American and British English

ni2 21/3/13

Homework: writing 1, workbook p. 17 e-mail (giving advice) + writing 2, workbook p 25 e-mail (asking for information) (120-150 words each).

weird  /wɪəd/

dull /dʌl/

weren't /wɜːnt/ UK  US   contracción de were not

aren't /ɑːnt/ UK  US

 •   contracción de are not

they're /ðeə/ UK  US   contracción de they are

where /weə/

were /wə, acentuado wɜː/ UK  US   pasado de be.

end up 

phrasal verb

to be in a particular situation, state, or place after a series of events, especially when you did not plan it:

He came round for a coffee and we ended up in bed together.

I wondered where the pictures would end up after the auction.

squad /skwɒd/ UK  US  sustantivo

1 selección, equipo [en deportes]

2 brigada

3 pelotón

adorable /əˈdɔːrəbəl/ UK  US  adjetivo

adorable, encantador -a

lie /laɪ/ UK  US  verbo [intransitivo] (pasado lay, participio lain, gerundio lying)

1 estar acostado -a/tumbado -a

to lie still/awake estar quieto -a/despierto -a [en la cama, etc.]

2 acostarse, tumbarse

to lie on your back/front tumbarse boca arriba/boca abajo

3 estar (situado -a)

The town lies in a valley.

La ciudad está situada en un valle.

lie about/around phrasal verb

1  to leave sth lying about/around dejar algo tirado

2  estar sin hacer nada

He lies around the house all day.

Se pasa el día en casa sin hacer nada.

lie ahead phrasal verb

(hablando de lo que nos espera en el futuro)

the problems that lay ahead

los problemas que se avecinaban

Who knows what lies ahead?

¿Quién sabe lo que nos deparará el futuro?

lie back phrasal verb

 recostarse

lie down phrasal verb

 tumbarse, echarse

lie in phrasal verb (to have a lie in)

 BrE  quedarse en la cama hasta tarde

lay past tense and past participle laid

1

put somebody/something down

 [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to put someone or something down carefully into a flat position [= place]:

He laid his hand on my shoulder.

They laid a wreath at the place where so many people died.

Lay the material flat on the table.

2

 lay bricks/carpet/concrete/cables etc

to put or fasten bricks, acarpet etc in the correct place, especially on the ground or floor:

style='orphans: auto;text-align:start;widows: auto;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px' class=pronsentence title="Look up a word starting with D or S for samples of headword or sentence pronunciations on the LDOCE CD-ROM" v:shapes="_x0000_i1030">The carpet was laid last week.

style='orphans: auto;text-align:start;widows: auto;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px' class=pronsentence title="Look up a word starting with D or S for samples of headword or sentence pronunciations on the LDOCE CD-ROM" v:shapes="_x0000_i1031">The project involved laying an oil pipeline across the desert.

3

bird/insect etc

 [intransitive and transitive] if a bird, insect etc lays eggs, it produces them from its body:

The flies lay their eggs on decaying meat.

A cuckoo is able to lay in a range of different nests.

4

table

 [transitive] British English to put the cloth, plates, knives, forks etc on a table, ready for a meal [= set]:

John was laying the table.

crow /krəʊ/ UK  US   sustantivo & verbo

 •  sustantivo

1 cuervo

2 as the crow flies en línea recta

bush /bʊʆ/ UK  US  sustantivo (plural bushes)

arbusto, matorral

squirrel /ˈskwɪrəl/ UK  US  sustantivo

The participial clause, starting with -ing or -ed, is more characteristic of written English, as it allows us to say the same thing as a relative clause, starting with who, which or that, but with fewer words.

A participial clause, starting with –ed or past participle, is used instead of a relative pronoun plus passive voice. Study these further examples:

Food sold (= which is sold) in this supermarket is of the highest quality.

Anyone found touching (= who is found ) these priceless exhibits will be escorted out of the museum.

