Adverbs / Adjectives / Linking Verbs

Adverbs

FORM
[adjective + ly] There are also irregular adverbs such as "well" and "fast."

USE 1
Adverbs can be used to modify verbs. Examples:
John walked quickly towards the door. Sally sat silently waiting for somebody else to speak first.

USE 2
Adverbs can be used to modify adjectives. Examples:
The redwood tree was impressively tall. The blouse was outrageously expensive.

USE 3
Adverbs can be used to modify other adverbs. Examples:
She spoke extremely confidently. The cheetah ran incredibly quickly.

Adjectives

FORM
There are many different adjective endings including "-ive," "-ous," "-y," "-ful," "ent" and many others. "Attractive," "envious," "lazy," "beautiful," and "intelligent" are all adjectives.

USE 1
Adjectives can be used to modify nouns. Examples:
Jack drives a big car. Sally writes beautiful poems.

USE 2
Adjectives often follow linking verbs (described below). Examples:
Max is tall. Sandra seems mad.

Linking Verbs

LIST
o o o o o o o o

to appear to be to become to feel to get to go to grow to look

o o o o o o o o

to prove to remain to seem to smell to sound to stay to taste to turn

USE
The linking verbs above are often followed by adjectives instead of adverbs. In such situations, the adjective describes the subject of the sentence rather than the verb. Study the examples below to learn the difference. Examples:
Mary seemed sad. Correct Mary seemed sadly. Not Correct The cake tastes good. Correct The cake tastes well. Not Correct The train is slow. Correct The train is slowly. Not Correct

 James grew tired. Correct Sarah remained calm. Correct The milk went bad. Correct The seas turned rough. Correct The negotiations proved pointless. Correct

IMPORTANT
The verbs in the list above are not always used as linking verbs. Compare the examples below. Examples:
Sally grew angry.

"ANGRY" DESCRIBES SALLY. IN THIS SENTENCE, "TO GROW" IS BEING USED AS A LINKING VERB MEANING "TO BECOME."
The plant grew quickly.

"QUICKLY" DOES NOT DESCRIBE THE PLANT, IT DESCRIBES THE MANNER IN WHICH IT GROWS. IN THIS SENTENCE, "TO GROW" IS NOT BEING USED AS A LINKING VERB.

Also / Too / Either

Also

USE
"Also" is used in positive sentences to add an agreeing thought. Examples:
Jane speaks French. Sam also speaks French. I love chocolate. I also love pizza. Frank can come with us. Nancy can also come with us.

PLACEMENT
"Also" comes after "to be." Examples:
I am also Canadian. I was also there.

With verbs other than "to be," "also" comes before single verb forms.

Examples:
I also sing. He also helped us.

In verb tenses with many parts, "also" comes after the first part and before the second. Examples:
I have also been to Hong Kong. I am also studying economics.

Similarly, since modal verbs are usually followed by a second verb, "also" comes after modal verbs. Examples:
I can also speak French. I should also be there.

Too

USE
"Too" is used in positive sentences to add an agreeing thought. It has the same meaning as "also," but its placement within the sentence is different. Examples:
Jane speaks French. Sam speaks French too. I love chocolate. I love pizza too. Frank can come with us. Nancy can come with us too.

PLACEMENT
"Too" usually comes at the end of a clause. Examples:
I am Canadian too. I can speak French too. I am studying economics too. If he wants to go too, he should meet us at 8:00.

IMPORTANT
Although "too" is usually placed at the end of a clause, it can sometimes be used with commas after the subject of the sentence. This is usually only done in formal speech. Examples:
Mr. Jones wanted the contract. Ms. Jackson, too, thought it was necessary. Donna is working on a solution to the problem. I, too, am trying to find a way to

resolve the conflict.

Either

USE
"Either" is used in negative sentences to add an agreeing thought. Examples:
Jane doesn't speak French. Sam doesn't speak French either. I don't love chocolate. I don't love pizza either. Frank cannot come with us. Nancy cannot come with us either.

PLACEMENT
"Either" usually comes at the end of a clause. Examples:
I cannot speak French either. I am not studying economics either. I don't want to eat either. I didn't like the movie either.

