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Saturday 3 August 2024

Definition Of Idioms, Phrases, Clauses and Proverbs

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IDIOMS, PHRASES, CLAUSES & PROVERBS

IDIOMS: Idioms are expression (phrase) peculiar to a language, which cannot be understood simply by looking at the meaning of the individual words in the phrase.
Many verbs, when followed by various prepositions, or adverbs acquires idiomatic sense.
Example:
  • Break down
  • In black & white
  • An apple of one's eye
  •  A red letter day etc.

PHRASE: Phrase is a group of words or a word without a subject or predicate. It is a grammatical unit and it adds meaning to a sentence.

Types Of Phrases:
There are five main types of phrases:
  1. Noun Phrase: A Noun phrase is a group of words that does work of a noun. 
    E.g.
    * Early to bed
    * Playing cricket
    * To go home
    * A big red balloon etc.

  2. Adjective Phrase: An adjective phrase is a group of words that does work of an adjective. 
    E.g.
    * Made of gold
    * In need
    * Of purple
    * With a white skin etc.

  3. Adverb Phrase: An adverb phrase is a group of words that does work of an adverb.
    E.g.
    * On the whole
    * In a former time
    * Run quickly
    * All my heart etc.

  4. Verb Phrase: A verb phrase is a group of words that does work of a verb. They are combination of auxiliary verb (helping verb) and the main verb.
    E.g.
    * Are working
    * Have eaten
    * Can smell
    * Will have been studying etc.

  5. Prepositional Phrase: A prepositional phrase is a group of words that begins with a preposition and ends with a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase.
    E.g.
    * At a glance
    * In a hurry
    * On the table
    * For a reason etc.

CLAUSE:
Such a group of words that forms part of a sentence and has a Subject and Predicate of its own is called a clause.
E.g.
  • They rested when evening come.
    In above sentence,'when evening come' is a clause' as it is a part of sentence. Here evening is noun (subject) and when come is predicate. 
Types Of Clauses:
There are some common type of clauses are:
  1. Independent Clause: is a group of words that can stand alone to make a simple meaningful sentence as a regular sentence. It contains a subject and predicate. It is also called a principal clause.
    Independent clauses can be connected by  using a semicolon or comma the followed by a coordinators such as and, but, so, or, nor, for, yet.
    Example:
    * I will call you when I reach home.
    * John is a very successful doctor.
    * Can you do it?
    * I want to buy a phone, but I don’t have enough money. (Two independent clauses).

  2. Dependent Clause: is a group of words that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence because it does not give complete idea or thought but help the independent clauses to complete the sentence. It contains subject and predicate. It is also called a subordinate clause or subclause or embedded clause. 
    In each of the dependent clauses, the first word is a subordinator. Subordinators include relative pronouns, subordinating conjunctions, and noun clause markers.
    Example:
    * When the sunset the stars come out.
    * Caesar couldn't catch the train because he was late.
    * If you don’t eat, I won’t go.
    * After the storm, we went outside to access the damage.

    Types Of Dependent Clauses:
    They are divided into three types:
    i) Adjective Clause: An adjective clause is a Dependent Clause that modifies a Noun. It is a group of words which contains a subject and predicate of its own and does the work of an Adjective.  These are also called Relative Clauses and they usually come right after the Nouns they modify.
    Examples:
    * The umbrella which has broken handle is mine.
    * He met a girl whose eyes are blue.
    * A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.

    ii) Noun Clause: A noun clause is a Dependent Clause. It is a group of words which contains a subject and predicate of its own and does the work of a Noun.
    They are called Nominal Clauses. These clauses often start with “how,” “that,” or other WH-words (What, Who, Where, When, Why, Which, Whose and Whom), if, whether etc.
    Examples:
    * I expect that I shall get a prize.
    * I don't know what he wants.
    * He knows how things work around here.

    iii) Adverbial Clause: An adverb clause is a  Dependent Clauses. It is a group of words which contains a subject and predicate of its own and does the work of an Adverbs. It means that these clauses have the power to modify Verbs, Adjectives and other Adverbs.
    Example:
    * Alice is not playing with us because he injured his knees last night.
    * I went through the book at a lightning speed.
    * They rested when evening come.

  3. Coordinate Clause: A coordinate clauses are two or more independent clauses in a sentence that are joined by one or more Coordinating Conjunctions (and, or, but etc.) in terms of Compound Sentences are called Coordinate Clauses. It is a group of words containing a subject and predicate.
    Examples:
    * Andrew prefers flying but his wife always wants to take a bus.
    * The students finished class so they went to lunch.
    * The rain ended and the sun came out.

  4. Non-finite Clause: Non-finite clause does not have a finite verb. It does not show tense or time of verb  and does not contain subject.
    There are three types of non-finite clause.
    (i) The word ending in -ing is used.
    Examples:
    * The stars shone brightly, dancing around the moon last night.
    * Hearing the fireworks, the children jumped up.
    (ii) The verb come after the word to
    * He gave up his job to travel the world.
    * He was the last person to talked to me.

    (iii) The past particle form of the verb is used.
    * Disappointed with his quality the boss decided to fire him.
    * All children gathered in the group, were ready to perform a traditional dance.

PROVERBS: A proverb is a brief and wise saying that shares practical advice or general truth about life. In simple words proverb is a short saying or statement that usually offers life advice, wisdom, or a truth.
Example:
  • Honesty is the best policy.
  • An apple a day keeps the doctor away
  • Don’t judge a book by its cover



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