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UNIT I
CONTENT OF THE UNIT

- Uso del diccionario: Estructura e información contenida.

- Part of the speech or the function of the word: articles (determinate, indeterminate) , nouns,
pronouns, adjectives, verb To Be, existencia: there is (was), there are (were) , prepositions, verbal
tense, adverbs, describing people, animals and things, general vocabulary: days of the week, months,
climate, hours, numbers, whether stations…

USE OF THE DICTIONARY

Information we can find:

1. Main Entry (significado principal de la palabra)

2. Syllabication (Silabeo): The entry word is divided into syllables by dots or dashes.
3. Inflected Forms (terminaciones o cambios que sufre la palabra): plural (-s , -es); past tenses (-ed, was,
were…); pasado participio del verbo (written); gerundios (-ing); comparatives and superlatives (-er , est,
best…) adjetives.
4. Order of definitions (Orden de definiciones): when a word has multiple numbers of definitions these are
ordered by a methods of synchonie analysis. The first definition is the central meaning.
5. Numbers and Letters (Números y letras)
6. Parts of Speech (función de la palabra): N: Noun (sustantivo), ADJ: Adjetivo, ADV: Adverbio, PRON:
pronombre, PL: Plural, FEM.N. :Femenine noun ( sustantivo femenino)….
7. Verbs: (Verbos): Directo or indirecto or an intransitive sense of the verb.
8. Idioms: (Idiomas)
9. Usage labels (Etiquetas de uso): Colloquial, slang, standard/ nonstandard, archaic (arcaico), poetic,
regional, obsolete, formal/ informal.
10. Etymologies: (Origen de la palabra).
11. Field Labels: (campo) indicate a specific subject or field (History, Geography…)
12. Pronunciation (Pronunciación): indicated in parenthesis following the word.
13. Stress (tension o acento de la palabra): there are three different ways: unmarked (weakest stress), strong
stress, secondary stress.

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Ab.normal /ab.nór-m l,/adj.[alter. Of F anormal,fr ML anormalis,fr L a- + LL normalis normal]

(ca. 1836): deviating from the normal or average, UNUSUAL, EXCEPTIONAL - behavior -
ab.nor.mal.ly . adv.

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EXERCISES

I- TRANSLATE INTO SPANISH THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES:

1. Civil engineering is traditionally broken into several sub-disciplines including environmental

engineering, coastal engineering, structural engineering, transportation engineering, water resources
engineering, materials engineering,….

2. The world’s great bridges, dams, airports, and roads are stellar examples of the work of civil engineers.
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ENGLISH I

EXCERCISES OF UNIT I

PART I. TO CHOOSE THE CORRECT INDEFINITE ARTICLE (AN – A)

1. That is ____ very high building.

2. Paul is ____ civil engineer.
3. Mary is ____ honest girl.
4. Those engineers were there ___ hour ago.
5. I am going to be ___ Civil engineer.
6. UNEFA is ____ University.
7. It is ___ honor to be your friend.

PART II. USE THE DETERMINATE ARTICLE ACCORDING WITH THE RULES.

1. Those engineers were in ____ second floor.

2. I like to study ___ electronic engineering.
3. They want to study_____ engineering.
4. They use ___ concrete to build that house.
5. ____ special concrete is used in that construction.

PART III. USE THE CORRECT PRONOUN (HE, SHE, IT, YOU, WE THEY)

1. The stone bridge: ____

2. Peter: ____
3. You and your friend: ____
4. The English teacher and I: ____
5. Transistors: _____
6. My mother: _____.

PART IV.USE POSSESSIVE ADJETIVE (MY, YOUR, HIS, HER, ITS, OUR, THEIR) OR POSSESSIVE
PRONUON (MINE, YOURS, HIS, HERS, OURS, YOURS, THEIRS)

1. I have a device. This is ____ device. This is _____.

2. In that beautiful house lives Mrs. García. That is ____ house. That is ____.
3. Those are Marcos’ tools. Those are ____ tools. Those are ____.
4. We make ____ project. That project is ____.
5. They build that bridge. That is ____ bridge project. That is _____.
6. Civil engineering is an important career. ____ history is very interesting, too.
7. You and your family have a big building. That is _____ building. That is ____.

PART V. USE THE OBJECT PRONOUNS (ME, YOU, HIM, HER, IT, US, YOU, THEM) AND
REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS (MYSELF, YOURSELF, HIMSELF, HERSELF, ITSELF, OURSELVES,
YOURSELES, THEMSELVES)

1. I hurt __________ when I was working with _____ (tools)

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2. You cut________ when you were cutting with _____ (knife).

