Mastering English Grammar: Adjective Order, Adverb Formation, Verb Expressions & Phrasal Verbs

Adjective Order

The general order of adjectives in English is as follows:

Quantity/Number - Opinion - Size - Physical Quality - Shape - Age - Color - Origin - Material - Type - Purpose + Noun

Example: a beautiful small round old green French wooden coffee table

Adverb Formation from Adjectives

Many adverbs are formed by adding '-ly' to adjectives:

• happy - happily
• brave - bravely
• romantic - romantically

Some adverbs have the same form as their adjective counterparts:

• fast
• hard
• early
• late
• high
• low

Irregular Adverb Forms:

• good - well
• bad - badly

Common Verb Expressions

Here are some common verb expressions with prepositions:

• agree with: estar de acuerdo con
• apologise to someone for sth: pedir disculpas a alguien por algo
• apply to someone for sth: solicitar algo a alguien
• believe in: creer en
• sth belongs to someone: pertenecer a
• centre on: centrarse en
• congratulate someone on sth: felicitar a alguien por algo
• consist of: consistir en
• depend on: depender de
• divide into: dividir en
• dream about/of: soñar con
• explain sth to someone: explicar algo a alguien
• insist on: insistir en
• laugh at: reírse de
• listen to: escuchar
• look at: mirar
• look after: cuidar de
• look for: buscar
• pay for sth: pagar algo
• prevent someone from doing sth: impedir que alguien haga algo
• remind of: recordar a
• search for: buscar
• shout at: gritar a
• speak to/with: hablar con
• suffer from: padecer
• talk to/with: hablar con
• think about/of: pensar en algo/alguien
• think in: pensar en una lengua
• throw at: lanzar agresivamente
• throw to: lanzar
• translate from...to: traducir de...a
• work on sth: trabajar en algo
• write to: escribir a

Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs combine a verb with a preposition or adverb, creating a new meaning:

• break down: derribar, estropearse
• call for: llamar a, ir a buscar
• call off: cancelar
• carry on: seguir
• come across: encontrarse con
• come along: venir también
• come off: desprenderse
• come out: salir, publicarse
• do away with: acabar con
• get at: insinuar, llegar a
• get by: arreglárselas, defenderse
• get into: subir al coche
• get on (with): progresar, llevarse bien
• get on/off: subir/bajar tren, autobús
• get out of: bajar del coche
• get over: reponerse, superar, salvar
• get up: levantarse
• give up: dejar, abandonar
• go along with: apoyar, estar de acuerdo con
• go down: bajar
• go for: ir a buscar, votar por
• go off: marcharse, explotar
• go on: continuar, suceder
• go over: pasar por encima de
• go through: atravesar
• go up: subir
• go with: acompañar, hacer juego con
• hold on: esperar
• keep on: continuar
• look after: cuidar de
• look forward to: tener ganas de que ocurra algo
• look into: investigar
• look like: parecerse a
• look through: examinar
• pass away: morir
• pick up: recoger
• put off: quitarse la ropa, aplazar, despegar
• put out: apagar
• put up with: soportar
• run away: escaparse
• run into: tropezar con
• satnd by: estar preparado
• set off: partir
• take after: parecerse a
• take back: devolver
• take off: quitarse la ropa, despegar
• take out: sacar
• take over: hacerse cargo de
• think over: pensar detenidamente