Writing Skills- Carmen Sbarna

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Writing SkillsGrammarCarmen Sbarna Senior Certified TranslatorKPMG Romania20-21 May 2009

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Writing Skills

Contents

Tenses ConditionalReported/Indirect SpeechPreparatory “IT”ModalsInversionTime clauses-Ing forms / InfinitiveMisrelated participles

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Writing Skills

Agenda

Wednesday 20 May

14.00 – 15.00

Tenses;

Conditionals

COFFEE

15.15 – 17.30

Reported speech;

Preparatory “IT”

Thursday, 21 May

14.00 – 15.00

Modals;

Inversion

COFFEE

15.15 – 17.30

Time Clauses

-Ing forms / Infinitive

Misrelated participles

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Writing Skills

Tenses - Present - Simple & ProgressiveUses

We appraise our employees once a year.

Alice works for an insurance company.

Managers plan, organize, lead and control

Why are you sitting at my desk?

I’m working in Paris at the moment.

We are running a training seminar next Monday.

He is always coming late for work.

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Writing Skills

Tenses - Present - Simple & ProgressiveUses

Present Simple

1. Habitual actions

We appraise our employees once a year.

2. Permanent situations

Alice works for an insurance company.

3. To describe a truth or current belief

Managers plan, organize, lead and control

Vbs used only in the simple: understand, know, belong etc.

Present Progressive1. Actions happening now

Why are you sitting at my desk?

2. Temporary present actions

I’m working in Paris at the moment.

3. Planned future actions

We are running a training seminar next Monday.

4. Frequently repeated actions that annoy the speaker

He is always coming late for work.

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Writing Skills TensesPast Tense Simple & Progressive

Uses

Simple Past

A past action when the time is given or asked about

Last week the ABC Group took over our company

An action that clearly took place at a definite time although it is not mentioned

How did you get your present job?

He worked in that bank for 4 Years.

Past time markers: yesterday, …ago, on+day/date; in+month/year

Past Progressive

To provide a past time frame for another activity

Our overseas sales were increasing when the GM resigned

While we were discussing cost-cutting measures, the GM was presenting the poor results

To indicate gradual development

It was getting more and more difficult to find new customers

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Writing Skills TensesPresent Perfect (1)

(1) Used when we talk about a period of time that continues from the past until now

e.g. Have you ever eaten caviar? (in your life)

We have never had a car.

It is the most boring film I have ever seen.

Markers: recently, in the last few days, since breakfast, so far

e.g. Have you heard from George recently?

I have met a lot of clients in the last few days.

We haven’t had any problems so far.

I’m hungry. I haven’t eaten anything since breakfast.

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2. Used with unfinished periods of time

Markers: today, this morning, this evening, this year

e.g. I have drunk four cups of coffee today (perhaps I will drink more before the day is finished)

Have you had any holiday this year?

Note: we say “ It’s the first (second, third) time something has happened

e.g. It’s the first time he has driven a car (not “drives”) or

He has never driven a car before.

Bill is phoning the client again. That’s the third time he has phoned him this afternoon.

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3. Used when there is a connection with now or the action in the past has a result now

e.g. He told me his name but I have forgotten it (I can’t remember it now)

The road is closed. There’s been an accident.

The police have arrested two men in connection with the robbery.

Markers: just, already, yet

e.g. Would you like something to eat? No, thanks, I’ve just had lunch.

What time is Mark leaving? He’s already gone.

Yet = ‘until now’ used only in questions and negative sentences

e.g. Have they stopped talking yet?

I’ve printed the letter but I haven’t posted it yet.

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4. For & SinceFor + period of time (two hours, six weeks)e.g. We have worked for this client for two years.

I haven’t seen Tom for three days.

Since = start of a period still continuing e.g. We have worked for this client since 2007.

I haven’t seen Tom since the day before yesterday.

For

two hours a week

20 minutes 50 years

five days a long time

Six months ages

Since

8 o’clock 1977

Monday Christmas

April lunchtime

12 May they were at school

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Writing Skills TensesPresent Perfect Simple & Progressive

UsesPresent Perfect Simple

activity taking place at some non-specific time in the past with an impact or result in the present or future

We have completed the feasibility study.

We have raised our prices.

activity taking place within a period of time which is not yet finished

Sales have increased this year

Present Perfect Progressive

activity taking place at some non-specific time in the past with an impact or result in the present or future BUT which happens over a period of time

Here’s the report. I’ve been reading it all morning.

Sales have been falling recently.

We have been developing this product for 3 years.

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Writing Skills TensesPresent Perfect Simple & Past tense

Present Perfect

I have done a lot of work today.

It hasn’t rained this week.

He has lived in London for seven years.

I have never played golf.

Past Tense

I did a lot of work yesterday.

It didn’t rain last week.

He lived in London for seven years.

I didn’t play golf last summer.

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Writing Skills TensesPresent Perfect Simple & Past tense

Do not use the present perfect when you talk about a finished time (yesterday, ten minutes ago, when I was a child)

When…? What time…? + Past tense

Present Perfect

I have done a lot of work today.

