IMPORTANCE
Missing Main Verb
English sentence must have a subject and a main verb.
a. The sound of the dryer bothers my concentration
b. The prettiest girl in our class has long brown hair and brown eyes.
c. In my opinion, it is soon to make a decision.
d. Do you know whether the movie starts at seven?
e. Sam is almost always a lot of fun.
f. The book that I lent you has a good bibliography?
Verbs that require an Infinitive in the Complement.
Remember the following words require an infinitive for a verb in the complement
agree decide hesitate need refuse
appear demand hope offer seem
arrange deserve intend plan tend
ask expect learn prepare threaten
claim fail manage pretend wait
consent forget mean promise want
Avoid using -ing form after the verbs listed.
a. We planned to leave the day before yesterday
b. He wanted to speak with Mr. Brown.
c. We demand to know our status.
d. I intend to inform you that we cannot approve your application.
e. They didn't plan to buy a car.
f. The weather tends to improve in May.
Verbs that Require an -ing Form in the Complement.
1. Admit appreciate avoid complete consider
2. delay deny discuss enjoy finish
3. keep mention miss postpone practice
4. quit recall recommend regret risk
5. stop suggest tolerate understand
Avoid using an infinitive after the verbs listed.
a. He enjoys traveling by plane.
b. She is considering not going.
c. We enjoyed talking with your friend.
d. Hank completed writing his thesis this summer.
e. I miss watching the news when I am traveling.
f. She mentions stopping at El Paso in her letter.
Verb phrases that Require an-ing Form in the Complement.
approve of be better off can't help count on
do not mind forget about get through insist on
keep on look forward to object to think about
think of
Avoid using an infinitive after the verbs listed.
a. She forgot about canceling her appointment.
b. She is likely to know.
c. Let's go to the movie when you get through studying.
d. We can’t help wondering why she left.
e. We wouldn't mind waiting.
Factual Conditionals-Absolute, Scientific Results.
1. If a catalyst is used the reaction occurs more rapidly
2. If a catalyst is used the reaction will occur more rapidly.
3. If water freezes, it becomes a solid.
4. If water freezes, it will become a solid.
5. If children are healthy, they learn to walk at about eighteen months old.
6. If children are healthy, they will learn to walk at about eighteen months old.
7. If oranges blossoms are exposed to very cold temperatures, they witherand die.
8. If oranges blossoms are exposed to very cold temperatures, they will wither and die.
Factual Conditionals – Probable Results for the Future
Avoid using the present tense verb instead of a modal and a verb word in the clause of result
1. If we find her address, we will write her
2. We will write her if we find her address.
3. If you put too much water in rice when you cook it, it will getsticky.
4. It will get sticky if you put too much water in rice when you cook it.
5. We will wait if you want to go.
6. If you want to go, we will wait.
7. If we finish our work a little early today, we will attend the lecture at the art museum.
8. We will attend the lecture at the art museum if we finish our work a little early today.
Contrary-to-Fact Conditionals- Change in Conditions Unless.
Avoid deleting unless from the sentence.
1 Luisa won't return unless she gets a scholarship.
2 I can't go unless I get my work finished.
3 They are going to get a divorce unless he stops taking drugs.
4 You won't get well unless you take your medicine.
5 We can't pay the rent unless the scholarship check comes.
6 Dean never calls his father unless he needs money.
SUBJUNCTIVE
The following words are used before thatand the verb word clause to express importance.
Ask Demand Desire Insist Prefer Propose
Request Recommend Require Suggest Urge
e.g.
a. Johnson prefers that she speak with him personally
b. The doctor suggested that she not smoke
c. I proposethat the vote be secret ballot.
d. The foreign student advisor recommended that she study more English before enrolling at
the university.
e. The law requiresthat everyone have his car checked at least once a year.
f. She insistedthat they give her a receipt.
“A SMOOTH SEA NEVER MAKES A GOOD SAILOR!”
:.