TEMA 2: CLAUSE STRUCTURE AND MEANING:
2. Elements of structure.
The elements of structure in sentences are: Subject - Predicator –
Objects – Complements – Adjuncts – Conjunct – Disjunct.
2.1 The predicator:
It is the most central and essential function. Its position is in the middle of
the clause and that position can’t be changed. It helps to determine what other
elements have to occur.
Syntactic features: It follows the subject in declarative clauses and
precedes it in polar interrogatives it is realized by be or have as main verbs.
Otherwise, the predicator is discontinuous.
2.2 The adjunct:
It is the opposite extreme, the least central and least inherent. Its position
is normally at the end of the clause although in some cases it is very mobile. It
never determines what other elements have to occur. However, there are some
verbs which require them.
2.3 The subject:
It is, after P, the most central element. There are only two types of
clauses in which we don’t find it: Imperative and non finite clauses.
With regard to the position, it doesn’t have to come in the first place.
In an unmarked declarative clause: the elements come in their normal
position but in a marked one, that order is changed.
It is placed before the predicator in declarative clauses and in WH-
clauses when WH-element is subject, and after the operator in the rest of
interrogatives structures.
It determines person and number concord with the verb.
REALIZATIONS OF THE SUBJECT:
- Nominal group.
- Adjectival group.
- Prepositional group.
- Adverbial group.
- It (Anticipatory)
- There (Existential)