It hasn’t rained this week.

He has lived in London for seven years.

I have never played golf.

Past Tense

I did a lot of work yesterday.

It didn’t rain last week.

He lived in London for seven years.

I didn’t play golf last summer.

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Writing Skills Conditionals Type 1: Probable : if + present + future/present

If clause Main clause

Present tense Future (will) or present

If he runs (no future after “IF”) he will get there in time / he may get there in time.

If there is a shortage of any product prices of the product go/will go up.

If you help me move tomorrow I will buy you dinner

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Writing Skills Conditionals Type 2: Improbable : if + past + would


Past tense would

If I had time I would come to your party.

If I lived near my office I would be on time for work.

If I had time I would come to your party.

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Writing Skills Conditionals Type 3: Impossible/unreal : if + past perfect + would have


Past perfect Would have

If we had found him earlier we would have saved his life

If you had worked harder you would have passed your exam

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Writing Skills Conditionals

“if you will/would” – polite requests / willingnesse.g. If you will/would wait a moment I’ll see if Mr. Jones is free.

If you will come this way, the manager will see you now.

I would be grateful if you would give me a little help.

“if + should” - to suggest something is unlikely to happen

e.g. If you should run into Peter, tell him he owes me money.

but

Should you be interested in further details, please feel free to contact us.

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Writing Skills Conditionals

If, supposing, provided, on condition that ( + similar verb forms)

e.g. Supposing you fell in love with your neighbour, what would you do?

You can borrow my book provided you bring it back.

I’ll give you the day off on condition that you work on Saturday morning.

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Writing Skills Reported / Indirect speech

DirectHe said: ‘I want to go home” and just

walked outShe asked “What do you want?”And then I thought “Well, does he

really mean it?Bill (on Saturday evening): I don’t like

this party. I want to go home now.

He said: The exam will be difficult.She said: My English is getting better.

Peter said: This has been a wonderful holiday.

IndirectSo he said (that) he wanted to go

home, and just walked out.She asked what I wanted.And then I wondered whether he really

meant it.Peter (on Sunday morning): Bill said

(that) he didn’t like the party and he wanted to go home.

He said the exam would be difficult.She said her English was getting

better.Peter said (that) it had been a

wonderful holiday.

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Writing Skills Reported / Indirect speech (2)

Direct

Ann grew up in Kenya.

I can fly!

We may come back early.

I arrived late because I had lost the address.

It would be nice if we could meet.

It would be best if we started early.

If I had any money I would buy you a drink.

Indirect

I found out that Ann had grown up in Kenya.

Poor chap – he thought he could fly.

They said they might come back early.

He said he had arrived late because he had lost the address.

He said it would be nice if we could meet.

He said it would be best if they started early.

She said if she had had any money she would have bought me a drink.

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Writing Skills Reported / Indirect speech (3)

Direct Indirect

will would

simple present simple past

present progressive past progressive

present perfect past perfect

can could

may might

past perfect no change

would, could no change

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Writing Skills Reported / Indirect speech: Questions

Direct

Where’s Alice?

When are you leaving?

What do I need?

Where are the President and his wife staying?

Who is the best player here?

What’s the matter?

Which is my seat?

IndirectI asked where Alice was.He wanted to know when I was leaving.She asked what she needed.I asked where the President and his wife were staying.She asked who was the best player / who the best player was.She asked what was the matter / what the matter was.She wondered which was her seat / which her seat was.

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Writing Skills Reported / Indirect speech: time and place; this and these

Direct

today

yesterday

the day before yesterday

tomorrow

the day after tomorrow

next week/year, etc.

last week/year, etc.

a year etc. ago

*

this, these

Indirect

that day

the day before

two days before

the next day/the following day

in two days’ time

the following week/year etc.

the previous week/year etc.

a year before/the previous year

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it, they, them

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Writing Skills Preparatory “IT”

I find to talk to you difficult I find it difficult to talk to you Object of sentence = infinitive / that clauseThere is an adjective connected to object !! This structure is nor normally used when there is no adjective or noun

complement after the verb. I cannot bear it to see people crying – Wrong !!Structures:

I love it when you sing.I take it that you won’t be working tomorrow. I found it strange being in her house.I would appreciate it if you would keep me informed.We owe it to society to make our country a better place.I’ll leave it to you to decide.

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Writing Skills

Modals – Can / Could

1. Ability (knowledge, skill, strength)Can you speak French?Henry can lift 100 kilos (able to is also possible)

2. (asking for and giving) Permission Can/Could I ask you something?Can everybody park here?

3. Requests, orders suggestionsCould you lend me 5 pounds?When you’ve finished washing up you can clean

the kitchen.If you haven’t got anything to do you could sort out

your photos.

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Writing Skills

Modals – Must and Have to

Must – obligation comes from speaker

I must do some more work, I want to pass the exam

Have to – obligation that comes from ‘outside’

In my job I have to work from nine to five.

This is a terrible party. We really must go home.

This is a lovely party but we have to go home because of the baby-sitter.

