Saturday 30 March 2013

Welcome!

Dear students,
we are launching our grammar project!

Stage 1
You are to choose a grammar topic you would like to work with.e
Leave a commentary to this blog.
E.g.
Year 1, 10

GRAMMAR QUESTIONS


YEAR 1
Админ: Лексанова Юлия

1. The Noun. Classification. The Categories of Number and Case, nouns; singular and plural - Шестопалова Елена
2. The definite article. General characteristics. Use in communication. Лопухов Андрей
3. The indefinite article. General characteristics. Use in communication.Совкова Анастасия
4. The zero article. General characteristics. Use in communication. Минаева Анастасия
5. The Indefinite Form. The Present Indefinite. The Past Indefinite. The Future In definite. The Future Indefinite in the Past. - Коваленко Олег
6. The Continuous Form. The Present Continuous. The Past Continuous. The Future Continuous. The Future Continuous in the Past - Лексанова Юлия
7. The Perfect Form. The Present Perfect. The Past Perfect. The Future Perfect. The Future Perfect in the Past. Трушина Маргарита
8. The Perfect Continuous Form. The Present Perfect Continuous. The Past Perfect. Continuous. The Future Perfect Continuous. The Future Perfect Continuous in the Past. Нусс Татьяна
9. Tenses. Revision. Павлова Мария
10. The Passive Voice. (2 students) Абрашкина Джулия и Качковская Екатерина
11. Reported speech. Indirect questions, orders and statements, requests, exclamations. - Екатерина Комбарова
12. The rules of the sequence of tenses. Назарова Ирина


YEAR 2
Админ: Кускова Наталья

1. The Adjective. Meaning. Degrees of comparison. Order of adjectives. Пыженко Юлия
2. The Adverb. Meaning. Classification according to the meaning. Degrees of comparison. Леонова Елизавета
3. The Pronoun. Meaning. The main groups of pronouns, their forms, meaning and use. Штрыкова Алена
4. Modal Verbs can, could, be able: meaning and use. Бурченко Анастасия
5. Modal Verbs may, might: meaning and use. Тимофеева Виктория
6. Modal Verbs must, have to, be to: meaning and use. Гуляева Ольга
7. Modal Verbs shall, will, dare: meaning and use. Рудинская Вера
8. Modal Verbs should, ought to, need: meaning and use. Царькова Елизавета
9.Modal Verbs would, used to, to be used to: meaning and use. Просочкина Александра
10. Moods. The Subjunctive Mood. Subjunctive II. The Conditional Mood. Suppositional Mood.  Кускова Наталья и Скачкова Надежда


YEAR 3
Админ: Павлова Мария

1. The Infinitive. Forms of the Infinitive. The Use of the Bare Infinitive. Syntactical Functions of the Infinitive.Перепелица Яна
2. The Infinitive. Infinitive Constructions. Лапшина Юлия
3. The Gerund. Nominal and Verbal Characteristic Features of the Gerund. Syntactical Functions of the Gerund. The Use of the Gerund. Гребенева Яна
4. The Gerund. Predicative Constructions with the Gerund. Ширкалина Лера
5. The Gerund and the Infinitive compared. - Снадина Елена
6. Participle I: forms, meaning, features, functions in the sentence, use.
7. Participle II: forms, meaning, features, functions in the sentence, use.
8. The Preposition: meaning, classification and use. Скворцов Дима
9. The Preposition: phrasal verbs and set expressions (noun + preposition, adjective + preposition) Фадеева Екатерина
10. The Conjunction: meaning, classification and use. Стрельцова Анастасия
11. The Numeral: meaning, classification and use. Ворожейкина Дарья
12. The Subject-verb agreement. Борисова Лилия
13. Word order. - Демидова Ирина


Monday 25 March 2013

Gerund. Predicative Construction with the Gerund.


 The gerund is a non-finite form of the verb with some nominal features. It is formed ba adding the suffix –ing to the stem of the verb. The gfammatical meaning of the gerund is that of a process. E.g. tell-telling

Like all the verbals the gerund can form predicative constructions, i. e. constructions in which the verbal element expressed by the gerund is in predicate relation to the nominal element expressed by a noun or pronoun .

