Active voice n A type of sentence with a verb in the active form, which is used when the emphasis is on the subject. It stands in opposition to the passive voice.
Agent n In the passive voice, the person or thing that does the action of the passive verb. It is introduced by the preposition ‘by’.
Air conditioner n In an air conditioning system, the device that changes the temperature and humidity of a house or building.
Analogue adj Representing data in a continuos range of values. It stands in opposition to ‘digital’.
Antecedent n In relative sentences, the noun or pronoun to which the relative pronoun refers.
Antenna n A metal piece, usually on top of a building, which receives the television signals.
Appliance n A machine, usually electrical, that is used for certain tasks. Examples are: a washing machine, a fridge, a toaster, etc.
Attributive use n Referring to adjectives, they have an attributive use when they go directly before the noun they refer to, as in ‘a big house’.
Automated house n A house which uses an automation system.
Automation n A system which applies computer technology to meet the different requirements of a house or building.
Auxiliary verb n A type of verb which is used to form other verb tenses. The auxiliary verbs are: ‘be’, ‘have’ and ‘do’.
Base form n An invariable form of the verb which has no indication of time or person. It only reflects the meaning, so this is the form which always appears in dictionaries. It is also called ‘infinitive’.
Binary logic n A system in which data are represented only by two digits: ‘1’ and ‘0’.
Boolean logic n See: ‘binary logic’.
Broadcast v To transmit on the radio or the television.
Cathode ray tube set n A television set that uses analogue signals.
Central boiler n In a central heating system, the device that is used to heat the water that circulates through the pipes to the radiators.
Central heating n A heating system in which heat is generated in a central boiler and distributed through pipes and radiators.
Circuit breaker n In an electrical installation, a device that protects the circuit in case of overload or short circuit.
Clause n A unit of meaning in a sentence, which is typically composed of a subject and a predicate. We can distinguish two types: ‘main clause’ and ‘subordinate clause’.
Command n A sentence expressing, in a direct way, what you want other people to do. It is expressed with the imperative form of the verb.
Comparative adj A special form taken by adjectives and adverbs when they are used to compare two things. It is normally formed by adding -er or ‘more … than’ to the adjective or adverb. There are some irregular forms.
Complex sentence n A sentence composed of a main clause and a subordinate clause.
Conditional sentence n A type of complex sentence in which the subordinate clause (or ‘conditional clause’) expresses a condition and the main clause expresses the result if the condition becomes true.
Conjugate v To express the different forms taken by a verb.
Connector n A word or phrase which is used to link different sentences or paragraphs.
Control panel n A device which allows to control the different functions of a system.
Converter box n A device in a television system that changes the digital signals into analogue signals.
Countable noun n A type of noun which defines things that can be divided into units and so counted. For example: ‘one book’, ‘two books’, etc.
Cover letter n A letter usually attached to the curriculum vitae where the candidate for a job introduces himself or herself to the employer and summarizes his or her skills.
CRT n Acronym of: Cathode Ray Tube.
Cultural differences n Differences in behaviour, social conventions, etc. found in people from different cultural backgrounds.
Curriculum vitae n A written statement of your experience and qualifications for a job which is presented to the employer as part of the job searching process.
CV n See: Curriculum vitae.
Defining relative clause n A type of relative clause that defines the antecedent.
Device n A machine or a tool used for a specific purpose. Examples: a television set, a washing machine, a boiler, a control panel.
Digital adj Representing data by using the binary logic. It stands in opposition to ‘analogue’.
Digital television n A television system that uses digital signals.
Digital terrestrial television n See: Digital television.
Direct object n The part of a sentence that receives the action of a transitive verb. Example: ‘I wrote a book’.
Domestic robotics n See: ‘Automation’.
Domotics n A contraction of ‘Domestic robotics’.
DTT n Acronym of: Digital Terrestrial Television.
Electric circuit n The complete path through which the electric current can flow.
Electric installation n The system in a house or building that distributes electricity to the power points.
Electric wiring n See: electrical installation.
Electricity meter n A device used to measure the amount of electricity consumed by a house or building.
False friend n A type of noun which has the same or a very similar form to a noun in another language, but a different meaning.
Formal style n A style of writing and speaking that is used in formal situations and is characterized by specific vocabulary and syntactical structures.
Fuse n A protection in an electric installation which breaks the circuit when there is an excess of power.
Gerund n An invariable form of the verb which ends in -ing and is used in a number of structures. It is also used to change a verb into a noun expressing the activity of that verb. Also called ‘present participle’.
Grammar n The set of rules which tell the way in which a sentence must be organized in a language. It is also called ‘syntax’.
Heat pump n A device that is used for heating and cooling a house.
HVAC n Acronym of: Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning. It refers to the various systems that contribute to the comfort of a house or building.
Imperative n A form of the verb which is used to give orders.
Indirect object n The part in a sentence which expresses the person or thing affected by the action of the transitive verb. Example: ‘I gave him some money’
Infinitive n See: Base form.
Informal style n A style of writing and speaking that is used in informal situations (with friends and relatives) It is characterized by specific vocabulary and specific syntactical structures.
Interrogative adj Referring to a sentence, one that expresses a question. It has a special structure.
