A subject complement is a word or phrase that describes or renames the subject of a sentence. It follows a linking verb. It is also called a predicate nominative.
The most common linking verb in the English language is be, but verbs like appear, become, seem, feel, get, look, and sound are very common, too.
In this song, Bert Cooper is describing the way the best things in life are.
The main difference between a Subject Complement and an Object is that the former is not introducing any new elements to the sentence, the way the object does, but rather adding information about the subject.
Sunday, April 17, 2016
2.5 Adverbials
We use adverbials to give more information about the verb. An adverbial can be an adverb (single word), an adverb with an intensifier (adverbial phrase), or a phrase with a preposition (or adverbial clause). The adverbial modifies the verb, in some cases even the whole sentence, and it can appear in almost any position in a sentence.
In the sentence The TV is always on, Peggy is using the adverb always to describe the way the TV is in the average American home during the sixties.
In the second sentence, Vietnam playing in the background, the prepositional phrase in the background is functioning as an adverbial clause.
In the sentence The TV is always on, Peggy is using the adverb always to describe the way the TV is in the average American home during the sixties.
In the second sentence, Vietnam playing in the background, the prepositional phrase in the background is functioning as an adverbial clause.
We often use phrases with like as adverbials of manner:
With the phrase like you were friends with me, Sally is describing the way the doctor acted.
When an adverb is accompanied by a modifier or qualifier, it functions as the head of an adverbial phrase.
In the sentence You want it so badly, Don uses the adverb badly (adjective + -ly) with the
qualifier so. Together they function as the adverbial phrase of the sentence.
Monday, April 4, 2016
2.4 Indirect Object
An indirect object is a noun or pronoun that indicates to whom or for whom the action of the verb is performed. The indirect object appears immediately after the verb and before the direct object.
Mr. Rumsen (s) is presenting (v) my copy (indirect object) today to the Belle Jolie people (d/o).
Burt Peterson (s) told (v) me (i/o) you were the one person in the agency i shouldn't cross.
Source: http://grammar.about.com/od/il/g/indirobjterm.htm
2.3 Direct Object
In English grammar, a direct object is a noun, noun phrase, or pronoun that identifies what or who receives the action of a transitive verb in a sentence.
I (s) just wanna eat (v) dinner (direct obect).
When we use a pronoun as a direct object, it takes the form of the objective case, which means we use the pronouns me, you, him, her, it, us, them, whom, whomever, and what.
Source: http://grammar.about.com/od/d/g/dirobjecterm.htm
I (s) just wanna eat (v) dinner (direct obect).
When we use a pronoun as a direct object, it takes the form of the objective case, which means we use the pronouns me, you, him, her, it, us, them, whom, whomever, and what.
Megan (s) bought (v) it (d/o, objective case) for you (indirect object).
Sunday, April 3, 2016
2.2 Predicate
The predicate is one of the two main parts of the sentence (the other one being the subject). It's purpose is to make an assertion or a denial about the subject. In other words, the predicate is what is said about the subject.
He (subject) would (helping verb) die (main verb).
My mother (s) raised me to be admired (verb phrase = predicate).
Source: http://grammar.about.com/od/grammarfaq/a/What-Is-A-Predicate.htm
- A predicate may be just a single word, the verb:
- It may be a group of words made up of a main verb and helping verbs:
- And it may also be a complete verb phrase, which is a main verb and all the other words related to it, except the subject.
My mother (s) raised me to be admired (verb phrase = predicate).
Source: http://grammar.about.com/od/grammarfaq/a/What-Is-A-Predicate.htm
Saturday, April 2, 2016
2.1 Subject
In English grammar, a subject is one of the two main parts of a sentence (the other main part being the predicate). It is the part of the sentence or clause that tells what it is about, or who/what is performing the action (this is called the agent). A subject is almost always a noun, a noun phrase, or a pronoun.
Lee Garner Jr. (proper noun subject) made me (verb) hold his balls (eww!).
Miss Calvet and I (proper noun + cc + pronoun = compound subject) are (v) getting married.
