English grammar for CEF - Level C1

 Thẩm Tâm Vy, August, 2018 GRAMMAR POINTS CEF – LEVEL C 1 
ENGLISH GRAMMAR FOR CEF – LEVEL C1 
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USING NEGATIVES WITH REPORTING VERBS 
think, expect, believe and seem 
 In this lesson, we will learn to use negatives with reporting verbs such as think, 
expect, believe, seem, etc. This is called transferred negation. You also learn when 
transferred negation is not used. 
Reporting verbs with a negative 
 With a small number of reporting verbs, you usually make the reporting clause 
negative rather than the reported clause. For example, you would usually say “I don't 
think Mary is at home.” rather than “I think Mary is not at home.” [cf. Vietnamese] 
 - Don’t you suppose he’s heard the news already? 
 - He doesn’t believe that I ’ll win. 
 - They don’t seem to be expecting us. 
 - I don’t imagine it is possible to have a successful club without a good manager. 
 - I do not expect that we will have a balanced budget in this current financial year. 
 - She didn’t think that it was Mohammed’s fault. 
 The following reporting verbs are often used with a negative in this way. 
believe - reckon - expect - seem - feel – suppose - imagine - think - propose 
Reporting verbs where negation can't be transferred 
 With other verbs it is the reported clause that takes the negative form. The reporting 
verb stays in the positive and the negative cannot be transferred. You usually say I 
assume you haven't heard, NOT I don’t assume you have heard 
 - I hope the euro doesn’t get any weaker. 
 - I suspect we won’t hear from him again. 
 - She promised she would never do it again. 
 - I would guess she didn’t profit that much. 
 - They concluded that death was not due to natural causes. 
 - The doctor predicted that she would never run again. 
 The following reporting verbs are examples of verbs not used in the negative. 
accept deny admit feel agree guess allege hope argue predict assume presume 
claim promise concede stress conclude suggest confess suspect declare 
Remember! 
 Usually the that in the that-clause is not used. 
 - I guess that the minister won’t retire. [Omit that.] 
I. Match the sentence halves. 
1. It's rumoured that management aren't too impressed with him. I don't reckon....... 
2. He looks pretty laid back. I don't imagine....... 
3. She's in the office till 9 o'clock most evenings.I don't suppose....... 
4. He's pretty lean. I don't imagine....... 
5. He's quite an attractive guy. I don't suppose....... 
6. She doesn't seem very keen on him. I don't reckon....... 
 [a] he'll be in this company too much longer. 
 [b] he has any trouble getting dates, 
 [c] that relationship's going to last. 
 [d] there's too much stress in his life. 
 [e] she sees too much of her kids. 
 [f] he eats too many burgers 
II. Complete the sentences by writing one phrase in each gap. 
she even knows who I am || she even needs to work || 
she ever diets || she is || she will || she does 
1. Camilla inherited so much money when her grandmother died. I don't reckon............ 
2. I suppose it's possible that she'll succeed, but I don't believe................. 
3. I guess she might be under 50, but I don't suppose................. 
4. I guess it's just possible she loves him, but I don't imagine................. 
5. The irritating thing is, she's incredibly thin and yet I don't think................. 
6. I know so much about her and yet I don't suppose................. 
III. Put each sentence into the correct order. 
1. predict he / won't / I / the / win /. / election 
 ........................................................................... 
2. bet he / even / remember / I / me /. / won't 
 ........................................................................... 
3. assume you / heard / the / I / news /. / haven't 
 ........................................................................... 
4. hope the /. / I / doesn't / crash / market / sincerely 
 ........................................................................... 
5. presume they / left / I / yet / haven't /. 
 ........................................................................... 
6. suspect they /. / don't / much / I / have / money 
 ........................................................................... 
IV. Which sentences are correct? 
1. I don't guess you'll be going to the party tonight, as Jess is ill.  
2. I don't assume you know what's happened.  
3. I bet she won't even notice me.  
4. I guess you won't be going away this summer.  
5. I suspect Kelly won't be fit enough to compete.  
6. I really don't hope the euro collapses.  
V. Choose the correct word. 
1. I don't guess / assume / suppose you saw Kerry on your travels? 
2. To be honest, I don't think / predict / bet she'll make it as an actress. 
3. She doesn't suspect / expect / presume she'll see him again. 
4. We don't imagine / predict / guess they'll be coming to visit any time soon. 
5. Ijust don't suspect / believe / assume he has the drive to succeed. 
 Thẩm Tâm Vy, August, 2018 GRAMMAR POINTS CEF – LEVEL C 1 
VI.Write the missing words in sentence B so that it means the same as sentence A. 
1. A. I don't imagine she'll want to go. 
 B. I suspect..................................... 
2. A. I guess he can't be more than 30. 
 B. I don't reckon......................................... 
3. A. I assume Clare hasn't spoken to her manager. 
 B. I don't expect......................................... 
4. A. I don't suppose they'll visit us again. 
 B. I assume................................................ 
Note. 
 In Vietnamese, people tend to say : “Tớ nghĩ cô ấy không đẹp.” In English, it’s better 
to say: “I don’t thnk she is beautiful.” 
KEY 
I 
1. [a] 2. [d] 3. [e] 4. [f] 5. [b] 6. [c] 
II. 
1. she even needs to work 2. she will 3. she is 4. she does 
5. she ever diets 6. she even knows who I am 
III. 
1. I predict he won't win the election. 
2. I bet he won't even remember me. 
3. I assume you haven 't heard the news. 
4. I sincerely hope the market doesn't crash. 
5. I presume they haven't left yet. 
6. I suspect they don't have much money. 
IV. 
1. No 2. No 3. Yes 4. Yes 5. Yes 6. No 
V. 
1. suppose 2. think 3. expect 4. Imagine 5. believe 
VI. 
1. she won't want to go 2. he'll be more than 30 or he can be more than 30 
3. Clare's spoken to her manager 4. they won't visit us again