English Language: Essential Grammar and Vocabulary
Vocabulary
Verb + Noun
- Own a pet
- Have a tattoo
- Apply for a passport
- Join the army
- Go to war
- Make a will
- Give blood
Adjective/Noun + Noun
- Soft drinks
- Withdraw money
- Hold a license
- Criminal offense
- General
Phrasal Verbs and Other Words
- Leave out
- Pick on
- Take on
- Toy with
- Unpack
- Disapprove
- Illogical
- Immature
- Irrelevant
- Illegal
- Impoliteness
- Indecisive
- Irregular
- Uncertainty
- Illiterate
- Unlock
Grammar
Present Tenses
Present Simple
- Used for facts and states: I’m very tired right now.
- Used for habits: My mother usually takes me to school.
Present Continuous
- Used for actions happening now: Right now, she isn’t studying.
- Used for temporary situations: We aren’t revising for our exams at the moment.
Present Perfect Simple
Have/Has + past participle
- Actions that started in the past and continue to the present: We have lived here for years.
- Actions in the past with a present result: She hasn’t applied for a driving license, so she can’t start driving lessons.
- Experiences without specifying the time: Have you ever been to London?
Present Perfect Continuous
Have/Has + been + -ing
Past Tenses
Past Perfect Simple
Had + past participle
- Used with expressions like first, second, third time.
- Past actions that happened before other past actions: The party had started before we arrived.
Past Perfect Continuous
Had + been + -ing
Used To and Would
- Used to + infinitive: Past actions, habits, or situations that are no longer true.
- Would + infinitive: Past actions or habits: When we were young, we would spend every summer in Seville.
Future Forms
- Will: Predictions or opinions about the future: We won’t pass our exams. Spontaneous decisions: I’m hot. I will open the window.
- Future Perfect Simple: Will + have + past participle
- Be going to: Plans: We are going to the cinema this night. Predictions based on evidence: Tomorrow it is going to rain.
- Future Continuous: Will + be + -ing
Describing a Person
- Height: Tall, short, tallish
- Build: Slim, skinny, plump, broad-shouldered
- Complexion: Freckly, rosy-cheeked
- Hair: Fair, dyed, wavy, spiky
- Personality: Big-headed, easy-going, moody, warm-hearted, shy
Unit 1: Vocabulary
- Appeals
- Blind date
- Go wrong
- Think twice
- Make sure
- Have a go
- Apprehensive
- Dare
- Willing
- Weigh up the pros and cons
- Break out
- Get through
- Pass down
- Spring up
Grammar
Relative Pronouns
- Who/That: Refer to people.
- Which/That: Refer to things.
- When: Refers to time.
- Where: Refers to a place.
- Whose: Refers to possession.
In English, the preposition usually comes before the relative pronoun: That is the lake in which the boys swam. It can also be placed at the end of the sentence. Who/That do not have a preposition in front of them.
Defining and Non-Defining Relative Clauses
- Defining: Essential information. Which/Who can be replaced with That. The relative pronoun can sometimes be omitted.
- Non-defining: Extra information. Uses commas. The relative pronoun cannot be omitted.
Extreme Adjectives and Expressions
- Terrifying -> Scary
- Petrified -> Scared
- Spectacular -> Impressive
- Exhilarating -> Exciting
- Starving -> Hungry
- Gigantic -> Big
- Exhausted -> Tired
- Filthy -> Dirty
- Fascinated -> Interested
- Scared to death -> Petrified
- Hair-raising -> Terrifying
- Breathtaking -> Spectacular
- Thrilling -> Exhilarating
- Huge -> Gigantic
Safety and Danger
- A close shave
- Safe and sound
- Just in case
- Cutting it fine
- The coast was clear
Phrase-Building: Collocations with Adverbs and Adjectives
- Slightly, very, extremely, terribly -> Extremely good
- Absolutely, utterly, completely, totally -> Absolutely amazing
- Really good
- Quite good (moderately) / Quite amazing (absolutely)
Special Adverb + Adjective Collocations
- Brand new
- Pitch black
- Soaking wet
- Fast asleep
- Wide awake
- Wide open
Unit 2: Grammar
- Could: Express a general ability in the past.
- Be able to: Express a specific ability in the past.
- Couldn’t: Deny an action in the past.
- May: When we are sure about something.
- Might: When we are less sure.
- Might + past participle: When we are sure about a past event.
- Can’t + past participle: When we are sure that something did not happen.
- Might/May/Could + past participle: To say something is possible.
- Might/May/Could: For something that might happen in the future.
Unit 2: Vocabulary
- Get through
- Managed
- Runner-up
- Beat
- Height
- Sponsorship deals
- Banned
- Foul
- Shoulder
- Cheating
- Bribed
- Keen
- Throw out
- Turn up
- Pull out
- Call off