English Language 2 MED: Phrases and Clauses, Appunti di Lingua Inglese

Scarica English Language 2 MED: Phrases and Clauses e più Appunti in PDF di Lingua Inglese solo su Docsity! Lingua inglese 2 MED Revision and exam questions • Paola Catenaccio Phrases • there are five types of phrase: NP, AdjP, AdvP, VP, PP • a phrase is called after its HEAD (the word which is essential for the string to be considered as a unit of meaning) • all phrases can be composed of the head alone, except for PPs, which ALWAYS EMBED ANOTHER ELEMENT (be it a NP or a clause, finite or non-finite)! Example an interesting book • this is a NP • the HEAD (function) of this NP is a NOUN (form) and its realisation is BOOK • head —> noun —> book (from function to realisation) • book —> noun —> head (from realisation to function) NPs • Structure (functional) determiner - premodification - HEAD - postmodification the beautiful vase on the shelf • what kinds of words/phrases/clauses etc can fill each functional position? AdjP and AdvP • Structure premodification head postmodification very excited (Adj) about the trip too tired (Adj) to go out interestingly (Adv) enough so very late (Adv) indeed Practice For each of the following noun phrases, say which FUNCTIONAL ELEMENT the underlined word/phrase is • Volkswagen’s emissions scandal PREMODIFIER • the total number of units sold last month PREMODIFIER • our dealers and customers DETERMINER • an approved remedy for the affected TDI vehicles POSTMODIFIER • continued patience and loyalty HEAD • devices linked to emissions cheating HEAD Determiners How many determiners (of the head)? • several two-bedroom apartments • half the number of employees • each five member team • her many talents • all the many matters that demanded my attention Determiners How many determiners (of the head)? • several two-bedroom apartments 1 • half the number of employees 2 • each five member team 1 • her many talents 2 • all the many matters that demanded my attention 3 Determiners How many determiners (of the head)? • my last three lessons • twice the speed of sound • several third year students • the few pages left to read • all those many years ago Determiners How many determiners (of the head)? • my last three lessons 3 • twice the speed of sound 2 • several third year students 1 • the few pages left to read 2 • all those many years ago 3 Identify the head! • might have seen • a record year for car sales • the diesel turbocharged injection model • on track to reach 18.2 million vehicles • relatively difficult for the company • much too many people around • profitable enough • so incredibly successful • may have been selling Practice For each of the following VPs, say what meaning component the underlined word or phrase conveys. • might have been seeing • doesn’t like • is bound to be • is likely to be decreasing • might have been arriving • could be about to arrive • was being taken • will have been searched Practice For each of the following VPs, say what meaning component the underlined word or phrase conveys. • might have been seeing progressive • doesn’t like auxiliary • is bound to be modal • is likely to be decreasing progressive • might have been arriving perfect • could be about to arrive modal • was being taken progressive • will have been searched passive Clauses • in discourse, phrases are organised into clauses • clauses are self-standing units which include a form of predication (a verb!) • phrases play different roles (functions!) within the clause • at clause level, phrases are formal units which play assigned constituent roles or functions. Remember! • some adverbials (which are not only adverbs!!! Adverbial is a functional label, adverb a formal one!) are compulsory, others are optional! • The librarian put the books on the shelf. • *the librarian put the books. —> compulsory • I met John last week. • I met John. —> optional also notice: optional adverbials are movable; compulsory adverbials have fixed positions Clause patterns and associated verbs• SP: Business (S) is booming (P) —> verb: intransitive • SPO: We (S) have hired (P) a new junior accountant (O) —> verb: monotransitive • SPOO: The company (S) gives (P) new fathers (Oi) paid paternity leave (Od) —-> verb: ditransitive Remember: the Oi always precedes the Od, unless you have an oblique structure: The company gives paid paternity leave to new fathers • SPC: The company (S) became (P) very successful (C) —> verb: copular • SPA: The headquarters (S) are (P) in London (A, compulsory!) —> verb: intransitive • SPOC: The board (S) has elected (P) John (O) president (C) —> verb: complex transitive • SPOA: I (S) have put (P) the file (O) on the table (A) —> verb: complex transitive Practice For each of the following clauses, decide what the function of the NPs in bold is. • We all remained home. • The new CEO is a really strong manager. • We should increase our sales. • We must give the staff more incentives. • During the past year some of our partner companies have experienced difficulties. • The company’s success has made it a household name. Practice In each of the following passive sentences, decide whether the subject position is occupied by the O[d] or O[i] of the original active sentence (please note: not all active sentences had an O[i]!). • Returning customers should be offered a discount. Oi • The purchase of the new warehouse will be announced on Monday. Od • That the company was going through a difficult time was well known. Od • A special gift will be sent to all the customers who will complete their purchase by April 30th. Od Practice For each of the following sentences, decide what clause pattern applies to the MAIN CLAUSE. • The German car giant has admitted cheating emissions tests in the US. • Volkswagen’s emissions scandal has devastated US sales. • The German carmaker has laid the blame for this drop in sales on the emissions-cheating scandal that broke in September. • The CO2 issue has triggered a greater crisis of confidence [in VW products] than the nitrogen [emissions] issue. Practice For each of the following sentences, decide what clause pattern applies to the MAIN CLAUSE. • The German car giant (S) has admitted (P) cheating emissions tests in the US.(O) SPO • Volkswagen’s emissions scandal (S) has devastated (P) US sales. (O) SPO • The German carmaker (S) has laid (P) the blame for this drop in sales (O) on the emissions-cheating scandal that broke in September. (A) SPOA (compare: I laid the blanket on the bed) • The CO2 issue (S) has triggered (P) a greater crisis of confidence [in VW products] than the nitrogen [emissions] issue. (O) SPO Practice For each of the passages below, identify the predicator in the MAIN CLAUSE and say what type of verb the lexical verb is (transitive/intransitive etc) • The US unemployment rate has dropped to 5%. • According to Autodata Corp, the selling rate for 2015, adjusted for seasonal trends, is likely to reach 18.2m vehicles. • Many Americans have held off buying a new car during the recession. • Basically, VW has sold its customers cars whose environmental performance is totally inadequate. • Other car manufacturers may be guilty of similar frauds. • Volksagen's strategy seems very short-sighted, with hindsight. Practice For each of the passages below, identify the predicator in the MAIN CLAUSE and say what type of verb the lexical verb is. • The US unemployment rate has dropped to 5%. Intransitive • According to Autodata Corp, the selling rate for 2015, adjusted for seasonal trends, is likely to reach 18.2m vehicles. Monotransitive • Many Americans have held off buying a new car during the recession. Monotransitive • Basically, VW has sold its customers cars whose environmental performance is totally inadequate. Ditransitive • Other car manufacturers may be guilty of similar frauds. Copular • Volksagen's strategy seems very short-sighted, with hindsight. Copular relative clauses Relative clauses can refer to a noun (typically) or to a whole sentence/stretch of discourse (less commonly) When they refer to a noun they can be defining or non defining • The man whom I met yesterday is an old friend of my father’s. • Yesterday I met John, who is an old friend of my father’s. When they refer to a sentence/stretch of discourse, they are called sentential. • Yesterday I met an old friend of my father’s, which was something I had wanted to do for years. when can I have a non- finite relative clause? When the relative pronoun is the SUBJECT of the relative clause (not always though! and remember the difference in VOICE!) • The man sitting (=who is sitting) at the table is my friend. • Students insisting (=who insist) on a huge level of detail can be irritating. • The shipping sent (=that was sent) yesterday has a arrived. Practice For each of the following items, decide whether they contain a relative clause (including reduced/non-finite ones!), and if so, of what type. • To meet pollution levels, modern diesels are usually fitted with a tank containing a chemical compound. • While investigating the scandal, VW found that around 800,000 cars also had irregularities around carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, which contribute to global warming. • The German company has set aside €6.7bn to deal with the penalties it faces. Practice For each of the following items, decide whether they contain a relative clause (including reduced/non-finite ones!), and if so, of what type. • To meet pollution levels, modern diesels are usually fitted with a tank containing a chemical compound. defining • While investigating the scandal, VW found that around 800,000 cars also had irregularities around carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, which contribute to global warming. non defining • The German company has set aside €6.7bn to deal with the penalties it faces. Defining where do you go from now • Revise thoroughly • Pratice extensively • if you have any doubts, remember that I am going to have a Q&A session on Wednesday 28th at 10.30 (nothing now: only Q&A!!!) • Don’t panic, ever: it’s nothing you don’t know (provided you have studied) • the exam is made up of 45 questions which you have to answer in 30 minutes A. the time is MORE THAN ENOUGH B. the more the questions, the greater the chance of getting a good mark • wrong or unanswered questions are worth the same (no negative points for wrong ones) • I should not say good luck because it is most definitely NOT down to luck (but good luck anyway)