The tailback on the A34 caused ( = which was caused / which had been caused) by the head-on collision stretched for over 20 miles in both directions.

It took the ambulances called ( = that were called / that had been called) to the scene over half an hour to get through.

                    

     A participial clause, starting with -ing is used instead of a relative pronoun plus active verb, continuous or simple.

The train now arriving (= which is now arriving) at platform 1 is the 6.36 from Newcastle.

There are delays for people travelling to work (= who are travelling to work) on Southern Region trains this morning.

Anyone touching (= who touches ) these priceless exhibits will be escorted out of the museum.

The police impounded all the vehicles belonging to (= which belonged to) his brother.

The boy driving (= who was driving) the BMW was underage, unlicensed and over the limit.

                    

     Note that when we are talking about a single completed action in a defining relative clause, we cannot use an active participle:

The girl who fell down the cliff broke her leg.

(NOT: The girl falling down cliff…)

nb1 20-21/3/13

Homework: ex. 4 p. 57 and 160, vocabulary + ex. 6 writing (a memorable night), p.57.

The day after tomorrow.

last

1 most recent or nearest to the present time:

I hadn't seen him since the last meeting.

last night/week/year etc

Did you see the game on TV last night?

They passed the law last August.
BUT

Interest in golf has grown rapidly in the last ten years.

Things have changed since the last time (=the most recent occasion) you were here.

When was the last time (that) you bought a donut?

¿Cuándo fue la última vez que compraste un Donut?

A long time ago.

The Way of St. James or St. James' Way (Spanish: El Camino de Santiago)

GPS /ˌdʒiː piː ˈes/ sustantivo (= Global Positioning System)

1 (sistema) GPS

2 (plural GPSes) (dispositivo) GPS

sunset /ˈsʌnset/ UK  US  sustantivo

1 atardecer

before sunset

antes del atardecer

2 puesta de sol

a beautiful sunset

una hermosa puesta de sol

To be on holiday.

On my last night.

embarrassed /ɪmˈbærəst/ UK  US  adjetivo

1 I feel/she is etc embarrassed me da/le da etc vergüenza

He felt so embarrassed.

Le dio tanta vergüenza.

I was embarrassed by her directness.

Su franqueza me hizo sentir incómoda.

eight /eɪt/ UK  US  número

ocho

bought /bɔːt/ UK  US   pasado & participio de buy

knight /naɪt/ UK  US  sustantivo

1 (en la Edad Media) caballero

night /naɪt/

souvenir /ˌsuːvəˈnɪə/ UK  US  sustantivo

souvenir, recuerdo

memorable /ˈmemərəbəl/ UK  US  adjetivo

 memorable

scarf /skɑːf/ UK  US  sustantivo (plural scarves o scarfs)

1 bufanda

2 pañuelo [para la cabeza, el cuello]

questionnaire /ˌkwestʆəˈneə/ UK  US  sustantivo

cuestionario

couple /ˈkʌpəl/ UK  US  sustantivo & verbo

 •  sustantivo

1 par

Could you bring  a couple more  chairs?

¿Puedes traer un par de sillas más?

2 a couple of un par de, unos -as

I'll only be a couple of minutes.

Vuelvo en un par de minutos.

3 pareja

a married couple un matrimonio.

Go for a swim / have a swim (darse un baño en el mar, rio…)

Clothes

ni2 14/3/13

Homework: reading p. 72/73, vocab. P. 74 and grammar, p. 75.

towards /təˈwɔːdz/ BrE, también toward /təˈwɔːd/ AmE UK  US  preposición

1 (en dirección a) hacia

I saw a man coming towards me.

Vi a un hombre que venía hacia mí.

OFF- only a short distance away from a place:

' class=pronsentence title="Look up a word starting with D or S for samples of headword or sentence pronunciations on the LDOCE CD-ROM" v:shapes="_x0000_i1025">Our hotel was just off the main street.

It’s an island off the coast of France

wide/narrow streets

roundabout

A roundabout route ≠ a shortcut.

