LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object,...
Transcript of LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object,...
![Page 1: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Master English grammar.Write better prose.
Jonathan Rogers, PhD
LESSONS & QUIZZES
Author of The Wilderking Trilogy & The World According to Narnia
![Page 2: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
![Page 3: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Dr.JonathanRogers
![Page 4: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
PublishedbyCompassClassroom605WIrisDriveNashvilleTN37204Copyright©2019CompassClassroom
![Page 5: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
TableofContents
Module1,Lesson1:Introduction1
Module1,Lesson2:UnderstandingtheMainLine3
Quiz1.2:UnderstandingtheMainLine7Module1,Lesson3:SubjectsandVerbs9
Quiz1.3:SubjectsandVerbs13
Module1,Lesson4:ObjectsandComplements17
Quiz1.4A:IdentifyingSubjects,Verbs,Objects,andComplements21
Quiz1.4B:ObjectsandComplements23
Module1,Lesson5:TheFiveClausePatterns27
Quiz1.5A:TheFiveClausePatterns31
Quiz1.5B:TheFiveClausePatterns33
Module1,Lesson6:ActorsandActions,SubjectsandVerbs37
Quiz1.6:ActorsandActions,SubjectsandVerbs41
Module1,Lesson7:WhatIsthePassiveVoice?45
Quiz1.7:WhatisPassiveVoice?49
Module1,Lesson8:WhenIsthePassiveUseful?53
Quiz1.8A:UsesofthePassiveVoice55
Quiz1.8B:UsesofthePassiveVoice57
Module1,Lesson9:Nominalization61
Quiz1.9:Nominalization65
Module1,Lesson10:StrongVerbs,PreciseVerbs,69
Quiz1.10:StrongVerbs,PreciseVerbs73
Module1,Lesson11:KeepingVerbsClosetoSubjects75
Quiz1.11:KeepingVerbsClosetoSubjects77
Module1,Lesson12:CompoundsontheMainLine81
Quiz1.12:CompoundsontheMainLine85
![Page 6: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Module1,Lesson13:VerbTenses89
Quiz1.13:VerbTenses93
Module2,Lesson1:Introduction95
Module2,Lesson2:AdjectivesandAdverbs99
Quiz2.2:AdjectivesandAdverbs103
Module2,Lesson3:What’sSoBadAboutAdverbs?107
Quiz2.3:What’sSoBadAboutAdverbs?109
Module2,Lesson4:PrepositionalPhrases111
Module2,Lesson5:PrepositionalPhrasesPartII115
Quiz2.5:PrepositionalPhrasesPartII119
Module2,Lesson6:Participles123
Module2,Lesson7:ParticipialPhrases125
Quiz2.7:ParticipialPhrases129
Module2,Lesson8:InfinitivePhrases131
Quiz2.8:InfinitivePhrases133
Module2,Lesson9:SubordinateClauses137
Module2,Lesson10:AdjectiveClauses139
Quiz2.10:AdjectiveClauses143
Module2,Lesson11:AdverbClauses145
Quiz2.11:AdverbClauses151
Module2,Lesson12:MoreonSubordinateClauses155
Quiz2:12:MoreonSubordinateClauses161
Module2,Lesson13:MisplacedModifiers163
Quiz2.13:MisplacedandDanglingModifiers165
Module2,Lesson14:Conclusion167
Module3,Lesson1:Introduction169
Module3,Lesson2:NounClauses173
![Page 7: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
Quiz3.2A:NounClauses177
Quiz3.2B:NounClauses181
Module3,Lesson3:GerundsandInfinitives185
Quiz3.3:GerundsandInfinitives189
Module3,Lesson4:Appositives193
Quiz3.4:Appositives195
Module3,Lesson5:EssentialandNon-EssentialElements199
Quiz3.5:EssentialandNon-EssentialElements203
Module3,Lesson6:Review205
Quiz3.6:Review207
Module4,Lesson1:Introduction211
Module4,Lesson2:Subject-VerbAgreement213
Quiz4.2:Subject-VerbAgreement215
Module4,Lesson3:PronounsandAntecedents217
Quiz4.3:PronounsandAntecedents221
Module4,Lesson4:ConnectingClauses223
Quiz4.4:ConnectingClauses225
Module4,Lesson5:ConnectingClauses–CaseStudies229
Quiz4.5:ConnectingClauses–CaseStudies233
Module4,Lesson6:Parallelism237
Quiz4.6:Parallelism243
Module4,Lesson7:NominativeAbsolutes247
Quiz4.7:NominativeAbsolutes249
Module4,Lesson8:CourseWrapUp251
QuizAnswerKey253
![Page 8: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
![Page 9: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
1
LectureNotesModule1,Lesson1:Introduction
Formanywriters,thekeytobetterwritingisn’tnewskillssomuchasclearingawaytheclutterofbadhabitstogetbacktofundamentalskillsthathavebeenthereallalong.Humanlanguagegivesyoucountlesswaystoinsertmoreandmoreinformationintoasentence—nominativeabsolute,nounclauses,adjectiveclauses,participialphrases.Subordinatingconjunctionsconveyallkindsoflogicalrelationshipsbetweenideas.Ifyou’reolderthanaboutsevenyearsold,youcanalreadyuseallofthesegrammaticalconstructions.Youareprobablyquitegoodatcramminglotsofinformationintoasentence.However,atitsheart,good,vividlanguage—whetherwrittenorspoken—isn’tjustaboutconveyinginformation.Itisn’taboutweedingoutthegrammarandstyleerrorsfromyourprose.It’saboutrenderingexperience.Thatissomethingthatyouunderstoodwhenyouwereatoddler,evenifyouhavesinceforgottenit.Whenyoulearntotalk,youstartwithconcretenouns—thingsyoucanseeandhearandtouch:Mama,Daddy,kitty,milk,car.Prettysoonyouaddverbs:Kittysaysmeow.Milkspilled.Daddyisfunny.Cargoesfast.
Asyougrow,youlearntouseincreasinglycomplicatedgrammaticalstructures.Throughmostofyoureducation,yourparentsandteachersencourageyoutoexpressmoreandmorecomplexideaswithmoreandmorecomplexgrammaticalstructures.Yougetrewardedforshowingthatyoucanthinkinabstractterms.YouDOneedtobeabletothinkabstractly,andyouneedtomasterthegrammaticalcomplexitiesthatallowyoutocommunicateabstractideas.Abstractthinkingisanimportantpartoftheeducationalprocess.
![Page 10: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
2
Inthiscourse,however,Iamgoingtoworkfromtheassumptionthatyouarealreadyfullycapableofabstractthought—thatyouhavenothingtoproveinthatregard.Good,vividwritingtendstomovetowardtheconcrete,pullingbigideasandconceptsdownfromtherealmoftheabstractandintotheworldwhereweliveandmoveandhaveourbeing.SointhisfirstmoduleofGrammarforWriters,we’regoingtogoallthewaybacktothesimplest,moststraightforwardwaysofrenderingexperience:Subjects.Verbs.Objects.Complements.WHODIDWHAT?Or,WHODIDWHATTOWHOM?Writingthatconnectswithareaderhastobesolidatthatlevel.That’sthewayinformationcomestousintherealworld.Weseewhodidwhattowhom.Writingthatisstrongattheverysimplelevelofsubject,verb,object,andcomplementfeelstruetoyourreader.Sohereinthisfirstmodule,we’restrippingawayallthemodifiers,allthesubordinateclauses,everythingbutthemainactionthatasentencedepicts:whodidwhat?We’regoingtobuildbackallthoseotherconstructionsinthesubsequentmodules,butfornow,we’regoingallthewaybacktosomeofthefirstthingsyoulearnedtodowithlanguagewhenyouwereatoddler.Therearethirteenlessonsremaininginthisfirstmodule.Hereiswhatyoucanexpecttogetfromthoselessons:
• Toolsforidentifyingtheverbandthesubjectofaclause.• Toolsforfindingdirectobjectsandindirectobjects.• Toolsforidentifyingpredicatecomplementsandseeingthedifferencebetween
actionverbsandlinkingverbs.• Thefivepossiblepatternsforthestructureofaclause.• Passivevoice—howtoidentifyit,whytoavoidit,andwhenit’sgoodtouseit.• Nominalization—thepracticeofturningverbsintoabstractnouns(andwhyitisa
dangerouspractice).• Strongverbs—andwhythatadvice“USESTRONGVERBS”canbemisleading.
Wewilldevotealotofattentiontoaligningtheactionofasentencewiththegrammarofthesentencebymakingsurethatactionsgetexpressedasverbs,andtheactorsarethesubjectsofthoseverbs.That,really,isthecentralideaofthiswholemodule.Everythingelseinthismoduleisjustaspecificand/ortechnicaloutworkingofthatideaofturningactorsandactionsintosubjectsandverbs.Onceyougraspandapplythatidea,yourwritingwillbetransformedimmediately.
![Page 11: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
3
LectureNotesModule1,Lesson2:UnderstandingtheMainLine
Everysentencehasamainclause.Itmayhavealotofotherthingstoo,butitalwayshasamainclause.Themainclauseanswersthequestion,WHODIDWHAT?Eachofthesesentencesconsistsofonemainclause.
• Thebearslept.• Lindakickedaball.• Persimmonsgivemeabellyache.• Thatcakesmellsdelicious.• TerencecalledRosariaagenius.
Insentencediagramming,themainclauseisrepresentedonthemainline.Ineachofthesediagrams,thereisonlyamainline,withnothing(exceptonearticlepersentence)branchingfromtheline.
ThefivepatternsrepresentedinthesefivediagramsaretheonlypossibleclausepatternsintheEnglishlanguage.WewilllookmuchmorecloselyatthesepatternsinLesson5ofthismodule.
![Page 12: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
4
Many(ifnotmost)sentencesyouwritewillbeconsiderablymorecomplicatedthanthesamplesentencesabove.Thediagramsforthosesentenceswillhavelinessproutingoffthemainlineandbranchingindifferentdirections,asinthissentence:
Unconcernedbytheraucousactivityjustoutsidehiscave,thebearsleptlikeababy.
Everythingthatbranchesoffthemainlineisamodifier.Modifiersinclude(butarenotlimitedto)adjectives,adverbs,prepositionalphrases,participles,infinitives,andadverbialandadjectivalclauses.Adverbialmodifiersanswerquestionsabouttheaction:
• How?• When?• Where?• Why?
Adjectivalmodifiersanswerquestionsaboutnouns:
• Whatkind?• Whichone?• Howmany?
Thismoduleofthecourseisallaboutthemainline—themainclause,thatmainquestion:WHODIDWHAT?Mostoftherestofthecourseisabouteverythingthatbranchesoffthemainline.SkillstoworkoninthislessonareidentifyingthatmainlineandSEPARATINGitfromallthemodifiers.Considerthissentence:Theraccoonrattledthetrashcan.
![Page 13: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
5
Thisisastraightforwardclausewithasubject(raccoon),averb(rattled),andadirectobject(trashcan).Whodidwhattowhom?Theraccoonrattledthetrashcan.Here’sthediagram:
Now,considerthissentence:
TheraccoonthatIwastellingyouabout,withthemissingearandtheunusuallybushytail,rattledthetrashcanbehindmygaragewithaninsistencethatborderedonobsession.
Ifweweretodiagramthissentence,itwouldlooklikethis:
Comparedtothefirstraccoonsentence,thisoneisimpressivelycomplicated.Butperhapsthemostimpressivethingaboutthesetwodiagramsistherealizationthatthemainlineisexactlythesame.Whodidwhat?Theracoonrattledthetrashcan.Thisistrueforthefirst,simpleraccoonsentence,anditistrueforthesecond,complicatedraccoonsentence.Themainlineisfivewords(ifyoucountthetwothe’s).Inthesecondsentence,theother25wordssproutingoffthemainlineareallmodifiers.Theytelluswhichraccoon.Theytellwhichtrashcan.Noticealsothatsomepartsofthemodifiershavetheirownmodifiers.Onceyougetoffthemainline,languageallowsforinfinitecomplexity.Butonthemainline,theoptionsareNOTinfinite.Infact,thereareonlyfivepatterns,andtheyareeasytomemorize,andwithalittlepractice,youcangetgoodatrecognizingthem.
![Page 14: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
6
![Page 15: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
7
Quiz1.2:UnderstandingtheMainLine
I.Ionceworkedataplumbingcompany.Whatisthemainlineofthissentence?Inotherwords,whodidwhat,withoutanymodifiers?II.Ihavegreatadmirationforplumbers.Whatisthemainlineofthissentence?Inotherwords,whodidwhat,withoutanymodifiers?III.Plumbersconfrontproblemsthatmostofusrunawayfrom.Whatisthemainlineofthissentence?Inotherwords,whodidwhat,withoutanymodifiers?
![Page 16: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
8
IV.Icannotimagineacivilsocietywithoutindoorplumbing.Whatisthemainlineofthissentence?Inotherwords,whodidwhat,withoutanymodifiers?V.Nevertheless,myplumberfriendswerenotalwayssocivil.Whatisthemainlineofthissentence?Inotherwords,whodidwhat,withoutanymodifiers?VI.Plumbersconductanongoing,oftenbitterfeudwithroofers.Whatisthemainlineofthissentence?Inotherwords,whodidwhat,withoutanymodifiers?VII.Ifyouseeaplumber,youshouldhughisorherneck.Whatisthemainlineofthemainclauseinthissentence?Inotherwords,whodidwhat,withoutanymodifiers?
![Page 17: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
9
LectureNotesModule1,Lesson3:SubjectsandVerbs
Aclauseisaunitofgrammarthatdescribesabitofaction.AclauseALWAYSincludesasubjectandaverb.Itmayalsoincludeotherthings,likeadirectobject,anindirectobject,apredicatenominative,apredicateadjective,oranobjectivecomplement.Thisistrueofeveryclause,whetherit’samainclause(independentclause)orasubordinateclause(dependentclause).Whenyouanalyzethegrammarofasentence,startbyfindingtheverb(orverbs).Verbsexpressactionorastateofbeing.TheVerbFinderprovidesaruleofthumbthatwillhelpyoufindtheverb(s)inanyclause.Theverbofanyclausewillfitintooneormoreoftheseblanksandformagrammaticallycorrectsentence:
I__________.YOU________.HE/SHE/IT__________.
Inthesentence,Lindakickedtheball,onlyonewordfitsintheVerbFinder:
ILinda.Ikicked.Ithe.Iball.
Ikickedisasentence.Theotherthreecombinationsarenonsensical.
![Page 18: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
10
NotethatifI_________doesn’tyieldaverb,YOU________orHE/SHE/IT_________should,asinthisexample:
Thecakesmellsdelicious.Ithe. YOUthe. HE/SHE/ITthe.Icake. YOUcake. HE/SHE/ITcake.Ismells. YOUsmells. HE/SHE/ITsmells.Idelicious. YOUdelicious. HE/SHE/ITdelicious.
TheVerbFinderworksforalltenses,includingthemorecomplextenses,likepast-,present-,andfuture-progressiveandpast-,present-,andfuture-perfect.TheVerbFinder,however,isnotfool-proofifyoudon’tapplysomecommonsense.EveryverbwillfitintheblankoftheVerbFinder,butsometimesnon-verbswillalsofitintheblank.Consideroursentencefromthelastlesson:
Theracoonrattledthetrashcan.WhenyouapplytheVerbFinder,youquicklyseethatrattledisaverb:
Irattled.YOUrattled.HE/SHE/ITrattled.
Butthewordcanalsofitsintheverbfinder:
Ican.YOUcan.HE/SHE/ITcan.
Itonlytakesalittlecommonsensetoseethat,althoughcansometimesservesasaverb,itisnotservingasaverbinthissentence.Here’sasomewhatharderexample:
Rattledbymyexperiencewiththealligator,Igaveupwaterskiing.Rattledlooksverymuchlikeaverb(indeed,itwasourverbinthepreviousexample),anditfitsintheVerbFinder,buthereit’sactuallyaparticiple,averbthathasbeenturnedintoamodifier.Theactualverbhereisgaveup,which,ofcourse,alsofitsintheVerbFinder.
![Page 19: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
11
AWordAbouttheToBeVerbThemostcommonverbinanylanguageisthetobeverb.It’sagoodideatomemorizetheformsoftobe:
AM WAS BEARE WERE BEINGIS BEEN
Anytimeyouseeoneofthesewords,youhavefoundtheverb.Itmaybethewholeverb,asin
Fernandoisadeepseadiver.Oratobeverbmaybeahelpingverb,asin
Fernandowasswimmingwiththesharks(partofthepastpresentformwasswimming).
Or,
Fernandowasstungbyjellyfish(partofthepassiveverbwasstung).IdentifyingSubjectsOnceyouhaveusedtheVerbFindertoidentifytheverbs,youcanusetheSubjectFindertoidentifythesubject.TheSubjectFinderisasimplequestion.HavingusedtheVerbFindertoidentifytheverb,droptheverbintotheblankofthisquestion:
WHOORWHAT__________?Theanswertothatquestionisyoursubject.Considerthefollowingsentence:
Lindakickedtheball.Theverbiskicked,sotheSubjectFinderisthequestion“Whokicked?”Lindakicked.Lindaisthesubject.
Thatcakesmellsdelicious.Whatsmells?Cakesmells.
Youareasweetheart.Whoare?Youare.
OneofthebonusfeaturesoftheSubjectFinderisthatitcanhelpyoudiscoverifyouhavemistakenlyidentifiedaverb.If,inthesentenceTheraccoonrattledthetrashcanyouweretomistakenlysaythatcanisaverb,youwillseeyourproblemonceyouapplytheSubjectFinder.Whocan?Well,nobodycan.That’snotwhatthesentenceisabout.
![Page 20: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
12
Toreview:
• EveryclausehasBOTHasubjectandaverb.• YoucanidentifytheverbusingtheVerbFinder:
I_______.You_______.He/She/It_________.
• Theverbofaclausewillalwaysfitinthatblank.• Unfortunately,someotherwordsmayfitintheblanktoo,soyouhavetobecareful.• Onceyou’vefoundyourverb,youcanplugthatverbintotheSubjectFinderto
identifythesubject:Whoorwhat______________.
• Aclausealwayshasaverbandsubject,anditmayhaveanobjectoracomplement.Identifyingtheseelementswillbethesubjectofournextlesson.
![Page 21: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
13
Quiz1.3:SubjectsandVerbs
I.Theangrymobchasedthepirate.WhatistheVERBinthissentence? A.angry B.mob C.chased D.pirateII.Manyyears'roughwisdomshonefromhisonegoodeye.WhatistheVERBinthissentence? A.years’ B.rough C.wisdom D.shone E.good F.eyeIII.Manyyears'roughwisdomshonefromhisonegoodeye.WhatistheSUBJECTinthissentence? A.many B.years’ C.rough D.wisdom E.shone F.good G.eye
![Page 22: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
14
IV.JohnBarber,frightenedbythepossuminhisdriveway,criedlikeasmallchild.WhatistheVERBinthissentence? A.frightened B.possum C.criedV.Thepiratewaschasedbytheangrymob.WhatistheVERBinthissentence? A.pirate B.was C.chased D.waschased E.angry F.mobVI.Thepiratewaschasedbytheangrymob.WhatistheSUBJECTinthissentence? A.pirate B.angry C.mobVII.Chasingcarsismydog'sfavoriteactivity.WhatistheVERBinthissentence? A.chasing B.cars C.is D.dog’s E.favorite F.activityVIII.Chasingcarsismydog'sfavoriteactivity.WhatistheSUBJECTinthissentence? A.chasing B.cars C.is D.dog’s E.favorite F.activity
![Page 23: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
15
IX.Iarrangemymashedpotatoesjustso,andyoudestroyitallwithyourspoon.Acompoundsentencewillhaveatleasttwomainsubjectsandtwomainverbs.Whatarethetwomainsubject/verbcombinationsinthesentenceabove? A.Imashed,youdestroy B.Iarrange,youdestroy C.Iarrange,destroyitall D.mashedpotatoes,withyourspoon
![Page 24: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
16
![Page 25: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
17
LectureNotesModule1,Lesson4:ObjectsandComplements
Grammarisaboutrelativelysimpleunitsorganizedininfinitelycomplexways.Aclauseisoneofthoserelativelysimpleunits.(Iamspeakinghereofthemainlineofaclause,notitsmodifiers.)Aclausetellswhodidwhat.Ithasasubjectandaverb.AnditmayhaveTWO(andonlytwo)otherthings:OBJECTSandCOMPLEMENTS.AnOBJECTisaNOUN—aperson,placeorthingthatRECEIVEStheactionofaverb.ThesubjectPERFORMStheaction,theobjectRECEIVEStheaction(atleastinanactiveconstruction;passiveconstructions,aswewillsee,areadifferentmatter).
Lindakickedtheball.
Lindaisthesubject—shedidthekicking.Theballistheobject.Itgotkicked.ItRECEIVEDthekick.FindingDirectObjectsJustaswehadaVerbFinderandaSubjectFinder,thereisalsoaDirectObjectFinder.Onceyouhavefoundyourverbandyoursubject,youplugthemintothisquestion:
SUBJECTVERBwhoorwhat?
Ifthatquestionhasananswer,theanswerisyourdirectobject.InthecaseofLINDAKICKEDTHEBALL,theDirectObjectFinderisthequestion,
Lindakickedwhat?Theball.Ballisthedirectobject.
![Page 26: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
18
InthecaseofAgoatatemycellphone,theDirectObjectFinderisthequestion,Goatatewhat?Mycellphone.
Cellphoneisthedirectobject.FindingIndirectObjectsIFyouhaveadirectobject,youmayALSOhaveanindirectobject—anothernounthatdoesn’tdirectlyreceivetheaction,butFORWHOMorTOWHOMtheactionisperformed.Thisindirectobjectalwaysappearsimmediatelybeforethedirectobject.Solet’slookatthissentence:Iwillpouryouaglassofwater.First,usetheDirectObjectFinder:Iwillpourwhat?Becarefulhere:don’tsayYOU.I’mnotpouringYOU.Iwillpouraglassofwater.Nowthatwe’vefoundtheDirectObject,wecanapplytheIndirectObjectFinder.TheIndirectObjectFinder,liketheSubjectFinderandtheDirectObjectFinder,isafill-in-the-blankquestion:
SUBJECTVERBDIRECTOBJECTtoorforwhom?Iwillpouraglassofwatertoorforwhom?You.
Youistheindirectobject.
GrandpareadCindyabook.
Grandpareadabooktoorforwhom?Cindy.
Cindyistheindirectobject.DirectandIndirectObjectReview
• Anobjectisalwaysanounoranounequivalent.• Youcan’thaveanindirectobjectwithoutadirectobject.• Theindirectobject,ifyouhaveone,alwayscomesimmediatelybeforethedirect
object.• Anindirectcanalwaysberephrasedasaprepositionalphrasebeginningwithtoor
for.KengaveBarbieflowers=KengaveflowerstoBarbie.GrandpareadCindyabook=GrandpareadabooktoCindy.
![Page 27: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
19
PredicateComplementsAcomplementeitherrenamesthesubject,ordescribesthesubject.Thefollowingsentencescontainpredicatecomplements:
• Myheroeshavealwaysbeencowboys.(Heroesrenamescowboys.)• Youareasweetheart.(Sweetheartrenamesyou.)• Mydogislazy.(Lazydescribesmydog.)• Mydogsmellsfunny.(Funnydescribesmydog.)
Apredicatenominativeisanounthatrenamesthesubject.Apredicateadjectiveisanadjectivethatdescribesthesubject.Theverbthatconnectsorlinksthesubjectandthecomplementiscalledalinkingverb.Thinkofalinkingverbasan‘equalsign’:
• Myheroes=cowboys• You=sweetheart• Mydog=lazy• Mydog=funny(asregardsherodor)
Themostcommonlinkingverb(byfar)istobe:AM,IS,ARE,WAS,WERE,BE,BEING,BEENThereareotherlinkingverbs:
• YouLOOKlovely.• LutherSMELLSstrange.• ThattestPROVEDdifficult.
Thereisnoreasontotrytomemorizeallthelinkingverbs.Ifthenounafteraverbrenamesthesubject,orifanadjectiveafteraverbdescribesthesubject,thatverbisservingasalinkingverb.DistinguishingObjectsfromComplementsWhat’sthedifferencebetweenanOBJECTandaCOMPLEMENT?Anobjectisanounthatisseparatefromthesubject.Thesubjectdoessomethingtoorfortheobject.AcomplementISthesubject(or,rather,itISthesubjectifit’sanoun,itDESCRIBESthesubjectifit’sanadjective).
![Page 28: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/28.jpg)
20
Considerthesetwosentences:
• Mydogsmellsfunny.• Mydogsmellsahamburger.
Thesesentenceslookalotalike,butoneofthemhasadirectobject,andoneofthemhasacomplement.Toputitanotherway,inoneofthesesentences,SMELLSisanactionverb,andinoneofthesesentences,smellsisalinkingverb.Inthefirstsentence,funnyisacomplement.Itdescribesthedog.Sosmellsisoperatingasalinkingverb.Inthesecondsentence,hamburgerisaDIRECTOBJECT.Thedogisnotahamburger.Inthiscase,smellsisanactionverb;ittellssomethingthatthedogisdoingTOthehamburger.Toreview:
• Onthemainlineofaclause,youMUSThaveasubjectandaverb,andyouMAYhaveanobject(possiblytwo—directandindirect)oracomplement.
• Therearetwokindsofobjects.Thedirectobjectreceivestheaction.Theindirectobjectistheentitytowhomorforwhomtheactionisperformed.
• Therearetwotypesofcomplements:predicatenominatives(nounsthatrenameasubject)andpredicateadjectives(adjectivesthatdescribeasubject).
• Acomplementrenamesordescribesthesubject,butanobjectisanounthatisseparatefromthesubject.
• Alesscommontypeofcomplement,theobjectivecomplement,renamesordescribesadirectobject,justasapredicatecomplementrenamesordescribesthesubject.Wewillseeexamplesofobjectivecomplementsinthenextlesson.
Incredibly,wehavenowlookedateverythingthatcanhappenonthemainlineofaclause:subjects,verbs,objects,complements.Theseelementscanonlyoccurincertaincombinationsandincertainorders.Thereareonlyfivesuchcombinations—thefiveclausepatternsofthenextlesson.
![Page 29: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/29.jpg)
21
Quiz1.4A:IdentifyingSubjects,Verbs,Objects,andComplements
I.ThemostfascinatingyearofVincent’scareerwasthelastyearofhislife.Identifythesubject,verb,andpredicatecomplementforthissentence.II.Animportantsteptowardrecoveryofhealthyself-esteemisdeeperself-awareness.Thisquestionhastwoparts:a)Whatisthegrammaticalsubject?b)Isself-awarenessadirectobjectorapredicatecomplement?III.Iwonderediftheyweretalkingaboutme.Doesthissentencehaveadirectobject?Ifso,whatisit?(Hint:You'reprobablygoingtoneedtousetheDirectObjectFinderforthisone.)
![Page 30: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/30.jpg)
22
IV.InfrontofherwasanoldmanwhoturnedouttobeGeorgeJones.Whatarethesubjectandverbofthissentence?(You'regoingtoneedtouseyourSubjectFinderonthisone.)
![Page 31: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/31.jpg)
23
Quiz1.4B:ObjectsandComplements(Challenge)
I.Mikeleanedforwardontherailthatseparatedtheporchfromthedescendinghillside.Whatisthe"mainline"ofthissentence?Inotherwords,whatisthemainaction,withoutanymodifiers?Whodidwhat?II.Hemakeshisslow,gloatingtrotaroundthemisshapendiamondsqueezedintothebackyard.Whatisthe"mainline"ofthissentence?Inotherwords,whatisthemainaction,withoutanymodifiers?Whodidwhat?III.MyfamilymovedtoPhoenixfromChicagowhenIwasseven.Whatisthe"mainline"ofthissentence?Inotherwords,whatisthemainaction,withoutanymodifiers?Whodidwhat?
![Page 32: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/32.jpg)
24
IV.Thetruckhasbeensittinginmydrivewayformonths.Whatisthe"mainline"ofthissentence?Inotherwords,whatisthemainaction,withoutanymodifiers?Whodidwhat?V.Goingwest,myfamilytradedtornadosfortumbleweedsandtheoccasionalaftershockofanearthquake.Whatisthe"mainline"ofthissentence?Inotherwords,whatisthemainaction,withoutanymodifiers?Whodidwhat?VI.TheyhadnottouchedthebirdfeederIhungtwoweeksago.Whatisthe"mainline"ofthissentence?Inotherwords,whatisthemainaction,withoutanymodifiers?Whodidwhat?VII.Asthemistsofmydullnessgraduallycleared,thetruthbrokewithalightthatpiercestothisday.Whatisthe"mainline"ofthissentence?Inotherwords,whatisthemainaction,withoutanymodifiers?Whodidwhat?
![Page 33: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/33.jpg)
25
VIII.Theworstwaterwasinthemiddleofthechannel,butthatwasalsothesafestplace.Thissentenceisacompoundsentence.Ithastwoindependent(main)clauses.Identifythesubjectandverbforeachofthetwoindependentclauses. IX.Itwasourthirddayout,andwehadcampednearby,severalmilesfromwhereourtripbegan.Thissentenceisacompoundsentence.Ithastwoindependent(main)clauses.Identifythesubjectandverbforeachofthetwoindependentclauses.X.Fiveofthemboundtogetherattheirbasewherethestemholdsthemtogether,overlapping.Anupside-downcup.Likethebackofmygrandmother’shands,thedelicateveinsarevisible.Onethickpurplelineextendingfrombasetotipwithdozensofthinneronesstretchingoutfromcentertoedges.Inthatgroupoffour"sentences,"onlyoneisactuallyasentence,withasubjectandaverb.Whichoneisit?
![Page 34: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/34.jpg)
26
XI.ThetwoofusstandinginhertinykitchenwiththeavocadoandpumpkinhuedaccentsandstainedTupperwarecupsthatmademesqueamisheverytimeIhadtodrinkfromone.Whatisthemainline(subject,verb,andobject(s)orcomplement)ofthissentence?
![Page 35: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/35.jpg)
27
LectureNotesModule1,Lesson5:TheFiveClausePatterns
Aswesawwiththetrash-can-rattlingraccoonfromafewlessonsago,onceyoustartaddingmodifierstothemainclauseofasentenceandmodifierswithinmodifiers,youcanquicklyhaveaverycomplicatedsentence.ThepossiblevariationsforthestructureofanEnglishsentenceareeffectivelyinfinite.However,thepossiblevariationsforthestructureofaclauseareactuallyVERYlimited.Thereareonlyfivepossiblepatternsforaclause.LearningthesefivepatternswillgetyouaLONGwaytowardmasteryofEnglishgrammar.Youcan’tbegintomasterEnglishgrammarwithoutthem.Thesefiveclausepatternsareworththetroubletomemorize:
• SUBJECT-VERB• SUBJECT-VERB-DIRECTOBJECT• SUBJECT-VERB-INDIRECTOBJECT-DIRECTOBJECT• SUBJECT-VERB-DIRECTOBJECT-OBJECTIVECOMPLEMENT• SUBJECT-LINKINGVERB-PREDICATECOMPLEMENT
Theelementsofthesesentencepatternsalwaysappearintheorderabove(withafewexceptionsmentionedbelow).WordorderisextremelyimportantinEnglish.EnglishisanSVOlanguage.SVOstandsforsubject-verb-object.Inagivenclause,thesubjectcomesbeforetheverb,andtheverbcomesbeforetheobject.Themeaningofthesentencedependsontheorderofthewords.ThehunterstalkedthepanthermeanssomethingverydifferentfromThepantherstalkedthehunter.Asalways,thereareexceptionstotheSVOrule.Herearethetwobiggest:
• Exception1:Whenyouformaquestion,youmovepartoftheverbinfrontofthesubject.InsteadofIdowanticecream,yousay,DoIwanticecream?
![Page 36: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/36.jpg)
28
• Exception2:Certainkindsofdependentclausesmonkeywiththewordorder.Wewillgettothoseinsubsequentmodules.
TheFiveClausePatternsPattern1:S-V.Subject-Verb,NOobjectsorcomplements.
• Charlesiseating.• Wendyslept.• Thesquirrelwasclimbing.• Thecardied.• Mydogsmells.
Youcanattachmodifierstoanyitemonthemainline,soasentencecanbequitelongandstillbeanS-Vsentence—thatis,havenothingmorethanasubjectandverbonthemainline.ThissentenceisactuallyanS-Vsentence:
Exhaustedbyalongday’shikeontheAppalachianTrail,Wendysleptlikeababyintheraggedyoldtentthatsheborrowedfromherbrother.
WhenyouapplytheVerbFinder,youseethattheonlyverbsinthislongsentencearesleptandborrowed.Borrowedispartofanadjectiveclause(thatwillmakesenseinafewlessonsifitdoesn’trightnow).SothemainlineofthatsentenceissimplyWendyslept.Andsleptdoesnothaveadirectobject.SothisisanS-Vsentence.Hereisthediagram:
Youcanaddthiskindofcomplexitytoanyofthefiveclausepatterns.(I’mnotgoingtokeepdoingitfortheotherfourpatternsinthislesson,butbearinmindthatyoucould.)Pattern2:S-V-DO.Subject-Verb-DirectObject.
• Thehunterstalkedthepanther.• Thepantherstalkedthehunter.• Thesquirrelclimbedthetree.• Charlesiseatingboiledpeanuts.
Ineachoftheseexamples,thesubjectisdoingsomethingtosomethingelse.
![Page 37: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/37.jpg)
29
PATTERN3:S-V-IO-DOSubject-Verb-IndirectObject-DirectObject.
• KengaveBarbieflowers.• Pleasepourmeaglassofwater.
IfyouhaveTWOnounsaftertheverb,youmayhaveanindirectobjectaswellasadirectobject.Thereisnosuchthingasasentencethathasanindirectobjectbutnodirectobject.There’snosuchthingasasentenceinwhichanindirectobjectcomesafterthedirectobject.(Thereare,however,sentencesinwhichaprepositionalphraseidentifiestheentityforwhomortwowhomtheactionisperformed.PleasepourmeaglassofwatercanbephrasedasPleasepouraglassofwaterforme.Logicallyspeaking,thereisnodifferencebetweenthetwosentences.Grammatically,however,inthefirstsentencemeisanindirectobjectappearingbeforethedirectobject,andinthesecondsentencemeistheobjectoftheprepositionFORandappearsafterthedirectobject.)Pattern4:S-V-DO-OC.Subject-Verb-DirectObject-ObjectiveComplement.Thispatternisalittlelesscommonthantheothers.Rememberfromthelastlessonhowapredicatecomplementrenamesordescribesthesubject?Anobjectivecomplementrenamesordescribesthedirectobject.Itmightbeanounrenamingthedirectobject,oritmightbeanadjectivedescribingthedirectobject.Considerthesentence,Wepaintedthetownred.UsingtheDirectObjectFinder—Wepaintedwhoorwhat?—itiseasytoseethattownisthedirectobject.Butwhatdowetowithred?Reddescribestown.It’sanobjectivecomplement.
• WeelectedMiriamclasspresident.(Classpresident=Miriam)• WejudgedJohnaGrade-A-Rat.(Grade-A-Rat=John)
Afewthingstoknowaboutobjectivecomplements:
• Theymaybenouns,ortheymaybeadjectives.• TheyalwayscomeimmediatelyAFTERthedirectobject.• Youcan’thaveanobjectivecomplementwithoutadirectobject
Soifyou’vefoundyourdirectobjectandthere’sanothernounoradjectivelurkingaroundafterit,askwhetherthatnounoradjectiverenamesordescribesyourdirectobject.Ifso,youhavefoundanobjectivecomplement.Pattern5:S-V-PC.Subject-Verb-PredicateComplement.ThepredicatecomplementcomesAFTERtheverb,anditrenamesordescribesthesubject.Thisisprobablythemostcommonofthefiveclausetypes.Wethinkofverbsasbeingwordsthatdescribeactions,butjustasimportantly,verbsdescribestatesofbeing.
• Roslynisamail-carrier.(Roslyn=mail-carrier)• Thispopsicletastesfunny.(Popsicle[‘sflavor]=funny)• Allenhasbeenkind.(Allen=kind)
![Page 38: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/38.jpg)
30
TheverbinthissentencepatterniscalledalinkingverbbecauseitLINKSthesubjecttothepredicatecomplement.ThesefivepatternsaccountforEVERYgrammaticallycorrectclauseintheEnglishlanguage.Fourelements—subjects,verbs,objectscomplements—canappearinfivecombinations,andeachofthosefivecombinationshastobeinaspecificorder.Soonwewillstartcombiningclausesandmodifiersinwaysthatwillgetverycomplex.Butfornow,celebratethetruththatthegrammaticalpiecesthemselvesareshockinglysimple.Therigidityofonlyfourelementsarrangedinonlyfivecombinations,eachwithaveryspecificorder,isahugegift.Languageiscomplicatedandflexibleenough.WecanmakesenseofthatcomplexityandflexibilityONLYbecausehereatthislevel,languageissimpleandrigid.
![Page 39: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/39.jpg)
31
Quiz1.5A:TheFiveClausePatterns
I.JohnBarberismynemesis.Towhichpatterndoesthisclauseconform? A.S-V B.S-V-DO C.S-V-IO-DO D.S-V-DO-OC E.S-V-PCII.JohnBarbersoldmeafakeelevatorpass.Towhichpatterndoesthisclauseconform? A.S-V B.S-V-DO C.S-V-IO-DO D.S-V-DO-OC E.S-V-PCIII.IcalledJohnBarberasneakymonkey.Towhichpatterndoesthisclauseconform? A.S-V B.S-V-DO C.S-V-IO-DO D.S-V-DO-OC E.S-V-PC
![Page 40: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/40.jpg)
32
IV.JohnBarberslappedmewithaglove.Towhichpatterndoesthisclauseconform? A.S-V B.S-V-DO C.S-V-IO-DO D.S-V-DO-OC E.S-V-PCV.Icouldnotignoretheinsult.Towhichpatterndoesthisclauseconform? A.S-V B.S-V-DO C.S-V-IO-DO D.S-V-DO-OC E.S-V-PCVI.Wefoughtinthevestibule.Towhichpatterndoesthisclauseconform? A.S-V B.S-V-DO C.S-V-IO-DO D.S-V-DO-OC E.S-V-PCVII.IvanquishedJohnBarbereasily.Towhichpatterndoesthisclauseconform? A.S-V B.S-V-DO C.S-V-IO-DO D.S-V-DO-OC E.S-V-PC
![Page 41: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/41.jpg)
33
Quiz1.5B:TheFiveClausePatterns(Challenge)
I.MickeyMantlejusthitanotherhomeruninthebottomoftheninthintheSundayafternoongame.Towhichofthefivepatternsdoesthemainclauseofthissentenceconform? A.S-V B.S-V-DO C.S-V-IO-DO D.S-V-DO-OC E.S-V-PCII.Sheistwenty-nine-yearsoldwithboxblondehairpulledintoasidebraid.Towhichofthefivepatternsdoesthemainclauseofthissentenceconform? A.S-V B.S-V-DO C.S-V-IO-DO D.S-V-DO-OC E.S-V-PCIII.Runningbearsareanoddsight,buttheyarefast.Thissentenceconsistsoftwoindependentclauses.Thesetwoclauseshappentoconformtothesameclausepattern.Whichclausepatternisthat? A.S-V B.S-V-DO C.S-V-IO-DO D.S-V-DO-OC E.S-V-PC
![Page 42: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/42.jpg)
34
IV.Onecaretakerwithaverykindfaceandshoulder-lengthblackhairshowedmehowtochangethebedsheetsandclothdiapersofthechildren,manyofwhomweredisabledordisfigured.Towhichofthefivepatternsdoesthemainclauseofthissentenceconform? A.S-V B.S-V-DO C.S-V-IO-DO D.S-V-DO-OC E.S-V-PCV.Whenhereachedthetrail,heturnedupandawayfromme.Towhichofthefivepatternsdoesthemainclauseofthissentenceconform? A.S-V B.S-V-DO C.S-V-IO-DO D.S-V-DO-OC E.S-V-PCVI.Theirhomequicklybecamethegatheringplacefordozensofnephewsandnieceseverysummer.Towhichofthefivepatternsdoesthemainclauseofthissentenceconform? A.S-V B.S-V-DO C.S-V-IO-DO D.S-V-DO-OC E.S-V-PCVII.UncleJimlaughedmorethananyadultinmylife.Towhichofthefivepatternsdoesthemainclauseofthissentenceconform? A.S-V B.S-V-DO C.S-V-IO-DO D.S-V-DO-OC E.S-V-PC
![Page 43: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/43.jpg)
35
VIII.MyAuntNancytoldmeasecretthatIhaveneverforgotten.Towhichofthefivepatternsdoesthemainclauseofthissentenceconform? A.S-V B.S-V-DO C.S-V-IO-DO D.S-V-DO-OC E.S-V-PCIX.Thepiratecalledtheship-captainablackguard.Towhichofthefivepatternsdoesthemainclauseofthissentenceconform? A.S-V B.S-V-DO C.S-V-IO-DO D.S-V-DO-OC E.S-V-PCX.Wendellbuilthisdaughterahouse.Towhichofthefivepatternsdoesthemainclauseofthissentenceconform? A.S-V B.S-V-DO C.S-V-IO-DO D.S-V-DO-OC E.S-V-PC
![Page 44: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/44.jpg)
36
![Page 45: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/45.jpg)
37
LectureNotesModule1,Lesson6:ActorsandActions,Subjectsand
Verbs
Wegotprettytechnicalinthoselastfewlessons,andwehaveafewtechnicallessonsaheadofus,sointhislessonwearetakingastepbacktotalkaboutoneortwobig-pictureprinciplesthatinformeverythingwearedoinginthisunit.Theseprinciplescoveramultitudeofsins.Evenifyoudon’tgetsomeofthetechnicalities,oryouforgetsomeofthetechnicalities,you’llbefineifyourememberacoupleofprinciples.Thebigoneisthis:
Everytimeyouwriteasentence,thinkaboutwheretheactionisinthatsentence.Whatistheaction,andwhoistheactor?WHODIDWHAT?
