+ Answers

one and a half hours

It was too good a party to miss

It was time they went home

three-week holiday

it is a ten-minute drive from the beach (no "s" at the end)

tomorrow’s evening

last Sunday’s newspaper

today's newspaper

five years' experience

that, which - only for things

for people - only "who"

countable / uncountable

few/ little - too little, negative meaning

a few / a little - some, positive meaning

fewer / less

number / amount (of time, of water)

many / much

more than / greater than

both: any, a lot of, some, plenty of, more

use a lot of with positive sentences and questions, use much and many mainly in negative

Either / neither

either - один из. We can go to either place

-Would you like tea or coffee?

-Either, I don't mind. or -I do not want either.

- I like it.

- I like it too.

- I do not like it.

- I do not like it either = Neither do I = Me neither

Neither of us was hungry (ни один из)

Neither Tom nor Ann can come to party

used to do smth

be used to / get used to doing smth - привык, привыкаю

If we are talking about how long, duration the situation lasted (for, since etc.) - we do NOT use "used to", we use Past Simple (nor Pr Perf Cont bc situation is no longer true now)

Bill worked for the police for over 17 years (not "Bill used to work …")

could have done / must have done - мог / должен был сделать, но не сделал

would do - in future, unreal, "бы" (II condition)

would have done - in the past, unreal (III condition)

I couldn’t have asked for better guides to show me around - даже если понравилось и все было хорошо

! will в прошедшем = would (would do - if happened, would have done - if did NOT happen, unreal)

The game was everything I dreamed it would be

She hoped he would come that day.

I thought it would have meant smth (not "would mean", not "will mean")

//+ описание типичных, однотипных действий в прошлом

There were days when she would stand and talk, and eat and sleep. // это повторялось изо дня в день. было типичным.

may / might

may do - possibility

may be doing - probably is doing it right now

I need to do something

But: batteries need changing (passive)

I’d rather cook dinner (myself)

I’d rather you cooked a dinner (form of passive)

have something done

I had my photo taken yesterday (someone does it for us)

in one sentence:

reason -> consequence

past perfect -> simple past, simple past -> simple past, pr perf -> future simple

22 October - date format for IELTS

on Saturday, February 21st, 2015, or 3rd March- date format

They did not speak of it or tried to explain (tense is the same after and, or etc.)

when - can have only Present Simple or Past Simple after it

and

I have done, and have worked …

+ Words

apply - applies - applying

happy -> happier -> the happiest

happy -> happily

baby -> babies

hot - > hotter -> the hottest (гласная, потом согласная)

travel -> traveling -> traveler

lie -> lying

phone - phoning

excuse -> excusable (ea -> a)

argue -> arguable

without continuous form (state verbs)

like, love, hate, want, need, prefer,

know, realise, suppose, mean, understand, believe, remember,

belong, fit, contain, consist, seem, miss

Abstract Verbs

to be, to want, to cost, to seem, to need, to care, to contain, to owe, to exist...

Possession Verbs

to have (meaning to possess), to possess, to own, to belong...

Emotion Verbs

to like, to love, to hate, to dislike, to fear, to envy, to mind, to feel ...

We had had that car for ten years before it broke down. (should be Past Perf Cont, but bc of state verb it is Past Perf)

By the time Alex finished his studies, he had been in London for over eight years.

state verbs

see ( I see you), hear, smell, taste (tastes good)

Without plural form

money is, news is - it (not they)

clothes are, trousers are

advice, news, information, knowledge, furniture is

a piece of advice, a piece of news = news item etc.

I have two pieces of news - у меня две новости

without singular form

goods - товары

looks - внешность

riches - богатство

Gerunds (-ing)

+ doing

avoid doing smth, deny doing smth, do not mind doing smth, have trouble doing smth

begin doing smth, start doing smth (to do smth is also possible)

consider, need, feel like, stop, remember, keep, it's no use (persuading you)

allow staying

allow me to stay

+ to do

try to do smth, regret, hope, manage, offer

expect to do smth, pretend to do smth, refuse to do smth, threaten

We regret to tell you that you are fired.

Present, past participle

Sitting in his chair, the man is smiling

Having seated in his chair, the man was smiling (having done - for any past)

Being very embarrassed, he … -> very embarrassed, he … (being is omitted)

do, did -> doing

had done -> have doing

+ Tenses

Passive

He was being told - past cont

He has been being told not to interrupt for years - Present Perf Cont

He had been being told .. the whole time - Past Perf Cont (is used in the context of past, f.e. when you tell a story)

+ Present

Present Simple

1. How often, usually, every

How often do you go to the dentist?

2. Where do you come from?

use Pr Simple with if = "in case", not future (bc in case = if, same rule as I condition)

Same with in case, unless, as long as, provided, providing. - Pr Simple

I don’t want to go out tonight in case John phones (not "will phone")

Present Continuous

1. at the time of speaking

2. around time of speaking (today, these days, this week, this season)

You are not working hard today

I'm reading a really great book.

3. temporary situations and trends, changing situations,

She's staying with her friend for a week.

I'm living in London for a few months.

John's working in a bar until he finds a job in his field.

Present Perfect

1) When time is not specified

I've been at school

I have never been asked such questions (for the last 7 years)

2) with any period of time that has NOT finished yet (including "during my lifetime" = when time period is not mentioned: I have been to the USA)

if period of time has finished - use past simple

with words

recently, so far, in the last few days, in the past few years

this morning, this evening, today, this week, this season

ever, never, before, up to now, still, so far, recently, just, already, yet (negative and questions)

just, already, ever, never, yet,

already, ever, never, recently = lately – в последнее время, yet - еще

Present Perfect Continuous

1. for a long action that has just stopped or is still in progress

The sun is shining but the ground is wet. It has been raining. You are out of your breath. Have you been running?

How long have you been learning English? (you are still learning)

I have been working in it industry for four years (I'm still working)

We can use Pr Perf as well for an action that is still in progress (but prefer not to)

I have worked at the restaurant for three years

+ Past

Past simple

1) If narrate the events - рассказываешь историю, про события, последовательность

use simple past (also past perfect and past cont instead of pr perf and pr cont)

2) She cried when she failed her driving test - no had, always Past Simple or Present Simple after "when". Same for one part of the sentence with: while, after, before, until / till, as soon as

I worked in Paris for five years (если это было давно)

• after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled

admit - admitted

• after a consonant, final y becomes i (but not after a vowel)

worry - worried

but: play - played

Past Continuous