Ntral Word Group Within Any Sentence is the Main Independent Clause

8/8/2019 Ntral Word Group Within Any Sentence is the Main Independent Clause

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ntral word group within any sentence is the main independent clause, which

Definition and Examples of a Sentence

A sentence is a group of words containing a subject and a predicate (verb or verb

phrase), and regardless ofthe type of sentence, these words all work together to

express a complete thought, for example:

Tom left home. (Home is the direct object.)

Sue cried in frustration. (In frustration is an adverbial prepositional

phrase that tells how Sue cried.)

Tom doubted that Sue would ever forgive him. (The dependent clause,

That Sue would ever forgive him, is the direct object of doubted.)

On the other hand, sometimes the subject of a sentence might not be expressed but

understood, although in such instances the subject is invariably you, for

example:

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Please sit down. (You please sit down) Go away! (You go away)

Its important to note that whereas most sentences contain not only subjects and

predicates but also modifying words and phrases, technically, whenever a subject

and verb (or verb phrase) work together to express a complete thought, they

constitute a sentence, for example:

Tom fainted.

Tom had fainted.

Definition and Examples of a Clause

A clause is a group of related words that contains a subject (a least an understood

subject) and a predicate; and all sentences are made up of clauses. In fact, a

simple sentence consists of one stand-alone independent clause.

Some clauses are independent, meaning they express complete thoughts and,

therefore, can stand alone as sentences (Tom fainted.). Other clauses, however,

are dependent (or subordinate), meaning they cannot stand by themselves and

depend upon independent clauses to provide them with full meaning.
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Here are some examples of dependent clauses:

Read on

The Grammatical Subject Complement in English

The Grammatical Direct Object in English

The Grammatical Subject in English

Because he and Sue had an argument over his lack of initiative.

As Tom carried his suitcases from the house.

That Sue would never forgive him.

Note that each clause contains a subject and a predicate: he and Sue had; Tom

carried; Sue would forgive (ever is an adverb); but neither clause expresses a

complete thought. As a result, they must be attached to independent clauses:

Tom left home because he and Sue had an argument over his lack of

initiative.

Sue cried in frustration as Tom carried his suitcases from the house.

Tom suspected that Sue would never forgive him.

Note: One type of sentence fragment is that created when writers allow

dependent clauses to stand along.

Definitions of the Eight Types of Sentence Phrases

A phase is a group of related words that adds meaning to a sentence, but unlike

clauses, phrases do not contain a subject and a predicate.

There are eight different kinds of phrases:

1. Noun (or nominal)several words working together to name or identify a

person, place, or thing.

2. Verbseveral verbs working together to indicate action or being, either

present, past, or future, etc.3. Prepositionala preposition, its object, and any modifiers.

4. Gerundthe ing form of a verb, with any modifiers, filling a noun slot

within a sentence: subject, subject complement, direct object, indirect

object, or object of a preposition.

5. Infinitiveto plus a verb used chiefly as a noun, although infinitives

may occasionally act as adjectives or adverbs.

6. Participiala verb form that functions as part of verb phrase or in an

adjectival role.

7. Appositivea group of words that identifies, explains, or supplements the

meaning of a noun.
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8. Absolutea group of words, consisting of a noun or noun equivalent

usually followed by a participial phrase, that modifies an entire clause or

sentence.

Examples of the Eight Types of Sentence Phrases

Below are examples of each of the eight types of phrases being used in a sentence

(the phrases are in italics):

1. Tom and Suesamusednext-door neighborwatched. (Noun)

2. Since early morning Tom and Sue had been squabbling. (Verb)

3. Sue threw Toms golf clubs through the window and onto the lawn.(Prepositional)

4. Sue decided thatjustifying Toms lack of initiative was emotionallydraining. (Gerund)

5. Tom decided he had cut off his nose to spite his face. (Infinitive)

6. Tome, being quite clumsy, tripped and fell off the porch. (Participial)7. Sues mother, owner of a rattlesnake ranch in Arizona, told Sue to change

the locks on the door. (Appositive)

8. His fiction-writing skill at last perfected to his satisfaction, Tom knew his

next novel would be a bestseller. (Absolute)

In summary, although people use sentences, clauses, and phrases on a daily basis,

both in writing and speaking, if asked to define these three common grammaticalterms, most people would probably be at a loss. However, if someone wishes to

demonstrate a thorough comprehension of the English language, he or she should

at least know the difference

phrase

Any small group of words within a sentence or a clause.

A phrase functions as a unit and includes a head (orheadword), which determines

the type or nature of the phrase.

Types of Phrases:

Absolute Phrase

Adjective Phrase

Adverb Phrase

Catchphrase

Noun Phrase

Participial Phrase

Phrasal Verb

Prepositional Phrase
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Signal Phrase

Verb Phrase

Etymology:

From the Greek, "explain, tell"

Examples and Observations:

Absolute Phrase

"Still he came on,shoulders hunched, face twisted, wringing his hands,

looking more like an old woman at a wake than an infantry combat

soldier."

(James Jones, The Thin Red Line)

Adjective Phrase

"It is always the best policy to speak the truth--unless, of course, you are

an exceptionally goodliar."

(Jerome K. Jerome)

Adverb Phrase

"Movements born in hatred very quickly take on the characteristics of the

thing they oppose."

(J. S. Habgood)

Gerund Phrase

"Failing the exam was a major disappointment to him, to me and to Eva."

(Judith Hubback,From Dawn to Dusk)

Noun Phrase

"Buy a big bright green pleasure machine!"

(Paul Simon)

Participial Phrase

"He moved ahead more quickly now, dragging his heels a little in the fine
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dust."(John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath)

Prepositional Phrase

"I could dance with you until the cows come home. On second thoughtI'd

rather dance with the cows until you come home."

(Groucho Marx)

Verb Phrase

"When this is all over, your fathermay be going away for a little while."(Ellen Griswold in Vacation, 1983)

"Noun phrases and prepositional phrases can have particularly complex

structure in written texts, with several layers of phrase embedding. In fact,

the complexity of phrases is a very striking measure for comparing the

complexity ofsyntax in different registers of English. The simplest

structures occur in conversation and the complexity increases through

fiction and newspaper writing, with academic writing showing the greatestcomplexity of phrase structure."

(D. Biber et al.,Longman Student Grammar, 2005)
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Ntral Word Group Within Any Sentence is the Main Independent Clause