1.Grammar_Book_Intermediate

We use the second conditional to talk about unreal situations in the present/future:

If I knew her name, I would tell you. If he was here, he would help us.

If I didn't know the answer, I would ask you.

The same structure can be used to make suggestions in polite way:

If you helped us, we would really appreciate it. Would it be ok if you came a little bit later? Would it be possible to delay our meeting if we were late?

In conditional sentences very often we use

"were" instead of "was":

If I were there, I would help you.

If she were rich, she would buy a new car.

If my cat were smarter, he wouldn't scratch my new furniture.

In the second clause with unreal situations we can use "could" and "might" instead of would:

If I had relatives abroad, I could move to them. If we had wings, we could fly without buying expensive flight tickets.

If you asked me nicely, I might get you a drink. If she sang a song in front of us, we might all escape.

In formal and literary styles, "if" can be dropped:

Were the weather nice, we would meet you. Were she my daughter, I would punish her more.

We use the third conditional to talk about unreal situations in the past:

If you had asked for advice I would have helped you. (But you didn't)

If we hadn't eaten so much, we wouldn't have been in the clinic yesterday. (But we did)

If she hadn't spent so much time to get ready we wouldn't have been late for the play. (But she did)

We can use "could" and "might" instead of would:

If he hadn't written so slowly, he could have sent this letter long time ago.

If they had run quicker, they would have won the competition.

If I hadn't been so tired, I might have realized this mistake.

In the formal style, "if" can be dropped:

Had I realized what you had intended to do, I would have prepared in advance.

Had we revised for the exam, we would have passed it.

Mixed Conditionals

Sometimes we make sentences which mix Second and Third Conditionals, especially when the past event has an effect in the present:

If you hadn’t invited me, I wouldn’t have gone to the party (= I did go to the party – Third conditional) If you hadn’t invited me, I wouldn’t be here now. (=

I’m at the party now – Third + Second Conditionals)

If only

used to say that we want things to be different

Present: If only + V2

If only I were richer.

If only she were better looking.

If only we were in Spain now.

Past: If only+past perfect, would have+v3

If only she hadn't called me I wouldn't have had these problems.

If only we hadn't forgotten our tickets we would have had a nice trip.

Future: If only + would

If only she would smile.

If only it would stop raining, we could go out.

If only I would go with you to the concert tonight.

If so

After "if"», we can use "not" or "so" in order not to repeat the same clause:

Are you hungry? If so, the food is in the fridge. Are you free tonight? If so, you can come to me. I might see you tonight, if not, we can meet tomorrow.

We should have a vacation soon, if not, we should talk to our boss.

If then

I wish used to describe our wishes

Present: I wish + V2

I wish we weren't so tired today. We wish we were with you now. He wishes he were famous.

Past: I wish + had + V3 / could have + v3

I wish you had joined us yesterday.

We wish he had finished his project last week. I wish we could have come earlier.

Future: will – would | can – could | to be present going – to be past going

I wish I could meet you tomorrow.

He wishes he would go on a business trip instead of you.

Unless...

We use the structure "unless" to substitute "if... not", for example:

I will spend this Sunday alone unless you call me and invite me out.

You wouldn't believe it unless you saw it.

You will fail your exam unless you prepare well for it.

As long as

We use the construction "if … then" to emphasize that one thing depends on another:

If he doesn't want to quit his job, then we should talk to him about it.

If she can't clean up her flat, then we should do it for her.

If (in this case)

We can use "if" in meaning "in case":

If you want to go home, your key is on the coffee table.

There is a peanut butter sandwich if you're hungry. I'll pick you up if there is no bus.

Some words can be used in the same meaning as "if", for example "as long as", "imagine", "suppose that..."

As long as you don't tease this dog it won't bite you. You're welcome to stay with us as long as you share the expenses.

Imagine you could fly, where would you go? Imagine I were your boss, would you like it? Suppose that you forgot your office key, what would you do?

Supposing you had missed the train, what would you have done?

