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 is late. … ex

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 had j

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: a br