-ED PRONUNCIATION (EXTENSION): ENGLISH WITH LUCY

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10 COMMON PHRASES AND WHAT YOU CAN USE INSTEAD

Source: www.grammarcheck.net

WHETHER OR IF? TIPS AND TRICKS OF CONDITIONALS

[Infographic provided by Grammar.net]

IF OR WHETHER?

If and whether: indirect questions

We can use if or whether to report indirect yes-no questions and questions with or. If is more common than whether:

Call the bakeries around town and find out if any of them sell raspberry pies.

I rang Peter from the station and asked if I could drop in to see him before going back or if he’d meet me.

We often prefer whether in more formal contexts:

The teachers will be asked whether they would recommend the book to their classes.

[from a business meeting]

John read a letter that he’d written and the board discussed whether it should be mailed.

We prefer whether with or when there is more than one alternative in the indirect question:

After the election, we asked whether the parties should change their leaders, their policies, or both.

To express an alternative, we can use or not with if and whether.

With whether we can use or not immediately after whether or in end position. 

With if we use or not in end position only:

I called Bill to find out whether or not he really did go to Afghanistan.

I called Bill to find out whether he really did go to Afghanistan or not.

I called Bill to find out if he really did go to Afghanistan or not.

We use whether and not if before a to-infinitive, often when we’re referring to future plans or decisions:

I was wondering whether to go for a swim.

Some financial decisions, such as planning a pension, need to be taken as early as possible. Others, such as whether to move house, can probably only be made much later.

Whether not if

We use whether and not if after prepositions:

Later I argued with the doctor about whether I had hit my head, since I couldn’t remember feeling it.

Not: Later I argued with the doctor about if I had hit my head …

The police seemed mainly interested in whether there were any locks on the windows.

Not: The police seemed mainly interested in if there were any locks …

I doubt if, I don’t know whether

We use if or whether to introduce clauses after verbs of doubting:

I don’t know if I can drive. My foot really hurts.

I didn’t prune the rose bush this year so I doubt if we’re going to have many flowers. (‘prune’ means cut back)

We’ll have plenty of photographs to show you but I’m not sure whether we’ll be able to learn very much from them. 

If, whether: typical errors

• ·         We use whether, not if, before to-infinitives:

I don’t know whether to buy the blue one or the red one.

Not: I don’t know if to buy the blue one …

• ·         We use whether, not if, directly before or not:

Can you tell me whether or not you’re interested in the job.

Not: Can you tell me if or not you’re interested …

• ·         We use whether, not if, after prepositions:

[talking about a trip to Australia for a year]

We’re not interested in whether we get great jobs and that kind of thing, we just want to have a good time.

Not: We’re not interested in if we get great jobs and that kind of thing …

ENCONTRADO EN: dictionary.cambridge.org

FOOD IN BRITAIN (SUBTITLES AVAILABLE)

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THE SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD IN ENGLISH (FULL EXPLANATION)

The English subjunctive is a special, relatively rare verb form that expresses something desired or imagined.

We use the subjunctive mainly when talking about events that are not certain to happen. For example, we use the subjunctive when talking about events that somebody:

• wants to happen
• anticipates will happen
• imagines happening

Base Subjunctive

Form of base subjunctive

The form of the base subjunctive is extremely simple. For all verbs and all persons, the form is the base of the verb, for example: be, have, do, go, sing, work.

The base subjunctive does not use any other forms (goes, sings, works).

This table shows the base subjunctive in all persons, using the verbs be, work and sing as examples:

	base-subjunctive
	be	work	sing
I	be	work	sing
you	be	work	sing
he, she, it	be	work	sing
we	be	work	sing
you	be	work	sing
they	be	work	sing

Note that the subjunctive does not change at all according to person (I, you, he etc).

Use of base subjunctive

In certain that clauses

The base subjunctive is typically used in that clauses after two structures:

1. suggest-verb (or noun) + that

• advise, ask, command, demand, desire, insist, order, prefer, propose, recommend, request, suggest
• command, demand, order, proposal, recommendation, request, suggestion

2. advisable/anxious-adjective + that

• advisable, best, crucial, desirable, essential, imperative, important, necessary, unthinkable, urgent, vital
• adamant, anxious, determined, eager, keen

Look at these sentences which include examples of the above:

main clause suggest-verb		that clause with subjunctive
He	suggests	that	you		be	present at the meeting.
The board	recommend	that	he		join	the company.
He	requested	that	the car park	not	be	locked at night.

main clause suggest-noun		that clause with subjunctive
They made a	suggestion	that	we	be	early.
He made a	proposal	that	the company	buy	more land.
The president has issued an	order	that	the secretary	resign	next month.

main clause advisable-adjective		that clause with subjunctive
It is	advisable	that	she		rest	for a week.
It was	essential	that	the army		advance	rapidly.
After the landing, it will be	vital	that	every soldier	not	use	a radio.

main clause anxious-adjective		that clause with subjunctive
Tara is	anxious	that	you		return	soon.
They are	keen	that	he	not	be	hurt.
We were	determined	that	it		remain	secret.

Notice above↑:

• the position of not when creating negation
• that the main clause can be in any tense

Look at some more examples, which include that clauses in negative and continuous form:

• The judges order that he stay the execution.
• We have made a request that we not be disturbed.
• It is important that a car be waiting when we arrive.
• The manager was eager that his visitor see the new building.
• The board of directors recommended that he not be dismissed.
• Have you seen my suggestion that work hours be reduced?

The use of the subjunctive as above is more common in American English than in British English, where should structures are often used:

• It was essential that we should vote the following day.
• He requested that the car park should not be locked at night.

be after if

We sometimes use subjunctive be after if/whether, though this is rather formal, especially in British English:

If that	be	(not)	the case,	I intend to report the matter.
Whether he	be		prepared or not,

If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved. William Shakespeare

Fixed expressions

Note the following fixed expressions with the subjunctive:

• Bless you!
• God bless America!
• God save the Queen.
• Long live the President!
• Heaven forbid!
• Heaven help us!

were-Subjunctive

Form of were-subjunctive

	were-subjunctive
	be
I	were
you	were
he, she, it	were
we	were
you	were
they	were

Note that the subjunctive does not change according to person (I, you, he etc).

Use of were-subjunctive

In the following examples, you can see that we sometimes use the were-subjunctive (instead of was) after:

• if
• as if
• wish
• suppose

Note that in these cases were is always correct, but was is possible in informal language:

Formal with were	Informal with was
I would go if I were younger.	I would go if I was younger.
If he were not so mean, he would buy one.	If he wasn't so mean, he would buy one.
I'd tell her if I were you.	We do not normally say "if I was you" even in colloquial language.
It's not as if I were ugly.	It's not as if I was ugly.
She acts as if she were the Queen.	She acts as if she was the Queen.
I wish I weren't so slow!	I wish I wasn't so slow!
I wish the computer were working.	I wish the computer was working.
Suppose she were here. What would you say?	Suppose she was here. What would you say?

If I Were a Rich Man Fiddler on the Roof
If I were a boy Beyoncé
If I were a carpenter
And you were a lady,
Would you marry me anyway?
Would you have my baby? Tim Hardin

Strange as it may seem, although the words hope and wish seem to be similar, we do not use the subjunctive with hope. Correct sentences with hope would be, for example:

• I hope that this computer works.
• I hope that this computer is working.

ENCONTRADO EN: www.englishclub.com