Essential grammar

Week 3/Week 4 - 重要基礎文法 02

By Peiling Hsia

Contents:

Subject Subject-Verb agreement

Clause - Relative clauses

Subject 主詞

What is a subject?

Subject is the first word of the sentence. ??

Subject is what makes the action in the sentence. ??

Subject is really important part of sentence. ??

My car was repaired last week.

Yesterday Mary married Mike.

It is raining cats and dogs.

Subject is one of the basic elements of a sentence.

The subject is who or what does… or who or what is…in our sentence. (active voice)

Subject + verb = sentence.

Subject1. 名詞 Dogs are human’s best friends.

Food is what I need now.

2. 代名詞 They are good students.We went to the mall yesterday.

3. The + 形容詞 The rich are not always happy.

4. The + 現在分詞(V+ing)

The living in the world should be not selfish.

5. The + 過去分詞(P.P)

The wounded should take a good rest at home.

6. 不定詞(To + 原形動詞 )

To study hard is the only way to get high scores.To have a baby is a big responsibility.

7. 動名詞 Dancing is my hobby.Traveling alone is so much fun.

8. 介係詞片語 From this morning to tomorrow night is a long time.

9.

子句What you say makes me disappointed. When he will come is not important. That the earth is square is not true.What I need now is food.

Subject-Verb Agreement主詞動詞一致性

動詞的單數和複數隨主詞的單數或複數而定。

基本原則：單數主詞需要單數動詞；複數主詞需要複數動詞。

1. 不定代名詞 (indefinite pronouns) = noun An indefinite pronoun does not refer to any specific person,

thing or amount. It is vague and "not definite".

another, other, each, one, nothing, anybody (anyone), nobody (no one), anything, everybody (everyone), everything, somebody (someone), something,either, neither, little, less, much, enough

both, few, fewer, many, others, several

all, any, more, most, none, some

Singular:

Plural:

Singular or plural:

singular or plural

all the whole quantity of something or of some things or people

All is forgiven.All have arrived.

any no matter how much or how many

Is any left?Are any coming?

morea greater quantity of something; a greater number of people or things

There is more over there.More are coming.

most the majority; nearly all Most is lost.Most have refused.

*none not any; no person or persons None of the phones is working.I invited five friends but none have come.

somean unspecified quantity of something; an unspecified number of people or things

Here is some. Some have arrived.

為可單複數或單數的不定代名詞 -- 視其所指的名詞為可數或不可數而定。

Some of the beads _____ missing. Some of the water ____ gone.

each 要用單數動詞 each 後常接複數字，經常困擾我們對動詞的選擇 - 　

Everyone has finished his or her homework. Everybody knows Mr. Jones.

Each of the students _____ responsible for doing his or her work in the  library.

2. “none” 可為單數或複數 ( 除非句子中有別的人事物來決定它 )

None of you claims responsibility for this incident? None of you claim responsibility for this incident?

None of the students _____ done their homework.

(their 這個字告訴你要使用複數動詞，不能使用單數動詞。 )

Note that many indefinite pronouns also function as other parts of speech:

•He has one job in the day and another at night. (pronoun)

•I'd like another drink, please. (adjective)

3. together with, as well as 和 along with 等片語與 and 並不相同　

The mayor as well as his brothers ___ going to prison. The mayor and his brothers ___ going to jail.

4. neither 和 either 是單數 即使就某一方面來說它們似乎是指兩樣事物

　 Neither of the two traffic lights is working. Either suit ____ fine with me. Either ____ correct.

5. 連接詞 or 或 nor 並沒有結合的作用。　 Either my father or my brothers ___ going to

sell the house. Neither my brothers nor my father ___ going to

sell the house.

The boy or his friends run every day. His friends or the boy runs every day.

6. there 和 here 不是主詞　

There ____ two reasons for this. There ____ no reason for this. Here ____ two apples.

( 主詞跟隨在動詞之後 )

7. 有時修飾語是放在主詞和動詞之間，但這些修飾語不應混淆主詞及其動詞之間的一致性。　

The mayor who has been convicted along with his four brothers on four counts of various crimes is finally going to jail.

