THE PROFICIENCY BOOK
I touch the future. I teach. Christa McAuliffe
ARTICLES. The use of the articles in English.
Life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quickly you hardly catch it going. Tennessee Williams
CLEFT SENTENCES
It's by not giving up that you'll get there.
It's by working hard that you'll get there / dreams come true.
COMPOUND VERBS
1. Prepositional verbs
2. Phrasal verbs
The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain. Dolly Parton Syn: to tolerate something, to stand it, to bear it.
3. Verbs with auxiliaries
4. Compound single-word verbs
brainwash
CONDITIONALS
1. To be + infinitive.
We often use be to + infinitive in the if-clause in conditional sentences when talking about preconditions for something to happen. Study the following:
If we are to catch that train, we shall have to leave now.
If we are to solve the world's pollution problems, we must address environmental issues now.
2. Were to in "if-clauses" in conditional sentences.
"Were to" can be used in the present to emphasize that the conditional form is extremely unlikely or unthinkably horrible. Notice that this special form is only used in the if-clause.
If she were to be rich, she would be horribly obnoxious.
If I were to increase my offer from five hundred to five hundred and fifty pounds, would you be interested in selling me your car then?
CONJUNCTIONS
1. Coordinating conjunctions
Beware; for I am fearless, and therefore powerful. Mary Shelley
2. Correlative conjunctions
Either I will find a way, or I will make one. Philip Sidney
I say what I want to say and do what I want to do. There's no in between. People will either love you for it or hate you for it. Eminem
With mindfulness, you can establish yourself in the present in order to touch the wonders of life that are available in that moment. Thich Nhat Hanh Syn. so as to Compare so that, in order that.
3. Subordinating conjunctions
4. Adverbial conjunctions (linking adverbs)
The happiness of your life depends (entirely) on / upon the quality of your thoughts: therefore, guard / act accordingly. Marcus Aurelius.
Beware; for I am fearless, and therefore powerful. Mary Shelley
GERUND
I can't help laughing, when seeing you getting so worried. (I do it without realising)
Compare: I can't help but laugh. (I can't stop myself)
Fantasy is hardly an escape from reality. It's a way of understanding it. Lloyd Alexander Syn: unlikely (adj.), dificilmente.
The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any.
IDIOMS
All in all (When everything is thought about, in summary.
All in all you're just another brick in the wall. We don't need no education. We dont need no thought control. Pink Floyd song.
Compare On the whole.
Bottom line (stress on line): 1. n. a final decision, 2. n. the naked truth without embellishments, 3. the most important fact in a situation, 4. V. To finish (stress on bottom):
Ok, guys, let's bottom line this project and break for coffe, (shall we?)
Look, the bottom line is that poor Joe is an alcoholic. Syn: At the end of the day
Get there To reach or attain one's goal(s); to be successful in some endeavor.
Don't stress out about finding a job, you'll get there eventually.I don't completely understand the material, but I'm getting there.
Get round to to do something that you have intended to do for a long time:
I still haven't got around to fixing that tap.
Give and take 1. n. mutual concessions and compromises, 2. V.make concessions and
compromises.
Marriage is give and take. You'd better give it to her or she'll take it anyway. Joey Adams ...
Take sth. for granted 1.To consider something as being innately or unfailingly true, correct, real, or available. 2.To underestimate or undervalue; to not properly recognize or appreciate.
That is (to say): I mean, in other words.
Touch and go: Extremely uncertain, risky (chancy) or critical as to the outcome of something, With an element of risk that something bad could happen (often followed by ‘whether’). Hyphenated if used before a noun. This idiom implies that a mere touch may cause a calamity
It’s touch and go whether the player will be fit enough for Saturday’s match.
It was touch and go after the surgery; we were not sure he'd survive it.
It was touch and go but they finally gave me a seat on the plane.
When it comes to
It's funny how I'm good at giving advice to others, but when it comes to helping myself, I don't know what to do.
When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer. Regina Brett
Compare: When it comes (right) down to it: When you speak about or consider something plainly, with all facts, details, or aspects taken into account. When all is said and done, On the whole, by and large, ultimately, Al final, en última instancia.
INFINITIVE
1. To be to + Verb structure.
We use be to + infinitive when discussing formal or official arrangements or to give formal instructions or orders. The be to + infinitive structure is also frequently used in newspaper, radio and television reports to refer to future events. It expresses near certainty that what is forecast will happen. Study the following:
The Prime Minister is to make a further visit to Devon next week.
You are not to smoke.
You are not to leave this house without my permission. Is that clear?
