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UNIVERSIDAD DIEGO PORTALES

FACULTAD DE INGENIERIA
ESCUELA DE INGENIERA INDUSTRIAL
Ingls I

English for
Engineers
A Compilation for
Elementary Students

Index
Map of the book................................................................................ 3
One Obamarama............................................................................. 7
Two Financial services..................................................................... 11
Three More service and support, please Mr. Dell................................. 15
Four Financial Profile ...................................................................... 18
Five Sales Terminology ................................................................. 21
Six Cristinas Travails ..................................................................... 25
Seven Wordcheck ............................................................................ 27
Eight Retailers report dismal December sales .................................... 30
Nine Burris: Im the legally appointed senator ................................... 34
Ten A day in the life of Bill Gates ..................................................... 38
Eleven Company problems .............................................................. 44
Twelve Scales and Graphs .............................................................. 48
Thirteen Alexander Graham Bell ...................................................... 53
Fourteen Job Adverts ..................................................................... 61
Fifteen The Inditex Group ............................................................... 68
Sixteen Optical Fibres..................................................................... 72
Seventeen Project Planning ............................................................. 82
Eighteen A Turnkey Project ............................................................. 91
Nineteen Jobs .95
Students Notes ............................................................................. 102
Annex 1 False Cognates ................................................................ 113
Annex 2 Irregular and Foreign Plurals ............................................. 118
Annex 3 Irregular English Verbs...................................................... 121

Lesson
One
Obamarama

Learning Outcomes
Identifying central
ideas

Content
Cognates and
False Cognates
Indefinite article a
/ an

Vocabulary
Political Crisis.

Activities
Brainstorming
activity about
familiar words in
English
Organising cognates
Reading Comp.
Writing main ideas

Two
Financial services

Offering financial
services

Word Order
(Adjective +
Noun)

Financial world.

Deciding the correct


order
Reading Comp.

Three
More service and
support, please Mr.
Dell

Stablishing goals for


a market leader
company

Plural Nouns
Regular
Irregular
Foreign plurals

Production
processes.

Forming the plurals


Reading Comp.
Finding plurals in
context
Making a glossary

Four
Financial Profile

Writing a profile for a


business corporation
in the stock market

Compound Nouns
(Noun + Noun)

Corporation, stocks
and shareholders.

Finding Spanish
equivalents
Writing technical
collocations
Reading Comp.

Five
Sales Terminology

Writing definitions

Is Are
It They
Definitions

Retail and wholesale.


Communication (1).

Comprehension
exercise
Completing
sentences
Reading comp.
Writing definitions

Six
Cristinas Travails

Stating strengths and


weaknesses in a
dispute.

There is / There
are

Financial crisis,
inflation and
disputes.

Using structures
Completing a
paragraph
Identifying central
ideas

Seven
Wordcheck

Making predictions

No + Noun
The adverb no

Communication (2)
Wordcheck (previous
lessons)

Reading
comprehension.
Making predictions.

Eight
Retailers report
dismal December
sales

Writing short reports


about sales

The s Genitive

Shopping items
Management
positions
Retailers

Rewriting sentences
Reading comp.
Naming companies
and related sales

Nine
Burris: 'I am the
legally-appointed
senator'

Describing peoples
positions and
functions within a
company

Word formation
(1) Suffixes ly
and al Prefixes
in and un

Political positions
Legal words

Reading Comp.
Matching columns
Writing exercise
Completing a table

Ten
A day in the life of
Bill Gates

Describing job
expectations and
position obligations

The Present
Simple
Frequency
adverbs

Adjectives to qualify
a job.
Office habits
Job benefits

Reading Comp.
Matching columns
Writing
Completing a table

Eleven
What are the
biggest problems
facing your
company?

Reporting problems
at work.

The Present
Simple (negative
form)

Words used to
describe company
problems.

Listing company
problems
Working with the
dictionaries
Reading comp.
Matching words and
definitions

Studying a case

Twelve
Scales and Graphs

Analysing scales,
graphs and
nomographs

Can / Cant

Percentile Wages
The language of scale
and graphs
Requests, offers and
possibilities

Explaining variables
Matching columns
Reading Comp.
Writing

Thirteen
A space shuttle
disaster

Writing a biography

The simple Past


Tense
(Affirmative,
negative, and
interrogative)

The World Bank


glossary
Irregular and regular
verbs

Reading a timeline
Writing a biography
using a timeline
Cloze procedure
Studying a chart
Working with the
dictionary

Fourteen
Job adverts

Comparing job offers

The comparison of
adjectives

Types of markets
A pie chart

Writing using
comparatives and
superlatives
Matching columns
Comparing job
adverts
Describing products
Reading comp.

The present
continuous

Verbs of action
A store layout
Business
development

Writing a report
Making a glossary on
a company growth
Completing
sentences
Identifying tense
concepts
Completing a
business profile

Commenting on a pie
chart

Fifteen
The Inditex Group

Writing a sales report


Drawing conclusions
from a store-layout
Comparing
permanent and
temporary situations

Sixteen
Optical Fibres

Reporting based on a
diagram
Analyzing a sales
report

Seventeen
Project Planning

Organising time
(Gantt Charts)

The role of an
engineering
consultant

Understanding and
writing a msn

How much / how


many
Quantifiers
Numbers,
numerals,
proportions

Sales report
vocabulary
Technical quantifiers

Writing a description
about quantities
Completing
sentences
Writing a short report
Vocabulary check
Playing games with
numbers

Future with Will


Prepositions of
time
If clauses type 1
(with will + simple
present)

Engineering
vocabulary.
Properties of
engineering
materials.
Stages of a
consultancy.

Understanding a
Gantt Chart
Reading Comp.
Completing
sentences using
prepositions of time
Writing a msn in full
Writing predictions
Answering questions.
Making a glossary

Completing
sentences.
Multiple choice.
Reading
Comprehension
Making a glossary
Infering information.
Completing missing
information.

Writing predictions
based on the
properties of
materials

Eighteen
A Turnkey Project

Describing the stages


of a project.

Verbs +
prepositions
Nouns +
prepositions

Glossary of a
turnkey project

Nineteen
Jobs

Discussing about jobs


skills and abilities.

The Present
Perfect Tense
Review of Simple
past v/s Present
Perfect

Jobs

Writing CVs in
English

Lesson One
(1) Cognates
Muchas palabras en Ingls son SIMILARES EN FORMA Y SIGNIFICADO a
palabras en espaol.

Por ejemplo, en la oracin


Communication is a basic function of society
hay palabras o combinaciones de palabras muy fciles de entender:
Communication ..
basic function ..
society
Estas palabras se conocen normalmente como COGNADOS y facilitan la
comprensin ya que tienen raz semejante en ingls y espaol, aunque varan
mucho en sus terminaciones, ortografa en general, y pronunciacin. Entre
otros muchos ejemplos se pueden citar:

Mathematics
Botany
Engineering
Economics
Physics

telephone
oscilloscope
antenna
thermostat
capital

universe
pressure
hypothesis
air
television

reciprocal
complex
principal
direct
programme

De acuerdo a algunas terminaciones, los cognados pueden agruparse en:


(a)

Palabras que en INGLS tienen terminacin


y que generalmente en ESPAOL terminan en
organization = organizacin
information = informacin

(b)

integration = integracin
invention = invencin

Palabras que en INGLS tienen terminacin -SION o -SSION


y que generalmente en ESPAOL terminan en
-SIN
division = divisin
cohesion = cohesin

(c)

-TION
-CIN

expression = expresin
depression = depresin

Palabras que en INGLS tienen terminacin


y que generalmente en ESPAOL terminan en
society = sociedad
activity = actividad

-TY
-DAD

quantity = cantidad
specialty = especialidad

Indefinite Article
En los siguientes ejemplos, del mismo tipo anterior, los sustantivos llevan el
artculo A o AN; las palabras descriptivas (conocidas como adjetivos) no lo
llevan.
a base, a basis
basic

= una base
= bsico

a symbol
symbolic

= un smbolo
= simblico

an experiment
experimental

= un experimento
= experimental

a centenary = un centenario
centennial = centenario

Importante:
existen
los
Falsos
Cognados, es decir, palabras que en
ingls y en espaol son muy
PARECIDAS en FORMA, pero tienen
DIFERENTE SIGNIFICADO.

Ejemplos de falsos cognados:

Actual = real,verdadero

(current, present = presente, actual)

Alumnus = ex - alumno

(student = alumno, estudiante)

Exit = salida

(success = xito)

Success = xito

(event = suceso, hecho, evento)

Tenant = arrendatario

(liutenant = teniente)

(En el apndice 1 se incluye una lista de los falsos cognados de uso ms


frecuente para utilizar como referencia, ver pgina 112).
Exercise 1.1: Recognize and underline all the cognates you can find in the
following text.

Obamarama
Extract form the Financial Times
Published: December 29 2008 18:35 | Last updated: December 29 2008 18:35
Oil prices going up and down. A year with the Obama-mania ended with the
president-elect and his team at action stations, preparing themselves for
government amid what looks to be the surprise of the decade.
The acute escalation of the financial crisis in the last weeks of the campaign
has left little time for reflection on Mr Obamas achievement. The world
applauded as America, for the first time, sent a black man to the White House,
but it is important to remember that the Democrats victory in November was
arguably as much an expression of voter disgust with President George W.
Bush and the Republican party as it was a reflection of the president-elects
political skills.
Exercise 1.2: Identify the central idea of the text and write it down.

__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

Exercise 1.3.. Traduzca estos cognados al espaol.


1. application

10. capacity

2. fission

11. equation

3. humidity

12. solution

4. destruction

13. lesion

5. definition

14. university

6. expression

15. alteration

7. ability

16. reduction

8. specialization

17. expulsion

9. expansion

18. function

Exercise 1.4.. Traduzca estos cognados al ingls.


1. velocidad

10. dimensin

2. accin

11.

adaptabilidad

3. conclusin

12.

produccin

4. densidad

13.

relatividad

5. electricidad

14.

reaccin

6. observacin

15.

exposicin

7. friccin

16.

fidelidad

8. visin

17.

reduccin

9. identidad

18.

direccin

Exercise 1.5. Escriba las palabras equivalentes en espaol.


1. a society

11.

a stimulus

2. social

12.

stimulant

3. a space

13.

an individual

4. spacious

14.

individual

5. a line

15.

a movement

6. linear

16.

movable

7. an experiment

17.

a nucleus

8. experimental

18.

nuclear

9. a specialty

19.

a distance

10. special

20.

distant

10

Lesson Two
(2) Word Order
En Ingls la POSICIN de las palabras descriptivas (adjetivos)
es distinta a la del espaol. Observe:
a Basic Function = una funcin bsica
an Essential Social force = una fuerza social esencial

Exercise 2.1.Traduzca estas frases al espaol


1. Social organization
2. Electric current
3. An energetic person
4. An adequate response
5. Physical contact ................................................................................
6. Nuclear physics .................................................................................
7. A relative difficulty ............................................................................
8. An evident result ...............................................................................
9. A collective stimulus ..........................................................................
10.Cellular biology .................................................................................
11.A linear program ...............................................................................
12.A simple linear equation .....................................................................
13.Descriptive statistics ..........................................................................
14.A stimulant discussion .......................................................................
15.A provisory solution ...........................................................................
16.Obligatory elementary education .........................................................
17.An experimental design ......................................................................
18.A complex social structure ..................................................................
19.Industrial Engineering ........................................................................
20.Financial crisis ..................................................................................
21.Political abilities ................................................................................
22.Election possibilities ..........................................................................
23.Democratic victory ............................................................................

11

Exercise 2.2.Reading Comprehension.


Communication is not a human invention. In its broadest sense,
communication is a social force.
Communication occurs everywhere in the universe, and is occurring always. It
is a function of all matter.
Vocabulary:
In its broadest sense: en su sentido ms amplio
Occurs everywhere:

ocurre en todas partes

Always:

siempre

Matter:

materia

Segn el texto:
(a) La comunicacin es una creacin humana.

SI

NO

(b) La comunicacin es una funcin del hombre.

SI

NO

(c) La comunicacin es una funcin constante de toda materia. SI

NO

(d) La comunicacin como fuerza natural se manifiesta en todo


el universo.

SI

NO

The theme or central idea in the text is:


(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

human invention
the universe
communication
matter

In the text, communication is defined as:


(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

a natural force
a function of all matter
both (ambos) a force and a function
a human invention

12

Exercise 2.3.Reading Comprehension. Use your dictionary to find and


underline all the adjective + noun combinations.

Financial Services1
Cooper Financial Services Ltd.
Cooper Financial Services Ltd. offers a vast range of financial solutions to suit
the individual necessities of its clients. Today's investor has market
comprehension and requires the tools to take advantage of knowledge. To that
end, we provide advice based on our outstanding access to information
sources. Matching our knowledge-base with your understanding of individual
markets can make you a big winner in the increasingly complex marketplace.
Here are some of our offerings:
Historical fundamental equity database
Strategic planning
Comprehensive reports that permit industry-to-industry, company-toindustry and company-to-company analysis.
Report compilations detailing key items on market and industry
performance
Daily summary of stock market and industry tendencies (trends)
Secure access to financial data on publicly traded companies
Monthly reports that monitor company-to-peer performance

Exercise 2.4. Answer the following questions for general understanding


1.

What does Cooper Financial Services Ltd. offer?

____________________________________________________________
2.

What does Cooper Financial Services Ltd. provide?

____________________________________________________________
3.

What does Cooper Financial Services Ltd. match its knowledge-base to?

____________________________________________________________
4.

What type of planning does Cooper Financial Services Ltd. offer?

____________________________________________________________
1

About.com: English as a second language < http://esl.about.com/library/business/bl_read_financial2.htm>


(Consulta: Enero 2009)

13

5.

What type of daily summary does Cooper Financial Services Ltd.


provide?

____________________________________________________________
6.

What do monthly reports monitor?

____________________________________________________________

14

Lesson Three
(3) Plural Nouns

El plural de los sustantivos en ingls se forma


agregando s o es al singular como regla
general.
Existen algunos casos especiales, los plurales
irregulares, que no siguen la regla y que hay que memorizar. (Ver apndice II
en pgina 111)
Ejemplos:
SINGULAR
A class
An example
A society
An activity
A church
A dish
A car
An auction

REGULAR
PLURALS
Classes
examples
Societies
Activities
Churches
Dishes
Cars
Auctions

SINGULAR
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A

man
woman
foot
tooth
(PC) mouse
mouse (animal)
child
goose

IRREGULAR
PLURALS
Men
Women
Feet
Teeth
(PC) mouses
Mice
Children
Geese

Observa que el sustantivo en PLURAL se expresa SIN artculo A/AN ya que ste
indica singular. (A/AN = 1)
Exercise 3.1. Forme el plural correspondiente.
1.

an organization__________________________________

2.

a function______________________________________

3.

a university_____________________________________

4.

an oscilloscope__________________________________

5.

a division_______________________________________

6.

an ability_______________________________________

7.

an engineer_____________________________________

8.

a business______________________________________

9.

a company______________________________________

10. a

problem______________________________________

15

Observe, en los siguientes ejemplos, que el adjetivo en ingls se mantiene


INVARIABLE, sea cual sea el nmero del sustantivo. Ejemplos:
Singular:

a chemical reaction

an important datum (*)

Plural:

chemical reactions

important data

Exercise 3.2. Cambie estas frases al plural. Recuerde consultar el anexo 2


para plulares extranjeros e irregulares.
1.

A primitive man. ____________________________________________

2.

A modern communication system. ______________________________

3.

A long-distance telephone call. _________________________________

4.

A chemical analysis (*). ______________________________________

5.

A basic criterion. (*). ________________________________________

6.

An interesting phenomenon. (*)________________________________

7.

A financial crisis. (*) _________________________________________

(*) Plurales extranjeros .

Exercise 3.3. Complete la tabla de singulares y plurales. Encuentre el par


faltante en el siguiente texto.

