Collins Cobuild English Grammar

Index

Note: entries in bold are grammatical terms; entries in italics are lexical terms. At certain entries (for example, nouns and verbs), there is a list of terms with the • symbol; these lists will help you to quickly find all the main categories in a long section of the book. A number preceded by R refers to a paragraph in the Reference Section.

—————— A ——————

a and an 1.228–1.229

with countable nouns 1.228, 1.235

an with words starting with a vowel sound 1.229

not being specific about which person or thing you are referring to 1.230

in phrases that add extra information 1.231

after linking verbs 1.232

with uncountable nouns 1.233

using individuals to generalize 1.234

after not such 2.130

saying a or an instead of one 2.215

in front of large numbers 2.221

expressing speed 2.257

with days of the week 4.96

in frequency expressions 4.115

ability 5.110, 5.116–5.119

able

be able to 5.222–5.224

about 10.12

be about to expressing the future 4.59

in frequency expressions 4.116

as adverb of direction 6.67

as preposition indication movement 6.97

after reporting verb to indicate subject matter 7.85

above 10.12

absolute 2.36

absolutely 2.148, 6.50

active 9.8

addressing people 9.95–9.98

titles 1.55, 9.97

adjectival clause see relative clauses

adjectives 2.2–2.122

•attributive adjectives 2.42–2.43

•classifying adjectives 2.26–2.28, 2.83–2.84, 8.183

•colour adjectives 2.9, 2.30–2.34

•compound adjectives 2.16, 2.94–2.102

•-ed adjectives 2.15, 2.77–2.93

•emphasizing adjectives 2.36–2.39

•-ing adjectives 2.15, 2.63–2.76

•predicative adjectives 2.44–2.53

•qualitative adjectives 2.22–2.25, 2.80

•that can be both classifying and qualitative 2.29

used as nouns 1.66–1.72

using adjectives as nouns 1.170

order of adjectives 2.14

talking about different amounts of a quality 2.18, 2.140–2.156

adjective structures 2.19–2.21

showing disapproval 2.37, 2.38

postdeterminers 2.40

only used in front of a noun 2.42–2.43

that always follow a linking verb 2.44–2.50

followed by to-infinitive clauses 2.51–2.52

followed by that-clauses 2.53

position in noun phrases 2.54–2.55

lists of adjectives used after a noun 2.58–2.59

different meanings when used in front of or after a noun 2.59–2.60

saying that there is enough of a quality 2.149–2.151

saying that there is not enough of a quality 2.152

saying that there is too much of a quality 2.153–2.156

comparatives and superlatives 2.203–2.122

with fractions 2.241

as complements 3.132–3.137, 3.162–3.171

with how in wh- questions 5.32

adding -ly to make adverbs 6.5, R137–R143

that do not form adverbs 6.27

with nominal that-clauses 8.119

ways of linking adjectives 8.184–8.187, 8.201

with plural nouns 8.185

adjectives in impersonal it structures 9.36, 9.42

adverbial clauses 8.6–8.82

•clauses of manner 8.78

•concessive clauses 8.65

•conditional clauses 8.25–8.26

•place clauses 8.73–8.77

•purpose clauses 8.43–8.48

•reason clauses 8.49–8.53

•reporting conditional statements 7.59

•result clauses 8.54–8.64

•time clauses 8.8

adverbials 6.1–6.121

•adverbials of direction 6.93–6.97

•adverbials of duration 4.123–4.144

•adverbials of frequency 4.114–4.122

•adverbials of position 6.84–6.92

•adverbials of time 4.1–4.112

•sentence adverbials 10.48–10.56

see also adverbs and prepositional phrases

for indicating duration and frequency 4.4–4.5

position of 6.7

for focusing 9.56

for being specific 9.57–9.58

for emphasizing 9.62

adverb particles 6.54

adverbs 6.16

•adverbs of degree 6.45–6.46

•adverbs of manner 6.36

•adverbs of place 6.53

•focusing adverbs 9.64

•indefinite place adverbs 6.61

-ly time adverbs 4.120

types of adverb 6.15

meanings related to adjectives 6.17

spelling 6.18–6.19

same form as adjective 6.24–6.25

not related to adjectives 6.29

emphasizing adverbs 6.49–6.50

showing position 6.54–6.58

indicating destinations and targets 6.65

after nouns 6.72

formation R136–R149

advice and warnings 5.36

reporting advice 7.39–7.42

affirmative 5.6–5.9

after

relating events or periods of time 4.107–4.108

in expressions of duration 4.129–4.130, 4.139

as preposition indicating direction 6.95

in time clauses 8.15

again 4.119

age 2.212, 2.258–2.263

exact age 2.259

approximate age 2.260–2.262

of a thing 2.263

agreement

noun–verb agreement 1.16, 1.24, 1.35, 1.46, 1.48

with collective nouns 1.48–1.50

with adjectives as headwords 1.68

with they or them 1.123

with indefinite pronouns 1.129

possessive determiners with noun 1.199

with quantity expressions 2.181, 2.187

with partitives 2.194

with cardinal numbers 2.217–2.218

with fractions 2.244

with place names 6.124

with two noun groups as subject 8.177

first word of finite verb phrase and subject R92

all 1.242

used instead of personal pronoun 1.156

as indefinite determiner 1.224–1.225, 1.242

as predeterminer 1.251

all of 2.179–2.180

in expressions of duration 4.135

at start of split sentences 9.28

almost 5.87

already 4.84

although 8.66, 8.71

always 4.45

amounts 2.194, 2.176–2.207

omitting of 2.190–2.191

partitives 2.194–2.207

partitives with uncountable nouns 2.195–2.198

partitives referring to contents and containers 2.200

ending in -ful 2.201–2.203

partitives referring to parts and fractions 2.204

partitives referring to individual items 2.205

pair of 2.206–2.207

an see a and an

and

with between expressing a range of numbers 2.271

linking two verbs: try and …, come and …, etc 3.200

at beginning of result clauses 8.55

linking clauses 8.152

linking noun phrases 8.172

linking adjectives 8.181–8.183, 8.185–8.186

linking adverbs 8.188

linking prepositions and prepositional phrases 8.191–8.192

linking modifiers 8.193

with both for emphasis 8.195

linking more than two clauses, phrases, or words together 8.200

another 1.240

as determiner 1.224

as quantity expression with of 2.179, 2.182

any 1.239

structures used with any- 1.140

as determiner 1.224–1.225

with various types of noun 1.239

with comparatives 2.163, 6.35

as quantity expression with of 2.179, 2.185, 2.188.

