GRAMMAR

Notebook I
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CONTENTS

1. Phonetics.
2. Personal pronouns. Possessive adjectives and pronouns.
3. Present simple & present continuous
4. Adverbs of frequency.
5. Past simple & past continuous
6. Present perfect simple & present perfect continuous.
7. Past perfect simple & past perfect continuous
8. Future tenses
9. Comparatives and superlatives
10. Questions.
11. Modals I
12. Connectors and prepositions I
13. Conditional clauses
14. Numbers, quantifiers and dates.
15. Modals II
16. Relative clauses I
17. Gerunds and infinitives I
18. Passive voice.

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1. PHONETICS

In writing, words are made of letters. In speech, words are

made of sounds. Letters are not always the same as sounds.
The words car and key begin with the same sound, but the
letters are not the same.

There are 26 letters in the English alphabet but there are 44

sounds in the English language. This means that the number of
sounds in a word is not always the same as the number of letters.
The word cat has three letters and three sounds, but the
word catch has five letters but still only three sounds.

If we write these words using phonemic symbols, we can see exactly how many sounds they have:
cat is pronounced /kæt/; catch is pronounced /kæʧ/. In “catch” the three letters "tch" are one sound represented by
one phonemic symbol /ʧ/.

Some sounds in English do not exist in Spanish. Others are similar but not exactly the same. This can make it
difficult to hear and make the distinction between two similar words in English.

There are some typical pronunciation mistakes almost everyone who has Spanish as their mother language
make or has made. You have a list of them on the following website:

http://englishspeaklikenative.com/resources/common-pronunciation-problems/spanish-pronunciation-
problems/

In this unit we are going to focus on six of them:

1. Adding /ə/ or “epenthetic” vowel”

2. No distinction between long and short vowels.
3. Final –ed
4. Schwa sound.
5. Pronunciation of -able endings.
6. Syllable stress

1. Adding /ə/ or “epenthetic” vowel”

One of the most common errors for Spanish learners or English is inserting a schwa sound or what is known as
the “Epenthetic vowel” in phonetics before words beginning with /s/ + another consonant.

2. No distinction between long and short vowels.

Observe the differences between Spanish and English:

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Spanish English

Spanish has 5 pure vowels English has 12 pure vowel sounds

A, E, I, O, U

Spanish has 14 diphthongs English has 8 diphthongs.

ai, au, ei, eu, oi, ou, ia, ua, ie, ue, io, uo, iu, ui

The length of the vowel is not significant in The length of the vowel sound plays an important
distinguishing between words. role

As you can see, English has more vowels than Spanish. It also has long and short vowels. Many Spanish speakers
are not aware of how important long vowels are in English so when they speak, they do not make any distinction
between a short and a long vowel. These speakers pronounce words such as “beach” and “bitch” the same way
which causes serious misunderstanding. To understand this, watch the following video about an Italian man who
goes to Malta and tries to make himself understood in English. As in Spanish, Italian speakers do not distinguish
between short and long vowels.

https://youtu.be/t5oeFERJtYo

To practice the sound of long and short vowels, see the interactive phonemic chart on this website:

https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/phonemic-chart

To learn the differences

between a short and a long
vowel, we use what is called
minimal pairs: words that
differ only in one phonological
element (in this case between a
short or a long vowel). You can see a list of minimal pairs at http://www.shiporsheep.com .

Extra information and activities on minimal pairs.

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3. Pronunciation of regular verbs in the past.

Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j32SurxnE4s

4. Schwa sound, one of the most frequent sounds in English.

Schwa is the name for the most common sound in English. It is a weak, unstressed sound and it occurs in many
words. It is often the sound in grammar words such as articles and prepositions.

Getting the schwa sound correct is a good way of making your pronunciation more accurate and natural.

The phonemic symbol for this sound is

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/pron/features/schwa/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/pron/sounds/vowel_short_5.shtml

5. Wrong pronunciation of the words ending in –ABLE (“vegetables”).

The ending -able can transform verbs into adjectives. It may look like an ordinary word but be careful!

As you will see later, wrong pronunciation can lead to a good deal of confusion here.

If you want to avoid misunderstandings and make life easier for yourself and other people, then listen to this post.
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Words ending in -able.

6. Syllable stress, special cases leading to mistake (ej: thirty/thirteen).

https://www.hablamejoringles.com/stress-on-word-stress-problemas-con-la-acentuacion-de-las-palabras-en-ingles/

ACTIVITIES:

1. 1. Read out the following words and check your pronunciation with your teacher. Make sure you
avoid the common mistakes listed above.

• Spanish, student, stupid, start, stop, stand, scan, Scottish…

• Cheap, chip, feet, fit, fifteen, fifty, leave, live, seat, sit,
sheep, ship…
• Pull, pool, full, fool…
• Cut, cat, cart, fat, fur fart…
• Brother, sister, the, banana, doctor, weather…
• Bird, sir, third, first …
• Vegetable, comfortable, suitable, notable, reasonable,
acceptable, renewable, incapable, reliable…
• Culture, structure, literature, adventure….

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1.2. Place the verbs into the correct columns below. There are ten answers for each column.

allowed asked cracked cried damaged decided encouraged ended flooded guessedincludedjailed killed landed loved
missed mixed pasted relaxed repeatedshaved slipped stopped tasted visited wasted washed watched welcomed
yawned
1-/d/ 2-/t/ 3 - / id /
1 1 1
2 2 2
3 3 3
4 4 4
5 5 5
6 6 6
7 7 7
8 8 8
9 9 9
10 10 10

Complete the rules for the pronunciation of regular verbs in the past.

• When the regular verb ends in a vowel sound or voiced consonant sound (B, G, L, M, N, V, Y and Z),the -ed
ending is pronounced / /.
• When the regular verb ends in an unvoiced consonant sound (K, F,P, S, -SH, -TCH or X), the -edending is
pronounced / /.
• The -ed ending is pronounced /id/ when the verb ends in the consonant sounds / / and / /

1.3. Now listen to your teacher reading out the following text. Pay attention and cross out the –e- not
pronounced in the –ed endings and add /id/ where pronounced.

The wisdom of Solomon

This story is from the Bible. It is a famous story of the wisdom of Solomon, who was king in Israel for forty years
during the tenth century B.C.

Two women came to King Solomon with two little babies, one dead and the other living. Each woman said that the
living child was her own, and that the dead child belonged to the other woman. One of the women explained, "We
two women were sleeping together with our two children in the same bed. And the other woman's child died. So she
put her dead child next to me while I was asleep, and she took my child. In the morning I saw that it was not my

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child. She said that the dead child was mine and that the living child was hers. Then the other woman answered,
"That's not true. The dead baby is hers, and the living baby is mine. She's trying to take it away from me."

Young King Solomon listened to the two women. Then he said, "Bring me a sword." They brought him a sword, and
Solomon announced, "Take this sword, and cut the living baby in half. Give each mother half of the baby." One of
the women cried out immediately, "Oh, don't kill the baby. Let the other woman have it. Let the baby live."But the
other woman responded, "No, cut the child in half, and divide it between us!"

Then Solomon decided. "Give the living child to the woman who did not want the baby cut in half and killed. She is
the true mother."

All the people were astounded at how wise King Solomon was.

TO KNOW MORE:

• English accents
• Commonly mispronounced words I
• Commonly mispronounce words II
• The pronunciation of -ed I
• The pronunciation of -ed II
• Tongue twisters
• Pronunciation poem.
• Do not take it too seriously!!!

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2. PERSONAL PRONOUNS. POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVES AND PRONOUNS.

2.1. Fill the gaps with the correct pronouns.

1. Once upon a time there was a girl called Little Red Riding Hood. Together with _____: mum, _______lived in a big
forest.
2. One fine day, Little Red Riding Hood’s mother said, “_______ grandma is ill. Please go and take this cake and a bottle
of wine to______. Grandma’s house is not too far from _______ house, but always keep to the path and don’t stop!”
3. So, Little Red Riding Hood made __________ way to Grandma’s house.
4. In the forest __________ met the big bad wolf.
5. Little Red Riding Hood greeted ___________ and the wolf asked:
6. “Where are _________ going, Little Red Riding Hood?”
7. “To ________ grandma’s house.” answered Little Red Riding Hood.
8. “Can you tell ______ where ________ grandma lives?”
9. “ ___________ lives in a little cottage at the edge of the forest.”
10. “Why don’t _________pick some nice flowers for ?” asked the wolf.
11. “That’s a good idea.” said Little Red Riding Hood and began looking for flowers. Meanwhile, the wolf was on
______________way to grandma’s house.
12. The house was quite small but nice and ___________ roof was made out of straw.
13. The wolf went inside and swallowed poor old Grandma. After that _______ put Grandma’s clothes on and lay
down in ________ bed.

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TO KNOW MORE

1. Exercise 1- Personal pronouns- subject form

2. Exercise 2- Personal pronouns- object form
3. Exercise 3- Possessive adjectives
4. Exercise 4- Possessive pronouns.
5. Exercise 5- Reflexive pronouns
6. Exercise 6- Reflexive and reciprocal pronouns

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3. PRESENT SIMPLE & PRESENT PROGRESSIVE.

Present Simple Present Continuous

Things which are always true: Things which are happening at the moment of
speaking:
• Water boils at 100 degrees. • The water is boiling now, so you can put in the
pasta.

Permanent situations (or nearly permanent; true for a Temporary situations:

few years at least): • Julie is living in Paris for a few months (usually
she lives in London).
• Julie lives in London. Situations which are slowly changing:
• I'm getting better and better at speaking
English.

Habits or things we do regularly: Temporary or new habits:

• I'm drinking too much coffee these days
• I drink coffee every morning. because I'm so busy at work.
Annoying habits (usually with 'always'):
• My flatmate is always leaving the kitchen in a
mess!

Future events which are part of a timetable: Definite future plans:

• My plane leaves at eight tonight. • I'm meeting John after class today.
To talk about the future after certain words ('when'
'until' 'after' 'before' 'as soon as'):
• I'll call you when I get home.

To talk about people in pictures and photos:

To talk about what happens in books, plays and films:
• In this photo, my mother is walking beside a
• And then the detective catches the killer.
lake.

