Adverbs of manner, a small tutorial

Adverbs of manner are words that describe how an action is performed. They provide additional context to verbs, allowing speakers and writers to transmit connotations or nuances in behavior, attitude, and style. By answering the question "how?", these adverbs enrich the meaning of sentences and improve communication.

The use of adverbs of manner is crucial in English as they add depth and clarity to expressions. They help to create vivid images and emotional impact, making language more engaging and precise. Mastery of these adverbs can significantly improve both spoken and written communication, allowing for more effective storytelling and argumentation.

This tutorial will explore the various types of adverbs of manner, their placement within sentences, common mistakes associated with their use, and strategies for effective application. By the end, you will have a comprehensive understanding of how to utilize adverbs of manner to enhance your English proficiency.

Types of adverbs of manner

Regular adverbs

Examples: slowly, quickly, carefully

- How they modify verbs: Regular adverbs typically modify verbs by providing information about the manner in which an action is performed. For instance, in the sentence "She runs quickly," the adverb "quickly" describes how she runs.

- Commonly used in everyday language: These adverbs are frequently employed in daily conversations and writing, making them essential for effective communication.

Irregular adverbs

Examples: well, badly, far

- How they may not follow typical adverb  patterns: Unlike regular adverbs, irregular adverbs do not conform to standard formation rules. For example, "well" is the adverbial form of "good," which can be confusing for learners.

- How they add variety to language: The inclusion of irregular adverbs enriches language, providing speakers with diverse options to express actions and states.

Adverbs ending in -ly

Examples: happily, quietly, gently

- How they are formed: Many adverbs of manner are formed by adding the suffix "-ly" to adjectives. For example, "happy" becomes "happily."

- How they can make writing more descriptive: Adverbs ending in -ly often enhance descriptions, allowing writers to convey emotions and actions with greater specificity.

Placement of adverbs of manner

Before the main verb

Example: She quickly ran to the store.

- Emphasis on the adverb: Placing the adverb before the verb emphasizes the manner of the action, drawing attention to how it is performed.

- Common placement in everyday speech: This placement is typical in conversational English, making it a natural choice for speakers.

After the main verb

Example: He played the piano beautifully.

- How it  can change the emphasis of the sentence: When adverbs are placed after the verb, they can shift the focus to the action itself rather than the manner, creating a different nuance.

- Placement in formal writing: This structure is often preferred in formal writing, where clarity and precision are paramount.

In the middle of a verb phrase

Example: She will carefully consider the proposal.

- How adverbs can split verb phrases: Adverbs can be inserted within verb phrases, which can add emphasis and alter the rhythm of the sentence.

- Effect on sentence flow and meaning: This placement can enhance the flow of a sentence, making it more dynamic and engaging.

Common mistakes with adverbs of manner

Confusing adjectives and adverbs

Example: She sang beautiful.

- How to differentiate between the two: Adjectives modify nouns, while adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. The correct form in this case would be "beautifully."

- Importance of using the correct form: Using the appropriate form is essential for grammatical accuracy and clarity in communication.

Overusing adverbs

Example: He slowly walked slowly down the street.

- How repetition can weaken writing: Overusing adverbs can lead to redundancy and weaken the impact of writing. It is important to choose adverbs judiciously.

- Strategies for avoiding overuse: Writers should aim for variety in their language and consider whether the adverb adds significant value to the sentence.

Here’s a list of common adverbs of manner in English, categorized for easier reference:

Common adverbs of manner

Adverb      Meaning/Usage                       

Quickly     In a fast manner                           

Slowly      In a leisurely or unhurried manner        

Carefully   With attention to detail; cautiously       

Easily      Without difficulty                          

Happily     In a joyful or cheerful manner             

Sadly       In a sorrowful manner                      

Loudly      With a high volume                         

Quietly     In a soft or subdued manner                

Gently      With a soft touch; mildly                  

Badly       In a poor or unsatisfactory manner         

Well        In a good or satisfactory manner           

Bravely     In a courageous manner                     

Boldly      In a confident and daring manner           

Carelessly  Without care; in a negligent manner        

Rudely      In an impolite or disrespectful manner     

Sharply     In a sudden or abrupt manner               

Smoothly  Without problems; in a seamless manner     

Quickly     In a fast manner                           

Fiercely    In a strong or intense manner              

Eagerly    With enthusiasm or readiness                

Slightly    To a small degree; a little                

Thoroughly  In a complete and detailed manner          

Neatly      In an orderly and tidy manner              

Clumsily    In an awkward or ungraceful manner  

This list includes a variety of adverbs of manner that can be used to describe actions in different contexts. Feel free to expand upon this list as you encounter more adverbs in your studies!

More info

- Adverbs of Manner List

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Work-related Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal Verbs III

As we have already seen, phrasal verbs are an integral part of the English language, also in professional contexts. They consist of a verb combined with one or more particles (prepositions or adverbs) that modify the meaning of the original verb. Mastering these expressions can considerably improve your fluency and comprehension, especially in the workplace. We are going to look at several phrasal verbs commonly used in professional environments, with their definitions and examples. Let's get started!

Carry Out

To perform or complete a task or duty.

Example: "The team was able to carry out the project ahead of schedule, impressing the management with their efficiency."

Follow Up

To pursue or check on something after an initial action or communication.

Example: "After the meeting, I will follow up with the clients to ensure they received the proposal."

Take On

To accept a responsibility or a new task.

Example: "She decided to take on additional responsibilities to demonstrate her commitment to the company."

Look Into

To investigate or examine a situation or issue.

