Download phrases

PHRASES
A phrase is a group of words that together communicate a meaning to a group of
people. Phrases are a very basic way to organize words.
When we speak, it is very common to communicate in phrases rather than
complete sentences, especially with people we know well. On the other hand, when
we write for academic purposes, we almost never use phrases alone. They must be
part of a complete sentence.
The “prepositional phrase” is a very common kind of phrase. A prepositional
phrase often adds information about when or where something happened.
I ate breakfast in my kitchen at 5:30 in the morning.
A prepositional phrase starts with a preposition and always includes a noun.
The main noun in a prepositional phrase is called the object of the preposition.
Prepositional phrases s how the relationship between the object of the preposition
and the other words in the sentence.
Some teachers and textbooks use other names for prepositional phrases or divide
them into categories.
CLAUSES
A clause is a group of words that has meaning together and does include its own
subject and verb.
Dependent clauses are clauses that cannot stand alone as a sentence.
Independent clauses are clauses that can stand alone as a complete thought.
Independent clauses are also called main clauses.
definition, at least one independent clause.
All sentences include, by
Clauses can be adverb clauses, adjective clauses and noun clauses.
Time clauses and if clauses are examples of adverb clauses. Time clauses tell
when something happened.
When you get home, I’ll call you.
When a sentence refers to the future in the main clause, the if clause usually uses
the simple present.
We’ll go to the park if I get done early. If you don’t study, you’ll fail
this class. (There are other if clauses that don’t follow this pattern.)
When a main (independent) clause refers to the past, the verb in the time clause is
also using a past tense. I ate breakfast when I woke up.
When a main clause refers to a future action, the verb in the time clause is usually
in the simple present form. When I get home, I’ll call you.
I am going home
when I finish working.
A time clause can go before or after the main clause in a sentence. If you put a time
clause before the main clause, put a comma after the time clause. If you put the
time clause after the main clause, don’t use a comma between the two clauses.
ADJECTIVE CLAUSES
Adjective clauses have the same job as adjectives – they describe nouns.
Although most English adjectives go before the noun they describe or after to be,
adjective clauses usually go after the noun they describe.
Adjective clauses often start with the relative pronouns who, which, or that.
However, these words are not always necessary. The man who owns that house is
a millionaire. The man I met yesterday is rich.
NOUN CLAUSES
Noun clauses do the same thing as nouns.
SENTENCES
A sentence is a group of words that form a complete thought. (Chapter 1)
Complete sentences must include a subject and a verb that agree.
Subject-Verb Agreement means that the verb is in the correct form according to the
rules of tense and person.
I walk. You walk. He walks.
The verb “walk” does not “agree” with the
pronoun “he” in the simple present tense. The correct verb is walks.
When an editor proofreads a document, he or she often points out errors in subjectverb agreement are often noted by writing SVA above the sentence.
In imperative sentences, no subject is written, but the subject is called the
“understood you.” (Chapter 4)
Sentences begin with a capital letter and end with a period, question mark or
exclamation point. (Chapter 1)
Groups of words that are not sentences may be called fragments, phrases, clauses
or other terms.
A compound sentence is a sentence that combines two independent clauses with a
connector.
Compound sentences can be more interesting and descriptive than simple
sentences,, but can also become “run on” sentences.
A “run-on” sentence contains more than one complete thought and reduces the
quality of your writing.
A complex sentence is a sentence that includes an independent clause and a
dependent clause.
Complex sentences can be more interesting and informative than simple sentences.
Using complex sentences properly can improve your score on the WOW final
exam and the COMPASS exam.
QUESTIONS (AZAR CHAPTER 5)
WOW1: Plan an interview with a famous person you want to know
about. Write 20 questions that you might ask him or her. Use a
variety of the question forms listed below and in Azar Chapter 5.
A question is a group of words that asks for information from another person
Most questions are complete sentences.
The word order for questions is very different from word order for affirmative
sentences.
In speaking, we raise our voice at the end of a question to show it is a question.
In writing, we put a question mark at the end to show a question.
There are several kinds of questions. Most questions are either yes/no or
information question.
Yes/No questions invite an answer that includes yes or no.
Yes/No questions usually begin with a verb – to be, or a form of to do
Information questions often begin with “WH” question words.
WH question words are who, what, when, where, why and more
Many question words can be part of a contraction with the verb of the sentence.
“How come” is a popular American idiom for “why.”
 Tag Questions
 When & What time
 Who & Whose
 Which & What
 How
 How much & how many
 How far, how long, how busy, how old, etc.
 What + do +
 How about & what about
 Tag questions
 Embedded questions