3.1. Fill in the correct form of the verb given: Present Tense Simple or Progressive
(From- https://www.english-practice.at/b1/grammar/b1-grammar-index.htm)

1. Dad ___________________ us to school every morning. (DRIVE)

2. Max ___________________ at an Internet café this summer. (WORK)
3. We ________________________ abroad this year because of the pandemic. (NOT GO)
4. It never ___________________ in the Atacama Desert in Chile. (RAIN)
5. Marty __________________________ to the fitness centre on Mondays. (NOT USUALLY GO)
6. What is that? – I ___________________ sounds that are not there. (HEAR)

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7. We ___________________ of leaving Britain next year. We might go to America. (THINK)

8. I ___________________ my ex-husband next Monday. (SEE)
9. This box ___________________ a lot. What is in it? (WEIGH)
10. What _________________________ under the table? – Is there anything wrong? (YOU DO)
11. She never ___________________ to anyone about her problems. (TALK)
12. Mary ___________________ very sad. What's happened to her? (LOOK)
13. They ________________________ a few days in Stockholm next month. (SPEND)
14. You can't go in. They ___________________ a meeting. (HAVE)
15. I ___________________ I'll have a cup of coffee. I'm so tired. (THINK)
16. ________________________ fishing with me on Sunday? – I don't know. I'll think about it.
(YOU GO)
17. I ___________________ here as a waiter on weekends. (WORK)
18. Max ___________________ to be a nice student. Let's see how he ___________________ in class.
(APPEAR, HE DO)
19. I ________________________ what this letter means. It ___________________ no sense. (NOT UNDERSTAND, MAKE)
20. I ___________________ the dog for a walk because it's so sunny outside. (TAKE)

TO KNOW MORE:
Present simple vs. present continuous

Present simple and continuous: form and usage

Present tenses review: Activities.
Exercise- Present simple or continuous 1
Exercise- Present simple or continuous 2
Test 1; Test 2 ; Test 3

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4. ADVERBS OF FREQUENCY.
In a statement, a one-word frequency adverb usually comes after the verb be but before other verbs. In a question,
it usually comes after the subject.
Adverbs tell us in what way someone does something. Adverbs can modify verbs, adjectives or other adverbs.
Adjectives tell us something about a person or a thing. Adjectives can modify nouns or pronouns.

Examples Notes

Students are always busy. Here are the meanings of

Affirmative
He’s often hungry. frequency adverbs in
She sometimes gets sick. approximate percentage
Students occasionally meet. of time:
They’re seldom together.
Always 100%
Usually 70%
I’m not often tired. Often 60%
Negative Sometimes 40%
Kim isn’t always here.
Tony is never late. Occasionally 10%
She doesn’t often rest. Seldom 5%
They don’t usually study. Never 0%

Use ever only in negative statements

Are you often homesick? and in questions. Not ever = never.
Questions (He’s never late. = He isn’t ever late
Does the teacher ever give quizzes?
Do you ever not do your homework?

PHRASES OF FREQUENCY.

A frequency phrase usually follows the verb phrase.

- He teaches three times a week

- We have a test every month
- Do you relax now and then?

Other examples of frequency phrases: every day, every other week, every two hours, once a year, now and then.

4.1. Complete each sentence with the right adverb.

[ always, usually, often, sometimes, seldom, rarely, never ]

1. I see one or two movies every week. I often go to the movies.

2.I let my roommate borrow my car once last year. I ____________ let my roommate borrow my car.
3.Maria eats cereal for breakfast seven days a week. Maria ___________ eats cereal for breakfast.

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4.Four out of five visitors to the museum stay for three hours or longer. Museum visitors _____________ stay for at
least three hours.
5. We occasionally have quizzes in Dr. Jacobos’s history class. Dr. Jacobs _______________ gives quizzes in history
class.

6. If the teacher is on time, the class begins at 8:00 A.M. Once in a while, the teacher is a few minutes late the class
______________ begins at 8:00 A.M.

7. The train from Chicago has been late ninety percent of the time. The train from Chicago is ________________ on
time.

8. In the desert, it rains only two days between May and September every year. It _____________ rains there in the
summer.

9.James asks me to go the sailboat races every year, but I don’t accept his invitation because I think sailboat racing is
boring. I _____________ go to sailboat races with James.

10. Andy and Lui are friends. They go out to dinner at least three times a week. Andy and Lui _______________ go
out to dinner with each other.

TO KNOW MORE:

1. Position of adverbs. Introduction 1

2. Formation and position of adverbs: Introduction 2
3. Adverbs of frequency. Exercise 1
4. Adverbs of frequency. Exercise 2.
3. Position of time expressions. Exercise 3
4. Grammar gameshow: Adverbs of frequency

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5. PAST SIMPLE & PAST CONTINUOUS.

The past continuous and the past simple help us to show how two past actions or situations are connected.

Past simple

The past simple shows us that an action was in the past, not in the present. Regular past simple verbs have -ed at the end (e.g.
called, played, arrived). Irregular verbs have a different form, usually with a different vowel sound (e.g. wake → woke, break →
broke, feel → felt).
My parents called me yesterday. // I woke up early this morning. //
Sam played basketball when he was at university.

We make the negative with didn't and the infinitive verb.

My parents didn't call me yesterday. // I didn't wake up early this morning.

We make the question form with did and then the subject and infinitive verb.
Did you wake up early this morning? // Did Sam play basketball when he was at university?

Past continuous

The past continuous shows us that the action was already in progress at a certain time in the past.
What were you doing at 8 p.m. last night? I was studying.

This means that I started studying before 8 p.m. and I continued after 8 p.m.
The past continuous can also show that an activity was in progress for some time, not just for a moment.
We were cleaning the house all morning.

We make the past continuous with was or were and the -ing form of the verb.
She couldn't come to the party. She was working. // Three years ago, we were living in my home town.//
What were you doing this time last year?

Past simple and past continuous

When we use these two tenses together, it shows us that the past simple action happened in the middle of the past continuous
action, while it was in progress.
While I was studying, I suddenly felt sleepy.

We often use these tenses to show an action interrupting another action.

I broke my leg when I was skiing. // As I was going to work, I saw an old friend.

Can you see a difference in the meaning of these two sentences?

When the guests arrived, Jane was cooking dinner. // When the guests arrived, Jane cooked dinner.

In the first one, Jane started cooking dinner before the guests arrived. We know that because it uses the past continuous. In the
second sentence, the guests arrived first and then Jane started cooking.

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ACTIVITIES:
5.1. Complete the sentences with the past simple or the past continuous form of the verbs in brackets.

1 I ________________(not break) a cup when I __________________(wash up).

2 She _______________(go) to the cinema yesterday and _______________(see) a comedy.
3 We ______________(not do) homework when it ______________(start) to snow.
4 While I ___________ (speak) on the phone, Ella _________________(eat) her lunch.
5 Yesterday evening I ___________(get) home, ________(change) my clothes and ________ (go) running.

5.2. Complete the dialogue with the past simple or the past continuous form of the verbs in brackets.

Jack: Hi, Laura. Where 1 ______________(be) you yesterday evening?

Laura: I 2 ______________(be) at home. Why?
Jack: When I 3 _______________(walk) to your house, I 4 __________(see) you in the café.
Laura: Well, I 5 ________________(go) for a coffee.
Jack: Yes, but you 6 ______________(be) with Tom. What 7 ________________(you, do)?
Laura: Oh, come on, Jack. We 8 _______________(work) on a project for school.
Jack: Really? It seemed like you 9 _____________(have) a good time!
Laura: Come on, Jack. Are you jealous?
Jack: No, but last year you 10 ____________(be) angry with me because I 11 _________(meet) Sarah after
school!

5.3. Complete the text with the correct form of the verbs in brackets.

Jane and Mike 1 _______________(travel) to Switzerland for a winter holiday. The weather 2
_____________(be) terrible –it 3 ________________(snow). When they 4 ____________ (wait) for the flight,
the assistant 5 ______________(announce) their plane 6 ____________(not leave). They 7
______________(decide) to get a later flight. While they 8 _____________(book) their seats on the plane,
other assengers 9 ______________(cry) – there 10 ___________(not be) seats on the plane for everyone.
When the plane 11 ______________(take off ) at 10 pm, Jane and Mike 12 _____________(smile) – soon
they would be in Switzerland.

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TO KNOW MORE:

Past simple Past simple: regular verbs

Pronunciation of -ed Exercise 1
Past simple vs. past continuous Exercise 2.

Past simple: irregular verbs

Exercise 1
Exercise 2

Past progressive
Exercise 1
Exercise 2
Exercise 3

List of irregular verbs Past simple or past progressive.

Exercise 1
Exercise 2

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6. PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE & PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS.

6.1. Present perfect simple & present perfect continuous

We use the present perfect:

• for something that started in the past and continues in the present:
They've been married for nearly 50 years. // She has lived in Liverpool all her life.

• when we are talking about our experience up to the present:

I've seen that film before. // I've played the guitar ever since I was a teenager.
He has written three books and he is working on another one.

• for something that happened in the past but is important in the present:
I can't get in the house. I've lost my keys. // Teresa isn't at home. I think she has gone shopping.

We normally use the present perfect continuous to emphasise that something is still continuing in the present:
It's been raining for hours. // I'm tired out. I've been working all day.

Present perfect simple: formulation

Present perfect continuous : formulation

ACTIVITIES:

6.1.1. Write sentences using the present perfect and the prompts given.

1 She / pass / the exam / ? ______________________________________________________?

2 They / live / in Paris / for seven years / __________________________________________ .
3 We / never / be / to France / __________________________________________________ .
4 She / not see / that film / _____________________________________________________ .
5 What / he / eat / today / ? ____________________________________________________?
6 Her mum / travelled / to three countries / this month / _____________________________ .
7 Where / you / be / today / ? __________________________________________________?

6.1.2. Complete the sentences with: already, ever, for, just, since, yet.

1 Has he finished talking on the phone ____________ ?

2 You’ll never guess who I have ___________ seen! Brad Pitt!
3 We have lived in this house _____________ I was two.
4 My father has had this job ______________ two years now.
5 Has he _____________travelled abroad?
6 Great! Classes have _____________ finished for today.
7 She hasn’t finished telling her story ______________ .
8 My grandparents have had that computer _______________2008.
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6.1.3. Complete the text. Use the correct form of the present perfect simple or present perfect continuous.

Ever since he was a teenager Alex Whitestone 1……………… (want) to travel. This year he decided to do it. Alex gave up
his job as a journalist in July, and since then he 2……………… (travel) around the world. So far he 3……………… (visit) four
different countries.

At the moment Alex is in Bangkok, in Thailand. He 4……………… (already / be) there for five days. ‘I 5……………… (never /
be) to Asia before, so it was my first stop,’ he explains.

So 6……………… he ……………… (buy) any souvenirs yet? ‘Not yet,’ says Alex. And what about the food? ‘It’s great! I
7
……………… (eat) a lot of rice and fish,’ he says.

During his travels Alex 8……………… (meet) many other tourists. ‘I 9……………… (made)
some new friends,’ he says, ‘and we 10……………… (exchange) advice about where to go and what to see. I 11………………
(also / write) a travel guide, but I 12……………… (not finish) it yet!’

