Download Adjectivals Rhetorical Grammar (7ed) Chapter 9-

Adjectivals
Rhetorical Grammar (7ed)
Chapter 9--Choosing Adjectivals
Adjective=word that modifies a noun (word class definition)
Adjectival=word, phrase, that modifies a noun (functional definition)
Group Discussion (p. 159)
Dorothy was little girl who lived on farm in Kansas. Tornado struck farm and carried her
over rainbow to land of Munchkins. Soon afterwards she met scarecrow who wanted brain,
tin man who wanted heart, and lion who wanted courage. On way to Emerald City four
friends met wicked witch who cast spell on them in field of flowers. Witch wanted magic
shoes that Dorothy was wearing. When they reached city, as you recall, they met wizard.
Story has happy ending.
determiners
a or the chosen based on:
 countable vs. noncountable
 known vs. new
The Noun Phrase
determiner
+
the
adjective
weary
+
noun
college
+
HEADWORD (noun)
students
Punctuation
commas
use a comma after prenoun modifiers if it's possible to use and
 a horrible and deadly accidenta horrible, deadly accident
 a boring history class
hyphens
use a hyphen when modifying anther prenoun modifier
 a super-boring lecture
 the small-town attitude
do not use a hyphen with an -ly adverb
 a highly exciting lecture
use a hyphen for complete phrases in the adjective slot
 an end-of-the-world prediction
Ex. 28, pg,. 162
Postheadword Modifiers
prepositional phrases--add a distinguishing feature, indicate "which one"
 eye of the tiger
 year of the cat
 the carpet in my office
 the team with the best goaltending
Adjectivals
adjective phrases—can be afer headword with commas if they are compound or qualified
 The horrible, deadly accident stopped traffic for hours.
 The horrible and deadly accident stopped traffic for hours.
 Horrible and deadly, the accident stopped traffic for hours.
 The accident, horrible and deadly, stopped traffic for hours.
participial phrases--verb phrase with participle form of the verb


The team losing the game started fouling.
o The team (is) losing the game.
The losing team started fouling. (prenoun)
movable participles


Losing the game, the team started fouling.
Losing, the team started fouling.
dangling participles--the opening or closing participle must modify the subject


Losing the game, the stadium began to empty.
Attempting to listen to the lecture, there were no students awake in the
room.
(page 168, Ex. 29)
Relative Clauses
relative pronouns--that, who (whose and whom), which
relative adverbs--where, when, why
 The man who called last night wouldn't leave his name.
 The student whose notes I borrowed was absent today.
 Our dog Rusty, whom we dearly loved, was recently killed.
Broad Reference
Make sure that the relative clause (pronoun) refers to a specific noun phrase
 Joe bought a gas guzzler, which surprised me.
(page 172, Ex. 30)
Punctuation
Restrictive (defining) vs. Nonrestrictive (commenting) modifiers


USCA students who are lazy and disorganized do not succeed after graduation.
USCA students, who are lazy and disorganized, do not succeed after graduation.
that and which (and neither)
 That clauses are always restrictive (defining) and never take commas.
 Which clauses are normally nonrestrictive and take commas (try substituting which for
that--same meaning?=no commas).
 If the relative pronoun can be deleted, the clause is restrictive (no commas).
Adjectivals
NOTE:
Restrictive modifiers make a statement and imply the opposite.
 USCA students who are lazy and disorganized do not succeed after graduation.
 My brother, who lives in Connecticut, called me last week.
 President Obama's wife Michelle accompanied him on the South American trip.
(page 175, Ex. 31)
Identify the participial phrases (underline) and relative clauses (italicize) in the
following sentences and punctuate them accordingly.
Many coal miners who work in West Virginia refused to approve two sections
of the contract offered by management. They maintain that the sections
covering wages and safety represent no improvements over their present
contract, which expires on Friday night.
The senator and her husband, who was sitting next to her on the speaker’s
platform, both looked calm as they waited for the mayor to finish the
introduction. Then the mayor, turning to look directly at the senator, shocked
both the audience and the senators on the platform.