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GRAMMAR REVISION FOR ENGLISH 4
Revision of English III Grammar
A
THE NOUN PHRASE
1) Discussion : Why study the Noun Phrase ?
2) TRUE or FALSE? State whether the following are true/false. If they are false, give
the correct answer.
A NOUN PHRASE is:
i) A group of words which can be divided into the elements S,V, C, O, A.
ii) One or more words with a noun (or pronoun) as head {nucleus}, and possibly a premodifier or post-modifier or both.
iii) A word or group of words with a head, whose function is either S,C,O or A in a
sentence or clause.
iv) The only function a noun phrase could never have is A {Adverbial} in a clause or
sentence.
v) The pre-modifier of a noun phrase usually consists of a relative clause.
vi) The most common form of noun phrase postmodifier is the prepositional phrase.
vii) The pre-modifier (if there is one) usually consists of one (or more) determiners
followed by one or more attributive adjectives.
viii) Sentential and Nominal relative clauses are common noun phrase postmodifiers.
3) What, then, are the constituent parts of the Noun phrase?
4) List other common types of postmodifiers besides the prepositional phrase.
i)
ii)
iii)
iv)
v)
vi)
5) Adjectival order. Re-order the adjectives and nouns in the noun phrases below
correctly. The first and last words are in the correct position. (Note that some are
compound adjectives or compound nouns.) (Nos. V & vi are the only noun phrases
with postmodifiers!)
i)
ii)
iii)
iv)
v)
vi)
A/an Victorian ugly guest late red-brick great house.
A grey lamp concrete dirty large post.
A sleeping haired blonde gorgeous beauty.
Several bound compendious leather encyclopaedic works.
A granite roofed magnificent high church mediaeval with a tall tower.
Our two long first adventure really holidays abroad.
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6) NOMINALISATION (Converting other parts of speech to noun phrases, and
using them to make a text more formal and concise).
Either convert the groups of sentences below into one single sentence or shorten
the long sentence using noun phrases as much as possible (together with prepositional
phrases and nominal clauses). Also underline the noun phrases. An example is given.
0) We went to the seaside for a day. It was very enjoyable. We also found it almost
deserted.
You write: We spent a very enjoyable day by the seaside, which was almost
deserted.
i) The group of men were very angry. They argued at length. Their noise could be
heard right down the street. {Use the verb ‘had’ as the main verb.}
You write:____________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
ii) The value of sterling has fallen sharply because businessmen were doubting whether
the government’s economic policy would succeed. {Use the verb phrase ‘has come
about ‘ or the expression ‘is the result of’. Ask yourselves whether ‘businessmen’
is necessary to include in your answer.}
You write: __________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
iii) Everyone knows that it is true that if a single man has a good fortune he must want
to get married. {Jane Austen). {Use the verb phrase ‘must be’.}
You write: It is a truth__________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
iv) He had an appetite for adventure, and it was difficult to satisfy this. So he became
involved in a pioneering expedition to Antarctica. {Use the verb phrase ‘involved’.}
You write: His________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
v) Violent crime in Britain is seriously increasing, with the result that ordinary citizens
have become very concerned and do not feel safe either in their homes or in the street.
{Use ‘has resulted in’ or ‘is causing’ as the main verb phrase.}
You write:The serious _________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
............................................................................................................................................
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7) Read this draft of a newspaper article, then complete the re-written sections of
the article below with a noun or a noun phrase. Try not to repeat exactly the same
expressions as those that appear in the first text. The first one is given as an
example (0).
St Andrew’s Hospital Trust has recently confirmed that yet more instances of
food poisoning have come to light in the Scottish resort, and this has alarmed
everyone who lives in the town. A spokesperson stated that the illness was not
serious and could be easily treated. This appeased community leaders but
they requested further assurances that the authorities were doing everything
within their control to stop the contamination from spreading. The hospital
authority has announced that it will investigate fully the causes of this
epidemic. As a recent investigation into a similar outbreak concluded that the
cause was dealing with meat in an unhygienic manner in a local butcher’s
shop, local shopkeepers are concerned about what will come out of the
pending investigation. The leader of the Shopkeepers’ Association, Len
Murphy, suggested that what caused
the epidemic might be hospital
kitchens, which has angered hospital staff. The kitchen staff at the hospital
have now called for a strike of hospital auxiliaries across the region, which is
likely to be severely financially harmful to the health authority.