Example: "The HR department will look into the complaints raised by employees regarding workplace safety."

Bring Up

To introduce a topic for discussion.

Example: "During the meeting, he brought up the need for a new marketing strategy to boost sales."

Step Down

To resign from a position or reduce one's level of responsibility.

Example: "After years of dedicated service, the CEO announced that he would step down at the end of the year."

Run By

To present an idea or plan to someone for their approval or feedback.

Example: "Before finalizing the budget, I want to run it by the finance team to ensure everything is in order."

Set Up

To establish or arrange something, such as a meeting or a system.

Example: "We need to set up a conference call to discuss the project with the remote team."

Get Ahead

To advance in one's career or achieve success.

Example: "Networking is essential if you want to get ahead in this competitive industry."

Put Off

To postpone or delay an action or decision.

Example: "We cannot put off the decision any longer; we need to finalize the contract by the end of the week."

As a conclusion, phrasal verbs are not only prevalent in everyday conversation, but they are also crucial in professional communication.

Understanding and using these expressions can improve your ability to convey ideas clearly and effectively in the workplace. As you improve your English language skills, adding phrasal verbs to your vocabulary will undoubtedly contribute to your overall proficiency and confidence in a professional environment. 

And one more thing: try to write down these phrasal verbs with new examples on a notebook. This practice will enhance your understanding and retention of the language!

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The origins and evolution of the Phrasal verbs in English

Phrasal verbs (II)

Phrasal verbs in English are combinations of verbs with prepositions or adverbs that create a meaning different from the original verb, as we know. Their origins can be traced back to several linguistic developments:

- Old and Middle English: Many phrasal verbs have roots in Old and Middle English, where verbs were often combined with particles to modify their meanings. For example, "give up" (to surrender) can be traced back to earlier forms of English.

- Germanic roots: English is a Germanic language, and many phrasal verbs have parallels in other Germanic languages. The use of particles to modify verbs is a common feature in Germanic languages, which influenced the development of English.
+ info

- Influence of other languages: The Norman Conquest in 1066 introduced a significant amount of Norman French vocabulary into English, but the structure of phrasal verbs remained predominantly Germanic. However, the interaction with Latin and French also contributed to the richness of English vocabulary.

- Evolution of meaning: Over time, the meanings of phrasal verbs have evolved. For instance, "take off" originally meant to remove something but has also come to mean when an aircraft leaves the ground.

- Colloquial usage: Phrasal verbs are often more informal and conversational than their single-word counterparts. This has made them popular in everyday speech, contributing to their proliferation in modern English.

- Cultural and social influences: As English has evolved, so have its phrasal verbs, influenced by cultural changes, technological advancements, and social interactions.
 

Overall, the origins of phrasal verbs in English reflect a combination of historical linguistic developments, cultural influences, and the natural evolution of language.

 For more information, visit the following links:

• https://inglespodcast.com/2020/09/27/a-brief-history-of-phrasal-verbs-airc331/-
• https://www.academia.edu/37143329/The_English_Phrasal_Verb_1650_Present_History_Stylistic_Drifts_and_Lexicalisation
• https://www.csun.edu/science/ref/language/german-latin-english.html 

 

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Phrasal Verbs (I): An Introduction

Phrasal verbs are combinations of verbs and one or more particles, which can be prepositions or adverbs. The meaning of a phrasal verb often differs from the meanings of the individual words. For example, "give up" means to stop trying, while "give" and "up" have different meanings on their own.

They are a bit of an awkwardness for Spanish students, but no matter: we're going to 'deal with them'! So let's begin.

Importance of Phrasal Verbs

Natural communication: Phrasal verbs are commonly used in everyday English, making speech and writing sound more natural and fluent. Native speakers often prefer them over their more formal equivalents.

Expressiveness: They can convey specific meanings and emotions that might not be captured by a single verb. For instance, "look into" (to investigate) has a different nuance than just "look."

Contextual understanding: Phrasal verbs can change meaning based on context. For example, "take off" can mean to remove something (like clothing) or for an airplane to leave the ground. Understanding these nuances is crucial for effective communication.

Cultural insight: Learning phrasal verbs can provide insights into cultural aspects of English-speaking countries, as they often reflect idiomatic expressions and colloquial language.

Improved Comprehension: Many English texts, especially informal ones, use phrasal verbs. Knowing them helps in understanding conversations, movies, and books better.

Examples of Common Phrasal Verbs:

- Break down: to stop functioning (e.g., "My car broke down.")

- Run into: to meet someone unexpectedly (e.g., "I ran into an old friend.")

- Turn up: to appear or arrive (e.g., "He turned up late to the meeting.")

In summary, mastering phrasal verbs is essential for achieving a high level of fluency in English. They enhance your ability to communicate effectively and understand the language as it is used in real-life situations. That's the reason why we're going to talk more about them...

See you soon!

More examples of common Phrasal Verbs

- Bring up - To mention a topic (e.g., "She brought up an interesting point during the meeting.")

- Call off - To cancel something (e.g., "They called off the event due to bad weather.")

- Carry on - To continue (e.g., "Please carry on with your work.")

- Come across - To find or discover by chance (e.g., "I came across an old friend at the store.")

- Get along - To have a good relationship (e.g., "I get along well with my colleagues.")

- Give up - To stop trying or doing something (e.g., "He decided to give up smoking.")

- Look after - To take care of (e.g., "Can you look after my dog while I'm away?")

- Make up - To invent a story or excuse (e.g., "She made up an excuse for being late.")

- Take off - To remove something (e.g., "Please take off your shoes before entering.")

