- Now, look at this, Elena. In your story about a fire in a factory you've used "burn" five times! Don't you know any other verbs? Haven't you got a bilingual dictionary?

- Of course, I have. But, Peter, if I look for "arder" it gives me four verbs; how can I know if they all mean the same or if there is any difference between them?

- Well, you look each one up in the English section!

- Yes, but then, when I want to use the verb, I can't remember what the differences are.

This was the kind of argument I used to have again with my students. it was clear that something was nedeed to help them.

So it was that this book was born.