Classification of sentences based on their structure. The simple sentence. The composite sentence
Structurally sentences are divided into:1) simple (contains only 1 subject-predicate unit) or composite (more than one), 2) complete or incomplete (elliptical)-distinguished by the presence or absence of word-forms in the principal positions of 2-member sentences, 3) two-member (two principal parts-the subject and the predicate) or one- member (1 principal part which is either subject, or the predicate). These 3 classifications are based on different approaches to the structural organization of sentence & reflect its different aspects.
The simple sentence. 1) Two-member sentences. The basic pattern is one subject-predicate unit. Thus it has 2 main positions: those of the subject and the predicate. There are several variations of this pattern-depend on the kind of the verb occupying the predicate position. This verb may be transitive, in~, ditransitive or a link verb. Sentences may be unextended (John is clever) and extended (John learned French). A sentence may be extended, not only by obligatory elements but also by optional ones (attributes, certain kinds of prepositional objects, adverbial modifiers) ~John ran quickly to me.
2) One-member sentences: a) nominal b) verbal. Nominal-the principal part is expressed by a noun, they state the existence of the things. They are typical of descriptions and may be unextended (Silence. Midnight) &extended (English spring flowers!). Verbal-the principal part expressed by a non-finite form of the verb, infinitive or gerund. Mostly used to describe different emotional perceptions of reality. (To think of that! Living at the mercy of a woman!).
The composite sentence is a sentence consisting of 2 or more clauses. In its structure a clause is similar to a simple sentence, but unlike a simple sentence it forms part of a bigger syntactical unit. Clauses may be joined by means of coordination (a compound sentence-The door opened & 2 men came in) or subordination (a complex sentence ~ I have come to u, because I know that u can help me). Coordination is a way of linking grammatical elements to make them equal in rank. Subordination makes one of them dependent upon the other. A compound sentence may contain coordination, clauses extended by subordinate clauses - a compound-complex sentence. (Pooh was very proud when he heard this and Piglet noticed it at once). A complex sentence may contain subordinate clauses joined by means of coordination - a complex sentence with homogeneous subordinate clauses (I know that he has come and that he is out of money).
Classification of sentences based on the communicative purpose of the utterance (declarative, interrogative, imperative).
Бархударов singled out 3 types of sentences: declarative, interrogative, imperative sentences.
DECLARATIVE SENTENCES
semanticaily | structurally |
express statements | they are unmarked type, i.e. display direct word-order: I love you. Sometimes inversion is used => more emphatic sentences. |
Inversion:
1.Full inversion: Down the river came the boat with a
2. Partial inversion: In he came.
• INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES | |||||||||
Semanticaily they express questions => we expect a respond. | |||||||||
type of question | example | structure | intonation | answer | |||||
General | Are you rich? | are marked by | rising | provoke yes/ no | |||||
questions | partial | intonation | answer | ||||||
inversion | |||||||||
**Confirmative | Your name is | no inversion | are marked by | provoke | |||||
questions | Lera. | intonation alone | positive | ||||||
(rising) | answers (you | ||||||||
expect | |||||||||
confirmation) | |||||||||
Special | When will he | are marked by | usually a falling | require a full | |||||
questions | kiss me? | a question-word | tone (though an | answer | |||||
(wh-wards) | intonation | ||||||||
placed initially | pattern may be | ||||||||
+ partial | different) | ||||||||
inversion | |||||||||
**questions to | Who broke | no inversion | the same | the same | |||||
the subject or | your heart? | ||||||||
some port of it | |||||||||
MIXED TYPES: | |||||||||
1. Alternative | Are you a girl | a combination | rising tone + | require a full | |||||
questions | or a boy? (= | of 2 general | falling tone | answer | |||||
Are you a girl | questions, that | (мне кажется...) | |||||||
or are you a | are usually | ||||||||
boy?) | contracted into | ||||||||
one | |||||||||
2. Tag- | You love me, | A declarative | the intonation | yes/ no + tag | |||||
questions | don't you? | sentence + a | of a tag is | ||||||
tag (ТАG = a | falling if the | ||||||||
pronoun | speaker is | ||||||||
corresponding | positive, rising | ||||||||
to the subject | - if he doubts | ||||||||
and + an | |||||||||
auxiliary verb | |||||||||
corresponding | |||||||||
to the | |||||||||
predicate) | |||||||||
3. Echo- | - He loves | nearly repeat | rising | yes/ no | |||||
questions | fucking. | the previous | intonation | ||||||
- He loves | statement | ||||||||
fucking? | |||||||||
**special type | - John gave me | are generated | rising | a full answer | |||||
of echo- | a hug. | when the | intonation | ||||||
questions | - Who did | hearer misses | |||||||
what? | some part of | ||||||||
the statement | |||||||||
IMPERATIVE SENTENCES