C2 LEVEL ENGLISH GRAMMAR

 1. Mastery of All Verb Tenses and Aspects

• Subtle Nuances in Verb Tenses:
  • Perfectly differentiate between the subtleties of continuous and simple aspects across all tenses, e.g., "I have been living" vs. "I have lived."
• Advanced Uses of Past Perfect Continuous:
  • Use it to set the scene or provide background, "She had been working there for years before she was promoted."
• Future in the Past:
  • "I was going to tell you, but I forgot."
• Narrative Use of Tenses:
  • Flexibly use a range of tenses in storytelling, weaving between past simple, past perfect, and past continuous: "He had been waiting for hours when she finally arrived."

2. Complex and Flexible Sentence Structures

• Advanced Subordination:
  • Seamless use of multiple subordinating conjunctions within one sentence: "Although he was tired, he continued working because he knew the deadline was approaching."
• Complex Relative Clauses:
  • Mastery over restrictive and non-restrictive relative clauses, including those with prepositions: "The conference, the importance of which cannot be overstated, was a success."
• Inversion in Conditional Sentences:
  • "Had it not been for your help, I would have failed."
• Ellipsis and Substitution:
  • "He speaks French fluently, and his sister does too." ("does" substitutes "speaks French fluently")

3. Subtle Use of Modality

• Advanced Modal Perfects:
  • Express varying degrees of certainty, probability, and regret: "She must have missed the bus."
• Modal Verbs in Passive Voice:
  • "The report should have been completed by now."
• Using Modals for Politeness and Formality:
  • "Might I suggest another approach?"
• Hypothetical and Unreal Uses of Modals:
  • "You could have been killed!"

4. Sophisticated Conditionals

• Mixed Conditionals with Complex Structures:
  • "If he had taken the job, he would be earning a high salary now."
• Advanced Conditional Clauses:
  • Use of complex conditional structures such as "If it weren’t for..." and "But for...": "But for your advice, I would have made a mistake."
• Inversion in Mixed Conditionals:
  • "Were it not for his dedication, we wouldn't have succeeded."

5. Nuanced Use of Passive Voice

• Complex Passive Constructions:
  • "The proposal was being considered when the new information came to light."
• Passive Infinitive and Gerund Forms:
  • "She dislikes being told what to do."
• Complex Causative Constructions:
  • "I had the report sent to the client."

6. Mastery of Reported Speech

• Complex Reporting Verbs:
  • Use verbs like "insist," "suggest," "deny" with proper grammatical structures: "She insisted that he be present."
• Reported Speech with Complex Tenses and Modals:
  • "She said she might have been waiting for hours."
• Advanced Backshifting:
  • Handling complex time references: "He claimed he would have been there by now if not for the delay."

7. Advanced Inversion and Emphasis

• Inversion for Dramatic Effect:
  • "Little did he know what lay ahead."
• Inversion with Adverbials:
  • "Scarcely had they finished when the doorbell rang."
• Cleft and Pseudo-cleft Sentences:
  • "What I need is a break."

8. Advanced Cohesion and Coherence

• Discourse Markers and Connectors:
  • Skillful use of a wide range of discourse markers for different functions, e.g., "nevertheless," "moreover," "on the contrary."
• Complex Transitional Phrases:
  • "Taking everything into account," "Needless to say."
• Advanced Use of Pronouns and Reference:
  • "This" and "that" to refer to entire clauses or ideas previously mentioned.

9. Sophisticated Use of Nouns and Noun Phrases

• Complex Nominalization:
  • Turn clauses and verbs into nouns to increase formality: "The fact that he arrived late was a problem" becomes "His late arrival was a problem."
• Expanded Noun Phrases with Multiple Modifiers:
  • "The recently renovated, four-story building in the city center."