anybody 1.128–1.139

any more 4.83

anyone 1.128–1.139

anything 1.128–1.139

anywhere 6.61–6.71

apostrophe s 1.211–1.221, 1.145

showing possession 1.210

spelling and pronunciation 1.211, R32–R40

showing close connection 1.214–1.216

used in prepositional phrases with of 1.218–1.221

appear 7.70, 7.71

article see determiners

as

for talking about what role something has or how it is perceived 3.178

after verbs, describing the subject 3.179–3.181

for comparing things 6.106–6.108

in time clauses 8.11

in reason clauses 8.50

in clauses of manner 8.79–8.81

as … as

after just, quite, nearly, and almost 2.164

as + adverb + as 6.108

as if 8.81–8.82

as though 8.81–8.82

at

in time expressions 4.91

for relating events 4.92, 4.93

in expressions of frequency 4.121

at all for emphasis in negative statements 5.88

referring to position 6.89

indicating direction 6.95

after reporting verb to mention the hearer 7.78

attitude of speaker 9.79–9.90

attributive adjectives 2.42–2.43

auxiliaries

position of 5.12, 5.13

in questions tags 5.16

with not 5.53–5.56

leaving out the auxiliary 8.167

when leaving words out 10.61–10.71

forms of auxiliaries R80–R88

—————— B ——————

bare infinitive R127

barely 5.80–5.86

base forms R52–R53

be

in structures expressing age 2.259–2.263

as a linking verb 3.126–3.131

followed by prepositional phrases 3.173

followed by time expression 3.176

as a main verb 5.14, 10.64

in whether clauses 8.41

used to form passives 9.9

get instead of be in passives 9.24

repeating be when words are left out 10.64

as an auxiliary R80, R89

contracted forms R81

because 8.50

become 3.126

before

relating events or periods of time 4.107

in expressions of frequency 4.119

in expressions of duration 4.141

as preposition of position 6.86

in time clauses 8.16

belief 5.123

below 10.45

best 6.32, 6.52

better 6.32, 6.52

had better 5.245

between 2.271

billion 2.221–2.222

billions used for emphasis 2.224

bit

a bit and a little bit as submodifying adverbs 2.162

a bit as adverb of degree 6.52

both

used instead of a personal pronoun 1.156

as determiner 1.242

as predeterminer 1.251

as quantity expression with of 2.179

broad negatives 5.80–5.86

position in clause 5.81–5.82

but 5.74, 8.5, 8.152–8.161

after negative words starting with no 5.74

used for linking clauses 8.152

used for linking adjectives 8.187

used for linking adverbs 8.188

by

after a noun phrase 2.286

for specific time 4.111

in frequency expressions 4.122

as preposition referring to position 6.89

in passives 9.14

lists of verbs used with by in the passive 9.16

—————— C ——————

can 5.159

indicating skills and abilities 5.116

expressing awareness 5.117

talking about general truths 5.118–5.119

indicating belief 5.123

asking for permission 5.140

asking for help 5.159

making offers of help 5.174

indicating ability 5.177

cannot

indicating impossibility 5.126

indicating certainty 5.130

forbidding 5.145–5.149

making requests 5.161

showing unwillingness 5.197

showing politeness 5.217–5.218

can’t

making requests 5.163

capital letters 1.14

cardinal numbers 2.208, 2.213–2.231, R42–R45

as pronouns 1.157, 2.220

talking about negative amounts 2.216

agreement with nouns and verbs 2.217–2.218

large numbers 2.221

approximate quantities 2.224–2.225

used as quantity expressions 2.227–2.228

writing and saying cardinal numbers R42–R45

causative 3.211

certain

as an indefinite determiner 1.245

classifying adjectives 2.26–2.29

clauses

see also main clause and subordinate clause

•clauses of manner 8.78–8.82

•concessive clauses 8.65–8.72

•conditional clauses 8.25–8.42

•place clauses 8.73–8.77

•purpose clauses 8.43–8.48

•reason clauses 8.49–8.53

•result clauses 8.54–8.64

•time clauses 8.8–8.24

cohesion see referring back and referring forward

collective nouns 1.47–1.51

list of collective nouns 1.51

colour adjectives 2.30–2.34

colour nouns 1.71, 2.35

adding extra information to colour adjectives 2.31

approximate colours 2.32–2.33

linking colour adjectives 8.182

come 3.200

common nouns 1.3–1.4

comparative adjectives 2.103–2.111

