April, 2012

GRAMMAR VI

HIGH ADVANCED (General and Academic Tracks)

Note: NEW = teachers should expect the grammar point to be new to most students at that level who have followed the ELI curriculum. No distinction is made between general VI and EAP VI grammar objectives in this document.

Overview: Grammar at this level is mostly review and expansion of clause and phrase structure. This is the only level where agreement and articles are explicitly focused in great depth. In addition, some more sophisticated grammatical structures are introduced including subjunctive noun clauses and subject-verb inversion.

  1. AGREEMENT(SOME WILL BE NEW)
  2. SUBJECT-VERB: SINGULAR
  3. Indefinite pronouns

Everyone is ready for the test. No one is going to fail.

  1. Either and neither

Neither of the children is very well-behaved.

  1. Each and every with conjoined singular subjects

Every man and woman was able to escape the sinking ship.

  1. Introductory it

It is his practice to go to the library every Sunday.

  1. Singular subjects followed by prepositional phrases with plural objects

The teacher along with all his students needs a long vacation.

  1. Amounts of time, money, weight, etc.

Two weeks is not enough time for a good vacation.

  1. Academic subjects, diseases, and certain abstract nouns which are always in the plural form

Economics is a very dry subject.

Measles is no longer a serious threat.

The news is sure to alarm the populace.

  1. Titles which are plural in form

The New York Times is the best newspaper in the country.

  1. SUBJECT-VERB: PLURAL
  2. And or both … and

A toothbrush and a comb are all that you will need.

Both John and his wife are welcome to come.

  1. Clothing, tools, and certain abstract nouns which are always in the plural form

These scissors are really rusty.

Blue jeans are his favorite item of clothing. Your thanks are all I need.

  1. Several, many, both,and few

Only a few suspects have refused to answer the police officer’s questions.

  1. SUBJECT-VERB: SINGULAR OR PLURAL
  2. There and here

Here is the emergency room.

There are no doctors on duty, however

  1. Neither … nor, either … or,and not only … but also

Not only the nurses but also the doctor needs to be there.

Not only the doctor but also the nurses need to be there.

  1. None, all, some, any, most, half,etc.

All of this book has been damaged by the flood waters.

All of the rare books in his collection have been damaged by the flood.

All of the valuable information which they contained has been lost.

  1. A number of and the number of

A number of books were saved from the flood. The number of destroyed books was catastrophic.

  1. Collective nouns

The committee is having its meeting tomorrow.

The committee are working on their individual projects right now.

  1. Nouns which have the same form in the singular and plural

The fish is swimming round and round its fishbowl.

Those fish are being exhibited at the Baltimore Aquarium for the first time.

  1. Nouns of nationality or language which end in –ESE, -CH, or -SH

Written Chinese has thousands of characters. The Chinese have a long and interesting history.

  1. PRONOUN
  2. Indefinite pronouns

Everything has been returned to its place.

  1. Neither … nor, either … or, and not only … but also

Not only the dogs but also the cat needs its collar.

Not only the cat but also the dogs need their collars.

  1. And or both … and

Both my cat and my dog refuse to sleep in their own beds.

  1. Collective nouns

The committee is having its meeting tomorrow.

The committee are working on their individual projects right now.

  1. DETERMINERS (NEW IN DEPTH)
  2. ARTICLES
  3. Generic usage of a and an

An apple is red. A banana is yellow. Apples are red.

Bananas are yellow.Apples and bananas are fruit.

  1. Indefinite usage of a, an, and some

I bought an appleand a banana.

I bought some apples and some bananas.

I bought some fruit.

  1. Definite usage of the

I ate the banana.

I ate the apples.

I ate the fruit.

  1. Special usage of a and an
  2. As a substitute for the number one

I’ll be here for an hour or two.

You’ll need at least a hundred dollars for pocket money.

  1. In exclamations with what and such

You have such alovely home!

What a beautiful staircase!

  1. Special usage of the with unique natural features of the world or universe

The equator cuts through the top half of South America.

  1. With familiar persons or objects in the home or community

He walked into the house and hung his coat in the closet.

He was rushed to the hospital after being discovered by the maid.

  1. With nouns, especially those representing inventions or species,to represent a generic class

The invention of the computer has revolutionized the world.

The panda is one of the world’s most loved animals.

  1. With musical instruments

I’ve always wanted to be able to play the piano.

  1. With adjectives used as nouns

The poor will always be with us.

  1. With “ranking” adjectives
  • Superlatives

He always has to have the biggest and the best of everything.

  • Ordinals

Neil Armstrong was the first person to walk on the moon.

  • Adjectives of sequence in time or space

The last one to leave the room should shut the door.

  • Adjectives denoting rank or uniqueness

The chief reason I came was to speak to her.

She is the only person I can trust.

