Long Article_analyzing the Rank Scale of English Grammar Through Narrative Text as an Efl Students

Name : Hamid DarmadiStudent Number : F2201141022Class : BSubject : Grammar for EFL Students

ANALYZING THE RANK SCALE OF ENGLISH GRAMMAR THROUGHNARRATIVE TEXT AS AN EFL (ENGLISH FOREIGN LANGUAGE) STUDENTS

A. Introduction

English Grammar is one of linguistic needs for studying English. Especially

for many EFL students, English grammar was known in semantic way. (Feng, Z: 86)

This article illustrates the point to study English grammar in syntactical way. This

article aims to distinguish sentence, clause, phrase, word and morpheme in the scope

of rank scale of linguistic units. It is also to analyze its syntactical function through

narrative text. Narrative text was chosen because it is interesting to read such text.

Hopefully, this study examines our better understanding of what constitutes in English

Grammar.

B. Units and The rank scale

According to G. David Morley (2000: 24) and Downing, A with Locke, P

(2006: 11) there is a relationship between units such as sentence, clause, group, word

and morpheme. This study is in the meaning of syntax functions. It is because syntax

is being concern as one of levels in language analysis. There are phonology,

morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics. Morley define a unit as a stretch of

language which itself carries grammatical patterns or which operates in grammatical

patterns. This reason had brought rank scale in term of grammatical hierarchy.

Further, this cause the largest of the four units will be sentences and the smallest one

is morpheme.

Longman Dictionary of Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics (2002: 535)

confirm that, syntax i s “concerning about ‘the ways in which words combine to form

sentences and the rules which govern the formation of sentence, making some

sentences possible and others not possible within a particular language.” The writer

want to simplify its meaning in this study that syntax is the rules to specify the

arrangement of words, phrases, clauses, and sentences.

In grammatical hierarchy (rank scale) refer to Downing and Locke, morphemes

are the smallest units (of grammar) and the sentences are the highest in rank.

Morphemes combine to form words, words combine to form groups, groups combine to

form clauses, and clauses combine to form sentences. In other words, a sentence

consists of clauses, which consist of groups, groups consist of words and words are

formed by the combination of morphemes. Each unit consists of units of low rank

which are next down the scale, a unit provides the constituents of the unit next above.

1. Type of Sentences:

A sentence is an independent linguistic form, not included by virtue of any

grammatical construction in any larger linguistic form. Sentence, the highest

unit in the grammatical hierarchy, may also be defined in orthographic terms,

that is, as anything which is contained between a capital letter and a full stop.

The sentence types were as follow:

a. A simple sentence consists of only one finite verb:

For Examples: Water boils at 100oC.

You must not say such things.

The term simple refers to the fact that the sentence contains only one

finite verb. In other words a simple sentence consists of a single clause,

the main clause, with no subordinate clause. A simple sentence has only one

subject and one predicate.

b. A compound sentence consists of two or more simple sentences linked by

the coordinating conjunctions: and, but, so, either, or, neither, nor, then and

yet.

For examples:

He ran out and he fell over the suit case.

She arrived at nine, went up to her room and did not come down until now.

c. A complex sentence consists of one simple sentence and one or more

subordinate clauses.

For example:

She became queen when her father died because she was the eldest

child

We have one clause, ‘She became queen’ and two subordinate

clauses: ‘when her father died’ and ‘because she was the eldest child.’ It is

to be noticed that in this example each clause has a finite verb,

‘became’, ‘died’ and ‘was’, and each subordinate clause begin with a

subordinating conjunction. The common subordinate conjunctions in English

are: after, although, though, as, because, before, if, since, until, till,

when, where, whether…. or not, which/that, while.

2. Clause is a group of words that forms a part of a sentence which has

Subject and a Predicate

A clause is a group of words which contains a finite verb. Only an

independent clause also called a main clause can occur in isolation. A dependent

or a subordinate clause can’t occur in isolation.

For Examples:

He believed that the earth was round.

In each complex sentence we have at least one main clause and at least one

subordinate clause. “A subordinate clause is a group of words that has a subject

part and a predicate part, but it cannot stand alone. It does not express a complete

thought. It is always combined with an independent clause.” (Wren & Martin,

English Grammar & Composition: ).

The following types of subordinate clauses are:

a. A noun clause is group of words containing a finite verb and

functioning like a noun.

For example:

He said that he was tired.

What you said was not true.

“A noun clause is group of words which contains a subject and a

predicate of its own and does the work of a noun.” (Wren & Martin, English

Grammar & Composition: 190.)

b. An adverb clause functions like an adverb in giving information about when,

where, why, how or if an action occurred.

