Essential English Grammar and Essay Writing Skills
1. First Conditional
Structure: If + present simple, will + verb
Example: If I study, I will pass.
More examples:
- If she calls, I will answer.
- If it rains, we will stay home.
2. Second Conditional
Structure: If + past simple, would + verb
Example: If I had money, I would buy a car.
If I were taller, I would play basketball.
3. Passive Voice
Structure: to be + past participle
Example: The book was written by the author.
Common verbs: write → written, make → made, speak → spoken, build → built, produce → produced.
4. Countable and Uncountable Nouns
Countable nouns: crash, pedal, resort, footprint, virus, voyage, room.
Uncountable nouns: water, milk, rice, money, information, scenery, pain, cash, stuff, chaos, news, knowledge.
Both: data, time, land, life, gear, business.
5. Using A / An
Used with singular countable nouns.
- A: Before consonant sounds (e.g., a car, a house).
- An: Before vowel sounds (e.g., an apple, an hour).
6. Essay Structure
Paragraph 1 – Introduction: Introduce the topic and state the context.
Paragraph 2 – First main point: Use connectors like Firstly, To begin with, or In addition.
Paragraph 3 – Second main point: Present the counter-argument using However, On the other hand, or Moreover.
Paragraph 4 – Conclusion: Summarize and provide a final opinion.
7. Essential B2 Essay Expressions
- In my opinion
- Firstly
- Moreover
- However
- On the other hand
- As a result
- In conclusion
8. Vocabulary List
- Commuters: Pessoas que se deslocam diariamente.
- Cockpit: Cabine do piloto.
- Departure lounge: Sala de embarque.
- Diesel: Gasóleo.
- Helmet: Capacete.
- Jet lag: Cansaço após viajar entre fusos horários.
- Motorists: Condutores.
- Motorway: Autoestrada.
- A study: Escritório ou sala de estudo.
- Campus: Escola ou universidade.
- Cram: Estudar muito.
- Dissertation: Trabalho final.
- Graduation ceremony: Cerimónia de final de curso.
- Lecture theatre: Anfiteatro.
- Resit: Repetir o teste.
- Win a scholarship: Ganhar uma bolsa.