 - Turn down - To reject or refuse (e.g., "She turned down the job offer.")

- Work out - To solve a problem or find a solution (e.g., "We need to work out the details of the project.")

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Mastering Phrasal Verbs: A Guide for Advanced Spanish Students of English (50 commonly used phrasal verbs with examples)

Phrasal verbs are a unique feature of the English language that can often be challenging for non-native speakers. They consist of a verb and one or more particles (prepositions or adverbs), and their meaning often cannot be deduced from the individual words.

Here are 50 commonly used phrasal verbs with examples:

Get along: Have a good relationship.

“Even though they have different interests, they get along very well.”

Look up: Search for information.

“If you don’t know the word, look it up in the dictionary.”

Turn up: Arrive or appear.

“She didn’t turn up for the meeting.”

Give up: Quit or surrender.

“He gave up smoking for his health.”

Take off: When an airplane leaves the ground, or to remove something.

“The plane took off on time.” / “Take off your shoes before entering.”

Bring up: Mention a topic, or raise children.

“She brought up an interesting point during the discussion.” / “He was brought up by his grandparents.”

Hold on: Wait.

“Hold on a moment, I’ll be right back.”

Check out: Leave a hotel, or examine something.

“We checked out of the hotel this morning.” / “Check out this article when you have time.”

Set up: Establish or arrange.

“They set up a new company.”

Come across: Find by chance.

“I came across this book while I was cleaning.”

Go on: Continue.

“The show must go on.”

Run out: Exhaust the supply.

“We’ve run out of milk.”

Look after: Take care of.

“Can you look after my dog while I’m on vacation?”

Call off: Cancel.

“They called off the event due to bad weather.”

Put off: Postpone.

“The meeting was put off until next week.”

Break down: Stop functioning.

“The car broke down on the way to the beach.”

Break up: End a relationship.

“They decided to break up after five years of dating.”

Turn down: Refuse.

“He turned down the job offer.”

Look forward to: Anticipate with pleasure.

“I’m looking forward to the weekend.”

Get up: Rise from bed.

“I usually get up at 7 a.m.”

Show up: Appear, arrive.

“He didn’t show up for the appointment.”

Put up with: Tolerate.

“I can’t put up with his behavior anymore.”

Look into: Investigate.

“The police will look into the incident.”

Come up with: Think of (an idea, a plan).

“She came up with a brilliant idea for the project.”

Go through: Experience, examine carefully.

“He’s going through a difficult time.” / “She went through the report in detail.”

Take up: Begin a hobby, occupy space/time.

“He took up playing the piano.” / “The sofa takes up too much space.”

Stand up: Rise from a sitting position, defend, tolerate.

“Please stand up when the judge enters the room.” / “She stood up for her rights.” / “I won’t stand up for this treatment.”

Sit down: Take a sitting position.

“Please, sit down and make yourself comfortable.”

Lay down: Establish a rule, recline.

“The law lays down the rules for acceptable behavior.” / “He laid down on the sofa to rest.”

Hold up: Delay, rob.

“Traffic was held up due to an accident.” / “The bank was held up by armed robbers.”

Catch up: Reach someone ahead, update.

“I had to run to catch up with her.” / “We met for coffee so she could catch me up on all the news.”

Make up: Invent, reconcile.

“He made up a story about the dog eating his homework.” / “After their argument, they made up.”

Pick up: Lift, learn, collect.

“Pick up your toys off the floor.” / “She picked up French quickly.” / “Can you pick up some milk on your way home?”

Drop off: Deliver, fall asleep.

“Drop off the package at the post office.” / “He dropped off during the movie.”

Log in/out: Enter/leave a computer system.

“Log in to your email account.” / “Don’t forget to log out when you’re done.”

Sign up/in: Register/enter.

“Sign up for our newsletter.” / “Sign in to start your session.”

Cut off: Remove, isolate.

“The doctor had to cut off his leg to save him from the infection.” / “The town was cut off due to the flood.”

Cut out: Remove using scissors, stop doing something.

“She cut out a coupon from the newspaper.” / “You should cut out eating junk food.”

Hand in: Submit.

“Hand in your homework at the start of class.”

Hand out: Distribute.

“She was handing out flyers on the street.”

Fill in/out: Complete (a form).

“Please, fill in/out the application form.”

Turn on/off: Activate/deactivate.

“Turn on the light, please.” / “Don’t forget to turn off the oven.”

Switch on/off: Same as “turn on/off”.

“Switch on the radio for the news.” / “Switch off the TV when you’re done.”

Figure out: Understand, find the solution.

“I finally figured out how to solve the problem.”

Sort out: Organize, resolve.

“You need to sort out your schedule.” / “They managed to sort out their differences.”

Point out: Indicate, mention.

“She pointed out the mistakes in my report.”

Find out: Discover.

“I found out that she’s been promoted.”

Check in/out: Register your arrival/departure at a hotel or airport.

“We checked in at the front desk.” / “We have to check out before 11 a.m.”

Try on: Test the fit of clothing.

“Try on the dress to see if it fits.”

Try out: Test to see if something works or if you like it.

“I want to try out the new Italian restaurant.”

Remember, the key to mastering phrasal verbs is context and practice. Try to use these phrasal verbs in your daily conversations and written English to enhance your language skills. Happy learning!

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Some grammar exercises (1)

Valencia, 19/04/2015, G.B.

Aprovechando que he recientemente he creado una página de Facebook para Focus on Learning English, he pensado en hacer algunas pequeñas entradas o posts con unos pocos ejercicios de gramática tipo test y publicar las respuestas en Facebook, para hacerlo un poco más interactiva.

