Practical English Sentences and Grammar Structures

Example English Sentences

• It is said that New York is one of the safest cities in the world.
• Shall I make the tea for you?
• I can’t stand getting up in the dark.
• If I had known you were coming, I would have met you at the station.
• Last month was drier than this month.
• I took a cookery course so that I was able to make (or could make, or would be able to make) special dishes.
• Although he is very old, he is very active.
• The weather wasn’t good enough for us to go sailing.
• Her parents said that they would take their crusade against drugs to the public.
• India is a country whose culture has influenced the whole world.
• We last had a party at Christmas.
• The walls need painting.
• Despite having a longer life expectancy, people aren’t saving more towards their retirement. / Although people have a longer life expectancy, they aren’t saving more towards their retirement.
• The grass isn’t dry enough to sit on.
• I wish you had told me earlier.
• I would rather you didn’t smoke, if you don’t mind.
• Mandy won’t be allowed to leave work early.
• I don’t regret choosing nursing as a career.
• There have been several complaints about the noise.
• It’s likely Sally will phone us this evening. / Sally is likely to phone us this evening.
• Aunt Jane refused to be seen without a hat.
• They may have gone to the cinema.
• She was such an informative tour guide that we didn’t need to read our guidebook.
• Top authors will teach students to write a novel.
• I find that kind of music really annoying.
• The man denied being involved in the robbery.
• Because it was windy last night, several tiles came off the roof.
• I last wrote to Simon seven months ago.
• The more chocolate you eat, the more spots you will have.
• Jim left home very early so that he wouldn’t miss the train. / Jim left home very early for him not to miss the train.
• It’s high time you went to the dentist. / It’s about time for you to go to the dentist.
• All these tourists could damage the environment.
• I had been told about the temples in the rainforest.
• Frank, whose car has broken down, has to walk to work now.
• He was confused by the video instructions. / He found the video instructions confusing.
• I can’t afford to buy a new car because I lack money.
• Neither Bill nor I have interest in ancient history.
• Rick is looking forward to going on holiday.

English Grammar Structures and Expressions

to be bored with somebody/something

Expressing boredom.

to be frightened of

Expressing fear.

to be excited about

Expressing excitement.

subject + verb + so + adjective

Example: The weather was so bad.

such + a/an + adjective + noun

Example: She was such an informative guide.

Have difficulty in doing something / find it difficult to do something

Expressing difficulty.

Even though + subject + verb (= despite + noun/gerund)

Contrast clause.

owing to + noun (= because + subject + verb)

Cause/Reason clause.

as a result of + noun/gerund

Result clause.

In addition to + noun/gerund

Adding information.

so + auxiliary + subject

Agreement (positive). Example: He likes tea, and so do I.

both + subject + and + subject

Joining two subjects (plural verb).

neither + auxiliary + subject

Agreement (negative). Example: He doesn’t like coffee, and neither do I.

neither + subject + nor + subject

Joining two subjects (verb agrees with second subject).

be supposed to do something

Expressing expectation or obligation.

be allowed to do something / allow somebody to do something

Permission.

ban somebody from doing something

Prohibition.

prevent somebody from doing something

Impeding an action.

want somebody to do something

Expressing desire for someone else’s action.

look forward to doing something

Anticipating an event (requires gerund).

It's high time + subject + past simple / It's high time for somebody to do something

Expressing that something should be done soon.

so that + subject + verb

Purpose clause.

manage to do something

Succeeding in doing something difficult.

stop + to + infinitive

Stopping one action to start another.

stop + gerund (-ing)

Ceasing an action.

be to blame for

Assigning responsibility.

afford + to + infinitive

Having enough money/time for something.

regret + gerund (-ing)

Feeling sorry about a past action.

tend + to + infinitive

Having a tendency to do something.