GRAMMAR V ADVANCED Revised June, 2014 Note: NEW = teachers should expect the grammar point to be new to most students at that level who have followed the ELI curriculum. Overview: Level V grammar reviews and expands students proficiency with sentence structure and clause combination, and the passive voice. New at this level are reduced relative clauses, the past habitual and some other structures including causative verbs and adverb clauses of purpose. I. PATTERNS OF CONNECTION (See Grammar IV for review of punctuation and sentence patterns) 1. CAUSE AND RESULT (NEW) a) Conjunctions One day, Timmy wanted attention, so he started to scream. He stopped screaming when he saw us, for he only wanted attention. b) Prepositions We all ran to Timmy s room in a panic because of his screams. Timmy stopped screaming due to all of the attention he received. We were all relieved due to the fact that he had stopped screaming. c) Subordinators He is usually such a quiet boy that we panicked when we heard him. He was screaming so loudly that we thought something was wrong. Timmy is laughing now that we are all in the room. We are afraid that he will try this again since it worked this time. d) Transitions Timmy screamed. As a result/consequence, we all panicked. He only wanted attention. Consequently, he stopped when he saw us. It worked this time. Therefore, we are afraid he will try it again. 2. CAUSE AND UNEXPECTED RESULT (NEW) a) Conjunctions We know Timmy often cries wolf, but we run each time anyway. There is probably nothing wrong, yet we still worry about him. He is sometimes a very naughty boy, but of course we still love him! b) Prepositions In spite of the fact that he often cries wolf, we run each time. Despite the fact that he is probably fine, we worry about him. Despite his naughty tricks, we love him! In spite of everything, we think that he is the best boy in the world. c) Subordinators
Even though we know Timmy often cries wolf, we run each time. Although there is probably nothing wrong, we worry about him. Though he is sometimes a very naughty boy, we love him! d) Transitions We know Timmy often cries wolf. Nevertheless, we run each time. There is probably nothing wrong. Nonetheless, we worry about him. He is sometimes a very naughty boy. However, we still love him! 3. PURPOSE (NEW) a) Prepositions We must punish Timmy for his own good. We need to discipline him in order to teach him a lesson. b) Subordinators We have to be firm with him so that he will grow up to be a good man. II. SUBORDINATION A. ADJECTIVE CLAUSES 1. (NEW) Expansion of adjective clause usage through the introduction of: a) Where to modify a noun of location Where should I put these broken chairs? Please put them in the room where all of the other broken furniture is. b) When to modify a noun of time Has this room always been used to store broken furniture? I cannot remember a time when that room was used for anything else. b) Expressions of quantity in adjective clauses This conference room is a disgrace. There are thirty-two chairs in this room, most of which are broken. c) Nouns followed by of which/of whom We have only one table, the top of which is badly damaged. Twenty people were surveyed, five of whom were men. d) Adjective clauses that modify whole sentences There are no plans to buy new furniture, which is really a shame. 2. (NEW) Introduction to reducing adjective clauses to adjective phrases Where is the person who is responsible for this mess? responsible for this mess? Who is the person who is in charge here? in charge here? You want to speak to Ted Masterson, who is the maintenance supervisor. the maintenance supervisor. Ted is the man who is walking in the door right now. walking in the door right now. Anyone who wants to complain should speak to him. wanting to complain
B. ADVERB CLAUSES 1. CLAUSES OF REAL AND UNREAL CONDITIONS a) (NEW) Expansion of clauses of real conditions through the introduction of (i) The use of the present tense in the main clause (in contrast to the use of the future tense) If she has enough money, Sara will go on an adventurous vacation this year. Sara goes on adventurous vacations every year. (ii) Subordinators other than if Sara will go bungee jumping in Mexico this year whether it is extremely dangerous or not. whether or not it is extremely dangerous. even if it is extremely dangerous. Sara says that there will be a doctor at the resort in case anyone gets hurt. in the event that anyone gets hurt. Sara will try bungee jumping this year unless someone talks her out of it. b) (NEW) Expansion of clauses of unreal conditions through the introduction of unreal conditions in the past (in contrast to unreal conditions in the present/future) Sara does not and will not have enough money, but, if she had enough, she would go to Mexico. Sara did not have enough money last year, but, if she had had enough, she would have gone to Mexico. 2. CLAUSES OF TIME: see Patterns of Connection 3. CLAUSES OF CAUSE AND RESULT: see Patterns of Connection C. NOUN CLAUSES 1. NEW: Expansion of noun clause usage through the introduction of generalizing forms of interrogative pronouns My husband Michael always says whatever comes into his mind. 2. Introduction to the use of the subjunctive in noun clauses following wish: (NEW): a) Affirmative wishes (i) With be Crystal is not very ambitious. She is not trying to better her life. She is never going to change. Her parents wish that she were more ambitious. They wish that she were trying to better her life. They wish that she were going to change. (ii) With main verbs Crystal does not want to have a career. Her parents wish that she wanted to have a career. (iii) With modal auxiliaries Crystal will not go back to school.
