C1-C2 Grammar - Cambridge Veritas | Professional Communication Training & Certification

Reported Speech

Reported speech is like magic. You retell what someone said in direct speech and transform it into an interesting narrative. It's a fascinating world to explore! Let's dive into the lesson!

Present Continuous and Present Simple

Welcome to another grammar lesson! In English, the present continuous (also known as progressive) and present simple tenses are fundamental components of grammar, each serving distinct purposes in conveying actions and states of being in the present tense.

Present Continuous and Present Simple (Part 2)

Welcome to Part 2 of the lesson - Don't forget to review Part 1 before moving on to this section!

Past Simple and Past Perfect

Welcome to a concise exploration of two essential verb tenses in English: the past simple and the past perfect. In this lesson, we will delve into how these tenses are used to express actions and events that occurred in the past, providing clarity and precision to your communication.

Past Continuous and Past Simple

Welcome to another lesson in our ongoing series on tenses. In this lesson, we will be discussing the Past Continuous (or Progressive) and the Past Simple, and we will be covering different verb tenses and their correct usage in various contexts. So, brace yourself for some serious learning!

Past Perfect and Past Simple

Today, we will be exploring the differences between the Past Simple and Past Perfect tenses. By understanding the subtleties of these tenses, we can improve our communication (especially written communication) skills. Join us on this linguistic expedition!

Present Perfect Continuous and Present Perfect

Welcome to another lesson! Let's dive into the dynamic realm of English grammar as we unravel the nuances of the Present Continuous and Present Perfect tenses, offering a fresh perspective on expressing actions in the present.

Past Perfect Continuous

Welcome to yet another lesson! Did you know that the past perfect continuous tense expresses an ongoing action that took place before another action in the past? It is formed by combining "had been" with the present participle of the main verb. Let's explore it together!

Will and Will Be Going To

Welcome to another lesson! "Will" is used for spontaneous decisions or predictions, while "going to" is used for planned intentions or predictions based on current evidence or plans. Let's have a look!

Be To + Infinitive

Let's look at the "Be to + infinitive" form - which is commonly used in news reports to talk about events that are likely to happen in the near future or for formal/official arrangements.

May and Might: Possibility

In this lesson, we delve into the nuanced distinctions between "may" and "might," unravelling their subtle differences in expressing probability and permission. Sharpen your language precision as we navigate the intricate usage of these modal verbs!

Using Passives

Employing passives in your writing enhances clarity by shifting the focus from the doer to the action, allowing for a more sophisticated and nuanced expression of ideas. Let's jump straight into the lesson!

Reporting With Passive Verbs; It Is Said That

In the realm of grammar, delving into "Reporting with Passive Verbs" unveils the intricate art of conveying information through indirect narration. Through the construct "It is said that," perspectives are subtly shifted, inviting a nuanced exploration of reported speech.

Wh-Questions With Who, Whom, Which, How and Whose

In this grammar lesson, we delve into constructing meaningful questions using key interrogative words such as who, whom, which, how, and whose. Learn to master the art of inquiry with precision and clarity.

Negative Questions; Echo Questions; Questions With That-Clauses

Explore advanced question forms in this comprehensive grammar lesson, covering negative questions, echo questions, and questions with that-clauses, designed to enhance your proficiency.

Linking Verbs: Be, Appear, Seem; Become, Get, etc.

Linking verbs connect the subject of a sentence with its complement, which can be adjectives or noun phrases. Common examples include "be," "appear," "seem," among others.

Forming Passive Sentences

Certain English verbs have both a direct and indirect object, leading to two sentence patterns (active and passive). Understanding this is essential for creating effective passive sentences. Let's explore with explanations and examples.

Direct and Indirect Objects

In this lesson, we'll understand the differences between direct and indirect objects, provide examples, discuss their roles, highlight common mistakes, and touch upon pronoun use.

Reporting With Passives... It Was Said That

In reporting with passives, the phrase "It was said that" is commonly used to relay information without specifying the speaker directly. Let's dive into the lesson!

Quoting and Reporting in Our Own Words

It is common to paraphrase people's words when reporting their thoughts or opinions, especially when the main message is more important than the exact words used. Let's explore this lesson in detail!

Homophones and Homographs

Let's explore homophones and homographs, and celebrate their QURIKS!

Mastering Quantifiers

Understanding quantifiers is vital in mastering English grammar, notably for advanced learners. Quantifiers like "much," "many," "a lot of," and "lots of" indicate the quantity of nouns in sentences. This guide provides advanced learners with a complete understanding of these quantifiers' use, including exceptions and nuances, through detailed explanations and examples.

