
33. Jim has _____ all the pizza. 34. Where have you ____?
 been
 eat
 being
 ate
 be
 eaten
35. The mole _______ made by my mother. 36. Is Zapotec ____ in the Sierra?
 speak
 are
 speaking
 were
 spoken
 was
37. I should ____ for the exam. 38. There ____ a hurricane on the coast yesterday.
 was
 has studied
 are
 have studied
 be
 have studying
39. Mary enjoys ____ salsa. 40. I want _____ come with me.
 that you to
 dance
 you to
 dances
 you
 dancing
41. _____ isn’t difficult. 42. Are you interested in ___ a Masters?
 to study
 Making a cake
 studying
 Make a cake
 studies
 Makes a cake
43. Frank is ____ than Mike. 44. Mexico city is ______ Oaxaca.
 most polluted that
 more tall
 more polluted than
 tall
 pollutedest
 taller
45. Mexico city is _____ in the world. 46. Who is the ____ in the class?
 best
 bigger city
 better
 the biggest city
 good
 most big city
47. Thomas isn’t as ____ as John. 48. Is Puebla ____ Oaxaca?
 as beautiful as
 fat
 as beautiful than
 fatter
 as more beautiful like
 fattest
49. I have my book. Do you have ____? 50. Your house is bigger than ____.
 yours  my
 you  mine house
 your  mine

70
Appendix B Using a dictionary well
Dictionary work requires practice. Here
are some tips:
drive /draiv/ ♦ (pret drove pp driven) 1
You must know the meanings of the
vt, vi manejar: I can`t drive. 2 vt llevar (en symbols in your dictionary.
coche): I drove her to the airport. ◊ to
drive sb crazy volver loco a algn LOC to
drive a hard bargain ser un negociador Here is an example:
/ /  the phonetic pronunciation
duro PHR V to drive sth/sb back/off pret  the past form of the verb
ahuyentar algo / a algn ♦ n 1 vuelta en pp  the past participle
coche: to go for a drive dar una vuelta en ♦  change of part of speech
coche 2 (GB) (USA driveway) (en una ◊  to separate examples
casa) camino de la entrada 5 campaña 6 LOC  expressions
PHR V  a phrasal verb
(Mec) mecanismo de transmisión: four- GB /USA differences between regional dialects
wheel drive tracción en las cuatro llantas sth  something
7 (Informát): disc drive unidad de disco sb  somebody
v  verb
vt  transitive verb
vi  intransitive verb
n  noun
mec  mechanical expression
informát  computer expression
Will you hand me the book? It is important to try and identify what
kind of word you are looking for. Is it a
He had a ring on his hand. verb, an adjective, a noun, etc?

The drive is not working on my computer. It’s important to look at the context.

Is this a four wheel drive pick-up?

I bought her a car.

It is important to look up the word in its

It was the toughest steak.

base form.

I’m in over my head. When you don’t understand an expression

On the other hand, I think that...
it is important to decide which is the key
word to look up, but it is also important to
look at the words around the key word
because they might be important to find
the correct meaning.

I’ll drop by and see you soon.

Do you get along with Peter?

71
DICTIONARY EXCERCISES D. Verbs. What are the past form, the
present participle and the past
A. Identify the words of the sentence participle of these verbs?
as: noun (N), verb (V), adjective (Adj).
ex: The plant is beautiful. base past present past
N V Adj form form participle participle
1. The small boy is a good student. get
2. The happy cats scratch their fleas.
bend
quiz
3. The workers have long vacations. smoke
ring
4. The new computer is expensive.
rise
5. The man talks with his older brother.

6. Four black dogs are in the flower garden. E. What kind of word is it, adjective,
verb, adverb or noun?
7. The old house has a red roof.
1. He spoke to her quietly.
8. They eat excellent tacos at the market.
2. Peter woke up early.
9. Ants are busy insects.
3. Jenifer wants a kiss.
10. Young people listen to different music.
4. He spoke slowly.
B. Nouns. What are the plural forms of
these nouns? 5. Fish is smellier than beef.

singular plural
a foot F. Label the “person” or “thing” with
an ox the expression- use the abbreviations sb for
a wolf “somebody” and sth for “something”. Then
a city translate the sentences into Spanish
a man using your dictionary.
a sandwich ex: I agree with you.
a baby sb
a woman _Estoy de acuerdo contigo._______
a person 1. He copies the answers.
a knife
_____________________________________
a dish
2. Doctors heal patients.
a supply
a box _____________________________________
a story 3. The school intends the students to study.

C. Adverbs. What are the adverbs _____________________________________

4. He sympathizes with the teachers.
associated with these adjectives?
_____________________________________
Adjective Adverb 5. The cafe serves coffee to the clients.
beautiful
_____________________________________
quiet 6. The Nobel Prize honors important people.
irresponsible
terrible ______________________________________
extreme

72
7. He jokes with everybody.
6. The cats show up at night.
______________________________________

8. She identifies with her classmates. 7. They turn on the TV after dinner.

_______________________________________ 8. The boys ask the girls out every weekend.

9. The teams compete for the trophy.
9. We get along with our neighbors.
_______________________________________
10. The store pays money to its workers.
10. They give up meat every Lent.
_______________________________________

I. Put a check in the boxes to show the

G. Phrasal Verbs- give the dictionary possible classifications of the word.
definition and the translation. Use your dictionary!
noun adj. verb adv. prep.
Eg. He turned away from me. log
To turn away (from sb) cast
– apartar la vista de algn. fast
El apartó la vista de mí. measure
1. We ran out of Milk yesterday. best
opposite
2. We got together last night. hand
name
3. Peter gave his bike away. sink
suit
4. Max picked his sister up from the station. early

5. I looked the word up.

J. Idiomatic Expressions. Give the
6. The teacher handed out the exams.
defenition of these expressions. (The
7. The university is cracking down on cheating. word in bold is a clue)

8. We are fighting for independence. Eg. I risked my neck for you.

To risk your neck – arriesgar el pellejo
9. You remind me of my sister
1. I was off my guard.
10. My fatheralways puts me down.
2. We are home free now.

