Textbooks write English correctly_08 pptx

lesson 6 - Interesting Matters of English Syntax
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a. The Idea of Time
Cö dêu lơn hơn chu rï̉ 10 tuö̉i.
The bride is 10 years older than the groom.
Chung ta ₫a trï̃ so vơi han ₫ịnh la 2 tuền.
We are about 2 weeks behind the schedule.
Dễu cach nhau ca möt thḯ hï, chung töi co rết nhiï̀u ₫iï̉m tương
₫ö̀ng.
Though we’re a generation apart, we have many things in common.
Cach ₫êy khoang 20 năm, nơi nay la möt thị trến mo nho, bêy giơ no
₫a la möt trong nhưng khu cöng nghiïp lơn nhết nươc.
About 2 decades ago, this place was only a small mining town, now
it becomes one of the largest industrial area in the country.
Chung töi tơi ₫o trươc Giang Sinh hai ngay.
We arrvied there 2 days before Christmas.
Ngön ngư hoc bêy giơ cung ₫a ₫ươ
c 4 thḯ ky rö̀i.
Linguistic is now nearly four centuries old.
b. The Idea of Degree
Nha anh lơn hơn nha töi gền 3 lền.
Your house is nearly three times larger than mine.
Khi hoa bònh trơ lai, chung ta se xêy dưng möt nươc Viït Nam 10 lền
tươi ₫ep hơn.
When peace is back again, we will build a 10 times more beautiful
VN.
Gia sinh hoat hiïn thơi cao hơm 6 thang ₫ều năm khoang 3%.
The cost of living is about 3% higher at present than in the first 6
months of the year.
c. The Idea of Distance

Qua bom phat nö̉ gền chö̃ chung töi ₫ưng khoang 20 m
The bomb exploded nearly 20m from where we were standing
Đo la möt thung lung văng ve ơ vao phña têy băc cua thanh phö́ ₫a
lat khoang 30 km.
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It was a solitary valley about 30km northwest of Dalat.
Dễu chung ta cach nhau möt ₫ai dương, anh vễn luön trong têm
tương cua em.
Though we are an ocean apart, you are always in my thoughts
d. A GP used as an ADVERB
Trong nay trơi nong như lưa.
It’s baking hot in here.
Ngoai kia trơi nong bö́c khoi.
It’s steaming hot out there.
Nươc trong hö̀ nong như luöc da.
The water in the lake is scalding hot.
Möt cuöc sö́ng khöng muc ₫ñch thò khöng ₫ang sö́ng.
A life without purpose is hardly worth living.
2. ADVERBS USED AS NOUN
a. Single Adverb of Time and Place
BY NOW, BY THEN, SINCE THEN, UNTIL THEN, FROM
NOW ON, FROM THEN ON, IN HERE, OUT THERE, UP
HERE, DOWN THERE, UP THERE, OVER THERE, OVER
HERE, FROM HERE, TO THERE, OUT THERE etc.
Tơi giơ töi ₫a gưi ₫i khoang 20 ₫ơn xin viïc, nhưng töi chưa nhên
₫ươc phuc ₫ap nao ca.
By now, I have sent out about 20 applications, but I haven’t got any
reply yet.

Ho ₫a ra ₫i vao năm 75, va tư ₫o ₫ḯn giơ chung töi khöng nghe gò vï̀
ho ca.
They left in 75, and since then we haven’t heard from them again.
b. A Few Adverbs are Pluralized to be Nouns
UPS and DOWNS, INS and OUTS etc.
Biï̉n tònh luön co nhiï̀u thăng trềm.
There’re always ups and downs in the sea of love.
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Möt nï̀n giao duc tö́t la möt nï̀n giao duc giup ngươi ta ₫ö́i diïn vơi
nhưng thăng trềm cua cuöc sö́ng möt cach bònh than.
A good education is one that helps one to face the ups and downs in
life with calmness.
Tu Ba day nang Kiï̀u nhưng ngoc ngach cua nghï̀ ca ky.
Tu Ba teaches Kieu the ins and outs of the geisha business.
Töi ₫a trai qua nhiï̀u thăng trềm trong cuöc ₫ơi khö́n nan cua töi.
I’ve gone through many ups and downs in my damn life.
Chung ta cền möt ngươi biḯt ro nhưng ngoc ngach cua luêt phap
Viït Nam.
We need a person who knows the ins and outs of the Vietnamese
law.
c. The Adverbs NOT and SO
These adverbs are normally used after verbs such as EXPECT,
BELIEVE, HOPE, GUESS, SURPRISE etc.
Tö́i nay cö ta tơi khöng?
Is she coming tonight?
Töi nghĩ vêy.
I think so / I think not
=I don’t think so)

d. The Here - The Now
3. NOUNS AS ADJECTIVES AND ADJECTIVES AS NOUNS
a. Nouns As Adjective
N1 May be single or plural or an acronym. It functions as
an adjective indicated the use, the activity or the name

