questions with how many

• My brother has 5 electric guitars.
  How many electric guitars does your brother have?
• My brother would only have 4 guitars if one broke.
  How many guitars would your brother have if one broke?
• My friend's boyfriend has 3 sports cars.
• My aunt's boss has 5 prior engagements.
• I have over 300 books in English.
• My best friend's boyfriend has two jobs.
• My mom's best friend has two houses.
• My mom's best friend's husband has a Hummer.
• My brother's girlfriend's friend speaks five languages. What does she want to know?
• My niece's cousin has a million toys. What does she want to know?
• My boyfriend's sister's best friend has two houses on the coast.
  How many houses does your ... have on the coast?
• My sister's friend has two hundred necklaces.
• How many would she have if she broke one?

short answers

• Would you give me a million euros if I asked for it?
• Can you fly?
• Was I your teacher last year?
• Was I born in Spain?
• Were you born in Spain?
• Are you from Almería?
• Could you read and write when you were 5 years old.
• Can you read and write now?
• Will you be here tomorrow?
• Will you be here in two weeks?
• Have you eaten?
• Will it rain tomorrow?
  I think it will.
• Are you 50 years old?
• Do you play tennis?
• Does your wife play basketball?
• Does your son like Real Madrid?
• Is your son a smart boy?
• Is his grandfather a smart man?
• Do you and your son go to games very often?
• Should you smoke?
• Was I here yesterday?
• Did you come here yesterday?
• Are you improving?
• Do I think you're improving?

to catch up with

• He's trying to catch up with the leader.
• Do you think you could catch up on sleep?
• Alcanzamos al líder.
  We caught up with the leader.
• Fue difícil alcanzarle.
  It was difficult to catch up with him.
• Alonso está intentando alcanzar al líder.
  Alonso is trying to catch up with the leader.
• Va tan rápido que no nos da tiempo a alcanzarle.
  He's going so fast that we don't have enough time to catch up with him.
• Por fin estoy al día con mi trabajo.
  Finally I'm caught up with my work.
• Siguen intentando ponerse al día.
  They're still trying to get caught up.
• No pudimos alcanzarles.
  We couldn't catch up with/to them.
• Su economía está alcanzando al resto de Europa.
  Their economy's catching up with the rest of Europe.
• Do you think it will ever catch up with the average?
• Parecía que nadie pudo alcanzar a Miguel Induráin.
  It seemed no one could catch up with Miguel Induráin.

just what

• Is this the show you were trying to see?
  It's just what I was trying to see.
• Is that what you wanted to know?
  Yes, that's just what I wanted to know.
• Is this what you were looking for?
  Yes, that's just what I was looking for.
• Is this what you wanted me to bring you?
  Yes, that's just what I wanted you to bring me.
• Is that the movie you wanted to watch?
  Yes, that's just what I wanted to watch.
• Are these the ingredient you need?
  Yes, that's just what I need.
• Are these the clues you wanted me to look into?
  Yes, those are just what I wanted you to look into.
• Is this what you had in mind?
• Is this the information you wanted me to look up?
• Are those the drinks you ordered?
• Is this what you were imagining?
• Are these the sizes you were looking for?
• Is that the colour you prefer?
• Are those the models you want?
• Is this the color you like?
• Are those what you were picturing?
• Is this what you ordered?
• Is that what you were expecting?

to try

• Pruébalo, te va a gustar.
  Try it, you're going to like it.
• Probar ropa.
  To try clothes on.
• To try doing sth.
• To try to do sth. = intentar/procurar hacer algo
• ¿Has intentado hablar con ella [sobre/acerca de] ello?
  Have you ever tried to talk to her about it?
• Procura ser puntual.
  Try to be on time.
• Ask me if I try to be on time.
• Are you trying to study English?
• Do you try to study everyday?
• Ask me if I try to study my Spanish everyday.
• ¿Has probado oreja de cerdo?
  Have you tried pig's ear?
• Ask me why I haven't tried pig's ear.
• Ask me if I've ever tried blood sausage.
• Ask me if I've ever tried frog's legs.
• Have you ever tried frog's legs?
• What's the craziest thing you've tried?

