Basic Sentence Patterns
Meaning in an English sentence is conveyed not only by the words but also by the arrangement, or pattern, of the words.
There are five basic sentence patterns in English.
The simplest pattern is a subject followed by an intransitive verb
A verb that is complete by itself and does not need to have a direct object.
, as in the following examples:
The customer complained.
subject = the customer
verb = complained
The customer complained loudly.
The flight from Tahiti departed on time.
The weary passengers will disembark in a few minutes.
The meaning of a sentence in this pattern is simply that the subject did something. A person, place, or thing acted in a certain way.
This pattern is most effective in showing a simple action. The emphasis is on the actor and the action, with no other elements to distract the reader
Subject-Verb-Direct Object-Complement
Meaning in an English sentence is conveyed not only by the words but also by the arrangement, or pattern, of the words.
There are five basic sentence patterns in English.
One pattern consists of a subject followed by a verb, a direct object, and an object complement
A word or group of words that renames or describes a direct object.
. The object complement may be a noun, as in the following examples:
His sister called him a genius.
subject = his sister
verb = called
direct object = him
object complement = a genius
The object complement may be an adjective, as in these examples:
His sister called him brilliant.
subject = his sister
verb = called
direct object = him
object complement = brilliant
Her flattery made him embarrassed.
The local residents called the travelers intruders.
Most countries make their flags both decorative and symbolic.
A sentence in this pattern is usually about a relationship between the subject and the direct object. The complement describes that relationship.
This pattern is especially effective in providing evidence for an argument. It allows you to report the gist of someone’s statements, position, or attitude, as in the following sentences:
Experts consider the president’s environmental policy disastrous.
Vacationers found the year-round residents antagonistic.
Some Puerto Rican citizens have made statehood a priority.
Subject-Verb-Complement
Meaning in an English sentence is conveyed not only by the words but also by the arrangement, or pattern, of the words.
There are five basic sentence patterns in English.
One of them consists of a subject followed by a verb and a subject complement
A word or group of words that follows a linking verb and renames or describes the subject.
. The complement may be a noun, as in the following examples:
Dr. Smith is our writing instructor.
subject = Dr. Smith
verb = is
complement = our writing instructor
The Washington Monument is an obelisk.
Philadelphia was once the capital.
The complement may also be an adjective, as in these examples:
The performer seemed nervous.
The tourists became impatient.
The city streets appeared abandoned.
The meaning of a sentence in this pattern is that the subject is, was, or seemed to be something.
This pattern is most effective in defining. Most definitions begin with a statement in the subject-verb-complement pattern, as this example does:
An oasis is a fertile, wet place in the desert.
It is also useful in description:
As the sun set, the Hawaiian sky became an artist’s palette of vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows.
And it is useful in classifying:
The Nile, the Congo, the Niger, the Zambezi, the Orange, and the Limpopo are major rivers in Africa.
Monday, July 19, 2010
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Monday, January 25, 2010
I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings
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Thursday, October 22, 2009
ADDITIONAL LECTURE ABOUT DISCOURSES
Direct to Indirect Speech
In this section, We are going to see How the conversion of Direct to Indirect Speech and Indirect to Direct Speech is done?
We may report the words of a speaker in two ways.
1. Direct Speech
We may quote the actual words of the speaker. This method is called Direct Speech.
2. Indirect Speech
We may report what he said without quoting his exact words. This method is called Indirect Speech or Reported Speech.
Example:
• Direct: Clinton said, “I am very busy now.”
• Indirect: Clinton said that he was very busy then.
• Direct : He said, “ my mother is writing letter.”
• Indirect: He said that his mother was writing letter.
How to change Direct to Indirect Speech?
It will be noticed that in Direct Speech, we use inverted commas to mark off the exact words of the speaker. In Indirect Speech we do not use the inverted commas.
It will be further noticed that in changing the above Direct Speech into Indirect speech, certain changes have been made.
Thus:
i. We have used the conjunction ‘that’ before the Indirect Statement.
ii. The pronoun “I” is changed to “HE”. (The Pronoun is changed in Person)
iii. The verb “am” is changed to “was”.
iv. The adverb “now” is changed to “then”.
