2. Question tags

Question tags are short questions at the end of statements used to confirm if the statement is true or not.

• They are formed with the auxiliary verb from the main sentence (forms of the verb ‘to be’, modal verbs, forms of the verb ‘to do’ and the appropriate subject pronoun.)

• A positive statement takes a negative question tag. You are coming with us, aren't you?

• A negative statement takes a positive question tag. He can't speak English, can he?

Remember: when there are no forms of the verb to be or modal verb we use do/does or did + subject pronoun. Helen works for Kyivstar, doesn't she?

He doesn’t like classical music, does he?

• When the statement contains a negative adverb of frequency such as rarely, never, hardly, seldom, we use a positive question tag. She never watches TV, does she?

• The question tags of some verbs/expressions are formed differently. I am invited to the party, aren't I?

Imperative sentences:

- Leave me alone, will/won't you?

- Don't tell anyone, will you?

- Let's have a picnic, shall we?

- There is some ice in the fridge, isn't there?

- There are a few biscuits left, aren't there?

- He has got a motorbike, hasn 't he?

BUT:

- You have enough money, don't you?

- This is/That is Jane's bag, isn't it?

Note:

1. When you are sure of the answer and expect agreement, your voice goes down in the question tag.

- He has lived abroad, hasn't he?

2. When you are not sure of the answer, your voice goes up in the question tag.

- You don’t eat meat, do you?

3. Conditional sentences

Types	Conditional clause	Main clause	Examples
Type 1: Real situations, refer to the present or future tense	If +Present tense	Future Simple: will + inf / present tense	If I have money, I will buy a car.   If the weather is fine, we will go for a walk.
Type 2: Unreal or unprobable situations, refer to the present or future tense	If + Past Simple -‘to be’ is used in the past plural form	Future-in-the Past Simple: would / could + inf	If I were a princess, I would live in a palace. If I had money, I would buy a car. If I were you, I would stay here.
Type 3: Unreal situations, refer to the past tense	If + Past  Perfect	Future-in-the Past Perfect: would /could + present perfect	If I had had money last year, I would have bought a car.

Mind the punctuation:

If I have enough money, conditional clause	I will go to Japan. main clause
I will go to Japan main clause	if I have enough money conditional clause

4. Forms of the infinitive: infinitive, bare infinitive and gerund (-ing form)

The infinitive, infinitive without to or –ing form are often used in speech. Every form has special rules when to be used. Stugy the examples:

- I want to play the piano well.

- He can play the piano.

- I like playing the piano.

Study the information when to use infinitives.

The verb tenses corresponding to the tenses of the infinitive are as follows:

• The present infinitive refers to the present or future.

- I expect to find out my exam results soon (active). I hope to be accepted at Leeds University (passive).

• The present continuous infinitive refers to an action happening at the time of speaking.

- Dave appears to be studying at the moment.

• The perfect infinitive refers to the past. It shows that the action of the infinitive happened before the action of the verb.

- The boys claim to have finished their homework, (active). Their homework appears to have been finished (passive.)

• The perfect continuous infinitive refers to the past. It emphasises the duration of the action of the infinitive which happened before the action of the verb.

- He seems to have been working constantly for the last couple of weeks.

Note: the perfect infinitive and the perfect continuous infinitive are used with modal verbs and verbs such as seem, claim, expect, believe, and appear.

The to-infinitive is used:

• To express purpose. Carl went to the shop to buy some bread.

• After certain verbs (agree, advise, afford, allow, appear, decide, expect, hope, plan, promise, refuse, tend, observe, want, wish, etc).

- She hopes to get a promotion.

- He promised to help me.

• After adjectives which describe feelings/emotions (happy, sad, glad, etc.); express willingness/unwillingness (be willing, eager, reluctant, etc.); refer to 3^rd person’s character (clever, kind etc) and the adjectives (un)lucky and (un)fortunate.

- I was very lucky to win the race.

- He is clever to understand the situation.

- I’m glad to see you.

Note: With adjectives that refer to character we can also use an impersonal construction.

It was kind of you to give John a lift.

• After certain nouns and pronouns (something, anyone etc) to show that something is necessary or possible. Was there anyone there to help you?

