HARDLY / SCARCELY / BARELY … WHEN
NO SOONER … THAN
When a story is told in the past tense, the adverbials hardly, scarcely, barely and no sooner are often used to emphasise that one event quickly followed another. The verb describing the earlier event is usually in the past perfect tense. If hardly, scarcely, barely and no sooner are in the initial position, the subject and auxiliary are inverted:
Hardly had I arrived home when my phone rang. (I had hardly arrived home when my phone rang.)
Scarcely had she finished reading when she fell asleep. (She had scarcely finished reading when she fell asleep.)
Barely had they won the match when the coach had a heart attack. (They had barely won the match when the coach had a heart attack.)
No sooner had the company launched its new product than it went bankrupt. (The company had no sooner launched its new product than it went bankrupt.)
Note that hardly, scarcely and barely are followed by when, while no sooner is followed by than. (Sooner is the comparative form of soon.)
When only after, only if, only in this way etc. are placed at the beginning of the sentence for rhetorical effect, the subject and auxiliary are inverted:
Only after lunch can you play. (You can only play after lunch.)
Only after finishing your homework can you play. (You can only play after you finish your homework.)
Only after you have finished your homework can you play. (You can only play after you have finished your homework.)
Only by guessing can you solve this puzzle. (You can only solve this puzzle by guessing.)
Only if everybody agreed would I accept this position. (I would only accept this position if everybody agreed.)
Only in this way does this machine work. (This machine only works in this way.)
Only then did they discover his secret. (They only discovered his secret then.)
Only when he needed some help did he call me. (He only called me when he needed some help.)
Only when I filled my glass did I notice that it was broken. (I only noticed that my glass was broken when I filled it.)
The last sentence can be rephrased as:
Not until I filled my glass did I notice that it was broken. (I didn’t notice that my glass was broken until I filled it.)
If only is followed by the subject at the beginning of the sentence, there is no inversion:
Only you can understand. (No one else can understand.)
We use “some” in three specific situations: 1)In positive affirmative sentences with countable nouns in the plural and with uncountable nouns. Example “There are some apples” and “there is some rice.” 2)In questions asking to receive something for example: “Can I have some apples?” or “Can I have some rice?” 3)We use “some” in questions offering something to someone like “Would you like some apples?” We use the word “any” in two situations: 1) In normal questions for countable plural nouns and uncountable nouns, like for example “Do you have any apples?” and “Do you have any rice?” 2) We can also use “any” in negative statements: “I don’t want any apples” and “I don’t have any rice.”
In a Type 2 conditional sentence, the tense in the ‘if’ clause is the simple past, and the tense in the main clause is the present conditional or the present continuous conditional.
If clause (condition)
Main clause (result)
If + simple past
present conditional or present continuous conditional
If this thing happened
that thing would happen.
As in all conditional sentences, the order of the clauses is not fixed. You may have to rearrange the pronouns and adjust punctuation when you change the order of the clauses, but the meaning is identical.
EXAMPLES
If it rained, you would get wet.
You would get wet if it rained.
If you went to bed earlier you wouldn’t be so tired.
You wouldn’t be so tired if you went to bed earlier.
If she fell, she would hurt herself.
She would hurt herself if she fell.
FUNCTION
The type 2 conditional refers to an unlikely or hypothetical condition and its probable result. These sentences are not based on the actual situation. In type 2 conditional sentences, the time is now or any time and the situation is hypothetical.
EXAMPLES
If the weather wasn’t so bad, we would go to the park. (But the weather is bad so we can’t go.)
If I was the Queen of England, I would give everyone a chicken. (But I am not the Queen.)
If you really loved me, you would buy me a diamond ring.
If I knew where she lived, I would go and see her.
It is correct, and very common, to say “if I were” instead of “if I was” (subjunctive mood).
EXAMPLES
If I were taller, I would buy this dress.
If I were 20, I would travel the world.
If I were you, I would give up smoking.
If I were a plant, I would love the rain.
In type 2 conditional sentences, you can also use modals in the main clause instead of “would” to express the degree of certainty, permission, or a recommendation about the outcome.
EXAMPLES
We might buy a larger house if we had more money
He could go to the concert if you gave him your ticket.
If he called me, I couldn’t hear.
THE PRESENT CONDITIONAL TENSE
The present conditional of any verb is composed of two elements: would + the infinitive of the main verb, without “to”
One day the Wind approached the Sun and asked
Wind: Hey, Sun, who do you think is the strongest in the world? It’s me the Wind.
Sun: Oh, really?
The Sun chuckled.
Wind: If you don’t believe me, let’s bet on it.
Just then they saw a man walking through the field.
Wind: See that man? Whoever can make him take off his jacket, wins.
As soon as the Wind said that, he started to blow as hard as he could.
Man: That’s strange. Why is the Wind so strong today?”
The man held onto his jacket tightly. The Wind blew harder and harder. But, the stronger the Wind blew, the tightly the man held onto his jacket.
Wind: Oh… I’m too tired! I can’t blow any more.
As soon as the wind stopped, the Sun came out.
Sun: Okay, then, it’s my turn now. Watch this.
The Sun laughed and started to shine as bright as she could.
Man: Huh? Why is it suddenly so hot? Oh, it’s too hot!
The Man started to undo one button. Then another and another. But it was still too hot. So, he took off his jacket and threw it aside.
Man: Oh! It’s too hot.
Sun: See that, Wind? You embarrassed yourself by trying to show off. The Wind became so embarrassed that he blew away.
this / that / please / here you are / you are welcome / Who is he? / Who is she ? / time / What time… ? / What a nice… ! / my / mine / Can you… ? / Do you like… ? / I am sorry! – It’s Okay. / Do you have …? / How many? / At the Zoo / Look at … / May I …? / Let’s … / weather / What colour …? / Where is …? / What’s wrong? / at thre Dentist / subjects / hobby / at the cafe / What are you doing? / What did you do? /
