Everyday English Grammar by Steve Collins

E V E RY DAY E N G L I S HG R AM M AR by Steve n Co l l i n s A S e l f- S tudy Course in E s s e nti al Eng li s h C onstructions Upper- Intermediate a n d Adva n c e d I S BN 0 -9 5 28358- 6- X 9 7 8 - 0 -9 5 2 8 358- 6- 8 www.everydayenglishbooks.com M O N T S E R R AT PU B L IS H IN G M O N T S E R R AT Ever y day Copy r i g h t © P UB LI S HI N G E n g l i sh 2 0 1 3 G r am m ar St e ve n Coll in s All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by trade or otherwise be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover, other than that it is published and without a similar condition, including this condition, being imposed on a subsequent purchaser. First edition autumn 2013 Montserrat Publishing [email protected] Illustrations Alex Stead www.alexsteadart.com [email protected] Typesetting & Cover Design Naroa Lizar Redrado [email protected] www.everydayenglishbooks.com This book is dedicated to the many thousands of lovely students I have taught from all over the world. specialising in practical English for advanced students. He grew up in Harrow in Law at Trinity Hall. Steven Collins was born in London in 1960. Thank you. in 2008 he retired from teaching to concentrate full time on writing and publishing . He then decided to make a he returned to London in 1993 to write this book and to open his own school in Central London. Cambridge. However. everydayenglishbooks.com Book 3 . Available at all good bookshops and online stores including Amazon Book 1 Book 2 www.Other books by the same author: Everyday English Series with Audio CD By Steven Collins Vocabulary books for advanced students of English. Introd ucti on EVERYDAY ENGLISH GRAMMAR: A SELF-STUDY COURSE IN ESSENTIAL ENGLISH CONSTRUCTIONS UPPER-INTERMEDIATE AND ADVANCED This upper intermediate-level handbook of 25 essential English constructions – mostly conjunctions. nor in such clear English.will provide you with a much deeper understanding of things you probably already know. It is not a reference book. but to help you. The material is equally suitable for students of both British and American English. I’m just saying that it will help you in the free writing sections of these exams.) material is just as important and practical. but not in as much detail. but a self-study course. everyday English constructions. .The detail is practical detail rather than academic or technical. The book is designed for upper intermediate students. the information given is not there to be clever. It is information you really need to on negative constructions and typical mistakes. and very (Please note that this is not an exam course book. you will notice a big improvement in your understanding and use of some very important. It should it. Read and study it from beginning to end. but even if Everything contained within it can be found in other books and online. but with a few useful verbs and prepositions too. The fun is that you will enjoy improving your use of English conjunctions and verbs. and feel much Good luck Steven Collins . I hope you enjoy There are no games and “fun” things to do.will test you on what you have learnt in each chapter. C o n t e nt s Chapter 1 For/Since Providing/Provided that/As long as Unless/Otherwise In spite of/Despite To suggest Chapter 1 In Use 1 3 6 7 8 11 Chapter 2 I would prefer/I would rather Even By the time Hardly To wish Chapter 2 In Use 14 16 18 20 22 27 Chapter 3 To rely on/Reliable To look forward to Worth To succeed in/manage to Would you mind? Chapter 3 In Use 31 32 34 37 37 40 . Chapter 4 In case To warn To get/be used to To accuse of/blame on/for So/Such Chapter 4 In Use 43 45 46 50 52 55 Chapter 5 To steal/rob 58 Had better Not only…but also/even 61 62 Chapter 5 In Use 66 . Remember: and “since”. has felt (present perfect) that way for many years. use the present continuous with “for” 1 . since 3. We use “for” when we say how long the action has been in progress and “since” for the time at which the period began.15 I’ve been standing (present perfect continuous) in this queue for over 45 minutes. I’ve been waiting (present perfect continuous) here for an hour. I’ve been standing in this queue since 2. since he was a child. since 2. Typical mistakes: I’m standing (present continuous) in this queue for over 45 minutes.15. Note that the present perfect and present perfect continuous tenses are generally used in sentence constructions with “for” and “since”.C ha pt er One For/Since 1a. for since 2007.30. haven’t called your mother since May. I’m here for 6 months. haven’t lived in London since 2002. How long are you here for? This may confuse you because it you been here?” It refers to the future. Note that the present perfect is generally used in a negative sentence with “for” and “since” and not the present perfect continuous. Also take note of the following question with “since is it since you last saw your brother? since I last saw my brother. but the construction is quite different. The meaning is the same as my brother since . mean “How long have will you be here for? or will you be staying? This 3. Negative examples: haven’t called your mother for nearly two months. Note that the “since” clause above begins with “it is” (“it’s six 2 . haven’t lived in London for 10 years. 2. mean “I’ve been here for 6 months” I’ll be here for 6 months.1b. These conjunctions all mean “only if”. 