I don't like your going off without any money. (Maltz) — Мне не нравится, что вы уходите без денег.Here the gerund going off is in predicate relation to the pronoun your, which denotes the doer of the action expressed by the gerund.

The nominal element of the construction can be expressed in dif­ferent ways.

1. If it denotes a living being it may be expressed:

(a) by a noun in the genitive case or by a possessive pronoun.

His further consideration of the point was prevented by Richard's coming back to us in an excited state. (Dickens) — Его дальней­шие размышления были прерваны тем, что вернулся РичарА в чрезвычайно возбужденном состоянии. Do you mind ту smoking? (Hardy) — Вы ничего не имеете против того, чтобы я курил?

(b) by a noun in the common case.

I have a distinct recollection of Lady Chiltern always getting the good conduct prize! (Wilde) — Я отлично помню, что леди Чиль- терн всегда получала награды за примерное поведение.

Note. Thus in Modern English there are two parallel constructions of the type:

Fancy David's courting Emily! and Fancy David courting Emily/These two constructions may be used indifferently, but sometimes there is a slight difference in meaning: in the first example the action (the verbal element of the construction) is emphasized, whereas in the second the doer of the action (the nominal element of the construction) is emphasized.

Occasionally examples are found where the nominal element of the construction is expressed by a pronoun in the objective case.

I hope you will forgive me disturbing you. (Du Maurier) — Наде­юсь, вы простите меня за то, что я вас побеспокоил.
There are cases when the nominal element of the construction, though denoting a living being, cannot be expressed by a noun in the possessive case, but only by a noun in the common case, namely when it consists of two or more nouns or when it is a noun modified by an attribute in post-position.

I object to Mary and Jane going out on such a windy day. He felt no uneasiness now in the thought of the brother and sister being alone together. (Eliot) — Его теперь не смущала мысль o том, что брат и сестра остались вдвоем.
Did you ever hear of a man of sense rejecting such an of­fer? — Слышали ли вы когда-нибудь, чтобы разумный человек отказался от такого предложения?



2. If the nominal element of the construction denotes a lifeless thing, it is expressed by a noun in the common case (such nouns, as a rule, are not used in the genitive case) or by a possessive pronoun.

I said something about my clock being slow. (Du Maurier) - Я сказала, что мои часы отстают.
... Peggotty spoke of... my room, and of its being ready for me. (Dickens) — ... Пеготти говорила., о моей комнате и о том, что она уже приготовлена для меня.

3. The nominal element of the construction can also be expressed by a pronoun which has no case distinctions, such as all, this, that, both each, something.

I insist on bof/i of them coming in time. — Я требую, чтобы они оба пришли вовремя.

Again Michael... was conscious of something deep and pri­vate stirring within himself. (Galsworthy) — Майкл опять по­чувствовал, что в его душе шевельнулось что-то глубокое и затаенное.

Note. Some grammarians recognize the existence of two separate con­structions: the gerundial construction (a construction whose nominal element is expressed by a noun in the genitive case or by a possessive pronoun) and a construction with a half gerund (a construction whose nominal element is expressed by a noun in the common case, a pronoun in the objective case, or a pronoun which has no case distinctions).



Elementary


Intermediate



Advanced







Monday 18 March 2013

The Gerund. Nominal and Verbal Characteristic Features of the Gerund. Syntactical Functions of the Gerund. The Use of the Gerund


The gerund developed from the verbal noun, which in course of time became verbalized preserving at the same time its nominal character. 

The gerund is formed by adding the suffix ‑ing to the stem of the verb, and coincides in form with Participle I. 

The double nature of the gerund 

As a natural result of its origin and development the gerund has nominal and verbal properties

The nominal characteristics of the gerund are as follows: 

1. The gerund can perform the function of subject, object and predicative. 

They say smoking leads to meditation. (Collins) (SUBJECT) 

I like making people happy. (Shaw) (OBJECT) 

The duty of all progressive mankind is fighting for peace. (PREDICATIVE) 

2. The gerund can be preceded by a preposition. 

I am very, very tired of rowing. (Hemingway) 

3. Like a noun the gerund can be modified by a noun in the possessive case or by a possessive pronoun. 

“I wonder at Jolyon’s allowing this engagement,” he said to Aunt Ann. 

