Advanced English Grammar: Emphasis, Negation, and Modal Verbs
Emphasis in English Grammar
Emphasis Techniques
Passive Voice: Reports are expected by the end of the school year.
Inversion: Little did I understand what was happening.
Expressing Annoyance: Martha is always getting into trouble.
Cleft Sentences with “It”: It was I who stopped the fight. It is the weather that drives me crazy.
Cleft Sentences with “What”: What we need is a good, long shower.
Exceptional Use of “Do”, “Did”, “Shall”, “One”, “So”, “Such”: Little did he know about it.
Adverbs for Emphasis: I really don’t believe him. (Other examples: simply, hardly)
Literary Inversion: Here comes the rain. There he goes. (Adverb placed first)
Negative Emphasis
Time Adverbs: Never, rarely, seldom; barely, hardly, when/before; no sooner than.
Examples: Seldom do I use that word in a sentence. Never have I seen such a thing.
Time Expressions: Not until and only if/only after/only when. (For example: Only after I had seen it could I believe it.)
Negative Expressions: Under no circumstances, in no way (e.g., In no way was the cyclist responsible).
“Not” + Expression: Not a noun, not only, but also, not until. (For example: Not only are they good…)
Uses of “Would”
- With “Say”/”Think” (Less Definite Statement): I would say I prefer math rather than PE.
- Habitual Actions in the Past: I would spend hours and hours on the TV.
- Willingness or Unwillingness to Do Something in the Past or Future: I would have been more comfortable.
- Preferences (Love, Like, Rather): I would love to ski.
- Logical Deduction (Similar to “Must”): He would be studying.
Modal Verbs
Can/Could
“Could” is the past tense of “can” and is also used in formal contexts.
- Ability (Know how to): I can speak Russian.
- Possibility (Am able to): I can lift up to… kg.
- Prohibition in the Present (Am not permitted): You can’t step on the grass.
- Direct Permission in Interrogative (Am I permitted): Can I go to the toilet?
- Personal Offerings/Help: Can you help me, please?
- Open/Universal Probability: Anyone can fail.
May
- Hypothetical/Present Reference (Likely, probable): She may get an A.
- Formal Permission (Am permitted): May I go to piano classes, please?
- Past Reference: May have (done something).
Might
- Remote Probability (Unlikely/Improbable): She might go to the party.
- Super Formal Permission (Would I be permitted): Might I have a day off tomorrow, please?
- Past Reference: Might have (done something).
Must
- Order (Am obliged to): I must take care of…
- Deduction (Certainty): He must be very rich because…
- Prohibition (Not allowed): You mustn’t speak in class.
- Past Reference: Had to.
Should/Ought To
- Advice (If I were you): You should eat fewer carbohydrates.
- Logical Deduction (It’s logical): The city should be visible.
- Past: Should have (done something).
Will
- Uncertainty (Maybe): I think I will go for economics.
- Almost Certainty (I’m sure): She will come to your wedding.
- Polite Permission (Do you mind): Will you lend me your earrings, please?
- Doubt, Threat: I will kill you if you…
- Past: Would.
Would
- Habit in the Present: She would blame me if I told…
- Asking: Would you let me do it first?
- Probability: She would be late.
- Past Probability: Would have (done something).
Need To
- Necessity: I need to study.
- Past Necessity: Needed to.
- Lack of Past Necessity: Needn’t have (done something). The meaning is closer to “shouldn’t have”.