It's a huge hotel on the corner. You can't miss it (=it is very easy to notice or recognize).

It’s not really my kind of thing

I don’t really feel like it.

I’m not really in the mood for that kind of thing.

It sounds a bit too trendy for me.

It looks a bit too touristy for me.

It sounds a bit too weird for me.

nb1 13-14/3/13

Homework: p.137 Grammarbank 7B (a + b), p.56 ex. 1, reading and ex. 2, grammar.

however /haʊˈevə/ UK  US  adverbio

1 sin embargo

pain /peɪn/ UK  US  sustantivo

1 dolor

I've got a pain in my foot.

Me duele el pie

to be in pain

Are you in pain?

¿Te duele?

2 to be a pain (in the neck) (informal)

 (a)  ser un pesado/una pesada

distribución

Si es entre dos personas, se usa  between/bɪˈtwiːn/. Si es entre más,  among /əˈmʌŋ/

Repartíos la pizza entre los dos.

Share the pizza between you two.

Reparte las golosinas entre los niños.

Share the sweets among the children.

To be good/bad at sth

Ronaldo is good at football.

I’m bad at maths.

type /taɪp/ UK  US  sustantivo & verbo

 •  verbo [transitivo/intransitivo]

escribir a máquina, mecanografiar

stadium /ˈsteɪdiəm/ UK  US  sustantivo (plural stadiums o stadia)

estadio

Lucky/ˈlʌki/ UK  US  adjetivo (-ckier, -ckiest)

afortunado -a

to be lucky tener suerte

We are very lucky with the weather.

Tenemos mucha suerte con el tiempo.

THE PAST WITH REGULAR VERBS

They called a taxi.

They didn’t (did not) talk_ to the taxi driver.

Did they go_ by taxi?

Where did you want_ to go?

PRONOUNCIATION OF THE PAST (-ED)

Needed – started /id/

-ed /t/

looked, cooked, worked, asked, liked...

relaxed

stopped, typed...

finished, crashed...

missed, kissed...
danced...

watched

surfed, laughed...

WORDS DIFFICULT TO PRONOUNCE.

they're /ðeə/ UK  US   contracción de they are

aren't /ɑːnt/ UK  US

 •   contracción de are not

were /wə, acentuado wɜː/ UK  US   pasado de be

weren't /wɜːnt/ UK  US   contracción de were not

FOR OR DURING

durante

Se traduce por  during cuando significa en el transcurso de algo:

durante las vacaciones

 during the holidays

No tengo tiempo durante la semana.

 I don't have time during the week.

Se traduce por  for cuando se refiere a una cantidad de tiempo:

Le esperé durante horas.

 I waited for him for hours.

Vivimos allí durante tres años.

 We lived there for three years.

He was a good sportsman, musician and poet.

He was good at sports, music and poetry.

poetry /ˈpəʊɪtri/

UK  US  sustantivo

poesía [el arte, el género]

poet /ˈpəʊɪt/

I have no clue.

...

do or make

ni2 12/3/13

to run short of time

run short of

To use up so that a supply becomes insufficient or scanty: ran short of paper clips.

My phone has run out of battery/power.

Half board means bed, breakfast and main meal in the evening.

Self-contained (=Self –catering) holiday accommodation which has facilities for guests to prepare their own meals

opt /ɒpt/ UK  US  verbo

to opt for sth optar por algo

to opt to do sth decidir hacer algo

opt out phrasal verb

 borrarse, no participar

 to opt out of sth borrarse de algo, decidir no participar en algo

roommate /ˈruːm-meɪt/ UK  US  sustantivo

compañero -a de habitación

be spoilt for choice  (mainly British) also be spoiled for choice (mainly American)

to have so many good possible choices that it is difficult to make a decision With 51 flavours of ice-cream to choose from you are spoiled for choice.

Quietness = tranquility

convenient /kənˈviːniənt/ UK  US  adjetivo

1 oportuno -a

at a convenient time

a una hora oportuna

Would tomorrow be convenient?

