Expressing reason and purpose

Expressing the reason

We can use several different grammatical structures to show the reason for something. For example, we can express that idea using the coordinating conjunction for.

I was tired after my journey, for I had been driving non-stop for twelve hours.

Notes:

Although ‘for’ is grammatically correct in the sentence given above, it is rarely used. We are more likely to express the same idea using the subordinating conjunctions because, since or as.

I was tired after my journey because I had been driving non-stop for twelve hours.

OR

As / since I had been driving non-stop for twelve hours, I was tired after my journey.

More examples are given below.

They postponed the meeting because the chairman was ill.

As / since the chairman was ill, they postponed the meeting.

Strictly speaking, for can be used to express the same idea; however, it is mainly used in very formal contexts.

They postponed the meeting for the chairman was ill.

Notes:

Clauses introduced by as and since usually come at the beginning of the sentence. 

Because-clauses tend to go after the main clause.

The same idea can also be expressed using the prepositions due to, because of and as a result of.

The meeting was postponed due to / because of the chairman’s illness.

1. Purpose clauses

You use a purpose clause when you want to state the purpose of the action in the independent clause. The most common type of purpose clause is a to-infinitive clause.

Examples:

·   Sarah went to the computer lab to print out her research report.

In formal writing, in order to and so as to are often used.

· The company conducted a detailed survey in order to gauge its clients’ views.

In formal writing, you can also introduce a purpose clause with so that or in order that. These finite purpose clauses usually contain a modal.

Examples:

• Dr Chan adjusted the overhead projector so that the students would be able to see the chart more clearly.
• The lecturer finished his lecture five minutes early so that the students could come and ask him questions.

2. Reason clauses

In your written and spoken assignments you will often need to answer the question ‘Why?’. When you want to explain why something happens, you can use a reason clause introduced by the conjunctions because, as or since.

Examples:

· As she wanted to practise her spoken English, Carrie regularly took part in the ELC’s Big Mouth Corner.

·  Mark joined the English Drama Club because he wanted to improve his intonation.

Don’t use so in sentences beginning with since, as or because. Here is a common mistake:

Examples:

·  Since he was interested in movies, so David joined the PolyU International Film Society.

You can also use the prepositional phrases because of and on account of to express reason.

Examples:

·  We were unable to carry out the experiment on account of a malfunction in the computer.

·  We were unable to carry out the experiment because the computer malfunctioned.

As you will see in the Vocabulary section below, there are many other ways of indicating reason and cause in English.

Examples:

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Link

http://www.englishgrammar.org/expressing-reason/

http://www2.elc.polyu.edu.hk/cill/eap/2004/u2/purposereasonresultclauses.htm

Have two objects

PREPOSITIONS

Prepositions are words which begin prepositional phrases.

A prepositional phrase is a group of words containing a preposition, a noun or pronoun object of the preposition, and any modifiers of the object.

A preposition sits in front of (is “pre-positioned” before) its object.

The following words are the most commonly used prepositions:

 It is useful to locate prepositional phrases in sentences since any noun or pronoun within the prepositional phrase must be the preposition’s object and, therefore, cannot be misidentified as a verb’s direct object.

To the store is a prepositional phrase.

Store is the object of the preposition to, not the direct object of the verb drove.


1. Some verbs have two objects –an indirect object 

and a direct object:

verb + object of verb + preposition + object of 

prepositions 

These clauses have the structure: 

V + N (indirect object) + N (direct object)

2. We can use a prepositional 

phrase with to or for with an indirect object:

These clauses have the structure : V + N (direct 

object) + Prepositional phrase (indirect object)

3. Common verbs with for and an indirect 

object are:

• book
• buy
• get
• cook
• keep
• bring
• make
• pour
• save
• find

They booked a table for me at the restaurant.

We made toys for all the children.

