You have already seen this

• ('Adele — "Hello"', "Su coro Hello, it's me es el ejemplo más claro para enseñar la contracción it's = it is.")
• ('Friends (TV)', "El how you doin'? de Joey es la versión ultra-casual de EE.UU. Nota: doing se acorta a doin' en la velocidad del habla rápida.")
• ('The Godfather', "I'll make him an offer he can't refuse usa 4 contracciones (I'll, can't) — el corazón del inglés hablado casual.")

Watch out for

• ('Good night (arriving)', 'Good evening', 'Good night solo se usa al salir o ir a dormir. En una llegada a una cena a las 7 PM, di good evening.')
• ('How you are?', 'How are you?', 'El inglés siempre invierte sujeto + verbo en preguntas sí/no y de wh-.')
• ('I am 30 years.', "I am 30 / I'm 30 years old.", 'La edad usa to be, no have. Nunca "I have 30 years".')
• ('My name Maria.', "My name is Maria. / I'm Maria.", "El verbo is no puede ser omitido. O usa la forma más corta I'm Maria.")

Grammar

Title. El verbo "to be" — presente

Explanation. El inglés tiene un verbo donde el español se divide en ser y estar. Es to be, y aparece en tres formas: am (yo), is (él/ella/ello), are (tú/nosotros/ellos). Los hablantes nativos contraen casi siempre: I'm, he's, they're.

Formula. Subject + am / is / are + complement

Examples. [("I am tired → I'm tired.", 'Estoy cansado/a.'), ("She is Spanish → She's Spanish.", 'Ella es española.'), ("They are late → They're late.", 'Ellos llegan tarde.'), ('Are you happy?', '¿Estás feliz?')]

Culture

Title. Los saludos en inglés no esperan respuesta — usualmente.

Body. Cuando un hablante de inglés dice how are you?, NO está preguntando cómo estás. Es un saludo, equivalente a hola. La respuesta es siempre "good, you?" o "fine, thanks" — sin importar cómo te sientas en realidad. Lanzarse a una respuesta real se lee como torpeza social. Guarda respuestas genuinas para how have you been? (preguntado a amigos cercanos).

Takeaway. How are you? = hola. Responde brevemente. Siempre.

Exercises

• {'title': 'Ejercicio 1 — Rellenar el hueco', 'instruction': 'Usa el vocabulario de esta unidad. Di cada respuesta en voz alta antes de escribirla.', 'items': ['Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (Hola).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (Hola (informal)).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (Buenos días).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (Buenas tardes).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (Buenas noches (llegada)).']}
• {'title': 'Ejercicio 2 — Construye el tuyo', 'instruction': 'Escribe un párrafo corto (4–5 oraciones) sobre saludos. Usa el patrón gramatical de esta unidad al menos dos veces.', 'items': ['Oración 1: abre la escena.', 'Oración 2: usa el patrón gramatical.', 'Oración 3: añade un detalle cultural.', 'Oración 4: usa el patrón gramatical otra vez.', 'Oración 5: cierra con una pregunta para el oyente.']}

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Number. 2

Title. Presentarte

Teaser. Tu nombre, de dónde eres, qué haces — en tres oraciones, sin sonar como un pasaporte.

You have already seen this

• ('Forrest Gump', "My name's Forrest. Forrest Gump. — auto-intro de libro de texto con la contracción name's y una repetición de nombre.")
• ('LinkedIn headlines', 'Cada titular en LinkedIn en inglés comienza con "I\'m a ... at ..." — el patrón exacto I\'m + profesión + lugar de esta unidad.')
• ('Airport security', 'Los oficiales preguntan what do you do? como pregunta inicial — la escucharás docenas de veces en cualquier país de habla inglesa.')

Watch out for

• ('I have 30 years.', "I'm 30 / I'm 30 years old.", 'La edad usa to be, nunca have. Calque directo del español tengo 30 años.')
• ('I am agree with you.', 'I agree with you.', 'Agree es un verbo por sí solo. Sin "to be" al frente.')
• ('I live in the Madrid.', 'I live in Madrid.', 'Las ciudades y la mayoría de países no toman artículo en inglés.')
• ('My name Maria.', "My name is Maria. / I'm Maria.", 'El verbo is es obligatorio. O deja caer "my name" y di I\'m Maria.')

Grammar

Title. Los pronombres sujeto son obligatorios en inglés

Explanation. En español puedes omitir el sujeto — trabajo en Madrid está completo. En inglés no puedes: work in Madrid es incorrecto. DEBES decir I work in Madrid. Cada oración en inglés necesita un sujeto (I / you / he / she / it / we / they), incluso ficticios como it en it's raining.

Formula. [Subject pronoun] + verb + complement

Examples. [('I work in design.', 'Trabajo en diseño.'), ('She is Spanish.', '(Ella) es española.'), ('It is raining.', 'Está lloviendo.'), ('They live in New York.', '(Ellos) viven en Nueva York.')]

Culture

Title. En EE.UU., trabajo = rompehielos por defecto. En otro lugar, no tanto.

Body. "What do you do?" es el #1 abre boca de conversación casual de EE.UU. — en fiestas, en aviones, en eventos de trabajo. En el Reino Unido y Australia, todavía aparece pero más tarde. En la mayoría de América Latina y España, comenzar con trabajo puede parecer obsesión por la carrera. Lee la sala: si estás en EE.UU., aprovéchalo. En otro lugar, pregunta primero sobre ubicación o pasatiempos.

Takeaway. EE.UU. = trabajo primero. UK/AU = trabajo después. Países hispanohablantes = trabajo opcional.

Exercises

• {'title': 'Ejercicio 1 — Rellenar el hueco', 'instruction': 'Usa el vocabulario de esta unidad. Di cada respuesta en voz alta antes de escribirla.', 'items': ['Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (Soy / Me llamo).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (Soy de).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (Vivo en).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (Trabajo como).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (Estudio).']}
• {'title': 'Ejercicio 2 — Construye el tuyo', 'instruction': 'Escribe un párrafo corto (4–5 oraciones) sobre presentaciones personales. Usa el patrón gramatical de esta unidad al menos dos veces.', 'items': ['Oración 1: abre la escena.', 'Oración 2: usa el patrón gramatical.', 'Oración 3: añade un detalle cultural.', 'Oración 4: usa el patrón gramatical otra vez.', 'Oración 5: cierra con una pregunta para el oyente.']}

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Number. 3

Title. Números, Hora y Fechas

Teaser. Precios, edades, horas, cumpleaños — los números que realmente necesitarás y los raros (teens, 13 vs 30) que engañan a todo principiante.

You have already seen this

• ('"Back to the Future"', 'El 88 miles per hour de Doc Brown — eighty-eight, no eight-eight.')
• ('Grabaciones de números de teléfono', '"Please call oh-two-oh-seven..." — notice oh, not zero, for phone digits.')
• ('Comentarios deportivos', 'Messi is on 32 this season — cuenta goles con cardinales, clasificaciones con ordinales (1st, 2nd, 3rd place).')

Watch out for

• ('I was born the 3 May.', 'I was born on May 3rd / on the 3rd of May.', 'Preposition on + ordinal. Not "the" + cardinal.')
• ('What hour is it?', 'What time is it?', 'El inglés usa time para el reloj, nunca hour.')
• ("Is five o'clock.", "It's five o'clock.", 'La hora en inglés necesita el sujeto ficticio it.')
• ('In Monday', 'On Monday', 'Los días de la semana usan on, no in.')

Grammar

Title. Números cardinales vs. ordinales

Explanation. Cardinal numbers count: one, two, three, four. Ordinal numbers rank: first, second, third, fourth. English uses ordinals for dates (March 5th), rankings (1st place), and floors (the 3rd floor). Spanish mostly uses cardinals for dates — English does not.

