Complete Intermediate English Grammar Course (B1 CEFR)

We use will: 
-  with some verbs (will + infinitive) 
-  for future predictions (no evidence)
-  for decisions
-  for promises
-  for offers

There are a lot of ways to use will! Don't worry too much about the different categories such as "offer" and "promise" - sometimes both are okay! 

In this video we learn the "be going to" verb form.

We use "be going to" to

-  To talk about plans or intentions

-  To make predictions (with evidence)

Can you discuss your weekend plans in English?

In Lecture 2, we learned about the present continuous for things happening now. In this lesson we will cover the way that this grammar is used for future arrangements.

Future arrangements are strong, detailed plans. We usually know the time, place and who will attend.

What are you doing this weekend? Where are you going? Who are you meeting up with? 

Here we go over will, be going to and the present continuous.

We use will for decisions, be going to for plans/intentions and present continuous for arrangements.

Remember, "go going to" and present continuous can both be used sometimes! Present continuous is usually used for a stronger, more definite plan.

I'm going to visit Paris soon. (My plan, but I don't know the details)
I'm visiting Paris soon. (My arrangement. I've bought my flight tickets and booked my hotel!) 

In this video we learn the "Past Simple" verb form.

We use "Past Simple" to

-  To talk about finished actions or states (non action verbs)

Think about what you did last weekend?  Where did you go?  What did you eat?  Who did you see?

Mark introduces the present perfect tense form and spelling rules.
The present perfect tense is used to show the relationship between events in the past and their connection to the present.

Students should be able to write out the present perfect form after watching this video.

Have you studied the present perfect before?

We use present perfect for life experience. We use present simple when we know the details about the experience.

Have you ever been to Singapore? (present perfect) 
When did you go? (past simple)
What did you eat? (past simple) 

We use the present perfect continuous to talk about:
1 . Unfinished Actions (An action that started in the past and continue in the present).

2. To focus on the duration of an unfinished action (Answers the question; How long?).

3. To talk about recently completed repeated actions. (With a present result).

How long have you been studying English? 

In this video we learn the difference between "Present Perfect Simple and Continuous" verb forms.

The main differences here are:

1.  Present Perfect Simple is used for:

a. Unfinished States

b. To focus on the result of an activity (how much/many?)

c. To talk about recently completed "one-time" actions.

2. Present Perfect Continuous is used for:

a. Unfinished Actions

b. To focus on the duration of an activity (how long?)

c. To talk about recently completed "repeated" actions.

How many videos have you watched today?  How long have you been watching videos today?

We use comparatives to show the difference between two people, places, things or ideas.
We also use comparatives with adverbs to compare actions.

Who is taller? You or your father? 

In this video we learn the "Superlatives" verb form.

We use "Superlatives" to:

-  show how one person or thing is different to all the others of its kind

-  With phrases like "This is the best food I have ever eaten. or Superman is the strongest superhero.

What is the best food you've ever eaten?  Who do you think is the best superhero? 

Mark guides you through how to compare things in English using comparatives and Superlatives.

Comparatives are used to compare two people, things or ideas.
Superlatives are used to compare three or more people, things or ideas.

Which is better? Which is the best? When you have to decide these things, you use comparatives and superlatives to express your opinion!

If you want to show that something is necessary, we use phrases like must, have to and need to in English.

Teacher Mark guides you through how to talk about ability and possibility in English.

We use the word can and the phrase be able to to express what skills we have and what is possible for us.

We use the past continuous in several different ways, but it is usually used when:
1. we're referring to a specific time in the past
2. When we're describing background events
3.  When two actions are happening at the same time in the past

We use the past perfect in emphasise that one past action happened before another past action.

I realised that I had forgotten my passport at home! 

To make the past perfect form, we use HAD + past participle.

A narrative is a story! 

The narrative tenses past continuous and past perfect help us to tell stories.

In this lesson, you will learn how to write a story using the grammar you studied in lessons 18 and 19.

Zero conditionals tell us about something that always happens! 

( If + present simple, present simple ) 

When I eat too much, my stomach hurts.
When I wake up, I drink coffee.

Practice with teacher Mark ;) 

First conditionals tell us about possible futures! 

( if + present simple, will + infinitive ) 

If I'm hungry tonight, I'll eat ramen! 
If I'm running late, I'll take a taxi.

Second conditionals tell us about unlikely/impossible futures! 

( if + past simple, would + infinitive ) 

If I won the lottery, I would buy a new car!
If I were superman, I would fly to work! 

Third conditionals tell us about an imagined past situation
( if + past perfect, would have + past participle )

If I had stayed in America, I wouldn't have met you! 
If I had grown up in your country, I would have studied your language!

The zero conditional is used for something that is always or usually true.
= If Mark gives me homework, I do it! (every time) 

The first conditional is used for something that is possible in the future.

= If Mark gives me homework, I'll do it! (this time) 

The first conditional is used for something that is possible in the future.

= If Mark gives me homework, I'll do it! (this time) 

The second conditional is used for something is unlikely/impossible in the future.

= If Mark gave me homework, I'd do it! (He never gives us homework!) 

The second conditional is used for something is unlikely/impossible in the future.

= If Mark gave me homework, I'd do it! (He never gives us homework!) 

The third conditional is used for hypothetical situations in the past.
= If Mark had given me homework, I would have done it!  (He didn't give me homework. I didn't do it.)