Use of English

USE OF ENGLISH

RIFERIMENTI GRAMMATICALI

go!

Index

USED TO

The Passive

Reporting speech

The Passive with reporting verbs

Modals of deduction

Phrasal verbs

Future perfect

Future expressions

Would rather

I wish/If only

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Used to

1. Some older people are finding it difficult to adjust to digital technology. USED Some older people can’t __________________ digital technology. 2. Our team only had one girl on it but now we have an equal number of boys and girls. USED Our team ______________________ one girl on it but now we have an equal number of boys and girls. 3. I started working for my new boss. It's fine now. GOT I ___________________________ for my new boss quite quickly.

EXERCISES

RULES

Used to

1. Some older people are finding it difficult to adjust to digital technology. USED Some older people can’t used to adjusting to digital technology. 2. Our team only had one girl on it but now we have an equal number of boys and girls. USED Our team used to have one girl on it but now we have an equal number of boys and girls. 3. I started working for my new boss. It's fine now. GOT I got used to working for my new boss quite quickly.

EXERCISES

RULES

Passive voice

1. The examiner tells candidates the regulations at the beginning of the exam. TOLD At the beginning of the exam candidates _________________ the regulations. 2. We haven't arranged a date for the wedding yet. BEEN A date for the wedding _________________ yet

EXERCISES

RULES

Passive voice

1. The examiner tells candidates the regulations at the beginning of the exam. TOLD At the beginning of the exam candidates ARE TOLD the regulations. 2. We haven't arranged a date for the wedding yet. BEEN A date for the wedding HASN'T BEEN ARRANGED yet.

1. "You'd better not swim there. It's dangerous!" : the many told us. WARNED The man _________________________ there because it was dangerous. 2. "I wouldn't buy Dave a book If I were you, Pete" said Laura ADVISED Laura _______________________ Dave a book.

EXERCISES

RULES

Reported speech

RULES

The passive with reporting verbs

1.Many people think that Nick caused the accident. BELIEVED Nick ________________________ caused the accident. 2. Everyone thinks Molly is responsible for the mix-up. BELIEVED Molly is __________________ responsible for the mix-up.

The passive with reporting verbs

1.Many people think that Nick caused the accident. BELIEVED Nick is believed to have caused the accident. 2. Everyone thinks Molly is responsible for the mix-up. BELIEVED Molly is believed to be responsible for the mix-up.

RULES

Modal verbs of deduction

1.My brother looks much fitter. I think he's stopped smoking. GIVEN My brother must ______________________ smoking. He looks much fitter.

RULES

Modal verbs of deduction

1.My brother looks much fitter. I think he's stopped smoking. GIVEN My brother must HAVE GIVEN UP smoking. He looks much fitter.

RULES

Phrasal verbs

1.If you're worried about it, you should raise it at our next meeting BRING Why ___________________________ at our next meeting if you're worried about? 2. As soon as we left the house, we realized we'd forgotten our passports. OFF We _______________________ when we realized we'd forgotten our passports. 3. I haven't had a chance tp examine the documents for the meeting yet. LOOK I haven't had a chance _____________________ the documents for the meeting yet. 4. I can’t wait to go on holiday. FORWARD I’m really _____________________________________ on holiday. 5. Tomorrow's conference is postponed and it will be held next month. PUT Tomorrown's conference has __________________ until next month.

RULES

Phrasal verbs

1.If you're worried about it, you should raise it at our next meeting BRING Why DON'T YOU BRING IT UP at our next meeting if you're worried about? 2. As soon as we left the house, we realized we'd forgotten our passports. OFF We HAVE JUST SET OFF when we realized we'd forgotten our passports. 3. I haven't had a chance to examine the documents for the meeting yet. LOOK I haven't had a chance TO LOOK THROUGH the documents for the meeting yet. 4. I can’t wait to go on holiday. FORWARD I’m really LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING on holiday. 5. Tomorrow's conference is postponed and it will be held next month. PUT Tomorrown's conference has BEEN PUT OFF until next month.

EXERCISES

DURATION UNTIL SOME TIME IN THE FUTURE

ACTIONS FINISHED IN THE FUTURE

Future perfect

1. I will have dinner ready by the time your parents arrive. PREPARED I ______________________________ by the time your parents arrive. 2. She started working here at the end of June, nearly two months ago. BEEN By the end of August, she ______________________________ here for two months. 3. By the time my favourite TV show starts, I will have dinner ready. FINISHED By the time my favourite TV show, I ______________________________ cooking dinner.

