Download Grammar Worksheet 4 - KEY

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ENGALX – Grammatik
ENGLISH GRAMMAR – WORKSHEET #4
KEY
A. Explain grammatically the difference in meaning between
1.
a. The driver says the policeman is a crazy fool.
------ s -----
p
--------------- Od --------------------
The driver is doing the talking, so he is the subject of the sentence. The rest of the sentence
is the direct object: What does he say? → He says that the policeman is a fool.
b. “The driver,” says the policeman, “is a crazy fool.”
---- Od ----…
p
--------- s -------- …---- Od --------
The policeman is doing the talking, so he is the subject of the sentence. The rest of the
sentence is the direct object: What does he say? → He says that the driver is a fool.
Please note that we have a case of inversion in sentence 1b: the predicate comes before the
subject. Subject-verb inversion is possible in so-called ‘reporting clauses’ (= sägesatser) in
connection with direct speech unless any of the following apply:
- the predicate consists of more than one verb:
“The driver,” the policeman had said, “is a crazy fool.” (S-V word order required here)
- there is an object within the reporting clause:
“The driver,” the policeman said to me, “is a crazy fool.” (S-V word order required here)
- the subject is a personal pronoun:
“The driver,” he said, “is a crazy fool.” (S-V word order required here)
2.
a. I promise to make you happy.
s
p
--------- Od -----------
What do I promise? → ‘to make you happy’ → so we have a direct object.
b. I promise, to make you happy.
s
p
----- advl/reason -----
Why do I promise? → ‘(in order) to make you happy’ → so we have an adverbial of reason.
Note the PAUSE indicated by the comma—it makes all the difference between a and b!
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ENGALX – Grammatik
B. Word order in clauses accompanying direct speech (sägesatser, e.g. ‘Heathcliffe said’)
Why is inversion (omvänd ordföljd) possible in sentence (1) but not in the others?
1. ”Let’s get on with it,” said Paul.
Inversion is fine here! The subject is a noun, not a pronoun. The predicate consists of a
simple verb, that is, without auxiliaries. There is no object in the reporting clause.
2. ”I don’t want to,” Will had exclaimed.
The predicate is complex, i.e. it consists of two verbs (‘had exclaimed’) → S-V word order is
required
3. ”I refuse!” he shouted.
The subject consists of a personal pronoun (‘he’) → S-V word order is required
4. ”What do you want to do then?” Paul asked Will.
There is an object in the reporting clause (‘Will’) → S-V word order is required
C. Prepositions (from Solveig Granath: ENGAG1 Grammatik grundkurs). Explain the
difference in meaning between:
1.
a.
b.
We arrived in time. = not too late
We arrived on time. = when we intended to arrive
2.
a.
b.
Adam is clever at doing that. = good at it
Adam is too clever to do that. = not stupid enough to do it
3.
a.
b.
I don’t think much of Shakespeare. = I don’t have a high opinion of Shakespeare.
I don’t think much about Shakespeare. = I don’t spend a lot of time contemplating
Shakespeare.
4.
a.
b.
He’s engaged with his cousin. = busy with his cousin, doing something
He’s engaged to his cousin. = engaged to be married to his cousin
5.
a.
b.
Sally doesn’t think of dieting much. = doesn’t think about it a lot
Sally thinks about dieting all the time. = thinks about dieting non-stop
D. Prepositions (from Solveig Granath: ENGAG1). What is the correct translation?
1.
Har du hört vad som hänt min bror?
a) Have you heard of my brother?
b) Have you heard from my brother?
c) Have you heard about my brother?
The correct alternative is: C
= Har du hört talas om…
= Har du hört från…
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ENGALX – Grammatik
2.
Jag kommer och hämtar dig klockan sex.
The correct alternative is: A
a) I’ll call for you at six o’clock.
b) I’ll call you at six o’clock.
= Jag ringer dig…
c) I’ll call on you at six o’clock.
= Jag kommer och hälsar på dig…
3.
Han tog sjövägen.
a) He went by sea.
b) He went by the sea.
c) He went to sea.
The correct alternative is: A
= Han gick längs havet.
= Han gick till sjöss.
E. Most of the following sentences contain errors that are often made. Correct the ones that
are wrong.
1. Became he a dentist?
→ Did he become
The ‘do-construction’ (= do-omskrivning) is used in questions.
