1. 1. Start by making short sentences with a basic structure:
Subject + verb + complement
2. Then, check your sentences:
•Are verbal tenses correct?
•Is the word order correct?
•Is there a subject in your sentences?
•Are you using the right prepositions?
•Are you using the right articles?
•Is the spelling correct?
•Is the punctuation correct?
•Are you using the right vocabulary?
3. After that, you can join your sentences using connectors to make a
text, not a list of separate sentences.

2. •You usually start thinking in Spanish.
•Use a dictionary to find the words you need.
•Take your time to consider all the options in the
dictionary: literal and figured translations.
•Choose the right option for your sentence.
For example:
Cool = fresco
“A cool night” = una noche fresca
But “A cool guy” = un tipo interesante

3. This is our story in Spanish:
•Íbamos a visitar a nuestra amiga.
•Nuestra amiga estaba en el hospital.
•Habíamos quedado en la puerta a las 4’30 para subir todas juntas.
•Yo llegué tarde.
•Ana no había llegado aún.
•Llevábamos 10 minutos esperando.
•Era muy raro.
•Ana nunca llegaba tarde.
•Llamé a Ana con mi móvil.
•No respondió.
•Anna llegó 15 minutos tarde.
•Nos contó lo que le había pasado.
•Había ido a comprar fruta.
•Tenía que comprar muchas naranjas.
•Su madre iba a hacer mermelada.
•En un cruce la bolsa de las naranjas se rompió.
•Tuve que recoger las naranjas del suelo una por una.
•Las naranjas habían rodado por la calle y debajo de los coches que
estaban aparcados.
•Me llevó un buen rato.
•El tráfico estuvo parado por mí.
•Cuando terminó estaba colorada como un tomate.
Now, we have to translate it into English

4. These are our sentences in English:
Íbamos a visitar a nuestra amiga.
We were going to visit our friend.
Nuestra amiga estaba en el hospital.
Our friend was in hospital.
Habíamos quedado en la puerta a las 4’30 para subir todas
juntas.
We had arranged to meet at 4’30 to go up together.
Yo llegué tarde.
I was late.
Ana no había llegado aún.
Ann hadn’t arrived yet.
Llevábamos 10 minutos esperando.
We had been waiting for 10 minutes.
Era muy raro.
It was very strange.
Ana nunca llegaba tarde.
Ann never arrived late.
Llamé a Ana con mi móvil
I phoned Ann with my mobile

5. •No respondió.
•She didn’t answer.
•Anna llegó 15 minutos tarde.
•Ann was 15 minutes late.
•Nos contó lo que le había pasado.
•She told us what had happened.
•Había ido a comprar fruta.
•She had gone to buy some fruit.
•Tenía que comprar muchas naranjas.
•She had to buy a lot of oranges.
•Su madre iba a hacer mermelada.
•Her mother was going to make some jam.
•En un cruce la bolsa de las naranjas se rompió.
•At the junction, the bag of oranges tore.
•Tuvo que recoger las naranjas del suelo una por una.
•She had to pick them up one by one.

6. •Las naranjas habían rodado por la calle y debajo de los
coches que estaban aparcados.
•The oranges had rolled across the street and under
the cars which were parked.
•Le llevó un buen rato.
•It took her quite a while.
•El tráfico estuvo parado por ella.
•The traffic stopped for her.
•Cuando terminó estaba colorada como un tomate.
•When I finished, my face was as red as a beetroot.
This is an example for a
NARRATIVE TEXT, with an easy
sequence of ideas.

7. You have translated your sentences using a
dictionary.
You have checked your sentences for
mistakes.
Now, it’s time to make them
look like a paragraph or a small
text.

8. LOOK AT THIS EXAMPLE:
A group of short sentences:
The boy's mother called him inside for dinner. The boy
ate his pizza. He was very hungry. Pizza was his favourite
meal. He didn't want to eat, though. He wanted to play
outside with his friends.
The sentences transformed into a paragraph:
The boy's mother called him inside for dinner. It was
pizza. Even though the boy was hungry and pizza was his
favourite meal, he wanted to stay outside and play. He
wolfed the pizza down and ran back outside.

