GRAMMAR NOTES What is a Phrase Examples Verb

GRAMMAR NOTES

What is a Phrase? Examples Verb Phrase: Could have been hiding (no subject) A Phrase is a group of words, without a subject and a verb, that functions in a sentence as one part of speech. Prepositional Phrase: In the kitchen (no verb or subject) Infinitive Phrase: To go with them (no subject or verb)

WHAT IS A CLAUSE? A clause is a group of words with its own subject and verb. Not all clauses express complete thoughts. Independent Clause expresses a complete thought and can stand alone. “I think it belongs to Rachel. ” Subordinate Clause does have a subject and a verb but cannot stand as a complete sentence; it can only be part of a sentence. “Although it was late” (it = subject, was=verb)

Adjective Clause: is a subordinate clause used to modify a noun or a pronoun in the main clause. It may be introduced by the pronouns who, whose, whom, which, or that (and sometimes when or where). These pronouns are called relative pronouns because they relate to a noun or a pronoun in the sentence. Occasionally, no relative pronoun is used, but it is implied or understood. The adjective clause will contain a subject and verb. Finally, it will function as an adjective, answering the question What kind? How many? Or Which one? Is she the girl whom you met at the party? (whom relates to girl) You = s, met = v This is a book that I like. (that relates to book) I = s, like = verb This is a house where Washington slept. (where relates to house) Washington = s, slept = v This is a book I like. (that is implied) I = s, like = v

Practice: Underline the adjective clause in each of the following sentences. Circle the word it modifies. 1. There is the house that I'd like to buy. 2. Larry's letter, which he mailed Tuesday, reached me on Thursday. 3. Summer, which is my favorite season, will be here in another week. 4. Phil is reading The Call of the Wild, which is Jack London's most famous book.

Adverb Clause: is a subordinate clause used to modify a verb, adjective, or adverb in the main clause. Every adverb clause is introduced by a subordinating conjunction. An adverb clause tells when, where, why, how, to what extent, or how much about the word it modifies. Adverb Clause Modifying Verbs We left the bicycle where we had found it. (where) When the rain began, we were six miles from home. (when) I could hardly hold my head up because I was so sleepy. (why)

Adverb Clause Modifying Adjectives Bob is taller than any other boy I know. (to what extent) The public library is bigger than it used to be. (how much) Adverb Clauses Modifying an Adverb Ferguson ran faster than the other track stars did. (how much) Practice: underline the adverb clause in the following sentence. Circle the word it modifies. As we approached the intersection, we saw the Nelsons' car.

As we approached the intersection, we saw the Nelsons' car. Subordinating conjunctions are used to join independent clauses to make complex sentences. The subordinating conjunctions are as follows: after, although, as if, because, before, even if, even though, if only, rather than, since, that, though, unless, until, when, whereas, wherever, whether, which, whenever, and while. Complex Sentence: I wanted to get more soda because it’s hard to eat popcorn without it.

Noun clause is a subordinate clause used as a noun in the sentence. A noun clause may be used as a subject or direct object of the verb, as a predicate noun, as object of the preposition, or as an appositive. The predicate nominative is the noun following a linking verb that restates or stands for the subject. Typically, a predicate nominative has the same value or grammatical weight as the subject. At the end of the tournament, Jason Gold was the leader. (Jason Gold is the subject and leader is the PN and was is the linking verb) Every direct quotation is a noun clause without an introductory word. Mary said, "Dinner is ready. " (The noun clause is the object of said. ) Mary said that dinner was ready. (That is the introductory word. )

Mr. Barnes swore that he would tell the truth. (D) Whoever sent us this letter should have signed his or her name. (S) Practice: Underline the noun clause in each sentence. If the noun clause is the subject of the sentence, write S in the blank. If the noun clause is the direct object, write D in the blank. Whoever phoned us didn't let the phone ring long enough. ____ Susan thinks that she will get the job at Martin's store. ____

Modifiers A misplaced modifier is a word, phrase, clause that does not clearly relate to what it is intended to modify. In other words, a misplaced modifier makes the meaning of a sentence ambiguous or wrong. The misplaced modifier is intended to describe a noun or pronoun, but is placed incorrectly within the sentence. “Speaking to the state officials, the microphone held the reporter. ” The reporter, not the microphone, was speaking to the state officials. Thus, the sentence could read "The reporter speaking to the state officials held the microphone. ” Practice: In the microwave, the man cooked the popcorn. Unhappy, the match was forfeited by the tennis player.

A dangling modifier is a word or group of words intended to describe a noun or pronoun, but, according to the sentence's wording, has nothing to describe. This modifier describes nothing. “To get to the airport, the tram needs to be taken. ” Now the modifier has someone to describe—you! "To get to the airport, you need to take the tram. “ Practice: 1. To solve this challenging puzzle, patience is needed. 2. Joe noticed a kangaroo driving his motorcycle.