Search results for 'tag:Noun phrases tag:Direct objects' matching tags 'Noun phrases' and 'Direct objects'

Re: Object-subject-verb

CalifJim — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 22:12:53 GMT

Fronting the direct object is much more common in conversation than most people realize. It's definitely not restricted to writing.

I think people just start a sentence thinking the first noun phrase is going to be the subject, and then suddenly a different verb comes to mind than they expected, so they end up throwing in a subject for that verb and the first noun phrase that came out ends up being the object. (This is the thinking-on-the-fly theory.)

Or they may deliberately put the object first because it has more importance for them -- they're going to contrast it with something else, for example. X, but not Y. X now, Y later. That sort of thing. (All of your examples contain this feature.) (This is the contrast theory.)

The dirty dishes I'll do now, but [I'll do the laundry later. / the laundry I'll do later / the laundry can wait].

Thanksgiving I can just about handle, but Christmas drives me nuts.

I've got to get the main points of this essay down on paper; the introduction I can write later.

Re: Simple, short phrase question.

CalifJim — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 21:31:38 GMT

Eddie88
Understanding whether a verb is the main verb or not can help tell me if a group of words is a clause or phrase.

Subject (noun phrase):

understanding whether a verb is the main verb or not

[This subject breaks down into a clause:

Subject - implicit: I / my

Verb: understand(ing)

Direct object (noun phrase expressed as a clause, i.e., a "noun clause"): whether a verb is the main verb or not.]

Verbs:

Modal verb: can

Bare infinitve: help

Bare infinitive: tell

Indirect object (pronoun): me

Direct object (noun phrase expressed as a clause, i.e., "noun clause"): if a group of words is a clause or phrase

____

Noun phrase structures like whether a verb is the main verb or not and if a group of words is a clause or phrase are called embedded or indirect questions. The questions that underlie these two are: Is a verb the main verb or not? and Is a group of words a clause or phrase? whether and if can introduce embedded "yes/no" questions.

Re: Help please! Subordinate or main clause

CalifJim — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 17:27:31 GMT

Eddie88
The subject in this case has a subject and a verb, why is it not a clause?

Nobody said it was not a clause!

There are several bits of terminology that are confusing.

One set of terms applies to the individual words. 'house' is a noun. 'happy' is an adjective. 'quietly' is an adverb. And so on.

Another set of terms applies to groups of words that do not form complete thoughts or complete sentences, but which "go together". These are phrases: noun phrases, adjective phrases, verb phrases, and so on. 'in the corner' is a prepositional phrase. 'very unhappily' is an adverb phrase. 'the bird singing in that tree' is a noun phrase. 'what I did last summer' is a noun phrase. 'slept for ten hours' is a verb phrase. Phrases can have other phrases or clauses within them. The noun phrase 'the bird singing in that tree' contains the prepositional phrase 'in that tree', for example, and the verb phrase 'slept for ten hours' contains the prepositional phrase 'for ten hours'.

Another set of terms applies to the functions of phrases within clauses. The main terms that show function are words that show the function of noun phrases in a sentence. A noun phrase is almost always going to be one of these: a subject, a direct object, an indirect object, an object of a preposition, or a subject complement.

(Another term for a verb phrase is predicate. And, just to make it confusing, sometimes the term 'verb phrase' is applied only to groups consisting of consecutive verbs, not the objects that follow them.)

This means that the same group of words in a sentence can be labeled in more than one way. For example, anything that is a subject is also a noun phrase. Anything that is an object of a preposition is also a noun phrase. And so on.

Clauses almost always contain a verb. But on rare occasions the verb that is intended is so obvious that it is not stated; the word group is then often called a clause anyway. The verb may show tense ("be tensed", "be finite"), or the verb may not show tense ("be non-tensed", "be non-finite"). Depending on this feature, the clause is called a finite clause or a non-finite clause. Non-finite forms of the verb are gerunds, participles, and infinitives.

Independent clauses are those that can stand alone as complete sentences. These are either complete sentences or the clauses joined by coordinating conjunctions like and or but. All other clauses are dependent clauses. A non-finite clause can only be a dependent clause. But finite clauses can be dependent clauses as well.

