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One small rule per guide, explained in plain English, step by step, with a table and real lines from the Lexayo story. The guides follow the story’s chapters, so they run from first words to the harder points in the order you meet them. New to English? Start with Hello, good morning, goodbye .
Chapters Arriving in Madrid A new flat, a nosy neighbour, first words
Hello, good morning, goodbye Greet people at any time of day Yes, no, please, thank you Say yes, no, please, thank you and sorry Numbers 1–5 Count from one to five Numbers 6–10 Count from six to ten How are you? — well / bad / so-so Ask how someone is and reply Am, are, is Say who you are and where you are from My name is, what's your name Ask and say people's names Where are you from? + country Say where people are from A, an, the Name things around the house Plurals: add -s Talk about more than one thing at home It's, they're: where things are Ask and say where things are There's a... / It's in... Say what there is and where it is In, on, under, next to Say exactly where something is Adjectives before the noun Describe things using adjectives before the noun A red shirt, the shoes are black Say what colour things are Market & café life Tomás’s oranges, churros with Elena
How much is it? Count to ten and pay at a market A kilo of, half a kilo of, a bag of Ask for quantities of food at the market Numbers 11–20 Use numbers from eleven to twenty Tens: thirty to a hundred Count in tens up to one hundred I'd like + noun; anything else? Ask for things politely at the market Paying: card, cash, change Ask how to pay and understand change I'd like…, what would you like? Order a drink and say what you want For me, for you, for her Order drinks for yourself and someone else The bill, please Ask for the bill and check the total Be + hungry, thirsty, hot, cold Say you are hungry, thirsty, hot or cold There is / there are + food Ask what food there is and order something to eat Friends & family Photos, feelings, a very long day
My, your, his, her Talk about your family using my, your, his and her Have for family, be for age Talk about your brothers and sisters and say people's ages Have, has Say what you have and ask others Be + adjective Describe what people look like and what they are like Be + feeling Say how you feel: tired, happy, angry or nervous Right now vs generally Contrast how someone feels right now with what they're generally like It's half past, five to, ten past Ask and tell the time Monday, Tuesday...; on Mondays Name the days of the week and say what happens on them I get up, she gets up Talk about your daily routine Questions with do / does Ask and answer questions about someone's day using do / does Live in, live on, she lives Say where you live and talk about habits Always, normally, sometimes, never Say how often you do things We / you / they + verb (no -s) Say what "we", "you" and "they" do Do you…? / We don't…; much vs a lot of Ask and answer about what people eat and drink Like, likes Say what you like and don't like Like / love + verb-ing Say what you like doing, using like + -ing Love, hate + verb-ing; not at all Say what you love and hate doing Negatives: don't, haven't got, aren't + any Say no and refuse things politely Going to + verb: plans Talk about your plans Invitations: Do you want to...? / Sorry, I can't Invite someone and accept or refuse politely We're, they're, we've got; there are thirty of us Use we / they with be and have got, and count people Out and about Lost in town, a bad day, a party
Go straight on, turn left, turn right Understand and give simple directions Is it far? How far is it? It's near Ask if a place is near or far By bus, by metro, by train Say how you get around the city A single / a return; it leaves, it arrives in Buy a train ticket and understand platform information Look for, wait for, call Say who or what you are looking for, waiting for or can see It's hot, it's sunny, it rains Talk about the weather My head hurts / my feet hurt (not the head hurts me) Say what hurts using hurts / hurt I need / do you need...? Ask for medicine using need Call a doctor! — the imperative Ask for help in an emergency using the imperative Can / can't Say what you can and cannot do What size? — and plural clothes (trousers) Buy clothes and give your size This / that (near me / not near me) Point out things near and far Very, too, quite + adjective Say something is too expensive or quite cheap Try it on; it suits you / they suit you Ask to try something on and say if it suits you Do as a verb: What do you do? I do sport Say what you do at the weekend Play football; play well / badly Talk about playing sports Watch, see, look at Talk about going out, and the difference between watch, see and look at Time words: on, at, till, from … to Talk about your weekend with on, at, till and from … to Am, have, live, like — talking about you Talk about yourself using am, have, live and like together Question words: who, where, when, how, why, what Ask questions using all the question words Finale: be, have, and where are my keys? Follow a whole conversation using all the English from the story so far The job hunt A terrible boss, a CV, an interview, a new office — and first pay day
Past simple: -ed, did you...? Say what you did yesterday Past simple: same for every person Say what "we" and "they" did Irregular past: ate, wrote, went out, came back Say what you did — and didn't do Past time expressions: on, ago, last Say when something happened Went, was: irregular past Talk about a trip you took It was + opinion (boring, not bored) Give your opinion about something that happened Made or did? (make / do) Say what you or someone made or did -ed spelling and sound — and paid Talk about your first day with past verbs First, then, after that, next, in the end Tell a story in order I'm cooking: right now Say what is happening right now Present continuous: am / is / are + -ing Say what is happening right now A / an + job: I'm a nurse (never just "I'm nurse") Ask and say what job someone does Would like to + verb: polite wishes Talk politely about the job you would like Could I...? / Could you...? — polite requests Make a polite phone call Have to, don't have to Talk about what you have to do Have just + past participle: I've just done it Say what you have just done Present perfect + for: how long Say how long you have been doing something Should / why don't you...? — friendly advice Give someone friendly advice Have you...? already, yet Say what you have (or have not) done Present perfect for experience Talk about your work experience Ever, never + present perfect Ask and answer about