Structure of Modification
Structure of Modification
Structure of Modification
Structural Grammar*
*เนื ้อหาทังหมดของ
้ Structural Grammar คัดลอกมาจากเอกสารประกอบการสอนรายวิชา
2202326 วากยสัมพันธ์ภาษาอังกฤษ (English Syntax) (Chapter 1 Structural Grammar, หน้ า 1-16)
เรี ยบเรี ยงโดย ผศ.ดร.น ้าทิพย์ ภิงคารวัฒน์ และ ดร.รักสงบ วิจิตรโสภณ
ภาควิชาภาษาอังกฤษ คณะอักษรศาสตร์ จุฬาลงกรณ์มหาวิทยาลัย
In the following sections, each of the five structures will be presented in terms of its
major components, the principal pattern of order and a range of functions that it may hold.
Structure of Modification
A structure of modification consists of a head (H) and a modifier (M). The head
carries the principal meaning while the modifier serves to describe, limit, intensify the
meaning of the head. Both the head and the modifier may be either single words, phrases or
clauses. In terms of ordering, the modifier can precede or follow the head.
EFL-200: Analysis of the English Word and Sentence Structure / Page 2
Below, the structures of modification will be presented based on the types of heads.
1. Noun or Noun Phrase as Head
Examples below show a range of modifiers that can occur with nouns or noun phrases
as heads; all the modifiers are underlined. The pronominal modifiers are presented first.
- Determiner as modifier: the boy
- Noun as modifier (called “noun adjunct”): chocolate cake
- Verb as modifier - present participle form: chattering girls
- past participle form: recommended lists
- Adjective as modifier: pretty women
The post nominal modifiers include the following.
- Noun Phrase as modifier (called “noun phrase in apposition” or “ appositive”):
my uncle, the doctor
- Adverb as modifier: the house over there
- Infinitive as modifier: a house to rent
- Infinitival Phrase as modifier: a book to present to class
- Present Participial Phrase as modifier: the boy coming in second
- Past Participial Phrase as modifier: people raised in the city
- Adjective Phrase as modifier: children, big and small
- Prepositional Phrase as modifier: the house on the hill
- Relative Clause as modifier: the stranger who I met
3. Adjective as Head
Adjective may function as head in structure of modification, with different types of
words and phrases as modifiers.
Identify the types of the underlined modifiers to the adjectives below. Pay attention to
the position of the modifiers in relation to the heads.
Type of Modifier
- extremely important ______________________________
- quite hungry ______________________________
- helpful in every way ______________________________
- house high ______________________________
- bright blue ______________________________
- boiling hot ______________________________
- easy to follow ______________________________
Positions of modifiers:
___________________________________________________________________________
4. Adverb as Head
When an adverb is used as head, a range of modifiers is quite limited. Identify the
types of the underlined modifiers to the adverbs below.
Type of Modifier
- beautifully indeed ______________________________
- unbelievably well ______________________________
- two minute before ______________________________
- outside in the dark ______________________________
Positions of modifiers:
___________________________________________________________________________
EFL-200: Analysis of the English Word and Sentence Structure / Page 4
6. Clause as head
A Whole clause can occur with modifiers of various types. These modifiers are called
“sentence modifiers”. Identify the types of the underlined sentence modifiers below. Pay
attention to their position.
Type of Modifier
- He came to my recue, fortunately. ___________________________
- The research, in my opinion, is complete. ___________________________
- Threatened by the police, the criminal confessed. __________________________
- To win a lotto, you have to start buying one. __________________________
- When you see him, you will recognize him. ___________________________
Positions of modifiers:
___________________________________________________________________________
Exercise 1
For each underlined structure of modification below, draw a vertical line separating
the two main components; put H above the head and M above the modifier. Also identify the
type of head.
1. The new book tackles the very origins of America‟s racial history.
________________________
2. The necklace must have been hidden somewhere.
________________________
3. Her maid seemed to have become incapable of any thought.
________________________
EFL-200: Analysis of the English Word and Sentence Structure / Page 5
4. In one intense section a few years ago, a patient cried out loud.
________________________
5. To be sure, the orchestra is not the best in the world.
________________________
6. Her performance is a bit below average.
________________________
7. Police are advising the public against traveling in the fog.
________________________
8. That vey shiny tea kettle with a wooden handle was a gift from my sister.
________________________
9. He parked a little farther away.
________________________
10. Her eyes flashed open when she heard the news.
________________________
Exercise 2
For each underlined structure of modification below, put parentheses around its modifier.
