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Grammar: Difference between revisions
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*** ''-ent'' = having the condition of (the suffix indicates a noun) | *** ''-ent'' = having the condition of (the suffix indicates a noun) | ||
* constituent parts of a sentence are those that we can consider coherent elements or groupings within a sentence | * constituent parts of a sentence are those that we can consider coherent elements or groupings within a sentence | ||
** constituent parts operates as an | ** constituent parts operates as an hierarchy | ||
*** i.e,. "Sam and I" = noun phrase that is made up of a noun + a conjunction + a noun | *** i.e,. "Sam and I" = noun phrase that is made up of a noun + a conjunction + a noun | ||
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* the subject of a sentence may not logically be a single word | * the subject of a sentence may not logically be a single word | ||
** a phrase = 2 or more words that do not contain a finite verb (verb that has a subject) | |||
* a "subject phrase" is two or more words that collectively act as the "doer" or subject of a sentence | * a "subject phrase" is two or more words that collectively act as the "doer" or subject of a sentence | ||
** ex. "The conditions are poor" is a complete sentence and thought, but lacks important details as to "conditions" of what?" | ** ex. "The conditions are poor" is a complete sentence and thought, but lacks important details as to "conditions" of what?" | ||
*** so a more complete "subject phrase" might be, | *** so a more complete "subject phrase" might be, | ||
**** "''The weather conditions'' are poor" | **** "''The '''weather conditions''''' are poor" | ||
**** "''The conditions of those teams'' are poor" | **** "''The '''conditions of those teams''''' are poor" | ||
**** "''Being smart'' helps on that test" | **** "'''''Being smart''''' helps on that test" | ||
=== subject clause === | |||
* just as a subject may be a compound phrase ("'''Getting there''' is the best part of the trip"), a noun clause (contains a finite verb) may act as a subject (or object). | |||
* noun clauses tend to use "that" as a subordinating conjunction that creates the noun clause | |||
* ex. | |||
** '''''The team that played smarter, not harder''', won.''SUBJECT | VERB |<---------------- subject clause --------------> | | |||
** ''A question I thought about beforehand escaped me when it was time to ask it''SUBJECT | VERB |<---------------- subject clause ---------> | | |||
== Object == | == Object == | ||
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** root '''''posit''''' = is from Latin ''ponere'' for "to place", i.e., "in position" | ** root '''''posit''''' = is from Latin ''ponere'' for "to place", i.e., "in position" | ||
** suffix -'''''ive''''' makes an adjective (from a verb) | ** suffix -'''''ive''''' makes an adjective (from a verb) | ||
* "apposotion" = "next to," "set beside," "by way of explanation" | |||
* the '''appositive phrase''' is two or more words that are next to another word in order to clarify, define, or identify it | * the '''appositive phrase''' is two or more words that are next to another word in order to clarify, define, or identify it | ||
** note: a phrase is two or more words that does not contain a subject-verb | ** note: a phrase is two or more words that does not contain a subject-verb | ||
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=== modifier errors: misplaced modifiers === | === modifier errors: misplaced modifiers === | ||
* a modifier that is next to or seemingly modifies the word or phrase | * a modifier that is next to or seemingly modifies the word or phrase | ||
* examples. | * the classic example is an old joke by Groucho Marx (vaudiville and silent film era comedian): | ||
<pre> | |||
"Last night, I shot an elephant in my pajamas. | |||
How he got in my pajamas, I'll never know!" | |||
</pre> | |||
* the joke is about how the prepositional phrase "in my pajamas" incorrectly modifies "elephant" | |||
* other examples. | |||
** wrong: ''The student failed the test in the back of the class'' | ** wrong: ''The student failed the test in the back of the class'' | ||
*** correct: | *** correct: The student in the back of the class failed the test | ||
** wrong: ''The teacher gave a grade to the student that was really good'' | ** wrong: ''The teacher gave a grade to the student that was really good'' | ||
*** correct: | *** correct: The teacher gave a really good grade to the student | ||
** wrong: ''Jamie chased the cat in his pajamas'' | |||
*** correct: In her pajamas, Jamie chased the cat | |||
** wrong: ''Covered in chocolate, the birthday boy loved his cake'' | |||
*** correct: The birthday boy loved the cake that was covered in chocolate | |||
=== modifier errors: pre and post adverbs === | === modifier errors: pre and post adverbs === | ||