Grammar in English Literature - Essay Example

? English Literature 20th, August, What is Grammar? Grammar plays a fundamental role in communication as it augments the flow and exchange of ideas and information from one individual to another. It creates a platform where words are used to make sense thus enhance the flow of effective communication. As defined, grammar involves word formation and component parts that create sentences. Globally, language is essential as it improves a broad aspect of humanity. All people should diligently work towards improving their grammar skills to become effective communicators. Helpful Student Resources In the website, www.brainyquote.com/words/gr/grammar170191.html Brainy quote explores much on the definition of grammar. In great insight, this site provides valuable information on related definition of grammar. This website is helpful as it explores on grammar definition and how it augments the flow of effective communication. Students can use this website to understand the basics of grammar and what it entails. Through this website students can comprehend about grammar by understanding its different definitions. The website, www.edufind.com/english/grammar/grammar_topics.php provides helpful information on grammar categories. It provides various categories where one can link and search information depending on the subject of interest. These categories are adjectives, adverbs, determiners, direct and indirect speech, nouns, participles, possessive, and relative clauses among others. Each subject is discussed in depth thus giving students a chance to articulate various terms that relate to grammar. This website is helpful to students as it expounds more on what grammar entails and various subjects involved. Lastly, the website www.usingenglish.com/glossary/adjectival-noun.html highlights grammar related terms. Each grammar term consist of explanations and how learners can use it in sentences. This link provides various categories where one can search for various terms such as adjectives and adverbs, pronouns, pronunciation, articles, collocation, complement and object, question tags, conditionals, and conjunctions among others. This website is helpful as it defines various grammar terms thus, being usable for native speakers concerned in language and second learners. Students can use this website to understand grammar terms and how they are applied in sentences construction. The Morpheme and its Parts Typically, a morpheme is a word or word element. A free morpheme stands as a word without attached morphemes. Words such as cat or elephant are series of sounds that stand alone as words. Morphemes are divide into two categories inflectional and derivational whereby the latter is used to create new words and the former show relationships of grammar such as verb tense. Derivational morphemes can be prefixes or suffixes and when applied they change the meaning as they creates a new word. An example of such a word is make, which when the suffix (er) is added changes its meaning to maker. Unlike derivational morphemes that change their root word, inflectional morphemes do not. Within the inflectional morpheme family, there are categories of nouns, adjectives, and verbs. For instance, the word cats is derived from the word cat to which a suffix S is added, however, the meaning is the same. Adjectives consist of comparatives and superlatives and despite the addition of a suffix, they retain their meaning. An example is whiter, quicker, or closer. Verb inflection comprises of present tense, past tense, past participle, and present participle. Examples of such words are walks, walked, walking. Helpful Student Resources In this website, http://www.uncp.edu/home/canada/work/caneng/morpheme.htm Mills (1998) explores on how morphemes construct words. He discusses morpheme definition as the amalgamation of sounds with a meaning. The article discusses how morpheme can be grouped into a base or affix and later discusses how an affix can be a suffix or a prefix. The author goes ahead discussing various types of morphemes such as free, bound, and inflectional. This website is helpful as it discusses morphemes and their various groups in detail. Students can use this website to understand morpheme definition and its various grouping. The site, www.ling.ohio-state.edu/~kdk/201/autumn01/slides/morphology-4up.pdf provides information on the building blocks of morphology, which are Morph that means shape or form and ology that means study of. This article continues to highlight the basic concept of morphemes structure and classification as inflectional or derivational. Further, the site discusses each classification and gives examples of sentence structures. The website is helpful as it provides the criterion of recognizing morphemes through finding sounds associated with them. It is helpful to students as it offer great insights on morphemes and their multiple parts of speech. Students can use this site to understand morphemes in depth. Lastly, www.sil.org/linguistics/GlossaryOfLinguisticTerms/WhatIsAMorpheme.htm lays a discussion on morpheme definition and later gives its classification and structure. This website is helpful as it lays a strong foundation of understanding morphemes and their classification through various examples. Therefore, students can use it to comprehend in depth about morphemes and their classification. Form and function in form-class words Sentence structure provides support that helps English make sense in a sentence. To attain word meaning, grammarians utilize