Gold B2 Grammar extra file

GRAMMAR UNIT 3
COMPARISON

Type of adjective Rule Adjective Comparative form + than

1 syllable +er long longer the longest
the shortest
short shorter the biggest
1 syllable +double C big bigger the saddest
CVC ending +er sad sadder
2 syllables ending -y becomes i funny funnier the funniest
in –y +er happy happier the happiest
the yellowest
2 syllables ending +er yellow yellower than the simplest
in –ow, -le, -er simple simpler than the tenderest
tender tenderer than
2 or more syllables +more important more important the most
Irregular learn them bad worse important
the worst
good better the best
far farther/further the farthest
the least
little less

A. Complete the sentences with the comparative forms of the words in the box. Use than
where necessary.

big crowded early easily high important

interested peaceful reliable serious simple thin

1. I was feeling tired last night, so I went to bed earlier than usual.
2. I’d like to have a ________________________
more reliable car. The one I have keeps breaking down.
3. Unfortunately her illness was ________________________
more serious than we thought at first.
4. You look ________________________. Have you lost weight?
thinner
5. I want a ________________________
bigger apartment. We don’t have enough space here.
6. He doesn’t study very hard. He’s ________________________
more interested than in having a good time.
7. Health and happiness are ________________________
more important than money.
8. The instructions were very complicated. They could have been ________________________
simpler/ more simple
9. There were a lot of people on the bus. It was ________________________
more crowded than usual.
10. I like living in the country. It’s ________________________
more peaceful than living in a town.
11. You’ll find your way around the town ________________________
more easily if you have a good map.
12. In some parts of the country, prices are ________________________
higher than in others.
Gold B2 Grammar extra file
There are 3 types of comparison:
F to a higher degree : comparative form + than
Ex: Her hair is longer than Emily’s hair.
F to the same degree: as + adjective + as
Ex: Lola is as tall as her brother.
F to a lower degree: less + adjective + than
Ex: K2 is less high than Mount Everest.

MODIFIERS
Before comparatives you can use modifiers to increase the comparison. Look at the chart below.
Modifiers Comparatives/Superlatives
(very) much
far
a lot more/less expensive
rather cheaper
than…
slightly more/less time
a bit/little more/less difficult
no
not any
just as cheap/expensive
almost/nearly as much time
as…
not quite as unusual
not nearly as difficult
the most/least expensive
(by) far the cheapest
the most time

Examples:
- Let’s go by car. It’s much cheaper.
- Don’t go by train. It’s a lot more expensive.
- Could you speak a bit more slowly?
- This bag is slightly heavier than the other one.
- Her illness was far more serious than we thought at first.

B. Use the words in brackets to complete the sentences. Use much / a bit etc. + a
comparative form. Use than where necessary.

1. Her illness was much more serious than we thought at first. (much/serious)
2. This bas is too small. I need something _________________________
much more bigger (much / big)
3. I liked the museum. It was ____________________________ I expected
much more interesting than (much/interesting)
4. It was very hot yesterday. Today it’s _________________________ (a bit / cool)
5. I’m afraid the problem is _________________________ it seems. (far / complicated)
6. You’re driving too fast. Can you drive _________________________ ? (a bit / slowly)
7. I thought she was younger than me, but she’s _________________________ (slightly / old)
Gold B2 Grammar extra file
AS VS LIKE
We use “as” in this way
He’s a doctor, as his father and grandfather were before him.
I left everything as it was.
as + subject + verb Sometimes as ( +subject +verb) has other meanings, for
as = in the same way as example after do :
You can do as you like.
They did as they promised.
I worked as a waiter when I was a student. (often used for jobs)
as + noun
I used my shoe as a hammer. (=function)
(=en tant que/in the role of)
He worked as a bus driver.
It happened as in a dream.
as + preposition
As with most things in life, balance is key.
the same as
Your jacket is the same colour as mine.
such as (to give examples)
They gave them gifts such as flowers and fruit.
as usual / as always
with these expressions You’re late as usual.
As always, Nick was the first to complain.
as you know / as I said / as she expected / as I thought…
As you know, the meeting has been rescheduled.
as if / as though
He spoke as if he were an expert.

