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GRAMMAR REVISION FOR ENGLISH 4
Revision of English III Grammar
A THE NOUN PHRASE
1) Discussion: Why study the Noun Phrase?
2) TRUE or FALSE? State whether the following are true/false. If they are false, give the correct answer.
A NOUN PHRASE is:
i) A group of words which can be divided into the elements S,V, C, O, A.
ii) One or more words with a noun (or pronoun) as head {nucleus}, and possibly a pre-modifier or post-modifier or both.
iii) A word or group of words with a head, whose function is either S,C,O or A in a sentence or clause.
iv) The only function a noun phrase could never have is A {Adverbial} in a clause or sentence.
v) The pre-modifier of a noun phrase usually consists of a relative clause.
vi) The most common form of noun phrase postmodifier is the prepositional phrase.
vii) The pre-modifier (if there is one) usually consists of one (or more) determiners followed by one or more attributive adjectives.
viii) Sentential and Nominal relative clauses are common noun phrase postmodifiers.
3) What, then, are the constituent parts of the Noun phrase?
4) List other common types of postmodifiers besides the prepositional phrase.
i)
ii)
iii)
iv)
v)
vi)
5) Adjectival order. Re-order the adjectives and nouns in the noun phrases below correctly. The first and last words are in the correct position. (Note that some are compound adjectives or compound nouns.) (Nos. Vvi are the only noun phrases with postmodifiers!)
i)A/an Victorian ugly guest late red-brick great house.
ii)A grey lamp concrete dirty large post.
iii)A sleeping haired blonde gorgeous beauty.
iv)Several bound compendious leather encyclopaedic works.
v)A granite roofed magnificent high church mediaeval with a tall tower.
vi)Our two long first adventure really holidays abroad.
6) NOMINALISATION (Converting other parts of speech to noun phrases, and using them to make a text more formal and concise).
Either convert the groups of sentences below into one single sentence or shorten the long sentence using noun phrases as much as possible (together with prepositional phrases and nominal clauses). Also underline the noun phrases. An example is given.
0) We went to the seaside for a day. It was very enjoyable. We also found it almost deserted.
You write:We spent a very enjoyable day by the seaside, which was almost deserted.
i) The group of men were very angry. They argued at length. Their noise could be heard right down the street. {Use the verb ‘had’ as the main verb.}
You write:______
______
ii) The value of sterling has fallen sharply because businessmen were doubting whether the government’s economic policy would succeed. {Use the verb phrase ‘has come about ‘ or the expression ‘is the result of’. Ask yourselves whether ‘businessmen’ is necessary to include in your answer.}
You write: ______
______
iii) Everyone knows that it is true that if a single man has a good fortune he must want to get married. {Jane Austen). {Use the verb phrase ‘must be’.}
You write: It is a truth______
______
iv) He had an appetite for adventure, and it was difficult to satisfy this. So he became involved in a pioneering expedition to Antarctica. {Use the verb phrase ‘involved’.}
You write: His______
______
v) Violent crime in Britain is seriously increasing, with the result that ordinary citizens have become very concerned and do not feel safe either in their homes or in the street. {Use ‘has resulted in’ or ‘is causing’ as the main verb phrase.}
You write:The serious ______
______
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7) Read this draft of a newspaper article, then complete the re-written sections of the article below with a noun or a noun phrase. Try not to repeat exactly the same expressions as those that appear in the first text. The first one is given as an example (0).
St Andrew’s Hospital Trust has recently confirmed that yet more instances of food poisoning have come to light in the Scottish resort, and this has alarmed everyone who lives in the town. A spokesperson stated that the illness was not serious and could be easily treated. This appeased community leaders but they requested further assurances that the authorities were doing everything within their control to stop the contamination from spreading. The hospital authority has announced that it will investigate fully the causes of this epidemic. As a recent investigation into a similar outbreak concluded that the cause was dealing with meat in an unhygienic manner in a local butcher’s shop, local shopkeepers are concerned about what will come out of the pending investigation. The leader of the Shopkeepers’ Association, Len Murphy, suggested that what caused the epidemic might be hospital kitchens, which has angered hospital staff. The kitchen staff at the hospital have now called for a strike of hospital auxiliaries across the region, which is likely to be severely financially harmful to the health authority.