life experiences Irregular participles: broken, written, put, done Give news with irregular past participles Present perfect (today) vs past simple (yesterday) Contrast today (present perfect) with yesterday (past simple) Since + present perfect; from… to for the past Say how long something has been going on Always / never: where they go Describe your qualities for a job interview Because, to + verb, for + noun Explain why you want a job How did it go? — past simple for a finished event Ask how something went and wish someone luck Was / were and had: past of be and have Say where / how you were and what you had, in the past Could / couldn't and put Say what you couldn't do and where you put things, in the past Said and came Report what someone said and who came, in the past Usually + present simple: routines Talk about your usual routine I think so, in my opinion, it seems to me Give your opinion about something I agree, you're right, it depends Agree and disagree with someone Need to / have to + bank words Open a bank account and say what you need to do It, them: object pronouns Replace a thing already mentioned with it / them Mixed irregular past: had, said, was, went Tell what happened around pay day, mixing irregular past forms Christmas in Galicia Nuria takes Javi home: Mamá, the village, the food, a storm, the sea
Will for the future Talk about future plans using will Will for predictions Talk about a weather forecast using will Bigger than, better Compare two things As...as (equal comparisons) Say two things are equal, using as...as The most... / the -est... in Say something is the most, or the -est, in a group Used to Talk about childhood habits It and them for things Talk about packing, using it and them for things Will + base verb, for every verb Talk about future plans using will with tricky verbs Carriage, seat, window, aisle, stop Talk about seats, stops and delays using train vocabulary Used to + base verb Describe where and how you used to live as a child, using used to Used to vs would (state verbs) Describe what a place was like and what you used to do there Was, had, wore — describing the past Describe what someone looked like in old photos Every year + used to / would Talk about yearly traditions using used to / would Imperatives: just the base verb Give simple instructions using imperatives Commands: the plain verb, every time Give instructions with everyday verbs, using imperatives Really / so + adjective for emphasis Say something is extremely good or tiring, using really / so Family words + possessive 's Talk about your extended family using possessive 's Double objects: verb + person + thing Say who you bought or are giving a present to Gave + person + thing Say who gave what to whom, in the past Gave it to her (not "gave her it") Say who you gave something to, using it and to Storm words + going to Describe a storm and say what you can see is coming Past simple: -ed vs irregular verbs Talk about what happened in a storm, using the past simple There is / it's / is Describe a place using there is/are, it's and is Miss + noun; feel like + -ing Say what you miss and what you feel like doing Has/have given + person + thing Say what someone has given you recently, using the present perfect A mystery in the building Things vanish on Calle del Pez; Doña Elena investigates
Someone, anyone, no one Say that someone — or no one — did something Something, anything, nothing — and "is missing" Say that something — or nothing — is missing Any, no, none Say "any" or "none/not any" of something Was, were, there was Describe how things were Mine, yours, his, hers — no article Say what is mine, yours, his or hers My umbrella or mine — don't repeat the noun Say "mine" or "yours" without repeating the noun Present perfect for news: has/have + past participle Report news using the present perfect Who for people, that/which for things Describe people and things using "who" and "that" Where — no extra in or at Talk about the place where something is or happened Was/were + -ing: the past continuous Say what someone was doing at a point in the past Go to bed, get up, fall asleep — no myself Say when you went to bed, got up, or fell asleep It was ten o'clock — always 'it was' Give the time something happened in the past Was doing... when + past simple Say what you were doing when something happened Don't + verb — negative commands Tell someone not to do something Tell me, look at me — pronoun after the verb Give a command with a pronoun attached Was wearing, was walking — but it looked like Describe someone you saw I think, I don't think so, I'm sure Give an opinion about what happened Setting the scene, then what happened Set the scene of a story in the past, then say what happened Used to for habits, simple past for one time Contrast a habit in the past with one specific event Was going to — a plan that didn't happen Say what you were going to do, and that you changed your mind It's the neighbours' fault — possessive 's, not 'of' Complain about something and blame someone Ago or for — and 'ago' goes at the end Say how long ago something happened, and for how long It / them — no gender, always after the verb Say what you found, saw, left or lost, using it / them It's made of wood — describing an object Describe an object: what it's made of, its shape, its condition At night, in the morning, up the stairs Say which way or at what time of day something happened It turns out that, suddenly, that's why, while Tell a story using connectors that link events Shall we...? and What if we...? Make a plan with someone We were doing — 'we' in the past continuous Say what you were doing when someone interrupted Is + a noun, is + a state Contrast a lasting trait with a temporary state I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, I didn't know Apologise and explain something was not on purpose Gave it back to you — verb, object, then 'to' + person Say who gave what back to whom Mine, yours, belongs to no one Sort out whose things are whose Everybody knows — a singular verb Talk about everyone, everything and each thing Setting the scene + moving the story forward Tell a story using both past tenses together Summer in Andalucía Trains, a hotel from hell, the beach, a new accent, a flamenco night
