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More Structure of Sentence


MORE STRUCTURES


(1) Preparatory There + be + subject.

There + be -- Subject, etc.
There is -- a book on the desk.
There is -- a hotel near the station.
There is -- a lamp beside the bed.
There was -- someone at the door.
There are -- twelve months in a year.
There are -- plenty of pins in a drawer.

The structure “There + be –“ is generally used when the subject is indefinite, i.e., when the subject is preceded by a, an, some, much, many, a few, etc.

(2) to-infinitive after adjectives expressing emotion or desire.

Subject + verb -- Adjective -- to-infinitive etc.
We were -- glad -- to see him.
She is -- afraid -- to go alone.
My brother is -- eager -- to join the army.
I shall be -- happy -- to accept your invitation.
He was -- anxious -- to meet you.
They are -- impatient -- to start.

(3) It + be + adjective + of+ noun/pronoun + to-infinitive.

It + be -- Adjective -- Of+ noun/ pronoun -- to-infinitive etc.
It is -- kind -- of you -- to help us.
It was -- clever -- of Mohan -- to find his way here.
It was -- careless -- of her -- to make a mistake.
It was -- unwise -- of me -- to lend him money.
It was -- foolish -- of Mr. Ramesh -- to accept the offer.
It is -- wicked -- of him -- to say such things.

The following adjectives can be used in this pattern: kind, good, generous, considerate, foolish, stupid, unwise, clever, wise, nice, wrong, polite, brave, cowardly, silly, wicked, cruel, careless, etc.

(4) to-infinitive after easy, difficult, hard, impossible, etc.

Subject + verb -- Adjective -- to-infinitive, etc.
This book is -- easy -- to read
This rug is -- difficult -- to wash
His actions are -- impossible -- to justify
The subject is -- hard -- to understand
His speech was -- difficult -- to follow
The food is -- difficult -- to digest.
This medicine is -- pleasant -- to take.

(5) It + be + adjective + to-infinitive

It + be – Adjective -- to-infinitive, etc.
It is -- easy -- to learn Hindi.
It will be -- difficult -- to give up smoking.
It may be -- difficult -- to get the job.
It is -- bad -- to borrow money.
It is -- cruel -- to treat animals in that way.
It was -- impossible -- to lift the box.

(6) It + be + no good, etc. + gerundial phrase.

It + be -- Gerundial Phrase
It is no good -- asking him for help.
It was no good -- talking to her.
It's no use -- worrying about it.
It is worth -- seeing the film.
It was worthwhile -- seeing the exhibition
It is amusing -- watching monkeys.
It has been a pleasure -- meeting you.

(7) It + be + adjective/noun + noun clause

It + be -- Adjective/ Noun -- Noun Clause
It is -- strange -- that he should have behaved like that.
It is -- likely -- that there will be rain this afternoon.
It is -- possible -- that he doesn't understand Hindi.
It is -- doubtful -- whether he will be able to come.
It is -- a pity -- that you didn't try harder.
It was -- fortunate -- that you escaped the accident.
It is -- a mystery -- who can have taken my book.

(8) It + to take + me, him, etc. + time phrase + to-infinitive.

It + to take -- Time phrase -- to-infinitive etc.
It took me -- fifteen minutes -- to reach the stadium.
It will take you -- only five minutes -- to walk to the park.
It took him -- two months -- to recover from his illness.
It will take us -- ten minutes -- to get there.
It took me -- one year -- to learn Kannnada.
It has taken me -- one hour -- to write my composition.

(9) too + adjective/adverb + to-infinitive,


Subject + verb -- too + Adjective/ Adverb -- to-infinitive, etc.
1.
She is
-- too weak
-- to carry the box.
2. I am --
too busy --
to attend the party.
3.
He talks --
too fast --
to be understood.
4.
My sister is
-- too young --
to go to school.
5.
She is
-- too proud
--
to Listen to me.
6.
The boy is --
too lazy
-- to work.
7.
He worked --
too slowly --
to be of much use to me.
(10) Adjective/Adverb + enough + to-infinitive

Subject + verb -- Adjective/ Adverb + enough -- to-infinitive etc.
She is -- strong enough -- to carry the box.
He is -- clever enough -- to understand it.
The police ran -- fast enough -- to catch the burglar.
You are -- old enough -- to know better.
She was hit -- hard enough -- to be knocked down.
He is -- tall enough -- to reach the picture.
She is -- stupid enough -- to believe us.

(11) So + adjective/Adverb + that-clause

Subject + Verb -- so + adjective/ adverb -- that-clause
It is --so dark -- that I can see nothing.
He talks -- so fast -- that you can hardly follow him.
The box fell -- so heavily -- that it was broken.
It was -- so hot -- that we had to postpone our trip.
He was -- so furious -- that he couldn't speak.
He walked -- so quickly -- that we couldn't catch him up.
I was -- so tired -- that I couldn't walk any further.

(12) Patterns of exclamatory sentences

What + (adjective +) noun (+ subject + verb) What(+Adjective+) Noun -- (Subject +Verb)

What a charming girl -- (she is) !
What a lovely garden -- (it is) !
What a good idea !
What a terrible noise !
What a fool -- you are !,
What a (large) nose -- he has !
What beautiful music -- they are playing !
What a pity !

HOW + Adjective/Adverb + Subject + Verb How +Adjective/Adverb -- Subject +Verb

How charming -- she is !
How lovely -- the garden is !
How clever -- you are !
How sweet -- the song is 1
How tall -- you have grown !
How well -- she dances !
How quickly -- the holiday has passed !

(13) Conditionals : type 1 (open condition) If-clause Simple Present -- Main clause Will shall can may +plain infinitive

If you study hard -- you will get a first class.
If it rains -- we shall postpone our picnic.
If I find the pen -- I shall give it to you.
If he runs all the time -- he can - get there in time.
If her uncle arrives -- she may not come with you.
If you hit the dog -- it will bite you.

Conditionals of this type tell us that something will happen if a certain condition is fulfilled. The condition may or may not be fulfilled.

(14) Conditionals : Type 2 (Improbable or imaginary condition) If-clause Simple Past (Subjunctive) -- Main clause would/should/could/might + plain infinitive

If you studied hard -- you would get a first class.
If I were you -- I should not do that
If we started now -- we could be in time
If you were a millionaire -- how would you spend your time ?
If he stopped smoking -- he might get fat
If I had a degree -- I could get a job easily.

Conditionals of this type are used when we talk about something which we don't expect to happen or which is purely imaginary.

(15) Conditionals : Type 3 (Unfulfilled condition) If-clause Past perfect Main clause would/should/could/might + perfect infinitive ,

If you had studied hard -- you would have got a first class.
If I had tried again -- I should have succeeded.
If I had seen him -- I could have saved him from drowning,
If you had left that wasp alone -- it might not have stung you.
If you had come to me -- I would not have got into trouble.

Conditionals of this type say that something did not happen because a certain condition was not fulfilled.

Exercise

Make up five sentences on each of the patterns.

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