Intermediate level - what is it? What does Intermediate level mean? Characteristics of pre-intermediate level of English proficiency.
Pre-intermediate (pre-threshold level) is a level of English proficiency at which you are able to understand the meaning of familiar expressions, can ask simple questions and know the basic rules of grammar. But it is still difficult for you to speak spontaneously, and your vocabulary is still very small for free speech. The rules of grammar are remembered, but it is not yet possible to apply them accurately in practice. You can check your level on our website by completing.
Let's look specifically at what knowledge and skills a person with a pre-intermediate level of English has.
Grammar at the pre-intermediate level
This, of course, is a very brief summary of the grammar covered. These are the basics of what a student knows at the pre-intermediate level. In fact, there are many more topics related to prepositions, articles, adjectives, compound nouns, etc.
Pre-intermediate level vocabulary
Your vocabulary is approx. 2000 words and expressions. The lessons you have studied contain vocabulary on the following topics: the world aroud us, people, daily life, work, leisure and entertainment, communication and technology, social concerns, tourism …
You can roughly estimate the number of English words you know using the website: www.testyourvocab.com
Speaking at the pre-intermediate level
You are able to talk in English about the weather, about your family, about school or class, about yourself, about what you like to do, a little about your profession, about your favorite animal, about the country, about celebrities and some other similar things. In addition, you are able to express your attitude to the subject of conversation, tell what you like and what you don’t like in connection with the topic raised. You can even carry on a telephone conversation with a native speaker, if, of course, he speaks slowly enough and separately.
Reading
Letter (Writing)
We can write a short pre-intermediate essay on any of the topics listed earlier in the paragraph on conversation. We can also write, or send an email, and also congratulate someone on the holiday.
These were the main points characterizing the so-called pre-threshold level of knowledge of the English language.
The list of grammar topics has been compiled to help those who learn English on their own. To begin, determine your current level of English by completing. Then read the recommendations in the article . After that, start studying grammar.
This program is compiled in accordance with pan-European standards. It may differ slightly from other similar programs in other sources, but this does not make it any less effective.
1. Word order in questions
Where does your sister work? – Where does your sister work?
What did they talk about? - What were they talking about?
What was that noise? -What was that noise?
2. Present Simpleb adverbs of frequency
She's never late - She is never late
Do you often go to the gym? – Do you often go to the gym?
She doesn't like her job – She doesn’t like her job
3. Present continuous or Present simple
What are you doing?- What are you doing now?
What do you do?– What do you do in life? (What do you do for a living?)
We aren't working at the moment. We're eating– We are not working at the moment, we are eating
4. Past simple: regular and irregular verbs
I stayed with a friend – I was staying with a friend
We went to Costa Rica – We went to Costa Rica
5. Past Continuous
Last Saturday I was working in my office – Last Saturday I was working in my office.
She was wearing black dress – She wore a black dress
6. Past Simple & Past Continuous
While I was reading the book, she phoned me – While I was reading a book, she called me
When we left home, it was raining — It was raining when we left the house
7. To be going to + infinitive
I'm not going to talk to him again - I'm not going to communicate with him anymore
It’s winter so the weather is going to be cold – It’s winter now, so the weather will be cold
8. Present continuous (for future)
She's meeting her friend tonight – She is meeting a friend tonight
We're watching the movie tomorrow – We are watching a film tomorrow
9. Defining relative clauses: who, which, where, that
Cat is an animal which lives with people – A cat is an animal that lives with people
Friend is a person who is always ready to help – A friend is a person who is always ready to help
10. Present perfect: yet, just, already
I've already finished my homework – I have already finished my homework
She's just phoned - She just called
11. Something/anything/nothing (for people, places, things)
Somebody has taken my pen – Someone took my pen
I can't see anybody - I don’t see anyone
Nobody is here - Nobody's here
12. Comparatives
It’s more interesting to watch a film than to read a book – It’s more interesting to watch a movie than to read a book
My brother's taller than me - My brother is taller than me
13. Superlatives
It's the biggest city in the world – This is the largest city in the world
It’s the most beautiful flower I’ve ever seen - This is the most beautiful flower I have ever seen
14. Quantifiers (too much, too many, enough)
I have too much stress at work – I have too much stress at work
Do you eat enough vegetables? – Do you eat enough vegetables?
This chair is not comfortable enough – This chair is not comfortable enough
15. Future simple: will/won’t (predictions)
The film is in French so I won’t understand anything – The film is in French, so I won’t understand anything
I think I'll fail the exam - I think I will fail the exam
16. Future simple: will/won’t (decisions, offers, promises)
I'm tired so I'll go home - I'm tired so I'll go home
Shall I open the window - Let me open the window
I won't tell anybody - I will not tell anyone
17. Infinitive with to & gerund (verb + -ing)
I need to buy some new clothes – I need to buy new clothes
He left without saying goodbye - He left without saying goodbye
18. Have to, don’t have to, must, mustn’t
I have to get up at 7 o’clock every day – I have to get up at 7 am every day
We don't have to wear a uniform at work – We don’t have to wear a uniform at work
You must do your homework tonight – You must do your homework tonight.
