Advanced grammatical nuances
Choose between forms that are all grammatical but differ in meaning: adjective position, verb patterns, quantifiers and distancing tenses.
25 minProficiency
1The grammar
At this level, the question is often not whether a form is correct but what it means. Adjective position is one example: 'the present members' are the current ones, while 'the members present' are those attending. An adjective with its own complement must follow the noun: 'the person responsible for the error', not 'the responsible person for the error'.
Some verbs change meaning with their complement. 'Regret to inform' announces bad news, whereas 'regret informing' expresses sorrow about something already done. 'Go on to discuss' moves to a new activity, while 'go on discussing' continues the same one. 'Stop to answer' means to pause in order to answer; 'stop answering' means to cease.
Small words carry strong implications. 'Few' and 'little' stress how small the quantity is, often negatively, while 'a few' and 'a little' present it as a small but positive amount. 'Be being' + adjective describes temporary behaviour rather than a character trait. A past form can also be used for politeness rather than past time: 'I was wondering whether you could help.'
After adjectives such as hard, easy and difficult, the object position in the infinitive clause remains empty when its meaning is the subject of the sentence: 'The report is hard to read', not 'hard to read it'.
2Structure and formation
Post-positive adjective
noun + adjective (+ complement)
The people responsible for the delay have apologised.
Verb pattern and meaning
regret / remember / stop / go on + to-infinitive or -ing
She remembered signing the form, but forgot to send it.
Negative and positive quantity
few/little + noun vs a few/a little + noun
Few delegates objected; a few even applauded.
Temporary behaviour
be + being + adjective
The chair is being unusually patient this morning.
Distancing past
I was wondering / hoping + clause
We were hoping you could join the call.
3Examples
The present members of the board were all appointed after 2020.
Before the noun, 'present' means 'current'.
The members present approved the minutes.
After the noun, 'present' means 'attending'.
We regret to announce that the service has been withdrawn.
'Regret to' introduces unwelcome news.
She regrets accepting the post.
'Regret + -ing' looks back at something already done.
A few objections were raised, but the motion passed.
'A few' suggests some existed, without stressing how small the number was.
He is being unusually cautious today.
The progressive shows behaviour in this situation, not his general character.
We were wondering whether you could send the file today.
The past form softens a present request.
4Common mistakes
The responsible person for the delay has resigned.
The person responsible for the delay has resigned.
An adjective with its own complement must follow the noun.
We regret informing you that your claim was rejected.
We regret to inform you that your claim was rejected.
To announce bad news, use 'regret to'. 'Regret + -ing' means being sorry about something you already did.
Little experts agree with this view.
Few experts agree with this view.
'Few' is used with plural countable nouns and 'little' with uncountable nouns.
The report is hard to read it.
The report is hard to read.
The subject 'the report' is understood as the object of 'read', so no pronoun is added.
5Practical usage
Precision in professional writing
Choosing 'the people concerned' or 'the staff present' over a vague phrase makes clear exactly who is meant.
Tactful requests
Past forms such as 'I was hoping' and 'I wondered if' make a request easier to refuse, which suits formal or delicate situations.
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