Second Lecture of SIC

Puan Noraza Ahmad ZabidiLecture 2

ADJECTIVESAdjectives are those words that describe

nouns and pronouns.

They tell us how big something is, what it looks like, where it’s from, how many there are and countless other characteristics.

E.g blue-bumpy-elegant-short

Some adjectives are derived from proper nouns to describe historical periods, artistic styles, nationality, geographical locations

This gown came from the Elizabethan period. It has many frills and lace.

I always feel so tired after working all day, said Salbiah to her mother. This is her complaint to her family.

Adjective Phrase Adjective Phrase is a constituent with an

adjective as a head. e.g. 1 The very cute girl is my sister. Very cute girl is the adjectival phrase. Cute is the head adjective with a premodification.

e.g. 2 Your brother was very angry about the results.

Happy about the results is the adjectival phrase. Happy is the head with postmodification.

Adjective phrase variation E.g. 3 That seems very expensive for a pen. Expensive is the head with pre and

postmodification

ADVERBSAdverbs are words we use to add further

meaning yo verbs, adjectives and other adverbs.

They help answer questions such as how, when, where, how much and how often.

Bravely-heartily-heavilyIt rained heavily, which was good for the

garden.

It is a constituent that describes time, place or manner.

1. Susan quickly wrote a letter.Quickly – adverbial of manner

2. I will take the final exam on Monday morning On Monday morning – adverbial of time

3. Next week we have no more classes. Next week – adverbial of time

Adverb phrase It is a constituent that has an adverb as its

head.

E.g.1 Ali played the music very loudly. Very loudly is an adverb phrase. Loudly is the head with premodification.

He is talking strangely for a teacher. Strangely for a teacher is the adverb phrase.Strangely is the head with postmodification.

PREPOSITIONSA preposition links nouns, pronouns and

phrases to other words in a sentence. The word or phrase that the preposition introduces is called the object of the preposition.

A preposition usually indicates the temporal, spatial or logical relationship of its object to the rest of the sentence as in the following examples:

.

PREPOSITIONS: examples1.The book is on the table.

2.The book is beneath the table.

3.The book is leaning against the table.

4.The book is beside the table

Preposition phrase It is a constituent that has a preposition as its

head. E.g. 1 The chair right at the back is broken. At the back is a preposition phrase At is the headNote: preposition phrase always has a noun

phrase as a postmodifier. Premodification is not common though “right” can

be considered as that in the sentence above.

Roles of Phrases in a sentence

(1) My brother shot the robber. (2) The robber shot my brother.

Form for my brother in both sentence is a noun phrase.

Function (1) My brother functions as a subject. (2) My brother functions as a direct object.

Direct and indirect objecte.g. 1 The man gave his girlfriend a rose. girlfriend is an indirect object a rose is direct objectNote: Verbs that takes two objects are called

ditransitive verb. Postphonement test; The indirect object can be

moved to the back. i.e. The man gave a rose to his girlfriend.

Direct and indirect object cont. E.g. 2 Michael bought his girlfriend some

flowers. Girlfriend is an indirect objectSome flowers is a direct object.

Subject complementE.g. 1 John loved the teacher. E.g. 2 John became the teacher.

In e.g. 2 the teacher is a subject complement because the constituent following the verb describes the subject.

The verb is called a copular verb. Sentence 1 can be converted into a passive

sentence. “The teacher was loved by John”.

Object complement We have elected you our leader. You is the direct object. Our leader is the object complement.

More examples E.g. 1 I made my mother happy. My mother is a direct object. Happy is an object complement. Test: My mother is happy. – correct.

e.g. 2 You left your teacher very angry. Your teacher is direct object. Very angry is object complementTest: Your teacher is very angry. – correct.

Prepositional complementsE.g. 1 Our classroom is on the first floor. on the first floor is the preposition phrase on – is the preposition the first floor – prepositional complement

(contains a noun/pronounE.g. 2 My teacher is quite angry with me. with – is the preposition me – prepositional complement (contains a

pronoun)

Premodifier & postmodifier E.g. 1 Very tall men are often good at

basketball. “” Very tall” -- premodifier of menE.g. 2 I love music by Beethoven. “ by Beethoven” postmodifier of music

E.g. 3 My father sent that student a letter last week.

My – possessive pronoun – determiner & premodifier

That – demonstrative & premodifier A – article – determiner & premodifier