Predicate Adjectives

A predicate adjective is a subject complement that is an adjective (see appositives):

·         I am not yet experienced. ("Experienced" is a predicate adjective that modifies the subject "I.")

Predicate Noun

A predicate noun (nominative) is a subject complement that is a noun:

·         I am a teacher. ("Teacher" is a predicate noun that refers to the subject "I.")

 

Adverb Phrases as Adjuncts

The first grammatical form that can perform the grammatical function of adjunct is the adverb phrase. Adverb phrases are defined as phrases that consist of an adverb plus any modifiers. For example, the following italicized adverb phrases function as adjuncts:

·         Honestly, his wife enjoys contemplating grammatical structures.

·         Prepositional phrases can also function as adjuncts.

·         Three genre courses are required for graduation, too.

·         Surprisingly, some grammar books incorrectly identify possessive determiners as pronouns.

·         Nonetheless, possessive adjectives are determiners, not pronouns.

Prepositional Phrases as Adjuncts

The second grammatical form that can perform the grammatical function of adjunct is the prepositional phrase. Prepositional phrases are defined as phrases that consist of a prepositional directly followed by a prepositional complement. For example, the following italicized prepositional phrases function as adjuncts:

·         For the love of all things holy, turn that music down!

·         With all due respect, I disagree with your conclusion.

·         In my opinion, verbs are much more exciting than nouns.

·         According to the most esteemed author, adjuncts are not to be confused with adverbials.

·         For the love of God, would you please clean up your bedroom?!

Prepositional phrases functioning as adjuncts often precede the main clause.

Adjuncts are optional grammatical structures that provide additional information to frame an entire clause. The two grammatical forms that can function as the adjunct in the English language are adverb phrases and prepositional phrases. Both native English-speakers and ESL students must learn and understand the two grammatical forms to correctly construct sentences that contain adjuncts in both spoken and written English.

Connectives are used to show the relationship between the first phrase and the second phrase in a sentence, between the first part and the second part of a sentence, between the first description and the second description in a sentence. In an effort to avoid confusion when we're writing or speaking, we also use connectives to alert the listener or reader that we are about to place emphasis on a topic or about to change the direction the conversation is going.

If you're not familiar with grammatical connectives, here are just a few examples:

·         Therefore

·         Nevertheless

·         Although

·         But

·         Furthermore

·         Maybe

  An interrupter, or parenthetical element, is any sentence element that interrupts the forward movement of a clause. An interrupter is set off from the clause it interrupts by parenthetical punctuation. 

 

    Parenthetical elements vary in intensity, and their relative strength is indicated by the form of punctuation used to set them off. Sometimes, a weak parenthetical element needs no punctuation at all:

 

 

                 ~I also doubt his story.

 

 

    The main forms of parenthetical punctuation are, in ascending order of strength, commas, dashes, and parentheses. (Square brackets also have special uses as parenthetical punctuation.)