The CEFR C2 level of English is advanced and the users at this level are proficient with their English. They are similar to native speakers of the language. To see the full list of C2 grammar on one page click here.
There are three negative points in the English Grammar Profile at C2 Modality that are quite rare. Point 215 is defined as: negative form ‘ought not to’ Point 226: CONTRACTED NEGATIVE ‘oughtn’t’ (without ‘to’) + verb Point 235 ‘ought’ + subject + ‘not to’ + verb to form (rhetorical) questions, often in formal contexts. *Point […]
OUGHT (negative OR questions) Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile (EGP), there are three similar points in the category of Future expressions with ‘BE’ at B2 in the English Grammar Profile. 47 ‘be due to’ and, more formally, ‘be to’ talk about things that are scheduled or expected. 53 OBLIGATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS WITH ‘BE TO’ 56 present form of ‘be’
‘BE’ + to infinitive | ‘BE’ + due to infinitive Read More »
There are three B2 future perfect continuous points in the EGP that are all very rare. B2 Point 54 is defined as LOOKING BACK FROM A POINT IN THE FUTURE and to emphasise the duration of an activity or event. B2 Point 49 is AFFIRMATIVE with ‘will’. B2 Point 42 is NEGATIVE *Actually we have
will (not) have been verbING Read More »
Some time adjectives to learn before a noun for intermediate students.
attributive only time adjectives Read More »
In the EGP, Point 223 in the category of modality is used to talk about not being brave enough to do something. It seems an unusual piece of grammar in that it is an infinitive next to another infinitive without “to”. It also is surrounded usually by verbs of speech. Collocates 5 to the left
These are the 12 adverbs I would teach with “must” to advanced students: correctly, either, generally, somehow, therefore, constantly, currently, necessarily, simply, successfully, surely, satisfactorily, ultimately.
MUST + modal adverb Read More »
How do complexity checkers compare?
Comparing the complexity checker Read More »
Rhetorical questions using “how can” serve to engage the reader or listener, provoke thought, and draw attention to the underlying issues or contradictions in a persuasive and reflective manner.
how can (reflections) Read More »
“Ought to” is a semi-modal verb similar to “should”. It’s used to express advice, expectation, obligation, or high probability. Unlike modal verbs, it’s followed by a ‘to-infinitive’, making it unique. It doesn’t change form for person, and can be used in various contexts to imply duty or suggest a course of action. For example, “I ought to phone my parents” implies a responsibility to call parents, while “It ought to be easy now” expresses an expectation of ease.
ought to (semi modal) Read More »
Grammar examples from B1 to C2 of this structure.
used to (semi modal) Read More »
Let’s look at two examples to explain this grammar. The first is from a student writing example using past continuous with an adverb that shows he didn’t control the situation with his friend and the second one is from an expert speaker using passives: For example, he was always playing soccer when I played baseball. PELIC Korean male level 4 grammar class. They were
(always | constantly) + past continuous Read More »
These are fixed expressions that are used to express a counterfactual or hypothetical situation in the past. They mean “if something had not happened, then something else would not have happened”. For example:
If it hadn’t been for your help, I would have failed the exam.
Had it not been for the storm, we would have arrived on time.
You can use different modals after these expressions, such as would, could, might. You can also invert the word order and omit “if”, as in the second example.
If it hadn’t been for / had it not been for + modal Read More »
How do you express regret?
If only + past perfect simple negative Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile ‘and yet’ or ‘yet’ is listed at C2 Point 24 in CONJUNCTIONS “CONCESSIVE to combine sentences, often unexpected” C1 Point 20 in CONJUNCTIONS coordinating CONCESSIVE ‘(and) yet’ to combine phrases and clauses to introduce a contrast, often unexpected. In the English Vocabulary Profile, ‘yet’ as a conjunction is listed as:
C2 CLAUSE: introduce conditions in formal contexts
‘If it were’ + to-infinitive
EGP
if it were to INFINITIVE Read More »
If you want to express something that happened immediately before something else with a very rare expression… Hardly had * _vvn * when 1 HARDLY HAD HE SPOKEN, WHEN 4 Even when searching with 4 spaces to the right on iWeb we get less than 10 strings:
Hardly had + inversion Read More »
For this C2 grammar, ‘major’ is an adjective meaning: important, serious, or significant. ‘Very’ is an adjective meaning: actual or precise, with emphasis on the exact quality of the following noun or an extreme point in time/space. Point 73 under the category of adjectives in C2 on the English Grammar Profile these two vocabulary items
‘major cities’, ‘very beginning’ (major | very + noun) Read More »
C1 | C2:
Had I known | Should you desire | Were I allowed + WOULD | COULD
Inversion in clauses with conditions and formality Read More »
One must wonder what the precise choice of collocating nouns is for this C2 point on the English Grammar Profile: 77 ADJECTIVES superlatives C2 USE: ‘the slightest’, ‘the faintest’ with a specific range of nouns to express the least amount possible, most frequently following a negative verb form The word “slightest” already means the least
the + slightest | faintest + noun Read More »
A range of adverbs with this future construction is examined.
“You’re going to absolutely love it” (‘going to’ ADVERB INFINITIVE) Read More »
