ENG141N Assignment 1KEY

PART A: Clause elements

Label the clause elements of these sentences (subject (S), verb (V), direct object (DO),
indirect object (IO), subject predicative (SP), object predicative (OP), adverbial (ADV).

1. Suddenly (ADV), the boy (S) felt (V) slightly uneasy (SP).

Suddenly is a separate clause element an adverbial.

slightly easy is not an adverbial. It follows a linking verb and gives more information
about the subject.

2. Tonight (ADV) the committee (S) will award (V) her (IO) first prize (DO).

3. We (S) arrived (V) in Geiranger (ADV) after a long, winding drive (ADV)

Here we have two separate adverbials: the first answers the question where, while the
second answers the question when (and possible also how).

4. My parents (S) have lived (V) in Oklahoma (ADV) for many years (ADV).
Again, we have two separate adverbials (where and when/for how long).
5. The voters (S) unanimously (ADV) elected (V) him (DO) treasurer (OP).
The last element is here an objective predicative that gives more information
about/describes the direct object him. The verb elect is complex transitive and requires
a direct object and an object predicative (not an indirect object).

Remember that a sentence can have several adverbials.

PART B: Phrases and clause elements

Label the phrases in each sentence and describe their syntactic (clause element) function.
Then describe the structure of each phrase.

1. She (S) has been eating (V) nachos (DO) very loudly (ADV) in the next room
(ADV).

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 She is pronoun-headed noun phrase that functions as the subject of the sentence.
has been eating is a complex verb phrase that functions as the verbal. The main
verb is eating, and has and been are auxiliaries.
nachos is a simple noun phrase that functions as direct object. The phrase consists
of a head noun only.
very loudly is a complex adverb phrase that functions as an adverbial. The head
adverb loudly is pre-modified by the adverb very.
in the next room is a prepositional phrase that functions as an adverbial. The
preposition is in, and the complement is the complex noun phrase the next room.
2. After the storm (ADV), my new puppy (S) would not leave (V) the bedroom (DO).

After the storm is a prepositional phrase that functions as an adverbial. The

preposition after is complemented by the simple noun phrase the storm.

my new puppy is a complex noun phrase that functions as the subject. The head
noun puppy is pre-modified by the adjective new, which follows the possessive
determiner my.

would not leave is a complex verb phrase the functions as the verbal. The main
verb is leave, and would is an auxiliary. The word not is the negative particle: it
belongs to its own word class (the negator not), and it is the only non-verb element
that can appear within the verb phrase.

the bedroom is a simple noun phrase that functions as a direct object (it is not an
adverbial, as it answers the question what, not where). The head noun bedroom is
preceded by the definite article the.

3. That woman in the white hat (S) seems (V) rather upset (SP).

That woman in the white hat is a complex noun phrase that functions as the
subject. The head noun woman is preceded by the demonstrative determiner that,
and is post-modified by the prepositional phrase in the white hat. (The following
analysis of phrases within phrases is not obligatory for the students in this task: the
preposition is in and the complement is the complex noun phrase the white hat: the
head noun hat is pre-modified by the adjective white, which follows the definite
article the).

seems is a simple verb phrase that functions as the verbal. The phrase consists only
of the main verb seems.

rather upset is a complex adjective phrase that functions as a subject predicative.

The head adjective upset is pre-modified by the adverb rather.

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Part C: Adjective or adverb?

Determine whether the underlined words in the sentences below function as

ADJECTIVES or ADVERBS. For each, say why.

1. Things are pretty much the same here.

Adverb. It modifies the adverb much pretty much means almost or nearly.
2. He looked hopeful.
Adjective. It modifies the subject a person, the pronoun he.

3. I will have an early night tonight.

Adjective. It modifies the noun night, telling us what kind of night.

4. Do you often go to bed early?

Adverb. It modifies the verb, and tells us when we go to bed.

5. They began to hold monthly meetings.

Adjective. It modifies the noun meetings, telling us what kind of meetings. It is not an
adverb, as it modifies a noun.

6. I dont think you counted that right.

Adverb. It modifies the verb counted it says how we counted.

PART D: Form, Function & Meaning

First, analyse the sentences syntactically (find the clause elements). Then comment on the
difference in form and meaning between the members of the following sentence pairs. It is
not enough to comment on only one of them.

1. a. He (S) went (V) to the store (ADV). S + V + ADV

b. He (S) went (V) mad (SP). S + V + SP

In the first sentence, went is a two-place intransitive verb that requires an adverbial (in
addition to the subject): to the store is a prepositional phrase (form) that functions as
an adverbial that expresses place. The meaning is here that he moved from one place
to the store (most likely to do his shopping).

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 In the second sentence, went is a two-place linking/copular verb with a meaning
similar to became. The word mad is an adjective (form) that functions as a subject
predicative (it gives more information about the subject). The meaning is here that the
subject became angry/insane/crazy or similar. He did not physically move from A to
B, but his state of mind changed.

2. a. The thorns (S) scratched (V) her leg (DO). S + V + DO

b. The thorns (S) scratched (V) her (DO). S + V + DO

Form and function: These two sentences have exactly the same clause element
structure (function). However, the words within the direct object differ in form. In the
first sentence, we have a noun phrase her leg. The head is the noun leg, and her is a
possessive determiner telling us who the leg belongs to. In the second sentence, we
have a pronoun-headed noun phrase her. Here the word her is a pronoun that tells us
who was scratched.

Meaning: In the first sentence, we know exactly what part of the body was scratched
the leg. The determiner her only tells us whose leg it was that got scratched. In the
second sentence, we do not know where she was scratched, only that the person who
was scratched was her. As her is a pronoun, we need further context to know who this
refers to.

3. a. She (S) is (V) incredibly fast (SP). S + V + SP

b. She (S) runs (V) incredibly fast (ADV). S + V + ADV

Form: In the first sentence, the verb is is a linking/copular verb that requires a subject
predicative: incredibly fast is a complex adjective phrase. The word fast is here an
adjective that is pre-modified by the adverb incredibly. This adjective phrase
functions as a subject predicative that gives more information about the subject
pronoun she. The meaning is here that the girl herself is fast, and fast can here refer to
any quality of the girl (her mind, her thinking, her body, her running, etc.).

Form: In the second sentence runs is an intransitive verb that requires an adverbial (in
addition to the subject): incredibly fast is here a complex adverb phrase. The word fast
is here an adverb that modifies the verb run; it tells us how the subject runs. The word
incredibly is an adverb that modifies the main adverb fast. The complex adverb phrase
functions as an adverbial that says something about how the subject runs (adverbial of
manner). The meaning is here more specific or narrow: we know that the subject can
run fast (physical meaning only).