C1 level grammar

C1
Grammar

This lesson shows some common grammar features you should master at C1 level.

Inversion and Emphatic Structures

Inversion occurs when auxiliary verbs come before the subject for emphasis, typically after negative adverbials like "rarely," "only then," or "not until." These structures often appear in formal or written English and can be tricky because Spanish usually doesn't change word order for emphasis.

Multiple Choice

Rarely ______ such a breathtaking view.

•  I have seen

• have I seen

• I saw

• did I seen

Multiple Choice

Only after the meeting ______ how serious the problem was.

• I realized

• I had realized

• have I realized

• did I realize

Modal Verbs for Speculation and Criticism in the Past

Modal verbs like must have, might have, should have, and could have express degrees of certainty or criticism about past events. In Spanish, this nuance is often expressed with conditional or subjunctive tenses.

Multiple Choice

You ______ told me you weren’t coming. I waited for hours!

• might have

• would have

• should have

• can have

Multiple Choice

He isn't here yet. He ______ missed the train.

• must have

• should have

• would have

• may

Cleft Sentences and Emphasis Structures

Cleft sentences use structures like "It is/was... who/that" or "What... is..." to emphasize specific parts of a sentence.

Multiple Choice

 ______ I love most about teaching is seeing students grow.

• Which

• That

• What

• Whom

Multiple Choice

It was Maria ______ helped me with the report.

• who

• which

• whose

• whom

Mixed and Complex Conditionals

Mixed conditionals combine different time references—typically, a past condition with a present result. These structures are often more complex than the standard first, second, or third conditionals.

Multiple Choice

If she had taken the job, she ______ in Paris now.

• would live

• would be living

• will be living

• had lived

Multiple Choice

If I were more organized, I ______ forgotten the appointment.

• wouldn't have

• won’t have

• haven’t

• didn’t

Passive with Nominalisation and Report

Nominalisation is turning verbs or adjectives into nouns. We use these forms in the passive form.

Example:

• Verb: decide

• Noun: decision

• Sentence: They decided to leave. → The decision to leave was made.

 

We also often report what people believe, say, or think using passive forms with the infinitive.

• Example:

  • People believe he stole the money.

  • Passive: He is believed to have stolen the money.

We use “to have + past participle” to show that the action happened in the past.

Multiple Choice

The suspect is believed ______ the building just before the fire started.

• to enter

• having entered

• to have entered

• to be entering

Multiple Choice

The public library was closed due to a _____ of funding.

• lacking

• lack

• the lack

• a lack

Verb Patterns

1. Verb + -ing

These verbs are followed by a gerund (the -ing form):

• Examples: enjoy, avoid, suggest, consider, admit, deny, keep, risk

• 🔹 She avoided talking about the past.

2. Verb + to-infinitive

These verbs are followed by to + base verb:

• Examples: agree, decide, hope, learn, need, offer, plan, promise, refuse, seem

• 🔹 They decided to leave early.

Verb Patterns

3. Verb + object + to-infinitive

These verbs need an object before the infinitive:

• Examples: advise, allow, encourage, expect, force, invite, persuade, remind, teach, tell, warn

• 🔹 The teacher encouraged her to apply.

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4. Verb + object + bare infinitive (without “to”)

This happens after verbs like make and let:

• 🔹 They made him apologize.

Verb Patterns

5. Verb + preposition + -ing

Some verbs are followed by a preposition and then a gerund:

• Examples: insist on, apologize for, succeed in, think about, look forward to

• 🔹 She insisted on paying for dinner.

Multiple Choice

She admitted ______ the deadline completely.

• to miss

• having missed

• to have missed

• miss

Multiple Choice

They hope ______ a solution by the end of the week.

• finding

• to finding

• to find

• find

Multiple Choice

The manager advised the team ______ more efficiently.

• working

• work

• to work

• having worked

Multiple Choice

The teacher let the students ______ the project on their own.

• to complete

• completing

• complete

• completed

Multiple Choice

He apologized for ______ late to the meeting.

• being

• be

• to be

• been

Discourse Markers and Advanced Conjunctions

C1 students need to use a variety of linking words to structure arguments or transitions clearly. Markers like "nevertheless," "insofar as," or "therefore" add formality and precision but may lack direct equivalents in Spanish.

Multiple Choice

He was tired. ______, he continued working until midnight.

• Although

• Nevertheless

• In case

• Therefore

Multiple Choice

We won’t invest in the project ______ it shows strong potential.

• unless

• in case

• so far

• due to