to calm/settle down

• Did you wait for the audience to settle down before starting your speech?
• Ask me if I waited for the audience...
• Ask me why I didn't wait for the audience...
• Did I wait for the audience...
• Had Juan calmed down by the time the police arrived?
• Ask me if Miguel had calmed down by the time...
• Had Miguel...?
• Ask me why he hadn't calmed down...
• Why hadn't he calmed down?

bored/boring

pages and prepositions

• Está en la página 15
  It's on page 15
• ¿En qué página está?
  What page is it on?
• El artículo está en la página 102.
  The article is on page 102.
• ¿En qué página está el artículo?
  What page is the article on?
• ¿Has visto los titulares en la página 1?
  Have you seen the headlines on [page 1/the first page/the front page]?
  the back page = última página (de un periódico)
  en un libro: the front cover, the back cover
• ¿Has visto el dibujo en la cubierta?
  Have you seen the picture on the front cover?
• ¿Has visto la foto en la contraportada?
  Have you seen the photo on the back cover?
• Vamos a pasar a la página 8.
  Let's turn to page 8.
  We don't use the article when we turn to a page

in the end, at the end of

• Al final nos lo pasamos bien.
  In the end we had a great/good time.
• Al final nos quedamos en casa.
  In the end we stayed at home.
• Al final decidió cancelar la reunión.
  In the end he decided to [cancel/call off] the meeting.
• Al final no contrataron a gente nueva.
  In the end they didn't hire new people.
• When the concert ended we went for a drink.
  At the end of the concert we went for a drink.
• I woke up when the speech ended.
  I woke up at the end of the speech.
• They brought out the champagne when the party ended.
• When the course ended we received a certificate.
  At the end of the course we received a certificate.
• When the trip ended he lost his passport.
  At the end of the trip he lost his passport.
• They announced the winner when the show ended.
  They announced the winner at the end of the show.
• Al final no cumplieron el plazo.
  In the end they didn't meet the deadline.

to get off to a good start

• Ask me if I got off to a good start this morning.
  Did you get off to a good start this morning?
  No, I got up on the wrong side of the bed.
• Ask me if my radio program got off to a good start.
  Did your radio program get off to a good start?
  Yes, actually my radio program got off to a great start, because they brought me a cake.
• Ask me whose birthday it was.
  Whose birthday was it?
  ... so today we got off to a good start at work because we had coffee, and cake...
• Ask me if I've ever gotten off to a bad start.
  Have you ever gotten off to a bad start?
• Have you ever gotten off to a bad start with someone when you met him?
• Sometimes when you get off to a bad start, you can turn it around and things look up.

to get someone to do something

• Conseguí que él lo hiciera.
  I got him to do it.
• ¿Conseguiste que enviaran los informes?
  Did you get them to send the reports?
• Did you get Steven to design the invitations?
• Why did you get Steven to design the invitations?
• Ask me who you should've got to design the invitations.
  Who should I've got to design the invitations?
  I think you should've got Annie to design the invitations.
• Ask me why you should've got Annie to design the invitations.
  Why should I've got Annie to design the invitations?
  You should've got Annie to design the invitations because she's a better designer than Steven.
• So, why should've you got Annie to design the invitations?
  I should've got Annie...
• Did you get Roger to arrange the music?
  Yes, I got Roger to arrange the music.
  Why did you get Roger to arrange the music?
  I got Roger to arrange the music because he was the only one there at that moment.
• Ask me who you should've got to arrange the music.
  Who should I've got to arrange the music?
  You should've got Alberto to arrange the music.
• Ask me why you should've got Alberto to arrange the music.
  Why should I've got Alberto to arrange the music?
  Because he's a musical genius, that's why.

to take up time

• Does replying to e-mails take up too much of your time?
• Ask me if replying to e-mails takes up too much of my time.
• Does paperwork take up a lot of your time?
• Ask me if paperwork takes up a lot of my time.
• Ask me if learning Spanish takes up a lot of my time.
• Does learning English take up a lot of your time?
• Does doing your tax return take up too much of your time?
• Does attending meetings take up a lot of your time?
• Ask me if attending meetings takes up...
• Does choosing Christmas presents take up a too much of your time?
• Does preparing dinner take up too much of your time?
  No, preparing dinner doesn't take up any of my time.
• Ask me if preparing dinner takes up...
• Does learning phrasal verbs take up too much of your time?
• Does learning irregular verbs take up too much of your time?
• Does learning conditionals take up too much of your time?

