Gramática inglesa: estructuras clave, condicionales, voz pasiva y conectores

Resumen de estructuras gramaticales en inglés

Conectores de contraste

- Despite / In spite of = a pesar de.
- Although = aunque.
- Moreover = además (no confundir con "sin embargo").

Expresiones útiles

- It's ages = hace siglos.
- He told him = él le dijo.
- You had better = es mejor que.

Verbos modales

Can, could, may, should, must, might, have to

Condicionales

Primer condicional

If + presente, will + infinitivo. Forma inversa: Should + sujeto + infinitivo.

- If you need more information, don't hesitate to contact us.
- Should you need more information, don't hesitate to contact us.

Segundo condicional

If + pasado simple, would + infinitivo. Formas inversas: Were I / Were I to do.

- If I were you, I would accept the offer.
- Were I to accept the offer...

- If she accepted the job offer, it would be a great opportunity for her.
- Were she to accept the job offer, it would be a great opportunity for her.

Tercer condicional

If + past perfect, would have + participio. Forma inversa: Had I + participio.

- If I had known earlier, I would have made different plans.
- Had I known earlier, I would have made different plans.

Voz activa y voz pasiva

- Activa → Pasiva: People believe that English is the most widely spoken language. → It is said that English is the most widely spoken language.
- Pasiva → Activa: A lot of work was done this first term (by them). → They did a lot of work this first term.

Claves para identificar cada estructura

• If / Unless: indican condicional.
• As, despite, in spite of, because, although: indican conectores.
• Two separate sentences about the same thing: relative clauses (ej.: Hay un médico. El nombre del médico es José.).
• For, since, ago, it's ages: verbal tenses.
• La pasiva: la oración empieza al revés.
• Would, I'm sorry, what a pity: wish.
• As good as, better than: comparatives.
• If you want my advice, in my opinion: modal verbs.

Ejemplos con transformaciones

- Verbal Tenses: She started drinking too much alcohol two years ago. → She has been drinking too much alcohol for two years.

- Conditional Sentence: I don't have a computer, so I can't type the essay on English grammar. → If I had a computer, I would be able to type the essay on English grammar.

- Contrast Connector: Despite having been vaccinated, she caught the flu. → Although she had been vaccinated, she caught the flu.

- Passive: The teacher glued the pieces of the broken toy. → The pieces of the broken toy were glued by the teacher.

- Modal verb: It is possible that I finish work earlier than usual today. → I may finish work earlier than usual today.

- Relative Clauses: This is the place. We last had coffee together here. → This is where we last had coffee together.

- Wish: I love German. Unfortunately, I can't speak it fluently. → I wish I could speak German fluently.

- Causal Connector: As he hadn't behaved himself, his parents got angry with him. → His parents got angry with him because he hadn't behaved himself.

- Have something done: The engineer has repaired my television. → I've had my television repaired (by the engineer).

- Comparatives: I'm not as good at English as you are. → You are better at English than me.

- Verbal Tenses: They came to live in New York two years ago. → They have been living in New York for two years.

- Contrast Clauses: She lost the race in spite of running well. → Although she ran well, she lost the race.

- Passive: The police don't oblige the suspects to say anything. → The suspects aren't obliged to say anything by the police.

- Indirect question: "Where is the nearest cinema, please?" → Could you tell me where the nearest cinema is?

- Verbal tenses / Superlative: I have never read such an interesting book. → This is the first time I have read such an interesting book. / This is the most interesting book I've ever read.

- Modals: It's not necessary for you to make your bed. → You don't have to make your bed. / You needn't make your bed.

- Superlative: No other fictional secret agent is as famous as James Bond. → James Bond is the most famous fictional secret agent.