4. Common verbs with to and an indirect 

object are:

• give
• lend
• offer
• pass
• post
• read
• sell
• send
• show
• promise
• tell

He gave his programme to the man sitting next to him.

They sent Christmas cards to all their customers.

5. If the indirect object is a long phrase we 

normally use to or for:

He showed his ticket to the policeman standing by the door.

We kept something to eat and drink for all the people who arrived late.

6. If the indirect object is a pronoun we normally 

use the N + V + N + N pattern:

I poured him another drink.

Their mother read them another story.

Link

https://webapps.towson.edu/ows/prepositions.htm

https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/es/english-grammar/verbs/double-object-verbs

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Present Simple vs Present Continuous

To talk about things happening at the moment, use the present continuous.

Jim is watching television at the moment. 

Present simple To talk about habits and routines use the present simple.

Things we do often, every day, every week, etc.

Things that always happen. I arrive at school at 8.30. 

The first lesson starts at 8.45. The lesson finishes at 9.30.

Form

Positive statement:

 I play, He plays

Negative statement:

 I do not play (I don't play),

 He does not play (He doesn't play)

Questions: 

Do you play? Does he play?

Negative questions:

 Do you not play? (Don't you play?) 

Does he not play? (Doesn't he play?)

See also how to make the present simple in the passive voice.

We only use -s ending (plays) and -es ending (does) in the third person singular.

The auxiliary verb do is not used to make questions and negative statements with modal verbs and the verb to be.

Examples:

Are you a student?

 Is he in London?

 I am not at home.

 He is not happy. 

Can you sing? Must I come?

 I cannot swim. He mustn't stay.

We do not use the auxiliary do to make indirect questions and reported questions.

Wh- questions

If the wh- pronoun introducing the question (who, which) is the subject of the question, we do not use the auxiliary verb do. Compare the following sentences.

Who knows you? (who is the subject)

Which cars belong to you? (which cars is the subject)

But:

Who do you know? (who is the object)

The negative questions normally express a surprise.

Doesn't he work?

Spelling

We add -es to the verb that ends in ss, sh, ch, x and o: miss - misses, fix - fixes, go - goes.

If the verb ends in a consonant and -y we change -y into -i and add -es: carry - carries, try - tries.

But: play - plays, because it ends in a vowel and -y.

Use

1. We use the present simple tense for activities that happen again and again (everyday, sometimes, ever, never).

Examples: 

I sometimes go to school by bike. You don't speak Greek. Do they get up early?

He often travels. She doesn't work. Does she ever help you?

2. We use it for facts that are always true.

Our planet moves round the sun. Lions eat meat.

3. With a future time expression (tomorrow, next week) it is used for planned future actions (timetables).

The train leaves at 8.15. They return tonight.

Form

Positive statement:

 I am playing, You are playing, He is playing

Negative statement: 

I am not playing (I'm not playing), You are not playing (You aren't playing), He is not playing (He isn't playing)

Questions: 

Are you playing? Is he playing?

Negative questions:

 Are you not playing? (Aren't you playing?) Is he not playing? (Isn't he playing?)

It is formed with the verb to be and the present participle (-ing ending).

The negative questions normally express a surprise.

Isn't he working?

See also how to make the present continuous in the passive voice.

Use

1. We use the present continuous tense for activities that are happening just now.

Examples:

 I am learning English at the moment. You aren't listening! Why is he sitting here?

2. We use it for an action happening about this time (today, this week), but not necessarily at the moment of speaking.

 It is a temporary activity.

I am in London. I am staying at the hotel. (But just now you can be somewhere else.)

She can't go out. 

She is writing her essay today. (But she can be having lunch at the moment.)

You can't borrow this book today. Mary is reading it. (But not right now.)

3. With a future time expression (soon, on Monday) it is used for definite arrangements in the near future.

 The present continuous tense is more personal than the simple present tense, because it expresses the speaker's plan.

I am leaving soon. We are meeting on Monday. 

