Basic 3

Additional Grammar
This material is going to
Help you to understand
Grammar in basic three

B3

Contenido
Getting A Job

Unit 2 -

Business Matters

Unit 3 -

Planning A Vacation

Unit 4 -

Eating Out

Unit 5 -

Traveling Abroad

Unit 6 -

Emotions

Unit 7 -

Making Excuses

Unit 8 -

Tickets Please

Be able to
Gerund as Subject or Object
Gerund After Preposition

Must Vs. Must Have

Should
Gerund and Infinitive After Verbs

Past Continuous and Past Simple

Comparative and Superlatives

Adverbs Formation
Going to or Will
Present Simple and Continuous

Questions in the present progressive

Questions words in the present progresive

Infinitives After Adjectives

Adverbs of Frequency
Gerunds and Infinitives

INFOP

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08

Unit 1 -

Unit 1
Getting A Job
B3
Be able to
To be able to do something means
to have the ability to do it. Be able to
is sometimes used in place of can or
could. Instead of, I cant work you
might say, I am not able to work.

Can Could Be able to

Es importante recordar que el verbo Can (poder) no tiene infinitivo, ni gerundio
(ing form), ni presente perfecto, ni futuro y tampoco puede seguir a otro verbo modal
auxiliar.
Para todos esos casos mencionados se debe utilizar la estructura Be able to. (Poder, ser
capaz de).
El significado de Be able to es similar al de Can y se usa en los tiempos verbales en que
Can no puede conjugarse.

INFOP

You can use be able to in any tense.

Just change the tense of the verb be.
For example, you can say:
I was able to see a work last night, or,
He will be able to work tomorrow.

CAN slo puede conjugarse en Simple Present y Simple Past. Observa estos ejemplos
con ambos tiempos verbales y su equivalencia con be able to:

Simple Present
I can read in English = I am able to read in English
(Puedo leer (S leer) en ingls.)
Simple Past
I could read in English = I was able to read in English.
(Poda leer (Saba leer) en ingls.)

En cambio, para los restantes tiempos verbales tienes que usar be able to en reemplazo
de can. No siendo be able to un auxiliar modal, puede usarse sin limitaciones con todos
los tiempos verbales.
Observa algunos ejemplos:

SIMPLE FUTURE
I will be able to read in English.
(Podr leer (Sabr leer) en ingls.)
SIMPLE CONDITIONAL
I would be able to read in English
(Podra leer (Sabra leer) en ingls.)
PRESENT PERFECT
I have been able to read in English
(He podido leer (He sabido leer) en ingls.)

Importante:
Sin embargo, con los verbos que se refieren a los cinco sentidos (see, hear,smell, feel,
taste) y con los verbos que se refieren a procesos del pensamiento (understand, believe,
remember, decide), se prefiere utilizar el verbo could an cuando estemos hablando de
situaciones especficas.
Observa estos dos ejemplos:
1.

1.

He was standing close to me and I could smell the garlic on his breath.
l estaba parado a mi lado y pude oler el ajo en su aliento.
(I was able to smell implicara que hice un esfuerzo para olerlo y no fue as).
I could see that she had been Working.
Pude observar que ella haba estado trabajando.

INFOP

Gerund as Subject or Object

Try to think of a gerund as a noun in verb form.
(Trate de pensar en un gerundio como sustantivo en forma verbal)
Like nouns, gerunds can be the subject, object or complement of a sentence:
(Al igual que los sustantivos , los gerundios pueden ser objeto , objeto o complemento de
una frase:)
I dont like writing.
(no me gusta escribir)
My favorite occupation is reading.
(Mi ocupacion favorita es leer)

I dont like writing letters.

