Home / Summaries / A SHORT OVERVIEW OF ENGLISH SYNTAX / clauses-prepositions-clause

The structure of adverb phrases

Q: What examples can be given for prepositions functioning with verbs?

Prepositions paired with verbs often include: 'She WENT to London.' 'They ARE in the garden.'

Q: Provide examples of adverb phrases functioning with prepositions.

Adverb phrases linked to prepositions can be seen in: 'LUCKILY for me, no-one knew.' 'I saw her LATER in the day.'

Q: What distinguishes the clauses in [i] from those in [ii]?

Clauses in [i] are negative . Clauses in [ii] are positive despite containing a negative element. They behave like obviously positive clauses in constructions like interrogative tags and so vs nor .

26 important questions on The structure of adverb phrases

What are the main characteristics of adverb phrases compared to adjective phrases?

Differing from adjective phrases, the structure of adverb phrases is:

Generally simpler.
Very few adverbs license complements.
Example of complements: "Luckily for me, it rained."

How do prepositions function within phrases?

Prepositions serve as the Head in preposition phrases which act as:
1. Dependent (Complement or Modifier) to:

Verb
- Noun
- Adjective
- Adverb

What are the typical Complements of prepositions?

Usually, prepositions take a noun phrase, but other options include:

Preposition phrase
Adjective phrase
Adverb phrase
Clause

What is preposition stranding?

This occurs when the Complement of a preposition is:

Placed at the front of a clause
Omitted altogether
Not grammatically incorrect, just informal

How do we differentiate between clausal and subclausal negation?

The distinction lies in the scope of negation:

Clausal Negation affects the whole clause, e.g., "He is not well."
Subclausal Negation affects part, e.g., "He is unwell."

What examples can be given for prepositions functioning with verbs?

Prepositions paired with verbs often include:

"She WENT to London."
"They ARE in the garden."

What role do adjectives play concerning prepositions?

Adjectives connected with prepositions illustrate functions such as:

"She's INTERESTED in politics."
"I'm RESPONSIBLE for them."

Provide examples of adverb phrases functioning with prepositions.

Adverb phrases linked to prepositions can be seen in:

"LUCKILY for me, no-one knew."
"I saw her LATER in the day."

What are common words or affixes used for negation?

Negation can be marked by:

Individual words: not, no, never
Affixes: uncommon, non-compliant, infrequent, careless, isn't, won't

What distinguishes the clauses in [i] from those in [ii]?

Clauses in [i] are negative.
Clauses in [ii] are positive despite containing a negative element.
They behave like obviously positive clauses in constructions like interrogative tags and so vs nor.

How do interrogative tags function in clauses according to [49]?

A clause followed by an interrogative tag seeks confirmation.
Tags reverse the polarity:
- Negative for positive clauses.
- Positive for negative clauses.
Examples illustrate this behavior.

What do the examples in [50] demonstrate about non-affirmative items?

Non-affirmative items often occur in negative or interrogative clauses.
They are generally not used in positive declaratives:
- Example: "He found some cracks" instead of "He found any cracks".
Items include words like anybody and anything.

How is the clause "He is unwell" categorized in relation to its tag?

The clause "He is unwell" is counted as positive.
This classification is due to the negative tag attached to it.
Similar clauses include "He is sick", maintaining positivity.

What do the constructions shown in [49] reveal about clause behavior?

- The constructions indicate how clauses interact with tags:

Positive clauses take negative tags.
Negative clauses take positive tags.

- They demonstrate a systematic pattern in language.

Why can some non-affirmative items appear in affirmative constructions?

Some non-affirmative items possess dual meanings.
When used affirmatively, they can imply every or universal context.
Example: "Anyone can do that" utilizes "anyone" positively.

What are the different kinds of speech acts and their grammatical counterparts?

The kinds of speech acts and their counterparts include:

Declarative - You are very tactful.
Closed Interrogative - Are you very tactful?
Open Interrogative - How tactful are you?
Exclamative - How tactful you are!
Imperative - Be very tactful.

How does the relation between speech acts and clause types work?

The relationship is complex; different terms exist for each category:

Examples like "You're leaving already?" are declarative but ask a question.
"I ask you again..." is declarative yet functions as a question.
"I promise to help you." expresses a promise.

What is the definition of canonical clauses?

Canonical clauses primarily function as declarative statements. They follow standard grammatical structure, asserting a fact without additional complexity in form.

What is indicated by the term "indirect speech act"?

An indirect speech act conveys a different intention than its literal meaning. Examples include:

Asking, "Would you mind opening the door?" serves as a request.
The literal question may imply a polite demand.

Can you give examples of varied speech acts despite limited clause types?

Although clause types are few, speech acts are diverse:

Apologise
Offer
Congratulate
Beseech
Declare a meeting open

How can rising intonation affect declarative clauses?

Rising intonation can turn declarative statements into questions, like:

"You're leaving already?" becomes a question despite being declarative.
Punctuation can also mark the intended question form.

What grammatical structure is common in closed interrogatives?

Closed interrogatives exhibit:

Subject-auxiliary inversion (e.g., "Are you...").
Alternatives derived from conjunctions (e.g., "Is it a boy or a girl?").

What are open interrogatives and what do they consist of?

These question types allow various answers and include an interrogative phrase with a wh- word. Key points are:

Examples include: who, what, when, where, how
Can function as Subject, Complement, or Adjunct
May use Subject-auxiliary inversion
Post-verbal position possible

How are exclamatives structured in a sentence?

Exclamatives begin with an exclamative phrase containing:

how
what (e.g., What a fool I’ve been!)

These constructions express strong emotion or surprise.

What are the characteristics of imperatives?

Imperatives commonly include:

Addressed to you (e.g., "You be careful")
Verb in plain form (e.g., "Don't move")
3rd person imperatives (e.g., "Somebody open the window")
1st person plural marked by let's (e.g., "Let's go!")

What roles do subordinate clauses perform in sentence structure?

Subordinate clauses function within a sentence as:

Part of a phrase
Integrated into a larger clause
They enhance meaning but depend on main clauses for context

The question on the page originate from the summary of the following study material:

A SHORT OVERVIEW OF ENGLISH SYNTAX

View summary

A unique study and practice tool
Never study anything twice again
Get the grades you hope for
100% sure, 100% understanding

Remember faster, study better. Scientifically proven.