An agent is the subject of a sentence formed in the active voice:
Here to tell that story is (v) Peggy Olson (agent, the one that performs the action).
In a sentence in the passive voice, the agent is the object of a preposition, and the direct object becomes a patient subject:
What you call love (patient subject) was invented (v) by (preposition) guys like me (agent object).
If we flipped this sentence into the active voice, it would read something like this:
Guys like me (agent subject) invented (v) what you call love (patient object).
Source: http://grammar.about.com/od/rs/g/subject.htm
- In a declarative sentence (see post 1.2.1), the subject comes before the verb:
Lee Garner Jr. (proper noun subject) made me (verb) hold his balls (eww!).
- In an intrrogative sentence, the subject comes after the verb:
Is (v) she (pronoun subject) your girlfriend?
Compound subjects are made up of two or more simple subjects joined by a coordinating conjunction (see post 1.2 sentence structure) and share the same predicate.
- There are exceptions to these common subjects:
Compound subjects are made up of two or more simple subjects joined by a coordinating conjunction (see post 1.2 sentence structure) and share the same predicate.
Miss Calvet and I (proper noun + cc + pronoun = compound subject) are (v) getting married.
An agent is the subject of a sentence formed in the active voice:
Here to tell that story is (v) Peggy Olson (agent, the one that performs the action).
In a sentence in the passive voice, the agent is the object of a preposition, and the direct object becomes a patient subject:
What you call love (patient subject) was invented (v) by (preposition) guys like me (agent object).
If we flipped this sentence into the active voice, it would read something like this:
Guys like me (agent subject) invented (v) what you call love (patient object).
- If we have no other subject, we use "there" or "it" as a subject, this is called a dummy subject:
Source: http://grammar.about.com/od/rs/g/subject.htm
Sunday, March 6, 2016
1.2.5 Conditionals
We use conditional sentences when we talk about things that are not certain, have not happened yet or when we imagine a scenario. Conditional sentences consist of a conditional clause and a main clause, and most common types always involve if or an if-clause.
"...Sally Draper, come over here this minute. If the clothes from that dry cleaning bag are on the floor of my closet, you're going to be one sorry young lady."
You piss off Betty, you will pay, that's for sure.
If you don't like what is being said (if-clause), change the conversation (main clause).
For Don, this is always true.
Zero Conditional: we use the Zero conditional when we talk about things that are always true; the present simple is used in both clauses.
You piss off Betty, you will pay, that's for sure.
If you don't like what is being said (if-clause), change the conversation (main clause).
For Don, this is always true.
First Conditional: when we talk about real, possible situations, we use the first conditional. The usual formula for this conditional is if + present simple and will + infinitive, but it is not important which clause comes first.
"I'll tell you the same thing I told my daughter, if you put a penny in a jar everytime you make love in the first year of marriage, and then you take a penny out the jar everytime you make love in the second year, you know what you'll have? A jar full of pennies." - Roger Sterling
Or: If you put a penny in a jar [...], you will have a jar full of pennies.
"I'll tell you the same thing I told my daughter, if you put a penny in a jar everytime you make love in the first year of marriage, and then you take a penny out the jar everytime you make love in the second year, you know what you'll have? A jar full of pennies." - Roger Sterling
Or: If you put a penny in a jar [...], you will have a jar full of pennies.
Second Conditional: the second conditional is used to talk about unreal or impossible things. The typical formula is if + past simple and would + infinitive.
If you were me (if-clause), what would you do?
If I could get Betty in the ground (if-clause), I would stay here until 1975.
If i did not know you could (if-clause), I would not do this.If you were me (if-clause), what would you do?
If I could get Betty in the ground (if-clause), I would stay here until 1975.
Third Conditional: this conditional is used to talk about the past and situations that did not happen. The regular formula for the third conditional is If + past perfect and would have...
If i had found a gif, this post would have looked better.
Sources: http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/quick-grammar/conditionals-1
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/conditionals
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/conditionals
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