numbers

to back up

• ¿Por qué no me apoyaste?
  Why didn't you back me up?
  What does she want to know?
• ¿Por qué dijiste que le ibas a apoyar?
  Why did you say you were going to back him up?
• ¿Me respaldarás si voy a hablar con el jefe?
  Will you back me up if I go to talk to the boss?
  What does she want to know?
• ¿Me respaldarías si hablara con él sin hablar antes con los otros?
  Would you back me up if I talked to him without talking to the others first?
• Do you always back your friends up?
  ...
  What does Ana always do?
• Do your friends always back you up?
• Does your boyfriend always back you up?
  ...
  What does her boyfriend always do?
• Would you back me up if I asked you to?
• Ask me if I would back you up.
• What does she want to know?
• What was the last time you back someone up?
• Do you think is it easier to back people up at work or in the personal life?
• Do you back all of your colleagues up at work?
• If a stranger asked you to back him up, would you do it?

eventually

• Al final, llegamos.
  Eventually, we arrived.
  We eventually arrived.
• Al final me acordé de su nombre.
  I eventually remembered his name.
• Al final me di cuenta de qué iba.
  I eventually realized what it was about.
• Al final me dormí.
  I eventually fell asleep.
• Al final pagaron su hipoteca.
  They eventually paid off their mortgage.
  pay off = pagar y cancelar
• Al final se fueron a su casa.
  They eventually went home.
• Al final suspendieron la búsqueda.
  They eventually called off the search.
• Al final tiraron la cafetera porque se le cayó el asa.
  They eventually threw the [coffee machine/cafetière] away because the handle fell off.
  cuando algo que estaba on cae, es fall off
• Al final tiré la toalla.
  I eventually threw the towel in.
  I eventually gave up.

to make it

• How did you make it here today?
  I made it by car.
• Puedes ir a la radio esta noche?
  Can you make it to the radio tonight?
• No voy a poder asistir a la fiesta luego.
  I can't make it to the party later.
• Desgraciadamente él no pudo ir al final.
  Unfortunately he couldn't make it in/at the end.
• Did you make it on time to your first job interview?
• Did you make it on time everyday to school when you were young?
• What would your teachers have done if you hadn't made it on time?
• Do people always make it to work on time?
• Will you make it to the end of today?
  = Will you survive until the end of today?
• Could you make it through life without chocolate?
• Ask me if I could make it through life without coffee.
• Ask me if I could make it through life without sardines.
• Ask me if I could make it through life without potatoes.
• Have you ever made it through the week without drinking water?
• Will you make it to the meeting tomorrow?
• Ask me if I'll make it to the meeting tomorrow.
• Ask me in negative question.
• Is it difficult for homeless people to make it through the winter?
• Can you make it without practicing your English?
• Will we all make it through the recession?
• Will Cristiano Ronaldo make it to the end of the season without getting injured?
• Will your friends make it to your next house party?
• What would you say to them if they didn't make it?
• Would you be disappointed if your friends didn't make it?
• Ask me if I can make it through two hours of teaching without thinking.
  Can you make it through two hours of teaching withount thinking?
• How did you make it to Spain?
• Ask me if it would be difficult to make it without my friends and family.
• How do you make it to work everyday?
• Do you ever make it by horse?
• Did you make it through the winter all right?
• Will you make it through the hot Madrid summer?
• Ask me if I easily make it through the hot Madrid summer.

don't suppose

• Will he be there?
  I don't suppose he'll be there. Will he?
• Can you look up the information?
  I don't suppose you can look up the information. Can you?
• Would he really do that?
  I don't suppose he'd really do that. Would he?
• Is he late?
  I don't suppose he's late. Is he?
• Do you know where there are?
  I don't suppose you know where there are. Do you?
• Do you know their last name?
  I don't suppose you know their last name. Do you?
• Have you ever eaten wasabi?
  I don't suppose you've ever eaten wasabi. Have you?
• Did you make up an excuse?
  I don't suppose you made up an excuse. Did you?
• Was he tired?
  I don't suppose he was tired. Was he?
• Have you been disappointed?
  I don't suppose you've been disappointed. Have you?
• Were they going to tell us?
  I don't suppose they were going to tell us. Were they?
• Did he tell you if he was coming back?
  I don't suppose he told you if he was coming back. Did he?
• Could you open the bottle?
  I don't suppose you could open the bottle. Could you?
• Could you pick me up?
  I don't suppose you could pick me up. Could you?

