Volume 4
Spatial/Temporal Frameworks, Fixed Semantic Collocations & Interactive Workshops
3D Containment & Broad Epochs
in the kitchen, in the box, in Bogotá, in Brazil · in the morning, in July, in 2026, in summer, in two hours
2D Surfaces, Lines & Specific Days
on the table, on the wall, on the bus, on the screen, on Fifth Avenue · on Monday, on October 14th, on Christmas Day
1D Points, Coordinates & Clock Times
at the door, at the bus stop, at 123 Main Street, at home, at work · at 7:30 AM, at noon, at night, at Christmas
Romance False-Cognate Alert
170 entries
3D containment: inside an enclosed space
“The contracts are in the box on my desk.”
3D containment: inside a room
“The team is waiting in the meeting room.”
Cities and countries are areas we are inside
“Our head office is in São Paulo.”
Years are long containers of time
“The company was founded in 2026.”
Months are containers of time
“The audit will take place in October.”
Parts of the day (except night)
“I answer emails in the morning.”
Seasons
“Sales usually slow down in the summer.”
Small private vehicles you sit inside
“She took the call in a car outside the hotel.”
2D surface contact
“Leave the report on the table, please.”
Vertical surface contact
“The strategy map is on the wall.”
Streets and roads are lines
“The new branch is on Paulista Avenue.”
Public transport you can walk around in
“I read the briefing on the train.”
Calendar days
“The board meets on Monday.”
Specific dates
“The contract expires on 15 March.”
Specific named days
“We had dinner on my birthday.”
Floors of a building are surfaces
“Finance is on the second floor.”
1D point: an address with a number
“The clinic is at 42 King Street.”
A precise point on a route
“I will wait for you at the bus stop.”
Clock times are points
“The webinar starts at 9 o'clock.”
Fixed expression for night
“The servers are updated at night.”
British usage for the weekend (US: on)
“We rarely work at the weekend.”
A place seen as a point of activity
“My driver will meet me at the airport.”
Events attended
“I met her at the conference.”
Fixed expression: at home
“I prefer to work at home on Fridays.”
Fearing an entity or phenomenon
“She is afraid of dogs, but loves cats.”
Experiencing frustration toward a person
“He was angry with his brother for being late.”
Frustrated regarding an incident or fact
“They were angry about the sudden flight cancellation.”
Lacking competence in a skill
“I have always been bad at remembering names.”
Lacking stimulation or interest
“The children grew bored with the video game.”
Possessing the capacity or ability
“He is capable of running a marathon.”
Distinguished from another entity
“Life in Colombia is different from life in Brazil.”
Unhappy with a result or person's actions
“My parents were disappointed with my exam grade.”
Known widely because of a quality
“Armenia is famous for its mild climate and coffee.”
Having affectionate regard for
“My grandmother is very fond of gardening.”
Competent and skilled in an activity
“Leo is exceptionally good at playing basketball.”
Thankful toward an agent for an act
“I am grateful to my family for their constant support.”
Responsible for an offense or error
“The driver was found guilty of reckless speeding.”
Having curiosity or engagement
“Are you interested in learning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?”
Resentful of another's advantage
“He was jealous of his friend's new bicycle.”
Enthusiastic about an interest
“She is very keen on hiking in the mountains.”
Wedded in matrimony to an individual
“Andrés is married to Tatiane.”
Satisfied with a performance or item
“The teacher was pleased with our homework.”
Feeling deep satisfaction in achievements
“They were immensely proud of their son's graduation.”
Prepared to undertake an event
“Are you ready for your road trip tomorrow?”
Having duty, custody, or accountability
“Who is responsible for locking the front gate at night?”
Resembling another entity
“Portuguese grammar is similar to Spanish grammar.”
Regretting a situation or mistake
“I am very sorry about the spilled coffee.”
Feeling compassion or pity
“I felt sorry for the stray dog shivering in the rain.”
Mistrusting an entity or action
“The guard was suspicious of the unmarked package.”
Fatigued or exasperated by repetition
“I am tired of doing dishes by hand every night.”
Characteristic of a person or group
“It is typical of him to offer help to strangers.”
Anxious regarding an upcoming matter
“Don't be worried about your driving test; you'll pass.”
Reaching consensus on an object/stipulation
“Both families agreed on the date for the wedding.”
Harmonizing with an individual's view
“I completely agree with you regarding that decision.”
Consenting to an offer or proposal
“The landlord agreed to lower the deposit.”
Expressing contrition toward a person for an act
“He apologized to his neighbor for the barking dog.”
