Grammar focus

Unit 1
Dramatic present in narratives
PRESENTATION
1  Just as he runs towards the finishing line, he falls over and loses the race!
2  It’s a typical love story. A boy meets a girl and she doesn’t like him at the start.
3  So we’re driving down the highway, it’s pouring rain, when suddenly there’s a flock of sheep
on the road in front of us!
4  A baby shark goes into a pet shop and asks for a job.
5 Everyone is laughing and having fun when the doorbell rings.

USE
We often use the simple present or present continuous to tell stories, anecdotes, and jokes.
We use these present tenses to make our stories sound more dramatic and more immediate.
We often use the simple present to talk about the main events in a story or anecdote and to
explain the plot of a movie or book.
It’s about midnight when the phone rings, so I go downstairs.
The bad guys work in a gas station at night, but the good guys don’t know that.
Do they find the letter in the end?
Television presenters also use the simple present to give a commentary on sports and news
programs. This makes the commentary faster and more efficient.
And he passes to number 7, shoots, and scores the winning goal!
The fans run onto the field, the security staff don’t stop them! More fans follow. It’s all
happening very fast here.
We often use the present continuous to describe the background of the story.
In the movie the children are living at a boarding school during the school year and only going
home over the school vacations.
So, my friends and I are planning to have this fantastic picnic, and we’re all getting along fine and
cooking lots and making a huge mess when my mom walks in!

Question types (subject, direct/indirect,

with preposition)
PRESENTATION
1  How long has Anton been working at the university?
2 Who has been to Italy before?
3  I was just wondering if we’ll arrive on time?
4  Do you know where he comes from?

FORM
We form most questions by putting an auxiliary verb before the subject. For the present and
simple past, we use the auxiliary do/does/did.
Does Sam speak French?
Where did they go?
Have you been to Italy?
When are you leaving?

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SUBJECT QUESTIONS
When we ask about the subject of a sentence, the word order is the same as in a statement
and the question word replaces the subject. We do not use the auxiliary verbs do/does/did.
Which countries border Russia?  (NOT  Which countries do border Russia?)
What happened?  (NOT  What did happen?)
However, we use don’t/doesn’t/didn’t in subject questions to ask about negative ideas.
Who didn’t receive the email?

INDIRECT QUESTIONS
If we begin a question with a phrase like Do you think…, Do you know…, and Have you any
idea..., we do not put the auxiliary verb before the subject and we do not use the auxiliary
verbs do/does/did. The word order is the same as in a statement.
Do you know where Dariusz works?  (NOT  Do you know where does Dariusz work?)
Have you any idea where Alex is?  (NOT  Have you any idea where is Alex?)

QUESTIONS WITH PREPOSITIONS

When we are asking about the object of a preposition, the preposition usually goes at the end
of the question.
What are you looking at?
How long did you wait for?
We can, however, sometimes put the preposition at the beginning of the question, but this
generally sounds very formal or old-fashioned.
For how long did you wait?
In this formal style we can use whom as an object in a question.
For whom did she work?

Present perfect and present perfect continuous

PRESENTATION
1  Do you know if Peter has called?
2  My manager won’t be pleased because I still haven’t finished the report.
3  Haven’t you sent that email yet?
4 She has been living here for six months.
5  We’re exhausted. We’ve been driving all night.
6  How long have you been waiting?

FORM
We form the present perfect with:
have + past participle.
I’ve never been to Africa.
We form the present perfect continuous with have + been + -ing form.
It’s been raining since ten o’clock this morning.

USE
We use the present perfect to connect the past and the present.
The cafe has just opened. (= It is open now.)
People have been arriving in vast numbers. (= They are still arriving now.)
We can often use either the present perfect or the present perfect continuous with since or for
when something started in the past and continues now, or is repeated up to now.
We’ve lived/’ve been living here for about a year now.
I’ve listened/been listening to the new album a lot since I got it.

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PRESENT PERFECT VS PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
We use the present perfect to focus on the result of an action, and we use the present perfect
continuous to focus on the doing of the action itself.
I’ve been practicing this piece for weeks but still haven’t learned it.
We use the present perfect to talk about how much or how many. When we focus on how
long something has taken, we use the present perfect continuous.
I’ve done three tests this term.
We’ve seen that show three times.
I’ve been working on this project for a month now. I need to finish it by the end of the week.
We use the present perfect to talk about how many times. But we use the present perfect
continuous for repeated actions when we don’t say specifically how many times they have
happened. We often use phrases such as all day and recently in these sentences.
We’ve seen that show three times.
I’ve been trying to contact him all morning.
We usually use the present perfect, not the present perfect continuous, to talk about states
rather than actions with verbs like be, have, know, seem.
We’ve known each other since college. (NOT  We’ve been knowing each other since college.)
She’s had that laptop for over ten years! (NOT  She’s been having that laptop for over ten years!)
We often use the present perfect, not the present perfect continuous, to announce news for
the first time.
Have you heard? Tom’s lost his job.
The President has resigned.

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Unit 2
Narrative tenses
PRESENTATION
1  Mary Kingsley decided to travel to Africa, a place she had always dreamed of visiting.
2 She had two missions to complete while she was traveling the continent.
3  Her father’s friends had warned her of the dangers, but she ignored them.
4 She encountered animals and sights she hadn’t seen before.

USE
A narrative is a description of a past event. The main tenses we generally use in a narrative are
the simple past, the past continuous, and the past perfect.
We use the simple past to describe the main events of the story.
I looked out of the window and saw the Taj Mahal for the first time.
We use the past continuous to talk about a) background actions or situations that were in
progress at the time of the main events, or b) two actions in progress at the same time.
I was waiting for them to arrive when I heard the news.
We were drinking coffee and Haruki was doing some shopping.
We use the past perfect to show that a past action or situation took place a) before one of the
main events or b) before the story began.
We’d been driving all day and were totally exhausted.
The hotel was not as nice as we had expected.

Tip
We often use time words or phrases such as when, while, before, after, as soon as, and by the
time to connect events using the different narrative tenses.
They were both working in Paris when they first met.
By the time we arrived, we had gotten lost several times.

Habits and routines: present

PRESENTATION
1 I’m not used to making phone calls in Spanish. I find them a bit stressful.
2  I don’t think I’ll ever get used to drinking my tea without sugar.
3 She’s always checking messages during meetings—I hate that!

USE
To talk about present habits, we can use the simple present tense, often with an adverb of
frequency, such as usually, often, always.
I usually watch TV for an hour or so in the evening.
We use be used to + -ing to say that we are, or aren’t, familiar with or accustomed
to something.
I’m used to getting up early these days.
I’m not used to driving on the right.
We use get used to + -ing to say that we are becoming, or have become, familiar with or
accustomed to something.
We’re getting used to living here, but we’ve only been here three months
I got used to driving on the left pretty quickly when I lived in London.
We can also use be/get used to + noun.
I’m not used to the weather here.
I’m getting used to the food.
We often use the present continuous with always, constantly, or continually to show that we
are annoyed, angry, or frustrated by something that happens regularly.

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 They’re always complaining about my cooking!
Why are you always listening to my phone conversations?
My car is constantly breaking down. I need to start saving for a new one.

Habit and routines: past

PRESENTATION
1 I used to like heavy rock music, but now I find it too loud!
2  My grandfather would always check the farm animals before he went to bed.
3  In your previous job, did you use to travel for work?

