{"id":2549,"date":"2015-08-04T09:26:58","date_gmt":"2015-08-04T09:26:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/leebraden.net\/?page_id=2549"},"modified":"2016-10-08T09:36:11","modified_gmt":"2016-10-07T22:36:11","slug":"an-english-notebook","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/leebraden.net\/?page_id=2549","title":{"rendered":"An English Notebook"},"content":{"rendered":"

A\u00a0very basic introduction to English grammar, spelling, punctuation, and usage, ala LeeB. With a peek at the structure of some forms of poetry included, just for fun.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

This is a work in progress – something I have been meaning to add to my site, for my own reference, for ages. It’s late on Tuesday evening, I am not long home from work, and\u00a0the prospect of language, this language, my language, excites me, as always. There’s a lot to consider and we begin\u00a0here, with baby steps…<\/p>\n

\n

The section on grammar and expression could be a particularly useful guide for those engaged in professional writing.<\/p>\n

The section on Poetics may provide a simple reference for those with an interest in poetry and its form, fit, and function.<\/p>\n

In this section (jump to):<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Grammar<\/a>;\u00a0<\/em>Punctuation, spelling, and usage<\/a>;\u00a0<\/em>Style<\/a>;\u00a0<\/em>Plain English<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

or go to:<\/p>\n

Poetics: form, fit, and function<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

.<\/p>\n

English grammar – a primer<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

1. What are the eight parts of speech?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Nouns<\/p>\n

Verbs<\/p>\n

Pronouns<\/p>\n

Adjectives<\/p>\n

Adverbs<\/p>\n

Prepositions<\/p>\n

Conjunctions<\/p>\n

Interjections<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Nouns<\/em><\/strong>: name\u00a0 people,\u00a0 places, things, qualities, or\u00a0 concepts.<\/p>\n

Verbs<\/em><\/strong>: express action or being<\/p>\n

Pronouns<\/em><\/strong>: substitute for nouns and function as nouns.<\/p>\n

Adjectives<\/em><\/strong>: describe, qualify or modify nouns or pronouns.<\/p>\n

Adverbs<\/em><\/strong>: modify verbs, adjectives, other adverbs or groups of words.<\/p>\n

Prepositions<\/em><\/strong>: show relationships between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence.<\/p>\n

Conjunctions<\/em><\/strong>: link words or groups of words.<\/p>\n

Interjections<\/em><\/strong>: express feelings or attitudes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

2. If the key part of a sentence subject is a noun or pronoun, what is the key part of a\u00a0<\/strong>predicate?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Answer: The verb<\/strong><\/p>\n

Subject <\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Predicate<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The caterpillar \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 ate<\/p>\n

He \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 broke it<\/p>\n

Anger \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 grew in their hearts<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

3. What test can we apply to determine whether a verb is finite or non-finite?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Test 1<\/em>: Does the word require a change in form when a third-person subject changes from singular to plural?<\/p>\n

Yes = finite verb: she writes<\/em>, they write<\/em>.<\/p>\n

No = non-finite verb: woman writing<\/em>, women writing<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Test 2<\/em>: Does the word require a change in form to show the difference in present, past and future?<\/p>\n

Yes = finite verb: she writes<\/em>, she wrote<\/em>, she will write<\/em>.<\/p>\n

No = non-finite verb: The woman writing<\/em> is\/was\/will be an awkward stylist.<\/p>\n

Finite\u00a0 verbs carry inflections; for example, they can take an s to show agreement with a subject in the third person singular in the present tense: I walk<\/em> (first person), you walk<\/em> (second person), she walks<\/em> (third person)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

4. Transitive verbs can be expressed in passive and active voice, but intransitive verbs\u00a0<\/strong>cannot. Why?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>Because only verbs taking a direct object (transitive verbs) can be changed from active to passive voice.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>Gerry faxed the data.<\/em> \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0active voice<\/strong><\/p>\n

The data was faxed by Gerry.<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 passive voice<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Take the action of the verb and place it in a question with what<\/em><\/strong> or who<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

broke<\/em> \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 broke who\/what? \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0yes;\u00a0 it \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0VT<\/strong><\/p>\n

rose<\/em> \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0rose who\/what? \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0No \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 VI<\/strong><\/p>\n

Only transitive verbs (those taking a direct object) can be changed from active to passive voice.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a05.\u00a0<\/strong>What is the difference between a phrase and a clause?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>A phrase is a group of two or more related words that lacks either a subject or a predicate or both. A phrase may contain a verb, but the verb will be non-finite (infinitive, gerund, present participle, past participle).<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>A clause is a group of two or more related words that contains both a subject and a predicate. A clause contains a finite verb.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a06.\u00a0<\/strong>Why can a phrase not be a sentence?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Because a sentence is a group of words that:<\/p>\n