Grammar 1 of 11
Tenses
All B1 tenses, when to use them, and a complete model answer showing every tense in action.
Present Simple
I work / She works
S + V(s) | S + don't/doesn't + V
Habits, routines, general truths, permanent states.
"I usually go to work by bus."
"She doesn't eat meat."
"She doesn't eat meat."
Present Continuous
I am working
S + am/is/are + V-ing
Actions happening now, temporary situations, future plans.
"I'm studying for my exam."
"We're meeting tomorrow."
"We're meeting tomorrow."
Present Perfect
I have worked
S + have/has + past participle
Past actions with present relevance, life experiences, recent news. With: already, yet, ever, never, just.
"I have already visited Paris."
"She has never tried sushi."
"She has never tried sushi."
Pres. Perfect Continuous
I have been working
S + have/has + been + V-ing
Actions that started in the past and continue now. With: for, since.
"I have been learning English for 5 years."
"She has been working here since 2020."
"She has been working here since 2020."
Past Simple
I worked
S + V-ed (or irregular) | S + didn't + V
Completed actions in the past. With: yesterday, last week, in 2020, ago.
"I visited London last summer."
"She didn't enjoy the film."
"She didn't enjoy the film."
Past Continuous
I was working
S + was/were + V-ing
Actions in progress at a past moment. Background setting in stories.
"I was studying when she called."
"It was raining when we left."
"It was raining when we left."
Future: will
I will work
S + will + V
Predictions, spontaneous decisions, promises, offers.
"I think technology will change our lives."
"I'll help you with that."
"I'll help you with that."
Future: going to
I am going to work
S + am/is/are + going to + V
Planned intentions, predictions based on evidence.
"I'm going to visit my family next week."
"Look at those clouds — it's going to rain."
"Look at those clouds — it's going to rain."
Model answer: ALL tenses in one paragraph (Topic: Daily Life)
I usually wake up at seven and have breakfast before going to work. Nowadays I work from home three days a week, which is very convenient. I have been working at the same company for five years and I have already learnt a lot about my field. Before the pandemic, I went to the office every day. In fact, I was travelling two hours a day when the lockdown started. If I had more free time, I would exercise more regularly. In the future, I think most people will work from home at least part of the time. At the moment I am also studying English in the evenings, which has helped me communicate better at work.
Present Simple / Continuous
Present Perfect
Past Simple / Continuous
Future (will)
Conditional
12 ready-made sentences to memorise
I usually go to work by public transport, although sometimes I drive. — Present Simple
At the moment I am studying English to improve my career opportunities. — Present Continuous
I have already visited several countries, but I have never been to Asia. — Present Perfect
I have been learning English for five years and I feel more confident every day. — Present Perfect Continuous
When I was a child, I went to school by bike every morning. — Past Simple
I was studying when my friend called and asked me to go out. — Past Continuous
I think technology will completely change the way we work in the future. — will (prediction)
Next summer I'm going to visit my relatives in the south of Spain. — going to (plan)
Last year I decided to change my diet and since then I have felt much better. — Past Simple + Present Perfect
I have just finished reading a book about climate change — it was very interesting. — Present Perfect + Past Simple
These days, more and more people are working from home and the trend is growing. — Present Simple + Continuous
If I pass the exam, I will celebrate with my family and we are going to have dinner out. — will + going to
Exercises — choose the correct tense
Grammar 2 of 11
Modal Verbs
Express ability, obligation, advice, possibility and permission. Essential for B1 speaking.
All B1 modal verbs at a glance
| Modal | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
can / can't | Ability, possibility, permission | I can speak two languages. You can't park here. |
could | Past ability, polite request, possibility | I could swim very well as a child. Could you help me? |
must / mustn't | Strong obligation, prohibition | You must bring your ID. You mustn't read your notes aloud. |
have to / don't have to | External obligation / no obligation | I have to work tomorrow. You don't have to come. |
should / shouldn't | Advice, recommendation | You should exercise more. You shouldn't eat late at night. |
might / may | Possibility (less certain) | It might rain later. I may go abroad next year. |
will / won't | Prediction, promise, offer | I think it will be fine. I'll help you. |
would | Hypothetical, polite request, preference | I would travel more if I had time. I'd like a coffee. |
10 ready-made sentences to memorise
You should try to exercise at least three times a week to stay healthy.
I think the government should invest more in public transport.
I might go abroad next summer if I have enough money.
It could be difficult to find a job without speaking English these days.
You must bring your ID — it will be checked before you enter the exam room.
You mustn't read your notes literally or the task will be graded zero.
I can communicate in English quite well now, although I make mistakes sometimes.
Since I started practising, I have been able to speak much more fluently.
If I could choose any job, I would be a marine biologist.
People don't have to drive everywhere — public transport is often a better option.
