SOME COMMON SENTENCE STRUCTURES — RULES TO REMEMBER

Followed by to-infinitives Followed by past simple

1. request/ask/told 1. time
He requested me to go home. / He requested me not to go home. It’s (about/high) time he started studying.
He asked me to go home. / He asked me not to go home.
He told me to go home. / He told me not to go home. 2. rather
I would rather you sat down and kept quiet.
3. need
You need to see a doctor. / You don’t need to see a doctor.

4. prefer (=making a choice #1)

I prefer to have tea. / I prefer not to have tea.

Followed by V~ing Followed by bare infinitives/base form

1. looking forward to 1. suggest (2)
He is looking forward to going on holiday. He suggested that we go to the library.

2. prohibit 2. demand
He prohibited me from smoking. He demanded that we go to the library.

3. prevent 3. insist
He prevented me from smoking. He insisted that we go to the library.

4. am/is/are used to (meaning #2: normal/not difficult) 4. used to (meaning #1: did something in the past but not anymore)
He is used to taking the bus. He used to take the bus.

5. got used to (meaning #3: difficult at first, slowly became easy) 5. All modal verbs (can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would, etc)
He got used to taking the bus. You should see a doctor.

6. suggest (1) 6. had better

He suggested going to the library. You had better see a doctor. (had better = should)

7. deny 7. need not

He denied taking my book. You need not see a doctor.

8. rather (=making a choice #2)

I would rather have tea.

Complex sentence structures (Inversion)

1A. NOT ONLY #1 = 1 subject, 2 actions
Not only … but [S] also [S] not only … but also …

present tense Not only does he clean the house but he also cooks the He not only cleans the house but also cooks the meals.
meals.

past tense Not only did he apologize to me but he also bought me He not only apologized to me but also bought me flowers.
flowers.

1B. NOT ONLY #2 = 1 subject, 2 adjectives

Not only … but [S] is/are/was/were also [S] not only … but [S] is/are/was/were also …

present tense Not only is George strong but he is also brave George is not only strong but he is also brave

past tense Not only was Kylie sweet but she was also pretty. Kylie was not only sweet but she was also pretty.

1C. NOT ONLY #3 = 1 subject, 2 objects

Not only [S]…[O1] but also [O2] [S] not only …[O1] but also [O2]

present tense Not only does my mother love me but also my brother. My mother not only loves me but also my brother.

past tense Not only did my mother scold me but also my brother. My mother not only scolded me but also my brother.

2. No sooner vs. Scarcely

No sooner had … than Scarcely had … when

No sooner had he gone [pp] into the room than the lights went out. Scarcely had he gone [pp] into the room when the lights went out.

He had no sooner gone [pp] into the room than the lights went out. He had scarcely gone [pp] into the room when the lights went out.

3. If you had  Had you

If you had listened to me, you would have passed your exams.  Had you listened to me, you would have passed your exams.

4. Seldom/Hardly/Scarcely/Rarely = (Not often)

He seldom goes to the cinema  Seldom does he go to the cinema.
They seldom go to the cinema  Seldom do they go to the cinema.
He is/was seldom at home  Seldom is/was he at home.
They are/were seldom at home  Seldom are/were they at home.