Understanding English Grammar

456 Pages·2011·10.63 MB·English

by  Martha J. Kolln

N IN T H E D IT IO N
U n d e rs ta n d in g
English
G r a m m a r
Martha Kolln Robert Funk
English Grammar
N I N T H E D I T I O N
Martha Kolln
The Pennsylvania State University
Robert Funk
Eastern Illinois University
PEARSON
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Kolln, Martha.
Understanding English grammar / Martha Kolln, Robert Funk.— 9th ed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Previous ed.: 2009.
ISB N -13: 978-0-205-20952-1 (alk. paper)
ISBN-10: 0-205-20952-1 (alk. paper)
1. English language— Grammar. I. Funk, Robert. II. Title.
PEI 112.K64 2011
428.2— dc23
2011028417
Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
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PEARSON ISBN 10: 0-205-20952-1
www.pearsonhighered.com ISBN 13: 978-0-205-20952-1
Contents
Preface xvii
P A R T I
Introduction 1
C h a p t e r 1
The Study o f Grammar: An Overview 3
English: A World Language 3
Three Definitions of Grammar 4
Traditional School Grammar 5
Modern Linguistics 6
Structural Grammar 6
Transformational Grammar 7
The Issue of Correctness 8
Language Variety 10
Language Change 11
Language in the Classroom 12
Key Terms 13
Further Reading 13
T
p a r t i
The Grammar o f Basic Sentences 15
C h a p t e r 2
Words an d Phrases 16
Chapter Preview 16
Contents
The Form Classes 16
Nouns and Verbs 17
The Noun Phrase 18
The Verb Phrase 19
NP + VP = S 20
Adjectives and Adverbs 22
Prepositional Phrases 24
The Structure Classes 26
Key T erms 27
C h a p t e r 3
Sentence Patterns 28
Chapter Preview 28
Subjects and Predicates 29
The Sentence Slots 30
The Be Patterns 32
The Linking Verb Patterns 35
The Optional Slots 37
The Intransitive Verb Pattern 38
Exceptions to the Intransitive Pattern 39
Intransitive Phrasal Verbs 40
The Transitive Verb Patterns 42
Transitive Phrasal Verbs 43
The Indirect Object Pattern 44
The Object Complement Patterns 47
Compound Structures 49
Exceptions to the Ten Sentence Patterns 51
Sentence Types 51
Interrogative Sentences (Questions) 52
Imperative Sentences (Commands) 53
Exclamatory Sentences 54
Punctuation and the Sentence Patterns 54
Diagramming the Sentence Patterns 55
Notes on the Diagrams 56
The Main Line 56
The Noun Phrase 56
The Verb Phrase 57
The Prepositional Phrase 58
Contents
Compound Structures 58
Punctuation 58
Key Terms 59
Sentences for Practice 59
Questions for Discussion 60
Classroom Applications 62
C h a p t e r 4
Expanding the M ain Verb 63
Chapter Preview 63
The Five Verb Forms 63
The Irregular Be 65
Auxiliary-Verb Combinations 66
The Modal Auxiliaries 70
The “Future Tense” 72
The Subjunctive Mood 73
Tense and Aspect 74
Using the Verb Forms 75
Exceptions to the Verb-Expansion Rule 76
The Stand-In Auxiliary Do 17
The Verb System of African American Vernacular English 80
Key Terms 82
Sentences for Practice 82
Questions for Discussion 83
Classroom Application 84
C h a p t e r 5
Changing Sentence Focus 8 6
Chapter Preview 86
The Passive Voice 86
The Passive Get 89
The Transitive-Passive Relationship 90
Patterns VIII to X in Passive Voice 90
Changing Passive Voice to Active 92
The Passive Voice in Prose 93
Other Passive Purposes 94
The There Transformation 95
Cleft Sentences 98
x Contents
Key Terms 100
Sentences for Practice 101
Questions for Discussion 102
Classroom Applications 103
P A R T I I I
Expanding the Sentence 105
