Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[hanygeorge38]

Hello Teachers,

Could you tel me the meaning of the following grammar terms :-

Corrosponding verbs


predicate adjective


Please make it simple as possible as you can ?


Thanks
_________________
hany

[bud]

Hi Hany,

corresponding verbs: I'm not aware of this as a formal grammar term... We talk about verbs corresponding to their subjects. Could you have seen it in that context? something like "... subjects and their corresponding verbs...?"

predicate adjective: A predicate adjective is an adjective that is used to predicate an attribute of the subject.

Here are some examples of predicate adjectives:
Roses are red.
Noses often become red.

taken from: http://www.sil.org/linguistics/GlossaryOfLinguisticTerms/WhatIsAPredicateAdjective.htm

Hope that helps

[advoca]

Hi hanygeorge38,

May I raise a warning flag? What you asked for are not Grammar terms.
They are terms used in Linguistics.

Do not confuse Grammar with Linguistics.

Linguistics is a special subject. It refers to the study of the ways in which language works. This is quite diffferent from Grammar. Grammar is the ways that words can be put together in order to make sentences.

If you are learning English you should study Grammar. But you should not study waste your time on Linguistics. It is too advanced and too specialised. It can cause you a lot of unneccessary work and considerable confusion.

A teacher of English Grammar would not attempt to teach you about corresponding verbs or predicate adjectives. These are not grammatical terms. They are terms used in the study of linguistics. You will not find these terms in any book of English Grammar.

[hanygeorge38]

thanks for your assistance

Hany
_________________
hany

[bud]

You're welcome, Hany. I am sorry that I didn't notice that what I gave you yesterday was from a linguistics site. The language is rather difficult. Here is a better explanation from the university of Calgary's grammar pages. In addition, if you do a search on 'predicate adjective,' you will see many other grammar sites, many from colleges, that also explain it more simply:

Predicate Adjectives:
Adjectives which appear after a linking verb (see Lesson 1.3b) are called predicative, because they form part of the predicate. They modify the subject of the sentence or clause (a clause is a portion of a sentence which contains a subject and a predicate).

For information on subjects and predicates, see Lesson 2.1.

Examples:

The painting was colourful.
noun: painting
linking verb: was
adjective: colourful (describing the noun"painting")

The wind remained strong.
noun: wind
linking verb: remained
adjective: strong (describing the noun "wind")

from: http://www.ucalgary.ca/UofC/eduweb/grammar/course/speech/1_4a.htm

[bud]

#4, titled, "Advoca Bans the Study of Linguistics," and subtitled, "... Apparently Believing It Is Far Too Advanced a Subject for a Mere ESL Student."

(from Nov 2003)

[helen1]

Ooh Bud!!

I must admit I was a little puzzled by Advoca's message it does seem a little strong.

I believe if a student is asking a question the answer should not be that's too advanced/too difficult/ not something you should be looking at!!

Anyway i really shouldn't raise old topics again - so I'll just say to all ESL/EFL students out there (or anyone else reading this site) - Ask about anything that raises your curiosity - I'm sure someone on this site will try to give you an answer - as I used to say to my students

'the only stupid question is the one you don't ask!' - Nothing about language is or should be banned here!!