Even

USE

“Even” is used to express shock, unexpectedness, surprise, excitement at an idea, action or event.

EXAMPLES:

He loses everything. He even lost his own wedding ring!

John has amnesia and he can't remember anything about the past. He can't even remember his own name!

He could even become President of the United States!

I love that author, and I have all of his books - even the ones which are out of print.

Even though / when / if

USE

“Even” can be combined with the words “though”, “when” and “if”. It emphasizes that a result is unexpected. Study the following examples and explanations to learn how these expressions differ. In the examples below, it is important to remember that if Bob studied hard, it is an unexpected result that he would fail his French tests.

EXAMPLES:

Even though Bob studied very hard, he still failed his French tests.

(Bob always studied hard. But, unfortunately, he failed the tests)

Even when Bob studied very hard, he still failed his French tests.

(Bob occassionally studied hard, but it didn't really make a difference. Every time he studied, he still failed)

Even if Bob studied very hard, he still failed his French tests.

(Bob didn't normally study very hard. But in the rare situation when he did try to study hard, he still failed the test)

Jerry is never happy. Even though you do everything his way, he is still dissatisfied.

(You do everything his way, but he is still dissatisfied)

Jerry is never happy. Even when you do everything his way, he is still dissatisfied.

(You have tried doing what he wants, but he is still dissatisfied)

Jerry is never happy. Even if you do everything his way, he is still dissatisfied.

(Perhaps once or twice you have tried doing things his way, but it makes no difference because he is still dissatisfied)

IMPORTANT

These expressions are not always interchangeable; the context of the sentence will affect your choice:

“Even though” is used when something is always done.

“Even when” is used when something is occasionally done.

“Even if” is used when something is rarely done or it is just imagined.

EXAMPLES:

Even though the interview went terribly, Cheryl got the job. CORRECT

(The interview went terribly, but she got the job)

Even when the interview went terribly, Cheryl got the job. NOT CORRECT

(This sentence is incorrect because the interview did not go terribly more than one time. There was only one interview so "when" is not the right word for this sentence)

Even if the interview went terribly, Cheryl got the job. CORRECT

(You imagine that the interview went terribly, but you think she probably got the job anyway)

Even though he wins the lottery jackpot, he won't have enough money to pay off his debt. NOT CORRECT

(This sentence would suggest that he always wins the lottery)

Even when he wins the lottery jackpot, he won't have enough money to pay off his debt. NOT CORRECT

(This sentence would suggest that he sometimes wins the lottery jackpot)

Even if he wins the lottery jackpot, he won't have enough money to pay off his debt. CORRECT

(There is a chance in a million that he might win the lottery jackpot, but it wouldn't make any difference because he still wouldn't have enough money to pay off his debt)

REMEMBER

The meaning and context of the sentence is very important when deciding whether to use “even though”, “even when” or “even if”.

Even so

USE

“Even so” is very much like the word “but” or “however”. “Even so” is different in that it is used with surprising or unexpected results.

EXAMPLES:

She is loud and unfriendly. Even so, I like her.

(She is loud and unfriendly, so it is unexpected that I like her)

The bed is extremely large and heavy. Even so, Jim managed to carry it into the house by himself.

(It is unexpected that Jim could carry the bed by himself)

Jane was sick for a couple days in Los Angeles. Even so, she said her trip to the United States was great.

(If she was sick, it is unexpected that she enjoyed her trip)

Let / Make / Have / Get

Let

FORM

let + PERSON + VERB

USE

This construction means “to allow someone to do something”

EXAMPLES:

John let me drive his new car.

Will your parents let you go to the party?

I don't know if my boss will let me take the day off.

Make

FORM

make + PERSON + VERB

USE

This construction means “to force someone to do something”

EXAMPLES:

My teacher made me apologize for what I had said.

Did somebody make you wear that ugly hat?

She made her children do their homework.

Have

FORM

have + PERSON + VERB

USE

This construction means “to give someone the responsibility to do something”

EXAMPLES:

Dr. Smith had his nurse take the patient's temperature.

Please have your secretary fax me the information.

