Tag: PET Cambridge Test

Superlatives + present perfect

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A superlative adjective is used to show that something is number one: the most, least, biggest, best, etc.

We use superlatives to compare three or more things or experiences.

Form

Type of adjectiveRuleExample
Short adjectives (1 syllable)the + adjective + -estMount Everest is the highest mountain in the world.
Adjectives ending in -yChange y → i + -estThat’s the funniest movie I’ve ever seen.
Long adjectives (2+ syllables)the most / the least + adjectiveIt’s the most beautiful beach I’ve ever visited.
Irregular adjectivesDifferent formThat was the best concert I’ve ever been to!
Superlatives

Common Expressions with Superlatives

When we use superlatives, we often add a group to say where or in what situation we are comparing things.

PhraseMeaningExample
in the worldcomparing everything everywhereIt’s the most famous painting in the world.
in my countrycomparing things in your countryThis is the tallest building in my country.
in my classcomparing with your classmatesShe’s the best student in my class.
in my lifecomparing all your experiencesIt’s the most delicious meal I’ve ever had in my life.

💡 These phrases help make your superlatives more specific and natural.

Superlatives + Present Perfect

When we talk about life experiences, we often combine superlatives and present perfect:

👉 It’s the + superlative adjective + noun + I’ve ever + past participle.

ExampleMeaning
It’s the best movie I’ve ever seen.Of all the movies I’ve seen in my life, this one is number one.
It’s the worst hotel I’ve ever stayed in.I’ve never stayed in a worse hotel.
That was the most exciting trip I’ve ever had.It’s number one on my list of experiences.
Present Perfect + ever/ never

Grammar Summary

FunctionStructureExample
Superlativethe + adj + -est / the most + adjIt’s the most delicious food in the world.
Present perfect with everhave / has + past participleHave you ever been to Japan?
Combined formIt’s the + superlative + noun + I’ve ever + past participleIt’s the best restaurant I’ve ever tried.

Let’s Practice

Practice 1

Practice 2

Speaking

Practice 1

Practice 2

Introduction to Articles

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Articles are small but powerful words in English! We use them before nouns to show if we are talking about something general or specific.

Let’s review how and when to use a, an, the, and no article in clear steps.

The Definite Article – the

We use the when the listener knows exactly what we’re talking about — something specific, unique, or already mentioned.

✅ Use “the” for:

  • Something both people know about:
    → I’m going back to the city tomorrow.
  • Famous buildings or landmarks:
    → We visited the Empire State Building.
  • Something unique (only one):
    → People all over the world love music.

🟡 Example:

I saw the movie you told me about.
(It’s clear which movie.)

The Indefinite Articles – a / an

We use a or an when we talk about one thing for the first time, or something not specific.

✅ Use “a / an” for:

  • When you mention something new:
    → I bought a book yesterday.
  • When you mean “one” of something:
    → I had an idea this morning.
  • When you talk generally (not a specific one):
    → Would you like a coffee?

💡 Tip:

  • Use a before consonant sounds → a dog, a student, a car
  • Use an before vowel sounds → an apple, an hour, an umbrella

Zero Article – no article (Ø)

Sometimes, we don’t use a, an, or the at all!
This is called the zero article (Ø).

✅ Use no article for:

  • People or things in general:
    → Tourists love visiting New York.
    → Dogs are friendly animals.
  • Uncountable nouns:
    → I love music and coffee.

🟡 Example:

I enjoy listening to music.
(We’re not talking about specific music.)

🧩 Comparative Table: Articles in English

TypeFormUseExample
Definite articletheSpecific or known person/thing; unique items; landmarksWe went to the beach. / The moon is bright.
Indefinite articlea / anOne, first mention, not specificI saw a movie. / She has an umbrella.
Zero article (Ø)—General ideas, plural or uncountable nounsMusic is relaxing. / People are friendly.

🧠 Grammar Tip

🔹 Use a/an when you mention something for the first time.
🔹 Use the when both people know what you’re talking about.
🔹 Use no article (Ø) for things in general or uncountable nouns.

