Chapter 4 FORMal Words. Chapter 4: Grammar Safari Find a word you don’t know and can’t find in the dictionary. Identify its part of speech (form class)

Chapter 4

FORMal Words

Chapter 4: Grammar Safari

Find a word you don’t know and can’t find in the dictionary. Identify its part of speech (form class) Tell us how you knew (form or

function)

Safari Example

Example: “In The Peace War Vernor Vinge

introduced the technology of bobbles, originally used to counter nuclear threat…

POS: Noun

How I knew Follows preposition = object of the preposition

A Rose is a Rose…?

What’s the Part of Speech (formal class) of: Bat Slide Plate Home Throw Inning

Prototypically…

Stretching it a bit…

What POS are “slides” & “swings”

I. Anthony turns slides and swings

II. Anthony turns, slides, and swings

No Commas Commas

A. Nouns Nouns

B. Nouns VerbsC. Verbs NounsD. Verbs Verbs

Eats, Shoots, and Leaves…

Form & Function (Revisited)

Parts of Speech = Form Classes _________ _________ _________ _________

Form = Shape = Morphology ≈

Prototypically Function = Behavior = Role in Sentence

What POS are These Words?

Noun Verb Adjective Adverb

The androokers plurked gribbly along

beside the broofled lumphet.

How do you know?

Nouns

Traditional Definition Person, place, or thing

Linguistic Definition Tangible item or intangible concept

Know a Noun when you see it...

Formal Clues Has noun-making (derivational) morpheme Takes noun inflection morphemes

_____ or ____

Functional Clues Appears after articles OR prepositions

(may have Adj. before) Replaceable by a pronoun in a tag question Fits in the Subject position (test frame sentence)

Noun Test Frame Sentence

(The) ________ seems all right.

NOTE: You may need to change “all right” to “unacceptable”, “short”, or “slow” in some cases

Missing Nouns

Fill in the missing nouns… Identify the (2) nouns that were not

deleted… Why do you suppose the cartoonist left these in?

Find a Noun…

… in your G & C paper

Slots filled by Nominals Subject

My wife is Chinese Direct Object

I saw my wife this morning Indirect Object

I gave flowers to my wife on her birthday Object of a preposition

Most anytime the phone rings, it’s for Yuan Subject complement

My wife’s name is Yuan Object Complement

I consider Yuan my best friend

G&C Paper: Find Examples Subject

Direct Object

Indirect Object

Object of a preposition

Subject Complement

Object Complement

To Comma or Not to Comma…

Never put a comma between the: subject and verb direct object and object complement indirect object and direct object verb and subject complement verb and direct object

except in direct quotes like: He said, “I’ll never forget you.”

The little comma makes a big difference!

I’ve finally decided to cheer up, everybody!

I’ve finally decided to cheer up everybody!

Eats, Shoots & Leaves (junior edition), Truss & Timmons, 2006

I’ve finally decided to cheer up everybody!

Without the comma “everybody” is:

A. SubjectB. Direct objectC. Indirect objectD. Object complement

What’s a comma do?

A. Shows where to take a breathB. Separates one idea from anotherC. Separates equal grammatical

elementsD. All of the above

Any Questions….

…before we go on?

Which is the most “prototypical” noun?

A. PotatoB. RefusingC. GlamorousD. Sheep

Degrees of Nounness

F D B A C E G

Examples?A. Nouns that name people, places & things ________

B. Nouns derived from adjectives ________

C. Nouns derived from verbs ________

D. Adjectives that are also nouns ________

E. Verbs that are also nouns ________

F. Verbs in noun positions ________

G. Prepositions used as nouns ________

Find a Non-Prototypical Noun…

… in your G & C paper

Prepositions as a Nouns

Diagramming Nouns

Aunt Blabby

YourNouns go on a flat line…

Subjects @ front; Objects @ end

Did You Get It?

Which are Functional Nouns? “Rude Miami drivers have earned the title of worst road rage.”

