S.

5 Sentence Structures Setter: Henry Wong

Name: __________ Class: ___ ( ) Date: ____________

1. Provided that …
Model: The accident rate will decrease provided that people
take proper precautions.

Focus on
Grammar: 1. Provided that is a conjunction.
2. It can be put at the beginning of a sentence or after the main
clause.
3. The main clause is usually in the future aspect whereas the
subordinate clause (with provided that) is in the present
tense.

Focus on
Usage: 1. Provided that means ‘if and only if’.
2. It is usually used to state a fact rather than lay down a
condition.

Focus on
Practice: Complete the following sentences with the given words, using
the patterns above.

1. Peter / gives up / smoking / Susan / will marry / he

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2. he agrees / sign / name / on / document / we / will trust / him

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3. more customers / come / restaurant / will / closed

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4. he / drinks / less wine / his health / will improve

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5. new law / will take effect / it / passed / Legislative Council

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 S.5 Sentence Structures Setter: Henry Wong

Name: __________ Class: ___ ( ) Date: ____________

2. It is … who / that …
Model: a. It is Mr Chan who / that I want to see.
b. It was the residents who / that caught the thief.
c. It is a sense of belonging that Hong Kong people now need.

Focus on
Grammar: 1. This pattern starts with it is or it was, regardless of
agreement with the noun which follows.
2. The verb following who or that must be correct in agreement.
3. Common mistakes:
a. They are the students who broke the window.
(Different meaning)
b. It is Mr Brown who often visit us at weekends. (Wrong)
c. It is Mr Brown who often visits us at weekends. (Correct)

Focus on
Usage: 1. This pattern focuses the reader’s attention on a particular
point.
2. It clarifies who or what is referred to.

Focus on
Practice: Rewrite the following sentences, emphasizing the words in italics.

1. Two small boys uncovered the scandal.

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2. Cheap rented accommodation is now urgently needed in Hong Kong.

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3. He wanted to learn Chinese, not Japanese.

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4. The air-conditioner produced the noise.

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5. He gave Mary a diamond ring, not a necklace, for her birthday present.

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 S.5 Sentence Structures Setter: Henry Wong

Name: __________ Class: ___ ( ) Date: ____________

3. What …, not …
Model: a. What I need is your help, not your sympathy.
b. What Hong Kong needs now are prosperity and stability,
not endless negotiations.
c. What he saw was the shadow of a man, not a ghost.
d. What I intend to do is to read the document first, not to
sign my name on it immediately.

Focus on
Grammar: 1. What can take a singular or a plural verb.
2. Common mistakes:
a. What I want is some exercise books, not novels. (Wrong)
b. What I want are some exercise books, not novels.(Correct)

Focus on
Usage: 1. This pattern focuses the reader’s attention on a particular
point.
2. It clarifies what is referred to.

Focus on
Practice: Rewrite the following sentences, using what …, not …

1. He wanted to buy a jeep. He did not want to buy a van.

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2. She intended to take a rest. She did not want to start work.

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3. He is longing for a long holiday, not a better paid job.

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4. I want to see improvement in your work. I did not want to see such rubbish.

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5. He needs encouragement. He does not need punishment.

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 S.5 Sentence Structures Setter: Henry Wong

Name: __________ Class: ___ ( ) Date: ____________

4. The most … to …
Model: a. The most difficult thing to bear was the noise outside.
b. The first people to go to when you are in trouble are your
parents.

Focus on
Grammar: 1. This pattern occurs as a way of avoiding defining relative
clauses which contain special verbs like must, can, could,
should, have to, etc.
2. When the main clause contains such superlatives as the
biggest, the only, the first, etc., this pattern is preferable
to relative patterns.
3. Watch the agreement between the subject and the verb.
4. Common mistakes:
a. The first people to go to is your closest friend. (Wrong)
b. The first people to go to are your closest friends.
(Correct)

Focus on
Usage: It is more concise than a relative pattern with which or who.
e.g. The first people whom you should go to are your closest friends. (Clumsy)
The first people to go to are your closest friends. (Concise)

Focus on
Practice: Rewrite the following sentences, using the patterns above.

1. The best way in which you can learn a language is by constant practice.

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2. The most serious problem which we have to solve is that we have insufficient fund.

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3. Armstrong was one of the first men who landed on the moon.

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4. There is nothing which we have to do now.

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5. The biggest challenge which we must overcome is the wind.

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 S.5 Sentence Structures Setter: Henry Wong

Name: __________ Class: ___ ( ) Date: ____________

5. However + adjective / adverb …

Model: a. The action taken by the Chinese Government is vital, however symbolic it might be.
b. However unimportant it may be, we cannot neglect the side effects brought by it.
c. However cleverly you may cheat, you will be found out in the end.

