Elementary

GRAMMAR AND STRUCTURES

WHAT ARE THEY USED FOR?

SOME EXAMPLES

VERBS

Future simple -will 
1st conditional – with ‘if’ clause present and result clause will/won’t

Talking about future plans. 
Talking about future plans which have conditions on them.

What will you do when you are older? 
If it rains, we won’t go to the park.

Future of intention ‘be going to’

Talking about future intentions.

I’m going to see a film this evening.

Past continuous – when, while

Talking about past activities which were interrupted.

I was having my breakfast when the postman knocked.
While I was studying, he played loud music.

Used to

Talking about long past habits and states.

My father used to work in an office. 
My sister used to have long hair.

Modals -should, must

Expressing obligation and advice.

You must study hard if you want to go to university. 
You mustn’t worry about it. 
You should always lock your car.

Infinitive of purpose

Talking about the purpose of doing something.

Jane went to America to learn English.

QUESTION TAGS

Isn’t he? Aren’t you? Do you? Etc

Asking for confirmation of a negative or positive statement or inviting an answer to a question

You are coming to my party, aren’t you? 
You haven’t seen my car keys, have you?

RELATIVE PRONOUNS

Which, who, that

Identifying people and objects

This is the best cake that I have ever eaten. 
Jack is the one who is sitting at the back of the class.

REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS

Myself, himself, herself, etc.

Identify people and objects

He hurt himself.

ADVERBS

Adverbs of frequency, e.g. 
never, sometimes; adverbs of manner, e.g. quietly, slowly; adverbs of time, e.g. today, now. Adverbs of degree, e.g. a lot, a little 
(and associated word order) 
Simple modal adverbs e.g. possibly, probably, perhaps 
Adverbs of sequence e.g. first, finally, next, then

Describing how often, how, when and to what extent people do something. 
Indicating degree of possibility. 
Ordering events and understanding instructions and directions

I have never flown in a plane. 
At the moment, the children are playing in the park. 
The children walked home slowly.                                
He is probably in his room. 
First, I had my breakfast. 
Go down the road and then straight on.

The contrast of too/enough

Talking about the extent of something

The student isn’t trying hard enough, he never does his homework. 
The student is trying too hard, he will make himself ill.

PREPOSITIONS

Prepositions as used in some very common phrasal verbs* and prepositional phrases*.

You must put on a hat if you go out in the sun. 
I am very fond of my pets.

INTENSIFIERS

e.g. really, quite, so, very

Indicating degree

It is really hot today.

SPOKEN DISCOURSE

Markers e.g. right, well. 
Use of substitution.

Structuring conversation. 
Responding appropriately

«Right, has everyone got a book?» 
I think so. I hope so.

FORMAL IDENTIFICATION

First name, surname, age, date of birth, address, postcode, country, nationality.

Coping in formal situations especially when filling in forms

Date of Birth: 30.10.78