Cheatsheet A2

Nouns and determiners

Articles: a, an, the

Point	Rule	Example
Form	a before a consonant sound, an before a vowel sound	a book / an apple
a / an	one thing, a job, or a first mention	She's a doctor.
the	a thing we both know, or already mentioned	There's a cat. The cat is black.
the	the only one; superlatives and ordinals	the sun / the best / the first time
A2the	rivers, seas, oceans, mountain ranges	the Thames / the Atlantic / the Alps
A2the	countries with a plural name, Kingdom or States	the UK / the USA / the Netherlands
No article	plural and uncountable nouns in general; meals; names	I like dogs. / We have lunch at two.
A2No article	home, work, school, bed; transport after by	go home / at work / by bus
Trap	the first sound decides, not the letter	a university / an hour
Trap	most countries take no article	I live in Spain.

Countable and Uncountable Nouns

Point	Rule	Example
Countable	a / an in the singular, -s in the plural	a book / two books
Uncountable	masses, materials, ideas: no a / an, no plural	I like music.
Verb	a singular verb, also for news	The water is cold. / The news is good.
Unit	count it with a unit; the unit takes the plural	a glass of water / a piece of advice / two cups of coffee
A2Groups of things	groups of things are uncountable too	furniture / luggage / homework
A2Both	some nouns are both; the meaning changes	I like coffee. ≠ Two coffees, please.
Trap	advice and information: some, or a piece of	a piece of advice / some advice
Trap	work is uncountable; a job is countable	She has a good job.

Quantifiers: some, any, much, many

Use	Plural countable noun	Uncountable noun
Affirmative	some apples / a lot of apples	some milk / a lot of milk
Negative	not any apples / not many apples	not any milk / not much milk
Question	any apples? / many apples?	any milk? / much milk?
How…?	How many apples?	How much milk?
A2Offer, request	Would you like some apples?	Can I have some milk?
A2A small number or amount	a few apples	a little milk
A2None: no + noun	no apples	no milk

Pronouns

Indefinite Pronouns

Point	Words	Rule	Example
some-	somebody / someone / something / somewhere	affirmative sentences, offers and requests	I saw somebody in the garden.
any-	anybody / anyone / anything / anywhere	after not and in questions	I didn't see anybody. / Did anyone call?
no-	nobody / no one / nothing / nowhere	the verb stays affirmative: one negative word	I saw nothing.
every-	everybody / everyone / everything / everywhere	means all	Everything is ready.
Verb	everybody	indefinite pronouns take a singular verb	Everybody is here.
Trap	nobody	negative subject → nobody	Nobody came.

Reflexive Pronouns

Point	Rule	Example
myself / yourself / himself / herself / itself	singular forms end in -self	She talks to herself.
ourselves / yourselves / themselves	plural forms end in -selves; yourselves = several people	They looked at themselves in the mirror.
Same person	the object is the same person as the subject	I burnt myself in the kitchen.
Emphasis	that person and nobody else	I made the cake myself.
by + reflexive	alone, without help	He lives by himself.
Routine verbs	everyday verbs stand alone: get dressed, relax, sit down	I get dressed quickly.
each other	each person → the other person	They looked at each other.
Trap	him + self / them + selves	He hurt himself. / They enjoyed themselves.

Verbs

To be

Tense	Question			Statement			Negative
Tense	Verb	Subject	Rest	Subject	Verb	Rest	Subject	Verb	Rest
A2Future	Will	I	be late?	I	will be	late.	I	won't be	late.
		you		You			You
		he		He			He
		she		She			She
		it		It			It
		we		We			We
		they		They			They

Present	Am	I	late?	I	am	late.	I	am not	late.
	Are	you		You	are		You	aren't
	Is	he		He	is		He	isn't
		she		She			She
		it		It			It
	Are	we		We	are		We	aren't
	Are	they		They	are		They	aren't

A1Past	Was	I	late?	I	was	late.	I	wasn't	late.
	Were	you		You	were		You	weren't
	Was	he		He	was		He	wasn't
		she		She			She
		it		It			It
	Were	we		We	were		We	weren't
	Were	they		They	were		They	weren't