For more information about articles visit:

Articles (Part 1)
Articles (part 2)

Let’s Practice

Practice 1

Practice 2

Speaking

Simple Past vs. Present Perfect

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How to talk about past events and experiences

Have you ever wondered whether to say “I went” or “I’ve been”?
Both talk about the past — but they don’t mean the same thing.

In English, we use the Simple Past to describe actions in a finished time and the Present Perfect to describe experiences or actions that are connected to now.

The Simple Past — Finished Time

We use the Simple Past to talk about completed actions or situations that happened in the past.
The time is specific and finished.

✅ Structure:

Subject + past form of the verb

ExampleMeaning
I visited New York in 2018.The trip is finished.
She studied English last year.That time is over.
We didn’t go to the party yesterday.The event is finished.

🕓 Common Time Expressions:

  • yesterday
  • last week / last year
  • in 2010
  • two days ago
  • when I was a child

💡 Tip: If you say when something happened → use the Simple Past.

The Present Perfect — Experience and Connection to Now

We use the Present Perfect to talk about past actions or experiences that are still relevant now.
The focus is on the result or the experience, not on when it happened.

✅ Structure:

Subject + have/has + past participle

ExampleMeaning
I have visited New York.I know that city — the experience is relevant now.
She has lived here for ten years.She still lives here.
We haven’t finished our homework yet.It’s not done now.

🕓 Common Time Expressions:

  • ever / never
  • just / already / yet
  • for / since
  • recently / lately / so far

💡 Tip: Don’t say when with Present Perfect. The exact time is not important.

Comparing the Two

Simple PastPresent Perfect
Focus on finished timeFocus on experience or result
Time is known or completedTime is not mentioned or still continuing
“I saw that movie last week.”“I have seen that movie before.”
“She worked in Spain in 2019.”“She has worked in Spain.”
“We met in high school.”“We have met before.”

💬 Think like this:

  • Simple Past = WHEN it happened
  • Present Perfect = IF it has happened (and still matters)

Real-Life Examples

🗣️ Everyday English:

“I’ve lost my keys!” (They’re still lost — problem now!)
“I lost my keys yesterday.” (Problem finished — I found them later.)

💼 At work:

“I’ve already sent the email.” (It’s done now — result matters.)
“I sent the email this morning.” (It happened earlier, time finished.)

💬Talking about experiences:

“Have you ever been to Italy?”
“Yes, I went there two years ago.”

🧠 Quick Review

✅ Simple Past:

  • finished time
  • “When?” is clear
  • used with: yesterday, last week, in 2010

✅ Present Perfect:

  • experience or result
  • “When?” is not important
  • used with: ever, never, for, since, already, yet

💡 Remember:
If the time is finished → Simple Past
If the time connects to now → Present Perfect

Let’s Practice

Practice 1

Practice 2

Speaking

Practice 1

Practice 2

Complete the questions and discuss the topics with your classmates

Used to

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We use used to + base verb to talk about:
✅ things we did regularly in the past, but don’t do now
✅ situations that were true in the past, but aren’t true now

“I used to take the bus to school.” (I don’t take it now.)
“There used to be a park here.” (The park isn’t here anymore.)

⚙️ Structure of used to

FormStructureExample
✅ AffirmativeSubject + used to + base verbI used to play tennis.
❌ NegativeSubject + didn’t use to + base verbI didn’t use to like vegetables.
❓ QuestionDid + subject + use to + base verb?Did you use to live near the beach?

🟡 Notice: After did, we write use to (without “d”).
🟡 The verb after “used to” never changes — it’s always the base form!

🕰️ Used to vs. Past Simple

Both talk about the past, but there’s a difference 👇

Used toPast Simple
repeated habits or states that are not true nowone specific past action
“I used to go jogging every morning.”“I went jogging yesterday.”
“We used to live in Paris.”“We moved to Paris in 2015.”

💡 Tip: If it happened regularly and it’s not true now → use used to.
If it happened once → use Past Simple.

💬 Pronunciation & Speaking Tip

When speaking quickly, used to often sounds like /ˈjuːstə/.

“I used to go to the gym” → sounds like “I yoosta go to the gym.”

