Scribd
Upload
38 views39 pages

Syntactic Structres

This is a lecture notes

Uploaded by

tayamreinajoy
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
38 views39 pages

Syntactic Structres

This is a lecture notes

Uploaded by

tayamreinajoy
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 39

Motivational Notes

STRUCTURES OF ENGLISH
SYNTACTIC STRUCTURES

What is Syntactic Structure

BENLY Importance of Syntactic Structure


Structure of Predication

ROSIE Structure of Modification


c

Structure of Complementation
SHANE Structure of Coordination
WHAT IS SYNTACTIC
STRUCTURE?
WHAT IS SYNTACTIC STRUCTURE?
• arrangement of words, phrases, and clauses in a
sentence.
• it is also called syntax
• Syntactic Structures determines the
grammatical function or a meaning of a sentence.
WHY SYNTACTIC
STRUCTURE IS
IMPORTANT?
WHY SYNTACTIC STRUCTURE IS IMPORTANT?

• it ensures clarity, coherence and accurate


communication in language.

• Contributes to clear communication, enhances


English Language Skills and helps express ideas
effectively through well-formed sentences.
WHY SYNTACTIC STRUCTURE IS IMPORTANT?

➢ Clarity and Meaning


Proper syntax ensures that sentences convey clear and
precise meanings.

➢ Grammatical Correctness
•Correct syntax ensures grammatical accuracy. It helps us avoid
ambiguous or nonsensical sentences.
•Without proper syntax, sentences may be difficult to interpret,
leading to confusion.
STRUCTURE OF
PREDICATION
STRUCTURE OF PREDICATION
• Has two immediate constituents:
a subject and a predicate. Each of these may
be a single word, a word with accompanying
function word(s), a phrase or one of the three other
kinds of syntactic structure-modification,
complementation, or coordination.
• Subject + predicate
STRUCTURE OF PREDICATION

• Predicate portion of a clause, excluding the


subject that expresses something about the
subject and usually consist of a verb.
STRUCTURE OF PREDICATION
Subject and Predicate can be just as simple
as having a one word.
examples
She cried.
Subject Predicate

Money talks
Subject Predicate
STRUCTURE OF PREDICATION
Subject and predicate can also be a phrase
examples
She has been singing all day.
Subject Predicate
(verb phrase)
STRUCTURE OF PREDICATION

A word with accompanying function words.


example
The rain ceases.
determiner Subject Predicate
(verb phrase)
STRUCTURE OF PREDICATION
Examples:
The cat sleeps. They play soccer.
• Subject: The cat •Subject: They
• Predicate: sleeps •Predicate: play soccer
Tree Diagramming
Tree diagramming, also known as syntactic tree parsing or sentence
diagramming, is a method used in linguistics to visualize the structure
of sentences.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to create a tree diagram for a
sentence:
1.Identify the Main Components:
1.Break down the sentence into its main parts: subject, verb,
objects, and any phrases.
2.Label Parts of Speech:
1.Identify the part of speech for each word (e.g., noun, verb,
adjective, adverb, etc.).
2.Further divide these phrases into their components.
Tree Diagramming

3. Determine Phrases:
•Group words into phrases (noun phrases, verb phrases,
prepositional phrases, etc.).
4. Structure the Tree:
•Start with the main sentence (S) at the top.
•Below S, place the noun phrase (NP) and the verb
phrase (VP).
•Further divide these phrases into their components.
STRUCTURE OF PREDICATION
Tree Diagramming (Simple sentence)
She has been singing all day.
In this tree:
S represents the entire sentence.
NP (Noun Phrase) includes the subject "She."
VP (Verb Phrase) contains the verbs and their
modifiers.
Aux (Auxiliary verb) includes "has" and "been."
V (Verb) is "singing."
PP(Prepositional Phrase) contains "all day."
P(Preposition) is "all."
NP(Noun Phrase) within the PP is "day."
STRUCTURE OF PREDICATION
Tree Diagramming (Simple sentence)
They have been
working on the
project
STRUCTURE OF
MODIFICATION
STRUCTURE OF MODIFICATION
• This structure is a syntactic construction in which one
grammatical element (e.g., a noun) is accompanied
(or modified) by another (e.g., adjective).

• The first grammatical element is called the head (or


headword) The accompanying element is called a
modifier in which it serves to qualify, broaden, specify
or in some affect the meaning of the head.
STRUCTURE OF MODIFICATION
• Modifiers that appear before the headword are called
pre-modifiers.
• Modifiers that appear after the headword are called
post-modifiers.
• In some cases, modifiers can modify other modifiers
as well.
STRUCTURE OF MODIFICATION
• To determine if a word or phrase is a modifier, one of
the easiest tests is to see if the larger segment
(phrase, sentence, etc.,) makes sense without it.

• If it does, the element you are testing is probably a


modifier and if it does not make sense without it, it’s
probably not
STRUCTURE OF MODIFICATION
examples
Pre modifier
boisterous place
Head: place Modifier: boisterous

helpful neighbors
Head: neighbors Modifier: helpful
STRUCTURE OF MODIFICATION
examples
Post modifier
Lady in black twinset
Head: lady Modifier: black twinset
STRUCTURE OF
COMPLEMENTATION
STRUCTURE OF COMPLEMENTATION

• This structure is a verb phrase consisting of two


major components: a verbal element and a
complement.

• The verbal element may be a finite verb or verb


phrase or non-finite verb in the form of an infinitive,
an infinitive without “to” or a present participle
STRUCTURE OF COMPLEMENTATION

• The complement is an essential part; it cannot be


omitted since it helps make the construction
meaningful.
STRUCTURE OF COMPLEMENTATION

The four kinds of verbs that may occur in this structure


1. Linking verb + subjective complement
e.g becomes / a real teacher
VB SC(noun)
looks / good
VB SC(adjective)
STRUCTURE OF COMPLEMENTATION

The four kinds of verbs that may occur in this structure


2. Mono-transitive verb + direct object
e.g buy / food
VB DO
drinking / low fat milk
VB DO
STRUCTURE OF COMPLEMENTATION

The four kinds of verbs that may occur in this structure


3. Di-transitive verb + indirect object + direct object
e.g to tell / the class / all the instruction
VB IO DO
send / me / love letters
VB IO DO
STRUCTURE OF COMPLEMENTATION

The four kinds of verbs that may occur in this structure


4. Complex-transitive verb + direct object + objective complement

e.g
considered / the policy / a smart one
VB DO OC
called / her daughter / a queen
VB DO OC
STRUCTURE OF
COORDINATION
STRUCTURE OF COORDINATION

• This structure consists of two or more syntactically


units and joined often but not always by
coordinating conjunction to form a structure which
acts as a single unit.
• Coordinators usually appear between elements that
they join as well as with phrasal connectors;
although, the latter may also occur in split
constructions.
STRUCTURE OF COORDINATION

• Examples are: and, but, nor, not, or, phrases such as


rather than, as well as, together with and along with
STRUCTURE OF COORDINATION

• Examples are: and, but, nor, not, or, phrases such as


rather than, as well as, together with and along with
STRUCTURE OF COORDINATION
STRUCTURE OF COORDINATION

• Correlatives – appear in two parts: the first part


appears at the beginning of the structure whereas
the second part comes between the last two
components being joined

Not (only), but (also), either…or, neither…nor and both…and


STRUCTURE OF COORDINATION
THANK YOU
for listening

You might also like