N1 + N2
single unit
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of the O indicated by N2. Remember that N1+N2
make up one single unit.
Lươi ca: Fishing net
Truyï̀n thöng ₫ai chung: The mass media
Vï tinh viï̃n thöng: A communication Satellite
Hop bao: A press conference
Phai ₫oan thương mai: A Trade Commission
Nư bac sĩ: Woman doctor
Nư sĩ quan: Woman officer
Lươc: Hair-brush
Chuöng cưa: Door-bell
Greeting card: Thiïp chuc mưng
Ban chai ₫anh răng: Tooth-brush
Thuö́c ₫anh răng: Tooth-paste
Ban chai ₫anh giềy: Shoe-brush
There are a number of nouns in English which are normally in
plural form:
Khu phưc hơp thï̉ thao: A sports complex
Tap chñ thï̉ thao: A sports magazines

Nganh cöng nghiïp ₫iïn: The electronic industries
Cưa hang quền ao: Clothes Store
Quềy bao: News-stand
Thiïp chuc mưng: Greetings-card
Cưa hang măt kñnh: Glasses-store
Trương muc tiḯt kiïm: Savings-account
Ban tin: News-report
Đoi tin: News-famine = a time
when it is hard to get news
Acronym
Tö̉ng hanh dinh NATO: The NATO headquarters
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Nan nhên SIDA: the AIDS victim
Dư an cua quy phat trïỉn LHQ: A UNDP Project
Höi nghị thương ₫ỉnh ASEAN: An ASEAN summit meeting
Gerund normally refers to the use of the activity indicated by
the noun.
Dịch vu ngên hang ơ Viït Nam vễn con han chḯ.
Banking services in Vietnam are still limited.
Sưc mua cua : The buying power of
CN chuyï̉n vên: A shipping industry
Toa hang ăn: Dinning wagon
Đa mai dao: Grinning stone
GĐ Quang cao: An Advertising Manager
Nơi căm trai: Camping area
Hö̀ bơi: Swimming pool
Ky nghï ₫anh ca: Shipping Industry
Trung têm mua săm: Shopping Center

May may: Sewing machine
Nươc may: Running water
(nươc ₫ang chay: running water)
Thị trến khai thac mo: Mining town
Kñnh lup: Magnifying Glass
Nganh thiḯt kḯ thơi trang Fashion designing
Nghï̀ thiḯt kḯ thơi trang la möt nghï̀ con non tre ơ VN.
Fashion designing is still a young business in VN.

GERUND
+ N2
single unit

N +
GERUND

single unit
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Viïc day ngön ngư la möt cöng viïc năng nhoc.
Language teaching is a hard job indeed.
Leo nui: Rock climbing
Đa ga: Cock fighting
Lươt song: Wave lifting / Surf riding/
water skiing
Trươt băng: Ice Skating
Nhay du: Sky diving
b. Adjective as Nouns
An adjective may functions as a noun