8. glasses, pants, scissors, eyes, gloves, boots, sleeves 等字被視為複數　

My glasses _____ on the bed. My pants ____ new. These scissors ____ dull.

A pair of trousers ____ in the closet.

are

are

are

is

除非它們的前面有 pair of( 此時 pair 這個字就變成了主詞 )

9. 分數或數字詞如 half of, a part of, a percentage of, a majority of 或 all, any, more, most, some

有時是單數有時複數，視意思而定 　 Some of the voters ____ still angry. A large percentage of the older population ____ voting

against her.

Two-fifths of the troops ____ lost in the battle. Two-fifths of the vineyard ____ destroyed by fire. The woman with all the dogs _____ down my street.

Two and two ____ four. Four times four divided by two ____ eight.

10. 有些字以 s 做字尾 但卻是單數

The word dollars is a special case. When talking about an amount of money, it requires a singular verb, but when referring to the dollars themselves, a plural verb is required.

Five dollars _____ a lot of money. Dollars ______ often used instead of rubles in Russia.

The news from the front ____ bad. Measles ( 麻疹 ) ____ a dangerous disease for pregnant

women.

Clause

子句

Clause

1. 獨立子句 (independent clause) = 主要主句 (main clause)

2. 從屬子句 (dependent clause) = 附屬子句 (subordinate clause)

3. 關係子句 (relative clause) 4. 限定子句 (restrictive clause) 5. 非限定子句 (nonrestrictive clause)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cvk_jy4VxIE&feature=related

Independent vs. dependent clauses獨立子句 (independent clause) (main clause)

A complete sentence or idea. It can stand on its own. Subject + Verb

It is sunny today, but the temperature is still low.

Three ways to connect independent clauses ： (1) 對等 (coordinating conjunction)

(2) 分號 (semicolon)

(3) 附屬 (subordination) – semicolon + transitional expression (conjunctive adverbs)

It is sunny today; the temperature is still low.

It is sunny today; however, the temperature is still low.

Independent vs. dependent clauses

(1) 名詞子句 (noun clauses) (2) 形容詞子句 (adjective clauses) (3) 副詞子句 (adverb clauses)

Examples: While eating a sandwich…. Because he failed the test….

從屬子句 (dependent clause) = 附屬子句 (subordinate clause)

Not a complete sentence or idea. It can not stand on its own. Subject + Verb Dependant marker words (such as, because, while, after..)

Types of dependent clauses:

從屬子句 (dependent clause)

(1) 名詞子句 (noun clauses)- 具備名詞的功能 主詞 / 受詞 / 介系詞受詞 / 主詞補語 (2) 形容詞子句 (adjective clauses) – 如形容詞 主格 / 受格 / 所有格 (3) 副詞子句 (adverb clauses) – 提供有關主要子句

「到底怎麼回事」的資訊： where, when, why When the movie is over, we'll go downtown.

1. 名詞子句 當主詞

What they did with the treasure remains a mystery. Whatever you want for dessert is fine with me. That you should feel this way about her came as a great surprise to us.

當受詞Juan finally revealed what he had done with the money. Her husband spent whatever she had saved over the years. I don't know what I should do next.

當介系詞受詞

In fact, he wrote a book about what he had done over the years. We are interested in what he does for a living.

當主詞補語The trouble was that they had never been there before. The biggest disappointment of last season was that the women's team

didn't make it to the final four.

2. 形容詞子句

My brother, who now teaches math in a small college, never liked math in high school.

The dealership that sold more cars ended up actually losing money. The Federated Bank, which was founded nearly two centuries ago, folded

during the state's economic crisis.

3 . 副詞子句The team had fallen behind by ten points before they were able to figure

out the opponent's defense. Since he started working nights, he doesn't see much of his kids. While Josie sat inside watching television, Gladys shoveled the driveway.

Clause

1. 獨立子句 (independent clause) = 主要主句 (main clause)

2. 從屬子句 (dependent clause) = 附屬子句 (subordinate clause)

3. 關係子句 (relative clause) = 形容詞子句 (adjective clause)

4. 限定子句 (restrictive clause) 5. 非限定子句 (nonrestrictive clause)

限定子句 (restrictive clause) = essential

Examples: Jim Peterson, who(m) Judy met at Ken's party, called her last

night. Your mother, who called yesterday, called again this afternoon. Sally's vegetable beef soup, which is in the big white bowl, is too

salty.