to break down

• Do you have to break down figures sometimes?
• When you're preparing financial reports you have to break down your expenses into different categories.
• Did you break down the figures?
• Did you break them down by region?
• Did you break them down by department?
• Do accountants always have to break down financial reports?
• Do they break down the revenues and the expenses?
• Do they break down figures every year?
• Did they break them down last year?
• Have they broken them down lately?
• Ask me if I would've broken them down by region.
  Would you've broken them down by region?
• Ask me if I would've broken them down by department.
• What do they want to know?
• Would you've broken them down by department?
• If it had been up to you would you've broken them down by department?
• Did you break down the statistics for everyone to understand?

• How long does it take tomatos to break down?
• If you did (if you had a garden), would you use broken down organic material?
• Does metal break down quickly?

• Did your car break down yesterday?
• Has it broken down so far this year?
• Was it expensive to repair when it broke down?
• Did it break down last year?
• Ask me if my car has ever broken down.

the way things stand

• The way things stand, are we going to have to cut costs?
• The way things stand, are we going to have to get there early?
• The way things stand, are we going to have to notify the police?
• The way things stand, are you going to go on holiday?
• The way things stand, do you think it's a good idea?
• The way things stand, do you think we should cut spending?
• The way things stand, do you think we should look over the contract?
• The way things stand, do you think we should look into the matter?
• The way things stand, do you think we should tell the staff soon?

negative questions

• I'm not ready yet.
• I didn't break down the report.
• I haven't seen her recently.
• I wasn't told about it.
• They shouldn't have run through the red light.
• He won't fill in the form.
• You can't scrub the kitchen floor.
• She wouldn't go there if she knew the truth.
• We didn't hand in the report.
• I haven't dealt the cards yet.
• He isn't in a good mood today.
• You won't regret it.
• She shouldn't tell him off.
• I wouldn't do that if I were you.
• They don't get on well with their neighbours.
• We weren't going to go sightseeing.
  Why weren't we going to go sightseeing?
• You haven't run into her lately.

present perfect

• When was the last time you slept next to a rhinoceros?
  I've never slept next to a rhinoceros.
• When was the last time you ate a tree?
• When was the last time you left the country in secret?
• When was the last time you forgot your handbag on top of a giraffe?
• When was the last time you fought with Mike Tyson?
• When was the last time you rang the bells of Notre-Dame in Paris?
• When was the last time you shot the president of Spain with a pea shooter?
• When was the last time you ran down the Castellana starkers?
• When was the last time you spoke to your neighbour in Swahili?
• When was the last time you read the Quijote in half an hour?
• When was the last time you wrote a play that was as good as any of Shakespeare's?
• When was the last time you sang in a karaoke in Japanese?
• When was the last time you stole a pea shooter?
• When was the last time you went to Paris with the sole purpose/aim of buying a pea shooter?
• When was the last time you came here wearing only a pea shooter?

asking questions

• When I woke up yesterday I yawned and stretched.
• I've never been to Mongolia.
• I've gone to the States fifteen times.
• I talked to my mother yesterday.
• I took Amy to the airport.
• I took Amy to the airport.
• I took Amy to the airport.
• He payed me 200 euros.
• He payed 70 euros for it.
• She told me I shouldn't smoke.
• My brother's name is Russell.
• My brother's wife is from the East of Canada.
• I was born in England.
• If I had known I would've called.
• He has blue eyes.
  What colour eyes does he have?
• He studied in the USA.
• He studied journalism.
• He got married when he was 29 years old.
• I eat some grapes.
  What do you eat?
• Yes, I like to go.
• I talked to my mother yesterday.
• I eat sushi twice a week.
• He's paid me twice this month.
• It rains here about once a month.
  How often does it rain here?
• She said 'happy birthday' to him.
• She said 'happy birthday' to him.
• My brother's wife has two cats.
• I ate chicken for dinner last night.
• If I won a million dollars, I'd travel.
• He's tall, dark and handsome.
  What does he look like?
• He's kind, patient and sincere.
  What's he like?
• He look's like Brad Pitt.
  Who does he look like?
• He's like his father.
  Who's he like?
• His middle name's Frank.
• His anniversary is in August.

