Grammar Lessons
Master grammar patterns used in real news articles, organized by CEFR level.
Advertisement
Although / though / even though + clause
“Although it was raining, we went for a walk.”
Articles: the + nationality groups and unique nouns
“The French are known for their cuisine.”
Articles: zero article with abstract concepts
“Happiness is more important than money.”
As long as / provided that / on condition that
“You can borrow my car as long as you drive carefully.”
Be allowed to: passive permission
“Students aren't allowed to use phones in class.”
Be used to / get used to + noun/-ing vs used to + base verb
“I'm used to waking up early.”
Causative get: get something done
“I need to get my phone repaired.”
Causative have: have something done
“I had my hair cut yesterday.”
Could have: past possibility not taken
“We could have taken the train, but we drove instead.”
Defining relative clauses: who, which, that
“The woman who lives next door is a doctor.”
Despite / in spite of + noun or -ing
“Despite being tired, she finished the report.”
I wish + past perfect: past regrets
“I wish I had listened to your advice.”
I wish + past simple: present wishes
“I wish I had more free time.”
If only + past perfect: past regrets (emphatic)
“If only we had booked earlier!”
If only + past simple: present wishes (emphatic)
“If only I spoke Japanese!”
In case + present simple: precaution
“Take an umbrella in case it rains.”
Indirect questions: Can you tell me...?
“Can you tell me where the nearest bank is?”
Indirect questions: Do you know if...?
“Do you know if the shop is open on Sundays?”
It's time + past simple / would rather + past simple
“It's time we left.”
Let someone do: permission
“My parents let me stay out until midnight.”
Linking words: addition (furthermore, moreover, in addition)
“The hotel was cheap.”
Linking words: contrast (however, nevertheless, whereas, while)
“The task was difficult; however, we managed to finish on time.”
Linking words: result (therefore, as a result, consequently)
“The road was flooded; therefore, we took a different route.”
Make someone do: compulsion
“The teacher made us rewrite the essay.”
Mixed conditional: past condition, present result
“If I had accepted that job, I would be living in London now.”
Mixed conditional: present condition, past result
“If I were taller, I would have joined the basketball team.”
Modals of deduction: can't be (present impossibility)
“That can't be true — I saw him this morning.”
Modals of deduction: can't have been (past impossibility)
“He can't have finished already — it's only been five minutes.”
Modals of deduction: might/could be (present possibility)
“He might be stuck in traffic.”
Modals of deduction: might/could have been (past possibility)
“She might have missed the bus.”
Modals of deduction: must be (present certainty)
“She must be at home — her car is in the driveway.”
Modals of deduction: must have been (past certainty)
“You must have been exhausted after the marathon.”
Non-defining relative clauses: who, which
“My brother, who lives in Berlin, is visiting next week.”
Omitting the relative pronoun
“The film I saw last night was brilliant.”
Passive voice: by + agent
“The book was written by Hemingway.”
Passive voice: future with will
“Your order will be delivered tomorrow.”
Passive voice: modal verbs
“The stars can be seen on clear nights.”
Passive voice: must be done
“Homework must be done before Friday.”
Passive voice: past simple
“The bridge was built in 1889.”
Passive voice: present perfect
“The car has been repaired.”
Passive voice: present simple
“This cheese is made in France.”
Past perfect continuous: duration before a past event
“She had been working there for ten years when she retired.”
Past perfect continuous: form
“They had been driving for six hours before they stopped.”
Past perfect: form
“She had already left when I arrived.”
Past perfect: negative
“I hadn't seen him before that day.”
Past perfect: sequence of past events
“By the time we got there, the film had started.”
Present perfect continuous: duration with for/since
“She has been studying English since 2020.”
Present perfect continuous: form
“I've been waiting for an hour.”
Present perfect continuous: negative
“He hasn't been sleeping well lately.”
Present perfect continuous: questions
“How long have you been learning French?”
Present perfect continuous: recent activity with visible result
“You've been crying — your eyes are red.”
Present perfect simple vs continuous: completed vs ongoing
“I've written three emails.”
Present perfect simple vs continuous: result vs process
“I've read the book.”
Purpose: in order to / so as to + base verb
“She left early in order to catch the first train.”
Purpose: so that + can/will
“I'll write it down so that I won't forget.”
Quantifiers: all/every/each, both/either/neither
“Both of my parents speak English.”
Question tags: negative to positive
“You don't like spicy food, do you?”
Question tags: positive to negative
“You're coming to the party, aren't you?”
Reduced relative clauses: past participle
“The letter written in 1945 was found in the attic.”
Reduced relative clauses: present participle
“The man sitting by the window is my uncle.”
Relative clauses with preposition + which
“The hotel in which we stayed was excellent.”
Relative clauses with whom
“The colleague with whom I work is very experienced.”
Relative clauses with whose
“That's the man whose daughter won the prize.”
Reported speech: backshift can → could
“She said she could swim very well.”
Reported speech: backshift have → had
“They said they had finished the project.”
Reported speech: backshift will → would
“He said he would call me later.”
Reported speech: commands
“He told me to sit down.”
Reported speech: negative commands
“The doctor told him not to eat sugar.”
Reported speech: requests
“She asked me to help her with the bags.”
Reported speech: statements (backshift am/is → was)
“She said she was tired.”
Reported speech: wh-questions
“She asked where I lived.”
Reported speech: yes/no questions with if/whether
“He asked if I was coming to the party.”
Reporting verbs: complain, agree
“He complained that the room was too cold.”
Reporting verbs: explain, suggest, advise
“She suggested going to the beach.”
Reporting verbs: offer, admit, deny, insist
“She admitted making a mistake.”
Reporting verbs: warn, promise, refuse
“He promised to be on time.”
Second conditional: could/might instead of would
“If we left now, we could catch the early train.”
Second conditional: form
“If I won the lottery, I would travel the world.”
Second conditional: negative
“If I didn't have to work, I would sleep all day.”
Second conditional: questions
“What would you do if you found a wallet on the street?”
Should have / shouldn't have: past criticism or regret
“You should have told me earlier.”
So...that: result clause with adjective/adverb
“It was so hot that we stayed inside all day.”
Such...that: result clause with noun
“It was such a good film that I watched it twice.”
Third conditional: form
“If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam.”
Third conditional: negative
“If she hadn't reminded me, I would have forgotten.”
Three-part phrasal verbs: come up with, get on with, run out of
“She came up with a brilliant idea.”
Three-part phrasal verbs: look forward to, put up with
“I'm looking forward to the holiday.”
Unless: negative condition
“Unless you hurry, you'll miss the bus.”
Verb + object + bare infinitive (perception verbs)
“I saw him leave the building.”
Verb + object + infinitive
“I want you to come with me.”