Professional Grammar Cards — 4 Independent Sets • 52 Each = 208 Total
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Set 1: General (52)
Set 2: Business (52)
Set 3: Examination (52)
Set 4: Medical (52)
52 cards — General English A1-C1
Present Simple vs Continuous
Rule: Simple = habits/facts, Continuous = happening now.
✅ I work in Warsaw.
❌ I work now (wrong context)
→ I am working now
→ I am working now
💡 Add time marker: every day vs now
Past Simple
Rule: Finished action at finished time.
✅ I visited London in 2022.
❌ I have visited him yesterday
→ I visited him yesterday
→ I visited him yesterday
💡 Yesterday, last week, ago = Past Simple
Present Perfect
Rule: Past action with result now, no time.
✅ I have lost my keys.
❌ I lost my keys (still lost)
→ I have lost my keys
→ I have lost my keys
💡 Use with just, already, yet, ever
Articles a/an/the
Rule: a/an = new/one, the = known, zero = general.
✅ I saw a dog. The dog was big.
❌ I like the dogs (general)
→ I like dogs
→ I like dogs
💡 First mention a/an, second the
First Conditional
Rule: If + Present, will + base = real future.
✅ If it rains, we will stay.
❌ If it will rain
→ If it rains
→ If it rains
💡 Promises and warnings
Second Conditional
Rule: If + Past Simple, would + base = unreal now.
✅ If I had time, I would help.
❌ If I would have time
→ If I had time
→ If I had time
💡 If I were you... advice
Third Conditional
Rule: If + Past Perfect, would have + pp = unreal past.
✅ If I had studied, I would have passed.
❌ If I would have studied
→ If I had studied
→ If I had studied
💡 Regrets
Passive Voice
Rule: be + past participle, focus on action.
✅ The report was written yesterday.
❌ They was written
→ It was written
→ It was written
💡 Use when who is not important
Reported Speech
Rule: Backshift tenses when reporting past.
✅ He said he was tired.
❌ He said he is tired (past reporting)
→ He said he was tired
→ He said he was tired
💡 now->then, today->that day
Modal Possibility
Rule: might/may/could = 50%, must = 90%, can't = 0%
✅ She might be at home.
❌ She must be at home (unsure)
→ She might be at home
→ She might be at home
💡 Must = logical deduction
Gerund vs Infinitive
Rule: Some verbs + -ing, some + to.
✅ I enjoy swimming. I want to swim.
❌ I enjoy to swim
→ I enjoy swimming
→ I enjoy swimming
💡 enjoy, mind, avoid + -ing
Comparatives
Rule: Comparative + than, superlative + the.
✅ More interesting than.
❌ More better
→ Better / Much better
→ Better / Much better
💡 One-syllable -er/-est
Prepositions Time
Rule: in month/year, on day, at time.
✅ in May, on Monday, at 9am.
❌ On 9am
→ at 9am
→ at 9am
💡 at weekend UK / on weekend US
Prepositions Place
Rule: in = inside, on = surface, at = point.
✅ in room, on wall, at door.
❌ At the wall
→ on the wall
→ on the wall
💡 at top/bottom, in corner
Countable/Uncountable
Rule: much + uncountable, many + countable.
✅ How much water? How many bottles?
❌ Much people
→ Many people
→ Many people
💡 a lot of for both
Present Perfect Continuous
Rule: How long + ongoing until now.
✅ I have been learning for 3 years.
❌ I learn for 3 years
→ I have been learning
→ I have been learning
💡 How long have you...?
Defining Relative Clauses
Rule: Essential info, no commas.
✅ The man who called is boss.
❌ The man, who called, is boss (essential)
→ The man who called is boss
→ The man who called is boss
💡 that for things and people
Non-defining Relative
Rule: Extra info, with commas.
✅ My brother, who lives in Berlin, is doctor.
❌ My brother who lives in Berlin (one brother)
→ Add commas
→ Add commas
💡 Never use that here
Used to vs Be used to
Rule: used to + verb = past habit, be used to + -ing = accustomed.
✅ I used to smoke. I'm used to waking early.
❌ I am used to smoke
→ I am used to smoking
→ I am used to smoking
💡 get used to = become
So/Such
Rule: so + adj, such + (a) noun.
✅ So tired, such a nice day.
❌ So nice day
→ Such a nice day
→ Such a nice day
💡 so much/many + noun ok
Too/Enough
Rule: too + adj = excess, adj + enough.
✅ Too expensive, not cheap enough.
❌ Enough cheap
→ Cheap enough
→ Cheap enough
💡 Enough after adj, before noun
Question Tags
Rule: Positive + negative tag.
✅ You're coming, aren't you?
❌ You're coming, are you?
→ aren't you
→ aren't you
💡 I am... aren't I? exception
Future Forms
Rule: will = now decision, going to = plan, Present Continuous = arrangement.
✅ I'll call later. I'm going to study. I'm meeting Ann at 6.
❌ I will meeting
→ I am meeting
→ I am meeting
💡 Look for evidence
Adverbs Frequency
Rule: always/usually/often before main verb, after be.
✅ I often go. I am often tired.
❌ I go often
→ I often go
→ I often go
💡 100% always, 0% never
Make vs Do
Rule: do = activity, make = create.
✅ Do homework, make coffee.
❌ Make homework
→ Do homework
→ Do homework
💡 Make mistake, do best
There is/are
Rule: There is = singular, there are = plural.
✅ There is a book. There are books.
❌ There is books
→ There are books
→ There are books
💡 There has been = perfect
Some/Any
Rule: some + positive, any + negative/question.
✅ Some tea? I don't have any.
❌ Do you have some questions? (formal)
→ any is formal ok
→ any is formal ok
💡 Some in offers: Would you like some?
Have to/Must
Rule: must = speaker authority, have to = external rule.
✅ I must go (I decide). I have to wear uniform (rule).
❌ Must to go
→ Must go / Have to go
→ Must go / Have to go
💡 Mustn't = prohibited
Should
Rule: Advice, 80% obligation.
