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Grammatical Names and Roles

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5K views10 pages

Grammatical Names and Roles

One of my note

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folarintitilola
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Grammatical Names and Functions: WAEC Focus

In WAEC English exams, questions on grammatical names and functions often ask you to identify and
explain the structure (grammatical name) and role (function) of a word, phrase, or clause within a
sentence. Below is a simple and detailed explanation on how to recognize these, along with examples
that reflect what you may see in WAEC.

1. Noun Phrase (NP)

Grammatical Name: Noun Phrase

Grammatical Function: Subject, Object, Complement

How to Identify:

A noun phrase is a group of words centered around a noun (person, place, thing, or idea) and can
include modifiers like adjectives, articles, or other determiners. In a sentence, the noun phrase can act
as:

Subject (who or what the sentence is about)

Object (receives the action of the verb)

Complement (renames or describes the subject)


Example:

The tall boy is reading a book.

Grammatical Name: Noun Phrase ("The tall boy")

Grammatical Function: Subject (The phrase is what the sentence is about)

I gave the new student a pen.

Grammatical Name: Noun Phrase ("the new student")

Grammatical Function: Object (Receives the action "gave")

2. Verb Phrase (VP)

Grammatical Name: Verb Phrase

Grammatical Function: Predicate


How to Identify:

A verb phrase consists of a main verb and any helping (auxiliary) verbs. It shows what the subject is
doing (action) or its state (being).

Example:

She is singing beautifully.

Grammatical Name: Verb Phrase ("is singing beautifully")

Grammatical Function: Predicate (The verb phrase explains what "she" is doing)

3. Adjectival Phrase (AdjP)

Grammatical Name: Adjectival Phrase

Grammatical Function: Modifies (describes) a noun

How to Identify:
An adjectival phrase is a group of words that describe a noun or pronoun in a sentence. It usually
answers the questions "which one?" or "what kind?"

Example:

The man with the red cap is my uncle.

Grammatical Name: Adjectival Phrase ("with the red cap")

Grammatical Function: Modifies "the man" (describes which man)

4. Adverbial Phrase (AdvP)

Grammatical Name: Adverbial Phrase

Grammatical Function: Modifies (describes) a verb, adjective, or another adverb

How to Identify:

An adverbial phrase is a group of words that function like an adverb, giving more information about the
verb (how, when, where, or why the action takes place).
Example:

He spoke in a soft voice.

Grammatical Name: Adverbial Phrase ("in a soft voice")

Grammatical Function: Modifies the verb "spoke" (explains how he spoke)

5. Prepositional Phrase (PP)

Grammatical Name: Prepositional Phrase

Grammatical Function: Modifies (acts as an adjective or adverb)

How to Identify:

A prepositional phrase starts with a preposition (e.g., "on," "under," "with") and ends with a noun or
pronoun (the object of the preposition). It functions to modify another part of the sentence, providing
more details.

Example:
The keys are on the table.

Grammatical Name: Prepositional Phrase ("on the table")

Grammatical Function: Adverbial (tells where the keys are)

6. Clause (Main and Subordinate Clauses)

Grammatical Name: Clause

Main/Independent Clause: Can stand alone as a sentence

Subordinate/Dependent Clause: Cannot stand alone; depends on the main clause

Grammatical Function: Subject, Object, Complement, or Adverbial

How to Identify:

A clause has both a subject and a verb.


Main clauses express a complete thought and can be sentences on their own.

Subordinate clauses depend on the main clause to make sense and often start with conjunctions like
"because," "although," "if," etc.

Example:

Main Clause: The boy went home.

Subordinate Clause: because he was tired.

Grammatical Name: Subordinate Clause ("because he was tired")

Grammatical Function: Adverbial (explains why the boy went home)

7. Infinitive Phrase

Grammatical Name: Infinitive Phrase

Grammatical Function: Noun, Adjective, or Adverb

How to Identify:
An infinitive phrase starts with "to" followed by the base form of a verb (e.g., to run, to eat). It can
function as:

Noun: Subject or object

Adjective: Modifying a noun

Adverb: Modifying a verb

Example:

I want to read the book.

Grammatical Name: Infinitive Phrase ("to read the book")

Grammatical Function: Object of the verb "want"

8. Gerund Phrase

Grammatical Name: Gerund Phrase

Grammatical Function: Noun (usually as subject or object)


How to Identify:

A gerund phrase begins with a verb ending in "-ing" that functions as a noun.

Example:

Swimming in the ocean is fun.

Grammatical Name: Gerund Phrase ("Swimming in the ocean")

Grammatical Function: Subject (the activity of swimming)

WAEC Example Analysis

Here is a typical question from WAEC:

Example:

"The boy who won the prize is my friend."


1. Grammatical Name: Relative Clause ("who won the prize")

Grammatical Function: Modifies "the boy" (tells more about the boy)

2. Grammatical Name: Noun Phrase ("the boy who won the prize")

Grammatical Function: Subject of the sentence (the sentence is about him)

By breaking down sentences like this, you can easily identify the grammatical names and functions
commonly asked in WAEC exams.

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