Verb phrases and Irregular verbs

read a newspaper

listen to the radio/ music

have or eat  → Have can be used with both food and drink, and is common with meals (comidas), e.g. have a sandwich, have a coffee, have lunch.

Eat can only be used with food, e.g. eat fast food

Leisure activities

go to the cinema / to a bar / to a restaurant

do exercise / housework / homework

play the guitar

work → has two meaning: 1) She works in a museum = it´s her job   2) The phone doesn´t work = it´s broken

cook dinner

drink tea / mineral water / a cup of coffee

Modal verbs and Verb + ing forms

Verbs + -ing

We add – ing to the main verb. The spelling rules are the same as for the present continuous.

Use

We use the verb + -ing form:

• as the subject of the sentence. The -ing form is often a noun. eg. Eating a lot of fruit is important
• after a preposition. I´m very good at playing tennis.
• after verbs such as → like, love, enjoy, prefer, don´t like, hate, can´t stand, not mind as an object. eg. I love walking in the mountains.

↓↑

like + -ing / would like to

We use like + ing to talk about → a general feeling which is true now. Like / like animals / the atmosphere at work ← talking about your interests

eg.

Richard likes skiing a lot.

Ella doesn´t like listening to rap music.

Would / ´d like to + infinitive 

We use ´d like to to talk about a future ambition.

eg.

I´d like to visit Kenya next year.

She wouldn´t like to work in an office when she leaves school.

And we use Would you like … ? to offer somebody something

Modal verbs

There are two important differences between Must and Can / Could and regular verbs in the present simple:

• There is no third person -s with modal verbs. eg. She must go. I can stay
• There is no auxiliary do whith modal verbs. eg. I mustn´t lose. He can´t play

-Can you introduce yourself? / Could you… ? -> for past interrogative

-Couldn´t -> for past negative

• Have / have to is a regular verb. eg.  I have to go. He has to help. I don´t have to play. She doesn´t have to compete.

Use

We use different modal verbs to talk about rules.

• When something is necessary and an obligation, we use must, have to and mustn´t. eg.  You must be home at eleven o´clock. You have to finish your homework tonight. He mustn´t leave the house.
• When something is allowed according to the rules, we use can. eg. Yes, you can go to tre cinema on Friday
• When something is not necessary (but allowed), we use don´t have to. eg. You don´t have to wear a suit at the meeting.
• When something is not allowed, we use mustn´t and can´t. eg. She mustn´t tell anybody. He can´t play football tomorrow.

Should

↑↓

Sports / Competitions

beat

live in a beautiful house / in a big flat

say sorry

speak German / English /Spanish

study economics / at university

take an umbrella

want a new car

watch

wear glasses / jeans

need / need to

make

rain / change

finish

dance

drive

use

kiss

give

greet you with a smile

ask

solve the problem

call

come

stay as long as you like

buy / sell / pay

feel

prefer

think the traffic is terrible / that people are nice to foreigners

sit here

guess

earn money

get drunk / and I have hangover (resaca)

take a nap

fall asleep  / start sleeping

tell / telling a story

sail

sink / sank

After 300 metres, turn right

–Imperatives. Use imperatives to give orders or instructions.

Be careful / Be quiet!

Don´t smoke / Smoke hero

Turn left / right

Cross the road now

listen to music here

turn off your mobile / it / turn on

go in here

Don´t take photos  / Take photos

Don´t eat or drink here / eat or drink here

Don´t worry

Please, don´t park here

Please, close the window / the door

Come on!

Sign

Slow down

Stop

park

–Let´s. Use  Let´s + verb infinitive to make Suggestions.

Let´s park here

Let´s go home

Let´s eat lunch there

Let´s cross the road here

Let´s go to a hotel

Let´s turn on the air conditioning

Feelings

Use be + :

hungry (hambriento) / thirsty (sediento)

hot / cold

angry (enojado) / sad / happy

tired

worried / stressed

bored

great / terrible

optimistic

ill / talking about health and  illness ← Health / Medical problems

Bibliography:

Life.  Pre Intermediate. By John Hughes, Helen Stephenson and Paul Dummett.

English File. Elementary  By Christina Latham Koening, Clive Oxenden, Paul Seligson /

Third Edition. Descargar