In the sentence Reading the books was exciting, the verb phrase reading the books functions as the subject. A verb in the form of a present participle that performs a nominal function is a gerund. The noun phrase the books functions as the direct object of the verb reading. The determiner the and the noun books form the noun phrase the books. The adjective phrase exciting functions as the subject complement and refers back to the subject reading the books. The verb phrase was exciting functions as the predicate.
A form-function diagram is a visualization of the layers of grammar. The top identifies forms, or what words, phrases, and clauses look like. The bottom identifies functions, or what words, phrases, and clauses do. For more information about form-function diagrams, see A Form-Function Description of the Grammar of the Modern English Language: Book 1 (Level 9A) (A Form-Function English Grammar) and A Form-Function Description of the Grammar of the Modern English Language: Book 2 (Level 9B) (A Form-Function English Grammar).
- Kosur, Heather Marie (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 569 Pages – 03/11/2021 (Publication Date) – Independently published (Publisher)
- Kosur, Heather Marie (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 577 Pages – 03/11/2021 (Publication Date) – Independently published (Publisher)
