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

Basic ESL Grammar

angel_tristan0409 — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 09:58:19 GMT

A word is a âpart of speechâ only when it is used in a sentence. The function the word serves in a sentence is what makes it whatever part of speech it is.

For example, the word ârunâ can be used as more than one part of speech:â¨
Sammy hit a home run. (run is a noun, direct object of hit)â¨
You mustnât run near the swimming pool. (run is a verb, part of the verb phrase must (not) run)

Here is a simple overview of the English parts of speech and what they do. Each part of speech is linked to an DWT article that tells more about it.

NOUN - Nouns are naming words. We canât talk about anything until we have given it a name.

PRONOUN - A pronoun is a word that stands for a noun.

VERBS - The verb is the motor that runs the sentence. A verb enables us to say something about a noun.

ADJECTIVE - An adjective is a word that describes a noun.

ADVERB - An adverb adds meaning to a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.

PREPOSITION - a preposition is a word that comes in front of a noun or a pronoun and shows a connection be

The meaning and the role of 'that'

Stenka25 — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 10:35:24 GMT

The below is a very tricky sentence I met.

I analyzed it as much as I can.

But I can't figure it out.

Can you check it for me?

In other words, even though we often mess up, most of us are doing the best that we know how with the circumstances that surround us.

<From the book, "Don't sweat the small stuff" ch. 25>

What I want to ask is how should I understand 'that'?

Is it a conjunction, relative pronoun, or relative adverb?

In each case, what's its role and meaning?

Thanks in advance.

Re: Is "There is the ..." an exceptional use?

jazzmaster — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 22:27:58 GMT

CalifJim

Probably not. There may be a better way to finesse this with a different wording.
Yes, but from the viewpoint of the authors and the teacher, this may be considered a harmless "white lie".
Out of curiosity, does the book actually use the words, "serious grammatical error"? Or is that your impressionistic paraphrase?

Thanks CJ

"Serious grammatical error" is my paraphrase. But when and if ESL students start to expressly state "this IS an exceptional usage", I suppose that means "these is a set rule on this and no one can break that in any shape or form".

"the simplification of the grammar at the beginning makes it much easier for them to navigate the language with confidence in the beginning stages" ... I fully concur with your view here. This indeed is the ideal way of teaching something to someone, I would say. However, the reality is that they will soon start feeding what a SVOC is, along with modifier/qualifier, the difference between a relative pronoun and adverb and all that good stuff to students who even cannot pronounce the word "English" correctly yet. I have an impression that they do present "grammatically acceptable" sentence structures, rock-solid rules and what not all at once. It is not a fun way to learn a foreign language. That is why some students grow not to like the subject after short while.

Let's say you are in a store with a hardcore grammatical ESL student, and you say:
*&@!#% !! I just realized I left my wallet home!!
... in stead of saying "It's all right, CJ, here, take $100. You can pay me back tomorrow.", (granting that he/she understood what you said), the ESL student will be too busy thinking "Why did he not say "I HAD left my wallet"? Because he is describing an event that happened obviously prior to the moment "he realized", it should be the past perfect tense, thus "I HAD left". It could be an exceptional use of the "realize ... that ...." structure but I am not sure. Or should I just point out his grammatical mistake?" ... this is the mentality of students who are being taught by those hardcore grammar books, and I am not exaggertating even a bit.

Thanks.

Re: word classes

Clive — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:46:59 GMT

Hi,

When she was 16-years-old a 16-year-old is a noun. 16 years old (ie no hyphens) is an adjectival phrase
she ran away (preposition) from home and moved to London, then (adverb) New York to work as (adverb) a nurse. During (preposition) her time in New York, she kept in contact with (preposition) her sister. She said âI donât know what (pronoun) Iâll do about it, but I donât see why (noun) we should just (adverb) waitâ¦ And I always (adverb) had that picture in my mind, all adverb through this time.â

German (adjective?) inventor (noun) John Smith...

She travelled far, crossing (verb present participle) several army (noun used as an adjective?) checkpoints, until she was expelled from (preposition) the country.

Some of these words are not easy to classify.
Best wishes, Clive

Re: where

Avangi — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:00:41 GMT

It seems to me that the relative adverb and the prepositional phrase with the relative pronoun as object (in which) are completely interchangeable here. But "where" is clearly not a conjunction.

I think "in which" is more common. I think of "where" in explaining formulae, "f = ma, where f is the applied force etc."

GG's point was that your "relative adverb where" is not refering to a noun of place as it should, but to a case, which it should not. "In which" is the correct choice.

You may say, "In a town where a case was pending,". You may not say, "In a case where a town was abandoned,". A case is not a place.

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: Grammar rules - check for correctness - a kind teacher please :)

Angle1 — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 12:23:55 GMT

Some another issues to discuss

I saw your old friend, him whom you pointed out at the last meeting

Him whom >> whom

Objective pronoun is redundand, we need only relative pronou

I really donÂ´t know if there is a mistake in this sentence
She flouts her mink coat whenever she goes with us so that we will think she is very wealthy

They threated him like he was their own son

Like >>> as if we have a verb in a comparative sentence, we must use as instead of like

He was >> he were - we need a subjunctive here, but I cannot explain why

Many a box of bananas have been sent to Europe

Many a box + has / many boxes + have

What kind of these structures is commonly used

The two last comeptitors, who had to lose or gain the most were affected deeply

Who had to lose or gain the most >> who had the most to lose or gain

How to explain it? Is this

Were affected deeply >> were deeply affected â the adverb determines the adjective

His serious thoughts were bent irrevocable

Bent irrevocable >> bent irrevocably â But how to explain it??

I think that is everything what I need to to discuss

If you want to discuss only few examples, no problem - I would be glad if you would do anything. Thank you very much for your help

Re: Grammar rules - check for correctness - a kind teacher please :)

Angle1 — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 22:30:38 GMT

Here are some examples

The main point is to explain the correct answer
The sentences are little-bit childisch ;they are some modified sentences. I am afraid that my explanations seems to be a little childisch, too. So please help me how to turn it into the right explanation.

Mary was real angry because Jack didnÂ´t show up

Real >> really - we use an adverb to determine the adjective

Fewer of the passangers is sick today

Fewer >> One - the verb is refers to singular, so we need to use singular pronoun

I asked my brother whom was on the phone

Whom >> who â Whom i sused in object case and with pronouns â we need a subject for the verb in the second clause

Jorge doesnÂ´t have no bullets in his rifle

No >> any - we should avoid double negation in written English. We could use either has + no or negation + any

I am just a little confused whether or not to go on exam.

Whether to be or not to be â I know how it should be, but I cannot explain it :/

Having be a dancer myself, I have excellent posture

Having be >> beeing â but how to explain it ???

I never did like these kind of exercises

These >> that â but could it be also this if I were pointing at it?

Kind is singular, so we need a singular demostrative pronoun

You telling the truth is ..

You >> your â telling is a gerund, gerunds are used like nouns. We need a possessive pronoun

The bakery depends on meal beeing delivered without delay

Meal >> mealÂ´s â beeing is a gerund, and meal refers to this gerund. We need to use a genitive form with âÂ´sâ

Re: pronoun

Mister Micawber — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 03:05:02 GMT

.
Which is a relative pronoun; wherein is an adverb. HERE is a guide to identifying the relative pronouns.

Re: Adjective

Huevos — Sun, 11 May 2008 16:45:19 GMT

The word laugh is either a noun or a verb, never an adjective or adverb. If it follows a possessive pronoun (which could be substituted with the definite article) it must be a noun.

Cute572
Tearfully, i hung up the phone.

Words with the "ly" suffix are adverbial.