Natural Adjective
Ngươi ngheo co vến ₫ï̀ cua ngươi ngheo; ngươi giau co vến ₫ï̀ cua
ho.
The poor have their worries; the rich, their own.
Khoang cach giưa ngươi giau va ngươi ngheo ngay cang röng thïm.
The gap between the haves and the have-nots seems to be getting
wider and wider.
Mưa rơi ₫ï̀u trïn nhưng ngươi ngheo cung như ngươi giều.
Rain falls upon the rich and the poor alike.
Me Teresa suö́t ₫ơi la möt ngươi ban cua nhưng ngươi neo ₫ơn va
khö̉ sơ.
Mother Teresa was a friend of the needy and the miserable all her
life.
Cai ₫ep thò luön kho vươn tơi.
The beautiful is always hard to reach.
Concrete
RICH
POOR
DEAD
NEEDY
MISERABLE
Abstract
GOOD
EVIL
BEAUTIFUL
NORMAL
ABNORMAL
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Cai thiïn va cai ac chỉ la hai măt cua möt ₫ö̀ng xu.
The good and the bad are the two sides of the same coin.
Nhưng ngươi kem trñ cền ₫ươc giup ₫ơ nhiï̀u hơn.
The mentally retarded need better help.
Cền nhiï̀u trương hoc cho ngươi khuyḯt têt.
There should be more school for the handicapped.
Trên chiḯn giưa cai thiïn va cai ac la möt trên chiḯn khöng bao giơ
kḯt thuc.
The battle between the good and the evil is an endless battle.
Ngươi giau dương như ngay cang giau hơn; ngươi ngheo dương như
ngay cang ngheo thïm.
The rich seems to be richer; the poor, poorer.
Derived Adjectives
Derived adjectives formed by the use of suffixes:
• HOME - HOMELESS - THE HOMELESS
• HELP - HELPLESS - THE HELPLESS
• NEED - NEEDY - THE NEEDY
Chñnh quyï̀n thanh phö́ phai co nhưng biïn phap tñch cưc ₫ï̉ giup
₫ơ nhưng ngươi vö gia cư trong thanh phö́.
The city government should have positive measures to help the
homeless in the city.
Chung ta phai cö́ găng hơn nưa ₫ï̉ giup ₫ơ nhưng ngươi neo ₫ơn.
We should take better care of the needy and the helpless.
c. Adjectives from the Present Participles and the Past Parti-
ciples
Chung töi, nhưng ngươi ky tïn dươi ₫êy, tuyïn bö́…
We, the undersigned, declare that …
Nhưng ngươi khuyḯt têt cền ₫ươc chăm soc nhiï̀u hơn nưa.
The handicapped need better care.
Văn chương lam giam khoang cach giưa thḯ giơi vö hònh va thḯ giơi

hưu hònh.
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Literature helps to bridge the gap between the seen and the
unseen.
Theo ₫uö̉i cai vö thương la möt phñ pham.
It’s a waste to run after the changing.
Sư hăng thương hiïn hưu trong sư vö thương.
The ever-lasting exists in the ever-changing.
d. A few Adjectives are Pluralized to Become Nouns
Rich - riches; valuable - valuables; specific - specifics; essential
- essentials; particular - particulars; minute - minutes; perish-
able- perishables etc.
Tö́t danh hơn lanh ao.
A good name is better than riches.
Tö́t hơn nïn bo nhưng ₫ö̀ ₫ac quy gia ơ nha băng.
It’s better to deposit your valuables in the bank.
Chung töi se gưi cho quy vị ban chi tiḯt cua dư an ngay mai.
We will give you the specifics of the project tomorrow.
Canh sat băt töi trònh bao chi tiḯt.
The police asked me to give an account of the particulars.
e. A Few Special Expresion
FOR SURE, FOR CERTAIN; FOR GOOD, TO GO FROM
BAD TO GOOD, etc.
Tònh trang tai chanh cua cöng ty dương như ₫i tư tï tơi hai.
The financies of the company seems to be going from bad to worse.
Töi biḯt chăc cö ta khöng trơ lai vơi anh.
I know for sure that she will never come back to you.
Co nhiï̀u thư ngươi ta luön nhơ mai.

There are things one remember for good.
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4. NOUN USED AS VERBS AND VERBS AS NOUNS
a. Nouns as Verbs
A noun may readily used as a verb.
breakfast to breakfast
lunch to lunch
brunch to brunch
iron to iron
house to house
fund to fund
handcuffs to handcuff (sb)
water to water
e-mail to e-mail
Buö̉i sang ban thương dung mon gò?
What do you usually have for breakfast?
Töi co ₫i ăn sang vơi anh ta vai lền.
I breakfasted with him a few times.
Chung ta hay cö́ găng giai quyḯt vến ₫ï̀.
Lets iron our problems and be friends again.
Töi con ñt ₫ö̀ phai ui.
I got ironing to do.
Tïn tröm bị cong va dễn ₫i.
The thief was handcuffed and taken away.
b. Verbs as Nouns
(a) Single Verb
must a must
may be a may be