Onceyouhavedeterminedtheactionandtheactor(oractionsandactors)yourdefaultsetting—yourhabit—shouldbetoexpresseachactionasaverb,withtheactorasthesubjectofthatverb.IsayDEFAULTandHABITbecausethereareplentyofsituationsinwhichitmakessensetoexpressactioninotherways.Butyourfirstgo-toshouldbetoexpressactionasverbsandactorsassubjects.InthislessonIwanttoapplythisprincipleinafewexamplesusingaslittletechnicallanguageaspossible.Insubsequentlessons,we’llputthetechnicaltermstotheseideas,butfornow,I’mgoingtotrytosticktocommon-senselayman’sterms.EXAMPLE1Thiscomesfromastoryaboutsiblingsridinginthebackseatonalongcarride:
![Page 46: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/46.jpg)
38
Anyaimlesswanderingpastthecenterlineofthebackseatwasgroundsforanelbowtothechestorakicktotheleg.
Whatarethethreeactionsinthissentence?
• Onekidwanderspastthecenterlineofthebackseat.• Onekidelbowsanotherkidinthechest.• Onekidkicksanotherkid.
Butwhataretheverbs?(Remember,anactionisn’tthesamethingsasaverb.)
• Theonlyverbis“was.”Youcanseethemismatchherebetweentheactionofthesentenceandthegrammarofthesentence.
• Therearethreeactions.• Thereisoneverb,andthatverbhasnothingtodowithanyofthethreeactions.
Howdoyoubegintoalignthegrammarwiththeaction?Thereismorethanonecorrectanswer,butIwantyoutoseewhathappenswhenyoustartthinkingintermsofactorsandactionsandsubjectsandverbs.
• Aimlesswanderingisaverbthathasbeenturnedintoanabstractnoun.It’snottoohardtoturnitbackintoaverb:wandered.
• Nowthatyouhaveaverb,youneedasubject.WHOwandered?Wecan’tactuallyknow,thoughthewriterwouldknow.Forthepurposesoftheexample,wewillsay,Iwandered.(Asyoucansee,thinkingintermsofverbsandsubjectsforcestheissue;itmakesyouconsiderWHOisdoingwhat.)
• Inthesameway,changing“elbow”and“kick”backintoverbsforcesthewritertothinkaboutWHOiselbowingandkicking.
Obviously,onlythewritercangetthisright.Sincenoneofuswasinthecarwiththeseunrulychildren,wedon’tknowwhowasdoingwhat.Butaversionthatalignsactorsandactionswithsubjectsandverbsmightlookmorelikethis:
AnytimeIwanderedoverthecenterlineoftheseat,mysisterputanelbowinmychest.Andeverytimemysisterputanelbowinmychest,Ikickedher.
Therearetimes,ofcourse,whenthat“abstractified”versionofthings—Anyaimlesswanderingpastthecenterlineofthebackseatwasgroundsforanelbowtothechestorakicktotheleg—mightbeagoodwaytoexpresstheidea.ItneedstobeyourDEFAULT,yourHABIT,toalignactorsandactionswithsubjectsandverbs.Ifyoutrythatalignedversionandchooseinsteadtodosomethingelse,that’sfine.
![Page 47: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/47.jpg)
39
EXAMPLE2
Iwassix,andthiswasthebeginningofquestioningtheexistenceofSantaClaus.Whataretheactionshere?
• Somebodyissix.(Thisisnottechnicallyanactionsomuchasastateofbeing.)• Thissix-year-oldpersonbeginstoquestionsomething.• SantaClausexists(orfailstoexistasthecasemaybe).
Whataretheverbs?
-was(Iwassix.)-was(Thiswasthebeginning)
Thesearenotveryinterestingverbs.Actually,thereisnothingwrongwiththefirstwas.There’snobetterwaytoexpressIwassix.Butwhataboutthatsecondclause?
…thiswasthebeginningofquestioningtheexistenceofSantaClaus.
Inthatoneclausetherearethreeabstractnouns—beginning,questioning,existence.Allthreeoftheseabstractnounsstartedoutlifeasverbs.Thereisnogoodreasontoturnthesethreeactionsintoabstractnounsandusetheanemic“was”astheoneverb.Howcouldyoumakethisclausemore“verbish”?Here’soneway:
WhenIwassix,IbegantoquestiontheexistenceofSantaClaus.or,ifyoureallywanttobestrictaboutbeingas“verbish”aspossible,withnoabstractnouns:
WhenIwassix,IbegantowonderwhetherSantaClausereallyexisted.Overthenextfewlessons,we’regoingtoputsometechnicallanguagetosomeoftheseideas,butthebig,non-technicalpictureisthis:
Everysingletimeyoucomposeasentence,thinkaboutwheretheactionis—WHODIDWHAT?—andmakeityourhabittoexpressthatactionintheformofaverb,andmaketheactorthesubjectofthatverb.
Thereareplentyofreasonstobreakthatrule,tostrayfromthathabit.Butbeconsciouswhenyoubreaktherule,andhaveagoodreasonfordoingso.
![Page 48: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/48.jpg)
40
![Page 49: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/49.jpg)
41
Quiz1.6:ActorsandActions,SubjectsandVerbs
I.Ifyouplayedonthefloornearhim,hewouldreachhisfootoverandpinchyouwithhislongtoes,thenlaughwhenyouyelped.Irenewouldcallout"Jimmy,stopit!"whichjusttriggeredmorelaughter.Howisthegrammarinthesecondsentenceoutofalignmentwiththeactionitdepicts?Howmightyoubringthesubjectsandverbsinlinewiththeaction?II.Finefurniture,qualityclothing,privateeducationmadeherwillingtostretchourlimitedmeanssothintheysometimesdisappearedaltogether.Thesentenceisaboutamotherwhosometimesspenttoomuchmoneyonherchildren.Howmightyoureworkthesentencetobringthegrammarofthesentenceintoalignmentwiththeactionthesentencedepicts?
![Page 50: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/50.jpg)
42
III.Stabbedthroughbothfrontpawsarewoodenskipoles.Oneskipoleisstillfirmlygrippedinthebear’sleftpaw.Therightskipolesnappedoffatsomepointandneverreattachedisnowpresumedlosttothetundra.Inthepassageabove,thewriterdepictsafigurineofasnow-skiingbearwithabrokenskipole.Havealookatthatlastsentence.Whataretheactions?Whatis(are)theverb(s)?Howmightyoubringsubjectsandverbsinlinewithactorsandactions?IV.Themomentprecedingeverysneezefilledwiththedreadofthesurgeofpainthatwasabouttoensue.Whatarethesubjectsandverbs?Whataretheactionsandactors?Rewritethissentencesothatthegrammaralignsmorecloselywiththeaction.V.Buttherewasascarcityoftheseeventsandvenuesinourtown,sothecostofaroadtriptothecitywasapricemymothergladlypaid.Whataretheactorsandactions(orstatesofbeing,asthecasemaybe)?Whatarethesubjectsandverbs?Reworkthissentencesothatthesubjectsandverbsalignmorecloselywiththeactorsandactions.
![Page 51: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/51.jpg)
43
VI.Herimmediateandenthusiastic,“Yes!”wasn’tsurprisingwhenasa7thgraderIbeggedtogoseeaplayattheTivoliTheatre.Thisisthesamemotheranddaughterfromtheprevioussentence.Again,whataretheactionsandactors,whatarethesubjectsandverbs,andhowcanyoubringthegrammarofthesentenceintocloseralignmentwiththeactionofthesentence?
![Page 52: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/52.jpg)
44
![Page 53: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/53.jpg)
45
LectureNotesModule1,Lesson7:WhatIsthePassiveVoice?
I’vebeentalkingaboutmakingitahabit,oradefault,tolineupthegrammarofasentencewiththeactionitdepictsbyexpressingthatactionasaverbandmakingtheactororagentthegrammaticalsubjectofthatverb.Onesentencestructurethatdeviatesfromthisdefaultisthepassivevoice.Andtheparticularwaythatitdeviatesisbymovingtheactorofanactionoutofthesubjectpositionandmovingadirectobject(orperhapsanindirectobject)intothesubjectposition.Technicallyspeaking,youdothisbywayofthesesteps:
• Moveanobject(eitherdirectorindirect)intothesubjectslot.• Changetheverbtothefourthprincipalpart(ate,eat,orwilleatàeaten;wanted,
want,orwillwantàwanted)• Stickatense-appropriateformofto-beinfrontofthefourthprincipalpart(was
eaten,iseaten,willbeeaten,hadbeeneaten,isbeingeaten,abouttobeeaten,willhavebeeneaten,etc.)
• Maketheactortheobjectofa“by”phrase(or,ifyouprefer,losetheactoraltogether).
Ifthereisasecondobject,therearerulesforwhattodowiththat,butI’mnotgoingtogetintoitbecauseyouhaveknownhowtoformthepassivevoicesinceyouwereachild.Evenifyoudon’tknowwhatafourthprincipalpartis,evenifyoudon’tevenknowwhatadirectobjectis,youdon’thaveanyproblemgettingfromIbrokethelamptoThelampwasbroken.Toreturntoasentenceyouhaveseenbefore:
KengaveBarbieflowers.
![Page 54: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/54.jpg)
46
Thissentenceisinactivevoice.Kenistheactor—theonegivingtheflowers—andKenisthegrammaticalsubjectofthesentence.
• Subject=KEN• Verb=GAVE• DirectObject=FLOWERS• IndirectObject=BARBIE.
Intheactiveformofthissentence(KengaveBarbieflowers),thesubjectisperforminganaction(giving)andtheobjects(flowers,Barbie)arereceivingthataction.ButEnglishgrammardoesn’tREQUIREthattheactorbethegrammaticalsubject.Ifyouwant,youcanmoveBarbietothesubjectposition:
BarbiewasgivenflowersbyKen.Youcanevenmaketheflowersthegrammaticalsubjectifyouwantto:
FlowersweregiventoBarbiebyKen.Youcandothiswithanysentencethathasadirectorindirectobject.
Itookthebullbythehorns.àThebullwastakenbythehornsbyme.Marthaatethecake.àThecakewaseatenbyMartha.
Youdon’thaveanytroublemakingthisswitchfromactivetopassive.Youdon’thavetothinkaboutto-beverbsorfourthprincipalparts.Ifyougetinthehabitofthinkingintermsofactionsandactors,andifyouclearlydistinguishbetweentheactorandthegrammaticalsubject(whichmayormaynotbethesame),it'srelativelyeasytomovebackandforthbetweenactiveandpassivevoice.THEPROBLEMSWITHPASSIVEVOICEGoodwritingislargelyamatterofmanagingyourreader'sexpectations.Thatdoesn'tmeanyoualwayshavetomeetthoseexpectations;infact,goodwritingrequiresthatyouoftensurpriseyourreader.Butyouneedtobeawarethatanyword,phrase,orclausethatdoesn'tmeetyourreader'sexpectations(includingunconsciousexpectations),attractsherattention.PROBLEM1:EXTRAWORKFORTHEREADERWhenyoudon’tmeetyourreader’sexpectations,youcauseextraworkforthereader.Ourbrainsarewiredtoexpecttheactortositinthesubjectpositionofasentence.Whentheactoristhesubject,wefeelthatthingsaremovingrightalong.Wefeelthatthegrammarisguidingustowardthatburningquestion,“Whodidwhat?”Thereader,ofcourse,isfullycapableofmentallyflippingapassivesentencebacktoactiveandknowingwhodidwhat.Inspiteofthegrammardifferences,everybodyknowsthatthe
![Page 55: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/55.jpg)
47
followingthreesentencesalldescribethesameaction,thesameactor,andthesamerecipientsoftheaction:(A)KengaveBarbieflowers.(B)BarbiewasgivenflowersbyKen.(C)FlowersweregiventoBarbiebyKen.Butyouneedtobeawarethatifyouphrasethatsentenceaseither(B)or(C),yourreaderhastotranslateitbackto(A)inordertodecodethesentence.Ifyouaskyourreadertogotothatextratrouble,sheisgoingtowanttoknowwhy(ifonlyatsubconsciouslevel).Granted,it’satinyamountofextratroubleyou’rerequiringofyourreader,andtherecanbegoodreasonstoaskitofher,aswe’llseeinthenextlesson.Butunlessyouhaveaspecificreasontousethepassivevoice,stayintheactivevoice.Savethereader'senergyandattentionforthosemomentswhenyoureallyneedit.PROBLEM2:FUZZYAGENCYLetusreturntothatpassivesentence,BarbiewasgivenflowersbyKen.AsImentionedabove,Kenisstilltheactor.ButwhereisKeninthissentence?He'stuckedawayinthatprepositionalphraseattheendofthesentence.Theactorisnowalowlyobjectoftheprepositionby.Orwhataboutthisversion?
Barbiewasgivenflowers.Whoistheactorhere?PresumablyKen.Butmaybenot.Wehavenowayofknowingfromthesentence.Kenwenttoalltheefforthere.Hespenthishard-earnedmoney.Hedrovetotheflorist.HewalkedupBarbie'sdrivewayandhandedovertheflowers.Andyetthepassivevoicerelegateshimtoaprepositionalphrase,orperhapseveneraseshimcompletely.ThisiswhatImeanby"fuzzyagency."PROBLEM3:EXTRAWORDSGenerallyspeaking,youdon'twanttoaddword-countwithoutaddingadditionalmeaning.Ittakesmorewordstodescribeanactioninpassivevoicethaninactivevoice.Theactivesentence,KengaveBarbieflowers,isfourwordslong.ThepassivesentenceBarbiewasgivenflowersbyKenissixwordslong.That's50%morewordsfor0%moremeaning.OrconsiderthepassivesentenceBarbiewasgivenflowers.Atfourwords,it'sthesamelengthastheactivesentence,butitconveyssignificantlylessinformation(specifically,itdoesn'tidentifythepersonwhomBarbiehastothankforherflowers).IFYOUASKMOREOFTHEREADER,YOUHAVETOGIVEMORERemember,everytimeyouusethepassivevoice,you’reaskingsomethingofyourreader.You’reaskinghertotakeanextrastepofdecoding.Doyouhaveagoodreasonforaskingyourreadertogotothatextratrouble?Ifso,byallmeansusethepassivevoice.Butifyoudon’t,stickwiththeactive.
![Page 56: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/56.jpg)
48
![Page 57: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/57.jpg)
49
Quiz1.7:WhatisPassiveVoice?
I.Thelargebearenjoyinghisbreakfastofblackberriestwentyfeetawayhadbeaten ushere.Doesthissentencecontainapassiveconstruction?(Circleone.) Yes NoII.Thepoolwasinsight.Doesthissentencecontainapassiveconstruction?(Circleone.) Yes NoIII.Whenallelsefails,adogcanbecountedon.Doesthissentencecontainapassiveconstruction?(Circleone.) Yes NoIV.Aswimmingcreatureissighted—abeaver?Doesthissentencecontainapassiveconstruction?(Circleone.) Yes NoV.Hewasstudyingforhiscounselingdegree.Doesthissentencecontainapassiveconstruction?(Circleone.) Yes No
![Page 58: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/58.jpg)
50
VI.Whichistrueofthefollowingsentences:Sentence1:JohnBarberwasraisedbywolves.Sentence2:JohnBarberwasraisedinabarn. A.Sentence1andSentence2arebothpassive. B.Sentence1isactiveandSentence2ispassive. C.Sentence1ispassiveandSentence2isactive. D.Sentence1andSentence2arebothactive.V.ThishandkerchiefwasusedbyElvis.Turnthispassivesentenceintoanactivesentence.VI.UncleThurstongaveLindaaglassofwater.Rewritethissentencesothatthatthedirectobjectbecomesthesubjectofapassivesentence.VII.UncleThurstongaveLindaaglassofwater.Rewritethissentenceasapassivesentenceinwhichtheindirectobjectbecomesthegrammaticalsubjectofthesentence.VIII.Twohourslater,afterthesandwicheshadbeeneaten,thethundercame.Thissentencecomesfromadescriptionofapicnic.Revisethesentencewithoutthepassiveconstruction.
![Page 59: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/59.jpg)
51
IX.Curtiscarriedmeinhisarmstowardthepool.HeknewIwouldhavereliefifthewatercouldwashoverme.Iwastossedintothepoolandsurroundedbyfriendswithinseconds.Inthisscene,thenarratorremembersatimewhenshegotattackedbywasps,andanolderboynamedCurtisheroicallyscoopedherupandthrewherinthepooltogetthewaspsoff.Thisquestionhasthreeparts:
• Identifythesentencethatisinpassivevoice.• Explainwhythepassivevoiceisanunfortunatechoicehere.• Rewritethepassivesentenceasanactivesentence.
![Page 60: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/60.jpg)
52
![Page 61: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/61.jpg)
53
LectureNotesModule1,Lesson8:WhenIsthePassiveUseful?
EveryproblematicconstructionintheEnglishlanguageexistsbecausetherearetimeswhenit'snotproblematic,butexactlywhatawriterneeds.SowhileIencourageyoutotreattheactivevoiceasyourdefaultmode,thereareplentyofsituationsinwhichyou'llfinditbesttoswitchfromdefaultmodeintothepassivevoice.Inthislessonwewilllookatfourofthosesituations.
1.PASSIVEVOICEISPERFECTFOREXPRESSINGPASSIVITY.Maybethisoneisself-evident.Considerthissentence:
Andrewwasbulliedasachild.
Tobeavictimofbullyingistobeinapostureofpassivity.Inthiscase,itdoesn’tmatterwhothebullieswere,evenifthewriterhappenstoknowthebullies'names.TheimportantfigurehereisAndrew.ThepassivevoiceallowsthewritertoputAndrewinthatimportantsubjectslot,eventhoughheisnottheagentinthissituation.AsentencelikePetewasconvictedofperjuryworksinmuchthesameway.ItwasajurythatconvictedPeteofperjury(orwasitajudge?orthestate?).WhatmattersisthatPetewasconvicted,notwhoconvictedhim.Herethepassivevoicehastheaddedbonusofsavingthewriterfromhavingtofigureoutexactlywhoconvictspeopleofperjury.Icallthatabonus,buttherearecertainlysituationsinwhichthis“bonus”leadstolazinessonthepartofthewriter,whoisabletogetawaywithnotquiteknowingwhatheistalkingabout.Asubcategoryofthis“passivity”useofthepassiveistheself-pityinguse.Adeliciouslyself-pityingoldLindaRonstadtsongsaid,
“I’vebeencheated,beenmistreated.WhenwillIbeloved?”
![Page 62: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/62.jpg)
54
It’sinterestingthatinthissentence,theproblemisframedpassively(“I’vebeencheated,beenmistreated”),butsoisthesolution(“WhenwillIbeloved?”)!2.THEPASSIVEVOICEISHELPFULWHENYOUDON’TKNOWTHEACTOR.
Considerthispassivesentence:
Mybikewasstolenyesterday.Thisisanentirelyappropriateuseofthepassivevoice.Idon’tknowwhostolemybike.IfIdid,I’dbereportingthemtothepoliceinsteadofwritingsentencesaboutthem.IfIamreallybeingasticklerfortheactivevoice,IsupposeIcouldsay,Somejerkstolemybikeyesterday.
3.THEPASSIVEVOICEISAWAYTOCONCEALORDENYAGENCY.
Thisiswherethepassivevoicecangetnefarious.WhenI'vebrokenalamp,IcansayThelampwasbroken.That'snotalie.It'sjustthatthepassivevoiceallowsmetoleaveoutoneofthemostimportantbitsofinformation.Icallthisthe"Mistakesweremade"useofthepassivevoice.Itistherefugeofobfuscators,politicians,deadbeats,self-pitiers,andthepassiveaggressive.Thisapplicationlargelyaccountsforthepassivevoice'sbadreputation.
4.PASSIVEVOICEISAWAYTODIRECTYOURREADER’SATTENTION.
Thesubjectofsentenceenjoysaplaceofprivilegeinthereader'smind.Thereaderpaysextraattentiontowhatevernounisinthatslot.Thepassivevoiceallowsyoutobringsomenounbesidestheactorintothatplaceofprominence.WehavealreadylookedatthesentenceAndrewwasbulliedasachild,inwhichAndrew,notthebullies,isthefocusofthesentence.Herearetwosentencesthatdescribethesameaction,thefirstintheactivevoice,thesecondinthepassive:
Active:AnunusuallylargepianoplayerejectedClarencefromthesaloon.Passive:Clarencewasejectedfromthesaloonbyanunusuallylargepianoplayer.
There'snotahugedifferencebetweenthosesentences.Butyoucanfeeladifference,can’tyou?Thefirstsentenceasksyoutogivealittlemoreattentiontothepianoplayer.ThesecondsentenceasksyoutogivealittlemoreattentiontoClarence.Bychangingthegrammaticalsubject,thepassivevoiceallowsyoutochangetheemphasis.Thisisjustnuance.Butthedifferencebetweengoodwritingandgreatwritingislargelynuance.
![Page 63: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/63.jpg)
55
Quiz1.8A:UsesofthePassiveVoice
I.Inthepassivevoice,theactorismovedOUTofthe____________position.Circleallthatapply. A.subject B.verb C.directobject D.indirectobject E.predicatecomplementII.Inthepassivevoice,the____________ismovedintothesubjectposition.Circleallthatapply. A.subject B.verb C.directobject D.indirectobject E.predicatecomplementIII.Whataresomeproblemswiththepassivevoice?Circleallthatapply. A.Moreworkforthereader B.Fuzzyagency C.Extrawords D.ToomanyprepositionsIV.Listtwotofouroccasionsinwhichthepassivevoiceisuseful.
![Page 64: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/64.jpg)
56
![Page 65: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/65.jpg)
57
Quiz1.8B:UsesofthePassiveVoice(Challenge)
I.Heholdsalongpaintbrushinhishands,dabblesitinthepaintonhispalette,andbrushesoneslowstrokeatatimeuntilamasterpieceisrendered.Assessthatpassiveclauseattheend—untilamasterpieceisrendered.Isthisausefulpassiveconstruction?Whyorwhynot?II.Thecatalogsweredeliveredinthesametruckthatbroughtthebills.Thissentencecomesfromapassageinwhichthewriterwastalkingaboutafamilywhohadahabitofoverspending.Everydaythemailbroughtunpaidbills,butalsoopportunitiestorackupmorebills.Thiswriterchosetousethepassivevoicetoexpressthisidea.Hecouldhaveeasilyusedanallactivevoice:Thesametruckbroughtthebillsandthecatalogs.Whydoyouthinkthiswriterchosetousethepassivevoiceinstead?Doyouthinkitwasagoodchoice?
![Page 66: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/66.jpg)
58
III.Citrustrees,almondtrees,cotton,andgrapesaresuccessfullygrownthankstoirrigation.Thewaterisbroughtdownfromthemountainsthroughanaqueductanddistributedbyacanalsystem.Thesesentencescontainthreepassiveverbforms:
• [crops]aregrown• waterisbrought• [wateris]distributed
Ifyouwererevisingthesesentences,whichofthesethreepassiveconstructionswouldyoukeepandwhichofthemwouldyouturnintoactiveconstructions?Showyourrevision.IV.Heisgluedtothickskisthatsitatopawoodenplank.Thewoodenplankisacanvasonwhichtheartistsethiscedarscene.Intocedarwoodhecarvedatinyfirtreestuntedathalfthebear’sheight.Thisisfromadescriptionofabearfigurinethathasappearedinanearlierquiz.Thefirstsentenceisinpassivevoice(Heisglued...),andafterthatthewritershiftstoactivevoice(theartistsethisscene...hecarvedatinyfirtree...)Ifyouwererevisingthispassage,wouldyoumakeitallpassive?Allactive?Wouldyoukeepthemixofactiveandpassiveas-is?Wouldyoukeepitmixedbutchangethemix?Revisethesentence.
![Page 67: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/67.jpg)
59
V.PedroandIhavelittlecontactthesedays,butwhenIthinkbackonourfriendshipI’mtransportedbacktothatredbrickhouseonSpruceStreetwherecreativitywasfosteredandexplored.Thissentencehastwopassiveconstructions:
• I'mtransported• creativitywasfosteredandexplored
Ifyouwererevisingthissentence,whichofthosepassiveconstructionswouldyoukeep,andwhichwouldyouchangetoactiveconstructions?Revisethesentence.
![Page 68: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/68.jpg)
60
![Page 69: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/69.jpg)
61
LectureNotesModule1,Lesson9:Nominalization
I’vemarkedalotofstudentpapers.I’veaskedforalotofrevisions.Ihavenoticedthatalotofwritingstudentsviewrevisionlargelyasamatterofreplacingwords:Sincetheteacherdidn’tlikethesewords,letmegofindsomedifferentwordstoplugintothosespots.Moreoften,however,whatwritersreallyneedtodoistorethinksentencestructure—togetintothedeeperlogicandask,HowdoImakemyphrasingmatchthedeeperlogicofasentence?Imentionedacoupleoflessonsagothattherearetwobigwaysthatwritersviolatetheactor-action/subject-verbprinciple.Passivevoicewasthefirstofthosetwoways.Thesecondisnominalization.Nominalizationisthepracticeofturningverbsintonouns.Towit:
• Defy–defiance• Discover–discovery
Byturningactionsintoabstractnouns,awritercreatesamismatchbetweenthegrammarofasentenceandtheactionitdescribes.Here’sastraightforwardsentenceinwhichthegrammaralignswiththeaction.
WhenBronsondiscoveredthatCindyhaddefiedtheschoolbully,hecongratulatedher.Inthissentence,thethreeactionsareexpressedbythreeverbsandthreesubjects:
• Bronsondiscoveredsomething.• Cindydefiedthebully.• BronsoncongratulatedCindy.
Here’swhatthissentencelookslikewhenwechangethoseactionsfromverbsintonominalizations:
![Page 70: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/70.jpg)
62
WhenBronsonmadethediscoveryofCindy’sdefianceoftheschoolbully,congratulationsensued.
Theactionsofdiscovering,defying,andcongratulationinsteadofbeingverbs,areturnedintoabstractnouns.Theyarenominalized.Whataretheverbsinthatsentence?Theverbsaremadeandensued.Discoverybecomesadirectobject,defiancegetstuckedawayastheobjectoftheprepositionof.Congratulationsisactuallythesubjectofthemainclause.Noticethetwoprepositionalphrasesthatwormtheirwayin:ofCindy’sdefiance,andoftheschoolbully.Let’sputthetwosentencesnexttoeachother.
WhenBronsondiscoveredthatCindyhaddefiedtheschoolbully,hecongratulatedher.
WhenBronsonmadethediscoveryofCindy’sdefianceoftheschoolbully,congratulationsensued.
Youcanfeelthedifferencebetweenthosetwosentences,can’tyou?Thesentencesdescribethesameaction.Theydescribetheexactsameinformation.Butinthefirst,theinformationandactioncomeatthereaderthesamewaytheydoinreallife.WHODIDWHAT?Theactionsareverbs.Theactorsaresubjects.IfIwereaskthedifferencebetweenthesetwosentences,youmightsaythesecondoneistoowordy.Youwouldn’tbewrong.Itdefinitelyfeelswordy.Butifyouactuallycountthewords,youseethatthesecondsentence,thenominalizedone,isonlyONEwordlongerthanthefirst.Sentence1is13wordslong.Sentence2is14words.It’shardtobelieveisn’tit?Thedifferenceisthatinsentence2,yourbrainhastoengagemorethanyoursenses.Itseemsoddtosayit,butyoudon’twantyourreaderstohavetothinktoomuch.Rather,youwantyourreaderstosavetheirmentalenergyforwhenyoureallyneedthemtothink.Youdon’twanttowasteit.Sentence2issooddthatyourreaderasks(maybesubconsciously),“Whydidyouphraseitthatway?”YourreaderstartsthinkingaboutyourgrammarinSentence2.Thatisnotsomethingyouwant!Hereisa3-Stepprocessforfindingandfixingnominalization:
• STEP1:Identifytheactioninthesentence.• STEP2:Identifytheverbsinthesentence.• STEP3:Aligntheactionsandtheverbs.
![Page 71: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/71.jpg)
63
Thatishowyougetridofnominalization.But,asIhavesaidbefore,everyproblematicgrammaticalstructureexistsbecausesometimesit’snotproblematic;sometimesitisexactlywhatyouneed.Let’slookatanothernominalizedsentence—onethatisn’tnearlysoegregiousasthatlastone:
Mark’sfailuretostopattheintersectionwasthecauseofthecarcrash.Inthissentence,thesubjectsandverbsarenotatallalignedwiththeaction.There’salotofactioninthissentence:It’sacarcrash!Markisrunningaredlight.Markiscareeningintoanothercar.Metaliscrumpling.Glassisflying.Babiesarecrying.Dogsarebarking.Butwhatistheverbinthissentence?There’sonlyone.It’sWAS.Howmightyoualignthemain-linegrammar—subjects,verbs,andobjects—withtheaction?Wehaveafewoptions.Herearetwo:
Markfailedtostopattheintersectionandcrashedintoanothercar.
Markranthrougharedlightandcrashedintoanothercar.Arethosebettersentencesthantheoriginal?Itdependsonthecontext.Isascrewdriverabettertoolthanawrench?Itdependsonthecontext.It’snotatallhardtoimagineasituationinwhichthebestsentenceistheonewestartedwith:Mark’sfailuretostopattheintersectionwasthecauseofthecarcrash.MaybeoneofMark’sdefendershassaid,“Foggyconditionswerethecauseofthecarcrash,”andyousay,“Hardly!Mark’sfailuretostopattheintersectionwasthecauseofthecarcrash.”Thinkofitthisway:Ikeepsayingthatyourreaderalwayswantstoknowwhodidwhat.Butwhodidwhatisn’ttheonlyimportantquestionyou’reansweringwhenyouwrite.Sometimesotherquestionscometotheforeground—WHYdidsomethinghappen?Inthiscase,WHOistoblame.SoletmereturntosomethingIsaidatthebeginningofthislesson.Whenyoucomposeasentence,youaretryingtomakethestructureofthesentencematchupwiththedeeperlogicofthatsentence.Straightforwardactionisagreatplacetostartbecauseintherealworld,informationTENDStocometousasaction.Weseeacarrunaredlight.Weseethatcarcrashintoanothercar.THENourjudgmentkicksin.Wesay,“Hey,thatjerkjustcausedanaccidentbyrunningthatredlight.”ToparaphraseFlanneryO’Connor,“Theeyeisanorganofjudgment.”Datacomestousthroughoureyesorourothersenses,andwemakejudgmentsbasedonthatdata.Wedon’thaveanarratorinourheadtellinguswhattothinkaboutwhatwesee.
![Page 72: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/72.jpg)
64
NominalizationTENDStomovethingsoutoftherealmofactorsandactionsandintotherealmofmoreabstractrelationships.Let’slookonemoretimeatourfirst,nominalizedsentenceaboutMark’scarcrash:
Mark’sfailuretostopattheintersectionwasthecauseofthecarcrash.ThemainlineofthatsentenceisFAILUREWASCAUSE.Causeandeffect.That’salogicalrelationship.Thesentencestructureforegroundsthelogical,cause-and-effectrelationshipatplayhere.Themore“verbish”version—Markranthroughtheintersectionandhitanothercar(orsomethingsimilar)—letsthereadermakethecause-and-effectconnectionforhimself.MaybeitletsthereaderpassjudgmentonMarkasadriver—which,again,ishowourexperienceoftheworldusuallyworks.However,thatnominalizedversion—Mark’sfailurewasthecause—thatversionsaystothereader,“Here’stheconclusionIwantyoutoreachhere.”Sometimesthat’sagoodthing—tellingyourreaderwhatconclusionyouwanthimtoreach—andsometimesthat’sabadthing.Idothinkwriterstendtoerronthesideoftellingreaderswhattothinkratherthaninvitingthemintoasceneandpointingthemintherightdirection.That’swhyIpersistinmycampaigntogetyoutotreattheactor-action-subject-verbmodelasyourdefault.That’swhyIencourageyoutohaveagoodreasonifyouaregoingtousenominalization.ButaswehaveseenwithMarkandhishorribledrivingrecord,therearecertainlysituationswhenit’sappropriatetousenominalizationtodirectyourreadertoaspecificconclusion.Grammarisn’tjustgrammar.Sentencestructurespeakstodeeperlogicalstructures.
![Page 73: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/73.jpg)
65
Quiz1.9:NominalizationI.NominalizationTENDStomovethingsoutoftherealmofactorsandactionsandintotherealmof_________________.II.Complianceisanominalizationofwhatverb?___________________III.Revelationisanominalizationofwhatverb?___________________IV.AlackofattentivenessonLeonard'spartledtoacollisionwithatelephonepole.Revisethissentencebychangingnominalizationsbackintoverbssoastoalignthegrammarofthesentencewiththeactionthesentencedescribes.V.Mariamadetheargumentthattheexpirationofthepolicywouldresultdirectlyinherexposuretonewrisk.Revisethissentencebychangingnominalizationsbackintoverbssoastoalignthegrammarofthesentencewiththeactionthesentencedescribes.
![Page 74: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/74.jpg)
66
VI.Ioriginallywasn’tinterestedinknowingher,butonlywantedheracceptanceofme.Revisethissentencebygettingridofthenominalization(acceptance)inordertoalignthegrammarofthesentencewiththeactionitdescribes.VII.AfallfromaladderatawarehousejobandashoulderinjuryfromjanitorialworkatthecountyjailmeantDaleisnonetoosteadyonhisfeetthesedays.Theabstractnounsfallandinjurymakeupthecompoundsubjectofthissentence.Turnbothofthosenounsbackintoverbs,thebettertoalignthegrammarofthesentencewiththeactionitdescribes.VIII.Someofmyfavoriteswerebooksandbaseballcards,butingeneralIwasundertheimpressionthatthebiggerthegiftthebetter,andtherewaslittlerespectforbirthdaycards.Lookatthatphrasetherewaslittlerespect...Noticehowthespeakerdisappearsfromthesentencewiththatnominalization.Revisethissentencewithoutusingthephrasetherewas...(Youranswer,bytheway,mightstillhavetheabstractnounrespect,andthatwillbeok).
![Page 75: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/75.jpg)
67
IX.Theoccasionalremovalofhisshadesrevealedglassy,bloodshoteyes.Revisethissentencebychangingnominalizationsbackintoverbssoastoalignthegrammarofthesentencewiththeactionthesentencedescribes.
![Page 76: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/76.jpg)
68
![Page 77: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/77.jpg)
69
LectureNotesModule1,Lesson10:StrongVerbs,PreciseVerbs,
To-BeVerbs
Nodoubtyouhaveheardthewritingadvice,"Usestrongverbs."IfyouGooglethatphrase,“usestrongverbs,”you’regoingtoseelistslike100STRONGVERBSTOADDPOWERANDPIZZAZZTOYOURWRITINGorSTOPUSINGWEAKVERBSANDSTARTUSINGTHESESTRONGVERBS.Itwouldbegreatifalistof"betterverbs"existed,buttherightverb,liketherightnoteonapiano,isamatterofcontext.Youcan’tmakealistofthebestverbsanymorethanyoucouldmakealistofthebestmusicalnotes.It’snotthat“Usestrongverbs”isterribleadvice.Butit’sthekindofadvicethatcanhelpyougofrombeingabadwritertobeingamediocrewriter.It’snotgoingtomoveyoufrombeingaprettygoodwritertobeingaverygoodwriter.“Usestrongverbs”isjustanoversimplificationofbetteradvice:Foreverysentenceyouwrite,figureoutwheretheactionis—ifpossible,ENVISIONthataction—andTHENfindtheverborverbsthatmostPRECISELYdepictthataction.Goodwritingisalwaysaboutprecision,notembellishment.Themorepreciseabitofwritingis,themorelikelyitisthatyourreaderwillbeabletoseewhatyou’retryingtoshowhim.Considerthissentence:
Terencewentaway.
![Page 78: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/78.jpg)
70
Therearelotsofwaystogoaway.Theideaofgoingawayisbroad—sobroad,infact,thatthephrasewentawaydoesn’tgiveyourreadermuchtolookat.Amorepreciseverbnarrowsthingsdownandcreatesavisualimageforyourreader.
• Terenceleft.• Terencevamoosed.• Terencesplit.• Terencehightailedit.• Terencesnuckoff.• Terenceabsconded.• Terencevanished.• Terencewascalledaway.
Whichofthoseverbsisthestrongest?That’snotanespeciallyhelpfulquestion.Thequestionis,whichofthoseverbsmostpreciselydepictswhatTerencedid?Writingdoesn’tstartwithwords.Writingstartswithvision.Ifyoudon’tseewhatyou’retryingtowrite,youcan’tmakeyourreaderseeit.Sothrowawayyourlistsofstrongverbs.Thelistssuggestthatbetterwritingissimplyamatteroffindingbetterwordsandpluggingtheminwheretheless-goodwordswere.Therearen’tbetterwordsandworsewords,anymorethantherearerightnotesandwrongnotesonapiano.SayandsaidSomethingthatsometimesgetsrolledinto“strongverb”discussionsistheverbsayorsaid.Writingteacherssometimestelltheirstudentstofindmoreinteresting(orstronger)verbsthansayandsaidindialogue.Theyofferadvicelike,“Don’tsaysay,”or“Saidisdead.”Pleaseignorethatadvice.Whenyouaredescribingpeoplewhoaresayingthings,sayisaperfectlyrespectableverb.Ononewriting-advicewebsiteIranacrosstheexample,“Heidisaidshewastiredofhiking.”Thewebsiteadvisedfindingastrongerverbthansaid—maybesomethinglike“Heidicontendedthatshewastiredofhiking.”Iscontendastrongerverbthansaid?Iscontendamoreinterestingverbthansaid?Maybeso.Butthat'snotthequestion.Thequestionis,whichverbmorepreciselydepictswhatHeidiwasdoing?Tocontendistoargue,tostruggle.WhywouldHeidihavetocontendwhatsheisfeelingabouthiking?IstheresomebodygettinginHeidi’sfaceandtellingherthatshe'snottiredofhiking?IsHeidihavingtomakeacasethatsheisindeedtiredofhiking?Ifso,contendedmightbeabetterverbthansaid.Otherwise,saidwillworkjustfinehere.Don’tletanybody
![Page 79: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/79.jpg)
71
bullyyouintothrowingouttheperfectlyserviceableandperfectlyrespectableverbsaid.Saidisnotdead.It’sverymuchalive.TheTo-BeVerbAnotherverbwithabadreputationistheto-beverb:
• am• are• is• was• were• be• being• been
Theto-beverbhasabadreputationbecauseitisoftenmixedupwithother,moreseriouswritingproblems.Thepassivevoicealwaysinvolvesato-beverb:"Thebullwastakenbythehornsbyme."Nominalizationusuallyinvolvesato-beverb:"Leonardwasconsciousofthefactthat..."Therefore,itisagoodpracticetogobackthroughyourwritingandcircleto-beverbsasawayoffindingnominalizationsandpassiveconstructions.Butwhereto-beverbscommunicateastateofbeing,orwhereto-beverbsarelinkingverbs(asin"wewerewalking"or"Ihavebeentellingyouthatallalong")there’snothingtobeashamedof.Don’tfeeltheneedtoeradicateto-beverbsandplugin“action”verbsor“strong”verbs.Verbscandotwothings:theycancommunicateaction,ortheycancommunicatestatesofbeing.Verbsthatcommunicatestatesofbeingarecalledlinkingverbs(Ifeelpretty.Clarenceisthemayor.Marthawassuspiciouslyhappy.)Themostcommonlinkingverb(byfar)istheto-beverb.Communicatingactionisn’tmorerespectablethancommunicatingstatesofbeing.Onelastthingaboutcommunicatingstatesofbeing:thereareotherwaystocommunicatestatesofbeingbesidesusingalinkingverb.
• Youcanuseanadjective.(MymailmanishandsomebecomesMyhandsomemailman.)
• Youcanuseanappositive.(ClarenceisthemayorbecomesClarence,themayor...)• Youcanuseaprepositionalphrase.(AngusisfivefeettallbecomesAtfivefeettall,
Angustowersoverhisfellowcubscouts.)Wewilldiscussallthoseoptionsinfuturelessons.
![Page 80: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/80.jpg)
72
SummaryTaketheadvice“usestrongverbs”withagrainofsalt.Usepreciseverbs—theverbsthatmostpreciselydepicttheactionsyouwanttodepict.Therearen’tstrongverbsandweakverbs,justastherearen’trightnotesonthepianokeyboardandwrongnotes.Italldependsonthecontext:everynoteisrightsometimes,andeverynoteiswrongsometimes.Everyverbisrightsometimesandwrongsometimes.Soalistof“strongverbs”isoflimitedhelp.
![Page 81: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/81.jpg)
73
Quiz1.10:StrongVerbs,PreciseVerbs
I.Whataretheverbsofbeing?II.Trueorfalse:Verbsshouldcommunicateaction,notstatesofbeing.III.Herhair,onceexplodingoverhershouldersintight,brownringlets,isgraying.What'swrongwiththatparticipialphrase,explodingoverhershouldersintight,brownringlets?IV.IjumpedoffacliffhoveringhighabovethePacificOcean,harnessedtomyhang-glider.Considerthatparticiplehovering.Whyisitnotthebestchoicehere?
![Page 82: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/82.jpg)
74
V.Hisbewilderedfacemeltedintodefiance.Makethemainverbofthissentencemoreprecise.VI.Therectangularstudioheldpolishedwoodfloors,twowallsofbarre,amplefloorspaceforthetenlittledancersinmyclass,andoneentirewallofflawlessmirror.Whatdoyouthinkaboutthatmainverbheld?VII.Shepaintseyeshadowinpumpkinorange,brushesmascarainlinesasthickascalligraphyink,andpatsonlayersofrogue,allofwhichchiselanexpressionofpermanentexhilarationontohercreasedface.Whichverbismisleading?Why?Correctit.
![Page 83: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/83.jpg)
75
LectureNotesModule1,Lesson11:KeepingVerbsClosetoSubjects
Englishgrammargivesyouplentyoftechnicallycorrectwaystocraminformationintoasinglesentence.Butconnectingwithyourreaderismoreimportantthanbeingimpressivelycomplex.Remember,yourreaderalwayswantstoknowWHODIDWHAT?Subject,Verb,Object.Whateverelsehappensinyoursentence,yourreadershouldbeabletogetfromsubjecttoverbtoobjectwithrelativeease.Usually,thismeansgettingtoyoursubjectearlyinthesentence,andnothavingtoomanywordsbetweenthesubjectandtheverb.Let'slookatafewsentencesthatviolatetheseprinciples,andconsiderhowtheycouldbebetter.
Theprocessesinvolvedinshapingthechannelinplaceswheretheturnsswungfromsidetoside,asthewaterflowedacrossthefloodplain,mesmerizedme.