9. •There are several reasons why more and more people are moving
out of cities.
•Some people tired of living in crowded blocks of flats, prefer a
private house with a garden in the country.
•Others are attracted by the peace and quiet of life in the
suburbs.
•Many are looking for a healthier environment for their children.
•Finally, as many factories and businesses move out of the cities
and into the suburbs, people are following in order to be nearer to
their places of work.
•For these reasons, country life is becoming more attractive to
growing numbers of people.

10. There are several reasons why more and more
people are moving out of cities. Some people
tired of living in crowded blocks of flats, prefer
a private house with a garden in the country.
Others are attracted by the peace and quiet of
life in the suburbs. Many are looking for a
healthier environment for their children. Finally,
as many factories and businesses move out of
the cities and into the suburbs, people are
following in order to be nearer to their places of
work. For these reasons, country life is becoming
more attractive to growing numbers of people.

11. •There are 13 known vitamins.
•Fruit and vegetables are an excellent source of
vitamins.
•Vitamins are essential for good health.
Vitamin A, for example, is necessary for the growth of
teeth and bones. The B vitamins, too, are needed for
growth as well as for healthy skin and eyes. Vitamin C is
needed for healthy blood vessels, and vitamin K for
blood clotting. A continued lack on any of these vitamins
can lead to disease.

12. •Masks can be made from a variety of materials.
•A mask is a covering used to disguise or protect the face.
•People have worn masks throughout human history.
Masks that are worn for disguise are usually decorated
with the features of a person or an animal. Such masks
are worn all over the world at fancy dress parties,
carnivals and other special occasions. They are often a
part of holiday celebrations, such as the Carnival in Venice
on the Canary Islands and Hallowe’en in the United
States. Protective masks, on the other hand, serve a more
practical function. For example, metalworkers often wear
masks with a special filter that protect their eyes from
intense light and flying sparks.

13. Dogs make wonderful pets.
Dogs are friendly and affectionate.
There are many kinds of dogs.
They are loyal.
They provide us with companionship.

14. Tom Hanks is an excellent actor.
He has an extraordinary ability to portray
his characters convincingly.
He plays both comical and serious roles
equally well.
Tom has a boyish charm which makes him
seem younger than his age.
Tom received an Academy Award for his
part in the film Philadelphia.

15. Concerned parents should
stop smoking for their
Smoking is harmful to your
children’s good, if not for
health.
their own.
Smoking should be banned in
If you value your health, you
public places.
should avoid smoking.
Parents who smoke may harm
People who are determined to
their children’s health.
smoke should only be allowed
to do so in their own homes.

16. Smoking is harmful to your health.
If you value your health, you should avoid
smoking.
Smoking should be banned in public places.
People who are determined to smoke should
only be allowed to do so in their own homes.
Parents who smoke may harm their children’s
health.
Concerned parents should stop smoking for
their children’s good, if not for their own.

18. There are many working children all over the world.
Some of them are employed in agriculture, others in
factories where they may work for long hours under
difficult conditions, often ruining their health at an
early age.

19. •Toadd information
The job is interesting and the pay is good. In addition,
my co-workers are all very friendly and helpful.
•To show a parallel situation
Parents often have difficulty communicating with their
children. In the same way, teenagers often find it
impossible to confide in their parents.

20. •Toshow a contrast
Many of the girls were very excellent at languages. On
the other hand, the boys generally did better at maths.
•To show a result
The teacher did her best to create a pleasant
atmosphere in the classroom. As a result, he was very
liked by the pupils.
•To show sequence
I considered the matter settled and didn’t think any
more about it. A few days later, I overheard a
conversation which made me change my mind.

