1

unit
Language summary
Grammar Vocabulary
Simple present vs. present continuous School Feelings and
• Use the simple present to describe routines and permanent situations: subjects emotions
She goes to the library every weekend. algebra angry
She lives in New York. art busy
• Use the present continuous to describe actions in progress at the moment of speaking biology hungry
and temporary situations: chemistry jealous
She’s going to the library now. geometry lonely
She’s living in New York this summer.
history nervous
John works every night, but he’s not working tonight.
music scared
(routine) (temporary situation)
• Note that certain verbs like believe, have, hope, know, like, love, etc., cannot be physics sleepy
used in the continuous tense. These verbs usually express a state, not an action. world geography thirsty
I know the answer. NOT I am knowing the answer. upset

Zero conditional
Functions
If + simple present Simple present
Expressing prohibition
If I have a problem, I talk to my friends.
You can’t . . .
If my team loses, I’m very sad.
You’re not allowed to . . .
• Use a comma after the if clause (the condition). You’re not permitted to . . .

Simple present If + Simple present Expressing obligation

You have to . . .
I talk to my friends if I have a problem. You need to . . .
I’m very sad if my team loses. You must . . .
• You can usually substitute when for if in zero conditional sentences.
If I have a problem, I talk to my friends.
When I have a problem, I talk to my friends.
Yes / no questions Short answers Short answers
Affirmative Negative
Do you talk to your friends if Yes, I do. No, I don’t.
you have a problem?
Do you talk to your friends Yes, I do. No, I don’t.
when you have a problem?

Wh- questions
What do you do if you have a problem?
Where does he go if he has a problem?
• Use zero conditional sentences to describe things that are generally true.

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 2
unit
Language summary
Grammar Vocabulary
Past continuous Sentence Verbs to
adverbs describe
Affirmative statements Negative statements
amazingly reactions
I was I was not fortunately amuse
You were You were not luckily challenge
He was He was not sadly confuse
She was She was not strangely disgust
It was eating at 9:00 p.m. It was not eating at 9:00 p.m. suddenly embarrass
We were We were not surprisingly excite
You were You were not unfortunately frighten
They were They were not interest
• You can use the contractions wasn’t instead of was not and weren’t instead of
were not in negative statements. Functions
Yes / no questions Short answers Short answers Announcing news
Affirmative Negative Guess what!
Was I you were. you weren’t. Did you hear what happened?
Were you I was. I wasn’t. You’ll never guess what happened!
Was he he was. he wasn’t. Closing a conversation
Was she she was. she wasn’t. Hey, I need to get going.
Was it leaving at 9:00 p.m.? Yes, it was. No, it wasn’t. Listen, I’ve got to run.
Were we you were. you weren’t. Sorry, I have to go.
Were you we were. we weren’t.
Were they they were. they weren’t.

Wh- questions
Where were you staying last month?
Who was she talking to?
What were they listening to?

Simple past and past continuous

Simple past Past continuous
When the phone rang, I was making dinner.
The phone rang while I was making dinner.
• Use the past continuous to describe an action in progress in the past.
• Use the simple past for an event that interrupts that action in progress.
• We usually use while to introduce the action in progress, and when to introduce the action
that interrupts. When the clause beginning with when or while is first, use a comma.
Participial adjectives
Past participles Present participles
amusing amused
challenging challenged
confusing confused
disgusting disgusted
• Use present participles (-ing) to describe someone or something that causes a reaction
The game was really exciting. NOT The game was really excited.
• Use past participles (-ed) to describe a person’s reaction to someone or something.
A past participle often expresses a feeling and so it usually describes a person.
We were excited because our team won the game. NOT We were exciting because our
team won the game.

