English SyntaxLingua e Traduzione – Lingua inglese 2

Paolo DonadioUniversità di Napoli Federico II

www.docenti.unina.it/paolo.donadiopdonadio@unina.it

Form-function interface (pp 71-87)

Function: Subjects, Direct Objects, Adjuncts, etc.Form: words, word classes (noun, adjective, verb, etc.),

phrases (NP, AP, VP, etc.), clauses (matrix clause, subordinate clause).

There is no unique relationship between form and function in language.

Form-function interface

A function can be realised by more than one form :

Function: Subject

Form 1: Phrase Form 2: Clause

Realisations of the Subject

Noun Phrases (The hedgehog…)Prepositional Phrases (Under the stairs…) Adverbial Phrases (Restless …)Adjective Phrases (Cautiosly …)

Finite clauses [What the terrorists said … ]Non finite clauses [For Judith to buy that house … ]Bare infinitive [To be a good teacher is more difficult

than people think....]-ing participle clauses [Pete breaking the rules is

unacceptable…]

NPs, PPs, APs and AdvPsas subjects [NP The hedgehog] ate the cream

cake. [PP Under the stairs] was a safe area

to be during the war. [AP Restless] is what I would call him. [AdvP Cautiously] is how I would

suggest you do it.

Clauses functioning as subjects

[What the terrorists said ] puzzled the police.

[For Judith to buy that house] would spelldisaster.

[To be a good teacher] is more difficult thanpeople think.

[Pete breaking the rules] is unacceptable.

[Going on holiday] always creates tensions

Realisation of the predicate

(37) Eric lost his keys yesterday.

Realisation of the DO (direct object)

Direct Objects can be realised by the following range of phrases and clauses:

Noun Phrases Prepositional Phrases Finite clauses Nonfinite clauses.

Realisation of the DO: NPs

NPs functioning as Direct Object

(38) Sarah admires [NP the President]. (39) Ralph enjoys [NP her company]. (40) William lit [NP the barbecue]. (41) Nina described [NP the event].

Realisation of the DO: PPs

(43) Speaker A : Are you going on holiday before or

after Easter?Speaker B : I prefer [PP before Easter].

Realisation of the DO: CLAUSES

Finite clauses: (44) The government believes [that the

voters are stupid ].

Nonfinite clauses :(52) Ann considers [Helen to be an

excellent director].

Finite Wh-clauses functioning as Direct Object

(48) He knows [what she means]. (49) He explained [who would be in charge

of the investigation]. (50) I don’t remember [why Paul said that]. (51) They finally decided [where they will

send their child to school ].

Nonfinite clauses functioning as Direct Object (54) The company expects [its employees to

dress smartly]. (55) She imagined [the others to want

promotion].

(56) Gary wants [to leave]. (57) We hope [to see you soon].

Nonfinite clauses functioning as Direct Object (60) He forgot [what to say to the

examiners].

(65) We saw [the sun rise]. (66) Rick could hear [his tutor rage with

anger].

Nonfinite clauses functioning as Direct Object (69) I heard [Jamie singing in the bath]. (70) The witness saw [someone running

away].

(73) She abhors [eating meat]. (76) I can’t imagine [travelling to Moscow].

(79) I need [my watch repaired]. (80) They found [the front door locked].

Realisation of the IO

(85) She told [NP her brother] a lie. (86) Gertrude gave [NP her friend] a

birthday present.

(89) Sean told [whoever wanted to hear it] his story.

Realisation of Adjuncts

Adjuncts are constituents that tell you more about the how, when, where or why of the activity or situation expressed by the sentences they occur in.

Realisation of Adjuncts

List of adjuncts and association form-function:

Adverb PhrasesPrepositional Phrases Noun PhrasesFinite clausesNonfinite clauses…

Realisation of Adjuncts

Adjuncts are constituents that tell you more about the how, when, where or why of the activity or situation expressed by the sentences they occur in.

Realisation of Adjuncts

List of adjuncts and association function-form:

Adverb PhrasesPrepositional Phrases Noun PhrasesFinite clausesNonfinite clauses…

Realisation of Adjuncts 1

Adverb Phrases (manner, viewpoint, time):

(90) He cleaned the house [AdvP quite cheerfully].

(91) [AdvP Officially], the company denied all responsibility.

(92) He [AdvP urgently] needed to see a doctor.

Realisation of Adjuncts 2

Prepositional Phrases (place, instrument, time):

(95) We met [PP outside Paris]. (96) Frank cut the bread [PP with a

penknife]. (97) They always drink sherry [PP

before dinner].

Realisation of Adjuncts 3

Noun Phrases (time):

(98) Helen discovered the Italian restaurant [NP yesterday].(99) The crisis began [NP last

year].

Realisation of Adjuncts 4

Clauses (finite/nonfinite):

the subordinator may express time, reason, purpose, result, condition

Adjunct as a FINITE CLAUSE

(102) They will be cooking the meal, [when we arrive]. (103) [While Francis was watching tv], Paul was peeling the potatoes. (104) Gay doesn’t like Mark, [because he gives her the creeps]. (105) [Since he never used his card], the library cancelled his

membership. (106) We’ll go to Paris, [if you promise not to smoke]. (107) [Unless you object], I’ll smoke a cigar. (108) Tell Nelly to hurry up, [so that we can go out]. (109) [So she doesn’t have to carry around her spectacles], Emily

wears contact lenses. (110) She’ll give the money to a charity, [in order that they will spend

it on a good cause]. (111) [In order that his son might take over the shop], Jack retired.

a. Adjunct as a nonFINITE CLAUSE

TO + infinitive

(114) We need some music, [ for us to enjoy the evening].

(115) [For Marie to pass her driving test ], she will need to take many more lessons.

(118) Alex replaced the lock on the door, [in order to make the house more secure].

(119) [So as to move about more easily], Robert bought himself a car.

b. Adjunct as a nonFINITE CLAUSE

ING forms

(124) [The streets being completely deserted], Jackie preferred to take a cab.

(125) Sally stared out of the window, [her thoughts drifting away dreamily].

(128) [Working on his essay late], Tom was quickly becoming tired.

(129) Bob talked to his girlfriend on the phone, [watching tv at the same time].

c. Adjunct as a nonFINITE CLAUSE

ED forms

(132) [The attack averted], the people of the town could come out of hiding.

(133) We were all excited, [the plan accepted by the government].

(138) [Formulated clearly], this statement will cause no problems.

(139) She died in her car, [suffocated by exhaust fumes].