Grammar

What you will need to know for the quiz:

Phrases Irregular Verbs:to lie vs. to lay

Clauses

Need to review? • Four kinds of sentences

• Four kinds of complements

Review

Kinds of Sentences

Complements

Home

Four Kinds of Sentences

1. Simple Sentence

2. Compound Sentence

3. Complex Sentence

4. Compound-Complex Sentence

Home

Click here for sentences tree.

1. Simple Sentence

Definition: a sentence that contains a main (or independent) clause—a subject and verb (or predicate)

Example:

Kate ran to the restaurant.

Back to kinds of sentences.

Home

2. Compound Sentence

Definition: a sentence that contains two or more main (or independent) clauses and no subordinate (or dependent) clauses

Example:

Kate ran to the restaurant, and Caleb walked.

Back to kinds of sentences.

Home

3. Complex Sentence

Definition: a sentence that contains one main (or independent) clause and at least one subordinate (or dependent) clause

Example:

Crying out loud, Kate ran to the restaurant.

Back to kinds of sentences.

Home

4. Compound-Complex Sentence

Definition: a sentence that contains at least two main (or independent) clauses and one or more subordinate (or dependent) clauses

Example:

Crying out loud, Kate ran to the restaurant, and Caleb walked.

Back to kinds of sentences.

Home

Complements

Definition:

a word or words used to complete the sense of a verb.

Click here for four types.

Home

Click here for complements tree.

Four Types of Complements

1. Predicate noun (subject complement):Rhoda became a star.2. Predicate adjective:Betty was courageous.3. Direct Object:Janet loves Jill.4. Indirect Object:Give me the hammer, please.

Back to definition of complements.

Question for review: Which are linking verbs?

Sentences one and two

contain linking verbs:

Rhoda became a star.

Betty was courageous.

Home.

Back to kinds of complements.

Clauses

MAIN

SUBORDINATE

Home

Click here for clauses tree.

Main Clause

Definition: All sentences include a main clause (or independent clause)—that is, a subject and a verb.

Example:

The dog jumped over the plate.

Back to clauses.

Home

Subordinate Clauses

Adjective

Noun

Home

Adverb

Adjective Clause

Definition: a subordinate (or dependent) clause that functions as adjective (tells more about the noun)

Example:

Hilda, who hated all things fuzzy, hugged a little bunny.

Back to kinds of subordinate clauses.

Home

Adverb Clause

Definition: a subordinate (or dependent) clause that functions as adverb (tells the when, why, how, where, under what condition)

Example:

Before we go, I must put on my shoes.

Back to kinds of subordinate clauses.

Home

Noun Clause

Definition: a subordinate (or dependent) clause that functions as noun

(as subject, direct object, indirect object, subject complement,object of preposition, or appositive)

Back to kinds of subordinate clauses.

Home

Click here for kinds of noun clauses.

Kinds of Noun Clauses

as subject as direct object

as indirect objectas predicate noun

(or subject complement)

as appositive

Back to definition of noun clause.

As object of preposition

Noun Clause: As Subject

That it snowed surprised me.

Back to kinds of noun clauses.

Noun Clause: As Predicate Noun

(or Subject Complement)

The question was how to cross the bridge.

Back to kinds of noun clauses.

Noun Clause: As Object of Preposition

You give the drum to whoever wants it.

Back to kinds of noun clauses.

Noun Clause: As Direct Object

Chapin girls know that reading is fun.

Back to kinds of noun clauses.

Noun Clause: As Indirect Object

Sally told whoever was nearby her story about the fish.

Back to kinds of noun clauses.

Noun Clause: As Appositive

My teacher’s wish that I become a lifelong lover of literature could happen.

Back to kinds of noun clauses.

Phrases

PREPOSITIONAL

VERBAL

Home

Click here for phrases tree.

Phrases: Verbals

Gerund

Participial

Back to kinds of phrases.

Infinitive

Home

Infinitive Phrase

Definition: a group of words consisting of an infinitive and all the words related to it (an infinitive is a verb form that can be used as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb). An infinitive usually begins with “to.”