You mustn’t be late for work – You are not allowed to be late at work.
19. Should/shouldn't
You should take your coat. It's cold outside – You should take a coat, it’s cold outside
You shouldn't work so hard, you'll get ill -You shouldn't work so hard, you'll get sick.
20. First conditional: if + present, will/won’t
If I miss the last bus, I’ll get a taxi – If I miss the last bus, I’ll take a taxi
If you don't go, she won't be pleased – If you don’t go, she won’t be happy.
21. Possessive pronouns: my, mine etc.
Whose book is this? - Whose book is this?
It's my book - It is my book
No, it's mine! - No, it's mine!
22. Second conditional: if + past, would / wouldn’t + inf
If I had one million dollars, I would by an island – If I had one million dollars, I would buy an island
If I were you, I would ask her for date - If I were you, I would ask her out on a date.
23. Present perfect: for, since
How long have you known your best friend? – How long have you known your best friend?
English language proficiency will vary from person to person. Thus, native speakers speak it perfectly, foreigners who have studied the language for a sufficient amount of time can freely explain everyday topics in it, and those who have just started learning or have been learning English for a long time know the language at an elementary level. Figuring out what level a person speaks a language is not so easy. For this purpose, there are numerous tests on the Internet; they really help determine language proficiency. But they mainly check the student’s vocabulary and grammar, but knowledge of the language is not only vocabulary and the ability to understand the rules. Therefore, in foreign language courses you will be offered not only a written test, but also will talk a little with each potential student in a foreign language, ask him various questions and invite him to speak out. Only after the student has demonstrated his knowledge in oral and written speech, in grammar and vocabulary, can one declare his level of language proficiency.
What levels of language proficiency are there?
Intermediate is an average level of English proficiency. There are 6 or 7 such levels in total, depending on different approaches to determining the level of language competence: Beginner, Elementary, Pre-Intermediate, Intermediate, Upper-Intermediate, Advanced, Proficiency. Sometimes in foreign language courses, some of these levels are divided into sublevels in order to more accurately determine which group to enroll the student in.
What do you need to know at the Intermediate level?
At the Intermediate level, he is expected to have a good knowledge of the basic tenses of the English language and be able to use them in writing and speaking. The volume of his vocabulary is about 3-5 thousand words, which allows the student to speak well enough on everyday topics, understand English, and compose written texts of normal complexity. At the same time, such a student may make mistakes in speech, speak not too fluently, stammer a little, or take a long time to find words. He understands fairly complex texts well - stories, novels written in literary language, popular science articles, he can read the news, but does not always perceive them well by ear. A person with an Intermediate level is unlikely to be able to correctly maintain a conversation on specific and complex topics; he does not speak business vocabulary unless he has been specifically trained in words and expressions with certain specifics.
In general, the Intermediate level is a fairly good level of knowledge of the English language. It may include those who are not fluent in oral speech, but are excellent at reading books in English, as well as those who speak well, but are not very well versed in the written features of the language. This level may be sufficient for employment with the requirement of mandatory knowledge of the English language. This level of proficiency is shown by good graduates of regular schools or students of grades 8-9 of specialized schools and gymnasiums with in-depth study of the English language.
A systematic approach to the process of learning foreign languages involves the use of the Common European Framework of Reference. This assessment mechanism allows you to accurately determine the thematic level of training of a native speaker of a particular foreign language. Level B2 reflects the concept of “above average level of English”. In total, this system of language standards uses six levels (from A1 to C2).
Global cosmopolitan processes, determined by the dynamic development of international corporations and the desire of modern people to break out of the boundaries of certain countries and traditions, establish certain requirements for overcoming the so-called language barrier. Due to the fact that the world community has long chosen the English language as an international verbal method of interaction between people, its study today seems to be a direct necessity for all inhabitants of the planet. Naturally, all people for whom English is not their native language have significantly different abilities to comprehend foreign speech. Therefore, from the pan-European scale of standardization of training, it is level B2 that seems to be the most in demand, as it corresponds to the basic norms of communication.
When can you start learning English at level B2?
It is important to understand that dividing levels of knowledge of foreign languages into categories is a rather arbitrary assessment system. And levels B2 and C1 correspond to almost fluent proficiency in oral and written language. Moreover, a higher degree of preparation implies the ability to read literature in the original and conduct business negotiations using terminology in various areas of life.