✅ You should see a doctor.
❌ You should to see
→ You should see
→ You should see
💡 Had better = stronger
Can/Could/Be able to
Rule: Can = now, could = past/general, be able to = specific achievement.
✅ I can swim. I was able to escape.
❌ I could escape yesterday (specific)
→ I was able to escape
→ I was able to escape
💡 Could = polite request
Will vs Going to Prediction
Rule: No evidence will, with evidence going to.
✅ It will rain (think). Look, it's going to rain (clouds).
❌ Same
→ Same
→ Same
💡 Going to for intentions
Past Continuous
Rule: Background interrupted by Past Simple.
✅ I was sleeping when you called.
❌ I slept when you called
→ I was sleeping
→ I was sleeping
💡 While + Continuous, When + Simple
Past Perfect
Rule: Action before another past action.
✅ I had left before he arrived.
❌ I left before he arrived (ok but less emphasis)
→ I had left
→ I had left
💡 already, just, never before past
Future Continuous
Rule: Action in progress at future time.
✅ This time tomorrow I'll be flying.
❌ I'll be fly
→ I'll be flying
→ I'll be flying
💡 Polite: Will you be using...?
Future Perfect
Rule: Action finished before future time.
✅ By 2030 I will have finished.
❌ I will finish by 2030
→ I will have finished by 2030
→ I will have finished by 2030
💡 By + time trigger
Zero Conditional
Rule: If + Present, Present = general truth.
✅ If you heat ice, it melts.
❌ If you will heat
→ If you heat
→ If you heat
💡 Laws, facts
Mixed Conditionals
Rule: Past condition, present result.
✅ If I had studied medicine, I would be doctor now.
❌ If I would have studied
→ If I had studied
→ If I had studied
💡 Advanced
Wishes
Rule: I wish + Past Simple = present wish, Past Perfect = past regret.
✅ I wish I knew. I wish I had known.
❌ I wish I know
→ I wish I knew
→ I wish I knew
💡 If only = stronger
Adjective Order
Rule: Opinion, Size, Age, Shape, Color, Origin, Material, Purpose.
✅ A beautiful small old red Italian car.
❌ Red beautiful car
→ Beautiful red car
→ Beautiful red car
💡 Max 2-3 adjectives natural
Adverbs Manner
Rule: Adj + -ly, good->well.
✅ She drives carefully.
❌ She drives careful
→ carefully
→ carefully
💡 Hard = adj and adv
So do I / Neither do I
Rule: Agreement: So + aux + subject.
✅ I love it. So do I.
❌ So I do
→ So do I
→ So do I
💡 Neither/Nor negative
Both/Either/Neither
Rule: Both = two, either = one of two, neither = none.
✅ Both are good. Neither is good.
❌ Both is
→ Both are
→ Both are
💡 Either + singular, Both + plural
Reflexive
Rule: Myself, yourself for same subject/object.
✅ I hurt myself.
❌ I hurt me
→ myself
→ myself
💡 By myself = alone
Possessives
Rule: 's for people, of for things, mine.
✅ John's book, leg of table, mine.
❌ The table's leg
→ The leg of the table
→ The leg of the table
💡 Its vs It's
Inversion
Rule: Never, Rarely, Not only at start = inversion.
✅ Never have I seen...
❌ Never I have seen
→ Never have I seen
→ Never have I seen
💡 Formal/written
Cleft Sentences
Rule: It is... that / What I need is...
✅ It was John who called.
❌ What I need is coffee.
→ What I need is a coffee
→ What I need is a coffee
💡 Focus structure
Reported Questions
Rule: No do/does, no ?, statement order.
✅ She asked where I lived.
❌ She asked where do I live
→ where I lived
→ where I lived
💡 If/whether yes/no
Phrasal Verbs
Rule: Verb + particle = new meaning.
✅ Turn on, look up, give up.
❌ Turn on it
→ Turn it on
→ Turn it on
💡 Separable vs inseparable
Collocations
Rule: Natural pairs.
✅ Make decision, heavy rain.
❌ Big rain
→ Heavy rain
→ Heavy rain
💡 Learn as chunks
Punctuation
Rule: Comma, apostrophe, capital.
✅ It's John's book, isn't it?
❌ Its vs It's
→ It's = It is, Its = possessive
→ It's = It is, Its = possessive
💡 Oxford comma clarity
Linking Words
Rule: However, Therefore, Although.
✅ Although tired, he worked.
❌ Despite of
→ Despite / In spite of
→ Despite / In spite of
💡 but, however, although
Formal vs Informal
Rule: Get vs Obtain, a lot vs many.
✅ Obtain further information.
❌ Get more info (formal context)
→ Obtain further information
→ Obtain further information
💡 No contractions formal
52 cards — Business English B1-C1
Formal Email Opening
Rule: Dear + Title + Last name for formal, not Hi guys.
✅ Dear Mr Smith, Thank you for your email.
❌ Hi guys,
→ Dear Mr Smith,
→ Dear Mr Smith,
💡 Use Sir/Madam if unknown
Email Closing Formal
Rule: Yours faithfully unknown, sincerely known name.
✅ Yours sincerely, Alex
❌ Best (too informal for formal)
→ Yours sincerely,
→ Yours sincerely,
💡 Kind regards = neutral
Polite Requests
Rule: Could/Would you mind = polite, Can = neutral.
✅ Could you send the report by EOD?
❌ Send report!
→ Could you please send...?
→ Could you please send...?
💡 Would you mind + -ing
Timetable Present Simple
Rule: Present Simple for fixed timetables.
✅ The meeting starts at 9am.
❌ The meeting will start at 9am (timetable)
→ starts
→ starts
💡 Conferences, flights, schedules
Arrangements Present Continuous
Rule: Present Continuous = personal arrangement.
✅ I'm meeting the client at 2pm.