非限定子句 (nonrestrictive clause) = nonessential

Examples: The person (who[m]) she met at Ken's party called her last night. The person who called yesterday will call again this afternoon. The soup that (which) Sally made is too salty.

Special notes of restrictive & nonrestrictive clauses

1. Because non-restrictive adjective clauses give extra information, we "set them apart" from the main sentence by using commas.

2. Most relative pronouns (who, whom, which, whose) can be used in both restrictive and non-restrictive clauses, but “that” cannot.

“that” - used only in restrictive clauses

Practice:

___1. This afternoon you had a call from your mother, that also called yesterday.___2. This afternoon you had a call from your mother, who also called yesterday.

___3. Hamburgers, that are actually made from beef, are popular in the U.S.A.___4. Hamburgers, which are actually made from beef, are popular in the U.S.A.

Clause

1. 獨立子句 (independent clause) = 主要主句 (main clause)

2. 從屬子句 (dependent clause) = 附屬子句 (subordinate clause)

3. 關係子句 (relative clause) = 形容詞子句 (adjective clause)

4. 限定子句 (restrictive clause) 5. 非限定子句 (nonrestrictive clause)

Relative Clause Adjective Clause 關係代名詞子句 形容詞子句

= 由一個關係代名詞 (relative pronoun ： that, which, who, whom, whose 等 ) 所引導的附屬子句

Adjective clauses (relative clauses) : - "sentences inside sentences." - to modify (describe, identify, make specific) the noun phrases that they follow.

Adjective clauses have three parts:

Are Adjective clauses independent or dependent clauses?

Adjective/Relative Clause 形容詞子句 / 關係代名詞子句

In adjective clauses, the relative pronoun is a kind ofconnecting word. Without the adjective clause, the meaning of the modified noun phrase (and of the sentence) is unclear and incomplete.

Examples: I know a person who / that can help you.

I know a person who(m) / that you can help.

I know a person whose advice I can trust. I know a person to whom I can refer you.

I know a person who(m) / that I can refer you to.

I want a car that / which gets good gas mileage.I can't afford the car that / which I really want.

Types of Adjective Clauses1. "Subject Pattern" - the relative pronoun is the subject of the clause. The man who / that talked to us was very friendly. Do you know the man who / that talked to us?    

2. "Object Pattern" - the relative pronoun is the object of the clause.

The people who(m) / that we met seemed very friendly. The people to whom / that we were speaking seemed very friendly. The people who(m) / that we were speaking to seemed very friendly. I recently saw the people to whom / that we were talking. I recently saw the people who(m) / that we were talking to.   

3. Clauses Showing Possession - the relative pronoun is possessive

The people whose names are called will work the first shift. Do you know the student whose brother won a gold medal in the Olympics?

(1) Subject Pattern Clauses

- the relative pronoun are the grammatical subjects of the clauses.

Examples: A man spoke to us. The man was wearing a green suit. - A man who (that*) was wearing a green suit spoke to us.

The new car is parked outside. The new car belongs to Bob.

The new car that (which*) is parked outside belongs to Bob.

More on Subject Pattern Clauses Reductions: Clauses with BE When a subject-pattern adjective clause contains

BE, the relative pronoun and BE can often be omitted:

The woman who is talking to Janet is her sister.

That man who is from Sweden speaks six languages.

The skates that are beside the door belong to my brother.

The woman talking to Janet is her sister.

That man from Sweden speaks six languages.

The skates beside the door belong to my brother.

More on Subject Pattern Clauses

Rephrasing: Clauses with HAVE When an adjective clause contains HAVE

(meaning "own," "possess,“ or "is characterized by"), another kind of change is possible:

Do you know anyone who has change for a dollar?

There's only one person who has blond hair in my

class.

Do you know anyone with change for a dollar?

There's only one person with blond hair in my class.

(2) Object Pattern Clauses

The relative pronoun replaces the object of the clause.

Examples:

The person called me. We met the person at Jack's party. The person who(m) (that*) we met at Jack's party called me.

