INTENSIFIERS / MODIFIERS

Adverbs can be classified in intensifiers and downtoners.

• Intensifiers: Extremely, Very, Really.
• Downtoners: Fairly, Quite, Rahter.
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Adjectives can be intensified by using adverbs such as rather, very or extremly:

• Ex: The person was completely dead.
• It was extremly hot in the room.

However some adjectives have already an extreme meaning. So these adjetives can only be intensified with adverbs such as absolutely, completely or utterly.

• Read that book was completely impossible.

Adverbs that can be used before gradable adjectives:

• Pretty, fairly, rather, quite, very. extremly, really(*), particullarly, terribly.

Adverbs that cannot be used before gradable adjectives (because they are extreme or absolute adjectives)

• rahter, utterly, absolutely, completely

(*) really can be used with both adjectives.

Conditionals

CONDITIONALS:

 We use:

- If/unless/when + present simple(or will) + present simple with general truths.

          

                          Ex: if you heat liquid to 120ªC, it boils

- If/when + present simple + will/might/may: Condition referring to a present or future event that is likely to happen.

                          Ex: He might be prepared to work when he finish with his studies.

- If/unless + past simple + would/could/might: Hypothetical condition (in the present or in the future).

                          Ex: If Marta went to school, she could speak languages.

- If/unless + past perfect + would/could/might: Hypothetical condition (in the past).

                          Ex: Even if I had got the job, I probably wouldn't have enjoyed it much.

In the FORMAL STYLE if can be omitted:

                    Ex: If I had been accepted....     without the if:    Had I been accepted in college, I would                                                                                                       have studied longer.

Supposing/ Imagine can be used instead of it.

If + was/were to : Make a situation or event seem more hypothetical. 

                   Ex: If they were to find a way of removing ebola, millions of live would be saved.

In case is not equal to if:  In case is used to talk about precautions (something done to avoid a problem).

If+should/happen to: is used to suggest that something is unlikely to happen, or may just happen by chance.

                   Ex: If you happen to pass a pharmacy, could you get me some aspirin?