Her parents wish that she would go back to school. b) Negative wishes (i) With be Crystal is a high-school dropout. She is working at a dead-end job. She is going to marry her unemployed boyfriend Hal. Her parents wish that she were not a high-school dropout. They wish that she were not working at a dead-end job. They wish that she were not going to marry Hal. (ii) With main verbs Crystal just wants to be a housewife. Her parents wish that she did not just want to be a housewife. (iii) With modal auxiliaries Crystal cannot see a better life for herself. Her parents wish that she could see a better life for herself. c) Past wishes I wish that Michael did not talk about politics all of the time. In fact, I wish that he had not talked about politics at the party last night. I think my boss was upset at his conservative stance. 3. Introduction to reducing noun clauses to infinitive phrases (NEW) I don t know whether I should apologize to my boss or not. whether to apologize to my boss or not. I just don t know what I should do. what to do. III. VERBALS A. GERUNDS 1. NEW: Expansion of gerund usage through the introduction of a) Meaning changes when the verbs forget, remember, regret, and try are followed by gerunds rather than infinitives (Also see Infinitives.) Mother will never forget growing up in New York City. She remembers playing in Central Park every Sunday. She regrets deciding to raise her own children in the suburbs. She wants to try living in New York again to see if she still loves it. b) Possessive adjectives modifying gerunds Mother is always talking about our moving to New York City. c) Base forms in place of gerunds after verbs of perception I ve seen her looking at the real estate pages in the Times a lot lately. I ve seen her look at the real estate pages in the Times a lot lately. B. INFINITIVES 1. NEW: Expansion of infinitive usage through the introduction of a) Meaning changes when the verbs forget, remember, regret, and try are followed by infinitives rather than gerunds
(Also see Gerunds.) I regret to tell you that I am looking for a new roommate. I ve asked you many times to try to be more responsible, but you never remember to lock the door when you leave and you always forget to take out the trash! b) Verbs which are followed by indirect objects and infinitives Sam has advised his roommate to look for a new place to live. c) Adjectives commonly followed by infinitives Sam s roommate was surprised to learn that he was unhappy with him. d) Base forms versus infinitives after certain verbs (i) Causative verbs make, have, and get Sam made his roommate promise to move out soon. Sam had his roommate promise to move out soon. Sam got his roommate to promise to move out soon. (ii) Let Sam is going to let his roommate live with him until he finds a new place. (iii) Help Sam is going to help him look for a new apartment. Sam is going to help him to look for a new apartment. V. VERBS: MODALS AND AUXILIARIES Unless otherwise indicated, all modal forms below have been introduced at previous levels, but not necessarily in R/W classes. The focus on past time forms may be new. A. ABILITY could a) Expressing a past ability When I was in high school, I could get A s without studying. Now that I am a university student, I have to study to get A s. B. ADVICE should have and ought to have a) Suggesting that a past action would have been advisable There was a big test yesterday. I didn t study at all. I went to a party. I should have stayed home and studied. I ought to have realized that I would fail. C. DEGREES OF CERTAINTY
, in descending order of certainty must have, may have/might have, and could have must not have and may not have/might not have a) Indicating the speaker s degree of certainty that a situation existed or that an action took place at some point in the past Where was Tom last night? I was supposed to help him study for a test. He must have been at the library. He usually studies there. He may have/might have been at the library. He sometimes studies there. He could have been at the library, but I doubt it. He hates the library. b) Indicating the speaker s degree of certainty that a situation did not exist or that an action was not taking place at some point in the past I tried to call Tim to tell him I was not coming to his party. He must not have been home. I let the phone ring ten times. He may not have/might not have been home, but he s usually home at this hour. He was probably in the shower. D. DESIRE (UNFULFILLED) (NEW) would have loved to and would have liked to a) Expressing that a past action would have been enjoyable or pleasant There was a party at Tim s house last night. I did not go because I had to study. I would have liked to have gone to Tim s party. I heard that his sister was there. I would have really loved to have met her. E. EXPECTATION (UNFULFILLED) be supposed to a) Expressing that a past action was expected or required to happen but did not I was supposed to go to Tim s party, but I had to tell him that I couldn t come because I had to study for a test.
