{"id":105,"date":"2012-11-21T16:50:00","date_gmt":"2012-11-21T16:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/monkeygrammar.org\/index.php\/2012\/11\/21\/feel-good-grammar-how-to-make-sentences-in-business-english-3-updated\/"},"modified":"2020-04-16T12:18:44","modified_gmt":"2020-04-16T12:18:44","slug":"feel-good-grammar-how-to-make-sentences-in-business-english-3-updated","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mindpowerasia.org\/feel-good-grammar-how-to-make-sentences-in-business-english-3-updated\/","title":{"rendered":"Feel Good Grammar: How to Make Sentences in Business English (3) updated"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n
Summary: The post is about how to make sentences<\/b> with reference to finite<\/b> and Non-finite<\/b> Verbs, which in the funny terms of this post are named\u00a0Big Verbs<\/b>\u00a0(finite) and Small Verbs<\/b> (non-finite). \u00a0 \u00a0As in some languages such as Asian ones the ideas (or concepts) of finite verbs\u00a0<\/span><\/span>do not exist, this post attempts to explain the differences between\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Big Verbs<\/b>\u00a0(finite) and\u00a0<\/span>Small Verbs<\/b>\u00a0(non-finite) with a sense of humor<\/b>. \u00a0<\/span>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


<\/span><\/span>Small <\/span>Verbs<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/div>\n
Before you know what<\/span> small verbs<\/span> are, you have to ask yourself a question. To be frank, <\/span>Big Verbs<\/span> are nothing special that they are big just because they come first in a sentence. So the question is:\u00a0<\/span>

<\/span><\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Is it<\/span> fair<\/span>? <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
Why<\/span> does a verb comes after another become small<\/span>? <\/span><\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


Well, if you like, making sentences is <\/span>like marriage<\/span>. The first woman a man marries is a <\/span>wife<\/span> (like a <\/span>Big Verb)<\/span>; the second woman has to be a <\/span>mistress<\/span> (like <\/span>a small verb). <\/span>To make matter worse, a Small Verb doesn\u2019t have many choices. After Big Verbs they usually <\/span>come in two shapes<\/span>, either with <\/span>a head <\/span>or <\/span>a tail.<\/span>

<\/span>
<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Shape 1<\/span>: with a head<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/div>\n
We have decided <\/span>to <\/span>renew<\/span> our contract with Apple.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
It is important <\/span>to<\/span> submit <\/span>your report on time.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


As you can see from the above examples, \u2018renew\u2019 and \u2018submit\u2019 become Small Verbs because they <\/span>come after<\/span> the two Big Verbs (<\/span>have decided<\/span> and <\/span>is<\/span>). <\/span>Moreover, they have to come with a head: TO, so that they are in a funny shape:<\/span>
<\/span><\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

to + verb<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Shape 2<\/span>: with a tail<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Other Small Verbs are less luckier. They have to come with a tail. What tail is it? Read the following sentences:<\/span>

<\/span><\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

The CEO suggested <\/span>cutt<\/span>ing<\/span> the budget on advertising.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
There is no reason for <\/span>giv<\/span>ing<\/span> up the plan now.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

So the tail is ‘<\/span><\/span>verb + ing’.<\/span><\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


In a word, the two special shapes for Small Verbs are:<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/colgroup>\n\n\n\n
Shape 1 (with a head)<\/span><\/td>\n\n
to<\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
+<\/span><\/td>\n\n
verb<\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Shape 2 (with a tail)<\/span><\/td>\n\n
verb<\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
+<\/span><\/td>\n\n
ing<\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n



However, you may ask a, question, probably a<\/span> bigger <\/span>question:<\/span>
How do you know which shape to choose?<\/span>



Or some even <\/span>bigger<\/span> questions may pop up into your mind:\u00a0<\/span>Why are certain verbs<\/span> followed by ‘to+verb’<\/span>? \u00a0<\/span>Why are certain verbs <\/span>followed by ‘verb+ing’<\/span>?<\/span><\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Here you are, an example: <\/span><\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/colgroup>\n\n\n\n
Situation <\/span><\/td>\nIn a <\/span>meeting <\/span> <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Aim<\/span><\/td>\nAgreeing<\/span> to do something<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

