Search results for 'tag:Predicates tag:Grammar' matching tags 'Predicates' and 'Grammar'

Re: Pronoun Case. Please Help.

Avangi — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:57:34 GMT

Hi, Eddie, thanks for catching my "it's." I make that error about 60% of the time and catch it on re-read about 90% of the time.

I think A. Stars answered you well on "That is he." There are two issues: the grammar issue, and the usage issue.

Re the grammar, there are various transformations possible, but to keep it simple, the subject usually comes first, followed by the verb. Here's a compound sentence: Cogito ergo sum - I think, therefore I am. "I think" is an action verb. "I am" is a being verb. It just means "I exist." But the being verb (simple predicate) is more often followed by a predicate nominative OR a predicate adjective. I am an actor. That is I (in the picture). That was I (on the phone). (Do you know who the guy is who/that broke my window?) I am he. Both the subject and the complement are nominative, but most people use an objective case complement, "That was me." Most people would even say, "It was me who broke your window." (Predicate adjectives would be, "I am drunk;" "I am late.")
What I started out to say when I wandered, is that in your example, "That must be he on the plane," in terms of subjects and objects this is the same as "That is he on the plane," or "He is he on the plane." The being verb acts like an equal sign. "He is John." "He = John." But, just because "He" is the subject of the sentence and "He" = "John" doesn't mean that "John" is really the subject of the sentence, in terms of the syntax !
Personally, I get a strong sense of equality from the being verb, which is why I personally prefer to use the nominative case complement.
But to say the complement equals the subject is not the same as to say that it is the subject. The first is contextual; the second is syntactical.
Anyway, "That's him on the plane," is as correct as any other substitution of objective in place of nominative case pronouns.

single subject and multiple predicates

Anonymous — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 03:21:28 GMT

Are there any rules in English grammar related to need to repeat or not to repeat a subject when there are multiple predicates in the sentence?

Here is the example that came up in a discussion today:
"I suggest hiking then and I volunteer to look up trails if enough people are interested."

Is the second 'I' really needed and would the sentence below still be valid?
"I suggest hiking then and volunteer to look up trails if enough people are interested."

Comma - Compound Predicate or Parenthetical Phrase

sd15 — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 06:18:05 GMT

Consider this common construction:Â

She ran to the end of the field and never looked back.

Or you might find this punctuation:

She ran to the end of the field, and never looked back.

I think the second is more common, but the first more correct. I analyze the sentence as containing a compound predicate, "ran" and "looked," and find no grounds for breaking it with a comma. The second style of punctuation, however, seems to apply semantic rather than grammatical principles, treating "and never look back" as warranting a comma because it signals a contrast. Still, a grammatical characterization of the second part of the sentence is needed, but what might it be? How can "and," used here, serve as anything other than a conjunction?

Re: Comma + coordinate conjunction with imperative clauses

Mister Micawber — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 04:28:04 GMT

.
Hello Bino,

there should always be some kind of punctuation mark between coordinate clauses.

This is generally right... but yours are not coordinate clauses, because the second has no subject, and we cannot punctuate once (though we can do so twice) between S and V.

It's a little tricky here ; the first doesn't have a subject either-- but it is implied in the command.

[You] Stand up like a man and take the punishment you deserve!
[You] Stand and take your punishment!

You have two coordinate predicates, not clauses. Notice the difference with two coordinate clauses: Sit down, and he'll take your punishment for you! Here we have the two coordinate (independent) clauses.

You are not out of date-- the comma is used rather cavalierly nowadays-- but it is actually the inserted comma that is 'wrong'.

Books are unnecessary. Try HERE or HERE, for instance.
.

Re: Could I use the underlined phrase or part of it as a subject?

bhikkhu1991 — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 11:19:05 GMT

Hello Huevos,

I regret to tell you that I should follow the subject-inversion in âGuide to Grammar and Writingâ which allows the underlined part as a predicate instead of a subject suggested by you: (http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/subjects.htm#inversion)

Thus, I should treat the following underlined part as a predicate:

From yesterday at dawn until this morning at daybreak (Thursday, October 16, 2008) was a festival.

However, I hope that you will provide your source saying prepositional phrases are allowable as subjects.

Anyway, I would like to thank you for suggesting the new phrase.

Thank you.

Best wishes.

Re: I and ME

Planet Hopper — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 18:15:44 GMT

OK, grammar geek, forget about the word british, i don't like it either :-)

It is a matter of formality, not the whole of it, in europe we consider grammatical to say

It's Brad or I.

It's Brad or me is OK too, just talking as a user. It's Brad or I sounds more appropriate, more serious.

If you place the coordinated phrase within predicate scope it turns more likely to see 'me', as in:

Grammar Geek

You must fire Brad or you must fire me! It's Brad or me!

You have to choose between Brad and me!

The way I look at it, this person is probably getting on with the talk like this:

It's Brad or I. I can't think of working with him any longer.

But anyway, I'm just trying 2 help :)

Re: Is it ok to say.....

AlpheccaStars — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:17:44 GMT

You have made some very complex sentences, so it is not easy to explain without a lot of detail.

Here is my analysis of the grammar in the second sentence. I am not an expert in grammar, so I invite other members of the forum to comment.

It (pronoun, subject) is (main verb) probably (adverb, modifying adjective boring) boring (present participle of verb bore, predicate adjective) as hell (adverb, modifying "boring") listening (gerund, predicate noun, antecedent is "it" ) to me (pronoun, indirect object of verbal "listening") telling (present participle, adjective modifying me; but could possibly be a gerund, direct object of verbal listening) you (indirect object of verbal telling) that (direct object of verbal telling)

"Tell" can be correct, if it is used in a dependent clause. I made the sentence less complex to show the grammar:

Listening to me when I tell you that is probably boring as hell.

Listening (gerund, subject of verb is) to me (indirect object of verbal listening)

when I tell you that (dependent clause, adverb, modifying verbal listening)

etc...

However, in speaking, people often take shortcuts in grammar, and not lose meaning. In this case, your second sentence omits the words "when I".

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: Determining parts of speech...

meemski — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 02:09:57 GMT

I suppose I should be going with my gut instincts with these...

Rose petals, rose bushes, water slide, etc, these are the predicate adjectives

Ice water is a noun..

I am still uncertain about 'we will be back in one hour'.... 'will be' is linking, so I suppose back is the verb.... or 'will' is the link and the action verb is to be back...

Right? English is weird...

adverb clauses

Raen — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:22:59 GMT

I have a hard time deciding which word an adverb clause modifies in a sentence, examples:

1. Buy that coat now because it might be sold tomorrow.

(A: because it might be sold tomorrow modifies the verb buy)

I chos the adverb "now" because I thought the main emphasis/reason of the surbordinate clause laid on "tomorrow". If the adverb clause said: "because you need one", I would go with "buy". Compare:

Since I can spare only a few minutes, please be brief with your presentation.

(A: Since I can spare only a few minutes modifies the predicate adjective brief) The word modified is not the verb "be" rather it's the pred. adjective "brief", I'm assuming that's because its indication of time scrunch.

So my impressioin was knowing which word, along its part of speech, is modify has a lot to do with what the adverb clause main focuse is, but I must have been mistaken. I'm not doing well in the practices. Could someone be kind enough to give me some guidance in deciding what to pick, is there a rule of thumb? Thanks a lot.

Note: the grammar rules say: An adverb clause is a dependent clause that modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. It usually modifies the verb.

Regards

Raen