TENSE: She last wrote to me 6 months ago. She hasnt written to me for 6 months.

I havent been to the cinema for 20 years. The last time I went to the cinema was 20 years ago. Or: I last went to the cinema 20 years ago. The last time it rained here was a fortnight ago. It hasnt rained here for a fornight. It started raining last Saturday, and it havent stopped yet. It has been raining since last Saturday. He began working for the local newspaper right after his graduation. He has been working for the local newspaper since his graduation. When did you start working here? How long have you been working here? They last had a holiday in the mountain when they visited their grandparents. They havent had a holiday in the mountain since they visited their grandparents. The last time it snowed here was 40 years ago. It hasnt snowed here for 40 years. I haven't been abroard for 2 years now. I last went abroard for 2 years They started to investigate the case three months ago. They have been investigating the case for three months. They haven't visited me for 5 years. They last visited me 5 years ago. She started working for the company in 2000. She has been working for the company since 2000. Active Passive: The fire has destroyed many houses in the area. Many houses have been destroyed in the area by the fire. They dont allow smoking in many public places. Smoking is not allowed in many public places. They will have to cancel the picnic. The picnic will have to be cancelled. They are installing the alarm system. The alarm system is being installed. The restaurant is closed because they are redecorating it The restaurant is closed because it is being redecorated. Man continues to take minerals from the earth in immense quantities. Minerals continue to be taken from the earth in immense quantities They have awarded the best student a scholarship. The best student has been awarded a scholarship. You should take 2 tablets every 6 hours. Two tablets should be taken every 6 hours. A police is questioning a man in connection with the robbery. A man in connection with the robbery is being questioned by a police. We have to pay the bills before the tenth of the month. The bills have to be paid before the tenth of the month. We must do something to save the situation before it is too late. Something must be done to save the situation before it is too late. Verb patterns and structures: The flight from Hanoi to Sydney lasted 8 hours. It took 8 hours to fly from Hanoi to Sydney. May I borrow your pen? Would you mind lending me your pen? The train journey from London to Bristol takes two hours. It is a two-hour train journey from London to Bristol I cant afford to go on holiday this year. I havent enough money to go on holiday this year. We spent three hours getting to Beijing by air. It took us 3 hours to get to Beijing by air. These old men can't be made to change. It is imposible to change these old men. Do you have a good relationship with your boss? Are you getting on well with your boss?

Adverbial Clause: The noise was so loud that I opened the door and locked out. It was such a loud noise that I opened the door and locked out. We had to wait for so long that we got fed up and left. We had to wait for such a long time that we got fed up and left. The remark was so unexpected that she didn't know what to say. It was such an unexpected remark that she didn't know what to say. We couldnt go out because the weather was so bad. It was such bad weather that we couldnt go out. The little boy crossed the street although the traffic was heavy. Despite the heavy traffic, the little boy crossed the street. Although he had to pay high tax, he didnt complain. In spite of having to pay high tax, he didnt complain. Although he has to work hard, he loves his job In spite of having to work hard, he loves his job. Although we are well-prepared for the exam, we feel nervous. Despite well-preparing for the exam, we feel nervous. Conditionals: They dont understand the prolem. They cant find a solution. If they understood the problem, they would/could find a solution. She wrote her composition carelessly, so she got a bad mark. If she hadnt written her composition carelessly, she wouldnt have got a bad mark. We arrived at the station too late to catch the last train. If we hadnt arrived at the station too late, we would have caught the last train We got lost because we didnt have a map. If had had a map, we wouldnt have got lost. These people came to the meeting late because their car broke down. If these people's car hadn't broken down, they wouldn't have come to the meeting late. He lives so far away so I can't see him very often. If he didn't live so far away, I could see him very often Reported speech: Did you phone me yesterday? Mary asked Tom. Mary asked Tom if he had phoned her the day before. When did you leave school? Ann asked Phillip. Ann asked Phillip when he had left school. Dont believe everything you hear she told me. She told me not to belive everything I heard. John, please dont tell anyone my address, said Mary. Mary asked John not to tell anyone her address. Im sorry. I gave you the wrong number, said Paul to Susan. Paul apologize for giving Susan the wrong number. Are you sorry for what you did? the mother asked the little girl. The mother asked the little girl if she was sorry for what she had done. The driver said 'Don't get off the bus while it is moving'. The driver asked the passenger not to get off the bus while it was moving. Do you know what time the concert starts, Mary?' Bill asked. Bill asked Mary if she knew what time the concert started. How many students are there in your class? The teacher asked me how many students there were in my class. Comparison: They understand more than we do. We dont understand as much as they do. George is not as energetic as he used to be. George used to be more energetic than he is now. She knows more about it than I do. I dont know about it as much as her/ she does. Liz can play the piano better than Hellen. Hellen can't the piano as well as Liz. Jack doesnt play tennis as well as he used to. Jack used to play tennis better than he now.