Clauses can occur within phrases. These are all dependent clauses. Independent clauses are not embedded within phrases.

the man whom I saw walking down the street yesterday is a noun phrase, but it contains a dependent clause used as an adjective to modify the noun man.

into the house located across the street is a prepositional phrase, but it contains the noun phrase the house located across the street. The noun phrase contains the clause (which is) located across the street (also called a participial phrase). And across the street is also a prepositional phrase inside the larger prepositional phrase.

You have to think in terms of hierarchies and structures that are embedded inside of other structures.

Re: Simple, short phrase question.

CalifJim — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 06:42:39 GMT

Eddie88
Are phrases words that are additional parts to a sentence (namely advectives or nouns) which are not constituents of the actual clause

No. Clauses are made up of phrases. The phrases of the clause are the constituents of the clause. Clauses generally have a subject, which is a noun phrase, and a predicate, which is a verb phrase, although sometimes these elements are understood. (They may be implicit rather than explicit). The verb phrase may contain, besides a verb (or more), one or more noun phrases to act as a direct object (or in some other function). Generally speaking, at the highest level of analysis of a sentence, all the words belong to one phrase or another, and all the phrases together make the clause (which is the whole sentence).

But phrases may contain clauses as well. Relative clauses, for example, act as adjective phrases. Noun phrases may contain adjective phrases within them. Verb phrases may contain adverb phrases and noun phrases within them, and so on. A single word can even be considered a phrase. Any of these phrases may also contain (lower-level) clauses within them.

The whole system is hierarchical. Everything tends to be embedded in everything else, so to speak! What is a phrase on one level of analysis can be a clause on another level.

Eddie88
1) How come 'He has hosted' is not an indep. clause? A subject exists and there is the auillary verb, which I thought helps the non-finite/verbal, hosted, become a verb. Or is it something to do with intransitive verbs where it the verbs needs an object for it to be grammatical?

It has nothing to do with transitivity considerations. the other parties he has hosted: he has hosted is not an independent clause because it is a dependent clause. It depends on the other parties. It acts as an adjective phrase to modify parties. It answers Which parties? Here the usual relative pronoun is omitted.

the other parties [that / which / ---] he has hosted comes from the other parties [he has hosted (those) other parties]

When the relative pronoun is omitted, it is implicit -- understood. This is called a "contact relative (pronoun)". It is actually missing! There is no word there! Its function is carried out simply by direct contact between the antecedent (the other parties) and the following words (he has hosted (the other parties)) The implicit relative pronoun is the direct object of has hosted, just as that or which would be, if it were explicitly stated.

Eddie88
2) Finally, the verbal hosted...How is it a verbal (can't stand as the main verb in a clause) if it can be the main verb in a clause, for example, 'He hosted the event'

It is the main verb of its clause. I would not call it a verbal. It's the main verb of its clause. See above: He hosted the other parties is understood.

_____

Maybe you should review whatever texts you have on the topic of relative clauses. These are clauses that act as adjectives on a higher level in the hierarchy of the sentence.

the water [that / which / ---] I drank is a noun phrase. Let's break it down into its parts, starting with the level of the whole noun phrase.

Determiner: the

Head noun: water

Adjective phrase = Relative clause: [that / which / ---] I drank

___

Analysis of the adjective phrase. (We're "down one level" here.) The adjective phrase IS a relative clause. [Some grammarians just say that the relative clause is an adjectival clause instead of bothering to call it an adjectival phrase. Or they just say that the clause modifies a noun without bothering to characterize it as adjectival.]

The relative clause starts with a relative pronoun: that, or which, or 'null' (the contact relative pronoun) and continues with the remainder of the relative clause, which contains a "gap" (____) where the relative pronoun came from before it was moved to the beginning of the clause.

the water [I drank the water] > the water [I drank ___] > the water [I drank that] > the water [that I drank].

the water [I drank the water] > the water [I drank ___] > the water [I drank which] > the water [which I drank].

the water [I drank the water] > the water [I drank ___] > the water [I drank ___] > the water [___ I drank].

In this case the gap is where the direct object goes. So the relative pronoun (that, which, or 'null') has the function of direct object.

Subject: Noun phrase : Personal pronoun: I

Verb: drank

Direct object: Relative pronoun: that, or which, or 'null'.

