Well, my friends and learners, as usual I’d like to explain some sentences from my tests for you to gain some knowledge. Today, I will explain some infinitive constructions as you seem to have a lot of doubts about using them.
Here are my incorrect sentences from my tests.
1. The question was very unexpected that I could not answer it.
2. You know English well enough so that you can write such great blogs.
Of course, you know I made some mistakes on purpose. So, I have corrected other mistakes to tell you about using the infinitive or the subordinate clause in some cases. It sometimes depends on an adverb in the main clause. So, if we use TOO or ENOGHT in the main clause, it must be followed by the infinitive. If we use SO, it must be followed by THAT clause. Here are the correct sentences:
- The question was so unexpected that I could not answer (it).
The question was too unexpected for me to answer.
The question was unexpected enough for me to answer.
2. You know English well enough to write such great blogs.
You know English so well that you can write such great blogs.
Now, I’d like to tell you about one more infinitive construction.
The first thing we should do was finding the place to stay not for long.
It is incorrect as I want you to correct it. First of all, SHOULD DO is incorrect speaking about the past. But there are some standard grammar constructions we use with the infinitive. Most of you corrected FINDING and used the infinitive. But, in this case, there must be the infinitive with ‘to” before TO BE. So, we can say:
- The first thing we had to do was to find the place to stay not for long.
- The first thing for us to do was to find the place to stay not for long.
The last option is much better as it sounds more natural.
Now, I am ready to answer your questions and to see your examples.
Comments
Dear Onee, here are my corrections:
1) You posted so many tests that I couldn't participate in__ all (of them).
2) Your grammar lessons are too precious for me to overlook them.
3) You teach English so well that we can easily understand.
4) Teacher Dan said his tests are easy enough to answer.
I am flattered! But most of those grammar explanations were written by my wife many years ago! Hahaha! I just consult her book to explain things correctly.
Correction: easy enough
Teacher Dan,
Here are my examples...Please correct if there any mistakes. Thank you. ^^
1) Your tests are so many that I couldn't participate in them all.
2) Your grammar lesson are too precious for me to overlook them.
3) You teach English so well that we can easily understand.
4) Teacher Dan said his tests are easily enough to answer.
Dear Bet, really sorry for not answering yesterday, but I had a lot of work to do in my real life.
Well, first of all, to CROSS the sea sounds really strange. A ship can crosss the river, lake, bay. Besides, COLD coffee is also strange. It may be ICY/ICED coffee with ice cream on the top. Here are my corrections.
1. The weather was too bad to sail yesterday.
2. The weather was so bad that the ship could not cast off yesterday.
3. Your handwriting was so bad that I could not read your text! (NO)
4. Your handwriting was bad enough not to understand. (It is wrong, I can't correct it)
5. Last year we came to a restaurant and the first thing we had to do was to get some cold coffee.
6. Last year we came to a restaurant and the first thing for us to do was to get some cold coffee.
And let me say that 5 and 6 are not good at all although they are grammatically correct now. I would say: "It was so hot! So, when we came to the restaurant, the first thing we dicided to do was to order the iced coffee"
Well,
1. The weather was too bad to cross the sea yesterday.
2. The weather was so bad so the ship could not cross the sea yesterday.
3. Your handwriting was so bad that I could not read it out! (can I say is)
4. Your handwriting was bad enough not to understand.
5. Last year we went in a restaurant and the first thing we had to do was to get some cold coffee.
6. Last year we went in a restaurant and the first thing for us to do was to get some cold coffee.