Lecture 1Sentence Structure

There two main points in this lecture:

2.1 Clause Elements (P15)

2.2 Basic Clause Types and Their Transformation and Expansion (P20)

1.1 Clause elements

A review on what is Clause: The clause (the simple sentence) : structur

ally a sequence of phraselogically a construction of “subject + predicate”.

1) Subject and predicate A full-fledged clause can generally be divided

into two parts: the subject and the predicate.

Subject Predicate Henry is the most studious (diligent) in the class.All the men have done their best. Mr. Carter will investigate further.

The subject:

the topic or theme of the sentence, tells of what the sentence is about (known information).

The subject is generally realized by a noun phrase or an equivalent of noun phrase

The Predicate: says something about the subject and bears

the new information (the speaker or writer wants to transmit to the listener or reader).

The construction of the predicate, which is more complicated, generally consists of a verb phrase with or without complementation.

2) Two Ways of Sentence Analysis

1. To divide the predicate into predicate verb, object, complement and adverbial. These elements together with the subject make the five clause elements.

Predicate2. Predicate Verb

3. Object

4. Complement

5. Adverbial

1. Subject

Five Clause Elements

﹢

2. To divide the predicate into two parts: the operator and the predication. The operator is usually the auxiliary or the

first auxiliary in a complex verb phrase The predication comprises the main verb with

its complementation (object, complement or adverbial).

Examples: People have thought about going into space

for many years. Saturn is one of the most beautiful planets

to look at through a telescope because of the many rings that surround it.

The cold winds that blow off the Arctic Ocean make the North Pole a very cold place.

1.2 Basic Clause Types and Their Transformation and Expansion

In terms of the different combinations of clause elements, English clauses can be classified into seven basic types.

Innumerable authentic sentences are structured on the basis of these clause types.

1) Basic Clause Types

The seven basic clause types are:

SV SVC SVA

SVO SVOA SVOC SVoO

These seven combinations of clause elements are wholly or largely determined by

the Main Verb in the clause.

SVC: The main verb in an SVC pattern is a

Linking / Copula Verb which must be followed by a Subject Complement.

That car is mine. She is in good health.

SV / SVA : The main verb in an SV pattern is an

Intransitive Verb which is not to be followed by any obligatory element except for a limited number of intransitive verbs which require an obligatory Adverbial, thus constituting the pattern SVA.

Every body laughed. The children are sleeping. I live in Beijing. The train leaves at six.

SVO / SVOA : The main verb in an SVO pattern is a Monotr

ansitive which must be followed by an object, and with some monotransitives the object must be followed by an obligatory adverbial, thus constituting the pattern SVOA.

Nobody could answer the question. Liverpool won the game. I put the material evidence in front of her. He treated her vilely.

SVoO: The main verb in an SVoO pattern is a Ditra

nsitive Verb which is to be followed by two objects: Indirect and Direct Object.

Mary lent me her car. I made myself a cup of tea.

SVOC: The main verb in an SVOC pattern is a com

plex transitive verb which must be followed by an object + object complement.

We made him our spokesman.They elected him president.

Exercises:

The police caught the thief red-handed. No doubt they will tell us the same old story

tomorrow. On wages policy, the leader of the

opposition is being extremely cautious.

2) Transformation and Expansion of Basic Clause Types

Ways of Transformation: The basic clause types are

all affirmative statements with verbs in the active voice.

Negative

Question

Passive Voice

Affirmative

Statement

Active Voice

Ways of Expansion:

1. adding modifiers at various levels

2. by coordination and subordination

Modifiers

Coordination

Subordination

Compound Sen. Complex Sen. Compound Complex Sen.

Clause ﹢

Clause

Clause

﹢

﹢

Melt! Ice melts. The ice melts quickly. The ice on the river melts quickly under the

warm March sun. Lying exposed without its blanket of snow,

the ice on the river melts quickly under the warm March sun.

Simple My friend invited me to a party. I do not want to go. Coordination My friend invited me to a party, but I do not

want to go. Subordination Although my friend invited me to a party, I

do not want to go.

Exercise: He was nearing the top. His eyes were already glowing with triumph. He was climbing faster and faster. He climbed recklessly fast. He suddenly slipped and fell. He tumble to the ground. He lay motionless there. He was a crumbled pile of arms and legs.

Nearing the top, he climbed recklessly faster and faster, his eyes already glowing with triumph, but suddenly he slipped and fell, tumbling to the ground and lying motionless there, a crumbled pile of arms and legs.