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by R. S. Karunaratne
Use of 'would'
in speech
'Would' is the past tense form of 'will'
As an auxiliary or helping verb, 'would' expresses a range of
meanings. It can mean possibility, hypothetical events and past habit.
'Would' is usually contracted in the following manner.
I'd phone you when I reach Kandy.
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If you asked him, he would
tell you the answer |
She'd have to see a surgeon.
We'd be there to meet you.
They'd see to your comforts.
He'd be happy to join our company.
The opposite of 'would' is 'would not'.
It is contracted as 'wouldn't.'
I wouldn't dream of doing it.
She wouldn't have received your letter.
They wouldn't know what's happening
here.
He wouldn't even touch liquor.
We wouldn't go for the party.
1. We use 'would' to talk about
hypothetical situations in the present or
future. This is known as the second
conditional.
If I were you, I would accept the offer.
If you asked him, he would tell you
the answer.
If you didn't come, I would go by bus.
I would give you a lift if I had a car.
If I were a bird, I would fly.
2. We use 'would' to talk about
hypothetical situations in the past.
This is known as the third conditional.
If I had known the answer, I would have
told you.
She wouldn't have been late if she had
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We’d be there to meet you |
taken a cab.
If they had found your purse, they would
have given it to you.
If the company had increased my salary,
I wouldn't have resigned.
3. We use 'would' for giving advice.
This is similar to the second conditional.
If I were you, I would consult another
doctor.
I would get a promotion if I asked.
4. We use 'would' with certain adverbs.
I would never smoke.
She would probably tell you the truth.
5. We use 'would' or 'wouldn't' with
'I wish'.
I wish you wouldn't give up studies.
I wish she would apply for the job.
6. We use 'would' to talk about past habits.
When I was young I would often run to
the playground after school.
7. We use 'would' with certain time
expressions.
Sometimes he would help you.
He would often walk bare-footed.
She would always help the poor.
In those days we would play football in
t he evening.
8. We use 'would' along with 'rather'
or 'sooner.'
I'd rather stay at home.
Would you rather walk to school?
I'd sooner die than wear a sari!
9. Set phrases
Would you mind moving a bit, please?
(a polite request)
Would you mind if I closed the door.
(You seek permission)
Would you like to have some snacks?
(An invitation)
Let's learn some new words connected with groups. They will enrich
your vocabulary. Match the word in bold type with its meaning and check
your answers with the key.
1. The cabal used to hold secret meetings.
(a) small group involved in a conspiracy
(b) group of singers
(c) group of university students
2. The people living in the same house soon developed a beautiful
camaraderie.
(a) enmity
(b) contract
(c) good fellowship
3. The caste system was in existence even when kings were ruling the
country.
(a) ethnicity
(b) distinct social class
(c) voting
4. The funeral cortege of the Spanish ruler stretched for two
kilometres.
(a) ceremonial procession
(b) band players
(c) arrangements
5. After World War II the US adopted a policy of detente with Russia.
(a) counter attack
(b) relaxing of tension
(c) friendly ties
6. The command echelon was unaware that the soldiers were being
attacked by the enemy.
(a) building
(b) office
(c) authority
7. Politicians must not work only for their own interests, but for
the ecumenical welfare of the people.
(a) religious
(b) personal
(c) general
8. She attended an elite gathering of authors in London.
(a) secret
(b) the best members
(c) popular
9. The future of civilisation rests with the freemasonry of people.
(a) tacit brotherhood
(b) power base
(c) intelligence
10. If we trace our genealogy, we will find that we all share some
common ancestors.
(a) blood
(b) science of family descent
(c) culture
11. In the newspaper world that is a hierarchy of jobs from copy boy
to editor.
(a) shortage
(b) promotion
(c) rank
12. As a journalist he was able to
hobnob with people in all walks of life.
(a) make friends
(b) associate
(c) mediate
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Key: 1(a), 2(c), 3.(b), 4.(a), 5.(b), 6.(c), 7.(c), 8.(b),
9.(a), 10.(b), 11.(c), 12.(b).