Formula. one → first (1st) · two → second (2nd) · three → third (3rd) · four → fourth (4th)

Examples. [('I live on the 5th floor.', 'Vivo en el quinto piso.'), ('Her 1st book was a bestseller.', 'Su primer libro fue un éxito.'), ('On September 11th…', 'El 11 de septiembre…'), ("Third time's the charm.", 'A la tercera va la vencida.')]

Culture

Title. EE.UU. escribe fechas mes-primero. Reino Unido escribe día-primero. Nunca asumas.

Body. 5/3/2025 in the US means May 3rd, 2025. In the UK, Australia, and most of Europe, it means 3rd of May, 2025. This creates real confusion on flight bookings, contracts, and shipping labels. When writing a date across borders, spell out the month: 3 May 2025 or May 3, 2025 — unambiguous in both regions.

Takeaway. Escribe 3 May 2025, no 5/3/2025, cuando escribas entre regiones.

Exercises

• {'title': 'Ejercicio 1 — Rellenar el hueco', 'instruction': 'Usa el vocabulario de esta unidad. Di cada respuesta en voz alta antes de escribirla.', 'items': ['Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (Cero).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (13).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (30).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (Y media).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (Menos cuarto).']}
• {'title': 'Ejercicio 2 — Construye el tuyo', 'instruction': 'Escribe un párrafo corto (4–5 oraciones) sobre números, horas y fechas. Usa el patrón gramatical de esta unidad al menos dos veces.', 'items': ['Oración 1: abre la escena.', 'Oración 2: usa el patrón gramatical.', 'Oración 3: añade un detalle cultural.', 'Oración 4: usa el patrón gramatical otra vez.', 'Oración 5: cierra con una pregunta para el oyente.']}

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Number. 4

Title. Familia y Personas

Teaser. El vocabulario de familia en inglés es más ajustado que el español — no hay primos generizados, sin distinción entre maridos de tías y esposas de tíos. Una palabra hace el trabajo de tres.

You have already seen this

• ('Modern Family', "The opening credits cycle through kinship terms (my mom, my step-dad, my husband's brother) — a live vocab test.")
• ('Sister Sledge — "We Are Family"', 'Fixed expression we are family (no article) — sung as a chant at every wedding in the US/UK.')
• ('Wedding invitations', 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith request the pleasure of your company — formal English register; note the titles, not first names.')

Watch out for

• ('The brother of Ana.', "Ana's brother.", 'English uses \'s for possession. "of" sounds formal/translated.')
• ('Your father is sympathic.', 'Your father is nice / friendly.', 'Sympathetic means compassionate in English, not friendly. False friend with simpático.')
• ('I have 25 years.', "I'm 25.", 'Age with to be, not have.')
• ('The my house.', 'My house.', 'Never combine the + possessive adjective. "La mi casa" doesn\'t exist in English.')

Grammar

Title. The possessive 's (apostrophe-s)

Explanation. English forms possessives with 's after the owner's name or noun: Maria's car, my brother's house, the dog's bone. No need for de. Plural owners ending in s just get an apostrophe: my parents' house. This is the single biggest sentence-shortener in English.

Formula. Owner + 's + thing owned

Examples. [("Anna's brother.", 'El hermano de Ana.'), ("The dog's tail.", 'La cola del perro.'), ("My parents' house.", 'La casa de mis padres.'), ("The children's toys.", 'Los juguetes de los niños.')]

Culture

Title. English kinship words are gender-neutral by default.

Body. Spanish splits nearly everything into m/f: primo/prima, tío/tía, hermano/hermana. English mostly doesn't: cousin is gender-neutral, and most modern English avoids gendering kids' names (my kid instead of my son/my daughter). Spanish speakers often over-specify gender when not needed — sounds slightly old-fashioned in English.

Takeaway. Unless gender matters, English skips it. "My cousin" covers both primos and primas.

Exercises

• {'title': 'Ejercicio 1 — Rellenar el hueco', 'instruction': 'Usa el vocabulario de esta unidad. Di cada respuesta en voz alta antes de escribirla.', 'items': ['Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (Madre / mamá).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (Padre / papá).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (Hermano / hermana).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (Hijo / hija).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (Primo / prima).']}
• {'title': 'Ejercicio 2 — Construye el tuyo', 'instruction': 'Escribe un párrafo corto (4–5 oraciones) sobre familia. Usa el patrón gramatical de esta unidad al menos dos veces.', 'items': ['Oración 1: abre la escena.', 'Oración 2: usa el patrón gramatical.', 'Oración 3: añade un detalle cultural.', 'Oración 4: usa el patrón gramatical otra vez.', 'Oración 5: cierra con una pregunta para el oyente.']}

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Number. 5

Title. Comida, Bebida y Pedir en Restaurante

Teaser. From "can I get" vs "may I have" to knowing when tap water is free — ordering in English is a script, and this unit gives you every line.

You have already seen this

• ('Pulp Fiction', '"I\'ll have a five-dollar shake" — I\'ll have in its purest form.')
• ('Friends (Central Perk)', "Every coffee order follows the I'll have / can I get pattern.")
• ('UK supermarket self-checkouts', "Unexpected item in the bagging area — you'll hear this in every British supermarket. Memorise it for laughs.")

Watch out for

• ('I am agree with the menu.', 'I agree with the menu.', 'Agree is a verb, no to be in front.')
• ('The menu card, please.', 'The menu, please.', 'English menu already means carta — no "card" needed.')
• ('I am hungry food.', "I'm hungry.", 'Hungry is complete. Don\'t add "food".')
• ('Please you bring me...', 'Could I have...', 'Directly translating por favor me trae sounds commanding. Use could I have.')

Grammar

Title. Countable vs. uncountable nouns

Explanation. English splits nouns into countable (one apple, two apples) and uncountable (water, rice, money — no plural). Countables take a / an; uncountables take some or nothing. Asking for "a water" is technically wrong, but in cafés means "a bottle of water" — native speakers do it all the time.

Formula. Countable: a / an / one / two + noun · Uncountable: some / much / a lot of + noun

Examples. [('A coffee, please. (= a cup of coffee)', 'Un café, por favor.'), ('I need some water.', 'Necesito un poco de agua.'), ('How much money?', '¿Cuánto dinero?'), ('How many apples?', '¿Cuántas manzanas?')]

Culture

Title. Tipping is a landmine. Map it before you travel.

Body. In the US, tipping 18-22% is not optional — servers are paid below minimum wage and depend on tips. In the UK, a 10-12.5% service charge is often already on the bill; if not, tipping is appreciated but not expected. In Australia, tipping is rare — rounding up or leaving a few coins is fine. Not tipping in the US is read as a complaint; over-tipping in Australia is read as tourist confusion.

Takeaway. US: always 20%. UK: check if service is included, else ~10%. AU: round up or skip.

Exercises

• {'title': 'Ejercicio 1 — Rellenar el hueco', 'instruction': 'Usa el vocabulario de esta unidad. Di cada respuesta en voz alta antes de escribirla.', 'items': ['Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (Carta / menú).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (Entrante).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (Plato principal).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (Postre).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (Agua del grifo).']}
• {'title': 'Ejercicio 2 — Construye el tuyo', 'instruction': 'Escribe un párrafo corto (4–5 oraciones) sobre comida y pedidos en restaurantes. Usa el patrón gramatical de esta unidad al menos dos veces.', 'items': ['Oración 1: abre la escena.', 'Oración 2: usa el patrón gramatical.', 'Oración 3: añade un detalle cultural.', 'Oración 4: usa el patrón gramatical otra vez.', 'Oración 5: cierra con una pregunta para el oyente.']}

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Number. 6

Title. Compras y Dinero

Teaser. Prices, sizes, returns, exchanges — how to shop in English without ending up with a sweater three sizes too small.

You have already seen this

• ('Pretty Woman', 'The "big mistake. Big. Huge!" scene is a shopping masterclass: Julia Roberts returns to Rodeo Drive carrying bags — English body language.')
• ('Amazon return emails', '"We\'ve initiated a refund to your original payment method" — this sentence structure is everywhere in English e-commerce.')
• ('Black Friday ads', '"Up to 70% off", "buy one, get one free" — standard English sale vocabulary. BOGO = buy one, get one.')