(0)__ The recent confirmation__ by St Andrew’s Hospital Trust of
(1) ______of food poisoning in the Scottish resort has alarmed
(2) ______. A/an (3) ______that the illness was not serious and could be easily treated appeased community leaders, but they requested further assurances that the authorities were doing everything within their control to contain (4)______. The hospital authority has announced (5) ______into the causes of this epidemic. As (6)______of a recent investigation into a similar outbreak cited (7)______in a local butcher’s shop as the cause, local shopkeepers are concerned about
(8)______of the pending enquiry. (9) ______by the leader of the Shopkeepers’ Association, Len Murphy, that (10) ______the epidemic might be hospital kitchens has angered hospital staff. (11)______by kitchen staff at the hospital for a strike of hospital auxiliaries across the region is likely to have (12)______for the health authority.
N.B. There are more exercises in Longman pp. 256ff.
B NOMINAL CLAUSES
N.B. Not the same as NOMINALISATION (Explain)
8) Definitions of a Nominal Clause: TRUE or FALSE?
i) It has exactly the same form and structure as a noun phrase.
ii) A nominal clause has practically the same function as a noun phrase.
iii) There are several types of nominal clause.
iv) A nominal clause can be either finite or non-finite.
v) A nominal clause can never consist of or include an ‘-ed’ non-finite verb phrase.
vi) Nominal clauses are not a very common feature of linguistic expression, either in speech or writing.
vii) The only type of nominal clause that usually expresses a concrete, rather than abstract concept - i.e. that refers to people or things, is the Nominal Relative Clause.
viii) Nominal clauses can never have an ‘A’ {Adverbial} function.
9) Types of Nominal Clause: see if you can list them
i)
ii)
iii)
iv)
v)
vi)
vii)
viii)
ix)
N.B. a non-finite ‘-ing’ clause might also be a defining relative clause, as in ‘She saw a boat emerging from the harbour and heading for the open sea.’ However, the interpretation of this is ambiguous, for it could either be a defining relative clause = ‘which was emerging’ or an adverbial clause ‘when/as it was emerging’.Inneither case are they nominal clauses.
10) Underline all the Nominal Clauses in the following sentences and state what function each has: S, O, C, A, App(Apposition), AdjC (Adjectival complement) or PrepC (Prepositional complement). N.B. Some sentences contain more than one nominal clause.
i) He always undresses in front of the fire before going to bed and, what is even more interesting, he does the same in the summer!
ii) What is so surprising, my secretary asked me how she should write the letter.
iii) Where we go next depends on you.
iv) I can’t believe how quickly he learned the language.
v) That he is not the best choice for the job goes without saying.
vi) That’s exactly what I’ve been trying to tell you all day.
vii) Whoever knows the answer to that question is a genius.
viii) I’m not really sure what he’s talking about.
ix) The fact that I can’t speak Portuguese fluently after 15 years is downright disgraceful.
x) Going shopping is what I hate more than anything else.
xi) Having twocups of coffee in the morning helps get the day started.
xii) To get here on time in this traffic means leaving home at 7am.
xiii) I’m always trying to make the point that this grammar is very useful.
xiv) I was very sorry to have to tell her about the accident.
xv) The children were all happy playing in the garden.
xvi) She apprised me of when he would be arriving.
11) a)Correct all the underlined clauses which contain errors in the passage below. Write the correction (if there is one) in the space by the side of the clause.
b) State what type of clause it is, even if it is not a nominal clause, and c) state what its function in the sentence is. (The first one has been done for you).
(1) That I want to do (What); Nominal ‘that’ clause; subject is (2)explaining to you______(3) what we’re going to doin English IV______. The book (4) what we’re going to use in the first semester______is “The Story of English”, (5) that will certainly take up quite a lot of time______
______. We will ask you (6) if or not you like it______, and (7) what do you think of it______
______. (8) To read a lot______is essential for (9) who is doing a university degree in English______
______. It is well known (10) there are few jobs available for graduates______. It is amazing (11) how on earth was this situation allowed to develop______
______. Nevertheless, don’t ask, (12) “Why this misfortune happened to me?”______.
(13) Who becomes depressed______
does not help themselves or anyone. Be optimistic. Do your best in 14) what you have to do______and remember (15) that a degree is not just about train for a job______
______. (16) What are you doing______
______is (17) educate and train your minds______
______and (18) improving your skills______for the wider world (19) awaits you______.
For more explanations and extra practice of all types of Nominal clause, see Side and Wellman Unit 10, pp 163 – 169, and Unit 11 pp188 & 189.
