Angol nyelvhasználat tanítóknak és óvodapedagógusoknak

- Home
- 1. Introduction to time, tense and aspect
  - 1.1 The difference between times and tenses
  - 1.2 Aspects
  - 1.3 State verbs and action verbs
- 2. Past time
  - 2.1 Past simple
  - 2.2 Past continuous
  - 2.3 The difference between the past simple and the past continuous
  - 2.4 Past perfect
  - 2.5 The difference between the past simple and the past perfect
  - 2.6 Past perfect continuous
  - 2.7 The difference between the past perfect and the past perfect continuous
  - 2.8 Present simple to express past
  - 2.9 USED TO for past habits
  - Exercise 1
  - Exercise 2
  - Exercise 3
  - Exercise 4
  - Exercise 5
- 3. Present time
  - 3.1 Present simple
  - 3.2 Present continuous
  - 3.3 Present perfect
  - 3.4 Present perfect continuous
  - Exercise 1
  - Exercise 2
  - Exercise 3
  - Exercise 4
  - Exercise 5
- 4. Future time
  - 4.1 Future simple
  - 4.2 Future continuous
  - 4.3 Future perfect
  - 4.4 Future perfect continuous
  - 4.5 BE GOING TO
  - 4.6 Present simple for fixed future events
  - 4.7 Present continuous for fixed future arrangements
  - 4.8 The difference between WILL, BE GOING TO and the present continuous for future events
  - 4.9 Future time clauses
  - Exercise 1
  - Exercise 2
  - Exercise 3
  - Exercise 4
  - Exercise 5
- 5. Modals
  - 5.1 Types of modals
  - 5.2 Modals to express ability: CAN, COULD, BE ABLE TO
  - 5.3 Modals to express advice: SHOULD, OUGHT TO, HAD BETTER
  - 5.4 Modals to express criticism: CAN, COULD, MIGHT, SHOULD
  - 5.5 Modals to express deduction: MUST, CAN'T, COULDN'T
  - 5.6 USED TO
  - 5.7 Modals to express intentions: BE GOING TO, WILL
  - 5.8 Modals to express obligation: MUST, HAVE (GOT) TO
  - 5.9 NEED
  - 5.10 Modals to express obligation: SHOULD, OUGHT TO
  - 5.11 Modals to express offers: CAN, COULD, WILL, SHALL, MAY
  - 5.12 Modals to express permission / prohibition: CAN, COULD, MAY, MIGHT, BE ALLOWED TO, MUSTN'T
  - 5.13 Modals to express possibility: MAY, MIGHT, COULD
  - 5.14 Modals to express predictions: BE GOING TO, WILL
  - 5.15 Modals to express requests: CAN, COULD, WILL, WOULD
  - 5.16 Modals to express suggestions: SHOULD, COULD, MIGHT, SHALL
  - 5.17 The modal WOULD to express unreal situations
  - 5.18 Overview of modals
  - 5.19 Modals and adverbs
  - Exercise 1
  - Exercise 2
  - Exercise 3
  - Exercise 4
  - Exercise 5
- 6. Conditionals and unreal tenses
  - 6.1 Unreal tenses
  - 6.2 Conditionals
    - 6.2.1 Zero conditional
    - 6.2.2 First conditional
    - 6.2.3 Second conditional
    - 6.2.4 Third conditional
    - 6.2.5 Mixed conditionals
    - 6.2.6 IF, EVEN IF, ONLY IF, AS LONG AS, PROVIDED, SUPPOSING, UNLESS, IF NECESSARY, IF SO etc.
  - 6.3 WISH / IF ONLY
  - 6.4 IT'S (HIGH) TIME
  - 6.5 AS IF / AS THOUGH
  - 6.6 WOULD RATHER / WOULD SOONER
  - Exercise 1
  - Exercise 2
  - Exercise 3
  - Exercise 4
  - Exercise 5
- 7. Indirect speech
  - 7.1 The difference between direct and indirect speech
  - 7.2 Punctuation in direct speech
  - 7.3 Changes in indirect speech
  - 7.4 Reporting questions
  - 7.5 Reporting statements
  - 7.6 Reporting imperatives
  - 7.7 Reporting verb + THAT-clause
  - 7.8 Reporting verb + THAT-clause with SHOULD + infinitive
  - 7.9 Reporting verb + THAT-clause with the present subjunctive
  - 7.10 Reporting verb + gerund
  - 7.11 Reporting verb + TO-infinitive
  - 7.12 Reporting verb + object + TO-infinitive
  - 7.13 SAY, TELL and ASK
  - 7.14 Impersonal reporting
  - Exercise 1
  - Exercise 2
  - Exercise 3
  - Exercise 4
  - Exercise 5
  - Exercise 6
- Progress test 1
  - Exercise 1
  - Exercise 2
  - Exercise 3
  - Exercise 4
  - Exercise 5
- 8. Passive voice and causative structures
  - 8.1 Passive voice
    - 8.1.1 The difference between the active and passive voice
    - 8.1.2 Form: passive voice
    - 8.1.3 Verbs which cannot be used in the passive voice
    - 8.1.4 Ditransitive verbs in the passive voice
    - 8.1.5 The agent with the passive voice
    - 8.1.6 The use of the passive voice
    - 8.1.7 The passive with GET
    - 8.1.8 Passive voice with reporting verbs
  - 8.2 Causative structures
    - 8.2.1 Causative structures without an agent
    - 8.2.2 Causative structures with an agent
  - Exercise 1
  - Exercise 2
  - Exercise 3
  - Exercise 4
  - Exercise 5
  - Exercise 6
- 9. Non-finite verb forms
  - 9.1 The difference between finite and non-finite verb forms
  - 9.2 The infinitive
