Completing Sentences Rules
That/so that/in order that
- Present Tense →that/so that/in order that → subject +can/may + V1 + object/ext.
- Past Tense→ that/so that/in order that →subject + could/might + V1 + object/ext.
Example:
- We eat so that we can live.
- We ate so that we could live.
As if/as though
- Present Tense→ as if / as though → subject + V2 + object. Or Subject + were + object
- Past Tense→ as if/as though →subject + had + V3 + object. OR Subject + had been + object.
Example:
- She talks as if she knew everything.
- She talks as if she were mad.
- She spoke as if she had known everything.
- She spoke as if she had been an actress.
Lest/In case (completing sentence rules)
Any Tense→ Lest→ subject + should/might + V1 + object. Example:
1. Walk fast lest you should miss the exam.
Though/Although
| 1st Clause (Cause) | 2nd Clause(Result) |
| Positive sentence | Negative sentence |
| Negative sentence | Positive sentence |
Example:
- Though she is poor, she is honest.
- Though she knows English, she cannot speak in it.
No sooner had (completing sentence rules)
No sooner had + subject + V3 + object →than/before + subject + V2 + object.
Example:
1. No sooner had she reached the station than the train left.
Hardly had
Hardly had + subject + V3 + object→ before/when + subject + V2 + object.
Example:
1. Hardly had the teacher entered the classroom when the student kept quiet.
Scarcely had
Scarcely had + subject + V3 + object→ when + subject + V2 + object.
Example:
1. Scarcely had the teacher seen the student when she started studying. Barely had
Barely had+ subject + V3 + object→ when + subject + V2 + object.
Example:
1. Barely had Peter reached the place when Kim started arguing with him.
As Soon As
As soon as + subject + V2 + object→ comma (,) subject + V2 + object.
Example:
- As soon as Peter sat down, the phone rang.
- As soon as the police marked the thief, he ran away.
Would you mind?
Would you mind→ V1 + ing + object?
Example:
1. Would you mind taking a cup of coffee?
Would you mind + If + somebody + V2 + object/ext?
Example:
1. Would you mind if you opened the door?
Completing Sentence Rules:
Would you mind + Somebody’s + Verb + ing + object/ext.
Completing Sentence Example
1. Would you mind Eva’s staying here with us?
Till/Until
- Present Tense→ Till/Until→Present Tense.
- →Till/Until→Past Tense. Example:
- Just wait till she comes.
- We waited until the bus came.
In spite of/Despite
| In spite of/Despite | subject + verb + object |
| Positive sentence | Negative sentence |
| Negative sentence | Positive sentence |
In spite of/Despite + Noun Phrase+ clause (subject + verb + other words) Example:
- It is time/It is high time/It is now time→ subject + V2 + object.
- It is time/It is high time/It is now time→ to + V1 + object.
- It is time/It is high time/It is now time→for + personal object + to + verb (present form) + object/extension.
Example:
- It is time you worked for your future.
- It is high time to work for your future.
- It is time for us to attack the enemy.
Conditional Sentence (If)
First Conditional
If + subject + V1 + object→ subject + can/should/will/may + V1 + object. Example:
1. If you accompany me, I will go to the zoo.
Second Conditional
- If + subject + V2 + object→ subject + could/would/might + V1 + object.
- If + subject + were + complement→ subject + could/would/might + V1 + object. (Unreal past)
Example:
- If I had the time, I would learn Spanish.
- If I were king, I would help the poor.
Third Conditional
- If + subject + had + V3 + object→ subject + could have/should have/would have/might have + V3 + object.
- Had + subject + V3 + object→ subject + could have/should have/would have/might have + V3 + object.
Example:
- If I had seen him I would have given him the message.
- Had he invited me I should have joined the party.
Zero Conditional
If + subject + V1 + object→ subject + V1 + object. Example:
1. If you heat water 100 degrees Celsius, it boils.
Since
- Present indefinite → since→ Past indefinite.
- Present perfect→ since→ Past indefinite. Example:
- It is ten years since my brother was born.
