L5_B2_Grammar_reference_English
L5_B2_Grammar_reference_English
Past tense review • stative verbs are not usually used in the present
perfect continuous. These are verbs such as know,
• we use the past simple for finished past actions,
understand, want, love, hate, hear
states and habits, often with a past time expression
We’ve known each other since we were at primary
I bought these jeans yesterday. They only cost me £20.
school together.
• we use the past continuous for actions that were
in progress at a certain time in the past, actions Past perfect simple and past
that continued for some time and descriptions of
background events simple
My granddad was living in Manchester when he met • we use the past perfect simple for actions that
my grandma. happened before another action in the past
I was looking for my science book for 20 minutes this Robbie had heard the news before I told him.
morning.
• we can use either the past perfect or past simple
It was raining and everyone was walking with their in sentences with before or after if the past perfect
umbrellas. action happened at a specific time in the past, as the
• we use the past perfect for an action that happened order of events is clear
before another action in the past After I had tidied/tidied my desk, I started studying for
We had intended to go shopping, but Naomi had to my exam.
stay at home to study. • we often use the time expressions by the time, ever,
• we use used to for past habits or repeated actions never, already and by then with the past perfect
and states that are no longer true Had Carol ever ridden a horse before today?
Juan used to go swimming twice a week in the We’d already left by the time Theo arrived.
local lake.
We didn’t use to like playing cards. Past perfect simple and past
Didn’t this house use to belong to a famous
Hollywood actor?
perfect continuous
• we use the past perfect continuous for actions that
Present perfect simple and started in the past and continued up to another time
in the past
present perfect continuous Enzo had been watching the film for about 20 minutes
• we use the present perfect to show the present but he hadn’t understood anything.
result of a finished action when the focus is on the • with the past perfect continuous, the emphasis is on
result (what/how much has been completed) the duration of the action, so we often use for and
I’ve written the essay, but it’s far too long. since
• we use the present perfect continuous when the I had been thinking about becoming a vegetarian
action is unfinished and the focus is on the action since I watched that documentary.
or process They’d been dancing for a few minutes when the DJ
Ellen’s been practising the piano all morning. stopped the music.
Have you been waiting for a long time? • we often use it to show cause and effect
• we use the present perfect continuous to emphasise She’d been feeling so proud of herself because she had
duration passed all her exams.
Demir’s been cycling for over two hours. They’d been walking for about an hour when they got
hungry.
• we also use it for temporary things or actions
Paul’s been sleeping on the sofa while his Time expressions
grandmother’s visiting. With past perfect With past perfect
• we form the present perfect continuous with has/ simple continuous
have (not) been (perfect) + -ing form (continuous) before, after, by the time, before, after, for, since,
Tom has been studying all day. until, already, always, when
Doctors have been warning people to wash their never
hands more carefully.
• we use be going to + infinitive for predictions about • we use the future perfect for actions that will be
the future when we can see some evidence now complete before a specific time in the future
That car is going too fast round the corner – it’s going Someone will have designed a cheap flying car
to crash. by 2050.
• we also use this form for future plans or intentions I won’t have finished my homework by five o’clock.
which are already decided, but without an exact time • we form the future perfect with will (’ll)/will not
or date (won’t) + have + the past participle
During this course, we’re going to learn lots of The plane won’t have landed by three o’clock.
interesting things.
• we use the present continuous for future Future time expressions
arrangements, usually involving someone else, often
with a date, time or place Time expressions
We’re staying at Kevin’s beach house for two weeks. With future continuous With future perfect
• we use the present simple for events that are part of at 11 o’clock by 11 o’clock
a timetable or schedule in the future on Friday/4 March in three weeks’ time
Classes start at 8:30 am and finish at 2:30 pm tomorrow. in January before too long
this time tomorrow/
Future continuous and future next week
perfect • we use the preposition by + a time/day/date/month/
year to say that something will be completed (future
Future continuous perfect) no later than that time/day, etc.
Affirmative Negative We’ll have finished painting the room by tomorrow.
I/You/He/She/It/We/You/ I/You/He/She/It/We/You/ By 2050, we will have replaced all petrol vehicles with
They will/’ll be studying. They will not/won’t be electric ones.
studying.
Questions Short answers
Will I/you/he/she/it/we/ Yes, I/you/he/she/it/we/
you/they be studying? you/they will.
No, I/you/he/she/it/we/
you/they won’t.
• we use non-defining relative clauses to give extra • we use by far before superlative adjectives to
non-essential information about the noun it follows. highlight a big difference
We always use commas to separate a non-defining This is by far the best ice cream I’ve ever eaten.
relative clause from the rest of the sentence • we use just (to emphasise equality), not quite (to
Jack’s last video, which got over a million views, was show a small difference) and not nearly (to show a
posted two weeks ago. bigger difference) before as + adjective + as
• the relative pronoun whom refers to a person and I’d be just as excited as you would be to meet him.
is more formal. It is used when it is the object of the The meal wasn’t quite as good as we’d thought it
verb in the relative clause and it is often preceded by would be.
a preposition The chair wasn’t nearly as comfortable as it looked.
