B2 CONTENT REVIEW

♦Present simple vs Present continuous

Present Simple: do /does Present Continuous: be + v-ing

-Habits -Situations that are taking place at the
-Repeated actions or events moment of speaking
-Facts→ general truths -temporary situations

Adverbs of Frequency 3rd person (he, she, it) verb rules:

•most of the verbs +s
I. Always run→ runs
II. Usually •verbs ending in s, z, ch, sh, x, o +es
III. Generally fix→ fixes -go→ goes
IV. Often •verbs ending in consonant + y→ ies
V. Sometimes try→ tries
VI. Seldom • have→ has
VII. Rarely
VIII. Never
•Position:
Subject + verb To-Be + adverb of frequency + complement.
Subject + adverb of frequency + verb + complement.
◘Always + v-ing = negative connotation e.g., I’m always telling you to tidy up your room.
EXERCISES:
https://www.liveworksheets.com/as1274463lc

♦Past simple vs Past continuous

Past simple: did Past continuous: was/were + v-ing

•Completed / finished actions in the past
•Completed actions that occurred one after
another
•Describes a shorter action or event→
often interrupts the longer action described
in past continuous
•Actions that were in progress at a specific
time.
-we can use a time expression to refer to
the specific moment or with a past simple
sentences → when
•describes a longer or recurring action in
the past

EXERCISES:
https://test-english.com/grammar-points/a2/past-continuous-past-simple/
https://www.english-4u.de/en/tenses-exercises/tenses4.htm

♦Past Simple vs Present Perfect

Present Perfect Past Simple

-It is often used to refer to an action that -When compared to the present perfect we
started in the past but continues in the use the simple past when the action started
present. in the past, finished in the past, and is not
-It is used to talk about past experiences continuing now.
referring to the whole past nor to a
particular time.
-We use for→ to say the time length
-We use since→ to specify the starting
point of time of the action
-We use ever/ never

EXERCISES:
https://test-english.com/grammar-points/b1/past-simple-present-perfect/

https://www.english-4u.de/en/tenses-exercises/past-simple-perfect.htm

♦Uses of just, already, still, till, yet.

STILL TILL YET

Ongoing activity: The The word till refers to Future→ we expect something
word still refers to an an action up to a to happen soon
event/action that has begun specific point of time. (negative/questions)
in the past time and is -It is used as -It comes at the end of the
continuing in the present Preposition, sentence or question.
time. Conjunction, Noun and
-It is used as Noun, Adverb, Verb.
Adjective and Verb.
ALREADY JUST
Completed Completed very recently
-Already used with the present perfect means 'before -We use it in the present perfect
now'. We use it to emphasize that something happened especially in positive sentences to
before something else or earlier than expected. talk about very recent events or
-It can come between the auxiliary and the main verb actions.
or at the end of the clause.
EXERCISES:
1. Have you eaten _____? If not, we can go to that new Italian place.
a) yet
b) just
c) still

2. I haven't seen the new Marvel film _____. Do you want to go and see it this week?
a) just
b) yet
c) still

3. I've _____ seen your sister. She’s right there!

a) just
b) yet
c) still

4. I don’t think he wants to sell his phone. He's _____ bought it.
a) just
b) still
c) already

5. I called to make an offer on the flat but it's _____ been sold.
a) yet
b) still
c) already

6. Are you _____ working? It’s 8 p.m., you should be at home!

a) yet
b) still
c) just

7. Is she _____ reading Romeo and Juliet? She has been reading it for two months!
a) just
b) already
c) still

8. A: are you hungry? I’ve _____ finished the dinner.

B: thanks but I’ve _____ eaten.
a) already, just
b) just, already
c) just, still
♦FUTURE: Present continuous / Be going to / Will

EXERCISES:
https://test-english.com/grammar-points/b1/future-forms/
https://www.english-4u.de/en/tenses-exercises/future.htm
♦Passive voice

•BE + MAIN VERB PART PARTICIPLE FORM

In passive voice the emphasis is put on the object instead of the doer. This could be
because we don’t know the doer or it is not relevant.

