Grammar

Present simple forms of to be: am/is/are

Includes Be: am, is and are

Present simple forms of to be: am/is/are. Use am with I, is with he/she/it and singular nouns, and are with you/we/they and plurals.

Present Simple: I do, I don't, Do I?

Includes Present simple

Present Simple: I do, I don't, Do I?. Use the present simple for habits and facts.

Present Continuous: I'm doing, I'm not doing, Are you doing?

Present Continuous: I'm doing, I'm not doing, Are you doing?. Form the present continuous with am/is/are + -ing.

Present Simple or Present Continuous?

Present Simple or Present Continuous?. Use the present simple for routines and the present continuous for actions happening now or temporary situations.

Have got

Have got. Have got expresses possession: I/you/we/they have got; he/she/it has got.

Present continuous

Use am/is/are + verb-ing for an action happening now.

Was/were — Past Simple of be

Was/were — Past Simple of be. Was is the past of am/is; were is the past of are.

Past Simple — regular/irregular verbs

Past Simple — regular/irregular verbs. Use the past simple for completed events in finished past time.

Past Simple — negatives and questions

Past Simple — negatives and questions. Use did + subject + base verb for past-simple questions and did not + base verb for negatives.

Will and shall — Future

Will and shall — Future. Use will + base verb for predictions, promises and decisions made now.

Be going to — plans and predictions

Be going to — plans and predictions. Use am/is/are going to + base verb for an existing plan or a prediction based on present evidence.

Will vs be going to

Includes Will and going to

Will vs be going to. Will is common for instant decisions, offers and predictions based on belief.

Present Continuous for future arrangements

Present Continuous for future arrangements. Use the present continuous for a future arrangement, often with a person, time or place already agreed.

Will / going to / Present Continuous

Includes Present continuous for future plans

Will / going to / Present Continuous. Will often expresses a spontaneous decision, promise or belief; going to expresses an intention or evidence-based prediction; present continuous describes an arrangement.

Future forms

Future forms. English future reference includes will for predictions or instant decisions, going to for intentions/evidence, present continuous for arrangements, present simple for timetables, future continuous for ongoing activity and future perfect for completion by a point.

Other future expressions — be about to, be due to...

Other future expressions — be about to, be due to.... Be about to indicates an imminent action; be due to refers to an expected or scheduled event; be on the point/verge of takes -ing or a noun.

Future in the past

Future in the past. Future in the past reports a future viewed from a past reference point.

Can / can't — ability, possibility, permission

Includes Can and cannot

Can / can't — ability, possibility, permission. Can + base verb expresses ability, possibility or informal permission.

The imperative — Sit down! Don't talk!

The imperative — Sit down! Don't talk!. An imperative starts with the base verb and usually has no subject.

Would you like…? / I'd like…

Would you like…? / I'd like…. Would like is a polite way to express a wish or offer something.

Verbs + to + infinitive / verbs + -ing

Verbs + to + infinitive / verbs + -ing. Learn the pattern after each verb: want, hope and decide take to + base verb; enjoy and finish take -ing.

A/an + singular/plural forms

Includes Articles: a and an

A/an + singular/plural forms. Use a before a consonant sound and an before a vowel sound with singular countable nouns.

A/an, the, no article

A/an, the, no article. Use a/an to introduce one unspecified singular countable thing.

This, that, these, those

This, that, these, those. This and these refer to things near the speaker; that and those usually indicate greater distance.

Possessive adjectives & subject pronouns — I/my, you/your...

Possessive adjectives & subject pronouns — I/my, you/your.... Subject pronouns perform the action: I, you, he, she, it, we, they.

Object vs subject pronouns — me/I, she/her...

Object vs subject pronouns — me/I, she/her.... Use subject pronouns before a verb as its subject and object pronouns after a verb or preposition: I/me, he/him, she/her, we/us, they/them.

A, some, any — countable/uncountable nouns

A, some, any — countable/uncountable nouns. Use a/an with one countable noun, some with plural or uncountable amounts, and any in most negatives and questions.

Much, many, a lot of, a little, a few

Much, many, a lot of, a little, a few. Use many/a few with plural countable nouns and much/a little with uncountable nouns.

Whose / possessive 's

Whose / possessive 's. Whose asks about possession.

