GRAMMAR IV

Topic principal

Non-finite clause

Finite and non-finite verbs & clauses

Finite verbs indicate tense

Non-finite verbs don't indicate tense

There are four types

Infinitive

Ex. To graduate, I need to study hard.

Participle

Ex. Once made, the decisión is final.

Verbal noun

Ex. I keep on hearing funny noises.

Gerund

Ex. When cooking the meal, I cut my finger.

Verbless Clause

This kind of clause has no verb in it

EX. Come next week if possible

Ex. Now much better, she could smile.

Both non-finite and verbless clause, can function as a noun and adverbial clauses. In addition, they have the same function in sentences as subordinate clauses

Ex. Painting the kitchen will take ages (non-finite clause as subject)

Ex. While in town, I met your mum (verbless clause as adjunct, saying when)

Non-finite clauses are used to form

INDIRECT COMMANDS

'Don't do that,' I said to her (direct command)

I told her not to do that (indirect command)

Dangling Participles

Participle in a non-finite clause whose implied and unexpressed subject is not the same as the subject of the verb in the main clause

Ex. I don't want you to do that (expressed subject)

Ex. I don't want to do that (unexpressed subject)

When there is no expressed subject in a non-finite or verbless clause, the implied subject is the subject of the verb in the main clause

Ex. I don't want to do that (the implied subject of 'to do' is 'I')

Phrases and Clauses

A phrase does not have a subject and a verb, whereas a clause does

For this reason, non-finite and verbless clauses are treated as phrases in traditional grammar

But there are two reasons for not doing that

They can be expanded into a full clause with a finite verb

While running for the bus, I slipped on the ice = While I was running for the bus, I slipped on the ice.

They generally have words with more tan one sentence function

I don't like Peter / doing / that (Subject + verb + D.O)

COLLOCATIONS

Pair or group of words that are often together

They help us sound natural

They give us an alternative way to say something

They help improve style in writing

Some combinations just sound wrong for L1 people

Some are strong and fixed

Types of collocations

Adjective + Noun (Bright color)

Verb + Noun (Make a fuss)

Noun + Verb (The company has grown)

Noun + Noun (A sense of pride)

Verb + Prep (Filled with anger)

Verb + Adverb (Whisper softly)

Adverb + Adjective (Happily married)

Compounds and idioms

Compounds are units of meaning formed with two or more words, separated for a hyphen or written as one

They can be guessed by knowing the meaning of the individual words

Here's a catchy and funny way to explain this topic

Idioms are a group of words in a fixed expression that cannot be guessed

Here are some examples

Subjunctive Mood

Explained in detail

The Subjunctive mood expresses wishes, conditions contrary to fact, and requests and commands

Present subjunctive

There are two main uses

Past subjunctive

Hypothetical meaning

Mandative subjunctive

Used in That-clauses after an expression of such notions as

Demands

Recommendations

Proposal

Intentions

This use is more characteristic of AmE

The teacher demanded that we do our homework during class

This structure may be unsual and difficult at first sight, but once you understand it

Operative Subjunctive

Used in fixed expressions

A toast now: long live the bride and groom.

If I have to pretend that you no longer exist, so be it.

Be that as it may

God save the Queen

Used in conditional and concessive clauses

Also used in subordinate clauses after wish and suppose

If I were you, I would apply right now (I am not you)

I wish the journey were over (It's not over)

I wish you were here (You are not here)

Unreal situations

Unreal time

It's time, it's high time

These are followed by past simple or continuous, though the time referred to is unreal

It's time I went home now

It's high time we were heading home now

Wishes

Present/future time

These are wishes where we want to change a present/future state

Ex. I wish I had a car (I don't have one now)

Here's another past form

Ex. I wish you weren't leaving (You're leaving now)

Would

Used when the speaker wants somebody or something else to change

Ex. I wish he would change his mind and see me like something else

Its use often describes an annoying habit

Ex. I wish you wouldn't be so noisy

Past time

As with present wishes, the verb form after wish is one stage further back in the past. These are wishes referring to a past event that cannot be changed

Ex. I wish I hadn't eaten so much

This use of wish is common after If only to express regrets

Hope

This expresses wishes about simple future events

Ex. I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow

I'd rather / I'd prefer

Followed by a clause

I'd rather is followed by past verb forms (same as in wishes about the present), and it expresses preference about actions

Ex. I'd rather you didn't smoke in here

I'd rather and I'd sooner are used with normal verb forms when comparing nouns and phrases

Ex. I'd rather study Music than Literature

I'd prefer can be used in the same way, but in this kind of sentence has an object it

Ex. I'd prefer it if you didn't go

However, I'd prefer is not followed by an unreal verb form in other situations

As if / As though

Can be real and unreal

The verb form depends on whether the situation is real or not

Ex. You look as if you're having a headache (true, he is having a headache)

Ex. You look as if you've seen a ghost (Unreal, he's just scared because something bad happened)

The more colloquial like is, it doesn't requiere the verb form change

Ex. You look like you've just seen a ghost (informal)

Ex. You look as you've just seen a ghost (formal)

Suppose / Imagine

Understood conditions: The conditional part of this kind of sentences is often understood but not stated

Ex.Imagine you won the contest!

Ex. Suppose your crush declared his love for you

If the event es referred to a real possibility, a present form is possible

Ex. Suppose you miss the train