¿Le vendría bien mañana?

2  práctico -a, bien situado -a

The house is  convenient for  the school.

La casa está en un sitio muy práctico para ir al colegio.

in‧de‧ci‧sive

1 unable to make clear decisions or choices [≠ decisive]:

a weak and indecisive leader

It’s got a good/bad public transport.

in‧stal‧la‧tion

1 [uncountable] when someone fits a piece of equipment somewhere:

the installation and maintenance of alarm systems

2 [countable] a piece of equipment that has been fitted in its place:

' class=pronsentence title="Look up a word starting with D or S for samples of headword or sentence pronunciations on the LDOCE CD-ROM" v:shapes="_x0000_i1027">The whole computer installation was nearly new.

3 [countable] a place where industrial or military equipment, machinery etc has been put:

nuclear installations

4 [countable] a piece of modern art which can include objects, light, sound etc

still life plural still lifes [uncountable and countable]

a picture of an arrangement of objects, for example flowers or fruit

Plot: the events that form the main story of a book, film, or play:

The plot was a little confusing.

We discover that Jack isn't as innocent as he seems, as the plot unfolds (=gradually becomes clearer).

sce‧ne‧ry [uncountable]

1 the natural features of a particular part of a country that you can see, such as mountains, forests, deserts etc:

The best part of the trip was the fantastic scenery.

2 the painted background, furniture etc used on a theatre stage.

I go to the cinema once every two months.

Nod and shake.

hermitage  /ˈh3ːmɪtɪdʒ/

nb1 11-12/3/13

Homework: grammarbank 7A (a + b) p. 137 & p.53 ex. 3 (reading)

century /ˈsentʆəri/ UK  US  sustantivo (plural -ries)

siglo

the 21st century

el siglo XXI

daily /ˈdeɪli/ UK  US  adjetivo &  adverbio

 •  adjetivo

diario -a, cotidiano -a

daily life

la vida cotidiana/diaria

a daily paper

un diario

Henry VIII (the eighth)

Be in love with (I’m in love with you)

against /əˈgenst/ UK  US  preposición

1 (expresando oposición) en contra de, contra

He voted against the motion.

Votó en contra de la moción.

I had to swim against the current.

Tuve que nadar contra la corriente.

Who are we playing against on Saturday?

¿Contra quién jugamos el sábado?

I am – was

You are –were

He is – was

We are – were

They are - were

I was (wasn’t) a student at that school.

We were (weren’t) in Rome in the summer.

Were you a student...?

Were you in Rome...?

I’m – I was (we can’t contract it)

weren't /wɜːnt/ UK  US   contracción de were not

ill /ɪl/ UK  US  adjetivo

1 to be ill estar enfermo -a

to feel ill sentirse mal

to fall ill también to be taken ill BrE enfermar

born /bɔːn/ UK  US  adjetivo

1 to be born nacer

I was born on Christmas Day.

Nací el día de Navidad.

singer /ˈsɪŋə/ UK  US  sustantivo

cantante

He was  a singer.

He was American.

He was the king of pop.

He was black first.

He was with the Jackson Five.

= Michael Jackson

journey /ˈdʒɜːni/ UK  US  sustantivo

viaje

to go on a journey ir de viaje, hacer un viaje

satnav- satellite navigator

His house was in the north of Spain

where /weə/ UK  US  adverbio, pronombre & conjunción

 •  adverbio

dónde

Where did you buy it?

¿Dónde lo has comprado?

were /wə, acentuado wɜː/ UK  US   pasado de be

was /wəz, acentuado wɒz/ UK  US   pasado de be

I’m hungry.

I was hungry.

He’s not tired.

He wasn’t tired.

Are you thirsty?

Were you thirsty?

When were you born?

Where were you born?

director /dɪˈrektə/ UK  US  sustantivo

1 (de una empresa, una organización, etc.) director -a

2 (de una obra, una película) director -a