Son ejercicios sencillos y muy cortos, para practicar un poco nuestro inglés. Serán del tipo verdadero o false (true or false), construcción de frases (sentence building), completar la palabra que falta en la frase (filling the gap), etc. Aquí va el primer 'set' de ejercicios tipo TRUE or FALSE:

1.- Which sentence or sentences are true or false? Write the number  + T , if it's true, or F if it's false.  Example: AF (if A is false):

A) Have you got a pen?

B) Do you have a pen?

C) Both A and B are true.

D) All sentences (A, B, C) are false.

2.- Again, which sentences are grammatically correct? Do the same as question 1, true or false:
A) John ate the fish.

B) The fish ate John.

C) The fish eating John. 

D) John's eating the fish.

3.- How many adjectives can you find in this sentence?:

"An adjective is a describing word. It tells you what a noun is like. For example, it can tell you what something looks like or how big, small, tall, heavy... it is".
A) None (0)

B) Three

C) Seven

D) Five

Check answers

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Types of verbs in English, the tense system II

Valencia, 15/04/2015, G.B.
Continuando con el English tense system, podemos afirmar que en inglés existen 3 tipos de verbos (types of verbs):

1.- Auxiliary verbs
2.- Modal auxiliary verbs
3.- Full verbs

1.- Auxiliary verbs

Los verbos do, be y have se usan como verbos auxiliares para formar diferentes tiempos verbales (tenses).

1.1 Do
- Do es un verbo auxiliar que se usa para formar las formas negativas e interrogativas (negative and question forms) del Present Simple. La forma de este verbo auxiliar en pasado es Did y se utiliza en el Past Simple.

Some examples:

	Present Simple	Past Simple
Negative	I don't want to go there.	She didn't go out yesterday, sorry.
	He doesn't eat meat. He's vegetarian.	Hopefully I didn't break my arm.
Question	Do you like cheese?	Did they know it, John?
	Does she play the piano?	Didn't you play the violin, the guitar and other instruments?

- Do solo se usa en la forma afirmativa (affirmative sentences) para enfatizar la acción de un verbo:

Some examples:

Present Simple	Past Simple
I'm not lazy. I do study hard.	I did try to contact you last Friday, but you were unavailable, as they told me.

- Do también se utiliza en las denominadas tag questions (preguntas coletillas) y las short answers (respuestas cortas). Some examples:

Present Simple	Past Simple
You think it'll be enough, don't you?	Who took my car last night? Susan did.

1.2. Be

- Be como auxiliar + present participle (-ing), se utiliza para formar tiempos continuos (continuous tenses). Some examples:

Raymond is recording an album.
I'll be leaving soon, sorry.
It's rainning, take an umbrella.

- Be + past participle (-ed, etc.) se utiliza para formar las oraciones pasivas (passive sentences). Some examples:

English is spoken all over the world.
My house is being renovated, so I'll stay at the hotel.

1.3. Have

- Have como auxiliar + past participle (-ed, etc.) se utiliza para formar tiempos perfectos (perfect tenses). Some examples:
I've never been to India.
She have lived in India for 20 years.
Will you have finished by next monday?

2.- Modal auxiliary verbs

Los verbos modales auxiliares (modal auxiliary verbs) son auxiliares porque 'ayudan' a otros verbos, pero a diferencia de do, be y have, tienen su propio significado. Pueden expresar certeza (certainty), habilidad (ability), posibilidad (possibility), consejo (advice), etc.

Los modal auxiliary verbs son: can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, must, ought, need.  Los iremos viendo poco a poco... Some examples:

She can't play the drums. (ability)

He must beat least forty. (certainty)
It might snow this  evening. (possibility)

You should eat less. (advice)

3.- Full verbs

Todos los demás verbos, que son la gran mayoría en el idioma, se denominan full verbs o verbos 'normales'. Algunos ejemplos: go, drink, dance, study, help, sing, read...

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The tense system in English, an introduction

Valencia, 11/04/2015, G.B.

En el sistema verbal  o de tiempos verbales inglés, the tense system, existen dos aspectos: continuous and perfect (continuo y perfecto). Los tiempos verbales tiene dos elementos de significado: el tiempo de la acción del verbo (the time of the verb action) y el aspecto (aspect). Según esta clasificación, disponemos de aspecto continuo (Continuous aspect) y aspecto perfecto (Perfect aspect).

Además de estos dos aspectos, podemos hacer una segunda clasificación de los tiempos verbales en activos (Active) o pasivos (Passive).

Veamos todo esto con un poco más de detalle:

1.- Según el aspecto: Continuous and perfect aspect

Continuous aspect

a) Johnny runs very fast.

b) Johnny is running very fast.

En ambas oraciones (sentences) el tiempo (tense) verbal es presente, pero el aspecto (aspect) es diferente. En la oración a) la habilidad de correr rápido de Johnny es permanente; en b) hace referencia a una situación, a un momento concreto en el que Johnny está corriendo muy rápido, sin implicar que lo haga o sea capaz de hacerlo habitualmente.

Los tiempos continuos (continuous tenses) son menos frecuentes que los tiempos simples (simple tenses).

Perfect aspect

a) Margaret lived in Madrid for six years.

b) Margaret has lived in Madrid for six years.

La oración a) se refiere a un tiempo en el pasado, algo que ya ha finalizado (Past Simple); Margaret vivió en Madrid durante seis años, pero ya no vive allí.