A. drivers, title, rage B. Miami, title, roadC. Miami, road, rageD. earned, worst

How do you know?

How do these sound?

We’re shopping for a new furniture Our furnitures are getting shabby My family’s healths are important

to me

What’s the problem?

Noun Features

Common

Countable

Singular(person)

Plural(people)

Non-countable (homework)

Count vs. Non-count

Test Frame SentencesA. He likes ______________. B. The ________ is goodC. He wants a(n) _________. D. __________ (e)s are good.

Try these words, then some of your own: fun light desk home news chicken cash noise ask lamp amiss dessert

Words that:

• Don’t fit in A-D ≠ Nouns

• Fit only A & B = Non-count

• Fit only B, C & D = Count

Did You Get It?

Which cannot be a “count” noun?

A. PizzaB. SheepC. InstitutionD. Happiness

More Noun Features (FYI)

Examples Count & Non-count ________ Common & Proper ________ Animate & Inanimate ________ Human & Nonhuman ________ Male & female ________

Why?? *The king put the crown on herself

Find the Error

The baby’s mother is a king.

1. Find the Error2. Explain it3. Fix it

Nominal Varieties Appositives (extra information: use commas)

My wife, Yuan, loves to watch TV Gerunds

Watching is boring for me Infinitives

To watch is boring for me Nominal Clauses

Why people watch so much TV is a mystery to me

Delayed Subjects It is amazing what people will watch…

Appositive Error

The third image was Ernst Haeckel's, a German biologist, drawings of embryos.

What’s the problem with the sentence above?

How would you fix it?

Do We Have a Problem?

The boy showed his interest in American sports though he was unable to bring his baseball glove to the concentration camp, a sport that had not yet reached Japan.

A. YesB. No More to come…

The Problem is with:

The boy showed his interest in American sports though he was unable to bring his baseball glove to the concentration camp, a sport that had not yet reached Japan.

An appositive An infinitive A delayed subject Subject–verb agreement

Locate the Ambiguity…

A. The state of Florida has found and restored what it believes to be the

B. earliest film of Jim Morrison, shot in the early 60s when he attended

C. Florida State University, 34 years after his death. (AP Photo/Florida State

D. University via Florida State Archives)

To Be Sophisticated...

To look at the definitions, the levels of response, and the tone of an apology will help evaluate when it is necessary to use these phrases.

What’s the subject of this sentence? Try a tag question Try the Noun Test Frame Sentence Does the subject agree with the verb?

Why Do We Care?

Subject Verb Agreement Comma Placement

Our writing reflects our intelligence(in the eyes of those who hold the $$)

What’s the Error?

Punctuation in the form of exclamation marks are also evident.

Strategy: Subjects must agree with their Verbs Subjects are never inside prepositional

phases

Find & Correct the Errors

Which sentence is best?

A. Often a convention held in big public rooms feel very institutional.

B. Often, a convention held in big public rooms, feel very institutional.

C. Often a convention, held in big public rooms, feel very institutional.

D. Often a convention held in big public rooms feels very institutional.

Subject–Verb Agreement

Find & Correct the Errors

“Subject – Verb Agreement”OR “Punctuation Problem”

This building and its décor shows that the outside has been brought inside.

Decorative touches, such as the etched front window, signals a trend in newly constructed meeting facilities.

Previously, centers for public gathering, was four walls and a roof.

Any Questions…

…before we move on?

Verbs

Traditional Definition Action & ‘State of Being’ words

Linguistic Definition Convey action or state of being AND Carry grammatical information about

tense (pres, past, etc) person (1st, 2nd, 3rd) Other… (to be discussed in later chapters)

Know a Verb when you see it...

Formal Clues Has verb-making morpheme Can take tense-related morphemes

Functional Clues Can be made into a command Can be made negative Can fit a Verb Frame Sentence

Verb Frame Sentences

They must ___________ (it).

They must ___________ good. (well)

How many verbs? A. 3B. 4C. 5D. 6

Diagramming Verbs

(you) Play ball

Verbs go on a flat line after the subject…

Functional Shift: Revisited Noun, Verb, Both or Neither: Why?

