Preliminary English Test Grammar Points Revision Part 2
PRELIMINARY ENGLISH TEST Grammar Part 2
Phrasal Verbs
Pick up
Who's going to pick you up at the airport?
Set up
Louis is a successful businessman. He set up his own business last year.
Join in
I watched the gym class first and joined in the following week.
Take off
The plane took off one hour late.
Take up
Sarah is planning to take up golf when she retires.
Get up
Every morning I get up at 6.00 to be early for school.
Get into
Harry was very excited when he got into the school football team.
Give up
I hated hockey so I decided to give it up.
Carry on
The footballer hopes to be able to carry on playing for several more years.
Look forward to
I'm looking forward to going on holiday.
Think about
I was thinking about joining a gym but now I think it is too expensive.
Future
will
prediction
Tomorrow will be very cold.
Going to
Intention - evidence
She is going to study Medicine. Watch out ! You're going to fall !
Present Continuous Future plans
I can't see you tomorrow. I'm meeting John.
Present Simple
The train leaves at 2 pm from platform A2
Timetables
INDIRECT (REPORTED) SPEECH TENSE CHANGE LIST
DIRECT SPEECH
INDIRECT (REPORTED) SPEECH
SIMPLE PRESENT changes to SIMPLE PAST "I work at Toyota." "I don't work at Honda." "I am a manager." "I'm not a salesman."
He said he worked at Toyota. He said he didn't work at Honda. He said he was a manager. He said he wasn't a salesman.
PRESENT PROGRESSIVE changes to PAST PROGRESSIVE "I'm cleaning my house today." "I'm not going to work today." "Mary is dancing in the show." "She isn't singing in the show."
He said he was cleaning his house today. He said he wasn't going to work today. Lee said that Mary was dancing in the show. He said she wasn't singing in the show.
PRESENT PERFECT changes to PAST PERFECT "I've already seen that movie." "I haven't heard that song before." "Gary has called three times." "He hasn't left any messages though."
She said she had already seen that movie. She said she hadn't heard that song before. Jack said Gary had called three times. He said Gary hadn't left any messages though.
SIMPLE PAST changes to PAST PERFECT "I saw my friend." "I didn't see Monika." "I was late." "I wasn't on time."
She said she had seen his friend. She said she hadn't seen Monika. He said he had been late. He said he hadn't been on time. -MODALSPRESENT MODALS change to PAST MODALS

"I will wash the dishes." "I won't go."
She said she would wash the dishes. He said he wouldn't go.
"I can dance." "I can't swim."
He said he could dance. He said he couldn't swim.
"There may be a problem." "There may not be any milk left." (No contraction)
She said there might be a problem. She said there might not be any milk left. (No contraction)
Sometimes we need to change the pronoun. DIRECT SPEECH: Jim: "I don't like living here." (Jim is referring to himself) REPORTED SPEECH: Jim said (that) he didn't like living there. (the pronoun he refers to Jim) * We may also need to change other words about place and time. DIRECT SPEECH: "I like this car." REPORTED SPEECH: He said (that) he liked that car. DIRECT SPEECH: "I went to Tokyo last week." REPORTED SPEECH: She said (that) she'd been to Tokyo the week before.
Changes in time and place words now
then, at that time
today
that day
tomorrow
the following day, the next day, a day later
yesterday
the previous day, the day before
next month
the following month, the next month, a month later
next year
the following year, the next, year, a year later
last month
the month before, the previous month, the preceding month
last year
the year before, the previous year, the preceding year
in two days weeks)
two days from then, two weeks from then
five days ago
five days before, five days earlier
five weeks ago
five weeks before, five weeks earlier
here
there
Used to + infinitive
Used to + infinitive
They used to love French lessons at school.
Didn't use to + infinitive
They didn't use to study a lot at the weekend.
Did ... use to + infinitive
Did they use to play football in the playground at school?
There used to + infinitive There used to be a nice cinema here. Now, there's a big supermarket.