More service and support please, Mr Dell


By Michael Schrage
Published: May 9 2006 20:00 | Last updated: May 9 2006 20:00
Extract from the Financial Times

Were not going to be missionaries for innovation, said Kevin Rollins, Dells chief executive. We
only want to go into a market where the product or service is definable, standardisable, simplifiable
and repeatable.W e dont count on our margins existing because the technology is proprietary or
because the customer is stupid.
Indeed, the Dell production model remains as flexible, adaptable and opportunistic as when Mr Dell
launched it in 1983 from his college dormitory. But market competition has relentlessly eroded vital
elements of that models value proposition. Dells cost and price advantages have become less
significant as Hewlett-Packard and Lenovo have retooled their own supply chains and production
processes while becoming more innovative.
More serious for Dell, however, is that the perceived locus of value is evolving away from what the
company does best. As prices have relentlessly dropped, customers increasingly appear less
interested in the most cost-effective buy than in convenience, ease of use and support. Service
matters more than ever.
As more people become more reliant and dependent on their personal computers, printers, servers
and networks, they demand ever-higher quality of service and support. Managing expectations and

16

execution around service-related process innovation has proven far more difficult and expensive
than Dell expected particularly for its cheapest and least profitable machines. The economics of
support are hard.
So, just as customers of all kinds were thrilled to have more computer for less money, they also
expected more service and support for less, as well. For years, Dell enjoyed a top reputation for
customer service and support. But as product portfolios and their inherent software complexity
increase, Dells production challenge of build to order is giving way to the challenge of service to
order. That is apparently not a natural extension.

SINGULAR
missionary

PLURAL
executives

SINGULAR

PLURAL
innovations

year

interviews

markets

margins

products

customers

element

models

dormitories

advantage

costs

chain

prices

economics

process
loci

companies

computer

printer

server

network

portfolio

qualities

expectation

complexities

machine
extensions

Exercise 3.3. Lea nuevamente el texto y haga un glosario. Use un diccionario.

__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

17

Lesson Four
(4) Compound Nouns
Cualquier palabra que se encuentre en POSICIN DE ADJETIVO califica o
describe al sustantivo que le sigue, aunque dicha palabra funcione
normalmente como sustantivo.
Ejemplos:
NOUN

COMPOUND NOUN (N + N)

An animal + a society

An animal society

Life + mechanisms

Life mechanisms

Esta combinacin de sustantivo + sustantivo es muy usada en


ingls y se conoce como Compound Nouns (N+N)
Exercise 4.1.Escriba estas frases en correcto espaol.
1.

energy transmission _________________________________________________

2.

life requirements ____________________________________________________

3.

animal memory _____________________________________________________

4.

animal communication system _________________________________________

5.

a space station _____________________________________________________

6.

group response _____________________________________________________

7.

time concepts ______________________________________________________

8.

an insect community _________________________________________________

9.

TV production methods _______________________________________________

10. a

telegraph message _________________________________________________

11. aerobic

exercise ____________________________________________________

12. preliminary

hypothesis ________________________________________________

13. universal

studios ____________________________________________________

14. industrial

engineering ________________________________________________

15. metal

structure ______________________________________________________

16. telephone
17. air

line ______________________________________________________

conditioning _____________________________________________________

18. plastic

figure _______________________________________________________

19. human

society ______________________________________________________

20. radio

antenna ______________________________________________________

18

Exercise 4.2. Match columns A and B to form compound nouns.


Example:
A research program
Research methods
A
Program
Transmission
Society
Method
Theory
System
Organization
Industry
Analysis
Fatigue
Distribution

B
production
research (investigation)
population
organization
probability
insect
vector
communication
space
metal
relativity

__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

19

Exercise 4.3. Find and underline the compound nouns in the text. Then write
them in Spanish using your dictionary.

Financial Profile: ViewSonic Computers Financial Profile

ViewSonic computers is a publicly traded corporation actively traded on the NASDAQ.


The company was launched in 1999 with an IPO raising $70 million. Shareholders own
more than 80% of the company while upper level management and employee stock
options own the remaining 20%. ViewSonic is located in Denver, Colorado with
manufacturing plants in Taiwan and Indonesia. The total cash flow during 2000 was
$365 million. While total operating expenses for the past fiscal year totalled $180
million resulting in a pre-tax profit of $175 million. ViewSonic Computers market share
in the US domestic market has grown from 2% to 5% during the past 18 months.
Future plans include the development of a line of laptop computers to export to the
Chinese Market. CEO, Kevin Connery, was optimistic in his vision of the future. While
other computer manufacturers are loosing market share, we are increasing our market
share at over 100% annually. ViewSonic offers consumers computers that are made to
meet their specific requirements, while pricing these computers at mass market prices.
This unique combination ensures ViewSonic will be a major market player in the near
future.

Exercise 4.4. Answer the comprehension questions about the text.


Which market is ViewSonic traded on?
..................................................................................................
How much money did the IPO raise?
..................................................................................................
Who owns 80% of stock?
.
Where are ViewSonic manufacturing plants located?
..................................................................................................
How much has market share grown over the past 18 months?
..................................................................................................
How much did ViewSonic spend on operating expenses?
..................................................................................................
Which market is ViewSonic trying to enter with its new line of laptop
models?
..................................................................................................
2

About.com: English as a second language < http://esl.about.com/library/business/bl_read_financial1.htm >


(Consulta: Enero 2009)

20

Lesson Five
(5) Is Are
IS (forma del verbo be) se usa para expresar DEFINICIONES Y
DESCRIPCIONES EN SINGULAR.
Observe estos ejemplos:
A computer IS an electronic instrument.
It IS a component of modern communication systems.
En la segunda oracin, it reemplaza a computer su antecedente en este caso y evita
su repeticin.
ARE (otra forma del verbo be) se usa para expresar DEFINICIONES Y
DESCRIPCIONES EN PLURAL.
Observe estos ejemplos; comprelos con los de arriba:
Computers ARE electronic instruments.
They ARE components of modern communication systems.
En la segunda oracin, they reemplaza a computers su antecedente - y evita su
repeticin.
Exercise 5.1. Complete these sentences using IS or ARE.
1.

The molecule ________ the smallest unit of a compound.

2.

Economics ________ a science. It _______ a social science.

3.

Physics and Chemistry ________ sciences. They ________ natural

sciences.
4.

Telstar ________ a satellite. It _________ a communication satellite.

5.

Early Bird and Telstar ________ satellites. They ________

communication satellites.
6.

Ants ________ insects. They ________ social insects.

7.

Sun and planets __________ in physical communication.

8.

The principal characteristics of life _________ movement, change and

growth.

21

9.

Botany _________ the study of plants. Zoology _______ the study of

animals. They ________ branches of biology.


10.

Measurement ________ a valuable and essential part of scientific

research.
Exercise 5.2. Complete these sentences using IT or THEY.
REMEMBER :

IT = singular ............. (thing, animal, plant)


THEY = plural ........... (things, animals, plants)

1.

Metals are good conductors. _________ transmit energy.

2.

Water is a chemical compound. ___________ is essential to life.

3.

Adaptation is a characteristic of all living matter. __________ is

essential for survival.


4.

Inflation and overpopulation are serious problems. ________ have

economic and social repercussion.


5.

Mechanics is the study of the properties and motions of particles and

rigid bodies. _________ is a branch of physics.


6.

Artificial satellites are man-made objects. ____________ are used for

scientific exploration, navigation, communication and military reconossaince.


7.

Communication is a natural force. ________ occurs everywhere in the

universe.
8.

All types of communication require a force, a signal and a receiver.

_______ are the three essential elements in the process.


9.

Gravity is an exchange of energy in space. _________ is an example of

physical communication.
10.

Verbal and non-verbal are other types of communication. ________ are

two basic kinds of communication among humans.


Exercise 5.3. Comprehension Exercise.
All animals are capable of some type of communication. In simple form, animal
communication is a response to a stimulus. The stimuli are, in some cases,
simple changes or modifications in the environment of the animal. When the
response to these changes is a modification of behaviour on the part of the
animal or animal species, a type of ecological communication is complete.

22

The annual migration of some species of birds is an example of a group


response to changes in the environment. These changes are information to the
birds: It is time to migrate. The birds are in communication with their
environment, and a perceptible and characteristic pattern of behaviour is the
result.
Choose the best alternative.
1.

2.

3.
of:

Animal communication is a:
a. simple form of stimulus
b. response to a stimulus
c. change in the environment
d. modification of behaviour
The stimulus, in some cases, means:
a. some type of communication
b. a simple form of response
c. a change of animal behaviour
d. time for migration
The modification of behaviour on the part of the animal species is a type

a. animal communication
b. animal response
c. ecological stimulus
d. ecological communication
4. The annual migration of birds is esentially a:
a. reaction to changes in the environment
b. change in the pattern of behaviour of birds
c. type of information to the birds
d. perceptible and characteristic communication

Exercise 5.3. Complete these sentences using IS or


ARE.
Sales Terminology

Julian: I'm new to this job, could you explain some of


the terminology?
Jack: That ________ what I'm here for. Shoot.
Julian: What _______ the difference between retail and wholesale?
Jack: Wholesale _________ to distributors. Retail to consumers.

About.com: English as a second language < http://esl.about.com/od/businessreading/a/d_salest.htm >


(Consulta: Enero 2009)

23

Julian: Distributors? Consumers?


Jack: Distributors ________ stores that sell our merchandise. Consumers
________ the people who buy the products.
Julian: Oh, I see. What __________ a bill of lading?
Jack: The bill of lading __________ the list of shipped merchandise. It
________ in every shipment or delivery.
Julian: I get what pre-paid means. That means the merchandise has been
paid for. But, what ____________ C.O.D.?
Jack: Cash on delivery.
Julian: What does that mean?
Jack: Exactly what it says: cash is paid upon receiving the goods. Of course, it
could be a credit card or a check, as well.
Julian: Oh, I understand. What _________ a delivery fee?
Jack: The delivery fee __________ an extra charge that the customer pays to
have the goods delivered.
Julian: I think I'm beginning to understand now.
Exercise 5.4. Answer True or False and check for understanding.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)

Individuals usually buy from retailers.


Distributors sell merchandise.
Shipments include a bill of lading
You pay COD before your goods arrive.
Delivery fees raise the price of a shipment.

TRUE
TRUE
TRUE
TRUE
TRUE

FALSE
FALSE
FALSE
FALSE
FALSE

Exercise 5.5. Now rewrite the definitions included in the text.

Example:
The delivery fee is an extra charge.

__________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

24

Lesson Six
(6) There is - There are

There is expresa existencia en singular (HAY un, una, uno)


There are expresa existencia en plural (HAY dos o ms)

Observe estos ejemplos:


There is one (1) star in the solar system; the sun
There are eight (8) planets, in the solar system: Mercury, Venus, Earth,
Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.
Exercise 6.1. Complete with THERE IS or THERE ARE.
1.

______________ a primitive indigenous civilization in Australia.

2.

______________ approximately 900,000,000 people in China.

3.

______________ responses for all stimuli.

4.

______________ women everywhere in the universe.

5.

________________ an element of reality in the human imagination.

6.

________________ a new oscillograph in Lab 2.

7.

________________ two electronic microscopes in Lab 1.

8.

________________ communication among various animal and insect

species.
9.

________________ psychological conflicts between impulses and

reason.
10.

________________ speculation on the necessity of lunar

experimentation.
11.

________________ 32 natural satellites or moons in the solar system.

12.

________________ five theories on the origin of the solar system.

13.

________________ always an exchange of energy in one form or

another in the universe.


14.

________________ more children in America than in Europe.

15.

________________ salmon in every Chilean lake.

16.

________________ a financial crisis going on.

25

Exercise 6.2. Complete with THERE IS or THERE ARE.


Cristinas travails (Adapted from The Financial Times Limited 2008)
________________ a new president in Argentina, Cristina Fernndez, a
surprising

victory

of

sorts.

And

_______________

controversial

plans

approved by legislators and _____________ new export tariffs coming soon.


But her difficulties are not over by any means.
First, ________________ last minute concessions to farmers made by the
government that reduce the expected revenues from the new tariffs. Second,
_________________farm leaders who are still planning to resist the bill in the
Senate, where ________________discussion (in committee) starting on
Monday. Third, _________________the political alliance that has backed Ms
Fernndez as well as the presidency of her husband, Nstor Kirchner, and
which is seriously divided. Finally, __________________an enormous political
cost for taking such a hard line in the dispute, with her poll ratings going
down. Obviously, ______________ this loss of popularity which will be
abundantly clear in next years mid-term congressional elections.
All of this shows that _______________an overriding necessity for Ms
Fernndez to adopt a more conciliatory approach as she refocuses on urgent
economic difficulties from which the farm conflict has diverted attention.
_______________inflation,

which

is

one

problem,

and

_____________

another problem, how to deal with the $6.4bn in defaulted debt to the Paris
Club of Western creditor nations.
Original text by Jude Webber.

Exercise 6.3. The central idea in the text Cristinas Travails is:
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

26

Lesson Seven
(7) No + NOUN
NO, en Ingls, indica cantidad o nmero cero (0), es decir, AUSENCIA DE,
tanto en singular como en plural.
There is NO atmosphere on the moon.
No hay atmsfera en la luna.
There are NO seas on the moon, but maria.
No hay mares en la luna, sino mara.
Exercise 7.1. Lea estas oraciones y escriba si indican existencia o
ausencia de.

1.

There are maria but there is no


water on the moon surface
2.
There is a problem but there is no
solution stated in the report.
3.
The researchers have advanced
different hypotheses but there
are no results yet.
4.
Students have many exercises to
complete but there is no time to
do them.
5.
There are more and more cases
of HIV but there is no cure for it.
6.
There is inflation all over the
world, but there are no real
measures to prevent a financial
disaster.
7.
There are elections coming soon,
but there is no appropriate
candidate.
8.
There is a lot of delinquency, but
there are no sufficient prisons.
9.
There is a real necessity for work,
but there are no opportunities for
young professionals.
10. There are many political conflicts,
but there is no social concern.

EXISTENCE

ABSENCE

maria

water

27

Exercise 7.2 Lea esta oracin en Ingls.


Where there is no communication among social groups, there is
obvious social dissolution
Esta oracin significa:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)

La comunicacin entre los grupos no es necesaria para la


cohesin social.
Si falta comunicacin entre los grupos que forman la sociedad,
no hay disolucin social.
Donde no hay disolucin social evidente, no hay tampoco
necesidad de comunicacin entre los grupos.
La disolucin social evidente es el resultado de la falta de
comunicacin entre los grupos de una sociedad.
Hay pocas sociedades en donde la falta de comunicacin afecta
de manera evidente la propia cohesin social.

Exercise 7.3 Reading Comprehension Exercise.


Communication is a basic function of society. It is a force of social
organization. Where there is social organization there is communication. Where
there is little communication, there is evident social dissolution. Where there is
no communication, there is no society.
Complete estas oraciones segn el prrafo anterior.
1.

Communication is:
a) a social force
b) society
c) social dissolution
d) a function of social dissolution
e) social organization

2.

Social organization is based upon:


a) no communication
b) little communication
c) communication
d) dissolution
e) none of the above

3.

Where there is little communication:


a) there is no social cohesion
b) there are problems of social integration
c) social disintegration is impossible
d) social dissolution occurs
e) social unity is automatic

28

4.

Where there is no communication


a) social unity is automatic
b) social dissolution is impossible
c) no social disintegration is possible
d) there are no problems of social integration
e) there is no social cohesion

Exercise 7.4 Writing negative predictions. (Group work sharing information to


the class.)
Example: There is no chance that Chile avoids the world recession.

__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
29

Lesson Eight
(8) The S Genitive
1. El genitivo s generalmente indica posesin y se usa con:
-

nombres propios

Lincolns monument

(de personas o geogrficos)

Dr. Burns student


Londons transport
Europes future

personas

my sisters book
the boys room (*)

sustantivos colectivos

the governments policy


the nations social security

animales superiores

the horses tail


the lions hunger

Otros usos del genitivo s incluyen

2. GENITIVE OF ORIGIN
- Torricellis theory

the theory that Torricelli developed

- Ohms law

the law that Ohm developed

3. DESCRIPTIVE GENITIVE
- a womens college

a college for women

- a doctors degree

a doctoral degree / a doctorate

- the schools library (**)

the library of the school

- sciences influence (**)

the influence of science

30

4. GENITIVE OF TEMPORAL MEASURE:


- a moments thought

the thought that lasted a moment

- ten days absence

the absence lasted ten days

(*) Cuando el sustantivo termina en S, normalmente el genitivo agrega


solamente el apstrofe
(**) Generalmente el genitivo S se usa con sustantivos que
corresponden a seres animados; por extensin, se usa tambin con
sustantivos de especial inters para la actividad humana.
NOTE: You should still use the genitive case when talking about things that belong to other
things.
For example:The door of the car.
The content of the website.
Tip - If you aren't sure what to use stick to (of the).