La oración b) hace referencia tanto al pasado como al presente. Expresa una acción que empezó en el pasado y que todavía continúa. Margaret ha vivido en Madrid durante 6 años; lleva viviendo seis años en Madrid, todavía lo hace. En b) estamos utilizando un aspecto perfecto con el Present Perfect (presente perfecto, del que hablaremos más adelante...), el cual es un tiempo verbal muy común en inglés, muy usado en el inglés hablado (spoken English).

2.- Según el agente: Active and Passive

El inglés tiene dos voces: Active and Passive voices (activa y pasiva).
a) Susan speaks Spanish fluently.
b) Spanish is spoken in many countries.

En la oración  a) el agente, Susan, es el sujeto, lo importante de la oración.
En la oración b) el agente no se especifica, no es lo más importante de la oración.

Las oraciones pasivas (Passive sentences) son menos frecuentes en el inglés hablado (spoken English), pero son muy comunes en lenguaje científico y oficial escrito (scientific and official writting). Las veremos también más adelante.

Hasta pronto!

Enlace recomendado al respecto: Para más información y ejemplos sobre el tense system en inglés , visita el artículo English Tense System de la web Englishclub.com.

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Articles: indefinite, definite and zero article

Valencia, 09/04/2015, G.B.

En inglés existen 3 tipos de artículos: indefinitive article (artículo indefinido: un, uno, una, unos, unas), definitive article (artículo definido: el, la, lo, las, los) y la ausencia del mismo, o zero article (no article).

Básicamente el artículo (article) es una 'especie' de adjetivo (adjective), ya que modifica y/o determina el nombre al que acompaña:
A man is waiting for you.
The girl is dancing.
The dog needs its daily walk.

Veamos los tipos y usos de los artículos: Using articles

Indefinite article

A/an  (un, uno, una, unos, unas) se usa:

1.- Cuando nombramos por primera vez un nombre (sustantivo, noun en inglés) singular y contable (singular and countable noun):

I bought a book and a CD this afternoon.

I'm going to play a song.
She has an awesome library. / Such an awesome library!

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Past Continuous, introducción a los narrative tenses

Valencia, 06/04/2015, G.B.
El Past Continuous (o Past Progressive), al cual nosotros denominamos Pasado Continuo,  no se corresponde con ningún tiempo verbal en castellano ya que es una perífrasis verbal durativa, de duración. 

Forma / Form

Sujeto + verbo to be en pasado (was/were) + verbo en gerundio -ing (Present Participle)

Algunos ejemplos (Some examples):

- What were you doing at the party when he saw you? / ¿Qué estabas haciendo en la fiesta cuando te ví?
- I was talking with Susan about her problems at work. I can't understand why he got angry with me! / Estaba hablando con Susan sobre sus problemas en el trabajo. No entiendo porqué se enfadó tanto él conmigo

Uses of the Past Continuos  / Usos del pasado continuo

Como todos los tiempos continuos, el pasado continuo expresa una idea de duración y actividad en progreso durante un periodo de tiempo en el pasado:

A) At 09:05 I had a shower. / A las 09:05 me duché.

B) At 09:05 I was having a shower. / A las 09:05 me estaba duchando.

A) Significa que yo empecé a ducharme a las 09.05.

B) Quiere expresar que a las 09:05 estaba duchándome, la actividad estaba en progreso, en marcha, pero inconclusa.

1.- De la misma manera que el Present Continuous (Presente continuo), el Past Continuous se utiliza para expresar una actividad que está sucediendo en un tiempo específico en el pasado:

- What were you doing at 22:30 last night? I was having dinner. / ¿Qué estabas haciendo a las 22:30 anoche? Estaba cenando.

- When I got home my son and daughter were arguing with my wife. / Cuando llegué a casa mi hijo y mihija estaban discutiendo con mi mujer.

2.- Debido a la idea de duración, el Past Continuous se utiliza para descripciones en el pasado (narrative tenses):

- The sun was shining, and the birds were singing while we were strolling in that beautiful forest. / El sol estaba brillando y los pájaros cantando mientras estábamos paseando por ese precioso bosque.

3.- El Past Continuous también se utiliza para expresar una actividad que es interrunpida:

- I was reading when my brother came. / Yo estaba leyendo cuando llegó mi hermano.
- She was taking a shower when the phone rang / Ella se estaba duchando cuando sonó el teléfono

4.- Puede expresar acciones inconclusas, no acabadas, cuando se comparan con el Past Simple 

- We were driving along the motorway when the accident happened. / Estábamos conduciendo por la autopista cuando sucedió el accidente. - She was having dinner when I got home. / Ella estaba cenando cuando (yo) llegué a casa.


Algunos enlaces recomendado al respecto:
Simple Past - Past Progressive
Past Simple vs. Past Continuous (aulafacil.com)
Equivalencia de tiempos inglés-español

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Phrasal Verbs (I), una introducción

En el idioma inglés existen muchos verbos compuestos, formados por el verbo más un adverbio o una preposición:

• verb + adverb
• verb + preposition

Son los denominados Phrasal Verbs. El adverbio o la preposición que acompaña al verbo 'provoca' que cambie completamente el significado del verbo al que acompaña, altera su significado 'literal'.

Ejemplos / examples:

• If you don't know the meaning of a word, you have to look it up in the dictionary (Si no sabes el significado de una palabra, tienes que buscarla en el diccionario)

En esa frase, to look something up no tiene el significado literal de 'mirar algo hacia arriba', sino de buscar algo (una palabra) en el diccionario para conocer su significado.

