Third Conditional

November 20, 2025 teacherjulietaLeave a comment

For lower levels

1. What is the Third Conditional?

We use the third conditional to talk about imaginary past situations.

Imaginary past situations are things that did NOT happen, but we imagine a different result.

👉 We use it to express regret, relief, or “what could have happened.”

2. Form

Part	Structure	Example
If-clause	if + had + past participle	if he had studied
Result clause	would have + past participle	he would have passed

Grammar structure:

If + had + past participle, would have + past participle.

*had + past participle = past perfect

Positive Forms

What happened (real past)	Imaginary result (third conditional)
She didn’t set an alarm, so she woke up late.	→ If she had set* an alarm, she would have woken up on time.*
They didn’t bring a map, so they got lost.	→ If they had brought* a map, they wouldn’t have gotten lost.*
I didn’t study, so I didn’t pass the test.	→ If I had studied, I would have passed* the test.*

Negative Forms

If-clause (negative)

If she hadn’t forgotten her keys…

Result clause (negative)

…she wouldn’t have been late.

What happened (real past)	Third Conditional (Negative)
She forgot her wallet, so she went back home.	If she hadn’t forgotten her wallet, she wouldn’t have gone back home.
They arrived late, so they lost their seats.	If they hadn’t arrived late, they wouldn’t have lost their seats.
I didn’t save my work, so I lost my project.	If I hadn’t forgotten to save my file, I wouldn’t have lost my project.

Let’s Practice!

Practice 1

Practice 2

Speaking

Practice 1

Spin the wheel.

Complete the sentences

Practice 2

Answer the questions

Practice 3

Flip a card.

Read the situation.

Make a sentence using the third conditional.

Passive voice (B1 verb tenses)

November 19, 2025 teacherjulietaLeave a comment

Learning the passive voice help us focus on the action and the result, rather than on who performs the action. In many real-world situations. For example, in news, formal writing, academic reports, and instructions, the doer of the action is unknown, unimportant, or obvious. That’s where the passive becomes essential.

This lesson reviews the form and use of the passive in all main verb tenses included at B1 level.

1. Why We Use the Passive Voice

We use the passive when:

The doer is unknown:
My wallet was stolen.
The doer is not important:
These phones are made in Korea.
The result is more important than the person:
The meeting has been cancelled.
The sentence sounds more formal or objective:
The survey will be analysed next week.

2. How to Form the Passive

The structure is always:

BE + Past Participle (V3)

The verb BE changes according to the tense.
The past participle stays the same.

3. Passive voice (different verb tenses)

Tense	Form	Example

Present Simple

am / is / are + past participle

English is spoken in many countries.

Past Simple

was / were + past participle

The window was broken last night.

Present Continuous

am / is / are being + past participle

The room is being cleaned right now.

Past Continuous

was / were being + past participle

The documents were being printed when the machine stopped.

Present Perfect

has / have been + past participle

The emails have been sent.

Future with “will”

will be + past participle

Dinner will be served at 7 pm.

Be Going To (future plans)

am / is / are going to be + past participle

A new road is going to be built.

Modal Verbs (can, must, should, etc.)

modal + be + past participle

This form must be completed.

4. When to Include the Agent (by + person)

We add by + agent only when the doer is important or surprising:

The painting was created by a ten-year-old.
The project will be reviewed by the CEO.

In most cases, we omit the agent.

🧠 Quick Comparison: Active vs Passive

Active	Passive
People speak Spanish here.	Spanish is spoken here.
Someone stole my phone.	My phone was stolen.
They will announce the winner tomorrow.	The winner will be announced tomorrow.
They are repairing the road.	The road is being repaired.

Passive Voice (present and past)

Let’s practice

Practice 1

Practice 2

Speaking

Practice 1

Make Excuses

November 18, 2025 teacherjulietaLeave a comment

In everyday life, we sometimes arrive late, forget to do something, or make a small mistake. When this happens, we need to give a clear and polite excuse.
Making excuses helps people understand what happened and why.

This lesson will help you learn useful English expressions to explain situations politely and naturally. 😊

What Does “Make an Excuse” Mean?