Before deciding to master the b2 level of English, you need to make sure that the applicant has a b1 level, which is characterized by fluent reading of literature and the press with an understanding of the basic rules of grammar, a high level of oral speech, allowing the free expression of their thoughts. In this case, readiness to comprehend level B2 allows for the presence of unfamiliar words in the text, which, however, do not affect the comprehension of the main meaning in it. In a general sense, this level of English language learning corresponds to the concept of “advanced degree” or “above intermediate level”. However, it should be understood that this amount of knowledge implies the presence of some language problems that require further improvement.
Basic knowledge at level B2
Comprehension of grammar at the Upper-Intermediate level involves studying the following topics:
Mastery of all tenses, including clear awareness of when Simple, Continuous, Perfect or Perfect Continuous are used;
Knowledge and practical application of the table of irregular verbs;
Ability to create indirect speech from direct speech;
Use of passive voice (Active voice);
Knowledge of impersonal forms of verbs such as infinitive, participle and gerund;
Use of modal verbs.
Vocabulary knowledge at level b2 is especially strongly focused on reading literature, listening and increasing vocabulary. Moreover, here you need to be able to use not only individual words, but also more complex speech structures, including phrasal verbs, idiomatic expressions and various phraseological units.
It is important to understand that any new words and figures of speech should not just be memorized in the form of lists, but should be regularly used when communicating. Only in this case they will not be forgotten and will bring tangible benefits in the learning process. In this context, it is necessary, first of all, to use such word forms, the equivalents of which are used in everyday life, when you have to build communication, talking about work, personal life and hobbies. To do this, it is advisable to always have vocabulary on hand.
To master level B2, English speech must be structured in such a way that it contains not only simple words, but also idioms (turns of speech that do not have a literal translation and are characteristic exclusively of a given language). In this case, the meaning of these phraseological units corresponds to equivalent phrases in the target language. It is these elements of speech that can make the language more diverse and colorful.
An important aspect of learning English at level B2 is the use of phrasal verbs, which correspond to a combination of verbs with adverbs or prepositions. Such phrases significantly change the original semantic meaning and do not obey any rules. Therefore, they simply need to be memorized as indivisible semantic units. For example: be about - to be nearby; call for - to call for someone; look for - to search.
And, of course, to give speech a more refined and sophisticated meaning, it is important to have in stock the required number of synonyms for the most frequently used words.
Reading and listening comprehension
For optimal adaptation of development from level a1 (beginner) to c2 (high) when learning English, it is necessary to use special literature. These are mainly classical works of fiction that use certain grammatical structures and vocabulary. An excellent thematic test can be considered one when, after reading two or three pages of a work, unfamiliar words are counted. So, with an indicator of up to 20-25 lexical units with an unclear meaning, you can safely undertake a full reading of the text.
It is important to understand that level B2 implies fluent reading of periodicals and works of modern authors. For effective learning at this stage, it is advisable to constantly write down all unfamiliar words and figures of speech in order to subsequently learn them and use them in everyday life.
Listening comprehension can be developed using adapted audiobooks. In order for the learning process in this aspect to be most effective, as a rule, you need to start listening according to the “-1” principle. That is, if a student’s general level of English corresponds to level b1, then it is advisable to start using the audio format from level a2.
Level of English B2-C1 allows you to use entertainment shows, films and TV series as training. Moreover, film projects with subtitles in this context can be considered the most optimal at the initial stage. However, it is important not to overdo it, so that the ability to perceive speech by ear is not lost for the sake of reading the text.
Written and spoken language
The development of written language is directly related to regular, daily practice. In this case, it is important to find for yourself the most acceptable way of writing the text. For example, blogging or correspondence on social networks, writing stories or essays may be suitable for this. The main thing is that each time there is a progressive process of enriching the language stock, which includes new constructions and figures of speech.
Level B2 must correspond to the following writing skills:
The ability to express themselves not only in the form of simple, but also complex and complex sentences;
Use of idioms, phrasal verbs and fixed expressions;
Writing various speech structures;
Free correspondence with native English speakers, including discussion of everyday issues;
Writing a story or article on a familiar topic.
Upper-Intermediate corresponds to the level of English proficiency, when oral speech is conducted in a free form when discussing everyday topics. For optimal improvement, it is better for learners to communicate with native English speakers. It is conversations with them on everyday topics that correspond to the level of knowledge within B2-C1. To implement this format of communication, you can use social networks or language exchange sites, where you can always find friends.
In addition, the following techniques can be used:
Try to describe everything that catches your eye, including the landscape outside the window, a city street, and various objects;
Retell books read, TV series or TV shows watched;
Make a list of questions to which you can subsequently give a detailed answer.