form and function whereby the former categorizes the phrase or word by definition while the latter is used with the clause or sentence. Basically, there are four classes of form these are noun, adjective, verb, and adverb all with different characteristics. For instance, nouns depict a place, person, or a thing, verbs describe actions, adjectives depict nouns, and adverbs depict verbs. Structure class words enhance a grammatical meaning to the sentence as they combine sentences together. For example, words such as “the, and, all, and a” provide essential structure linked with English sentences. The list of structure classes’ words includes auxiliary verbs, determiners, pronouns, qualifiers, prepositions, and auxiliary verbs, which are all imperative in the sentence structure. Helpful Students resources In her website, www.uncp.edu/home/canada/work/caneng/formclas.htm Byrd (1998) provides insights on how grammarians utilize two categories of form and function. She further defines each term and its use within the clause or sentence. The article continues to highlight various form classes as noun, verb, adjective, and adverb. This website provides a good understanding of the English background on form classes. Students can use this website to understand valuable information on different topics of English. In her site, http://www.ecenglish.com/learnenglish/lessons/verb-noun-adjective-or-adverb McCarthy (2009) explores on the subject verb, adjective, noun, and adverb. She explains this through examples whereby she underlines each word category. Later, she gives a quiz on her subject and gives correct answers. This website is helpful as it provides valuable information on the four classes of form. Students can use this website to gauge their understanding on the subject Form and function in form-class words by carrying a text that helps to understand four form class words. In the link, http://www.berghuis.co.nz/abiator/lang/lsa/qo.htm interactive language index provides a quiz of the four forms of words, which are nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. This website is helpful as it gives a brief quiz with answers thus helping learners improve their knowledge on this subject. Phrases: Subjects and Predicates In essence, English sentences can be summarized into two categories the subject and predicate. The subject talks more of the discussion while predicates track the subject. Phrases are words that stands as a single unit in grammar but not constructed around the verb. In sentences, they are used as objects, complements, adverbials, subjects, and modifiers. Phrasal patterns create a platform to explain and discuss the effect of writing. They are divided into noun, adjectival, adverbial, and preposition phrases. The noun phrase performs the work of the noun in the sentence, adjectival phrases complete verbs or expand noun phrases, and adverbial phrases modify adverbs, adjectives, or verbs. Lastly, preposition phrases have prepositions as their subject such as: at, behind, in, or from. Helpful Student Resources In his site, http://www.criticalreading.com/simple_sentence.htm Kurland (2000) discusses on how English language works. He gives two fundamentals of effective writing and critical reading as subject and predicate. This website helps learners to understand the essential aspects of subject and predicate in the sentence construction. As discussed in the article, both the subject and predicate are essential in forming a sentence. This website is helpful as it offers facts and information about critical reading and effective writing through subject and predicate. Students can use it to articulate on sentence construction. Cliff Notes. Com article, http://www.cliffsnotes.com/study_guide/Subject-Predicate-Verb-%20Agreement.topicArticleId-251364,articleId-251299.html explores on how to locate a subject in a sentence. The article further locates clauses and phrases connecting verb and subject. This article is helpful as it educates more on phrases, clauses, as well as sentences. Students can use this website to learn on subject-predicate verb agreement to avoid sentence errors. In the article available on http://www.mrclements.com/?p=251 there is profound information about subjects and predicates. This article defines the subject and predicate of a sentence thus helping learners to improve on their writing skills. This website is helpful as it presents insightful information accurate construction of the English language. Students can use this website to boost their writing skills. The Five Basic Sentence Types English consists of a set of sentences that are crucial in enhancing meaning. Basically, sentences are summarized in four categories declarative or assertive that states a fact, imperative that expresses a request or a command, and exclamatory that expresses strong and sudden feelings. These are later categorized into five types which are intransitive that consists of words with a noun as the subject and the main verb with nothing else such as the sentence “Fish swim”. The second type is the verb requiring adverbs of place or time consisting of a noun as the subject, the main verb be, and the obligatory adverb phrase. An example of such is “The bus arrives at noon”. The third type is the linking verb with adjectival subject for instance,”Sheila is beautiful”. The forth type is the linking verb type with the nominal subject complement which like type three sentence link the subject with the predicate such as “Those ladies are beautiful”. Lastly, transitive sentences necessitate a noun phrase