    - 9.2.1 The forms of the infinitive
    - 9.2.2 The "subject" of the infinitive
    - 9.2.3 The TO-infinitive to replace a relative clause
    - 9.2.4 The TO-infinitive after passive reporting verbs
    - 9.2.5 The infinitive after modals
    - 9.2.6 DO, DOES, DID + bare infinitive
    - 9.2.7 SEE, WATCH, HEAR, LISTEN, FEEL, SMELL, NOTICE + object + bare infinitive
    - 9.2.8 APPEAR, HAPPEN, PROVE, SEEM, TEND, TURN OUT + TO-infinitive
    - 9.2.9 HAVE, GET, LET, MAKE + object + infinitive
    - 9.2.10 Verb + TO-infinitive
    - 9.2.11 Verb + object + TO-infinitive
    - 9.2.12 Adjective + TO-infinitive
    - 9.2.13 The infinitive of purpose
    - 9.2.14 The infinitive of result
    - 9.2.15 Question word + TO-infinitive
    - 9.2.16 Introductory infinitive clauses
  - 9.3 The gerund
    - 9.3.1 The forms of the gerund
    - 9.3.2 The "subject" of the gerund
    - 9.3.3 The gerund as subject
    - 9.3.4 The gerund as a subject complement
    - 9.3.5 The gerund as the object of a verb
    - 9.3.6 Verb + gerund
    - 9.3.7 Preposition + gerund
    - 9.3.8 Verb + preposition + gerund
    - 9.3.9 The gerund used in compound nouns
    - 9.3.10 Other expressions followed by the gerund
    - 9.3.11 Verbs followed by the TO-infinitive or gerund with no difference in meaning
    - 9.3.12 Verbs followed by the TO-infinitive or gerund with a difference in meaning
  - 9.4 The participle
    - 9.4.1 The forms of the participle
    - 9.4.2 The "subject" of the participle
    - 9.4.3 The present participle used to form the continuous aspect
    - 9.4.4 The past participle used to form the perfect aspect
    - 9.4.5 The past participle used to form the passive voice
    - 9.4.6 The present and past participles used as adjectives
    - 9.4.7 SEE, WATCH, HEAR, LISTEN, FEEL, SMELL, NOTICE + object + present participle
    - 9.4.8 CATCH, FIND, LEAVE + object + present participle
    - 9.4.9 COME, GO + present participle
    - 9.4.10 SPEND, WASTE + object + present participle
    - 9.4.11 HAVE, GET + object + past participle
    - 9.4.12 Participle clauses
  - 9.5 The difference between the gerund and the present participle
  - Exercise 1
  - Exercise 2
  - Exercise 3
  - Exercise 4
  - Exercise 5
- 10. Relative clauses
  - 10.1 What is a relative clause?
  - 10.2 Defining relative clause
  - 10.3 Non-defining relative clause
  - 10.4 The difference between defining and non-defining relative clauses
  - 10.5 Sentential relative clause
  - 10.6 Relative pronouns: WHO, WHOM, WHOSE, WHICH, THAT
  - 10.7 Relative adverbs: WHERE, WHEN, WHY
  - 10.8 Prepositions in relative clauses
  - 10.9 Non-finite relative clauses
  - 10.10 WHAT and WHATEVER
  - 10.11 Cleft sentences
  - 10.12 Pseudo-cleft sentences
  - Exercise 1
  - Exercise 2
  - Exercise 3
  - Exercise 4
  - Exercise 5
  - Exercise 6
- 11. Inversion
  - 11.1 What is inversion?
  - 11.2 Subject-verb inversion
    - 11.2.1 Subject-verb inversion after place adverbials
    - 11.2.2 Subject-verb inversion in direct speech
    - 11.2.3 Subject-verb inversion in news headlines
  - 11.3 Subject-auxiliary inversion
    - 11.3.1 Subject-auxiliary inversion after negative adverbials
    - 11.3.2 Subject-auxiliary inversion in questions
    - 11.3.3 Subject-auxiliary inversion in question tags
    - 11.3.4 Subject-auxiliary inversion in echo tags
    - 11.3.5 Subject-auxiliary inversion with SO and NEITHER/NOR to express agreement
  - Exercise 1
  - Exercise 2
  - Exercise 3
  - Exercise 4
  - Exercise 5
- 12. Articles and nouns
  - 12.1 Articles
    - 12.1.1 The indefinite article (A, AN)
    - 12.1.2 The definite article (THE)
    - 12.1.3 The zero article (-)
  - 12.2 Countable and uncountable nouns
    - 12.2.1 The difference between countable and uncountable nouns
    - 12.2.2 Nouns with countable and uncountable meanings
    - 12.2.3 Determiners with countable and uncountable nouns (SOME, ANY, NO, MANY, MUCH, FEW, LITTLE etc.)
    - 12.2.4 Partitive expressions with uncountable nouns
    - 12.2.5 Nouns which are always plural
    - 12.2.6 Nouns with a plural form and a singular meaning
    - 12.2.7 Nouns with the same singular and plural forms
    - 12.2.8 Irregular plural forms
  - Exercise 1
  - Exercise 2
  - Exercise 3
  - Exercise 4
  - Exercise 5
  - Exercise 6
  - Exercise 7
- Progress test 2
  - Exercise 1
  - Exercise 2
  - Exercise 3
  - Exercise 4
  - Exercise 5
- Appendix
  - Irregular verb forms
  - Spelling rules