21. As a result In addition In the same way
On the other hand Soon afterwards
People in Mediterranean countries have traditionally eaten low-fat diets. On
the other hand, the northern European diet is rich in fat.
Michael and Judy met when they were both students in the same university.
Soon afterwards, they got married and moved to Scotland.
Money as we know it has not always existed. The North American Indians
used beads as money. In the same way, shells were once used as money in
Africa, India and China.
In order to be practical, money must be easy to carry and come in pieces of
standard value. In addition, it must be widely accepted as a means of
payment for goods and services.
For years, the mass media has been conducting an advertising campaign
designed to convince us that thin is beautiful. As a result, many people in our
society worry constantly about their health.

22. People in Mediterranean
On the other hand, the northern European
countries have traditionally
diet is rich in fat.
eaten low-fat diets.
Michael and Judy met when
Soon afterwards they got married and
they were both students in
moved to Scotland.
the same university
Money as we know it has
not always existed. The
In the same way, shells were once used as
North American Indians
money in Africa, India and
used beans as money.
China.
In order to be practical,
money must be easy to
In addition, it must be widely accepted
carry and come in pieces of
as a means of payment for
standard value.
goods and services.
For years, the mass media
As a result many people in our society
has been conducting an
worry constantly about
advertising campaign
their health.
designed to convince us
that thin is beautiful.

23. •Order of importance, starting from the most important
points.
•Listing points, in any order.
•Chronological order, using time expressions to show the
sequence.
•For and against, or advantages and disadvantages.
•Comparison and contrast, to show how things are similar
to and different from each other.
•Cause and effect, giving first the causes and then the
results.

24. 4 In addition, the area is blessed with a wide variety of plant
and animal life.
6 Many different kinds of animals can be found there, too,
including a wide variety of birds.
1 Ordesa, in the north of Spain, is a nature-lover’s paradise.
7 Inside the limits of the nature reserve, you can observe
them as they feed and rest not far from the visitors.
8 So if you love nature, be sure to visit Ordesa.
3 Wherever you look – from the snow-capped Brecha de
Rolando to the sparkling waterfalls of Cola de Caballo –
there are lovely views for you to enjoy.
5 In spring, for example, the hillsides are covered with dark
green grass and brightly coloured wildflowers.
2 First of all, there is the beautiful scenery.

25. Ordesa, in the north of Spain, is a nature-lover’s
paradise. First of all, there is the beautiful
scenery. Wherever you look – from the snow-
capped Brecha de Rolando to the sparkling
waterfalls of Cola de Caballo – there are lovely
views for you to enjoy. In addition, the area is
blessed with a wide variety of plant and animal life.
In spring, for example, the hillsides are covered
with dark green grass and brightly coloured
wildflowers. Many different kinds of animals can
be found there, too, including a wide variety of
birds. Inside the limits of the nature reserve, you
can observe them as they feed and rest not far
from the visitors. So if you love nature, be sure to
visit Ordesa.

26. NOW ANALISE THE FIRST PARAGRAPH
1. Identify the topic sentence and the concluding sentence.
2. Notice how the supporting sentences are organised.
3. Find the repeated nouns and pronouns that make all the parts of the paragraph
fit together.
4. Find the connectors used to join ideas.
There are several reasons why more and more people
are moving out of cities. Some people tired of living
in crowded blocks of flats, prefer a private house
with a garden in the country. Others are attracted
by the peace and quiet of life in the suburbs. Many
are looking for a healthier environment for their
children. Finally, as many factories and businesses
move out of the cities and into the suburbs, people
are following in order to be nearer to their places of
work. For these reasons, country life is becoming
more attractive to growing numbers of people.

27. TYPES
OF
TEXTS

28. TITLE : As given in the question.
INTRODUCTION: To describe the scene.
BODY: To order the actions chronologically.
CONCLUSION: To summarize the facts or tell
the end of the story.