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have the have
the have-not
give and take the give and take
Khoang cach giưa ngươi giau va ngươi ngheo ngay cang röng hơn.
The gap between the have and the have not seems to be wider and
wider.
Album mơi cua cö ta la möt thư ma ngươi yïu nhac Jazz phai co.
Her new album is a must for all lovers of light Jazz
Hoa hơp vơi ngươi khac cền nhiï̀u nhên nhương.
It takes a lots of give and take to get along well with others.
(b) Verbs + Adverbial Particles
to break down a break down
to break up a break up
to break in a break in
to break off a break off
to cut down a cut down
to get together a get together
to clean up a clean up
to show off a show off
Ho vưa mơi chia tay.
They have just broken up.
Cuöc ₫am phan cua ho ₫a bị gian ₫oan.
Their negotiation has broken down.
Ban trai cua chị cung ₫ươc, co ₫iï̀u anh ta hơi khoa trương möt chut.
Your boyfriend is OK, only he is a bit show-off.
Rết nhiï̀u xe cö hong hoc vò mưa lơn.
There were many break-downs on the street because of heavy

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rain.
Cơn bao lơn ₫a gêy ra sư tï liït viï̃n thöng ơ giưa hai miï̀n Nam Băc.
The storm has caused a break-town in the telecommunication
between the north and the south.
Lưc lương quên ₫öi my ₫a cö́ găng tòm nơi ển nau cua O. Bin Laden.
American forces have tried to find the hide-out of O. Bin Laden.
Sao ta khöng hop măt vao tuền tơi nhỉ?
Why don’t we have a get-together sometimes next week and
have a small party?
5. OTHER SHIFTS
a. Adverbial particles as Prepositions
• ON/OFF; UP/DOWN;OVER/ABOUT; AROUND;
THOUGH, etc.
Please switch the light off.
Take your hand off my shoulder.
I looked at the piece of chalk running off the desk.
The factory is nearly 50 meters off the highway.
The oil rig is about 100 miles off the coast of VT
b. Adverbial Particles as ADJECTIVE after Linking Verb
• ON; OFF; IN; OUT
Khi töi ra vï̀, ₫en trong văn phong vễn con sang.
When I left, the lights in the office were still on.
Höm nay cup ₫iïn.
The power is off today.
Khi töi goi thò cö ta khöng co măt.
When I called her, she was out.
Toc ngăn ₫ang mö́t trơ lai.

Short hair are in again.
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ELLIPSES
Vay ngăn ₫a hḯt thơi trang rö̀i.
Mini skirt are already out.
c. Connective Used as Nouns
Co qua nhiï̀u chư nḯu va chư nhưng trong bai luên cua ban.
There are too many buts and ifs in your essay.
Khöng co nhưng nhị gò ca.
There is no if or but about it!
d. Verbs as Adjectives
• A WOULD BE MOTHER
• A GIVE AND TAKE AFFAIR
• A CAST OF PAIRS OF SHOES
Nhưng ba me tương lai cền phai hoc möt khoa săn soc hai nhi.
Would-be mother should take a course in baby care.
Töi khöng thï̉ nao hiï̉u nö̉i sơ thñch
I have never been able to make any sense about his hobby: collect-
ing cast-off shoes.
e. Adjectives as Verbs
Phu nư thơi nay hònh như khöng hăm hơ lếy chö̀ng như phu nư cach
₫êy 30 năm.
Women today don’t seem to be so anxious to get married as woman
about 30 years ago.
Cöng viïc cua töi ơ ₫o la bao ₫am cho moi ngươi ₫ï̀u vui.
My job there is to see that everybody is happy.
IV. ELLIPSES
WHAT IS AN ELLIPSES?
An ellipses is an instance of obmitting a word or a few words

which are necessary to the grammatical analysis of the sentence
in which they appear, but which are not necessary to the mean-
ing of the sentence at all. Ellipses arises from the tendency of a
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ELLIPSES
language towards brevity conciseness. And this is also due to
the fact that people wish to be brief and concise in the daily
conversation. In British language, ellipses make direct and
therefore strong impression
WHAT KIND OF ELLIPSES ARE THERE?
There are ellipses both in IC’s and DC’s
A. ELLIPESES IN THE INDEPENDENT CLAUSES (IC’S)
1. O
MISSION IN THE IC
Come here!
Yes, thank you!
Why not wait a while longer?
Close the door, please!
2. OMISSION IN QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Did you hear that noise?
What noise?
Who took you to the ball?
John (did)
Who are going with you.
Mary and Alice (are).
3. OMISSISION OF THE DIFFERENT FORMS OF TO BE
Why so late/early? (why are you so late?)
Where is she?
Gone (she’s gone)