Rock

Sob

Pluralize

Exercise 4.6

Learning is as unique as the individual who is attempting to do so, and any “principles” for second language acquisition must be regarded as tentative suggestions, not absolute rules.

Is this acceptable?

A = Yes B = No Why or Why Not?

Why should we care?

Key errors to watch for:

Sentence Fragments Comma splices Run-on (fused) sentences

Sentence Fragments

A sentence missing a Subj. or a Verb “Today’s generation does not

understand reading’s benefits. For instance better spelling, wider vocabulary and appropriate expressions.”

Often begins with a conjunction…

Find the fragment

A. Head down, Lela stared at the textbook on her desk. 

B. She understood the fragment practice that Mrs. Markham was going over in class. 

C. But was too shy to raise her hand and volunteer an answer.

D. She wishes she had a clicker!

Comma splices Joining two full sentences with a

comma Main Clause + , + Main Clause =

“Let’s take a look at a business, that I worked for in the past, it shall remain anonymous.”

Can typically be fixed with a semicolon (;)

Run-ons Joining two full sentences without

any punctuation

Main Clause + Ø + Main Clause = “Yuan is a real hypochondriac when her

stomach hurts, she is certain that she has a bleeding ulcer, and if she has a backache, she starts to believe that she has cancer of the spine.”

There is a problem in:

A. Yuan is a real hypochondriac when her stomach hurts,

B. she is certain that she has a bleeding ulcer,

C. and if she has a backache, D. she starts to believe that she has

cancer of the spine.

Find a Verb Related Error…

… in your G & C paper

MYTH: Never begin a sentence with a conjunction.

And why is that a rule? The device can be overused, sure. But it should not be banned.

When & why can we break this rule? (You’ve got to KNOW IT to break it effectively)

MYTH: Always write in complete sentences.

You might wince at the use of fragments as a literary device, but it can be done well. Really.

When & why can we break this rule?

Any Questions…

…before we move on?

You Tell Me…

Three words frequently use as slang are “cool”, “bad”, and “sweet”.

Hint: Verb as Adjectival

1. Find the Error2. Explain it3. Fix it

Adjectives

Traditional Definition Modify nouns & other adjectives

Linguistic Definition Modifies a nominal or adjectival

(really close to the traditional definition…)

Modify: To change. To add information about.

X

Know an Adj when you see it...

Formal Clues Has adjective-making morpheme Takes comparative/superlative

morphemes

Functional Clues Can be compared using more or most Modifies a nominal or adjectival Can fit the Adjective Frame Sentence

Adjective Frame Sentence

“The _________ man is very ________.”

You may need to change “man” to another noun…

Exercise 4.7

Adjective or Not… Why? I. ShinyII. Wicker III. Calling

A. I - onlyB. I & II, C. I & III D. I, II & III

Adjective Subclasses

Examples

Attributive the red wagon…- Precedes the noun

____________

Predicative the sky is blue…

- Follows the verb

- AKA subject complement ____________

Adjective Subclasses

“The sour apple is very sour .”(Attributive) (Predicative)

One more subclass…Post-Nominal: It hit me like a ton of bricks.

- may come either before or after the verb…- prepositional phrase may be an adjectival…

Find the Adjective

Find the Adjective: Challenge

What’s the ADJ?A. OnceB. StickC. StaysD. Fetched

How did you know?

Diagramming Adjectives

pi

Use slanted lines for modifiers…

pumpkin

A

…it stays fetched

A Pumpkin Pi Tree

NP

Det Adj N

A pumpkin pi

You Tell Me…

Animal rights modern movement can be tracked to the 1970s, which was created by philosophers.