position of comparative adjectives 2.55

in front of a noun 2.104

after a linking verb 2.105

used as nouns 2.109

modifying comparatives adjectives 2.157–2.163

irregular forms 6.32–6.35

formation R20–R31

comparative adverbs 6.30–6.35, R150–R154

forms 6.31

structures 6.35

formation and irregular forms R151–R154

comparing things 2.103–2.139, 8.80–8.82

comparison of colour adjectives 2.34

structures used after comparatives 2.106

position 2.107

more and more than 2.108

with less 2.110

contrasted comparatives 2.111

with like 2.132–2.134

adjectives meaning the same 2.138

modifying adjectives used in comparisons 2.139

with like and as 6.106–6.108, 6.119

with than 6.119

complement 3.127, 8.70, 9.1, 9.21

see also linking verbs

complete 2.36

compound adjectives 2.16, 2.94–2.102

formation 2.95–2.96

compound qualitative adjectives 2.97

compound classifying adjectives 2.98

compound colour adjectives 2.99

long compound adjectives 2.100–2.101

foreign compound adjectives 2.102

compound nouns 1.83–1.92

two words, one word or a hyphen? 1.84

lists of compound nouns 1.85–1.88

from phrasal verbs 1.89

plural forms 1.91–1.92

expressing age 2.259

compound verbs 3.117–3.125

written forms of compound verbs 3.119

forms of compound verbs 3.120–3.121

intransitive compound verbs 3.122

transitive compound verbs 3.123–3.124

inflecting compound verbs 3.125

conditional clauses 8.25–8.42

summary of uses 8.25

beginning with if or unless 8.26

in imperative structures 8.27

choice of tense 8.28–8.32

things that often happen 8.29

things that often happened in the past 8.30

possible situations 8.31

things that might happen in the future 8.32–8.33

unlikely situations 8.34

what might have been 8.35

omission of if with should, were, or had 8.36

contractions

n’t for not 5.59–5.60, 5.102, 5.247

of will and would 5.106

of auxiliaries R80

conjunctions 8.2–8.5, 10.55

subordinating conjunctions 8.4

coordinating conjunctions 8.5

functions 8.153

emphasizing 8.194–8.199

coordination 8.149–8.201

see also linking words, phrases, and clauses together

list of coordinating conjunctions 8.149

copula see linking verbs

could

indicating ability in the past 5.110, 5.116–5.119

indicating awareness 5.117

talking about general truths 5.118–5.119

indicating present possibility 5.124

making strong assertions 5.126

requesting permission in the past 5.142–5.143

giving instructions and appeals for help 5.158

making requests 5.162

making suggestions 5.181

showing politeness 5.217–5.218

expressing opinions 5.218

in reported clauses 7.54

could have

indicating possibility 5.115–5.139

indicating uncertainty 5.137

with negative for impossibility 5.139

could not

indicating impossibility 5.126

with comparatives for strong assertion 5.127

making requests 5.163

showing unwillingness 5.197–5.199

countable nouns 1.15–1.22

use of determiners 1.17

list of countable nouns 1.18

singular and plural forms 1.19

same form for singular and plural 1.20

singular form with plural meaning 1.21–1.22

—————— D ——————

dare and daren’t 5.246–5.251

declarative form 5.6–5.9

making promises 5.8

defining relative clauses 8.89–8.108, 8.144–8.145

delexical verbs 3.32–3.45

list of delexical verbs 3.33

relative pronouns in defining clauses 8.89

referring to people 8.90

referring to things 8.91

use after pronouns 8.145

demonstrative adjectives 1.184–1.193

demonstrative pronouns: this, that, these and those 1.5, 1.124–1.127

determiners 1.162–1.250

•a and an 1.228–1.229

•demonstratives 1.184–1.193

•possessive determiners 1.194–1.207

•the 1.163–1.83

list of definite determiners 1.163

this, that, these, and those 1.184

list of indefinite determiners 1.223

using nouns without determiners 1.227

modifying determiners 1.248

difference 2.157–2.168

direct object see object

direct speech 7.16–7.26

changing the order of the subject and the reporting verb 7.25

punctuation of quotes 7.26

ditransitive verbs 3.7, 3.73–3.82, 9.20

lists 3.82

in the passive 9.20

do

as delexical verb 3.33

for emphasis 5.9

as auxiliary 5.13, 5.24, 5.54, 5.67, 5.250

used in forming question tags 5.16

