Search results for 'tag:Adverbs tag:Articles' matching tags 'Adverbs' and 'Articles'

Re: Q74. Adverb phrase/adverb clause vs Prepositional phrase

Anonymous — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 21:26:21 GMT

By most standards, it is prepositional phrase from the viewpoint of structure, because it is preceded by a preposition, not an adverb. From the viewpoint of function, the phrase has an adverbial function becuase it relates to the verb 'saw'. In other contexts, 'on' can be used as an adverbial particle, serving a verb, as in 'move on, please', but this is not the case.

Articles

Anonymous — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 20:44:49 GMT

I've read that articles are only adjectives but what about in "He is the least understood."

"He" is the subject
"Understood" is an adjective describing "he"
"Least" in an adverb describing "understood"
Wouldn't that mean "the" is an adverb describing "least" or did I make a mistake?

Re: Determining parts of speech...

CalifJim — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 20:30:03 GMT

meemski
predicate adjectives

This is a function, not a part of speech. That is, there is no such thing as a part of speech called a "predicate adjective".

Most of your examples are nouns functioning as adjectives within a compound noun structure. If you need to know these for a class, check with the teacher or your textbook to find out whether, in the grammar system you're using in class, these should be considered nouns or adjectives. (Different textbooks classify these differently.)

The exceptions are water, which is a plain old noun, and back, which is an adverb. Some grammarians might interpret to be back as a phrasal verb, however. Some of these would call back a (phrasal verb) "particle"; others, an adverb.

Re: Flash On ....

CalifJim — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 04:09:44 GMT

Preposition:

I just flashed on (had a sudden mental image of) my first day at the college.

Adverb (phrasal verb particle):

I just flashed on (turned on a slide projector that showed) my first day at the college.

_______

Statistically, the second meaning is much less likely, in my opinion. It depends on context.

Sentence Analysis

Anonymous — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 12:49:24 GMT

I have to analyse the following sentence, but I'm really stuck...

"Amanda's practical solutions of what had seemed an insoluble mystery descended on the family like a balm."

I have to cut this sentence into constituents and cut those up in nouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives, pronouns, prepositions etc.
For now I have this:
'Amanda's practical solutions of what had seemed an insoluble mystery' = the subject of the whole sentence and is a Noun Phrase
'descended' = the main verb of the sentence,
'on the family' = a Prepositional Phrase
'like a balm' = a Prepositional Phrase

The two prepositional phrases don't give me any trouble (both start with a preposition, than have a determiner article and end in a noun).

The Noun Phrase is what gives me trouble...

'Amanda's practical solutions of what had seemed an insoluble mystery' has two constituents, I'd say...
'Amanda's practical solutions' = Noun Phrase
'of what had seemed an insoluble mystery' = ???
I really can't get beyond this point... How should I analyse this?

I really hope someone can help me with this sentence...

Re: Grammar practice: adverbs

CalifJim — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 18:00:59 GMT

Raen
Why couldn't you blow out your candles?

(A: why/n't/out modify the verb could blow) My question: is it a fact that "why" and "not" are adverbs? Is that what you're taught?

Yes. why and not sentential adverbs as discussed above. As above, out is a phrasal verb particle.

Re: Grammar practice: adverbs

CalifJim — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 17:58:13 GMT

Raen
The stranded hiker quietly gave up the chance of rescue.

(A: quietly/up modify the verb gave) My question: does "up" modify "give", isn't "gave up" regarded as a compound verb and it means "to forfiet, ...ect."? If "up" is an adverb to "give", one can say "down" could be an adverb to "give" too. But have anyone heard of or used "to give down"?

give up is a phrasal verb, yes. I would not call up in give up a modifier. I am not familiar with a verb give down. "Adverb" is a sort of catch-all category and some grammarians call the phrasal verb particles like up and down adverbs.

Re: Parse this sentence please.

Anonymous — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 09:59:46 GMT

this is what I have so far, but I'm not sure where to go from here.

Normal 0 A (article) twitch (noun) at (preposition) the (article) controls (noun) could (verb) swerve (verb) the (article) catâ (noun), but (conjunction) the (article) driverâs (noun) hands (noun) could (verb) not (adverb) twitch (verb) because (conunction) the (article) monster (noun) that built (verb) the (article) tractor (noun), the (article) monster (noun) that sent (verb) the (article) tractor (noun) out (preposition), had somehow (adverb) got (verb) into (preposition) the (article) driverâs (noun) hands (noun), into (preposition) his (possessive pronoun) brain (noun) and (conjunction) muscle (noun), had goggled (verb) him (pronoun) and (conjunction) muzzled (verb) him (pronoun) âgoggled (verb) his (possessive pronoun) mind (noun), muzzled (verb) his (possessive pronoun) speech(noun), goggled (verb) his (possessive pronoun) perception (noun), muzzled (verb) his (possessive pronoun) protest (noun).