for the time being

• Are you going to stay in Spain for ever?
  For the time being I'm going to stay, maybe later I can to move.
• Ask me if I'm going to stay in my house forever.
• Are you going to stay in your house forever or just for the time being?
• De momento vivo en Bilbao.
• De momento voy a tener que cancelarlo.
  For the time being I'm going to have to cancel it.
• De momento te puedes quedar con nosotros.
  For the time being you can stay with us.
• De momento guarda esto en tu habitación.
  For the time being keep this in your room.
• De momento vivo en las afueras de la ciudad.
  For the time being I live in the outskirts of the city.
• De momento prefiero no decirte lo que pienso.
  For the time being I prefer not to tell you what I think.
• De momento trabajo un día sí y otro no.
  For the time being I work every other day.
• De momento siguen en primera posición.
  For the time being they're still in first place.

to be better off

• Estoy mucho mejor ahora que no tengo que levantarme temprano todos los días.
  I'm better off, now I don't have to wake up early every day.
• ..., ahora que no tengo que aguantar a ese jefe que tenía antes.
  ..., now I don't have to put up with that boss.
  stand (por aguantar) se usa solo en negativo: I can't stand him
  Puedo soportarlo = I can put up with him
• Estoy mucho mejor ahora que ya no salgo con aquella chica.
• I'm much better off now I [no longer go out with that girl/don't go out with that girl anymore].
• Yo que tú llevaría un jersey morado.
  You'd better off wearing a purple jumper.
• If I were you, I'd shave your beard off.
  You'd be better off shaving your beard off.
• If I were you, I'd tell her right away.
  You'd be better off telling her right away.
• If I were you, I'd buy a pea shooter.
• If I were you, I'd take a break from work.
• If I were you, I'd put that mug in your bag and taking it home, because there are only eight.

most of the time

• La mayor parte del tiempo ella está reunida.
  Most of the time she is in meetings.
• Él pasa la mayor parte del tiempo hablando con clientes.
  He spends most of the time talking to clients.
• Ellos pasan la mayor parte del tiempo de reunión en reunión.
  They spend most of the/their time from one meeting to another.
• Ella no pasaría la mayor parte del tiempo quejándose si le gustara su trabajo.
  She wouldn't spend most of her/the time complaining if she liked/enjoyed her job.
• What do you spend most of the time doing at work?
  I spend most of the time on the computer.
• Do you spend most of your time speaking [in] English?
• Do you spend most of your time talking to clients?
• What do you spend most of your Saturday doing?
• Do you spend most of your Sunday doing the house cleaning?
• Do you spend most of your Friday night out?
• What do you spend most of the week doing?
• Ask me what I spend most of the week doing.
• Ask me if I like to spend most of the week working.

to show

• Do you like showing off at work?
• What time do you use to show up for work?
• They show up early in order to show off
• Ask me what time I usually show up for work.
• Ask me if I show off at work.
• What time will you show up here tomorrow?
• Are you going to show off the things I told you?
• The worst thing is people who show off about money.
• Do you think I've shown you around this verb?

should

• If he calls, tell him I'm not here.
  Should he call, tell him I'm not here.
• If he needs anything, offer him whatever you have.
  Should he need anything, ...
• If he's hot, drink lots of water.
  Should he be hot, drink lots of water.
• If I'm out, leave a message with reception.
  Should I be out, leave a message with reception.
• If you have problems, study more on the weekend.
  Should you have problems, study more on the weekend.
• If you mix red and blue, you get purple.
  Should you mix read an blue, you get purple.
• If the children are hungry, make them some dinner.
  Should the children be hungry, make them some dinner.
• If the tank is empty, fill it up.
  Should the tank be empty, fill it up.
• If the computer crashes, restart it immediatly.
  Should the computer crash, restart it immediatly.
• If the battery goes dead, recharge it.
  Should the battery go dead, recharge it.
• If plants don't get enough water, they die.
  Should plants not get enough water, they die.
• If the costumer complains, give them what they want.
  Should the costumer complain, give them what they want.

