1. Patterns larger than phrases
Lesson 16
Patterns larger than phrases

2. seven basic clause structures in English built around a verb phrase:
SVO Subject verb Object SV
SVA
SVC Complement
SVOC
SVOA adjuncts
SVOO

3. SVA Adjuncts
Adjuncts are most often optional elements that provide information related to manner, time, location or cause. Consider the following.
Subject
Verb
Adjunct
the small child
cried
very loudly
[Adjunct of manner]
my friend
left
that evening
[Adjunct of time]
Sarah
lives
in America
[Adjunct of location]
she
has been sad
since you left
[Adjunct of cause
Adjuncts may be represented by adverb phrases, noun phrases and prepositional phrases.

4. SVC Complements – add information about the subject / object
The treasurer =
subject complement
(A less contemporary term for it is predicate nominative).
treasurer =
object complement

5. Other examples of complements
A:Have you seen my umbrella?
B: It’s downstairs, by the back door.
They thought that he was crazy (S-V-Comp)
d. The boy wanted to leave (S-V-Comp) e. The woman told the man to leave (S-V-DO-Comp)
Infinitive complement

6. SVOC Test for distinguishing Objects from complements:
Subject
Verb
Object
Complement
Cole
found
the game
frustrating
the mussels
made
Rupinder
ill
Duncan
designed
the room
rather dark
Test for distinguishing Objects from complements:
The object can be moved to the subject position with a passive verb. Complements cannot
Rupinder was made ill by the mussels

7. SVOO Alex sent his regards to Ryan Alternatively, Subject Verb
Indirect Object
Direct Object
Alex
sent
Ryan
his regards
the twins
shipped
their friends
the carved clock
Sheila
tossed
Amerjit
my shuttlecock
Alternatively,
Alex sent his regards to Ryan

8. Can you identify the clause structure?
My son went to university in Wales.
To perform at Madison Square Gardens was her highest ambition
Seven baby frogs crossed the path in front of me
I always hope that he will remember me
Jennifer sent her boss a postcard
Jennifer sent a postcard to her boss
Sam became a doctor
Jennifer seems clever
Mary made me successful
Carrie painted the door red

9. Without a will
Identify clause structures

10. Deviation from the given patterns is admitted to some extent
Lack of main verbs The lord chancellor sitting in Lincoln’s Inn Hall As much much mud in the streets as if… The lord chancellor WAS sitting in Lincoln’s Inn Hall THERE WAS as much much mud in the streets as if…

11. Finite vs non-finite
Clauses can be finite or non-finite, depending on the form of the verb
Finite verbs tell us when something happened, how many involved, what person)
The water had retired
The water retires in the morning
Non-finite verbs can be refereed to any number, tense or person
waddling, lowering (present participle)
gone, splashed (past participle)

12. Main verb in main clause
A finite verb in a main clause is a MAIN VERB, which provides a kind of anchor (Carter et al .pp )
In text 4:3 p.111 main verbs are restored to the text only in the final paragraph. Up to that moment, the reader is left suspended
is rawest
sits the Lord High Chancellor
There is a balance between main and subordinate clauses, with subordinate clauses used to elaborate, amplify or qualify information (Cfr.p. 128)

13. What's the difference between a gerund and a participle?
A gerund is a form of a verb used as a noun, whereas a participle is a form of verb used as an adjective or as a verb in conjunction with an auxiliary verb. In English, the present participle has the same form as the gerund.
Walking is healthy gerund
An award-winning service present participle
They are walking present participle

14. Clause structure deviation
«At the very heart of the fog, sits the Lord High Chancellor»
A V S
Emphasis on fog
Continuity (previous passages were all about the fog)
Final character disclosure (and circular structure)

15. Clause structure deviation
Ellipsis for informality p. 127

16. passives

17. Form-function relation
The function of subject is normally performed by noun phrases
However even other structures can perform the subject function
Verb (gerund)
Non-finite clauses
Finite clauses

18. Identifying patterns
Woyhout a will,