Mastering English Sentence Structures: Relative Clauses, Conditionals, and Passive Voice

Unit 5: Relative Clauses

a) Defining Relative Clauses

These are used to provide essential information about the person, thing, or place the speaker refers to.

Form

• People: I talked to the guy who/that runs the shop.
• Things or Ideas: Have you seen the letter which/that arrived this morning?
• Possession: That's the boy whose father plays rugby.

Who is more formal than that when referring to people, and which is more formal than that when referring to things or ideas.

Form (Adverbial Relative Clauses)

• Place: That's the place where we met.
• Time: That's the day when we met.
• Reason: That's why we met.

b) Non-Defining Relative Clauses

Form

• People: Andrew, who (quien) sits next to me, is going to Corsica.
• Things or Ideas: This jacket, which (que) I bought last month, has a broken zip.
• Possession: A guy, whose (cuyo) name I can't remember, was looking for you.
• Time: Next year, when (cuando) I am 18, I'll be able to vote.
• Place: I am going to Helsinki, where (donde) it's really cold!

Vocabulary (Energy & Environment)

• energy efficiency (eficiencia energética)
• recycling (reciclaje)
• traffic jam (embotellamiento)
• insulation (aislamiento)
• solar panel (panel solar)
• building (edificio)
• government (gobierno)
• reduction (reducción)
• emission (emisión)
• saving (ahorro)
• cut down (reducir)
• give up (renunciar)
• throw away (tirar)
• give off (emitir)
• run out (agotado)
• carbon emissions (emisiones de carbono)
• greenhouse gases (gases del efecto invernadero)
• offsetting (compensación)
• carbon footprint (huella de carbono)
• measure (medir)
• quantify (cuantificar)

Unit 6: Conditional Sentences

a) First Conditional

Form

If (si) or unless (a menos que) + simple present and simple future or a modal + infinitive without 'to'.

• + If you come early, you might get a parking space.
• - They won't win unless they score again.
• ? If we offer you the job, will you accept it?

Uses

Expresses present or future situations that are real, possible, or probable. The simple present is always used in the 'if' clause.

b) Second Conditional

Form

If + simple past and would or could + infinitive without 'to'.

• + If I had the energy, I could go for a run with you.
• - I wouldn't be so late for work if I got up earlier.
• ? If you knew his number, would you call him?

Uses

Expresses hypothetical situations in the present or future. The simple past is always used in the 'if' clause.

c) Third Conditional

Form

If + simple past perfect and would have + participle.

• + If we had left earlier, we would have been there by now.
• - You wouldn't have got there on time if I hadn't given you a lift.
• ? If you had written a list, would you have forgotten to buy milk?

Uses

Used to talk about hypothetical situations in the past. The simple past perfect is always used in the 'if' clause.

Vocabulary (Science & Technology)

• aeroplane (avión)
• invisibility cloak (capa de invisibilidad)
• submarine (submarino)
• teleportation (teletransporte)
• telescope (telescopio)
• time travel (viaje en el tiempo)
• spaceship (nave espacial)
• relativity (relatividad)
• precognition (precognición)
• android (androide)
• black hole (agujero negro)
• communication satellite (satélite de comunicación)
• electricity (electricidad)
• law (ley)
• research (investigación)

Unit 7: The Passive Voice

a) Passive Structures

The passive voice is formed with 'be' and the past participle.

Form

• Simple Present:
  • Active: paint(s)
  • Passive: is/are painted
• Present Continuous:
  • Active: is/are painting
  • Passive: is/are being painted
• Present Perfect Simple:
  • Active: has/have painted
  • Passive: has/have been painted
• Simple Past:
  • Active: painted
  • Passive: was/were painted
• Past Continuous:
  • Active: was/were painting
  • Passive: was/were being painted
• Past Perfect:
  • Active: had painted
  • Passive: had been painted
• Simple Future:
  • Active: will paint
  • Passive: will be painted
• Future Continuous:
  • Active: will be painting
  • Passive: will be being painted
• Future Perfect:
  • Active: will have painted
  • Passive: will have been painted
• Modals:
  • Active: can paint / should have painted
  • Passive: can be painted / should have been painted

Uses

It is used when we want to focus on the action and when we don't care or don't know who performs it. If we want to indicate the agent, we place it after the preposition 'by'. We omit 'by' + the agent when the action is more important than the person or thing performing it. Questions in the passive voice place the subject after the first auxiliary verb.

b) Have/Get Something Done

Form

Have/get + object + past participle.

• + You should have your eyes tested.
• - I have not had the computer fixed.
• ? Are you getting your hair cut?

Uses

To express things we arrange for other people to do because we cannot or do not want to do them ourselves. Similar to the passive voice, we omit the subject of the action if we don't know who it is or if it's unimportant. The structure with get means the same but is more informal than with have.

Vocabulary (Art)

• art dealer (marchante de arte)
• painting (pintura)
• canvas (lienzo)
• easel (caballete)
• frame (marco)
• landscape (paisaje)
• portrait (retrato)
• foreground (primer plano)
• mood (humor)
• masterpiece (obra maestra)

Writing Practice: The Energy Sector

In the realm of energy, countless individuals strive daily to drive improvements across all facets. This endeavor is challenging, as it requires constant innovation and perseverance. Often, extensive hard work can prove futile if even a minor flaw is discovered.

Throughout the year, numerous energy fairs are held globally, showcasing the innovations that power much of our planet and revealing spectacular advancements. All of this is the direct result of dedicated work and extensive research.

Examining the objectives within this energy sector reveals a multifaceted pursuit: aiming for reduced expenditure, increased productivity, enhanced consumer satisfaction regarding performance and price, and much more.