They are to be married soon.
Work is to begin this week on the new bridge across the Nile in Egypt.
Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less. Marie Curie
2. Be to + passive infinitive is often used when giving instructions. It is noticeable always on medicine bottles and can be seen on other official notices too:
To be taken three times a day after meals.
No food of any kind is to be taken into the examination room.
3. Note that although this structure is used to talk about current and future arrangements and events, it is configurated in present and past tenses. However, be to + perfect infinitive is sometimes used to show that a planned event did not materialise:
He was to have appeared in the West End show but broke his arm during rehearsals.
Sammy was to have married Sarah but then Jamie came along and the engagement ring he had given her was returned.
INVERSION
At no time did they tell us that there was a rise in the pandemic. Sushil Chandra
In no circunstances should a person be given pre-operative medication before being asked for their consent to proceed with the treatment.
In no way am I related to the suspect. (I am in no way related to the suspect.)
It's by not giving up that you'll get there. In this way alone could we achieve success.
Exercise to stimulate, not to annihilate. The world wasn't formed in a day, and neither were we. Set small goals and build upon them. Lee Haney
People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily. Zig Ziglar
Never (before) have we faced such a challenge! (We have never faced such a challenge!)
Not a single question did she (the princess Christina of Spain) answer during the interrogation.
Not a single word
Not often do you get weather like this!
Not often do you get a second chance to make up for your mistakes.
Not often do you come across a house that brings you happiness from the moment you walk in.
Not only is there no God, but try finding a plumber on Sunday. Woody Allen.
Only since the death of Queen Victoria have women really liberated themselves from the rule of men.
Only when the tide goes out do you discover who's been swimming naked. Warren Buffett
MODAL VERBS. Will, would and shall.
WILL / WON'T
1. Predictions About the Future
He’s been found guilty of murder. He’ll be in prison for a long time.
You must work hard for this exam. It won’t be easy.
2. Present/Future Willingness and Refusal
The doctor will act as a witness to your signature. She doesn’t mind doing that sort of thing.
3. Present habits and Routines
Every lesson is the same: he’ll sit down, get his books out and then he’ll start giving us instructions. He won’t greet us or show any interest in us.
4. Present annoying habits. Predictable actions.
We enjoy going out with Frank and Carol, but they will argue in public!
Note: We do not contract well when we use it to describe an annoying habit – we stress it.
WOULD / WOULDN'T
1. Wish + would express a desire for another person (not) to do something:
I wish you wouldn’t talk with your mouth full!
I wish it woud stop raining!
2. To show disagreement politely:
I wouldn’t say that.
I wouldn’t go that far.
3. Past Willingness and Refusal
Dad would always help us with our maths homework.
4. Past Predictions About the Future (would is the past form of will)
We had to hurry to get him to the hospital. We knew it would be too late otherwise.
5. Past habits and routines.
Every lesson was the same: he’d sit down and get his books out, then he’d start giving us instructions. He wouldn’t greet us or show any interest in us.
6. Past annoying habits.
I miss Dad, even though he would always tell me how to run my life!
Note: We do not usually contract would to when we use it in this way; we stress it. However, we do not always stress would when it is followed by an adverb:
My boss was awful: he’d invariably find something for me to do at five o’clock.
7. Hypothetical Desires About the Present/Future
We use would with be or verbs of liking and wishing to express a desire for the present or future. Fulfilment of the desire is impossible or improbable:
It would be so nice to live by the sea. (The speaker doesn’t live by the sea.)
I would prefer to be a man. (The speaker is a woman.)
I would rather annoy with the truth than be pleasant with flattery / please with adulation. Seneca.
SHALL
"Shall" is a modal verb used to indicate future action. It is most commonly used in sentences with "I" or "we," and is often found in suggestions, such as "Shall we go?" "Shall" is also frequently used in promises or voluntary actions.
1. To make suggestions
Shall I help you?
Shall we go out for a curry tonight? (= Why don’t we …? / How about …?)
2. To ask for suggestions or advice, we can use shall with a question word:
What shall we do about Tom if he doesn’t get into a university?
Scarlett: Rhett, Rhett... Rhett, if you go, where shall I go? What shall I do?
Rhett Butler: Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn.
Note: We use shall in question tags after "let’s".
Let’s forget about it now and talk about something else, shall we?
3. Orders and Instructions, especially in more formal official documents
You will/shall all stay behind for thirty minutes and clean this room.
The secretary shall minute the proceedings of each meeting.
Minute: to make notes or a brief summary of sth.