Will: talking about the future Talk about future plans for a trip To or for: where to, who for, which day Say who or what something is for, and by when Do / does in questions Ask questions with do / does and buy a long-distance ticket I'd like to...: polite requests Book a hotel room politely on the phone Would it be possible…? / Would you mind…? / Could you…? Make extra-polite conditional requests Comparatives: hotter than, not as... as Talk about extreme heat using comparatives and intensifiers Running late / cancelled: train problems Understand station announcements and complain politely Per night / thanks for + -ing Talk about prices per night / person, swap things and thank someone In the name of... / on the third floor Check into a hotel Isn't working / is broken / there's a problem with Complain about problems in your room Regional accents; Sorry, what? / more slowly Cope with a strong regional English accent: ask to repeat, ask to slow down Bring me / bring us: no to Ask politely for something to be brought to you Superlatives: the noisiest, the quietest Say something is the most / least … of a group How much does it cost to…? Ask the daily price of renting something Imperatives for directions Give and follow simple directions with imperatives Used to: things that changed Describe a famous sight: how old, how famous, and what it used to be Present perfect for experiences: have you tried…? Talk about food you have or haven't tried I've got sunburnt: no myself needed Say what has happened to your body today (burns, falls) Simple past for yesterday's accidents Tell someone about an accident that happened yesterday Present perfect + since / for Describe symptoms and say how long you've had them Must / mustn't for strong advice Give someone strong advice about their health Better and better / more and more Say how you're feeling compared to before I'll have...: spontaneous decisions with will Order tapas and drinks with will for spontaneous decisions How about…? for suggestions Suggest plans and say what you feel like doing Fancy + -ing: invitations Invite someone using fancy + -ing I loved it: English keeps the normal word order Say what you liked, loved or found boring, in the past Nobody / never: no double negatives Make comparisons using nobody, never and everyone Past continuous + while Describe two things happening at the same time in the past The best thing about… Say what was the best, the worst and the funniest thing This is for you: for + person, this / these Say who a gift is for, using for and this/these Just / already / yet / still Talk about what has just happened and what is still going on Telling a story: past simple, past continuous, present perfect Tell someone about a trip, mixing three past forms Javi’s family comes to Madrid Parents from Medellín, twenty-two relatives on video call, culture clashes, one very big dinner
Present, present perfect, past simple, going to — all together Tell someone important news using the tenses you already know Want + noun / want + someone + to + verb Say what you want and what you want someone else to do I want you to… / she wants you to… Ask someone to do something, and offer to help Ask / tell someone (not) to + verb Ask or tell someone (not) to do something I hope (that) + present simple Say what you hope other people will like Hopefully… / let's hope… / I hope so Say what you hope will happen with hopefully, let's hope and I hope so I'd like + someone + to + verb Say politely what you'd like other people to do: I'd like you / them to… Same subject → want to; different subject → want + someone + to Choose between want to and want someone to Get: get lost, get here, get some sleep Use get, the busiest verb in spoken English: get lost, get to, get here, get some sleep I'm glad (that) / they love that + clause Say what makes you happy about other people What a + noun! / How + adjective! React to news with What a…! and How…! It's important / essential that… · it's better if… Say what is important, essential or better for someone to do It's normal to + verb Comment on actions and feelings with it's normal / natural / a shame + to + verb Said or told? Reporting what someone said Report what someone else said Same subject → glad to; different subject → glad that Say what you're glad to do, and what you're glad others do What's up? / you alright? — everyday idioms Understand and use everyday informal English Get along, get on, hit it off Say who you like and who you get along with If I were you, I'd… (second conditional for advice) Give advice using the second conditional: if I were you, I would… Would-questions: What would you do? Ask would-questions and give advice with should Talking about customs: generic you / people Explain everyday customs using generic you or people Polite instructions for guests Welcome visitors politely: please, do come in, have a seat, don't worry For: who, what occasion, what for Use for for who, what occasion and what for — and in for parts of the day By phone, on WhatsApp, for you Talk about reasons, someone's sake, and how you contact people: by phone/email, on WhatsApp For + noun: opinion, comparison, purpose Give opinions, make comparisons and ask about purpose with for Wishing people well Wish people well: have a great trip, have fun, enjoy your meal, I hope… So (that) vs to + infinitive: purpose Explain purpose using so (that) for someone else and to + infinitive for yourself I don't think... (not I think... not) Say what you do or don't believe, negating think rather than the clause I doubt (that)... / I'm not sure (that)... Express doubt and uncertainty with I doubt / I'm not sure, without adding an extra negative Maybe it'll rain / it might rain Talk about possibility with maybe/perhaps + will, and with the modal might I think it's great / rude / awful that… Give your opinion on other people's actions with I think it's + adjective + that… Describing something you're looking for: a wine that… Describe something you're looking for using relative clauses: a wine that they'll like / that costs less I don't know anyone who... (not nobody) Talk about people you know or don't know using who + anyone/someone Must be, will be, could that be: guessing Guess how someone feels or what they're doing now with must be / could that be Hosting phrases: welcome, make yourselves at home Welcome guests and host a meal using welcome, make yourselves at home, help yourselves, and cheers Tomás’s wedding A pastry-chef bride, a stag night nobody remembers, mariachis — and a missing ring
