The simple

sentence
Group 1: Vu Thi Thanh Xuan
Tran Thi Linh
Duong Thanh Mai
Dang Thi Ngoc
Nguyen Thi Mai
 Definition
• Sentence is a complete unit of meaning.
• A simple sentence consists of one
clause often with a “subject” and a
“predicate”.
• The subject is what the sentence is
about, and the predicate is a comment
about the subject.
• E.g.: The boy washed clothes.
Subject Predicate
He is an English teacher.
Subject Predicate
Syntactic features of 5 sentence elements

1. Subject
2. Verb
3. Compliment
4. Object
5. Adverbial

Presenter: Tran Thi Linh

element expression position identity
S Noun phrase/ + before Verb + number 2 person
nominal clause phrase + concord with
+ after operator in Verb phrase

V Verb phrase after S + concord with S

( S form) + intensive
relationship to C/A

C Noun phrase, adj + after verb phrase + co-referential

prep, nominal + after clause with S, O
clause
O Noun phrase, +after VP + concord with
nominal clause S,V,C
+S in passivization
A Adv Prep, A + mebile +most optional
Clause, NP, Prep P + obligatory in SVA,
SVOA
 Syntactic Features of Sentence Elements

Seven Sentence Patterns:

• SV: He is sitting.
• SVC: Marry is a nurse.
• SVA: Tom is in the house.
• SVO: I love you.
• SVOC: He made her happy.
• SVOO: He gave me a rose.
• SVOA: He put it on the table.

Presenter: Duong Thanh Mai

Semantic roles of SUBJECT

1. Agentive (most typical)

2. Instrumental
3. Affected
4. Recipient
5. Locative
6. Temporal
7. Eventive
8. Empty “It”
 Instrumental
Agentive Subject Subject

• Animate being instigat- • Inanimate or unwitting

ing or causing the being causing the
happening denoted by happening.
the verb. • For example:
• For example: The key opened the
John opened the door door

Agentive Subject Instrumental Subject

Presenter: Dang Thi Ngoc

 Affected Subject

One being affected by the event

The door opened.

Intransitive verbs: E.g: Jack fell

down
Intensive verbs: E.g: The pen is lying on the
table

Presenter: Dang Thi Ngoc

 Recipient Subject

One that receives the happening

John has a beautiful wife.

This role of subject is found with such verbs as have,

own, possess, benefit (from)…
 Perceptual verbs See, Hear require a recipient
subject. Verbs Taste, Smell, Feel have both an
agentive meaning and a recipient meaning.

Verbs indicating cognition or emotion may also

require a recipient subject. E.g:
I liked the play (The play gave me pleasure)
 Locative Subject Temporal Subject

• One that denotes location. • One that denotes time.

• For example: • For example:
The bus holds forty people Tomorrow is my birthday
= Forty people can sit in the bus = It’s my birthday tomorrow.
 Eventive Subject Empty “IT” Subject

• One that denotes • One that lacks

events semantic content.
• For example: • For example:
The meeting ended It is sunny and hot.
successfully.
 Semantic roles of OBJECT
DIRECT OBJECT INDIRECT OBJECT
1. Affected Direct Object 1. Recipient Indirect Object
2. Locative Direct Object 2. Affected Indirect Object
3. Effected Direct Object
 Affected direct object

A participant which does not cause

the happening denoted by the verb
but is directly involved in some other way

E.g.: Many people criticized John.

Presenter: Vu Thi Thanh Xuan
 Locative direct object

One that shows location and is often

found after such verbs as turn, leave,
reach, cross, surround, penetrate,
climb ...

E.g.: They climbed the mountain.

 Effected direct object

1. Object that exists 2. Object that repeats

only by virtue of the partially or the
activity indicated by whole meaning of
the verb the verb
E.g.: I am writing a letter. E.g.: Mary sang a song.
Bin invented television. We fought a good fight.
 Effected direct object

3. Object that takes the form of a

verbal noun following a common
verb of general meaning
Have, do, make, take, give, ....
E.g.: He did little work that day.

The prisoner made no comment.

Presenter: Vu Thi Thanh Xuan
 Recipient indirect object

An animate participant being passively

implicated by the happening or state

E.g.: My parents gave me some money.

= I was given some money by my parents.

Presenter: Vu Thi Thanh Xuan

 Affected indirect object

• An animate or inanimate participant that is

affected by the action of the Verb.
• For example:
I gave the ball a kick = I kicked the ball.

affected Oi effected Od affected Od

I paid her a visit = I visited her.

affected Oi effected Od affected Od

Presenter: Vu Thi Thanh Xuan

Semantic roles of COMPLEMENT

1. Current attribute
2. Resulting attribute

Presenter: Nguyen Thi Mai

Semantic roles of COMPLEMENT

• A current attribute denotes an already

existing characteristic.
E.g.: My father was a teacher.
Subject Complement
We found her attractive.
Object Complement

Presenter: Nguyen Thi Mai

Semantic roles of COMPLEMENT

• A resulting attribute denotes a

characteristic that comes about
because of the event reported in the
sentence.
E.g.: He became a teacher in 1965.
Subject Complement
Her new dress made her attractive.
Object Complement
Presenter: Nguyen Thi Mai
 Memorable Conclusion
• A simple sentence consists of one clause often
with a “subject” and a “predicate”.
• Syntactic features of 5 sentence elements.
• Semantic functions of simple sentence elements:
Agentive/Instrumental
Affected
Subject Recipient
Locative
Temporal
Eventive
Empty “It”
 Memorable Conclusion

Affected
Direct Object Effected
Object Locative
Indirect Object Recipient
Affected

Current Attributive
Complement
Resulting Attributive
Exercise 1: Indicate whether the underlined
element is:
S agentive S instrumental S affected
S recipient O affected O recipient
O effected O locative C current C resulting

1. The bell rang loudly. 5. Who owns this hat?

 S affected  S recipient
2. I heard it ring, too. 6. They left the house empty.
 S recipient  Co resulting
3. You have got brains. 7. We found this house empty.
 S recipient  Co current
4. Use your brains. 8. We laid him on the sofa.
 Od affected  Od affected
 Exercise 1:

9. We made him some tea.

 Oi recipient
10. We have fought a good fight.
 Od effected
11. I climbed the hill as light fell short.
 Od locative
12. Who is making that noise?
Od effected
13. Has anyone touched the television today?
 Od affected
Exercise 2: Make 5 sentences
with current/resulting complement.

• Current meaning:
1. He’s a student.
2. He thought John a fool.
3. He looks handsome.
4. It’s hot.
5. I’m feeling good now.
Exercise 2: Make 5 sentences
with current/resulting complement.

• Resulting meaning:
1. The leaves turned yellow.
2. He named John a fool.
3. It’s getting hot.
4. I became a teacher.
5. The rose is growing up.