The structure of the english sentence

THE STRUCTURE OF THE ENGLISH

SENTENCE

COMPLEX SENTENCE: Two or more
CLAUSES at different hierarchical levels.
e.g.: Although portable computers have become commonplace, their price is still prohibitive in some cases. (SUBORDINATION)
THE STRUCTURE OF THE ENGLISH

SENTENCE

CENTRAL AND PERIPHERAL ELEMENTS:
CONSTITUENCY OF CLAUSES:

• 
  Subject
  
• 
  Verb
  
• 
  Object(s)
  
• 
  Complement(s)
  
• 
  Adverbial(s)
  

THE STRUCTURE OF THE ENGLISH SENTENCE

e.g.:

1. 
   Optical fibres transmit pulses of light.
   
2. 
   The Director has given us his opinion on the matter.
   
3. 
   Most people consider portable devices quite expensive (Co).
   
4. 
   LANs are particularly useful (Cs) in University areas.
   

THE STRUCTURE OF THE ENGLISH

SENTENCE

The VERB is the most ‘central’ element in that

1. 
   its position is normally medial rather than initial or final
   
2. 
   it is normally compulsory
   
3. 
   it cannot normally be moved to a different position
   
4. 
   it helps to determine what other elements must occur
   

THE STRUCTURE OF THE ENGLISH

SENTENCE

ADVERBIALS are the most ‘peripheral’elements (‘optional extras’):

1. 
   their position is most frequently final
   
2. 
   they are usually optional
   

4. 
   they are mostly mobile
   
5. 
   they do not determine what other elements occur
   

THE STRUCTURE OF THE ENGLISH

SENTENCE

CLASSIFICATION OF ADVERBIALS:
DISJUNCTS (Sentence adverbials/Subjective comment): To be honest, it cannot be said that the computer performance is up to our expectations.
CONJUNCTS (Sentence adverbials/Connective function): Yet, it is just a problem of stability.
ADJUNCTS (Time, place, manner...): Third-generation devices will soon become commonplace.