Marry / get married to Announce a wedding and use marry / get married to correctly When + present simple (not will) for the future Talk about what will happen once something happens When + past simple (past) vs + present simple (future) Contrast when for the past and when for the future Before + -ing (same subject) vs before + present simple (different subject) Say "before" with -ing (same person) or before + present simple (someone else) As soon as, until, after + present simple (not will) Talk about things that haven't happened yet with as soon as, until, after Without + object + -ing Plan a secret with without + -ing The one(s) who / whoever Say "the one(s) who" and "whoever" American vs British English words Understand everyday American English words, and one that means something different I'd rather + past simple (someone/something else) / + verb (you) Say what you'd prefer someone else does with I'd rather Probably — before or after the verb Guess where someone probably is, using probably in the right place Must have + past participle (a confident guess about the past) Guess about times and events in the past with must have been Past perfect: had + past participle Say what had already happened before another past moment Past perfect: had never + past participle Say you had never seen or done something before that moment When + past simple,...had already + past participle Put two past events in order: what had already happened Get + past participle (accidents — nobody's really to blame) Talk about accidents with get + past participle Come up with, run out of, end up + -ing Tell a night that went wrong with come up with, run out of and end up Might / could have (maybe) vs can't have (impossible) Say what might have happened, and what can't have happened Party idioms: have a blast, be wiped out, not sleep a wink, be out partying Use idioms for a wild night and its aftermath It's not that... it's that... (giving the real reason) Explain a worry by ruling out one reason and giving the real one Although vs even if vs even though Say something stays true even if something else happens Green, sharp, rich, off, dull: words with two meanings Use everyday adjectives that change meaning with context Relative clauses: dropping 'that' and moving the preposition Say 'that/who' after a preposition, informally and formally What + clause + is... (what-clefts) Highlight the important thing using a what-clause Telling an old story: used to, past simple, past perfect Tell an old story mixing used to, past simple and past perfect Promises with will: I promise/swear (that) I'll… Make a strong promise using promise/swear + will First conditional: if + present, will / imperative Talk about real possibilities using if + present Fall in love with, dream about, meet (no preposition) Tell how two people met and fell in love Remember, think about, trust, count on Talk about remembering, thinking about, trusting and counting on someone Past perfect for the back-story: where had you put them? Tell the back-story of a problem with the past perfect Hope/don't think + present perfect: I hope he's found them Say you hope something has already happened, using hope + present perfect What happened was that… / the thing is… Explain what really happened, step by step First of all, also/what's more, lastly Give a short speech, in order, using first of all, also and lastly I wish you… (good wishes) vs I wish you'd / I had… (wanting things different) Wish people well, and say what you wish were different Get choked up, burst into tears, can't stop crying Say you nearly cried, or suddenly burst into tears Moving in together Nuria and Javi hunt for a flat, dream big, argue, compromise — Don Ramón is the landlord
Is it OK with you if…? / Are you OK with + -ing? / Do you mind if…? Suggest moving in together and check that the other person is happy with the plan Notice language: to let, for rent, for sale, wanted Understand and use the short language of property notices One / ones instead of repeating the noun: a bright one, dark ones Describe the flat you want without repeating the word flat Whose (possessive relative pronoun) Say who or what something belongs to, using whose Renting words: deposit, contract, bills, tenant, landlord Talk about the practical side of renting a flat More/less… than I thought; the more…, the more… Compare a flat with what you expected, and link two things that change together I'd like… / I'd be interested in + -ing (formal enquiries) Make polite, formal enquiries on the phone or at an office If I had…, I'd… (second conditional) Talk about dreams and what you would do Imagine / suppose / supposing + past simple Invite someone to daydream with you about an unreal situation Could in the second conditional: if I could…, we could… Talk about what you (or others) could do in an imagined situation If it rains, we'll… (real) vs if we had…, we'd… (imagined) Tell the difference between a real possibility and an imagined one If only + past simple (it isn't true) vs let's hope + present (it might be) Wish strongly for something that isn't true, and hope for something still possible As if / as though + past simple Describe something by comparing it with an imagined situation What would you do if you were me? — I'd… / I wouldn't… (the if is understood) Ask a friend for advice and give it the way people really do I'd prefer it if / it'd be better if / it'd be nice if + past simple Make gentle suggestions about changes to a shared home Needs + -ing (= needs to be done); faces, in good/bad condition Describe a flat: what it faces, what state it's in, and what needs doing Says (that) / is asking if — passing on a message now Pass on what someone is saying or asking right now She said / told me (that)… — moving the tense back Pass on what someone said to you earlier She asked me where we lived — reported questions use statement order Pass on the questions someone asked you He said / promised he would… — will becomes would Report what someone said or promised they would do You said you had done it — past becomes past perfect Report what someone said they had already done Beg / warn / advise + person + (not) to — more reporting verbs Report requests, warnings and advice with the right verb I thought / I was hoping (that)… would — the future seen from the past Say what you expected or hoped at a moment in the past Take / bring, go / come — whose point of view? Choose take or bring, go or come, depending on where you are I've heard (that)…, according to…, apparently, it seems…, people say… Pass on gossip and rumours without saying they're true It's your/my turn to… / take care of + noun or -ing Share out the housework using it's your turn and take care of But, however, and yet, on the other hand — contrast Contrast two ideas or two people using but, however, and yet and on the other hand So / that's why / therefore — giving the result Explain a result using so, that's why and therefore Despite + noun or -ing (vs even though + subject + verb) Say that something happens despite a problem Stop + -ing, … again, go back to + -ing Ask someone to stop a habit, and complain when it starts again A formal email: Dear…, I am writing to…, I would be grateful if…, Yours sincerely Write a short formal email asking for something politely It's not acceptable to…, I demand that…, within (two days) Make a formal complaint and set a deadline Let's + verb, as long as + present Suggest an agreement and set conditions, using let's and as long as The film shoot A film crew takes over Calle del Pez: extras, the press, a star who quits, the premiere