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 3
unit
Language summary
Grammar Vocabulary
Used to Fashion Clothing styles
trends fashionable
Affirmative statements Negative statements
a bracelet flashy
I I contact lenses glamorous
You You dyed hair old-fashioned
He He earrings retro
She used to be healthy. She didn’t use to be healthy. glasses tacky
It It high heels trendy
We We a leather jacket weird
You You a ponytail
They They sandals
a uniform
Yes / no questions Short answers Short answers
Affirmative Negative
Functions
I you you
you I I Asking where things are
he he he Where are the . . . ?
Did she use to be healthy? Yes, she did. No, she didn’t. Where can I find the . . . ?
it it it Could you tell me where the . . . are?
we you you Asking for an alternative
you we we Does this come in . . . ?
they they they Do you have this in . . . ?
Can I get this in . . . ?
Wh- questions Answers
What clothing did you use to wear? I used to wear a uniform.
I didn’t use to wear jeans.
• Use used to to talk about something that was true in the past but isn’t anymore, or that
happened regularly in the past but doesn’t anymore.
• Use did as the auxiliary verb in questions and negatives. When you use did, do not add
the -d ending to the verb use.
I didn’t use to wear glasses. NOT I didn’t used to wear glasses.
Defining relative clauses
Main clause Relative clause
He’s a person that wears trendy clothes.
You’re someone who looks good in everything.
Do you buy clothes that are on sale?
I really like these shoes which are in the shop window.
• Use defining relative clauses to clarify which or what kind of things you are
describing.
• Who, which, and that are relative pronouns. Use that or who for people, and that or
which for things. That is more common than which in a defining relative clause.
• The defining relative clause directly follows the person or thing it is describing.
• Note that the verb in subject relative clauses agrees with the noun that the relative
pronoun refers to. In this type of clauses, do not use a personal pronoun after who,
which, or that.
He’s a person that wears trendy clothes. NOT He’s a person that he wears trendy
clothes.

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 4
unit
Language summary
Grammar Vocabulary
Present perfect Experiences Fun things
act in a play to do
Affirmative Statements Negative statements
be on TV climb a mountain
I have I have break a bone eat in a fancy
You have You have get seasick restaurant
He has He has lose your phone go camping
She has won an award. She has not won an award. meet a famous go to a spa
It has It has person go whale-
We have We have move to a new watching
You have You have city ride a roller
They have They have win an award coaster
try an exotic food
• You can use the contractions ‘ve instead of have and ‘s instead of has in
affirmative statements. try an extreme
sport
• You can use the contractions haven’t instead of have not and hasn’t instead of
has not in negative statements.
Yes / no questions Short answers Short answers Functions
Affirmative Negative Checking meaning
Have I you have. you haven’t. Are you saying . . . ?
Have you I have. I haven’t. Do you mean . . . ?
Has he he has. he hasn’t. Does that mean . . . ?
Has she won an award? Yes, she has. No, she hasn’t. Clarifying meaning
Has it it has. it hasn’t. I mean, . . .
Have we you have. you haven’t. What I mean is, . . .
Have you we have. we haven’t. What I’m saying is, . . .
Have they they have. they haven’t.

Wh- questions
What award have I / you / we / they won?
How often has he / she / it won an award?
• Use the present perfect to describe events or experiences that happened at an
unspecified time in the past.
• Never is a stronger negative word than not. Use not or never in negative answers.
• Ever can be used in questions.
Have you ever been on TV?
• Use frequency expressions to give more information.
Present perfect vs. simple past
• Use the present perfect to describe events or experiences at an unspecified time in the
past. Either we don’t know or don’t care exactly when something happened. We can
also use the present perfect for events or experiences that happened more than once.
I’ve been on TV many times.
• Use the simple past to describe events or experiences that happened at a specific time
in the past. We use the simple past with expressions such as yesterday, last night, last
year, three days ago, five years ago.

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 5
unit
Language summary
Grammar Vocabulary
Comparisons with adjectives Human-made Geographical
wonders features
Comparisons with -er or more Comparisons with (not) as
bridge desert
Tiananmen Square is bigger than Red Square is not as big as canal island
Red Square. Tiananmen Square. plaza lake
Rome is sunnier than Seattle. Seattle is not as sunny as Rome. skyscraper ocean
The Empire State Building is more The Sears Tower is not as famous as stadium rain forest
famous than the Sears Tower. the Empire State Building. subway system river
tower valley
• Use the comparison form adjective + -er + than with one-syllable adjectives
(short – shorter than), and with most two-syllable adjectives ending in -y tunnel waterfall
(sunny – sunnier).
• Use more + adjective + than with other two-syllable adjectives (famous – more Functions
famous than) and adjectives with three or more syllables.
• Some adjectives are irregular (good – better). Expressing disbelief
• Use not + as + adjective + as for another way to express comparisons. No way!
“Seattle is not as sunny as Rome,” means the same thing as “Rome is sunnier than Seriously?
Seattle.” I don’t believe it!
Comparisons with nouns Saying you don’t know
Comparisons with more I really don’t know.
I have no idea.
The subway in Paris has more stops than the subway in I don’t have a clue.
Washington D.C.
Some bridges can carry more traffic than others.
• Use this comparison form to compare plural count nouns or noncount nouns.
The New York City subway has more riders today than it did 30 years ago.
NOT The New York City subway has more rider today than it did 30 years ago.
Superlatives with adjectives
Superlative with -est or most
The wettest city in the world is Cherrapunji, India.
Yuma, Arizona, in the United States is the sunniest city.
Macchu Picchu is one of the most interesting places I know.

