ENGLISH GRAMMAR  for Spanish Speakers


2. Nouns
3. The Articles
4. Quantifying Adjectives
5. Determiners
6. Pronouns
7. Quantifiers and Indefinite pronouns

8. Auxiliary verbs
9. The verb: mood and tense
10. The passive voice
11. Anomalous or special verbs (Modal Auxiliaries)
12. The subjunctive
13. Nonfinites
14. Multi-word verbs (Verbs+particle)

15. Adverbs and adverbials
16. Prepositions
17. Conjunctions
18. The simple sentence
19. The complex sentence
20. Indirect Speech
21. Word-formation

19. THE COMPLEX SENTENCE

1. Concept and division

                * Two or more clauses joined syntactically

                * Types

Juxtaposition

Coordination

Subordination

                                                             

2. Juxtaposed Clauses

                * These are clauses which are linked by the logical meaning of sentence, but are not joined by a conjunction.

                * Juxtaposed Clauses function as coordinate or subordinate, depending on the relationship being expressed.

                * We can also include Distributive Clauses

3. Coordinate clauses

                * Such clauses are joinded by a conjunction although each maintains its independence since neither becomes an integral part or the other.

 

4. Copultive Coordinate Clauses

5. Disjunctive Coordinate Clauses

6. Contrastive Coordinate Clauses

Add another concept to the previous one

Copultive coordinator:

   - and

   - both ... and

   - neither ... nor

   - not (only) ... but

   - furthermore

   - besides

   - moreover

   - likewise

Offering one or more alternatiaves

Disjunctive coordinator:

   - or

   - either ... or

   - or else

   - otherwise

Contrastive coordinator

   - (and) yet

   - still

   - however

   - though

   - nevertheless

   - all the same

   - nonetheless

   - on the other hand

7. Subordinate Clauses

                * It is linked by the corresponding subordinator to the main clause of which it forms an integral part

                * Types

Nominal

Adjectival

Adverbial

8. Noun / Nominal Clauses

                * They really replace a noun

                * Functions

Subject

What you tell me is very nice

Direct Object

I don't understand what you are saying

Predicate

The idea is that you pick him up

Prepositional Complement

They all laughed at what he said

Apposition

The idea that you pick him up is a good one

                * Forms

9. Nominal That-Clauses

  * The subordinator is frequently omitted except in formal use

  * That cannot be omitted when the clause is the subject 

  * The subordinate clause can have the verb in the subjunctive 

  * Sometimes it takes should

 

I know (that) is true

(The fact) that they aren't here yet baffles me

I suggest (taht) he go to the doctor's

I suggest (that) he should go to the doctor's

10. Subordinate Indirect Interrogative Clause

 * They are introduced:

                é Wh-interrogative clauses

                é Yes-No interrogative clause (whether / if)

                Whether is compulsory

                  ç when it is followed directly by or not

                  ç when it is in the subject position

                  ç before an infinitive  

 

 

He didn't know who he wa

He didn't know whether / if she was in Italy

 

I don't care whether or not she plays the guitar

Whether you do it or not is none of my business

He hadn't decided yet whether to stay or (to) leave

11. Nominal Relative Clauses

                * They are introduced by a particle from Wh-group: who, what, whoever, whatever, which, where

 

 

Whoever did that is a brute.

12. Nominal To-Infinitive Clauses

                * It is very common.

 

To know her is to love her

13. Nominal –Ing Participial Clauses

No one can enjoy playing that stupid game

 

14. Adjective / Relative Clauses

                * A subordinate adjective clause performs the role of an adjective by qualifying its antecedent, a noun in the main clause.

                * They are introduced by relative pronouns.

                * When the adverbs when, where, why... functions as relatives, they are also used to introduce adjective clauses.

 

15. Division of Relative Clauses

 

Defining Clauses

Non-Defining Clauses

 

For people

For things

For people

For things

Nominative case

who, that

which, that

who

which

Accusative case

whom, that, who

which, that

whom, who

which

Genitive case

whose

of  which, whose

whose

of which, whose

 

16. Defining / Restrictive Relative Clauses

   A defining relative clause defines or restricts its antecedent in such a way that, if the clause were omitted, the meaning of the sentence would be imomplete.

   The relative can be omitted

   1. When it is not the subject of the relative clause .....................................

   2. When used in conjunction with a preposition placed in the final position ..........................................................................................................

   3. If the verb is to be accompanied by an adjunct of place, etc. In such cases, the verb to be is also omitted

 

 

 

 

That's the man (whom) I saw yesterday

 

Those are the things (which) he likes to play with

 

The girl (who is) riding on the scooter is Susan

17. Non-Defining / Non-Restrictive Relative Clauses

   Non-defining or non-restrictive relative clauses give additional information  about the antecedent, but parenthetically, so that even if that information were omitted, the meaning of the main clause would still be complete.

   They are separated from the antecedent by a comma................

   It is perfectly possible to put the preposition last.......................

   The antecedent of a non-defining relative clause can be an entire clause ..................................................................................

