1. My aunt + has been given that teapot by the duke
THEME AND RHEME
In English an item has thematic status by putting it first. The Theme is the element which serves as a point of departure of the message; it is that which locates and orients the clause within the context. The remainder of the message is called Rheme.
the duke has given my aunt the teapot
My aunt has been given that teapot by the duke
that teapot + the duke has given to my aunt
THEME RHEME

2. As to that teapot, + my aunt was given it by the duke Compare:
THEME AND RHEME
Themes are sometimes announced explicitly, by means of some expression, such as: as for…, with regard to… , about.... This has the effect of focusing the Theme.
As to that teapot, + my aunt was given it by the duke
Compare:
As for the Pope Fransis himself, + he is known to be very keen on sport
The Theme is picked up by an appropriate pronoun

3. Theme in declarative clauses:
M.A.K. Halliday (1985), An Introduction to Functional Grammar
What is the element that is typically chosen as Theme in an English clause? It depends on the choice of mood.
Theme in declarative clauses:
Unmarked: Theme conflates with the Subject
NP: pronoun as Head:Subject
She + went to the baker’s
B) NP: common or proper noun as Head: Subject
A wise old robin + lived in an oak
Mary + had a little bicycle
Nominalization: Subject
What I want + is a proper cup of tea

4. Theme in declarative clauses:
M.A.K. Halliday (1985), An Introduction to Functional Grammar
Theme in declarative clauses:
marked: Theme does not conflate with the Subject. It is other than the subject
Adverb phrase: Adjunct:
Luckily + he spoke very good English
Only once + he went to the UK
B) Preposition Phrase: Adjunct:
On Suturday night+ she lost her purse

5. Theme in declarative clauses:
M.A.K. Halliday (1985), An Introduction to Functional Grammar
Theme in declarative clauses:
marked: Theme does not conflate with the Subject. It is other than the subject
C) NP:common or proper noun as Head: Complement
A pudding + the King did make
Silvie you’re particularly fond of
D) NP: pronoun as Head: Complement
This + they should refuse
E) Nominalization: Complement
What they could not eat that night + the Queen next morning fried

6. Theme in declarative clauses:
M.A.K. Halliday (1985), An Introduction to Functional Grammar
Theme in declarative clauses:
marked: Theme does not conflate with the Subject. It is other than the subject
F) Cleft sentences beginning with It
[It + was Rush] [who scored the goal].
G) Pseudo cleft sentences beginning with What
[What the duke gave to my aunt] + [was that teapot ]

7. Theme in exclamative clauses: subcategory of declarative clauses
M.A.K. Halliday (1985), An Introduction to Functional Grammar
Theme in exclamative clauses: subcategory of declarative clauses
unmarked: Theme does not conflate with the Subject. These typically have an exclamatory WH- element as Theme.
How dreadful she sounds
What a self-opinionated egomaniac + that guy is
THEME RHEME

8. Theme in interrogative clauses:
M.A.K. Halliday (1985), An Introduction to Functional Grammar
Theme in interrogative clauses:
unmarked: yes/no, POLARITY: Theme is the finite verbal operator, which is put first:
Could you + eat a whole packet of biscuits
Has he got the car back by the way?
Did you sleep ok?
THEME RHEME

9. Theme in interrogative clauses:
M.A.K. Halliday and Matthiessen (2004), An Introduction to Functional Grammar
Theme in interrogative clauses:
unmarked: WH- element first, : Theme is Wh- operator, no matter what other function it has in the mood structure of the clause (Subject, Adjunt, Complement):
Who wants a glass of red whine?
Where did you get that from?
How many hours +did you want?
Why was he opposed to coming in?
THEME RHEME
The meaning is “I want you to tell me the person, thing , time, manner, etc.”

10. Theme in interrogative clauses:
M.A.K. Halliday and Matthiessen (2004), An Introduction to Functional Grammar
Theme in interrogative clauses:
unmarked: WH- element first, : Theme is Wh- operator, no matter what other function it has in the mood structure of the clause (Subject, Adjunt, Complement):
Who wants a glass of red whine?
Where did you get that from?
How many hours +did you want?
Why was he opposed to coming in?
THEME RHEME
The meaning is “I want you to tell me the person, thing, time, manner, etc”

11. Theme in interrogative clauses yes/no: marked: Good + is it?
M.A.K. Halliday and Matthiessen (2004), An Introduction to Functional Grammar
Theme in interrogative clauses yes/no:
marked:
Good is it?
“Death by water” + do you rememember that passage in the Waste Land?[Eliot]

12. Theme in imperative clauses: unmarked: Predicator (verb) as THEME.
M.A.K. Halliday and Matthiessen (2004), An Introduction to Functional Grammar
Theme in imperative clauses: unmarked: Predicator (verb) as THEME.
The basic message is either: “I want you to do something”[singular] or “I want (you and me) to do something [plural].
First tipe:
Turn it down (singular: you)
Don’t do + that
Second type:
Let’s all think about for a moment (plural: you and me)
Don’t let’s + quarrel about it

13. Theme in imperative clauses: marked: Subject as THEME.
M.A.K. Halliday and Matthiessen (2004), An Introduction to Functional Grammar
Theme in imperative clauses: marked: Subject as THEME.
The basic message is either: “I want you to do something” or “I want (you and me) to do something.
You keep quiet (unmarked:keep quiet)
Don’t you + argue with me

14. MOOD of clause Typical unmarked Theme
M.A.K. Halliday and Matthiessen (2004), An Introduction to Functional Grammar
sum up of UNMARKED Theme. When other element comes first, it constitutes a ‘marked’ choice.
MOOD of clause Typical unmarked Theme
Declarative nominal group functioning as Subject
Interrogative: yes/no first word (finite operator) of verbal group + NP as Subject
Interrogative: Wh- NP, AdvP, PP functioning as interrogative (Wh-) element
Imperative: you VP functioning as Predicator, plus preceeding don’t if negative
Imperative: you and me let’s plus preceeding don’t if negative
Exclamative: NP, or AdvP functioning as exclamative (Wh-) element

15. Theme and Rheme, Given and New
M.A.K. Halliday and Matthiessen (2004), An Introduction to Functional Grammar
Theme and Rheme, Given and New
In unmarked sentences there is a close semantic relation between the system of INFORMATION and the system of THEME.
Theme falls within the Given and New falls within the Rheme
Julia phoned us
Theme Rheme
Given New
It was Julia + who phoned us
Theme Rheme
New Given

16. The syntactic flexibility of the Italian language and its different thematic organization enables such constructions:
Example:
È arrivato il Re! È arrivato il Re!
In English:
*Has arrived the King
Is ungrammatical.

17. The King is here! The King is here!
The thematic organization of Italian may push the tranlsator to reject the congruent syntax of the following:
Example:
The King is here! The King is here!
and opt for a presentative construction with subject shiftes to the right:
Here is the King! Here is the King!