Present perfect/ past simple

Time up to now

+ I’ve been to Marrakesh

- He hasn’t been here.
? Have you tired it?
Use the present perfect for actions which have happened in your life before now. These
are often general in your life before now. These are often general experiences. It isn’t
important exactly when these things happened.

He’s played in an Indie band for a couple of years. I haven’t travelled to other
countries.

We often use the adverbs ever and never with the present perfect.

We’ve never been to China. Have you ever been to the Opera?

Recent events

Use the present perfect to talk about events which happened a short time ago. We
often use the adverbs just, yet and already.

I’ve just finished his book. It was brilliant.

We’ve already eaten.

Have you done your homework yet?

We’ve seen a lot of Jude recently.

Present perfect or past simple?

Use the past simple to talk about a specific event which happened at a specific time.

I’ve been to Sweden. (at some time in my life up to now. We don’t know when)

We went to Stockholm in 2002. (this is a specific occasion and date, so we use the past
simple)

Compare present perfect and past

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Present perfect (have done) Past simple (did)
 I’ve done a lot of work today.  I did a lot of work yesterday.
We use the present perfect for a period We use the past simple for a finished
of time that continues from the past time in the past. For example,
until now. For example, today, this yesterday, last week, from 1985 to
week, since 1985. 1991.
unfinished Yesterday(finished)
past now Past now
 It hasn’t rained this week.  It didn’t rain last week.
 Have you seen Ann this morning?  Did you see Ann this morning?
(it is still morning) (it is now afternoon or evening)
 Have you seen Ann recently?  We waited (or were waiting) for
 I don’t know where Ann is. I an hour. (we are no longer
haven’t seen her. (=I haven’t waiting)
seen her recently)  Ian lived in Scotland for ten
 We’ve been waiting for an hour. years. Now he lives in London.
(we are still waiting now)  I didn’t play golf when I was on
 Ian lives in London. He has lived holiday last summer.
there for seven years.
 I have never played golf. (in my
life)
Exercises
1 Tick the correct sentence, a) or b).
1 a) I’ve been to India last year.
b) I went to India last year.
2 a) I finished my studies in 2005.
b) I’ve finished my studies in 2005.
3 a) Did you have lunch yet?
b) Have you had lunch yet?
4 a) Did you ever see Metallica play live?
b) Have you ever seen Metallica play live?
5 a) Is this the first time you’ve tried judo?
b) Is this the first time you tries judo?

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 6 a) It’s the most beautiful place I’ve ever been to.
b) It’s the most beautiful place I ever been to.
Make sentences from the words in brackets. Use the present perfect or past simple.

1 I’ve lost my key. I can’t find it anywhere. RIGHT

2 Have you seen the news on television last night? WRONG: Did you see
3 I’ve bought a new car. Do you want to see it? ------
4 I’ve bought a new car last week. ------------------------
5 Where have you been yesterday evening? ----------
6 Jenny has left school in 1991. ----------------------------
7 I’m looking for Mike. Have you see him? -------------
8 I’m very hungry. I haven’t eaten anything today.------
9 Diane hasn’t been at work yesterday.---------------------
10 When has this book been published? --------------
Put the verb into the correct form, present perfect or past simple.
1 l don’t know where Amy is. Have you seen (you/ see) here?

2 When I --------- (get) home last night, I --------- (be) very tried and I ----------- (go) straight to bed.

3 Your car looks very clean. ----------- (you/wash)it?

4 George----------- (not/be) very well last week.

5 Mr .Clark -----------(work) in a bank for 15 years. Then he gave it up.

6 Molly lives in Dublin. She -------------- (live) there all her life.

7 ‘--------- (you/ go) to the cinema last night?’ ‘Yes, but it ------------ (be)a mistake. The film ------------
(be) awful.’
8 My grandfather ------------ (die) 30 years ago. I----------(never/ meet) him.
9 I don’t know Carol’s husband. I-------(never/ meet/ him).
10 A: Is you father at home?
B: No, I’m afraid he --------- (go) out.
A: when exactly -------- (he/go) out?
B: about ten minutes ago.

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 Narrative tenses

Past simple

Use the past simple for states and actions in the past.

We often specify the time when they happened.

I left university in 1996. He didn’t know the way to Sal’s house.

Past continuous

Use the past continuous to talk about the background information for a story. Use the
past simple to talk about the main events.