3. Monica designs ____ (kitchen areas) by ________ .
4. Civil engineer makes special concrete ________. I saw ____ did it.
5. We saw ____ (Mary) for __________.
6. The stone bridge has ____ (beam). It supports the bridge _______.
7. They wallpapered ______ (rooms) _____________.

PART VI. FILL IN THE BLANKS WITH THE DEMOSTRATIVE ADJETIVE WHICH BEST FIXES IN
THE SENTENCE: THIS- THESE- THAT- THOSE.

1. The tower silos are there. _______ Towers are big.

2. I am painting on ____ wall now.
3. Paul put___ hammer over there.
4. There is a big picture. _____ picture is interesting.
5. Peter, your tools are here. Yes, _____ tools are mine.

PART VII. CHANDE TO PLURAL FORM ACCORDING TO THE RULES:

1. Fireman: ______________ 6. Shelf: ___________

2. Stadium: ______________ 7. Way: ___________
3. Table: ________________ 8. Route:__________
4. Factory:_______________ 9. Building:__________
5. Wife: _______________ 10. Child:__________

PART VIII. USE VERB TO BE (AM, IS, ARE, WAS, WERE)

1. Houses, buildings and roads____ destroyed by earthquake last year.

2. I ____ an engineering student.
3. Structural engineering _____ one of the branches of Civil engineering.
4. John _____the worse worker last year. Now, he____ an excellent telecommunications
engineer.
5. That plane ____ the best around the world.

PART IX. COMPLETE WITH THE VERB TO BE (IS – ARE- WAS -WERE)

1. There____ a beautiful building in front of my house.

2. There_____ diodes over there yesterday.
3. There______ computers and telephone in my office.
4. There _____ an excellent electrical system in that company last year.

COMPLETE THE SENTENCES USING AT, IN, ON.

1. Those engineers often work _____ the first floor.

2. They work ____ 88 Protland Street.
3. That engineer is ____ that building.
4. I usually work in that building ____ weekend.
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PART X. WRITE THE FUNCTION OF EACH WORDS OF THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES AND
TRANSLATE THEM INTO SPANISH.

1. Civil engineering is the oldest engineering discipline after military engineering.

2. Roads, railroads, subway systems, and airports are designed by transportation engineers, another category
of civil engineering.

3. Civil engineering is an exciting profession because at the end of the day you can see the results of your
work,

4. Civil engineering is the design and construction of public works, such as dams, bridges and other large
infrastructure projects.
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PREPOSICIONES: IN, ON, AT, PARA INDICAR TIEMPO

Usamos "at" para:

1- At + hora del día. Example:

- He arrived at 7 o’clock
- They eat at noon.
2- At + día festivo. Example:
- He visits me at Christmas.
- He promised me to be a better person at New Year.
3- At + ciertas expresiones. Examples:
- AT the moment At night At the weekend

Usamos "on" para:

1- On + día. Example:
- On Monday On thuesday.
2- On + día + parte del día
- On Friday morning On Saturday afternoon On sunday evening.
3- On + fechas. Examples:
- On december 2nd 1965 On Christmas days. On his/her birthday On holidays

Usamos "in" para:

1- In + partes del día. Examples:

- In the morning In the afternoon. In the evening.
2- In + meses. Examples:
- In January. In december.
3- In + años. Examples:
- In 2012 In 1960s.
4- In + estaciones del año. Examples:
- In summer. In spring. In fall / autumn In Winter. In early summer.

5- In + largos períodos. Examples:

- In the future; In the past; In the 20th century.
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6- In + referencia al futuro. Example:

- In two days; In nine months.
PARA EXPRESAR LUGAR, DIRECCION:
Usamos "at" para:

1- At + lugares comunes. Examples:

- At home. At school. At university. At the movie…
2- At + lugares específicos. Examples:
- At Simon Bolivar airport. At Venezuela university…
3- At + direcciones y domicilios
- At 01 Constitución avenue. At 12 Mariño street.
4- At + ciertas cosas o posiciones. Example:
5- At the top; At the botton; At the back; At the front. At the door; At the window.

Usamos "on" para:

1- On + superficies. Examples:
- On the floor; On the table; On the chair; On the list; On the beach…
2- On + medios de transporte. Examples:
- On a taxi; On a hourse; On a ship; On a train; On the tube
3- On + partes del cuerpo
On my leg On your arm On his shoulder
4- On + direcciones
On the left On the right On the way
5- On + ciertas cosas y lugares:
On the radio On television On a farm

Usamos "in" para:

1- In + países. Examples:
- In Venezuela In Perú In Colombia….
2- In + ciudades
- In Maracay In Valencia In Caracas
3- In + habitaciones
- In the bedroom in the bathroom in the living room….
4- In + cuerpos de agua
- In the wáter in the river in the ocean
5- In + clima/tiempo
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- In the rain in the sun in the wind in the fog.