H. Find the definition of the underlined 3. Howard is on edge today.

Phrasal Verb.
4. I went to the police of my own free will.
ex: He gets off the bus at the stadium.
To get off (sth)- (vehículo) bajar 5. I am in the know.

1. He takes after his father. 6. I am going to teach him a lesson!

2. They do the work over. 7. In the main, I speak Spanish.

8. Stop pulling my leg!

3. We call off the games when it rains.
9. He showed me the ropes on my first day.
4. She looks up every word in the dictionary.
10. I hold my boss in high esteem.
5. He makes up many stories.

73
K. Look up the following words in their 9. The ___________ of cheating is terrible.
correct form as noun, adjective and He ____________ his family.
The incident was _____________.
adverb. Then choose the appropriate form for
the sentence given. 10. Bill ____________ the crime to the police.
She put the ____________ on my table.
noun adjective verb adverb ___________, there was an earthquake.
Ex extension extensive extend extensively
1 probably 11. The ___________ was terrible.
2 regret My shoes are very __________.
3 react Your pefume ___________ good.
4 rebel
5 symbol
6 sympathetic L. Translate these sentences.
7 open
8 polish I get along with my sister.
9 disgrace
10 report He is a creep.
11 smell
She is fairly good at Math.

Ex. I need an extension. Did you lie to me?

I have studied extensively.
He put away the dishes.
I want to extend my visa.
I have an extensive knowledge of plants. The car has broken down.

1. The _____of crashing is small. That was a very daring thing to do.
We will _______ go next week.
The ________ answer is 52.6. Give him a break.

I’m working in Banamex at present.

2. Sarah ___________ kissing Joe.
I have many____________.
My jeans are fading.
It was a __________ situation.
He spoke ____________.
I was holding hands with her.
3. What was his ____________?
When are you moving out?
How did he ____________ ?
He is a __________ person..
I have a meeting on Friday.
4. Marcos is a ______________.
They tried him for murder.
My children are very ____________.
The people ________ against the dictator.
I need to brush up on my Spanish.
5. A rose is a ______ of love.
She is too trusting.
A rose __________ love.
A rose is ________ of love.
He sang dreadfully.
6. They gave me ____________.
I’m going to take it up with the rector.
She wasn’t very ___________.
I ________________ with you.
It was a painless operation.

7. The door was ____________. It is a basic right.

I _____________ the door.
The teacher spoke ________. I am in a trade union.

8. I put some _______ on my shoes.

The __________ shoes looked nearly new.
I _______ my shoes once a week.

74
Appendix D
Vocabulary Exercises

1. Word Search!! Find and circle the adjectives listed below:

2. Translate the following sentences into Spanish.

a. Her boyfriend isn't very handsome. ________________________________

b. My aunt has three sons. _________________________________________

c. His wife is angry . ______________________________________________

d. They don't have any cousins. ______________________________________

3. Which emotions or feelings do you associate with each color? Match the
adjectives with the colors.

angry / embarrassed / frightened / jealous / happy / sad / relaxed / worried / lonely / tired /
unhappy

Black Blue Brown Green Pink Purple Red Yellow

75
4. Underline the word that doesn't match with the others. Explain why it doesn't
match with other words.

Ex : apple / coffee / orange Coffee is not a fruit.

a. soda / milk /cake ________________________________

b. dinner / market / breakfast _____________________________

c. bake / cook / sleep ________________________________

d. cloud / drum / guitar ______________________________

e. Easter / today / Christmas __________________________

f. gas station / fireman / graphic designer _____________________________

5. What is the weather like? Describe the weather in each of the following images!

It is

76
6. OPPOSITES!! Match each verb with its opposite. Put the correct letter in the
blank.

a) spend money ______ forget

b) pull ______ find
c) finish ______ enter
d) get up ______ save money
e) exit ______ laugh
f) look for ______ return
g) remember ______ push
h) take ______ give
i) cry ______ go to bed
j) leave ______ start

7. How often do you do the following things? Answer the questions using adverbs of
frequency.

anymore / almost never / always / hardly ever / never / often / rarely / seldom /
sometimes / usually

EX - Do you ever remember your dreams? I always remember my dreams.

a) Do you ever go out dancing? _____________________________________

b) Do you ever cheat on exams? ____________________________________

c) Do you spend vacation with your family? ____________________________

d) Do you still go to high school? ____________________________________

8. Fill in the blanks with the correct words from the list below!

a) The opposite of sunrise is a____________. noise

b) A piece of clothing worn around the neck is a __________. hat
c) A piece of clothing worn on the head is a ________. sunset
d) ¨Corona¨ is a brand of ___________. scarf
e) Our neighbors play music, yell and have loud parties. beer
They make a lot of ____________.