A.Whatisthemainverb?___________________________________________.B.Whoorwhatmesmerized(i.e.whatisthesubject)?__________________________________________.C.Whatisthewholemainclause?_________________________________________________________________.[A.mesmerized.B.theprocesses.C.Theprocessesmesmerizedme.] Thereare22wordsbetweenthesubjectandtheverbofthemainclause.Thecommabeforetheverbisalsoamajorredflag.Therearealotofoptionsforfixingthissentence,butIthinkthemostelegantsolutionusesthepassivevoice:
![Page 84: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/84.jpg)
76
Iwasmesmerizedbytheprocessesthatshapedthechannelasitswungfromsideto sideandflowedacrossthefloodplain.Here'sanother:
Thefeeling,familiarinthoseyears,thatIwasofadifferentspeciesthanthepeoplearoundmesurgedupagain.
A.Whatisthemainverb?________________________________________________.B.Whatisthesubject?____________________________________________________.[A.surged.B.feeling.]Thereare16wordsbetweenthesubjectandtheverb.Onepossiblefixusesanappositive(whichwe'lltalkaboutinalatermodule):Afamiliarfeelingsurgedupinme—afeelingthatIwasofadifferentspeciesfromthepeoplearoundme.Ihadthatfeelingalotinthosedays.Noticethatyoudohavetheoptionofsplittingasentenceintwo.Sometimestwoshortsentencesarebetterthanoneunwieldyone. OnthefaredgeofthetownwhereIgrewup,satthealuminumfactory.A.Whatisthemainverb?______________________________________________________.B.Whatisthesubject?__________________________________________________________.[A.sat.B.thealuminumfactory.]Thissentencehastwelvewordsbeforewegetthesubject-verbnexus.Again,thecommabeforethemainverbshouldclueyouinthatthissentencewillbedifficultforyourreadertocomprehend.It'smoresimpletowritethis:Analuminumfactorysatatthefaredgeoftown.Maybeyouthinktheoriginalismoreinterestingthanthestraightforwardversion.Isitinterestingenoughtobeworththeextraworkyou'reaskingofyourreader?That'sarealquestion.Differentwriterswillansweritdifferently.Theimportantthingisthatyouconsiderthedifferenceandmakeaconsciousdecision.Don'tjustcauseextraworkforyourreaderwithoutthinkingthroughit.
![Page 85: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/85.jpg)
77
Quiz1.11:KeepingVerbsClosetoSubjects
I.Liquid pain so intense that it stole my breath, would surge through my back with every attempt. Thisisasentenceaboutapersonwithbackpaintryingtogetoutofbed.Whatisthesubjectofthissentence?Whatisthemainverb?Editthesentencetokeepthesubjectclosetothemainverb.II.Aneerieemptydarknessshehadneverexperiencedbeforewhenevershevisitedherfatherathisbig,glassedinofficeenvelopedthethreestoryfoyer.Editthissentencetokeepthesubjectclosetothemainverb.
![Page 86: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/86.jpg)
78
III.Hisponytailcomesloose,andhisthreefeetofgrayingbrownhair,typicallyonlyobservedbyimmediatefamilyoranyoneluckyenoughtocatchhimsippingcoffeeonadayoff,drapeshisshoulders.Editthissentencetokeepthesubjectclosetothemainverb.IV.Afewyearsaftermygreat,greatuncleMarion—aneccentricartistwhoframedhiswatercolorswithplanksfromtheporchandworehisteethonlyforimportantevents—haddied,TheVaseappeared,andwejokedthathissonBerthadputhisashesinitandplaceditonhismantel.Editthissentencetokeepthesubjectclosetothemainverb.Youmayneedtousemultiplesentences.V.Aweeklyrhythmbandfortheneighborhoodchildren,intheredbrickhomeofthewomannextdoor,putthedelighttomusic.Editthissentencetokeepthesubjectclosetothemainverb.VI.Thirtyfeetfromthewater,afringeofgnarledpinerootsreachingoutintoemptyairmarkstheborderfrombarerubbletostubbornforest.Editthissentencetokeepthesubjectclosetothemainverb.
![Page 87: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/87.jpg)
79
VII.Threesweatykidsandtheirmotherwithloadedpurse,emptiedpicnicbasket,andtissue-filledgiftbagtrudgedupthebackstepsreadytoescapetheJulysun.Editthissentencetomakeitclearer,keepingthesubjectclosetotheverb.VIII. Thesheerexhilarationmixedwiththeutterterroroflaunchingintotheair,thatmomentwhenyoufeelweightless,suspendedmidair,andthenthepulloftheearthdownwardasIracedtotheevergrowingpuddlebelowme,combinedtomakethejourneyastonishing.Thisisatoughone.It'sasentenceaboutjumpingoutofaswing.Howwouldyoureworkittomakeitclearerandkeepthesubjectclosethemainverb?Youmayneedtousemultiplesentences.
![Page 88: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/88.jpg)
80
![Page 89: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/89.jpg)
81
LectureNotesModule1,Lesson12:CompoundsontheMainLine
In1990,MichaelJordanscoredacareer-high69points.RookieStaceyKingmadeonefreethrow.Inaninterviewafterthegamehesaid,"I'llalwaysrememberthisasthenightwhenMichaelJordanandIcombinedtoscore70points."Thisisabrilliantandhilarioususeofthecompoundsubject.Theverbscoredhastwosubjects:MichaelJordanandI.Anyspotonthemainline—Subject,Verb,Object,orComplement—canbecompounded. TheOwlandthePussycatwenttoseainabeautifulpea-greenboat. Twosubjectsshareoneverb. Isanganddanced. Onesubjectsharestwoverbs. Gabrielaatelobsterandporkrinds. Twoobjectsshareoneverb. Youarebeautifulbutmean. Twopredicatenominativesshareonelinkingverb.Youcancombinecompoundsinanycombination.Soyoucouldhave:Theowlandthepussycataterodentsandcatfood.(Compoundsubjectandcompounddirectobjects.)Compoundelementsarejoinedtogetherbyaconjunction(usuallyand,occasionallybut)andnocomma.
![Page 90: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/90.jpg)
82
Acommawithaconjunctionindicatesacompoundsentence.Acompoundsentenceistwoseparatemainclausesjoinedbyacommaandacoordinatingconjunction.Thereareonlysevencoordinatingconjunctions:
• For• And• Nor• But• Or• Yet• So
YoucanrememberthembyusingtheacronymFANBOYS.Acompoundsentencethathasaconjunctionbutnocommaisarun-onsentence.Acompoundsentencethathasacommabutnoconjunctioniscalledacommasplice.AcompoundsentencelinksoneindependentSubject-VerbnexustoanotherindependentSubject-Verbnexustoformasinglesentence.
Isang.Idanced.Twoseparatesentences.Isang,andIdanced.Compoundsentence.Isanganddanced.Compoundverb.
Whileallofthesearegrammaticallycorrect,thefirsttwofeelredundant.Itmakesthemostsensetouseacompoundverb.Whataboutthese?
Theowlhooted.Thepussycatmeowed.Twoseparatesentences.Theowlhooted,andthepussycatmeowed.Compoundsentence.Theowlandthepussycathootedandmeowed.Compoundsubjectandcompoundverb.
Thosetwoactionsdon'tfeelcloselyenoughrelatedtobeacompoundsubjectandcompoundverb.Thefirstorsecondoptionsmakemoresense.Here'sanotherexample:
Ihadneverbeenstruckinthefacebeforeandsatstunnedforseveralseconds.Thesetwoverbsdohavethesamesubject(I),butthedon'tcombineverywellforacoupleofreasons:
1. Thefirstverbispassiveandthesecondisactive.2. Thetwoactionsarenearlyascloselyrelatedas"Isanganddanced."
![Page 91: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/91.jpg)
83
Wecouldcorrectthisbysaying,Ihadneverbeenstruckinthefacebefore,soIsattherestunnedforseveralseconds.(CompoundSentence)Oreven,Ihadneverbeenstruckinthefacebefore.Isattherestunned.Grammarisn'tjustaboutgrammar.Grammarreflectsadeeperlogic.StaceyKing’sjokeaboutcombiningfor70pointswithMichaelJordanisinpartagrammarjoke.Thecompoundsubject—MichaelJordanandI—istechnicallycorrect.TheyDIDcombinefor70points.Butthatcompoundsubjectalsoimpliesanequalitythatisridiculousandfunny.Grammarisakindoflogic.StaceyKingwasmisusingthatlogictobefunny.Mostofthetime,you’renottryingtobefunnywithyourgrammar,soyouwantyourgrammartoactuallyreflectyourlogic,notundermineit.
![Page 92: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/92.jpg)
84
![Page 93: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/93.jpg)
85
Quiz1.12:CompoundsontheMainLine
I.Whatspotsonthemainlinecanbecompounded?Circleallthatapply. A.Subject B.Verb C.Object D.ComplementII.Listthesevencoordinatingconjunctions.(RemembertheacronymFANBOYS.)III.Acompoundsentencethathasaconjunctionbutnocommaiscalleda_____________________________________________.Acompoundsentencethathasacommabutnoconjunctioniscalleda______________________________________________.
![Page 94: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/94.jpg)
86
IV.Maybethatdayitwasgreenplaidbell-bottomsayearortwopasttheirheightofcoolnessandapilledtansweater.1.Identifythecompoundcomplement.2.Whyisthiscompoundcomplementconfusingtothereader?3.Editthesentenceforclarity.V.Theroomwasfurnishedwithpiecesthatcouldeasilyhavebeenfroma1960scatalogandsmeltmusty.1.Identifythecompoundverb.2.Editthesentenceforclarity.VI.Ifinishedplayingandthehissoftherespiratoronceagainfilledtheroomlikeincense.1.Whyisthissentencegrammaticallyincorrect?2.Howwouldyoucorrectit?
![Page 95: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/95.jpg)
87
VII.Mysisterhadaskedforadozendollsandmybrother'swishlisthadafrontandback.Correctthisrun-onsentencetomakeitacompoundsentence.VIII.Briancamehomewithmydollandarepentantheart.1.Identifythecompoundobjectoftheprepositionwith.2.Whyisthissentenceunusual?
![Page 96: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/96.jpg)
88
![Page 97: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/97.jpg)
89
LectureNotesModule1,Lesson13:VerbTenses
Aswewrapupthismoduleaboutsubjectsandverbs,let'stalkaboutverbtenses.Simplepast:Iate,youate,he/she/itate.Simplepresent:Ieat,youeat,he/she/iteats.Simplefuture:Iwilleat,youwilleat,he/she/itwilleat.Thesearesofamiliarthatthereisreallynoneedtotalkaboutthem.However,sometimesweneedmoreprecisionandnuancethanjustthesesimpletenses.That'swhereprogressiveandperfectverbtensescomein,andevennativeEnglishspeakershavealotoftroublewiththem.Pastprogressivetense,endsin-ing.Indicatesthatatagivenpointintime,apersonwasorisorwillbeinthemiddleofsomeaction.PastPerfectTense.Indicatesthatatagivenpointintime,apersonhascompletedorwillhavecompletedanaction.
Iranat6:00thismorning.Simplepasttense.
Iwasrunningat6:00thismorning.Pastprogressivetense.
Ihadrunat6:00thismorning.Pastperfecttense.
![Page 98: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/98.jpg)
90
Theprogressivetense(whetherpast,present,orfuture)isformedbyadding-ingtotheendoftheverb.Thisisthe2ndprincipalpart.Pastprogressive:Iwasrunning,youwererunning,he/she/itwasrunning.Presentprogressive:Iamrunning,youarerunning,he/she/itisrunning.Futureprogressive:Iwillberunning,youwillberunning,he/she/itwillberunning.Theperfecttenseisformedbycombiningthe4thprincipalpart(endsin-d,-t,or-en)withthehelpingverbhaveorhad.Pastperfect:Ihadrun,youhadrun,he/she/ithadrun.PresentPerfect:Ihaverun,youhaverun,he/she/ithasrun.FuturePerfect:Iwillhaverun,youwillhaverun,he/she/itwillhaverun.Usingtheseverbformsrequiresthatyouplantaflagonthetimeline,andthensetyourverbtensewithrespecttothatflag.Youaresaying,ineffect,atthisspecificpointintimethesubjectofthesentenceiseitherinthemiddleofanactionorhascompletedtheaction.Forsimpletense,thetime-flagisoptional.Icansay,Istolesomeleftoversfromoutoftheofficerefrigerator.Or,Istolefromleftoversoutoftheofficerefrigeratoryesterday.Eitheroneisfinebecausethesimplepastdoesn'tcarewhetherIincludethattimemarkeryesterdayornot.However,ifI'mgoingtosayIHADSTOLENleftovers(perfectpasttense),orIWILLHAVESTOLENleftovers(futureperfect),orIWASSTEALINGleftovers(pastprogressive),orIWILLBESTEALINGleftovers(futureprogressive),Ineedtoprovideatime-flag.
IwillbestealingleftoversfromtheofficerefrigeratortomorrowifIforgetmylunchagain.
IhadstolenleftoversoutoftheofficerefrigeratorbeforeIrealizedthattheybelongedtotheCEO.
Plantingatimeflagdoesn'tnecessarilymeannamingatime(6amorOctober12th).Youcanalsodoitbyplacingoneactionrelativetoanotheraction.
Iwasrunningthismorningwhileyouwerestillsawinglogs.Pastprogressive.
Iwasthinkingaboutyouwhenyoucamethroughthedoor.Pastprogressive.
Marthawillbesingingoperawhileyoutendtothecashregister.Futureprogressive.
![Page 99: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/99.jpg)
91
Whenyouhavefinishedyourbroccoli,youcanhavesomepie.Futureperfect.Ihaveeatenmybroccoli,andnowIwantsomepie.Perfect.
Whenyourolledoutofbedat6:00thismorning,Ihadalreadyrun,showered,anddressed.Pastperfect.
Whenyouusethesetenses,yousignaltoyourreadersthattheyneedtopayattentiontosomenuanceoftime.TheyneedtounderstandthatthisactionwasCOMPLETEatsomespecifictime,oritwasONGOINGatsomespecifictime.Askyourselfhowpreciseyouneedtobe.Ifyouaren'tcommunicatingsomenuanceoftime,don'taskyourreadertodecodeacomplexverbform.Here'safinalexample:
Ifweturnedaround,wewouldhavetotravelbackacrossanarrowbridgethathadnorailingsandwasmadeoflooseplanksthatHADMOVEDasweHADGONEacrossthemthefirsttime.IwasprettysureIHADSEENthetailendofacarthatHADPLUNGEDoffthebridgeintotheravinenosefirst.
Alloftheseverbformsaregrammaticallycorrect,butthey'reconfusing.Inthiscase,itmaybeworthtradingprecisionforsimplicity:
Ifweturnedaround,wewouldhavetotravelbackacrossanarrowbridgethathadnorailingsandwasmadeoflooseplanksthatMOVEDwhenweWENTacrossthemthefirsttime.IwasprettysureISAWthetailofacarthatHADPLUNGEDoffthebridgeintotheravinenosefirst.
Theoriginalconstructionismoreprecise,butthegrammardrawsattentiontoitself.Youdon'twantyourreaderstobethinkingaboutgrammar.Correctgrammarisbetterthanincorrectgrammar.Butwhatyoureallywantisgrammarthatisinvisibletothereader.
![Page 100: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/100.jpg)
92
![Page 101: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/101.jpg)
93
Quiz1.13:VerbTenses
I.Thistimetomorrow,JohnBarberwillbewishinghehadchosenadifferentnemesis.Whatisthetimeflaginthissentence?II.Irealizedafterafewminutesthatmydaddidnotdriveawaybutwassittinginthecarwatching.Editthissentencesothattheverbtensesmakesensetogether.Whereistheflagonthetimeline?III.Thistimetomorrow,JohnBarberwillbewishinghechoseadifferentnemesis.Whatistheverbtenseinthissentence? A.Past B.Pastperfect C.Pastprogressive D.Present E.Presentperfect F.Presentprogressive G.Future H.Futureperfect I.Futureprogressive
![Page 102: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/102.jpg)
94
IV.ByDecember11,1941,justfourdaysafterthebombingofPearlHarbor,theUnitedStateshaddeclaredwaronbothJapanandGermany.Whatistheverbtenseofthissentence? A.Past B.Pastperfect C.Pastprogressive D.Present E.Presentperfect F.Presentprogressive G.Future H.Futureperfect I.FutureprogressiveV.Ihadn'triddenmorethanamilebeforethedownpourstarted.Ifeltbadformywife;shewashanginglaundryoutsidewhenIleftthehouse. A.Ihadn'triddenmorethanamilebeforethedownpourHADSTARTED.Ifeltbad formywife;shewashanginglaundryoutsidewhenIleftthehouse. B.Ihadn'triddenmorethanamilebeforethedownpourstarted.Ifeltbadformy wife;sheHADBEENhanginglaundryoutsidewhenIleftthehouse. C.Ihadn'triddenmorethanamilebeforethedownpourstarted.Ifeltbadfor mywife;shewashanginglaundryoutsidewhenIHADLEFTthehouse. D.Nochangeisnecessary.VI.Normally,Ienjoyedgardening,butthissummeracolonyofhornetstookownershipofouryard,andtheydidnottakekindlytotrespassers.Thissentencecontainsthreeverbs,allinsimplepasttense.Whichofthesethreeverbswouldyouchangetopastperfectsoastoclarifythemeaning?Checkallthatapply. A.ChangeIenjoyedgardeningtoIhadenjoyedgardening. B.Changetookownershiptohadtakenownership. C.Changedidnottakekindlytohadnottakenkindly. D.It’sbetteras-isthanwithachange.
![Page 103: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/103.jpg)
95
LectureNotesModule2,Lesson1:Introduction
Wearefinallyreadytoleavethemainlineofthesentenceandmoveontomodifiers.Modifiersarewords,phrases,orclausesthatdescribeotherwordsorphrases.Modifierstellwhatkindofpersonorthingisactingorbeingactedupon,andhowthey’reacting.Adjectivesandadverbsareobviousexamplesofmodifiers.Considerthissentence:Thebluetruckrumbledloudly.
ThemainclauseisThetruckrumbled.Blueisanadjectivemodifyingtruck,narrowingthesubject.Whichtruckrumbled?Thebluetruck.Loudlyisanadverbmodifyingrumbled.Howdidthetruckrumble?Loudly.Adverbialmodifiersanswerthesequestionsaboutverbs(andsometimesadjectivesorotheradverbs):
• HOW?• WHERE?• WHY?• TOWHATEXTENT?
Adjectivalmodifiersanswerthesequestionsaboutnouns:
• WHICHONE?• WHATKIND?• HOWMANY?
![Page 104: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/104.jpg)
96
Alotofinterestinasentencederivesfromthemodifiers.Ratherthanthinkingofadverbsandadjectivesasornamentationinasentence,thinkofthemasawayofnarrowingmeaning.Modifiershelpyourwritingbemoreprecise.Describingatruckasabluetrucknarrowsdownthebroadcategoryoftruckconsiderably,butsaying“blueFordtruck”narrowsitevenmore.Lookatthissentence:TheraccoonthatIwastellingyouabout,withthemissingearandtheunusuallybushytail,rattledthetrashcanbehindmygaragewithaninsistencethatborderedonobsession.
Themainclauseis:Raccoonrattledtrashcan.Alltheotherwordsaremodifiers.ThatIwastellingyouaboutisaclause.Ithasaverb(wastelling)andasubject(I).Itmodifiesanoun(ittellswhichraccoon),soitisanadjectivalclause.Withthemissingearandtheunusuallybushytailisaphrase,becauseitdoesn’thaveaverb.Ithasapreposition(with)andacompoundobject(earandtail),soit’saprepositionalphrasemodifyingraccoon(again,ittellswhichraccoon).Withintheprepositionalphrase,theadjectivemissingmodifiesear.Bushytellsuswhatkindoftail.Behindmygarageisanotherprepositionalphrase.Youcouldsayit’sadjectival(tellinguswhichtrashcan)ormaybeadverbial(tellinguswheretheraccoonwasrattling).Withaninsistenceisanotheradverbialprepositionalphrase(howdidherattle?).Thatborderedisanadjectivalclausemodifyinginsistence(whatkindofinsistence?).Anobsessionisanadverbialprepositionalphrase(howdiditborder?).
![Page 105: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/105.jpg)
97
Theimportantskillistobeabletoidentifywhataparticularphraseorclauseismodifying.Whatquestionisitanswering?LetNounsandVerbsCarrytheFreightWhileadjectives,adverbs,andothermodifiersareanimportantwaytoadddescription,thereisamorepowerfulway.Nounsandverbsshouldcarrythefreightofyourwriting.Hereisanexample:MybrotherTimwastheonlyboyandarevelationtoallofus.Heatetemperapaint,suckingitstraightfromthebrush.Heclimbedontothediningroomtableandjumpedoffofit,ashighashecould,overandoverandover,whileourmiddlesisterRachelandItriedtodoschoolwork.HefellintothewaterfountainattheBotanicalGardens.Hesometimesplayedsohardthathethrewupinthegrass,andthenwentrightbacktoplaying.Timissuckingpaint,jumpingoffthediningroomtable,fallingintothewaterfountain,throwingup,goingrightbacktoplaying.Therelentlessmovementinthisshortpassagemimicstherelentlessmovementofthelittleboy.Butifyoulookclosely,you’llnoticetherearen’talotofadjectivesandadverbs.ThewriterissuccessfulinthispassagebecauseshehastakenthetimetoenvisionwhatitlookslikewhenherlittlebrotherTimplays.Aftershehadthatvisionfixed,shewentlookingforthebestverbstodescribethatvision.Thisisjuststraight-ahead,workmanlikewriting,andtheresultisfantastic.
![Page 106: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/106.jpg)
98
![Page 107: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/107.jpg)
99
LectureNotesModule2,Lesson2:AdjectivesandAdverbs
AdjectivesandAdjectivalsAnadjectiveisawordthatmodifiesanoun.Adjectives(andadjectivalphrasesandclauses)answerthreequestions:WHATKIND?WHICHONE?HOWMANY?InEnglish,anadjectiveappearsimmediatelybeforethenounitmodifiesasin,Theyellowflower.AsanEnglishspeaker,youalreadyknowthis.Nooneaccidentallysays,“Thefloweryellow,”or“Yellowtheflower.”Apredicateadjectivecomesafterthelinkingverb:Mycatisenthusiastic.Enthusiasticisanadjectivebeingusedaspredicatecomplement.Theonlythingthatmaycomebetweenanounanditsadjectiveisanotheradjectivemodifyingthesamenoun.Forexample:Myenthusiastic,playfulcatpounces.CommasBetweenAdjectivesinaSeriesHowdoyoupunctuatemultipleadjectives?Whenyouhavetwoormoreadjectivesinarow,youmightneedtoseparatethemwithcommas.Ifitwouldmakesensetoputtheword“and”betweentheadjectives,thenyoushouldputacommabetweenthem.Myenthusiasticandplayfulcatcouldwork,soyouneedacommabetweentheadjectives.Butyouwouldn’tsayMyenthusiasticandSiamesecat,soyoudon’tneedacommabetweenenthusiasticandSiameseeventhoughtheyarebothadjectives.Anotherruleofthumb:ifyoucanreversetheorderoftheadjectives,separatethemwithacomma.(Youcouldsayplayful,enthusiasticcatjustaseasilyasyoucouldsayenthusiastic,playfulcat,soyouneedthecommathere.)Ifyoucan'treversetheorderoftheadjectives,
![Page 108: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/108.jpg)
100
don'tseparatethemwithacomma.(Youcouldn'tsaymySiameseenthusiasticcat,soyoudon'tneedacomma.)OtherAdjectivalsOtheradjectivals(prepositionalphrases,infinitivephrases,participialphrases,adjectiveclauses)comeafterthenounstheymodify.TheflowersthatKengavetoBarbiemadehersneeze.Mydesiretowinahot-dog-eatingcontestgotthebetterofmydesiretostaythin.Thedogwiththediamondcollarstilldrinksfromthetoilet.Ultimately,ALLadjectivalsneedtobeascloseaspossibletothenounstheymodify.AdverbsandAdverbialsAnadverbisawordthatmodifiesaverb,anadjective,oranotheradverb.Adverbsoftenendin–ly,butnotalways.Youcanusuallychangeanadjectiveintoanadverbbyadding–ly:gladbecomesgladly.Glumbecomesglumly.However,fortherestofthislessonwewillbelookingattheadverbsthatDON’Tendin–ly.Thenextlessonaddresses-lyadverbs.Adverbsansweroneoffivequestions:HOW?WHY?WHEN?WHERE?TOWHATEXTENT?Ingeneral,adverbsendingin–lyanswertheHOWquestion:Thebirdsanggloomily.IwillgladlypayyouTuesdayforahamburgertoday.TherearesomeotheradverbsthatanswerHOW(suchassideways.Howwasthecarturned?Thecarwasturnedsideways).TheWHYquestiontendstobeansweredbyadverbialphrasesandclauses.So,we’regoingtomainlylookattheWHEN,WHERE,andTOWHATEXTENTadverbsfornow.AdverbsansweringWHEN?Now,tomorrow,yesterday,soon,never,late,early,often,seldom,always,usually,arealladverbsthatanswerthequestionWHEN?I'mdonetalkingtoyounow.WhenamIdonetalkingtoyou?Now. AdverbsansweringWHERE?Here,there,everywhere,anywherearealladverbsthattellWHEREanactionhappened.Squirrelswererunningeverywhere.Whereweresquirrelsrunning?Everywhere.
![Page 109: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/109.jpg)
101
Inside,outside,uphill,downhill,upriver,downriver,left,right:thissortofadverbalsoanswersthequestionWHERE?AdverbsansweringTOWHATEXTENT?InansweringthequestionTOWHATEXTENT?,adverbscaneitherintensifyordialdownanaction.Alot,completely,heartily,andabsolutelyallintensifyanaction.Kindof,only,just,almost,somewhat,andsortofallminimizeanaction.MostadverbsthatmodifyadjectivesorotheradverbsareansweringtheTOWHATEXTENTquestion.Forexample,Youlookveryprettytonight,orYoulookkindofhandsome.Wordsliketheseareusefulandnecessary,andyouprobablydon'tneedtoworryaboutover-usingtheminyourwriting.The-lyadverbsrequiremorecaution.Theywillbethesubjectofthenextlesson.
![Page 110: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/110.jpg)
102
![Page 111: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/111.jpg)
103
Quiz2.2:AdjectivesandAdverbs
I.Inthehighlightedadjectivepairsbelow,circletheonesthatneedcommas. A.theplaingoldband
B.ripesweetberries
C.longtediousplanningmeeting
D.longtediousplanningmeeting
E.basichumandecency
F.Thefatsoftsheepnibbledsweetspringgrass.
G.Thefatsoftsheepnibbledsweetspringgrass.
II.Inthehighlightedwordgroupsbelow,circletheonesthatneedhyphens. A.Anambulancedroveontheshoulderofthetrafficcloggedroad.
B.Mytwoyearoldnephewisstillunemployed.
C.Mynephewistwoyearsoldandstillliveswithhisparents.
D.Hescratcheduphisloaferswalkingthroughtheforest.
E.Exceptforhisscratcheduploafers,heseemednonetheworseforhisexperience.
F.Theclown’sheavilypaintedfaceloomedintomynightmare.
G.Theclown’sheavilymadeupfaceloomedintomynightmare.
H.Theclown’shandpaintedfaceloomedintomynightmare.
I.ThecouplehadmadeupbeforeIevenrealizedtheywerefighting.
J.Thesearemyfoxhuntingpants.
K.Doyouexpectmetobelievethisclearlyimpossiblestory?
![Page 112: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/112.jpg)
104
III.Whichquestionsdoadjectivesansweraboutthenounstheymodify? A.How?
B.Howmany?
C.Towhatextent?
D.Whatkind?
E.When?
F.Where?
G.Whichone?
H.Why?
IV.JohnBarbercriedsloppily. 1.Istheitalicwordanadjectiveoranadverb? 2.Whatworddoesitmodify? 3.Whatquestiondoesitanswerabouttheworditmodifies?(Whichone?What kind?Howmany?How?When?Where?Why?Towhatextent?)
V.Thelazygoatatewhateverwasclosesttoit. 1.Istheitalicwordanadjectiveoranadverb? 2.Whatworddoesitmodify? 3.Whatquestiondoesitanswerabouttheworditmodifies?(Whichone?What kind?Howmany?How?When?Where?Why?Towhatextent?)
![Page 113: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/113.jpg)
105
VI.Iwillcallyoutomorrow. 1.Istheitalicwordanadjectiveoranadverb? 2.Whatworddoesitmodify? 3.Whatquestiondoesitanswerabouttheworditmodifies?(Whichone?What kind?Howmany?How?When?Where?Why?Towhatextent?)
![Page 114: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/114.jpg)
106
![Page 115: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/115.jpg)
107
LectureNotesModule2,Lesson3:What’sSoBadAboutAdverbs?
We'veseenthatnotalladverbsendin-ly.However,manyadverbsareformedbyadding-lytotheendofanadjective.IcouldsayThesullencashierhandedovermyhappymeal.Inthatcase,sullenisanadjectivedescribingthecashier.OrIcouldaddan-lytosullentomakeitanadverb.Thecashiersullenlyhandedovermyhappymeal.Thatadverbsullenlydescribeshowthecashierperformedtheactionofhandingovermyhappymeal.Whenadverbsandadverbialsaremodifyingaverb,theyarehighlymoveable.Theycouldbeatthebeginningoftheclauses,rightbeforetheverb,orattheendoftheclause.
• Sullenly,thecashierhandedmemyhappymeal.• Thecashiersullenlyhandedmemyhappymeal.• Thecashierhandedmemyhappymealsullenly.
Writersareoftentoldnottousetoomanyadverbs.Thisisgoodadviceinprinciple,butIuseadverbsallthetime.Sowhydowritingteachersdiscouragetheuseofadverbs?1.Adverbscanbreedlazinessonthepartofthewriter.We'vealreadytalkedalotaboutusingpreciseverbs.Sometimeswritersuseanadverbinsteadoflookingforthemostpreciseverb.Forexample:"Achmedwalkedintotheroomloudly,"insteadof,"Achmedstormedintotheroom,"or"Achmedstompedintotheroom."2.Grammaticalandotherwritingmistakestendtohappenaroundadverbs.Mypracticeistoseekoutthemostpreciseverbsandresorttoadverbsonlywhenthebestverbsneedalittleextrahelp.Remember:Letnounsandverbscarrythefreight.Startwiththemainline—subjects,verbs,andobjects.
![Page 116: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/116.jpg)
108
Alsobearinmindthatadjectivesandadverbsaren'tyouronlyoptionfordescription.Intherestofthisunitwe'lllookatprepositionalphrases,participialphrases,infinitivephrasesandclauses,etc.
![Page 117: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/117.jpg)
109
Quiz2.3:What’sSoBadAboutAdverbs?
I.TheymaybedigitallyconnectedtotheInternet,butrelationallytheyaredisconnectedfromoneanother.Considerthoseadverbsdigitallyandrelationally.Doyoufindthemhelpful?Whyorwhynot?II.Amomentlaterhisdooropened,thenshutloudly.Considertheadverbloudly.Doesitcontributetothesentenceordetractfromit?III.Shequicklyhalf-rantothephone.Considertheadverbquickly.Hownecessaryisit?
![Page 118: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/118.jpg)
110
IV.Idon’tbelievetheconnectionbetweenartandlifecaneverbefinallyorevenverysatisfactorilyresolved.Considertheadverbsfinallyandsatisfactorily.Aretheyhelpfulhere?V.Hebouncedinafranticmanner,yippingandbarking.Reworkthissentence,usinganadverbinplaceoftheprepositionalphrase,inafranticmanner.
![Page 119: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/119.jpg)
111
LectureNotesModule2,Lesson4:PrepositionalPhrases
"Inourworld,"saidEustace,"astarisahugeballofflaminggas.""Eveninyourworld,myson,thatisnotwhatastarisbutonlywhatitismadeof."
-TheVoyageoftheDawnTreader
ThereisagreatmomentfromC.S.Lewis'sVoyageoftheDawnTreaderwhenLucyandEustacemeetanoldmannamedRamandu,whoturnsouttobearetiredstar.HeexplainstoEustacethataflamingballofgasisonlywhatastarismadeof,notwhatitis.Inthisunit,we'vetalkedalotaboutwhatdifferentmodifiersaremadeof,butnotreallywhattheyare.Whattheyarehasmoretodowithhowtheyfunction,howtheymakeconnectionsinthemindofareader.Witheachtypeofmodifier,wewilltalkabouttheirconstruction/form,butthenwewillmoveontohowtheyfunction.Whatisaprepositionalphrasemadeof?Preposition+NounThereareaboutahundredprepositionsintheEnglishlanguage,butherearethetop50:About Beyond Into ToAbove By Like TowardsAcross Concerning Near Under After Despite Of UntilAgainst Down Off UpAlong During On UponAmong Except Out WithAround Following Over WithinAt For Plus WithoutBefore From SinceBehind In ThroughBetween Including Throughout
![Page 120: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/120.jpg)
112
If you're not sure if aword is functioning as a preposition, you can use this PrepositionFinder:Therabbitran__________thewoodpile.Anywordthatfitsinthatblankisapreposition.Therearealsoafewprepositionsthatdon'tfitinthePrepositionFinder,butanywordthatdoesfitintheblankisapreposition.The prepositions that don't fit in the Preposition Finder are time-related prepositions(before, during, after, since), and prepositions describing logical relationships (except,concerning,including,plus,minus).ThereisonemoreprepositionthatdoesnotfitinthePrepositionFinder,anditisthemostcommonprepositionofall:OF.Thewordofdoesnotfitintotheprepositionfinder,soyoujusthavetorememberit.Sothen,ifyoucanrememberPrepositionFinderplusof,youcanaccountforabout98%oftheoccurrencesofprepositions.AprepositionisALWAYSfollowedbyanounorpronoun.
• Preposition+Noun=PrepositionalPhrase(insidethewardrobe,aftertheconcert,withfortitude)
ThatnouninthePrepositionalPhraseisknownastheObjectofthePreposition.TheObjectofthePrepositionmayhavemodifiers.(insidethebigwardrobe,insidethebigwardrobeinthespareroom).Thesemodifiersareconsideredtobepartoftheprepositionalphrase.Ifyouseea"preposition"thatisnotfollowedbyanounorpronoun,itisnotservingasapreposition;itisprobablyservingasanadverb.
• Thesquirrelranaroundthetree.(Inthissentence,aroundservesasapreposition,theheadoftheprepositionalphrase,aroundthetree.)
• Thesquirrelranaround.(Inthissentence,aroundservesasanadverbbecauseitisnotfollowedbyanoun.)
Thewordpreposition=pre(before)+position.It'ssittinginthepre-position,beforeanoun.A preposition always puts a noun in relationshipwith another noun, verb, adjective, oradverb.
![Page 121: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/121.jpg)
113
Theprepositionswelistedearlieralldescriberelationships:
SpatialRelationships
Above,Below,Behind,Between,Among,
etc.
TimeRelationships
Before,During,After,Since,etc.
LogicalRelationships
Except,Despite,Concerning,etc.
Relationshipof
owning/belonging/attachment
Of
![Page 122: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/122.jpg)
114
![Page 123: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/123.jpg)
115
LectureNotesModule2,Lesson5:PrepositionalPhrasesPartII
Prepositionalphraseshavetwofunctions:
1. Adjectivalfunction:tellingusWHICHONE,WHATKIND,orHOWMANYaboutanoun.
2. Adverbialfunction:tellingusHOW,WHERE,WHEN,WHY,orTOWHATEXTENT,aboutaverb(oranadjectiveoranotheradverb).
Anytimeyouseeaprepositionalphrase,youknowitwillansweroneofthosequestions.
A.Edmundsteppedinsidethewardrobe. Thephraseinsidethewardrobeis_______________________,answeringthequestion _______________________didEdmundstep?
B.Thefursinsidethewardrobeweresofttothetouch. Thephraseinsidethewardrobeis__________________________,answeringthequestion _________________________furs?[Answers:A.adverbial;where.B.adjectival,which.]MovabilityIsaCluetotheFunctionofaPrepositionalPhraseRemember,adverbialsmodifyingverbsarefreetomoveaboutthecabin,butadjectivalsandadverbialsmodifyingadjectivesoradverbsmustcomeimmediatelyafterthewordstheymodify.Sowhenyouaretryingtofigureoutwhatfunctionamodifierserves,it’sagoodideatostartbylookingatwhatisimmediatelybeforeit.
![Page 124: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/124.jpg)
116
Inyourownsentences,whenyourealizethatyoumeantforanadjectivaltomodifyagivennoun,andit’snotrightnexttothatnoun,you’veprobablygotsomeworktodo.Let'slookatanotherexample,thisonefromGrouchoMarx:
LastnightIshotanelephantinmypajamas.Howhegotintomypajamas,I'llneverknow.
A.Whatistheprepositionalphraseinthefirstsentence?_______________________________________.B.Whatfunctiondoestheprepositionalphraseserve?__________________________________________.[Answers:A.inmypajamas.B.youmighthaveansweredadverbialoradjectival.]Thelogicsuggeststhatthephraseisadverbial,describingHOWGrouchMarxshottheelephant.Butgrammaticallyspeaking,inmypajamascouldbeadjectival,tellingusWHICHelephant.Anditcomesimmediatelyafterelephant,theproperlocationforanadjectivephrasemodifyingelephant.Ontheotherhand,ifthephraseisadverbial,itcaneasilybeattheendofthesentence,farfromtheverbitmodifies.Onlywhenyoureadthesecondsentencedoyourealizethatthephraseinmypajamasisindeedadjectival,tellingushowtheelephantwasdressed.Humorisallaboutgoofylogic.Grammarreflectslogic.Soitshouldbenosurprisethatgoofygrammarisoftenthebasisofjokes.Whydoprepositionalphraseshaveabadreputation?Writersareoftentoldtogetridofprepositionalphrases,justastheyareoftentoldtogetridofto-beverbs.However,thisistreatingasymptomasifitweretheproblem.Considerthisexample:
Iamawareofyourneedfortransportation.Thisnot-so-greatsentencehastwoprepositionalphrases(ofyourneed,andfortransportation)thataccountformorethanhalfofthewordsinthesentence.Buttherealproblemhereisn'ttheprepositionalphrasesoreventheto-beverb(am).Theproblemthenominalization.Getridofthenominalizationandtheto-beverbandprepositionalphrasesgowithit.
Iknowyouneedtransportation.Or,Iknowyouneedacar.
Hereisanotherexample:BarbiewasgivenflowersbyKen.
![Page 125: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/125.jpg)
117
What’sourprepositionalphrase?It'sbyKen.Kenistheactor;yetheistuckedawayastheobjectoftheprepositionattheveryendofthesentence.That’saproblem.Buttheprepositionalphraseisasymptom,nottheproblem.Fixthepassivevoice,andboththeprepositionalphraseandtheto-beverbgoaway:
KengaveBarbieflowers.Inbothofthosecases,nominalizationandpassivevoice,theprepositionalphraseisTECHNICALLYamodifier,butonlytechnically.It’snotactuallyaddingtothesentence.It'smakingthingslessconcrete,hardertoenvision.Asarealmodifier,aprepositionalphrasecanbeaverypowerfulandusefulconstruction.Thereisnoshameinaprepositionalphrase,butdon’tgocrazy.Youdon’twanttonestprepositionalphraseinsideprepositionalphraseinsideprepositionalphrase,eventhoughEnglishgrammarallowsforthat.Butremember:Englishgrammaralwaysgivesyouanotherwaytoskinacat.We’relookingatallthesedifferentkindsofmodifierssoyouwillhavemoreoptionsforexpressingyourselfwithclarityandstyle.
![Page 126: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/126.jpg)
118
![Page 127: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/127.jpg)
119
Quiz2.5:PrepositionalPhrasesPartII
I.Youcanhaveaturnafterme. 1.Istheprepositionalphraseadjectivaloradverbial? 2.Whatworddoesitmodify? 3.Whatquestiondoesitanswer?(Whichone?Whatkind?Howmany?How?When? Where?Why?Towhatextent?)II.Afterme,youcanhaveaturn. 1.Istheprepositionalphraseadjectivaloradverbial? 2.Whatworddoesitmodify? 3.Whatquestiondoesitanswer?(Whichone?Whatkind?Howmany?How?When? Where?Why?Towhatextent?)
III.JohnBarberranintotheburningbuildingtosavehisBeanieBabycollection. 1.Istheprepositionalphraseadjectivaloradverbial? 2.Whatworddoesitmodify 3.Whatquestiondoesitanswer?(Whichone?Whatkind?Howmany?How?When? Where?Why?Towhatextent?)
![Page 128: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/128.jpg)
120
IV.Acacophonyofbirdsonggreetedus. 1.Istheprepositionalphraseadjectivaloradverbial? 2.Whatworddoesitmodify? 3.Whatquestiondoesitanswer?(Whichone?Whatkind?Howmany?How?When? Where?Why?Towhatextent?)
V.Themoneyunderthemattressismylifesavings. 1.Istheprepositionalphraseadjectivaloradverbial? 2.Whatworddoesitmodify? 3.Whatquestiondoesitanswer?(Whichone?Whatkind?Howmany?How?When? Where?Why?Towhatextent?)
VI.Ihidthemoneyunderthemattress. 1.Istheprepositionalphraseadjectivaloradverbial? 2.Whatworddoesitmodify? 3.Whatquestiondoesitanswer?(Whichone?Whatkind?Howmany?How?When? Where?Why?Towhatextent?)
VII.Abuzzingboxfansatonthefloornearby. 1.Istheprepositionalphraseadjectivaloradverbial? 2.Whatworddoesitmodify? 3.Whatquestiondoesitanswer?(Whichone?Whatkind?Howmany?How?When? Where?Why?Towhatextent?)
![Page 129: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/129.jpg)
121
VIII.HelenlookedatSadiewithastraightface. 1.Istheprepositionalphraseadjectivaloradverbial? 2.Whatworddoesitmodify? 3.Whatquestiondoesitanswer?(Whichone?Whatkind?Howmany?How?When? Where?Why?Towhatextent?)
IX.Helenlookedatthegirlwiththemermaidtattoo. 1.Istheprepositionalphraseadjectivaloradverbial? 2.Whatworddoesitmodify? 3.Whatquestiondoesitanswer?(Whichone?Whatkind?Howmany?How?When? Where?Why?Towhatextent?)
