STRUCTURE III

EXPANDING BASIC SENTENCE

ELEMENTS

Program Studi
Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris
FKIP - UNDANA
Expanding basic sentence elements
- Basic sentences mainly consist of SUBJECT and
PREDICATE.
- The SUBJECT is a NOUN
- The PREDICATE still consists of PREDICATOR, which
is a VERB, and other functions such as OBJECT and
COMPLEMENT if any, depending on the verb.
- The OBJECT if any is a NOUN.
- The COMPLEMENT if any, can be a NOUN, an
ADJECTIVE, or an ADVERB.
- SUBJECT, PREDICATOR, OBJECT and
COMPLEMENT are grammar functions, or also
called syntactic functions, which are constant
and empty.

- These grammar functions are always there

and can only be identified if they are
occupied by a / some words.

- These grammar functions cannot be

expanded, but the word(s) or the
constituent(s) that occupies the grammar
function can be expanded.
- The constituent that occupies the grammar
function are in various forms. It can be a single
word, but it can also be a phrase consisting of
several words.
- In syntax, the constituent that occupies a
grammar function is always considered a
phrase, even if it consists of only a single word.
- Regardless of the total number of words that
occupies a grammar function, there MUST
always be one word that stands as the head or
core of the functions.
- The category of the head word determines the
type of the phrase taking up the grammar
function.
- Thus, since SUBJECT, for example, can only be
occupied by a noun, the phrasal category for a
subject is NOUN PHRASE (usually abbreviated to
be NP).
- Phrasal categories (types of phrases) that are
generally identified from the constituents of
grammar functions include the following.
a. Noun phrase (NP)
b. Verb phrase (VP)
c. Adjective phrase (AdjP)
d. Adverb phrase (AdvP)
e. Prepositional phrase (PP)
Noun phrase (NP)
1. A noun phrase may consists of:

determiner/modifier - noun head - modifier.

noun head
2. NP ......... N .........
determiner/modifier
Read: “consists of” - article
- demonstrative
- adjective
pre-modiffier - possessive
NP ......... N ......... - numeral/quantifiers
- noun

- prep. phrase
post-modifier
- adjective clause
noun head
Example
An NP can be:
- dogs N
- a dog DET; N
- a big dog DET; Adj.; N
- a big black dog DET; Adj.; Adj.; N
- my dog Poss; N
- my black dog Poss; Adj.; N
- my big black dog Poss; Adj.; Adj.; N
- dog in the kitchen N; PP
- dog that is barking N; AdjClause
- the big dog in the kitchen DET; ADJ; N; PP
- the big dog that is barking DET; ADJ; N; AdjClause
- it PRON.
Thus, we can have NPs like:
- a/the big dog DET, Adj., N
- a/the big dog in the kitchen DET, Adj., N, PP
- my big dog in the kitchen Poss., Adj., N, PP
- a/the big dog which is barking DET, Adj., N, AdjCls
- my big dog which is barking Poss, Adj., N, AdjCls
- it PRON.

(Det, Adj) N (PP, AdjC)

NP PRO
There may be multi-occurrence of some adjectives in a NP:
Exercises
A. Identify the noun phrase functioning as subject in each of the
following sentences!
B. Choose the correct answer in the parenthesis!
 Verb phrase
1. A verb phrase consists of :
auxiliary/modifier – main verb – object/complement/modifier
main verb
2. VP ......... V .........
auxiliary/modifier object/complement/modifier
- adv of frequency
- modals - to be
- aux verb - to do - place
- to have - time
VP ......... V .........
- modifier (adverbials) - manner
- frequency
- adverb clauses
- (direct) object
- object
main verb - indirect object
- subject complement
- complement
- object complement
3. Verb phrase can be of various structures:
a. Intransitive verb : VP V (AdvP; PP)
- He slept soundly in the morning
b. Transitive verb : VP V NP (AdvP; PP)
- They killed a lion brutally with a spear.
c. DiTransitive verb : VP V NP NP (AdvP; PP)
- They gave the boy some money every day.
d. Complex-Transitive verb : VP V NP NP / AdjP / AdvP
- They called the boy a coward of the game.
- She wanted her hair short.
- She wanted her son here.
e. Intensive verb : VP V NP / AdjP / AdvP / PP
- They are students
- We are very happy
- I am here.
- She is in the room.
4. The predicator may be in a single verb, but it may also
be in a group consisting of a main verb along with an
auxiliary/some auxiliaries (if any).
a. Verb group that contains only a full / main verb.
- They fed his dog.
- The man slept.
b. Verb group that contains a full / main verb along
with an auxiliary / some auxiliaries.
- They have fed his dog.
- They will have arrived by 10 o’clock tomorrow.
- He might have been sleeping for a few hours.
- The boy should have been punished for his own fault.