❌ I will meet (arranged)
→ I'm meeting
→ I'm meeting
💡 I have arranged
Trend Up Verbs
Rule: increase, rise, grow, surge + sharply/strongly.
✅ Sales surged by 20%.
❌ Sales increased 20% sharply
→ increased sharply by 20%
→ increased sharply by 20%
💡 Nouns: an increase in
Trend Down Verbs
Rule: decrease, decline, drop, plummet.
✅ Profits declined slightly.
❌ Profit downed
→ declined
→ declined
💡 slightly, significantly
Stable Trends
Rule: Remain stable, level off, plateau.
✅ Sales remained stable.
❌ Stayed same
→ remained stable
→ remained stable
💡 plateaued after rise
Passive Reports
Rule: Formal reports prefer passive for objectivity.
✅ The survey was conducted in May.
❌ We conducted (less formal)
→ was conducted
→ was conducted
💡 Passive = objective
Obligation Policy
Rule: Must/Have to/Required to for rules.
✅ Employees must wear ID.
❌ Must to
→ Must
→ Must
💡 Mustn't = prohibited
Opinions Meeting
Rule: In my opinion, From my perspective...
✅ I think we should...
❌ Me think
→ I think
→ I think
💡 Soften: I would argue...
Agree/Disagree
Rule: I agree to an extent, I see your point but...
✅ I agree that...
❌ I am agree
→ I agree
→ I agree
💡 Diplomatic disagreement
Negotiation Conditional
Rule: If you could..., we would... polite.
✅ If you could lower price, we would order more.
❌ If you lower, we will order (less polite)
→ If you could... we would...
→ If you could... we would...
💡 Second conditional hypothetical
Comparatives Pitch
Rule: More cost-effective than...
✅ More efficient than competitors.
❌ More cheaper
→ cheaper
→ cheaper
💡 far/much + comparative
Hedging
Rule: Seem, appear, somewhat, rather soften.
✅ This seems somewhat optimistic.
❌ This is optimistic (direct)
→ This seems somewhat optimistic
→ This seems somewhat optimistic
💡 Avoid conflict
Quantifiers Business
Rule: A number of, a majority of...
✅ A number of clients complained.
❌ A number of + singular verb (wrong)
→ A number of + plural verb
→ A number of + plural verb
💡 The number of + singular
Cause Effect
Rule: Due to, owing to, as a result.
✅ Due to delays, shipment was late.
❌ Due to it rained
→ Due to rain / Because it rained
→ Due to rain / Because it rained
💡 Due to + noun
Present Perfect News
Rule: Recent business news: Present Perfect.
✅ We have just launched website.
❌ We just launched (US ok, UK prefers have just)
→ We have just launched
→ We have just launched
💡 Have you...? British formal
Gerunds Processes
Rule: Gerund as subject: Managing teams requires...
✅ Managing requires skill.
❌ To manage requires
→ Managing requires
→ Managing requires
💡 Outsourcing reduces costs
Will vs Going to Business
Rule: Will = promise, going to = plan with evidence.
✅ We will deliver by Friday (promise).
❌ We're going to deliver (plan) vs will
→ Use correctly
→ Use correctly
💡 Will spontaneous decisions
Modal Deduction Business
Rule: Must be, might be, can't be conclusions.
✅ Client must be busy, no reply.
❌ Might vs Must strength
→ Must = 90% sure
→ Must = 90% sure
💡 Use cautiously
Reported Speech Business
Rule: Client said he would call.
✅ He said he would call tomorrow.
❌ He said he will
→ he would
→ he would
💡 Backshift in notes
Numbers Figures
Rule: 15% = fifteen percent, $2m = two million.
✅ Turnover rose to $2m.
❌ Two million dollars (say)
→ Two million dollars
→ Two million dollars
💡 Figures in slides
Action Points Delegation
Rule: Alex to send report by EOD.
✅ Alex to send report by EOD.
❌ Alex will to send
→ Alex to send / Alex will send
→ Alex to send / Alex will send
💡 EOD = End Of Day
Phrasal Verbs Business
Rule: Carry out, put off, call off, set up.
✅ We need to carry out research.
❌ Conduct research formal synonym
→ carry out = conduct
→ carry out = conduct
💡 Phrasal less formal
Collocations Business
Rule: Meet deadline, make profit, cut costs.
✅ Make a profit, not do profit.
❌ Do profit
→ Make a profit
→ Make a profit
💡 Strong collocations fluency
Formal Synonyms
Rule: Obtain, require, assist, purchase.
✅ We require your assistance.
❌ Get -> Obtain formal
→ We require
→ We require
💡 Use for proposals
Recommendations
Rule: Should, If I were you, I would recommend.
✅ I would recommend reviewing...
❌ Should to
→ Should + base
→ Should + base
💡 Polite recommendations
Interruptions Polite
Rule: Sorry to interrupt, but...
✅ If I may, I'd like to add...
❌ Interrupting: Sorry...
→ If I may
→ If I may
💡 Very polite
Clarification
Rule: Do you mean...? Are you saying...?
✅ Sorry, could you clarify...?
❌ Clarify meaning
→ Could you clarify?
→ Could you clarify?
💡 Could you elaborate?
Summarizing
Rule: To sum up, So to recap, Action points are...
✅ To sum up, we agreed...
❌ To summarize...
→ To sum up
→ To sum up
💡 Bullet points
Apologizing Business
Rule: Apologize for + -ing, delay, inconvenience.
✅ We apologize for the delay.
❌ Apologize for delaying
→ We apologize for the delay
→ We apologize for the delay
💡 Sincerely apologize
Thanking Formal
Rule: Thank you for your prompt reply.
✅ Thank you for + -ing/noun.
❌ Thank you for replying
→ Thank you for your prompt reply
→ Thank you for your prompt reply
💡 Appreciate + -ing
Proposals Shall
Rule: Shall we...? Let's...
✅ Shall we proceed?
❌ Let's to proceed
→ Let's proceed
→ Let's proceed
💡 Shall formal UK
Comparison Year on Year
Rule: Compared to last year, sales up 10%.