Exercise 8.1 Write the s GENITIVE which could be related to the following
sentences as in the example:
Example:

WOMEN HAVE RIGHTS

WOMENS RIGHTS

1. The world has problems.

___________________________

2. Europe has art treasures.

___________________________

3. Neruda wrote poetry.

___________________________

4. Einstein formulated the relativity theory.


____________________________________________________
5. The government has an international policy.
____________________________________________________
6. A school for girls.

___________________________

7. The work took a year.

___________________________

8. A planet has mass.

___________________________

31

9. The mean distance of the earth from the sun.


____________________________________________________
10.The total solid weight of the brain. ________________________
11.The general development of the mind.
____________________________________________________
12.Newton formulated the law of universal gravitation.
____________________________________________________
Exercise 8.2. Find all the genitive cases in the text.

Retailers report dismal December sales


Adapted from the text written by ANNE D'INNOCENZIO, AP Retail
Writer Anne D'innocenzio, Ap Retail Writer.

AP Pedestrians walk past Generations Menswear on 8th


Ave. in New York Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009. Retailers
RELATED QUOTES
ANF

22.25

-1.49

COST

51.61

+1.49

GPS

12.85

-0.71

JCP

22.04

+0.54

LTD

9.95

-0.75

NEW YORK Retailers reported dismal sales figures for December on Thursday as even Wal-Mart
Stores Inc., one of the bright spots in the industry, finally buckled under the pressures of the
deteriorating economy.
Among the many retailers that reported steep sales declines were Sears Holdings Corp., which
operates Kmart and Sears stores, luxury retailer Saks Inc. and Gap Inc. But the biggest surprise
came from Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, which posted a smaller sales gain than what Wall
Street expected and cut its fourth-quarter earnings outlook.
"This suggests that the lower income group is feeling the pinch more than we thought and this is
clearly reflected in the lower-than-expected numbers at Wal-Mart," said Ken Perkins, RetailMetrics
LLC research companys president. "I think it says the economy is in more dire straits than we
thought."
"The current economy remains challenging for all businesses and retailers have already seen
customers pull back on discretionary spending," Wal-Mart's Chief Financial Officer Tom Schoewe
said in a statement. "Consumers are very focused on value and necessities."
Wal-Mart noted that health and wellness items were the categories that primarily fueled sales.
Electronics sales were solid, while the apparel and jewelry business was weak.

32

Given the disappointing sales and higher-than-anticipated expenses, Wal-Mart said it now expects
to earn 91 cents to 94 cents per share in the fourth quarter from continuing operations. That's down
from its previous projected range of $1.03 per share to $1.07 per share. Analysts surveyed by
Thomson Reuters expected $1.06 per share.
Discount rival Target Corp., which has been stumbling because its merchandise focuses more on
nonessentials like trendy clothes, announced a 4.1 percent decline in same-store sales, better than
the 9.1 percent drop that Wall Street analysts predicted.
Among department stores, Sears Holdings said its December same-store sales dropped 7.3
percent, weighed down by a 12.8 percent drop at domestic Sears stores. The company, whose
brands include Kenmore and Craftsman, said Kmart same-store sales fell 1.1 percent.
Macy's Inc. reported that same-store sales fell 4 percent in December, less than the 5.3 percent
decline that analysts had expected. For the combined November-December period, same-store
sales were down 7.5 percent. But the department store chain cut its fourth-quarter and full-year
earnings outlook due to heavy markdowns and announced plans to close 11 underperforming
stores. The chain operates more than 840 Macy's stores.
J.C. Penney Co.'s same-store sales within its department store division fell 8.1 percent, better than
the 10.3 percent decline analysts had expected.
"Customers waited until late in the month to shop and we faced a highly competitive promotional
environment," said Gap's Chief Financial Officer Sabrina Simmons.
Kitchen gadget chain Williams-Sonoma Inc., which didn't break out December figures, said its
same-store sales dropped more than 24 percent for the eight-week period ended Dec. 28 and
warned its fourth-quarter profit will likely come in at the low end of expectations.

Exercise 8.3. Name the business companies which reported declines in their
earnings. (Also, list the most/least-sold items for Christmas and the positions
associated to the financial world)

__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

33

Lesson Nine
(9) Word Formation
Una manera muy comn de formar palabras en ingls es la de agregar
PREFIJOS (al comienzo) o SUFIJOS (al final) de las palabras. Estudiando estas
reglas de formacin de palabras podr aumentar su capacidad de
reconocimiento de vocabulario.
1. Agregando el SUFIJO AL a algunos sustantivos
correspondiente adjetivo. Por ejemplo:
SUSTANTIVO
ADJETIVO
Instruction
instructionAL
Chemistry
chemicAL
Experiment
experimentAL
Vision
visuAL

se

forma el

Observe que, en algunos casos, ADEMS DEL SUFIJO, hay un


cambio en la ortografa del sustantivo.
2. Anteponiendo el PREFIJO IN o UN, a algunos adjetivos se los hace
negativos y expresan lo opuesto. Ejemplos:
A soluble solution
Animate objects
A stable economy
Reliable data
3. Agregando el SUFIJO LY
correspondiente adverbio.

An INsoluble solution
Inanimate objects
An Unstable economy
Unreliable data
a

cualquier

ADJETIVO
Exact
Essential
Possible
Necessary

adjetivo,

se

forma

el

ADVERBIO
exactLY
essentialLY
possibLY
necessariLY

Exercise 9.1. Complete el par correspondiente, agregando o quitando el


sufijo AL. Use su diccionario como ayuda.
1. organization
2.
3. integration

12.
theoretical

universe

13.

Natural

14.

Serial

34

4. information
5.

15.instrument
material

6. function

16.

conditional

17.

Social

7.

essential

18.physics

8.

principal

19.

9. motion
10.
11.gravitation

Additional

20.event
hypothetical

21.

Habitual

22.part

Exercise 9.2. Use el prefijo IN para negar estas ideas.


1. An adequate example. _______________________________________
2. Human conditions. __________________________________________
3. Direct communication. _______________________________________
4. A complete report. __________________________________________
5. Credible causes. ____________________________________________
6. Essential information. ________________________________________
7. A correct response. __________________________________________
8. Accurate results. ____________________________________________
9. A frequent error. ____________________________________________
10.Valid conclusions. ___________________________________________
Exercise 9.3. Use el prefijo UN para negar estas ideas.
1. Natural causes. ______________________________________________
2. A sophisticated model. ________________________________________
3. Important effects. ____________________________________________
4. A clear explanation. __________________________________________
5. Interesting hypothesis. ________________________________________
6. Solved problems. _____________________________________________
7. A necessary change. _________________________________________

35

8. Successful experience. _______________________________________


9. A true statement. ___________________________________________
10. An able person. __________________________________________
Exercise 9.4. In the following text, find and underline all words using prefixes
in and un, and suffixes al and ly. Then complete the table below.

Burris: 'I am the legallyappointed senator'


Adapted from (CNN) -- CNN's Wolf Blitzer spoke
Monday with Roland Burris, picked by Illinois Gov.
Rod

Blagojevich

to

fill

President-elect

Barack

Obama's U.S. Senate seat. Below is a partial


transcript of the interview:
Mr. Burris, thanks very much for readily joining us
here in The Situation Room.
Roland Burris, former Illinois attorney general: It is my pleasure. To all the CNN listeners, happy New Year.
Blitzer: Thank you very much. And happy New Year to you. All right.. We know that under Illinois law and
constitutional law that the secretary of state can in no way veto legal action of the governor. So that signature
is only ceremonial to put the seal on it. Tell us what your intention is?
Burris:: Well, Wolf, I intend to be sworn in. I will present myself to the Senate tomorrow. And should they turn
me away, I will then proceed to leave and then my lawyers will have to assess what the next course of action
will be.
But we have no intention to be confrontational. We're in contact with Sen. Durbin's people, and naturally we're
in touch with the sergeant-at-arms in the United States Senate.
Blitzer: Because yesterday Sen. Durbin, the senior senator from Illinois, and the Senate majority leader, Harry
Reid, they both said they were open to, quote, "negotiating" with you on this. So tell me what there is to
negotiate?
Burris: Well, I am the legally-appointed senator. And we've been trying to get everyone to recognize that the
governor of Illinois has incredible problems. God knows he has problems, but he is still the governor. And
based on that, I'm hoping that the Senate of the United States will honor that. I mean, it's just that simple.
All the people have to do is recognize that we now have a junior senator who is ready, willing, Wolf, and able to
go to work on behalf of the 13 million of our great state.

36

Blitzer: Some of the pundits in Chicago and in Illinois have suggested, rather informally, one of the things they
could negotiate, referring to you and the Senate majority leader, perhaps making an unbelievable commitment
only to serve for two years and not seeking a formal election in 2010. Is that unreasonable from your
perspective?
Burris: Well, Wolf, if you look at my record, I won four times statewide in Illinois. And I never lost a race to a
Republican. The races that they're talking about are Democratic primary races where you got the party
apparatus at work and thereby we don't have Republicans and independents voting in the Democratic primary.
Blitzer: So at least at this point, you're flatly rejecting this notion of making a commitment right now not to seek
election in 2010?
Burris: My friends and supporters said to me: "Roland, we don't need somebody to warm the seat. You know,
you have a statewide base, you've been elected statewide four times. So yes, we want you to run in 2010."
Blitzer: All right. One quick question on the issue of race. Is there a racial overtone involved in this whole
uproar right now?
Burris: Wolf, I have never in all of my years in public service injected race into any of my campaigns. I was
elected, I ran up and down this state, I was the first black elected, even when they -- remember they told
Barack Obama he was really out of his mind to be running for president? That the white folks weren't going to
vote for him?
Well, in 1977, they told me the same thing. Can you imagine, 1977? And here it's 2008? Well, I got that same
type of a reception, primarily from blacks. If I'd have listened to them, I never would have been elected.

Now complete the table using the underlined words and your dictionary.
Meaning

Stem

Word

Prefix

Suffix

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.

37

Lesson Ten
(10) The Present Simple
El SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE tiene solamente dos formas:
La base (BASE) y la forma con s (-S FORM)
BASE occurs with all persons
(I, you, we, they) except third
person singular.

EXAMPLES:
Most planets HAVE satellites.
Satellites REVOLVE around the planets.
Mercury and Venus CLASSIFY as inner
Planets.

-S FORM occurs only with third


person singular (he, she, it)

Mars HAS two satellites.


The moon REVOLVES arount the earth.
Jupiter CLASSIFIES as an outerplanet.

En ESP, el SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE se usa para expresar


GENERALIZACIONES: hiptesis, leyes, ideas centrales y hechos
que los corroboran.
Examples:
HYPOTHESIS

A cloud of comets CIRCLES the sun at a distance of more


than one light-year.

PRINCIPLE

Every object REMAINS at rest or MOVES at a constant speed


in a straight line unless made to change because of some
outside push or pull. (Newtons principle of inertia).

CORE IDEA and

All objects in the universe EXERT a force of attraction upon


each other. This force is called gravitation.

SUPPORTING FACTS

Gravitation KEEPS the stars in their courses and the planets


in their orbits. It also KEEPS people and common objects
anchored to the surface of the earth

Exercise 10.1. In the following texts, identify all the BASE and S FORMS.

A. Well, what matters to me is a high salary, long holidays and


helpful colleagues. I only have two of these in my present job!
4

COTTON, David, FALVEY, David, KENT, Simon. Market Leader. Essex: Pearson Education Limited,
2004, p14.

38

B. Bill wants to be a salesman, so whats important for him is a


company car, a mobile phone, and a laptop computer of his
own.
C. Janet expects a friendly boss, travel opportunities, oh, and a
large office.
D. I need fast promotion, flexible hours, and some sports
facilities, because I play tennis and football.
Exercise 10.2. (A) What do people want from work? Read the texts again and
make three compound nouns they use from the words in each box.
1. high

colleagues

long

salary

helpful

holidays

3. company

phone

2. Friendly
Travel
Large

4. fast

office
opportunities
boss

facilities

Mobile

computer

Flexible

promotion

Laptop

car

Sports

hours

(B) Match some compound words from exercise A to their


meanings 1 to 6.
1. a lot of money

high salary

2. a lot of time away from work..................................................................


3. good people to work with.......................................................................
4. the chance to go to different places on business .......................................
5. move quickly to a higher position at work................................................
6. you can change the times when you start and finish work...........................
(C) What are your job expectations? Write a short paragraph.
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________

39

Exercise 10.3. A day in the life of Bill Gates5


The average day in the life of Bill Gates consists of attending meetings and reading email. He has three monitors in his office that contain his inbox, the current e-mail he is
reading, and a browser, respectively. Gates receives about 100 e-mails per day that he
reads, but his personal assistant filters out many unknown e-mails. For a man that
runs one of the most powerful companies in the world, that may not be as many as
you would have thought. Nevertheless, he still runs into information overload.
Staying focused is one issue; that's the problem of information overload. The other
problem is information underload. Being flooded with information doesn't mean we
have the right information or that we're in touch with the right people.
What is a man to do when there is more news than there is time? If that man is Bill
Gates, he turns to SharePoint.
SharePoint puts me in touch with lots of people deep in the organization. It's like
having a super-website that lets many people edit and discussfar more than the
standard practice of sending e-mails with enclosures. And it notifies you if anything
comes up in an area you're interested in.
When the day has come and gone, Gates puts the kids to bed, and, get this, he reads
his e-mail! There's no better way to relax than by reading e-mails that may have
slipped past you during the day, right?
Now that you have an idea of how Microsoft's head honcho lives out his day, do you
feel that you can relate? I do. Like a lot of us, his day is filled with meetings and
technology. That's just the way the IT industry works whether you are providing tech
support or managing a multi-billion dollar company.

(A) Now answer the questions about Bill Gates life.


1. How many e-mails does Bill Gates receive everyday?
_______________________________________________________________
2. Does he read all of them?
_______________________________________________________________

1one Microsoft way < http://arstechnica.com/journals/microsoft.ars/2006/4/4/3461 > [Consulta, Enero de


2009]

40

3. Who cleans his infobox?


_______________________________________________________________
4. How does he solve his problem of not having time for everything?
_______________________________________________________________
5. How many monitors does he have in his office and for what purpose?
_______________________________________________________________
6. Does the author think of Bill Gates as a normal person? Why?
_______________________________________________________________
7. What company does Bill Gates own?
_______________________________________________________________
8. What do you think Bill Gates marital status is?
_______________________________________________________________
9. How much is Bill Gates company worth?
_______________________________________________________________

(B) Vocabulary. Match the columns. Relate the two columns according to their
meaning.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Words in the text


Be in touch
Transfer information
Run a company
Honcho
Attend meetings

A
B
C
D
E

New words
Direct an enterprise
Big boss
Download data
Be present at a reunion
Be in contact

Grammar Focus: Frequency Adverbs


When we want to say how often something happens, it is common to use frequency
adverbs. It is possible to use them when referring to the past, present or future:
The following list shows the most common adverbs of frequency, with the one that
refers to things that happen most often at the top, and least often at the bottom:
Always
Usually
Frequently
Often
Sometimes
Occasionally
Rarely
Seldom

41

Hardly ever
Never
I always brush my teeth before I go to bed. (=every night)
I usually have toast for breakfast. (=happens most days) I frequently watch
the news before dinner. (=it's common)
I often go to the park with my dog. (=many times)
I sometimes see him down at the shops. (=at particular occasions but not all
the time)
I occasionally visit the capital. (=not happening often or regularly)
I rarely smoke cigars. (=it is not common)
I seldom have a chance to go to the theatre. (=almost never)
I hardly ever travel abroad. (=almost never)
I never work on the weekend. (=not at any time or not on any occasion)
Adverbs of frequency can occupy different positions in the sentence. With most
verbs, the normal position is between the subject and the verb. With the verb "to be",
the adverb normally comes after the verb:

Pedro occasionally visits us on Sundays.


She is often ill in winter.

