Understanding Adverbs and Sentence Structure

• Adverbs modify adjectives, verbs, or other adverbs.

Types of Adverbs:

• Adverbs of Manner answer "how" an action is performed (e.g., The man walked slowly).
• Adverbs of Time answer "when" (e.g., I will call tomorrow).
• Adverbs of Place answer "where" (e.g., Marie is playing outside).
• Adverbs of Frequency answer "how often" (e.g., I buy coffee regularly).
• Adverbs of Degree answer "how much" or "to what extent" (e.g., Mathilde is very happy at the ball).
• Adverbs of Negation form negative statements (e.g., Jules is not happy with the report).

Sentence Structure:

• The subject, a noun or pronoun, performs the verb's action.
• The predicate describes what the subject is doing.
• Modifiers are descriptive words (adjectives/adverbs) that enhance the sentence.
• For example: The bright yellow fish swims swiftly and beautifully.

Clauses:

• A clause is a word group containing a subject and a predicate, often using conjunctions or conjunctive adverbs.
• Independent clauses (IC) are complete and can stand alone.
• Dependent clauses (DC) are incomplete and cannot stand alone.
• Example: When he started speaking, everyone listened, "when he started speaking" is DC, and "everyone listened" is IC
• Simple Sentence: IC = Subject + Verb; it has one subject and predicate, with possibilities for compound subjects and predicates.
• Compound Sentence: IC + IC, connected by coordinating/correlative conjunctions or conjunctive adverbs, and uses two or more subject and predicate.
  • Coordinating conjunctions: FANBOYS (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).
  • Correlative conjunctions: either… or, neither… nor, both… and, not only… but also.
  • Conjunctive adverbs: also, however, hence, thus, likewise, otherwise, etc.
• Complex Sentence: IC + DC, where dependent clauses are introduced by subordinating conjunctions.
  • Subordinating conjunctions include when, because, unless, though, until, etc., indicating time, cause, condition, contrast, purpose, or comparison.

Idioms:

• An idiom is a phrase with a non-literal meaning specific to a group or culture, and can add creativity to language.

Classifications of Idioms:

• Physical States:
  • "Act up" means causing bodily discomfort.
  • "Burn out" means being unable to perform well.
  • "On edge" means nervous and jittery.
• Emotional States:
  • "Make up" means restoring affectionate relations.
  • "Take aback" means to surprise and shock.
  • "Count on" means trusting someone for something.
• Human Relations:
  • "Butter up" means to flatter.
  • "Make up for" means to compensate.
  • "On call" means standing by to help when needed.
• Organizing Facts and Ideas:
  • "Pin down" means to define or identify exactly.
  • "Run through" means another look.
  • "Sort out" means organize.
• More examples:
  • Great mood means feeling happy or in a positive emotional state.
  • Nailed it means did something very well or successfully, especially after effort or challenge.
  • Crush it means To perform extremely well or succeed at something.
  • Hit the books means To study, especially in preparation for an exam.
  • Pull it off means to succeed in something difficult or challenging.
  • Stay focused means to keep your attention on the task at hand without getting distracted.
  • Stress you out means to make you feel anxious or overwhelmed.
  • Huge means very big or significant; can mean very successful or popular.
  • Talk of the town means something or someone that everyone is talking about or widely discussed.
  • Down means willing to do something; ready to participate.
  • Blast means a lot of fun or enjoyment.

Prepositional Phrases:

• A phrase is a word group functioning as a single unit.
• A preposition links one word to another in a sentence.
• A prepositional phrase contains a preposition, its object, and any modifiers.
• They show relationships of time, place, direction, agents and things, instruments, possession, and manner; they act as modifiers.

Types of Prepositions:

• Prepositions for time: on, at, in, for, to, since, before, until, after, by (e.g., I need to submit my assignment before 5 PM; "before 5 PM" is the prepositional phrase).
• Prepositions for place and direction: on, at, in, by, between, through, among, over, under, in front of, toward, behind, before, from, above, below, out, inside, outside (e.g., My friend sent me a letter from Korea; "from Korea" is the prepositional phrase).
• Prepositions for agents and things (causal relationships): by, with, for, about, because, of (e.g., The book was written about the Philippine history; "about the Philippine History" is the prepositional phrase).
• Prepositions for instruments: with, through, on, by (e.g., My father managed to tighten the screw with a screwdriver; "with a screwdriver" is the prepositional phrase).
• Prepositions for possession: of, with (e.g., Avi owns the phone with a bow wallpaper; "with a bow wallpaper" is the prepositional phrase).
• Prepositions for manner: like, by, with, in (e.g., The group walked the red carpet with pride; "with pride" is the prepositional phrase).

Comparison-Contrast Essay:

• Comparing identifies the similarities between two things.
• Contrasting identifies the differences between two things.
• A comparison-contrast essay explores both similarities and differences to shed light on subtle aspects.

Essay Structure:

• Pre-writing: Select a good topic, list similarities and differences.
• Writing: The introduction includes a hook (statistics, quotes, anecdotes, questions), background information, and a thesis statement.
  • The thesis should identify the points of comparison and contrast.
  • The body consists of 2-3 paragraphs.
• Organization:
  • Point by point: compares one aspect/feature at a time.
  • Subject by subject/Block pattern: discusses one topic at a time.
• The body paragraphs should have facts and examples.
• Use transition words to establish similarities and differences.
• Conclusion: summarize the discussion and provide closure.
• Post-writing: Edit for weak arguments, incorrect information, or faulty reasoning; proofread for grammar errors.

Explore adverbs: manner, time, place, frequency, degree, and negation. Learn about sentence structure including subjects, predicates, and modifiers. Understand clauses and their role in forming complex sentences.