Top Tips Grammar: Conditional using ‘if’

Main points

*You use conditional clauses to talk about a possible situation and its results.
*Conditional clauses can begin with ‘if’.
*A conditional clause needs a main clause to make a complete sentence.
*The conditional clause can come before or after the main clause.

 

a) You use conditional clauses to talk about a situation that might possibly happen and to say what its results might be.

You use ‘if’ to mention events and situations that happen often, that may happen in the future, that could have happened in the past but did not happen, or that are unlikely to happen at all.

- If the light comes on, the battery is OK.
- I’ll call you if I need you.
- If I had known, I’d have told you.
- If she asked me, I’d help her.

 

b) When you are talking about something that is generally true or happens often, you use a present or present perfect tense in the main clause and the conditional clause.

- If they lose weight during an illness, they soon regain it afterwards.
- If an advertisement does not tell the truth, the advertiser is committing an offence.
- If the baby is crying, it is probably hungry.
- If they have lost any money, they report it to me.

Remember that you don’t use the present continuous in both clauses. you don’t say ‘If they are losing money, they are getting angry’.

 

c) When you use a conditional clause with a present or present perfect tense, you often use an imperative in the main clause.

- Wake me up if you’re worried.
- If he has finished, ask him to leave quietly.
- If you are very early, don’t expect them to be ready.

 

d) When you are talking about something which my possibly happen in the future, you use  present or present perfect tense in the conditional clause, and the simple future in the main clause.

- If I marry Celia, we will need the money.
- If you are going to America, you will need a visa.
- If he has done the windows, he will want his money.

Remember that you don’t normally use ‘will’ in conditional clauses. You don’t say ‘If I will see you tomorrow, I will give you the book’.

 

e) When you are talking about something that you think is unlikely to happen, you use the past simple or past continuous in the conditional clause and ‘would’ in the main clause.

- If I had enough money, I would buy the car.
- If he was coming, he would ring.

Remember that you don’t normally use ‘would’ in conditional clauses. You don’t say ‘If I would do it, I would do it like this’.

 

f) ‘Where’ is sometimes used instead of ‘was’ in the conditional clause, especially after ‘I’.

- If I were as big as you, I would kill you.
- If I weren’t so busy, I would do it for you.

You often say ‘If I were you’ when you are giving someone advice.

- If I were you, I would take the money.
- I should keep out of Bernadette’s way if I were you.

 

g) When you are talking about something which could have happened in the past but which did not actually happen, you use the past perfect in the conditional clause. In the main clause, you use ‘would have’ and a past participle.

- If he had realized that, he would have run away.
- I wouldn’t have been depressed if I had known how common this feeling is.

Remember that you don’t use ‘would have’ in the conditional clause. Yu don’t say ‘If I would have seen him, I would have told him’.

 

 

 

 

---------------------------------------------
Top Tips Abz Ingles: Part A    -    Part B
---------------------------------------------

 

See also:

Words related to Failure to Cooperate	Irregular Verbs list
Common Phrasal Verbs	Common Slangs
Common misspellings	Regular vs Irregular Verbs
Common Errors	Frequently confused words
Common Slangs	Lista de Términos Gramaticales
Common Clichés	Common Prepositions

 

No te olvides de compartir esto con tus amigos y compañeros, hagamos de este Blog una comunidad de difusión del Inglés como segundo idioma. Antes de irte deja tu comentario y haz clic en Me Gusta.

Top Tips Grammar: ‘If’ with modals; ‘unless’

Main points

*You can use a modal in a conditional clause.
*You can use ‘unless’ to mention an exception to what you are saying.

 

a) You sometimes use modals in conditional clause. In the min clause, you can still use a present tense for events that happen often, ‘will’ for events that are quite likely in the future, ‘would’ for an event that is unlikely to happen, and ‘would have’ for events that were possible but did not happen.

-If he can’t come, he usually phones me.
- If they must have it today, they will have to come back at five o’clock.
- If I could only find the time, I’d go it gladly.
- If you could have seen him, you would have laughed too.

‘Should’ is sometimes used in conditional clauses to express greater uncertainty.

- If any visitors should come, I’ll say you aren’t here.

 

b) You can use other modals besides ‘will’, ‘would’ and ‘would have’ in the main clause with their usual meanings.

- She might phone me, if she has time.
- You could come, if you wanted to.
- If he sees you leaving, he may cry.

Note that you can have modals in both clauses: the main clause and the conditional clause.

- If he can’t come, he will phone.

 

c) In formal English, if the first verb in a conditional clause is ‘had’, ‘should’ or ‘were’, you can put the verb at the beginning of the clause and omit ‘if’.

For example, instead of saying, ‘If he should come, I will tell him you re sick’, it is possible to say ‘Should he come, I will tell him you are sick’.

- Should ministers decide to hold an inquiry, we would welcome it.
- Were it all true, it would still not excuse their actions.
- Had I known, I would not have done it.

 

d) When you want to mention an exception to what you are saying, you use a conditional clause beginning with ‘unless’.

- You will fail your exams.
- You will fail your exams unless you work harder.