Future passive: will be + past participle Understand an official notice, and use the passive voice: will be + past participle / is + past participle Past passive + by: was/were + past participle + by Say who wrote, directed or told something, using the passive with by Notice passive: 'Extras wanted' = 'Extras are wanted' Understand and write 'wanted' notices, and know when English drops is/are Good/great/terrible at + -ing; know how to + infinitive Say what you are good, great or terrible at, and what you know how to do Start + -ing; burst out laughing / burst into tears Tell someone to start doing something right now, using start + -ing Keep + -ing; have been + -ing for how long (recap) Say you keep doing something, and how long you've been doing it By + deadline; a/an = per; for + what you get paid for Talk about deadlines and pay, using by (no later than), a/an (per) and for (in exchange for / the reason) Passing on an order: he says to + verb Pass on someone's order, using he says to + verb, and shout orders to a group Once more, another go, from the top Ask for a retake and try again, using once more, another go, another take and from the top Present continuous passive: is/are being + past participle Understand film-set announcements and use the present continuous passive for what's happening now Cockney: the glottal t, the dropped h, blimey and mate Recognise a few features of Cockney (East London) English: the dropped h, the glottal t, blimey and mate Scottish English: wee, dry humour and the eh? tag Recognise three touches of Scottish English: wee, dry humour and the eh? tag Would have + past participle (imagining a different past) Say what would have been better or different, using would have + past participle Third conditional: if + past perfect, would have + past participle Say what would have happened if things had been different, using the third conditional Supposed to + verb: what people say (not confirmed) Pass on a rumour or reputation using supposed to + infinitive So much / so many…!; ironic some + noun (Some help you are!) React to a mess, using so much/many and the ironic some + noun In my opinion, from my point of view; agree with / agree that Give an opinion and say whether you agree, using in my opinion, from my point of view and agree with / agree that Worth + -ing / noun / it (never worth to do) Say whether something is worthwhile, using worth + noun / -ing Weighing up: on the one hand… on the other; besides; whereas Weigh up advantages and disadvantages, using on the one hand… on the other, besides, whereas and then again I'm not saying (that)…; up to a point; that depends Soften a disagreement, using I'm not saying (that), up to a point and that depends Interview questions: Could you tell us…? How would you describe…? — I'd describe it as… Ask and answer formal interview questions: Could you tell us…?, How would you describe…?, I'd describe it as… Headlines: invades (= has invaded), to close (= will close) Understand newspaper headlines: present simple for news, to + verb for the future Take something out of context; I didn't mean (it like) that Correct a misquote and clear up a misunderstanding, using take out of context and not mean it (like that) Idioms: head in the clouds, a piece of cake, nuts, put your foot in it Use four everyday idioms: have your head in the clouds, a piece of cake, be nuts and put your foot in it Has said vs had said — present perfect vs past perfect Tell apart what someone has said today from what they had said before, using has said and had said Whoever and whatever + present simple Talk about any person or anything, using whoever and whatever Unless and provided (that) + present simple (and as long as) Set conditions with as long as, provided (that) and unless + present simple Extra information between commas:, who… /, which… Add extra information about someone with a comma clause, using non-defining relative clauses with who/which Just in case; in case + present simple Say you do something just in case, and say what is about to happen or still to be done Present perfect passive: has been + past participle Talk about accidents without blaming anyone, using the passive: has been deleted, has been lost Should have / shouldn't have + past participle (criticising the past) Say what someone should (not) have done, and what you would (never) have done Relief: thank goodness (that)…; it's just as well (that)… React with relief, using thank goodness and it's just as well Look, seem, feel + adjective (not the -ly adverb) Describe how someone looks right now, using look, seem and be + adjective Thanks to... / if it weren't for you... / I owe you one Thank someone properly, using thanks to, if it weren't for you, and I owe you one Do you remember when...? — past simple, continuous and past perfect together Ask and answer about shared memories, mixing the past simple, continuous and perfect Whatever happens, whatever they say Reassure someone using whatever happens, one way or another, and whatever they say Reviewing a film: what I liked most was… Say what you liked most about a film, using what-clefts (revising Unit 36) All the past tenses together Tell a story that mixes the present perfect, past simple, past continuous and past perfect naturally Toasts: Here's to…!, I'd like to propose a toast to…, may we… Propose a toast and make wishes, using Here's to…!, I'd like to propose a toast to…, may we…, I wish and if only When + present simple for the future, and I hope… Talk about future plans using when + present simple and I hope (revising Units 30 & 34) Save Calle del Pez A developer wants the building: letters, a campaign, a town-hall debate — and a poet in Elena’s flat