2. He told me to not worry.
→ not to worry
Don’t split infinitives if you can avoid it! It’s especially important to remember that
long adverbials can never split the infinitive, and that the words not, merely, and
only can never split the infinitive, either.
3. When I five years ago visited London, I didn’t realize how big it was.
→ When I visited London five years ago, ….
In English, you can never have a long adverbial after a personal pronoun when that
personal pronoun functions as the subject in the clause (but this is possible in
Swedish, so beware!)
4. Only after I had threatened to sue him he sent me back the money he owed me.
→ … did he send me back …
The word order is partially inverted (omvänd ordföljd) after a clause-initial
adverbial that negates or restricts the entire clause. Here, only (= ‘först’) is such an
adverb. Please note that you normally need to add an auxiliary (“do/ does/ did”)
unless there is one already.
5. Andy said that he would never forget that day.
Correct! Short adverbials are placed immediately after the (first) auxiliary.
6. On no account you should believe such a stupid story.
→ should you believe
Cf. comments to sentence number 4.
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ENGALX – Grammatik
7. You always have been the most important person in my life.
→ You have always been
In normal, neutral English sentences, a short adverbial is always placed immediately
after the first auxiliary, whether the clause is a main clause or a subordinate clause.
If you place the adverbial before the first auxiliary, then you’ve actually emphasised
the verb (‘You always have been…’). That can also be all right in certain contexts,
but it’s definitely not neutral, especially not in British English.
8. Never have I seen such a ridiculous person!
Correct! Cf. comments to sentence number 4 and 6.
9. Fiona was here for two years ago.
→ two years ago
10. This happened in the fall 2001.
→ in the fall of 2001
Note:
- ‘In the year 2000’ (normally, there’s no ‘of’ after the word year)
- ‘In the boom year of 2000’ (you need an ‘of’ when there is an adjective before the
word year)
- ‘In the spring of 2000’ (you need an ‘of’ after the names of the four seasons)
11. This happened in the year of 2001.
→ in /the year/ 2001.
12. Shakespeare lived on the 16th century.
→ in
13. Jenny’s daughter is well again.
Correct!
The word ‘well’ can be both an adjective (=frisk) and an adverb (=bra, väl)
14. Matthew is more clever than Simon.
Correct, but it is also OK to say ‘cleverer’.
15. Isn’t she alive?
Correct! The adjective ‘alive’ functions in the sentence as a subject predicative.
16. The burger tasted awfully.
→ awful
It’s an adjective, not an adverb. After the verbs of perception (= sinnesverben), you
need an adjective. But remember that the adjective doesn’t modify the verb! It
modifies the noun (burger).
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ENGALX – Grammatik
17. He died of cancer.
Correct! Also ok: die from cancer. (NEVER die in cancer!!)
18. Several islands of the Thai coast were damaged by the tsunami.
→ off
‘of’ indicates possession
‘off’ = situated quite close to
Other examples include: ‘off-shore drilling’, ‘a show off-Broadway’, ‘a show off-offBroadway’(!)
19. My children still go in school.
→ go to school = gå i skolan
20. The H&M sale is on Monday to Friday.
→ Monday through Friday / from Monday to Friday
21. I tried to translate the text to Italian.
→ translate the text into Italian
Note the difference:
The book is translated into Italian. – ‘The book’ is translated as ‘il libro’.
22. I am sure of that he will come.
→ I am sure that he will come.
In English, the combination ‘preposition + that-clause’ is impossible. Remember:
‘Preposition plus “att” är som hund och katt.’
23. Larry is very interesting of computers.
→ interested IN
Remember: interesting = intressant; interested = intresserad!
F.
List of adjectives. “What do you look like?”
And here’s a selection of some of the most inventive adjectives you listed – if you don’t know
them, please look them up and learn them!
Threadbare
Jaunty
Pensive
Grim
Grotty
Pleasant
Glimmering
Fashionable
Wholesome
Delighted
Childish
Childlike
Handsome
Talkative
Testy
Sloppy
Horrendous
Tallish
Snazzy
Doleful
Plaintive
Bewildered
Puzzled
Wealthy
Distressed
Caucasian
Devastating
Confused
Furious
Stunned
Joyous
Exhausted
Trustful
Sane
Old fashioned
Embarrassed