Let's say you have already crossed the Elementary level and are one step closer to your goal - to communicate fluently in English. What level are you at? Right! This is level A2 Pre-Intermediate or preparatory intermediate level. It ranks a respectable third in the CEFR table and takes you closer to perfection. Well, let's get started, ladies and gentlemen!
| LEVEL | Description | CEFR level |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner | You don't speak English | ;) |
| Elementary | You can say and understand some words and phrases in English | A1 |
| Pre-Intermediate | You can communicate in “plain” English and understand the other person in a familiar situation, but have difficulty | A2 |
| Intermediate | You can speak quite well and understand speech by ear. Express yourself using simple sentences, but have difficulty with more complex grammatical structures and vocabulary | B1 |
| Upper-Intermediate | You speak and understand English well by ear, but you can still make mistakes | B2 |
| Advanced | You speak English fluently and have full listening comprehension | C1 |
| Proficiency | You speak English at the level of a native speaker | C2 |
PreIntermediate language level - what does it mean?
Pre-Intermediate level (A2) is the level at which you are no longer so afraid of communicating with a foreigner who addresses you in English. Ask him to repeat the question and you will not only understand, but also be able to explain how to find the nearest hotel. It is at this level that you gradually learn to communicate in English and practice your speech, and the time of silence comes to an end.
At this level, you repeat and consolidate the knowledge that you received at “Elementary”. You could say you start all over again, with “Present Simple”, but at the same time you delve into the nuances of the language that you were not familiar with before.
At this level, you can already try to pass some kind of language test, although there will be no practical benefit from this. This level approximately corresponds to the result of 3-4 when passing the IELTS exam, 39-56 points when passing the TOEFL iBT, you can try to pass the Cambridge PET exam (Preliminary English Test) and get a good score. By the way, if you want to work abroad, then non-specialized employers are looking for people with exactly this level of language.
- understand the general meaning of the interlocutor’s statements, you can maintain a simple dialogue and ask questions, but speak in short, fragmentary sentences;
- passed our level determination test and he told you so :) ;
- you know basic grammar well, but it is difficult for you to use it in spontaneous conversation, you get confused in constructions or construct phrases using only simple tenses;
- studied English at school or university and have good basic knowledge;
- Recently completed a course of studying English at the “Elementary” level.
The Pre-Intermediate level program includes the study of the following topics.
| Grammar topics | Lexical topics |
| Group tenses Present (Simple, Continuous, Perfect) Times of the group Past (Simple, Continuous, Perfect) Constructions Used to do and be used to do something Future Simple tense + be going to construction Word order in questions Types of questions Comparative and superlative degrees of adjectives Too, enough, a little, a few Gerund and infinitive Modal verbs (have to, must, can, may, might, should) Prepositions of time and place Conditional sentences (0, 1, 2 type) Passive voice Indirect (Indirect) speech Phrasal verbs |
Family and friends Technologies Holidays Events Communication Vacation and day off Trips Ecological problems Lifestyle Relationship Circle of Life Cinema and films Media Best work Our future Health Love and trust Music Modern society Shopping and shopping Fame and success Perfect world |
How long to study for Pre-Intermediate
The duration of studying English at the Pre-Intermediate level may vary depending on the starting knowledge and individual characteristics of the student. Our Pre-Intermediate course lasts on average 4-8 months.
Set a goal. Your desire to learn English is the driver of your learning. If you don't have the motivation to study, it will drag on for a long time. Therefore, the first thing you need to do when learning English is to set yourself a goal for which you need the language. You travel a lot and want to make new friends and learn more about the culture of countries. For such purposes, you need a “Pre-Intermediate” level and higher.
Exercise every day. If you want to compress the time it takes to learn English as much as possible, then you need to study every day. At the same time, to immerse yourself in the language environment, study for at least 2 hours a day.
Use English in your life. Don't wait until you master the language perfectly. Start using it in your life right now! Try to replace Russian with English as much as possible. This way you can use it and improve it at the same time. Right now, think about where you can use it. There are so many ways!
Conclusion
After reading the article, you may think that Pre-Intermediate and Elementary are similar in grammar or conversation topics. We can assure you, this level is more difficult. At Pre-Intermediate, old grammar acquires new nuances, and a similar topic like “Food” or “Daily Routines” becomes richer in new words and stable constructions. Go ahead and don't stop there!
Big and friendly EnglishDom family
What does English grammar look like by level?
In this post we will discuss in detail what grammar is covered at different levels of learning English - from beginner to advanced. Let's see examples of this grammar and do a little test.
Just in case, let me remind you that grammar is just one aspect of language learning. Necessary, useful, yes. But far from the only one.