Recap: hope (that), told vs said, reported speech, for sale Follow a story about a snapped basket rope and an official letter, recapping hope, told, and reported speech Recap and extension: the passive in any tense — has been / had been / is going to be / may be + participle Understand and use the passive in any tense: has been, had been, is going to be, may be + past participle Is/are + participle (the state) vs was/were + participle (the action) Tell an action (were closed) from the state it leaves behind (are closed) Passive: the person as subject (are informed) vs the thing as subject (for sale) Understand official notices that put the person first (residents are informed) and the ones that put the thing first (flats for sale) Unknown people: they + verb — and when to use the passive instead Talk about what unknown people did (they've called, they offered us) and choose between that and the written passive End up + adjective/participle, be forced to + infinitive Report accidents and decisions with end up, be forced to and the passive Nominalisation: sell → the sale, evict → the eviction Understand official texts full of nouns made from verbs, and turn them back into everyday English Formal letters: with regard to, the said, please find attached, at your earliest convenience, yours faithfully Write a formal letter with fixed phrases: with regard to, the said, please find attached, at your earliest convenience, yours faithfully Formal cause: since, given that, seeing as Give a reason with since, given that and seeing as As (cause-first) vs because (cause-second); the thing is… for excuses Put the cause first with as, and make (or spot) an excuse with the thing is Cause + noun: due to, owing to, it's X's fault, thanks to Give causes with nouns, in formal writing and in everyday speech Consequence: consequently, which means (and therefore) Link facts to their consequences, step by step So + adjective/adverb…that / such (a) + noun…that Say how intense something was and what happened as a result Formal purpose: in order to, so as to, with the aim of State an aim formally, with in order to, so as to and with the aim of Go + adjective: a change of state (go viral, go wrong, go quiet) Talk about social media in English: post, share, tag, followers, going viral Idioms of protest Talk about protest and resistance with everyday idioms However much / no matter how much + clause; as hard as + try Stand your ground with however much / no matter how much While it is true that… / it is also true that…; even + -ing Admit a point and still argue your case, formally and informally The fact that… and -ing clauses as the subject Argue about facts and what they do or don't prove Turn-taking: sorry to interrupt you, let me finish, if I may, let's get to the point Take the floor, interrupt politely and hold on to your turn Hedging: I wouldn't say, I have the impression, I don't know to what extent, in a way, you'd need to Soften a strong claim so it sounds reasonable in public Counter-arguments: what about…?, does…, then?, that doesn't change the fact that, which doesn't mean Counter an argument: raise what it leaves out, and deny its conclusions Restating: in other words, that is, to put it another way, to put it bluntly Translate jargon into plain English by restating it Idioms of trickery Say that someone is trying to trick you, with everyday idioms Reporting verbs: assured, stated, admitted, acknowledged, added Report exactly what someone stated, using assure, state, admit, acknowledge and add Deny (that)… — plus doubt (that), recapped Deny a rumour and report denials and doubts, using deny and doubt Suggest / insist (that) + base form; says + should (reporting a recommendation) Report advice and warnings, including the special verb form after suggest and insist Reported speech shifts: tomorrow → the next day, here → there, today → that day Retell what people said on another day and in another place, shifting time and place words Press language: reportedly, allegedly, supposedly Understand how the press reports unconfirmed news, and keep your distance from a claim Summing up: long story short, in short, all in all, after all, what she was getting at Cut a long story short and give the gist of what someone said Telling history: past perfect, past passive, and 'Here lived…' on a plaque Tell a piece of history with the past simple, the past perfect and the past passive Intention and refusal: have no intention of -ing, be determined to, be willing to, intend to State your intentions firmly and refuse, using have no intention of, be determined to, be willing to, refuse to and intend to La Esquina opens Tomás and Marisa open a café: a business plan, hard bargaining, a flood, opening day — and twins on the way
Tentative hypothetical conditions: If + were to + infinitive Float a business idea tentatively with if + were to, and contrast it with if + past simple for states Planning for risks: what if…? / in the event of + noun (in case = a precaution, not if) Plan for risks: ask what if…?, use in the event of in a plan, and keep in case for precautions Bank terms: so long as / providing (that) / subject to + noun / not unless Understand and set a bank's terms: so long as, providing, subject to, not unless Conditions without if: Had I known… / Were I to… / Should someone…; with + noun Express a condition compactly, without if: Had I known…, Were I to…, Should someone…, with + noun Warnings with an imperative:...or (else)... /...and... Make a half-joking warning or threat, using an imperative and or (else) Business numbers: fractions, percentages and decimals Talk about business numbers: fractions, percentages and decimals Money idioms Talk about money with common English idioms On condition that / only if + present simple; inversion after only if Lay down a strict condition, formally and with emphasis Softening offers: would be prepared to / could consider / it would suit us Soften an offer in a negotiation so it doesn't sound pushy, using would be prepared to, could consider and would suit Proposing politely: what I propose is that… / how would you feel if…? Put a concrete proposal on the table and float an idea politely, using what I propose is that… and how would you feel if…? Formal refusals: I'm afraid (that)… / Unfortunately… / it is not possible for us to… Turn down terms firmly but politely, in writing or aloud, using formal refusal phrases -ever words, extended: whichever and wherever (whoever and whatever recapped) Say 'any', 'whatever', 'wherever' and 'whichever' when choosing a supplier Negotiation idioms: meet in the middle, give and take, it's a deal Meet someone halfway and close a deal, using English negotiation idioms Job-ad English: ellipsis, no articles, no verbs Write and understand a job ad in telegraphic English, from the employer's side Covering yourself: for the record / just so we're clear / let it be noted that / in writing / on record Put things on record and cover yourself in a deal: for the record, just so we're clear, let it be noted, in writing, on record Informal refusals: don't give me that / no way / not a chance / come on! / we'll see Resist pressure informally: refuse, brush off and stall, using don't give me that, no way, not a chance, come on and we'll see Verbs of change: become and get — and go + adjective, recapped Describe how someone has