Rules for changing Direct into Indirect Speech:
A. When the reporting or principal verb is in the Past Tense, all the Present Tenses in the Direct Speech are changed into Past Tense.
a. A simple present tense becomes simple past tense.
Example:
• Direct : He said, “I am unwell.”
• Indirect: He said that he was unwell.
b. A present continuous tense becomes a past continuous.
Example:
• Direct : He said, “ my mother is writing letter.”
• Indirect: He said that his mother was writing letter.
c. A present perfect becomes a past perfect:
Are you clear about the conversion of Direct to Indirect Speech?
Example:
• Direct: He said, “I have passed the examination.”
• Indirect: he said that he had passed the examination.
d. As a rule the simple past tense in the Direct Speech becomes the past perfect tense in Indirect Speech.
Example:
• Direct: He said, “His horse died in the night.”
• Indirect: he said that his horse had died in the night.
NOTE:
The shall of the future is changed into should.
The will of the future is changed into would.
The can and may of the future are changed into could and might respectively.
B. The tenses will not change if the statement is still relevant or if it is a universal truth. We can often choose whether to keep The original tenses or change them.
Examples:
• Direct: “I know her address”, said John.
• Indirect: John said that he knows/knew her address.
In this Indirect Speech, both the past tense and the present tense make the sentence a correct one.
• Direct: The teacher said, “The earth goes round the sun.”
• Indirect: The teacher said that the earth goes/went round the sun.
• Direct: She said, “German is easy to learn.”
• Indirect: She said that German was/is easy to learn.
The past tense is often used when it is uncertain if the statement is true or when we are reporting objectively.
C. If the reporting verb is in present tense, the tenses of the Direct Speech do not change. For example, we may rewrite the above examples, putting the reporting verb in the present tense.
Examples:
• Direct : He says, “I am unwell.”
• Indirect: He says that he is unwell.
• Direct : He says, “ my mother is writing letter.”
• Indirect: He says that his mother is writing letter.
• Direct: He says, “I have passed the examination.”
• Indirect: he says that he has passed the examination.
• Direct: He says, “His horse died in the night.”
• Indirect: he says that his horse died in the night.
D. The pronouns of the Direct Speech are changed where necessary, so that their relations with the reporter and his hearer, Rather than with the original speaker are indicated.
Examples:
• Direct: He said to me, “I do not believe you.”
• Indirect: He said that he did not believe me.
• Direct: She said to him, “I do not believe you.”
• Indirect: She said to him that she did not believe him.
• Direct: I said to him, “I did not believe you.”
• Indirect: I said to him that I did not believe him.
• Direct: I said to you, “I do not believe you.”
• Indirect: I said to you that I do not believe you.
E. Words expressing nearness in time or places are generally changed into words expressing distance.
Examples:
• Direct: He said, “I am glad o be here this evening.”
• Indirect: he said that he was glad to be there that evening.
• Direct: He said, “I was here yesterday.”
• Indirect: He said that he was there the day before.
Now, let us see the words which get changed when the Direct Speech is changed into Indirect Speech.
• Now becomes then
• Here becomes there
• Ago becomes before
• Thus becomes so
• Today becomes that day
• Tomorrow becomes the next day
• Yesterday becomes the day before
• Last night becomes the night before
• This becomes that
• These becomes those
F. How the questions used in the Direct Speech are changed into Indirect Speech?
In reporting questions, the indirect Speech is introduced by such verbs as asked, inquired etc…
Examples:
• Direct: He said to me, “What are you doing?”
• Indirect: He asked me what I was doing.
• Direct: A stranger asked me, “Where do you live?”
• Indirect: A stranger enquired where I lived.
• Direct: The Policemen said to us, “Where are you going?”
• Indirect: The Policemen asked us where we were going.
• Direct: He said, “Will you listen to such a man?”
• Indirect: He asked them whether they would listen to such a man.
• Indirect: Would they, he asked, listen to such a man.
• Direct: His angry mother jeered, “Do you suppose you know better than your father?”
• Indirect: His angry mother jeered and asked whether he supposed that he knew better than his father.
G. How the Commands and the Requests in the Direct Speeches are changed when the Direct Speeches are changed into indirect Speeches?
In reporting commands and requests, the indirect speech is introduced by some verb expressing commands and requests, and the Imperative Mood is changed into Infinitive Mood.
