Deskriptivna 2

1. What are intransitive verbs? E.g.

Intransitive verbs are verbs without any complementation. E.g. John has arrived.
2. Give 3 e.g. of transitive v. that may be used intransitively and explain the
distinction.
a) He smokes (a pipe). the meaning is the same and there is no change in the subject-
verb relationship.
b) John drinks (heavily). adding a more specific meaning.
c) The car stopped. vs. She stopped the car. the semantic connection between subject
and verb is different.
3. What are copular verbs? What are their sentence patterns? Examples.
Copular verbs are verbs followed by a subject complement or a predication adjunct,
where these elements cannot be dropped without changing the meaning of the verb. Their
sentence patterns are SVC and SVA. E.g. The girl seemed very restless. The kitchen is
downstairs.
4. Which classes of copular verb are distinguished? E.g.
a) Current The cake tastes good.
b) Resulting The girl became very restless.
5. What are monotransitive verbs? Sentence pattern? Example.
Monotransitive verbs require a direct object, which may be a NP, finite clause, or
nonfinite clause. Their sentence pattern is SVO. E.g. They understand the problem.
6. List five types of direct objects with monotransitive verbs.
NP, that-clause, extrposed subject that-clause, wh-clause, nonfinite clause (-ing participle,
-ed participle etc.).
7. Give a clause with a NP as a DO and a corresponding passive clause.
Everybody understood the problem. PASS: The problem was understood (by everybody).
8. Give a clause with a NP as prep. object and a corresponding passive clause.
The management paid for his air fares. PASS: His air fares were paid for by the
management.
9. Give a sentence with a that-object and a corresponding passive sentence.
Everybody hoped that she would sing. PASS: It was hoped by everybody that she would
sing.
10. What are factual verbs? Give an example.
Factual verbs are verbs that are followed by a that-clause with an indicative verb. E.g. They
agreed that she was misled.
11. What are suasive verbs? Give an example.
Suasive verbs are followed by a that-clause either with putative should or with the
subjunctive or an indicative verb. E.g. People are demanding that he should leave the
company.
12. What are emotive verbs? Give an example.
Emotive verbs are followed by a that-clause with either the indicative or putative should. E.g.
I regret that she worries about it. It surprises me that she should worry about it.
13. What are hypothesis verbs? Give an example.
Hypothesis verbs are followed by a that-clause with the hypothetical past or the were-
subjunctive. E.g. I wish (that) she taught us/were here.
 14. Give an example of complementation by an extraposed subject that-clause.
It appears (that) you have lost your temper.
15. List types of nonfinite clauses that may be used as direct objects.
Wh-infinitive, subjectless infinitive, subjectless ing participle, to-infinitive clause with
subject, -ing participle clause with subject.
16. Some vs admit both infinitive and participle clauses as complements. Give
examples.
I remembered to fill out the form. vs. I remember filling out the form.
I dont like to swim. vs. I dont like swimming.
17. What are complex-transitive vs? Sentence patterns? Give examples.
Complex-transitive verbs are followed by two elements that have a subject-predicate
relationship, but these two elements are not a single constituent, which can be seen from the
passive construction. Their sentence patterns are SVOC and SVOA. E.g. They elected him
president. (SVOC) I put the key into the lock. (SVOA)
18. What may follow a direct object with complex-transitive verbs? (list 5
structures)
DO may be followed by: OC, adjunct, to-infinitive clause, bare infinitive clause, -ing
participle clause.
19. List possible roles of the object complement. Give examples.
a) Current: The secretary left all the letters unopened.
b) resulting: The long walk made us all hungry.
20. Give examples with vs that admit both adj. and noun phrases as object
complement.
She made me pretty. She made him a millionaire.
They found him innocent. They found him (to be) an actor.
21. Give an example with a complex-transitive v that takes a DO and to-infinitive
clause.
John believed the stranger to be a policeman.
22. Give an example with a complex-transitive v that takes a DO and a bare
infinitive cl.
They had me repeat the message.
23. Give an ex. with a complex-transitive v that takes a DO and ing participle cl.
I saw him lying on the beach.
24. Give an ex. with a complex-transitive v that takes a DO and ed participle cl.
She had the car cleaned.
25. What are ditransitive verbs? Sentence pattern? Give an example.
Ditransitive verbs have a complementation of two object NPs: an indirect object, which is
normally animate and positioned first, and a direct object, which is normally inanimate.
Sentence pattern: SVOO. E.g. She gave the girl (IO) a doll. (DO)
26. What may follow an indirect object with ditransitive verbs? (list five structures)
Prepositional object, that-clause object, wh-clause object, to-infinitve clause object, NP
object.