Irregular Verbs Table

Pattern	Base form	Past simple	Past participle
All three forms are the same	put	put	put
-ought / -aught	buy	bought	bought
Past and participle end in -d	make	made	made
A2Long vowel shortens, -t added	keep	kept	kept
/iː/ shortens to /e/	meet	met	met
Vowel changes, past = participle	sit	sat	sat
Participle = base form	come	came	come
i → a → u	drink	drank	drunk
Participle in -en	take	took	taken
participle in -n / -ne	go	went	gone
Use	—	finished actions: I went to Madrid.	after have: I have gone there.

Phrasal Verbs: Core

Point	Rule	Example
Phrasal verb	verb + a particle; the particle gives the verb a new meaning	I'm looking for my keys.
Separable	a noun goes before or after the particle	Turn off the light. / Turn the light off.
Inseparable	the object always follows the particle	Look after the baby.
Daily routine	wake up, get up, put on, take off, turn on	She puts on her coat.
Going and coming	go out, come in, come back, pick up	I pick up the children at three.
Looking and finding out	look for, look after, look up, find out, fill in	Look up the word.
Trap	a separable verb takes a pronoun in the middle	Turn it off.

Tenses

Tense map

Tense	Form	Meaning	Example
Present simple	V / V-s	habits, facts, permanent states	I always walk to work.
Present continuous	am / is / are + V-ing	now, temporary situations	I'm working now.
A2Present perfect	have / has + V-ed	past events that matter now	I've never been to Rome.
Past simple	V-ed / irregular	finished events	I worked yesterday.
A2Past continuous	was / were + V-ing	in progress at a past moment	I was working at eight.
A2Used to	used to + V	past habits and states, over now	I used to swim when I was a child.
Going to	am / is / are going to + V	plans, predictions with evidence	We're going to cook tonight.
Present continuous for the future	am / is / are + V-ing	arrangements	I'm leaving tomorrow.
A2Will	will + V	decisions, offers, promises, opinions	I think it'll rain.
A2Present simple for the future	V / V-s	timetables	The train leaves at six.

Simple Tenses

Tense	Question			Statement			Negative
Tense	Helper	Subject	Verb	Subject	Helper	Verb	Subject	Helper	Verb
A2Future	Will	I	work?	I	will	work.	I	won't	work.
		you		You			You
		he		He			He
		she		She			She
		it		It			It
		we		We			We
		they		They			They

Present	Do	I	work?	I		work.	I	don't	work.
	Do	you		You		work.	You	don't
	Does	he		He		works.	He	doesn't
		she		She			She
		it		It			It
	Do	we		We		work.	We	don't
	Do	they		They		work.	They	don't

Past	Did	I	work?	I		worked.	I	didn't	work.
		you		You			You
		he		He			He
		she		She			She
		it		It			It
		we		We			We
		they		They			They

Continuous Tenses

Tense	Question			Statement			Negative
Tense	Helper	Subject	Verb	Subject	Helper	Verb	Subject	Helper	Verb
Present	Am	I	working?	I	am	working.	I	am not	working.
	Are	you		You	are		You	aren't
	Is	he		He	is		He	isn't
		she		She			She
		it		It			It
	Are	we		We	are		We	aren't
	Are	they		They	are		They	aren't

A2Past	Was	I	working?	I	was	working.	I	wasn't	working.
	Were	you		You	were		You	weren't
	Was	he		He	was		He	wasn't
		she		She			She
		it		It			It
	Were	we		We	were		We	weren't
	Were	they		They	were		They	weren't

Perfect Tenses

Tense	Question			Statement			Negative
Tense	Helper	Subject	Verb	Subject	Helper	Verb	Subject	Helper	Verb
Present perfect	Have	I	worked?	I	have	worked.	I	haven't	worked.
	Have	you		You	have		You	haven't
	Has	he		He	has		He	hasn't
		she		She			She
		it		It			It
	Have	we		We	have		We	haven't
	Have	they		They	have		They	haven't

Future Forms

Point	Rule	Example
am / is / are going to + V	plans and intentions; predictions with evidence	We're going to visit Granada. / Look at those clouds. It's going to rain.
am / is / are + V-ing	present continuous: a fixed arrangement, with a future time	I'm seeing the dentist on Friday.
A2will / 'll / won't + V	decisions now, offers, promises, opinions (I think)	It's cold. I'll close the window. / I think she'll win.
A2V / V-s	present simple: timetables	The train leaves at 6:15.
Trap	plans take going to	I'm going to buy a car tomorrow.
A2Trap	will makes questions by itself	Will you come?

Used to

Point	Rule	Example
Affirmative	used to + V: the same for every subject	She used to live in Rome.
Negative	didn't use to + V	We didn't use to have a car.
Question	Did + subject + use to + V	Did you use to walk to school? — Yes, I did.
Use	past habits and states that are over now	I used to walk to school. / We used to have a dog.
Past simple	a single event, or a stated time or number	I lived in Paris for two years.
Position	always, often and never go before used to	He always used to be late.
Sound	the d is silent: used to sounds like use-ta	I used to swim.
Trap	the affirmative keeps the d: used to	I used to play football.
Trap	after did and didn't the d goes: use to	I didn't use to like it.

Modal verbs

Can and Could

Point	Rule	Example
Form	subject + can + base verb; one form for every subject	She can swim.
Negative	can't; the full form is cannot, one word	I can't swim.
Question	Can + subject + base verb; no do	Can you swim?
Ability	can for skills	I can cook pasta.
Permission	can allows, can't forbids; ask with Can I…?	You can park here. / Can I open the window?
Request	Can you…? asks for help	Can you help me, please?
A2Past ability	could for general ability in the past	I could run fast when I was young.
A2Polite request	Could is more polite than can	Could you open the door, please?
A2Possibility	could says what may happen	It could rain later.
A2Other tenses	be able to takes the place of can	I'll be able to help you tomorrow.
A2Trap	a single success in the past takes was / were able to	The fire was big, but we were able to escape.

Must and Have To

Point	Rule	Example
Form: must	subject + must + V; one form for every subject	She must study.
Form: have to	have to, but has to with he, she, it	We have to leave. / He has to leave.
Question, negative	have to takes do / does / did and then the base form	Do you have to leave? / She doesn't have to leave.
must	the speaker's own view or a written rule	I must save more money. / Visitors must sign in.
have to	the situation or another person decides; common in speech	I have to get up at six for work.
mustn't	forbidden	You mustn't use your phone here.
don't have to	not necessary: you can choose	You don't have to come.
Trap	had to is the past of must	I had to work on Saturday.

Should

Point	Rule	Example
Form	subject + should + base verb; one form for every subject	You should see a doctor.
Negative	shouldn't; no do	You shouldn't work so late.
Question	Should + subject + base verb; no do	Should I take the bus? / What should I do?
Advice	should for a good idea, shouldn't for a bad one	You should drink more water. / You shouldn't eat so much sugar.
Opinion	what you think is right or good	I think the government should build more parks.
Should or must	should: advice or a mild duty; must: a strong obligation or a rule	You should wear a coat. / You must wear a seat belt.
Trap	a negative opinion puts don't on think	I don't think you should go.

May and Might

Point	Rule	Example
Form	subject + might / may + base verb; one form for every subject	She might come.
Negative	might not / may not	He might not come.
Possibility	something possible, now or in the future	She might be at home. / We might go to the beach.
Might or may	might sounds a little less sure	It might rain. / It may rain.
Possibility question	ask with think + will	Do you think it will rain?
Trap	may be follows the subject; maybe starts a clause	He may be late. / Maybe he is late.

Would

Point	Rule	Example
Want	would like + noun / to base verb; short form 'd	I'd like a coffee, please. / I'd like to book a table.
Question and offer	Would + subject + V; no do	Would you like some cake?