The woman whom you met yesterday used to be the
president of Ireland. • in negative sentences, we can use not so … as or not
as … as
The man from whom Elvan borrowed some money
was very rich. The island isn’t so/as pretty as everyone says it is.
Modal verbs • we use might have (been) or could have (been) when
we speculate about possibility in the past, but the
Present Past negative forms have different meanings. We use
Ability can could/was/were able to might not have (been) to express a possibility but
couldn’t have (been) is an impossibility. We use can’t
can’t couldn’t/wasn’t/weren’t
and must have (been) to make logical deductions
able to
about the past
Obligation have to had to
That noise might/could have been a cat.
and must had to
prohibition She might not have heard you – try again.
mustn’t weren’t allowed to
You must have seen Lauren – she’s just left the house.
No don’t have to didn’t have to
obligation don’t need to didn’t need to Perfect modals
Possibility, might (not) might (not) have
deduction be been
• we use perfect modals for things that didn’t actually
happen in the past. We use them to speculate about
and could be could have been past events
speculation
couldn’t be couldn’t have been
• we form perfect modals with could(n’t)/should(n’t)/
can’t be can’t have been would(n’t) + have + past participle
must be must have been We wouldn’t have done it that way.
Advice should go should have gone
• we use could have + verb to mean something was
shouldn’t go shouldn’t have gone possible but we didn’t do it or it didn’t happen
• some modal verbs have a past form (was/were able There could have been a terrible accident.
to, had to) but we form some past modal verbs with • we use couldn’t have + verb to mean something was
a modal + have + past participle impossible so we didn’t do it or it didn’t happen
We were able to catch the last bus. Paula couldn’t have sent you this note. That’s not
She must have left her phone in the library. her writing.
• when we talk about general abilities in the past, we • we use should have + verb to mean we didn’t
can use could or was/were able to. However, when we do something but we wish we had done it or
talk about managing to do something on a specific something didn’t happen but we wish it had
occasion in the past, we only use was/were able to happened
Rosa could/was able to play the piano when she We should have gone the other way – now we’re lost.
was five. • we use shouldn’t have + verb to mean we did
I lost my key, but I was able to climb in through a something or something happened and we regret it
window. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have shouted at you like that.
• we use had to to talk about obligations in the past, • we use would have + verb to mean we didn’t do
but must doesn’t have a past form for obligation something because it was impossible or we didn’t
and prohibition. We can use not be allowed to to talk know about it
about a prohibition
Guille would have come earlier, but he had a lot of
We had to wait a long time. homework.
We weren’t allowed to talk during the show.
• we use wouldn’t have + verb to mean we did
• we use can’t and must (be) to talk about certainty something, but under different circumstances our
and make logical deductions in the present. We use actions would have been different
might/could/may (be) to talk about possibility in the Pamela wouldn’t have told you, but she thought you
present should know.
It might be Jaime’s bag. He was here earlier.
It can’t be Jaime’s bag because his is dark blue not
light blue.
Luke is looking for something. It must be his.
2 Correct the mistake in each sentence. 5 Complete the sentences with the correct form
1 We mustn’t forgetting to leave the keys with the of the words in brackets.
secretary. 1 Oh, dear! She shouldn’t have said (should /
We mustn’t forget to leave the keys with not / say) that to you.
the secretary. 2 You (could / not / help) her
2 Lynn missed her flight but she could buy a ticket because it was too late.
for the next one. 3 I think I (would / give) up a
long time ago.
3 This may not be true. I wasn’t even there! 4 They probably (could / do)
a better job.
4 Jessica hasn’t to apologise. I’m really not upset 5 You (should / ask) for help
about it. before you started painting.
• we also change pronouns in reported speech to refer He asked me not to play my music so loud.
to the people who spoke and who they spoke about
‘We’re painting my old bike red,’ said Phoebe. Reporting verbs
Phoebe said they were painting her old bike red. • We can use other reporting verbs to summarise
what people said and to be more specific about the
• in reported speech, we also change demonstrative
intention or function of what was said
pronouns and adjectives, and time expressions
‘It wasn’t me. I didn’t borrow your laptop,’ I told Vicky.
‘I’ll listen to it tomorrow,’ said Frank.
I told Vicky that I hadn’t borrowed her laptop.
Frank said he’d listen to it the next day.
I denied borrowing Vicky’s laptop.
Conditionals Alternatives to if
Conditions Consequences
• we can replace if with different words or phrases
when talking about specific conditions or to put
Zero conditional limits on a situation
If I eat eggs, I get sick. I can go out with my friends as/so long as I’m home
If you don’t keep milk by 10:30 pm.
in the fridge, it goes off. Providing (that)/Provided (that) you hand in all your
First conditional assignments on time, you’ll pass the course.
If they promote this They let us watch the rehearsal on condition that we
product, they’ll sell more. kept very quiet.
If you don’t try harder, you won’t succeed. • we use as long as and providing (that) more often
Second conditional in spoken English and provided (that) and so long as
If they offered me a job, I would refuse to work more often in written English as they are more formal
there.