replacing a verb phrase when words are left out 10.63

duration 4.123–4.134

noun phrases that express duration 4.133

start and end times 4.142

during 4.103–4.104, 4.121

dynamic verbs R120

—————— E ——————

each

as subject 1.144

as pronoun 1.154, 1.156

for emphasis 1.156

used instead of personal pronoun 1.224, 1.243

as indefinite determiner 1.243

each of and each one of as quantity expressions 2.186

each other and one another

as reciprocal pronouns 1.142–1.143

with reciprocal verbs 3.70

-ed adjectives 2.15, 2.77–2.93

form and meaning 2.81–2.82

modifying -ed adjectives 2.85–2.86

with an active meaning 2.87

after linking verbs 2.88–2.90

formed from nouns 2.91

unrelated to verbs or nouns 2.92–2.93

-ed participle 2.293, 2.300, 3.201, 3.212, 8.137–8.138, 8.142–8.143, R71–R80

get with an -ed participle 3.201

want and need with an -ed participle 3.212

either 1.224, 1.242, 8.156

as quantity expression with of 2.179, 2.182

used with or for emphasis 8.197

either/or-questions 5.20

ellipsis see leaving words out

else 1.138

with indefinite pronouns 1.138

with indefinite place adverbs 6.63

else and or else in result clauses 8.64

elsewhere 6.63

emphasis

using reflexive pronouns 1.114, 1.116–1.117, 3.29–3.30

using all, both, or each 1.156

emphasizing the 1.181

emphasizing numbers and amounts 1.242, 1.244. 2.214, 2.224

emphasizing adjectives 2.36–2.39, 6.49–6.50

submodifying adverbs emphasizing adjectives 2.148

emphasizing frequency 4.24

emphasizing duration 4.129

using do, does, or did 5.9

emphasizing wh-questions 5.34

using never followed by do 5.67

putting the adverbial first 6.8, 6.82

emphasizing coordinating conjunctions 8.194–8.199

using split sentences 9.25–9.30

using sentence adverbials 9.62–9.64

fronting 9.69–9.72

emphasizing adjectives 2.36–2.39, 6.49

emphasizing adverbs 6.49, 6.50–6.50

enough

as determiner 1.224–1.225, 1.241

with adjectives 2.150

as quantity expression with of 2.179, 2.185

in sentence adverbials 9.81

ergative verbs 3.59–3.67

even 1.128–1.139

with comparatives 2.160

even if in conditional clauses 8.39

even though in concessive clauses 8.67

ever

as frequency expression 4.114

after negative words for emphasis 5.90

every

structures used with every- 1.139

as determiner 1.224, 1.243

in frequency expressions 4.114

everybody 1.128–1.139

everyone 1.128–1.139

everything 1.128–1.139

everywhere 6.61–6.64, 6.71–6.72, 6.99, 8.76

except 8.69

exclamations 9.91–9.94

expectation 5.131, 5.134

—————— F ——————

far 1.246

modifying determiners 1.248

with how in wh- questions 5.32

followed by adverbs of position 6.59

as adverb of destination 6.65

feelings 2.36

few 1.246

as determiner 1.224, 1.241

a few as determiner 1.247

after too 2.153

as quantity expression with of 2.179, 2.182

fewer

as determiner 1.154, 1.246

as quantity expression with of 2.189

finite verbs R89

first 2.232–2.239

focus in a sentence, changing 9.1–9.68

by changing the subject 3.59

using adverbials 9.7

following 2.232, 4.107, 10.43

for

list of nouns usually followed by for 2.288

introducing indirect object 3.77, 8.97

with the present perfect 4.34

for length of time 4.125–4.129

with what in wh- questions 5.33

in reason clauses 8.53

after sentence adverbials 9.83

forbidding 5.145

former and latter 10.13–10.14

fractions 2.210, 2.240–2.248, R48

singular fractions 2.241, 2.242

plural fractions 2.243

agreement with verb 2.244

as pronouns 2.245

expressed in figures 2.248

frequency 4.114–4.122

for and in with general or specific time 4.132

from

from … to expressing a range of numbers 2.271

regular intervals 4.117–4.118

prepositional phrases 4.121

in expressions of duration 4.138

expressing distance 6.91

indicating starting point 6.98

list of adverbs that can come after from 6.99

after certain reporting verbs 7.80

fronting see putting something first

future continuous see future time

future possibility 5.132

future time 4.52–4.63, 5.128–5.132

will 4.53

general truths 4.54, 5.118–5.119

future progressive 4.55

future perfect 4.56

future perfect progressive 4.57

be going to 4.58

planned events 4.59

