A crash-course in linguistic syntax and word function Syntax & Shakespeare A crash-course in linguistic syntax and word function

Word Geography: Nouns To expand your thinking; nouns… located after adjectives, but before a verb. To expand your thinking; nouns… are often found after determinants (the, a, an, my, his, her, our, their, your) [yes, some of these are also called articles], and demonstratives (this, that, those, these) [which can act as a noun in a prepositional phrase], and quantifiers (few, several, three…) Suffixes that apply to nouns: -ment, -ness, -tion, -ism, -ist (etc.) Find the nouns (despite the nonsense words): The very fleebish gnaves were flooging those gerbins in my sherf.

Word Geography: Verbs located after first noun, and after auxiliary verbs (am, is, be, do, does, have, has…). To expand your thinking: May follow modals (can, could, shall, should, may, might, will, would, must), which… Show mood (real or not—think subjunctive). Verbs also… Show tense (location on a timeline) [past, present, future] Show aspect (whether the action is completed or ongoing) [Spanish students, this is preterit vs. imperfect] Suffixes that apply to verbs: -s, -en, -(i)fy, -ize, -ate

Word Geography: Descriptors Adjectives & adverbs are found after intensifiers (very, really, somewhat, quite, etc.) Comparative forms: _x_-er; more _x__ Superlative forms: _x_-est; most _x_ Adjectives are found: inside noun phrases after linking verbs Suffixes that apply to adjectives: -ish, -ous, -ful, -less, -y, -ive, -al Adverbs are found: inside verb phrases

Key abbreviations S = sentence N= noun NP= noun phrase Det= determinant Q= quantifier Int= intensifier Adj= adjective AdjP= adjective phrase V= verb VG= verb group May contain linking/auxiliary verbs VP= verb phrase Adv= adverb AdvP= adverb phrase Prep= preposition PrepP= prepositional phrase Dem= demonstrative

Step One: Label parts of speech What are the parts of speech for each of these words? Label above the words using the abbreviations we just covered: The very fleebish gnaves were flooging those gerbins in my sherf. Det Int Adj N V V Dem N Prep Det N

Try a new one… Again, use the abbreviations and label above the words: Several extremely salty pirates casually sauntered across the docks looking to avoid arrest. Q Int Adj N Adv V Prep Det N V V V N

Sentence Math…more or less S = NP + VP NP = (Det) + (Q) + (AdjP) + N AdjP = (Int)n + Adj VP = VG + (NP) + (AdvP) + (PrepP) ...or… VP = VG + (NP) + (AdjP) + (PrepP) AdvP = (Int)n + Adv + (PrepP) PrepP = Prep + (Det) + NP *Items in parenthesis are not essential, but may be part of the given phrase. **(Det) is interchangeable with (Dem) in this context

Step two: Add parts of speech into their groupings NP = (Det) + (Q) + (AdjP) + N Q N V Adj Prep N Several students are sleepy at Renaissance.

Step two: Add parts of speech into their groupings NP Q N V Adj Prep N Several students are sleepy at Renaissance.

Step two: Add parts of speech into their groupings PrepP = Prep + NP Q N V Adj Prep N Several students are sleepy at Renaissance.

Step two: Add parts of speech into their groupings PrepP Q N V Adj Prep N Several students are sleepy at Renaissance.

Step two: Add parts of speech into their groupings AdjP = (Int)n + Adj PrepP Q N V Adj Prep N Several students are sleepy at Renaissance.

Step two: Add parts of speech into their groupings PrepP AdjP Q N V Adj Prep N Several students are sleepy at Renaissance.

Step two: Add parts of speech into their groupings PrepP AdjP VG Q N V Adj Prep N Several students are sleepy at Renaissance.

Step two: Add parts of speech into their groupings VP = {VG + (NP) + (AdjP)} PrepP AdjP VG Q N V Adj Prep N Several students are sleepy at Renaissance.

Step two: Add parts of speech into their groupings VP PrepP AdjP VG Q N V Adj Prep N Several students are sleepy at Renaissance.

Step two: Add parts of speech into their groupings S= NP + VP PrepP AdjP VG VP Q N V Adj Prep N Several students are sleepy at Renaissance.

Step two: Add parts of speech into their groupings PrepP AdjP VG VP Q N V Adj Prep N Several students are sleepy at Renaissance.

More complex: S VP NP NP VG AdjP PrepP NP Det Int Adj N V V Dem N Prep Det N The very fleebish gnaves were flooging those gerbins in my sherf.

Once more: S VP Several extremely salty pirates casually sauntered across the docks looking to avoid arrest. AdvP VP NP VG PrepP AdjP

On your own… Diagram the following sentences (pro-tip: turn your paper landscape-style): Those several really huge frenetic hyenas devoured our crooked politicians quite enthusiastically during the night. An extremely offended uninvited guest has been making very unfriendly plans at her sinister castle over the weekend.