(no me gusta escribir cartas)
My favorite occupation is reading
detective stories.
(mi cocupacion favorita es leer
historias de detectives)

INFOP

But, like verbs, a gerund can also have

an object itself. In this case, the whole
expression (gerund + object) can be the subject, object or complement of the sentence.
(Pero , al igual que los verbos , un gerundio puede tambin tener un objeto en s En este
caso, toda la expresin ( gerundio + objeto) puede ser el sujeto, objeto o complemento de
la oracion)

Gerund After Preposition

If we want to use a verb after a preposition, it must be a gerund (which functions as
a noun). It is impossible to use an infinitive after a preposition. So, for example, we
say:
(Si queremos usar un verbo despus de una preposicin, debe ser un gerundio (que
funciona como un sustantivo). Es imposible usar un infinitivo despus de una
preposicin. As, por ejemplo, decimos:)
I will call you after arriving at the office.
(Te llamar despus de llegar a la
oficina.)

Here is a good rule. It has no exceptions:

(He aqu una buena regla. No tiene excepciones:)
Prepositions are always followed by a noun-phrase.
(Las preposiciones siempre van seguidos de un sustativofrase)

B3

INFOP

I am looking forward to meeting you.

(Tengo muchas ganas de conocerte.)

Unit 2
Business Matters
B3

Must vs. must have

El Modal del verbo debe tiene dos
ltimas formas del tiempo: tena que
y deben tener.
Qu forma usamos depende de si
queremos expresar obligacin o si
queremos decir cmo ciertas estamos
a punto la probabilidad de que algo
suceda.
Esta tabla de abajo nos muestra el
pasado de debe y debe tener y cundo
usarlos.

INFOP

The modal verb must has two past

tense forms: had to and must have.
Which form we use depends on
whether we want to express obligation
or if we want to say how certain we
are about the probability of something
happening.
This table below shows us the past
tense of must and have to and when
to use them.

Must vs. must have

Present
Past
When expressing obligation, When expressing obligation,
we say:
the past of must and have to is
always had to:
I must go.
I had to wash my car yesterday .
or
We had to go to bed at 8 oclock
I have to go.
when we were kids.
When expressing a personal
opinion about probability
(deduction), we mostly use
must to express that we feel
something is true:
He must be fit if he can run 10
kilometre.

When expressing a personal

opinin in the past, we mostly
use must have, not had to:

It must be great to be rich.

It must have been great.

B3

INFOP

He must have been fit.

Unit 3
Planning A Vacation
B3
Should

We useshould to express
the degree of possibility or
probability, as well as for weak
obligation.

Usamosshould para expresar grado

de posibilidad o probabilidad, as
como tambin para obligacin dbil.
Significa: debera, tendra que.

Ejemplos:

You should travel tomorrow.

(Deberas de viajar maana.)

I should pack the bag.

(Debera de empacar la maleta.)

INFOP

Afirmative

Negative
Nick shouldnt be swimming.
(Nick no debera estar nadando.)

The kids shouldnt be playing.

(Los nios no deberian de estar jugando.)

Afirmative
Should we visit copn?
Deberamos visitar copn?

Gerund and infinitive after verbs

Some verbs have different meanings when they are follwed by a gerund or an infinitive.
(Algunos verbos tienen significados diferentes cuando son seguidos por un gerundio o
un infinitivo.)

INFOP

Should I travel to Roatn?

Debera de viajar a Roatn?

Ejemplos:
Forget
Gerund
looks back in the past
(mira hacia atras en el pasado)
Hell never forget spending so much
money on his first computer.
(El nunca olvidara haber gastado tanto
dinero en su primer computador.)

Infinitive
looks into the future
(mira hacia el futuro)
Dont forget to spend money on the
tickets.
(No olvides gastar el dinero en las
entradas.)

Ejemplos:
Go on
Gerund
to continue with the same thing
(para continuar con la misma cosa)
Go on reading the text.
(Sigue leyendo el texto.)

Infinitive
to change the activity
(para cambiar la actividad)
Go on to read the text.
(Vamos a leer el texto.)

Ejemplos:
mean
Infinitive
intend to do something
(intenta hacer algo)
I meant to phone your mother, but my
mobile didnt work.
(Quise llamar a tu madre , pero mi
celular no funciono.)
INFOP

Gerund
something has to be done to get a result
(algo se tiene que hacer para obtener el
resultado)
You have forgotten your homework
again. That means phoning your mother.
(has olvidado tu tarea de nuevo. Eso
significa llamar a tu madre.)

