Cambridge Grammar of English Hardback with cd-rom a comprehensive Guide

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539 Glossary for any unfamiliar terms

Adjuncts | 595

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Inversion after linking adjuncts 

336c

Linking adjuncts such as first, next, now, then which organise lists and sequences

of events may be followed by inversion of subject and verb in very formal and

literary styles:

[a report on public opinion-poll findings]

[Health care] is still the most important problem in most people’s eyes, but

only 27 per cent now put it top of the list of issues that will influence their vote.

Next

comes unemployment

– 25 per cent rate it most important, 4 per cent

down.

It began with iced melon. 

Then

followed roast chicken

.

Inversion with direct speech reporting clauses

336d

In literary style, sometimes the reporting verb and subject are inverted. In these

cases the adjunct comes in end position:

‘Cut it off short’ said the father 

rashly.

(… said rashly the father./… rashly said the father.)

Split infinitives 

337

Many language purists believe that split infinitives are wrong or bad style. Split infinitives

are where an adjunct (usually an adverb phrase) is inserted between to and the verb (e.g. I

want 

to carefully check everything). In fact, in spoken English split infinitives are very

common and pass unnoticed, though they are often thought inappropriate in writing:

So if you’d like 

to perhaps continue …

It’s very common 

to actually not like the Birmingham accent isn’t it? People tend to

automatically laugh at it.

596 | Adjuncts

Cambridge Grammar of English

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Present time

Introduction

338

Present time references with the present simple

339

General truths and facts 339a

Regular and habitual events 339b

Immediate reactions 339c

Immediate communication 339d 

Mental process verbs 339e

Speech act verbs 339f

The present progressive

340

Events in progress at the time of speaking 340a

Repeated events in temporary contexts 340b

Processes of change 340c

With adverbs of indefinite frequency 340d

Verbs rarely used in the present progressive 340e

The verb be in the present progressive 340f

Indirectness and politeness

341

The present simple and progressive: summary

342

Present time references with the past tense

343

Will referring to general truths or used for politeness

344

The subjunctive

345

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598 | 

Present time