SO AND TOO

Special sentence structure with so:

So + adjective + that clause

This sentence structure is used to talk about a result (that clause) that occurs because of  so +adjective. That can be left out of the sentence.

The children were so quiet (that) I didn’t even know they were in the room!

The cake was so good (that) we couldn’t stop eating it!

 *Adverbs can also be used in this sentence structure:

She ran so fast she won the race!

 Special sentence structure with too:

too + adjective + infintive (to do something)

This structure is used to explain why someone can’t do something.

I’m too tired to go out tonight.

This soup is too hot to eat.

She is too young to drive a car!

This box is too heavy to carry.

I don’t want to go to bed yet! It’s too early (to go to bed).

We’re far too young to get married.

It’s too dangerous to walk around this neighbourhood at night.

There’s no use getting upset. It’s too late to do anything about it now.

It’s too good to be true!

I can’t go to her party tonight, I have too much work to do!

The house was too expensive to buy.

Her offer was too good to refuse.

*Adverbs can also be used:

She drove too slowly to arrive on time.

Another special sentence structurewith too:

too + adjective + for someone/something (+ infinitive)

This sweater is too big for me to wear.

We can’t go on this roller coaster. Alice is too short for this ride!

I’m too old for dolls! = I’m too old to play with dolls!

This box is too heavy for me to carry.

Quiz:

1. The soup was ______ hot that I couldn’t eat it.

2. The soup was ______ hot to eat.

3. It’s _______ cold to go outside.

4. There were far ________ people at the party for me to meet them all!

5. Susan Boyle’s CD was _____ good that I rushed out and bought it right away!

6. “Did you buy that new car?”
~ “No, I didn’t. It cost _______.”

7. He’s _______ a nice guy!

8. We are _______ far away that I don’t think we’re going to be on time for the concert.

9. I can’t stand spending time with her – she is ______ rude!

10. He’s _______ intelligent for his class – he’s not learning anything.

Answers below!

Quiz (Click here to try a quiz)

Vocabulary 3 --- Dieting

 
                                       Vocabulary exercise on dieting by clicking on the image.

Vocabulary 2 --- The Internet

Click on the image for a vocabulary exercise on "The Internet".

Vocabulary 1 --- ALCOHOL

Click on the image to try a vocabulary exercise related to alcihol and health.

Employment vocabulary

Essay

Click on the image to listen to some instructions on writing an essay, you'll also find an interesting exercise.

10 quick tips for writing essays

VIEWPOINTS 2 Audio material

Here you can find listening exercises from your course book.

Prepositions in relative clauses Exercise

Prepositions in relative clauses
Rewrite the sentences using informal English.
a) Jessica is looking for a briefcase. The briefcase is on the table.
The briefcase …
b) This is the new president. We all voted for him.
This is …
c) I didn’t recognize the girl. I had talked to that girl at Paul’s house.
I didn’t recognize …
d) This is the house. Susan was born in that house.
This is …
e) I took some money from a man. I can’t remember the name of the man.
I can’t remember …
f) Barbara is dancing with a boy. The boy is a friend of mine.
The boy …
g) He works for that company. The company has gone bankrupt.
The company …
h) She had lunch with a boy. The boy is her boyfriend.
The boy …

Answers below

Prepositions and relative clauses

A relative pronoun can be the object of a preposition: 

I found the keys which I was looking for.

That´s the woman who(m) I´m in love with.

• In informal English we usually put the preposition at the end of the relative clause and we omit the relative pronoun: 

I found the keys I was looking for

That´s the woman I´m in love with.

• In formal English the preposition may come at the beginning of the relative clause, before the relative pronoun.

I found the keys for which I was looking.

That´s the woman with whom I´m in love.

Note: We cannot put a preposition before that or who

More examples:

• listen to

The music is good. Julie listens to the music.
→ The music (which / that) Julie listens to is good.

• work with

My brother met a woman. I used to work with the woman.
→ My brother met a woman (who / that) I used to work with.

• go to

The country is very hot. He went to the country.
→ The country (which / that) he went to is very hot.

• come from

I visited the city. John comes from the city.
→ I visited the city (that / which) John comes from.