there may have been, but I don't know / yes, there definitely wasn't

• Are you sure there wasn't a state election in Alaska last week?
  There may have been, but I don't know.
• Are you sure there wasn't a tornado in Madrid yesterday?
  I'm definitely sure, there wasn't.
• Are you sure there wasn't a mouse in your coffee this morning?
  I'm definitely sure, there wasn't.
• Are you sure there wasn't someone in this room before us this morning?
  There may have been someone..., but I don't know.
• Are you sure there wasn't a big fight in this building yesterday?
  There may have been, but I don't know.
• Are you sure there wasn't a herd of elephants in your bathroom this morning?
  I'm definitely sure, there wasn't.
• Are you sure there wasn't a major rock concert in my kitchen last night?
  There may have been, but I don't know.
• Are you sure that he didn't have a problem with his car last week?
  He may have had, but I don't know.
• Are you sure that there weren't lions driving buses in Barcelona last week?
  I'm definitely sure, that there weren't lions...
• Are you sure there weren't more chairs in this room yesterday?
  There may have been, but I don't know.
• Are you sure there wasn't a green giant in your house yesterday?
  I'm definitely sure, that there wasn't a green...
• Are you sure there weren't a lot of people buying umbrellas last week?
  There may have been, but I'm not sure.
• Are you sure there wasn't a rugby match in London last Saturday?
  There may have been, but I'm not sure.
• Are you sure there wasn't a cat in this room this morning?
  There may have been, but I'm not sure.
• Are you sure there wasn't a major disagreement in this room yesterday?
  There may have been, but I'm not sure.
• Are you sure there wasn't a red dragon in this studio yesterday?
  I'm definitely sure, there wasn't a red dragon...
• Are you sure there wasn't a snow storm in the Canary Islands last July?
  I'm definitely sure, there wasn't a snow storm...
• Are you sure there wasn't a blizzard in the Pyrenees last January?
  There may have been, but I'm not sure.
• Are you sure there wasn't water in these cups at the start of the class?
  There may have been, but I'm not sure.

may be/definitely

• Are you sure there isn't a mouse in your kitchen?
  There may be, but I'm not sure / There definitely isn't
• Are you sure my brother isn't in Madrid?
  He may be in Madrid, but I'm not sure.
• Are you sure there isn't an Eskimo working in the studio today?
  There definitely isn't an Eskimo working...
• Are you sure that there are a lot of cars on the Castellana right now?
  I'm sure that there are... There are definitely a lot of...
• Are you sure that there isn't a professional ice-hockey team in Madrid?
  There definitely isn't a professional ice-hockey team in Madrid.
• Are you sure that I have to work tomorrow?
  You may have to work, but I'm not sure.
• Are you sure that there are a lot of people watching us right now?
  There are definitely a lot of people watching us right now.
• Are you sure that there's a football stadium in Madrid?
  There's definitely a football...
• Are you sure that there's some Canadian money in my pocket?
  There may be some Canadian money in your pocket, but I'm not sure.
• Are you sure that there are keys in your pocket?
  There definitely are keys in my pocket.
• Are you sure that there is some water in my cup?
  There may be some water in your cup, but I'm not sure.

the passive voice

• Someone is showing her how to drive.
  She's being shown how to drive.
• They will ask us several questions.
  We'll be asked several questions.
• They will tell us to keep quiet.
  We'll be told to keep quiet.
• They told us to write a review.
  We were told to write a review.
• They asked us to leave the building.
  We were asked to leave the building.
• The mouse ate the cheese.
  The cheese was eaten by the mouse.
• The cat ate the mouse.
• The dog ate the cat.
• The donkey would've eaten the dog, if it hadn't been tied up.
  The dog would've been eaten by the donkey if it hadn't been tied up.
• Someone is telling them to get their act together.
  They're being told to get their act together.
• Someone's told him to speak to the press.
  He's been told to speak to the press.
• They won't tell us the truth.
  We won't be told the truth.

