Clauses and sentences Solving doubts about clauses Introduction to sentences
Jan 21, 2016
Clauses and sentences
Solving doubts about clauses
Introduction to sentences
Complement
Complement = complemento predicativo Complemento = object
C. diretto = direct object C. di specificazione = genitive case C. di termine = dative case C. indiretto = indirect object C. oggetto = direct object
(Picchi, Grande dizionario di inglese, Hoepli)
Complemento predicativo
C. predicativo del soggetto = un nome o un aggettivo riferito al soggetto che completa il significato del predicato. I verbi che lo richiedono obbligatoriamente si dicono copulativi.
C. predicativo dell’oggetto = un nome o un aggettivo riferito al c. oggetto che completa il significato del predicato.
(Serianni, Italiano, Garzanti)
Predicative
Subject complement = subject predicative Object complement = object predicative
You can use these terms if you wish to avoid confusion with the term ‘complement’
Complement element = the element of a clause which follows a copular verb such as be or seem
Ex. 7 p. 179 explained(try to do it before you read!)
John Terry has scored his first goal as England Captain
Clause elements: John Terry = subject (S) has scored = verb (V) his first goal as England Captain = object (O)as England Captain is NOT a complement
(predicative) > it doesn’t follow a copular verb and it doesn’t provide completeness to the clause. It simply postmodifies the NP which head word is “goal”
Ex. 7 p. 179 explained(try to do it before you read!)
Are you feeling better today
Clause elements: You = subject (S) Are feeling = verb (V) [are = verb operator] better = complement (Cs) (subject predicative
> feel is a copular verb) today = adverbial (A) (adv P > adverb of time)
Ex. 7 p. 179 explained(try to do it before you read!)
I think they’ve arrived by now
Clause elements: I = subject (S) think = verb (V) they’ve arrived by now = object (O)
they (S) have arrived (V) by now (A)
Ex. 7 p. 179 explained(try to do it before you read!)
The pyramids of Egypt are much bigger than I imagined (C)
Clause elements: The pyramids of Egypt = subject (S)
[of [Egypt NP] PP] are = verb (V)
much bigger than I imagined = complement (Cs)
[comparative clause] than I Imagined than-clause
Ex. 7 p. 179 explained(try to do it before you read!)
The woman who lives next door showed me her new computer
Clause elements: The woman who lives next door = subject (S)
who (S) lives (V) next door (A) required for the complementation of live
showed = verb (V) me = indirect object (Oi)
her new computer = direct object (Od)
Other examples
Mary is in the house
Mary (S) is (V) in the house (A place)
Mary is kind
Mary (S) is (V) kind (Cs) > subject predicative
Other examples
Somebody caught the ball
Somebody (S) caught (V) the ball (Od)
I put the plate on the table
I (S) put (V) the plate (Od) on the table (A place)
Other examples
We have proved him a fool
We (S) have proved (V) him (Od) a fool (Co) >
object predicative
She gives me expensive presents
She (S) gives (V) me (Oi) expensive presents (Od)
Optional adverbials
Sometimes she sings beautifully
Sometimes (A) she (S) sings (V) beautifully
(A) (optional adverbials in green)
In America most students are now on vacation
In America (A) most students (S) are (V) now (A) on vacation (A)
Other examples
She kindly sent us some photographs
She (S) kindly (A) sent (V) us (Oi) some
photographs (Od)
Transformational relations
Many critics disliked the play
Many critics (S) disliked (V) the play (Od)
The play was disliked (by many critics)
The play (S) was disliked (V) by many critics (A)
Transformational relations
Queen Victoria considered him a genius
Queen Victoria (S) considered (V) him (Od) a genius
(Co)
He was considered a genius by Queen Victoria
He (S) was considered (V) a genius (Cs) by Queen Victoria (A)
Transformational relations
My father gave me this watch My father(S) gave (V) me (Oi) this watch (Od) This watch was given me by my father This watch (S) was given (V) me (Oi) by my
father (A) I was given this watch by my father I (S) was given (V) this watch (Od) by my
father (A)
Homework
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/internet-grammar/home.htm
Sentence
a sentence must consist of at least one clause (main clause)
When we talk about sentences we are talking about structural principles rather than written conventions I agreed to go with them. Although I wasn’t really happy
with the idea. It will be all right, I shan’t have to stay here, even now
Neither spoken nor written language will necessarily divide neatly into sentences
Sentence typesFORM FUNCTION
declarative > statement You’re wearing a new dress.
interrogative > question Are you wearing a new dress?
imperative > directive Buy yourself a new dress!
exclamative > exclamation What a lovely dress you’re wearing!
Form and function
● form and function do not always correspond● That coffee’s very hot
● statement (after touching the coffee pot)● exclamation (after having gulped down a
mouthful)● command (to prevent a child from touching it)
● It is important to maintain a clear distinction between the form and the function
Declarative sentences declarative sentences are normally used to
make a statement declarative sentences typically have an overt
subject, a verb element and any necessary verb complementation
declarative sentences may also have optional adverbials Philip will visit his dentist in London today
declarative sentences are the most common structures we use in language
Interrogative sentences
interrogative sentences are normally used to ask a question yes-no questions
Are you happy? wh-questions
Where do you live? interrogative sentences usually have an
interrogative structure which implies a subject-operator inversion
The first (or only) auxiliary which is used to make interrogative sentences is labeled operator > it is the one that carries tense
Wh-questions wh-questions require subject-operator inversion but
they also involve the substitution of a sentence element with a wh-word and the bringing of this element to the front The thief (S) took (V) my wallet (O)
What (O) did (Vop) the thief (S) take (V)?
when the subject (S) of a sentence is substituted with a wh-word, no inversion takes place Who married Jack?
Homework
Read Ballard’s book, pages 146 -152 (7.1 – 7.4)