For example:

When he arrived we were all sleeping.

They won the match because they were the best players.

c. An adjective clause is often called a relative clause because it usually relates

back to a noun whose meaning it modifies.

For example:

The man who taught my brother French is now the headmaster.

“An adjective clause is a group of words which contains a Subject and

a Predicate of its own, and does the work of an Adjective.” ((Wren & Martin,

English Grammar & Composition: 188)

C. Selected text

The Wise King

"Hello everybody, come and visit my restaurant. | I have delicious food for

you," Pak Razak is standing in front of his restaurant. | He is inviting people to come

and eat at his place. | A moment later a farmer comes. | He is standing in front of the

restaurant. | He smells the aroma of the delicious food. | "Hmm...yummy," says the

farmer. |

"Hey! What are you doing? |Do you want to come to my restaurant or not?' asks Pak

Razak. | "No, I don't. |Smelling the aroma of your delicious food makes me feel full,"

says the farmer. | "But you still have to pay! You smell my delicious food," Pak

Razak is angry. | "No way! I don't want to pay! It's impossible!" The farmer is also

angry. |

Then Pak Razak and the farmer have an argument. | People come and ask to

calm down. | They suggest Pak Razak and the farmer go to the King to solve the

problem. | "Please tell me what happened,” asks the King. | Pak Razak and the farmer

tell the King about the problem. | "Hmm...I have the solution. | Now put your coins

into this bottle." |

"Do you hear the sound of the coins?" asks the King to Pak Razak. | "Yes, I do,"

answers Pak Razak. | "Then, the farmer has just paid you. | He pays your delicious

aroma with the sound of his money," explains the King. | Pak Razak is silent. | He

knows the King is right. | The King just gave him a lesson. | He then apologizes to the

farmer. |

(Taken from: http://indonesianfolklore.blogspot.com/search/label/West%20Kalimantan)D. Grammatical analysis

a. Hello everybody, come and visit my restaurant.

Clause :

- Hello everybody,

- Come and visit my restaurant

Phrases :

- My restaurant ; noun phrase

Words :

- Hello ; interpersonal adverb

- Everybody ; indefinite pronoun

- Come ; verb

- And ; coordinating conjunction

- Visit ; verb

- My ; possessive pronoun

- Restaurant ; noun

Morphemes : Hello | everybody| come | and | visit | my | restaurant |

b. I have delicious food for you," Pak Razak is standing in front of his

restaurant.

Clause :

- I have delicious food for you

- Pak Razak is standing in front of his restaurant

Phrases :

- Delicious food ; noun phrase

- In front of his restaurant ; prepositional phrase

Words :

- I ; personal pronoun

- Have ; Auxiliary verb

- Delicious ; adjective

- Food ; noun

- For ; preposition

- You ; personal pronoun

- Pak Razak ; proper noun

- Is ; auxiliary verb

- Standing ; verb

- In front of ; preposition

- His ; possessive pronoun

- Restaurant ; noun

Morphemes : I | have | delicious | food | for | you | Pak | Razak | is |

stand|ing | in | front | of | his | restaurant |

c. He is inviting people to come and eat at his place.

Clause :

- He is inviting people

- to come and eat at his place

Phrases :

- At his place ; prepositional phrase

Words :

- He ; personal pronoun


- Inviting ; verb

- People ; noun

- To come ; non-finite verb


- Eat ; verb

- At ; preposition


- Place ; noun

Morphemes : He | is | invit|ing | people | to | come | and | eat | at | his | place

|

d. A moment later a farmer comes.

Clause :

- A moment later a farmer comes

Phrases :

- A moment later ; Subordinator phrase

Words :

- A ; indefinite article

- Moment ; noun

- Later ; subordinate conjunction


- Farmer ; proper noun

- Comes ; verb

Morphemes : A | moment | later | a | farmer | come|s |

e. He is standing in front of the restaurant.

Clause :

Phrases :

Words :



- Standing ; verb

- In front of ; preposition

- The ; definite article

- Restaurant ; noun

Morphemes : He | is | stand|ing | in | front | of | the | restaurant |

f. He smells the aroma of the delicious food.

Clause :

- He smells the aroma

- Of the delicious food

Phrases :

- The aroma of the delicious food ;

Words :


- Smells ; verb


- Aroma ; noun

- Of ; preposition



- Food ; noun

Morphemes : He | smell|s | the | aroma | of | the | delicious | food |

g. Yummy, says the farmer.

Clause :

- Yummy, says the farmer ;

Phrases :

Words :

- Yummy ; interjection

- Says ; verb



Morphemes : Yummy | say|s | the | farmer |

h. Hey! What are you doing?

