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Noun Clause
Many people are fairly comfortable with the idea of nouns, but they
might not feel so confident when it comes to the idea of a noun clause.
Noun clauses come in a variety of forms; and learning about each form
is the best way to understand the concept of noun clauses.
Purpose of a Noun Clause
Noun clauses can be used in a number of ways, and they serve different
purposes. First and foremost, please recognize that these clauses are
dependent clauses. A dependent clause is one that cannot stand by
itself. If a dependent clause is placed alone, it forms a fragment, not a
sentence. An independent clause can act as a sentence by itself, but
dependent clauses cannot.
Subject of a Verb
A noun clause can act as a subject of a verb, and we will break down
what that means after a couple of examples. This clause is acting as the
subject of a verb is present in:
• What Alicia said made her friends cry.
• What Megan wrote surprised her family.
• What the man did was not very polite.
When there's a verb in the sentence, you must find the subject.
Therefore, in the first we can ask "What made?" and the answer is
"What Alicia said." Therefore, "What Alicia said" is the subject of that
verb. In the next case, we can ask "What surprised?" and the answer is
"What Megan wrote." Do you now see how a noun clause can act as a
subject of a verb?
Object of a Verb
In the same vein, noun clauses can also act as the object of a verb:
• She didn't know that the directions were wrong.
• He didn't realize that the stove was off.
• They now understand that you should not cheat on a test.
Once again, we can use the method of questioning to demonstrate how
the noun clause is being used. What didn't she know? What didn't he
realize? And what do they now understand? The answer in all three
cases is the noun clause!
Subject Complement
Let's pick up the pace a little bit, and let's see if you can figure out how
these noun clauses are actually answers to questions within the
sentence.
• Carlie's problem was that she didn't do the wash.
• Harry's crowning achievement was his 4.0 GPA.
• Darla's television was a 60 inch screen.
Once again, do you see what questions these noun clauses answer and
how they relate to the subject? What was Carlie's problem? What was
Harry's crowning achievement? What was Darla's television? Without
these clauses, the sentences would not be complete thoughts
grammaticaly, nor would they sound complete at all.
Object of a Preposition
Noun clauses also act as objects of a preposition.
• Harry is not the provider of what Margie needs.
• Josephine is not resposible for what Alex decided to do.
• Allie is the owner of that blue car.
Once again, Harry is not the provider of what? Josephine is not
responsible for what? Allie is the owner of what?
Adjective Complement
Last but not least, a noun clause can also act as an adjective
complement.
• The group is happy that Meg returned home.
• The child is sad that his stomach hurts.
• The family is excited that they bought a new house.
One more time with feeling: Why is the group happy? Why is the child
sad? Why is the family excited?
Selecting a Type of Noun Clause
Using noun clauses in everyday speech is a fairly common practice, as
noun clauses add often crucial information to sentences. However,
learning to differentiate between the various types can be difficult.
If you're in a position where you have to decide which form the noun
clause is taking, consider the options carefully, and consult a grammar
guide if you need additional assistance.
MLA Style
"Noun Clause ." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 2 October 2015.
<http://grammar.yourdictionary.com/parts-of-speech/nouns/nounclause.html>
Prepositional phrases modify nouns and verbs while indicating various
relationships between subjects and verbs. They are used to color and
inform sentences in powerful ways.
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Parts of a Prepositional Phrase
In simplest terms, prepositional phrases consist of a preposition and an
object of a preposition. Prepositions are indeclinable words that
introduce the object of a prepositional phrase. Indeclinable words are
words that have only one possible form. For example, below is a
preposition, but belows or belowing are not possible forms of below.
The noun phrase or pronoun that follows the preposition is called the
subject of the preposition. For example, behind the couch is a
prepositional phrase where behind is the preposition and the noun
phrase the couch acts as the subject of the preposition. Sometimes
adjectives are used to further modify the subject of the preposition, as
in behind the big old smelly green couch.
Formal Functions of Prepositions
Prepositions perform three formal functions in sentences. They can act
as an adjective modifying a noun, as an adverb modifying a verb, or as
a nominal when used in conjunction with the verb form to be.
Prepositions Functioning as Adjectives
In the following sentences, prepositional phrases perform the function
of modifying the nouns boat, pen, and truck:
Look at the boat with the blue sail. Please hand me the pen next to
the telephone. Have him move the truck with the trailer.
Prepositions Functioning as Adverbs
In these examples, notice how the prepositional phrases perform
adverbial functions by modifying the verbs after, stalled, and won:
The coyote runs after the rabbit. The car stalled despite the tuneup. The team won without the starting quarterback.
Prepositions Functioning as Nominals
In English, sometimes words function as nouns but aren't themselves
nouns. These words are called nominals. Prepositions sometimes
perform this important function in sentences when they are used in
conjunction with the verb to be. For example:
The park is next to the hospital. The student is between an A and a
B. The fight scene is before the second act.
Semantic Properties of Prepositions
In semantic terms, the preposition functions to illustrate a logical,
temporal, or spatial relationship between the object of the prepositional
phrase and the other components of the sentence. Consider the
following examples:
The dog is asleep on his bed.
