No sooner

from English Grammar Today

No sooner is used to show that one thing happens immediately after another
thing. It is often used with the past perfect, and usually followed by than:
[event 1]They had no sooner arrived than [event 2]they were arguing.
[event 1]We had no sooner started cooking than [event 2]there was a power
cut and we had no electricity.
When no sooner is used in front position, we invert the order of the auxiliary
verb and subject. This is common in more formal and literary styles:
[event 1]No sooner had they started their walk than [event 2]it started to rain.
Hardly
from English Grammar Today
Hardly is an adverb.
Hardly has a negative meaning. It normally means almost not at all or only
just. We can use it in mid position, or before an adjective or a noun:
He wore a big hat that covered his head and you could hardly see his face.
(you could only see a small part of his face)
Its hardly surprising that Leeds, Englands third largest city, is now fast
becoming a very popular UK holiday destination.
At first hardly a person in the audience moved, although some umbrellas were
opened. But then the rain came down more heavily.
Hardly any, hardly ever
We often use hardly before any, anyone, anybody, anything and ever in
negative clauses, but not before no, none, no one, nobody, nothing or never:
At first, hardly anyone came. (almost no one came)
Not: At first hardly no one came.
There was hardly anything to eat.
She lives in Scotland so we hardly ever see her now, but I like to keep in touch.
Hardly at all
We sometimes use at all after the verb, adjective or noun which follows hardly
to give greater emphasis:
I hardly slept at all last night.
Hardly and very little, very few

Hardly + any(thing) has a similar meaning to very little or very few:

I hardly ate anything yesterday. (= I ate very little yesterday.)
She hardly buys any new clothes at all. (= She buys very few new clothes.)
Word order
We usually put hardly in mid position, between the subject and the main verb, or
after the modal verb or first auxiliary verb, or after main verb be:
My piano lesson is on Monday, and Ive hardly played it this week.
I can hardly wait.
There were hardly any tourists.
When hardly is modifying either the main verb or the following noun, we can put
it directly before the verb or before the noun phrase:
She hardly had any sleep. or She had hardly any sleep.
In more formal styles, to refer to something happening immediately after
something else, we use hardly when. We move hardly to front position and
invert the subject and verb:
Hardly [V]had [S]I arrived there when I was called back to the head office 100
miles away. (I arrived there and then I was immediately called back.)
Warning:
Hardly is not the adverb form of the adjective hard. The adverb form of hard is
also hard.
Hardly ever, rarely, scarcely, seldom
from English Grammar Today
Frequency adverbs meaning not very often
Hardly ever, rarely, scarcely and seldom are frequency adverbs. We can use
them to refer to things that almost never happen, or do not happen very often.
They have a negative meaning. We use them without not. Rarely, scarcely and
seldom are more common in writing than in speaking:
He hardly ever smiles.
[a trout is a type of fish]
Providing fresh trout for dinner was rarely a problem.
She scarcely saw her grandchildren.
Griffin, the physics teacher, seldom shouted.
Hardly and scarcely meaning almost not at all

Hardly and scarcely can mean almost not at all or only just. Hardly is much
more common than scarcely, and scarcely is more formal:
Jen was so tired. She could scarcely keep her eyes open.
I hardly know them. Ive only met them once.
Word order
We usually put these adverbs in mid position, between the subject and main
verb, after the modal verb or first auxiliary verb, or after main verb be. In more
formal styles, we put them in front position and invert the subject and verb. If
there is no auxiliary or modal verb, we use do/does/did.
Compare
neutral

formal

She hardly ever went on holiday.

Hardly ever did she go on holiday.

I had seldom seen so many people

out on the streets.

Seldom had I seen so many people out

on the streets.

Things are rarely as bad as you think Rarely are things as bad as you think
theyre going to be.
theyre going to be.

Subject-auxiliary inversion after SO + adverb / adjective and SUCH

Tags:

emphasis

inversion
When adverbial or adjectival phrases starting with so are placed at the
beginning of the sentence for emphatic effect, the subject and auxiliary are
inverted:
So quickly did he run that the others couldn't catch up with him. (He ran so
quickly that the others couldn't catch up with him.)
So strong was the wind that we couldn't open the window. (The wind was so
strong that we couldn't open the window.)
So + adjective can be replaced with such:

Such was the wind that we couldn't open the window. (The wind was such that
we couldn't open the window.)
ONLY AFTER, ONLY IF, ONLY IN THIS WAY etc., NOT UNTIL
Tags:

emphasis

inversion
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.)