To make an excuse means to give a reason for something you didn’t do or for something that went wrong.

Sometimes excuses are real.
Sometimes they are not.
But in English, we often use excuses to explain situations politely.

Examples:

“I made an excuse for being late.”
“She always makes excuses for not finishing her homework.”

Making excuses is useful in daily life, at school, at work, and with friends.

Here’s a table of useful phrases to help you get started:

Useful Phrases Table

Making Excuses	Apologising	Accepting / Rejecting Excuses
Well, you see…	I’m really sorry… 😔	OK / Never mind. I understand. 😊
I meant to, but…	It was very stupid of me. 😣	These things happen. 🤷
I had to…	I won’t do it again, I promise! 🤞	That’s no excuse. ❌

You can combine these sentence starters with a reason.

For example if you are late you can make the following excuses:

Starter Phrase	Reason (Complete the sentence)

Well, you see…

…the traffic was terrible. 🚗💨

I meant to, but…

…I overslept. 😴

I had to…

…help my sister before leaving. 👧

I had to…

…go back home to get something. 🏠

Conversation 1 — Being Late

A: You’re late again!
B: Well, you see… the bus was really slow today.
A: You should leave earlier.
B: I know. I meant to, but I couldn’t find my keys.

Conversation 2 — Forgetting Something

A: Did you bring the book I lent you?
B: I meant to, but I left it on my desk at home.
A: You always forget things!
B: I know… I’ll bring it tomorrow.

Let’s Practice

Practice 1

Practice 2

Speaking

Practice 1

Practice 2

Non-Definining Relative Clauses

November 17, 2025May 12, 2026 teacherjulietaLeave a comment

Non-defining relative clauses help us add extra information about a person, place, or thing.
This information is not essential to understand the sentence. The clause contains an additional, interesting detail.

👉 We always use commas with non-defining relative clauses.
👉 We NEVER use “that” in non-defining clauses.

What Is a Non-Defining Relative Clause?

A non-defining relative clause:

gives extra information
is separated with commas
uses relative pronouns like who, which, where, when, whose
can be removed and the sentence still makes sense

How to Form Non-Defining Relative Clauses

Non-defining relative clauses give extra information about a person, place, or thing.
This information is not essential to understand the main idea.
We always use commas to separate the extra information.

1. Structure

Main clause, relative pronoun + extra information, rest of the sentence.

2. Common Relative Pronouns (for Non-Defining Clauses)

Relative Pronoun	Used For	Example
who	people	My English teacher, who is from Canada, is very friendly.
which	things / animals	The book, which I finished yesterday, was fantastic.
where	places	Vancouver, where my cousins live, is beautiful.
when	times	2010, when I finished high school, was an important year for me.
whose	possession	Anna, whose car broke down, arrived late.

📝 Important:

Always add a comma before and after the clause (unless it ends the sentence).

Don’t use “that” in non-defining clauses.

3. Comma Rules

Put a comma before and after the non-defining relative clause
(unless it’s at the end of the sentence; then you only need one comma).

4. Key Points for Low-Level Learners

You can remove the extra information and the sentence still makes sense.
The verb form inside the clause follows normal grammar rules.
Do not use these clauses to identify someone/something.
(Those are defining clauses.)

Examples:

My brother, who lives in Mexico, is visiting next month.
(extra info: he lives in Mexico)
The Eiffel Tower, which is in Paris, is very popular.
(extra info: its location)
September, when the weather is mild, is my favorite month.
(extra info: weather in September)
Chichén Itzá, where millions of tourists go each year, is amazing.
(extra info: visitors)

🧠 Compare: Defining vs. Non-Defining

Type	Purpose	Example	Commas?	Use “that”?
Defining	Necessary information	The man who works here is kind. The man that works here is kind.	❌ No	✔ Yes
Non-defining	Extra information	My uncle Bob, who works here, is kind.	✔ Yes	❌ No

Defining Relative Clauses

Let’s Practice

Practice 1

https://wordwall.net/play/59455/198/330

Practice 2

https://wordwall.net/play/5321/134/938

Speaking

Practice 1

https://wordwall.net/play/34506/750/995

BOARD GAME

Passive Voice (present and past)

November 14, 2025 teacherjulietaLeave a comment

💡 What is the Passive Voice?

