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Lecture 8
Theme; The simple sentence
Problems for discussion;
1.The structure of the simple sentence
2.Types of simple sentences;a)two-member sentences
b) one-member sentences
4.Elliptical sentences .
Before procceding with the study of sentence structure it will be weel to consider there lation between the two notions of sentence and clause. Among different types of sentences treated in a syntactic investigation it is naturally the simple sentence that comes first .It is with specimens of simple sentences that we study such categories as parts of the sentence, main and secondary ; homogeneous members ,and one-member sentences.
When we come to composite sentences (that is, sentences consisting of two or more Clauses), we have to deal with the notions of main clause and subordinate clause. The simple sentence will also hold good for clauses. A main clause at least must also be either declarative, interrogative, imperative or exclamatory, etc. The basic predicative meanings of the typical English sentence are expressed by the finite Verb whish is immediately connected with the subject of the sentences. This predicative Connection is commonly referred to as the ``predicative line`` of the sentence. Using this distinction we must say that the simple sentence is a sentence in whish only one predicative line is expressed . e.g. Bob has never left the stadium. This may happen any time. Opinions differ. The traditional scheme of sentengce parsing shows many essential of the functional hierarchy . The model of immediate constituents is based on the group-parding of the sentence which has been developed by traditional grammar together with the sentence-part parsing scheme. It consists in dividing the whole of the sentence into two groups :that of the subject and that of the predicate , which in their turn , are divided into their sub-group constituents according to the successive subordinate order of the latter.
Structured by the IC-model (the model of immediate constituents )the sentence-the beautiful lady listened to me attentively-on the upper level of analysis is looked upon as a united whole (the accepted symbol ”s” ).On the next lower level it is divided into two maximal constituents-the subject noun-phrase (NP)and the predicate verb phrase (VP). On the next lower lever the subject noun-phrase is dividend into the determiner and the rest of the phrase to which it semantically refers (NP), while the predicate noun-phrase is dividend into the adverbial (Dp ,in this case simply D)and the rest of the verb phrase to which it semantically refers.
The described model of immediate constituents has two basic versions. The first is known as the “analytical IC diagramm ”, the second ,as the “IC-derivation tree”.
The analytical IC- diagram commonly showing grouping of sentence constituents by means of vertical and horizontal lines. E.g. The IC-derivation tree shows the groupings of sentence constituents by means of branching nodes: the nodes symbolize phrase-categories as unities, while the branches mark their division into constituents of the corresponding sub-categorial standings. E.g. S
NP VP
Det NP VP D
A N V VP
Prp n-pro
The beautiful lady listened to me attentively
It has been usual for some time now to classify sentences into two-member and one-member sentences.(1)
This distinction is based on a difference in the so-called main parts of a sentence. Therefore we have to consider the two problems, that of two-member and one-member sentences and that of mainparts of the sentence, simultaneously.
In the sentence like Helen sighed there are two main parts: Helen, which denotes the doer of the action and is called grammatical subject and sighed, which denotes the action performed by the subject and is called grammatical predicate. Sentences have this structure are termed two-member sentences. However, there are sentences which do not contain two such separate parts. In these sentences there is only one main part; the other main part is not there and it could not even be supplied.
Examples of such sentences are termed one-member sentences: Fire! Come on! The opening sentence of “An American Tragedy”: Duck-of a summer night.
It is a disputed point whether the main part of such sentence should or should not be termed subject in some cases and predicate, in others.
This question has been raised with reference to the Russian language. Academician L. Shakhmatov held that the chief part of a one-member sentence was either the subject or the predicate, as the case might be (for example: if the part was a finite verb he termed it predicate). (2)
The subject group and the predicate-group of the sentence are its two constitutive “members”, or to choose a somewhat more specific term, its “axes”. (3)
All simple sentences of English should be devided into two-axis constractions and one-axis constractions. (4)
In two-axis sentence, the subject axis and the predicate axis are directly and explicitly expressed in the outer structure. This concerns all the three cardinal communicative types of sentences. E.g. The books come out of the experience what has been happening here? You better go back to bed.
In an one-axis sentence only one axis or its part is expressed, the other one being non-presented in the outer structure of the sentence. E.g. Who will meet us at the station?- Mary.
The response utterance is one-axis sentence with the subject-axis expressed and predicate-axis implied-----Mary will meet us at the station. Both the non-expression of the predicate and its actual implication in the sub-text are obligatory, since the complete two-axis construction renders its own connotations.
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