Mastering English Grammar: Used To, Pronouns, Gerunds, Conditionals
Mastering Key English Grammar Concepts
Used To: Past Habits and States
The structure ‘used to + verb’ expresses a state, a habit, or an action that was repeated in the past, long ago.
Example: I used to live in Madrid. Now I live in New York.
Relative Pronouns: Connecting Ideas
Uses: Relative pronouns indicate the person, object, or place the idea refers to. They provide essential information without which the sentence would be incomplete.
Examples:
- The girl who won the competition was very happy.
- There’s a new film starring Orlando Bloom.
- That’s the coffee shop where I met Joel.
Relative Pronouns and Prepositions
When the phrase containing the relative pronoun also includes a preposition, the preposition is often placed at the end of the sentence.
Examples:
- This is the town which I grew up in.
- The people who I spent the most time with were my grandparents.
Gerunds and Infinitives: Verb Forms as Nouns
The ‘-ing’ form of the verb (gerund) is used as the subject or object of a sentence.
Examples:
- Swimming is really good exercise.
- My favorite exercise is swimming.
It may also appear after some prepositions.
Example: Before signing the contract, we read it carefully.
Gerunds appear after verbs like avoid, can’t stand, dislike, don’t mind, enjoy, finish, like, practice, recommend.
Examples:
- I avoid going to town on Saturdays.
- I can’t stand waiting for the bus.
The infinitive (to + verb) may appear after an adjective.
Example: It’s lovely to hear from you again.
It can also describe the purpose of an action.
Example: I phoned him to apologize.
Infinitives can follow verbs like learn, teach, want, plan, need, decide.
Examples:
- Peter needs to borrow some money.
- My mum is learning to play the piano.
Like + -ing: Expressing Preferences
The structure like/love/prefer/hate + -ing is used to talk about tastes, preferences, and hobbies.
Example: I like reading. Do you like reading?
Would Like: Expectations and Preferences
The form subject + would like + to + verb is used to talk about expectations and preferences. In negative and interrogative sentences, use the verb ‘like’ and not ‘love’, ‘prefer’, or ‘hate’. The structure subject + would + like/prefer + verb is used to ask about the things we like to do.
Examples:
- I’d like to go to Antarctica.
- I would not like to go to Antarctica.
- Would I like to go to Antarctica?
Too, So, and Such: Adding Emphasis
Too, so, and such are used to add emphasis. ‘Too’ translates as “too much.”
Examples:
- This shop is too busy.
- The music is too loud.
‘So’ translates as “very.”
Examples:
- That painting is so beautiful.
- She plays tennis so badly.
‘Such’ serves to reinforce a noun phrase.
Examples:
- He’s such a bighead.
- This is such a great film.
First Conditional: Possible Consequences
The first conditional is used to discuss possible consequences of an action. The structure is: If + subject + present simple, subject + will + verb.
Examples:
- If I am on holiday, I will go to my village.
- If I have money, I will buy a car.
Second Conditional: Hypothetical Situations
The second conditional is constructed like this: If + subject + past simple, subject + would/wouldn’t + verb infinitive without ‘to’.
Example: If Tom passed his driving test, he’d take us to the beach.
Or: Subject + would/wouldn’t + verb infinitive without ‘to’ + if + subject + past simple.
Example: Tom would take us to the beach if he passed his driving test.
Uses: The second conditional is used to discuss both unlikely events in the present and hypothetical situations in the future. The ‘if’ clause describes an unrealistic or unlikely situation.
Example: If this exam was easy…
The ‘would/wouldn’t’ clause describes the consequences if the previous situation were real.
Example: …we would pass it.
Example: If I were on holiday, I would go to my village.