Learning Material 03

 Learning Material 03

Terminology

A. Words: the smallest meaningful bits of a sentence.

• Each word has its own class.
• A verb tells what happens.
• A noun names things.
• An adjective modifies a noun.

B. Clause: the basic unit of English grammar

• A clause is made up of at least a subject and a verb.
• A sentence may consist of one or more clauses.

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I. Adjective/Relative Clause

• To describe things or to give additional information.
• A relative pronoun is usually used to introduce an adjective clause.
• The words which, that, whose, whom, and who in the examples are relative pronouns.

    Examples:

1. An English newspaper which was published in August has become famous.
2. Chasing someone who committed graft.
3. The man who is standing next to the standing lamp is my teacher. 

II. Kinds of Adjective Clauses

    1. Non-defining Clauses

• The information is additional and unessential. 
• The clauses always begin and end with a comma.
• The determiner that is not used in these clauses. 

    Example: 

• People Power, which toppled the corrupt regime of Ferdinand Marcos in 1986, was very phenomenal.

    Note :

• The information in a clause between commas is considered unessential to be stated. People Power was a phenomenal group so readers/listeners will know what group is referred to.

    2. Defining clauses

• The information is important to give readers/listeners a clue. 
• Don’t use commas and use that as the determiner.

    Example :

• Corruption in India is a major issue that adversely affects its economy. 

    Note :

• The clause gives important information that as a major issue in India, corruption strongly influences India’s economy.

III. Participle Phrases

• It represents the predicate part of a phrase beginning with the verb with the addition of –ing or –ed.
• The present participle phrases indicate the active voice, while the past participle phrases indicate the passive voice.

    Examples:

1. Famous demonstrations, overthrowing the corrupt regime of Ferdinand Marcos in 1986, were known as ‘People Power’
2. In 2005, a study conducted by Transparency International reported that more than 62% of Indians had first-hand experience of paying bribes or nepotism.

IV. Finite vs Non-finite Clauses

    1. Finite Clauses : 

• Can be the main clauses or subordinate clauses.
• Time of action can be seen from the verb used.

    Example: 

• The demonstrations feel the spirit of People Power which succeeded in throwing the corrupt regime of Ferdinand Marcos in 1986. 

    2. Non-finite Clause

• Always subordinate clauses.
• The verbs used don’t show the time of action.

    Example: 

• It aims to help developing countries recover assets stolen by corrupt leaders.