You may say:<\/span><\/div>\n
We have agreed <\/span>to postpone <\/span>the deadline.<\/span><\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Is there any reason <\/span>why<\/span> you have to use <\/span>To+Verb <\/span>(to postpone) here? To get the answer, you have to answer three questions first. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span>What do you<\/span> think about<\/span> \u2018to\u2019<\/span><\/b>? \u00a0<\/span>How does \u2018to\u2019 <\/span>taste<\/span>? <\/span>\u00a0<\/span>How does \u2018to\u2019 <\/span>smell<\/span>?<\/span>

<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span><\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/div>\n

<\/span>To learn English and feel good about yourself, sometimes you have to put something into your mouth, <\/span>touch<\/span> that something, and <\/span>feel<\/span> it. \u00a0<\/span>Does \u2018to\u2019 mean <\/span>something <\/span>to be done<\/span>?<\/span> Does \u2018to\u2019 taste like <\/span>something <\/span>in the future<\/span>?<\/span> Does \u2018to\u2019 have something to do with<\/span> a plan<\/span>?<\/span>





If your answers to the above are \u2018<\/span>yes<\/span>\u2019, you are right. \u2018<\/span>To<\/b><\/span>\u2019 implies that there is something, which may be a plan, <\/span>to be done <\/b><\/span>in the future. \u00a0<\/span>So, \u2018to\u2019 follows Big Verbs such as <\/span>decide<\/span>,<\/span> expect<\/span>,<\/span> and <\/span>manage<\/span>,<\/span> all of which have <\/span>something to do with future<\/span>. \u00a0<\/span>Other examples of ‘Big Verbs + To+Verbs’ include:<\/span>

<\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/colgroup>\n\n\n\n\n\n
\u00a0<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\nTo+Verbs<\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Our company <\/span><\/td>\noffered<\/span><\/td>\nto fix<\/b><\/span><\/td>\nthe item free of charge<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
We<\/span><\/td>\nintend<\/span><\/td>\nto deliver <\/b><\/span><\/td>\nthe item in a few days<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Our CEO<\/span><\/td>\ndeclined<\/span><\/td>\nto comment<\/b><\/span><\/td>\non the accident<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\u00a0<\/h1>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/div>\n



<\/p>\n


—————————————————<\/p>\n

This post is adapted from the book: <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Feel<\/span><\/i>Good<\/span><\/i><\/b>Grammar: <\/span><\/i>How to<\/span><\/i><\/b> <\/i>Make <\/span><\/i>Sentences\u00a0<\/span><\/i>in <\/span><\/i>Business<\/span><\/i> English<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/b>

<\/span><\/b>
<\/span><\/b>Buy the book:<\/em><\/span><\/b>

<\/em><\/span><\/b>Kindle (ebook)<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Amazon (paperback)<\/span><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Kobo (ebook)<\/a><\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/colgroup>\n\n\n
\u00a0<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\u00a0<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0 Summary: The post is about how to make sentences with reference to finite and Non-finite Verbs, which in the funny terms of this post are named\u00a0Big Verbs\u00a0(finite) and Small Verbs (non-finite). \u00a0 \u00a0As in some languages such as Asian ones the ideas (or concepts) of finite verbs\u00a0do not exist, this post attempts to explain […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":706,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/mindpowerasia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/FreeGreatPicture.com-28730-interesting-material-of-commerce.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mindpowerasia.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/105"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mindpowerasia.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mindpowerasia.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mindpowerasia.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mindpowerasia.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=105"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/mindpowerasia.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/105\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":795,"href":"https:\/\/mindpowerasia.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/105\/revisions\/795"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mindpowerasia.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/706"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mindpowerasia.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=105"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mindpowerasia.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=105"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mindpowerasia.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=105"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}