Focus on
Grammar: 1. However is an adverb.
2. It can qualify an adjective or another adverb, so it is followed either by an adverb in this pattern.
3. However can be put at the beginning or the middle of a sentence.

Focus on
Usage: 1. It means ‘to whatever degree’.
2. It is used more often in written English.

Focus on
Practice: Rewrite the following sentences, using the patterns above.

1. Though the car was quite old, it was in excellent condition.

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2. I might be indifferent to fame but I cannot deny sometimes it is very attractive.

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3. In spite of the fact that AIDS is a very dangerous disease, it is not a threat in Hong Kong because of good
education.

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4. In spite of the great benefits we get from nuclear energy, it may lead to catastrophes.

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5. The government tried very hard to discourage smoking but the effort was in vain.

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 S.5 Sentence Structures Setter: Henry Wong

Name: __________ Class: ___ ( ) Date: ____________

6. No matter …
Model: a. No matter how hard he tried, he could not achieve his goal.
b. No matter where you go, you have to remember you are
Chinese.
c. No matter what he said, he could not convince me that he
was an honest man.

Focus on
Grammar: The expression ‘no matter . . .’ is followed by a wh-clause.
Focus on
Usage: 1. ‘No matter . . .’ can be replaced by ‘It doesn’t matter . . .’,
which is more common in spoken English.
2. This pattern is used to introduce a concession.

Focus on
Practice: Fill in the blank with a suitable expression starting with No
matter . . .

1. _______________ you further your studies, you receive the same university education.

2. _______________ you buy it, you have to pay.

3. _______________ he goes out, he is wearing a jacket.

4. _______________ unhappy he is, he pretends to look natural.

5. _______________ he does, he cannot show that he is an able man.

 S.5 Sentence Structures Setter: Henry Wong

Name: __________ Class: ___ ( ) Date: ____________

7. Whatever, etc.
Model: a. Wherever he does, he is bringing a book with him.
b. Whenever I see that beggar, he is kneeling on the ground.
c. Whatever he wears, he looks handsome.
d. Whoever she sees in the street, she always greet them
warmly.

Focus on
Grammar: 1. These words are compound relative pronouns.
2. They introduce a clause.

Focus on
Usage: It is used in spoken as well as written English.

Focus on
Practice: Fill in the blank with a suitable expression starting with ‘ –ever’.

1. _______________ comes, ask them to wait outside.

2. _______________ she goes, she is wearing a ribbon in her hair.

3. _______________ it is, I do want to have it.

4. _______________ he visits his grandmother, he brings a bunch of flowers

for her.

5. _______________ you see in the house, do not let anyone know.

 S.5 Sentence Structures
Answer Key
1
1. Provided that Peter gives up smoking, Susan will marry him.
2. Provided that there is no objection, the campaign will start this week.
3. Provided that he agrees to sign his name on the document, we will trust him.
4. Provided that more customers come, the restaurant will not be closed.
5. Provided that he drinks less wine, his health will improve.

2
1. It was two small boys who / that uncovered the scandal.
2. It is cheap rented accommodation that is now urgently needed in Hong Kong.
3. It was Chinese, not Japanese that he wanted to learn.
4. It was the air-conditioner that produced the noise.
5. It was a diamond ring, not a necklace that he gave Mary for her birthday present.

3
1. What he wanted to buy was a jeep, not a van.
2. What she intended to do is to take a rest, not to start work.
3. What he is longing for is a long holiday, not a better paid job.
4. What I want to see is improvement in your work, not such rubbish.
5. What he needs is encouragement, not punishment.

4
1. The best way to learn a language is by constant practice.
2. The most serious problem to solve is that we have insufficient fund.
3. Armstrong was one of the first men to land on the moon.
4. There is nothing to do now.
5. The biggest challenge to overcome is the wind.

5
1. However old the car was, it was in excellent condition.
2. However indifferent I might be to fame, I cannot deny sometimes it is very attractive.
3. However dangerous a disease AIDS is, it is not a threat in Hong Kong because of good education.
4. However great the benefits we get from nuclear energy, it may lead to catastrophes.
5. However hard the government tried to discourage smoking, the effort was in vain.

6
1. No matter where you further your studies, you receive the same university education.
2. No matter where you buy it, you have to pay.
3. No matter when he goes out, he is wearing a jacket.
4. No matter how unhappy he is, he pretends to look natural.
5. No matter what he does, he cannot show that he is an able man.

7
1. Whoever comes, ask them to wait outside.
2. Wherever she goes, she is wearing a ribbon in her hair.
3. Whatever it is, I do want to have it.
4. Whenever he visits his grandmother, he brings a bunch of flowers for her.
5. Whatever you see in the house, do not let anyone know.