that explores on what subject noun describes. An example of such is “The teacher like his students”. Helpful Student Resources The site, www.umt.edu/writingcenter/docs/resourcesforwriters/fivestructures.pdf links the above subject as it discusses in detail five basic structures of simple sentences. In details, it summarizes these basic patterns as subject/ verb, subject/verb/direct object, subject/verb/complement, subject/verb/indirect object/direct object, and subject/verb, direct object/object complement. Each is further elaborated with a pattern example to help readers articulate more on the subject. This website is helpful as it explores much on five basic sentence patterns. Students can use this website to gain insights on how to construct sentences accurately. The article in the link www.csun.edu/~sk36711/WWW2/engl302/sentencetypes.pdf similarly discusses on the five basic sentence types. It is similar with the first site as it elaborates more on the five patterns discussed above. This website is fundamental in educating learners on how to construct sentences and group them. Therefore, students can use this website to understand the grammar basics of effective writing. In his article, the five basic sentence types” www.jeremydavid.com/old/2007/04/24/the-five-basic-sentence-sentence-types/index.html” David presents incredible information of sentence construction. In this website students comprehend on the basics of English sentences thus helps them in their writing skills. Students can use it to understand sentence structures and their components. The indirect Object Transformation Typically, the indirect objects are described as pronouns or nouns that accumulate the direct object. It is worth to distinguish among intransitive, transitive, and linking verbs within the sentences that undergo transformation. Moving constituents assists to explain sentences variety. Differentiating a direct and indirect object is paramount, as one understands which object compliments the other. For instance, in a sentence, “Solomon brought Suzan a jewel” the jewel is the direct object and Suzan is the indirect object derived from the sentence “Solomon bought a jewel to Suzan” Helpful Students Resources The site, www.nuernberg.us/svetlana/courses/fall-07/3318-Lecture16.pdf is a helpful resource as it briefly explores on indirect object transformation. This website helps one to understand how sentences can be transformed to direct or indirect as the subject. This website is helpful as it helps learners understand how indirect and direct objects operate and how each undergoes transformation in the sentences. Students can use this website to understand how sentences can be transformed to direct or indirect object. The site, www.csun.edu/~vcoao0el/de361/de361s61_folder/tsld040.htm creates a need of understanding indirect object transformation. To convince readers on this subject, the article outlines how children understand this subject at the age of five years. This website creates a challenge to students on the need of studying this subject, as English language cannot be precise without understanding how indirect transformation operates. Therefore, students can use this website to boost their writing and grammar. The site, www.grammaruntied.com/nouns/IDobject.html introduces readers on how indirect objects operate. Through this website, students can understand that indirect objects are pronouns or nouns that receive the direct object. The strength of this website is that it provides examples with the indirect and direct object underlined in the sentence. This is suitable for understanding the subject indirect object transformation in detail. Students can use this website to improve in their sentences construction by understanding more on the indirect and direct objects. Adverbial and Adjectival Clauses Adverbial and adjective clauses perform two roles in sentences. Adverbial clauses alter verbs and verb phrases as they answer questions of the verb phrase which relate to location, condition, purpose, and time. Adverbial clauses are recognized by phrases or words known as subordinating conjunctions. Adverbial clauses are movable in the sentence than those of adjective clauses. For instance, the sentence “The class wouldn’t perform because the headmistress died” can be changed to “Because the headmistress died, the class wouldn’t perform”. Adjective clauses elucidate the noun or noun phrase by responding to questions which or what in the sentences. Unlike adverbial clauses, adjectival clauses are unmovable and if moved makes ungrammatical sentences. Helpful Student Resources The website, www.pitt.edu/~atteberr/comp/0150/grammar/adjclauses.html is a helpful resource as it discusses in details about adjectival clauses. In depth, the article gives the definition of an adjectival clause as that which modifies a pronoun or a noun. It gives examples of sentences with adjectives thus creating interest for readers who may lack knowledge on the subject. The website is helpful as it helps one understand more on adjective clauses thus essential in building grammar for students. The site, www.towson.edu/ows/advadjnomclause.htm explores on the subject dependent clauses which work like adverbial, nominal, and adjectival. This website is helpful as it describes how each of these clauses work and later gives examples which capture readers’ interests. Megginson website, www.writingcentre.uottawa.ca/hypergrammar/rvnaacls.html is the last valuable resource that gives a review on adjective, noun, and adverb clauses. This website is helpful