Necessary Words and Phrases

Arup Roy, Lecturer in English Language & Literature, Kanchkura University College, Uttarkhan, Airport, Dhaka

So that

A sentence followed by "so that" follows subject + may / can or might / could + verb + ….

Structure: Subject + verb + ……+ so that + first subject + may /can, might / could + verb + …..

v The boy reads more so that ………………

v The boy reads more so that he can make a good result.

v The farmers sow good seeds so that………………

v The farmers sow good seeds so that they can reap a good harvest.

v The lady flattered the writer so that…………..

v The lady flattered the writer so that she could exploit him.

v We eat food so that ………….

v We eat food so that we can get strength.

Note: When we can use 'that' instead of 'so that', we follow the same rule. But we should follow the following structure for negative sentences.

Structure: First clause + so that + first subject or any other subject + cannot / may not, could not / might not + verb ………

v I closed the door of my room so that …………………..

v I closed the door of my room so that he might not enter the room.

v He bears my educational expenses so that ……………..

v He bears my educational expenses so that I may not fail in wants.

v The police sent the convict to jail so that …………………

v The police sent the convict to jail so that he might not escape punishment

v The Caliph went out in disguise so that ………….

v The Caliph went out in disguise so that anyone might not recognize him.

‘In order that’ and ‘so that’ carry the same meaning. Therefore, they follow the same rule.

v Della went to a hair shop in order that ………….

v Della went to a hair shop in order that she could sell her hair.

v He saved some money in order that ………….

v He saved some money in order that he could buy some books.

v Ruman came to me yesterday in order that ……………

v Ruman came to me yesterday in order that he could see me personally.

Too ……… To

If any adjective / adverb preceded by “too, we add ‘to’ followed by +verb + meaningful word/s.

Structure: Subject + Verb + too + adjective / adverb + to + verb + meaningful word/s

v The man is too old……….

v The man is too old to work.

v You are too short………..

v You are too short to touch the roof.

v He is too dishonest………..

v He is too dishonest to speak the truth

v The girl was too silly……….

v The girl was too silly to understand any simple matter.

If too + adjective/adverb of an incomplete sentence is followed by ‘for + prepositional object’ (me, us, you, them, him, her), we are to add to followed by verb + …..

Structure: Subject + verb + too + adjective / adverb + for + prepositional object + to + verb + …….

v The load is too heavy for me ………

v The load is too heavy for me to carry.

v The problem was too hard for them………..

v The problem was too hard for them to solve

v It is too interesting a matter for us…………

v Ans: It is too interesting a matter for us to overlook.

So………..that

If there is adjective / adverb after 'so' in incomplete sentence, we add 'that' + subject + cannot / could not + verb +……

v The man was so ill …………

v The man was so ill that he could not move an inch.

v The sailors’ throats were so dry that they could not speak a single word.

v Many farmers are so poor…….

v Many farmers are so poor that they cannot keep body and soul together.

Provided / Provided that / Providing that:

They are synonymous with ‘if’.

If there is 'provided' / 'provided that' / 'providing that' after an incomplete sentence, we need to add such sentence which is meaningful in relation to the first sentence.

v The plane will take of in time provided ……………. The plane will take off in time provided the weather is good.

v We shall start our journey tomorrow provided that………… We shall start our journey tomorrow provided that it does not rain.

v I will agree to go providing that………… I will agree to go providing that my expenses are great.

v He will shine in life providing that ……………. He will shine in life providing that he works hard.

v We shall start the program provided …………….. We shall start the program provided circumstances favor us.

Lest:

"Lest" means "for fear that". It provides negative meaning. So, it is not necessary to add 'no' or 'not' with the clause.

Structure: The clause that starts with lest follows should / might.

v He ran away lest ……………. He ran away lest he might / should be seen.

v Read diligently lest………….. Read diligently lest you should fail in the examination.

Unless

'Unless' means 'if ……….. not'. So, the clause starts with unless does not require 'not'. To complete an incomplete sentence combined with 'unless', we need to add a meaningful complete sentence.

v Unless you read attentively …………… Unless you read attentively, you will fail.

v Unless you start at once………….. Unless you start at once, you will miss the train

v Come at 8 ‘clock………… Come at 8 o’clock unless I phone.

v He will not shine unless ………….. He will not shine unless he works hard.

Until / Till

Adding a complete sentence with an incomplete sentence embedded with 'until' / 'till' we make a complete sentence. Final part of 'until' / 'till' is affirmative.

v Wait until…………….. Wait until the rain stops.

v Wait for me until………….. Wait for me until I come back.

v Rajib’s mother will be nursing him till………… Rajib’s mother will be nursing him till he comes round.

As long as

By adding a complete sentence with an incomplete sentence embedded with as long as, we make a full sentence.

v Wait here………..Wait here as long as it rains.

v God is with us as long as…………… God is with us as long as our purpose is honest.

v He worked as long as…………… He worked as long as he could.

