ENGLISH 2 GRAMMAR REVIEW

THE INFINITIVE The basic form of all verbs is the infinitive, consisting of the verb and the word to, as in to fly, to wander, and to twitter. You can usually recognize an infinitive by putting the word to in front of it. If the to fits, chances are you’ve got an infinitive. If the combination makes no sense, as in to carried, to shrunk, and to eating, you can bet that the verb is in some other form.

THE SUBJUNCTIVE Technically, the subjunctive is not a separate verb form. Rather it’s called mood. Regardless of the label, though, you should know how it works because verbs change when sentences are cast in subjunctive. The subjunctive is used to express a condition contrary to the fact, usually in sentences beginning with if, as if or as though: If I were (not was ) rich, I’d buy myself a sailboat. (The sentence is contrary to the fact because I am not rich). Use the subjunctive, too, in statements expressing a wish: I wish I were (not was ) wealthy enough to buy a sailboat. In each instance, the singular verb was has been changed to were, as though the subject were (was not) plural. The subjunctive is also used to convey a sense of doubt: If only the bus were (not was ) uncrowded, we could find a seat. Finally, the subjunctive is used to make a recommendation, a request, or a demand: The lawyer insisted that her client be (not should be ) released on bail.

CLAUSES A clause is part of a sentence that contains a subject and a verb. By that definition, a clause sounds strangely like a sentence, and to a point, it is a sentence – but even though some clauses are complete sentences, others are not. Those that are full-fledged sentences go by the name of independent, or main clauses, which can stand alone, strong and grammatically perfect. The others are called dependent clauses because they depend for their meaning and grammatical validity on independent clauses. Without an independent clause, they would be sentence fragments – that is, incomplete sentences. To illustrate, here is a complete, independent sentence with its subject and verb italicized: Hank chewed a wad of bubble gum. Now let’s add a dependent clause: Because he was nervous, Hank chewed a wad of bubble gum. The new clause contains a subject (he) and a verb (was), but by themselves they don’t make a sentence. The clause Because he was nervous is a fragment, a piece of a sentence. On its own, it lacks grammatical status, which can be achieved only by attaching it to an independent clause.

NOUN CLAUSES Dependent clauses serve various functions. They can serve as nouns, as adjectives, and even as adverbs. When they act like nouns, they are called noun clauses ; when they act like adjectives, they go by the name adjective clauses, and so on. Noun clauses often begin with words such as that, which, who, whom, when, and whatever. They can be the subject of a sentence, the object of a preposition, or the object of a verb, among other things. Whoever chews gum regularly can develop strong jaw muscles ( whoever chews gum regularly is the subject). Over time, Hank discovered that he was a gum addict ( that he was a gum addict is the object of the verb discovered ).

ADJECTIVE CLAUSES Adjective clauses often begin with relative pronouns who, whom, whose, which, or that. Like single-word adjectives, they modify nouns and pronouns. The bag that held Hank’s gum supply was plastic. The clause that held Hank’s gum supply was plastic. Hank had paid the woman who sells bags full of gum two dollars for it. The clause who sells bags full of gum modifies woman.

ADVERBIAL CLAUSES Adverbial clauses start with such words as although, because, while, since, as, as though, unless, so that, and many other subordinating conjunctions. They modify verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. If Hank had known the effects of gum, he would not have started chewing. The clause if Hank had known the effects of gum modifies the verb would not have started. Frankly, knowing the names and characteristics of various types of clauses won’t take you far in this world. What’s important is knowing that a variety of clauses can help you develop a more interesting and varied style in speech and writing.