Focus On Grammar

Focus On Grammar

Welcome everybody...

AbNoRmAL is here! Everything from AbNoRmAL is Abnormal!

Well, because I'm a very new member, I want to give you something to know & remember me.

So, Here is my gift for you:

FOCUS ON GRAMMAR: A HIGH INTERMEDIATE COURSE FOR REFERENCE AND PRACTICE

To be honest, this is an incomplete course! I mean it cannot be called a course, because it’s very short. But I think it is intensive. And as the title shows, this topic is for reference and practice, that means you already know these information.

Let's start now: We will talk about:

* Gerunds and Infinitives

* Modals

I hope you like my gift and get its benefits.

<<< To the first lesson>>>

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1. GERUNDS and INFINITIVES

First, read this part of editorial about gun control from a U.S. magazine (see the attachments for clearer picture).

http://www.freewebtown.com/supermani...3/e_160125.gif

INFINITIVES

It’s necessary to ban guns

They refuse to ban handguns

Voters started to support gun control

GERUNDS

Banning guns is necessary

They recommend banning handguns

Voters started supporting gun control

GRAMMAR NOTES

1. The gerund is often used as the subject of a sentence.

Reducing the number of handguns is essential.

Not admitting the problem is foolish.

* To reverse the order of the sentence to make a general statement:

Use: it + adjective + the infinitive

à It is essential to reduce the number of handguns.

It’s foolish not to admit the problem.

2. The gerund is often used after certain verbs as the object of the verb.

I dislike owning a gun.

The teachers discussed not allowing toy weapons in school.

* Use a possessive (Anne’s, the boy’s, my, your, his, her, its, our, their) before the gerund when necessary:

à I dislike John’s owning a gun.

(John owns a gun. I dislike it.)

Usage Note: In informal spoken English, many people use object pronouns instead of possessive before the gerund.

I dislike him owning a gun.

3. Some verbs can be followed by the infinitive. These verbs fall into three patterns:

I. Verbs followed directly by the infinitive.

à The president hopes to pass new gun-control laws.

He swore not to give up on the issue of gun control.

II. Verbs followed by an object plus the infinitive.

à The president urged Congress to pass legislation.

He urged them to pass legislation.

He urged them not to delay.

III. Verbs with or without an object plus the infinitive.

à The president wants to control guns.

The president wants the police to control guns.

4. Some verbs can be followed by either the gerund or the infinitive:

I started collecting signatures of people in favor of gun control.

I started to collect signatures of people in favor of gun control.

* Be careful! A few verbs e.g. (stop, remember, forget)can be followed by either the gerund or the infinitive, but the meanings are very different.

à He stopped buying guns. (He does not buy guns anymore)

He stopped to buy a gun. (He stopped another activity in order to buy a gun.

5. Remember that there are certain verbs + preposition and adjective + preposition combinations that must be followed by the gerund and not the infinitive:

I don’t approve of allowing people to carry guns.

We’re interested in banning civilian use of assault weapons.

* Be careful! To can be part of an infinitive or it can be a preposition. Use the gerund after the preposition to.

à We look forward to seeing new gun legislation. NOT We look forward to see new gun legislation.

6. Use the infinitive to explain the purpose of an action:

She keeps a gun at home to protect herself.

7. The infinitive can often follow an adjective. Many of these adjectives express feelings or attitudes about the action in the infinitive.

She was eager to hear the president’s speech.

I was glad to learn that he supported gun control.

Congress is ready to vote on the proposal.

8. The infinitive can also follow certain nouns:

à It’s time to ban all guns.

We have a right to bear arms.

They made a decision to wait.

It’s small price to pay for freedom.

She has permission to carry a gun.

Hurrah! We’ve finished the first part!

2. MODALS

First, read this article from a popular psychology magazine (see the attachments for clearer picture).

http://www.freewebtown.com/supermani...3/e_160314.gif

ADVISABILITY AND OBLIGATION IN THE PAST: SHOULD HAVE, OUGHT TO HAVE, COULD HAVE, MIGHT HAVE

See the attachments for the tables

GRAMMAR NOTES

1. Use the modals should have, ought to have, could have, and might have to talk about actions that were advisable in the past. When we use these modals, we often communicate a sentence of regret or blame.

à I should’ve applied to college. ( I didn’t apply to college. I’m sorry that I didn’t do it).

I ought to have taken the job at the bank. (I didn’t take the job. That was a mistake).

She could’ve gone to a much better school. (She didn’t go to a good school although it was possible for her).

You might’ve let me know sooner. (You didn’t let me know. That was impolite).

A: You should’ve told me first.

B: I told you yesterday. Remember?

A: Oh, that’s right. You did tell me. Sorry.

He shouldn’t have talked to me that way. (He talked to me that way, but it was wrong of him).

2. We rarely use ought to have in negative statement or questions. Instead we use should have.

Rare:

* He ought not to have missed the final exam.

* Ought he to have called the teacher?

More Common:

* He shouldn’t have missed the final exam.

* Should he have called the teacher?

Pronunciation Note: In informal speech, have in modal phrases is often pronounced like the word of.

Be Careful! Do not write of instead of have with these past modals.

à I should have gone. NOT I should of gone.

Do not write a instead of to with ought.

à I ought to have gone. NOT I ought a have gone.

* Could have and might have are also used to express assumptions about the past.

We’ve finished the last part!

The last thing

Here is the file in the attachment

:D

I hope you like it

!Nice

I really appreciate this work from you
I'd like to thank you alot for this topic
;) and I wish seeing you just as active as you are

:o N R