(Galsworthy) 

«Меня удивляет, что Джолион допустил эту помолвку», — сказал он 

тетушке Энн. 

Is there any objection to my seeing her? (Galsworthy) 

Кто-нибудь возражает против того, чтобы я повидался с ней? 



The verbal characteristics of the gerund are the same as those of the participle: 

1. The gerund of transitive verbs can take a direct object. 

I had now made a good progress in understanding and speaking their 

language. (Swift) 

2. The gerund can be modified by an adverb. 

She burst out crying bitterly. (Hardy) 

There is no gerund in the Russian language and the English gerund is rendered in Russian in different ways: 

(a) by a noun. 

Dancing had not begun yet... (Mansfield) 

Танцы еще не начались. 

(b) by an infinitive. 

She had tea with Cipriano before leaving. (Lawrence) 

Перед тем как уйти, она выпила чаю с Чиприано. 

It is no good hiding our heads under our wings. (Galsworthy) 

Бесполезно прятать голову под крыло. 

(c) by деепричастие. 

And without waiting for her answer he turned and left us. (Du Maurier) 

И, не дожидаясь ее ответа, он повернулся и вышел. 

On seeing Bella he stopped, beckoned her to him, and drew her arm through 

his. (Dickens) 

Увидев Беллу, он остановился, подозвал ее к себе и взял под руку. 

(d) by a subordinate clause. 

Не regretted now having come. (Galsworthy) 

Теперь он сожалел, что пришел. 

The use of the gerund 

In Modern English the gerund is widely used and often competes with the infinitive. 

In the following cases only the gerund is used: 

1. With the verbs and verbal phrases: to avoid, to burst out, to deny, to enjoy, to excuse, to fancy (in imperative sentences as an exclamation of surprise), to finish, to forgive, to give up, to go on, to keep (on), to leave off, to mind (in negative and interrogative sentences), to postpone, to put off, cannot help, and some others. 

He avoided looking at Savina. (Wilson) 

Он избегал смотреть на Сабину. 

...she burst out crying. (Collins) 

Она расплакалась. 

We all burst out laughing. (Braine) 

Мы все рассмеялись. 

She denied having been at the station that evening. (Gaskell) 

Она отрицала, что была в тот вечер на станции. 

...he enjoyed thinking of her as his future wife. (Eliot) 

...ему доставляло удовольствие думать о ней как о своей будущей жене. 

Excuse my leaving you in the dark a moment. (Dickens) 

Извините, что я на минуту оставлю вас в темноте. 

Fancy finding you here at such an hour! (Hardy) 

Я даже и представить себе не мог, что застану вас здесь в такое время! 

Forgive my speaking plainly. (Hardy) 

Простите, что я говорю так прямо. 

When the Committee had finished deciding on its politics, he had gone 

home. (Heym) 

Когда комитет кончил разрабатывать свой план действий, он пошел 

домой. 

Willoughby gave up singing and looked at Karen and Yates from under 

drooping eyelids. (Heym) 

Уиллоуби перестал петь и исподлобья посмотрел на Карен и Йейтса. 

They went on talking. (Hardy) 

Они продолжали разговаривать. 

Doctor keeps coming and having a look at me. (Priestley) 

Доктор продолжает (не перестает) навещать меня и осматривать. 

It was quite rough; but I kept on rowing. (Hemingway) 

Озеро было неспокойно, но я продолжал (не переставал) грести. 

I have left off shooting. (Eliot) 

Я перестал охотиться. 

Do you mind my asking you one or two more questions? (Collins) 

Вы ничего не имеете против того, чтобы я задал вам еще один-два вопроса? 

Would you mind waiting a week or two? (Dreiser) 

Вы ничего не имеете против того, чтобы подождать недельку-другую? 

