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Jenni1986 Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

Hi everyone!
This is my first time on this forum.
I am currently stumped on a question!!!! Oh well, at least I can admit it:)
Anyway, I am trying to find the conjunction in the following sentence.
(The problem is that I found 2).

"Maybe we can cut grass while we wait for him to come."

I believe that:
"Maybe we can cut grass" is an independent clause.
"while" is a subordinating conjunction.
& "we wait for him to come" is a dependent clause.

Does this look okay!?!? Emotion: smile
Thanks for your time and help!

-Jenni
  

Top answer

Hi Jenni; Welcome to the Forums! "Maybe we can cut grass" is an independent clause. Yes, indeed.

— AlpheccaStars

  • Hi Jenni; Welcome to the Forums!
  • "Maybe we can cut grass" is an independent clause.
  • Yes, indeed.
  • "while" is a subordinating conjunction.
  • Excellent choice.
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11 Answers
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Hi Jenni;

Welcome to the Forums!
"Maybe we can cut grass" is an independent clause. Yes, indeed.
"while" is a subordinating conjunction. Excellent choice.
& "we wait for him to come" is a dependent clause. You got it.
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Welcome to EF, Jenni!
jenni1986"Maybe we can cut grass" is an independent clause.
"while" is a subordinating conjunction.
& "we wait for him to come" is a dependent clause.
Traditionally, yes. In modern grammar, however, while we wait for him to come is a preposition phrase headed by the prep while, whose complement is the finite sub
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Hi, The very quick response!!
Glad to know I understand that o.k!
I have one more question maybe you will be able to answer.
(I feel like this is a great place to do so)

It is about this sentence...

"We have been watching since 8 o'clock."

I feel that it is active voice, and the verb "have been" is acting as the copula (main verb), rather than auxiliary.
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jenni1986I feel that it is active voice
Yes.
jenni1986and the verb "have been" is acting as the copula (main verb)
Have been is not one verb. The auxiliary verb have marks perfect tense, taking the linking verb been (which you can call the main verb) as its complement.
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The main verb is intransitive "watch" in the present perfect progressive.
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For some reason I was thinking of a construction like have been there. Emotion: tongue tied
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Okay, thanks!
So "been" is the main verb in this sentence?
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jenni1986So "been" is the main verb in this sentence?
No, my brain shut down. See enoon's reply.
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@enoon:
Thanks, but I am a little confused still. Does "have been" function as an auxiliary or a copula in this situation?
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have = aux verb marking present perfect tense
been = aux verb (linking verb) marking progressive aspect
watching = main verb

Clear now?
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