27. Give an example with a ditransitive verb that takes NPs as both IO and DO.
He gave the girl (IO) a doll. (DO)
28. What is first passive? Give an ex. What is second passive? Give an example.
st
1 passive: IO becomes subject: The girl was given a doll.
2nd passive: DO becomes the subject: A doll was given the girl.
29. Give an example with a ditransitive prep. verb that takes a prep. second object.
We reminded him OF the agreement.
30. Give e.g.s with a ditransitive v. that allows two possibilities: 2 NPs as O or
NP+prO
Robert read me a chapter. (2 NPs) vs. Robert read a chapter to me. (NP+prO)
I gave Justin some of my shirts. (2 NPs) vs. I gave some of my shirts to Justin. (NP+prO)
31. Give an example with a ditransitive v. that takes a that-clause O as indirect
statement.
Mary told Jack that dinner WAS ready.
32. Give an example with a ditransitive verb that takes a that-clause as indirect
directive.
A dozen students petitioned the college chief that he provides/provide/should provide/might
provide them with vegetarian meals.
33. Give an example with a ditransitive prep. verb that takes a prep. O and a that-
clause
Estelle mentioned (to me) that her daughter was getting married.
34. Give an example with a ditransitive verb that takes an IO and a wh-clause
object.
Martin asked me (IO) WHAT time the meeting would end. (DO)
35. Give an example with a ditransitive verb that takes an IO and to-infinitive cl.
object.
I persuaded Mark (IO) TO see a doctor. (DO)
36. Give an example of infinitival complementation with monotransitive, ditransitive
and complex-transitive infinitival complementation?
a) monotransitive: The governors like all parents (N2) to visit the school (N3).
b) ditransitive: I persuaded Justin (N2) to write an essay (N3).
c) complex-transitive: They expected Robert (N2) to win the race. (N3)
37. What are sentence patterns with monotr, dirt, and complex-tran. infinitival
complem.
a) mono SVO
b) di SVOO
c) complex SVOC
38. What is the function of the first NP after the main verb in monotr infinitival
complem.
It is the subject of the infinitive clause.
39. Give an ex. of infinitival compl. with a complex-tr. v expect and construct 3
passives.
They expected Robert to win the prize.
Passives: 1. Robert was expected to win the prize. 2. They expected the prize to be won by
Robert. 3. The prize was expected to be won by Robert.
40. What may follow an adj. in adjectival complementation? (list five structures)
A prepositional phrase, that-clause, wh-clause, to-infinitive clause, -ing participle clause.
41. Give an example of adjective complementation by a prepositional phrase?
I am sorry for blaming you.
42. Give an example of that-clause following an adjective having an indicative verb.
We were confident that Karen was still alive.
43. Give an example of that-clause following an adjective having a subjunctive verb.
I am anxious that he be permitted to resign.
44. Give an example of that-clause following an adjective having putative should.
I am surprised that anyone of your intelligence should swallow a lie like that.
45. Give an example of adjective complementation by a wh-clause.
I was doubtful (as to) whether I should stay.
46. Give an example of adjective complementation by a to-infinitive clause.
Bob is splendid to wait.
47. Give an analogous construction for the sentence Bob is splendid to wait.
It is splendid of Bob to wait.
48. Give two analogous constructions for the sentence Bob is hard to convince.
To convince Bob is hard. It is hard to convince Bob.
49. Explain the ambiguity of the sentence The lamb is ready to eat.
The lamb is ready to be eaten by someone. The lamb is ready to eat something.
50. Give an example of adjective complementation by an ing participle clause.
Shes not capable of looking after herself.
51. What are three main components of a NP? Give an example and mark
components.
They are: the head, premodification, postmodification. e.g. The tall (premodifier) girl (head)
standing in the corner (postmodifier) is my sister.
52. What is the head of the NP? Give an example.
The head is the NP component around which the other components cluster and which dictates
concord and other kinds of congruence with the rest of the sentence outside the NP. e.g. The
tall girl there is my sister.
53. What is premodification? Which elements may be used as premodifiers?
Exemplify.
Premodification is the NP component which comprises all the items placed before the head.
Determiners, adjectives and nouns can be used as premodifiers. The (det.) tall (adj.) girl
54. What is postmodification? Which elements may be used as postmodifiers? 3 e.g.s
Postmodification is the NP component which comprises all the items placed after the head.
PPs, nonfinite clauses and relative clauses may be used as postmodifiers. e.g. The chair by
the wall. (PP as postmodifier) All the boys playing in the garden. (nonfinite clause) A car
which she bought recently. (relative clause)
55. Explain the distinction between restrictive and nonrestrictive modification? E.g.s
In restrictive modification, the head can be viewed as a member of a class which can be
linguistically identified only through the modification that has been supplied. e.g. That tall
GIRL standing in the corner who looks like she has been crying is Angela Hunt.