X.Helenlookedatthegirlwithbinoculars. 1.Istheprepositionalphraseadjectivaloradverbial? 2.Whatworddoesitmodify? 3.Whatquestiondoesitanswer?(Whichone?Whatkind?Howmany?How?When? Where?Why?Towhatextent?)
![Page 130: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/130.jpg)
122
![Page 131: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/131.jpg)
123
LectureNotesModule2,Lesson6:Participles
Whatdoyoucallitwhenyouchangeaverbtoanoun?_________________________________________.Whatdoyoucallitwhenyouchangeaverbtoamodifier?_____________________________________.[A.Nominalization.B.Aparticiple.]I'vesaidsomeprettynastythingsaboutnominalizationoverthepastlessons,buttheabilitytochangewordsfromonepartofspeechtoanotherisoneofthethingsthatgiveslanguageitstremendousflexibility.Let'slookathowtwoexamplesimprovewhenyouchangetheverbintoaparticiple:
Adogwasbarking.Hewokemeup.⤍Abarkingdogwokemeup. Thefiremanisrunning.Heneedstograbthehose.⤍Therunningfiremanneedsto grabthehose.Likeeveryotheradjectival,participlesanswerthequestionsWHICHONE?WHATKIND?
• Whichdog?Thebarkingdog.• Whichfireman?Therunningfireman.
Thesekindsofparticiplesthatendin-ingarepresentparticiples.Let'sconsidersomepastparticiples:Mashedpotatoes.Splitpeas.Brokenpromises.Enragedllamas.Raisedhands.Tornpaper.Apastparticiplelookslikethepasttenseformoftheverb.It'stechnicallythefourthprincipalpartofaverb.
![Page 132: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/132.jpg)
124
Thefourthprincipalpartistheformaverbtakesifyouputthehelpingverb"have"or"had"infrontofit:Italked/Ihavetalked.Iwalked/Ihavewalked.Ispent/Ihavespent.Forirregularverbs,thepasttenseandfourthprincipalpartaredifferent:Igave/Ihavegiven.Isang/Ihavesung.Iwent/Ihavegone.Pastparticipleshavealotincommonwithpassiveverbs:
• Thepotatoesweremashed.(passive)mashedpotatoes(pastparticiple)• Thepapergottorn.(passive)tornpaper(pastparticiple)
Bythesametoken,presentparticiples(theonesthatendin-ing)arebeingperformedbytheirsubject,sotheyareactive:
• Thebarkingdog• Therunningman
Thoughtheyaremodifiers,participlesretainsomeofthepropertiesofverbs.Mostimportantly,theycanbemodifiedbyadverbsandadverbials,andtheycantakedirectobjects.Aparticipletogetherwithamodifierand/oranobjectconstitutesaparticipialphrase.Participialphraseswillbethesubjectofthenextlesson.A.Participlesmodify________________________________________________________________________________.B.Aparticiplegoes__________________________________________________________________________________. [Answers:A.Nounsandonlynouns.B.Immediatelybeforethenounitmodifies.(Thereareexceptions,suchasIheardadogbarking.Butthey’reuncommon.]Anytimeyouusetwowordsasaparticipletheyshouldbehyphenated.
Dog-earedpage Well-lovedgrammarinstructor
Oft-repeatedwritingadviceHowcanyoutellapastparticipleapartfromotherusesofthe4thprinciplepart?
1. Therewon'tbeahelpingverb(had,has,willhave)2. Aparticiplecan'thaveasubject
Youcantellapresentparticipleapartfromother-ingverbs(2ndprinciplepartverbs)inthesameway:
1. Noto-be/helpingverb2. Nosubject
![Page 133: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/133.jpg)
125
LectureNotesModule2,Lesson7:ParticipialPhrases
Becausetheystartedoutlifeasverbs,participlesretainmanyofthepropertiesofverbs.Theycantakedirectandindirectobjects.Theycanbemodifiedbyadverbials.Whenyouaddanobjectoranadverbialtoaparticiple,itbecomesaparticipialphrase.Justlikeasimpleparticiple,theparticipialphraseonlyhasonejob:itmodifiesanoun.However,whereasasimpleparticiplealmostalwaysappearsbeforethenounitmodifies(asinmashedpotatoes),aparticipialphraseusuallyappearsafter:
Potatoesmashedwithmybarehands.Theparticipialphrasemashedwithmybarehandsisadjectival,tellinguswhatkindofpotatoes.ButWITHINthatadjectivalphrase,theprepositionalphrasewithmybarehandsisadverbial,modifyingmashed.Considerthissentence:
Atruckhaulingchickensalmostflattenedme.Here'sthediagram:
A.Whatistheparticipialphrase?_________________________________________________________________.B.Whatisthemainverbofthesentence?________________________________________________________.
![Page 134: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/134.jpg)
126
C.Whatisthesubjectofthesentence?____________________________________________________________.D.Whatisthedirectobjectofthesentence?______________________________________________________.E.Whatisthedirectobjectoftheparticiple,“hauling”?_________________________________________.[Answers:A.haulingchickens.B.flattened.C.truck.D.me.E.chickens.]NoticethattheDirectObjectoftheparticiple(intheaboveinstance,chickens)hasnorelationtotheDirectObjectofthemainclause(intheaboveinstance,me).TheImportanceofProximityWhenyouaddobjectsand/oradverbials,theparticiple—nowaparticipialphrase—movesfromthespotimmediatelyinfrontofthenountothespotimmediatelyafterthenoun.Butstill,it’simmediatelyadjacent.Iftheparticipialphrasestartsdriftingawayfromthenounitmodifies,badthingsstarthappening.Adjectivals,remember,aren’tverymovable.Theyneedtobeveryclosetothenounstheymodify.Itisnotunusualforaparticipialphrasetomovetothebeginningofaclause.Butifitdoes,ithastomodifythesubjectoftheclause.Why?Becausethesubjectisthefirstnoun,rightthereaftertheopeningphrase:
• Convincedthatherfriendswereouttogether,MargaretworeadisguisetoSundayschool.
• Screaminglikeabanshee,thejewelerranfromtheroom.Inbothoftheaboveexamples,theopeningparticipialphrasemodifiesthesubject(Margaretisconvincedthatherfriendsareouttogether,andthejewelerisscreaminglikeabanshee).DanglingModifiersYoumayhaveheardofdanglingmodifiers.Whenasentencebeginswithanadjectivalphrase,andthatphrasedoesn'tmodifythesubject,themodifierdangles.Considerthisexample:
Turningoffthemaindragandontooneofthesidestreets,theoceancameintoview.A.Whyisturningadanglingparticiple?_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.B.Howcouldwefixit?______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
![Page 135: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/135.jpg)
127
[Answers:A.Lookforthesubject:ocean.Buttheoceandidn'tturnoffthemaindragontoasidestreet.B.Changethemodifiersothatit'snotaparticipialphrase.Asweturnedoffthemaindragandontoasidestreet,theoceancameintoview.]Danglingmodifiersareoftenfunny:
Lockedinavaultforfiftyyears,theownerofthejewelsdecidedtosellthem.[Possibleedit:Thejewelerdecidedtosellthejewelsthathadbeenlockedinavaultforfiftyyears.]
Or,
Plunging1,000feetintothegorge,wesawYosemiteFalls.[Possibleedit:WesawYosemiteFallsplunging1,000feetintothegorge.]
Inreview,
• Aparticipleisaverbthathasbeenturnedintoanadjective.
• Aparticipialphraseisaparticipleplusadirectobject(rarelyanindirectobject)and/oradverbialmodifiers.
• Ifaparticipialphraseisatthebeginningofthesentence,itmustmodifythesubjectofthatsentence.
• Iftheparticipialphraseatthebeginningofthesentencedoesn'tmodifythegrammaticalsubject,it'scalledadanglingmodifier.
![Page 136: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/136.jpg)
128
![Page 137: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/137.jpg)
129
Quiz2.7:ParticipialPhrases
I.Wipingtheteafromhishandlebarmustache,thesmileofthishusbandiswideenoughtodriveatractorthrough.Wipingtheteafromhishandlebarmustacheisadanglingparticiple.Why?Howwouldyoufixit?II.OnawarmOctobermorning,stillbreakfastingonthepatio,abirdswoopeddownandlandedontheirtable.Stillbreakfastingonthepatioisadanglingmodifier.Explainwhy.Howwouldyoufixit?III.AfterfivehoursofansweringalltheERnurses’questionsbutnotgettingclarityonanyofmine,thedoctorfinallyenteredtheroom.Thisisnot,technicallyspeaking,adanglingmodifier,butitisasimilarproblem:it’snotthedoctorwhohasbeenansweringthenurses’questions,butthepatient.Howwouldyoufixit?
![Page 138: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/138.jpg)
130
IV.Allofourtempera-paintingwasdoneinthebackyard,half-clothed.Theparticiplehalf-clotheddangles.Explainhowthepassivevoicecontributestotheproblem.Howwouldyoufixthissentence?V.Theforestdampeningtheinsects’choruslikestagecurtainsdeadeninganorchestra’stuningbeforeaconcert.Explainwhytheabove“sentence”isafragmentratherthanasentence.Turnitintoasentence.VI.Thedogfollowedhimeverywherehewent,alternatingbetweenasetofgrowls,yips,andbarks.Thatphrasealternatingbetweenasetofgrowls,yips,andbarksgetsalittleawkward.Tryreworkingthissentencebyturningthenounsgrowls,yips,andbarks,intoparticiples.
![Page 139: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/139.jpg)
131
LectureNotesModule2,Lesson8:InfinitivePhrases
We'vebeentalkingabouthowthedifferentformsofaverbservedifferentfunctionsinasentence.Thosedifferentformsarecalledverbals.Therearethreekindsofverbals:PARTICIPLES
• Present(active)participlesendin-ing.• Past(passive)participlesendin-ed,-t,or-en.(4thprinciplepart).
GERUNDS
• We'lltalkaboutgerundsinthenextmodule.Theylookexactlylikepresentparticiples,butfunctionasnouns.
INFINITIVES
• Aninfinitiveisaverbthathastheword'to'infrontofit.Todrive.Tothink.Tobe.Tosmell.
To+verbistheformofaninfinitive,butwhatisitsfunction?Aparticipleisalwaysadjectival,andagerundisalwaysanounequivalent.Infinitives,however,canbeadjectival,adverbial,oranounequivalent.ThinkaboutthesongfromMaryPoppins,"ILovetoLaugh."Tolaughisaninfinitiveservingasadirectobject.Ilovewhat?Tolaugh.Sotheretheinfinitiveisanounequivalent.Howabouttheseexamples:
Ibroughtsomepopcorntoshare. Whatfunctiondoestoshareserve?It'samodifiertellingusWHATKINDof popcorn.Itisadjectival.
![Page 140: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/140.jpg)
132
DougMcKelveyisawritertowatch. Towatchisanadjective.Whatkindofwriter?Awritertowatch.
Iboughtthegarlictowardoffvampires. Towardoffisfunctioningadverbially.IttellsWHYIboughtthegarlic.Anotherwaytodistinguishadjectivalinfinitivesfromadverbialinfinitivesistoseewhetherornottheinfinitiveismoveable.Youcansay,Towardoffvampires,Iboughtthisgarlic.(Adverbial)Butyoucan'tsay,ToshareIbroughtthispopcorn.(Adjectival)A.Adjectivalinfinitivesalwaysappear____________________________________________________thenounstheymodify.B.Participlesusuallyappear____________________________thenounstheymodify.C.Participialphrasesusuallyappear___________________________________thenounstheymodify.[Answers:A.immediatelyafterB.beforeC.after(thoughitisnotunusualtoseethematthebeginningofaclause).]Onelastnoteonthesubjectofsplitinfinitives:Theruleagainstsplittinginfinitiveswasmadeupinthe18thcentury.Youcansplitaninfinitivewithanadverb(ie:tosecretlyeatsomecookiesor,toentirelydisregardthisarbitraryrule)ifyouwantto.Igenerallyavoidsplitinfinitivessoasnottodrawattentiontoapossiblegrammarerror.Tofixasplitinfinitive,simplymovetheadverb,asinfeelfreetodisregardentirelythisarbitraryrule.
![Page 141: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/141.jpg)
133
Quiz2.8:InfinitivePhrases
I.Everyspring,blackbirdscometothemarshbesideourhousetonest.Identifytheinfinitiveorinfinitivephrase,andanswerthesethreequestionsaboutit: 1.Isitadjectivaloradverbial? 2.Whatworddoesitmodify? 3.Whatquestiondoesitanswer?(Whichone?Whatkind?Howmany?How?When? Where?Why?Towhatextent?)II.Myattemptstowinherlovewithtubasolosonlyannoyedher.Identifytheinfinitiveorinfinitivephrase,andanswerthesethreequestionsaboutit: 1.Isitadjectivaloradverbial? 2.Whatworddoesitmodify? 3.Whatquestiondoesitanswer?(Whichone?Whatkind?Howmany?How?When? Where?Why?Towhatextent?)
![Page 142: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/142.jpg)
134
III.Richieturnedtoleavequicklyashismompulledintothedriveway.Identifytheinfinitiveorinfinitivephrase,andanswerthesethreequestionsaboutit: 1.Isitadjectivaloradverbial? 2.Whatworddoesitmodify? 3.Whatquestiondoesitanswer?(Whichone?Whatkind?Howmany?How?When? Where?Why?Towhatextent?)IV.Thebestmushroomstoeatarethenon-poisonousones.Identifytheinfinitiveorinfinitivephrase,andanswerthesethreequestionsaboutit: 1.Isitadjectivaloradverbial? 2.Whatworddoesitmodify? 3.Whatquestiondoesitanswer?(Whichone?Whatkind?Howmany?How?When? Where?Why?Towhatextent?)V.Thetoweringcanopyblockedenoughsunlighttomaketheundergrowthsparse.Identifytheinfinitiveorinfinitivephrase,andanswerthesethreequestionsaboutit: 1.Isitadjectivaloradverbial? 2.Whatworddoesitmodify? 3.Whatquestiondoesitanswer?(Whichone?Whatkind?Howmany?How?When? Where?Why?Towhatextent?)
![Page 143: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/143.jpg)
135
VI.Alittlesoyandricevinegarisallyouneedtoseasonyourbroth.Identifytheinfinitiveorinfinitivephrase,andanswerthesethreequestionsaboutit: 1.Isitadjectivaloradverbial? 2.Whatworddoesitmodify? 3.Whatquestiondoesitanswer?(Whichone?Whatkind?Howmany?How?When? Where?Why?Towhatextent?)VII.I’dtradeitalltositatthebenchatthebendinthetrail.Identifytheinfinitiveorinfinitivephrase,andanswerthesethreequestionsaboutit: 1.Isitadjectivaloradverbial? 2.Whatworddoesitmodify? 3.Whatquestiondoesitanswer?(Whichone?Whatkind?Howmany?How?When? Where?Why?Towhatextent?)
![Page 144: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/144.jpg)
136
![Page 145: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/145.jpg)
137
LectureNotesModule2,Lesson9:SubordinateClauses
Itisfinallytimetoturnourattentiontosubordinate(alsoknownasdependent)clauses.Remember,everyclausehasaSUBJECTandaVERB.Itmayhaveotherparts,buttobeaclauseitmusthavethosetwoparts.
WhenIrememberthatyouwerethepersonwhogavememyfirstjob,IfeelsorrythatIcalledyouamonster.
Whatisthemainlineofthissentence?Ifeelsorry.(Subject,Verb,PredicateComplement.)Everythingelseinthesentencemodifiesthismainclause.Here'sadiagram:
Everythingbeforethecommainthissentenceispartofanadverbialclause,tellingusWHENthesubjectfeltsorry.Therearetwomoresubordinateclauseswithinit:thatyouwerethepersonandwhogavememyfirstjob.
![Page 146: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/146.jpg)
138
Thatyouwerethepersonisservingasadirectobjectforremember,soitisanounclause.ThisistheS-V-PredicateComplementclausepattern.WhogavememyfirstjobisanadjectivalclauseansweringthequestionWHICHperson.ThisistheS-V-IO-DOclausepattern.Whatisthedirectobject?Job.IndirectObject?Me.Thereisonemoresubordinateclauseinthesentence.Golookingforanotherverbandyouwillfindit.ThatIcalledyouamonster.Thisisanadverbialclause,modifyingsorry.IttellsWHYthesubjectissorry.Sointhisonesentence,we'veseensubordinateclausesfunctionasanadverb(HOW,WHEN,WHERE,WHY,TOWHATEXTENT),adjective(WHICHONE,WHATKIND,HOWMANY),andasanoun(asasubject,directobject,orobjectofthepreposition.)We'vealsoseenthatasubordinateclausecanconformtoanyofthefiveclausepatterns.HowSubordinateClausesandMainClausesDifferAmainclausecanstandalone,andasubordinateclausecan't.Theeasiestwaytotellthedifferenceistosayyouknowitwhenyouseeit.Ifeelsorryisawholesentence.WhenIremember,Thatyouwereaperson,Whogavememyfirstjob,andThatIcalledyouamonsterareallclauses,butnoneofthemcanstandalone.Usually,aclausecan'tstandalonebecauseitstartswitheitherarelativepronoun(suchasWHO)orasubordinatingconjunction(suchasTHAT).Subordinateclauseshelpyouincludealotofadditionalinformationaboutthemainactionofthesentenceandcangiveyouoptionsforexpressingideaswithdifferentshadesofmeaning.Subordinationisonewayofsignalingtoyourreaderwhichideasoractionsareprimary,andwhichonesarealittlelessimportant—or,literally,whichideasaredependentonotherideas.Oneideaistheindependentclause.Itcouldstandalonewithoutthoseotherclauses.Buttheotherclauses—thedependentclauses—alldependonthatmainclause.However,subordinateclausescomewithtwopotentialdangers:
1. Theycantemptyoutosticktoomuchinformationintooncesentence.2. Youcanaccidentallytuckawayimportantinformationintoasubordinateclausethat
maybedeservestobeasentenceallitsown..
![Page 147: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/147.jpg)
139
LectureNotesModule2,Lesson10:AdjectiveClauses
AfewyearsagoIwroteabookcalledTheCharlatan’sBoy.ForthechaptertitlesIwentbacktoaveryoldtradition.Everychaptertitlewasaclausebeginningwiththephrase“inwhich.”
• Chapter2:InwhichIgetoutofthefeechietradeandbeginmyformaleducation.• Chapter4:InwhichIfindamama.• Chapter6:InwhichIruinafeller'shairdoandnearboutgetsmashedforit.
A.Howdoweknowthesechaptertitlesareclauses?________________________________________________________________________________________________________.B.Aretheyadjectivaloradverbialclauses?________________________________________________________________________________________________________.[Answers:A.Theyeachhaveasubjectandaverb.B.Adjectival.TheytellusWHICHchapter.]AnadjectiveclausealwayssitsascloseaspossibleAFTERthenounitmodifies.Lookfortheadjectivalclauseinthesenextexamples:
Themanwhorepairedmytricycleturnedouttobeastate-championjuggler.whorepairedmytricycle
Thestonethatthebuildersrejectedhasbecomethechiefcornerstone.thatthebuildersrejected
ThepersontowhomIgivethissceptershallbemysuccessor.towhomIgivethisscepter
![Page 148: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/148.jpg)
140
ThetownwhereIgrewupistheporkrindcapitaloftheworld.whereIgrewupThegiantwhosecheeseyoujustateisgoingtowakeupanyminutenow.whosecheeseyoujustate
TheyearswhentheSummerOlympicsareheldarealsopresidentialelectionyears.whentheSummerOlympicsareheld
Whatpatternsdidyounoticeinthoseexamples?
• theadjectiveclausecomesimmediatelyafterthenounitmodifies• theystartwithrelativepronouns("W"words)
RelativePronounsTherelativepronounsusedbyadjectiveclausesare:
• WHO• WHOM• WHOSE• WHICH• THAT• WHERE• WHEN
Relativepronounsconnecttheadjectiveclausetothemainclause.Theantecedentoftherelativepronounisthenouninthemainclausethattheadjectiveclauseismodifying.(Antecedent=thenounrenamedbyapronoun)Inthissentence,therelativepronounWHOrenamesthenounMAN,andtheclauseintroducedbyWHOmodifiesthenounMAN:
Themanwhorepairedmytricyclewasastate-championjuggler.Inthissentencediagram,thedottedlinemakescleartherelationshipbetweenthenounMANinthemainclauseandtherelativepronounWHOintheadjectiveclause.YoucanalsoseethattherelativepronounWHOisthesubjectoftheadjectiveclause.
![Page 149: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/149.jpg)
141
Orconsiderthissentence:
Thestonethatthebuildersrejectedhasbecomethechiefcornerstone.TherelativepronouninthissentenceisTHAT.
Inthesubordinateclause,whatistheverb?Rejected.Whorejected?Thebuilders.Sobuildersisthesubjectofthesubordinateclause.Thebuildersrejectedwhat?Theyrejectedthestone,whichinthesubordinateclausehasbeenrenamedthat.Sothatisthedirectobjectoftheadjectiveclause.Thestrangethinghereisthatnormallythedirectobjectcomesaftertheverb:Subject-Verb-Object.Butinanadjectiveclausetherelativepronouncomesfirst,whetheritisthesubject,object,orsomethingelse.Therelativepronouncanalsoserveastheobjectofthepreposition:
ThepersontowhomIgivemysceptershallbemysuccessor.Whomistheobjectoftheprepositionto.Thisistheonecase,bytheway,wheretherelativepronounisNOTthefirstwordofanadjectiveclause.Ifitistheobjectofthepreposition,theprepositionhastocomefirst(pre+position).Hereareafewmoreexamples:
Thegiantwhosecheeseyoujustatewillwakeupsoon.TherelativepronounWHOSEisanadjectivemodifyingCHEESE.
![Page 150: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/150.jpg)
142
Whichcheese?Thegiant'scheese.Therelativepronounwhoseisanadjectivemodifyingcheese.Whichcheese?Thegiant'scheese.
ThetownwhereIgrewupistheporkrindcapitaloftheworld.TherelativepronounWHEREservesasanadverb,telling(obviously)WHERE.Nevertheless,thewholeclauseisadjectival,tellingWHICHtown.
TheyearswhentheSummerOlympicsareheldarealsopresidentialelectionyears.Thissentenceisverysimilartotheprevioussentence:WHEN,therelativepronounintroducingtheadjectiveclause,servesanadverbialfunctionwithinitsclause.
![Page 151: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/151.jpg)
143
Quiz2.10:AdjectiveClauses
I.IwillpointtothegoatthatIlikebest.Identifytheadjectiveclauseandanswertwoquestions:
1. Whatnoundoestheadjectiveclausemodify?2. Whatgrammaticalfunction(subject,directobject,objectofpreposition,adjective,
adverb,etc.)doestherelativepronounservewithintheadjectiveclause?II.ThepostofficewhereIgotmystartisjustaroundthecornerfromhere.Identifytheadjectiveclauseandanswertwoquestions:
1. Whatnoundoestheadjectiveclausemodify?2. Whatgrammaticalfunction(subject,directobject,objectofpreposition,adjective,
adverb,etc.)doestherelativepronounservewithintheadjectiveclause?
![Page 152: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/152.jpg)
144
III.The alligator about which I told you is back again. Identifytheadjectiveclauseandanswertwoquestions:
1. Whatnoundoestheadjectiveclausemodify?2. Whatgrammaticalfunction(subject,directobject,objectofpreposition,adjective,
adverb,etc.)doestherelativepronounservewithintheadjectiveclause?IV.ThealligatorItoldyouaboutisbackagain.Identifytheadjectiveclauseandanswertwoquestions:
1. Whatnoundoestheadjectiveclausemodify?2. Whatgrammaticalfunction(subject,directobject,objectofpreposition,adjective,
adverb,etc.)doestherelativepronounservewithintheadjectiveclause?
V.Youwouldliketheplumberwhoinstalledouricemachine.Identifytheadjectiveclauseandanswertwoquestions:
1. Whatnoundoestheadjectiveclausemodify?2. Whatgrammaticalfunction(subject,directobject,objectofpreposition,adjective,
adverb,etc.)doestherelativepronounservewithintheadjectiveclause?VI.TheguywhosecarItotaledseemsannoyedwithme.Identifytheadjectiveclauseandanswertwoquestions:
1. Whatnoundoestheadjectiveclausemodify?2. Whatgrammaticalfunction(subject,directobject,objectofpreposition,adjective,
adverb,etc.)doestherelativepronounservewithintheadjectiveclause?
![Page 153: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/153.jpg)
145
LectureNotesModule2,Lesson11:AdverbClauses
Adverbialclausesstartwithsubordinatingconjunctions.Theseconjunctionsarecalledsubordinatingbecausewhentheysitinfrontofaclausethatisotherwiseindependent,theclause,asifbymagic,isrendereddependentorsubordinate.Themainclauseistransformedintoanadverbialclause.Here'samainclause:
Antonioeatssushi.Thisclausecanstandalone.Itisaperfectlygoodsentence.Butifyouputthesubordinatingconjunctionwheninfrontofit,itsuddenlybecomesasubordinate(ordependent)clause:
WhenAntonioeatssushiThisclausecannotstandaloneasasentence.Youneedtoattachittoanindependentclausebeforeyouturnitlooseinthewild:
WhenAntonioeatssushi,hefeelssophisticated.HereisapartiallistofsubordinatingclausesinEnglish:After ThanAlthough ThatAs ThoughAsif UnlessBecause UntilBefore WhenIf WheneverInorderthat WhereLest WhereverSince WhetherSothat While
![Page 154: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/154.jpg)
146
Youdon'tneedtobotherwithmemorizingthislist.Evenifyoudid,youwouldonlybememorizingapartiallist.Butgraspthisidea:Youcantakeanyindependentclausethathaseverbeenwritten,stickoneofthesewordsinfrontofit,andthatindependentclauseisnowanadverbialclausetellingHOW,WHEN,WHERE,WHY,orTOWHATEXTENT.Itusedtofunctionasasentence,butnowitisanadverb.CoordinationandSubordinationRememberthecoordinatingconjunctions:for,and,nor,but,or,yet,so.Whenyouuseacoordinatingconjunctiontoconnecttwoclausesintoacompoundsentence,youcommunicatetoyourreaderthatthetwoclausesareofequalweightandimportance.
IwantedVietnamesefood,butChuckywantedahotdog.
Thedogswaminthecanal,andthealligatorlurkednearby.
Youcancleanupyourroom,oryoucanforgetaboutgoingtothemoviestonight.Thecoordinatingconjunctionsbalancetwoactionsorideas,creatingacompoundsentence.Subordinatingconjunctionscreatemorecomplexrelationshipsbetweenactionsorideas—ahierarchy,acause-and-effect,atimesequence,aspatialrelationship,acontrast.
Whilethedogswaminthecanal,analligatorlurkednearby.
Becausethedogswamincanal,thealligatorlurkednearby.
Wheneverthedogswaminthecanal,thealligatorlurkednearby.Eachofthoseexamplesgivemoreweighttothesecondidea,makingitthemainclauseofthesentence.Butmaybewewanttomakethefirstclausetheindependentone:
Thedogswaminthecanalthoughthealligatorlurkednearby.
Thedogswaminthecanalunlessthealligatorlurkednearby.Thoseadverbialclausesnuancetowhatwasabalancedcompoundsentence.InthelastlessonyousawthattherelativepronounatthebeginningofanadjectiveclausehasagrammaticalfunctionwithinthesubordinateclauseANDithasapronoun-antecedentrelationshipwithanouninthemainclause.Thatrelativepronounstraddlesbothclauses.ThesubordinateconjunctionhasagrammaticalfunctioninNEITHERthesubordinateclausenorthemainclause.Likeacoordinatingconjunction,asubordinatingconjunctionconnectstwoclauseswithoutparticipatinginthegrammarofeitherone.
![Page 155: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/155.jpg)
147
• Whenyoudiagramacompoundsentence(twoindependentclausesjoinedbyacoordinatingconjunction),thecoordinatingconjunctionsitsonadottedlinebetweenthetwoindependentclauses.
• Whenyoudiagramacomplexsentencewithanadverbialclause,thesubordinatingconjunctionalsositsonadottedlinebetweenthetwoclauses.
• Inacomplexsentencewithanadjectivalclause,therelativepronoun,you'llremember,hastohaveanantecedentonthemainclauseANDitplaysagrammaticalroleinthesubordinateclause.
Asyoucanseefromthediagramsbelow,insignificantwaysacomplexsentencewithanadverbialclausehasmoreincommonwithacompoundsentencethanwithacomplexsentencewithanadjectiveclause.Thisisacompoundsentence:
Thedogswaminthecanal,andthealligatorswamnearby.Thisisacomplexsentencewithanadverbialphrase:
Thedogswaminthecanalthoughthealligatorlurkednearby.
Noticehowsimilarthisdiagramlookstothediagramofthecompoundsentence;theonlydifferenceisthedifferentconjunction.
![Page 156: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/156.jpg)
148
Thisisacomplexsentencewithanadjectiveclause:
Thealligatorthatlurkedintheweedswatchedthedogswimminginthecanal.
Therelativepronouninthissentencefunctionsverydifferentlyfromthesubordinatingconjunctioninthesentencebeforeit.Likealladverbs,adverbialclausesaremoveablewhentheymodifyaverb.Ifyouputyouradverbialclauseatthebeginningofthesentence,youneedacommabeforethemainclausestarts.Also,anadverbialclausecanmodifyanadjectiveoranadverb,though,aswithotheradverbialsmodifyingadjectivesandadverbs,itisnotmoveable.ConsiderthesentenceAreyousurethatthisisallowed?Theclausethatthisisallowedisadverbial,modifyingsure.
![Page 157: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/157.jpg)
149
Let'sreview.A.Anadverbialclauselooksjustlikeanindependentclause,exceptthatithasa___________________________________________________________________________atthebeginning.B.Unliketherelativepronouninanadjectiveclause,thissubordinatingconjunction__________________________________serveagrammaticalfunctionwithintheclause.C.Theadverbialclausealwaysanswersoneoftheadverbquestions:__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.D.Ifyouradverbialclausemodifiesaverb,itis________________________________________.[Answers:A.Subordinatingconjunction.B.doesnot.C.HOW,WHERE,WHEN,WHY,TOWHATEXTENT.D.moveable.]
![Page 158: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/158.jpg)
150
![Page 159: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/159.jpg)
151
Quiz2.11:AdverbClauses
I.AfterJohnBarbershowedup,thepartywasprettylame.1. Identifytheadverbialclause(therecouldbemorethanone).2. Tellwhatquestiontheclauseanswers(how,when,where,why,towhatextent)3. Tellwhattheclausemodifies.
II.Thepartywasn'tthesameafterJohnBarbershowedup.
1. Identifytheadverbialclause(therecouldbemorethanone).2. Tellwhatquestiontheclauseanswers(how,when,where,why,towhatextent)3. Tellwhattheclausemodifies.
![Page 160: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/160.jpg)
152
III. Afterthatpoint,Ididn'tofferanyinformationunlesssomeoneaskedforit.1. Identifytheadverbialclause(therecouldbemorethanone).2. Tellwhatquestiontheclauseanswers(how,when,where,why,towhatextent)3. Tellwhattheclausemodifies.
IV.Hewasclosertovictorythanhecouldhaveknown.
1. Identifytheadverbialclause(therecouldbemorethanone).2. Tellwhatquestiontheclauseanswers(how,when,where,why,towhatextent)3. Tellwhattheclausemodifies.
V.Slugsleaveatrailofslimeeverywheretheygo.
1. Identifytheadverbialclause(therecouldbemorethanone).2. Tellwhatquestiontheclauseanswers(how,when,where,why,towhatextent)3. Tellwhattheclausemodifies.
![Page 161: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/161.jpg)
153
VI.Linda'seyesburnedwithtearsofgratitudeasAntoniobroughtthebananapuddingintothediningroom.
1. Identifytheadverbialclause(therecouldbemorethanone).2. Tellwhatquestiontheclauseanswers(how,when,where,why,towhatextent)3. Tellwhattheclausemodifies.
VII.Asthecashiertookherplacebehindthecounter.
1. Identifytheadverbialclause(therecouldbemorethanone).2. Tellwhatquestiontheclauseanswers(how,when,where,why,towhatextent)3. Tellwhattheclausemodifies.
VIII. IamasangryasIhaveeverbeen.
1. Identifytheadverbialclause(therecouldbemorethanone).2. Tellwhatquestiontheclauseanswers(how,when,where,why,towhatextent)3. Tellwhattheclausemodifies.
![Page 162: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/162.jpg)
154
IX. WhenIwasfourteen,aftermymotherdiedandmyfatherranoff,mygrandmothersentmetoliveinagrouphomenearTallahassee.
1. Identifytheadverbialclause(therecouldbemorethanone).2. Tellwhatquestiontheclauseanswers(how,when,where,why,towhatextent)3. Tellwhattheclausemodifies.
![Page 163: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/163.jpg)
155
LectureNotesModule2,Lesson12:MoreonSubordinateClauses
Therearestillafewtopicsrelatedtosubordinateclausesthatwehavenotcovered.Wewillgatherthemintothislesson,grab-bagstyle.Thatv.WhoandWhomBeawareoftheantecedentofyourrelativepronoun.(Remember,theantecedentisthenounOUTSIDEthesubordinateclausethattherelativepronounrenames.)Iftheantecedentisahumanbeing,useWHOorWHOM,notTHAT.IftheantecedentisNOTahumanbeing,useTHAT.
ThebookTHATwasonthetopshelffellonmyhead.YouwouldNOTsay
MarthaisthewomanthatIlove.
YouWOULDsay
MarthaisthewomanwhomIlove.OmittingtheRelativePronounWhentherelativepronounservesastheDirectObjectinthesubordinateclauseitintroduces,itisverycommonandveryacceptabletoOMITit.Youcansay
ThestoneTHATthebuildersrejected,
oryoucanomittherelativepronounandsay
![Page 164: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/164.jpg)
156
Thestonethebuildersrejected.Eitherisacceptable.Bythesametoken,youcaneithersay
MarthaisthewomanwhomIlove,
oryoucansay
MarthaisthewomanIlove.
ThistechniqueofomittingtherelativepronounhastheaddedbenefitofkeepingyoufromhavingtodecidewhetherTHAT,WHO,orWHOMisright.WhoandWhomWhendoyousayWHO,andwhendoyousayWHOM?Thisisapointofgrammarthatalotofpeoplehavetroublewith.Tounderstandthisissue,wehavetostartwiththenominativeandobjectivecasesofpronouns.Everypersonalpronounhasanominativeandanobjectivecase:NominativeCase: ObjectiveCaseI MeYou YouHe/She/It Him/Her/It We UsYou YouThey ThemWhenapronounisusedasasubjectorapredicatenominative,youusethenominativecase.
Hecalledthepolice.Wecalledthepolice.Theycalledthepolice.(Subject)Whenapronounisusedasanobject(directobject,indirectobject,orobjectofpreposition),youusetheobjectivecase.
Thepolicecalledhim.Thepolicecalledus.Thepolicecalledthem.(DirectObject)Thepolicegavehimacall.Thepolicegavethemacall.(IndirectObject)Thepolicehadnobusinesswithhim.Thepolicehadnobusinesswithus.(ObjectofPreposition)
![Page 165: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/165.jpg)
157
Peoplealmostnevergetthiswrongonthemainline,exceptfortwosituations:
1. Itiscommonforpeopletousetheobjectivecaseforpredicatenominatives—thatis,tosayThisishim(objectivecase)insteadofThisishe(nominativecase).
2. Itisalsocommonforpeopletousethewrongcaseincompounds.TheyoftensaythingslikeCindyandmearecoming(theobjectivecaseusedinthesubjectspot)whentheyshouldusethenominativecase,CindyandIarecoming.OrtheymightsayWendyinvitedCindyandI(nominativecaseinanobjectspot)whentheyshouldsayWendyinvitedCindyandme.
There’saneasyruleofthumbhere.Beforeyousettleonapronouninthiskindofcompoundconstruction,trythepronounwithouttheothernoun.YouwouldneversayMeamcoming,soyouknownottosayCindyandmearecoming.Bythesametoken,youwouldneversayWendyinvitedI,soyouknownottosayWendyinvitedCindyandI.Therelativepronounwho/whomalsohasanominativeandobjectivecase.Nominative ObjectiveCaseWho WhomTousetherightformoftherelativepronoun,figureoutwhatgrammaticalfunctionitserveswithinthesubordinateclauseandchooseaccordingly.Ifitisthesubjectorpredicatenominativewithinthesubordinateclause,usethenominative-casewho.Ifitisanobjectwithinthesubordinateclause,usetheobjective-casewhom.Considerthissentence:
• Isawaguywho/whomlookslikeaparrot.Whichiscorrect?Whoorwhom?Sincetherelativepronounisthesubjectoftheadjectiveclause,whoiscorrect.Hereisadiagram:
Youmaynoticethatguy,theantecedentofwho,isthedirectobjectofthemainclause.Thathasnothingtodowiththecaseofwho/whom.Allyoucareaboutisthepronoun'sfunctioninthesubordinateclause.
![Page 166: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/166.jpg)
158
Orconsiderthissentence:
• Thatguywho/whomyoulikestoppedbytoday.Whoorwhom?Withinthesubordinateclause,therelativepronounisthedirectobject.Sowhomisthecorrectchoice.
Again,ignorethemainclausewhendecidingwhichrelativepronountouse.Thewho/whompronounrenamesguy,thesubjectofthemainclause.Butwithinitsownclauseit'sadirectobject.Ifit'ssoeasytogetthecaserightforpersonalpronounsinthemainclause,whyisithardtogetthecaserightforarelativepronouninasubordinateclause?BecauseEnglishisanSVOlanguage:werelyheavilyonwordordertoknowwhetherawordisasubjectoranobject.Butinasubordinateclause,wordorderisnohelp.Nomatterwhatgrammaticalfunctionitserves,therelativepronounalwayscomesatthebeginningofitssubordinateclause.EllipticalClausesAnellipticalclauseisaclauseinwhichwordsaremissing.Anellipsisisthethree-dotpunctuationmark(...)thatshowswhenwordshavebeenomitted,sothatshouldhelpyourememberwhatanellipticalclauseis.Lookatthissentencewithanadverbialclausemodifyingtheadjectivefaster:
WendellranfasterthanIdid.ThanIdidisanadverbialclausemodifyingfaster(ittellstowhatextent).Thisiswhatwecallanellipticalclause.Itismissingpartoftheverb:itisashortenedversionofthemorecompleteclauseWendellranfasterthanIdidrun.Often,however,anellipticalclausewillleaveouttheWHOLEverb:
WendellranfasterthanI.Theverbisomitted,butthepronounIisstillasubject.Thisexplainswhypeoplewhoarebeingextra-propersayYouareuglierthanIinsteadofYouareuglierthanme.OrLindais
![Page 167: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/167.jpg)
159
tallerthansheinsteadofLindaistallerthanher.Thosefinalpronouns(I,she)arethesubjectsofellipticalclauses,sotheyareinthenominativecase.Why,then,doesitfeelmorenaturaltousetheobjectiveforms,meandher?Ithinkit’sbecausewithouttheverb,thanfeelslikeapreposition,sothepronounfeelsmoreliketheobjectofaprepositionthanthesubjectofaclause.Andyoualreadyknowthattheobjectofaprepositionshouldbeintheobjectivecase.So,Lindaistallerthanherisincorrectusage.Butitisnotillogical.Peoplemakethismistakebecausetheyarerelyingonlogic.Indeed,mostgrammarerrorsaretheresultofapersonbeingTOOlogical:theyareapplyinglogicinsteadofapplyingtheexceptiontothelogicinoneparticularcase.Atoddlersays“mouses”insteadof“mice”becausehefullyunderstandsandappliesthelogicbywhichwenormallyformthepluralinEnglish.Hejusthasn’tlearnedthatinthecaseofmouseandmice,youhavetothrowoutlogicanddosomethingelse.Whydopeoplemakethemistakeofusingtheapostrophetoformthepossessiveits?BecauseforeveryotherwordintheEnglishlanguage,youuseanapostrophetoformthepossessive.Itisaperfectlylogicalmistake.So,ifyouareoneofthosepeoplewhotakespleasureinbeatinguponotherpeoplewhentheywriteit'swhentheymeanits,besureyouunderstandthatyouarebeatingthemupforbeingtoological.True,it’sausageerror.Andyes,thepersonwhomakesthaterrorisn’tinthegrammarclub.Butnotbeingintheclubisn’tthesamethingasbeingstupid.
![Page 168: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/168.jpg)
160
![Page 169: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/169.jpg)
161
Quiz2:12:MoreonSubordinateClauses
I.Heshowedhiscardtoanyone(who/whom/that)asked.Choosethecorrectpronoun. A.who B.whom C.thatII.PeanutMontgomery,thefriend(who/whom/that)GeorgeJoneshadinsulted,waswillingtoforgive.Choosethecorrectpronoun. A.who B.whom C.thatIII.People(who/whom/that)knewJimCarrolloftenremarkedonhisgenerosity.Choosethecorrectpronoun. A.who B.whom C.thatIV.People(who/whom/that)JohnBarberknowsoftentrytoavoidhim.Choosethecorrectpronoun. A.who B.whom C.that
![Page 170: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/170.jpg)
162
V.Iamheof(who/whom)youspeak.Choosethecorrectpronoun. A.who B.whom VI.Cindyand(I/me)chasedapanther.Choosethecorrectpronoun. A.I B.meVII.ApantherchasedCindyand(I/me).Choosethecorrectpronoun. A.I B.meVIII.Whyisittechnicallypropertosay,“Iamtallerthanhe?”IX.Whyarepeoplelikelytosay,"Iamtallerthanhim?"
![Page 171: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/171.jpg)
163
LectureNotesModule2,Lesson13:MisplacedModifiers
Welookedatdanglingmodifiersafewlessonsago.Weshouldprobablylookatmisplacedmodifiersbeforewewrapupourunitonmodifiers.Amisplacedmodifierissimplyamodifierthathasdriftedtoofarfromtheworditmodifies.Theconsequenceisthatitusuallyendsuplookinglikeitmodifiessomeotherword.
