Sentences

Textbook basis

• Goldstein Ben, Jones Ceri, McKeegan David, Anderson Vicki, Higgins Eoin «Eyes Open 4 for Kazakhstan (Grade 8) Student's book», 2019, Kokzhiek-Gorizont, pp. 7, 9, 12, 19, 65
• Jenny Dooley, Bob Obee. «Excel for Kazakhstan (Grade 9) Student's book», Express Publishing, 2019, Module 1 "Hobbies & Qualities", pp. 10, 11, 12
• Goldstein Ben, Jones Ceri, McKeegan David, Anderson Vicki, Higgins Eoin «Eyes Open 4 for Kazakhstan (Grade 8) Student's book», 2019, Kokzhiek-Gorizont, pp. 33, 35, 76, 89, 91
• Jenny Dooley, Bob Obee. «Excel for Kazakhstan (Grade 9) Student's book», Express Publishing, 2019, Module 2 "Exercise & Sport", pp. 22, 23, 24
• Goldstein Ben, Jones Ceri, Anderson Vicki, Higgins Eoin, Akysheva Raisa, Tutbayeva Nazerke, Shaik Aidana, Tsoy Nataliya «English Eyes Open 3 for Kazakhstan. Grade 7 Student's book», 2025, pp. 9, 11, 16, 26

Key points

• Questions: the auxiliary or modal verb comes before the subject: Did you visit …? Have you ever been …? Could I borrow …?
• Reported speech: tenses move one step back; questions get statement word order; commands become told / asked + sb + (not) to do.
• Conditionals: 1st — real future; 2nd — unreal present; 3rd — unreal past. No will / would in the if-clause.
• I wish / If only + past simple = regret about the present; + past perfect = regret about the past.
• Relative clauses: who (people), which (things), that (both, only in defining clauses), where (place), why (reason), whose (possession).

Theory

1. Questions in different tenses

Tense / modal	Question
present simple	Do you listen to the radio every day?
past simple	Did you use to have a mohawk?
present perfect	Have you ever been to Kaindy Lake?
future	Will you come?
modal	Could I borrow your pen? Would you come to …? Should we …?

After did the verb is in the base form: Did you use to (not used to). Never two auxiliaries: not Do you can …?

Indirect (embedded) questions keep statement order: I wonder if the tickets are still available. Do you know when the match starts? (not when does the match start).

2. Reported speech

• Backshift: present simple → past simple; present continuous → past continuous; past simple / present perfect → past perfect; will → would; can → could. "I am playing cricket." → He said (that) he was playing cricket.
• Questions: yes/no → asked if / whether: She asked if she could come. Wh- → wh-word + statement order: "Where is the Giant's Causeway?" → He asked where the Giant's Causeway was.
• Commands: He told us to follow him. / He told us not to eat inside the stadium.
• say has no person object; tell needs one: He said that … / He told me that …

3. Conditional sentences

Type	If-clause	Main clause	Meaning
1st	present simple	will / can / have to + V	real future: If you pass all your exams, we'll have a holiday abroad.
2nd	past simple (were for all persons)	would / might / could + V	unreal now: If I were you, I would help them. If I saw it on a menu, I might eat it again.
3rd	past perfect	would have + V3	unreal past: If I had won the competition, I would have given the prize money to charity.

unless = if not: You won't meet the band unless you're first in the queue. Wish / if only: I wish I could go to Africa (now); If only I had booked my hotel in advance (past regret).

4. Relative and object clauses

• Defining (no commas, the information is necessary): Workers travel to the industrial zone where they work. The buildings which are newer are found in residential zones. That's the reason why I don't eat fast food.
• Non-defining (with commas, extra information; that is impossible): Dalatunes covers music from the 7th century to the present day, which makes it unique. Here which refers to the whole previous clause.
• Do not repeat the pronoun: not the man who he works here.
• Object clauses after think, know, believe, hope, say, tell and sure, certain; that can be omitted: I'm sure (that) you'll do great. I am certain everything will be done perfectly.

Examples

1. He asked me where ___. A) did I live B) I lived C) do I live. Answer: B — statement order and backshift.
2. "Don't touch it," she said. → She told us ___ it. Answer: not to touch.
3. If I ___ more time, I would learn Chinese. A) have B) had C) would have. Answer: B (2nd conditional).
4. If we had left earlier, we ___ the train. A) wouldn't miss B) wouldn't have missed. Answer: B (3rd conditional).
5. My brother, ___ lives in Astana, is a doctor. A) that B) who C) which. Answer: B — person, non-defining clause (no that after a comma).
6. ___ you use to play chess? — Did (not Do and not used).

Common mistakes

• You did visit London? instead of Did you visit London?
• He asked where was it — question order in a reported question.
• He said me instead of He told me; forgetting not in a negative command.
• If I would have known …, If it will rain … — will / would in the if-clause.
• would have + past simple: would have went.
• I wish I will … — mixing wish and hope.
• that after a comma; which for people.

Check yourself

1. How does will change in reported speech? — Would.
2. Report: "Is the shop open?" she asked. — She asked if (whether) the shop was open.
3. Which conditional describes an unreal situation in the past? — The third: if + past perfect, would have + V3.
4. What does unless replace? — If … not.
5. Can we use that in a non-defining relative clause? — No, only who / which.