Mastering English Grammar Rules, Passive Voice and Connectors

English Grammar and Sentence Structure Reference

Reported Speech

Statements: "Many customers have requested puppy's breath," he explained — He explained that many customers had requested puppy's breath.

Questions: "Can you create nasty smells?" they asked Fred — They asked Fred if he could create nasty smells. "What perfume are you buying today?" Laura asked me — Laura asked me what perfume I was buying that day.

Orders: "Turn on the aroma generator," the boss told her — Her boss told her to turn on the aroma generator. "Don't tell any one my secret formula," ordered Fred — Fred ordered me not to tell any one his secret formula.

Suggestions: "You should try our famous rain fragrance," suggested the shop assistant — The shop assistant suggested that I try/trying their fragrance.

Active to Passive Voice Tenses

• Simple Present: is/are + participle
• Present Continuous: is/are + being + participle
• Simple Past: was/were + participle
• Past Continuous: was/were + being + participle
• Present Perfect: have/has been + participle
• Past Perfect: had been + past participle
• Future Perfect: will + have + been + participle
• Future: will/going to + be + participle
• Modal: modal + be + participle

Impersonal Passive

1. It + verb in passive + that sentence.
2. Subject + verb passive + infinitive.

Example: They believe that he is having an affair with a model.

• 1: It is believed that he is having an affair with a model.
• 2: He is believed to have an affair with a model.

Have Something Done (Causative)

have (have, had, will have) + something + participle

Example: His teeth are checked twice a year — He has his teeth checked twice a year.

Passive with Indirect Objects

Example: Rachel will give you some advice — You will be given some advice by Rachel / Some advice will be given to you by Rachel.

Conditionals

• 0 Conditional (General Truth): if + present simple + present simple
• 1st Conditional (Future Possibility): if + present simple + will
• 2nd Conditional (Imaginary Situation in Present): if + past simple + would
• 3rd Conditional (Unreal Situation in Past): if + past perfect + would have + participle

Time Clauses

As soon as, by the time, till, when (time expression + present simple + will)

Wish Clauses

1. Present Situation: wish + past simple
2. Regret About Past Action: wish + past perfect
3. Something to Happen in Future: wish + could/would

English Connectors and Linking Words

• In spite of, despite: followed by a noun
• Although, though, even though: followed by a sentence
• Still, yet, however: followed by a sentence
• On the one hand: followed by a sentence
• While, whereas: followed by a sentence
• In contrast, contrary to, unlike: followed by a noun
• On the contrary: followed by a sentence
• Besides: followed by a sentence
• Moreover, furthermore, in addition: followed by a sentence
• As well as: followed by a noun
• Besides, in addition to: followed by a noun
• Because, as, since: followed by a sentence
• Because of, due to: followed by a noun
• In order to, so as to: followed by a verb (infinitive)
• So that, in order that: followed by a sentence with a modal/infinitive
• For example, for instance: followed by a clause/sentence
• Such as, like: followed by a noun
• Therefore, thus: followed by a sentence
• As a result of: followed by a noun
• Conclusion, to sum up: followed by a sentence
• Apart from, except: followed by a noun
• Similarly: followed by a sentence
• Like, just like: followed by a noun
• Both: followed by a noun
• Not only: followed by a noun
• I believe that: followed by a sentence
• I'm against: followed by a noun
• In my opinion, obviously: followed by a sentence