Used to in English

Used to is used to speak about situations that happened regularly in the past or that were true in the past but are not anymore.

Examples
I used to work for Intel, but I work for Apple now.

past	present
I used to buy my clothes at H&M	now I buy them at Zara.
We used to have coffee after class	now we have no time.

	Question	Answer
Did	you use to park in the garage?	Yes, I did./No I didn’t.
Did	your live in Paris?	Yes, I did./No I didn’t.

Used to Explanation
Game for Practice

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Posted in: Pre-Inter Grammar,Pre-Inter Unit 11,Pre-Intermediate

Asking for Permission in English

Asking for Permission
Most formal
Would you mind if...

Less formal
Do you mind if

Least formal
May/Could/ Can

http://www.grammar-quizzes.com/modal5.html

http://www.englishnewsblog.com/en/?option=com_content&view=article&id=189&Itemid=317

Exercises
Asking for permission, by vmiranda
Find this and other modals exercises in English Exercises .org



How to Ask Permission Politely in English – CAN, COULD, MAY, and DO YOU MIND · engVid

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Posted in: Grammar,Pre-Inter Unit 10

Telecommunications Vocabulary Unit 10

allowed	(ADJ) all right for them to do it
answer a phone	(V) to accept an incoming call
banned	(ADJ) officially prevented from doing it
be on the phone	(V) the state of being in the middle of a conversation with someone on the phone
call back	(V) to contact someone through phone after they unsuccessfully tried to call you
check your messages	(V) to call your voicemail and listen to recorded messages that were left when you missed phone calls
delete	(V) remove
get a call	(V) when someone tries to reach you through the phone
get a message	(V) to receive a oral note from someone when you missed their phone call
hang up the phone	(V) to end a phone conversation by setting the phone down
ignore	(V) pay no attention
leave a message	(V) to record a message on someone's answering machine
lower your voice	(V) to soften your speech to decrease its volume
make a call	(V) to dial a number on a phone in order to talk to someone else
polite	(ADJ) has good manners and is not rude to other people
respond	(V) react to something
rude	(ADJ) impolite
screen your calls	(V) to not answer calls because you are avoiding someone or many people
selfish	(N) care only about themselves and not about other people
send a text	(V) to type a short message to another person with your cell phone
take a message	(V) to hear a message that's for meant for someone else with the intent of telling them at a later time
thoughtful	(ADJ) quiet and serious because you are thinking about something
turn off your phone	(V) to shut down your cellular device
turn up	(V) increase the amount

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Posted in: Pre-Inter Unit 10,pre-Inter Vocabulary

English Writing-Cell Phones

Anais
I have a cell phone. I think it is very useful because you can use it for many things, make a call, send emails, searching in internet... But the most important is "Communicate".
You must use your cell phone politely, and never talk and drive!!!
For me, one problem is choose the right plan. More companies raise prices execissively, and you can pay less and do the same things with your cell phone.

Cristina

ANDROID OR APPLE?

I choose Apple. I have had an Iphone for the last two years. It´s a Iphone 4, it´s a good cell phone. You can use either Iphone or Android to call, answer the phone, send a text message, take photographs, etc… But the differences between one and the other are a lot. Iphones are more thin and light, it has a bigger touchscreen and the quality of its photos is better. In conclusion Iphones are smarter. By this reasons and similar reasons, millions of persons in the world have a Iphone. Apple sold five millions of Iphone 5 in the last year. When my Iphone will be broken, I´ll buy another again.

Aida
In my opinion the cell phones are very useful because in this moment the communication with our friends and familiars are constant. 

I have a cell phone and I need to use all the time, its a illness because I can´t be without my cell phone. It´s a new complement more in my accessories that my handbag 

Forever they need to  know that happened in all time, You can to upload a photo in your profile´s  Facebook  if you have a cell phone last generation and  in this moment all your friends can add a comment , it´s incredible the speed that I have in our days. 

In addition the cell phones to use for emergency in any time, if you need to call at 3 o ´ clock and you stand in a beach you can to call if you have a cell phone´s and you don´t need to look for a phone.

But the cell phone´s can be hazardous if you don´t use correctly, for example , if you go in your car and you receive a call you can to choose in answer the phone and to be in dangerous situation or you ignore this call and call back when you don´t to stay in your car. All information of your life that bank code, photos, contacts are in your cell phones  and if you lost it you lost secret information too.

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Posted in: Pre-Inter Writing,Unit 10

Writing a Restaurant Review

For your review you should talk about the tastes, textures, smells, presentation and enjoyability of the food at the restaurant.  You should also talk about the staff and how they treat customers, the speed of service and the general impression of the restaurant. 

Take a look at these samples of restaurant reviews to get some ideas on how to write yours. Bon Apetit!