Exercise 10.4. According to the reading and based on the grammar focus
above decide how often Bill Gates does the following things.
1. Have lunch at home
_______________________________________________________
2. Attend school meetings
_______________________________________________________
3. Put his kids to bed
_______________________________________________________
4. Check his infobox
_______________________________________________________
5. Have money problems
_______________________________________________________
6. Depend on his personal assistant
_______________________________________________________
7. Turn to SharePoint
_______________________________________________________

42

Exercise 10.5. Read the following interviews and complete the table
below.
Interview 1. (I. Interviewer/ R. Rosalinda)
I.
What do you do when you get to work?
R.
I always check my e-mail.
I.
Where do you have lunch?
R.
I usually have lunch at home because its close to my work.
I.
How often do you travel on business?
R.
I go to Italy once a month to meet customers.
I.
Where do you come from?
R.
Well, I am from Bolivia, originally.
Interview 2. (I. Interviewer/ Is. Isabella)
I.
What do you do when you get to work?
Is
I usually look in my diary. Then I have a coffee.
I.
Where do you have lunch?
Is.
I often have a sandwich at my desk.
I.
How often do you travel on business?
Is.
I never travel on business.
I.
Where do you come from?
Is.
I was born in Italy, but we moved to Wales years ago.
Interview 3. (I. Interviewer/ S. Steven)
I.
What do you do when you get to work?
S.
I always say hi to my colleagues. Then I check my e-mails.
I.
Where do you have lunch?
S.
I usually have lunch in the cafeteria with my colleagues.
I.
How often do you travel on business?
S.
Twice a year I go to sales conferences in Europe and the U.S.
I.
Where do you come from?
S.
Im Australian.

Rosalinda
(Bolivia)
1.

2.
3.

4.
5.

Isabella
(Italy)

Steven
(Australia)

What do you do
when you get to
work?
Where do you
have lunch?
How often do you
travel on
business?
Who do you have
lunch with?
Where do you
come from?

43

Lesson Eleven
(11) The Present Simple Negative
In the simple present tense, negative and question forms are made using the
auxiliary verb "do".

Forming a negative
Negatives in the simple present are formed by adding don't or doesn't
before the simple form of the verb:

Subject

Auxiliary

Example

don't

I don't sing

You

don't

You don't sing

He

doesn't

He doesn't sing

She

doesn't

She doesn't sing

It

doesn't

It doesn't sing

We

don't

We don't sing

They

don't

They don't sing

Only THIRD PERSON SINGULAR subjects (he, she and it) use
DOESNT the rest use DONT

Exercise11.1.

Our agency interviewed four people about the


biggest problems their companies are facing.
Here are the answers:6

COTTON, David, FALVEY, David, KENT, Simon. Market Leader. Essex: Pearson Education Limited,
2004, p 24

44

We pay a lot of rent for


an office floor in the city
centre. There isnt
enough room for all our
staff. Everyone is
crowded into small
offices. We really need a
spacious office. We want
to move outside the city
centre a.s.a.p.

One of our sales team is not


a team player. He doesnt
work well with colleagues.
He doesnt attend meetings.
He never helps anyone, and
he doesnt send reports on
time. He isnt very popular

There are a lot of


modifications in our company

at the moment, and staff are


worried about losing their jobs.
They arent very happy. They
dont come to work on time
and often leave early
Our biggest problem is
that we spend too much
money. We need to cut
costs because we are
having difficulties
paying our bills. We
have a problem with our
cash flow

Match the answers in Exercise A with an appropiate heading. Use your


dictionary.
A) changes at work
B) space problems
C) money problems
D) difficult people
C
B

Find words in the replies which mean the following.


1. the money you pay regularly to use a building (reply 1)
____________
2. when a place is too full of people (reply 1) ___________
3. large, with a lot of space (reply 1) __________
4. unhappy about something (reply 2) ___________
5. someone who works well with other members of a group (reply 3)
________
6. people you work with (reply 3) ___________
7. a piece of paper showing how much you have to pay for
something (reply 4) ________
8. amount of money coming into and going out of a company (reply
4) ______

45

Study the Case, and list the problems that the


companies involved are facing. (Use the Negative forms of the verbs)
Exercise 11.2.:

CASE STUDY: DETROIT ... WE HAVE A PROBLEM

DETROIT (AP) - February 4, 2008 -- A dispute between Chrysler LLC and parts supplier
Plastech Engineered Products Inc. forced Chrysler to shut down or cancel a shift at five
factories Monday, and the automaker said it could idle all 14 of its assembly factories. In its
lawsuit filed Friday, Chrysler claimed Plastech no longer can meet its production demands.
Plastech has 36 facilities and 7,600 employees in the United States and Canada and
supplies Chrysler with about 500 plastic interior, exterior and powertrain components for
nearly all of its vehicles, according to a lawsuit Chrysler filed Friday in U.S. Bankruptcy
Court in Detroit. Chrysler terminated its contracts with the Dearborn-based supplier on
Friday, before Plastech filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
Plastech's contracts with the automaker were worth about $200 million, Plastech
spokesman Kelvin Scott said. Plastech does about $1.3 billion in total business, he said.
Faced with stiff competition and a shrinking market, many suppliers are willing to take on
work if it means getting contracts, said Craig Fitzgerald, a partner in Plante & Moran's
Strategy and Global Services Group.
Fitzgerald said Monday. "Production values are declining, there is high debt, weak earnings
and cash flow, and difficulty in getting credit."
Although Chrysler has an inventory of vehicles made by the plants, it will not benefit from
any plant closures, said Aaron Bragman, an auto industry analyst for the consulting
company Global Insight. "When a plant is idle, you're not making any money. You've got
people standing around, so it's just a cost," he said.
The shutdowns are having a ripple effect as auto parts maker Dana Corp. canceled Monday
night's second-shift at its modules plant in Toledo. About 150 people work at the plant,
which supplies drivetrain parts for Chrysler's Toledo Jeep plant.
Chrysler employees will be notified of return-to-work schedules from plant officials or
through local media, the automaker said. Chrysler's work shutdown should last no more
than a week or two, Fitzgerald said.
"I think they will not have any problems filling the void," he said. "There is a lot of excess
capacity. Chrysler would do everything to get up and run."
Adapted from a report made by Corey Williams Associated Press Writer on the Net.

46

Example: They dont benefit from plant closure.


________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________

47

Lesson Twelve
(12) Can / Cant (cannot)
En ingls existe un grupo de verbos DEFECTIVOS (tambin llamados
MODALES) muy usados en el lenguaje corriente con el significado de
poder, deber, querer. Estos verbos no se conjugan en todos los tiempos y
presentan algunas caractersticas especiales.
Su infinitivo NUNCA va precedido de TO como los verbos comunes (to go, to read, to play,
etc).
Son iguales para todas las personas
En las formas negativa e interrogativa se comportan como el verbo auxiliar be.
No llevan la s en la tercera persona del presente (he, she, it).
CAN significa poder, ser capaz de, saber (tener capacidad fsica o conocimiento suficiente
para hacer algo). Se utiliza tanto para el afirmativo como para el interrogativo y SIN auxiliares:
CAN'T es la forma contrada o reducida de CANNOT (nunca se escribe separado):

Can I swim very well?


Yes, I can swim. No, I cannot swim.
You can swim.
Can you swim very well?
Yes, you can.
She can swim.
Can she swim very well?
Yes, she can.

Can he swim very well?


No, he can't. He can't swim.

Can we swim very well?


No, we can't. We can't swim.
Can you swim very well?
No, you can't. You can't swim
Can they swim very well?
No, they can't. They cannot swim.

48

Exercise 12.1 Choose the correct answer.


1.

She cant ___________ Italian.


a. speak

2.

b. arent can

c. cant

b. cant

c. m cannot

__________ I see the doctor tomorrow, please?


a. Can

6.

c. Can he

Can you help me? Sorry, I ___________


a. dont

5.

b. Is he can

We ________ go to the party.


a. dont can

4.

c. speaking

________ play chess?


a. Does he can

3.

b. to speak

b. Am

c. Do

Can he swim? Yes, he _________


a. do

b. can

c. is

Exercise 12.2 Mix and Match the columns. Draw an arrow.

http://www.english-grammar-lessons.com/can/exercise1.swf

49

Exercise 12.3 Decide whether the following uses of can refer to requests,
offers or possibilities.
http://www.english-grammar-lessons.com/can/exercise2.swf

You can do it!


Exercise 12.4 Read the following passage in your own time. Use your
dictionary to help you. Then answer the questions.
7
SCALES AND GRAPHS.
In engineering it is often necessary to describe quantities
and relationships. We can give a pictorial representation of
vector quantities by using vectors. Scalar quantities are
simply described by giving their magnitude in a suitable
unit of measurement. For example, we can describe the
mass of a body as a quantity of grammes, the capacity of
a container as a number of cubic metres and a period of
time as so many seconds. We can also illustrate scalar
quantities by points or divisions on a scale. Thus, a clock
is a scale for measuring time and the clock hands indicate
the passage of time. Similarly a metre stick is a scale for
measuring length and a thermometer is a scale for

GLENDINNING, Eric H. English in Mechanical Engineering. 9 th ed. Oxford, Oxford University Press, 1991,
22p.

50

measuring heat.
Scales can also be used to make
calculations.
For
example,
engineers use slide-rules for quick
multiplication and division. The
slide-rule
consists
of
two
logarithmic scales.
When there is a relationship
between two sets of observations,
we can often express this as a
mathematical formula. We can
also use a graph. A graph gives a
visual representation of the
relationship. This is often more
easily understood than a law. For
example, if we make a graph to
compare the safe working loads of steel ropes with the circumference of the ropes, it is
easy to see how the safe working load varies with the circumference. In addition, we can
use the graph as an information store, rather like a simple computer. In this way a graph
can present at a glance the information contained in a law or a collection of tables.
A more complex kind of graph is the nomograph. This can show the relationship
between more than two variables. A
simple nomograph can consist of a
number of scales arranged in a
special shape. For example, three
scales could be placed parallel to
each other or in the form of the letter
N, or even in curves. Such a
nomograph is read by drawing a
straight line to cut through all three
scales. With a nomograph of this type
an engineer could relate information
on the horse-power of a motor, its
speed, and the diameter of driving
shaft necessary to transmit the motors power.
More complex nomographs are made on special graph paper and may even be in three
dimensions.
1.

What is a vector used for ? __________________________________________


________________________________________________________________

2.

How can we describe a scalar quantity ? _______________________________


________________________________________________________________

3.

In what way is a thermometer a scale ? ________________________________


________________________________________________________________

51

4.

Name two uses of scales. ___________________________________________


________________________________________________________________

5.

What is a slide-rule and what is it used for ? _____________________________


________________________________________________________________

6.

Name two ways in which a relationship between two variables can be shown. __
________________________________________________________________

7.

Describe the advantages of a graph. ___________________________________


________________________________________________________________

8.

Give one difference between a graph and a nomograph. ___________________


________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

Exercise 12.5 Study the following graph and then explain all the variables.

________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________

52

Lesson Thirteen
(13) Simple Past
El Pasado Simple es un tiempo verbal que se usa para describir acciones que
han sucedido en un tiempo anterior y que ya han finalizado, por ejemplo:
She cleaned her house.
I broke the window.
Observa que la estructura de la oracin es similar a la del Presente Simple:

SIMPLE PAST TENSE


AFFIRMATIVE

INTERROGATIVE

NEGATIVE

I worked

Did I work ?

I did not (didnt) work

You worked

Did you work ?

You did not (didnt) work

He worked

Did he work ?

He did not (didnt) work

She worked

Did she work ?

She did not (didnt) work

It worked

Did it work ?

It did not (didnt) work

We worked

Did we work ?

We did not (didnt) work

You worked

Did you work ?

You did not (didnt) work

They worked

Did they work ?

They did not (didnt) work

En las formas interrogativa y negativa se usa el auxiliar DID (que es la forma


pasada del verbo "DO") y el verbo principal va en su forma infinitiva. En las
negaciones puede utilizarse la forma contrada de DID NOT o sea DIDN'T. En
el

cuadro

superior

se

eligi

el

verbo

work

modo

de

ejemplo.

53

Forming the simple past tense (with regular verbs)


With most verbs, the simple past is created simply by adding -ED.
However, with some verbs, you need to change the ending a little. Here
are the rules:
Verbs ending in...

How to make the


simple past

Examples

Add -D

live - lived
date - dated

Consonant + y

Change y to i, then
add -ED

try - tried
cry - cried

One vowel + one


consonant (but NOT w or
y)

Double the consonant,


then add -ED

tap - tapped
commit committed

[anything else]

Add -ED

boil - boiled
fill - filled
hand - handed

The three most important irregular verbs


The three most important irregular verbs are BE, HAVE, and DO. BE is
the most difficult, because its forms are different depending on the
subject:
Pronoun

Verb

was

You

were

He / she / it

was

We

were

They

were

54

HAVE and DO are simpler:


Base form

Past Tense

have

had

do

did

Other irregular verbs


Other irregular verbs fall into three main categories:
Category

Examples

Verbs which don't change

cut - cut
hit - hit
fit - fit

Verbs which change their vowel

get - got
sit - sat
drink - drank

Verbs which change completely

catch - caught
bring - brought
teach - taught

Exercise 13.1 Reading Comprehension.


A

Read and then do the exercises below.


A SPACE DISASTER8

The wife of an Israeli astronaut who perished in the Columbia space shuttle
disaster today paid tribute to the crew of "angels" who died onboard.
Rona Ramon said she was consoled by the fact her husband Ilan had died
chasing his dream and "with people he loved in a place that he loved".
And she spoke of the comfort relatives of the Columbia crew gave each other.
"We are one big family," she said. "What unites us is the knowledge they really
enjoyed being there and loved being with each other. They are all angels and
will remain that way.
8

http://www.miguelmllop.com/practice/intermediate/readingcomprehension/shuttle.pdf

55

"The children are not saying much. They are trying to get used to the fact that
he is no longer here." Rona revealed her last contact with Ilan was via email
moments before the shuttle prepared for landing. He also sent emails to
former US President Bill Clinton and ex-Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres
who decided in 1995 to send an Israeli astronaut into space.
Rona choked back tears as she recalled the moment she realised her husband
was dead: "Just like at the lift-off, we counted back from 10, but we got to
zero and nothing.No sign - the shuttle wasn't drawing near, nor did we hear
the sonic booms that we knew would be heard before the landing.
"There was an odd, terrible quiet...As the minutes passed we already knew
that there was nobody to wait for and nothing to wait for."
QUESTIONS

B
A

1. Answer the following questions using your own words.


a. According to the text, who is comforting the widow right now?
_______________________________________________________________
b. How many e-mails did the astronaut send before the shuttle exploded and
who to?
_______________________________________________________________
2. Are the following statements true or false?
a. Bill Clinton decided to send an Israeli astronaut into space in the nineties.
____
b. Bill Clinton sent an e-mail to Shimon Peres in 1995. _____

C
A

Find a word or phrase in the text which, in context, is similar


in meaning to:

STAY: ________________

APPROACHING:________________

SHIP: ________________

TEAM:_______________________

DIE : ________________

HOMAGE:____________________

D
C
A

Choose a, b or c in each question below. Only one choice is


correct.

1. Rona Ramon was comforted because her husband had died doing what he
liked.
a. Yes.
b. No.
c. Possibly.

56

2. The astronauts on the shuttle got on with one another.


a. Yes.
b. No.
c. Sometimes.
3. The children are getting used to:
a. Their fathers absence.
b. The shuttle.
c. Their mothers tears.
4. The noise that is heard before the landing was:
a. None.
b. Very low.
c. Very loud.
Look at the chart below, which shows the distribution of the World Bank
lending various sectors in Fiscal Year 1982. 9

Note:
Urbanization: the word urban refers to cities.
Sewerage: a sewer is an artificial conduit or
channel (usually underground) for the disposal of
waste matter.
Rural Development: the word
rural refers to the countryside.
Nonproject and Structural Adjustment: this sector
consists of lending for special purposes not
covered by the other categories; for example,
lending for rehabilitation after natural disasters.
Now answer these questions.
Which sector received the largest amount
of World Bank assistance in 1982?
_______________________________________
2.
Approximately, what proportion of total
lending went to that sector?
_______________________________________
3.
How much did the World Bank lend for
Nonproject and Structural Adjustment?
_______________________________________
4.
Did the loans extended to Development
Finance Corporation come to just under $1 billion?
__________________________________________
5.
Which sector received about one-tenth as much assistance as Energy?
_______________________________________________________
1.