We use “like” in this way

like = similar to I think this tastes like coconut.
to compare two things My sister isn’t like me.
like + noun/personal The floor has been polished. It’s like walking on ice.
pronoun/gerund (-ing)
I enjoy water sports, like surfing, scuba diving and water-
like = for example
skiing.
What… like ?
What’s her new house like?
feel like
I felt like a fool when I couldn’t remember her name.
with these expressions
seem/sound/look like
The two women seem like sisters.
like I said
Like I said, we need to finish this by tomorrow.
Gold B2 Grammar extra file
A. Exercise: Complete the blanks with as or like.
1. There aren’t many people _______
like you.

2. I like to eat pork with apple sauce, _______

as they do in England.
3. You look _______
like your father.
4. I can resist anything except temptation, _______
as Oscar Wilde said.
5. I’d like to cross Africa in a balloon, _______
as they did in Jules Verne’s story.
6. My friend Frank is _______
like a brother to me.
as
7. I love the sea, in summer _______ in winter.
8. I’m going to work _______
as a tourist guide during the summer.
9. It’s raining again. I hate weather _______
like this.
10. Andy failed his driving test, _______
as he expected.
11. Do you think Lisa looks _______
like her mother ?
12. Tim gets on my nerves. I can’t stand people _______
like him.
13. Why didn’t you do it _______
as I told you to do it ?
14. Brian is a student, _______
like most of his friends.
15. You never listen. Talking to you is _______
like talking to the wall.
16. _______
As I said before, I’m thinking of changing my job.
17. Tom’s idea seems a good one. Let’s do _______
as he suggests.
as
18. I’ll phone you tomorrow _______ usual, OK ?
like
19. Suddenly there was a terrible noise. It was _______ a bomb exploding.
20. She’s a very good swimmer. She swims _______
like a fish.
21. You waste too much time doing things _______
as sitting in cafes all day.
Gold B2 Grammar extra file
PAST SIMPLE & PRESENT PERFECT
Past Simple Construction
Most verbs add -ed to the infinitive to form the past simple: stay –> stayed, learn –> learned
POSITIVE I stayed with my friend last night. He learned native American languages. They
failed the exam.
NEGATIVE I did not (didn’t) stay with her last night. She did not (didn’t) learn any languages.
We did not (didn’t) fail the exam.
QUESTIONS Did you stay with her? Did she learn any languages? Which exam did they fail?

Many common verbs are irregular. Examples: be –> was/were, do –> __________,, go –>
__________, have –> __________, make –> __________,, put –> __________,, say –> __________,,
see –> saw…

Present Perfect Construction

We form the present perfect with have + past participle. The regular past participle ends in -ed
(ex: finished).
POSITIVE I have finished. She has gone. They have broken it.
NEGATIVE I have not (haven’t) finished. He has not (hasn’t) gone. We have not (haven’t)
broken it.
QUESTIONS Have you finished? Has he gone? Where have you been?
Many common past participle are irregular.

C. Match the rules to the correct tense.

We use the…
1. for a single completed action in the past
2. a series of actions (when one thing happens after another)
in the past
3. experiences in our life up to now
Past Simple • 4. for situations that finished in the past
5. a recent event in the past that has a result in the present
Present Perfect • 6. habitual actions in the past
7. a situation that started in the past and continues until
present
8. with expressions like never, ever, just, already, recently,
yet…
9. with expressions like ago, last week, last month,
yesterday…
Gold B2 Grammar extra file
A. Choose the correct words in italics.

1. She has been to the doctor twice this month / last month.
2. I’ve driven this car many times / in 2007.
3. Jane passed / has passed her driving test last week.
4. Steve loves his job. He did / has done it since he was 22.
5. Caroline has bought a lot of clothes this year / two years ago.
6. Rick has finished / finished the course six months ago.

