English grammar جرامر

Clause structure   All clauses in English have at least two parts: a noun phrase and a verb phrase :  Noun phrase (subject) Verb phrase The children All the people in the bus laughed were watching But most clauses have more than two parts: Noun phrase (subject) Verb phrase The children John All of the girls This soup Mary and the family She laughed wanted are learning tastes were driving put a new bicycle English awful to Madrid the flowers   in a vase The first noun phrase is the subject of the sentence: The children laughed. John wanted a new bicycle. All the girls are learning English. She put the flowers in the vase. English clauses always have a subject: His father has just retired. Was a teacher . He was a teacher. I’m waiting for my wife. Is late . She i...

Clause, phrase and sentence   The basic unit of English grammar is the clause : [An unlucky student almost lost a 17th century violin worth almost £200,000] [when he left it in the waiting room of a London station.] [William Brown inherited the 1698 Stradivarius violin from his mother] [and had just had it valued by a London dealer at £180,000.] Clauses are made up of phrases : [An unlucky student] + [almost lost] + [a 17th century violin worth almost £200,000] [when] + [he] + [left] + [it] + [in the waiting room of a London station.] [William Brown] + [inherited] + [the 1698 Stradivarius violin] + [from his mother] [and] [had just had it valued] + [by a London dealer] + [at £180,000.] We can join two or more clauses together to make sentences . An unlucky student almost lost a 17th century violin worth almost £200,000 when he left it in the waiting room of a London station. William Brown inherited the 1698 Stradivarius violin from his mother and h...

Delexical verbs like have, take, make and give   Patterns with common verbs and nouns? We often use common verbs like have and take with nouns like a shower , a drink : I took a shower = I showered. She had a drink = She drank something. We call these delexical verbs because the important part of the meaning is taken out of the verb and put into the noun . We often put adjectives in front of the noun: I took a cold shower. She had a nice, refreshing drink. The verbs used most frequently in this way are: have take make give We also use go and do as delexical verbs, but they have different patterns: Shall we go swimming this afternoon? Or shall we go for a walk ? It’s your turn to do the cooking . I’ll have to do my hair before the party. • We use have with: Food and drink: a meal; breakfast, lunch, dinner, a snack, a cup of tea Talking: a chat, a conversation, a discussion, a talk, Washing: a bath, a shower, a wash, a scrub Resting: ...