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.
C2 point 64 in DETERMINERS/demonstratives is defined as: ‘this’ with nouns and noun phrases in a narrative to create a sense of immediacy. All the examples in the English Grammar Profile follow the pattern ‘There + BE + this + noun phrase’ A search on iWeb for: there_EX _VB this _N 1 THERE ‘S THIS […]
There’s this + noun phrase (immediacy in a narrative) Read More »
In each of these examples, “in that” is used to introduce specific information or characteristics that further explain or define the subject or situation being discussed. It provides a deeper understanding or adds clarity to the preceding clause.
IN THAT (conjunction) Read More »
In general, imperatives are verb forms used to give commands, instructions, or make requests. When “you” is used with the negative imperative verb form, it emphasizes and strengthens the instruction or command. This can be seen in sentences like “Don’t you dare leave!” or “Don’t you touch my car!” The use of “you” adds a
Don’t you + VERB ! Read More »
‘As if’ means ‘as would be the case if’. Here’s an example of the subordinators as if + Verb-ing clause. She studied the bracelet as if trying to estimate its fair market value. Listen ‘trying to estimate…’ is a manner clause, it describes how she studied. We could ask the question, How did she study it? C2 point 133 CLAUSES/comparatives is defined as: ‘as if’ +
as if + NON-FINITE CLAUSE Read More »
‘were it not for’ + noun phrase expresses that someone or something prevented something from happening. For example: Were it not for the cataclysmic events which overtook them, it’s entirely possible that raptors, rather than humans, would have become the dominant species on this planet. Listen C2 point 132 in CLAUSES/conditional is defined as: ‘Were it not for’ + noun phrase to introduce conditions in formal contexts. *The big corpora do not
In the English Grammar Profile, C2 point 131 in CLAUSES/subordinated is defined as: non-finite clauses after subordinating conjunctions ‘(although, though)’, to express contrast. … although married, my mother decided not to leave… Although committed to her job she successfully maintains her social contacts… Jack, though disappointed, respects the result. The EGP examples above, use Past Participles, but the definition above does not mention them as being critical to this as a C2 structure. *The tagging might make mistakes
ALTHOUGH | THOUGH + non-finite clause Read More »
C2: it is not important which possibility is true
WHETHER * OR NOT (conditional clause) Read More »
Here are two overlapping C2 grammar points in the English Grammar Profile. Point 129 in CLAUSES/coordinated is defined as: combine a negative clause with an inverted clause with ‘nor’, to give focus. Point 25 in CONJUNCTIONS/coordinating is defined as: ‘Neither’ or ‘Nor’ + inverted auxiliary or ‘be’ + subject to add to a previous related
NEGATIVE CLAUSE + nor | neither Read More »
An exclamative sentence can start with the intensifier ‘How‘ which is ‘fronted’ without inversion. For example: How I wish I could do that. Listen C2 point 128 CLAUSES phrases/exclamations is defined as: HOW + CLAUSE *Note, How + cleft clause is also C2. This is another hard to research structure in iWeb because of the variable length of clauses. 1 .
How + clause (exclamation) Read More »
C2 INTRODUCE A CONDITION in a formal context
‘Were’ + pronoun + ‘to’ infinitive to introduce a condition, in formal contexts
‘were’ with an inverted subject + ‘to’ infinitive, to introduce conditions in formal contexts.
Point 127 CLAUSES/conditional | Point 126 CLAUSES/subordinated
The English Grammar Profile
WERE + noun phrase + TO infinitive Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile, C2 point 125 in CLAUSES/conditional is defined as ‘If it weren’t / were not for’ + noun phrase to introduce conditions in formal contexts. past simple For example: And none of us would be here if it weren’t for you. Listen iWeb doesn’t allow a search for **** to the right even on a premium licence. 1 IF
IF IT WERE NOT FOR Read More »
Here’s an example of an imperative clause using ‘let + third-person pronoun: Let them find Randy themselves. Listen The speaker is instructing someone to allow someone else to take on the responsibility of doing something. It is unclear if this is C2 or C1. Point 124 C2 in CLAUSES/imperatives is defined as: an imperative clause with ‘let’ +
let him | her | them + VERB Read More »
The text discusses the “so + adjective + as + to-infinitive” structure in English, which expresses a state or condition leading to an outcome. It’s used in formal contexts and polite requests. Examples include “so unlucky as to be diagnosed with cancer,” indicating a diagnosis leading to hope, and “so kind as to cast your mind back,” a polite request for reminiscence. The structure is versatile, showing cause and effect in various contexts.
SO + adjective + AS + TO-infinitive Read More »
Here are examples of ‘so long as’ and ‘on condition that’ meaning ‘only if’: So long as they keep to themselves, it makes no difference to me. Listen The house and grounds are left to the city of Gotham on condition that they never be demolished, altered or otherwise interfered with. Listen Here’s an example of ‘in the event that’ meaning ‘should something happen’: I’m here to protect you in the event that someone tries to access your mind through your dreams. Listen The English Grammar Profile C2 Point 122 in CLAUSES/conditional is defined as:
(complex conjunctions) so long as | on condition that | in the event that Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile, point 121 in CLAUSES phrases/exclamations at C2 is defined as: ‘HOW’ + ADVERB + CLAUSE A search in the iWeb corpus for: . How *ly _P 1 . HOW QUICKLY YOU 126 *most of these are not exclamations. But there are a few examples of: How quickly you forget. 2 . HOW QUICKLY
how + ADVERB + CLAUSE Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile, C2 point 120 in the category of CLAUSES/conditional is defined as: inverted ‘should’, + ‘would’ in the main clause to talk about possible future outcomes, in polite or formal contexts. Example: Should they come forward, that would be a tricky situation for us. Listen In the COCA corpus we can do a
(conditional) inverted SHOULD + WOULD clause Read More »
Point 69 in the category of ADVERBS/position is defined as: adverbs in mid-position, to distance the writer from what they are saying. Point 68 is the same but ‘mid clause‘ The EGP examples are included in our iWeb search: theoretically|surprisingly|supposedly|apparently _VV 1 APPARENTLY MADE 1839 2 APPARENTLY GOT 1144 3 APPARENTLY DECIDED 1086 4 APPARENTLY
theoretically surprisingly supposedly apparently + VERB Read More »
A defining relative clause provides essential information about the noun it modifies. In English grammar, it’s possible to omit the relative pronoun (who, which, that, etc.) in such clauses when it is the object. This structure, termed as a defining relative clause without a relative pronoun, is often found in phrases like “the time it takes,” “the information you need,” and “the way you want.”
defining relative clause without a relative pronoun Read More »
This is one of the most important documents in history. listen Demonstrating Proximity: The word “this” is commonly used to indicate objects or ideas that are physically close to the speaker or writer. In sentence above, it refers to a specific document that is being discussed. Essentially, it points to something nearby or within immediate reach. Profiling Research Here are a few
This is another grammar post that is better dealt with as vocabulary. In the English Grammar Profile (EGP), A2 point 25 in VERBs/patterns is defined: increasing range of verbs followed by a ‘to’-infinitive. The EGP A2 examples include: hope to go remember to bring (this clashes with the B2 point for a change of meaning verb
Verb + TO-infinitive (range) Read More »