✅ Practice saying:

  • I used to watch cartoons.
  • Did you use to play an instrument?
  • We didn’t use to eat sushi.

🧠 Quick Review

✅ Used to + base verb → past habits or states that are not true now
✅ Didn’t use to / Did you use to… → questions and negatives
✅ Past Simple → specific actions in the past
✅ Use used to to talk about change over time

Let’s practice

Speaking

Practice 1

Complete the sentences about your past habits.

Practice 2

Look at the pictures in the cards and make a sentence about your past habits.

Example: When I was a child, I didn’t use to have a mobile phone.

Board game

🔮 Future Predictions (Will)

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We use will when we talk about:

  • Predictions — what we think or expect will happen
  • Beliefs or opinions — what we believe about the future
UseExample
PredictionPeople will live on Mars one day.
BeliefI think it will rain later.
GuessIt will probably be expensive.
OpinionShe won’t enjoy that movie.

🧠 Remember:
We use will + base verb for all subjects — no “to”, no “-s”, no “-ing”!

⚙️ Grammar Focus

✅ Affirmative

Subject + will + base verb
✏️ Example: I will travel to Japan one day.

❌ Negative

Subject + won’t (will not) + base verb
✏️ Example: It won’t rain tomorrow.

❓ Question

Will + subject + base verb?
✏️ Example: Will they come to the party?

🔸 Contractions

Full FormContracted FormExample
I willI’llI’ll call you later.
You willYou’llYou’ll love this song.
He/She/It willHe’ll / She’ll/It’llShe’ll be fine.
Will notWon’tIt won’t be easy.

💬 Adverbs of Certainty

We often add adverbs to show how sure (or unsure) we are about a prediction.

AdverbMeaningExample
Definitely100% sureShe’ll definitely get the job.
Probably70–80% sureIt’ll probably snow tonight.
Maybe / Perhaps50% sureMaybe he’ll call you later.
I don’t think…negative beliefI don’t think it’ll work.

💡 Word order:

  • After will: It will probably rain.
  • Before the subject (for maybe): Maybe it’ll rain.

🚫 Common Mistakes

❌ Wrong✅ CorrectWhy?
I will to go to Paris.I will go to Paris.Don’t use “to” after will.
She will comes later.She will come later.Use the base verb (no -s).
Will rains tomorrow?Will it rain tomorrow?Subject goes after will.

Let’s Practice

Practice 1

Practice 2

Speaking

Practice 1

Practice 2

Future Plans & Arrangements

teacherjulieta1 Comment

We can talk about the future in many ways in English!
In this lesson, you’ll learn two important ones:

👉 Be going to — for plans and intentions
👉 Present continuous — for arrangements and schedules

Let’s see the difference 👇

⏩ “Be Going To” – Plans and Intentions

We use “be going to” when we decide to do something (a plan or intention).
It’s something we want or plan to do, but not always arranged yet.

🧱 Structure:

Subject + be (am/is/are) + going to + verb

💬 Examples:

  • I’m going to buy a new phone. 📱
  • She’s going to start a new job. 💼
  • We’re going to travel next summer. ✈️

🧠 Think:

“I have a plan, but maybe no fixed time or place yet.”

📅 Present Continuous – Arrangements and Schedules

We use present continuous for fixed arrangements.

Fixed arrangements are things that are already organized with time, people, or place.

🧱 Structure:

Subject + be (am/is/are) + verb-ing

💬 Examples:

  • I’m meeting my friends tonight. 🎉
  • She’s flying to Paris on Monday. 🗓️
  • We’re having dinner with our teacher tomorrow. 🍽️

🧠 Think:

“It’s in my calendar —> it’s arranged!”

⚖️ Compare

SituationExampleFormMeaning
📝 A personal planI’m going to study Spanish next year.Be going toIntention, decision
📅 A fixed arrangementI’m studying Spanish with a tutor next week.Present continuousAlready arranged

Let’s practice

Practice 1

Practice 2

Speaking

PET READING PRACTICE (Part 6)

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🧠 Part 6 of the PET (Preliminary English Test) Writing Paper is designed to test your ability to use alternative expressions that have the same meaning. In this section, you will be given sentences that you need to rewrite so that they mean the same as the original sentences, but using no more than three words.

