Essential Grammars in Use

1 Tenses

Unit001 - Unit028

1.1 Present Continuous

• am/is/are + -ing = something is happening now
• short form you're not or you aren't
• short answers
• positive, negative, question
• having, doing

Some verbs don’t be used in the present continuous

1.2 Present Simple

We use the present simple for things that are ture in general, or for things that happen sometimes or all the time.

• use do/does for negative form and question form
• do/does + infinitive

Common Mistake: [Unit009]

• I have = I have got
• I don’t have = I haven’t got
• Do you have = Have you got

1.3 Past Simple

• The past simple is often -ed.
• use did for negative form and question form
• verb forms(infinitive, past simple, past participle)
• some past simple irrgular words

  

1.4 Past Continuous

• was/were + -ing

1.5 Present Perfect

• has/have done (positive, negative, question)
• the past simple vs the past participle

  

• has/have just
• has/have already
• hasn’t/haven’t…yet(yet = until now)
• Have you ever …?
• [Unit017] gone and been
• How long have you …?
• for, since, ago
  • ago = before now, we use ago in past simple

1.6 Passive

• [Unit021] am/is/are/was/were + past participle
  • Butter is made from milk
  • How often are these rooms cleaned
• was/were born
• passive + by … I was bitten by a dog a few days ago
• is/are being (present continuous passive)
  • Somebody is painting the door
  • The door is being painted
• has/have been (present perface passive)
  • Somebody has painted the door
  • The door has been pained

Compare the present prefect and the past simple in passive

• The room isn't dirty any more. It has been cleaned.
• The room was cleaned yesterday. (May be it’s dirty now)

1.7 Future

• am/is/are + -ing (have arranged)
  • Andrew is playing tennis tomorrow
  • I'm not working next week
• present simple (for timetables, programmes, trains, buses)
  • The train arrives at 7.30.
  • What time does the film finish
• am/is/are going to (have decided)
  • I'm going to watch TV this evening
  • Something is going to happen
• will/shall (offer something or decide to do something)
  • I think … will…
  • I shall, we shall, Shall I, Shall we

Remember:

• We don’t use will for things we have already arranged or decided to do
  • We're going to the cinema on Saturday. Do you want to come with us (not We will go)
  • I'm not working tomorrow (not I won’t work)

2 Modals, imperative (etc.)

Unit029 - Unit036

2.1 Will, Shall

• will + infinitive
• I think … will…
• I shall, we shall, Shall I, Shall we

2.2 Might, May

• might = may (It is possible that … will)
  • I might go to the ciname this evening, but I'm not sure
  • Take an umbrella with you. It might rain
• might not (It is possible that … will not)
  • I might not go to work tomorrow
  • Sue might not come to the party
• May I …

2.3 Can, Could

• I know how to do
• it is possible for me to do it
• For the past, we use could/couldn’t

2.4 Must, Mustn’t, Don’t need to

• must (need to do)
  • I must eat something
• mustn’t (It is necessary not to do it)
  • I mustn't be late
• don’t need to = don’t have to (It is not necessary)
  • I don't need to go yet. I can stay a little longer

For the past, we use had to …

• I was very hungry. I had to eat something
• We had to walk home last night

2.5 Have to

• The past is had to …
• do/does/did + have to, in negatives and questions
  • What time do you have to go to the dentist tomorrow
  • Ian doesn't have to work very hard. He's got an easy job

Compare: [Unit033] must vs have to

• use must or have to, when you say what you think is necessary
• use must or have to, when you give your opinion
• use have to (not must), when you aren’t giving your personal opinion.

2.6 Should, Ought to

• It is good thing to do
• it is the right thing to do
• I think … should …
  • I think Lisa should buy some new clothes
• ought to (Another way to say should)
  • It's a good film. You ought to go and see it

2.7 Would

• Would you like…? (to offer things, to invite somebody)
• I’d like…
• Would you like vs Do you like

2.8 Used to

• We use used to only for the past
  • When I was a child, I used to like chocolate
  • I used to read a lot of books, but I don't read mush these days
• use did (not do/does) in negatives and questions
  • When I was a child, I didn't use to like chocolate
  • Where did you used to live before you came here?