Reported speech

If we want to report what other people said, thought, or felt, we can use the direct and indirect speech (reported speech):

The direct speech: "I like it," he said. "Irene is late," he thought. "I will pass the exam," she hoped. The reported speech: He said he liked it. He thought that Irene was late. She hoped she would pass the exam.

Reported speech is typically introduced by verbs such as "say, tell, admit, complain, explain, remind, reply, think, hope, offer, refuse" etc. in the past tense:

He said (that) he didn't want it.

She explained that she didn't like this movie. He admitted that he wasn't the best painter. I hoped (that) he would join us.

She refused (that) it was her idea.

Structure of sentence

Present – Past:

Direct: "I never understand you," she told me. Reported: She told me she never understood me.

Present perfect – Past perfect:

Direct: Jill said, "I have been to Paris." Reported: Jill said she had been to Paris.

Past – Past perfect:

Direct: "She went to Rome," I thought. Reported: I thought that she had gone to Rome.

Will – Would:

Direct: "I will come on Sunday," he reminded me. Reported: He reminded me that he would come on Sunday.

Should – Would:

Direct: "We should be really glad," she told us. Reported: She told us they would be really glad.

May – Might:

Direct: "I may write to him," she promised. Reported: She promised that she might write to him.

After would rather, had better, it is time:

Direct: Matt: "I would rather fly." Reported: Matt said he would rather fly.

Direct: Betty: "They had better go."

Reported: Betty said they had better go.

Direct: Paul: "It is time I got up." Reported: Paul said it was time he got up.

"If" used very often in indirect questions. We report questions using words like "ask, want to know, wonder, require". In reported questions we don't use question marks or question structure:

He asked me do I want to join him? – Incorrect! He asked me if I wanted to join him. – Correct

Examples:

Direct: "Do you want to play darts tonight?" Josh asked me.

Reported: Josh asked me if I wanted to play darts.

We change the second part according to the rules of reported speech:

Direct: "What time did the match start?" He asked. (The Past Simple)

Reported: He asked what time the match had started.

(The Past Perfect)

Direct: "Do you need help?" He asked me. Reported: He asked me if I needed help.

Instead of "if" in reported speech we can use "whether"(more in formal English):

He asked me if I liked his new perfume.

He asked me whether I liked his perfume. (or not) She wanted to know if I'm interested in this job. Tom asked whether we were staying in a hotel or at his place.

I wonder whether he needs help.

I'm curious whether she'll come or not.

Reported speech can be often used with question words such as when, why, what, who…

"When can you come over?"- Sam wondered. Sam wondered when we can come over.

"Why didn't Diana pass her exam?" - I don't know why Diana didn't pass her exam.

"Who was at the lecture yesterday?" -

I have no idea who was present at the lecture yesterday.

Notice! The order is the same as other reported sentences. "I don't know why Diana didn't pass her exam.

I don't know why didn't she pass her exam? -

Incorrect!

We use infinitives with two verbs together:

He likes to watch Indian dances. We want to visit the Alps this year.

In negative combinations, not is used before the verb:

Try not to smoke so much. We must not forget to do it.

Infinitives are used to express purpose, meaning "in order to":

We woke up early (in order to) to catch the early train.

She quit her job to move abroad.

As the subject of the sentence:

It's nice to talk to you.

The main thing is to relax after a long day.

As an object of the sentence:

I don't want to talk.

She likes to sleep a lot.

Infinitives can be used in progress with continuing events:

It's nice to be sitting here.

It's unusual to be working all day.

Infinitives can be used in Perfect in the same meaning as Perfect tense:

It's nice to have work done. (It's nice that I've finished)

I'm sorry not to have sent this letter. (I'm sorry I haven't sent it).

Passive infinitives are used with the same meaning as other passive forms:

That's a lot of work to be done. The window must be repaired.

A split infinitive is a structure where "to" is separated from a verb by adverbs:

I want to really understand you.

You need to thoroughly read this article.