How nice it would be if I learned grammar and, consider myself, mastered English))
English grammar by level
You will see that the same grammar is often repeated at different levels. Read more about why this happens. In short:
- not all grammatical structures are learned the first time (repetition is the mother of learning)))
- at low levels phenomena are considered separately from each other, and at higher levels they are compared with each other
- As the level of English improves, it turns out that each grammatical structure has nuances and subtleties, which insidious teachers are silent about for the time being, so as not to create confusion
English grammar by level - in different textbooks - looks approximately the same. Therefore, I will take as a basis one of the most popular textbooks - English File.
By the way, this English grammar by levels can be a kind of test. Look at any section and see if you understand sentences with grammar examples? But - more importantly - do you use such constructions in your speech? If not, it may not be your level yet. If yes, go to the next level and do the same.
English grammar by level - a short way to the desired section:
Beginner/Starter level grammar
The Beginner level covers the basics - the simplest constructions. At the same time, they are also the most important, because all the complex grammar of higher levels will be based on them.
At this level, a lot of attention is paid to forms - again, to achieve a certain automaticity in simple things, like I am, you are, he is. Grammatical constructions at the Beginner level are mainly treated separately from each other to avoid confusion of comparisons and nuances.
| What grammar pass at the level Beginner/Starter | Grammar Example
|
| statements denial questions | I"m from Russia / You"re in class 2 / He"s 30 years old. I"m not from Moscow / You aren't late / He isn't French. Am I late? Are you from the UK? Is he French? How are you? Where is he from? |
| The only and plural number | a book - books a watch - watches an umbrella - umbrellas |
| this, these that, those | What's that? What are those? |
| Possessives pronouns | he - his / she - her / it - its |
| Possessive "s | Maria"s children, John"s birthday, my parents" car |
| Adjectives | It"s a fast car - This car is fast They"re expensive shoes - These shoes are expensive |
| statements denial questions | I have breakfast at home / She lives in a flat. I don"t go to work by bus / She doesn"t have a pet. Do you understand me? /Does she work here? Where do you live? / When does she start work? |
| Adverbs (adverbs of frequency) | always, usually often, sometimes, hardly ever, never |
| Questions with be and do | Where are you from? /Where do you live? |
| can, can"t | I can play the guitar / I can"t sing. / Can I park here? |
| like, love, hate with gerund | I like swimming / I love reading I hate doing housework |
| Present Continuous | I"m driving to the airport at the moment What are you doing? |
| There is / there are | There is a bar in this hotel but there aren't any restaurants. |
| Past Simple: was / were regular verbs (regular verbs) irregular verbs (Irregular Verbs) | I was born in 1988. Where were you at 7 o"clock last night? I arrived in Stockholm early in the morning. What time did you arrive? I bought some souvenirs. What did you buy? |
| Present Continuous for the future tense | I"m arriving in Venice on April 10. Where are you staying? |
Elementary level grammar
The Elementary level is very similar to the previous level. I will say more, often instead of Beginner, my students and I take on Elementary right away, we just go through it a little more thoroughly.
The Elementary grammar is almost identical to the grammar of the previous level.
| What grammar pass at the level Elementary | Grammar Examples
|
| to be: am / is / are statements denial questions | My name"s Anna / You"re early / My email address is... I"m not English / It isn"t far Where are you from? / What's your phone number? How old are you? |
| Possessives pronouns | I - my / you - your / we - our / they - their he - his / she - her / it - its |
| The only and plural number | a book - books / a watch - watches an umbrella - umbrellas a man - men, a woman - women, a person - people |
| this, these that, those | What's this? What are these? How much is this bag? What's that? What are those? |
| Adjectives | It"s an empty box- This box is empty. They"re cheap / quite cheap / really cheap |
| Imperative imperative Let's | Open the door / Sit down / Turn off your mobile. Let's take a break / Let's go to the cinema. |
| statements denial questions | I wear glasses / They drink tea / It rains a lot I don"t have children / They don"t live here / It doesn't work Do you live in a flat? / Does she speak German? What time does it open? |
| Possessive "s Whose | Justin Bieber's sister, George Clooney's father Whose bag is it? |
| Prepositions of time and places | at 7am, in the morning, at the weekend, in March on Monday, at school, in the park |
| Adverbs | always, usually, often, sometimes, hardly ever, never every day, twice a week, three times a year |
| can/can't | Where can I park? / I can't hear you. |
| Present Continuous | What's happening? What are you looking at? |
| Object pronouns | I - me / we - us / they - them he - him / she - her / it - it |
| like/love/enjoy don't mind hate with gerund | I like / love / enjoy reading in bed. I don't mind cooking. I hate getting up early. |
| | Are you a fan of any band? When do you usually listen to music? |
| Past Simple was / were regular verbs (regular verbs) irregular verbs (wrong verbs) | Where were you? I was at a party last weekend / They were angry They chatted and listened to music. What did they do? I wore a black dress. What did you wear? |
| there is / there are some/any | There's a dining room. There are three bedrooms. Are there any neighbors? There are some paintings. |
| there was / there were | Was there a mini-bar in your room? There were 3 other guests. |
| Countable and uncountable nouns | an apple, a banana some sugar, some rice We need some sugar / There isn't any milk. |
| How much / how many a lot of, some, none | How much free time do you have? How many friends do you have on Facebook? |
| Comparative adjectives | A proton is heavier than an electron. Mosquitoes are more dangerous than sharks. good - better / bad - worse / far - further |
| Excellent adjectives | It's the longest river in the world. It's the most popular art gallery in the world. |
| Going to for plans | I'm going to travel round Europe. |
| Going to for forecasts | You're going to like it. |
| Adverbs | speak fast, know him well, drive carefully |
| Verbs with infinitive | want to talk to you, would like to learn to cook need to stop |
| Articles | I"m a student / It"s the oldest university in Europe. |
| Present Perfect | I"ve seen Harry Potter but I haven"t read the book. Have you ever eaten sushi? |
Pre-intermediate level grammar
At the Pre-intermediate level they are already beginning to compare different designs with each other and find out the nuances. Why is it better to say somewhere I study economics, and somewhere - I"m studying economics.