Watch out for

• ('How much it costs?', 'How much does it cost? / How much is it?', 'English questions need do / does for simple present.')
• ('I want a refund!', "I'd like to return this, please.", "I want sounds demanding. Use the softer I'd like.")
• ('The dress suits me small.', 'The dress fits me / is too small on me.', 'Fit = physical size. Suit = aesthetic. Not interchangeable.')
• ('I paid in cash but now I want by card.', 'Can I switch payment to card?', 'The second version is shorter and the script clerks expect.')

Grammar

Title. Demonstratives: this / that / these / those

Explanation. English distinguishes near (this, these) from far (that, those) — similar to Spanish este/ese. Unlike Spanish, English has only two degrees, not three (este/ese/aquel). Plural forms change the word: this → these, that → those.

Formula. this / these (near) ↔ that / those (far)

Examples. [('This sweater fits well.', 'Este suéter me queda bien.'), ('That one is on sale.', 'Ese está en oferta.'), ('These jeans are mine.', 'Estos vaqueros son míos.'), ('Those shoes were expensive.', 'Esos zapatos fueron caros.')]

Culture

Title. US return policies are world-famous for a reason.

Body. Major US chains (Costco, Nordstrom, Target) have near-unlimited return windows — you can bring something back months later with a receipt. UK and AU stores are stricter (typically 30 days, sometimes only for faulty items). In Spain and most of Latin America, "no refunds, only exchanges" is common. Check the posted policy before arguing — it's usually near the register.

Takeaway. US = easy returns. UK/AU = within 30 days. Keep receipts.

Exercises

• {'title': 'Ejercicio 1 — Rellenar el hueco', 'instruction': 'Usa el vocabulario de esta unidad. Di cada respuesta en voz alta antes de escribirla.', 'items': ['Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (Etiqueta de precio).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (Talla).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (Probador).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (Probarse).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (Quedar (ropa)).']}
• {'title': 'Ejercicio 2 — Construye el tuyo', 'instruction': 'Escribe un párrafo corto (4–5 oraciones) sobre compras y dinero. Usa el patrón gramatical de esta unidad al menos dos veces.', 'items': ['Oración 1: abre la escena.', 'Oración 2: usa el patrón gramatical.', 'Oración 3: añade un detalle cultural.', 'Oración 4: usa el patrón gramatical otra vez.', 'Oración 5: cierra con una pregunta para el oyente.']}

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Number. 7

Title. Rutina Diaria

Teaser. Morning, noon, night — the present simple + time markers you'll use every single day.

You have already seen this

• ('Unit 3 — Time', 'The clock vocabulary (at 7, half past, quarter to) is back — now with verbs around it.')
• ('Unit 2 — Intro', 'What do you do? pairs naturally with a routine answer: I work as a nurse. I usually start at 8.')
• ('Unit 1 — Greetings', "How's it going? often leads into a routine snippet: Busy — I've been up since 6.")

Watch out for

• ('I me wake up at 7.', 'I wake up at 7.', "English doesn't use reflexive pronouns for routines. Drop me/se/te.")
• ('He work in a bank.', 'He works in a bank.', 'Third-person singular needs the -s. This is the #1 A2 slip.')
• ('I always am tired.', 'I am always tired.', 'With to be, the adverb comes after the verb, not before.')
• ('I have 25 years.', 'I am 25 years old.', 'In English, age uses to be, not to have.')

Grammar

Title. Present simple + adverbs of frequency

Explanation. The present simple is the tense of habits, schedules and general truths. Two things trip up Spanish speakers: (1) the -s ending on third-person singular (he works, not he work), and (2) the position of frequency adverbs — they go before the main verb, but after the verb to be.

Formula. Subject + [adverb] + verb(+s for he/she/it) + complement. With to be: Subject + be + [adverb] + complement.

Examples. ['I always drink coffee in the morning.', 'She often works late on Fridays.', 'He is never late. (with to be, adverb goes after)', 'We sometimes go out for lunch.', "They don't usually answer emails on weekends."]

Culture

Title. US commute vs UK commute

Body. Americans drive; Brits take the train or the tube. This shapes small talk: in the US, expect questions like how's the traffic this morning?; in the UK/London, any trouble on the tube? Remote work shifted the landscape but the cultural reflex survived — people still open with commute talk even when they work from home.

Takeaway. If your morning started badly, the traffic was crazy or the line was down are both universally understood sympathy triggers.

Exercises

• {'title': 'Ejercicio 1 — Rellenar el hueco', 'instruction': 'Usa el vocabulario de esta unidad. Di cada respuesta en voz alta antes de escribirla.', 'items': ['Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (despertarse).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (levantarse).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (desayunar).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (cepillarse los dientes).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (ducharse).']}
• {'title': 'Ejercicio 2 — Construye el tuyo', 'instruction': 'Escribe un párrafo corto (4–5 oraciones) sobre rutina diaria. Usa el patrón gramatical de esta unidad al menos dos veces.', 'items': ['Oración 1: abre la escena.', 'Oración 2: usa el patrón gramatical.', 'Oración 3: añade un detalle cultural.', 'Oración 4: usa el patrón gramatical otra vez.', 'Oración 5: cierra con una pregunta para el oyente.']}

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Number. 8

Title. Casa, Hogar y Ciudad

Teaser. Rooms, furniture, streets — plus there is / there are, the English equivalent of hay.

You have already seen this

• ('Unit 7 — Routine', 'Rooms and activities pair up: I have breakfast in the kitchen, I work from the living room.')
• ('Unit 3 — Numbers', 'Floors use ordinals: on the first/second/third floor — the exact ordinals from Unit 3.')
• ('Unit 5 — Food', 'Kitchen reappears here, now as a location, not just a place where food happens.')

Watch out for

• ('There is many rooms.', 'There are many rooms.', 'Many is plural — you need there are.')
• ('I live in the third floor.', 'I live on the third floor.', 'Floors use on, not in. Same with streets: on Main Street.')
• ('My house have a garden.', 'My house has a garden.', 'House is third-person singular → has, not have.')
• ('Welcome to my house!', 'Welcome to my home!', 'Technically fine, but home is warmer. House sounds like a real-estate pitch.')

Grammar

Title. There is / There are + prepositions of place

Explanation. There is (singular) and there are (plural) are the English equivalent of hay. Unlike Spanish, English forces you to pick singular or plural. Pair this with prepositions of place: on (on the table, on the floor), in (in the room, in the drawer), under, next to, between.

Formula. There is + a/an + singular noun + preposition + place. There are + (number) + plural noun + preposition + place.

Examples. ['There is a lamp on the desk.', 'There are two chairs in the kitchen.', "There's a key under the mat. (contracted)", 'There are no shops around here. (negative)', 'Is there a bathroom on this floor? (question)']

Culture

Title. House vs home — a cultural distinction

Body. Americans say home constantly: I'm going home, make yourself at home, home office. Brits too, but with a touch more reserve. Spanish casa covers both — English splits them by feeling: house = the physical building, home = where you feel settled. Saying welcome to my house sounds like a real-estate tour; welcome to my home or simply welcome is warmer.

Takeaway. When in doubt, use home for emotional/residential contexts and house only when the architecture itself is the point.

Exercises

• {'title': 'Ejercicio 1 — Rellenar el hueco', 'instruction': 'Usa el vocabulario de esta unidad. Di cada respuesta en voz alta antes de escribirla.', 'items': ['Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (casa).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (hogar).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (piso / apartamento).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (dormitorio).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (cocina).']}
• {'title': 'Ejercicio 2 — Construye el tuyo', 'instruction': 'Escribe un párrafo corto (4–5 oraciones) sobre casa y ciudad. Usa el patrón gramatical de esta unidad al menos dos veces.', 'items': ['Oración 1: abre la escena.', 'Oración 2: usa el patrón gramatical.', 'Oración 3: añade un detalle cultural.', 'Oración 4: usa el patrón gramatical otra vez.', 'Oración 5: cierra con una pregunta para el oyente.']}

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Number. 9

Title. Trabajo, Empleos y Estudios

Teaser. What do you do? revisited — now with gerunds, verbs of study, and the difference between work and job.

