The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages is one standard for describing English language ability. It is divided from A1 for beginners to C2 for mastery. English Grammar Pro uses this for all of its grammar posts.
English Grammar Profile C1 point 80 in the category of PAST is defined as: past simple ‘I thought’ as a politeness structure to sound less direct. However, there is no way to formally decide if this is actually a politeness construction. If it is not, it might still contain B2 modal passive or B1 reporting structures. For […]
I thought… (polite) Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile, C1 point 36 in the category of PASSIVES is defined as: ‘it’ as a dummy subject, to summarise or evaluate in discussions, usually in formal or academic writing. This point often overlaps C1 impersonal modal passive reporting. *This might clash with B2. A search of the formal patterns found in the
‘It should be noted that’ (passives to summarise) Read More »
C1 English Grammar Profile point 35 in PASSIVES is defined as: ‘get’ + object + ‘-ed’ to talk about causing or instructing something to happen or to be done by somebody else, often informally For example: Now, as it happens, I do have some connections in the drilling business who might help get us started. listen Here are the other forms of ‘GET’: He got his friend fired by revealing their
‘GET’ + OBJECT + PAST PARTICPLE Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile at C1, point 33 in PASSIVES is defined as: ‘GET’ + OBJECT + ‘-ING’ to talk about causing someone or something to do something. For example: And working with Craig got me thinking. Not all of the following in iWeb match our grammar: GET * _VVG 1 GOT ME THINKING
GET + OBJECT + VERBing Read More »
C1 point 32 in the category of PASSIVES is defined as: NON-FINITE CLAUSES ‘-ing’ form as a subordinate clause or a noun clause to give explanatory background information. A search in the iWeb corpus for . Being _VVN * * gives us our being + past participle list 1 . BEING LOCATED IN THE
BEING + past participle ‘Being born in the …’ Read More »
This English Grammar Profile C1 point 53 in NOUNS/phrases defined complex noun phrases with ‘wh-‘ cleft clauses, followed by ‘be’, to give focus is also found in the category of FOCUS. A search in iWeb: . What _P _V _VB 1 . WHAT I MEAN IS 3278 2 . WHAT I DID WAS 1894 3
What + CLAUSE + BE Read More »
Point 52 in NOUNS/phrases is defined as: POSSESSIVE ‘S WITHOUT NOUN Complex noun phrases with: noun phrase + ‘of’ + noun phrase + possessive determiner ‘s, omitting the noun where it is previously mentioned. A Ted corpus search for {nn} of {nn} * ‘s . She got only one sample of tissue that fit her
noun phrase OF noun phrase + possessive determiner Read More »
Few is a word that means “not many” or “a small number of”. It is used to refer to countable nouns, such as people, books, or cars. For example, “Few people attended the event.”
In formal written contexts, such as reports or surveys, few can be used to emphasize the relative scarcity or lack of something. For example, “Few respondents expressed satisfaction with the service.”
Few is different from a few, which means “some” or “more than two but not many”. A few has a positive emphasis, while few has a negative emphasis. For example, “A few people enjoyed the movie.”
In the English Grammar Profile, C1 point 26 in the category of NEGATION is defined as: ‘not’ with indefinite pronouns ‘everyone’ and ‘everything’ and determiners ‘every’, ‘all’ For example: Not everyone is always looking for easier. (more context) Besides, not everyone needs a decent education. (more context) PELIC student example: level 3 Portuguese female: Finally, not all things you think to do in this world can turn out in the way you try to do them.
Not + everyone | everything | every | all Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile, C1 point 25 in the category of NEGATION is defined as: ‘whatsoever’ after a negative form for emphasis The adverb ‘whatsoever’ is listed at C1 in the English Vocabulary Profile too. none at all For example: None whatsoever. No, no. Nothing whatsoever. Τhey‘re not supposed to give you any resistance whatsoever. On any level whatsoever. None? listen A search in
This is another overlapping point in the English Grammar Profile. Point 22 in NEGATION is defined as: negative pronoun ‘none’ to substitute for subject and object pronouns or noun phrases. Point 99 in PRONOUNS/quantity is defined as: ‘none’ to substitute for subject and object pronouns. _V none 1 IS NONE 25868 2 HAVE NONE 10695
none (SUBSTITUTION) Read More »
Point 213 in MODALITY is defined as: ‘may’ in a subordinate clause expressing concession with ‘however’, ‘whatever’, ‘whoever’ + ‘it or this may be or seem Our examples: All you’ve got to go on is streams of electrical impulses, which are only indirectly related to things in the world, whatever they may be. Compromises can be struck, however difficult it yet may be. A search in iWeb for: however _JJ it|this may_V be|seem 1
however | whoever | whatever + may + seem Read More »
C1 MODALITY
‘might or may + not have’ + ‘-ed’ to talk about possibility with a past reference
English Grammar Profile
might | may + not have + PAST PARTICIPLE (past possibility) Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile, C1 point 201 in MODALITY is defined as ‘used to’ QUESTIONS For example: The New York Times What problem did you use to have but now have licked? 19 Nov 2020 The following list does not specify whether or not it is basic past simple with the more common infinitive of purpose. It must
used to (questions) Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile, C1 point 195 in MODALITY is defined as: ‘might’ followed by ‘but’ to console or justify The usage requirements seem a little too restrictive because there are other uses that show a high level of complexity. Here are Google definitions for ‘console‘ and ‘justify‘ in order: comfort (someone) at a
In the English Grammar Profile, C1 point 194 in MODALITY is defined as: ‘might’ QUESTIONS For example: How might you mark up the diagram to figure out what to do next? iWeb doesn’t allow us variable-length queries so the best we can do is: might _P * * * 1 MIGHT YOU BE ABLE TO 191 2 MIGHT IT BE POSSIBLE TO 132 3 MIGHT I BE
‘set to’ just means: be ready or prepared to do something. C1 English Grammar Profile point 209 in MODALITY is defined as: ‘BE SET TO’ – strong assertion about the future, especially in institutional contexts An iWeb search for: _VB set to _VVI 1 IS SET TO TAKE 4027 2 IS SET TO BEGIN 3858 3 IS SET TO OPEN
BE set to INFINITIVE Read More »
The pronoun ‘it’ can be used where the subject is unclear at C1, and verbs such as ‘conclude’ are only used by C1 learners. For example: It was concluded that it never existed. However, this post is about reporting with modal verbs. C1 point 208 in MODALITY is defined as: ‘can’ in passive reporting clauses in a more formal impersonal
It can | could + be + said | argued | concluded | considered Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile, C1 point 205 in MODALITY is defined as: PAST, NEGATIVE: ‘needn’t have’ + ‘-ed It means that somebody did something, but it was not necessary. Also, note that uncontracted ‘not’ is possible. Here are two examples: You needn’t have come so far, Asgardian. listen In fact, she need not have hurried. TED Well, we needn’t have worried. A search in iWeb:
need not have | needn’t have + PAST PARTICPLE Read More »
Here are examples of using stance adverbs with negative modality: It will not necessarily be progress for India if she simply imports the unhappiness of the West. listen The phrase “not necessarily” means that what has been said or suggested may not be true or unavoidable. In the sentence above. it implies that importing the unhappiness of the West is not a certain or inevitable outcome of progress for
negation + adverb with modality Read More »