As I was walking through the park, the sun was shining and the birds were singing.
Suddenly, I heard a loud noise.

Often the past continuous action is interrupted by another action (in the past simple).

I was having a bath when the phone rang.

We can use conjunctions like as and while to talk about two actions which were
happening at the same time.

While I was reading the paper, I watched the women buying vegetable in the market.

Past perfect

+ I had finished my work.

- They hadn’t had time.
+ Had they been there before?

Use the past perfect to make it clear that one action happened before the other.

PAST NOW

I had lost my wallet. I didn’t have any money.

----------X-----------------------------------X---------------------------------

past perfect past simple present

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I didn’t have any money because I had lost my wallet.

When before or after is used in the sentence, it’s already clear which action comes
before the other, so we can use the past simple instead of the past perfect.

She had lived in London for five years before she moved to New York. She lived in
London for five years before she moved to New York.

We often use the past perfect with ‘thinking’ verbs like remember, realise, think,
discover, find out, etc.

When I got to the school, I realized I’d left my books at home.

1 Underline the correct alternatives to complete the story.

I remember when Marvin Gaye (1) died/had died. I (2) had been/was going to one of
his concerts a few months before. In fact, he (3) hadn’t played/wasn’t playing very
well and I was disappointed. I also remember when JFK was shot. I (4) had lived/was
living with my parents in New York and I (5) studied/was studying at the time. I
remember the cleaning lady (6) came/was coming into the room, and said to me. ‘Hey,
President Lincoln has been shot.’ I (7) replied/was replying. ‘I know that.’ ‘No,’ she
said. ’President Lincoln has been shot!’ So I said, “What do you mean?” And she
said,’ Oh no, I mean… President, you know, what’s his name, the one now. President
Kennedy’s been shot.’ So then I (8) was turning/turned on the radio.

2 Find and correct the mistakes. One sentence is correct.

1. I was leaving the room when I had heard someone shouting.

2. I couldn’t open the door because I left my keys at home.

3. We drove through the tunnel when the car broke down.

4. As soon as the film started I realized I seen it before.

5. I never been to Egypt before, so I was really excited to see the pyramids.

6. By the time we arrived at the party, everybody else is leaving.

7. We had waited for nearly an hour before the waiter took our order.

8. I looked through some old photographs when I found this one of you.
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Past perfect (l had done)

A Study this example situation:

Sarah went to a party last week. Paul went to the party too but they didn’t see each
other. Paul went home at 10.30 and Sarah arrived at the party, Paul wasn’t there. He
had gone home.

Had gone is the past perfect (simple):

I /we /they /you/ had (=I’d etc.) Gone

He/ she/ it (= he’d etc.) Seen

Finished etc.

Past perfect simple is had + past participle (gone/ seen/ finished etc.) For a list of
irregular verbs, Sometime we talk about something that happened in the past:

Sarah arrived at the party.

This is the starting point of the story. Then, if we to talk about things that happened
before this time, we use the past perfect (had…):

When Sarah arrived at the party, Paul had already gone home.

Some more examples:

When we got home last night, we found that somebody had broken into the flat.

Karen didn’t want to come to the cinema with us because she had already seen
the film.

At first I thought I’d done the right thing, but I soon realized that I’d made a
serious mistake.

The men sitting next to me on the plane was very nervous. He hadn’t flown
before. He had never flown before.

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B Had done (past perfect) is the past of have done (present perfect). Compare:

Present perfect

Have done

Past now

Who is that woman? I’ve never seen her before.

We aren’t hungry. We’ve just had Lunch.

The house is dirty. They haven’t cleaned it for weeks.

Past perfect

Had done

Past now

I didn’t know who she was. I’d never seen her before. (= before that time)

We weren’t hungry. We’d just had lunch.

The house was dirty. They hadn’t cleaned it for weeks.

C Compare the past perfect (I had done) and past simple (I did):

1 ‘Was Tom at the party when you arrived’?

‘No, he had already gone home.’

But ‘Was Tom there when you arrived?’

‘Yes, but he went home soon afterwards.’

2 Ann wasn’t at home when I phoned. She was in London.

But Ann had just got home when I phoned. She had been in London.
Read the situations and write sentences from the words in brackets.

1 you went to Jill’s house but she wasn’t there.

