Tips: Use of English PART 2

This post is about the kind of words you will need to know for filling correctly the second part of the use of english in Cambridge exams. This exercise is all about practise. The more you do the more you learn and you will realize there are some words or expressions that appear more frequently.
Here I give you some - remember it is only one gap for one word so if you see expressions or collocations pay attention to the whole thing in order to identify it in the text and write the correct missing word:

RELATIVE PRONOUNS (They can also appear as adverbs and question words)
Who, which, that, where, when, why, whose, whom, what, how

DETERMINERS
This, that, these, those

ARTICLES AND QUANTIFIERS
Few, little, none, some, any, much, many, no, enough, either, neither, fewer, less, both, all, nothing, something, anything, everything, everybody, everyone, no one, anyone, anybody, nobody, somebody, someone, nowhere, anywhere, everywhere, least, most, a lot of

SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS
After, although, though, even though, as, as if, as long as, as well as, as far as, as though, because, even if, in order that, if, now that, if only, once, rather than, since, so, than, so that, untill, unless, whereas, while

PRONOUNS AND POSSESIVES
I, you, he, she, it, we, you, they, me, you, him, her, it, us, you, them, my, your, his, her, its, our, your, their, mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, yours, theirs, myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves, one another, each other.

AUXILIARY VERBS (pay attention to the sentence and choose the correct conjugation)
Be, am, is, are, was, were, being, been, can, could, be able to, do, did, done, have, has, had, shall

MODAL VERBS
have to, must, should, ought to, need to, may, might, can, could, be able to, would

PREPOSITIONS
At, on, in, next to, behind, under, above, below, to, from, towards, up, down, along, among, beyond, around, into, onto, out, off, through, past, over, after, before, bach, in front of, opposite, across, with, without, within, away, far, near, between, beneath, by, besides.....

CONTRAST LINKS
In spite of, despite, however, even so, nevertherless, but, yet, on the one hand, on the other hand, as apposed to, on the contrary, actually, really.....

PURPOSE LINKS
In order to, for, to, so as to.....

REASON LINKS
Due to, owing to, because of, on account of, since, in case (of), therefore, consequently, seeing that....

ADDITIONS LINKS
Too, also, as well, as well as, not only...but also, besides, in addition to, moreover, futhermore, what's more, such as, for example, for instance, apart from, except for.....

CONDITIONAL LINKS
Provided that, unless, as long as, if, whether... (or), either...or, neither...nor, until, even if......

EXPRESSIONS
After all, above, all, all in all
Except for, but for, as for
Because of, instead of, out of, ahead of
So thar, on condition that, provided that, other than that
Hardly ever
Even though, even when, even if, even so, even then
According to, up to, due to, owing to, thanks to, contrary to, close to
Apart from, aside from, far from
Rather than, sooner than, more than, less than
In reference to, in order to, in addition to, in regard to, in relation to, in reference to, so as to
Not only.....but also
Both.....and......
No sooner......than.....
Not only.....but.....as well
Either..... or....
Neither.....nor......
As well as, as much, as, as many as, as long as, as soon as, as far as

VERBS
Verbs can also be found in this exercise but it is not the most common concept. On the other hand phrasal verbs are quite common.


Here you have a list of some examples. Keep practising.

Adjectives followed by prepositions

I'm afraid there is no logical rule for this. You have to study them. But here you have the most common ones:

• FAMOUS FOR:  France is famous for its food.
• PROUD OF: He is very proud of this new car.
• INTERESTED IN: Julie is very interested in sport.
• PLEASED WITH: John is very pleased with his new suit.
• BAD / GOOD AT: They are very bad at maths. / Einstein was very good at physics.
• BAD / GOOD FOR: Don't smoke, it is bad for you. / Eat vegetables. They're good for your health
• MARRIED TO: My mother has beedn married to my father for 20 years.
• EXCITED ABOUT; I'm very excited about my holidays.
• DIFFERENT FROM/TO; Coffe is different from tea.
• AFRAID OF: I'm afraid of spiders.
• ACCUSTOMED TO: Sally is accustomed to studying for hours.
• IN CHARGE OF: I'm in charge of teaching 40 students.
• ADDICTED TO: She is addicted to watching TV.
• ANXIOUS ABOUT: Betty is anxious about making the presentation.
• BORED OF: I am bored of doing the same job.
• CAPABLE OF: He is capable of winning a gold medal.
• COMMITTED TO: She is committed to improving her English.
• CONCERNED ABOUT: Sarah was concerned about being late.
• CONTENT WITH: Tim is content with winning second place.
• DISAPPOINTED WITH: Fiona is disappointed with coming in third place.
• DISCOURAGED BY: I was discouraged by not getting the job.
• INVOLVED IN: He was involved in making the movie.
• KNOWN FOR: She was known for causing problems.
• OPPOSED TO: They are opposed to building a new road in the park.
• TIRED OF: Margaret is tired of making dinner every night without help.
• WORRIED ABOUT: The hikers were worried about not having enough water.