I don’t mind going and seeing her. (Hardy) 

Я ничего не имею против того, чтобы навестить ее. 

We could put off going over the house. (Eliot) 

Мы могли бы отложить осмотр дома. 

She couldn’t help smiling. (Mansfield) 

Она не могла не улыбнуться. 

2. With the following verbs and verbal phrases used with a preposition: to accuse of, to agree to, to approve of, to complain of, to depend on, to feel like, to insist on, to look like, to object to, to persist in, to prevent from, to rely on, to speak of, to succeed in, to suspect of, to thank for, to think of, to give up the idea of, to look forward to, not to like the idea of, to miss an (the) opportunity of and some others. 

They accuse me of having dealt with the Germans. (Heym) 

Меня обвиняют в том, что я имел дело с немцами. 

It was clear now... that Abraham never had agreed to their being married to- 

day. (Stone) 

Теперь было ясно, что Авраам никогда не соглашался на то, чтобы они 

поженились сегодня. 

You did not approve of my playing at roulette. (Eliot) 

Вы не одобряли того, что я играла в рулетку. 

All the happiness of my life depends on your loving me. (Eliot) 

Все счастье моей жизни зависит от того, полюбите ли вы меня. 

I don’t feel like going out. (Wilson) 

Мне не хочется выходить. 

I don’t want to bore you with all this, but I feel like talking. (Priestley) 

Я не хочу надоедать вам всем этим, но мне хочется поговорить. 

I insist on being treated with a certain consideration. (Shaw) 

Я настаиваю на том, чтобы ко мне относились внимательнее. 

It looks like raining. 

Похоже, Что будет дождь. 

I object to his having any acquaintance at all with my sister. (Dickens) 

Я против того, чтобы он был знаком с моей сестрой. 

I rushed out to prevent her from seeing this dreadful sight. (Conan Doyle) 

Я выбежал, чтобы не дать ей увидеть это ужасное зрелище. 

...you may rely on my setting matters right. (Collins) 

...вы можете рассчитывать на то, что я все улажу. 

My medical adviser succeeded in saving my life... (Collins) 

Моему врачу удалось спасти мне жизнь... 

You suspect me of stealing your diamond. (Collins) 

Вы подозреваете меня в том, что я украл ваш брильянт. 

I resolved not to think of going abroad any more. (Defoe) 

Я решил больше не думать о путешествиях. 

I really thank you heartily for taking all this trouble. (Hardy) 

Я сердечно благодарен вам за то, что вы взяли на себя все эти заботы. 

So he returned his straitened means to his pocket and gave up the idea of 

trying to buy the boys. (Twain) 

Он снова убрал свое жалкое состояние в карман и отказался от 

намерения постараться подкупить мальчиков. 

I think everybody looked forward to his coming back. (Maugham) 

Я думаю, все с нетерпением ждали того момента, когда он вернется. 

Не did not like the idea of being hunted down by Butler. (Dreiser) 

Ему не улыбалась мысль, что Батлер будет его преследовать. 

Don’t miss the opportunity of hearing this pianist. 

He упустите случая послушать этого пианиста. 

3 With the following predicative word-groups (with, or without a preposition): to be aware of, to be busy in, to be capable of, to be fond of, to be guilty of, to be indignant at, to be pleased (displeased) at,1 to be proud of, to be sure of, to be surprised (astonished) at, to be worth (while), and some others. 

 If the word-group to be pleased (displeased) is followed by a noun or pronoun the preposition with is used; 

I am pleased with you (with your paper). 

Sir Pitt Crawley was not aware of Becky’s having married Rawdon. 

Сэр Питт Кроули не знал, что Бекки вышла замуж за Родона. 

I felt physically incapable of remaining still in any one place and morally 

incapable of speaking to any one human being. (Collins) 

Я чувствовал, что я физически не в состоянии, оставаться на одном 

месте и морально не в состоянии говорить с кем бы то ни было. 

I am very fond of being looked at. (Wilde) 

Я очень люблю, когда на меня смотрят. 