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Writing Skills

Modals – Can’t /Must - deductions

Mary must have a problem – she keeps crying.

She can’t have a problem, I saw her laughing these days.

There’s the doorbell. It must be Roger.

It can’t be Roger. He’s gone abroad

It can’t have been her husband who answered the phone.

It must have been a relative.

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Writing Skills

Modals – Mustn’t / Needn’t / Don’t have to

You must not drink while driving - interdiction

You needn’t work tomorrow if you don’t have to.

You don’t have to work tomorrow ….

NOT

You mustn’t work tomorrow if you don’t want to.

You don’t need to get a visa to go to Scotland.

You don’t have to get a visa …

NOT

You must not get a visa to go to Scotland.

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Writing Skills

Modals – May / Might

1. To express formal permission: You may go now.

2. May / might + pres.infinitives = possibility in the future (might = greater doubt)

e.g. He may/might come tomorrow.

3. Might must be used when the vb of the main clause is in the past tense:

e.g. I thought she might like the concert, so I bought two tickets.

4. May / might + perf. Inf. = speculations about past actions

e.g. He may / might have read the book.

5. In conditional clauses to express a possible result

e.g. If they live in the same building, he may know her.

If he came to our party he might enjoy himself.

6. May not can express prohibition = must not

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Writing Skills

May / Might - Possibility

We may go climbing in the Alps next summer.

I think it’s going to rain. You may well be right (stronger possibility)

I might go to London tomorrow (less definite, smaller chances).

May/Might not = it is possible that … not…

Can’t = It is not possible that…

She may be at home = perhaps she is at home

She may not be at home = perhaps she is not at home

She can’t be at home = she is certainly not at home

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Writing Skills

May / Might - Permission

1. Asking for permission

May I put the TV on?

May I borrow your car?

2. Giving and refusing permission

May I put the TV on? Yes, of course you may.

May I borrow your car? No, I’m afraid you may not.

Students may not use the staff car park.

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Writing Skills

Inversion

1. Never / rarely / seldom + Present Perfect / Past Perfect

e.g. Never has there been so much protest against terrorism.

Rarely have we seen such public interest.

Seldom had they had to deal with such a case.

2. Hardly … when / scarcely… when / no sooner… than / + Past Perf.

e.g. Hardly/scarcely had I arrived when we heard a strange noise.

No sooner had he put down the receiver than it rang again.

3. Only / not only (usually + Past tense)

e.g. Only after leaving the house did she remember to lock the door.

Not only did we lose all our money but we also lost our car.

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Writing Skills

Inversion

4. No/not; under no circumstances; on no account; at no time; in no way; on no condition; not until; not only (+but also); e.g. Under no circumstances can we cash cheques.

On no account should we drink and drive.

Not until many years later did the whole truth become known.

At no time was he in a position to complain.

5. Little

Little does she realize what problems she creates for others.

6. If

If I had known you were ill, I would have visited you.

Had I know that you were ill, I would have visited you.

If you should need my help, just give me a ring

Should you need my help, just give me a ring.

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Writing Skills

Time Clauses

Introduced by: after, as, as soon as, before, hardly, till/until, when, wheneverNO future or conditional in time clauses Instead of future we can use: a) Present simple

e.g. Soon after he jumps his parachute will open.b) Present Continuous

e.g. While the children are playing, we’ll go to the beach (Pres. Cont) c) Present perfect

e.g. As soon as I have finished I’ll give you a call.

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Writing Skills

-Ing forms

After prepositions:

e.g. I have no objection to hearing your story again.

He is good at driving.

She disapproves of jogging.

After phrasal verbs (give up, look forward to, care for, put off, take to):

e.g. I am looking forward to receiving your response.

He put off making a decision.

Note: He is used to working in shifts / He used to work in shifts.

After some verbs: admit, consider, enjoy, fancy, keep, remember, start,

e.g. He admitted taking the money.

Would you consider selling the property?

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Writing Skills

-Ing forms

Remember, forget, stop, regreta) Remember + -ing = what one has done or what has happened

Remember + inf = remember what one has to do

e.g.I remember posting the letter

Remember to go to the post office.

b) Forget + -ing = what one has done or what has happened

Forget + inf = remember what one has to do

e.g. I’ll never forget seeing the Queen.

She’s always forgetting to give me my books.

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Writing Skills

-Ing forms

c) Stop + ing = stop what one is doing, or does

Stop + inf = make a break, or pause to do something

e.g. I really must stop smoking.

Every half hour I stop work to smoke a cigarette.

d) Regret + ing = be sorry for what has happened

Regret + ing = be sorry for what one has to say

e.g. I don’t regret telling her what I thought.

I regret to inform you that we cannot offer you employment.

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Writing Skills

Misrelated participles

Compare the following sentences:

Climbing down the tree, one of the eggs broke.

Climbing down the tree, he broke one of the eggs.

Note:

A participle is considered to belong to the noun/pronoun that immediately precedes it (usually the subject of the main verb). If there is no noun/pronoun in this position, the participle is considered to belong to the subject of the following main verb.

Writing Skills- Carmen Sbarna

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