Mustn’t or don’t have to: forbidden or optional?
Distinguish prohibition from no obligation. Learn must not, mustn’t, don’t and doesn’t have to, and past didn’t have to through clear rules and optional arrangements.
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Reasons and results with because and so
A closed shop or a late bus can explain a result. Connect the two ideas and choose the word that introduces each part.
Read and practiseShould and ought to: advice and reasonable expectations
Give advice with should and ought to, make negative suggestions with shouldn’t, and recognize expected outcomes. Practise the different verb patterns and question order.
Read and practiseCan I, could I or may I: asking permission politely
Ask permission with can, could and may, and give or refuse it with can and can’t. Distinguish asking to do something yourself from asking another person to act.
Read and practiseAlso, too and either: adding similar information
A friend shares an experience and you have something similar to say. Place also, too or either naturally in affirmative and negative sentences.
Read and practiseZero conditional: regular results, routines and instructions
Explain what regularly happens under a condition using if or when and the present simple. Practise clause order, third-person forms and instructions after a condition.
Read and practiseFirst conditional: realistic future conditions and results
Plan possible future outcomes with if plus the present simple and will in the result. Include negative conditions, permissions, questions and conditional instructions.
Read and practiseBut and however: contrasting statements
Two ideas can contrast within one sentence or across sentences. Compare the punctuation for but and however in everyday contexts.
Read and practisePresent simple passive: is made, are checked and isn't served
Describe regular services and processes with am, is or are plus a past participle. Form negatives and questions, and add by when the person doing the action matters.
Read and practisePast existence with singular and plural
Describe things that existed in the past, ask questions and make negatives using singular and plural patterns.
Read and practiseIng after prepositions: before sending, without taking
Use ing after prepositions in thanks, interests, methods and actions before another action. Recognise prepositional to in look forward to hearing your ideas.
Read and practiseInfinitives of purpose: explain why you do something
Answer why with to plus a base verb, including explanations of past actions. Compare intentions with an object's function expressed by for plus ing.
Read and practisePast possession and present possession
Talk about things someone possessed in the past and distinguish that form from a common way to express possession now.
Read and practiseSubject questions: who moved it and who did you meet?
Ask who or what performs an action with subject questions. Compare who moved with who did you meet, and keep tense and agreement in the verb.
Read and practiseShort answers with auxiliaries: yes, I am and no, they didn't
Answer English yes/no questions with a subject and the matching auxiliary. Practise be, do, can and have, adjust pronouns and avoid unfinished positive contractions.
Read and practisePreferences with two verb patterns
A preference for an activity can be expressed with two patterns. Compare their forms and practise talking about what you enjoy.
Read and practiseBecause or because of: explain reasons with the right structure
Explain a reason with because plus a clause or because of plus a noun phrase. Move a reason to the start, punctuate it and give a natural answer to why.
Read and practiseWhile or during: connect actions or name a time period
Choose while before a clause and during before a noun phrase. Distinguish a time period from a duration, using for twenty minutes during our walk.
Read and practiseManner adverbs after verbs and objects
The position of a word such as slowly depends on whether the verb has a direct object. See natural word order in everyday sentences.
Read and practiseMovement prepositions: into, onto, through, across, past and along
Describe entering, crossing and following a route with six movement prepositions. Use clear directions and distinguish walking along a canal from crossing it.
Read and practiseNot any or no: expressing zero quantity
An empty fridge or a lack of time calls for a clear negative. Compare two ways to say that there is none.
Read and practiseToo + adjective + infinitive
A degree can prevent an action: see how to describe something that is too hot, heavy or difficult for someone to do.
Read and practiseAdjectives with enough to
A room can be quiet enough to study in, or a child old enough to travel alone. Express a sufficient quality for an action.
Read and practiseVery, quite and rather with adjectives
A hot soup and a rather late bus show how degree adverbs change the strength and tone of everyday descriptions.
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