EXERCISES

ACTIONS FINISHED IN THE FUTURE

Future expressions

1. I will have dinner ready by the time your parents arrive. PREPARED I ______________________________ by the time your parents arrive. 2. She started working here at the end of June, nearly two months ago. BEEN By the end of August, she ______________________________ here for two months. 3. By the time my favourite TV show starts, I will have dinner ready. FINISHED By the time my favourite TV show, I ______________________________ cooking dinner.

PAST SITUATIONS

PRESENT SITUATIONS

Would rather

1. Please don't smoke in the office. YOU I'd rather _____________________________ in the office. 2. Ann said she doesn't want to dance tonight. RATHER Ann would ___________________________ tonight. 3. I'd prefer you to get home early tonight. RATHER I ___________________________ home early tonight.

PAST SITUATIONS

PRESENT SITUATIONS

Would rather

1. Please don't smoke in the office. YOU I'd rather you didn't smoke in the office. 2. Ann said she doesn't want to dance tonight. RATHER Ann would rather dance tonight. 3. I'd prefer you to get home early tonight. RATHER I would rather you came home early tonight.

+ WOULD

+ PAST PERFECT

+ PAST SIMPLE

I wish/If only

1. I regret not inviting Cathy to the party. ONLY If _____________________________ Cathy. 2. It's a pity the car is so expensive. WISH I _____________________________ so expensive.

+ WOULD

+ PAST PERFECT

+ PAST SIMPLE

I wish/If only

1. I regret not inviting Cathy to the party. ONLY If ONLY I HAD INVITED Cathy. 2. It's a pity the car is so expensive. WISH I WISH THE CAR WASN'T/WEREN'T so expensive.

Modals of deduction

They are in Las Vegas.

BRING UP = If you bring up a particular subject, you introduce it into a discussion or conversation GIVE UP = you stop doing it or having it (smettere oppure abbandonare) SET OFF = you start a journey (partire) TAKE OFF = when an aeroplane takes off, it leaves the ground and starts flying (decollare) LOOK THROUGH = you examine each one so that you can find or choose the one that you want LOOK OUT = If you say or shout 'look out!' to someone, you are warning them that they are in danger CALL OFF = If you call off an event that has been planned, you cancel it. PUT OFF = If you put something off, you delay doing it. LOOK FORWARD TO -ING = If you look forward to something that is going to happen, you want it to happen because you think you will enjoy it.

Phrasal verbs

BE BOUND TO = Something that is certain or very likely to happen. They are bound to like him. He is such a sweet guy. His new film is bound to win the heart of every romantic out there.

BE (UN)LIKELY TO/THAT = Something that will probably happen. He’s bad. He is unlikely to win the match. It’s unlikely that he will win the match.

Sally: ‘I don’t have time.’ ⇒ Sally said that she didn’t have time. Peter: ‘I am tired .’ ⇒ He said that he was tired.

I'm getting used to living in this neighbourhood.

She's used to having breakfast early.

Christin's parents used to think that sport was just a hobby, but her brilliant career has made them change their minds.

GET USED TO + -ING = abituarsi

BE USED TO + - ING = essere abituato/a

USED TO = ero solito/a

BRING UP = If you bring up a particular subject, you introduce it into a discussion or conversation GIVE UP = you stop doing it or having it (smettere oppure abbandonare) SET OFF = you start a journey (partire) TAKE OFF = when an aeroplane takes off, it leaves the ground and starts flying (decollare) LOOK THROUGH = you examine each one so that you can find or choose the one that you want LOOK OUT = If you say or shout 'look out!' to someone, you are warning them that they are in danger CALL OFF = If you call off an event that has been planned, you cancel it. PUT OFF = If you put something off, you delay doing it. LOOK FORWARD TO -ING = If you look forward to something that is going to happen, you want it to happen because you think you will enjoy it.

Phrasal verbs

I'm getting used to living in this neighbourhood.

She's used to having breakfast early.

Christin's parents used to think that sport was just a hobby, but her brilliant career has made them change their minds.

GET USED TO + -ING = abituarsi

BE USED TO + - ING = essere abituato/a

USED TO = ero solito/a

BE DUE TO + INFINITIVE = Things that are planned or expected to happen. They are due to leave the country next week when their visas expire.

BE TO + INFINITIVE = OFFICIAL ARRANGEMENTS or FORMAL INSTRUCTIONS AND ORDERS The president is to sign the agreement before he leaves office. All employees are to attend a health and safety orientation at the end of the week. You are not to leave this room until I say so.

