Verbal Flashcards
Additive Phrases
Begin with “along with”, “as well as”, “in addition to”, “accompanied by” and “together with”.
Example: Estella, in addition to Frisky and Molly, was sleeping on the soft couch.
It does not create a plural verb.
Subject-verb with Or, Nor, either…, Or and Neither
The verb must agree with the subject noun to which it is closest.
The Prime minister or her assistants are in the meeting.
Her assistants or the prime minister is in the meeting.
Phrase
A collection of words that cannot stand alone as a sentence because there is no subject-verb agreement
Clause
Clause = [subject]+[finite verb]
Finite verb answers the question - when did the action occur?
Subject - the person or thing performing the action in the sentence
Independent Clause
A clause that can stand alone as a sentence. Every sentence has an independent clause.
The finite verb in an independent clause is called the main verb.
There must be no words the remove the clauses independence.
Dependent Clause
Cannot constitute a sentence on its own. Serves to enhance or modify an independent clause.
3 types of dependent clauses:
- Subordinate clauses
- Relative clauses
- Noun clauses
Subordinate Clauses (Dependent)
Subordinating conjunctions: because, since, whenever, although, whereas, unless, once, if after, before, until, though, even though, as much as, just as
They take away the independence of a clause creating a subordinate clause
because the crowd laughed
although Scott is typing fast
whereas Douglas may complain about the strict rules
Relative Clause (Dependent)
Must follow the noun the clause is modifying.
Begins with relative pronouns: that, which, who, whom, whose, where, when.
Cannot stand alone as a sentence.
Every relative clause has a subject and finite verb.
Relative clause = [relative pronoun as subject]+[finite verb]
Relative clause = [relative pronoun not as subject] + [subject] + [finite verb] *in these cases you don’t necessarily need the relative pronoun
The man who solved the problem is smiling happily. who = subject, solved = verb
The baboon that Irving was feeding had an angry look about it.
The baboon Irving was feeding had an angry look about it.
Irving = subject, was = verb (that is a pronoun, not the subject)
Noun Clause (Dependent)
Many noun clauses begin with: that, which, how, who whom, where, whether, what, why
They introduce the clause and do not relate to a noun.
The clause be the subject of a sentence or a direct object that is receiving the action.
4 Sentence Types
- Simple Sentence - Single independent clause
- Compound Sentence - At least 2 independent clauses (connected by ,[coordinating conjunction])
- Complex Sentence - Independent clause and at least 1 subordinate clause
- Compound-complex Sentence - more than one independent clause and at least one subordinating clause
Coordinating Conjunctions - FANBOYS
Connect 2 or more independent clauses to make a compound sentence. F - For A - And N - Nor B - But O - Or Y - Yet S - So
*a comma MUST precede the conjunction
Run-on Sentence
2 independent clauses with no intermediary or only a coordinating conjunction with no comma.
I ran I fell
or I ran and I fell
Should be I ran, and I fell
Comma Splice
Linking 2 independent clauses with a comma.
I ran, I fell
Semicolon
Use a semicolon to connect two independent clauses
Colon
What precedes a colon must be able to stand on its own as a complete sentence.
It can be followed by an independent clause but it can also be followed by an example or series of examples.
Preposition/prepositional phrase
A proposition must be followed by a noun, pronoun, or noun clause.
Prepositions: About, by, for, in, on, with, along, to, during
A prepositional phrase - a modifying phrase that begins with a preposition.
