Intermediate

GRAMMAR AND STRUCTURES

WHAT ARE THEY USED FOR?

SOME EXAMPLES

VERBS

Reported speech

Repeating messages. 
Passing on information. 
Telling stories, jokes. 
Checking facts.

«What is the height of the Empire State Building?» 
He wanted to know what the height of the Empire State Building was. 
«Did you phone your parents?» said Jane. 
Jane asked us if we had phoned our parents.

The third conditional –  
if/past perfect tense + would have/non finite verb

Expressing regret 
Musing 
Describing a past that never was 
Talking through the consequences of our actions.

They would have gone to the concert if they had had tickets. 
If he had known, he would have finished earlier.

Past Perfect

ordering the past

as in reported speech and 3rd conditional above

The gerund – after certain prepositions in certain idiomatic expressions

After leaving work, he went to the gym. 
It’s no use talking to him. 
Is it worth doing?

To have something done

Expressing the fact that the speaker commissioned an activity.

John had his house painted.

CONJUNCTIONS

Conjunctions of reason and purpose, cause and result, concession As connectives – and, but, nevertheless, or, however

Talking about why people do things, the purpose of something, its cause, expressing surprise. 
Expressing connections in a sentence, text or argument.

She goes to the gym in order to keep fit. 
There is a lack of water as a result of the hot weather. 
Despite/in spite of his wealth, he wasn’t happy.

VARIATION IN WORD ORDER

Changes in word order in specific situations.

Expressing information accurately.

To the north is…