TO KNOW MORE:

• Present perfect simple: test 1

• Present perfect simple: test 2
• Present perfect simple: test 3

• Present perfect progressive: 6-minute grammar (video)

• Present perfect progressive: exercise 1
• Present perfect progressive: exercise 2

• Present perfect simple or progressive: exercise 1

• Present perfect simple or progressive: exercise 2

Present perfect simple vs. present perfect continuous

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6.2. Present perfect simple & past simple

Present Perfect Simple Past Simple

Unfinished actions that started in the past and

Finished actions:
continue to the present:
• I knew Julie for ten years (but then she moved away and
• I've known Julie for ten years (and I still
we lost touch).
know her).

A finished action with a result in the present: A finished action with no result in the present:
• I've lost my keys! (The result is that I • I lost my keys yesterday. It was terrible! (Now there is no
can't get into my house now). result. I got new keys yesterday).

With an unfinished time word (this week, this

With a finished time word (last week, last month, yesterday):
month, today):
• I saw John last week.
• I've seen John this week.

Remember:
1. We use the past simple for past events or actions which have no connection to the present.
2. We use the present perfect for actions which started in the past and are still happening now OR for finished
actions which have a connection to the present.
3. We CAN'T use the present perfect with a finished time word:
o NOT: I've been to the museum yesterday.

6.2.1. Complete the text. Use the correct form of the present perfect simple or past simple.

1
…………… you …………… (ever / dream) of being a film star? Leonardo DiCaprio was only five years old when he
2
………….…(star) in his first TV show, and just thirteen when he 3……………… (appear) in his first film. Since then he
4
……………… (not stop) working. He 5……………… (be) in over fifteen films and he 6……………… (work) with stars such as
Robert De Niro and Johnny Depp.

Leonardo 7……………… (be) born in Los Angeles in 1974. After appearing in TV shows,
he 8……………… (get) his first film role in Critters 3, then he starred in Romeo and Juliet.
But it 9……………… (not be) until Titanic that he 10……………… (become) a world-famous
teen idol. It was then that Leonardo 11……………… (begin) to appear on magazine covers around the world.

Since Titanic, Leonardo 12……………… (be) very busy. He 13……………… (already / make)
three more films and 14…………… (just / start) work on another.

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6.2.2.. Ckeck the incorrect sentences: past simple or present perfect.

1. Cervantes has written many novels. ___________________________________________.

2. My brother has arrived ten minutes ago. _______________________________________.
3. I haven’t lost the keys yet. ___________________________________________________ .
4. The children have played in the street yestrday. _________________________________ .
5. I didn’t smoke since June. ___________________________________________________ .
6. You look different. Did you been to the hairdresser’s? ____________________________ .
7. I never played basketball. ___________________________________________________ .
8. Dali was a genius of the 20th century. _________________________________________ .
9. We have organised three exhibitions so far. ____________________________________ .

TO KNOW MORE:

• Present perfect vs. past simple.

• Exercise 1
• Exercise 2

Present perfect vs. past simple

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7. PAST PERFECT SIMPLE & PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS.

We use the past perfect simple:

• for something that started in the past and continued up to a later time in the past:
When George died, he and Anne had been married for nearly 50 years.
She didn't want to move. She had lived in Liverpool all her life.

• when we are reporting our experience up to a point in the past:

My eighteenth birthday was the worst day I had ever had.
I was pleased to meet George. I hadn't met him before, even though I had met his wife several times.

• for something that happened in the past and is important at a later time in the past:
I couldn't get into the house. I had lost my keys. // Teresa wasn't at home. She had gone shopping.

We use the past perfect continuous to show that something started in the past and continued up to a time in the
past or was important at that time in the past:
Everything was wet. It had been raining for hours.
He was a wonderful guitarist. He had been playing ever since he was a teenager.

7.1. Complete the text with the past perfect form of the verbs in brackets.

When I arrived home yesterday, my father 1 ____________________(already cook) dinner. I told him I wasn’t
hungry because I 2 _________________(eat) a burger after class. He was very angry with me because he 3
_______________________(spend) the afternoon shopping and preparing food for the family. Unfortunately, I 4
_____________________(not take) my mobile phone to school so I couldn’t phone him. He was really annoyed
because I didn’t remember what he 5 _________________(organise) at home. Later when I told him I 6
____________(fail) the maths test I wasn’t allowed to use my mobile phone for two weeks! I 7 ___________(never
see) him like that before. I can’t stop asking myself ‘what 8 ___________________(happen) to my father before I got
home?’

TO KNOW MORE:

• Past perfect simple: Exercise 1

• Past perfect progressive: Exercise 2
• Past perfect simple or continuous- Exercise 3

Past perfect simple vs. past perfect continuous

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8. FUTURE TENSES

8.1. Will , going to, present continuous as future.

will
We use will to talk about:
• general predictions.
By 2100, most people will live to 130.
• decisions that are made at the moment of speaking (e.g. an offer to do something).
A: Is that the telephone? B: Yes, it is. I’ll answer it.

going to
We use going to to talk about:
• predictions based on evidence.
Look at that car! It’s going to crash!
• intentions, or plans, where the decision has been made before the moment of
speaking.
He’s going to study English at Oxford.

Present continuous
We use the present continuous to talk about future arrangements. We often give the
time and/or place.
I’m meeting Anna in town tomorrow.

➔ Present continuous for future arrangements.

8.1.1. Complete the conversations. Use the correct form of will or going to.

1 ‘I’ve decided to go to university.’

‘Really? Which subject _________ you ___________(study)?’
2 ‘Do you think that computers ____________(control) our lives in the future?’
‘No, of course not!’
3 ‘Why are you wearing a tracksuit?’
‘I ____________(play) tennis in the park with David.’
4 ‘It’s very cold in here.’
‘Yes, you’re right. I ___________ (close) the window.’
5 ‘That woman looks very pale.’
‘Yes, I think she _______________ (faint).’
6 ‘I can’t work out this maths problem.’
‘I _________________(help) you with it.’

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8.1.2. Choose the correct tenses.

1 In a hundred years’ time I think people will live / are living on the moon.
2 Who are you meeting / will you meet this evening?
3 ‘What are you going to wear for the party?’
‘I haven’t decided yet. Maybe I’ll wear / I’m wearing my new jeans.’
4 Greg passed his driving test last week. He told me he’s going to buy / he’ll buy a car.
5 I feel terrible. I think I’ll be / I’m going to be sick.
6 ‘Where are you going for your summer holidays?’
‘I don’t know yet. Perhaps I’ll go / I’m going to go to Torremolinos.’

8.1.3. Choose the correct tenses.

Hi Pablo!

How are you? A lot has happened since I last wrote. The good news is that I’ve passed all my exams, and 1
I’ll start / I’m starting university in September. 2 I’m going to study / I’ll study Spanish and Catalan at
Middlesex University in London, so 3 I’ll be able to / I’m being able to write e-mails in Catalan soon!

4
I’ve also got a new boyfriend called Matthew. He’s a year older than me and he’s really nice. Next week
we’ll go / we’re going to a Blur concert in Manchester. Matthew queued for six hours for the tickets!

Unfortunately 5 I’m not seeing / I won’t see Matthew very often after I start university. 6 I’ll probably find /
I’m probably finding a flat in London, and 7 he’ll definitely stay / he’s definitely going to stay in Manchester.
But 8 we’re seeing / we’ll see each other at weekends.

9
Are you coming / Will you come and visit me in London? I hope so.

Love

Clare

TO KNOW MORE:

Going to vs. present

Will vs. going to continuous

Exercise 1- 6 Minute Grammar (Video&quiz) Exercise 1- Future going to

Exercise 2- Future will Exercise 2- Future mix

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Grammar notebook I

8.2. Future perfect simple and future continuous.

Use

We use the future perfect simple to talk about an activity that will be finished by a specific time in the
future.
They‘ll have finished building the bridge by next January.

We use the future continuous to talk about an activity that will be in progress at a specific time in the
future.
This time next week I’ll be flying to Rome.
Form
Future perfect simple: we use will + have/has + past participle.
I’ll have finished my homework in an hour.

Future continuous: we use will + be + the -ing form of the verb.

In an hour, I’ll be getting ready to go out.

8.2.1. Commplete the sentences. Use the correct form of the future perfect simple or the future continuous.

1. This time next week we _________________ (ski) in the French Alps.

2. Greg is taking a year off to travel. By the end of next year he ___________ (visit) seven countries.
3. ‘What will you be doing this time tomorrow?’
‘I ______________ (take) my English exam.’
4. Don’t come round at six o’clock. I _________________ (still / do) my homework. If you want to come round at
seven, you can. I _________________(finish) it by then.
5. Jill has accepted a job abroad. This time next month she ___________(work) in Paris.
6. Next year, I _____________________(live) in this house for ten years.

8.2.2. Complete the text. Use the correct form of the future perfect simple or future continuous.

What 1……………… we ……………… (do) in a hundred years’ time? According to NASA Scientists we 2……………… (travel) in
outer space. By the twenty-second century man 3……………… (develop) a
quick way of getting to the stars, and the first long-distance spaceships 4……………… (leave)
Earth.
However, these spaceships won’t be the first to explore outer space. Other
spaceships 5……………… (already / voyage) into the unknown. In fact, the first unmanned ship,
Pioneer 10, was launched in 1972. Pioneer 10 will be in space for thousands of years, and in 32,000 years’ time it will
pass a star called Ross 248. By the time Pioneer 10 gets there, man 6……………… (already / reach) Ross 248 and
7
……………… (colonize) the planets around it. What 8……………… these humans ……………… (do) when Pioneer 10 passes
by? Will they remember that it was the first spaceship to venture into outer space?

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8.2.3. Complete the sentences with your own ideas.

1 This time tomorrow I’ll be …

2 By next weekend I’ll have …

3 In six months’ time I’ll be …

4 By the end of this year I’ll have …

5 In three years’ time I’ll be …

TO KNOW MORE:

6 Minute Grammar- Future perfect (Video)

Future continuous and future perfect: exercise 1.

Future continuous and future perfect: exercise 2.

Making arrangements.

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9. COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES.

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9.2. Repeated comparatives.

Repeated comparative adjectives are used to describe actions or things that are gradually increasing or
decreasing.

- Short adjectives:
Add ‘er’ and separate the adjectives with ‘and’ , e.g. darker and darker.

- Long adjectives:
Use ‘more and more’ or ‘less and less’ + adjective, e.g. more and more difficult.

Examples:

• The teacher had to try harder and harder to keep the children calm. They were becoming more and more
agitated.
• Fewer and fewer people came to the meetings. They became less and less interested in the movement.

More examples:

• Little by little, with regular exercise, he got fitter and fitter.

