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Grammar B2 Upper-intermediate

Every rule from A1 to C2, in the order to read them.

How the rules work

A rule explains one point of grammar. Topics without a rule yet are marked Coming soon.

  • Examples

    Sentences with the form in bold.

  • Common mistakes

    A wrong sentence, the right one and why.

  • All the tenses on one page

    Twelve tenses side by side, with when to use each one.

Common mistakes

  • Read in order

    Each list is in reading order. A rule page shows the rules before and after it and, where it helps, what to read first.

  • Practise

    Under Practise this rule, open the quiz or set the rule links to.

The rules are open to everyone, with or without an account.

All the tenses on one pageTwelve forms side by side, with when to use each one.

Not sure B2 is your level? Find out in 8–40 questions, no account needed.

32 topics in the syllabus, 32 with a rule you can read now.

Tenses

Present, past and future forms, and how to choose between them.

3 topics, 3 with a rule

  1. Future Continuous and Future Perfect
  2. Future in the past
  3. Past Perfect Continuous

Nouns and articles

Plurals, possessives, and a, an, the or no article.

2 topics, 2 with a rule

  1. Articles: generic reference and abstract nouns
  2. Complex noun phrases and compound adjectives

Pronouns and determiners

Words that stand for nouns or go in front of them: my, this, some, both.

1 topic, 1 with a rule

  1. Advanced quantifiers

Adjectives and adverbs

Describing and comparing things and actions.

1 topic, 1 with a rule

  1. Advanced comparison

Prepositions

Time, place, movement, and the prepositions that go with certain words.

1 topic, 1 with a rule

  1. Dependent prepositions: advanced

Modal verbs

Can, must, should, might and the rest: ability, duty, advice and how sure you are.

2 topics, 2 with a rule

  1. Modals of deduction: past
  2. should have / needn't have / didn't need to

Verb patterns

What follows a verb: -ing, to + verb, an object, or a particle.

4 topics, 4 with a rule

  1. used to vs be / get used to
  2. Verbs with -ing / to and change of meaning
  3. Preparatory it; adjective / noun + to-infinitive
  4. Phrasal verbs: three-part

Conditionals and unreal situations

If sentences, wishes and things that are not real.

4 topics, 4 with a rule

  1. Third conditional
  2. as long as / provided / in case
  3. wish / if only
  4. would rather / had better / it's time

Passive and causative

Saying what happens to something, and having things done.

3 topics, 3 with a rule

  1. Passive: all tenses and modals
  2. Impersonal passive
  3. have / get something done

Reported speech

Telling someone what another person said or asked.

2 topics, 2 with a rule

  1. Reported commands and requests
  2. Reporting verbs

Clauses and linking words

Joining ideas: relative clauses, linkers of contrast, reason, purpose and time.

5 topics, 5 with a rule

  1. Non-defining relative clauses
  2. Relative clauses with prepositions
  3. what vs that / which
  4. despite / in spite of / whereas / while
  5. Purpose and result

Emphasis and style

Inversion, cleft sentences and the grammar of formal writing.

1 topic, 1 with a rule

  1. Emphatic do and auxiliaries

Word formation

Making new words with prefixes and suffixes.

1 topic, 1 with a rule

  1. Word formation: changing word class

Reference

Tables and lists to look things up in: irregular verbs, spelling, prepositions.

2 topics, 2 with a rule

  1. Linking words by function
  2. Punctuation and capital letters