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ELLIPSES
4. OMISSION AFTER TOO, SO, NOR, NEITHER, AND BUT
• BUT - negative in meaning but shows affirmative wish (3)
• BUT - shows either an affirmative or negative contrast
I have been to Hanoi several times, and my mother has, too.
I have been to Dalat many times, and so has my mother.
He hates going fishing, and so do I.
I’m not going to her wedding party, and neither is my boyfriend.
(nor is my boyfriend)
I don’t like travelling by car, nor / and neither does my brother.
I haven’t been to Sapa, but my husband has.
My husband has been to Japan many times, but I haven’t.
I don’t know why, but the boss looked so sulky this morning.
5. OMISSION IN PARALLEL CONSTRUCTION
Nhưng ngươi khön ngoan hoc tư lö̃i lềm cua ngươi khac; nhưng
ngươi ngu ₫ền hoc tư lö̃i lềm cua chñnh mònh.
Wise men learn by other men’ mistake; fools, by their own.
Anh ₫i ₫ương anh; em ₫i ₫ương em.
You go your way; I, mine.
Xa xöi va kho khăn la ₫ương lïn thiïn ₫ang; dï̃ dang va gền gui la
₫ương xuö́ng ₫ịa nguc.
Long and hard is the way up to Heaven; Short and easy, down to
Hell.
Lền lễn la con ngươi; tha thư la thanh thền.
To err is human; to forgive, divine.
Möt vai ngươi thò lươi; vai ngươi khac thò ngu.
Some are lazy; some other, stupid.
Ngay thò nong; ₫ïm thò lanh.

The day was so hot; the night, damp.
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ELLIPSES
Töi chỉ ngac nhiïn, con cac ban töi thò bị choang.
I were only surprise; my friend was shock.
B. ELLIPSES IN DEPENDENT CLAUSES
1. ELLIPSES IN ADVERBIAL CLAUSE
The Adverbial Clause of Comparision is extremely elliptical.
Vến ₫ï̀ nay khöng dï̃ như töi nghĩ.
This problem is not so easy as I thought.
Tònh hònh khöng bi quan như anh nghĩ.
The situation is not so hopeless as you think.
Töi cao băng chị töi.
I’m as tall as my sister.
Bö́ töi thương töi cung băng thương chị töi.
My father loves my sister as well as me. (as well as he loves me.)
Chiḯc vay nay ngăn hơn chiḯc kia.
This skirt is shorter than the other one.
Chị töi cao hơn töi möt cai ₫ều.
My sister is a head taller than me.
main clause
sub clause
AS
NOT AS
NOT SO
ADJ
ADV
UN’S/ CN’S
AS

AS
AS
main clause
sub clause
short
ADJECTIVE + ER
THAN
main clause
sub clause
more/less + long/short
ADJ / ADV
THAN
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ELLIPSES
Hăn ta khöng quan têm ₫ḯn tiï̀n nhiï̀u như ba vơ cua hăn.
He is less interested in money than his wife is.
Ho quan têm ₫ḯn phim anh nhiï̀u hơn la sach vơ.
They are more intersted in movies than in books.
Gia ₫ònh cö ta co nhiï̀u tiï̀n như gia ₫ònh hăn.
Her family has as much money as his.
Gia ₫ònh hăn giau co hơn gia ₫ònh cö ta.
His family has much more money than hers.
Tai nan khöng phai do thơi tiḯt xếu băng do sư bết cển cua tai xḯ.
The accident was not was so much due to the bad weather as
the driver’s carelessness.
Ha nöi khöng lơn hơn sai gon vï̀ diïn tñch.
Hanoi is not as large as saigon in area.
Cö ta khöng thöng minh như töi nghĩ.
She is not as intelligent as I thought.

Nươc trong hö̀ ếm hơn töi nghĩ.
The water in the lake was much warmer than I thought.
Nha anh lơn hơn nha töi nhiï̀u.
Your house is much larger than mine.
main clause
sub clause
more/fewer + CN’s
THAN
THAN
much/less + UN’s
main clause
sub clause
AS
NOT SO
NOT AS
AS SB THINK /HOPE/ EXPECT

I/We : back one step in tense
You/she
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ELLIPSES
Cö́ găng tö́t vơi cö ta chưng nao hay chưng ₫o.
Try to be nice to her as possible (for you to be nice to her.)
Cö́ găng băng moi gia.
You should try as hard as you could.
Cö́ găng vï̀ sơm chưng nao hay chưng ₫o.
Try to be back as soon as possible.
Luc ₫o chung töi chay nhanh ₫ươc chưng nao hay chưng ₫o.
We then tried to run as fast as we could.

