Search results for 'tag:Direct objects tag:Determiners' matching tags 'Direct objects' and 'Determiners'

Re: In the following sentence ''He'' is subject, ''is'' is a...

CalifJim — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 02:22:28 GMT

Categories or Parts of Speech

he - pronoun
he - noun phrase (NP)*
is - verb
a - article
nice - adjective
person - noun
a nice person - noun phrase (NP)*
is a nice person - verb phrase (VP)*

*These designations come from a system of analysis called 'transformational grammar'.

Functions

he - subject
is - copula
a - determiner
nice - modifier
person - complement
a nice person - complement
is a nice person - predicate

At the highest level of functional analysis, each sentence has simply a subject and a predicate; the predicate is everything in the sentence except the subject.

The same part of speech (category), particularly nouns, can be used with different functions. For example a noun can act as a subject, a subject complement, a direct object, an indirect object, an object complement, the object of a preposition, or a modifier. In grammatical analysis the different kinds of terminology shown above are often mixed. The same component in a sentence may have several different names. Also, the same term may be used both as a category and as a function. The word verb, for example, is often used both to mean a part of speech and as the name of its function in the sentence. There are often many different terms that apply to the same word or group of words. The terms selected depend on the type of analysis which is being done.

CJ

Sentence Analysis

X11 — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 21:29:28 GMT

Hi Everyone.

Is there anyone who is able to analyse a sentence in terms of form and function down to word level?

I'll give you an example of what I mean:

The boys like the girls

like = V:VP

the boys = S:NP --> where 'the' = determiner and 'boys' = Head:Noun

the girls = DO:NP --> where 'the' = determiner and 'girls' = Head:Noun

V = Verb

VP = Verb Phrase

S = Subject

NP = Noun Phrase

DO = Direct Object

I dealing with a very complex one right now, and I'm rather lost with some parts of it, so I hope that someone is familiar with this kind of analysis:-)

Regards Jay

Re: The meaning of 'Gonna'

Anonymous — Sun, 29 Jan 2006 07:43:18 GMT

What is the word sucks in "Homework sucks"? Is it a verb or an adjective? If it is a verb, what does homework suck?

This brings up an excellent point, and a wonderful opportunity to discover the beautiful syntactic structure of the English language. The question at hand is "Does an English verb need to have an object?" Consider the simple construction, "I eat" (Subject-ActionVerb). It is a coherent English thought; there is no need to express what is eaten. Just because an English sentence contains an action verb does not mean an object of that action must occur. The neat thing is, though, that it can occur and the thought is just as coherent. "I eat pizza" (Subject-ActionVerb-Object) is an equally logical thought.

Action verbs that have an object of their action are said to be transitive, while those that do not are said to be intransitive. Objects can receive the action of their verb either directly or indirectly. An object which is indirectly acted upon only occurs when there is one which is directly acted upon as well. Objects which receive their verb's action directly are said to be direct, whereas those which receive it indirectly are said to be indirect. In the sentence "I baked them pizza," pizza is a direct object, and them is an indirect object.

We have observed three fundamental patterns of the English language:
                        Subject-IntransitiveVerb                                              (S-InV)                I eat.
                        Subject-TransitiveVerb-DirectObject                          (S-TrV-DO)         I eat pizza.
                        Subject-TransitiveVerb-IndirectObject-DirectObject (S-TrV-IO-DO)    I bake them pizza.

As it turns out, the entire English language follows only about six different fundamental patterns, depending on how you count them. Essentially, there are only three more. I find this fascinating, so here I have written a short exposition on the topic. I intend to learn as much from those who view this forum as they can learn from me, so please read, enjoy (hopefully), and critique it.

        An Inquiry into the Syntactical Structure of the English Language

Fundamental Parts of Speech
There exist various schemes that depict the fundamental parts of speech in the English language. The underlying assumption of them all is that every English word can be classified into a fairly small number of categories. According to a word's inherent qualities these are somewhat nebulous, but according to how the word is used in a sentence they our definitive. The scheme I adopt here models English words in seven divisions: nouns* (N), verbs (V), adjectives** (Adj), adverbs (Adv), prepositions (Prep), conjunctions (Conj), and interjections (Interj). No attempt will be put forth to define these whether operationally or inherently. That being beyond the scope of this work
*Nouns in this work refers to both nouns and pronouns. Though they constitute two distinct categories they are used virtually interchangeably distinguishable only by the inherent qualities they possess. (A point in which syntax is largely uninterested.)
**This class contains what other schemes might divide into the categories of articles, determiners, qualifiers, modifying nouns, etc.
A Steal Framework
Again the various models of English syntax would number the fundamental patterns differently. I have adopted a scheme of six. The patterns are concerned only with two parts of speech: verbs and nouns. They form a sort of a metal framework upon which the rest of the fundamental part bestow their graces connecting and decorating it into a beautiful masterpiece. I model English nouns as possessing eight unique functions (subject (S), direct object (DO), indirect object (IO), objective complement (OC), subjective complement (SC), object of the preposition (OP), noun of direct address (DA), and appositive (App)) and English verbs as possessing four unique functions (action verb*, linking verb (LV), state of being verb (Be), helping verb** (Aux)). Only the first five of the noun functions and the first three of the verb functions are used in constructing the patterns. The rest are added on later for decoration.
*As it has been aforementioned actions verbs are either transitive verbs (TrV), possessing objects, or intransitive verbs (InV), not possessing objects.
**Helping verbs also known as auxiliary verbs or simply auxiliaries serve solely to aid the one main verb of a syntactic pattern in expressing such complexities as tense, mood, or voice. Unlike other languages, English verb ending are unable to accomplish this consisting of only four principle parts with little variation or no variation for person or number. Rarely will you find a verb written more than four ways.

