Lecture 16. Basic Sentence Transformation I. English 3318: Studies in English Grammar. Dr. Svetlana Nuernberg

Transcription

1 Lecture 16 English 3318: Studies in English Grammar Basic Sentence Transformation I Dr. Svetlana Nuernberg

2 Objectives Understand the transformation process Distinguish among transitive, intransitive, and linking verbs in sentences that have undergone transformation Distinguish among subject complements, direct objects, indirect objects and object complements Recognize passive sentences and convert them into active sentences Recognize the underlying pattern of sentences that have undergone the passive transformation

3 The Indirect Object Transformation Our ability to move constituents helps to explain sentence variety Maria gave a gift to George Carol picked some flowers for her cousin both sentences contain a transitive verb and belong to the type V pattern - S = NP 1 + MV tr + NP 2 + ADVP contain a prepositional phrase (with to or for) following the direct object (that functions as adverbial modifier of the verb) Maria gave George a gift Carol picked her cousin some flowers have the same meaning, but different pattern S = NP 1 + MV tr + NP 2 + NP 3 have a direct object (which was moved and now is NP 3 ) have an indirect object (the first noun phrase following the transitive verb NP 2 )

4 Structural Formula S 5 = NP 1 + MV tr + NP 2 + NP 3 IOBJ DOBJ Maria gave George a gift Carol picked her cousin some flowers Subject, indirect object, direct object have different references (NP 1 NP 2 NP 3 ) any time you have a sentence containing a constituent NP 2 the verb is transitive if there is no other NP constituent of the verb phrase, NP 2 is the direct object when you have both NP 2 and NP 3 the verb is still transitive, but the sentence contains an indirect object what - is used to identify a direct object, to/for whom - to identify indirect object (recipient)

5 Reed-Kellogg Diagrams Applying step by step, we can visualize the transformational relationship in this way: Maria gave a gift to George Maria gave gift to George move the object of the preposition to follow the verb Maria gave George a gift to delete the preposition Maria gave George a gift Maria gave gift a George a

6 S 5 Tree Diagrams Type V Transitive Verb Sentence with Direct Object and Adverbial Phrase NP 1 MVP MV tr VP NP 2 ADVP NP 1 S 5 Maria gave a gift to George VP MVP NP 2 NP 3 MV tr Maria gave George a gift Type V Transitive Verb Sentence with Direct and Indirect Objects

7 Indirect Object and Object Complements S 5 = NP 1 + MV tr + NP 2 + NP 3 indirect object Edwin brought Eleanor a jewel Edwin bought jewel Eleanor a jewel is a direct object, Eleanor is an indirect object derived from Edwin bought a jewel to Eleanor S 5 = NP 1 + MV tr + NP 2 + NP 2 object compliment Edwin considered Eleanor a jewel Edwin considered Eleanor jewel a

8 Recognizing Indirect Object 1. Is the verb followed by If yes, the first noun phrase two noun phrases, each following the verb is probably with a referent distinct an indirect object and the from the other and second noun phrase is a from the subject? direct object 2. Can the suspected indirect If yes, then that noun object noun phrase be made phrase is an indirect object part of a prepositional phrase with to or for and moved to the end of the sentence? Maria [NP1/Subject] sent George [NP 2 /IO] a gift [NP 3 /DO] Maria [NP1/Subject] sent a gift [NP 2 /DO] to George [Obj of Prep]

9 Recognizing Indirect Object 3. Does the verb followed by If yes, then that noun phrase Maria [NP1/Subject] two noun phrases include as is likely to be an indirect object gave George part of its meaning the action [NP2/IO] a gift [NP3/DO] of giving? Is the suspected indirect object the recipient of the direct object or that to whom or for whom the action is performed? 4. If you remove the suspected If yes, you have confirming Maria sent George a gift = indirect object from the evidence that the noun phrase Maria sent a gift. sentence, does the meaning is an indirect object of the verb phrase remain about the same?

10 Exercise 1 Some of the following transitive verb sentences have indirect objects, while others do not. Transform any indirect objects you find into appropriate to and for prepositional phrases. Transform any to and from prepositional phrases into indirect objects, if possible. Example: Coach McCall kicked Francis [IO] the soccer ball [DO] Type V. - Coach McCall kicked the soccer ball to Francis. Santa brought lots of toys to their children last year. His parents bought Max a new ipod with lots of memory Max offered his old ipod to his brother Austin His parents gave Austin a new game for him Game Boy Her godparents sent Edie a new princess outfit Her mother sends the godparents an invitation to Christmas dinner every year. She also invited some foreign students to dinner Max usually sets the table for his mother.