There is/are / There was/were

Includes There is and there are

There is/are / There was/were. There is/are introduces something that exists in a place.

There or it

There or it. Use there + be to introduce existence; use it to refer to one thing already identified.

This vs it

This vs it. Use this to identify or introduce someone or something near you.

There & it as preparatory subjects

There & it as preparatory subjects. Existential there introduces presence or occurrence; anticipatory it holds the subject position before a to-infinitive or that-clause.

Adjectives

Adjectives. Adjectives describe nouns.

Adverbs of manner vs adjectives

Adverbs of manner vs adjectives. Adjectives describe people or things; adverbs describe actions.

Comparative adjectives

Comparative adjectives. Compare two things using adjective + -er or more + longer adjective, followed by than.

Superlative adjectives

Superlative adjectives. Use the superlative to compare one member with a whole group: the -est or the most + adjective.

Comparative & superlative adjectives/adverbs

Includes Comparatives and superlatives

Comparative & superlative adjectives/adverbs. Compare adjectives with -er/more and superlatives with -est/most.

No longer / any longer / anymore

No longer / any longer / anymore. No longer usually goes before a main verb or after be.

Comparatives & superlatives

Comparatives & superlatives. Use comparatives for differences and superlatives for extremes in a group.

-ed / -ing adjectives

-ed / -ing adjectives. An -ing adjective commonly describes the cause of a feeling; an -ed adjective describes the person experiencing it.

So / such / such a / so much / so many

So / such / such a / so much / so many. Use so + adjective/adverb and such + noun phrase.

Compound adjectives with numbers

Compound adjectives with numbers. A number-based compound adjective before a noun normally uses a singular unit and hyphens: a ten-minute walk.

The... the... comparatives

The... the... comparatives. The + comparative ..., the + comparative ...

Participles as adjectives — -ed/-ing

Participles as adjectives — -ed/-ing. Participles can describe a cause or a resulting state: a confusing explanation, a confused reader; a broken window, falling leaves.

So / such / so much / so many

So / such / so much / so many. So modifies adjectives/adverbs; such modifies noun phrases.

Adjectives without nouns

Adjectives without nouns. The + adjective can refer collectively to a group of people: the rich, the unemployed.

Adjective order

Adjective order. Several adjectives usually follow a broad order: opinion, size, age, shape, colour, origin, material, purpose, noun.

Already / still / yet

Already / still / yet. Already means earlier than expected or before now, still means continuation, and yet asks or negates completion up to a reference time.

Pretty / rather / quite / fairly

Pretty / rather / quite / fairly. Fairly, quite, pretty and rather modify degree with differences in register and emphasis.

Modifying comparatives

Modifying comparatives. Use much/far/a lot to emphasise comparative difference and slightly/a little/a bit to reduce it.

Compound adjectives

Compound adjectives. Compound adjectives often join words before a noun with hyphens: well-known, time-consuming, five-year-old.

Inversion with negative adverbials

Inversion with negative adverbials. Fronted negative or restrictive adverbials trigger auxiliary-subject inversion: Never have I seen....

And, but, or, so, because

And, but, or, so, because. And adds information, but contrasts ideas, or presents alternatives, so introduces a result and because gives a reason.

However / although / because / so / time connectors

However / although / because / so / time connectors. Although introduces a contrasting clause; however connects contrasting sentences and needs suitable punctuation.

At/in/on — time

At/in/on — time. Use at for clock times and certain fixed expressions, on for days and dates, and in for months, years and parts of the day.

At/in/on — place

At/in/on — place. Use in for being inside an area or container, on for a surface, and at for a point or activity location.

Next to, under, between, in front of, behind, over...

Next to, under, between, in front of, behind, over.... Place prepositions express position: under is lower than, over is above, between separates two reference points, next to means beside, and behind is at the back.

Prepositions of movement

Prepositions of movement. Movement prepositions describe direction: into enters, out of exits, across crosses a surface, through passes within something, along follows a line and towards indicates direction without guaranteeing arrival.

On time vs in time / at the end vs in the end

On time vs in time / at the end vs in the end. On time means at the scheduled time; in time means early enough for a purpose.

Verb + preposition

Verb + preposition. Many verbs select a preposition: depend on, listen to, apologise for, belong to and wait for.

Adjective + preposition

Adjective + preposition. Learn adjective-preposition combinations as phrases: interested in, good at, afraid of, proud of and similar to.

