Week 7 and 8 Syntax

Question 1

Name the different types of phrases

Answer 1

Noun phrase
Verb Phrase
Adjective phrase
Adverb phrase
Preposition phrase

Question 2

What is a headword?

Answer 2

Determines what kind of phrase it is - eg a noun phrase has a noun as the head word

Question 3

Define what a clause is

Answer 3

* A clause is a group of words containing one verb
* Contains a subject and a predicate

Question 4

What does the subject in a clause refer to?

Answer 4

The main participant in the event, described by the predicate
eg [The child] [chased the puppy]
subject predicate

Question 5

What is the predicate?

Answer 5

The remaining part of the sentence that is not part of the subject - contains the verb and states something about the subject

Question 6

What is the object in a phrase?

Answer 6

The whom/what has the verb done to them

Question 7

What is a declarative sentence?

Answer 7

Otherwise know as a statement - stating a fact

Question 8

What is an interrogative sentence

Answer 8

A question, as sentence asking for information

Question 9

What is an imperative sentence

Answer 9

Giving a command

Question 10

Order these elements in a basic declarative clause
verb, object, subject

Answer 10

subject –> verb –> object

Question 11

What is a transitive verb?

Answer 11

Words that involve doing things to things (some kind of action and an object that that thing happens to)
eg. John hit a ball.

Question 12

What is a intransitive verb?

Answer 12

Doing something - doesn’t require an object for it to be done to.
Eg sleep, cry

Question 13

What is a copula verb?

Answer 13

Just in a state of being - no action. Eg ‘is’

Question 14

What is a dependent or subordinate clause

Answer 14

A clause that cannot stand alone, it complements the main clause

Question 15

What are the 5 basic clause elements?

Answer 15

Subject
Verb
Object
Adverbials
Complement

Question 16

What is a complex clause?

Answer 16

Contains more than one clause, therefore more than one verb

Question 17

What position does the subject take in a clause?

Answer 17

Always precedes the verb element, often the first element of the clause (unless there are adverbials)

Eg Zaneta is talking about linguistics.
Unfortunately, Zaneta is talking about linguistics.

Question 18

What can a subject element contain?

Answer 18

Noun phrases (including single nouns and pronouns)

or

A subordinate clause

eg. That I don’t expect others to have them is the reason why I bring them.

Question 19

What do complements refer to?

What are the two types?

Answer 19

elements which add further description or definition to a subject or an object

Subject complement (with copula verb)

object complement (with transitive verb)

Question 20

What is a complex clause

Answer 20

Contains more than one verb element with a linking word

Question 21

What are the two main relationships between clauses in complex clauses?

Answer 21

• Co-ordinate (or compound) clauses: the clauses that are combined are fairly equivalent structures. eg I like pizza and she likes pasta. • Subordinate clauses: in which one clause functions as part of another clause; there is a main clause and a subordinate clause. eg I like pizza when the pizza is hot.

Question 22

What is a subordinate clause?

Answer 22

• Not equal parts - also known as a dependent clause.
• Cannot stand alone - Needs to be paired with the main clause.
• e.g. The girl ate the pizza while waiting for the bus (subordinate clause: while waiting for the bus)
• e.g. An election will be held, as the bill wasn’t passed by the senate. (subordinate clause: as the bill wasn’t passed by the senate)

Question 23

What is a co-ordinate clause?

Answer 23

Equal elements. eg She cooked pizza and I cooked pasta.