CARROLL; Walter, TURNER, Stephen, YOUNG, Dale.Bid for Power.Workbook. Japan, BBC English,
1984, R3.2.

57

Why do you think Energy received so much assistance?


_______________________________________________________
6.

Cloze Procedure. Alexander Graham Bell. As you read, choose the best
alternative to complete the ideas.
Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone and became a very
famous man. He also wrote an article which he presented in 1883. His
research paper was about deaf people.
In his article, Dr. Bell explained why there were so many deaf children.
He believed that when deaf adults married each other, they would have
deaf children. He thought that this was bad. Bell blamed the schools for
the deaf for causing marriages between deaf people. He did not like the
idea of these intermarriages and tried to think of ways to stop them. He
would have preferred that deaf children be taught at hearing schools. He
did not ____1______ schools for the deaf. Bell felt that deaf people
would not mix with hearing people if they went to _____2_____ schools.
Bell was ____3______ about other things, too. He noticed that deaf
people socialized with other deaf people. He felt that socializing with
other deaf people was bad. Deaf people should socialize with hearing
people, he thought. Bell tried to start a new law that would make it
illegal for deaf people to marry each other. He ____4______ up his idea
when he realized that such a law could not be enforced.
Bell also had strong feelings about the ____5______ of deaf children. He
wanted deaf children to be with hearing children in school. He thought
that the deaf children could learn normal behavior from the hearing
children. Bell was against the use of deaf teachers, too, because he
thought this added to the ____6______ of a deaf "race" in America.
Bell had another theory which he never proved. He believed that deaf
children who signed would not have good English skills. He could never
prove this, and now many people have tried to prove the opposite! A lot
of new research shows that many deaf children whose parents sign (and
are deaf) do _____7_____ schoolwork than deaf children who do not
sign at home!

1. Bell did not ___________ schools for the deaf.


a. observe

b. describe c. support

d. visit

e. study

2. Bell felt that deaf people would not mix with hearing people if they went
to _________ schools.
a. larger

b. nicer

c. worse

d. older

e. separate

3. Bell was _________ about other things, too.


a. selfish

b. upset

c. shy

d. careless

e. unsure

58

4. Bell ________ up his idea when he realized that such a law could not be
enforced.
a. fixed

b. gave

c. wrote

d. talked

e. printed

5. Bell also had strong feelings about the ________ of deaf children.
a. discipline

b. health

c. safety

d. effort

e. education

6. Bell was against the use of deaf teachers, too, because he thought this
added to the _________ of a deaf race in America.
a. ability

b. loss

c. problem

d. success

e. cost

7. A lot of new research shows that many deaf children whose parents sign
(and are deaf) do _________ schoolwork than deaf children who do not
sign at home!
a. more

b. easier

c. slower

d. better

e. quieter

Using the timeline below, choose the most important facts to write
about the computer history. You can also use your dictionary to help
you.

Computer
History
Year

Computer History
Inventors/
Inventions

Computer History
Description of Event

1936

Konrad Zuse - Z1 Computer

First freely programmable computer.

1942

John Atanasoff & Clifford Berry


ABC Computer

Who was first in the computing biz is not always


as easy as ABC.

1944

Howard Aiken & Grace Hopper

The Harvard Mark 1 computer.

1946

John Presper Eckert & John W. Mauchly


ENIAC 1 Computer

20,000 vacuum tubes later...

1948

Frederic Williams & Tom Kilburn


Manchester Baby Computer & The
Williams Tube

Baby and the Williams Tube turn on the


memories.

1947/48

John Bardeen, Walter Brattain & Wiliam


Shockley
The Transistor

No, a transistor is not a computer, but this


invention greatly affected the history of
computers.

1951

John Presper Eckert & John W. Mauchly


UNIVAC Computer

First commercial computer & able to pick


presidential winners.

1953

International Business Machines


IBM 701 EDPM Computer

IBM enters into 'The History of Computers'.

1954

John Backus & IBM


FORTRAN Computer Programming
Language

The first successful high level programming


language.

1955

Stanford Research Institute, Bank of


America, and General Electric
ERMA and MICR

The first bank industry computer - also MICR


(magnetic ink character recognition) for reading
checks.

59

1958

Jack Kilby & Robert Noyce


The Integrated Circuit

Otherwise known as 'The Chip'

1962

Steve Russell & MIT


Spacewar Computer Game

The first computer game invented.

1964

Douglas Engelbart
Computer Mouse & Windows

Nicknamed the mouse because the tail came out


the end.

1969

ARPAnet

The original Internet.

1970

Intel 1103 Computer Memory

The world's first available dynamic RAM chip.

1971

Faggin, Hoff & Mazor


Intel 4004 Computer
Microprocessor

The first microprocessor.

1971

Alan Shugart &IBM


The "Floppy" Disk

Nicknamed the "Floppy" for its flexibility.

1973

Robert Metcalfe & Xerox


The Ethernet Computer Networking

Networking.

1974/75

Scelbi & Mark-8 Altair & IBM 5100


Computers

The first consumer computers.

1976/77

Apple I, II & TRS-80 & Commodore


Pet Computers

More first consumer computers.

1978

Dan Bricklin & Bob Frankston


VisiCalc Spreadsheet Software

Any product that pays for itself in two weeks is a


surefire winner.

1979

Seymour Rubenstein & Rob Barnaby


WordStar Software

Word Processors.

1981

IBM
The IBM PC - Home Computer

From an "Acorn" grows a personal computer


revolution

1981

Microsoft
MS-DOS Computer Operating
System

From "Quick And Dirty" comes the operating


system of the century.

1983

Apple Lisa Computer

The first home computer with a GUI, graphical


user interface.

1984

Apple Macintosh Computer

The more affordable home computer with a GUI.

1985

Microsoft Windows

Microsoft begins the friendly war with Apple.

________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________

60

Lesson Fourteen
(14) The comparison of adjectives
We compare two people or things with comparative forms of
adjectives
We compare three or more people or things with superlative forms of
adjectives
Monosyllabic adjectives are compared with -er, -est.
positive

comparative

superlative

strong

stronger

the strongest

small

smaller

the smallest

late

later

the latest

nice

nicer

the nicest

big

bigger

the biggest

thin

thinner

the thinnest

fat

fatter

the fattest

London is bigger than Vienna.


Disyllabic adjectives ending with y, er, ow, are compared with -er, est.
positive

comparative

superlative

easy

easier

the easiest

happy

happier

the happiest

clever

cleverer

the cleverest

narrow

narrower

the narrowest

What is the easiest exercise?


All the other adjectives are compared with more, most.
positive

comparative

superlative

careful

more careful

The most careful

expensive

more expensive

The most expensive

difficult

more difficult

The most difficult

61

tired

more tired

The most tired

terrible

more terrible

The most terrible

Which dress is more expensive?


Which dress is the most expensive?
Irregular forms
positive

comparative

superlative

good

better

The best

bad

worse

The worst

much

more

The most

many

more

The most

little

less

The least

(not) as ... as Ann is as tall as Mary


I think tomorrow it will be as hot as today.
This test was not as difficult as the last one.

Exercise 14.1 Reading Comprehension. Identify all the comparative


and superlative forms in the text.

Los Angeles10
Los Angeles, also known as L.A., is the second largest city in the United States (after
New York). Most immigrants to the United States arrive in Los Angeles and many of
them stay here. The city is also famous for its two Olympic Games (1932 and 1984).

Hollywood
Hollywood is a district of Los Angeles and for a long time it was nothing more but the
name of a ranch. In the early 1900s, however, movie companies decided to move
from New York and New Jersey to California where they had more space and better
weather. Nestor Studios were the first to settle in the area. But more and more
followed and now Hollywood is famous all over the world for its movie studios and
stars.

10

ENGLISH GRAMMAR ON LINE ... the fun way to learn English > http://www.ego4u.com/en/readon/countries/usa/tour/los-angeles#exercises > [Consulta: Enero 2009]

62

On the Walk of Fame (along Hollywood Boulevard and


Vine Street) more than 2,000 prominent celebrities
are honored with a star.

Disneyland (Anaheim, California)


Disneyland is situated in Anaheim, just a little south of
the City of Los Angeles. The park opened on July 17,
1955 and was the first Disney Park in the world. It has
been visited by more than 500,000,000 people and has several theme parks:

Adventureland

Critter Country

Fantasyland

Frontierland

Main Street U.S.A.

Mickeys Toontown

New Orleans Square

Tomorrowland

Grammar Exercise on the Text. Put the adjectives into the correct form.
1. Los Angeles is (large) ____________than Chicago.

2. But New York is (large) ___________city of the United States.


3. The weather in Hollywood is (good) ____________than in New York or New Jersey.
4. Nestor Studios is (old) ____________movie company in Hollywood.
5. Disneyland is (interesting) _____________ than any other amusement park.
6. Disneyland is (old) ________________ Disney Park in the world.
7. Anaheim is (small) _______________ than Los Angeles.
8. Megan Fox is one of the (beautiful) _____________ actresses in Hollywood.
9. Mickey is (cute) _______________ mouse in the world.
10. Fantasilandia (in Chile) is (small) _______________ than Fantasyland in L.A.

63

Grammar exercise. Write the correct form of the comparative or


superlative.

1.

A cheetah is ________________than a horse. (fast)

2.

Susans hair is ________________than Bettys. (short)

3.

The Mt Blanc is ________________than the Groglockner, the Mt


Everest is the _______________mountain. (high)

4.

June is ____________than May, but July is the______________. (hot)

5.

Table tennis is __________than tennis but badminton is the ________.


(easy)

6.

French is _____________than English, but Chinese is the ___________


language. (difficult)

7.

"Argo" is the _____________film I have ever seen. (interesting)

8.

No, I dont think so. "Skyfall" is ________________than "Argo".


(interesting)

9.

Hot dogs are ________________________than hamburgers. (good)

10.

This is the _______________chocolate cake I have ever eaten. (good)

11.

Skiing is as _______________________as riding a bike. (easy)

12.

Carol sings as ___________as Mary. (beautiful)

13.

Tennis is ______________than skiing, but football is the ___________ .


(popular)

14.

Detective films are as _________________as documentaries. (boring)

15.

No, I dont think so! Romantic films are ____________than horror films,
but nature films are the ____________films I have ever seen. (boring)

16.

The United States are ______________than Mexico, but Russia is the


________________. (large)

17.

A mouse is as ___________as a hamster, but a rat is _____________


than a mouse. (clever)

18.

A canary is __________ than an eagle, but a parrot is _____________.


(colourful)

19.

Peter is as _____________as George. (clever)

20.

January is as ________________ as February. (cold)

64

Exercise 14.2. Read the following job adverts in the UK (taken from the
Londons Times) and compare them.
(Use adjectives like interesting,
important, challenging, permanent, well-paid, profitable, growing, attractive,
declining, etc.)

Technical Sales Manager / Business


Development Manager

Employer
Posted
Reference
Contact
Location
Industry
Position Type
Position
Salary

BMS
13 Jan 2009
SE030908
Patrick McKinney
Reading
Engineering and Manufacturing, Sales
Permanent
Technical Sales Manager / Business
Development Manager
30000 - 30000 pa

__________________________

______________________
______________________
______________________
______________________
______________________
______________________
______________________
______________________
______________________
______________________

Commercial Manager

Employer:
Posted:
Reference:
Contact:
Location:
Industry :

Harvey Nash plc


12 Jan 2009
HN4277TOL
Dorota Fila
North West
Engineering and
Manufacturing Utilities
Position Type: Permanent
Position :
Commercial Manager
Salary:
Up to 75k + benefits

UK General Manager
Employer:
CRIPPS SEARS & PARTNERS
Posted: 13 Jan 2009
Location:
St Albans
Industry:
Energy - Non-Renewable, Energy - Renewable,
Engineering and Manufacturing Environmental, Engineering and
Manufacturing - Leadership/Management,
Engineering and Manufacturing - Public,
Engineering and Manufacturing - Utilities,
Engineering and Manufacturing - General,
Engineering and Manufacturing - Sales
Position Type: Contract
Position:
UK General Manager
Salary:
Executive Package

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

65

Match the beginning of the sentences 1 to 5 with their endings a) to e)


1. Coca-Cola is a mass market
product; it

a) is a small but often


profitable market

2. Selling special interest


holidays is a niche market;
it

b) is outside the
producers country.

3. Rolex watches sell in a


luxury market; they are

c) is in the producers
country.

4. An export market

d) high quality and


expensive goods

5. A home market

e) sells to large numbers


of people

Now think of 4 products you know and write about their types of market,
just like in exercise C.
E.g. Puma shoes sell in a mass market
Omega watches are a luxury market product.

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

Take a look at the pie chart at the right.


What can you conclude? Write a small
paragraph.
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

66

ACTIVITY: Lower-level and higher level generalisations11


Statements which contain higher-level items are more general than statements
which contain lower-level items. Look at the following example:

Statement (a) is the most general statement. When statement (a) is true, statements
(b), (c), and (d) must also be true.
Study the following sentences. Column (a) contains statements with lower-level items.
Column (b) contains more general statements with higher-level items. Match each
lower-level statement with a general statement from column (b).
Example :
Iron rusts.
Metals corrode.

1. Iron rusts.

Engines consume fuel.

2. Bronze contains copper and tin.

Metallic elements are added to steel to improve

3. A square metre is made by multiplying a its properties.


metre by a metre.
4. Chromium

makes

steel

corrosion- Compressive forces shorten bodies.

resistant.
5. A

load

of

Metals corrode.
five

tonnes

compresses

concrete column.
6. Zirconia

heat

Derived units are products of basic units.


shields

withstand Alloys are mixtures of metals.

temperatures over 2000 C.


7. Vinylite can be shaped in a lathe.

Ceramics can resist high temperatures.

8. Railway lines extend in hot weather.

Plastics can be machined.

9. Four-stroke internal-combustion engines


burn petrol, diesel oil, and gas.

Metals expand when heated.

11

GLENDINNING, Eric H. English in Mechanical Engineering. 9 th ed. Oxford, Oxford University Press,
1991, 19p.

67

Lesson Fifteen
(15) The Present Continuous
We use the present continuous to talk about temporary actions and
situations that are happening now.
The factory is working seven days a week
We are selling in 72 different countries
What is Gates doing? He is checking his e-mail
The present continuous is formed with be (am-is-are) and the ing
form of the main verb.

Complete these sentences with the present continuous form of the verbs
in brackets.
1.

BMW _______________ (sell) Minis in China now.

2.

People _______________ (work) in the factory 51 weeks a year.

3.

I _________________ (call) about a problem.

4.

Many English people _______________ (learn) Chinese.

5.

She ______________ (attend) a course on presentation.

6.

He ______________ (not work) in the office today.

7.

They ______________ (entertain) some foreign guests.

8.

Janet ______________ (research) a project. She _____________


(use) the Internet a lot.

9.

Loreto _________________ (do) an MBA course.

10.

Chrysler Co. _____________ (develop) a new model.

11.

DKNY __________________ (launch) a new parfum.

12.

They _________________ (start) the project.

Complete the article about the food group Angus Steak House. Use the
present continuous form of the words in italics.
increase

export

plan

expand

translate

The number of Angus Steak Houses ____________ not only in London, but also
in other parts of the UK. At present, Angus Steak House _____________ its
overseas business, particularly in Asia. Currently, it ___________its advertising
materials into Japanese. Angus Steak House ____________ its winning formula
to India and Indonesia. It _____________ to open new shops in New York.

68

Write a small report on how your business, life, or institution is changing.

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

What is this typical store-layout indicating? Write your conclusions.

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

69

Complete the sentences in the present continuous.

E
F

1. I (look for) ____________________my pen.


2. Jane (print out) __________________the contract.
3. As long as I am on holiday, Hannah and John (take care)
________________of everything.
4. Look! Graham (wear) _________________a tie today.
5. That's because he (meet) _______________________the big boss in
the afternoon.
6. I (work / not) _____________________tomorrow.
7. Bob (talk / not) ______________________on the phone.
8. What (you / do)______________________?
9. Where (Mister Bradley / stay)__________________________?