Exercises — modal verbs
Grammar 3 of 11
Conditionals
Zero, first and second conditionals are all tested at B1. Use them to talk about habits, real futures and imaginary situations.
The three B1 conditionals
| Type | Form | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Zero | If + Pres. Simple, Pres. Simple | General truths, habits, scientific facts |
| First | If + Pres. Simple, will + V | Real / likely future situations |
| Second | If + Past Simple, would + V | Hypothetical / imaginary / advice |
Tip for the exam
Use second conditional freely to talk about dream destinations, ideal jobs, imaginary situations. It sounds very natural at B1: "If I lived in London, I would improve my English much faster."
12 ready-made sentences to memorise
If you eat too much sugar, you feel tired and lose concentration. — Zero
When you don't sleep enough, it affects your mood and productivity. — Zero
If I pass the exam, I will celebrate with my family. — First
If the government invests in renewable energy, pollution will decrease significantly. — First
If people use public transport more, cities will become less congested. — First
If the weather is good this weekend, we will go to the beach. — First
If I lived in London, I would improve my English much faster. — Second
If I had more free time, I would travel around South America. — Second
If I were the president, I would make education completely free. — Second
If I could choose any place to live, I would choose a city by the sea. — Second
If technology didn't exist, communication would be much more difficult. — Second
If people learnt about the environment at school, they would make better choices as adults. — Second
Exercises — conditionals
Grammar 4 of 11
Comparatives & Superlatives
Use comparisons constantly in the exam — for topics, opinions, advantages vs disadvantages.
Forms
| Type | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Comparative (short adj.) | adj + -er + than | Public transport is cheaper than driving. |
| Comparative (long adj.) | more + adj + than | It is more comfortable than the bus. |
| Superlative (short) | the + adj + -est | It's the fastest way to travel. |
| Superlative (long) | the most + adj | It's the most important issue. |
| Equality | as + adj + as | City life is not as peaceful as the countryside. |
| Gradual change | getting + comparative | Cities are getting more and more crowded. |
good → better → best
bad → worse → worst
far → further → furthest
10 ready-made sentences to memorise
Public transport is much cheaper than owning a car, especially in the city.
In my opinion, street markets are fresher and more personal than supermarkets.
Living in the countryside is not as exciting as living in a big city, but it is far more peaceful.
The best way to reduce stress is to exercise regularly and sleep enough.
Climate change is one of the most serious challenges facing our generation.
Younger people tend to be much more comfortable with technology than older generations.
Summers are getting hotter and hotter every year, which is a sign of climate change.
In my view, face-to-face communication is far more meaningful than messaging online.
Private schools are not necessarily better than public ones — it depends on the teachers.
People are much more aware of healthy eating today than they were twenty years ago.
Exercises — comparatives
Grammar 5 of 11
Verb Patterns
Know which verbs take -ing, to-infinitive, or both — including the pairs with different meanings (try, stop, remember).
Verb + -ING
admit, avoid
deny, don't mind
enjoy, fancy, feel
finish, imagine
keep, like*, hate*
miss, practise
prefer*, recommend
regret*, suggest
also: after prepositions
also: after phrasal verbs
Verb + TO-INFINITIVE
afford, agree, appear
choose, decide
deserve, expect
help, hesitate
hope, learn, manage
offer, plan, pretend
promise, refuse, seem
teach, tend, want
also: after adjectives
also: to express purpose
DIFFERENT MEANING
try + -ing: experiment
try + to: make effort
stop + -ing: finish habit
stop + to: pause for
remember + -ing: memory
remember + to: don't forget
make + obj + infinitive
let + obj + infinitive
12 ready-made sentences to memorise
I really enjoy going to the market on Saturday mornings. — enjoy + -ing
I avoid eating junk food during the week, although it's not always easy. — avoid + -ing
I decided to join a gym to keep fit. — decide + to
I hope to travel abroad next summer if I can save enough money. — hope + to
I tried doing yoga to relax — it really helped. — try + -ing (experiment)
I tried to speak English every day, but it was difficult at first. — try + to (effort)
I need to stop eating late at night — it affects my sleep. — stop + -ing (finish habit)
We stopped to have a coffee and something to eat during the journey. — stop + to (pause)
I remember eating at this same restaurant when I was a student. — remember + -ing (memory)
Please remember to bring your ID to the exam tomorrow. — remember + to (don't forget)
My teacher suggested visiting the old town as it's the most interesting part of the city. — suggest + -ing
I plan to study harder this year because I want to improve my level. — plan + to
Exercises — verb patterns
Grammar 6 of 11
Reported Speech
Use reported speech to talk about what others said, recommended or asked. Very useful for mediation tasks.