77
9. Fill in the blanks with the correct words from the list!

a) My grandmother and my aunt like to talk about everyone in the family; they love to
___________.
b) You ate too much chocolate and pizza and now you have a ______________.
c) When you get sick, you sometimes have to take ________________.
d) Some people own a house; other people ____________.
e) I work 6 hours a day and study 8 hours a day. I have a crazy ______________!!

rent gossip medicine schedule stomachache

2. Here is a picture of a typical university student's room. Write 6 sentences

describing the room. Use prepositions of place: on / above / next to / under / below

possible vocabulary words - wall / floor / door / window / bed / lamp / shelf / chair / curtains /
clock / table / book / mirror / sink / picture / stereo / poster / shoe / socks / papers / notebook

EX - There is a computer on the desk.

a) __________________________________________

b) __________________________________________

c) __________________________________________

d) __________________________________________

e) __________________________________________

f) __________________________________________

78
10. Fill in the blanks of the crossword puzzle!
Across

2. When it rains, you should wear a ___.

4. The prisoner tried to ___ from jail.
5. You can cut things with a _______.
8. The opposite of ‘clean’ is _______.
9. Frank and Louise are engaged. Soon
they will get _______.
11. An antonym for ‘hard’ is ________.
12. The opposite of ‘nobody’ is ______.

Down

1. Another word for ‘error’ is _______.

3. When your clothes are dirty, you
have to do the ________.
6. She doesn’t want to eat anymore
because she is ______.
7. Luis Miguel is a _________.
10. The teacher asked the class a
question and waited for the _______.

11. Write the present participle for each infinitive. Be careful of spelling changes!

EX - write  writing

a) die  __________ d) cut  __________ g) dance  ___________

b) stop  __________ e) come  _________ h) win  _____________

c) fly  __________ f) be  __________ i) sit  ______________

79
12. Fill in the blanks with the correct word from the list below!

funny / ticket / engine / bored / water / scientist / spend

a) Peter is in his math class. The teacher is speaking very slowly and Peter is not
interested. He is very ________.

b) I saw a comedy yesterday; it was a ___________ movie.

c) I'm taking a bus to Pochutla this weekend. I need to buy my __________ at

A.D.O.

d) If a car's ___________ is not working properly, the car probably won't start.

e) My mother does research in a lab. She is a ________________.

f) The four elements are fire, earth, air and _____________.

g) Sarah lives on 20 pesos a day. She doesn't ___________ a lot of money.

13. Find and circle the words in the word search below:

80
14. Fill in the blanks with the correct words from the list.

climb / lend / bark / warm / ability / grade

a) Dogs love to ________ at other dogs.

b) Superman has the __________ to fly.

c) The weather is usually __________ in Oaxaca.

d) Will you ___________ me you English book? I'll give it back to you tomorrow.

e) Cats like to ___________ trees, but sometimes they have trouble getting back
down.

f) Sabina got a 9 on her English exam. She got a very good __________.

15. Find and circle the words in the word search below:

81
16. Fill in the blanks with the correct words from the list below:

freeway / battery / countryside / trash / cemetery / beef / flat / smoggy

a) When people die, they are usually buried in a _____________.

b) Zaachila is not in the city; it is in the _________________.

c) The valley of Oaxaca does not have many hills; it is ________.

d) _________ is a kind of meat.

e) A camera will not work without a ____________.

f) You have to drive on the _____________ to go to Mexico City.

g) The air in and around Mexico City is often ___________ because of the pollution.

h) In Oaxaca, many people throw their ________ on the ground instead of in garbage
bins.

17. Underline the word that doesn't belong in each word group. Then explain why it
doesn't fit with the other words.

a) chopsticks / egg / fork  _________________________________________

b) trash / garbage / gift  __________________________________________

c) unique / hazy / smoggy  _________________________________________

d) crash / destroy / renovate  ______________________________________

18. Write the past participle of each verb.

EX - eat  ate

a) feel  ___________ c) take  __________ e) break  _________

b) throw  _________ d) bury  __________ f) buy  __________

82
 19. Fill in the blanks of the crossword puzzle!

Down

1. The _____ is the biggest

mammal in the world.
2. Wedding rings are made of
____.
4. An Endangered animal found in
Mazunte.
Across 5. He owes a lot of money to the
bank; He is in ________.
3. Carla and Mark were in a bad car accident, but they 6. The opposite of ‘polite’ is
didn’t get hurt. They were ___________. __________.
6.You didn’t study for your exam and you failed! You 7. He has a double_______on his
_____ not having studied. front door because he lives in a
8. The air in Mexico City is very _______ because of dangerous neighborhood.
the car fumes.

20. Write the comparative and superlative forms of each adjective. Watch out for
spelling changes.

EX - slow / slower / slowest

a) big / _________ / ___________

b) bad / _________ / __________
c) early / ___________ / ____________
d) good / ___________ / ___________
e) thin / ____________ / ____________
f) pretty / ___________ / ____________

21. Translate the following sentences into Spanish.

a) The URSE is the best university.  _________________________________

b) Mt. Everest is the highest mountain.  _______________________________
c) Faustino is more mature than his brother.  ___________________________
d) Mezcal is stronger than beer.  ____________________________________

83
22. FEAR - Answer the following questions about fear.

EX - What are you afraid of? I am afraid of heights.

a) What are you afraid of? ______________________________________

b) What is your boyfriend/girlfriend/friend afraid of? _____________________

_____________________________________

c) Are you afraid of spiders? _______________________________________

23. Fill in the blanks with the correct words from the list below.

get in shape /sheep / decay / sugar / wolves / slice / sand / dust / salt / match

a) I take my coffee with cream and ___________.

b) Many people like to drink mezcal with _________ and a __________ of lime.

c) Do you have a _________ so I can light my cigarette?

d) Sally is overweight. She needs to exercise and _____________________.

e) If you don't brush your teeth every day, you may get cavities, or tooth _______.

f) I always get __________ in my shoes when I'm at the beach.

g) There is a lot of ________ in Oaxaca...

h) ____________ like to kill ____________.