• We'll have to put the meeting off, as John's leaving tomorrow morning. (Tendremos que posponer la reunión, ya que John se va mañana)

Y en este caso, to put something off no significa 'quitar o apartar algo', sino posponer (to pospone), en esta caso una reunión (a meeting).

Disponéis de un listado de los Phrasal Verbs más sencillos y utilizados en esta web: Phrasal Verbs List.

Deciros que es bastante complicado (si no imposible) aprendérselos todos; es una cuestión de tiempo y práctica, sobre todo práctica. Lo iremos viendo... 

Para más información y referencia sobre los Phrasal Verbs, os dejo algunos enlaces recomendados:

• Qué es un Phrasal verb (Wikipedia)
• Phrsal Verbs List (la que ya os he mostrado, de EnglishClub)
• Verb + Preposition
• Lista de verbos compuestos (La Mansión del Inglés)
• English Phrasal verbs (UsingEnglish.com)

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What's the time? Telling the time in English

Valencia, 27/04/2014, G.B.

En inglés existen varias formas de decir la hora, the time. Para preguntar la hora decimos: What's the time? A la hora de contestar tenemos varias posibilidades para decir la hora. La primera, más formal pero más sencilla, es simplemente decir la hora seguida de los minutos:

What's the time? (What time is it? (¿Qué hora es?):

• 15:40 - It's fifteen forty (Son las quince cuarenta o las tres y cuarenta)
• 08:30 - It's eight thirty (Son las ocho y treinta)
• 02:48 - It's two forty-eight (Son las dos y cuarenta y ocho)
• 23:42 - It's eleven forty-two (at night) (Son las once y cuarenta y dos, o las veintitrés y cuarenta y dos)

Para los minutos del 01 al 09, el 0 (cero) lo pronunciamos como 'oh' (para nosotros como 'ou'):
- 12:03 - Twelve oh three

Para decir a una hora, decimos at + time.
Examples:
- At 08:20 (A las ocho y veinte)

Forma habitual para los británicos de decir la hora

Otra forma de decir la hora, más coloquial y utilizada por los británicos, es decir primero los minutos y luego la hora. Así, utilizan las siguientes expresiones:

• medias horas:  half past. Example: 11:30 - Half past eleven (once y media)
• horas en punto:  o'clock. Example: 18:00 - Six o'clock (Seis en punto)
• cuartos de hora: quarter to / quarter past. Example: 13:45 - A quarter to two (las dos menos cuarto) / 16:15 - A quarter past four (Las cuatro y cuarto).
• Resto de las horas: usamos past precediendo las horas para los minutos del 01 al 30 y usamos to para los minutos del 31 al 59. Examples:
  - 13:07 (Seven past one)
  - 21:35 (Thirty-five past nine).
  
  Excepción: los cuartos de horaPara los cuartos de hora, utilizamos a quarter past (y cuarto) o a quarter to (menos cuarto). Examples:
  - 09:15 - A quarter past nine (Las nueve y cuarto)
  - 22:45 - A quarter to eleven (Las once menos cuarto).

En esta forma, más coloquial y utilizada, también podemos utilizar las expresiones de tiempo anteriores, tales como in the afternoon, in the evening, in the morning, at night...

Podemos utilizar el reloj de las 12 horas o el de 24 horas, al igual que en castellano. Comentar que normalmente los ingleses no utilizan la hora de 24 horas, aunque puede utilizarse perfectamente. Así las 14:11 puede ser:

- Two eleven / Eleven past two

or

- Forteen eleven / Eleven past forteen

En lenguaje escrito podemos ver hours o h. después de la hora, muy utilizado en los horarios o timetables: 15:38 hours / 15.28 h. Puede ponerse o no, indistintamente.

¿Y cómo diferenciamos las horas del día de la noche al decirlas?

Si utilizamos este sistema, podemos utilizar las siguientes expresiones:

• at night: por la noche
• midday / noon: mediodía / al mediodía. Example: 12:00 (Midday or Noon, instead of twelve o'clock)
• in the afternoon: por la tarde (hasta pasadas las cinco de la tarde, más o menos). Example: 17:03 (Fifteen oh three in the afternoon)
• in the evening: por la tarde (a partir de las 18:00 horas, más o menos, pero depende de la persona que lo diga, es algo subjetivo). Example: 18:48 (Six forty-eight in the evening)
• at night: por la noche. Example: 22:12 (Ten twelve at night)
• midnight: las doce en punto de la noche

A.M  / P.M

Por último, comentar que también se puede utilizar a.m y p.m (o am y pm) después de la hora. a.m significa ante meridiem, es decir before noon (antes del mediodía) y p.m significa post meridiem, es decir, after noon (después del mediodía).

Examples A.M. / P.M.:
- 03:01 - Three oh one am (or a.m.)  (in the morning) (de madrugada)
- 01: 05 - One oh five am (in the morning) (de madrugada)
- 14:23 - Two twenty-three pm (or p.m.) (in the afternoon) / Fourteen twenty-three
- 15:20 - Three twenty pm (in the afternoon) / Thirteen twenty

Enlaces recomendados:

Telling the Time
What's the Time in English

Exercise on telling the time

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The Conditional Tense: Would

Tiempos condicionales: Would

Valencia, 19/04/2014, G.B.

Antes de abordar las oraciones condicionales (Conditional Sentences), tenemos que conocer la forma condicional en inglés, the Conditional Tense. Para formar el condicional en inglés utilizamos el erbo auxiliar Would, y también Should. En realidad, Would y Should son los pasados del verbo auxiliar Will y su primera persona Shall. Así, para decir 'Me gustaría tomarme un cafe´, diríamos (edsto también es una condicional en castellano):
I would like (to have) a coffe (Me gustaría tomarme un café).