Examples:
• Direct: Raja said to John, “Go away.”
• Indirect: Raja ordered John to go away.
• Direct: He said to Mary, “Please wait here till I return.”
• Indirect: he requested Mary to wait there till he returned.
• Direct: “Call the first witness”, said the Judge.
• Indirect: The Judge commanded them to call the first witness.
• Direct: He shouted, “Let me go.”
• Indirect: he shouted to them to let him go.
• Direct: He said, “Be quite and listen to my words”.
• Indirect: He urged them to be quite and listen to his words.
H. How the Exclamation and the Wishes in the Direct Speeches are changed when the Direct Speeches are changed into Indirect Speeches?
In reporting exclamation and wishes, the Indirect Speech is introduced by some verb expressing Exclamation and Wishes.
Examples:
• Direct: He said, “Alas! I am undone”.
• Indirect: He exclaimed sadly that he was undone.
• Direct: Alice said, “How clever I am?”
• Indirect: Alice exclaimed that he was very clever.
• Direct: He said, “Bravo! You have done well.”
• Indirect: he applauded him, saying that he had done well.
• Direct: “So help me, Heaven!” he cried, “I will never steal again”.
• Indirect: He called upon Heaven to witness his resolve never to resolve.
In this section, We are going to see How the conversion of Direct to Indirect Speech and Indirect to Direct Speech is done?
We may report the words of a speaker in two ways.
1. Direct Speech
We may quote the actual words of the speaker. This method is called Direct Speech.
2. Indirect Speech
We may report what he said without quoting his exact words. This method is called Indirect Speech or Reported Speech.
Example:
• Direct: Clinton said, “I am very busy now.”
• Indirect: Clinton said that he was very busy then.
• Direct : He said, “ my mother is writing letter.”
• Indirect: He said that his mother was writing letter.
How to change Direct to Indirect Speech?
It will be noticed that in Direct Speech, we use inverted commas to mark off the exact words of the speaker. In Indirect Speech we do not use the inverted commas.
It will be further noticed that in changing the above Direct Speech into Indirect speech, certain changes have been made.
Thus:
i. We have used the conjunction ‘that’ before the Indirect Statement.
ii. The pronoun “I” is changed to “HE”. (The Pronoun is changed in Person)
iii. The verb “am” is changed to “was”.
iv. The adverb “now” is changed to “then”.
Rules for changing Direct into Indirect Speech:
A. When the reporting or principal verb is in the Past Tense, all the Present Tenses in the Direct Speech are changed into Past Tense.
a. A simple present tense becomes simple past tense.
Example:
• Direct : He said, “I am unwell.”
• Indirect: He said that he was unwell.
b. A present continuous tense becomes a past continuous.
Example:
• Direct : He said, “ my mother is writing letter.”
• Indirect: He said that his mother was writing letter.
c. A present perfect becomes a past perfect:
Are you clear about the conversion of Direct to Indirect Speech?
Example:
• Direct: He said, “I have passed the examination.”
• Indirect: he said that he had passed the examination.
d. As a rule the simple past tense in the Direct Speech becomes the past perfect tense in Indirect Speech.
Example:
• Direct: He said, “His horse died in the night.”
• Indirect: he said that his horse had died in the night.
NOTE:
The shall of the future is changed into should.
The will of the future is changed into would.
The can and may of the future are changed into could and might respectively.
B. The tenses will not change if the statement is still relevant or if it is a universal truth. We can often choose whether to keep The original tenses or change them.
Examples:
• Direct: “I know her address”, said John.
• Indirect: John said that he knows/knew her address.
In this Indirect Speech, both the past tense and the present tense make the sentence a correct one.
• Direct: The teacher said, “The earth goes round the sun.”
• Indirect: The teacher said that the earth goes/went round the sun.
• Direct: She said, “German is easy to learn.”
• Indirect: She said that German was/is easy to learn.
The past tense is often used when it is uncertain if the statement is true or when we are reporting objectively.
C. If the reporting verb is in present tense, the tenses of the Direct Speech do not change. For example, we may rewrite the above examples, putting the reporting verb in the present tense.
Examples:
• Direct : He says, “I am unwell.”
• Indirect: He says that he is unwell.
• Direct : He says, “ my mother is writing letter.”
