structure – Page 5 – Fly High English

Posted on by Gareth

Structure: ‘due to vs because’

This time in our structure help we talk about the difference between due to and because. Both of these expressions have similar uses, they both relate to the reason for something, although the structure around each one is different.

Let’s look at because first.

They arrived late because they had to avoid the bad weather.

So after because we use subject + verb. Let’s see another example.

I didn’t eat the in-flight meal because I wasn’t hungry.

No let’s take a look at due to.

They arrived late due to the bad weather.

So after due to we use a noun (without a following verb). Let’s see another example.

Everybody was asked to remain at the gate due to a delay.

Again, after due to we use a noun. Sometimes it’s possible to use because or due to, sometimes only one is possible (our example about the in-flight meal isn’t easily constructed with due to), but it’s always important to know the difference and how to use each one.

Have a great day!

Posted on by Gareth

Structure: ‘on time vs in time’

This time in our structure help we take a quick moment to talk about the different between on time and in time.

When something happens on time, it happens at the correct time, the time it was planned, not early and not late. If you arrive on time, you arrive at the correct time, not early and not late.

On the other hand, when something happens in time, it happens with extra time to spare, earlier than necessary or required. So if you arrive in time for your flight, you arrive before the time required and probably have a few moments to go to the duty free shop or relax.

Here are some more examples.

The flight left on time. (at the correct time)
Due to the delays, very few flights departed on time. (at the correct time)

The crew arrived in time for their training. (before the last moment possible or necessary)
He arrived in time for his interview, so he sat and waited in reception until he was called. (before the last moment possible or necessary)

Have a great day!

Posted on by Gareth

Structure: ‘there is / there are’

We use this structure to indicate that something (or somebody) exists (or does not exist) in a specific place at some time. There is / there are introduces the thing or things / person or people that you want to talk about.

Look at the following examples.

There are some passengers at the gate. (present)
There is a problem with the APU. (present)

We can also use this structure in other tenses, all we need to do is use the verb be in other tenses.

Look at the following examples.

There was a restaurant in terminal 1. (past simple)
There were two bags left on board the plane. (past simple)

Similarly we can use there have been / there has been / there will be etc.

Look at some more examples.

There will be a new livery for the fleet next year. (future)
There have been many delays this year. (present perfect)

Now try to write some examples of your own.

Tip: Be careful that your choice of there is / are etc… agrees with the thing / things / person / people you are taking about.

eg There is a plane on the stand. (’There is‘ agrees with ‘a plane’)

eg There are two planes on the stand. (’There are‘ agrees with ‘two planes’)

Here are all of the present and past structures for reference;
There is … (present singular positive)
There are … (present plural negative)
There isn’t … (present singular negative)
There aren’t … (present plural negative)
Is there …? (present singular question)
Are there …? (present plural question)

Posted on by Gareth

Structure: ‘past perfect’

This time in our structure help we talk about the past perfect. Look at the example below.

Peter had a flight at 9am last Saturday morning. He woke up late and arrived at the airport at 10am. The flight had already left.

The past perfect is a verb tense. It is formed by using had + past participle. Very often we talk about the past. When we use some past simple verbs in a row, we understand that the first action happened first and that the second action happened second etc… But sometimes when we talk about the past we want to say that something happened before the previous past simple verb. We use the past perfect in these situations. Look at the following example.

Example 1: I flew on the A380 last week. It’s a fantastic plane with four engines and two floors. I hadn’t flown on it before.

We also use the past perfect to talk about actions in the way we experience them, which is sometimes not in the order that they happen. Look at the following example.

Example 2: Captain Smith boarded his plane 30 minutes before the scheduled takeoff time. When he entered the cockpit and opened the maintenance logbook, he discovered that the plane had suffered a problem with the APU.

I this situation we talk about the story in the way Captain Smith experienced it, after he arrived on the plane he discovered the problem. It’s very natural and normal to talk about our experiences in this way and the past perfect is essential in such situations.

Let’s look at one final example.

Example 3: When the plane stopped at the runway holding point, the co-pilot realised that the ground staff hadn’t loaded the catering on board.

Now try to write some of your own examples.

Have a great day!

Posted on by Gareth

Structure: ‘verbs + verbs 4’

This time in our structure help we continue to talk about patterns when we have two verbs together. In our previous posts we saw the patterns;

verb + to + infinitive

and

verb + verb-ing

And we saw a list of verbs which require these patterns.

This time we’re going to look at a group of verbs which can follow both of these patterns but which have a different meaning.

remember, regret, try, stop

Let’s look at an example.

He remembered to check the tyres for damage.

In this sentence we have a verb + to + infinitive pattern. The idea in this sentence is that he remembered before he did the action. So, in general, you remember ‘to do’ something before you do it.

Now let’s look at the other pattern.

He remembered checking the tyres for damage.

In this sentence we have a verb + verb-ing pattern. The idea in this sentence is that he remembered after he did the action. So, in general, you remember ‘doing’ something after you do it.

Now let’s look at our second verb; regret.

We regret to inform you that the flight has been cancelled.

In this sentence we have a verb + to + infinitive pattern. The idea in this sentence is that you are sorry to say something. Here’s another example;

We regret to say that your days off have been cancelled.

Now let’s look at the other pattern.

She regrets asking for a promotion.

In this sentence we have a verb + verb-ing pattern. The idea in this sentence is that she regretted the action after she did it. So, in general, you regret ‘doing’ something after you do it.

Now let’s look at our third verb; try.

They tried to land at the airport.

In this sentence we have a verb + to + infinitive pattern. The idea in this sentence is that you make an effort to do something that is difficult. Here’s another example.

They tried to lift the wheel but it was too heavy.

Now let’s look at the other pattern.

The passenger had a pain in his stomach so he tried drinking some tea.

In this sentence we have a verb + verb-ing pattern. The idea in this sentence is that he did the action as an experiment, to see if it provided a positive result.

And finally our fourth verb; stop.

He stopped flying for Lufthansa.

In this sentence we have a verb + verb-ing pattern. The idea in this sentence is that you stop an activity and don’t do it again, so here it suggests that he doesn’t work for Lufthansa now. Here’s another example.

They stopped giving us free flights for our families.

Now let’s look at the other pattern.

He stopped to open a window.

In this sentence we have a verb + to + infinitive pattern. The idea in this sentence is that you stop an activity and do a second activity, the suggestion is that you might return to the first activity later. Here’s another example.

He was reading a book but stopped to answer the captain’s question.

Now try to write some examples of your own.

Have a great day!

Posted on by Gareth

Structure: ‘verbs + verbs 3’

This time in our structure help we continue to talk about patterns when we have two verbs together. In our previous posts we saw the patterns;

verb + to + infinitive

and

verb + verb-ing

And we saw a list of verbs which require these patterns.

This time we’re going to look at a group of verbs which can follow both of these patterns and which have the same meaning.

like, prefer, love, hate, continue, start, begin

So the following sentences are both correct and mean essentially the same thing.

I like to fly gliders.
I like flying gliders.

Here’s another example;

I started to train when I was seventeen.
I started training when I was seventeen.

Now try to write some examples of your own.

Have a great day!

Tag: structure

Structure: ‘due to vs because’

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Structure: ‘on time vs in time’

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Structure: ‘there is / there are’

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Structure: ‘past perfect’

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Structure: ‘verbs + verbs 4’

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Structure: ‘verbs + verbs 3’

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