Though, Although, since, because, if, as:

The clause embedded with 'though'/'although'/'since'/'because'/'if'/'as' needs to add a meaningful sentence to generate complete thought.

v Though he is poor………..Though he is poor, he is honest

v He could not catch the bus………… He could not catch the bus although he ran first.

v Since body and mind go together………..Since body and mind go together, the illness of one inevitably affects the other.

v Crops did not grow well……….Crops did not grow well since there was a draught.

v Everybody admires him because………….. Everybody admires him because he is honest.

v If he comes………….. If he comes I shall go.

v She will not go out if……………. She will not go out if it rains.

v He was rewarded as ………….. He was rewarded as he was truthful.

v As he behaved rough……….As he behaved rough, he was punished.

In spite of, despite

'In spite of' and 'despite' have a similar meaning to 'even though' or 'though'. They are used to make simple sentence/s. We need to add a sentence meaning opposite to the incomplete sentence embedded with 'In spite of' or 'despite'.

v In spite of his poverty……………. In spite of his poverty, he is honest.

v In spite of her having merit………… In spite of her having merit, she failed the examination.

v Despite his good qualification……………. Despite his good qualification, he did not get a suitable job.

v ………………………….despite his innocence. The boy was punished despite his innocence.

Instead of / In lieu of

'Instead of' means in place of someone or something. This kind of phrase is used in a simple sentence.

v Instead of …………… Instead of history, he took logic.

v The boy bought pens instead of …………. The boy bought pens instead of pencils.

v He ate fish in lieu of………..He ate fish in lieu of meat.

Because of, on account of, owing to, due to:

They are used in simple sentences. They mean 'as a result of'.

v Everybody loves him as because of his…………….. Everybody loves him because of his honesty.

v On account of his illness……………. On account of his illness, he could not attend the meeting.

v …………………..due to fog. The writer dare not drive at night due to fog.

Would rather

If you say that you would rather do something or you would rather do it, you mean that you would prefer to do it. If you say you would rather not do something, you mean that you do not want to do it.

Structure: Subject + would rather + verb + present form of verb ……….+ than + verb / noun

v I would rather die……………. I would rather die than beg.

v He would rather drink tea…………… He would rather drink tea than coffee

Had better

"Had better" is used to refer to present or future actions we think people should do or which are desirable in a specific situation. We do not use infinitive 'to' after 'had better.

v I had better…………. I had better ring him at once.

v You had better……….You had better leave the place.

v He had better…………… He had better go home.

No sooner had……than, scarcely had........when hardly had ……..when

We use these expressions to show that one thing happens immediately after another thing.

v No sooner had I gone out…………… No sooner had I gone out than he came.

v Scarcely had we reached the station…………… Scarcely had we reached the station when the train left.

v Hardly had he reached the college…………. Hardly had he reached the college when the examination began.

It is time

We use this expression to show the proper time to act. In this regard we follow two structures:

Structure one: It is time + infinitive + ………….

Structure two: It is time for + object + infinitive + ………….

v It is time to…………… It is time to start the work.

v It is time to ………….. It is time to leave the place.

v It is time for………….. It is time for us to attack the enemy.

It is time

We use this expression to mean that the proper time of a particular work has already been passed on. Therefore, we feel that it was necessary to do the work earlier.

Structure: It is time + subject + past subjunctive + …………….

v It is time …………. It is time we went home.

v It is time…………..it is time they earned their livelihood.

As if / As though

This expression describes how a situation seems to be. It follows two structures:

Structure one: If the first part is present indefinite, the second part will be past indefinite

Structure two: If the first part is past tense, the second part will be past perfect

v He tells the matter as if he……………. He tells the matter as if he knew it.

v He told the matter as if he……………. He told the matter as if he had known it.

v She proceeds as though I …………….. She proceeds as though I did not speak.

v She proceeded as though I……………. She proceeded as though I had not spoken.

Let Alone

'Let alone' is used to indicate something which is far less suitable than something else already mentioned. It expresses negative meaning.

v He cannot pass in the third division, let alone……….he cannot pass in the third division let alone in the first division.

v I cannot swim a kilometer, let alone……….I cannot swim a kilometer let alone ten kilometers.

v The old farmer cannot visit a small town, let alone…………. The old farmer cannot visit a small town, let alone a big city.

v I have not decided on the menu yet, let alone………..I have not decided on the menu yet, let alone an ice cream.

Relative pronoun

Main relative pronouns are who, which, that, whom, whose. We are to complete the incomplete sentence embedded with a relative pronoun by using a verb suitable to respond to the relative pronoun.

v I saw the man who……..I saw the man who was catching fish.

v This is the house that…….This is the house that he wants to buy.

v The writer took a cabin which……..The writer took a cabin which was small.

v The boy whom you met yesterday……………. The boy whom you met yesterday is my brother.

v Shahana is my friend whose sister…………… Shahana is my friend whose sister is a doctor.

Without + gerund

v Without reading more………….. Without reading more you cannot pass.

v Without taking physical exercise……….Without taking physical exercise we cannot keep our body fit.

v ………………Without writing much. He will not be able to write well without writing much.

By + gerund

v By reading more…………. By reading more you can learn more.

v By drinking clean water………….. By drinking clean water you can keep fit.

v ………by eating rice and bread. We can get carbohydrates by eating rice and bread.