• Indirect: He says that his mother is writing letter.
• Direct: He says, “I have passed the examination.”
• Indirect: he says that he has passed the examination.
• Direct: He says, “His horse died in the night.”
• Indirect: he says that his horse died in the night.
D. The pronouns of the Direct Speech are changed where necessary, so that their relations with the reporter and his hearer, Rather than with the original speaker are indicated.
Examples:
• Direct: He said to me, “I do not believe you.”
• Indirect: He said that he did not believe me.
• Direct: She said to him, “I do not believe you.”
• Indirect: She said to him that she did not believe him.
• Direct: I said to him, “I did not believe you.”
• Indirect: I said to him that I did not believe him.
• Direct: I said to you, “I do not believe you.”
• Indirect: I said to you that I do not believe you.
E. Words expressing nearness in time or places are generally changed into words expressing distance.
Examples:
• Direct: He said, “I am glad o be here this evening.”
• Indirect: he said that he was glad to be there that evening.
• Direct: He said, “I was here yesterday.”
• Indirect: He said that he was there the day before.
Now, let us see the words which get changed when the Direct Speech is changed into Indirect Speech.
• Now becomes then
• Here becomes there
• Ago becomes before
• Thus becomes so
• Today becomes that day
• Tomorrow becomes the next day
• Yesterday becomes the day before
• Last night becomes the night before
• This becomes that
• These becomes those
F. How the questions used in the Direct Speech are changed into Indirect Speech?
In reporting questions, the indirect Speech is introduced by such verbs as asked, inquired etc…
Examples:
• Direct: He said to me, “What are you doing?”
• Indirect: He asked me what I was doing.
• Direct: A stranger asked me, “Where do you live?”
• Indirect: A stranger enquired where I lived.
• Direct: The Policemen said to us, “Where are you going?”
• Indirect: The Policemen asked us where we were going.
• Direct: He said, “Will you listen to such a man?”
• Indirect: He asked them whether they would listen to such a man.
• Indirect: Would they, he asked, listen to such a man.
• Direct: His angry mother jeered, “Do you suppose you know better than your father?”
• Indirect: His angry mother jeered and asked whether he supposed that he knew better than his father.
G. How the Commands and the Requests in the Direct Speeches are changed when the Direct Speeches are changed into indirect Speeches?
In reporting commands and requests, the indirect speech is introduced by some verb expressing commands and requests, and the Imperative Mood is changed into Infinitive Mood.
Examples:
• Direct: Raja said to John, “Go away.”
• Indirect: Raja ordered John to go away.
• Direct: He said to Mary, “Please wait here till I return.”
• Indirect: he requested Mary to wait there till he returned.
• Direct: “Call the first witness”, said the Judge.
• Indirect: The Judge commanded them to call the first witness.
• Direct: He shouted, “Let me go.”
• Indirect: he shouted to them to let him go.
• Direct: He said, “Be quite and listen to my words”.
• Indirect: He urged them to be quite and listen to his words.
H. How the Exclamation and the Wishes in the Direct Speeches are changed when the Direct Speeches are changed into Indirect Speeches?
In reporting exclamation and wishes, the Indirect Speech is introduced by some verb expressing Exclamation and Wishes.
Examples:
• Direct: He said, “Alas! I am undone”.
• Indirect: He exclaimed sadly that he was undone.
• Direct: Alice said, “How clever I am?”
• Indirect: Alice exclaimed that he was very clever.
• Direct: He said, “Bravo! You have done well.”
• Indirect: he applauded him, saying that he had done well.
• Direct: “So help me, Heaven!” he cried, “I will never steal again”.
• Indirect: He called upon Heaven to witness his resolve never to resolve.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Direct and Indirect Questions
Indirect Questions with WH and H
Notice the difference between a direct question and an indirect question.
Direct : "Where are you going?" Mary asked.
Indirect: Mary asked where we were going.
Indirect questions
- use verbs of speech for questions (asked, wondered, enquired, wanted to know, tried to find out, etc.)
- use question words (where, when, who, why,how, etc) instead of that
- change verb tenses, pronouns, and time expressions (just like reported statements)
- use question word + subject + verb word order (unlike a direct question)
question word + subject + verb
He asked when they would arrive.
Note:
If the question word is who, the direct question and the indirect question have the same word order.