✅ Compared to last year...
❌ Compared with vs to
→ Both ok, to highlights difference
→ Both ok, to highlights difference
💡 Year-on-year
Emphasis Pitch
Rule: What sets us apart is..., The key is...
✅ What sets us apart is...
❌ What makes us different is...
→ What sets us apart is...
→ What sets us apart is...
💡 Use for USPs
Double Negatives
Rule: Avoid: We don't have no budget.
✅ We have no budget / We don't have any budget.
❌ We don't have no budget
→ We have no budget
→ We have no budget
💡 Common mistake
Subject Line
Rule: Re: Meeting - Action Required by Friday.
✅ Clear subject with verb + deadline.
❌ No subject -> spam
→ Action Required: Meeting...
→ Action Required: Meeting...
💡 Subject = verb + object + deadline
Active vs Passive Choice
Rule: Active responsibility, Passive diplomacy.
✅ Mistake was made (diplomatic) vs I made mistake.
❌ We made mistake (honest) better sometimes
→ Choose based on tone
→ Choose based on tone
💡 Active for ownership
Tense Consistency Report
Rule: Keep same tense within section.
✅ Report was... It showed... It indicated...
❌ Report is... It was...
→ Keep past for completed
→ Keep past for completed
💡 Past for completed research
Articles Business
Rule: The market, a market, market general.
✅ The UK market is growing.
❌ Market conditions are... (zero general)
→ The UK market
→ The UK market
💡 The + superlative: the best
Prepositions Business
Rule: Responsible for, interested in, based on.
✅ Responsible for sales.
❌ In charge of, keen on
→ Responsible for
→ Responsible for
💡 Dependent prepositions
Uncountable Business Nouns
Rule: Advice, feedback uncountable.
✅ Some advice, some feedback.
❌ Advices / Feedbacks
→ Advice / Feedback
→ Advice / Feedback
💡 Piece of advice
Future Uncertainty
Rule: May, might, could future uncertainty.
✅ Delivery may be delayed.
❌ May be vs Maybe: May be = might be, Maybe = perhaps
→ Delivery may be delayed
→ Delivery may be delayed
💡 May be delayed = possible
If vs Whether
Rule: Whether for choice, If for condition.
✅ Let me know whether you can attend.
❌ If you can attend (choice) -> whether more formal
→ whether
→ whether
💡 Whether or not
So/Such Business
Rule: So efficient, such efficient service.
✅ Such efficient service.
❌ So efficient service
→ Such efficient service
→ Such efficient service
💡 So much + noun ok
Too/Enough Business
Rule: Too expensive, not flexible enough.
✅ Too expensive.
❌ Enough flexible
→ Flexible enough
→ Flexible enough
💡 Too much + noun
Question Tags Business
Rule: That's correct, isn't it? Polite checking.
✅ You sent invoice, didn't you?
❌ Tag for confirmation
→ You sent invoice, didn't you?
→ You sent invoice, didn't you?
💡 Soft checking
Relative Clauses Business
Rule: The client whose order was delayed.
✅ Whose = possession.
❌ The client which
→ who/whose
→ who/whose
💡 Defining vs non-defining
Inversion Formal
Rule: Not only did we..., Rarely have we seen...
✅ Not only did we increase sales...
❌ Not only we increased
→ Not only did we increase
→ Not only did we increase
💡 Formal reports, speeches
Linkers Report
Rule: However, Therefore, Moreover, Nevertheless.
✅ However, ... (comma after).
❌ Although..., but...
→ Although..., ... / ..., but...
→ Although..., ... / ..., but...
💡 Don't use although + but
Formal vs Informal Email 2
Rule: Get -> Receive, Need -> Require, Buy -> Purchase.
✅ We require your assistance.
❌ Get -> Obtain formal
→ We require
→ We require
💡 Avoid phrasal verbs formal
52 cards — Examination English B2-C1 IELTS/Cambridge
Complex Sentences
Rule: Combine independent + dependent clause for higher band.
✅ Although it was raining, we went out.
❌ Although it was raining, but we went out
→ Although it was raining, we went out
→ Although it was raining, we went out
💡 Although, while, whereas, because
Linking Contrast
Rule: However, Nevertheless, On the other hand = contrast.
✅ However, results were inconclusive.
❌ But however together
→ However, results were inconclusive
→ However, results were inconclusive
💡 However + comma
Hedging Academic
Rule: Avoid absolute: seem, tend to, likely, may.
✅ Results suggest that...
❌ Results prove (too strong)
→ suggest
→ suggest
💡 Hedging for C1/C2
Nominalization
Rule: Verb -> noun: decide -> decision = more academic.
✅ The failure of project was due to...
❌ We failed because... less academic
→ The failure of...
→ The failure of...
💡 Makes writing formal
Cleft Emphasis
Rule: It is... that / What... is = focus.
✅ It is government that should act.
❌ Emphasis structure
→ It is... that highlights
→ It is... that highlights
💡 Focus important info
Inversion Academic
Rule: Not only, Rarely, Never, No sooner + inversion.
✅ Not only did prices rise, but quality fell.
❌ Not only prices rose
→ Not only did prices rise
→ Not only did prices rise
💡 Band 8-9 grammar
Cohesive Devices
Rule: This, Such, Former, Latter, The former issue.
✅ This problem can be solved by...
❌ This refers back
→ This problem...
→ This problem...
💡 Avoid repetition
Referencing
Rule: One/ones, do so, such, so.
✅ I need a pen. Do you have one?
❌ Avoid repetition with one
→ Do you have one?
→ Do you have one?
💡 One singular, ones plural
Punctuation Academic
Rule: Comma for clauses, colon for list/explanation.
✅ Reasons are: cost, time, risk.
❌ Comma splice: ..., ...
→ Use . or ; or linker
→ Use . or ; or linker
💡 Semicolon joins related clauses
Avoid Informal
Rule: No contractions, no etc, no a lot.
