In the English Grammar Profile, C1 point 104 in the category of PRONOUNS/indefinite is defined: ‘anything’ with post-modifiers to form complex noun phrases as subjects with a singular verb, to give focus. A search in iWeb corpus for: . Anything _RR * * 1 . ANYTHING ELSE IS JUST 243 2 . ANYTHING ELSE IS […]
ANYTHING + post-modifier 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 »
‘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 »
In the English Grammar Profile, C1 point 58 in the category of future with be going to is defined as: increasing range of adverbs (particularly adverbs of certainty) in the normal mid position. This point overlaps adverbs of certainty at C1. A search in iWeb for the adverbs we find in the EGP examples: _VB (probably|undoubtedly|surely)
BE + ADVERB + going to + VERB Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile, point 52 at B1 in ADJECTIVES/position is defined as: adjectives as object complement after ‘make’. *However, this clashes with B2: where ‘it’ introduces a reference. *Note, if you capitalise your search term such as MAKE on iWeb, it will give you all forms of the word. A search in iWeb
MAKE + object + adjective Read More »
Regardless of what your government decides, the best way to prevent food waste is to eat what you buy! TED In this sentence, “the best way to prevent food waste” means the most effective or desirable method that can avoid throwing away food that could be eaten. This highlighted pattern can replace a defining relative clause that identifies the noun. For example: She is the best teacher to
the best + NOUN + to INFINITVE 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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
A2
– too + adjective + prepositional phrase
– adjective phrases with a very limited range of adjectives + a prepositional phrase
In the English Grammar Profile, in the category of modifying ADJECTIVES, there is an overlap between the two points above. The EGP examples for range are:
… good for my body
… full of people
TOO adjective + prepositional phrase Read More »
B2 English Grammar Profile point 51 in the category of VERBS/prepositional is defined as: adverb between the verb and the preposition For example: George says the piston’s going to go right through the block any minute now. listen Alex, maybe if everything goes well with the paintings, Victor and I will tour and we could visit you in New York. listen An iWeb search for _VV *ly_R _II 1 GO DIRECTLY TO 17903 We‘re gonna go directly to the airport and get a plane. listen 2 BASED SOLELY ON 13229 We can’t work based solely on rumour, can we?
VERB + ADVERB + PREPOSITION ‘go directly to’ Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile, B2 point 50 in the category of VERBS is defined as: ‘there’ with other verbs with modal meaning + ‘be’ + complement. The EGP modality examples contain: ‘need, have, is going + to’ However, in the English Vocabulary Profile, ‘there needs to be’ is listed at C2 with the following example:
THERE + modality + TO BE Read More »
B2 increasing range of verb + particle + preposition + noun or pronoun.
English Grammar Profile point 49 in VERBS/phrasal-prepositional.
VERB + PARTICLE + PREPOSITION + OBJECT Read More »
Prepositional verbs are idiomatic multiword units. The consist of a verb + prepositional phrase. The meaning of this unit is idiomatic.
verb + preposition + object Read More »
Like and want are transitive verbs that can take objects. For example, “I like football” and “I want money.”
After like, we can use either the to-infinitive or the -ing form. For example, “I like to use the internet” and “I like using the internet” are both correct.
After want, we can only use the to-infinitive. For example, “I want to use the internet” is correct, but “I want using the internet” is wrong.
The choice between the to-infinitive and the -ing form after like can convey subtle differences in meaning. Using the to-infinitive emphasizes the preference or habit, while using the -ing form emphasizes the action itself and the experience or enjoyment derived from it.
In the English Grammar Profile, A1 point 2 in the category of VERBS/patterns is defined as ‘like’ followed either by a ‘to’-infinitive or an ‘-ing’ form, with no change in meaning.
A1 point 6 in VERBS/patterns is defined as ‘limited range of verbs followed by a ‘to’- infinitive.
The most common verbs followed by a to-infinitive after like are: use, work, play, see, go, get, make, take, watch, read.
Here are some examples of sentences using like and want in A1 English:
I like to use the internet.
I want to go to the movies.
I like playing football.
I want to learn English.
like | want (verb patterns) Read More »
Here are the search results in iWeb corpus for the frequency of indefinite pronouns with the tag: _PN1 1 SOMETHING 7038440 B1 (want + object + infinitive) Are you sure you don’t want something to eat? No, thanks. I‘m fine. listen 2 ONE 7014912 3 EVERYTHING 3661675 4 SOMEONE 3447852 5 ANYTHING 3347394 6 EVERYONE 3007402 7 NOTHING 2966176 8 ANYONE 2741077 9 NO
indefinite pronouns: SOMEBODY SOMEONE EVERYBODY EVERYONE Read More »
There are 9 similar points across the English Grammar Profile in the category of VERBS covering phrasal verbs across the levels. And the differentiation between the levels becomes difficult to interpret since it is more about the vocabulary. For this reason, the English Vocabulary Profile is probably more beneficial even though the logic of what
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 »
Let’s take a look at an IELTS writing task 2 example with this grammar: It is argued that volunteering should be made a part of the school curriculum. In the above example, ‘is argued‘ forms the passive part. The active form of this is probably: ‘People argue that…” In our example, ‘people’ is not important or maybe we don’t know who
‘It is said that …’ (IT + passive) Read More »
