Let’s talk grammar! This time, we will go a step further, far from the tediousness of the renowned (high-) intermediate grammar, with its tenses, modal verbs, and all that jazz.
Are you willing to read up on B2 grammar components? Check this out: B2 First Grammar Checklist in Exam Context
We’ll spice it up today with exactly those grammar structures expected to be made use of when you are about to reach the C1 Advanced level in English.
The task below consists in identifying the grammar structure. Next, it will be followed by a paraphrasing activity, skill in the limelight these days and paramount at this level.
Identify THE grammar structure
The use of compound adjectives.
The use of past participle as adjective.
The use of modifying adjectives with adverbs for emphasis, e.g “it is highly unlikely“
The use of extreme adverbs.
The use of conditional “if“+”should” in formal contexts.
Imagined past situation: modal verb + “if” + past perfect
(Subject) “It” + passive (in formal contexts)
The use of noun phrases “Wh_” cleft clauses, followed by “be” for focus.
Fixed phrases, e.g. at the end of the day, all in all, all things considered, when you think about it, etc, in the front position for emphasis
The use of future perfect with adverbs in the mid-position.
The use of future perfect to make assumptions about the present.
The use of “be set to” to talk about strong assertion about the future.
Paraphrase it with THE grammar structure
Use the KEY WORD given to transform the sentence:
- If you ever come to Rio de Janeiro, please feel free to visit us. SHOULD
- Scientists got the conclusion wrong because not thorough research was carried out. WOULD
- She is not a good orator, but there is no better writer than her. WHEN
- No one but the General Manager should deal with this matter. IT
- The police now believe they made up the alibi to protect their friend. THOUGHT
- It is likely they were delayed in a traffic jam. WILL
- We just winded down all day long. WHAT
- With only two buttons to push, this new kitchen robot looks simple, but that’s deceptive. DECEPTIVELY
- The latest album she has brought out is a big change from the earliest ones. BREAKING
- You could easily see he was fond of computers. OBVIOUSLY
- Please feel free to visit us if you SHOULD EVER HAPPEN TO come to Rio de Janeiro.
- If scientists had conducted thorough research, they WOULD NOT HAVE REACHED a wrong conclusion.
- WHEN IT COMES TO writing, she is the best; however, speaking is not her thing.
- IT IS ADVISABLE for this matter to be tackled by the General Manager.
- IT IS THOUGHT that they made up the alibi so as to protect their friend.
- They WILL PROBABLY HAVE BEEN HELD UP in a traffic jam.
- WHAT WE DID WAS (TO) unwind all day long.
- This new kitchen robot IS DECEPTIVELY SIMPLE in appearance, with only two buttons to push.
- Her latest album is GROUND-BREAKING.
- His fondness for computers was OBVIOUSLY NOTICEABLE.
No matter the level, be it A1, B2, or C1, tenses and their auxiliary verbs, modals and the parts of speech, all these are always omnipresent. They are THE pillars. The thing that does differ is the range of usages we, learners, get to unveil each time we scale up our English proficiency. And this is beautiful. We are exploring into the English language depths and with every single new grammar nuance we become more and more knowledgeable and aware of the fact that English grammar is undeniably timeless.
If you are looking for something to quench your thirst for C1 grammar, read up on these:
- C1 Grammar News Time with Emphasis
- C1 Grammar News Time with Conditionals
- C1 Grammar News Time with Future Forms
- Discourse Markers
We hope you have relished today’s challenge in C1 level grammar structures, and still learnt some you have never heard of before. That was our goal.
Stay tuned for more words of advice and handy material!