NEVER, RARELY, LITTLE, IN / UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES, ON NO

CONDITION, IN NO WAY, NOT ONLY ... BUT ALSO etc.
Tags:

emphasis

inversion
When never, rarely, little etc. are placed at the beginning of the sentence for
rhetorical effect, the subject and auxiliary are inverted:
Never (before) have we faced such a challenge! (We have never faced such a
challenge!)
Rarely has there been so much speculation about the future of the company.
(There has rarely been so much speculation about the future of the company.)
Little did she understand what the conversation was about. (She didn't really
understand what the conversation was about.)
Under no circumstances are you allowed to disturb the pilots. (You are not
allowed to disturb the pilots under any circumstances.)
On no condition will the company bear responsibility for lost property. (The
company will not bear responsibility for lost property on any condition.)
In no way am I related to the suspect. (I am in no way related to the suspect. )
Not only did he exceed the speed limit, but he had also consumed alcohol. (He
not only exceeded the speed limit, but he had also consumed alcohol.)
Not only were you late, but you didn't even have a good excuse. (You were not
only late, but you didn't have a good excuse either.)

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.)
IF, EVEN IF, ONLY IF, AS LONG AS, PROVIDED, SUPPOSING, UNLESS, BUT
FOR, IF NECESSARY, IF SO, IN CASE etc.
Tags:

clauses

conditionals

emphasis

inversion

IF
IF and WHEN
When can replace if in zero conditionals:
If you heat water to 100 degrees Celsius, it boils.
When you heat water to 100 degrees Celsius, it boils.
In the other types of conditionals, we cannot use when instead of if.
EVEN IF
Even if emphasises that something will happen, would happen or would have
happened whatever the condition:
Even if we leave right now, we still won't catch the train.
I wouldn't go into the water even if I could swim.
Even if we had booked our flight earlier, it wouldn't have been cheaper.

ONLY IF
Only if makes the condition more restrictive:
Acetaminophen is dangerous to children only if dosage is too high.
If the if-clause is first, the subject and the auxiliary in the main clause are
inverted:
Only if you like classical music is it worth coming tonight.
SO/AS LONG AS, PROVIDING/PROVIDED (THAT)
So/As long as and providing/provided (that) can be used instead of if to express
a condition. Note that providing/provided (that) is a bit formal:
You can stay here as long as you keep quiet.
Provided/Providing (that) the bills are paid, tenants will not be evicted.
SUPPOSE/SUPPOSING, WHAT IF
Suppose/supposing and what if can replace if, mainly in everyday conversation,
and are often used without a main clause:
Suppose/supposing you won the lottery, what would you do?
Suppose/supposing you can't find a job?
What if you are not accepted to university? What will you do then?
UNLESS
Unless is followed by an affirmative verb to express "if ... not":
My leg's broken. I can't stand up unless you help me. (I can't stand up if you
don't help me.)
IF IT WEREN'T FOR / IF IT HADN'T BEEN FOR, BUT FOR
These expressions mean "without". They are used in second and third
conditionals and are usually followed by a noun phrase:
If it weren't for Miguel, we wouldn't know what to do now. (Without Miguel...)
If it hadn't been for your foolishness, we wouldn't have got lost. (If you hadn't
been such a fool...)
But for your help, I would have been in big trouble. (Without your help... / If
you hadn't helped me...)

IF IN DOUBT, IF POSSIBLE, IF NECESSARY etc.

We can make the if-clause shorter by omitting the subject and the verb be:
If (you are) in doubt, consult a dictionary.
In certain idiomatic expressions, the subject and be are normally omitted:
If necessary, you can call Jake at home.
I'd like a seat by the window if possible.
IF SO, IF NOT
If so and if not can stand for an if-clause which is understood from the context:
"According to the weather forecast, it might rain tomorrow." "If so, we'll go
hiking another day."
I hope Peter gets here soon. If not, we'll have to start without him.
IN CASE and IF
An in case-clause gives a reason while an if-clause describes a condition:
I'll buy a sandwich in case I get hungry. (I'll buy a sandwich because I may get
hungry later.)
I'll buy a sandwich if I get hungry. (I'll buy a sandwich when I get hungry.)
We can use should after in case:
Take an umbrella in case it should rain.
Conditionals: other expressions (unless, should, as long as)
from English Grammar Today
Unless
Conditional clauses can begin with unless. Unless means something similar to
if not or except if.
The verb forms in the examples are similar to sentences with if: we use the
present simple in the unless-clause and shall, should, will, would, can, could,
may or might in the main clause:
Unless I phone you, you can assume the trains on time. (If I do not phone
you /except if I phone you, you can assume the train is on time.)

