by Donna | Mar 9, 2011
Earlier I said that we teach two main categories of verbs—action and Be a Helper, Link verbs (BHL verbs).
There is another “category” of verbs that you should learn, however. That is the group of verbs (also used as other parts of speech) known as the infinitive.
We teach infinitives as verbs (and early on) for a couple of reasons:
- While they might act like other parts of speech (i.e. modifying, being the sentence’s main subject, etc.) at times, more often than not, they act like verbs.
- They can describe what a subject is doing: The girl decided to write the letter.
- They can have BHL verbs with them: She had to take her medicine.
- They can have adverbs with them (when they are comprised of action verbs): She wanted to write beautifully.
- They can have direct objects with them (when they are comprised of action verbs): The girl wanted to eat chocolates.
- They can have predicate adjectives with them (when they are comprised of BHL verbs): She wanted to be careful.
They can have predicate nominatives with them (when they are comprised of BHL verbs): She wanted to be an actress.
Tomorrow—more on infinitives.
by Donna | Mar 8, 2011
You have been learning the characteristics of a subject and a verb. There are unique subjects, however, as well as unique verbs.
You have already learned that the sentence’s main subject has the following characteristics:
- It is usually in the first part of the
sentence (the subject part of the sentence as opposed to the predicate part).
- It is usually a noun or pronoun.
- It is the word that the whole sentence is about.
- It is the word that tells who or what did the verb.
However, what do you do if a sentence does not appear to contain a subject?
For example, what is the subject in this “sentence”:
Learn your subjects well.
In the sentence that you examined above, it looks like there is no subject!
In this sentence, the subject is you! The sentence is really saying You learn your subjects well.
Sometimes sentences that are direct commands or parts of conversations do not have a subject written down, but the writer intends for the subject to be an understood you.
This is called the understood subject.
Sentences with understood subjects have the following characteristics:
1. They do not have the subject
written. Examples:
1) Do not forget to write to Grandma.
a) Who should not forget?
b) You
2) Try to be a light in your home.
a) Who should try to be a light?
b) You!
2. They are often commands of some type. For
example: Get off the furniture!
3. They usually begin with the verb of the
sentence: Water the plants.
4. Sometimes they can begin with adverbs:
Carefully water the plants.
by Donna | Mar 7, 2011
What “language mishaps” have driven you crazy lately? Mine is how everybody puts up signs that say “Sorry for the inconvenience” without checking how inconvenience is spelled! Agghh…..surely it isn’t that much of an “inconvenience” to look it up! 🙂
Others? Signs that have the following errors are recent ones:
1. It’s when the person means its
2. “There going fast” instead of They’re (say it uncontracted—they are…and you will know if you have the correct one!)
3. No mark between phrases to show that a phrase ended and another one started—
Great Sale on
Tires Get Your
Oil Changed Today
Even this is better:
Great Sale on
Tires—Get Your
Oil Changed Today
Enough complaining for tonight! Have a happily-correct grammar week!
by Donna | Mar 6, 2011
You have been learning the characteristics of a subject and a verb. There are unique subjects, however, as well as unique verbs.
You have already learned that the sentence’s main subject has the following characteristics:
- It is usually in the first part of the
sentence (the subject part of the sentence as opposed to the predicate part).
- It is usually a noun or pronoun.
- It is the word that the whole sentence is about.
- It is the word that tells who or what did the verb.
However, what do you do if a sentence does not appear to contain a subject?
For example, what is the subject in this “sentence”:
Learn your subjects well.
In the sentence that you examined above, it looks like there is no subject!
In this sentence, the subject is you! The sentence is really saying You learn your subjects well.
Sometimes sentences that are direct commands or parts of conversations do not have a subject written down, but the writer intends for the subject to be an understood you.
This is called the understood subject.
Sentences with understood subjects have the following characteristics:
1. They do not have the subject
written. Examples:
1) Do not forget to write to Grandma.
a) Who should not forget?
b) You
2) Try to be a light in your home.
a) Who should try to be a light?
b) You!
2. They are often commands of some type. For
example: Get off the furniture!
3. They usually begin with the verb of the
sentence: Water the plants.
4. Sometimes they can begin with adverbs:
Carefully water the plants.
by Donna | Mar 3, 2011
Find the action verbs (those that are infinitives—to plus a verb and those that are action verbs without to. Remember—a sentence can have many action verbs throughout it.
- Joshua and Jonathan drove to the church early, opened the doors, and began shooting hoops.
- Ray went to work early since he wanted to be home in time to go to basketball practice with Jacob that evening.
- Since the regular coach attended a meeting that day, Josiah coached the kids with enthusiasm.
- Kayla went to work right away, meeting people and helping where ever she was needed.
- Donna loved to write, edit, and teach.
- Kids tend to laugh loudly, play rough, and jump around when the weather starts dumping rain too many days in a row.
- She was going to cook the meal, clean the dining room, and pay bills, but her novel was calling her name.
- They did not want to be late arriving since they were about to perform a very important piece.
by Donna | Mar 3, 2011
Are you ready to see how good you are at finding action verbs? Time for another pop quiz!
Find the action verbs (those that are infinitives—to plus a verb and those that are action verbs without to. Remember—a sentence can have many action verbs throughout it.
- Joshua and Jonathan drove to the church early, opened the doors, and began shooting hoops.
- Ray went to work early since he wanted to be home in time to go to basketball practice with Jacob that evening.
- Since the regular coach attended a meeting that day, Josiah coached the kids with enthusiasm.
- Kayla went to work right away, meeting people and helping where ever she was needed.
- Donna loved to write, edit, and teach.
- Kids tend to laugh loudly, play rough, and jump around when the weather starts dumping rain too many days in a row.
- She was going to cook the meal, clean the dining room, and pay bills, but her novel was calling her name.
- They did not want to be late arriving since they were about to perform a very important piece.
