Introduction to Advanced English Grammar – 10 Lesson Prep Course

Lesson 1: Introduction to Advanced English Grammar

What is Advanced English Grammar?

Advanced English grammar goes beyond the basic building blocks of sentences. It delves into the intricacies of English that allow for nuanced expression and clear communication in complex contexts. Here, you’ll explore concepts like verb moods, conditionals, reported speech, and the subjunctive, all crucial for achieving fluency.

For example, imagine you want to express a regret about not studying harder for an exam. Basic grammar might allow you to say, “I don’t study hard.” However, advanced English grammar offers the conditional structure, “If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam,” which conveys the hypothetical scenario and your current feeling of regret much more effectively.

Why Learn Advanced English Grammar?

Mastering advanced English grammar unlocks a world of possibilities in your English communication. It allows you to:

• Express yourself with greater precision and clarity. Advanced English grammar structures enable you to convey subtle meanings and complex ideas effectively. Imagine describing a scientific experiment. Basic grammar might suffice for simple actions, but advanced English grammar allows you to express ongoing processes and nuanced cause-and-effect relationships with clarity.
• Navigate academic and professional settings with confidence. Advanced English grammar is essential for understanding and producing sophisticated writing in these environments. Imagine reading a research paper. Without understanding advanced English grammar structures like relative clauses and verbals, the complex relationships between ideas might be lost on you. Similarly, writing a persuasive business proposal requires the ability to use conditionals and the subjunctive mood to present arguments and hypothetical scenarios effectively.
• Sound more natural and fluent. Understanding advanced English grammar nuances helps you avoid common mistakes and use language more authentically. Native speakers often rely on these advanced structures to express themselves naturally. By mastering them, you’ll sound more confident and fluent in your conversations.

Setting Learning Goals

Before diving in, it’s important to identify your specific learning goals. Are you aiming to improve your writing for academic pursuits, or enhance your fluency in spoken English for professional interactions? Once you understand your focus, you can tailor your practice to maximize results.

This course provides a framework for learning, but remember, effective learning is self-directed. Utilize online resources, grammar textbooks, and practice exercises to solidify your understanding of each concept. Don’t hesitate to revisit challenging areas and seek additional support from teachers or online communities.

Lesson 2: The Nuances of Verb Tenses

The Present Perfect Continuous Tense

The Present Perfect Continuous goes beyond the simple “have done” of the Present Perfect. It focuses on actions that began in the past and continue up to the present moment, or have just been completed.

For example:

• “I have been studying advanced English grammar for two years.” (The action of studying is ongoing.)
• “She has been cooking all morning, and the food smells delicious!” (The action of cooking has just finished.)

Notice how the Present Perfect Continuous uses the auxiliary verb “have been” followed by the present participle (“-ing” form) of the main verb.

Confusing the Present Perfect Continuous with the Present Perfect can lead to misunderstandings. For instance, saying “I have cooked dinner” implies the action is finished, while “I have been cooking dinner” indicates the cooking is still ongoing or just finished.

Here’s a trick to remember: If you can add “all day” or “for a while” after the verb and the sentence still makes sense, you’re likely dealing with the Present Perfect Continuous.

The Future Perfect and Future Perfect Continuous Tenses

These tenses project even further into the future. They help us talk about actions that will be completed before a specific point in the future.

• Future Perfect: “By next year, I will have completed my English language course.” (The course completion is certain to happen before next year.)
• Future Perfect Continuous: “She will have been working on that project for six months by the deadline.” (The project will be ongoing for six months before the deadline.)

The Future Perfect uses “will have” + past participle, while the Future Perfect Continuous uses “will have been” + present participle.

Mastering these verb tenses allows you to express complex time relationships with clarity. Imagine discussing a project deadline.

Lesson 3: Mastering Conditionals

Conditionals are powerful tools for expressing hypothetical situations and their outcomes. There are four main types of conditionals, each with a specific purpose:

Zero, First, Second, and Third Conditionals

• Zero Conditional: This type describes general truths or habits using the present simple tense in both the “if” clause (the condition) and the main clause (the outcome).
  • Example: “If you heat water to 100 degrees Celsius, it boils.” (This is a scientific fact, always true.)
• First Conditional: This type talks about possible situations in the present or future using the present simple tense in the “if” clause and the future simple tense in the main clause.
  • Example: “If I study hard, I will pass the exam.” (The condition of studying and the outcome of passing are both possible in the future.)
• Second Conditional: This type describes hypothetical situations that are unlikely to happen in the present using the past simple tense in the “if” clause and the would + verb (base form) in the main clause.
  • Example: “If I won the lottery, I would travel around the world.” (Winning the lottery is unlikely in the present.)
• Third Conditional: This type talks about hypothetical situations that did not happen in the past using the past perfect tense in the “if” clause and would have + past participle in the main clause.
  • Example: “If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam.” (The speaker regrets not studying enough in the past, leading to a failed exam.)