1b.months since”) and the question starts with “How long is it. followed by the present simple or present perfect tense and not the future. Note that “providing/provided that/as long as” are..” Providing/Provided that/As long as you don’t Providing/Provided that/As long as you have Please note that the conjunctions “providing” and “provided” have no connection with the verb “to provide”. but before the verb (“saw”) (“I last saw”) which is used rather that the present perfect (“I haven’t seen”) or present perfect continuous (“I’ve been waiting”). Providing/Provided that/As long as 1a. a completely different meaning. like most conjunctions. since since we last got to spend some time together. Typical mistake: providing/ provided that/as long as we will have enough money..” The adverb “last” comes after“since”. 3 . providing/ provided that/as long as I feel well. if I don’t get a visa to stay here. Remember use the future after “providing/ provided that/as long as”. wrong because however. are correct even though a negative construction is situation. Providing/Provided that/As long as you don’t see second example under 1. i. 2. so even though the construction is 4 . Please note that “Providing/Provided that/As long as” should only be used for positive or neutral situations and events. Typical mistake: providing/ provided that/ as long as I don’t get a visa to stay here. not negative ones.a above) providing/provided that/ as long as it doesn’t rain.e. “Don’t mind waiting” describes a neutral situation and “doesn’t rain” is a positive event.providing/ provided that/as long as we have enough money. “Providing/Provided that/As long as” can also be clause is in the conditional tense constructions. Providing/Provided that/As long as I was I would marry someone a lot older than me. providing I found a good job.3. is in the past would providing/provided that/ as long as I found a good job.” 5 . ”) otherwise you will fail your exam (“: or else you will fail your exam. unless you clean your room. “Otherwise” is followed by what will happen if you future. Note that “unless” is followed by what you have to do. Typical mistake with “unless unless you don’t clean your room.Unless/Otherwise 1a. in the present. will fail your exam if you don’t study hard. 6 . “Unless Otherwise” means unless you study hard.”) unless I still have (“…except if otherwise I won’t be able to see you tomorrow. “Unless unnecessary. negative. in spite of/despite what her friends think (… “although her friends don’t think he does”) the same meaning. “Although” is followed by I was Although I was In spite of/Despite being In spite of/Despite my tiredness (not so common) in spite of/despite the fact (that) I was tired. “Otherwise” can also mean “apart from that” otherwise very suitable for my needs. Typical mistake: In spite of/Despite I have been learning French for 7 . They must be not a verb. In spite of/Despite 1a. “differently” otherwise. or. “In spite of” and “despite” mean the same as “although”. but the sentence construction is different.2. with this verb. Negative examples: Although I wasn’t In spite of/Despite In spite of/Despite (not so common) in spite of/despite the fact (that) I To suggest 1. Note also “in spite of” and “despite” have the same meaning.) Typical mistake: suggest you to go home. or suggest you should go home Remember: but subject + present simple. suggest (that) you go home. “despite of being tired” is wrong. 1b. 8 suggest”. So. but we use “of” after “despite”. “To suggest” means to “propose an action”. . 1c.In spite of/Despite the fact (that) I have been learning French for many years… Remember: use a verbal construction directly after “in spite of” or “despite”. (not not to go. 2b. Negative examples suggest (that) you don’t see him again. …and not wanting to confuse you. suggested I should go to bed. (not “suggests us to look”) 2a. suggest to me (not “what can you suggest me”)? suggest to to me. (not “I could suggest you”) ... Using “suggest suggested I go to bed. suggested I went to bed. you need to use “to” before the pronoun. (not “I suggest you not to see him again”) suggested we didn’t go to that restaurant. but if you are going to use “suggest” + a direct object pronoun.”) 3.suggest she does? (not “what do you suggest her to do?”) suggests we look somewhere else for a house. rather than a verb clause. suggested going to the cinema. suggest”. (= “suggests that we invest”) suggests going out.4.” (see page 9) 10 . (= “suggests that we go out”) “My dad suggests we look somewhere else for a house. (= “she suggested that we go…”) suggests investing in Chinese companies in spite of what some experts advise. since fact. despite DAD: ANNA: unless would be asked to leave. ANNA: DAD: providing there are In spite of think the trains will still run. ANNA: I haven’t seen them for a long time. Enjoy yourself…and be careful! 11 . DAD: otherwise you might never be allowed to go back there again. I suggested what happened last time.C ha pt er O n e in Use Dialogue CONVERSATION BETWEEN FATHER AND DAUGHTER ANNA: DAD: As long as I know where you’re going. 8. will speak to) the manager. (Despite I have/ In spite having/ Despite having) many friends speak to/ to speak to/ 7. It’s a very long time a(for/ unless/ since) I last b(went/ have been/ will be going) to that restaurant. work very hard. a(in spite of/ despite of/ although) the fact b(to stay/ staying/ we will stay) at home. 5. b(brought/ otherwise/ providing) you bring/ will bring) a bottle of wine with you. unless/ otherwise/ in spite of) you might 9. catch a cold. a(unless/ 4. I would have a dog a(as long as/ unless/ since) I b(will have/ have/ had) enough time to look after it properly. 6. 2. I a(have known/ know/ knew) him b(since/ despite/ for) many years. .Ch a pt er O ne : Answers on page 70 providing/ unless/ otherwise) you 1. 12 . 3. 13 .10. what to suggest b(him/ to him/ from him). Everything should be provided that/ as long/ despite) it doesn’t snow.