Summary of Sentence Structure

 

Summary of Sentence Structure

SENTENCE STRUCTURE

1.      FREE AND BOUND ELEMENTS

a.       Free : as a simple sentence

e.g. I have planted the seeds.

b.      Bound : completing the sense of the sentence

e.g. John explained that the trip was off

The analysis of elements of a sentence is undertaken using the letters of the Greek alphabet: alpha (α) beta (β), gamma (γ), delta (δ), epsilon (ε), zeta (ζ), eta (η), theta (θ). The α represents a free element, the other marks the immediacy of dependency of bound elements on the alpha.

e.g.

 

-          The analysis shows the degree of depth in grammatical relationships between the various bound elements and the free element.

-          The ε is dependent on the alpha element only through the intermediary relationship provided by the δ, γ and β elements.

-          It is possible for the same bound clause to stand in a different dependency relationship to the alpha clause

2.      TRADITIONAL CLASSIFICATION OF BOUND ELEMENTS

1. Conditioning

-          modify the information in the clause to which they are subordinated by placing a constraint

-          e.g. The guests left after the meeting had ended

2. Additioning

-          supply further, optional information in an aside on the whole of or part of the content of the superordinate clause

-          e.g. Frank, who is a patient man, got very cross

-          e.g. As you probably know, we lost on Saturday.

 

 

3. Reported

-          reported speech and thoughts, which act as a completive element to the verb in the superordinate clause.

-          E.g. Jill said that the parcel had arrived

 

3.      CONTEMPORARY CLASSIFICATION OF FREE AND BOUND ELEMENTS

-          Parataxis : linking relationship between units of equal grammatical status i.e. coordinating two free clauses.

-          Hypotaxis : binding relationships between units of unequal grammatical status i.e., a free and a bound clause

1. Free clause relationships

1)      Projection :  associated with direct speech,

e.g. 'Pass me the salt,' said the White Rabbit.

2)      Expansion

a)Elaboration : expand on the previous clause by refining what has been said

·         Restatement : e.g. in other words, or that is to say

·         Exemplification : e.g. indeed, in fact, as a matter of fact, or to be precise

b)   Extension : expand on the previous clause in one of two ways.

·         Addition : linkage of one clause to another

o   Positive : and, too, also, in addition, moreover

o   Negative : nor

o   Adversative : but, however, on the other hand, yet

·         Variation : a replacement of the first, or it presents an alternative to it.

o   Replacive : instead, but

o   Detractive : except, only

o   Alternative : or, alternatively

c)Enhancement : expand on previous clauses through a marked circumstantial link of time (meanwhile, during that time), place (there), manner (in this way, thus), cause (as a result, because of that), comparison (likewise, similarly), condition (in that case, otherwise), concession(all the same, but, despite this)

 

 

2. Bound clause relationships

1)      Projection : involves reported speech,

e.g. Jack asked whether Jane was feeling better; John replied that he would look into the matter

2)      Expansion

a)      Elaboration :

·         include non-defining relative clauses (provide optional comment)  

e.g. Tonight's speaker, who comes from my home town, should be very interesting

·         participial non-finite clauses

e.g. Last night I stayed in, watching a film on television;

b)      Extension

·         Addition

o   Positive : X, and Y

e.g. Besides wasting a lot of time, we got soaking wet.

o   Negative : X, and not Y

e.g. We walked the whole day in the cloud, without seeing a thing

o   Adversative : X, but contrastively Y

e.g. I've been working all morning, while I whereas you've just been sitting with the newspaper

·         Variation

o   Replacive : not X, but Y' /'Y instead of X

o   Subtractive : X, except Y

c)       Enhancement : provided by traditional adverbial subordinate clauses (X, in the circumstances/context of Y)

e.g. When we arrived, the house was empty

 

4.      INTEGRAL AND SUPPLEMENTARY BOUND ELEMENTS

a.       Integral bound elements : complete the content meaning of the superordinate element

e.g. The man who invented television lived near here.

b.      Supplementary bound elements: contain information which is optional and extra to the basic structure of the superordinate element

e.g. Dr Parkin, who has been treasurer for ten years, has tendered his resignation

 

5.      FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS OF SENTENCE STRUCTURE

 

 

Comments:

Since I have summaried this chapter, now I quiet understand about the function of alfa beta and etc. Still, when it comes to analyse a compound complex sentence which have many clauses, sometimes I found my self still have difficulties in analyzing the structure. So that, maybe doing more exercise in analyzing sentence (but with its explanation about the answer) will make me understand more.