Dominando el Inglés: Gramática, Vocabulario y Pronunciación para Exámenes

1. Pronunciación de la terminación "-ed"

Existen tres formas de pronunciar el pasado de los verbos regulares según el sonido final del verbo en infinitivo:

/t/ → Suena como “t”

Se utiliza cuando el verbo termina en sonido sordo: p, k, f, s, sh, ch, x.

• Ejemplos: worked, stopped, kissed, watched.
• Truco: Si al pronunciar el final del verbo base no vibra la garganta, la terminación suena como /t/.

/d/ → Suena como “d”

Se utiliza cuando el verbo termina en sonido sonoro (vocales o consonantes sonoras): b, g, v, z, l, m, n, r… + todas las vocales.

• Ejemplos: played, opened, closed, lived.
• Truco: Si vibra la garganta al final del verbo base, la terminación suena como /d/.

/ɪd/ → Suena “id” (añade una sílaba extra)

SOLO se utiliza si el verbo termina en los sonidos: t o d.

• Ejemplos: wanted, started, decided, ended.
• Truco: Aquí SIEMPRE se añade una sílaba extra al pronunciar.

⚠️ RESUMEN RÁPIDO (Modo examen)

• Termina en t o d → /ɪd/
• Termina en sonido sordo → /t/
• Todo lo demás → /d/

2. Vocabulario: Inglés Británico vs. Inglés Americano

Diferencias clave en el léxico cotidiano:

• Lorry → Truck (camión)
• Wellington boots → Rubber boots (botas de lluvia)
• Chips → French fries (patatas fritas tipo McDonald’s)
• Film → Movie (película)
• Taxi → Cab (taxi)
• Torch → Flashlight (linterna)
• Wardrobe → Closet (armario)
• Football → Soccer (fútbol)
• Pavement → Sidewalk (acera)
• Sweets → Candies (caramelos)
• Lift → Elevator (ascensor)
• Zip → Zipper (cremallera)
• Tin → Can (lata)
• Biscuits → Cookies (galletas)
• Rubber → Eraser (goma de borrar)
• Maize → Corn (maíz)
• Luggage → Baggage (equipaje)
• Queue → Line (cola/fila)
• Tea towel → Dish towel (paño de cocina)
• Rubbish bin → Trash can (cubo de basura)
• Trainers → Sneakers (zapatillas deportivas)
• Dummy → Pacifier (chupete)
• Flat → Apartment (piso)
• Vest → Undershirt (camiseta interior)
• Autumn → Fall (otoño)
• Crisps → Chips (patatas fritas de bolsa)
• Waistcoat → Vest (chaleco)
• Petrol station → Gas station (gasolinera)
• Underground → Subway (metro)
• Post box → Mailbox (buzón)
• Tap → Faucet (grifo)

3. Gramática Avanzada

1. Gerundio vs. Infinitivo

Gerund (-ing)

Se utiliza después de verbos como: enjoy, avoid, finish, mind, suggest, stop.

• Ejemplo: We stopped speaking to one another.

To + Infinitive

Se utiliza después de: want, need, decide, hope, hesitate.

• Ejemplo: Don’t hesitate to ask me for help.

Verbos que cambian de significado

• Stop + -ing: Dejar de hacer una actividad. (He stopped smoking).
• Stop + to infinitive: Parar para empezar a hacer algo. (He stopped to smoke).
• Remember + -ing: Recordar algo que ya hiciste. (I remember meeting her).
• Remember + to infinitive: Acordarse de que tienes que hacer algo. (Remember to call me).
• Forget + -ing: Olvidar algo que ya sucedió. (I’ll never forget visiting London).
• Forget + to infinitive: Olvidar realizar una tarea. (I forgot to call you).
• Regret + -ing: Arrepentirse o lamentar algo pasado. (I regret telling him).
• Regret + to infinitive: Lamentar tener que informar algo (uso formal). (We regret to tell you...).

2. Comparativos y Superlativos

• Comparativo: Adjetivos cortos (tall → taller) // Adjetivos largos (beautiful → more beautiful).
• Superlativo: Adjetivos cortos (tall → the tallest) // Adjetivos largos (beautiful → the most beautiful).
• Irregulares: good → better → the best // bad → worse → the worst // far → farther/further → the farthest/furthest.
• Intensificadores: Se usa much / a lot / far + comparativo. (much tastier // far more interesting).

Estructuras típicas:

• This is the hottest day of the year.
• Kate is a lot prettier than Anne.
• She’s the prettiest girl I know.
• Is this ladder longer than the other one?

