ENGLISH GRAMMAR SECRETS (P- 07)

Part: 07

The imperative

We can use the imperative to give a direct order.

1. Take that chewing gum out of your mouth.
2. Stand up straight.
3. Give me the details.

We can use the imperative to give instructions.

1. Open your book.
2. Take two tablets every evening.
3. Take a left and then a right.

We can use the imperative to make an invitation.

1. Come in and sit down. Make yourself at home.
2. Please start without me. I'll be there shortly.
3. Have a piece of this cake. It's delicious.

We can use the imperative on signs and notices.

1. Push.
2. Do not use.
3. Insert one dollar.

We can use the imperative to give friendly informal advice.

1. Speak to him. Tell him how you feel.
2. Have a quiet word with her about it.
3. Don't go. Stay at home and rest up. Get some sleep and recover.

We can make the imperative 'more polite' by adding 'do'.

• Do be quiet.
• Do come.
• Do sit down.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Passive

We use the active form to say what the subject does. For example:

• I speak English every day at work.
• I repaired the flat tire on the car.

We use the passive form to say what happens to people and things, to say what is done to them. For example:

• English is spoken here.
• The car is being repaired.

We use the passive form when we don't know who did the action. For example:

• The car was damaged while it was parked on the street.
• The shirts were made in Turkey.

We use the passive form when what was done is more important than who did it. For example:

• It was approved by Gerry last week.
• I was informed by the Human Resources Manager only two days ago.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The -ing form

The –ing form can be used like a noun, like an adjective or like a verb.

• Smoking is forbidden.
• I have a long working day.
• I don't like dancing.

When it is used like a noun it may or may not have an article before it.

• Marketing is a very inexact science.
• The marketing of the product will continue for a few months yet.

It can also be part of a 'noun phrase'.

• Speaking to an audience is always stressful.
• Swimming after work is very relaxing.

In formal English, we would use a possessive with the –ing form. In informal English, many people do not.

• I'm angry about his missing the meeting.
• Do you mind my coming?

As an adjective, the –ing form can be used before a noun.

• I was met by a welcoming party at the airport.
• Let's go to the meeting room.

The –ing form is used after prepositions.

• Before leaving, you need to speak to Sarah.
• After discussing it with her, I've changed my mind.
• Instead of feeling sorry for yourself, do some work for charity.

Notice that when 'to' is used as a preposition, it is followed by the –ing form.

• I don't object to working this Sunday.
• I'm looking forward to seeing him again.
• I'm used to working long hours.

There are many verb + -ing combinations. Here are some common ones:

• I admit telling her.
• I appreciate having the raise.
• I avoid speaking to him.
• I consider blowing your nose in public to be wrong.
• I delayed coming until the last possible moment.
• He denied telling her.
• I detest going to parties.
• I enjoy dancing.
• I feel like having a party.
• I've finished writing the report.
• I've given up going to the gym.
• I can't help thinking about it.
• I can't imagine ever leaving this company.
• I don't mind doing that.
• He put off talking to her as long as he could.
• I can't stand drinking beer.

Some verbs can be followed by either the infinitive or –ing form but with different meanings. Here are some common ones:

• I stopped smoking last month. (I no longer smoke.)
• I stopped to smoke a cigarette. (I stopped what I was doing and had a cigarette.)
• I remember telling him. (A memory of the past.)
• I must remember to tell him. (Something to remember for the future.)
• I'm interested in finding out more details. (Interested about the future.)
• I was interested to read his report. (Interested in the past.)

Some verbs can be followed by either the infinitive or –ing form but with the same meaning. Here are some common ones:

• I love to go shopping.
• I love going shopping.
• I'm afraid to fly.
• I'm afraid of flying.
• I started to learn English 5 years ago.
• I started learning English 5 years ago.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Can

We use 'can' to talk about 'possibility'.

• Can you do that?
• I can't manage to do that.
• You can leave your car in that parking space.
• You cannot smoke in here.

Notice that there are two negative forms: 'can't' and 'cannot'. These mean exactly the same thing. When we are speaking, we usually say 'can't'.
We use 'can' to talk about 'ability'.

• I can speak French.
• I can't drive.

We use 'can' to ask for and give permission. (We also use 'may' for this but is more formal and much less common.)

• Can I speak to you or are you too busy?
• You can use my phone.
• You can't come in.

We use 'can' in offers, requests and instructions.

• CanI help?
• Can you give me a hand?
• When you finish that, you can take out the garbage.

We use 'can' with 'see' 'hear' 'feel' 'smell' 'taste' to talk about something which is happening now.  (Where you would use the present continuous with most other verbs.)

• I can smell something burning.
• Can you hear that noise?
• I can't see anything.

We can use 'can't' for deduction. The opposite of 'can't' in this context is 'must'.

• You can't be hungry. You've just eaten.
• You must be hungry. You haven't eaten anything all day.
• He was in London one hour ago when I spoke to him. He can't be here yet.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Could

'Could' can be used to talk about the past, the present or the future.
'Could' is a past form of 'can'

• When I was living in Boston, I could walk to work.
• He phoned to say he couldn't come.
• I could see him clearly but I couldn't hear him and then the videoconference line went dead.

'Could' is used to make polite requests. We can also use 'can' for these but 'could' is more polite.

• Could you help me, please?
• Could you lend me some money?
• Could I have a lift?
• Could I bother you for a moment?

If we use 'could' in reply to these requests, it suggests that we do not really want to do it.
If you agree to the request, it is better to say 'can'.