TwocarswerereportedstolenbytheMaconPoliceyesterday.ContexttellsusthattheMaconpoliceprobablyhaven'tbecomearingofcarthieves.Butthegrammarallowsforthatpossibility.ThephrasebytheMaconPoliceisanadverbialprepositionalphrase.ItanswersthequestionHOWaboutaverb.Buttherearetwoverbalsinthissentence(werereportedandstolen).Yourreadingbrainexpecttheadverbialphrasetomodifythenearestverb.Eventhoughadverbialsaremoveable,youcan'tmovethemtoaspotwherethey'reclosertoanotherverbthantheoneyouintendedthemtomodify.Therealproblemhereisthepassivevoice.Fixthepassivevoicesandthemodifierisfixedtoo.
TheMaconPolicereportedtwocarsstolenyesterday.HereisanexampleI'veseenonacoupleofgrammarwebsites:
YokoOnowilltalkaboutherhusband,JohnLennon,whowaskilledinaninterviewwithBarbaraWalters.
![Page 172: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/172.jpg)
164
JohnLennon,ofcourse,wasnotkilledinaninterviewwithBarbaraWalters.Inthissentence,twoadverbialprepositionalphrasesaresupposedtomodifythesameverb:
• YokoOnowilltalkaboutherhusbandJohnLennon.• YokoOnowilltalkinaninterviewtheBarbaraWalters.
Butinthemiddleofthatthewriterhasaddedanadjectivalclause,whowaskilled,tomodifyJohnLennon.Thesecondadverbial(inaninterviewwithBarbaraWalters)isclosertotheverbwaskilledthantotheverbwilltalk.Youcouldfixthesentencethisway:
InaninterviewwithBarbaraWalters,YokoOnowilltalkaboutherhusband,JohnLennon,whowaskilled.
Butnowthesentencefallsalittleflat,doesn'tit?Grammarisneverjustgrammar.Cleargrammarhelpsyouseemoreclearlywhatishappeninginyoursentence.Thecorrectedsentenceabovemightmakeyousay,"Waitaminute,that'snotasinterestingasIthoughtitwouldbe."Nowyouhaveachancetocorrectitagain.
InaninterviewwithBarbaraWalters,YokoOnowilltalkaboutherhusband,JohnLennon,whowaskilledbyamentallyunstablefan.
or
InaninterviewwithBarbaraWalters,YokoOnowilltalkaboutherhusband,JohnLennon.JohnLennonwasonlyfortyyearsoldwhenhewasassassinatedoutsidehisNewYorkCityhomebyamentallyunstablefan.
Cleargrammar,goodverbs,andconcretenounsexposeyouandholdyouaccountable.Ittakescouragetowriteclearly.
![Page 173: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/173.jpg)
165
Quiz2.13:MisplacedandDanglingModifiers
I.Iputupwithacoachwhoyellsatmebecauseheknowshowtotrainchampions.Thissentencehasatleastonemisplacedordanglingmodifier.Rewriteforclarity.Remember,youalwayshavetheoptionofsplittingasentenceintomorethanonesentence.II.Fromtheagesoftwelvetoeighteen,halfofmyweekendswerespentatRandall’shousemakingmovies.Thissentencehasatleastonemisplacedordanglingmodifier.Rewriteforclarity.Remember,youalwayshavetheoptionofsplittingasentenceintomorethanonesentence.III.Nearweightless,youcannotfeelthemicrochiprestinginyourpalmifyoucloseyoureyes.Thissentencehasatleastonemisplacedordanglingmodifier.Rewriteforclarity.Remember,youalwayshavetheoptionofsplittingasentenceintomorethanonesentence.
![Page 174: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/174.jpg)
166
IV.Mikelookedathiseldestsonwithahardface.Thissentencehasatleastonemisplacedordanglingmodifier.Rewriteforclarity.Remember,youalwayshavetheoptionofsplittingasentenceintomorethanonesentence.V.Weclearedawaywebsdrippingwiththemorningmistfromthelogbridgeswecrossed.Thissentencehasatleastonemisplacedordanglingmodifier.Rewriteforclarity.Remember,youalwayshavetheoptionofsplittingasentenceintomorethanonesentence.VI.BornwithGermanbonesandraisedalongsideapuppyfrolickinginanovergrownpasture,oftencrawlingalongacreekbedtocatchtadpoles,balletmademefeelmorelovelyanddaintythananything.Thissentencehasatleastonemisplacedordanglingmodifier.Rewriteforclarity.Remember,youalwayshavetheoptionofsplittingasentenceintomorethanonesentence.VII.MyfavoriteprojectwasashadowboxImadein2004ofheroldjewelrytohanginherbathroom.Thissentencehasatleastonemisplacedordanglingmodifier.Rewriteforclarity.Remember,youalwayshavetheoptionofsplittingasentenceintomorethanonesentence.
![Page 175: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/175.jpg)
167
LectureNotes
Module2,Lesson14:Conclusion
We'vebeenprettytechnicalinthemoduleandspentalotoftimecorrectingotherpeople'ssentences.Butthisisn'tapuregrammarclass.ThisisaGrammarforWritersclass.I'mnottryingtomakeyouabettergrammarNazi.Allofthisgrammartalkisintendedtomakeyouabetterwriter.Writingisproblem-solving.Themoretoolsyouhaveinyourtoolbox,thebetteryou'reequippedtosolveagivenproblem.Thehead-spinningcomplexityofprepositionalphrasesandparticiplesandinfinitivesandadjectiveclausesandsoforthiswhatmakeslanguagesoflexible.Lookatthissentence:
Pleasetaketimetolookoverthebrochurethatisenclosedwithyourfamily.Nowthatyou'reagrammargenius,youknowthattheadverbialprepositionalphrasewithyourfamilyisamisplacedmodifier.Itshouldmodifytheverblookover,butit'sclosertoisenclosed.Isenclosedisanadjectiveclause,butyoucouldfixthesentencebymakingitaparticiple.
Pleasetaketimetolookovertheenclosedbrochurewithyourfamily.Ofcourse,youcouldprobablyfeelyourwaytomanyofthesesolutionswithoutknowingthetechnicalnamesforthem.ButknowingtheterminologyandunderstandingtherelationshipsgivesmealotofconfidenceasIapproachawritingproblem.Thebiggesttake-awayfromModule1was:Everytimeyouwriteasentence,knowwheretherealactionis.Writeinsuchawaythattheactionisexpressedasaverbandtheactoristhesubjectoftheverb.
![Page 176: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/176.jpg)
168
Thebiggesttake-awayfromModule2is:Knowwhatissupposedtomodifywhatinyoursentencesandbesurethatit’sobvioustoyourreaderaswell.Foradjectivals,thatmeanstheadjectivalneedstobeascloseaspossibletothenounitmodifies.Foradverbials,thoughtheyaremoveableanddon'thavetoberightnexttotheverbtheymodify,domakesurethereisn'tanotherverbsneakingbetweenthemandinterceptingthemodifier.Modificationmakesiteasytocramalotofinformationintoonesentence.Thiscanbeagoodthing,anditcanbeabadthing.You'llseewritingadvicesaying,"cutdownonsubordinateclausesandprepositionalphrases"or"simplify!"Cuttingdownwillsimplifyyourprose,buthere'sthesecretaboutsimplicityandcomplexity:Yourreaderisn'taskingforsimplisticwriting.Yourreaderdoesn'talwaysneedshortsentences.Yourreadercanhandlecomplexity.Whatyourreaderreallywantsistofeelconfidentthathecangetfromsubjecttoverbtoobject.HewantstoknowWHODIDWHAT.Soaddallthemodificationyouwant.Alotofcolorandlifecomestoyourstorythroughmodifiers.Butmakesureyourmodifiersdon'timpedeyourreader'sprogressfromsubjecttoverbtoobject.Inthenextmodule,we'lltacklenounequivalents:nounclauses,gerunds,andinfinitivesservingasnouns.
![Page 177: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/177.jpg)
169
LectureNotesModule3,Lesson1:Introduction
Inourexamplessofar,we'vetalkedalmostexclusivelyaboutconcretenouns:raccoon,tricycle,Cindy,Wendell,etc.Concretenounsdescribethingsyoucanseewithyoureyeballs,hearwithyourears,andtouchwithyourhands.Abstractnounsdescribeideas:liberty,equality,fraternity,sanctification,justification,anger,love,etc.Usingfewerabstractnounsandmoreconcretenounsgivesyourreadersomethingtolookat.Insteadoftellingyourreaderthatthedishwasherrepairmanwasfullofanger,pictureanangrydishwasherrepairman.Giveyourreadertheexperienceofseeingandlisteningtohim.Thereadercancometotheconclusionthathe'sangryonhisown."Hmm,thatdishwasherrepairmanturnedredinthefaceanddumpedallhisappliancerepairtoolsonthegroundandcussedabluestreak...hemustbeangry."Remember,yourreaderisalwayslookingtoknowWHODIDWHAT,andthatstoryiseasiertograspwhentheWHOissomethinghecanperceivewithhissenses.
Sometimes,abstractionisexactlywhatyouneed.But,everyproblematicconstructionintheEnglishlanguageexistsbecausetherearesituationsinwhichit'snotaproblem.It'sexactlywhatyouneed.Sometimeswe'renottalkingaboutraccoonsandtricycles.Sometimeswe'retalkingaboutabstractideasandconcepts.Forexample,you'vebeenlisteningtometalkforhoursaboutclausesandphrases,subjects,verbs,anddirectobjects.Sobeasconcreteasyoucan,butsometimesyoucan'tbeconcrete.Oneofthethingsthatsetshumanbeingsapartfromanimalsandgrown-upsapart
![Page 178: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/178.jpg)
170
fromtoddlersisthatweareabletohandleabstractthought.Democracy.Supply-sideeconomics.Faith,hope,andlove.Here'ssomethingreallyinterestingaboutabstractnouns:Wheneveryouchangeanotherpartofspeechintoanoun,thatnounwillalwaysbeanabstraction.Tofertilizebecomesfertilization.Reactbecomesreaction.Bluebecomesblueness.Decrepitbecomesdecrepitude.Now,Englishgrammardoesn'tcarewhetheryournounsareabstractorconcrete.Grammatically,IamafraidofbearsisexactlythesameasIamafraidofdecrepitude.TheraccoonrattledthetrashcanandDemocracyrattledthetrashcanarebothcorrect.(Thoughthatsecondonedoesn'tmakeawholelotofsense.)Grammardoesn'tcarewhatnoungoesinthesubjectspot,itjusthastobeanounoranounequivalent.Nounequivalentsarethesubjectofthisshortmodule.Wearegoingtobelookingatphrasesandclausesthatfunctionasnounsinotherphrasesandclauses.Lookatthesimilaritiesintheseexamples:
Iamafraidofbears.Bears=concretenoun
Iamafraidofdecrepitude.Decrepitude=abstractnoun
Iamafraidofwhoeverhasbeenbreakingintocarsatnight.Whoeverhasbeenbreakingintocars=nounclause
Intheaboveexamples,bears,decrepitude,andwhoeverhasbeenbreakingintocarsatnightallfitequallywellintothatObjectofthePreposition(of)spot.Grammardoesn'tcare.Ifit'sanounoranounequivalent,it'swelcometodoanynounjobitwantstovolunteerfor:SubjectDirectObjectIndirectObjectPredicateComplementObjectiveComplementObjectofthePrepositionAppositiveSowhilenounclausesandgerundsandinfinitivesmakeformorecomplicatedsentences,therearestillonlyfiveclausepatterns:
![Page 179: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/179.jpg)
171
1.Subject-Verb2.Subject-Verb-DirectObject3.Subject-Verb-IndirectObject-DirectObject4.Subject-Verb-DirectObject-ObjectiveComplement5.Subject-LinkingVerb-PredicateComplementYouroldSubjectFinder,DirectObjectFinder,andIndirectObjectFinderstillworkthesamewayaswell.Forinstance:Iwillfindwhoeverhasbeengoingaroundatnightandbreakingintocars.Iwillfindwhat?Whoeverhasbeengoingaroundatnightandbreakingintocars.
Allofthenounequivalentswe'rediscussinginthisunitarerepresentedbythatlittlestandyouseethereintheDirectObjectspot.Aswelaunchintonounequivalents,thingswillgetprettycomplicated.Englishgrammarallowsfortremendouscomplexity.Theonlyreasonwecanmakesenseofthatcomplexityisthatcertainstructuresaresimpleandrigid.Nothinghaschangedaboutprepositionalphrasesorparticipialphrases.Ifyoufindyourselfscratchingyourhead,rememberthattherearestillonlyfiveclausepatterns.
![Page 180: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/180.jpg)
172
![Page 181: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/181.jpg)
173
LectureNotesModule3,Lesson2:NounClauses
Whenweapproachagrammaticalconstruction,wealwayshavetopayattentiontowhatit'smadeof(form)andwhatitdoes(function.)Inform,anounclauselookslikeanadjectiveclause.Considerthesubordinateclause,Whosewoodstheseare.Isthisanadjectiveclauseoranounclause?Itcan'tstandonitsown,sowehavetoattachittoamainclausetofindout:
Thefarmerwhosewoodstheseareprobablywouldn'tmindifwecampedhere.Therelativepronounwhosereferstothefarmerinthemainclause,sothisisanadjectiveclause.Butwhataboutinanother,veryfamous,sentencefromRobertFrost?
WhosewoodstheseareIthinkIknow.Forclarity'ssake,let’sputthissentenceinamorenormalorder:IthinkIknowwhosewoodstheseare.Whatistheclausedoing?It'snotreferringbacktoanything.It'sservingasthedirectobject.Iknowwhat?Iknowwhosewoodstheseare.Whoseisstillanadjectivemodifyingwoods,butitdoesn'treachouttothemainclausebecauseit'sPARTofthemainclause.1.Justlikeanadjectiveclause,anounclausealwaysstartswitha________________________________________.
![Page 182: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/182.jpg)
174
2.Thesesixrelativepronounssignaladjectiveclauses:_______________,_______________,_______________,_______________,_______________,_______________.[Answers:1.Relativepronoun2.WHO,WHOM,WHICH,WHEN,WHERE,THAT]Anounclausecanbeintroducedbythoseplusafewmore:WHAT,WHATEVER,WHOEVER,WHOMEVER,WHICHEVERSoanytimeyouseeoneofthosefiverelativepronounsatthebeginningofaclause,youknowyouarelookingatanounclause.Nounclausescandoanythingregularnounscando,buttheyareusuallysubjects,directobjects,predicatecomplements,andobjectsofprepositions.Considerthenounclausewhoeverbroughtthispieinthefollowingfourexamples:A.WHOEVERBROUGHTTHISPIEismynewbestfriend.SUBJECTB.MynewbestfriendisWHOEVERBROUGHTTHISPIE.PREDICATECOMPLEMENTC.IwanttohugWHOEVERBROUGHTTHISPIE.DIRECTOBJECTD.IwanttogiveahugtoWHOEVERBROUGHTTHISPIE.OBJECTOFAPREPOSITIONNoticethatinthoselasttwoexamples—inwhichthenounclauseservesasadirectobjectandasanobjectofapreposition—weusewhoever,notwhomever.Thatis,weusethenominativecase,nottheobjectivecase.Whyisthat?Becausewithintheclausewherewhoeverlives,it’sthesubject.Soitdoesn’tmatterthatthenounclauseservesasanobject.Bythesametoken,inthesentenceWHOMEVERYOUCHOOSEisfinewithme,wesaywhomeverbecausetherelativepronounisthedirectobjectofthenounclause.Itmakesnodifferencethatthenounclauseisthesubjectofthesentence.Remember,inanounclausetherelativepronoundoesn'thaveanantecedent.It'snotmodifyinganything.OnequickthingaboutthewordTHAT:sometimesTHATdoesn'tserveagrammaticalpurpose.
Marthasaidthatshewasterrifiedoflemurs.Marthasaidshewasterrifiedoflemurs.
Thenounclausethatshewasterrifiedoflemursservesasthedirectobject.Butthatplaysnoroleintheclause.Itsimplyalertsthereader,"Hey,you'reabouttoseeanounclause."Thesentenceisfinewithoutit.Keepingitisreallyamatterofpreferenceandrhythm.
![Page 183: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/183.jpg)
175
Spendsometimeonthequizforthislesson.ItcoversafewvariationsIcouldn'tgettointhelesson.
![Page 184: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/184.jpg)
176
![Page 185: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/185.jpg)
177
Quiz3.2A:NounClauses
Note:Someofthesesentenceshaveothersubordinateclausesinadditiontothenounclause.You'vebeenwarned!I.Whichevertableyoupickisfinewithme. A.Whatisthenounclause? B.Whatfunctiondoesthenounclauseserveinthesentence(subject,directobject, indirectobject,predicatecomplement,objectivecomplement,orobjectofthe preposition)?II.Iamfinewithwhichevertableyoupick. A.Whatisthenounclause? B.Whatfunctiondoesthenounclauseserveinthesentence(subject,directobject, indirectobject,predicatecomplement,objectivecomplement,orobjectofthe preposition)?
![Page 186: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/186.jpg)
178
III.IquicklylearnedthatGeorgehadhisownagenda. A.Whatisthenounclause? B.Whatfunctiondoesthenounclauseserveinthesentence(subject,directobject, indirectobject,predicatecomplement,objectivecomplement,orobjectofthe preposition)?IV.IthoughtIwasbeinggenerouswhenIofferedmyhalf-eatenhotdog. A.Whatisthenounclause? B.Whatfunctiondoesthenounclauseserveinthesentence(subject,directobject, indirectobject,predicatecomplement,objectivecomplement,orobjectofthe preposition)?V.Youshouldsendathank-younotetowhoeverinterviewedyou. A.Whatisthenounclause? B.Whatfunctiondoesthenounclauseserveinthesentence(subject,directobject, indirectobject,predicatecomplement,objectivecomplement,orobjectofthe preposition)?
![Page 187: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/187.jpg)
179
VI.Youshouldsendwhoeverinterviewedyouathank-younote. A.Whatisthenounclause? B.Whatfunctiondoesthenounclauseserveinthesentence(subject,directobject, indirectobject,predicatecomplement,objectivecomplement,orobjectofthe preposition)?VII.Whomever they appoint will only serve until the special election in August. A.Whatisthenounclause? B.Whatfunctiondoesthenounclauseserveinthesentence(subject,directobject, indirectobject,predicatecomplement,objectivecomplement,orobjectofthe preposition)?VIII.Whoever is appointed will only serve until the special election in August. A.Whatisthenounclause? B.Whatfunctiondoesthenounclauseserveinthesentence(subject,directobject, indirectobject,predicatecomplement,objectivecomplement,orobjectofthe preposition)?
![Page 188: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/188.jpg)
180
![Page 189: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/189.jpg)
181
Quiz3.2B:NounClauses
Youhavenowstudiedallthevarietiesofdependentclauses:adjectiveclauses,adverbclauses,andnounclauses.Thisquizwillputthemalltogether.Foreachofthefollowingsentences,identifythehighlightedclauseasanadjectiveclause,anadverbclause,anounclause,oramainclause.I.As she walks up to the counter, Martha pats her hair net, which still covers her tightly-wound bun of gray hair. A.AdjectiveClause B.AdverbClause C.NounClause D.MainClauseII.As she walks up to the counter, Martha pats her hair net, which still covers her tightly-wound bun of gray hair. A.AdjectiveClause B.AdverbClause C.NounClause D.MainClauseIII.As she walks up to the counter, Martha pats her hair net, which still covers her tightly-wound bun of gray hair. A.AdjectiveClause B.AdverbClause C.NounClause D.MainClause
![Page 190: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/190.jpg)
182
IV.Thetravelerseeswhathesees;thetouristseeswhathehascometosee.(G.K.Chesterton) A.AdjectiveClause B.AdverbClause C.NounClause D.MainClauseV.GodcannotgiveusahappinessandpeaceapartfromHimself,becauseitisnotthere.Thereisnosuchthing.(C.S.Lewis) A.AdjectiveClause B.AdverbClause C.NounClause D.MainClauseVI.There'smanyabestsellerthatcouldhavebeenpreventedbyagoodteacher.(FlanneryO'Connor) A.AdjectiveClause B.AdverbClause C.NounClause D.MainClauseVII.The last time I encountered such a smell was when I toured a coleslaw factory. A.AdjectiveClause B.AdverbClause C.NounClause D.MainClauseVIII.The last time I encountered such a smell was when I toured a coleslaw factory. A.AdjectiveClause B.AdverbClause C.NounClause D.MainClauseIX.Shelookedatniceyoungmenasifshecouldsmelltheirstupidity.(FlanneryO'Connor) A.AdjectiveClause B.AdverbClause C.NounClause D.MainClause
![Page 191: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/191.jpg)
183
X.Shelookedatniceyoungmenasifshecouldsmelltheirstupidity.(FlanneryO'Connor) A.AdjectiveClause B.AdverbClause C.NounClause D.MainClause
![Page 192: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/192.jpg)
184
![Page 193: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/193.jpg)
185
LectureNotesModule3,Lesson3:GerundsandInfinitives
InfinitivesandGerundsarebothverbals—verbformsthatfunctionassomethingbesidesverbs.Everyverbyoucanthinkofhasbothagerundformandaninfinitiveform.Gerundsfunctionasnouns.InfinitivesCANfunctionasnouns.(WealreadycoveredadverbialandadjectivalinfinitivesinModule2.)Thegerundform=theSecondPrincipalPart(the-ingform)Theinfinitiveform=thewordto+theverb1.Thegerundformofswimis______________________________________________________________________.2.Theinfinitiveformofswimis____________________________________________________________________.3.Thegerundformofsnorkelis___________________________________________________________________.4.Theinfinitiveformofshuttleis__________________________________________________________________.[1.Swimming,2.Toswim,3.Snorkeling,4.Toshuttle]You'llnoticethatthegerundformlooksjustlikeapresentparticiple,whichalsolooksjustliketheformoftheverbusedintheprogressivetenses(wasswimming,isswimming,willbeswimming).You'llalsonoticethattheinfinitivefunctioningasanounlooksexactlyliketheinfinitivefunctioningasanadjectiveoradverb.Sohowdoyoutellthemallapart?Yourecognizeitsfunction.IfitanswersWHICHONEorWHATKINDaboutanoun,it’sanadjectivalmodifier.
![Page 194: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/194.jpg)
186
IfitanswersHOW,WHEN,WHERE,WHYorTOWHATEXTENTaboutaverb,anadjective,oranadverb,itisanadverbialmodifier.Otherwise,startlookingtoseeifitservesoneofthefunctionsthatanounserves:Subject,DirectObject,PredicateComplement,orObjectofaPreposition.Bytheway,wearedoinggerundsandinfinitivestogetherinonelessonbecauseinmanycasestheyarebasicallyinterchangeable.Iloveswimmingisn'tverydifferentfromIlovetoswim.Youcanalsoaddobjectsandadverbialstoformgerundphrasesandinfinitivephrases.Forexample:
IloveswimmingintheOkefenokeeSwampwhenthemoonisfullandthewatermoccasinsareasleep.(Everythinginboldtypeisonegerundphrase;everythingafterloveisservingastheDirectObject.)
IlovetoswimintheOkefenokeeswampwhenthemoonisfullandthewatermoccasinsareasleep.(EverythinginboldtypeisonelonginfinitivephraseservingastheDirectObject.)
1.SwimmingintheOkefenokeeswampismypassion.Thegerundswimmingisfunctioningasthe_______________________.2.SwimmingintheOkefenokeeswampismypassion.Thegerundswimmingisfunctioningasthe_______________________.3.MypassionistoswimintheOkefenokeeswamp.Theinfinitivetoswimisfunctioningasthe________________________.4.ToswimintheOkefenokeeswampismypassion.Theinfinitivetoswimisfunctioningasthe________________________.5.I’mabigfanofswimmingintheOkefenokeeswamp.Thegerundswimmingisfunctioningasthe_______________________.6.Ihavenochoiceexcepttoexpelyou.Theinfinitivephrasetoexpelyouisfunctioningasthe_______________________.
![Page 195: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/195.jpg)
187
[1.Subject,2.PredicateComplement,3.PredicateComplement,4.Subject,5.ObjectofthePreposition6.ObjectofthePreposition]Therearetimeswhengerundsandinfinitivesaren'tinterchangeable,butasanativeEnglishspeakeryou'renevergoingtomakethatmistake.You'llneveraccidentallysay,I'mabigfanoftoswim.Afewidiosyncrasiesofgerundsandinfinitives
1. Likeparticiples,agerundcannottakeasubject.Ittakesthepossessiveformofanouninstead.Soyoudon'tsay,Iappreciateyoustoppingby.Yousay,Iappreciateyourstoppingby.(Sometimes,ratherthansayingthatparticiplescan'thaveasubject,peoplesaythatthesubjectofagerundtakesthepossessivecase.)
2. AninfinitivephraseCANhaveasubjectinsomesituations—specifically,whentheinfinitivephraseisbeingusedasanobject.Hedoesn'twantmetocomealong.Thatrollsoffthetonguenaturallyenough,butdoyounoticehowstrangeitis?Asubjectisusuallyinthenominativecase(Iinsteadofme).Butyouwouldn'teversay,Hedoesn'twantItocomealong.Again,thisisn'tsomethingyou'regoingtogetwrongasanativeEnglishspeaker.
![Page 196: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/196.jpg)
188
![Page 197: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/197.jpg)
189
Quiz3.3:GerundsandInfinitives
I.Theactofdefendinganyofthecardinalvirtueshastodayalltheexhilarationofavice.(G.K.Chesterton)
1. Istheitalicizedphraseagerundphraseoraparticipialphrase?2. Whatfunctiondoestheitalicizedphraseserve?(Ifitisagerundphrase,isita
subject,directobject,indirectobject,objectofpreposition,orpredicatenominative?Ifitisaparticiple,whatdoesitmodify?)
II.Tradition means giving votes to the most obscure of all classes, our ancestors. (G.K. Chesterton)
1. Istheitalicizedphraseagerundphraseoraparticipialphrase?2. Whatfunctiondoestheitalicizedphraseserve?(Ifitisagerundphrase,isita
subject,directobject,indirectobject,objectofpreposition,orpredicatenominative?Ifitisaparticiple,whatdoesitmodify?)
![Page 198: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/198.jpg)
190
III.Adetectivestorygenerallydescribessixlivingmendiscussinghowitisthatamanisdead.Amodernphilosophicstorygenerallydescribessixdeadmendiscussinghowanymancanpossiblybealive.(G.K.Chesterton)
1. Aretheitalicizedphrasesgerundphrasesorparticipialphrases?2. Whatfunctiondotheitalicizedphrasesserve?(Ifitisagerundphrase,isitasubject,
directobject,indirectobject,objectofpreposition,orpredicatenominative?Ifitisaparticiple,whatdoesitmodify?)
IV.Acceptingoneselfdoesnotprecludeanattempttobecomebetter.(FlanneryO'Connor)
1. Aretheitalicizedphrasesgerundphrasesorparticipialphrases?2. Whatfunctiondotheitalicizedphrasesserve?(Ifitisagerundphrase,isitasubject,
directobject,indirectobject,objectofpreposition,orpredicatenominative?Ifitisaparticiple,whatdoesitmodify?)
V.AccordingtoC.S.Lewis,TheLion,theWitchandtheWardrobebeganwiththementalimageofafauncarryinganumbrellaandparcelsinasnowywood.
1. Aretheitalicizedphrasesgerundphrasesorparticipialphrases?2. Whatfunctiondotheitalicizedphrasesserve?(Ifitisagerundphrase,isitasubject,
directobject,indirectobject,objectofpreposition,orpredicatenominative?Ifitisaparticiple,whatdoesitmodify?)
![Page 199: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/199.jpg)
191
Thenextthreequestionsrefertothissentence:Headandshouldersabovemostpeoplefromhisearlyteens,spendingalmostsixdecadesatalmostsevenfeethaslefthimwithastoopthatbecomesmorepronouncedashegrowsolder.VI.Whatisthegrammaticalsubjectofthissentence?VII.Thatopeningphrase,Headandshouldersabovemostpeoplefromhisearlyteens,isadanglingmodifier.Explainwhythisphrasedangles.(Hint:theanswerisrelatedtothegerundthatimmediatelyfollowsthecomma.)VIII.Reworkthesentencewithoutthegerund(andwithoutthedanglingmodifier).Thenextfourquestionsallreferbacktothissentence:Ridingthenow-drenchedscooterbackhomewouldsoakmybackside,forcingachangeintodrypants.IX.Whatarethegrammaticalsubjectandverbofthissentence?
![Page 200: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/200.jpg)
192
X.Whatisthatphraseforcingachangeintodrypants?Agerundorapresentparticiple?Whatfunctiondoesitserve?(Inotherwords,ifit'sagerund,isitasubject,object,orcomplement,andifit'saparticiple,whatnoundoesitmodify?)XI.Whatthreeactionsaredescribedinthissentence?XII.Rewritethesentenceusingclausesinplaceofgerundsandparticiplessothatthesubjectsandverbsalignmorecloselywiththeactorsandactions.
![Page 201: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/201.jpg)
193
LectureNotes
Module3,Lesson4:AppositivesIt'salittlemisleadingtoputappositivesinthenounequivalentsmodule,buttheydidn'tseemtofitwellanywhereelse.Theycouldhavebeeninwiththemodifiers,butthatlessonjustkeptgettinglonger.Sohereitis,inModule3aboutnounequivalents,whichseemedalittlesadandlonelywithoutit.Anappositiveisanoun(ornounequivalent)thatrenamesanothernoun(ornounequivalent).Itsitsrightnexttothenounornounequivalentthatitrenames(usuallyrightafter,sometimesrightbefore):
ZorbatheGreek.Mydog,apoodle.MydogRoxy.
GreekisanappositiverenamingZorba.Poodleisanappositiverenamingdog.Roxyisanappositiverenamingdog.Anappositiveisrightupagainstthenounitnames.Ifyougetmuchspacebetweenanounanditsappositive,thingsstartnotworking.Youespeciallycan'thaveaverbbetweenanounandanappositive.Ifyoudothat,you'vegotapredicatecomplement:
ZorbaisaGreek.Mydogisapoodle.
There'snothingwrongwithapredicatecomplement,butit'snotthesamethingasanappositive.
![Page 202: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/202.jpg)
194
Anappositivephrase=theappositive+anymodifiersattachedtoitSeeifyoucanidentifytheappositives(orappositivephrases)intheseexamples:
1. Theoak-leafhydrangea,aspeciesnativetoTennessee,makesmesneeze.2. "STARWARS,"thebestmovieinthehistoryoftheworld,mademewhatIam
today:anerd.[1.Appositive:species.Appositivephrase:aspeciesnativetoTennessee.2.Firstappositivephrase:thebestmovieinthehistoryoftheworld.Secondappositivephrase:anerd.]ThatsecondexampleisactuallymoreinterestingthanIrealizedwhenIfirstwroteit.IinitiallythoughtthatanerdrenamedI,makingitanexceptiontotheruleabouttheappositivestayingnexttoitsnoun.Butitisn'trenamingI;it'srenamingthewholephrase:whatIamtoday.Soitobeystheruleafterall.Thatwasanexampleofaone-wordappositiverenaminganounclause.Itoftenhappenstheotherway,withanounclauserenamingasimplenoun:
ThisplayisbyWilliamShakespeare,WHOEVERTHATIS.
Ourcitycouncilmembersseemtosufferfrominsanity,DOINGTHESAMETHINGOVERANDOVERAGAINANDEXPECTINGDIFFERENTRESULTS.
(Inthatlastexample,theappositivephraseisalsoagerundphrase.)ErroneousAppositivesFinally,hereisanexampleofwhathappenswhentheappositiveDOESN'Trenamethenounit'snextto:
Agluttonforpunishment,thattrailrunwastoomuchevenforme.Agluttonforpunishmentsitsinanappositivespot.Butwhatnouncoulditberenaming?It'srightnexttothenountrailrun.Butthetrailrunisn'tagluttonforpunishment.Thewriterwastryingtorenameme.Youcouldcorrectthisbysaying:
Thattrailrunwastoomuchevenforme,agluttonforpunishment.Or,
EvenI,agluttonforpunishment,foundthattrailruntobetoomuch.Thebestsolution,however,probablydoesn'tuseanappositiveatall:
Icanbeagluttonforpunishment,butthattrailrunwastoomuch.
![Page 203: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/203.jpg)
195
Quiz3.4:Appositives
I.MycousinLeonardstoppedbywithhisiguana.Choosethewordthatservesastheappositive(nottheappositivephrase). A.cousin B.Leonard C.iguana D.noneoftheaboveII.IamexpectingavisitfromJohnBarber,mynemesis.Choosethewordthatservesastheappositive(nottheappositivephrase). A.I B.visit C.JohnBarber D.nemesis E.noneoftheaboveIII.IamexpectingavisitfrommynemesisJohnBarber.Choosethewordthatservesastheappositive(nottheappositivephrase). A.I B.visit C.JohnBarber D.nemesis E.noneoftheaboveIV.Theopossum,theonlymarsupialnativetoNorthAmerica,isalsotheonlynon-primatewithopposablethumbs.Choosethewordthatservesastheappositive(nottheappositivephrase). A.opossum C.NorthAmerica E.thumbs B.marsupial D.non-primate F.noneoftheabove
![Page 204: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/204.jpg)
196
V.SomebodyreleasedraccoonsinFinland,wheretheythrivedlikeanativespecies.Choosethewordthatservesastheappositive(nottheappositivephrase). A.Somebody B.raccoons C.Finland D.species E.noneoftheaboveVI.Ahockeyplayersincechildhood,Ilovebeingontheice.Choosethewordthatservesastheappositive(nottheappositivephrase). A.hockeyplayer B.childhood C.I D.ice E.noneoftheaboveVII.Vanderbilt'sfootballteamwentundefeatedin1922,thesameyeartheSovietUnionwasformed.Choosethewordthatservesastheappositive(nottheappositivephrase). A.Vanderbilt B.team C.1922 D.year E.SovietUnion F.noneoftheaboveVIII.Obviouslyfoodsnobs,theyturneduptheirnosesatmypicklestew.Choosethewordthatservesastheappositive(nottheappositivephrase). A.snobs B.they C.noses D.pickle E.stew F.noneoftheaboveIX.JohnnyCash,"theManinBlack,"hadhitsinmanymusicalgenres.Choosethewordthatservesastheappositive(nottheappositivephrase). A.JohnnyCash D.genres B.Man E.noneoftheabove C.hits
![Page 205: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/205.jpg)
197
X.JohnnyCash,whowasknownas"theManinBlack,"hadhitsinmanymusicalgenres.Choosethewordthatservesastheappositive(nottheappositivephrase). A.JohnnyCash B.Man C.hits D.genres E.noneoftheaboveXI.Inwhichofthefollowingsentencesis"Taylor"usedasanappositive?Choosethewordthatservesastheappositive(nottheappositivephrase). A.MyfriendTaylorisafirefighter. B.Taylor,afirefighter,isafriendofmine. C.Thefirefighter,namedTaylor,isafriendofmine. D.Thefirefighter,afriendofmine,isnamedTaylor. E.noneoftheaboveXII. Thefollowingsentencecontainsmorethanoneappositive.Putacheckbesideeachwordthatservesasanappositive:LaterthatdayIreflectedonmyactions—theyelling,thecrying,thebangingofmysippiecup—andIrealizeditwastimetogrowup. A.day B.I C.actions D.yelling E.crying F.banging G.sippiecup H.time
![Page 206: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/206.jpg)
198
![Page 207: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/207.jpg)
199
LectureNotes
Module3,Lesson5:EssentialandNon-EssentialElements
Oneoftheusesofthecommaistosetoffso-called"non-essential"words,phrases,andclausesinasentence.Butwhatmakesanelement"essential"or"non-essential"?"Non-essential"doesn'tmean"unimportant"or"notaddingmeaning."Ifanelementdoesn'taddmeaning,youshouldn'taddittoyoursentenceinthefirstplace.Doestheelementchangetheessentialmeaningofthesentence?Thedifferencebetween"essential"and"non-essential"elementsisoftenexplainedintermsofwhetherornottheelementchangestheessentialmeaningofthesentence.Lookatthesetwosentences(whichtellamostlytruestory):
1. TheplaywrightSamuelBeckettgaveyoungAndretheGiantaridetoschool.2. SamuelBeckett,theplaywright,gaveyoungAndretheGiantaridetoschool.
Inthefirstsentence,SamuelBeckettisanappositiverenamingplaywright.Inthesecond,playwrightisanappositiverenamingSamuelBeckett.Whydoesthesecondhavecommasbutnotthefirst?Inthefirstsentence,SamuelBeckettisconsideredessential,becausetoleaveitoutwouldchangethemeaningofthesentence:TheplaywrightgaveyoungAndretheGiantaridetoschool.That'saverydifferentsentencefromTheplaywrightSamuelBeckettgaveyoungAndretheGiantaridetoschool.Playwrightsareadimeadozen.Butthatimageoftheblack-turtleneck-cladSamuelBeckett,iconoftheTheateroftheAbsurd,trundlingAndretheGianttoschoolisprettyirresistible.Inthesecondsentence—SamuelBeckett,theplaywright,gaveyoungAndretheGiantaridetoschool—thecommasaroundtheplaywrightshowthereaderthatthisisbonusinformation.Inthiscase,theappositivemayhelpareaderwhocan'timmediatelyputher
![Page 208: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/208.jpg)
200
fingeronwhoSamuelBeckettis,butitdoesn'tchangetheessentialmeaningofthesentence.NarrowingandExpandingHowever,sometimesitfeelslikeajudgmentcalltosaywhetheranelementchangesthe"essentialmeaning"ofasentence.Anditcanbehardtotrustyourjudgment.Youmightfinditmorehelpfultoaskyourself:Doesthiselementaddmeaningbymakingthingsmoreprecise—bynarrowingfromgeneraltomorespecific?Ordoesthiselementaddmeaningbyexpanding—byprovidingbonusinformation?Essentialelementsaddprecision.TheyNARROWmeaning.Non-essentialelementsprovidebonusinformation.TheyEXPANDmeaning.ThenounSamuelBeckettisaboutasspecificasanouncanget.Itreferstooneman.SoanyappositiveormodifierImightattachtoSamuelBeckettwillbenon-essential.ItwillprovideadditionalinformationaboutSamuelBeckett,butitwon'tmakethenounmoreprecise.Beinganon-essentialelement,itwillneedtobesetoffbycommas,asintheseexamples:
SamuelBeckett,drivingaflatbedtruck,gaveyoungAndretheGiantaridetoschool.
SamuelBeckett,whohadahouseinAndretheGiant’shometown,gaveyoungAndretheGiantaridetoschool.
SamuelBeckett,notknowinghewasinthepresenceofgreatness,gaveyoungAndretheGiantaridetoschool.
NoneofthoseappositivesnarrowsSamuelBecketttoanythingmorespecific,sotheyareallsetoffbycommas.Propernounsarealwaysspecific,sowhenyouaddappositivesormodifiers,thosewillalmostalwaysbenon-essentialelements.
Ilikelivinginastatewherethereisnoincometax.IlikelivinginTennessee,wherethereisnoincometax.
Let'slookatonelastexample:
1. Cilantrothattasteslikesoapgrossesmeout.2. Cilantro,whichtasteslikesoap,grossesmeout.
Whichofthesetwosentencesiscorrectlypunctuated?Thatdependsonhowyoufeelaboutcilantro.Somepeopleactuallyhaveageneticpredispositionthatmakesthemthinkallcilantrotasteslikesoap.Sentence2communicatestheirposition.Sinceallcilantrotasteslikesoap,theclauseWHICHtasteslikesoapdoesn'tnarrowthingsdown.Formostpeoplehowever,cilantrodoesn'ttastelikesoap.However,iftheywereevertorunintosomecilantrothattasteslikesoap,itwouldgrossthemout.Sentence1
![Page 209: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/209.jpg)
201
communicatesthisposition.TheessentialelementsTHATtasteslikesoapnarrowsthecategorydownfromcilantrotocilantrothattasteslikesoap.Onemorehelpfulclue:Rememberourrelativepronouns,whichintroduceadjectiveclauses?Usethattointroduceessentialclausesandwhichtointroducenon-essentialclauses.Ofcourse,whendescribingapersonyouusewhoorwhom.Ifyouneedhelprememberingwhentousewhoandwhentousewhom,lookbackatLesson10ofModule2.
![Page 210: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/210.jpg)
202
![Page 211: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/211.jpg)
203
Quiz3.5:EssentialandNon-EssentialElements
I.Anessentialelementaddsmeaningtoasentenceby: A.narrowingormakingthingsmoreprecise B.expandingorprovidingbonusinformationII.Anon-essentialelementaddsmeaningtoasentenceby: A.narrowingormakingthingsmoreprecise B.expandingorprovidingbonusinformationIII.Whichkindofelementshouldbesetoffwithcommas? A.essential B.non-essentialIV.Anessentialadjectiveclausecanstartwithwhichoftheserelativepronouns? A.that B.which V.Anon-essentialadjectiveclausecanstartwithwhichoftheserelativepronouns? A.that B.which
![Page 212: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/212.jpg)
204
VI.Elementsthatmodifyorrenamepropernounsarealmostalwaysnon-essential.Explainwhy.VII.Inthefollowingsentence,theclauseswhomarriedWilliamShakespeareandwhostarredinThePrincessDiariesareessential,eventhoughtheymodifypropernouns.Explainwhy.IwastalkingaboutAnneHathawaywhomarriedWilliamShakespeare,notAnneHathawaywhostarredinThePrincessDiaries.
![Page 213: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/213.jpg)
205
LectureNotesModule3,Lesson6:Review
Aswewrapupthismoduleonnounequivalents,Iwanttogivetwowarnings.1.NounEquivalentsalwaysintroduceabstraction.YourreaderalwayswantstoknowWHODIDWHAT.Yourreaderalwayswantssomethingtolookat.Whenyougiveyourreadersomethingtolookat,she'sabletogatherinformationaboutyourstorythesamewayshegathersinformationintherealworld:throughhersenses.Datacomesinthroughhereyesandears,allowinghertoreachconclusions,passjudgements,havefeelings,andmakeconnections.Writing(andreading)allowsustoskipoverthesensoryinformationandgostraighttologic/conclusions/emotions.Butjustbecauseyoucanskipoversensoryinformationdoesn'tmeanthatyoushould.Whenyouwriteinconcrete,sensorytermsinsteadofabstractterms,yourwritingfeelsalittlemorealive.Whenyouuseanounequivalentinanounspot,youareintroducingabstractionintoyoursentence.Nounequivalentsturnverbsintoabstractnouns.That'sjusthowtheywork.Theyare,bydefinition,abstract.Usingabstractlanguageisofteneasierforthewriterthanusingconcretelanguage.Butitisoftenharderforthereader.Ifyouhaveagoodreasontouseabstractlanguage,goahead.Butitcostsyourreaderextrawork.Makesuretheextraworkforthereaderisworthit(tothereader—nottoyou!).