Rephrase típica (Estructura correlativa):

If you practice a lot, you’ll be a tad happier. ➡ The more you practice, the happier you’ll be.

3. La Voz Pasiva

Estructura: Sujeto + be + past participle

Formas verbales:

• Present simple: is made
• Past simple: was made
• Present continuous: is being made
• Present perfect: has been made
• Modal: must be done
• Future: will be done

Ejemplos:

• Free tickets are given away.
• Nobody was injured.
• His decision has already been made.
• More evidence must be collected.

4. Pasiva en dos formas (Estructuras impersonales)

• Estructura 1: It + passive + that + clause
• Estructura 2: Subject + passive + to infinitive

Ejemplo de examen: Many people said his ideas were outrageous.

• Forma 1: It was said that his ideas were outrageous.
• Forma 2: His ideas were said to be outrageous.

Más ejemplos:

• People think she is very talented. ➡ It is thought that she is very talented. // She is thought to be very talented.
• They believe he stole the money. ➡ It is believed that he stole the money. // He is believed to have stolen the money.

Truco fino:

• Si la acción de la subordinada es al mismo tiempo → to be / to do
• Si la acción es anterior → to have + past participle

Ejemplo: They say he is rich. ➡ He is said to be rich. // They say he robbed the bank. ➡ He is said to have robbed the bank.

5. Pasiva con dos objetos

Cuando hay un objeto indirecto y uno directo, existen dos pasivas posibles.

Ejemplo: We should give her another chance.

• Opción 1: She should be given another chance.
• Opción 2: Another chance should be given to her.

Otro ejemplo: They’re offering guests a guided tour.

• Opción 1: Guests are being offered a guided tour.
• Opción 2: A guided tour is being offered to guests.

6. Estructura Causativa

Estructura: have / get + object + past participle

Se utiliza cuando otra persona hace algo por ti.

• Ejemplo 1: A professional always does our make-up. ➡ We have our make-up done.
• Ejemplo 2: I cut my hair (yo mismo). vs. I had my hair cut (en la peluquería).

4. Vocabulario Temático

1. El mundo del trabajo

• Job / work: trabajo
• Position: puesto
• Field: sector
• Clerk: administrativo
• Staff: personal

Salario y condiciones:

• Wage: salario por horas
• Salary: salario fijo mensual/anual
• Overtime: horas extra
• Double pay: doble sueldo
• Get paid peanuts: cobrar muy poco
• Perk: beneficio extra (coche, seguro, etc.)
• Sick leave: baja médica

Organización:

• Shift: turno
• Deadline: fecha límite
• Part-time / full-time: media jornada / completa
• Steady job: trabajo estable
• Seasonal job: trabajo temporal

Carrera profesional:

• Promotion: ascenso
• Rise (n): subida de sueldo
• Room for advancement: posibilidad de ascenso
• Work your way up: ascender poco a poco
• Resignation: dimisión
• Out of work: en paro

Habilidades (Soft Skills):

• Reliable: fiable
• Teamwork: trabajo en equipo
• People skills: habilidades sociales
• Leadership: liderazgo
• Work under pressure: trabajar bajo presión
• Punctual: puntual
• Hard-working: trabajador
• Fast learner: aprende rápido

2. Vocabulario Extra (Examen trampa)

• Fond of: gustar / tener cariño a
• Glare: mirar con enfado
• Mumble: murmurar
• Make up your mind: decidirse
• Nonsense: tontería
• Trace: rastrear
• Slave: esclavo
• Starvation: hambre extrema

3. Expresiones Clave (Top Examen)

• Rat race: vida laboral estresante y competitiva
• Hold down a job: mantener un trabajo
• Get fired: ser despedido
• Take a step back: dar un paso atrás
• Pull your weight: cumplir con tu parte de responsabilidad
• Learn the ropes: aprender lo básico de un oficio
• Make a living: ganarse la vida
• Call it a day: dar por terminado el día (dejar de trabajar)
• Go on strike: hacer huelga

4. Palabras Adicionales

• A must: algo imprescindible
• Applicant: candidato
• Internship: prácticas
• Housekeeping: limpieza/mantenimiento
• Outing: salida de empresa / excursión
• Quality: calidad
• Strengths: fortalezas
• Weaknesses: debilidades
• Have the time of your life: pasarlo genial

5. Job Interview (Frases para el examen)

• I consider myself a good team player.
• I work well under pressure.
• I have experience in…
• I’ve been working as…
• I got a certificate in…
• To be honest…
• I felt this would be the right place for me.

