GRAMMAR - WOULD RATHER (I´D RATHER)

It means "would prefer to" and it is used to express preference in a polite way.

Usage	ONE SUBJECT	TWO SUBJECTS
To talk about the present and future	would rather + infinitive I’d rather do homework. I’d rather not watch TV.	would rather + Simple Past I’d rather you did homework. I’d rather you didn’t watch TV.
To talk about the past	would rather + perfect infinitive I’d rather have done homework. I’d rather not have watched TV.	would rather + Past Perfect I’d rather you had done homework. I’d rather you hadn’t watched TV.

GRAMMAR - THE SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD

The subjunctive mood is one of the three gramatical modos in English, along with the indicative mood and the imperative mood.

The present subjunctive is used for demands and suggestions. It indicates necessity, urgency or strong recommendation.

The past subjunctive is used for impossible situations and hypothetical wishes. It describes things and situations that are contrary to fact, imaginary or unreal.

 

PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE

FORM:

Bare infinitive (no –s ending for 3^rd p.sg) / “Be” is used for all persons

TRIGGER WORDS:

Adjectives - Essential, important, necessary, urgent, vital.

Nouns – Demand, proposal, recommendation, request.

Verbs - Demand, insist, propose, recommend, request, suggest.

Examples:

It is essential that you be on time. 

I suggest that he visit his family. 

She recommended that she go on holiday.

 

PAST SUBJUNCTIVE

FORM:

Simple past form / “Be”: “Were” is used for all persons

TRIGGER EXPRESSIONS:

As if/as

If clauses (second conditional)

Suppose / Supposing

Wish + clause

Examples:

She acts as if she had a lot of money . 

They wished they could go on holiday.

Suppose you were rich, what would you do?

GRAMMAR - EMPHASIS II: INVERSION

 Inversion means changes the normal subject – verb word for emphasis. It has a surprising and persuasive effect and it sounds rather formal.

I. INVERSION AFTER NEGATIVE ADVERBIALS:

A. INVERSION IN THE FIRST PART OF THE SENTENCE:

Negative expression + auxiliary verb + subject + main verb, (subject + verb)

1. Negative adverbs or adverb phrase used with inversion: hardly, (in) no way, little, never, no sooner, nowhere, only in this way, on no account, only then/later, rarely, scarcely, seldom.

Hardly had I arrived home when somebody knocked at the door. Little did he know that the thief was about to steal his wallet. Never had I seen such a beautiful castle before.  

2. Prohibition and restriction: At no time, under no circumstances, not only … but also.

At no time did he offer me a lift. Not only does she play tennis, she also does judo and karate.

B- INVERSION IN THE SECOND PART OF THE SENTENCE:

Negative adverb or adverb phrase + subject + verb, auxiliary verb + subject + main verb

Negative adverbs or adverb phrase used with inversion: not since, not until, only after, only by, only when.

Not until she looked at me did I realise she was your sister. Only when I had arrived at the hotel did I relax. Only by studying hard could I pass the exam.

 

II. INVERTED CONDITIONALS (without “if”):

First type: Should + subject + verb, subject + verb + complements

Should she go to watch the film, she will love it.

Second type: Were + subject + to + infinitive, subject + verb + complements

Were he to go to University, his parents would be very proud of him.

Third type: Had + subject + Past Participle, subject + verb + complements

Had it rained, we would have stayed at home.

GRAMMAR - EMPHASIS I: CLEFT-SENTENCES

 

- Use: A cleft sentence is split (“cleft”) into two clauses to emphasize a particular piece of information (subject, object, time expression).

- Types of cleft sentences:

1. IT-CLEFT SENTENCES:

 It is/was … that …

It is Mike that goes to the library every day.

It was yesterday that I saw your sister.

2. WH-CLEFT SENTENCES (pseudo-cleft sentences):

Wh-word … is/was …

What I liked best about travelling was meeting new people.

How the children broke the window is still unknown.

3. REVERSED WH-CLEFT SENTENCES (reversed pseudo-cleft sentences):

… is/was what …

Rest is what I need after a long day.

Your support was what she longed for.

4. ALL-CLEFT SENTENCES:

All … is/was …

All I want for Christmas is you.

All I had to do was send the invitations for the party.

5. “THE THING THAT” CLEFT SENTENCES:

The (one/first/last/only) thing (that) … is/was …

The only thing that I like about your brother is his honesty.

The last thing (that) she did was lock the door.