If our cities didn’t have I wish and If only
so many cars, the air would be cleaner. • we use wish and if only + past simple to talk about
Third conditional regrets and things we would like to change about
If Bea had entered the the present
competition, she would have won it. I wish I had enough money to buy a better computer.
If you hadn’t said nobody would have Noah wishes he could play a musical instrument.
anything, found out! If only we didn’t live so far away from London.
• we use the zero conditional to talk about situations • we use wish/if only + past perfect to talk about
that are always true past regrets
If you don’t put salt on it, it doesn’t taste as good. I wish I hadn’t told you about my problem.
If only our best player hadn’t got injured last week.
• we use the first conditional to talk about possible
situations in the present and their consequences If only we’d remembered to bring our umbrellas.
If she does her homework now, she’ll be free for the • we use Do you wish …? for questions in the present
weekend. and past
• we use the second conditional to talk about the Do you wish you could do whatever you wanted?
possible consequences of an imaginary situation in Do you wish you’d asked us to help you sooner?
the present or future
If Jack didn’t go to my school, I wouldn’t see him
every day.
• we use the third conditional to talk about the
imaginary consequences of past events that never
happened, i.e. impossible situations
If I hadn’t eaten it, I wouldn’t have become ill.
• in all conditionals, we can put either the condition
or the consequence first. If the condition comes first,
we use a comma. But if the consequence comes first,
we don’t need a comma
Sarah wouldn’t have fallen over if she hadn’t
bumped into the chair.
• we use unless in conditional sentences to mean if …
not. We usually use it in first conditional sentences,
but we can use it in other types of conditional
sentences
Unless you come with me, I won’t go to the cinema.
They won’t give you the tickets unless you pay for
them first.
Influence 5 · © Macmillan Education Limited 2021 · Your Influence B2
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Grammar practice 6
Conditionals Alternatives to if
1 Complete the conditional sentences with the 4 Match 1–5 with a–e to make sentences.
verbs in brackets. 1 I’ll lend you the money c
1 When it’s very hot, Jake always drinks (drink) 2 My parents will let me go to the concert
more water. 3 You’ll learn to speak French well
2 This clock (not work) properly unless 4 Nuncio will only come shopping with us
you put a new battery in it.
5 Providing we’re really quiet
3 I (enjoy) the film a lot more if you
hadn’t told me what happened at the end. a on the condition that we don’t go into every shop!
4 My neighbourhood would be a nice place if it b as long as you practise every day.
(have) more parks. c on condition that you give it back next week.
5 If I see a bee in the house, I always d nobody will catch us.
(take) it outside carefully.
e provided I’m back by midnight.
6 If you (not buy) all those video games,
you wouldn’t have spent all your money.
I wish and If only
2 Correct the mistake in each sentence. There
may be more than one possible answer.
5 Complete the sentences with the correct form
of the verbs in brackets. There may be more
1 She wouldn’t to bought it if she had known how
than one possible answer.
much it cost.
1 I wish I could play (can / play) the guitar like a
She wouldn’t have bought it if she had rock star.
known how much it cost. 2 Chloe says she is sorry and she wishes she
2 Unless you don’t study hard, you won’t pass your (not / crash) your bike.
exams.
3 If only we (live) in a bigger house,
I could have my own room.
3 They would had agreed to print it you if you’d 4 Sometimes I wish my teacher (not /
asked them. give) us so much homework!
5 Noah said he missed the train. If only he
4 If they sent me a video, I delete it. (leave) the house earlier.
6 I can’t see the singer on the stage. I wish I
5 If there were no tickets left, I’ll look for another (be) a bit taller!
date.
6 Order the words to make sentences.
1 to you / they / had happened / If only / what /
3 Rewrite the sentences using a conditional and had told us
the word given. If only they had told us what had happened to you.
1 You were hungry because you didn’t eat 2 to practise / I wish / the piano / more time / I had
breakfast. HAVE
If you had eaten breakfast, you wouldn’t 3 tonight / If only / with us / come dancing /
have been hungry. could / Sarah
2 Don’t go near the dog because it bites. IF
The dog near it. 4 brought / you / your sunglasses / wish / Don’t /
3 The phone is too expensive so I’m not going to you’d ?
buy it. SO
If the phone it. 5 didn’t / I / you / all the time / just wish / complain
4 They won’t win the match without trying harder.
UNLESS 6 you / Do you / yesterday / hadn’t / all your money /
They harder. spent / wish ?
3 Complete the text with the gerund or 6 Correct the mistake in each sentence.
infinitive form of the verbs in brackets. 1 One of my hobbies is playing tennis so I used to do
I didn’t really feel like 1 going (go) out, but that every week.
Helen invited me 2 (have) a pizza with One of my hobbies is playing tennis so I’m used
her. She didn’t stop 3 (talk) the whole to doing that every week.
time, but it was so funny 4 (hear)
2 Didn’t your dad used to cycle to work?
her stories about her holidays with her parents.
I always enjoy 5 (hang) out with Helen
because she helps me 6 (forget) all 3 I’m not used to sit so far back in the classroom.
my problems. We were having so much fun, I forgot
7 (check) the time and my parents 4 When I changed school, I had to get used wearing
weren’t too happy 8 (see) me arriving a uniform.
home late.