Well have to cancel the show unless we sell more tickets at the last minute.
(Well have to cancel the show if we do not sell more tickets/except if we sell
more tickets at the last minute.)
Warning:
We dont use unless for impossible conditions:
If the government had not raised food prices, there would not have been so
many protests.
Not: Unless the government had raised food prices
Warning:
We dont use unless and if together:
Well go to the coast tomorrow unless it rains.
Not: Well go to the coast tomorrow unless if it rains.
See also:

Unless

If so, if not
Should you (Should with inversion)
In formal situations, we can use should + subject (s) + verb (v) instead of if:
Should you wish to cancel your order, please contact our customer service
department on 02317 6658932. (or If you should wish to cancel your order )
Should your child become anxious or nervous about any activity, it is a good
idea to inform the team-leader. (or If your child should become )
Had you (Had with inversion)
In formal situations, we can use had + subject + verb instead of if in third
conditional sentences:
Had I known you were waiting outside, I would have invited you to come in. (If I
had known you were waiting outside )
Had Margaret realised she would be travelling alone, she would never have
agreed to go.
If + were to
In formal situations, we can use if + were to when we talk about things that
might happen but which we think are unlikely:
If the Prime Minister were to resign, there would have to be a general election
within 30 days.

In even more formal styles, we use were + subject-verb inversion + to-infinitive:

[V]Were [S]we [to -INF]to give up the fight now, it would mean the end of
democracy in our country. (If we gave up the fight now )
[V]Were [S]the economy [to -INF]to slow down too quickly, there would be
major problems. (If the economy slowed down too quickly )
As long as, so long as, providing, etc.
Sometimes we need to impose specific conditions or set limits on a situation. In
these cases, conditional clauses can begin with phrases such as as long as, so
long as, only if, on condition that, providing (that), provided (that).
As long as is more common in speaking; so long as and on condition that are
more formal and more common in writing:
[to a group of children]
You can play in the living room as long as you dont make a mess.
So long as a tiger stands still, it is invisible in the jungle.
The bank lent the company 100,000 pounds on condition that they repaid the
money within six months.
Providing (that) is more common in speaking; provided (that) is more formal and
more common in written language:
[talking about rail travel in the UK]
You can get a senior citizens reduction providing youve got a railcard.
They may do whatever they like provided that it is within the law.
See also:

As long as and so long as

Or and otherwise
We often use or and otherwise with conditional meanings:
Youve got to start studying, or youll fail all those exams. (If you dont start
studying, you will fail the exams.)
[talking about sending a package by mail]
Wed better send it express, otherwise itll take days. (If we do not send it
express, it will take days.)
Supposing
Supposing may be used with a conditional meaning. It can be used in first,
second or third conditional sentences. The speaker invites the listener to
imagine a situation:

Supposing I dont arrive till after midnight, will the guest-house still be open?
(Imagine if I dont arrive till after midnight )
Supposing you lost your passport, youd have to go to the embassy, wouldnt
you?
Supposing he hadnt recognised us he might never have spoken to us.
In case (of)
from English Grammar Today
In case is a conjunction or adverb. In case of is a preposition.
In case
We use in case to talk about things we should do in order to be prepared for
possible future situations:
Shall I keep some chicken salad for your brother in case hes hungry when he
gets here? (conjunction)
In case I forget later, here are the keys to the garage. (conjunction)
She knows shes passed the oral exam, but she doesnt want to say anything
just in case. (adverb)
We dont use in case to mean if.
Compare
We dont know if
Lets take our swimming costumes in case theres a pool at
there is a pool
the hotel.
there.

Lets take our swimming costumes if theres a pool in the

hotel.

We will wait until

we know about the
pool before we
decide.

Ill take cash in case we need it on the ferry. (we dont know if we will need cash
on the ferry)
In case of
We use in case of + noun to mean if and when something happens:
[notice in a lift]
In case of breakdown, please press the alarm button and call this number. (if
and when the lift breaks down, )
Wish + to-infinitive

When we use wish followed by a verb in the to-infinitive form, wish means the
same as want, but it is more formal. We do not normally use wish in the
continuous form when we use it with a to-infinitive:
I wish to speak to Mr Hennessy, please.
Not: Im wishing to speak to
We dont use a that-clause after wish when it is a more formal version of want:
I wish to visit you in the summer, if possible.
Not: I wish (that) I visit you in the summer
We can use an object (underlined), before the to-infinitive:
I did not wish my family to know about Sara, so I told them nothing.
When we use an object after wish, we must also use a verb in the to-infinitive
form. Alternatively, we can say want or (more politely) would like:
We wish to have a table near the window, please. (or We would like a table
near the window, please.)
Not: We wish a table near the window
Wish + indirect object + direct object
We use wish with two objects, an indirect object + a direct object (underlined),
for expressions of good wishes and hopes that good things will happen to
people:
(io = indirect object; do = direct object)
I wish [IO]you [DO]success in your new job.
Ive got my driving test tomorrow. Wish [IO]me [DO]luck!
We wish [IO]you [DO]a long and happy life together.
Wish + that-clause
We use wish with a that-clause when we regret or are sorry that things are not
different. We imagine a different past or present:
I just wish that everything could be as it used to be.
In informal situations, we usually omit that:
I wish I had his mobile phone number; we could tell him the good news. (I dont
have his mobile phone number; it would be good if I had it.)
I wish you hadnt told me how the film ends. Youve spoilt it for me. (You told
me how the film ends; it would have been better if you had not told me.)
Wish + verb forms in the that-clause

The verb forms we use in that-clauses after wish are similar to the verb forms in
conditional clauses after if. We use a past verb form for present and future
meanings.
Compare
if

wish

It would be good if we had a bigger

car.

