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The Predicate Is The Main Member of The Sentence.: Verbal Nominal

The document discusses different types of predicates in sentences, including verbal predicates, nominal predicates, and double predicates. Verbal predicates name actions or processes, while nominal predicates name states or properties. Compound predicates consist of two parts: a notional part that names the action/process/state, and a semi-auxiliary part that expresses grammatical categories like tense or aspect. There are also different types of compound predicates classified by the nature of the semi-auxiliary part, such as modal, aspective, and modal-aspective. Double predicates result from blending two predicates, usually a verbal and nominal one, into one.

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2K views

The Predicate Is The Main Member of The Sentence.: Verbal Nominal

The document discusses different types of predicates in sentences, including verbal predicates, nominal predicates, and double predicates. Verbal predicates name actions or processes, while nominal predicates name states or properties. Compound predicates consist of two parts: a notional part that names the action/process/state, and a semi-auxiliary part that expresses grammatical categories like tense or aspect. There are also different types of compound predicates classified by the nature of the semi-auxiliary part, such as modal, aspective, and modal-aspective. Double predicates result from blending two predicates, usually a verbal and nominal one, into one.

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KPAC333
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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The predicate is the main member of the sentence.

All the predicates can be subdivided into verbal and nominal.

The principal difference in them lies in the fact that verbal predicates name actions or
processes, while nominal predicates name states or properties.

VERBAL PREDICATES

All the verbal predicates can be subdivided into Simple and Compound

The Simple Verbal Predicate denotes an activity performed (suffered) by the object. It’s
expressed by the finite form of the verb in the required tense, mood, aspect and voice. It
can also be expressed by a set expression (phrase)
E.g. I like grammar.
We are reading English books. (Analytical form)
He pays much attention to his grammar. (Set phrase)

The Compound Verbal Predicate consists of two parts. They are called
The semi-auxiliary part and the notional part.

The notional part names an action or a process and it’s mostly expressed by an infinitive
or a gerund.
The semi-auxiliary part expresses different grammatical categories (tense, mood, aspect
etc.)

Care should be taken that the compound verbal predicate is never used in its pure type.
It’s always used in one of its variants.

Depending on the nature of the semi-auxiliary part we differentiate the following types of
the compound verbal predicate:

REAL TYPES

1. The COMPOUND VERBAL MODAL PREDICATE

In this predicate the semi-auxiliary part is expressed by a modal verb or by a word phrase
of modal semantics.

try,
intend,
have to,
to be to,
to be about,
to be going to,
had better,
would rather,
can’t help but,
on the point of ,
mean,
to be eager,
be able,
be anxious,
be capable.)

E.g. I can study grammar for hours;


I can’t help but do it.

2. The COMPOUND VERBAL ASPECTIVE PREDICATE.

In this predicate the semi-auxiliary part is expressed by a verb of aspective semantics i.e.
by a verb denoting the beginning, continuation or end of some action.

begin,
continue,
go on,
stop,
finish,
cease,
start,
carry on,
commence,
set about,
keep,
proceed,
give up,
leave off)

It can also be expressed by the verbs used to or would which express a repeated action in
the past.

E.g. It began raining.


He used to call on us every Monday.

!!!! There is a special type of the compound aspective predicate in which the notional part
is expressed by a participle 1, while the semi-auxiliary part is expressed by a verb of
motion which loses its lexical meaning.

E.g. He came running into the room.


The ship went floating across the ocean.
3. The COMPOUND VERBAL MODAL-ASPECTIVE PREDICATE.

In this predicate the semi-auxiliary part is expressed by a verb of aspective semantics


which is modified by a modal element (modal phrase etc.)

E.g. It may begin raining soon.

THE COMPOUND NOMINAL PREDICATE.

The compound nominal predicate denotes a certain state or quality of the subject, it’s a
qualifying predicate.

The compound nominal predicate consists of two parts the link-verb and the predicative.
The predicative names a state or a property. It serves to characterize the subject.
It can be expressed by a word of any notional part of speech or by a phrase or a clause.

She is a doctor (noun)


She is beautiful (adjective)
Our task is that we should know grammar well. (Predicative clause)
That was what she did.

Sometimes the predicative is expressed by an infinitive or a gerundial complex

E.g. The most important thing for us is to meet her.


The greatest trouble was our not knowing all the details.

The link-verb expresses different grammatical categories. It has no independent meaning


and its function is to connect the subject with the predicative. It’s usually expressed by
the verb to be but it can also be expressed by some other verb which loses its lexical
meaning and acquires the abstract meaning of

1. Being (be, feel, look, smell, taste) (sound funny, burn dim, suck dry,)

2. Becoming (become, grow, get, turn) (to be called Bob, to be left alone,)

3. Remaining (remain, continue, keep, stay) (to be elected president)

4. Seeming and appearing (seem, appear)

E.g. The weather turned cold.


You look great.

!!! Care should be taken that the verb to be is mostly used as a link-verb but it can also be
used as a notional verb denoting existence. In such cases the verb to be is a simple verbal
predicate.
E.g. There is a chair near the door.
The house was in the back street.

Unlike the compound verbal predicate the compound nominal predicate can be used in its
pure type. But like the compound verbal predicate it can have some variants.

1. The COMPOUND NOMINAL MODAL PREDICATE.


In this predicate the link-verb is modified a modal element.

E.g. The leaves turned yellow(pure type)


The leaves may turn yellow.

2. The COMPOUND NOMINAL ASPECTIVE PREDICATE.


In this predicate the link-verb is modified by a verb of aspective semantics.

E.g. The leaves begin to turn yellow.

3. The COMPOUND NOMINAL MODAL ASPECTIVE PREDICATE.


In this predicate the link-verb is modified by both aspective and modal elements.

E.g. The leaves may begin to turn yellow soon.

THE DOUBLE PREDICATE


The double predicate is a special type of predicates. It appears to as a result of
blending of two predicates into one. Usually a verbal predicate and a nominal predicate
blend together and form a double predicate. The nominal predicate at that is represented
only by its predicative. We usually have it when we fuse two sentences together into one.

E.g. The moon was pale when it rose —> The moon rose pale.

The difference between the double predicate and the compound nominal predicate is that
the link-verb loses its lexical meaning while in the double predicate the 1st component is
always meaningful(i.e. it’s translated)

e.g. She kept silent(CNP)= she was silent.


She stood silent. (Double) = she stood and didn’t speak.
He died a poor man.
The moon sank crimson.
She sat silent.
They met friends and parted enemies.

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