Clause :

Phrases :

Words :

- Hey ; interpersonal adverb

- What ; interrogative pronoun

- Are ; auxiliary verb


- Doing ; verb

Morphemes : Hey | What | are | you | doing |

i. Do you want to come to my restaurant or not?' asks Pak Razak.

Clause :

- Do you want to come to my restaurant or not?

- asks Pak Razak ;

Phrases :

Words :

- Do ; auxiliary verb


- Want ; marginal modals verb

- To come ; non-finite

- To ; preposition


- Restaurant ; noun

- Or ; coordinating conjunction

- Not ; negative

- Asks ; verb


Morphemes : Do | you | want | to | come | to | my | restaurant | or | not |

ask|s | Pak | Razak |

j. No, I don't.

Clause :

- No, I do not ;

Phrases :

Words :

- No ; interpersonal adverb


- Don’t ; negative auxiliary verb

Morphemes : No | I | don|t |

k. Smelling the aroma of your delicious food makes me feel full, says the farmer.

Clause :

- Smelling the aroma of your delicious food ;

- Makes me feel full ;

- Says the farmer ;

Phrases :

- The aroma of your delicious food ; noun phrase

- Makes me feel full ; verb phrase

Words :

- Smelling ; verb


- Aroma ; noun

- Of ; preposition

- Your ; possessive pronoun


- Food ; noun

- Makes ; verb

- Me ; personal pronoun

- Feel ; verb

- Full ; adjective

- Says ; verb



Morphemes : Smelling | the | aroma | of | your | delicious | food | make|s |

me | feel | full | say|s | the | farmer |

l. But you still have to pay

Clause :

Phrases :

- Still have to pay ; verb phrase

Words :

- But ; coordinative conjunction


- Still ; adverb

- Have to ; phrasal auxiliaries

- Pay ; verb

Morphemes : But | you | still | have | to | pay |

m. You smell my delicious food, Pak Razak is angry.

Clause :

- You smell my delicious food

- Pak razak is angry

Phrases :

Words :


- Smell ; verb



- Food ; noun



- Angry ; adjective

Morphemes : You | smell | my | delicious | food | Pak | Razak | is | angry |

n. No way!

Clause :

- No way

Phrases :

Words :

- No way ; exclamative pronoun

Morphemes : No | way |

o. I don't want to pay!

Clauses :

- I don’t want to pay

Phrases :

Words :


- Don’t ; negative auxiliary verb

- Want ; marginal modal verb

- To pay ; non-finite verb

Morphemes : I | don|t | want | to | pay |

p. It's impossible!

Clause :

- It is impossible

Phrases :

Words :

- It ; personal pronoun


- Impossible ; adjective

Morphemes : It|s | im|possible |

q. The farmer is also angry.

Clause :

- The farmer is also angry

Phrases :

Words :




- Also ; adverb

- Angry ; adjective

Morphemes : The | farmer | is | also | angry |

r. Then Pak Razak and the farmer have an argument.

Clause :

- Then

- Pak Razak and the farmer have an argument

Phrases :

Words :

- Then ; adverb





- Have ; auxiliary verb

- An ; indefinite article

- Argument ; noun

Morphemes : Then | Pak | Razak | and | the | farmer | have | an | argument |

s. People come and ask to calm down.

Clause :

- People come and ask

- To calm down

Phrases :

Ask to calm down; verb phrase

Words :

- People ; noun

- Come ; verb


- Ask ; verb

- To ; preposition

- Calm down ; phrasal verb

Morphemes : People | come | and | ask | to | calm | down |

t. They suggest Pak Razak and the farmer go to the King to solve the problem.

Clause :

- They suggest Pak Razak and the farmer go to the King

- To solve the problem

Phrases :

Words :

- They ; personal pronoun

- Suggest ; verb





- Go ; verb

- To ; preposition


- King ; proper noun

- To solve ; non-finite verb


- Problem ; noun

Morphemes : They | suggest | Pak | Razak | and | the | farmer | go | to | the |

King | to | solve | the | problem |

u. Please tell me what happened, asks the King.

Clause :

- Please tell me

- What happened

- asks the King

Phrases :

Words :

- Please ; interpersonal adverb

- Tell ; verb

- Me ; personal pronoun

- What ; adverb

- Happened ; verb

- Asks ; verb



Morphemes : Please | tell | me | what | happen|ed | ask|s | the | King |

v. Pak Razak and the farmer tell the King about the problem.

Clause :

- Pak Razak and the farmer tell the King

- About the problem

Phrases :

Words :





- Tell ; verb



- About ; adverb


- problem ; noun

Morphemes : Pak | Razak | and | the | farmer | tell | the | King | about | the |

problem |

w. I know the solution.