![Page 214: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/214.jpg)
206
2.Yourreaderwantstofeelconfidentshecangetfromsubjecttoverbtoobject.Onewaytomakesureyourreadercandothisistogettothesubjectearlyinthesentence,andtotheverbsoonafterthat.Sometimesyouhaveagoodreasontomakeyourreaderworkalittlebit.Ifyoudo,goahead.Butkeepinmindthatalongnounequivalentinthesubjectpositiondelaysthearrivalofthemainverb,andthatmakeslifehardforyourreader.Lookatthissentence:
Watchingthekindofsoccergameinwhichtwoevenlymatchedteamsbattlemanfullyfor90minutesandendupinazero-zerotiemakesmehappy.
Everythingfromwatchingtotieisthesubject,meaningthereaderhastohold24wordsinherbrainbeforesheevengetstotheverb!Butlookhowmuchmorereadablethesentenceiswhenthat24-wordgerundphrasebecomestheobjectratherthanthesubject:
Ilovewatchingthekindofsoccergameinwhichtwoevenlymatchedteamsbattlemanfullyfor90minutesandendupinazero-zerotie.
Inthatsentence,thereaderfindsoutWHODIDWHATinthefirsttwowords.She'sreadytosettleinfortherestofthesentence.
![Page 215: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/215.jpg)
207
Quiz3.6:Review
I.Whichofthefollowingrelativepronounsusuallyintroduceadjectiveclauses?Chooseallthatapply. A.who B.whom C.which D.that E.whoever F.whomever G.whicheverII.Whichofthefollowingrelativepronounsalwaysintroducenounclauses?Chooseallthatapply. A.who B.whom C.which D.that E.whoever F.whomever G.whicheverIII.Whichoftherelativepronounsisoftenomittedinadjectiveandnounclauses?
![Page 216: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/216.jpg)
208
IV.Toreceivethisawardwouldbeoneofthegreathonorsofmylife.Rewritethissentencewithagerundinplaceoftheinfinitiveinthesubjectslot.V.Acreatureofhabit,theroutinethatIhadmadeformyselfwasveryrigid.Thesentenceabovehasanappositive-relatedproblem.Explaintheproblemandreworkthesentence.VI.Whichofthefollowingstatementsapplytoanessentialclause?Chooseallthatapply. A.Itaddsmeaningbynarrowingormakingthingsmoreprecise. B.Itaddsmeaningbyexpandingorprovidingbonusinformation. C.Itissetoffbycommas. D.Itmightstartwiththerelativepronounthat. E.Itmightstartwiththerelativepronounwhich. F.Itmightstartwiththerelativepronounswhoorwhom.VII.Whichofthefollowingstatementsapplytoanon-essentialclause?Chooseallthatapply. A.Itaddsmeaningbynarrowingormakingthingsmoreprecise. B.Itaddsmeaningbyexpandingorprovidingbonusinformation. C.Itissetoffbycommas. D.Itmightstartwiththerelativepronounthat. E.Itmightstartwiththerelativepronounwhich. F.Itmightstartwiththerelativepronounswhoorwhom.
![Page 217: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/217.jpg)
209
VIII.IntheModule3reviewlectureIsuggestedthatlengthynounequivalentsinthesubjectslotpotentiallycausemoreproblemsthanlengthynounequivalentsinobjectslots.Whyisthat?
![Page 218: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/218.jpg)
210
![Page 219: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/219.jpg)
211
LectureNotesModule4,Lesson1:Introduction
Perhapsthemostimportantfunctionofgrammaristohelpyourreaderseehowthingsandactionsfittogether.Howdoesthisthingconnecttothisotherthing?Howdoesyourreadergetfromthisideatothenextidea?Yourgrammaticalstructuressetupconnectionsandtransitions.Alotofthathappensonthemainline:
Lindakickedtheball.(KickprettywellexplainsthenatureoftherelationshipbetweenLindaandtheball.)Lindaisasurgeon.(IsprovidestheconnectionbetweenLindaandsurgeon.Theyreflectoneanother;surgeonrenamesLinda.)
Inthismodule,we'regoingtotalkaboutotherwaysyoucommunicatetoyourreader,"Here'showthingsconnect."
• Conjunctions(bothcoordinatingandsubordinating)• Compounds• Parallelism• Agreement• Antecedents• Modification
Aswe'vealreadysaid,yourreaderwantstofeelconfidentthathecangetfromAtoBtoC.Yourconnectionsandtransitionscarryhimalongsothathedoesn'thavetothinkabouthowhe'sgettingfromoneideatothenext.Hecanpayattentiontotheaction.Goodtransitionsaretheantidoteforwordiness.Andwordinessdoesn'thavethatmuchtodowiththenumberofwordsorthecomplexityofagivensentence.Asentencefeelswordywhenthereaderisn'tsurehowthedifferentpartsfittogether.
![Page 220: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/220.jpg)
212
AreadercanhandleamazingcomplexityIFhehasclearmarkersusheringhimfromonepartofasentencetothenext.Forexample,ifsomebodygivesyoudirectionstogetfromPointAtoPointB,thosedirectionsmightrequire15turns.Andyoucanhandle15turns,aslongastheturnsareallcorrectlymarked.Ifsomeonegivesyoudirectionswithonly3turns,butatoneofthoseturnsthestreetsignismissing,you'regoingtohavealotharderofatime.Theconnectionsinthismodulearethestreetsigns.Infact,ifyou'vewrittenthemwell,hopefullyyourreaderwon'thavetopayattentiontothematall.Ifyouthinkaboutyourconnectionsandtransitions,yourreaderwon'thaveto.YouwantyourreadertoSEEwhatyoumean,notFIGUREOUTwhatyoumean.Grammarisneverjustgrammar.
![Page 221: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/221.jpg)
213
LectureNotesModule4,Lesson2:Subject-VerbAgreement
Disagreement.Itcausessomuchstressanduncertainty.Itmakesyourbloodpressuregoupjustbeingintheroomwithtwopeoplewhoaredisagreeingwithoneanother.Itcanbehardtothinkstraightinsuchasituation.Youwanttosay,"Can'twealljustgetalong?"You'veprobablyheardofsubject-verbagreementandpronoun-antecedentagreement.Whenverbsdon'tagreewiththeirsubjectsorwhenpronounsdon'tagreewiththeirantecedents,thereadergetsdistractedandstressed.Shemightnotbeabletothinkstraightaboutwhatyou'retryingtocommunicate.Subject-VerbAgreement=makingsurethatifyoursubjectissingular,yourverbissingular
Theotterlazesabout.(Otterissingular,lazesissingular.)Theotterslazeabout.(Ottersisplural,lazeisplural.)
SometimesIhearsomeonesay,"Mylicenseareexpired."IfyouwereraisedspeakingEnglish,youdon'tgenerallygetthiswrong.Thereareacoupleoftrickyspotswhereitispossibletogettrippedup:
Myfavoritefruitisapples.Applesaremyfavoritefruit.
Thenumberoftheverb(singularorplural)matchesthenumberofthesubject.Thenumberofthepredicatenominativedoesn'tmatter.Fruitis.Applesare.1.Thetitleofaworkofartisalwaystreatedasasingularnoun:StarryNightismyfavoritepaintingbyVanGogh.WarandPeaceisagreatnovel.
![Page 222: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/222.jpg)
214
2.CollectivenounstendtobesingularinAmericanEnglish:Thechoirissinginginthequad.Thebaseballteamisstayinginourhotel.3.InBritishEnglish,collectivenounstendtobeplural:Thecricketteamarestayinginourhotel.NativeEnglishspeakersdosometimeshaveaproblemwhenalotofothernounscomebetweenthegrammaticalsubjectandtheverb.Forinstance:
Myneighbor,alongwithtwohundredotherlibrariansthroughtheUnitedStates,isattendingtheAmericanLibraryAssociationConferenceinKansasCity.
Thegrammaticalsubjectisthesingularnounneighbor.Sotheverbhastobesingular:isattending.Itdoesn'tmatterthatlibrarians,cities,andUnitedStates(whichisactuallysingularbutlooksplural)areinterposedbetweenthesubjectandtheverb.Infact,everythingfromalongthroughUnitedStatesisaprepositionalphrasemodifyingneighbor.Doyouremember,waybackintheintroductorylectureforthiswholecourse,Italkedaboutthedifferencebetweenthinkingofgrammarasproperusage,andthinkingofgrammarasawaytoloveyourreader?Properusagetellsmethatthesentenceaboutmyneighboriscorrect,thesubjectandverbagree,andI'vedonemyduty.Lovingmyreadermakesmerealizethatthesentenceisalittleconfusing.It'scorrect,butitfeelsabitodd.Isthereanotherwaytocommunicate?
MyneighborisoneoftwohundredlibrariansfromcitiesthroughouttheUnitedStatesattendingtheAmericanLibraryAssociationconferenceinKansasCity.
Theverbmovedclosertothenoun,andnowyourreaderisn'tthinkingaboutyourgrammar.
![Page 223: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/223.jpg)
215
Quiz4.2:Subject-VerbAgreement
I.TheBadNewsBearsis/arenotanespeciallygoodmovie.Selectthecorrectverb. A.is B.areII.Myfavoritemealis/areRamennoodles.Selectthecorrectverb. A.is B.areIII.Ramennoodlesis/aremyfavoritemeal.Selectthecorrectverb. A.is B.areIV.Thecommitteerecommend/recommendsthatyoustopeatingsomanyRamennoodles.Selectthecorrectverb. A.recommend B.recommendsV.Themembersofthecommitteerecommend/recommendsthatyoustopeatingsomanyRamennoodles.Selectthecorrectverb. A.recommend B.recommends
![Page 224: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/224.jpg)
216
VI.Theboys’choir,madeupofjuveniledelinquentsfromsmalltownsalloverthecountry,arrive/arrivesinanhour.Selectthecorrectverb(accordingtotheAmericanusage). A.arrive B.arrivesVII.Intheaboveexampleabouttheboys'choir,eventhecorrectverbformsoundsoddanddrawsattentiontoitself.Rewriteforclarity.(Remember,youalwayshavetheoptionofbreakingthesentenceintwo.)VIII.Bonus(tricky)question:OneofthosethingsthathappenonlyonTVhappenedtometoday.ThesubjectofthissentenceisthesingularOne.Sowhyisthepluralverbhappencorrectinthissentence?(And,incaseyouwerewondering,happenIScorrecthere).
![Page 225: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/225.jpg)
217
LectureNotesModule4,Lesson3:PronounsandAntecedents
Youmightnotthinkofapronounasaconnectorword,thewayaconjunctionorevenaprepositionisaconnectorword.Butapronounisverymuchaconnector.Apronounisawordthatreachesbacktoanearlierphraseorclauseandsays,"Rememberthatnounweweretalkingaboutasecondago?Well,nowwe'retalkingaboutitagain."Thisisthepronoun-antecedentrelationship.Antecedent=thenounthatapronounrenamesThinkbacktorelativepronouns(who,whom,whose,which,that,where,when,etc.),whichwetalkedaboutbackinModule2.Theysitatthebeginningofadjectiveclausesandreferbacktonounsinthemainclause.Inthatway,therelativepronounCONNECTSthesubordinateclausetothemainclause.Lookatthissentence:
WhenIconfrontedMr.Purifoyabouthismessiness,hechallengedmetoafistfight.HisandhearebothpronounsreachingbacktoMr.Purifoy.Apronounanditsantecedentdon'thavetobeinthesamesentence.Veryoften,theantecedentisinthesentencebeforethepronoun.Butifthepronoungetstoofarfromitsantecedent,yourreaderwillhavetoworktoohardfiguringoutwhichnounthepronounissupposedtorename.Ifyourpronounandantecedentaremorethanasentenceapart,beabsolutelysurethatyourreaderwillbeabletoseetheconnectionwithoutanytrouble.Erronthesideofrepeatingyourantecedentratherthanassumingyourreadercanfigureitout.
![Page 226: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/226.jpg)
218
It'syourjobasthewritertopresentthingsinsuchawaythatyourreadercanSEEyourmeaning.Pronoun-AntecedentTroubleSpotsHere'sanexampleofpronoun-antecedenttroubleinonesentence:
AfterGovernorHaslamwatchedthetigerperform,hewastakentoMainStreetandfedfifteenpoundsofrawmeatinthetownsquare.
Heisprettyclosetoitsintendedantecedent,tiger.ButhecouldjustaseasilybereferringtoGovernorHaslam.GovernorHaslamisthesubjectofthesentence,sohe'sclosertothecenterofthereader'sattention.Also,thereadermightexpecttigertotakethepronounit.TheresultisthatweallendupenvisioningGovernorHaslameatingfifteenpoundsofrawmeatinpublic.Tofixthissentence,youcouldchangehetoit,orelserepeatthewordtiger.
AfterGovernorHaslamwatchedthetigerperform,itwastakentoMainStreetandfedfifteenpoundsofrawmeatinthetownsquare.
Or,
AfterGovernorHaslamwatchedthetigerperform,thetigerwastakentoMainStreetandfedfifteenpoundsofrawmeatinthetownsquare.
Here'sanotherexample:
Blame,bitterness,andrecriminationscanbeemotionallydestructivetoyouandyourchildren.Youmustgetridofthem.
Waitasecond,getridofwhom?Yourchildren?Thepronounthemmakesyourreadernaturallygolookingforthenearestpluralantecedent,whichhappenstobeyourchildren.Here'sanothergreatone:
ThebatterhitanRBIsingleofftheshortstop'sleg,whichrolledintoleftfield.Nodoubtyouseetheproblemhere.Therelativepronounwhichintroducestheadjectiveclause.Theadjectiveclausesitsrightbehindthenounitmodifies,whichisalsotheantecedentforitsrelativepronoun.Youcan'thelpbutpicturethelegrollingintoleftfield.Itseemsashametofixit,butheregoes:
ThebatterhitanRBIsinglethatbouncedofftheshortstop'slegandrolledintoleftfield.
Pronounsusedwellhelpfocusyourreader'sattention.Usedpoorly,theydistractyourreader.Lookatthisconfusingparagraphaboutaman'sbeard:
![Page 227: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/227.jpg)
219
Atthedinnertableatnight,itisadeepredlikeanIrishman'sbeard.Inthesun,helookslikeaVikingfromScandinavia.Itsmellslikeatropicalfruitsmoothiefromthebeardbalmheuses.
Inthefirstandthirdsentences,itreferstothebeard.Inthesecondsentence,hereferstotheman.Inthethirdsentencewe'rebacktothebeard.Thisisjusttoomuchforyourreadertotryandfigureout.Thewriterwasprobablytryingtoaddvariety,butvarietyforitsownsakeisnothelpful.Rememberthis:Apronounneedstorefertoanoun(ornounequivalent)andnotawholesentenceorwholeidea.Here'sanexampleofapronounreferringtoawholeidea:
Butmydadreclaimedapieceofhimselffromhisdiseasethatnightandetcheditintothemindsoftenyoungmenforever.
Whatistheantecedentforit?Hisdisease?Apieceofhimself?Theantecedentisuncleartothereaderforthesamereasonthatitisperfectlycleartothewriter.Theeventisetchedsoclearlyintothewriter'smindthatheknowsexactlywhathemeanswhenhesayshisdadetcheditintothemindsoftenyoungmenforever.Hehasforgottenthatwedon'tknowwhatitis.NOTE:Therulethatapronounneedstohaveasinglenoun(ornounequivalent)foritsantecedent,ratherthanawholeideaorsentenceisalmostimpossibletokeep.Ibreakthisruleallthetime.However,youshouldtrytokeepthisrule;onlyletyourselfbreakitifyoucan'tfindagoodwaytokeepit. LessonSummary
• Everypronounneedsanantecedent.• Thatantecedentneedstobeanoun(ornounequivalent).• Thatnounneedstobenearby.• Besurethereisnotanotherpossibleantecedentclosetothepronoun.• Whenindoubt,repeattheantecedentratherthanusingapronounandaskingyour
readertofigureitout.
![Page 228: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/228.jpg)
220
![Page 229: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/229.jpg)
221
Quiz4.3:PronounsandAntecedents
I. Betweenmyfingerseachpetalfeelslikesoftsuede,strongerthanTHEYappear.Explainwhythereisaproblembetweenthecapitalizedpronounanditsantecedent.Thenofferarewritethatcorrectstheproblem.II.Asmymother’shealthdeteriorated,ITcausedproblemsintheirmarriagerelationship.Explainwhythereisaproblembetweenthecapitalizedpronounanditsantecedent.Thenofferarewritethatcorrectstheproblem.III.SniffingahandfulofleavesandthrowingITintotheairwasevenmorefunthankickingthroughTHEM.Explainwhythereisaproblembetweenthecapitalizedpronounsandtheirantecedent.Thenofferarewritethatcorrectstheproblem.
![Page 230: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/230.jpg)
222
IV.Lelo'sshopneartheedgeoftownprovidedhismainincome.Concreteandmudblockssupportedframesandshelvesofwidehome-craftedlumberofnon-standardizeddimensions.ITwasthesizeofourkitchen.Explainwhythereisaproblembetweenthecapitalizedpronounanditsantecedent.Thenofferarewritethatcorrectstheproblem.V.Davelookedupathisfather’sangryexpression.Hisbrowwasknitted.Hiseyesflashed.Hismouthwaspinched.Explainwhythereisaproblembetweentheitalicizedpronounsandtheirantecedent.Thenofferarewritethatcorrectstheproblem.
![Page 231: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/231.jpg)
223
LectureNotesModule4,Lesson4:ConnectingClauses
We'vealreadytalkedaboutcombiningclausesintocompoundandcomplexsentencesthroughcoordinationandsubordination.Inthislessonwewillrevisitthoseideas.Remember:1.Acompoundsentenceis:________________________________________________________________________.2.Acomplexsentenceis:___________________________________________________________________________.3.Thesevencoordinatingconjunctionsare:______________________________________________________.4.Acompound-complexsentenceis:______________________________________________________________.5.Subordinationis:______________________________________________________________________________6.Coordinationis:____________________________________________________________________________[Answers:1.Twoormoreindependentclausesjoinedbyacoordinatingconjunctionandacommaintoasinglesentence.2.Asentencecomprisedofoneindependentclauseandatleastonesubordinate(dependent)clause.3.For,And,Nor,But,Or,Yet,So4.Asentencecontainingtwoormoreindependentclausesandatleastonedependentclause.5.Expressinganideaoractionasadependent(subordinate)clauseandattachingittoanindependent(main)clause.Subordinationallowsyoutosetupdifferentrelationshipsbetweenideasandactions.6.Creatingbalancebetweentwoideasinasinglesentence.Coordinatingconjunctions(andsemicolons)allowyoutosay:"ThesetwoideasarethesameKINDofidea."]Didyougetallthat?Coordinationandsubordinationspellouttherelationshipbetweentwoclauses:coordinationcommunicatesarelationshipofbalanceandequality,whereassubordinationcommunicatesanunequalrelationship.Butdon'tforget:anotherwaytoconnecttwoclausesistoputthemnexttooneanotherastwoseparatesentences.Whereascoordinationandsubordinationspellouttherelationshipsbetweenideas,placing
![Page 232: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/232.jpg)
224
clausesinadjacentsentencesimpliesarelationship.Itleavesalittletoyourreader'simagination.Therewasapopsonginthe70sor80sthatsaid,"MyMaseratidoes185.Ilostmylicense.NowIdon'tdrive."Thoseideasarenotconnectedbyeithercoordinationorsubordination.Theyareconnectedbyproximity.Theproximitysuggeststhatthesethreeideasareconnected,butitisuptothereadertomaketheconnections.That'spartofthefun.Ioftentellwritersnottomakethereaderdoworkthatisthewriter'stodo.Buttheconversecanalsobetrue:sometimesitisgoodNOTtodotoomuchforthereader.SemicolonsAsemicolonjoinsINDEPENDENTclausesintoacompoundsentence.Youwriteacompletesentence;youwriteanothercompletesentence.Asemicolonsaystoyourreader"TheseideasaresocloselyrelatedthatIdidn'twanttheminseparatesentences.ButI'mgoingtoletyoufigureouttheirrelationship."Theinformationyoucommunicateinaclausedemandsalittlemoreofyourreader'sattentionthaninformationyoucommunicateinotherways(prepositionalphrases,participles,adjectivesandadverbs,etc.),becauseaclausetellsalittlestory.AclausetellsWHODIDWHAT.Lastly,Iwantyoutoconsiderthehierarchyofclauses.TheHierarchyofClauses
1. MainClause.Themainclausegenerallydemandsmoreattentionthananysubordinateclausesattachedtoit.
2. AdverbClause.Anadverbclauseisjustanindependentclausewithasubordinatingconjunctioninfrontofit,soitisonlyalittlelowerthantheindependentclauseinthehierarchy.
3. AdjectiveandNounClauses.Theactioninanadjectiveornounclausefeelslikeit'stuckedawaycomparedtotheactionofthemainclauseoranadverbclause.
![Page 233: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/233.jpg)
225
Quiz4.4:ConnectingClauses
I.Whatarethesevencoordinatingconjunctions?(Hint:theirinitialsspellFANBOYS.)II.Whichofthecoordinatingconjunctionscommentstheleastontherelationshipbetweentwoideasorevents? A.for E.or B.and F.yet C.nor G.so D.butIII.Whichkindofconnectionisbestforcreatingbalance? A.coordination B.subordination C.proximity(asemicolonortwoadjacentsentences)IV.Whichkindofconnectionallowsforthemostsubtletyandnuancebycommentingmorespecificallyontherelativeimportanceofoneideaascomparedtoanother? A.coordination B.subordination C.proximity(asemicolonortwoadjacentsentences)
![Page 234: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/234.jpg)
226
V.Whichkindofconnectioncommentstheleastontherelationshipbetweentwoideas? A.coordination B.subordination C.proximity(asemicolonortwoadjacentsentences)VI.Andtherearenokeysforthose,atleastwedon’thaveany.Thissentencehasanerrorinthewayitconnectsclausesorideas.Identifytheerror,thenrewritethesentencetocorrecttheerror.VII.Next,shegrabbedalargepinkbottle;thisonefamiliartohim.Thissentencehasanerrorinthewayitconnectsclausesorideas.Identifytheerror,thenrewritethesentencetocorrecttheerror.VIII.Theneurotransmittersinmybrainwerecrackling,andfiringofflikeapoorlyplannedfireworksdisplay.Thissentencehasanerrorinthewayitconnectsclausesorideas.Identifytheerror,thenrewritethesentencetocorrecttheerror.
![Page 235: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/235.jpg)
227
IX.Therootsproutsandthewaitingisover,lifehasreturned.Thissentencehasanerrorinthewayitconnectsclausesorideas.Identifytheerror,thenrewritethesentencetocorrecttheerror.X.Pressgentlyandthefragilewebbends,pressharderanditdissolves.Thissentencehasanerrorinthewayitconnectsclausesorideas.Identifytheerror,thenrewritethesentencetocorrecttheerror.
![Page 236: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/236.jpg)
228
![Page 237: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/237.jpg)
229
LectureNotes
Module4,Lesson5:ConnectingClauses–CaseStudies
Someoftheideaswecoveredinthelastlessonaboutjoiningclausesandthehierarchyofclausesmayhaveseemedalittleabstract.Iwanttowalkthroughsomeexamplesfromstudentstoriestohelpbringtheseideasdowntoearth.Example1Mygrandfather'sfarmwastuckedintoahollowintheTennesseemountains,andithadanabundanceofdaffodils.Whatarethetwoclauses?1.Mygrandfather’sfarmwastuckedintoahollowintheTennesseemountains.2.Ithadanabundanceofdaffodils.Howarethejoined?Theyarejoinedbythecoordinationconjunctionand+acommaintoacompoundsentence.Remember,acoordinationconjunctionsuggeststhattwoclausesdeserveequalattentionandthesamekindofattention.Ithinkthat'swhythissentencefeelsalittleoff.Thetwoideasdon’tfeelcoordinate,thoughthegrammarsuggeststhattheyare.Hereisonewaytorevisethesentence:
Mygrandfather'sfarmwastuckedintoahollowintheTennesseemountains;ithadanabundanceofdaffodils.
Asemicolonjoinsthetwoclausesclosely,butitdoesn'tcommentonexactlyhowtheideasarerelated.Anotheroptionistousesubordination:
Mygrandfather'sfarmwastuckedintoahollowintheTennesseemountains,wheredaffodilsabounded.
![Page 238: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/238.jpg)
230
Or,
Daffodilsaboundedonmygrandfather'sfarm,tuckedintoahollowintheTennesseemountains.
Example2Afterclass,whenhestartstoheadupstairsforhismonthlyturnasgreeter,heneedssomeonetocarryhiscupofcoffeeforhimsohecanholdhisplateofdoughnutsandclementineswithonehandandholdontothestairrailingwiththeother.That'salotofactions.Whatarethesubjectandverbofthispackedsentence?Heneeds.Sohowareallthoseotheractionsandideascommunicated?
• Whenheheadsupstairsisanadverbclause.• Forhisturnasagreeterisaprepositionalphrase.• Someonetocarryhiscoffeeforhimisaninfinitivephraseservingasthedirectobject
ofneeds.• Sohecanholdhisplateofdoughnutsandclementineswithonehandandholdontothe
stairrailingwiththeotherisalongadverbialphrasewithacompoundverb(holdhisplateandholdthestairrailing).
Whew!Thereareprobablydozensofwaystoimprovethissentence.Thebestones,Isuspect,involvebreakingitdownintomorethanonesentence:
Afterclass,heheadsupstairsforhismonthlyturnasagreeter.Buthehastoasksomeonetocarryhiscupofcoffee.He'llneedonehandforhisplateofdoughnutsandclementinesandanotherhandforthestairrailing.
Example3Hedoesn'tlikethemicrophonebutusesitsohecanbeheardclearlybyIrena,whois96yearsoldandhardlyevermissesaSunday.Thiswriterhasused
• acompoundverbtocommunicateallthataction:doesn'tlikebutuses.• anadverbialclausewithapassiveverb:sohecanbeclearlyheard.• anadjectiveclausewithanothercompoundverb:is96andhardlymisses.
Thisisnotabadsentence.Buthereareafewchangesthatimproveit:
Hedoesn'tlikethemicrophone,butheusesitsoIrenacanclearlyhearhim.Irenaisninety-sixyearsold;sherarelymissesaSunday.
Thisversiongetsridofthepassiveconstruction,sohecanbeheard,andalsogivesalittlemoreattentiontoIrena.She'sninety-sixandalwaysmakesittochurch,soshegetstwomainclausesallherown.
![Page 239: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/239.jpg)
231
Promotingideastoindependentclausesordemotingthemtodependentclausescanmakesignificantchangesinthewayapassagereads.Still,sentenceconstructionisanart,notascience.
![Page 240: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/240.jpg)
232
![Page 241: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/241.jpg)
233
Quiz4.5:ConnectingClauses–CaseStudies
QuestionsIthroughVIrefertothefollowingsentence:Whenherfatherwalkedaway,leavingablankspaceinthedoorway,thelittlegirltookabiteofmintchocolatechipicecreamandwatchedhersistercryingonherbed.Thiscomplexsentencedepictsthefollowingactions:
1. Thefatherwalkedaway.2. Thefatherleftablankspaceinthedoorway.3. Thelittlegirltookabiteofmintchocolatechipicecream.4. Thelittlegirlwatchedhersister.5. Thesistercriedonherbed.
I.Inthesentenceabove,Action1(thefatherwalkedaway)isexpressedbywhichofthefollowinggrammaticalstructures? A.independentclause B.adverbclause C.adjectiveclause D.nounclause E.participle F.infinitive
![Page 242: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/242.jpg)
234
II.Inthesentenceabove,Action2(thefatherleftablankspaceinthedoorway)isexpressedbywhichofthefollowinggrammaticalstructures? A.independentclause B.adverbclause C.adjectiveclause D.nounclause E.participle F.infinitiveIII.Inthesentenceabove,Action3(thelittlegirltookabiteofmintchocolatechipicecream)isexpressedbywhichofthefollowinggrammaticalstructures? A.independentclause B.adverbclause C.adjectiveclause D.nounclause E.participle F.infinitiveIV. Inthesentenceabove,whatparallelstructureconnectsAction3(thelittlegirlatehericecream)andAction4(thelittlegirlwatchedhersister)? A.compoundsentence B.compoundverbV.Inthesentenceabove,Action5(thesistercriedonherbed)isexpressedbywhichofthefollowinggrammaticalstructures? A.independentclause B.adverbclause C.adjectiveclause D.nounclause E.participle F.infinitive
![Page 243: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/243.jpg)
235
VI.ChangetheadverbialclauseWhenherfatherwalkedawayintoanindependentclauseandexpressthesentencebelowasacompoundsentence:Whenherfatherwalkedaway,leavingablankspaceinthedoorway,thelittlegirltookabiteofmintchocolatechipicecreamandwatchedhersistercryingonherbed.VII.CHALLENGEQUESTION:Thefollowingsentenceisgrammaticallycorrect.Butthere'ssomethingoddabouttheclauseinboldtype.Icarriedmypretzelontothebus,wherethebusdriver’saidedidn’tseeitasIwalkedtothebackofthebusandsatbesideawindow.Twoquestionsabouttheclauseinboldtype:
1. Whatkindofclauseisit?2. Whatfunctiondoestheclauseserve?(Inotherwords,ifit'samodifyingclause,what
worddoesitmodify,andifit'sanounclause,whatslotdoesitfillinthemainclause?)
HINT:Thatwordwhereismisleading.Whereisoftenasubordinatingconjunctionsignalinganadverbialclause.Buthereit'sarelativepronoun.Onceyourealizethat,youshouldbeabletoworkoutwhatkindofclausethisis,andwhatfunctionitserves.
![Page 244: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/244.jpg)
236
VIII.CHALLENGEQUESTION:Thisquestionreferstothesamesentenceasabove.Icarriedmypretzelontothebus,wherethebusdriver’saidedidn’tseeitasIwalkedtothebackofthebusandsatbesideawindow.
1. Wehavealreadyseenthattheclauseinboldisanadjectiveclausemodifyingbus.Doesthisadjectiveclauseseemlikeanappropriatewaytodepicttheactiondescribedintheclause?Whyorwhynot?
2. Howwouldyourevisethissentence?
![Page 245: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/245.jpg)
237
LectureNotes
Module4,Lesson6:ParallelismHumanbeingslovesymmetry.Werespondtoit.Westriveforit.Westriveforitinarchitecture,interiordesign,visualarts.Werespondtoitinthecreatedworld,inthehumanface,inthehumanbody.Symmetryisafundamentalprincipleofbeauty.Now,therearelotsofbeautifulthingsthatarenotsymmetrical.Mostmountainsaren'tsymmetrical.Welikeplentyofthingsthataren'tevensupposedtobesymmetrical.WhatweDON'Tlikearethingsthataresupposedtobesymmetrical,butaren't.HaveyouseenToyStory3?OneofthebadguysisthisbabydollcalledBigBaby.He'sterrifying.Theonlythingunusualabouthisappearance,however,isthatoneeyeliddroopstobeingalmostclosed.Besidesthatlittleasymmetry,he'sjustaregularbabydoll.Asinotherartforms,weusesymmetryinwriting.Inthearchitectureofsentences,asinthearchitectureofbuildings,wesetupsymmetriesallthetime.Actually,Iusedsymmetryinthatlastsentence:"Inthearchitectureofsentences,asinthearchitectureofbuildings..."Anditwasn'tevenonpurpose.Wejustdoitnaturally.Symmetricalstructureslendbalanceandbeautytoyoursentences.Theyalsohelpyourreadergrasptheideasthatyouarepresenting.BUT,ifyousetupasymmetricalstructureandthenfillthatstructurewithwordsorphrasesthataren'tsymmetrical,youendupwithFaultyParallelism.FaultyParallelismwillbeaboutasdisturbingtoyourreaderasBigBaby'seyelidwastome.Threeofthecoordinatingconjunctions,AND,OR,andBUT,aswellasthecorrelativeconjunctionsEITHER/ORandNEITHER/NORcansetupparallelstructuresanywhereinasentence.
![Page 246: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/246.jpg)
238
Lookatthesecompounds:
Compoundsubject:MichaelJordanandIcombinedforseventypoints.
Compoundverb:Wesanganddanced.
Compounddirectobject:Weatehotdogsandrelish.
Compoundpredicatecomplement:Youareagentlemanandascholar.
![Page 247: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/247.jpg)
239
Compoundobjectofthepreposition:Isingofarmsandtheman.Asyoucanseeinthesesentencediagrams,acompoundistypicallyrepresentedwiththatbranchingstructurethatlookslikearocketship.Inaproperlyformedcompound,theitemsoneitherlegoftherocketshipwillbethesamekindofgrammaticalstructure.Englishgrammargivesyousomanywaystoexpressthesameidea,however,thatyoumightendupexpressingsimilarideasusingdifferentstructuresoneithersideofacompound.Here'sanexampleofFaultyParallelism:Ilikeswimmingandtoplaybasketball.
Herewehaveacompounddirectobject,butononelegisthegerundswimming,andontheotheristheinfinitivephrasetoplaybasketball.Theyaren'tthesamekindofnounequivalents,andthereforeourrocketshipisasymmetrical.Thesentencepromisedparallelism,butdeliveredfaultyparallelism.
![Page 248: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/248.jpg)
240
Hereareafewwaystocorrectfaultyparallelism:1.Iliketoswimandtoplaybasketball.(Twoinfinitives)2.Iliketoswimandplaybasketball.(Compoundinfinitives)3.Ilikeswimmingandplayingbasketball.(Twogerunds)4.Ilikeswimmingandbasketball.(Twoabstractnounsbothnamingasport)Hereisanotherexampleoffaultyparallelism:
Dogsmustlearntoobeybutthattheyareloved.
Inthecompounddirectobject,onelegoftherocketshipisaninfinitive,andtheotherlegisanounclause.Wecouldfixitbysaying:
Dogsmustlearnthattheyhavetoobey,butthattheyareloved.Or,
Dogsmustlearntoobey.Buttheyalsoneedtoknowthattheyareloved.
![Page 249: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/249.jpg)
241
CorrelativeConjunctionsImentionedcorrelativeconjunctionsearlier.Theyare,EITHER...ORNEITHER...NORBOTH...ANDNOTONLY...BUTALSOIfyouareusingacorrelativeconjunction,makesurethewordsonthefirsthalf(afterthefirstconjunction)areexactlythesamestructureasthewordsonthesecondhalf(afterthesecondconjunction.)Incorrect:Iamnotonlyscaredofalligatorsbutalsogrammarinstructors.Correct:Iamscarednotonlyofalligators,butalsoofgrammarinstructors.Intheaboveexample,eachhalfofthecorrelativeconjunctionisfollowedbyaprepositionalphrase.FaultyParallelisminCompoundVerbsWithcompoundverbs,sometimesyoucanloseparallelismbyaccidentallyswitchingfromactivetopassivevoice(orvice-versa).Forexample:
Ihadneverbeenslappedinthefacebeforeandsattherestunned.Youcouldfixthisparallelismwithaparticiple:
Havingneverbeenslappedinthefacebefore,Isattherestunned.Ormakeitacompoundsentence:
Ihadneverbeenslappedinthefacebefore,soIsattherestunned.Ihadneverbeenslappedinthefacebefore;Isattherestunned.
Onequicktip:Youdohavemoreflexibilitywithacompoundsentencethanwithotherkindsofcompounds.Aslongasyouhaveanindependentclauseoneithersideoftheconjunction,youhaveaparallelconstruction.Sometimesthebestwaytofixfaultyparallelismistogetridofit.Justbecausefaultyparallelismistheproblem,thatdoesn'tmeangoodparallelismisthesolution.
Thinkintermsof“equalsigns.”InasentencelikeLaszloisafireman,thatlinkingverb(is)iseffectivelyanequalsigninthemiddleofyoursentence:Laszlo=fireman.Justasinmathorscience,whenyouhavetopayattentiontounits,makesurethatthethingsoneithersideoftheequalsignarethesamekindofthing.
![Page 250: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/250.jpg)
242
Considerthissentence,forinstance:Achildundergoinganesthesiaisafearfulexperienceforanyparent.
Inthissentence,child=experience.Thewriterprobablyintendedforthegerundundergoingtobethesubject.Inthatcase,heshouldhaveusedthepossessive:Achild'sundergoinganesthesiaisafearfulexperienceforanyparent.Ipreferthatsentencewithouttheparallelism:Thethoughtofachildundergoinganesthesiaterrifiesanyparent.Ormaybefixingthissentenceisachancetogetmorecreative:Athousandfearsracethroughamother'sheadwhenherchildundergoesanesthesia.Willhefeelaloneontheoperatingtable?Willhewakeup?Willhebethesamewhenhedoeswakeup?Grammarisneverjustgrammar.Thinkofeverygrammarchallengeasanopportunitytomakeyoursentencemoreexpressive.ComparisonsandParallelismOnarelatednote:Whenyousetupacomparison,thethingsoneithersideofthecomparisonneedtobethesamekindofthing:
LikeEve'sbiteoftheforbiddenfruit,Ihadeatengriefandlostmyinnocence.UnlikeEve,Ihadn'tbeengivenachoice.
Those"likes"areequalsigns.Eve'sbite=I.ThewritermeanstosaythatsheislikeEve,notthatsheislikeEve'sbite.
LikeEvewhenshebittheforbiddenfruit,Ihadeatengriefandlostmyinnocence.Belowareacoupleoflastthingstowrapthisup.Dospendsometimeonthequizforthislesson.ItcoversseveralthingsIwasn'tabletogettointhelecture.
1. Don'ttrytomakeeverythingparallel.Ifsomethingisn'tquiteparallelbutfixingtheparallelismmakesthingsworse,don'tfixtheparallelism.Forexample,TheoiltycoonaddressedCongresspowerfullyandwithgreatconviction.Powerfullyisanadverb,andwithgreatconvictionisaprepositionalphrase,butitdoesn'tsoundbad.Thereisn'tagoodadverbequivalenttowithgreatconviction,soIwouldleaveitasitis.
2. Theseissuesofparallelismareoneofthereasonsyouneedtoknowyourgrammarprettywell.Ithelpstobeabletoidentify,Oh,here'sacompounddirectobject,butononesideithasagerundandontheotherthere'sanounclause.Youcanfeelyourwaythroughalotofwritingissueswhenyou'reediting,butithelpstohavethetechnicalknowledge.
![Page 251: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/251.jpg)
243
Quiz4.6:Parallelism
Eachofthequestionsinthisquizinvolvesasentencewithaparallelismerror.Foreachoftheseexamples,youwillanswertwoquestions:
1. Whatistheprobleminparallelisminthissentence?Hint:lookfortheAND,BUT,orORandcomparethestructuresoneithersideofit.Orelselookforcomparisonwords,especiallyLIKEorAS.YoumightfindithelpfultodeterminewhatkindofparallelstructureAPPEARStobesetupinthesentence(forexample:compoundverb,compoundsubject,compounddirectobject,compoundpredicatecomplement,compoundobjectofpreposition,etc.)andgofromthere.
2. Rewritethissentencewithouttheparallelismproblem.Hint:thismaymeanmakingthingsparallel,oritmaymeanthrowingouttheparallelismaltogether.
Here'sasamplequestionwithanswers:Jorgelikestoplayvideogames,boardgames,andjumpingonthetrampoline.
1. Thissentenceappearstohaveacompounddirectobjectfortheinfinitivetoplay.Thephrasesvideogamesandboardgamesworkfineasacompounddirectobject,butthegerundjumpingonthetrampolinedoesn'tworkasadirectobjectofplay.
2. Rewrite:Jorgelikesvideogames,boardgames,andjumpingonthetrampoline.(Inthisversion,videogames,boardgames,andjumpingonthetrampolineformacompounddirectobjectoflikes.)
I.Hecamewalkingupourdrivewayincowboybootsandbandylegs.
1. Whatistheparallelismprobleminthissentence?2. Rewritethissentencewithouttheparallelismproblem.
![Page 252: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/252.jpg)
244
II.Ibegantopanic:myheartthuddedandquicksucksofair.1. Whatistheparallelismprobleminthissentence?2. Rewritethissentencewithouttheparallelismproblem.
III.Hepickeditup,tookabite,buthalfthecontentsspilledoutontotheplate.
1. Whatistheparallelismprobleminthissentence?2. Rewritethissentencewithouttheparallelismproblem.
IV.Cynthiawasthefirsttocallme'Grandma'andcausedmetothinkaboutfuturegenerations.
1. Whatistheparallelismprobleminthissentence?2. Rewritethissentencewithouttheparallelismproblem.
V.ThepolicemantoldmetogetmycaroutoftheroadandalsothatIshouldgetanewwardrobe.
1. Whatistheparallelismprobleminthissentence?2. Rewritethissentencewithouttheparallelismproblem.
![Page 253: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/253.jpg)
245
VI.Myarmsareheavyandyetjitterylikehavinglowbloodsugar.1. Whatistheparallelismprobleminthissentence?2. Rewritethissentencewithouttheparallelismproblem.
VII.Henolongerhasthebronzedtwenty-year-oldhandsImetaroundtheswimmingpoolin1979.
1. Whatistheparallelismprobleminthissentence?2. Rewritethissentencewithouttheparallelismproblem.
![Page 254: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/254.jpg)
246
![Page 255: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/255.jpg)
247
LectureNotesModule4,Lesson7:NominativeAbsolutes
TheNominativeAbsoluteisoneofthosegrammaticalstructuresthatyoudon'thearalotabout,thoughyouseeitanduseitallthetime.TheNominativeAbsoluteisastructurewithinasentence,madeupofanounanditsmodifiers(usuallyincludingaparticiple)thathasnogrammaticalconnectiontoanythingelse.ThewordabsoluteisfromtheLatin,absolutuswhichmeanssetfree.Nominativeisanotherwordfornoun,soaNominativeAbsoluteisanounphrasethatisfloatingfreefromthesentenceit'sin.ANominativeAbsoluteusuallysitsatthebeginningofasentence,sometimesattheveryend,andoccasionallysomewhereinthemiddle.Hereareafewexamples:
Allthingsconsidered,thatwasn'tsuchabadriot.