💡For example, if you have a sentence like “The bus station is near the new shopping centre,” you might need to rewrite it as “The bus station isn’t far from the new shopping centre.”

🎯 The purpose of this activity is to ensure that you can express ideas in different ways while maintaining the same meaning. This is a key skill in English as it shows your flexibility and understanding of the language. Practicing this part of the test helps you get better at using similar words and different grammar rules. This is important for good communication in English.

🏋️‍♂️ PRACTICE TIME: Passive, Passive Causative, Future Possibility, Apologising

Instructions: Rewrite each sentence using no more than three words so that both sentences have the same meaning. Fill in the blanks with your answers.

1. PASSIVE VOICE:

  1. The mechanic will repair my car tomorrow.
    My car ____________________ tomorrow by the mechanic.
  2. They delivered the package this morning.
    The package ____________________ this morning.
  3. Someone cleans the office every evening.
    The office ____________________ every evening.
  4. They have built a new stadium in the city.
    A new stadium ____________________ in the city.
  5. They are going to release the movie next month.
    The movie ____________________ next month.
  6. People speak English all over the world.
    English ____________________ all over the world.
  7. Someone stole my wallet at the market.
    My wallet ____________________ at the market.
  8. The government has introduced new regulations.
    New regulations ____________________ by the government.
  9. They will announce the winner next week.
    The winner ____________________ next week.
  10. The chef prepared a special dish for us.
    A special dish ____________________ by the chef.

2. PASSIVE CAUSATIVE:

  1. The hairdresser will cut my hair tomorrow.
    I will ____________________ cut tomorrow.
  2. Someone repaired his car last week.
    He ____________________ repaired last week.
  3. They fixed her phone yesterday.
    She ____________________ fixed yesterday.
  4. They are going to clean his suit.
    He ____________________ cleaned.
  5. Someone will polish her nails at the salon.
    She ____________________ polished at the salon.
  6. My friend fixed my watch.
    I ____________________ fixed.
  7. The boy polished his shoes.
    He ____________________ polished.
  8. The dentist will take care of her teeth.
    She ____________________ taken care of.
  9. The painter will paint her house.
    She ____________________ painted.
  10. The maid will iron his suit.
    He ____________________ ironed.

3. FUTURE POSSIBILITY:

  1. I’m sure she will be late for the meeting.
    She ____________________ late for the meeting.
  2. I will probably won’t snow this weekend.
    There is a ____________________ snows this weekend.
  3. It’s unlikely that he’ll pass the exam.
    He ____________________ the exam.
  4. They might arrive before noon.
    They ____________________ before noon.
  5. The plan will probably change.
    The plan ____________________ change.
  6. There is a chance the team will win.
    The team ____________________ win.
  7. The train is bound to be delayed.
    The train ____________________ on time.
  8. There is a small chance she’ll remember.
    She ____________________ remember.
  9. It’s unlikely they’ll agree to our proposal.
    They ____________________ to our proposal.
  10. The project will definitely be successful.
    The project is ____________________ successful.

4. APOLOGIZING:

  1. I’m very very sorry I’m late.
    I’m ____________________ being late.
  2. I apologise for the mistake.
    I’m ____________________ for the mistake.
  3. Sorry, I didn’t call you back.
    I apologize ____________________ calling you back.
  4. I’m afraid I won’t be able finish the report on time.
    I’m sorry for ____________________finish the report on time.
  5. Please forgive me for being rude.
    I ____________________ for being rude.
  6. Sorry for the delay.
    I ____________________ the delay.
  7. I apologize for losing your keys.
    I’m ____________________ your keys.
  8. I apologize for not helping you earlier.
    I’m ____________________ helping you earlier.
  9. Sorry for the confusion.
    I ____________________ the confusion.
  10. I apologize for the inconvenience.
    I’m ____________________ the inconvenience.

