Monday, September 27, 2010 at 11:24 PM

Unless, as long as, provided, providing

Unless (Except if, Only if)
  • You can't touch that unless you buy it
  • You can't open it unless you have the key
  • I'll see you tomorrow unless I have to work late
  • Can I buy those shoes? - Not unless you need them
  • We can take a taxi to the restaurant - (unless you'd prefer to walk) or (unless you'd rather walk)
  • You can't go into the party unless you are invited
  • Can I tell her my opinion? Not unless she asks you
  • Unless you have a car, it's difficult to get there
  • Unless you speak slowly, she won't be able to understand you
  • Unless you study more, you won't pass the exam
  • Unless we leave now, we'll be late
  • I'm not going out unless it stop raining

As long as / So long as / Providing (that) / Provided (that) (If, On condition that)
  • You can touch that as long as you buy it
  • You can borrow my camera as long as you promise to look after it
  • You can drive so long as you promise to drive carefully
  • Having a car is convenient providing (that) you can afford it
  • Travelling by plane is convenient provided you don't have afraid of flying
  • You can lift weigh providing your doctor approves it
  • Providing the weather is good, we're going to have a picnic
  • Providing I have enough money for tickets, we'll go to the concert

Sunday, September 19, 2010 at 9:40 PM

Although, though, even though, in spite of, despite

Although (Although + subject + verb)
  • Although it rained a lot, they enjoyed their vacations
  • Although the traffic was bad we arrived on time
  • I didn't get the job although I had the necessary qualifications
  • I couldn't sleep although I was very tired
  • I couldn't sleep though I was very tired
  • Even though I was very angry, I didn't shout to them
Notes
  • In spoken English we often use though instead of although
  • Sometimes we use even though as an stronger form of although


In spite of / Despite (In spite of / DespiteNoun or pronoun or -ing)
  • In spite of / Despite the rain, they enjoyed their vacations
  • In spite of / Despite what I said yesterday, I still love you
  • I didn't get the job in spite of / despite having the necessary qualifications
  • In spite of / Despite the traffic, we arrive on time
  • I couldn't sleep in spite of / despite being very tired
Notes
  • After in spite of / despite we can add the words "the fact that" to allow us connect the whole sentence with a subject followed by a verb:
    • In spite of the fact that it rained a lot, we enjoyed our vacations.
    • In spite of the fact that I had the necessary qualifications, I didn't get the job.
    • Despite the fact I was very tired, I couldn't sleep very well

Saturday, September 18, 2010 at 12:23 PM

Active voice Vs. Passive voice

Active voice questions (Auxiliary + Subject + Present/Past participle)

Past PresentFuture
Simple What did she do? What does she do? What will she do?
Continuous (Present participle) What was she doing? What is she doing? What will she be doing?
Perfect (Past participle) What had she done? What has she done? What will she have done?
Perfect continuous (Present participle) What had she been doing? What has she been doing? What will she have been doing?

Active voice responses (Subject + Auxiliary + Present/Past participle)

Past PresentFuture
Simple She wrote a letter She writes a letter She will write a letter
Continuous (Present participle) She was writing a letter She is writing a letter She will be writing a letter
Perfect (Past participle) She had written a letter She has written a letter She will have written a letter
Perfect continuous (Present participle) She had been writing a letter She has been writing a letter She will have been writing a letter

Passive voice questions (Auxiliary + Subject Past participle)

Past PresentFuture
Simple Was a letter written?Is a letter written?Will a letter be written?
Continuous (Present participle) Was a letter being written?Is a letter being written?Will a letter be being written?
PerfectHad a letter been written?Has a letter been written?Will a letter have been written?
Perfect continuousHad a letter been being written?Has a letter been being written?Will a letter have been being written?

Passive voice responses (Subject + Auxiliary + Past participle)

Past PresentFuture
Simple A letter was writtenA letter is writtenA letter will be written
Continuous (Present participle) A letter was being writtenA letter is being writtenA letter will be being written
PerfectA letter had been writtenA letter has been writtenA letter will have been written
Perfect continuousA letter had been being writtenA letter has been being writtenA letter will have been being written

Friday, September 17, 2010 at 11:59 PM

Every, Some, Any, No + (One/Body/Thing/...)

All these words are singular, so we always use a singular verb with them.