(she /go /out). She had gone out.

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2 You went back to your home town after many years.

It wasn’t the same as before.

(It / change/ a lot)---------------------------------------------------------------------------

3 I invited Rachel to the party but she couldn’t come.

(she /arrange/ to do something else) -----------------------------------------------------

4 You went to the cinema last night. You arrived at the cinema late.

(I/ not/see/ him for five years) -----------------------------------------------------------

5 I was very pleased to see Tim again after such a long time.

(I/not /see/ him for five years)------------------------------------------------------------

6 I offered Sue something to eat but she wasn’t hungry.

(she/ just/have/breakfast)-----------------------------------------------------------------

Use the sentences on the left to complete the paragraphs on the right. These sentences are in the order in
which they happened-so(1) happened before(2),(2) before (3) etc. but your paragraph begins with the
underlined sentence, so sometimes you need the past perfect.

1 (1) Somebody broke into the office during the night.

(2) We arrived at work in the morning.

(3) We called the police.

We arrived at work in the morning and found that somebody had broken into the office during the night.

so we -------------.

2 (1) Ann went out.

(2) I tried to phone her this morning.

(3) There was no answer.

I tried to phone Ann this morning but----------no answer.

She ---------------out.

3 (1) Jim came back from holiday a few days ago.

(2) I met him the same day.

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 (3) He looked very well. I met Jim a few days ago. He------just----------.

He--------.

4 (1) Kevin wrote to Sally many times.

(2) She never replied to his letters.

(3) Yesterday he had a phone call from her.

(4) He was very surprised. Yesterday Kevin ---------. He --------- very surprised. He ---------- many
times but she -----------.

Past perfect

+ I had finished my work.

- They hadn’t had time.
? Had they been there before?

Use the past perfect to make it clear that one action happened before the other.

Past Now
I lost my wallet. I didn’t have any money.
X X
Past perfect past simple present
I didn’t have any money because I had lost my wallet.
When before or after is used in the sentence, it’s already clear which action comes
before the other, so we can use the past simple instead of the past perfect.
She had lived in London for five years before she moved to New York. She lived
in London for five years before she moved to New York.
We often use the past perfect with ‘thinking’ verbs like remember, realize, think,
discover, find out, etc.
When I got to the school, I realized I’d left my books at home.

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 1 Underline the correct alternatives to complete the story.
I remember when Marvin Gaye 1 died / had died. I 2 had been/ was going to one
of his concerts a few months before. In fact, he 3 hadn’t played/ wasn’t playing
very well shot. I 4 had lived/ was living with my parents in New York and I 5
studied/ was studying at the time. I remember the cleaning lady 6 came/was
coming into the room, and said to me , ‘Hey, president Lincoln has been shot.’ I7
replied/ was replying, ,’I know that .’’No,’ she said. ‘President Lincoln has been
shot!’ So I said, ‘what do you mean?’ And she said, ’Oh no, I mean…President,
you known, what’s his name, the one now .President Kennedy’s been shot’. So
then I8 was turning/ turned on the radio.

2 Find and correct the mistakes. One sentence is correct.

1. I was leaving the room when I had heard someone shouting.

2. I couldn’t open the door because l left my keys at home.
3. we drove through the tunnel when the car broken down.
4. As soon as the film started I realized I seen it before.
5. I never been to Egypt before, so I was really excited to see the pyramids.
6. By the time we arrived at the party, everybody else is leaving.
7. We had waited for nearly an hour before the waiter took our order.
8. I looked through some old photographs when I found this one of you

the future (plans)

be going to

When using be going to use the word order: subject +am/are/is + going to + infinitive.
Use be going to to talk about future plans or intensions. When the verb is go or come,
we often use the present continuous.

We’re going to (go to) Spain. We’re going to Spain.

I’m going to come and see you later. I’m coming to see you later.

Present continuous

The present continuous is formed: subject + am/are/is (not) + verb + -ing. Use the
present continuous to talk about future plans, when arrangements have been made. We

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usually specify a future time such as next week, on Friday, etc., unless it is already clear
that we are talking about the future.

We’re flying to Greece on Friday. (We’ve already bought the tickets.)

She’s staying at a hotel near the airport. (The hotel is already booked.)

In some cases it doesn’t matter if it’s the present continuous or be going to.

I’m playing football on Saturday. I’m going to play football on Saturday.