so/neither

• I love dogs with all my heart. - So do I.
• I can't play the violin. - Neither can I.
• I don't drink much tea. - Neither do I.
• I drink a lot of coffee. - So do I.
• I love going home for Christmas. - So do I.
• I worship chocolate. - So do I.
• I enjoy my job. - So do I.
• I don't enjoy listening to people who complain all the time. - Neither do I.
• I like writing with a fountain pen. - So do I.
• I'd love to visit New Zeland. - So would I.
• I'd love to visit India. - So would I.
• I wouldn't like to visit the North Pole. - I would.
• I like the way children see the World. - So do I.
• I love cold, sunny, winter mornings in Madrid. - So do I.
• I don't like sweet wine. - Neither do I.
• I really like Spanish wine. - So do I.
• I don't like Irish wine. - Neither do I.
• I can't play the piano. - Neither can I.
• I'd like to play the piano. - So would I.
• I'd like to write a book . - So would I.
• My best friend really likes beer. - So does mine.
• I like to go out with my friends after work on Fridays. - So do I.
• I would like to go out with my friends this Friday after work. - So would I.
• I've never been to the North Pole. - Neither have I.
• I never go to bed early. - Neither do I.
• I'm really looking forward to St. Patrick's Day. - So am I.
• I don't like people who can't keep a secret. - Neither do I.
• I really like people who are polite. - So do I.
• I like people who are as brave as a lion. - So do I.
• I play poker with my friends once a month. - Neither do I.
• I don't play basketball my friends once a month. - Neither do I.
• I never win at poker. - I do.
• But I really get a kick out of playing it. - So do I.
• I'd like to learn how to fly a plane. - I wouldn't.
• I'm really scared of roller coasters. - So am I.
• I think cats are cold creatures. - I don't.
• I get really annoyed with people who aren't punctual. - So do I.
• I don't like long telephone calls. - Neither do I.
• My sister prefers animals to people. - So does mine.
• My boss is a good time keeper - So is mine.
• My colleagues work like nailers. - So do mine.
• I'm cautious by nature. - So am I.
• I don't like taking risks. - Neither do I.
• I really like drinking water. - So do I.
• I really like the weather in Madrid. - So do I.
• I don't like very wet weather. - Neither do I.
• I really enjoy sunny mornings. - So do I.
• I don't like being attacked by animals. - Neither do I.
• I don't like highs very much. - Neither do I.
• I don't like climbing high mountains. - Neither do I.
• I like wearing shoes. - So do I.
• I like walking on the beach. - So do I.
• I don't like walking on hot streets. - Neither do I.

question tags

• You won't be late, will you?
• This winter's been cold, hasn't it?
• He's finished, hasn't he?
• You shouldn't smoke her, should you?
• They always work hard, don't they?
• You teach English, don't you?
• He speaks English well, doesn't he?
• She's still young, isn't she?
• He has a lot of books, doesn't he?
• He's bought a lot of books, hasn't he?
• We should answer the letter, shouldn't we?
• He's greedy, isn't he?
• John drinks too much, doesn't he?
• You have a new dress, don't you?
• You were there, weren't you?
• He didn't come, did he?
• They don't like to be cleaned, do they?
• She doesn't play tennis, does she?
• We got home very late, didn't we?
• You answered my invitation, didn't you?
• He had been to Switzerland, hadn't he?
• She sang well, did she?
• You broke the window, didn't you?
• They didn't see you, did they?
• That boy ran very fast, didn't he?
• My wife cooks well, doesn't she?
• She doesn't want to go, does she?
• They arrived yesterday, didn't they?
• You've heard about that, haven't you?
• You like coffee, don't you?
• He didn't have to speak to me, did he?
• He won't fall down, will he?
• I'm very late, aren't I?
• He's got to go now, hasn't he?

