Mastering Complex English Grammar Structures and Usage

Advanced English Sentence Structures and Usage

Examples 87–128: Grammar Points

The following examples demonstrate various complex grammatical structures, including conditionals, passive voice, reported speech, and modal verbs.

87. Causative Verb: I had my hair cut yesterday morning.
88. Relative Clause: This is the man whose dog bit my brother in the park.
89. Conditional Type 3: If my foot hadn’t hurt, I would have gone to the gym.
90. Reported Speech: The teacher said that we had to hand our papers in at the end of that class.
91. Conditional (Unless): Unless your boyfriend arrives before eight, we will have to leave.
92. Reason Clause: As it was raining, the children couldn’t go out to the playground.
93. Present Perfect (Duration): We have not seen that movie for six months.
94. Modal Verb (Prohibition): You mustn’t smoke in most restaurants.
95. Passive Voice: We weren’t given the ticket by the shop assistant.
96. Comparison: Peter swims slower than Al. / Peter doesn’t swim as fast as Al.
97. Present Perfect (Duration): I haven’t seen Frank for two months.
98. Verb + Gerund: He didn’t remember phoning his wife yesterday.
99. Causative Verb (Correction): I am having my new car serviced next week.
100. Conditional (Unless): Unless we meet this month, it will be too late.
101. Reported Command: The trainer told her to come back to the team.
102. Question Structure: Who drives 200 miles every day?
103. Reported Question: He asked where the robbery took place.
104. Passive Voice (Historical): Penicillin was discovered in 1928 by Fleming.
105. Permission/Prohibition: You are not allowed to have a bicycle.
106. Conditional Type 2: If I knew her address, I would be able to write to her / I could write to her.
107. Simple Statement: There is a new magazine on the hall table.
108. Question Structure: Who lives next door?
109. Reported Question: She asked Sheila where her brothers were.
110. Modal Verb (Possibility): They may only open the museum in the morning.
111. Comparison: The fish was worse than the meat. / The fish wasn’t as good as the meat.
112. Passive Voice (Modals): Green paint can be made by mixing blue and yellow.
113. Time Expression: I started playing the piano twenty years ago.
114. Frequency Question: How often do you have English classes?
115. Relative Clause (Correction): The man whom Sharon is going to marry is Eric’s brother.
116. Verb + Gerund (Suggestion): Martin suggested having dinner out that night.
117. Conditional Type 3: If I had known it was you, I would have opened the door.
118. Modal Verb (Advice): You should go to the dentist.
119. Verb + Gerund: I didn’t remember posting the letter.
120. Impersonal Passive: This tree is said to be over 400 years old.
121. Reported Command: The man ordered us to keep off the grass.
122. Passive Voice: I wasn’t told the secret.
123. Modal Verb (Deduction): They must be at home because the lights are on.
124. Conditional Type 3: If I hadn’t forgotten Beth’s telephone number, I would have invited her.
125. Non-Defining Relative Clause: Shakespeare, who was a famous writer, wrote beautiful sonnets.
126. Conjunctions: The dog woke up because/when someone knocked at the door.
127. Wishes: I wish you could come along.
128. Comparison: Apples are cheaper than bananas.