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II> STRUCTURE
III> FUNCTIONS OF PHRASES IN A CLAUSE
I> DEFINITION
Clause is a group of words which forms a grammatical unit and which contains a subject and a finite verb. A clause forms a sentence or part of a sentence and often functions as a noun, adjective, or adverb. [Richards et al. 1999:52]. E.g.: -He hurried home. -He hurried home because he was late.
II> STRUCTURE
Clauses are composed of phrases: Phrases: noun phrase, verb phrase, adjective phrase, adverb phrase, prepositional phrase. EX: Indeed, he appeared very satisfied ADVP NP VP ADJP
commonly filled by a noun phrase. Eg: My mother seems very happy Subject is the thing or person performing the action. VP (non-finite): Swimming is good exercise. PrepP: Behind the wall is something strange.
II.2> Verb
-only filled by finite verb phrase
II.3> Object
-Object is person or thing affected by the action described in the verb. -2 types: direct object & indirect object
1) Direct
object: noun , pronoun , group of words acting as a noun; receive the action of a transitive verb; answer the question whom or what. E.g.: -The teacher reads the story. ( What does the teacher read?) -Mary burned the toast. (What did Mary burn?)
2) Indirect object
-Noun , pronoun , group of words that expresses action of intransitive verb; answer the question to whom/ to what or for whom/ for what. E.g.: -I gave him a book (=I gave a book to him) IO DO -I bought my sister a present (=I bought a present IO DO for my sister
II.4> Complement
A complement: may be either a subject complement( with the same reference as the subject) or an object complement ( with same reference as the object).
Subject complement
(SUBJECT + VERB + COMPLEMENT)
usually follows the verb (to be) or follows other verbs having the meaning of Be expressed (called copular (linking) verbs) She is a doctor. Eg That smells cool. : The students are feeling dazed and confused.
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Object complement
usually follows the direct object & tells us more about the object by means of the verb
(SUBJECT + VERB + OBJECT + COMPLEMENT)
-may be filled either by a noun phrase Eg: Jim has become a qualified engineer. (SC) The class elected him President. (OC) - by an adjective phrase
II.5> Adjunct
An adjunct is part of a sentence and modifies the verb to show time, manner, place, frequency and degree. Adjuncts are normally optional elements in clause structure and may be freely added to any clause, giving circumstantial information (time, place, manner, cause.) about the action or event that clause refers to.
may be filled either by an adverb phrase E.g.: They walked very quickly. or by a prepositional phrase John killed his opponent in Central Park.
Next summer, we're going to Spain. Non-finite verb phrase E.g.:To open the window, you have to climb a ladder. Rather than leave the child alone, I brought him to work with me.
6. The milk(S:NP) has gone(V:VP) sour(C:AdjP). 7. Gordon(S:NP) sent(V:VP) his apologies(O:NP) to the meeting(O:PrepP/A:PrepP).