In this example, the prepositional phrase on his bed indicates a spatial
relationship between the subject dog and the object bed. If the
preposition on was replaced with under or beneath the spatial
relationship would be altered.
The town hasn't been the same since the war.
In this sentence, the prepositional phrase since the war indicates a
temporal relationship between the verb phrase hasn't been the same and
the object war.
The family survived despite the accident.
he prepositional phrase despite the accident in this sentence indicates a
logical relationship between the survival of the family and the accident.
MLA Style
"Prepositional Phrases." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 2 October 2015.
<http://grammar.yourdictionary.com/parts-ofspeech/prepositions/Prepositional-Phrases.html>
Grammar Colon Usage
Lessons on how to use a colon, along with other punctuation rules, can
come in handy to make someone a better writer. Without knowing how
to effectively use colons, a writer can end up just putting colons
everywhere, nowhere at all or interchanging the colon with a comma.
Grammar Rules for Using a Colon
There are six key rules for colon usage that should always be followed:
1. Use a colon after a sentence or independent clause when introducing
a list of items.
Example:
Incorrect: "All dogs must get: food, water, and healthcare."
Reason: The part of the sentence before the colon does not illustrate a
complete thought.
Correct: "There are three things that every dog needs: food, water, and
healthcare."
2. Colons should never come before a list unless the colon is following
a sentence.
3. Use a colon after a complete sentence which is following by a
bulleted list.
4. Use colons between two sentences only if the second sentence
illustrates the first. If there are two sentences that follow the colon, then
capitalize the first word of each sentence. If there is one sentence
following the lead sentence then you should not capitalize the first
sentence.
5. Use a colon to introduce a quotation that is more than three lines
long. You should not use quotation marks and you should single space
the quotation and indent from the left margin only.
6. Use a colon following a greeting (also known as a salutation) in a
business letter. It does not matter if you are using the person’s first
name, their first and last name or their title, you should always use a
colon if the letter is a formal business letter. If the letter is a personal
letter, then either a colon or comma is appropriate.
Examples:
• Dear Joan:
• Dear Joan Smith:
• Dear Madam:
Using Colons Correctly
The grammar rules for using a colon are pretty simple and
straightforward. All you need to truly remember is that a colon is not a
comma nor is it interchangeable for a comma.
Knowing when to use a colon is one of the easiest grammatical lessons
to remember. All it takes is time and practice to better equip yourself
with the rules of learning and grammar usage of colons.
MLA Style
"Grammar Colon Usage." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 2 October 2015.
<http://grammar.yourdictionary.com/punctuation/grammar-colonusage.html>.
VERB PHRASES
If you want to understand what a verb phrase is, you need to understand
verbs and phrases first. Phrases will be explained, as well as sentence
structure, and examples will be offered for all of them.
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Defining a Verb Phrase
A verb phrase can be the predicate of a sentence or a clause. In this
case, there will usually be a helping verb in addition to the verb. Here
are some examples of a verb phrase as a predicate:
• The author is writing a new book.
• I must make an “A” in this class.
• The dog might eat the cake.
• He was walking to work today.
• We grew apart after high school.
A verb phrase can also be a phrase that functions as an adverb or
adjective that has a verb and its complements, objects, or modifiers.
Some examples are:
• Running on the wet floor, she slipped and broke her arm.
• Fill up the gas tank to help it run better.
• To bake a cake, you need flour and sugar.
• Finally, I have saved enough to buy a car.
Defining a Sentence
A sentence is a group of words that has a subject and a predicate, which
is a verb or verb phrase. It expresses a complete thought; so therefore, it
is called an independent clause.
• The subject is the star of the sentence, what or who the sentence is
about. It can be a noun or a pronoun.
• The predicate is the action, or what the subject is doing. It can also
tell the subject’s state of being. It contains a verb, verb phrase, or
linking verb. Simple sentence examples are: Sally ran. Jose slept.
Most verbs show action, like run, taste, fly, jump, crawl, or hit. Verbs
link a word to the subject and are called linking verbs. These do not
refer to an action, they express a state of being. For example: am, are,
was, were, has been, etc. Other linking verbs are: seem, appear,
become, taste, stay, and feel.
Some verbs can pull double duty, and be active or linking depending on
their use. Here is an example:
• Active - Would you like to stay the night? Linking - I want you to
stay sweet forever.
• Active - I can taste the salt in this. Linking - This tastes gross.
Defining a Phrase
A phrase is a group of words that have a function in a sentence, but do
not have a subject and verb. If it had a subject and a verb, it would be a
clause.
Phrases can function in the sentence like nouns, adverbs, or adjectives.
Four of the main kinds of phrases are infinitive, participle,
prepositional, and gerund. Here are definitions and examples.
