Unit 4 A | Reduced time clauses | Passages 1 | 2024 Revisited

Summary

In this lesson, Teacher Mario explains the concept of reduced time clauses, a key grammar point. He starts by defining time clauses and differentiating between full and reduced forms, emphasizing their use in spoken language. Mario then outlines two groups of time clauses: reducible ones (e.g., 'before,' 'while,' 'after') and non-reducible ones (e.g., 'ever since,' 'as soon as'). He provides clear examples of how to reduce time clauses and explains when it's not possible. The lesson encourages practice and invites viewers to comment or ask questions. Don't forget to subscribe for future lessons!

Takeaways

• 😀 Check out @abcenglish.tv on Instagram for grammar notes, exercises, and more to practice at your own pace.
• 😀 Time clauses are grammatical units that require a subject, verb, and object, and specify when an action occurs.
• 😀 Time clauses can be either full clauses or reduced clauses, both of which are grammatically correct.
• 😀 Reduced time clauses are more commonly used in spoken language, and involve omitting the subject and changing the verb to its -ing form.
• 😀 The structure for a full time clause is: Time Clause + Subject + Base Verb + Complement.
• 😀 The structure for a reduced time clause is: Time Clause + Gerund + Complement.
• 😀 Time clauses that can be reduced include those formed with 'Before', 'After', and 'While', provided the subject is the same in both clauses.
• 😀 Example: 'After I finish my workout, I head to the office.' can be reduced to 'After finishing my workout, I head to the office.'
• 😀 Invert the order of the clauses for no change in meaning, like 'I head to the office after finishing my workout.'
• 😀 Time clauses that cannot be reduced include expressions like 'Ever since', 'As soon as', 'Until', 'Whenever', and 'From the moment.'
• 😀 For non-reducible time clauses, use the full structure: Time Clause + Subject + Verb + Complement.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the lesson?

The main topic of the lesson is 'Reduced Time Clauses' and how they differ from full time clauses.

What is a time clause?

A time clause is a grammatical unit that requires a subject, verb, and object. It is used to specify when the action of the verb takes place.

What are the two types of time clauses discussed in the lesson?

The two types of time clauses discussed are 'full clauses' and 'reduced clauses'.

What is the main difference between full and reduced time clauses?

The main difference is that reduced time clauses omit the subject and change the verb to an -ing form. Full time clauses have the subject, verb, and complement.

When can time clauses be reduced?

Time clauses can be reduced when the subject is the same in both clauses of the sentence.

Which time clauses can be reduced according to the lesson?

The time clauses that can be reduced are those formed with 'Before', 'After', and 'While', provided that the subject is the same in both parts of the sentence.

Can you provide an example of a reduced time clause?

Sure! For example, 'After I finish my workout, I head to the office' can be reduced to 'After finishing my workout, I head to the office.'

What happens to time clauses when they are placed in the middle of a sentence?

When time clauses are placed in the middle of a sentence, they do not require commas.

Which time clauses cannot be reduced?

Time clauses that cannot usually be reduced include 'Ever since', 'As soon as', 'Until', 'Whenever', 'From the moment', and many other time expressions.

What structure should be used for time clauses that cannot be reduced?

For time clauses that cannot be reduced, the structure used is 'Time Clause + Subject + Verb + Complement'.

Can you provide an example of a time clause that cannot be reduced?

Sure! For example, 'Ever since I was a kid, I've had trouble getting up early.' This clause cannot be reduced because 'Ever since' is a time expression that does not allow reduction.