USE
We use used to + infinitive to talk about past habits and typical behavior, and states and
situations that no longer exist.
I used to go to bed around midnight when I was a teenager.
We used to live in Wisconsin before we moved here.

Tip
Note that there is no final -d in negatives and questions.
I didn’t use to read much as a child.
Did you use to do any sports in school?
We also use would + infinitive to talk about past habits and typical behavior. However, we do
not use would to talk about past states and situations.
I would go to bed around midnight when I was a teenager.  (NOT  We would live in Wisconsin
before we moved here.)

Past perfect continuous

PRESENTATION
1 They had been walking for hours when they saw the house in the distance.
2  She was concerned because he hadn’t been sleeping well recently.
3 We’d been dancing for hours and we were tired.
4  His head ached and his eyes were sore because he had been studying since five o’clock in
the morning.

FORM
We form the past perfect continuous with:
…had + been + -ing form…

Positive and negative

Subject had been -ing
+ It had been raining hard.
− I hadn’t been feeling well for hours.

Questions (?)
Question word had/hadn’t subject been -ing
How long had you been reading the book before you finished it?
Why had she been researching restaurants in Brazil?

USE
We use the past perfect continuous to talk about an action or situation that continued for a
period of time before another action in the past.
I’d been living in Italy for three years when we first met.
When I woke up, I saw that it had been raining.
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Past perfect simple and past perfect continuous
PRESENTATION
1 I hadn’t seen the movie before, but Ben had seen it three times already.
2 They had always wanted to visit Australia, and finally they made it.
3 Sara hadn’t been working there long when she was promoted.
4 They’d been painting the room for nearly an hour when they realized they’d been using the
wrong color.

USE
We use the past perfect to show that something happened before something else in the
past. For more information on past perfect, see Past perfect continuous.

PAST PERFECT
We use the past perfect to talk about actions that were completed before another action or
situation in the past.
Francis had left when we arrived.
Had the meeting started by the time you got there?
We usually use the past perfect and not the past perfect continuous when we are talking
about states rather than actions, with verbs like be, have, know.
We’d known each other for about five years before we became friends.

Tip
Note that we usually use the simple past to refer to the more recent action.
By the time we got to the station, the train had already left.

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

We use the past perfect continuous to talk about actions that continued for a period of time
before another action or situation in the past. This action may or may not have continued up
to the moment we are talking about it.
I’d been living in Italy for three years when we first met.
When I woke up, I saw that it had been raining.

Tip
We often use already with the past perfect to emphasize that the action happened earlier. We
also often use just to show that the action happened a very short time before.
The bank had already closed by the time we got there.
Samir had just left when we arrived.

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Unit 3
Contrast clauses
PRESENTATION
1  Although I can download books onto my e-reader, I still prefer to read printed books.
2  Even though we built the house where we initially wanted to, the new site is better.
3  In spite of having a good job, he was unhappy and thought about resigning.
4  I like eating out at lunchtime, while my co-worker prefers to bring a packed lunch.

USE
Contrast clauses describe how something contrasts with information in another clause in
a surprising or unexpected way. A contrast clause can come before or after the clause it
contrasts. We separate the contrast clause from the main clause with a comma.
He persuaded everyone that he was a doctor, although he had no medical training.
Although he had no medical training, he persuaded everyone that he was a doctor.
Contrast clauses often begin with although, though, and even though.
She managed to survive the illness, even though her condition was very bad.
Although she had climbed the first hill easily, she found the second one very challenging.
More formally, they can begin with in spite of and despite. There are different ways to follow
these phrases:
despite/in spite of + the fact (that) + clause.
Despite the fact that she had worked really hard all year, she still failed her exams.
despite/in spite of + -ing + clause.
Despite having worked really hard all year, she still failed her exams.
despite/in spite of + noun.
Despite her hard work all year, she still failed her exams.
We use whereas or while in a contrast clause to show a contrast in factual information to the
main clause.
Whereas her first job was a highly paid finance job, she now works for a charity on fairly low pay.
I always wanted to be a singer, while my sister wanted to be a scientist.

Tip
We can use still in the main clause, when it comes after the contrast clause, to give greater
emphasis to the contrast.
Despite being quite old, he’s still a really fast runner.

Determiners and quantifiers

PRESENTATION
1  Far too many people drive to work every day. It causes terrible pollution in our cities.
2  Are you sure there are enough chairs for everyone?
3  Few people learn Latin in school these days. It’s such a pity.
4  All students must register before Tuesday.
5  Although they trained in Chicago, both doctors now have practices in Minneapolis.
Determiners are words that come before a noun or noun phrase.

MANY, MUCH, SOME, ANY, A FEW, ETC.

We use (too) many, (a) few, several, a number of, and hundreds/thousands of with
countable nouns.
There are several shared student houses on my road.
We use (too) much, (a) little, a great deal of, and a large quantity of with uncountable nouns.
“Did you do much sightseeing in Paris?”  “A little, but the trip was mainly for work.”

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We can use a lot of, lots of, some, any, and enough with countable and uncountable nouns.
There are a lot of cafes in the area.

Tip
Note that few and little (without a) emphasize that the number or amount is less than
expected or hoped for.
Few people passed the exam.
A few and a little are more neutral.
A few people passed the exam.

ALL, EVERY, AND EACH

We use all, every, and each to talk about all the items in a group.
All is used with plural nouns. You can use all the/all (of) the…
All visitors must report to reception.
All (of) the apartments have been sold.
Every and each are used with singular nouns. You cannot use each/every the…
Every apartment has been sold. (NOT  Every the apartment has been sold.)
Each refers to two or more. Every refers to three or more.

Tip
We can also use all with uncountable nouns.
They took all (of) the money.
We can also use each of and every one of with plural nouns.
Every one of her books has been translated into English.
I gave each of my sisters a DVD for Christmas.

BOTH, EITHER, AND NEITHER

We use both, either, and neither to talk about two people or things.
Both David and Andrew speak French.
Both is used with plural nouns and pronouns. Before a determiner (e.g., the, my, these) we
can use both or both of. When we use a pronoun (e.g., them, us, you), we must use both of.
Both my brothers studied Chinese.
Both of them speak French.  (NOT  Both them speak French)
Either and neither are used on their own with a singular noun.
I don’t like either house.
We use either…or and neither...nor when there are two nouns.
Neither David nor Andrew speaks German.
When we use a plural pronoun or a plural noun with a determiner, such as the, my, or these,
we use either/neither of.
I don’t like either of the houses.  (NOT  I don’t like either the houses)

Articles
PRESENTATION
1 There’s a concert in Hyde Park over the weekend.
2  The minimum wage has gone up by around one dollar an hour.
3  Did you see the full moon last night? It was spectacular.
4  The quickest way is to go by car; the bus takes ages.
5  I walked up to the Parthenon. The view over Athens was breathtaking.
6  The price of food has risen dramatically in the last year.

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A/AN (INDEFINITE ARTICLE)
We use a/an when we don’t specify which exact thing we are talking about, for example
when something is one member of a group or one of many. This is often when you first
mention something.
I saw an amazing movie last night.
Do you have a dictionary app on your phone?

