Grammar reference and practice 1

1.1 Review of past and present Present perfect simple and present perfect
tenses continuous
We use the present perfect simple:
Present simple and present continuous to talk about actions that happened at some unspecified
We use the present simple: point in the past.
to talk about routines or habits (often with adverbs She’s experienced many extraordinary things in her life.
of time, e.g. always, sometimes, never). to talk about experiences with never, already, just and yet.
Does your school always celebrate ‘We Day’? They’ve already raised £5,000 for charity, but they
Yes, it does. / No, it doesn’t. haven’t achieved their target yet.
to talk about facts and general truths. to talk about actions that began in the past, but continue up
We meet many different challenges in life, but we don’t to the present moment, often with for and since.
always overcome them. How long have you been part of this organization?
with verbs that describe states: believe, hate, have, know, I’ve been a member for 15 years.
like, need, prefer, see, seem, think, understand, want. We use the present perfect continuous:
I think that global poverty is the most important issue in to talk about actions that began in the past, but continue
the world today. up to the present, often with for and since.
We use the present continuous: He’s been campaigning for a change in policy for
to describe an action that is happening now, or around now six years.
(often with time expressions, e.g. right now, at the moment). to talk about an action that has happened repeatedly
Today we’re collecting money for an important charity. in the past and that is still happening now.
to describe a temporary, changing or developing situation. We haven’t been sitting idly at home, we’ve been
Is your local community becoming more co-operative? working to improve the situation.
Yes, it is. / No, it isn’t. to talk about a very recent action which has either just
to describe irritating habits (often with always). finished or which has just been interrupted.
He’s always checking his texts on his mobile phone. You look very tired. Have you been working hard?
Yes, I have. / No, I haven’t.
State verbs
We never use continuous tenses with state verbs,
Past perfect
e.g. believe, know, understand, like, etc. We use the past perfect to talk about something that
We believe his promises. happened before something else in the past.
NOT We’re believing his promises. He couldn’t read and write because he had never been
He hasn’t understood the argument. to school.
NOT He hasn’t been understanding the argument. 1 Match 1–6 to a–f to make sentences.
1 I’ve been following his blog since
Past simple and past continuous
2 I usually spend the summer at the beach, but this year
We use the past simple: 3 I wasn’t studying yesterday because
to talk about a completed action that happened in the past. 4 I did very well in the test because
Did you travel to the USA last year? 5 I remembered the phone number
Yes, I did. / No, I didn’t. 6 I left home when I was 16 and
to describe two or more actions that happened one after
a I was helping my friend to fix his car.
the other.
b I moved to England to find work.
He climbed over the wall and jumped in through
c I heard about it from a friend.
the window.
d I had studied hard for several weeks.
to talk about two connected actions that happened
e I’m doing some voluntary work for an overseas charity.
at around the same time.
f while I was dialling it.
When we saw the fire, we called the emergency
services.
We use the past continuous:
to describe a scene in the past or an action that was
happening at a particular time.
She was waving at us, but we weren’t looking at her.
to talk about a longer action that happens at the
same time as a shorter action, or a longer action that
is interrupted by a shorter action.
Were you listening to the radio when you heard
the news? Yes, I was. / No, I wasn’t.
I remembered her name while she was talking.

