Sentence Analysis tools

Phrases and Clauses

A Phrase: It`s a group of words that stand together as a single unit, generally as part of a clause
or a sentence.
A Clause: It`s a group of words that includes a subject and predicate.

Transitive and Intransitive verbs

Transitive verb has an object. It could be I.O or D.O

Intransitive verb has not an object.
When a sentence or clauses have two objects, the verb receives the name of Bi Transitive or Di
Transitive verb. Example: Peter gave his girlfriend a box chocolate.

Complete or Incomplete predication?

Complete Predication: It expresses a complete thought without the help of other words.
Generally, Transitive Verbs of Complete predication are action verbs (Almost always).
Incomplete Predication: They didn`t express a complete thought. They have to be supplied by
words to complete their sense. If the verb is intransitive, it would be incomplete predication
when the verb is a linking one (Always). If it is not a L.V, you have a verb of complete
predication.

The Direct Object: It answers the question of “what” or “who”. It usually follows the verb
immediately. It may become the subject of the passive.

The Indirect Object: I.O may be defined as a semantic function, as the person who receives
something, the something being the D.O.

Objective Complement: An object complement is a noun, a pronoun, or an adjective which

follows a direct object to rename it or state what it has become.
Examples: To make her happy. An objective complement came after a Transitive Verb of
Incomplete predication.
Formula: Subject + T.V.I.P + D.O + OBJ COMPLEMENT

Subjective Complement: It is a word or phrase which follows a linking verb and describes or
identifies the subject. All linking verb are I.V.I.P. The linking verb is also known as Copular Verb
or Copulative.

Noun Clauses: A noun clause is a clause that plays the role of a noun. It started with Wh, That,
or If. Like any noun, a noun clause can be a subject, an object or a complement.
Functions of Noun Clauses:
 As subject: What he said is not true.
 As Direct Object: I believe that he is dead.
 As Indirect Object: Tell whoever is knocking at the door, to stop doing it.
 As Complement of Preposition: It depends on how far he had gone.
 As Complement of Adjective: I`m sure that you are doing your best.
 As Subjective Complement: My one regret in life is that I am not someone else.
 As Objective Complement: She made me what I am.

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Adverbial Clauses: They have the function of an adverb, and are introduced by the following
conjunctions.
 Adverbial Clause of time: After,as,before,now,once,since,till,until,when,while,as long
as,as soon as, by the time,everytime,so long as.
 Adverbial Clause of place: Where/Wherever
 Adverbial Clause of manner: As
 Adverbial Clause of purpose: Least, that, for fear, in order that, so that, in order for, in
order to.
 Adverbial Clause of reason: As, because, as much as, since, so, that, for.
 Adverbial Clause of contrast/concession: As, even if, however, notwithstanding that,
though, although, even though, whereas.
 Adverbial Clause of condition: As if, If, in case, in so far as, provided (that), so long as,
suppose, supposing, unless.
 Adverbial Clause of result: That, so that.
 Adverbial Clause of comparison: As…as, more…than, less….than, like, as though.

The Adjective: They are classified into two categories, Attributive Adj and Predicate Adj.
Attributive adjectives are those who are situated before the noun, for instance: An amazing
girl. On the other hand, Predicative adjectives came after a linking verb, for example: She
seems happy. Generally, adjectives are pre-mod or post modifiers, depending the place in
which they are situated.
Patterns: Attributive Adj + Noun / Linking verb + Predicative Adj

Adjectival phrase / Adjectival Clause

Adjectival Phrase: It`s a group of words that describe a noun or pronoun in a sentence. The
adjectival phrase can be placed before, or after, the noun or pronoun in the sentence.
Example: The movie was not TOO TERRIBLY. The final exams were UNBELIEABLY DIFFICULT.

Adjectival Clause: Adjectival Clauses are always Relative Clauses. It has to contain a subject and
a verb. It will begin with a Relative Pronoun or Relative Adverb.

Relative Pronouns: Which, That, Who, Whose, Whom.

Relative Adverbs: When, Where, Why.
That = Complementizer
Which = Relative Pronominalized
Finally, it will function as an Adjective. The adjective Clause will follow one of these two
partners.

Relative Pronoun/Adverb + Subject + Verb. (Whose big, brown eyes pleaded for another
cookie)
Relative Pronoun as subject + Verb (That bounced across the kitchen floor)

Prepositional Phrase: A Prepositional Phrase will begin with a preposition and end with a noun,
pronoun, gerund, or clause, the “object” of the preposition. These are the patterns for a
prepositional phrase.
Preposition + noun, pronoun, gerund, clause.
Preposition + modifiers + noun + pronoun + gerund + clause.
Examples: At home, in time, with me, by singing.
The 2nd Mid-Term exam filled students WITH TERROR.

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Complement of Preposition: It will be always what it is after the preposition without including
such preposition. Example: The 2nd Mid-Term exam filled students with TERROR. Terror is the
complement of preposition since it is what follows the preposition. And of course, WITH
TERROR would be the prepositional phrase.