I wish we had a bigger car.

It would be good if I knew how to use

this DVD player.

I wish I knew how to use this DVD

player.

When we wish something about the past, we use the past perfect after wish:
I wish I had known Charlie was coming. I would have invited Jane. (I didnt
know it and did not invite Jane.)
I wish I hadnt said that. I can see Ive upset you. Sorry. (I did say it; it would
have been better if I had not said it.)
Wish + would
We can use wish + would if we are annoyed about something that is or is not
happening, or about something that will or will not happen:
I wish youd stop making so much noise! (You are making a noise; it would be
better if you didnt.)
I wish you wouldnt come through the kitchen with your dirty boots on. (You do
come through the kitchen; it would be better if you didnt.)
In informal situations, we can use wish in the continuous form like this:
Hes embarrassing everyone. Im just wishing he would go away!
Warning:
We use hope, not wish, when we want something to happen in the future or
when we want something to have happened in the past:
I hope the weathers fine tomorrow.
Not: I wish the weathers fine tomorrow.
I hope they didnt miss their flight.
Not: I wish they didnt miss their flight.
If only
from English Grammar Today

We use if only to express a strong wish that things could be different. It means
the same as I wish but is stronger. We use it to talk about past, present and
future unreal conditions.
We use if only + past verb forms to talk about a wish for the present:
If only he knew the truth. (he doesnt know the truth, but he wishes he did)
Not: If only he knows the truth.
If only there was something she could do or say to help.
Not: If only there is something she could do or say to help.
We sometimes use were instead of was in more formal situations:
If only she werent so tired. (If only she wasnt so tired.)
To talk about a wish for the future or to show a contrast between how things are
and how we would like them to be, we use if only + would + infinitive without to:
If only someone would buy the house.
If only they would talk to each other.
We use if only + past perfect to talk about a wish to change something that has
already happened:
If only he had listened to what his friends had been telling him. (He didnt
listen.)
If only Anna had been able to come. (Anna wasnt able to come.)
Suppose, supposing and what if
from English Grammar Today
Suggestions
We use suppose, supposing and what if + present verb form to make
suggestions about what might happen:
A:
What time shall we meet?
B:
Suppose we meet in the offices downstairs at four oclock?
A:
Thats perfect. Ill let the others know.

Supposing I dont bring my car and you and I travel together. That would save
us half the cost of petrol and parking.
A:
The electricity has gone. There must be a power cut.
B:
What if we find the candles and put them around the room?
A:
Okay. Good idea. Do you know where they are?
Possibility
When we are less certain, we use suppose, supposing and what if + past form
to talk about future possibility:
Suppose we asked Mary to baby-sit? Do you think shed do it? (not as certain
as Suppose we ask Mary to baby-sit?)
Supposing someone else wrote the essay. How would we know? (not as
certain as Supposing someone else writes the essay )
A:
What if I gave up working full-time. Id love that.
B:
Youre joking surely!!
When we refer to something that did not happen (something hypothetical), we
use the past perfect:
Suppose we hadnt brought our umbrellas. (We did bring our umbrellas.)
Supposing they had closed the road. Would that have been a good idea?
(They didnt close the road.)
What if I had accidentally told Maria about the party! That would have ruined
the surprise. (I didnt tell Maria about the party.)
Warning:
We use be supposed to to talk about obligations and arrangements, not
suggestions.
You are supposed to put money in the parking meter!
It is said that/is said to/(be) supposed to Practice 2

It is said that, He is said to, and sometimes (be) supposed to have the
meaning "people say..." and they are often used in news reports.
i.e. An old lady in my town died last week, and people say that she gave a lot of
money to charity.
It is said that

He is said to

(be) supposed to

It is said that she gave a

lot of money to charity.

She is said to have given a lot

of money to charity.

She is supposed to have

given a lot of money to
charity.

Some other verbs are

also used in this
construction:

thought, believed, considered,

reported, known, expected,
alleged, understood

But (be) supposed to also has a few other meanings. It can also mean
something that is planned, arranged, or expected.
i.e. I have to go home now because I'm supposed to make dinner for my little
sister.
not supposed to is used for things that are not allowed or not advisable.
i.e. You're not supposed to go outside with your hair wet.

REMEMBER:
1. Suggest that someone do
something
2. Suggest doing something
3. Suggest something