ABCs of Grammar | Learn the basics of Grammar | Anatomy of Grammar

 

Anatomy of Grammar | Learn Grammar Terms

 

What is the difference between a Phrase and a Clause? 

• A Phrase does not have a finite verb whereas a clause has a finite verb. 
• A phrase acts as a single part of speech e.g. noun phrase, adjective phrase etc. 
• It does not have subject or predicate. 
• A clause has a subject, a predicate and also a finite verb.  

What are the examples of some phrases and Clauses? 

• My friend lives in a village near the bus stop.
• (Phrase: in a village near the bust stop) 
• People who love the country are called patriots. 
• (Clause: who love the country ) 

What is a Collective Noun? 

• A collective noun is the name of a number of persons or things taken together and referred to as one whole. 
• Ex: The violent mob was dispersed by the police. Here the 'mob' is a collective noun. 
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• Some more examples of collective nouns are team, flock, jury, committee etc. 

What is the difference between a subject and an object? 

• A subject speaks about the person or thing in a sentence. 
• A subject can be either a noun or a pronoun. 
• An object is always attached to a verb. 
• An object can also be either a noun or a pronoun. 

For Example : Raju sings a song. 

Sub: Raju

Verb: sings

Object: a song.

 

What is a transitive and an Intransitive Verb? 

• A transitive verb always takes an object after it. 

A transitive verb can have two objects after it. 

Ex: My friend has given me a pen.

In this example, 'Me' is called an indirect object whereas 'a pen' is called a direct object. 

 An intransitive verb does not take any object after it.

Example: My friend sings sweetly. 

In this example, 'sings' is an intransitive verb as 'sweetly' is neither a noun nor a pronoun. So 'sweetly' is a complement here. 

What is a Retained Object? 

When a transitive verb has two objects, the indirect or personal object is used as the subject when converted to passive voice. The other object which remains as an object still is called retained object.

For Example: 'He gave me a book'.

• In this sentence there are two objects- 'me' and 'a book'.
• If the sentence is converted to passive voice, it will be ' I was given a book by him.'
• The object 'a book' remains as an object in the passive sentence as well. 
• So 'a book' is a retained object. 

What is cognate object? Explain with suitable examples. 

Ans: When an intransitive verb takes an object of the same sense or meaning, the object is called cognate object. 

Ex: I dreamt  a dream. Here 'dream' is a cognate object. 

What is a reflexive object? Explain with a suitable example. 

Ans: An object with '-self' is called a reflexive object. A reflexive object can never be the subject of a passive voice. 

Ex: I hurt myself. Here 'myself' is a reflexive object. 

What is a factitive verb? Explain with  a suitable example. 

Ans: When a transitive verb has one object and a complement , the transitive verb is called a factitive verb. 

Ex: Members of the committee made him President.  

• In this sentence the verb'made' has the object 'him' and a complement 'president' . 
• When it is made passive the object becomes subject and not the complement. 

What is a gerundial infinitive? Explain with an example. 

Ans: When an infinitive is used to qualify a verb, an adjective or a noun or a full sentence, it is called gerundial infinitive. 

For Example, 

• We eat to live ( infinitive 'to live' qualifies the verb 'eat') 
• This place is pleasant to live. ( infinitive ' to live' qualifies the adjective 'pleasant').
• This is not the time to play ( infinitive ' to play'  qualifies the noun 'time'
• To tell the truth, I quite forget my promise. ( infinitive ' to tell' qualifies the whole sentence
• 'I quite forget my promise'.)

What is a nominative absolute? Give a suitable example. 

When a noun or pronoun is used with a participle, it is called a nominative absolute. 

Ex: The sea being smooth, he set sail. 

What is a causative verb? Give one example. 

Ans: When the intransitive verb denotes the sense of causing a thing, it is known as causative verb. 

Ex: John flies a kite. 

What is a copulative verb? Give one example. 

Ans: When an intransitive verb requires some other words to complete its sense, it is called a copulative verb. 

ex: She seems tired. 

(To be Continued)