Gramática inglesa: tiempos verbales, patrones verbales y cláusulas relativas

Voz Pasiva

La voz pasiva se forma con el verbo "to be" conjugado en el tiempo correspondiente, seguido del participio pasado del verbo principal. El presente perfecto y pasado perfecto continuo no se utilizan con frecuencia en la voz pasiva. Para formar la negativa e interrogativa, se utiliza el verbo "to be" en su forma negativa o interrogativa. El participio pasado del verbo principal no cambia.

Tiempos Simples

Ejemplo: Hundreds of new products were developed last year. / Results aren't usually shared between companies. / Where was the launch of the new product held?

Tiempos Continuos

Ejemplo: Solutions are being designed continually. / The trial wasn't being supervised when the problem arose. / Were the subjects in the trial being monitored during the trial?

Tiempos Perfectos

Ejemplo: Several market research surveys have been carried out so far. / Unfortunately, the fault hadn't been noticed during the testing process. / Has the new product been tested?

Modales

Ejemplo: When will the app be launched? / The media can't be told until next week. / Existing needs must be clearly identified. / Results should be reviewed by peers in academic settings.

Patrones Verbales con -ING e Infinitivo

Verbo + -ING

Algunos verbos siempre van seguidos de la forma -ing del verbo. Estos incluyen: avoid, imagine, regret, consider, keep, risk, dislike, mind, suggest, enjoy, finish, practise, recommend.

Ejemplo: I dislike getting home late from work.

La forma negativa se construye con not + -ing: Ejemplo: I regret not talking to him before now.

Verbo + to + Infinitivo

Algunos verbos siempre van seguidos de la forma infinitiva del verbo. Estos incluyen: agree, expect, need, aim, hope, plan, arrange, intend, prepare, choose, learn, promise, decide, manage, want.

Ejemplo: She learned to play the piano when she was 25.

La forma negativa se construye con not + to + infinitivo: Ejemplo: We agreed not to discuss the matter until the meeting.

Verbo + Objeto + to + Infinitivo

Algunos verbos, cuando tienen un objeto, van seguidos de to + infinitivo. Estos incluyen: allow, help, invite, tell, encourage, expect, persuade, want, would like, force, remind.

Ejemplo: I persuaded him not to leave his job. / Shall we invite Jim to come with us to the theatre?

Verbo + Objeto + Infinitivo (sin "to")

Algunos verbos, cuando tienen un objeto, van seguidos del infinitivo sin "to". Estos incluyen: feel, hear, let, make, notice, see, watch.

Ejemplo: We heard the car hit the lamppost. / I didn't notice Andy arrive today. Is he here?

Verbo + -ING / Infinitivo (significados similares)

Algunos verbos pueden ir seguidos de -ing o infinitivo sin un cambio significativo en el significado. Estos incluyen: begin, continue, hate, like, love, prefer, start.

Ejemplo: We began working flexitime a couple of years ago. / We began to work flexitime a couple of years ago. / I don't like eating ice cream in winter. / I don't like to eat ice cream in winter.

Verbo + -ING / Infinitivo (significados diferentes)

Algunos verbos pueden ir seguidos de -ing o infinitivo, pero el significado cambia. Estos incluyen: forget, go on, mean, regret, remember, stop, try.

Ejemplo: Did you remember to buy bread on your way home? We've run out. (Se refiere a una acción que se necesita realizar) / Do you remember buying these souvenirs in Rome? (Se refiere a un recuerdo del pasado)

Cláusulas Relativas

Cláusulas Restrictivas (Defining)

La información es esencial para la oración. Se utilizan los pronombres relativos: who, which, where, that, whose, when.

Cuando el pronombre relativo va seguido de un sujeto + verbo, es el objeto de la cláusula relativa restrictiva y se puede omitir. Ejemplo: These are the people who we showed the advert to. = These are the people we showed the advert to.

• who: para personas. Ejemplo: The designer who thought of this concept is a genius.
• which: para cosas. Ejemplo: The idea which the team came up with was great.
• that: para personas y cosas (menos formal que "who" y "which"). Ejemplo: The designer that thought of this concept is a genius.
• whose: para posesión. Ejemplo: The agency whose advert went viral last year has won an award.
• where: para lugares. Ejemplo: The building where they held the exhibition was beautiful.
• when: para tiempo. Ejemplo: Monday's the day when everyone arrives late.

Cláusulas No Restrictivas (Non-Defining)

La información no es esencial para la oración. Se utilizan comas para separar la cláusula. No se utiliza "that".

Ejemplo: The client, who makes children's toys, is keen to see our ideas. / These toys, which are made by our client, are really popular with the under-fives.

Cláusulas Relativas Reducidas

No incluyen pronombres relativos. Se reemplaza el pronombre relativo por la terminación -ing (forma activa) o el participio pasado (forma pasiva).

• -ing: forma activa. Ejemplo: Visitors arriving by car can park for free. (equivalente a Visitors who arrive/are arriving by car...)
• Participio Pasado: forma pasiva. Ejemplo: Some of the adverts shown on TV are terrible. (equivalente a Some of the adverts which are shown on TV...)

Solo se pueden usar cláusulas relativas reducidas cuando el pronombre relativo sería el sujeto de la oración relativa. Ejemplo: Visitors who arrive by car can park for free. -> Visitors arriving by car can park for free.