Anyone / Anybody / Anything
  • We use anyone in questions and negative sentences
    • Is there anyone in the garden?
    • There isn't anyone in the garden
    • Is anyone there?
    • Does anyone have a pen?
    • Has anyone ever seen the statue of liberty?
    • I don't know anyone at this party
    • I don't have anyone to go out

Someone / Somebody / Something
  • Some is never used in questions or negative sentences, except for offering food or beverages.
    • Would you like something to drink?
    • Would you like some Sausage?
    • There is someone in the garden
    • There is someone on the phone
    • There is someone who has a pen
    • Someone knows the truth

Everyone / Everybody / Everything
  • We use everyone as the opposite of no-one. (It's never used in questions or negative sentences)
    • Everyone is in the garden
    • Everyone knows that I'm not lying
    • Everyone in the class has a either a pen or a pencil

No-one / Nobody / Nothing
  • We use no-one as the opposite of everyone. (It's never used in questions or negative sentences)
    • No-one is in the garden
    • No-one knows the truth
    • No-one in the class has neither a pen nor a pencil
    • No-one has neither the time to listen, nor the patience to write it 

Thursday, September 16, 2010 at 7:40 PM

Either, Neither, Both - Any, None, All

We use either, neither and both for two things

Either (OR) "One or the other"
  • When it is followed by of, a singular verb is preferred: Has either of you seen my pants?. However in informal situations a plural verb could also be used: Have either of you seen my pants?
  • When it is followed by or, the verb agrees with the noun or pronoun that comes after the or. a)Either John or Alice has my keys, b)Either John or his brothers have my keys, c) Either you or I am crazy, d) Either I or you are crazy.
  • If one noun or pronoun refers to a female person and the other to a male person, it's used both a plural verb and a plural pronouns: If either John or Alice knows the answer, please ask them for help.
  • A special use of either is in conjunctions, where it is perfectly acceptable to use it for three or more things or people: For your car's color, you can chose either red, black, yellow or orange.
  • Negative form: You can't use either a pen or a pencil to paint
  • Examples: a) You can use either a pen or a pencil to write, b) You must either pay up or leave, c) You can have either red wine or white wine.


Neither (NOR) "Neither the first one nor the second one"
  • In standard English (more appropriate), neither on its own is used with a singular verb: Neither of her parents is alive. However in informal situations a plural verb is completely acceptable: Neither of her parents are alive.
  • When it is followed by nor, the verb agrees with the noun or pronoun that comes after the nor. a) Neither John nor Alice has my keys, b) Neither John nor his brothers have my keys, c) Neither you nor I am crazy, d) Neither I nor you are crazy.
  • If one noun or pronoun refers to a female person and the other to a male person, it's used both a plural verb and a plural pronouns: If neither John nor Alice knows the answer, please ask Peter for help.
  • Neither must not be used in negative sentences.
  • Examples: Neither a pen nor a pencil is suitable to paint.

Both (AND) "The first one and the second one"
  • Both indicates that the action or state denoted by the verb applies individually to each of two entities. Both books weigh more than five pounds, for example, means that each book weighs more than five pounds by itself, not that the two books weighed together come to more than five pound.
  • Examples: a) Both of her parents are alive, b) Both children are such dolls, c) Both you and I are students, d) Both guest have arrived, e) We are both candidates, f) The mother of both, g) In both in India and China live people.
  • Negative form of both could be constructed using neither.
  • Examples: Both a pen and a pencil are suitable to write.


We use any, none and all for more than two things

Any "One of them, doesn't matter which one"

  • In general and preferably any takes a plural verb, however it is also acceptable to use a singular verb.
  • When the pronoun any refers to a single thing, it takes a singular verb: Any member who wishes to renew their subscription should go to the office. When it is used with reference to a group of people or things, it is usual to use a plural verb: Are any of your friends coming?
  • When the adjective any is applied to a singular noun referring to a male or female person, it's used a plural pronouns: Any member who wishes to renew their subscription should go to the office.
  • Examples: a) I can ask to any of my friends.

None "Nobody/Not one/etc..."
  • In a plural context both a singular and a plural verb can follows the sentence. However, in general, a plural verb is preferred because sounds more natural and unaffected. Furthermore, It has the advantage that avoid conflicts when the sex of the referent is unknown or unspecified: None of the students were misunderstood at the conference.
  • Examples: a) None of my friends know the answer, b) None of my guests were there, c) None of our dancers are as talented as the Italians, d) None of those numbers are odd .

All "All of them/All of those/..."
  • All takes always a plural verb.
  • Examples: a) All of my friends know the answer, b) All the hotels were full, c) All your things are mine, d) All of these coins are mine, e) All of us enjoyed the party.