Basis

What is a phrase?

A phrase is a group of words with no finite verb.

Examples:

• John's bright blue car.
• In the kitchen.
• Not needing to change my licence.

What is a clause?

A clause is a group of words which always has a finite verbs.

Examples:

• Tom is wonderful teacher.
• Bofore she eats lunch.
• I went to the shop.
• Not needing to change my licence.

What is a finite verb?

A finite verb is the main verb in a sentence.

Can be:

• Present simple: My name is Same.
• Past simple: my name was Andy.
• Auxiliary:
  • Primary: Be, is, are, am, was, were, Do, did, does, Have, has, had
  • Modal: can, could, shall, should, may, might, will, would, must
    • After a modal verb always comes an infinitive verb.
  • Semi modal: have to, need to, want to, used to, get used to, be able to

Non-finite verb

Can be:

• Past participle: I have taught English for ever.
• Present participle: I am teaching.
• Gegunds: I like surfing.
• To infinitives: I love to teach English.

Independent and Dependent clauses

I don't drink beer before I go to work. (Adverb clause)

• I don't drink beer (Independent)
• before I go to work. (Dependent)

My friend who lives at the beach goes surfing every day. (Relative clause)

What I think is that we should study harder. (Noun clause)

6 ways to make a subject

1. Pronoun: I, you, he, she, it, we, they
2. Noun: David (Proper-name), The Eiggel tower, Cats (Common noun), Tables and chairs
3. Gerund (Informal):
   • Surfing is what he likes to do in his spare time.
   • Learning English is a great way to communicate.
   • Eating pizza is always a dream form me.
4. To infinitive (Formal):
   • To surf is what I like to do.
   • To really make a lovely chocolate cake you must first add water to the flour. (Instruction)
5. Noun phrase:
   • My big brown fluffy cat is hungry.
   • The boy next-door is my friend.
   • Her beautiful nest satin gown glows with moon lit stars.
6. Noun clause:
   • What you like is what I like and what I like is what you like.
   • What time is it now?
   • Where you were born is near my mother's house.
   • How he likes to eat his dinner is very strnage.

Auxiliary