1. Roy admitted that he had hugely inflated the company‟s profits for years.
2. In recent week they launched economic rescue efforts similar to those in the west.
3. To impress the interviewers, he managed to arrive half an hour before schedule.
4. Her new book, in my opinion, is much better than the earlier ones.
5. About thirteen years ago, he stayed in this lovely village for almost a month.
6. I need a walk-in closet big enough to hold all my clothes.
7. According to a poll, across America 59% of workers say they are satisfied with their jobs.
8. In addition to moderately priced accessories made with anonymous strings, Molly creates
pieces from celebrity strings.
9. He remarked in recalling his memories that the function of the marriage broker was
honorable.
10. Do you think we can confidently rely on him to improve the image of the company?
EFL-200: Analysis of the English Word and Sentence Structure / Page 6
Structure of Predication
A structure of predication consists of a subject (S) and a predicate (P). the subject can
be a word, a phrase or a clause of various types, whereas a predicate can be only a verb or a
verb phrase. The form of the verb in the predicate may be either finite or non-finite. As for
ordering, the subject normally precedes the predicates. Still, in some cases, the predicate may
precede the subject; this is called “Inversion”. One may even find the subject in the middle of
the predicate.
S P
- The girls / gathered wild flowers.
S P
- (We watched) a kitten / trying to climb a tree.
S P
- (We’ll get) someone / to repair the door.
P S
- Down the street came / a mad dog.
P S P
- How did / she / react to your comment?
Exercise 3
For each underlined structure of predication below, draw a vertical line separating the two
main components; put S above the subject and P above the predicate.
1. Dorothy encourages her son to pursue his interest in map till he becomes an expert.
2. Fifty yards of tiptoeing brought them to a door which the director cautiously opened.
3. I overheard my husband telling our son about a fishing game he downloaded.
4. From the ranks of the crawling babies came little squeals of excitement.
5. Workers have reportedly seen Monarch butterflies flutter by their windows.
6. A few feet from my office live some colleagues whose parents come from Ireland.
7. Even in the dry season, I can observe grass shoots springing out.
8. Directly facing him was the box of old Mrs. Mingott, the former beauty queen.
9. “We want to raise some money for the poor”, said Mr. Kenning, the CEO.
10. These waters are frequented by whales, and locals attribute the return of fish to the
recent conservation efforts.
Exercise 4
Underline all the subjects found in the following passage.
In some parts of East Orange, the buildings that had once been gracious apartment
houses with marble lobbies, doormen, canopied walkways, private garages, had degenerated
into dangerous low-income projects, welfare hotels, and mental-health warehouses. But the
Brick Church district, where the Wyatts lived, had not changed in twenty years. Right there
had always been a blue collar neighborhood of run-down tenements with rust-stained
asbestos siding.
Exercise 5
Underline all the predicates found in the following passage.
“Nobody will admit that they‟re at fault in phoning while driving,” says Inspector Ken
Lee of the Malaysian Traffic Police. “But who among us has not seen a driver on a hand
phone suddenly cut into a lane, heedless of the traffic flow?
EFL-200: Analysis of the English Word and Sentence Structure / Page 8
Structure of Complementation
A structure of complementation is a verb phrase consisting of two major components:
a verbal element (VB) and a complement (C). The verbal element may be a finite verb or
verb phrase, or a non-finite verb in the form of an infinitive, an infinitive without „to‟ or a
present participle. The complement is an essential part; it cannot be omitted since it helps
make the construction meaningful.
There are four kinds of verbs that occur in the structure of complementation; each has
its own complement or set of complements as follow.
Circle the mono-transitive verb. Identify the type of the underlined direct object below.
Type of direct object
- Jane enjoys swimming. _____________________________________
- The boys think they saw a ghost. _____________________________________
- My girlfriend is planning to open a store. _____________________________________
- Liz likes walking in the park. _____________________________________
- The committee agreed the oral defense was satisfactory. _________________________
Circle the di-transitive verb. Identify the type of the underlined indirect object below.
Type of indirect object
- The teacher told the class her expectation. ________________________________
- The club promised them a farewell party. ________________________________
- I will give whoever wins a kiss. ________________________________
Circle the complex-transitive verb. Identify the type of the underlined objective complement
below.
Type of objective complement
- The board appointed him chairman of the committee. ___________________________
- They will hold you responsible for all the damage. ___________________________
- The judge declared Martha guilty. ___________________________
- We found the little boy alone. ___________________________
- I will have my apartment refurnished. ___________________________
- Their answer keeps us in doubt. ___________________________
Some verbs have homonyms, which are different types of verbs. Identify the type of
the underlined verb of verb phrase below as either linking verb, mono-transitive verb, di-
transitive verb, complex-transitive verb, or intransitive verb.