Understanding these different conditionals allows you to express a range of possibilities and hypothetical scenarios.

Lesson 4: Exploring Reported Speech

Reported speech lets you tell someone what another person said, but with necessary changes to maintain grammatical accuracy and clarity. Here’s what you need to know:

Reporting Statements

When reporting statements, you typically:

• Change the tense of the verb in the original statement based on the time difference between the original speech and the reported speech. (e.g., “He said, ‘I am here.'” becomes “He said he was here.”)
• Adjust pronouns to reflect the speaker in the reported speech. (e.g., “She said, ‘This is my book.'” becomes “She said this was her book.”)
• Modify time expressions to maintain proper reference. (e.g., “He said, ‘I’ll see you tomorrow.'” becomes “He said he would see me the next day.”)

Here’s an example:

• Original Statement: “I’m going to the movies tonight.”
• Reported Speech: She said she was going to the movies that night.

Reporting Questions

Indirect questions (reported questions) change the question format while conveying the original intent.

• Original Question: “What is your name?”
• Reported Speech: He asked me what my name was.

Word order and helping verbs might also change when reporting questions.

Understanding reported speech is essential for accurately conveying what others have said and avoiding confusion.

Lesson 5: Subjunctive Mood: Expressing Non-Factuality

The subjunctive mood is a verb form used to express situations that are hypothetical, doubtful, or conveying wishes and recommendations. It adds a layer of nuance to your communication and helps distinguish between factual statements and subjective thoughts.

What is the Subjunctive Mood?

Here are some common uses of the subjunctive mood:

• Expressing wishes and recommendations:
  • “I wish I knew the answer.” (The speaker desires knowledge that they currently lack.)
  • “It’s important that you study hard for the exam.” (Recommending studying for a future event.)
• Talking about hypothetical situations:
  • “If I were you, I would take that job offer.” (Expressing a hypothetical scenario based on the listener’s situation.)
• Expressing doubt or uncertainty:
  • “I doubt she will come to the party.” (Casting doubt on a future event.)

The subjunctive mood often uses the verb “be” in its various forms (e.g., be, were) or the base form of the main verb.

Subjunctive with Clauses

The subjunctive mood can also be found within clauses introduced by certain conjunctions or verbs:

• Conjunctions: “Unless he changes his mind, we won’t go.” (The conjunction “unless” introduces a hypothetical condition.)
• Verbs: “I **suggest

Lesson 6: Exploring Gerunds and Infinitives

Gerunds and infinitives are verbals – words derived from verbs but functioning as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs in a sentence. Mastering these verbals adds variety and complexity to your writing and speaking.

Gerunds as Verbals

Gerunds (verb + -ing) act as nouns within a sentence.

• Subject: Reading is a great way to learn new things.
• Object: I enjoy watching movies.
• Complement: My goal is learning English fluently.

Gerunds offer flexibility in sentence structure and allow you to express actions as concepts.

Infinitives as Verbals

Infinitives can appear in two forms:

• To + verb: “I want to travel the world.” (The infinitive expresses the desire to travel.)
• Bare infinitive (without “to”): She made me leave early. (The bare infinitive “leave” functions as the object of the verb “made.”)

Infinitives can function as verbs, complements, or modifiers.

• Verb: My dream is to become a doctor.
• Complement: The best time to visit is in the spring.
• Modifier: She is too tired to cook dinner.

Understanding the nuances of gerunds and infinitives allows you to create grammatically complex and expressive sentences.

Lesson 7: Clauses for Sophisticated Expression

Clauses are building blocks of complex sentences. They can act as subjects, objects, or modifiers, adding depth and nuance to your communication. Here, we’ll explore two key types of clauses: relative clauses and adverbial clauses.

Relative Clauses (Defining and Non-Defining)

• Defining Relative Clauses: These clauses provide essential information that identifies a specific noun or pronoun. They are usually introduced by relative pronouns like “who,” “which,” “that,” or a zero relative pronoun.
  • Example: The book that I’m reading is a fascinating story. (The relative clause defines “the book” as the one being read.)
• Non-Defining Relative Clauses: These clauses provide additional, non-essential information about a noun or pronoun. They are set off by commas and use the same relative pronouns as defining clauses.
  • Example: My friend, who lives in Paris, is a talented artist. (The relative clause provides extra information about the friend, but it’s not essential to identify them.)

Understanding the difference between defining and non-defining relative clauses ensures clarity and proper punctuation in your writing.

Adverbial Clauses (Expressing Time, Manner, Reason, etc.)

Adverbial clauses function like adverbs, modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. They are introduced by subordinating conjunctions like “because,” “although,” “when,” “since,” and “after.”

• Time: “After I finish my work, I’ll call you.” (The adverbial clause modifies the verb “call you.”)
• Reason: “She didn’t come to the party because she was sick.” (The adverbial clause explains the reason for not coming.)
• Manner: “He spoke as if he knew everything.” (The adverbial clause modifies the adverb “spoke” by describing the manner of speaking.)