You have already seen this

• ('Unit 2 — Intro', 'What do you do? came up as a greeting move. Now it gets a real answer.')
• ('Unit 7 — Routine', 'I usually work from home on Tuesdays — combines routine + work in one line.')
• ('Unit 1 — Greetings', "How's work? is the English equivalent of ¿cómo va el trabajo? — phatic, not investigative.")

Watch out for

• ('I have a work in a bank.', 'I have a job in a bank.', 'Work is uncountable — no a work. Use a job.')
• ('I work in a teacher.', 'I work as a teacher.', 'As + role. In means physically inside, not the occupation.')
• ('I study the university.', 'I study at the university.', 'Verbs of location/institution take at: at school, at university, at work.')
• ('I am learning for my exam.', 'I am studying for my exam.', 'Learn = the outcome; study = the activity. Sitting with books = studying.')

Grammar

Title. Gerunds as nouns + work prepositions

Explanation. English turns verbs into noun-like things by adding -ing: teaching, studying, coding. This -ing form is not the Spanish gerund (enseñando); it's closer to the infinitive used as a subject (enseñar me gusta). Combine with three key work prepositions: work for (employer), work as (role), work on (project).

Formula. [Verb]+ing = noun. work + for + employer. work + as + role (use a/an). work + on + project.

Examples. ['Teaching is harder than it looks. (gerund-as-subject)', 'I enjoy cooking on weekends.', 'She works for Google. / She works as a designer. / She works on the mobile team.', 'My dream is becoming a doctor. (gerund-as-complement)', "I'm good at writing, not so good at speaking. (after prepositions)"]

Culture

Title. What do you do? — and what not to ask

Body. In the US, What do you do? is a warm opener — career is central to identity and small talk. In the UK, it's polite but more reserved — don't follow up with salary questions ever. In Australia, work is discussed lightly but people switch topics fast; nobody talks shop at the pub. One universal: never ask how much do you earn? — it's a serious taboo in all three countries, even casually.

Takeaway. Answer What do you do? in one sentence, then bounce the question back. Never volunteer salary info, even as a joke.

Exercises

• {'title': 'Ejercicio 1 — Rellenar el hueco', 'instruction': 'Usa el vocabulario de esta unidad. Di cada respuesta en voz alta antes de escribirla.', 'items': ['Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (trabajo (actividad)).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (trabajo (puesto)).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (empresa).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (jefe/a).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (colega de trabajo).']}
• {'title': 'Ejercicio 2 — Construye el tuyo', 'instruction': 'Escribe un párrafo corto (4–5 oraciones) sobre trabajo y estudios. Usa el patrón gramatical de esta unidad al menos dos veces.', 'items': ['Oración 1: abre la escena.', 'Oración 2: usa el patrón gramatical.', 'Oración 3: añade un detalle cultural.', 'Oración 4: usa el patrón gramatical otra vez.', 'Oración 5: cierra con una pregunta para el oyente.']}

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Number. 10

Title. Viajes y Transporte

Teaser. Planes, trains, taxis — plus by vs on and the verb to take, which does more work than any other in this topic.

You have already seen this

• ('Unit 3 — Numbers', 'Prices and times resurface here — £25, 9 PM, platform 4, gate B6.')
• ('Unit 7 — Routine', 'I take the bus to work blends travel vocab into the daily routine structure.')
• ('Unit 5 — Food', 'Can I get…? works at airport cafés and train buffets — same script, different counter.')

Watch out for

• ('I go with plane.', "I'm going by plane.", 'By + vehicle, no article. With sounds like the plane is your friend.')
• ('I lost my flight.', 'I missed my flight.', "Lost = can't find it. Missed = arrived too late. Flights, trains, buses get missed.")
• ('A luggage is heavy.', 'This luggage is heavy. / My bag is heavy.', 'Luggage is uncountable. Use a bag, a suitcase, or a piece of luggage.')
• ('I take the highway for go to Manchester.', 'I take the highway to go to Manchester.', 'For + -ing = purpose of an object; to + base verb = purpose of an action.')

Grammar

Title. by + vehicle vs on + the vehicle

Explanation. Two English prepositions compete for transport: by (generic means) and on (specific vehicle you're inside). By takes no article: by car, by bus, by plane. On takes the article: on the bus, on the train, on a flight. One exception: cars and taxis use in (you're enclosed): in a taxi, in the car.

Formula. by + [vehicle, no article] → method. on + the/a + [vehicle] → current location. in + the/a + [car/taxi] → enclosed vehicle.

Examples. ['I got here by train. (method)', "I'm on the train right now. (location)", 'We went to Paris by plane.', "We're on a flight to Rome.", 'She left in a taxi. (enclosed)']

Culture

Title. Queueing — the British superpower

Body. In the UK, jumping a queue is treated as a mild war crime. People don't shout; they tut. The correct move is to find the end of the line and wait, even if the line is 40 people deep. In the US, queues are shorter and people are more tolerant of ambiguity. In Australia, queues are casual but respected. The Spanish elbow-your-way-to-the-front at a bar counter does not translate to English-speaking contexts outside of chaotic rush-hour Tubes.

Takeaway. In doubt, ask: Excuse me, is this the queue for…? Politeness earns you a spot; confusion can lose you one.

Exercises

• {'title': 'Ejercicio 1 — Rellenar el hueco', 'instruction': 'Usa el vocabulario de esta unidad. Di cada respuesta en voz alta antes de escribirla.', 'items': ['Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (vuelo).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (puerta de embarque).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (equipaje).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (tren).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (taxi).']}
• {'title': 'Ejercicio 2 — Construye el tuyo', 'instruction': 'Escribe un párrafo corto (4–5 oraciones) sobre viajes y transporte. Usa el patrón gramatical de esta unidad al menos dos veces.', 'items': ['Oración 1: abre la escena.', 'Oración 2: usa el patrón gramatical.', 'Oración 3: añade un detalle cultural.', 'Oración 4: usa el patrón gramatical otra vez.', 'Oración 5: cierra con una pregunta para el oyente.']}

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Number. 11

Title. Ayer y la Semana Pasada

Teaser. The simple past — regular verbs are easy, irregular verbs are worth the memorisation. And Spanish speakers meet their old enemy: the silent -ed.

You have already seen this

• ('Unit 7 — Routine', "Routines were in present simple. Now you can describe yesterday's routine in simple past: I got up at 7, had coffee, went to work.")
• ('Unit 10 — Travel', 'I flew (past of fly), I took (past of take), I caught (past of catch) — the irregulars you need for trip stories.')
• ('Unit 5 — Food', 'I had a coffee, we tried the soup, she ordered fish — food narratives unlock once the past clicks.')

Watch out for

• ('I goed to the park.', 'I went to the park.', 'Go is irregular. Went, never goed.')
• ('Did you went to the party?', 'Did you go to the party?', 'After did, the main verb is always in base form.')
• ('I no went.', "I didn't go.", "English negates with didn't + base verb, not a bare no.")
• ('Yesterday I have seen him.', 'Yesterday I saw him.', 'With yesterday / last night / ago, use simple past — never present perfect.')

Grammar

Title. Simple past — affirmative, negative, question

Explanation. Regular verbs: add -ed (work → worked, play → played). Irregular verbs: learn each form (go → went, see → saw, have → had). For negatives and questions, use did as the auxiliary and keep the main verb in its base form. The verb to be is the only exception — it conjugates directly: was / were.