During / for / while

During / for / while. During is followed by a noun phrase naming an event or period.

For / since / from

For / since / from. For measures duration; since gives the starting point of a period continuing to a reference time.

50 common noun + preposition collocations

50 common noun + preposition collocations. Noun-preposition combinations are lexical patterns: a reason for, an increase in, an effect on.

Prepositions of time

Use at with clock times, on with days and dates, and in with months, years and parts of the day.

Questions — word order & question words

Questions — word order & question words. Most questions use question word + auxiliary + subject + main verb.

Adverbs of frequency with Present Simple

Adverbs of frequency with Present Simple. Frequency adverbs usually go before a main verb but after be: often walks, is often late.

Basic English word order

Basic English word order. A basic statement normally has subject + verb + object, followed by place and time.

Present Simple vs Present Continuous

Includes Present simple vs present continuous

Present Simple vs Present Continuous. Use the present simple for habits and states; use the continuous for actions in progress and temporary arrangements.

Present Perfect — form and use

Includes Present perfect

Present Perfect — form and use. Form the present perfect with have/has + past participle.

Present Perfect vs Past Simple

Present Perfect vs Past Simple. Use the past simple with finished past time such as yesterday.

Present Simple vs Present Continuous

Present Simple vs Present Continuous. The present simple describes regular behaviour and stable states; the continuous describes temporary activity, change or a repeated action viewed emotionally with always.

Past Simple vs Present Perfect

Includes Present perfect vs past simple

Past Simple vs Present Perfect. Use the present perfect to connect the past with now, including unfinished time and experience.

Present Perfect Simple vs Continuous

Includes Present perfect continuous

Present Perfect Simple vs Continuous. Present perfect simple emphasises completion, results or how many; continuous emphasises duration or recent activity.

Past Simple — form and use

Includes Past simple

Past Simple — form and use. Past-simple positives use a past form; questions and negatives use did + base form.

Past Continuous vs Past Simple

Includes Past simple vs past continuous

Past Continuous vs Past Simple. The past continuous describes an action already in progress at a past moment.

Past Perfect

Past Perfect. Form the past perfect with had + past participle to show an event before another past reference point.

Past Simple / Past Continuous / Past Perfect

Includes Past perfect

Past Simple / Past Continuous / Past Perfect. Use past simple for the main sequence, past continuous for background in progress, and past perfect for an earlier event.

Narrative tenses / used to / would

Narrative tenses / used to / would. Narrative tenses establish event order and background; used to describes former habits or states, while would can describe repeated past actions after a past setting is established.

Review of all A2 verb tenses

Review of all A2 verb tenses. Choose a tense from the time relationship: routine, current activity, completed past, background past, earlier past, experience up to now or future intention.

Review of all B1 verb tenses

Review of all B1 verb tenses. Review time relationships across simple, continuous and perfect forms.

Have to / don't have to / must / mustn't

Have to / don't have to / must / mustn't. Must and have to express obligation.

Should / shouldn't

Should / shouldn't. Should + base verb gives advice or says what is a good idea.

Might / might not

Might / might not. Might + base verb expresses an uncertain possibility.

May vs might

May vs might. May and might can both express uncertain possibility; there is no fixed percentage difference.

Used to / didn't use to

Used to / didn't use to. Used to + base verb describes past habits or states that are no longer true.

Uses of go

Uses of go. Go can describe movement, activities and changes.

Uses of get

Uses of get. Get can mean receive, obtain, arrive or become.

Do vs Make

Do vs Make. Do commonly describes tasks, work and activities; make often concerns creating something or producing a result.

Verbs with two objects

Verbs with two objects. Some verbs allow person + thing or thing + to/for + person: give someone a book; give a book to someone.

Stative vs dynamic verbs

Stative vs dynamic verbs. Stative verbs describe possession, thought, feelings or relationships and normally use simple forms.

Phrasal verbs — transitive/intransitive, separable/inseparable

Phrasal verbs — transitive/intransitive, separable/inseparable. A transitive phrasal verb has an object; an intransitive one does not.

First Conditional + future time clauses

Includes First conditional

First Conditional + future time clauses. The first conditional describes a real future possibility: if + present, will/can + base verb.