Hiïn thơi, hònh như cö ta cö́ găng lam cang nhiï̀u tiï̀n cang tö́t.
At present, she seems to be trying to make as much money as
she can.
Höm nay tröng chị kha hơn höm qua nhiï̀u.
You look much better today than yesterday.
Gia sinh hoat hiïn thơi cao hơn 2% so vơi 6 thang ₫ều năm.
The cost of living is about 2% higher at present than in the first
6 months of the year.
Ho bêy giơ ngheo hơn nhiï̀u so vơi luc con la lang giï̀ng vơi chung
ta.
They are much worse off now than when they still were our
neighbor.
Cö ta bị hoang sơ nhiï̀u hơn la bị thương.
She was much frightened than hurted.
Cuöc ₫ơi co ñt phiï̀n toai hơn anh nghĩ nhiï̀u.
There are far fewer worries in life than you think.
main clause
sub clause
as + N/ADJ/ADV as possible
as one can/could (ability)
as + N/ ADJ/ADV
main clause
sub clause
FAR + FEWER/LESS
THAN
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ELLIPSES
Tuền nay töi ñt bên hơn töi nghĩ.
This week I was less busy than I thought.

Cuöc sö́ng bêy giơ dï̃ chịu hơn luc trươc.
Life now is easier than it used to be.
Cö ta lam viïc siïng năng hơn töi nhiï̀.
She works much harder than I do.
Vến ₫ï̀ nay phưc tap hơn chung ta nghĩ nhiï̀u.
This problem is far complicated than we thought.
Viïn kim cương nay gia trị hơn chung ta nghĩ nhiï̀u.
This diamond is far valuable than we thought.
a. Elliptical Adverbial Clause of Time Condition and Conces-
sion.
WHEN, WHILE, WHEN POSSIBLE / OF / THOUGHT /
ALTHOUGH
In modern English, especially in spoken English, Adverbical
Clauses of these kinds are usually to be elliptical when these
following conditions are met:
(1) The same S is used in both clauses
(2) There must be a form of BE as a linking verb or as a
progressive form in the SC
When / While
Khi con be, töi thương ₫i cêu ca vơi bö́ töi.
When (I was) a boy, I would go angling with my father.
Nhêp gia thò tuy tuc.
When (you are) in Rome, do as Romans do
Khi găp kho khăn, ₫iïn thoai töi ơ sö́ 1234
When (you are) in trouble, call me at 1234
Möt con chim co thưc sư hot khi bị nhö́t trong lö̀ng khöng?
When (it is) kept in a cage, does a bird really sing?
Khi bị choc giên lïn, bö́ töi …
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ELLIPSES
When (he is) angered, my father looks just like a tiger roaring in
thecage.
Although / Though
Dễu ngheo, töi chưa lưa gat ai ca.
Though (I am) a poor man, I have deceived nobody.
Măc du nong tñnh, hăn la ngươi dï̃ thương.
Though hot-tempered, he is a likable fellow.
Dễu lơn tuö̉i, ₫ều oc öng ta vễn rết tre.
Though advanced in years, he is very young in mind.
Tết ca moi thư, dều nho nhăt ₫i chăng nưa, ₫ï̀u co gia trị cua no.
Everything, no matter how small, has it unique value.
Everything, however small, has it unique value.
Cha me chung töi luön day chung töi ₫ưng lưa gat cai gò cua ai, dều
nho nhăt ₫i chăng nưa.
Our parents always teach us not to defraud anybody of anything, no
matter small = however small.
When Possible / If Necessary / If Possible, If Necessary etc.
Goi töi ơ sơ lam chỉ khi cền thiḯt ma thöi.
Call me at work only when necessary.
Hay ĐT cho töi khi co thï̉.
Give me a ring when possible.
If
Clauses introduced by the following emphatic forms are
usually ellipcial:
NO MATTER HOW = HOWEVER
NO MATTER WHAT = WHATEVER
NO MATER WHO = WHOEVER
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ELLIPSES
Nḯu ₫ươc cho ₫ềy ₫u thơi gian thò töi se lam cöng viïc nay tö́t hơn.
If (I am) given enough time, I’ll do this work well.
Nḯu bị ₫a bai trong tuền tơi thò ₫öi chung ta se mết chưc vö ₫ịch.
If defeated in the next match, our team will lose its championship.
Nḯu ₫ươc tra lương hêu, töi co thï̉ lam viïc 12 tiḯng/ngay.
If given good pay, I can work 12 hours a day.
Nḯu ₫ươc cếp ₫u vö́n thò dư an nay chăc chăn se thanh cöng.
If adequately funded, this project will be a success.
Töi thếy cö ta trong khi ₫ang lai xe vï̀ nha.
I saw her while (I was) driving home.
Khi vï̀ ₫ḯn nha thò töi thếy cưa trươc mơ toang.
When (I was) reaching home, I found the front door opened.
Nï
́u ban ơ khach san thò cho töi biḯt luc nao co thï̉ găp ban ₫ươc.
If (you are) staying in hotel, let me know at what time you are avail-
able to see me.
Nḯu ban ₫i chơi miï̀n Băc thò nhơ ghe thăm vịnh Ha Long.
If (you are) travelling North, you should visit Halong Bay.
Nḯu ơ qua ₫ïm, ban nïn ơ khach san 3 sao Horizon.
If (you are) staying over night, you should try the 3 stars hotel Hori-
zon, which has double for $20.00.
Nhêt Ban chỉ thua My vï̀ ky thuêt may tñnh.
Japan is second only to the US computer technology.
Đḯn möt luc ma cai chḯt hònh như thñch thu hơn tiḯp tuc sö́ng.
There comes a time when dying seems to be preferable to stay-
ing alive.
Nhêt ban chỉ ₫ưng sau Hoa ky vï̀ cöng nghï may tñnh.
Japan seems to be junior to the US only in computer technology.
There are a few comparative adjectives followed

