The document discusses syntax and constituency. It defines constituents as the component parts of a sentence, which intuitively group words together. Constituents have a formal category and grammatical function. Sentences can be simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex. They contain clauses and phrases, which are made up of word classes. A constituent is formed if it can stand alone, be replaced by one word, or move together as a unit in a sentence.

1. LANE 334 -EA: Syntax
2011 – Term 2
Constituency 3
By: http://SBANJAR.kau.edu.sa/
Dr. Shadia Y. Banjar http://wwwdrshadiabanjar.blogspot.com
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2. • According to Syntax the component parts of a sentence are
called CONSTITUENTS Which are the natural grouping of a
sentence.
Each of them has:
• a formal CATEGORY (Whether it is a noun phrase, a verb phrase, etc)
and …
• a grammatical FUNCTION (whether it is the subject, or object, or predicate, etc)
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3. Intuitively, we feel that certain words in a sentence are
grouped together:
•The young student met his friend in the local library after lunch.
A unit A unit
Both met and friend are next to his, but our intuition is
that they are different in whether they form a unit with it.
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4. Grammatical Units
sentence
Grammatical
Word Clause
Units
phrase
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5. Sentences
Sentences are:
1.Simple,
2.Compound
3.Complex
4. Compound-Complex
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6. Clauses
Clauses are:
1.Main clauses (independent clauses)
2.Subordinate clauses
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7. Phrases
There are these kinds of
phrase:
1.verb phrase,
2.noun phrase,
3.adjective phrase,
4.adverb phrase, and
5.prepositional phrase.
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8. Word classes
The main word classes are:
1. verb,
2. noun,
3. adjective,
4. adverb,
5. preposition,
6. determiner,
7. complementizer, and
8. conjunction.
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9. • Simple Sentence Types
– One INDEPENDENT CLAUSE in a subject-verb pattern:
• We cancelled the order last week.
• Compound
– Two or more independent clauses
– no dependent clauses
– Coordination takes place:
[s1[s2] coord [s3]]
– Note: A comma and a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) must be used to connect
the sentences.
•Bill cooked dinner, and I did the dishes, but Susan helped not at all!
• Complex
– One independent clause with one or more dependent clauses.
– Subordination takes place:
[s1[s2 subord ]]
• Although Bill and I cooked dinner and did the dishes, Susan helped not at all.
– Note: The use of a comma is required with the dependent clause comes first in the
sentence.
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10. • Compound-Complex
- A mixed type of sentences
- consists of multiple independent clauses, at least
one of which has at least one dependent clause.
- Have (Coordinators and subordinators)
- Coordination of subordinated clauses take place:
If your order has not been shipped within 30 days,
we will notify you of this delay by e-mail, and you
will have the option to cancel your order.
When you receive a promotional code, enter it on
your order, but only one promotional code may be
used for each order.
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11. A constituent is formed if…
1) Constituents can stand alone
• e.g. “What did you find?” “A puppy” (not “found a”)
√
2) Constituents can be replaced by one word.
• e.g. “Where did you find a puppy?” “I found it in the
park.”
3) Constituents move together.
• e.g. It was [a puppy] that the child found.
• e.g. [A puppy] was found by the child.
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