changed, choosing between become, get and go + adjective Verbs of change: become, turn into, get to be Talk about becoming something — a job, a role or a transformation — with become, turn into and get to be Little by little: getting + comparative and comparative, coming along; go around + -ing Describe gradual progress and annoying behaviour: drier and drier, coming along, getting there, go around + -ing How it ended: end up + -ing, in the end; go so far as to + verb Say how a process ended and stress something surprising: end up + -ing, in the end, go so far as to Was about to / was on the point of; nearly + past simple Say something was about to happen or nearly happened, using was about to / was on the point of and nearly Have/get + object + past participle (results so far) Report results achieved so far with have/get + object + past participle Rules and regulations: be required to / be not allowed / be not permitted to / there must be Understand and explain rules and regulations using the modal passive Stress idioms Talk about stress and pressure with common English idioms Off for leaving: be off / head off / go off with; drop off (= fall asleep) Talk about leaving and sleeping with off: I'm off, head off, go off with, drop off Family likeness: take after / look like + noun / look just like / have got someone's nose Talk about family likeness: take after, look like, look just like, have got someone's nose Emphasis: you've no idea how… / I can't imagine how… Stress how good, how much or how well something is, using you've no idea how / I can't imagine how + adjective Formal openings: it's a pleasure to… / I have the honour of -ing / I hereby declare X open Open an event formally: welcome people, introduce a guest, declare something open Review English: short, verbless phrases Read and write a short online review of a café in natural English review-speak False friends: actually, currently, eventually, possibly Use actually, currently, eventually and possibly with their real English meanings Easily confused: embarrassed / embarrassing, fun / funny, lend / borrow Stop mixing up embarrassed / embarrassing, fun / funny and lend / borrow Reacting to big news: You don't say! / Good grief! / congratulate someone on… / congratulations vs well done React to big news: show surprise, congratulate someone on something, and choose between congratulations and well done Medellín The abuela’s ninetieth: vos and usted, a secret from 1965 shared with Elena, a coffee farm — and the abuela’s blessing
The minute / the moment + present (future) or past; on + noun / -ing Say exactly when things happen with the minute / the moment + present or past, and on + noun Once / as soon as + present perfect (finished first) vs past simple / past perfect (facts) Sequence events with once / as soon as / the moment + present perfect (future) and past simple or past perfect (past) As (two things changing together) vs while (two facts); as long as (recap) Describe two things changing together with as, tell it from while, and set conditions with as long as Future in the past: said (that) …would… + when / until / as soon as + past simple Report someone's earlier plans: she said she'd wait until we arrived Lost luggage: the carousel, the lost-luggage desk, check in, a baggage tag Report lost luggage and make a claim at the airport Must for rules (you must show · had to) vs must for guesses (recapped: must be, can't be) Answer passport-control questions, and tell a rule (you must show) from a guess (she must be telling) The probability scale: be bound to, be likely to, chances are, may well, could Say how likely something is: be bound to, be likely to, chances are, may well, could Taking compliments: oh, stop it!, it's nothing, really, I wouldn't go that far, you're too kind Meet the in-laws and take compliments gracefully, the British way Regional plural you: yous, ye, y'all, you guys, you lot Recognise the regional plural forms of you: yous, ye, y'all, you guys, you lot Register in offers: Fancy a…? (casual) vs Would you care for…? (very formal) Choose the right register for offers: Fancy a…? with friends, Would you care for…? when being very polite Fast, casual speech: goin' / gonna, statement-order questions, a thingy, ace, have someone on Follow fast, casual spoken English: dropped sounds, statement-order questions, thingy, ace, have someone on Café English: What can I get you? · Could I have…? · There you go · love, duck, pet Order and serve politely the British way, and recognise regional terms like love and duck British vs American words, part two: pants / trousers, queue / line, pavement / sidewalk, petrol / gas, biscuit / cookie Switch between British and American everyday words, including the ones that can make you blush Cosy short forms: two ticks, in a bit, a cuppa, the telly, brekkie · making it big: great big, whopping great Recognise cosy short forms (two ticks, in a bit, a cuppa, brekkie) and big-making words (great big, whopping great) British vs American grammar: I've just seen him vs I just saw him Recognise British and American grammar side by side: I've just seen him vs I just saw him British slang: gobsmacked, graft, dosh, skint, chuffed Understand everyday British slang next to its Colombian equivalents Third conditional in full: if I'd (= had) + participle, I'd (= would) have + participle Imagine a different past in every person, using the full third conditional and its spoken contractions Mixed conditional: if + past perfect → would + verb (now) Say how the present would be different if the past had been different Mixed conditional: if + past simple (a lasting trait) → would have + participle Explain a past result by a permanent trait: if I weren't so…, I'd have… Past regrets: if only + past perfect; regret (not) + -ing / (not) having + participle Express regret about the past with if only and regret (not) -ing As if + past perfect; protests: anyone would think…!, it's not as if…! Compare with an unreal past using as if + past perfect, and protest with anyone would think…! Wishes looking back: I'd have liked you to come / it if you'd come; was hoping you'd…; never thought she'd have… Look back at what people wanted, asked for and expected: I'd have liked you to…, I was hoping you'd… Inversion in old letter style: were you here…, had you but seen…, should your mother…; written if… had vs spoken if… would have Recognise old-fashioned letter English (were you here, had you seen, should your mother…) and use had, not would, after if Sayings about time: it's water under the bridge, what's done is done, better late than never, time heals all wounds Use common sayings to put the past behind you Superlative + present perfect + ever: