Finally.  Someone actually answers the original question.  But so grudgingly.  Geez, academics, are you that out of touch?  It really is a problem that these terms cannot be defined precisely.  Instead of mocking efforts to pint them down a bit for novices, do more or what Brett is doing here.  (Although, "Get lost" has a subject.)  And thank god we clarified that the list was never intended to be committed to memory.   Geez.

Susan


On Nov 9, 2010, at 8:54 PM, Brett Reynolds wrote:

> Specific feedback:
> 
>> appositive
>> 
>> a noun that further explains (identifies or renames) another noun or pronoun nearby
> 
> Does this mean that 'motion' in 'motion picture' is an appositive?
> 
>> clause
>> 
>> a group of related words that contains a verb and its subject
> 
> Except when it doesn't contain a verb (e.g., With Scott absent, ...) or a subject (e.g., get lost).
> 
>> clause, adverb
>> 
>> a dependent clause that functions as an adverb
> 
> Adverb isn't a function, it's a category of lexemes (a "part of speech"). Adverbs have various functions (e.g., modifier in VP, AdjP, AdvP, clausal adjunct, complement) 
> 
>> clause, dependent (subordinate)
>> 
>> a clause that does not express a complete thought and cannot stand alone
> 
> What's a complete thought?
> 
>> clause, noun
>> 
>> a dependent clause that functions as a noun
> 
> Again, 'noun' isn't a function. 
> 
>> clause, relative
>> 
>> a dependent clause that functions as an adjective
> 
> adjective isn't a function.
> 
>> object, direct
>> 
>> a noun or pronoun that directly receives the action of the verb (ask: “[verb] + whom or what?”)
> 
> what about when there's no "action"? What does it mean to directly receive action?
> 
>> object, indirect
>> 
>> a noun or pronoun that indirectly receives the action of the verb (ask: “[verb] + to whom or what?”)
> 
> what about when there's no "action"? What does it mean to directly receive action? 
> 
> etc.
> 
> Rather than going on here, I'd suggest you take something like the glossary from Huddleston & Pullum's "A Students' Introduction to English Grammar" and try selecting from and adjusting the definitions there to suit your audience(s).
> 
> Best,
> Brett
> 
> -----------------------
> Brett Reynolds
> English Language Centre
> Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning
> Toronto, Ontario, Canada
> [log in to unmask]
> 
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