next to, beside

• My house is next to the metro.
  Your house is beside the metro.
• Is your house next to a farmacy?
• Would you like to live next to Big Ben?
• Is the table beside me or behind me?
• Is the Eiffel tower next to you right now?
• Would you like to be next to the Eiffel tower right now?
• Is your house next to mine?
• Do we live next to each other?
  No, we don't live [next to/beside] each other.
• Is Rome next to Madrid?
• Do you keep your toothbrush next to your shoes?
  No, I don't keep my toothbrush [next to/beside] my shoes.
• Are my feet next to each other?
  My feet are [beside/next to] each other.
• Are my eyes next to each other?
• Would you like to live next to tigers?
• Is France [next to/beside] Germany?
• Is Portugal next to Spain or next to Bulgaria?
• Is there a fire station next to your house?
• Should wolves live next to rabbits?
• If you were a wolf would you like to live next to rabbits?
• If you were a rabbit would you like to live next to wolves?

besides, apart from, aside

• Apart from the kitchen, the rest of the house are very spacious.
  Besides the kichen, the rest...
  The kitchen aside, the rest...
• Apart from his lack of punctuality his a very good employee.
• Apart from the weather, we had a good time.
  Besides he weather, we had a good time.
  The weather aside, we had a good time.
• Apart from his oncle Jack, all my husband's family is nice.
• Apart from maths I was good at all subjects at school.
• Apart from the traffic I like living in Madrid.
• Apart from that horrible building, it's a very nice city.
• Apart from the noise, I like my flat.
• Apart from my mortgage, I don't have any debts.
  Aside my mortgage,...
  Besides my mortgage,...

to be supposed to

• I have to call my parents twice a week.
  You're supposed to call your parentes twice a week.
• Do you have to answer my questions out loud?
  Am I supposed to answer your questions out loud?
• Does this course have to be taken seriously?
  Is this course supposed to be taken seriously?
• You have to take this course seriously.
  I'm supposed to take this course seriously.
• You have to study everyday.
• You have to do the on-line test everyday.
• You have to come to class everyday.
• I have to prepare these classes well.
• I have to correct all the mistakes you make.
  You're supposed to correct...
• I have to be demanding.
  You're supposed to be demanding.

to be supposed to

• I had to call my wife at four o'clock yesterday, but I didn't.
  I was supposed to call ...
• I had to buy some coffee for my wife, but I forgot.
  I was supposed to buy ...
• They had to call us yesterday (our suppliers), but they didn't.
  They were supposed to call us, ...
• Did I have to be here at seven o'clock?
  Was I supposed to be here...?
• Did he have to call me today?
  Was he supposed to call me today?
• Did more people have to go to the meeting?
  Were more people supposed to go to the meeting?
• Did more people have to go to the conference?
• I had to be here at ten o'clock, and I didn't get here, I didn't make it.
  I was supposed to be here...
  No fuí puntual = I wasn't on time
  I'm a punctual person.
  to be in time = llegar a la hora para algo: for the meeting, for the train
• You had to be here at ten fifteen and you    late.
• And your husband was supposed to come here too.
• They had to bring some flowers.
• He was supposed to bring some flour, but he didn't.

to take up space

• Does this chair take up a lot of space in the studio?
• Would a king-size bed take up a lot of space in the studio?
• Ask me if my boyfriend thinks my shoes take up too much space in our wardrobe.
• Do your shoes take up too much space?
• Does your computer take up a lot of space on your desk?
• Ask me what takes up the least space in my living room.
  What takes up the least space in your living room?
• Ask me if my dad's car takes up most of the space in his garage.
  Does your dad's car take up most of the space in his garage?
• Sus perfumes ocupan demasiado espacio en su baño.
  Her perfumes take up too much space in her bathroom.
• Ese sillón no ocupa suficiente sitio.
  That sofa/couch doesn't take up enough space.
• Ojalá mi ropa no ocupara tanto sitio.
  I wish my clothes didn't take up so much space.
• Espero que tus deberes ocupen mucho sitio en tu cuaderno.
  I hope your homework takes up a lot of space in your notebook.