B3

Unit 4
Eating Out
B3

Past Simple
the simple past talks about something
that happened before. It happened
and it finished. Some words are regular
and just have (-ed) added at the end
like walked, helped, and played.

Pasado Simple
el pasado simple habla de algo que
sucedi antes. Sucedi y termin.
Algunas palabras son regulares y
acaban (-ed) aadido al final como
caminado , ayudado y jug.

INFOP

Past Continuous
and
Past simple

Past progressive
The past progressive talks about
something that was happening
before, but for a period of time. It
uses was or were + verb-ing like
was eating or were playing. It gives a
background for something that was
happening while a different event
happened.

Pasado progressivo
El pasado progresivo habla sobre
algo que suceda antes, pero por un
perodo de tiempo determinado.
Utiliza fue o fueron + verbo-ing
como estaba comiendo o estaban
jugando . Le da un fondo para algo
que estaba sucediendo mientras un
evento diferente que pas.

Ejemplos pasado progresivo:

I was eating when she called.
(Estaba comiendo cuando ella llamo.)

INFOP

While we were having the picnic, it started to rain.

(Cuando estabamos teniendo un dia de campo , empezo a llover.)

Past Simple
In the Simple Past, a specific time is
used to show when an action began
or finished. In the Past Continuous,
a specific time only interrupts the
action.

Pasado simple
En el pasado simple, se utiliza un
tiempo especfico para mostrar
cuando una accin comenz o
termin. En el continuo Pasado, un
tiempo especfico slo interrumpe la
accin.

Ejemplos pasado simple:

This morning at 6 AM, we ate breakfast.
(Esta maana a las 6 AM, comimos el desayuno.)

INFOP

They ate outside for lunch.

(Comieron afuera para el almuerzo.)

Comparative and superlatives

Comparative is the name for the grammar used when comparing two things. The two
basic ways to compare are using as or than. Examples of each are shown below:
(Comparativo es el nombre de la gramtica utilizada cuando se comparan dos cosas. Las dos formas

bsicas para comparar estn utilizando como o que. Ejemplos de cada uno se muestran a continuacin:)

This book is not as exciting as the last one.

(Este libro no es tan emocionante como el ltimo.)
Im almost as good in maths as in science.
(Soy casi tan bueno en matemticas como en ciencias.)
Shes twice as old as her sister.
(Ella es dos veces mayor wque su hermana .)

This computer is better than that one.

(Este computador es mejor que ese.)
Shes stronger at chess than I am.
(Ella es ms fuerte en ajedrez que yo.)
Its much colder today than it was yesterday.
(Es mucho ms fro de lo que era ayer.)
INFOP

Degrees of Adjectives
positive

tall
(alto)
big
(grande)
intelligent
(inteligente)

comparative

taller
(ms alto)
bigger
(ms grande)
more intelligent
(ms inteligente)

superlative
the tallest
(el ms alto)
the biggest
(el ms grande)
the most intelligent
(el ms inteligente)

comparative
adj + er
smaller
(ms pequeo)
younger
(ms joven)
older
(ms viejo)

superlative
adj + est
the smallest
(el ms pequeo)
youngest
(el ms joven)
the oldest
(el ms viejo)

comparative
adj + er

superlative
adj + est
the easiest
(el ms fcil)
happiest
(el ms feliz)
the humblest
(el ms humilde)

Monosyllables Adjectives
monosyllables
small
(pequeo)
young
(joven)
old
(viejo)

disyllabic
easy
(fcil)
happy
(feliz)
humble
(Humilde)

easier
(ms fcil)
happier
(ms feliz)
humbler
(ms humilde)

INFOP

disyllabic Adjectives

Long Adjectives
long
adjectives
expensive
(caro)
interesting
(interesandte)
elegant
(elegante)

comparative
more + adj
more expensive
(ms caro)
more interesting
(ms interesante)
more elegant
(ms elegante)

superlative
the most + adj
the most expensive
(el ms caro)
the most interesting
(el ms interesante)
the most elegant
(el ms elegante)

Irregular formation

good
(bueno)
bad
(malo)
litte
(poco)

comparative
better
(mejor)
worse
(peor)
less
(menos)

superlative
the best
(el mejor)
the worst
(el peor)
the least
(el menos)

B3

INFOP

adjective or adverb

Unit 5
Traveling Abroad
B3
Adverbs formation
Adverbs tell us in what way someone
does something. Adverbs can modify
verbs, adjectives or other adverbs.