Second Conditional

Second Conditional. The second conditional imagines an unlikely or unreal present/future situation: if + past form, would + base verb.

First Conditional + future time clauses

First Conditional + future time clauses. Use a present form in if and future time clauses, with a future/modal form in the main clause.

Second Conditional

Includes Second conditional

Second Conditional. Use if + past and would + base verb to imagine an unreal or unlikely present/future situation.

First vs Second Conditional

First vs Second Conditional. The first conditional presents a future situation as a real possibility.

Third Conditional

Third Conditional. The third conditional imagines a different past: if + had + past participle, would have + past participle.

Zero & First Conditional + future clauses

Zero & First Conditional + future clauses. Zero conditionals describe general relationships using present forms in both clauses.

When I do vs When I have done

When I do vs When I have done. A present simple future time clause states when an event happens.

Second & Third Conditionals

Second & Third Conditionals. Second conditionals imagine present/future alternatives using if + past, would + base.

Wishes & regrets — I wish / if only

Wishes & regrets — I wish / if only. Wish/if only + past form expresses dissatisfaction with the present; + past perfect expresses regret about the past.

All Conditionals + Mixed Conditionals + alternatives to if + inversion

All Conditionals + Mixed Conditionals + alternatives to if + inversion. Conditionals range from general truths to hypothetical present and past alternatives.

Mixed Conditionals

Includes Mixed conditionals

Mixed Conditionals. Mixed conditionals connect a past condition with a present result or a present situation with a past result.

Wish / rather / if only / it's time

Includes Wish and if only

Wish / rather / if only / it's time. Wish/if only + past refers to unreal present situations; + past perfect refers to regret.

Unless / even if / provided / as long as etc.

Unless / even if / provided / as long as etc.. Unless means if not, even if means regardless of whether, provided/as long as impose conditions and in case introduces a precaution.

Third conditional

Use if + had + past participle and would have + past participle to imagine a different past.

Present/Past Simple Passive

Present/Past Simple Passive. The passive uses be + past participle.

Passive verb forms

Includes The passive voice

Passive verb forms. The passive is be in the required tense + past participle: is made, was made, has been made, will be made, is being made.

Active vs Passive Voice

Active vs Passive Voice. Use active voice when the agent is your focus and passive when the action's recipient or result matters.

Passive Voice — all tenses

Passive Voice — all tenses. Passive constructions use be in the required tense plus a past participle.

Passive with reporting verbs — It is said that...

Passive with reporting verbs — It is said that.... Reporting passives distance the writer from a claim: It is said that...

Have something done

Have something done. Have/get something done describes arranging for someone else to do a task, or sometimes experiencing an unwanted event.

Distancing & passive reporting verbs

Includes Passive reporting structures

Distancing & passive reporting verbs. Passive reporting and distancing avoid presenting a claim as direct fact: it is alleged that, is believed to, appears to.

Passive verbs with two objects

Passive verbs with two objects. Some ditransitive verbs allow either object as the passive subject: She was given a prize; a prize was given to her.

Reported / Indirect Speech

Reported / Indirect Speech. Reported statements often shift a tense back after said/told when reporting from a later viewpoint.

Expressing purpose — to / for

Expressing purpose — to / for. Use to + base verb to explain an action's purpose.

Infinitives and gerunds — verb patterns

Infinitives and gerunds — verb patterns. Some verbs take to-infinitives, such as plan and promise; others take -ing, such as avoid and mind.

Subject/object/possessive pronouns + possessive adjectives

Subject/object/possessive pronouns + possessive adjectives. Subject pronouns act as subjects, object pronouns follow verbs or prepositions, possessive adjectives precede nouns, and possessive pronouns stand alone.

Something, anything, nothing etc.

Something, anything, nothing etc.. Compounds with some, any, no and every refer to people, things or places.

Much, many, little, few, some, any

Includes Some, any and much

Much, many, little, few, some, any. Many/few modify plural countable nouns; much/little modify uncountable nouns.

Too / too much / too many / enough

Too / too much / too many / enough. Too means more than needed or acceptable; enough means sufficient.

Most / most of / the most

Most / most of / the most. Most + plural/uncountable noun refers to a general majority.

Defining relative clauses — who, which, that, where

Defining relative clauses — who, which, that, where. Defining relative clauses identify which person or thing is meant, without commas.