to recommend

• They wanted us to fix it.
  They recommended that we fix it.
• She wanted us to try again.
  She recommended that we try again.
• My doctor suggested that I eat more fruit, so what did he recommend?
• My dentist told me I should floss my teeth more often, so what does he recommend?
  He recommends that you floss your teeth mor often.
• The trainers told me I should lift weights.
  The trainers recommended thay you lift weights.
• Richard told me I should read out loud more to improve my Spanish.
  Richard recommended you read out loud...
• The experts say that you should wash your hands regularly.
  ... recommend that you wash your...
• I suggest doing something ten thousand times to master it.
  ... recommend that we do something ...
• My brother thought I should read a new book.
  Your brother recommended that you read a new book.
• They say you should drink 68 glasses of water a day.
• She thinks I should get new glasses.
• They suggested that I ask for help if I need it.
• They think he shouldn't drink so much.
  They recommended that he doesn't drink so much.
• I don't think that you should worry about him.
  You recommend that I don't worry about him.
• I think we should fix it as soon as possible.
  You recommend we fix it asap.
• He feels it's best to put onion in the tortilla.
  He recommends you put onion...
• He feels that we should get more fresh air.
  He recommends that we get more fresh air.
• I suggest you play sports at least once a week.
  You recommend that I play sports at least once a week.
  I recommend that everyone plays sports at least once a week.
  sports: AM
  sport: EN

to make a mess of something

• Have you ever made a mess of your hair?
• Has anyone else ever made a mess of...?
• Has your hairdresser ever made a mess of...?
• Ask me if I've ever made a mess of my own hair.
• Ask me how I made a mess of my own hair.
• Ask me if I've ever made a mess of a recipe.
• Ask me if I've ever made a mess of my kitchen.
• Ask me how I made a mess of my kitchen.
• Do you know anybody who always makes a complete mess of everything?
• Ask me if I sometimes make a mess of my Spanish.
• Ask me if I sometimes make a right mess of my Spanish verbs.
• When was the last time you made a mess of your kitchen?
• Has anyone ever made a mess of your house?
• Did Hitler make a mess of the invasion of Russia?
• Have you ever made a mess of a song?
• Do some famous musicians make a mess of songs?
• Has Plácido Domingo ever made a mess of a beautiful aria?
• Do people ever make a mess of their lives?
• Do some famous people make a mess of their lives?
• Do you know anyone who's made a right mess of their own lives?
• How often did you make a mess of your parents's house when you were a child?
• Have you ever made a mess of your parents's house?
• Did Picasso make a mess of his paintings?
• Does polution make a mess of rivers?
• Do corrupt politicians make a mess of poor countries?
• Does eating to much chocolate make a right mess of your health?
• Would drinking two litres of whisky every day make a right mess of your health?
• Would not practising your English make a mess of your English?
  Yes, if I didn't practise my Engish, I would make a mess of it.

that: ¿opcional u obligatorio?

• I saw a movie. The movie was in French.
  The movie [that] I saw was in French.
• She bought a dress. The dress was pink.
  The dress [that] she bought was pink.
• He bought a book. The book was written by García Márquez.
  The book [that] he bought was written by García Márquez.
• The house is next to the river. The house is blue.
  The house that is next to the river is blue.
• The car is in the garage. The car is mine.
  The car that is in the garage is mine.
• The building is next to the museum. The building is very old.
  The building that is next to the museum is very old.
• The computer is in my office. The computer is expensive.
  The computer that is in my office is expensive.

to brush up on

• Do you need to brush up on your English?
• What do you think you need to brush up on the most?
  ¿Qué crees que es lo que más necesitas desempolvar?
  I think I need to brush up on maths the most.
• Did you brush up on your Highway Code before you took your driver's test?
• What would you brush up on, if you had more extra time?
• Ask me what I would brush up on, if I had more extra time.
• Are you brushing up on anything with your 14 month old baby?
• What about your wife, is your wife brushing up on anything with your son?
• What about at work, is there anything you think you should brush up on just a little bit more?
• Ask me how often I brush up on my Spanish.
• What do you think people in general should brush up on?
• Do you think you would have to brush up on anything specific when your son starts getting older?

at/to

• Ví a mi padre en la calle y le grité porque no me oía.
  I saw my father in the street and I shouted to him because he couldn't hear me.
• Mi jefe me gritó porque llegué tarde.
  My boss shouted at me because I was late.
• I'm throwing the pen to you. Catch, here we go!
• I'm going to throw the pen at you.
  No, please!
  Duck, duck!
• If I threw a pen at you, would you be angry?
• If I threw a pen at you, would you shout at me?
• If I threw a pen at you, would you throw it back at me?
• If I laughted at you, would you get angry?
• If I laughted at you, would you shout at me?
• Ask me if you shouted at me, if I would throw a pen at you.
  If I shouted at you, would you throw a pen at me?
  Of course I would.

to cost ...