• As the company grew, the founder became richer and richer.
• The weather is changing. It’s getting colder and colder
• Nowadays young people seem to be more and more aggressive.
• As the date approached she became more and more nervous.
• When he moved to another channel he was less and less successful.
• As business expanded, our working hours became less and less flexible.

9.3. Double comparatives with “the…, the…”

Double comparatives are phrases commonly used in English to express proportionate increase or
decrease, to say that when something increases or decreases, it causes something else to change

THE MORE .... THE MORE

• The more you study, the more you learn.
• The more I see her, the more I like her

THE MORE ... THE LESS

• The more we spend, the less we save.
• The more I worry, the less I sleep.

THE LESS ... THE MORE

• The less people listen, the more impatient they become.
• The less I concentrate, the more I forget.
SHORT FORM

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Grammar notebook I

A short form of this structure is used in sentences ending in 'better', and the expression 'the more the
merrier'.

• How do you like your coffee? The stronger the better.

• What price range are you interested in? The cheaper the better.
• What time would you like me to come? The earlier the better.
• What sort of presentation should I prepare? The shorter the better!
• Can I bring a friend? Sure. The more the merrier!

ACTIVITIES:

1. Watch this vídeo on comparatives and superlatives.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLE5yPZa_Ow

2. Complete the sentences with the comparative or superlative form of the adjectives in brackets.

1.- My sister is _____________ my brother. (intelligent)

2.- The blue whale is ____________ animal. (big)
3.- Iceland is ___________ Spain (cold)
4.- This is ___________ book I’ve ever read. (good)
5.- My neighbour is _________ person I know (lucky)
6.- Friday is the __________ day of the week. (busy)
7.- These trainers are much ____________ those. (cheap)
8.- Frank works __________ most people. (hard)
9.- I’m __________ at English than you. (good)
10.- Today has been _________ day of the year. (hot)
11.- This is __________ CD I’ve ever listened. (bad)
12.- English is __________ Japanese. (easy)
13.- Which mountain is ___________ in the world. (high)
14.- John is _________ his brother. (clever)
15.- English is _________ Latin. (useful)
16.- What is ___________ word in English? (common)

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17.- The Nile is ___________ river in the world. (long)

18.- This is my __________ brother. Mary is their _________ daughter (old, old)
19.- That skyscraper is one of __________ buildings in the city. (tall)
20.- The first exercise was easy but this one is ________. (difficult)
21.- Our journey took __________ we expected. (long)
22.- Charles is __________ student in the school. (noisy)
23.- Madrid’s population is _________ Santander’s (large)
24.- Nothing makes me _________ waiting on the phone. (angry)
25.- Five years ago I was _________ I am now, and I had ________ hair. (fat, log)

3. Put the words in the correct order to make sentences.

1) more / German / is / Spanish / than / difficult.

2) Nile / longest / is / river / the / world / the / in.

3) house / is / the / in / oldest / street / This / the.

4) school / Tom / is / person / most / the / beautiful / the / in.

5) the / worst / He's / class / the / in /student.

6) is / eldest / the / family / Who / in / your

4. Fill in the blanks with repeated comparatives.

1) I didn’t like this book at first, but it’s getting________________ (interesting).

2) My daughter’s English results are getting ___________________ (bad).
3) The boss will be angry with you. You arrive __________________ (late) at work.
4) In spring the weather gets ______________________ (warm).
5) It’s time you tidied your room. It’s getting ____________________ (messy).
6) Food is getting ________________________ (expensive).
7) I think TV programs are getting __________________ (violent).
8) I find it _________________________ (difficult) to see him.
9) She’s getting over her operation. She feels ______________________ (good)

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TO KNOW MORE:

Listen to this vídeo: 6 minute Grammar- Comparatives and superlatives (video)

Exercise 1- Comparatives and superlatives

Exercise 2- As...as
Exercise 3- Comparison of advers
Exercise 4- Comparatives and superlatives
Exercise 5- Comparatives and superlatives
Exercise 6- Comparatives and superlatives
Exercise 7- the..., the comparatives
Exercise 8- Repeated comparatives

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10. Questions.
WORD ORDER IN QUESTIONS

Questions in general → If we want to ask a question in English, the order is QWASM: Question word, Auxiliary verb,
Subject, Main verb. In Yes-No questions (questions where the answer is yes or no), there is no Question Word.

Questions with be as the main verb → When be is the main verb, it is used as the Auxiliary in the question, and
then we don’t have a Main verb after the Subject.

Auxiliary verbs → In the position of Auxiliary, we can use be, do, have or any modal verb: can, could, will, would,
should, etc.

Have is only an auxiliary verb in the form have got and in the present perfect.
• Have you got any brothers or sisters?
• What have you cooked for lunch?

For other uses of have, we need an auxiliary verb (do, did) for questions.
• What time did you have dinner yesterday? (NOT had you dinner)
• Do you have to do it now? (NOT Have you to do it)

Have got only has a present form. It does not have a past form.
• Did you have many toys when you were a child? (NOT Had you got many toys when you were a child?)

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QUESTION WORDS

how much → We can use how much to ask about the price of something.
• How much is the jacket?

how + adjective → We can use how + adjective (any adjective) as a question word.
• How tall are you?
• How fast is your car?

which vs what → We can use which + noun, and we can also use what + noun. We use which when there are a
small number of possible answers. Look at the difference:

• Which car do you like, the red or the blue? (there is a small number of possible answers)
• ‘What car have you got?’ ‘A Mercedes.’ (many possible answers)

Question tags
Question tags are used to ask for agreement or confirmation.

• They are formed with an auxiliary or a modal verb. If no auxiliary verb is in the statement, do/don’t/didn’t
are used.

• A positive statement is followed by a negative question tag : - John can swim, can‘t he ?

• A negative statement is followed by a positive question tag. This includes words with a negative meaning
(seldom, rarely, hardly, etc.) → - She didn’t mean that, did she ? // - He seldom travels, does he ?

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POSITIVE STATEMENT NEGATIVE TAG

He is very tall, isn't he?

She lives in Tokyo, doesn't she?
They are very kind, aren't they?
You can drive, can't you?
We must participate, mustn't we?
They could carry it for you, couldn't they?
The others should join us, shouldn't they?
You have studied Greek haven't you?
The party was fun, wasn't it?

Exceptions:

I am clever, aren't I?
Let's leave now, shall we?

NEGATIVE STATEMENT POSITIVE TAG

He isn't in charge, is he?

You don't believe that story, do you?
She hardly ever goes to the gym, does she?
He can't come earlier, can he?
That won't cause a problem, will it?
We shouldn't take the same flight, should we?

10.1. Write a question for each of the answers, using a question word.

1. ______________________________________________ I use the subway to get to work.

2. ______________________________________________ It is in South America.
3. ______________________________________________ I prefer coffee, but I like both.
4. ______________________________________________ I like to read and listen to music.
5. ______________________________________________ I want to go to Egypt on holiday.
6. ______________________________________________ My house has three bedrooms.
7. ______________________________________________ I earn $1000 a month.
8. ______________________________________________ Because I am on a diet.
9. ______________________________________________ It is in December.
10. ______________________________________________ He’s a famous actor

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10.2. Write the questions about the words in bold.

Examples: Someone is talking to John. Who is talking to John? // Eric is talking to someone. → Who is Eric talking to?

1. The children are playing with someone. →

2. Mary broke something. →
3. Someone is knocking on the door. → on the door ?
4. They love kids. → kids ?
5. They enjoy going on holiday. → on holiday ?
6. My parents have bought a computer. →
7. The birds wake me up. →
8. They play the guitar very well. → the guitar very well ?
10. Jill saw me the other day. → the other day ?

10.3. Question tags.

Add the tag questions:

1. She is from a small town in China, _______________?

2. They aren’t on their way already, ________________?
3. We’re late again, _________________?
4. I’m not the person with the tickets, _______________?
5. Julie isn’t an accountant, _________________?
6. The weather is really bad today, ___________________?
7. He’s very handsome, __________________?
8. They aren’t in Rome at the moment, _________________?
9. You aren’t from Brazil, ___________________?
10. John’s a very good student, __________________?
11. I like chocolate very much, _________________?
12. She doesn’t work in a hotel, _________________?
13. They need some new clothes, ________________?
14. We live in a tiny flat, ________________?
15. She studies very hard every night, ________________?
16. David and Julie don’t take Chinese classes, _________________?
17. I often come home late, _________________?
18. You don’t like spicy food, _____________?
19. She doesn’t cook very often, _______________?
20. We don’t watch much TV, _______________

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10.4. Indirect questions. Complete the interview. (https://www.e-grammar.org/esl-printable-worksheets/ )

Mum: Hi, Bob. Did you have a good time at school?

Bob: Mum, why do you always ask me if ...................... a good time at school?
Mum: And why not? What did you do in your English lessons?
Bob: I can't tell you what ..................., because we have English lessons tomorrow.
Mum: All right, I didn't know that. How does David feel. Is he still ill?
Bob: I'd like to know how ........................., too, but he wasn't at school.
Mum: Is he still at the hospital?
Bob: Nobody knows where ............ We haven't been in touch for ages.
Mum: How long has he been ill?
Bob: I'm not sure how long ......................... ill. Two or three weeks, I think.
Mum: What did you have for lunch?
Bob: I can't remeber what ............................ for lunch. But it was awful.
Mum: Are you hungry?
Bob: Not really. I'll tell you when ..................... hungry

10.5. Indirect questions. Complete the sentences. (https://www.e-grammar.org/esl-printable-worksheets/ )

What did she say? It's a secret. I can't tell you what ......................
Do you know when ........................................ ? Yes, he came after dinner.
Where is my pen? I have no idea where .........................................
Why didn't he ask them? Who knows why .....................................them?
Do you remember where ............................... ? Yes, I do. The map was on the table.
What time is the train? I don't know what time ......................................
Where does Simon live? You can ask Mary where ..................................
How did you do that? Why are you asking how ........................... that.

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TO KNOW MORE:

Watch the video on question tags.

Word order in questions

Questions- Exercise 1
Questions- Exercise 2
Questions- Exercise 3
Questions- Exercise 4
Question forms- Exercise 5
Question forms- Exercise 6
Question forms- Exercise 7
Question forms- Exercise 8
Subject questions, questions with prepositions- Exercise 9
Subject questions, questions with prepositions- Exercise 10
Subject questions, questions with prepositions- Exercise 11
Question tags- test

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Grammar notebook I

11. Modals I: must, have to, should, ought to.

Los verbos modales son: CAN, COULD, BE ABLE TO, MAY, MIGHT, MUST, HAVE TO, SHOULD, OUGHT TO, WILL,
WOULD, SHALL, NEED*, HAD BETTER* y DARE*

Estos verbos tienen unas características especiales que los sitúan a mitad camino entre los verbos auxiliares y los
verbos normales:
- son invariables: no añaden –s en la tercera persona del singular del presente
- no necesitan do para formar la interrogativa y la negativa (salvo have to)
- Nunca llevan detrás un infinitivo con –to (excepto be able to, have to, y ought to, que ya llevan incorporada esta
preposición)

Los verbos modales se emplean para expresar capacidad, obligación, posibilidad, certeza, prohibición…y también
para ofrecer algo, para dar consejos o hacer sugerencias y para pedir algo de forma educada.