Note that you can often use ‘if…not’ instead of ‘unless’.

- You will fail your exams if you do not work harder.

When you use ‘unless’, you use the same tenses that you use with ‘if’.

- She spends Sundays in the garden unless the weather is awful.
- We usually walk, unless we’re going shopping.
- He will not let you go unless he is forced to do so.
- You wouldn’t believe it, unless you saw it.

 

e) ‘If’ and ‘unless’ are not the only ways of beginning conditional clauses. You can also use ‘as long as’, ‘only if’, ‘provided’, ‘provided that’, ‘providing’, ‘providing that’, or ‘so long as’. These expressions are all used to indicate that one thing only happens or is true if another thing happens or is true.

- We were all right as long as we kept our heads down.
- I will come only if nothing is said to the press.
- She was prepared to come, provided that she could bring her daughter.
- Providing they remained at a safe distance, we would be all right.
- Detergent cannot harm a fabric, so long as it has been properly dissolved.

 

 

 

 

---------------------------------------------
Top Tips Abz Ingles: Part A    -    Part B
---------------------------------------------

 

See also:

Words related to Failure to Cooperate	Irregular Verbs list
Common Phrasal Verbs	Common Slangs
Common misspellings	Regular vs Irregular Verbs
Common Errors	Frequently confused words
Common Slangs	Lista de Términos Gramaticales
Common Clichés	Common Prepositions

 

No te olvides de compartir esto con tus amigos y compañeros, hagamos de este Blog una comunidad de difusión del Inglés como segundo idioma. Antes de irte deja tu comentario y haz clic en Me Gusta.

Top Tips Grammar: Introduction to modals

Main points

* The modal verbs are: ‘can’, ‘could’, ‘may’, ‘might’, ‘must’, ‘ought’, ‘shall’, ‘should’, ‘will’, and ‘would’.
* Modals are always the first word in a verb group.
* All modals except for ‘ought’ are followed by the base form of a verb.
* ‘Ought’ is followed by a ‘to’- infinitive.
* Modals have only one form.

 

a) Modals are always the first word in a verb group. All modals except for ‘ought’ are followed by the base form of a verb.

- I must leave fairly soon.
- I think it will look rather nice.
- Things might have been so different.
- People may be watching.

 

b) ‘Ought’ is always followed by a ‘to’- infinitive.

- She ought to go straight back to England.
- Sam ought to have realized how dangerous it was.
- You ought to be doing this.

 

c) Modals have only one form. There is no ‘-s’ form for the third person singular of the present tense, and there are no ‘-ing’ or ‘-ed’ forms.

- There’s nothing I can do about it.          
- I’m sure he can do it.

 

d) Modals do not normally indicate the time when something happens. There are, however, a few exceptions.

‘Shall’ and ‘will’ often indicate a future event or situation.

- I shall do what you suggested.
- He will not return for many hours.

‘Could’ is used as the past form of ‘can’ to express ability. ‘Would’ is used as the past form of ‘will’ to express the future.

- When I was young, I could run for miles.
- He remembered that he would see his mother the next day.

 

e) In spoken English and informal written English, ‘shall’ and ‘will’ are shortened to ‘-‘ll’, and ‘would’ to ‘-‘d’, and added to a pronoun.

- I’ll see you tomorrow.
- I hope you’ll agree.
- Posy said she’d love to stay.

‘Shall’, ‘will’, and ‘would’ are never shortened if they come at the end of a sentence.

- Paul said he would come, and I hope he will.

In spoken English, you can also add ‘-‘ll’ an ‘-‘d’ to nouns.

- My car’ll be outside.
- The headmaster’d be furious.

Remember that ‘-d‘ is also the short form of the auxiliary ‘had’.

- I’d heard it many times.

 

 

 

 

---------------------------------------------
Top Tips Abz Ingles: Part A    -    Part B
---------------------------------------------

 

See also:

Words related to Failure to Cooperate	Irregular Verbs list
Common Phrasal Verbs	Common Slangs
Common misspellings	Regular vs Irregular Verbs
Common Errors	Frequently confused words
Common Slangs	Lista de Términos Gramaticales
Common Clichés	Common Prepositions

 

No te olvides de compartir esto con tus amigos y compañeros, hagamos de este Blog una comunidad de difusión del Inglés como segundo idioma. Antes de irte deja tu comentario y haz clic en Me Gusta.

Top Tips Grammar: Modals – negation, questions

Main points

* You use negative words with modal to make negative clauses.
* Modals go in front of the subject in questions.
* You never use two modals together.

 

a) To make a clause negative, you put a negative word immediately after the modal.

- You must not worry.
- I can never remember his name
- He ought not to have done that.

‘Can not’ is always written as one word, ‘cannot’.

- I cannot go back.

However, if ‘can’ is followed by ‘not only’, ‘can’ and ‘not’ are not joined.

- We can not only book your flight for you, but also advise you about hotels.

 

b) In spoken English and informal written English, ‘not’ is often shortened to ‘-‘t’ and added to the modal. The following modals are often shortened in this way:

could not:	couldn't
should not:	shouldn't
must not:	mustn't
would not:	wouldn't

- We couldn’t leave the farm.
- You mustn’t talk about Ron like that.

