INFINITIVES

The most common uses of the infinitive are: To indicate the purpose or intention of an action (where the 'to' has the same meaning as 'in order to' or 'so as to'):

She's gone to collect her pay cheque. The three bears went into the forest to find firewood. As the subject of the sentence:

To be or not to be, that is the question. To know her is to love her. (Note: this is more common in written English than spoken) With nouns or pronouns, to indicate what something can be used for, or what is to be done with it:

Would you like something to drink? I haven't anything to wear. The children need a garden to play in. After adjectives in these patterns:

It is + adjective +to-infinitive It is good to talk It is + adjective + infinitive + for someone + to-infinitive. It is hard for elephants to see mice It is + adjective + infintive + of someone + to-infinitive. It is unkind of her to say that. After an adjective + noun when a comment or judgement is being made:

It was a stupid place to park the car. This is the right thing to do. It was an astonishing way to behave. With too and enough in these patterns: too much/many (+ noun) + to-infinitive

There's too much sugar to put in this bowl. I had too many books to carry. too + adjective + to-infinitive

This soup is too hot to eat. She was too tired to work. too + adverb + to-infinitive

He arrived too late to see the actors. enough (+ noun) + to-infinitive

I've had enough (food) to eat. adjective + enough + to-infinitive

She's old enough to make up her own mind. not enough (+noun) + to-infinitive

There isn't enough snow to ski on. not + adjective + enough + to-infinitive

You're not old enough to have grand-children!

MODALS Modals are auxiliary verb. An auxiliary is a helping verb. It comes in front of the simple form of a main verb.

1) can
Use ability to do sth. in the present (substitute form: to be able to) permission to do sth. in the present (substitute form: to be allowed to) request offer suggestion possibility Examples I can speak English. Can I go to the cinema? Can you wait a moment, please? I can lend you my car till tomorrow. Can we visit Grandma at the weekend? It can get very hot in Arizona.

2) could
Use ability to do sth. in the past (substitute form: to be able to) Examples I could speak English.

permission to do sth. in the past (substitute form: I could go to the cinema. to be allowed to) polite question * polite request * polite offer * polite suggestion * possibility * Could I go to the cinema, please? Could you wait a moment, please? I could lend you my car till tomorrow. Could we visit Grandma at the weekend? It could get very hot in Montana.

3) may
Use possibility permission to do sth. in the present (substitute form: to be allowed to) polite suggestion Examples It may rain today. May I go to the cinema? May I help you?

4) might
Use possibility (less possible than may) * hesitant offer * Examples It might rain today. Might I help you?

5) must
Use force, necessity possibility advice, recommendation Examples I must go to the supermarket today. You must be tired. You must see the new film with Brad Pitt.

6) must not/may not

Use prohibition Examples You mustn't work on dad's computer. You may not work on dad's computer.

7) need not
Use not necessary Examples I needn't go to the supermarket, we're going to the restaurant tonight.

8) ought to
Use advice obligation Examples You ought to drive carefully in bad weather. You ought to switch off the light when you leave the room.

9) shall
instead of will in the 1st person Use suggestion Examples Shall I carry your bag?

10) should
Use advice obligation Examples You should drive carefully in bad weather. You should switch off the light when you leave the room.

11) will
Use wish, request, demand, order (less polite than would) prediction, assumption promise spontaneous decision habits Examples Will you please shut the door? I think it will rain on Friday. I will stop smoking. Can somebody drive me to the station? - I will. She's strange, she'll sit for hours without talking.

12) would
Use wish, request (more polite than will) habits in the past * No past forms - future forms Examples Would you shut the door, please? Sometimes he would bring me some flowers.

ACTIVE & PASSIVE VOICE Passive voice is formed by using the verb be + a past participle. Example: The elephant ate the sugarcane.-Active Voice The sugarcane was eaten by the elephant.-Passive Voice GERUNDS A gerund is a noun that describes an action. We make gerunds by changing verbs into the ing form. Gerunds can be used as subjects in a sentence: Examples: Fishing is my brothers hobby. Reading improves our knowledge. Gerunds can be used as objects in a sentence. Examples: The boys enjoyed climbing up the hill. We remember telling Anisha about the party. Gerunds can be used as objects in the sentence after the prepositions for, in and by. Examples: Teesha thanked me for helping her. The teacher began by explaining the events.