Structure – Page 6 – Fly High English

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Structure: ‘verbs + verbs 1’

This time in our structure help we talk about using verbs together with second verbs. We are all familiar with using verbs with nouns (objects) after them, for example;

I want a new headset.

But sometimes we want to use a verb with a second verb directly after it, for example;

I want to travel next week.

In these circumstances there are specific forms that we have to use with the second verb. In our example above, after the verb ‘want’ our second verb follows the pattern ‘to + infinitive’. It doesn’t matter which tense we choose for our first verb (want), we must follow the same structure for our second verb (travel).

I wanted to travel last week.

So with the verb ‘want’ (even in the past), we use the structure;

want + to + infinitive

There are many other verbs which require the same structure as ‘want’ when used with a second verb. Here are some of the most common.

want, hope, need, plan, expect, promise, decide, offer, refuse, try, forget, learn

Look at some of the examples below and then try to write examples of your own.

We hope to land in 15 minutes.
They tried to rebook the passenger.
They offered to give the passenger a refund.
He will need to arrive early tomorrow.

Have a great day!

Posted on by Gareth

Structure: ‘passive 3‘

More uses of the passive

We’ve previously seen the structure of the passive and we’ve seen examples of the passive in different tenses. We also saw that we can use the passive in situations;

when we don’t know the agent (who or what performs the action) of an action
or if the agent isn’t important.

There is another reason for using the passive. In English (and other languages) it’s common to structure sentences to include new information close to the end of a sentence. Let’s look at this idea in two active sentences.

Active sentence: I performed a flight last week in a Cessna 172.

So ‘a flight last week in a Cessna 172’ is the new information so we naturally place it towards the end of the sentence. Let’s continue this ‘text’.

Active sentence: It’s a fantastic plane.

Again, ‘a fantastic plane’ gives us new information, the speaker’s opinion about the plane. So we see that because of the tendency to place new information at the end of a sentence, we generally use active sentences. However, we may also need to use the passive to place new information at the end of the sentence.

Let’s imagine our conversation again;

I performed a flight last week in a 172. It’s made by Cessna.

In this situation the desire to position new information at the end of the sentence meant that the passive was necessary in our second sentence (It’s made by Cessna). Placing this new information towards the end of the sentence also puts more of a focus on it.

When we put ‘by Cessna’ at the end of our example sentence we are putting the focus on it.

Let’s look at another example.

The log book was removed by John.

Here, we want to focus on the fact that it was ‘removed by John’ so we use the passive to move that information towards the end of the sentence and put the focus on it.

Try to think of some other situations yourself and write some examples. Don’t worry if you don’t alway need to use the passive, focus on the idea of adding new information towards the end of a sentence.

Posted on by Gareth

Structure: ‘passive 2’

When do we use the passive?

There are some easily understood situations when we use the passive. We can use the passive;

1) When we don’t know who performed an action (we don’t know the ‘agent’ of an action).

Three computers were stolen from the company’s offices. (we don’t know who did it)

2) When we don’t want to mention who performed the action because it’s not important.

Finally the mess in the cabin was cleaned! (the cleaners probably did it, but the action was more important than who did it)

Have a look at the diagram below to see examples of the passive in some less common tenses and then try to write some of your own examples.

Diagram showing the form of some other passives. — Form of some other passives.

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Structure: ‘passive 1’

This time in our structure help we talk about the passive.

Form: Use the verb be (in the correct tense and conjugation) and a past participle.

If you want to use the present passive, use am, is and are before the past participle.

Present passive: Planes are made by Airbus and Boeing.

If you want to use the past passive, use was and were before the past participle.

Past Passive: The A300 was made by Airbus.

Look at the diagram below to find out more and then try to write some examples of your own.

Diagram of the form & use of the passive. — Form & use of the passive.

Use: We use the passive when the ‘agent’ (the person or thing that performs the action) is not known or is not important.

eg 36 people were injured.

eg The nose was damaged in the accident.

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Structure: ‘each vs every’

This time in our structure help we talk about the difference between each and every. These two words have similar meanings and can sometimes be used in the same situations, but often they can’t be used in the same situations. Look at the diagram below for their differences and try to write some examples of your own.

Diagram of the differences between each and every. — Each vs every.

Have a great day!

Posted on by Gareth

Structure: ‘conjunctions 2’

This time in our structure help we continue to talk about conjunctions. This time we look at because, although and as long as. These conjunctions are a little different than our previous conjunctions in ‘conjunctions 1’ because the part of the sentence after the conjunction (the subordinate clause) cannot be used by itself. For example, ‘because I had time’ is a subordinate clause, is not a proper sentence and needs to have another part to become a proper sentence. The conjunctions although and as long as function in the same way. Check out the diagram below for more information and try to write some of your own sentences with these conjunctions.

Diagram of how to use conjunctions. — How to use conjunctions 2.

Have a great day!

Category: Structure

Structure: ‘verbs + verbs 1’

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Structure: ‘passive 3‘

More uses of the passive

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Structure: ‘passive 2’

When do we use the passive?

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Structure: ‘passive 1’

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Structure: ‘each vs every’

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Structure: ‘conjunctions 2’

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More uses of the passive

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When do we use the passive?

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