Modal verbs / Modals

This is a practical summary of the main meanings expressed by the set of verbs generally called modal verbs or modals.

Modals can express a varied range of ideas and shades of meaning, very useful to complete the English verb conjugation system.

They are usually divided into central modals(can/could, may/might, must, shall/should, will/would) and semimodals or marginal modals (ought to, used to, need, dare).

I'll concentrate on the main meanings expressed by the central modals, though I will include some notes about the following semi-modals: ought to, as an alternative to should,needn't (the negative of need), for absence of obligation, and used to, for habitual actions in the past, as against to be used to, for sth you are accustomed to doing.

Vocabulary: professions, occupations, work and employment

PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS

accountant	contador
actor	actor
actress	actriz
air hostess	azafata
architect	arquitecto
astronaut	astronauta
au-pair, babysitter	niñera
baker	panadero
bank clerk	empleado bancario
beekeeper	apicultor
barber	barbero, peluquero (de hombre)
bookseller	librero
bricklayer	albañil
bus driver	conductor de autobus
butcher	carnicero
chemist	farmaceutico
chimney-sweeper	deshollinador
consultant	asesor
cook	cocinero
customs officer	oficial de aduanas
dentist	dentista
disc jockey	DJ disc jockey, DJ
doctor	médico
driver	conductor
driving instructor	instructor de conducir
dustman	basurero
electrician	electricista
employee	empleado
engineer	ingeniero
factory worker	obrero
farmer	agricultor
fashion designer	diseñador de moda
firefighter, fireman	bombero
fisherman	pescador
gardener	jardinero
graphic designer	diseñador gráfico
hairdresser	peluquero (de mujer)
inspector	inspector
interior designer	diseñador de interiores
jeweller	joyero
journalist	periodista
judge	juez
lawyer	abogado
librarian	bibliotecario
lifeguard	salvavidas, socorrista
lorry driver	camionero
mechanic	mecánico
model	modelo
mailman (US)	cartero
nanny	niñera
nurse	enfermera
office worker	oficinista
painter	pintor
photographer	fotógrafo
pilot	piloto
plumber	fontanero, plomero
policeman	policía
policewomen	mujer policía
politician	policía
postman (GB)	cartero
psychiatrist	psiquiatra
psychologist	psicólogo
receptionist	recepcionista
reporter	reportero
sailor	marinero
salesman	vendedor
scientist	científico
secretary	secretario
security guard	guarda de seguridad
shepherd	pastor
shoemaker	zapatero
singer	cantante
soldier	soldado
sports instructor	instructor de deportes
stockbroker	agente de bolsa
student	estudiante
surgeon	cirujano
tailor	sastre
taxi driver	taxista
teacher	profesor, maestro
technician	técnico
telemarketer, telesales person	persona que vende por teléfono
tourist guide	guía turística
translator	traductor
university lecturer	profesor universitario
vet (GB), veterinarian (US)	veterinario
waiter	camarero
waitress	camarera
watchmaker	relojero
writer	escritor

Valentine's Day

Do you celebrate Valentine’s Day in your country? In the UK it's the most romantic day of the year!

                   February 14th is traditionally a celebration of love, so how do people in the UK mark the occasion?

Vocabulary: Cinema

cinema	cine
movie (US)	film película
action film	película de acción
cartoon	dibujos animados
comedy	comedia
detective film	película de detectives
documentary film	película documental
educational film	película educativa
full-length film	largometraje
horror film	película de terror
love story	historia de amor
musical	musical
romantic film	película romántica
science-fiction film	película de ciencia ficción
short-length film	cortometraje
silent film	cine mudo
war film	pelicula belica
western	película del oeste
commercial	publicidad
episode	episodio, capítulo
actor	actor
actress	actriz
audience	audiencia
cameraman	camarógrafo
cast	elenco
catering	catering
catering assistant	camarero de catering
cinema review	críticas de cine
clapper‐board	claqueta
costume	vestuario
dialogue	diálogo
director	director
extras	extras
film prop	atrezzo
film star	estrella de películas
make‐up artist	maquillador
plot	trama
producer	productor
role	papel, rol
scene	escena
screenwriter	guionista
script	texto
sequel	secuela
set	plató
soundtrack	banda sonora
star	protagonista
studio	estudio de grabación
stuntman	doble
subtitles	subtítulos
supporting actor	actor secundario, de reparto
supporting cast	reparto
supporting role	papel secundario
titles	títulos
to go to the cinema (GB)	ir al cine
to go to the movies (US)	ir al cine
to rent a video/DVD	alquilar un vídeo/DVD
to watch a video/DVD	mirar un vídeo/DVD

Verbs and phrases:

• A film is set in … (location and time)
• A film is based on … ( a novel, a book, …)
• The book was made into a film
• The film was filmed/shot on location in Venice
• …played the part of the main character
• The film was dubbed into other languages

Other vocabulary: 

Exciting, thrilling, moving, touching, emotional, violent, crazy, hilarious, dramatic, callous, vicious, false, shallow, intriguing, disturbing, perturbing, worrying, troubling, good, comic…

Vocabulary: Clothes

shirt = camisa
t-shirt = camiseta
polo shirt = polo,
blouse = blusa
sweatshirt = sweater = pullover = jersey = slip-over = jersey
cardigan = rebeca
dress = vestido
vest = chaleco
suit = traje
three-piece suit = traje de tres piezas
coat = abrigo
raincoat = chubasquero
waistcoat = chaleco
mackintosh = impermeable
anorak = anorak
bomber jacket = chaqueta ajustada en la cintura
duffel coat = parka de lana
denim jacket = chaqueta vaquera
trousers = pantalones
slacks = pantalones informales
jeans = jeans
shorts = pantalones cortos
overalls (GB) = peto, mono
trainers (GB) - sneakers (US) = zapatillas
boots = botas
Wellingtons = botas de agua
slippers = zapatillas de casa
clogs = zuecos
shoes = zapatos
sandals = sandalias
high-heeled shoes = zapatos de tacon alto