A fixed expression is a phrase with a specific meaning. The combination of words doesn’t change = fixed. They are quite literal, so they are different to idiom.
“Would you mind?” is a fixed expression that means “Is it OK with you?” or “Do you have any objection?”
It is used to make polite requests or ask for permission.
For example:
Would you mind if I borrowed your pen?
Would you mind opening the window?
In the English Grammar Profile, B1 point 72 in the category of MODALITY is defined:
the fixed expression: ‘I have to admit’ for emphasis
C1 The present simple with ‘by the time’ to refer to the future.
English Grammar Profile
by the time + CLAUSE Read More »
Fixed expressions are groups of words that are used together to convey a specific meaning.
“All of a sudden” and “out of nowhere” are fixed expressions that mean something happened very quickly and unexpectedly.
Sometimes, they are used together for added focus. For example:
But all of a sudden, out of nowhere, he just collapsed.
All of a sudden, out of nowhere, a huge storm hit the city.
All of a sudden, out of nowhere Read More »
Fixed expressions are phrases that have a specific meaning and are often used in spoken language. For example, “at the end of the day” or “all in all”.
When we put a fixed expression in the front position of a sentence, we create a focus on it. This means we want to emphasize or highlight the meaning of the expression.
At the end of the day (FOCUS EXPRESSIONS) Read More »
“As you can see” is used to draw attention to something that is obvious or visible. For example, you might say “As you can see, the cat is sitting on the mat” or “As you can see, the results of the test are not good.”
“I can’t say” is used to express uncertainty or doubt. For example, you might say “I can’t say for sure when I’ll be finished with this project” or “I can’t say that I agree with your decision.”
“I can tell you that” is used to make a statement that is certain or factual. For example, you might say “I can tell you that the meeting will start at 10am” or “I can tell you that I’m not happy with the way things are going.”
“As you can imagine” is used to express something that is easy to understand or picture. For example, you might say “As you can imagine, I was very excited to get the job offer” or “As you can imagine, the traffic was terrible today.”
“I can say that” is used to make a statement that is true or accurate. For example, you might say “I can say that I’m very proud of my children” or “I can say that I’ve learned a lot from this experience.”
“I can assure you that” is used to express confidence or certainty. For example, you might say “I can assure you that I will do my best” or “I can assure you that your information is safe with me.”
The fixed expression ‘I must admit’ is used to express something that you feel guilty or embarrassed about, or to show that someone else impresses you more than you expected. For example:
I must admit, I’m not very good at this sort of thing.
I must admit, you’re quite a singer.
The fixed expression ‘you must admit’ is used to express concession, which means acknowledging a point made by someone else, even if you disagree with them. For example:
You must admit, he has a point.
You must admit, it was a close game.
In the English Grammar Profile, B2 point 124 in the category of modality is defined as using:
the fixed expression ‘I must say’ to give emphasis, usually about something positive.
“I dare say” adds a sense of conviction or confidence to the statement, indicating that the speaker strongly believes or expects the mentioned situation to be true.
These are fixed expressions that are used to express a counterfactual or hypothetical situation in the past. They mean “if something had not happened, then something else would not have happened”. For example:
If it hadn’t been for your help, I would have failed the exam.
Had it not been for the storm, we would have arrived on time.
You can use different modals after these expressions, such as would, could, might. You can also invert the word order and omit “if”, as in the second example.
If it hadn’t been for / had it not been for + modal Read More »
