Exercises 4: Transitivity System (1)

The 1st text below is a letter to the medical advice column of a general magazine, and the
2nd is the answer. Breakdown the text into clauses (become 13 clauses), then analyze them
in terms of process, participants and circumstances.

For example:

She brought the car from him for Rp. 300Mio.

She bought the car from him for Rp. 300,000,000

Participant Process Participant Circumstance Circumstance
Actor Material goal Circ: place Circ:

1. Recently, I‘ve had a very painful shoulder which makes lifting my arm almost impossible.
My GP diagnosed a ‘frozen shoulder’, prescribed painkillers and told me to stay off work
for a week. What causes it and will it get better?
2. Frozen shoulder can result from muscle sprain or wear and tear. It may happen after
surgery to the chest, or a heart attack. Movement is usually painful and difficult. It can
be treated with pain-killers, anti-inflammatory pills, or – in severe cases – a steroid
injection in the shoulder. Physiotherapy aids recovery. Recovery time varies from a
week to over a year.

Have a happy practice!

Answer:

1. Recently, I‘ve had a very painful shoulder

Recently I Have had A very painful

shoulder
Circumstance: Participant: Process: Material Participant: Goal
Location (Time) Actor

2. a very painful shoulder which makes lifting my arm almost impossible

A very painful which Makes lifting My arm Almost

shoulder impossible
Process: Material Participant: Circumstance:
Goal Manner

3. My GP diagnosed a ‘frozen shoulder’

My GP diagnosed A ‘frozen shoulder’

Participant: Sayer Process: Verbal Verbiage

4. My GP prescribed painkillers

My GP Prescribed Painkillers
Participant: Actor Process: Participant: Goal
Material

5. What causes it and will it get better?

What Causes it and will it Get better

Circumstance: Process: Participant: Participant: Circumstance:
Manner Material Goal Goal Manner

6. Frozen shoulder can result from muscle sprain

Frozen shoulder Can result From muscle sprain

Participant: Actor Process: Material Participant: Goal

7. It may happen after surgery to the chest, or a heart attack

It May happen After surgery To the chest

Participant: Process: Material Circumstance: Participant: Goal
Actor Location (time)
8. Movement is usually painful and difficult

Movement is usually Painful and difficult

Participant: Actor Process: Material Circumstance: Participant: Goal
Extent (duration)

9. It can be treated with pain-killers

It Can be treated with Pain-killers

Participant: Actor Process: Material Circumstance: Manner Participant: Goal

10. a steroid injection in the shoulder

A steroid injection In the shoulder

Participant: Actor Circumstance: Location (place)

11. Physiotherapy aids recovery

Phsiotheraphy aids recovery

Participant: Sayer Process: verbal Verbiage

12. Recovery time varies from a week to over a year.

Recovery Time varies From a week to over a year

Process: Material Participant: Target Circumstance: Extent (duration)

13. My GP told me to stay off work for a week

My GP told me To stay off work For a week

Participant: Process: Receiver Verbiage Circumstance: Extent
Sayer Verbal (duration)