Formula. Affirmative: S + verb(-ed or irregular) + … Negative: S + didn't + base verb + … Question: Did + S + base verb + …? To be: S + was/were + … | S + wasn't/weren't + … | Was/Were + S + …?

Examples. ['I played football on Sunday. (regular)', 'She went to Paris in March. (irregular)', "We didn't see the film. (negative → base verb)", 'Did you have lunch? (question → base verb)', "He was at the office yesterday. / They weren't ready."]

Culture

Title. How was your weekend? — the ritual, not the question

Body. Monday's How was your weekend? in the US/UK/AU is a greeting, not an interview. The expected answer is 1-2 sentences, often closing with you?. A long, detailed reply is polite if invited, but the default pattern is the volley: they ask, you answer briefly, you ask back. Spanish speakers sometimes over-share because ¿qué tal el finde? can genuinely open a long chat — in English, it's more a handshake than a conversation.

Takeaway. Good, thanks — quiet one. You? — that's a perfect native-sounding Monday-morning answer, 8 words total.

Exercises

• {'title': 'Ejercicio 1 — Rellenar el hueco', 'instruction': 'Usa el vocabulario de esta unidad. Di cada respuesta en voz alta antes de escribirla.', 'items': ['Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (ayer).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (anoche).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (la semana pasada).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (hace (tiempo)).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (fui / fue).']}
• {'title': 'Ejercicio 2 — Construye el tuyo', 'instruction': 'Escribe un párrafo corto (4–5 oraciones) sobre pasado simple. Usa el patrón gramatical de esta unidad al menos dos veces.', 'items': ['Oración 1: abre la escena.', 'Oración 2: usa el patrón gramatical.', 'Oración 3: añade un detalle cultural.', 'Oración 4: usa el patrón gramatical otra vez.', 'Oración 5: cierra con una pregunta para el oyente.']}

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Number. 12

Title. Mañana y la Semana Próxima

Teaser. Will vs going to — English splits the future into promises and plans. Once you see the split, you'll never confuse them again.

You have already seen this

• ('Unit 11 — Past', "You can now tell a full timeline: yesterday I saw her; tomorrow I'll call her.")
• ('Unit 9 — Work', "I'm going to start a new job. — work vocab + future plan.")
• ('Unit 7 — Routine', "I usually go to the gym vs tomorrow I'm going at 8 — same verb, two tenses, different story.")

Watch out for

• ('I will see my parents this weekend.', "I'm going to see my parents this weekend.", 'The plan already exists → going to. Will sounds like you just decided.')
• ('I going to help you.', "I'm going to help you.", "Don't drop the am/is/are. Going to needs a full to be in front.")
• ('Tomorrow I will going.', "Tomorrow I'll go. / Tomorrow I'm going.", "Two futures can't stack. Pick one: will + base or going to + base.")
• ('I will to call you.', "I'll call you.", 'After will, never to. Bare infinitive only.')

Grammar

Title. will vs going to

Explanation. Going to: a plan decided before the moment of speaking, or a prediction based on visible evidence. Will ('ll): a decision made at the moment of speaking, a promise, an offer, or a prediction with no specific evidence. Both are widely understood, but mixing them blurs intent.

Formula. going to: S + be + going to + base verb. will: S + will/'ll + base verb. Negatives: be + not + going to · won't + base verb. Questions: Be + S + going to + …? · Will + S + …?

Examples. ["I'm going to start a new course next month. (plan)", "I'll help you with that. (offer, decided now)", "She's going to have a baby. (evidence)", 'It will be fine. (prediction, no evidence)', "Won't you come with us? (invitation)"]

Culture

Title. Saying "maybe" is still a plan

Body. In the US, plans move fast — yeah, let's do it is a commitment. In the UK, yeah, maybe can mean definitely yes or definitely no, depending on tone. Australians land between: yeah nah = probably no, nah yeah = probably yes. Spanish speakers tend to commit more firmly verbally — be aware that English softens commitment even when the plan is solid.

Takeaway. If a plan is firm, say I'm going to + verb. A bare maybe or I might signals genuine uncertainty — use them honestly.

Exercises

• {'title': 'Ejercicio 1 — Rellenar el hueco', 'instruction': 'Usa el vocabulario de esta unidad. Di cada respuesta en voz alta antes de escribirla.', 'items': ['Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (mañana).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (la semana que viene).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (pronto).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (más tarde).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (esta noche).']}
• {'title': 'Ejercicio 2 — Construye el tuyo', 'instruction': 'Escribe un párrafo corto (4–5 oraciones) sobre tiempos de futuro. Usa el patrón gramatical de esta unidad al menos dos veces.', 'items': ['Oración 1: abre la escena.', 'Oración 2: usa el patrón gramatical.', 'Oración 3: añade un detalle cultural.', 'Oración 4: usa el patrón gramatical otra vez.', 'Oración 5: cierra con una pregunta para el oyente.']}

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Number. 13

Title. Salud y el Cuerpo

Teaser. Describing aches, booking a GP, reading a pharmacy label — plus the English habit of understating pain (it's a bit sore) when it really hurts.

You have already seen this

• ('Unit 11 — Past', 'It started yesterday reuses simple past with time markers from Unit 11.')
• ('Unit 2 — Intro', 'How are you? can sometimes be a real health check — now you can answer honestly.')
• ('Unit 5 — Food', 'I ate something bad / I have food poisoning link food vocab to symptoms.')

Watch out for

• ('I have 38 of fever.', 'I have a fever of 38.', 'English puts fever first, temperature second. The Spanish order inverts.')
• ('I am cold.', 'I have a cold.', 'I am cold = tengo frío (temperature). I have a cold = estoy resfriado/a.')
• ('My head is paining.', 'My head hurts. / I have a headache.', 'Paining is used in Indian English but sounds wrong in US/UK/AU.')
• ('I broke the leg.', 'I broke my leg.', 'Body parts take possessive my/your in health contexts, not the.')

Grammar

Title. have + symptom · the verbs of pain

Explanation. English expresses most minor illnesses with have + noun: I have a cold / a headache / a cough. For pain location, use My + body part + hurts/aches or It hurts when I…. Body parts are usually paired with my/your — not the — in health contexts (my leg hurts, not the leg hurts).

Formula. S + have + a + symptom-noun. My + body part + hurts/aches. It hurts when I + base verb. I feel + adjective (sick, dizzy, tired).

Examples. ['I have a cough.', 'My back hurts when I sit too long.', 'It aches in the morning but gets better.', 'I feel dizzy when I stand up.', "I've got the flu. (UK have-got form)"]

Culture

Title. How much pain is "a bit"?

Body. British English is world-famous for understatement. A bit sore can mean anywhere from mild discomfort to a genuine injury that would merit Spanish me duele mucho. Medical professionals know this and usually ask on a 1–10 scale to convert understatement into numbers. US English is less understated but still more reserved than Spanish. When in doubt at a clinic, use a number: it's about a 7 out of 10.

Takeaway. If something really hurts, say so directly: it hurts a lot, or use a pain scale. Understatement is charming but risky at a doctor's desk.

Exercises

• {'title': 'Ejercicio 1 — Rellenar el hueco', 'instruction': 'Usa el vocabulario de esta unidad. Di cada respuesta en voz alta antes de escribirla.', 'items': ['Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (cabeza).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (estómago).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (espalda).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (garganta).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (doler).']}
• {'title': 'Ejercicio 2 — Construye el tuyo', 'instruction': 'Escribe un párrafo corto (4–5 oraciones) sobre salud y cuerpo. Usa el patrón gramatical de esta unidad al menos dos veces.', 'items': ['Oración 1: abre la escena.', 'Oración 2: usa el patrón gramatical.', 'Oración 3: añade un detalle cultural.', 'Oración 4: usa el patrón gramatical otra vez.', 'Oración 5: cierra con una pregunta para el oyente.']}

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Number. 14

Title. Ropa y Apariencia

Teaser. Colours, sizes, styles — plus the mysterious difference between wear, put on, and get dressed.