5. Auxiliary verbs add grammatical meaning to the main

verb. English aux verbs are : a. to do
b. to be
c. to have
6. ‘To do’ is used with a main verb for negative and
interrogative sentences in the present simple and
past simple tense:
- They do not like banana. - She did not come last night.
- Do you like banana? - Did you arrive last night?
7. ‘To be’ is used with a main verb to indicate:
a. Progressive or continuous tense (to be + V-ing)
- They are learning English.
- She was sleeping when I arrived last night.
- We have been waiting for you for hours.
- He will be teaching when you arrive tomorrow.
b. Passive voice (to be + V3)
- They are not allowed to class.
- She was kidnapped last night.
- They have been informed about the accident.
- He will be punished for cheating in the exam.
8. ‘To have’ is used with a main verb to indicate
perfect tenses (to have + V3):
- They have done the homework.
- She has not met her parent for a few years.
- I had finished my dinner when they arrived last night.
- We will have arrived at the station by 10 o’clock to night.

9. ‘To have’ + ‘to be’ is used with a main verb to express

perfect progressive tenses : (to have + been V-ing)
- They have been playing the game for three hours.
- She had been sleeping long when I arrived last night.
- I will be teaching at ten tomorrow.
10. Modals auxiliaries are mostly used to express speakers’
mood. Examples:
- Probability:
They might be sick.
- Logical conclusion:
She just bought a new house; she must have a lost of money.
 - Necessity:
Your left foot is swollen, you must see a doctor soon.
- Polite request:
The time is over, you may leave the room, professor Tans.

11. Auxiliary verbs are combined with modal expressions.

- ‘to do’ + modal:
You do not have to go to school today; it is a holiday.
- modal + ‘to be’ (progressive) :
No body is seen around, they might be sleeping.
- modal + ‘to be’ (passive):
Don’t go there; you can be killed.
- modal + ‘to have’ (perfect) :
You should have finished the work.
- modal + ‘to have’ (perfect) + passive:
Your dog might have been killed.
- modal + ‘to have’ (perfect) + passive:
Your dog might have been killed.
 Exercises:
A.
B.
C. Many adjectives are formed from nouns and verbs. The adjective
thirsty, for example, comes from thirst, which may be either a noun or
a verb. Complete each sentence below with the adjective form of the
italicized noun or verb.
D. Many adverbs are formed by adding -ly to an adjective. The adverb
softly, for instance, comes from the adjective soft. Note, however, that
not all adverbs end in -ly. Very, quite, always, almost, and often are
some of the common adverbs that are not formed from adjectives.
Complete each sentence below with the adverb form of the italicized
adjective.
E.
Adjective Phrase
1. Adjective phrase tells us something about the noun it is
modifying. The head (core/principal) word in an adjective phrase
is adjective.
2. An adjective head word can only be modified by an adverb
telling about the intensity of the quality being described by the
adjective word.
Example: These shoes are very expensive.
The adjective phrase ‘very expensive’ consists of very, which
is an adverb of intensification that tells us about the intensity of
the quality of being expensive, and the adjective word
‘expensive’.
3. An adjective phrase can be used attributively (attributive
adjective) and predicatively (predicative adjective).
4. An attributive adjective is used as a noun modifier; it occurs
within a noun phrase whose head noun is the one being
modified by the adjective.
Example:
The tired lioness is losing patience with her enthusiastic cub.
They found the missing boy dead.
That rather naughty boy found an extremely expensive diamond.