Notice! I really want to understand you. – Correct too

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There are number of words used with gerunds, such as adore, hate, enjoy...+ Ving

I adore to sleeping in on the weekend. He hates to working on Sunday.

We enjoy to going to the theatre every Sunday.

With gerunds we can put an object between two verbs:

I don't like people gossiping.

We don't understand students skipping their lessons.

Many verbs can be used with either the infinitive or gerund form (like, start, forget...)

I like to visit my family. I like visiting my family. He always starts to play. He always starts playing.

The same as infinitive gerund can be a subject or object:

I enjoy swimming. - Object

Swimming is the best way to relax. - Subject Drinking is not the best way to get rid of stress. - Subject

I don't like drinking in public places. - Object

Both gerunds and infinitives can be used as the subject or object of a sentence:

Eating is important for everybody. To eat is necessary for everybody. Walking is healthy for people.

To walk is healthy for everybody.

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Verbs usually used with infinitives

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Verbs followed by gerund

Verbs used with both gerunds and infinitives

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Modals in the past

This past modal form usually requires only a simple word change into the past:

I can drive. (Present)

I could drive when I was 16. (Past) I have to go to California. (Present) I had to go to California. (Past)

You must do the washing up. (Present) You had to do the washing up. (Past) I have to work every day. (Present)

I had to work every day two years ago. (Past) We are able to read Spanish. (Present)

We were able to read Spanish 5 years ago. (Past)

could have + v3

To express a possibility which did not happen, we use the structure "could have" + V3:

I could have called you, but I was busy. He could have picked you up, but he forgot. I could have taken that job, but I didn’t.

Jane could have sent the mail, but she’s very absentminded today.

I couldn’t have finished this report even if I tried.

Nota bene: After "could have" we use V3.

"Could" is also used to express permission in the past:

When I was a child I couldn’t stay out late. (I wasn’t allowed to)

I couldn’t drink beer when I was 15. (I wasn’t allowed to)

"Couldn’t have" + V3 is also used with comparison adjectives:

It couldn’t have been a better day; I enjoyed it!

I couldn’t have asked for better present; it was the nicest one.

I couldn't have asked for better weather on my wedding day.

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should have + v3

To express expectation or regret we use "should have" + V3:

He should have called you. (Expectation)

I should have thought about it before. (Regret) She should have remembered to pay me. (Regret)

may have + v3

To express uncertainty in the past we use "may have", "might have" + V3:

He may have been late, because I didn’t see him. He may not have found out about his test results yet. She might have forgotten about your birthday.

He may have bought a new car. She might have cleaned here.

must have + v3

To express certainty we use "must have":

He must have lost his wallet because he asked me to lend him some money for the bus.

She must have been angry at you because she didn’t call you back.

He must have overslept because he’s not here yet.

Needn’t have + v3

With unnecessary actions that were not done, we say "didn’t need to":

I didn’t need to cash my check. I had enough money to pay the bill.

We didn’t need to call him. He arrived before us. Mark didn’t need to arrange our meeting.

To express an unnecessary action that was actually done we use "needn’t have" + V3:

We needn’t have sent the money. (but we did) I needn’t have called him yesterday.

She needn’t have picked me up from school.

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A phrasal verb is a verb plus a preposition or adverb which creates a meaning different from the original verb:

Some phrasal verbs are intransitive. An intransitive verb cannot be followed by an object:

He got back very quickly.

He showed up at the party late. I woke up at 8 today.

We ran away suddenly.

Some phrasal verbs are transitive. A transitive verb can be followed by an object:

I figured it out. (I understood it) He got rid of this stupid habit. We really get on with each other.

I made up the story.

Some transitive phrasal verbs are separable. The object is placed between the verb and the preposition:

I finally figured this problem out. I’ll let you in later.

I’ll calm her down before you come back. I need to look her phone number up.

I’ll call you back later.

Some transitive phrasal verbs are inseparable:

I’ll get rid of him tomorrow. (Not get rid him of) They got into the bus 5 minutes ago. (Not get the bus into)

I ran into her yesterday. (I met her unexpectedly) I’m looking into the problem.