Links to exercises:
LIST
Exercise 1
Quiz

CHOOSE THE CORRECT PREPOSITION.

MATCH COLUMN I WITH THE CORRECT ENDING IN COLUMN II.

CHOOSE THE BEST OPTION FOR EACH SENTENCE.

---------------------------------------------

Here you have the SOLUTIONS.

1. Choose the correct preposition:

1. TO
2. OF
3. ABOUT
4. IN
5. WITH
6. FOR
7. AT
8. BY

2. Match the columns:

1. She was surprised by the results of her exam.
2. Tom's good at remembering names.
3. Joe's always late for school because he never wears a watch.
4. He's afraid of large dogs.
5. Amy isn't satisfied with her job so she is looking for a new one.
6. I'm very interested in British culture.
7. I'm worried about your poor health.

3.Choose the best option:

1. FOR
2. WITH
3. IN
4. AT
5. ABOUT
6. OF
7. TO
8. ABOUT

Modal Verbs

- They form the negative adding not to the modal verb.
- They form the interrogative without the auxiliary verb (They are their own auxiliary).
- They don't add -s/-es of third person.
- They are followed by infinitive without TO.

TYPES:

• ADVICE: Should, ought to, had better, be supposed to.

- For logic and advice or instructions: Should, ought to (they have the same meaning).
- To say the best option in a situation (stronger than the previous): Had better.
- To say the correct way of doing something: be supposed to.

• PERMISSION: Can, could, may, be allowed to.

- Asking for permission: can, could, may (very formal).
- Giving permission: can, may (not usually).          Note: couldn't is not used.
- About rules: Be allowed to.

• OBLIGATION: Must, have to, don't have to, needn't.

- Obligation by the person who speaks: must.
- When you oblige yourself: have to.               Note: both "must" and "have to" use HAD TO in past.
- Lack of obligation: don't have to, needn't.

• PROHIBITION: Mustn't.

• NECESSITY: Need to, didn't need to, didn't have to.

- Possitive form: Need to.
- Negative form: Didn't need to, didn't have to.

• ABILITY: Can, could, be able to.

- Present: Can.
- Past: Could.
- Other tenses: Be able to.

• POSSIBILITY/PROBABILITY: Must, may, might, could, can't, couldn't.

- 100% sure: must.        Note: past tense form is "must+have+Vparticiple" & "mustn't is not used.

- 50% sure, possible: may, might, could.     Note: past tense form is "modal+have+Vparticiple".

COULDN'T = IMPOSSIBLE                    MAY NOT/MIGHT NOT = POSSIBLE

- 100% impossible: can't, couldn't.     Note: past tense form is "can't/couldn't+have+Vparticiple".


Links to exercises:
Modal Verbs Advice
Modal Verbs Permission
Modal Verbs Ability
Modal Verbs Obligation
Modal Verbs Probability 1
Modal Verbs Probability 2
Modal Verbs Necessity
Modal Verbs Mix 1
Modal Verbs Mix 2
Modal Verbs Text Quiz
Modal Verbs Final Test

Infinitives Vs Gerund

GERUNDS
We use gerunds (verb+ ing):
- After prepositions
- As the subject or object of a sentence
- After certain verbs: enjoy, fancy, discuss, dislike, finish, mind, suggest, recommend, keep, avoid, miss, appreciate, delay, postpone, practise, consider, can't stand, can't help, risk, admit, deny, mention, imagine, tolerate, understand, involve, complete, report, anticipate, recall.

TO + INFINITIVE
We use to + infinitive:
- After many adjectives.
- To show purpose
- After certain verbs: agree, ask*, decide, help*, plan, hope, learn, want*, would like*, promise, can afford, manage, prepare*, demand, choose, offer, wait, would hate*, would love*, seem, expect*, intend, pretend, refuse, tend, would prefer*, deserve, appear, arrange, claim.

*We can use an object before the infinitive with these verbs.