I had the mechanic check the brakes.

Get

FORM

Get + PERSON + to + VERB

USE

This construction usually means “to convince to do something” or “to trick someone into doing something”

EXAMPLES:

Susie got her son to take the medicine even though it tasted terrible.

How can parents get their children to read more?

The government TV commercials are trying to get people to stop smoking.

Get vs. Have

Sometimes “get someone to do something” is interchangeable with “have someone do something”, but these expressions do not mean exactly the same thing.

EXAMPLES:

I got the mechanic to check my brakes.

At first the mechanic didn't think it was necessary, but I convinced him to check the brakes.

I had the mechanic check my brakes.

I asked the mechanic to check the brakes.

So / Such

So + Adjective

USE

“So” can be combined with adjectives to show extremes. This form is often used in exclamations.

EXAMPLES:

The music is so loud! I wish they would turn it down.

The meal was so good! It was worth the money.

USE WITH “THAT”

The above form can be combined with “that” to show extremes which lead to certain results. The “that” is usually optional.

EXAMPLES:

The music is so loud that I can't sleep.

The music is so loud I can't sleep.

The meal was so good that we decided to have dinner at the same restaurant again tonight.

The meal was so good we decided to have dinner at the same restaurant again tonight.

So + Adverb

USE

“So” can be combined with adverbs to show extreme actions. This form is often used in exclamations.

EXAMPLES:

She spoke so quickly! She sounded like an auctioneer.

He paints so well! I am sure he is going to become a famous artist.

USE WITH “THAT”

The above form can be combined with “that” to show extreme actions which lead to certain results. The “that” is usually optional.

EXAMPLES:

She spoke so quickly that I couldn't understand her.

She spoke so quickly I couldn't understand her.

He paints so well that they offered him a scholarship at an art school in Paris.

He paints so well they offered him a scholarship at an art school in Paris.

So + Many / Few + Plural Noun

USE

“So” can be combined with “many” or “few” plus a plural noun to show extremes in amount. This form is often used in exclamations.

EXAMPLES:

I never knew you had so many brothers!

She has so few friends! It's really quite sad.

USE WITH “THAT”

The above form can be combined with “that” to show extremes in amount which lead to certain results. The “that” is usually optional.

EXAMPLES:

I never knew you had so many brothers that you had to share a bedroom.

I never knew you had so many brothers you had to share a bedroom.

She has so few friends that she rarely gets out of the house.

She has so few friends she rarely gets out of the house.

So + Much / Little + Noncountable Noun

USE

“So” can be combined with “much” or “little” plus a noncountable noun to show extremes in amount. This form is often used in exclamations.

EXAMPLES:

Jake earns so much money! And he still has trouble paying the rent.

They have so little food! We need to do something to help them.

USE WITH “THAT”

The above form can be combined with “that” to show extremes in amount which lead to certain results. The “that” is usually optional.

EXAMPLES:

Jake earns so much money that he has lost all sense of what a dollar is worth.

Jake earns so much money he has lost all sense of what a dollar is worth.

They have so little food that they are starving to death.

They have so little food they are starving to death.

So + Much / Little / Often / Rarely

USE

“So” can be combined with words like “much”, “little”, “often” or “rarely” to describe how much or how often someone does an action. This form is often used in exclamations.

EXAMPLES:

Earl drinks so much! It's not good for his health.

My sister visits us so rarely! I really miss her.

USE WITH “THAT”

The above form can be combined with “that” to show the results of extreme actions. The “that” is usually optional.

EXAMPLES:

Earl drinks so much that it is starting to interfere with his work.

Earl drinks so much it is starting to interfere with his work.

My sister visits us so rarely that my kids wouldn't even recognize her.

My sister visits us so rarely my kids wouldn't even recognize her.

Such + Adjective + Noun

USE

“Such” can be combined with an adjective and a noun to show extremes. This form is often used in exclamations.

EXAMPLES:

Don has such a big house! I think it's a little ridiculous.

Shelly has such beautiful eyes! I have never seen that shade of blue before.