✅ Many people not A lot of people formal.
❌ Don't -> Do not academic
→ Many people
→ Many people
💡 Formal synonyms get->obtain
Thesis Statements
Rule: Clear position + outline.
✅ This essay will argue that...
❌ In this essay I will talk about vague
→ This essay contends that...
→ This essay contends that...
💡 Avoid vague talk about
Topic Sentences PEEL
Rule: First sentence = main idea: Point, Explain, Example, Link.
✅ One major cause of pollution is...
❌ Topic + explanation + example = PEEL
→ One major cause...
→ One major cause...
💡 PEEL structure
Cause Effect Academic
Rule: Due to, Owing to, Consequently, Lead to.
✅ Due to traffic, he was late. Due to + noun.
❌ Due to it rained
→ Due to rain / Because it rained
→ Due to rain / Because it rained
💡 Result in = cause, from = be caused by
Defining Relatives Academic
Rule: People whose, phenomenon which, place where.
✅ A method whereby...
❌ Whereby = by which method
→ A method whereby
→ A method whereby
💡 Whose possession academic
Passive Academic
Rule: Experiment was conducted... objectivity.
✅ The experiment was conducted...
❌ We conducted vs It was conducted more formal
→ was conducted
→ was conducted
💡 Balance passive not overuse
Perfect Tenses Precision
Rule: Present Perfect recent research still relevant.
✅ Recent studies have shown...
❌ Studies showed if recent relevant have shown better
→ have shown
→ have shown
💡 Have shown = still relevant
Conditionals Solutions
Rule: Second conditional hypothetical solutions.
✅ If governments invested more, pollution would decrease.
❌ If + Past Simple + would = hypothetical
→ If governments invested...
→ If governments invested...
💡 Third for past hypothetical
Comparative Academic
Rule: Significantly more effective than, far less common.
✅ Far/much/significantly + comparative academic.
❌ More better
→ Much better
→ Much better
💡 As + adj + as equal
Concession
Rule: Although, Even though, Despite, In spite of, While.
✅ Although expensive, it is worth it.
❌ Despite of + noun wrong
→ Despite being expensive
→ Despite being expensive
💡 Despite + -ing/noun, not despite of
Synonyms Collocation
Rule: Important = crucial, vital, essential, significant.
✅ Use synonyms but keep collocation natural.
❌ Big problem vs Major problem collocation
→ Major problem
→ Major problem
💡 Thesaurus danger check collocation
Conditionals Academic Mixed
Rule: If + Past Perfect + would + present = mixed academic.
✅ If study had been done earlier, we would know now.
❌ Mixed conditionals advanced
→ If study had been done...
→ If study had been done...
💡 Past condition present result
Relative Clauses Reduction
Rule: The man who is standing -> The man standing.
✅ Reduced relative: The study conducted in 2020...
❌ The study which conducted...
→ The study conducted...
→ The study conducted...
💡 Reduced passive participle
It vs This Referencing
Rule: It = same noun, This = whole idea.
✅ This suggests that... (whole previous sentence)
❌ It suggests (vague)
→ This suggests
→ This suggests
💡 This for whole clause reference
Being Specific Academic
Rule: Avoid thing, something, get. Use precise nouns.
✅ The government should implement policy...
❌ Thing is bad vague
→ Implement measure...
→ Implement measure...
💡 Academic precision vocabulary
Word Order Academic
Rule: Adverbs position, inversion for emphasis.
✅ The government has recently implemented...
❌ Recently the government has implemented (ok but emphasis different)
→ Recently implemented vs Has recently implemented
→ Recently implemented vs Has recently implemented
💡 Place adverbs correctly
Modal Perfect Deduction Past
Rule: Must have been, might have been, can't have been past deduction.
✅ He must have forgotten deadline.
❌ He must forget past -> must have forgotten
→ must have + pp
→ must have + pp
💡 Past deduction
Subordinate Clauses
Rule: While, Whereas, Although, Because, Since, As.
✅ While some argue..., others claim...
❌ Whereas contrast, While also contrast
→ While some argue...
→ While some argue...
💡 While = at same time or contrast
Articles Academic
Rule: The = known/shared, zero = general, a = one example.
✅ The internet, society (zero), the environment.
❌ The society (general) -> society
→ The environment fixed
→ The environment fixed
💡 The + unique: the sun, the government
Prepositions Academic
Rule: Associated with, based on, consistent with, due to.
✅ Associated with pollution.
❌ Depend of -> Depend on
→ Associated with
→ Associated with
💡 Dependent prepositions academic
Countable Academic Nouns
Rule: Research uncountable, study countable, information uncountable.
✅ Research shows...
❌ Researches show -> Research shows / Studies show
→ Research shows
→ Research shows
💡 Advice, evidence, information uncountable
Parallel Structure
Rule: And/Or require same grammar form both sides.
✅ She likes reading, writing, and travelling.
❌ She likes to read, writing... parallel fail
→ reading, writing, travelling
→ reading, writing, travelling
💡 Parallelism for band 8
Word Formation Academic
Rule: Economy -> economic -> economically, verb -> noun -> adj -> adv.
✅ Economic growth, economically disadvantaged.
❌ Economical vs Economic: economical = not wasting money, economic = related to economy
→ Economic growth
→ Economic growth
💡 Economical car = cheap to run
Quantifiers Academic
Rule: A number of, the number of, a large proportion of, the majority of.
✅ A large proportion of students...
❌ A number of + plural verb, The number of + singular
→ A number of students are
→ A number of students are
💡 Quantifiers academic formal
Emphasis Academic
Rule: What is crucial is..., It is essential that...
✅ What is crucial is that...
❌ Cleft emphasis high band
→ What is essential is...
→ What is essential is...
💡 Use for strong argument
Hypothetical Past Perfect
Rule: Had + subject + pp = If + Past Perfect inversion formal.
✅ Had the government acted earlier, crisis would have been avoided.
❌ Had the government acted... = If government had acted
→ Had the government acted...