(0)__ The recent confirmation__ by St Andrew’s Hospital Trust of
(1) _______________of food poisoning in the Scottish resort has alarmed
(2) _______________ . A/an (3) ____________________ that the illness was not
serious and could be easily treated appeased community leaders, but
they requested further assurances that the authorities were doing
everything within their control to contain (4)______________. The hospital
authority has announced (5) _____________________ into the causes of this
epidemic. As (6)____________________ of a recent investigation into a
similar outbreak cited (7)__________________________ in a local butcher’s
shop as the cause, local shopkeepers are concerned about
(8)
_________________________of
the
pending
enquiry.
(9)
______________________ by the leader of the Shopkeepers’ Association,
Len Murphy, that (10) _______________ the epidemic might be hospital
kitchens has angered hospital staff. (11)________________ by kitchen staff
at the hospital for a strike of hospital auxiliaries across the region is likely
to have (12)_______________ ____________________ for the health authority.
N.B. There are more exercises in Longman pp. 256ff.
B NOMINAL CLAUSES
N.B. Not the same as NOMINALISATION (Explain)
8) Definitions of a Nominal Clause: TRUE or FALSE?
i) It has exactly the same form and structure as a noun phrase.
ii) A nominal clause has practically the same function as a noun phrase.
iii) There are several types of nominal clause.
iv) A nominal clause can be either finite or non-finite.
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v) A nominal clause can never consist of or include an ‘-ed’ non-finite verb phrase.
vi) Nominal clauses are not a very common feature of linguistic expression, either in
speech or writing.
vii) The only type of nominal clause that usually expresses a concrete, rather than
abstract concept - i.e. that refers to people or things, is the Nominal Relative Clause.
viii) Nominal clauses can never have an ‘A’ {Adverbial} function.
9) Types of Nominal Clause: see if you can list them
i)
ii)
iii)
iv)
v)
vi)
vii)
viii)
ix)
N.B. a non-finite ‘-ing’ clause might also be a defining relative clause, as in ‘She
saw a boat emerging from the harbour and heading for the open sea.’ However, the
interpretation of this is ambiguous, for it could either be a defining relative clause
= ‘which was emerging’ or an adverbial clause ‘when/as it was emerging’. In
neither case are they nominal clauses.
10) Underline all the Nominal Clauses in the following sentences and state what
function each has: S, O, C, A, App(Apposition), AdjC (Adjectival complement) or
PrepC (Prepositional complement). N.B. Some sentences contain more than one
nominal clause.
i) He always undresses in front of the fire before going to bed and, what is even more
interesting, he does the same in the summer!
ii) What is so surprising, my secretary asked me how she should write the letter.
iii) Where we go next depends on you.
iv) I can’t believe how quickly he learned the language.
v) That he is not the best choice for the job goes without saying.
vi) That’s exactly what I’ve been trying to tell you all day.
vii) Whoever knows the answer to that question is a genius.
viii) I’m not really sure what he’s talking about.
ix) The fact that I can’t speak Portuguese fluently after 15 years is downright
disgraceful.
x) Going shopping is what I hate more than anything else.
xi) Having two cups of coffee in the morning helps get the day started.
xii) To get here on time in this traffic means leaving home at 7am.
xiii) I’m always trying to make the point that this grammar is very useful.
xiv) I was very sorry to have to tell her about the accident.
xv) The children were all happy playing in the garden.
xvi) She apprised me of when he would be arriving.
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11) a) Correct all the underlined clauses which contain errors in the passage
below. Write the correction (if there is one) in the space by the side of the clause.
b) State what type of clause it is, even if it is not a nominal clause, and c) state
what its function in the sentence is. (The first one has been done for you).
(1) That I want to do (What); Nominal ‘that’ clause; subject is (2)explaining to
you____________________________________________ (3) what we’re going to do
in English IV_________________________________. The book (4) what we’re
going to use in the first semester________________________________________ is
“The Story of English”, (5) that will certainly take up quite a lot of time___________
______________________________________. We will ask you (6) if or not you like
it_______________________________, and (7) what do you think of it____________
_______________________. (8) To read a lot______________________________ is
essential for (9) who is doing a university degree in English____________________
_______________________________. It is well known (10) there are few jobs
available for graduates______________________________________. It is amazing
(11) how on earth was this situation allowed to develop________________________
__________________________________. Nevertheless, don’t ask, (12) “Why this
misfortune happened to me?”____________________________________________.
