Inglés JurídicoInglés Jurídico

Nivel Inicial

Sentence StructureSentence Structure

Syntax = the study of the Syntax = the study of the sentencesentence

Word Order is at the heart of Word Order is at the heart of syntax and it is essential for syntax and it is essential for

meaningmeaning

PatternsPatterns

Most sentences can be analysed into one of only seven basic clause types

S + V S + V + O S + V + C S + V + A S+ V + O + O S + V + O + C S + V + O + A

ElementsElements

I ) Subject:

II) Verb

III) Object

IV) Complements

V) Adverbials

I) SubjectI) Subject

–It controls whether the verb is singular or plural.

The witness works with the plaintiff.

–Subjects are generally: nouns, noun phrases and pronouns.

• He works with the plaintiff

II) Verb II) Verb

The verb can never be omitted. A sentence may contain a single verb or a cluster of

verbs (verb phrase) There are three types of verbs: Full, modal and

primary verbs. Forms of Verbs: A) Finite verbs (they refer to a particular number,

tense, person or mood) B) Non finite : -ing participle, -ed participle and the

infinitive.

III) ObjectIII) Object

It usually follows the subject and verb in a clause. There are two types: a)Direct b)Indirect A) Direct: person or thing directly affected by the

action expressed by the verb. B) Indirect: animate being which is the recipient

of the action. Objects are generally nouns or objective pronouns

IV) ComplementsIV) Complements

Subjective Complement: It refers to the subject– The secretary looked worried

Objective Complement: It refers to the object– The secretary left the door ajar

v) Adverbialsv) Adverbials

They are not always necessary within the sentence. (additional information)

They are usually adverbs, prepositional phrases, noun phrases.

There may be more than one in a sentenceThey are used to express: Time, place,

manner.

Questions and NegativesQuestions and Negatives

Questions

Aux + Subject+Verb ? Do they work ? Wh-+aux+Subj+Verb ? Where do they work ?

Negatives

Subj + Aux + NOT + V

They do not work

Word ClassesWord Classes

1. Nouns2. Adjectives3. Verbs4. Adverbs

NounsNouns

TYPES:

Proper: e.g. names : Michigan, Steve

Common: Countable : book

(Abstract/Concrete) Uncountable : justice

Nouns: GenderNouns: Gender

There is no grammatical gender but there are ways of expressing whether they are male or female or whether they are people or things.– Prince/princess it/he/she fiancé/fiancée– Bride/groom husband/wife

Some words have dual gender: -cousin president student

Nouns: NumberNouns: Number

1) In general, there are singular and plural nouns. The most common plural form is: singular noun + “s”= house/houses, car/cars

2) Irregular Plurals: Old English or Germanic: foot/feet, woman/women,

Greek/Latin words: formula/formulae, thesis/theses

Invariable Plurals: aircraft,deer, sheep