Complete English Grammar
Upper-Intermediate B2–C1
Students develop greater flexibility, range and control. Grammar becomes a tool for expressing speculation, hypothetical meaning, complex time relationships, advanced passive structures and more accurate sentence linking.
31 · Future Perfect
32 · Future Perfect Continuous
33 · Third Conditional
34 · Mixed Conditionals
35 · I wish / If only
36 · Would / Past Habits
37 · Be used to / Get used to
38 · Advanced Passive
39 · Have Something Done
40 · Modal Deduction: Present
41 · Modal Deduction: Past
42 · Non-defining Relatives
43 · Contrast: Expanded
44 · Reason, Result: Expanded
45 · Discourse Markers: Expanded
46 · Less / Least / More / Most
47 · Articles: Advanced
Unit 31
Future Perfect
Upper-Intermediate B2–C1Main Use
We use the future perfect to describe an action that will be completed before a specific point in the future. The focus is on completion before a future moment.
Form / Structure
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | will have + past participle | I will have finished. / She will have arrived. |
| Negative | won’t have + past participle | We won’t have finished by then. |
| Question | Will + subject + have + past participle | Will you have finished by 6? |
Key phrases: by (a time), by the time, by then, by next (week/year)
Examples
By 6 o’clock, I will have finished the report.
She will have arrived by then.
By next year, they will have built the new bridge.
By the time you arrive, we will have finished.
Common Mistakes
Incorrect
By Friday I will finish the work.Better
By Friday, I will have finished the work.Incorrect
She will has arrived by then.Correct
She will have arrived by then.Summary
Use the future perfect when the important idea is completion before a future point in time. Contrast with future continuous (activity in progress at a future moment) and future simple (general future prediction).
See also: Future Perfect Continuous · Future Forms · Time Expressions
Practice Exercises
Unit 32
Future Perfect Continuous
Upper-Intermediate B2–C1Main Use
We use the future perfect continuous to emphasise how long an action will have been continuing before a specific future point. The focus is on duration, not completion.
Form / Structure
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | will have been + verb + -ing | I will have been working here for ten years. |
| Negative | won’t have been + verb + -ing | She won’t have been sleeping long. |
| Question | Will + subject + have been + verb + -ing | Will you have been waiting long? |
Examples
By June, I will have been working here for ten years.
Next month, she will have been studying English for two years.
By the time we arrive, they will have been waiting for over an hour.
Common Mistakes
Incorrect
By June I will have working here for ten years.Correct
By June, I will have been working here for ten years.Incorrect
She will have been study for two years.Correct
She will have been studying for two years.Summary
Use the future perfect continuous when duration matters more than completion. The key question is: «how long will this have been going on before that future point?»
See also: Future Perfect · Present Perfect Continuous · Past Perfect Continuous
Practice Exercises
Unit 33
Third Conditional
Upper-Intermediate B2–C1Main Use
We use the third conditional to talk about unreal past situations and their imagined results — expressing regret, missed opportunities and criticism of past decisions.
Form / Structure
| If-clause | Main clause | Example |
|---|---|---|
| If + past perfect | would have + past participle | If I had studied more, I would have passed. |
| If + past perfect | could have / might have + past participle | If she had prepared, she might have succeeded. |
Examples
If she had left earlier, she would have caught the train.
If they had invited us, we would have gone.
If I had known, I would have helped.
Common Mistakes
Incorrect
If I would have studied more, I would have passed.Correct
If I had studied more, I would have passed.Incorrect
She would caught the train if she had left earlier.Correct
She would have caught the train if she had left earlier.Summary
Use the third conditional for impossible past situations and their imagined consequences. The if-clause always uses the past perfect. Never use would have in the if-clause.
See also: Second Conditional · Mixed Conditionals · I wish / If only
Practice Exercises
Unit 34
Mixed Conditionals
Upper-Intermediate B2–C1Main Use
We use mixed conditionals when the condition and the result refer to different time periods — a past condition with a present result, or a present condition affecting a past result.
Form / Structure
| Type | If-clause | Main clause | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Past → Present | If + past perfect | would + infinitive | If I had studied, I would have a better job now. |
| Present → Past | If + past simple | would have + past participle | If I were more organised, I would have finished on time. |
Examples
If she had accepted the job, she would live in London now.
If he were better at languages, he would have understood the email.
