English 430
Practice Clause Analysis 5
In this method of analysis, we will label functions (clause elements) above the sentence and forms (parts of
speech) below the sentence. Since words, phrases and clauses are layered in real language, there may be
several layers of labels.
Functions (Clause elements)
S (subject)
V (verb)
A (adverbial)
A (adverbial)
Television reception
was affected
noticeably
by the storm.
NP (noun phrase)
VP (verb phrase)
Adv P (adverb phrase)
PP (prepositional phrase)
Forms (Parts of Speech)
Functions
S (subject)
The poem,
A (adverbial)
V (verb)
A
S (subject)
V (verb)
as
the title
suggests,
Adv P NP (noun phrase)
NP
is
Cs (subject complement)
a comparison
VP (verb phrase)
Sub Cl (subordinate clause)
VP (verb phrase)
NP (noun phrase)
Forms
Functions
of a beautiful woman
PP (prepositional phrase)}
to a summer's day.
PP (prepositional phrase)}
Forms
In this sentence, the subject complement consists of the noun phrase a comparison of a beautiful woman to a
summer's day. The two prepositional phrases are postmodifiers of the head of the noun phrase and as such
are part of the noun phrase, not separate clause elements.
Identify the functions (clause elements) and forms (parts of speech) in the following sentences. Use the label
on the Clause Elements, The Forms They Take and The Abbreviations for Both handout.
Because scientists
have been made
I
sometimes
have been warned
to control
wonder about
The author, Shakespeare,
Marie
she
would like
is
concerned
great efforts
pollution.
Anderson's willingness to work.
draws
to go
about its dangers,
quite a few analogies
to medical school,
about the cost
between the woman and the day.
but