EXERCISES 4 - SYNTAX

EXERCISE 1: The adverbial word groups are italicized. In the blank, give their syntactic
function in the sentence. Complete the table.

• place
• time
• manner
• concession
• degree
• condition
• frequency
• result
• reason
• purpose
•
EXERCISE 2: Give the syntactic function to the underlined parts of the sentence.
1. He bought me a nice book.
2. What seems to be the problem is his behavior.
3. He will come as long as he is invited.
4. My father named the dog Billy.
5. They are talking about me.
6. She is reading the book attentively.
7. Up the hill are trees and flowers.
8. She started early in order not to be late for the meeting.
9. The teacher remained calm although the students are badly-behaved.
10. He said that you always came late.
11. What he told me is what I didn’t want to hear about.
12. I listen to music whenever I am on the bus.
 • subject
• direct object (dO)
• Indirect object (iO)
• retained object (rO)
• subject(ive) complement (sC)
• object(ive) complement (oC)
• complement of a preposition (pC) or object of a preposition (prepO)
• adjunct (of time, of reason, of purpose, of place…)

EXERCISE 3: Underline the words that the words in bold modify.

1. One person alone heard the message.
2. Those coeds cheering are only sophomores.
3. The surface, shining and smooth, reflected the sunshine.
4. We started our trip homeward.
5. Her demeanor, excessively prim, annoyed the guests.
6. The two swans floating were black.
7. The conversation afterward was light.
8. This will be a day to remember.
9. The chap sitting in the cubicle is Mary’s friend.
10. This is not the size I ordered.