This is one the topics
(in English) English teachers shy away from due to its complexity; thus,
leaving their students to walk in ignorance when they come across it in any
English examination. If you are reading this article and part of those who have
little or no understanding of the topic, I advise you pay rapt attention as we
sail.
THE MEANING OF
GRAMMATICAL NAMES AND GRAMMATICAL FUNCTION(S)
A Grammatical
name is the name given to a word, phrase or clause depending on its
function in a given clause or sentence. There are different grammatical names
such as noun phrase, adverbial phrase, adjectival phrase, prepositional phrase,
noun clause, adverbial clause and adjectival/relative clause. However, in this
episode, only the clauses (i.e., the noun clause, adverbial clause and
adjectival/relative clause) are discussed.
On the other hand, grammatical
function is the syntactic role played by a word, phrase or clause in
the context of a given clause or sentence. In English, the grammatical function
of a word, phrase or clause is determined by the position of
that word, phrase or clause in a particular clause or sentence.
Examples
1. Tammy slapped
the man.
2. The man slapped Tammy.
Whereas in example
1 Tammy (which is a noun) functions as the subject of
the verb, "slapped", in example 2, Tammy functions
as the object of the verb, "slapped". Therefore, in determining the
grammatical function of a word , phrase or clause, one must take into
cognizance the position of that word, phrase or clause in a given clause or
sentence.
Let's now discuss these grammatical names and their grammatical functions.
READ: PHRASES AND THEIR GRAMMATICAL FUNCTIONS
READ: PHRASES AND THEIR GRAMMATICAL FUNCTIONS
NOUN CLAUSE
A noun clause or nominal
clause is a dependent or subordinate clause that does the work of a noun in a
sentence. It generally functions as an appositive, the subject or the object of
a transitive verb, complement of subject, object and preposition.
Forms of a noun clause
A noun clause can take
either of these forms:
i. The TH-clause (or
that clause).
Example:
He said that he
was coming.
ii. The WH-clause.
Examples:
What he said propelled me.
How he did it surprised everyone.
iii. The -ing clause (or
gerundive clause)
Example:
Saying the truth is very important.
iv. The to-infinitive clause.
Example
To say the truth is very important.
Please note that the
expressions in bold are the noun clauses.
Functions of a noun
clause
A noun or nominal clause
plays the following functions in a clause or sentence:
1. A noun clause
functions as the subject of a verb in a given clause or sentence.
Examples:
i. What the
students did is quite appalling.
ii. How he passed
his exam remains a mystery.
In example 1, "What
the students did" is a noun clause functioning as the subject the verb,
"is", in the main clause. The complete statement, What the
students did is quite appalling, is the main/independent clause housing the
noun clause (which is also a dependent clause), "What the students
did".
Similarly, in example 2,
"How he passed his exam" is a noun clause functioning as the subject
of the verb, "remains". This noun clause is housed by the main
clause, How he passed his exam remains a mystery.
2. A noun clause
functions as the object of a verb in a given clause.
Examples
i. I don't know why
I am here.
"Why I am here"
is a (WH) noun clause functioning as the object of the verb phrase, "don't
know".
ii. The man said that
he was coming.
"That he was
coming" is a noun clause functioning as the object of the verb,
"said".
3. A noun clause
functions as a subject complement.
Examples
i. The point is what
caused the fire.
ii. The most important
thing is how I get home.
A subject complement
follows a linking verb and modifies or refers to the subject. In the examples
above, "what caused the fire" and "how I get home" are noun
clauses which function as the complement of the subjects, "The point"
and "The most important thing", respectively. It is obvious that each
of these noun clauses follows the linking verb, "is", and refers to
the subject which it complements.
Providing the correct
answers to these questions will let you know that each of these noun clauses in the
examples above refers to the subject which they complement:
Q1: What caused the fire?
A: The point.
Q2: How I get home is
what?
A: The most important
thing.
4. A noun clause
functions as an object complement.
Example:
They made her
husband what she liked.
"What she
liked" is a noun clause functioning as the complement of the object of the
sentence, "her husband".
5. A noun clause
functions as a complement or an object of a preposition.
Example
I am responsible
for what happened yesterday.
"What happened
yesterday" is a noun clause functioning as the object/complement of the
preposition, "for".
When a noun clause
functions as the complement/object of a preposition, it comes immediately after
the preposition. Here is another example:
"It depends on where
he wants to go."
"Where he wants to
go", as a noun clause, functions as the object/complement of the
preposition, "on".
6. A noun clause
functions as an appositive. When a noun clause functions as an appositive, it
further explains a noun or noun phrase which precedes it.
Example
My question, what
happened yesterday, has not been answered.
"What happened
yesterday" is in apposition to the noun phrase, "My question".
ADVERBIAL CLAUSE AND ITS
GRAMMATICAL FUNCTION
An adverbial clause is a
dependent clause that functions as an adverb; that is, it modifies a verb or
verb phrase, an adjective and a fellow adverb. Like every other clause, an
adverbial clause has a subject and a predicate although sometimes its subject
is implied.
There are different types
of adverbial clause: adverbial clause of time, place, manner, reason, condition, concession, etc.
Examples
1. It was raining when
I woke up.
"When I woke
up" is an adverbial clause of time.
Grammatical function: It modifies the
verb phrase, "was raining".
2. He died because
he was stabbed.
"Because he was
stabbed" is an adverbial clause of reason.
Function: It modifies the verb,
"died".
3. The incident
occurred where three roads meet.
"Where three roads meet" is an adverbial clause of place.
Function: It modifies the verb,
"occurred".
4. Tammy sang as
if he was hungry.
"As if he was
hungry" is an adverbial clause of manner.
Function: It modifies the verb
"sang".
5. I will never leave
you unless you bless me.
"Unless you bless
me" is an adverbial clause of condition.
Function: It modifies the verb
phrase, "will leave".
6. Although he
had the time and space, he didn't do his assignment.
"Although he had the
time and space" is adverbial clause of concession. This type of adverbial
clause shows a contrast between the main clause and the subordinate clause.
Function: It modifies the verb
phrase, "did do".
ADJECTIVAL CLAUSE AND ITS
GRAMMATICAL FUNCTION
An adjectival or relative
clause is a subordinate clause which gives more information about the noun or
pronoun it refers to in the main clause. The marketers of an adjectival clause
are relative pronouns such as who, that, whose, which, whom, which, what and
compound words such as whosoever, whichever and whatever. An adjectival clause
chiefly functions as a modifier of a noun or noun phrase.
Please note that an
adjectival clause is usually close to the noun it describes. Aside taking note
of its marketers, this is another way one can easily identify an adjectival
clause.
Examples
1. I know the place where
they hid the book.
"Where they hid the
book" is an adjectival clause.
Function: It modifies the noun
phrase, "the place".
2. This is the boy whose
result was stolen.
"Whose result was
stolen" is an adjectival clause.
Function: It modifies the noun phrase,
"the boy".
3. I like eating
oranges that are sweet.
"That are
sweet" is an adjectival clause.
Function: It modifies the noun,
"oranges".
In sum, to correctly and
easily identify the grammatical name and function of a given expression, one
must always look at the position of the subordinate clause in the main clause. As
regards this topic, position plays a vital role. It is not just
enough knowing the meaning and functions of these grammatical names.
