Modal verbs of speculation

Certainty
If we are fairly certain about something, must, can't and couldn't can be use to express this.
For present situations the model verbs must, can't and couldn't are followed by the infinitive without to.
I haven't slept for two days. You must be exhausted!
The continuous infinitive can also be used.
Why is he wearing his uniform? He couldn't be going to school. It's saturday today.
For past situations we use the same modal verbs + have + past participle.
I can't find my book. I must have left it at school.
This composition isn't very good. You can't have spent very long on it.
NB: mustn't is not normally used when speculating about present or past situations.

Possibility
If we are not certain about something but think it is possible, we use may (not), might (not) or could.
For present situations these modal verbs are followed by the infinitive without to. The continuous infinitive is also possible.
Moe's not answering my emails. He might be on holiday.
The continuous infinitive can also be used.For past situations we use the same modal verbs + have + past participle (the continuous form is possible).
I think we may have taken the wrong road. This doesn't look familiar.
NB It is not possible to use can when speculating about present or past situations.

Sports

athlete: atleta
baseball/basketball player: jugador
cyclist: ciclista
diver: buzo
golfer: golfista
gymnast: gimnasta
jogger: persona que hace footing
runner: corredor
skier: esquiador
snowboarder: surfista de nieve
swimmer: nadador
surfer: surfista
competitor: competidor
opponent: oponente/contrincante
participant: participant
referee: árbitro
runner-up: subcampeón
spectator: espectador
supporter: hincha
team: equipo
umpire: árbitro
winner: ganador
athletics/cycling track: pista
sports stadium: estadio
court: cancha
pitch: campo
golf course: campo de golf
gym: gimnasio
ice-skating rink: pista de hielo
motor-racing circuit: circuito de carreras
ski slope: pista de esquí
swimming pool: piscina
play/take part/compete in: participar en
a football match: partido de fútbol
a golf tournament: torneo de golf
a sporting event: evento deportivo
a swimming competition: competición de natación
the national/world championship: campeonato nacional/mundial
racket: raqueta
bat: bate
boots: botas
golf clubs: palos de golf
hockey stick: palo de hockey
tennis shoes: bambas de tenis
safety helmet: casco de seguridad
shin pads: canillera
shuttlecock: volante
skateboard: tabla de patinar
skiing goggles: gafas de esquí
skis poles: palos de esquí
sweatband: muñequera

Online Newspapers

Online British Newspapers on the Internet and International Newspapers with English Versions, News International and News Links/Sites/Websites.
It's a very useful website!
http://www.thebigproject.co.uk/news

The future

Predictions and expectations

Will + infinitive without to can be used to make predictions or talk about expectations for the future. These can be introduced by verbs such as believe, expect, hope, think. Adverbs such as definitely, (almost) certainly and probably may also used; they come after will and before won't.
Chelsea will probably win the league again this year.
He definitely won't pass his exams; he's too lazy.

Alternatives to will
The following structures can be used to talk about the probability of something happening in the future.
be (un)likely + infinitive with to
may/might/could well + infinitive without to
There may/could/ might well be a cure for cancer in the future. (= there will probably be)
NB may well is not usual in the negative.
May/might/could + infinitive without to can be used to talk about the possibility of something happening in the future.
We may/might/could see fewer cars in the future.
NB could not expresses impossibility.


Other future forms

In addiction to making predictions about the future, will is also used to talk about:
decisions made at the moment of speaking, including offers and requests.
We'll babysit for you if you want to go out.
future facts; events which the speaker knows or believes are certain to happen.
Summer will be here soon.

Going to + infinitive is used to talk about:
predictions based on present evidence.
Look at those clouds. It's going to rain soon.
intentions or plans.
I'm going to stay in tonight and read my book.
Modal verbs can be used to express possible intentions.
I may/might go walking in the montains tomorrow.

The present continuous is used to talk about the future arrangements which have already been made.
Sue and Paul are getting married on July 15th.

The present simple is used:
to talk about timetabled or scheduled events.
The films starts at 9.15, just after the news.
to refer to the future after time linkers such as when, before, after, until, by the time, as soon as.
Give me a call as soon as you arrive.

The future continuous, will + be + ing, is used to talk about actions or events which will be in progress at a certain time in the future.
This time next week I'll be lying on the beach.

The future perfect simple, will + have + past participle, is used to talk about actions and events that will be completed by a certain time in the future.
By the end of today we'll have driven over 240 km.

The future perfect continuous, will + have + been + ing, is used to talk about actions and events which continue to a certain time in the future.
On 22 May I'll have been living here for exactly 10 years.

Be about to + infinitive/be on the point of + gerund can be used to talk about the immediate future.
Can I phone you back? I'm just about to have lunch.
The police say they are on the point of solving the crime.

Expressing preferences

Prefer
Prefer+gerund+to+gerund
This is usually used to talk about general preferences.
I prefer playing basketball to watching it.
Would prefer+infinitive with to+rather than+infinitive without to
This is normally used to talk about preferences on a specific occasion.
I'd prefer to walk to school today rather than go by bus.

Would rather
Would rather+infinitive without to+than+infinitive without to (same meaning as would prefer to)
I'd rather not talk about it at the moment.


http://www.wordreference.com/es/translation.asp?tranword=rather

Contrasting ideas

But contrasts two ideas in the same sentence.
http://www.wordreference.com/es/translation.asp?tranword=but
The weather was bad but she enjoyed the trip.