You are really guilty of having connived with a German officer to help his 

escape. (Heym) 

Вы действительно виновны в том, что способствовали побегу немецкого 

офицера. 

Mr. Osborne was indignant at his son’s having disobeyed him. Мистер 

Осборн был в негодовании от того, что сын его ослушался. 

...she was not pleased at my coming. (Hichens) 

...она была недовольна, что я пришел. 

Miss Crawley was greatly displeased at Rawdon’s having married Becky. 

Мисс Кроули была очень недовольна, что Родон женился на Бекки. 

...nobody knows better than I do that she (Mrs. Copperfield)... is proud of 

being so pretty. (Dickens) 

...уж я-то знаю: она... гордится тем, что она такая хорошенькая. 

Are you quite sure of those words referring to my mother? (Collins) 

Вы совершенно уверены, что эти слова относятся к моей матери? 

The bridal party was worth seeing. (Eliot) 

Свадьбу стоило посмотреть.

Exercises

Intermidiate Level

Advanced Level


New Exercises


Monday 11 March 2013

The Infinitive. Infinitive Constructions

Infinitive

Definition: Infinitive is the base form of the verb. The infinitive form of a verb is the form which follows "to".


For example:





  • (to) go, (to) be,(to) ask, (to) fight, (to) understand, (to) walk .

  • Infinitives may occur with or without the infinitive marker "to".
    The to-infinitive is used:
    • after certain verbs. e.g. want, wish, agree, fail, mean, decide, learn
    • after the auxiliaries to be to, to have to, and ought to
    • in the pattern 'it is + adjective + to-infinitive'
    Examples
    with 'to'
    • You will have to ask her
    • You are to leave immediately
    • He ought to relax
    • She has to go to Berlin next week
    • It's easy to speak English
    • It is hard to change jobs after twenty years
    • It's stupid to believe everything you hear
    Infinitives without "to" are known as "bare infinitives". 

    Examples
    without 'to'
    • I would rather visit Rome.
    • She would rather live in Italy.
    • Would you rather eat steak or fish?
    • He would rather work in a bank.
    • I'd rather be a forest than a tree.
     Verbs which are normally followed by the infinitive form:-
      afford | agree | appear | arrange | ask | attempt | care | choose | claim | come | consent | dare | decide | demand | deserve | determine | elect | endeavour | expect | fail | get | guarentee | hate | help | hesitate | hope | hurry | incline | intend | learn | long | manage | mean | need |offer | plan | prepare | pretend | promise | refuse | resolve | say | seem | tend | threaten | want | wish 
    For example:

    • I can't afford to go to the pub.
    • He agreed to practise more.
    • You should learn to express yourself.
    • They managed to fix the problem. 
    There are three Infinitive constructions in Modern English:

    1. the Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction;
    2. the Subjective Infinitive Construction;
    3. the for-to-Infinitive Construction 

    The Objective-with-the-Infinitive construction is a syntactic structure in which the Infinitive is in the predicate relation to a noun in the common case or a pronoun in the objective case. In the sentence this construction has the function of a complex object.

    The Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction is used:
     1. after the verbs denoting sense perception (to hear, to see, to watch, to feel, to observe, etc.):

    I heard Mother come in.
    Harry watched him place the hat upon his head (J.K. Rowling).

    2. after the verbs denoting mental activity (to know, to think, to consider, to believe, to suppose, to expect, to find, to feel, to trust, etc.):

    I believe him to have no conscience.
    I have never known her to be late before

    3. after the verbs of declaring (to pronounce, to declare, to report):

    The surgeon pronounced the wound to be a slight one.

    4. after the verbs denoting wish and intention (to want, to wish, to desire, to mean, to intend):

    I want you to come and dine with me.
    He intended me to go to India with him.

    5. after the verbs and expressions denoting feeling and emotion (to like, to dislike, to love, to hate, cannot bear, etc.):

    I hate him to be teased. 

    6. after the verbs denoting order and permission (to order, to allow, to suffer, to have, etc.):

    The colonel ordered the troops to move back.
    7. after the verbs of compulsion (to make, to cause, to get, to have):

    The noise caused her to awake.
    Have the next patient come in, please. 