Choose the correct answer.12

1. I am living in London now. - What does this sentence mean?


a. I have moved to London to stay there for ever.
b. I am in London only for a limited period of time.
c. I am going to move to London soon.
2. We are meeting Tom tonight. - What does this sentence mean?
a. The action is arranged for the near future.
b. The action is taking place now.
c. The action might take place.
3. I'm working hard at the moment. - Is the sentence correct even if I am not
working at the moment of speaking?
a. yes
b. no
4. He is playing football. - Which situation cannot be expressed by present
progressive?
a. To express that the match is going on right now.
b. To express that he does not play football regularly, but only for a limited
period of time.
c. To express that he plays football regularly.

12

ENGLISH GRAMMAR ON LINE ... the fun way to learn English > http://www.ego4u.com/en/cramup/tests/present-progressive-3 > [Consulta: Enero 2009]

70

5. Look! The Millers are moving house. - Which of the following situations is
expressed by the present progressive?
a. They are in the middle of the action.
b. The action is going to take place next week.
c. They will come back to this place one day.

Complete the article with the present simple or the present continuous of
the verbs in brackets. Remember that:13
We use the present continuous to describe temporary situations, ones
which dont happen for a long time
We use the present simple to describe permanent situations, ones
which wont change.

PROFILE

The Inditex Group

The name Zara _________ (seem)


to come from Zaragoza, but nobody
________ (know) it for sure. The
Inditex Group ________(own) six
fashion chains including Zara. It
__________ (have) around 1,500
stores worldwide. It _______
(operate) in 44 countries. Inditex
____________(employ)
27,000
people and __________ (have)
more than 200 fashion designers.
Currently the fashion designers
____________ (work) on next
years designs. The Inditex group
__________ (do) very well at the
moment, and it ____________
(try) to become a global fashion
leader.
Amancio Ortega, the founder of
Inditex, also ___________ (invest)
in property and hotels. Most of this
years
investment
___________(stay) in Spain

13

COTTON, David, FALVEY, David, KENT, Simon. Market Leader. Essex: Pearson Education Limited,
2004, p 82

71

Lesson Sixteen
(16) Quantity and Amount
Reading Comprehension Optical Fibres
Optical fibre is a material used for transmitting sound and data.
Optical fibre is made of glass and uses light (usually from a laser) to transmit
messages.

Read this conversation between an engineer and a journalist about the


advantages of optical fibre compared with conventional copper cable.
As you read, match the advantage with its effect(s). The first one has
been done for you.

Optical Fibres. (A conversation.)


Engineer:

Journalist:
Engineer:

Journalist:
Engineer:

Journalist:
Engineer:

Theres no doubt optical fibre


systems
have
enormous
advantages
over
existing
transmission systems.
So we have heard. But what are
these advantages?
Well, first and foremost they have
a much higher capacity than
copper wires. In other words,
they can carry much more
information telephone calls or
data, it doesn't matter which.
Secondly they have a potentially
lower material cost. At the
moment, production costs of
optical fibre are relatively high,
but this is only because mass
production hasnt really started.
In the long term, optical fibre will cost much less to produce than
conventional cables. Another big advantage is their size; they
take up much less space. With conventional cable you need many
more ducts or pipes to carry the cable.
What about quality of transmission?
Yes they score very highly here as well. The signal doesn't need
to be amplified as often as with conventional cable, where signal
loss means you need far more repeaters or boosters in fact,
every 2 or 3 kilometres as opposed to every 20 kilometres.
As far as quality is concerned, optical fibres dont suffer from
interference or crosstalk as much as conventional cable.
Anything else?
Yes, they also have complete electrical isolation and therefore
there's much more security on the line the data cant be
corrupted or interfered with.

72

MATCH THE COLUMNS.

ADVANTAGE
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

higher capacity
(D)
lower material cost
smaller size
higher quality of transmission
complete electrical isolation

EFFECT

a. less frequent repeaters


b. more security
c. cheaper to produce
d. more information
e. less space in ducts
f. less interference/crosstalk

Remember:
There is a difference between QUANTITY and AMOUNT:
QUANTITY
With conventional cable, you need many more ducts
With conventional cable, you can transmit far fewer telephone calls
AMOUNT
Optical fibres can carry much more information
Optical fibres take up much less space.

Controlled Practice.

(1) Classify the following nouns as either COUNTABLE (C) or UNCOUNTABLE


(U)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Telephone call
Crosstalk
Space
Data
Duct
Security

7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

Capacity
Equipment
Repeater
information
Money
Interference

(2) Complete these sentences using many more/far fewer/much


more/much less.
1. _________ _________ telephone calls can be transmitted using optical
fibre.
2. You hear ________ ________ crosstalk when using optical fibres.
3. There is________ _________interference on copper cables.
4. Optical fibres occupy__________ ___________ space.
5. You need ______ ______ ducts or cables pipes with optical fibre.
6. Conventional cable has _________ _________ capacity than optical fibre.
7. Conventional cable will cost_________ ________ to produce in the future
than optical fibre.

73

WORD CHECK: Match the word(s) to its definition.

WORDS

DEFINITIONS

capacity

channels for carrying cables

material cost

a type of interference sounds of another telephone call on the


line

ducts/pipes

to increase the strength of the signal

to amplify

a disturbance to the signal caused by unwanted signals

signal loss

how much something can hold e.g. the capacity of the truck is 200
cases.

repeater

outside electrical signals cannot interfere with the signal

interference

the information/data cannot be changed, accessed by other users

crosstalk

cost of the raw material (e.g.glass)

electrical

to change or delete data.

isolation
security

type of amplifier

to corrupt

decrease in the strength of a signal

(data)

Exercise 16.2: Look at the following table. Compare the sales volume during
the period. Write a short report using the words of measurement and quantity.
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
________________________________________________________

74

Notes about Quantifiers!

75

76

Exercise 16.3: In the following sentences, fill in the gaps with one of the
following quantifiers:
I.

much, many, a lot of

a. It seems to me that we've had ______assignments in English this term.


b. How _____material can we be expected to read in one week?
c. _____books are not in the library.
d. I've had _____headaches already because of stress.
e. _____depression can be attributed to being overworked.
II.

much, many, few, little, most.

(HINT: Three of the last four sentences could have two different answers.)
a. Our yard looks awful this summer. There are too _____weeds.
b. I didn't use _____fertilizer last spring, and that has made a difference.
c. Also, I've paid _____attention to how _____rain we've had.
d. I'm afraid it's rained _____times this summer, and the grass is turning
brown and dying.
e. _____experts say you should fertilize your lawn in the fall.
f. It didn't seem to do my lawn _____good.
g. _____advice you get from experts doesn't seem to help.
h. _____of my neighbors ignore their grass, and they have better lawns this
year.
III.

a little, little, a few, few.

(HINT: Three of the four can have more than one correct response.)
a. They say _____knowledge is a bad thing.

77

b. I know _____instances where that proves true.


c. _____people know as much about computers as Tomasz does.
d. But it does him _____good when the whole system goes down.
Exercise 16.4: Complete these sentences with a few / a little.
1. There was a little bread in the cupboard.
2. We met __________ friends at the party.
3. Do you take _______ sugar in the coffee?
4. I put _________ cans of coke in the fridge.
5. Were there _______ bags of rice in the kitchen?
6. I found __________ wood and metal in the garage.
7. There were ________ car tyres next to the gate.
Exercise 16.5: Complete these sentences with many / much / a lot of.
8. I have many coloured T-shirts.
9. They dont have ________ interest in changing the rules.
10. We made _______ new prototypes for the exhibition.
11. Does she have ________ stocks?
12. Was there ___________ information in the PC?
13. Did they order ____________new products?
14. He brought __________ new tables to the office.
15. Do you need __________ paper for the printer?
Exercise 16.6: Complete with the following quantifiers: a few/ a little / a lot
of / several / much / many
16. I only had a little money for the books.
17. Were there ___________ reports on the table?
18. They took _____________ photographs of the prototype.
19. We didnt buy _____________ PCs because we had some at the office.
20. I like coffee with ___________ cream.
21. Are there ____________ engineers in the firm?
22. There isnt ___________ money in the budget for new investments.

78

Size, quantity, dimensions an d measurements


Games
The size, strength or capacity of things can be measured in
many different ways. Cover the columns on the right and
complete the following sentences with an appropriate word or
phrase of measurement or size.
1. Hes bought himself a new 750 ... Kawasaki
(a) Set
2. We really need another 100 - ... bulb.
(b) lap
3. We could also do with an extra 13- ... plug.
(c) area
4. Her wedding ring is 24 - ... gold.
(d) ratio
5. Its over 85 ... Fahrenheit in the shade today (e) Rate
6. We sailed across the Atlantic in a 20,000 - ... (f) Depth
liner
7. The ship was travelling at an average speed (g) Grade
of 28....
8. Winds of gale ... 9 were reported.
(h) Angle
9. The Krakatoa explosion (1883) happened too (i) Track
long ago for the intensity of its sound to be
measured in....
10. The recent earthquake gave a reading o f (j) Weight
point 7 on the Richter....
11. The Empire State is a 102 - ... buildin g.
(k) Scale
12. Hong Kong has the highest ... of population (l) Storey
of any country in the world.
13. She passed her final exams with a ... 3.
(m) Density
14. The Tower of Pisa leans at an ... of several (n) Force
.... to the vertical.
15. Parts of the Pacific Ocean are known to be (o) decibel.
well over 30,000 feet in ....
16. The people voted to remain in the Common (p) Degrees
Market by a ... of
two to one.
17. Redundancies are being announced now at a (q) Ton
...of a thousand a day.
18. A number of rock- groups now own their own (r) Knots
16 or 24- ... recording equipment.
19. The man thought to have been the heaviest (s) Carat
ever is reported to have been over 70 stone in
....
20. The final of the tennis championship mens (t) Degrees
singles was the best of five....
21. The 800 metres is normally a two -... race
(u) Watt
22. The duke's farm extends over an ... of 640 (v) amp. (ampere)
acres.
(w) c.c.

79

Games (2) Numerals and proportions


There are several prefixes which indicate number in English.
Try to find a word in the right-hand column which matches
each definition 1 21.

DEFINITION
1
being
able
to
speak
two
languages very well
2
a period of ten years
3
a
creature
with
about
a
hundred legs
4
a
childs
three-wheeled
vehicle
5
half a pair of glasses
6
to copy a document
7
one thousand watts
8
a tenth of a centimetre
9
the
process
of
making
a
country completely one
10 describing a decision that had
100% support
11 a very large number of people
as a crowd
12 the state of having rather a
lot of husbands or wives at once
13 a system in which the only
digits used are 1 and 0
14 describing a system like: 12
inches in 1 foot
15 the O in CO
16 a road consisting of 2 parts
with
traffic
going
in
one
direction only
17 half-yearly
18 a group of eight musicians
19 one-sided, the sort of nuclear
disarmament that pacifists would
be happy with
20 a longish passage spoken by
one person
21 a more romantic speech

WORD
a unification
b monologue
c soliloquy
d binary
e
f
g
h
i

biannual
octet
dioxide
duodecimal
unilateral

j unanimous
k polygamy
l.dual
m tricycle
n millimetre
o kilowatt
p multitude
q monocle
r duplicate
s bilingual
t decade
u centipede

80

Games (3)
Numerals and proportions

Practice
1 Which word or phrase is missing in each of the sequences
below? Complete and continue each sequence.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
2

one two three four


first second
third
once three times
one
a half
solo
trio
think of a number
a double whisky

five

six seven nine ten


fourth
sixth
four times
five times
a third
a fifth
quartet
quintet
double it
quadruple it
a triple (or treble) whisky

Now see how quickly you can find the answer to this rather
long sum.
Four add two, divide by three, subtract one, multiply by eight,
take away four, times three, plus two, minus four, halved,
equals what?

Of all these numbers, O presents the most linguistic problems.


Try to read out loud the following expressions including various
words for the figure O. Then work out the answer to questions
9 and 10. Look up the answers in the answer Key if you find
this exercise difficult.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Manchester City 0, Manchester United 0


5,4,3,2,1,0!
0.1% of the air
Tel.
01 906 3002
H20
4+26=0
60,61,60
the temperature is below 0
How many fingers have you got on your feet?

4.
For further practice of expressions describing numbers, give
an example of each item below.
1 an odd number _____________________________
2 a three -figure sum ____________________________
3

three

consecutive

numbers

after

the

decimal

point_______________________________________
4 a mu ltiple of 49 ________________________________
5 an even number _____________________________
6 a fr action _______________________ ___________
7 a number with 5 digits _________________________
8 an equation _________________________________

81

Lesson Seventeen
(17) Will and Time Prepositions
time
El auxiliar de futuro Will expresa una decisin espontnea, una suposicin en
relacin al futuro o una accin en el futuro que no puede ser influenciada.
Funciona igual para todas las personas.

Formas del will

Affirmative

Negative

Interrogative

You

You

You

He

He

He

She

She

She

It

} will speak

It

We

We

You

you

they.

they

{will not speak.


(wont speak)

Will

It

speak?

We
You
they

Uses of will

a spontaneous decision : Wait, I will help you.

an opinion, hope, uncertainty or assumption regarding the future


He will probably come back tomorrow.

a promise: I will not watch TV tonight.

an action in the future that cannot be influenced: It will rain tomorrow.

conditional clauses type I: If I arrive late, I will call you.

82

Exercise 17.1: Put the verbs in brackets into the correct form of the simple
present or simple future (will). Pay attention to time indicators.
1. Today after I (get) _______out of class, I (go) _______to a movie with
some friends.
2. When you (arrive) ________in Stockholm, call my friend Gustav. He (show)
________you around the city and help you get situated.
3. A: Do you know what you want to do after you (graduate) __________?
B: After I (receive) ________my Master's from Georgetown University, I (go)
_________to graduate school at UCSD in San Diego. I (plan) _________ to
complete a Ph.D. in cognitive science.
4. This weekend, we (go) _________skiing near Lake Tahoe.
5. Your father (plan) _______to pick you up after school today at 3:00 o'clock.
He (meet) _______ you across the street near the ice cream shop. If he
cannot be there, I (pick) __________you up instead.
6. If the people of the world (stop, not) ________ cutting down huge stretches
of rain forest, we (experience) _________huge changes in the environment
during the twenty-first century.
7. If Vera (keep) _______ drinking, she (lose) ________ her job.
8. I promise you that I (tell, not) ________ your secret to anybody. I (reveal,
not) __________the truth to a single person.
9. She (make) _______ some major changes in her life. She (quit) _______
her job and go back to school. After she (finish) ________studying, she (get)
_______a better-paying job and buy a house. She is going to improve her life!
10. Tom (call) ________when he (arrive) ____________in Madrid. He (stay)
__________ with you for two or three days until his new apartment (be)
________ available.

PROJECT PLANNING (Prepositions of time)


Las preposiciones de tiempo indican cundo ocurre y cunto dura una
accin. Las frases preposicionales de tiempo responden a la pregunta
WHEN?

83

Preposition

Use

Examples

in months

in July; in September

year

in 1985; in 2002

seasons

in summer; in the summer of 99

part of the day

in the morning; in the afternoon; in the


evening

duration

in a minute; in two weeks

part of the day (special case)

at night

time of day (hours)

at 6 o'clock; at midnight

celebrations

at Christmas; at Easter

fixed phrases

at the same time

days of the week

on Sunday; on Friday

date

on the 25th of December*

special holidays

on Good Friday; on Easter Sunday; on


my birthday

a special part of a day

on the morning of September the


11th*

After

later than sth.

after school

Ago

how far sth. happened (in the


past)

6 years ago

Before

earlier than sth.

before Christmas

Between

time that separates two points

between Monday and Friday

By

not later than a special time

by Thursday

During

through the whole of a period


of time

during the holidays

For

period of time

for three weeks

two points form a period

from Monday to Wednesday


from Monday till Wednesday
from Monday until Wednesday

In

At

On

from ... to
from...
till/until

Reading Comprehension: Project Planning


This text deals with the timing of a project. The project leader is
responsible for different activities including installation of equipment,
testing of the equipment and training of the employees. Read the
transcription of a long-distance conference call between Roger, manager
of overseas operations at an engineering firm, and Colin, project leader in
charge of setting up a new plant in Saudi Arabia. They discuss the
schedule for the project. As you read, complete the key for the "Planner"
below.