as it creates a platform to understand parts of sentences. With this in mind, students can use this website to construct sentences with a clear understanding of their composition. Infinitive, participle, and Gerund Phrases In the English language, verbals function as part of speech within the sentence and are grouped into infinitives, participle, and gerunds. Infinitives phrases may operate as adverbs, adjectives, or nouns as indicated in the following sentences. “The applicant must pass the interview to work”, “To cherish is the greatest achievement”, and “Nancy was the last applicant to arrive respectively”. As indicated, an infinitive phrase contains a word to followed by a verb. Participles are phrases that operate as adjectives and adverbs ending with an –ing or –ed. Participles are in two categories, present or past participle where the former ends with an –ing and the latter with –ed, -d, and –en. An example of present participle is walking which when changed to the past participle is walked. Lastly, Gerund is a phrase that operates as a noun and ends with an –ing. Examples are reading, swimming, studying, sleeping, and eating among others. Helpful student Resources In the site, www.uhv.edu/ac/efl/pdf/verbsgerunds.pdf the University of Houston Victoria explores on the verbs, gerunds, participles, and infinitives. This article discusses in detail about parts of speech within a sentence and each of the verbals. It explores how each verb functions with examples of sentences. This website is helpful as it educates the learner on verbs and how they function in various sentences. Students can use this website to understand how verbs function which is essential in improving sentence construction. The Tongue Untied website “www.grammaruntied.com/verbals/verbals.html” is a guide on how verbal functions as nouns, adverbs, and adjectives in form Gerunds, infinitives, and participles. As noted, this website is helpful as it educates many on verbs thus improving writing skills. Considering this, students can use this website to understand more on verbal and how they operate as nouns, adverbs, and adjectives. Lastly, the site www.grammaruntied.com/verbs/verbs.html lays a strong platform of understanding verbs and their power and strength in a sentence. This website introduces readers to comprehend how verbs operate and how later they are divided into verbal terms. Students can use this website to improve their writing by recognizing what a verb is and how it is used in various sentences. References Adjective clauses. (n.d). Retrieved from: www.pitt.edu/~atteberr/comp/0150/grammar/adjclauses.html Brainy quote. (2012). Definition of Grammar. Retrieved from: www.brainyquote.com/words/gr/grammar170191.html Byrd, S. (1998). The form classes. Retrieved from: www.uncp.edu/home/canada/work/caneng/formclas.htm Children Understand the Indirect Object Transformation as early as five years. (n.d). Indirect Object Transformation. Retrieved from: www.csun.edu/~vcoao0el/de361/de361s61_folder/tsld040.htm Cliff notes.com. (2000). Subjects –Predicate (Verb) Agreement. Retrieved from: www.cliffsnotes.com/study_guide/Subject-Predicate-Verb- Agreement.topicArticleId-251364,articleId-251299.html Dependent Clauses: Adverbial, Adjectival, Nominal. (n.d). Retrieved from: www.towson.edu/ows/advadjnomclause.htm English grammar. (2012). Grammar categories. Retrieved from: www.edufind.com/english/grammar/grammar_topics.php Five Basic Sentence Types. (n.d). Retrieved from: www.csun.edu/~sk36711/WWW2/engl302/sentencetypes.pdf Jeremydavid.com. (2007). The five basic sentence types. Retrieved from: www.jeremydavid.com/old/2007/04/24/the-five-basic-sentence-sentence- types/index.html Kurland, D. (2000). How the Language Really Works: The Fundamentals of Critical Reading and Effective Writing. Retrieved from: www.criticalreading.com/simple_sentence.htm McCarthy, C. (2009). Verb, Noun, Adjective or Adverb. Retrieved from: www.ecenglish.com/learnenglish/lessons/verb-noun-adjective-or-adverb Megginson, D. (n.d). Review: Noun, Adjective, and Adverb Clauses. Retrieved from: www.writingcentre.uottawa.ca/hypergrammar/rvnaacls.html Mills, K. (1998). Morphemes. Retrieved from: www.uncp.edu/home/canada/work/caneng/morpheme.htm Morphology. (n.d). Retrieved from: www.ling.ohio-state.edu/~kdk/201/autumn01/slides/morphology-4up.pdf MrClements.com. (2010). Subjects and Predicates. Retrieved from: www.mrclements.com/?p=251 Nuemberg, S. (n.d). Basic Sentence Transformation. Retrieved from: www.nuernberg.us/svetlana/courses/fall-07/3318-Lecture16.pdf SIL International. (2004). What is a Morpheme? Retrieved from: www.sil.org/linguistics/GlossaryOfLinguisticTerms/WhatIsAMorpheme.htm The Tongue Untied. (2008). Verbs. Retrieved from: www.grammaruntied.com/verbs/verbs.html The Tongue Untied. (2008). Verbals. Retrieved from: www.grammaruntied.com/verbals/verbals.html The Tongue Untied. (2008). The Indirect Object. Retrieved from: www.grammaruntied.com/nouns/IDobject.html The Writing Centre. (n.d). Five Basic Structures of Simple Sentences. Retrieved from: www.umt.edu/writingcenter/docs/resourcesforwriters/fivestructures.pdf UsingEnglish.com. (2012). Glossary of English Grammar Terms. Retrieved from: www.usingenglish.com/glossary/adjectival-noun.html University of Houston Victoria. (2005). Understanding Verbs: Gerunds, Participles, and Infinitives. Retrieved from: www.uhv.edu/ac/efl/pdf/verbsgerunds.pdf Interactive Language Index. (n.d). Nouns, Pronouns, Proper Nouns, Verbs, Adjectives, Adverbs. Retrieved from: www.berghuis.co.nz/abiator/lang/lsa/qo.htm Read More