     

    The Subjective Infinitive Construction is a construction in which the Infinitive is in the predicate relation to a noun in the common case or a pronoun in the nominative case, which is the subject of the sentence. The Infinitive here stands after the Predicate which, in the majority of cases, is in the Passive Voice. Thus this construction may be called “split” since its parts are detached.

     

    The Subjective Infinitive Construction is used with the following groups of verbs in the Passive Voice:


    1. with the verbs denoting sense perception (to see, to hear, etc):

    The rider was seen to disappear in the distance.


    2. with the verbs denoting mental activity (to think, to consider, to know, to expect, to believe, etc.):

    He was thought to be honest and kind.

    3. with the verb to make in the causative meaning:

    Little Dora was made to put on her coat.

    4. with the verbs to say and to report:

    The President is reported to arrive on Friday.

    5. with the expressions to be likely, to be sure, to be certain:

    He is sure to marry her.


    The for-to-Infinitive Construction is a construction in which the Infinitive is in the predicate relation to a noun or pronoun preceded by the preposition for. Its use is not preconditioned by certain lexical groups of verbs, so its syntactic functions in a sentence are numerous.


    The functions of the for-to-Infinitive Construction are as follows:

    1. subject (often with the introductory it):

    It would be difficult for me to ask about it / For me to ask would be difficult.
    2. predicative:

    That was for him to find out.

    3. complex object:

    He waited for her to speak.

    4. attribute:

    The best thing for you to do is to hide here.

    5. adverbial modifier:
    1. of purpose: He stepped aside for me to pass.
    1. of result: The temptation was too great for me to resist.

    Exercises

    Elementary

    (Verb+ ing or + infinitive. Complete the sentences with the verb in brackets.)
    (Change the verb in brackets into the correct form, note that in some cases both forms can be correct).
    (Change the verb in brackets into the correct form, note that in some cases both forms can be correct).
    (Change the verb in brackets into the correct form, note that in some cases both forms can be correct).
    (Choose the correct form infinitive with or without to or gerund).
    (Test your knowledge on Infinitive and Gerund)
    (Test your knowledge on Infinitive and Gerund)
    (Test your knowledge on Infinitive and Gerund)
    (Want plus infinitive. Choose the right answer)
    Exercise 10
    (Put the verb into either the gerund (-ing) or the infinitive (with 'to'))

    Intermediate

     Exercise 1
    (Change the verb in brackets into the correct form, note that in some cases both forms can be correct).
    Exercise 2
    (Complete the sentences using infinitive constructions. Remember that the verb before the Infinitive Construction must be in Simple Past.)
    (Decide whether to use Infinitive (with/without to) or Gerund)
    (Infinitive with 'to' or -ing. Complete the sentences)
    (Find the infinitive of the verbs and don't forget 'to')
    Exercise 6
    (Complete with the right verb)
    Exercise 7
    (Choose the most appropriate answer)
    Exercise 8 
    (Choose the right verb) 
    Exercise 9
    (Put the verb into the gerund or the infinitive)
    Exercise 10 
    (Put the vern into the gerund or the infinitive)

     

    Advanced

    ('The Infinitive'. Choose the right answer, if you doubt just miss the question)
    (Change the verb in brackets into the correct form, note that in some cases both forms can be correct).
    (Imagine you work in a tourist information. Tell your colleague what the tourists asked you. Transform the direct speech into infinitive constructions.)
    (Infinitive or Gerund? - Which is correct?)
    Exercise 5
    ( Locate the infinitive phrase  in each sentence.  Identify each as adverbial, adjectival, or nominal. Type the entire infinitive phrase and its function into the box below the sentence.)
    (Verbs followed by the infinitive. Choose the right verb)
    (Choose the most appropriate answer)
    Exercise 8
    (Gerund or Infinitive. Choose the right verb)
    Exercise 9
    (Gerund or Infinitive. Choose the right verb)
    Exercise 10
    (Infinitive Constructions. Choose the correct variant)

    Test
    Key to Test