Confusing Sentences
Sometimes the first sentence is negative and the agreeing idea is positive. Examples:
The weather wasn't very appealing. I also wanted to stay home and finish my

book. That's why I didn't go to the beach. The car wasn't expensive, and I needed a way to get around town too. That's why I bought it.

Sometimes the first sentence is positive and the agreeing idea is negative.

Examples:
Jane is too short. She is not a good athlete either. I don't think she would

make a good basketball player. He is lazy. He doesn't study either. That's why he doesn't do well in school.

Even
USE
When a strong statement is made, the statement is often followed with an example containing "even." The word "even" adds shock, surprise, or excitement to the example. Examples:
He loses everything. He even lost his own wedding ring! John has amnesia, and he can't remember anything about the past. He

can't even remember his own name! He could become anything. He could even become President of the United States! I love that author, and I have all of his books - even the ones which are out of print.

Even Though / Even When / Even If

USE
"Even" can be combined with the words "though," "when" and "if." It emphasizes that a result is unexpected. Study the following examples and explanations to learn how these expressions differ. Examples:
Even though Bob studied very hard, he still failed his French tests.

BOB ALWAYS STUDIED HARD. BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, HE FAILED THE TESTS.

Even when Bob studied very hard, he still failed his French tests.

BOB OCCASSIONALLY STUDIED HARD, BUT IT DIDN'T REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE. EVERY TIME HE STUDIED, HE STILL FAILED.
Even if Bob studied very hard, he still failed his French tests.

BOB DIDN'T NORMALLY STUDY VERY HARD. BUT IN THE RARE SITUATION WHEN HE DID TRY TO STUDY HARD, HE STILL FAILED THE TEST.
Jerry is never happy. Even though you do everything his way, he is still

dissatisfied. YOU DO EVERYTHING HIS WAY, BUT HE IS STILL DISSATISFIED. Jerry is never happy. Even when you do everything his way, he is still dissatisfied. YOU SOMETIMES TRY DOING THINGS HIS WAY, BUT HE IS STILL DISSATISFIED.

 Jerry is never happy. Even if you do everything his way, he is still dissatisfied.

YOU HAVE TRIED DOING THINGS HIS WAY ONCE OR TWICE , BUT IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE BECAUSE HE IS STILL DISSATISFIED.

IMPORTANT
These expressions are not always interchangeable; the context of the sentence will affect your choice:
"Even though" is used when something is always done or a fact is mentioned. "Even when" is used when something is occasionally done. "Even if" is used when something is rarely done or just imagined.

Examples:
Even though the interview went terribly yesterday, Cheryl got the job. Correct

THE INTERVIEW WENT TERRIBLY, BUT SHE GOT THE JOB.

Even when the interview went terribly yesterday, Cheryl got the job. Not

Correct THIS SENTENCE IS INCORRECT BECAUSE THE INTERVIEW DID NOT GO TERRIBLY MORE THAN ONE TIME. THERE WAS ONLY ONE INTERVIEW SO "WHEN" IS NOT THE RIGHT WORD FOR THIS SENTENCE. Even if the interview went terribly yesterday, Cheryl got the job. Correct YOU HAVE NOT TALKED TO CHERYL SINCE HER INTERVIEW. YOU IMAGINE THAT THE INTERVIEW WENT TERRIBLY, BUT YOU THINK SHE PROBABLY GOT THE JOB ANYWAY. Even though he wins the lottery jackpot, he won't have enough money to pay off his debt. Not Correct THIS SENTENCE WOULD SUGGEST THAT HE ALWAYS WINS THE LOTTERY. Even when he wins the lottery jackpot, he won't have enough money to pay off his debt. Not Correct THIS SENTENCE WOULD SUGGEST THAT HE SOMETIMES WINS THE LOTTERY JACKPOT. Even if he wins the lottery jackpot, he won't have enough money to pay off his debt. Correct THERE IS A CHANCE IN A MILLION THAT HE MIGHT WIN THE LOTTERY JACKPOT, BUT IT WOULDN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE BECAUSE HE STILL WOULDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY OFF HIS DEBT.

