Oxford_Guide_to_English_Grammar

NOTE

Sometimes the choice of preposition depends on the meaning.

aWe can be happy/pleased/delighted with something close to us, something that is ours. About and at are more general.

We're pleased with our new flat.

We're pleased at/about the election result.

bAfter furious, angry and annoyed we use at or about for what has made us angry and with for the person we are directing our anger towards.

Polly was annoyed at/about the mix-up over her ticket.

She was annoyed with the travel agent.

cSorryfor means sympathy for someone.

f We are grateful to a person for an action.

I'm very grateful to you for all your help.

3 We use good at etc to talk about ability.

Lee is good at skating. (= He can skate well.)

To say how we behave towards another person we use good to, rude to etc.

You've been very good to/kind to me. You've helped me a lot. The waiter was barely polite to us.

4 Here are some more examples of adjective + preposition. absent from work available to members/available for hire

PAGE 315 237 Noun + preposition

237 Noun + preposition

1 Some nouns can take a particular preposition.

NOTE

a Sometimes we use the same preposition as with a related verb or adjective.

Sometimes the verb takes a direct object but the noun takes a preposition.

b Some nouns can take different prepositions. adiscussionof/about/onpoliticstoday

Sometimes the choice of preposition depends on the meaning. his apology for being late his apology to the teacher

2 Here are some more examples of noun + preposition.

gNeed, wish etc

These nouns take for: appetite, application, demand, desire, need, preference,

29 SENTENCES WITH MORE THAN ONE CLAUSE PAGE 318

1 Main clauses

a We can use and to join two main clauses.

The man went up to the 86th floor and hejumped.

His paintings weren't selling, and he had money problems.

Two main clauses linked together are 'co-ordinate clauses'.

When the subject is the same in both clauses, we can leave it out of the second one.

The man went up to the 86th floor and (he) jumped.

A gust of wind caught him and (it) blew him back into the building.

NOTE

aFor ways of punctuating two main clauses,• 56(2).

bAs well as the subject, we can leave out the auxiliary to avoid repeating it.

I've peeled the potatoes and (I've) washed them.

He was taken to hospital and (he was) examined.

cWe can join more than two clauses. Usually and comes only before the last one.

He took the lift up, found a convenient window and jumped.

b We can also use or, but and so in co-ordinate clauses.

We can take a taxi or (we can) waitfor a bus. • 245 He jumped off the 86th floor but (he) survived. • 246

There was a show going out, so they asked him some questions. • 247

NOTE

In informal English and can also mean 'but' or 'so' depending on the context.

He jumped offand survived. (= but)

The doctors found nothing wrong with him and sent him home. (= so)

c The two clauses can be separate sentences.

The man went up to the 86th floor. And hejumped. He jumped. But then something amazing happened.

d And, or and but can also join phrases or words.

The painter and the interviewer had a chat. • 13 The man was shaken but unhurt. • 202(2,3)

2 Sub clauses

a Sometimes one clause can be part of another.

A gust of wind caught him as hefell.

He admitted that he'd changed his mind.

Here as he fell and that he'd changed his mind are 'subordinate clauses' or sub clauses. In a sub clause we can use because, when, if, that etc.

bThe word order in the sub clause is the same as in the main clause.

He admitted that he'd changed his mind.

NOT He admitted that he his mind had changed.

cA sub clause is part of the main clause, in the same way as a phrase is. For example, it can be an adverbial or an object.

241 Tenses in sub clauses

3 The unreal present and past

a Compare these sentences.

Past simple: Suppose we were rich. (We aren't rich.)

Imagine you wanted to murder someone. (You don't want to.) Past perfect: I wish I had reserved a seat. (I didn't reserve one.)

I'd rather you'd asked me first. (You didn't ask me.)

The past simple expresses something unreal in the present, something that is not so. The past perfect expresses something unreal in the past. We can use these patterns with suppose, supposing, imagine; wish, • (2); ifonly, • (2d); would rather; if, • 257; as if/as though.

bAfter suppose, supposing or if we can use either the present or the past for a possible future action.

Suppose/Supposing something goes/went wrong, what then? What if you don't/didn't have enough money to get home?

242 The subjunctive

1 The subjunctive is the base form of a verb.

The committee recommended that the scheme go ahead. The Opposition are insisting that the Minister resign.

It is important that an exact record be kept.

We can use the subjunctive in a that-clause after verbs and adjectives expressing the idea that an action is necessary, e.g. ask, demand, insist, propose, recommend, request, suggest; advisable, anxious, desirable, eager, essential, important, necessary,preferable,willing.

NOTE

It often makes no difference whether a form is subjunctive or not.

We recommend that both schemes go ahead.

2The subjunctive is rather formal. It is used more in American English. In British English we often we use should instead, or we use the normal form of the verb.

The committee recommended that the scheme should go ahead. The Opposition are insisting that the Minister resigns.

NOTE

After an adjective we can use a to-infinitive.

It is important to keep an exact record.

3There are some expressions that we use for something unreal, e.g. suppose, wish, would rather, if, as if/as though, • 241(3). After these expressions we can use the past subjunctive were instead of was.

Suppose the story was/were true.

The man looked as ifhe was/were drunk.

But were is a little formal and old-fashioned here, except in the phrase ifI were you (= in your place).

If I were you, I'd accept the offer.

30

And, or, but, so etc

243 Summary

We can use a conjunction to link two main clauses together in a sentence.

Tom had nofood, and he had to pay the rent.

We can use an adverb or a prepositional phrase to link the meaning of two main clauses or two sentences.

Tom had nofood, and he also had to pay the rent. Tom had no food. He also had to pay the rent.

Tom had to buy somefood. Besides that, there was the rent.

Words meaning 'and' • 244

and, too, as well (as), either, also, in addition (to), besides, furthermore, moreover,

both... and..., not only... but also...

Words meaning 'or' • 245

Words meaning 'but' • 246

but, though, however, nevertheless, even so, all the same, although, even though, in spite of, despite, whereas, while, on the other hand

Words meaning 'so' • 247

so, therefore, as a result (of), in consequence (of)

244 Words meaning 'and'

1 We can use and to link two clauses. • 239(1)

Gene Tunney was a boxer, and he lectured on Shakespeare.

The adverbs too and as well are more emphatic than and.

Gene Tunney was a boxer. He lectured on Shakespeare, too/as well.

These adverbs usually come in end position.

The negative is either.

I haven't got a car, and I haven't got a bike either.

NOT Ihaven'tgota bike too/as well.

Also usually goes in mid position.

Gene Tunney was a boxer, and he also lectured on Shakespeare.