The Problem of Formation of Word Combinations in Modern English
The Problem of Formation of Word Combinations in Modern English
INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................4
1. WORD COMBINATIONS IN LINGUISTIC.............................................................6
1.1 DEFINITION OF THE TERM WORD COMBINATION AND ITS OTHER
MEANINGS....................................................................................................................................6
1.2 CLASSIFICATION OF WORD COMBINATIONS IN LINGUISTICS.....................9
1.3. WORD ORDER IN WORD COMBINATIONS.......................................................11
2.TYPES OF WORD COMBINATIONS......................................................................13
2.1.1 NOUN WORD COMBINATION............................................................................13
2.1.2 VERB WORD COMBINATION.............................................................................15
2.1.3 ADJECTIVE WORD COMBINATION..................................................................17
2.1.4 ADVERB WORD COMBINATION.......................................................................19
2.1.5 PREPOSITIONAL WORD COMBINATION.........................................................19
2.2 WORD COMBINATIONS IN MODERN ENGLISH................................................22
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................25
REFERENCES………… ……………...………………………...……………………..26
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INTRODUCTION
RELEVANCE.
In both English and Russian, the major structural types of phrasesword combinations are
the same. A verb with an object or an adverb; a noun with a definition; an adjective or adverb
with a dependent adverb are examples of these. At the same time, English has a structural type
that is not marked in Russian among its attributive phrases.
This is a combination of two nouns, in which the first word acts as a definition to the
second. In Russian, such attributive relations can be expressed by a relative adjective that has an
affixal indicator, in English, if the first word does not have an adjective affix in such
combinations, it is difficult to clearly determine to which part of speech the word-definition
refers, and accordingly, it is difficult to distinguish between a phrase and a complex word. In this
respect, English is again closer to the languages of the isolating type and to some extent to the
languages of the incorporating type (in which there are no clear boundaries between the phrase
and the word).
The order of the members of word combinations in the two languages also differs. The
definition conveyed by a noun in the possessive case in English attributive phrases is often
prepositive to the main word; in Russian, a noun in the genitive case is typically postpositive.
This problem remains relevant because linguists have different points of view on this
topic. Everyone describes and characterizes the phrase in different ways and according to
different criteria. For many European linguists, even the term "phrase" is different. That is why
this topic is relevant, controversial and worth considering and understanding it more carefully.
The relevance also lies in the fact that there are different classifications and types of phrases,
which prevents the appearance of a generally accepted term and its definition.
OBJECTIVE – to analyze the problem of formation of word combinations in modern
English.
TASKS. In this course paper, we are faced with the following tasks:
1)find definition of the term word combination and its other meanings;
2)find classification of word combinations in linguistics;
3)find types of word combinations.
OBJECT of this course paper is an the object of the study we regard the word
combinations in modern English.
SUBJECT of the work is the formation of word combinations in modern English.
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Subordinative word combinations include blue skirt, lord of the world, and others since
the words blue and of the world are subordinated to skirt and lord, respectively, and serve as
attributes. Women and children, as well as sunrise and sunset, are examples of coordinative
phrases.
Since the structural essence of the phrase is such that the words in its composition form a
scheme of syntactic connection, studying language models used to create sentences of various
structures entails studying the grammatical connection between the components of the phrase.
While it should be noted that the syntactic language is different and can vary depending
on the author, we will use the term "word combination" here. As a result, Professor Illish
employs the word "phrase." Scientists' meaning of the phrase ("each combination of two or more
words that is a grammatical unit but is not an analytical form of a word") leaves little question
about its equivalence to the term "analytical form of a word."
A word combination is usually interpreted negatively, i.e. "negative" meanings mean
what isn't a phrase. Obviously, this is not the most correct approach to this issue, but it can be
used in the absence of other meanings.
In any meaning of a word combination, this unit is syntactically a grammatical structure.
One of syntactic theory's tasks is to investigate its morphological composition in order to
understand the combinatorial properties of parts of speech and consider substitution possibilities
within a phrase. According to one of the most commonly used derogatory terms, the word
combination is not communicatively oriented. The observation is absolutely adequate since the
absence of communicative orientation is one of the most indisputable properties of the word
combination.
