Patterns of syntactic and morphological analysis

1. Very painful and distressing things happen in villages sometimes. (A. Christie, The Thirteen Problem, Phoenix, 1995).

It is a simple declarative sentence in the affirmative form, two-member, extended.

"Things" is the subject of the sentence expressed by a common class noun, plural, common case.

"Happen" is a simple verbal predicate expressed by the verb "happen" in the Present Indefinite form.

"Painful and distressing" are homogeneous attributes of the subject "things". They are expressed by adjectives in the positive degree, in pre-position.

"Very" is an adverbial modifier of degree expressed by an adverb.

"In villages" is an adverbial modifier of place expressed by a common class noun, plural, common case and the preposition "in",

"Sometimes" is an adverbial modifier of frequency expressed by an adverb.

2. Raymond West threw her a glance of reproach. (A. Christie, The Thirteen Problems, Phoenix, 1995).

It is a simple declarative sentence in the affirmative form, two-member, extended.

"Raymond West" is the subject of the sentence expressed by proper nouns, singular, common case.

"Threw a glance" is a simple verbal phraseological predicate expressed by the verb "throw" in the Past Indefinite form and the noun "a glance".

"Of reproach" is an attribute of the noun "glance" expressed by a noun with a preposition, in post-position.

"Her" is an indirect object expressed by a personal pronoun, 3^rd person singular, objective case.

3. Imagination is a very dangerous thing. (A. Christie, The Thirteen Problems, Phoenix, 1995).

It is a simple declarative sentence in the affirmative form, two-member, extended.

"Imagination" is the subject of the sentence expressed by a common abstract noun singular, common case.

"Is a thing" is a compound nominal predicate. It is expressed by the link-verb "be" in the Present Indefinite form and the predicative "thing" - a common class noun, singular, common case.

"Dangerous" is an attribute of the predicative. It is expressed by an adjective in the positive degree, in pre-position,

"Very" is an adverbial modifier of degree expressed by an adverb.

4. You looked funny there for a minute. (St. King, Dolores Claiborne, Signet, 1993).

It is a simple declarative sentence in the affirmative form, two-member, extended.

"You" is the subject of the sentence expressed by a personal pronoun, 2^nd person, nominative case.

"Looked funny" is a compound nominal predicate expressed by the link-verb "look" in the Past Indefinite form and the predicative "funny" - an adjective in the positive degree.

"There" is an adverbial modifier of place expressed by an adverb.

"For a minute" is an adverbial modifier of time expressed by a preposition phrase – an abstract noun, singular, common case, with a preposition.

5. I’m going to ask you a straight question. (E.S. Gardner, The Case of the Spurious Spinster, Phoenix, 1995).

It is a simple declarative sentence in the affirmative form, two-member, extended.

"I" is the subject of the sentence expressed by a personal pronoun 1^st person, singular, nominative case.

"Am going to ask" is a compound verbal modal predicate, the first part of which is expressed by the modal phrase "be going" in the Present form and the second - by the infinitive "to ask",

"You" is a direct object expressed by a personal pronoun, 2^nd person, objective case,

"A question" is a direct object expressed by a common class noun, singular, common case.

"Straight" is an attribute of the object "question" expressed by an adjective in the positive degree, in pre-position,

6. You don't have to worry. (J.J. Marric, Gideon's Week, Phoenix, 1995).

It is a simple declarative sentence in the negative form, two-member, unextended.

"You" is the subject of the sentence expressed by a personal pronoun, 2^nd person, nominative case.

"Don't have to worry" is a compound verbal modal predicate, the first part of which is expressed by the semi-modal verb "have" in the Present Indefinite, negative form and the second - by the infinitive "to worry"

7. I've got to see him tonight at once. (E.S. Gardner, The Case of the Spurious Spinster, Phoenix, 1995).

It is a simple declarative sentence in the affirmative form, two-member, extended.

“I” is the subject of the sentence expressed by a personal pronoun, 1^st person, singular, nominative case.

“Have got to see” is a compound verbal modal predicate; the first part is expressed by the modal phrase "have got" in the present form and the second – by the infinitive "to see".

‘Him’ is a direct object expressed by a personal pronoun, 3^rd person, singular, objective case.

‘Tonight’ is an adverbial modifier of time expressed by an adverb.

“At once” is an adverbial modifier of manner expressed by an adverbial phrase.

8. She was beginning to hold this woman in awe. (E.S. Gardner, The Case of the Spurious Spinster, Phoenix, 1995).

It is a simple declarative sentence in the affirmative form, two-member, extended.

"She" is the subject of the sentence expressed by a personal pronoun, 3^rd person, singular, nominative case, feminine gender,

"Was beginning to hold" is a compound verbal aspect predicate expressed by the verb "begin" in the Past Continuous form and the infinitive "to hold".

"Woman" is a direct object expressed by a common class noun, singular, common case.

"This" is an attribute of the object "woman" expressed by a demonstrative pronoun, singular.

"In awe" is an adverbial modifier of manner expressed by a preposition phrase – an abstract noun with a preposition.

9. Mrs. Bantry continued obstinately to shake her head. (A. Christie, The Thirteen Problems, Phoenix, 1995),

It is a simple declarative sentence in the affirmative form, two-member, extended,

"Bantry" is the subject of the sentence expressed by a proper noun, singular, Common case.

"Mrs." is a close apposition to the subject expressed by a proper noun denoting a title, singular, common case.

"Continued to shake" is a compound verbal aspect predicate expressed by the verb "continue" in the Past Indefinite form and the infinitive "to shake".

"Head" is a direct object expressed by a common class noun, singular, common case.

"Her" is an attribute of the object "head" expressed by a possessive pronoun, 3^rd person, singular, conjoint form, feminine gender.