Los adverbios nos dicen de qu manera

alguien hace algo. Los adverbios puede
modificar verbos, adjetivos o adverbios
otros.)

Form
Adjective + -ly

Form
Irregular
adverb
dangerously
carefully
nicely
horribly
easily
electronically

adjective
good
fast
hard
late
early
daily

well
fast
hard
late
early
daily

adverb
INFOP

adjective
dangerous
careful
nice
horrible
easy
electronic

Going to or Will

When we want to talk about future facts or things we believe to be true about the future,
we use will.
(Cuando queremos hablar de hechos o cosas futuras que creemos que es verdad sobre el
futuro, podemos usar will )

My familly will travel tomorrow.

(Mi familia viajar maana.)

If we are not so certain about the future, we use will with expressions such as probably,
possibly, I think, I hope.
(Si no estamos tan seguros sobre el futuro, utilizamos will con expresiones tales como
probablemente, posiblemente, Creo, espero.)

I hope youll visit my country one day.

(Espero que algun dia visites mi pais.)

INFOP

If you are making a future prediction based on evidence in the present situation, use
going to.
(Si va a realizar una prediccin futura basada en la evidencia en la situacin actual,
utilice going to.)

The traffic is terrible. Were going to miss our flight.

(El trfico es terrible. Vamos a perder nuestro vuelo.)

At the moment of making a decision, use will. Once you have made the decision, talk
about it using going to.
(En el momento de tomar una decisin, utilice voluntad. Una vez que haya tomado la
decisin, hablar de ello usando going to.)

Ill call Jenny to let her know. Sarah, I need Jennys number. Im going to call her
about the trip.
(Llamar a Jenny para hacerle saber. Sarah, necesito

INFOP

Present Simple and Continuous

as Future Tenses
We use the present continuous to talk about things that we have already arranged to do
in the future.
(Usamos el presente continuo para hablar de cosas que ya hemos dispuestos a hacer en el
futuro.)

Ive got my ticket. Im leaving on Thursday.

(Tengo mi boleto. Me voy el jueves.)
Hes picking me up at the airport.
(l me recoger en el aeropuerto.)

Im going to see him./Im seeing him.

(Voy a verlo. / Yo lo estoy viendo.)
Im going to do it./Im doing it.
(Voy a hacerlo. / Lo estoy haciendo.)

INFOP

In many situations when we talk about future plans we can use either the present
continuous or the going to future. However, when we use the present continuous,
there is more of a suggestion that an arrangement has already been made.
(En muchas situaciones, cuando hablamos de los planes futuros que podemos usar o bien
el presente continuo o el going to futuro. Sin embargo, cuando se utiliza el presente
continuo, es ms una sugerencia que un acuerdo que ya se ha hecho.)

We use the present simple to talk about events in the future. We can also use the present
continuous to talk about these.
(Usamos el presente simple para hablar de los acontecimientos en el futuro. Tambin
podemos utilizar el presente continuo para hablar de estos.)

My plane leaves at 6 in the morning.

(Mi avin sale a las 6 de la maana.)

B3

INFOP

Unit 6
Emotions
B3

Questions in the Present Progressive

Subject
they

verb
rest
Yes/No
writing emails?
yes,
no,
no,

Subject Auxiliary (+ nt)

they
are.
they
are not.
they
arent.

INFOP

Auxiliary
Are

Auxiliary
Are

Subject
they

verb
rest
Yes/No
playing football?
yes,
no,
no,

verb
rest
singing a song?

