4. SENTENCE
Sentences are made of two parts: the subject
and the predicate.
The subject is the person or thing that acts or
is described in the sentence.
The predicate, on the other hand, is that action
or description.
Complete sentences need both the subject
and the predicate.
5. CONJUNCTION
A CONJUNCTION is a word that connects or joins
together words, phrases, clauses, or sentences.
EXAMPLES:
Rob and I went to the movies.
Susan appreciated the flowers; nevertheless, a
Corvette would be a finer a gift.
The bank robber dodged the bullet while Joey
was shot seventeen times in the tibia.
6. COORDINATING CONJUNCTION
Coordinating conjunctions connect two equal
parts of a sentence.
EXAMPLES:
I dodged the bullet, but Joey was shot
seventeen times in the tibia.
We ordered pizza but we couldn’t pay for it.
7. CONJUNCTIVE ADVERB
When the job of an adverb is to connect ideas, we call
it a conjunctive adverb. A conjunctive adverb can
join two main clauses. In this situation, the
conjunctive adverb behaves like a coordinating
conjunction, connecting two complete ideas.
EXAMPLES:
The thunder and lightning were intense;
consequently, the crowd dispersed.
John was tired after a long day at school. Therefore,
he immediately took a nap when he got home.
8. SUBORDINATE CONJUNCTION
Subordinate conjunctions connect two unequal
parts, e.g., dependent and independent clauses.
EXAMPLES:
Susan appreciated the flowers even though a
Corvette would be a finer gift.
The gods thundered in the heavens as mortals
below cowered in fear.
9. SENTENCE STRUCTURE RULES
[Independent Clause] , pure conjunction [independent
clause]
The gods thundered in the heavens, and the mortals below
cowered in fear.
[Independent clause] ; conjunctive adverb , [independent
clause]
The gods thundered in the heavens; furthermore, the
mortals below cowered in fear.
[Independent clause] ; [independent clause]
The gods thundered in the heavens; the mortals below
cowered in fear.
10. SENTENCE STRUCTURE RULES
[Dependent clause] , [independent clause]
While the gods thundered in the heavens, the mortals
below cowered in fear.
[Dependent clause] subordinate conjunction
[independent clause]
The gods thundered in the heavens as mortals below
cowered in fear.
[Independent clause] conjunction [dependent clause]
The gods thundered in the heavens and mortals below
cowered in fear.
12. A phrase is a collection of words that may have nouns
or verbals, but it does not have a subject doing a verb.
The following are examples of phrases:
leaving behind the dog
smashing into a fence
before the first test
after the devastation
between ignorance and intelligence
broken into thousands of pieces
because of her glittering smile
In these examples above, you will find nouns (dog, fence, test,
devastation, ignorance, intelligence, thousands, pieces). You also
have some verbal(leaving, smashing), but in no case is the noun
functioning as a subject doing a predicate verb.
14. NOUN PHRASE
A noun phrase or nominal phrase is
a phrase which has noun (or indefinite
pronoun) as its head word.
Examples:
Almost every sentence contains at least one
noun phrase.
The election year politics are annoying for many people.
Current economic weakness may be a result of high
energy prices.
15. VERB PHRASE
Verb phrases are easy to recognize.
They consist of a verb and all the
related helping words. Verb phrases
function as single-word verbs, to
express action or to link subject and
complement.
Examples:
Walking on the ice, she slipped and fell.
She was walking to the mall.
Open the door to let the fresh air in.
16. ADJECTIVAL PHRASE
An adjectival phrase usually starts
with a preposition (e.g., of, in, on) or
a participle (e.g., taken, leaving) and
follows the noun it is modifying.
Examples:
This is the end of a very long road.
My sister is fond of animals.
Did you see the man leaving the shop?
17. ADVERBIAL PHRASE
An adverbial phrase is a group of related
words which play the role of an adverb. Like
all phrases, an adverbial phrase does not
include a subject and a verb.
Examples:
Tony decided to move to Slough in June last year.
Darcy can build a card pyramid in less than a minute.
As long as the wind speed is sufficient, the electrical
energy will be continuously generated.
18. PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE
A prepositional phrase begins with
a preposition and ends with
a noun or pronoun.
Examples:
The hamster sprinted across its cage.
There are a number of factors.
The bus went along Cam St. and hit the top of the
tunnel.
19. PARTICIPIAL PHRASE
A participial phrase is a group of words acting
as an adjective and modifying a noun or
pronoun. A participle is the -ed or -ing form of a
verb.
Examples:
You could see the panther releasing its grip.
We must raise funds to replace the window broken last
week in the storm.
Is that Arthur running for the bus?
20. APPOSITIVE
An appositive, a word or phrase that renames a
noun or pronoun, adds information about a noun
but in a way different than do adjectives.
Appositives are usually offset
with commas, brackets or dashes.
Examples:
My best friend, Lee, caught a whelk when he was fishing
for bass.
Dr Pat, the creator of the turnip brew, sold 8 barrels on
the first day.
21. INFINITIVE PHRASE
An infinitive phrase is formed from an infinitive
and other related words. An infinitive is the word
"to" followed by a verb. This type of phrase
functions as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb.
Examples:
To get an appointment with him requires a great amount
of patience. (As a noun)
The decision to eliminate vacations was very unpopular.
(As an adjective)
He wrote a letter to raise funds for the foundation. (As an
adverb)
22. GERUND PHRASE
A gerund is a verb with an "ing" ending that functions as
a noun. Gerund phrases look like some participial
phrases. The difference is that participial phrases
function as adjectives; gerund phrases function as
nouns.
Examples:
Eating blackberries without washing them will make
you ill.
I am not prepared to authorize climbing the cliffs in the
dark.
So, you think beating eggs with a fork is acceptable, do
you?
23. ABSOLUTE PHRASE
An absolute phrase combines a noun and
a participle with any companying modifiers or
objects. Absolute phrases resemble clauses, but
the predicate is incomplete.
Examples:
The plumber disappeared into the hole, a pipe wrench
in his hand.
Our fingers scraping the leftover frosting off the
plates.
Her arms folded across her chest.
25. A clause is a collection of words that has a subject that
is actively doing a verb. The following are examples of
clauses:
since she laughs at diffident men
I despise individuals of low character
when the saints go marching in
because she smiled at him
The boy is going to the school
Susan appreciated the flowers
The bank robber dodged the bullet
In these examples above, we find either a noun or a pronoun that
is a subject attached to a predicate verb.
26. SENTENCES CAN BE BROKEN DOWN
INTO CLAUSES
EXAMPLE:
The boy is going to the school, and he is going to
eat there.
This is a complete sentence composed of two clauses.
There are mainly two types of clauses:
Independent clauses and subordinate or
dependent clauses.
A sentence can either contain two independent
clauses or dependent and independent clauses.
27. DEPENDENT CLAUSE
Cannot stand by themselves.
Do not express a complete thought.
Subordinating Conjunction or Relative
Pronoun+ Subject + Predicate
Examples:
Unless you want to go.
Because I care.
And you lose your cool.
28. INDEPENDENT CLAUSE
Can stand by itself or with a dependent.
Expresses a complete thought.
Subject + Predicate (no conjunction)
Examples:
I ran.
Fractions are fun.
Pizza tastes good.
30. NOUN CLAUSE
A noun clause is a group of words used as
a noun. A noun clause can play any of the
functions a noun plays: subject, direct
object, object of preposition, subjective or
object complement
Examples:
Most microcomputers use what are called flexible
diskettes for program and data storage.
31. ADJECTIVAL CLAUSE
An adjective clause is almost a
complete sentence — but not quite. It
functions the same way a single-word
adjective does: both modify, that is,
add more information to our
understanding of a noun.
Examples:
The idea of the artificial heart arose in part from the need
to treat people who cannot receive a donor heart.
32. ADVERBIAL CLAUSE
An adverbial clause is also nearly a
complete sentence; it functions like an
adverb does by explaining the how,
when, where, and why of the
discussion.
Examples:
As long as the wind speed is sufficient, the electrical
energy will be continuously generated.
33. RELATIVE CLAUSE
A relative clause begins with a relative
pronoun and functions as an adjective.
This clause couldn't stand by itself. Its role
in the complete sentence is to modify the
subject of the independent clause.
Examples:
The ceremony, which several celebrities attended,
received widespread media coverage.
34. TRY IT!
Label the underlined group of words as (P) phrase, (DC)
dependent clause, or (IC) independent clause.
Planning her questions carefully, she was able to hold fast-paced and
engaging interviews.
The athlete who placed first grew up in Argentina.
When I come home from school, my brand new kitten jumps all over me.
Known for her interviewing skills, she was asked to host her own radio
program.
She received the gold medal because she performed flawlessly.
During her sophomore year of high school, she discovered what true
friendship was.
Fearing a drought, all the farmers in the area used less irrigation water.
What the witness said may not be true.
Unable to reach a compromise, Teresa and Tad took separate vacations.
All the farmers in the area, recognizing the signs of drought, used less
irrigation water.