You have already seen this

• ('Unit 6 — Shopping', "Try on, fit, suit appeared as vocab teasers in Shopping — now they're the main event.")
• ('Unit 3 — Numbers', 'Sizes are numbers: a size 10, a 12, a 40 (EU) — no article before the size itself, depending on country.')
• ('Unit 2 — Intro', "She's the one in the red jacket — meeting someone you've never seen in person.")

Watch out for

• ('I am putting a jacket.', "I'm putting on a jacket.", 'Put on is a phrasal verb. The on is mandatory when dressing.')
• ('This shirt suits me well of size.', 'This shirt fits me well.', 'Fit = size. Suit = style. Spanish quedar bien is the trap here.')
• ('She is wearing a black long coat.', 'She is wearing a long black coat.', 'Adjective order: size (long) before colour (black).')
• ('I have 10 size.', "I'm a size 10. / My size is 10.", 'A size 10 = noun phrase. The numeral goes after the word size.')

Grammar

Title. Adjective order · wear vs put on vs get dressed

Explanation. English adjectives stack in a fixed order: opinion → size → age → shape → colour → origin → material → purpose → noun. You'll rarely use all nine — but colour almost always comes right before the noun. Verbs split: wear (state), put on (action of dressing, phrasal), get dressed (whole routine, no object).

Formula. [opinion] [size] [age] [colour] + noun. wear + clothes (state). put on + clothes (action, splittable). get dressed (intransitive, no object).

Examples. ['A beautiful long blue dress. (opinion-size-colour)', 'I wear glasses. (ongoing)', 'I put on my coat and left. / I put my coat on.', "Get dressed, we're late. (no object)", "She's trying on a small red wool jumper. (size-colour-material)"]

Culture

Title. Sizes don't match — and it's not your body

Body. UK size 10 = US size 6 = EU 36. Trainers, tops, trousers — each follows its own cross-Atlantic chart. Always ask in UK sizes or US? before committing. Shoe sizing differs by even more. Americans use pants for trousers (pants = underwear in UK), sneakers for trainers, and sweater for what Brits call a jumper. None of this is optional trivia — it's how you'll be understood in shops.

Takeaway. Use the region's vocabulary when you're there — trousers in London, pants in New York. Saying pants in London means something else entirely.

Exercises

• {'title': 'Ejercicio 1 — Rellenar el hueco', 'instruction': 'Usa el vocabulario de esta unidad. Di cada respuesta en voz alta antes de escribirla.', 'items': ['Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (llevar puesto).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (ponerse).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (probarse).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (talla).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (el corte / sentar).']}
• {'title': 'Ejercicio 2 — Construye el tuyo', 'instruction': 'Escribe un párrafo corto (4–5 oraciones) sobre ropa y apariencia. Usa el patrón gramatical de esta unidad al menos dos veces.', 'items': ['Oración 1: abre la escena.', 'Oración 2: usa el patrón gramatical.', 'Oración 3: añade un detalle cultural.', 'Oración 4: usa el patrón gramatical otra vez.', 'Oración 5: cierra con una pregunta para el oyente.']}

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Number. 15

Title. Clima y Estaciones

Teaser. Forecasts, small talk, idioms — and why every English conversation eventually circles back to the weather.

You have already seen this

• ('Unit 12 — Future', "It's going to rain is back — now with full forecast vocabulary.")
• ('Unit 7 — Routine', "Weather modifies routine: when it's sunny, I walk to work.")
• ('Unit 1 — Greetings', "Lovely day, isn't it? was in the greetings list — now it's contextualised.")

Watch out for

• ('Is raining today.', "It's raining today.", 'English needs the dummy it. Is raining alone is ungrammatical.')
• ('It has 30 degrees.', "It's 30 degrees.", "Temperature uses it's, not has. Spanish hace 30 translates to English it's 30.")
• ('Very freezing!', 'Absolutely freezing!', 'Freezing already means very cold. Stack with absolutely, not very.')
• ('The weathers are bad.', 'The weather is bad.', 'Weather is uncountable — never plural.')

Grammar

Title. Weather sentences with 'it' · extreme adjectives

Explanation. English weather uses it as a dummy subject — it doesn't refer to anything. Three main patterns: It's + adjective (it's cold), It's + -ing (it's raining), There's + noun (there's a storm). Extreme adjectives — freezing, boiling, starving — already contain very in their meaning. Don't add very in front; use absolutely or nothing at all.

Formula. It + be + adjective (sunny/cold/mild). It + be + -ing (raining/snowing). There + be + noun (a storm, strong winds). absolutely + extreme adjective (absolutely freezing).

Examples. ["It's cold and windy today.", "It's snowing — look out the window.", "There's a heatwave coming next week.", "It's freezing — absolutely freezing.", "The forecast says rain, but it's been dry all day."]

Culture

Title. Why the British always talk about the weather

Body. The UK's weather is changeable — a legitimate A2 word to know — so forecasts are unreliable and talk-worthy. But the cultural tradition runs deeper: weather is a neutral topic that avoids politics, money, and feelings. In the US, weather small talk is more brief — hot one today, crazy storm. In Australia, it's often a complaint about heat. In all three, weather is the universal conversational handshake.

Takeaway. Lovely day, isn't it? works in any English-speaking country as a greeting. The other person will agree regardless of the actual weather.

Exercises

• {'title': 'Ejercicio 1 — Rellenar el hueco', 'instruction': 'Usa el vocabulario de esta unidad. Di cada respuesta en voz alta antes de escribirla.', 'items': ['Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (tiempo (clima)).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (pronóstico).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (soleado).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (nublado).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (lluvia / llover).']}
• {'title': 'Ejercicio 2 — Construye el tuyo', 'instruction': 'Escribe un párrafo corto (4–5 oraciones) sobre clima y estaciones. Usa el patrón gramatical de esta unidad al menos dos veces.', 'items': ['Oración 1: abre la escena.', 'Oración 2: usa el patrón gramatical.', 'Oración 3: añade un detalle cultural.', 'Oración 4: usa el patrón gramatical otra vez.', 'Oración 5: cierra con una pregunta para el oyente.']}

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Number. 16

Title. Tiempo Libre y Aficiones

Teaser. What you do for fun — plus love/like/enjoy + -ing, the one rule that covers 90% of your hobby sentences.

You have already seen this

• ('Unit 7 — Routine', 'Frequency adverbs (usually, often, never) naturally merge into hobby descriptions.')
• ('Unit 9 — Work', "-ing as noun pattern reappears — you've seen cooking is fun, now it slots into hobby talk.")
• ('Unit 5 — Food', 'Trying new restaurants is a hobby in itself — food unit vocab transfers directly here.')

Watch out for

• ('I like to reading.', 'I like reading.', 'After like + -ing, no to. Or drop -ing and keep to: I like to read.')
• ('I enjoy to cook.', 'I enjoy cooking.', 'Enjoy never takes to. Always + -ing or noun.')
• ('I am interested in cook.', "I'm interested in cooking.", 'After interested in + preposition → always -ing form.')
• ('I go out with my friends every weekends.', 'I go out with my friends every weekend.', 'Every + singular noun. Every weekend, not every weekends.')

Grammar

Title. like/love/hate + -ing · prefer + to

Explanation. After like, love, enjoy, hate, dislike, use the -ing form. Prefer is the special case — it takes to + base verb for comparisons (I prefer to stay in) but also accepts -ing (I prefer staying in). Enjoy is never followed by infinitive.

Formula. S + like/love/enjoy/hate + -ing + … S + prefer + to + base verb + … S + would rather + base verb + …

Examples. ['I love reading before bed.', 'She hates getting up early.', 'We enjoy cooking together.', 'I prefer to eat at home. / I prefer eating at home.', "I 'd rather stay in tonight."]

