Mastering English Grammar: Relative Clauses & More

Mastering English Grammar: Relative Clauses, Modals, and More

Relative Clauses

The boy was an old friend. I was staying at his house: The boy whose house I was staying at was an old friend.

The dog had long, pointed ears. It was lying on the sofa: The dog which was lying on the sofa had long, pointed ears.

The book was a bit frightening. John was reading it: The book which John was reading was a bit frightening.

PP died in 1973. He was from Malaga: PP, who was from Malaga, died in 1973.

This is the CD. A. Sanz signed an autograph there: This is the CD where A. Sanz signed an autograph.

Modal Verbs

It's necessary for me to go to work yesterday: I didn't need to go to work yesterday.

Perhaps Mike didn't get your phone call: Mike may not have got your phone call.

It would be a good idea for us to take an umbrella: We should take an umbrella.

I'm sure that Maria didn't work very hard: Maria can't have worked very hard.

She hasn't phoned. I'm sure she is abroad: She hasn't phoned. She must be abroad.

Conditional Sentences

We didn't leave early, so we missed the train: If we had left early, we wouldn't have missed the train.

I think you should go to the doctor: If I were you, I would go to the doctor.

Walk faster or you'll be late for the lesson: If you don't walk faster, you will be late for the lesson.

I didn't know the answer, so I couldn't help you: If I had known the answer, I could have helped you.

Passive Voice

They gave me 100 euros a day: I was given 100 euros a day.

You shouldn't leave the milk outside the fridge: The milk shouldn't be left outside the fridge.

They have already sent us the present: We have already been sent the present.

Have they written the letter?: Has the letter been written?

A painter painted our house last month: We had our house painted by a painter last month.

An optician will make new glasses for me: I will have new glasses made by an optician.

Tense Review

I haven't seen her for 2 weeks: I last saw her 2 weeks ago.

The plane took off before she got to the airport: By the time she got to the airport, the plane had taken off.

I started to paint in 2001: I have been painting since 2001.

We worked all afternoon and then we had dinner: We had dinner after we had worked all afternoon.

She worked at the company for 2 years: She had worked at the company for 2 years before she decided to quit.

Where are you from?: Where do you come from?