¿Y cómo se forman los tiempos condicionales. Pues de la misma forma que hemnmos visto hasta ahora, bien sencillo. Veamos pues la forma condicional con Would:

Affirmative  / Afirmativa

Subjext + Would + base form of the verb (verbo en infinitivo sin 'to?I would like to have a break right now / I'd like to have a break right now. (Me gustaría tomarme un descanso ahora mismo)

Negative / Negativa

Subject + Would + not (would not o wouldn't en su forma contraída )  base form of the verb (verbo en infinitivo sin 'to?I would not like to stop doing my homework now / I wouldn't like to stop doing my homework now (No me gustaría dejar de hacer mis deberes ahora)

Interrogative / Interrogativa

Would + Subject + base form of the verb (verbo en infinitivo sin 'to?Would you open the window for me, please? (¿Abrirías la ventana, por favor por mí, por favor?)

Negative Interrogative / Negativa Interrogativa

Would not (Wouldn't) + Subject + base form of the verb (verbo en infinitivo sin 'to')

Wouldn't you come with us? (¿No vendrías con nosotros?)

Recordamos que tanto en conversación como en lenguaje coloquial escrito, siempre se tiende a contraer el verbo auxiliar Would, tanto en su forma negativa, como afirmativa e interrogativa negativa:

• I'd like to go to France. (Me gustaría ir a Francia)
• I wouldn't like to go to France. (No me gustaría ir a Francia)
• Wouldn't you like to go to France?  (¿No te gustaría ir a Francis?)

En cuanto a los usos del auxiliar Would, además de utilizarse para formar los tiempos condicionales, comentaros que se usa para:

• Situaciones irreales o poco probables: What would you do if you saw a ghot? (¿Qué harías si vieras un fantasma?).
• Para formar oraciones condicionales (que ya veremos): If I were (was) a rich man, I'd (I would) buy the whole building. (Si fuera rico compraría todo el edificio).
• Para hablar de acciones repetitivas en el pasado: When I was a child I would go every summer to Cullera (Cuando era un niño (pequeño), iba todos los veranos a Cullera).

Ahora que ya conocemos el tiempo condicional en inglés, podremos entrar de lleno en las oraciones condicionales (Conditional Sentences); en breve... Mientras tanto, os dejo como siempre con algunos enlaces recomendados sobre el tema que hemos tratado, Conditional Tense:


Algunos enlaces recomendados
Would (Wikrionay)
Using Would to form reasons
How to use Would

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Learn English Speaking, a video course

Valencia, 19/04/2014, G.B. 

Hace algunos días, navegando por la Red en busca de recursos gratuitos para aprendfer inglés, me encontré con un vídeo alojad en YouTube titulado English Conversation - Learn English Speaking.  Para ver su canal en este enlace.

El vídeo que os embebo ahora mismo (right now!) forma parte de una serie, de un curso de inglés para principiantes (learners) que considero está muy bien realizado, didácticamente hablando. Aunque podría considerarse un poquito 'out-of-fashioned', os servirá perfectamente. Son conversaciones en definitive article (Bristish English) con pequeñas 'incrustaciones' de explicaciones gramaticales.

En este caso, veremos el artículo definido (the) e indefinido (a, an), así como el Present Simple (presente simple), cómo describir aspectos físicos de las personas (describing people), entre otras cosas más. Os lo recomiendo. Aquí lo tenéis, aunque tenéis que verlo en Youtube:

Enlaces recomendados (Grammar):
Article (Wikipedia)
Describing people (Learn English Basics)
Women's Clothing Size Conversions (conversión tallas  de mujer de ropa y calzado)

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Modal Verbs (I): An introduction

Los verbos modales, también llamados verbos modales auxiliares, Can, Could, Would, Should, Will, Shall, May, Might, Ought to y Must son verbos que, además de ser utilizados en la construcción de formas verbales como el condicional y el futuro, se utilizan  para expresar ofrecimientos, peticiones, permiso, probabilidad y habilidad, principalmente.
Son verbos que no se conjugan, es decir, tienen la misma forma para todas las personas y tiempos, aunque cada uno de ellos tiene un uso o usos específicos. Veamos algunos ejemplos; profundizaremos más en cada uno de los verbos modales:

• Could you come here, please? (¿Podrías venir aquí, por favor?
• Can you open the door? (¿Puedes abrir la puerta?)
• I'll open it, don't worry, (La abro yo, no te preocupes)Would you mind if I opened the window? It's very hot in here. (¿Te importaría si abriera (abro) la ventana? Hace mucho calor aquí  / esto es un horno)
• May I smoke? (¿Puedo fumar?)
• I can play the guitar and the piano. (Sé tocar la guitarra y el piano)

Los verbos modales se caracterizan por formarse junto a la forma base de otro verbo, sin necesidad de utilizar el verbo auxiliar Do (Did en el pasado) para formar las construcciones interrogativas y negativas (Do + not o don't / Did + not o didn't).

Form / Forma:

- Los verbos modales auxiliares no añaden una -s a la tercera forma del singular:
He CAN read Chinese (Él puede ller chino)

- Para la forma interrogativa invierten el sujeto y el verbo modal:
Can he read Chinese? (¿Puede leer chino?)

- Para la forma negativa, añaden not o -n't al verbo modal:
He cannot (can't) read Chinese. (El no puede leer chino)

Excepción: La forma negativa de will es will not o won't en su forma contraída. Will not (Won't) come with us? (¿No vendrá con nosotros?)