Culture

Title. Small talk about hobbies — the English warmth filter

Body. Hobbies in English small talk are treated as safe, low-stakes facts — you're expected to share two or three, ask back, and move on. Spanish culture sometimes treats hobbies as identity markers worthy of deep dives; English-speaking culture prefers lateral moves: hobby → shared experience → bouncing ball. If someone says I love climbing, the native response is oh nice — indoor or outdoor? — not a ten-minute appreciation.

Takeaway. Keep your hobby pitch under 15 seconds and always bounce the question back. What about you? is the minimum.

Exercises

• {'title': 'Ejercicio 1 — Rellenar el hueco', 'instruction': 'Usa el vocabulario de esta unidad. Di cada respuesta en voz alta antes de escribirla.', 'items': ['Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (afición).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (disfrutar).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (pasar el rato).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (cocinar).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (leer).']}
• {'title': 'Ejercicio 2 — Construye el tuyo', 'instruction': 'Escribe un párrafo corto (4–5 oraciones) sobre aficiones y tiempo libre. Usa el patrón gramatical de esta unidad al menos dos veces.', 'items': ['Oración 1: abre la escena.', 'Oración 2: usa el patrón gramatical.', 'Oración 3: añade un detalle cultural.', 'Oración 4: usa el patrón gramatical otra vez.', 'Oración 5: cierra con una pregunta para el oyente.']}

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Number. 17

Title. Tecnología y Dispositivos

Teaser. Phones, laptops, apps — the English verbs that Spanish borrows directly (upload, download) and the ones that trip you up (charge, plug in).

You have already seen this

• ('Unit 10 — Travel', 'Do you have Wi-Fi? is the #1 airport and hotel question — now with full answer vocabulary.')
• ('Unit 9 — Work', 'Work from home requires tech: my laptop, my charger, my Wi-Fi.')
• ('Unit 16 — Hobbies', "Gaming, streaming, scrolling — many modern hobbies now live inside this unit's vocabulary.")

Watch out for

• ('My battery is in 2%.', "My battery is at 2%. / I'm at 2%.", 'Percentages use at, not in. Spanish en misleads here.')
• ('I need charge my phone.', 'I need to charge my phone.', "Need + to + base verb. Don't drop the to.")
• ("The Wi-Fi don't work.", "The Wi-Fi isn't working. / The Wi-Fi doesn't work.", "Wi-Fi is singular, so doesn't. Present continuous works better for temporary failure.")
• ('I uploaded an app.', 'I downloaded an app.', "Upload (from you → up) vs download (to you ← down). Don't swap them.")

Grammar

Title. Phrasal verbs in tech context

Explanation. Tech English runs on phrasal verbs: plug in, plug out, log in, log out, turn on, turn off, back up, set up, sign up, boot up, charge up, shut down. Most are separable — the object can sit between the verb and the particle. With pronoun objects (it, them), the split is mandatory: plug it in, not plug in it.

Formula. V + particle + noun-object (together). V + pronoun-object + particle (split — mandatory). V + noun-object + particle (split — also fine).

Examples. ['I need to plug in the charger. / I need to plug the charger in.', 'Plug it in. (pronoun → split mandatory)', 'Can you turn off the TV? / Can you turn the TV off?', 'Turn it off. (pronoun → split)', 'I logged out by accident. (intransitive — no object)']

Culture

Title. Asking for the Wi-Fi — the modern English handshake

Body. In the English-speaking world, offering Wi-Fi is considered basic café hospitality. Most places print the password on the receipt, post it on the wall, or give it freely. Asking is not rude; apologising while asking (sorry to bother you, could I…?) can read as over-formal. A simple could I have the Wi-Fi? is perfect. In Spain or Latin America, the same question can feel more personal — in English, it's transactional and easy.

Takeaway. No need to apologise for asking for Wi-Fi. A warm thanks after you get it is all the politeness required.

Exercises

• {'title': 'Ejercicio 1 — Rellenar el hueco', 'instruction': 'Usa el vocabulario de esta unidad. Di cada respuesta en voz alta antes de escribirla.', 'items': ['Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (dispositivo).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (cargador).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (cargar).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (enchufar).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (iniciar sesión).']}
• {'title': 'Ejercicio 2 — Construye el tuyo', 'instruction': 'Escribe un párrafo corto (4–5 oraciones) sobre tecnología y dispositivos. Usa el patrón gramatical de esta unidad al menos dos veces.', 'items': ['Oración 1: abre la escena.', 'Oración 2: usa el patrón gramatical.', 'Oración 3: añade un detalle cultural.', 'Oración 4: usa el patrón gramatical otra vez.', 'Oración 5: cierra con una pregunta para el oyente.']}

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Number. 18

Title. Noticias y Opiniones

Teaser. I think / I agree / I'm not sure — the softeners that keep English opinions polite, even about heated topics.

You have already seen this

• ('Unit 12 — Future', "I think it's going to rain — softeners meet the future tense.")
• ('Unit 11 — Past', 'News events are almost always in the past: the PM said, the market fell.')
• ('Unit 7 — Routine', 'I usually check the news in the morning — routine + news vocabulary.')

Watch out for

• ('I am agree with you.', 'I agree with you.', 'Agree is already a full verb. Never pair it with be.')
• ('You are wrong.', "I see your point, but I'm not sure.", 'Blunt wrong is a conversation-killer in English. Soften first.')
• ('In my opinion is bad.', "In my opinion, it's bad.", 'English needs the subject it. Spanish drops it; English keeps it.')
• ('I think no.', "I don't think so. / I don't think it will.", 'English negates think, not the clause. The transfer flips.')

Grammar

Title. Opinion softeners · agreement/disagreement

Explanation. English opinions almost always start with a softener: I think, I feel, it seems, in my opinion. Agreement uses I agree (never I am agree — the #1 Spanish slip). Disagreement wraps in validation: I see your point, but… or I'm not so sure. Stating a bare opinion (it's bad) sounds blunt, even when you mean well.

Formula. I + think/feel + (that) + clause. It + seems + like + clause. I + agree/disagree + with + someone. I + see + your point, + but + clause.

Examples. ['I think the new law is a bit extreme.', "It seems like nobody's happy with it.", 'I agree with you on that.', "In my opinion, it won't last.", "I see your point, but the numbers don't match."]

Culture

Title. The English opinion handshake

Body. In British conversation, stating you're wrong is socially loud — people do it, but it moves the mood. That's an interesting point can mean anything from I agree to I think that's nonsense, depending on tone. In the US, disagreement is more direct (I don't see it that way) but still soft. In Australia, opinions are often framed with humour: yeah, I reckon carries a range from agreement to strong doubt depending on emphasis.

Takeaway. Always validate before you disagree. I see your point, but… is the safest opener in any English-speaking country.

Exercises

• {'title': 'Ejercicio 1 — Rellenar el hueco', 'instruction': 'Usa el vocabulario de esta unidad. Di cada respuesta en voz alta antes de escribirla.', 'items': ['Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (noticias).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (titular).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (artículo).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (noticia / historia).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (estar de acuerdo).']}
• {'title': 'Ejercicio 2 — Construye el tuyo', 'instruction': 'Escribe un párrafo corto (4–5 oraciones) sobre noticias y opiniones. Usa el patrón gramatical de esta unidad al menos dos veces.', 'items': ['Oración 1: abre la escena.', 'Oración 2: usa el patrón gramatical.', 'Oración 3: añade un detalle cultural.', 'Oración 4: usa el patrón gramatical otra vez.', 'Oración 5: cierra con una pregunta para el oyente.']}

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Number. 19

Title. Cultura y Celebraciones

Teaser. Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas — the holidays that shape English small talk all year long.

You have already seen this

• ('Unit 3 — Numbers', 'Ordinals (24th, 25th, 31st) resurface here — now with dates.')
• ('Unit 15 — Weather', 'Holiday weather: a white Christmas, a cold snap, a heatwave at Christmas (AU).')
• ('Unit 16 — Hobbies', 'I love decorating at Christmas — hobbies + holiday combined.')