Will

When there is no plan or arrangement (when we make a decision at the time of

speaking), we often use will.

I’m tired. I think I’ll go to bed.

(subject + will + infinitive)

might

Use might (+ infinitive) to talk about plans, when we are unsure what the plan is.

I might stay at home and watch a DVD.

(But I’m not sure. I might go out.)

Do you think you might see Evelyn? NOT Might you see Evelyn?

1 Complete the conversation. Use the prompts in brackets where necessary.

A: Where ______ you going?

B: I’m ______ to Paul’s house. We’______ going to watch the football.

A: OK. Who ______? (play)

B: Real Madrid versus Barcelona.

A: I see. And what time are you ______ home? (come)

B: I don’t know.

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A: How ______ getting home?

B: I’m sure. I ______ his dad to drive me home, or I ______ catch the bus. (ask/

might)

2 Find and correct the mistakes. There is one mistake in each sentence.

1. Will you going out this weekend?

2. I’m sorry I can’t come I playing tennis after work.

3. I don’t feel very well. I think I stay at home.

4. What you going to do?

5. We go for a picnic, so I hope it doesn’t rain.

6. Is that the phone? Don’t worry – I’m going to get it.

7. They might going to a concert.

8. I’m sorry we can’t come, but we’re to visit my mother this weekend.

the future (predictions)

will

Use will to make predictions.

Smartphones will organize our lives. She’s so talented that I’m sure she’ll become
famous.

We often use I think and I hope with will.

I think John will become a doctor.

She hopes she will work in the theatre.

be going to

Use be going to to make predictions when there is present evidence.

We only have two cars. It’s going to be difficult to take eleven people tomorrow.

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We use probably to make the prediction less certain. Probably usually comes after will.

The dollar will probably get stranger this year.

Probably comes after to be when we use it with be going to.

E-readers are probably going to become cheaper.

may and might

Use may or might to make predictions which are less certain. The negative forms are
may or may not and might not.

Some of our workers may lose their jobs because of the restructuring.

We might not go away this year because we don’t have any money.

could

Use could to make predictions which are less certain.

Global warming could destroy large parts of Asia in the next thirty years.

be likely to

Use be likely to to make predictions when something is probable. The negative is be

unlikely to or not be likely to.

Regina is likely to be late because she works until seven.

We’re unlikely to reach Paris before lunch because of all the traffic.

Are you likely to be hungry later?

Likely/ Unlikely are adjectives.

Will we start at 5:00? It’s unlikely.

spoken grammar

Might is more common than may in spoken English. May is a little bit more formal.

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1 Rewrite the sentences below using the words in brackets.

1. We probably won’t win the cup this year. (might)

We _____________________________________.

2. I may be late. (likely)

I’m _____________________________________.

3. That company will close in July. (going)

That company ____________________________.

4. He probably won’t call after 10.00. (unlikely)

He ______________________________________.

5. I’m not going to give up exercise. (won’t)

I________________________________________.

6. We might have a problem with the flight. (may)

There ____________________________________.

7. She’ll get angry when she sees this. (going)

She ______________________________________.

8. Are you going to visit us? (will)

__________________________________________.

9. I would love it if he comes to the party. (hope)

__________________________________________.

10. It is thought prices will rise if they complete the developments. (could)

Prices ____________________________________.

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2 Put the pairs of words in the box into the correct place to complete the sentences.

will be aren’t going won’t know might not

likely to may arrive is going not likely

1. Jenny be able to meet us tonight because she has to work late.

2. Several of our workers are lose their jobs this year because of the economic
recession.

3. In twenty years’ time cars able to fly.

4. The predicted storm at any moment.

5. The children to stay with me because I’m busy.

6. I my exam results until August.

7. It’s that we’ll arrive before 6.00 because there are train delays.

8. Watch out! That painting to fall off the wall.

must, have to, should (obligation)

Must, have to

+ I must get up at 5 tomorrow.

They have to start work early.
We must start on time.
She has to get there early.
- You mustn’t do that?
We don’t have to worry.
They mustn’t be late.
He doesn’t have to bring anything.
+ Do I / we/ you have to bring…?
(Must you go so early?)*
Does he/she/ it have to go?

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*Question forms with must are not very common, and sound quite formal. We usually
use Do I have to ….? instead.