24. Write the past participle of the following verbs.

a) find  __________ d) worry  ___________

b) drink  _________ e) sing  ____________
c) fight  _________ f) have  ___________

84
25. Fill in the blanks of the crossword puzzle below.

Across 3. Correct and exact, without mistakes.

4. Babies have very ______ skin. 5. Babies like to drink __________.
6. There has been an increase, or ______, 7. To make someone a little angry.
in poverty. 8. You can ______ your letters at the post
9. An antonym for ‘quiet’ is _______. office.
11. A synonym for ‘research’ is ______. 10. When we sleep, we also _________.
13. He lives next door to me, so he is my 12. The scientific study of the structure of
__________. substances.
Down
1. Cats_______ about 2 kilos.
2. To accomplish something by effort or
skill.
26. Translate the following sentences into Spanish.
a) Do you get along with your sister? __________________ ____________
b) Where are the children hiding? _________________________________
c) What are your goals? ________________________________________
d) Mothers worry a lot. _________________________________________
e) Did you receive presents for your birthday? _______________________
f) I'm going to send you a letter. __________________________________
g) He offered me a good job. _____________________________________
h) The government is investigating the problem. _______________________

85
27. Fill in the blanks with the correct word from the list below.

kitten / song / resign / earthquake / death / upset / meal / newspaper

a) He didn't like his job, so he decided to __________.

b) Baby cats are called ____________.

c) His parents were very __________ because he lied to them.

d) Most human beings are afraid of _____________.

e) There was a huge ______________ in Mexico City in 1995.

f) La Jornada is a _____________.

g) Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all ___________.

h) Will you sing me a __________?

28. Word search! Find and circle the words in the list below.

86
29. Fill in the blanks with the correct words from below.

fail / until / truth / speed limit / advice / improve / hurt / tooth / law

a) There was a bad car accident, but luckily no one was __________.

b) The policeman gave him a ticket for driving over the __________________.

c) Do you always tell the ___________?

d) His _________ hurt, so he went to the dentist.

e) Is there a __________ against drunk driving in Mexico?

f) When you have a problem, do you ask your parents for __________?

g) Did you pass the test or did you _________ it?

h) I won't be home ____________ later this evening.

i) Pedro is trying to ______________ his grades by studying more.

30. Write the past participles for the following verbs.

a) catch  _________ d) worry  __________

b) take  __________ e) buy  __________
c) stop  __________ f) fight  __________

31. Translate the following sentences into Spanish.

a) Did you leave me a message? ___________________________________

b) The French team received a gold medal at the World Cup. _____________

____________________________________________

c) Maria and her boyfriend had an argument. ________________________

87
____________________________________________

88
Appendix E
Complete Vocabulary List
Interrogative love burn
Fields Expressions with mind burp
how prefer bury
Numbers How big start buy
zero How far stop call
one How long suggest carry
two How much catch
three How often Colors cause
four How old beige change
five How tall black chase
six blue cheat
seven Other interrogative brown check
eight expressions green chew
nine What (+noun) = what grey choose
ten color/size/time/kind orange clean
eleven What (+ auxiliary) = pink climb
twelve what is/what do purple close
thirteen What is it like? red come
fourteen Which (+noun) = white complain
fifteen which yellow complete
sixteen train/doctor/way compose
seventeen How (+ auxiliary) = Essential Verbs continue
eighteen how is/were/do accept cook
nineteen achieve copy
twenty Months of the Year act cost
thirty January affect count
forty February agree crash
fifty March allow create
sixty April annoy cross
seventy May answer cry
eighty June arrange cut
ninety July arrive dance
one hundred August ask decay
one thousand September attend decide
one million October avoid depend on
one billion November award design
December bake destroy
Days of the Week bark detect
Monday Auxiliary Modals be develop
Tuesday can be afraid of die
Wednesday could be born dig
Thursday may be in progress disappear
Friday might be made up of discard
Saturday must be thirsty discover
Sunday shall become do
should begin do a favor
Question Words will believe draw
How would bite dream
What blame drink
When Verbs + gerund blow drive
Where begin bother drive someone crazy
Which continue brake eat
Who enjoy break elect
Why finish breathe end
hate bring enjoy
like build enter

88
escape know run the country wait
expect laugh save money wake up
explain learn say walk
expose leave see want
express lend sell warn
extract let send wash
fall lie serenade watch
fall down like serve wear
fall over listen sew weigh
feel live shake work
fight look shout work out
fill look for show worry
film lose sign write
find love sing yell
finish mail sit
fish make skate Pronouns
fit manage sleep I
fix mean smoke You
fly meet snow He
force miss solve (a problem) She
forget move speak It
found (an need spend We
organization) offer spill They
get open spin That
get along own stand These
get down paint start This
get in shape park state Those
get up pass stay me
get married pay steal him
give pay attention stop her
go pick up study us
go shopping pay off swim them
go to bed plan switch on
gossip play suggest Nature
ground (a child) practice surf air
grow print take beach
hand in punish take a break birth
happen push take a shower branch
hate put take care of cave
have put out take over cloud
hear rain talk coast
help read tear countryside
hide receive teach darkness
hit remember tell day
hold refer test desert
hope regret think dust
hurt remove threaten earthquake
improve rent throw eclipse
injure reorganize tie field
intend repair touch fire
interest replace travel flame
invent resign try flower
investigate rest turn forest
iron restore turn on fossil fuel
jog return type grass
jump ride understand ground
keep ring use ice
kiss rise varnish lake
knock run visit land