84

Roger:Hi, Colin. It's Roger here. I'm calling about the Saudi project to find out
how the work's coming along.
Colin: Not bad, we're mostly on schedule.
Roger:Is all the equipment installed?
Colin: Yes, we finished installation last week. We start testing the machines on
Monday next week.
Roger:How long will that take?
Colin: Well. We've scheduled three weeks so we should finish at the end
of the month.
Roger:Good. What else?
Colin: Well, the operator training already started. We kicked off on Wednesday
this week and the first course ends next Friday.
Roger:Oh yes, that was one of the things I wanted to mention. Fred Hyman,
the maintenance trainer should arrive at the weekend.
Colin: Fine, do you know what time?
Roger:No, but I expect he'll arrive at 12 on Saturday. I'll telex you as soon as I
know for certain.
Colin: OK. Anyway he'll have a week before he starts training. The first
maintenance course is due to begin a week from Monday.
Roger: When do you plan to finish the training programme?
Colin: Just a moment, I'll look at the planner . . . here it is. . . um, . . ., the
last course is in July that's the Supervisor course if all goes well,
that'll finish at the end of the month and they'll be ready to start work at
the beginning of August.

85

Roger: So you plan to start up in August?


Colin: Yes, if all the tests are OK, we have a provisional start-up date on 25th
August . . . for the first two weeks we'll be building up capacity slowly ...
hope to reach full capacity by September 8th.
Roger: Right, that's the other thing I wanted to mention. The client wants an
official opening date for the plant when do you suggest?
Colin: Well. I talked to some of the Saudis here in fact I talked to the Works
Manager a couple of days ago he reckoned the middle of September
will be fine.
Let me just look at my diary . . . about September 15th?
Roger: Sounds fine. Anything you need?
Colin: Um. I don't think so. Oh yes. Can you send some more copies of the
Operators' Manual Let's say about 20?
Roger: Of course. Ill send them off by airmail. They will be with you by
Monday.
Colin: Right, thanks Roger.
Roger: Youre welcome. Speak to you again soon,
Colin: Yes, Bye.
Roger: Bye.

WORD CHECK. Match the columns. Draw an arrow.

WORDS
To schedule

DEFINITIONS
1. to start

To be on schedule

2. to start (a process, factory, etc.)

To kick off

3. to arrive at the moment when the factory is


producing at full volume

To be due to

4. to plan into action at the right time

To start up

5. chart

To build up capacity

6. to increase production volume gradually

To reach full capacity

7. to plan activities in time

A planner

8. daily record of appointments, meetings, etc.

A diary

9. to be planned/scheduled to ...

During the telephone call, some of the following time expressions were
used:

TIME RELATING TO NOW


Days:
2 days ago - yesterday - today - tomorrow - next Monday - a week from next
Monday
Weeks/Months
2 weeks ago - last week - this week - next week - in 2 weeks' time

86

A. Use the planner to complete these sentences.


a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.

Installation work finished ____________ week.


Testing will begin ___________ Monday ___________week.
Testing will finish __________________________________ time.
The first Operators Training Course began ___________________
Wednesday _____________ week.
It'll finish _______________ week.
The
first
Maintenance
Course
begins
a
week
_______________________.
The Supervisor's Course finishes ____________________________July.
The Plant will start up ______________________ 25th August.
We plan to reach full capacity _____________________ September 8th
(at the latest).
The plant will be officially opened _________________ September 15th.
B. Write out the following msn in full:
ATTN: Colin Kerridge, Project Leader
Icnfm F. Hyman arrives Riyadh Sat.
1200. He expects start training 17
June. Pls meet him airport. Sent 20
operators manuals ysdy. Will arr.
Beg. Nxt week.
Rgds
Roger Coleman

Attention: Colin Kerridge, Project Leader


I confirm _______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________

87

Writing predictions based on the properties of materials14


When we know what the properties of a material are we can predict how
it will behave under different conditions. To make predictions of this type,
we use an if-sentence with will in the next sentence. Look at this
example:
If a material is flexible, it will bend easily.
Now write similar predictions for materials which have the properties
listed in column A. Mix and Match the columns.
A

elasticity
plasticity
toughness
corrosion-resistance
rigidity
wear-resistance
brittleness
hardness
flexibility
softness

B
will not bend easily
will resist abrasion, deformation and
indentation
will resist wear
will regain its original dimensions after the
forces which have caused deformation are
removed
will tend to fracture under impact loads
will bend easily
will not return to its original dimensions
after the forces producing strain are removed
will not fracture when indented or
scratched
will resist fracture when subjected to an
impact load
will resist corrosion

If a material is flexible, it will bend easily


________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
14

GLENDINNING, Eric H. English in Mechanical Engineering. 9 th ed. Oxford, Oxford University Press,
1991, 68p.

88

________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________

Glossary

Time.

Test your knowledge on what is the work of

engineering consultants.

Read the text and then answer the questions.


The role of an engineering consultant15
The task of assessing the feasibility of a sophisticated project such as the
building of an industrial plant and of seeing it through completion is often
beyond the capacity of a developing country. In such a case, the country
usually turns to an engineering consultant for advice and guidance. Moreover,
when an external source of finance such as the World Bank is involved in the
project, the services of an engineering consultant become an essential part of
the deal.
The first task of an engineering consultant is to conduct a feasibility study. This
will include a site survey an examination of the physical characteristics of the
area, such as the firmness of the ground on which the plant will be built. For
this he will probably need the assistance of other specialists, such as surveyors
and geologists. He will also have to consider whether there will be a market for
the goods the plant will produce. Of equal importance is the question of
whether the operation is likely to be profitable. The consultants financial
projections will play an important role in determining if the whole project is
feasible or not.
If the consultant feels the project is basically viable, he will have to prepare a
preliminary design and specifications. He will be establishing at this stage the
fundamental engineering standards that companies wishing to bid for the
project will have to meet. These companies will be furnished with this
information. When the bids are submitted, the consultant will have to examine
them in minute detail. As important as his technical evaluation, of course, is
his assessment of the total cost of the project to the country concerned. It can
happen that, in spite of its technical viability, it is simply going to be too
expensive.
Once the contract has been awarded, a consultant (though not necessarily the
same one) will oversee the engineering and the construction work. His role can
also extend to arranging the training of people who will operate the plant, and
even to supervising the running of the plant for a certain period after it started

15

CARROLL; Walter, TURNER, Stephen, YOUNG, Dale.Bid for Power.Workbook. Japan, BBC English,
1984, R4.2.

89

operations. The consultants precise role varies according to the type of project
he is working on.
Now answer these comprehensive questions.
1. When a developing country is considering a major construction project,
in what circumstances will they employ an engineering consultant?
_________________________________________________________
2. What does the consultant have to do first?
_________________________________________________________
3. What financial factors does the consultant have to consider?
__________________________________________________________
4. Who will the consultant give his preliminary design and specifications to?
__________________________________________________________
5. What will he do when the bids come in?
__________________________________________________________
6. What sort of work do engineering consultants have to supervise after the
contract has been awarded?
__________________________________________________________

Prepare your own glossary on the subject. Use the underlined


words in the text.

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

90

Lesson Eighteen
(18) Verbs + Prepositions
En Ingls hay muchos verbos que constan de dos partes: el verbo + una
preposicin o partcula adverbial.
Los verbos preposicionales constan de un verbo ms una preposicin. La
preposicin va detrs del objeto y en las oraciones interrogativas suelen
posicionarse al final.
I'm interested in this position.
What are you interested in?
Prepositional verbs are made of:
verb + preposition
Because a preposition always has an object, all prepositional verbs have direct
objects. Here are some examples of prepositional verbs:
prepositional
verbs

meaning

examples

believe in

have faith in the


existence of

look after

take care of

He is looking
after

the bullions.

argue about

discuss

Did you argue


about

money?

apply for

Write a letter or fill in a


form in order to ask
formally for

direct object
I believe in

Mr. Green is
applying for

the stock
market

a job.

*** Prepositional verbs cannot be separated.

91

Read the following table of prepositional verbs and then complete the

sentences below.

VERBS and PREPOSITIONS


Accuse of

bid for

look forward to

Agree with

bring up

look up

Apply to (somewhere)

care for

make up

Apply for (something)

carry out

pay for

apologize for

concerned with

prepare for

approve of

consist of

study for

argue with

depend on

talk about

argue about

find out

think about

ask about

give up

trust in

ask for

grow up

work for

belong to

interested in

worry about

look for

1. Gates never argues ________ his employees. He simply fires them.


2. The Senate didnt approve ________ the presidents new policy.
3. Im reading the paper because Im interested _________ this topic.
4. Laborum.com is a web page where people can apply _______ a job.
5. If you dont have money, you cannot belong ______ a golf club.
6. The system consists ________ a four-stroke petrol engine.
7. He works _______ the Chrysler Co.
8. Obama is worried ________ the worlds financial crisis.
9. The chairman is accused ________ stealing intellectual property.
10. All the senators agreed ________ the president.
11. All national Car Companies bid _______ the project.
12. The scientists carried _________ a new investigation on the disease.
13. Teenagers and university students depend ______ their parents money.
14. Students will prepare ________ the tests.

92

Prepositions with Nouns.


Now pay attention to this table of nouns + prepositions, and then
choose the best answer to complete the sentences below.

NOUNS and PREPOSITIONS


approval of
attitude to
awareness of
cause of
concern for
confusion about
damage to

decrease in
decrease of
difference between
fall in
grasp of
interest in
need for

participation in
reason for
relationship with
respect for
success in
understanding of

1. The decrease ________ demand caused a huge drop in their profits.


a. on

b. in

c. of

2. The crisis did a lot of damage _______ the worlds economy.


a. at

b. of

c. to

3. There was a decrease _______ 10% last year.


a. for

b. of

c. to

4. His attitude ______ his work is very negative.


a. for

b. of

c. to

5. Did they give you reasons _______ their decision ?


a. for

b. of

c. in

6. There has been a fall _______ prices.


a. of

b. in

c. at

7. What was the cause _______ the problem ?


a. for

b. in

c. of

8. He has a difficult relationship ______ them.


a. with

b. of

c. between

9. I cant tell the difference ________ them.


a. among

b. of

c. between

10.They were congratulated for their success _____sales profits.


a. on

b. at

c. in

93

In the following text, identify and underline all the prepositional verbs
A Turnkey Project16

In the building of an industrial plant, the actual work involved consists of three
main

components:

engineering,

procurement

and

construction.

The

engineering work is concerned with identifying the equipment and materials


needed,

producing

necessary

the

technical

specifications

and

drafting the design of the


plant. The procurement
aspect involves the task
of getting the equipment
and materials to the site
within
budget

the

time

established

and
for

the job. This will involve


locating suppliers when the equipment or materials in question are not
available from any of the components engaged in the work. The construction
work covers the preparation of the site and the actual erection of the plant, as
well as the provision of off-site parts and facilities.
One organization can carry out this work. Alternatively, different companies
working independently can handle the three components. If one company has
complete responsibility for the work - in other words, if the whole project just
involves one contract it can be regarded as a turnkey project. Such a
project will also include start-up assistance and operator training.

One

company takes responsibility for the work as the prime contractor, with
another (or others) working as the subcontractor(s). Such a situation will be a
joint venture, though the owner will not notice the split of responsibility.
A consortium can also bid for the project on a turnkey basis if the companies
involved have the capacity to handle all the work themselves. In such a case

16

CARROLL; Walter, TURNER, Stephen, YOUNG, Dale.Bid for Power.Workbook. Japan, BBC English,
1984, R5.1..

94

the participants will form an agreement among themselves (which the owner
will probably want to see). The company with the largest share in the project
will probably assume the dominant role and will be the one to negotiate with
the owner. The three components will be split among the several companies
concerned,

each

having

its

specifically defined
area

of

responsibility.
engineering
however,

The
work,
will

probably

be

co-

ordinated

by

one

company.
Moreover, it is in
the nature of such
work that the engineering and procurement people will have to co-operate
especially closely. It goes without saying, though, that co-operation among all
the companies working on a turnkey project is extremely important to the
success of the project as a whole.

Now answer the comprehensive questions.


1. What is involved in the building of an industrial plant?
__________________________________________________________
2. How many contracts are involved in a turnkey project?
__________________________________________________________
3. What other services are required in a turnkey project after the
completion of the construction of the plant?
__________________________________________________________
4. In a joint venture, what is the company that takes responsibility for the
work called?
__________________________________________________________

95

5. What is a consortium?
__________________________________________________________
6. Which of the companies in a consortium usually negotiates with the
owner?
__________________________________________________________

Glossary Time. Go back to the text, and find the meaning of the
following words in context. Use your dictionary to help you.

Procurement_____________________________________________________
Technical specifications ____________________________________________
Drafting ________________________________________________________
Budget _________________________________________________________
Suppliers _______________________________________________________
Engaged _______________________________________________________
Provision _______________________________________________________
Off-site parts ____________________________________________________
Facilities _______________________________________________________
Contract _______________________________________________________
Turnkey project __________________________________________________
Start-up assistance _______________________________________________
Operator training ________________________________________________
Prime contractor _________________________________________________
Sub-contractor __________________________________________________
Joint venture ____________________________________________________
Consortium _____________________________________________________
Turnkey basis ___________________________________________________
Agreement _____________________________________________________
Owner _________________________________________________________
Dominant role ___________________________________________________
Share __________________________________________________________
Success ________________________________________________________

96

Lesson Nineteen
(19) Jobs*

Everyone sees their life through


their job. To the doctor, the world
is a hospital. To truck drivers, its a
road system.
Alasdair Gray, Scottish writer

Look at these jobs. Who do you think should get the highest salary for
these jobs? Put the jobs in order, highest salary first.

Lawyer
Nurse
Football star
Accountant

Which of the following would you like (

1 a lot of telephone work


2 writing lots of reports
3 working with the same people
4 working with a lot of different
people
5 working on your own

Fashion model
Postal worker
Teacher
Police officer

Advertising
executive
Air traffic controller

) or not like (

) in a job?

6 sharing an office
7 using English at work
8 working flexible hours (including
weekends)
9 casual dress
10 uniforms

Which is more important to you, a high salary or a job you enjoy?


Discuss in pairs and write your conclusions.

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

*Lesson adapted from: COTTON, David, FALVEY, David, KENT, Simon. Market Leader. Essex:
Pearson Education Limited, 2004, pp. 106, 110

97

Exercise 19.2.Complete the first part of this advertisement with the verbs
from the box. Use the words in brackets to help you.
improve

lead

increase

set up

train

develop

KARADA MODE PLC


EUROPEAN MANAGER 50K + CAR
Are you the person we are looking for?
THE ROLE
We are looking for a talented person for this position. In this exciting job
you will need to:
Lead (1) a team of 25 (be in charge of)
_________ (2) a new branch in Amsterdam (start)
_________ (3) new staff (teach)
_________ (4) sales in all markets (make more)
_________ (5) new products (create)
_________ (6) communication between our head office and local
branches (make better)

Exercise 19.3. Complete the second part of the advertisement with the verbs from
the box.
deal with

organise

plan

manage

THE PERSON
In your present job you:
_________ (1) a large department in the clothing industry (control)
_________ (2) budgets (think about the future)
_________ (3) sales conferences and trade exhibitions (arrange)
_________ (4) customers, suppliers and their problems (take action)

98

Exercise 19.4.What skills or abilities do you think you need for your future
jobs? Use the verbs from exercises A and B.
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

Present Perfect Tense


Exercise 19.5. Match the job interview questions 1 to 5 with
their answers a) to e).
1. How many jobs have you had
since leaving university?____
2. Why have you changed jobs
so often? ____
3. What have you done that
shows leadership?____
4. In what ways has your job
changed since you joined the
company?____
5. Have you ever worked with a
difficult person?____

a) I now have more responsibility


and work longer hours.
b) Well, I lead the sales team. Im
also chairperson of a local
business association.
c) I wanted to earn more money.
d) Well, the boss in my last
company wasnt easy to work
with.
e) Ive worked for six companies.

Exercise 19.6.Complete these interview questions using the present perfect


form of the verbs in brackets.
1 How have you changed

(you change) over the last five years?