• After too/enough. Vanessa is too impatient to wait in a queue. Mike isn't old enough to vote.

• To talk about an unexpected event usually with only. I got home only to find that I had forgotten my keys.

• With it + be + adjective/noun. It was difficult to solve the problem.

• After be + first/second/next/last etc. She was the last person to finish the exam.

• After verbs and expressions such as ask, learn, explain, decide, find out, want, want to know etc when they followed by question words (who, what, where, how, etc. ‘Why’ is not followed by an infinitive.

- She explained what we had to do.

- I asked how to react in this situation.

BUT: wonder why is followed by a clause (NOT an infinitive). I wonder why she didn't tell us.

• After would like, would prefer, would love to express a specific preference.

- I would like / I’d like to watch this film again some day.

• In the expressions to tell the truth, to be honest, to sum up, to begin with, etc.

- To be honest, I have to go: I’m too tired.

Note: if two to-infinitives are linked by and or or, the to of the second infinitive can be omitted.

- She promised to call and tell what was happening.

Infinitive without ‘to’ / BARE infinitive is used:

• After most modal verbs: can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, etc. Greg can play the piano.

• After had better, would rather:

- I’d rather go.

- I’d better go to bed.

• After the verbs let, make and see, hear, listen to, notice and feel (to describe a complete action in the Active forms).

- Her boss made her work overtime.

- Let me stay with you.

- I listened to Jill sing a song / I listened to her from beginning to end: a complete action.

BUT: we use the to-infinitive after be made, be heard, be seen, etc (passive form).

- She was made to read foreign words hundreds times.

N_Ote: when see, hear and watch are followed by an -ing form there is no change in the passive.

- She _Saw me talking to Anna. - I was seen talking to Anna.

Help can be followed by either the to-infinitive or bare infinitive.

- She helped me (to) paint my flat.

Gerund / the -ing form

Forms of the –ing form: Present (visiting) and Perfect (having visited.)

• The present –ing form refers to the present or future.

- He hates walking to work. He hates being visited on Sundays.

• The perfect –ing form shows that the action of the –ing form happened before the action of the verb.

- He avoided answering / having answered the question.

The –ing form is used:

• as a noun: Swimming is a great way to get fit.

• after certain verbs: admit, appreciate, avoid, confess, continue, deny, discuss, enjoy, excuse, finish, forgive, go (in for activities), imagine, mind, miss, keep (continue), practice, suggest, recollect, report, understand, quit, etc. I appreciate your coming to us in time.

• after love, like, enjoy, prefer, dislike, hate to express general preference. Tom is a workaholic, He hates wasting time.

BUT: for a specific preference (would like, would prefer, would love) we use a to-infinitive.

- I’d love to go there wiith my friends.

• after expressions such as be busy, it's no use, it's (no) good, it's (not) worth, what's the use of, can't help, there's no point in, can't stand, have difficulty (in), have trouble etc. I am busy writing a report.

• after spend, waste, or lose (time, money, etc). We wasted a tot of time fixing the computer.

• after verbs and expressions such as look forward to, be used to, in addition to, object to, prefer (doing sth to sth else). - He isn't used to living alone.

• after prepositions. Elaine is scared of flying.

• after the verbs hear, listen to, notice, see, watch, and feel to describe an incomplete action. I heard Samantba talking on the phone. (I only heard part of the conversation).

BUT: we use the infinitive without to with hear, listen to, notice, see, watch, and feel to describe the complete action. I heard Samantha tell the story. (I heard the whole story).

Difference in meaning between the to-infinitive and the -ing form:

Some verbs can take either the to-infinitive or the -ing form but with a change in meaning.

forget + to-infinitive = not remember - He forgot to buy milk.

forget + -ing form = not recall - I'll never forget visiting Egypt.

remember + to-infinitive = not forget- Did you remember to call Lucy?

remember + -ing form = recall - I remember coming here before.

mean + to-infinitive = intend to - He never meant to upset her.

mean + -ing form = involve - Being a firefighter means taking risks.

regret + to-infinitive = be sorry to (normally used in the present simple with verbs such as say, tell, inform) - I regret to inform you that your phone has been cutoff.

regret + -ing form = feel sorry about - He is going to regret selling his record collection.