Intermediate Grammar (B1 · 107 lessons)
Intermediate grammar covers fluent everyday communication: complex tenses, linking words and common phrases. Open any lesson below for the explanation, examples and practice points.
Present Perfect Continuous
have been + -ing stresses duration up to now.
Past Perfect
had + past participle for an earlier past action.
Past Perfect Continuous
had been + -ing for duration before a past moment.
Future Continuous
will be + -ing for actions in progress at a future time.
Future Perfect
will have + past participle for completion before a future time.
Future Perfect Continuous
will have been + -ing for duration up to a future point.
Second Conditional
if + past, would + verb for unreal present or future.
Third Conditional
if + past perfect, would have + pp for unreal past.
Mixed Conditionals
Combine different times in if and result clauses.
Unless and Other Conditional Words
unless = if not; provided that, as long as, in case.
Wish and If Only (Present)
wish + past simple for present regrets.
Wish and If Only (Past)
wish + past perfect for past regrets.
Passive Voice: Present and Past
be + past participle shifts focus to the receiver.
Passive Voice: Perfect and Future
Use will be / has been + pp.
Passive with Modals
modal + be + pp.
Passive Reporting Verbs
It is said that... / He is said to...
Causative: Have/Get Something Done
Arrange for someone else to do something.
Reported Speech: Statements
Shift tenses back when reporting.
Reported Speech: Questions
Use statement word order after reporting verb.
Reported Commands and Requests
ask/tell + object + to-infinitive.
Reporting Verbs
suggest, admit, deny, promise, warn use varied patterns.
Relative Clauses: Defining
Essential info with no commas.
Relative Clauses: Non-defining
Extra info set off by commas.
Relative Adverbs: Where, When, Why
Replace preposition + which.
Whose in Relative Clauses
Shows possession.
Gerund vs Infinitive
Some verbs take -ing, some to, some both with change in meaning.
Verbs Followed by -ing
enjoy, avoid, finish, mind, suggest + gerund.
Verbs Followed by To-Infinitive
decide, hope, plan, refuse, manage + to.
Verb + Object + Infinitive
want, ask, tell, allow someone to do.
Make, Let, Allow
make/let + object + base verb; allow + object + to.
Modal Verbs of Deduction (Present)
must, can't, might for logical conclusions.
Modal Verbs of Deduction (Past)
must have, can't have, might have + pp.
Needn't Have and Didn't Need To
Show unnecessary actions.
Would Rather and Had Better
Express preference and strong advice.
Be Used To vs Get Used To
Familiarity vs process of becoming familiar.
Used To vs Would
used to for states and habits; would only for habits.
Question Tags (Advanced)
Handle imperatives, let's and negatives.
Indirect Questions
Use polite statement order.
Comparative Structures: The More... The More
Show parallel change.
Modifying Comparatives
much, far, slightly, a bit + comparative.
Compound Adjectives
Join words with hyphens.
Participle Adjectives
-ed describes feelings; -ing describes causes.
Participle Clauses (Basic)
Shorten clauses with -ing or -ed.
Prepositions after Adjectives
Many adjectives need fixed prepositions.
Prepositions after Verbs
Common verb + preposition collocations.
Prepositions after Nouns
Noun + preposition pairs.
Articles with Geographical Names
Rules for the with rivers, ranges, countries.
Quantifiers with Of
a lot of, plenty of, none of, most of.
Each Other and One Another
Reciprocal pronouns.
Both... And, Either... Or, Neither... Nor
Correlative conjunctions.
Time Clauses with When, As Soon As, Until
Use present simple for future meaning.
Concession: Although, Even Though, Despite
Show contrast.
Purpose Clauses: So That, In Order To
Explain reasons for actions.
Result Clauses: So... That, Such... That
Show consequence.
Enough and Too with Infinitive
too + adj + to; adj + enough + to.
Countable Nouns with Singular Verbs: News, Maths
Some -s nouns are singular.
Collective Nouns
Group nouns can take singular or plural verbs.
Subject-Verb Agreement
Verb agrees with its true subject.
Auxiliary Verb Do for Emphasis
Add do/does/did for strong emphasis.
Present Simple for Future Timetables
Use for scheduled events.
Be About To and Be Due To
Near-future and scheduled events.
Defining and Non-defining Review
Defining clauses identify; non-defining add extra information.
Past Simple vs Present Perfect Continuous
Continuous stresses duration up to now.
Present Perfect Passive
have/has been + past participle.
Future Passive: Will Be Done
will be + past participle.
Passive Questions
Invert the auxiliary in passive questions.
By + Agent in Passive
Use by to name who does the action only if useful.
Reported Speech: Tense Backshift
Move the verb one step back in time.
Reported Speech: Time Changes
now → then; today → that day; tomorrow → the next day.
Say, Tell, Ask in Reported Speech
tell needs an object; say does not.
Second Conditional: Giving Advice
If I were you, I would...
I Wish with Would
Express annoyance about someone's behaviour.
Be Allowed To and Be Supposed To
Talk about rules and expectations.
Obligation in the Past: Had To, Was Allowed To
Use past forms for past rules.
Ability in the Past: Could vs Was Able To
could = general ability; was able to = one occasion.
Modals of Possibility: Could, May, Might, Can't
Show how sure you are about something.
Certainty Scale
must > should > may/might/could > can't.
Verb + Gerund or Infinitive: Stop, Remember, Forget
Meaning changes with the form.
Verb + Gerund or Infinitive: Try, Regret, Go On
Choose form to change the meaning.
Verbs of Perception + Object + -ing or Infinitive
-ing = in progress; infinitive = complete.
Prepositions + Gerund
After a preposition, use -ing.
Phrasal Verbs: Separable and Inseparable
Some can split; some cannot.
Phrasal Verbs with Three Parts
Verb + particle + preposition stay together.
Adjective Order (Extended)
opinion, size, age, shape, colour, origin, material.
Adverbs of Degree
Use quite, rather, fairly, absolutely to show degree.
Quite, Rather, Fairly, Pretty
They soften or strengthen adjectives.
Even, Still, Yet, Already
Show surprise, continuation and expectation.
No, None, Any, Neither
Choose negative quantifiers carefully.
Every, Each, All
Differences in meaning and verb agreement.
Someone, Anyone, No One, Everyone
Indefinite pronouns take singular verbs.
Either / Neither with Of
Use of + plural pronoun or noun.
It as Preparatory Subject
Use it to move a long subject to the end.
Passive Gerunds and Infinitives
Use being done and to be done.
Linking Words of Contrast
However, but, although, whereas, while.
Linking Words of Reason and Result
because, since, as, therefore, consequently.
Relative Clauses with Prepositions
The preposition can come before whom/which or at the end.
Omitting the Relative Pronoun
You can drop who/which/that when it is the object.
Have Something Done: Questions and Negatives
Use correct auxiliary forms.
Get + Adjective / Past Participle
get shows change or an event.
Make vs Do: Collocations
Fixed combinations with make and do.
Come, Go, Bring, Take
Direction relative to speaker.
Used to Expressing Habit vs State
Use used to for both past habits and states.
Present Tenses for Narration
Present simple makes stories vivid.
Emphasis with Do and Did
Add do/does/did for stress.
Question Words + Ever
whatever, whoever, wherever, whenever, however.
Inversion After Hardly, Scarcely, No Sooner
Use negative adverbials for dramatic effect.
Not Only... But Also with Inversion
Invert after not only at the start.
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