Syntax - Sentence Structure Flashcards
Utterance
something that is said by a person; may/not be a whole sentence
Sentence
largest unit of syntactic analysis, a complete idea expressed in a set of words
clause
a set of words with a subject and predicate
clauses form sentences
independent clause can be a sentence
dependent clause must link up with an independent clause
Phrase
a set of words that works together in a sentence but does not include a subject and predicate
Basic Sentence Structure
Subject - Predicate (SVO)
subject: the who/what referred to by the predicate
predicate: everything not included in the subject, must have a verb
Sentence Functions
declarative: make a statement
imperative: give a command
Exclamatory: express a strong feeling
Interrogative: pose a question
Sentence types by clause structure
simple
compound/coordinate
complex
compound/coordinate-complex
Sometimes just simple vs complex
Simple Sentence
One independent clause standing alone
Phrase Types
Syntactic units that cannot stand alone (don’t have subject and predicate); have a word as the “head” this determines the type of phrase
Noun phrase, verb phrase, prepositional phrase, infinitive phrase, participle and gerund phrase
Noun Phrase
include a noun or pronoun as the head, plus any determiners or modifiers that go with it
can serve various syntactic functions:
- subject: MY SISTER JUDY is a great dancer
-Complement: my sister Judy is A GREAT DANCER
-object: Judy borrowed SOME DANCING SHOES
Verb Phrase
includes a main verb plus any auxiliaries and modifiers that go with it
each clause must have a verb phrase
Prepositional Phrase
begin with a preposition and include the object of the preposition (typically a NP)
typically function as adjectives or adverbs, also specify indirect objects of verbs
Infinitive Phrase
begin with the infinitive form of a verb and do not include a subject
can be considered a clause
eg. she wants TO BAKE A CAKE
Unmarked infinitives / Wh-marked infinitives
unmarked example: she let the ball FALL IN THE WATER
wh-marked: tell me WHEN TO START
Participle Phrases
do not include a subject, so sometimes are considered phrases but may be considered as clauses
eg. BEING A DILIGENT STUDENT, she studied every night
eg. BEFORE ENTERING THE ROOM, make sure you are prepared
Gerund Phrases
includes a gerund plus any modifiers and functions as a noun
may be considered a clause
eg. STUDYING PHYSICS is her favorite activity
eg. SWIMMING is fun for them
Clause
typically includes a subject and predicate, so is made up of phrases
can be independent (main) or dependent (subordinate)
Independent clauses stand alone OR encode the main meaning of the sentence
dependent clauses provide elaboration or complement to an independent clause
Compound/Coordinate Sentence structure
two or more independent clauses that carry equal importance, joined by a coordinating conjunction or conjunctive adverb
eg. Alonzo like bananas BUT Adam prefers mangoes
Complex Sentence Structure
an independent clause plus one or more dependent clauses
dependent clauses can fulfill various syntactic roles including noun, adjective adverb and so on
eg. WHERE WE WILL GO FOR DINNER is a surprise (noun role)
eg. they saw the movie BEFORE THEY WENT FOR DINNER (adverb role)
Compound/Coordinate-Complex Structure
Includes both coordination and subordination of clauses
THE TWINS LEARNED TO READ and THEY LEARNED TO ADD BEFORE THEY STARTED KINDERGARTEN
Merge
phrases and clauses are constructed by joining together words
creates “deep structure”
Move
elements can be moved to create new structures
creates “surface structure”, includes some complex sentence types
Canonical Sentences
simple main clauses that are positive, declarative and in the active voice
other sentence types are built by applying merge and move operations
Move operations / transformations
some sentence types are created by moving sentence elements to create surface structure
questions (yes/no and wh-) the move operation is “inversion”
relative clauses
passives: active and passive voice
move operation leaves behind a trace in the tree diagram of the sentence which marks the position of the element before it is moved
Cleft sentences
result from a move operation that is done for emphasis
consider the sentence: the skilled carpenter built the chair
- it was the skilled carpenter who built the chair (emphasizes subject)
- it was the chair that the skilled carpenter built (emphasizes object)
clefts can be introduced with words such as “all that” and wh- words
