Verb Patterns: to-infinitive and gerund

We've seen in class that there're different verb patterns, and that some verbs can foolow two patterns, but depending on the meaning, we'll use to-infinitive or gerund. We already know five of them: remember, forget, regret, stop and try. Well, mean another one. Here is what Michael Swan says about it:

Mean in the sense of 'involve', 'have as a result' can be followed by an -ing form.

If you want to pass the exam it will mean studying hard.

In the sense of 'intend', mean is followed by an infinitive.

I don't think she means to get married for the moment.

 These two links have more information about the topic:

Verb patterns: different meaning

to-infinitive or gerund: mean & help

IBI in English?

These three terms seem to be used to refer to the Spanish IBI (Impuesto Sobre Bienes Inmuebles). If you click on the following links you'll fing more information. Real Estate Tax seems to be more used in the US.

Property tax
ad valorem
Real Estate Tax

Relative when, where and why

When and where can introduce relative clauses after nouns referring to time and place. They are used in the same way as preposition + which.
I'll never forget the day when I first met you. (=... the day on which...)
Do you know a shop where I can find sandals? (=... a shop at which...)

Why is used in a similar way after reason.
Do you know the reason why she doesn't like me? (=... the reason for which...)

Taken from Practical English Usage by Michael Swan

Turn one's nose up - keep sb on his/her feet

A student asked yesterday if idioms are informal. Well, here you have a video in which Nick Clegg, Deputy Prime Minister uses to idioms. Therefore, you can see they could be used in a neutral-formal situation.

Clegg in 'energy deal guarantee'

turn one's nose up at sth Definition

Keep somebody on his toes Definition

Fortnight

Related to yesterday's class, we can find in our dictionaries fortnight translated as quincena, dos semanas, and the question is ' is it fourteen or fifteen days?' Well, if we go to the etymology of the word, and being absolutely precise, it used ton mean 14 nights.

http://www.wordreference.com/es/translation.asp?tranword=fortnight

http://www.wordreference.com/definition/fortnight

http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/fortnight?q=fortnight

Ropa de marca

This is how you could say "ropa de marca" in English:
Designer clothing
Brand clothing
Designer-brand clothing

Have: stative or dynamic?

explanation Click on the link to know more about it.

Learning process awareness

Some of you have express you're feeling that last year you were learning more and this year you're not learning that much. Well, in the learning process, in order to acquire the next level, those described in

Has publicado que a ti también te gusta esto. Deshacer

The Common European Framework of Reference, you'll need double the time you invested in the previous year. So be aware that, in order to learn as much as you did last year, you'll basically have to study more hours.
I've attached two documents that explain this idea. One is from the Cambridge University, the other from the Cervantes Institute. In the second document, pay attention to question number 3, in how many years they divide each level, and the hours each year would consist of.
All my point is that, in the intermediate level it's important to be aware of this not to get discouraged.

http://research.cambridgeesol.org/fitness-purpose/cambridge-esol%E2%80%99s-common-scale-levels-and-cefr
http://pekin.cervantes.es/es/Informacion_util/preguntas_frecuentes_ic_pekin.htm

Do for emphasis

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/learnit/learnitv298.shtml

http://www.better-english.com/grammar/doemph.htm

Vertigo, "profesor adjunto"

We were talking about feeling yesterday, and somebody asked about "vértigo". In English is the same word and you can say I suffer from vertigo (like any medical condition: to suffer from dementia/migraines...), or you could also say to have vertigo.
In the other group somebody asked about "profesor adjunto". It really depends on the country, but here you have a link that gives you some options (check the nationality of the person who posts each comment).
http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=315524

Se pilla antes a un mentiroso que a un cojo

"The truth will out" o "Lies have short legs"

Tag Questions - Is he not?

Here is a full explanation on tag questions, or question tags as they call it in the book.
http://www.eflnet.com/tutorials/tagquestions.php

Aguardiente

People were asking the other day the translation for "aguardiente". I'm no alcohol expert, but it seems to me that countries that traditionally make this drink are Spanish speaking countries. In this thread some people say aguardiente, some people say "firewater" would be understood, and they also talk about moon-shine, but I'm not sure it's made with the same ingredents because I'd say they don't grow them in England or the US due to the weather. I know of an illegal homemade drink in Ireland, made out of potatoes, called Poitín in Gaelic and anglicised as Potcheen. People would drink a glass of this drink, they'd get drunk out of their faces, sleep, and the following morning they'd drink water and get drunk again. That's how strong it was.
http://www.wordreference.com/es/en/translation.asp?spen=aguardiente

Computer (repair) technician

I've found this wiki defining Computer repair technician, which seems to that it could be the person who repairs computers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_repair_technician

was to (to be to meaning visit 2)

http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=132224

To be to meaning visit

This is what I've found so far on the prepositions to say that you've visited a place, answering somebody's question. I hope I'll find something else
http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=309962&langid=5

"echar una cana al aire"

According to the thread I've found, "echar una cana al aire" doesn't necessarily mean that you are unfaithful. From that point of view, letting your hair down or having a fling have the same meaning. To my mind, "echar una cana al aire" has the connotation of being unfaithful, in which case, it means "having an affair". Have a look at the three threads on the topic at the end of the page, in the forums. I'd personally go for the third one:
http://www.wordreference.com/es/en/translation.asp?spen=echar%20una%20cana%20al%20aire

Services of general interest

As requested by one of the students, it's always interesting for everybody
http://ec.europa.eu/services_general_interest/index_en.htm

Perhaps you had better

Somebody asked the other day whether it was possible to say "perhaps you had better + verb". Apparently there's this memorable quote, as they call it, from the film The Curse of Frankenstein that goes: "Perhaps you better start from the beginning." Here I attach the link to the trailer. I haven't seen the film myself; it looks a bit sick though, don't you think?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ON71xzKGujY

mileurista

I was asked about the translation of "mileurista" into English. Here is a link to a dictionary, and I think the different forum discussions down below are very revealing of how English native speakers see the concept