- Ten years have passed since his friend met him first.
So….that
- Subject + verb (present Tense) + so + adjective/adverb + that + subject + can/may/shall/will+ not + V1 + object/extra part.
- Subject + verb (past Tense) + so + adjective/adverb + that + subject + could/would/might+ not + V1 + object/extra part.
- Subject + verb + so + adjective/adverb + that + subject + verb (present/past form) + object/extra part.
Example:
- The woman is so weak that she cannot move his body.
- Peter was so wicked that nobody could trust him.
- My father was so honest that all respected him.
Would rather
Subject + would rather + V1→ than + verb/noun.
Example: He would rather die than forgive you.
Without + gerund
Without + V1 +ing + object personal + subject + verb + necessary part.
Example:
1. Without working hard you cannot achieve success.
By + gerund
By + V1+ ing + object +personal subject + verb +necessary part.
Example: By completing the work I shall go home.
Unless
- Unless+ clause (present Tense) incomplete sentence →subject + can/may/shall/will + V1 + object/extension.
- Unless+ clause (past Tense) incomplete sentence →subject + could/would/might + V1 + object/extension.
Example:
- Unless you work hard you will fail in life.
- Unless he failed, he might get a job.
Not only…. but also
- Subject + Verb + not only + Noun →but also + Noun
Example: She likes not only ice cream but also yoghurt.
- Subject + not only + Verb →but also + Verb
Example: Peter not only studies hard but also plays hard.
- Subject + Verb + not only + Adjective →but also + Adjective
Example: She is not only kind but also pity.
- Subject + Verb + not only + Adverb →but also + Adverb
Example: Eva speaks Spanish not only naturally but also fluently.
As long as/ So long as
As long as+ incomplete sentence→subordinate clause (Affirmative/Negative)/meaningful sentence.
Completing Sentence Example:
1. God will be with us so long as our aim is honest.
Instead of / In lieu of
Instead of / In lieu of + Noun/Gerund Phrase + Clause (subject + verb + other words)
Example: Instead of / In lieu of history he took logic.
Because of/on account of/owing to/due to
Because of/on account of/owing to/ due to Phrase + incomplete sentence → Clause (subject + verb + other words)/meaningful complete sentence.
Example: I could not help him due to my poverty.
Too…..to/Enough to
Too … to + sentence personal/same subject.
Subject + verb + too + adjective→to + V1 + object/ext.
Example:
1. She is too weak to walk.
Relative pronoun
Subject+ who/which/what/that etc. + verb + object→verb +object.
Subject+ verb + object→ that/who/which/what etc. →verb +object.
That/Wh-word+ subject+ verb+ object→ verb Object.
Example:
- Eva who is a little girl is my student.
- I know a woman who is a doctor.
Let alone
Let alone +incomplete sentence → (meaningful word or phrase). Example: He cannot pass in the third division, let alone the first division.
Provided/provided that/providing that/whether /in case
…provided/provided that/providing that→ (meaningful sentence).
Examples:
1. She will shine in life provided that he works hard.
So much/ so many
So much/ so many +incomplete sentence→ that + 1st subject + can/cannot + verb + necessary part.
Completing Sentence Example:
- You have so much intelligence that you can get a job.
- There are so many problems that I cannot solve them.
Completing sentence rules:
…the place + where→ (meaningful affirmative sentence).
Examples: London is the place where she was born.
…the time/year/day + when → (meaningful affirmative sentence).
Examples: Saturday is the day when the week begins.
By the time
- Main clause + by the time + Dependent clause.
- By the time + Dependent clause + Main clause.
Example:
- I will be in bed by the time you get home.
- By the time that the guards realised what was happening, the gang were already inside the bank.
In the event
Results clause + in the event + Reason clause
Example: I got very nervous about the exam in the event that it might be very difficult.
Now that
- Now that + cause clause + Effect clause
- Effect clause + now that + cause clause
Example:
- Now that John is married, he has become much more responsible.
- I can enjoy myself now that the exams are over.