present progressive 4.60

modals will and shall 5.108–5.132

modal would 5.113

—————— G ——————

generic pronouns 1.119–1.123

gerunds see -ing noun

get

with an -ed participle with passive meaning 3.201, 9.24

for showing cause 3.211

with impersonal it 9.36

give

nouns used with delexical give 3.43

with two objects 3.73

go

as linking verb 3.157

be going to to express future time 4.58, 5.231

be going to to express intention 5.235

got see get and have got

gradability 2.23–2.25

—————— H ——————

habitual actions

expressed by simple present 4.11

expressed by present progressive 4.20

expressed by simple past 5.30

expressed by would 5.112

expressed by used to 7.57

had

had better 5.245

in conditional clauses 8.36

half

as predeterminer 1.251, 2.247

as submodifying adverb 2.147

half of before pronoun 2.242

hardly

as broad negative 5.80

before a time clause 8.17

have

have got for showing possession 3.16

nouns that go with delexical have 3.41

for showing cause 3.211

have got as main verb in yes/no questions 5.14

have not shortened to haven’t 5.56

inviting persuasively 5.178, 5.179

as auxiliary 10.68, R84, R100, R107

inflected forms R80

have (got) to

have to and have got to for saying how likely something is 5.230

have to and have got to for indicating importance 5.238, 5.242

have to in reported speech 7.56

having and -ed participle

for showing results 8.137

he 1.96, 1.99

used for referring to people in general 1.123

used for referring back to an indefinite pronoun 1.133

her 1.96, 1.99

as object pronoun 1.104–1.106

as possessive determiner 1.194–1.222

hers 1.107–1.109

herself 1.111–1.118, 3.26–3.31

him

as object pronoun 1.104–1.106

used for referring to people in general 1.123

used for referring back to an indefinite pronoun 1.133

himself 1.111–1.118, 3.26–3.31

his

as possessive pronoun 1.107–1.109

as possessive determiner 1.194–1.222

hopes and wishes 5.208

how 5.31, 5.32

in wh- questions 5.21–5.25

in clauses after some adjectives 9.43

in exclamations 9.93

in rhetorical questions 9.94

however 8.42

hundred 2.221

hundreds used for emphasis 2.224

hyphens 1.84, 2.78, 2.100, 3.119

—————— I ——————

I 1.96, 1.97

if

after what in wh- questions 5.33

in conditional clauses 8.26, 8.37

if-clauses

used to report questions 7.35

list of verbs that come before if- clauses 7.36

followed by then 8.26

imperative 5.35

making appeals 5.37

giving explanations 5.38

with let 5.39

forbidding 5.149

giving instructions 5.168

imperial measurements 2.251

impersonal it 9.5, 9.31–9.45

describing a place or situation 9.34

as an object 9.35

describing the weather 9.36

giving times and dates 9.37

talking about the time 9.38

followed by linking verb 9.39

commenting on a fact that you are about to mention 9.42, 9.43

importance 5.209–5.216, 5.242–5.245

impossibility

in

expressing age 2.260

describing what someone is wearing 2.285

in time expressions 4.94

in frequency expressions 4.121

for end of a period 4.130–4.131

with general or specific time 4.132

referring to position 6.89

extended meanings 6.121

used with verbs in the passive 9.16

indefinite determiners 1.223–1.250

with uncountable nouns 1.225, 1.226

a/an 1.228–1.235

some 1.236–1.238

any 1.239

enough 1.241

all, both and either 1.242

each and every 1.243

little and much 1.244

more, less and fewer 1.246

no 5.69

indefinite direction 6.71

indefinite place adverbs 6.61

indefinite pronouns 1.6, 1.128–1.141

used with personal pronouns and possessive determiners 1.132–1.133

used with else 1.138

indicative see declarative

indirect object 3.6

in phrases that begin with a preposition 3.74

with to 3.76

with for 3.77–3.81

of verbs with two objects 6.113

indirect speech see reported speech

-ing adjectives 2.15, 2.63–2.76

describing an effect 2.64–2.67

describing a process or state 2.68–2.72

form and meaning 2.73–2.76

infinitives R124–R135

infinitive without to R127

-ing forms R133–R134

-ing nouns 1.77–1.82

used with adjectives 1.80, 1.81

-ing participle: 2.293, 2.301, 3.190–3.191, 3.204, 8.71, 8.72, 8.88, 8.133–8.136, 8.139–8.141, R59–R70