We use the passive voice when the action is more important than who does it.

➡️ The focus is on the object (the thing that receives the action), not on the subject (the person who does it).

🔹 Compare:

Active	Passive
The chef cooks the meal.	The meal is cooked by the chef.
Someone cleaned the classroom.	The classroom was cleaned.

👉 In the active voice, the subject (“the chef”) does the action.
👉 In the passive voice, the subject (“the meal”) receives the action.

🔹 How to Form the Passive

🧱 Structure

Passive = be (am / is / are / was / were) + past participle (V3)

Tense	Structure	Example
Present simple	am / is / are + past participle	The house is cleaned every day.
Past simple	was / were + past participle	The house was cleaned yesterday.

Past Participle

🔹 1. Present Simple Passive

We use it to talk about things that happen regularly or are generally true.

Structure	Example	Meaning
am / is / are + past participle	English is spoken in many countries.	(People speak English in many countries.)
are made	Cars are made in Japan.	(Factories make cars in Japan.)

🧠 Tip:
Use the present passive to describe facts, routines, or processes.

🔹 2. Past Simple Passive

We use it to talk about completed actions in the past, when we don’t know or don’t want to say who did the action.

Structure	Example	Meaning
was / were + past participle	The phone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell.	(He invented it in the past.)
were built	These houses were built in 1990.	(Someone built them, but we don’t say who.)

🧠 Tip:
Use the past passive to talk about inventions, discoveries, or historical facts.

🔹 3. Who Did the Action? (Using “by”)

If you want to say who did the action, use by + person.

Example	Meaning
This photo was taken by my friend.	My friend took this photo.
The book was written by J.K. Rowling.	J.K. Rowling wrote the book.

You can also omit “by” when it’s not important:

The window was broken. (We don’t know who did it.)

🧠 Summary Table

Tense	Structure	Example	Use
Present Simple Passive	am / is / are + past participle	The room is cleaned every day.	Routine / fact
Past Simple Passive	was / were + past participle	The room was cleaned yesterday.	Past action
“by” phrase (optional)	be + past participle + by + person	The movie was directed by Nolan.	Who did it

Lets Practice

Practice 1

Practice 2

Speaking

🧭 Modal Verbs: Obligation and Necessity

November 13, 2025 teacherjulietaLeave a comment

💡 What Are “Obligation” and “Necessity”?

We use modal verbs like must, have to, need to, and their negatives to talk about things that are necessary or not necessary. For example, rules, duties, or responsibilities.
We can also use them to talk about permission in the present or past.

🔹 1. Obligation in the Present

We use must, have to, and need to when something is necessary or important to do.

Structure	Example	Meaning
must + base verb	I must finish this project today.	Strong personal obligation
have to + base verb	I have to work on Saturday.	External rule or schedule
need to + base verb	You need to wear a helmet.	It’s necessary or required

🧠 Tip:

must = personal obligation (you feel it)
have to = external obligation (someone else decides it)

I must study more. (I want to)
I have to study more. (My teacher said so)

🔹 2. NO Necessity in the Present

We use don’t have to or don’t need to when something is not necessary.

Structure	Example	Meaning
don’t have to + base verb	You don’t have to come if you’re busy.	It’s optional
don’t need to + base verb	She doesn’t need to wear a uniform.	It’s not required

🧠 Note:
They mean the same, but don’t have to is more common in everyday English.

🔹 3. Prohibition (Something Is Not Allowed)

We use mustn’t (must not) to talk about rules or strong advice — when something is not allowed.

Structure	Example	Meaning
mustn’t + base verb	You mustn’t park here.	It’s forbidden
be not allowed to + base form	You are not allowed to park here.	No permission

🧠 Tip:
❌ Don’t confuse mustn’t (not allowed) with don’t have to (not necessary).

You mustn’t smoke here. → It’s against the rules.
You don’t have to smoke. → It’s your choice.

🔹 4. Obligation and Necessity in the Past

We can’t use must for the past. Instead, we use had to or needed to.

