Grammar: Before and After

Before and After

• Before: Used to indicate an action occurring prior to a specified time or event.
  • Conjunction: Joins two clauses; usually precedes the verb.
  • Preposition: (1) Earlier than; (2) in the presence of.
  • Adverb: Indicates a time prior to a specific moment:
    • Present Perfect: Action completed before the current time.
    • Past Perfect: Action completed before another past action.
    • Uses with time expressions: Relates action to a past point in time.
• After: Used to indicate an action occurring subsequent to a specified time or event.
  • Preposition: Followed by a noun (e.g., after dinner).
  • Conjunction: Connects two clauses.
  • Adverb: Describes time in relation to another time. (e.g., "I came in one hour after him.")

Connectors

• Connectors: Adverbial conjunctions that link sentences, arguments, and ideas.
  • Past Tense: A long time ago, in ancient times, not long ago, in former times, formerly, in the old days.
  • Present Tense: Nowadays, currently, at present, at the present time, now, these days, in this day and age.
  • Example/Reason: In addition, what's more, furthermore, moreover, besides this, also.
  • Truth: To tell the truth, in fact, actually. (Note: actually is sometimes confused with currently.)
  • Unexpected Information: All the same, still, even so, regardless.
  • Aspect: Fortunate, unhappy, or unlucky circumstances. (e.g., fortunately, unfortunately, sadly, happily).
  • Conclusion: Therefore, consequently, thus, as a result.
  • Quality/Comparison: In the same way, similarly, on the other hand, in contrast, anyway, likewise.
  • Possibility: Obviously, surely, indeed, apparently, possibly, undoubtedly.

Verb "Need"

• Semi-modal verb: Can act as a modal (e.g., expressing obligation) or a main verb (stating a requirement).
  • Main verb: "I need water."
  • Modal/auxiliary verb: "I need to sleep more." (The modal need clarifies the intention behind needing sleep.)
• Affirmative: Common in sentences with negative pronouns (e.g., nobody needs...)
• Negative: Forming the negative form: "You needn't worry." (Commonly used in negative sentences expressing no obligation.)
• Interrogative: Formal context, very emphatic need. (e.g., "Need they to join us?")
• Uses: Expressing no obligation, no past obligation, or unnecessary actions in the past.

Verb "Wish"

• Expresses desire: For a situation that is not currently true or will not be true in the future.
  • Alternatives to "was": Use "were" in all cases.
  • Wish + could: Expresses possibility, desire for the present or future.
  • Wish + would: Desires that someone/something alter behavior (rarely for personal wishes.)
  • Past perfect: Express regret for actions in the past, or hypotheses leading to different outcomes.
  • Infinitive: To express "would like" (formal)

Adjectives

• -ed adjectives: Describe how a person feels (e.g., tired, bored). They always follow "to be."
• -ing adjectives: Describe qualities or conditions of things, places, or objects (e.g., tiring, interesting). They also follow "to be."
• Differences: Past feelings use -ed, permanent qualities use -ing adjectives.

Phrasal Verbs

• Phrasal verbs: Two-word phrases (verb + adverb or verb + preposition) which have a different meaning than the original verb.
  • Types: Intransitive, transitive separable, transitive inseparable, multiple inseparable particles.
  • Examples: work out, look back, pay back, turn into, bring in, burn out, come in, fall down, get back, cheer up, find out, hang on, look out, pass away, think back.