The Fundamental Syntactic Patterns
Some schemes include adjective and adverb elements. I do not, however, because I do not consider them the pegs on which other elements can hang. They are merely filler. I have put alternate examples in boldface type for where some find grounds for other patterns.

                                            1. S-Be*                    I am. or I am here.
                                            2. S-LV-SC*,*              I am Daniel. or I am good.
                                            3. S-InV                         I eat.
                                            4. S-TrV-DO*                I eat pizza.
                                            5. S-TrV-IO-DO*        I bake them pizza.
                                            6. S-TrV-DO-OC*,*    I consider pizza food. or I find pizza tasty.
* "I am here," or, "I am of the tribe of Benjamin," are examples of an adverb element on the S-Be pattern. Under some schemes this would be a new pattern, S-be-Adv. The adverb element, often referred to as the adverbial modifies the verb indicating where or when.
*The subjective complement is the completer of the subject. If it is an adjective it is called the predicate adjective (PA). If it is a noun it is called the predicate nominative or noun (PN). As a noun it is said to rename the subject (Daniel). As a adjective it is said to modify the subject (good). Under some schemes these two cases form distinct patterns (S-LV-PN and S-LV-PA).
*Depending on whether or not the definition of linking verb is broadened to include the state of being verbs, a separate pattern (S-be-SC) is often employed which in turn is typically divided into the two distinct patterns (S-be-PA and S-be-PN).
*Both direct and indirect objects are considered to be predicate complements (PC). So the distinction between them is sometimes lost and these patterns can be depicted S-TrV-PC, S-TrV-PC-PC, and S-TrV-PC-OC with the former two occasionally fusing into one pattern (S-TrV-PC).
*Sometimes a distinction is made between an objective complement that functions as a noun (pizza), objective noun (ON), and one that functions as a adjective (tasty), objective adjective (OA). Thus two distinct patterns are formed (S-TrV-DO-ON and S-TrV-DO-OA).

Whether or not it is wise to exclude the patterns S-Be-Adv, S-LV-PA, and S-TrV-OA, I do not know, but since I maintain that the fundamental syntactic units are composed of certain nouns and verbs I will. For now the other parts of speech and remaining nouns and verbs are for filling out the framework.

The Decorations and Connections
The remaining verbs, helping/auxiliary verbs (Aux), come before the verbs in the patterns and give them tense. Of the remaining nouns, nouns of direct address (DA) are when you address the person you are talking two by name, appositives come right after one of the nouns in the fundamental patterns and serve to rename them, and objects of the preposition are the words the prepositions (Prep) are relating to the rest of the sentence. Prepositions (Prep) then relate nouns to the rest of the sentence. Conjunction (Conj) join elements whether they be fundamental patterns, subject, or verbs. Interjections (Interj) do just that. Butt in breaking the flow of everything. Adjectives (Adj) modify nouns, and adverbs (Adv) modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs.

These nine links and flesh may simply be one word or, as four of them (OP, App, Adj, and Adv) often are, be expanded into multiword units composed themselves of smaller units which in turn are linked to other units. Thus you have the massive interlocking structure of the English language.

What are these large units with in units though? They are either clauses or phrases.

Clauses
Clause contain both a subject and a verb but cannot stand alone as a complete thought. They are one of the fundamental units fleshed out. They come in three varieties those that will function as an adverb (Adv), those that will function as a adjective (Adj), and those that will function as a noun (not just OP and App, but the fundamental makeup of the patterns S, DO, IO, OC, and PN/SC).