| What grammar pass at the level Pre-intermediate | Grammar Example
|
| Word order in questions | Do you speak English? What languages do you speak? Did you go out last night? Where did you go? |
| Present Simple | She has a lot of hobbies. We don't get on very well. |
| Present Continuous | John is wearing a suit today! He usually wears jeans. |
| Past Simple | Where did you go on holiday last year? We went to Italy. |
| | When you called me, I was talking to my boss. |
| unions | although, but, so, because |
| Going to plans forecasts | What are you going to do when you leave school? We are going to be late for work! |
| Present Continuous for future agreements | I"m meeting Joe at 3 o"clock. When are you coming back? |
| Relative clauses | This is the restaurant where they make great pizza. |
| Present Perfect yet, just, already | I"ve just started a new job. I"ve already seen this film. / Have you finished yet? |
| Present Perfect and Past Simple | Have you ever been to Mexico? When did you go there? |
| something/anything nothing (where / one) | Did anyone phone? No, no one. Is there anywhere to park? |
| Comparative adjectives and adverbs | Driving is more dangerous than flying. I"m as tall as my brother. Can you speak more slowly, please? |
| Excellent adjectives | It's the best film I've seen this year. It's the worst meal I've ever eaten. |
| Quantifiers | how much / how many / too / enough |
| will / won't / shall forecasts, spontaneous decisions promises, etc. | Shall I open the window? You'll like it. I think I"ll go home now. I"ll always love you. |
| Use infinitive | Try not to talk about politics. I came to this school to learn English. Be careful not to drive too fast. |
| Using -ing form (gerund) | Waking up early in the morning makes me happy. He left without saying goodbye. |
| Modal verbs have to, don't have to must, mustn't | I have to get up at seven every day. I don't have to wear a uniform. You mustn't leave your bags here. |
| should | What do you think I should do? You should see a doctor. |
| First Conditional (first conditional) | If I miss the last train, I"ll get a taxi. |
| Possessives pronouns | mine, yours, theirs, ours his, hers, its |
| Second Conditional (second conditional) | I"d do more exercise if I had more time. What would you do if you won a million dollars? |
| Present Perfect for, since | How long have you lived here? I "ve known her for 15 years / since we were children. |
| Passive present and past | Nowadays a lot of toys are made in China. This morning I was woken up by the neighbor's dog. |
| used to | She used to wear glasses. |
| might | She might come with us, she"s not sure yet. |
| | into, out of, over, along, across, through |
| So do/am/did I Neither do / am / did I | I "m married. - So am I. I don't know him. - Neither do I. |
| Past Perfect | The show had already finished by the time I arrived. |
| Reported speech (indirect speech) | He said that he was hungry. She told me that her car had broken down. |
| Questions without auxiliary verbs | How many people came to the meeting? Who invented the radio? |
Intermediate Grammar
At the Intermediate level, they also compare already familiar phenomena with each other and, of course, study new ones.
