ENG325 Grammar Theory

What are conjunctive adverbs?

adverbs that do the work of conjunctions by following a semicolon that joins two complete sentences (ex. however, accordingly, instead, meanwhile, nevertheless, etc.)

Subordinating Conjunctions (name 5)

after, although, though, as, because, before, even though, if, once, since, so that, unless, until, when, whenever, where, wherever, whereas, whether or not, while

Forms of "be"

am, is, are, was, were, has been, will be, been, being, be

What is a Phrasal Verb?

an action verb followed by what appears to be a preposition

What is an Objective Complement?

an adjective or noun that renames or modifies the direct object

Subjective Complement

an element that completes the subject by modifying or renaming it

What is the expletive that goes on a dotted line pedestal?

as

Test for the Direct Object

ask "what got verbed"

What is a Qualifier ("hook")?

attached to the adjective or adverb it modifies on a hook (ex. *very* gifted)

Future tense verbs require a(n)...

auxiliary

Use a comma when an adverb clause...

begins a sentence or when the subordinating conjunction shows contrast

When one number follows another, what should you do?

combine words and numerals ("My wife teaches 26 third-grade students.")

Imperative Mood

command, with "you" serving as the understood subject

Nonrestrictive phrases and clauses need to be marked with...

commas.

Use the possessive form before a....

gerund.

What are correlative conjunctions?

happen in pairs (neither/nor, both/and, either/or, not only/but also, whether/or)

Examples of possessive pronouns/pronouns

his, John's, her, theirs, etc.

Prescriptive Grammar (usage)

how educated speakers of English pattern their sentences "correctly"

Descriptive Grammar

how the elements of English work together to make meaning

Expletives

if, that, whether, whether or not

Types of Clauses

independent and dependent

Moods of English Verbs

indicative, imperative, conditional, subjunctive

Verbals used as adverbs can be...

infinitives

Verbals used as nouns can be...

infinitives or gerunds

Verbals used as adjectives can be...

infinitives or participles

If possible, avoid splitting _____

infinitives.

Test for an Objective Complement

insert "to be" between the direct object the the potential objective complement - if it makes sense, then it really is the objective complement

A noun clause is introduced by...

interrogatives or expletives

What are subordinating conjunctions?

join an adverb clause to the main clause of a sentence (ex. after, although, as, because, before, even though, if, once, since, so that, when, whenever, where, wherever, etc.)

Test for the Indirect Object

know that the indirect object receives the direct object

Modal auxiliaries influence the...

meaning of the verb

Avoid beginning a sentence with ___ unless it's a ___

numerals, year

Complex sentences consist of...

one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses

A pronoun must agree with its _______ and its _______

person (first, second, or third), number (singular or plural)

What are determiners?

possessive nouns, pronouns, numbers, demonstrative pronouns, indefinite pronouns, interrogative pronouns, articles--> they always come before a noun

When an infinitive is used as an adverb, it is diagrammed on a...

prepositional phrase structure beneath the verb or adjective it modifies

Only when the noun clause is used as an appositive does it need...

punctuation

Test for a Hook

put it in front of the noun that is modified by adjectives/adverbs to see if it makes sense --> if it doesn't make sense, then it needs to be on a hook

Restrictive Clauses do not require commas because...

the information is necessary to the meaning of the sentence.

What are transitive verbs?

the thing that verbs the direct object within sentence patterns 7-10

Examples of Demonstrative Pronouns

this, that, these, those

Infinitive Verb Form

to + verb

Compound-complex sentences consist of...

two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses

For the expletive "there", the verb agrees with the subject, and the subject follows the...

verb

Subject OR Subject =

verb agrees with closer subject

Examples of interrogative pronouns

what, which, who, whom, whose

When do we use comparative form?

when comparing two entities

When do you need a pedestal?

when the prepositional phrase is the predicate adjective (ex. the king is *in a good mood* where that prepositional phrase would go on the pedestal)

When do we use superlative form?

when we compare more than two entities

Interrogatives

who, whoever, whom, whomever, what, whatever, which, whose, when, where, why, how

In restrictive and nonrestrictive clauses, do not use "that". Instead use...

who, whom, or which

Relative Pronouns (name all)

whose, who, whom, which, that

Is "might have been" a be verb?

yes; any verb string ending in a "be" verb

Form of Passive Verb

"be" + past participle (see table on pg. 214)

Present Progressive Verb Form

"be" + present participle (see table on pg. 214)

What numbers should you express numerically in fields that frequently use numbers?

10 to infinity

Which sentence patterns can have pedestals?

2, 4, 9

What sentence patterns can have an objective complement?

9 and 10

What are the exceptions to the Humanities numbers rule?

Dates, Addresses, Dollar Amounts, Time

What are the ways to fix a run-on sentence?

-comma and coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) -semicolon -separate the sentences -restructure the sentence *Example of a comma splice: Air pollution poses risks to all humans, however, it can be deadly for people with asthma.

