TRIAL TEST 2 – ADVANCED GRAMMAR
I. Identify the sentence elements of the superordinate clauses of the following sentences and state the
name and function of each finite subordinating clause. (2pts)
E.g. The fishermen / think/ that the company polluted the bay.
S V O (noun clause – object of “think”)
1. If girls in this group idolise a female star with a body they consider to be perfect, they are more likely
to be unhappy with their own bodies.
If girls in this group idolise a female star with a body they consider to be perfect,/ they /are /more likely
to be unhappy with their own bodies.
ASVC
If girls … a body: Adv cl of condition , A modifying “are”
they considered to be perfect: adj cl, postmodifying “body”
2. Surplus animals are sold not only to other zoos but also to circuses or hunting ranches in the US or
South Africa, where some people are willing to pay a lot of money for the chance to kill an animal
in a fenced enclosure.
Surplus animals /are sold /not only to other zoos but also to circuses or hunting ranches in the US or
South Africa, where some people are willing to pay a lot of money for the chance to kill an animal
in a fenced enclosure.
SVA
Where some ….enclosure: Adj clause., postmodifying “the US or South Africa”
3. Electric versions of instruments like the piano, drums, guitar and even violin give you the option of
playing into the night using headphones, while your housemates sleep in peace.
Electric versions of instruments like the piano, drums, guitar and even violin /give /you / the option of
playing into the night using headphones while your housemates sleep in peace.
SVOO
while your housemates sleep in peace: adv cl., A modifying “playing”
4. Pre-school children who play interactive games can kick, catch and throw a ball better than children
who don’t.
Pre-school children who play interactive games /can kick, catch and throw /a ball /better than children
who don’t.
SVOA
Who play interactive games: adj cl., postmodifying “pre-school children”
Who don’t: adj cl., postmodifying “children”
II. Analyse the following sentences by Descriptive Linguistic: (3pts)
E.g. I’m glad that my mother made me take piano lessons when I was a child.
M 1 : I’m glad
S 1 : that my mother made me take piano lessons: noun clause, complement of “glad”
S.1.1 : when I was a child: adverbial clause of time, modifying “made”.
1. Leaving aside the philosophical question of whether anyone should have to breathe someone else’s
cigarette smoke, the report suggests that the smoke experienced by many people in their daily
lives is enough to produce effects that substantially harm a person’s heart and lungs.
M1: Leaving aside the philosophical question of, the report suggests
S1: whether anyone should have to breathe someone else’s cigarette smoke: Noun cl, C prep/ postmod
“of”
S2: that the smoke experienced by many people in their daily lives is enough to produce effects: Noun
cl., Object of “suggests”
S2.1: that substantially harm a person’s heart and lungs: Adj cl., postmod. “effects”
2. The study suggests that people who smoke cigarettes are continually damaging their cardiovascular
system, which adapts in order to compensate for the effects of smoking.
M1: The study suggests
S1: that people are continually damaging their cardiovascular system: Noun cl., Object of “suggests”
S1.1: who smoke cigarettes: adj. cl, postmodifying “people”
S1.2: which adapts in order to compensate for the effects of smoking: adj. cl, postmodifying “their
cardiovascular system”
III. Combine the set of simple sentences into complex/compound complex sentence (1pt)
He studied the biological and natural sciences. He learned how to categorize and draw animals
accurately. His future career path will benefit greatly from these knowledge and skills.
He studied the biological and natural sciences and learned how to categorize and draw animals
accurately, from which his future career path will greatly benefit.
IV. Draw a tree diagram for the following sentence (1pt)
People who play action-based games make decisions faster than others.
S = NP (people…games) + VP
NP = N + S’ (who…games)
S’ = NP’ (who) + VP’
VP’ = V (play) + NP (action-based games)
NP = Adj + N
VP = V (make) + NP (decisions) + Adv. P (faster than others)
Adv. P = faster + PP
PP = Prep (than) + NP
V. The following sentence is structurally ambiguous; analyze the two different sentence structures
(SVOCA) to show both possible meanings. (1pt)
Dealers will hear car talk at noon.
Dealers/ will hear/ car/ talk/ at noon. SVOCA
Dealers/ will hear/ car talk/ at noon. SVOA
VI. Construct the incomplete phrases as guided to complete the following sentences: (2pts)
E.g. [Noun clause] means he knew nothing about the task.
What he did means he knew nothing about the task.
1. She told her parents [noun clause].
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
2. [Noun clause] surprised everybody.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
3. We need to create a working environment [adjective clause].
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
4. You can study effectively [adverbial clause].
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
