Grammar III
Unit II - Transitivity
Unit exam – 2010
Set 1
Read the following text carefully and then answer the questions below. Note that the text has been segmented into clauses to facilitate analysis ( ||| to separate clause complexes/sentences; || to separate clauses within a clause complex/sentence) . Indicate number of line when necessary to facilitate correction
My grandmother
1 My grandmother’s name is Alice. ||| She is 65 || and she lives with my grandfather in a little flat in the centre of town. ||| She works in a chemist – || she has worked in the same shop for twenty years. ||| She doesn’t have any hobbies, || but she loves children and animals, especially dogs. ||| She hates junk food, especially hamburgers, || and she never
5 watches TV, except films. |||
Alice has got short, white hair and clear, blue eyes. ||| She is quite short and a bit thin. |||
She always wears lots of make-up, especially lipstick, || and you can smell her perfume
|| when she kisses you! ||| She is a very cheerful woman. ||| In fact, she is always smiling.
||| She is also very generous and helpful. ||| For example, she often babysits for people in
10 her street. ||| Grandad tends to say || she spends more time with neighbors than with him! ||| They often argue, particularly about politics, || but after 35 years of marriage,
I’m sure [[they love each other deeply]].
[From a language text-book]
1Do the following tasks: a) Choose clauses that have the following types of processes and analyze the participants and circumstances in them. Select and transcribe only the clause the process is part of, not other clauses, but make sure it is complete. Indicate the line you have drawn it from (25):
Material middle process
Relational identifying process
Relational attributive possessive process
Mental process of perception
Behavioral process b) Find one complex verbal group and say which verb in it determines the process and what process is involved (5): c) Choose an instance of each one of the following circumstances. Transcribe only the
Circumstance (make sure it’s complete) and indicate which line you drew it from
(15): cause: behalf (or beneficiary) matter extent: duration manner: quality accompaniment spatial: location temporal location

d) What probes could you apply to confirm your identification of the relational identifying process and the material middle process? What probes to confirm your identification of the circumstances? (10) e) What type of process or processes prevail in the text? Comment on what meaning or meanings are being made in the text and how the prevalence of such process or processes contributes to making that meaning? (15) f) What processes are less frequent in the text? What meanings do they help convey?
(5)
2Answer the following questions (25) a) What is transitivity and what meta-function is it related to? Define and explain b) What is meant by nuclear transitivity? c) What elements of the clause do not receive a transitivity analysis? Why? d) Describe material processes (subtypes, participants, distinctive features). Give examples e) Describe the circumstance of cause (subtypes, probes). Give examples

Grammar III
Unit II - Transitivity
Unit exam 2010
Set 2
Read the following text carefully and then answer the questions on the following page.
Note that the text has been segmented into clauses to facilitate analysis ( ||| to separate clause complexes/sentences; || to separate clauses within a clause complex/sentence) .
Indicate number of line when necessary to facilitate correction
Volcano fears mount
Jeremy Lennard in St. Peters, Montserrat
1 There is a growing risk of a large volcanic explosion on the Caribbean island of
Montserrat. ||| Salem, the largest town, is going to be evacuated. ||| The decision was made by Bertrand Osborne, the UK’s minister, as representative of the British government in the island. ||| It came || after a new warning had been given by scientists
5 at the Montserrat Volcano Observatory. ||| They believe || there will soon be a large explosion || and the safety of the local people cannot be guaranteed.
Yesterday people were being moved to a safe zone in the North of the island with all means of transport available. ||| “Financial help for the islanders will be announced later this week”, || Mr. Osborne said.
10 However, local residents have started to criticize the government. ||| They say || the government knew about the danger over a week ago || but took no action. ||| They also claim || that people are being evacuated to areas [[that are still dangerous]]. ||| “The situation has not been improved. ||| It’s total chaos,” || said a local activist angrily. |||
According to the latest report, the government will be requesting help from the
15 neighboring countries.
1. Do the following tasks: a) Choose clauses that have the following types of processes and analyze the participants and circumstances in them. Select and transcribe only the clause the process is part of, not other clauses, but make sure it is complete. Indicate the line you have drawn it from (25):
Mental of cognition process
Material Middle process
Material effective process
Verbal process
Existential process b) Find one complex verbal group and say which verb in it determines the process and what process is involved (5): c) Choose an instance of each one of the following circumstances. Transcribe only the
Circumstance (make sure it’s complete) and indicate which line you drew it from
(15): spatial location manner: quality temporal location manner: means matter angle cause: behalf (beneficiary) role: guise

d) What probes could you apply to confirm your identification of the verbal process and the mental process of cognition? What probes to confirm your identification of the circumstances? (10) e) What type of process or processes prevail in the text and what meaning or meanings do they help make? (15) f) What type of process or processes are less frequent and what meaning or meanings do they help make? (5)
2. Answer the following questions (25) a) What is nuclear transitivity? Explain and exemplify. b) What are circumstances? Explain and exemplify. c) Describe mental processes (subtypes, participants, distinctive features). Give examples d) Describe the circumstance of manner (subtypes, probes). Give examples e) What elements of the clause do not receive a transitivity analysis? Why?