• El coche me costó un güevo.
  The car cost me an arm and a leg.
• Did that watch cost you an arm and a leg?
• Ask me if diamonds cost an arm and a leg.
• Did your wife's Christmas present cost an arm and a leg?
• Ask me if this course costs an arm and a leg.
  Does...?
  No, it's very affordable.

subjuntivo latino

• They have to win this game.
  It's essential that they win this game.
• We have to start early.
• They have to fix the computer before the weekend.
• I have to clean my house every weekend.
• We have to work hard.
• I have to think of a lot of examples.
• They have to check all the equipment first.
• I have to wear my seat belt while driving.
• He has to be at the office on time.
• I have to change the batteries before starting.
• She has to check the weather before leaving for the trip.
• We have to buy a new one.
• They have to quit smoking right away.
• I have to ask the students a lot of questions.
• He has to follow the instructions.
• She has to learn to operate the machinery.
• We have to improve the sales figures.
• Alberto has to show up to the office on time.
• They have to be prepared for the negotiation.
• They have to find a new manager.
• She has to learn the process.

to talk down to someone

• Do you talk down to people?
• Ask me the same question.
• Did your neighbour talk down to you last week?
• Did you talk down to your neighbour last week?
• Would you come here if I talk down to you?
• Do bosses sometimes talk down to their employees?
• Ask me if I ever talk down to my students.
  Do you ever talk down to your students?
• How often do you talk down to your daughter?
• Did the president of the company talk down to his secretary yesterday?
• If you were a doctor, would you talk down to your patients?
• Ask me if he used to talk down to his wife.
• Ask me if I'd quit my job if my boss talked down to me.
• Do you ever talk down to your students.

no sooner had... than...

• No sooner had the game started, than the football player sprained his ankle.
• No sooner had the class finished, than we had to start the next class.
• to fall asleep, to snore, he:
  No sooner had he fallen asleep, than he started to snore.
• get the job, get fired:
  No sooner had he gotten the job, than he got fire.

it's no wonder/no wonder

• He doesn't understand anything she says because she speaks fast.
  It's no wonder he doesn't understand anything she says. She speaks very fast.
• He didn't buy the car because it costs an arm and a leg.
  It's no wonder he didn't buy the car. It costs an arm and a leg.
• They didn't stay at that hotel in the end because it costs an arm and a leg.
• We didn't go to that restaurant in the end because it costs an arm and a leg.
• She doesn't want to go to the party because her ex has been invited.
• She doesn't want to buy a flat at the moment because they cost an arm and a leg.
• He speaks English very well because he lived in London for five years.
• She speaks French perfectly well because she lived in Paris for eight years.

to get to the point

• Ella fué directamente al grano y le dijo que no le aguantaba.
  She went straight to the point and told him that she couldn't stand him.
• Ve al grano, ¿quieres?
  Get to the point, will you?
• Si hubieras ido al grano no me hubiera quedado dormida.
  If you had got/gotten to the point I wouldn't have fallen asleep.
• Me voy en cinco minutos, así que, por favor, ve al grano.
  I'm leaving in five minutes, so, please, get to the point.
• Es importante ir al grano cuando le mandas un e-mail.
  It's important to get to the point when [you e-mail/e-mailing] him.
• La clave de una buena entrevista es ir al grano cuando te preguntan algo.
  The key to a good interview is getting to the point when someone asks you something.
• No soy muy paciente, así que, por favor, ve al grano.
  I'm not very patient, so please, get to the point.
• No pareces estar de buen humor, así que iré al grano.
  You don't seem to be in a good mood, so I'll get to the point.
• Es mejor ir al grano que andarse por las ramas.
  It's better to get to the point than to beat around the bush.
• Iré al grano: tu vestido no te queda bien.
  I'll get to the point: your dress doesn't suit you.
• No perdamos más tiempo y vayamos al grano.
  Let not waste any more time and let's get to the point.
• ¿La gente directa suele ir al grano?
  Do direct people usually get to the point?
• And do you usually get to the point when you want to say something?
• Ask me.

to put out

• Did you use a horse to put out a fire yesterday?
• If there were a fire (and there were a horse), would you use a horse to put it out?
• If there were a fire here and now, would the firemen put it out?
• If there were a fire in the studio right now would we call the firemen to put it out?
• Have you ever put out a fire?
• Ask me if I've ever put out a fire.
• What do you use to put out a fire, normally?
  Either water, or sand; sometimes a coat, or a wet tea towel, an extinguisher.
• Ask me if I would know how to put out an electrical fire.
  ...
  I used to know how to ... but I forgotten. Do you know?
  No, I have no idea.
  ... if there is an electrical fire right now, in the middle of this program, we are scuppered!
  

