english hum-1109 Hum-1109 Technical English You have a test in 15 minutes! Focus on definitions, the starting words (conjunctions/pronouns), and the function each clause performs. This is your rapid-fire study guide drawn directly from the sources.
CHEATSHEET 1: Adverbial Clauses (AC)
Core Intuition: An Adverbial Clause (AC) is a dependent clause that functions as a big adverb. It modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.
The Key Test (What questions does it answer?): When, Where, How.
The Big Shortcut (How to identify it): An adverb clause will always begin with a subordinating conjunction.
| Type of AC | Function/Question Answered | Common Conjunctions (Start Words) | Example Intuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | When? | when, while, before, after, since, until, as soon as | ”I will call you when I reach home”. (When will I call?) |
| Cause / Reason | Why? | because, since, as | ”She was late because the bus broke down”. (Why was she late?) |
| Concession | Despite what? | though, although, even if, even though, while, whereas | ”Although it was raining, they went out”. (A contrast/exception.) |
| Condition | Under what circumstance? | if, unless, provided that, in case | ”If it rains, we will not go out”. (The requirement/condition.) |
| Purpose | Why? (To what end?) | so that, in order that | ”She spoke loudly so that everyone could hear”. (The goal of speaking.) |
| Place | Where? | where, wherever | ”Go where you like”. (Where should you go?) |
| Comparison | Than/As | ”as…as,” “than,” “the more…the more," | "She runs faster than I do”. |
CHEATSHEET 2: Noun Clauses (NC)
Core Intuition: A Noun Clause (NC) is a dependent clause that acts like a single noun (representing a person, place, thing, or idea).
The Big Shortcut (How to identify it): It is a clause (Subject + Predicate) that is triggered by:
- A Relative Pronoun: Who, Whom, Whose, Which, What, That, Whoever, Whomever, Whichever, Whatever.
- A Subordinating Conjunction: How, When, Why, Where, Whether, If.
The Key Test (8 Job Functions): A Noun Clause fills a slot in the sentence typically held by a noun. Remember these 8 roles:
- Subject: Why she went there is unknown.
- Direct Object: I don’t understand why he is so late.
- Indirect Object: The contest will award whoever sings the best song a prize.
- Object of Preposition: I know nothing except what he told me.
- Subject Complement: The reason for his popularity is that he is an honest man.
- Object Complement.
- Appositive: The news that a horrible giant came yesterday terrified the villagers.
- Adjective Complement.
CHEATSHEET 3: Sentence Structure (SS)
Core Intuition: Sentence structure focuses on the necessary components (Subject, Verb, Object, Complement, Adverbial) and their arrangement.
Focus on the 9 Basic Formulas/Patterns:
| # | Structure | Key Components | Example from Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | S + V + A | Subject + Verb + Adverbial | The plane landed at the airport. |
| 2 | S + Linking V + C (Noun) | Subject + Linking Verb + Complement (renames S) | Albert Einstein remains a symbol of genius. |
| 3 | S + Linking V + C (Adjective) | Subject + Linking Verb + Complement (describes S) | His explanation seems logical. |
| 4 | S + Be + A | Subject + Be + Adverbial | The car was in the garage. |
| 5 | S + Transitive V + O | Subject + Transitive Verb + Object (V requires O) | The teacher explained the lesson. |
| 6 | S + Transitive V + O + Adj. Complement | (O is described by Adj. Complement) | They painted the wall white. |
| 7 | S + Transitive V + O + Noun Complement | (O is renamed by Noun Complement) | The committee appointed her chairperson. |
| 8 | S + Transitive V + IO + DO | Subject + Transitive Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object | He showed the tourists (IO) the museum (DO). |
| 9 | There + V + S | Inverted structure | There were numerous obstacles. |
- Linking Verb vs. Transitive Verb
The key difference lies in what follows the verb and whether the verb performs an action that is transferred to something else.
Linking Verb (Used in Structures 2, 3)
Intuition: The Linking Verb (LV) acts like an equals sign (=). It connects the subject (S) to a word that either renames or describes the subject (the Complement). It does not transfer an action to an object.
| Structure | Formula | How the LV Works | Examples from Source |
| S + LV + C (Noun) | The LV links S to a Noun Complement (C) that renames S. | Albert Einstein = a symbol of genius. | Albert Einstein remains a symbol of genius. My dream is a success. |
| S + LV + C (Adjective) | The LV links S to an Adjective Complement (C) that describes S. | Explanation = logical. | His explanation seems logical. The discovery proved significant. |
Transitive Verb (Used in Structures 5, 6, 7, 8)
Intuition: The Transitive Verb (TV) shows an action that is transferred from the subject to a specific receiver, which is the Object (O). If the verb requires an object to make sense, it is transitive.
| Structure | Formula | How the TV Works | Examples from Source |
| S + TV + O | The action (V) is done to the Object (O). | Teacher explained (V) → the lesson (O). | The teacher explained the lesson. |
| S + TV + IO + DO | The action (V) is done to the Direct Object (DO) and passed to the Indirect Object (IO). | He showed the tourists (IO) the museum (DO). |
- Adjective Complement (Adj. Comp.) and Noun Complement (Noun Comp.)