6. Frases de ofertas de trabajo

• Full-time position
• Starting salary
• Be fluent in English
• Work shifts
• Customer service skills

5. Gramática: Relativos y Otros Tiempos

Relative Clauses

• Defining (sin comas): Aportan información esencial. The job that I want is good. (Puedes quitar el pronombre: The job I want).
• Non-defining (con comas): Aportan información extra. My boss, who is strict, fired me. (NO se puede quitar el pronombre).

Pronombres:

• Who: personas
• Which: cosas
• That: ambos (solo en defining)
• Whose: posesión
• Where: lugar
• When: tiempo
• Whom: objeto (formal)

7. Imperativo Pasivo

Forma normal: Open the door. Sit down. Raise your hands.

Estructura pasiva: Let + objeto + be + past participle

• Ejemplo: Raise your hands. ➡ Let your hands be raised.

Nota: No es muy frecuente, pero es útil para ejercicios de transformación.

8. Reported Speech (Estilo Indirecto)

Cambios de tiempos verbales:

• Present → Past
• Past simple → Past perfect
• Will → Would
• Can → Could
• May → Might

Cambios de tiempo y lugar:

• Now → then
• Today → that day
• Yesterday → the day before
• Tomorrow → the next/following day
• Here → there

Ejemplos:

• “I am tired.” ➡ He said he was tired.
• “I will call you tomorrow.” ➡ He said he would call me the following day.

9. Condicionales

• First conditional: If + present, will + infinitive. (If it rains, we’ll stay home).
• Second conditional: If + past, would + infinitive. (If I had more time, I would study more).
• Third conditional: If + had + pp, would have + pp. (If I had known, I wouldn’t have eaten that cake).

Ejemplos tipo examen:

• I wouldn’t have eaten that cake if I had known...
• I would have been embarrassed if you had seen me.

10. Wish / If Only

• Para el presente: wish + past simple. (I wish I were taller // I wish he didn’t shout so much).
• Para el pasado: wish + past perfect. (I wish we had bought tickets).
• Para expresar queja o deseo de cambio: wish + would. (I wish the neighbours would stop shouting).

11. Time Clauses (Oraciones temporales)

Conectores: when, after, before, as soon as, until / till, once, while.

Regla clave:

En las time clauses que hablan de futuro, NO se usa "will" después del conector. Se usa el present simple.

• Ejemplos: I’ll call you when I arrive. (❌ no: when I will arrive).
• We’ll eat after she comes.
• I’ll tell my father the good news the moment he calls me.

Uso de While:

• While I was studying, she was watching TV. (Dos acciones en progreso).

Before / After + -ing:

Si el sujeto es el mismo en ambas frases:

• After finishing my homework, I went out.
• Before leaving, turn off the lights.

12. Tiempos verbales específicos

• Present perfect continuous: have/has been + -ing. (We have been waiting for half an hour).
• Past continuous: was/were + -ing. (I was thinking about Sheila when she appeared).
• Wish + past perfect: I wish we had bought some last week.

6. Formación de Palabras y Colocaciones

Word Formation

• NUMBER → outnumber
• IMAGINE → imaginary
• FREE → freedom
• SPOIL → unspoilt / unspoiled

Vocabulario de Cine y Series

• Fast-paced: de ritmo rápido
• Predictable: predecible
• Gender: género
• Main character: personaje principal
• Dubbed: doblado
• Scenery: paisaje / decorado
• Ending: final
• Setting: ambientación

Collocations con Take / Make / Raise

• Take responsibility for: hacerse responsable de.
• Raise awareness about: concienciar sobre.
• Make an appointment: pedir una cita.
• Take a risk: correr un riesgo.
• Raise your voice: levantar la voz.

Ejemplos: Everyone should take responsibility for their actions. // It’s important to raise awareness about autism.

Sinónimos de “Liking” (Gustar)

• Be fond of
• Be keen on
• Be really into

Expresiones tipo “As regards”

• As regards / regarding / concerning / as for (en cuanto a / con respecto a).

Errores Típicos que debes evitar

• ❌ When he will call me ➡ ✅ When he calls me
• ❌ I regret to telling him ➡ ✅ I regret telling him
• ❌ She is more prettier ➡ ✅ She is prettier / much prettier
• ❌ He is said that... ➡ ✅ It is said that... / He is said to...
• ❌ We have done our make-up ➡ ✅ We have our make-up done