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    English Grammar: Unit 2: The Skeleton of The Message: Introduction To Clause Structure Module 5: Subject and Predicator

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    The subject is the primary participant in a clause that something is predicated about. It occupies the pre-verbal position in declarative clauses and questions. The predicator determines the number and type of objects and complements in a clause and encodes processes like doing, experiencing, and being. It can be finite or non-finite verbs. Together, the subject and predicator form the core of the clause structure.

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    English Grammar: Unit 2: The Skeleton of The Message: Introduction To Clause Structure Module 5: Subject and Predicator

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    Amelia
    62 views12 pages
    The subject is the primary participant in a clause that something is predicated about. It occupies the pre-verbal position in declarative clauses and questions. The predicator determines the number and type of objects and complements in a clause and encodes processes like doing, experiencing, and being. It can be finite or non-finite verbs. Together, the subject and predicator form the core of the clause structure.

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    The subject is the primary participant in a clause that something is predicated about. It occupies the pre-verbal position in declarative clauses and questions. The predicator determines the number and type of objects and complements in a clause and encodes processes like doing, experiencing, and being. It can be finite or non-finite verbs. Together, the subject and predicator form the core of the clause structure.

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    62 views12 pages

    English Grammar: Unit 2: The Skeleton of The Message: Introduction To Clause Structure Module 5: Subject and Predicator

    Uploaded by

    Amelia
    The subject is the primary participant in a clause that something is predicated about. It occupies the pre-verbal position in declarative clauses and questions. The predicator determines the number and type of objects and complements in a clause and encodes processes like doing, experiencing, and being. It can be finite or non-finite verbs. Together, the subject and predicator form the core of the clause structure.

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    of 12

    ENGLISH

    GRAMMAR
    UNIT 2: THE SKELETON OF THE MESSAGE:
    INTRODUCTION TO CLAUSE STRUCTURE
    Module 5: Subject and Predicator

    English Grammar - Unit 2 1


    UNIT 2: THE SKELETON OF THE MESSAGE:
    INTRODUCTION TO CLAUSE STRUCTURE
    MODULE 5: SUBJECT AND PREDICATOR

    The Subject is syntactically identified by the following features:


    position, concord, pronominalisation and reflection in question
    tags. Semantically, almost all participant roles can be associated
    with the subject.

    The Predicator syntactically determines the number and type of


    Objects and Complements in a clause. It is syntactically identified
    by position and concord and it is associated with a number of
    semantic domains.

    English Grammar - Unit 2 2


    UNIT 2> MODULE 5

    5.1. THE SUBJECT (S)

    5.1.1. Semantic, cognitive and syntactic features

    Semantic and cognitive features


    – The Subject is the functional category of the clause of
    which something is predicated.
    – It represents the primary participant in the clause and
    has the cognitive status of Topic.
    – In basic clauses (finite, active and declarative) the
    subject has the semantic function of Agent.

    English Grammar - Unit 2 3


    UNIT 2 > MODULE 5

    Semantic and cognitive features

    – But the subject can be associated with almost every type


    of participant role.
    – Examples:

    Messi kicked the ball into the net (Agent)


    The ball was kicked into the net (Affected in passive clause)
    Paul saw a tiger near the lake (Experiencer in a mental
    process)
    The doctor has been given a dozen roses (Recipient in a passive
    clause)

    English Grammar - Unit 2 4


    UNIT 2> MODULE 5

    Syntactic Features
    - In English, the Subject is obligatory in declarative and interrogative
    clauses, but not in the imperative. When two or more clauses with the
    same subject are conjoined, it can be omitted, in all but the first one.

    Ex: She enterred the room, closed the door and opened the window.

    -In question tags the subject is referred anaphorically by a pronoun.

    Ex: His cousin is a pilot, isn’t he?


    Laura didn’t mind helping you, did she?

    -In declaratives and wh- questions (in which the wh- element is subject),
    the subject is placed before the finite verb.

    Ex: Unfortunately, everybody was gone when I arrived.


    Who called you yesterday?
    English Grammar - Unit 2 5
    UNIT 2> MODULE 5

    Syntactic Features (2)


    - In yes/no questions and in wh- questions (in which the wh- element is
    not subject), the subject is placed after the finite operator.

    Ex: Are you happy with the exam?


    What subjects are you taking this semester? (What subjects is Object)

    -Subject pronouns (I, you, he, she, it, we,…) realise the subject function
    whereas object pronouns (me, him, her, it, us, …) are used as Objects.

    -The subject determines number (singular or plural) and person


    agreement with the verb.

    Ex: The student has learned the lesson.


    The students have learned the lesson.

