VERB PATTERNS, COMPARATIVES AND IT WORD
Verb patterns
Definition
When one verb follows another,
the second is either an -ing verb
on the infitive form
Functions
Some verbs wich use -ing
form are related in meaning
Verbs related with personal tastes:
adore, fancy, don't mind, detest, can't stand
Example:
I adore living here
Other verbs take an object + the infinitive
Example:
I told here to come here
Some of this verbs are related in meaning
This verbs show one person (or thing)
influencing the actions of another:
warn, tell, advise, urge, order, persuade,
encourage, persuade, force, forbid, allow
Example:
I persuaded her to visit me
Verbs which are followed by a preposition
use the -ing form
Example:
I look forward to meeting her
Comparatives (review)
Definition
We use comparatives to show if the difference between two things is small or big
Functions
For a small difference we can use
Slightly
Example:
I'm slightly taller than Peter
A little bit
A tiny bit
marginally
Example:
The population is marginally larger than that of Fiona
For a large difference
Much
Far
Miles (informal)
Example:
They are miles better than us at football
Considerably (formal)
Example:
The goverment was considerably more corrupt 100 years ago
as + adjective + as means the
two things are equal
Example:
It took me as long to drive to Cardiff as it did travel there by train
If we want to say that two things aren't
equal we can say:
Example:
She is not as big as me (She's smaller )
Example:
The new menu isn't as nice as the one they had during the summer
Many expressions with as+ adjective+ as
show if the difference is big or small
For a small difference we can use
not quite as
Example:
This bed isn't quite as confortable as
the other one (it's nearly as confortable)
For a big difference we can use nowhere
near, nothing like
Example:
He is nowhere near as good as me
at tennis
Introductory it
Functions
For describing personal opinions
In this expressions , it is the
subject of the verb
it's a shame you won't be here tonight
it's no use complaining all the time
It amazes me to hear you say that
For referring to general impressions
It strikes me that he is not as good as he was
It appears as if they aren't coming
It seems like a hopeless place
For introduce a clause
In this case, it is the object
of the verb
I hate it when she does that
We'd appreciate it if you turned down the music
i'd love it if we won the league this year