6- In + ciertos lugares y expresiones
- In prison in hospital in a line in Mariño street in bed……

EXERCISES

1. They have arrived ___ 8 o'clock

2. ___ Monday I have English class
3. The elections will take place___ the 24th of March
4. She celebrated a party ____ her birthday
5. ____ the last century, life was different
6. What are you doing ____ spring?
7. I will see you ____ half past two
8. ____ midnight a ghost appeared
9. ____ summer it is very hot
10. The train leaves____ 11 0'clock

11. he is ____ home.

12. She lives ____ the third floor____ an old building ____ the end of this street.
13. He waits for me ____ the bus stop.
14. She put the books ____ the table, the keys ____ the drawer and sat ____ her desk to read the
post.
15. My parents always meet me ____ the airport.
16. When I'm ____ holiday, I love walking ____ the mountains. The air is always fresh ____ the top
of the mountains.
17. My uncle lives ____ the country, ____ a small village ____ the middle of the fields.
18. I like reading when I'm _____ the train.
19. Don't stand ____ the door! Come in and sit ____ the chair in the corner.
20. When we arrived ____ London, we got _____ the tube and went to the hotel.
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ADJECTIVES
En inglés, al contrario que en español, los adjetivos son palabras invariables, es decir, tienen la misma forma para
el masculino, el femenino, el singular y el plural. Así, para decir alto, alta, altos, y altas usamos una única
forma: tall. Otra de las grandes diferencias con el adjetivo español es que, en inglés, el adjetivo se pone antes del
nombre cuando se usa de forma atributiva: chico alto sería tall boy, no boy tall.

ORDEN DE LOS ADJETIVOS EN INGLÉS

Cuando usamos más de un adjetivo, el orden debe ser el que sigue: valor, tamaño, edad/temperatura, forma,
color, origen, material. Un ejemplo extremo usando todos los tipos sería el siguiente: a nice small old round
black Victorian wooden table, lo que vendría a querer decir algo así como" una pequeña y bonita vieja mesa
redonda Victoriana de madera negra". Algo enrevesado, pero no imposible.

ALGUNOS ADJETIVOS CALIFICATIVOS

De apariencia:
Tall- Alto
Short - Bajo
Blonde - Rubio
Brunette - Castaño
Redhead - Pelirrojo
Caucasian - Caucásico (blanco)
Black - Negro
Blue eyed - De ojos azules
White haired - De cabello canoso
Well-built - Musculoso
Fat - Gordo
Thin - Delgado
Average - Promedio
Athletic - Atlético
Pretty - Bonito
Handsome - Apuesto
Good-looking - Bien parecido
Ugly - Feo
Slovenly - Descuidado/desaliñado
Tidy - Pulcro

De personlidad:
Happy - Feliz
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Smart - Inteligente
Grumpy - Cascarrabias
Thoughtful - Pensativo o Atento
Considerate - Considerado
Clumsy - Torpe
Reckless - Imprudente
Blabbermouth - Chismoso
Lovely - Cariñoso (o lindo)
Uptight - Tenso
Boring - Aburrido
Charming - Encantador
Inconsiderate - Desconsiderado
Disobedient - Desobediente
Foxy - Sexy (en actitud) o Astuto
Dumb - Tonto
Shallow - Superficial
Funny - Gracioso
Weird - Raro
Eccentric - Excéntrico

A estos también se le agregan los colores, los números, las formas, maneras, edades, etc…

EXERCISE:

1. DESCRIBE YOURSELF AS THE EXAMPLE.

My name is Peter. I am a happy charming and intelligent young man. I am eighteen years old. I am tall and thin
boy. I have big brown eyes. My hair is short curly and black. I love to wear blue jeans, t-shirt and sport shoes.

2. DESCRIBE A PET.
3. DESCRIBE ANY OBJECT.
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WH - QUESTIONS

What ? - ¿Qué? ¿Cuál? ¿Cuáles? How often ? - ¿Con qué frecuencia?

What else? - ¿Qué más? How long ? - ¿Cuánto tiempo? ¿Qué longitud?

Which ? - ¿Qué? ¿Cuál? ¿Cuáles? How long ago? - ¿Hace cuánto tiempo?

How ? - ¿Cómo? ¿Cuán? How old ? - ¿Qué edad? ¿Cuán viejo?