3 There, It

Unit037 - Unit039

3.1 there

• There is/are/was/were…
  • There's a big tree in the garden
  • Is there a hotel near here?
• There has/have/had been
  • There has been a big tree in the garden
  • Look! There's been an accident
  • This road is very dangerous. There's been many accidents.
• There will be
  • Do you think there will be a lot of people at the party on Saturday
  • there won’t be = there will not be

Common Mistake: There has something

3.2 it

• We use it for time/day/distance/weather

  

• It’s + adjective + to

  • It’s nice to see you again.
  • It’s impossible to understand her.
  • It wasn’t easy to find your house
  • etc.

4 Auxiliary verbs

Unit040 - Unit043

4.1 be/have/do

• [Unit023] be/have/do in present and past tenses

4.2 I am; I don’t

• We dont use ’m/’s/’ve etc.(short froms) at the end of a sentence.
  • She isn't tired, but he is(not but he’s)
• But you can use isn’t,haven’t,won’t etc.(negative short form)
  • My sister has got a car, but I haven't
• You can use I am / I am not etc. after Yes and No
  • Are you tired? Yes, I am / No, I'm not
  • Sue works hard, but I don't
  • Did it rain yesterday? No, it didn't

4.3 Have you? Are you? Don’t you? (etc.)

4.4 too/either, so am I / neither do I (etc.)

• Jane is a doctor. Her husband is a doctor too
• Ben doesn't watch TV. He doesn't read newspapers either
• I'd like to go to Australia., So would I
• I'm not married, Nor am I or Neither am I

5 Questions (**)

Unit044 - Unit049

5.1 Be/Have/Do

5.2 Who/What

• Who/What can be Subject or Object in question
  • Who saw you, Who did you see
  • What happened, What did you say
• What’s it like, What are they like It means tell me something about it/them
  • What's your new teacher like?
  • What was the weather like?

5.3 Who/What/Wich/Where with prepositions(to/from/with etc.) at the end

• Where are you from?
• Who is she talking to?
• Which hospital is he in?
• What do you want to talk about?
• What is it like? (like is a preposition here, not the verb like)

5.4 How long does it take …?

• How long does it take from … to …?
  • How long does it take by plane form New York to Washingron?
  • It takes an hour
• How long does it take [somebody] to do something?
  • How long will it take to get from here to the hotel?
  • How long did it take you to read this book?
  • It took me three days to read it

5.5 Clause Question

• Questions with do/does/did (present simple and past simple)

  • Do you know + [how|what|why|where|which] + clause
  • I know + [how|what|why|where|which] + clause

    

• Questions beginning Is …? / Do …? / Can …?

  • Do you know + [if|whether] + clause
  • I don’t know + [if|whether] + clause

    

6 Reported speech

Unit050

• She said that … He told me that …

  

7 -ing and to

Unit051 - Unit054

7.1 Infinitive

• modal verbs + infinitive
• do/does/did + infinitive
• to + infinitive

7.2 -ing or infinitive

• am/is/are/was/were + -ing
• Verb + Verb

  

• Verb + somebody + to do something

  

• make and let

  

• to vs for (to + verb, for + noun) tell us why a person does something
  • I went to the shop to get a newspaper
  • I went to the shop for a newspaper
  • I went to the shop to get a newspaper for my mother
  • Give the newspaper to me
  • I bought a newspaper for my mother
• wait for, wait to, wait for xxx to xxx

8 Go, Get, Do, Make, Have

Unit055 - Unit058

8.1 Go

8.2 Get

8.3 Do and Make

8.4 Have/Have got

Common Mistake:

• "I have no children" (ok)
• "I haven't children" (error)
• "I haven't any children" (error)
• "I don't have any children" (ok)
• "I haven't got any children" (ok)

9 Pronouns and Possesives

Unit59 - Unit 64

• it, its, it’s
  • Oxford is famous for its university
  • I like Oxford. It's a nice place
• Whose
  • Whose phone is this?
  • Whose are these? (use whose without a noun)
• a friend of mine
  • Are those people friends of yours?
• by myself, by themselves, by yourselves
  • James and Sue looked at themselves
• each other
  • James and Sue looked at each other
• ’s, s’ (for people)
  • My mother's umbrella
  • friend’s and friends’
    • My friend's car
    • My students' car
• of … (for things, places)
  • the roof of that building
  • the beginning of the film

10 A and The

Unit065 - Unit073

10.1 a/an

• a/an = one thing or person
• an (not a) before a/e/i/o/u

10.2 singular/plural (countable nouns)

10.3 countable/uncountable

• You can’t use the singular alone. You need a/an
  • We can't get into the house without a key
• We use a piece of, a bottle of + uncountable noun
  • a bottle of water, a carton of milk, a bar of chocolate
  • a piece of cheese, a bowl of rice, a cup of tea
  • a game of tennis
• We use some + plural countable nouns
  • I need some new shoes
• We use some + uncountable nouns
  • I need some water
• Many nouns are sometimes countable and sometimes uncountable.