    English Grammar - Unit 2 6


    UNIT 2> MODULE 5

    Syntactic Features (3)

    -Paradigmatic contrast with a present form is applied with


    verb forms that show no number or person contrast.

    Ex: The time had all all passed > The time has all passed.

    -Subjects determine number, person and gender agreement


    with the Subject Complement, and of reflexive pronouns Cs,
    Oi and Od.

    Ex: John and Paula are his parents.


    Why don’t you give yourselves (Od) a break?

    English Grammar - Unit 2 7


    UNIT 2> MODULE 5

    5.1.2. Realisations of the Subject

    A. Nominal Groups
    These are the most prototypical function of the subject as they mainly
    refer to persons and things. They can range from simple heads to
    complex NG structures.
    Ex: Alcohol abuse can cause liver problems.
    The total amount of alcohol abuse related diseases is uncertain.
    B. Dummy it
    Non-referential or semantically empty use of the pronoun it that occurs in
    expressions of time, weather and distance.
    Ex: It’s close to midnight.
    It’s snowing.
    It’s seventy-two kilometres from Toledo to Madrid.
    C. Unstressed there
    It cannot be replaced by a pronoun but it fulfils the following criteria:
    position, inversion with auxiliaries and repetition in tag questions.
    Ex: There were only five people in class yesterday, weren’t there?

    English Grammar - Unit 2 8


    UNIT 2 > MODULE 5

    5.1.2. Realisations of the Subject (2)

    D. Prepositional phrase and Adverbial group as subject


    It usually specifies time and place but it can also denote
    instrumental meanings and idiomatic manner uses.
    Ex: By Monday would be an appropriate time. (PP of time)
    By bus is cheaper than by train. (PP of means)
    Just over there will be a great place to sit. (AdvG of place)
    E. Adjectival head
    When preceded by a definite determiner, certain adjectives
    that represent conventionally recognised classes of people
    (the elderly) or abstractions can function as heads of (non-
    prototypical) NGs.
    English Grammar - Unit 2 9
    UNIT 2 > MODULE 5

    5.1.2. Realisations of the Subject (3)


    F. Embedded clauses
    Both finite and non-finite clauses are subject of embedding.
    - Types of finite clauses: that-clauses and wh-clauses (nominal or
    relative).
    Ex: That he didn’t accept the job surprised everyone. (that-clause)
    Why the bank closed for the week was not explained (wh-
    interrogative)
    What she did shocked me (wh-nominal clause)
    The fact that he didn’t accept the job surprised everyone. (NG)

    - Types of non-finite clauses: to-infinitive and –ing clauses.


    Ex: To do all the work at once was rather stupid. (to-inf. clause)
    What to do with the kids is the problem. (wh- + to-inf. clause)
    Having to return for the papers was a hassle.
    Call his parents home was what he did. (bare infinitive clause)

    English Grammar - Unit 2 10


    UNIT 2 > MODULE 5

    5.1.2. Realisations of the Subject (4)

    G. Anticipatory it + extraposed subject


    Extraposition is frequent in speech and writing, especially to avoid
    long and heavy subjects.
    Ex: It was surprising that you mentioned that.
    - Extraposed subjects can be the complement of a noun or
    adjective SPCs structures.
    Ex: It’s easy to miss a class. (To miss a class is easy)
    It’s a pity that you are not going to attend the party. (That
    you are not going to attend the party is a pity)
    - Extraposition is obligatory in clauses with it + verbs of seeming
    (seem, appear) and happening (happen, turn out).
    Ex: It seems that they were fine after all. (*That they were fine
    after all seems).
    It so happened that the pilot lost the race. (*That the pilot lost
    the race happened).
    English Grammar - Unit 2 11
    UNIT 2> MODULE 5

    5.2. THE PREDICATOR (P)


    The Predicator is present in all major types of clause, including the
    imperative. It may be transitive, intransitive or copular.
    -It may constitute the whole of the predicate as in The students arrived in
    Paris.
    -It is identified by its position in relation to the subject.
    -Its function is realised by both finite (e.g. sees) and non-finite (seeing) lexical
    and primary verbs.
    -In functional terms, finiteness is usually carried out by an auxiliary verb, such
    as has, had, to specify tense and voice (be + gerund/past participle) and then
    followed by the predicator (is cooking, was cooked).
    -Semantically, it encodes the following types of process:
    •Material processes of “doing” (make, catch, go);
    •Mental processes of “experiencing”, with verbs of perception (see),
    cognition (know), affectivity (like) and desideration (hope); and
    •Relational processes of “being” (be, belong).
    English Grammar – Unit 2 12

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