F. HABITUAL ACTIONS (NEW) would/used to a) Expressing an action which recurred in the past When I was in high school I would/used to get all A s even though I never studied. G. HABITUAL SITUATIONS (NEW) used to a) Expressing a habitual situation which existed in the past When I was in high school I used to be an honor student. H. IMPOSSIBILITY cannot have and could not have a) Indicating disbelief that a past situation or action occurred Tom went to the library with Clara to study for that big test last night. What!! He can t have! With Chris s girlfriend? He couldn t have been that stupid! Chris is going to kill him! I. INTENTION (UNFULFILLED) (NEW) be going to a) Indicating that an action or an event had been planned to take place but did not occur Tim was going to have a party last night. He had already invited everybody, but he had to cancel it. J. NECESSITY had to a) Indicating that a past action is obligatory or necessary I must get an A on the test tomorrow in order to pass the class. K. PREFERENCE would rather have a) Indicating an alternative which would have been preferable to a
past action or situation Well, I would rather have gone to Tim s party last night, but I had to study instead. L. COMBINING MODALS AND PHRASAL MODALS be able to and have to a) Used in conjunction with other modals to express ability or necessity in addition to any other modal function If I will have to start studying, or I will not be able to graduate. VI. VERBS: TENSES, ASPECTS, AND VOICE A. TENSES AND ASPECTS Verb tenses and aspects from previous levels should be reviewed and integrated where appropriate. These include simple present and past; present and past progressive (primarily in LS contexts); present perfect; past and future perfect (for comprehension only), and will/be going to. B. PASSIVE VOICE 1. Active versus passive patterns Active: Subject + Verb + Object The neighborhood cat beats up my Rottweiler every week. Passive: Object + Be + Past Participle + By + Object My Rottweiler is beaten up by the neighborhood cat every week. 2. Tense forms of passive verbs (some tenses are new) a) Simple present At least once a week that cat beats up my dog. my dog is beaten up by that cat. b) Simple past As a matter of fact that cat beat up my dog last night. my dog was beaten up by that cat last night. c) Simple future I have no doubt that that cat is going to beat up my dog again. my dog is going to be beaten up by that cat again. d) Present progressive Actually, at this very moment, that cat is beating up my dog! my dog is being beaten up by that cat! e) Past progressive When I came home from work yesterday, that cat was beating up my dog.
my dog was being beaten up by that cat. f) Present perfect I have come home many times and found out that that cat has beaten up my dog. my dog has been beaten up by that cat. g) Past perfect (for comprehension only) Yesterday when I came home from work, they were fighting in the driveway. But before I could get out of my car that cat had beaten up my dog. my dog had been beaten up by that cat. h) Modal auxiliaries (present/future) I am convinced that that cat will beat up my dog forever. my dog will be beaten up by that cat forever. i) Omitting the by phrase when the agent is unimportant or obvious The veterinarian has treated my Rottweiler for scratches many times. My Rottweiler has been treated for scratches many times. 3. Sentences which cannot be made passive (intransitive verbs) Nowadays my dog runs whenever any cat comes near C. QUESTIONS (Listening/Speaking) Review of question forms. See grammar curricula at levels I-III for scope and examples.