Advanced English Grammar

Exercise 1. (Chapter 1)

Read the two excerpts below from L. Caroll’s Alice in Wonderland and answer the questions that follow each excerpt.

 

Excerpt 1.

Alice was beginning to (1) get very (2) tired of sitting by her sister on the bank, and of having nothing to do: once or twice she had peeped into the book her (3) sister was reading, but it (4) had no (5) pictures or (6) conversations in it, ‘and what (7) is the use of a book’ thought Alice (8), ‘without pictures or conversation?’ So she was considering in her own mind (as well (9) as she could (10), for the hot day made her feel very sleepy and stupid), whether (11) the pleasure of making a daisy-chain would be worth the trouble of (12) getting up (13) and picking the daisies, when (14) suddenly a White Rabbit with pink eyes ran close by her (15). (L. Caroll, Alice in Wonderland)

 

(a)      Identify the part of speech of the items in italics.

(b)      Consider the form have as it is used in the excerpt (underlined forms). Is it finite or non-finite? Is have used as a lexical verb or as an auxiliary? (See Chapter 2, Section 2.4)

(c)      Identify the relative clause that features in the excerpt; is it restrictive or non-restrictive? (See Chapter 3, Section 4.2)

 

Excerpt 2.

‘Take some more tea,’ the March Hare said to Alice, very earnestly.

‘I’ve had nothing yet,’ Alice replied in an offended tone, ‘so I can’t take more.’

‘You mean you can’t take less,’ said the Hatter: ‘it’s very easy to take more than nothing.’

‘Nobody asked your opinion,’ said Alice.

‘Who’s making personal remarks now?’ the Hatter asked triumphantly. (L. Caroll, Alice in Wonderland)

 

(a)      Identify all the quantifiers. Are these determiners or pronouns? (See Chapter 3, Section 3.2)

(b)     Find an example of a lexical verb that is non-finite, a lexical verb that is finite, a modal auxiliary, and be functioning as a progressive marker. (See Chapter, Section 2.2

 

Exercise 2. (Chapter 1)

Complete the sentence with one of the following words. Then identify all Subjects, Subject Complements, Direct Objects and Object Complements.

 

 

1.         They seem _______ to start working.

2.         We want to paint our house _______.

3.         Aspirin will help keep the pain _______.

4.         This hotel room smells _______.

5.         I’m feeling _______ – can we eat soon?

6.         The news made all of us very _______.

 

 

1.         They elected her _______.

2.         This milk tastes slightly _______.

3.         He remains somewhat _______ of the plan.

4.         The critics found the novel _______.

5.         Did you actually call me _______?

6.         The children are growing _______.

 

Exercise 3. (Chapter 1)

Identify the prepositions and subordinating conjunctions in the following sentences. Then identify the PrepPs, Objects of Prepositions and subclauses. What is the function of the PrepPs and subclauses?

 

1.      Until yesterday, I’d never heard his music.

2.      Until you’ve heard the album, you can’t have an opinion.

3.      Since I’ve known her, I’ve never heard her complain.

4.      I’ve known her since childhood.

5.      Do you want to have a drink before the film?

6.      I never read what the critics say before I see a film.

7.      Don’t exercise after a heavy meal.

8.      After you’ve eaten, we can leave.

9.      As soon as they arrive, let me know.

10.  They might get here as soon as tomorrow.

 

Exercise 4. (Chapter 1)

Are the following claims true or false? If a claim is false, provide evidence to this effect.

 

1.      A Prepositional Object always has the form of a PrepP.

2.      A NP necessarily consists of more than one word.

3.      An Adjunct can be a finite clause, a non-finite clause, a PrepP, an NP or an AdjP.

4.      A Subject Complement is never realized by an AdjP.

5.      An Object Complement is never realized by an AdjP.

6.      A Prepositional Complement is a type of Prepositional Object.

7.      A PrepP can complement a noun, an adjective or a verb.

8.      A Subject Complement can be realized by an AdvP.

9.      Object of a Preposition is a function at the level of the clause.

10.  An Indirect Object is necessarily realized as an NP.

 

Exercise 5. (Chapter 1)

Identify the finite and non-finite subclauses (including any relative clauses and appositive clauses) in the following sentences and indicate their function.

 

1.      As far as I know, retiring before the age of 65 is no longer possible in this country.

2.      Although she lives in New York, she refuses to take public transport, claiming that it’s too expensive and that she needs a car.

3.      The belief that there is good debt and bad debt is something I’ve never really bought into.

4.      As long as I know what time you are arriving, I don’t mind picking you up when you arrive at the station.

5.      When I was a boy, I made my sister play with me because I didn’t have any friends of my own.

6.      While I agree with you up to a point, to make such an important decision without everyone’s consent is asking for trouble.

7.      Helping children learn more about recycling is something she has always been good at.

8.      I wonder if I can get a seat in first class if I pay for an upgrade.