Recordemos que habitualmente las formas negativas se contraen, tanto en situaciones coloquiales como en texto escrito, a no ser que sea muy formal. Ahora vamos a ver las formas afirmativa, negativa, interrogativa e interrogativa negativa de los verbos modales. Como ejemplo, utilizaremos el verbo Can (poder, permiso y habilidad):

Affirmative

Subject + Modal Verb + verb (infinitive without to / infinitivo sin to)

I can help you with your homework. (Puedo ayudarte con tus deberes)

Negative:

I can't (cannot) help you with your homework, I'm too busy. (No puedo ayudarte con tus deberes. Estoy muy ocupado)

Interrogative:

Can I help you with your homework? I've got a lot of time, really. (¿Puedo ayudarte con tus deberes? Tengo mucho tiempo, de verdad)

Negative Interrogative:

Can't you help me with my homework? (¿No puedo ayudarte con tus deberes?)

Uses / Usos (solo una introducción):

Los verbos modales tienen diferentes significados en diferentes situaciones:

• Can: poder, permiso y habilidad. Negative Form: cannot (can't)
• Could: solicitud de permiso y habilidad en el pasado. Negative Form: Could not (couldn't)
• Will / Shall: además de formar los tiempos futuros (future tenses) se utiliza para ofrecimientos y peticiones. Negative Form: Will not (won't) Shall not (shan't).
  Shall se utiliza en la primera persona y además denota un ofrecimiento o voluntariedad más clara. Es más utilizado en el Reino Unido.
• Would: aparte de ser utilizado para formar los tiempos condicionales y las oraciones condicionales -que veremos pronto-, would se utiliza para solicitud de permiso. Negative Form: would not (wouldn't)
• May / Might: solicitud de permiso más formal, así como probabilidad en el presente. Negative Form: May not / Might not.
• Ought to: se puede considerar como un sinónimo de Would. Expresa una obligación más débil, un consejo: debería, tendría que. Negative Form: Ought not to.
• Must: Deber, obligación, prohibición o necesidad. Negative Form: Must not (Musn't). Para utilizar el sentido de deber, obligación o necesidad en otros tiempos verbales (tenses), utilizamos Have to (tener que).

Más adelante profundizaremos en cada uno de los verbos modales o modal verbs. Mientras tanto, os dejo con algunos sitios de interés acerca d e estos verbos.

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Enlaces recomendados
Verbos modales en inglés (curso-inglés.com)
Modal Verb Tutorial (englishpage.com)

Modal Verbs (Learn English Grammar)

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Past Simple (Pasado simple)

El Past Simple (Simple Past) o pasado simple es la forma verbal más común para hablar del pasado en inglés, Corresponde al pretérito imperfecto y pretérito indefinido del español (comí / comía; trabajábamos / trabajaban; cantó / cantaba). 

 En el Past Simple hay verbos regulares e irregulares. Los verbos regulares son aquellos que simplemente añaden -ed al 'base form' o verbo en infinitivo sin 'to'.

Example /Ejemplo:

• Past Simple: Worked (work + ed) Last year I worked for a big company (El año pasado trabajé para una gran empresa)

En cambio, los irregulares cambian totalmente en la forma del pasado. Ver listado de los principales verbos irregulares en inglés al final (***).

Example / Ejemplo: I saw her in Valencia last summer (La ví en Valencia el verano pasado)

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Present Continuous (Presente continuo)

Existen 3 formas del presente en inglés: el presente simple (Present Simple), el imperativo (Imperative) y el presente continuo o progresivo (Present Continuous). Vamos a ver este último: 

Present Continuous
El presente continuo se forma con el verbo to be  + el gerundio del verbo o present participle (-ing). 

Ejemplo / Example: I'm watching TV (Estoy viendo la tele)

is /are + -ing / e.g. The horse is running

Como siempre, en inglés se tiende a contraer el sujeto y el verbo, quedando así: I'm writting right now.

FORMACIÓN DEL PRESENT CONTINUOUS

• Afirmative: I'm reading right now (Estoy leyendo ahora mismo)
• Negative: She isn't (is not) reading now (Ella no está leyendo ahora)
• Interrogative: Are you reading now? (¿Estás (tu) leyendo ahora?)
• Negative interrogative: Aren't you reading now? (No estás tu leyendo ahora?)

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Present Simple (Presente Simple)

English Verbs: El Present Simple o Simple Present (Presente Simple)

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El presente simple (Present Simple or Simple Present) se utiliza para hablar de cosas que suceden habitualmente, hechos, hábitos, horarios, verdades universales, opiniones... Algunos ejemplos en español serían: Hoy es lunes; Me gustan las manzanas; Hablo inglés; Ella no habla japonés; El tren sale a las 12; El sol sale todas las mañanas...

Veamos los principales usos del Present Simple:

- Situaciones a largo plazo o permanentes:
I live in Valencia (Vivo en Valencia)
They work for a big company (Ellos trabajan para una gran empresa)

- Verdades generales o 'universales':
The sun is our star (El sol es nuestra estrella)
The Earth travels round the Sun (La tierra viaja alrededor del sol)
It's usually cold in winter (Normalmente hace frío en invierno)

- Acciones regulares o repetitivas:
He studies English every day (Ël estudia inglés todos los días)
I run 8 miles twice a week (Corro 8 kilómetros dos veces por semana)

- Utilizado con algunos verbos para expresar ideas, sentimientos, impresiones y reacciones inmediatas:
She likes chocolate (A ella le gusta el chocolate)
They love The Beatles (Ellos adoran a los Beatles)

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