Microsoft Word Theoretical Course of English Grammar

particle 
not
, and the infinitive marker 
to
, which is not be confused with the preposition 
to
. For 
instance:
What do you want to drink
? 
In addition, infinitive to occurs as part of two complex subordinators expressing purpose: 
in order to
and 
so as to
: 
You have to get up early in order to be in time for school. 
Inserts 
Inserts are found mainly in spoken language as they make an important contribution to 
the interactive character of speech, because they signal relations between the speaker, the 
addressee(s) and the discourse. They do not form an integral part of a syntactic structure (i.e. 
they are non-clausal elements), but tend to be inserted freely in a text. They are often marked 
off by a break in intonation in speech, or by a punctuation mark in writing. Inserts mainly 
occur in an initial position. E.g.:
Well, we made it
. An exception to this is hesitators or “pause 
fillers”, which typically occur in the middle of an utterance: 
What kind of uh bulldog is this? 
There are the following frequently used inserts in the English language: interjections, 
modal words, greetings and farewells, attention getters, time fillers, etc. 

Interjections (
oh, ooh, ow, ouch, ah, wow, whoops
) are words which have an ex-
clamatory function. They usually express an emotive reaction to something that has been said 
or has happened:
Oh, how awful!
How absolutely naff! 
Ah, isn’t that nice. 
Wow, they really did that tree nice. 

Modal words express the attitude of the speaker to the referential (i.e. target) situ-
ation. Here belong the words expressing probability, certainty, doubt: 
probably, perhaps, 

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Theoretical Course of English Grammar 
Script by prof. 
Nino Kirvalidze
94
apparently, evidently, surely, undoubtedly, certainly, maybe, possibly; 
qualitative evolution – 
fortunately, unfortunately, luckily, 
etc. For instance: 
She is undoubtedly the most beautiful creature in the world. 

Greetings and farewells. They signal the beginning and the end of conversation 
respectively. They usually occur in symmetrical exchanges, as in the examples below: 
A:
Hi Margaret. 
B:
Hi. 
A:
Hello, Joyce.
B:
Hello. 
A:
Bye Butch.
B:
Bye Marc.

Attention getters. They have the main function of claiming a hearer’s attention: 
Hey, Raymond, yo, what’s happening?
Hey, Hey, look at all the truckers. 

Hesitators or time fillers are used to fill gaps in the conversation. They indicate the 
speaker’s need to give brief thought to the point at issue. For instance:
A:
You are always hungry
.
B:
Well, I’m not now
. 

Expletives are taboo expressions (‘swearwords’) or semi-taboo expressions used as 
exclamations, especially in reacting to some strongly negative experience.: 
Oh Jesus, I didn’t know it was that cold.
I know what I forgot to get in town. Damn!
Boody hell! He’s gone mad. 

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Theoretical Course of English Grammar 
Script by prof.