Answer Key:

  1. have/get it
  2. had/got it
  3. had/got it
  4. will have/ will get it
  5. is having/is getting them
  6. had/got it fixed
  7. had/ got them
  8. will have/ will get them
  9. will have/ will get it
  10. is having/ is getting it
  1. is bound to be
  2. a small chance
  3. won’t pass
  4. may arrive
  5. will probably
  6. has a chance to
  7. is unlikely to be
  8. probably won’t
  9. probably won’t agree
  10. bound to be
  1. terribly sorry for
  2. sorry
  3. for not
  4. not being able
  5. apologise/ apologize
  6. apologise/ apologize for
  7. sorry for losing
  8. sorry for not
  9. apologise/ apologize for
  10. (terribly) sorry for

Grammar Topics for High-Intermediate

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Hello, English learners! 😊

If you’re at the B1 (intermediate) or B2 (high-intermediate) level, this is the perfect place to practice your grammar. Here you can find easy-to-follow lessons to help you understand English grammar better.

These topics will help you understand English better and use it more confidently. Plus, they’re especially useful if you’re preparing for the Cambridge PET test. We’ll go over each one step by step, so you can follow along easily.

Pick a grammar topic and start improving your skills today. Good luck!

Introduction to Noun Phrases

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Modifying comparatives

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Relative Clauses

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Simple Present vs. Present Continuous

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Present habits

In English, there are many ways to talk about actions that happen in the present. From habits to routines, we use different words and phrases to describe how often or how regularly something occurs. Here there is a list of different expressions to say how often things happen. Phrase Definition Example Tend to do something(tend…

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Past habits

There are several ways to talk about past habits in English: Tense Use Example Simple past Talk about a single action that happened in the past. I went to the park yesterday.She played tennis last week. Adverb of frequency + simple past Talk about a past habit or state that is no longer true. It…

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Have you ever…?

We use the present perfect (Have you ever + past participle) to ask about life experiences. We can answer these questions using a range of structures. Grammar Practice Unjumble the questions. Write the correct sentences in your notebook. Speaking Practice Take turns asking questions starting with “Have you ever …?” Answer each question using any…

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Present Perfect vs. Present Perfect Continuous

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Obligation and permission

Modal verbs are important for expressing obligation and permission in English. Here is a summary of some common modal verbs and phrases that are used to express obligation and permission: Modal Verb/Phrase Meaning Example Grammar Pattern needn’t no obligation You needn’t come to the party if you don’t want to. need not + base verb…

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Past Simple vs. Past Continuous

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Past Perfect Simple

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Reported Speech

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Future Forms

For High-Intermediate English learners There are different ways of talking about the future in English. While one structure may be preferred for certain meanings, in many cases more than one structure can be used with little or no change of meaning. Future Form Grammar Pattern Meaning Explanation Examples be going to subject + be +…

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Present Perfect and Adverbs

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Comment Adverbs

Adverbs are a type of word that provide more information about verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs in a sentence. They describe how an action is done, when it happens, where it takes place, or to what extent. This lesson will focus on a specific group of adverbs called “comment adverbs.” These adverbs express the speaker’s…

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Passive Voice

The passive voice is a grammatical construction used in English to emphasize the object of an action rather than the subject. In a passive sentence, the subject is being acted upon or is receiving the action, while the doer of the action is often placed in a prepositional phrase or omitted altogether. Points Explanation Formation…

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Have/Get Something Done

“Have/get something done” is a useful English construction that we use when we want to talk about arranging for someone else to do something for us. It’s a way to emphasize that we didn’t do the action ourselves, but rather someone else did it for us. This English pattern is called the passive causative. Usage…

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Future Probability

When you ask for opinions about future probability, you usually use will + base form or be going to + base form. However, there are other alternatives that are also common in spoken English. We use some expressions to talk about how sure we are about something in the future.Some expressions show high certainty, and…

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Gerunds and Infinitives

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Gerunds and Infinitives: Change of meanings

There are some verbs that change their meaning if they are followed by a gerund or an infinitive. The best way to learn them is by organizing them in a chart to visualize the differences.  Grammar Practice Complete the sentences using the correct form of the verb. You can use the Random Spinner, so the…