REMEMBER
The meaning and context of the sentence is very important when deciding whether to use "even though," "even when" or "even if."

Even So

USE
"Even so" is very much like the word "but" or "however." "Even so" is different in that it is used with surprising or unexpected results.

Examples:
She is loud and unfriendly. Even so, I like her.

SHE IS LOUD AND UNFRIENDLY, SO IT IS UNEXPECTED THAT I LIKE HER.

The bed is extremely large and heavy. Even so, Jim managed to carry it into

the house by himself. IT IS UNEXPECTED THAT JIM COULD CARRY THE BED BY HIMSELF. Jane was sick for a couple days in Los Angeles. Even so, she said her trip to the United States was great. IF SHE WAS SICK, IT IS UNEXPECTED THAT SHE ENJOYED HER TRIP.

Let / Make / Have / Get

Let

FORM
[let + person + verb]

USE
This construction means "to allow someone to do something." Examples:
John let me drive his new car. Will your parents let you go to the party? I don't know if my boss will let me take the day off.

Make

FORM
[make + person + verb]

USE
This construction means "to force someone to do something." Examples:
My teacher made me apologize for what I had said. Did somebody make you wear that ugly hat? She made her children do their homework.

Have

FORM
[have + person + verb]

USE
This construction means "to give someone the responsibility to do something." Examples:
Dr. Smith had his nurse take the patient's temperature. Please have your secretary fax me the information. I had the mechanic check the brakes.

Get

FORM
[get + person + to + verb]

USE
This construction usually means "to convince to do something" or "to trick someone into doing something." Examples:
Susie got her son to take the medicine even though it tasted terrible. How can parents get their children to read more? The government TV commercials are trying to get people to stop smoking.

Get vs. Have

Sometimes "get someone to do something" is interchangeable with "have someone do something," but these expressions do not mean exactly the same thing. Examples:
I got the mechanic to check my brakes.

AT FIRST THE MECHANIC DIDN'T THINK IT WAS NECESSARY, BUT I CONVINCED HIM TO CHECK THE BRAKES.
I had the mechanic check my brakes.

I ASKED THE MECHANIC TO CHECK THE BRAKES.

So / Such
So + Adjective

USE
"So" can be combined with adjectives to show extremes. This form is often used in exclamations. Examples:
The music is so loud! I wish they would turn it down. The meal was so good! It was worth the money.

USE with "That"

The above form can be combined with "that" to show extremes which lead to certain results. The "that" is usually optional. Examples:
The music is so loud that I can't sleep. The music is so loud I can't sleep. The meal was so good that we decided to have dinner at the same restaurant

again tonight. The meal was so good we decided to have dinner at the same restaurant again tonight.

So + Adverb

USE
"So" can be combined with adverbs to show extreme actions. This form is often used in exclamations. Examples:
She spoke so quickly! She sounded like an auctioneer. He paints so well! I am sure he is going to become a famous artist.

USE with "That"

The above form can be combined with "that" to show extreme actions which lead to certain results. The "that" is usually optional. Examples:
She spoke so quickly that I couldn't understand her.

 She spoke so quickly I couldn't understand her. He paints so well that they offered him a scholarship at an art school in Paris. He paints so well they offered him a scholarship at an art school in Paris.

So + Many / Few + Plural Noun

USE
"So" can be combined with "many" or "few" plus a plural noun to show extremes in amount. This form is often used in exclamations. Examples:
I never knew you had so many brothers! She has so few friends! It's really quite sad.

USE with "That"

The above form can be combined with "that" to show extremes in amount which lead to certain results. The "that" is usually optional. Examples:
I never knew you had so many brothers that you had to share a bedroom. I never knew you had so many brothers you had to share a bedroom. She has so few friends that she rarely gets out of the house. She has so few friends she rarely gets out of the house.

So + Much / Little + Non-countable Noun

USE
"So" can be combined with "much" or "little" plus a non-countable noun to show extremes in amount. This form is often used in exclamations. Examples:
Jake earns so much money! And he still has trouble paying the rent. They have so little food! We need to do something to help them.