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# 11.3.1 Subject-auxiliary inversion after negative adverbials

In formal and literary styles, the subject and auxiliary are inverted when negative adverbials are placed at the beginning of the sentence for rhetorical effect.

## HARDLY, SCARCELY, BARELY, NO SOONER

`hardly / scarcely / barely ... when
no sooner ... than`

When a story is told in the past tense, the adverbials hardly, scarcely, barely and no sooner are often used to emphasise that one event quickly followed another. The verb describing the earlier event is usually in the past perfect tense. If hardly, scarcely, barely and no sooner are in the initial position, the subject and auxiliary are inverted:

> Hardly had I arrived home when my phone rang. (I had hardly arrived home when my phone rang.)

> Scarcely had she finished reading when she fell asleep. (She had scarcely finished reading when she fell asleep.)

> Barely had they won the match when the coach had a heart attack. (They had barely won the match when the coach had a heart attack.)

> No sooner had the company launched its new product than it went bankrupt. (The company had no sooner launched its new product than it went bankrupt.)

Note that hardly, scarcely and barely are followed by when, while no sooner is followed by than. (Sooner is the comparative form of soon.)

## NEVER, RARELY, LITTLE, IN / UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES, ON NO CONDITION, IN NO WAY, NOT ONLY ... BUT ALSO etc.

When never, rarely, little etc. are placed at the beginning of the sentence for rhetorical effect, the subject and auxiliary are inverted:

> Never (before) have we faced such a challenge! (We have never faced such a challenge!)

> Rarely has there been so much speculation about the future of the company. (There has rarely been so much speculation about the future of the company.)

> Little did she understand what the conversation was about. (She didn't really understand what the conversation was about.)

> Under no circumstances are you allowed to disturb the pilots. (You are not allowed to disturb the pilots under any circumstances.)

> On no condition will the company bear responsibility for lost property. (The company will not bear responsibility for lost property on any condition.)

> In no way am I related to the suspect. (I am in no way related to the suspect. )

> Not only did he exceed the speed limit, but he had also consumed alcohol. (He not only exceeded the speed limit, but he had also consumed alcohol.)

> Not only were you late, but you didn't even have a good excuse. (You were not only late, but you didn't have a good excuse either.)

## ONLY AFTER, ONLY IF, ONLY IN THIS WAY etc., NOT UNTIL

When only after, only if, only in this way etc. are placed at the beginning of the sentence for rhetorical effect, the subject and auxiliary are inverted:

> Only after lunch can you play. (You can only play after lunch.)

> Only after finishing your homework can you play. (You can only play after you finish your homework.)

> Only after you have finished your homework can you play. (You can only play after you have finished your homework.)

> Only by guessing can you solve this puzzle. (You can only solve this puzzle by guessing.)

> Only if everybody agreed would I accept this position. (I would only accept this position if everybody agreed.)

> Only in this way does this machine work. (This machine only works in this way.)

> Only then did they discover his secret. (They only discovered his secret then.)

> Only when he needed some help did he call me. (He only called me when he needed some help.)

> Only when I filled my glass did I notice that it was broken. (I only noticed that my glass was broken when I filled it.)

The last sentence can be rephrased as:

> Not until I filled my glass did I notice that it was broken. (I didn't notice that my glass was broken until I filled it.)

If only is followed by the subject at the beginning of the sentence, there is no inversion:

> Only you can understand. (No one else can understand.)

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