Circumstances in Grammar
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Violet RichardsonCircumstances in Grammar
Uploaded by
Violet RichardsonCIRCUMSTANC
ES
GRAMMAR II
In this lesson we're going
to explore a key
grammatical element that
ADDING brings our sentences to
DETAIL WITH life: Circumstances.
CIRCUMSTAN Understanding
CES circumstances will help
you add rich detail and
precision to both your
speaking and your writing.
Lesson
Objectives
By the end of this
lesson, you will be
able to
DEFINE IDENTIFY APPLY THIS
WHAT THE MAIN KNOWLEDGE
GRAMMATICA TYPES OF BY ADDING
L CIRCUMSTAN DIFFERENT
CIRCUMSTAN CES IN A CIRCUMSTAN
CE IS. SENTENCE. CES TO YOUR
OWN
SENTENCES.
A circumstance is a word
or phrase (often an
What is a adverbial or prepositional
phrase) that provides
Circumstan background information
ce? about the process (the
verb). It tells us how, when,
where, why, or with
whom an action takes
place.
The Main Types of Circumstances
Now, let's learn to
identify the most
common types of
circumstances. Each
type answers a specific
question.
1. Location Location: Place (answers
(Where? Where?)
When?) This • Example: She studied in the library
at the Universidad de Córdoba.
circumstance • Example: The children are playing
tells us about outside.
Location: Time (answers
the setting of When?)
the action in • Example: He will finish the project
place and tomorrow.
• Example: In the morning, I always
time. drink a cup of coffee.
2. Extent Extent: Duration (answers
(How long? How long?)
How far? • Example: We waited for three
How often?) hours.
This Extent: Distance (answers
circumstance How far?)
tells us about • Example: They walked ten
duration, kilometers.
distance, and Extent: Frequency (answers
How often?)
frequency.
• Example: She checks her email
every hour.
3. Manner
(How?
Manner:
With Quality (answers
Example: He
completed the
what?) This How? In what exam quickly
and efficiently.
way?)
circumstanc
e describes Manner: Means
Example: I will
send the
how an
document by
(answers With email.
what? By what Example: He
action is means?)
broke the
window with a
rock.
performed.
4. Cause Cause: Reason (answers Why?)
(Why? For
• Example: She missed the class due to
whom?) This illness.
circumstance Cause: Purpose (answers For
explains the what purpose?)
reason or • Example: He is saving money to buy a
new computer.
purpose
behind an Cause: Behalf (answers For
whom?)
action.
• Example: The lawyer spoke on behalf
of her client.
5.
Accompaniment Example: I went
(With whom? to the cinema
With what?) This with my
circumstance tells
us who or what is friends.
together with the
main participant. Example: He
arrived with his
dog.
6. Matter
Example: She
(About what?) wrote a book on
This
circumstance
the history of
tells us what a Colombia.
process is about.
It often follows
verbs like talk, Example: They
speak, think,
write, worry.
are talking about
the final exam.
7. Role (As what?) This circumstance
explains the capacity or role in which
someone is acting.
EXAMPLE: HE EXAMPLE: AS
WORKED AS A YOUR TEACHER, I
TOUR GUIDE IN ADVISE YOU TO
CARTAGENA. STUDY FOR THIS
EXAM.
Practice and
Application
Now it's your turn to
practice!
Read the following
paragraph:
Yesterday morning, I woke up feeling incredibly
nervous about my final presentation. I had prepared
for two long weeks, practicing my speech every
single day. I put on my best shirt to make a good
impression and walked to the bus stop.
Unfortunately, I had to wait for twenty minutes due
to a delay, which made me even more anxious. I
finally arrived at the university and met my
classmate with a relieved sigh. We reviewed our
notes one last time in the quiet hallway outside the
classroom. As the lead presenter, I had to start the
discussion. I walked confidently towards the podium,
took a deep breath, and began speaking about the
economic history of Antioquia. The presentation went
smoothly, and afterwards, our professor praised our
Complete the two
activities:
Activity A: Read the
narrative paragraph given in
the previous slide carefully.
Find and identify at least
eight different
circumstances within the
text. Write them down and
label them with their type.
Now, practice adding details to simple sentences. Rewrite each sentence
below by adding a circumstance of the type indicated in the parentheses.