the best … I've ever tasted; telling it later: the … I'd ever tasted Talk about the best, the most beautiful, the tastiest thing you have ever known Nobody / anyone who… in the past: didn't have anyone who…, wasn't there any… who could…, nobody left who had… Talk about people who did not exist, or could not be found, in the past Preposition + which (careful style): in which, under which, among which, thanks to which; which is why Show someone round a place, linking facts with in which, under which, thanks to which, which is why Hedging: as far as I know / remember, as far as anyone knows, not as far as I know; …, to say the least Hedge what you say: as far as I know, as far as I remember, to say the least -ever words in a past story (wherever she went, whatever the boss said) and however + clause (= in whatever way) Use wherever, whoever, whatever and however in the present and in a past story, and say look wherever you like Precautions: in case + past simple (looking back), in case… should (careful), so as not to + verb Take precautions, now and in the past: in case…, in case… should…, so as not to… Speaking from the heart: ever since I met you, I never thought… would…, I can't imagine life without you Say what someone means to you, in a speech from the heart Long-awaited news: about time!, at last!, I can't believe it!; passing it on: she says it's about time Share big news by phone, react to it and pass on what people say Elena’s memoirs Elena writes her life story: idioms, irony, a TV debate, a leaked chapter, the launch
Books and writing: memoirs, publisher, draft, chapter three, ghostwriter Talk about writing a book: memoirs, publishers, drafts, chapters and ghostwriters Found out, met, tried, didn't manage, refused: the verb shows what happened Say when you found out, met, tried, managed or refused something, choosing the right verb Telling a story in the present: in comes a man, he goes and falls, he goes "…" Tell a funny story vividly in the present tense, with in comes…, goes and… and he goes Story time markers: back then, after a year, two days later, the next morning, from then on Move a story forward in time with narrative time markers Past perfect continuous: I'd been waiting (for three hours) when… Say what had been going on, and for how long, up to a moment in the past Strong reactions: it drives me mad when…, I can't stand it when…, I can't bear her -ing, what I can't stand is… Say strongly what annoys you about what someone else does Same adjective, different meaning: an old friend vs a friend who is old, poor Ramón vs a poor man Use old, poor, great and big so they mean what you want Reproaches: what were you thinking, -ing?, how could you…?, you had no business -ing, you could at least have… Reproach someone for what they did, or didn't do Proverbs: fixed sayings with a moral Recognise and use common English proverbs Idioms about people Describe people with idioms: as thick as thieves, not mince your words, talk nineteen to the dozen, like a bear with a sore head Sarcasm: how very… of you!, oh, great!, that's all we needed! Recognise and use sarcasm: how very… of you!, oh, great!, that's all we needed! Intensifiers beyond very: ever so, dead, most, really really, super-duper Intensify adjectives with ever so, dead, most, really really and super-duper, in the right register British understatement: not bad at all, not exactly, a bit on the … side, rather Soften criticism and understate, the British way: not bad at all, not exactly, a bit on the … side, rather American slang: awesome, for real, dude, a gig — with register warnings Understand everyday American slang and know when not to use it London slang: leave it out!, get in!, a sarnie, get stuck in, proper Understand everyday London slang: leave it out!, get in!, a sarnie, get stuck in, proper Same idea, different picture: cats and dogs, the last straw, stick your oar in, pull your socks up Use English idioms whose picture is not what you might expect Signposting a talk: I'll begin by -ing, it's worth stressing that, moving on, I'd like to point out that, to sum up Give a short structured talk: open, stress a point, move on and sum up Attributing views: some would argue, there are those who, in X's view, in the words of, for those of us who Present other people's views without making them your own Dodging questions: I'd rather not comment, not to my knowledge, that remains to be seen, no comment Dodge an awkward question politely, like a politician Rebutting politely: with respect, that's not entirely true / may I remind you that / if I could just finish / you're mistaken Contradict someone in public, politely but firmly Word formation: un-, re-, dis-, over- + -able, -ify / -ification Work out and build new words from prefixes and suffixes Alternatives: whether… or (not), be it… or…, either… or… Say that something happens whatever the alternative, and set out two options Apologising: I never meant to / for it to…, I'm so sorry you had to…, I deeply regret + -ing Apologise sincerely for something that upset someone Fame idioms: on everyone's lips, set tongues wagging, the talk of the town, gone to his head, too big for his boots Talk about sudden fame and gossip with idioms Recap in one scene: the passive in any tense, since, however much, as if + past perfect Handle a busy event using the passive, linking words and as if together Recap: third and mixed conditionals Look back on the past and imagine how things could have turned out, with third and mixed conditionals Recap while negotiating: whether… or not, as soon as / until + present, before + past Negotiate a joint decision, weighing alternatives and future conditions Dedications and thanks: dedicated to, in memory of, I would like to thank… for, without whose help Write and read out dedications and acknowledgements Buying time: let's see, right then, how shall I put it?, what I mean is, well, anyway Improvise a short speech, buying time with natural fillers Steering a conversation: by the way, speaking of, at the end of the day, anyway, put it this way Steer a conversation: change topic, link, sum up and close Recap: present perfect continuous (how long) vs present perfect simple (how many so far) Talk about how long something has been going on and how many things you have done so far Recap: toasts and wishes in every tense — here's to + -ing, I hope, let's hope + present perfect, if only + past perfect, I wish + past Make toasts and wishes in every tense, and round off a story Learn it in the story Every rule here belongs to a short scene on Calle del Pez. Watch it, answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
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