Tip
You use a or an depending on the pronunciation of the sound which follows. We use a
before a consonant sound and we use an before a vowel sound.
a car    a house    a euro    a university
an apple    an egg    an hour   an umbrella

THE (DEFINITE ARTICLE)

We use the when both the speaker and listener (or writer and reader) know the specific thing
they are talking about. For example, it is clear which one it is (often because it has previously
been mentioned) or when it is the only one of something.
How was the concert last night?
Shall I open the window? (There is only one window in the room.)
The sun is hot today.
We also use the with:
superlative forms
The Mall of America is the biggest mall in the United States.
rivers, valleys, deserts, mountain ranges, oceans, seas, groups of islands, and plural country
names.
How long is the Amazon?
We flew over the Sahara Desert.
Manila is the capital of the Philippines.
the names of theaters, movie theaters, hotels, galleries, and museums.
Have you been to the Guggenheim Museum?

NO ARTICLE (OR THE ZERO ARTICLE)

We use no article in a number of ways. These include:
to refer to something in a general sense (with plural or uncountable nouns).
My daughter’s always listening to music.
Blue whales are the largest animals on Earth.
with most country names, continents, states, lakes, and individual mountains.
Have you ever been to Australia?
The highest mountain in Africa is Mount Kilimanjaro.
with towns/cities, neighborhoods, and streets.
Have you been to Paris?
Fifth Avenue is one of the main shopping areas in New York.

Tip
The Hague is an exception to the rule of no articles with towns/cities.
The International Criminal Court is in The Hague in the Netherlands.

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Unit 4
Modal of necessity, obligation, and prohibition
PRESENTATION
1 I must start doing more exercise.
2 You shouldn’t hesitate to call me if you need help.
3 You don’t need to buy any sugar—I’ve given it up.
4  Children no longer have to wear uniforms in school, thank goodness. I hated wearing mine.
5 You can’t smoke inside the building. You have to go to the smoking area.

USE
We use modal verbs (e.g., must, can, could, might, should) in a number of ways. We also use
some non-modal verbs (e.g., have to, need (to), ought to) in similar ways. These uses include:

OBLIGATION AND NECESSITY

We use must, shouldn’t, and have to to talk about what we are obliged to do or what is
necessary. We usually use must to talk about the feelings and wishes of the speaker. We
usually use have to to talk about rules or obligations that come from somewhere else.
You must be at work by 9 a.m. (= I am giving you an instruction.)
You have to sign in before you can enter the building. (= This is a rule.)
We shouldn’t be late for the meeting.

Tip
The difference between must and have to is not very important. It is generally safer to use
have to in speech.

LACK OF OBLIGATION AND NECESSITY

We use don’t have to or don’t need to to talk about what we are not obliged to do or what is
not necessary. Needn’t is also possible but is much less common. We do not use shouldn’t in
this way.
You don’t have to wear a tie at work. It’s a personal choice.
We don’t need to leave/needn’t leave until this afternoon.

PERMISSION AND PROHIBITION

We use can to talk about what is permitted or allowed. We also use may, but this is less
common and more formal.
Employees can use the gym for free.
We use can’t to talk about what is not permitted or not allowed.
You can’t smoke in public buildings.

Past modals of deduction

PRESENTATION
1  It’s awfully quiet up there. I think the children must have fallen asleep.
2  Do you think he could have heard us? He doesn’t look very pleased.
3  Go back and look for it. You might have dropped it in the car.

PAST MODALS OF DEDUCTION

We can use past modals to make deductions about something in the past.
We use must have + past participle when we feel we are certain something happened or
is true.
James isn’t in his office. He must have just left.
I didn’t know Olivia lived in Berlin. She must’ve moved there quite recently.

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 Tip
In speaking and informal writing we generally use ’ve instead of the full form have.
He must’ve been mistaken.
They might’ve gotten lost.
We use can’t/couldn’t have + past participle when we feel we are certain something didn’t
happen or wasn’t true.
He can’t have known about it.
You couldn’t have seen Alice earlier. She’s in Dubai at the moment.

Tip
We can sometimes use must not have in the same way.
They must not have read the notice.
We use might/could/may have + past participle when we think something possibly happened
or was possibly true. We do not use can have.
She’s late. She might’ve missed the bus.
I’ve looked everywhere for my phone. I suppose I could’ve left it in the taxi.
They don’t know what to do. They may not have understood the instructions correctly.

Modals of regret
PRESENTATION
1 They shouldn’t have spent so much money on a vacation.
2 We should have looked at the weather report before we left.

FORM
We form past modals with:
may/must/can’t/might/could + have + past participle.

USE
We use should have or shouldn’t have + past participle to express regret or disapproval about
something we or other people did or didn’t do in the past.
I should have waited before I sent the email.
She should never have posted the letter.
You shouldn’t have said anything to him. He’s really upset now.

Tip
In spoken English, we usually contract have to ’ve.
We should’ve waited a little longer.
You shouldn’t’ve said anything.

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Unit 5
Future forms
PRESENTATION
1  I think you’ll enjoy that book.
2  George has decided he’s going to study economics in college.
3  Their plane lands at 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday. Will you go and meet them?
4 I’m leaving at 4:00 p.m. today; I have a dentist’s appointment at 4:30 p.m.

FORM
In English, there is no future tense. We use a number of different forms to talk about the
future and each has its own meaning and use.

WILL
We use will to make a prediction based on personal knowledge, opinion, or feeling.
You’ll really like the movie.
Some children born today will probably live to be 120 years old.
We also use will to make a instant choice or decision. This can include promises, offers, plans,
refusals, and requests.
I think I’ll leave work a little early today.
I’ll help you if you like.
I won’t tell anyone. I promise.

Tip
In speaking and in informal writing, we usually contract will to ’ll, especially after
subject pronouns.
We’ll arrive around 6:30 p.m.
I’ll call you later.

GOING TO
We use going to to make a prediction based on evidence in the present.
Look at the traffic. We’re going to be late!
We also use going to to talk about plans we have made or intentions that we already have.
I’m going to look for a new job.

SIMPLE PRESENT
We use the simple present to talk about an event on a schedule or timetable.
The conference is from April 11–15.
When does the new academic year start?

PRESENT CONTINUOUS
We use the present continuous to talk about arrangements and fixed plans.
We’re meeting at the restaurant at 7:30 p.m.
Are you doing anything over the weekend?

ABOUT TO
We use (just) about to + infinitive to talk about an action in the immediate future. We do not
usually give a time with about to. We don’t use it for instant decisions.
Quick, hurry! The train’s about to leave!
Can I call you back? We’re about to start eating.

Tip
We can sometimes use two different forms to talk about the same thing.
We can use will and be going to to make predictions.

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 It will probably rain tomorrow.
It’s going to rain tomorrow. (You’ve seen a weather forecast.)
We can use be going to and the present continuous (but not will ) to talk about plans
and intentions.
I’m going to get the train to Washington. (= I intend to do it.)
I’m getting the train to Washington. (= I have arranged it.)

Future perfect
PRESENTATION
1 Computers will have changed beyond recognition in twenty years’ time.
2  The director is very angry because the decorators won’t have finished the hall in time for
the conference.
3  Do you think humans will have found a cure for cancer in the next ten years?
4  In September, I’ll have been working here for a year.

FUTURE PERFECT
We form the future perfect with:
…will + have + past participle…
Positive and negative
Subject will have past participle
+ We will have finished the project by the time you get here.
− The contractors won’t have received the message yet.

Questions (?)
Question word will/won’t subject have past participle
Why won’t they have finished?
Will you have read the book by next week?

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

We often use the future perfect continuous with a time expression with for to focus on the
duration of an activity.
I will have been working for ten weeks on this project by the time I finally complete it.
We form the future perfect continuous with:
…will + have been + -ing form…
Positive and negative
Subject will have been -ing
+ I will have been living here for ten years next month.
− She won’t have been waiting long.

