Grammar Unit 1

1. Grammar Unit 1 Basic Patterns

2. Simple subject and predicates • Subject=doer of sentence • Predicate=verb; the act of the doer • Examples: Mary sang at our concert. • Find subject and predicate • Mary is the subject • Sang is the predicate

3. Simple S&P cont… • Simple Subject=the doer with no phrases or modifiers—just the noun(s) • Simple predicate=the verb with no modifiers • Example: A plate of cookies enticed him to eat. • Example: Joe played in the park.

4. Compound subjects and predicates • A sentence can have more than one subject and more than one predicate • Example: John and his friend went to the game. • Example: Bob stood in the aisle and spoke loudly.

5. Commands • In commands, the subject of the sentence is usually understood. • Example: Wash the dishes. You wash the dishes. • Example: Stop and listen. You stop and listen.

6. Practice • Find the simple subject and simple predicate. • Pete and Jim skated all weekend. • Jerry walked to the Oaks Mall. • Come in from the rain. • Her mother left in anger. • Jim spoke clearly and forcefully. • Jane writes well.

7. First Basic Pattern: Subject, Intransitive Verb • Intransitive Verb: A verb that is complete in itself. Does not need another word to complete its meaning. • Example: John jumped into the water. • John jumped is a complete sentence. Jump is an intransitive verb. • Example: Beth ran in the marathon last month.

8. Modifiers • Verbs can have modifiers—Adverbs • A verb or phrase that modifies the verb answers the questions how, when, where, why, or how much (to what extent) • Example: Jack left later. • Example: I jumped on my bed.

9. Practice • Identify the word or phrase that modifies the verb and identify the simple subject and predicate. • My fountain pen writes better every day. • The leaf drifted slowly to the ground. • Robert painted in the dark. • Jane swam in Jack’s swimming pool. • She works for money.

10. Second Basic Pattern: Subject, Transitive Verb, Direct Object • Transitive Verb: a verb that is not complete in itself; needs a noun or a pronoun to complete it called a direct object. • Direct object for a transitive verb always answers the questions what or whom • A complement is not a modifier. It has to be part of the basic pattern.

11. For instance… • If someone said to you, “Yesterday, I bought.” You would probably ask, “What did you buy?” • Bought, in this sentence, is not an intransitive verb. It needs a direct object.

12. Practice • Identify the basic pattern #2 for the following sentences (subject, transitive verb, direct object) • My sister bought a new dress yesterday. • Finish your homework. • She broke her arm during practice. • Take this book to the library. • Debra lost an earring during the dance.

13. Compound Predicates and Basic Pattern #2 • A compound predicate occurs when the sentence has more than one verb. In the same sentence, one verb can be transitive and one can be intransitive. • Example: Bill left early and took a bouquet of roses to his girlfriend.

14. Compound Direct Objects • Sometimes a transitive verb can have more than one direct object • Example: Joan took paper and pencils to the exam on Saturday.

15. Practice • Identify the basic pattern for the following sentences. • Our old car needs a thorough overhauling. • Wash the windows and woodwork in your room. • Greg ordered two hamburgers and fries. • My brother borrowed Dad’s car and went to a dance.

16. Active and Passive Voice • Voice shows how a verb speaks. A voice is active when the doer performs the act. • Paul wrote on the blackboard. • A voice speaks passively when the doer receives the action. • The sweater was torn by Margaret.

17. Practice • Rewrite the following sentences in active voice. • The solo was sang beautifully by Jane. • My brother was grabbed by the bully. • A message was sent by Ted to his brother.

18. Third Basic Pattern: Subject, Linking Verb, Subject Complement • Linking verb links the subject with its complement • Referred to as a “state-of-being” verb; it does not act • State-of-being verbs: am, is, are, was, were, be, been • The complement of a linking verb refers back to the subject • Example: The captain is Tom.

19. Complements • The complement of a linking verb can be a noun, pronoun, or an adjective • Find the complements: • Jerry is an excellent swimmer. • Jerry is he. • Jerry is happy.

20. Molly won the tennis tournament. Pattern: Molly won tournament Tournament completes verb, not subject Molly was a tennis champion. Pattern: Molly was champion Molly and champion are the same Champion complements Molly, not the verb Transitive Verbs vs. Linking Verbs

21. Some practice… • Look at the following sentences… • Brian played ball in the park. • Ball complements? • Sally wrote a letter to her aunt. • Letter complements? • Jim is a good math student. • Student complements.

22. State-of-being Verbs • Most common linking verbs are forms of to be: am, is, are, was, were, be, been • To be linking, the verb must link. I • No linking, then the verb is intransitive • Example: Mary was in her room. (not linking) • Example: Mary was a teacher. (linking)

23. Practice • Determine if the state-of-being verbs in the following sentences are linking verbs or intransitive verbs. • I will be famous. • The flowers were beautiful. • Jeff was working for my father. • The books were taken to the library. • My father was chief engineer.

24. Review • Active Voice • Rewrite the following sentences in active voice. • The computers were shipped in early September. • The old car was driven by my brother. • The man has been stabbed. • My shoes were taken to the shoemaker. • The flowers were planted in March.

25. Review cont. • Modifiers • Identify the word or phrase that modifies the predicates. • Mary waited patiently for the bus. • Robert painted in the dark. • She works for money. • Walk carefully on the wet floor. • Bob rode around the field. • Mary squealed in fright.

26. Review cont. • Direct Objects • Identify the direct objects in the following sentences. • The dog bared his teeth and growled. • My friend will visit me next week. • My friends and I enjoyed the movie very much. • The baseball team hit him on the head and broke the glass. • Greg ordered two hamburgers and fries.

27. Review Cont. • Subject Complements • Identify the word or phrase that complements the subject (Hint: what renames the subject?) • Sarah was a great organist. • She is always happy. • Larry Bird is a famous basketball player. • Life is wonderful. • Kay is a soccer player. • My trophy was earned.

28. Review cont. • Basic Patterns • Underline the basic patterns in the following sentences. • My friends and I enjoyed the movie very much. • Sarah was a great organist. • Mary waited patiently for the bus. • Kay is a soccer player. • The baseball team hit him on the head and broke the glass. • Mary squealed in fright.

29. Quiz • Your quiz will be 25 points. • Sections will look very similar to this review. • Study your notes and practice handouts. • PowerPoint with practice exercises from class is on the website • QUIZ IS FRIDAY FIRST THING IN CLASS!