Form and Function 105
C h a p t e r 6
Modifiers o f the Verb: Adverbials 108
Chapter Preview 108
The Movable Adverbials 109
Adverbs 109
Prepositional Phrases 112
Nouns and Noun Phrases 114
Verb Phrases 117
Dangling Infinitives 119
Participles as Adverbials 121
Clauses 121
Punctuation of Adverbials 123
Key Terms 125
Sentences for Practice 126
Questions for Discussion 126
Classroom Application 127
C h a p t e r 7
Modifiers o f the Noun: Adjectivals 128
Chapter Preview 128
The Determiner 130
Adjectives and Nouns 131
Prenoun Participles 133
Prepositional Phrases 136
Relative Clauses 138
Participial Phrases 143
Passive Participles 146
Movable Participles 147
The Participle as Object Complement 148
Participles as Adverbials or Adjectivals 151
Contents
Punctuation of Clauses and Participles 151
Multiple Modifiers 155
Other Postnoun Modifiers 156
Infinitives 156
Noun Phrases 157
Adjectives 157
Adverbs 158
Key Terms 159
Sentences for Practice 159
Questions for Discussion 160
Classroom Applications 162
C h a p t e r 8
The Noun Phrase Functions: Nominals 163
Chapter Preview 163
The Nominal Slots 164
Appositives 164
Punctuation of Appositives 165
Noun Phrase Substitutes 166
Gerunds 166
The Pattern of the Gerund 169
The Subject of the Gerund 171
Dangling Gerunds 171
Infinitives 173
The Subject of the Infinitive 175
Nominal Clauses 177
The Expletive That 178
Interrogatives 180
Yes/No Interrogatives 182
Punctuation of Nominal Clauses 183
Nominals as Delayed Subjects 184
Key Terms 185
Sentences for Practice 185
Questions for Discussion 186
Classroom Applications 187
C h a p t e r 9
Sentence Modifiers 189
Chapter Preview 189
xii Contents
Nouns of Direct Address: The Vocatives 193
Interjections 194
Subordinate Clauses 195
Punctuation of Subordinate Clauses 196
Elliptical Clauses 197
Absolute Phrases 199
Appositives 202
Relative Clauses 203
Key Terms 204
Sentences for Practice 205
Questions for Discussion 205
Classroom Applications 207
C h a p t e r 1 0
Coordination 209
Chapter Preview 209
Coordination Within the Sentence 209
Punctuation 209
Elliptical Coordinate Structures 212
Subject-Verb Agreement 213
Parallel S tructure 215
Coordinating Complete Sentences 216
Conjunctions 216
Semicolons 218
Colons 219
Diagramming the Compound Sentence
Key T erms 221
Sentences for Practice 221
Questions for Discussion 222
Classroom Applications 223
P A R T IV
Words and W ord Classes 225
C h a p t e r 1 1
Morphemes 2 2 7
Chapter Preview 227
Bases and Affixes 229
Bound and Free Morphemes 229
Contents xiii
Derivational and Inflectional Morphemes 230
Allomorphs 233
Homonyms 234
Compound Words 235
Key Terms 236
Questions for Discussion 236
Classroom Applications 238
C h a p t e r 12
The Form Classes 239
Chapter Preview 239
Nouns 239
Noun Derivational Suffixes 240
Noun Inflectional Suffixes 241
The Meaning of the Possessive Case 244
Irregular Plural Inflections 245
Plural-Only Forms 246
Collective Nouns 246
Semantic Features of Nouns 247
Verbs 250
Verb Derivational Affixes 250
Verb Inflectional Suffixes 251
Adjectives 252
Adjective Derivational Suffixes 252
Adjective Inflectional Suffixes 253
Subclasses of Adjectives 255
Adverbs 257
Adverb Derivational Suffixes 257
Adverb Inflectional Suffixes 259
Key Terms 260
Questions for Discussion 261
Classroom Applications 263
C h a p t e r 13
The Structure Classes 265
Chapter Preview 265
Determiners 265
The Expanded Determiner 269
Auxiliaries 270
Qualifiers 272