Tense changes in reported speech
| Direct speech | Reported speech |
|---|---|
| "I live here." | She said she lived there. |
| "I am working." | He said he was working. |
| "I have finished." | She said she had finished. |
| "I worked there." | He said he had worked there. |
| "I will call you." | She said she would call me. |
| "I can help." | He said he could help. |
| "You must come." | She said I had to come. |
Key verbs for reporting
say (no object): She said that...
tell (+ object): She told me that...
ask (questions): He asked me if / whether... / He asked me where...
recommend, suggest, advise: The doctor recommended that I rest. / The doctor advised me to rest.
tell (+ object): She told me that...
ask (questions): He asked me if / whether... / He asked me where...
recommend, suggest, advise: The doctor recommended that I rest. / The doctor advised me to rest.
8 ready-made sentences to memorise
My teacher told me that I should practise speaking every day.
The infographic said that regular exercise could reduce stress significantly.
My doctor advised me to change my diet and get more sleep.
The leaflet recommended turning off standby devices to save energy.
He asked me if I had ever lived abroad.
She told me not to worry about making mistakes.
The poster said that passengers had to validate their tickets before boarding.
My friend suggested watching films in English to improve my listening skills.
Exercises — reported speech
Grammar 7 of 11
Relative Clauses
Add detail and sophistication to your speaking. One relative clause per sentence can raise your level noticeably.
Relative pronouns
| Pronoun | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
who | People | The teacher who taught me English was very inspiring. |
which | Things, animals, ideas | The app which I use most is for vocabulary. |
that | People or things (informal) | The book that changed my life was about travel. |
where | Places | I grew up in a town where everyone knows each other. |
whose | Possession | I have a friend whose father speaks six languages. |
when | Time | I remember the day when I passed my first English exam. |
10 ready-made sentences to memorise
I had a teacher who was incredibly patient and made every lesson interesting.
The city where I grew up is small but has a very strong community spirit.
I remember the year when I started university — everything changed so fast.
The street market that opens every Saturday is one of my favourite places in the city.
I love places where you can walk everywhere and don't need a car.
My best friend, who lives in Berlin, visits me every summer.
The documentary which I watched last week was about climate change — very eye-opening.
I have a colleague whose job is to travel around Europe — I think that's amazing.
The technology that has changed my life most is the smartphone, without a doubt.
Public transport, which is quite good in my city, could still be improved at night.
Exercises — relative clauses
Grammar 8 of 11
Passive Voice
Use the passive when the action is more important than who does it. Very useful for science, environment and education topics.
Passive forms at B1
| Tense | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Present Simple | is/are + past participle | Plastic is used in almost every product. |
| Past Simple | was/were + past participle | The law was changed in 2020. |
| Present Perfect | has/have been + past participle | A lot of progress has been made recently. |
| Future (will) | will be + past participle | New policies will be introduced next year. |
| Modal | modal + be + past participle | More trees should be planted in cities. |
When to use passive in speaking
— When the agent (who does it) is unknown or unimportant: The school was built in 1980.
— In formal / impersonal speech: It is believed that... / It is said that...
— For science / environment: CO2 is produced by burning fossil fuels.
— In formal / impersonal speech: It is believed that... / It is said that...
— For science / environment: CO2 is produced by burning fossil fuels.
10 ready-made sentences to memorise
A lot of waste is produced every year, which is a serious environmental problem.
This building was built in the 1960s and has recently been renovated.
English is spoken in more than 50 countries around the world.
More money should be invested in renewable energy to fight climate change.
Recycling centres have been opened in most neighbourhoods in recent years.
It is estimated that over a billion people speak English as a foreign language.
The exam will be recorded as an official document.
Electric cars are being developed at a much faster rate than ten years ago.
It is believed that by 2050 most jobs will have changed significantly.
Young people are encouraged to learn languages from an early age.
Exercises — passive voice
Grammar 9 of 11
Quantifiers
Use quantifiers to talk about amounts — with countable and uncountable nouns.
Quantifiers at a glance
| Quantifier | Use with | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
many | Countable ✓ | Large number (questions/negatives) | There aren't many green spaces in my city. |
much | Uncountable ✓ | Large amount (questions/negatives) | We don't have much time. |
a lot of / lots of | Both ✓✓ | Large quantity (positive) | There are a lot of advantages. |
a few | Countable ✓ | Small positive number | I have a few friends who live abroad. |
few | Countable ✓ | Small negative number | Few people recycle correctly. |
a little | Uncountable ✓ | Small positive amount | I speak a little French. |
little | Uncountable ✓ | Hardly any (negative) | There is little evidence for that. |
some / any | Both ✓✓ | Unspecified amount | I need some advice. Do you have any ideas? |
several | Countable ✓ | More than two, not many | I have visited several countries in Europe. |
enough | Both ✓✓ | Sufficient amount | I don't have enough time to exercise. |
too many / too much | C ✓ / U ✓ | Excessive amount | There is too much pollution in cities. |
8 ready-made sentences to memorise
There is too much traffic in cities these days, which causes serious pollution problems.