IF YOU HAVE A QUESTIONS, CHECK THIS VIDEO

IF YOU WANT TO PRACTICE, OPEN THIS LINK

LINK

• http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/various/imperative.htm
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEBRIBtq7q0
• http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/tenses/simple_present_progressive.htm
• http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/present-simple-present-continuous-1.html
• https://www.tes.com/lessons/UIp4EAysMXgziQ/present-simple-and-present-continuous-revision
• http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/imperative/menu.php
• https://en.islcollective.com/resources/search_result?searchworksheet=GO&Tags=imperative
• http://www.slideshare.net/RitaGalrito/eng-29816497

The Imperative

We can use the imperative to give a direct order.

1. Take that chewing gum out of your mouth.
2. Stand up straight.
3. Give me the details.

We can use the imperative to give instructions.

1. Open your book.
2. Take two tablets every evening.
3. Take a left and then a right.

We can use the imperative to make an invitation.

1. Come in and sit down. Make yourself at home.
2. Please start without me. I'll be there shortly.
3. Have a piece of this cake. It's delicious.

We can use the imperative on signs and notices.

1. Push.
2. Do not use.
3. Insert one dollar.

We can use the imperative to give friendly informal advice.

1. Speak to him. Tell him how you feel.
2. Have a quiet word with her about it.
3. Don't go. Stay at home and rest up. Get some sleep and recover.

We can make the imperative 'more polite' by adding 'do'.

• Do be quiet.
• Do come.
• Do sit down.

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Conditional

THE FOUR CONDITIONS

Conditional type 0 >> ZERO CONDITIONAL

IF + SIMPLE PRESENT + SIMPLE PRESENT

Used for scientific facts or general truth

EXAMPLE

If you heat butter, it melts.

If you put water in a cooler, it freezes.

If you heat water to 100 degrees, it boils.

If you cross an international date line, the time changes.

If you drop ice in water, it floats.

If iron gets wet, it rusts

Conditional type I >> FIRST CONDITIONAL

Used to talk about things which are possible in the present or the future. It is generally used for things which may happen

IF + SIMPLE PRESENT + SIMPLE FUTURE

EXAMPLE

If you study hard, you will pass your exams.

If we do not protect the panda bears, they will soon become extinct.

IMPERATIVE + OR / AND + SIMPLE FUTURE

EXAMPLE:

Don't say a word about this, or I will kill you.

Finish your job, and you will have a bonus.

IMPERATIVE + IF / IN CASE + SIMPLE PRESENT

EXAMPLE:

Contact me if you need any help.

Call them in case you need help.

Conditional type II >> SECOND CONDITIONAL

Used to talk about things which are unreal (not true or not possible) in the present or the future.

It is generally used for things which don't or won't happen.

It is generally used for things which may happen

IF + SIMPLE PAST + SIMPLE CONDITIONAL

If FIRST verb in the sentence is TO BE, WERE is used for all persons.

EXAMPLE:

If I were rich, I would buy a castle.

If I were him, I would go and see a doctor.

If elephants had wings, they would be able to fly.

Conditional type III >> THIRD CONDITIONAL

Used to talk about unreal situations in the past, that is, things which did not happen in the past.

IF + PAST PERFECT + CONDITIONAL PERFECT

EXAMPLE:

If I had known that you were sick, I would have gone to see you.

The real situation was that I didn't know you were sick. So I say If I had known... When you are talking about the past, you use the Past Perfect (I had known) after IF.

EXAMPLE:

If you had saved your money, you could have bought a laptop.

The real situation was that you didn't save your money. So they say If you had saved... When you are talking about the past, you use the Past Perfect (you had saved) after IF.

EXAMPLE:

If you hadn't been late for work so often, they wouldn't have fired you.

The real situation was that you wasn't early for work. So they say If you hadn't been late... When you are talking about the past, you use the Past Perfect (you hadn't been late) after IF.

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