Prepositions in Relative Clauses

We do not normally use prepositions before relative pronouns. The office in which she works is in the centre. (formal – not usual) The office which she works in is in the centre. (usual) The office she works in is in the centre. (more usual)

Exercise 163. Rewrite the sentences in as many ways as possible.

1. The hotel where we stayed was in the mountains.

...The hotel in which we stayed was in the mountains…

...The hotel we stayed in was in the mountains...

2. That’s the box where we keep the books. 3. The girl to whom John was talking is my sister. 4. The house where I spent my childhood has been demolished. 5. That’s the man to whom he spoke on the day of the murder. 6. The friend I was travelling with spoke German.

Focus adverbs

The use of adverbs when ‘focusing’.

Adverbs such as even, just, merely, only, really, simply can precede the word they qualify to focus attention on it. Others, like too and as well, focus our attention by adding information.

The position of ‘even’ and ‘only’.

The position of some adverbs such as even and only is particularly flexible, conveying slightly different meanings according to where they are placed. A few examples are: Even Bob knows that 2 + 2 = 4. (i.e. although he’s stupid) Bob even knows that 2 + 2 = 4. (i.e. of the many things he knows) Only Bob knows the answer. (i.e. nobody else does) Bob knows only half of it. (i.e. nothing else) Bob only met Olga. (i.e. no one else)

Too, as well, not…either and also.

Too and as well usually go in the end position in the affirmative: I like Bob and I like his wife, too/as well. In negative sentences these words are replaced by either: I don’t like Bob and I don’t like his wife, either. Also, used as a replacement for too and as well, is more common in writing than in speech. It comes: after auxiliaries: Mary is an engineer. She is also a mother. After the first verb when there is more than one: She’s written some letters. She should also have posted them. Before the main verb: I play tennis and I also play badminton.

Exercise 164. Fill in the blanks with appropriate adverbs.

1. “I’ve got that queer feeling,” he said, “that I used to have as a child, and I haven’t had for years. That all this has happened … .” – “I have it …,” said Maria. “It comes …, like a ghost toughing you, and then it goes …, leaving you … sick.” (before, suddenly, often, again, rather) 2. I had breakfast …, and, feeling the need for fresh air and exercise, went … … afterwards. The wind had dropped …, but it was still … cold. (bitterly, out, early, directly, some what) 3. This business has shocked us all … much. We saw … a lot of the poor girl, you know. It seems … unbelievable. My father-in-law is … upset. He was … fond of Ruby. (very, quite, terribly) 4. When I arrived …, which was … late, I was … surprised to find Mrs. Lloyd was still … . (greatly, home, there, fairly)

Inversion after adverbs

Sometimes the normal subject-verb order in a sentence is reversed if a sentence begins with an adverb.