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2 Choose the correct words. 1 Choose the correct sentence endings.
1 Where do you usually go / are you usually going on 1 By the time he reached the prison gates,
holiday? a a large crowd had already gathered to greet him.
2 They didn’t hear / haven’t heard from him since last b a large crowd had already been gathering to greet
July. him.
3 He drove / was driving to work when he saw / was 2 When the visitors arrived at the island,
seeing the accident. a they had travelled for many days.
4 I had never experienced / never experienced such a b they had been travelling for many days.
reaction before then. 3 His head ached and his eyes were sore because
5 It’s developing / develops into a very challenging a he had studied since five o’clock in the morning.
project. b he had been studying since five o’clock in the
6 Where did you first learn / have you first learned morning.
about this initiative? 4 Until I read Mandela’s autobiography,
7 Sorry I’m late. Did you wait / Have you been waiting a I hadn’t realized that he had spent 27 years in prison.
long? b I hadn’t been realizing that he had spent 27 years in
8 They left / were leaving their jobs in the city and prison.
had started / started up their own travel company. 5 We heard about the riot
a after we had left the building.
3 Complete the text with the correct form of the verbs
b after we had been leaving the building.
in brackets. Sometimes more than one answer is
6 They were angry because
possible.
a they had waited for many hours.
My life 1 (change) dramatically in 2010, when
2
b they had been waiting for many hours.
I (lose) my job as an accountant. My father
3
(die) the year before, and he 4 2 Complete the sentences with the past perfect simple
(leave) me some money. I 5 (look) at some or past perfect continuous form of the verbs below.
travel magazines and I 6 (think) about
climb look for not expect not finish shop
spending the money on an exotic holiday, when I
7 swim work
(hear) a programme on the radio about
orphanages in India. ‘I 8 (want) 1 She for 30 minutes before she realized
to make a difference,’ I thought to myself. ‘Why that she couldn’t see the shore.
9
(I / dream) about holidays when I can help 2 He the speech before the crowd began to
other people?’ Since then, I 10 (travel) to India cheer.
several times and I 11 (help) to rebuild an 3 By the time we reached the top of the mountain, we
orphanage in Calcutta. It 12 (be) an amazing over 300 metres.
experience. 4 She so many people to come until she
arrived and the room was full.
5 He was extremely tired because he hard
1.2 Past perfect simple and all day.
continuous 6 How long the book before you found it?
We use the past perfect simple to describe completed 7 We for hours by the time we found the
events that happened before another event in the past gift we wanted to buy.
(often with time expressions such as by the time, when,
before, after and until).
She had already learned how to read and write by the time
she started school.
We use the past perfect continuous:
to describe ongoing activities leading up to a more recent
past event.
They had been walking for hours when they saw the
house in the distance.
to give background information about an event.
She was concerned because he hadn’t been sleeping
well recently.
to emphasize the duration of an activity.
We’d been dancing for hours and we were tired.

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Grammar reference and practice 2

2.1 Future forms 2 Write questions and answers using the correct form of
be going to, the present simple, will or may / might.
Present simple 1 A What / you / do / at the weekend?
We use the present simple to talk about future events that
are based on a schedule or timetable. B I don’t know yet. I / go swimming or I / visit /
School finishes at half past three in the afternoon. my cousins in London.

Present continuous 2 A What time / the film / start?

We use the present continuous to talk about arrangements
for a future time. B T
he doors / open / at 5.30 p.m. / but / the film /
We’re meeting our friends at the Opera House tonight. not start / until 5.50 p.m.

will + infinitive 3 I think / you / enjoy / this book.

We use will and won’t to talk about:
promises and hopes for the future, often with verbs like 4 She / not / return / to college / after the holiday. She /
hope, expect or promise + that (you can omit that). work / at her mother’s company.
I promise (that) I’ll finish my geography project.
predictions, often after I think or I don’t think, or future facts 5 I think / we / much more concerned / global warming in
that we are certain about. the future.
We don’t think (that) the weather will be very good
tomorrow. 6 By 2050 / everyone on the planet / probably / live / for
Our children’s lives will be very different from ours. over 100 years.
future facts or future predictions that we are less certain
about, with probably.
They probably won’t come to the lecture this afternoon.
things we decide to do at the moment of speaking (instant 2.2 Future continuous, future
decisions, offers, promises). perfect simple and continuous
Look at this mess! I’ll tidy up.
Future continuous
going to + infinitive We use the future continuous with a future time expression
We use be + going to to talk about: to talk about an action that will be in progress at a certain
intentions and plans. time in the future.
I’m going to think more carefully about where my food comes This time tomorrow, we’ll be moving to our new house!
from.
predictions about the future based on evidence, We also use the future continuous to talk about a future
for example something we can see in the present. action that is fixed or decided. A time expression is not
Look at that car! It’s going to crash! always necessary.
Will Pete be playing at the concert?
may / might
Future perfect simple
We use may or might when we are less certain about
the future. There is very little difference in meaning We use the future perfect simple to talk about a completed
between the two words. action or event in the future. We often use by or before + a
We may / might go to the beach. It depends on the weather. time expression to say when the action will be finished.
Everything will have changed by the time you get back.
1 Choose the correct words. They won’t have finished the work before the weekend.
1 Tomorrow we’re going to / will decorate our house:
A time expression is not always necessary.
we’ve already bought the paint and the brushes.
There’s no doubt she will have entertained her audience,
2 A Where’s your homework, Anna?
but will she have changed their minds?
B I promise I’m finishing / ’ll finish it tonight, Mr James.
3 I hope we might not / won’t destroy our marine Future perfect continuous
environment.
We use the future perfect continuous to talk about
4 Your train leaves / is leaving at half past five.
an action that will continue up to a particular time
5 She’s going to / might visit Uluru when she goes
in the future.
to Australia. She hasn’t decided yet.
How long will you have been studying when you graduate?
6 Ellen Jones comes / is coming to dinner later.
We often use the future perfect continuous with a time
expression with for to focus on the duration of an activity.
I will have been working for ten weeks on this project by the time
I finally complete it.

