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How to use Grammar Movies

There are over forty movies here - lots of important grammar topics are covered. However, remember that the whole of English grammar isn't here!

To select a Movie -there are two ways to do this:

1. click on the index to select the topic
2. use the 'Search' feature - type in one or two 'key words' e.g. past simple or going to - if there's a movie on that topic click on the link that appears

How to watch a Movie:

• Play button - when this flashes green the movie is ready to play
• Audio panel - increase or decrease the volume
• back to start - if there is more than one movie for a topic click here to return to the first movie of the topic
• back - if there is more than one movie present for a topic click here to return to the start of the chosen movie
• forward - if there is more than one movie present for a topic click here to go to the next movie
• Practice Exercises - practise your grammar with these exercises
• Reference - grammar information to print out

1. Tenses

a. The past
Past continuous
'They were playing tennis when we arrived'
Past simple or present perfect simple or continuous?
'I ran, I've run, I've been running'
Past perfect
'He still hadn't started work when they arrived'

b. The future
Present tenses in future time clauses
'I'll phone you when I've finished all the work'

2 Verbs

a. Modal verbs
Obligation and permission
'I must phone my mother before it's too late'
Possibility or certainty
'You must be very clever'

b. Gerunds and infinitives
Gerunds
'I'll think about joining the club next year'
Infinitives
He joined the fitness club to get some more exercise'
Gerunds and infinitives
'I won't forget to meet you'

c.Passives
The thieves were arrested two days ago'

3 Functions
a. Expressing preference
'John would rather watch a film on TV than go to the cinema'

b. Expressing ability
'They scored two goals in the last minute and were able to win the cup'

c. Wishes and regrets
'If only we lived nearer the sports centre.'

4 Structures

a. Conditionals
First or second conditional?
'If he worked harder, he'd get the job.'
Third conditional
'If he hadn't overslept he wouldn't have missed the train.'  
Mixed conditionals
'He 'd have got the job if he weren't so lazy.'  

b. Reported speech
Reported statements
'Sarah said that she had just moved to Brighton.'
Reported questions
'She asked where I'd been.'
Reporting verbs
' She asked me to call her this weekend.'

5 Other items

a. Comparisons
Making comparisons
'John doesn't drive as fast as he used to'