Search results for 'tag:Clauses tag:Nouns' matching tags 'Clauses' and 'Nouns'

Re: Where to

Liveinjapan — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 01:20:34 GMT

Thanks, Marius and CJ.

Nouns or pronouns can refer to something; Clauses can relate, be related, be associated with, or examples of something.

Got it!

Re: Where to

CalifJim — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 21:57:14 GMT

Liveinjapan
What does the clause that starts with deciding refer to?

Yes, I noticed that post later, and then I had a better idea of what you wanted in this post. refer to is not exactly correct, in my opinion, although it's understandable. Strictly speaking, only nouns and pronouns can refer. I think you want to say:

What are the clauses that start with deciding associated with (earlier in the sentence)?

or What are the clauses that start with deciding related to (earlier in the sentence)?

or How do the clauses that start with deciding relate to the rest of the sentence?

or What are the clauses that start with deciding examples of?

Re: Grammar: a large meteor hitting the moon

CalifJim — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 02:35:44 GMT

a large meteor hitting the moon is a noun clause. It's the subject of the sentence. hitting is the "head" of the clause. The hitting is what would cause the melting.

The clause itself has a subject (a large meteor), a verb (hitting), and a direct object (the moon).

It's a 'non-finite' clause -- a 'gerundive' clause.

Re: Is It Congested ?

Goodman — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 23:44:46 GMT

Hi cute,
If you use âeveryoneâ which is singular in context, then you shouldnât use âthemâ and âthemselvesâ as pronoun.

Yes, it's congested in my view.

The relative clause is quite awkward and unnatural in tone and also has agreement problem with singular and plural. âWhichâ refers to âfearsâ here. Then âsometimes causes..â is not correct.

I gathered this is what you tried to say:

Most people have some forms of subconscious fears which inhibit them to confront them and to realize what it is like to live without these fears.

Re: malnutrition that's becoming more and more widespread

Cool Breeze — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 19:42:46 GMT

New2grammar
Dozens of UN humanitarian workers are exposed to risk on their job every day. A good example is truck drivers who deliver much needed food to remote villages in poor countries to combat malnutrition, which is becoming more and more widespread.

Hi N2G

It has become more and more fashionable to use hyphens in English and therefore some might put a hyphen between much and needed but I don't think that is necessary. I wouldn't object to one, either. Clearly, the relative clause is a non-defining one and thus a comma is needed, which means that which is the correct pronoun.

Adjectives/Adverbs/Conjunctions?

Anonymous — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 23:08:28 GMT

Hello,

I'm reading about adverbial clauses and conjunctions, and the following discussions confuse me:

The book says:
These conjunctions frequently begin adversial clauses that indicate degree or comparison: as, than, etc.

My relatives arrived earlier than they usually do.

In this example, the subordinate conjunction "than" connects the adverbial clause "than they usually do" to the main clause "my relatives arrived earlier."

(Ok, so far, so good. This, I get. But then the books says:)

The adverbial clause modifies the adjective "earlier."

Huh? Why is "earlier" an adjective?
"Arrived" is a conjugated verb. Arrived...when? "Earlier." So, shouldn't "earlier" be an adverb in the main clause, "My relatives arrived earlier." Don't adjectives modify nouns and pronouns?

Then, in another section, the book says:

Most adverbial clauses modify verbs. However, adverbial clauses of comparison often modify adjectives and adverbs.

This computer is faster than that one is.

The subordinate conjunction "than" connects the adverbial clause "than that one is" to the main clause "this computer is faster." The adverbial clause modifies the adjective "faster." It compares the speed of this computer to the speed of that computer. In doing so, the adverbial clause specifies the nature of the comparison made by the comparative adjective faster.

(Ok, I get this, too. But, in the same section, the book says:)

The plane landed later than we expected it to land.

The subordinate conjunction "than" connects the adverbial clause "than we expected it to land" to the main clause "the plane landed later." The adverbial clause modifies the adverb later.

(Fine, This, I get. "Landed" is a conjugated verb. "Landed" when? "later." So, later is an adverb.")

But Im confused, nonetheless. Why is "later" here an adverb, but "earlier" (above) is classified as an adjective?

English is confusing..

Re: Food / foods

Clive — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 21:36:43 GMT

Hi,

I read the following sentences in a book. I don't understand why the first sentence use 'food' instead of 'foods' . The second sentence shows that food is a countable noun. 'Food' can be both countable and non-countable, and we often don't much care about making a distinction or speaking consistently.

Also as a side question, why there is no comma before 'and', in #1sentence, even though it is acting as a conjunction between two indpendent clauses.? Until I read posts here by some other students of English who mentioned this so-called 'rule', I had never heard of it. You'll read lots of sentences that do not use a comma before 'and'. I'd say that some factors that influence comma use are the length of the sentence and the complexity of its structure.

1. Go to a mall food court and make a list of food that is good for your health.

2. They try to avoid foods that are high in fat or sugar.

Best wishes, Clive

Food / foods

Musicgold — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 21:24:30 GMT

Hi,

I read the following sentences in a book. I don't understand why the first setence use 'food' instead of 'foods' . The second sentence shows that food is a countable noun.
Also as a side question, why there is no comma before 'and', in #1sentence, even though it is acting as a conjunction between two indpendent clauses.?

1. Go to a mall food court and make a list of food that is good for your health.

2. They try to avoid foods that are high in fat or sugar.

Thanks,

MG.

Re: Two relative pronouns in the sentence

CalifJim — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 15:57:49 GMT

Surely you can invent one of your own choosing! Make a sentence like the one the original poster submitted, extending it with another relative clause. He's already got who and that. Add which somewhere. Maybe you can even get a whom or a where in your sentence, too!

Re: when to?

CalifJim — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 21:28:55 GMT

Taka
I think what the author is trying to say is 'when you change trains',

Yes, that's most likely the intent.

Taka
but is that 'when to' grammatically acceptable?

Not here. No. when to clauses are indirect questions, hence, they function as noun phrases:

I didn't know when to change trains.

Be sure to tell him when to change trains.

They don't function as adverbs:

*You have to walk when to change trains.

*Be sure to read the posted signs when to change trains.