2 What other jobs ________________________ (you apply for) recently?


3 What ________________________ (you read) recently?
4 What kind of people ________________________ (you work) with?
5 What sort of bosses ________________________ (you have)?
6 What ________________________ (you learn) from other jobs?
7 What sorts of problems ________________________ (you have) to deal
with?
8 What ________________________ (you do) that shows leadership?

99

Exercise 19.7.Work in pairs. Ask and answer the questions above.


Exercise 19.8. Reading Comprehension.
Look at the CV (curriculum vitae) and put the headings from the box in
the correct place.

Interests

Key skills

Education

references

Work

experience

B
1
2
3
4
5
6

Mark each statement true or false.

Cristina Kramer studied in Brazil.


She has worked for two different companies.
She arranged seminars when she worked for Brazil instruments.
She was manager in Brazil instruments.
She has sold software in Sao Paulo.
She is interested in keeping fit.

100

Past simple and present perfect

We use the past simple to talk about completed actions that happened in the past.

I worked in Tokyo in 1990. (I now work in another place.)


We use the present perfect to talk about actions that continue from the past to the present.

He has worked in Berlin since 2008. (He still works there.)

Exercise 19.9.
Use the past simple or the present perfect form of the verbs in brackets to
complete the text.
I think I ______________ (have) an interesting career. I ______________
(study) at Oxford University from 2001 to 2005. Then I ______________
(apply) for jobs abroad. I ______________ (work) in Hong Kong for a year,
and then I ______________ (go) to Japan in 2007.
I ______________ (do) a number of different jobs.I ______________ (sell)
computer software in Hong Kong.I ______________ (teach) English in Japan.I
______________ (write) a book, and I _____________ (run) my own
business.

Tick the expressions you can use to complete this sentence.


The manager has been here ______________.
Before
Twice
Last year
Since 2 oclock
Two weeks ago
Often
For two hours
This afternoon
At 2 oclock
Recently

101

Students Notes
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105

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112

Anexo (1)
False Cognates
1.

an abstract: resumen (y no abstracto).

2.

actual: real, efectivo (y no actual, que se dice current)

3.

actually: en realidad (y no actualmente, que se dice nowadays, at


present)

4.

to advertise: anunciar (y no advertir, que se dice to warn)

5.

advice: consejo (y no aviso, que se dice warning, notice)

6.

application form: formulario de solicitud (y no formulario de aplicacin)

7.

to apologise: pedir disculpas (y no apologa, que se dice defence)

8.

apt: propenso (y no apto, que se dice qualified, able)

9.

argument: discusin, pelea (y no argumento de un libro/una pelcula,


que se dice plot)

10.

arena: estadio, plaza de toros (y no arena, que se dice sand)

11.

arm: brazo (y no arma, que se dice gun)

12.

army: ejrcito (y no arma, que se dice navy)

13.

assessment: evaluacin (y no asesora, que se dice consultancy)

14.

to assist: ayudar (y no asistir a un lugar, que se dice to attend)

15.

to attain: lograr, conseguir (y no atar, que se dice to tie)

16.

attempt: intento (y no atentado, que se dice terrorist attack)

17.

attendance: asistencia (y no atencin, que se dice attention)

18.

avocado: palta (y no abogado, que se dice lawyer)

19.

balloon: globo (y no baln, que se dice ball)

20.

bank: banco - la institucin (y no banco de plaza, que se dice bench)

21.

bark: ladrar o ladrido (y no barco, que se dice boat o ship)

22.

billet: acuartelamiento, alojamiento militar (y no billete, que se dice


ticket o note)

23.

billion: mil millones (y no billn, que se dice trillion)

24.

body: cuerpo (y no boda, que se dice wedding)

25.

brave: valiente (y no bravo, que se dice fierce)

26.

camp: base militar o campamento (y no campo en general, que se dice


field)

113

27.

carpet: alfombra (y no carpeta, que se dice folder)

28.

cartoon: dibujos animados, tira cmica (y no cartn, que se dice


cardboard)

29.

casualty: vctima o herido (y no casualidad, que se dice coincidence)

30.

cellular: celular, relativo a la clula (y no telfono celular, que se dice


cell phone or mobile telephone)

31.

collar: cuello de las prendas de vestir (y no collar, que se dice necklace)

32.

to collapse: hundirse (y no colapsar, que se dice to bring to a standstill)

33.

college: facultad, colegio universitario (y no colegio, que se dice school)

34.

commodity: mercanca o materia prima (y no comodidad, que se dice


comfort)

35.

to complain: quejarse (y no complacer, que se dice to please)

36.

complexion: tez, tono de la piel (y no complexin, que se dice body


type)

37.

to compromise: ceder, transigir, poner en peligro (y no compromiso,


que se dice commitment, engagement o agreement)

38.

conductor: director de orquesta (y no conductor, que se dice driver)

39.

confident: seguro de s mismo (y no confidente, que se dice confidant)

40.

contest: concurso (y no contestar, que se dice to answer)

41.

council: consejo (y no conciliar, que se dice to reconcile)

42.

crane: gra (y no crneo, que se dice skull)

43.

curse: maldicin (y no curso, que se dice course)

44.

date: fecha (y no dato, que se dice a piece of information o data)

45.

deception: engao (y no decepcin, que se dice disappointment)

46.

derogatory: despectivo (la palabra despective no existe en ingls)

47.

desperate: desesperado (y no despertar, que se dice to wake up)

48.

dessert: postre (y no desierto, que se dice desert)

49.

dinner: cena (y no dinero, que se dice money)

50.

discrete: diferenciado (y no discreto, que se dice discreet)

51.

diversion: desviacin (y no diversin, alegra, que se dice fun)

52.

dramatic: drstico, espectacular

53.

economics: economa (y no econmicos, que se dice cheap)

114

54.

embarrassed: avergonzado/a (y no embarazada, que se dice pregnant)

55.

eventual: definitivo o posible (y no eventual, que se dice casual,


incidental)

56.

eventually: finalmente, tarde o temprano (y no eventualmente que se


dice by chance, possibly)

57.

exit: salida (y no xito, que se dice success)

58.

fabric: tela (y no fbrica, que se dice factory)

59.

facility: instalacin-sports facilities, instalaciones deportivas - (y no


facilidad, que se dice ease)

60.

familiar: conocido, familiar (adjetivo) (y no pariente, familiar


(sustantivo), que se dice relative)

61.

form: formulario (y no forma, que se dice shape)

62.

fume: vapor o gas (y no fumar, que se dice smoke)

63.

to grab: agarrar, asir (y no grabar, que se dice to record)

64.

gracious: corts (y no gracioso, que se dice funny)

65.

grocery: tienda de comestibles (y no grosera, que se dice rudeness o


rude word/expression)

66.

horn: cuerno (y no horno, que se dice oven)

67.

idiom: modismo, locucin (y no idioma, que se dice language)

68.

influenza: gripe (y no influencia, que se dice influence)

69.

ingenuity: ingenio (y no ingenuidad, que se dice naivety)

70.

inhabitant: habitante (y no inhabitado, que se dice uninhabited)

71.

to intend: tener la intencin de (y no intentar, que se dice to try)

72.

intoxicated: ebrio (y no intoxicado, que se dice with food poisoning)

73.

involve: involucrar (y no envolver, que se dice wrap)

74.

large: grande (y no largo, que se dice long)

75.

lecture: conferencia (y no lectura, que se dice reading)

76.

lentil: lenteja (y no lente, que se dice contact lens)

77.

library: biblioteca (y no librera, que se dice bookshop)

78.

luxury: lujo (y no lujuria, que se dice lust)

79.

mayor: alcalde (y no mayor, que se dice bigger)

80.

media: medios de comunicacin (y no media, que se dice sock)

115

81.

misery: tristeza (y no miseria, que se dice poverty)

82.

to molest: abusar sexualmente (y no molestar, que se dice to bother o


to annoy)

83.

notice: nota, anuncio (y no noticia, que se dice a piece of news)

84.

occurrence: aparicin (y no ocurrencia, que se dice absurd idea)

85.

office: oficina (y no oficio, que se dice trade o job)

86.

once: una vez (y no once, que se dice eleven)

87.

oration: discurso ceremonial (y no oracin, que se dice sentence o


prayer)

88.

ordinary: comn (y no ordinario, que se dice vulgar)

89.

pan: cacerola, cazuela (y no pan, que se dice bread)

90.

parade: desfile (y no parada, que se dice stopl)

91.

parents: padres (y no parientes, que se dice relatives)

92.

pie: pastel (y no pie, que se dice foot)

93.

place: lugar (y no plaza, que se dice square)

94.

pendant: colgante de un collar (y no pendiente, que se dice earring)

95.

policy: poltica (y no polica, que se dice police)

96.

politic: diplomtico, corts o prudente (y no poltico, que se dice


politician)

97.

preservative: conservante (y no preservativo, que se dice condom)

98.

prize: premio (y no precio, que se dice price)

99.

to quit: abandonar, dejar (y no quitar, que se dice to remove o to put


away)

100.

recollection: recuerdo (y no recoleccin, que se dice harvest o


collection)

101.

regular: de tamao normal (y no regular, que se dice bad, not so good)

102.

relatives: parientes (y no relativos, que se dice relative (adjective))

103.

rope: cuerda, soga (y no ropa, que se dice clothes)

104.

rude: maleducado, descorts (y no rudo, que se dice rough)

105.

to realize: darse cuenta (y no realizar, que se dice to make)

106.

to record: grabar (y no recordar, que se dice to remember)

107.

to remove: quitar, eliminar (y no remover, que se dice to stir)

116

108.

to resume: reanudar, continuar o reasumir (y no resumir, que se dice


to summarize o to sum up)

109.

salad: ensalada (y no salado, que se dice salty)

110.

sane: cuerdo (y no sano, que se dice healthy)

111.

scallop: ostin (y no escalopa, que se dice escalope)

112.

sensible: sensato (y no sensible, que se dice sensitive)

113.

sensitive: sensible (y no sensitivo, que se dice related to the senses)

114.

signature: firma (y no asignatura, que se dice subject)

115.

sin: pecado (y no sin, que se dice without)

116.

soap: jabn (y no sopa, que se dice soup)

117.

socket: enchufe o toma de corriente (y no soquete, que se dice ankle


sock)

118.

spade: pala (y no espada, que se dice sword)

119.

to stay: quedarse o permanecer (y no estar, que se dice to be)

120.

to stir: revolver un lquido (y no estirar, que se dice to stretch)

121.

stranger: desconocido o forastero (y no extranjero, que se dice


foreigner)

122.

success: xito (y no suceso, que se dice event)

123.

support: apoyar (y no soportar, que se dice to put up with)

124.

sympathetic: comprensivo (y no simptico, que se dice nice, likeable)

125.

sympathy: compasin, comprensin, psame (y no simpata, que se


dice friendliness, affection)

126.

target: objetivo (y no tarjeta, que se dice card)

127.

tax: impuesto (y no taxi, que se dice taxi o cab)

128.

terrific: fenomenal, genial (y no terrorfico, que se dice terrifying)

129.

to traduce: calumniar (y no traducir, que se dice to translate)

130.

trait: rasgo (y no trato, que se dice deal o treatment)

131.

to translate: traducir (y no trasladarse, que se dice to move)

132.

tramp: vagabundo (y no trampa, que se dice trap)

133.

ultimate: final (y no ltimo, que se dice last)

134.

umpire: rbitro (y no imperio, que se dice empire)

135.

zealous: entusiasta (y no celoso, que se dice jealous)

117

Anexo (2)
Irregular plurals
There are many types of irregular plural, but these are the most common:
Noun type

Ends with fe

Forming the
plural
Change fe to
ves

examples

knife - knives
life - lives
wife wives

Ends with -f

Change f ves

half - halves
wolf - wolves
loaf loaves
leaf - leaves
calf - calves

Ends with -o

Add -es

potato - potatoes
tomato - tomatoes
volcano - volcanoes

ALL KINDS

Change the
vowel
or
Change the
word
or
Add a different
ending

man - men
foot - feet
person - people
tooth - teeth
mouse mice
louse - lice

Singular and
plural
are the same

sheep
deer
fish (sometimes)
means
series
species
offspring
hundred
thousand
million (sometimes)

0 Plural

118

Foreign
(us)

Foreign
(is)

Foreign (ix)

Foreign (eau)

Foreign
(um)

Foreign (a)

Change US -> I

Change IS ->
ES

alumnus
cactus
focus
fungus
nucleus
radius
stimulus

alumni
cacti
foci
fungi
nuclei
radii
stimuli

axis axes
analysis analyses
basis bases
crisis crises
diagnosis diagnoses
oasis oases
paralysis paralyses
ellipsis ellipses
hypothesis hypotheses
synthesis syntheses
synopsis synopses
thesis - theses

Change IX ->
ICES

appendix appendices
index indices
matrix - matrices

Add + x/s

beau beaux
bureau- bureaus/bureaux
tableau
tableaux/tableaus

Change -> A

bacterium bacteria
curriculum curricula
datum data
medium media
stratum strata
aquarium aquaria
symposium - symposia

Change -> AE

antenna
formula
nebula
vertebra

antennae
formulae
nebulae
vertebrae

119

vita vitae
alga - algae

Foreign (on)

Change -> A

phenomenon- phenomena
criterion criteria
automaton - automata

Special cases

Add + en

ox oxen
brother brethren
child - children

120

Anexo (3)
List of Irregular English Verbs (the most frequent).

Present

Past

Past
Participle

1.

be

was, were

been

2.

beat

beat

beaten

3.

become

became

become

4.

begin

began

begun

5.

blow

blew

blown

6.

break

broke

broken

7.

bring

brought

brought

8.

build

built

built

9.

burst

burst

burst

10.

buy

bought

bought

11.

catch

caught

caught

12.

choose

chose

chosen

13.

come

came

come

14.

cost

cost

cost

15.

cut

cut

cut

16.

deal

dealt

dealt

17.

dig

dug

dug

18.

do

did

done

19.

draw

drew

drawn

20.

drink

drank

drunk

21.

drive

drove

driven

22.

eat

ate

eaten

23.

fall

fell

fallen

24.

feed

fed

fed

25.

feel

felt

felt

26.

fight

fought

fought

27.

find

found

found

28.

fly

flew

flown

29.

forbid

forbade

forbidden

30.

forget

forgot

forgotten

31.

forgive

forgave

forgiven

Meaning in Spanish

121

32.

freeze

froze

frozen

33.

get

got

got

34.

give

gave

given

35.

go

went

gone

36.

grow

grew

grown

37.

hang

hung

hung

38.

have

had

had

39.

hear

heard

heard

40.

hide

hid

hidden

41.

hit

hit

hit

42.

hold

held

held

43.

hurt

hurt

hurt

44.

keep

kept

kept

45.

know

knew

known

46.

lay

laid

laid

47.

lead

led

led

48.

leave

left

left

49.

lend

lent

lent

50.

let

let

let

51.

lie

lay

lain

52.

lose

lost

lost

53.

make

made

made

54.

mean

meant

meant

55.

meet

met

met

56.

mistake

mistook

mistaken

57.

pay

paid

paid

58.

put

put

put

59.

quit

quit

quit

60.

read

read

read

61.

ride

rode

ridden

62.

ring

rang

rung

63.

rise

rose

risen

64.

run

ran

run

65.

say

said

said

66.

see

saw

seen

67.

seek

sought

sought

122

68.

sell

sold

sold

69.

send

sent

sent

70.

set

set

set

71.

shake

shook

shaken

72.

shine

shone

shone

73.

shoot

shot

shot

74.

shut

shut

shut

75.

sing

sang

sung

76.

sink

sank

sunk

77.

sit

sat

sat

78.

sleep

slept

slept

79.

speak

spoke

spoken

80.

spend

spent

spent

81.

spring

sprang

sprung

82.

stand

stood

stood

83.

steal

stole

stolen

84.

stick

stuck

stuck

85.

swear

swore

sworn

86.

sweep

swept

swept

87.

swim

swam

swum

88.

swing

swung

swung

89.

take

took

taken

90.

teach

taught

taught

91.

tear

tore

torn

92.

tell

told

told

93.

think

thought

thought

94.

throw

threw

thrown

95.

understand

understood

understood

96.

upset

upset

upset

wake

woke
(waked)

woken
(waked)

98.

wear

wore

worn

99.

win

won

won

100.

write

wrote

written

97.

123

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