verbs followed by an -ing participle 3.190–3.191

after possessive determiner 3.203

-ing participle clauses 8.71–8.72, 8.88

events happening at the same time 8.133

one action after another 8.134

reasons 8.135–8.136

in non-defining clauses 8.141

instructions 5.41, 5.154–5.158, 5.165, 5.233–5.234

firm instructions: will 5.166

imperative 5.168

intensifiers see submodifying adverbs

intentions 5.188–5.193, 5.235–5.238

reporting intentions and hopes 7.45–7.47

interjections see exclamations

interrogative adverbs see wh-words

interrogative form 5.10–5.34

see also questions

interrogative pronouns 1.151–1.153

intransitive verbs 3.2–3.13, 8.165

followed by phrases that begin with a preposition 3.10–3.11

followed by an adverb or prepositional phrase 3.12

intransitive phrasal verbs with adverbs 3.85–3.86

intransitive phrasal verbs with prepositions 3.87–3.88, 9.23–9.24

intransitive three-word phrasal verbs 3.111–3.112

linking intransitive verbs 8.165

introducing your statement 5.214–5.222, 9.73

inversion

after an adverbial 6.15

after a prepositional phrase 6.83

when reporting verb comes after a quote 7.25

irregular comparative forms R28, R153

irregular plural forms of nouns R12–R19

irregular verb forms R71–R76

it

as personal pronoun 1.100–1.101

with be 3.130

as subject in split sentences 9.26

its 1.195–1.222

itself 1.111–1.118, 3.26–3.31

—————— J ——————

just

in front of as … as structure 2.164

as emphasizing adverb 6.50

to show restrictions 9.65

—————— K ——————

keep

followed by object complement 3.163

—————— L ——————

last

showing position in sequence 2.232

as pronoun 2.254

in expressions of frequency 4.119

as verb 4.133

least

least and the least as superlatives 2.122

as superlative adverb of degree 6.52

leaving words out 10.60

do 10.63

with not 10.66–10.69

repeating the main verb 10.70

in conversation 10.74

in questions 10.75–10.76

in replies 10.77–10.79

when you are agreeing 10.80–10.81

less 1.246

as determiner 1.246

forming the comparative of an adjective 2.110

less than indicating a maximum amount 2.267

let 5.39

likelihood 5.120–5.121, 5.230–5.232

linking adverbials see sentence connectors

linking verbs 3.126–3.181

two or more adjectives after a linking verb 2.57

function 3.127

followed by a preposition 3.129, 3.172–3.177

followed by an adjective 3.132–3.137

lists of linking verbs 3.133, 3.138, 3.174

followed by a noun 3.138–3.145

commenting on behaviour 3.149

commenting on suitability 3.150

commenting on an event 3.151

commenting on willingness 3.152

commenting on something 3.153

commenting on an action 3.154

other verbs with following adjectives 3.155–3.159

linking words, phrases, and clauses together 8.149–8.150

linking clauses 8.151

linking verbs together 8.164–8.170

linking noun phrases 8.171–8.172

linking pronouns 8.178–8.179

linking adjectives and adverbs 8.180–8.189, 8.201

linking qualitative adjectives 8.181

linking prepositions 8.191

linking prepositional phrases 8.192

linking modifiers and determiners 8.193

linking more than two clauses, phrases, or words 8.200

linking parts of a conversation 10.57–10.59

little

as determiner 1.225, 1.244

a little modifying comparatives 2.162

as quantity expression with of 2.179, 2.183

a little as adverb of degree 6.52

look

as linking verb 3.126, 3.135

lot

lots 2.158

a lot of as quantity expression 2.178

a lot as adverb of degree 6.52

—————— M ——————