→ Had the government acted...
💡 Inversion formal academic
Linkers Addition
Rule: Moreover, Furthermore, In addition, Additionally.
✅ Moreover, it is cost-effective.
❌ Moreover it is... comma after linker
→ Moreover, it is...
→ Moreover, it is...
💡 Moreover formal, Also informal addition but ok
Linkers Result
Rule: Therefore, Consequently, As a result, Thus.
✅ Therefore, costs increased.
❌ Thus costs increased (no comma US ok but comma UK)
→ Therefore, costs...
→ Therefore, costs...
💡 Thus more formal
Linkers Contrast Formal
Rule: However, Nevertheless, Nonetheless, Although, Despite.
✅ Nevertheless, plan was approved.
❌ However plan was... comma needed
→ However, plan was...
→ However, plan was...
💡 However cannot join two sentences with comma alone - needs ; or .
Avoid Overgeneralization
Rule: Some, Many, Often, Tend to vs All, Every, Always.
✅ Some people argue... not All people...
❌ All people think... overgeneralization
→ Some people argue...
→ Some people argue...
💡 Hedging avoids overgeneralization
Examples Academic
Rule: For example, For instance, Such as, e.g., including.
✅ For example, solar energy...
❌ For example solar energy comma needed
→ For example, solar...
→ For example, solar...
💡 Such as + noun, no comma before such as normally
Conclusion Language
Rule: In conclusion, To conclude, Overall, Taking everything into account.
✅ In conclusion, ... (restate thesis)
❌ In conclusion, to sum up together redundant
→ In conclusion, ...
→ In conclusion, ...
💡 Don't introduce new idea in conclusion
Passive vs Active Academic Choice
Rule: Active for clear agent, Passive for focus on process.
✅ The study analysed... (active) vs Data were analysed... (passive)
❌ Both ok but choose consciously
→ Data were analysed...
→ Data were analysed...
💡 Check journal style
It is ... that/to
Rule: It is important to..., It is argued that..., It is essential that + subjunctive.
✅ It is important to note that...
❌ It is important that we should... (subjunctive: It is essential that we act)
→ It is important to note that...
→ It is important to note that...
💡 It is ... that emphasis
Avoid Contractions
Rule: Do not, cannot, will not, is not vs don't, can't...
✅ Do not, cannot academic.
❌ Don't academic informal
→ Do not
→ Do not
💡 No contractions in formal essay
Formal Verbs
Rule: Obtain, require, conduct, investigate, examine.
✅ We conducted research...
❌ We did research informal
→ We conducted research
→ We conducted research
💡 Get -> Obtain, Need -> Require
Word Count Paraphrasing
Rule: Paraphrase question: Some people think... -> It is often argued that...
✅ Paraphrase introduction
❌ Copy question words low band
→ Paraphrase with synonyms + structure change
→ Paraphrase with synonyms + structure change
💡 Synonym + structure change both
Complex Noun Phrases
Rule: The rapidly increasing rate of urbanization...
✅ Complex noun phrase academic.
❌ The rate of urbanization which is increasing rapidly -> The rapidly increasing rate...
→ Complex noun phrase
→ Complex noun phrase
💡 Pre-modifiers academic
Relative Pronouns Academic
Rule: Which, who, whose, whom, where, when, whereby.
✅ The system whereby...
❌ Whom formal objective, who informal also ok now
→ The system whereby
→ The system whereby
💡 Whom is formal, who common
Subjunctive Formal
Rule: It is essential that + base / should + base.
✅ It is essential that government act (or should act).
❌ It is essential that government acts (less formal academic)
→ It is essential that government act
→ It is essential that government act
💡 Subjunctive base form formal
Listing Academic
Rule: Firstly, Secondly, Finally, Lastly (avoid).
✅ Firstly, ... Secondly, ... Finally, ...
❌ First of all informal
→ Firstly, ... Secondly, ...
→ Firstly, ... Secondly, ...
💡 First, Second, Third also ok
Avoid Personal Language Academic
Rule: Avoid I think, In my opinion in some academic styles (some allow). Check task.
✅ This essay argues that... vs I think...
❌ Some IELTS Task 2 allows I think but formal academic avoids
→ This essay argues...
→ This essay argues...
💡 Task 2 allows personal opinion but formalize
Data Description Academic
Rule: The figure for..., Stood at, Accounted for, Represented.
✅ The figure for sales stood at...
❌ Stood at for numbers
→ The figure for... stood at
→ The figure for... stood at
💡 Data description IELTS Task 1
52 cards — Medical English B1-C1
History Taking Open
Rule: What brings you in today? Open question.
✅ What brings you in today?
❌ Why you come?
→ What brings you in today?
→ What brings you in today?
💡 Open-ended first
Symptom Adjectives
Rule: Sharp, dull, throbbing, constant, intermittent.
✅ I have a sharp pain in my chest.
❌ I have strong pain
→ severe pain
→ severe pain
💡 Mild/moderate/severe scale
Past for Onset
Rule: When did it start? How long have you had?
✅ It started 3 days ago. I've had it since Monday.
❌ It starts 3 days ago
→ It started 3 days ago
→ It started 3 days ago
💡 AGO = Past Simple, SINCE/FOR = Perfect
Passive Procedures
Rule: Patient was administered, diagnosed with.
✅ The patient was diagnosed with pneumonia.
❌ We diagnosed patient with
→ Patient was diagnosed
→ Patient was diagnosed
💡 Passive for notes
Modal Diagnosis Possibility
Rule: Might, could, may = possible, likely, probably = probable.
✅ It might be viral. It's likely bacterial.
❌ It must be if not sure
→ It might be
→ It might be
💡 Must = 90% sure cautious
Dosage Quantifiers
Rule: Take 1 tablet twice daily, 5ml every 8 hours.
✅ Take two tablets twice daily.
❌ Take 2 tablet
→ tablets
→ tablets
💡 bd twice daily, tds three times daily
Polite Examination
Rule: Could you...? Would you mind...? I'm going to...