89
leaf frog intestines (small, saved file
light goose large) screen
moon hamster joint screen saver
mountain horse kidney spam
night insect ligament speakers
ocean kitten liver virus
plains mouse lungs word-processing
plant pig muscle
rain rabbit pulse Emotions
river rat skin angry
riverbed sheep skeleton bored
rock turtle stomach confused
root whale tendon depressed
sand wolf veins excited
sea worm happy
sky Common injuries / interested
smoke Sports and diseases / ailments / isolated
snow Pastimes (I like + conditions joyful
soil gerund) ache sad
stem cooking arthritis upset
stone dancing backache worried
storm eating bacterial infection
sun exercising broken bone Basic Food Items
sunrise going to the movies cold (to have a) apple
sunset going on vacation chills avocado
tree hiking cramps banana
water jogging dislocated bone beef
waves learning fever beer
wind languages flu bottle
wood meeting people fracture bread
playing (baseball, headache breakfast
Materials tennis, soccer, heartburn butter
aluminum football, ping-pong, nausea cake
cardboard volleyball) pain can
clay playing (piano, guitar, pregnancy candy
concrete flute) sneeze carrot
cotton reading sore throat cereal
glass riding a bike sprain cheese
gold running stomachache chicken
ink singing strained muscle chopsticks
metal surfing virus coffee
paint swimming cookies
paper traveling Technical Computer corn
plaster walking Vocabulary dessert
plastic watching TV chip dinner
rubber watersports computer crash dishes
stone writing computer installation eggs
silver disk drive fastfood
wood Body Organs and diskette fish
Internal Parts email food
Animals arteries to erase (a document) fork
bear blood file fried chicken
bird blood pressure floppy disk fries
cat bone hard drive garlic
cheetah cartilage internet grape
deer colon keyboard ice
dog gall bladder message icecream
elephant heart mouse jam
fish power button jelly

90
juice bathroom socket results
lettuce bathtub salary
lime bed Body Parts single
lunch to go to bed ankle social status
market bedroom arm statistics
meal bowl back study
meat car brain survey
milk carpet breasts
mineral water chair buttocks Clothing and
onion clock calves Accessories
orange closet cheeks Nouns
pasta coffee table chest bathing suit
peach cupboard cranium belt
pear curtains ear blouse
pie dining room elbow boxers
plate door eye bra
popsicle dressing table eyebrow bracelet
pork filing cabinet eyelash clothes
restaurant floor feet coat
rice freezer fingers dress
salad fridge fingernails dress shirt
salt furniture forehead earrings
sauce garage hair gloves
seafood glass hands hair clips
slice hammock head hat
soda key heart high heels
soft drinks kitchen knees jacket
soup knife leg jeans
steak laundry lips jewelry
sugar living room mouth lab coat
tea mirror neck lipstick
tomato napkin nose makeup
vegetables oven shoulders nail polish
water phone stomach necklace
watermelon plate teeth pants
wine roof thighs pantyhose
rug toes perfume
Weather and shower wrist purse
Seasons sink pajamas
Autumn / Fall sofa Demographic/Math/ raincoat
Winter spoon Scientific Terms ring
Spring stereo age sandals
Summer stove civil status scarf
cold table dependents shirt
freezing telephone ethnic group shoelaces
hot toy experiment shoes
icy wall female shorts
lightning yard gender skirt
overcast / grey income socks
rainy Equipment male suit
snowing cable married sweater
storm chip percentage tie
thunder computer population T-shirt
windy machine questionnaire underpants
The sun is shining. outlet race undershirt
overhead projector ratio underwear
House Vocabulary printer religious uniform
attic scanner affiliation/preference vest
basement slide projector research watch

91
Verb Financial blueprint insert
get dressed Terminology building put together
Nouns column unscrew
Academic ATM machine compass
Terminology bank design Strategic Planning
Nouns bank loan detail advantage
article bankruptcy drawing board argument
book bills foundation benefit
footnote bonds nave decision
journal cash ruler development
reference checkbook sketch discussion
Verbs checking account increase
conduct a study credit card Dental Terminology lack
do interviews debit card Nouns meeting
do research deposit anesthetic mistake
lead a workshop interest braces opportunity
publish investment bridge plan
money cavity possibility
Medical on-line banking cement proposal
Terminology payment plan decay request
Nouns report dental floss schedule
check-up savings account dentistry strategy
disease statement dentures suggestion
pathology stock drill task
symptom travelers' checks filling vote
test withdrawal fluoride
treatment Verbs gums False Cognates
Adjective balanck (a injection arena
clinical checkbook) laughing gas sensible
be in debt local anesthetic
Means of borrow money mercury Occupations
Transportation save money molars accountant
by bicycle / bike retainer actor
by boat Legal Terminology root canal architect
by bus Nouns tooth assistant
by car accused toothache babysitter
on foot advice toothbrush builder
by moped bailiff tooth extraction carpenter
by motorcycle case toothpaste chemical engineer
by plane courtroom treatment chemist
by shuttle defense wisdom teeth civil engineer
by train fraud x-ray computer engineer
by truck judge Verbs computer
by van jury fill a tooth programmer
law rinse dentist
Psychology lawyer swish doctor
terminology speed limit engineer
addiction truth Instruments executive
anti-depressants Verbs microscope executive officer
couseling go to court needle fireman
dependency plead (innocent or stethoscope governor
depression guilty) syringe graphic designer
nervous breakdown sue test tube janitor
psychoanalysis swear x-ray journalist
therapy lawyer
therapy session Architectural Instructions maintenance worker
trauma Terminology Verbs manager
angles how to mechanic
arch connect nurse

