In grammar, a construction refers to a particular way of combining words or phrases to create a sentence or phrase that conveys a specific meaning. Here are some common types of constructions in English grammar:
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- Noun phrase construction: A noun phrase construction consists of a noun and any accompanying words that modify or describe it, such as adjectives, articles, or prepositional phrases.
- For example, “the big red ball” is a noun phrase construction.
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- Verb phrase construction: A verb phrase construction consists of a verb and any accompanying words that modify or describe it, such as adverbs or prepositional phrases.
- For example, “he runs quickly” is a verb phrase construction.
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- Adjective phrase construction: An adjective phrase construction consists of an adjective and any accompanying words that modify or describe it, such as adverbs or other adjectives.
- For example, “very tall” is an adjective phrase construction.
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- Adverb phrase construction: An adverb phrase construction consists of an adverb and any accompanying words that modify or describe it, such as other adverbs or prepositional phrases.
- For example, “quite slowly” is an adverb phrase construction.
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- Prepositional phrase construction: A prepositional phrase construction consists of a preposition, its object (which is usually a noun or pronoun), and any accompanying words that modify or describe the object.
- For example, “in the car” is a prepositional phrase construction.
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- Infinitive construction: An infinitive construction consists of the word “to” followed by a verb in its base form (the form of the verb without any inflection or tense).
- For example, “to run” is an infinitive construction.
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- Gerund construction: A gerund construction consists of a verb in its -ing form (the present participle) used as a noun.
- For example, “running” can be used as a gerund construction in the sentence “Running is good exercise.”
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- Participle construction: A participle construction consists of a verb form that can be used as an adjective, such as the past participle or the present participle.
- For example, “the broken window” is a participle construction.
Understanding these constructions can help in building clear and coherent sentences that express your intended meaning.
