Advanced English Grammar Structures and Idioms

Posted on Nov 23, 2025 in English

Advanced English Grammar Structures

  1. Inversion

    Structure: [Negative adverb] + [auxiliary verb] + [subject] + [main verb]

    Examples:

    • “Rarely do we see such talent.”
    • “Not only did she win the race, but she also broke the record.”

  2. Inverted Conditionals

    • First Conditional (Future Possibilities)

      Structure: Should + subject + verb

      Example: “Should you need assistance, call me.”

    • Second Conditional (Hypothetical Situations)

      Structure: Were + subject + to + verb

      Example: “Were I to win the lottery, I would travel the world.“

    • Third Conditional (Past Hypotheticals)

      Structure: Had + subject + past participle

      Example: “Had she studied harder, she would have passed the exam.”

  3. Passive Voice

    Structure: Subject + form of “to be” + past participle of the main verb

    Example: “The book was written by the author.”

  4. Participle Clauses

    • Present: Example: “Walking down the street, I saw an old friend.”
    • Past: Example: “Shocked by the news, she couldn’t speak.”
    • Perfect (one action before another): Example: “Having finished the project, he took a break.”

  5. Relative Clauses

    Uses words like who, whom, whose, which, that.

    • Defining: “The man who called you is my uncle.”
    • Non-defining: “My brother, who lives in Paris, is visiting us.”

  6. Cleft Sentences

    • It-Cleft

      Structure: It is/was + [emphasized part] + who/that + [rest of the sentence]

      Example: “It was John who broke the window.”

    • What-Cleft

      Structure: What + [verb] + be + [emphasized part]

      Example: “What I need is a vacation.”

  7. Wishes and Regrets

    • Wish + Past Simple (desires about the present/future):
      Example: “I wish I knew the answer.”
    • Wish + Past Perfect (regrets about the past):
      Example: “I wish I had studied harder.”
    • Wish + Would (desires for changes in others’ behavior):
      Example: “I wish you would stop smoking.”

  8. Dependent Prepositions

    • Adjective + Preposition: “interested in,” “good at,” “famous for”
      Example: “She’s interested in art.”
    • Verb + Preposition: “depend on,” “apologize for,” “believe in”
      Example: “It depends on the weather.”
    • Noun + Preposition: “a reason for,” “an increase in,” “a connection with”

Common English Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

  • Put down to: atribuir a
  • Take issue with: estar en desacord
  • Take notice of: parar atenció
  • Tag along: afegir-se (a algú)
  • Draw the line at: posar límits
  • Make clear to: deixar clar
  • Head off: marxar / sortir
  • Drift apart: allunyar-se (emocionalment)
  • Keep in touch: mantenir el contacte
  • Every now and then: de tant en tant
  • Take the plunge: fer el pas
  • Pick up where (we) left off: reprendre una relació
  • Earn a pittance: guanyar molt poc
  • Take its toll: passar factura
  • Go halves: pagar a mitges
  • Pick up the tab: pagar la factura
  • Take it as read: donar per fet
  • Splash out: gastar molt
  • Tell (someone) in no uncertain terms: dir clarament
  • No point in arguing: inútil discutir
  • Such was (his excitement): era tanta (l’emoció)
  • Admit defeat: rendir-se
  • Up at the crack of dawn: llevar-se molt d’hora, a trenc d’alba
  • Steer well clear of: evitar
  • Led to believe that: fer creure
  • Nodding off: adormir-se
  • Marvelling at: meravellar-se de
  • Made up for: compensar
  • Dread to think: em fa por pensar-ho
  • A pretty penny: una bona suma