Mastering adverbial clauses allows you to express complex relationships between ideas and enhance the flow of your writing.

Lesson 8: Subject-Verb Agreement: Mastering Complexities

Subject-verb agreement is a fundamental principle in Advanced English grammar. It ensures that the verb in a sentence agrees in number (singular or plural) with its subject. However, complexities arise with certain noun types and sentence structures.

Agreement with Collective Nouns

Collective nouns (e.g., team, committee, audience) represent a group of individuals. The verb can be singular or plural depending on whether the group is acting as a whole unit or as separate individuals.

• Singular verb: The team is playing well today. (The team acts as a unit.)
• Plural verb: The audience are all on their feet applauding. (The audience members are acting individually.)

Understanding these nuances prevents confusion about the intended meaning.

Agreement with Compound Subjects

Compound subjects consist of two or more nouns joined by a conjunction like “and” or “or.” The verb usually agrees with the combined meaning of the subjects.

• Singular verb: Bread and butter is a simple meal. (Both nouns refer to a single food combination.)
• Plural verb: John and Mary are going to the movies. (Two separate individuals are performing the action.)

However, exceptions exist with “or” and “nor” when the subjects have different numbers.

Lesson 8: Subject-Verb Agreement: Mastering Complexities (continued)

• Singular verb: Neither the dog nor the cat wants to go outside. (The verb agrees with the closer singular noun “cat” since they cannot both be unwilling.)

By mastering these complexities, you can ensure your sentences are grammatically sound.

Agreement with Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns like “everyone,” “anyone,” “something,” and “nobody” can be singular or plural depending on the context.

• Singular verb: Everyone wants a slice of cake. (Everyone refers to individual people who each want a slice.)
• Plural verb: There aren’t many chairs left. (There refers to multiple chairs.)

Understanding these distinctions ensures clarity in your writing and speaking.

Lesson 9: Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

Adding colorful expressions to your communication can make your English more engaging. Here, we’ll explore two aspects of language that add flair and nuance: idioms and phrasal verbs.

Understanding Idioms

Idioms are expressions with figurative meanings that differ from their literal interpretation. Understanding and using idioms demonstrates fluency and cultural awareness.

• Example: “She kicked the bucket yesterday.” (Literal meaning: kicking a bucket; Idiomatic meaning: died)

Learning common idioms and their contexts allows you to interpret and use them effectively in conversation.

Mastering Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs combine a verb with a preposition or adverb to create a new meaning often different from the base verb.

• Example: “Look up the meaning of that word in the dictionary.” (The phrasal verb “look up” means to find information.)

Understanding and using phrasal verbs adds variety and informality to your spoken English.

Remember, effective idiom and phrasal verb usage requires understanding their context and avoiding overuse. Here are some tips for mastering these expressive tools:

• Gradual Exposure: Start by learning a few common idioms and phrasal verbs at a time. Immerse yourself in English media like movies, TV shows, and books to observe how native speakers use them naturally.
• Context is Key: Don’t just memorize the literal meaning of an idiom. Pay attention to the situations where it’s used and the emotions it conveys.
• Practice Makes Perfect: Once you understand an idiom or phrasal verb, try incorporating it into your own speech and writing. Start in casual conversations and gradually build confidence for more formal settings.

Lesson 10: Advanced English Grammar in Action

Now that you’ve explored various advanced English grammar concepts, it’s time to see them in action! This lesson focuses on applying your knowledge to enhance your reading comprehension and writing skills.

Analyzing Complex Texts

• Identify Advanced English Grammar Techniques: Choose a challenging news article, academic paper, or literary excerpt. Underline or highlight instances of advanced grammar concepts like conditionals, reported speech, subjunctive mood, and complex clauses.
• Analyze Their Function: Ask yourself why the author used these structures. How do they contribute to the overall meaning, clarity, or style of the text?
• Practice Makes Progress: The more you analyze complex texts, the more comfortable you’ll become with advanced English grammar in its natural context.

Refining Writing and Speaking

• Integrate Advanced English Grammar: Review your writing and speaking habits. Are there opportunities to incorporate advanced grammar structures you’ve learned? For example, could you use the subjunctive mood to express a wish in your email, or employ conditionals to present hypothetical scenarios in a presentation?
• Seek Feedback: Share your writing with a tutor, teacher, or language exchange partner. Ask them to identify areas where you can leverage advanced English grammar for more sophisticated expression.
• Embrace the Journey: Mastering advanced English grammar takes time and consistent effort. Celebrate your progress and use these newly acquired skills to elevate your communication in English.

Remember, this course provides a foundation for advanced English grammar exploration. There’s always more to learn! Utilize online video resources, grammar books, and practice exercises to solidify your understanding and keep expanding your knowledge. With dedication and practice, you’ll achieve fluency and express yourself with confidence in any situation.