Advanced Grammar C1_NVA003.

Week 1:
Course Introduction
The Sentence
Course Introduction
✦ Materials
✦ Assessment
✦ Class policy
Materials
Required Texts

(1) Yule, G. (2009). Oxford practice grammar: Advanced. Oxford University Press

(2) Yule, G. (2009). Oxford practice grammar (Advanced): Supplementary exercises with keys

Supplementary texts:

Hewings, M. (2006). Advanced grammar in use. Cambridge University Press

Alexander, L. G. (1992). Longman English grammar. Oxford University Press

Swan, M. (2005). Practical English usage. Oxford University Press.

Mid-term
Complete 3 Mini-Tests:

Mini-test 1: Focus on Verb Forms/Sentence Patterns

Mini-test 2: Focus on Word Formation

Mini-test 3: Focus on Clauses

Bonuses
How to get more bonus points:

Participate in class discussion/online discussion

Answer questions during the lecture/exercises feedback

Submit Mind Map/Self-study projects

Final Exam

Section Types of questions Number of questions Weight

1 Multiple choice 20 2 points

2 Error correction 10 2 points

3 Verb Forms 20 2 points

4 Word Formation 20 2 points

5 Sentence Transformation 10 2 points

Week 1: The Sentence
✦Elements of a sentence (Sentence constituents)
✦Sentence patterns
✦Sentence structures
✦Sentence types
 De nitions of Key Terms
✦ Sentence ✦ Subject

✦ Clause ✦ Predicate

✦ Phrase ✦ Verb: finite & non-finite

✦ Adverbial
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What makes a sentence a sentence?
(1) A sentence is a complete unit of meaning (semantically independent).

•Fragment: Because I was late.

•Sentence: Because I was late, they went without me.

(2) A written sentence begins with a capital letter and ends with a full stop

(.), a question mark (❓) or an exclamation mark (❗).

(3) A sentence is made up of one or more clauses. Normally a simple

sentence contains an independent clause with a finite verb.
Clause
A group of words which forms a grammatical unit and which contains a
subject and a finite verb

An adverb clause answers the question why?, how?, when?

An adjective clause modifies a noun.

A noun clause replace a noun in a sentence.

“If it rains, the grass gets wet.”

—> Dependent clause vs. Independent clause?

Dependent clause = subordinator + independent clause

Phrase
A group of words which forms a grammatical unit but which does not
contain “a subject and a finite verb”.

(1) Many fad diets are unhealthy.

(2) You should eat breakfast in the morning.

(3) Swimming and cycling are her favorite ways to exercise.

(4) She really likes to swim.

(5) Knowing the harmful effects of fats, Mei limits her intake.
Subject Who or what the sentence is about.
Is usually a noun/noun phrase/pronoun/gerund phrase/infinitive
phrase/noun clause.

Determines agreement (concord)

1. The video games are really interesting. I like them.

2.“It’s too hot,” cried David.

3. Seeing is believing.

4. It is always right to tell the truth.

Predicate
A simple predicate is synonymous with the verb.

“A closed mouth gathers no feet.”

A complete predicate includes verbs, objects, modifiers, and complements.

“A closed mouth gathers no feet.”

A compound predicate includes two or more predicates with the same

subject.

“A poem begins in delight and ends in wisdom.” — Robert Frost

Finite Verb
Finite verb: a form of a verb that is related to the subject in PERSON
and/or NUMBER, and which shows TENSES

(1) The taxi driver shouted at me.

(2) She wants to go home.

Non-finite Verb
Infinitive: I shall buy a new watch.

V-ing:

(1) We are studying grammar.

(2) We love studying grammar.

Past participle

(1) Someone has stolen all my money.

(2) I had all my money stolen.

Transitive Verb
A transitive verb takes an object. It can express not only action, but also feelings,
perception, and possession.

Are these “transitive” verbs?

(1) A woman was driving.

(2) We’re going to eat.

—> We can leave out the object after some transitive verbs if the context is clear.

Ex: begin, choose, decide, hear, help, know, notice, see, start.

Note: There must be an object after discuss and deny.

Intransitive Verb
An intransitive verb cannot take an object.

The man was waiting at the side of the road.

Something strange happened.

Compare “run” in:

He runs fast.

He runs his own business.

Linking Verbs/Copular Verbs

S=C She is tall.

You look amazing today.
Object
(1) A noun that receives or is affected by the action of the verb

(2) The noun following a preposition

A direct object: affected by the action of the verb

I hit the wall.

I greeted Annabelle.

An indirect object receives the direct object/received the action.

I gave Annabelle a hug.

indirect object direct object
Subject Complement
A subject complement follows the verb be and linking verbs.
A subject complement describes the subject.
A subject complement can be an adjective/noun phrase/
infinitive phrase, noun clause.

1.His parents are Spanish.