Clause :

- I know the solution

Phrases :

Words :


- Know ; verb


- Solution ; noun

Morphemes : I | know | the | solution |

x. Now put your coins into this bottle.

Clause :

- Now

- Put your coins into this bottle

Phrases :

- Into this bottle ; prepositional phrase

Words :

- Now ; adverb

- Put ; verb


- Coins ; noun

- Into ; preposition

- This – demonstrative pronoun

- Bottle ; noun

Morphemes : Now | put | your | coin|s | into | this | bottle |

y. Do you hear the sound of the coins? asks the King to Pak Razak.

Clause :

- Do you hear the sound of the coin?

- Asks the King to Pak Razak

Phrases :

- The sound of the coins ; noun phrase

Words :



- Hear ; verb


- Sound ; noun

- Of ; preposition


- Coins ; noun

- Asks ; verb



- To ; preposition


Morphemes : Do | you | hear | the | sound | of | the | coin|s | Ask|s | the |

King | to | Pak | Razak |

z. Yes, I do, Pak Razak answers.

Clause :

- Yes, I do

- Pak razak answers

Phrases :

Words :

- Yes ; interpersonal adverb




- Answers ; verb

Morphemes : Yes | I | do | Pak | Razak | answer|s |

aa. Then, the farmer has just paid you.

Clause :

- Then,

- the farmer has just paid you

Phrases :

- Has just paid ; verbal phrase

Words :

- Then ; adverb



- Has ; auxiliary verb

- Just ; adverb

- Paid ; verb


Morphemes : Then | the | farmer | has | just | pai|d | you |

bb. He pays your delicious aroma with the sound of his money, The King

explains.

Clause :

- He pays your delicious aroma with the sound of his money

- The king explains

Phrases :

- Delicious aroma ; noun phrase

- The sound of his money ; noun phrase

Words :


- Pays ; verb



- Aroma ; noun

- With ; coordinating conjunction


- Sound ; noun

- Of ; preposition


- Money ; noun

- The – definite article


- Explains ; verb

Morphemes : He | pay|s | your | delicious | aroma | with | the | sound | of |

his | money | The | King | explain|s |

cc. Pak Razak is silent.

Clause :

- Pak Razak is silent

Phrases :

Words :



- Silent ; adjective

Morphemes : Pak | Razak | is | silent |

dd. He knows the King is right.

Clause :

- He knows the king

- is right

Phrases :

Words :


- Knows ; verb




- Right ; adjective

Morphemes : He | know|s | the | King | is | right |

ee. The King just gave him a lesson.

Clause :

Phrases :

- Just gave him a lesson ; verb phrase

Words :



- Just ; adverb

- Gave ; verb

- Him ; personal pronoun


- Lesson ; noun

Morphemes : The | King | just | gave | him | a | lesson |

ff. Then, he apologizes to the farmer.

Clauses :

- Then

- He apologizes to the farmer.

Phrases :

Words :

- Then ; adverb


- Apologizes; verb

- To ; preposition



Morphemes : Then | he | apologize|s | to | the | farmer |

E. Conclusion

A hierarchical analysis of sentences into their constituent parts gives us

a better understanding of the relationship among them. Functional grammar

relates grammatical categories to the communicative functions which they serve.

These functions are seen to operate at different levels of organization in the

language. This implies segmental principle of organization, in which larger units may

be seen as being formed from smaller units and smaller units being combined to form

the larger units.

Finally, the writer wants to admit that this study is still far from being done.

Further research need to be conducted for applying this grammatical unit in the scope

of English Grammar for advance level prior to EFL students. Hopefully, this study

has advantages to the reader or other researchers to understand the linguistic units

specifically using narrative text.

REFERENCES

Aronoff, K. and Fudeman, K. (2004). What is Morphology?1st Edition. New York.Blackwell Publishing

Downing, A. and Locke, P. (2006). English Grammar: A University Course. USA:Routledge.

Feng, Z. (2013). Functional Grammar and Its implications for English Teaching andLearning. An English Language Teaching Journal, Vol.6, No.10, 2013.

Greenbaum, S. (1996). The Oxford: English Grammar. New York: Oxford UniversityPress.

Morley, G.D. (2000) Syntax in Functional Grammar: An Introduction toLexicogrammar in systemic linguistics. New York: Continuum.

P.C. Wren and H. Martin. (2003). High School English Grammar and Composition.Revised Book by N.D.V.Prasada Rao. New Delhi: S. Chand and Company Ltd.

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Long Article_analyzing the Rank Scale of English Grammar Through Narrative Text as an Efl Students