Yes/No
yes,
no,
no,

Subject Auxiliary (+ nt)

he
is.
he
is not.
he
isnt.

Subject Auxiliary (+ nt)

they
are.
they
are not.
they
arent.

INFOP

Auxiliary Subject
Is
peter

Questions with question words

in the Present Progressive
Question Auxiliary
word
What
are

Subject

Verb

Rest

Answer

you

doing

right now?

I am working on
my computer.

Question Auxiliary
word
Where
is

Subject

Verb

Rest

Answer

Tyler

going

INFOP

He is going to the
pet shop.

Rest

Answer

the buckets?

they are carrying

the buckets
because they want
to clean their bikes.

B3

INFOP

Question Auxiliary Subject

Verb
word
Why
are
they carrying

Unit 7
Making Excuses
B3
Infinitives After Adjectives
This interesting grammar article will help
you use the infinitive structures. Lets see
how to do it...

Este interesante artculo

gramatical te ayudar a
utilizar las estructuras del
infinitivo. Aqu te explicamos
cmo hacerlo...

Comparando frases con infinitivos

Jim no habla muy claramente.
A. Es difcil entenderlo.
B. Es difcil de entender.
Oraciones A y B tienen el mismo
significado. Pero tenga en cuenta que
dicen que es difcil de entender, no es
difcil entenderlo a el.

INFOP

Comparing sentences with infinitives

Jim doesnt speak very clearly.
A. It is difficult to understand him.
B. He is difficult to understand.
Sentences A and B have the same meaning. But note that we say He is difficult
to understand, not he is difficult to understand him.

Puede utilizar la estructura en la frase B

despus de difciles, fciles, imposibles,
duro y despus de un par de otros
adjetivos. Veamos algunos ejemplos:
Su escritura es casi imposible de leer,
no ... para leerlo.
(Es casi imposible leer su escritura)
Crees que esta agua es segura para
beber ?, no ... para beberla?
Adolfo es muy interesante para
hablar, no ... para hablar con l.

You can also use this structure with an

adjective + noun:
This is a very difficult question to
answer, not ...to answer it.
Adolfo is an interesting person to talk
to.
I enjoyed the soccer game. It was an
exciting game to watch on TV.

Tambin puede utilizar esta estructura

con un adjetivo + sustantivo:
Esta es una pregunta muy difcil de
responder, no ... para responder a
ella.
Adolfo es una persona interesante
con quien hablar.
Me gust el partido de ftbol. Fue un
partido emocionante de ver en la
televisin.
INFOP

You can use the structure in sentence B

after difficult, easy, impossible, hard and
after a few other adjectives. Lets see some
examples:
Your writing is almost impossible to
read, not ...to read it.
(It is almost impossible to read your
writing)
Do you think this water is safe to
drink?, not ...to drink it?
Adolfo is very interesting to talk to,
not ...to talk to him.

La primera, la segunda, la tercera

Utilizamos el infinitivo despus de la
primera, la segunda, la tercera, etc.,
y tambin despus de la siguiente y la
ltima:
Quin fue la primera persona en
llegar al Polo Sur?
Si tengo ms noticias, podrs ser el
primero en saberlo.
El prximo avin para llegar a la
puerta 15 ser Vuelo 566 de Bariloche.
Quin fue la ltima persona en salir
del edificio personal anoche?

Felling Adjectives
You can use the infinitive after a
number of adjectives to say how
someone feels about something. Lets
see these examples:
I was sorry to hear that your father
is ill.
Was Tom surprised to see you
when you visited him?
I was delighted to get your letter
last week.

Adjetivos de Sentimientos
Puede utilizar el infinitivo despus de
una serie de adjetivos para decir cmo
alguien se siente acerca de algo. Veamos
estos ejemplos:
Me dio pena escuchar que su padre
est enfermo.
Se Sorprendi Tom al verte cuando
lo visitaste?
Yo estaba encantado de conseguir su
carta la semana pasada.