| What grammar pass at the level Intermediate | Grammar Example
|
| action / non-action | I never cook vs What are you cooking? I have a dog vs I"m having lunch I think it "s a good idea vs I"m thinking about you |
| Future: will/won't going to Present Continuous | I"ll help you. Do you think it"ll rain? You"ll love this film! I"m going to buy a new car. Barcelona are going to win. They are getting married in October. |
| Present Perfect vs Past Simple | I"ve been to London before. He hasn"t found a new job yet. When did you go there? How did the interview go? |
| Present Perfect Pres. Perf. Continuous for, since | They"ve known each other for 5 years / since 2010. I"ve been studying English for 10 years. How long have you been waiting? |
| Degrees of comparison adjectives (comparative adj., superlative adj.) | My brother is a bit / much taller than me. This chair isn't as comfortable as that one. It's the most expensive city in the world. He"s the smartest person I"ve ever met. |
| Articles | I saw a nice house with a fancy porch. The porch was decorated with plants. |
| can, could, be able to | I can sing. I could swim when I was 4. I"ve never been able to dance. I"d like to be able to draw. |
| must / mustn't have to / don't have to should/shouldn't | You must wear a seatbelt / You mustn"t exceed the speed limit. Do I have to pay now? / You don't have to come. You should stop smoking / You shouldn't drink so much coffee. |
| Past Simple Past Continuous Past Perfect | When I got home, my family had dinnner. When I got home, my family were having dinner. When I got home, my family had dinner. |
| usually vs used to | I usually get up at 6am. I used to get up at 11 when I was unemployed. |
| The Passive (all times) | A lot of films are shot on location. The film is being shot. The film has been shot. The film will be shot on location. |
| might, must, can("t) for guesswork | She might like the idea. This must be difficult for you! You can't be serious! |
| First Conditional Future time clauses | The boss won't be happy if you are late for work again. As soon as you get your exam results, call me. |
| Second Conditional | What would you do if you met a celebrity? If I were you, I"d buy a new car. |
| Reported speech (indirect speech) | I asked him if he wanted to join us. She told me she had lost her wallet. |
| Gerund and infinitive (gerund and infinitive) | I"m not good at remembering names. I don"t mind getting up early. Shopping is my favorite pastime. I don't know what to do. My house is easy to find. Try not to make a noise. |
| Third Conditional | If I had known about the party, I would have gone. |
| Quantifiers | I eat a lot of chocolate. She earns a lot. We have plenty of time. There aren't enough parks. There's too much traffic. |
| Relative clauses | That's the house where I was born. |
| Question tags | They live in New York, don't they? You aren't angry, are you? |
Upper-intermediate grammar
By the advanced Upper-intermediate level, enlightenment usually sets in; the basics have already been covered. All that remains is to repeat them a little and move on to the interesting and subtleties of grammar.
| What grammar pass at the level Upper-intermediate | Grammar Examples
|
| Question formation (word order in questions) | Are you talking about me? What are you talking about? What time does it open? |
| Auxiliary verbs (auxiliary gverbs) | I like dogs, but my wife doesn't. - I loved the film! - So did I. - I've finished. - Have you? |
| the...the... comparatives | The sooner, the better. The longer you wait, the worse it gets. |
| Present Perfect vs Present Perfect Continuous | She has been writing novels since she was a student. She"s written 30 novels. |
| Adjectives as nouns Adjective order (adjectives as nouns, adjective order) | The Chinese invented paper. The poor are getting poorer. They need to create more jobs for the unemployed. I bought a beautiful Italian leather bag. |
| Narrative tenses: Past Simple, Past Continuous, Past Perfect Past Perfect Continuous | We had been flying for about two hours when suddenly the captain told us to fasten our seat belts because we were flying into a thunderstorm. When this happened, passengers most hadn't finished their meals yet. |
| so... that such...that | There was so much traffic that we nearly missed the flight. It was such a great show that I want to see it again. |
| Position of adverbs and adverbial phrases (adverbs) | He walks slowly. I've almost finished. Ideally, we should leave at 8. |
| Future Perfect Future Continuous | They will have finished painting the house by Monday. Don't phone between 6 and 7, we'll be having dinner then. |
| Zero and First Conditionals Future time clauses | If you haven"t been to Paris, you haven"t lived. If we are lucky, we"ll have sold the house by Christmas. I"ll call you as soon as I"ve talked to the boss. |
| Unreal conditions | If you exercised more, you"d be much healthier. He would have died, if he hadn't been wearing a helmet. |
| Constructions with wish | I wish I was 20 years younger! I wish I hadn't bought this car! / If only I hadn't bought ... I wish you would stop calling me at night. |
| Gerunds and infinitives (gerund and infinitive) | Remember to lock the door VS I remember locking the door. I stopped to smoke VS I stopped smoking. |
| Used to, be used to, get used to | I used to live in the countryside. I was used to the peace and quiet. I can"t get used to the noise of the city. |
| must have been/done might have been/done can"t have been/done | It must have been difficult for you. They might have left. I can't have lost it. |
| Verbs of the senses (verbs of perception) | It smells good. It feels comfortable. You look tired. Sounds interesting. |
