GOLDEN  GRAMMAR   RULES
                         
                          86

 Use be with adjectives, not have with nouns, to talk about physical sensations like cold, hunger, thirst etc.

I am thirsty. (NOT I have thirst.)
We are cold in this house. (NOT We have cold in this house.)

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GOLDEN  GRAMMAR   RULES

                          85

Only use unless to mean ‘except if’.

Compare:

I’ll see you tomorrow unless I have to work. 

I’ll be really upset if I don’t pass the exam. (NOT I’ll be really upset unless I pass the exam.)

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                                                       GOLDEN   GRAMMAR  RULES

                                                                                  84

 Use so before an adjective, but not before adjective + noun.

I love this country – it’s so beautiful. (NOT I love this so beautiful country.)

Thanks for your help. That was so kind of you. (NOT Thanks for your so kind help.)

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                                                             GOLDEN  GRAMMAR   RULES

                                                                                       82

 Don't use  in case to mean ‘if’.

Compare:

I’ll take an umbrella in case it rains. (= ‘… because it might rain.’)

I’ll open the umbrella if it rains. (NOT I’ll open the umbrella in case it rains.)

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                                                      GOLDEN  GRAMMAR  RULES

                                                                              81

 Don’t use later with an expression of time to talk about the future.

I’ll see you later.

I’ll see you in a few days.
(BUT NOT I’ll see you a few days later.)

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                                                    GOLDEN  GRAMMAR  RULES

                                                                          80

In ‘unreal’ conditions with if, use would, not will.

If I knew the price, I would tell you. (NOT If I knew the price, I will tell you.)

It would be better if he told the truth. (NOT It will be better if he told the truth.)

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                                                             GOLDEN  GRAMMAR  RULES

                                                                                      79

Don’t use most of directly before a noun.

Most of these people agree with me.

Most people agree with me.

(BUT NOT Most of people agree with me.)

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                                                    GOLDEN GRAMMAR  RULES

                                                                              78

Don’t use the past progressive for past habits.

When I was 20 I smoked / I used to smoke. (NOT When I was 20 I was smoking.)

I played / I used to play a lot of football at school. (NOT I was playing a lot of football at school.)

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                                                      GOLDEN  GRAMMAR  RULES  

                                                                             77

You listen to something.

She never listens to me. (NOT She never listens me.)

Listen to this! (NOT Listen this!)

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                                                     GOLDEN  GRAMMAR  RULES

                                                                             76

 Singular fraction + plural noun: use a plural verb.

A third of the students are from abroad. (NOT A third of the students is from abroad.)

A quarter of the trees have been cut down. 

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                                                        GOLDEN  GRAMMAR    RULES

                                                                                    75

 Don’t use since to talk about the future.

I’ll be home from three o’clock. (NOT I’ll be home since three o’clock.)

The shop will be closed for two weeks from Monday. (NOT The shop will be closed for two weeks since Monday.)

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                                                          GOLDEN GRAMMAR RULES

                                                                                  74

 Much and many are unusual in affirmative sentences (except in a very formal style).

He has a lot / plenty of money. (NOT He has much money.)

My father has travelled to lots of countries. (More natural than My father has travelled to many countries.)

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                                                     GOLDEN  GRAMMAR  RULES

                                                                             73

One negative word is usually enough.

She looked, but she didn’t see anything. (NOT She looked, but she didn’t see nothing.)

I have never have never heard of him. (NOT I haven’t never heard of him.

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                                                    GOLDEN GRAMMAR  RULES

                                                                            72

 Don’t use negative questions in polite requests or enquiries.

Could you help me, please? (NOT Couldn’t you help me, please?)

You haven’t seen John, have you? (NOT Haven’t you seen John?)

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                                                  GOLDEN  GRAMMAR RULES

                                                                          71

Get can mean ‘become’, but not before nouns.

It’s getting cold.

It’s getting to be winter. (BUT NOT It’s getting winter.)

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                                                          GOLDEN  GRAMMAR  RULES
                                                                               
                                                                                  70

Use at last, not finally, as an exclamation.

At last! Where have you been? (NOT Finally! Where have you been?) 

She’s written to me. At last! 

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                                                           GOLDEN  GRAMMAR  RULES

                                                                              69

. When you say what somebody’s job is, use a/an.

My sister is a photographer. (NOT My sister is photographer.)
I’m studying to be an engineer. (NOT I’m studying to be engineer.)

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                                                    GOLDEN GRAMMAR RULES

                                                                            68

 Use a singular noun after every.

I play tennis every Wednesday. (NOT I play tennis every Wednesdays.)
He wrote to every child in the village. (NOT He wrote to every children …)

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                                                      GOLDEN  GRAMMAR  RULES

                                                                               67



                                                  Don’t use an infinitive after think.

I’m thinking of changing my job. (NOT I’m thinking to change my job.)

Are you thinking of going home this weekend? (NOT Are you thinking to go home this weekend?)   


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                                                          GOLDEN  GRAMMAR   RULES

                                                                                66

Don’t use can to talk about the chance that something will happen.

It may/might/could rain this evening. (NOT It can rain this evening.)
I think Jane may/might/could come tomorrow. (NOT I think Jane can come tomorrow.)

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                                                           GOLDEN GRAMMAR RULES

                                                                                    65

With when, use the past perfect to make it clear that one thing finished before another started.

When I had written my letters, I did some gardening. (NOT When I wrote my letters, I did some gardening.)
When he had cleaned the windows, he stopped for a cup of tea. (NOT When he cleaned the windows, he stopped for a cup of tea.)

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                                                        GOLDEN   GRAMMAR  RULES

                                                                                  64

We don’t often use would in subordinate clauses; instead, we use past tenses.

Would you follow me wherever I went? (NOT Would you follow me wherever I would go?)
I would tell you if I knew. (NOT I would tell you if I would know.)

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                                                GOLDEN   GRAMMAR    RULES

                                                                      63

 A singular countable noun must normally have a determiner
(e.g. a/an, the, my, that).

She broke a/the/that/my window. (NOT She broke window.)
Where is the station? (NOT Where is station?)

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                                             GOLDEN GRAMMAR RULES 

                                                               62

 If you don’t do something any more, you stop doing it.

The doctor told me to stop smoking. (NOT The doctor told me to stop to smoke.)
I’m going to stop working so hard. (NOT I’m going to stop to work so hard.)

                                                GOLDEN GRAMMAR  RULES

                                                                      61

 Use almost, not nearly, to say that one thing is very like another.

She is almost a sister to me. (NOT She is nearly a sister to me.)
I almost wish I had stayed at home. (NOT I nearly wish I had stayed at home.)

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The idea of going on with some more rules on grammar comes from several students. Their suggestion made me come back to that and I hope it will be a good help for a number of you.

                                                    GOLDEN GRAMMAR RULES

                                                                      60

 With if, we normally use the present to talk about the future.

If I have time, I’ll phone you. (NOT If I’ll have time, I’ll phone you.)
I’ll be surprised if she answers my letter. (NOT I’ll be surprised if she’ll answer my letter.)

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May 2014 be the best year of your life!

Who ever saw my town today?
Wasn't it lovely?
What do you want more than that view?
Wasn't it quiet enough?
Did you ever spot any worried face?
Worries, troubles, sorrows, were there just a couple of days ago!
But today!?
No! Nothing like that!
There was joy on the air, across the whole town.

I wish everyone living here, especially my students, that days of 2014 bring only tears of joy in your eyes.

fm