Note the following irregular short forms:

shall not:	shan't
will not:	won't
cannot:	can't

- I shan’t let you go.
- Won’t you change your mind?
- We can’t stop now.

‘Might not’ and ‘ought not’ are sometimes shortened to ‘mightn’t’ and ‘oughtn’t’.
Note that ‘may not’ is very rarely shortened to ‘mayn’t’ in modern English.

 

c) To make a question, you put the modal in front of the subject.

- Could you give me an example?
- Will you be coming in later?
- Shall I shut the door?

Remember that modals are also used in question tag.

 

d) You never use two modals together. For example, you cannot say ‘He will can come’. Instead you can say ‘He will be able to come’.

- I shall have to go.
- Your husband might have to give up work.

 

e) Instead of using modals, you can often use other verbs and expression to make requests, offers, or suggestions, to express wishes or intentions, or to show that you are being polite.

For example, ‘be able to’ is used instead of ‘can’; ‘be likely to’ is used instead of ‘might’, and ‘have to’ is used instead of ‘must.

- All members are able to claim expenses.
- I think that we are likely to see more of this.

These expressions are also used after modals.

- I really thought I wouldn’t able to visit you this week.

 

f) ‘Dare’ and ‘need’ sometimes behave like modals.

 

 

 

 

---------------------------------------------
Top Tips Abz Ingles: Part A    -    Part B
---------------------------------------------

 

See also:

Words related to Failure to Cooperate	Irregular Verbs list
Common Phrasal Verbs	Common Slangs
Common misspellings	Regular vs Irregular Verbs
Common Errors	Frequently confused words
Common Slangs	Lista de Términos Gramaticales
Common Clichés	Common Prepositions

 

No te olvides de compartir esto con tus amigos y compañeros, hagamos de este Blog una comunidad de difusión del Inglés como segundo idioma. Antes de irte deja tu comentario y haz clic en Me Gusta.

Top Tips Grammar: Possibility

Main points

* You can use ‘can’ to say that something is possible.
* You use ‘could’, ‘might’, and ‘may’ to indicate that you are not certain whether something is possible, but you think it is.

 

a) When you want to say that something is possible, you use ‘can’.

- Cooking can be a real pleasure.
- In some cases this can cause difficulty.

You use ‘cannot’ or ‘can’t’ to say that something is not possible.

- This cannot be the answer.
- You can’t be serious.

 

b) When you want to indicate that you are not certain whether something is possible, but you think it is, you use ‘could’, ‘might’, or ‘may’. There is no important difference in meaning between these models, but ‘may’ is slightly more formal.

- That could be one reason.
- He might come.
- They may help us.

You can also use ‘might not’ or ‘may not’ in this way.

- He might not be in England at all.
- They may not get a house with central heating.

Note that ‘could not’ normally refers to ability in the past.

 

c) When there is possibility that something happened in the past, but you are not certain if it actually happened, you use ‘could have’, ‘may have’, or ‘might have’, followed by a past participle.

- It could have been tomato soup.
- You may have noticed this advertisement.

You can also use ‘might not have’ or ‘may not have’ in this way.

- He might not have seen me.
- They may not have done it.

You use ‘could not have’ when you want to indicate that it is not possible that something happened.

- He didn’t have a boat, so he couldn’t have rowed away.
- It couldn’t have been wrong.

You also use ‘could have’ to say that there was a possibility of something happening in the past, but it did not happen.

- It could have been awful. (But it wasn’t awful)
- You could have got a job last year. (But you didn’t get a job)

 

d) You also use ‘might have’ or ‘could have’ followed by a past participle to say that if a particular thing had happened, then there was a possibility of something else happening.

- She said it might have been all right, if the weather had been good. (But the weather wasn’t good, so it wasn’t all right)
- If I’d been there, I could have helped you. (But I wasn’t there, so i couldn’t help you)

 

e) ‘Be able to’, ‘not be able to’, and ‘be unable to’ are sometimes used instead of ‘can’ and ‘cannot’, for example after another modal, or when you want to use a ‘to’- infinitive, an ‘-ing’ form, or a past participle.

- When will I be able to pick them up?
- He had been unable to get a ticket.

 

f) You use ‘used to be able to’ to say that something was possible in the past, but is not possible now.

- Everyone used to be able to have free eyes tests.
- You used to be able to buy cigarettes in packs of five.

 

g) Note that you also use ‘could’ followed by a negative word and the comparative form of an adjective to emphasize a quality that someone or something has. For example, if you say ‘I couldn’t be happier’, you mean that you are very happy indeed and cannot imagine being happier you are now.

- You couldn’t be more wrong.
- He could hardly have felt more ashamed of himself.