to love

• I love the way the stores in Spain have sales in January.
  I love it when they have sales.
• I love the way she sings.
  I love it when she sings.
• I love it when he does stand-up commedy
• I love the way she plays piano.
• I love the way they speaks in their southern accent.
• I love the way they let me go home early sometimes.
• I love the way the weather is great here most of the times.
  I love it when the wheather's great.
• I love it when she cooks dinner.
• I used to love it when school was cancelled because of the snow.
• I love it when the grocery store gives samples.
• I love it when a plan comes together.
  I love the way that plan came together.
• Do you love it when it rains here in the summer?
  Yes, I love the way it rains here in the summer.
• Do you love the way this course is designed?
  Yes, I love the way ...
• Do you love the way you can learn English by watching TV?
  Yes, I love the way we can learn English by watching TV.

I hate [the way/it when]

• I hate the way he's always late.
  I hate it when he's always late.
• I hate it when he picks on me.
  I hate the way he picks on me.
• I hate the way she bosses people around.
  I hate it when she bosses people around.
• I hate it when people are rude.
  I hate the way people are rude.
• I hate the way meet is undercooked.
  I hate it when meat is undercooked.
• I hate it when they overcooke pasta.
  I hate the way they overcooke pasta.
  I hate the way pasta is overcooked.
• I hate the way she tries so hard to convince me.
• I hate it when some people dont wait before getting on the metro.
• I hate the way people push you without apologizing.
• I hate it when people rush in to get a seat.
• Can you tell me something that you hate?
  I hate the way some people move from one lane to another in a traffic jam.
• I hate it when people jump the queue.

he's doing all right for himself

• Le iba muy bien la vida hasta que le despidieron de su trabajo.
  He was doing all right for himself until he got fired.
• A mi vecina le va todo muy bien, tiene un buen trabajo y está esperando su primer hijo.
  My neighbour is doing all right for herself, she's got a good job and she's expecting her first baby.
• The football player was doing all right for himself until he got injured.

to = in order to

• She quitted her job because she wanted to look after her parents.
  She quitted her job [in order to/to] look after her parents.
• I went to Australia because I wanted to do some research.
• They went to Spain to brush up on their Spanish.
• They went to Greece in order to brush up on their Greek.
• They went to Germany because they wanted to brush up on their German.
• They went to Portugal because they wanted to brush up on their Portuguese.
• We went to Mérida because we wanted to see the Roman theatre.
• He went to the Canary Islands because he wanted to study vulcanology.

so that, in order that

• She started earning money because her children had to go to school.
  She started earning money so that her children could go to school.
• Did you father save a lot of money so that you could go to University in the US?
• And where did you go to University in the US?
• Did you study a lot or did you go out a lot?
• Sacaste buenas notas para que tus padres no te hicieran volver a España.
  I got good grades so that my parents didn't make me go back to Spain.
• Did you have get a job while you were there?
  Yes, I got some jobs...
• Why did you get a job?
  I took on a few jobs so that I had enough money.
• He bought a bigger table because they wanted to have dinner together.
  He bought a bigger table so that they could have dinner together.
• I came to Spain because I wanted to explore the country.
  You came to Spain so that you could explore the country.

to stick at it

• Al principio te costará, pero sigue con ello.
  At first you'll find it tough/hard, but stick at it.
• El curso le pareció muy difícil, pero siguió con él y aprendió mucho.
  He found the course very difficult, but he stuck at it and he learnt a lot.
• Tienes que perseverar si quieres mejorar.
  You have to stick at it if you want to improve.
• Yo nunca habría seguido si no hubiese sido por tu ayuda.
  I would've never stuck at it if it hadn't been for your help.
• Ella perseveró y ganó una beca.
  She stuck at it and won a scholarship.
• Tenemos que perseverar hasta encontrar la solución.
  We have to stick at it until we find the solution.
• Seguiría con ello si mereciera la pena.
  I'd stick at it if it were worth it.
• Si quieres tener éxito, persevera.
  If you want to be successful, stick at it.
• Tiene cualidades naturales, pero deberá perseverar si quiere dedicarse a esto.
  He has natural qualities, but he will have to stick at it if he want to do this for a living.
• No te rindas, sigue con ello.
  Don't give up, stick at it.