10. Subtle Use of Articles and Determiners

• Advanced Article Usage:
  • Nuanced use of definite and indefinite articles, and zero article for abstract nouns and generalizations: "He went to the hospital" vs. "He went to hospital."
• Advanced Use of Quantifiers:
  • "A great deal of," "a number of," "few vs. a few," "little vs. a little."
• Abstract and Specific Use of Articles:
  • "Music is an art form" vs. "The music of the 1980s."

11. Advanced Adjective and Adverb Use

• Complex Adjective Structures:
  • Use adjectives in reduced clauses: "The man wearing a blue suit."
• Advanced Adverbial Clauses and Phrases:
  • Use a variety of adverbial phrases for time, reason, contrast: "Hardly had he entered the room when everyone fell silent."
• Focus and Emphasis:
  • "She did do her homework." (for emphasis)

12. Idiomatic Expressions and Colloquial Phrasing

• Idioms and Fixed Expressions:
  • Mastery of idiomatic phrases: "It's raining cats and dogs."
• Phrasal Verbs with Nuanced Meanings:
  • "Put up with," "get away with," "come up with."
• Use of Colloquial and Informal Expressions in Context:
  • "I'm absolutely knackered."

13. Subtle Usage of Gerunds and Infinitives

• Complex Gerund and Infinitive Structures:
  • "He regrets not having told her earlier."
• Gerunds and Infinitives with Change in Meaning:
  • "I stopped to smoke" vs. "I stopped smoking."
• Advanced Verb Patterns:
  • "I saw him cross the street." vs. "I saw him crossing the street."

14. Advanced Punctuation and Structure

• Correct Use of Colons, Semicolons, and Dashes:
  • "He brought three things: bread, milk, and cheese."
• Advanced Sentence Combining:
  • Using conjunctions and punctuation to create complex sentences: "It was raining; nevertheless, we decided to go for a walk."
• Parentheses and Brackets for Additional Information:
  • "The results (as you might expect) were surprising."

15. Complex Use of Conjunctions and Linking Words

• Advanced Conjunctions for Contrast and Concession:
  • "Notwithstanding," "albeit," "inasmuch as."
• Subordinating Conjunctions for Nuanced Relationships:
  • "Whereas," "inasmuch as," "provided that."
• Cause, Effect, and Condition:
  • "Given that," "inasmuch as," "lest."

16. Precision in Vocabulary Choice

• Advanced Lexical Resource:
  • Use precise vocabulary and synonyms to avoid repetition: "Elated" instead of "very happy."
• Nuanced Use of Synonyms and Antonyms:
  • "Indispensable" vs. "dispensable."
• Advanced Collocations and Word Partnerships:
  • "Make a decision," "take into consideration."

17. Nuanced Use of the Subjunctive Mood

• Complex Expressions of Necessity and Urgency:
  • "It is essential that she attend the meeting."
• Expressions of Suggestion, Demand, and Hypothetical Situations:
  • "If only he were here."

18. Sophisticated Use of Prepositions

• Advanced Prepositional Phrases:
  • "In the event of," "in view of," "with regard to."
• Nuanced Use of Prepositions with Idiomatic Expressions:
  • "By means of," "in terms of," "on behalf of."
• Advanced Compound Prepositions:
  • "In the light of," "in connection with."

19. Advanced Argumentation and Discourse

• Cohesive and Coherent Arguments:
  • Using advanced grammar to build coherent arguments in both spoken and written English.
• Subtle Concessions:
  • "While it is true that..., it should also be noted that..."
• Balancing Formality and Informality:
  • Adjusting grammar and vocabulary to suit formal and informal contexts seamlessly.

20. Mastery of Stylistic Choices

• Rhetorical Devices:
  • Use of parallelism, anaphora, and rhetorical questions for effect.
• Stylistic Variation:
  • Shifting tone and register appropriately.
• Advanced Literary Devices:
  • Metaphor, irony, hyperbole, and understatement.

At the C2 level, learners are expected to demonstrate complete command over the language, showing a high degree of flexibility and precision in their grammar use, capable of tailoring their language style to different contexts, audiences, and purposes.