The Grammar Gauntlet

Before the Gauntlet — three new structures

You already know the grammar from Lessons 1 and 2. Today adds three more tools that B2 writers use. Read each one, then click to reveal the pattern.

Participle clauses New

A participle clause replaces a longer clause to make writing more concise and formal. It connects two ideas when they share the same subject.

Having + past participle

"Having finished the report, she went home."
(= After she had finished the report, she went home.)

Not having + past participle

"Not having heard the news, he was surprised."
(= Because he hadn't heard the news, he was surprised.)

Error

"Having finished the report, it was sent immediately."

⚠ The subject of the participle clause must be the same as the subject of the main clause. Here, who finished the report? Not "it".✓ "Having finished the report, she sent it immediately."

Cleft sentences New

Cleft sentences split one idea into two clauses to put emphasis on one part. They are very common in formal spoken and written English.

It + be + focus + that/who/which

"It was the deadline that caused the most stress."

Original: "The deadline caused the most stress."The cleft version says: not something else — specifically the deadline.

What + clause + be + focus

"What surprised me was how quickly they agreed."

Original: "I was surprised by how quickly they agreed."

Practice

Rewrite this sentence as a cleft sentence using It was…
"The lack of communication caused the misunderstanding."

→ "It was the lack of communication that caused the misunderstanding."

Conditional alternatives New

If is not the only word that introduces a condition. These three alternatives are common in formal and written English:

Unless = if… not

"Unless you register by Friday, you will lose your place."
(= If you don't register…)

Provided that / providing = only if

"You can leave early, provided that you finish the report first."

As long as = on the condition that

"As long as you are on time, there is no problem."

Note: all three are followed by a present tense (not future) in the condition clause — same rule as if.

Round 1 — Sprint

Ten sentences. Each one is either correct or contains an error. Decide fast — no budget, no bids. Just instinct.

Score: 0 / 10

Round 2 — Fix It

Five sentences. All of them contain an error from Lessons 1–3. Say the correction out loud, then type it below each sentence.

Round 3 — Transform It

The hardest round. You are given a sentence and an instruction. Rewrite the sentence using the structure shown. The meaning must stay the same.

🏆 Gauntlet complete

B2 Grammar Series · Lesson 3 of 3

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Round 1 Sprint

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Round 2 Fix It

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Round 3 Transform

✅ B2 Grammar Series complete

Diagnostic → Auction & Flip → The Gauntlet

Structures you have now practised

✔ Inversion after negative adverbials (Not only did…)

✔ Wish + past perfect for regret

✔ Despite (never despite of)

✔ Double comparative error (the more better)

✔ Insist on / suggest that / deny -ing / avoid -ing

✔ Be used to + -ing vs used to + base verb

✔ Since (point in time) vs for (duration)

✔ Reported question word order

✔ Inverted conditionals (Had I known…)

✔ Participle clauses (Having finished…)

✔ Cleft sentences (It was… that / What… was)

✔ Unless / provided that / as long as

← Back to Lesson 1 ← Back to Lesson 2

🏆 The Grammar Gauntlet