C ADVERBIALS
12) Definitions of an Adverbial: TRUE OR FALSE?
i) It is one of the five main sentence or clause elements.
ii) It is not often used.
iii) It is always an optional element.
iv) Theoretically, there can be any number of adverbials in a sentence.
v) An adverbial might just consist of one single word.
vi) Adverbs are the same as Adverbials.
vii) When talking of ‘adverbials’, we are dealing with function rather than form.
viii) An adverbial can never be placed at the beginning of a sentence.
ix) An adverbial can have several forms.
x) It might even consist of an entire clause.
xi) All subordinate clauses are adverbials.
xii) Some types of linking words (connectors) are adverbials.
xiii) All adverbials have the same importance within a sentence.
xiv) It is possible for a clause or sentence to contain no adverbials at all.
13) Tick the forms below that an adverbial might take.
i) sentential relative clauses ix) adverb phrases
ii) conditional clauses x) defining relative clauses
iii) prepositional phrases xi) conjunctions
iv) verb phrases xii) noun phrases
v) nominal clauses xiii) modal auxiliary verbs
vi) adjectives & adjective phrases xiv) pre-modifying adverbs in adjective
phrases e.g. ‘pretty silly’; ‘fairly tough’
vii) non-finite “-ed” clauses xv) subordinate clauses prefaced by a con-
junction
viii) adverbs xvi) non-finite “-ing” clauses
xvii) verbless clauses
14) a) Tick the expressions below that could be adverbials (in the right context). b) Put a cross against those that couldn’t be. c) Put a doubletick against any expressions that are always adverbials.
i) in order to finish my homework x) when in doubt
ii) last night xi) after that wonderful party
iii) the front room xii) because we had never seen it
iv) never xiii) almost
v) very beautiful xiv) finally
vi) terribly fast xv) that it had always been the same
vii) nevertheless xvi) whoever is responsible for that
viii) in spite of xvii) on entering the room
xi) on the table xviii) driving slowly round the bend
15) Underline all the non-finiteadverbial clauses in the following sentences. (Take care not to underline any other non-finite clauses (e.g. relative clauses or nominal clauses).
i) Having climbed in through the window they were unable to get back.
ii) Peter, thinking that David wasn’t doing the job properly, gave him 3 months’notice to quit.
iii) Finally defeated at the Battle of Waterloo, Napoleon realised that his second chance to conquer Europe was over.
iv) For him to arrive on time would be a miracle.
v) Carrying my luggage, I headed for Customs.
vi) Met by my friends, I felt safe and happy.
vii) Coping with life alone in a foreign country is difficult, but challenging.
viii) Bob is equally happy whether travelling by car or by public transport.
16) Underline all the adverbials in the following text, and state what type (form) each is (e.g. conjunct, subordinate finite/non-finite clause, noun phrase etc.) {Number the adverbials you underline and write their form underneath the text}.
I usuallygo fora sauna on a Saturday afternoon. However, when I have a lot of work to do, or if I am feeling tired, I stay at home. They are wonderfully relaxing, a sauna, a swim, and a Turkish bath.
At the health club the other day I met a colleague. She was swimming very strongly and really well. She could swim much better than I. Nevertheless, I swim a great many lengths, which may quite surprise you. Moreover, I have lots of saunas and Turkish baths during the same session. Last week, finding the sauna and steam room very hot, I languished there for a long time and thoroughly enjoyed it. Having said that, I was completely exhausted and fit for nothing afterwards.
Write your list of adverbial forms here:
N.B. For more practice on Nominal clauses, adverbials, finite/non-finite clauses, etc., consult Sylvia Chalker Workbook Chs. 14 & 15, pp. 99-120.
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