92
police officer pen city Friendship / Love /
president pencil country Dating / Marriage
professor quiz first name Nouns
psychiatrist report last name boyfriend
psychologist report card marital status bride
reporter semester occupation date
researcher student phone number divorce
retired subject state engagement party
salesperson table surname friend
scientist teacher girlfriend
secretary test Possessive groom
senator textbook Adjectives honeymoon
singer thesis my husband
student Verbs your marriage
teacher ask a question his wedding
technician attend class her Verbs
travel agent cheat its be engaged
veterenarian enroll our break up (with
waiter fail an exam / class their someone)
waitress graduate fall in love
writer make copies Family / Friend get married (to
pass an exam / class Vocabulary someone)
University / Student skip a class aunt go out on a date
Life study baby have children
Nouns take an exam birthday hug
absence take notes boy kiss
attendance brother love someone
book Adjectives brother-in-law propose (to someone)
break boring child / children Adjectives
chair challenging cousin attractive
class difficult daughter beautiful
classmate easy family gorgeous
classroom hard family tree handsome
complaint interesting father / dad pretty
computer stressful father-in-law romantic
course girl
department Food or Lab Prep granddaughter Essential Adverbs
desk Verbs grandfather / grandpa absolutely
discussion beat grandmother / again
elementary school break grandma ago
eraser chop grandparents a little
essay clean up grandson almost
exam cut great-grandparents almost never
excuse dice mother / mom a lot
final exam insert mother-in-law already
freshman make an incision nephew also
grade mix niece always
high school peel parents anymore
homework process relatives anywhere
job remove sister before
lecture shred sister-in-law better
locker slice stepfather carefully
major spread stepmother certainly
minor stir son completely
notebook twins definitely
notes Personal uncle early
page Information wife / wives easily
paper address woman / women enough
party age entirely

93
especially building beyond dry
ever bus station far early
everywhere campus for east
extremely cemetery from easy
fast church from afar embarrassed
finally city in empty
fortunately classroom in front of enough
generally clinic inside of entire
happily computer center into every
hard dining room nearby excellent
hardly ever downtown next to excited
here elementary school off exciting
immediately factory on expensive
just firestation outside of famous
late freeway over far
lately garage under fast
later garden underneath fat
maybe gas station through favorite
more grocery store until fierce
nearly gym with first
never high school without flat
next home fortunate
normally hometown Essential Adjectives full
now hospital able funny
obviously house abstract gentle
occasionally kitchen accurate good
often laboratory all handsome
once library a lot happy
perhaps living room alone hard
probably market any hazy
quickly morgue appropriate healthy
quietly museum bad heavy
rarely office beautiful high
recently operating room best hot
regularly park better hungry
seldom parking lot big hurt
seriously pool bored injured
slowly post office boring intelligent
sometimes restaurant both interesting
somewhere school broken ill
soon station busy jealous
still store careful large
surely street cheap last
together supermarket clean late
too theater cold lazy
usually town common less
very toystore compelling light
well university confusing little
yet correct lonely
creative long
Places Prepositions current loud
airport above dangerous low
apartment after dark lots of
bank along deep main
bathroom around delicious many
beach at different married
bedroom before difficult mature
bookstore behind dirty messy
bridge below disappointing modern

94
more sure foot somebody
much surprised garbage someone
narrow tall gift song
naughty terrible goal sound
near thin government source
neat tired ground sport
necessary tricky guitar state
new true / false habit story
next ugly hair string
nice unhappy haircut tax
noisy unique history thing
north unusual hole ticket
obvious upset hut time
old warm job ton
older weak kid tool
only west ladder trash
other wet letter trip
polite whose life trophy
polluted wide lifestyle truck
poor worried light video game
pretty worse lightbulb view
private wrong line watch
public young magazine way
quick mail weather
quiet Essential Nouns mammal
ready ability map Countries
real activity match Australia
really anybody mess England
relaxed anyone message France
reliable bag music Germany
retired ball neighbor Greece
right battery news Italy
rough bead newspaper Peru
rude bills nobody Spain
sad block noise United Kingdom
safe bone noone United States of
same boss painting America
second box parking space
serious chance party Nationalities
shallow check penthouse American
sharp chemistry person Arabic
short cigar personnel department Canadian
sick clothes phone company Chinese
simple coin photograph English
slow colony picture French
small company portrait German
smart corner poster Guatemalan
smoggy course price Italian
smooth dam program Japanese
soft date reason Mexican
solar death road Russian
some doghouse routine Spanish
sorry doll sales department
sour driver satellite Holidays
south drums sculpture Christmas
special earth shot Easter
specific echo signal
strong fence skateboard Expressions of Time
stupid file smell afternoon

95
ago reason
evening section
everyday signal
future spelling
hour word order
midnight Verbs
month to conjugate
morning Instructions
today Change to questions.
tomorrow Check the best
tonight answer.
weekend Fill in the blank.
weekly Match.
year
yesterday Expressions of
Quantity
Sports-Related a couple of
Vocabulary a few
accident a little
coach a lot
medal any
practice many
surfboard much
team several
world cup some
various
Greetings
Hello Mechanical
Vocabulary
Expressions Nouns
In general cell
engine
Connecting Words exhaust
during fuel
even though gasoline
however Adjectives
instead diesel
so propane
such as unleaded
then
therefore
unlike
when
while
with

