Key Concepts in English Syntax and Verb Forms
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Linking Words and Connectors
Connectors are essential for building complex sentences and expressing relationships between ideas.
Principal Connectors
- Contrast/Concession: in spite of (+ verb -ing), although, despite.
- Reason/Result: as a result of, both... and, neither... nor (meaning: not either).
Sentence Adverbs (Following Punctuation)
- Contrast: however, nevertheless (meaning: nonetheless/in spite of that).
- Addition: moreover, furthermore (meaning: additionally).
Medial Connectors (Within the Sentence)
- Purpose: in order to (meaning: for the purpose of).
- Contrast: whereas (meaning: while/in contrast).
- Reason: due (meaning: due to/because of).
- Result: so (meaning: so that/consequently).
- Addition: as well as (meaning: in addition to).
Intensifiers and Degree Adverbs
These structures modify adjectives, adverbs, or nouns to express degree or extent.
- So: So + adjective/adverb
- Such: Such + (adjective) + noun
- Too (Excessive): Too + adjective/adverb
- Enough (Sufficient): Adjective/adverb + enough
- Enough (Quantity): Enough + noun
Reported Speech (Indirect Style)
When reporting what someone said, verb tenses and time/place expressions usually shift backward.
Tense Shifts
- Present Simple → Past Simple
- Present Continuous → Past Continuous
- Past Simple → Past Perfect
- Past Continuous → Past Perfect Continuous
- Present Perfect → Past Perfect
- Present Perfect Continuous → Past Perfect Continuous
- Will → Would
- Must/Have to → Had to
- Shall → Should
- Can → Could
- May → Might
Time and Place Shifts
- yesterday → the day before / the previous day
- tomorrow → the day after / the following day
- today → that day
- now → at that moment / then
- next month → the following month
- last month → the previous month
- tomorrow morning → the next morning / the following morning
- tonight → that night
- this → that
- these → those
- here → there
Reporting Questions and Commands
- Yes/No Questions: He asked if/whether I played...
- WH- Questions: He asked what my color was.
- Commands/Requests: Verbs like order, command, ask, beg, request are followed by to + infinitive (without a subject).
The Passive Voice
The passive voice focuses on the action and the recipient (patient subject) rather than the agent.
Basic Passive Structure
Patient Subject + to be (conjugated) + Past Participle + Complement
Example: An old woman arrested the thief → The thief was arrested by an old woman.
Passive Voice with Two Objects
When the active sentence has two objects (direct and indirect), two passive forms are possible:
Active: He sent me flowers.
- Flowers were sent to me. (Focus on the direct object)
- I was sent flowers. (Focus on the indirect object)
Passive Tense Forms
| Active Tense | Passive Form |
|---|---|
| Write (Simple Present) | am/is/are written |
| Wrote (Simple Past) | was/were written |
| Will write (Simple Future) | will be written |
| Am writing (Present Continuous) | am/is/are being written |
| Was writing (Past Continuous) | was/were being written |
| Have written (Present Perfect) | have/has been written |
| Had written (Past Perfect) | had been written |
Impersonal Passive
Used to report general opinions or beliefs.
Active: People say that the bridge isn’t safe.
- Form 1 (Impersonal): It’s said that the bridge isn’t safe.
- Form 2 (Personal): The bridge is said not to be safe.
Causative Passive (Having Something Done)
Used when someone else performs an action for the subject.
Structure: Get/Have + Object + Past Participle
Active: The mechanic will repair my car tomorrow.
Passive (Causative): I will have/get my car repaired tomorrow.
Complex Passive Questions
Structure: WH- word + TO BE (conjugated) + object + verb (past participle) + complement?
Conditional Sentences
Conditional clauses express hypothetical situations and their consequences.
Types of Conditionals
- Zero Conditional (General Truths): IF + Simple Present, Simple Present
- First Conditional (Real Possibility): IF + Simple Present, Simple Future
- Second Conditional (Unreal Present): IF + Simple Past, Simple Conditional (would + verb base form)
- Third Conditional (Unreal Past): IF + Past Perfect, Perfect Conditional (would have + past participle)
Wishes and Preferences
Wish Clauses
Used to express a desire or regret (meaning: I wish / if only).
- Wish/If Only + Past Simple/Continuous: Expresses regret about a present situation.
- Wish/If Only + Past Perfect: Expresses regret about a past situation.
Subjunctive and Preference Structures
Would Rather (Preference)
- Present or Future Preference (Same Subject): Subject + would rather + base form of verb (without to).
- Present or Future Preference (Different Subjects): S1 + would rather + S2 + Past Simple (Negative: didn’t).
- Past Preference (Different Subjects): S1 + would rather + S2 + Past Perfect (Negative: hadn’t).
- Preference Over Something Else: S + would rather + base form + object + than + verb + object.
Had Better (Advice or Warning)
Meaning: It is advisable that / You should.
Structure: Subject + had better + base form of verb.
It's Time Structures
- It’s time to + verb (infinitive).
- It’s time for + pronoun/noun + to + verb (infinitive).
- It’s time + Subject + Past Tense (Used to express that something should have happened already).
- It’s about/high time + Subject + Past Tense (Used specifically to express a complaint or strong urgency).