Questions (?)
Will/won’t subject have been -ing
Will you have been traveling For a long time?

FUTURE PERFECT AND FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

We use the future perfect to talk about an action completed before a certain time in the
future or still in progress up to a certain time in the future. We often use by or before + a time
expression to say when the action will be finished.
Do you think you’ll have finished the report by the end of the week?
They won’t have finished the work before the weekend.
Next month, we’ll have been living here for twenty years.
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We use the future perfect continuous to talk about a present action that will continue up to
a particular time in the future. The future perfect continuous often focuses on the action in
progress. Time expressions are normally used.
This is a very time consuming project. I’ll have been working on it for ten weeks by the time I
finally complete it.

FUTURE PERFECT OR WILL?

We can use both the future perfect and will to predict events in the future. We use the future
perfect to talk about the completion of an action in the future, usually by a certain time.
We’ll eat our dinner at 7 p.m.
We’ll have eaten our dinner by the time you get here.

Future perfect vs future continuous

PRESENTATION
1  This time next week, we’ll be traveling on the Acela to New York.
2  I’m sure I won’t be doing the same job five years from now.
3 Everything will have changed by the time you get back.
4  In September, I’ll have been working here for a year

FUTURE CONTINUOUS
We form the future continuous with:
will + be + -ing.
For more information on forming the future continuous, see Future perfect vs
future continuous.
We use the future continuous with a future time phrase to talk about an action that will be in
progress at a certain time or over a period of time in the future.
This time tomorrow I’ll be flying to Los Angeles.
I hope I won’t still be working here in five years.
We also use the future continuous to talk about a future action that is fixed or decided. A time
expression is not always necessary.
Will Pete be playing at the concert?
We can also use the future continuous to talk about the present, when we are making a guess
about something that is happening now. We sometimes use a time expression.
Sophia’s on a business trip this week. I expect she’ll be flying over the Atlantic right now.
“What’s Darren doing?”  “I expect he’ll be lying in bed.”

FUTURE PERFECT
We form the future perfect with
will + have + past participle.
For more information on forming the future perfect, see Future perfect vs
future continuous.
We use the future perfect to talk about an action or event completed before a certain time in
the future or still in progress up to a certain time in the future.
Do you think you’ll have finished the report by the end of the week?
Next month, we’ll have lived here for twenty years.
We can also use the future perfect continuous with a similar meaning, although it is
not common.
How long will you have been studying when you graduate?

Tip
We often use the future continuous and the future perfect with phrases that specify a time in
the future, such as:
this time tomorrow/next week/next month
by August/the end of the year/2030

Wide Angle  5  Unit 5  Grammar focus 14

in a week’s/six months’/ten years’ time
an hour/a week/twenty years from now.
This time next week, I’ll have finished all my exams.
By the end of the century, humans will be living on the moon.
In ten years’ time, I’ll have gotten married and had three kids.
A week from now, we’ll be lying on the beach.

Wide Angle  5  Unit 5  Grammar focus 15

Unit 6
Verb + -ing or to infinitive (same/different meaning)
PRESENTATION
1 I remembered to take out the trash this morning.
2 I remember having that doll when I was young.

USE
When one verb follows another verb, the second verb is either the -ing form or the infinitive,
with or without to.

-ING FORM OR TO INFINITIVE?
Some verbs can take either the -ing form or the to infinitive, with little or no change of
meaning: attempt, begin, can’t stand, continue, hate, like, love, prefer, and start.
I love getting up late on Sundays.
I love to get up late on Sundays.

Tip
We don’t usually use two -ing forms next to each other.
I’m starting to feel better. (NOT  I’m starting feeling better.)
Some verbs are followed by -ing or the infinitive with to with a change of meaning.
These include:

REMEMBER/FORGET
We use remember/forget + -ing to talk about memories.
He’ll never forget meeting Alice for the first time.
We use remember/forget + infinitive with to to say we do or don’t do something.
I forgot to mail your letter. Sorry.

REGRET
We use regret + -ing to express regret about an action in the past.
I really regret not speaking to her when I had the chance.
We use regret + infinitive with to to express regret about something we are just about to do.
This is used in formal contexts.
We regret to inform you that the train has been canceled.

STOP
We use stop + -ing when we stop an action or habit.
I stopped playing computer games when I was about 30.
We use stop + infinitive with to when we stop an action in order to do something else.
Sorry we’re late. We stopped to get some gas.

TRY
We use try + -ing to talk about doing something to see what will happen.
I tried turning the key the other way, but I still couldn’t open the door. (= I was able to turn the
key, but I still didn’t succeed in opening the door.)
We use try + infinitive to talk about making an effort to do something difficult.
I tried to open the door, but the lock was broken. (= I was unable to open the door—there’s no
information on how I tried to do that.)

Tip
In informal speech we can replace to in verbs that follow try with and. This is only possible
with the base form of try.
Try and be on time, will you?

Wide Angle  5  Unit 6  Grammar focus 16

Other uses of -ing form
PRESENTATION
1 I’m fed up with eating the same thing day after day. I wish this cafeteria had a better menu.
2  He felt really sick after eating a whole pack of cookies.
3  Running is my favorite hobby.
4  I hate washing dishes.
5  Cheer up. There’s no reason to get upset.
6 My advice is to work harder.
7  I think your best option is to start again.
8  Zoe’s bored; she doesn’t have anyone to talk to.

USE
We use the -ing form in a number of ways. These include:
as subject or object of a sentence.
Running is my favorite hobby.
I hate washing dishes.
adjective/noun + preposition + -ing form.
I’m tired of working here.
Are you interested in coming with us?
My sister has great memories of living in Scotland.
time conjunctions such as before, after, since, and while + -ing form. This is only when the
subject is the same in both clauses.
All course participants must sign out before leaving.
I fell asleep while watching TV last night.

Tip
Note that using a time conjunction + -ing form is more usual in more formal contexts. In
more everyday contexts, we are more likely to use a subject clause.
Everyone needs to sign out before they leave.
I fell asleep while I was watching TV last night.
We use the to infinitive in a number of ways. These include:
adjective/noun + to infinitive.
Is the software easy to install?
It was nice to meet you.
Come on. It’s time to go.
noun + be + to infinitive.
My advice is to work harder.
I’d say your best option is to start again.
something/nothing/anything, etc. + to infinitive.
I don’t have anything to do.
Come here. I’ve got something to tell you.
too + adjective + to infinitive.
It’s too hot to sleep right now.

Verbs with -ing and to infinitive

PRESENTATION
1  I’m not sure I want the job because it involves working with children and animals.
2 I don’t mind not having dessert; I’m watching my weight.
3  The staff agreed to work overtime, provided they were paid overtime.
4 Roger chose not to buy the sports car.
5  The bank has authorized me to pay the full amount.

Wide Angle  5  Unit 6  Grammar focus 17

USE
When one verb follows another verb, the second verb is either the -ing form or the infinitive,
with or without to.
Verbs which are followed by the -ing form include: adore, don’t mind, hate, love, like, can’t
help, can’t imagine, can’t stand, enjoy, fancy, feel like, involve, (don’t) mind, miss.
I don’t feel like going out tonight.
Verbs which are followed by the infinitive with to include: agree, aim, appear, arrange,
choose, expect, hope, learn (how), offer, plan, refuse, tend, want, wish.
We’ve arranged to meet on the 25th.
Verbs which are followed by object + infinitive with to include: advise, allow, ask, authorize,
encourage, expect, forbid, need, remind, teach (how), tell, want.
They encouraged me to do it.
I’m teaching my cousin to play the drums.
Make and let are followed by object + infinitive without to.
My boss never lets me leave work early. He always makes us stay until 5:30.
Help is followed by object + infinitive with or without to:
Can you help me cook/help me to cook dinner?