✅ Could you roll up your sleeve?
❌ Roll your sleeve!
→ Could you roll up...?
→ Could you roll up...?
💡 Explain before touch
Instructions Softened
Rule: Please + base, Could you + base, Try to + base.
✅ Please lie down. Try to relax.
❌ Lay down (lay = put)
→ Lie down (person)
→ Lie down (person)
💡 Lie = person, Lay = object
Abbreviations Charting
Rule: BP, HR, RR, Temp, SOB, N/V, Hx, PMH.
✅ BP 120/80, HR 78, SOB on exertion.
❌ Non-standard abbreviations
→ Use standard only
→ Use standard only
💡 SOB = Shortness Of Breath
Cause Effect Patho
Rule: Due to, caused by, leads to, results in.
✅ Inflammation leads to swelling.
❌ Due to inflammation, swelling occurs
→ Due to inflammation
→ Due to inflammation
💡 Results in = causes, from = caused by
Advice Discharge
Rule: Should, need to, have to, must, avoid, try to.
✅ You should rest. Need to drink fluids.
❌ You must to rest
→ You must rest / need to rest
→ You must rest / need to rest
💡 Should advice, Must strong
Medical Collocations
Rule: Make a diagnosis, take blood pressure, run tests.
✅ Take blood, not make blood.
❌ Do a diagnosis
→ Make a diagnosis
→ Make a diagnosis
💡 Strong collocations essential
Pain PQRST
Rule: Provocation, Quality, Radiation, Severity, Time.
✅ On scale 0-10, how severe is pain?
❌ Where is pain?
→ Where is the pain? / Where does it hurt?
→ Where is the pain? / Where does it hurt?
💡 PQRST assessment
Allergies Documentation
Rule: I'm allergic to penicillin. NKDA.
✅ I'm allergic to penicillin. No known drug allergies.
❌ I'm allergy
→ I'm allergic / I have an allergy
→ I'm allergic / I have an allergy
💡 NKDA = No Known Drug Allergies
Past Continuous Background
Rule: What were you doing when pain started?
✅ I was walking when I felt dizzy.
❌ I walked when
→ I was walking when
→ I was walking when
💡 Background Continuous + Simple event
Future Follow-up
Rule: We will call you, You'll need to come back...
✅ We'll send results in 2 days.
❌ Will for promise/future fact
→ We'll send results
→ We'll send results
💡 Going to for plan: refer you
Vague Quantifiers
Rule: A little swelling, some bleeding, a lot of pain.
✅ A little = small, Little = almost none negative.
❌ Little bleeding negative vs A little
→ A little swelling
→ A little swelling
💡 Few vs A few same
Vitals Comparison
Rule: Higher than normal, lower than baseline, WNL.
✅ BP slightly higher than normal.
❌ More high
→ Higher
→ Higher
💡 WNL = Within Normal Limits
Bad News Softening
Rule: I'm afraid, Unfortunately, It seems that...
✅ I'm afraid results are not what we hoped.
❌ Direct bad news no softening
→ I'm afraid results...
→ I'm afraid results...
💡 I'm concerned about...
Informed Consent
Rule: We need to, I'd like to, risks include..., Do you consent to...?
✅ Do you consent to procedure?
❌ Consent language formal
→ Do you consent to...?
→ Do you consent to...?
💡 Explain risks, benefits, alternatives
Systems Review Questions
Rule: Any fever, chills, weight loss, nausea?
✅ Any fever, chills, nausea or vomiting?
❌ Do you have fever?
→ Do you have any fever? / Any fever?
→ Do you have any fever? / Any fever?
💡 ROS = Review Of Systems
Family History
Rule: Any family history of...? Does ... run in family?
✅ Any family history of diabetes?
❌ Family have diabetes?
→ Any family history of...?
→ Any family history of...?
💡 FH = Family History
Social History
Rule: Do you smoke? How much alcohol? Occupation?
✅ Do you smoke? How many per day?
❌ You smoke?
→ Do you smoke?
→ Do you smoke?
💡 Ask non-judgmentally
Presenting Complaint HPC
Rule: Patient presents with..., complains of... 3 days history of...
✅ Patient presents with 3-day history of chest pain.
❌ Patient complain chest pain
→ Patient presents with...
→ Patient presents with...
💡 HPC = History of Presenting Complaint
Examination Findings
Rule: On examination, ... is tender, ... is clear, No abnormalities detected.
✅ On examination, abdomen soft, non-tender.
❌ On exam abdomen no pain
→ Abdomen soft, non-tender
→ Abdomen soft, non-tender
💡 Tender vs Sore: tender on palpation
Investigations Ordering
Rule: We need to order, run, do tests, bloods, X-ray, ECG.
✅ We need to run some blood tests.
❌ Make blood test
→ Run / Order / Do tests
→ Run / Order / Do tests
💡 Bloods = informal UK for blood tests
Diagnosis Statement
Rule: Based on ..., most likely diagnosis is..., differential includes...
✅ Most likely diagnosis is viral URI.
❌ Diagnosis is maybe flu
→ Most likely diagnosis is...
→ Most likely diagnosis is...
💡 Differential diagnosis = other possibilities
Treatment Plan
Rule: We will start you on..., I will prescribe..., We recommend...
✅ We will start you on antibiotics.
❌ I will give you antibiotic (less formal)
→ We will start you on...
→ We will start you on...
💡 Start you on = begin treatment
Side Effects Explanation
Rule: May cause, might make you feel, common side effects include...
✅ This may cause drowsiness, nausea.
❌ This will cause (too strong if not certain)
→ This may cause...
→ This may cause...
💡 Common vs rare side effects
Lifestyle Advice
Rule: Try to, Make sure to, Avoid, Cut down on, Cut out.
✅ Try to cut down on salt, avoid smoking.
❌ Stop to smoke vs Stop smoking: Stop smoking = quit, Stop to smoke = stop activity to smoke
→ Try to cut down on...