The problem is the lack of a universal term. so the most commonly used terms are word
combination and word combination. and these are the terms most often used by linguists. It is
also problematic to make a competent definition of this term . the most generalized option is
considered to be : a phrase is a combination of two or more words that do not make up a
sentence, but have a syntactic relationship with each other. the following definition is also
common: a phrase is a grammatical unit made up of two or more terms that is not an analytical
type of a word. The issue is that the aim of functional words is to describe abstract, non-
nominative relations. The most common and acceptable interpretation by linguists is: a phrase is
any syntactic group of words that includes conditional, functional or semantic words . a phrase is
a linear language unit that is distinguished by a part of a sentence or a separate sentence , but at
the same time it is acquired : the emphasis on the appropriate phrase , intonation color, as well as
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a communicative orientation. The difference between a phrase and a sentence is that the phrase is
a nominative unit, performs the function of a polynomial, and denotes a complex referent with
certain constituent elements and relations between them. While a sentence is a unit of predication
that names a conditional event and its relation to reality.
The following tend to be the most important characteristics of explanatory language:
(1) A small number of grammatical inflections (viz., case inflections in nouns, adjectives,
and pronouns, and personal inflections in verbs).
(2) the use of sound alternations sparingly to indicate grammatical forms.
(3) the widespread use of prepositions to indicate object relations and connect words in a
sentence.
(4) The more or less fixed word order is prominently used to denote grammatical
relations.
There are various characteristics that differentiate Modern English from, say, Modern French.
Modern English has a high degree of analyticity in its systems, since it not only
consciously uses agglutination but also uses a variety of analytical grammatical and lexical
constructions. The former is used to express grammatical definitions, while the latter is used to
create new words (analytic lexemes).
Phonetics (phonology), lexicology, and grammar are the three primary branches of
linguistics that deal with the main language units. Grammar is the study of a language's
grammatical structure. Morphology and syntax are included.
The connections between word formation, grammar, and lexicology have yet to be
established. Generally, three points of view have been expressed:
(1) word-building is part of lexicology,
(2) word-building is partly at least the matter of grammar,
(3) word-building is the special sphere intermediate between lexicology and grammar and
occasionally encroaching upon either.
We will not deal with the issue in its entirety here, as it is clearly a question of general
linguistics rather than English linguistics, and will instead focus on a few key points that we will
address later in our discussion.
The following are some of the phrase's most common characteristics: 1) A phrase, like a
word, could imply the meaning of certain phenomena or forms. It differs from a compound word
as a naming unit in that the number of components in a group of terms is comparable to the
number of distinct denotations. 2) Grammatical changes may be made to individual components
of a group of words without affecting the overall character of the unit. A sentence is a
grammatical unit in which each word has its own distinct form. A modern sentence is created by
changing the frame of one or more words. 3) A bunch of words could be a subordinate syntactic
unit, it isn't a communicative unit and does not have its claim intonation. Intonation is one of the
most important characteristics that distinguishes a sentence from an word combination.. The
proportion of a word combination to a sentence is somewhat distinctive from the ratio of other
dialect units.
1.2 Classification of word combinations in linguistics
The primary syntactic level is represented by phrases. There are speech units that are
used to make utterances. However, the word combination cannot be considered an independent
speech unit; rather, it is a study unit that aids in the understanding of secondary syntax laws.
Phrases, like every other language unit, have meaning, form, and function. Word combinations'
structure and syntactic functions are well understood, but semantics is a complex field of study.
A categorical approach is used to investigate the meaning of phrases.word combinations.
The role of word combinations in a sentence can be used to classify them. The following
is how this criterion categorizes word combinations:
1) those that perform the role of a sentence part, such as predicate, object, adverbial
modifier, etc.,
2) those that do not perform any such function but whose function is.... equivalent to that
of the preposition or conjunction, and are, in reality, to all intents and purposes, equivalent to the
preposition or conjunction.