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1 Complete the sentences with the correct future 1 Complete sentence b so that it has a similar meaning
forms below. to sentence a.
1 a I’ll buy the tickets and then I’ll call you.
will be travelling will have been travelling
b As soon as .
will have travelled
2 a If he doesn’t read the guidebook, he won’t
1 She to six countries in six months by understand what he’s looking at.
February. b Unless .
2 I across Australia next month. 3 a When you arrive at the hotel, it will already be dark.
3 We for more than four weeks by the time b By the time .
we finally arrive in Darwin. 4 a We will be happy when we know what the result is.
b Until .
will have been studying won’t be studying
5 a She will be studying for the exam and at the same
won’t have studied
time he will be rebuilding his house.
4 By the time I take my final exam, I at this b While .
college for four years. 6 a When I leave the house, I’ll lock the doors.
5 They all the tenses in English by the end b Before .
of this year.
6 She
enjoy the subject.
ecology next year. She really doesn’t
2.4 Modifying adverbs with
2 Complete the sentences with the correct form of the
gradable and non-gradable
verbs in brackets. Use the future continuous, future adjectives
perfect simple or future perfect continuous. Gradable adjectives describe qualities that you can
1 By this time next year, I (visit) every major measure, e.g. knowledgeable, tedious, interesting. We
city in the UK. can say a person is more or less knowledgeable. With
2 Over the next month, they (appear) at all gradable adjectives we use grading adverbs, e.g. a little bit,
the major music festivals in the UK. particularly, very.
3 You read so fast! You (read) the whole Our tour guide was very knowledgeable.
book before dinner! Non-gradable adjectives describe qualities that are
4 He’ll be furious when we finally arrive – he absolute or extreme, e.g. ideal, awesome, overwhelming.
(wait) for us for three hours! They cannot be used as comparative adjectives. We cannot
5 This time next month, we (sit) on a beach say that something is more or less ideal: either it is ideal or
and (relax) in the sunshine. it is not. With non-gradable adjectives we use non-grading
6 When we finish this trip, we (wear) the adverbs, e.g. utterly, absolutely.
same clothes for six months. Your suggestion is absolutely ideal.
The adverbs quite, really, pretty and fairly can be used
2.3 Using the present to talk with both types of adjectives. With gradable adjectives,
about the future they emphasize the nature, whereas with non-gradable
adjectives they describe the degree. Quite means ‘fairly’
Time clauses link an event in the time clause with another
when used with gradable adjectives, and it means ‘to the
event in the main clause.
greatest degree’ when used with non-gradable adjectives.
Future time clauses begin with time words like until (up to
I found the film quite tedious.
a point in time), as soon as (at the moment when /
The experience has been quite overwhelming.
immediately after), by the time (one event will be
completed before another), while (during a period of time), 1 Choose the correct words.
unless (if not), before, after and when. 1 My new exercise routine is not particularly / totally
I’ll look after your things until you come home. exhausting.
By the time you read this, I will be in Paris! 2 The whole meal was fantastic, and the dessert was
Don’t touch the animals unless you want to get hurt. particularly / fairly delicious.
When the time clause comes at the beginning of a 3 There was something a little bit / utterly extraordinary
sentence, we separate it from the main clause with a about her performance.
comma. 4 It’s a shame the concert was absolutely / really
When we’ve arrived at our destination, we’ll unpack our disappointing.
suitcases and explore the town. 5 The new shopping centre is absolutely / very
We often use the present simple or future tenses in the enormous.
main clause. There is little difference in meaning. We never 6 Since her first TV role she has become quite / utterly
use will / won’t after the future time clauses. well known.
As soon as you arrive, we’ll have some food.
NOT As soon as you will arrive, …
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Grammar reference and practice 3