Type of verb
- He sounded his horn raucously. ___________________________
- The music sounds lovely. ___________________________
- The church bells sounded faintly in the distance. ___________________________
- She made him a good husband. ___________________________
- She is making him a cake. ___________________________
- She has made him promise. ___________________________
- She will make a good wife. ___________________________
EFL-200: Analysis of the English Word and Sentence Structure / Page 10
Exercise 6
For each underlined structure of complementation below, draw a vertical line or lines
separating the components; put VB above the verbal element, SC above the subjective
complement, DO above the direct object, IO above the indirect object and OC above the
objective complement.
1. The sightline provides clients one of the resort‟s many memorable view.
2. The high ratio of salinity in the Dead Sea creates an effect on swimming like having
yourself pumped full of air.
3. Whatever the motivations, working adult will bring the classroom life and industry
experiences that contribute to classroom dynamics.
4. Ken has made the molecular tool kit freely available to his colleagues.
5. In the past employers may have been more willing to allow new hires a longer time to
learn on the job.
6. Old-shirts are in a box in the attic, awaiting the day my girls head for college.
7. English has become more than just a tool to gain access to modern technology.
8. The textbook presents the country we lived in as colorless and dull.
9. Indigenous languages seem to have relied more and more heavily on the spoken words.
10. A lengthy competitive campaign means being willing to drop everything.
Exercise 7
Underline every complement found; specify whether it is a (n) SC, DO, IO or OC.
The shell in my hand is simple, bare, and beautiful.it once housed a whelk, a snail-like
creature, and then temporarily, after the death of the first occupant, sheltered a little hermit
crab, who ran away, leaving behind him his track on the sand. He vacated, and left me his
shell. I pay with the shell in my hand, gazing into the wide open door from which he made
his exit. Did he hope to find a better mode of shelter? I too have run away, I realize.
EFL-200: Analysis of the English Word and Sentence Structure / Page 11
Structure of Subordination
A structure of subordination is a phrase or a clause which consists of two major
components: a subordinator (SUB) and a dependent unit (D). The subordinator may be a
preposition e.g. at, in, above or a subordinating conjunction e.g. „although, when, that‟. The
dependent unit may be a word, a phrase or a clause.
SUB D
- in / the car
SUB D
- because of / the rain
SUB D
- when / I listen to this song
SUB D
- that / people believe this story
Structure of subordination can perform several functions; namely, they can serve as
different major components of larger structure.
Exercise 8
Identify the function of the underlined structure of subordination below. Use abbreviations.
Function
1. Studies show that standing old trees release nutrients to younger trees. ___________
2. After their arrival, the early people slowly spread southward. __________________
3. The story is beyond your imagination. __________________
4. I wonder whether you can give me a hand. __________________
5. When he comes or when he leaves is always a secret. __________________
6. That men evolved from monkeys is strongly objected. __________________
7. Anna told the host why she left the party so soon. __________________
8. In the cellar is where all the wine is kept. __________________
9. Your argument hit precisely on the spot. __________________
10. He arrived late due to the train strike.
EFL-200: Analysis of the English Word and Sentence Structure / Page 12
Structure of Coordination
A structure of coordination consists of two or more conjoins with a coordinator or
coordinators. The conjoins can be words, phrases, or clauses of any types that are
syntactically equivalent units. The coordinators may be coordinating conjunction e.g. „and,
but, or‟, correlative conjunction e.g. „either…or, not only… but also‟. This is the only
structure that contains more than two components.
CN CO CN
- quickly / as well as / quietly
CO CN CO CN
- either / stay home / or / go out jogging
CO- CN -CO CN
- not only/ what he claimed / but also / what they mentioned
Conjoins usually belong to the same category and may have the same structure. This
is a simple version of conjoins as “syntactically equivalent units”.
CN1 CN2
- both buy the grocery and cook dinner
CN1 = verb phrase, structure of complementation
CN2 = verb phrase, structure of complementation
CN1 CN2
- (the topic) which surprised everyone and which amazed me
CN1 = relative clause, structure of predication
CN2 = relative clause, structure of predication
Exercise 9
Underline the structures of coordination, circle the coordinator, and specify the functions of
the structures of coordination.
Function
1. We heard nothing but were not worried. _________________
2. Air-conditioning both cleans and cools buildings. _________________
EFL-200: Analysis of the English Word and Sentence Structure / Page 13
Exercise 10
Draw a vertical line separating each underlined structure into its major components. For the
structure of coordination, circle the coordinator instead. Then identify the structure of each
of the underlined items using the following abbreviations.
Mod – Structure of modification Subor – Structure of subordination
Pred – Structure of predication Coor – Structure of coordination
Comp – Structure of complementation
________ 1. Combinations of tones sound pleasant to the ear when the individual frequencies
are in proportion.
________ 2. Green tea seems to boost metabolism above and beyond the lift from caffeine
alone.
