Phrases

What are phrases?

• A phrase is a group of words without both a subject and predicate.
• Phrases combine words into a larger unit that can function as a sentence element, like a subject or object.
  

  

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Types of phrases

Noun Phrase
A noun phrase consists of a noun and other related words (usually modifiers and determiners) which modify the noun. It functions like a noun in a sentence.

• He is wearing a nice red shirt. (as noun/object)
• The boy with brown hair is laughing. (as noun/subject)

Adjective Phrase
An adjective phrase is a group of words that functions like an adjective in a sentence. It consists of adjectives, modifier and any word that modifies a noun or pronoun. It modifies a noun or a pronoun in a sentence.

• He gave me a glass full of water. (modifies glass)
• A boy from America won the race. (modifies boy)

Adverb Phrase
An adverb phrase is a group of words that functions as an adverb in a sentence. It consists of adverbs or other words (preposition, noun, verb, modifiers) that make a group with works like an adverb in a sentence. It modifies a verb, an adjective or another adverb.

• He always behaves in a good manner. (modifies verb behave)
• He returned in a short while. (modifies verb return)

Prepositional Phrase
Prepositional phrases start with a preposition (such as in, at, by, for, to, over, etc.), have a noun or pronoun object of the preposition, and may also have other modifiers. 

• A boy on the roof is singing.
• The man in the room is our teacher.

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Sentence Patterns Exercise

Identify the sentence patterns in the following sentences.
(a) S/V-subject-verb
(b) S/V/SC-subject-verb-subject complement
(c) S/V/O-subject-verb-object
(d) S/V/IO/DO-subject-verb-indirect object-direct object.

1. Students from 45 colleges and universities today agreed to form a national organization devoted to fighting student apathy.
A) S/V
B) S/V/SC
C) S/V/O
D) S/V/IO/DO

2. The students said their immediate objective is to increase student turnout in elections.
A) S/V
B) S/V/SC
C) S/V/O
D) S/V/IO/DO

3. Students don't vote.
A) S/V
B) S/V/SC
C) S/V/O
D) S/V/IO/DO

4. That was the message the group told delegates to take home.
A) S/V
B) S/V/SC
C) S/V/O
D) S/V/IO/DO

5. Most of the delegates to the weekend conference appeared enthusiastic about the prospect of increasing student activism.
A) S/V
B) S/V/SC
C) S/V/O
D) S/V/IO/DO






Answers
1. C     2. C     3. A     4. B     5. B

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Modals

What is modal? 

• A modal is defined as an auxiliary verb that is used with a main verb to express particular attitude to an event or a situation. 
• Modals are always used with other verbs. They are a special kind of auxiliary verb. We sometimes call them modal verbs or modal auxiliaries. 

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Features of modals

1. Modals do not take "-s" in the third person.

Examples:

He can speak Chinese.
She should  be here by 9:00.

2. You use "not" to make modals negative, even in simple present and simple past.

Examples:

He should not be late.

They might not come to the party.

3. Many modals cannot be used in the past tenses or the future tenses.

Examples:

He will can go with us. Incorrect

She must studied very hard. Incorrect

Sentence Patterns

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The 5 Basic Sentence Patterns 

1.    Subject + Verb
Subject	Verb
I	swim.
Joe	swims.

2.    Subject + Verb + Object
Subject	Verb	Object
I	drive	a car.
They	ate	dinner.

3.    Subject + Verb + Object
Subject	Linking Verb	Complement
I	am	busy.
They	are	sick.

4.    Subject + Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object
Subject	Verb	Indirect Object	Direct Object
I	gave	her	a gift.
She	teaches	us	English.

5.    Subject + Verb + Object + Complement
Subject	Verb	Object	Complement
We	elected	him	president.
They	named	her	Jane.

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Moods

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1. Indicative/ Declarative Mood

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• It indicate a state of factual and reality
• Example: Insects have six legs.
• It states a fact of some sort, or describes what happens, or give details about reality.
• The statement ends with a period or full stop and the intonation remains unchanged.
• Example: Bangkok is the capital of Thailand. 

2. Interrogative Mood

• It is used by the speakers to ask question.
• Question mark (?) is placed at the end of the sentence.

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3. Imperative Mood

• It is a state of prohibition, advice, request, instruction or command.
• It is only found in present tense.

