Main ClauseA main clause is not subordinate
to or dependent on any other clause, eg. I am happy. Also called
matrix clauses. Main VerbA main verb is a VERB with
independent meaning which can stand alone in a sentence. For example,
I am here. He is signing the contract. Major Word ClassThe major word classes are
NOUN, DETERMINER, ADJECTIVE, ADVERB, PREPOSITION, VERB and CONJUNCTION.
Many, though not all, of these are also open-class items. Manner AdverbA type of CIRCUMSTANTIAL ADVERB
which expresses the manner in which an action is performed. He ran
quickly. Mass NounA noun denoting an undifferentiated
substance, e.g. wool, nitrogen, sugar, water
and music. These are also called NON-COUNT NOUNS. Matrix ClauseThe whole of I think I'd
like coffee is a matrix clause, consisting of a main clause and a
subordinate clause. Matrix clauses are generally finite, but cf. imperative
clauses. Minor Word ClassThe minor word classes include
FORMULAIC EXPRESSIONS, INTERJECTIONS, PARTICLES, EXISTENTIAL THERE
and special cases of the personal pronoun it, dummy it,
prop it, anticipatory it and cleft it. Most, though
not all, of these are also closed-class items Modal AuxiliaryA modal auxiliary is a type
of AUXILIARY VERB. These auxiliaries express meanings such as permission
(may), obligation (must), prediction (will, shall),
ability (can), etc. ModificationIn a phrase (e.g. a noun phrase) another phrase can occur before or after the Head word. These phrases add something to the meaning of the head (i.e. they modify their meaning). For example: Red lorry, father of the bride. In the first example, the Head lorry is premodified by red. In the second example, the Head father is postmodified by the preposition phrase of the bride. Monotransitive VerbMonotransitive
verbs are verbs that take one Complement, namely a Direct Object, e.g.
Tim cut the grass. MoodMood is used to classify verbs e.g. indicative, subjunctive forms. It is also used for classifying clauses - declarative, imperative, interrogative, exclamative. Multi-Word VerbA multi-word verb is a unit
composed of a verb plus one or more other words, eg. Dad woke up
this morning. The semi-auxiliaries are multi-word verbs, eg.
I am going to leave now.
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