TENSES

EXERCISES:
https://test-english.com/grammar-points/b1-b2/passive-voice-all-tenses/
♦CONDITIONALS

If clause (condition), main clause (result)

•With all conditional types, we use a comma after the if–clause when it goes at the
beginning of the sentence, but we don’t use a comma when the if-clause goes at the end.
• We can also use unless in conditional sentences to mean if … (not)
Zero conditional: If + present simple, present simple
It is used to make statements about the real world, and often refers to general truths, such as
scientific facts
First conditional: If + present, future/ imperative/ modal verb
-It is used to talk about possible situations. Things that may easily
happen.
•Future clauses are similar to first conditional:
-When we use a verb after when, as soon as, before, after or until
to talk about the future, we have to use this verb in present tense
(NOT future). We use the future in the other part of the sentence.
-In the main clause, we can also use may, might, can, must, should We can use one or the other
or an imperative instead of will. depending on how probable
we think the situations are to
Second conditional: If + past, would/ could/ might + infinitive happen.
Present or future unreal situations.
In the second conditional we can use if I/he/she/it were (more
formal) instead of if I/he/she/it was (spoken English). But we use
were (NOT was) when we give advice with the expression if I
were you.
Third conditional: If + past perfect, would/might/could + have + past participle
It is used to talk about past hypothetical or unreal situations

EXERCISES:
https://test-english.com/grammar-points/a2/first-conditional-future-time-clauses/
https://test-english.com/grammar-points/b1/second-conditional-unreal-situations/
https://test-english.com/grammar-points/b1/third-conditional-past-unreal-situations/

♦Imperative
• The imperative can be used for all subjects (you, he, they and we), but you can also use
“let’s” before the verb if you are including yourself in the imperative.
EXERCISES:
https://test-english.com/grammar-points/a1/imperative-sit-dont-talk/

♦Comparatives and Superlatives

Comparative adjectives are used to compare differences between the two objects they
modify (larger, smaller, faster, higher). They are used in sentences where two nouns are
compared, in this pattern: Noun (subject) + verb + comparative adjective + than + noun
(object).
The second item of comparison can be omitted if it is clear from the context.
Jim and Jack are both my friends, but I like Jack better. ("than Jim" is understood)
•Superlative adjectives
Superlative adjectives are used to describe an object which is at the upper or lower limit of
a quality (the tallest, the smallest, the fastest, the highest). They are used in sentences where
a subject is compared to a group of objects. Patter: Noun (subject) + verb + the +
superlative adjective + noun (object).
How to form comparative and superlative adjectives
We usually add –er and –est to one-syllable words to make comparatives and superlatives

old older oldest

long longer longest
If an adjective ends in –e, we add –r or –st:
nice nicer nicest
large larger largest
If an adjective ends in a vowel and a consonant, we double the consonant:

big bigger biggest

fat fatter fattest
If an adjective ends in a consonant and –y, we change –y to –i and add –er or –est:

happy happier happiest

silly sillier silliest
We use more and most to make comparatives and superlatives for most two syllable
adjectives and for all adjectives with three or more syllables:
 However, with these common two-syllable
careful more careful most careful adjectives, you can either add –er/–r and –est/–
interesting more interesting most interesting
st or use more and most:
The adjectives good, bad and far have
irregular comparatives and superlatives: Common, cruel, gentle, handsome, likely,
narrow, pleasant, polite, simple, stupid
good better best
bad worse worst
far farther/further
farthest/furthest
EXERCISES: https://elt.oup.com/student/solutions/preint/grammar/grammar_04_012e?
cc=global&selLanguage=en

♦TAG QUESTIONS

We can add question tags like isn't it?, can you? or didn't they? to a statement to make it
into a question.
• They mean something like: "Is that right?" or "Do you agree?"
•Question tags are more common in speaking than writing.

We often use them when we expect the Spoken English:

listener to agree with our statement.
•when the statement is positive, we use a
negative question tag.
•if the statement is negative, we use a
positive question tag.
Falling intonation→ If we are sure or almost
sure that the listener will confirm that our
statement is correct
Rising intonation→ If we are a bit less sure

Formation If the main verb or auxiliary verb in the

Auxiliary verb in the statement→ auxiliary in
the question tag
Verb in the statement→ don’t, doesn’t, didn’t
in the question tag
Verb to-be in the statement→ verb to-be in the
question tag
Modal in the statement→ modal in the
question tag
statement is am, the positive question tag
is, am I? but the negative question tag is
usually, aren't I?
I'm never on time, am I?
I'm going to get an email with the details,
aren't I?

Same-way tag questions

Although the basic structure of tag questions is positive-negative or negative-positive, it is
sometimes possible to use a positive-positive or negative-negative structure. We use same-
way tag questions to express interest, surprise, anger etc, and not to make real
questions.
•positive-positive tag questions:
So you're having a baby, are you? That's wonderful!
She wants to marry him, does she? Some chance!
So you think that's funny, do you? Think again.
•Negative-negative tag questions usually sound rather hostile:
So you don't like my looks, don't you? (British English)

Asking for information or help

Notice that we often use tag questions to ask for information or help, starting with a
negative statement. This is quite a friendly/polite way of making a request.
You don't know of any good jobs, do you?
You couldn't help me with my homework, could you?
EXERCISES: