Grammar Revision After Easter

As we come back after the Easter break, it’s the perfect moment to refocus and fine-tune your English. Whether you’re in C1 or C2, one thing remains true: strong grammar is the backbone of clear, precise, and sophisticated communication.

Over the holidays, try to set aside some time to revise key grammar points we’ve covered (or not) this year. Pay special attention to areas you’ve found challenging—advanced conditionals, inversion, modal nuances, or complex sentence structures. Don’t just read: actively engage with the material by writing your own examples.

                C1 Grammar  /  C2 Grammar

A Couple of Pages a Day
Keep Grammar Mistakes Away

Most importantly, write down any questions or doubts that come up while you revise. No matter how small or specific they may seem, they are incredibly valuable. We’ll use them as a starting point for discussion in class, helping to clarify tricky points and deepen your understanding.

Remember: the idea is not only to revise and/or learn, but also to to put the syntax into practice. So, use these grammar points both in your speech and your wrtiting.

See you after Easter—with questions! ✍️

MacMillan Dictionary Real Grammar Quiz

Click here to do the 10-question test. Results are given immediately.

Everyone has an opinion about grammar. Some people get upset about what they regard as bad grammar, and believe we must all ‘follow the rules’. But where do these rules come from? And are they all valid? In our Real Grammar series, Macmillan Dictionary re-opens the debate, this time insisting that the only reliable way of understanding English grammar is to study the evidence of language in use. We analyse corpus data and observe how people use English, around the world and across the whole spectrum of text-types.
Try our quiz to test your knowledge of real 21st century grammar.

Aspects to assess in the writing and speaking expression tests

WRITING
Organization: Cohesion, Linking words and Punctuation
Accuracy: Word Order, Grammar and Vocabulary
Variety: Ideas, Grammar and Vocabulary

SPEAKING
Pronunciation, Fluency and linking ideas (+ Cooperation for Interaction part).
Accuracy: Grammar Structures and Vocabulary
Variety: Grammar Structures and Vocabulary

Fulfilment of Task +  Register for both skills

Raymond Murphy interview - Grammar in Use over the past 30 years

 

Author Raymond Murphy discusses how Grammar in Use, the world's best-selling grammar series for learners of English, has evolved since its first publication by Cambridge University Press in 1985.

Many of us have learned and taught with this series... Congratulations on the anniversary!!!
Find useful phrases to refer to language learning: "self-study book", "essential reference tool", "not being wordy", "appropriate to the task", "study guide", "diagnostic tests" ... form an expert!.
Very easy to read and understand phrases but somehow difficult to produce on our own and put in our mouths!

Real Grammar

Macmillan Dictionary Real Grammar shows us interesting short videos on grammar. Have a look!

Exam revision grammar and vocabulary

Here is some vocabulary and grammar seen in class dealing with the exam.

How to ace your C1 / C2 writing tasks in the final exam

1. Read the rubrics very carefully and follow them strictly (topic, type of writing, formal or informal register, number of words, number of paragraphs).
2. Devote at least 10 min. to plan your writing: ideas to develop (1 idea 1 paragraph), topic sentences, (advanced) connectors, vocabulary & grammar.
3. Choose specific vocabulary & phrases and grammar to use (type III conditional, cleft sentence, inversion, tense correlation, etc.).
4. Do the writing.
5. Proofread your writing: reread rubric, spelling, intelligibility, repeated words or ideas.
6. Hand in.

English Tenses Test (by Lucy)

Read about the importance of grammar and then check your tenses HERE. And do this extra Grammar Test. 

You'll love them: short and interesting!

QUIZ: How good is your grammar?

Check your grammar knowledge. (Just 17 questions)

Non-Progressive Verbs

 p. 457 from Practical English Usage By Swan M. OXFORD (The best grammar & vocabulary reference book in my opinion). 

Practical English Usage answers the questions that teachers and learners ask about English grammar and vocabulary, using clear corpus-informed explanations and examples. More than 600 entries range across issues such as: 

• article problems    • using tenses      • singular they    • get as a passive auxiliary    • the truth about conditionals    • bring or take?    • can, could, may or might?    • classic or classical?    • emails    • politeness    • avoiding offensive language ...

LIFE Grammar Practice Worksheets

Check the Grammar of the 12 units of the textbook here.

Make the Most of Your Self‑Study Time

Reviewing on your own can be incredibly productive—and surprisingly enjoyable. When you dedicate time to revisiting what you’ve learned, you can concentrate on the areas you find most challenging while also diving into stories, videos, and activities you couldn’t explore before.

🔎 Use the Labels Section

On the right‑hand side of the blog, you’ll find the Labels area. It’s perfect when you want to browse by topic. Explore categories such as:

• Idioms
• Pronunciation
• Exam practice
• And many more!

🖊 Search for Something Specific

If you already know what you want to revise, use the Search this Blog function (first icon above, on the right). Type in keywords such as:

• Passive sentences
• Article writing
• Cleft Sentences
• Inversion

You’ll quickly find posts that match exactly what you need.

🎧 Explore Reference Material

Why not enrich your learning by visiting the Reference Material section? You’ll find fantastic resources like:

• BBC World Service Documentaries, eg. Graffiti across Continents
• Advanced collocations
• C1 Grammar / C2 Grammar
• English Words you Might not Pronounce Well (presentation & handout)

… and more inspiring content to boost your skills.

🌐 Visit Recommended Websites

The Links to Visit section offers curated websites that help you stay informed and improve your English in real‑life contexts. Check out:

• SkyNews
• EL PAÍS (US Edition)
• Breaking News English

These sites make learning dynamic and engaging.

📚 Expand Your Vocabulary

If your goal is to master vocabulary in a particular field—Education, IT, Work, and more—head to IELTS Vocabulary Topics and explore focused content designed to help you grow in those specific areas.

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🔁 And There’s Even More You Can Do…

The blog offers you plenty of possibilities… but that’s just the beginning! You can also keep improving your English by weaving it naturally into your everyday activities:

• Watch your favourite TV series in the original version (with or without subtitles).
• Read about your hobbies in English... Do you like music?
• Enjoy a good novel or short stories written in English.
• Chat with your English‑speaking friends via Zoom or any other platform.
• Explore anything else that keeps you active and curious!

The idea (r) is simple: use your English as much as possible—preferably practising all skills, not just one or two—so it doesn’t get rusty during the holiday.

😄Enjoy your Easter Holiday!!!

if + should / if + will / if + would

If + should

We can use if with should to refer to events which might happen by chance or by accident:

If you should bump into Carol, can you tell her I’m looking for her? (If by chance you bump into Carol.)

If the government should ever find itself in this situation again, it is to be hoped it would act more quickly.

Conditional clauses with will or would

Will and would can be used in conditional clauses, either with the meaning of ‘being willing to do something’, or to refer to later results:

If Clare will meet us at the airport, it will save us a lot of time. (if Clare is willing to meet us)

If you would all stop shouting, I will try and explain the situation!

If it will make you happy, I’ll stay at home tonight. (If it is true that you will be happy as a result, I’ll stay at home tonight.)

We sometimes stress the will or would, especially if we doubt that the result will be the one mentioned:

If it really would save the planet, I’d stop using my car tomorrow. (If it really is true that the planet would be saved as a result, I would stop using my car, but I doubt it is true.)

Conditionals in speaking

In speaking, we often use if-clauses without main clauses, especially when asking people politely to do things. If is usually followed by will, would, can or could when it is used to be polite:

[Shop assistant to customer]

If you would just sign here, please. (a more polite way of saying Just sign here, please.)

[A is writing something for B and having difficulty]

A: If I could have a better pen …

B: Here, use this one.

A: Thanks.

(from https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/conditionals-if) 

Differences in American and British English grammar - article | Onestopenglish

Differences in American and British English grammar - article | Onestopenglish

Do this short Grammar Test (By Lucy)

Lucy's Grammar Test  

English Grammar Practice REVISION for ALL Students and Exams (By Lucy)

Grammar Examination Study Guide

Grammar Rules

41 Little Grammar Rules to Follow to Sound Smarter

Introducing our Blog to Newcomers

The blog EOI Cartagena C1 y C2 Inglés offers a wide range of engaging and useful posts for advanced English learners, combining practical language work with real-world topics. An interesting and valuable post could be “Technology & the Future of Jobs,” which encourages students to read an article and discuss how technology is transforming employment. This type of activity is especially useful because it combines reading, speaking, and critical thinking skills while focusing on a highly relevant issue (find more here). 

Another standout section is “EL PAÍS (News in English)”, which provides authentic news stories every week. It includes topics such as international politics, science, and social issues, helping students expand vocabulary while staying informed about current events. You can find it every Saturday. This makes learning more motivating and realistic, as students engage with real-world English. 

More light-hearted and practical posts, like “Health Phrases” and “Travel, Trip or Journey?,” focus on everyday vocabulary and expressions. These are particularly useful for improving fluency and sounding more natural in conversations.

The IELTS Vocabulary Topics (Vocaberry.com) post is beneficial for advanced learners because it provides topic‑based lexical sets that are essential for success in the exam. A strong variety of vocabulary directly impacts performance, especially in speaking and writing, where it represents a significant part of the final score. By organising vocabulary into common exam themes (such as travel, culture or social issues), the post helps students develop both accuracy and fluency, making it easier to express ideas naturally in exam situations. 

In addition, the Grammar posts on the blog complement this lexical work by focusing on key C1 / C2 structures and problem areas, which is crucial because advanced learners need not only words but also precise and correct sentence formation to achieve higher bands. Together, vocabulary and grammar posts create a balanced approach to language learning, improving both communicative competence and exam technique. Of course we will not forget pronunciation, another key element for anyone wishing to master the English language.

Furthermore, the blog itself has gained considerable attention recently, as shown by its visible page‑view statistics, reflecting a steady number of visits and confirming its usefulness and popularity among students.

Finally, posts like “Smart Up Your English!” provide resources that are both fun and educational, reinforcing vocabulary through interactive content.

Overall, the blog successfully mixes serious topics, exam practice, and entertaining material, making it both engaging and effective for advanced learners.

Do grammar quizzes matter? | Macmillan

Do grammar quizzes matter? | Macmillan

Differences in American and British English grammar - article | Onestopenglish

Differences in American and British English grammar - article | Onestopenglish