Different meanings of endocentric and exocentric word combinations resulted from the
implementation of two new forms of syntactic constructions and changes to the classification. As
a consequence, all word combinations in the language fall into one of two groups:
1) word combinations based on hypotaxis,
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A particular word order distinguishes each type of phrase. The subordinate's relational
word is used in expressions with coordinating and joining qualities; the subordinate's
postposition is used in expressions with the government; the subordinate's placed in expressions
with joining is more free. In phrases, the word arrange is violated in the same way that it is in
sentences, with the purpose of increasing or decreasing the communicative confidence of one of
its members. Despite the fact that word, word forms, and phrases are not considered predicative
syntactic units, O. Jespersen observes that nouns themselves contain predicative components
from time to time. (On of her hapiness because she was happy)
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An attribute phrase is a phrase consisting of the main (defined) word and one or more
words defining it . Attribute constructions as a specific type of word combinations include a
variety of structures, i.e. they represent a class that is heterogeneous in its composition.
The basic component of the phrase is a noun, and adjectives, participles, numerals, and
nouns are most often found among the dependent words.
In attributive word combinations, both components are joined together with the help of
syntactical subordinate connection.
The variety of defining components in the attributive phrases of the English language
allows us to distinguish the following types of them:
1) adjective / participle + noun, for example: expensive house-expensive (at a cost)
house;
2) noun + noun, for example: family photo – family photo;
3) noun + structure with internal predication, where the defining component
can be a phrase or an entire sentence, for example: do-or-die situation – a situation of
risky choice [3, p. 136]
To express a relationship between an individual or an organization and another person or
object, we use the word's.
Mrs Johnson's driver
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The concept of a word combination and the concept of a sentence are two separate
semantic spheres.: (to notice him, to hate tomatoes, to wish for happiness, to understand his
thoughts, etc ).
In English, many verbs can be used both transitively and intransitively to convey the
same meaning. They are divided into several categories:
1 Verbs with an implied Object, such as drive (a bus), park (a bus), drink (wine), save
(time), wave (hands)
Do you drink?
I don’t drink.
Intransitive uses of these verbs can be thought of as examples of valency reduction, in
which the valency of two of these verbs is reduced to one.
These reductions are not applied to other object referents such as drive a bus or save time
since they are founded on cultural schemas and have an effect of habituality.
The deleted direct object in some verbs, such as learn is not specific and may be
unknown, as in
Her grandmother taught her to write.
You have to be very unconscious to drive the car when you had a drink an hour ago.
It can be difficult to park near the school.
Mother is saving to pay for mortgage.
Mike waved to the Sara from the other side.
2 Causatives with an intransitive counterpart, constituting an ergative pair:
She solved this problem. (SPOd)
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Single adjectives are only used as post-modifiers in the following situations: • a small
number of fixed terms, a remnant of a French structure: a court martial, the devil incarnate,
since time immemorial;
• after those pronominal heads: those present, something good, nothing interesting;
• adjectives that appear after the head of a changed noun but change the modifier rather
than the head: the worst time possible = the worst possible, not the time possible.
The idea of combining the words worst and probable as an epithet demonstrates their
intimate relationship: the worst possible moment. Post-modifiers for adjectival groups typically
have their own modifier elements: We went for the option that had the best chance of
succeeding.
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He still wore boots with a lot of holes in them. Coordinated or post-modified adjectives
are said to be more appropriate in supplementive verbless clauses than single adjectives. As a
result, in 1, the single adjective is less probable than in 2, which has a longer, coordinated
structure:
1 The other teachers, confident, all did this project.
2 The other teachers, confident and calm, all did this project.
Nominal word-combinations can be: substantive and adjectival. The basic models of
substantive word-combinations:
adjective or possessive pronoun + a noun: sunny morning, his decision; illegal action,
beautiful garden, completed task, different people, interesting person, positive atmosphere,
sweet cake, kind girl.
noun + noun: girl’s secret, student’s duties , book on desk, part of country, cat’s toy,
food for paupers, school’s property.
noun + adverb: a step forward, holidays in winter; evidence thereof, part hereof, section
hereof.
noun + infinitive: readiness to help, an occasion to talk.
noun + participle: dispatched ship, agreeing company, designated clothes, growing
number, recognized hero, built house.
