Introduction Grammatical Hierarchy

These under-graduate-s are rapid-ly improv-ing in their writ-ing. DetN NP Aux VAdvMVPrepDetN VP PreP Clause Sentence

Morphemes 词素 1. Words 词 2. Clauses 分句 4. Sentences 句子 5. Phrases 短语 3.

词素 Morphemes The morpheme is the minimum or smallest grammatical unit, also the smallest meaningful element of speech. Morphemes fall into two categories: free morphemes and bound morphemes.

1. Free morphemes 自由词素 A free morpheme has a complex meaning and can stand by itself as a simple word. It can sometimes act as a complete utterance in connected speech. e.g. boy girl desk chair kind give

2. Bound morphemes 粘附词素 Bound morphemes are mostly affixes. They are also meaningful, but the meaning is not complete in itself unless it is attached to some other form. Therefore, a bound morpheme cannot stand by itself: it only exists as an inflectional or derivational affix. Inflectional affixes: 屈折词缀 -s / -es -’s -ed -ing -er -est Derivational affixes: 派生词缀 Anti- un- dis- -ly -ness -ment -less …

3. Allomorphs 词素变体 The same morpheme in different contexts may take different phonological or orthographical forms. The variants of the same morpheme are called “allomorphs”. In-im-il-ir- Inactive immatureillegalirrational Cats /s/dogs /z/horses /iz/

词 Words The word is composed of one or more than one morpheme. Words can be classified in two ways: 1.Classification in terms of word-formation 2.Classification in terms of grammatical function

1.Simple words (morpheme word) 简单词 e.g. at, by, in, on, up, far, hand, take, make, … 2. Derivatives 派生词 + prefix (prefixation)prefixation + suffix (suffixation)suffixation 3. Compounds 合成词Compounds e.g. Handbook; world-famous; mass-produce; moreover; something; whenever; alongside

Prefixes MeaningExamples un- not, the converse of unwise non-nonessential dis-dishonest in-informal im-immature il-illegal ir-irregular un-reversing the action unpack de-decode dis-disconnect

Prefixes MeaningExamples mis-wronglymishear mal-badmalformed pseudo-falsepseudoscience super-more thansupermarket sur-oversurcharge sub-belowsubnormal over-excessiveoverconfident under-too littleunderprivileged mini-littleminiskirt

Prefixes MeaningExamples co-withcooperate counter-againstcounterattack anti-againstanti-clockwise pro-forpro-Chinese fore-beforeforesee pre-in advancepreschool post-afterpostindustrial ex-formerex-president re-againresell

prefixes examples a-astride be-becalm en-enlarge em-empower Conversion prefixes Conversion prefixes

SuffixesMeaningExamples -ster person engaged in an occupation or activity gamester -eermountaineer -er(or)driver -antinhabitant -letsmall, unimportantbooklet, -ettesmall; imitationcigarette, leatherette, -essfemalehostess Noun suffixes

SuffixesMeaningExamples -hoodstatuschildhood -shipconditiondictatorship -domrealmkingdom -ingstatebathing -fulamounthandful -tion / -sionstateoppression Noun suffixes

SuffixesMeaningExamples -mentstatemovement -alactionarrival -ageamountcoverage -nessstatehappiness -itystaterapidity -ismdoctrineracism -eepersoninterviewee Noun suffixes

SuffixesMeaningExamples -ify to become beautify -izemodernize -enquicken -ateoriginate Verb suffixes

SuffixesMeaningExamples -fulfull ofhopeful -lesswithoutmeaningless -lyhaving the quality offriendly -likelikechildlike -ysomewhat likesilky -ishsomewhat likefoolish -somecausingtroublesome -ablecapablechangeable Adjective suffixes

SuffixesMeaningExamples -ary (ory)connected withimaginary -esquelikepicturesque -ousfull ofglorious -ictypical ofdramatic -ivehaving the quality ofattractive -edhavinglearned -altypical ofregional Adjective suffixes Adjective suffixes

1. Closed-class words ( 封闭词类 )refer to those sets of words whose items are “closed” or limited in number and are only exceptionally extended by the creation of additional members. 2. Open-class words ( 开放词类 ) refer to those sets of words whose items are indefinitely extendable. New items are constantly being created and old items are giving place to new ones. PrepositionPronounDeterminer Conjunction Auxiliary verb NounAdjectiveAdverbMain Verb 3. Between Closed-class and Open-class words Cardinal Numeral, Ordinal numeral and Interjection

词组 Phrases The phrase is composed of one or more than one word. Generally, the phrase is a group of words organized in a specific way with a key word as its head. The word class of the head determines the class of the phrase and the way in which the words are organized.

1.The noun phrase 名词词组 (determiner + ） （ premodifier +) noun (+ postmodifier) all the college students his new book on philosophy the tall boy sitting in the classroom the author’s new novel that will soon come out Honesty is the best policy.

