Syntax Flashcards
Noun phrase
- (det)2 (adv)* (adj)* N
- pronoun
- proper noun
Verb phrase
(mod) (aux)2 lex
can include adverbs
Prepositional phrase
- prep + NP
- prep
Tests for phrases
- substitution (replace with a single word)
- movement (move as a whole)
- can have phrases within phrases
How can prepositional phrases function?
- adjectival - describe a noun
- adverbial - when, where, how, how much, how often
Types of clauses
- independent/main
- dependent/subordinate
What is a main clause?
can stand alone
What is a subordinate clause?
can’t stand alone
Types of subordinate clause
- non-finite verb
- relative
- subordinating conjunction
Clause v. phrase
clauses = subject + verb that agree
(although the subject can be omitted)
What is a subject?
- the noun phrase that comes before the verb
- (most of the time) that ‘does’ the action of the verb
NOTE must identify the whole phrase
What are the forms of ‘to be’?
be / being / been / is / am / are / was / were
What are the forms of ‘to do’?
do / doing / done / did / does
What are the forms of ‘to have’?
have / has / had / having
What is a direct object?
- a NP directly influenced/affected by the action of the verb
- always comes after the verb
- answers ‘who’ ‘what’
What is an indirect object?
- a NP that is indirectly affected/influenced by the action of the verb
- always comes after the verb
- often comes (or could come) after a preposition
- answers ‘to whom’ ‘for whom’ ‘for what’
a transitive verb
takes a direct object
a ditransitive verb
takes a direct AND indirect object
an intransitive verb
takes no object
True or false? A verb can only be transitive, ditransitive or intransitive
False - you need to look at the given sentence
a copular verb
is when the subject and the complement (the ‘thing’ on the other side of the verb) refer to the same entity
True or false? A complement is always a noun phrase
False - it can be an adjective, a prepositional phrase, a clause etc. (e.g. I am happy)
a complement
is the entity on the other side of a copular verb
True or false? A verb can be intransitive and copular
True - if it is copular, it is not taking an object so is intransitive
What are the three tenses?
past, present, future
What are the four aspects?
simple, perfect, progressive, perfect progressive