Unfortunately, few people take public transport seriously as an alternative to the car.
I have visited several countries in Europe, but I haven't been to Asia yet.
I have a few friends who speak three languages — I find that very impressive.
I don't have enough free time to do everything I want, which is a common problem.
There are a lot of advantages to learning English, both personally and professionally.
People spend too much time on social media and too little time talking face to face.
Many young people prefer to rent rather than buy because houses are too expensive.
Exercises — quantifiers
Grammar 10 of 11
Used to / Would / Be used to
Talk about past habits and compare past with present — an examiner's favourite for B1 topics.
Three important forms
| Form | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
used to + V | Past habit or state (no longer true) | I used to go to school by bike every day. |
didn't use to + V | Past negative habit | I didn't use to eat vegetables as a child. |
would + V | Repeated past action (narrative) | Every summer we would go to my grandparents' house. |
be used to + -ing | Accustomed to (present/past) | I am used to working late — it doesn't bother me. |
get used to + -ing | Process of becoming accustomed | It took time to get used to living alone. |
⚠️ Don't confuse
used to + V → past habit: I used to play football.
be used to + -ing → accustomed: I am used to playing football.
get used to + -ing → adapting: I am getting used to waking up early.
be used to + -ing → accustomed: I am used to playing football.
get used to + -ing → adapting: I am getting used to waking up early.
10 ready-made sentences to memorise
I used to go to school by bike, but nowadays I drive to work.
People didn't use to care so much about recycling twenty years ago.
I used to be much more active — I would go running every morning before work.
When I was a student, I would spend hours in the library every evening.
I didn't use to enjoy cooking, but now I find it very relaxing.
My diet used to be terrible — I would eat fast food almost every day.
I am now used to working from home, although it was difficult at first.
It took me a few months to get used to living in a big city after growing up in a village.
Technology used to be much simpler — people would write letters instead of sending emails.
I used to be very shy in class, but I am now used to speaking in public.
Exercises — used to
Grammar 11 of 11
Linkers & Connectors
The most powerful B1 speaking tool. Using varied linkers turns a basic answer into a fluent, structured response.
Complete linker reference
| Category | Linkers | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Addition | Furthermore, Moreover, In addition, What's more, Besides, Also | Furthermore, regular exercise improves mental health. |
| Contrast | However, Nevertheless, On the other hand, Although, Even though, Despite (this), In spite of, Whereas | However, not everyone can afford a gym membership. |
| Cause & result | Therefore, As a result, That's why, Because of this, Due to, Consequently | As a result, pollution levels have increased. |
| Concession | Although, Even though, In spite of, Despite the fact that | Although it is expensive, it is worth it. |
| Sequence | First of all, To begin with, Then, After that, Next, Finally, Lastly | First of all, I'd like to talk about my experience. |
| Examples | For example, For instance, Such as, In particular, Namely | For example, I try to walk instead of driving. |
| Opinion | In my opinion, Personally, As far as I'm concerned, I strongly believe, It seems to me that | In my opinion, education is the key to progress. |
| Summary | To sum up, In conclusion, All in all, Overall, To conclude | All in all, I think the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. |
| Condition | If, Unless, As long as, Provided that | As long as people recycle, the situation will improve. |
| Purpose | In order to, So that, To + infinitive | I exercise in order to stay healthy. |
Complete model answer using ALL linker types
Topic: Health & Physical Care — ALL linkers highlighted
First of all, I'd like to say that looking after your health is one of the most important things you can do. In my opinion, a balanced lifestyle is the key to feeling good both physically and mentally. For example, I try to exercise three times a week and eat fresh food whenever possible. Furthermore, I have been trying to reduce my screen time in the evenings, because it affects my sleep. However, it is not always easy with a busy work schedule. On the other hand, even small changes — such as walking instead of driving — can make a big difference. As a result, I feel much more energetic than I did a year ago. Although I used to rely on traditional medicine, I now believe that prevention is better than cure. In order to improve public health, I think governments should invest more in sports facilities and healthy food education. All in all, I strongly believe that small daily habits, provided that they are consistent, can transform your quality of life.
Each highlighted phrase = a different linker category used naturally in context.
Upgrade your linkers — basic → B1
| Basic (avoid) | B1 upgrade |
|---|---|
| but | However / Nevertheless / On the other hand |
| also / and | Furthermore / Moreover / In addition / What's more |
| so | Therefore / As a result / That's why / Consequently |
| because | Due to / Because of this / As a result of |
| for example | For instance / Such as / In particular / Namely |
| I think | In my opinion / Personally / As far as I'm concerned |
| in the end | All in all / To sum up / Overall / In conclusion |
Exercises — linkers