11 The Passive Transformation The subject of the sentence is often an actor, or agent, performing the action of the verb - active voice basic Type V Transitive Verbs sentences John hit Bill A dog chews up my newspaper every day The clerk thanked my mother The subject of the sentence is passively undergoing the action of the verb passive voice deemphasize the importance of the performer of the action Bill was hit by John My newspaper is chewed up by a dog everyday My mother was thanked by the clerk the original subject (agent) is moved into an adverbial prepositional phrase (becoming the object of the preposition by)

12 Active Voice Tree S V Type V Transitive Verb Sentence, Active Voice NP 1 VP MVP NP 2 AUX MV tr TENSE Monica past eat the pie Monica ate the pie

13 Systematic Relationships Active and passive pair of sentences creates systematic relationship series of transformational steps Monica [past + eat] the pie [past + eat] the pie by Monica 1. The subject Monica, moves to a position at the end of the sentence, and the preposition by is inserted preceding it the original subject becomes the object of preposition by the pie [past + eat] by Monica 2. The original direct object, the pie, moves from its slot following the verb to the beginning of the sentence, becoming a new subject The pie [past + BE + {-en} + eat] by Monica 3. The passive form of the verb is created by adding the passive marker BE + {-en} to the AUX, immediately preceding the main verb The pie was eaten by Monica

14 Passive Voice Tree S NP 1 VP Type V Transitive Verb Sentence, Passive Voice MVP ADVP AUX MV tr TENSE PASSIVE MARKER The pie past BE + {-en} eat by Monica The pie was eaten by Monica

15 Exercise 2 This item below appears in an advertisement. First, find the passive verb phrases. Then, consider what might be the purposes and effects of using the passive voice and removing the agent/actor in each Reflective home address will be painted on the curbs along your street tomorrow. Your home will be included only with your permission. It is strongly recommended that you take advantage of this opportunity to have your home address professionally painted in large, easy-to-see REFLECTIVE numbers on the curb in front of your house. This service is provided to assure you that in an emergency situation, Police, Fire Dept., and Paramedic personnel can find your home with a minimum amount of delay... Your cost for this service is only 5$.

16 Direct and Indirect Object Some active sentences can be transformed into two different passive sentences Diane gave Pablo some flowers. Some flowers were given [to] Pablo by Diane. direct object becomes subject Pablo was given some flowers by Diane. indirect object becomes subject When a Type V sentence in the active voice includes both a direct object (some flowers) and an indirect object (Pablo), then either the direct object or the indirect object can be moved to subject position to form a passive sentence.

17 Exercise 3 (A) The sentences are in the active voice. Convert each into the passive voice, keeping the same tense (present/past) and aspect (if perfect or progressive) 1. Several people presented a proposal for casual dress on Fridays to Mr. Green. 2. Mr. Green has passed the proposal on to his boss, Ms. Brown. 3. Ms. Brown is taking the proposal under advisement. 4. We had heard nothing from her since then.

18 Exercise 3 (B) The sentences are in the passive voice. Convert them into active voice, keeping the same tense (present/past) and aspect (if perfect or progressive) As a result, business suites are still expected for both men and women. However, Casual Fridays have been adopted by business all over town. A pair of jeans can be seen with a suit jacket in the office on Friday. So far, nothing is being said about the relaxed dress code. The responsibility for enforcing formal business dress during working hours was not given to anyone. Perhaps a second proposal will be prepared for Mr. Green.

19 Uses and Misuses of the Passive The topic of the sentence can be misleading the subject of the first sentence (people) is an indefinite and unimportant it could be omitted People have criticized the town council for lack of concern with the appearance of our city. But look what they have achieved in the past few weeks. Sidewalks have been repaired on Valley Avenue. Trees have been planted along the median strip of Ocean Boulevard. Attractive new street lights have been installed in front of the library. And flowers have been planted in the borders at City Park. they, in the second sentence is ambiguous: it could refer either to the people or to the council the remaining sentences have been made passive and their agents have been deleted removing agents - weakens the assertion

20 Uses and Misuses of the Passive The previous paragraph lacks of following active and passive have been reversed The town council has been criticized for lack of concern with the appearance of our city, but look at what they have achieved in the past few weeks. They have repaired sidewalks on Valley Avenue. They have planted trees along the median strip of the Ocean Boulevard. They have installed attractive new street lights in front of the library. And they have planted flowers in the borders at City Park. the focus is clearly on the town council a focus emphasized even more forcefully by the repetition of they in each of the four active sentences

21 The Varieties of Be Be as a main verb Type II: Jesse is outside Type III: The sky is cloudy Type IV: Those men are brutes Be as an auxiliary verb in the progressive aspect Jerry is planting vegetables present + BE + {-ing} + plant Monica was eating the pie past + BE + {-ing} + eat Be as an auxiliary in the passive voice The pie was eaten by Monica past + BE + {-en} + eat Our pet iguana is adored by everyone present + BE + {-en} + adore Existential be (equivalent to exist) Let it be! Let there be light! To be, or not to be: that is the question... There is/are (a) broken glass/es on the floor.

22 Other Transformations We create sentences with an incredibly rich and complex array of structures positive sentences (five (limited) types) to express ideas negative sentences to express ideas declarative sentences to make a statement imperative sentences to issue a command interrogative sentences - to ask a question

23 Exercise 4 Consider each pair of sentences below. First, what, if any, is the difference in meaning between the two members of each pair? Then, what grammatically signals that difference in meaning? a) Ally dressed up as Tinker Bell on Halloween. b) Ally did not dress up Tinker Bell on Halloween. a) Max had eaten all his candy by the next day. b) Had Max eaten all his candy by the next day? a) You show me your costume. b) Show me your costume! a) Amanda saved the best candy for her. b) Amanda saved the bet candy for herself.