Page 113 - IELTS Preparation band 5.0-6.5

Unit 3 Use the past simple for:
• actions or events in the past where the time you refer to
Prepositions is clear:
In time expressions A couple of years ago, I went on holiday with a friend.
• For months and years, use in: in August, in 2077 • a series of past actions or events which happened one
after the other:
• For periods of time, use:
We hired a car, which we picked up when we reached
- between ... and: between August and October the airport.
- from ... to: from 2005 to 2070 (=between 2005
• things which were clearly finished in the past:
and 2070) I went to a different primary school from my brothers.
- over+ a number of months or years +period:
over a 20-year period Use the present perfect simple for:
- during +a word or phrase that represents a period of • situations or states (not actions or activities) which
time*: During the summer holidays I the lesson I the started in the past and are still continuing now:
period between March and May I the five-year period, I've always enjoyed travelling.
• things which happened in the past, but no time is given
* Note that during means 'for part of the time mentioned'. Over and they have a result in the present:
means 'for the whole time mentioned': Faisa/ stayed at the hotel Great news! I've passed the exam!
for two weeks during the summer. The graph shows information
Use the present perfect continuous for:
about hotel staff over a ten-year period.
• actions and situations which started in the past and are
In phrases expressing trends still continuing now:
He has been working on the project for three months.
• To say what has changed, use a noun + in (a change in,
a rise in, a decrease in, etc.): There has been a rise in the
number of students studying Mandarin.
Unit 4
• To say how much something changed, use:
However, although, even though and on the
- a noun + of: There has been an increase of 3 percent.
other hand
- a verb + by: The number fell by 3,000.
However, although, even though and on the other hand are
- a verb or noun + from .. . to:
used to contrast ideas or information.
The average rose from 0.7 to 7.3.
• To express a level, use a verb+ at:
Although and even though
Unemployment peaked at 7 7 percent.
• Use although and even though to contrast ideas in the
• To say the level something reached, use a verb + to:
same sentence:
The number rose to 27,000.
Although television is not as popular as in the past, it is
still the most influential form of media.
Tenses: past simple, present perfect simple Many people still buy newspapers even though they have
and continuous little time to read them.
form • Use a comma when although or even though are placed
at the beginning of the sentence:
past simple verb + -ed
Although the website was expensive to design, very few
did not + verb
people visit it.
present perfect have/has + verb + -ed • Don't use a comma when although or even though are
simple have not + verb + -ed
placed in the middle of the sentence:
present perfect havejhas been + verb + -ing Many people are afraid of flying even though it is very
continuous havejhas not been + verb + -ing safe.
• Even though is stronger than although.

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