Study & Learn Mode Lessons
C1 version:
The question is whether you need to continue evaluating my level in order to create a structured plan for reaching C1/C1+.
*********************************************⭐ PART 1 — Your Current English Profile (Based on Writing)
Already C1
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You express abstract ideas clearly.
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You write coherent paragraphs.
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You use advanced connectors (although, unless, for example, at the moment).
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Your reasoning is clear and easy to follow.
B2 Elements Still Present
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Occasional unnatural phrasing (literal translations).
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Small grammar slips with wording (accent which will not be very heavy).
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Limited idiomatic range when speaking about emotions, opinions, or nuance.
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Less automatic accuracy under cognitive pressure (common B2→C1 gap).
Your Strongest Side
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Listening and comprehension — already near C1.
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You understand audiobooks and unscripted YouTube content very well.
Your Weakest Side
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Speaking fluency + active retrieval
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Memory/retention of vocabulary (you forget words over time).
Your C1 Accelerator
You have excellent analytical thinking and a strong writing habit.
This makes you a prime candidate for reaching C1/C1+ through structured practice.
⭐ PART 2 — Your Skill Paths
1️⃣ Grammar Mastery Path (B2 → C1 → C1+)
Goal:
Accuracy + flexibility + fully natural structures.
Your priority topics:
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Causative structures (have/get something done)
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Advanced conditionals
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Participial clauses
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Reduced relative clauses
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Nominalization (C1 academic skill)
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Emphasis structures (What I find interesting is…)
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Modal nuance (might have been, could have, would have)
How to train grammar (efficiently):
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2–3 sentences a day using ONE advanced pattern.
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Convert simple sentences into advanced ones.
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Weekly mini-review of the patterns that felt difficult.
2️⃣ Vocabulary Mastery Path (C1 Precision & Nuance)
Goal:
Move from “understandable B2 vocabulary” to
precise, nuanced C1 vocabulary and collocations.
Your priority areas:
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Verbs of thinking (assume, infer, imply, reflect, perceive)
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Emotions (relieved, overwhelmed, conflicted, unsettled)
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Opinion vocabulary (from my standpoint, to some extent, arguably)
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Register control (formal ↔ neutral ↔ conversational)
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Collocations (strong possibility, heavy workload, high accuracy, subtle difference)
Method:
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Take 1 vocabulary cluster each week.
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Use them in 2–3 daily sentences.
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Use one cluster in real conversation with me at the end of the week.
3️⃣ Speaking & Fluency Path (No Audio Needed)
Goal:
Reduce hesitation and activate passive vocabulary.
Your daily drill (simple but extremely effective):
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Pick one topic (movies, politics, daily life).
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Speak for 1 minute non-stop.
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Do NOT correct yourself while speaking.
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Immediately write 3–5 sentences summarizing what you just said.
This creates:
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real fluency
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automaticity
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stronger retrieval
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deeper memory encoding
4️⃣ Pronunciation & Accent Path (Standard American)
Goal:
Clear, neutral accent (not native-like, but natural).
Your focus areas:
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Rhythm & stress (bigger impact than individual sounds)
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“Melody” of American English (intonation patterns)
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Key sounds:
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/r/
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/æ/ (cat)
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flap /t/ (water → wader)
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linking (go_out → gowout)
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Method (no recordings required):
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Shadow 30–45 seconds of a TV show scene.
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Repeat 3–4 times:
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With transcript
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Without transcript
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Whisper shadowing (intonation only)
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Normal shadowing
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Shows recommended for you (based on your goals):
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The Good Cop
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Elsbeth
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Parks and Recreation
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The Lincoln Lawyer
5️⃣ Listening & Comprehension Path
Goal:
Refine comprehension to high C1/C1+.
You’re already strong here, so the goal is not “understanding” but:
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noticing nuance
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identifying tone
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understanding idiomatic usage
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catching reduced speech
Method:
Once a week:
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choose 1–2 minutes of audio (audiobook, show, YouTube journalist)
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transcribe by ear
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compare with the real transcript
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note 3 patterns you missed
This is one of the fastest routes to C1+.
