CIUBAR IOANA-RALUCA

LIMBA SI LITERATURA ENGLEZA-GERMANA

ANUL 2, GRUPA 1

Lecture 7

4.4. The verb phrase 4.4.1.

Definition and structure - Most grammars agree that the verb phrase (VP) consists of a head,
which is a lexical or a primary verb1 , preceded by the optional elements, the primary and/or
modal auxiliaries. A simple verb phrase consists in the head/main verb only. The main verb
selects the other clause elements that can occur in the clause (see valency) .

Finite verb phrases mark distinctions of tense between present and past and can be preceded by
modal auxiliaries. Non-finite verb phrases are not marked for tense and cannot occur with modal
auxiliaries.

Due to its clarity and simplicity, it can be used for future reference, together with Leech's
patterns of verb choices discussed in 3.9.2 and with Biber, Conrad and Leech’s table of the main
forms of the VP below, illustrated with show as main verb and could as a modal auxiliary

Present tense Past tense modal

Simple Shows/show Showed Could show
Perfect Has/had shown Had shown Could have shown
Progressive Am/is/are showing Was/were showing Could be showing
Passive Am/is/are shown Was/were shown Could be shown
Perfect+progressive Has/have been shown Had been showing Could have been
shown
Perfect+passive Am/is/are being Had been shown Could have been
shown showing
Progressive+passive Was/were being Could be being shown
shown

MODAL + PERFECT + PROGRESSIVE + PASSIVE

Anyways, the verb phrases with four or more verbs (such as could have been being shown) are
quite uncommon. Note that, in both Romanian and English, more than one auxiliary can occur in
the same verb phrase.

English Romanian
structure example structure example
Future perfect Will have done Viitor anterior Va fi facut
Modal perfect Night have been Conditional-optativ Ar fi putut face
progressive doing perfect
Modal perfect Could have been Conditional-optativ Ar fi putut fi facut
progressive passive being made perfect pasiv

4.4.3. Syntactic functions of verb phrases

The verb phrase has only one function in the clause and no function in the phrase. Thus, both the
finite (a) and non-finite (b) verb phrases always realize the verbal of the clause they belong to.

a. His friends| were preparing| a surprise party. (were preparing – verbal, finite VP)

b. His friends enjoy || |preparing| surprise parties||. (preparing – verbal in ing-Cl, non-finite VP)

4.5. The adjective phrase

4.5.1. Definition and structure

An adjective phrase is a phrase in which the head is an adjective. The simplest type of adjective
phrase consists of an adjective only, as in They had powerful cars.

Like nouns phrases, adjective phrases can be made more complex by adding words that
modify/complement the head. Modifiers qualify what is denoted by the adjective, and they are
optional.

Thus, in terms of structure, the adjective phrase (AdjP) typically consists of a head, optionally
preceded and followed by modifiers. Modifiers that precede the head are alternatively called
specifiers and those that follow it, complements.

Heads, premodifiers and postmodifiers can appear in the following combinations in the structure
of AdjPs:

Adjective phrase structure Example

Head Nice
Premodifier + head Very nice
Head + postmodifier Nice of you to come
Premodifier +head + postmodifier Very nice of you to come

Postmodifiers are called ‘complements’ because they normally complete what is implied in the
meaning of the adjective. For example, if we say His mother is very angry, we mean that the
subject is characterized in some respect by a certain state, and the postmodifier specifies in what
respect: with him. Certain adjectives (aware, fond, subject, afraid, etc.) require the presence of a
postmodifier for completeness. Together with other adjectives, they are grouped in lists labelled
'adjectives with obligatory prepositions' that can be found in usage books such as Raymond
Murphy’s English Grammar In Use with Answers and CD ROM: A Self-study Reference and
Practice Book for Intermediate Students of English.

Such adjectives that take obligatory postmodifiers have verbs with corresponding meanings. A
few examples are provided in the table below:

Adjective example verb example

Aware I’m aware of the Know I know that there will
consequences. be consequences.
Fond She if fond of cats. Like She likes cats.
Subject The proposal is Submit They submit the
subject to debate. proposal for debate.
afraid She is afraid of fear She fears snakes.
snakes.

4.6. The adverb phrase

4.6.1. Definition and structure

The adverb phrase (AdvP) is a phrase in which the head is an adverb. An adverb phrase may
consist of one word (an adverb alone) or of two or more words. Mainly one-word adverb phrases
modify adjectives (barely alive) or adverbs (very slowly).