Structure	Example	Meaning
had to + base verb	I had to finish my homework last night.	It was necessary in the past
needed to + base verb	We needed to buy tickets early.	It was necessary

For the negative, we use didn’t have to or didn’t need to (something was not necessary).

We didn’t have to go to school yesterday.
She didn’t need to call — I was already there.

🔹 5. Permission (Present and Past)

We can use be allowed to or could to talk about permission.

Time	Structure	Example	Meaning
Present	am / is / are allowed to/can	Students are allowed to use phones at break. Students can use their phones at break.	It’s permitted now
Past	was / were allowed to	We were allowed to stay up late.	It was permitted
Past (general ability)	could	When I was a child, I could go out alone.	I had permission

🔍 Summary Table

Meaning	Present	Past
Obligation	must / have to / need to	had to / needed to
Not necessary	don’t have to / don’t need to	didn’t have to / didn’t need to
Prohibition	mustn’t	—
Permission	am / is / are allowed to/ can	was / were allowed to / could

Modals of Obligation and Possibility

Let’s Practice

Practice 1

Practice 2

Practice 3

Correct the grammar mistakes

Speaking

🎯 Expressing Purpose

November 12, 2025November 12, 2025 teacherjulietaLeave a comment

We often want to say why we do something, our goal or reason.
There are several ways to express purpose in English.
Let’s learn and compare them!

1. TO + Base Form

We use to + base verb to show purpose, the reason for an action.

Structure	Example	Meaning
verb + to + base verb	I study hard to pass the exam.	I study for this reason.
verb + to + base verb	She went to the gym to get stronger.	She went there with a goal.

🧠 Tip: Use this for short, direct purposes.

I’m calling to ask a question.
He moved to Canada to find a job.

2. IN ORDER TO + Base Form

We use in order to when we want to sound more formal or emphasize the purpose.
It means the same as to, but it’s a bit stronger.

Structure	Example	Meaning
verb + in order to + base verb	She left early in order to catch the train.	She left early so she could catch it.
verb + in order not to + base verb	He spoke quietly in order not to wake the baby.	He didn’t want to wake the baby.

🧠 Tip: Use in order to in writing or formal speech.

I’m taking this course in order to improve my skills.

3. SO (THAT) + Subject + Modal + Verb

We use so (that) to explain the purpose of an action, especially when there is a different subject.
It’s often followed by can / could / will / would / may / might / should.

Structure	Example	Meaning
so (that) + subject + modal + verb	I’m studying so (that) I can pass my exam.	My goal is to pass.
so (that) + subject + modal + verb	She left early so that she could catch the bus.	She left early to catch it.

🧠 Tip:
You can say so that or just so in informal English.

4. FOR + Gerund (-ing)

We use for + -ing to say the general use or purpose of something.
It answers “What is this used for?”

Structure	Example	Meaning
for + verb-ing	This brush is for painting.	The brush is used to paint.
for + verb-ing	These shoes are for running.	They’re made for that.

🧠 Tip:
Don’t say ❌ for to — just for + -ing.

I use this blog for learning English.

5. FOR + Noun

We also use for + noun to show purpose, especially with things.

Structure	Example	Meaning
for + noun	This medicine is for headaches.	You take it when you have a headache.
for + noun	The bag is for my laptop.	The bag’s purpose is to carry it.

🧠 Tip:
Use for + noun when you’re not using a verb.

This room is for meetings.
These lessons are for students.

🧠 Summary Table

Structure	Use / Meaning	Example
to + base verb	general purpose	She studies to learn English.
in order to + base verb	formal / emphasized purpose	He left early in order to catch the train.
so (that) + subject + modal + verb	purpose with the same or different subject	I’m saving money so that I can travel.
for + verb-ing	the use of an object or activity	This knife is for cutting bread.
for + noun	general purpose of something	This cream is for dry skin.

Linking Ideas: Because, So, and To

Let’s Practice!

Practice 1

Practice 2

Speaking

Practice 1

Be able to

November 6, 2025November 6, 2025 teacherjulietaLeave a comment

In English, we use different grammar forms to talk about ability.

