11. The constituent structure of the simple sentence

The basic predicative meaning of the typical English sentence is expressed by the finite verb, which is immediately connected with the subject of the sentence.

This predicative connection is commonly referred as a predicative line of the sentences. (subject – predicate unit)

Sentences can comprise one predicative line or several lines so they may be monopredicative and polypredicative.

The syntactic feature of strict monopredication should serve as the basic criterion for identifying simple sentence in contrast to the sentences with composite structure.

e.g. I will do anything, but work on a farm. I fished all day but I didn’t catch a thing.

The simple sentence is organized as a system of function, expressing position.

The content of the functions being the reflection of a situational event.

The nominative parts of the simple sentence each occupying a notional position in it are subject, predicate, object, adverbial attribute, parenthetical enclosure, addressing enclosure.

Semi- notional position is occupied by interjectional enclosures.

The Parts are arranged in a hierarchy where in all of them perform some modifying role:

1. The subject is a person modifier of the predicate. The predicate is a process modifier of the subject.

I like rain.

2 The object is a substance modifier of the processual part (action, statul).

e.g. I bought a raincoat.

3 The adverbial is a quality modifier of the processual part or the whole sentence.

Fortunately here we reached the decision.

4 Attributive is a quality modifier of a substantive part.

e.g. Who is that far man, sitting in the corner.

5. The parenthetical enclosure is a detached speaker-bound modifier of any sentence part or the whole sentence.

e.g. Personally I would be surprised if Simon is guilty.

Apparently, the book was based on his experience in China.

6. The addressing enclosure is a substance modifier of the destination of the sentence and has modifier of the sentence as a whole.

e.g. Jenny, darling, don’t say such things.

7. The interjectional enclosure is a speaker-bound emotional modifier of the sentence.

e.g. For goodness sake, stop it!

All the modifiers may be expressed either singly or collectively, for example in a coordinate combinations, the so called ‘co-modifiers’.

The structural classification of simple sentences

1. Structurally simple sentences are classified one- member and two- members sentences. Based on the representation of the main members of the sentence.

A two- member sentence has a full predicative line.

e.g. It is told.

A one- member sentences has only one principal part, which is neither the subject nor the predicate.

2. Complete. Have a full subject predicate unit.

Incomplete (elliptical). The subject or the predicate may be omitted, but easily restored by the contest.

e.g. You have become part of me, and I ( have become part) of you.

1) Unextended нераспространенный

2) Extended распространенный

The immediate constituent (непосредственное составляющее) model of the sentence.

The model of immediate constituent consists in dividing the whole of the sentence into 2 groups:

1. Subject

2. Predicate

Which in their term are divided into their subgroup constituents, according to the successive subordinate order of the constituents: according to the successive subordinate order of the constituents.

e.g. Peter/ and /Ann/ sang/ and /danced /all /night.

The main and secondary members of a sentence.

Traditionally, all members of the sentence are subdivided into primary and secondary. The main parts are subject and predicate, they constitute the back bone (скелет) of the sentence, without them the sentence would not exist at all. All other parts are optional and if they are included into the sentence they serve to define or modify either the subject or predicate or each other.