• Use the superlative form the + adjective + -est with one-syllable adjectives
(big – the biggest), and with most two-syllable adjectives ending in -y
(sunny – sunniest).
• Use the + most + adjective with other two-syllable adjectives (famous – the most
famous) and adjectives with three or more syllables.
Superlatives with nouns
Superlatives with the most
Norway may have the most waterfalls in the world.
Yuma, Arizona, gets the most sunshine in the world.

• Use this superlative form to compare plural count nouns or noncount nouns.

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 6
unit
Language summary
Grammar Vocabulary
Present tenses used for future Commitments Favors
• Use the present continuous to describe plans or intentions, or for things you have a birthday party check my
already arranged to do. a blind date homework
I’m meeting my friend on Sunday. a business feed my cat
• Use the simple present to describe events that are on a schedule or a timetable. meeting get my mail
The train leaves at 7:00 p.m. a conference call give me a ride
• Use simple present for verbs that are not usually continuous (have, own, think, a doctor’s help me with my
know, etc.).
appointment résumé
He has a date this weekend.
a job interview lend me some
Request soccer practice money
a violin lesson pick me up
Requests
water my plants
Can you water my plants, please?
Could you check my homework?
Would you feed my fish? Functions
Would you mind lending me your book? Offering to take a message
Can I take a message?
• Use can, could, or would + you + base verb. Would and could are a little more
Do you want to leave a message?
polite than can.
• Use would + you + mind + verb + -ing. This is the most polite form of request. Would you like to leave a message?
Leaving a message
Promises and offers with will
Please tell . . .
Promises Offers Can you tell . . . that . . . ?
Don’t worry. I’ll pick you up on I’ll get your mail (if you want). Could you let . . . know that . . . ?
time.
We’ll definitely water the We’ll water your grass, too, (if you’d like).
plants.

• Use I or We + will + base verb to make promises or offers.

• When you promise something you say you are definitely going to do it. When you
make an offer, you are saying that you will do something if the other person wants
you to.

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 7
unit
Language summary
Grammar Vocabulary
Adverbs modifying adjectives and verbs Personality More personality
traits traits
Adverbs modifying Adverbs modifying
adventurous agreeable
adjectives verbs
ambitious considerate
I’m very optimistic. She works slowly. careful decisive
He’s really stubborn. You make friends easily. curious fair
easygoing honest
• Use adverbs such as really, very, extremely, and fairly to modify adjectives.
optimistic mature
The adverbs come before the adjective.
outgoing patient
They’re fairly sure. NOT They’re sure fairly.
• Adverbs modifying verbs go after the verb or the verb and its object. stubborn reliable
I work quickly. NOT I quickly work.
• Adverbs usually end in -ly. Some irregular adverbs are well, fast, and hard. Functions
Present perfect with for and since Giving an opinion
• Use the present perfect to describe an action that began in the past and In my opinion, . . .
continues to now. If you ask me, . . .
I’ve lived here for six years. (And I still live here.) Maybe it’s just me, but I think . . .
I’ve studied English since January. (And I’m still studying English.)
• Use for to specify the amount of time. Asking for agreement
She hasn’t seen him for a long time. Don’t you agree?
He’s had his new car for one week. Don’t you think so?
• Use since to specify the starting point. Don’t you think that’s true?
We’ve known each other since high school.
He’s had his new car since Monday.