Grammar
Vocabulary
Nouns
action
answer
comma
compound tense
consonant
exercise
meaning
part
passage
person

96
Appendix F
Verb tenses in the active and passive
active
present People make mezcal from Maguey.
simple Someone cleans the rooms everyday.
People don’t make Tequila in Oaxaca.
Where do they make Tequila?
past simple Somebody assasinated Colosio in 1994.
They didn’t invite me to the party.
When did they build the cathedral?
present They are building a new road to Huatulco.
continuous The painter isn’t painting these rooms.
past The police were arresting the criminal.
continuous The lady wasn’t washing the clothes well.
present Somebody has stolen my car.
perfect The cleaner hasn’t cleaned the rooms.
past perfect He said that someone had stolen his car.
future They are going to build a new bridge.
They aren’t going to invite them to the
party.
modals Somebody will clean this room.
We won’t finish the project on time.
Somebody should tell Roger.
You shouldn’t take this medicine at night.
We must finish the project tomorrow.
You musn’t touch my computer.
Somebody has to clean this room.
Peter had to take him to the hospital.
They can fix this computer.
We can’t do it.
They could eat fish in Japan.
I couldn’t find Peter.
They may build a new school.
They might make a cake.
past modals I should have finished the report.
I would have finished the report.
He must have finished the report.
He could have finished the report.
He might have finished the report.
He may have finished the report.
97
passive
Maguey is made from Maguey.
The rooms are cleaned everyday.
Tequila isn’t made in Oaxaca.
Where is Tequila made?
Colosio was assasinated in 1994.
I wasn’t invited to the party.
When was the cathedral built?
A new road is being built to Huatulco.
These rooms aren’t being painted.
The criminal was being arrested.
The clothes weren’t being washed well.
My car has been stolen.
The rooms haven’t been cleaned.
He said that his car had been stolen.
A new bridge is going to be built.
Thaey aren’t going to be invited to the
party.
This room will be cleaned.
The project won’t be finished on time.
Roger should be told.
This medicine shouldn’t be taken at night.
The project must be finished tomorrow.
My computer musn’t be touched.
This room has to be cleaned.
He had to be taken to the hospital.
This computer can be fixed.
It can’t be done.
Fish could be eaten in Japan.
Peter couldn’t be found.
A new school may be built.
A cake might be made.
The report should have been finished.
The report would have been finished.
The report must have been finished.
The report could have been finished.
The report might have been finished.
The report may have been finished.
Appendix G
Modal Chart

Uses Examples
 
May Permission / Refusal You may take the test. You may not come in.
Request May I come in?
Possibility He may be late today. It may not arrive on time.

Might Possibility Perla might have an interview. It might not be a good idea.

Should Advice You should study more. Your mother shouldn’t smoke.

Must Obligation You must take the exam.

Prohibition You mustn’t smoke in class.
Logical Conclusion He must be sick. She mustn’t be here today.

Will Future We will take the exam. She won’t finish today.
Request Will you help me,please? Won’t you help me, please?
Willingness I’ll do it. I won’t marry you.

Would Conditional I would buy a car. I wouldn’t do that.

Request Would you make me a coffee?

Can Ability I can swim. He can’t write well.

Permisson You can go no now. You can’t do that.
Request Can you help me? Can’t you help me?
Impossibility

Could Past ability I could swim fast. I couldn’t speak French.

Request Could you help me?
Suggestion You could ask the teacher.
Possibility He could be at the doctor.
Impossibility That couldn’t be true.

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Appendix H
Spelling
When...
we make a noun plural: noun + -s/-es pencils apples watches
or use a verb in the third person in the present simple: base form + -s/-es calls plays finishes
or form a present participle: base form +-ing calling playing finishing
or a past participle: base form + -ed called played finished
or change an adjective into a comparative: adjective + -er quieter shorter darker
or into a superlative: adjective +-est quietest shortest darkest
or an adverb: adjective + -ly quietly shortly darkly
there are sometimes spelling changes:

1. Nouns and verbs + -s / -es

after –s, –ss, –sh, –ch, -x add –es wash  washes box  boxes church  churches

also: potato  potatoes dodoes

tomato  tomatoes gogoes

-f / -fe  -ves knife  knives wife  wives wolf  wolves

2. words ending in –y
y  -ies study  studies family  families fly  flies

y  -ied try  tried study  studied copy copied

y  -ier / -iest happy  happier / happiest sexy  sexier / sexiest

y  -ily happy happily sexy  sexily funny  funnily

but: no change before –ing study  studying fly  flying

no change if word ends in a

vowel + -y (-ay / -ey / -oy / -uy) play  playing enjoy  enjoying

3. verbs ending in –ie

-ie  -y before –ing die  dying tie  tying lie  lying

4. words ending in –e
verbs: -e -e + -ing make  making write  writing come  coming
but: -ee  -eeing see  seeing agree  agreeing

adjectives: -e -er /-est large  larger / largest late  later / largest

-e  -ely wide  widely late  lately nice  nicely

-le  -e + -y terrible  terribly reasonable  reasonably simple  simply

5. Doubling letters
When a word ends in a vowel + a consonant (eg. stop, big, fat) fat  fatter / fattest
we double the consonant at the end before adding –ing / -ed / -er/ -est: stop  stopping / stopped