USE WITH “THAT”

The above form can be combined with “that” to show extremes which lead to certain results. The “that” is usually optional.

EXAMPLES:

Don has such a big house that I actually got lost on the way to the bathroom.

Don has such a big house I actually got lost on the way to the bathroom.

Shelly has such beautiful eyes that she got a job as a make-up model.

Shelly has such beautiful eyes she got a job as a make-up model.

NOTE

Remember that without the noun you need to use “so”

such + beautiful + eyes + that

so + beautiful + that

Such + Judgemental Noun

USE

“Such” can also be combined with judgemental nouns for emphasis. This form is often used in exclamations.

EXAMPLES:

He is such an idiot! He says the stupidest things.

She is such a genius! We could never do this work without her.

USE WITH “THAT”

The above form can be combined with “that” to show certain results. The “that” is usually optional.

EXAMPLES:

He is such an idiot that nobody would hire him.

He is such an idiot nobody would hire him.

She is such a genius that they immediately gave her a position at the university.

She is such a genius they immediately gave her a position at the university.

Such + Noun (This type of...)

USE

“Such” can also mean “this type of...” or “that type of...”

EXAMPLE:

The archeologist had never seen such writing before he discovered the tablet.

(this/that type of writing)

She usually doesn't receive such criticism.

(this/that kind of criticism)

Frank has never made such mistakes before.

(these/those kinds of mistakes)

Subjunctive

FORM

Use the simple form of the verb. The simple form is the infinitive without the “to”. The simple form of the verb “to go” is “go”. The subjunctive is only noticeable in certain forms and tenses.

USE

The Subjunctive is used to emphasize urgency or importance. It is used after certain expressions (see below).

EXAMPLES:

I suggest that he study.

Is it essential that we be there?

Don recommended that you join the committee.

NOTICE

The Subjunctive is only noticeable in certain forms and tenses. In the examples below, the Subjunctive is not noticeable in the you form of the verb, but it is noticeable in the he form of the verb.

EXAMPLES:

You try to study often. You form of “try”

It is important that you try to study often. Subjunctive form of “try”

He tries to study often. He form of “try”

It is important that he try to study often. Subjunctive form of “try”

Verbs Followed by the Subjunctive

USE

The Subjunctive is used after the following verbs:

to advise

to ask

to command

to demand

to desire

to insist

to propose

to recommend

to request

to suggest

to urge

EXAMPLES:

Dr. Smith asked that Mark submit his research paper before the end of the month.

Donna requested that Frank be at the party.

The teacher insists that her students arrive on time.

Expressions Followed by the Subjunctive

USE

The Subjunctive is used after the following expressions:

It is best (that)

It is crucial (that)

It is desirable (that)

It is essential (that)

It is imperative (that)

It is important (that)

It is recommended (that)

It is urgent (that)

It is vital (that)

It is a good idea (that)

It is a bad idea (that)

EXAMPLES:

It is crucial that you be there before Tom arrives.

It is important that she attend the meeting.

It is recommended that he take a gallon of water with him if he wants to hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon.

Negative, Continuous and Passive Forms of Subjunctive

NOTICE

The Subjunctive can be used in negative, continuous and passive forms.

NEGATIVE EXAMPLES:

The boss insisted that Sam not be at the meeting.

The company asked that employees not accept personal phone calls during business hours.

I suggest that you not take the job without renegotiating the salary.

PASSIVE EXAMPLES:

Jake recommended that Susan be hired immediately.

Christine demanded that I be allowed to take part in the negotiations.

We suggested that you be admitted to the organization.

CONTINUOUS EXAMPLES:

It is important that you be standing there when he gets off the plane.

It is crucial that a car be waiting for the boss when the meeting is over.

I propose that we all be waiting in Tim's apartment when he gets home.

Should as Subjunctive

After many of the above expressions, the word “should” is sometimes used to express the idea of subjunctiveness. This form is used more frequently in British English and is most common after the verbs “suggest”, “recommend” and “insist”.

EXAMPLES:

The doctor recommended that she should see a specialist about the problem.

Professor William suggested that Wilma should study harder for the final exam.