{"id":173394,"date":"2023-08-23T01:59:52","date_gmt":"2023-08-23T05:59:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/advanced-english-grammar-skills\/"},"modified":"2025-02-23T18:55:41","modified_gmt":"2025-02-23T23:55:41","slug":"advanced-english-grammar-skills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/english\/advanced-english-grammar-skills\/","title":{"rendered":"Advanced English Grammar: 4 Top Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"

Writing<\/a> is an important part of your English language journey.<\/p>\n

By learning more and more advanced skills, you can further enhance your mastery of the English language.<\/p>\n

So, if you are feeling confident with your current skills<\/a> and are ready to learn something new, take the leap from intermediate to advanced English grammar! Get ready to discover new and exciting ways you can improve your writing knowledge.<\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

1. Master Compound and Complex Sentences<\/h2>\n

Understanding how sentences are put together will help you gain confidence in using more interesting and complex language. Like building blocks, English sentences contain smaller parts that you need to create a complete whole.<\/p>\n

Let us begin with a simple sentence<\/strong>. It contains a subject and an action, makes sense and is relatively short:<\/p>\n

I am replying to your email.<\/em><\/p>\n

Now, let us move on to compound sentences<\/strong>. These are two simple sentences put together, joined by a conjunction<\/em>. A conjunction<\/a> acts as a connecting word: because<\/em>, and<\/em>, but<\/em>, so<\/em>, if<\/em> and or<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Two ideas or messages are joined together to make one longer and more detailed compound sentence:<\/p>\n

I am replying to your email and<\/strong> I will write up the report today.<\/em><\/p>\n

Now, we will add dependent clauses onto our sentences. When we add a dependent clause to our sentence, we create a complex sentence.<\/strong><\/p>\n

A complex sentence contains a dependent clause and an independent clause.<\/p>\n

An independent clause <\/strong> is a sentence that makes sense on its own and contains a complete idea. In other words, if you read the independent clause alone, it makes perfect sense. In our example above, we connected two independent clauses into a compound sentence by joining them with a conjunction.<\/p>\n

A dependent clause <\/strong> is a group of words or a phrase that needs more information to be understood. These usually use words like while<\/em>, because<\/em>, due to<\/em>, even though<\/em> and other similar words. A dependent clause might have a verb and a subject but it needs an independent clause to actually make sense.<\/p>\n

Its job is to add information<\/em> to the sentence. By using dependent clauses, you can add meaning and context to your writing.<\/p>\n

For example, if I add a dependent clause to our example sentence, it will look like this:<\/p>\n

I am replying to your email and I will write up the report today while I eat my lunch.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

You did it! This sentence is now a complex sentence.<\/p>\n

Dependent clauses can appear at the end, beginning or even in the middle of sentences:<\/p>\n

I am replying to your email and, while I eat my lunch today,<\/strong> I will write up the report.<\/em><\/p>\n

When inserted at the beginning or middle of a sentence, use commas to separate the dependent clause from the independent part of the sentence.<\/p>\n

Always read your writing to ensure the addition of your dependent clause makes sense! If not, move it to a position in the sentence where it does.<\/p>\n

Important note!<\/strong> Although we used a compound sentence for this example, a complex sentence does not need to be one. It just needs a dependent and independent clause working together.<\/p>\n

Here are a few more examples of complex sentences. The dependent clause has been highlighted in bold.<\/p>\n

My toddler was singing while walking to preschool this morning.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Though the weather was cold,<\/strong> she wore her new summer dress outside. <\/em><\/p>\n

When he was young,<\/strong> he was very adventurous and went on many camping trips.<\/em><\/p>\n

You try it! Can you make your own complex sentence?<\/p>\n

2. Learn to Use Infinitives and Gerunds<\/h2>\n

Both infinitives and gerunds explain the action occurring in a sentence.<\/strong><\/p>\n

They differ in their verb form yet both are very helpful. Applying both of these advanced grammar techniques will help you master the art of writing.<\/p>\n

An infinitive<\/strong> is a group of words that act as a verb. It follows a simple formula: use the word “to” + the base form of the verb.<\/p>\n

To study<\/em>, to work<\/em>, to email<\/em>, to meet<\/em>, to eat<\/em> and to become<\/em> are all examples of infinitives.<\/p>\n

A gerund<\/strong> is a verb used in its present tense, ending in -ing<\/em>. It is special because it can sometimes be used as a noun. It names the activity being completed or the action being taken.<\/p>\n

Studying<\/em>, working<\/em>, emailing<\/em>, meeting<\/em>, eating<\/em> and becoming<\/em> are all examples of gerunds.<\/p>\n

Here are some common phrases, each expressed with infinitives and gerunds:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t
Verb<\/th>Infinitive<\/th>Gerund<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
email <\/a>\n <\/td> I like to email<\/strong> first thing in the morning.<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td> I like emailing<\/strong> first thing in the morning.<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
meet <\/a>\n <\/td> I am to meet<\/strong> her after lunch.<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td> I am meeting<\/strong> her after lunch.<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
study <\/a>\n <\/td> He needs some time to study<\/strong>.<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td> He needs some studying<\/strong> time.<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Many times, you can use either form of the word without changing the meaning too much.<\/p>\n

Sometimes, however, using the infinitive or the gerund<\/a> can result in different meanings. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t
Verb<\/th>Infinitive<\/th>Gerund<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
spend <\/a>\n <\/td> He\u2019ll never forget to spend<\/strong> his money.<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td> He\u2019ll never forget spending<\/strong> his money.<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
talk <\/a>\n <\/td> She is to talk<\/strong> to her boss.<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td> She is talking<\/strong> to the boss.<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

The difference here is the infinitives and gerunds express the action happening at two different times. The infinitive describes an action that has not yet happened but will in the future, while the gerund describes an action that has already happened or is currently happening.<\/p>\n

A less obvious difference between the two can be seen in this example:<\/p>\n

Infinitive: I’m afraid to fly<\/strong> (to New York tomorrow).
\n<\/em>Gerund: I’m afraid of flying<\/strong> (in an airplane).<\/em><\/p>\n

Often, gerunds are used to say something in a general way (in this case, the fear of flying). Infinitives, though, are more direct and specific (in this case, the fear of a specific flight coming up).<\/p>\n

Through use and practice, you will get a good understanding of the subtle differences between the two<\/p>\n

One way to get plenty of practice is by hearing these concepts in action at FluentU<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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