 

 

 

 

---------------------------------------------
Top Tips Abz Ingles: Part A    -    Part B
---------------------------------------------

 

See also:

Words related to Failure to Cooperate	Irregular Verbs list
Common Phrasal Verbs	Common Slangs
Common misspellings	Regular vs Irregular Verbs
Common Errors	Frequently confused words
Common Slangs	Lista de Términos Gramaticales
Common Clichés	Common Prepositions

 

No te olvides de compartir esto con tus amigos y compañeros, hagamos de este Blog una comunidad de difusión del Inglés como segundo idioma. Antes de irte deja tu comentario y haz clic en Me Gusta.

Top Tips Grammar: Probability and Certainty

Main points

* You use ‘must’, ‘ought’, ‘should’, or ‘will’ to express probability or certainty.
*You use ‘cannot’ or ‘can’t as the negative of ‘must’, rather than ‘must not’ or ‘mustn’t’, to say that something is not probable or is not certain.

 

a) When you want to say that something is probably true or that it will probably happen, you use ‘should’ or ‘ought’. ‘Should’ is followed by the base form of a verb. ‘Ought’ is followed by a ‘to’- infinitive.

- We should arrive by dinner time.
- She ought to know.

When you want to say that you think something is probably not true or that it will probably not happen, you use ‘should not’ or ‘ought not’.

- There shouldn’t be any problem.
- That ought not to be too difficult.

 

b) When you want to say that you are fairly sure that something has happened, you use ‘should have’ or ‘ought to have’, followed by a past participle.

- You should have heard by now that I’m O.K.
- They ought to have arrived yesterday.

When you want to say that you do not think that something has happened, you use ‘should not have’ or ‘ought not to have’, followed by a past participle.

- You shouldn’t have had any difficulty in getting there.
- This ought not to have been a problem.

 

c) You also use ‘should have’ or ‘ought to have’ to say that you expected something to happen, but that it did not happen.

- Yesterday should have been the start for the soccer season.
- She ought to have been home by now.

Note that you don’t normally use the negative form with this meaning.

 

d) When you are fairly sure that something is the case, you use ‘must’.

- Oh, you must be Sylvia’s husband.
- He must know something about it.

If you are fairly sure that something is not the case, you use ‘cannot’ or ‘can’t’.

- This cannot be the whole story.              
- He can’t be very old – he’s about 25, isn’t he?

Remember that you don’t use ‘must not’ or ‘mustn’t’ with this meaning.

 

e) When you want to say that you are almost certain that something has happened, you use ‘must have’, followed by a past participle.

- This article must have been written by a woman.
- We must have taken the wrong road.

To say that you don’t think that something has happened, you use ‘can’t have’, followed by a past participle.

- You can’t have forgotten me.
- He can’t have said that.

 

f) You use ‘will’ or ‘-‘ll’ to say that something is certain to happen in the future.

- People will always say the things you want to hear.
- They’ll manage.

You use ‘will not’ or ‘won’t’ to say that something is certain not to happen.

- You won’t get much sympathy from them.

 

g) There are several ways of talking about probability and certainty without using modals. For example, you can use:

*’bound to’ followed by the base form of a verb.

- It was bound to happen.
- You’re bound to make a mistake.

*an adjective such as ‘certain’, ‘likely’, ‘sure’, or ‘unlikely’, followed by a ‘to’- infinitive clause or a ‘that’- clause.

- They were certain that you were defeated.
- I am not likely to forget it.

 

 

 

 

---------------------------------------------
Top Tips Abz Ingles: Part A    -    Part B
---------------------------------------------

 

See also:

Words related to Failure to Cooperate	Irregular Verbs list
Common Phrasal Verbs	Common Slangs
Common misspellings	Regular vs Irregular Verbs
Common Errors	Frequently confused words
Common Slangs	Lista de Términos Gramaticales
Common Clichés	Common Prepositions

 

No te olvides de compartir esto con tus amigos y compañeros, hagamos de este Blog una comunidad de difusión del Inglés como segundo idioma. Antes de irte deja tu comentario y haz clic en Me Gusta.

Top Tips Grammar: Ability

Main points

* You use ‘can’ to talk about ability in the present and in the future.
* You use ‘could’ to talk about ability in the past.
* You use ‘be able to’ to talk about ability in the present, future, and past.

 

a) You use ‘can’ to say that someone has the ability to do something.

- You can all read and write.
- Anybody can become a qualified teacher.

You use ‘cannot’ or ‘can’t’ to say that they do not have the ability to do something.

- He cannot dance

 

b) When you want to talk about someone’s ability in the past as a result of a skill they had or did not have, you use ‘could’, ‘could not’, or ‘couldn’t’.

- He could run faster than anyone else.
- A lot of them couldn’t read or write.

 

c) You also use ‘be able to’, ‘not be able to’, and ‘be unable to’ to talk about someone’s ability to do something, but ‘can’ and ‘could’ are more common.

- She was able to tie her own shoelaces.
- They are not able to run very fast.
- Many people were unable to read or write.

 

d) You use ‘was able to’ and ‘were able to’ to say that someone managed to do something in a particular situation in the past. After treatment he was unable to return to work.

- The farmers were able to pay the new wages.
- We were able to find time to discuss it.

Remember that you don’t normally use ‘could’ to say that someone managed to do something in a particular situation. However, you can use ‘could not’ or ‘couldn’t’ to say that someone did not manage to do something in a particular situation.