How else ? - ¿De qué otra manera? How soon ? - ¿Cuán pronto?

When ? - ¿Cuándo? How big ? - ¿Qué tamaño? ¿Cuán grande?

Where ? - ¿Dónde? ¿Adónde? How far ? - ¿A qué distancia? ¿Cuán lejos?

Where else ? - ¿Dónde más? How tall ? - ¿Qué estatura? ¿Cuán alto?

Why ? - ¿Por qué? ¿Para qué? How deep ? - ¿Qué profundidad?

Who ? - ¿Quién? ¿Quienes? How early ? - ¿Cuán temprano?

Who else? - ¿Quién más? How late ? - ¿Cuán tarde?

Whom ? - ¿A quién? ¿A quiénes? How heavy ? - ¿Qué peso? ¿Cuán pesado?

Whose ? - ¿De quién? ¿De quiénes? How thick ? - ¿Qué espesor? ¿Cuán grueso?

How much ? - ¿Cuánto/a? What time ? - ¿Qué hora? ¿A qué hora?

How many ? - ¿Cuántos/as? What kind ? - ¿Qué clase ? ¿Qué tipo?

Exercises

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING PERSONAL QUESTIONS:

1. What is your name?

2. Where are you from?
3. Where are you living?
4. How old are you?
5. What are you studying?
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6. Where are you now?

7. Who is your English teacher?
8. What is your father’s name?
9. How are you?
10. How tall are you?

EXERCISES

PART I - ANSWER THE QUESTIONS

1. What is the seventh month of the year?

__________________________________________________

2. Who is your English teacher?

__________________________________________________

3. How old are you?

__________________________________________________

4. Are you a Civil engineering student?

__________________________________________________

5. What is your name?

__________________________________________________

6. When is your birthday?

__________________________________________________

7. Where are you now?

__________________________________________________
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8. How often do you go to UNEFA?

__________________________________________________

9. What time is it?

_____________________________

10. How tall are you?

____________________________________________________
11. Where are you from?
____________________________________________________
12. How are you?
____________________________________________________
13. Who is your father?
____________________________________________________

PART II WRITE THE FUNCTION OF THE UNDERLINED WORD IN THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES.

1. Civil engineering is the oldest engineering discipline after military engineering.

PART III DESCRIBE YOURSELF

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Table of English Tenses

Affirmative/Negative/ Translation
tense Use Signal Words
Question

always, every …,
 R: Él construye una  action in the present taking
Simple A: He builds a house. never, normally,
Present N: He does not build a casa. place once, never or often, seldom,
house. N: Él no construye several times sometimes, usually
Q: Does he build a una casa. if sentences type I
 facts
house? (If Italk, …)
Q: ¿ Él construye
 actions taking place one
una casa?.
after another
 action set by a timetable or
schedule
Present A: He is building a at the moment,
 R: Él está  action taking place in the
Progressive house. just, just now,
N: He is not building a construyendo una moment of speaking Listen!, Look!, now,
house. casa.  action taking place only for right now
. N: Él no está a limited period of time
Q: Is he building a
construyendo una
house?  action arranged for the
casa.
future
Q: ¿Está él
construyendo una
casa?
Simple Past A: He built a house. yesterday, 2
 R: Él construyó una  action in the past taking
N: He did not build a minutes ago, in
house. casa. place once, never or 1990, the other
Q: Did he build a N: Él no construyo several times day, last Friday
house? una casa. if sentence type II
 actions taking place one
(If Italked, …)
Q: ¿construyó él una after another
casa?
 action taking place in the
middle of another action
Past A: He was building a when, while, as
 R: Él estaba  action going on at a certain
Progressive house. long as
N: He was not building construyendo una time in the past
a house. casa.  actions taking place at the
Q: Was he building a N: Él no estaba same time
house?
construyendo una
 action in the past that is
casa.
interrupted by another
Q: ¿Estaba él
action
construyendo una
casa?
Present A: He has built a already, ever, just,
 R: Él ha construido  putting emphasis on
Perfect house. never, not yet, so
Simple N: He has not built una casa the result far, till now, up to
ahouse. N: Él no ha  action that is still going on now
construido una casa
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Q: Has he built a  action that stopped recently