4. Inevitability (British form)
We shall overcome oppression
I'm afraid Mr. Smith shall become our new director.
5. Promising (British form)
I shall / will never forget you; I shall / will take care of everything for you.
I shall never forget where I came from.
6. Predestination
He shall become our next king.
PHRASES and IDIOMS
A touch of sth. (a small amount of a quality)
There is no genius without a touch of dementia
Also: a touch of irony, a touch of class, a touch of style ...
Do / Work wonders – To have a beneficial effect. To produce excellent results or be extremely effective, especially unexpectedly. This medicine will do wonders for you.
A gentle word, a kind look, a good-natured smile can work wonders and accomplish miracles. William Hazlitt
Adopting a really positive attitude can work wonders to adding years to your life, a spring to your step, a sparkle to your eye, and all of that. Christie Brinkley
Do your utmost – to try as hard as you can: I’ll do my utmost to be there for your wedding.
Prey on your mind – If something preys on your mind it worries you over a period of time so that you can’t forget it: I made a big mistake at work and it’s been preying on my mind all weekend.
Be out of the question – This is used to say that something is not allowed or impossible: Taking a two-week holiday in October is simply out of the question.
Lie in store for someone – refers to what is going to happen to someone in the future: I wonder what lies in store for us when we move to the UK.
Get your act together – To organise yourself and your work in a more effective way: I wasn’t taking my career seriously so I got my act together and got a steady job.
Take its toll – To have a gradual negative effect on someone or something: The illness has taken its toll on her.
To say the least – used to say that something could have been expressed in a much stronger way: He’s not a very pleasant person to say the least.
PLEONASTIC "It" (the extra "It")
I take it that what all men are really after is some form or perhaps only some formula of peace. Joseph Conrad
Living alone makes it hard to find someone to blame.
Narcissistic parents frequently play the guilt card which makes it hard for you to live an independent life.
Some people find it difficult to understand English construction.
You always feel nervous around new people, and this nervousness makes it hard for you to relax.
PRONOUNS
Gerunds can take either the genitive (his-less common/more formal) or the accusative (him-more common/less formal) as subject or object. When the possessive alternative is used, it usually focuses attention on the action described in the ‘-ing’ clause.
Some specific transitive verbs require an indirect object (usually person) followed by the infinitives to complete a sentence: Allow, ask, beg, convince, expect, instruct, invite, order, persuade, prepare, remind, urge, want, permit, promise.
If the complements of these verbs are the infinitives, they must take an indirect object (person) before them in the form of noun or object pronoun.
However, other transitive verbs can be followed by a gerund as a complement but it must precede by a possessive adjective. So, pronoun can come before a gerund in the form of possessive.
1. Object pronouns or nouns before infinitives. (me, you, him, us, you, them)
Motivation is the art of getting people to do what you want them to do because they want to do it. Dwight D. Eisenhower
If you want your children to be Happy, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be happier , read them more fairy tales.
2. Possesive pronouns before gerunds. (my, your, his, her, our, your, their).
SUBJUNCTIVE
The English subjunctive is a special, relatively rare verb form that expresses something desired or imagined.
1. Fixed Expressions with the subjunctive
God bless America!, God save the Queen. Long live the President!, Heaven forbid!, Heaven help us!
2. Be after if.
We sometimes use subjunctive "be" after "if/whether", though this is rather formal, especially in British English:
If that be (not) the case, I intend to report the matter.
Whether he be prepared or not, I intend to report the matter.
3. Were-subjunctive. (was is possible in informal language)
In the following examples, you can see that we sometimes use the were-subjunctive (instead of was) after: if, as if, wish, supose.
Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever. Mahatma Gandhi.
If I Were a Rich Man, Fiddler on the Roof
If I were a boy, Beyoncé.
If I were a carpenter and you were a lady, would you marry me anyway? Would you have my baby?, Tim Hardin.
May you ennoble your present by recapturing the joys of the past.
TENSES. Basic Tenses
1. The Present
2. The Past.
3. The Future with "will"
Characteristics, Habits, and Routines). We often use will/won’t to talk about actions that have become so routine that they are predictable:
Boys will be boys
To describe an annoying habit or to make a criticism.
VERBS. The constructions with basic verbs
HAVE
I'd rather be happy being myself than sad trying to please everyone else. J. Cole.
I'd rather annoy with the truth than please with adulation.
TAKE
Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex... It takes a touch of genius - and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction. E. F. Schumacher
Do not take life too seriously. You will never get out of it alive. Elbert Hubbard
I take it that ...
We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort. Jesse Owens
It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are. e. e. cummings
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