In nonrestrictive modification, the head can be viewed as unique or as a member of a class
that has been independently identified, and any modification is only additional information
not essential for identifying the head. e.g. Come and meet my famous (nonrestr. mod.)
mother. (head)
56. Explain the distinction between temporary and permanent modification. Eg.s
Temporary modification refers to a specific time and is usually placed after the head (A man
who is afraid. - *An afraid man), whereas the permanent modification has the linguistic
status of permanent or at any rate characteristic features, and is usually placed before the
head. e.g. A man who is timid. A timid man.
57. How do we treat pet animals, human babies, ships collective nouns in terms of
personality?
Pet animals can be regarded as personal (at least by their owners); human babies can be
regarded as not having developed personality (though perhaps rarely by their parents).
Though ships may take the personal pronoun she, the relative pronoun is regularly
impersonal. Collective nouns are usually treated as personal when they have plural concord,
nonpersonal when they have singular concord.
58. List all case forms of the personal relative pronoun. Give an example.
Whose, who, and whom. e.g. The girl who(m) he met.
59. Which form is used if the relative pronoun is in a genitive relation to a head?
E.g.?
The form whose is used. e.g. The girl whose mother you met is Stacey.
60. When do we use the rel. pron. who? (What kind of antecedent, which function?)
E.g.
We use the relative pronoun who with a personal antecedent, when it functions as the
subject of the relative clause. e.g. The girl who spoke to him.
61. When do we use the rel. pron. whom? (What kind of anteced., which function?)
E.g.
With a personal antecedent and in the functions of the subject or prepositional complement.
e.g. The girl to whom he spoke.
62. List adverbials that may be used to replace relative pronouns in relative clauses?
E.g.
Where, when, why, how (sometimes). e.g. That is the place where he was born.
63. List relative pronouns that may be used as subjects of restrictive relative
clauses? E.g.
That, who, which. e.g. The boy that/who is playing the piano.
64. List relative pronouns that may be used as objects of restrictive relative clauses?
E.g.
Who(m), that, prekriena nula , which. e.g. The man who(m)/that/prekriena nula/which I
saw.
65. Which relative pronouns allow a preposition in front of them, and which dont?
Whom and which allow prepositions in front of them, whereas zero and that do not.
66. Which r. pronouns can be used when they are part of a place, time, or cause
adj.? E.g.
That and zero can be used when the relative pronoun is part of a place, time or cause adjunct.
e.g. This is the university (that) he works at.
67. List relative pronouns that may be used in nonrestrictive relative clauses. E.g.
Who(m), which. e.g. Then he met Barbara, who invited him to a party.
68. What are sentential relative clauses? Give an example.
They are a type of nonrestrictive clauses that have as their antecedent not an NP but a whole
clause or sentence or even sequence of sentences. e.g. He admires Mrs. Hewitt, which
surprises me.
69. What are appositive clauses? Give an example.
The appositive clause resembles the relative clause in being capable of introduction by that
and is distinguishing between restrictive and nonrestrictive, but it differs in that the particle
that is not an element in the clause structure (S, O, etc.) as it must be in a relative clause and
it differs also in that the head of the NP must be an abstract noun such as fact, proposition,
reply etc. e.g. The belief that no one is infallible is well founded.
70. Give an example of postmodification by an ing participle clause.
The man writing in the obituaries is my friend.
71. Give an example of postmodification by an ed participle clause.
The only car repaired by the mechanic is mine.
72. Give an example of postmodification by an infinitive clause.
The man to consult is Wilson.
73. Give possible expansions of the nonfinite postmod. in The girl, wearing dark
glasses.
Who was wearing dark glasses, because she was wearing, whenever she wore
74. Give ex. of restr. and nonrestr. appositive postmodification by means of infinitive
cl.
Restrictive: The appeal to join the movement was well received.
Nonrestrictive: This last appeal, to come and visit him, was never delivered.
75. Give an example of postmodification by a prepositional phrase.
Two years before the war.
76. Give an ex. of postmod. by a prep. phrase corresponding to the man who has
courage.
a man of courage
77. Give ex. of nonappositive, restr. and nonappositive, nonrestrictive modificat. by
PP.
Nonappositive restrictive: This book on grammar
Nonappositive nonrestrictive: This book, on grammar
78. Give an example of postmodification by an adverb phrase.
The road back was dense with traffic.
79. Give an example of postmodification by a postposed adjective.
Something strange happened last night.
80. Give an example of postmodification by a postposed mode qualifier.
Lobster Newberg is difficult to prepare.