• Of course I can.
• I could help you if it's really necessary but I'm really busy right now.
• I could lend you some money but I'd need it back tomorrow without fail.
• I could give you a lift as far as Birmingham.

'Could' is used to talk about theoretical possibility and is similar in meaning to 'might'.

• It could rain later. Take an umbrella.
• He could be there by now.
• Could he be any happier?
• It could be Sarah's.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

May / might

may

We can use 'may' to ask for permission. However this is rather formal and not used very often in modern spoken English

• May I borrow your pen?
• May we think about it?
• May I go now?

We use 'may' to suggest something is possible

• It may rain later today.
• I may not have time to do it today.
• Pete may come with us

might

We use 'might' to suggest a small possibility of something. Often we read that 'might' suggests a smaller possibility that 'may', there is in fact little difference and 'might is more usual than 'may' in spoken English.

• She might be at home by now but it's not sure at all.
• It might rain this afternoon.
• I might not have time to go to the shops for you.
• I might not go.

For the past, we use 'might have'.

• He might have tried to call while I was out.
• I might have dropped it in the street.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Should

We use 'should' for giving advice.

• You should speak to him about it.
• He should see a doctor.
• We should ask a lawyer.

We use 'should' to give an opinion or a recommendation.

• He should resign now.
• We should invest more in Asia.
• They should do something about this terrible train service.

'Should' expresses a personal opinion and is much weaker and more personal than 'must' or 'have to'. It is often introduced by ' I think'.

• I think they should replace him.
• I don't think they should keep the contract.
• Do you think we should tell her.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Should 2

We can use 'should' after 'reporting verbs' such as 
demand insist propose recommend suggest

• He demanded that we should pay for the repair.
• She insisted that she should pay for the meal.
•  I have proposed that he should take charge of the organization.
• The committee recommends that Jane should be appointed.
• We have suggested that Michael should be given a reward for his hard work.

However, it is also possible to say exactly the same thing by omitting the 'should' and just using the infinitive form without 'to' . Some people call this the 'subjunctive' form.

• He demanded that we pay for the repair.
• She insisted that she pay for the meal.
• I have proposed that he take charge of the organization.
• The committee recommends that Jane be appointed.
• We have suggested that Michael be given a reward for his hard work.

We can use 'should' after various adjectives. Typical examples are :
funny interesting natural odd strange surprised surprising typical

• It's funny that you should say that. I was thinking exactly the same thing.
• It's interesting that they should offer him the job. Not an obvious choice.
• It's natural that you should be anxious. Nobody likes speaking in public.
• Isn't it odd that he should be going to the same tiny hotel? What a coincidence.
• It's strange that you should think so. Nobody else does.

We can use 'should' in 'if clauses' when we believe that the possibility of something happening is small.

• If you should happen to see him before I do, can you tell him that I want to speak to him urgently?
• If there should be a problem, just give me a call and I'll sort it out.
• If anyone should ask where I am, say I'm in a meeting.

We use 'should' in various fixed expressions.
To show strong agreement

• They're paying you compensation? I should think so.

To express pleasure when you receive a gift

• What a fantastic present. You really shouldn't have.

To emphasize a visible emotion

• You should have seen the look on her face when she found out that she had got the promotion.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Must or have to

We can use 'must' to show that we are certain something is true. We are making a logical deduction based upon some clear evidence or reason.

• There's no heating on. You must be freezing.
• You must be worried that she is so late coming home.
• I can't remember what I did with it. I must be getting old.
• It must be nice to live in Florida.

We also use 'must' to express a strong obligation. When we use 'must' this usually means that some personal circumstance makes the obligation necessary (and the speaker almost certainly agrees with the obligation.)

• I must go to bed earlier.
• They must do something about it.
• You must come and see us some time.
• I must say, I don't think you were very nice to him.

We can also use 'have to' to express a strong obligation. When we use 'have to' this usually means that some external circumstance makes the obligation necessary.

• I have to arrive at work at 9 sharp. My boss is very strict.
• We have to give him our answer today or lose out on the contract.
• You have to pass your exams or the university will not accept you.
• I have to send a report to Head Office every week.

In British English, we often use 'have got to' to mean the same as 'have to'.

• I've got to take this book back to the library or I'll get a fine.
• We've got to finish now as somebody else needs this room.

We can also use ' will have to' to talk about strong obligations. Like 'must' this usually means that that some personal circumstance makes the obligation necessary.
(Remember that 'will' is often used to show 'willingness'.)

• I'll have to speak to him.
• We'll have to have lunch and catch up on all the gossip.
• They'll have to do something about it.
• I'll have to get back to you on that.

As you can see, the differences between the present forms are sometimes very small and very subtle. However, there is a huge difference in the negative forms.

• We use 'mustn't' to express strong obligations NOT to do something.
• We mustn't talk about it. It's confidential.
• I mustn't eat chocolate. It's bad for me.
• You mustn't phone me at work. We aren't allowed personal calls.
• They mustn't see us talking or they'll suspect something.

We use 'don't have to' (or 'haven't got to' in British English) to state that there is NO obligation or necessity.

• We don't have to get there on time. The boss is away today.
• I don't have to listen to this. I'm leaving.
• You don't have to come if you don't want to.
• He doesn't have to sign anything if he doesn't want to at this stage.
• I haven't got to go. Only if I want to

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Prepared By: SHAMNAD.K.P                                                             Will continue...

Email: shamnadkp@gmail.com

Website: http://shamnadkp.blogspot.com/