ENGL 384: Syntax
Fall, 2015/1436
1. What is the definition of a sentence? A sentence is a group of words that expresses a
thought.
2. What are the three main types of structured sentences containing a subject and a
predicate? Give examples.
There are 3 types of subject/predicate structured sentences:
a) a simple sentence contains at least one subject and one predicate:
Example: John read Pushkin.
b) a compound sentence is two or more simple sentences joined into a single
sentence:
Example: John read Harry Potter and Mary read Cinderella.
Each simple sentence maintains its own internal syntactic structure. They may be
joined by a coordinating conjunction such as "and" or "or".
c) a complex sentence is a sentence in which one of the syntactic roles is played by an
embedded sentence:
Example: I made students read Chomsky.
The simple sentence "students read Chomsky" plays the role of object of the
verb made. Because the syntax of the two parts of a complex sentence is
jumbled/twisted, it is often not possible to divide them into two free-standing
simple sentences:
*I made.
*Students read Chomsky.
3. English clauses:
Complex sentences, then, are said to consist of a main clause, with
a subordinate/complement clause.
Example: Mary knows that John smokes.
The word that connects a subordinate clause to a main clause, such as the word "that" in
the previous example, is known as a subordinate conjunction; in syntactic analysis a
subordinate conjunction is known as a complementizer, and is written as Comp.
In some English complex sentences the complementizer is optional, in others obligatory:
Example: I know (that) you snore. [Optional] vs. I hate when you snore (if the
complementizer has a time-based meaning, it can't be left out. It is necessary here.)
Ms. Rasha Ali
Categories & functions
ENGL 384: Syntax
Fall, 2015/1436
4. Tensed clause vs. un-tensed clause:
a. We expect [John will win the race]. The complement clause is tensed because it has an
auxiliary [will].
b. We expect [John to win the race]. The complement clause is un-tensed because it has the
infinitive particle [to].
Write in your note pad two more examples of tensed and un-tensed clauses.
5. Finite clause vs. non-finite clause:
a. We expect [he will win the race]. The complement clause has a nominative subject and an
auxiliary.
b. We expect [him to win the race]. No nominative subject here neither an auxiliary.
Write in your note pad two more examples of finite and non-finite clauses.
6. How many verbs form does the English have?
English can have up to 5 distinct forms: Give examples for each form.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
[s] Third person singular present tense form (finite form).
[d] Past tense form (finite form).
[base] The basic form of a verb
[n] Perfect form (non-finite)
[ing] Continuous form (non-finite)
7. Relative pronoun and relative clause: what comes after the relative pronoun is called a
[relative clause].
Subject
Who (people)
Object
Who(m) people
Possessive
Whose
The woman who discovered
radium.
This is George, whom you
met at our house last week.
This is George, whose
brother went to school with
me.
Which (things)
Which
Whose
We had fish and chips, which
is my favourite meal.
That (both)
That
The house that Jack built.
8. The functions of clauses:
Declarative
(statement)
He failed the exam.
Ms. Rasha Ali
Interrogative
(question)
Did she help you?
Imperative
(order/command)
Clean the room!
Exclamative
(surprise/delight)
What a fool I was!
Categories & functions