Canonical and noncanonical clause structures Szilgyi Szandra Angol

Canonical and non-canonical clause structures Szilágyi Szandra Angol szintaxis tanároknak Spring 2015

Canonical and non-canonical clauses Transform the sentences into the most basic and elementary structures. l Grammar isn’t the greatest joy in life. l Does tyranny begin with the laws of grammar? l They say that the English language is work in progress. l Grammarians make no new thoughts, but thoughts make new grammar. l The passive voice should never be used by us.

Canonical and non-canonical clauses l Grammar isn’t the greatest joy in life. l Grammar is the greatest joy in life. l Does tyranny begins with the laws of grammar? l Tyranny begins with the laws of grammar. l They say that the English language is work in progress. l The English language is work in progress. l Grammarians make no new thoughts, but thoughts make new grammar. l The passive voice should never be used by us. l We should never use the passive voice.

Canonical and non-canonical clauses l Grammar isn’t the greatest joy in life. l Grammar is the greatest joy in life. l Does tyranny begin with the laws of grammar? l Tyranny begins with the laws of grammar. DECLARATIVE l They say that the English language is a work in progress. l The English language is a work in progress. MAIN CLAUSE l Grammarians make no new thoughts, but thoughts make new grammar. l The passive voice should never be used by us. l We should never use the passive voice. POSITIVE NON-COORDINATE ACTIVE

Parts of speech, phrases Choose the odd word/phrase out in each set – the one that does not belong to that particular category. (e. g. : built (V), door, garden, room, window) 1 could may should will want 2 are can has be was 3 me every ours someone they 4 after at during into upwards 5 and because or too when 6 college class grammar learn teacher 7 angry hungry lonely obviously silly 8 cause insist must persuade suggest 9 an how my no whose 10 afterwards badly friendly now soon 11 awful useful handful skilful wonderful 12 that if when whether and 13 the Red Cross last week both stars visible a lot of people in London 14 off the map just like me one of us out of the window upon arrival

Parts of speech, phrases l 8 primary word classes/parts of speech: l Phrases: l l l l l Verb (built, learn, …) Noun (grammar, class, …) Adjective (angry, silly, …) Adverb (obviously, badly, …) Determinative (every, an, …) Preposition (at, into, …) Coordinator (and, or, …) Subordinator (that, if, …) l l Verb Phrase [write letters] Noun Phrase [new house] Adjective Phrase [rather late] l l Adverb Phrase [too soon] Determinative Phrase [very little] l Preposition Phrase [in the garden]

The structure of canonical clauses l a canonical clause consists of a Subject followed by a Predicate: Subject Predicate One of his friends l I called the doctor Grammatical properties that help to identify the Subject: l POSITION: before the Predicate l FORMATION OF INTERROGATIVES: inverting with the 1 st auxiliary/appropriate form of do l INTERROGATIVE TAGS: personal pronoun Subject relates back to the Subject l SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT: verb’s person-number properties are determined by the Subject

The structure of canonical clauses l Predicator: the function filled by the verb l Complement: is licensed by the verb permits/requires it l Adjunct: is not licensed by the verb independent of the verb Complement She mowed I the lawn Adjunct I before it started to rain.

The structure of canonical clauses l VERY STUPID ON THE TABLE ANGRY A HOUSE ECSTATIC OUR BOSS A CAKE ME A MISTAKE SOME FLOWERS Finish the following sentences using the phrases on the slips. Find as many solutions as you can. l l l l 1. Our cat is … 2. We made … 3. I consider … 4. They disappeared … 5. We put … 6. He became … 7. They bought … 8. Peter sent …

l Our cat is…

l We made…

l I consider…

l They disappeared…

l We put…

l He became…

l They bought…

l Peter sent…

The structure of canonical clauses l On the basis of the presence or absence of the Complement types considered so far we can distinguish the following canonical clause structures: Example Structure Name i. They disappeared. S-V (Ordinary) intransitive ii. They were ecstatic. They became angry. S-V-Cs Complexintransitive / Copular iii. They bought a house. S-V-Od (Ordinary) monotransitive iv. They considered him a charlatan. S-V-Od-Co Complex-transitive I put the books on the table. S-V-Od-Adv v. They sent her some flowers. S-V-Oi-Od Ditransitive