Phrases:*
Phrases certain either a subject or a verb, but not both. The prepositional phrase--the unit Prep-OP (sometimes fleshed out with other elements)--functions as either an Adj, Adv, or a N. There are three phrase which are one of the six or nine depending on how you look at it fundamental patterns with the S severed from them. The gerund phrase is the one in which the main verb must be in the second principle part** and functions as a N. The participle phrase is the one in which the main verb must be in the second or fourth principle part** and functions as an Adj. The infinitive phrase is the one in which the verb must be in the infinitive (nearly synonymous with the first principle part** and functions as an Adj, Adv, or a N. A fifth and unusual type of phrase functions as a modifier (Adj or Adv) of the entire sentence, and is composed of a noun followed by a participial phrase.
*Sometimes the classifications of phrases are broadened to include a noun phrase, verb phrase, adjective phrase, adverb phrase, and appositive phrase. However, I will abstain from such a measure because noun phrases are just simply any of the five above which can function as a N, appositive phrases are just simply any of the five above which can function as an appositive (a N), adjective phrases are just any of the five above which can function as Adj, adverb phrases are just simply any of the five above which can function as Adv, and verb phrases are just the verb of the six fundamental patterns with its auxiliaries.
**Sometimes English verbs are depicted as having three principle parts, (1) present, (2) past, and (3) past participle, presumably because the present participle of all English verbs is the present + -ing. However, the scheme used here is that which depicts four principle parts, (1) present, (2) present participle, (3) past, (4) past participle, which can be derived from the infinitive [to . . .] by asking the four questions (1) Today, [I/we, you, he/she/it/they] . . .Currently, [I/we, you, he/she/it/they] [to be] . . . , (3) Yesterday, [I/we, you, he/she/it/they] . . . , (4) Previously, [I/we, you, he/she/it/they] [to have] . . . of the infinitive.

Re: sentence analysis

paco2004 — Sun, 02 Oct 2005 02:18:27 GMT

Hello Hela

I'm not an English teacher and I don't think I'm qualified to answer such an intriguing question like this. But I found this remained unanswered, and I don't like to see any question is left unanswered. So I'll try to answer this in spite of my poor grammar knowledge. First of all I would like to remind you that there are many ways to analyze English sentences and the grammar terms in the analyses are defined differently from one scholar to another. So I am quite uncertain about whether my answer will agree with the way your English teachers are teaching.

1)   He is without a job.
"Without a job" here is an adjectival PP (=prepositional phrase) and works as the subject complement.
2) She is respected by her students.
"(He) is respected" is a verbal phrase in a passive construct of "(They) respect (him)". "By her students" is an adverbial PP indicating the agent of the action "respect".
3-a)  The senator asked the question of the Supreme Court Justice.
"Ask a question of him" is a formal form of "ask him a question". "The question" is the direct object of the verb "ask" and "of the Supreme Court Justice" is the adverbial PP, which modifies "ask" and indicates the source from which the senator could get the answer of "the question".
3-b)  I ordered myself something to eat.
"Myself" is a reflective pronoun and here it works as the indirect object of the verb "order". "Something to eat" is the direct object of "order".
3-c)  The antique dealer purchased the World War I plane for the Smithsonian.
"The World War I plane" is the direct object of "purchase" and "for the Smithsonian" is an adverbial PP to indicate the purpose of "purchase the plane". The Smithsonian Institution is a science museum named after James Smithson who donated the fund.
4)  She is ahead of her fellow students.
"Ahead" is an adverb and "of her fellow students" is an adverbial PP to modify "ahead". Semantically "ahead of her fellow students" works as the subject complement.
5)  The Indus was only a glinting trickle far below.
This sentence is a bit tough to analyze. I take the whole of "a glinting trickle far below" as the subject complement. "Far below" is an adverbial phrase but semantically it works as an adjectival modifier to indicate where the glinting trickle was.
6) I talked to myself.
"Talk" here is an intransitive verb and "to myself" is an adverbial PP indicating the direction of "talk".
7) Talk to me.
"Talk to me" is an imperative sentence.
8)  I am behind in my rent.
"Behind" is an adverb and "in my rent" is an adverbial PP, which means "in the process of paying the rent". I take the whole of "behind in my rent" as the subject complement.
9-a) We had quite a good time.
"Quite a good time" is the direct object of "had". "Quite" is a pre-determiner adverb and intensifies "good".
9-b)  They are such good friends.
"Such good friends" is the subject complement. "Such" is a pre-determiner adverb indicating the degree of "good".
10) All the people in the house left for good.
"All the people in the house" as a whole works as the subject. "Left (leave)" is an intransitive verb. "For good" is an adverbial PP to indicate the purpose of "leave".

paco

Re: Parts of a sentence I hope you appreciate our offering...

rommie — Thu, 05 Feb 2004 15:54:49 GMT

I think we're agreed on "offering".
I think "our" is acting as a determiner for "position".
You may be right about the direct and indirect objects - I do sometimes get those the wrong way round.
I think we're agreed on "hope".

Rommie

Re: Parts of a sentence

rommie — Thu, 05 Feb 2004 13:02:19 GMT

Close.

I = subject
hope = INTRANSITIVE verb - requires no object
(that) you appreciate our offering (you) this position = ADVERB clause

Inside the adverb clause,
that = preposition
you appreciate our offering (you) this position = VERB clause

Inside the verb clause
you = subject
appreciate = TRANSITIVE verb - requires one object
our offering (you) this position = NOUN clause

Inside the noun clause
our = possesive pronoun - acts as a determiner
offering (you) this position = NOUN clause, but also a gerund, so it has verb syntax

Inside the gerund
offering (you) this position
offering = DITRANSITIVE verb - may take TWO objects
you = direct object
this position = indirect object

Inside the indirect object
this = determiner
position = noun

Rommie