Question for review:What is the infinitive alone? Back to kinds of verbals.

Home

Click here for kinds of infinitive phrases.

to speak

(the infinitive)

Back to infinitive phrase.

Home

Kinds of Infinitive Phrases

Back to definition of infinitive phrase.

as subject

as predicate noun(or subject complement)

as direct object

as appositive

Infinitive Phrase: As Subject

To snow hard is a wonder.

Back to kinds of infinitive phrases.

Infinitive Phrase: As Predicate Noun

(or Subject Complement)

The trick was to carry the egg slowly.

Back to kinds of infinitive phrases.

Infinitive Phrase: As Direct Object

Chapin girls like to study hard.

Back to kinds of infinitive phrases.

Infinitive Phrase: As Appositive

My teacher’s wish to climb Bear Mountain could happen.

Back to kinds of infinitive phrases.

Prepositional Phrase

Definition: a group of words consisting of a preposition, a noun or pronoun that serves as the object of the prep., and any modifiers of that object (they can function as adjective or adverb in a sentence)

Example: Brenda the brave, in blue jeans (adj.), screeched with laughter (adv.).

Question for review:Where is the appositive? Back to kinds of phrases.

Home

On the ferris wheel Brenda the brave screeched with laughter.

(the appositive)

Back to prepositional phrases.

Home

Participial Phrase

Definition: a group of words consisting of a participle and words related to it (a participle is a verb form that is used as an adjective—present ends in -ing; past ends in -ed or -en)

Click here for examples.

Home

Back to kinds of verbals.

Participial Phrase: Examples (present and past)

Tapping my foot, I looked out the window with longing.

Filled with anger, the woman stormed into the building.

Question #1 for review:What are the participles alone?

Home

Back to definition of participial phrase.

Question #2 to test your knowledgeof gerunds vs. participles.

filled

(past participle)

tapping

(present participle)

Home.

Back to participial phrase examples.

Gerund Phrase

Definition: a group of words consisting of a gerund and words related to it (a gerund is a verb form that ends in -ing—not to be confused with present participles!—and functions as a noun)

Back to kinds of verbals.

Home

Click here for kinds of gerund phrases.

Which is the gerund?Which is the participle?Walking on my tiptoes is fun.

Walking down the street that windy day, I wished I took the bus.

Back to partipial phrase examples.

Click here for answer.

Participle:

Walking down the street that windy day, I wished I took the bus. Gerund:

Walking on my tiptoes is fun.

Back to examples of participial phrases.

Kinds of Gerund Phrases

Back to definition of gerund.

as subject

as predicate noun(or subject complement)

as object of preposition

as direct object

as indirect object

as appositive

Gerund Phrase: As Subject

Running in water is good for your legs.

Back to kinds of gerund phrases.

Gerund Phrase: As Predicate Noun

(or Subject Complement)

Her hope was getting a good seat.

Back to kinds gerund phrases.

Gerund Phrase: As Object of Preposition

You’ll need shoes for walking through the mud.

Back to kinds of gerund phrases.

Gerund Phrase: As Direct Object

I love playing the piano.

Back to kinds of gerund phrases.

Gerund Phrase: As Indirect Object

Back to kinds of gerund phrases.

She gave playing the piano a chance.

Gerund Phrase: As Appositive

Mary’s role, playing Nora in A Doll House, was a great opportunity for her.

Back to kinds of gerund phrases.

To Lay: to put, place

• Present: I lay, you lay, she lays, etc.

• Past: I laid, you laid, etc.

• Present perfect: I have laid, you have laid, etc.

• Past progressive: I was laying, you were laying, etc.

To Lie

Home

To Lie: to recline

• Present: I lie, you lie, she lies, etc.

• Past: I lay, you lay, etc.

• Present perfect: I have lain, you have lain, etc.

• Past progressive: I was lying, you were lying, etc.

Click here to quiz yourself.

Home

Back to “to lay.”

Is this correct?

The old man lay on the couch.

Click here for answer.

Home

Yes!

Back to “to lie” page.

Home

Back to phrases.

Back to complements.

Click here for clauses.