by TO, not by THAN such as: JUNIOR, SUPE-
RIOR TO, INFERIOR, SECOND TO, PREFERA-
BLE
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ELLIPSES
Nhưng ngươi cho mònh thöng minh hơn ngươi khac rết dï̃ ₫au khö̉.
Those who consider themselves superior to others are likely to
suffer.
Trong hai chị em, ngươi nao thöng minh hơn?
Of the two sisters, who is the better?
Trong 3 chị em, ngươi nho nhết la ngươi thöng minh nhết.
Of the three sisters, the youngest is

the most intelligent.
Trong 3 giai phap, giai phap cua anh la tö́t nhết.
Of all solutions, yours is the best.
2. ELLIPTICAL ADJECTIVAL CLAUSES
a. The Omission of Relative Pronoun as Object of a Verb or a
Preposition in Defining Clauses.
Ngươi töi yïu bêy giơ ơ cach ₫êy ngan dăm.
The man (who) loves me is now a thousand miles away.
The man (whom) I love is now a thousand miles away.
Hăn la loai ngươi săn sang lam bết cư ₫iï̀u gò vò tiï̀n.
He is the sort of man (who is) ready to do any thing for money.
Cö ta la mễu ₫an ba ma bết cư ngươi ₫an öng nao cung muö́n lếy
lam vơ.
She is the type of woman (whom/that) any man at all wishes to
marry.
Đêy khöng phai la buö̉i tiïc ma töi thñch.

This is not the type of party (which) I enjoy.
Hăn la loai ngươi xem tiï̀n bac trong hơn danh dư.
He is the sort of man who puts money before honor.
Me töi la ngươi ₫an ba duy nhết ma töi mḯn yïu va tin tương.
My mother is the only woman (whom) I love and trust.
Tế
t ca nhưng gò long lanh ₫ï̀u khöng phai la vang.
All that glitters is not gold.
Tết ca nhưng gò ban cền bêy giơ la möt cuöc nghỉ ngơi dai.
All (that) you need now is a long rest.
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ELLIPSES
Tết ca nhưng gò ban cềnlam bêy giơ la xin lö̃i cö ếy.
All (that) you ought to do now is to go and apologize to her.
Chñnh sư ngu dö́t lam ngươi ta ₫au khö̉, chư khöng phai la tiï̀n bac,
quyï̀n lưc hay danh vong.
It is ignorance that makes one suffer, not money or power or fame.
Chñnh la tiï̀n bac cua chị ma hăn yïu, chư khöng phai chị.
It’s your money (that) he loves , not you.
Em ₫ang chơ möt ngươi yïu em thêt long long nhưng cung săn sang
phï bònh em luc cền thiḯt.
I’m waiting for a man who loves me truely, but who is realdy to crit-
icize me when necessary.
Co nhưng ngươi la cöng sư tö́t, nhưng khöng bao giơ la ban tö́t.
There are people who are good to do business with, but who are not
good friends.
Öng ta la möt trong nhưng vă
n sĩ hiḯm hoi töi yïu mḯn ₫a cho töi
biït thḯ nao la sư yïu thương ngot ngao.