  1. With abstract nouns or gerunds followed by of phrases

The instruction of young children is often difficult.

The instructing of young children is often difficult.

  1. With quantifiers followed by of phrases

Four of the passengers in the bus accident were seriously injured.

Most of the passengers, however, escaped unharmed.

  1. Usage and omission of the with proper nouns
  • Continents

North America

  • Countries

Americathe United States of America

  • States, counties, and cities

Delawarethe State of Delaware

Kent County

Wilmingtonthe City of Wilmington

  • Streets and parks

Main Street

Brandywine State Park

  • Universities and colleges

Pennsylvania State University

the University of Pennsylvania

GoldeyBeacom College

the College of William and Mary

  • Oceans, seas, gulfs, rivers, canals, and deserts

the Atlantic Ocean

the Mississippi River

the Persian Gulf

the Panama Canal

the Sahara Desert

  • Islands, lakes, and mountains

Easter Islandthe Canary Islands

Lake Tahoethe Great Lakes

Mount Fujithe Andes Mountains

  • Titles

the President of the United States

the Queen of England

  • Holidays

Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, President’s Day, etc.

  1. PARALLELISM
  1. COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS
  1. With a series
  2. Nouns

I saw a lion and a tiger.

I saw a lion, a tiger, and a bear.

  1. Verbs

The lion was sunbathing and sleeping.

The tiger paced, glared, and roared.

  1. Adjectives

She is friendly and polite.

She is friendly, polite, and helpful.

  1. Adverbs

He works carefully and efficiently.

He works carefully, efficiently, and accurately.

  1. Phrases

The ball rolled off the porch and across the lawn.

The ball rolled off the porch, across the lawn, and into the street.

  1. Clauses

They asked where they could find a hotel and how far it was.

They asked where they could find a hotel, how far it was, and howmuch it would cost.

  1. Verbals

I want to go home and watch TV.

I want to go home, rest, and watch TV.

I enjoy swimming and dancing.

I enjoy swimming, dancing, and jogging.

  1. CORRELATIVE CONJUNCTIONS(NEW)
  1. Both … and

He excels in both writing and speaking.

  1. Either … or

Erosion can occur through the action of either water or wind.

  1. Neither … nor

He can neither explain nor predict their actions.

  1. Not only … but also

She not only wrote the book but also illustrated it.

  1. COMPARATIVE STRUCTURES
  1. Equatives

Watching soccer on television isn’t as much fun as playing it.

My English teacher isn’t as boring as my math teacher (is).

  1. Comparatives

I like John’s car better than (I do) Fred’s.

The area of Alaska is greater than that of Texas.

  1. Alaska’s surface area is greater than Texas’s (is).Rather than

Using English rather than learning about it is the best way to increase fluency.

  1. SUBORDINATION
  2. ADVERB CLAUSES: CONDITIONALS

Review all forms of adverb clauses as necessary (see Grammar III, IV, V, and EAP V for scope and examples); reduced adverb clauses are covered for comprehension only. Introduced at this level:

  1. Mixed tense conditionals (NEW)

If we had had the picnic yesterday, the children wouldn’t be so unhappy today.

  1. Omitting if(NEW)

Had we had the picnic yesterday, the children wouldn’t have been so bored.

  1. Implied conditionals (NEW)

We would have had the picnic yesterday, but it rained.

It rained yesterday; otherwise, we would have had our picnic.

  1. NOUN CLAUSES: SUBJUNCTIVES (NEW)
  2. In that noun clauses, following certain adjectives, nouns, and verbs of urgency, advice, desire, or request

The doctor advised that he get some rest.

The doctor advised that he not go to work today.

He took the advice that he get some rest very seriously.

It is advisable that he get some rest.

  1. Following introductory it and the above verbs in the passive voice

It has been advised that he get some rest.

  1. Following as if and as though

He has been trying to carry on as if he were in perfect health.

  1. Using infinitives as an alternative to the subjunctive

He took the doctor’s advice to get some rest.

It is important to take the doctor’s advice.

3. NOUN CLAUSES: Review (see Grammar IV and V) and Expansion

a. NEW: That/Whether noun clauses as subjects (comprehension only)

That freedom of speech should be universal is controversial.

b. NEW (L/S):Wh- cleft sentences (i.e. wh- clauses as subjects)

What I like about this article is its style.

c. Use of indirect objects with certain reporting verbs

The report persuaded me that global warming is real.

I agree with you that global warming is real.

d. Noun clauses and infinitive clauses formed from imperatives

The teacher asked us to submit our papers on time.

The teacher told us that we had to submit our papers on time.

4. ADJECTIVE CLAUSES

Review of restrictive and non-restrictive clauses, both full and reduced, as needed (see Grammar II, IV and V for scope and examples)

  1. VERBALS
  2. GERUNDS
  3. Passive forms (NEW)

I appreciatedbeing invited to the party.

