Verbs Lesson 5

Uses of anomalous finites – part II


The anomalous finites are used to form inverted sentence patterns.
  • I had no sooner got into the train than it steamed off.
  • No sooner had I got into the train than it steamed off.
To avoid repetition of principal verbs
The anomalous finites are used in short answers to avoid the repetition of principal verbs.
  • ‘Do you want this?’ ‘Yes, I do.’ (= Yes, I want that.’)
  • ‘Can you hear me?’ ‘Yes, I can.’ (= Yes, I can hear you.’)
  • ‘Who broke the window?’ ‘John, did.’ (= John broke the window.)
To form the tag question
The anomalous finites are also used in the formation of the tag question.
  • It is rather hot today, isn’t it?
  • She can sing very well, can’t she?
  • You like this color, don’t you?
  • They shouldn’t have waited, should they?
Notes
When the statement is in the positive, the tag question is in the negative. In the same way, when the statement is in the negative, the tag question is in the positive.
To emphasize an affirmative statement
We can emphasize an affirmative statement by putting the anomalous finite do or its forms before the principal verb.
  • I want you to come. (Less emphatic)
  • I do want you to come. (More emphatic)
  • I invited him. I did invite him.
  • If another World War does break out, it will put an end to our civilization.

Nhận xét

Đăng nhận xét

Bài đăng phổ biến từ blog này

English Short Story 5

Belling The Cat There lived many mice in a grocer’s shop. They ate plenty of grains and the grocer suffered heavy loss. So, he brought a fat cat to catch the mice. The mice were worried. They held a meeting to drive away the cat. A smart-looking mouse suggested that the cat moved softly and swiftly. They decided to tie a bell round its neck. So that when the cat moves, the mice would become aware of the cat. All the mice agreed to this decision. The old mouse said, “Can you tell me who is to bell the cat?" There was no reply. Their decision is not yet executed.
Đọc thêm

What are adverbs?

Adverbs are words like  now, then, today, tomorrow  and  carefully . An adverb modifies the meaning of a verb, an adjective or another adverb. Read the following sentences: Alice smiled  sweetly. Those mangoes were  very  sweet. He spoke  quite  loudly. In sentence 1, the adverb  quickly  shows how (or in what manner) Alice smiled. It modifies the verb  smiled. In sentence 2, the adverb  very  says something about the sweetness of the mangoes. It modifies the adjective  sweet . In sentence 3,  quite  says something about the manner in which he spoke. It modifies the adverb  loudly. Note that  adverbs  standing at the beginning of sentences sometimes modify the whole sentence, rather than a particular word. Unfortunately  no one was present there. (= It was unfortunate that no one was present there.) Probably  I am mistaken. (= It is probable that I am mistaken.) Kinds ...
Đọc thêm

Adverbs Part 2

Adverbs of degree or quantity Adverbs of degree  answer the question ‘how much’ or ‘in what degree’ or ‘to what extent’. Examples are:  very, too, fully, quite, rather, enough, any, partly, almost, utterly, as, entirely etc. That was  very  tragic. I have  almost  finished. He was  rather  busy. Is he  any  good? You are  partly  right. You are  entirely  wrong. Adverbs of reason Adverbs of reason  answer the question ‘why?’. Examples are:  therefore, hence, consequently etc. Consequently  he refused to go. Therefore  they decided to boycott the meeting. He is  hence  unable to refute the charge. Adverbs of affirmation or negation Examples are:  surely, certainly, not, probably, indeed etc. You are  certainly  right. I am  not  going. He is a fool  indeed. Interrogative adverbs Adverbs which are used for asking questions are c...
Đọc thêm