4.12 Refrigeración
6.1.1 Preparación
incidentally, moreover, otherwise, and thus) or a transitional expression (after all, by the way, for example, in other words, and on the other hand) placed between independent clauses:
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Sentence Types
Sentences can be either simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex. The Simple Sentence
Simple sentences have only one independent clause. There are no dependent clauses, and the sentence must be limited to one subject and one predicate. The sentence may contain modifying words or phrases: Grammar class is boring. "Magma" is a French progressive rock band.
The Compound Sentence
Compound sentences are composed of two or more independent clauses, which are joined by a coordinating conjunction or a semicolon. One should always use a comma before any coordinating conjunction that connects two independent clauses: Sissy likes "Magma," but she thinks grammar
class is boring. Timmy likes grammar class, so he does not like "Magma."
The Complex Sentence
Complex sentences use one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses. One must use a comma only after a dependent clause that occurs before an independent clause: When Sissy
is in grammar class, she often dreams of the next Magma show. ("When Sissy..." is a dependent
clause, "she often..." is an independent clause.) Timmy thinks of grammar when he is at a Magma
concert. ("Timmy thinks..." is an independent clause, "when he..." is a dependent clause.)
The Compound-Complex Sentence
The compound-complex sentence joins a compound and a complex sentence together. It should contain two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clause. One must always use a comma before a coordinating conjunction that joins the two independent clauses. One must also use a comma after an adverb clause that comes before an independent clause, and to set off any non-restrictive clauses: Magma sings in a language they created, and they feel that proper
grammar has no place at their shows, which are often quite obnoxious. ("Magma sings..." is an
independent clause, "they feel..." is an independent clause, "which are..." is a dependent clause and also a non-restrictive modifier.) After he left the show, Timmy decided he really liked Magma,
but the band did not like him because he always insists on proper grammar. ("After he..." is a
dependent clause, "Timmy decided..." is an independent clause, "the band..." is an independent clause, "he always..." is a dependent clause.)
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Subjects and Predicates
In English, every sentence has two essential parts: a complete subject and a complete predicate.
Subjects
The complete subject is the simple subject (a noun or a pronoun) plus any words or group of words modifying the simple subject that tells who or what the sentence is about:
The high from my Mountain Dew usually lasts about an hour.
To find the complete subject, ask Who? or What? Insert the verb, and finish the question. The answer is the complete subject:
What usually lasts about an hour? The high from my Mountain Dew.
The simple subject is the essential noun, pronoun, or group of words acting as a noun that cannot be left out of the complete subject. In order to identify it, remove the complements and modifiers and whatever’s left is the simple subject:
The high from my Mountain Dew usually lasts about an hour.
(article) (simple subject) (prepositional phrase) (predicate)
TIP: Does the sentence make sense with just the word ("high") identified as the simple subject?
(The) high usually lasts about an hour.
Additional Facts About Subjects The "Understood You"
Sometimes, as in the case of imperative sentences (see Verb Mood), the subject does not actually appear in the sentence. At such times the invisible subject is called the "understood you":
(You) Rent "The Last of the Mohicans" from the video store.
Positioning
Although the subject most commonly appears before the verb, it can also appear after it:
in sentences that begin with "there is" or "there are." "There" is an expletive or empty word which simply gets the sentence started:
There are precious few hills in Illinois. Vs. Precious few hills are in Illinois. in sentences which are inverted for effect:
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Predicates
The complete predicate is the verb plus its objects, complements, and adverbial modifiers that tell what the complete subject does or is:
The high from my Mountain Dew usually lasts about an hour.
To find the complete predicate, ask what does the subject (the high) do? (It) usually lasts about an
hour.
The simple predicate is the essential verb or verb phrase that cannot be left out of the complete predicate. Again, remove the modifiers and complements to identify it:
The high from my Mountain Dew usually lasts about an hour (adverb) (simple predicate) (prepositional phrase) TIP: Does the sentence make sense with just the word identified as the simple predicate? The high from my Mountain Dew lasts.
Compound Subjects and Predicates
Although the examples so far have contained only one subject and one verb, a sentence may contain a compound subject, a compound predicate, or both.
The compound subject consists of two or more subjects that have the same verb and are joined by a conjunction such as "and" or "or": Spencer and Annie wagged their tails.
The compound predicate consists of two or more verbs that have the same subject and are joined by a conjunction such as "and" or "or": I came, saw, and conquered.
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Active and Passive Voice
The voice of a verb tells whether the subject of the sentence performs or receives the action. In English there are two voices, passive and active.
Passive Voice
In passive voice, the subject receives the action expressed by the verb: A song was written by the
student.