29. First
Firstly
First of all Second
At first Secondly
In the beginning Then
Next
Later
After (that)
Afterwards Finally
Last
Lastly
Last of all
At last
In the end

30. DESCRIBING PEOPLE
What information to include?
*physical appearance
*personality
*hobbies, job
*biographical details
*your own experiences with that person

31. DESCRIBING PLACES
What information to include?
*location
*physical characteristics and atmosphere
*special features and points of interest
*people and culture
*historical details

32. DESCRIBING THINGS
What information to include?
*material and shape
*origin
*use

33. TITLE : As given in the question.
INTRODUCTION: To catch the reader’s
interest.
BODY: To describe the facts, the advantages
and disadvantages.
CONCLUSION: To leave a strong impression on
the reader.

34. TO SHOW CAUSE
TO SHOW RESULTS
One / Another reason for ... is... One / Another result of ... is ...
Because of ... Therefore,
Is caused by ... Consequently,
Results from ...
TO LIST DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE ISSUE
One / Another aspect of the issue is ...
One / Another similarity / difference is ...
On e / Another advantage / disadvantage is ...
There are a number of causes / results / solutions...
One / Another cause / result / solution is ...
First, ... Second, .... Third, ....

35. TO CONTRAST
Unlike
TO COMPARE Different
Difference
Both
In contrast to
Also / too On the one hand
As well On the other hand
Like On the contrary
Just as / like As opposed to
But
Likewise Yet
As ... as Still
More / less ...than However
Similarly / similar to While
Whereas
Compared to
Although
In the same way Though
Not only ... but also Even though
In spite of
Despite

36. HEADING
Date
Your address
GREETING
OPENING PARAGRAPH
Inviting, thanking, replying to a letter you have received,
apologising, congratulating, expressing sympathy
BODY
Using a different paragraph for each subject.
FINAL SENTENCE OR PARAGRAPH
CLOSING
SIGNATURE

37. THE OPENING PARAGRAPH
TO INVITE:
I was wondering if you’d like to ...
We think / thought it would be a good idea if ...
Why don’t you come /join us ...
How about coming / joining us...
TO THANK:
Thank you so much for the wonderful (present, weekend, dinner...
This is just to say thank you for ...
TO REPLY TO A LETTER:
I’ve just received your letter and I’m writing...
Sorry it’s taken me so long to answer your letter...
I was happy / surprised / sorry / disappointed to hear / learn that ...

39. THE FINAL PARAGRAPH
A REASON FOR ENDING:
Well, I must really go now – my tennis lesson is about to begin.
I’d better sign off now – I’ve got a big history test tomorrow!
A WISH FOR THE GOOG HEALTH OF THE OTHER PERSON
Be well!
Take care of yourself!
I hope that all is well with you
A HOPE THAT YOU WILL SEE OR HEAR FROM THAT PERSON SOON
Looking forward to seeing you
Can’t wait to hear from you!
Please write (to me) soon

40. THE CLOSING
Love,
All my love,
Love and kisses,
Regards,
Best wishes,

41. 1. and/but/because 2. and / or / since 3. after /before / until
4. however / therefore / so 5. if / unless / although 6. because / because of / in spite of
7. even though / even if / even 8. and / so / since 9. although / though / even though
10. also / too / besides 11. but / because / so 12. as soon as / as long as / when
4 September 2010
Dear Irene,
Sorry it’s taken me so long to answer your letter! I would have written sooner (1)..., as
you may know, we recently moved into a new house (2)... things are still a bit
disorganised. (3) ...searching through the piles of boxes that are scattered all over the
place, I finally managed to locate this piece of paper – (4) ... consider yourself lucky to
be hearing from me at all!
(5) ... you remember, we had been thinking about moving for a while (6) ... the long drive
to and from work every day. (7) ... we really loved our old house, we found we were
wasting hours on the road. Now I can get up at 7.00 and still be at work by 8.00, (8) ...
the office is only a 20-minute drive from home.
Our new house is charming –slightly smaller than the old one, (9) ... the neighbourhood
is lovely, (10) ..., and the children seem happy.
(11) ... I think we made the right decision. I’ll invite you to come and visit (12) ... I can
clear a path to the sofa ! Regards to Ben.
Love
Jill