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Verbs Followed by a Clause

A lot of verbs are often followed by a clause. Especially verbs connected to speech and thought. But what is a clause? Here you have a list of verbs related to speech and thought 👇 Speaking Practice Example: Student A: “I think it will rain tomorrow.” Student B: “Why do you think that?” Student A:…

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Indirect Questions

We use indirect questions when we want to ask a question in a more polite way. Let’s compare direct questions and indirect questions: Learn more about Direct questions Subject questions  Grammar Practice Level of difficulty:   Speaking Practice Level of difficulty:  Change the direct question into an indirect one Discuss the question with your group. Give…

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Compound Nouns

What is a noun? A noun is a person, a thing, a place or an idea. Let’s Review In English, you can modify or add more information to nouns in different ways: Let’s practice Match up Match up

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First Conditional

We use the first conditional to talk about something that will probably happen in the future. You can use any present form in the if – clause ( simple present, present continuous or present perfect) and any future form ( will going to, future perfect, future continuous) or an imperative or a modal verb (might,…

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Conditionals and Future Time Clauses

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How to express wishes

This mini lesson includes a review of verb wish. Verb wish is used to express our desire for something different from how it is now. Wish expresses a desire that is impossible or almost impossible to happen. Differences between I would like and I wish  Grammar Practice Level of difficulty:  Wishes about present situations Put…

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I would like vs. I wish

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Difference between if I was and if I were

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Second Conditional

We use the second conditional to talk about hypothetical or imaginary situations in the present or future. In the if-clause we use simple past or past continuous. In the other clause (consequence/result), we can use would, could or might. For the verb be we usually start our sentence with If + subject + were For…

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Past Modals of Speculation & Deduction 🕵️

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Third Conditional

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Past Modal of Advisability

The past modal of advisability is “should have” and it is used to talk about past actions or events that didn’t happen, but would have been a good idea if they had. For example, if someone says “I should have gone to bed earlier last night,” it means that they did not go to bed…

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Would rather

Rather is an adverb that we can use to express a specific preference. It goes after the modal verb would and before a verb in the base form. We use would rather with the base form as an alternative to would prefer. Remember that would prefer is followed by a verb in the infinitive form.…

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So, neither + auxiliary/modal verbs

In English there are different ways of saying that you have something in common with somebody. We use me too to tell someone that you are in a similar situation. We use it to respond to positive statements. We use me neither to tell someone that you are also in a similar situation. We use…

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Conditionals

Understanding conditionals is crucial for expressing ideas about possibilities, hypothetical situations, and real-life scenarios. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to deepen your knowledge, this table will help you compare zero, first, second, and third conditionals. Get ready to enhance your language skills and gain confidence in using English conditionals effectively! Conditional Type Structure…

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Double comparatives

In English, we can use double comparatives to express cause and effect, or increasing or decreasing returns in parallel structures. There are three basic patterns to use double comparatives with nouns, actions, and adjectives/adverbs. Fun activities and playing games are great ways to improve your fluency. Here you can find 3 different activities to review…

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Clauses of Contrast

Although, though, even though, in spite of, and despite are words that help us connect contrasting ideas clearly and fluently. We use them to introduce a clause in a sentence which is in contrast to another clause in the same sentence. You already know how to use basic connectors such as so and but. In…

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Clauses of Purpose

To, in order to , as to, for, and so that are words that help us talk about purposes or goals clearly and fluently. Time to practice The best way to improve your English is by practicing. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes. Remember that practice makes progress.

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Tag questions

Tag questions are indirect questions that we often use to check something that we think is true. A question tag has two parts: Example: Tag question: Your name is Mike, isn’t it? Direct question: Is your name Mike? A question tag is a short question we add at the end of a sentence to check…

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Articles (Part 1)

Articles are tiny words that go before nouns. There are 3 common articles in English: a, an and the. A and an are indefinite articles. It means that we use them to talk about things in general = one of many. The is a definite article. It means that we use it to talk about…

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Articles (part 2)

In a previous post we discussed the basic differences between the indefinite articles (a/an) and the definite article (the). As you can see in the Introduction to articles some of the patterns for the usage of articles in English are easy to remember. However, the use of articles in English is very complex. Using articles…

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PET READING PRACTICE (Part 6)

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🧠 Part 6 of the PET (Preliminary English Test) Writing Paper is designed to test your ability to use alternative expressions that have the same meaning. In this section, you will be given sentences that you need to rewrite so that they mean the same as the original sentences, but using no more than three words.