Auxiliary Verbs

In sentences, auxiliary verbs play a supportive role alongside the main verb to avoid repetition. Let's dive straight into the lesson!

Question Tags

Question tags are invaluable tools in English communication, adding depth and nuance to our sentences. They are compact yet powerful, allowing us to seek confirmation, agreement, or clarification effortlessly.

The World of Conditionals

Conditionals in English are constructions utilised to articulate hypothetical scenarios and their potential consequences. They arise from the amalgamation of clauses comprising the condition (the if-clause) and the result (the main clause).

Effective Techniques for Reporting Speech and Thoughts

Reporting others' views and thoughts is crucial in communication and storytelling. We'll learn methods to report speech and thoughts effectively, such as paraphrasing, direct quotations, handling negatives, reporting questions, and proper word order.

Mastering Advanced Vocabulary: Adjectives Edition

Welcome to our Advanced Vocabulary Lesson on adjectives! Delve into the richness of language with sophisticated adjectives like "exquisite" and "sagacious," and elevate your expressions to new levels of eloquence and depth.

Part 2: Exploring Advanced Adjectives

In this section, we will explore advanced vocabulary by discovering captivating adjectives to enhance your language skills.

Enhancing Your Reporting Statements: A Comprehensive Guide

Clear communication requires accurate reporting of someone else's words, which can be enhanced by mastering nuances. Let's find out!

Reflexive pronouns like "myself," "yourself," and "themselves"

A detailed lesson on the use of reflexive pronouns in English, exploring their roles in gender-neutral references, emphasis, and specific grammatical contexts. Learn how to correctly use pronouns like "myself," "yourself," and "themselves" for clarity and precision in writing and speech. A detailed lesson on the use of reflexive pronouns in English, exploring their roles in gender-neutral references, emphasis, and specific grammatical contexts. Learn how to correctly use pronouns like "myself," "yourself," and "themselves" for clarity and precision in writing and speech. A detailed lesson on the use of reflexive pronouns in English, exploring their roles in gender-neutral references, emphasis, and specific grammatical contexts. Learn how to correctly use pronouns like "myself," "yourself," and "themselves" for clarity and precision in writing and speech.

Prepositions of position and movement

A detailed lesson on the use of prepositions of position, including "across," "over," "along," "through," "above," "below," "under," "beneath," and "underneath." Learn how to accurately describe position and movement in various contexts to enhance clarity in writing and speaking.

Mastering Subject-Verb Agreement

A comprehensive lesson on subject-verb agreement in English grammar, covering rules for matching verbs with singular and plural subjects, handling complex subjects, clauses, and collective nouns.

Understanding Compound Nouns

This lesson explores the formation and usage of compound nouns in English, covering key rules and common exceptions. It discusses how noun + noun compounds work, the differences between singular and plural forms, and when to use noun + -'s + noun or noun + preposition + noun structures. Additionally, it highlights the use of verb + preposition compounds and hyphenated phrases for more precise communication.

Adverbial clauses of time

Learn the differences between "as," "when," and "while" in English grammar, including how to use them to indicate simultaneous events. This lesson also covers the proper usage of "before," "after," and "until" to describe the timing of actions, as well as advanced structures using "hardly," "no sooner," and "scarcely" for events that happen immediately one after the other.

Purposes and results: in order to, so as to.

This lesson explains how to use purpose clauses in English, including "in order to," "so as to," "in order that," and "so that." It covers the correct verb agreements in these clauses, the use of "so as not to" and "in order not to" for negative purposes, and formal expressions like "such that" and "in such a way as to" for introducing results.

Relative pronouns

This lesson explores the use of defining and non-defining relative clauses in English grammar. It explains the roles of relative pronouns like which, that, who, and whom, and provides guidelines on when these pronouns can be omitted. The post also covers the differences between informal and formal usage, especially in the context of pronouns and clause structures, with practical examples to illustrate each point.

To or Not to: A Guide to Using 'To' with Infinitives in English

This lesson provides a detailed guide on the use of "to" in place of a full to-infinitive clause in English. It explains when it is appropriate to omit parts of the clause, particularly in informal contexts, and when the full to-infinitive must be repeated, such as with the verb "be." The post also covers specific rules for using "to" after nouns, adjectives, and certain verbs, with a special focus on if-clauses, wh-clauses, and negative forms.

Inversion

In standard English statements, the verb typically follows the subject. However, there are instances where this order is reversed, a phenomenon known as inversion. Inversion is used to emphasize certain parts of a sentence, making it a powerful tool in both spoken and written English. This lesson will explore the two main types of inversion, when and how to use them, and their role in creating emphasis.

All Posts