(13) Who becomes depressed_____________________________________________
does not help themselves or anyone. Be optimistic. Do your best in 14) what you have
to do_________________________________________and remember (15) that a
degree is not just about train for a job______________________________________
______________________________. (16) What are you doing__________________
__________________ is (17) educate and train your minds_____________________
_______________________and (18) improving your skills____________________
____________for the wider world (19) awaits you_____________________________.
For more explanations and extra practice of all types of Nominal clause, see Side and
Wellman Unit 10, pp 163 – 169, and Unit 11 pp188 & 189.
C
ADVERBIALS
12) Definitions of an Adverbial: TRUE OR FALSE?
i) It is one of the five main sentence or clause elements.
ii) It is not often used.
iii) It is always an optional element.
iv) Theoretically, there can be any number of adverbials in a sentence.
v) An adverbial might just consist of one single word.
vi) Adverbs are the same as Adverbials.
vii) When talking of ‘adverbials’, we are dealing with function rather than form.
viii) An adverbial can never be placed at the beginning of a sentence.
ix) An adverbial can have several forms.
x) It might even consist of an entire clause.
xi) All subordinate clauses are adverbials.
xii) Some types of linking words (connectors) are adverbials.
xiii) All adverbials have the same importance within a sentence.
xiv) It is possible for a clause or sentence to contain no adverbials at all.
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13) Tick the forms below that an adverbial might take.
i) sentential relative clauses
ii) conditional clauses
ix) adverb phrases
x) defining relative clauses
iii) prepositional phrases
iv) verb phrases
v) nominal clauses
vi) adjectives & adjective phrases
xi) conjunctions
xii) noun phrases
xiii) modal auxiliary verbs
xiv) pre-modifying adverbs in adjective
phrases e.g. ‘pretty silly’ ; ‘fairly tough’
xv) subordinate clauses prefaced by a conjunction
xvi) non-finite “-ing” clauses
xvii) verbless clauses
vii) non-finite “-ed” clauses
viii) adverbs
14) a) Tick the expressions below that could be adverbials (in the right
context). b) Put a cross against those that couldn’t be. c) Put a double
tick against any expressions that are always adverbials.
i) in order to finish my homework
ii) last night
iii) the front room
iv) never
v) very beautiful
vi) terribly fast
vii) nevertheless
viii) in spite of
xi) on the table
x) when in doubt
xi) after that wonderful party
xii) because we had never seen it
xiii) almost
xiv) finally
xv) that it had always been the same
xvi) whoever is responsible for that
xvii) on entering the room
xviii) driving slowly round the bend
15) Underline all the non-finite adverbial clauses in the following
sentences. (Take care not to underline any other non-finite clauses
(e.g. relative clauses or nominal clauses).
i) Having climbed in through the window they were unable to get back.
ii) Peter, thinking that David wasn’t doing the job properly, gave him 3 months’notice
to quit.
iii) Finally defeated at the Battle of Waterloo, Napoleon realised that his second chance
to conquer Europe was over.
iv) For him to arrive on time would be a miracle.
v) Carrying my luggage, I headed for Customs.
vi) Met by my friends, I felt safe and happy.
vii) Coping with life alone in a foreign country is difficult, but challenging.
viii) Bob is equally happy whether travelling by car or by public transport.
16) Underline all the adverbials in the following text, and state what
type (form) each is (e.g. conjunct, subordinate finite/non-finite clause,
noun phrase etc.) {Number the adverbials you underline and write
their form underneath the text}.
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I usually go for a sauna on a Saturday afternoon. However, when
I have a lot of work to do, or if I am feeling tired, I stay at
home. They are wonderfully relaxing, a sauna, a swim, and a
Turkish bath.
At the health club the other day I met a colleague. She was
swimming very strongly and really well. She could swim much
better than I. Nevertheless, I swim a great many lengths, which
may quite surprise you. Moreover, I have lots of saunas and
Turkish baths during the same session. Last week, finding the
sauna and steam room very hot, I languished there for a long
time and thoroughly enjoyed it. Having said that, I was
completely exhausted and fit for nothing afterwards.
Write your list of adverbial forms here:
N.B. For more practice on Nominal clauses, adverbials, finite/non-finite clauses, etc.,
consult Sylvia Chalker Workbook Chs. 14 & 15, pp. 99-120.
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