💡For example, if you have a sentence like “The bus station is near the new shopping centre,” you might need to rewrite it as “The bus station isn’t far from the new shopping centre.”

🎯 The purpose of this activity is to ensure that you can express ideas in different ways while maintaining the same meaning. This is a key skill in English as it shows your flexibility and understanding of the language. Practicing this part of the test helps you get better at using similar words and different grammar rules. This is important for good communication in English.

🏋️‍♂️ PRACTICE TIME: First Conditional, Future Time Clauses, Verb Patterns after Wish, Second Conditional, Past Modals of Deduction, Past Modals of Advisability, Third Conditional

Instructions: Rewrite each sentence using no more than three words so that both sentences have the same meaning. Fill in the blanks with your answers,

1. FIRST CONDITIONAL:

  1. I will be late because I will miss the bus.
    • If I ____________________ the bus, I won’t be late.
  2. She will not pass the exam because she isn’t studying.
    • If she ____________________, she will pass the exam.
  3. They will cancel the match because it is raining heavily.
    • If it ____________________, they won’t cancel the match.
  4. We will go to the beach because the weather is nice.
    • If the weather ____________________, we will go to the beach.
  5. He will lose his job because he doesn’t perform well.
    • If he ____________________ better, he won’t lose his job.

2. FUTURE TIME CLAUSES:

  1. I’ll call you. I’ll do it as soon as I get home.
    • I’ll call you ____________________ I get home.
  2. Bring an umbrella. It might rain.
    • Bring an umbrella ____________________ it rains.
  3. I’ll stay at home. It’s raining heavily.
    • I’ll stay at home ____________________ the rain stops.
  4. Finish your homework. Then you can watch TV.
    • You can watch TV ____________________ you finish your homework.
  5. He’ll buy the car. He needs to get a loan first.
    • He won’t buy the car ____________________ he gets a loan.

3. VERB PATTERNS AFTER WISH (Wish + Simple Past, Wish + Would):

  1. I can’t play the piano.
    • I wish I ____________________ the piano.
  2. It’s raining, and I can’t go outside.
    • I wish it ____________________ raining.
  3. He doesn’t help me with the chores.
    • I wish he ____________________ me with the chores.
  4. They live far away, and we can’t meet often.
    • I wish they ____________________ closer.
  5. She always arrives late.
    • I wish she ____________________ on time.

4. SECOND CONDITIONAL:

  1. I don’t have enough money to buy a car.
    • If I ____________________ more money, I would buy a car.
  2. He isn’t very confident, so he won’t apply for the job.
    • If he ____________________ more confident, he would apply for the job.
  3. They don’t live closer, so they can’t visit us often.
    • If they ____________________ closer, they would visit us more often.
  4. She doesn’t know how to drive, so she can’t travel alone.
    • If she ____________________ how to drive, she could travel alone.
  5. We don’t have a garden, so we can’t grow vegetables.
    • If we ____________________ a garden, we would grow vegetables.

5. PAST MODALS OF DEDUCTION:

  1. I’m sure she left her phone at home.
    • She ____________________ her phone at home.
  2. They’re certain that he didn’t tell the truth.
    • He ____________________ the truth.
  3. It’s possible that she misunderstood the instructions.
    • She ____________________ the instructions.
  4. There’s no way they finished the project by themselves.
    • They ____________________ the project by themselves.
  5. He didn’t arrive on time, which is surprising.
    • He ____________________ on time.

6. PAST MODALS OF ADVISABILITY:

  1. I didn’t bring an umbrella, and now I’m wet.
    • I ____________________ an umbrella.
  2. She regrets not studying harder for the exam.
    • She ____________________ harder for the exam.
  3. They didn’t take the advice and got lost.
    • They ____________________ the advice.
  4. I didn’t call him back, and now I feel bad about it.
    • I ____________________ him back.
  5. He didn’t apologize, and now he feels guilty.
    • He ____________________ sooner.