___

This explains three noun phrases. (Pick whichever you want; they all have the same structure.) the water that I drank, the water which I drank, the water I drank

A noun phrase can function as a subject, a subject complement (after a linking verb), or a direct object, or an object of a preposition, and so on. So the noun phrase the water that I drank can be placed in different sentences in different ways:

The water that I drank made me sick. [used as subject]

That water in the green glass was the water that I drank. [used as subject complement]

Miss Scarlet poured the water that I drank. [used as direct object]

I am glad that poison was not added to the water that I drank. [used as object of a preposition]

Note that the noun phrase contains a (relative) clause, and it is also contained within a larger clause in each case above.

P.S. Part of your frustration may be because not all writers use the terms ''phrase' and 'clause' (and others) completely consistently at all times, and you may run across many alternate technical terms that mean the same thing. For example, there may be other members of the forum who would not agree with my analyses, or who would use different terminology to describe the parts of the same sentences.

Re: Parsing-- struggling to parse this, any help appreciated

AlpheccaStars — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 16:45:31 GMT

Communication is supremely important for all social animals.

Communication - subject
is supremely important for all social animals. - predicate
is - linking verb
supremely - adverb
important - predicate adjective modifying communication
for all social animals. - prepositional phrase (adverbial)

It is the glue that links numbers of individuals into a larger whole.

It - pronoun, subject
is the glue that links numbers of individuals into a larger whole. - predicate

is - linking verb
the glue - predicate noun phrase
that - relative pronoun (glue), subject of the dependent adjectival clause: links numbers of individuals into a larger whole.
links - verb
numbers - direct object of verb "links"
of individuals - prepositional phrase (adjectival)
into a larger whole - prepositional phrase (adverbial)

This is as true of ants and bees as it is of humans.
This - pronoun, subject
is as true of ants and bees as it is of humans. - predicate
is - linking verb
as - adverb
true - adjective (this)
of ants and bees - prepositional phrase, 2 objects (adverbial)
as - correlative conjunction, introducing the dependent adverbial clause "it is of humans"
it - pronoun, subject
is - linking verb
of humans - prepositional phrase (adverbial)

Some of the characteristics of complex society (organised communities, a hierarchical structure, and a division of labour) that bespeak the importance of communication in human life appear to have parallels in the animal world.

Some - pronoun, subject
of the characteristics - prepositional phrase (adjectival)
of complex society - prepositional phrase (adjectival)
(organised communities, a hierarchical structure, and a division of labour) - appositive noun phrases
that - relative pronoun (some), subject of the dependent adjectival clause: bespeak the importance of communication in human life

appear to have parallels in the animal world. - predicate
appear - linking verb in main clause
to have parallels in the animal world. - infinitive phrase, predicate nominative
parallels - direct object of infinitive (to have)
in the animal world - prepositional phrase (adverbial)

Re: Help please! Subordinate or main clause

CalifJim — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 00:50:10 GMT

Anaylsis of the large structure:

Independent clause #1 : I can not tell you that, mate,

Conjunction joining two independent clauses: but

Independent clause #2: what I can tell you is that it was one day before my birthday

____________________

Anaylsis of Ind. Clause #2:

Subject: what I can tell you

Verb: (Linking verb) is

Subject complement: (predicate nominative) that it was one day before my birthday

_________

Analysis of the subject of Clause #2

The subject of Clause #2 is a noun phrase formed by the fused relative pronoun what and a relative clause, call it Clause #2A.

[Note: The fused relative what is the understood fusion of that and which, where that is a demonstrative pronoun and which is a relative pronoun. that is thus the understood subject of Clause #2 and which is the understood direct object of the understood relative Clause #2A which I can tell you. what thus simultaneously serves both as the subject of Clause #2 and the direct object of Clause #2A.]

Understood demonstrative component of what: : (Subject of #2): that

Subject of Clause #2A: I

Verb of Clause #2A: can tell

Indirect Object of Clause #2A: you

Direct Object of Clause #2A: understood relative pronoun component of fused relative what : which

_________

Analysis of the subject complement of Clause #2.

The subject complement of Clause #2 is a noun phrase formed by a complementizer and a clause, call it Clause #2B.

