MODIFIER 5

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14

MODIFIERS─CAUSE AND RESULT

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Cause and result clauses are expressed by the following patterns:

1. So

a.       so + adjective + that

      adj.

     He was so tired that he fell asleep.

b.      so + adverb + that

                 He reads so slowly that he can never finish his work.

c.       so + many  + count noun + that

        Few

She had so many problems that she could not concentrate.

d.      so + much + non-count noun  + that

        little

The storm caused so much damage that the people were forced to leave their homes.

They had so little interest in the project that it failed.

2. Such

a.       Such + adjective + plural count noun + that

They were such good students that they passed the TOEFL.

b.      such + adjective non-count. noun + that

It was such good cake that we asked for more.

3. So or such (singular count nouns can use either of the following patterns)

a.       so + adjective + a + singular count noun+ that

He had so bad a headache that he left early.

b.      Such + a + adjective + singular count noun + that

     He had such a bad headache that he left early.

NOTES:

a.       Be careful not to omit a before a singular count noun.

b.      The pattern of cause and result is expressed by so/such that. Do not use too or as

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15

MODIFIERS─ARTICLES

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Articles : a, an, the

     Study this example:

       - I bought a comb and an umbrella yesterday.  The comb is black and the umbrella is red.

- The speaker says ‘a comb/an umbrella’(the first sentence) because this is the first time he talks about them.

- The  speaker  says ‘the comb/the umbrella (the second sentence) because the listener  now knows which comb /umbrella he means ─ the comb/the umbrella he had bought.

           

(1) We use a/an when the listener doesn’t know which thing we mean. We use the 

 when it is clear which thing we mean:

-          Tom sat down on a chair. (We don’t know which chair)

-          Tom sat down on the chair nearest the door. (we know which chair)

-          The philosophy of Aristotle is interesting. (Aristotle’s philosophy)

      (2) We use the when it is clear in the situation which thing or person we mean. For example, in a room we talk about ‘the light/the floor/the ceiling/the door’ etc.

            Examples :

-          Can you turn off the light, please? (= the light in this room)

-          I took a taxi to the station. (=the station of that town)

Also: the police/the fire-brigade/the army, the doctor, the dentist, the bank, the post office.

      (3) We say the…when there is only one of something:

-          What is the longest river in the world?

-          The only television program he watches is the news.

-          Paris is the capital city of France.

-          The  earth  goes  round the sun.  (Also: ‘the moon, the world , the

       universe’)

            Exercise: - Put a/an or the.

01.  Would you like …… apple?

02.  My parents have …. cat and … dog.   …. dog never bites ……. cat but …. cat often scratches ….. dog.

03.  Did ….. police find …… person who stole your bicycle?

04.  ….. moon goes round ….. earth every 27 days.

05.  John was ….. only person I talked to at the party.

06.  This is a nice house. Has it got ….. garden?

07.  I went to the shop and asked to speak to …… manager.

08.  This morning I bought ……. newspaper and …… magazine.  …… newspaper is in my bag but I don’t know where ….. magazine is.

       (4) We don’t use the before plural/uncountable noun when we mean something ingeneral. We say the….when we mean something in particular.

-          I love flowers. (‘not the flowers’)

-          I like the garden. The flowers are beautiful. (not: ‘Flowers are…..’)

-          I’m afraid of dogs.

-          Salt is used to flavor food.

-          Can you pass the salt, please?

-          Are English people friendly? (= English people in general)

-          Are the English people you know friendly?

      Exercise: - Choose the correct form.

01.  Apples/The apples are good for you.

02.  Look at apples/the apples on that tree! They’re very large.

03.  All books/All the books on the table belong to me.

04.  Most people/The most people still believe that marriage/the marriage and family life/the family life are the basis of our society.

05.  I know someone who wrote a book about life/the life of Gandhi.

06.  I hate violence/the violence.

07.  They got married but marriage/the marriage wasn’t successful.

08.  Women/the women are often better teachers than men/the men.

09.  Do you know people/the people who live next door?

10.  Life/the life would be very difficult without electricity/the electricity.

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16

MODIFIERS─TOO, VERY, AND ENOUGH

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Compare the meanings and patterns of too, very, and enough.

1. Very means to a high degree, but does not suggest impossibility or undesirability.

Mari is very intelligent.

2. Too suggest impossibility or undesirable degree.

She is too sick to come to class today.

3. Enough suggests possibility or sufficient degree.

He is tall enough to play basketball.