B. Are these sentences right or wrong? Correct them where necessary.

1. My mother has grown up in Italy. __________________________________

2. How many poems has Shakespeare written? __________________________________
3. Ow! I’ve cut my finger. It’s bleeding. __________________________________
4. Who has invented paper? __________________________________
5. Where have you been born? __________________________________
6. Albert Einstein has been a scientist. __________________________________

C. Put each verb in brackets into either the present perfect or past simple.

was
1. When I ______________
got (get) home last night, I ______________ (be) very tired and
______________
went (go) straight to bed.
2. “__________________________
Have you seen saw
(you, see) Lisa recently?” “Yes, I ______________ (see) her a
few days ago.
3. I’m tired. I ______________ (not, sleep) well last night.
4. The bus drivers were on strike last week. There ______________
were (be) no buses.
5. Mr Lee ______________
worked (work) in a bank for 15 years. Then he ______________
gave (give) it up.
Now he works as a gardener.
6. Mary lives in Dublin. She ______________ (live) there all her life.
7. “______________________ (you, go) to the cinema last night?” “Yes, but it ______________
(be) a mistake. The film ______________ (be) awful.”
8. I don’t know Karen’s husband. I _________________________ (never, meet) him.
9. It’s nearly lunchtime, and I ______________ (not, see) Martin all morning. I wonder where he
is.

Extra Online Practice:

Gold B2 Grammar extra file
Present Perfect Continuous Construction

We form the present perfect continuous with have + been + the -ing form of the verb.

POSITIVE I have been waiting. He has been washing the car. They have been cooking.
NEGATIVE I have not (haven’t) been waiting. He has not (hasn’t) been washing the car. We
have not (haven’t) been cooking.
QUESTIONS Have you been waiting? Has he been washing the car? What have you been
doing?

F We use the present perfect continuous to talk about actions or situations that started
in the past and are still continuing now: We’ve been waiting to hear from them.
F We can also use the present perfect continuous if the action or situation finishes at
the time of speaking: I’ve been waiting in this queue for an hour! (…but now I’ve
reached the ticket office).

Present Perfect Simple Present Perfect Continuous

Focuses on the result Focuses on the activity
Ex: You’ve cleaned the bathroom! It looks lovely! Ex: I’ve been gardening. It’s so nice out there.
Says “how many” “how much” Says “how long”
Ex: She’s read ten books this summer. Ex: She’s been reading that book all day.
Can be used with action and non-action verbs Can NOT be used with non-action verbs
Time expressions used : Time expressions used:
always, recently, before, ever, already, just, for and since.
still, yet, for and since.

D. Write sentences, using the words below and the present perfect continuous form of the
verbs.
0. We / wait / for ages We’ve been waiting for ages.

1. David / watch TV / all afternoon ________________________________________

David is been watching TV all afternoon

2. What / he / do ? ________________________________________
What he is been doing

3. Elizabeth / not work / this week ________________________________________

Elizabeth isn't been working this week

4. My grandparents / not feel well / recently ________________________________________

My grandaprents isn't feeling well recently
How long are you been studying English
5. How long / you / study English ? ________________________________________
Gold B2 Grammar extra file

E. Choose the correct words in italics.

“You won’t believe this but I’ve / I’m been learning to drive! I suppose it’s a bit late to learn to
drive at my age, but my husband used to do all the driving. So when he died I really needed to
learn. In fact I’ve really been enjoyed / enjoying it. I’ve had / been having lessons for six months
now. I suppose I’ve been having / had about thirty lessons so far. I’ve gone / been going to the
local driving school. The instructors are very friendly and it’s quite close to my house. But it’s rather
expensive. I’ve already spent / been spending over £500! After the first ten lessons I took / have
been taking my first test. It was a disaster! Of course, I didn’t pass. Since then I’ve been tried /
trying to improve, but it isn’t easy at my age. I find it’s very difficult ot change gears smoothly
because of my bad leg – for the last ten years I am / ‘ve been suffering from arthritis, which makes
my leg stiff. I’ve taken / been taking some special vitamins which seem to help – I take two each
day. My instructor says I should use an automatic car, but I think I prefer manual ones. Although in
fact I’ve never driven / been driving an automatic car, so perhaps I should give it a try…”