- We couldn’t stop laughing.
- I just couldn’t think of anything to say.

 

e) When you want to say that someone had the ability to do something in the past, but did not to do it, you use ‘could have’ followed by a past participle.

- You could have given it all to me.
- You know, she could have done French.

You often use this form when you want to express disapproval about something that was not done.

- You could have been a little bit tidier.
- You could have told me!

 

f) You use ‘could not have’ or ‘couldn’t have’ followed by a past participle to say that it is not possible that someone had the ability to do something.

- I couldn’t have gone with you, because I was in London at the time.
- She couldn’t have taken the car, because Jim was using it.

 

g) In most cases, you can choose to use ‘can’ or ‘be able to’. However, you sometimes have to use ‘be able to’. You have to use ‘be able to’ if you are using another modal, or if you want to use an ‘-ing’ form, a past participle, or a ‘to’- infinitive.

- Nobody else will be able to read it.
- ... the satisfaction of being able to do the job.
- I don’t think I’d have been able to get an answer.
- You’re foolish to expect to be able to do that.

 

h) You also use ‘can’ or ‘could’ with verbs such as ‘see’, ‘hear’, and ‘smell’ to say that someone is or was aware of something through one of their senses.

- I can smell gas.
- I can’t see her.
- I could see a few stars in the sky.
- There was such a noise we couldn’t hear.

 

 

 

 

---------------------------------------------
Top Tips Abz Ingles: Part A    -    Part B
---------------------------------------------

 

See also:

Words related to Failure to Cooperate	Irregular Verbs list
Common Phrasal Verbs	Common Slangs
Common misspellings	Regular vs Irregular Verbs
Common Errors	Frequently confused words
Common Slangs	Lista de Términos Gramaticales
Common Clichés	Common Prepositions

 

No te olvides de compartir esto con tus amigos y compañeros, hagamos de este Blog una comunidad de difusión del Inglés como segundo idioma. Antes de irte deja tu comentario y haz clic en Me Gusta.

Top Tips Grammar: Permission

Main points

* You use ‘can’ or ‘be allowed to’ to talk about whether someone has permission to do something or not.
* You usually use ‘can’ to give someone permission to do something.
* You usually use ‘can’ or ‘could’ to ask for permission to do something.

 

a) You use ‘can’ to say that someone is allowed to do something. You use ‘cannot’ or ‘can’t’ to say that they are not allowed to do it.

- Students can take a year away from university.
- Children cannot bathe except in the presence of two lifesavers.

You use ‘could’ to say that someone was allowed to do something in the past. You use ‘could not’ or ‘couldn’t’ to say that they were not allowed to do it.

- We could go to any part of the island we wanted.
- Both students and staff could use the swimming pool.
- We couldn’t go into the library after 5pm.

 

b) You also use ‘be allowed to’ when you are talking about permission, but not when you are asking for it or giving it.

- When Mr. Wilt asks for a solicitor he will be allowed to see one.
- It was only after several months that I was allowed to visit her.
- You’re not allowed to use calculators in exams.

 

c) In more formal situations, ‘may’ is used to say that someone is allowed to do something, and ‘may not’ is used to say that they are not allowed to do it.

- They may do exactly as they like.
- The retailer may not sell that book below the publisher’s price.

 

d) When you want to give someone permission to do something, you use ‘can’.

- You can borrow that pen if you want to.
- You can go off duty now.
- She can go with you.

‘May’ is also used to give permission, but this is more formal.

- You may speak.
- You may leave as soon as you have finished.

 

e) When you want to refuse someone permission to do something, you use ‘cannot’, ‘can’t’, ‘will not’, ‘won’t, ‘shall not’, or ‘shan’t.

- ‘Can I have some sweets?’ – ‘No, you can’t!’
- ‘I’ll just go upstairs.’ – ‘You will not!’
- You shan’t leave without my permission.

 

f) When you are asking for permission to do something, you use ‘can’ or ‘could’. If you ask in a very simple and direct way, you use ‘can’.

- Can I ask a question?
- Can we have something to wipe our hands on please?

‘Could’ is more polite than ‘can’.

- Could I just interrupt a minute?
- Could we put this fire on?

‘May’ is also used to ask permission, but this is more formal.

- May I have a cigarette?

‘Might’ is rather old-fashioned and is not often used in modern English in this way.

- Might I inquire if you are the owner?

 

g) You have to use ‘be allowed to’ instead of a modal if you are using another modal, or if you want to use an ‘-ing’ form, a past participle, or a ‘to’- infinitive.

- Teachers will be allowed to decide for themselves.
- I am strongly in favour of people being allowed to put on plays.
- They have not been allowed to come.
- We were going to be allowed to travel on the trains.

