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Grammar Test-1 final_Grammar Test-1 final.qxd 3/9/2015 10:40 πμ Page 14

MSU - CELC Grammar THEORY GRAMMAR
KEY GRAMMAR POINTS

that are frequently tested at the MSU - CELC

Practice Test 1 44 You use some in front of the plural form of a noun to talk about
possible is an adjective. If something is possible, it can be done a number of people or things, without saying who or what they
or achieved. It is possible for us to measure his progress. are, or how many of them there are. I've got some friends com-
Possible is often used in expressions such as `as soon as possi- ing over.
ble' and `as much as possible'. Go as soon as possible. You can also use some in front of an uncount noun to talk about
I like to know as much as possible about my patients. a quantity of something, without saying how much of it there is.
Note that you do not say that someone does something `as soon She had a piece of pie and some coffee.
as possibly' or `as much as possibly'. When you use some in front of an uncount noun, you use a singu-
lar form of a verb with it. Some action is necessary.
possibly is an adverb. You use possibly to indicate that you are You do not use some as part of the object of a negative sen-
not sure about something. tence. You do not say, for example, `I don't have some money'.
Television is possibly to blame for this. You say `I don't have any money'. I hadn't had any breakfast.
The threat was possibly not very great.
You also use possibly when you are asking someone to do some- In questions, you can use either some or any as part of an
thing in a very polite way. object. You use some when you are asking someone to confirm
For example, you say `Could you possibly give me a lift to town?' that something is true.
For example, if you think someone wants to ask you some ques-
probable If you say that something is probable, you mean that it tions, you might say to them `Do you have some questions?'
is likely to be true or likely to happen. But if you do not know whether they want to ask you any ques-
An airline official said a bomb was the incident's most probable cause. tions or not, you would say `Do you have any questions?'

Practice Test 1 45 little and a little are used in front of nouns to talk about quanti-
must is usually used to say that something is necessary. It can ties. When they are used like this, they do not have the same
also be used to say that you believe that something is true. Must meaning. You use a little simply to indicate that you are talking
is called a modal. The expressions have to, and need to can about a small quantity or amount of something.
sometimes be used with the same meaning as must. When you use little without ‘a’, you are emphasizing that there is
Have got to is not used in formal English. only a small quantity or amount of something.
The negative form of `must' is mustn't. The negative forms of So, for example, if you say `I have a little money', you are simply
`have to' is don't have to and haven't got to. The negative form saying that you have some money.
of `need to' is, needn't or don't need to. However, these nega- However, if you say `I have little money', you mean that you do
tive forms do not all have the same meaning. not have enough money.
After must you use an infinitive without `to'. Remember, you do not use little or a little when you are talking
You use must to say that you strongly believe that something is about a small number of people or things.
the case, because of particular facts or circumstances. You do not say, for example, `She has a little pens'. You say `She
There must be some mistake. Oh, you must be Sylvia's husband. has a few pens'.
Have to can also be used in this way, but not when the subject is `you'.
It has to be the explanation. Practice Test 1 48
If you want to say that you believe something is not the case, If you say that you would rather do something, you mean that
you use cannot or can't. You do not use `must' or `have to' you would prefer to do it.
with `not'. The two messages cannot both be true. I'll order tea. Or perhaps you would rather have coffee.
You can't have forgotten me. Note that in sentences like these you use an infinitive without `to'
need is used after would rather.
(1) as a transitive verb You can also use would rather followed by a clause to say that
If you need something, it is necessary for you to have it. you would prefer something to happen or be done. In the clause
For this meaning of need, the negative form is do not need. you use the simple past tense. Would you rather she
I didn't need any further encouragement. came to see me? `May I go on?' `I'd rather you didn't.'
You doN’t use a continuous form of need. You do not say, for exam-
ple, `We are needing some milk'. You say `We need some milk'. Practice Test 1 49
(2) as an intransitive verb or modal. If you need to do something, You use if to introduce a conditional clause in which you mention
it is necessary for you to do it. a POSSIBLE SITUATION. If a tap is dripping, it needs a new washer.
Note that you must use `to' in sentences like these. You do not You can use if to mention a situation that might exist in the
say, for example, `To pass examinations you need work effective- future. In the conditional clause, you use the simple present tense.
ly'. However, in negative statements and questions, you can use You do not use the future tense.
either need to or need. You can say, for example: If all goes well, the new spaceship will head on to Uranus.
`He doesn't need to go' or `He needn't go'. Note that you do not If she had not married, she would probably have become some-
say `He doesn't need go' or `He needn't to go'. thing special in her field.
UNLIKELY SITUATIONS. You also use if in conditional clauses to
Practice Test 1 47 mention situations that do not exist, or events that are unlikely to
You use some to emphasize that a quantity or number is fairly happen. In the conditional clause, you use the simple past tense.
small. For example, if something happens to some extent, it hap- You do not use a present tense.
pens a little. `Isn't there some chance that William might The older men would find it difficult to get a job if they left the farm.
come to the party?' asked Jill.
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