UG Structure - Training Type Descriptions

UG Structure uses UG principles to help students understand word order and sentence structure so they can create sentences without directly being taught grammar.

UG Structure sets begin with a statement, followed by three cues that build on the original statement. Each new statement is based on the correct answer from the previous cue, not on the original statement.
In levels 1-8, the first cue will always be “Use X”, which asks the student to replace another word in the statement. The second and third cues will always be a combination of “Add X” (add an additional word to the statement), “Change to negative” or “Form a question” (yes/no question).
By levels 9 and 10, there will be slight modifications to the cue order and to the “Form a question” type.
Each successive level contains many of the grammar and vocabulary targets of the previous levels, plus whatever new grammar items have been added at the new, higher level.

UG Structure
LEVEL	DESCRIPTION	EXAMPLES
1	Simple Present, Present Continuous, Present Perfect; definite and indefinite articles, third person -s ・ Simple 3 to 5 word statements ・ Simple adjectives/adverbs	He is a banker. 1. Use “they”: They are bankers. 2. Add “successful”: They are successful bankers. 3. Form a question: Are they successful bankers?
2	Simple Present, Present Continuous, Present Perfect; definite and indefinite articles, direct and indirect objects, third person -s; prepositional phrases ・ Simple 3 to 6 word statements ・ Few adjectives/adverbs ・ Few irregular verbs	Our hockey team has lost. 1. Use “won”: Our hockey team has won. 2. Change to negative: Our hockey team hasn’t won. 3. Add “in weeks”: Our hockey team hasn’t won in weeks.
3	Simple Past, Past Continuous; adjectives & adverbs; prepositional phrases ・ Simple 4 to 7 word statements ・ Irregular verbs and usage	My stepsister was dropping out of school. 1. Use “quitting”: My stepsister was quitting school. 2. Add “to become an actor”: My stepsister was quitting school to become an actor. 3. Change to negative: My stepsister wasn’t quitting school to become an actor.
4	Simple Past, Past Continuous, Past Perfect; adjectives, adverbs & adverbial phrases (more complex), prepositional phrases (more complex) ・ 4 to 7 word statements ・ Irregular verbs and usage ・ Intermediate vocabulary	The leafy vegetables had wilted. 1. Use “greens”: The leafy greens had wilted. 2. Add “and become soft”: The leafy greens had wilted and become soft. 3. Form a question: Had the leafy greens wilted and become soft?
5	Simple Past, Past Continuous, Past Perfect; past use of “used to”, “have to”, & “able to”; modals for ability and possibility (can, could, might, may) ・ 5-8 word statements ・ Irregular verbs and usage ・ Intermediate vocabulary	A. Netflix used to send DVDs in the mail. 1. Use “movie rentals”: Netflix used to send movie rentals in the mail. 2. Add “to their customers”: Netflix used to send movie rentals to their customers in the mail. 3. Form a question: Did Netflix used to send movie rentals to their customers in the mail? B. The rain might have ruined our friend’s wedding. 1. Use “Erika’s”: The rain might have ruined Erika’s wedding. 2. Add “heavy” to describe “rain”: The heavy rain might have ruined Erika’s wedding. 3. Add “outdoor” to describe “wedding”: The heavy rain might have ruined Erika’s outdoor wedding.
6	Simple Future, Future Continuous; future use of “going to”, “want to” and “able to”; modals for permission (can, could, may) ・ 6-10 word statements ・ Irregular verbs and usage ・ Intermediate vocabulary	A. The two best friends will be touring. 1. Use “three”: The three best friends will be touring. 2. Add “the wineries”: The three best friends will be touring the wineries. 3. Add “in California”: The three best friends will be touring the wineries in California. B. The struggling travel agent is going to quit. 1. Use “resign”: The struggling travel agent is going to resign. 2. Add “from the company”: The struggling travel agent is going to resign from the company. 3. Change to negative: The struggling travel agent isn’t going to resign from the company. C. His responsible ten-year-old brother may cook. 1. Use “seven-year-old”: His responsible seven-year-old brother may cook. 2. Add “under supervision”: His responsible seven-year-old brother may cook under supervision. 3. Form a question: May his responsible seven-year-old brother cook under supervision?
7	Simple Future, Future Continuous, Future Perfect; modals for obligation (must, have to, need to) ・ 7-11 word statements ・ Upper-intermediate vocabulary	A. America’s home sales will have been impacted. 1. Use “worldwide”: Worldwide home sales will have been impacted. 2. Add “negatively”: Worldwide home sales will have been negatively impacted. 3. Change to negative: Worldwide home sales won’t have been negatively impacted. B. Equal human rights must be top priority. 1. Use “have to”: Equal human rights have to be top priority. 2. Add “the government’s”: Equal human rights have to be the government’s top priority. 3. Form a question: Do equal human rights have to be the government’s top priority?
8	Simple Future, Future Continuous, Future Perfect, Present Perfect Continuous; future use of “have to”; modal “should” (for advice, obligation, probability & expectation) ・ 8-12 word statements ・ Upper-intermediate vocabulary	A. We have been trying to get a reservation. 1. Use “the family”: The family has been trying to get a reservation. 2. Form a question: Has the family been trying to get a reservation? 3. Add “at the new pizza place”: Has the family been trying to get a reservation at the new pizza place? B. Unhealthy people should stay inside. 1. Use “home”: Unhealthy people should stay home. 2. Add “and avoid others”: Unhealthy people should stay home and avoid others. 3. Add “during the pandemic”: Unhealthy people should stay home and avoid others during the pandemic.
9	All verb tenses; modals (all); first and second conditionals; past use of “going to” ・ Longer and more complex statements ・ Irregular question forms with question words (why, when, where, how, etc) ・ Advanced vocabulary	A. The new printer will help if it works properly. 1. Form a yes/no question: Will the new printer help if it works properly? 2. Use “plotter”: Will the new plotter help if it works properly? 3. Add “colour”: Will the new colour plotter help if it works properly? B. He told the media that he was selling the company. 1. Use “buying”: He told the media that he was buying the company. 2. Add “tech”: He told the media that he was buying the tech company. 3. Form a question with “when”: When did he tell the media that he was buying the tech company?
10	All verb tenses; modals, 1st & 2nd conditionals, irregular question forms; common idiomatic phrases, dependent clauses ・ Significantly longer statements ・ Advanced and TOEIC/TOEFL vocabulary	A. She’d paid an arm and a leg for that meal. 1. Form a yes/no question: Had she paid an arm and a leg for that meal? 2. Add gourmet: Had she paid an arm and a leg for that gourmet meal? 3. Change to negative: Hadn’t she paid an arm and a leg for that gourmet meal? B. Even though the arrivals terminal has been renovated, it is still congested. 1. Add “at Haneda”: Even though the arrivals terminal at Haneda has been renovated, it is still congested. 2. Use “departures”: Even though the departures terminal at Haneda has been renovated, it is still congested. 3. Form a yes/no question: Is the departures terminal at Haneda still congested, even though it’s been renovated?