 

 

 

 

---------------------------------------------
Top Tips Abz Ingles: Part A    -    Part B
---------------------------------------------

 

See also:

Words related to Failure to Cooperate	Irregular Verbs list
Common Phrasal Verbs	Common Slangs
Common misspellings	Regular vs Irregular Verbs
Common Errors	Frequently confused words
Common Slangs	Lista de Términos Gramaticales
Common Clichés	Common Prepositions

 

No te olvides de compartir esto con tus amigos y compañeros, hagamos de este Blog una comunidad de difusión del Inglés como segundo idioma. Antes de irte deja tu comentario y haz clic en Me Gusta.

Top Tips Grammar: Instructions and Request

Main points

* You use ‘Could you’ to tell someone politely to do something.
* Imperatives are not very polite.
* You also use ‘Could you’ to ask someone politely for help.
* You use ‘I would like’, ‘Would you mind’, ‘Do you think you could’, and ‘I wonder if you could’ to make request.

 

a) When you want to tell someone to do everything, you can use ‘Could you’, ‘Will you’, and ‘Would you’. ‘Could you’ is very polite.

- Could you make out her bill, please?
- Could you just switch on the light behind you?

‘Will you’ and ‘Would you’ are normally used by people in authority. ‘Would you’ is more polite than ‘Will you’.

- Would you tell her that Adrian phoned?
- Will you please leave the room?

Note that although these sentences look like question (‘Will you’, not ‘You will’), they are not really questions.

 

b) If someone in authority wants to tell someone to do something, they sometimes say ‘I would like you to do this’ or ‘I’d like you to do this’.

- Penelope, I would like you to get us the files.
- I’d like you to finish this work by Thursday.

 

c) You can use an imperative to tell someone to do something, but this is not very polite.

- Stop her
- Go away, all of you.

However, imperatives are commonly use when talking to people you know very well.

- Come here, love.
- Sit down and let me get you a drink.

You often use imperatives in situations of danger or urgency.

- Look out! There’s a car coming.
- Put it away before Mum sees you.

 

d) When you want to ask someone to help you, you use ‘Could you’, ‘Would you’, ‘Can you’, or ‘Will you’. ‘Could you’ and ‘Would you’ are used in formal situations, or when you want to be very polite, for example because you are asking for something that requires a lot of effort. ‘Could you’ is more polite than ‘Would you’.

- Could you show me how to do this?
- Would you do me a favour?

‘Will you’ and ‘Can you’ are used in informal situation, especially when you are not asking for something that requires a lot of effort.

- Will you post this for me on your way to work?
- Can you make me a copy of that?

 

e) You also use ‘I would like’ or ‘I’d like’, followed by ‘to’- infinitive or noun group, to make a request.

- I would like to ask you on question.
- I’d like steak and chips, please.

 

f) You can also make a request by using:
*’Would you mind’, followed by an ‘-ing’ form

- Would you mind doing the washing up?
- Would you mind waiting a moment?

*’Do you think you could’, followed by the base form of a verb.

- Do you think you could help me?

*’I wonder if you could’, followed by the base form of a verb.

- I wonder if you could look after my cat for me while I’m away?

 

 

 

 

---------------------------------------------
Top Tips Abz Ingles: Part A    -    Part B
---------------------------------------------

 

See also:

Words related to Failure to Cooperate	Irregular Verbs list
Common Phrasal Verbs	Common Slangs
Common misspellings	Regular vs Irregular Verbs
Common Errors	Frequently confused words
Common Slangs	Lista de Términos Gramaticales
Common Clichés	Common Prepositions

 

No te olvides de compartir esto con tus amigos y compañeros, hagamos de este Blog una comunidad de difusión del Inglés como segundo idioma. Antes de irte deja tu comentario y haz clic en Me Gusta.

Top Tips Grammar: Suggestions

Main points

+ You use ‘could’, ‘couldn’t’, or ‘shall’ to make a suggestion.
+ You use ‘Shall we’ to suggest doing something with someone.
+ You use ‘You might like’ or ‘You might want’ to make polite suggestions.
+ You use ‘may as well’ or ‘might as well’ to suggest a sensible action.
+ You use ‘What about’, ‘Let’s’, ‘Why don’t’, and ‘Why not’ to make suggestions.

 

a) You use ‘could’ to suggest doing something.

- You could phone her.
- She could go into research.
- We could go on Friday.

You also use ‘couldn’t in a question to suggest doing something.

- Couldn’t you just build some more factories?
- Couldn’t we do it at the weekend?

 

b) You use ‘Shall we’ to suggest doing somebody else.

- Shall we go and see a film?
- Shall we talk about something different now?

You use ‘Shall I’ to suggest doing something yourself.

- Shall I contact the Chairman?

 

c) You use ‘You might’, followed by a verb meaning ‘like’ or ‘want’, to make a suggestion in a very polite way.

- I thought perhaps you might like to come along with me.
- You might want to try another shop.

You can also do this using ‘It might be’, followed by a noun group or an adjective, and a ‘to’- infinitive.

- I think it might be a good idea to stop recording now.
- It might be wise to get a new car.

 

d) You use ‘may as well’ or ‘might as well’ to suggest doing something, but only because it seems the sensible thing to do, or because there is no reason not to do it.

- You may as well open them all.
- He might as well take the car.

 

e) You can also make a suggestion by using:

*’What about’ or ‘How about’ followed by an ‘-ing’ form

- What about going to Judy’s?
- How about using my car?