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 8
unit
Language summary
Grammar Vocabulary
Quantifiers Environmental Tips to help the
impacts environment
Quantifiers with count nouns Quantifiers with noncount nouns
e-waste Buy local food.
There are too many plastic bottles Big cars use too much gas. global warming Fix leaky faucets.
in the ocean. hybrid car Grow your own
There aren’t enough hybrid cars. We don’t recycle enough trash. nuclear energy food.
We should use fewer plastic bags. People should use less electricity. organic food Pay bills online.
People should use more steel water We should try to conserve more plastic bags Take public
bottles. energy. pollution transportation.
recycling bin Use a clothesline.
• Too means that we have more than we need or want.
• Not enough is the opposite of too, and it means that we need or want more solar energy Use cloth shopping
of something. wind farm bags.
• Use more and not enough with both plural count nouns and noncount nouns. Use rechargeable
• Use fewer and too many with plural count nouns. batteries.
• Use less and too much with noncount nouns.
First conditional Functions
If clause + simple present Main clause + will / may / might / Giving an approximate answer
could I’d say about . . .
I’d say maybe . . .
If I use less gas, I’ll save money.
Probably . . .
If people recycle more, there will be less trash in landfills.
If we don’t stop global warming, we may have severe weather. Avoiding answering
If they grow their own food, they could save a lot of money. I’d rather not say.
I’d prefer not to say.
• Use a comma after the if clause (the condition).
I’d rather not answer that.
Main clause + will / may / might / If + simple present
could
I’ll save money if I use less gas.
There will be less trash in landfills if people recycle more.
We may have severe weather if we don’t stop global warming.
They could save a lot of money if they grow their own food.
• Don’t use a comma after the main clause.
• Use may, might, or could in the main clause when you’re less certain about the results.
Yes / no questions Short answers Short answers
Affirmative Negative
Will there be enough landfill Yes, there will. No, there won’t.
space if we don’t reduce
trash?
Will we need less oil if we Yes, we will. No, we won’t.
develop more electric cars?

Wh- questions
What will happen if we don’t stop global warming?
What will we do if the pollution gets worse?
• Use first conditional sentences to describe real future possibilities.

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 9
unit
Language summary
Grammar Vocabulary
Expressions with infinitives Relationship Inseparable
behaviors phrasal verbs
It’s + adjective + infinitive It’s + noun phrase + infinitive
apologize break up
It’s important to apologize. It’s a good idea to compromise argue count on
sometimes. communicate drop by
It’s not helpful to gossip. It’s not a bad idea to apologize. compromise get along
criticize get together
• Use infinitives after It’s + an adjective.
• You can also use infinitives after It’s + a noun phrase. forgive grow up
• An infinitive is to + base form of a verb. The base form never changes. gossip pick on
judge run into
Modals for speculating lie take after
Speculating with more certainty Speculating with less certainty
She must be sick. She never misses She might have a doctor’s Functions
class. appointment or something. Apologizing
They must not get along. They don’t They may not know each other very I’m sorry.
want to sit next to each other. well. I think they just met. I’m really sorry.
He can’t be angry. He’s smiling. He could be angry, but maybe he My apologies.
doesn’t want to show it.
Accepting an apology
• We use must to show that we’re almost 100 percent certain that something is true. That’s OK.
• We use must not and can’t to show that we’re almost certain that something is not true. Don’t worry about it.
• We use might, may, and could to say that there’s a chance that something is true, but There’s no need to apologize.
we’re not 100 percent sure.
• We use might not / may not to say that it is possible that something isn’t true.
• Note the difference in meaning between can’t and may not / might not:
He may not / might not go to Brazil. (It is possible that he won’t go and stay home.)
He can’t be in Brazil! I saw him yesterday. (It is not possible that he is Brazil.)
• You can also use a continuous form after the modal: modal + be + base form + -ing.
He might be feeling upset.
NOT He might feeling upset. OR He might is feeling upset.

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 10
unit
Language summary
Grammar Vocabulary
Reflexive pronouns Qualities for Separable
success phrasal verbs
Reflexive pronouns
bravery bring up
I taught myself to play the guitar. confidence do over
Did you hurt yourself in the soccer game? creativity give away
He considers himself very creative. dedication give back
She thought of herself as talented. enthusiasm pay back
The dog hurt itself in the yard. flexibility point out
We asked ourselves why we were there. talent put off
How did you make yourselves finish the race? wisdom talk over
They didn’t plan the trip by themselves. They had help. try out
turn down
• Use reflexive pronouns when the subject and object of a sentence refer to the
same thing or person.
• By with a reflexive pronoun means “alone.” Functions
Second conditional Advising against something
If clause + simple past Main clause + would I wouldn’t recommend that.
I don’t think you should do that.
If I were rich, I would I’m not sure that’s the best idea.
If she weren’t sad, she wouldn’t buy a house.
If you ate healthy food, you wouldn’t be sick so often. Considering advice
If we didn’t need the money, we’d quit our jobs and travel. I’ll see.
I’ll think about it.
• Use a comma after the if clause (the condition). I’ll give it some thought.
Main clause + would If + simple past
I would buy a house if I were rich.
She wouldn’t cry if she weren’t sad.
You wouldn’t be sick so often if you ate healthy food.
We’d quit our jobs and travel if we didn’t need the money.
• Don’t use a comma after the main clause.
Yes / no questions Short answers Short answers
Affirmative Negative
Would you be happier if you Yes, I would. No, I wouldn’t.
were famous?
Would she get better grades Yes, she would. No, she wouldn’t.
if she studied harder?