Although many phrasal verbs can take an object in both places:

I figured out the problem. I figured the problem out. I looked up her number.

I looked her number up. I checked out of the hotel. I checked the hotel out.

It’s different with pronouns. We don’t put them in the end:

I looked up it. – Incorrect!

I looked it up. – Correct

I checked out it. – Incorrect! I checked it out. – Correct

We cheered him up at the party.

She crossed it out from his workbook. I figured it out very quickly.

We’ll call you back.

example: Where do you come from? - I come from England. He needs to recover from the stress.

believe; succeed; involve; persist; include; arrive

nouns

reason; reputation; respect; order; responsibility; excuse; demand; cheque; right; recipe; search

example: Working is a good excuse for leaving home. He has demand for money.

connection; relationship; trouble; contract; agreement; harmony

example: There's no connection between them. We have a trouble with our children.

price; cost; opinion; example; cause; hope; idea; lack; map; description; advantage; delay; photograph

example: The price of these shoes is incredible. She has lack of patience.

tax; advice; expert; talk; book; attack;

example: The tax on rent is rather high. He's an expert on math.

alternative; reply; solution; reaction; objection; damage; thanks; attitude; invitation; addiction; devotion

example: Finally we found a solution to your problem. I need you reply to this.

at a good price; at short notice;

at your convenience; at a profit/loss

example: You can buy jewellery at a good price before the Christmas.

debate; information; argument; hesitation; quarrel; discussion/opinion

example: We had an argument about our duties. Let's have discussion about men.

phone call; departure; fall; protection; extract;

example: I got a phone call from Olga last week. This extract is from the movie.

delay; delay; increase; expert; failure; general; hurry; debt; writing; advance

example: We'll tell you about the price in advance.

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prep

with

adjectives

pleased; disappointed; satisfied; bored; fed up; crowded; angry; furious; annoyed with someone

example: He looked very pleased with his new girlfriend. She's annoyed with his bad habits. We're very bored with working on this project. I'm fed up with these silly children!

phrases

with the help of; with regret; with no doubt; without hesitation

exited; worried; upset; sorry; angry; furious; about serious; enthusiastic; doubtful; annoyed about

something; crazy

example: The Ministry was annoyed about criticism in the paper. Why are you so angry about it?

feel sorry; be responsible/famous/suitable/

appropriate

for

example: I feel sorry for Kate's child. He's ill now. This salary is suitable for me. Fiona is famous for her pancakes. We're responsible for Tim since he's a new worker here.

to be about; nowhere about; out and about; to be all about

for fun; for fear; for pleasure; for the moment; for sale; for a while; for now; for the moment; forever; for short; for life; for luck; for better; for worse; for a change

to my surprise; to the point; to your health; to some degree; to your advantage; to our amazement; to some extent

nice; kind; good; stupid; silly; intelligent; clever;

sensible; (im)polite; rude; unreasonable; ashamed

of

example: Thank you it was very nice / kind of you to help me. It was clever of you to bring a dictionary to the conference. It's silly of her to hope that she'll avoid a test.

by means of; out of order; out of mind; out of breath; out of money; out of time; out of control; out of the way; out of reach

by

in

surprised; shocked; amazed; astonished

example: I was really shocked by his behaviour at the party. We're surprised by the news. He's astonished by her new hairdo. I was amazed by this new thriller.

interested; rich

example: He's interested in learning Spanish. Crimea is rich in minerals.

by chance; by mistake; by accident; by the way; by hand; by e-mail; by cheque; by no means; by bus/train; by example; day by day; by fax/phone; by the rules

in pairs; in general; in conclusion; in time; in cash; in addition; in danger; in favour of; in future; in other words; in pencil; in haste

on

from

on my own; on condition that; on no account; on average; on foot; on duty; on the other hand; on fire; on the floor; on holiday; on business trip; on purpose; on the left; on the right; on the phone; on the screen

from time to time; from place to place; from bad to worse; from my point of view; from morning to night; from now on