Defining & non-defining relative clauses

Includes Defining relative clauses

Defining & non-defining relative clauses. Defining clauses identify a noun and have no commas; non-defining clauses add extra information and use commas.

Defining & non-defining relative clauses

Defining & non-defining relative clauses. Defining relatives restrict reference; non-defining relatives add parenthetical information with commas.

Non-defining relative clauses

Use commas for extra information in non-defining clauses. Use who or which, not that.

So / neither — So am I, Neither do I...

So / neither — So am I, Neither do I.... So + auxiliary + subject agrees with a positive statement; neither + auxiliary + subject agrees with a negative one.

Auxiliary verbs — do, be, have

Auxiliary verbs — do, be, have. Be forms continuous tenses and passives, have forms perfect tenses, and do forms simple-tense questions, negatives and emphasis.

Different uses of auxiliary verbs

Different uses of auxiliary verbs. Auxiliaries form questions, negatives, emphasis and short responses.

Question forms

Question forms. Questions usually invert the subject and an auxiliary.

Subject questions / questions with prepositions

Subject questions / questions with prepositions. A subject question asks who or what performs an action and normally needs no do: Who called? An object question uses the usual auxiliary pattern: Who did you call? Prepositions often remain at the end in everyday questions.

Different types of questions

Different types of questions. Yes/no and object questions normally use auxiliary inversion; subject questions do not add do.

Indirect questions

Indirect questions. Indirect questions use statement order after an introductory phrase: Could you tell me where she lives? Yes/no questions use if/whether.

Have to / must / should

Includes Modal verbs of advice and obligation

Have to / must / should. Must/have to express strong obligation; should gives advice.

Can / could / be able to

Can / could / be able to. Can describes present ability; could often describes general past ability.

Modal verbs of deduction — must, might, could, can't

Modal verbs of deduction — must, might, could, can't. Use must for a strong positive deduction, might/may/could for possibility, and can't for a strong negative deduction.

Usually / used to / be used to / get used to

Usually / used to / be used to / get used to. Usually describes a current habit.

Had better / It's time

Had better / It's time. Had better + base verb gives strong advice, often implying an unwanted consequence.

Would rather / would sooner

Would rather / would sooner. Would rather/sooner + bare infinitive expresses preference.

Phrasal verbs 1

Phrasal verbs 1. Phrasal verbs combine a verb and particle with a particular meaning.

Phrasal verbs 2

Phrasal verbs 2. This set covers inseparable combinations: look after means care for, look for means search for, run into means meet unexpectedly, get over means recover from and come across means find by chance.

Phrasal verbs 3

Phrasal verbs 3. This set covers carry on, put off, give up, work out and find out.

Needn't / don't need to / didn't need to / needn't have

Needn't / don't need to / didn't need to / needn't have. Needn't and don't need to mean no present necessity.

Past modal verbs of deduction

Includes Modal deduction

Past modal verbs of deduction. For past deductions, use modal + have + past participle: must have for strong belief, might/could have for possibility and can't/couldn't have for impossibility.

Likely / unlikely / bound / definitely / probably

Likely / unlikely / bound / definitely / probably. Likely/unlikely are followed by to-infinitive or a that-clause with it.

Used to / be used to / get used to

Includes Used to and be used to

Used to / be used to / get used to. Used to + base verb refers to a former habit or state.

Would vs used to

Would vs used to. Used to describes past habits and states no longer true.

Verbs of senses — look, sound, feel...

Verbs of senses — look, sound, feel.... Linking sense verbs such as look, sound, smell, taste and feel take adjectives.

Do vs Make

Do vs Make. Do and make occur in fixed combinations.

Modal verbs — permission, obligation, prohibition, necessity

Modal verbs — permission, obligation, prohibition, necessity. Distinguish permission, obligation, prohibition and lack of necessity.

Speculation & deduction

Speculation & deduction. Modal deductions use must, may/might/could and can't according to certainty.

Verbs of senses

Verbs of senses. Linking sense verbs take adjectives; like introduces a noun phrase and as if/as though introduces a clause.

Get — different meanings

Get — different meanings. Get can mean obtain, become, arrive or cause something to happen.

Indirect / Reported Speech

Includes Reported speech

Indirect / Reported Speech. Backshift is common after past reporting verbs, but is not always required if a statement remains true or relevant.