81. Explain the distinction between given and new information. Give an example.
Given information is the replicated material from a previous statement or question which
serves as an introduction to the actual point of the message, the new information, and as its
background. New information is the main point of the message and it constitutes an adequate
answer to the question. e.g. When will we know what Mary is going to do? Well know
(given) next week. (new)
82. Explain the distinction between theme and focus. Give an example.
Theme is the name we give to the initial part of any structure when we consider it from an
informational point of view. Focus, however, is the new information which is placed after the
given information and which is emphasized. E.g. The lecturers (theme) name (focus.)
83. What is fronting? Give an example.
Fronting is the term we apply to the achievement of marked theme by moving into initial
position an item which is otherwise unusual there. E.g. To the list may be added ten further
items of importance. Ten further items of importance may be added to the list.
84. Give two examples of fronting of the third clause element in SVC and SVA
patterns.
E.g. SVC - Her oval face was especially remarkable. Especially remarkable was her oval
face. (CVS)
SVA His beloved body lies in a distant grave. In a distant grave lies his beloved body.
(AVS)
85. Specify four contexts in which the operator precedes the subject. Give examples.
a) in elliptical clauses with initial so or the corresponding negatives neither or nor
She was angry and so was I.
b) where a phrase of negative form or meaning is fronted At no time must this door be
left unlocked.
c) in comparative clauses when the subject is not a personal pronoun Oil costs less
than would atomic energy.
d) in subordinate clauses of condition and concession, especially in rather formal usage
Should you change your plans, please let me know.
86. What is a cleft sentence? Give an example.
A cleft sentence is a sentence divided into two clauses, each with its own verb; with the
subject pronoun it as an empty theme, followed by the verb be, the cleft sentence readily
achieves focus on the final item, in effect, end-focus within an SVC clause. e.g. It is his
coldness that I shall ignore.
87. What is a pseudo-cleft sentence? Give an example?
Another device whereby, like the cleft sentence proper, the construction can make explicit the
division between given and new parts of the communication. It is essentially an SVC
sentence with a normal relative clause as subject or complement. E.g. What you need most is
a good rest.
88. Give examples of sentences in which the focus is postponed to end position in 2
different ways?
The focus is postponed to end position in two different ways:
a) The device was tested by the manufacturers. (passive)
b) The people who tested the device were the manufacturers. (pseudo-cleft paraphrase)
89. How is the focusing of the verb achieved? Give an example.
Achieved (transitive verb) by the use of the passive, provided that the agent can be ignored as
given. E.g. But all these problems were finally solved.
90. What is extraposition of a clausal subject? Give an example.
Involves movement of the subject to the end of the sentence and filling the normal subject
position by the anticipatory pronoun it. E.g. It surprised me to hear him say that.
91. What is extraposition of a clausal object? Give an example.
When the object is an ing clause in SVOC and SVOA clause types, it can undergo
extraposition; when it is a to-infinitive clause or a that-clause, it must do so. e.g. You must
find it exciting working here./You must find working here exciting. Working here is
exciting.
92. Give two examples of postponement of object in SVOC and SVOA clauses.
SVOC: They pronounced guilty everyone of the accused.
He had called an idiot the man on whose judgment he now had to rely. (SVOC-SVCO)
SVOA: I confessed to him all my worst defects.
She dragged inside the two heavy boxes of chemicals. (SVOA-SVAO)
93. What is a discontinuous NP? Give an example.
A NP whose postmodification is postponed, for achieving end-focus or end-weight. E.g. A
rumor circulated widely that he was secretly engaged to the Presidents daughter. (A rumor
that he was)
94. What is an existential sentence? Give an example.
In serving to bring the existence of an entire proposition to the attention of the hearer, the
resultant constructions are known as existential sentences, by far the commonest being the
type introduced by there, accompanied by the simple present or past of be. E.g. There is a
car blocking my way.
95. Give examples of existential sentences corresponding to clause types SVC, SVA,
SV, SVO, and SVOC.
SVC There must be something wrong. (Something)
SVA Was there anyone in the vicinity? (Was anyone)
SV There was no one waiting.
SVO There are plenty of people getting promotion.
SVOC There have been two bulldozers knocking the place flat.
96. How do we know that there in existential sentences behaves like the subject of
the clause?
We know because it follows the operator in yes-no and tag questions and because it can act as
the subject in infinitive and -ing clauses.
97. Give examples of existential sentences which include relative clauses.
There are two student that/who would like to see you.
There are some planets that were discovered by the ancients.
There is nothing I can do about it.
98. Give examples of existential sentences with verbs other that be.
There rose in his imagination a vision of the world.
There exist a number of similar crosses around the country.
99. Give examples of existential sentences with initial space adjuncts.
In the garden there was a sundial.
In the car there was an old box.
In the room there lay Joan fast asleep.
100. Give examples of have-existentials.
I have two buttons missing on my jacket.
You have a taxi ready.
I have a brother working in Chicago.
My friend had a valuable watch stolen.