Module 7 - Clauses, SVOCA, Ambiguity, Active vs Passive Construction, Syntactic Structure

Question 1

What is the declarative clause structure SVO?

Answer 1

SVO
Subject, Verb, Object

Question 2

What is a clause?

Answer 2

Sequence of words centred around a main verb

Question 3

Sentence:

Answer 3

One or more related clauses

Question 4

What component do you identify first for a clause?

Answer 4

Main verb - it controls everything

Question 5

Clause Structure SVO/C/A:

Answer 5

S = subject
V= verb
O= object
C= complement
A= adverbial

Question 6

S= Subject:
(SVOCA)

Answer 6

Who / What

Question 7

V= Verb
(SVOCA)

Answer 7

Does/is/action/happening

Question 8

O= Object
(SVOCA)

Answer 8

To whom/what

Question 9

C= Complement
(SVOCA)

Answer 9

Defines subject/object

Question 10

A= Adverbial
(SVOCA)

Answer 10

How / Where / When / Why
Of the VERB

Question 11

Subject Position
(Declarative Clause)

Answer 11

First word
Comes before a verb

Question 12

Subject - what does it contain?

Answer 12

Noun Phrases (NP)
Echidnas / The man / This
Uses Subjective Pronouns
Subordinate clause (whole sentence)
That you don’t talk about syntax too often
is
the reason I like you.

Question 13

Verb position
(Declarative Clause)

Answer 13

-after subject

Question 14

Verb - what does it contain?

Answer 14

One main verb with possible Aux verbs

Question 15

Types of Verbs (3)

Answer 15

Transitive Verb
Intransitive Verb
Copula Verb

Question 16

Transitive Verb:
(3 Types of Verb)

Answer 16

Doing things to things
Eg, My uncle (owns) yellow parrots
The boy (kicked) the ball

Question 17

Intransitive Verb:

Answer 17

Just doing
Eg. The animal (sleeps).
The child (laughed)

Question 18

Copula Verb:

Answer 18

Just being something
Eg. Birthdays (are) fun
She (is) a teacher
Clauses (can be) interesting

Question 19

Object position
(Declarative Clause)

Answer 19

Occurs after a transitive verb

Question 20

Is the object obligatory in a clause?

Answer 20

No

Question 21

Object
(SVOCA)

Answer 21

Recipient of the SUBJECT’s action/intent

Question 22

Can an object occur after a intransitive verb?
Eg the man (snores)___

Answer 22

no

Question 23

Ditransitive:

Answer 23

2 objects in one clause
Eg I GAVE Mary (Oi) the book (Od)
Oi= indirect object (mary), always comes first
Od= direct object (the book)

Question 24

Object - what does it contain?

Answer 24

NP
Objective pronouns
Subordinate clauses
I LIKE (that you don’t talk about syntax too often).

Question 25

Complement: (SVOCA)

Answer 25

Describes Subject or Object Eg. Her favourite breed IS (the Golden Retriever) Golden retriever describes the breed (subject)

Question 26

Complement position:

Answer 26

After a verb

Question 27

Complement - what does it contain?

Answer 27

NP Chocolate is (my favourite food). AdjP Chocolate tastes (very delicious). Subordinate clauses Chocolate is (a food that I will never get tired of.)

Question 28

Is a complement obligatory? (SVOCA)

Answer 28

no

Question 29

2 types of complement

Answer 29

Subject complement Object complement

Question 30

Position of subject complement:

Answer 30

After a copula To be (is, am, are, was, were, could be, should be) Other (feels, seems, sounds, appears, becomes)

Question 31

Position of object complement:

Answer 31

After complex transitive verbs or objects Eg Some people CALL German Shepherds (Alsatians) Students MAKE me (happy)

Question 32

Adverbial (SVOCA)

Answer 32

Describes the action (verb): where, why, how it is taking place? Preposition comes before an adverbial

Question 33

Adverbials are___ (3)

Answer 33

Optional Shifty (can go to the front of a clause) Eg. Slowly (adverbial), he(S) ran(V). Abundant He RAN (slowly, with a large egg, to the museum, yesterday.)

Question 34

Adverbial - what does it contain? (6)

Answer 34

Where, when, why, how of a verb PP NP Subordinate clauses AdvP

Question 35

What is an Intransitive Verb Structure? (SVOCA)

Answer 35

Verb = can't transit to an object SV(A) I sneeze loudly S = I V = sneeze A = loudly

Question 36

What is an Transitive Verb Structure? (SVOCA)

Answer 36

Verb = Transits to an object SVO(A) S = The boy (Subject) V = Threw (Verb) O =T he ball (Object) (A) = long way (Adverbial)

Question 37

What is a copula verb structure? (SVOCA)

Answer 37

Verb is 'to be', so complement follows SVC(A) They seemed happy on tuesday S = They V = seemed (Copula) C = happy (subject complement) (A) = on Tuesday (Adverbial)

Question 38

What is a ditransitive verb structure? (SVOCA)

Answer 38

Verb transits to direct object via indirect object SVOiOd(A) Tarquin gave Porsche the key (secretly) S = Tarquin V = gave Oi = Porche Od = the key (A) = secretly

Question 39

What is a complex transitive verb structure? (SVOCA)

Answer 39

Verb transits to object that requires complement SVOC(A) Dogs make me happy (often) S = Dogs V = make O = me C = happy (Object complement) A = often (Adverbial)

Question 40

Syntactic Ambiguity:

Answer 40

When a clause has two interpretations.

Question 41

Active Constructions Subject is agent or patient?

Answer 41

Subject = Agent SVO Subject = agent (person who carries out something) Object = patient (thing affected by the action)

Question 42

Passive construction Subject is agent or patient?

Answer 42

Subject = Patient Dinner was cooked (by my husband) SV(A) S = Dinner (Patient - something done to it) V = was cooked (A) = by my husband (by phrase Agent)

Question 43

What are the 3 types syntactic structures of clauses?

Answer 43

Declarative Imperative Interrogative

Question 44

Purpose of Declarative clauses

Answer 44

statements

Question 45

Declarative Clauses start with

Answer 45

SV+

Question 46

Purpose of Imperative Clauses

Answer 46

Tell someone to do something (command)

Question 47

Imperative Clauses start with

Answer 47

V+

Question 48

Purpose of Interrogatives

Answer 48

To ask something

Question 49

Starts with

Answer 49

WH- verbs Who, what, where, why, how, whose, which

Question 50

Types of Interrogatives

Answer 50

Yes/no Interrogatives (polar) Tag constructions

Question 51

Yes/No Interrogatives (polar)

Answer 51

Verb or part of the verb is moved before the subject to form a question

Question 52

Tag construction Interrogatives

Answer 52

Two clauses together: Declarative + (short) Interrogative ‘tag’. Your Mum is a lecturer, isn’t she?