Gerund vs infinitive

Includes Gerunds and infinitives

Gerund vs infinitive. Verb patterns depend on the verb and sometimes change meaning.

Gerund vs infinitive — verb patterns

Gerund vs infinitive — verb patterns. Verb complements differ: admit/deny/avoid + -ing, agree/refuse + to-infinitive, and preposition + -ing.

Would rather / would prefer

Would rather / would prefer. Would rather takes a bare infinitive; would prefer takes to-infinitive or a noun.

Reporting verbs — admit doing, refuse to do...

Reporting verbs — admit doing, refuse to do.... Reporting verbs have specific patterns: admit/deny/suggest + -ing, agree/refuse/promise + to-infinitive, and advise/warn/remind + object + to-infinitive.

A(n), the, no article

A(n), the, no article. A/an introduces a singular countable item; the identifies a known or specific one; no article is used for general plurals and uncountables.

Reflexive pronouns

Reflexive pronouns. Reflexive pronouns refer back to the subject: myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves.

Much/many/a lot/little/few/some/any/no

Much/many/a lot/little/few/some/any/no. Choose quantifiers by countability and intended meaning.

All / both

All / both. All refers to a complete group, while both means exactly two.

Both / either / neither

Both / either / neither. Both means two together, either means one or the other, and neither means not one and not the other.

Any / no / none

Any / no / none. No comes before a noun; none stands alone or is followed by of.

Another / other / others / the other / the others

Another / other / others / the other / the others. Another means one more or a different singular item.

Question tags

Question tags. A question tag repeats an auxiliary with a pronoun, usually changing polarity.

Have — auxiliary or main verb

Have — auxiliary or main verb. Have is an auxiliary in perfect tenses, a main verb for possession/experience, and part of have to for obligation.

Ellipsis & substitution

Ellipsis & substitution. Ellipsis leaves out recoverable words, often after an auxiliary: I can, but she can't.

Clauses of contrast, purpose and reason

Clauses of contrast, purpose and reason. Although/even though introduce clauses; despite/in spite of introduce noun phrases or -ing.

Clauses of contrast & purpose

Clauses of contrast & purpose. Although/even though take clauses; despite/in spite of take noun phrases or -ing.

Contrast / purpose / reason / result

Contrast / purpose / reason / result. Clause linkers and prepositions have different complements: although + clause, despite + noun/-ing; because + clause, owing to + noun; so that + clause, in order to + infinitive.

Discourse markers / linking words

Discourse markers / linking words. Discourse markers signal relationships: however/nevertheless contrast, therefore/consequently result, moreover addition, and for instance example.

Participle clauses

Participle clauses. Participle clauses compress information and normally share their understood subject with the main clause.

Present Perfect Simple vs Continuous

Present Perfect Simple vs Continuous. Present perfect simple focuses on completion, quantity or a stable state; continuous focuses on duration or visible evidence of activity.

Narrative tenses — all past tenses

Narrative tenses — all past tenses. Narratives use past simple for events, past continuous for background, past perfect simple for earlier completion and past perfect continuous for earlier ongoing activity.

Future Continuous & Future Perfect

Includes Future continuous

Future Continuous & Future Perfect. Future continuous uses will be + -ing for activity in progress at a future time.

Review of B1–B2 verb tenses

Review of B1–B2 verb tenses. Review tense choices through reference points: a perfect form looks back, a continuous form presents an activity in progress and a simple form presents a fact or event.

All / most / both / either / neither / any / no / none

All / most / both / either / neither / any / no / none. Quantifiers differ in number and definiteness: both/either/neither refer to two; all/most to larger groups or amounts; no precedes a noun and none stands alone.

Whatever / whenever / wherever / whoever / however

Whatever / whenever / wherever / whoever / however. Whatever, whoever, wherever and whenever can mean any thing/person/place/time or no matter what/who/where/when.

Position of adverbs & adverb phrases

Position of adverbs & adverb phrases. Frequency and certainty adverbs often follow the first auxiliary but precede a main lexical verb; manner often goes after the object.

Cleft sentences

Cleft sentences. Cleft sentences divide a message to focus attention.

Cleft sentences

Use it is/was + focus + that/who to highlight a part of the message. What-clefts put the focus after be.

