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Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET) · Grammar

Free B1 Grammar practice lessons

Cambridge B1 Preliminary grammar — intermediate structures, tenses, modals and clauses with clear explanations and free practice.

Paper guide

B1 Grammar: key structures, usage & how to train

Master the intermediate grammar foundations tested in Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET).

Parts

4

Tenses & Aspect–Conditionals & Modals–Comparatives & Adverbs–Passives & Verb Patterns

Marks

B1 level (140+)

Grammar practice

Timing

40 min

focused practice

Pass

140+

Cambridge Scale

B1 Preliminary Grammar requires clear, reliable control over essential English structures: verb tenses, comparative forms, conditionals, simple passives, and modal verbs. Accurate grammar directly powers your score in Reading Part 6 (Open Cloze) and ensures you communicate clearly in Writing and Speaking. On the Cambridge English Scale, 140 is the Grade C pass mark.

Format & timing

Review the core B1 structural pillars and practice timing targets.

  • Tenses & Aspect·Past, present & future narrative

    Core topics·B1 mastery marks·~10 min

  • Conditionals & Modals·Real & hypothetical situations

    Core topics·B1 mastery marks·~10 min

  • Comparatives & Adverbs·Modifiers, too & enough

    Core topics·B1 mastery marks·~10 min

  • Passives & Verb Patterns·Simple passives & gerunds/infinitives

    Core topics·B1 mastery marks·~10 min

  • Total·Grammar practice

    Full B1 curriculum·B1 level (140+) marks·~40 min

Choose any lesson topic from the grid above to read clear rules and complete self-grading exercises.

How it is marked

Grammar forms the foundation of Reading Part 6 (Open Cloze), and accounts for essential assessment points in the Writing and Speaking papers. A score of 140 is the Cambridge English Scale pass benchmark.

How to train B1 Grammar

Learn the rule, test your understanding, and apply structures in reading and writing.

  1. 101

    Review the rule and visual examples

    Select a grammar lesson and review the clear explanations and timeline charts.

    Browse lessons
  2. 202

    Complete the interactive quiz

    Fill in the blanks and check your immediate score to confirm you understood the mechanics.

  3. 303

    Practise in Open Cloze

    See how function words (prepositions, auxiliaries, pronouns) function in authentic B1 texts.

    B1 Reading Part 6
  4. 404

    Write sentences with new structures

    Create your own examples using conditionals or past continuous to build active recall.

  5. 505

    Review mistakes with explanations

    Read the feedback on any wrong answers to prevent repeating the same error.

    Study guides

Frequent mistakes in B1 Grammar

Watch out for these common intermediate errors.

  • Tenses

    Using present tense with past time words

    Saying "I am living here since two years" instead of "I have lived here for two years".

  • Conditionals

    Using "will" in the if-clause

    Saying "If it will rain tomorrow..." instead of the correct First Conditional: "If it rains tomorrow...".

  • Comparatives

    Double comparatives

    Saying "more better" or "more easier". Use "better" or "easier".

  • Modals

    Confusing "mustn’t" and "don’t have to"

    "Mustn’t" indicates prohibition (it is forbidden), whereas "don’t have to" indicates lack of obligation (it is not necessary).

Study guides

B1 Grammar study guides

Summary cheat-sheets and practical rules for Cambridge B1 Preliminary learners.

Pillar 1

Tenses & Narrative Structures

Past Simple, Past Continuous, and Present Perfect with time markers.

Read guide1 min read
Pillar 2

Conditionals & Modals

Zero, First, and Second conditionals, plus essential modal verbs.

Read guide1 min read
Pillar 3

Comparatives, Too & Enough

Adjective comparisons, modifiers, and word order rules.

Read guide1 min read
Pillar 4

Passive Voice & Verb Patterns

Present and past passive, plus verbs followed by -ing or to-infinitive.

Read guide1 min read

B1 Guides

Grammar practice & Cambridge preparation

Practical guides to consolidate intermediate grammar and build test confidence.

All guides

B1Scale & Levels

Understanding Cambridge English Scale scores

How grammar control is evaluated across CEFR levels.

Read9 min read

B1Preparation

How to organise your Cambridge study routine

Effective revision schedules and practice tips for B1 learners.

Read4 min read

B1Practice

All B1 Preliminary practice hubs

Access Reading, Listening, and Grammar practice modules for B1.

Read1 min read

FAQ

B1 Grammar
FAQ.

Clear answers about format, scoring, timing, and how to practise on this hub.

Which grammar topics are most important for Cambridge B1 Preliminary?

Key topics include: Past Continuous vs Past Simple, Present Perfect with "for/since/already/yet", Zero, First and Second Conditionals, basic modal verbs (must, have to, should, can), simple passive voice, comparatives and superlatives, and gerunds vs infinitives.

How is grammar tested in Cambridge B1 Preliminary?

Grammar is tested directly in Reading Part 6 (Open Cloze) where you supply missing function words, and evaluated in the Writing paper under Language and the Speaking test under Grammatical Resource.

What is the difference between Past Simple and Present Perfect?

Past Simple is used for completed actions at a specific time in the past (e.g. "I visited London in 2022"). Present Perfect connects past actions to the present or expresses life experiences without a specific time (e.g. "I have visited London twice").

What score is needed on the Cambridge Scale for B1 grammar mastery?

A passing score corresponds to 140 on the Cambridge English Scale (Grade C). Scores of 160 or higher receive Grade A, indicating ability at CEFR B2.

Are these B1 grammar lessons and exercises free?

Yes. All B1 grammar lessons, explanations, and interactive practice exercises on this platform are completely free with no signup required.