Syntax all of it Flashcards
The simple clause – main clausal elements
A simple clause, also known as an independent clause, is a basic grammatical unit in a sentence that contains a subject and a predicate. Here are the main clausal elements of a simple clause:
Subject (S): The main element that performs the action or about which something is stated.
Example: She reads novels.
Predicate (Pred):The part of the clause that provides information about the subject, typically including the main verb and its complements.
Example: She reads novels.
Object (O):The element that receives the action of the verb (direct object).
Example: She reads novels daily.
Complement (C):
An element that completes the meaning of the verb and provides additional information about the subject or object.
Example: She is a librarian.
These are the fundamental clausal elements of a simple clause. The subject and predicate are essential components, and the object and complement provide additional details to complete the meaning of the clause.
THE SIMPLE CLAUSE
= contains a single independent clause: only 1 subject + predicate, expresses a complete thought
Makes sense on its own as a sentence.
Syntactic Description of simple clause - show at example: “She reads novels.”
Subject (S): “She”
Function: The main element that performs the action or about which something is stated.
Predicate (Pred): “reads novels”
Function: The part of the clause that provides information about the subject, typically including the main verb and its complements.
Object (O): “novels”
Function: The element that receives the action of the verb (direct object).
In this syntactic description, we identify the subject (“She”), the predicate (“reads novels”), and the object (“novels”).
The subject and predicate are the core components of the simple clause, and the object provides additional information about what is being read.
mood structures
declarative/ interrogative/ imperative/ exclamative
Declarative Mood:
Function: Used for making statements or expressing facts.
Example: She is reading a book.
Imperative Mood:
Function: Used for giving commands, requests, or making suggestions.
Example: Close the door.
Interrogative Mood:
Function: Used for asking questions.
Example: Is she reading a book?
Exclamative Mood:
Function: Used for expressing strong emotions or making exclamations.
Example: What a beautiful day!
The clause complex
clause complex is the term that refers to a unit consisting of two or more clauses related either paratactically or hypotactically.
Paratactic Structures:
a relationship of grammatical equivalence cIt often employs coordinating conjunctions or punctuation marks like commas and semicolons.
Example: She worked hard, and she succeeded.
- coordination by means of conjunction – syndetic (Tom is an astrophysicist and he works at the CERN in Geneva.)
- juxtaposition without conjunctive elements – asyndetic (Tom is an astrophysicist; he works at the CERN in Geneva.)
Hypotactic Structures:
a relationship of grammatical non-equivalence
- one clause (the subordinate or dependent clause) is syntactically and semantically dependent on another clause (the main or independent clause).
Example: Because she worked hard, she succeeded.
- subordination by means of a conjunctive element – syndetic
Since you have come after all, why don´t you sit down?
- juxtaposition without a conjunctive element – asyndetic
Looking out of the window, she saw her friend at the front door.
VALENCY
Valency, in syntax, refers to the number of arguments a verb can take or the number of grammatical elements it can govern in a sentence.
types of valencies:
S+V
S+V+O
S+V+Oindir+Odir
syntactic relationships between clauses in a clause complex
???
theres like
expansion and projection
projection:
reported/quoted speech and thought
conjunctive elements
PARATACTIC - COORDINATING ELEMENTS
spojení vět hlavních spojovacíma spojkama (a, i, ani, nebo)
“and,” “but,” “or,” “nor,” “for,” “yet,” “so.”
the clauses are independent = are equals
coordination - FANBOYS
HYPOTACTIC - SUBORDINATING ELEMENTS
spojení věty hlavní a vedlejší, vylučovacíma? spojkama (protože, ačkoli, od, až, během)
one clause is dependent on the other one = not equals
“although,” “because,” “if,” “when,” “while,” “since.”
subordination
semantic types of dependent clauses
relative clause:
- nominal
- adjectival
- adverbial
conditional clauses
projected, relative, temporal, and conditional clauses
1) Projected clauses:
Typically introduced by a complementizer such as “that” or “whether”
Typically occur as complements of verbs or adjectives, or as subjects or objects of sentences
Often marked by a special intonation pattern, with a slight rise in pitch at the end of the clause
2) Relative clauses:
Typically introduced by a relative pronoun such as “who,” “whom,” “that,” or “which”
Modify a noun or noun phrase in the main clause, providing additional information about it
Can be either restrictive (essential to the meaning of the sentence) or non-restrictive (provide additional, non-essential information)
3) Temporal clauses:
Typically introduced by subordinating conjunctions such as “after,” “before,” “since,” “when,” or “while”
Express the time relationship between the action or event in the subordinate clause and the action or event in the main clause
Can be either adverbial (modifying the verb in the main clause) or adjectival (modifying a noun or pronoun in the main clause)
4) Conditional clauses:
Typically introduced by subordinating conjunctions such as “if,” “unless” or “provided that”
Express a condition that must be met for the action or event in the main clause to occur
Can be either real (expressing a situation that is currently possible or likely) or unreal (expressing a situation that is hypothetical or contrary to fact).