Adverb phrases (as forms) should not be mistaken for adverbials (as functions). The adverb
phrase is a phrase (= a word or group of words which can fulfill a syntactic function in a clause),
while the adverbial is a clause element that can be realized by adverb phrases, prepositional
phrases and adverbial clauses. Much like adjective phrases, adverb phrases (AdvP) may contain,
besides the head, one or more modifiers. The modifiers (premodifiers/ specifiers and
postmodifiers/complements) in an adverb phrase are optional elements that are dependent on the
head. They can all combine to form the following basic structures:

Premodifier/specifier head Postmodifier/complement

Separately
almost separately From him

EXERCISES:
Exercise 4.25 Underline each adjective phrase.

1. Fragrant homemade bread is becoming common in many American homes.

2. In a recent sample, 30 per cent of the subscribers to a woman’s magazine said that they baked
bread. 3. The first bread was patted by hand.

4. The early Egyptians added yeast and made conical, triangular, or spiral loaves as well as
large, flat, open-centred disks.

Exercise 4.26 The adjective phrase

Complete the sentences below by adding a post-modifier to the adjectives at the ends of the
sentences. 1. No doubt you are aware ______of the danger_

2. My children are always happy _____of getting the candy__

3. It is sometimes possible ____to get robbed

4. They are sure _____of the answers___

Exercise 4.27 Functions of adjective phrases

Identify the function of each underlined adjective phrase by writing the appropriate abbreviation
in the brackets after it: prm (pre-modifier in noun phrase) pm (post-modifier in noun phrase) sC
(subject complement) oC (object complement)

1. The former (PrM ) champion is now very ill (sC ).

2. He has a rare (PrM ) viral (PrM ) infection.

3. The drugs he takes make him sick (oC ).

Exercise 4.28 The adverb phrase

Underline each adverb phrase.

1. Disposing of nuclear waste is a problem that has recently gained much attention.

2. Authorities are having difficulties finding locations where nuclear waste can be disposed of
safely.

3. There is always the danger of the waste leaking very gradually from the containers in which it
is stored.
 4. Because of this danger, many people have protested quite vehemently against the dumping of
any waste in their communities.

Exercise 4.29 Functions of adverb phrases

Identify the function of each underlined adverb phrase by writing the appropriate abbreviation in
the brackets after it:
A (adverbial)
M Adj (modifier of adjective)
M Adv (modifier of adverb)
1. Small forks first (A) appeared in eleventh-century Tuscany.
2. They were widely (A) condemned at the time.
3. It was in late eighteenth-century France that forks suddenly (A) became fashionable.
4. Spoons are thousands of years older than forks and began as thin, slightly (M Adj) concave
pieces of wood.
5. Knives were used far (M Adv) earlier than spoons.

Exercise 4.32 The prepositional phrase (cf. 4.25)

Underline each prepositional phrase and circle each preposition. If a prepositional phrase is
embedded within another prepositional phrase, underline it twice.
1. It may come as a surprise to you that massage is mentioned in ancient Hindu Chinese
writings.
2. It is a natural therapy for aches and pains in the muscles.
3. The Swedish technique of massage emphasizes improving circulation by manipulation.
4. Its value is recognized by many doctors.
5. Some doctors refer to massage as manipulative medicine

*Exercise 4.33 The prepositional phrase (cf. 4.25)

Rewrite the sentences below, moving prepositions to alternative positions that they can occur in.
You may need to make some consequent changes.
1. The secretary is the person who you should send your application to.
The person to whom you should send your application is the secretary.
2. Relativity is a theory on which many modern theories in physics are based.
A theory on which many modern theories in physics are based is relativity.
3. Who are you writing to?
To whom are you writing?
4. This article is one that researchers in economics often make reference to.
This article of which researchers in economics often make reference to is this article.
Exercise 4.34 Functions of prepositional phrases (cf. 4.26)
Identify the function of each underlined prepositional phrase by writing the appropriate
abbreviation in the brackets after it:
pN (post-modifier of a noun)
pAdj (post-modifier of an adjective)
A (adverbial)
1. Politicians in the United States must raise large sums of money (pAdj ) if they want to get
elected.
2. A candidate can no longer win with little campaign money (pAdj ).
3. Candidates are keenly aware of the need for huge financial contributions (pN ).
4. They need the money to employ staff and for the frequent advertisements they run on
television ( pN).
5. In recent campaigns (A ), television advertisements have been quite.