INFOP

The first,the second,the third

We use the infinitive after the first,
the second, the third, etc., and also
after the next and the last:
Who was the first person to reach
the South Pole?
If I have any more news, youll be
the first to know.
The next plane to arrive at gate 15
will be Flight 566 from Bariloche.
Who was the last person to leave
the Personal building last night?

- It was nice of you to take me to the

airport.
- It was careless of Luciana to leave
the door unlocked when he went out.
- Its stupid of him to give up his job
when he needs the money.

Estructura es agradable de alguien que

haga algo
Esta estructura es posible despus de una
serie de adjetivos, incluyendo: agradable,
amable, media, estpido, tonto,
inteligente, educado, descuidado,
generoso, tonto.
- Fue amable de tu parte llevarme al
aeropuerto.
- Fue descuidado de Luciana dejar la
puerta abierta cuando sali.
- Es estpido de su parte al renunciar a
su puesto de trabajo cuando se necesita el
dinero.

B3

INFOP

Structure it is nice of someone to do

something
This structure is possible after a
number of adjectives, including: nice,
kind, mean, stupid, silly, clever,
polite, careless, generous, foolish.

Unit 8
Tickets Please
B3
Adverbs of Frequency
These are called adverbs of frequency
and include:

Adverb

always
usually
frequently
often
sometimes
occasionally
rarely
seldom
hardly ever
never

Utilizamos algunos adverbios para

describir la frecuencia con la que
hacemos una actividad.
Estos se llaman adverbios de frecuencia e
incluyen:

Adverbio

siempre
habitualmente
frecuentemente
a menudo
algunas veces
ocasionalmente
casi nunca
casi nunca
casi nunca
nunca

INFOP

We use some adverbs to describe how

frequently we do an activity.

Adverbs of Frequency examples:

(Ejemplos de adverbios de frecuencia)

I always buy my tickets online.

(Yo siempre compro mis boletos en
lnea.)

Ana sometimes goes to the theater.

(Ana a veces va al teatro..)

Mr. Robins seldom drives at night.

(El Sr. Robins rara vez conduce por la
noche.)

They never go hiking..

(Ellos nunca van de excursin.)

It can be a little difficult to know when to

use gerunds and infinitives.

Puede ser un poco difcil saber cundo

usar gerundios e infinitivos.

We use gerunds (verb + ing):

Utilizamos gerundios (verbo + ing):

After certain verbs - I enjoy singing

After prepositions - I drank a cup of

coffee before leaving

Despus de ciertos verbos - Me gusta

cantar

As the subject or object of a sentence Swimming is good exercise

Despus de preposiciones - beb una

taza de caf antes de salir

A medida que el sujeto u objeto de

una oracin - La natacin es un buen
ejercicio

INFOP

Gerunds and Infinitives

Utilizamos to + infinitivo:

Despus de ciertos verbos Decidimos irnos

After many adjectives - Its difficult to

get up early

To show purpose - I came to London to

study English

Despus de muchos adjetivos - Es

difcil levantarse temprano

Para mostrar propsito - Vine a

Londres para estudiar

Impersonal Statements
Vocabulary
Its importante
Its good
Its probable
Its necessary
Its possible
Its a Shame
Its easy
Its difficult
Its incredible
Its advisable
Its doubtful
Its Impossible
Its indispensable
Its Logical

Vocabulario
Es importante
Es bueno
Es probable
Es necesario
Es posible
Es una lastima
Es Facil
Es dificil
Es increible
Es aconsejable
Es dudoso
Es Imposible
Es indispensable
Es logico

Vocabulary
Its better
Its needed
Its natural
Its necessary
Its normal
Its poor/worse
Its precise
Its preferable
Its ridiculous
Its a problem
Its urgent
Its worth more
Its not true
It doesnt appear that

B3

Vocabulario
Es mejor
Es necesario
Es natural
Es necesario
Es normal
Es peor
Es preciso
Es preferible
Es ridiculo
Es un problema
Es urgente
Mas vale
No es cierto
No parece que

INFOP

We use to + infinitive:
After certain verbs - We decided to
leave