6️⃣ Writing Mastery Path
Goal:
More idiomatic, natural, C1+ flow.
Your main tasks:
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Use more varied discourse markers (ultimately, in contrast, on the other hand, in that case)
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Reduce repetitions
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Strengthen paragraph structure (you already do well)
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Notice literal translations from Russian
Method:
Weekly:
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Write 1 short reflection (100–150 words).
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I correct it (CW1 or CW2).
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You rewrite it in your own words.
This cycle builds permanent C1-level writing.
⭐ PART 3 — Weekly Study Framework (Balanced)
Choose one of these depending on your day.
20-Minute Plan (minimal but effective)
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5 min — grammar pattern practice
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5 min — speaking monologue
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5 min — shadowing
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5 min — vocabulary review
45-Minute Plan
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10 min grammar
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10 min vocabulary cluster
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10 min speaking + summary
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10 min shadowing
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5 min reading/listening extension
90-Minute Deep Plan
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15 min grammar
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20 min vocabulary + usage
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15 min shadowing
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20 min speaking practice
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20 min audiobook transcript comparison
Use the 90-minute plan 1–2 times per week for maximum progress.
⭐ PART 4 — Daily Micro-Habits (Very Small but Powerful)
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Speak 1 minute aloud every day.
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Write 2–3 advanced sentences.
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Learn 5–7 collocations, not single words.
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Shadow 30–40 seconds.
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Read or listen for pleasure 10–15 minutes.
These are small enough that you will actually do them.
⭐ PART 5 — How to Track Progress (Essential for C1)
Every Sunday, check:
✔ Vocabulary
Did you use last week’s cluster in conversation?
✔ Speaking
Are your monologues longer and smoother?
✔ Grammar
Are you using advanced patterns naturally?
✔ Listening
Did you do one transcription exercise?
✔ Writing
Did your CW1/CW2 corrections become smaller?
If you measure it, you improve.
⭐ Most Complete Grammar List for C1/C1+
1) Complex Sentence Structures
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Reduced relative clauses
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Participial clauses (present/past)
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Absolute constructions (C2 but learnable)
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Inversion for emphasis (Never have I seen…)
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Emphatic clefts (What I really want is…)
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Fronting for focus (More important than that is…)
2) Conditionals
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All mixed conditionals
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Inverted conditionals (Had I known…)
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Unreal past forms (If I had been, I wish I had known)
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Modal conditionals (might have, could have, should have)
3) Modals (Nuance & Precision)
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might/may/could for speculation
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should/ought to for criticism, expectation
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would for habits, softening, distancing
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Perfect modals (should have, might have, must have)
4) Causative & Complex Verb Patterns
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have/get something done
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Verb + object + infinitive (I need you to…)
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Verb + object + bare infinitive (Let me go)
5) Nominalization (C1 Academic Skill)
Turning verbs/clauses into nouns:
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Their refusal to cooperate…
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The discovery of…
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His inability to…
6) Tense & Aspect Mastery
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Perfect continuous forms
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Narrative past forms
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Past description vs past events (C1 storytelling skill)
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Future-in-the-past (was going to, would)
7) Reported / Indirect Speech
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Backshifting nuance
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Reporting questions, requests, suggestions
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Changing modality in reported speech
8) Substitution & Ellipsis (C1 Cohesion)
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so do I / neither did he
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I think so / I hope not
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Ellipsis in relative clauses (the best (that) you can do)
9) Cohesive Devices & Linking Structures
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Concession (even though, although, despite)
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Contrast (whereas, while)
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Result (therefore, consequently)
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Stance markers (apparently, admittedly, arguably)
10) Passive Voice at C1 Level
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Reporting passives (He is believed to…)
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Multi-verb passives (The bridge is said to have been built…)
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Passive with modals
11) Articles & Determiners (Advanced)
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Generic references (The tiger is… / Tigers are…)
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Zero article with concepts
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Few vs a few / little vs a little
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Such / so / too / enough (precision)
12) Relative Clauses (Full Range)
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Defining vs non-defining
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Non-finite relatives (students wishing to apply…)
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Avoiding “which-clutter” → improved style
13) Adverbial Clauses
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Reason, concession, purpose, result
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Reduced adverbials (Seeing that…, Given that…)
14) Complex Prepositional Phrases
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In terms of, with regard to, as opposed to, in contrast to
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Prepositional collocations (concerned with, capable of, accused of)
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⭐ Your B2 → C1 Grammar Skill Map
(This is the definitive list of grammar you need to master for C1/C1+. It is ordered by levels and stages — this is how English teachers and examiners map real progression.)
