Units 4, 5, 6 and 7

1. Reporting Verbs

Many verbs that refer to what someone else has written are immediately followed by noun clauses (clauses beginning with that). Some of the most common of these verbs are:

Some people argue that superstitious beliefs influence people’s decisions.

Researchers have claimed that some people follow astrology in the newspaper every day.

Some people feel that supernatural beliefs are on the increase.

We can say that superstitions are common in all cultures.

2. Reporting Clauses in the Passive

When we use an object clause, we can have a special passive structure:

Exercise : Rewrite the statements with a passive form of the verb and IT.

1. Some people argue that superstitious beliefs influence people’s decisions.

________________________________________________________________________________

2. Researchers have claimed that some people follow astrology in the newspaper every day.

________________________________________________________________________________

3. Some people feel that supernatural beliefs are on the increase.

________________________________________________________________________________

4. We can say that superstitions are common in all cultures.

________________________________________________________________________________

3. Negative Adverbs at the Beginning of a Sentence

If a clause begins with a negative adverb, inverted word order must usually be used.

Seldom was she in a hurry.
Rarely had they played while it was raining.
Hardly ever was the true story known.
Never before have reality shows been so popular.

Exercise : For each of the following sentences, add the negative adverb shown in brackets at the end of the sentence, and make any other changes that are necessary.

Children watch too much soap operas. (hardly ever)
Hardly ever do children watch too much soap operas.

We had the opportunity to read whatever we wanted. (seldom)
Seldom did we have the opportunity to read whatever we wanted.

1. Sports broadcasts have attracted huge audiences. (seldom)
________________________________________________________________________________

2. People returned to see the same movie three times. (never)
________________________________________________________________________________

3. I watch TV late at night. (never)
________________________________________________________________________________

4. I have worked very hard. (never before)
________________________________________________________________________________

5. A poet can express his exact feelings in words. (rarely)
________________________________________________________________________________

6. We feel everything that is around us. (hardly ever)

________________________________________________________________________________

4. Such … that and So … that

a. Such ... That

The determiner such is often used in combination with a clause beginning with that, in order to indicate a cause and effect relationship.

The Beauty and the Beast is such a beautiful play that it has been crowding the theater every day.

b. So ... That

The word so combined with a clause beginning with that can also be used in order to indicate a cause and effect relationship.

The Beauty and the Beast is so beautiful that it has been crowding the theater every day.

Exercise : Fill in the blank with such or so as appropriate.

      I saw ____ beautiful places, I wished I had brought my camera with me.
      I saw such beautiful places, I wished I had brought my camera with me.

      The sun was __ bright that we had to wear sunglasses.
      The sun was so bright that we had to wear sunglasses.

1. He owned ________ many books that his walls were lined with bookcases.
2. The snow was ________ deep for us to walk across the field that we stayed home.
3. Yesterday I walked ________ far that I fell asleep immediately after supper.
4. I had ________ a good time at the party that I did not want to leave.
5. The visibility was ________ poor for the mountains to be seen that I couldn’t take a picture.
6. This is ________ an interesting book that I stayed up all night to read it.
7. This puzzle is ________ easy that a child could do it.
8. She was ________ tired to watch the video that she slept in the beginning.
9. People watch ________ much television that nobody has time to talk anymore.
10. There are  ________ many different channels on TV now that people don’t know what to watch.

5. Double Comparatives

Two clauses, each beginning with the, and each containing a comparative form of an adjective or adverb, can be used together in order to indicate a cause and effect relationship between two different things or events.

The better I treat her, the worse she behaves.

Exercise : Complete these sentences with your own ideas.

1. The earlier children go to school,  ________________________________________________________

2. The more you know about history, ________________________________________________________

3. The less creative a write is, ________________________________________________________

4. The longer I spend studying, ________________________________________________________

6. Cause and Effect with Participle Phrases

A participle is a verb form that is used as a modifier. When a participle phrase is used to begin a sentence, it should be separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma.

Realizing the buying potential of kids, companies have invested a lot in ads.

Having arrived late for school, I needed a written excuse.

Exercise : Rewrite these sentences with Participle Phrases.

1. Because he finished his assignment, he could turn the TV on.

________________________________________________________________________________

2. Since she grew up listening to heavy metal music, she knows more about it than anybody I know.

________________________________________________________________________________

3. Because they wanted to avoid the public spotlight, the singers went out of the country.

________________________________________________________________________________

4. As most parents have different musical tastes from their children, they try to show the kids what they like.

________________________________________________________________________________

7. Relative Pronouns in Defining Relative Clauses

The information provided in a defining relative clause is crucial in understanding the meaning of the sentence.

The woman who lives in apartment No. 34 has been arrested.

The document that I need has 'important' written at the top.

The purpose of a defining relative clause is to clearly define who or what we are talking about. Without this information, it would be difficult to know who or what is meant.

a. That

When used as a relative pronoun, that can refer to either persons or things. The relative pronoun that is generally used only in defining relative clauses.

The people that were here yesterday will return in a month.

The newspaper that was on the steps belongs to our neighbor.

b. Which

When used as a relative pronoun, which can refer only to things.

The suitcase which we purchased last week is very strong.

c. Who, Whom and Whose

The use of who, whom and whose as relative pronouns is similar to their use as interrogative pronouns. Who is used as the subject of a verb, whom is used as the object of a verb or the object of a preposition, and whose is used as an adjective indicating possession.

The child who runs the fastest will receive a prize.

The boy whom we visited is her nephew.

The girl to whom you sold your skis lives in the next block.

The woman whose house was sold will retire to the country.

Exercise : Fill in the blank with that, which, who, whom or whose.

1. Most students ________ live in residence find it easy to make friends.

2. She bought all the videos ________ were on the shelves.

3. In the movie, the killer claimed he heard voices that told him ________ he should kill next.

4. "E.T." ________ was produced in the mid 1980s remains a popular science fiction movie.

5. Speilberg says he doesn't know ________ is going to be the star of his next film.

6. He prefers to watch movies ________ make him happy.

7. The musicians ________ we heard yesterday have played together for many years.

8. Parents ________ children do well in school usually consider themselves fortunate.

9. Children ________ like music are often good at mathematics.

10. The student to ________ the prize was awarded had an impressive record.

Bibliography

Among other links on the net:

ENGLISH GRAMMAR: EXPLANATIONS AND EXERCISES