Hint: Adjectivals typically modify close

referents

1. Find the Error2. Explain it3. Fix it

To Comma or Not to Comma Between two or more adjectives

When the adjectives are “equal” “and” can be inserted between them they can be reversed

No comma before the noun

Example: the crabby old dog (≠ ‘equal’) the bright, curious child

= the bright and curious child = the curious, bright child

Traditional Rule: Size Age Color

the big old red wagon * the old red big wagon * the red old big wagon

Did You Get It?

Which of these should have commas?

A. I went to a high priced auction.B. A splendid old table was for sale.C. A rich famous movie star bought it. D. I was quite sad I couldn’t have it.

Find a list of adjectives…

… in your G & C paper

Did you use the appropriate punctuation?

Any Questions…

…before we move on?

Adverbs

Traditional Definition Modifies verbs, adjectives or adverbs

w/ info about Time, Place, or Manner Answer: Where, When, Why? How?

Linguistic Definition Modifies non-nominal items

V, Adj, Adv, phrases, clauses, or sentences

Know an Adv when you see it...

Formal Clues Has adverb-making morpheme Takes comparative/superlative

morphemes

Functional Clues Can be compared using more or most Moveable in sentence Can fit the Adverb Frame Sentence

Adverb Frame Sentence

“The man told his story _________.”

Exercise 4.9 Prototypically Adverb or Adjective?

Why? Do you see a pattern?

Boldly, shortly, silently, seriously

Earthly, beastly, gentlemanly

Yearly, leisurely (Exceptions…)

Find the Adverbs

A. suddenly, awkwardlyB. snapping, dirgeC. suddenly, was, alongD. suddenly,

awkwardly, along

The ADVs are:

Diagramming Adverbs

Andy realized … was snapping

Words that modify go on a slanted line - Adv’s go under the modified word

even if they are separated…

awkw

ardly

Suddenly

along

Adverb Subclasses

Examples

Manner ________ Time ________ Place ________

Degree ________ Frequency ________ Duration ________ Reason ________

happily, quickly, wellnow, soon, next week

here, there, everywhere

often, seldom, never

always, still, yet

clearly, definitely

‘to save money’

Identify the Adverbials

After breakfast let’s take the bus to the shopping center.

To save money, we can take our lunch and eat in the park next door.

The park is empty this time of year. If you agree, we can meet at the

corner.

To Comma or Not to Comma No Comma

When the adverb is next to the item it modifies

Short phrase beginning a sentence By noon we were all ready to eat.

Comma When the adverb has moved away from the

word it modifies. (Suddenly, awkwardly…) Long phrase beginning a sentence

Before the dog was able to join his friends again, he was forced to chase the cat.

More Commas Sentence initial Infinitive VPs (function as

adverbials) To find a bone, a dog must work very hard

Interruptions A cat, however, seems never to work at all

Parenthetical phrases (comment on whole sentence) I love pets. Unfortunately, my wife doesn’t feel

the same way.

Ambiguity During the winter, vacation days are precious.

Find an Adverb…

… in your G & C paper

What type of ADV is it?

Any Questions…

…before we move on?

Reviewing Form & Function What a word is (Form: N, V, Adj, Adv)

is not always the same as what it does (Function: nominal, verbal, adjectival, adverbial)

Two fresh flowers Two spring flowers Two wilting flowers

Strategy Suggestion:

Use substitution to identify form classes

Exercise 4.13

Form vs. Function: Identify each. I think Carl has lost his electronic

ticket I think Carl has lost his parking ticket I think Carl has lost his theater ticket

A. Prototypical noun acting as an adjectiveB. Prototypical verb as an adjectiveC. Prototypical adjective as an adjectiveD. Prototypical adverb as an adjective

Find Functional Shift…

… in your G & C paper

Will the meaning be clear to ALL readers?

Exercise 4.14

Page 87 Group work

The Review Exercises on pages 89-91 are also very good…

Think About It…

NOTE:

While many of the exercises are referenced in this slide show, several are not…

Those not reviewed are intended for you to cover on your own.

Remember: The answer keys are posted on my site… (& I’ll be happy to review your work w/you outside class)

Tomorrow

Quiz on Chapter 4

Begin Chapter 7