Verb + object + infinitive/gerund

Verb + object + infinitive/gerund. Verb + object patterns include want/ask/allow + object + to-infinitive, make/let + object + bare infinitive, and prevent + object + from + -ing.

Complex gerund & infinitive forms

Complex gerund & infinitive forms. Perfect infinitives/gerunds refer to earlier actions, passive forms put the action on the understood subject, and continuous infinitives highlight duration.

Reflexive & reciprocal pronouns

Reflexive & reciprocal pronouns. Reflexive pronouns refer back to the same person as the subject; reciprocal pronouns each other/one another describe mutual action.

Generic/common-gender pronouns

Generic/common-gender pronouns. Singular they is widely used for a person whose gender is unknown, irrelevant or identified with they.

Compound nouns & possessive forms

Compound nouns & possessive forms. Compound nouns often use a singular modifying noun: shoe shop, car door.

Possessive 's with time expressions

Possessive 's with time expressions. Possessive forms express time and distance: a day's work, two weeks' notice, tomorrow's meeting.

Advanced Present Simple & Present Continuous

Advanced Present Simple & Present Continuous. Beyond habits and ongoing activity, the present simple appears in commentary, summaries, performative statements and scheduled future events.

Advanced Past Simple, Past Continuous & Past Perfect

Advanced Past Simple, Past Continuous & Past Perfect. Past forms can narrate events, establish background or create interpersonal distance.

Advanced modal verbs: will, would & should

Advanced modal verbs: will, would & should. Will can express characteristic behaviour, willingness or a present inference; would can express past habit, refusal or tentative judgement.

Advanced modal verbs: can / be able to, may / might

Advanced modal verbs: can / be able to, may / might. Can expresses ability and general possibility, while may/might commonly express a specific uncertain possibility.

The Subjunctive in English — Present & Past

Includes Subjunctive and formal recommendations

The Subjunctive in English — Present & Past. The mandative present subjunctive uses the base form after demands or recommendations: that she be, that he leave.

The Perfect Tenses — forms & uses

The Perfect Tenses — forms & uses. Perfect forms locate a situation before a present, past or future reference point.

Advanced Participle Clauses

Advanced Participle Clauses. Advanced participle clauses include perfect and passive forms: having completed, having been informed.

Advanced Word Order

Includes Inversion for emphasis

Advanced Word Order. Word order controls focus through inversion, fronting, clefts and end-weight.

Prepositions — position & advanced patterns

Prepositions — position & advanced patterns. Prepositions may be stranded in ordinary relative clauses and questions or placed before whom/which in formal style.

Subject–Verb Agreement — advanced rules

Subject–Verb Agreement — advanced rules. Agreement depends on the head noun and meaning, not simply the nearest noun.

Future perfect

Use will have + past participle for an action completed before a future deadline.

Advanced concession

Use although or even though before a clause; despite and in spite of take a noun or -ing form.

Hedging and distancing

Use tentative language such as appears to, may and is likely to when evidence does not justify certainty.

A1: Write the missing words

Produce the grammar yourself: ten focused questions with a clear cue and no answer choices.

A1: Find and fix grammar errors

Find a grammar error and rewrite the sentence. Ten corrections with explanations and targeted review.

A2: Write the missing words

Produce the grammar yourself: ten focused questions with a clear cue and no answer choices.

A2: Find and fix grammar errors

Find a grammar error and rewrite the sentence. Ten corrections with explanations and targeted review.

B1: Write the missing words

Produce the grammar yourself: ten focused questions with a clear cue and no answer choices.

B1: Find and fix grammar errors

Find a grammar error and rewrite the sentence. Ten corrections with explanations and targeted review.

B1+: Write the missing words

Produce the grammar yourself: ten focused questions with a clear cue and no answer choices.

B1+: Find and fix grammar errors

Find a grammar error and rewrite the sentence. Ten corrections with explanations and targeted review.

B2: Write the missing words

Produce the grammar yourself: ten focused questions with a clear cue and no answer choices.

B2: Find and fix grammar errors

Find a grammar error and rewrite the sentence. Ten corrections with explanations and targeted review.

C1: Write the missing words

Produce the grammar yourself: ten focused questions with a clear cue and no answer choices.

C1: Find and fix grammar errors

Find a grammar error and rewrite the sentence. Ten corrections with explanations and targeted review.