1. Modales que expresan la obligación de hacer algo o la necesidad de hacerlo. (tener que, deber, necesitar)

Have to → I have to get up and go to work every day.

Must → You must help your friends if they need you.
Need → You need to leave quickly.

2. Modales que expresan ausencia de obligación. ( no tener que, no ser necesario)

Don’t have to → You don’t have to cook today. We’re going out.
Needn’t → You needn’t go running tonight if you’re tired or you don’t need
to go running tonight if you are tired.

*(Need en interrogativa y negativa puede comportarse como un verbo normal o como un verbo modal; en afirmativa se
comporta como un verbo normal y va seguido del to: “I need to talk to someone”)

3. Modales que expresan prohibición. ( no deber, estar prohibido )

Mustn´t → You mustn’t ride a motorbike without a crash helmet.

4. Modales que se utilizan para dar consejos o hacer sugerencias u ofrecimientos. (deberías, sería mejor que,
puedes, podrías, que tal si…, te gustaría…)

Should → They should train harder if they want to win the match.
Ought to → She ought to relax more. She is so stressed!
Had better → You’d better leave now or you’ll miss your train.
Shall --> Shall we go to the cinema tonight?
Would-> Would you like some more bread?
Can-> You can introduce her to my cousin.
Could-> You could try asking for help.

* ( ought to y should se pueden utilizar de forma indistinta, pero ought to apenas se utiliza en negativa e interrogativa)

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11.1. Complete the sentences with must or have to/ has to.

1. I ___________remember to buy some new shampoo tomorrow.

2. We ______________ arrive at school before 8.30 every morning.
3. In my country you ___________be sixteen before you can get married. It’s the law.
4. I ___________send an email to Cathy tonight. I haven’t been in touch with her for ages.
5. You __________help your brother with his homework. He’s having real problems.
6. All the students at my friend’s school __________ wear a uniform.
7. In Britain, everybody __________drive on the right-hand side of the road.
8. We _____________ buy a present for Dad. It’s his birthday next week.

11.2. Complete the sentences with mustn’t or don’t have to / doesn’t have to.

1 You _______________bring an umbrella. It isn’t raining.

2 Rachel _______________forget to water the plants while her parents are on holiday.
3 We _____________ go to school tomorrow. It’s a national holiday.
4 He ______________bring his CD player to the party. We’ve already got one.
5 You ______________ride a motorbike without wearing a helmet.
6 ‘I’m flying to Seville tomorrow.’
‘You ______________forget your passport this time!’
7 They __________________ meet us at the airport. We’re going to get a taxi into town.
8 You ____________talk during the exam.

11.3. Choose the correct words.

When The Face Model Agency offered fifteen-year-old Julie Willis a job, it was a dream come true. However, once she
started work, Julie found she had no time for school. Finally she decided she 1 had to / mustn’t leave. Many people
criticized her decision.

‘It was a difficult thing to do,’ says Julie. ‘And I miss all my friends. But I 2 had to / must make a choice. Although I 3
don’t have to / mustn’t go to school, I still 4 have to / mustn’t study. I have a private tutor now. My parents told me I
5
don’t have to / have to take some exams.’

‘Most models retire young,’ adds Julie’s mother. ‘So Julie 6 mustn’t / doesn’t have to forget that she needs
qualifications for her next job.’

But at the moment Julie isn’t worried about the future. ‘Next week I 7 have to / mustn’t go to New York for a
photoshoot,’ she says. ‘I still can’t believe my luck!’

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11.4. Rewrite the sentences without changing their meaning using modal verbs.

1. Smoking is forbidden in food shops for health reasons. // For reasons of health, you….

2. It is advisable to see a dentist every six months for a check-up. // You

3. For most students it is necessary to study at home to get good marks at school.// To get good marks

4. “This book I’ve bought is really good once you get into it. Why don’t you borrow it when I’ve finished it,” said John.
John said I
5. Wearing a uniform is obligatory at most private schools. // At most private schools

TO KNOW MORE:

Must and have to- Multiple choice

Should, ought to, need- Multiple choice 2
Modal verbs and their substitutes. Exercise 1
Modal verbs and their substitutes. Exercise 2
Must not and need not- Exercise

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12. Connectors and prepositions I.

12.1. CONJUNCTIONS.
A conjunction is a word that is used to connect words, phrases, and clauses. The most common
conjunctions are:
and, but, or, so, because, however, after, since, during, than, unless, that

There are three basic types of conjunctions: coordinating, subordinating, and correlative.

COORDINATING SUBORDINATING CORRELATIVE

Coordinating conjunctions are Correlative conjunctions

used to connect independent A subordinating conjunction is used to connect a are pairs of conjunctions
clauses together. subordinate or dependent clause to an independent that work together.
(An independent clause is a clause.
phrase that can stand alone as Subordinating conjunctions can either come at the Common correlative
a complete sentence.) beginning of a sentence or somewhere in the middle. conjunctions are:
as ... as
The seven coordinating Common subordinating conjunctions are: after, both ... and
conjunctions are: although, as, as if, as long as, because, before, either ... or
for, and, nor, but, or, yet, despite, even if, even though, if, in order that, rather neither ... nor
and so. than, since, so that, that, though, unless, until, when, not only ... but also
The mnemonic device where, whereas, whether, and while. rather ... than
FANBOYS is useful to whether ... or
remember them.

Examples:
Examples:
Two independent clauses: Examples:
-She is either at home or at
-She may be at home. -I know how to swim.
work.
-She may be at work. -My dad taught me.
-He'd rather stay at home
-I know how to swim because my dad taught me.
than go to school.
A corrdinating conjunction can -Because my dad taught me, I know how to swim.
-Eat your vegetables
connect the two clauses:
whether you like them or
-She may be at home, or she -I can't buy a car.
not!
may be at work. -I have enough money.
-Both the father and the
-The sweater is dirty and full -I can't buy a car until I have enough money.
son are pilots.
of holes.

Comma usage:
A comma is used before the
Comma usage:
conjunction when connecting Comma usage:
If a subordinating clause begins a sentence, a comma is
two independent clauses. No commas are used.
placed after it.
If the clauses are not
independent, no comma is
used.

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12.1.1. Fill in the blank using one of the subordinating conjunctions from the list. Use each word only
once.

In order that, as long as, whenever,

because, where, than,
that, while, before, unless

( From ESL Library.com )

1. I will never go to that restaurant again _____________________ I live.

2. _____________________ Jose needs help, he calls his two brothers.
3. _____________________ Sheldon works for the post office, he never works Sundays.
4. I would rather read a book _____________________ watch a stupid television program.
5. _____________________ Roger goes to Miami, he will buy a new bathing suit.
6. _____________________ travelers have time to pass through security, it is recommended that they
arrive two hours before their flight.
7. I will not go out with you _____________________ you promise not to smoke
8. _____________________ Maria is an avid jogger, her sister Julia prefers just to sit on the couch.
9. I do not believe _____________________ Hector’s father is a doctor.
10. Maryam loves the city _____________________ she now lives.

TO KNOW MORE:

Conjunctions- And, so, or, so, because- Exercise 1

Conjunctions- And, so, or, so, because- Exercise 2
Conjunctions- And, so, or, so, because- Exercise 3

12.2. PREPOSITIONS.
A preposition is a word that tells you when or where something is in relation to something else.
There are over 100 prepositions in English and using them correctly can be difficult, especially for learners.
Although most prepositions are single words such as 'at', 'on', 'to', 'from', some pairs and groups of words
operate like single prepositions, for example 'up to', 'out of' 'in front of' etc.

List of commonly-used prepositions with their meaning and a sentence showing how they are used.

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12.2.1. Prepositions of time. Write the preposition of time for the following expressions.
If a preposition isn’t used, put X.

1. _______ Monday 11. _______ noon 21. _______ the evening

2. _______ yesterday 12. _______ Christmas 22. _______ every day
3. _______ the morning 13. _______ the 12 th century 23. _______ New Year’s eve
4. _______ three o’clock 14. _______ the 12 th of April 24. _______ September
5. _______ next year 15. _______ tomorrow 25. _______ next year
6. _______ midnight 16. _______ 11 AM 26. _______ Tuesday night
7. _______ our anniversary 17. _______ night 27. _______ last month
8. _______ last summer 18. _______ the moment 28. _______ dawn
9. _______ summer 19. _______ 1994 29. _______ autumn
10. _______ March 20. _______ the weekend 30. _______ October 26

12.2.2. Prepositions of place. Put in the correct preposition: “in”, “on” or “at”.
1. The wine is ______ the bottle.
2. Pass me the dictionary, it's ______ the bookshelf.
3. Jennifer is ______ work.
4. Berlin is ______ Germany.
5. You have something ______ your face.
6. Turn left ______ the traffic lights.
7. She was listening to classical music ______ the radio.
8. He has a house ______ the river.
9. The answer is ______ the bottom of the page.
10. Julie will be ______ the plane now.
11. There are a lot of magnets ______ the fridge.
12. She lives ______ London.
13. John is ______ a taxi. He's coming.
14. I'll meet you ______ the airport.
15. She stood ______ the window and looked out.
16. The cat is ______ the house somewhere.
17. Why are you calling so late? I'm already ______

TO KNOW MORE:
Quiz- at, on, in
Quiz- at, for, from. In, into, of, with
Quiz- into, onto, off, over, up
Quiz- about, after, away, with

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13. Conditionals.
Conditional Sentences are also known as Conditional Clauses or If Clauses. They are used to express that the action
in the main clause (without if) can only take place if a certain condition (in the clause with if) is fulfilled. There are
three types of Conditional Sentences.

Conditional Sentence Type 1

→ It is possible and also very likely that the condition will be fulfilled.

Conditional Sentences Type I refer to the future. An action in the future will only happen if a certain condition is
fulfilled by that time. We don't know for sure whether the condition actually will be fulfilled or not, but the condition
seems rather realistic – so we think it is likely to happen.

Form: if + Simple Present, will-Future.

Example: If I find her address, I’ll send her an invitation.

The main clause can also be at the beginning of the sentence. In this case, don't use a comma. Example: I will send
her an invitation if I find her address.

Conditional Sentence Type 2

→ It is possible but very unlikely, that the condition will be fulfilled.