Tip
We can use not with verbs followed by the -ing form or the to infinitive.
I love working abroad, but I miss not seeing my family.
They agreed not to charge us for the first night.

Wide Angle  5  Unit 6  Grammar focus 18

Unit 7
Defining and non-defining relative clauses
PRESENTATION
1  Steve Jobs, who co-founded Apple, was widely recognized as one of the most creative people
in the computer industry.
2  He came up with ideas that revolutionized how we use computers.
3  The bicycle you told me about was on sale. I got it for $100 less than the recommended price.
4  That’s the girl whose brother has just moved in next door to you.

USE
We use relative clauses to connect a sentence to a noun phrase.
There are two types of relative clause:
A defining relative clause defines a noun. It identifies who or what we are talking about.
Do you know anyone who designs websites?
Have you seen the DVD I bought yesterday?
A non-defining relative clause gives us extra information about something already identified.
James Reed, who is a Harvard professor, will be the main speaker at the conference.
He was born in Sheffield, which is one of the UK’s biggest cities.

Tip
In a non-defining relative clause, we use commas to separate the clause from the rest of a
sentence.
Steve Jobs, who died in 2011, was one of the founders of Apple.
Last year, when I was still in college, I had no idea of the true cost of living.
A relative clause normally begins with a relative pronoun. We use who for people and which
for things. We use whose for possessions. We can also use the adverbs where and when for
places and times.
The speech which the politician made was very powerful.
I’ve never been to a place where you can’t buy coffee.
My boss, who only started last week, is already making changes for the better.
My friend Anna, whose husband is away on a business trip, is coming to stay for a week.
In a defining relative clause, we can replace who or which with that for both people
and things.
There are many people who/that have never used a computer.
I need some software which/that can edit songs.
In a defining relative clause, we can leave out the relative pronoun when it is the object of the
relative clause.
This is the person I was telling you about. OR This is the person who/that I was telling you about.
Is this the laptop you got for your birthday? OR Is this the laptop which/that you got for your
birthday?

Tip
We can use whom for a person who is the object of a relative clause. However, this is often
considered formal, and in everyday English, we generally use who.
This is the person who/whom I told you about.
We can generally put a preposition at the end of a relative clause or before the relative
pronouns whom or which. When we put a preposition before whom or which, it sounds
formal or old-fashioned. Note that we cannot put a preposition before that.
I know the man you were waiting for.
I know the man for whom you were waiting

Wide Angle  5  Unit 7  Grammar focus 19

Would rather
PRESENTATION
1 I’d rather sit here if you don’t mind.
2 They’d rather eat out than cook on the weekend.
3 We’d rather not go by bus. The traffic is terrible!
4  Would you rather eat now or later?

FORM
Would rather is followed by an infinitive.
I’d rather watch a DVD at home than go out.
If you’re not interested in Paris, where would you rather go?

Tip
We use rather not to make the negative form.
I’d rather not go out tonight. (NOT  I wouldn’t rather go out.)
They’d rather not fly. They hate planes. (NOT  They wouldn’t rather fly.)

USE
We use would rather + infinitive without to to say that we prefer something. We usually use
the contraction ’d for would.
We’d rather speak to him in person.
I’d rather work from home. (= We understand working from home is preferred to working in
an office.)
If the alternative to our preference is not clear, we use than to state the alternative. We can
use much for emphasis.
He’d rather read a book than watch a movie.
Young people would much rather send a text than call.
We often use would rather in questions to ask about preferences or to give options.
Would you rather have beans or peas?
What would you rather do tonight? Watch a movie at home or go to the movie theater?

Participle clauses
PRESENTATION
1  Hearing a noise downstairs, Jason got up to investigate.
2  Not speaking any German, we missed the announcement and got on the wrong bus.
3 Often referred to as baby boomers, this generation is now coming up to retirement age.
4  Having lived abroad since she was a child, Catherine has never really felt American.

USE
A participle clause begins with a present participle (e.g., leaving, taking) or a past participle
(e.g., left, taken).
A participle clause replaces a clause that includes a subject + verb and allows us to include
information more concisely in a sentence. We generally use participles in this way in more
formal contexts.
Being from the area, Jose knew his way around. → Because he was from the area, Jose knew
his way around.
Not knowing the area, we got lost. → Because we didn’t know the area, we got lost.
Born in the 1960s, he is part of the baby boomer generation. → As he was born in the 1960s,
he is part of the baby boomer generation.
We use having + past participle to talk about the past.
Having missed the bus, he was again late for work.
Increased life expectancy means that having been born in the 1990s, these children may well live
in three different centuries.

Wide Angle  5  Unit 7  Grammar focus 20

We can sometimes use a participle clause in place of a relative clause. The past participle has
passive meaning and the present participle has active meaning.
People born between the early 1960s and the early 1980s are known as Generation X. (= who
were born)
Do you know the man standing next to the window? (= who is standing)
We stayed in a room overlooking the town square. (= which overlooked)

Wide Angle  5  Unit 7  Grammar focus 21

Unit 8
Reporting verbs
PRESENTATION
1  “Don’t touch it—it’s hot!” → He warned me not to touch it.
2  “I won’t clean my room.” → She refused to clean her room.
3  “I didn’t steal the wallet.” → He denied stealing the wallet.
4  “I’m sorry I broke the glass.” → She apologized for breaking the glass.
5  “The accident was Molly’s fault.” → He blamed Molly for causing the accident.
6  “I ate the last cookie.” → He admitted that he’d eaten the last cookie.

FORM
Reporting verbs are followed by a number of different structures.
verb + to + infinitive:
agree, ask, demand, offer, promise, refuse, threaten
Jana agreed to come with us.
verb + person + to + infinitive:
advise, ask, convince, encourage, invite, order, persuade, remind, tell, warn
Xavier advised me to talk to my boss.
verb + preposition + -ing:
admit, apologize for, deny, insist on, suggest
He didn’t apologize for being late.
verb + person + preposition + -ing:
accuse...of, blame…for, congratulate...on/for, praise...for, thank...for, warn...against
Did you thank Claire for helping you?
verb + (that) + clause:
add, admit, argue, claim, complain, deny, explain, mention, predict, promise, suggest,
think, warn
Helen promised (that) she wouldn’t be late.
verb + person + (that) + clause:
assure, convince, inform, promise, reassure, remind, tell, warn
She reassured me that everything was OK.
When we use a reporting verb followed by a (that) clause, we usually change the verb in the
clause by moving it back one tense.
“The room is too small.” → He complained that the room was too small.
“I think they’ll win 2–0.” → He predicted they’d win 2–0.

Tip
Note that some verbs can be followed by more than one structure.
He admitted that he had broken the window./He admitted breaking the window.
Erica promised she would be on time./Erica promised to be on time.

