11. The classification of phrases.

They can be built by notional (got the job) and functional words (as soon as, due to). The traditional class is based on what part of speech the head word of the phrase belongs to.

1. Noun phrases: consist of nouns as head either alone or accompanied by determiners or modifiers.

e.g. These houses. Old houses.

2. Verb phrases

These phrases contain the verb as head, optionally accompanied by adverbials or objects.

e.g. Speaking to him slowly, was speaking

3. Adjective phrases contain adjective as head optionally accompanied by modifiers.

e.g. So lucky. Guilty of a serious crime.

4. Adverb phrases contain adverb as head, optionally accompanied by modifiers.

e.g. Much more quickly, than I expected. Hardly ever.

5. Prepositional phrases consist of a preposition and a compliment most typically a noun.

e.g. In the morning.

6. Numeral phrases

e.g. Twenty- two, the fantastic four.

7. Conjunction phrase

e.g. In addition to. As soon as.

The syntactic functions of phrases:

Depending on the type, phrases can function in the sentence according to the general rules of sentence-building.

• Noun phrases function as subjects, objects and predicatives.

e.g. Two women had came in (a).

The pilot saw a field ahead (b).

I don’t fell in a mood for fireworks (c).

• Verb-phrases with finite verbs function only as predicates.

e.g. Tell the hotel what they should do with their beds.

• Verb- phrases with non- finite verbs may function as subject:

e.g. Beating a child will do more harm, than good.

As object:

e.g. I hate travelling by myself.

As predicative:

e.g. All I care about is to have you get well.

As attributes:

e.g. Who is that fat man sitting in the corner.

As adverbial modifier

e.g. I spoke quietly not to disturb you.

• Adjectives function in the sentence as attributes and predicatives.

e.g. She is the most beautiful girl in our class. He is totally crazy.

11. The classification of sentences

The communicative types of sentences. Once the sentence serves as a communicative unit, all sentences can be classified according to the communicative purposes:

• Declarative sentences (state a fact in the affirmative or negative form. The subject generally precedes the predicate).

e.g. Books are expansive.

• Imperative sentences serve to urge person to do smth. It expresses a request or invitation in negative or affirmative form.

e.g. Get out. - Don’t worry

• Interrogative sentences serve to make questions. They are formed by means of inversion. They are subdivided:

• General (yes or no questions)

• Alternative (propose a choice)

• Tag – question or disjunctive (contains short question that follows a statement)

• Special questions (begin with interrogative word)

- Rhetoric question (do not require any answer e.g. Can you commit a whole country to its own prison?)

• Exclamatory sentences (express emotions or feelings, may be both declarative and interrogative. Often start with the question ‘how’ and ‘what’)

e.g. I am hungry! Hasn’t she grown!

The structural classification of sentences:

According to the number of subject-predicate units, they can be simple or composite. Simple sentence has only one subject – predicate unit.

We insist on holding a meeting as soon as possible.

A composite sentence has more than one subject-predicate unit.

We insist that a meeting should be held as soon as possible.

Composite sentences may be:

- Compound (сложносочиненные) have two or more clauses of equal rank joined by coordination.

e.g. I came, I saw, I conquered.

- Complex sentences (сложнопод-чиненные) have two or more clauses joint by subordination where one is basic and other is a part of the first.

e.g. I thought you would be working today.

Because I liked him I walked out with him.