Grammar Boot Camp

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Grammar Boot Camp

• Building Muscle
• Phrases and Clauses
• (click mouse to proceed)

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Your Mission

• To Study Phrases
• To Study Clauses
• To Exercise your Writing Muscles
• This presentation is enhanced with Question and
  Answer slides. To access, simply click on the
  words that are highlighted and underlined.

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What is a Phrase?

• A phrase is a group of related words that does
  not contain a subject and a verb.
• Common Phrases
• Prepositional Phrases
• Infinitive Phrases
• Participial Phrases
• Gerund Phrases

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Prepositional Phrase

• Begins with a preposition (in, on, under, over,
  around, of, about, through, etc.)
• Followed by an object and any modifiers
• Functions as an adjective or adverb

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Examples of Prepositional Phrase

• The cadets marched through the woods.
• through is the preposition
• the is the modifier for the object woods
• functions as an adverb
• Everyone in the class wrote an essay.
• in is the preposition
• the is the modifier for the object class
• functions as an adjective

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Infinitive Phrase

• Begins with an infinitive to verb
• Followed by an object and any modifiers
• Functions as a noun, adjective or adverb

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Examples of Infinitive Phrase

• 1. To exercise every day is a good habit.
• to exercise is the infinitive
• every is the modifier for the object day
• Functions as a noun
• 2. I was relieved to finish my project.
• to finish is the infinitive
• my is the modifier for the object project
• Functions as an adjective

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Participial Phrase

• Begins with a participle verb ending in -ed,
  -en, or -ing
• Followed by an object and any modifiers
• Functions as an adjective

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Examples of Participial Phrase

• 1. The marine biologist, diving near a reef, saw
  a shark.
• diving is the participle
• near a are the modifiers for the object reef
• Functions as an adjective
• 2. Known for her patience, Mrs. Garcia was his
  favorite teacher.
• known is the participle
• for her are the modifiers for the object
  patience
• Functions as an adjective

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Gerund Phrase

• Begins with a gerund verb ending in -ing
• Followed by object and any modifiers
• Functions as a noun

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Examples of Gerund Phrase

• 1. Marching in unison builds teamwork.
• marching is the gerund
• in is the modifier for the object unison
• Functions as a noun
• 2. The student enjoys taking morning classes.
• taking is the gerund
• morning is the modifier for the object
  classes
• Functions as a noun

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What is a Clause?

• A clause is a group of related words that
  contains both a subject and a verb.
• Two Types of Clauses
• Independent Clause
• Dependent Clause

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Independent Clause

• Contains a subject and a verb
• Makes a complete statement
• Can stand alone

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Examples of Independent Clause

• 1. Del Mar is a community college.
• Del Mar is the subject
• is is the verb
• a community college completes the thought
• 2. The Writing Center offers a variety of
  services.
• The Writing Center is the subject
• offers is the verb
• a variety of services completes the thought

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Dependent Clause

• Contains a subject and a verb
• Does not make a complete statement
• Cannot Stand Alone
• Begins with a subordinating conjunction or a
  relative pronoun
• after who
• although whom
• as that relative pronouns
• because which
• before subordinating conjunctions whose
• if
• since
• until
• when

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Examples of Dependent Clause

• 1. Because the student prepared for the exam, she
  answered all of the questions correctly.
• because is the subordinating conjunction
• the student is the subject
• prepared is the verb
• for the exam completes the dependent clause
• 2. The uniform that I am required to wear is
  green and brown.
• that is the relative pronoun
• I is the subject
• am is the verb
• required to wear completes the dependent clause

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Exercise Your MusclesPhrases

• Identify the type of phrase in the following
• Being an excellent cook, Ryan hosted a dinner
  party.
• To be elected president is his objective.
• The puppy chased the kitten around the house.
• Hoisting the sail correctly is a critical
  component of yachting.

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Answer Key

• Identify the type of phrase in the following
• Being an excellent cook, Ryan hosted a dinner
  party. Participial Phrase
• To be elected president is his objective.
  Infinitive Phrase
• The puppy chased the kitten around the house.
  Prepositional Phrase
• Hoisting the sail correctly is a critical
  component of yachting. Gerund Phrase

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Exercise Your MusclesClauses

• Identify the type of clause in the following
• I walk my dog every day.
• Because he is a teacher.
• As the soccer player scored the winning goal.
• Zeke hit his thumb with a hammer.

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Answer Key

• Identify the type of clause in the following
• I walk my dog every day. Independent
• Because he is a teacher. Dependent
• As the soccer player scored the winning goal.
  Dependent
• Zeke hit his thumb with a hammer. Independent

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Congratulations!

• You have successfully completed Building Muscle
  Phrases and Clauses of Grammar Boot Camp.
• Sign up for the other sessions of Grammar Boot
  Camp at the Stone Writing Centers Website
• http//www.delmar.edu/engl/wrtctr .

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Q What is an Adjective?

• A An adjective modifies a noun or a pronoun. It
  answers the question how many? what kind? or
  which one?
• Return to presentation.

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Q What is an Adverb?

• A An adverb modifies a verb, adjective, or
  another adverb. Adverbs tell where, when, why,
  how, how often, how much, or to what degree.
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Q What is a Noun?

• A A noun is a person, place, thing, or idea.
• Examples of Nouns
• person
  place thing
• A teacher living in Corpus Christi wrote a book
• idea
• about integrity.
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Q What is a Subordinating Conjunction?

• A A subordinating conjunction is a word that
  links sentence elements that are not of equal
  importance. The following is a list of common
  subordinating conjunctions
• after once until
• although since when
• as that whenever
• because though where
• before till wherever
• if unless while
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Q What is a Relative Pronoun?

• A A relative pronoun is a word that relates the
  dependent clause to the independent clause within
  a sentence. The following is a list of relative
  pronouns
• who whoever what
• whatever that whom
• whomever whose whichever
• which
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