USE
We can use reporting verbs to report what was said, e.g., He promised…, She offered…, He
suggested…. We often use the verbs tell, say, and ask to report what people say. However, we
can also use other reporting verbs to report offers, apologies, promises, etc.
“I’ll help you with your homework, if you like.” → He offered to help me with my homework.
“You could try a hot milk drink before bed—it might help you sleep.” → She suggested (that) a
hot milk drink before bed might help me sleep.

Wide Angle  5  Unit 8  Grammar focus 22

Reported speech
PRESENTATION
1  “I arrived at 6:00 p.m.” → He told me he’d arrived at 6:00 p.m.
2  “We’ve been expecting you.” → They said they had been expecting us.
3  “It’s snowing here!” → She said it was snowing there.
4  “I can help you with your packing.” → He said he could help me with my packing.

USE
We use reported speech to report what someone has said. We often use the verbs say
and tell.
He said he never watched TV.
He told me he never watched TV.
We can use that after the reporting verbs.
She said (that) she was hungry.
She told me (that) she was hungry.

Tip
We have to use a personal object, (e.g., me, them) after tell, but it’s not necessary after say.
When we are reporting, we generally use the past tense of the reporting verb, (e.g., said/
told), and we often change the verb by moving it back one tense into the past. For example:
present tense → past tense
past tense/present perfect → past perfect
will/can/must → would/could/had to
We’ve been shopping. → He said they’d been shopping.
I’ll be there at 6:30. → He told us he’d be there at 6:30.
Some forms don’t change:
if what the person says is still true, relevant, or important, we often do not change the tense.
I don’t like action movies. → She said she doesn’t like action movies.
the past perfect, and modals would, could, should, might, ought to don’t change.
I had never seen such a strange animal before. → She said she had never seen such a strange
animal before.
We might go out for a meal tonight. → They said they might go out for a meal tonight.
We can also use the reporting verb in the present. When the reporting verb is in the present,
we don’t change the tense.
I’m going to be a bit late. → Sarah says that she’s going to be a bit late.
We sometimes need to change time references. (e.g., yesterday → the day before/the previous
day, tomorrow → the next day/the following day, next week → the week after).
I spoke to Alex yesterday. → He said he’d spoken to Alex the previous day.

Reported questions
PRESENTATION
1 They wanted to know how old I was.
2 Paula was wondering why you left the party so early.
3 She asked me if I wanted to join them for dinner.

FORM
To report a yes/no question, we use:
ask (+ object) + if/whether + clause with affirmative word order.
Did you fix your Wi-Fi? → He asked (me) if/whether I had fixed my Wi-Fi.
Michelle asked us if she could come with us to the movies.

Wide Angle  5  Unit 8  Grammar focus 23

To report a wh- question, we use:
ask (+ object) + question word + clause with affirmative word order.
Where is your camera? → He asked (me) where my camera was.

USE
We can report questions using verbs such as ask, want to know, and wonder. We generally
use a personal object after ask.
“Where are you going?” he asked. → He asked me where I was going.
She wondered why they had left in such a hurry.
Note that the word order of the reported question is different from direct questions. It is the
same as in affirmative statements: the subject comes before the verb, and we do not use the
auxiliary verb do.
“Are you going to take the job?” she asked. → She wanted to know whether I was going to
take the job.
When we are reporting, we generally use the past tense of the reporting verb, e.g., asked/
wondered, and we usually change the reported verb by moving it back one tense into the
past:
present tense → past tense
past tense/present perfect → past perfect
will/can/must → would/could/had to
“Why haven’t you replied to my email?” → I asked Oliver why he hadn’t replied to my email.
We sometimes need to change time references. (e.g., yesterday → the day before/the previous
day, tomorrow → the next day/the following day, next week → the week after).
“Are you leaving tomorrow or staying until next week?” → They asked if I was leaving the
next day or staying until the week after.
Pronouns and possessives also change in reported questions.
“Could you give me your phone number, please?” he asked. → He asked if I could give him my
phone number.
This usually changes to that
“Do you like this color?” → She asked whether I liked the color.
If what the person says is still true, relevant, or important, we often do not change the tense.
Eva asked me what time the movie starts.
We can also use the reporting verb in the present. When the reporting verb is present, we
don’t change the tense.
Sam wants to know what’s for dinner.

Wide Angle  5  Unit 8  Grammar focus 24

Unit 9
Other infinitive structures
PRESENTATION
1  I’m not sure I want the job because it involves working with children and animals.
2 I don’t mind not having dessert; I’m watching my weight.
3  The staff agreed to work overtime, provided they were paid overtime.
4 Roger chose not to buy the sports car.
5  The bank has authorized me to pay the full amount.

USE
When one verb follows another verb, the second verb is either the -ing form or the infinitive,
with or without to.
Verbs which are followed by the -ing form include: adore, don’t mind, hate, love, like, can’t
help, can’t imagine, can’t stand, enjoy, fancy, feel like, involve, (don’t) mind, miss.
I don’t feel like going out tonight.
Verbs which are followed by the infinitive with to include: agree, aim, appear, arrange,
choose, expect, hope, learn (how), offer, plan, refuse, tend, want, wish.
We’ve arranged to meet on the 25th.
Verbs which are followed by object + infinitive with to include: advise, allow, ask, authorize,
encourage, expect, forbid, need, remind, teach (how), tell, want.
They encouraged me to do it.
I’m teaching my cousin to play the drums.
Make and let are followed by object + infinitive without to.
My boss never lets me leave work early. He always makes us stay until 5:30.
Help is followed by object + infinitive with or without to:
Can you help me cook/help me to cook dinner?

Tip
We can use not with verbs followed by the -ing form or the to infinitive.
I love working abroad, but I miss not seeing my family.
They agreed not to charge us for the first night.

Purpose clauses with infinitive

PRESENTATION
1  In order to avoid paying too much tax, he made his wife a shareholder.
2  I’m going traveling for six months to have time to contemplate my future.
3  I asked the doctor for some extra medicine so as to have enough with me abroad.

USE
We use purpose clauses to talk about the reasons why someone does something. Purpose
clauses answer a why question.
We use phrases such as in order to or so as to + infinitive to give the reason for doing
something. In order to is generally considered more formal.
They went to the drugstore to buy some more painkillers but it was closed.
We went to Paris so as to learn French, but spent most of the time speaking English!
In order to obtain your driver’s licence, you have to pass a theory and practical test.
We use so as not to and in order not to to make the negative form.
So as not to hear them, she turned the music up! (NOT  So as to not hear them…)
In order not to miss her appointment, she used four alarm clocks.  (NOT  In order to not miss…)

Wide Angle  5  Unit 9  Grammar focus 25

But we can’t use not to on its own.
She turned up the music so as not to hear them. (NOT  She turned up the music not to hear
them.)

Tip
We can also use so (that) + clause to talk about the reasons for doing something.
She stood up so (that) she could see better.
Why don’t you call them so (that) they know you’re interested in the project?
If we put the purpose clause first, it sounds more formal.
So (that) I could hear him better, I asked him to sit closer. (more formal)
I asked him to sit closer so (that) I could hear him better.

Infinitive constructions
PRESENTATION
1  Zoe’s bored; she doesn’t have anyone to talk to.
2  I find it easy to learn new languages.

USE
We use the to infinitive:
after certain adjectives or nouns (e.g., easy, difficult), too + adjective, something/nothing/
anything/anywhere/nowhere, time.
I always find it difficult to speak to strangers.
I’m finding it too cold to work in here.
Come on—it’s time to go.
Do you have anything to eat?
after some nouns + be.
My suggestion would be to paint it all blue.
The plan is to get going tomorrow.