USE with "That"

The above form can be combined with "that" to show extremes in amount which lead to certain results. The "that" is usually optional. Examples:
Jake earns so much money that he has lost all sense of what a dollar is

worth.

 Jake earns so much money he has lost all sense of what a dollar is worth. They have so little food that they are starving to death. They have so little food they are starving to death.

So + Much / Little / Often / Rarely

USE
"So" can be combined with words like "much," "little," "often," or "rarely" to describe how much or how often someone does an action. This form is often used in exclamations. Examples:
Earl drinks so much! It's not good for his health. My sister visits us so rarely! I really miss her.

USE with "That"

The above form can be combined with "that" to show the results of extreme actions. The "that" is usually optional. Examples:
Earl drinks so much that it is starting to interfere with his work. Earl drinks so much it is starting to interfere with his work. My sister visits us so rarely that my kids wouldn't even recognize her. My sister visits us so rarely my kids wouldn't even recognize her.

Such + Adjective + Noun

USE
"Such" can be combined with an adjective and a noun to show extremes. This form is often used in exclamations. Examples:
Don has such a big house! I think it's a little ridiculous. Shelly has such beautiful eyes! I have never seen that shade of blue before.

USE with "That"

The above form can be combined with "that" to show extremes which lead to certain results. The "that" is usually optional. Examples:
Don has such a big house that I actually got lost on the way to the bathroom.

 Don has such a big house I actually got lost on the way to the bathroom. Shelly has such beautiful eyes that she got a job as a make-up model. Shelly has such beautiful eyes she got a job as a make-up model.

NOTE
Remember that without the noun you need to use "so." Examples:
such beautiful eyes that so beautiful that

Such + Judgemental Noun

USE
"Such" can also be combined with judgemental nouns for emphasis. This form is often used in exclamations. Examples:
He is such an idiot! He says the stupidest things. She is such a genius! We could never do this work without her.

USE with "That"

The above form can be combined with "that" to show certain results. The "that" is usually optional. Examples:
He is such an idiot that nobody would hire him. He is such an idiot nobody would hire him. She is such a genius that they immediately gave her a position at the

university. She is such a genius they immediately gave her a position at the university.

Such + Noun (This type of...)

USE
"Such" can also mean "this type of..." or "that type of..." Examples:
The archeologist had never seen such writing before he discovered the tablet.
THIS/THAT TYPE OF WRITING

 She usually doesn't receive such criticism.

THIS/THAT KIND OF CRITICISM

Frank has never made such mistakes before.

THESE/THOSE KINDS OF MISTAKES

Subjunctive
FORM
Use the simple form of the verb. The simple form is the infinitive without the "to." The simple form of the verb "to go" is "go." The Subjunctive is only noticeable in certain forms and tenses.

USE
The Subjunctive is used to emphasize urgency or importance. It is used after certain expressions (see below). Examples:
I suggest that he study. Is it essential that we be there? Don recommended that you join the committee.

NOTICE
The Subjunctive is only noticeable in certain forms and tenses. In the examples below, the Subjunctive is not noticeable in the you-form of the verb, but it is noticeable in the he-form of the verb. Examples:
You try to study often. YOU-FORM OF "TRY" It is important that you try to study often. SUBJUNCTIVE FORM OF "TRY" LOOKS THE
SAME.

He tries to study often. HE-FORM OF "TRY" It is important that he try to study often. SUBJUNCTIVE FORM OF "TRY" IS
NOTICEABLE HERE.

Verbs Followed by the Subjunctive

The Subjunctive is used after the following verbs: to advise (that) to ask (that) to command (that) to demand (that) to desire (that)

to insist (that) to propose (that) to recommend (that) to request (that) to suggest (that) to urge (that) Examples:
Dr. Smith asked that Mark submit his research paper before the end of the

month. Donna requested Frank come to the party. The teacher insists that her students be on time.

Expressions Followed by the Subjunctive

The Subjunctive is used after the following expressions: It is best (that) It is crucial (that) It is desirable (that) It is essential (that) It is imperative (that) It is important (that) It is recommended (that) It is urgent (that) It is vital (that) It is a good idea (that) It is a bad idea (that) Examples:
It is crucial that you be there before Tom arrives. It is important she attend the meeting. It is recommended that he take a gallon of water with him if he wants to hike

to the bottom of the Grand Canyon.

