Tutorial 7 Adjuncts and PP + Revision
English Grammar for Teachers 1
Exercise 1a: Adjuncts
Distinguish between the different types of Adjuncts in the clause below. (from Downing, p.77)
Circumstantial adjuncts (temporal)
1. He was chairman of the English Tourist Board for five years.
conjunctive adjunct (temporal)
2. First, we booked the seats and we went for dinner. Then, we took a taxi to the theatre.
3. Hopefully, student ticket prices will continue to fall. comment adjunct (epistemic stance)
4. He undoubtedly will be elected president. comment adjunct (epistemic stance)
Exercise 1b: Adjuncts
Underline the adjuncts in the following clauses. Then write the FUNCTIONS above the
wording and CLASS below the wording in each. (from Downing, p.70)
circumstantial adjunct
The bells rang all day long.
AdvG
circumstantial adjunct
Tom hired a car at the airport.
PP
circumstantial adjunct
He sent me flowers through Interflora.
PP
Exercise 1c: Adjuncts
The following clause can be realized in two different ways. Use the following to show two
interpretations. (S F/P O) or (S F/P O Adjunct) S= subject; F=Finite; P= Predicator; O =
Object; Adjunct
S F/P O
Michael reads books on trains (he reads books about trains)
S F/P O Adjunct
Michael reads books on trains (he reads books while travelling on trains)
1
Tutorial 7 Adjuncts and PP + Revision
Exercise 2: Prepositions: elements of groups
Groups: Underline the preposition in each example and identify their FUNCTION in the
group.
Post-M Pre-M
A bridge over the river Off the record comments
Exercise 3: Prepositions or verbs?
Are the underlined words in the following sentences prepositions or verbs?
Verb
1.a. Following the track, we came to a beautiful lake.
Preposition
b. Following the grand final, there will be a presentation.
Preposition
2. a. Considering his age, it would be a great honour,
Verb
b. We are considering the best course of action.
Exercise 4: AdvG and PP
Replace each underlined AdvG with a PP and each underlined PP with an AdvG.
Inevitably there will be some change of meaning.
Example: I have never liked living on my own.
at no time alone
Besides In addition recklessly
1. Moreover, he always drives at great speed.
In fact regularly
2. Honestly, you should do it on a regular basis.
At no time abroad
3. Rarely do they go there.
Exercise 5: PPs: Functions
Identify the FUNCTION of the PP in each of the following:
S F Cs
1. After sunrise is the best time to fish.
S PPcircumstan VG Cx NG circumstantial adjunct
Cx: non-central + compulsory (something that follows the verb to complete the meaning)
tial adjuct
2. He usually goes fishing in the afternoon.
S F
PP
P
Adjunct
3. Everything in the house was ruined after the flood.
Adjunt NG
S F/P Od VG PP
4. Above all, he loves almonds covered in dark chocolate.
PP S NG VG F P
NG Od Co
5. Staying in bed all day won’t make things better.
present participial clause
VG NG AdjG
2
H Post-M PP
Almonds [covered in dark chocolate]
N ellipsed relative clause H Post-M
Everything [in the house]
part of the relative clause
N PP (functions as Post-M of NG)
Tutorial 7 Adjuncts and PP + Revision
Exercise 6: Revision: Clause Constituents
Identify the clause constituents of the following, labelling their functions such as S F F/P P Cs
O Adjunct.
S F (negative polarity) P
1. They cannot choose.
S F/P
2. The nature of the city around us changed.
Adjunct S F/P Cs O
3. In Japan the word duty has special meaning. (e.g. the same as I have you - you is not a complement)
S F P
4. Every appointment must be kept.
S F Cs
5. He is a great disappointment.