Watch out for

• ('In Christmas we eat turkey.', 'At Christmas we eat turkey.', 'At for holiday periods, in for months. In Christmas sounds wrong.')
• ('Merry New Year!', 'Happy New Year!', 'Merry does not pair with New Year. Universal English-speaking convention.')
• ('The 25 of December.', 'The 25th of December. / December 25.', 'Dates take ordinals (25th), not cardinals, when spoken.')
• ('Do you celebrate the Christmas?', 'Do you celebrate Christmas?', "Holiday names don't take the. Christmas, Halloween, Easter stand alone.")

Grammar

Title. Prepositions with dates and holidays

Explanation. English locks prepositions to time units: in + year/month/season (in 2026, in July, in winter), on + specific date or day (on the 24th, on Friday, on Christmas Day), at + specific hour or holiday period (at midnight, at Christmas, at Easter). Don't mix these — Spanish en covers all three, so this is a core A2 calibration.

Formula. in + year/month/season/century. on + day/date/specific holiday day. at + hour/night/weekend (UK)/holiday period.

Examples. ['In 2026. In December. In winter.', 'On Christmas Day. On the 25th. On Sunday.', 'At midnight. At Christmas. At Easter.', 'At the weekend (UK) / on the weekend (US).', 'We meet on Fridays at 7 PM in winter.']

Culture

Title. Merry vs Happy — a small word with a long history

Body. In the US and Australia, Merry Christmas is standard. In the UK, Happy Christmas is equally common — the royal family uses it. Neither is wrong. Happy Holidays (US, spreading elsewhere) is the religion-neutral version used in offices and retail. For New Year, Happy New Year is universal; Merry New Year does not exist. Small word, big marker — get the pairing right and you sound at ease.

Takeaway. Safe defaults: Merry Christmas (personal), Happy Holidays (public/work), Happy New Year (anywhere).

Exercises

• {'title': 'Ejercicio 1 — Rellenar el hueco', 'instruction': 'Usa el vocabulario de esta unidad. Di cada respuesta en voz alta antes de escribirla.', 'items': ['Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (fiesta / vacaciones).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (celebrar).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (decorar).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (regalo).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (tradición).']}
• {'title': 'Ejercicio 2 — Construye el tuyo', 'instruction': 'Escribe un párrafo corto (4–5 oraciones) sobre fiestas y celebraciones. Usa el patrón gramatical de esta unidad al menos dos veces.', 'items': ['Oración 1: abre la escena.', 'Oración 2: usa el patrón gramatical.', 'Oración 3: añade un detalle cultural.', 'Oración 4: usa el patrón gramatical otra vez.', 'Oración 5: cierra con una pregunta para el oyente.']}

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Number. 20

Title. Emociones y Sentimientos

Teaser. I'm tired / I'm excited / I'm nervous — the -ed adjectives and their sneaky twin, -ing. Get the distinction wrong and your sentence means the opposite.

You have already seen this

• ('Unit 13 — Health', 'I feel dizzy, I feel sick — emotion + physical-state vocabulary overlaps.')
• ('Unit 11 — Past', 'I was so excited, we were tired — emotions over past stories.')
• ('Unit 17 — Tech', 'My laptop froze — I was furious — tech frustration vocabulary lives here too.')

Watch out for

• ('I am boring.', 'I am bored.', 'I am boring = I bore others. Classic flip. Use -ed for your feeling.')
• ("I'm excited for the trip.", "I'm excited about the trip.", 'Excited for is US casual but not universal. About is safe everywhere.')
• ('He is worry.', 'He is worried.', 'Emotion adjective must be in -ed (participle) form, not base verb.')
• ("I'm afraid to spiders.", "I'm afraid of spiders.", 'Afraid/scared of — always of, never to.')

Grammar

Title. -ed vs -ing adjectives · emotion + preposition

Explanation. Emotion adjectives pair up: -ed on the person feeling, -ing on the thing/event causing. I'm bored / the lecture is boring. Get this wrong and you flip the meaning (I'm boring = I bore others). Emotions also lock to specific prepositions: excited about, worried about, scared of, angry at/with, nervous about.

Formula. Person + be + -ed adjective + (preposition) + cause. Thing/event + be + -ing adjective. excited/worried/nervous + about. scared/afraid + of. angry + at/with.

Examples. ["I'm tired, the day was exhausting.", "She's worried about the exam.", "He's scared of spiders.", "They're angry with the manager.", "It's an amazing film — I'm amazed."]

Culture

Title. How are you, really?

Body. Casual how are you? expects good, thanks. But when a friend asks with a different tone — slower, with eye contact — they want a real answer. English speakers signal this with the word really: how are you, really? = permission to tell the truth. Spanish often gets to the real answer faster and with less signalling. Don't assume how are you? means nothing — sometimes it means everything.

Takeaway. If a friend says how are you, really?, they want more than fine. If a cashier says how are you?, they don't.

Exercises

• {'title': 'Ejercicio 1 — Rellenar el hueco', 'instruction': 'Usa el vocabulario de esta unidad. Di cada respuesta en voz alta antes de escribirla.', 'items': ['Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (cansado/a).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (emocionado/a).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (nervioso/a).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (preocupado/a).', 'Completa con una palabra del vocabulario: ____ (disgustado/a).']}
• {'title': 'Ejercicio 2 — Construye el tuyo', 'instruction': 'Escribe un párrafo corto (4–5 oraciones) sobre emociones y sentimientos. Usa el patrón gramatical de esta unidad al menos dos veces.', 'items': ['Oración 1: abre la escena.', 'Oración 2: usa el patrón gramatical.', 'Oración 3: añade un detalle cultural.', 'Oración 4: usa el patrón gramatical otra vez.', 'Oración 5: cierra con una pregunta para el oyente.']}

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Number. 21

Title. Educación y Aprendizaje

Teaser. Courses, exams, languages — plus the difference between study, learn, and teach, which Spanish often blurs.

You have already seen this

• ('Unit 9 — Work', 'I work as / I study at — the two patterns sit side by side in intros.')
• ('Unit 11 — Past', 'I studied law, then I switched to design. — narrative in simple past.')
• ('Unit 20 — Emotions', "I'm nervous about the exam — emotion + preposition + education context.")

Watch out for

• ('I am studying in the university.', "I'm studying at the university.", 'At for institutions, not in. Spanish en misleads again.')
• ('I have 25 years and I study English.', "I'm 25 and I'm learning English.", 'Age uses to be. And learning fits a language acquired to use.')
• ('I studied a lot of information yesterday.', 'I studied a lot yesterday. / I learned a lot yesterday.', "Information is uncountable — you can't study a lot of information, but learn a lot works.")
• ('I failed in the exam.', 'I failed the exam.', 'Fail + direct object. No in.')

Grammar

Title. study vs learn vs teach · noun + preposition in education

Explanation. Study = the act of working on a subject. Learn = the acquiring of knowledge or skill. Teach = transmitting it. Key collocations: study at + institution, study + subject, learn how to + base verb, teach + person + subject. Many nouns take in: a course in design, a degree in maths.

Formula. S + study + at + institution / subject. S + learn + noun / learn how to + base verb. S + teach + (person) + subject. course/degree/certificate + in + subject.

Examples. ['I study at the University of London.', 'She studies economics.', "I'm learning to drive.", 'He teaches history at a high school.', 'She has a degree in computer science.']

Culture

Title. Calling a teacher by their first name

Body. In the US, university students use professors' first names or Professor Smith. In the UK, Dr. Smith or simply first-name basis after introduction. In Australia, first-name default at uni; Mr/Ms at school. Spanish-speaking academic culture often keeps profesor/a long after that feels natural in English. When in doubt, start formal and take the cue from the teacher's sign-off in email.

Takeaway. Match the register your teacher uses with you. If they sign Sarah, write back with Sarah.