  1. Past-passive forms (NEW)

I appreciate having been invited to the party.

  1. INFINITIVES
  2. Passive forms (NEW)

I didn’t expect to be invited to the party.

  1. Past-passive forms (NEW)

I didn’t expect to have been invited to the party.

VI. VERBS: TENSES, ASPECTS, AND VOICE

(Reviewed and integrated as necessary)

  1. SIMPLE PRESENT, PAST, AND FUTURE
  2. Active
  3. Present

Children everywhere love the panda.

  1. Past

In the early twentieth century, pollution destroyed many of the panda’s natural habitats.

  1. Future

The Chinese government will address this problem sometime next year.

The Chinese government is going to address this problem sometime next year.

  1. Passive
  2. Present

The pandais loved by children everywhere.

  1. Past

In the early twentieth century, many of the panda’s natural habitats were destroyed by pollution.

  1. Future

This problem will be addressed by the Chinese government sometime next year.

This problem is going to be addressed by the Chinese government sometime next year.

  1. PRESENT, PAST, AND FUTURE PROGRESSIVE
  2. Active
  3. Present

In the meantime, China is sending two more pandas to the Washington Zoo.

  1. Past

While China was testing the pandas for diseases and parasites, the Washington Zoo was preparing a special habitat for them.

  1. Future

By this time next year, millions of tourists will be swarming the zoo to see the two new additions.

By this time next year, millions of tourists are going to be swarming the zoo to see the two new additions.

  1. Passive
  2. Present

In the meantime, two more pandas are being sent to the Washington Zoo.

  1. Past

While the pandas were being tested for diseases and parasites, a special habitat was being prepared for them.

  1. Future

While a passive future progressive structure is possible, it’s rare, and need not be addressed.

  1. PRESENT, PAST, AND FUTURE PERFECT
  2. Active
  3. Present

China has sent two more pandas to the Washington Zoo.

  1. Past (infrequent: primarily for comprehension not production)

Even though China had tested the pandas for diseases and parasites, the Washington Zoo tested them again upon their arrival.

  1. NEW: Future (infrequent: primarily for comprehension not production)

By this time next year, the two new additions to the zoo will haveenchanted a new generation of children.

  1. Passive
  2. Present

Two more pandas have been sent to the Washington Zoo.

  1. Past (very infrequent: for comprehension)

Even though the pandas had been tested for diseases and parasites, the Washington Zoo tested them again upon their arrival.

  1. NEW: Future (very infrequent; for comprehension)

By this time next year, a new generation of children will have beenenchanted by the two new additions to the zoo.

  1. PRESENT AND PAST PERFECT PROGRESSIVE (NEW, but infrequent; for comprehension primarily)
  2. Active
  3. Present

China has been sending pandas to the Washington Zoo since 1972.

  1. Past

Even though the Washington Zoo had been anticipating the arrival of the pandas for months, their habitat was still not quite ready for them when they arrived.

  1. Future

While a future perfect progressive structure is possible, it’s rare, and need not be addressed.

  1. Passive

While perfect progressive structures are possible in the passive voice for some native speakers, they are so rare that they need not be addressed.

  1. WORD ORDER
  2. SUBJECT-VERB INVERSION(NEW)
  3. In sentences beginning with there

There is a fly in my soup.

  1. In sentences with an intransitive verb and a prepositional phrase of location

On the corner stands a lone police officer.

  1. In sentences with adverbs of direction

Down came the rain.

  1. In sentences beginning with negatives

Never have so few done so much.

His employees don’t like him very much, nor do they respect him.

  1. In sentences beginning time expressions with only

Only one time in history has this ever occurred.

  1. In sentences beginning with so, such, few, and little

Such were his antics that the nation was appalled.

So great was his charm that they continued to support him.

Little did they know what he really thought of them.

Few are the remaining constituents of the disgraced president.

  1. In conditional sentences in which if has been omitted

Were he to ask her, she would certainly help. Should he ask her, she would certainly help.

Had he asked her, she would certainly have helped.

  1. In sentences beginning with the main verb of a passive construction

Discovered at the British Museum were several previously unknown volumes of Samuel Pepys’ diaries.

2. QUESTIONS: review all forms (L/S)

  1. MODALS FOR HEDGING AND BOOSTING(NEW)
  1. Modal verbs for hedging (may, might, can, could, should, would)

Universities might start offering more distance education.

This policy should reduce overcrowding in jails.

Theoretically, higher gas prices would encourage people to drive less.

  1. Modal verbs for boosting (will, must)

Raising the legal driving age will/must reduce teenage traffic accidents.

  1. SENTENCE COMBINATION PATTERNS

Review all patterns for simple, compound, and complex sentences (see Grammar IV and V for scope and examples)

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