Grammar VI

Finite verb phrases

Finite verb forms show tense. Person and number (I go, she goes, we went, etc.)

Ex: She was waiting in the room before he came in.

Non-finite verb phrases

Non- finite clauses

Non-finite clauses contain a verb which does not show tense. We usually use non-finite verbs only in subordinate clauses.

Finite Clauses

Finite clauses must contain a verb which shows tense. They can be main clauses or subordinate clauses. Ex: Is it raining?

Exercises

What is a Collocation?

A collocation is a combination of two or more words which frequently occur together.

Strong, Fixed and Weak Collocations

A Strong collocation is one which the words are very closely associated with each other. Ex: She has aubrurn hair.

Fixed collocations are collocations so stronf thath cannot be chamged in any way. Ex: I was walking to and fro.

Weak collocation are made up of words that collocate with a wide range of pther words. Ex: I am in broad agreement.

Grammatical categories of collocation

Verb + Noun

V : draw up N: a contract Ex: our lawyer draw up a contact for us to sign

Noun + verb

N: opportunity V: verb: arise Ex: An oppportunity arose

Noun + Noun

Used to describe groups or sets. Ex: She gave me a snipper of information which is top secret.

Adjectives + Noun

The simple truth is that no one was aware of the problem.

Adverb + adjetive

Joe's sister was stunningly attractive woman.

Verb + adverb or prepositional phrase

As soon as the singer came on stage she burst into song.

More complex collocations

It is time you put the past behind you and started focusing on the future.

Exercises

Subjunctive

The subjunctive was formerly used in English for situations that were improbable or that expressed a wish. It is only rarely used in modern English. It is, however, found in certain set phrases and in very formal forms of speech and writing.

Present Subjunctive

The form in the present tense is exactly the same as the base form in all persons of the verb. That is, there is no -s on the 3rd person singular.

Ex: It is vital that they be stopped at once.

Exercises

Past Subjunctive

In written English and in very formal speech, the past subjunctive form were is sometimes used with the 1st and 3rd person singular, in place of the normal past form was.

The past subjunctive may be used: after if or I wish, to express regret or longing

Ex: If I were rich I would buy a Ferrari.

Unreal Past

The past tense is sometimes used in English to refer to an unreal situation. So, although the verb tense is in the past, we are actually talking about something that didn't happen.

Ex: I wish I hadn't said that.

Lexical and grammatical changes

Inversion

This involves using question word order after an adverbial with a negative or restrictive meaning
comes at the beginning of the sentence.

Fronting

This involves putting first a clause not normally at the beginning of the sentence. It mayaiso involve
putting the verb in an inverted position

Exercises