Use must and have to to talk about obligations. These things are necessary or important.
Must is often used for a personal obligation (something we have decided for ourselves
that we must do).

I must give up eating chocolate.

Must is also used in written rules.

All applicants must provide proof of identity.

Have to is used for external obligation.

We have to wear a uniform. (It’s a company rule.)

Often you can use must or have to with the same meaning, but in spoken English have
to is more common.

Don’t have to and mustn’t to have different meanings.

Mustn’t means ‘it is not allowed’. Don’t/ Doesn’t have to means it is not necessary, but
you can do it if you want.

You mustn’t smoke cigarettes anywhere in the building.

(It is not permitted and it’s dangerous.)

You don’t have to work after 6. (It’s not necessary.)

Must can only be used to talk about present or future obligation. To talk about a past
obligation, use had to.

We had to get up early to catch the plane.

Spoken grammar

Have / Has got to means the same as have/has to in the context of obligation and is
used a lot in spoken English.

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I’ve got to get some money from the bank. She’s got to get another job.

Should/shouldn’t

+ I/ You/ He /She/It /We/ They Should see this film.

- Shouldn’t smoke in the
house.
? Do you think we should…?*
*Should we .….is more formal, and not very common.

Use should to talk about weak obligations (not as strong as must or have to ). Often it is
used for things which you think are a good idea (advice), e.g.

You should come to walk in smart clothes. Use shouldn’t to talk about things which are
not a good idea, e. g .You shouldn’t go to bed so late. Ought to has the same meaning as
should, but is not usually used in the negative or questions, e.g. You ought to call her. =
You should call her.

1 Underline the correct alternative to complete the text.

The worst jobs in the world?

If you like travelling to exotic places, perhaps you 1 should/ shouldn’t try this job. Helge
Zieler is a mosquito researcher. In order to study the biting habits of the mosquito which
spreads malaria in Brazil, Helge 2 has to/doesn’t have to sit inside a mosquito net while
hundreds of mosquitoes bite him. Every time he sees a mosquito land on his body, he 3
must/have to suck it into a tube in his mouth, and then blow it into a container. On a
good evening, Helge can catch 500 mosquitoes in three hours. But to do this, he
receives 3000 bites (an average of seventeen bites per minute for 180minutes). he 4
mustn’t/ must forget his anti-malaria tablets. Once he caught malaria and it took him
two years to recover.

17
You 5 shouldn’t / don’t have to drive too fast on the roads, especially when you’re
driving in the countryside. Why? Because more than 400 million animals are killed on
6
the roads every years. Joanne Keene knows, because she has to/ shouldn’t remove
them. Car drivers 7 don’t have to/must pick the animals up, so Joanne drives around in a
huge truck full of dead cats and raccoons. ‘It’s a hard job,’ she says, ‘because we work
very long hours. We 8 mustn’t/ must be on call 24 hours a day.’

2 Match 1- 8 with a)-h) to make sentences.

1 it’s a good job but we …

2 l love Saturday mornings, because l don’t have to

3 l think you should

4 The doctor told me that l

5 you mustn’t

6 You don’t have to

7 Francois is very lucky. His father is very rich, so he

8 I really must

a) have to work hard.

b) should do more exercise.

c) come to work dressed in jeans. You have to look smart.

d) doesn’t have to work at all.

e) give up smoking. It’s not good for my health.

f) get up for work. I can stay in bed until 10 a.m.

g) send the forms in until September, but it’s a good idea to send them early.

h) think about whether you really want to apply for the job.

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Used to, would

Used to

+ I /You /He/ She/ It/ We /They Used to live in France.

Didn’t use to see my
- I /You /He/ She/ It/ We /They
parents.
? Did they use to visit?
Use used to to talk about past habits/ states. Which have often changed or are not true
now. You can also use the past simple.

As a child, I used to love eating sweets. As a child l ate a lot of sweets.

We can also use would to talk about past habits, but not to talk about past states.

I would go to the sweet shop every day. (habit)

As a child, I was happy. As a child, l used to be very happy. (state)

NOT As a child, I would be happy. (state)

Do not use used to to talk about things that happened only once, or for a specific
number of times/length of time. Use the past simple for this.

My family moved to America last year. NOT My family used to move to America last
year.

We went to Italy twice on holiday. NOT We used to go to Italy twice on holiday.