If I had listened to you, I would be in a better position now.
Common Mistakes
Incorrect
If I had studied more, I would pass the exam. (wrong mix)Correct
If I had studied more, I would have passed. OR …I would be more confident now.Incorrect
If I were rich, I would have buy that house.Correct
If I were rich, I would have bought that house.Summary
Mixed conditionals connect conditions and results that belong to different time periods. Identify whether the condition is past or present, then select the appropriate result clause accordingly.
See also: Second Conditional · Third Conditional · I wish / If only
Practice Exercises
Unit 35
I wish / If only
Upper-Intermediate B2–C1Main Use
We use I wish and If only to express regret, dissatisfaction or a desire for a different reality — about the present, the past, or other people’s behaviour.
Form / Structure
| Meaning | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Unreal present | wish / if only + past simple | I wish I had more free time. |
| Past regret | wish / if only + past perfect | I wish I had studied harder. |
| Complaint / desired change | wish + subject + would + verb | I wish you would listen. |
Examples
I wish I lived nearer. (present — unreal)
If only we had left earlier. (past regret)
I wish I were taller. (present — unreal)
She wishes her neighbours would stop shouting. (complaint)
Common Mistakes
Incorrect
I wish I would have more money.Correct
I wish I had more money.Incorrect
I wish I studied harder yesterday.Correct
I wish I had studied harder yesterday.Summary
Use wish + past simple for present unreality. Use wish + past perfect for past regret. Use wish + would for complaints or desired changes in others’ behaviour.
See also: Second Conditional · Third Conditional · Mixed Conditionals
Practice Exercises
Unit 36
Would for Repeated Past Actions
Upper-Intermediate B2–C1Main Use
We use would to describe repeated actions in the past, especially in narrative or descriptive contexts. Unlike used to, would is not used for past states.
Form / Structure
| Structure | Used for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| would + base verb | Repeated past actions (NOT states) | Every summer, we would visit my grandparents. |
| used to + base verb | Past habits AND past states | I used to live in Leeds. / She used to be shy. |
Key rule: would cannot replace used to for states (live, be, have, know, believe).
Examples
When I was a child, I would spend hours drawing.
Every weekend, we would go to the beach.
My grandfather would tell us stories at night.
Common Mistakes
Incorrect
I would live in Leeds.Better
I used to live in Leeds.Incorrect
She would be very shy when she was young.Better
She used to be very shy when she was young.Summary
Use would for repeated past actions in narrative style. Use used to for both past habits and past states. Would cannot be used to describe past states.
See also: Used to · Past Simple · Narrative Tenses
Practice Exercises
Unit 37
Be used to / Get used to
Upper-Intermediate B2–C1Main Use
We use be used to to describe existing familiarity or comfort with something. We use get used to to describe the process of becoming familiar with something.
Form / Structure
| Structure | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| be used to + noun / -ing | Already accustomed (state) | I am used to working long hours. |
| get used to + noun / -ing | Becoming accustomed (process) | He got used to driving on the left. |
| used to + base verb | Past habit (different structure!) | I used to live in London. |
Examples
They are not used to cold weather.
I am getting used to my new schedule.
You will get used to speaking English every day.
She is used to working under pressure.
Common Mistakes
Incorrect
I am used to work late.Correct
I am used to working late.Incorrect
He got used to drive on the left.Correct
He got used to driving on the left.Summary
After be used to and get used to, use a noun or -ing form, never an infinitive. Do not confuse with used to + base verb (past habit).
See also: Used to · Gerunds · Habit Structures
Practice Exercises
Unit 38
Passive Voice: Advanced and Compound Forms
Upper-Intermediate B2–C1Main Use
Advanced passive forms extend beyond basic tenses into modal passives, perfect modal passives, infinitive passives, gerund passives and reporting passives — all common in formal and professional English.
Form / Structure
| Type | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Modal passive | modal + be + past participle | The report must be finished today. |
| Perfect modal passive | modal + have been + past participle | The package may have been delivered already. |
| Infinitive passive | to be + past participle | This form needs to be signed. |
| Gerund passive | being + past participle | He hates being told what to do. |
| Reporting passive | It is said / reported / believed that… | It is said that the company will expand. |
Examples
The report must be finished today.
This form needs to be signed before submission.
He hates being told what to do.
