The semi-composite sentence.

It’s a sent with at least 2 predicative lines which are expressed in fusion. There’s a dominant predicative line (with full predication)+semi-predicative line (with partial predication – subject+nonfinite form).

He came in and switched on the light (composite-compound sent).

When he came in he switched on the light (composite-complex sent).

Coming in he switched on the light (semi-composite! – 2 predicative lines)

Reasons for the existence of semi-composite sent: 1)tendency of speech to be economical 2)the connection-closer (btw events). Semi-composite sent fall into 2 groups: semi-complex and semi-compound.

According to the number of predicative lines S-s are classified into simple, composite & semi-composite. The simple S is built up by one predicative line. The composite S is built up by 2 or more predicative lines. As a polypredicative construction the composite S reflects a few elementary situations as a unity.

Semi-composite S (intermediary b/n monopredicative & polypredicative patterns) – a S with at least 2 predicative lines which are expressed in fusion. One predicative line is chracterized by full predication & is referred to as hte dominant predicative line. It’s explicitly expressed in the S (domination bilateral mono-pred) He came in-He didn’t come in.

Semi-composite S: Semi complex & semi-compound.

Paradigmatically it’s derived from at least 2-base S-s by means of phrasalization /semi-complexing. The insert S is transformed into a partially depredicated construction which is embedded in one of the syntactic positions of the matrix S. Finally the matrix S becomes its dominant part & the insert S its subordinate type.

According to the character (degree) of fusion:

22.

Semi-complex s-s built up by

1) the position-shring:

a) subject-sharing; b) object-shring.

2) linear extension:

a) S-s of attributive complication; b) of adverbial complication; c) of nominal-phrase complication.

1) a) Semi-complex S-s built up by subject sharing – built up by means of phrasalization & overlap identical subjects. Built up by means of 2-base S-s overlapping round the common subject:

The man stood + The man was silent => The man stood silent.; The moon rose. + The moon was red => The moon rose red. (1 subject, 2 predicative lines, double predicate of the subject-sharing type.)

2. The verb-predicate is always in the passive voice. Secondary predication – participle/infinitive:

He was seen to come. He was seen coming (= 2 base elements: He being seen + He coming) Overlap round the identical subject.

He is considered to be a good musician. (= He being considered + He being musician).

They were made to do that (= They be made + They doing that) “Make” – verb of compulsion.

The horse was seen unsettled (= The horse being seen + The horse beimg unsettled). Participle II is used.

S-s expressing actions & states go into the group of subject-sharing + S-s with the finite verb in the passive voice followed by the infinitive/participle.

1) b) Semi-complex S-s built up by object sharing = Complex Object. They are derived from 2 base patterns, overlapping around one word, that perfom the function of object in the matrix S & of subject in the insert S.

They painted the door white (= They painted the door + The door becoming white). Semi-complex S, 2 predicative lines. “White” – predicative, refers to an object)

Complex Object followed by the infinitive/participle:

We heard the boy singing (= We heard the boy + the boy singing).

They watched the ship disappearing

Dad made me do it again.

I never heard the word pronounced like that (=I hearing the word + the word pronounced).

2) a) Semi-complex S-s of attributive complication – derived from 2 base S-s having an identical element that occupies the position of the subject in the insert S & any notional position in the matrix S. The insert S is usually an expanded one. By the semi-complexing process, the insert S drops out its subject-identical constituent & is transformed into a semi-predicative post-positional attribute to the antecedent element in the matrix S:

The girl crying in the hall looked familiar to me (=the girl looked familiar to me (matrix S) + the girl was crying (insert S). The 2 base S-s overlap round the word “girl” as a subject in both S-s.

The common pre-positional attribute is devoid of a similar half-predicative character & is not to be considered as forming a semi-composite construction with the dominant predicative unit:

The bored family switched off th TV – the family, bored, switched off the TV.

As for the possible detachment of the defining element (construction) in pre-position, tis use is rather to be analysed as adverbial, not attrebutive, the circumstantial semantic component prevailing over the attributive one in this case.

Bored, the family switched off th TV => As the family was bored, it switched off the TV.

Semi-complex S-s of attributive complication are easily transforned into complex S-s proper, with an attributive clause: There’s a river flowing through the village -> there’s a river, that flows through the village.

Semi-complex S-s of attributive complication might feature an adj in its structure: We all admired the roses red against the wall -> We admired the roses, that looked red.

Rule of the Subject: The subject of S-s of attributive complication is always deleted in the insert S-s, though it’s presented in attributive claise.

2) b) Semi-complex S-s of adverbial complication – are derived from at least 2 base S-s, where the insert S in placed in one of the adverbial posotions of the matrix S. S-s characterized by participles. These participial constructions can be either absolute or conjoint:

Conjoint participial construction:

He came to the party, though still refusing the drinks. (the subjects are identical, the 2^nd subject is deleted by means of semi-complexing).

Absolute participial construction:

The weather being fine, they went for a walk. (the subjects never disappear, are never deleted).

Rule of the subject: The subject of the insert S is deleted, if it’s identical with the subj of the matrix S.

2) c) Semi-complex S-s of nominal phrase complication –are derived from at least 2 base patterns, where the insert S is invalid of any position in the matrix S. These S-s are changed by the use of infinitives & gerunds only. (Have features of verb & noun) => S-s built up by nominal phrase complication. These infinitives & gerunds can be used as:

- Subjects: Bob being late annoyed me. (2 pred lines: bob being late + That fact annoying); To make friends is not an easy thing (= people making friends + it’s not being an easy thing).

- Objects: I don’t know where to go. (= I not knowing + I going); They don’t object my smoking (= they not objecting + I smoking).

- Predicatives: This is for you to decide (= this being that + you deciding); It means lining up (= It meaning that + people (stands for a general person) lining up).

- Attributes: I have no home to live in (=I having no home + I living in); I don’t like the idea their going there. (= I don’t like the idea + they going there).

- Adverbial modifiers: He stepped aside for me to come in. (= he stepping aside + I coming in) “for me to come in” – the subject to the infinitive.; He goes to bed to read a book (= he going to bed + he reading a book).

The rule of the Subject: the subject of the insert S is deleted, if it’s identical to the subj of the matrix S, or if it refers to a general person

Seeing is believing (= people seeing + people believing) -> general persons -> subjects are omitted.

Date: 2015-12-24; view: 1127