SYNTAX

Forms and Functions

Function: SUBJECT

Forms:
NP: The flood destroyed their new condo.

The structure of a noun phrase

PreDet+ Det +M + H+ Q
e.g. all this fresh milk in the fridge

AdjP: Restless is what I would call him.

The structure of an adjective phrase

M+H+Q
e.g. very good at swimming

AdvP: Cautiously is how I would suggest you do it.

The structure of an adverb phrase

M+ H+ Q
e.g. pretty fast indeed

PrepP: Under the stairs was a safe area to be during the war.

The structure of a prepositional phrase

Prep+ NP/CL
e.g. in London
of what might happen
Vinf P: To err is humane, to forgive is divine.
Gerund phrase: Smoking is dangerous.

Function: NOMINAL PREDICATE

Forms:
NP: It would be great fun.
AdjP: She became irate.
PrepP: The book is in two parts.
Adv P: He is very well.
Vinf P: The best thing is to leave your family at home.
Gerund phrase: Her latest craze is dancing.
Participle phrases: This is more appealing.
He is shocked.

Function: INDIRECT OBJECT

Forms:
NP: She told her brother a lie.
PrepP: I loaned a book to John.

Function: DIRECT OBJECT

Form:
NP: Ralf enjoys her company.
PrepP: Are you going on holiday before the Easter? I prefer before the Easter.
Vinf P: Lee remembered to shave.
Gerund phrase: I like shopping.

Function: OBJECT COMPLEMENT

Forms:
NP: The citizens proclaimed him king.
AdjP: She found the concert tedious.
Prep P: His threats filled her with terror.
Vinf P: Thomas Jefferson considered the Missouri Compromise to be the death of the nation.

Function: ADVERBIAL MODIFIER

Forms:
AdvP: He urgently needed to see the doctor.
PrepP: We met outside Paris.
NP: He resigned last year.
Vinf phrase: I went there to see him.
Ving P: She came in singing.

Function: ADJECTIVAL MODIFIERS

Premodifiers
Forms:
NP: city life
Adj P: dark eyes
Postmodifiers/ Qualifiers
Forms:
Prep P: the teeth of an animal
Participle phrases:
boring books discussed in class
the shin tightly covered with smooth shiny skin
The circus was all one family performing in the open air.
Vinf P: the power to resist
I Identify the type of the following phrases:
glad to get rid of it
one’s mind
throughout the rest of list
scarcely odd
neither of us
capable of original thought
the books one reads in childhood
fisherman’s life
cotton cultivation in the British Empire
II Indicate the type and structure of the underlined phrases:

1. Movie reviewers praise Tarantino’s directing skills.

2. The oil industry’s misjudgments have scarred Alaska deeply.
3. No one answered the phone at your house last night. I called four times.
4. Napoleon crowned himself emperor of France in 1804.
5. Anti-adoption advocates have been attacking the concept of adoption.
6. Most of the country was rain-free last month.
7. Boredom is contagious. It can cause a chain reaction in a dorm.
8. Teachers often label hyperactive children troublemakers.
9. Wall street traders investing in foreign markets have earned 12% interest this year.
10. The physicians in the rehab program have compulsive behavior patterns.
11. Fred travelled into various parts of the world without wishing to find himself a permanent
home or a steady job.
III Identify the type of the complement ( NomPred, DO, IO, OC) and indicate their realisations:
1. War is a dangerous business.
2. Disney World offers visitors family entertainment.
3. The work seemed easy but it turned out difficult.
4. He takes his whiskey neat.
5. Seat belts save lives.
6. He called the man a thief.
7. Some rebellious teens become runaways.
8. Women’s colleges prepare students to be independent thinkers.
9. The florist sent the roses to her husband.
10. His shoes have worn thin.
11. Libertarians oppose big government.

IV Name the function of the sentence constituents, which have been separated with slashes. The
first one has been done for you.

A S P IO DO

1 Last week / Michael/ showed/ us/ how to prepare a ‘fruit leather’.

2 He/ told / us/ to buy over ripe and bruised fruit on sale.

3 We/ bought/him/ peaches, apricots, and strawberries.

4 He/ showed/ us/ how to cut up the fruit.

5 He/ put/ the fruit/through a food mill.

6 Then/he/put /the fruit/ in a large pot.

7 He/told/me/to add one tablespoon of honey per pound of fruit.

8 He/heated/the mixture.
9 He/stirred/it/until it boiled.

10 He/cooked /the mixture / for three minutes.

11 He /prepared /paper plates/ to dry the fruit.

12 He/ used/plastic wrap/to cover the plates.

13 After stretching the plastic around the plate, /we/ taped/ it/ to the back.

14 The plastic/ had to be/ tight and flat.

15 We /spread/a thin layer of fruit /on each plate.

16 We/ placed/ the plates, covered with cheesecloth, / in a shadow box/ to dry in the sun.

17 We/brought/ the plates/ inside/ at night.

18 In about two days/ the fruit /was dry.

19 After three days, /he/ brought/ us/ the dried fruit leather.

20 We /considered/ this snack/ a real treat.

V Give one example each of sentences containing:

a) a coordinate noun phrase functioning as object

b) a prepositional phrase functioning as adverbial modifier

c) a prepositional phrase functioning as qualifier

d) a subordinate noun phrase functioning as subject

e) a subordinate noun phrase functioning as nominal predicate

f) an adjective phrase functioning as nominal predicate

g) a gerund phrase functioning as object