I enjoyed talking to the person. We met the person at Jack's party. I enjoyed talking to the person who(m) (that*) we met at Jack's party.

The trip was quite interesting. I took the trip last week. The trip that (which*) I took last week was quite interesting.

I enjoyed the trip. I took the trip last week. I enjoyed the trip that (which*) I took last week.

(3) Possessive Adjective Clauses

In clauses of this type, whose shows possession. It is always combined with a noun or noun phrase.

Examples:

The author is Jonathan Stones. She likes the author's books best. The author whose books she likes best is Jonathan Stones.

The people will be glad to help you. The people's names are on this list.

The people whose names are on this list will be glad to help you.

Whose clauses for “Things”Example:

She just bought a computer. The computer's processor speed is 450 mhz. She just bought a computer ??? processor speed is 450 mhz.

Because English does not have a possessive relative pronoun that refers to things, whose must be used:

She just bought a computer whose processor speed is 450 mhz.

Bill has a car whose color is blue.

Sentences with adjective clauses like the above are awkward because whose seems more appropriate for people than for things.

We can avoid this problem by rephrasing the adjective clause:

She just bought a computer which/that has a processor speed of 450 mhz.

Bill has a blue car.

Special notes of adjective clauses

Special notes of adjective clauses

1. Adjective clauses come after the nouns that they modify:

___ The new car belongs to Bob that is parked outside. ___ The new car that is parked outside belongs to Bob. ___ The trip was quite interesting that I took last week. ___ The trip that I took last week was quite interesting.

2. The relative pronouns who and that are used to refer to people, but who is more common.   

3. The relative pronouns that and which are used to refer to things, but that is more common.   

When do I have to repay the money that / which I borrowed?

4. The relative pronoun “that” cannot be used in nonrestrictive clauses

____The new car, that is parked outside, belongs to Bob.

5. The relative pronouns whom and that are used to refer to people, but whom is more common.

Also, whom is used mostly in writing and very formal speech, but who is used for both subjects and objects in everyday conversation and casual speech.

The only difference between who in subject- and in object-pattern clauses is in word order:

(subject pattern) That's the person who was talking to us. (object pattern) That's the person who we were talking to.

6. Adjective Clauses as Objects of Prepositions

Examples:

1. The woman is right over there. You were talking about the woman. __ formal: The woman about whom you were talking is right over there. __ "everyday": The woman who / that you were talking about is right over there. __ The woman you were talking about is right over there. __ The woman about who you were talking is right over there. __ The woman about that you were talking is right over there.

2. The book is rather expensive. He referred to the book.

__ formal: The book to which he referred is rather expensive. __ "everyday": The book that / which he referred to is rather expensive. __ The book he referred to is rather expensive. __ The book to that he referred is rather expensive.

Omitting Relative Pronouns 關代可否省略的時機： 可省略： (1) 關係子句中已有主詞，關代不當主詞時 (2) 關代雖當主詞用，和 beV. 一起省略 I know the girl who you’re talking about. I know the girl who is next to you. That's the person who(m) / that we were talking to.

(3) 關代 + beV The student who is making a speech is Jack. My mother finally found the vase that was broken by me.

(4) 關代 + V The student who attend that school receive a good education. People who make a lot of money are not necessarily happy.

不可省略： (1) 關代當主詞用，後接一般動詞 (2) 關代當受詞用，前面有介系詞 I know the girl who sings the song well. I know the girl to whom you’re talking about.

Practice: 1. ____ Bob's sister who is a nurse is named Angie.

2. ____Dr. Roberts, that teaches my physics class, was born in Germany.

3. ____ Mike Miller, a basketball player, has few fans in Taiwan.

4. ____ He broke that precious vase, which made his father very angry.

5. ____ I saw a boy and a dog who were playing in the park.

Web links:

http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/pronouns-indefinite.htm (indefinite pronouns)

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/ ( 普渡大學寫作中心 ) http://www.chineseowl.idv.tw/html/c_new.htm

(The Chinese online writing lab – 柯泰德 Ted Knoy) http://blog.udn.com/trjason

( 廖柏森 英語與翻譯教學 )