  

• be careful with

  

10.4 use “the”

• It is clear which thing or person we mean
  • What is the name of this street
  • Who is the best player in your team?
  • Can you tell me the time, please?
• the sun, the police, the piano, the guitar, the radio, the internet

  

• go to the cinema/the theatre/the bank/the post office/the station/the airport/the city centre

  

10.5 don’t use “the”

• TV,breakfast/lunch/dinner, next/last + week/year

  

• go to work/shcool/university/hospital/prison/church/bed

  

• general ideas/games/sports/languages/school subjects

  

• In general we don’t use the with names of places

10.6 the … (names of places)

11 Determiners and Pronouns

Unit074 - Unit084

11.1 this, that, these, those

• this(singular), that(singular)
• these(plural), those(plural)
• that = something that has happened
• that = what somebody has just said
• we use this is and is that on the phone

11.2 one, ones

• one(singular)
  • Which car is yours? This one or that one?
  • I found this key. Is it the one you lost?
  • I don't like the black coat, but I like the brown one
  • This cup is dirty. Can I have a clean one?
• ones(plural)
  • Which flowers do you want? These ones or Those ones?
  • I found these keys. Are they the ones you lost?
  • I don't like the red shoes, but I like the green ones
  • These cups are dirty. Can we have some clean ones?

11.3 some, any

• Use some in positive sentences
  • I'm going to buy some clothes
• use any in negative sentences
  • I'm not going to buy any clothes
• use any in questions
  • Is there any milk on the firdge?
  • Does he have any friends?
• use some in questions when we offer things or when we ask for things
  • Can I have some milk?
  • Would you like some coffee?
• some and any without a noun
  • I didn't take any pictures, but Jessica took some.
  • You can have some coffee, but I don't want any.
• something, somebody(or someone)
  • Would you like something to eat?
• anything, anybody(or anyone)
  • She didn't say anything

11.4 not + any, no, none

11.5 not + anybody/anyone/anything, nobody/no-one/nothing (etc.)

11.6 every, all

• every + singular noun + singular verb
  • every country has a national flag
• all + plural noun + verb
  • all countries have a national flag
• every day/evening vs all day/evening

11.7 all, most, some, any, no/none

11.8 both, either, neither

• both/either/neither (alone)
  • Both are married, Either, I don't mind, Neither
• both/either/neither + noun
  • both children, either child, neither child
• both of, either of, neither of

11.9 a lot, much, many

• much + uncountable noun
  • Did you buy much food?
  • We don't have much luggage
• many + countable plural noun
  • Did you buy many books?
  • How many pohtos did you take?
• a lot of + both type of noun
  • We bought a lot of food
  • We bought a lof of books
• we use much in questions and negative sentences
  • Do you drink much coffee?
  • I don't drink much coffee
• But we do often us much in positive sentences
  • I drink a lot of coffee
• We use many and a lot of in all type of sentences(positive/negative/quesitons) We have many friends / a lot of friends We don't have many friends / a lot of friends Do you have many friends / a lot of friends

11.10 (a) little, (a) few

12 Adjectives and Adverbs

Unit085 - Unit092

12.1 adjectives

• adjective + noun
  • nice day, blue eyes
• am/is/are/was/were + adjective
  • These flowers are very beautiful
  • Are you cold?
  • Are you married?
• look/feel/smell/taste/sound + adjective
  • You look tired.
  • I'm not going to eat this fish. It doesn't smell good.

