Form and Function

Question 1

What is Form?

Answer 1

The shape, look, and structure of a word, phrase, etc…

Question 2

What is Formal Analysis?

Answer 2

Looking at the Form of something.

Question 3

What are Functions?

Answer 3

Actions that phrases and clauses can perform in larger structures which contain them.

Question 4

What is the Subject?

Answer 4

The element which performs the “action” denoted by the verb.

Question 5

What is the Predicate?

Answer 5

The element which is the “action” performed by the Subject.

Question 6

What is Subject-Verb Inversion?

Answer 6

A sentence type where the Subject comes before the Verb.

Question 7

What is Position of the Subject?

Answer 7

The position of the Subject in a sentence; it is usually the first constituent in a Declarative Sentence.

Question 8

What is Subject-Verb Agreement or Concord?

Answer 8

The relation to number agreement (singular or plural) between the Subject and the Verb which follows it.

Question 9

What is Notional Agreement?

Answer 9

An instance where the Form of the Verb is not determined by the Form of the Subject.

Question 10

What are Subjective Pronouns?

Answer 10

Pronouns (such as “you”) that can also be Subjects.

Question 11

What are Subject Clauses?

Answer 11

Sentences where Clauses function as the Subject.

Question 12

What are the major types of Subject Clauses?

Answer 12

That-clause, Nominal Relative clause, To-infinitive clause, -ing clause.

Question 13

What is the Predicate of a Sentence?

Answer 13

Everything that isn’t a part of the Subject.

Question 14

What is a Predicator?

Answer 14

Something whose function is to Predicate or state something.

Question 15

What is a Direct Object?

Answer 15

Something that is affected by the Subject. They generally come after the verb.

Question 16

What is an Indirect Object?

Answer 16

An Object that usually occurs with the Direct Object, and it will always come before the Direct Object.

Question 17

What are Ditransitive Verbs?

Answer 17

Verbs which take an Indirect Object and a Direct Object.

Question 18

What are Monotransitive Verbs?

Answer 18

Verbs which only take a Direct Object.

Question 19

What is the most common Realizer of an Indirect Object.

Answer 19

The Noun Phrase.

Question 20

What else can function as Indirect Object?

Answer 20

A Clause.

Question 21

What are Adjuncts?

Answer 21

Optional elements that may convey information about how, when, or where something happened.

Question 22

What do Noun Phrase Adjuncts refer to?

Answer 22

NPs as Adjuncts generally refer to time.

Question 23

What do Prepositional Phrase Adjuncts refer to?

Answer 23

PPs as Adjuncts generally refer to time or to place – they tell us when or where something happens.

Question 24

Where do Adjuncts usually appear in a sentence?

Answer 24

Usually in the beginning or at the end.

Question 25

What is Extraposition?

Answer 25

An Untypical Sentence Pattern where the Subject or Direct Object is moved to the end of the Sentence.

Question 26

What is a Cleft Sentence?

Answer 26

A type of Untypical Sentence where the original Sentence is divided or “cleft” into two clauses.

Question 27

What is the point of Untypical Sentences?

Answer 27

They are typically used for Stylistic purposes.