main clauses 8.1

main verbs R89

make

as a delexical verb 3.44

many

as determiner 1.224, 1.241, 1.247

after too 2.153

as quantity expression with of 2.179

with how in wh- questions 5.33

mass nouns 1.28–1.31

list of mass nouns 1.31

may

indicating present possibility 5.124

may not for negative possibility 5.125

expressing future possibility 5.132

may have for uncertainty about the past 5.137

asking for and giving permission 5.141

may not for forbidding 5.146

making requests 5.164

offering to help 5.175

may as well for suggesting 5.185

expressing hopes and wishes 5.208

expressing an opinion 5.219

me 1.104

measurements 2.211, 2.250–2.257, 2.264–2.271

metric measurements 2.251

after linking verbs 2.252

adjectives after measurements 2.253

approximate amounts and measurements 2.264

might

indicating present possibility 5.124

might not for negative possibility 5.125, 5.138

indicating future possibility 5.132

might have for possibility in the past 5.136

might have for uncertainty 5.137

making requests 5.164

making polite suggestions 5.184

might as well for suggesting 5.185

expressing approval 5.219

million 2.221–2.222

millions used for emphasis 2.224

mine 1.107–1.108

modals 5.92–5.255

see also semi-modals

see also can, could, may, might, must, have (got) to, shall, should, will, would

uses 5.94–5.98, 5.107–5.220

special features 5.99, 5.106

no inflections 5.101

negatives 5.102

questions 5.103

question tags 5.104

contractions 5.105–5.106

referring to time 5.107

for talking about the future 5.128–5.132

expressions used instead of modals 5.221–5.245

modifiers 1.8, 1.45, 2.2–2.174

in noun phrases starting with the 1.176

in noun phrases starting with a/an 1.231

mood see declarative form, interrogative form and imperative

more

as determiner 1.224–1.225, 1.246

and more than 2.108

as comparative quantity expression with of 2.189

in comparative structures 6.52, R21, R26

most

as determiner 1.224–1.225, 1.241

as submodifying adverb 2.113

in superlative structures 6.52, R21, R26

much

as determiner 1.225, 1.244

after too 2.153

with how in wh- questions 5.32

much and very much as adverbs of degree 6.52

must

expressing belief 5.123

indicating certainty about the future 5.130

must not for talking about undesirable actions 5.150–5.151

inviting persuasively 5.178–5.179

making persuasive suggestions 5.183

expressing intentions 5.192–5.193

indicating importance 5.210, 5.215

my 1.194–2.206

myself 1.111–1.118–3.31

—————— N ——————

names see proper nouns

necessity 5.211–5.212

need 5.246–5.251

used with another main verb 3.191, 3.198, 3.212

with an -ed participle 3.212

need to used instead of must 5.243

as semi-modal 5.246–5.251

needn’t 5.247

negative possibility 5.125, 5.138

negative statements 5.47–5.91

•broad negatives 5.80–5.86

•neither 5.75–5.79

•never 5.64–5.68

•no 5.69–5.70

•no one 5.73–5.74

•none 5.72

•nor 5.75–5.79

•not 5.52–5.63

•nothing 5.73–5.74

•nowhere 5.73–5.74

list of negative words 5.47

using any as a determiner 5.49

position in verb phrase 5.53

adding do 5.54

position with -ing forms and to-infinitives 5.57

contractions of not 5.59–5.60

emphasis in 5.67, 5.88–5.91

words beginning with no- 5.73

with modals 5.102

neither 5.75–5.79

as determiner 1.224

with nor to express alternatives 5.75–5.79

in replies 5.76–5.77

position in clause 5.77

with singular nouns 5.78

as quantity expression with of 5.79

