English 7 grammar

Students of English 7 will need to master advanced grammar and theory in order to apply those skills in academic writing and speaking. Rarely do we challenge ourselves to use more complex language but rather continue to express ourselves in habitual ways. However, this page attempts to remedy just that! The following grammar exercises are structured according to the modules of English 7. Let's begin, shall we?

Grammar references are based on BBC's advanced grammar guide.

Compound-complex sentences (Course introduction)

Compound-complex sentences- moving from simple to advanced sentence structures

Switching between independent and dependent clauses will develop the way you express yourself. These are known as compound and complex sentences.

Compound sentence: two independent clauses connected by a conjunction, FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.

Complex sentence: at least one dependent clause and an independent clause with a connected with a subordinate conjunction: although, after, while, when, unless, because, before, if, since.


Let's look at some examples, shall we?


Start with two independent clauses, for example:

  • The frog leapt into the lake. The water rippled.

Combine the independent clauses into a compound sentence using FANBOYS:

  • The frog leapt into the lake and the water rippled.

Add a dependent clause before, in middle of, or at the end of the two independent clauses. This creates a compound-complex sentence:

  • Because the frog was chased by a bird, the frog leapt into the lake and the water rippled.

  • The frog leapt into the lake and the water rippled, because the frog was chased by a bird.

  • I read and after eating, I watched tv.

Exercises

Write the sentences and draw a circle around the independent and dependent clauses. For example:

While looking at her phone, she watched Youtube for many hours and she was making an attempt to study.


While looking at her phone (dependent) she watched Youtube for many hours (independent) and she was making an attempt to study (independent).


I only drink coffee in the morning because I am rarely hungry, but most people eat a full breakfast.

When I listen to music, my body moves involuntarily and I enjoy humming to the tune.

The politician jumped at his opponent and the auditorium exploded in violence because everyone started fighting.

Monroe's Motivated Sequence Grammar: Inversions

Inversions - improve your formality with dramatic and idiomatic patterns

Inversions improve drama or formality by swapping the subject-verb order and adding a negative or limiting adverb. For example:

  • I rarely write letters to strangers. ➜ Rarely do I write letters to strangers.


We create inversions using the following pattern:

  1. Move a negative or limiting adverb to the beginning of the sentence

  2. Add an auxiliary (helping) verb

  3. If necessary, change the tense of the verb

  4. Add a subject


Furthermore, inversions can be divided based on their uses. We will mainly focus on the following:

  • a unique situation

  • a short amount of time or almost not

  • understanding a situation

  • not understanding a situation

A unique situation


A situation where something occurs infrequently.

  • He never argued that ferociously.

    • ➜ Never did he argue that ferociously. (Observe that argue changed from past tense to infinitive)

  • Rarely has someone been so wrong as you.

  • Seldom did she take the bus.

When expressing a unique situation, the negative or limiting adverbs used are:

  • Never

  • Rarely

  • Seldom

A short amount of time or something that almost did not happen


A situation where a short amount of time has passed or almost did not happen.

  • She had hardly sat down to eat dinner when there was a knock on the door.

    • ➜Hardly had she sat down to eat dinner when there was a knock on the door.

  • Barely had I got out of the shower when the phone rang.

  • No sooner had I gotten my receipt than I realized that I had paid for everyone’s food.

When expressing that a short amount of time has passed or something almost did not happen, the negative or limiting adverbs used are:

  • Hardly

  • Barely

  • Scarcely

  • No sooner

Understanding a situation


A situation where something is going to happen or not.

  • He knew when she told him.

    • ➜ Only when she told him did he know.

  • Only after they had finished their homework were they allowed to rest.

  • Only when I took the test did I realise how prepared I was.

When expressing that someone understands a situation, the negative or limiting adverbs used are:

  • Only if ..

  • Only when ..

  • Only now ..

Not understanding a situation


A situation that expresses a lack of understanding.

  • I was not aware that she was home

    • ➜ Little was I aware that she was home.

  • Little did she grasp the gravity of the situation.

When expressing that someone does not understand a situation, the negative or limiting adverbs used are:

  • Little ... was

  • Little ... did

Advanced linking words (Experiences of The Color Purple)

Elaboration - synonym to “and”; gives more information, provide examples

Basic

  • And, he / she / it is, you are, has/ have

Intermediate

  • For example, such as, as well as

Advanced

  • In addition, furthermore, moreover, for instance, often

Let's look at some examples, shall we?

  • Feke studies English and Japanese.

  • Feke studies English in addition to Japanese.

Cause and effect - synonym to “because”; tells us why, provide results

Basic

  • because, so, and so

Intermediate

  • in order to, due to

Advanced

  • therefore, on the condition that, consequently

Let's look at some examples, shall we?

  • Feke teaches English because he enjoys it.

  • Feke teacher English, consequently enjoying it. (see here that I changed the verb to continuous form)

Compare and contrast - synonym to “but”; compare to see if examples are similar or not

Basic

  • but, but also

Intermediate

  • Meanwhile, although, while

Advanced

  • In contrast, however, moreover, whereas, despite, in comparison, nonetheless, similarly.

Let's look at some examples, shall we?

  • Feke speaks Swedish but he does not teach it.

  • Feke speaks Swedish, however, he does not teach it.

Exercise

A basic example: next - after - later - finally - first - then - and

Making ramen.

(1) __________________, turn on the kettle to boil some water. (2) __________________, open the package. (3) __________________, put the ramen noodles into a bowl and pour the boiling water onto them. (4) __________________ a few minutes, add the spices and oils that were included inside the package. (5) __________________, add any toppings to your liking. (6) __________________, enjoy your meal!


An intermediate-advanced example: In conclusion - additionally - eventually - firstly - secondly

Recycling

Recycling by means of a compost is not as difficult as one might think. Regardless of what many think, even the smallest contribution helps. (1) __________________, create a routine where you separate organic waste from non-degradable waste. (2) __________________, you will require a container where you can dispose of your fruit or vegetables. (3) __________________, the compost might have a slightly pungent smell and (4) __________________ attract flies. But do not worry! This is your signal to take the compost-bag outside. (5) __________________, it is simple yet effective. Plus, you will contribute to a more eco-friendly world!

Answer key

Basic example: First, then, next, after, later, finally

Intermediate-advanced example: Firstly, secondly, eventually, additionally, in conclusion

Discourse markers and questions tags (The Power of Language)

...

Particple clauses (A Warning to the Future)

asdasdasd

Basic

  • asd

  • asd

Intermediate

  • asd

  • asd

Advanced

  • asd

  • asd

Let's look at some examples ..