Syntactic functions

• Functions


  The role which a phrase plays in the sentence by virtue of its position and its relationship with other phrases
• The function is often, but not always, related to the Verb
• Obligatory functions


  • Subject
• Post-verbal functions


  • Objects
  • Subject and Object complements
• Optional modifying functions


  • Adverbials
  • Postmodifiers
• Function is derived from position
• All obligatory functions are determined in relation to the verb
• Subject


  The noun phrase that typically comes before the verb and controls verb agreement
• The subject is an obligatory function
• Subject-Verb Agreement: the verb must agree with the subject in number and person
• Objects


  Noun phrases that come after the verb and complete the meaning of the verb
• Subject and Object complements

  Phrases that provide additional information about the subject or object
• Postmodifiers


  Phrases that come after the noun phrase and provide additional information about it
• Adverbials and Postmodifiers are optional functions
• Comparing Adverbials and Postmodifiers: Adverbials modify the verb, Postmodifiers modify the noun phrase
• Functions are related to morphology (case-marking) and are important for understanding language impairments in children
• The LARSP framework is used to analyse the language of language-impaired children
• A 5 minute exercise was provided to learn an artificial language
• Functions


  Syntactic roles that words or phrases play in a sentence
• Typology of functions


  • Obligatory functions
  • Post-verbal functions
  • Optional modifying functions
• Subject


  The do-er in a sentence, typically the first element before the verb
• Subject is obligatory and determined in relation to the verb
• Subject can be omitted only in imperative sentences
• Subject-Verb Agreement


  Verb form changes to match the subject in number and person
• Objects


  Elements that receive the action of the verb, come after the verb
• Intransitive verbs do not take objects
• Direct Object


  The thing which changes location or possession
• Indirect Object


  The thing which receives the transferred entity, often comes after a preposition
• Indirect Object is "parasitic" on the Direct Object
• Direct and Indirect Objects

  • Albert showed [Victoria] [his stamp collection]
  • Ennis brought [a book] [for Angie]
  • Could you rustle [me] [up an omelette]
  • Patricia sent [her friend] [a letter]
• Direct object


  The object that directly receives the action of the verb
• Indirect object


  The object that indirectly receives the action of the verb
• Sentences with direct and indirect objects

  • Albert showed Victoria Oi his stamp collection Od
  • Ennis brought a book Od for Angie Oi
  • Could you rustle me Oi up an omelette Od
  • Patricia sent her friend Oi a letter Od
• Verbs taking 3 arguments are verbs of physical transfer (give, take, receive, lend, borrow, deliver, donate, show) and verbs of metaphorical transfer (tell, explain)
• Subject complement


  A phrase that describes a property of the subject
• Sentences with subject complements

  • Jack is [ terrible at maths ]
  • Ali appears [ in a mood ] at the moment
• Object complement


  A phrase that describes a property of the object
• Sentences with object complements


  • I consider him [ my best friend ]
  • I want that bedroom [ cleaned ] by tomorrow
  • Genevieve painted her bedroom walls [ dark green ]
  • The mechanic hammered the panel [ flat ]
• Complement


  A phrase that completes the meaning of a subject or object
• Subject complements


  • Jack is terrible at maths
  • Ali appears in a mood at the moment