but if the word has more than one syllable and the last syllable
is not stressed we do not double the consonant at the end: vi sit  visiting / visited
99
 Present Present
Infinitive Past form Past participle participle / Spanish Infinitive Past form Past participle participle / Spanish
Gerund Gerund
to accept accepted accepted accepting aceptar to like liked liked liking gustar
to act acted acted acting actuar to listen listened listened listening escuchar
to answer answer answer answering contestar to live lived lived living vivir
to arrive arrived arrived arriving llegar to look looked looked looking mirar
to ask asked asked asking preguntar to love loved loved loving amar
to belong belonged belonged belonging pertenecer to match matched matched matching hacer juego
to bake baked baked baking hornear to miss missed missed missing extrañar
to believe believed believed believing creer to move moved moved moving mover / mudar
to breathe breathed breathed breathing respirar to need needed needed needing necesitar
to call called called calling llamar to open opened opened opening abrir
to carry carried carried carrying cargar to own owned owned owning ser propietario
to change changed changed changing cambiar to plan planned planned planning planear
to cheat cheated cheated cheating tranzar to push pushed pushed pushing empujar
to clean cleaned cleaned cleaning limpiar to play played played playing jugar

Regular Verbs
to climb climbed climbed climbing trepar / escalar to point pointed pointed pointing señalar
to close closed closed closing cerrar to push pushed pushed pushing empujar
to consider considered considered considering considerar to rain rained rained raining llover
to continue continued continued continuing continuar to remember remembered remembered remembering recordar
to cook cooked cooked cooking cocinar to rent rented rented renting rentar
to copy copied copied copying copiar to shout shouted shouted shouting gritar
to cry cried cried crying llorar to sign signed signed signing firmar
to count counted counted counting contar to smoke smoked smoked smoking fumar
to dance danced danced dancing bailar to start started started starting empezar
to die died died dying morir to stay stayed stayed staying quedar
to end ended ended ending terminar to stop stopped stopped stopping parar
to enter entered entered entering entrar to study studied studied studying estudiar
to enjoy enjoyed enjoyed enjoying disfrutar to talk talked talked talking platicar
to explain explained explained explaining explicar to touch touched touched touching tocar
to fill filled filled filling llenar to travel trave(l)led trave(l)led trave(l)ling viajar
to finish finished finished finishing terminar to try tried tried trying intentar
to fix fixed fixed fixing componer to turn turned turned turning voltear / girar
to happen happened happened happening suceder to type typed typed typing mecanografiar
to help helped helped helping ayudar to use used used using usar
to hope hoped hoped hoping esperar que to visit visited visited visiting visitar
to jump jumped jumped jumping saltar to wait waited waited waiting esperar
to interest interested interested interesting interesar to walk walked walked walking caminar
to iron ironed ironed ironing planchar to want wanted wanted wanting querer
to laugh laughed laughed laughing reír to wash washed washed washing lavar
to learn learned learned learning aprender to watch watched watched watching observar
to lie lied lied lying mentir to work worked worked working trabajar
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d
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a

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Present Present
Infinitive Past form Past participle participle / Spanish Infinitive Past form Past participle participle / Spanish
Gerund Gerund

to be was / were been being ser / estar to let let let letting permitir/dejar
to become became become becoming llegar a ser to lose lost lost losing perder
to begin began begun beginning empezar to make made made making hacer
to bite bit bitten biting morder to mean meant meant meaning significar
to break broke broken breaking romper to meet met met meeting encontrar gente
to bring brought brought bringing traer to pay paid paid paying pagar
to build built built building construir to put put put putting poner
to buy bought bought buying comprar to read read read reading leer
to catch caught caught catching atrapar to ride rode riden riding montar caballo
to come came come coming venir to ring rang rung ringing sonar
to cost cost cost costing costar to run ran run running correr
to cut cut cut cutting cortar to say said said saying decir
to dig dug dug digging excavar to see saw seen seeing ver
to do did done doing hacer to sell sold sold selling vender
to draw drew drawn drawing dibujar to send sent sent sending enviar
to dream dreamt dreamt dreaming soñar to set set set setting colocar

Irregular verbs
to drink drank drunk drinking beber to sew sewed sewn sewing cocer
to drive drove driven driving manejar to shake shook shaken shaking sacudir
to eat ate eaten eating comer to shoot shot shot shooting disparar
to fall fell fallen falling caer to show showed shown showing mostrar
to feel felt felt feeling sentir to sing sang sang singing cantar
to fight fought fought fighting pelear to sit sat sat sitting sentar
to find found found finding encontrar to sleep slept slept sleeping dormir
to fly flew flown flying volar to speak spoke spoken speaking hablar
to forget forgot forgotten forgetting olvidar to spend spent spent spending gastar
to get got gotten getting conseguir to stand stood stood standing pararse
to give gave given giving dar to steal stole stolen stealing robar
to go went gone going ir to sweep swept swept sweeping barrer
to grow grew grown growing crecer to swim swam swum swimming nadar
to hang hung hung hanging colgar to swing swung swung swinging columpiar
to have had had having tener to take took taken taking tomar
to hear heard heard hearing oír to teach taught taught teaching enseñar
to hit hit hit hitting pegar to tell told told telling contar
to hold held held holding sostener to think thought thought thinking pensar
to hurt hurt hurt hurting lastimar to throw threw thrown throwing tirar, aventar
to keep kept kept keeping mantener to understand understood understood understanding entender
to know knew known knowing saber/ conocer to wake up woke up woken up waking up despertar
to leave left left leaving salir / dejar to wear wore worn wearing usar ropa
to lend lent lent lending prestar to win won won winning ganar