BARE INFINITIVE 
We use bare infinitive (without TO):
- After modal verbs
- After "let" and "make" and sometimes "help"
- After some verbs of perception (see, watch, hear, feel, sense)
- After expressions with "why"

Video

Links to exercises:
Infinitive Vs Gerund 1
Infinitive Vs Gerund 2
Infinitive Vs Gerund 3

Reported Speech

USES:
The reported speech is used when someone says a sentence and we want to tell someone else what the first person said before.

• If the sentence starts in present there is no backshift of tense: She says she works in an office.
• If the sentence starts in past there is backshift of tense: She said she worked in an office.

NOTE: Backshift of tense is not necessary when the sentence is still true (compare the previous examples).

REPORTING QUESTIONS:

• Wh- Questions: Keep the question word + grammar change into a normal sentence.

"Where do you live?"     -     She asked me where I lived

• Yes/No Questions: IF + grammar change into a normal sentence.

"Do you like chocolate?"     -     She asked me if I liked chocolate.

REPORTING REQUESTS:  Ask me + TO + INF

"Close the window, please"     -     She asked me to close the window.

REPORTING ORDERS:  Tell me + TO + INF

"Sit down!"     -     She told me to sit down.

ADDITIONAL CHANGES:

It is necessary to have the expressions of time changed and also the pronouns and possesives.

This - That                                                   Ago - Before

Today - That day                                         Last - The previous

These - Those                                              Here - There

Now - Then                                                 Tomorrow - The following day / The next day

Video

Links to exercises:
Reported Speech mix 1 (Easy)
Reported Speech mix 2 (Medium)
Reported Speech mix 3 (High)
Reported Speech mix 4 (Questions)
Reported Speech - Requests and orders

Statives Verbs

Some verbs are only used in simple tenses (not continuous tenses). These verbs are called stative or state verbs. They are verbs about liking or disliking something, mental states... but not actions. The verbs which show action are called dynamic.

Some verbs have both functions:

• BE: Is usually a stative verb but it can be used to show behaviour or acts. 

You are stupid (as a part of your personality)    -    You are being stupid (only now, not usually)

• HAVE: Used as a stative verb means own. Used as a dynamic verb is part of an expression.

I have a car (I own it)          -         I am having a great time (To spend time in a funny way)

• SEE: As a stative verb, see means with your eyes, understand. As a dynamic verb it means meet or have a relationship.

I see what you mean / It's dark. I can't see anything.      -      I'm seeing Rob tomorrow.

• THINK: It can mean opinion as a stative verb or consider as a dynamic verb.

I think the coffee is great.          -          I'm thinking about my next holiday destination. 

• TASTE: It can mean certain taste as a stative verb or the action of tasting as a dynamic verb. (It happens the same with smell, feel and look.)

This soup tastes delicious.          -          The chef is tasting the soup.

Here you have a list with the stative verbs and examples.

Video

Links to exercises:
Stative Verbs 1
Stative or Dynamic 1
Stative or Dynamic 2
Stative or Dynamic 3
Both Meanings

Question Tags

USES:
- We use a negative tag after an affirmative statement when we expect an affirmative answer.

You are American, aren't you?

- We use an affirmative tag after a negative statement when we expect a negative answer.

You can't speak Chinese, can you?

NOTE: After I am it is used "aren't I?"

FORM:

We use the auxiliary verb + subject               auxiliary verb + NOT + subject

*The auxiliary verb depends on the time tense used. If the tag is negative we use the negative form of the auxiliary verb*

NOTE: Everyone, someone, no one, everybody, somebody, nobody use a plural verb and they in question tags.

Links to exercises:

 Question tags 1

Question tags 2

Question tags 3

I wish / If only

USES:
- To express dissatisfaction wit a present or past condition that we CAN'T change.
- For a condition that we hope it will change in the present.

FORM:

- Regrets about present:           I wish / If only + Vpast

- Regrets about past:                I wish / If only + HAD + Vparticiple

- Hopes for a change:               I wish / If only + WOULD + Infinitive

Links to exercises:
Exercise 1
Exercise 2
Exercise 3

OTHER WAYS TO SAY "IF"

• Even if = to show the result is true whether the condition is true or not.
• Unless = "If not"
• As long as
• Providing
• Provided that = "Only if"
• On condition
• With/without = "If you get/have" / "If you don't get/have"
• In case = "If by some chance happens"
• Depending on = Two possible conditions with two possible results.
• Only if = There is only one condition needed to make it true.

Conditional Sentences

CONDICIÓN , RESULTADO

           IF      ,   PRINCIPAL

• ZERO CONDITIONAL:

USE: To talk about situations that are ALWAYS true. Natural laws.

FORM:     IF + Present simple , Present simple

If you heat water to 100º, it boils.