Classification or Prepositions: Simple Prepositions: At/In/of/To/With

Complex Prepositions: Next to/Instead of/As well as/In front of/
Determiners and quantifiers:
Determiners are words such as ARTICLES, DEMONSTRATIVES and POSSESSIVES.
Articles: Definite Article: The
Indefinite Article: A/An
Demonstratives: This, That,Those,These
Possessives: My, You, Her, His, Its, Our, Their.

Quantifiers: They are words or phrases that express quantity. Words such as :
BOTH,MOST,SEVERAL,TWO,A LITTLE, A LOT, A FEW, MANY, SOME, EACH, EVERY, MUCH, ONE,
TWO, THREE, FOUR, EVERY ONE, HALF, NO, NONE, ALL, EACH, WHOLE, EITHER, NEITHER,
MORE, FEWER, FEWEST, LESS, LEAST.

We can use Quantifiers before nouns, like determiners.

Classification of Modals:
They are formally known as “Modal Auxiliary Verb”.
Modal Aux Verb: Should/Ought/Shall/Can/Will/Would
Phrasal Modals: Be able to/Have to
Complex Modals: Modal+Have+Past Participle

Adverbial Adjunct of negation: Not /N`t

Pronouns:
Personal Pronouns: I, you, we, they, she, he, it
Object Pronouns: He, you, us, them, her, him, and it (After verbs and prepositions)
Generic Pronouns: You, we, one, they: We use for people in general.
Possessive Pronouns: Mine, Yours, his, hers, ours, theirs.
Demonstrative Pronouns: This, that, these, those.
Indefinite Pronouns: Someone/something/anyone/anything/everyone/everything/nothing
Reflexive Pronouns:
Myself/themselves/yourself/himself/itself/ourselves/yourselves/theirselves
Reciprocal Pronouns: Each other/one another (Same meanings)

Classification of Nouns:
Nouns: House, Car, Book
Possessive Nouns: Student`s office, man`s story, lee`s birthday.
Compound Nouns: Bus Driver – Chicken Soup.

Genitive:
Genitive Case=Possessive Case
The Genitive case is predominantly used for showing possession. Example: Carl`s haircut. Dog`s
bone. The apostrophe is analyzed as Genitive. “Of” could be genitive as well as it plays the role
of possession like for example in “The edge of the table, the car of my brother”.

Bare Infinitive: A verb without “TO” It is used:

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After most auxiliaries: Must/Can/should/May/Might/Do/Does/Did
Verbs of perception: V+OBJ+ZERO INF OR BARE INF
After Make/Let/Help: + OBJ + ZERO INF OR BARE INF
Expressions: Had better _ had better (not) + BARE INF
Would Rather

Full Infinitive: A verb with “TO” Example: I`d like you TO HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAY.

Present and Past Participle:

Patterns:
Present Participle: S+V+D.O+ING FORM. Example: I saw you running away.
Past Participle: S+V+D.O+ED FORM. Example: I have my exam corrected.

Classification of Conjunctions:

Cumulative – Addition
Alternative – Choice
Adversative – Contrast
Illative – Inference

Conjunctions are also classified according to their form into:

Simple ---- And
Compound ---- As well as
Correlative ---- Both … and. Neither …. Nor. Either..... Or.

Classification of Coordinating Conjunctions:

For ----- Illative Coordinating Conjunction

And ----- Cumulative Coordinating Conjunction
Nor ------ Cumulative Coordinating Conjunction
But ------ Adversative Coordinating Conjunction
Or -------- Alternative Coordinating Conjunction
Yet ------- Adversative Coordinating Conjunction
So -------- Illative Coordinating Conjunction
Equatives: As …. As / Not as …. As.

Adjuncts
An adjunct is a word or words ( a phrase or a clause) which can be removed without
making the sentence grammatically wrong. An adjunct is usually an adverb used to
modify a verb. When used as an adverb, an adjunct will usually indicate a :
 Time ----- The alarm went off again YESTERDAY.
 Manner ----- Present your case CAREFULLY.
 Place ------- HERE the situation is thoroughly different.
 Frequency -------- She comes here OFTEN.
 Reason -------- AS IT`S FRIDAY, The shop opens at eight o`clock.
 Degree ------- She is as smart AS SHE IS BRILLIANT.

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  Doubt ------- PERHAPS, she doesn`t love him.

Adverbial Adjuncts modify verbs, verb phrases, or entire clauses. However,

adjuncts can modify most categories.

 An Adnominal Adjunct --- Modify nouns

 An Adadjectival Adjunct --- Modify adjectives
 An Adadverbial Adjunct ---- Modify adverbs

Examples:
The discussion BEFORE THE GAME ----- Adnominal Adjunct
VERY happy ----- Adadjectival Adjunct
TOO loudly ---- Adadverbial Adjunct

ADJUNCTS ARE ALWAYS CONSTITUENTS.

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