"Obstinately" is an adverbial modifier of manner expressed by an adverb.

10. Who was present at the conversation? (E.S. Gardner, The Case of the Spurious Spinster, Phoenix, 1995).

It is a simple interrogative sentence in the affirmative form, two-member, extended.

"Who" is the subject of the sentence expressed by an interrogative pronoun in the nominative case.

"Was present" is a compound nominal predicate expressed by the link verb "be" in the Past Indefinite form and the predicative "present" expressed by an adjective.

"At the conversation" is an adverbial modifier of place expressed by a preposition phrase – a noun with a preposition.

11. What's the other possible reason? (J.J. Marric, Gideon’s Week, Phoenix, 1995).

It is a simple interrogative sentence in the affirmative form, two-member, extended.

"Reason" is the subject of the sentence expressed by a common abstract noun, singular, common case.

"What is" is a compound nominal predicate expressed by the link verb "be" in the Present Indefinite form and the predicative "what" expressed by an interrogative pronoun.

“Other” is an attribute to the object expressed by a defining pronoun; in pre-position.

“Possible” is an attribute to the object expressed by an adjective in the positive degree, in pre-position.

Ex. 6. Analyze the subject in the following sentences according to the model:

Model: These flowers smell too sweet. – “Flowers” is the subject expressed by a common class noun, Common case, plural.

1. There is nobody to help you here. ________________________

2. Who is this man by the window? ________________________

3. There is not much snow here in winter. ________________________

4. We started to realize the plan. ________________________

5. John can’t take part in the football match. ________________________

6. Is there anybody to open the door? ________________________

7. Everything seemed clear at first. ________________________

8. The first problem to solve was where to find him. ________________________

9. It is raining again. ________________________

10. To see you is always a pleasure. ________________________

Ex. 7. State the type of the predicate in the following sentences:

Model: I couldn’t hear his words. – A compound verbal modal predicate;

1. They are always at home at this time. ________________________

2. They are to meet at nine. ________________________

3. Mary is dancing so beautifully. ________________________

4. The weather is rather cold now. ________________________

5. I have read today’s newspaper. ________________________

6. We have to leave now. ________________________

7. They have breakfast at 9 o’clock. ________________________

8. She has several pets. ________________________

9. The shops are closed on Sunday. ________________________

10. They closed the door with a bang. ________________________

11. The door was closed as soon as the man entered. ________________________

12. She kept interrupting us. ________________________

13. This will keep them busy. ________________________

14. She kept silent. ________________________

15. At last they stopped walking. ________________________

16. She stopped to look at each picture. ________________________

17. John began to look around. ________________________

18. Ann goes on writing her test. ________________________

19. Are you going to start writing your test? ________________________

20. His behaviour isn’t surprising at all. ________________________

21. The kids are getting too excited. ________________________

22. You mustn’t get upset about it. ________________________

23. She continued to be naughty. ________________________

Ex. 8. Define the syntactic function of the underlined words:

Model: Is there anybody to open the door? – Attribute;

1. Ann had nothing to say to prove the fact._________________________

2. She advised me to tell the truth._________________________________

3. The first thing to do is to put up the tent.__________________________

4. This is not the way to solve this problem.__________________________

5. He was the last person to come to the meeting.______________________

6. Nobody is going to say anything to you.____________________________

7. The article about the dogs is not very long._________________________

8. Will you tell me about them?_____________________________________

9. What is the answer to this question?_______________________________

10. He didn’t know the man talking to him.___________________________

11. I have nothing new to tell you.__________________________________

12. I don’t know this pretty girl on horseback.__________________________

13. She became a very pleasant person._______________________________

14. There is a problem here.________________________________________

15. It isn’t the time to argue._______________________________________

Ex. 9. Define the adverbial modifier in the following sentences:

Model: She did it to help you. – The adverbial modifier of purpose.

1. She has to do something to catch up with you._______________________

2. She worked hard in spite of being tired. ____________________________

3. We stopped writing because of the noise. ___________________________

4. Don’t go without talking to your sister. _____________________________

5. Perhaps, he will do it in spite of the rain. ___________________________

6. We stopped to admire the view. ___________________________________

7. Then we started to walk again talking quietly. _______________________

8. There are not many cold days in winter. ____________________________

9. She stopped at the corner of the street. _____________________________

10. Seeing her brother Anne smiled joyfully. __________________________

11. Mr. Brown began to work at this office last year. ____________________

12. It doesn’t often rain here. ______________________________________

13. I like this actor very much. _____________________________________

14. She was writing the words slowly. _______________________________

15. Without working hard you won’t succeed. _________________________

16. I was greatly impressed by the performance.________________________

Ex. 10. Analyze the following sentences:

1. There is nobody to talk to here. 2. Who is this man over there? 3. There is not much rain here in summer. 4. Who is talking to that boy with red hair? 5. The road stretched straight and white in front of us. 6. We began to understand the problem facing him. 7. John couldn’t take part in the discussion of this matter. 8. Ann had nothing to show to prove the fact. 9. She did it to prove the fact. 10. She could do nothing to help us. 11. Everything was done to help them. 12. Is there anybody to answer our question now? 13. She worked hard to finish the report on time. 14. After a day or two he came to realize the faults of his position. 15. We stopped writing to look at the man standing in front of him. 16. The first thing to do is to find John. 17. This is not the way to act in such situation. 18. The Browns are always glad to see their niece at their place. 19. Nobody is going to help you here. 20. He was the last person to believe me. 21. The first problem to solve was where to find him. 22. These flowers smell too sweet. 23. Perhaps, he will do it in spite of your advice. 24. Don’t go without seeing Mum.

Ex. 11. TEST YOURSELF: