Transcript Grammar Notes - Blue Valley Schools

GRAMMAR
NOTES
What is a
Phrase?
Examples
Verb Phrase:
Could have been hiding
(no subject)
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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, as if,
because, before, even if, even though, if, if only,
rather than, since, that, though, unless, until,
when, where, 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.