lie and lay

lie: /lai/
*verb (lies; lying; lay/lei/; lain/lein/)
1_(of a person or an animal) to be or put yourself in a flat or horizontal position so that you are not standing or sitting
to lie on your back
the cat was lying by the fire

2_(of things) to be or remain in a flat position on a surface
clothes were lying all over the floor

3_to be, remain, or be kept in a particular state
the machines have lain idle since the factory closed

4_(of a town, natural features, etc) to be located in a particular place
the town lies on the coast


lie:/lai/
*verb (lies; lying; lied; lied)
to say or write something that you know is not true
you could see from his face that he was lying
don`t lie to me


lay: /lei/
*verb (laid; laid /leid/)
put down; spread
1_to put sb/sth in a particular position, especially when it is done gently or carefully
she laid the baby down gently on the bed
he laid a hand on my arm

2_if a bird, an incect or a fich, etc. lays eggs, it produces them from its body

3_to lay the table: to arrange knives, forks, plates, etc. on a table ready for a meal.


Nota: Estos tres verbos se confunden usualmente, especialmente lie (acostarse) y lay (poner o colocar). Me parece que la diferencia fundamental es:
lie /lay/ (acostarse) es intransitivo -you lie-
lay /lei/ (poner, colocar) es transitivo -you lay something-

*lie (acostarse) es irregular y se pronuncia /lai/
pt lay se pronuncia /lei/
pp lain se pronuncia /lein/

*lay (poner, colocar) es irregular y se pronuncia /lei/
pt laid
pp laid ambos se pronuncian /leid/

*lie (mentir) se pronuncia /lai/ y es regular
pt lied
pp lied

Hay mas signficados de estos verbos pero el objeto de este post es dejar clara la diferencia entre los tres.

ways of laughing

chortle: to laugh loudly with pleasure or because you are amused
Gill chortle with delight
reírse alegremente

chukle: to laugh quietly

giggle: to laugh in a silly way because you are amused embarrassed or nervous. If someone giggles, they laugh in a childlike way, because they are amused, nervous, or embarrassed.
reírse tontamente
reírse con una risilla sofocada

grin: to smile widely
He was grining from ear to ear
sonreír

guffaw: to laugh noisily or loudly.
They all guffawed at his jokes
reírse a carcajadas

snigger: to laugh in a quiet unpleasant way, especially at something rude or at somebody`s problems or mistakes.
If someone sniggers, they laugh quietly in a disrespectful way, for example at something rude or unkind.
What are you sniggering at?
reírse con disimulo

titter: to laugh quietly, especially in a nervous embarrassed way.
reírse disimulada y tontamente

ways of looking

look:
to turn your eyes in a particular direction

Cast:
If you cast your eyes or cast a look in a particular direction, you look quickly in that direction.

watch:
to look at sb/sth for a time, paying attention to what happens
to watch television, a football game

stare:
to look at sb/sth for a long time
Stare, gaze, peer and glare can be used as nouns, the act of looking at sb/sth in a way that is unfriendly or that shows surprise: She gave him a blank stare
mirar fijamente

gaze:
to look steadly at sb/sth for a long time, either because you are very interested or surprised, or because you are thinking in sth else.

peer:
to look closely or carefully at sth, especially when you can not see it clearly We went to the window and peered out

gape:
to stare at sb/sth with your mouth open because you are shoked or surprised

glance:
1_to look quickly at sb/sth
She glanced at her watch
2_ glance at/down/over/through sth to read sth quickly and not thoroughly
syn_scan
I only had time to glance at the newspaper

glimpse:
to see sb/sth for a moment, but not very clearly
syn: catch sight of, spot
He had glimpsed her through the window as he passed.

peep:
to look quickly and secretely at sth, especially through a small opening
we caught her peeping through the keyhole.

glare: (at sb/sth)
to look at sb/sth in an angry way
syn: glower
He didn`t shout, he just glared at me silently.

observe:
1_to see or notice sb/sth
Have you abserved any changes lately?
(according to oxford dictionary this patter is only used in the passive)
2_to watch sb/sth carefully, especially to learn more about them
syn: monitor
I felt he was observing everythig I did.

especial or special?

Special:
ADJECTIVE
1_not ordinary or usual; different from what is normal
syn: exceptional
the school will only allow this in special circumstances.
2_more important than others; deserving or getting more atention than usual.
what are your special interests?
3_organized or intended for a particular purpose
a special event
4_used by or intended for one particular person or group of people
she has a special way of smiling
5_better or more than usual
as an only child she got special attention

NOUN
1_something that is not usually available but is provided for a particular purpose or on one occasion.
an election-night special on television.
2_a price for a particular product in a shop, store or restaurant that is lower than usual.
there`s a special on coffe this week.