3.1 Articles with languages and nationalities.

He’s Chinese, but he speaks English perfectly.
a / an 1 Complete the sentences with a / an, the or – (= no
We use a / an: article).
with non-specific things. 1 Last year I went to UK where I visited
I want to read a magazine. London and went to
the first time we mention something. British Museum.
I can see a tall house in the distance. 2 I was filled with sadness when I heard
with any member of a group or jobs. about tragic death of
He’s a football player. She’s a teacher. Queen.
to express each or per. 3 My sister is student in
My father eats three eggs a day. Madrid.
We use a before words that begin with a consonant. We use 4 She’s got enormous bedroom with
an before words that begin with a vowel or a silent ‘h’. purple curtains, designer
She’s an honest friend, but she isn’t an outgoing person. furniture and pink ceiling.
5 He’s not best singer in the world, but he
the writes amazing songs.
We use the: 6 She’s Brazilian, so she speaks
with specific things. Portuguese.
I want to read the magazine on the table. 7 I need holiday. A trip down
with things that have already been mentioned. Nile would be amazing!
I can see a tall house in the distance. The house is red. 8 That’s boy I told you about yesterday. His
when there is only one of something. father is actor.
The prime minister made an important announcement.
with superlative adjectives.
She’s the fastest runner in our school.
3.2 Determiners
with a general statement about all the things referred to by We use the following determiners to talk about quantity
that noun. before countable and uncountable nouns.
Scientists believe that the woolly mammoth became extinct We use any in negative sentences. We can modify any with
because of climate change. hardly, meaning ‘almost no’.
with adjectives like wealthy, unemployed or disabled, to There were hardly any boats at sea.
talk about groups of people who share a characteristic. We use some in affirmative sentences and offers.
This new law is intended to protect the elderly. Some students in the class agreed with her.
with countries that include words like kingdom, states or We use a lot of to mean a large number or amount.
republic. There were a lot of people working on the art show.
the USA, the UK, the Republic of Ireland We use none of to mean ‘not any’. We can modify none
with countries and islands that have plural nouns. of with almost, meaning ‘not quite’. We don’t generally
the Maldives, the Orkneys use of when there is no other determiner (e.g. article or
with rivers, seas, oceans, canals, forests, deserts, gulfs, possessive). Instead we use no.
peninsulas and geographical areas. (Almost) none of the students finished their homework.
the Nile, the Alps, the Lake District, the Black Forest We’ve got no plans this weekend.
with names of hotels, famous buildings and organizations. All (of) can modify nouns and pronouns. It is used to talk
the United Nations, the Hilton Hotel about a whole amount. We can modify all with almost,
with families. meaning ‘not quite’. Before a noun with no determiner, we
We’re going to visit the Wilsons tonight. don’t usually use of.
All fish is horrible! NOT All of fish is horrible!
no article We use the following determiners with countable nouns.
We use no article: We use few meaning ‘not enough’ or ‘a small number of’
with things in general or before general plural nouns. and a few to mean ‘a small number of’.
He’s got blue eyes. Few people clean up their rubbish.
with abstract nouns. A few people turned up to help clean the beach.
Some people believe that love conquers everything. We often use many in negatives and questions. We can
with uncountable nouns. add too or far too in front of many and few to modify them.
I like fish, but I hate fruit. Far means a greater amount. We use many of in front of
with most countries, towns, streets, lakes, mountains, determiners and pronouns.
continents and islands. There were (far too) many people on the beach.
France, Paris, Church Road, Lake Titicaca How many of you went to the beach?

