English Paper 2
Definition of terms
Semantics: This involves the study of the meaning of words, signals, or sentences to influence comprehension and language learning in daily communication (Cambridge English Dictionary, n.d). For example, the term ‘crash’ can be used in a sentence to mean a drop in the stock market, ocean waves hitting the shore, or attending a party uninvited.
Syntax: the rules that govern the arrangement of words to form phrases, clauses, and sentences.
Phonology: this constitutes the study of speech sounds, which is a fundamental component of language.
Lexicography: this is the activity of writing, compiling, making, or editing a dictionary.
Morphology: this is the study of the rules that govern the formation of words in a language (Bauer, Lieber & Plag, 2013).
Noun as an Object of the Verb
Nouns form a fundamental part in sentence structure as it provides the subject that acts as a verb. However, a noun does not only function as a subject of a verb but also as an object of the verb. Being an object of the verb means that the noun (which could be a person, thing, or place) receives the action of the verb (Socratic.org, 2016). In most sentence cases, the noun acts as the subject of the verb (person, thing, or place that performs the action). Despite that, it can be used to serve as the object of the verb, as described in the following examples.
(a) The school administration will take action against cheating in exams. In this sentence, ‘action’ is the object of the verb ‘will take.’
(b) The wildebeests are crossing the river. In this case, ‘the river’ acts as the object to the verb ‘are crossing.’
(c) He didn’t realize the deadline was overdue. In this sentence, ‘the deadline’ acts as an object of the verb, ‘didn’t realize.’ In this case, however, ‘the deadline’ is an indirect object while ‘he’ is the direct object of the verb.
Uses of modal verbs
As its name indicates, these are verbs that are used to indicate modality. They are used to describe probability, suggestion, ability, permission, obligation, request, or advice (Markham, 2017). Most common modal verbs include can/could, may/might, must, will/would, and shall/should. In the sentence, ‘I don’t know what Sharon was doing. She could have missed the train,’ ‘could have’ indicates the probability or certainty. Modal verbs like ‘must,’ ‘have to,’ and should are used to give advice or obligation. Adding ‘not’ after the modal verb makes it negative. For example, ‘I can drive’ can be negated by adding ‘not’ to be ‘I cannot drive.’ Modal verbs often come after the subject of the sentence. For example, in the sentence, ‘My father can play golf very well,’ the modal verb ‘can’ comes after the subject ‘father.’ Modal verbs do not change forms when used in a different tense. For instance, ‘can,’ ‘must’ and ‘may’ are only used in the present tense, and they have to be replaced when the tense changes. For example, in a sentence, ‘I can drive’ its past tense will be ‘I was able to drive.’ Infinitive verbs, except those with ‘to,’ are used after modal verbs. For example, ‘He must be joking.’ Modal verbs, such as could, would are used to achieve polite expressions as compared to can and will. For example, ‘could you please explain that again’ is more polite than saying, ‘can you please explain that again.’
Transitive and Intransitive verbs
A transitive verb is a verb with an object, while an intransitive verb does not have an object. This means that transitive verbs will make sense in a sentence if it exerts its action on an object while intransitive can make sense without an object (English Grammar, 2013).
Transitive verbs do not only take but demand objects for the sentence to make sense. Thus, without an object, the sentence would be regarded as incomplete. For example, in a sentence, ‘Please bring tea.’ In this case, the verb ‘bring’ is transitive, and the sentence would not be complete if there were no object ‘tea’ in the sentence. A simple way to identify the object would be asking ‘what?’ ‘Whom?’ or ‘where?’
Intransitive verbs, on the other hand, do not require an object to act on them. Examples; They sang, Levi ate before studying, and the dog ran. The verbs ‘sang’, ‘ate’ and ‘ran’ do not require any object for the sentence to make sense. These verbs do not have direct objects and, thus, can be identified as intransitive verbs. Even the imperative forms of these verbs such as ‘run!’ ‘eat!’ and ‘sing!’ are comprehendible. Furthermore, some verbs can only be used without an object. Examples include die and arrive.
Auxiliary verbs
In English grammar, auxiliary verbs are used together with the main verbs to form various voices, tenses, and moods (Joshi, 2014). They perform five main functions, which are; modal, passive, operator, perfect, and progressive. These verbs include the do-operator, the perfect have, passive be, progressive be, modal and quasimodal verbs. Auxiliary verbs that express modality include the modal verbs such as can/could, may/might, shall/should, will/would and must. Quasi modal verbs, on the other hand, include ought to, used to, had better, need, and dare. For example, a) I had better go home before it gets late. ‘Had better’ is an auxiliary (helping) verb to the main verb ‘go.’ b) she is used to singing in the bathroom. c) I can visit over the weekend. An auxiliary verb that can act as an operator is ‘do.’ For example a) Do you want to go out? b) I do love ice cream. c) I did travel to Australia in December. Perfect auxiliary verbs are used to express the ideal aspect of sentences. For example, a) We have already left. b) I have not watched it yet. c) My books had been taken. Progressive auxiliary verbs express the progressive aspect in a sentence. For example a) they were walking when the rain started. b) He was riding his bike when the accident occurred. c) I was sleeping when they entered the room. Lastly, ‘be’ is an auxiliary verb that is used to express a passive voice. For example, a) the work is being proofread.
Past simple tense and present perfect tense
Past simple tense is used to talk about things that existed before now or a finished time. Past simple tense also describes actions in a definite time. On the other hand, present perfect tense refers to an action(s) that has taken place in the past but has present consequences as it describes an unfinished time (Declerck, Reed & Cappelle, 2006). It outlines actions in an indefinite time. While past simple tense express finished or repeated actions, present perfect tense describes experience or result. Example of sentences in the simple past tense; a) I witnessed the September 11 attacks. b) I was born in Australia in May 1997. Examples of sentences in present perfect tense; a) I have watched that show three times this month. b) I have been living with my mother since 2010.
References
Bauer, L., Lieber, R., & Plag, I. (2013). English morphology and theories of morphology. The Oxford Reference Guide to English Morphology, 628-642. doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198747062.003.0029
Declerck, R., Reed, S., & Cappelle, B. (2006). The grammar of the English tense system: A comprehensive analysis. Walter de Gruyter.
Joshi, M. (2014). undefined. Manik Joshi.
Markham, A. (2017). Learn real English modal verbs.
Semantics | meaning in the Cambridge English dictionary. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/semantics
Verbs can be transitive and intransitive. (2013). English Grammar, 158-161. doi:10.4324/9781315881256-30
What is a subject noun and an object noun? + example. (2016, February 11). Retrieved from https://socratic.org/questions/what-is-a-subject-noun-and-an-object-noun