Input n In a digital circuit, the data that is introduced into the circuit, typically the signal emitted by a source.
Keypad n A control panel composed of a set of keys that allows to introduce codes to activate or disactivate a system.
Lexical verb n A verb that has its own meaning. They stand in opposition to ‘auxiliary’ and ‘modal verbs’.
Logic gate n In a digital circuit, a device that performs logical operations to produce a specific output.
Long form n In a verb tense, the form that is not contracted, as in ‘he is not’.
Main clause n A unit in the grammatical organization of a sentence which has a meaning of its own, that is, it does not need another clause to make sense.
Meter n See: Electricity meter.
Modal verb n A type of verbs that has no meaning in its own, but depends on another verb. These verbs do not express actions, but such perceptions as possibility, ability, obligation, etc.
Noise n A disturbance in a signal.
Non-defining relative clause n A type of relative sentence that adds some extra information to a noun, but does not define it. It is always written between commas.
Non-verbal communication n A type of communication in which the information is not transmited with words (as in verbal or linguistic communication), but with such features as facial expression, body position, etc.
Object pronoun n A type of pronoun that has the function of complement in a sentence.
Output n In a digital circuit, the information obtained by the circuit, normally a sound or an image.
Passive voice n A type of sentence, with a verb in the passive form, which is used when the subject is not important or is unknown. It stands in opposition to the active voice.
Past participle n An invariable form of the verb which has the characteristics of an adjective. It is especially used in the perfect tenses. In regular verbs, it is formed with the ending -ed.
Phonetics n The science that describes the sounds of a language.
Plug n A device, usually at the end of a cable, that connects an electric device to a power point.
Plug in v To supply a device with electric energy by introducing the plug into a power point.
Power point n A socket on the wall where you can connect an electric device.
Power station n An installation that creates and distributes electricity.
Predicative use n Referring to adjectives, they have a predicative use when they go after certain verbs, like ‘to be’, ‘to make’, ‘to find’, as in ‘the house is big’.
Present participle n See: Gerund.
Pronoun n A word that is used to refer to or substitute a noun. Examples are ‘he’ and ‘him.
Punctuation n A system used in writing to set the pauses in a sentence and establish relationships of different kinds between the elements in the text. It includes the use of stops, commas, brackets, capital letters, etc.
Quantifier n A type of determiner which indicates the quantity of the noun to which it is attached. Examples of quantifiers are: ‘some’, ‘a lot of’, ‘many’, etc.
Radiator n In a central heating system, the device that contains the hot water and diffuses heat into a room.
Refrigeration cycle n In an air conditioning system, the process in which heat is absorbed from indoors and transferred outdoors.
Relative sentence n A sentence in which the subordinate clause is introduced by a relative pronoun and gives information about a noun.
Reported speech n A type of sentence that is used to report, or repeat, other people’s words. It stands in opposition to ‘direct speech’.
Reverse valve n In a refrigeration cycle, a device that changes the order of the process and allows to change automatically from the function of an air conditioning system to that of a heating system.
Request n A communicative function which is used to ask someone to do something.
Saxon genitive n A distinctive way of expressing possession by means of an ‘s added to the possessor, as in ‘John’s house’.
Sensor n A device that detects a change in the area covered by it.
Short form n In a verb tense, the form that is contracted, as in ‘he isn’t (=he is not)'.
Simple sentence n A sentence formed only by a main clause.
Skill n The knowledge required to perform certain tasks. In a language, there are four: reading, writing, listening and speaking.
Smart home n See: ‘Automated house’.
Socket n The point where you can connect an electric device to the electric circuit. See also ‘power point’.
Spelling n The set of rules that explain how to write words correctly.
Statement n A sentence which expresses an idea in speech or writing. It can be affirmative or negative.
Subject n The unit in a sentence that expresses the person or thing that does the action of the verb. Example: ‘My sister is an architect’.
Subordinate clause n A unit in the grammatical organization of a sentence which has not got a meaning of its own, that is, it needs another clause to have a meaning.
Superlative adj A special form taken by the adjectives and adverbs when they are used to compare more than two things. It is normally formed by adding -est or ‘the most’ to the adjective or adverb. There are some superlative forms.
Switch n A device that allows to open and close an electric circuit.
Syntax n See: Grammar.
Television set n A device which receives the broadcast signals and transforms them into sound and image.
Transformer n A device that transforms an electrical current from one circuit to another and changes the voltage.
Turn off v To stop an electric device operating by turning or pushing a button.
Turn on v To operate an electric device by turning or pushing a button.
Uncountable noun n A type of noun referring to things that cannot be divided into units. For example: ‘water’, ‘paper’, ‘hardware’, etc.
Unplug v To disconnect an electric device by pulling the plug out of the power point.
Verb tense n Each of the forms taken by a verb to express time, person and number.
Voltage n The electrical force expressed in a unit called ‘volt’.
Wh- question n A type of question introduced by an interrogative pronoun and asking about specific information, like ‘who’, ‘when’, ‘where’, etc.
Wire n A cable, a piece made of different materials which carries the electricity in a circuit.
Yes/No question n A type of question which asks ‘yes’ or ‘no’.
Zero article n A term used to refer to the occasions in which no article is used.