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We use several to talk about more than two but not many. try + to: attempt to do something which is difficult
There were several plastic bottles floating in the sea. She tried to climb the mountain, but she didn’t reach
the top.
We use the following determiners with uncountable nouns.
like + -ing: enjoy
We use much with negatives and questions. We can modify
I like swimming, but I hate surfing.
much with far too, meaning ‘a great amount’. We don’t
like + to: do something as a habit
generally use of when there is no other determiner (e.g.
I like to swim every morning before work.
article or possessive).
stop + -ing: no longer do something
She spent (far too) much money on those flip-flops.
I stopped talking to Henry.
We use little to mean ‘not enough’ or ‘a small amount’
(I don’t talk to Henry any more.)
and a little to mean ‘a small amount’.
stop + to: stop in order to do something different
Fish need little feeding.
I stopped to talk to Henry.
There’s a little milk left in the fridge.
(I stopped my other activities in order to talk to Henry.)
1 Choose the correct words. go on + -ing: continue to do something
1 We’ve got much / little money, but we’ve got a lot of / Shall we go on looking at these pictures or not?
much friends. go on + to: do something after completing something else
2 She’s sad because too much / several of her relatives We talked about books and then went on to discuss politics.
forgot her birthday.
3 We can’t make bread because we’ve got hardly any /
1 Complete the sentences with the correct form of the
verbs in brackets.
a lot of flour.
1 Please don’t stop (sing).
4 There are almost no / almost none of cars here.
2 I think I’ll try (wear) my new jeans.
5 Almost no / Almost none of the pens work.
3 They refused (listen) to us, even though
6 Can I have a little / a few help, please? I’ve got a few /
we tried (persuade) them.
a little questions about this work.
4 I don’t remember (switch) the oven off
this morning. Maybe I should go home and check!
3.3 Verb patterns 5 We like (walk) home in the afternoon
because the bus is usually very full.
When two verbs appear together in a sentence, the first one
6 She ate four biscuits and then went on
can be followed by the infinitive (with or without to) or the
(have) a huge piece of cake.
-ing form of the verb.
Verbs with -ing (avoid, consider, discuss, enjoy, finish,
imagine, recommend, suggest)
Have you finished reading the book?
3.4 Ordering events in a story
To describe one action that happens before another action
Infinitive with to (agree, hope, plan, afford, need, prefer,
we can use having + past participle and after + -ing. The
intend, refuse)
first clause is separated by a comma.
She agreed to talk to us, but refused to help.
Having run to the station, she caught the train.
Object + infinitive with to (ask, expect, get, help, inspire, want)
After spending all afternoon by the pool, he went to
She inspired me to write my first novel.
the beach.
Object + infinitive without to (let and make)
To describe an action that happens at the same time as
They must let him see the results.
another action we can use a present participle or as + past
She made him finish his work.
simple. The first clause is separated by a comma.
Some verbs change their meaning depending on whether Seeing them across the street, he called out.
they are followed by infinitive with to or verb + -ing. As she walked past the shops, she saw exactly the dress she
remember / forget + -ing: remember / forget something was looking for.
I remember meeting Fred at a party and I’ll never forget hearing
him sing! 1 Match 1–5 to a–e to make sentences.
remember / forget + to: something you should do or want 1 Listening to the radio,
to do 2 After looking in the shed,
Please remember to lock the door when you go out! 3 Having completed university,
regret + -ing: be sorry for doing something 4 As I boarded the plane,
I regret not telling her about the party. 5 Wanting some food,
regret + to: give some bad news a I saw someone acting suspiciously.
I regret to tell you that you weren’t successful. b I fell asleep.
try + -ing: do something as an experiment c they found the cat hiding there.
I tried cooking with butter instead of oil, but I didn’t like the d he went to the fridge.
taste. e she started looking for a job.

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