ADVERB
1_for a particular purpose, person, etc.
The ring was specially made for her.
2 (informal) more than usual or more than other things:
It will be hard to work today—specially when it’s so warm and sunny outside.

especial:
ADJECTIVE
greater or better than usual: special in some way or for a particular group.
a matter of especial importance

ADVERB
1_more with one person, thing, etc. than with others, or more in particular circumstances than in others
SYN particularly
The car is quite small, especially if you have children.
2for a particular purpose, person, etc.:
I made it especially for you.
3very much; to a particular degree:
I wasn’t feeling especially happy that day.

specially or especially?
especially usually means "particularly" -she loves all sports, especially swimming-it is not placed first in a sentence -I especially like sweet things- NOT-- especially I like ....THIS IS WRONG
specially usually means "for a particular purpose" and is often followed by a past participle, such as designed, developed or made -a course specially designed to meet your needs- she has her clothes specially made in paris-

In BrE, especially and specially are often used in the same way and it can be hard to hear the difference when people speak. Specially is less formal: I bought this especially / specially for you.It is especially / specially important to remember this.
The adjective for both especially and specially is usually special.
OK... ideas:

"special" is said to be american english, informal or slang.
It can be used as a noun.

I took the next example from wordreference (leonious)

1. I made this cake especially for you.
2. I made this cake specially for you.

Segun entiendo(elvio), ejemplo 1: hice la torta especialmente para vos...si alguien mas come, realmente no me imoprta. Ejemplo 2 hice la torta de una manera especial ( le puse frutillas al medio por que se que te gustan) tambien pensando en vos, pero cono otro sentido. se entiende?

Sentence (1) is most common and means that I baked this cake with you in mind. I want you, before anyone else, to try this cake.
Sentence (2) is slightly different. It means I made the cake using a special recipe (or using some secret ingredient). You are still the reason I made the cake, in fact I used the special recipe just because I knew you were going to eat it.

The bit about the cake being made in a special way is not implied in the first sentence, but it is in the second sentence. The difference is subtle, but it exists. Convinced?

from:http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=6306&highlight=special


Especially or Specially?

This is a favorite question of grammar checkers. Most of the time there is little or no difference between the words especially and specially.

Special is a common adjective. Specially is its adverb form. Special means "particular, distinguished in a distinct way, or designed for a particular purpose." Specially means "particularly, in a disintguishing manner, or for a particular purpose."

Especial is an uncommon adjective. Especially, its adverb form, is much more common. Especial means "exceptional, noteworthy, or particular." Especially means "exceptionally, in a noteworthy manner, or particularly."

In the sense of "particular" or "particularly," the words mean pretty much the same thing. Often they can be used synonymously. However, if you want to stress the exceptional or noteworthy quality, then especial or especially is a better choice. If you want to stress the distinctive purpose of something, then special or specially is the word you are looking for.

Example: This program has specially designed macros for word processors.
(A distinctive purpose)

Example: He did especially well in All-Star Game.
(A noteworthy performance)

from:http://englishplus.com/grammar/00000287.htm

Phrasals units 9,10,11 and 12

Well, it`s been a while since I last published something. I was scratching my balls too much jajaja

Anyway, they are here -phrasals- courtesy of Frank. Thanks dude !

Unidad 9

Put off:

*Delay or postpone. (Let's put off the meeting until everyone can attend.)

*Extinguish (a light, TV, etc.). (Can you put off the lights when you go to bed?)

*Make sb lose their concentration. (Can't you be quiet? I'm trying to do my homework and you're putting me off.)

Pull out:

*Decide not to continue an activity. (Hendry had to pull out of the championship when he hurt his arm.)

*Leave. (The army will pull out of the city as soon as the situation stabilizes.)

*Remove. (The dentisttold me he would have to pull out the tooth.)

Unidad 10

Work out:

*Find a solution to a problem. (I couldn't work out why the house was in darkness. Then I remembered they were away.)

*Happen and develop in a satisfactory way. (Things are working out well for Andrew in his new job.)

*Do physical exercise in order to be fit and strong. (Body.builders are obsessed with working out.)

Take in:

*Deceive. (You can't fool me! I won't be taken in so easily again.)

*Allow sb to live in your house as a favour or as a paying guest. (We took him in as he had nowhere to live.)

*Understand or remember sth you have heard, seen, or read. (There was too much information to take in all at once.)

*Go to see a film, museum, etc. When you are visiting a place. (We took in a show when we were in New York.)

Unidad 11

Fall back on:

*Use for help because no other alternative is available. (If I lose my job I'll just fall back on my savings.)

Fall behind.

*Fail to do sth quickly enough on time. (I'm worried about Anna. She is falling behind with her school work.)

Fall for:

*Be strongly attracted to sb. (I think Robert has fallen for Mandy. He can't take his eyes off her.)

Fall out:

*Stop being friends with sb. (Dave and Alex must have fallen out. The're obviously not speaking to each other.)

Fall through:

*(of an arrangement or plan) Fail to happen. (I thought I had found a buyer for my car but then it all fell through.)

Unidad 12

Go down with:

*Catch. (Jess can't come. She has gone down with a terrible cold.)

Face up to:

*Accept. (Lauren finds it hard to face up to her responsibilities.)

Go along with:

*Agree with. (I'm sorry but I can't go along with our views at all. In fact, I strongly disagree.)

Catch up on:

*Find out. (Let's meet soon. I cant wait to catch up on all the gossip.)

Look up to:
*Admire and respect. (He's a well-respected member of the community; everyone looks up to him.)