ENGLISH MORPHOSYNTAX

Teacher: Daniel Aguiar

Student: Ítalo Viana

Tianguá, 2021
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TO RECAP...
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• Joins two or more main clauses (also called independent clauses) that
contain related ideas of equal importance.

• The compound sentence are joined by coordinating conjunction

(FANBOYS).
 For; And; Nor; But; Or; Yet; So.
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[Régis likes pineapples] AND [Daniel likes apples].

Independent clause 1 Independent clause 2

Coordinating conjunction
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• Joins a main clause (also called independent clause) with one or more
subordinate clause(s) (or dependent clauses). It’s an asymmetrical
relation.

• The complex sentences are joined by subordinating conjunctions.

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[IF I finish work early], [I will go shopping].

Dependent clause Independent clause

Subordinating conjunction
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Subordinate and Superordinate

 Subordinate: It’s the dependent clause of the main clause.

 Superordinate: It’s the clause that may be a subordinate

clause in relation to one main clause and that may be a main
clause in relation to another subordinate clause.
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Structures of the clauses

• There are three types for the clauses:

 Finite clause;

 Nonfinite clause;

 Verbless clause.
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Structures of the clauses

 Finite clause: A clause whose verb element is finite. As in:

Takes, took, can study, has studied.

 [I can’t go out with you] [because I am studying this

evening].
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Structures of the clauses

 Nonfinite clause: A clause whose verb element is

nonfinite. As in: To study, having worked, taken.

 [Knowing my temper], [I didn’t reply].

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Structures of the clauses

• Nonfinite clauses may be divided in four types:

1. To-infinitive;

2. Bare infinitive;

3. -ED participle;

4. -ING participle.
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Structures of the clauses

1. To-infinitive: The first verb (unmarked) of the verb phrase

must be with “to”.

 [Jack is working hard] [to make money].

 [I decided] [to forget what Kevin said].

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Structures of the clauses

2. Bare infinitive: The first verb (unmarked) of the verb

phrase isn’t preceded by “to”. It’s used without “to” after
certain verbs as bid, let, make, see, hear, need, dare etc.
Also it isn’t used after the modal auxiliary verbs.

 [She made me] [(to) cry].

 [I can] [(to) speak five languages].

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Structures of the clauses

3. -ED participle: They are clauses in which the first verb in

the verb phrase also is a participle. In this case, with -ED.

 [Rejected by his girlfriend], [Régis turned to a life of

alcoholic].

 [The match finished], [the players soccer relaxing for

fifteen minutes].
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Structures of the clauses

4. -ING participle: They are clauses in which the first verb in

the verb phrase is a participle. In this case, with -ING.

 [Leaving the bar], [Régis tripped over the sidewalk].

 [Speaking with locals], [Daniel discovered that hate

Spanish language].
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Structures of the clauses

 Verbless clause: A clause that doesn’t have a verb element,

but is nevertheless capable of being analyzed into clause
elements.

 [Although always helpful], [he was not much liked].

 [Although he was always helpful], [he was not much

liked].
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Types of subordinators for finite clauses

• There are three types of subordinators for finite clauses:

 Simple conjunction;

 Conjunctive groups;

 Complex conjunctive.
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Types of subordinators for finite clauses

• Simple conjunction: after, although, when, whenever,

where, because, if, unless, until, while, as etc.

• Conjunctive groups: as if, as though, even if, even though,

soon after etc.
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Types of subordinators for finite clauses

• Complex conjunctions:
 Derived from verbs (Participle form): provided, granted,
seeing, supposing etc.
 Contain a noun: in case, in the event that, the day, the way
etc.
 Adverbial: so/as long as, as soon as, so/as far as, much as,
now (that).
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Types of subordinators for finite clauses

 [AFTER Batman was done working for the night], [Robin

took a secret ride in the Batmobile].

 [Régis drank cachaça] [WHILE his friends drank juice].

 [I'm staying in] [EVEN THOUGH the sun is out].

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Types of subordinators for finite clauses

 [PROVIDED it doesn't rain], [I'm going out to drink with my

friend].

 [I'm going out] [AS SOON AS the football has finished].

 [I'm staying in] [IN CASE it rains].

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Indicators of subordination for nonfinite clauses

• To-infinitive clauses: May be introduced by several

subordinators. As if, as though, for, in order, so as etc.

 [It would be an absurd idea] [for them move to another

city].

 [In order to be a doctor], [the student is studying hard].

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Indicators of subordination for nonfinite clauses

• Bare infinitive clauses: They are limited only two

subordinators that are synonymous. Rather than and
sooner than.

 [Daniel prefer pastel] [rather than chicken drumstick].

 [Sooner than wait for the bus], [I could drive my car].

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Indicators of subordination for nonfinite clauses

• -ED particple clauses: May be introduced by some

subordinators that are used by finite clauses (simple
conjunction, conjunctive groups and complex conjunctive).
after, although, when, whenever, where, because, if,
unless, until, while, as, as if, as though, even if, even
though, soon after
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Indicators of subordination for nonfinite clauses

• E.g.:

 [The milk would not turn sour] [if boiled].

 [When you completed your homework], [take a shower].

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Indicators of subordination for nonfinite clauses

• -ING particple clauses: May be introduced by any of

subordinators for -ED participle clause, except: where,
wherever, as and as soon as.
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Indicators of subordination for nonfinite clauses

• E.g.:

 [Breno took a shower] [after arriving home].

 [Even if understanding no English], [I got to speak with

locals].
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Other indicators of subordination

• Wh-elements: May be used as initial markers of

subordination in subordinate clause in: Interrogative
clause, exclamative clause, conditional-concessive clause
and wh-relative clause. Who, whom, whose, when, where,
what, why, whoever, wherever etc.
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Wh-elements

• E.g.:

 [He asked them] [what they want].

 [Brazil is a country] [whose language is Portuguese].

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Other indicators of subordination

• Pronoun relative that: It’s used as a marker of

subordination in restrictive relative clauses.
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Pronoun relative that

• E.g.:

 [This is the book] [that I bought for my brother].

 [Daniel hates people] [that speak Spanish].

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Other indicators of subordination

• Subject-operator inversion: It’s a marker of subordination

in some conditional. Some operators: Had, would, could,
might, were.
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Subject-operator inversion

• E.g.:

 [Were Régis here], [he could have helped me in my work].

 [Had Daniel been more dedicated], [he would have

learned Spanish.].
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Other indicators of subordination

• The absence of a finite verb: It’s itself a marker of

subordination. Occur when nonfinite and verbless clauses
are (necessarily) subordinate:
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The absence of a finite verb

• E.g.:

 [Daniel got to speak with Enrique Iglesias] [knowing

nothing in Spanish].
That’s all folks!

Grateful!
Grateful!