PPEFE

Intermediate English

Separate from business English. The grammar between the first book and the advanced book.

0 of 19 points closed

1. 1. Past continuousWas or were plus -ing is an action in progress at a past moment, often when a shorter action happened. She was working when I called. The shorter action is past simple.20 min
2. 2. Past simpleA finished time takes the past: worked, went, saw. Regular verbs add -ed. The negative and the question use did plus the base, not the past form.20 min
3. 3. Present perfect continuousHave or has been plus -ing stresses how long an activity has continued up to now. She has been working for two hours. A closed time such as yesterday does not fit.20 min
4. 4. Used toUsed to plus the base is a past habit or a past state that is not true now. The negative and the question use did plus use to, and the next verb stays the base.18 min
5. 5. Present perfectHave or has plus the past participle links a past action to now. Use it with ever, yet, already, and for a time that is still open. A finished time such as yesterday takes the past simple, not the present perfect.22 min
6. 6. Past perfectHad plus the past participle is the earlier of two past times. She had left before I arrived. Do not use it for one finished time with no earlier moment.20 min
7. 7. ComparativesShort adjectives take -er plus than. Long adjectives take more plus than. Good becomes better. Bad becomes worse. Do not use more and -er together.18 min
8. 8. SuperlativesThe plus -est is the top of a short adjective. The most is the top of a long one. Good becomes the best. Bad becomes the worst. Do not join most and -est.18 min
9. 9. Should and mustShould is advice. Must is a strong obligation. Have to is also obligation, and it needs to. Should and must take the base, with no to and no -s.20 min
10. 10. May and mightMay and might plus the base mean something is possible, not certain. Maybe is a separate adverb. Do not add to, and do not stack maybe onto the modal.18 min
11. 11. QuantifiersMany and a few go with countable plurals. Much and a little go with uncountable nouns. Some fits positive lines. Any fits negatives and questions.18 min
12. 12. Too and enoughToo before an adjective means more than you want. Enough sits after an adjective, or before a noun. Too late. Clear enough. Enough time.18 min
13. 13. First conditionalA real future uses if plus the present, then will. Do not put will in the if clause. The if clause can come second.20 min
14. 14. Second conditionalAn unreal present uses if plus the past, then would plus the base. If I had time, I would stay. Were is the book form after if for a hypothetical I. Would does not belong in the if clause.20 min
15. 15. The passiveBe plus the past participle makes the receiver of the action the subject. The note was sent. The notes are checked. If you need the doer, add by. The passive verb still agrees with the subject.20 min
16. 16. Gerund and infinitiveSome verbs take the -ing form: enjoy, finish, avoid. Some take to plus the base: decide, want, need. She enjoys reading. She decided to wait. Do not swap them.18 min
17. 17. Defining relative clausesA defining clause tells you which person or thing. Who is for people. Which is for things. That can be either. Whose shows possession, and a noun follows it.20 min
18. 18. Stative verbsVerbs of knowing, liking, and owning usually stay in the simple form, even for now: know, like, own, need. She knows the date. Do not put them in the continuous just because the time is now.18 min
19. 19. Future arrangementsA fixed arrangement often uses the present continuous. I am meeting them at nine. A decision you make at this moment uses will. Going to is a plan already in mind. Do not drop the be.18 min