Allthingsbeingequal,Iliketeabetterthanspoiledmilk.
Mydoghavingchewedupmyretaineragain,Imadeyetanothertriptotheorthodontist.
You'llnoticethatyoucouldeasilymoveanyofthoseNominativeAbsolutestotheendofthesentence:
Thatwasn'tsuchabadriot,allthingsconsidered.Let'slookatwhataNominativeAbsoluteismadeof,itsform.
![Page 256: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/256.jpg)
248
• NominativeAbsolute=Noun+modifiers...almostalwaysaparticiple(eitherpresentorpast)
• Forexample:Things(noun)+considered(pastparticiple)Theparticipialphrasecanbeaslongasyouwant.Forexample:
MydoghavingchewedupmyretainerinthedarkofnightwhileIsleptthesleepoftheblessed,completelyunawareofthenefariousdeedsbeingcommittedinthenextroom,Imadeanothertriptotheorthodontist.
Ofcourse,thatlongparticiple("havingchewedup...")delaysthemainverblongerthanwenormallylike,butthegrammarallowsforsuchalongandcomplicatednominativeabsolute(thoughconsiderationforthereaderprobablydoesn't).Nowlet'slookatthefunctionofaNominativeAbsolute.
• ANominativeAbsolutedoesnothaveagrammaticalconnectiontothesentencewhereitlives.Itisn'tanobjectoracomplement.It'sjustthere.Andtheparticipialphraseisjustasidekicktothefloatingnoun.
• TheNominativeAbsolutehasalogicalconnectiontoitssentence.Itprovidesexplanatoryinformationthataddsmeaningtothemainsentence.Inthatsense,it'salmostadverbial,commentingonthewholeactionofthesentence.
Youwouldn'tsay:
Mygrandmother,havingbeenbornin1918,Ipickedupsomegrocery-storesushi.It'sgrammaticallyfinetosaythat,butthere'snologicalconnectionbetweentheNominativeAbsoluteandthemainclause.ACoupleofFinalThoughtsTheNominativeAbsolutelooksalotlikeaparticipialphraseatthebeginningofthesentence.Havingchewedupmyretaineragain,mydoglookedashamed.Thedifferenceisthattheparticiplemodifiesthesubject,mydog.IntheNominativeAbsolute,thenounismovedintothephrase.Sonowitisself-containedandcanmovearound.Iwarnwritersagainstover-usingNominativeAbsolutes.They'recomplexstructures,sotheysoundverysophisticated.Buttheytendtobecomeasortofverbalhabit,andthatgetswearyingforyourreader.Bydefinition,aNominativeAbsoluteintroducesadisconnectintoyoursentence.You'reshootingforconnection,soalwaysaskyourselfiftheNominativeAbsoluteisreallynecessary.
![Page 257: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/257.jpg)
249
Quiz4.7:NominativeAbsolutes
I.Whatgrammaticalroledoesanominativeabsoluteserveinthesentencewhereitlives? A.Itisasubject. B.Itisaverb. C.Itisanobject. D.Itisacomplement. E.Itisamodifier. F.Ithasnogrammaticalconnection,onlyalogicalconnection.II.Anniesitsslumpedonaconcreteslab,herbackcurvedlikeanautilusshell.Whatisthenominativeabsoluteinthissentence?III.Warm,freshbreadtuckedundermyarm,Iwaitedformynewneighbortoanswermyknock.Whatisthenominativeabsoluteinthissentence?
![Page 258: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/258.jpg)
250
IV.Billpushedthewheelbarrowupthedriveway,Sadiewalkingbesidehim.Whatisthenominativeabsoluteinthissentence?V.Ibookeditoff-stage,myfriendswaitingtohelpmeintoabluedresswhilethechoruscontinuedtosinganddanceunderthelights.Whatisthenominativeabsoluteinthissentence?VI.He’scoming,determinedlittlelegscrossingcarpetexpanse,enteringthedogzone.Whatisthenominativeabsoluteinthissentence?
![Page 259: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/259.jpg)
251
LectureNotesModule4,Lesson8:CourseWrapUp
Havealookatthisverylong,verycomplexsentence:Thisisthefarmersowinghiscorn,Whokepttheroosterthatcrowedinthemorn,Thatwokethepriestallshavenandshorn,Whomarriedthemanalltatteredandtorn,Whokissedthemaidenallforlorn,Whomilkedthecowwiththecrumpledhorn,Thattossedthedog,Thatworriedthecat,Thatkilledtherat,ThatatethemaltThatlayinthehousethatJackbuilt.Thatsentencehas78words.Ithas12adjectiveclauses,3prepositionalphrases,and3participialphrases.Andyouunderstooditjustfine.Thisisaverycomplexsentence,andyetquitereadable.Why?Becauseitfollowstwoprincipleswe'vebeendiscussingallalonginGrammarforWriters.
• Itgetsimmediatelytothesubject/verbnexus:Thisisthefarmer.• Allofthemodifierssitimmediatelynexttothewordstheymodify.
Areadercanhandletremendouscomplexityaslongasyouareprovidingthemarkersheneedstonavigateit.Whenyouloveyourreaderyouaresaying,"I'vegotthisthingIwanttoshowyou.It'salittlecomplicated.SoI'mtosticktotheserulesthatyouandIshare,andthatwaywecangetthroughthistogether."
![Page 260: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/260.jpg)
252
Languageallowsfornearlyinfinitecomplexity.Butthatcomplexityrestsonacombinationofformsthatarethemselvesprettysimpleandoftenprettyrigid.That'swhysomethinglikeMadLibsworks.Youcanpluginalmostanynounorverboradjectiveandstillhaveaworkingsentence,aslongasyouplugitintoaspotwhereanounorverboradjectivegoes.Asquirrelateanacorn.Asquirrelstoleanacorn.Aplumberstoleanacorn.Aplumberstolethepettycashbox.Almosteverywordofthatsentencehaschanged,andthemeaninghaschangedentirely.Buttheunderlyingstructurehasn't.It'sstillSubject-Verb-Object.Aslongasyouputtherightkindofwordineachslot,grammardoesn'tcareaboutthespecificwords.Sothecombinationsofwordswithinthegrammaticalstructuresareeffectivelyinfinite.Andthepossiblecombinationsofthegrammaticalstructuresareeffectivelyinfinitetoo.Butthegrammaticalstructuresthemselvesarenotinfinite.Infact,you'veinteractedwithprettymuchalloftheminthiscourse.Youknowallthegrammaryouneedtoconnecteffectivelywithyourreader.Ifyouhavetroublerememberingsomeforms,gobackandwatchthelecturesagain,orreviewthelecturenotes,orhaveanotherlookatthequizzes.Andhere'ssomethingelse:youknowallthegrammaticalstructuresyouneed,andyourreaderknowsthemtoo.Hemightnotknowheknowsthem,buthisbrainknowsthemwhenitseesthem.Youarereadytocommunicate.Asfarasvocabularygoes,youprobablyalreadyknowenoughwordstowritewhatyouwanttowrite.Itneverhurtstolearnmorevocabulary,butifyoureadalotyourvocabularywillgrownaturally.Don'tlearnvocabularyjusttoimpresspeople;thatjustputsthemoff.Languageiscomplex.Complexitymeanstherearealotofopportunitiestogetthingswrong.ANDYET,complexityalsomeansthatyouhavealotofdifferentoptionsforreachingouttoyourreaderandmakingconnections.Ihopethiscoursehasmadeyoulessafraidofthosepossiblepitfallsingrammarandmoreconfidentinyourabilitytoconnectreadersyoucareaboutwithideasandstoriesthatyoucareabout.Now,gowritesomethingbeautiful.
![Page 261: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/261.jpg)
253
AnswerKey
Dr.JonathanRogers
![Page 262: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/262.jpg)
1
QuizAnswerKey
Quiz1.2AnswerKey.........................................1
Quiz1.3AnswerKey.........................................3
Quiz1.4BAnswerKey....................................7
Quiz1.5AAnswerKey.................................11
Quiz1.5BAnswerKey.................................12
Quiz1.6AnswerKey......................................15
Quiz1.7AnswerKey......................................18
Quiz1.8AAnswerKey.................................20
Quiz1.8BAnswerKey.................................21
Quiz1.9AnswerKey......................................23
Quiz1.10AnswerKey...................................24
Quiz1.11AnswerKey...................................26
Quiz1.12AnswerKey...................................28
Quiz1.13AnswerKey...................................30
Quiz2.2AnswerKey......................................31
Quiz2.3AnswerKey......................................32
Quiz2.5AnswerKey......................................33
Quiz2.7AnswerKey......................................34
Quiz2.8AnswerKey......................................35
Quiz2.10AnswerKey....................................36
Quiz2.11AnswerKey....................................37
Quiz2.12AnswerKey....................................39
Quiz2.13AnswerKey....................................40
Quiz3.2AAnswerKey.................................42
Quiz3.2BAnswerKey.................................44
Quiz3.3AnswerKey......................................46
Quiz3.4AnswerKey......................................48
Quiz3.5AnswerKey......................................50
Quiz3.6AnswerKey......................................51
Quiz4.2AnswerKey......................................53
Quiz4.3AnswerKey......................................54
Quiz4.4AnswerKey......................................56
Quiz4.5AnswerKey......................................58
Quiz4.6AnswerKey......................................60
Quiz4.7AnswerKey......................................62
![Page 263: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/263.jpg)
1
Quiz1.2AnswerKey
I. Thissentenceconsistsofasingleclause,themainlineofwhichisIworked.
Everythingelseisamodifier.OncetellswhenIworked,andataplumbingcompanytellswhereIworked.Here'sadiagram.
II. ThemainlinehereisIhaveadmiration.Theotherwordsarealladjectival,
modifyingadmiration.Here'sadiagram:
III. Thissentenceconsistsoftwoclauses,butonlyoneisamain(orindependent)
clause.Thatmostofusrunawayfromisadependent(adjective)clausemodifyingproblems.ThemainclauseisPlumbersconfrontproblems.Hereisadiagram:
![Page 264: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/264.jpg)
2
VI. Thissentencejusthasthemainclausewithoneadjectiveandoneadjectivalphrase.ThemainlineoftheclauseisIcannotimaginesociety.
V. Themainlinehereisfriendswere(not)civil.Everythingelseisamodifier.Here's
adiagram:
VI. ThemainlinehereisPlumbersconductfeud.
VII. Again,wehaveasentencewithtwoclauses.Itstartswithadependent(adverbial)
clausethattellswhen,orunderwhatconditionsyoushouldhugaplumber'sneck.Butthemainclauseisyoushouldhugneck.
Bearinmindthatalmosteverythingthatistrueofamainclauseisalsotrueofadependentclause.Asyoucanseefromthediagrambelow,thetwoclausesinthissentenceareverysimilarinstructure.Still,thedistinctionbetweendependentandindependentclausesisimportantandnottobeignored.Here'sthatdiagram:
![Page 265: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/265.jpg)
3
Quiz1.3AnswerKey
I. Hopefullythiswasaneasyoneforyou.IfyouapplytheVerbFinder,chasedis reallytheonlywordthatfits. Well,Isupposeit'spossiblethat'mob'couldfit...itseemsliketheBeatleswere alwaysgettingmobbed.Dopopsingersstillgetmobbed?II. IfyouuseyourVerbFinderhere,shoneistheonlywordthatfitsintheblank: I[blank].You[blank].He/She/It[blank].III. Fromthelastquestion,youknowthattheverbforthissentenceisshone.Plugthat verbintoyourSubjectFinder:Whoorwhatshone?Wisdomshone. Thewords"manyyears'rough"modifywisdom.Theytelluswhatkindofwisdom we'retalkingabout.Eyeistheobjectoftheprepositionfrom,anditismodifiedby thewords"onegood,"whichtelluswhatkindofeye.IV. PulloutthatVerbFinderagain:I[blank].You[blank].He/she/it[blank]. Inthiscase,morethanonewordcouldfitinthoseblanks.Frightenedcouldfit.Cried couldfit.*Sowhichofthoseistheverb?Well,theactionhere iscrying.Frightenedstartedoutlifeasaverb,buthereitisnotaverbbuta modifier—apastparticipledescribingJohnBarber'spitiablestateofmind. Criedistheverb.Plugthatverbintothesubjectfinder—Whocried?—andyoueasily findyoursubject.JohnBarbercried. *IfthiswereLatin,possumwouldalsobeacandidatefortheverb.PossumisLatin for"Iamable."V. I'msureyou'vealreadymemorizedyourlistoftobeverbs,soyouwouldn'thave hadanytroubleseeingthatwas(aformoftobe)pointstoyourverb.The
![Page 266: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/266.jpg)
4
questioniswhetherornotwasisthewholeverborahelpingverb.Inthiscase,it's ahelpingverb.Thewholeverbiswaschased.VI. Youknowfromthepreviousquestionthattheverbhereiswaschased.Whenyou applytheSubjectFinderandaskWhowaschased?it'srelativelyeasytoseethatthe subjectispirate. Remember,identifyingthegrammaticalsubjectisnotthesamethingasidentifying theactor.Theangrymobistheactor.Thatpoorpirateisreceivingtheactionof chasing,notdoingtheaction(though,nodoubt,itfeelsplentyactivetohim).Froma logicalperspective,iftheactionischasing,heistherecipientofthataction,notthe agent.Butthewholepointofthepassivevoiceistoallowsomethingorsomebody besidestheactortobethesubject.TheSubjectFinderwillalwaysidentify thegrammaticalsubject,nottheactor.InalaterlessonI'llhavealotmoretosay aboutaligningthesubjectwiththeactor.VII. Inonesense,thisisaneasyone.Anytimeyouseeaformoftobe,youhavefound theverb(oratleastpartoftheverb).And,asyouknow,isisaformoftobe.So that'sourverb. However,thisisanothersentencethatdemonstratesthedifferencebetweenthe actioninasentenceandtheverbinasentence.Chasingfeelsmoreactivethanis.So, forthatmatter,doesactivity.ButifyouuseyourVerbFinder,neitherchasing noractivityfitsintheblank.Onlyisdoes.VIII. Youmayhavefoundthisoneatadtricky.But,asalways,theSubjectFindercomesto therescue.Weknowfromthepreviousquestionthattheverbisis.SoourSubject FinderquestionisWhatis? Ifthiswereashort-answerquestionratherthanamultiple-choicequestion,you probablywouldhaveansweredchasingcars.Thatwouldhavebeenagoodanswer. ButIdidn'tgiveyouthatchoice,becauseIwantedyoutohavetochoose betweenchasingandcars.Andsinceyou'rehavingtochoose,thecorrectchoice ischasing.Thedog'sfavoriteactivityischasing,notcars.IX. Thesubject/verbnexusofthefirstclauseisIarrange. Thesubject/verbnexusofthesecondclauseisyoudestroy.
![Page 267: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/267.jpg)
5
Quiz1.4AAnswerKey
I. Thesubjectisyear(thefirstone),theverbiswas,andthepredicatecomplement isyear(thesecondone). Here'sthediagram:
II. Thesubjectofthissentenceisstep.Towardrecoverymodifiesstep,andofself- esteemmodifiesrecovery. Self-awarenessisapredicatecomplement.Itrenamesstep.Theto-beverbisisa cluethatwehaveapredicatecomplementratherthanadirectobject. Here'sthediagram:
![Page 268: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/268.jpg)
6
III. Thissentencedoeshaveadirectobject—thenounclauseiftheyweretalking
aboutme.Iwonderedwhat?Iftheyweretalkingaboutme.WewilldiscussnounclausesinModule3.Meanwhile,bearinmindthattheDirectObjectFinderworksnotonlywithsimplenouns,butwitheverykindofnounequivalent.
Here'sthediagram:
IV. Subject:oldman Verb:was Here'sasimplifieddiagram(technicallyspeaking,theverbinthewhoclauseis turnedoutandtobeGeorgeJonesisaninfinitivephraseservingasthepredicate complement,butatthispointinourjourneythissimplifiedversionseemed adequate):
![Page 269: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/269.jpg)
7
Quiz1.4BAnswerKey
I. ThemainlinehereisMikeleaned.Everythingelseisamodifier.The adverbforwardtellshowheleaned,asdoesthephraseontherail.Everythingelse tellsuswhichrail.Thereisasecondclauseinthissentence--"thatseparatedthe porch..."--butthisisanadjectiveclausetellinguswhichrail,notamainclause. Here'sthediagram:
II. ThemainactionhereisHemakes(his)trot.Everythingelseisa modifier.Slowandgloatingtelluswhatkindoftrot.Aroundthediamondtells uswherehetrotted.Squeezedintothebackyardtellsuswhatkindofdiamond(or possiblywhichdiamond).Here'sthediagram:
![Page 270: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/270.jpg)
8
III. Themainlinehereisfamilymoved.ToPhoenixandfromChicagobothtell uswherethefamilymoved,andwhenIwasseventellsuswhenthefamilymoved. Here'sthediagram:
IV. Themainlineistruckhasbeensitting.Theverbhereisthreewords—hasbeen sitting.Hasandbeenarehelpingverbs.Inmydrivewaytellsuswherethetruck hasbeensitting,andformonthstellsuswhenthetruckhasbeensitting.Here'sthe diagram:
V. Themainlineisfamilytradedtornadoes.Goingwestisamodifier.Technically, thisisaparticipialphrasemodifyingfamily,butreallyitfeelsmoreadverbialhere, tellingusunderwhatcircumstancesthefamilytradedtornadosfortumbleweeds andearthquakeaftershocks.Everythingaftertornadosis,technicallyspeaking,a compoundprepositionalphraseservingtotellhowthefamilytradedtornadoes. Here'sthediagram:
![Page 271: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/271.jpg)
9
VI. ThemainlinehereisTheyhadnottouchedthebirdfeeder.Ihungtwoweeks agoisaclausetellinguswhichbirdfeeder.Here'sthediagram:
VII. Thisoneisalittletricky.Thesubject/verbnexusofthemainclauseistruth broke.Thatopeningclause,Asthemists...cleared,tellsuswhenthetruthbroke, andthephrasewithalightthatpiercestothisdaytellsushowthetruthbroke.
VIII. Forthefirstindependentclause,thesubject/verbnexusiswaterwas.Forthe secondindependentclause,thesubject/verbnexusisthatwas. Hereisthediagram:
![Page 272: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/272.jpg)
10
IX. Forthefirstindependentclause,thesubject/verbnexusisitwas.Forthesecond independentclause,thesubject/verbnexusiswehadcamped. Here’sthediagram:
X. TheonlycompletesentenceisLikethebackofmygrandmother’shands,the delicateveinsarevisible.(Thissentencehassomeissues,asyouwilllearnwhen wediscusspassivevoiceinLessons7and8ofthismodule,andwhenwediscuss parallelisminModule4,butitisasentencewithbothmainsubjectandamainverb, unliketheotherthreegroupsofwordsabove.)XI. Trickquestion!There'snomainverbhere.Thisisasentencefragment.Madeisa verb,butitisaverbinadependent(adjective)clause.And'todrink'isaninfinitive ratherthanaverb.Thesethingswillmakesenselateriftheydon'talready.
![Page 273: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/273.jpg)
11
Quiz1.5AAnswerKey
I. E.NemesisrenamesJohnBarber,soitisapredicatecomplement.II. C.DirectObjectFinder:JohnBarbersoldwhat?Afakeelevatorpass.IndirectObject
Finder:JohnBarbersoldafakeelevatorpasstoorforwhom?Me.I'mstillmadaboutit.
III. D.OnceyouhaveidentifiedJohnBarberastheDOinthissentence,youstillneedto accountforsneakymonkey.ThephraserenamestheDOJohnBarber,soitisanOC.I couldhavecalledhimmuchworse.IV. B.ThephrasewithagloveisamodifiertellinghowJohnBarberslapped.It'snoton themainline.ThatleavesJohnBarberslappedmeonthemainline,anditis relativelyeasytoseehowthatclauseconformstotheS-V-DOpattern.V. B.Theverbhereiscould(not)ignore.Icouldnotignorewhat?Theinsult.Idaresay youcouldn'thaveignorediteither.VI. A.Thephraseinthevestibuleisadverbial,tellingwherewefought.ThatleavesWe foughtonthemainline,soit’sobviouslytheS-Vpattern.VII. B.Thestoryhasahappyending.
![Page 274: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/274.jpg)
12
Quiz1.5BAnswerKey
I. B.S-V-DO
II. E.S-V-PC
III. E.S-V-PC
![Page 275: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/275.jpg)
13
IV. B.S-V-DOAsyoucanseeinthediagrambelow,howtochangethebedsheets...isanounclause
servingasthedirectobjectoftheverbshowed.[Itlooksliketheleftsideofthe diagramgotcutoff.Sorryaboutthat,butforthepurposesofthisquestion,themore relevantpartsofthediagramareallthere.]
V. A.S-V
VI. E.S-V-PC
![Page 276: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/276.jpg)
14
VII. A.S-V
VIII. C.S-V-IO-DO
IX. D.S-V-DO-OC
X. C.S-V-IO-DO
![Page 277: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/277.jpg)
15
Quiz1.6AnswerKey
I. Therearetwoactionsinthatsecondsentence:Irenecallsout,andJimmylaughs.But theverblaughsbecomesthenounlaughter,tuckedawayasthedirectobjectinan adjectiveclause.AndJimmyhasdisappearedcompletelyfromthatsecond sentence.Hereisonewaytoreworkthesentence:Irenewouldcallout"Jimmy,stop it!"andJimmywouldlaughallthemore.II. Lookatthesubjectandverbofthissentence:furniture,clothing,andeducation madethemotherwilling(thisclausepatternisS-V-DO-OC).Therealactionhere— themothermakingchoices—getsmovedtoaparticiple(willing)modifiedbyan infinitivephrase(tostretch…)modifiedbyanadverbialclause(thatthey sometimesdisappearedaltogether).Bringingthegrammarinlinewiththeaction willprobablyinvolvemakingthemotherthesubjectofthesentence.
• Mymothersometimesstretchedourlimitedmeanstothebreakingpointinordertogiveusfinefurniture,goodclothes,andprivateeducation.
• Mymotherthoughtitwasimportantforustohavefinefurniture,goodclothes,andaprivateeducation.Shewaswillingtostretchourmeanstothebreakingpointtomakesurewehadthosethings.
Asalways,thesearejusttwoofmanypossiblewaystoreworkthesesentences.III. Thatphrasesnappedoffandneverreattachedisaparticipialphrase(actually,two participialphrases).Snappedandreattachedlooklikeverbs,buttheyserve asmodifiers.Theverbhereisthepassiveis[presumed]lost. Soherearetheactions:
• Askipoleissnappedoff.• Askipoleisneverreattached.• Askipoleislost.
(Ihaveexpressedallthreeoftheseactionsaspassiveconstructions,butsincewe don'tknowtheactorshere,Ihopeyouwillforgiveme.) Here'sonewaytobringtheverbsandsubjectsmoreinlinewiththeaction:The rightskipolesnappedoffandwasneverreattached.Itislosttothetundra.
![Page 278: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/278.jpg)
16
IV. Thesubject-verbnexusofthemainclauseismomentfilled.Thesubject-verbnexus ofthesubordinateclauseisthat[surge]wasabouttoensue.Here'sadiagram:
Whataretheactions?
• Apersonsneezes(or,rather,isabouttosneeze).• Apersonfeelsdread.• Apersonknowsthatpainiscoming.
Therearelotsofwaystorevisethissentence.Here'sone:EverytimeIfeltasneeze comingon,Iwasfilledwithfear.IknewIwasabouttofeelasurgeofpain.I'mnot convincedthisisthebestwaytorevisethissentence,butasyoucansee,the grammarmorecloselyalignswiththeactionthanintheoriginal.V. Quicknote:Whenyoustartasentencewith"thereis/was/are/were,"youwill
ALWAYShaveamismatchbetweenactors/actionsandsubjects/verbs. Actions/StatesofBeing:
• Eventsandvenueswerescarce.• Mothergladlypaidthecostofroadtrips.
SubjectsandVerbs:• Scarcitywas• Costwas
Possiblerevision:
Culturaleventswerescarceinourhometown,somymothergladlypaidthecostof frequenttripstothecity.
Orperhaps,
Wehadfewculturalopportunitiesinourhometown,somymothergladlymade frequenttripstothecity.
![Page 279: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/279.jpg)
17
VI. Actorsandactions:• Aseventh-graderbegshermothertotakehertoaplay.• Themotherenthusiasticallysays“Yes.”• Theseventh-graderisn'tsurprised.
Subjectsandverbs:• "Yes"was(not)surprising.• Ibegged.
Here'sonewaytorevise:InseventhgradeIbeggedmymothertotakemetoaplayattheTivoliTheater.Iwasn'tsurprisedwhenshegavemeanimmediateandenthusiastic"Yes!"
![Page 280: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/280.jpg)
18
Quiz1.7AnswerKey
I. No.Thisisactive.Theverbhadbeatenisinpast-perfect.Likepassivevoice,the past-perfecttenseusesthefourthprincipalpart(beaten).Sointhatregardit resemblespassivevoice.Butthinkintermsoffunction,notform.Inthiscase,the bearisthegrammaticalsubject,andthebearistheactor(he'stheonewhodoesthe beating).ThepassiveformwouldbesomethingalongthelinesofWewerebeaten herebythelargebear...II. No.Thissentenceisnotinpassivevoice.Inthiscase,theto-beverbwasdepictsa stateofbeing.Remember,ifthiswereinpassivevoice,thegrammaticalsubject wouldbereceivingsomeaction.III. Yes.Thissentencestartswithadependentclause,Whenallelsefails.Thatclauseis inactivevoice.Butthemainclause,adogcanbecountedon,ispassive.IV. Yes.Thisisaprettygrosspassiveconstruction.Itwouldbebettertosay,Wesawa creatureswimming—abeaver?”V. No.Inthiscase,theto-beverbwasisusedasahelpingverbinthepast-progressive
verbwasstudying.Thegrammaticalsubject(He)istheactor(Heisdoingthestudy,notgettingstudied),sothisisnotpassivevoice.
VI. Bothofthesesentencesarepassive.ThedifferencebetweenthemisthatinSentence 1theactors(wolves)arenamed,andinSentence2theactorsareomitted.Who raisedJohnBarberinabarninSentence2?Wolves?Hisparents?French mimes?There'snowayofknowing.VII. Elvisusedthishandkerchief.VIII. AglassofwaterwasgiventoLindabyUncleThurston. or(ifyouwishtoleaveUncleThurstonoutofit) AglassofwaterwasgiventoLinda.
![Page 281: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/281.jpg)
19
IX. LindawasgivenaglassofwaterbyUncleThurston. Alsoacceptable: Lindawasgivenaglassofwater.X. Revisedversion:Twohourslater,afterwehadeatenthesandwiches,thethunder came.(I'mjustguessing,ofcourse,thatwearethecorrectactorsforthisaction, sincethepassiveconstructionconcealstheactor(s).Youmayhaveguessed differently.That'sfine.)XI. 1.Thatlastsentenceisinpassivevoice.
2.Thisisanunfortunatechoice,becausequick-thinkingCurtis,themanofthehour,completelydisappearsjustathismomentoftriumph.Actually,therearetwopassiveverbsinthatlastsentence.Thesecond—Iwassurroundedbyfriends—isn'tsoegregiousasthefirst—Iwastossed—whicheffectivelyerasesourhero.3.Revised,activeversion:Hetossedmeinthepool,andfriendssurroundedmewithinseconds.Ifyouprefertoleavethesecondpassiveconstruction,thatworksfine:Hetossedmeinthepool,andIwassurroundedbyfriendswithinseconds.Inthatsecondversion,noticethatthenarrator,thereinthecenterofherfriends,isthegrammaticalsubjectofherownclause,andthatisentirelyappropriate.
![Page 282: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/282.jpg)
20
Quiz1.8AAnswerKey
I. A.Intheactivevoice,theactoristhesubject.Inthepassivevoice,theactorismoved outofsubjectposition.Theactormaybetuckedawayastheobjectofapreposition (TheflowersweregiventoBarbieBYKEN),ortheactormaydisappearaltogether (TheflowersweregiventoBarbie).II. CandD.Inapassiveconstructiontheactorismovedoutofthesubjectposition,to bereplacedbyadirectobject(FlowersweregiventoBarbiebyKen)oranindirect object(BarbiewasgivenflowersbyKen).III. AthruD.Alloftheanswersareproblemsassociatedwiththepassivevoice.IV. 1.Whenconcealing/denyingagency
2.Whentheactorisunknown3.Whendirectingthereader'sattentiontosomethingbesidestheactor4.Whenexpressingpassivity(thesubjectofthesentencewasthevictim/receiverofanaction)
![Page 283: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/283.jpg)
21
Quiz1.8BAnswerKey
I. Iwouldgivehispassiveconstructionahardno.Thepainterisholdinghisbrush, dabblingitinthepaint,brushingitonthecanvas...andthenjustwhenhe'saboutto finishhismasterpiece,POOF!,apassiveconstructionrendershiminvisible.II. Byusingthepassivevoice,thiswritergivesthesubjectpositiontothecatalogs ratherthangivingittothetruck.Thetruckisn'tasimportantasthecatalogsandthe bills.Idon'tknowifthewriterwasdoingthisonpurpose,butthissentence structurecreatesanicebalancebetweenthecatalogsandthebills,withthetruckas thefulcrumoftheteeter-totter.Ithinkthepassivevoiceisagoodchoicehere.III. Iwouldsaythetwopassiveconstructionsinthesecondsentenceareentirely appropriate.Itdoesn'tseemrelevanttosaywhobroughtthewaterfromthe mountainsanddistributeditthroughthecanals,evenifweknew.Asforthefirst sentence,thatpassiveconstructionisn'tterrible,butIfinditalittledistracting.You couldsay"Farmersgrowcitrustrees,almondtrees,etc.,"butIthinkIwouldjustsay "Citrustrees,almondtrees,cotton,andgrapesgrowsuccessfully..." Here'swhatmyrevisionwouldlooklike: Citrustrees,almondtrees,cotton,andgrapesgrowsuccessfullythanksto irrigation.Thewaterisbroughtdownfromthemountainsthroughanaqueductand distributedbyacanalsystem.IV. Idon'tthinkitmakesalotofsensetointroducetheanonymousartisthere.Iwould probablymakethewholethingpassive,orperhapsjustuseagoodoldlinkingverb ortwotodescribethescenesothatIhavelesspassivevoicebutIdon'thavetotalk abouttheartist.Here'sanall-passiveversion: Heisgluedtothickskisthatsitatopawoodenplank.Thewoodenplankisacanvas onwhichthecedarsceneisset.Intocedarwoodiscarvedatinyfirtreestuntedat halfthebear’sheight.
![Page 284: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/284.jpg)
22
Andhere'saversionthatuseslinkingverbsinthoselasttwosentences: Heisgluedtothickskisthatsitatopawoodenplank.Thewoodenplankisacanvasfor thecedarscene.Atinyfirtreecarvedfromcedarstandsstuntedathalfthebear’s height.V. Iwoulddefinitelykeepthefirstpassiveconstruction.Thereisnoactive-voicewayto communicatetheideaofbeingtransported(thoughyoucould,ofcoursecomeup withsomethingfresherthatmightbeactive).I'mnotassureIwouldkeepthe secondpassiveconstruction,thoughit'shardtoknowhowbesttoreviseit.Iassume thatPedroandIfromthefirstclauseexploredtheircreativity.Didtheyfosterit too,ordidtheirparentsfosterit?Didtheenvironmentfosterit?Noticehowthe passivevoiceallowsawritertogetawaywithsomeimprecision.Here'sonewayto revise: PedroandIhavelittlecontactthesedays,butwhenIthinkbackonourfriendshipI’m transportedbacktothatredbrickhouseonSpruceStreetwherewefosteredcreativity andexploredourimaginations.
![Page 285: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/285.jpg)
23
Quiz1.9AnswerKey
I. AbstractionII. ComplyIII. RevealIV. Here'sonepossiblerevision:Leonardwasn'tpayingattention,sohecollidedwitha telephonepole. Ifyouwanttobemorespecific,youcansaysomethinglikethis: Leonardlookedupfromhistelephonejustbeforehecollidedwiththetelephonepole.V. Mariaarguedthatshewouldbeexposedtonewriskswhenthepolicyexpired.VI. Ioriginallywasn'tinterestedinknowingher;Ionlywantedhertoacceptme.
VII. Here'sonewaytodoit:AfterDalefellfromaladderatawarehousejobandinjured hisshoulderworkingasajanitoratthecountyjail,hewasnonetoosteadyonhisfeet.VIII. Someofmyfavoriteswerebooksandbaseballcards,butingeneralIwasunderthe impressionthatthebiggerthegiftthebetter,andIhadlittlerespectforbirthday cards.IX. Onthoseoccasionswhenheremovedhisshades,herevealedglassy,bloodshoteyes.
Or, Occasionallyheremovedhisshades.Whenhedid,Icouldseehiseyeswereglassyand bloodshot.
![Page 286: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/286.jpg)
24
Quiz1.10AnswerKey
I. am,is,are,was,be,being,beenII. Thisstatementisfalse.Communicatingastateofbeingisaperfectlyrespectablejob foraverb.Thetobeverbisthemostcommonstateofbeingverb.Thisverbhasa badreputationbecauseitisoftenanaccompliceinwritingcrimessuchas inappropriatepassivevoiceandexcessivenominalization.Butthereisnoshamein usingatobeverbtocommunicateastateofbeing,noristhereanyshameinusing thetobeverbasahelpingverbintheprogressivetenses(whichyouwilllearn aboutinafuturelesson).III. Icanenvisionhairthatisasexpansiveasanexplosion;it'savividimage.AndIcan envisiontight,brownringlets.Butit’shardtoenvisionbothatthesametime.Ifyou wantmetoenvisiontight,brownringlets,don’taskmetoimaginethemasan explosion.Ifyouwantmetoenvisionanexplosion,don’taskmetoenvisionitas somethingtightandcontrolled.IV. Cliffsdon'thover.Actually,theystayverystillandsolid.Theremaybe circumstancesunderwhichyoucoulddescribeacliffashoveringinsome figurativesense.Buthere,whereapersonisjumpingoffaclifftogohang-gliding, thecliffistheleasthover-ythinginthesentence.Thehang-glidermighthover.The personattachedtothehang-glidermighthover.Butthecliffistheonethingthatjust sitsthere.V. Whenathingmelts,itgetssofter.Butwedon'tthinkofadefiantfaceasbeingsofter thanabewilderedface.Infact,weusuallythinkofitasquiteabitharder.Iwould saysomethingmorealongthelinesof:Hisbewilderedfacehardenedintodefiance.VI. IsuspectthisisoneofthosesituationsinwhichthewriterstartedoutwithThe rectangularstudiohadpolishedwoodfloors...anddecidedthatheldwouldbea moreinterestingverbthanhad.Idon'tagreethatheldismoreinterestingthan had.
![Page 287: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/287.jpg)
25
Whenyounoticethataverbisn'tasinterestingasyouwantittobe,remember,the answerisn'tnecessarilyamatterofplugginginadifferentverb.Maybeyouneedto domorereworkingthanthat. ThestudiowasarectangleabouthalfthesizeofanOlympicswimmingpool—more thanenoughroomformytenlittledancerstoplieandpirouette.Thegleamofits polishedwoodfloorwasreflectedinafullwallofmirror.Abarreranthelengthofthe mirror,thenturnedthecornertorunalongasidewallinagreat"L."VII. Painting,brushing,andpattingareverydifferentactionsfromchiseling.Thewriter herewantstoconveytheideathatthisexhilaratedexpressionisaspermanentasif ithadbeenchiseled,butbecausehehasalreadycommittedtopainting,brushing, andpatting,chiselingisnolongeravailabletohim. Theuseoftheprepositionontoinsteadofintomakesmethinkthiswriterisn’t tooseriousabouttheverbchiselanyway.
![Page 288: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/288.jpg)
26
Quiz1.11AnswerKey
I. Subject:pain Verb:wouldsurge Thatcommajustbeforetheverbisacluethatthereisaproblem.Anytimeyou're temptedtoputacommabeforetheverb,youprobablyneedtogetthesubjectand theverbclosertogether.Here'sonepossiblerewrite: EverytimeItriedtogetoutofbed,liquidpainsurgedthroughmyback,sointensethat itstolemybreath.II. Oneoption:Shehadneverbeforeexperiencedtheeerie,emptydarknessthatnow envelopedthethree-storyfoyerofherfather'sbig,glassed-inoffice.III. Onepossibility:Hisponytailcomeslooseandthreefeetofgrayingbrownhairdrapes hisshoulders;thissightistypicallyonlyobservedbyimmediatefamilyoranyonelucky enoughtocatchhimsippingcoffeeonadayoff.IV. Onepossibleanswer:Mygreat,greatuncleMarionwasaneccentricartist.Heframed hiswatercolorswithplanksfromtheporchandworehisteethonlyforimportant events.AfewyearsafterhediedTheVaseappeared,andwejokedthathissonBert hadputhisashesinitandplaceditonhismantel.V. Here'soneoption:Intheredbrickhomeofthewomannextdoor,aweeklyrhythm bandfortheneighborhoodchildrenputthedelighttomusic.VI. Here'soneoption:Thirtyfeetfromthewaterafringeofgnarledpinerootsreached outintotheemptyair,markingtheborderbetweenbarerubbleandstubbornforest. Thisalterationlookslikeitdidn'tmovethesubjectatall,butitactuallychangesthe verbfrommarkstoreached.
![Page 289: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/289.jpg)
27
VII. Onepossibility:Loadedwithpurse,emptiedpicnicbasket,andtissue-filledgiftbag, themothertrudgedupthebackstepswiththreesweatykids,readytoescapetheJuly sun.VIII. Here'sonepossibility:Sheerexhilarationmixedwithutterterror.Launchingfromthe swing,Ifeltweightless,suspendedinmidair,untilIfeltthepulloftheearthdownward andsawthegrowingpuddlebelowme.Thejourneywasastonishing.
![Page 290: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/290.jpg)
28
Quiz1.12AnswerKey
I. AtoD.Anythingonthemainlinecanbecompounded.II. for,and,nor,but,or,yet,soIII. Run-onsentence CommaspliceIV. 1.Thecompoundcomplementisbell-bottoms+sweater. 2.Therearethirteenwordsbetweenbell-bottomsandsweater.Simplyflip-flopping thetwomakesabigdifference: 3.Maybethatdayitwasapilledtansweaterandgreenplaidbell-bottomsayearor twopasttheirheightofcoolness.V. 1.Thecompoundverbiswasfurnished+smelt. 2.Youmightflip-flopthetwoverbphrases:Theroomsmeltmustyandwasfurnished withpiecesthatcouldeasilyhavebeenfroma1960scatalog. Oryoumightgiveuponthecompoundverbandcommunicatethemustysmellwith aparticiple:Themusty-smellingroomwasfurnishedwithpiecesthatcouldeasilyhave beenfroma1960scatalog. VI. 1.Thisisarun-onsentence.Ifinishedplayingandthehissoftherespiratoronce againfilledtheroomlikeincenseareindependentclauses.Tojointhemintoa compoundsentence,youneedacoordinatingconjunction(and)alongwitha comma. 2.Technically,thisiscorrect:Ifinishedplaying,andthehissoftherespiratoronce againfilledtheroomlikeincense.However,theactionsofthetwoclausesareso differentthatIthinkthissentencemakesmoresensedividedintotwosimple
![Page 291: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/291.jpg)
29
sentences:Ifinishedplaying.Thehissoftherespiratoronceagainfilledtheroomlike incense.VII. Mysisterhadaskedforadozendolls,andmybrother'swishlisthadafrontandback.VIII. 1.Thecompoundobjectoftheprepositionisdoll+heart. 2.Mydollandarepentantheartvarysowidelyinnaturethatitishardtopicture Brianwalkinginthedoorholdingboth.Writersoftendothissortofthingfor humorouseffect,andthatisfine.Justbeawarethatyoudon'twanttodothisthingif you'renotbeingfunny. Onerevisionmightbe:Briancamehomewitharepentantheart,holdingmydollin hishand.
![Page 292: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/292.jpg)
30
Quiz1.13AnswerKey
I. Thistimetomorrowisthetimeflag.II. ThetimeflagisDecember11,1941.III. Irealizedafterafewminutesthatmydadhadnotdrivenawaybutwassittinginthe carwatching.
Theflagonthetimelineisafterafewminutes.Thesentencealsousesthepastprogressivetense:wassitting.Sequentially,hadnotdrivencomesbetweenthosetwoverbsandiscompleted,sothepastperfecttensemakesthemostsense.
IV. I.Thetimeflagisthistimetomorrow,soyouknowitwillbeoneofthefutureforms.
Willbe+-ingsignalsfutureprogressive.V. B.SincethetimeflagisDecember11,1941,youknowtheverbtensewillbeoneof thepastforms.Thehelpingverbhad+the-edendingsignalsthepastperfecttense. ThedeclarationsofwarwerecompleteasofDecember11,1941.VI. B.Thebestoptionhereis:Ihadn'triddenmorethanamilebeforethedownpour started.Ifeltbadformywife;sheHADBEENhanginglaundryoutsidewhenIleft thehouse. Inthatlastsentence,theflagonthetimelineiswhenIleftthehouse.Thelaundry- hangingwasinprogressatthatpointinthepast,sothepastprogressivewas hangingshouldbecomehadbeenhanging.
![Page 293: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/293.jpg)
31
Quiz2.2AnswerKey
I. B,C,F Ineachoftheseexamples,simplytryingthewordandbetweenthetwoadjectives givesyoutheanswer.Youwouldn'tsaybasicandhumandecencyortediousand planningmeetingorplainandgoldband,soyoudon'tneedcommasbetweenthose pairs.Butyoucouldsayripeandsweetberriesorlongandtediousplanningmeeting orfatandsoftsheep. AnothertrickthatIfailedtomentioninthelectureistotryflip-floppingthe adjectives.Iftheyworkjustaswellinthereverseorder,youdefinitelyneeda commabetweenthem.There'snorealdifferencebetweenfatsoftsheepandsoftfat sheep,soyouneedacommathere.Ontheotherhand,sweetspringgrassandspring sweetgrassarenotinterchangeable,soyoudon'tneedacommathere.II. A,B,E,G,H,J
Hyphenatetwoormorewordswhentheyserveasasingleadjectivebeforethenountheymodify—butnotwhentheyformapredicateadjective.Soyouwouldhyphenatemytwo-year-oldnephewbutnotmynephewistwoyearsold.