• apply for

The job is well paid. She applied for the job.
→ The job (which / that) she applied for is well paid

Exercise

Relative Clauses

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Exercise 3

Connectors exercise

Click on the image to try an easy exercise on connectors.

As long as, provided, providing, unless

As long as, provided and providing are subordinating conjunctions. They express condition and are used at the beginning of a subordinate clause.

As long as
We use as long as to express a condition, i.e. to say that something will happen only on condition that something else happens.	I'll lend you the book as long as you promise to give me it back next week. (= If you don't promise to give the book back next week, I will not lend you it.)
As long as expresses that one thing depends on another.	You can go to the party as long as you come back before midnight. (= You can go to the party, but you must promise to be back before midnight.)
As long as has the same meaning asproviding or UNLESSUnless 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.) provided.	You can go to the party providing /provided you come back before midnight. We're going skiing next week providing /provided there's enough snow.

Exercise

Exceptional Use of 'Do' or 'Did' (to add emphasis)

You have probably learned that the auxiliary verbs 'do' and 'did' are not used in positive sentences - for example: He went to the store. NOT He did go to the store. However, in order to emphasize something we feel strongly these auxiliary verbs can be used as an exception to the rule.

Examples:

No that's not true. John did speak to Mary. 
I do believe that you should think twice about this situation.

Reading comprehension (on line) - Endangered species

Since the world has become industrialized, there has been an increase in the number of animal species that have either become extinct or have neared extinction. Bengal tigers, for instance, which once roamed the jungles in vast numbers, now number only about 2,300, and by 5 the year 2025 their population is estimated to be down to zero. What is alarming about the case of the Bengal tiger is that this extinction will have been caused almost entirely by poachers who, according to some sources, are not interested in material gain but in personal gratification. This is an example of the callousness that is part 10 of what is causing the problem of extinction. Animals like the Bengal tiger, as well as other endangered species, are a valuable part of the world's ecosystem. International laws protecting these animals must be enacted to ensure their survival, and the survival of our planet.
15 Countries around the world have begun to deal with the problem in various ways. Some countries, in order to circumvent the problem, have allocated large amounts of land to animal reserves. They then charge admission to help defray the costs of maintaining the parks, 20 and they often must also depend on world organizations for support. With the money they get, they can invest in equipment and patrols to protect the animals. Another solution that is an attempt to stem the tide of animal extinction is an international boycott of products made from endangered species. This seems fairly effective, but it 25 will not, by itself, prevent animals from being hunted and killed.

1. What is the main topic of the passage?

A. the Bengal tiger 
B. international boycotts 
C. endangered species 
D. problems with industrialization 

2. Which of the following is closest in meaning to the word "alarming" in line 6?

A. dangerous 
B. serious 
C. gripping 
D. distressing 

3. Which of the following could best replace the word "case" as used in line 6?

A. act 
B. situation 
C. contrast 
D. trade 

4. The word "poachers" as used in line 7 could be best replaced by which of the following?

A. illegal hunters 
B. enterprising researchers 
C. concerned scientists 
D. trained hunters 

5. The word "callousness" in line 9 could best be replaced by which of the following?

A. indirectness 
B. independence 
C. incompetence 
D. insensitivity 

6. The above passage is divided into two paragraphs in order to contrast

A. a problem and a solution 
B. a statement and an illustration 
C. a comparison and a contrast 
D. specific and general information 

7. What does the word "this" refer to in line 9?

A. endangered species that are increasing 
B. Bengal tigers that are decreasing 
C. poachers who seek personal gratification 
D. sources that may not be accurate 

8. Where in the passage does the author discuss a cause of extinction?

A. Since the world . . . down to zero. 
B. What is alarming . . . personal gratification. 
C. Country around . . . for support. 
D. With the money . . . dangered species. 

9. Which of the following could best replace the word "allocated" in line 17?

A. set aside 
B. combined 
C. organized 
D. taken off 

10. The word "defray" in line 19 is closest in meaning to which of the following?

A. lower 
B. raise 
C. make a payment on 
D. make an investment toward 

11. The author uses the phrase "stem the tide" in line 22-23 to mean

A. touch 
B. stop 
C. tax 
D. save 

12. Which of the following best describes the author's attitude?

A. forgiving 
B. concerned 
C. vindictive 
D. surprised

Click here to check your answers