Submitting formal candidacy
“She applied for a teaching position at the academy.”
Requesting the delivery of an object
“He asked for a glass of cold water.”
Having faith or confidence in principles/beings
“Parents should believe in their children's potential.”
Being the property or member of
“Does this leather jacket belong to you?”
Considering something important or meaningful
“He cares deeply about environmental sustainability.”
Looking after / nursing, or having fondness for
“The nurse cared for the patient throughout the night.”
Voicing grievance to an authority regarding a defect
“We complained to the hotel manager about the noise.”
Directing mental energy toward an objective
“It's hard to concentrate on reading with loud music.”
Composed of constituent parts
“A basketball team consists of five players on the court.”
Contingent upon circumstances or trustworthy agents
“Our outdoor barbecue depends on the weather.”
Subconscious thoughts or lifelong aims
“He dreams of opening his own specialty coffee shop.”
Receiving news of an event
“Did you hear about the storm heading toward the coast?”
Receiving direct communication (call, text, letter)
“I haven't heard from Carlos in over three weeks.”
Being aware of the existence of someone/something
“Have you ever heard of that new Italian restaurant?”
Showing amusement (or ridicule) toward
“We all laughed at the puppy chasing its tail.”
Attending aurally to a sound
“I enjoy listening to audiobooks while driving.”
Directing visual focus toward an object
“Look at those dark storm clouds gathering in the sky.”
Searching for a missing item
“I spent twenty minutes looking for my reading glasses.”
Taking care of, babysitting, guarding
“Can you look after our husky while we are away?”
Surrendering money in exchange for goods
“Let me pay for the coffee and pastries this morning.”
Placing trust and dependence in
“You can always rely on old friends in times of need.”
Causing memory by association or resemblance
“This song reminds me of our trip to Montevideo.”
Achieving success in a venture or effort
“She succeeded in obtaining her master's degree.”
Enduring physical illness or chronic difficulty
“He suffers from seasonal pollen allergies in the spring.”
Interpersonal conversational exchange
“I need to talk to my advisor about the schedule.”
Active cognitive processing / considering
“I am thinking about moving to a quieter neighborhood.”
Imagining, having an opinion of, or spontaneous idea
“What do you think of this shirt?”
Spending time awaiting an arrival
“We waited for the bus in the cold rain.”
Alerting someone to risk or hazard
“The ranger warned hikers against leaving the trail.”
Benefit or drawback inherent in a thing
“One advantage of living near the park is the fresh air.”
Competitive superiority over a rival
“His height gives him an advantage over other players.”
The origin or reason behind an event
“The mechanic determined the cause of the engine breakdown.”
A financial draft designated for a sum
“My grandmother wrote a check for fifty dollars.”
Link or correlation uniting two entities
“Is there a connection between diet and sleep quality?”
Harm or physical injury sustained by an object
“The hailstorm caused severe damage to the car's roof.”
Fluctuation within a measurable quantity
“We saw a noticeable decrease in household energy costs.”
Consumer or public desire for a product
“There is an increasing demand for organic groceries.”
Distinction dividing two items
“Can you explain the difference between these two cameras?”
A formal or friendly bidding to attend
“We received a warm invitation to their anniversary dinner.”
Instrument that unlocks physical doors or figurative mastery
“Daily practice is the key to mastering English.”
Necessity or deficiency requiring supply
“There is an urgent need for clean drinking water after floods.”
A visual representation depicting a subject
“She showed us an old black-and-white photograph of her mother.”
Justification or explanation supporting an action
“What was the reason for your delay this morning?”
Interpersonal or systemic rapport
“He maintains an excellent relationship with his sons.”
Responsive communication sent back
“I am still waiting for a reply to my email.”
Resolution addressing a difficulty
“We worked together to find a peaceful solution to the dispute.”
A danger imperiling an entity
“Pollution represents an existential threat to maritime coral reefs.”
Unintentionally, without deliberate purpose
“I deleted the photo by accident while clearing my phone.”
Deliberately, with intent
“He didn't break the glass on purpose; it just slipped.”
Punctual, precisely at the scheduled minute
“The 8:15 commuter train arrived exactly on time.”
Early enough before a deadline or event starts
“We arrived at the cinema just in time for the previews.”
No less than a minimum quantity
“You should drink at least two liters of water a day.”
Finally, after an agonizing delay or struggle
“After hours of hiking in the cold, we reached shelter at last!”
Using physical currency rather than cards
“Can I pay for the groceries in cash?”
Using a payment card
“She paid for the plane tickets by credit card.”
