Terms

What are verbal nouns?

December 23, 2010

A verbal noun is a noun derived from a verb. It exhibits all of the properties of ordinary nouns and none of the properties of verbs. A verbal noun can have plural forms just like a noun. It can also occur with determiners and adjectives. In English, verbal nouns are formed with a variety of [...]

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Complement clause

December 3, 2010

A complement clause is a clause introduced by a complementizer like that or whether. A complement clause is attached to a preceding noun, adjective or verb. In the sentence ‘The news that she was dead shocked us all’, ‘that she was dead’ is a noun complement clause attached to the noun news. In ‘I am [...]

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Participial adjective and participial relative clause

December 2, 2010

Participial adjective A participial adjective is a word which is identical in form to the present or past participle of a verb. A participial adjective functions as an adjective. Examples (in brackets) (Stolen) watch (Broken) wings (Fallen) heroes (Missing) child (Smiling) face An (unexpected) visitor A (surprising) visit Barking dogs seldom bite. (Here the participle [...]

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Imperative

November 28, 2010

The label imperative refers to the formal sentence type which has the following distinctive sentence pattern: Keep quiet! This pattern commonly expresses a command. In English, an imperative usually doesn’t have a subject (though you is understood as its subject). In writing an imperative is often punctuated with an exclamation mark. Examples: Wash your hands! [...]

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