*’Let’s followed by the base form of a verb.

- Let’s go outside.

*’Why don’t I’, ‘Why don’t you’ or ‘Why don’t we’ followed by the base form of a verb.

- Why don’t I pick you up at seven?
- Why don’t you write to her yourself?
- Why don’t we just give them what they want?

*’Why not’ followed by the base form of a verb.

- Why not bring him along?
- Why not try both?

 

 

 

 

---------------------------------------------
Top Tips Abz Ingles: Part A    -    Part B
---------------------------------------------

 

See also:

Words related to Failure to Cooperate	Irregular Verbs list
Common Phrasal Verbs	Common Slangs
Common misspellings	Regular vs Irregular Verbs
Common Errors	Frequently confused words
Common Slangs	Lista de Términos Gramaticales
Common Clichés	Common Prepositions

 

No te olvides de compartir esto con tus amigos y compañeros, hagamos de este Blog una comunidad de difusión del Inglés como segundo idioma. Antes de irte deja tu comentario y haz clic en Me Gusta.

Top Tips Grammar: Offers and invitations

Main points

* You use ‘Would you like’ to offer something to someone or to invite them to do something.
* You use ‘Can I’, ‘Could I’, and ‘Shall I’ when you offer to help someone.

 

a)  When you are offering something to someone, or inviting them to do something, you use ‘Would you like’.

- Would you like a drink?
- Would you like to come for a meal?

You can use ‘Will you’ to offer something to someone you know quite well, or to give an invitation in a fairly informal way.

- Will you have another biscuit, Dave?
- Will you come to my party on Saturday?

 

b) You use ‘Can I’ or ‘Could I’ when you are offering to do something for someone. ‘Could I’ is more polite.

- Can I help you with the dishes?
- Could I help you carry those bags?

You also use ‘Shall I’ when you are offering to do something, especially if you are fairly sure that your offer will be accepted.

- Shall I shut the door?
- Shall I spell that for you?

 

c) You use ‘I can’ or ‘I could’ to make an offer when you want to say that you are able to help someone.

- I have a car. I can take Daisy to the station.
- I could pay some of the rent.

 

d) You also use ‘I’ll’ to offer to do something.

- I’ll give them a ring if you like.
- I’ll show you the hotel.

 

e) You use ‘You must’ if you want to invite someone very persuasively to do something.

- You must come round for a meal some time.
- You must come and visit me.

 

f) There are other ways of making offers and giving invitations without using modals. For example, you can use ‘Let me’ when offering to help someone.

- Let me take you to your room.
- Let me drive you to London.

You can make an offer or give an invitation in a more informal way by using an imperative sentence, when it is clear that you are not giving an order.

- Have a cigar.
- Come to my place.

You can add emphasis by putting ‘do’ in front of a verb.

- Do have a chocolate biscuit.
- Do help yourselves.

You can also give an invitation by using ‘Why don’t you’ or ‘How about’.

- Why don’t you come to lunch tomorrow?
- How about coming with us to the party?

 

 

 

 

---------------------------------------------
Top Tips Abz Ingles: Part A    -    Part B
---------------------------------------------

 

See also:

Words related to Failure to Cooperate	Irregular Verbs list
Common Phrasal Verbs	Common Slangs
Common misspellings	Regular vs Irregular Verbs
Common Errors	Frequently confused words
Common Slangs	Lista de Términos Gramaticales
Common Clichés	Common Prepositions

 

No te olvides de compartir esto con tus amigos y compañeros, hagamos de este Blog una comunidad de difusión del Inglés como segundo idioma. Antes de irte deja tu comentario y haz clic en Me Gusta.

Top Tips Grammar: Wants and Wishes

Main points

* You use ‘would like’ to say what you want.
* You use ‘wouldn’t like’ to say what you do not want.
* You use ‘would rather’ or ‘would sooner’ to say what you prefer.
* You also use ‘wouldn’t mind’ to say what you want.

 

a) You can say what someone wants by using ‘would like’ followed by a ‘to’- infinitive or a noun group.

- I would like to know the date of the next meeting.
- John would like his book back.

When the subject is a pronoun, you often use the short form ‘-‘d’ instead of ‘would.

- I’d like more information about the work you o.
- We’d like seats in the non-smoking section, please.

In spoken English, you can also use the short form ‘-‘d’ instead of ‘would’ when the subject is a noun.

- Sally’d like to go to the circus.

 

b) You can say what someone does not want by using ‘would not like’ or ‘wouldn’t like’.

- I would not like to see it.
- They wouldn’t like that.

 

c) You use ‘would like’ followed by ‘to have’ and a past participle to sat that someone wishes now that something had happened in the past but that it did not happen.

- I would like to have felt more relaxed.
- She’d like to have heard me first.

You use ‘would have liked’, followed by a ‘to’- infinitive or a noun group, to say that someone wanted something to happen, but it did not happen.

- Perhaps he would have liked to be a teacher.
- I would have liked more ice cream.