It is believed that the economy will recover.
Common Mistakes
Incorrect
The work must finished today.Correct
The work must be finished today.Incorrect
He hates be told what to do.Correct
He hates being told what to do.Incorrect
The company is said that it will expand.Better
It is said that the company will expand.Summary
Advanced passive forms are especially useful in formal, academic and professional English. Always use the correct passive structure: be (or been, being) + past participle, not just the past participle alone.
See also: Basic Passive · Have Something Done · Formal Style
Practice Exercises
Unit 39
Have Something Done
Upper-Intermediate B2–C1Main Use
We use have something done (the causative) when another person performs an action for us, or when something happens to us — often unexpectedly. It can also be formed with get something done.
Form / Structure
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| have sth done | have + object + past participle | I had my hair cut. |
| get sth done | get + object + past participle | She got her car repaired. |
| All tenses | Change have/get to correct tense | I’m having the kitchen painted. / She had her phone fixed. |
Examples
We are going to have the kitchen painted.
He had his wallet stolen. (unexpected experience)
I had my eyes tested last week.
They are having the building renovated.
Common Mistakes
Incorrect
I cut my hair yesterday. (if someone else did it)Better
I had my hair cut yesterday.Incorrect
I had cut my hair by the hairdresser.Correct
I had my hair cut.Summary
Use have something done when the subject does not carry out the action personally. The order is: have / get + object + past participle. The past participle never changes.
See also: Passive Voice · Causative Structures
Practice Exercises
Unit 40
Modal Verbs for Present Deduction and Speculation
Upper-Intermediate B2–C1Main Use
We use modal verbs to express certainty, probability or possibility about present situations, based on available evidence or reasoning.
Form / Structure
| Modal | Degree of certainty | Example |
|---|---|---|
| must be | Near-certain (affirmative) | She must be tired — she worked all night. |
| can’t be / couldn’t be | Near-certain (negative) | That can’t be true. |
| might be / may be / could be | Possible (50% or less) | He might be at the office. |
Examples
She must be tired. She worked all night.
He might be at the office.
That couldn’t be true.
She can’t be at work — she’s on holiday.
Common Mistakes
Incorrect
He must to be tired.Correct
He must be tired.Incorrect
He maybe is at work.Better
He may be at work.Summary
Use must be for near-certain positive deduction. Use can’t be for near-certain negative deduction. Use might / may / could be for genuine possibility. All modals are followed by the base verb — never to.
See also: Past Speculation · Basic Modals
Practice Exercises
Unit 41
Modal Verbs for Past Deduction and Speculation
Upper-Intermediate B2–C1Main Use
We use modal verbs to make deductions or speculate about past situations, express regret (should have) and describe unnecessary past actions (needn’t have).
Form / Structure
| Modal | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| must have + past participle | Near-certain past deduction | She must have gone home already. |
| may / might / could have + pp | Possibility in the past | He may have missed the train. |
| can’t have + past participle | Near-certain negative deduction | They can’t have finished already. |
| should have + past participle | Regret / criticism of past action | You should have told me. |
| needn’t have + past participle | Unnecessary past action | You needn’t have bought food. |
Examples
She must have gone home already.
He may have missed the train.
They can’t have finished already.
You should have told me.
Common Mistakes
Incorrect
He must has gone home.Correct
He must have gone home.Incorrect
She may forgot the meeting.Correct
She may have forgotten the meeting.Incorrect
You should told me.Correct
You should have told me.Summary
Form: modal + have + past participle. This structure is used for past deduction, past possibility and evaluation of past actions. The past participle must be used — not the past simple.
See also: Present Speculation · Third Conditional · I wish / If only
Practice Exercises
Unit 42
Relative Clauses: Non-defining
Upper-Intermediate B2–C1Practice Exercises
Unit 43
Contrast Clauses: Expanded
Upper-Intermediate B2–C1Practice Exercises
Unit 44
Reason, Result and Purpose Clauses: Expanded
Upper-Intermediate B2–C1Practice Exercises
Unit 45
Discourse Markers: Expanded
Upper-Intermediate B2–C1Practice Exercises
Unit 46
Structures with Less, Least, More and Most
Upper-Intermediate B2–C1Practice Exercises
Unit 47
The Articles: Advanced Use
Upper-Intermediate B2–C1Practice Exercises