Conditional Sentences Type II refer to situations in the present. An action could happen if the present situation were
different. I don't really expect the situation to change, however. I just imagine „what would happen if …“

Form: if + Simple Past, Conditional I (= would + Infinitive)

Example: If I found her address, I would send her an invitation.

IF Clauses Type II, we usually use ‚were‘ – even if the pronoun is I, he, she or it –.

Example: If I were you, I would not do this.

Conditional Sentence Type 3

→ It is impossible that the condition will be fulfilled because it refers to the past.

Conditional Sentences Type III refer to situations in the past. An action could have happened in the past if a certain
condition had been fulfilled. Things were different then, however. We just imagine, what would have happened if the
situation had been fulfilled.

Form: if + Past Perfect, Conditional II (= would + have + Past Participle)

Example: If I had found her address, I would have sent her an invitation.

Exceptions

Sometimes Conditional Sentences Type I, II and III can also be used with other tenses.

more on Conditional Sentences used with other tenses

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ACTIVITIES

13.1. Complete the Conditional Sentences (Type I) by putting the verbs into the correct form.

1. If you _____________(send) this letter now, she ______________ (receive) it tomorrow.

2. If I _______________(do) this test, I ________________ (improve) my English.
3. Peggy __________________(go) shopping if she _______________(have) time in the afternoon.
4. Simon ____________ (go) to London next week if he ___________(get) a cheap flight.
5. If her boyfriend ______________ (phone / not) today, she ____________ (leave) him.
6. If they ________________ (study / not) harder, they ___________ (pass / not) the exam.
7. You ____________________(be able/ not) to sleep if you ____________ (watch) this scary film.
8. Susan ______________ (can / move / not) into the new house if it _________(be / not) ready on time.

13.2. Complete the Conditional Sentences (Type II) by putting the verbs into the correct form.
1. If we ___________(have) a yacht, we ______________(sail) the seven seas.
2. If he _____________ (have) more time, he _____________ (learn) karate.
3. If they _____________ (tell) their father, he _____________(be) very angry.
4. She ______________(spend) a year in the USA if it ____________(be) easier to get a green card.
5. We _______________(help) you if we ____________(know) how.
6. My brother ____________(buy) a sports car if he ____________(have) the money.
7. If you ___________(go) by bike more often, you ___________(be / not) so flabby.
8. She _____________(not / talk) to you if she ____________(be) mad at you.

13.3. Complete the Conditional Sentences (Type III) by putting the verbs into the correct form.
1 If you _______________(study) for the test, you _______________ (pass) it.
2. If you _______________(ask) me, I ___________________ (help) you.
3. If you ____________________(speak) English, she _______________(understand) .
4. If they _________________(listen) to me, we _______________(be) home earlier.
5. I ______________________(write) you a postcard if I _____________ (have) your address.
6. If I _____________________(not / break) my leg, I _______________(take part) in the contest.
7. We __________________(swim) in the sea if there __________ (not / be) so many sharks there.
8. If she __________________(take) the bus, she ______________ (not / arrive) on time.

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TO KNOW MORE:

Presentation-
Exercise 1- First conditional
Exercise 2. First and second conditional
Exercise 3- First, second and third conditional
6 Minute Grammar- The third conditional (video)
Conditionals- Mix

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14. Numbers, quantifiers and dates.

1. Numbers – Presentation

Pronunciation: listen and pronounce

2. Cardinal numbers

(BrE: British English) (AmE: American English)

101 one hundred and one (BrE) / one hundred one (AmE)
165 one hundred and sixty-five
1,000 one thousand
1,060 one thousand and sixty
1,265 one thousand, two hundred and sixty-five
1,000,000 one million
1,000,000,000 one billion

Note:
one hundred, two hundred // one thousand, three thousand // one million, four million
But you say: hundreds of students, thousands of birds, millions of people

How to read “0”:

in telephone numbers: oh (BrE)/ zero (AmE)

example: five four six oh/ zero seven two one three eight
1 : 0 one to nil
decimal numbers nought point four two six (0.426)
0°C zero degrees Celsius

3. Ordinal numbers: used for dates, floor numbers etc.

first eleventh twenty-first fortieth

second twelfth twenty-second fiftieth
third thirteenth twenty-third sixtieth
fourth fourteenth twenty-fourth seventieth
fifth fifteenth twenty-fifth eightieth
sixth sixteenth twenty-sixth ninetieth
seventh seventeenth twenty-seventh hundredth
eighth eighteenth twenty-eighth
ninth nineteenth twenty ninth
tenth twentieth thirtieth

Note the spelling and the pronunciation!

five (ai) fifth (i) // twelve twelfth // twenty twentieth

2, 4, 6 → even numbers // 3, 5, 7 → odd numbers

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4. Decimal numbers

5.254 , 23.56

Note the difference:

thousands 15,405 fifteen thousand four hundred and five

decimals 2.549 two point five four nine

5. Fractions

1/2 a half; 1/3 a third ; 1/4 a quarter; 1/5 a fifth; 1/8 an eighth; 5/4 five quarters;
3/19 three nineteenths or three over nineteen; 1 2/3 one and two thirds

more complex fractions: 226/405 two hundred and twenty-six over four hundred and five

6. Percentages:

20% twenty percent

7. Degrees:

10°C - ten degrees centigrade/Celsius

1°C = 32° F - thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit
-25°C - minus twenty-five degrees Celsius (minus is pronounced /mainez/)

8. Dates

How to ask which day of the week

What day is it today? or What’s the day today? // What day is it tomorrow? or What’s the day tomorrow?
It’s Monday today. or Today is Monday. // It’s Tuesday tomorrow. or Tomorrow is Tuesday.

How to ask the date

What’s the date today? or What’s today’s date? // What’s the date tomorrow? or What’s tomorrow’s date?
It’s 27th September. / Today is 27th September. // Tomorrow is September 28th.

How to say the date

When we say dates in English we use ordinal numbers. So for 1 January, we don’t say the cardinal number ‘one’ but
we say ‘first’. And we say ‘the’ before the number followed by ‘of’. For example, It’s the first of January.

It’s also possible to invert the month and day. For example, It’s January first.
In this case you don’t need to say ‘the’ and ‘of’.

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How to write the date

When we write a date we don’t need to add ‘the’ and ‘of’ as we do when we speak. For example:
It’s the first of January – speaking → It’s 1st January – writing

As you can see, you don’t need to write the number but we usually add the last two letters of the ordinal number. For example:
First – 1st; Second – 2nd; Third – 3rd; Fourth – 4th.

How to say the year

There are two ways to say the year in English. Until the year 2000, every year was pronounced as two numbers. For example,
1485 – fourteen eighty-five; 1750 – seventeen fifty; 1900 – nineteen hundred.

For the first years of previous centuries, we add ‘0’. For example: 1801 – eighteen o one.

While for the first ten years of the 21st century, we use the word ‘thousand’. For example: 2000 – two thousand; 2006 – two
thousand six.

From the year 2010 onwards you can say two numbers again. For example, 2012 – twenty twelve
However, some people continue to use ‘thousand’ and say: 2012 – two thousand twelve

Centuries

When we refer to a century in English, we use ordinal numbers. For example, 1800-1900 = the nineteenth century // 1900-2000
= the twentieth century. And centuries are divided into ten decades. A decade is a period of ten years.

Historical dates

When you talk about a year in the distant past, you can use B.C. and A.D. The letters B.C. mean ‘before Christ’. For example, the
first Olympic Games were in 776 B.C.

A.D. means ‘Anno Domini’ – the year of the Lord, marking the birth of Christ. So this year is 2023 A.D. However, it’s only
necessary to add A.D. when it is unclear which time period you’re referring to. For example, Romulus Augustulus was the last
Roman Emperor from 475-476 A.D.

American vs British English difference

There is a difference in the order of indicating the date and the month between American and British English. In American
English it’s common to put the month first followed by the date. For example, 09.25.2019 – September 25, 2019. While in British
English the same date is, 25.09.2019 – 25th September, 2019

So be careful when you write a date as numbers as above. Depending who you’re writing to, you may need to write the month
to be clear. When you make an arrangement in English – such as a meeting at work or a hotel reservation – getting the date
right is really important.

Dates: listen and match

Dates: American English
Dates: exercises

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15. Modals II.

5. Modales que expresan capacidad o habilidad para hacer algo. ( poder, saber )

Can → Free climbers can climb mountains without using ropes.

Could → She could swim well when she was only 5 years old.
Be able to → She will be able to speak English in two years.
She was able to save the man when he fell into the water.*

6. Modales que expresan posibilidad de que algo ocurra ( puede, podría)

Can -> He can be the champion. He is playing well.

Could-> He could win the match.
May-> It may rain tomorrow.
Might-> It might rain tomorrow.

7. Modales que expresan la certeza de que algo es verdadero o imposible (debe, no puede)

Can’t-> It can’t be true. It’s impossible.

Must-> Learning Japanese must be very difficult.

8. Modales que sirven para hacer peticiones. (Puedo, podría...)

Can-> Can you drive me home?

Could-> Could you lend me some money?
May-> May I use your phone?
Would-> Would you please drive me home?

9. Modales que sirven para expresar una crítica sobre algo que ya ha sucedido. ( debería haber hecho o debería
haber sucedido…)

Should / ought to have + part. She should have asked for permission. // They shouldn’t have come so early.

10. Modales que expresan una conclusión lógica sobre una acción pasada ( debe haber sucedido algo) o una
suposición sobre una acción pasada ( podría haber sucedido algo)

Must have + participio: They must have already arrived home.

May/might have + participio: They may have missed the bus.

11. Modales que indican habilidad en el pasado para realizar algo que finalmente no se hizo ( podría haber hecho..)
o para expresar incredulidad de que lo ocurrido sea cierto ( no pudo haberlo hecho)

Could have + participio: He could have phoned the police.

Couldn’t have + participio: He couldn’t have spent all the money.

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Grammar notebook I

12. Modales que expresan ausencia de necesidad de hacer algo que ya se ha hecho ( no era necesario haber hecho
tal cosa –pero se hizo)

Needn’t have + participio: You needn’t have got up so early.

* (Fíjate en la diferencia con I didn’t need to get up so early o I didn’t have to get up so early)

⚫ DARE- (osar, atreverse a) Es un semimodal, como need. En afirmativa, se conjuga como un verbo normal, pero
en negativa e interrogativa admite la doble posibilidad: verbo normal o verbo modal.

- He dared to fight. (El se atrevió a luchar)

- He doesn’t dare to fight / he dares not fight (El no se atreve a luchar)
- Do you dare? / Dare you? (¿Te atreves? )

Dare no se usa mucho en afirmativa excepto en la expresión, “I daresay” (I suppose) . Por otra parte la pregunta,
“how dare you…?” sirve para expresar indignación ( “How dare you open my letters?”)

