Scarica Understanding Syntax and Sentence Structure: Phrases, Clauses, and Sentences e più Appunti in PDF di Linguistica Inglese solo su Docsity! Syntax Syntax -> is how words combine to form sentences. -> is the part of linguistics that studies the structure and formation of sentences. -> explains how words and phrases are arranged, thanks the use of specifics rules, to form correct sentences. It is possible to identify three largest units of construction -> - Phrases -> As we already know the words combine together to form phrases that can be divided into syntactic units called syntagma -> -> is one of the basic patterns out of which we build sentences; -> is a group of words which acts a single unit in meaning and in grammar; -> is not built around a verb; -> can have different functions in a sentence. A phrase is a sort of expansion of one of the word inside it which is called head -> is the key word. -> is the lexical item which is central to the phrase because without that some crucial information would be missing and the phrase would seem structurally incomplete. -> is expanded by other words, which are called hand's modifiers. -> is the word that determines the syntactic category of that phrase. How many syntactic categories there are in English? In English there are five types of syntactic categories-> 1. Noun phrase -> NP -> may consist of a single or more lexical items. -> has a noun as its head. Noun phrase's modifiers may be -> determiners -> adjectives Ex. Your religion | | Adj N \ / NP Ex. The dog | | Det N \ / NP 2. Verb phrase -> VP -> has a verb as its head -> usually consist of a main verb which may be accompanied by an auxiliary. Ex. John went to the park | | | | | N V P Det N | | | \ / NP V P NP | | \ / NP V PP | \ / NP VP \ / P 3. Adjective phrase -> AdjP -> has an adjective as its head. -> expands or complete a noun phrase or completes the verb. Ex. This house is fantastic. | | | | Det N Adj \ / | | NP V AdjP | \ / NP SV \ / P 4. Adverb phrase -> AdvP -> has an adverb as its head. -> modifies verb, adjective or adverb. Ex. The house is adorable. | | | | Det N V Adj \ / | | | V AdjP NP SP \ / P Inglese Pagina 1 5. Prepositional phrase -> PP -> has a preposition as its head. Ex. Thomas sings with friends. | | | | N V P N | | | | NP V P NP | | \ / NP V PP | \ / NP VP \ / P - Clauses In language, a clause is a constituent that links a semantic predicand and a semantic predicate. -> consists of -> - a subject -> that can be expressed or not is the topic of discussion . - a predicate -> gives the information about the subject. We can divide clauses into two categories -> Main clause -> is a clause that can stand by itself as a simple sentence. -> contains a subject and a predicate and makes sense by itself. -> can be joined by using a semicolon or by using a comma followed by a coordinating conjunction (and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet, etc.). Subordinate clause -> is a clause that is embedded within a complex sentence. -> gives the information about the main clause. -> doesn't make sense in isolation. We can divide clauses into two other categories -> Finite clause -> that may be a main clause or a subordinate clause, is a clause that must have a temporal marker in it. -> is a clause that tied to a particular time that is known in relationship to the moment of that the speech is presented -> temporal markers -> Present Simple-> John sings a song Present Continuous-> I'm typing an email Past Simple-> I spoke with my parents about you Present Perfect-> I have travelled for three long days in a boat Non-Finite clause -> is a clause that haven't a temporal marker in it. -> there are three types of non-finite clauses -> 1. To-infinitive clause -> In this clause, the verb comes after the word to. Ex. The aim was to explore the area 2. Present participle clause (or -ing clause) -> In this clause, the verb ending in -ing is used. Ex. He is painting his first picture 3. Past participle clause -> In this clause, the past participle form of the verb is used. (-ed/terza colonna) Ex. The smith built this chair carefully 4. Subordinate conjunction -> in this clause, the subordinate conjunctions used are if, unless, though… Ex. Although my mum told me to come home early, I stayed out late. - Sentences -> A sentence is the largest unit of syntactic structure. There are four types of sentences in the English language and each sentence type serves a different purpose -> - Declarative sentences -> is a sentence that makes a statement, provides a fact, offers an explanation, or conveys information. -> are also known as declarative statements. -> is the most common type of sentence in the English language. -> this kind of sentences are written in the present tense, and normally, the subject comes before the verb. -> the declarative is a sentences that have the SVO structure. Ex. Philip will visit his dentist in Streatham today. - Exclamative sentences -> is a statement that expresses strong emotion. this kind of sentence usually ends with an exclamation mark (!) only use the wh-words /how/ and /what/. Ex. What a lovely day it is! - Imperative sentences -> is normally used to express a direct command, request, invitation, warning, or instruction. -> this kind of sentences don't have a subject that is normally omitted. Ex. Have a nice day. Wash the dinner plates. Inglese Pagina 2
