Grammar notes

relative pronouns in relative clauses

-

Relative pronouns in phrases of quantity:

some of which + subject + verb + complement
one of which
+
verb + complement
all of whom
each of whom
etc.
These clauses are non-defining.
Ex: A witness to a crime has to identify the suspect by viewing a line-up of people, one of whom is the
accused person.
As an experiment, the television station decided to show only movies, most of which I had already
seen.
- Relative pronouns in phrases of quality:
the more + adjective + of whom/which + verb + complement
the most
the least
the less
etc.
These clauses are non-defining.
Ex: Ten sports cars, the most expensive of which was the Super X, were rated in Auto Journal.
I talked to three salesmen, the least helpful of whom was Mr. Carr.
Relative pronouns are replaced by personal pronouns if these clauses follow:
a/ a comma with and or but: , and/but
b/ a semicolon: ;
Ex: I talked to three salesmen, and the least helpful of them was Mr. Carr.
I talked to three salesmen; the least helpful of them was Mr. Carr.
Relative clauses vs absolute phrases
Personal pronouns are always used in absolute phrases.
Ex: The university has a lot of world-famous professors, most of them (being) great inventors.
The university has a lot of world-famous professors, most of whom are great inventors.
The university has a lot of world-famous professors; most of them are great inventors.

To be + to-infinitive
With to-infinitive as:
1/ Complement: to is optional.
The decent thing he should do is (to) resign. (resign: complement; resign = the decent thing: the same
thing)
What I want is (to) work for a big company. (work: complement; what I want = work for)
2/ Predicate: to is essential.
This house is to let. (to let: predicate, expressing purpose; this house to let, different things)
The books are not to sell. (to sell: predicate, expressing purpose; the books to sell, different things)

With to-infinitive expressing:

1/ Near future/future arrangement: Theyre to get married next week./The President is to visit Nigeria
next month.
Was/were+ perfect infinitive: showing that a planned event did not happen
The plane was to have landed at 9:00 am, but because of a technical problem it arrived 10 hours late.
2/ Possibility (usually with a passive infinitive): Hes not to be found anywhere./ Theres nothing to be
done.
3/ Commands/obligations: Youre to finish the work before 5:00 pm.
Nobody is to leave here./ Youre not to be back late.

to have
1/ have + object +do something
- to cause to, as by command, invitation or instructions:
Have him come here at five./ The teacher had the students do all the exercises in chapter 2.
- to hire/ ask someone to do something
I had a mechanic repair my car.
- to experience: I had a very strange thing happen to me when I was fourteen.
2/ have + object +doing something
- to cause/make/teach: He had us laughing all through the meal.
Ill have you driving in four weeks./ Ill soon have your car going.
- wont have= wont allow/tolerate: I wont have you ordering me about.
3/ have + object +done: passive meaning
Have you had your car repaired?

Modals
Will
1/willingness, threat, promise, decisions on the part of the subject
He will pay you what you asked./ Can someone drive me to the airport? I will.
Ill take revenge./ Im sorry. I wont do that again.
2/ requests, orders, offers
Will/ Would you bring me the check, please?/ Come this way, will/ would you?/
Will you be quiet?/ All staff will submit weekly progress reports.
Will you have another drink?/ Would you like another drink?
Wont you have another drink?/ Wouldnt you like another drink?
In requests and offers, would is politer than will.
In offers, wont and wouldnt are pressing (difficult to refuse or ignore)
3/ habits and characterisics
Boys will be boys./ Dogs will usually obey their masters./ Hell keep telling people what he thinks of
them.
4/ wont is used for refusal: He wont pay his electricity bill./ My car wont start.

Should
1/ advisability, obligation: Everyone should wear car seat belts./ You shouldnt stay out late.
2/ unlikelihood, unexpectedness (in if-clauses): If you should meet her
3/ deduction, likelihood: Henry should (= will) get here soon; he left home at six.
You should (= will) receive the package by Monday.
4/ after
- some verbs: advise, ask, demand, order, suggest, urge, propose, insist, recommend, request,
require
I order him to go as soon as possible. = I order that he should go as soon as possible.
- some adjectives: advisable, certain, essential, fair, important, necessary, reasonable, right,
urgent, vital
Its important that she should talk to me when she gets here.
Is it necessary that the boss should be informed?
- Some nouns: advice, request, requirement, hope, wish:
Its his wish that the money should be given to charity.
Our advice is that the company should invest in new equipment.
5/ after so that, in order that, lest: They kept watch all night lest robbers should come.
6/ after wonder why, dont know why, dont see the reason why: to express surprise, an angry or
aggressive reply to a suggestion, request:
I wonder why she should want to go out with me.
I dont see why we should have to pay for your mistake.

would
1/ past habits: He would phone me late for nothing important at all.
would: for actions, not states
wrong: She would be very thin./ There would be an old theater here.
used to: for actions and states He used to get up late./ There used to be an old theater here.
2/ past determination, refusal: He would come to work late, disregarding the regulations.
I asked him very politely, but he wouldnt tell me./ My car wouldnt start again this morning.
3/ polite requests: (on the bus) Would you please move along? / Would you mind moving along?
4/ polite offer: Would/ Wouldnt you like a sandwich?