Elliptical sentence

In the grammar of a sentence, an elliptical construction is a construction that lacks an element that is, nevertheless, recoverable or inferable from the context. The elliptical construction is a sequence of words in which some words have been omitted. Because of the logic or pattern of the entire sentence, it is easy to infer what the missing words are. Example: Fire when ready. (In the sentence, "you are" is understood, as in "Fire when you are ready."). Elliptical constructions can often be used in dialog to shorten what is being said.

The classification of elliptical sentences may be based on the way of their explication. By

explication we understand the replacement of the zero alternant of this or that word by the explicit

one. There are two kinds of explication:

1. Syntagmatically restored elliptical sentences - when the explicit alternant of the elliptical

sentence is found in the same context where the elliptical sentence is:

One was from Maine; the other from California.

If you have no idea where Clive might be, I certainly haven't. (Nancy Buckingam).

2. Paradigmatically restored elliptical sentence - when the explicit alternant of the zero

form is not found in the context where the ellipsis is used but when it is found in similar language

constructions, e.g.

Stop and speak to me. (Galsworthy)

You listen to me, Horace. (Steinback)

 

Theme expresses the starting point of the communication.

Rheme expresses the basic informative part of the communication.

Between the theme and the rheme are positioned intermediary parts of the actual division. The theme may or may not coincide with the subject of the sentence. The rheme with a predicate. The actual division finds its full expression only in a concrete context of speech. If it is stylistically neutral construction the theme is the subject and the rheme is the predicate and this kind of actual division is direct. The actual division in which the rheme is expressed by the subject is inverted.

The means of expressing the rheme :

1. Lexical meanings – particles  (only,even)

2. Logical stress-

3. Change of syntactic structure (It was he who did it)

4. Passive voice.

 

Means of expressing theme

1. Definite article.

2. Word order.

 

 

27 Вопрос The Parts of a Sentence

 

Sentence: a group of words that expresses a complete thought. Every sentence contains a subject and a predicate.

1.      Subject: the noun or noun phrase that tells whom or what the sentence addresses.

—Roger decided to save more money.

—Almost all cats dislike water.

o    Full or complete subject: the subject and all the words that modify it.

—Patrick Henry’s dream of freedom for all citizens compelled him to make his famous declaration.

o    Simple subject: the main noun of the complete subject.

—Patrick Henry’s dream of freedom for all citizens compelled him to make his famous declaration.

o    Compound subject: a complete subject with multiple simple subjects.

—Miguel and the young boy became friends.

2.      Predicate: a verb or verb phrase telling what the subject does or is.

o    Full or complete predicate: the verb of the sentence and all the words that modify it.

—The old dog climbs slowly up the stairs.

o    Simple predicate: the main verb in the full predicate that indicates the action or state of being of the simple subject.

—The old dog climbs slowly up the stairs.

o    Compound predicate: a complete predicate with multiple verbs.

—He thought of his lover and missed her dearly.

—The goose was looking straight ahead and running for the pond.

 

 

Main parts

The basic parts of a sentence fall into two categories: the subject and the predicate. Know them well, because you can’t have a sentence without them!