Vocabulary - Unit 2

Practice this vocabulary with Quizlet Games




anonymously
(adv.) without giving a name
at stake
(adj.) at risk; in danger
automatically
(adv.) in a mechanical manner; gets done without a person's deliberate control
benefit
(n.) something that aids or promotes well-being; (v.) to aid or promote well-being
device
(n.) an instrumental invented for a particular purpose
display
(n.) a visual representation of something; (v.) to show
embed
(v.) to fix in a surrounding mass
privacy
(n.) the condition of being concealed or hidden
track
(n.) a distinct selection of music from a recording or a compact disc; (v.) observe or plot the moving path of something; (n.) the act of participating in an athletic competition involving running; (n.) the path runners run on; (v.) the act of leaving footprints; (n.) footprints
unique
(adj.) one of a kind; unequaled; unusual; found only in a given class, place, or situation
dependence
A state in which there is a compulsive or chronic need, as for a drug
impersonal
lacking human emotion or warmth
information overload
A condition in which information inflow exceeds an individual's processing capacity
interaction
A relationship in which the effect of one factor (such as biology) depends on another factor (such as environment).
liberating
feeling free and able to behave as you like
multitask
An operating system feature that allows more than one application to run at a time.
promote
further the progress of (something, esp. a cause, venture, or aim); support or actively encourage
recipe for disaster
situation that will lead to serious trouble
sedentary
(adj.) characterized by or calling for continued sitting; remaining in one place
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Unit 1 - Simple Past vs. Present Perfect

Grammar- Simple past and present perfect


The simple past is used to talk about actions that began and ended in the past.

My mother was a teacher for five years.

The present perfect is used for actions that began in the past and continue in the present.

My mother has been a teacher for ten years.  For the past five years she has worked as a primary teacher.

Additional Resources

 Present Perfect

English Grammar Online
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Unit 4 English - Modal and phrasal modals

Modals and phrasal modals

Could is used to say that someone was able to do something in general at any time:

She could read music by the time she was three.

Was/were able to is used to indicate someone managed to do something once:

He was able to finish the race in under an hour.

May and can  are often used to give permission.  There is no past form of may for giving permission.

You may use your dictionaries to complete this exercise.
You may / You're allowed to park here after 7 pm

Must is used to express an obligation or sense of urgency.  Have to is more commonly used to express necessity, especially when spekain in the past tense.

It's not safe here.  Everyone must leave the building immediately.
At the lecture last night, I had to show my identification card to enter the building.

Should have is used to show regret about the past:
I should've gone to Hawaii when I had the chance.


Additional Resources

Great Powerpoint Presentation on Modals and phrasal modals



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Unit 3 English - Adverb Clauses

Adverb clauses of purpose, contrast and time


Adverb clauses answer the questions, why, when, how, or where something happened:

I left the party early because I wasn't feeling well.

Adverb clauses with because, since, and so that answer the question why:

I can't go out tonight because / since I have a lot of homework.

Adverb clauses with when or whenever answer the question when:

When (ever) I have to speak in front of the class, I get nervous.

Adverb clauses with though, although, and even though are used to introduce a different or surprising idea:

Although / Even though / Though the cell phone was expensive, I bought it anyway.

Additional Resources


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Unit 2 English - Passive Voice

In a passive sentence, the object of an active sentence becomes the subject:

ACTIVE: Willem Kolff invented the fist artificial heart.

PASSIVE: The first artificial heart was invented by Willem Kolff.


Tense Active Voice Passive Voice
Present People in Morocco speak Arabic and French. Arabic and French are spoken in Morocco.
Present continuous They're building a new library on Campus,

A new library is being built on campus.
Present perfect the airlines have cancelled all flights due to bad weather. All flights have been cancelled due to bad weather.

Past The police arrested twenty people at yesterday's demonstration.

Twenty people were arrested at yesterday's demonstration.
Future with will The embassy will mail your visa to you.

Your visa will be mailed to you.

Additional Resources:

English Club - Passive Voice

English Page - Passive Voice

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