Re: trying to improve

Avangi — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 23:34:51 GMT

Anonymous
I am just trying to improve my english and dont have any mentor, Can someone please let me know if what i understand or do is right or wrong?

I have some sentences below and i just wanted to know if they are correct - Take care to capitalize the pronoun "I." All sentences need punctuation at the end, eg., a period.

I was abashed by the email sent by my manager   This is correct, but the word is uncommon in everyday speech. "Unabashed" is much more common. Google hits: "abashed" - 653,000   /   "unabashed" - 2,090,000

The aboriginal soundtrack was better than the remix Use "original." "aboriginal" is a very special word, meaning "native," as in the native population of a region. I've never heard it used in everyday speech, other than to refer to the native inhabitants of Australia. I think it may also refer to flora, but I'm not sure. How far back one goes, I have no idea, but I've only heard it used in referring to existing populations.

The class was abridged due to lack of time   Correct, but very uncommon. I'd use "cut short." "Abridged" is commonly used to describe shortened versions of books. Also, "due to" is ungrammatical. Use "because of." The difference is technical. Check Google, "because of vs. due to." If you don't get it, post back. ( "The shortness of the class was due to the lack of time," is correct.)

I abstained myself from participating in the cultural events   You must delete "myself." The verb "to abstain" is intransitive only. (There's no transitive usage.) It does not take an object, even reflexive. You may say "I recused myself," but that has a special meaning. You may say "I withdrew myself from the event," but then you can't use "participating." ("To withdraw" may be either transitive or intransitive.)

I abstained myself from bungee jumping since I am scared of heights  Same objection!

I recieved an acrimonious email from my manager. okay!

The client attacked acrimoniously to the lawyer after he lost the case The verb "to attack" does not take the preposition "to." In this case, the adverb should come either before the verb or after the object   -   I'm not sure why. "The client acrimoniously attacked the lawyer," or "The client attacked the lawyer acrimoniously."

Acids usually have an acrid odor okay!

The washroom had a acrid odor   okay!

Beacuse I understand technology very well I can make acute decisions based on my knowhow This is correct, "acute" meaning "sharp" decisions, but it's uncommon. "Accurate decisions" would be common. "I have an acute pain   -   acute angina" is common. "An acute angle" (less than ninety degrees   -    geometry) is common.   ~~Beacuse~~   Because

Engineers are adept at learning new theories. Okay, but I guess we don't know the same engineers.

Employees should Adhere to the companies policies No cap on "adhere."   Possessive "company's."

The office was adorned on christmas eve  Capitalize "Christmas."

Childrens seek adulation from parents No "s" on "children"

Affable people are good to be friends with okay

She is aloof okay

india is an agrarian country Capitalize "India."

I have a altruistic nature Use "an" form of article before a vowel. (an apple)

The policy of my company was amended after march Capitalize "March."

I was allured by her beauty okay

Mumbai has ample food to feed the people okay, but "its/her people" might be better.

My debts were annulled with my last salary Use "wiped out!" "Our marriage was annulled by the Church/court." -   something done by an official body.

A diamond ring would help me appease my wife  okay

I was apprised by my manager regarding the appraisal i recd (I received.)

I had an arduous project last month okay, but we don't usually use "had" with "project." "I had/performed an arduous task"   /   "I took on an arduous project."

When you get to the "B's," don't put them all in one post, or you'll crash the site! - A.

Re: gerund or verbal noun with an article?

Crokey — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 08:30:03 GMT

hi cb, its me again!
how do you feel about possessives before a gerund? "John's singing bothered me". You are constantly told that the possessive should be used before a gerund(unless you are saying something weird and you wish to emphasise the subject of the gerund). However, "John's loud singing bothered me", well "loud" is an adjectival attribute modifying singing, and you will never get an adverb to fit in there. "the correct speaking of the english language is important", "correctly speaking english is important". So, is it fair to say that if you can modify the -ing form with an adjecitval attribute, then it is a verbal noun and not a gerund? "john's singing the national anthem bothered me" "john's loud singing OF the national anthem bothered me", I could hardly have changed the nature of the word "singing" from a gerund in the first instance, to a verbal noun in the second, merely by adding an adjective. Furthermore, if in the first case, "singing" is indeed a verbal noun, should it written as "john's singing of the national anthem" , otherwise, without the preposition "of", singing would be taking the object "the national anthem".

have a nice day!