ACTIVITIES:

15.1. Rewrite the sentences using the modal verbs.

Mark is thinking about going snowboarding. (might) → Mark might go snowboarding.

1 It’s possible that Jane will visit Switzerland next year. (could)
………………………………………………
2 I’m thinking about taking Spanish lessons. (may)
………………………………………………
3 I’m sure they’ll be home by now. (must)
………………………………………………
4 James definitely isn’t eighteen yet! (can’t)
………………………………………………
5 It’s possible the weather will be sunny tomorrow. (might)
………………………………………………

15.2. Read the story. Then rewrite the sentences using the modal verbs.

Mr Smith was an ordinary man. Every day he went to work at nine o’clock and came back at half past five. Mr Smith
was married to Mrs Smith. One day Mrs Smith disappeared.
The next day Mr Smith started planting flowers in his garden.
He continued to go to work as usual. Then one day he didn’t go to work. He left the house at ten o’clock, and came
back at two o’clock driving a new car. The next day Mr Smith moved out. I never saw him again.

There’s a possibility that he argued with his wife. (might)→He might have argued with his wife.

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1 I’m sure that Mrs Smith didn’t leave home. (can’t)

Mrs Smith ……………………………………
2 Perhaps she’s gone to stay with her mother. (might)
She …………………………………………
3 It’s possible that Mr Smith committed a crime. (may)
Mr Smith ……………………………………
4 I’m certain that he buried something in the garden. (must)
He ……………………………………………
5 Perhaps he won the lottery. (could)
He ……………………………………………
6 I’m sure he bought a new car. (must)
He ……………………………………………
7 Perhaps Mr Smith murdered his wife. (might)
Mr Smith ……………………………………

15.3. Complete the sentences with the correct modal perfect form of the verb in brackets.

1. He’s not home. I think he ................................ (go) out with friends.

2. I ................................ (call), but I didn’t want to wake you up.
3. Everyone looks shocked; something very bad ................................ . (happen)
4. I’m angry. You ................................ (take) my book without my permission.

15.4. Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in brackets. Use a modal or modal
perfect.
1. I passed my driving test so now I ....................................... (can / drive).
2. In my opinion, she ....................................... (should not / wear) jeans to the wedding last week.
3. I ....................................... (could / take) the bus, but I preferred to walk.
4. This area is for non-smokers so you ....................................... (must not / smoke) here.
5. She ....................................... (must / move). Nobody has seen her in ages.
6. I think I ....................................... (might / leave) my jacket at your house yesterday.

15.5. Translate these sentences:

1. El no puede ser el asesino. Estaba conmigo en casa.

2. El no podrá ver bien durante una semana.
3. Susan podía hablar italiano cuando tenía 15 años.
4. Susan pudo llegar a tiempo.
5. Ellos podrían haber estado allí.
6. Ellos pueden ganar el partido. No lo sé.
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7. ¿Puedo cerrar la ventana?

8. Los terroristas podrían haber colocado una bomba.
9. No se puede hablar durante el examen.
10. Debes ayudar a tu padre.
11. Tengo que levantarme a las siete de la mañana.
12. No tienes que ayudarle. Tiene 20 años.
13. ¿Necesitas comprar ese libro?
14. Necesitas estudiar más.
15. ¿Qué tal si nos vamos al cine?
16. Deberías comer menos.
17. No deberías haber dicho eso.
18. No necesitas levantarte temprano mañana.
19. No era necesario que hubieras venido.

TO KNOW MORE:

All modal verbs.

20. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZC710CZYv6k

Modal verbs: can, could, may, might (video)

Modal verbs: will, shall, would (video)

Exercise 1

Quiz

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16. Relative clauses I.

We use relative clauses to give additional information about something without starting another sentence. By
combining sentences with a relative clause, your text becomes more fluent and you can avoid repeating certain
words.

Relative Pronouns

relative pronoun use example

Who subject or object pronoun for people I told you about the woman who lives next door.
Which subject or object pronoun for animals and things Do you see the cat which is lying on the roof?
Which referring to a whole sentence He couldn’t read, which surprised me.
Whose possession for people animals and things Do you know the boy whose mother is a nurse?
object pronoun for people, especially in non-defining
I was invited by the professor whom I met at the
Whom relative clauses (in defining relative clauses we
conference.
colloquially prefer who)
subject or object pronoun for people, animals and things
That in defining relative clauses (who or which are also I don’t like the table that stands in the kitchen.
possible)

Subject Pronoun or Object Pronoun?

Subject and object pronouns cannot be distinguished by their forms - who, which, that are used for subject and
object pronouns. You can, however, distinguish them as follows:

If the relative pronoun is followed by a verb, the relative pronoun is a subject pronoun. Subject pronouns must
always be used.

the apple which is lying on the table

If the relative pronoun is not followed by a verb (but by a noun or pronoun), the relative pronoun is an object
pronoun. Object pronouns can be dropped in defining relative clauses, which are then called Contact Clauses.

the apple (which) George lay on the table

Relative Adverbs

A relative adverb can be used instead of a relative pronoun plus preposition. This often makes the sentence easier to
understand.

This is the shop in which I bought my bike. / → This is the shop where I bought my bike.

relative adverb meaning use example

when in/on which refers to a time expression the day when we met him
where in/at which refers to a place the place where we met him
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why for which refers to a reason the reason why we met him

Defining Relative Clauses

Defining relative clauses (also called identifying relative clauses or restrictive relative clauses) give detailed
information defining a general term or expression. Defining relative clauses are not put in commas.

Imagine, Tom is in a room with five girls. One girl is talking to Tom and you ask somebody whether he knows this girl.
Here the relative clause defines which of the five girls you mean.

→ Do you know the girl who is talking to Tom?

Defining relative clauses are often used in definitions.

→ A seaman is someone who works on a ship.

Object pronouns in defining relative clauses can be dropped. (Sentences with a relative clause without the relative
pronoun are called Contact Clauses.)

→ The boy (who/whom) we met yesterday is very nice.

Non-Defining Relative Clauses

Non-defining relative clauses (also called non-identifying relative clauses or non-restrictive relative clauses) give
additional information on something, but do not define it. Non-defining relative clauses are put in commas.

Note: In non-defining relative clauses, who/which may not be replaced with that.

Object pronouns in non-defining relative clauses must be used.

→ Jim, who/whom we met yesterday, is very nice.

How to Shorten Relative Clauses?

Relative clauses with who, which, that as subject pronoun can be replaced with a participle. This makes the sentence
shorter and easier to understand.

I told you about the woman who lives next door. – I told you about the woman living next door.

Do you see the cat which is lying on the roof? – Do you see the cat lying on the roof?

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ACTIVITIES:
16.1. Combine the sentences using a relative clause. Use relatvie pronouns only where necessary. Note
that you have to use commas in some of the sentences.

A holiday in Scotland

1. We spent our holiday in Scotland last year. Scotland is in the north of Great Britain.

Last year we…

2. People live in Scotland. They are called Scots.

The people…

3. We first went to Edinburgh. Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland.

We first….

4. Arthur Conan Doyle was born in Edinburgh. He wrote the Sherlock Holmes stories.

Arthur Conan Doyle….

5. Then we visited a lake. It is in the Highlands.

The lake….

6. Loch Ness is 37 km long. People know it for its friendly monster.

Loch Ness…

7. There we met an old man. He told us that he had seen Nessie.

An old man…

8. We then travelled to a mountain. The mountain is near the town of Fort William.

We then…

9. The mountain is the highest mountain in Great Britain. It is called Ben Nevis.

The mountain…

10. I sent you a postcard. It was written on the summit of Ben Nevis.

The postcard…

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16.2. Choose the correct relative pronoun (who, which, whose).

1. This is the bank _________ was robbed yesterday.

2. A boy ____________ sister is in my class was in the bank at that time.
3. The man __________ robbed the bank had two pistols.
4. He wore a mask ___________made him look like Mickey Mouse.
5. He came with a friend __________waited outside in the car.
6. The woman ________ gave him the money was young.
7. The bag _________ contained the money was yellow.
8. The people __________were in the bank were very frightened.
9. A man ___________mobile was ringing did not know what to do.
10. A woman ________daughter was crying tried to calm her.

TO KNOW MORE:

• Relative clauses
• Relative pronouns
• Quiz
• Test 1
• Test 2
• Test 3
• Test 4

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17. Gerunds and infinitives I.

El gerundio o el infinitivo se pueden utilizar como complemento de otros verbos para enlazar acciones.

- I don’t like dancing. // - They want to invite us tonight.

1. TO + INFINITIVO

1.1. Detrás de los siguientes verbos.

AFFORD AGREE APPEAR (seem) ATTEMPT

DECIDE EXPECT FAIL FORGET
HELP HOPE INTEND LEARN
MANAGE NEED OFFER PLAN
PREPARE PRETEND PROMISE PROPOSE
REFUSE SEEM WOULD LIKE* WISH
WANT

-Jane learned to swim at the age of three. // - I’ve decided to work this summer.

1.2. Cuando el verbo va seguido de objeto ( verbo + objeto + infinitivo )

ADVISE ALLOW ASK ENABLE

ENCOURAGE EXPECT FORBID FORCE
HELP INVITE ORDER PERMIT
PERSUADE PREFER RECOMMEND REMIND
TEACH TELL WANT WARN

-They have asked me to help them. // - We want them to stay longer.

1.3. Detrás de adjetivos y adverbios. → - It’s interesting to learn languages.

1.4. Detrás de [ It is/was + adjetivo + of + sust / pron ] → - It was very kind of you to help the old lady.

1.5. Detrás de [ adjetivo + for + objeto ] → - It was very difficult for us to find out the truth.

1.6. Con pronombres interrogativos. Todos los pronombres interrogativos pueden ir seguidos de to + infinitivo,
excepto why, que va seguido de infinitivo sin to.

- I didn’t know what to say. // - “Why do it now?”, she asked me.

2. INFINITIVO SIN TO.

2.1 Detrás de los verbos modales (excepto ought to y have to ) y de las expresiones HAD BETTER, WOULD
RATHER, WOULD SOONER.

- You must study tonight.

- You’d better go home now. Sería mejor que te fueras a casa.
- I’d rather work now. - Prefiero trabajar ahora
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* I’d rather read than dance. – Prefiero leer a bailar.

* I’d rather you came with us. – Preferiría que vinieras con nosotros.

2.2. Detrás de los verbos LET y MAKE, excepto cuando make va en pasiva.

- My parents didn’t let me go out yesterday. // - They made me do my homework.

- I was made to stay at home.

