1.         Revision

References:

Chalker, S. (1998) A Student’s English Grammar Workbook. Essex: Longman. – Chapter 2, pp. 7 – 10.

Greenbaum, S. and R. Quirk (1990) A Student’s Grammar of the English Language. Essex: Longman. – Chapter 2, pp. 11 – 23.

                                              

2.         The simple sentence

- the simple sentence x complex sentence x compound sentence:                                  

In a SIMPLE sentence all sentence elements are expressed by PHRASES. A simple sentence is a single independent clause:

She is smart. I put it on the table.

In a COMPLEX sentence at least one sentence element must be expressed by a CLAUSE. A complex sentence contains one MATRIX clause (the main clause) and at least one SUBORDINATE clause. We talk about subordination:

Yesterday I came home rather late.  – simple sentence

Yesterday I came home when it was rather late.  – complex sentence

In a COMPOUND sentence there are two or more coordinate clauses. We talk about coordination:

I like him, but he doesn’t like me. We can go to the cinema, or we can stay at home. She’s beautiful and really intelligent too. 

- see slide No. 1 for more detail (Lesson 1)

 

- clause types (simple sentence; answers to handout No. 2):                                            

• How many clause types do we have in English? 

We distinguish seven clause types (SV, SVC, SVA, SVO, SVOO, SVOA, SVOC). 

 

• According to which criteria do they differ?

The types differ according to whether one or more clause elements are obligatorily present in addition to the S (subject) and V (verb). The V element in a simple sentence is always a finite verb phrase.

 

 

{C}o   Which clause element determines what other elements (apart from S) will be present in a sentence? … a VERB

 

{C}o      What do you know about optional adverbials in connection with clause types?

Any number of optional adverbials can be added without changing the clause type:       

e.g.   The sun is shining.    Luckily, the sun is already shining.   = SV

         He is at home.    He is probably at home now.  = SVA

        You can put the book on the table.   Later, you can perhaps put the dish on the table. = SVOA

 

{C}o   Clause types are closely connected with verb classes; there are 3 main verb classes. Which are they?

intransitive verbs – followed by no obligatory element, and occur in type SV (shine, work, …)

transitive verbs –  all verbs requiring an object. They can be further classified:

                            monotransitive – SVO (bore, see, …)

                            ditransitive – SVOO (give, send, show,…)

                            complex-transitive – SVOC (find) and SVOA (put)

copular verbs – followed by a SUBJECT COMPLEMENT or an ADVERBIAL; thus occur in types: SVC (seem) and SVA (be)

(Which verbs can normally build the passive? …transitive verbs – there are exceptions, though – so called middle verbs that seem transitive but normally occur only in the active: They have three daughters.  This jumper doesn’t fit you. Three times three equals nine. I lack further information.)

 

{C}o   Explain the following term: multiple class membership of verbs. Give some examples:

 For instance, the verb to get can belong to different verb classes, and hence can enter into more than one clause type:

She’s getting upset. – SVC

You’ll get a long letter. – SVO

She got him a pricey gift. - SVOO 

Sometimes different interpretations are possible (ambiguities can arise):

I found her an entertaining partner. SVOC  or  SVOO

He is preparing his family dinner.  SVO   or   SVOO

                                                            

{C}o   What is understood by the complementation of the verb?

Complementation of the verb comprises any clause/sentence element (O, C and A) that is needed in order to form a grammatically acceptable sentence:

* I put it.   * The dinner tastes.   – these are incomplete structures, they are unacceptable

However, in some cases, an element can be considered grammatically optional:

I’m eating. SV   I’m eating lunch. SVO

I’m teaching. SV    I’m teaching English. SVO    I’m teaching you English. SVOO

- these verbs have a multiple class membership

 

{C}o   What is a broader notion: complement or complementation?

Most verbs require a particular complementation, which can be of three kinds: O, C, A.  Complement (C) is one kind of complementation, thus complementation is a broader notion than complement. Complement is one of the sentence/clause elements.

 

{C}o   What is the relationship between phrases = forms and clause elements = functions?

 - syntactic characterization of clause elements                                                                   

(see Chalker 1998: 7, 8 for more detail and for revision, and also the corresponding chapter in Greenbaum and Quirk 1990 – chapter 2)

{C}-          when we talk of PHRASES we are talking of FORMAL CATEGORIES – the way phrases are formed

{C}-          when we talk of CLAUSE ELEMENTS we are thinking of the way different kinds of formal phrases FUNCTION, how the same kind of phrase can express different elements

VERB – always realized by a VP; normally present in all clauses; determines what other elements must occur; in a simple sentence always a finite verb phrase

SUBJECT – typically a NP (or a subjective form of pronouns); determines the number and person of the verb, where relevant  

OBJECT – typically a NP (or objective form of pronouns); normally follows the S and V, if two objects, then usu the indirect one precedes the direct one; can become the S of the corresponding passive clause

COMPLEMENT – typically a NP or an AdjP; subject complement relates to the S x object complement relates to the O; does not have a corresponding passive subject

ADVERBIAL – can be realized by AdvP, PP, NP or CLAUSE:

e.g. I’m coming tomorrow / in the afternoon / this evening / when I finish my homework. ;              can occur in more than one position in the clause; frequently optional except in SVA and SVOA

References:

 

Chalker, S. (1998) A Student’s English Grammar Workbook. Essex: Longman. – Chapters 2 and 10, pp. 7 – 10; 74 – 76.

 

Greenbaum, S. and R. Quirk (1990) A Student’s Grammar of the English Language. Essex: Longman. – Chapters 2 and 10, pp. 11 – 23; 204 – 208.