English clause element
English clause elements are the minimum set of units needed to describe the linear structure of a clause.
Traditionally, they are partly identified by terms such as subject and object. Their distribution in a clause is partly indicated by traditional terms defining verbs as transitive or intransitive.
Modern English reference grammars are in broad agreement as to a full inventory, but are not unanimous in their terminology or their classification. Clause elements may be identified by unique terms. However, they may be identified by more general terms and further classified according to the type of verb.
Comprehensive grammar of the English language[edit]
This grammar recognises seven types of clause structure and seven positions where elements may be identified.[1]: 62
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | |||
a. | Someone | was laughing. | |||||||
b. | My mother | enjoys | parties. | ||||||
c. | The country | became | totally independent. | ||||||
d. | I | have been | in the garden. | ||||||
e. | Mary | gave | the visitor | a glass of milk. | |||||
f. | Most people | consider | these books | rather expensive. | |||||
g. | You | must put | all the toys | upstairs. |
The elements of the clause structures are labelled with these terms and abbreviations:[1]: 49
- 1. Subject (S)
- 2. Verb (V)
- 3-4. Object (O)
- 5-6. Complement (C)
- 7. Adverbial (A)
The grammar further differentiates Object and Complement into:[1]: 54
- Indirect object (3 in clause e)
- Direct object (4 in clauses b, e, f, g)
- Subject complement (5 in clause c)
- Object complement (6 in clause f)
These patterns correspond to a classification of the verb:[1]: 53–54
Clause type | Verb type | |
---|---|---|
a. | SV | INTRANSITIVE |
b. | SVO | TRANSITIVE (MONOTRANSITIVE) |
c. | SVC | COPULAR |
d. | SVA | COPULAR |
e. | SVOO | TRANSITIVE (DITRANSITIVE) |
f. | SVOC | TRANSITIVE (COMPLEX TRANSITIVE) |
g. | SVOA | TRANSITIVE (COMPLEX TRANSITIVE) |
The example sentences contain only obligatory clause elements. The same seven patterns are recognised for longer sentences with added optional adverbials.[1]: 49
- a′. Someone [S] was laughing [V] loudly [A] in the next room [A].
- b′. My mother [S] usually [A] enjoys [V] parties [O] very much [A].
- c′. In 1945 [A] the country [S] became [V] totally independent [C].
- d′. I [S] have been [V] in the garden [A] all the time [A] since lunch [A].
- e′. Mary [S] willingly [A] gave [V] the visitor [O] a glass of milk [O].
- f′. Most people [S] consider [V] these books [O] rather expensive [C], actually [A].
- g′. You [S] must put [V] all the toys [O] upstairs [A] immediately [A].
The Longman grammar of spoken and written English[edit]
This grammar recognises the seven patterns as above, but using partly different terms and abbreviations:[2]: 122
- Subject (S)
- Verb phrase (V)
- Indirect object (Oi)
- Direct Object (Od)
- Subject predicative (Ps)
- Object predicative (Po)
- Circumstance adverbial (Ac)[2]: 131
In addition, it recognises a clause type with a different verb type: a Prepositional verb.[2]: 129
- 8. One relied on other people.
The grammar recognises rely on as a prepositional verb, followed by a
- Prepositional object (Op).[2]: 129
It also recognises two further types of adverbial in sentences such as
- 9. It would be unfortunate, to put it mildly.
- 10. Nevertheless, it moves.
In 9, to put it mildly is loosely attached to the clause It would be unfortunate. It expresses the attitude of the speaker/writer. This grammar uses the term and abbreviation: Stance adverbial (As)[2]: 131
In 10, nevertheless functions as a connection between the clause and a preceding clause. This grammar uses the term and abbreviation: Linking adverbial (Al)[2]: 133
Thus the grammar recognises the patterns:[2]: 141–152
- a. Someone [S] was laughing [V].
- b. My mother [S] enjoys [V] parties [Od].
- c. The country [S] became [V] totally independent [Ps].
- d. I [S] have been [V] in the garden [Ac].
- e. Mary [S] gave [V] the visitor [Oi] a glass of milk [Od].
- f. Most people [S] consider [V] these books [Od] rather expensive [Po].
- g. You [S] must put [V] all the toys [Od] upstairs [Ac].
- h. One [S] relied on [V] other people [Op].
- i. It [S] would be [V] unfortunate [Ps], to put it mildly [As].
- j. Nevertheless [Al], it [S] moves [V].
In clauses of types a-h the order of elements is normally fixed. However, stance adverbials and linking adverbials are more mobile. For example,
- i′. To put it mildly [As], it [S] would be [V] unfortunate [Ps].
- j′. It [S] moves [V], nevertheless [Al].
Cambridge grammar[edit]
This grammar recognises a basic distinction between predicator, complement and adjunct.[3]: 215
At this basic level, it recognises the elements numbered above with the following terms and abbreviations:[3]: 216
- 1. Complement (C)
- 2. Predicator (P)
- 3-7. Complement (C)
The term Adjunct (A) is reserved for elements which are not obligatory.[3]: 232
This produces the analyses:
- d. I [C] have been [P] in the garden [C].
- d′. I [C] have been [P] in the garden [C] all the time [A] since lunch [A].
- g. You [C] must put [P] all the toys [C] upstairs [C].
- g′. You [C] must put [P] all the toys [C] upstairs [C] immediately [A].
At a more detailed level, the grammar distinguishes the complements between subject and predicative complement
- 1. Subject (S)[3]: 235
- 2. Predicator (P)[3]: 215
- 3. Object (indirect) (Oi)[3]: 244
- 4. Object (direct) (Od)[3]: 244
- 5-6. Predicative complement (PC)[3]: 251
- 7. Locative complement (LC)[3]: 257
Predicative complements are distinguished according to the verb type.[3]: 216 This produces the following analyses:
Verb type | Example clause | |
---|---|---|
Intransitive | a. | Someone [S] was laughing [P]. |
Transitive | b. | My mother [S] enjoys [P] parties [Od]. |
Complex-Intransitive | c. | The country [S] became [P] totally independent [PC].[3]: 263 |
Complex-Intransitive | d. | I [S] have been [P] in the garden [LC]. |
Ditransitive | e. | Mary [S] gave [P] the visitor [Oi] a glass of milk [Od]. |
Complex-Transitive | f. | Most people [S] consider [P] these books [Od] rather expensive [PC].[3]: 264 |
Complex-Transitive | g. | You [S] must put [P] all the toys [Od] upstairs [LC]. |
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e Quirk, Raymond, Sidney Greembaum, Geoffrey Leech and Jan Svartvik, 1985, A Comprehensive Grammar of Contemporary English, Longman, London ISBN 0582517346.
- ^ a b c d e f g Bider, Douglas, Stig Johansson, Geoffrey Leech, Susan Conrad and Edward Finegan, Longman Grammar of Spoken and Written English, Harlow, Pearson Education, 1999. ISBN 0582237254
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Huddleston, Rodney and Geoffrey K Pullum, 2002, The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521431468