If + conditional

Rules of making sentences with 'if' conditional

(i) If + present + future

v If it rains, ……….If it rains, we shall not go.

v If he wants, ……..If he wants, I shall help him.

v If you play in the rain,………..If you play in the rain, you will catch a cold.

(ii) If + past indefinite + past conditional

v If he came………..If he came, I would go.

v If I had a typewriter,………………If I had a typewriter, I would type the letters.

v If they wanted, ………….. If they wanted, we would help them.

(iii) If + past perfect + perfect conditional.

v If I had seen him, ……… If I had seen him I might have told him the news.

v If they had started earlier, ………….. If they had started earlier they could have got the train.

v If she had tried, ………… if she had tried, she would have succeeded.

(iv) If the conditional clause is followed by "were", we use "might /could/ would + ……." in the principal clause.

v If I were a king, ……….. If I were a king, I could help the poor.

v If I were you, ………if I were you, I would not do this.

If the subordinate clause consists of 'had + subject +verb', the principal clause will be perfect conditional.

v Had I Seen him,…………Had I seen him I would have given him the news.

v Had he wanted,………..Had he wanted, they would have helped him.

v Had I possessed a vast property,…………Had I possessed a vast property, I would have establishes a college.

The place ……..where

If the incomplete sentence indicates place, the incomplete sentence follows "where + subject + verb + ……….."

v Rupgonj is the place………..Rupgong is the place where Tareq was born.

v A railway station is the place……………. A railway station is the place where trains stop.

ü Paris is the city………… Paris is the city where UNESCO headquarters is.

The ………….when

If time is mentioned in the incomplete sentence, ‘When + Subject + verb +….. ' sits at the end of the incomplete sentence.

v Saturday is the day………Saturday is the day when the week begins.

v 1971 is the year………….1971 is the year when Bangladesh became independent.

v 10 p. m. is the time…… 10 p.m. is the time when we go to bed.

So much / so many

"So much" denotes quantity, and "so many" indicates the number. To complete the incomplete sentence combined with so much or so many, we add 'that' + First subject + verb +……..

v You have so much intelligence…….. You have so much intelligence that you can get a job.

v I have not so much time ………. I have not so much time that I can accompany you all day.

v You have so much money ………… You have so much money that you can buy a ticket.

v There are so many problems………There are so many problems that I cannot solve them.

v There are so many stars in the sky ……….. There are so many stars in the sky that we cannot count them.

v They plucked so many flowers …………. They plucked so many flowers that the garden became empty.

The present perfect tense in the subordinate clause

If the incomplete sentence or principal clause is Present / Future Indefinite Tense and if there is "when"/ "after" at the end of the incomplete sentence, the following clause (the subordinate clause) will be present perfect tense.

v You can go to school when ………. You can go to school when you have taken your dinner.

v You can return me the book after……….You can return the book after you have finished reading it.

v Rezina will swim after ………… Rezina will swim after she has changed her dress.

In case

"In case" means "if". Generally, subordinate clause embedded with 'in case' becomes present indefinite tense.

v I will come tomorrow in case ………….. I will come tomorrow in case Jamal wants me.

v I want to stay at home in case ………..I want to stay at home in case he comes.

v He will carry an umbrella in case ……….He will carry an umbrella in case it rains.

But both the clauses become past tense when it means an action that has occurred.

v He carried an umbrella in case ………..He carried an umbrella in case it rained.

v He drew more money in case ………….. He drew more money in case Hh required more.

v I waited at the station in case ………I waited at the station in case he came

Would that / wish

To express impossible desire, wish, dream, we use these expressions. In this regard, we use the subjunctive past tense of the verb.

v I wish …………. I wish I were a king

v Would that he………….. Would that he were alive today.

To be

We are to use 'to be' after some verbs such as feel, suppose, imagine, report, discover, know, judge, assume, etc. in order to complete a sentence.

v I know him to be …….I know him to be honest.

v We felt the decision to be ………We felt the decision to be wise.

v We discovered the guard to be ……………. We discovered the guard to be faithful.

v The lady is reported to be …………… The lady is reported to be a spy.

v We supposed him to be …………………. We supposed him to be a gentleman.

v He was judged to be ……………. He was judged to be guilty.

v He never imagined himself to be ……………… He never imagined himself to be great.

v We assumed him to be …………………. We assumed him to be innocent.

But we may or may not use to be after some verbs such as consider, find, think, believe, declare, prove, etc.

v We consider them (to be) honest.

v I believe the student (to be) sincere).

v The principal declared the sports (to be open).

The conjunction "as" means "because". When as denotes like, it sits after some verbs: regard, treat, acknowledge, condemn, etc. Adjective or adjective phrase also sits after as.

v Khan Jahan Ali was regarded as ………..Khan Jahan Ali was regarded as a kind man.

ü He treats me as …………. He treats me as an innocent person.

v People condemn Mirjafar as ………………. People condemn Mirjafar as a treacherous personality.

v ü I cannot accept him as my………… I cannot accept him as my well-wisher.
Everyone recognized him………… Everyone recognized him as the lawful lawyer.