Libyan Academy of Postgraduate Studies

Benghazi Campus
School of Languages
Applied linguistics Department
(Syntax)
Chapter2: Sentence structure and function

Presenters:
Warda Saleh Mohammed : AB200319
Mabroka Mohammed Faraj: 9841
Chapter2: Sentence structure
Content:
Section1: Subject and predicate
Section2: Noun phrase and verb
phrase
Section3: Dependency and function
. Head
. The modifier~head relation
. The head~complement relation
Objectives:
• Understanding the structure of a sentence.
• Knowing the category and function of the
constituents.
• Clarifying the syntactic functions and how
function relates to category and constituency
Subject and Predicate
• The subject generally identifies what the sentence is
about.
• The predicate identifies what’s being said about the
subject.
Examples:
1- Ducks paddle
• It’s an example of the simplest possible complete
sentence structure.
• It’s divided into the fewest possible parts
Sentence

Ducks (subject) paddle (predicate)

2- The ducks are paddling away.

[2] has the same general structure as [1]. By this I mean that it
is divisible into two constituents in exactly the same way, that
the two constituents are of the same general kind (or category)
as the corresponding constituents of [1].

Sentence

The ducks(subject) are paddling away(predicate

Noun Phrase and Verb
Phrase
Phrases are part of the study of syntax. Although, phrases do not form a meaning by themselves,

but they function as modifiers because they add more information to nouns and to verbs as well.

The study of syntax focuses on the concept of structure.

A sentence which gives us a full meaning contains many parts of speech such as : phrases and

clauses.
 Phrases are essential to the formation of a complex sentence; moreover, the parts used in a

sentences also consist of parts which may in turn consist of further parts.

We had to fit little parts together so that we end up by constituting a meaningful sentence.
What kinds of phrases function as subjects and as predicates ?

All the subjects of the English language have one thing in common; they all contain and are
centered on one category of words which is (Noun). They are called “Noun Phrases” (NP).
The single words that can replace them are all nouns or pronouns.
The phrases which function as predicates all contain and are centered on a verb. The are all “verb
Phrases” (VP).
Predicates are all replaceable by single-word/ verbs.
Phrases can function as subject which we call “a Noun Phrase” or function as a verb which we
call “Verb Phrase”.
We must bear in mind that noun phrases are only subjects but there is a verity of different
functions for most categories of phrases.
It is worth stressing that subject and predicate are dependent on each other. And NP only
functions as a subject in the presence of a VP, and VP functions as predicate om the presence of a
NP the two of them together are required to form a complete meaningful sentence, neither can be
omitted in a complete and will form sentence. They are both obligatory in the structure of
sentences.
 Dependency and function
In discussing Dependency we should pay attention to the parts which help sentences and phrases
to give full meaning. And also to the parts which we can omit with out affecting the meaning.

The subject and predicate are essential while modifiers not.

Example:

Fatma is a student

Fatma is a bright student

The sentence does not need the modifier Bright to be meaningful the modifier gives us more information as
an adjective which the meaning can do without.

subject and predicate are dependent on each other , They are both obligatory in the structure of sentences
 Head
The head of a phrase is the element that the phrase is centered on. It is the one essential element
in that phrase.

A phrase is Noun phrase because it is centered on a noun. Similarly, for Verb phrase. So, it is the
category of the head of a phrase that determines the category of the phrase.

 In the structure of a phrase, modifiers are optional, the head is the obligatory element.
 Phrases can function as heads and as modifiers.
 In a phrase, there can only be one head.
 The modifier-head relation
Anticipating to learn more about the following parts of the sentences which follow the heads are
modifiers and complements .

The head of a phrase is essential and obligatory; which means that everything in the phrase
revolves around and depends on the head .

A phrase is therefore called a noun phrase (NP) because it is centered around the noun ,
Similarly for Verb Phrase. So: it is the category of the head of a phrase that determines the
category of the phrase .
In the structure of a phrase, modifiers are optional; the head is the obligatory element
.

A modifier~head relation holds the next higher level of structure .

Modifier~head relation. A useful way of picturing the functional relation .

 Phrases can function as heads and as modifiers.

In a phrase, there can only be one head.

The head~complement relation
• It’s a two-way dependency.
• Complements are obligatory, needed to complete the meaning of the
phrase. The head generally precedes its complement.

Example:
Phil dreads affectionate cats.

• It’s an example of the subject~predicate relation. But its predicate

includes both a relation of modification and a relation of
complementation
• With this example, and throughout the chapter, I have aimed to show
how constituency, function, and meaning are interrelated.
• The meaning of a sentence depends not just on the meaning of its
words, but on how those words are structured into phrases, and on the
functions of those words and phrases.
Summary
There are three kinds of functional relation between elements:
 Subject~Predicate. The functional relation between the immediate constituents of sentences, Noun
Phrase (NP) and Verb Phrase (VP).
It is a mutual (two-way) dependency – S and P are both obligatory. S precedes P.
 Modifier~Head. This is a one-way dependency: modifiers depend on heads.
Modifiers are optional (omissible).
Some modifiers precede and some follow the heads they modify.
 Head~Complement. A two-way dependency.
Complements are obligatory, needed to complete the meaning of the phrase. The head generally precedes
its complement.
 Heads. The head is the obligatory center of its phrase. Every phrase has a head and no more than one
head.
The category of the head determines the category of the phrase.