Modals Modal
Usage Ability Permission Possibility
Form Can + infinitive Can’t + infinitive
Deduction in the negative
Can’t + infinitive
Could
Ability in the past Possibility in the past
Could + infinitive Couldn’t + infinitive
Should/Ought to
Advice Recommendation Criticism
Should + infinitive Shouldn’t + infinitive
Must
Personal/ Internal Obligation Deduction
Must + infinitive
Mustn’t
Prohibition
Mustn’t + infinitive
Have to
External Obligation
Have to + infinitive
Don’t have to
Lack of obligation Lack of necessity
Don’t have to + infinitive
May/Might
Possibility
May/Might + infinitive
Will
Prediction
Will + infinitive
Shall I …?
Offering
Shall I + infinitive
Needn’t
Absence of necessity
Needn’t + infinitive
Can
Can’t
Passive Voice
Active Voice
Passive Voice
They make Fords in Cologne.
Fords are made in Cologne.
Susan is cooking dinner.
Dinner is being cooked by Susan
James Joyce wrote "Dubliners".
"Dubliners" was written by James Joyce.
Tense Present Simple Present Continuous Past Simple
They were painting the house when I The house was being painted arrived. when I arrived.
Past Continuous
They have produced over 20 models in the past two years.
Present Perfect
Over 20 models have been produced in the past two years.
They are going to build a new factory A new factory is going to be built in Portland. in Portland. I will finish it tomorrow.
It will be finished tomorrow.
Future Intention with Going to Future Simple
Infinitives and gerunds
need hope want plan 'd like expect manage enjoy give up carry on look forward to love like dislike go involve suggest keen on good at fond of
To infinitive
ing
Rob is planning to join a gym. I'd like to improve my tennis, so I'm taking lessons.
I enjoy playing all kinds of ball games. Jose gave up playing football and built a new career as a manager.
COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES Short adjectives are compared with -er, -est.
adjective
comparative
superlative
strong
Stronger than
The strongest
small
Smaller than
The smallest
late
Later than
The latest
nice
Nicer than
The nicest
big
Bigger than
The biggest
thin
Thinner than
The thinnest
fat
Fatter than
The fattest
London is bigger than Vienna. Adjectives ending with y, er, ow, are compared with -er, -est.
adjective
comparative
superlative
easy
easier
easiest
happy
happier
happiest
clever
cleverer
cleverest
narrow
narrower
narrowest
Which is the easiest exercise?
Long adjectives are compared with more, the most – less, the least.
adjective
comparative
superlative
careful
More/less careful
The most/the least careful
expensive
More/less expensive
The most/the least expensive
difficult
More/less difficult
The most/the least difficult
tired
More/less tired
The most/the least tired
Which dress is more expensive?
Which dress is the most expensive?
Irregular forms adjective
comparative
superlative
good
Better than
The best
bad
Worse than
The worst
far
Farther then
The farthest
much
More than
The most
many
More than
The most
little
Less than
The least
(not) as ... as Ann is as tall as Mary. I think tomorrow will be as hot as today. This test was not as difficult as the last one.
Adjectives ending in -ed or -ing - shocked / shocking - worried / worrying - surprised / surprising - embarrassed / embarrassing - annoyed / annoying - interested / interesting - excited / exciting - thrilled / thrilling - amused / amusing Common Error Don't forget: I like watching movies on rainy days. So do I
I don't like chocolate.
I went shopping yesterday So did my mum.
I didn't find what I wanted to buy. Neither did I.
Neither do I
Writing Useful Phrases for Informal Letters - (PET Writing Part 3). Starting your letter (Paragraph 1) Thanks for your letter. Lovely to hear from you. How are you? How are things? Hope you're well. Commenting on something (Paragraph 1) I'm sorry to hear/learn ... I'm so pleased to hear ... It's great to hear ... What wonderful news about ... Moving the topic on (Paragraph 2) Anyway, the reason I'm writing ... I thought I'd write to tell/ask you Anyway, I was wondering ...
Ending your letter (Paragraph 3) Well, that's all for now Write back soon Looking forward to hearing from you again All the best Best wishes See you soon Take care Yours Love Lots of love