Theoretical Grammar The subject-matter of theoretical grammar. Its relation to practical grammar

Conversion. Conversion is derivational process where item changes its word-class without addition of affix. Conversion is particularly common in English because basic form of nouns and verbs is identical in many cases. It’s curious and attractive subject because it has wide field of action: all gram. categories can undergo conversion to more than one word-form, it is compatible with other word-formation processes, and it has no demonstrated limitations. The meaning is perfectly comprehensible and speaker can rapidly fill meaningful gap in his language or use fewer words. The major cases of conversion are from noun to verb (eye-to eye, dog-to dog) and from verb to noun (to play-play). Conversion from adjective to verb (clean-to clean) and from adj to n (rich-the rich) are also common, but it has lower ratio. Conversion may be combined with other word-b-ng processed, such as composition. Attributive phrases like block list, pin point, stone wall form the basis of such firmly established verbs as to blacklist, to pinpoint, to stonewall. The same pattern is used in nonce-words such as to my-dear, to my-love. Semantic associations: 1.The noun is the name of a tool or implement, the verb denotes an action performed by the tool: to hammer, to nail, to pin, to brush. 2.The noun is the name of an animal, the verb denotes an action or aspect of behaviour considered typical of this animal: to dog, to wolf, to monkey.3. The name of a part of the human body — an ac tion performed by it: to hand, to leg (sl.), to eye, to elbow. 4. The name of a profession or occupation — an activity typical of it: to nurse, to cook, to maid, to groom. 5. The name of a place — the process of occupying the place or of putting smth./smb. in it (to room, to house, to place, to table, to cage).6.The name of a container — the act of putting smth. within the container (to can, to bottle, to pocket).7. The name of a meal — the process of taking it (to lunch, to supper).


Compounds. This type of word-building, in which new words are produced by combining two or more stems English compounds have one uniting stress (usually on 1st component), e.g. hard-cover, best-seller. There are 2 characteristic features of English compounds: a) Both components in English compound are free stems, e.g. «a green-house» and «a green house». b) English compounds have 2-stem pattern, e.g. middle-of-the-road, up-and-doing etc. 2-stem pattern distinguishes English compounds from German ones. Classification of compounds:1. Accor. to parts of speech: noun (baby-moon); adj. (free-for-all); verb (to baby-sit); adv. (headfirst); prep. (within); num. (55).2. According to way components are joined together: neutral, which are formed by joining together 2 stems without any joining morpheme (to windowshop); morphological where components are joined by linking element: «o» or «i» or «s» (sportsman); syntactical where components are joined by means of form-word stems (here-and-now). 3. According to their structure: compound words proper which consist of 2 stems (go-go, tip-top); derivational compounds where besides stems we have affixes (ear-minded); compound words consisting of 3 or more stems (singer-songwriter); compound-shortened words (VJ-day, motocross).