Compare: Are you married? (Ask if somebody is married or not) Are you getting married? (Ask somebody the plan of their marriage)

12.2 adverbs

Adverbs tell you how something happens or how somebody does something

• adjective + -ly –> adverbs
  • quick -> quickly
  • bad -> badly
  • sudden -> suddenly
• some adverbs are the same as adjectives, some are different

  

12.2 adjective comparative forms

• er (1 syllable words)
  • old, older, nice, nicer, late, later
  • big, bigger, cheap, cheaper, easy, easier
• more (2/3/4 syllable words)
  • more expensive, more careful, more polite

Remember:

• far, further
• good/well, better
• bad, worse

• older than …, more expensive than …
  • It's easier to take a taxi than to take the bus
  • Are oranges more expensive than bananas?
• more than and less than
  • You go out more than me
  • The film was very short - less than an hour
• a bit/much + comparative forms + than
  • Sue is a bit older than Joe - she's 25 and he's 24
  • You go out much more than me

12.3 not as … as, the same as

• Rome is not as old as Athens(Athens is older)
• The Grand Hotel isn't as expensive as the Europa
• not as much as, not as many as
  • I don't have as much money as you
  • I don't know as many people as you
  • I don't go out as much as you
• the same as
  • My hair is the same color as yours
  • The weather today is the same as yesterday

12.4 adjective superlative forms

• the -est
  • old, the oldest, bad, the worst, good, the best
• the most
  • the most expensive, the most careful
• use with I’ve ever… / you’ve ever (etc.)
  • I think it's the worst film I've ever seen
  • What is the most unusual thing you've ever done

12.5 enough

• enough [+ noun]
  • enough money
  • No, thanks. I've had enough
  • You're always at home. You don't go out enough
• adjective + enough
  • Can you hear the raido? Is it loud enough for you?
  • Don't buy that coat. It's nice, but it isn't long enough
• enough for sb/sth
  • I havn't got enough money for a new car
• enough to do something
  • I havn't got enough money to buy a new car
• enough for sb/sth to do something
  • There aren't enough chairs for everybody to sit down

Remember: enough + noun, but adjective + enough

12.6 too

• too + adjective/adverb
  • I can't work. I'm too tired
  • I think you work too hard
• too many, too much
  • I don't like the weather here. There is too much rain
  • Traffic is a problem in this town. There are too many cars
• too … for sb/sth
  • These shoes are too big for me
• too … to do something
  • I'm too tired to go out
• too … for somebody to do something
  • She speaks too fast for me to understand.
• too vs not enough

  

13 Word Order

Uint093 - Unit096

13.1 subject + verb + object

• Sue bought some new shoes

13.2 where + when

• I usually go to bed early
• Will you be at home this evening

13.3 auxiliary verb + adverb + verb

13.4 still, yet, already

• still = something is the same as before
  • I had a lot to eat, but I'm still hungry
  • Do you still live in Barcelona?
• yet = unitl now
  • Are you ready to go yet?
  • Have you finished with the newspaper yet?
• already = earlier than expected
  • 'What time is Joe coming?' 'He's already here'
  • Sarah isn't coming to the cinema with us. She has already seen the film

13.5 Give me that book! Give it to me

buy/get (before give, use for for the reason of the action)

• “I bought my monther some flowers”, but “I bought some flowers for my monther”
• “I’m going to the shop, Can I get you anything?” = “get anything for you”

14 Conjunctions and Clauses

Unit097 - Unit102

14.1 and, but, or, so, because

• We use these words to join two sentences.
  • I got home, had something to eat, sat down in an armchair and fell asleep
• Because is also possible at the beginning
  • Because it was very hot, I opened the window

14.2 when, before, while, after, until

• when I went out, it was raining
• We write a comma(,) if When … is at the beginning
• We use the present with a future meaning after when
  • “When I get home this evening, I’m going to have a shower”
  • “I’ll wait here unitl you come back”

14.3 If

• If + the present
  • If I have time, I will go today
• If + the past, I could/would
  • If I had time, I would go today

14.4 who/that/which

• who is for people
  • Do you know anybody who can play the piano?
• that is for things or people
  • Emma lives in a house that is 400 years old
• which is for things
  • Emma lives in a house which is 400 years old

• You must use who/that/which when it is the subject
  • I met a woman who can speak six languages
• You do not need that/who/which when it is the object
  • the people (who) we met

15 Prepositions

Unit103, Unit113

15.1 at, on, in (time)

Remember:

• at night/midnight etc
• in the morning/afternoon/evening
• on Tuesday morning/afternoon/evening

• at

  • at 8 o’clock
  • at night/midnight
  • at the weekend(In American use on the weekend)
  • at Christmas(But on Christmas day)
  • at the end of …
  • at the monent
  • at 21 (= at the age of 21)