5. A predicative adjective is used as a subject complement of a

linking verb.
Example:
The lioness is tired so it becomes helpless.
Your story is very touching and inspiring.
That gentlemen is rich and generous.
Exercises:
1. Complete the following sentences with the most appropriate
form of comparative adjectives.
1. Jake's room is _______________ than Larry's room (small).
2. The blue car is __________ than the black car (nice).
3. This exercise is _____________ than that one (boring).
4. His pullover is _____________ than his jeans (dark).
5. Susan's hair is ______________ than my hair (long).
6. George is _______________ than Robert (funny).
7. My result in the test was ________________ than Harry's (good).
8. Gold is ________________ than silver (expensive).
9. Christine is _________________ than Alice (smart).
10. Football is _____________ than handball (popular).
11. Nick is _________________ than Chris (tall).
12. This smartphone is _________________ than that one (cheap).
13. Kitesurfing is _________________ than hiking (dangerous).
 14. November is _______________ than July in Europe (cold).
15. She always arrives _______________ than her teacher (late).
16. Tomorrow will be _______________ than today (sunny).
17. Peggy is _______________ than Vanessa (careful).
18. These headphones are _______________ than my old ones (bad).
19. Jack's car is _______________ than mine (fast).
20. He’s ___________ than his brother (intelligent).
2. The following was written by a learner. Identify and explain any
mistakes in the form and use of adjectives!
Adverb Phrase
1. It is important to note here that the term ‘adverb’ may refer to
two different grammatical things;
- firstly, the term may refer to ‘adverb’ as a part of speech.
- secondly, it may refer to a grammar function, which in some
literature such as DeCapua, Andrea (2008), is called
‘adverbial’.
To avoid confusion in this discussion, the term ‘adverb’ is used
to refer to part of speech, whereas ‘adverbial’ to grammar
function.
2. In terms of part of speech, adverb phrases come in several
types. Those which are used in basic clauses include:
a. Adverb phrase of time, such as ‘yesterday, to day, now’.
b. Adverb of place, such as ‘here, there’.
3. Adverbs of manner in English is generally derived from an
adjective, by adding -ly to the base adjective, such as:
- quick  quickly - slow  slowly
- powerful  powerfully - beautiful  beautifully
- strong  strongly - expensive  expensively
4. In terms of grammar function, an adverbial does not necessarily
an adverb. It may take some different forms, including:
a. Prepositional phrase
Example :
- Time : - They arrived in the morning.
- Bats do not sleep at night.
- Place : - My parents live in a small village.
- They slept on the floor.
b. Adverb phrase
- Manner : - The old lady walks very slowly .
- They girl dances rather beautifully.
- Time : - They arrived early morning.
- It is already late evening, but she does not
come yet.
c. Adverb clause
Adverb clause has the same function as adverb (phrase)
- Time : - They arrived when I was not at home .
- They girl always has breakfast before she
goes to school.
- Place : - They live where they were born.
- You will find coca cola wherever you go.
- Manner : - She acts as if she was an actress.
- The man walks however he likes.
Exercises:
1. Choose the most appropriate word for the blanks in following
sentences!
1. He reads a book _______________ . (quick)
2. Mandy is a _______________ girl. (pretty)
3. The class is _______________ loud today. (terrible)
4. Max is a _______________ singer. (good)
5. You can open this tin _______________ . (easy)
6. It's a _______________ day today. (terrible)
7. She sings the song very _______________ . (good)
8. He is a _______________ driver. (careful)
9. He drives the car _______________ . (careful)
10. The dog barks _______________ . (loud)
11. The bus driver was _______________ injured. (serious)
12. Kevin is _______________ clever. (extreme)
13. This hamburger tastes _______________ . (awful)
14. Be _______________ with this glass of milk. It's hot. (careful)
15. Robin looks _______________ . What's the matter with him? (sad)
16. Jack is _______________ upset about losing his keys. (terrible)
17. This steak smells _______________ . (good)
18. Our basketball team played _______________ last Friday. (bad)
19. Don't speak so _______________ . I can't understand you. (fast)
20. Maria opened her present _______________ . (slow)
Expanding basic sentence patterns
1. In addition to expanding basic sentence elements or
constituents, we can also expand a sentence by adding
necessary details to make it more descriptive. A
descriptive sentence lets readers visualize what they are
reading and clearly understand what the author is
saying.
2. By expanding simple/basic sentences this way, we add
information that answers
a. When?
b. Where?
c. How?
3. These grammar functions can be added to the five basic
sentence patterns, as shown in the following examples.
a. Pattern with intransitive verb
Example:
- The boy always sleeps on the floor at night.
- They walked to school slowly every morning.
b. Pattern with transitive verb
Example:
- The man bought some fish from the market this afternoon.
- She wears her best dress proudly every time she goes to a party.
c. Pattern with ditransitive verb
Example:
- My father sends me some money every month for my school fee.
- That gentleman kindly provides some additional sits for the quests
in the party.
d. Pattern with complex-transitive verb
Example:
- She consider the boy a big boss every day.
- They want their assignment done before the class begins.
e. Pattern with linking verb
Example:
- She was sick last year.
- She became a teacher at the primary school two years ago.
Exercises:
1. Choose the most appropriate word for the blanks in following
sentences!
References:
Azar, Betty Schramper. 2002. Understanding and Using English Grammar.
Second Edition. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, Inc.
Huddleston, Rodney, & Pullum, Geoffrey K (Eds.). 2002. The Cambridge
Grammar of the English Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press.
Maurer, Jay. 1990. Focus on Grammar; An Advanced Course for Reference
and Practice, (2nd Ed). New York: A Pearson Education Company.
Azar, Betty Schramper. 1996. Basic English Grammar. Second Edition. New
Jersey: Prentice Hall, Inc.
DeCapua, Andrea (2008). Grammar for Teachers; A Guide to American
English for Native and Non-Native Speakers. New York: Springer.
Freeborn, Dennis. (1995). A Course Book in English Grammar; Standard
English and the Dialects (2nd ed.). London: Macmillan Press Ltd.
Parrott, Martin. (2004). Grammar for English Language Teachers. Cambrdige:
Cambridge University Press.