2.3. Detrás del verbo HELP que puede ir seguido de objeto + infinitive con o sin to.

- Can you help me do this exercise? // - Can you help me to do this exercise?

2.4. Los verbos de percepción SEE, HEAR, FEEL, SMELL, WATCH pueden ir seguidos de objeto + infinitivo sin to o de
objeto + ing.

- I saw them play the match / I saw them playing football.

3. GERUNDIO

3.1. Detrás de preposición. → I watched TV after doing the washing up.

3.2. Como sujeto de una oración. → Smoking is not very healthy.

3.3. Para expresar prohibiciones cortas. → No smoking // No parking…

3.4. Detrás de los siguientes verbos:

ADMIT AVOID CAN’T HELP CAN’T STAND

CONSIDER DENY DISLIKE ENJOY
FANCY FEEL LIKE FINISH
GIVE UP GO ON IMAGINE INVOLVE
IT’S WORTH MIND KEEP IT’S NO USE
PRACTISE RESENT RESIST RISK
STOP SUGGEST

I enjoyed reading the novel. // They went on running for two hours.

4. GERUNDIO o INFINITIVO.

Hay verbos que pueden ir seguidos de infintivo o gerundio, pero dependiendo de que verbo se trate puede
producirse un cambio de significado o no.

4.1. Verbos que no cambian de significado: BEGIN, FORBID, LOVE, START, CAN’T BEAR, LIKE, PREFER

I like to watch TV in the evening / I like watching TV in the evening.

4.2. Verbos que cambian de significado.

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STOP: to stop + ing se usa para expresar que se deja de hacer una acción, mientras que stop + infinitivo se emplea
para decir que paramos para hacer una acción diferente.

I stopped eating. // I stopped to eat.

REMEMBER: remember +ing hace referencia a una acción pasada. Remember + infinitivo se refiere a una acción
que se tiene que recordar.

I remember talking about this. // Please, remember to sign it.

FORGET: forget + ing se utiliza para hablar de recuerdos de cosas que hicimos en el pasado. Con forget + infinitivo
expresamos que se nos olvidó hacer algo que debía hacerse.

She will never forget travelling to South America. // I forgot to phone Catherine.

REGRET: regret + ing se usa para lamentarse de una acción pasada y regret + infinitivo para anunciar malas
noticias. I regret leaving so early. // We regret to tell you the bad news.

ACTIVITIES:
17.1. Rewrite the sentences using gerunds.

Tim cycled into town. He didn’t stop. → Tim cycled into town without stopping.

1 Rachel lost the race. She was very angry. → Rachel was angry about…
2 We didn’t go to the cinema, we watched a video at home. → Instead of…
3 Ivan passed his driving test because he practised every weekend. → By…
4 Gillian read the newspaper then she phoned her friend. → Before…
5 They left the disco and went for a coffee. → After…
6 Jake has split up with his girlfriend. He’s upset. → Jake is upset about…

17.2. Complete the story with gerunds or infinitives.

A haunted house

When I was a child, I used to spend my holidays at my aunt and uncle’s old country house.
One summer I remember _________ (have) a strange experience.
It was a hot afternoon, and my cousins suggested 1___________ (play) hide-and-seek. But instead of
2
___________ (go) outside, we decided 3__________ (play) in the attic. After
4
___________ (turn off) all the lights, we all hid in different places. I managed 5___________
(hide) behind an old sofa.
Then something odd happened. In the darkness we heard footsteps come into the room.

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The footsteps seemed 6__________(walk) towards the sofa. I wanted 7_________(move), but I couldn’t. I expected
something terrible 8___________(happen). Then suddenly the footsteps stopped and the door slammed shut. After 9
__________ (wait) for a few seconds, we jumped up and ran downstairs without 10 ____________ (stop).
We told my aunt and uncle, but they refused 11___________ (believe) us. Mysteriously the
house burned down a year later. The fire started in the attic.

17.3. Translate into English.

1. Después de leer, apagad las luces →

2. Está interesado en aprender alemán. →

3. Dejaron de decir tonterías. →

4. Dejo de fumar para ponerse bien. →

5. Recuerdo haber oído eso antes. →

6. No estoy acostumbrado a levantarme a las 6:00. →

7. Vale la pena pagar 30$ por eso. →

17.4. Fill in the gaps with the right form.

1. I’m sorry about………………….(not invite) you.

2. I really love………………….(play) with the children
3. ………………………….(swim) is a good form of exercise
4. I’ve decided…………………………(not stay) for another year
5. I tried…………………….(add) some salt but it didn’t help
6. We were getting tired so we stopped……………………..(have) lunch
7. We were getting tired so we stopped……………………..(type) letters
8. I know the keys are here. I remember…………………….(put) them down somewhere
9. He can’ stand …………………………(do) the washing up
10. She left the room without……………..(say) a word
11. Would you like……………………….(travel) to New York?
12. I don’t blame you for………………………(not want) to go to the meeting
13. I insisted on …………………………..(know) the truth
14. I’m very thirsty. I feel like………………………….(drink) a beer
15. I shouldn’t talk in class but I can’t help…………………..(do) it.
16. He tried to avoid……………………(answer) the question
17. Could you please stop………………………..(make) so much noise?
18. I considered ……………………..(apply) for the job but in the end I decided……………..(not do) it
19. I’ve put off ………………………………..(write) the letter so many times
20. Would you mind…………………………..(not interrupt) me all the time?
21. Does anyone fancy………………………..(go) for a walk?
22. She doesn’t allow………………………………(smoke) in the house
23. I’m in a difficult position. What do you advise me …………………………………….(do)?
24. The film was very sad. it made me ………………………………(cry)
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25. I wouldn’t recommend …………………………….(eat) in that restaurant. It’s too expensive

26. Where would you recommend me ………………………………(go)?
27. Let him …………………………..(do) what he wants
28. I want you ……………………………(know) the truth
29. I didn’t expect Mary ……………..(come) I was really surprised …………………….(see) her there
30. It’s difficult …………………………(understand) what he says.

TO KNOW MORE:

• Gerunds and infinitives

• Test 1 Test 2 Test 3 Test 4

• Multiple choice exercise.

• Quiz

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18. Passive voice. [ From- https://www.learn-english-today.com/lessons/lesson_contents/verbs/passive.html ]

ACTIVE VOICE :
A verb is said to be in the Active Voice when its subject acts, or when the emphasis in on the doer or the subject.

PASSIVE VOICE :
A verb is in the Passive Voice when the subject is being acted upon, or when the emphasis is on the object or the
action done.

The passive form (voice) of verbs is formed with the appropriate tense of BE + the past participle :

For example : English is spoken here.

Only verbs which take an object (transitive verbs) can be put into the passive.
For example: Tom catches the ball. / The ball was caught by Tom.

Verbs that have no object (intransitive verbs) such as: come, go, happen, live, sleep, etc. cannot be put into the
passive. Please note that the Present Perfect Continuous, the Past Perfect Continuous and the Future Continuous are
not usually used in the passive form.

• We use the active form of a verb to say what a subject does:

o The chef cooks food every day.

• We use the passive form to say what happens to the subject:

o Food is cooked every day.

• The subject of a passive verb corresponds to the object of an active verb :

o Food is cooked every day. (Passive).
o The chef cooks food every day. (Active)

• We sometimes used get to form the passive:

o Be careful with that sharp knife. Someone might get hurt!
o The cat got run over by a car.

• We use the passive form of a verb:

- when the person who performs the action (agent) is unknown.

- when it is not important who does the action, or
- when we are more interested in the action that in the agent (instructions, reports, etc.)

o The letter was delivered at 9 a.m.

The identity of the person who delivered the letter is unknown or unimportant.
If we want to say who delivered the letter, we use 'by':
The letter was delivered by the postman.
o The tax reforms were announced today, or
The tax reforms were announced by the Prime Minister.

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Verb Tense Active Passive

Infinitive: To cook To be cooked
Present Simple I cook food in the kitchen. Food is cooked in the kitchen.
Present Continuous I am cooking food in the kitchen. Food is being cooked in the kitchen.
Present Perfect Simple I have cooked food in the kitchen. Food has been cooked in the kitchen.
Past Simple I cooked food in the kitchen. Food was cooked in the kitchen.
Past Continuous I was cooking food in the kitchen. Food was being cooked in the kitchen.
Past Perfect I had cooked food in the kitchen. Food had been cooked in the kitchen.
Future I will cook food in the kitchen. Food will be cooked in the kitchen.
Future Perfect I will have cooked food in the kitchen. Food will have been cooked in the kitchen.
Conditional I I would cook food in the kitchen Food would be cooked in the kitchen.
Conditional II I would have cooked food in the kitchen. Food would have been cooked in the kitchen.

MORE EXAMPLES:

Active Passive
The children ate the cookies. The cookies were eaten by the children.
I don't know how we can solve the problem. I don't know how the problem can be solved.
I saw Bruno at the football match. Bruno was seen at the football match.
He is planting flowers in the garden. Flowers are being planted in the garden.
We have painted the kitchen. The kitchen has been painted.
The plumber will repair the leak. The leak will be repaired (by the plumber).

ACTIVITIES.
18.1. Complete the sentences with the correct passive form of the verbs from the box.

arrest catch forge vandalise watch witness

1 He __________________by the police because he had used a stolen credit card. (past simple passive)
2 That letter __________________. The president doesn’t write the letter ‘s’ like that. (past simple passive)
3 Every day 100 people trying to enter the country illegally __________________ by the airport police. (present
simple passive)
4 Empty buildings ____________________ and they make the town look ugly. (present simple passive)
5 The kidnapping ______________________ by a woman who was walking her dog. (past simple passive)
6 Local criminals _____________________________by the police now. (present continuous passive)

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18.2. Choose the best answers to complete the text.

Jack the Ripper considered / was considered one of the most dangerous criminals in London during the
late 19th Century. His victims were / were being women who lived and worked in the poor areas of
London. For a while, there were rumours that the murders connected / were connected and the police
investigated / were investigated this thoroughly. Many people questioned / were questioned to find out
information about the murderer. Doctors and investigators explained / were explained how the victims
died. More than a century later, the identity of Jack the Ripper is still questioned / being questioned.
Nowadays forensic science is making lots of progress which allows things solve / to be solved much more
quickly.

18.3. Write the sentences in the passive.

1 The museum sold some paintings to a famous art collector. →

2 The police will take the vandal to the police station. →

3 They are writing the crime headlines now. →

4 CCTV cameras record all our movements. →

5 The most up-to-date security protects the biggest diamond in the world. →

6 The firefighters have investigated the cause of the fire →

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TO KNOW MORE:

Passive voice: exercises (video)

6 Minute Grammar : active and passive voice. (podcast)
Exercise 1
Exercise 2
Exercise 3
Quiz on the passive

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