→ Try to cut down on...
💡 Cut down on = reduce, Cut out = eliminate
Red Flags Safety Netting
Rule: If you develop..., worsens, seek help immediately, red flags.
✅ If you develop chest pain, fever, go to ER immediately.
❌ If you have more bad pain go hospital
→ If pain worsens, seek medical attention immediately
→ If pain worsens, seek medical attention immediately
💡 Safety netting essential
Documentation SOAP
Rule: S Subjective, O Objective, A Assessment, P Plan.
✅ S: Patient complains of... O: BP... A: Likely... P: Prescribe...
❌ SOAP structure notes
→ SOAP notes
→ SOAP notes
💡 Subjective what patient says, Objective what you measure
Medical Past Perfect
Rule: Patient had been taking... before symptoms started.
✅ He had been taking ibuprofen for 2 weeks before rash appeared.
❌ He took before rash (less precise)
→ He had been taking... before
→ He had been taking... before
💡 Had been + -ing duration before past
Frequency Dosage Adverbs
Rule: Once daily, twice daily, three times daily, every 6 hours, as needed.
✅ Take as needed for pain, up to 3 times daily.
❌ Take when need
→ Take as needed / PRN
→ Take as needed / PRN
💡 PRN = as needed, OD = once daily
Medical Passive Continuous
Rule: Patient is being monitored, is being treated with...
✅ Patient is being monitored in ICU.
❌ Patient is monitoring (active wrong)
→ is being monitored
→ is being monitored
💡 Being + pp for ongoing passive
Relative Clauses Medical
Rule: Patient whose, the medication which, the area where.
✅ Patient whose blood pressure was high...
❌ Patient which
→ whose for people possession
→ whose for people possession
💡 Whose for possession
Conditionals Medical Advice
Rule: If you experience..., you should..., If pain persists, come back.
✅ If you experience side effects, stop and call us.
❌ If you will experience
→ If you experience
→ If you experience
💡 First conditional for advice
Modals Necessity Medical
Rule: Need to, have to, must, should, ought to for necessity.
✅ You need to finish antibiotics course.
❌ You must to finish
→ You need to finish / must finish
→ You need to finish / must finish
💡 Must = strong, Need to = necessity
Comparatives Medical
Rule: Better, worse, more stable, less swollen, no better, much improved.
✅ Swelling is much improved today.
❌ More better
→ Much better / Much improved
→ Much better / Much improved
💡 No better = same, not better
Medical Negation Polite
Rule: No, not, doesn't, without, denies, no history of...
✅ Patient denies chest pain, SOB, fever.
❌ Patient no have chest pain
→ Patient denies / No chest pain
→ Patient denies / No chest pain
💡 Denies = medical term for says no
Questions Indirect Medical Polite
Rule: Could you tell me if...? Do you mind if I ask...?
✅ Could you tell me if you have allergies?
❌ Tell me you have allergies? direct
→ Could you tell me if...?
→ Could you tell me if...?
💡 Indirect polite history
Instructions Sequence
Rule: First, then, next, after that, finally, make sure to.
✅ First, take deep breath, then hold it.
❌ First take breath then hold (punctuation)
→ First, take a deep breath, then hold it
→ First, take a deep breath, then hold it
💡 Sequence for procedures
Medical Prepositions
Rule: Allergic to, diagnosed with, suffer from, treated with, infected with.
✅ Allergic to penicillin, diagnosed with flu.
❌ Allergic from
→ Allergic to
→ Allergic to
💡 Dependent prepositions medical
Medical Uncountable Nouns
Rule: Advice, information, equipment, staff (uncountable), evidence.
✅ Medical advice, not advices.
❌ Advices, equipments
→ Advice, equipment
→ Advice, equipment
💡 Piece of advice, piece of equipment
Future Plans Referral
Rule: We are going to refer you to specialist, we will arrange...
✅ We are going to refer you to cardiology.
❌ We will refer you (promise) vs going to refer (plan)
→ We are going to refer you
→ We are going to refer you
💡 Going to = plan, Will = promise/decision
Medical Idioms Everyday
Rule: Under the weather, on the mend, feeling blue, out of sorts.
✅ Feeling under the weather = slightly ill.
❌ I'm feeling under weather
→ Under the weather
→ Under the weather
💡 On the mend = improving
Medical Verbs Formal vs Informal
Rule: Vomit vs Throw up, Diarrhea vs Runny stool, Myalgia vs Muscle ache.
✅ Patient vomited vs threw up formal.
❌ Throw up informal charting -> vomited
→ Vomited formal documentation
→ Vomited formal documentation
💡 Use formal for notes: vomit, stool, sputum
Vital Signs Language
Rule: BP 120 over 80, HR 78 beats per minute, Temp 37.5, RR 16.
✅ BP 120 over 80, pulse 78.
❌ BP 120/80 say: one twenty over eighty
→ BP 120 over 80
→ BP 120 over 80
💡 HR = heart rate, RR = respiratory rate
Medical Questions Tag for Confirmation
Rule: You're taking aspirin, aren't you? Confirmation tag.
✅ You're taking aspirin, aren't you?
❌ Tag for confirmation polite checking
→ You're taking... aren't you?
→ You're taking... aren't you?
💡 Tag for checking history
Medical Hypothetical
Rule: If we had caught it earlier, prognosis would have been better.
✅ Had we caught it earlier... inversion formal
❌ If we would have caught
→ If we had caught
→ If we had caught
💡 Mixed conditional medical
Documentation Abbreviations Safe
Rule: Use approved abbreviations only, avoid error-prone: QD, MSO4, U.
✅ Write daily not QD, morphine sulfate not MSO4.
❌ QD error-prone -> daily
→ Write daily
→ Write daily
💡 ISMP error-prone list
Empathy Language
Rule: I understand this must be difficult, That sounds painful, I'm sorry to hear that.
✅ That must be very difficult for you.
❌ Empathy for rapport
→ I understand...
→ I understand...
💡 Empathy improves compliance