Sentence Structure 8 Parts of Speech 1 Noun

Sentence Structure • 8 Parts of Speech – – – – 1. Noun 2. Pronoun 3. Adjective 4. Adverb 5. Verb 6. Preposition 7. Conjunctive 8. Interjection Prepared by Venus Lam 1

Basic Structure • The very basic structure of a sentence is: Subject + Predicate Example: Subject + Verb I cried. Prepared by Venus Lam 2

Five Commonly Used Patterns • 1. Subject (N) + V – I smiled. • 2. Subject (N) + V + Compliment (C) – I am sorry. I am late. • 3. Subject (N) + V + Object (O) – I had an accident. • 4. Subject (N) + V + O + C – I make the teacher angry. • 5. Subject (N) + V + O + V / O – The teacher lets me sit down. – The teacher gives me one more chance. Prepared by Venus Lam 3

Conjunctions • Conjunctions join words, phrases, or clauses together. There are two main types: – Coordinating conjunctions – Subordinating conjunctions Prepared by Venus Lam 4

Coordinating Conjunctions • Coordinating conjunctions join items of the same syntactic class. Thus, words are joined to words, phrases to phrases, dependent clauses to dependent clauses, and independent clauses to independent clauses. There are seven coordinating conjunctions: and / or / nor / for / so / but / yet Prepared by Venus Lam 5

Coordinating Conjunctions • Examples: – I like apples and oranges. – Would you like coffee or tea? – I like neither coffee nor tea, but I like milk and fruit juice. Prepared by Venus Lam 6

Subordinating Conjunctions • Once you have memorized these seven forms, anything • else that looks like a conjunction must necessarily be a subordinating conjunction. Subordinating conjunctions (or SUBORDINATORS) connect elements of `unequal' syntactic status: • I left early because I had an appointment at 4 pm. • We visited the temple while we were on Lantau Island. I'll be home at ten if I can get a taxi. Other subordinating conjunctions include although, because, before, since, till, unless, whereas, whether Prepared by Venus Lam 7

Adjuncts • Certain parts of a sentence may convey information about how, when, or where something happened – She ate her meal quickly. (how) John gave blood last week. (when) I went to school in Shamshuipo. (where) Prepared by Venus Lam 8

Adjuncts • Noun Phrases functioning as Adjuncts – John gave blood last week. Next summer, we're going to the USA. We've agreed to meet the day after tomorrow. • NPs as Adjuncts generally refer to time, as in these examples. • Adverb Phrases functioning as Adjuncts – We ate our meal too quickly. She walked very gracefully down the steps. Suddenly, the door opened. Prepared by Venus Lam 9

Adjuncts • Prepositional Phrases functioning as Adjuncts – I went to school in Shamshuipo. I work late on Fridays. After work, I go to an Italian restaurant. • PPs as Adjuncts generally refer to time or to place -- they tell us when or where something happens. Prepared by Venus Lam 10

Adjuncts • Clauses functioning as Adjuncts – Finite (with conjunctions) • While we were crossing the road, we heard a loud explosion. • I was late for school because the train broke down. • If you want tickets for the concert, you have to book early. • The bus broke down, so I had to walk. Prepared by Venus Lam 11

Adjuncts • Clauses functioning as Adjuncts – Nonfinite • To-infinitive clause: – To open the window, you have to climb a ladder. • Bare infinitive clause: – Rather than leave the child alone, I brought him to work with me. • -ing clause: – Being a qualified doctor, David had no difficulty in giving the diagnosis. • -ed clause: – Left to herself, she usually gets the job done quickly. • Small clause: – Her face red with rage, Amy stormed out of the room. Prepared by Venus Lam 12

References • Useful websites: • http: //www. geocities. com/venuslamws • http: //www. engl. niu. edu/dhardy/grammar book/title. html • http: //www. ucl. ac. uk/internetgrammar/home. htm Prepared by Venus Lam 13