Composition I
Professor Kratz
Grammar I
The Sentence
A simple sentence requires a subject (or noun phrase—including the headword noun/s
and the words modifying it/them) and a predicate (or verb phrase—including the verb,
object, and the words modifying them):
A weasel (noun phrase) / is wild (verb phrase).
Jenny’s sister (noun phrase) / graduated from nursing school (verb phrase).
Within both the noun and verb phrase are the “simple” subject and predicate—the basic
subject and verb of the sentence. In the first sentence above (“A weasel is wild”), the
simple noun is “weasel,” and the simple predicate is “is.”
Both simple subjects and simple predicates can be compound. A compound subject
contains two or more subjects, joined by and, or, or nor, which share the same verb:
A debutante and a troll are squatting under the bridge.
A compound predicate is two or more verbs that are joined by and, or, but, yet, or nor,
and that belong to the same subject:
We complied but spat on our captors’ shoes.
While sentences do not need complements (i.e. direct objects) to be complete, they often
have them (and these, too, can be compound):
He milks the cow and the goat.
*Note: the term “complement” refers to more than just direct objects (those things
directly acted upon in a sentence). It can also refer to indirect objects (those things
“indirectly” acted upon): She told me the whole story. “Object complements” add facts
about direct objects: He named Lester chief. And, “subject complements” (or linking verb
complements) describe the subject of sentences that use linking verbs: It is I.
Basic Sentence Patterns
The “Be” Patterns:
1) The weasel (subject) is (form of “be”) in his den (adverbial—describing time
or place).
2) The students (subject) are (form of “be”) clever (subject complement—
renames the subject).
The Linking Verb Pattern:
*linking verbs are those verbs (other than forms of “be”) that are completed by a subject
complement: taste, smell, feel, sound, look, become, remain, seem, appear, prove, etc.
3) The pizza (subject) looks (linking verb) delicious (subject complement).
The Intransitive Verb Pattern:
*Intransitive verbs do not take direct objects.
4) The whole class (subject) laughed (intransitive verb).
The Transitive Verb Pattern:
*Transitive verbs take direct objects.
5) Weasels (subject) stalk (transitive verb) rabbits (direct object).
Transitive Patterns with Two Complements:
*indirect objects are the recipients of the direct object, or the person to whom or for
whom the action is performed.
6) Marie (subject) gave (transitive verb) Ramon (indirect object) a birthday gift
(direct object).
*object complements describe the direct object.
7) The teacher (subject) considers (transitive verb) the students (direct object)
hard workers (object complement)
Beyond Basics
Phrase vs. Clause
While a phrase is just a word or combination of words that constitutes a unit of the
sentence, a clause must have a subject and a predicate.
Phrase: Into the woods
Clause: We went into the woods.
Independent Clause: Main clause of a sentence
Dependent Clause: Functions as an adverbial, adjectival, or nominal
Adverbial: A structure that functions like an adverb to add information about time, place,
manner, reason, etc.
Adverb Phrase
Introduced by an adverb
1) Suddenly (adverbial) paul (subject) walked out (predicate).
Prepositional Phrase
Introduced by prepositions:
Direction: toward, beyond, across
Place: near, on, along, behind, under
Time: on, at, in
Duration: until, for, during, throughout
Manner: in, without, with, by
Cause: Because, for
2) During the Vietnam War (adverbial), Gino’s dad (subject) was a pilot
(predicate).
Subordinate Clause
Introduced by subordinating conjunctions:
Time: when, whenever, after, as, before, once, since, till, until, now that,
while, as long as, as soon as
Concession: though, although, even though, if, while
Contingency: if, once
Condition: if, in case, as long as, unless, provided that
Reason: because, since, as long as
Result: so, so that
Comparison: as, just as, as if
Contrast: while, whereas
3) We (subject) ordered pizza (predicate) because no one wanted to cook
(adverbial)
Infinitive (Verb) Phrases
Introduced by the infinitive form of a verb
4) I (subject) got up early this morning (predicate) to study (adverbial).
Adjectival: A structure that functions like an adjective to modify a noun.
Adjective Phrase
Introduced by an adjective
1) Highly unusual (adjectival), the situation (subject) called for extraordinary
measures (predicate).
Participial (Verb) Phrase
Introduced by the –ing or –en form of the verb (known as the participle)
2) The helicopter (subject) hovering over the roof (adjectival) frightened the
dog (predicate).
Prepositional Phrase (see above)
3) The security guard (subject) in our building (adjectival) knows every
tenant personally (predicate).
Relative Clause
Introduced by either a relative pronoun (that, who, whose, whom, or which), or a
relative adverb (where, when, or why)
4) The man who called last night wouldn’t leave his name.
Nominal: Any structure that functions as a noun phrase normally functions—as subject,
direct object, indirect object, object complement, subject complement, object of a
preposition, or appositive.
Gerund (Verb) Phrase
Introduced by a gerund (a participle or infinitive functioning as a noun)
1) Jogging along the highway (nominal—functioning as the subject) can be
dangerous (predicate).
2) I (subject) plan (predicate) to lose weight before the summer (nominal—
functioning as a direct object).
Compound Sentences: Two or more independent clauses joined with a coordinating or
correlative conjunction, or a semi-colon or colon.
Coordinating Conjunctions: and, but, or, for, so (so that), yet, & neither.
Correlative Conjunctions: both…and…; not only…but also…, either…or…;
neither…nor...
1) I wandered down the path and found the pond.
Complex Sentences: A sentence joining a dependent clause to an independent clause.
1) After having worked all day, I took a shower.
Compound-Complex Sentences: A sentence joining at least one dependent clause to at
least two independent clauses
1) I came home early and I ordered a pizza because the game was on.