Complementizer: that

Subject of Clause #2B: it

Verb of Clause #2B: (linking verb) was

Subject complement of Clause #2B: one day before my birthday

____

Analysis of the subject complement of Clause #2B.

The subject complement of #2B is a noun phrase.

Determiner: a numeral: one

Head noun: day

Modifier: a prepositional phrase: before my birthday

___

Analysis of the preceding prepositional phrase:

Preposition: before

Object of the preposition: a noun phrase: my birthday

Analysis of the preceding noun phrase:

Head noun: birthday

Determiner: possessive adjective my

Re: What are the two 1st immediate constituents of the sentences bellow? Help please!

AlpheccaStars — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 19:32:33 GMT

Do you want a syntactical analysis or corrections to these sentences? Here is some syntax:

Down the hillside (prepositional phrase, adverbial) were rolling (main verb phrase) the stones. (noun phrase, subject)

In this part (prepositional phrase, adverbial) of the garden (prepositional phrase, adjectival) was buried (main verb phrase, passive mood, past tense) the body (noun phrase, subject) of the victim. (prepositional phrase, adjectival)

What is said about her in this book (clause, subject) is (linking verb) unbelievable.(predicate adjective)

What (subject) is said about (verb phrase, passive mood, present tense), her (direct object of phrasal verb) in this book (prepositional phrase, adverbial).

review

somer — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:49:02 GMT

3a) A cat ate the small animal.

3b) A cat is a small animal.

The syntactic analyses of the two sentences are differents. In the sentence 3a) we have (s, v, do) while, in the second sentence 3b) we have (s, v (copular), sP).

In 3a) âa cat âis noun phrase (a is determiner indefinite article, cat is head noun of noun phrase âa catâ), âateâ is verb in past simple tense,â the small animal â is noun phrase consist of determiner âtheâ, âsmallâ is adjective , âanimalâ is the head noun of the noun phrase, all the noun phrase functions as direct object.

In 3b) âa catâ is noun phrase (a is determiner indefinite article, cat is head noun of noun phrase âa catâ) function as subject, âisâ copular verb in simple present tense,â a small animalâ noun phrase consist of the indefinite determiner âaâ , the adjective small , and the head noun of the noun phrase âanimalâ, the noun phrase function as subject predicative.

Differences in the meaning: the first sentence means that there was a cat and it ate the small animal "the small animal" should be mentioned before, or known to the reader, while the second sentence means that a cat is a kind of animal and it is small. We are talking generally here.

Re: what type of grammer pattern behind this sentence?

AlpheccaStars — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:34:34 GMT

Nithila
Â A U.S. newspaper says the nation's twohighest-ranking intelligence officials expect to be replaced whenPresident-elect Barack Obama takes office in January.
Â
what type of grammer pattern behind this sentence?

Â A U.S. newspaper: -> subject, main clause

Â says -> verb, main clause. The rest of the sentence is a dependent clause, direct object of "says"

Â nation's two highest-ranking intelligenceÂ officialsÂ -> noun phrase, subject, dependent clause

expect Â -> verb,Â dependentÂ Â clause

Â to be replaced --> infinitive phrase; passive voice, direct object,Â dependentÂ Â clause

Â when President-elect Barack Obama takes office in January.Â -> dependent clause, adverb, modifying infinitive "replace"

Â President-elect Barack ObamaÂ -> noun phrase, subject, dependent clause

Â takesÂ -> verb,Â dependentÂ Â clause

Â officeÂ -> noun, direct object, dependent clause

Â in January. -> prepositional phrase, adverb,Â modifying verb "take"

Re: Analyse the sentence syntactically in terms of clause elements.

AlpheccaStars — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 14:56:07 GMT

Through a mixture of anthropological analysis and her own unorthodox experiments, complex phrase- adverb

further dissected
Through - preposition
a mixture of anthropological analysis and her own unorthodox experiments compound noun phrase, object of preposition

using herself as a reluctant guinea-pig, participle phrase, modifying Kate Fox

Kate Fox - noun phrase; subject

discovers verb ;

what these unwritten behaviour codes tell us about Englishnes dependent clause; direct object of verb discover

further dissected
what - pronoun; introduces the clause, object of verb tell about
these unwritten behaviour codes - noun phrase, subject of verb tell about
us - indirect object of tell about
Englishness - direct object