7. THIRD CONDITIONAL:

  1. I didn’t wake up early, so I missed the bus.
    • If I ____________________ earlier, I wouldn’t have missed the bus.
  2. She didn’t go to the doctor, and now she’s still sick.
    • If she ____________________ to the doctor, she would have recovered by now.
  3. They didn’t save money, so they couldn’t go on vacation.
    • If they ____________________ money, they could have gone on vacation.
  4. He didn’t listen to the instructions, so he made a mistake.
    • If he ____________________ the instructions, he wouldn’t have made a mistake.
  5. We didn’t lock the door, and someone broke in.
    • If we ____________________ the door, no one would have broken in.

Answer Key:

  1. FIRST CONDITIONAL: 1. don’t miss 2. studies 3. stops raining 4. stays nice 5. performs
  2. FUTURE TIME CLAUSES: 6. as soon as 7. in case 8. until 9. after 10. until
  3. VERB PATTERNS AFTER WISH: 11. could play 12. weren’t 13. would help 14. lived 15. would arrive
  4. SECOND CONDITIONAL: 16. had 17. were (formal)/ was (informal) 18. lived 19. knew 20. had
  5. PAST MODALS OF DEDUCTION: 21. must have left 22. couldn’t have told 23. might/may/ can (informal)/ could (formal) have misunderstood 24. can’t (informal)/ could (formal) have finished 25. must have arrived
  6. PAST MODALS OF ADVISABILITY: 26. should have brought 27. should have studied 28. should have taken 29. should have called 30. should have apologized
  7. THIRD CONDITIONAL: 31. had woken up 32. had gone 33. had saved 34. had listened to 35. had locked

How to Write a Review of a Place

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What is a Review?

A review is a piece of writing where you share your opinions and experiences about a particular place, service, or product. It provides valuable information to potential visitors or users, helping them make informed decisions.

The Rating System

A rating system is a tool to communicate your overall opinion concisely. Here’s a basic guide to a five-star rating system:

  • ★☆☆☆☆ – Very poor (I hated it )
  • ★★☆☆☆ – Below average (I didn’t like it)
  • ★★★☆☆ – Average (I didn’t like it but I didn’t hate it)
  • ★★★★☆ – Above average (I liked it)
  • ★★★★★ – Excellent (I loved it)

Useful Phrases and Vocabulary:

  1. Introduction:
    • I recently visited/ explored…
    • I had the opportunity to visit…
    • Let me share my thoughts on…
  2. Positive Expressions:
    • I was impressed by…
    • The highlight for me was…
    • It exceeded my expectations in…
  3. Negative Expressions:
    • I was disappointed with…
    • It fell short of my expectations in…
    • I found it lacking in…
  4. Overall Opinion:
    • In conclusion…
    • To sum up…
    • All in all…
  5. Recommendation:
    • I highly recommend…
    • I strongly recommend this place because…
    • I would suggest…
    • If you enjoy…, you’ll definitely like…
  6. Comparisons:
    • In comparison to…, I found…
    • Unlike…, this was…
    • When compared to…, this stood out as…
  7. Personal Experience:
    • From my perspective…
    • Personally, I feel…
    • In my opinion…
  8. Rating Explanation:
    • I would give it a rating of…
    • On a scale of 1 to 5, I would rate it…
    • My overall rating is…

Now that you know which parts should be included in a review of a place 📍⭐, let’s see an example:

Pro tips for writing a review of a place

  • Start with a clear introduction
  • Provide specific details about the ambiance, service, or products.
  • Balance positive and negatives
  • Use descriptive language (include a wide variety of adjectives and adverbs
  • Remember to share your personal opinion and your evaluation.

 Time to practice

You see this announcement in a travel magazine.

Review wanted!
Write a review about a place that you have recently visited. It could be a restaurant, a park, a city, or a hotel. You should also provide a score for the place.

Type your answer in the box below, and I’ll give you personalized feedback.