• FIRST CONDITIONAL:

USE: To refer to situations possible in the future.

FORM:     IF + Present simple , Future simple / Might / Could

If I finish all my homework, I will go to the cinema.

• SECOND CONDITIONAL:

USE: To talk about situations that are improbable refering to present or future. Imaginary situations.

FORM:     IF + Past simple , Would +  infinitive

If I had a million pounds, I would travel around the world.

• THIRD CONDITIONAL:

USE: To talk about situations that would have happened in the past with an imaginary result. Impossible situations.

FORM:     IF + Past perfect , Would + Past perfect

If I had gone out on Saturday, I would have been tired on Sunday.

Links to exercises:
Conditional Type 1
Conditional Type 2
Conditional Type 3
Conditional Mix 1
Conditional Mix 2
Conditional Mix 3
Conditional Mix 4
Conditional Complex Test

Used / Be Used / Get Used

USES:
* Used to: Express a past routine or pattern.
* Be used to: Express when somebody is accustomed to something. It is a psychological statement.
* Get used to: Express when somebody turns accustomed to something. It is a process.

FORM:

*Used to:    Past tense      USED TO + INFINITIVE

*Be used to:                  BE (conjugado en el tiempo correspondiente) + USED TO + NOUN/-ING

*Get used to:             GET (conjugado en el tiempo correspondiente) + USED TO + NOUN/-ING


EXAMPLES:
I used to smoke cigarettes; now I smoke pipe.
He used to drink beer; now he drinks wine.
I am used to noise. I can sleep anyway.
I am used to working at night.
They will soon get used to driving on the left.

Links to exercises:
 Be used to - exercise 1
Used to - exercise 1
Mix 1
Mix 2
Mix 3

Relative Clauses

USES:
They give us aditional information about something already mentioned.
There are two types:

DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES (ESPECIFICATIVAS)

USE: It gives neccessary information about the person, thing or place talking about. It is needed information and it doesn't have commas.

- We can omit the pronoun when it refers to a complement.

- We CAN'T omit the pronoun when it refers to the subject.

WHO / THAT / WHOM : people                     *whom = formal*

WHICH / THAT : things

WHOSE : possesion

WHERE : place

WHEN : time

EXAMPLES:

She is the person who gave us the DVD.

He is the person to whom I spoke / He is the person who I spoke to.

We stayed with a family whose house is next to the hospital.

This is the place where we first met. (WHERE can be omitted)

Christmas is a time when we are all together.

An iPod is a device which plays digital files.

NON-DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES (EXPLICATIVAS)

USE: It gives extra information but not vital for understanding. It has commas. THAT is not used here.

EXAMPLES:
My friend Maria, who is very good at english, is from Madrid.
The house was built in 1864, which makes it the oldest house in our town.

OTHER RELATIVES CLAUSES

USE: To say "no matter....", show ignorance about what we are talking or express "The one..."

WHOEVER : people                     
WHICHEVER / WHATEVER : things
WHEREVER : place
WHENEVER : time
HOWEVER : how  

Links to exercises:

 Relatives 1

Relatives 2

Relatives 3

Relatives 4

Defining or Non-defining

Reflexive Pronouns

USE:
- When the subject and object in a sentence are the same person.


POSITIONS:
- As direct objects: I see myself in the mirror.
- As indirect objects: I taught myself to play the guitar.
- For emphasis: I built this bookcase myself.

PRONOUNS:
Myself - Yo mismo / Me / A mí.
Yourself - Tú mismo / Te / A ti.
Himself - Él mismo / Se / A él.
Herself - Ella misma / Se / A ella.
Itself - Ello mismo / Se / A ello.
Ourselves - Nosotros mismos / Nos / A nosotros.
Yourselves - Vosotros mismos / Se / A vosotros.
Themselves - Ellos mismos / Se / A ellos.

Links to exercises:
Reflexive pronouns 1
Reflexive pronouns 2

Adverbs of Frequency

USES:

They are used to say how often an action is done.

POSITION:

They go AFTER the verb to be but BEFORE other verbs.

ADVERBS:

Always - Siempre

Usually - Normalmente

Often - A menudo/Frecuentemente

Generally - Generalmente

Sometimes - A veces

Rarely - Rara vez

Seldom - Pocas veces

Hardly ever - Casi nunca

Never - Nunca

Links to exercises: 

Adverbs 1

Adverbs 2

Adverbs 3

Tense Chart

Future Perfect Continuous

USES:
- To show cause and effect.
- To say that something is going to continue until the next future action: for.