2. The verb phrase 动词词组 The verb phrase is a phrase with a main verb as its head. A verb phrase can be simple or complex. A simple verb phrase is just a main verb or “modifier + main verb”. A complex verb phrase is a main verb preceded by an auxiliary (or auxiliaries) (+ modifier). She looks pale. They fully appreciate our problems. It is getting dark. The children might have been playing in the garden. He may really have injured innocent people.

In terms of grammatical form, a verb phrase can be finite or non-finite. A finite verb phrase ( 限定动词词组 )is initiated by a finite form, that is, a verb form that changes according to tense or subject. A non-finite verb phrase ( 非限定动词词 组 ) is a phrase initiated by a non-finite form, that is, a verb form that does not change according to tense or subject. We went there to see a film. Having seen the film we had a discussion. Painted by a famous artist the portrait is invaluable.

3. The adjective phrase 形容词词组 The adjective phrase is a phrase with an adjective as its head. The general pattern of an adjective phrase is: (modifier+) adjective (+ postmodifier / complementation) The weather is fine today. The course is pretty difficult. You are not carefully enough. That work is too difficult for that child.

4. The adverb phrase 副词词组 The adverb phrase is a phrase with an adverb as its head. The general pattern of an adverb phrase is: (modifier+) adverb (+ postmodifier) He spoke loudly and clearly. Be a man. Don’t act so lowly. She spoke very clearly indeed. He lives farthest from the station.

5. The prepositional phrase 介词词组 The prepositional phrase is a phrase with a preposition as its head. The general pattern of a prepositional phrase is: (modifier+) preposition + complementation Do you think you can borrow some money from your friend? Food has been scarce since before the war. Now their footsteps could be heard directly above my head.

从句 Clauses The clause is composed of one or more than one phrase. A full-fledged clause is sequence of phrases and logically a construction of “subject+ predicate”.

1.Independent and dependant clauses 独立分句和从属分句 An independent clause is a clause that can stand by itself and act as a complete utterance, as distinguished from a dependent clause which forms only part of another clause or of a phrase He knows everything about it. 独立分句 I don’t know he knows everything about it. 从属分句 Some of your answers were correct, but I do not remember which. 独立分句 I do not remember which of your answers were correct. 从属分句

2. Simple and complex clauses 简单分句和复杂分句 When a clause consists of only one construction of “subject + predicate”, it is a simple clause. An independent simple clause is at the same time a simple sentence. When a clause comprises another clause or other clauses as its element or elements, it is a complex clause. An independent complex clause is at the same time a complex sentence. It is not true. (independent simple clause / simple sentence) What you said is not true. (independent complex clause / complex sentence) He said that it was not true. (dependent simple clause) He complained that what you said was not true. (dependent complex clause)

3. Main and subordinate clauses 主句和从句 In a complex clause, the clause that takes another clause as its element is the main clause, while the clause that forms part of the main clause is a subordinate clause. He complained that what you said was not true. 主句 从句

4. Finite and non-finite clauses 限定分句和非限定分句 A clause can be finite or non-finite. A finite clause is one with a finite verb phrase as its predicate verb or predicator; a non-finite clause is a clause with a non-finite verb phrase as its predicator. I signed the paper to get the license. The man, wearing such dark glasses, obviously could not see clearly. Covered with confusion, they looked at each other. The discussion completed, the Chairman adjourned the meeting for half an hour.

5. Verbless clauses 无动词分句 When a clause is marked by the absence of any form of verb element, it is a verbless clause. A verbless clause is just a construction of “subject + predicate” without any form of verb element. Hungry and exhausted, the climbers returned. Confident of the justice of their cause, they agreed to put their case before the arbitration panel( 仲裁小组 ). One of the most popular tourist sites in Italy, Pompeii was viewed by nearly two million visitors last year.

句子 Sentences The sentence is the highest rank of grammatical unit. Based on one or more than one clause, the sentence is also the basic linguistic unit or connected discourse; it can stand alone and perform a function in social communication. Thus a sentence can be defined as a grammatical unit that can stand by itself and perform a communicative function.

1.Full and minor sentences 完全句和不完全句 A full sentence is a sentence with an expressed subject and predicate. This kind of sentence is mostly used in formal speech and writing. A minor sentence is only a sentence fragment which in specific contexts and situations can stand by itself and perform a communicative function. Minor sentences are extensively used in informal discourses. A: Who called this morning? B: Mr Jones. No smoking! No parking!

2. Simple, compound, complex and compound-complex sentences 简单句、并列句、复杂句和并列复杂句 A simple sentence is a sentence that comprises only one independent clause. The students have made better grades in the past few weeks. Two or more coordinated independent clauses make a compound sentence. Miss Wu came to the party, but Mr and Mrs Sherman did not. When an independent clause comprises one or more dependent clauses as its element(s), this makes a complex sentence. What he said is not true. Two or more coordinated independent clauses with at least one complex clause make a compound-complex sentence. They watched television and enjoyed themselves, but we couldn’t see the program because our television was broken.