2.I am a student.
3.“Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent
perspiration.”— Thomas A. Edison
4. Fitness is what she really believes in.
Object Complement
An object complement describe the direct object.
Verbs such as consider, find, call, imagine, and prove, which reflect the
opinion or perception of the speaker, take noun or adjective object
complements.
Verbs such as call, label, name, which indicate a name/label for the object,
take noun object complement.
A few verbs that are followed by as or for are followed by object
complements, e.g. recognize, regard, accept, mistake, take, describe.
Adverbial (1)Adjuncts: part of the basic structure of the clause,
modify the verb, expressing manner, time and place,
frequency, a degree, or a reason.
• Any words/phrases/ (2)Conjuncts: not part of the basic structure of the
clauses that function sentence, connecting ideas.
as an adverb. (3)Disjuncts (sentence adverbs): showing speaker’s
• An adverb is a single- attitude or evaluating what is said in the rest of the
word adverbial. sentence.

(1) We went to school yesterday morning.

(2) After all, that was a happy incident.

(3) Admittedly, I was not prepared for this new transition.

 Basic Word Order
Subject Verb group (predicate)
Adjunct
S V- nite O C
manner place time

I bought a hat yesterday.

The children ran home.

The car stopped suddenly.

The song made me happy.

for one
She was my teacher
semester.
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Sentence Patterns in English
5 basic sentence patterns

1.subject + verb.
2.subject + verb + complement.
3.subject + verb + direct object.
4.subject + verb + indirect object + direct object.
5.subject + verb + object + complement.
Pattern 1: S + V(intransitive)
The running pattern
(1)John is running

(2)My head aches. ✅

(3)The phone rang. ✅

(4)I rang the bell. 😑 (not pattern 1)

(5)He came in. He sat down. (S + V + particle)

(6)He came into the room. (S + V + adverbial)

 Pattern 2: S + V(be/linking) +C
The being pattern

• Examples of complements (C):

(1) Frank is clever. Frank is an architect. Frank is a clever architect.

(2) The food is mine.

(3) The meeting is at 2.30 P.M/here.

(4) Alice is like her father.

Pattern 2: S + V(be/linking) +C
The being pattern

• Verbs used in “the being pattern”

appear grow seem look

be make smell sound

become prove taste

feel remain turn

Pattern 3: S + V + O (direct)
The doing/seeing pattern (mono-transitive verb)

(1) My sister answered the phone.

(2) We enjoyed ourselves at the party.

(3) I enjoy sitting in the sun.

Pattern 4: S + V + IO+DO
The giving/buying pattern

(1) He showed me the photo.

(2) He showed the photo to me.

(3) He brought me a basket of ower.

(4) He brought a basket of ower for me.

(5) I will tell you soon.

fl
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Pattern 5: S + V + O + C (Object Complement)
The making/considering pattern

(1) They called him a fool.

(2) We will paint the room white.

(3) The made John the team captain.

(4) John considered the ball out as it went past the line.
Decide the pattern for the following sentences:

(1) It is no use trying to convince him.

(2) They show the watch to me.

(3) They appointed him chairman.

(4) She smiled very kindly.

(5) They introduced Marie to the guests.

Sentence Types
A simple sentence consists of only ONE independent clause:

1. I like pizza.

2. He and I went to eat pizza together.

Sentence Types
A compound sentence consists of two or more independent clauses, joined by a

semicolon, a colon or a coordinating conjunction.

1.“I was thirty-two when I started cooking; up until then, I just ate.” — Julia Child

2.I don’t want to go: it’s raining outside.

3.Jim speaks Spanish, but his wife speaks English.

4.These headlines both mystified and infuriated him. (correlative conjunctions)

Sentence Types
A complex sentence consists of one or more dependent clause + an independent clause.

1.When it rained, we went inside.

2.“Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” — Will Rogers

Type of dependent clauses in a complex sentence:

Noun clauses

Adjective/Relative clauses

Adverb clauses
Sentence Structures
Declarative: makes a statement

Interrogative: asks a question

Imperative: gives an order/ makes a request

Exclamatory: express a strong emotion

Consolidation: True or False?
1. A disjunct is part of the basic structure of a sentence.
2. TASTED in “He tasted the soup’ is a linking verb.
3. In a predicate, there always has to be a verb and an object.
4. A non-finite verb shows its agreement with the sentence subject.
5. The subject of a sentence can be a noun or pronoun but never a gerund or
infinitive.
6. A clause is a group of words containing a subject and verb and used as part of a
sentence.
7. Either “who” or “whom” may appear as the first word in a question.
References

• English sentence analysis: An introductory course/ Marjolijn Verspoor and Kim

Sauter

• Write right! : A desktop digest of punctuation, grammar, and style / Jan Venolia.
—4th ed.

• Longman English grammar / L. G. Alexander

• Oxford practice grammar / George Yule
• The Advanced Grammar Book (Jocelyn M. Steer & Karen A. Carlisi)