Mastering Advanced English: Modals, Plurals, and Scientific Vocabulary

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Escrito el 26 de Noviembre de 2025 en español con un tamaño de 8,45 KB

Advanced English Grammar Structures

Inversions are used to add emphasis by reversing the typical subject-verb order. They often appear in formal or literary contexts.

No sooner...than: Used to say that one thing happened immediately after another. The auxiliary verb comes before the subject.
Example: No sooner had I sat down than the phone rang.
Hardly / Scarcely / Barely...when: Similar in meaning and structure to 'no sooner...than'.
Example: Hardly had we left the house when it started to rain.

Modal perfects, formed with modal + have + past participle, are used to speculate about, deduce, or comment on past events.

Must have + participle: Expresses a logical conclusion or certainty about a past action.
Example: The ground is wet. It must have rained last night.
May / Might have + participle: Used to make a guess or express a possibility about a past action.
Example: She's late. She might have missed her bus.
Could have + participle: Indicates that something was possible in the past, but it did not happen.
Example: You could have passed the exam if you had studied harder.
Should / Ought to have + participle: Expresses regret or criticism that something desirable did not happen in the past.
Example: I should have saved more money when I was younger.
Shouldn’t have + participle: Expresses criticism, indicating that a past action was a bad idea and should not have happened.
Example: They shouldn’t have driven there in the storm.
Would have + participle: Describes an intention in the past that was not fulfilled, often as part of the third conditional.
Example: I would have called you, but I didn't know your number.

Must: Strong obligation, often based on the speaker's personal opinion.
Example: I must study for my exam.
Have to: Strong external obligation (e.g., a rule or law).
Example: You have to wear a uniform at this school.
Should / Need to: Recommendation or mild obligation.
Example: You should save some money for the future.

Mustn’t: Prohibition (it is forbidden).
Example: You mustn’t smoke in this building.
Don’t have to / Needn’t: Lack of obligation (it is not necessary).
Example: You don’t have to come early tomorrow.

Can: Ability in the present.
Example: I can swim.
Could: General ability in the past.
Example: He could swim when he was five years old.
Be able to: Can be used in all tenses to express ability, especially when 'can/could' is not possible.
Example: I haven't been able to finish the project yet.
Managed to: Succeeded in doing something difficult on a specific occasion.
Example: We managed to win the game despite the bad weather.

May / Might / Could: Express possibility (might/could suggest a lower probability than may).
Example: It may rain tomorrow.
Can't: Expresses impossibility or strong disbelief.
Example: That can’t be true!
Will / Won’t: High certainty or prediction.
Example: If you study, you will pass the exam.

Should / Ought to: General advice. 'Ought to' is more formal.
Example: You should call her to apologize.
Had better: Strong advice, often implying a warning of negative consequences.
Example: You had better hurry, or you'll miss the train.

Can: Informal permission.
Example: Can I use your phone?
Could / May: More formal or polite permission. 'May' is the most formal.
Example: May I leave early today?

A comprehensive list of common irregular plural nouns in English, organized alphabetically.

Trial and error: Prueba y error
Side effects: Efectos secundarios
Light-years ahead: Años luz de ventaja
Guinea pig: Conejillo de Indias (subject of an experiment)
Quantum leap: Salto cuántico (a huge advance)
Rocket science: Used to describe something very difficult (e.g., 'It's not rocket science.')

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