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Chapter2 Notes On Subject Predicator Unit5

This document discusses clause structure in English grammar. It covers the subject and predicator as the two main elements of a clause. The subject is defined cognitively as the topic of the clause, syntactically by various tests, and semantically as associated with different types of participants. The predicator is defined syntactically by determining the structure of the predicate and semantically as associated with different types of processes. It also discusses the predicator and finite operator, with the predicator taking the main verb and the finite operator consisting of modal, primary, or lexical auxiliaries.

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19 views

Chapter2 Notes On Subject Predicator Unit5

This document discusses clause structure in English grammar. It covers the subject and predicator as the two main elements of a clause. The subject is defined cognitively as the topic of the clause, syntactically by various tests, and semantically as associated with different types of participants. The predicator is defined syntactically by determining the structure of the predicate and semantically as associated with different types of processes. It also discusses the predicator and finite operator, with the predicator taking the main verb and the finite operator consisting of modal, primary, or lexical auxiliaries.

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DREAM OF SCISSORS
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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GRAMÁTICA INGLESA

CHAPTER 2: Introduction to clause structure


UNIT 5: Subject and Predicator

Grado en Estudios Ingleses: Lengua, Literatura y Cultura


Dpto. Filologías Extranjeras y sus Lingüísticas
© UNED
1.1. Subject and Predicator

© UNED
1.1. The Subject
• COGNITIVELY: The element that has the highest claim to function as a Topic (=a discourse category: what
the message is mainly about) in a clause in context: Lions typically hunt their preys first thing in the morning.
• SYNTACTICALLY: (1) functionally: a function that can be identified through various tests:

Position She didn’t enjoy the meal. You be quite! Didn’t she pass the test?
Concord I am a woman. You are a woman.
Pronominalisation (subjective case) Peter and Sue left early.  They left early.
Reflection in question tags The blouse is wet, isn’t it?
(2) formally: it is typically realised by an NG but by many other groups & clauses too:
At 5 pm is when I have my tea.
• SEMANTICALLY – it can be associated with most types of Participants:
Agent I wrote a letter to the Dean.
Affected The mouse was eaten by the cat.
Force The snow covered the whole landscape.
Recipient
© UNED The golf player was given a second chance.
1.2. The Predicator
SYNTACTICALLY: (1) functionally: a clause function that largely determines the structure of the Predicate (= the no. &
type of objects & complements that may appear with it)
Rome IS the capital of Italy  copular They KNEW what needed to be done  transitive
(2) formally: it may be equivalent to the whole Predicate The fish jumped
POSITION The topic of the conference was the sea.
CONCORD The topics of the conferences were very interesting.
SEMANTICALLY: it is associated with a no. of domains belonging to 3 types of process:

MATERIAL (‘doing’, ‘acting’) Make Catch Throw

MENTAL (‘perceiving’, ‘thinking”, ‘feeling’, Listen Know Hate Wish


‘desiring’)

RELATIONAL (‘being’, ‘becoming’) Be, Belong, Become

© UNED
1.2.1. The Predicator & the Finite Operator

Cognitively: the Predicate is usually the most informative part of the clause.

Formally: realised by a VG. The VG is made up of:


• The predicator: takes
• Modal / Primary (be, have, do) / Lexical auxiliaries (the 1st: finite operator): can take / is taking / has been
taking / could have been taking

© UNED

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