Ability means what someone can do.
It shows a person’s skill, power, or possibility to do something.

Many students are familiar with can and could to talk about ability, but these two forms are not always enough. For example:

We don’t use can to talk about the future.
We don’t use could for a single successful action in the past.
Sometimes we need a form that shows ability over a longer period of time.

In this lesson, you’ll learn different alternatives and practice choosing the correct one depending on the time (present, past, future) and the situation.

Let’s see the difference 👇

1. Present Ability

Form	Structure	Example	Meaning
General ability now	can / can’t + base verb	I can cook Italian food.	I have this ability now.
More formal / less common	am / is / are able to + base verb	She is able to speak three languages.	Same meaning as can, more formal.

2. Past Ability

General ability in the past

Form	Structure	Example	Meaning
Past ability over time	could / couldn’t + base verb	I could swim when I was 6.	A skill you had in the past, not just one moment.

Ability in one specific past situation (successful action)

Form	Structure	Example	Meaning
One event in the past	was / were able to + base verb	I was able to fix my computer yesterday.	You succeeded in that moment.

Important:
We use was/were able to (not could) for one completed event in the past.

✅ I was able to call her before the meeting.
❌ I could call her before the meeting. (not clear if I really did it)

3. Future Ability

Form	Structure	Example
Future ability	will be able to + base verb	I will be able to drive next year.

Common error:
❌ Next year I can speak Japanese.
✅ Next year I will be able to speak Japanese.

4. Ability in Your Life (up to now)

Form	Structure	Example
Experience	have / has been able to + base verb	I’ve never been able to sing well.

Used to talk about ability from the past until now.

🧠 Quick Grammar Guide

Time / Situation	Form	Example	Meaning / Note
Present Ability	can / can’t + base verb	I can cook Italian food.	General ability now
	am / is / are able to + base verb	She is able to speak three languages.	Same meaning as can, more formal
Past Ability (general skill over time)	could / couldn’t + base verb	I could swim when I was 6.	Ability you had in the past
Past Ability (one successful event)	was / were able to + base verb	I was able to fix my computer yesterday.	You actually succeeded in that moment
Future Ability	will be able to + base verb	I will be able to drive next year.	Use instead of can for future actions
Ability up to now / Experience	have / has been able to + base verb	I’ve never been able to sing well.	Ability from the past until now

✅ Important Notes / Common Mistakes

Incorrect	Correct	Why?
Next year I can travel alone.	Next year I will be able to travel alone.	Future ability needs will be able to
I could finish the test on time.	I was able to finish the test on time.	One completed past action
I am able speak English.	I am able to speak English.	able needs to + verb
I have never could swim.	I have never been able to swim.	could doesn’t work with the present perfect

Let’s Practice

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Speaking

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Practice 2

Structures for Giving Advice

November 5, 2025November 5, 2025 teacherjulietaLeave a comment

We give advice when we tell someone what is a good idea or a bad idea.

In English, we can give advice in different ways:

should / shouldn’t
If I were you, I’d…
could (soft suggestion)
ought to (strong or formal advice)

1. SHOULD / SHOULDN’T

We use should to say something is a good idea.
We use shouldn’t to say something is a bad idea.

Type	Structure	Example	Meaning
Positive	Subject + should + base verb	You should drink more water.	Good idea
Negative	Subject + shouldn’t + base verb	You shouldn’t stay up so late.	Bad idea
Question	Should + subject + base verb?	Should I talk to him?	Asking for advice

More examples:

You should take a break.
You shouldn’t ignore your health.
Should I call the doctor?

Grammar tip: Use the base form after should / shouldn’t.
✔ You should go.
✘ You should to go.

2. IF I WERE YOU, I’D…

We use this to give polite, indirect advice.
It means: This is what I would do in your situation.

Type	Structure	Example	Use / Meaning

Positive

If I were you, I’d + base verb

If I were you, I’d change jobs.

Friendly suggestion

Negative

If I were you, I wouldn’t + base verb

If I were you, I wouldn’t wait.

Friendly warning

More examples:

If I were you, I’d talk to her.
If I were you, I’d save some money.
If I were you, I wouldn’t buy it now.