PART 1 — B2 Foundations You Must Consolidate First
These are the areas where learners “mix things up” most often.
1. Tense Control & Aspect
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Present perfect vs past simple
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Present perfect continuous
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Past perfect (narrative use)
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Future forms (be going to, will, present continuous)
2. Articles & Determiners
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The / a / zero article
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Abstract nouns and generic references
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Countable vs uncountable nuance
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few / a few / little / a little
3. Modal Verbs (Core Meanings)
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Ability, permission, obligation
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must / have to / should / might
4. Conditionals (Basic to Upper-B2)
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Zero, first, second, third
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Basic mixed conditionals (second + third)
5. Passive Voice (Core Forms)
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Present / past / present perfect passive
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Passive infinitives (to be done)
6. Reported Speech (Main Rules)
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Backshifting
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Reported statements and questions
🔹 If any of these are weak, C1 grammar will feel shaky.
We’ll integrate review once you pick which one is hardest.
PART 2 — C1 Core Grammar (High Priority for You)
These are the structures that make writing and speaking sound C1.
1. Advanced Conditionals ★ High Priority
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Full range of mixed conditionals
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Inversion for conditionals (Had I known…)
2. Modal Verbs for Speculation & Nuance
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must have / might have / could have / should have
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Polite and distancing modals (would, might, could)
3. Reduced Relative Clauses
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People living in the city…
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The book written by…
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Anyone wishing to apply…
4. Participial Clauses
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Present participle: Seeing that…, Considering…, Given…
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Past participle: Born in 1980, he…
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Perfect participles: Having finished the work…
5. Emphasis Structures
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Clefts: What I need is… / The thing that bothers me is…
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Fronting: More important than cost is quality.
6. Nominalization
“Verb → noun” transformations for high-level expression:
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His refusal to cooperate…
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The introduction of the new policy…
7. Extended Passive Structures
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Reporting passive: He is said to be…
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Multi-verb passive: The book is expected to have been published…
8. Substitution & Ellipsis
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So do I / Neither do I
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if so / if not
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Omitting unnecessary clauses for conciseness
PART 3 — C1+ / Style Mastery (Refinement Stage)
Optional but brings you toward near-native writing clarity.
1. Inversion for emphasis
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Rarely have I seen…
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Not only did he…
2. Complex discourse markers
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ultimately, admittedly, arguably, in contrast, etc.
3. Absolute constructions (advanced stylistic tool)
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Weather permitting, we’ll…
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All things considered, …
4. Parallelism for elegance
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She values honesty, clarity, and consistency.
⭐ Summary: Your Complete C1/C1+ Grammar List
You need to work through:
✔ Solid B2 → (Already partly there)
✔ High-Priority C1 → (This is your real target zone)
✔ Optional C1+ → (For elegance and refinement)
This is the full and complete list → nothing else is required grammatically for C1.
⭐ Study Mode Step
To customize your grammar schedule, let me ask one simple question:
👉 Which area from the B2 Foundations list feels the most unstable for you?
Choose one:
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Tenses & aspect
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Articles
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Modals
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Conditionals
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Passive voice
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Reported speech
Your answer will help me design your first C1 grammar lesson.