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INTRODUCTION
Syntax is the part of grammar which deals with sentences and combinability of
words. The core of syntax is the study of the sentence. Syntax embraces on the one
hand the structure of the sentence, that is, its components, their structure and the
relations between these components, and on the other hand structural and
communicative types of sentences.
THE SENTENCE
The difference between the simple sentence and the composite sentence lies in the
fact that the former contains only one subject-predicate unit and the latter more than
one. Subject-predicate units that form composite sentences are called clauses.
1. Honesty is the best policy. (one subject-predicate unit)
2. Still waters run deep. (one subject-predicate unit)
3. You can take a horse to the water, but you cannot make him drink, (two
subject-predicate units, or two clauses)
4. You never know what you can do till you try. (three subject-predicate units, or
three clauses)
The difference between the compound and complex sentence lies in the relations
between the clauses that constitute them.
In a complete sentence both the principal positions are filled with word-forms.
When did you arrive?
I came straight here.
In an incomplete (elliptical) sentence one or both of the main positions are not filled,
but can be easily supplied as it is clear from the context what is missing.
Cheerful, aren’t you?
Ready?
Could’ve been professional.
Wrong again.
Two-member sentences:
The magpie flew off.
We are going to my house now.
One-member sentences:
An old park.
Mid-summer.
Low tide, dusty water.
To live alone in this abandoned house!
THE SIMPLE SENTENCE
Two-member sentences
The basic pattern of a simple sentence in English is one subject-predicate unit, that is,
it has two main (principal) positions: those of the subject and of the predicate. It is the
pattern of a two-member sentence. There are several variations of this basic pattern,
depending mainly on the kind of verb occupying the predicate position. The verb in
the predicate position may be intransitive, transitive, ditransitive or a link verb.
One-member sentences in English are of two types: nominal sentences and verbal
sentences.
N o m i n a l s e n t e n c e s are those in which the principal part is expressed by a
noun. They state the existence of the things expressed by them. They are typical of
descriptions.
No m i n a l s e n t e n c e s may be:
a) u n e x t e n d e d .
Silence. Summer. Midnight.
b) e x t e n d e d.
Dusk - of a summer night.
The grass, this good, soft, lush grass.
English spring flowers!