Available on the market to be purchased
“There is an old brick house for sale on our street.”
Discounted at a reduced promotional price
“These winter coats are on sale for 40% off.”
Rushing due to limited time
“He left the house in a hurry and forgot his lunch.”
Subject to stress or urgent demands
“Elite athletes learn to perform under intense pressure.”
Mechanically broken or non-functioning
“The coffee vending machine in the lobby is out of order.”
Obsolete, expired, no longer valid
“Check the milk carton to make sure it isn't out of date.”
Broadly speaking, taking all factors together
“In general, people in this neighborhood are very friendly.”
Knowing that something exists
“Are you aware of the new policy?”
Containing a lot
“The inbox is full of complaints.”
Pleased with a result
“The client is satisfied with the delivery.”
Behaving well towards someone
“Please be kind to the new interns.”
Enthusiastic about a future event
“We are excited about the launch.”
Needing something to survive or work
“The project is dependent on extra funding.”
Knowing something well
“Are you familiar with this software?”
Taking part in
“Three departments are involved in the merger.”
Not on time for an appointment
“I was late for the board meeting.”
Showing good manners towards someone
“Always be polite to the customers.”
Very surprised and upset by
“We were shocked by the results.”
Reach a city or country
“We arrived in Lisbon at midnight.”
Reach a building or point
“She arrived at the office early.”
Demand firmly
“The auditor insisted on seeing the receipts.”
Express gratitude for a reason
“Thank you for your patience.”
Praise someone for an achievement
“We congratulated her on her promotion.”
Take part in
“Twenty firms participated in the survey.”
Get ready for
“We are preparing for the inspection.”
Get better after illness or loss
“The market recovered from the crisis.”
Focus professionally on
“The firm specializes in tax law.”
Change into another language
“Please translate this letter into Spanish.”
Separate into parts
“We divided the team into three groups.”
Put money into
“The bank invested in renewable energy.”
Express opposition
“Two members objected to the proposal.”
Answer or react to
“We must respond to the email today.”
A rise in a quantity
“There was an increase in sales.”
Reply to a question
“I have no answer to that question.”
Typical case of
“This is a good example of clear writing.”
Way of thinking about
“His attitude towards change is positive.”
Ability to enter or use
“Staff have access to the database.”
Something given to help
“Her contribution to the project was vital.”
Desire to know about
“He has a strong interest in economics.”
Absence of something
“The lack of data is a problem.”
Way of dealing with
“We need a new approach to recruitment.”
Influence on something
“The policy had a big effect on prices.”
Strong effect on
“Social media has an impact on sales.”
Specialist in a field
“She is an expert in labor law.”
Beforehand
“Please book the room in advance.”
Finally, after a long time
“In the end, we signed the deal.”
At the final point of a period
“We meet at the end of every month.”
For work purposes
“She is in Madrid on business.”
Taking a vacation
“The manager is on holiday until Friday.”
Walking
“I go to the office on foot.”
Means of transport (no article)
“We traveled by car.”
Actually, really
“In fact, the costs were lower.”
Responsible for
“Who is in charge of security?”
Using the telephone
“She is on the phone with a client.”
No longer available in the shop
“That model is out of stock.”
Through an error
“I sent the invoice to the wrong client by mistake.”
Typically, as a mean
“On average, we close ten deals a month.”
At risk
“Hundreds of jobs are in danger.”
Traveling towards a place
“I am on the way to the meeting.”
Part Practice Workshops
Extended Practice · 20 exercises
0/20 calibrated
Clear your answers and start again, or use Scribe's new variations (uses credits) only when you want something new.
1. Fill the gap
The meeting starts 10:30.
2. Fill the gap
I was born 1990.
3. Fill the gap
We have a call Friday.
4. Fill the gap
She is very interested data science.
5. Fill the gap
Who is responsible the budget?
6. Fill the gap
Our success depends the new contract.
7. Fill the gap
Please listen the instructions carefully.
8. Fill the gap
There has been a sharp increase costs.
9. Choose
She has been in charge the team since May.
10. Choose
We found a solution the problem.
11. Choose
The train arrived exactly time.
12. Choose
The documents are the top drawer.
13. Choose
He is good negotiating.
14. Choose
She has been married an architect for ten years.
15. Calibrate the sentence
We met in the airport at Monday.
16. Calibrate the sentence
I am agree with you.
17. Calibrate the sentence
She explained me the procedure.
18. Calibrate the sentence
What is the reason of the delay?
19. Calibrate the sentence
We discussed about the proposal.
20. Calibrate the sentence
He arrived to London last night.