The basic models of adjectival word-combinations are:
adjective + adverb: barely seen ; early learner.
adjective + noun (pronoun): broad in shoulders, indifferent to anger; liable for damages,
intent on compensation.
adjective + infinitive: responsible to appreciate, ready to agree, hardly to make, able to
travel, not easy to do.
The key word in a sub-kind of these word-combinations is a numeral or a pronoun: the
four parts, five workers, someone in black, something especial, two originals, three copies,
sixty nights, twenty-four hour, twelve month.
It is normally difficult to deviate from the rule of colligation:
Since English nouns do not make the structure N + at + A, mathematics at clever is a
meaningless string of words.
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Adverbial group heads articulate concepts like space, time, and reason when used to post-
modify nouns. They can be analyzed as elliptic adverbial classes or clauses in many cases:
place:
Is this the right way to go home?
time:
She came after her work shift.
reason:
He isn’t feel well so he probably won’t come
Post-modifiers of relative adverbial clauses Where, when, and why are relative adverbs
that add clauses that post-modify nouns denoting places, times, or reasons. Supplementary uses
can be found where and when they are needed. The examples with why, on the other hand, do
not have the same purpose.
Word-combinations of adverbial type (with predicative and nonpredicative adverbs) have
2 models:
adverb + adverb: very slowly, rather quickly;
adverb + noun: long after a school day.
Phrases with adverbs in English are common. Such phrases make both oral and written
speech more diverse, brighter, and more interesting. adverbs-to the question " how?".
Memorizing phrases with adverbs, draw parallels with familiar words, build associations aimed
at memorizing words that are difficult to pronounce and understand.
Very smiley – очень улыбчивый;
Rather boring – довольно скучный;
Strikingly kind – удивительно добрый;
Too strict – слишком строгий;
Terribly long – ужасно длинный;
Unbelievably beautiful – невероятно красивый.
• an element of clause structure, for example as Adjunct (e.g. I decided to quit my job
because of my superiors); or
• as a unit embedded in classes of groups, for example as post-modifier of a noun (e.g.
the women behind the counter) or as complement of an adjective (e.g. surprised at your efforts).
Other PPs, as well as other PPs, are often embedded in PPs:
On the bottom of [the table [[in me room]]
In [an wallet[under the books [in the bag]]
Tired [with being cruel [to people]]
The prep + NG + prep + NG sequence can be structurally unclear at times. For example,
the phrase "opposite the café at the intersection of this house" may refer to the following two
structures, each of which has a distinct meaning:
1 a simple preposition + complement, which contains another PP as post-modifier:
opposite [the café at the intersection] (at the intersection is m in the NG headed by ‘café’)
2 two independent PPs, functioning as two adjuncts, which might be reversed in order:
near [the café] + [on the corner]
on [the intersection] + opposite [the café]
The nominal is also distinguished from the preposition, which is stranded at the end of a
clause. Stranding is common in spoken English, while non-stranded equivalents are far more
formal:
About what did you want to talk? (‘What’ functions as complement of about: about
what?)
What article is he referring to? (To which article is he referring?)
The meanings of prepositions are either lexical and ‘free’, or grammaticised and ‘bound’.
Prepositions that are grammatically dominated by a verb, adjective, or noun, as in fascinated
with, speak to us, kind to animals, and cases of cruelty, are examples. The definitions of lexical
meanings are those that the speaker chooses freely based on his or her communicative intent (at
the nearest airport, all over my skirt and slippers).
Prepositions may be either "simple" (a single word) or "complex" (consisting of two
words or three).
Prepositions with just one letter
By far the most popular are the short, simple forms, such as:
abοut, acrοss, after, around, as, at, by, down, for, from, in, like, near, of, off, on, round,
to, towards, with, without
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A systematic and empirical analysis of common PWCs has been rather neglected up to
now. Some studies have been conducted on the matter, f prepositional word combinations
(PWCs) are only treated as a side-matter in these. Di Meola (2014) describes PWC as
“prepositional phrases” in his work on the grammaticalization of German prepositions.