Forming Tenses of Passive Verbs
The passive voice always consists of two parts: a form of the verb "to be" + past participle:
Tense Passive voice form
Present it is cleaned
Past it was cleaned
Future it will be cleaned
Present perfect it has been cleaned
Past perfect it had been cleaned
Future perfect it will have been cleaned
Passive vs. active voice
Use the passive voice to:
Call attention to receiver of the action rather than the performer:
The professor was hit by three snowballs.
Point out the receiver of the action when performer is unknown or unimportant:
A love letter was slipped under the door. The signs will be posted.
Avoid calling attention to the performer of the action (known as the "institutional passive"):
The fines will be collected on Monday.
In active voice, on the other hand, the subject performs the action of the verb:
The cats climbed the curtains.
Grandma and Grandpa raced grocery carts across the parking lot.
Active and passive voice in writing
The choice between using the active or passive voice in writing is a matter of style, not correctness. However, most handbooks recommend using active voice, which they describe as more natural, direct, lively, and succinct. The passive voice is considered wordy and weak (except when used in cases above). Examine the following examples.
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weak, passive:
The skater was slammed into the wall by Maria.
strong, active:
Maria slammed the skater into the wall.
weak, passive:
The book was enjoyed by me because the events of her childhood were described so well by the author.
strong, active:
I enjoyed the book because the author described the events of her childhood so well.
Hints for identifying the passive voice
An active verb may or may not have a direct object, but the passive verb almost never does. "It is...That" construction (It is clear that... It is noted...)
Use of the verbs To Be, Make, or Have (Passive: Your exits should be made quickly. Active: Leave
quickly.)
Endings that turn verbs into abstract nouns: -ion,-ing,-ment:
Passive: When application of force is used, the lid will open. Active: Apply force to open the lid.
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Complements
A complement is called a complement because it completes the predicate in a sentence. There are two kinds of complements: object complements and subject complements
Object Complements
An object complement follows the direct object and modifies or refers to the direct object. An object complement can be an adjective, a noun, or a word or word group acting as an adjective or noun:
If you elect me president, I'll keep the unions satisfied.
("President" is an object complement referring to the direct object "me." "Satisfied" is an object complement modifying the direct object "unions.")
The students elected Mary president.
("President" is an object complement referring to the direct object "Mary.") Wool socks will keep your feet very warm.
("Very warm" is an object complement modifying the direct object "your feet.")
Subject Complements
A subject complement follows a linking verb and modifies or refers to the subject. A subject complement can be an adjective, a noun, a pronoun, or a word or word group acting as an adjective or noun:
I am a teacher, but I am not yet experienced.
("Teacher" and "experienced" are both subject complements that modify the subject "I.")
Subject complements have two subgroups, predicate adjectives and predicate nouns. 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.") A predicate noun (Nominative) is a subject complement that is a noun: I am a teacher.
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Direct and Indirect Objects
A direct object is the word or words in a sentence designating the person or thing receiving the action of a transitive verb: The boy broke the dish.
An indirect object comes before the direct object. It tells to whom or for whom the action of the verb is being done: Sing me a song. He feeds the turtle lettuce.
Teaching Suggestions
Skills practice
Locate the indirect object in each sentence: 1. Ellen threw Annie the football.
2. Buy dad a birthday present.
3. The old man gave us a warm smile. 4. I told Dr. Franklin the exact time.
5. I wrote the carpenter a long letter of complaint. Locate the direct object in each sentence:
1. Thick ice covered the trees.
2. A strong wind broke a large branch. 3. The falling branch tore an electrical line. 4. The house suddenly lost its power. 5. The blackout worried mother.
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Appositives
Appositives are two words or word groups which mean the same thing and are placed together.
Appositives identify or explain the nouns or pronouns which they modify: Our teacher, Professor Pemberton, loves grammar.
We can say that "Professor Pemberton" is an appositive or is in apposition to "our teacher." "Professor Pemberton" identifies or explains "teacher.'
An appositive phrase includes an appositive and its modifiers:
My favorite place, the English building, is located on the Quad, a grassy square in the middle of the
campus.
Restrictive Appositives and Nonrestrictive Appositives
A restrictive appositive is necessary to maintain the meaning of the sentence and does not require commas. Usually, a restrictive appositive is a single word closely related to the preceding word. It "restricts" or narrows the meaning of the word it modifies:
The musician Harry Connick will come to Champaign. ("Harry Connick" restricts the general term "musician.") My sister Mary has four dogs.
A nonrestrictive appositive may be omitted without changing the basic meaning of the sentence. A nonrestrictive appositive is separated by commas. Commas are always used when the word which the appositive modifies is a proper noun:
Harry Connick, the musician, will come to Champaign.
("Musician" offers additional information about the specific name "Harry Connick")
There are many parades for Mardi Gras, a religious festival celebrating the last day before Lent, in New Orleans, a city in Louisiana.
Additional note
A dash or colon, as well as a comma, can be used to set off appositives: For the prisoner there was only one goal--escape.