2 FORMS:

- AFFIRMATIVE: Subject + Will have been + Verb -ing
I will have been living in Italy for 4 years by the time I finish my studies.    

                            Subject + Be (present) going to have been + Verb -ing  
I am going to have been living in Italy for 4 years by the time you finish your studies.      

- NEGATIVE: Subject + Will not have been + Verb -ing       *Will not have = Won't have*
I won't have been living in Italy for 4 years by the time I finish my studies.

                          Subject + Be not (present) going to have been + Verb -ing  
I am not going to have been living in Italy for 4 years by the time you finish your studies. 
               

- QUESTION: Will  + Subject + Have been + Verb -ing + Complements?     
Will you have been living in Italy for 4 years by the time you finish your studies?

                           Be (present)  + Subject + Going to have been + Verb -ing + Complements?     
Are you going to have been living in Italy for 4 years by the time you finish your studies?

Links to exercises:
Future perfect continuous 1
Future prefect continuous 2
Future perfect continuous 3

Future Perfect

USES:
- To talk about actions that have already finished before the next action in the future: by.
- To show that something will continue until the next future action: before. 

2 FORMS:

- AFFIRMATIVE: Subject + Will have + Verb participle    
I will have ended the basketball match by 8pm.    

                             Subject + Be (present) going to have + Verb participle    
I am going to have ended the basketball match by 8pm.      

- NEGATIVE: Subject + Will not have + Verb participle       *Will not have = Won't have*
I won't have ended the basketball match by 7pm.

                          Subject + Be not (present) going to have + Verb participle    
I am not going to have ended the basketball match by 8pm. 
                 

- QUESTION: Will  + Subject + Have + Verb participle + Complements?     
Will you have ended basketball before 8?

                           Be (present)  + Subject + Going to have + Verb participle + Complements?     
Are you going to have ended basketball before 8?

Links to exercises:
Future perfect 1
Future perfect 2
Future perfect 3
Future prefect 4

Future Continuous

USES:
- To talk about actions which will take place in the future at the moment we refer.

FORM:

- AFFIRMATIVE: Subject + Will be + Verb -ing      
I will be playing basketball at 8pm.          

- NEGATIVE: Subject + Will not be + Verb -ing       *Will not be = Won't be*
I won't be working as a journalist.
                   

- QUESTION: Will  + Subject + Be + Verb -ing + Complements?     
Will you be playing tennis at 8?


Links to exercises:
Future continuous 1
Future continuous 2
Future continuous 3
Future continuous 4

Future Simple

WILL Vs BE GOING TO

WILL

USES: 
- To talk about promises.
- Spontaneous things.
- Predictions.

FORM:

- AFFIRMATIVE: Will + Verb infinitive           I will open the door.

- NEGATIVE: Will not + verb infinitve             I won't open the window.   *Will not = Won't*

- QUESTION: Will + Subject + Verb infinitive + Complements?          Will you play tennis?

WILL is the auxiliary verb.

BE GOING TO

USES:
- To talk about planned actions.
- When something shows what will happen.

FORM:

- AFFIRMATIVE: Subject + Be (present) going to + Verb infinitive    
I am going to travel to Mexico next summer.

- NEGATIVE: Subject + Be not (present) going to + Verb infinitive
I am not going to travel to London.

- QUESTION: Be (present) + Subject + Going to + Verb infinitive + Complements?        
Are you going to travel to L.A?

TO BE (present) is the auxiliary verb.

Links to exercises:

Will 1

Will 2

Going to 1

Will - Going to 1

Will - Going to 2

Will - Going to 3

Will - Going to 4

Past Perfect Continuous

USES:
- To talk about something that started in the past and continued up until another time in the past.
- Before another action in the past, to show cause and effect.

FORM:

- AFFIRMATIVE: Had been + Verb -ing    
I had been playing basketball.       

- NEGATIVE: Had not been + Verb -ing            
I hadn't been playing football.         

- QUESTION: Had + Subject +  Been + Verb -ing + Complements?  
Had you been playing tennis?      

HAD is the auxiliary verb.

Links to exercises:

Past perfect continuous 1

Past Perfect

USES:
- To show which of the two past events happened first.
- To report past events.

FORM:

- AFFIRMATIVE: Had + Verb in participle
I had played basketball.          

- NEGATIVE: Had not + verb in participle             I hadn't played football.

- QUESTION: Had + Subject + Verb participle + Complements?          Had you played tennis?

HAD is the auxiliary verb.

Links to exercises:

Past perfect 1

Past perfect 2

Past perfect 3

Past perfect 4

Past perfect 5

Past perfect 6