Syntax- Syntactic properties of words and clauses

Question 1

Predicate

Answer 1

Describes a particular state or event

Question 2

Argument

Answer 2

A word or phrase that is required by the predicate, which the predicate assigns a particular semantic role

Question 3

What is a semantic role also known as?

Answer 3

Thematic role or θ role

Question 4

Subject

Answer 4

The word/phrase in the clause that occupies an ‘external’ position to the verb phrase and triggers agreement with the finite verb (in English)

Question 5

Object

Answer 5

A word/phrase that occupies a position inside the verb phrase but does not (in English) trigger agreement. If the object must be immediately preceded by a preposition it is termed indirect, if not it is termed direct.

Question 6

Adjunct

Answer 6

An optional element of a sentence, which is not required to make the sentence grammatical

Question 7

Proposition

Answer 7

A predicate plus its arguments, a semantically complete unit

Question 8

Simple sentence

Answer 8

Contains one main clause only

Question 9

Compound sentence

Answer 9

Contains two or more conjoined main clauses

Question 10

Complex sentence

Answer 10

Contains a main clause and one or more subordinate clauses