house?
Q: ¿Ha él construido  finished action that has an
una casa? influence on the present
 action that has taken place
once, never or several
times before the moment of
speaking
Present A: He has been all day, for 4 years,
 R: Él ha estado  putting emphasis on
Perfect building a house. since 1993, how
Progressive N: He has not been construyendo una the course or duration (not long?, the whole
building a house. casa. the result) week
Q: Has he been N: No ha estado  action that recently stopped
building a house?
construyendo una or is still going on
casa.
 finished action that
Q: ¿Ha estado
influenced the present
construyendo una
casa?
Past A: He had built a already, just, never,
 R: Él había  action taking place before a
Perfect house. not yet, once, until
Simple N: He had not built a construido una casa. certain time in the past that day
house. N: No había  sometimes interchangeable if sentence type III
Q: Had he built a construido una casa. (If Ihad talked, …)
with past perfect
house?
Q: ¿Él había progressive
construido una
 putting emphasis only on
casa?
the fact(not the duration)
Past A: He had been for, since, the
 R:Él Había estado  action taking place before a
Perfect building a house. whole day, all day
Progressive N: He had not been construyendo una certain time in the past
building a house. casa.  sometimes interchangeable
Q: Had he been N: Él no había with past perfect simple
building a house?
estado construyendo
 putting emphasis on
una casa.
the duration or course of
Q: ¿Ha él estado
an action
construyendo una
casa?
Future I A: He will build a in a year, next …,
 R: Él construirá una  action in the future that
Simple house. tomorrow
N: He will not build a casa. cannot be influenced If-Satz Typ I (If you
house. N: el no construirá  spontaneous decision ask her, she will
Q: Will he build a una casa help you.)
house?  assumption with regard to assumption: I think,
 Q: ¿construirá él una the future probably, perhaps
casa?
Future I A: He is going to build a in one year, next
 R: Él va a construir  decision made for the
Simple house. week, tomorrow
N: He is not going to una casa. future
(going to) build a house. N: Él no va a
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Q: Is he going to build a construir una casa  conclusion with regard to

house?
Q: ¿Va él a construir the future
una casa?
EXERCISES:

I- UNDERLINE THE VERBAL PHRASE AND TRANSLATE THEM INTO SPANISH ACCORDING TO THE CONTEX

1. Structural engineers plan and design structures of all types. As structures become more complex, the
structural engineer strives to provide improved building performance. They must identify special building
problems and find innovative solutions.

II- WRITE THE CORRECT FORM OF THE VERB IN PARENTHESES:

1- We ________ (to be) Telcecom engineering students.

2- Civil engineer __________ (to design) bridge, too.

3- Dubai ______ (to have) wonderful buildings.

4- Yesterday, Paul ________(to buy) a lot of materials to build his own circuit system.

5- They are________(going to) design a new airplane next week.

6- Maracay will ________(to be)the garden city of Venezuela again in a year.

7- He had been________ (to repair) that computer all day.

8- People have ________(to change) their way of life.

9- In Margarita Island has ______(to be) building a lot of houses and buildings.

10- He is _________(to train) how to fly an aircraft now.

11- They were __________ (to design) their own airport.

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EXERCISES

WRITE THE SENTENCES IN ALL VERBAL TENSE STUDIED IN CLASE:

1- THAT PLANE FALLS DOWN

/Simple past/ _________________________________________________________________

/Present progressive/_____________________________________________________________________

/ Past progressive/_____________________________________________________________________

/simple present
perfect/________________________________________________________________________

/Simple past perfect/_____________________________________________________________________

/Present Perfect Progressive/_______________________________________________________

/Past Perfect Progressive/__________________________________________________________

/Future. Will/____________________________________________________________________

/Future. To be going to/____________________________________________________________

2- MARY HAS Her NEW HOUSE.

Simple past/ _________________________________________________________________

/Present progressive/_____________________________________________________________________

/ Past progressive/_____________________________________________________________________

/simple present
perfect/________________________________________________________________________

/Simple past perfect/_____________________________________________________________________

/Present Perfect Progressive/_______________________________________________________

/Past Perfect Progressive/__________________________________________________________

/Future. Will/____________________________________________________________________

/Future. To be going to/____________________________________________________________

3- THEY REINFORCE THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION.

Simple past/ _________________________________________________________________

/Present progressive/_____________________________________________________________________

/ Past progressive/_____________________________________________________________________
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/simple present
perfect/________________________________________________________________________

/Simple past perfect/_____________________________________________________________________

/Present Perfect Progressive/_______________________________________________________

/Past Perfect Progressive/__________________________________________________________

/Future. Will/____________________________________________________________________

/Future. To be going to/____________________________________________________________

4- CIVIL ENGNEERS DEVELOP A SPECIAL MATERIAL.

5- PROJECT MANAGEMENT IS A VERY COMMON ROLE FOR AN ELECTRONIC ENGINEER.