I studied at university for three years. NOT I used to study at university for three years.

Spoken grammar

Never used to is more common in spoken English than didn’t use to.

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We never used to see them, except for during August.

In spoken English, we often leave out the verb or phrase after used to

Do you smoke? No, I used to, but I don’t any more.

1 Cross out the alternative which is not possible.

1 I used to play/ played/ play a lot of tennis when I was younger.

2 After school I would take/ used to take/ take the bus home.

3 He never used to play/ would play/ played the guitar, but he doesn’t play any

more.

4 I didn’t use to enjoy/ didn’t enjoy/ wouldn’t enjoy school, but I worked hard anyway.

5 Tim used to have/ would have/ had long hair.

6 I studied/ used to study/ didn’t use to study French for five years.

2 Make sentences with used to or would using the words in brackets.

Sometimes both may be possible.

1 In Ancient Greece, people _____ (think) the world was flat, but Aristotle thought it
was round.
2 In the olden days, people _____ (not have) cars, so they rode horses.
3 _____ people really _____ (enjoy) watching gladiator fights in Ancient Rome?
4 In the sixteenth century, ladies _____ (put) a white powder containing lead on their
faces. It was poisonous.
5 Two hundred years ago, they _____ (not use) anaesthetics to perform operations.
6 Before iron was invented, soldiers _____ (fight) using bronze swords, but they weren’t
very strong and often changed shape in battle.
7 The Romans _____ (make) themselves sick, so that they could eat more during their
huge banquets.

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8 Why _____ people _____ (eat) garlic in Ancient Egypt? It was to cure toothache.

Comparatives and superlatives

One-syllable adjectives and two-syllable adjectives ending in –y

adjective comparative superlative

Cheap Cheaper The cheapest
fast faster The fastest
Easy Easier The easiest
friendly friendlier The friendliest
big bigger The biggest
large larger The largest

Two-syllable and longer adjectives

adjective comparative superlative

important More/less The most/
Important Least
than important

Irregular adjectives

adjective comparative superlative

good Better The best
Bad Worse The worst
far Further/farther The furthest/farthest
Ways of comparing

Here are some common expressions used for making comparisons: it’s exactly/ about
the same as… it’s very similar to…, it’s not as ….as.

It’s exactly the same as the one we had last year.

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It’s very similar to somewhere l stayed last year.

He’s not as tall as I expected.

It’s a lot/ much/ far more + adjective: It’s far more beautiful than l imagined.

It’s a little/ a little bit/ slightly: It’s slightly smaller than the last flat l lived in.

Using superlatives

Here are some common expressions used with superlatives: by far the most… one of the
most …. The second (third/fourth) most…

It’s by far the most delicious meal I’ve ever eaten.

It’s one of the most beautiful places in the world.

We often use superlative with a phrase beginning in the…..

She’s by far the best student in the class.

It’s one of the tallest buildings in the world.

1 Complete the sentences with the comparative or superlative form of the adjectives
in brackets.

1 we usually fly to Italy instead of going in the car, because it’s ------. (quick)

2 They had to travel ------ than they wanted to find a hotel. (far)

3 When I was a teenager, I was much ------than I am now. (not confident)

4 He’s one of ------ children in the class. (naughty)

5 Exams are much -------now than they were when I was at school. (easy)

6 Sweden is -------than Norway. (big)

7 K2 is the second ------- mountain in the world. (high)

8 This book is slightly -------- to understand than his last book. The plot is very
complicated. (difficult)

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9 He used to be a teacher, but he’s decided to become a firefighter. It’s a much

-------job.(dangerous)

10 it’s by far ------- film I’ve ever seen. (good)

2 Rewrite the sentences using the words in bold, so that they have the same meaning.

1 My brother is slightly taller than I am. Bit

2 The journey to the coast took much longer than we had expected. Far

3 it’s easily the most expensive restaurant I’ve ever been to. By

4 Your shoes and my shoes are almost the same. Similar

5 People here are much healthier now that they have clean water. Lot

Question tags

To make question tags, add auxiliary verb + pronoun at the end of the question.

For a positive sentence, use a negative tag: you play tennis, don’t you? For a negative
sentence use a positive tag: They weren’t here, were they?

Use contractions in the tag, not the full verb: He’s nice, isn’t he? Not He’s nice, is not
he? N.B. Use a comma before the question tag and a question mark after it.