He considers them in terms of prepositions, that is, prepositions in the form of a
syntactical structure. Di Meola proposes two criteria for determining the degree of
grammaticalization of a prepositional phrase in a formal analysis: the morphosemantic weight
(especially the distance towards univerbation) and the decategorization (particularly the
morphological invariability, which can be recognised by the lacking possibilities of extension or
substitution).
Furthermore, the author establishes that the higher amount of grammaticalization is
another feature of these prepositional phrases that are not used for a post. Given that the project's
research is solely focused on these types of PWCs, it seems reasonable to say that the subject of
our investigation is grammaticalized word combinations.
Kiss (2010) focussed on the conditions for the omission of articles in combinations of
prepositions and nouns. He establishes that this kind of word combinations are being ignored or
described as exceptions at best by grammars, even though they are created.
E.g. Despite his age, Charles has a razor-sharp mind and he is still able to solve difficult
tasks.
She has a razor-sharp mind and a kind look.
set high standards for oneself – ставить для себя высокую планку
E.g. Each of his students set high standards for themselves.
keep your word – сдержать обещание, слово
E.g. He had promised to keep his word, and Kate didn’t doubts it.
play the joke/trick on – подшутить над
E.g. Don’t play the trick on her, she is very vulnerable and touchy.
take the joke – понимать шутку
E.g. Michael didn’t take the joke and everyone was laughing at the table, except him.
swallow your pride – поступиться самолюбием, проглотить обиду
E.g. She decided to swallow her pride and make a deal with him.
throw the tantrum – разразиться гневом, устроить истерику, закатить
истерику (часто о детях)
E.g. I wonder why children often throw the tantrum for no reson.
come to terms with – примириться, смириться, прийти к соглашению
E.g. A few years later, the countries came to terms with some problems and signed a
cooperation agreement.
reveal your true character – показывать подлинную сущность
E.g. He only revealed his true character after a year, no one could believe that he was
actually such a terrible person.
lose your patience – терять терпение
E.g. Even though the teacher was kind and understanding, even he lost his patience in
teaching this boy.
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Conclusion
Thanks to the research carried out using the methods of analysis, description and parsing
of various phrases, we identified the main features and functions of phrases, and also analyzed
various classifications and types of phrases.
The word combination is a primary syntactic unit, and its analysis falls under micro-
syntax. It's any set of meaningful words with distinct grammatical and semantic properties.
Every rule in syntax is based on a set of word combinations.
We can do several conclusions from this course paper, including the fact that studying the
syntax of the English language, especially phrases, is full of unique points and features in each
linguist's understanding.
While formally certain cases of a word-combination may be equivalent to a simple
sentence, the word combination varies from the sentence. A nominative word-combination is a
communicative unit, and a sentence is a communicative unit.
The concept of a word combination and the concept of a sentence belong to various
semantic fields. They correspond to various ways of thinking. There are no grammatical features
in the word combination that would indicate whether or not the utterance is complete. The word-
combination only occurs in the structure of the sentence; it is used as contact building material.
They correspond to different ways of thinking. The word combination contains no
grammatical features that would suggest whether or not the utterance is complete. Only in the
context of a sentence does the word-combination appear; it is used as a connection with building
material.
“A product of semantic extension of a word” is what a word-combination is called.
Starting with the combination of two notional words, word-combinations are distinguished.
Word combinations may be two-componental or polycomponental depending on the
number of notional words.
Summing up, it can be noted that the topic of the problem of word combinations in the
English language is still quite complex and controversial, for example, due to the lack of a
generally accepted designation of a word combination or the extensive variability of its
classifications. Only by analyzing the works of different authors can we get closer to
understanding the problem of the phrase and its main functions. Also, thanks to the sources used
and the analysis carried out, we were able to better understand this topic and its key points.
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REFERENCES
http://www.euralex.org/elx_proceedings/ Euralex1996_1/028_Ludmila%20Minaeva
%20-Word%20and%20 Word%20Combination%20in%20ESP.pdf ( 02.04.2021)
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