Although and though (informal) are also used to contrast ideas in the same sentence. They can go at the beginning of a sentence or in the middle.
http://www.wordreference.com/es/translation.asp?tranword=although
http://www.wordreference.com/es/translation.asp?tranword=though
Although the weather was bad, she enjoyed the trip.

However contrasts ideas in two different sentences. It often comes at the beginning of the second sentence and is followed by a comma.
http://www.wordreference.com/es/translation.asp?tranword=however
The weather was bad. However, she enjoyed the trip.

Nevertheless is a more formal alternative to however.
http://www.wordreference.com/es/translation.asp?tranword=nevertheless
The English aren't normally very emotional people. Nevertheless, they get very excited at sporting events.

In spite of and despite are both followed by a gerund or a noun. They can go at the beginning of the sentence or in the middle.
http://www.wordreference.com/es/translation.asp?tranword=in%20spite%20of
http://www.wordreference.com/es/translation.asp?tranword=despite
Despite the fact that the weather was bad, she enjoyed the trip.
If the subject of the verbs in the two clauses is the same, the gerund can be used immediately after despite or in spite of without a preceding noun/pronoun.
She played tennis despite feeling ill.

Whereas and while are used to contrast two ideas in the same sentence.
http://www.wordreference.com/es/translation.asp?tranword=whereas
http://www.wordreference.com/es/translation.asp?tranword=while
The first photo shows a child having fun whereas/while the second one shows a rather sad man on his own.

English Accents

Very funny video.

Thanks a lot Pablo! ^_^

Job links

Here you can find some links to search jobs in UK.

Eures: http://ec.europa.eu/eures/home.jsp?lang=en&langChanged=true
EURES has a human network of more than 850 EURES advisers that are in daily contact with jobseeker and employers across Europe.

Public Occupation Service:
http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Jobseekers/index.htm

Searchers:
http://www.jobs.ac.uk
http://www.jobsearch.co.uk/
http://www.gumtree.com/
http://www.anyworkanywhere.com/
http://www.londonjob.net
http://www.theworkbank.co.uk
http://www.gapyearjobs.co.uk/
http://www.londonlanguagecentre.com/

Adele - Rolling In The Deep

Music

accordion: acordeón
cello: violonchelo/chelo
clarinet: clarinete
double bass: contrabajo
drum(s): tambor/batería
flute: flauta
guitar: guitarra
keyboards: teclado
organ: órgano
electric/grand piano: piano eléctrico/piano de cola
saxophone: saxófono
tambourine: pandereta
trombone: trombón
trumpet: trompeta
tuba: tuba
violin: violín
wind/stringed instrument: instrumento de viento/instrumento de cuerda

backing vocalist: vocalista de acompañamiento
concert audience: auditorio
DJ/disc jockey: pincha discos
lead singer/guitarist: cantante principal/guitarrista principal
rock/folk/rap: rock/flok/rap
band: grupo
singer: cantante (solista)
star: estrella
session musician: músico de sesión

a live:  en directo
a music festival: festival de música
have a record in the charts: tener un registro en las listas
be in tune: sintonizar
give a concert: dar un concierto
on tour: de gira
on stage: en escena
on radio: en la radio
play a tune/a record/a track: tocar una melodía/tocar un disco/tocar una pista
sing: cantar
perform: actuar
mime: imitar

The present perfect

The present perfect links past events and situations with the present.

The present perfect is used:
- to give news of recent past events which have some relevance to the present.
Be careful! I've just dropped a glass on the floor.
- to describe something that started in the past and continues to the present.
My wife and I have lived in the same house ever since we got married.
- to describe event which occurred at some time between the past and the present. Exactly when they happened is not known or not important.
I've been to Scotland three or four times.
- to talk about something which occurred in the past, but in a time period which includes the present.
Mary's boyfriend has phoned her three times this morning - and it's not even 11 o'clock!
- after the expression it/this/that is the first/second/third, etc time.
This is the first time I've seen this programme.

Time expressions
- The present perfect is commonly used with ever; never, just, recently, so far, still, yet and already when referring to a time period up to now.
They haven't booked their holidays yet.
- For is used with periods of time to show how long something has lasted.
I've known Eric for twenty years.
- Since is used with points in time to show when something started.
I've had this watch since 1985.

The present perfect continuous can be used:
- to emphasize the duration of a situation or activity.
It's been snowing all day.
- to suggest that a situation or activity is temporary.
My mum's not well, so I've been looking after her.
- to suggest a situation or activity is incomplete.
I've been painting the house - that's why it's in a mess.
- to focus on the repetition of a situation or activity.
He's been getting into trouble at school a lot recently.

The present perfect simple and continuous
- Both simple and continuous forms of the present perfect can be used to talk about the effects in the present of a past event.
Your new shoes are ruined! You've been playing football in them, haven't you? (an activity)
I can't do any sport for a few weeks; I've broken my arm. (a single action)
- The continuous form is not used if we talk about the number of things that have been completed or the number of times a thing has been done.
She's eaten six chocolate biscuits.
She's been eating chocolate biscuits.
- Stative verbs such as have (to possess/own), think (to have an opinion), be, like, believe, understand and know are not normally used in the continuous form.
We've known each other for a long time. We've been knowing each other for a long time.