Positive verb + negative tag Negative verb + positive tag

Present You’re twenty, aren’t you? She doesn’t swim, does she?
Past They came back, didn’t they? You didn’t see Tim, did you?
Present perfect You’ve lost it, haven’t you? He hasn’t seen us, has he?
future I’ll be back by 10.00, won’t i? We won’t lose, will we?
Use question tags to check information that you think is true. Also use question tags to
sound less direct ( a way to sound polite).

If we are sure of the information, the intonation falls on the question tag.

You’re coming tomorrow, aren’t you? (expect the answer ‘yes’.)

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If we are really not sure, the intonation rises on the question tag.

She’s from Europe, isn’t she? (maybe she isn’t)

1 Match 1-8 with a) -h) to make tag questions.

1 Clive was an engineer, a) have they?

2 you’re from Ethiopia, b) won, the?

3 Shania isn’t an actress, c) has she?

4 They haven’t been here before, d) aren’t you?

5He’ll be home soon, e) is she?

6 You work here. f) will they?

7 She hasn’t met you. g) wasn’t he?

8 They won’t finish on time. h) don’t you?

2 Find and correct the mistakes. There is one mistake in each question.

1 you weren’t happy, weren’t you?

2 it’ll probably rain, doesn’t it?

3 She researched her roots, didn’t her?

4 They always ask tricky questions, they don’t?

5 l take after my dad, doesn’t the?

6 you’ve met Kevin’s fiancée, have not you?

7 I put my foot in it yesterday, haven’t l?

8 My mentor will give me a hand, he won’t?

9 You had a lot on your mind, doesn’t you?

10Phil and Luke are on holiday, are not they?

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Polite requests

request responses
Could you carry this bag for me? Yes, of course.
Could you bring your laptop with you? I’m afraid I can’t/I’m sorry, I can’t.
Could you tell me the way to the hotel? Yes, I can. It’s…
Could you tell me what time it is? Let me have a look.
Do you know what time the shops open? I’m not sure.
Do you know how to get there?
Would you mind coming a little bit Of course not.
earlier? OK. / Sure.
Would you mind booking us a table?
Watch out!

Could you tell me …? And Do you know …? Are not direct questions; the word is the
same as for statements.

Could you tell me what time it is? Not Could you tell me what time is it?

Do you know what time the shops open?

NOT Do you know what time do the shops open?

Would you mind… + -ing

Would you mind watering my plants when l go away?

NOT would you mind to water…?

Would you mind …? is followed by a negative response.

Would you mind helping me? No, of course not. (I’m happy to help you )

NOT Yes, of course (I would mind helping you = I’m not happy to help you)

1 Find the mistakes and correct them. There is an extra word or two in each line.

1 A: Excuse me, could you is hold the door for me?

B: Yes, I do of course.

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2 A: Do you know when the next train does to leaves?

B: I’m not OK sure.

3 A: would you to mind staying behind after the meeting?

B: It’s sure. That’s fine.

4 A: Could is possible you tell me what Tim’s phone number is?

B: Let me have a look.

5 A: Would you mind to looking after my bag while I go to the bathroom?

B: No, of course not mind.

6 A: Could you tell for me the way to the station?

B: Yes, so I can.

Zero and first conditionals

Zero and first conditionals are sometimes called ‘ real conditionals’ because they talk
about situations which are always true, or events which are possible or probable in the
future.

Zero conditional

If/when + Present simple + Presents simple

ₒ
If/ when You* heat water to 100 Centigrade, It boils.
*Here you is a general subject meaning ‘anyone’ or ‘people in general’.

Use the zero conditional to talk about a general situation, or something which is always
true (a fact).

If plants don’t have water, they die. Ice melts if you heat it.

(You here refers to ‘anyone’, or people generally, not ‘you’ specifically.)

If/When can come at the beginning or in the middle of the sentence.

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If I’m not office by 8a.m., my boss gets angry. My boss gets angry if I’m not in the office
by 8a.m.

If and when have the same meaning in zero conditional sentences.

In this case if means ‘when this happens’ or ‘every time this happens’.

When I’m feeling stressed, I eat chocolate. If I’m feeling stressed, I eat chocolate.

