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2nd Bac Grammar Reference

Grammar: Advanced Sentence Structures

Move beyond simple sentences to add detail, emphasis, and conciseness to your writing using these advanced structures.

1. Relative Clauses

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1. Relative Clauses

Use: To give more information about a noun (a person, place, or thing) without starting a new sentence. They are introduced by relative pronouns (who, which, that, whose) or adverbs (where, when, why). Defining: Identifies which noun we are talking about. No commas are used. Non-defining: Adds extra, non-essential information. It is separated by commas. 'That' cannot be used.

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2. Inversion

Use: Reversing the normal subject-verb word order, usually for emphasis or in formal language. The auxiliary verb comes before the subject. After Negative Adverbs (Never, rarely, seldom...): In Conditionals (without 'if'): After 'so' and 'such':

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3. Cleft Sentences

Use: To emphasize a particular part of a sentence. The sentence is split into two clauses to put focus on one piece of information. It-Cleft: It + is/was + [emphasized part] + that/who + ... Wh-Cleft (Pseudo-cleft): What-clause + form of 'be' + [emphasized part].

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4. Participle Clauses

Use: A way to add information to a sentence more concisely, often replacing a full clause (like a relative clause or a clause of time/reason). Present Participle (-ing): Replaces an active verb. Past Participle (-ed/V3): Replaces a passive verb. Perfect Participle (Having + V3): Emphasizes that one action was completed before the next one began.

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