Dare to be different inspire

CLAUSE

There are two kinds of clauses: principal (or main) clauses, and subordinate (or dependent) clauses.

Principal Clauses

A group of words which includes a subject and a finite verb and makes a complete statement.

Examples: I am a man.

                    The house stands on the hill.

                    When I come home, I will let the cat in.

The following are not principal clause because they do not make a complete statement which can stand by itself:

Which is a problem

That the house is standing on the hill

When I come home

The house which stands on the hill

Subordinate Clause

A group of words which includes a finite or non-finite verb but does not make a statement which stands by itself.

Examples: As soon as the Green Knight entered the room all were astounded.

                   He said that the Green Knight was really orange

                  The house, which stands on the hill, is empty.

Subordinate clauses can be classified according to their function:

Adverbial Clause

Example: As soon as the Green Knight entered the room, all were astounded.

In this sentence the clause fulfills the same function as an adverb such as immediately in the sentence immediately all were astounded.

Noun Clause

Example:     He said that the Green Knight was really orange

The clause fulfills the same function as a noun such as the words in He said the words.

Relative Clause

Example: The house, which stands on the hill, is empty.

Relative clauses are adjectival in nature. The clause fulfills the same role as an adjective such as high-placed in the sentence The high-placed house is empty.

The clauses can also be classified by whether they contain a finite verb.

Finite Clause

A finite clause contains a finite verb and, usually, a subject. It can be a principal clause or subordinate clause.

Examples:   They say nice things about you. (principal clause)

                   When they say nice things about you they are not lying. (subordinate clause)

Non-finite Clause

A non-finite clause contains a non-finite verb but does not contain finite verb and cannot stand alone. A non-finite clause cannot be a principal clause. Non-finite verbs include participles and infinitives.

Examples:     Singing and dancing, he moved slowly up the aisle.

                    He gave me an invitation to bring you to the party.

                     Having eaten all the cakes, he began to consume the biscuits.

                    Filled with joy, he let the room.

Parts of A Word

A word can be divided into its STEM (the basic part of the word containing the meaning) and its INFLECTIONS (the endings added to indicate such things as that a noun is PLURAL or a verb is in the pas).

Examples:

Stem                                      : dog

                                                Walk

Inflections                              : s in dogs

                                               ed in walked

Part of A Sentence

SUBJECT

The subject is the person, thing or topic which the sentence deals with. To discover the subject, as who or what before the verb, e.g. in the sentence The house stands on the hill, what stands on the hill? Answer: the house.

Examples:     The house stands on the hill

                     It overlooks the plain

PREDICATE

The predicate is all of the sentence except the subject.

Examples:       The house stands on the hill

                      It overlooks the plain

OBJECT

The object is the person, thing or topic upon which the subject carries out the action of the verb. To discover the object, ask who or what  after the verb, e.g. the house overlooks what? Answer: the plain.

Examples:      The house overlooks the plain

                     I see him clearly

                     He watches himself carefully

Sometimes we apparently have two objects. Where one of these can alternatively be expressed by placing to before it, it is called the indirect object. For example, instead of He gave me the book we can say He gave the book for me. Here the book is the direct object and me the indirect object.

COMPLEMENT

After the verb to be there is no object since the noun which follows refers to the same thing as that which precedes the verb (the subject). The noun following the verb to be is called the complement.

Examples:       I am a man

                      This is the question  

Language Focus                     : Passive Voice

Level                                     : Advanced

Time                                      : 15 minutes

Materials                                : Pictures

Aim                                        : Students will write sentences using passive voice

Procedure:

Last night I was in a restaurant with my girlfriend. When the food was being served, someone called me. I was very nervous because I was called by my first girlfriend. I pretended not to be nervous but ......

 (the students can continue the sentences).

Before you correct them all, arrange the students in small groups and have them to correct the sentences.

May it will be useful for you :)

This post will show some dialogues highlighting when the present perfect simple is used. While reading think about the different ways we use the present perfect simple.

Dialogue 1

Paul: Hello Sara, nice to meet you.

Sara: Nice to meet you too.

Paul: How long have you studied here?

Sara: I’ve studied here for three years, and you?

Paul: Two years.

Dialogue 2

David: Have you ever eaten Thai food?

John: Yes, I’ve had it a few times. What about you?

David: I’ve never tried it.

Dialogue 3

Lisa: I have some news.

Mark: What is it?

Lisa: I’ve bought a new bike!

Dialogue 4

Tom: Have you seen Henry recently?

Alejandro: No. Have you?

Tom: I haven’t seen him since the summer.

Dialogue 5

Ed: Has she arrived yet?

Fran: No she still hasn’t arrived.

Dialogue 1  – Actions that continue in the present.

Dialogue 2 – Past Experiences.

Dialogue 3 – New information / change.

Dialogue 4 – Actions that continue in the present.

Dialogue 5 – Uncompleted actions.