Note the difference. ‘Would like to have’ refers to present wishes about past events. ‘Would have liked’ refers to past wishes about past events.

 

d) You can also use ‘would hate’, ‘would love’, r ‘would prefer’, followed by a ‘to’- infinitive or a noun group.

- I would hate to move to another house now.
- I would prefer a cup of coffee.

Note that ‘would enjoy’ is followed by a noun group or an ‘-ing’ form, not by a ‘to’- infinitive.

- I would enjoy a bath before we go.
- I would enjoy seeing him again.

 

e) You can use ‘would rather’ or ‘would sooner’ followed by the base form of a verb to say  that someone prefers one situation to another.

- He’d rather be playing golf.
- I’d sooner walk than take the bus.

 

f) You use ‘I wouldn’t mind’, followed by an ‘-ing’ form or a noun group, to say that ou would like to do or have something.

- I wouldn’t mind being the manager of a store.
- I wouldn’t mind a cup of tea.

 

 

 

 

---------------------------------------------
Top Tips Abz Ingles: Part A    -    Part B
---------------------------------------------

 

See also:

Words related to Failure to Cooperate	Irregular Verbs list
Common Phrasal Verbs	Common Slangs
Common misspellings	Regular vs Irregular Verbs
Common Errors	Frequently confused words
Common Slangs	Lista de Términos Gramaticales
Common Clichés	Common Prepositions

 

No te olvides de compartir esto con tus amigos y compañeros, hagamos de este Blog una comunidad de difusión del Inglés como segundo idioma. Antes de irte deja tu comentario y haz clic en Me Gusta.

Top Tips Grammar: Obligation and necessity 1

Main points

*You use ‘have to’, ‘must to’, and ‘mustn’t’ to talk about obligation and necessity in the present and future.
*Ou use ‘had to’ to talk about obligation and necessity in the past.
* You use the auxiliary ‘do’ with ‘have to’ to make questions.
*You use ‘have got to’ in informal English.

 

a) When you want to say that someone has an obligation to do something, or that it is necessary for them to do it, you use ‘must’ or ‘have to’.

- You must come to the meeting tomorrow.
- The plants must have plenty of sunshine.
- I enjoy parties, unless I have to make a speech.
- He has to travel to find work.

 

b) There is sometimes a difference between ‘must’ and ‘have to’. When you are stating your own opinion that something is an obligation or a necessity, you normally use ‘must’.

- I must be very careful not to upset him.
- We must eat before we go.
- He must stop working so hard.

When you are giving information about what someone else considers to be an obligation or a necessity, you normally use ‘have to’.

- They have to pay the bill by Thursday.
- She has to go now.

Note that you normally use ‘have to’ for things that happen repeatedly, especially with adverbs of frequency such as ‘often’, ‘always’, and ‘regularly’.

- I always have to do the shopping.
- You often have to wait a long time for a bus.

 

c) You use ‘must not’ or ‘mustn’t to say that it is important that something is not done or does not happen.

- You must not talk about politics.
- They mustn’t find out that I came here.

Note that ‘must not’ does not mean the same as ‘not have to’. If you ‘must not’ do something, it is important that you do not do it.
If you ‘do not have to’ do something, it is not necessary for you to do it, but you can do it if you want.
Remember that you only sue ‘must’ for obligation and necessity in the present and the future. When you want to talk about obligation and necessity in the past, you use ‘had to’ rather than ‘must’.

- She had to catch the six o’clock train.
- I had to wear a suit.

 

d) You use ‘do’, ‘does’, or ‘did’ when you want to make a question using ‘have to’ and ‘not have to’.

- How often do you have to buy petrol for the car?
- Does he have to take so long to get ready?
- What did you have to do?
- Don’t you have to be there at one o’clock?

Remember that you don’t normally form question like these by putting a form of ‘have’ before the subject. For example, you don’t normally say ‘How often have you to buy petrol?

 

e) In informal English, you can use ‘have got to’ instead of ‘have to’.

- You’ve just got to make sure you tell him.
- She’s got to see the doctor.
- Have you got to go so soon?

Remember that you normally use ‘had to’, not ‘had got to’, for the past.

- He had to know.
- I had to lend him some money.

 

f) You can only use ‘have to’, not ‘must’, if you are using another modal, or if you want to use an ‘-ing’ form, a past participle, or a ‘to’- infinitive.

- They may have to be paid by cheque.
- She grumbled a lot about having to stay abroad.
- I would have had to go through London.
- He doesn’t like to have to do the same job every day.

 

 

 

 

---------------------------------------------
Top Tips Abz Ingles: Part A    -    Part B
---------------------------------------------

 

See also:

Words related to Failure to Cooperate	Irregular Verbs list
Common Phrasal Verbs	Common Slangs
Common misspellings	Regular vs Irregular Verbs
Common Errors	Frequently confused words
Common Slangs	Lista de Términos Gramaticales
Common Clichés	Common Prepositions

 

No te olvides de compartir esto con tus amigos y compañeros, hagamos de este Blog una comunidad de difusión del Inglés como segundo idioma. Antes de irte deja tu comentario y haz clic en Me Gusta.