Wh- questions
What would you do if you were rich?
Where would he live if he had a lot of money?
• Use second conditional sentences to describe “unreal” or imaginary situations.
If I were president, I’d lower taxes. (I’m not the president, so I won’t lower taxes.)
• Use a past tense verb in the if clause (the condition). Use would in the main clause.
• Use were for the past tense of be in the condition.
If I were you, I’d take more classes.

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 11
unit
Language summary
Grammar Vocabulary
Past passive Compound Verb and noun
adjectives formation
Wh- questions
award-winning announce a tour
When was the song first released? best-selling appreciate music
How many albums were downloaded in 2008? high-priced compose music
nice-sounding entertain an
Active (simple past) Passive (past of be + past participle) oddly named audience
me I was often-downloaded perform a song
you You were record-breaking produce a song
him He was well-known record a song
They gave her an award. She was given an award. release a new
it It was album
us We were
them They were
Functions
• The passive voice places the focus of a sentence on the receiver of an action instead Beginning instructions
of the doer of an action. First, . . .
• Use the passive voice when the doer of an action is not known or is not important.
To start, . . .
• When the doer of the action is important, you may use the passive voice with by.
The first thing you do is . . .
I was given an award by the president of the college.
Continuing instructions
Yes / no questions Short answers Short answers
Next, . . .
Affirmative Negative
Then, . . .
Was I you were. you weren’t. After that, . . .
Were you I was. I wasn’t.
Ending instructions
Was he he was. he wasn’t.
Finally, . . .
Was she given an Yes, she was. No, she wasn’t.
To finish, . . .
award? it was. it wasn’t.
The last thing you do is . . .
Was it you were you weren’t.
Were we we were. we weren’t.
Were you they were they weren’t.
Were they

Present perfect with yet and already

• In questions, use yet when you expect the action to have happened.
Have you seen the movie yet?
• In affirmative statements, already means the action has happened earlier.
Yes, I’ve already seen the movie. NOT Yes, I’ve seen the movie yet.
• In negative statements, yet means the action hasn’t happened, but you expect it to.
No, I haven’t seen the movie yet. OR No, not yet. NOT No, I haven’t seen the
movie already.
• Yet goes at the end of the sentence. Already can go between have / has and the
verb, or at the end of the sentence.

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 12
unit
Language summary
Grammar Vocabulary
Gerunds Vacation Extreme sports
activities bungee jumping
Gerunds as subjects
buy handicrafts kite surfing
Going to clubs isn’t fun for me. go to clubs paragliding
Visiting museums can teach you a lot about a culture. listen to live rock climbing
Gerunds after some verbs music skydiving
see wildlife snowboarding
Martha enjoys going to local restaurants.
speak a foreign waterskiing
We don’t like using a travel agency.
language white-water
Do you prefer traveling with friends, or with family?
try local food rafting
Gerunds after prepositions visit landmarks
He’s interested in traveling to Africa this summer. volunteer
We’re concerned about leaving our passports at the hotel.
Are you worried about getting to the airport on time? Functions
• A gerund is an -ing word that acts like a noun. Gerunds may be the subject of a Asking about preferences
sentence, or they may appear after some verbs or prepositions. Would you like . . . or . . . ?
• Verbs that are usually followed by gerunds: enjoy, dislike, hate, like, love, prefer, Would you prefer . . . ?
recommend. Would you rather have . . . or . . . ?
Modals for necessity and recommendation Reminding someone of
Modals for necessity Modals for recommendation something
Remember to . . .
You must sign this form first. I’d better drink more water. Don’t forget to . . .
We’ve got to make a reservation. You ought to ask about their safety Let me remind you to . . .
He has to wear a life jacket. rules.
Modals for lack of necessity We should bring swimsuits.
She shouldn’t wear jewelry for this
I don’t have to participate. activity.
• Use must, have / has got to and have to to express something that is necessary
or required to do.
• Use the expression don’t / doesn’t have to to talk about something that is not
necessary or not required.
• Use the expressions had better, ought to, should, and shouldn’t to give advice and
recommendations. Had better is stronger than the other expressions.

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