3. COULD (Soft Advice)

We use could to give a suggestion, not strong advice.

Type	Structure	Example	Meaning
Suggestion	You could + base verb	You could try meditation.	A possible option
Extra option	You could also + base verb	You could also ask a friend.	Another idea

More examples:

You could get help online.
You could take a break this weekend.
You could also email customer service.

4. OUGHT TO

Ought to is similar to should, but sounds stronger or more formal.

Type	Structure	Example	Meaning
Positive	You ought to + base verb	You ought to apologise.	Strong advice
Negative	You ought not to + base verb	You ought not to lie.	Strong warning

More examples:

You ought to take this seriously.
You ought to tell the truth.
You ought not to ignore the doctor.

🔍 Compare the Four Forms

Meaning	Softer	Stronger
Polite suggestion	You could talk to her.	—
Friendly advice	You should talk to her.	You ought to talk to her.
Empathetic advice	If I were you, I’d talk to her.	—

✅ Use could for options
✅ Use should for normal advice
✅ Use ought to for strong advice
✅ Use If I were you… to sound kind and personal

💬 PRONUNCIATION TIP

Word / phrase	Natural pronunciation	Notes
should	/ʃʊd/ → “shud”	“o” and “l” are silent
shouldn’t	/ˈʃʊdənt/ → “shu-duhnt”	“t” is very soft
could	/kʊd/ → “kud”	“l” is silent
ought to	/ˈɔːtə/ → “aw-tuh”	“gh” is silent, “to” sounds like “tuh”

Practice saying:

You should rest.
You shouldn’t worry.
You could try again.
You ought to be more careful.

Other ways to ask for and give advice

Advice

Let’s practice!

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Practice 2

Practice 3

Speaking

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Practice 2

Second Conditional: Grammar Review

November 4, 2025November 4, 2025 teacherjulietaLeave a comment

What You MUST Know Before Using the Second Conditional

To use the second conditional correctly and confidently, you need to be comfortable with past simple form. The if-clause always uses the past simple, even though we’re talking about an unreal present or future situation.

Here’s a quick review of the essential conjugations:

1. Past Simple – Regular Verbs

Base Verb	Past Simple	Example
work	worked	If I worked from home, I’d be happier.
play	played	If she played an instrument, she’d join a band.
want	wanted	If they wanted a pet, they would adopt one.

📌 Rule: + –ed (or –d after e)

2. Past Simple – Irregular Verbs

(These forms must be memorized—no “–ed” rule!)

Base Verb	Past Simple	Example
go	went	If I went to Japan, I’d eat sushi every day.
have	had	If he had more time, he’d read more books.
see	saw	If we saw a ghost, we’d run away.
take	took	If she took the job, she’d move to Toronto.

📌 Tip: Students should review the Top 20–30 irregular verbs to feel confident.

Irregular verbs

3. Past Simple – Negative Form

Structure	Example
didn’t + base verb	If I didn’t have online classes, I’d sleep longer.
	If he didn’t live in a busy city, he’d have less stress.

📌 Use didn’t + base verb (NOT “didn’t went / didn’t saw”).

4. Verb BE in Unreal Conditionals

“were” for ALL subjects

❗️Verb Be Simple past REAL	✅ Verb Be Preferred in Second Conditional
I was	If I were
He/ She/ It was	If he/she/ it were*
You/ We/ They were	If you/ we/ they were

📌 In second conditional, “were” is used with I / he / she / it (not just “you / we / they”).
“If I were…” is more natural in written and formal English.

*NOTE: with he, she and it we can use was (instead of were) in informal speaking.

Example: If she was here, she’d know what to do

Difference between if I was and if I were

🧠 Quick Summary

Part of Sentence	Grammar Needed
If + past simple	regular ✅ irregular ✅ didn’t ✅ WERE ✅
Would/ Could + base verb	no conjugation changes

✅ If I knew the answer, I would tell you.
✅ If she didn’t live so far away, she would visit more often.
✅ If he were a doctor, he would help people every day.

Let’s Practice!

Practice 1

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Speaking

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Practice 2

Practice 3