Here’s an expert example of using a conditional clause + ‘shall’ clause to express modality: Come on, if we don’t share a similar social consciousness, how shall we discuss social problems? Listen to this sentence. C2 point 225 in the category of MODALITY is defined: ‘shall’ in the main clause after an ‘if-‘ clause conditionals Long open queries are impossible on iWeb, so here we first look for the …
Here are EXPERT EXAMPLES of subject and verb ellipsis after ‘if’: When you speak your character’s words, you can hear whether they sound natural, and fix them if necessary. TED *If necessary = if it is necessary. Unlike the billions of people who have few options, if any, due to war, poverty or illness, you have plentiful opportunities to live decisively. TED *if any = if there are any. Planet Radio If in doubt, don’t drive. *if in doubt = in you are in doubt. GSE 66 B2 omit …
if + necessary | any | anything | in doubt (subject and verb ellipsis) Read More »
GSE 71 B2+ describe present or future outcomes of a hypothetical situation using initial ‘only if’ with inversion of subject and object. ‘Only if’ + first/second conditional with inversion The complexity of this structure is highly unlikely to be B2 as Pearson has it listed. The most similar EGP construction is ‘Only when’ + first …
We know that ‘but for’ + a phrase means except for or if it were not for. At C1, this structure can be combined with a ‘would have clause’ so it is similar to a past conditional. All together this construction means “if it wasn’t for this thing that happened, then this other thing was …
Point 77 in MODALITY/adjectives is defined: ‘if-‘ clauses + ‘possible’, as a politeness strategy. The examples in the EVP show that this might even be A1: A1 Is it possible to speak to the manager, please? Please send it today, if possible. Is it possible to buy tickets in advance? Cambridge Learner Corpus Learner example: …
Point 29 in MODALITY is defined as: ‘will’ in the main clause after an ‘if-‘ clause to talk about possible future situations. ADVANCED EXAMPLES: If both choose to spare the other, the fox will eat just one of each of their limbs. If one chooses to spare while the other sacrifices, the sparer will be fully eaten while the traitor will run away with all his limbs intact. Finally, if both choose to sacrifice, the fox will eat 3 limbs from each. iWeb doesn’t allow us to search easily …
Point 31 in the category of CLAUSES/conditional is defined as: ‘if’ + present simple with present simple, ‘can’ or imperative in the main clause to refer to things that are true now or very likely to happen. *Note this point overlaps many others, such as: A2 if you want | like | prefer + imperative …
B1 Point 74 in CLAUSES/conditional is defined as: PRESENT SIMPLE ‘IF’ CLAUSE + MODAL, FUTURE, POSSIBLE OUTCOME: introduce a possible future condition, with modal verbs in the main clause, to talk about a possible result. *This point should mention which modal verbs. Because the use of ‘can’ is A2. The use of ‘will’ is also …
Here are two English Grammar Profile points at A2 that overlap formally. Point 9 in the category of CLAUSES/conditional is defined: ‘if’ + present simple, with an imperative in the main clause. Point 22 in the category of CLAUSES/conditional is defined as: HEDGING: ‘if-‘ clause (‘if you want’, ‘like’, ‘prefer’) to soften the directness of …
Here is another post of some overlapping and clashing grammar points from different categories in the EGP. B1 point 72 clashes with the a general definition at C1. B1 Point 42 in the category of CLAUSES is defined as: ‘IF’ + PAST SIMPLE + WOULD, FUTURE, (SECOND CONDITIONAL) imagined situation, often in the context of …
Point 43 in the category of CLAUSES/conditional is defined as: ELLIPTED ‘IF SO’, CONFIRMING to refer a previous direct or indirect ‘yes-no’ question where the answer might be ‘yes’. For example: But then I began to wonder whether a game or an app can really change attitudes and behaviors, and if so, can I measure that change? A search in iWeb for: ? If so * * 1 ? IF SO , …
Point 59 in CLAUSES is defined: ‘If not’ as a conditional clause to offer an alternative to refer to a previous direct or indirect ‘yes-no’ question where the answer might be ‘no’. *I don’t believe there must be a reference to a previous question for this grammar to show B1 complexity. A search in iWeb …
Point 114 in CLAUSES/conditional is defined as: subordinate conditional clauses with ‘if you should’, in polite, formal contexts and point 193 in MODALITY is defined as: ‘should’ after ‘if’ to talk about possible situations in the future. A search in iWeb for: . If you should _VVI *note start of sentence: 1 . IF YOU …
Point 112 in CLAUSES/conditional is defined as: Conditional subordinate clauses with ‘if’ + the past perfect simple and modal verb + ‘have’ + ‘-ed’ in the main clause, to talk about imagined situations in the past, often with regret. *Note the same definition with ‘would’ is listed at B1! iWeb doesn’t allow long searches such …
Point 106 in clauses is defined as: ellipted ‘if’ clauses with ‘if’ + ‘-ed’ form. A search in iWeb for: if _VVN 1 IF NEEDED 103856 If needed, I will speak for you. 2 IF DESIRED 43002 3 IF REQUIRED 42676 4 IF USED 28178 5 IF GIVEN 14680 6 IF SET 11899 7 IF …
Point 105 in clauses is defined as: imperatives to introduce a condition followed by ‘and’ to introduce a consequence of the condition. Unfortunately, we cannot do more than 5 part searches in iWeb. A search for . _VV0 * and _P *should give us some shorter examples. 1 . THANK YOU AND I 523 2 …
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 allow for much detail to be discovered about this string. Phys.Org Were it not for humans, woolly mammoths would have lived for 4,000 more years.
Here’s an expert example of using ‘whether + clause + or not, + clause’: Whether we like it or not, motivation comes and motivation goes. TED The English Grammar Profile C2 point 130 in CLAUSES/conditional is defined as: ‘WHETHER OR NOT’, to introduce conditions in formal contexts. Pearson lists this at : GSE 59 B2 express alternative conditions with ‘whether … or not’. For …
Point 126 CLAUSES/subordinated is defined as: ‘Were’ + pronoun + ‘to’ infinitive to introduce a condition, in formal contexts. Point 127 CLAUSES/conditional is defined as ‘were’ with an inverted subject + ‘to’ infinitive, to introduce conditions in formal contexts. Sadly, a search for . were _P to _VVI in iWeb has no results. Removing the …
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 iWeb doesn’t allow a search for **** to the right even on a premium licence. 1 IF IT WERE N’T FOR 9682 2 IF IT WERE NOT FOR 4645 COCA …