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Starters:
'Wh'
questions: What
"What" is used to ask questions about things and actions. It can be
used as the subject or object of the verb in a question.
What is in the box? (subject)
What do you want? (object)
In a what question, we use the verb 'to do' in two ways.
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What did he give you? |
1. What + the verb 'to do' + noun + base form of the main verb.
What do you mean?
What did you take from the safe?
What does she know?
What did he give you?
What does he do?
2. What + noun + 'to do' + noun + base form of the main verb.
What information did he bring?
What games does she play?
What books do you read?
What food does he take?
What music do you enjoy?
We use the verb 'to be' with the 'ing' form of a main verb in this
way.
What + 'to be' + noun + base form of the main verb + 'ing.
What are you doing after the course?
What was he hiding in the cupboard?
What is she writing at this time?
What are they doing after winning the war?
What were you doing before coming here?
We use the singular form of a main verb with a what question that is
in the present tense.
What goes up when you pull the string? (the kite)
What twinkles in the sky at night? (star)
Underline the correct words in the following sentences. Check your
answers with the key.
1. What cause/causes unrest?
2. What books these are?/are these?
3. What is/are in the jug - milk or tea?
4. What type of bag does she want?
does she wants?
5. What were you doing/you were doing before this?
6. What crops does he grow?/do he grow?
7. What has wings/have wings but cannot fly?
8. What perfume Mary uses?/does Mary use?
9. What are you cooking for lunch?/you are cooking for lunch?
10. What paints you use/ do you use for your paintings?
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[Key]
1. causes, 2. are these? 3. is 4. does she want? 5. were you doing 6.
does he grow? 7. has wings 8. does mary use? 9. are you cooking for
lunch? 10. do you use.
*********
Spelling rules
and patterns
All words ending in 'le' drop it when adding 'ly' to form the adverb.
able: ably
gentle: gently
horrible: horribly
possible: possibly
simple: simply
ample: amply
terrible: terribly
The following words should be spelt with the suffix 'ise'.
advertise, advise, apprise, chastise, comprise, compromise, demise,
despise, devise, disguise, enterprise, excise, exercise, franchise,
guise, improvise, incise, merchandise, premise, revise, supervise,
surmise, surprise.
Add '-es' to words ending in 's, sh, ch, z,x' to make them plural.
gas: gases
bus: buses
mass: masses
brush: brushes
watch: watches
buzz: buzzes
box: boxes
Nouns ending in a consonant plus '-y' change the 'y' into 'i' add '-es'
to make the plural.
berry: berries
ruby: rubies
Words ending in a vowel
plus 'y' Follow the general rule
monkey: monkeys
valley: valleys
toy: toys
key: keys
bay: bays
Some nouns ending in '-f' or '-fe' follow the general rule to
form the plural.
bailiff: bailiffs
chief: chiefs
cliff: cliffs
cuff: cuffs
dwarf: dwarfs
giraffe: giraffes
hoof: hoofs
plaintiff: plaintiffs
roof: roofs
scarf: scarfs
turf: turfs
wharf: wharfs
Some nouns ending in '-f' or '-fe' change the 'f' or 'fe' into 'v'
and add '-es' to make the plural.
calf: calves
elf: elves
half: halves
knife: knives
leaf: leaves
life: lives
loaf: loaves
self: selves
sheaf: sheaves
shelf: shelves
thief: thieves
wife: wives
Rule
When adverbs in 'ly' are formed from words ending in '-l" or '-ll',
the ending should always be '-lly'.
full - fully
beautiful - beautifully
level - levelly
shrill - shrilly
hill - hilly
Rule
In words ending in a single 'e' we drop the 'e' before adding a
suffix beginning with a vowel, and retain it when adding a suffix
beginning with a consonant.
love - loving - lovable but lovely
bore - boring - bored but
boredom
sterile - sterility - sterilize
but sterilely
bereave - bereaved - bereaving
but bereavement
Exceptions
notice - noticeable
courage - courageous
(To be continued...) |