most of the time

• La mayoría de las veces llego pronto.
  Most of the time I arrive early.
• Me paso la mayor parte del tiempo revisando mis e-mails.
  I spend most of my time checking my e-mails.
• La mayor parte del tiempo no le entiendo cuando habla.
  Most of the time I can't understand him when he talks.
• La mayoría de las veces tiene razón.
  Most of the time he's right.
• (Ella) Se pasa la mayor parte del tiempo pensando en el trabajo.
  She spends most of her time thinking about work.
• La mayoría de las veces él es el que saca a pasear al perro.
  Most of the time he's the one who takes the dog for a walk.
• El fin de semana pasado, pasamos la mayor parte del tiempo limpiando la casa.
  Last weekend, we spent most of our time cleaning the house.
• La mayoría de las veces ella está de buen humor.
  Most of the time she's in a good mood.
• La mayoría de las veces te olvidas de lo que tienes que hacer.
  Most of the time you forget what you have to do.
• La mayoría de las veces el ordenador no funciona.
  Most of the time the computer doesn't work.
• Me gustaría que te pasaras la mayor parte del tiempo estudiando inglés.
  I'd like you to spend most of your time studying English.
• La mayoría de las veces no nos escucha cuando hablamos.
  Most of the time he isn't listening to us when we're speaking.
• (Yo) Solía pasar la mayor parte del tiempo leyendo.
  I used to spend most of my time reading.

hard

• It's difficult to know what they're thinking.
  It's hard to know what they're thinking.
• It's difficult to know what he's saying.
• It's difficult to know what these people are like.
• It's easy to know what these people are like.
  It isn't hard to know what these people are like.
• It's difficult to see because of the snow.
• It's difficult to talk about it.
• It's easy to talk about it.
  It isn't hard to talk about it.
• It's difficult to drive because of the ice.
• It's difficult to know because they won't tell us.
• It's difficult to pay attention to him because he talks so much.
• It's difficult to find a place to park the car because of the crowd.
• It's difficult to operate the machine because it's very complicated.
• It's difficult for them to make ends meet because their salaries are so low.
• It's easy for them to make ends meet because their salaries are so high.
• It's difficult to get on with him because he thinks he's always right.
• It's easy to get on with him because he's a very nice person.

indirect questions

• Do you know where I left my telephone?
  No, I don't know where you left your telephone.
• ... what I had for dinner last night?
• ... who Jeff Landle is?
• ... what Canadian province Saskatoon is in?
• Ask me what province it's in.
• Where were my mother born?
  I don't know where your mother was born.
• What time did Layla wake up this morning?
  I don't know what time Layla woke up this morning.
• What had I for breakfast this morning?
• What's my favourite sport?
  I don't know what your favorite sport is.
• Have you ever heard of Wayne Gretzky?
• How many goals did Wayne Gretzky score in 1982?
  I don't know how many goals Wayne Gretzky scored in 1982.
• Where did my father work?
  I don't know where your father worked.
• Why did I come to Spain?
  I don't know why you came to Spain.
• Where am I going to have lunch tomorrow?
  I don't know where you're going to have lunch tomorrow.
• Ask me directly.
  Where are you going to have lunch tomorrow?
• What do you want to know?
  I want to know where you're going to have lunch tomorrow.
• Who was the first person to climb mount Everest?
  I don't know who the first person to climb mount Everest was.
• Ask me.
• What do you want to know?
  I want to know who the first person to climb mount Everest was.
• Who was the first person to sail around the World?
  I don't know who the first person to sail around the World was.
• Ask me directly.
  Who was the first person to sail around the World?
• What do you want to know?
  I want to know who the first person to sail around the World was.
• Who is my brother's boss?
  I don't know who your brother's boss is.
• Ask me.
  Who's your brother's boss?
• Who invented the light bulb?
  I don't know who invented the light bulb.
• Ask me.
• Where did he invent it?
  I don't know where he inveted it.
• Ask me where he invented it.
• Why do I ask so many questions?
  I don't know why you ask so many questions.