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4. Exclamatory Mood

• It is used to express admiration, astonishment, strong emotions and feelings.
• An exclamation is simply a more forceful version of a declarative sentence, marked at the end with an exclamation mark (!).
• Intonation falls at the end of the sentence.

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Determiners

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What is determiner?

• Determiner is used to identify things in further details.
• It is used to indicate reference to something specific or a particular type.

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Types of Determiners

1. Specific Determiners    
         ~ Used when the people or things you are talking about have already been mentioned.

• The definite article : the 
• Demonstratives: this, that, these, those
• Possessives: my, your, his, her, its, our, their  

Examples:   
The dog barked at the boy.
These apples are rotten.

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2. General Determiners 
          ~ Used when you are mentioning peoples or things for the first time, or talking about                 them generally without saying exactly which ones you mean.

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** Most determiners are also pronouns, except the, a, an, and every.
** Determiners are different to pronouns in that a determiner is always followed by a noun.

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Either and Neither

• Either and neither are used in sentences concerning a possible choice between two items.
• Either can mean one or the other (of two) or each of two.
• Neither means not the first one and not the second one.

Example:
I've got tea and coffee, so you can have either. (One or the other)
The room has a door at either end. (Both)
Neither of the students were listening.

Subject-Verb Agreement Exercise

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Choose the correct form of the verb that agrees with the subject.

1. Annie and her brothers (is, are) at school.

2. Either my mother or my father (is, are) coming to the meeting.

3. The dog or the cats (is, are) outside.

4. Either my shoes or your coat (is, are) always on the floor.

5. George and Tamara (doesn't, don't) want to see that movie.

6. Benito (doesn't, don't) know the answer.

7. One of my sisters (is, are) going on a trip to France.

8. The man with all the birds (live, lives) on my street.

9. The movie, including all the previews, (take, takes) about two hours to watch.

10. The players, as well as the captain, (want, wants) to win.

11. Either answer (is, are) acceptable.

12. Every one of those books (is, are) fiction.

13. Nobody (know, knows) the trouble I've seen.

14. (Is, Are) the news on at five or six?

15. Mathematics (is, are) John's favorite subject, while Civics (is, are) Andrea's favorite subject.

16. Eight dollars (is, are) the price of a movie these days.

17. (Is, Are) the tweezers in this drawer?

18. Your pants (is, are) at the cleaner's.

19. There (was, were) fifteen candies in that bag. Now there (is, are) only one left!

20. The committee (debates, debate) these questions carefully.

21. The Prime Minister, together with his wife, (greets, greet) the press cordially.

22. All of the CDs, even the scratched one, (is, are) in this case.





Answers
1. are
2. is
3. are
4. is
5. don't
6. doesn't
7. is
8. lives
9. takes
10. want
11. is
12. is
13. knows
14. Is
15. is, is
16. is
17. Are
18. are
19. were
20. debates
21. greets
22. are

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Conjunction Exercises

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Choose the correct conjunction.

1. I need to work hard _______ I can pass the exam.

2. _______ he was the best qualified party candidate, he didn't win the elections.

3. _______ you come back from your trip, we'll meet to discuss the problem.

4. They said that the movie was fantastic, _______ I watched it.

5. _______ he was very ill, he didn't take any medicine.

6. I don't know _______ I can buy a pair of jeans.

7. She went to the shops _______ couldn't find anything she liked.

8. Everybody likes him because he is nice _______ helpful.

9. _______ he was angry with her, he didn't utter a word.

10. Keep quiet _______ go out.

Answers

1. so that

2. Although

3. When

4. so

5. Although

6. where

7. but

8. and

9. Since

10. or

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Adjectives & Adverbs Exercise

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Complete the following exercise with adjective or adverb form of the words.

1. That pitbull looks _______ . (angry) 

2. She spoke _______ . (quiet) 

3. Erica listened to her mother _______ . (careful) 

4. Mary makes _______ mistakes. (careless) 

5. Children grow _______ . (quick) 

6. He is very _______ today. (happy) 

7. It's raining _______ . (heavy) 

8. Morgan was _______ hurt in a car accident. (serious) 

9. His situation was very _______ . (serious) 

Answers

1. angry    

2. quietly

3. carefully

4. careless 

5. quickly

6. happy

7. heavily

8. seriously

9. serious

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