Donoticethatwhenyouhaveanadverb,youdon'tneedahyphen.Neitherheavily paintednorclearlyimpossibleshouldbehyphenated.Doyouseethedifference betweenheavilypaintedandhand-painted?Thewordhandisn'tanadverb.Ifthis doesn'tmakesensenow,itmaymakemoresenseafterwegetintoparticiples.III. B,D,GIV. SloppilyisanadverbtellingHOWJohnBarbercried. V. Lazyinasadjectivemodifyinggoat.IttellsWHATKINDofgoat(orpossiblyWHICH goat.) VI. Tomorrowisanadverbmodifyingtheverbcall.IttellsWHENIwillcall.
![Page 294: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/294.jpg)
32
Quiz2.3AnswerKey
I. Iwouldomitbothdigitallyandrelationally.Theseadverbssimplyrepeatthe meaningofthephrasestheyinhabit.BeingconnectedtotheInternetisnecessarily digital,andbeingconnectedtopeopleisnecessarilyrelational.Theresulting sentenceiscleanerwhilestillkeepingobviousthecontrastbetweendigital connectionandrelationaldisconnection:TheymaybeconnectedtotheInternet,but theyaredisconnectedfromoneanother.II. Thissentenceisagoodexampleofwhyadverbshaveabadreputation.Theadverb loudlyallowsthewritertobelazy.Insteadoffindingthemostpreciseverb,the writerhasjustaddedan-lyadverbtothegenericverbshut.There'saneasyfixhere: theverbslammeanstoshutloudly.Butthiswouldalsobeagoodopportunityto thinkthroughamorevividdepictionofthescene.Maybesomethinglikethis:A momentlaterhisdoorswungopen,thenshudderedonitshingesasheslammedit behindhim.III. Theadverbquicklyisentirelyunnecessary.Ifshe’shalf-running,she’smoving quickly.IV. Inthiscase,theadverbscontributemeaning.Thiswriter(whohappenstobe WendellBerry)isnotusingtheseadverbsasasubstituteforabetterverb,norishe beingredundant.There'snoshameinusing-lyadverbswhentheyaddspecificity andclarity.V. Thiswriterwastryingalittletoohardtoavoid-lyadverbs.Thatfour-word prepositionalphrase,inafranticmanner,isnotanimprovementovertheadverb frantically.Hebouncedfrantically,yippingandbarking.
![Page 295: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/295.jpg)
33
Quiz2.5AnswerKey
I. Theprepositionalphraseaftermeisadverbial,tellingwhenyoucanhaveaturn.II. Theprepositionalphraseaftermeisadverbial,tellingwhenyoucanhaveaturn. Noticethatanadverbialphraseismovable.Itdoesn’tmatterwhetheritappearsat thebeginningofthissentenceortheend.III. Theprepositionalphraseintotheburningbuildingisadverbial,tellingwhereJohn Barberran.(ThephrasetosavehisBeanieBabycollectionisaninfinitivephrase,not aprepositionalphrase,eventhoughtoisusuallyapreposition.We’lldiscuss infinitivephrasesinacoupleoflessons.)IV. Theprepositionalphraseofbirdsongisadjectival,tellingwhatkindofcacophony.V. Theprepositionalphraseunderthemattressisadjectival,tellingwhichmoney.VI. Theprepositionalphraseunderthemattressisadverbial,tellingwhereIhidthe money.VII. Theprepositionalphraseonthefloornearbyisadverbial,tellingwherethefansat.VIII. Theprepositionalphrasewithastraightfaceisadverbial,tellinghowHelenlooked.IX. Theprepositionalphrasewiththemermaidtattooisadjectival,tellingwhichgirl.X. Theprepositionalphraseiswithbinoculars.Butit’snotentirelyclearwhetherit’s supposedtobeadverbial,tellinghowHelenlooked,oradjectival,tellingwhichgirl.
![Page 296: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/296.jpg)
34
Quiz2.7AnswerKey
I. Thegrammaticalsubjectofthesentenceissmile.Butthesmile,ofcourse,didn't
wipeteafromitsmustache.Here'sonewaytofixit:Thehusbandwipesteafromhishandlebarmustache.Hissmileiswideenoughtodriveatractorthrough.
II. Thegrammaticalsubjectisbird.Butthebirdisn'tbreakfastingonthepatio.Here's onewaytofixit:OnawarmOctobermorning,whiletheybreakfastedonthepatio,a birdswoopeddownandlandedontheirtable.III. Here'sonefix:IspentfivehoursansweringalltheERnurses'questions,nevergetting clarityonanyofmine,beforethedoctorfinallyenteredtheroom.IV. Thetemperapaintersarehalf-clothed,butthankstothepassiveconstruction,they havedisappearedfromthesentencealtogether,sotheparticiplehalf-clothedhasno nountomodify(neitherabackyardnortheabstractnountempera-paintingcanbe half-clothed).Changethepassiveconstructiontotheactive,andthesentencefixes itself:Wedidallofourtempera-paintinginthebackyard,half-clothed.V. Dampeningisaparticiple,notaverb.Ifyouchangeitbackintoaverb,thesentence fixesitself:Theforestdampenedtheinsects'choruslikestagecurtainsdeadeningan orchestra'stuningbeforeaconcert.VI. Thisisprobablythetidiestwaytodoit:Thedogfollowedhimeverywhere,growling, yipping,andbarking.Thisoptionlosestheideaofthedogalternatingthrougha repertoire(thoughitisimplied).Thewriterwouldhavetodecidewhetherthatidea isimportantenoughtojustifytheawkwardnessoftheoriginalphrasing.
![Page 297: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/297.jpg)
35
Quiz2.8AnswerKey
I. TonestisanadverbialinfinitivetellingWHYtheblackbirdscome.(Thephrasetothemarshisaprepositionalphrase,thoughitstartswithto,likeaninfinitive.)
II. Thephrasetowinherlovewithtubasolosisanadjectivalinfinitivephrasetelling WHATKINDofattempts.Notethattheprepositionalphrasewithtubasolosisan adverbialphrase(modifyingtowin)withinthelargeradjectivalphrase.III. Toleavequicklyisadverbial,tellingWHYRichieturned.IV. ThephrasetoeatisaninfinitivetellingWHICHmushrooms.V. Thisoneisalittletricky.Tomaketheundergrowthsparseisanadverbialinfinitive phrase.Butwhatisitmodifying,andwhatquestionisitasking?Iwouldsayit modifiestheadjectiveenough,answeringTOWHATEXTENT.VI. Toseasonyourbrothisadverbial,tellingHOW(possiblyWHY?)youneed.VII. Tositatthebenchatthebendinthetrailisadverbial,tellingWHYIwouldtradeit all.
![Page 298: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/298.jpg)
36
Quiz2.10AnswerKey
I. TheadjectiveclauseTHATILIKEBESTmodifiesgoat.TherelativepronounTHATis theDirectObjectoftheclause.II. WHEREIGOTMYSTARTisanadjectiveclausemodifyingpostoffice.Therelative pronounWHEREfunctionsasanadverbintheadjectiveclause.III. TheadjectiveclauseABOUTWHICHITOLDYOUmodifiesalligator.Therelative pronounWHICHistheobjectoftheprepositionaboutwithintheadjectiveclause.VI. TheadjectiveclauseITOLDYOUABOUTmodifiesalligator.Therelativepronoun THAThasbeenomitted,butitwouldbetheobjectoftheprepositionabout.V. WHOINSTALLEDOURICEMACHINEmodifiesplumber.TherelativepronounWHO isthesubjectoftheadjectiveclause.VI. TheclauseWHOSECARITOTALEDmodifiesguy.TherelativepronounWHOSEisan adjectivemodifyingcar.
![Page 299: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/299.jpg)
37
Quiz2.11AnswerKey
I. TheadverbialclauseisAFTERJOHNBARBERSHOWEDUP.Thesubordinating conjunctionaftertellsWHENthepartygotlame.Sincetheadverbialclauseisat thebeginningofthesentence,youneedacommatoseparatetheadverbialclause fromthemainclause.II. TheadverbialclauseisAFTERJOHNBARBERSHOWEDUP.Thesubordinating conjunctionaftertellsWHENthepartygotlame. Remember,anadverbialmodifyingaverbismovable.Thisisthesamesentenceas theoneabove,exceptthattheadverbialclausehasbeenmovedfromthebeginning ofthesentencetotheend.NoticethatyouDON'Tuseacommatoseparatethemain clausefromadverbialclauseiftheadverbialcomesattheend.III. TheadverbialclauseisUNLESSSOMEONEASKEDFORIT.IttellsWHY(or,you mightsay,UNDERWHATCONDITIONS)thespeakerofferedinformation. Notethateventhoughafterservedasasubordinatingconjunctionintheprevious twosentences,itisaprepositioninthissentence.Howdoyouknow?Itdoesnot introduceaclause.Instead,itprecedesthenounpoint.Afterthatpointisan adverbialprepositionalphrasetellingWHENthespeakerdidn'tofferinformation.IV. TheadverbialclauseisTHANHECOULDHAVEKNOWN.Itmodifiestheadjective closer,answeringthequestionTOWHATEXTENT.V. TheadverbialclauseEVERYWHERETHEYGOtellsWHEREslugsleaveatrailof slime.VI. TheadverbialclauseisASANTONIOBROUGHTTHEBANANAPUDDINGINTOTHE DININGROOM.IttellsWHENLinda'seyesburnedwithtearsofgratitude.
![Page 300: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/300.jpg)
38
VII. Thisisatrickquestion.Thisisasentencefragment.Asisasubordinating conjunction,whichsuggeststhatASTHECASHIERTOOKHERPLACEBEHINDTHE COUNTERshouldbeanadverbialclause.Butthere'snomainclauseforthe adverbialclausetomodify.Withoutamainclause,asubordinateclauseisjusta sentencefragment.VIII. TheadverbialclauseASIHAVEEVERBEENmodifiesangry,tellingTOWHAT EXTENTthespeakerisangry. Notethatintheprevioussentence,asintroducesaWHENclause,butinthis sentence,asintroducesaTOWHATEXTENTclause.IX. Thissentencehastwoadverbialclauses:WHENIWASFOURTEENandAFTERMY MOTHERDIEDANDMYFATHERRANOFF.ThefirstclausetellsWHENthe grandmothersentthespeakertothegrouphome.Thesecondclauseisactuallya compoundsentencerenderedsubordinatebythesubordinatingconjunctionafter. Likethefirstclause,ittellsWHENthegrandmothersentthespeakertothegroup home.
![Page 301: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/301.jpg)
39
Quiz2.12AnswerKey
I. A.Whentheantecedentisaperson,youdon'tusetherelativepronounthat.Since therelativepronounservesasthesubjectofthesubordinateclause,usethe nominative-casewho.II. B.SincePeanutisaperson,thatisoutofthequestion.Sinceheistheobjectofthe prepositionat,theobjective-casewhomiscorrect.III. A.Again,sincepeoplearehuman,it'sdowntowhoorwhom.Sincetherelative pronounisthesubjectofthesubordinateclause,whoiscorrect.IV. B.Therelativepronounrenamespeople.Andthosepeoplearethedirectobjectof theverbknows.(JohnBarberknowswhomorwhat?People.)Sotheobjective-case whomiscorrect.V. B.Hopefullythiswasaneasyone.Therelativepronounistheobjectofthe prepositionof.VI. A.Thepronounishalfofacompoundsubject.Sousethenominative-caseI.(You wouldn'tsayMechasedapanther.)VII. B.Thepronounishalfofacompounddirectobject.Sotheobjective-casemeis correct.(Andyouwouldn'tsayApantherchasedI.)VIII. Thanheiselliptical,ashorteningoftheclausethanheistall.Thepronounheisthe subject,thereforeinthenominativecase.IX. Becausetheverbisismissingfromtheellipticalclause,thepronounlooksalot likeanobjectofapreposition.(True,thanisnotapreposition,butnevertheless,it feelslikeoneifyoudon'trealizethatthisisanellipticalclause).Andtheobjectofa prepositionisintheobjectivecase.Hencehim.
![Page 302: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/302.jpg)
40
Quiz2.13AnswerKey
I. Theclausebecauseheknowshowtotrainchampionsisadverbial,answeringthe questionWHY.Butwhichverbdoesitmodify?Doesittellwhythecoachyells,or doesittellwhythespeakerputsupwiththecoach'syelling?Onesuspectsthe writermeansthelatter:sheiswillingtoputupwiththeyellingcoachbecausehe knowshowtotrainchampions.Buttheclauseisclosertotheverbyells,sothe grammarisatoddswiththelogicofthesentence.Itgivestheimpressionthatthe coachyellsbecauseheknowshowtotrainchampions.Startbymovingthat adverbialtothebeginningofthesentence: Becauseheknowshowtotrainchampions,Iputupwithacoachwhoyellsatme. That'sallright,butit'snotgreat.Hereareacoupleofotheroptions: Mycoachknowshowtotrainchampions,soIputupwithhisyelling.
Iputupwithacoachwhoyellsatme.Why?Becauseheknowshowtotrainchampions.(Inthisconfiguration,Becauseheknowshowtotrainchampionsisasentencefragment.Nevertheless,it'sdefinitelyacontender.)
II. Noticehowthepassivevoicecausesthedanglingmodifierhere.Ifyouturnthe passiveconstructionintoanactiveconstruction,thesentencefixesitself: Fromtheagesoftwelvetoeighteen,IspenthalfmyweekendsatRandall'shouse makingmovies.III. Liketheprevioussentence,thisonestartswithadanglingmodifier.It'sthe microchipthatisnearweightless,notyou.Here'sapossiblerevision: Themicrochipisnearweightless.Youcannotfeelitrestinginyourpalmifyouclose youreyes.IV. Whohasthehardface?Mikeorhisson?IthinkthepointisthatMikehasahard face.Thephraseisadverbial:HOWdidMikelook?Withahardface.Asyouarewell
![Page 303: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/303.jpg)
41
awarebynow,adverbialsarehighlymovable.Butinthiscase,thewritermovedthe adverbialtoaplacewhereitcouldbemistakenforanadjectivalmodifyingMike's son(WHICHson?Theonewithahardface).Here'sthegoodnews:themovabilityof theadverbialcausestheproblemhere,butitalsomakesforaneasysolution: Withahardface,Mikelookedathiseldestson. Or, Hard-faced,Mikelookedathiseldestson. Andwhilewe'reatit,wemightaswelllookforamorepreciseverb:Hard-faced, Mikeglaredathiseldestson.V. There'salothappeninginthissentence.Peoplearecrossinglogbridges.Peopleare clearingwebs.Thewebsaredrippingwithmorningmist. Onequicksolutionissimplytomovetheadverbialphrasefromthelogbridgeswe crossedtothebeginningofthesentence(onceagain,themovabilityoftheadverbial isahelpfulthingtoremember):Fromthelogbridgeswecrossed,weclearedaway websdrippingwiththemorningmist. That'salittlebetter,butnotawholelotbetter.Trysomethinglikethis:Aswe crossedthelogbridges,weclearedawaywebsdrippingwithmorningmist.VI. Thatphraseatthebeginningofthesentenceisadanglingparticiple.The grammaticalsubjectisballet,butballet,ofcourse,wasn'tbornwithGermanbones orraisedalongsideapuppy. IwasbornwithGermanbonesandraisedalongsideapuppy,frolickinginan overgrownpasture,oftencrawlingalongacreekbedtocatchtadpoles.Butballet mademefeellovelyanddainty. Butevenwhenthedanglingparticipleisfixed,youseethatthissentenceneeds morethanagrammarmakeover.WhatareGermanbones,andhowarethey differentfromotherpeople'sbones?Whataboutthatpuppy?Whatisits relationshiptoballet?Iwouldkeeprevisingthispassagetosomethingmorelike this: Iwasbig-bonedlikemyGermanforbears.AndIwasatomboyaswell,always frolickingwithapuppyinanovergrownpastureorcrawlingalongacreekbedto catchtadpoles.Balletwastheonethinginmylifethatmademefeellovelyanddainty.VII. Here'sonepossibility:Myfavoriteprojectwasashadowboxofheroldjewelry.Imade itin2004tohanginherbathroom. Orpossibly, Myfavoriteprojectwasashadowboxofheroldjewelry.Imadeitin2004andhungit inherbathroom.
![Page 304: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/304.jpg)
42
Quiz3.2AAnswerKey
I. ThenounclauseWhichevertableyoupickservesasthesubjectofthesentence.II. Thissentenceisverysimilartotheprevioussentence.Thenounclause,asbefore,is whichevertableyoupick.Butinthisversion,thenounclauseisanobjectofthe prepositionwith.Theprepositionalphrasewithwhichevertableyoupickis adverbial,modifyingfine.III. ThenounclausethatGeorgehadhisownagendaservesasthedirectobject.I learnedWHAT?thatGeorgehadhisownagenda.IV. A.ThenounclauseisIwasbeinggenerouswhenIofferedmyhalf-eatenhotdog.This isalittletrickyfortworeasons.First,therelativepronounthathasbeenomitted. Thatomissionisperfectlyacceptable,ofcourse,butitdoestakeawayoneofthe cluesforeasilyidentifyinganounclause.Secondly,thisnounclausecontainsan adverbclause.TheclausewhenIofferedmyhalf-eatenhotdogmodifiesthenoun beingwithinthenounclause. B.Thenounclauseservesasadirectobject.IthoughtWHAT?thatIwasbeing generous.V. Thenounclausewhoeverinterviewedyouservesastheobjectoftheprepositionto. (Theprepositionalphraseisadverbial,modifyingtheverbsend.WHEREshouldyou sendanote?towhoeverinterviewedyou.) Bonusquestion:Iftheclauseservesasadirectobject,whyistherelativepronoun thenominative-casewhoeverinsteadoftheobjective-casewhomever? Answer:becausetherelativepronounservesasthesubjectWITHINthedependent clause.Theroleofthedependentclausewithinthemainclausehasnobearingon thecaseoftherelativepronoun.VI. Thenounclauseisthesameasintheprevioussentence:whoeverinterviewedyou.In thisversion,however,thenounclauseservesasanindirectobject.Youshouldsend athank-younotetowhom?Towhoeverinterviewedyou.
![Page 305: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/305.jpg)
43
VII. ThenounclauseWhomevertheyappointservesasthesubjectofthesentence.Note thateventhoughtheclauseisinthesubjectslot,therelativeclauseWhomeverisin theobjectivecasebecauseitservesasadirectobjectwithinthedependentclause.VIII. ThenounclauseWhoeverisappointedservesasthesubjectofthesentence.Thereal reasonIincludedthisquestionwassoyoucouldthinkaboutthatrelativepronoun whoever.ItwasWhomeverintheprevioussentence.WhyisitWhoeverhereinthis sentencethatlookssoverysimilar?Inthisversion,theuseofthepassive construction(WhoeverisappointedratherthantheactiveWhomevertheyappoint) movesthedirectobjectintothesubjectspotofthedependentclause.Andasubject, asyouknow,hastobeinthenominativecase.
![Page 306: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/306.jpg)
44
Quiz3.2BAnswerKey
I. B.Theclauseisadverbial,tellingWHENMarthapatsherhairnet.II. D.Thisissimplythemainlineoftheclause:WHODIDWHAT?Marthapattedthe hairnet.Therestofthesentencewillprovideadditionalinformation,butthishair- net-pattingisthecentralaction(andthegrammaticalkernel)ofthesentence.III. A.ThisclausetellsWHICHhairnet,soitisadjectival.IV. C.WhenyouuseyourDirectObjectFinder,itisrelativelyeasytoseethatyouhavea nounclauseservingasadirectobject.Thetravelerseeswhat?whathesees.Inthat secondmainclauseafterthesemicolon,theclausewhathehascometoseeworksin exactlythesameway.V. B.Thewordbecauseisasubordinatingconjunction;itturnstheindependentclause itisnotthereintotheadverbialclausebecauseitisnotthere.Thisclauseanswers thequestionWHY.WHYcan'tGodgiveahappinessapartfromhimself?Becauseitis notthere.VI. A.Thisadjectiveclausemodifiesbest-seller.WHICH(orWHATKINDOF)bestseller? Onethatcouldhavebeenpreventedbyagoodteacher.VII. A.Therelativepronounthat(orpossiblywhen)isomittedfromthisclause,which mightmakeithardeventorecognizeitasadependentclauseatall.Butitisan adjectiveclausemodifyingtime.WHICHtime?Thetime(that)Iencounteredsucha smell.VIII. C.Thisoneisprettytricky.Thatwhenatthebeginningoftheclausemakesitlook likethisisanadverbclause.Buttakeacloserlook:themainlineofthissentenceis Thelasttime…was______.Thatverbwasisalinkingverb,andassuchitneedsa complement—eitherapredicateadjectiveorapredicatenominative.Theclause whenItouredacoleslawfactoryisanounclauseservingasapredicatenominative. ItanswersthequestionWHAT,notWHEN.
![Page 307: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/307.jpg)
45
IX. A.Thisisamainorindependentclause.WHODIDWHAT?Shelooked.(Atniceyoung menisn'ttechnicallypartofthemainline.It'sanadverbialprepositionalphrase tellingHOWorWHEREshelooked.)X. B.Thephraseasifisasubordinatingconjunctionturningtheindependentclause shecouldsmelltheirstupidityintoanadverbialclause.HOWdidshelookatyoung men?asifshecouldsmelltheirstupidity.
![Page 308: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/308.jpg)
46
Quiz3.3AnswerKey
I. Defendinganyofthecardinalvirtuesisagerundphraseservingastheobjectofthe prepositionof.II. Thisisagerundphraseservingasthedirectobjectoftheverbmeans.Tradition meansWHAT?Givingvotestoourancestors.III. Thetwoitalicizedphrasesarebothpresentparticiplesmodifyingmen.IV. Acceptingoneselfisagerundphraseservingasthesubjectofthesentence.V. Carryinganumbrellaandparcelsinasnowywoodisaparticiplemodifyingfaun. WHICHfaun?Onecarryinganumbrella...VI. Thegrammaticalsubjectisthegerund,spendingalmostsixdecadesatalmostseven feet.VII. Whenasentencebeginswithamodifyingphrase,thatphrasemustmodifythe subject.Inthiscase,thesubjectisthegerundspending.But,ofcourse,spendingisn't headandshouldersaboveanybody.Thepersonwhoisheadandshouldersabove everybodyisthehimmentionedabouttwo-thirdsthroughthesentence.VIII. Here'sonewaytodoit: Hehasspentalmostsixdecadesatalmostsevenfeet,headandshouldersabovemost peoplesincehisearlyteens.Thestrainhaslefthimwithastoopthatgrowsmore pronouncedashegetsolder.IX. Ridingthenow-drenchedscooterbackhomeisagerundphrasethatservesasthe grammaticalsubject.Theverbiswouldsoak.X. Thisisatoughquestion;todecidewhatthisphraseisandwhatit'sdoing,yourbest betisprobablytousetheprocessofelimination.Thereisnonounfunctionitcould
![Page 309: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/309.jpg)
47
possiblyserve:it'snotasubject,notadirectorindirectobject,notanobjectofa prepositionorapredicatenominative.Soitcan'tbeagerund. Itmustbeapresentparticiple.Butparticiplesareadjectival;theymodifynouns. Whichnounmightthisparticiplemodify?DoesitmodifythegerundRidingthe scooter?Well,itfeelsmorelikeit'sthebackside-soakingthatforcesthechange,not theriding.Butthatphrasewouldsoakmybacksidedoesn'tprovideanynounor nounequivalentthattheparticiplecouldmodify. Soforcingachangeintodrypantsisaparticiple,butithasnocleargrammatical dutyinthesentence.XI. 1.Apersonridesanow-drenchedscooter. 2.Thescooter-rider’sbacksidegetssoaked. 3.Thescooter-riderneedstochangepants.XII. Here'soneway: IfIweretoridethenow-drenchedscooter,mybacksidewouldgetsoakedandIwould needtochangemypants.
![Page 310: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/310.jpg)
48
Quiz3.4AnswerKey
I. B.Leonardrenamescousin.II. D.ThewordnemesisrenamesJohnBarber.Thewholeappositivephraseismy nemesis.III. D.Thissentenceisverysimilartothesentenceabove,butinthiscasenemesisis theobjectoftheprepositionfromandJohnBarberrenamesnemesis.IV. B.Theappositiveinthissentenceismarsupial,whichrenamesthesubject opossum.ThewholeappositivephraseistheonlymarsupialnativetoNorth America.Notethatnon-primateisthepredicatecomplement(thewholephraseis theonlynon-primatewithopposablethumbs).V. E.Thissentencedoesnothaveanappositive.VI. A.Thisisasituationinwhichtheappositiveappearsbeforethenounitrenames. WhydowesaythathockeyplayerrenamesIratherthantheotherwayaround? BecauseIisthesubject.Wholovesbeingonice?Ido.VII. D.Thewordyearrenames1922.ThewholeappositivephraseistheyeartheSoviet
Unionwasformed.TherehasneverbeenabettertimetobeaVanderbiltfan.VIII. A.Thisisanothersentenceinwhichtheappositivecomesbeforetheworditnames. Thesubjectofthemainclauseisthey.Foodsnobsrenamesthey.IX. B.TheManinBlackrenamesJohnnyCash.Theone-wordappositiveisMan.X. E.WhileManinBlackrenamesJohnnyCashasintheprevioussentence,thephrase
isnotanappositivebecauseitappearswithinanadjectiveclausemodifyingJohnnyCash.
XI. A.
![Page 311: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/311.jpg)
49
XII. D,E,andF.Remember,gerundsarenoun-equivalentsandthereforecanserveas appositives.Thegerundsyelling,crying,andbangingareallappositives renamingthenounactions.XIII. Anappositiveneedstoberightnexttothenounitrenames.Inthissentence,za creatureofhabitappearstobeanappositive,butitisrightnexttoroutine.A routine,ofcourse,can'tbeacreatureofhabit.ThewritermeansthatIama creatureofhabit.Here'stheeasiestwaytofixthesentence:Acreatureofhabit,I madeaveryrigidroutineformyself.
![Page 312: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/312.jpg)
50
Quiz3.5AnswerKey
I. A.II. B.III. B.Thecommasaroundanon-essentialelementsaytothereader,"Here'salittle extrainformation,alittlebonus."IV. A.V. B.Ifithelps,rememberthatwhichclausesaresetoffwithcommas.Thatclauses aren't.Ifanadjectiveclausemodifiesaperson,itstartswithwhoorwhom, whethertheclauseisessentialornon-essential.VI. Thewholepointofapropernounistonarrowacategorydowntosomethingvery precise.(Thecommonnouncityisabroadcategory;thepropernounHonolulu narrowsthecategorydowntoonespecificcity).Anyappositiveormodifierthatis appliedto,say,Honoluluisn'tgoingtomakeitanymorespecificthanitalreadyis.VII. ThoughAnneHathawayisapropernoun,thissentenceinvolvestwodifferent peoplewiththatname,andtheadjectiveclausesnarrowaverysmallcategory (peoplenamedAnneHathaway)downtospecificindividuals.That'swhytheclauses areessentialratherthannon-essential.
![Page 313: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/313.jpg)
51
Quiz3.6AnswerKey
I. A,B,andC.Who,whom,andwhichtypicallyintroduceadjectiveclauses.Whereand whenoftendoaswell,butthesewordsjustasoftenintroduceadverbclauses.The relativepronounthatisatoss-up:itisaslikelytointroduceanounclauseasan adjectiveclause.II. E,F,andG.Whoever,whomever,andwhicheveralwaysintroducenounclauses. Wheneverandwherevermayintroducenounclauses,ortheymayintroduceadverb clauses.That,asmentionedintheabovequestion,maysignalanounclauseorit maysignalanadjectiveclause.III. Therelativepronounthatisoftenomittedinadjectiveandnounclauses.In adjectiveclauses,thatcanbeomittedwhenitservesasanobject,thoughnotwhen itservesasasubject.Youcansay"themanthatItoldyouabout"or"themanItold youabout."Eitherisacceptable.Youcansay"thechickenthatIgaveyou"or"the chickenIgaveyou." Butyoudon'tevenhavetodothatmuchanalysisofthegrammar.Inbothadjective clausesandnounclauses,ifitfeelsrighttoomittherelativepronounthat,itis acceptabletodoso.IV. Receivingthisawardwouldbeoneofthegreathonorsofmylife.V. Anappositiveneedstoberightnexttothenounitrenames.Inthissentence,a creatureofhabitappearstobeanappositive,butitisrightnexttoroutine.A routine,ofcourse,can'tbeacreatureofhabit.ThewritermeansthatIama creatureofhabit.Here'stheeasiestwaytofixthesentence: Acreatureofhabit,Imadeaveryrigidroutineformyself.VI. A,D,andFVII. B,C,E,andF
![Page 314: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/314.jpg)
52
VIII. Oneoftheprinciplesofthiscoursehasbeentheideathat,allthingsbeingequal,the sooneryougetthroughthesubject-verbnexusthemoreclearyoursentencewillbe. Alengthynounequivalentinthesubjectslotdelaysthearrivalofthesubject. Onceareadergetsthroughthesubject-verbnexus(thatis,afterheknowswhodid what),heisbetterabletoprocesscomplexityintheremainderofthesentence. Complexstructuresthatcomeaftertheverbdon'tfeelascomplextothereaderas thecomplexstructuresthatcomebeforetheverb.
![Page 315: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/315.jpg)
53
Quiz4.2AnswerKey
I. A.TheBadNewsBearsisthetitleofamovie,soitistreatedasasingularnouneven thoughitlooksplural.II. A.Asingularsubjecttakesasingularverb,regardlessofthepredicatecomplement.III. B.Apluralsubjecttakesapluralverb,regardlessofthepredicatecomplement.IV. B.Committeeisacollectivenoun.InAmericanEnglish,collectivenounsare typicallytreatedassingular.IfyouareBritish,however,youwouldsay,"The committeerecommend..."V. A.Inthissentence,thesubjectisthepluralmemberssothepluralverbrecommend
isappropriate.Nowcommitteeistheobjectoftheprepositionof,soallofus,BritsandAmericansalike,canagreethatweneedthepluralverbhere.
VI. B.Thesubjectofthissentenceischoir,acollectivenountreatedassingularin
AmericanEnglish.Thepluralnounsboys,delinquents,andtownsdon'tfigureinthequestiononewayoranother.
VII. Here'sonewaytorevisethesentence: Theboys'choirarrivesinanhour.Thechoirismadeupjuveniledelinquentsfrom smalltownsalloverthecountry. Oryoumightsay: Madeupofjuveniledelinquentsfromsmalltownsalloverthecountry,theboys' choirarrivesinanhour.VIII. Oneisthesubjectofthemainclause,buthappenisnottheverbofthemainclause;
rather,itispartoftheadjectiveclausethathappenonlyonTV.Thesubjectofhappenisthepluralthings(technically,thesubjectistherelativepronounthat,whichrenamesthepluralthingsandisthereforeplural).Sotheverbhappenispluraltoo.
![Page 316: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/316.jpg)
54
Quiz4.3AnswerKey
I. TheantecedentofTHEYispetal,whichissingular.Sothepluralpronounisn't correct. Betweenmyfingerseachpetalfeelslikesoftsuede,strongerthanitappears.II. Really,theonlyavailableantecedentforITishealth.Butthemother'shealthdidn't causeproblemswiththemarriagerelationship.Quitetheopposite:the deteriorationofherhealthcausedproblems. Possiblecorrections: Asmymother'shealthdeteriorated,problemsgrewintheirmarriagerelationship. Thedeteriorationofmymother'shealthcausedproblemsintheirmarriage relationship. Asmymother'shealthdeteriorated,sodidtheirmarriagerelationship.III. Thisisaninterestingcase.ITisn'twrong,sinceyoucouldeasilymakeacasethatthe antecedentisthesingularhandfulratherthanthepluralleaves.ButifITis correct,THEMcan'tbecorrect.Really,THEMcan'tbecorrectinanycase,sinceyou can'tkickthroughahandfulofleaves.Unlessyou'rereally,reallysmall. Here'soneoptionforcorrectingthissentence: Sniffingahandfulofleavesandthrowingitintotheairwasevenmorefunthan kickingthroughaleafpile.IV. Whatwasthesizeofourkitchen?Goback26words:Lelo'sshop.That'salongway togoforanantecedent. Iwoulddoatleasttwothingstothispassage:FirstIwouldreversethefirst sentencesothatLelo'sshopcomesattheendofthesentence,signalingtothe
![Page 317: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/317.jpg)
55
readerthatthesecondsentenceisallaboutLelo'sshop.Then,ratherthanusingthe pronouninthethirdsentenceIwouldrepeattheantecedent. Lelo'smainincomecamefromhisshopneartheedgeoftown.Concreteandmud blockssupportedframesandshelvesofwidehome-craftedlumberofnon-standardized dimensions.Thewholeshopwasthesizeofourkitchen.V. Thegrammardoesn'tmakeitclearwhosebrowwasknitted,whoseeyesflashed,or whosemouthwaspinched.Presumablyit'sthefather.Grammaticallyspeaking, Daveisaslikelyacandidatefortheantecedentasfather,especiallysincefatheris turnedintothemodifierfather's. Onepossiblerewrite: Davelookedupathisfather'sangryexpression.Theoldman'sbrowwasknitted.His eyesflashed.Hismouthwaspinched.
![Page 318: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/318.jpg)
56
Quiz4.4AnswerKey
I. For,And,Nor,But,Or,Yet,SoII. B.Theconjunctionanddoesn'tsetupacontrastoracause-and-effectrelationship oranythingmoresubtlethantheideathattwothingshappenedortwothingsare true.III. A.CoordinationsuggeststhattwoideasdeserveasimilarAMOUNTofinterestanda similarKINDofinterest.IV. B.Subordinationallowsyoutosetupallkindsofrelationshipsbetweenideas. Subordinationalwayssays,"Betweenthesetwoideas,oneismoreimportantthan theother,onedependsontheother,oneservestheother."V. C.VI. Thisisacommasplice.Therearenokeysforthoseisanindependentclause.Sois atleastwedon'thaveany.Toconnecttwoindependentclauses,youneeda commaANDacoordinatingconjunction,orelseasemicolon.Whentwo independentclausesareconnectedwithjustacomma,that'sacommasplice. Correction:Andtherearenokeysforthose;atleastwedon'thaveany.VII. Thisisafaultyuseofasemicolon.Asemicolonjoinstwoindependentclauses.The phrasethisonefamiliartohimisnotaclause(noticeithasnoverb).Actually,it's anappositive.Sothesemicoloniserroneous. Correctversion:Next,shegrabbedalargepinkbottle,thisonefamiliartohim.VIII. Thissentencecontainsacompoundverb,cracklingandfiringoff.Witha compoundverb,youonlyneedacoordinatingconjunction(inthiscase,and),nota comma.
![Page 319: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/319.jpg)
57
Correction:Theneurotransmittersinmybrainwerecracklingandfiringofflikea poorlyplannedfireworksdisplay.IX. Herewehavebotharun-onsentenceandacommasplice.Toconnecttwoclauses, youneedBOTHacommaandacoordinatingconjunction,orelseasemicolon. Betweenthefirsttwoclauses(Therootssproutandthewaitingisover)we're missingacomma.Betweenthesecondtwoclausesthewaitingisoverandlife hasreturned),we'remissingacoordinatingconjunction. Correction:Therootsprouts,andthewaitingisover;lifehasreturned.X. Thisisyetanothercommasplice.Onepossiblecorrection: Pressgentlyandthefragilewebbends.Pressharderanditdissolves.
![Page 320: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/320.jpg)
58
Quiz4.5AnswerKey
I. B.Whenherfatherwalkedaway...isanadverbclause.II. E.Leavingablankspaceinthedoorwayisaparticiplewithintheopeningadverb clause.Itmodifiesfather.III. A.This(togetherwithAction4,thegirlwatchinghersister)isthemainactionofthe sentence.IV. B.There'sonlyonemainclauseinthislongsentence,butthatclausecontainsa compoundverb:ateandwatched.Theysharethesubjectlittlegirl.V. E.Thephrasecryingonherbedisaparticipialphrasemodifyingsister.VI. Herfatherwalkedaway,leavingablankspaceinthedoorway,andthelittlegirltooka biteofmintchocolateicecreamandwatchedhersistercryingonthebed. Oryoucoulduseasemicolon(Ipreferthisversion): Herfatherwalkedaway,leavingablankspaceinthedoorway;thelittlegirltooka biteofmintchocolateicecreamandwatchedhersistercryingonthebed.VII. Asstrangeasitseems, 1.Thisisanadjectiveclause.
2.Itmodifiesbus.VIII. Considertheactionsinthissentence: 1.Aschool-childcarriesapretzelontoabus.
2.Theschool-childwalkstothebackofthebuswiththepretzel. 3.Thebusdriver'saidedoesn'tnoticethepretzel-sneaking.
Actions2and3seematleastasimportantasAction1;youmightsaytheyarethe mainpointofthesentence.Thefactthatthosetwoactionsaretuckedintoan
![Page 321: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/321.jpg)
59
adjectiveclausemodifyingbusismisleading.Thisisagoodexampleofthe grammarofasentencegettingcrosswayswiththelogicofthesentence. Possiblerewrites: Icarriedmypretzelontothebus,butthebusdriver'saidedidn'tnoticeitasIwalked tothebackofthebusandfoundaseatbesideawindow.
Icarriedmypretzelontothebus.Iwalkedpastthebusdriver'saideonthewaytomyseatintheback,butshedidn'tnoticethepretzel.
![Page 322: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/322.jpg)
60
Quiz4.6AnswerKey
I. 1.Cowboybootsandbandylegsappeartoformacompoundobjectofthe prepositionin.Apersoncanbeincowboyboots,butnotinbandylegs. 2.Onepossiblerewrite:Thebandy-leggedstrangercamewalkingupourdrivewayin cowboyboots.(Remember,justbecausefaultyparallelismistheproblem,that doesn'tmeancorrectparallelismisthesolution.Justasoften,it'sbettertogetridof theparallelstructurealtogether.)II. 1.Ononesideofandisanindependentclause(myheartthudded),butonthe othersideisthenounphrasequicksucksofair. 2.Onepossiblerewrite:Ibegantopanic:myheartthudded,andItookinquicksucks ofair.(Inthisversion,Iturnedthatlastnounphraseintoanindependentclause, creatingacompoundsentenceafterthecolon.)III. 1.Itappearsthatwehaveacompoundverb:pickeditupandtookabitehavethe samesubject.Butthatthirdactionisexpressedasanindependentclause.The subjectofspillediscontents,nothe. 2.Onepossiblerewrite:Hepickeditupandtookabite,buthalfthecontentsspilled outontotheplate.(Inthisversion,thesimpleinsertionofandbetweenthetwoparts ofthecompoundverbseparatesthecompoundverbfromthesecondindependent clausethatstartswithbut.Inotherwords,theinsertionofandtakesawaythe reader'sexpectationthattherewillbeathirdverbinthecompound.)IV. 1.ThisisaSubject-Verb-PredicateComplementsentence:Cynthiawasthefirst...The andappearsatfirsttosignalacompoundpredicatecomplement.Infact,thewriter wasthinkingofthisasacompoundverb:Cynthiawasandcaused.Theproblemhere isthatwasisalinkingverb,andcausedisanactionverb.Thatmakesitverytrickyto combinetheminacompoundverb:thefirsthalfofthecompoundisaS-V-PA pattern,andthesecondhalfofthecompoundisaS-V-DOpattern.
![Page 323: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/323.jpg)
61
2.Afewpossiblerewrites:Cynthiawasthefirsttocallme'Grandma.'Shecausedmetothinkaboutfuturegenerations.ThefirsttocallmeGrandma,Cynthiacausedmetothinkaboutfuturegenerations.
CynthiawasthefirsttocallmeGrandma,andshewasthefirsttomakemethinkaboutfuturegenerations.
V. 1.Thissentencehasacompounddirectobject.Thepolicemantoldmetwothings:a) togetmycaroutoftheroad,[aninfinitivephrase]andb)thatIshouldgetanew wardrobe[anounclause].Eitheraninfinitivephraseoranounclauseisan acceptablewaytophraseanindirectquotation,butthewriterneedstochoose. 2.Threepossiblerewrites: Thepolicemantoldmetogetmycaroutoftheroadandtogetanewwardrobe. ThepolicemantoldmethatIshouldgetmycaroutoftheroadandalsothatIshould getanewwardrobe. ThepolicemantoldmethatIshouldgetmycaroutoftheroadandgetanew wardrobe.VI. 1.Ifwethinkofthelikeasanequalsign(oraniscongruentsign),itbecomeseasier toseetheparallelismproblemhere.Thewordsheavyandjitteryareadjectives.The wordshavinglowbloodsugarareagerundphrase—thatis,anounequivalent.A noundoesn'tequalanadjective.There'sourparallelismproblem. 2.Onepossiblerewrite:Myarmsfeelheavyandjittery,thewaytheyfeelwhenIhave lowbloodsugar.VII. 1.Thismaynottechnicallybeaparallelismproblem,butitisarelatedproblem.The waythissentenceisphrased,thewriterspeaksofhavingmetapairofhandsin 1979.Thatisanoddthingtosay. 2.Onepossiblerewrite:Henolongerhasthebronzedtwenty-year-oldhandsofthe manImetaroundtheswimmingpoolin1979.
![Page 324: LESSONS & QUIZZES · Master English grammar. Write better prose. Jonathan Rogers, Ph D ... object, and complement feels true to your reader. ... The five patterns represented in these](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042612/5f61beb823e9a424bd658e77/html5/thumbnails/324.jpg)
62
Quiz4.7AnswerKey
I. F.ThatwordabsolutecomesfromtheLatinabsolutus,meaning"setfree."Soa nominativeabsoluteisanounthatisfloatingfreefromthesentencewhereitlives. Nogrammaticalconnectiontothesentenceisholdingitback.II. Thenominativeabsoluteisherbackcurvedlikeanautilusshell.III. Warmfreshbreadtuckedundermyarmisthenominativeabsolutehere.IV. Sadiewalkingbesidehimisanominativeabsolute.V. Thenominativeabsoluteismyfriendswaitingtohelpmeintoabluedresswhile thechoruscontinuedtosinganddanceunderthelights.VI. Thenominativeabsolutehereisdeterminedlittlelegscrossingtheexpanseofthe carpet.Thoughnominativeabsolutesusuallyappearatthebeginningortheendof asentence,sometimestheyappearmid-sentence,asinthisexample.