• on

  • On Sunday/Monday
  • On Tuesday afternoon
  • On 25 April
  • On Christmas/New Year’s Day

• in

  • in June/April
  • in 1992/2008
  • in summer/spring
  • in the morning/afternoon/evening

• don’t use at/on/in before this/last/next/every

  

• in five minutes, in a few days, in six weeks etc. Notice: It means a period of time from now

15.2 from…to, until, since, for

• from … to/until …
• until … to
• since …
• for + a period of time

15.3 before, after, during, while

• + noun: before the film, during the film, after the film
• + verb: before you go out, while I'm reading, after they did the shopping
• Notice: during + noun, while + verb
• before/after + doing before eating, after reading

15.4 in, at, on (places 1)

• in
  • in bed, in the sky, in a big city
  • in a newspaper/book, in a photo/picture
  • in front of, in the middle of
• at
  • at the door, at the bus stop, at her desk
  • at home/work
  • at the top/end/bottom of
  • at university/college
  • at the station/airport
  • at Lisa's (house), at the doctor's
  • at a party, at a concert
• on
  • on the left/right
  • on a bus/train/plane/ship, on the way

15.5 to, in, at (places 2)

• go/come/return/walk (etc.) + to
  • We are going to London
  • I went to a party last night
• be/stay/do something (etc.) + in
  • we lives in London
  • I like reading in bed
• be/stay/do something (etc.) + at
  • Sarah wasn't at work yesterday
  • Helen stayed at her brother's house

home

• go/home/walk home (without to)
• be/stay/do something at home

arrive, get

• arrive in a country or town
• arrive at other places: arrive at the station, arrive at work
• get to a place: What time did you get to the hotel
• get home, arive home

15.6 under, behind, opposite (etc.)

• next to / beside / between / in front of / behind
  • A is next ot B = A is beside B
• opposite / in front of
  • A is sitting opposite C
• by (= next to / beside)
  • Our house is by the sea (= beside the sea)
• under
  • under the table, under a tree
• above / below (means higher or lower)
  • A is above the line, B is below the line

under vs below

15.7 up, over, through (etc.)

15.8 on, at, by, with, about

• on
  • on holiday, on television
  • on the radio, on the phone
  • on fire, on time
• at
  • at (the age of) 21
  • A car uses more petrol at 120 kilometres an hour than at 90
  • Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius
• by
  • by car/bus/plane/bike but on foot
  • Have you read any books by Charles Dickens (written by Charles Dickens)
  • Who is that painting by?
  • I was bitten by a dog
• with/without
  • with friends, without me
  • I cut the paper with a pair of scissors
  • a man with the beard
  • a house with a big garden
• about
  • talk/speak/think/hear/know about
  • a book / a question / a programme / information about

15.9 adjective + preposition

• afraid of, scared of
• angry with somebody, angry about something
• different from (= different to)
• fed up with
• full of
• good at
• interested in
• married to
• nice/kind of somebody to …
• be nice/kind to somebody
• sorry about, sorry for
• of/at/for (etc.) + -ing

  

15.10 verb + postposition

• ask (somebody) for …
• belong to
• happen to
• listen to
• talk/speak to somebody (about …)
• thank somebody for …
• think about, think of
• wait for
• look at, look for, look after
• depend on

• Note that we say call/phone/text/email somebody(no preposition)
• Note that you can say it depends what/where/how (etc.) with or without on
  • It depends where you're going or It depends on where you're going

16 Phrasal verbs

Unit114, Unit115

• Sometimes a phrasal verb (put on / take off etc.) has an object
  • It was cold, so I put on my coat. or I put my coat on
• But it/them (pronouns) always go before on/off etc.
  • It was cold, so I put it on
• Some more phrasal verbs + object
  • turn on / turn on
  • switch on / switch off
  • pick up / put down
  • bring back / take back / give back / put back

17 Verb forms

infinitive

• to + infinitive
• do/does/did + infinitive
• will/may/can/should (etc.) + infinitive
• In the Present Simple

singular (-s)

• In the Present Simple

-ing

• In the Continuous Tenses
  • am/is/are/was/were + -ing
• [Unit112] [adjective] + preposition + -ing
  • good at telling stories
  • fed up with doing
  • Tom left without saying goodbye
• some verbs + -ing
• As gerund
• As adjective

past simple

• In the Past Tense

past participle

• In the Prefect tenses
• In Passive Sentences
• As adjective