Wide Angle  5  Unit 9  Grammar focus 26

Unit 10
Passive reporting verbs
PRESENTATION
1  It is thought that the virus will spread throughout the country over the coming months.
2  It has been agreed that the matter will be discussed and voted on.
3 Singing is known to be a great way to relieve stress and anxiety.
4  Several people are believed to have been arrested.

FORM
We can use reporting verbs in the passive with the subject pronoun it:
It + be + past participle of reporting verb + (that)…
It be past participle of reporting verb (that)
It is thought (that) the virus will spread.
It was claimed (that) the police destroyed the report.
It has been said (that) he’s the best soccer player of his generation.

We can use reporting verb in the passive after other subjects:

Subject + be + past participle of reporting verb + to infinitive.
Subject be past participle of reporting verbs to infinitive
Singing is known to relieve stress.
This drug was considered to be safe at the time.

When we are reporting on something that happened in the past, we use a perfect infinitive.
The director is reported to have taken off  with company money.

USE
We use reporting verbs such as believe, claim, consider, know, report, say, and think in the
passive to talk about general beliefs and ideas. The subject of the sentence can be the main
noun (or pronoun), or it. These structures are common in news reports and formal
written English.
It is believed that no one has been seriously injured in the attack.
In some cultures, coins are considered to bring you good luck.

Tip
Note how we use a to infinitive in the structure with an ordinary subject but a that clause in
the structure starting with it.
We use passive reporting verbs when we don’t know or don’t want to say who the
information came from.
Your performance was not considered to be up to standard last year.
It was thought that the expedition reached the top of the mountain.

Passive voice
PRESENTATION
1  The goods are taken by truck to the supermarket.
2 We were advised by an agricultural expert to update our farming methods.
3  The movie was nominated for six Oscars.
4  The machine had been designed to use as little energy as possible.
5  I thought I was being followed, so I quickly entered a crowded market.
6  I couldn’t get my money back because the name on the ticket can’t be changed.

Wide Angle  5  Unit 10  Grammar focus 27

FORM
We form the passive with be + past participle. Passive verbs can be in the same tenses as
active verbs.
Billions of text messages are sent every day.
The computer mouse was invented in the late 1960s.
I wasn’t sent the email.
We use the passive infinitive (be done, be opened, etc.) after modal verbs, be going to and
verbs followed by to (need to, have to, want to, etc.).  For more information on passive
forms, see Passive future and Passive: perfect forms.
It can be done, but it’s not easy.
The software needs to be updated.

USE
We use the passive to say what happens to someone or something.
The sign was knocked over in the storm.
We most often use the passive to avoid saying who or what does the action. This is usually
because this person or thing is not known, or is obvious or unimportant.
The mixture is heated to over 100°C.
Tickets can be booked in advance.

Tip
If we want to say who or what does the action, we use by.
The modern computer mouse was invented by Douglas Engelbart.
When a verb has two objects, there are two possible passive structures.
The wrong person was sent the email.
The email was sent to the wrong person.

Tip
The passive is used more in writing than in speech. However, a common idiomatic use is was/
were born.
I was born in Milan. Where were you born? (NOT  I born in Milan. Where you born?)

Passive future
PRESENTATION
1  I can’t wait for the next movie! The sequel is going to be released next month.
2  Your application will be processed and returned to you by the end of the week.
3  The new houses aren’t going to be painted until next year.
4  All the fruit will have been picked by the end of September.
5 They won’t have been invited to the wedding, they hardly know him.
6  Will my car be repaired today or tomorrow?

FORM
We form the future passive in various ways:

Subject passive form

Will future You will be informed of any changes to your flight by email.
The chairs won’t be needed for the reception.
Be going to future The restaurant isn’t going to be renovated in time for your party.
They are going to be taken out to dinner for their anniversary.
Future perfect He will have been hired right away with his fantastic experience.
The house sale won’t have been completed by the end of the month.

Wide Angle  5  Unit 10  Grammar focus 28

We form questions with the future passive in the same way we form active questions—by
putting the auxiliary verb will or is/are before the subject.
Will he be sent to prison for his crime?
Is the shopping going to be delivered this afternoon?
Are they going to be rewarded for their fantastic effort?
Will the flood damage have been repaired before next winter?

USE
We use the future passive in the same way we use other passive tenses. We use the passive
to say what happens to someone or something, especially when we do not say who or what
does the action. This is often because the person or thing is not known, is already obvious or
is not important in the context.
Surely you don’t believe that life will be found on Mars!
Most college applications will have been completed by the end of March.
If we want to say who does the action, we use by.
All participants will be awarded a medal by the principal and the mayor.
You aren’t going to be selected by your own project team—they can’t vote for you.

Past passive
PRESENTATION
1  Over a million units were sold last year.
2 When was the product launched?

FORM
We form the passive with be + past participle.

be past participle
Past Stonehenge was built 5,000 years ago.
All the documents were destroyed in a fire.

USE
We use the active form when we focus on the person or thing that does the action.
Shah Jahan commissioned the Taj Mahal in 1631.
We use the passive form when we focus on what happens to someone or something. The
person who does the action is less important.
The main buildings were completed in 1643.
We use by + noun if we want to say who or what did the action.
It was visited by about 7 million people last year.
We often use the passive form to continue talking about the same thing or person.
Kickstarter is a crowd-funding platform. It was launched in 2009.

Passive: perfect forms

PRESENTATION
1  The extension to our house has been built, so we can move back in.
2  The order had already been sent out, so it was too late to cancel it.
3 They haven’t been told about the conference yet.
4  Had the staff been warned in advance about the changes to their hours?

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FORM
We form the passive perfect with:
the present or past perfect of be + past participle of the main verb
Positive and negative
Subject Have/has/had been past participle
+ The audience had been made to wait too long.
− The house hasn’t been painted for over 20 years.

We form questions by putting the auxiliary verb have/has/had before the subject.

Questions (?)
Have/Has/Had subject been past participle
? Has the leaflet been printed yet?
? Had the apartment been decorated before you moved in?

We do not usually use the passive perfect in the continuous form.

USE
We use the passive perfect in the same way we use other passive tenses: to say what has/had
happened to someone or something, especially when we do not say who or what has done
the action. This is often because the person or thing is not known, is already obvious or is not
important in the context.
We had been given a pay raise a month earlier, so we were really happy.
I’m afraid you haven’t been selected for the job.

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Unit 11
Have/get something done
PRESENTATION
1 We’re having the roof repaired over the summer.
2  He had to have his head shaved when he joined the army.
3  At this hotel, you can get your dry cleaning done for free.

FORM
We form the structure with:
have/get + object + past participle.
Subject have/get object past participle
I had my apartment valued last week.
We are having our office decorated right now.
I am getting my car serviced tomorrow.

HAVE/GET SOMETHING DONE

We use have/get something done to say that someone does something for us, usually when
we have arranged it. We do not say who does the action. We generally use get for more
informal situations.
I had my report proofread—there were loads of mistakes in it!
Where do you get your hair cut?
I’m getting my car serviced tomorrow.
We can also use have something done to say that something unwelcome or negative happens
to us. We do not use get in this way.
I’ve had my car broken into.
Sarah’s had her bike stolen.

Conjunction clauses
PRESENTATION
1 We’ll decide what to do when we get there.
2  Give me your number in case I need to call you.
3  I won’t call you unless I’m running late.
4  I know Sam will open his present as soon as he gets it.