• Infinitive: These phrases start with an infinitive plus a simple form of
a verb. They can act like a noun, adjective, or adverb. Here is an
example: She wanted to show off her new dress. The whole
phrase is what she wanted, so it is acting like a noun.
• Participle - This phrase will act as an adjective and begins with a
participle. A participle is an adjective that has been made from a
verb, like talked or swimming. Here’s an example: We have to
replace the window broken by the hail. The phrase modifies the
noun “window”, so it is functioning like an adjective.
• Prepositional - These phrases start with a preposition and have an
object of that preposition. They function as adjectives or adverbs.
Example: The plane will fly over the clouds. The phrase tells
where the plane will fly, so it is acting like an adverb.
• Gerund - These phrases act like a noun and start with a verb ending
with an “ing”. They can be subjects or objects. An example is:
Lying to the IRS is never a good idea. The phrase acts as the
subject in this sentence.
• MLA Style
"Verb Phrase." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 2 October 2015.
<http://grammar.yourdictionary.com/sentences/verbphrase.html>.
Adjective prepositional phrases follow the nouns they modify, unlike
adjectives which generally go immediately before the nouns they modify.
Like adjectives, they tell which one, what kind, how much, or how many.
The show \on television tonight is about snow leopards \in Asia.
On television tells us which show. In Asia tells us which leopards.
Adverb prepositional phrases that modify adjectives and adverbs must go
after the words they modify. Like intensifiers, they tell to what extent. They
can also tell why or in what way or in what circumstances.
I am hungry \because of this diet. (Because of this diet tells why I'm
hungry.)
You can run pretty quickly \in those high heels. (In those high heels tells
when you run quickly.)
Adverb prepositional phrases that modify verbs can move about the
sentence, just as adverbs do. Like adverbs they can tell where, when, how,
and to what extent. Since they use more than one word, they can also tell
why.
We will go snowboarding \in the winter. (In the winter tells when we will
go snowboarding.)
\In the winter, we will go snowboarding.
We will, \in the winter, go snowboarding.
Hint: Sometimes a prepositional phrase could make sense either as an
adjective phrase modifying the noun before it or as an adverb phrase
modifying the verb. In this case, it is usually considered an adjective phrase.
The plant \in the window gets lots of sunlight. (Tells which plant.)
\In the window, the plant gets lots of sunlight. (Tells where the plant gets
lots of sunlight.)
MLA
"Adjective or Adverb Prepositional Phrases." English Grammar 101.
Cingletree Learning, LLC., 2015. Web. 02 Oct. 2015.
What Is an Adverb Clause?
Adverb clauses are clauses that function as adverbs. Since they are
dependent clauses, they must have a subordinating conjunction to
connect them to the other clause.
Subordinating conjunctions can be arranged according to the purpose of
the clause they begin. Here are some examples of subordinating
conjunctions:
• Time: after, when, until, soon, before, once, while, as soon as,
whenever, by the time
• Condition: if, whether or not, provided, in case, unless, even if, in the
event
• Cause and effect: because, as, since, so, in order that, now that,
inasmuch as
• Contrast: though, although, while, whereas, even though
Most of the time, an adverb clause will be separated from the other
clause with a comma. Here are a few examples of sentences with and
without commas:
• Whether you like it or not, you have to go. (The adverb clause
“Whether you like it or not” puts a condition on the action.)
• She enjoyed the party more than he did. (The adverb clause 'than he
did' modifies the adverb “more”.)
Functions of Adverbs
Since adverb clauses function as adverbs, let’s look at the functions of
adverbs.
• Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs.
• They tell why, when, where, how, how much, and how often an
action occurs.
• They can begin a sentence that is a question, and give more
information.
Here are some examples according to what the adverb is modifying:
• Verbs: We eat pizza weekly. She watched the wild animal carefully.
• Adjectives: That is a very nice person. The dog is extremely
hyperactive.
• Adverbs: She sings quite beautifully. My dog is almost always
starving.
Examples of Adverb Clauses
Adverb clauses can modify by telling the place, time, cause, and
purpose of an action. They can also show concession and condition.
Basically they answer the questions: Where?, when?, why?, and under
what conditions? Here are some examples with the adverb clause
underlined:
• Place: Wherever there is music, people will often dance. If you know
where they live, you can drop in for a visit.
• Time: After the chores are done, we will eat ice cream. When the
clock strikes midnight, she has to leave.
• Cause: She passed the course because she worked hard. Since he has
long hair, he wears a ponytail.
• Purpose: So that he would not ruin the carpet, he took off his
shoes. He ate vegetables in order to stay healthy.
• Concession: Even though you are 13, you can’t go to that movie.
Although you gave it your best, you did not win the match.
• Condition: If you save some money, you can buy a new game. Unless
you hurry, you will be late for school.
MLA
"Adverb Clauses." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 2 October 2015.
<http://grammar.yourdictionary.com/parts-ofspeech/adverbs/adverb-clauses.html>