 

 

 

 

Mr Brown, whom I first met in Italy, has send me a post car

Rickie, who I've neve played with, is a great professional

 

He sent her a bunch of flower, which was very nice of him

     

 

 

 

18. Adverbial Clauses

                * They fulfil the function of adverbs or adverbials

19. Adverbial Clauses of Place

   * Introduced: where, wherever

   * Position: in the final and in the initial

 

20. Adverbial Clauses of Time

   * Introduced: after, as, before, once, till/untill, when, whenever, while/whilst, now that, as soon as, since

   * Position: in the final, in the initial and it is also possible in medial position

   * It is common to fin -ing participle or -ed participle clause

 

21. Adverbial Clauses of Manner

   * Introduced: as, as if, as though

   * Position: in the final

   * As can be preceded by just / exactly

 

22. Comparative Clauses

   * Introduced: as...as, not as/so...as, such...as, more...than, less...than

   * As can be omitted after a linking verb.

   * Correlative constructions: the more...the more, the sooner...the better

 

23. Adverbial Clauses of Purpose

   * The most common construction is the one with the to-infinitive.

   * For + accusative is common particularly when there is a danger of ambiguity

   * In order to or so as to  are used in rather more formal language and in negatiave.

   * Finite clauses of purpose are introduced generally by in order that, so that + modal auxiliaries (can, could, will, could)

 

24. Adverbial Clauses of Reason

   * Introduced: as, because, since, for

   * Position  ç because are generally found in the final

                     ç as / since,  in the initial

                     ç for (rarely)

 

25. Adverbial Clauses of Result

   * They are closely connected with clauses of reason which express the same ideas in reserve.

   * Introduced: so, so that, so...that

 

 

26. Conditional Clauses

 

27. The most important types of Conditional Clauses

                a) Type one: Open conditions

                b) Type two: Hypothetical or theoretical conditions

                c) Type three: Past hypothetical conditions

28. Open Conditions

                * The condition may or may not be fulfilled; the conditon expressed remain unresolved

If you study, you'll pass your exams

29. Hypothetical or theorical conditions

It is theoretically possible to fulfil the condition, but it is unlikely

If you studied, you'd pass your exams

30. Past hypothetical conditions

The condition can no longer be fulfilled because the action referred to has been carried out contrary to the condition expressed.

If you had studied, you would have passed your exams

 

31. Summary of the most common tenses used in Conditional Clauses

Type of clause

If-clause

Main clause

Open

Present

Future, imperative, or modal auxiliary in the present

Hypothetical

Past

Conditional or modal auxiliary in the past

Past Hypothetical

Past Perfect

Past conditional or a modal auxiliary plus perfect infinitive

 

32. Negative Conditional Clauses with ‘unless

                * Unless introduces a negataive conditional clause which express a condition which must be fulfilled or the action of the main clause cannot be carried out à Unless we get some petro, we won't get there

 

33. Other types of Conditional Clauses

                a) Conditional clauses with should.

                b) Conditional clauses with was/were to

                c) Conditional clauses with will/would

                d) Conditional clauses of the 'cause-effect' type

34. Conditional with should

´The meaning is the equivalent of 'si acaso / por casualidad'

If you should see her this afternoon, tell her I'd like to see her

35. Conditional  with was/were to

The equivalent of conditional clauses with should, having the same value of contingency or chance

If you were to wake up before me, give the baby its milk.

36. Conditional with will/would

When will or would is used in the subordinate conditional clause with if, it shows that the fulfilment of the condition depends upon the volition of the subject; the idea is to be prepared to do something or want to do it.

If you will/would come tomorrow, we can/could play cards

37. Conditional of 'cause-effect

They establishe a relationship of cause and effect, rather than expressin a condition

If you heat-ice, it melts

 

 

38. Inversion with ‘should’, ‘were’ and ‘had

                * It is possible to omit the conjunction and invert should, were or had and the subject à Should you see her, give her this

 

39. Other subordinators used in Conditional Clauses

                * If

                * Unless

                * Provided = con tal que à Provided you behave, you'll be in trouble

                * As long as = siempre que à As long as nobody knows, you won't get into trouble

                * Providing (that) = con tal que

                * On condition that = a condición de que

 

40. Other ways of expressing a condition

                * By means  of an imperative or by using a particle à Do that, and you'll be in trouble / Defeated, they would turn to China for help.

 

41. Other values of ‘if’

                * Supposition à If he said that, he is fool

                * Questions in reported speech  à He wanted to know if (whether) she was there

                * Wish (if only)  à If only he would stop teasing me

                * When à If she wants the maid, she rings the bell

                * Concessive (even if)  à I'll do it even if it takes me the whole day

                * Exclamation  à As if I would allow it!

 

42. Adverbial Clauses of Concession

                * Concessive clauses express an objection of difficulty involved in the fulfilment of the action of the main clause without, howerver, preventing that action from being carried out.

                * A variant: contrastive clauses.

                * The most important conjunctions

althouth = aunque

though = aunque

even if = aunque

even though = aunque

much as = a pesar de lo que mucho que

no matter how/how much/how many/ where...

whereas = mientras que

while = mientras que

whilst = mientras que; aunque (esp. BrE)

                * Other subordinators:

- however = por mucho...

                                - however much/many = por mucho(s)

                                - whatever = cualquiera que sea

                                - whether ... or not = ya ... no

                                - for all (that...) = (a pesar de ...)

                                - in spite of ... / despite ... = ( a pesar de...)

 

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