sentence structure

Question 1

Clause element:
subject-
phrase type that realises it?

Answer 1

noun phrase

Question 2

Clause element:
subject-
usual position in the clause?

Answer 2

before the verb

Question 3

Clause element:
subject-
test for it?

Answer 3

• answers ‘who/ what verbs?’
• replace with a pronoun, and see what you’ve replaced
• add a question tag: which bit does the pronoun refer to?

Question 4

Clause element:
subject-
function?

Answer 4

• identifies the main participant
• who or what the verb ‘comes from’
• usually the agent: who does the verb

Question 5

Clause element:
Object-
phrase type that realises it?

Answer 5

noun phrase

Question 6

Clause element:
Object-
usual position in the clause?

Answer 6

after the verb

Question 7

Clause element:
Object-
test for it?

Answer 7

• is it a separate participant? (yes)
• can you swap it with the subject, bring it to the front of the verb and make a passive form? (subject would then normally appear in a ‘by…’ phrase)

Question 8

Clause element:
Object-
function?

Answer 8

• is on the receiving end of the verb
• a second participant (after the subject) - another person or thing
• usually the ‘patient’ : being done to

Question 9

Clause element:
Complement-
phrase type that realises it?

Answer 9

adjective or noun phrase

Question 10

Clause element:
Complement-
usual position in the clause?

Answer 10

after a (copular (is)) verb or an object

Question 11

Clause element:
Complement-
test for it?

Answer 11

it is a separate participant? (no, just identifies or describes one already mentioned!)

Question 12

Clause element:
Complement-
function?

Answer 12

to identify or describe a participant ( subject usually, or sometimes an object)

Question 13

Clause element:
verb phrase-
phrase type that realises it?

Answer 13

verb phrase

Question 14

Clause element:
verb phrase-
usual position in the clause?

Answer 14

after the subject

Question 15

Clause element:
verb phrase-
test for it?

Answer 15

• answers ‘the subject whats?’
• change the time reference of the sentence (between present, past and future): the verb is the bit that changes (tense)

Question 16

Clause element:
verb phrase-
function?

Answer 16

• identifies the process, the relationship or event
• says what’s happening or being claimed
• the core of the clause

Question 17

Clause element:
Adverbial-
phrase type that realises it?

Answer 17

adverb or preposition phrase

Question 18

Clause element:
Adverbial-
usual position in the clause?

Answer 18

at the end of the clause, the beginning, or with the verb

Question 19

Clause element:
Adverbial-
test for it?

Answer 19

can you move it around the clause, to the front or back for example, without changing verb forms or meaning?

Question 20

Clause element:
Adverbial-
function?

Answer 20

• gives the circumstances in which the event or relationship occurred: manner/ place/ time
• and others, like attitude or link

Question 21

minor sentence?

Answer 21

• interjection
• no clause?
• just noun phrase
• minor sentences are those which, strictly speaking, are not sentences at all. They may lack a subject or a main verb but nevertheless we understand what is meant.
  e.g.
  wish you were here.
  No parking.

Question 22

simple sentence?

Answer 22

• 1 clause
• a sentence which contains only one main clause is known as a simple sentence. Simples sentences are often short and simple (e.g. the boy ran fast) but not always:
  e.g.
  The boy wearing the black and white padded jacket ran quickly down the road at lunchtime.

Question 23

compound- complex sentences?

Answer 23

both a compound and complex structure

Question 24

Complex sentences?

Answer 24

[(s)voca{sub conj (s) v/oac}]
- multiple clauses
-sentence features more than one clause has a clause sitting inside the structure of another clause
- a complex sentence consists of a main clause and 1 or more subordinate clauses (also called dependent clauses). A subordinate clause cannot stand on its own and may come before or after the main clause.
e.g.
I lent her my savings (MC) because she was short of money (SC)
when the weather improves (SC) we are going on holiday (MC)
- you can recognise subordinate clauses by looking for the subordinating conjunctions which introduce them.
- subordinating conjunctions are words which join two parts of a sentence so that one part is less important than the other
e.g.
although
because
if
when
until
unless
after
before
as
in order that
while

Question 25

compound sentences?

Answer 25

- 2 or more clauses - a compound sentence consists of two main clauses joined together by a co-ordinating conjunction. Co-ordinating conjunctions are words which join two parts of a sentence together so that neither part is more important than the other eg and, but, or, nor, either, neither (FANBOYS) e.g. I shivered and turned my collar up. We must hurry or we'll be late.

Question 26

analysing sentences?

Answer 26

the subject performs the action of the verb: e.g. the car raced around the track the object tells you who or what has received the action of the verb e.g. I saw the dentist instead of an object, verbs may take a complement. A complement adds more information about the subject and usually follows the verbs to be or to becomes e.g. her clothes are fashionable adverbials add more information about the action of the verb. They generally come at the end of the sentence e.g. Lucy slept soundly

Question 27

many morphemes =

Answer 27

morphologically complex

Question 28

what are sentences built of?

Answer 28

clauses

Question 29

sentences must contain?

Answer 29

a main clause (also called an independent clause) a main clause is a group of words which contains a verb and makes sense on its own e.g. he walked to the end of the road. I shivered.