He is one of rare writers (whom) I love who has taught me how
sweet genuine love is.
Attention should be paid to Double Coordinating Rel-
atives
N WH cls WH cls
and

,but
or
N x WH cls


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ELLIPSES
b. The Omission of the Relatives Adverbs WHEN, WHERE,
WHY and THAT
Please note that these adverbs are normally omitted when the
contexts are clear.
Nhiï̀u luc töi tư hoi khöng biḯt mònh co măt ơ ₫êy lam gò.
There are times (when) I wonder what I am here for.
Nơi töi sinh ra la möt ngöi lang nho khoang 200 km vï̀ phña Têy
Nam SG.
The place (where) I were born is a small village about 200 km
south-west of SG.
Ly do vò sao cö ta tư sat cho ₫ḯn nay vễn con la möt bñ mêt.
The reason (why) she committed suicide has remained a mystery so
far.
Năm töi lïn 10, me töi tai gia.
The year (that) I got 10, my mother married again.

Vao luc anh hoan tết thò ₫a qua muön rö̀i.
By the time (that) you’ve finished, it will be too late.
Töi găp cö ta lền ₫ều vao năm bö́ töi mết.
I first met her the year (that) my father died.
Cach anh ₫ö́i xư vơi vơ anh thêt buö̀n cươi.
The way (that) you treat your wife is funny.
Töi khöng thñch cach anh nhòn ₫ơi.
I don’t like the way (that) you view life.
c. Omission Both in the IC’s and DC’s
Cang ₫öng, cang vui.
The more, the merrier.
Cang ñt, cang tö́t.
The fewer, the better.

THE THE
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THE ABSOLUTE EPXRESSION
Cang ngăn, cang tö́i.
The shorter, the better
Cang nhanh, cang tö́t.
The sooner, the better.
V. THE ABSOLUTE EPXRESSION
WHAT IS AN ABSOLUTE EXPRESSION?
An Absolute Expression is any expression - a word, a phrase or
a clause - which is used in such a way that has its little or no
grammatical function in the statement in which it appears. In
other words, it is used in such a way that it is grammatically
independent of the statement. But if rightly used, it will have
logical relation to the statement.

WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON ABSOLUTE
CONSTRUCTION?
A. SINGLE WORDS AS ABSOLUTE CONSTRUCTION
1. THE EXPLETIVE IT; FOR; THERE; OR; SO AND AS
The expletives are special kind of absolute construction (please
refer to the definition of what is an expletive)
The It-Expletive
(*** see further details in Lesson 3, Pattern 6)
She finds it an ordeal to walk into a room full of people.
It’s more expensive to live off campus than on campus.
It’s easier to tell lies than to tell the truth.

IT [BE] NICE OF SOMEBODY TO DO SOMETHING
IT [BE] HARDER/EASIER TO DO ST THAN TO DO ST ELSE
IT [BE] REPORT/OBVIOUS/RUMOR + THAT
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THE ABSOLUTE EPXRESSION
It’s best to wait a while longer.
It’s was kind of you to send me flowers.
It is universally believed that honesty is the best policy.
The For-Expletive
Our idea is for my younger daughter to continue her study abroad.
It’s hard for me to persuade my mother to change her mind.
I think it neccessary for us to wait and see.
Hiïn thơi trong trai tim cö ta chỉ co hên thu ma thöi.
There is only hatred in her heart at present.
The As-Expletive
Since then, the people in the village has regarded it as a sort of
mascot.

She has been chosen as the fashion model of the year.
The Or/Of-Expletive
Chicago, or the city of Windy City, is located on a big lake.
The city of Dalat
The town of Don Duong is about 15 miles south-west of the city of
Dalat.
Haiphong, or the city of flamboyants.
2. INTERJECTION
An interjection is an expression that expresses strong emotions
such as: ADMIRATION, ANGER, ANNOYANCE, DELIGHT,
DISPAPPOINTMENT, FRUSTRATION, JOY, PLEA-
SURE,SORROW, SADNESS, SURPRISE, etc.
Wow! that car certainly goes fast!
Hurra! We’re home!