Classroom update

This year, besides English conversation classes, I'll offer you all also French for beginners classes.

Some of you have already received e-mails about that and I must say I'm so grateful for your replies!

Thank you all for chatting with me on the MSN (see sidebar and add me if you haven't done it yet).

A so inspiring and blessed 2011 for each one of us!!!

Things we do every day

Conjunctions

If clauses

If clauses are usually used to talk about uncertain events and situations. They often refer to a condition - something which must happen first, so that something else can happen.

• If you love me, I will love you.
• If you study well, you will pass the exam.
• If you marry me, I will make you my queen.
• If you don't hurry up, you will be late.

Clauses of this kind are often called conditional clauses. There are four main types of conditional clauses in English. They are:

1. Zero conditional
2. Type 1 conditional
3. Type 2 conditional
4. Type 3 conditional
   

   Position of an if clause

   An if-clause can come at the beginning or end of a sentence. When an if-clause begins a sentence, we use a comma to separate it from the rest of the sentence.
   

   Compare:

   • I will phone you if I have time.
   • If I have time, I will phone you.

   Leaving out If

   In a formal or literary style if can be dropped and an auxiliary verb put before the subject. This is common with had, should and were.
   
   • Were I you I would accept the offer. (= If I were you I would accept the offer.)
   • Had he not received her help he wouldn't have become a millionaire. (= If he had not received...)

When do we use Rather in English?

A) We use rather as an adverb of degree:

Modifying an adjective:

• The film was rather good.


Modifying an adverb:

• It happened rather quickly.


Notes:

1. It is stronger than fairly, but not as strong as very.

2. It can modify a noun, often coming before the article:

3. It's rather a problem.

4. It can modify some verbs: I rather like it.

B) To express preference.

Rather than:

Rather than is normally used to compare parallel structures:

• Let's take the train rather than the bus.

• Rather you than me!

• I decided to write rather than email.


Would rather:

Would rather + infinitive without 'to':

• I'd rather leave now.

Would rather + pronoun + past tense:

• I'd rather he came early.