________ 3. Ordinarily a tornado breaks up suddenly and dissipates less than four hours after
it was formed.
________ 4. When you‟re in love, your eyes light up, your face lights up, and apparently, so
do four tiny bits of your brain.
________ 5. His good time as a teenager was sitting in a coffee shop with a newspaper,
writing a line on the back of a napkin.
________ 6. John usually says it‟s not the injuries that hurt but the regret that he failed to
save the life of that boy.
________ 7. With the Renaissance came advances in the arts, government, philosophy, and
science.
________ 8. About 18,500 new private businesses opened in Vietnam last year bringing the
number established since January 2000 to 33,000.
EFL-200: Analysis of the English Word and Sentence Structure / Page 14
________ 9. Light projected from a source or reflected by an object enters the cornea and
lens of the eyeball.
________ 10. Potassium argon dating, which is used to calculate the age of ancient volcanic
rocks has caused anthropologists to revise their estimates of the age of some
Stone Age cultures.
Exercise 11
In the blank provided, indicate the function of the underlined items using the following
abbreviations.
H head OC objective complement
M modifier DO direct object
S subject IO indirect object
P predicate CN conjoin
VB verbal element CO coordinator
SC subjective complement SUB subordinator
D dependent unit
________ 1. A drop of 20 percent in production from 1967 has left millions of Africans
hungry and physically weakened.
________ 2. The national government could enforce decisions that required states to
cooperate with each other or to support activities that served the common good.
________ 3. When we hear others in the environment speaking our native language, we hear
them uttering words.
________ 4. The growth of international law and cooperation over the past century has
prepared all the world citizens to create a permanent peace with worldwide
prosperity.
________ 5. Once we begin to construct plausible answer, we quickly discover that
interesting and subtle new problems arise.
________ 6. While assigning the creatures their varying activities and social standing, Sanga
designs each with tow common features: a narrow slit and a smile.
________ 7. Radically modern new modes of thought flowered everywhere.
________ 8. Silkroad has expanded its offering to include matching tote bags and sandals,
perfect for a short summer excursion.
EFL-200: Analysis of the English Word and Sentence Structure / Page 15
________ 9. The selfish Western nations have refused to cooperate or to contemplate ways to
alleviate the plight of the poor.
________ 10. At the spice stand are bags of garlic, shallots, and dry chilies, all used in curry
pate.
Generally, each group of words consists of several layers of structures, one over the
other. No matter how complicated a group of words may be, it can always be analyzed in
terms of the five basic structures. English syntax is thus a many-layered organization of
relatively few types of basic units. Every structure may be divided until the ultimate
constituents (individual words) are reached. Hence, how to do it is to start from the outermost
layer of structure and do the IC-analysis layer by layer, as if you are peeling an onion, until
you reach the individual words.
One thing to observe is that doing IC-analysis of a noun phrase and a verb phrase
starts at the opposite end.
Steps in doing IC-analysis of a noun phrase
1. Determine the nucleus of the noun phrase
the rare wild flowers in Thailand today
2. Identify the premodifier (s) and postmodifier (s) one by one.
the rare wild flowers [in Thailand] today
1 2 3 I II
3. Cut off the postmodifier first by beginning with the last one. Identify them as constituents,
not as words.
3.1 the rare wild flowers in Thailand today
H M
3.2 the rare wild flowers in Thailand today
H M
H M
EFL-200: Analysis of the English Word and Sentence Structure / Page 17
4. Then cut off the premodifiers beginning with the first one and continue cutting until you
reach the nucleus.
4.1 the rare wild flowers in Thailand today
M H
H M
H M
3. Identify the premodifier (usually there is only one) and the postmodifier (s)
[ ] indicates the direct object. { } indicates units that are modifiers.
rarely take the children {to his hometown} {during vacation}
4. Cut off the premodifier first.
rarely take the children to his hometown during vacation
M H
5. Then cut off the postmodifier (s) beginning with the last one.
5.1 rarely take the children to his hometown during vacation
H M
M H
It is also noteworthy that the following are not divided because they are considered
individual words:
- two-word verbs i.e. „call on, bring in, give up‟
- verb phrases consisting of a modal and/or an auxiliary and a verb, i.e. „has done, is
being considered, will have chosen, might have been running‟.
EFL-200: Analysis of the English Word and Sentence Structure / Page 19
Exercise 12
Make an IC analysis of the following sentences down to the individual words. Also label each
component using standard symbols, i.e., S, P, H, M, VB, DO, etc.
1. The wind blew up the busy street. 2. The bomb blew up the police station.
10. A biologist assigned to work there hired a guide to take him upriver.
11. Each season will offer visitors to the park an array of sights and activities.