This episode of Linguists’ Forum is a recap of the discussions on “From Dread to Delight: An Insight into Grammatical Names and Functions.” The episode foregrounds the goal of the Forum, which is to help candidates for WASSCE and NECO minimise their cognitive effort in identifying grammatical names and functions of given expressions in the examinations. To achieve this, the Forum guides candidates in applying their knowledge of parts of speech to determine the type of phrase or the clause the expression is made of. The Forum also differentiates between a phrase and a clause. While a phrase is generally described as a group of words that does not contain a finite verb (or a verb at all), a clause is seen as a group of words that has a subject and a finite verb. There are two major categories of a clause: an independent (main) clause and a dependent (subordinate) clause. The dependent clause can be a noun clause, an adjectival/relative clause or an adverbial clause. From the foregoing, the identification of the grammatical name and function of a given expression in WASSCE or NECO begins with candidates’ ability to establish whether the expression is a phrase or a clause. They also need to name the phrase/clause after the part of speech it stands for in the sentence.
Exercises from WASSCE Past Questions
1. “My wife had spared no expenses . . .”
(f) …no expenses
(i) What is the grammatical name given to this expression as it is used in the passage?
(ii) What is its function? (2024)
Note: The expression is a phrase because it does not contain a verb. It can be replaced with a noun, as in “My wife had spared Tunde”. It can also be replaced with a pronoun, as in “My wife had spared him”. Since the expression is a phrase and can be replaced with a noun or pronoun, it is called NOUN PHRASE.
To establish its function, the sentence is broken down to:
“My wife” = subject
“had spared” = verb (phrase)
“no expenses” = object
Thus, the expression functions as object of the verb phrase “had spared”
(i) What is the grammatical name given to this expression as it is used in the passage? NOUN PHRASE
(ii) What is its function? OBJECT OF THE VERB PHRASE “HAD SPARED”
2. “I shall see the pathfinder before he leaves for the city.”
(f) . . . before he leaves for the city
(i) What is the grammatical name given to this expression as it is used in the passage?
(ii) What is its function? (2023)
Note: The expression is a clause because it contains a subject “he” and a verb “leaves.” It can also be replaced with an adverb, as in “I shall see the pathfinder tomorrow”.
Since the expression is a clause and can be replaced with an adverb, it is called ADVERBIAL CLAUSE.
To establish its function, the sentence is broken down to:
“I” = subject
“shall see” = verb (phrase)
“the pathfinder” = object
“before he leaves for the city” = adverbial clause
Thus, the expression modifies the verb phrase “shall see”.
What is the grammatical name given to this expression as it is used in the passage? ADVERBIAL CLAUSE
What is its function? It modifies THE VERB PHRASE “SHALL SEE”
3. Mama chatted heartily with a fellow passenger who was also going to see her son in Lagos
(f)… who was also going to see her son in Lagos… (i) What grammatical name is given to this expression as it is used in the passage? (ii) What is its function? (2020)
Note: The expression is a clause because it contains a subject “who” and a verb phrase “was . . . going.”
The subject is a relative pronoun “who”.
Since the expression is a clause that has a relative pronoun “who” as its subject, it is called RELATIVE/ADJECTIVAL CLAUSE.
The function of the clause is determined by its proximity (closeness) to the noun phrase “a fellow passenger”.
Thus, the expression modifies the noun phrase “a fellow passenger”.
What is the grammatical name given to this expression as it is used in the passage? RELATIVE/ADJECTIVAL CLAUSE
What is its function? It modifies the NOUN PHRASE “A FELLOW PASSENGER”.”
Readers can attempt the following questions and send their answers to the contact below.
1. Alani’s secretary, who was his pioneer staff, did not give up on him
(g) … Who was his pioneer staff . . .
(i) What grammatical name is given to this expression as it is used in the passage?
(ii) What is its function? (2022)
2. “I discovered that I could take care of myself”
(h).. that I could take care of myself: (i) What is the grammatical name given to this expression as it is used in the passage? (ii) What is its function? (2019)
3. Everybody was impressed with the feats which went along with the hilarious drumming.
(g) … which went along with the hilarious drumming.
(i) What is the grammatical name given to this expression as it is used in the passage?
(ii) What is its function? (2018)
4. “As she dragged it to the surface, we screamed in sudden terror.”
(g) “As he dragged it to the surface. ”
(i) What grammatical name is given to this expression as it is used in the passage? What is its function? (2017)
5. “The teacher raised an instant alarm.”
(f) …an instant alarm… (i) What is the grammatical name given to this expression as it is used in the passage? (ii) What is its function? (2016)
6. “Not long after the governor’s official proclamation, newspaper reporters had a field day.”
(g) Not long after the governor ‘s official proclamation
(i) What grammatical name is given to this expression as it is used in the passage?
(ii) What is its function? (2015)
7. “Then, a few months ago thirty-eight years after I last saw him in the primary school, while I was watching a 9 O’clock television network programme, I saw David being interviewed by a team of reporters.”
(g) “… while I was watching a 9 O’clock television network programme …”
(i) What is the grammatical name given to this expression as it is used in the passage?
(ii) What is its function? (2014)
8. “. . . we discovered that these objects had opposite equal sides . . .”
(f) “…that these objects had opposite equal sides…”
(i) What is the grammatical name given to this expression as it is used in the passage?
(ii) What is its function? (2013)
Lateef Iyanda Kugbayi, PhD
Senior Lecturer
Department of English Language
Zamfara State University
Talata Mafara
lateefkugbayi19@gmail.com/+2347032985052