"Who is there?"
She wondered who was there.
Notice the difference between a direct question and an indirect question.
Direct : "Where are you going?" Mary asked.
Indirect: Mary asked where we were going.
Indirect questions
- use verbs of speech for questions (asked, wondered, enquired, wanted to know, tried to find out, etc.)
- use question words (where, when, who, why,how, etc) instead of that
- change verb tenses, pronouns, and time expressions (just like reported statements)
- use question word + subject + verb word order (unlike a direct question)
question word + subject + verb
He asked when they would arrive.
Note:
If the question word is who, the direct question and the indirect question have the same word order.
"Who is there?"
She wondered who was there.
Additional Lecture About Discourses
Direct and indirect discourse
When one reports what others have said word for word, this is called "direct discourse." It is generally signalled by the presence of quotation marks:
Philippe said, "I'll come if I have the time."
My roommate said, "Clean the place up, or get out of here!"
When one paraphrases the words of others, writing them so as to avoid direct quotation, this is called "indirect discourse."
Indirect discourse entails certain changes:
A. Quotation marks are not used:
direct discourse: He told me, "You're stupid"
indirect discourse: He told me that I was stupid.
B. When the verb in the reported discourse is conjugated, is it generally preceded by "that"; however, the inclusion of "that" is optional
She said that she would be late.
OR: She said she would be late.
They informed us that the plane was delayed.
OR: They informed us the plane was delayed.
C. Imperative forms, when recounted in indirect discourse, generally become infinitive constructions:
direct discourse: He told me, "Write to me."
indirect discourse: He told me to write him.
direct discourse: I told them, "Get out of here!"
indirect discourse: I told them to get out of here.
D. When a quotation is put in indirect discourse, care must be taken to verify that verb tenses reflect the change in temporal context:
direct discourse: She said, "I will be on time."
indirect discourse: She said she would be on time.
direct discourse: When he called he said, "I am at the airport"
indirect discourse: When he called he said he was at the airport.
TEST
>> Indirect Discourse
Sarah said, "I am ill."
Paul told me, "Go to the cinema and buy two tickets".
Thierry explained to us, "I went to Spain during my holidays".
John said, "I will buy a new computer soon".
My father told me, "Do your homework!"
ANSWERS
Sarah said (that) she was ill.
Paul told me to go to the cinema and buy two tickets.
Thierry explained to us (that) he had gone to Spain during his holidays.
John said (that) he would buy a new computer soon.
My father told me to do my homework.
When one reports what others have said word for word, this is called "direct discourse." It is generally signalled by the presence of quotation marks:
Philippe said, "I'll come if I have the time."
My roommate said, "Clean the place up, or get out of here!"
When one paraphrases the words of others, writing them so as to avoid direct quotation, this is called "indirect discourse."
Indirect discourse entails certain changes:
A. Quotation marks are not used:
direct discourse: He told me, "You're stupid"
indirect discourse: He told me that I was stupid.
B. When the verb in the reported discourse is conjugated, is it generally preceded by "that"; however, the inclusion of "that" is optional
She said that she would be late.
OR: She said she would be late.
They informed us that the plane was delayed.
OR: They informed us the plane was delayed.
C. Imperative forms, when recounted in indirect discourse, generally become infinitive constructions:
direct discourse: He told me, "Write to me."
indirect discourse: He told me to write him.
direct discourse: I told them, "Get out of here!"
indirect discourse: I told them to get out of here.
D. When a quotation is put in indirect discourse, care must be taken to verify that verb tenses reflect the change in temporal context:
direct discourse: She said, "I will be on time."
indirect discourse: She said she would be on time.
direct discourse: When he called he said, "I am at the airport"
indirect discourse: When he called he said he was at the airport.
TEST
>> Indirect Discourse
Sarah said, "I am ill."
Paul told me, "Go to the cinema and buy two tickets".
Thierry explained to us, "I went to Spain during my holidays".
John said, "I will buy a new computer soon".
My father told me, "Do your homework!"
ANSWERS
Sarah said (that) she was ill.
Paul told me to go to the cinema and buy two tickets.
Thierry explained to us (that) he had gone to Spain during his holidays.
John said (that) he would buy a new computer soon.
My father told me to do my homework.
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