FORM
When talking about the future, conjunctions such as unless, in case, and as long as and time
conjunctions such as when, as soon as, while, before are followed by a present tense. They are
not usually followed by a future tense. The main clause can be a present or a future form.
You should take your umbrella in case it rains.
Unless I call you, I’ll meet you at 6:30.
I’ll be waiting for you when you arrive.
As soon as you arrive, we’ll have some food. (NOT  As soon as you will arrive,…)

USE
When talking about the future, we can use conjuctions such as unless, in case, and as long
as and time conjuctions such as when, as soon as, while, before to link two ideas in the
same sentence.
Don’t touch the animals unless you want to get hurt.

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When talking about the future, we can use time words like until (up to a point in time), as
soon as (at the moment when/immediately after), by the time (one event will be completed
before another), while (during a period of time), before, after, and when.
I’ll look after your things until you come home.
By the time you read this, I will be in Paris!

Tip
When the time clause comes at the beginning of a sentence, we separate it from the main
clause with a comma.
When we arrive, we’ll unpack our suitcases and explore the town.

Intensifying adverbs
PRESENTATION
1  Don’t push so hard! You’ll break it.
2  We never heard such an emotional speech before.
3  I found the experience completely overwhelming.

USE
We often use the words so and such to give extra emphasis or intensity. We use other adverbs
to express degree of emphasis or intensity.

SO
We use so before adjectives and adverbs.
I got so bored listening to that speech.
She plays the piano so well.

SUCH
We use such before a noun, with or without an adjective. We add the indefinite article a/an
before singular countable nouns, but not before plural nouns and uncountable nouns.
The festival was such a success.
They’re such professionals.
He gave me such good advice.

ADVERBS
We can use an adverb before an adjective to say “to what extent” or “how much.” The
adverb makes the adjective stronger or weaker.
Gradable adjectives describe qualities that you can measure, e.g., intelligent, tedious,
interesting. We can say a person is more or less intelligent. With gradable adjectives we use
gradable adverbs, e.g., a little, a bit, particularly, very, not at all, rather. We usually use a
little and a bit before adjectives that talk about a negative idea.
Our tour guide was very knowledgeable.
I was a little disappointed by the response I got at my presentation.
Non-gradable adjectives describe qualities that are absolute or extreme, e.g., ideal, awesome,
overwhelming. They cannot be used as comparative adjectives. We cannot say that something
is more or less ideal: either it is ideal or it is not. With non-gradable adjectives we use non-
gradable adverbs, e.g., utterly, absolutely, completely.
Your suggestion is absolutely ideal.
The movie was utterly terrible.

Tip
The adverbs quite, really, pretty, and fairly can be used with both types of adjectives.
Quite means “very” when used with gradable adjectives, and it means “to the greatest
degree” when used with non-gradable adjectives.
I thought the movie was quite good. (= very)
The experience has been quite overwhelming. (= completely)

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Unit 12
Second conditional vs third conditional
PRESENTATION
1  If we had a car, we would drive there.
2 You could apply for the job if you had the qualifications.
3  If he’d left on time, he wouldn’t have missed the flight.
4 They could have won the game if the referee hadn’t given the last penalty to the opposition.

FORM
In the second conditional, we form the if clause with:
if + simple past.
We form the result clause with:
would/wouldn’t + infinitive without to.
In the third conditional, we form the if clause with:
if + past perfect
We form the result clause with:
would/wouldn’t have + past participle.

SECOND CONDITIONAL
We use the second conditional to talk about an imaginary or unlikely situation and its
imagined result. It can describe present and future situations.
If we had more time, we’d stay a bit longer.
I’d repair it myself if I had the tools.
It’s possible to use other modals in the result clause.
If they saw the evidence, they might believe us.
We can also use unless in second conditional sentences.
She wouldn’t move unless she won a lot of money.
We can use were instead of was in the if clause after I, he, she, and it, especially in
formal style.
If the Minister were able to arrive by 6 p.m., we’d hold the press conference before the dinner.

THIRD CONDITIONAL
We use the third conditional to talk about unreal situations in the past. The condition is
imaginary, because it didn’t actually happen. Consequently, the result is impossible. Unless is
never used in third conditional sentences.
If you had studied, you would have passed the exam.
You would have passed the exam if you had studied.
It is possible to use other modals in the result clause.
If you’d mentioned it earlier, I might have been able to do something about it.
If we hadn’t taken the wrong road, we could have gotten there sooner.

Tip
Note that we often contract would and had to ’d, and in speech we often contract have to
’ve. Also note that the if clause and the main clause can go in either order.
If I had more money, I’d get a bigger apartment
I would’ve told you if I’d known.
Where the if clause is first, we need a comma. If it is second in the sentence, we do not
use a comma.
If I knew the answer, I would tell you.
I would tell you if I knew the answer.
For more information on second and third conditional, see Mixed conditionals.

Wide Angle  5  Unit 12  Grammar focus 33

I wish...
PRESENTATION
1  I wish I could run faster.
2  She wishes she had a car, then she wouldn’t have to use the bus.
3  I wish I hadn’t said anything—now you’re angry.
4  The students wish their professors would give them fewer assignments.
5  If only she hadn’t taken the diamond ring, then she wouldn’t have been arrested.

USE
We use wish to say that we want things to be different from how they are or were.
To talk about the present, we use wish + past tense.
She wishes she was a bit older.
I wish I could play a musical instrument.
I wish it wasn’t raining.
To express regrets about the past, we use wish + past perfect.
I wish I hadn’t eaten so much.
I think Jim wishes he’d studied a bit more for the exam.
We use wish + person/thing + would to talk about things we want to happen or change in
the future. We often use this structure to express annoyance or dissatisfaction.
I wish it would stop raining.
I think he wishes his boss would be a bit more flexible.
Note that would cannot have the same subject and object.
I wish I was richer.  (NOT  I wish I would be richer.)
We can use if only instead of wish in all these situations. If only is generally more emphatic
than wish.
If only we had more time.
If only I had spoken to him!
We can also sometimes include a second clause after if only.
If only it wasn’t raining, we could go for a walk.

Mixed conditionals
PRESENTATION
1  If I’d listened to classical music more as a child, I would probably like it better now.
2 She’d have much more free time if she had taken the other job.
3  If they were unhappy in Spain, they would have moved somewhere else.
4  Would you have bought the dress if it was a bit cheaper?

FORM
To talk about an unreal situation in the past which has a present result, we use:
if + past perfect + would + infinitive…
If past perfect would infinitive
If you’d had some breakfast, you wouldn’t be so hungry now.
If I hadn’t switched off my alarm clock, I wouldn’t be late now.

To talk about the possible past result of an unreal situation in the present, we use:
if + past tense + would have + past participle…
If past tense would have past participle
If I had more money, I would have bought it.
If she believed in ghosts, that story would have terrified her.

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USE
We used a mixed conditional sentence when the time reference in the if clause is different
from the time reference in the main clause. Mixed conditionals are a mix of second and third
conditionals. They describe an unreal situation: either a past condition with a present result,
or a present condition with a past result.
I’d be able to chat with my Spanish parents-in-law if I’d worked harder at Spanish in school.
If he were in better shape, he would have finished the race.
We can use other modal verbs in the main clause, especially could and might.
If you’d been listening, you might know what to do.
We could have planted a wonderful garden if it rained more here.

Wide Angle  5  Unit 12  Grammar focus 35