Fodor's
Barcelona Restaurants

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Posted in: Inter Writing

English Writing - Divorce

Write 3 paragraphs about divorce.  Give statistics about divorce in Spain and write the pros or cons of divorce.  You can also write about both pros and cons.  Remember to keep it organized and focused.  Each paragraph should have a main idea and details to support it. Keep your ideas clear and double check that your sentences make sense.

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Posted in: High-Inter Unit 9,High-Inter Writing

English Letter of Interest

A letter of interest, also known as a letter of inquiry or a cover letter, is used by a job applicant to show an employer their interest in the job. It usually accompanies the applicant's resume and application. The letter is written from the applicant directly to the employer with information that the employer may find useful about the applicant.

Here is a sample letter of Interest from About.com for an entry level position.  If you want to write as someone who has more experience you can see some more samples here.

Your Email Address

Date

Contact Name
Title
Company
Address
City, State, Zip Code

Dear Mr./Ms. Contact,

Thank you for taking the time to review my resume. I have recently graduated from University College and I am currently looking for a job in the Huntington area.

I am interested in an entry level position with ABCD Company. I have heard that ABCD is a wonderful company to work for and I hope that I can join the team.

If you have questions regarding my resume or any thing else about myself please feel free to call me or email me at namelastname@gmail.com.

Again, thank you for reviewing my resume. I look forward to hearing from you in the future.

Sincerely,

Your Name

Letter of Interest

____________________________________________________________

           

DATE: April 14th 2013

CONTACT: Zulema

Title: Miss

Company: Legalconsult

           

Address: Street Miguel Angel nº 6

                                             

City, State, Zip Code: Madrid, España, 28036

            Dear Mr. Mariano:

            I write this letter because I am very intereseting in your Company.

            I am a lawyer with experience. I like my job and I am able to work hard.

            I have computer skills and travel experience in other countries.

            I would like to have a very high salary because I have a lot of necessities.

            I like to work with other people.

            Sincerely,

           

            Zulema

 -----------------------------------------------------

14/04/2013

Robinson Fernández

Television Group, S.A.

C/Estrada 10

Madrid 28056

Dear Mr Robinson first of all, thank you for count on me, and give me this opportunity. I know that your company need someone for editorial department. I´m interesting in this position, because I have recently graduated from University and I´m looking for a job. I studied journalism and economic, and I know that I´m qualified.

Your company is the best of Spain in journalism area, and for me it´s a pleasure work there. I´ll want to learn, and I know that I can doing very well. I´m hard-working, punctual, independent and perfectionist.  In the past I worked in some newspaper and in one radio. And now I would like to work in your television.

If you have any questions please free to call me or email me at mail@gmail.com.

Again thank you for reviewing my resume. I look forward to hearing from you in the future.

Sincerely,

Patricia C

________________________________________

Dear Mrs Hunter:

With referente to your advertisement, I am writinng to apply fot the position of spanish´s journalits.

I am 30 years old. I have studied the mayor of jourmalism. I completed my certificate in 2005, I´ve been woorking since then. I have more than ten years of experience in this career. Recently, I have studied a Master of Community Manager, too.

I have worked for the last six years in TV, specifically in Madrid TV, in the fields of writing and editing videos.

I consider myself to be punctual, hard-working and independt. I enjoy working as journalits and I would be excited to be able to work with you.

I enclose a reference from my present employer. I would be grafetul if you would consider my application. I am available any weekday moornig. I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully, Cristina 

---------------------------------
Dejar Alberto:
I would like to work for your Chemist.
I am a youth girl but i am able to become a good pharmacist. 
I am a responsible person, patient and very sensible .
I have experience working with old people and working in others pharmacies.
It is the perfect job because i live next to your pharmacy, I like the neighborhood and I mete customers.
I hope your answer.
                Best regards Mireia

--------------------------------------------
Dear Mr Robinson
Manager Human Resources
GOOGLE
Torre Picasso
Plaza Pablo Ruiz Picasso 1
Madrid 28020

Dear Mr.Robinson,
Thank you for taking the time to review my resume. In this moment I am finishing the last course of majoring  in Human Resources but my experience it has gone another way, in fact  it based on the accounting department. In addition with the other information I have tittle in  a Comunity Manager of the Uned University too, and I have small knowledge in different languages as Germany, French and now I am studying English for to improve my current level
I had great experience in this area but in the recent years I have worked to having to take tasks of human resources, developing a detailed tasks assigned to each position report , etc..
Between my qualities they are organization, discretion, motivation, cooperation,effective,etc..
I looking for a steady job , although I could to assess other options
I am interested in an entry level position with GOOGLE COMPANY. I have heard that it  is a wonderful company to work for and I hope that I can join the team.
If you have questions regarding my resume or any thing else about myself please feel free to call me or email me at aida_blanc@hotmail.com /Mobile Phone 6665556
Again, thank you for reviewing my resume. I look forward to hearing from you in the future.
Sincerely,
Aida

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Posted in: Pre-Inter Writing