neither … nor linking adjectives or adverbs 8.187–8.188

never 5.64

as negative adverb 4.114

position in verb phrase 5.64

used with do as auxiliary for emphasis 5.67

in imperatives 5.68

next

showing position in a sequence 2.232, 2.237

with time reference to express future 4.63

used for referring forward 10.44

no 5.69–5.70

structures used with no- 1.141

with comparative adjectives 2.163

no longer 4.83

as determiner 5.69–5.70, 1.224–1.225

using n’t with any instead of no 5.70

with comparative adverbs 6.35

nobody 1.128–1.141, 5.73–5.74

nominal relative clauses 8.112–8.116

nominal that-clauses 8.117–8.118

for commenting on a fact or idea 8.122–8.125

non-defining non-finite clauses 8.88, 8.129–8.145

non-defining relative clauses 8.104, 8.85–8.86, 8.132–8.143

relative pronouns in non-defining clauses 8.92

for commenting on a fact 8.110

for commenting on a time or situation 8.111

none 5.71

as negative pronoun 5.71

none of 5.72

non-finite clauses 8.129, 8.162–8.163

with -ed participle 8.138, 8.142–8.143

non-finite verbs R124

no one 1.128–1.141, 5.73–5.74

nor 5.75–5.79

with neither to express alternatives 5.75–5.79

linking negative clauses 5.77, 8.156

with neither for emphasis 8.198

not 5.52

position in verb phrase 5.53, 5.57–5.58

with have and have got 5.54, 5.56

with do as auxiliary 5.55

shortened to n’t 5.59–5.60, 5.102

with very and other submodifying adverbs 5.62

used for contrast 5.63, 8.199

linking noun phrases 8.172

after if 10.25

with reporting verbs 10.26

nothing 1.128–1.141, 5.73–5.74

noun modifiers 2.169–2.174

singular and plural forms 2.170

using more than one noun modifier 2.171

used with adjectives 2.172

use of proper nouns 2.173–2.174

noun phrases 1.1–1.12

see also nouns

nouns 1.1–1.92

•collective nouns 1.47–1.51

•common nouns 1.3

•compound nouns 1.83–1.92

•countable nouns 1.15–1.22

•mass nouns 1.28–1.31

•plural nouns 1.41–1.46

•proper nouns 1.3, 1.52–1.53

•singular nouns 1.34–1.40

•uncountable nouns 1.23–1.33

determiners with common nouns 1.4

adding information after the noun 1.9–1.10

noun–verb agreement 1.16, 1.24, 1.35, 1.42, 1.68

singular and plural forms 1.19

list of uncountable nouns 1.25–1.26

that are both uncountable and countable 1.32

that are rarely used alone 1.59–1.65

always used with modifiers 1.62

always used with possessives 1.63

referring to males or females 1.73

lists of compound nouns 1.85–1.88

referring to one thing only 1.167, 1.235

adjectives after nouns 2.58–2.62

with prepositional phrases 2.275–2.276

with adjectives 2.291

followed by to-infinitive, -ed participle, or -ing participle 2.293

followed by to-infinitive clauses 2.294–2.299

followed by -ed participle clauses 2.300

with no equivalent verb 3.40

used with have 3.41

used with take 3.42

used with give 3.43

used with make 3.44

used with have and take 3.45

after linking verbs 3.138

used with reported clauses 7.86, 8.1

forming plurals of R2–R19

nowhere 5.73–5.74, 6.61–6.71

n’t

contraction of not 5.59–5.60

instead of no 5.70

added to modals 5.102

numbers 1.157, R41–R49

and quantity expressions 1.12

referring to an exact number of things 2.208

ordinal numbers 2.209, 2.232–2.239, R46–R47

fractions 2.210

age 2.212

and agreement 2.217–2.218

with ordinals and postdeterminers 2.219

as pronouns 2.220

as labels 2.226

after subject pronouns 2.229

in compound adjectives 2.230

with time expressions 2.231

followed by fractions 2.246