The past perfect
Use had with a past participle to show that one event happened before another past event.
Language learningOpen
Learning library
Search and filter by level, domain and content type.
100 results
The passive voice
Form the passive with be in the required tense and a past participle.
Language learningOpen
Degrees of certainty
Use must for a strong deduction, might or may for a possibility, and can’t for a deduction that something is impossible.
Language learningOpen
The third conditional
Use if with had and a past participle, followed by would have and a past participle, to imagine a different result in a finished past situation.
Language learningOpen
Concession and contrast
Although is followed by a clause with a subject and verb.
Language learningOpen
Evaluating options
Compare options against clear criteria such as cost, time and quality.
Language learningOpen
Professional negotiation
State what you need and where you can be flexible.
Language learningOpen
Summarising a meeting
A meeting summary records decisions, actions, owners and deadlines.
Language learningOpen
A balanced complaint
Describe what happened, include relevant details and state the resolution you request.
Language learningOpen
Structuring a presentation
Tell the audience which question you will answer, present supporting evidence and finish with a conclusion.
Language learningOpen
A decision before the meeting · Clarifying the earlier event
Clarifying the earlier event in context, with bilingual examples and practice.
Language learningOpen
A decision before the meeting · Linking the past perfect to the past simple
Linking the past perfect to the past simple in context, with bilingual examples and practice.
Language learningOpen
A missed departure · Explaining the cause of a past event
Explaining the cause of a past event in context, with bilingual examples and practice.
Language learningOpen
A missed departure · Using already and by the time
Using already and by the time in context, with bilingual examples and practice.
Language learningOpen
Discovering an outdated version · Describing work completed before a discovery
Describing work completed before a discovery in context, with bilingual examples and practice.
Language learningOpen
Discovering an outdated version · Ordering causes and consequences
Ordering causes and consequences in context, with bilingual examples and practice.
Language learningOpen
A misunderstanding discovered later · Describing an earlier expectation
Describing an earlier expectation in context, with bilingual examples and practice.
Language learningOpen
A misunderstanding discovered later · Explaining a change in understanding
Explaining a change in understanding in context, with bilingual examples and practice.
Language learningOpen