BE ON THE BRINK/POINT/VERGE OF + -ing = Something will happen very soon. Artificial Intelligence is on the verge of revolutioning the world.

BE ABOUT TO + INFINITIVE = When something will happen in the near future. The company is about to launch its new service.

Modals of deduction

WOULD RATHER/sooner + NEW SUBJECT + PAST PERFECT (two subjects) TO EXPRESS PAST PREFERENCES and REGRETS. Example: I would rather we hadn’t gone there, it was quite boring. I’ d rather you had chosen something more interesting.

WOULD RATHER/sooner + PERFECT INFINITIVE (same subject) TO EXPRESS PAST PREFERENCES and REGRETS. Example: That museum was OK, but I would rather have visited the Eiffel Tower. I didn’t mind going to McDonald’s in Paris, but I’d rather have eaten something French.

WOULD RATHER/sooner + NEW SUBJECT + PAST SIMPLE (two subjects) WHEN TWO DIFFERENT SUBJECTS -> PAST SIMPLE = IN ITALIANO TRADOTTO CON IL CONGIUNTIVO PASSATO. Examples: I would rather (that) you came another time. = Preferirei che tu venissi un’altra volta. Luke would rather (that) Mark didn’t stay so late at the office = Luke preferirebbe che Mark non facesse così tardi in ufficio. She’d rather I picked her up after lunch = Preferirebbe che la andassi a prendere dopo pranzo. Would you rather we went by bus or by train? = Preferiresti che andassimo in bus o in treno?

WOULD RATHER + INFINITIVE … (THAN) (same subject) USED TO TALK ABOUT PREFERENCE = PREFERIREI WITHOUT TO BECAUSE IS AN AUXILIARY = COME CAN, COULD, MUST etc. Examples: I’d rather/sooner have tea, please. I’d rather/sooner have tea than drink that coffee. Would you rather/sooner have tea or coffee?

WOULD RATHER/sooner + NEW SUBJECT + PAST PERFECT (two subjects) TO EXPRESS PAST PREFERENCES and REGRETS. Example: I would rather we hadn’t gone there, it was quite boring. I’ d rather you had chosen something more interesting.

WOULD RATHER/sooner + PERFECT INFINITIVE (same subject) TO EXPRESS PAST PREFERENCES and REGRETS. Example: That museum was OK, but I would rather have visited the Eiffel Tower. I didn’t mind going to McDonald’s in Paris, but I’d rather have eaten something French.

WOULD RATHER/sooner + NEW SUBJECT + PAST SIMPLE (two subjects) WHEN TWO DIFFERENT SUBJECTS -> PAST SIMPLE = IN ITALIANO TRADOTTO CON IL CONGIUNTIVO PASSATO. Examples: I would rather (that) you came another time. = Preferirei che tu venissi un’altra volta. Luke would rather (that) Mark didn’t stay so late at the office = Luke preferirebbe che Mark non facesse così tardi in ufficio. She’d rather I picked her up after lunch = Preferirebbe che la andassi a prendere dopo pranzo. Would you rather we went by bus or by train? = Preferiresti che andassimo in bus o in treno?

WOULD RATHER + INFINITIVE … (THAN) (same subject) USED TO TALK ABOUT PREFERENCE = PREFERIREI WITHOUT TO BECAUSE IS AN AUXILIARY = COME CAN, COULD, MUST etc. Examples: I’d rather/sooner have tea, please. I’d rather/sooner have tea than drink that coffee. Would you rather/sooner have tea or coffee?

THINGS WE’D LIKE TO BE DIFFERENT NOW/IN THE FUTURE If only I were a bit taller, I’d be in the team I wish I could be there for you tomorrow.

THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST AND WE REGRET I wish I hadn’t quit my job two years ago. If only we hadn’t wasted all that money.

THINGS THAT ANNOY US; WE’D LIKE THEM TO CHANGE/STOP I wish you would stop biting your nails. I hate it! If only it would stop raining! It’s been ten days!

THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST AND WE REGRET I wish I hadn’t quit my job two years ago. If only we hadn’t wasted all that money.

THINGS THAT ANNOY US; WE’D LIKE THEM TO CHANGE/STOP I wish you would stop biting your nails. I hate it! If only it would stop raining! It’s been ten days!

THINGS WE’D LIKE TO BE DIFFERENT NOW/IN THE FUTURE If only I were a bit taller, I’d be in the team I wish I could be there for you tomorrow.