sentence
Subjects
■
37b
549
Positioning subjects
The subject usually comes before the predicate (37a), but sometimes writers
reverse this order to achieve a particular effect.
o
Up to the plate stepped Casey.
In questions, the subject appears between the helping verb and the main verb.
o
o
Can statistics lie?
How did the manager turn these players into a winning team?
In sentences beginning with there or here followed by a form of the verb be, the
subject always follows the verb. There and here are never the subject.
o
There was no joy in Mudville.
■
Using explicit subjects
MULTILINGUAL
While many languages can omit a sentence subject, English very rarely allows
this. You might write Responsible for analyzing data on a résumé, but in most varieties of spoken and written English, you must state the subject explicitly. In fact,
with only a few exceptions, all clauses in English must have an explicit subject.
it
o
They took the Acela Express to Boston because was fast.
^
English even requires a kind of “dummy” subject to fill the subject position in
certain kinds of sentences.
o
o
It is raining.
There is a strong wind.
Imperative sentences (37f), which express requests or commands, are an exception
to the rule of explicit subjects; the subject you is usually implied rather than stated.
o
(You) Keep your eye on the ball.
EXERCISE 37.1
Identify the complete subject and the simple subject in each sentence. Example:
The tall, powerful woman defiantly blocked the doorway.
Complete subject: The tall, powerful woman
Simple subject: woman
1. That container of fried rice has spent six weeks in the back of the refrigerator.
2. Did the new tour guide remember to stop in the Ancient Greek gallery?
3. There was one student still taking the exam when the bell rang.
sentence
37c
550
GRAMMAR t 1BSUTPG4FOUFODFT
4. Japanese animation, with its cutting-edge graphics and futuristic plots, has
earned many American admirers.
5. Sniffer dogs trained to detect drugs, blood, and explosives can help solve
crimes and save lives.
37c Predicates
In addition to a subject, every sentence has a predicate, which asserts or asks something about the subject or tells the subject to do something. The key word of most
predicates is a verb. The simple predicate of a sentence consists of the main verb
and any auxiliaries; the complete predicate includes the simple predicate and any
modifiers of the verb and any objects or complements (37a) and their modifiers.
o
COMPLETE PREDICATE
Both of us are planning to major in history.
A compound predicate contains two or more verbs that have the same subject,
usually joined by a coordinating or a correlative conjunction (36g).
o
Omar shut the book, put it back on the shelf, and sighed.
On the basis of how they function in predicates, verbs can be divided into
three categories: linking, transitive, and intransitive.
■
Identifying linking verbs
A linking verb connects a subject with a subject complement (sc), a word or
word group that identifies or describes the subject.
S
V
SC
o
Christine is an excellent teacher.
o
She is patient.
S
V
SC
A subject complement can be either a noun or pronoun (teacher) or an adjective
(patient).
The forms of be, when used as main verbs, are common linking verbs. Other
verbs, such as appear, become, feel, grow, look, make, seem, smell, and sound, can
also function as linking verbs, depending on the sense of the sentence.
S
V
SC
o
The neighborhood looked prosperous.
■
Identifying transitive verbs
MULTILINGUAL
A transitive verb expresses action that is directed toward a noun or pronoun
called the direct object (do).
o
S
V
DO
He peeled all the rutabagas.
cs/fused
Linking two independent clauses with a dash
46g
641
EXERCISE 46.1
Using two of the methods in this chapter, revise each item to correct its comma splice
or fused sentence. Use each of the methods at least once. Example:
so
I had misgivings about the marriage, I did not attend the ceremony.
Because
^
I had misgivings about the marriage, I did not attend the ceremony.
^
1. Many motorists are unaware of the dangers of texting while driving, lawmakers
have taken the matter into their own hands.
2. The tallest human on record was Robert Wadlow he reached an amazing height
of eight feet, eleven inches.
3. Some employers provide on-site care for the children of their employees, others reimburse workers for day-care costs.
4. The number of vaccine manufacturers has plummeted the industry has been hit
with a flood of lawsuits.
5. Most crustaceans live in the ocean, some also live on land or in freshwater
habitats.
6. She inherited some tribal customs from her grandmother, she knows the sewing technique called Seminole patchwork.
7. Don’t throw your soda cans in the trash recycle them.
8. My West Indian neighbor has lived in New England for years, nevertheless, she
always feels betrayed by winter.
9. The Hope diamond in the Smithsonian Institution is impressive in fact, it looks
even larger in person than online.
10. You signed up for the course now you’ll have to do the work.
EXERCISE 46.2
Revise the following paragraph, eliminating all comma splices by using a period or a
semicolon. Then revise the paragraph again, this time using any of the other methods
in this chapter. Comment on the two revisions. What differences in rhythm do you
detect? Which version do you prefer, and why?
We may disagree on the causes of global warming, however, we cannot
ignore that it is happening. Of course we still experience cold winters, on the
other hand, average global temperatures have risen drastically for the last three
decades. Polar ice caps are melting, as a result, sea levels are rising. Scientists
predict more extreme weather in the coming decades, droughts will probably
be more common, in addition, flooding and tropical storm activity may increase.
Some experts fear that rising temperatures may cause large amounts of methane
frag
47c
Revising compound-predicate fragments
645
47c Revising compound-predicate fragments
A compound predicate consists of two or more verbs, along with their modifiers and objects, that share the same subject. Fragments occur when one
part of a compound predicate lacks a subject but is punctuated as a separate
sentence. These fragments usually begin with and, but, or or. You can revise
them by attaching them to the independent clause that contains the rest of
the predicate.
o
and
They sold their house. And moved into an apartment.
^
EXERCISE 47.1
Revise each of the following items to eliminate any sentence fragments, either by
combining fragments with independent clauses or by rewriting them as separate
sentences. Example:
Zoe looked close to tears.
Zoe looked close to tears. Standing with her head bowed.,
She was standing
^
Zoe looked close to tears. Standing with her head bowed.
^
1. Long stretches of white beaches and shady palm trees. Give tourists the
impression of an island paradise.
2. Forgetting to study for an exam. That is what many college students are
afraid of.
3. Much of New Orleans is below sea level. Making the city susceptible to
flooding.
4. Uncle Ron forgot to bring his clarinet to the party. Fortunately for us.
5. Oscar night is an occasion for celebrating the film industry. And criticizing the
fashion industry.
6. Diners in Creole restaurants might try shrimp gumbo. Or order turtle soup.
7. In the late 1940s, women began hosting Tupperware parties. Casual gatherings
in which the hosts act as salespersons.
8. Attempting to lose ten pounds in less than a week. I ate only cottage cheese
and grapefruit.
9. Our parents did not realize that we were hoarding our candy. Under our beds.
10. Thomas Edison was famous for his inventions. For example, the phonograph
and the first practical lightbulb.
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