Complements are words or phrases that complete the meaning of the verb or object.
Subject Complement (Used in Structures 2 and 3)
When a clause follows a Linking Verb (S + LV + C), the complement completes the meaning of the Subject (S).
• Noun Complement: Renames the subject (e.g., Albert Einstein remains a symbol of genius).
• Adjective Complement: Describes the subject (e.g., His explanation seems logical).
Object Complement (Used in Structures 6 and 7)
When a clause follows a Transitive Verb (S + V + O + C), the complement completes the meaning of the Object (O), not the Subject.
| Structure | Formula | Function | Example from Source |
| S + V + O + Adjective Complement | The Adjective Complement describes or modifies the Direct Object (O). | They painted the wall → white (describes the wall). | They painted the wall white. I consider this idea brilliant. |
| S + V + O + Noun Complement | The Noun Complement renames or identifies the Direct Object (O). | The committee appointed her → chairperson (renames ‘her’). | The committee appointed her chairperson. We called the boy a genius. |
In summary:
• Linking Verb: Connects S to a Subject Complement (C). (S = C)
• Transitive Verb: Transfers action to an Object (O).
• Object Complement: Follows the object (O) and describes or renames the object itself.
The Nine Basic Sentence Structures
- Subject + Verb + Adverbial (S + V + A)
This structure features an intransitive verb followed by an adverb or adverbial phrase that modifies the verb, often indicating time, place, or manner.
| Formula | Examples |
| S + V + A | The plane landed at the airport. |
| The discussion continued throughout the night. | |
| (Outside Source) | The dog barked loudly. |
| (Outside Source) | We studied hard today. |
| (Outside Source) | The rain fell gently outside. |
- Subject + Linking Verb + Complement (Noun) (S + LV + C)
The Linking Verb (LV) connects the Subject (S) to a Noun Complement (C) that renames or identifies the subject (S=C).
| Formula | Examples |
| S + LV + C (Noun) | Albert Einstein remains a symbol of genius. |
| Rahim seems a gentleman. | |
| My dream is a success. | |
| (Outside Source) | My mother is a nurse. |
| (Outside Source) | That movie became a classic. |
- Subject + Linking Verb + Complement (Adjective) (S + LV + C)
The Linking Verb (LV) connects the Subject (S) to an Adjective Complement (C) that describes the subject.
| Formula | Examples |
| S + LV + C (Adjective) | His explanation seems logical. |
| The discovery proved significant. | |
| Her voice was soft and soothing. | |
| (Outside Source) | The milk smells sour. |
| (Outside Source) | I feel tired. |
- Subject + Be + Adverbial (S + Be + A)
This structure uses a form of the verb “to be” followed by an adverbial indicating location or time.
| Formula | Examples |
| S + Be + A | The car was in the garage. |
| My hometown is near the river. | |
| (Outside Source) | My keys are on the table. |
| (Outside Source) | The meeting is tomorrow. |
| (Outside Source) | He is outside. |
- Subject + Transitive Verb + Object (S + V + O)
The Transitive Verb (V) transfers an action directly to the Direct Object (O).
| Formula | Examples |
| S + V + O | The company launched a new product. |
| The teacher explained the lesson. | |
| (Outside Source) | I ate pizza. |
| (Outside Source) | She writes letters. |
| (Outside Source) | The chef cooked dinner. |
- Subject + Transitive Verb + Object + Adjective Complement (S + V + O + Adj. C)
The adjective complement describes the Direct Object (O).
| Formula | Examples |
| S + V + O + Adj. Comp | They painted the wall white. |
| I consider this idea brilliant. | |
| (Outside Source) | The news made him happy. |
| (Outside Source) | They found the door open. |
| (Outside Source) | We consider the trip essential. |
- Subject + Transitive Verb + Object + Noun Complement (S + V + O + Noun C)
The noun complement renames or identifies the Direct Object (O).
| Formula | Examples |
| S + V + O + Noun Comp | The committee appointed her chairperson. |
| We called the boy a genius. | |
| (Outside Source) | She named the cat Mittens. |
| (Outside Source) | We elected him president. |
| (Outside Source) | I call my brother ‘Budge’. |
- Subject + Transitive Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object (S + V + IO + DO)
The verb transfers the Direct Object (DO) to the Indirect Object (IO).
| Formula | Examples |
| S + V + IO + DO | The company gave the employees a bonus. |
| He showed the tourists the museum. | |
| (Outside Source) | I bought my sister a gift. |
| (Outside Source) | He told me a secret. |
| (Outside Source) | Dad sent them money. |
- There + Verb + Subject (There + V + S)
This is an inverted structure where the word “There” begins the sentence, followed by the verb and then the true Subject.
| Formula | Examples |
| There + V + S | There were numerous obstacles. |
| There was a loud noise last night. | |
| (Outside Source) | There is a hole in the wall. |
| (Outside Source) | There are three apples left. |
| (Outside Source) | There comes a time. |