Negative, Continuous and Passive Forms of Subjunctive

The Subjunctive can be used in negative, continuous and passive forms. Negative Examples:
The boss insisted that Sam not be at the meeting. The company asked that employees not accept personal phone calls during

business hours. I suggest that you not take the job without renegotiating the salary.

Passive Examples:
Jake recommended that Susan be hired immediately. Christine demanded that I be allowed to take part in the negotiations. We suggested that you be admitted to the organization.

Continuous Examples:
It is important that you be standing there when he gets off the plane. It is crucial that a car be waiting for the boss when the meeting is over. I propose that we all be waiting in Tim's apartment when he gets home.

Should as Subjunctive
After many of the above expressions, the word "should" is sometimes used to express the idea of subjunctiveness. This form is used more frequently in British English and is most common after the verbs "suggest," "recommend" and "insist." Examples:
The doctor recommended that she should see a specialist about the problem. Professor William suggested that Wilma should study harder for the final

exam.

Who, Whom, Whose

Subjects, Objects and Possessive Forms
To understand how to use "who," "whom," and "whose," you first have to understand the difference between subjects, objects, and possessive forms. Subjects do an action:
He loves movies. She goes to school. We enjoy Chinese food.

Objects receive an action:

The teachers like him. Thomas knows her. The actor smiled at us.

Possessive forms tell us the person something belongs to:

His bike is broken.

 I like her new book. The teacher graded our homework.

"Who" is a Subject Pronoun

"Who" is a subject pronoun like "he," "she" and "we" in the examples above. We use "who" to ask which person does an action or which person is a certain way. Examples:
Who made the birthday cake? Who is in the kitchen? Who is going to do the dishes?

"Whom" is an Object Pronoun

"Whom" is an object pronoun like "him," "her" and "us." We use "whom" to ask which person receives an action. Examples:
Whom are you going to invite? Whom did he blame for the accident? Whom did he hire to do the job?

"Whose" is a Possessive Pronoun

"Whose" is a possessive pronoun like "his," "her" and "our." We use "whose" to find out which person something belongs to. Examples:
Whose camera is this? Whose dog is barking outside? Whose cell phone keeps ringing?

"Who," "Whom" and "Whose" in Indirect Questions

The sentence below contains an example of an indirect question:
I don't know whom he invited.

Such sentences usually start with a phrase such as: "I am not sure" or "He doesn't know" or "We don't care." Just ignore the first part of the sentence and look at the indirect question when deciding whether to use "who," "whom" or "whose." Ask yourself if the indirect question requires a subject, object, or possessive form.

Examples:
He doesn't know who the boss of the company is. SUBJECT OF THE INDIRECT
QUESTION

I don't care whom you invite. OBJECT OF THE INDIRECT QUESTION She isn't sure whose car that is. "WHOSE" SHOWS POSSESSION OF CAR.

"Who," "Whom" and "Whose" in Adjective Clauses

The sentence below contains an example of an adjective clause:
I know the man who won the contest.

Adjective clauses are used to describe a noun in the main sentence. In the example above, the adjective clause tells us about "the man." Just ignore the main sentence and look at the adjective clause when deciding whether to use "who," "whom" or "whose." Ask yourself if the adjective clause requires a subject, object, or possessive form. Examples:
We knew the actress who starred in the movie. SUBJECT OF ADJECTIVE CLAUSE They hired the man whom we interviewed last week. OBJECT OF ADJECTIVE
CLAUSE

She knew the family whose house we bought. "WHOSE" SHOWS POSSESSION OF
HOUSE.

"Whom" Less Common

The form "whom" is becoming less and less common in English. Many native English speakers think "whom" sounds outdated or strange. This trend is particularly common in the United States. Especially when combined with prepositions, most people prefer to use "who" as the object pronoun. To most native English speakers, the examples below sound quite natural. Examples:
Who did you come to the party with? I don't know who he gave the book to. That is the woman who I was talking to. Who did you get that from? Do you have any idea who he sold his car to? That is the person who I got the information from.