First conditional

If/when + Present simple + Will/ could/ might + verb

if You give me your phone number, I’ll call you when we’re ready.
when You go into the kitchen, You’ll see the keys on the table.
Use the first conditional to talk about possible situation in the future and their
consequences. If you are the sure about the results, use will/won’t. if you’re not sure,
use could/might.

We can change the order of the sentence, but if/when is always followed by the
sentence, but if/when is always followed by the present simple.

If my train arrives on time, I’ll meet you at ten o’clock. Or I’ll meet you at ten o’clock if
my train arrives on time. NOT if my train will arrive on time.

In first conditional sentences, if and when have different meanings. Use if when you are
not sure if the situation will happen: if I pass my exams, I’ll be very happy. Use when for
a situation which you know will happen: When l pass my exams, I’ll have a party.

Unless has the meaning of ‘if mot’ or ‘except in this situation’.

I’ll go straight to the restaurant, unless you call me first.

(I will go straight to the restaurant, if you don’t call me first.)

Note the different between zero and first conditional in the sentences below.

If you sit in the sun, you get sunburn. (Zero conditional for a general situation/ fact.
‘you’ means anyone, or people in general.)

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If you sit in the sun, you’ll get sunburn. ( First conditional for a specific situation. I’m
talking to you (personally) about what happen today.)

1 Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in brackets.

1 If I _____ (pass) my exams, my teacher _____ (be) very surprised.

2 When we _____ (visit) my mother, she usually _____ (look after) the children.

3 When Gaby _____ (leave) her job in the summer, she _____ (worry) about what to do next.

4 If I _____ (not find) any cheap tickets, we _____ (not go) to Malta.

5 If you _____ (not water) plants, they _____ (die).

6 I _____ (be) surprised if Martha _____ (come) to the party. She said she wasn’t feeling well.

7 If you _____(get) lost, do you usually _____(ask) someone for directions?

8 They _____(not come)unless you _____ (invite) them.

9 If it _____ (be) a nice day, I _____(like) to go for a run in the morning.

10 I_____ (listen) to classical music when I (want) to relax.

2 underline the correct alternative.

1 You can’t come to the conference unless/if/when you’re invited.

2 I’m not talking to you unless/if/when you calm down first.

3They arrive as soon as dinner is/will be/won’t be ready.

4 They’ll cancel the flight if/unless/when the weather is bad.

5 If you eat all of that chocolate mousse, you’ll feel/feel/won’t feel ill.

6 We’ll organize a taxi when we know/will know/might know what time the concert starts.

7 When I see a spider, l always scream/might scream/will scream.

8I’ll get some money as soon as the bank will open/opens/might open.

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Second conditional

If+ Past simple + Would clause

if I lived to be 100, I would probably be very tired.
He was the President, He’d make a lot of changes.
We bought the house, We’d need to sell our car.

Use the second conditional to talk about an unreal or imaginary situation and its consequences.

In spoken English, would is contracted in the positive and negative form.

I’d be there if l had time. If she had enough food, she’d feed us all.

Would is not usually contracted in the question form.

If you passed your exam, would you go to university?

Would you help me if I paid you?

Use if I were you … to give advice: If I were you, I’d change teams.

Instead of would, we can use could or should: If you got really fit, you could probably play again.

It is common to use other expressions in the would clause: would be able to, would need to and would
have to.

If l lost my job, l’d need to find another one!

We would have to cancel the game if it rained.

If you bought a larger quantity, we’d be able to offer you a better deal.

1 Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in brackets. Use contractions where
possible.

1 If l _____ (sell) my house now, it_____ (not/be) worth very much.

2 ____ (your parents/come) if l _____(organize) a party?

3 He_____ (not/be) able to study here if (not/pass) that exam.

4 if you _____ (lose) your passport, _____(need) visit the consulate.

5 They_____ (be) healthier if_____ (not/eat) so much junk food.

6 If you_____ (write) a novel, what_____ (call) it?

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7 If the students _____ (not/have) internet access, _____(find)it difficult.

8 We _____ (not/work) there if the boss_____ (not/give) us a lot of freedom.

9 Where_____ (she/live) if_____ (have) to move to a different country?

10 If he_____ (can) study on Tuesdays, _____(not/need) to come on Wednesday.

.1.8 track

Where did she hear about second life?

What did she change about her appearance?

What job did she decide to do in second life?

What is the “one thing that hasn’t changed?

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