Grammar III
Unit II - Transitivity
Unit exam – 2010
Set 3
Read the following text carefully and then answer the questions on the following page.
Note that the text has been segmented into clauses to facilitate analysis ( ||| to separate clause complexes/sentences; || to separate clauses within a clause complex/sentence) .
Indicate number of line when necessary to facilitate correction
The mystery of Wales
1 To the west of England lies a small, almost secret country [[called Wales]]. ||| It is a land of green and grey: green fields, valleys and hills; grey mountains and skies; grey mining villages and grey stone castles. |||
The story of the Welsh people is one of determined resistance to invaders – the Romans,
5 Saxons, Vikings and finally the English. ||| After the fall of the Roman Empire in 410
AD || the barbarian Anglos-Saxons invaded Britain. || Legendary Kings and princes, like
King Arthur, won important battles against the Saxons, || but gradually these original
‘Britons’ were pushed west, into the hills and mountains of Wales. ||| Welsh princes fought hard against the English, || but Wales was finally conquered. || In 1301, Edward I
10 gave his son the title of Prince of Wales || and in 1536 Wales was united with England.
Despite the conquest, Wales has a unique culture and a strong national identity, particularly through its language. || Welsh, a Celtic language [[very different from
English]], is one of the oldest languages in Europe. || However, in the 19 th
c and first half of the 20 th
c. the Welsh language declined. || The British government made English
15 the only official language || and English was the only language allowed in schools. ||
The number of Welsh speakers went down from 80% to under 20% of the population. |||
Since the 1980’s, though, there has been a revival of the Welsh language. ||| Welsh is also an official language. ||| It is taught in schools || and there is a Welsh language TV channel.
20 A tradition of storytelling, poetry and singing began to develop in the castles of the
Welsh princes in the middle ages || and continues today. || Every year ‘eisteddfods’ are held around the country. || An ‘eisteddfod’ is a meeting of poets and singers [[that engage in competitions]]. ||| As well as literature in the Welsh language, Wales has produced poets in English, such a Dylan Thomas and R. S Thomas. ||| Famous actors are
25 Richard Burton, Sir Anthony Hopkins and Catherine Zeta-Jones. ||| Wales is a musical nation || and choirs are important. ||| Nowadays, when the national rugby team plays in
Cardiff, || 80, 000 voices can be heard [[singing the national anthem ‘Bread of heaven’]].
30 The flag of Wales, with its red dragon, is one of the oldest in the world. ||| It was brought to Britain by the Romans as a sign of their dominance. ||| The patron saint of
Wales is St. David. ||| St. David converted Wales to Christianity || and established the
Welsh Church. ||| The leek is another symbol of Wales. ||| According to legend, St.
David ordered his solders || to wear them on their helmets || before the Welsh fought a
35 victorious battle over the Saxons. |||

1. Do the following tasks: a) Choose clauses that have the following types of processes and analyze the participants and circumstances in them. Select and transcribe only the clause the process is part of, not other clauses, but make sure it is complete. Indicate the line you have drawn it from (25): relational attributive intensive process material effective process of giving relational identifying intensive process material middle process verbal process b) Find one complex verbal group and say which verb in it determines the process and what process is involved (5): c) Choose an instance of each one of the following circumstances. Transcribe only the
Circumstance (make sure it’s complete) and indicate which line you drew it from
(15): spatial location angle temporal location manner: means accompaniment: additive guise: role cause: concession d) What probes could you apply to confirm your identification of the relational identifying process and the material effective process of giving? What probes to confirm your identification of the circumstances? (10) e) What process or processes prevail in this text and what meaning or meanings do they help make? (15) f) What process or processes are less frequent in the text and what meaning(s) do they help make? (5)
2. Answer the following questions (25) a) Choose in the text two elements of the clause that do not receive a transitivity analysis and say why. b) What kind of transitivity do circumstances relate to? Briefly explain c) What kind of transitivity do processes and participants relate to? Briefly explain d) Describe relational attributive processes (subtypes, participants, distinctive features).
Give examples e) Describe the circumstances of location (subtypes, probes). Give examples