English Syntax: From Word to Discourse

by Lynn M. Berk

Overview

English Syntax: From Word to Discourse is a clear and highly accessible descriptive grammar of English with a strong semantic and discourse/functional focus. Designed for beginning graduate students and advanced undergraduates in linguistics, it is also suitable for use in TESOL/ESL programs and in English departments. The text explains the basics of English syntax while providing students with a comprehensive view of the richness and complexity of the system. Each structure is discussed in terms of its syntactic features, its meaning, and its uses in discourse, and each discussion is extensively illustrated by examples from written texts of all kinds and by excerpts of spoken language. While the presentation has been influenced by a number of theories, the book presumes no theoretical background on the part of the student and the approach is relatively informal. Syntactic structures are graphically illustrated by means of nesting boxes rather than tree diagrams. Historical information illuminates some particularly problematic constructions, and the book is punctuated with intriguing facts about English syntax. All terminology is carefully explained and most terms are defined again in the extensive glossary. Berk anticipates areas where students are likely to have trouble, warns them of pitfalls, and shows them how to avoid common mistakes. English Syntax: From Word to Discourse provides a unique alternative to the formal, generative approach of other texts in the field.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780195123531
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	02/11/1999
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	9.18(w) x 6.30(h) x 0.64(d)

About the Author

Florida International University

Table of Contents

PrefaceAcknowledgmentsIntroductionWhat Does Grammar Mean? Grammaticality (Acceptability) JudgmentsHistorical PeriodsEdited EnglishIt's All in Your Head1. Basic Sentence StructureThe SubjectSyntax of the SubjectSemantic Roles of the SubjectDiscourse Functions of the SubjectThe PredicateTransitive Verbs and Direct ObjectsSemantic Roles of the Direct ObjectCovert Direct Objects"Light" Transitive VerbsDegrees of TransitivityIntransitive VerbsDitransitive Verbs and Indirect ObjectsDegrees of DitransitivityNot All Recipients AlternateDiscourse Functions of the Indirect ObjectBenefactivesCopulas and Subject ComplementsSensory CopulasStative CopulasChange of State CopulasCopula BeRestricted Copulas—Stative and Change of StateComplex Transitive Verbs and Object ComplementsDegrees of Complex TransitivityMarked and Unmarked Word Order2. The Noun PhraseThe DeterminerArticlesDemonstratives (and Deixis)Indefinite ThisQuantifying DeterminersGenitive DeterminersInterrogative DeterminersPredeterminers and PostdeterminersGenitivesGenitive Semantic TypesDouble GenitivesGroup GenitiveGeneric ReferenceProper NounsNon-Count NounsCategorizing Non-Count NounsCollective NounsPronounsPersonal PronounsReflexive PronounsReciprocal PronounsDemonstrative PronounsQuantifying PronounsIndefinite PronounsInterrogative PronounsNoun Phrases in Discourse3. The Verb PhraseTenseTense and MeaningFinite and Non-Finite VerbsAspectProgressive AspectPerfect AspectTense and Aspect in DiscoursePassive VoiceTransitive Verbs that Don't (Readily) PassivizeGet PassivePassives with No Corresponding ActiveThe Passive in DiscourseWord Order and the PassivePrimary Auxiliaries and the Lexical VerbMulti-Word Lexical VerbsMovable ParticlesUnmovable ParticlesIdentifying Multi-Word VerbsModalityEpistemic Modality in GeneralDeontic Modality in GeneralModal AuxiliariesSemi-AuxiliariesAuxiliaries, Time, and TenseMood and ModalityThe Verb Phrase and Scope of NegationScope of Negation and AuxiliariesThe Verb Phrase and QuestionsYes/No QuestionsInformation Seeking Questions (Wh Questions)Tag QuestionsMulti-Word Auxiliaries as Operators in Questions and TagsHistorical Development of the OperatorExclamationsExistential There ConstructionsNarrative Discourse and the Verb Phrase4. ModificationModification of the Noun and the Noun PhrasePrenominal AdjectivesPredicate AdjectivesPostnominal Adjectives and Adjective PhrasesObject Complement AdjectivesLimitersGradabilityAdjectives and Compound NounsAdjective Order in the Noun PhraseInternal Structure of the Adjective PhraseAdjective ComplementsUse of the Term AdverbAdjunct AdverbsIntensifying, Downtoning, and Limiting AdjunctsLocatives (Space Adverbs)Temporal AdverbsAdverbs of MannerAdverbs of MeansAdverbs of Reason/PurposeAdverbs of ResultAdverbial ProformsSome Other Adjunct CategoriesProblems in Categorizing AdjunctsMovability of AdjunctsAdjuncts and the Scope of NegationStacking and Coordination of AdjunctsAdjective Phrases RevisitedAdjunct Forms That Modify AdjectivesAdjectives That Function as AdjunctsDisjunctsAttitude DisjunctsStyle DisjunctsPoint of View DisjunctsEpistemic DisjunctsConjunctsSequencing ConjunctsAdding and Reinforcing ConjunctsResulting ConjunctsTransitional ConjunctsConcessive ConjunctsSome Other ConjunctsConjuncts in Discourse5. Clauses: Coordination and SubordinationClausesConjoiningConjunction AndConjunction rConjunction ButCoordination and QuestionsEllipsis and GappingEmbeddingNominal ClausesThat ClausesInfinitive ClausesING ClausesRelative Tense in Non-Finite ClausesWh Nominal ClausesClauses as Adjective ComplementsPostnominal ModificationRestrictive Relative ClausesOther Restrictive Postnominal ModifiersNon-Restrictive Relative ClausesRestrictive AppositivesAdverbial ClausesLocative AdverbsTemporal AdverbsAdverbs of MannerAdverbs of MeansAdverbs of Reason/Purpose and ResultDisjuncts and ConjunctsConcessive and Conditional ClausesNotesGlossaryReferencesIndexEach chapter ends with a "Summing Up" section