Which sentence patterns always contain a be verb?

1, 2, 3

What numbers should you spell out in fields that frequently use numbers?

1-9

Tests for Phrasal Verbs

1. Preposition can move (turned off the light/turned the light off) 2. Can be replaced with one verb (turned off the light --> extinguished the light)

What is an expletive?

A word or phrase used to fill out a sentence

Where should the comma(s) go when writing locations?

After the city and after the state if the sentence continues, also between the city and country and the country and the next word if the sentence continues

Prepositional phrases can be one of two things

Adverbial or Adjectival

Where should commas go in dates?

Between the day and year and between the year and the next word if the sentence continues (no day means no comma between the month and the year)

What are the coordinating conjuctions?

For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So

Coordinating Conjunctions

For, and, nor, but, or, yet, so

Indefinite pronouns

General pronouns that do not have a definite antecedent Ex: anyone, someone, all, anybody, somebody, each Note: any-, every-, some-, or no- are singular

Main Forms of English Verbs

Infinitive; Third Person Singular, Present tense; Past; Past Participle; Present Participle

Aspects of English Verbs

Perfect (a form of "have" followed by the past participle verb form), Progressive (a form of "be" followed by the present participle verb form)

Subject + Subject =

Plural Verb

What are the two types of Subjective Complements?

Predicate Adjectives and Predicate Nouns/Nominatives

Form of Participial Verb

Present: ends in -ing Past: ends in -ed, -en, -n, -t, or in whatever form an irregular verb changes to when preceded by the auxiliary "have"

Functions of Nouns

Subject, object, complement, appositive

For individuals in the humanities, how should numbers be expressed?

Spell out numbers that can be expressed in one or two words-- and use numerals for all the rest

Sentence Pattern 1

Subject - be verb - Adverb of Time/Place

Sentence Pattern 2

Subject - be verb - predicate adjective (subjective complement)

Sentence Pattern 3

Subject - be verb - predicate noun (subjective complement)

Sentence Pattern 6

Subject - intransitive verb

Sentence Pattern 4

Subject - linking verb - predicate adjective (subjective complement)

Sentence Pattern 5

Subject - linking verb - predicate noun (subjective complement)

Sentence Pattern 7

Subject - transitive verb - direct object

Sentence Pattern 9

Subject - transitive verb - direct object - adjective (objective complement)

Sentence Pattern 10

Subject - transitive verb - direct object - noun (objective complement)

Sentence Pattern 8

Subject - transitive verb - indirect object - direct object

What are intransitive verbs?

Verbs with no direct object (occurs only in sentence pattern 6)

Noun Clause

a dependent clause that takes the place of a noun in a sentence

Relative Clause

a dependent clause that takes the place of an adjective in a sentence

Adverb Clause

a dependent clause that takes the place of an adverb in a sentence

What is an Adverbial Objective?

a noun that functions as an adverb (ex. I am going to the zoo *Friday* or I worked three *hours*)

What is pattern 2's subjective complement?

a predicate adjective

What is pattern 3's subjective complement?

a predicate noun

What is a linking verb?

a verb that can be replaced by a be verb (ex. the king *looks* unhappy --> the king *is* unhappy)

Examples of articles

a, an, the

Conjunctive Adverb (name 5)

accordingly, additionally, also, consequently, finally, furthermore, hence, however, in addition, in conclusion, in contrast, indeed, in fact, instead, likewise, meanwhile, moreover, nevertheless, nonetheless, on the contrary, on the other hand, otherwise, still, then, therefore, thus

Voices of English Verbs

active and passive

Objective case pronouns are used as...

direct objects, indirect objects, objects of prepositions, and objective complements

Insert a form of "_____" when you need to insert an auxiliary to form a question, to make a negative statement, or to indicate emphasis

do

Rule of one -s

either the verb has the -s ending or the subject has the -s ending

Comparative Form

ending in -er or using "more"

Superlative Form

ending in -est or using "most"

Gerund Verb Form

ends in -ing

Subjunctive Mood

expressing a condition contrary to fact or making a demand in a noun clause beginning with the expletive "that"

Nominative case pronouns are used as...

subjects and subjective complements

In relative clauses, the verb agrees with the...

relative pronoun; the relative pronoun can be singular or plural, depending on the noun it follows, except when "only" is involved

Test to see if verbals are used as nouns

replace the infinitive or gerund phrase with "something" or "it"; identify its noun function (subject, object, complement, appositive) to determine that it is a noun

Modal Auxiliaries (name 5)

shall, should, will, would, can, could, may, might, must, have to, had to, ought to

Conditional Mood

signaled by modals "could", "may", "might", "would", and "should"

For collective nouns, use the ______ if members of the collective noun are acting in unison

singular

Indicative Mood

statement

Passive Verb

subject does not perform the action of the verb but is instead acted upon

Active Verb

subject performs the action of the verb