Sentence building

Conjunctions and Linkers

Point	Rule	Example
and, or	and adds an idea, or gives a choice; usually no comma before them	I like tea and coffee. / Do you want tea or coffee?
but, so	but contrasts, so gives a result; usually a comma before them	I like tea, but I don't like coffee. / I'm tired, so I go to bed.
because	gives the reason; a clause follows	I'm tired because I work late.
A2when, before, after	a time clause; the present simple talks about the future	When I arrive, I'll call you.
A2also, too	also goes before the main verb and after be; too goes at the end	I also speak French. / I speak French too.
A2Trap	because of is followed by a noun	We stayed in because of the rain.

Conditionals: Zero, First and Second

Point	Rule	Example
Zero: facts	if + present, present	If you mix blue and yellow, you get green.
First: real possibilities	if + present, will + V	If you study, you'll pass.
The if-clause	present simple, also for the future	If it rains, we'll stay in.
Order	if-clause first: comma; if-clause second: no comma	If it rains, we'll stay in. / We'll stay in if it rains.

Adjectives and adverbs

Adjectives and Adjective Order

Point	Rule	Example
adjective + noun	the adjective goes before the noun	She has a new phone.
verb + adjective	the verb is be, look, feel, sound, taste or smell	You look tired.
A2Several adjectives	opinion, size, age, shape, colour, origin, material, purpose	a nice old wooden chair
A2-ed / -ing	-ed: how a person feels; -ing: what causes it	I'm bored. / The film is boring.
Trap	one form for singular and plural	two red cars
A2Trap	size before colour, age before material	a big red bag / an old wooden table

Comparatives and Superlatives

Point	Rule	Example
One syllable, or two ending in -y	+ er / + est	Trains are faster than buses. / It's the cheapest.
Spelling	add r after -e; y becomes i; double one final consonant	nice → nicer / happy → happier / big → bigger
Other adjectives of two or more syllables	more + adjective / the most + adjective	This bag is more expensive.
Irregular	good → better → the best / bad → worse → the worst	It's the best film of the year.
comparative + than	compares two things; speech has an object pronoun after than	She is taller than me.
the + superlative + in / of	top of three or more; in a place or group, of a number	She is the tallest in the class.
as + adjective + as / not as + adjective + as	equal; not equal	My flat is as big as yours. / Tea is not as strong as coffee.
Trap	better and worse are already comparatives	This is better.

Adverbs of frequency and manner

Point	Rule	Example
Frequency	how often: always (100%), usually, often, sometimes, never (0%)	I always walk to work.
A2Manner	how it happens: adjective + ly; y → ily	He walks slowly. / They sing happily.
A2Manner: irregular	fast, hard, late and early keep the adjective's form	He runs fast.
How often?	frequency expressions go at the end	How often do you swim? — I swim every day.
Frequency: position	before the main verb, after be	I often walk. / She is always late.
A2Frequency: with an auxiliary	between the auxiliary and the main verb	I can never find my keys.
A2Manner: position	after the verb, or after the object	He opened the door slowly.
A2Trap	good describes a noun; well describes a verb	She sings well.

Prepositions

Place and Movement

Point	Rule	Example
in	inside a space, in a town or country	in the bag / in Madrid
on	touching a surface	on the table / on the wall
at	a point or a place for its purpose	at the door / at home
Fixed phrases	without the: at home, at work, in bed, to school	She's at work. / I go to work.
behind, near	go straight before the noun	I live near the park.
to / from	movement to and from a place; home follows go directly	We go to the beach. / I go home.
A2in → into / on → onto / at → to	place becomes movement	She goes into the kitchen. / The cat jumps onto the sofa.
A2along, across, through	the path of the movement	We walk across the bridge. / The train goes through a tunnel.
A2arrive	arrive in a city or country; arrive at a building	We arrive in Paris. / I arrive at the office.
A2Transport	get on a bus, train, plane, bike; get in a car, taxi	I get on the bus. / She gets in the taxi.
Trap	next to and in front of keep to and of	next to the café / in front of the school