| (passive voice) + it is said that... + have something done | My car has been stolen. You can be fined for making noise. The church was being renovated when I last saw it. The criminals are believed to have fled the country. I need to have my car fixed. |
| Reporting verbs | He persuaded me to quit my job. She apologized for not being on time. |
| Clauses of contrast and purpose (subordinate clauses oppositions and goals) | I went to work even though I wasn't feeling well. Although I was tired, I didn't want to go to bed. In spite of / Despite the fact that she"s 85, she"s very active. I went to the bank in order to speak to my bank manager. I wrote it down so as not to forget. |
| whatever, whenever whoever | Have a seat wherever you like. Whatever happens, stay calm. |
| Uncountable and plural nouns (uncountable nouns and noun in multitudes. number) | I need some advice. I"ll give you two pieces of advice. It"s made of glass. Can I have a glass of water? The hotel staff is very friendly / The hotel staff are very friendly. The police are canvassing the area. |
| Quantifiers | All fruit contains sugar VS All the animals in this zoo look sad. She wanted to study either physics or mathematics. |
| Articles | My father is in hospital. They"re building a new hospital. |
Advanced Grammar
| What grammar pass at the level Advanced | Grammar Examples
|
| Have - auxiliary or main verb (have like auxiliary and main verb) | Do you have any money on you? Have you got any cousins? I haven't a clue. Do I have to pay now? I need to have my eyes tested. |
| Discourse markers and linkers (conjunctions and connectives) | Despite / In spite of her age, she"s still very active. Despite / In spite of the fact that she"s 85, she"s very active. I keep checking my email in case there"s an urgent message. |
| Pronouns (pronouns) | They say it's never too late to change your life. We decorated the house ourselves. |
| Past events: habitual or specific Habitual and single events in past | I"d wanted to buy a new car for a long time. I"d been saving up for 2 years and when I finally bought it, I was over the moon. I used to have a car but I don"t anymore. |
| Get Values and use | Let"s get a taxi. / It"s getting dark. / He might get sacked. I need to get my passport renewed. Get Jane to call me. |
| Discourse markers: adverbial expressions | As a matter of fact, I don't like football. On the whole, I believe women are better drivers than men. As far as the price is concerned... |
| Speculation and deduction Guess and assumptions | I must have forgotten to lock the door. You might have been injured. It can't have been easy. It ought to have arrived by now. |
| Inversion (change order words in a sentence) | Never have I heard such a ridiculous argument. Not only is he attractive, (but) he"s also smart. Little did I know. |
| Distancing | It appears that the situation is going to get worse. There seems to be a mistake in the bill. There is thought to be some tension between them. |
| Unreal uses of past tenses | If only you hadn't forgotten the map! I"d rather you left the dog outside. It's time we stopped arguing. |
| Verb + object + infinitive/gerund | We expect the bus to arrive at 7. I want Real Madrid to win. |
| Conditional sentences + mixed conditions | They won't get a table unless they've booked it in advance. Provided the bank lends us the money, we"re going to buy it. If I"d listened to your advice, I wouldn"t be in trouble now. |
| Permission, obligation necessity | You don"t need to take a jacket VS You needn"t lock the car. You aren't supposed to park here. |
| Verbs of the senses | You seem to have made a mistake. I saw him cross the street VS I saw him crossing the street. |
| Complex gerunds and infinitives | She thanked him for having helped her. By the time I"m 30, I hope to have started a family. |
| Future plans and arrangements | My brother is due to arrive at 8. I am about to get promoted. The Prime Minister is to visit India next week. |
| Ellipsis | - You must see his latest film. - I already have. He did it even though I told him not to. - It wasn't my fault. - Well, if you say so... |
| Nouns -s" of compound nouns | I borrowed my mother's car / She's at the hairdresser's. She "s got ten years" experience. Can you remember the name of the film? I opened the car door, got in and fastened the seat belt. |
| Adding emphasis (gain) Cleft sentences | What I need is some rest. What happened was we left our umbrellas in the taxi. The reason why I bought it was because it was cheap. |
| Relative clauses | My brother who lives in Australia is a programmer. VS My brother, who lives in Australia, is a programmer. I haven't seen him for 2 weeks, which is a bit worrying. |
That's all English grammar by levels.
Does English grammar really end after the Advanced level? No, of course)) If you look at the levels, there is also the Proficiency level, but the line of conversation courses really ends at the Advanced level.
Perhaps this is because:
- even an ambitious user of English rarely needs a level higher than Advanced (not to mention the average learner who stays in the Intermediate area)
- at high levels, people already know how to find the necessary authentic materials on their own and independently organize their training
- at high levels, many people think about a more practical and targeted use of English - for example, preparation for international exams (IELTS, TOEFL and others) or specialized courses in the profession
And there are still a lot of subtleties left even after the Advanced level!
How do you like English grammar by levels?
Did you manage to determine your level with its help? Share in the comments!