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Syntactic Functions Explained

The document provides a table of syntactic functions, defining each function and providing examples. Key functions include Subject, Predicate, Direct Object, and Indirect Object, among others, each with specific roles in sentence structure. Additional notes clarify characteristics and usage of these functions.

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13 views2 pages

Syntactic Functions Explained

The document provides a table of syntactic functions, defining each function and providing examples. Key functions include Subject, Predicate, Direct Object, and Indirect Object, among others, each with specific roles in sentence structure. Additional notes clarify characteristics and usage of these functions.

Uploaded by

bangnhan0812
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Syntactic Functions Table

Syntactic Function Definition Example Notes


Subject The noun phrase John ate the cake. Agrees with the
that performs the verb; typically
action or is before the verb.
described by the
verb.
Predicate The part of the John ate the cake. Everything except
sentence that tells the subject.
something about the
subject (usually
includes the verb
and its
complements).
Direct Object The entity that She read a book. Can often be
directly receives the passivized.
action of the verb.
Indirect Object The recipient or She gave him a Alternates with
beneficiary of the book. prepositional
action, often before phrase (to him).
the direct object.
Prepositional Object A noun phrase that She looked at the Fulfills the verb–
completes a painting. preposition
prepositional combination.
phrase and is
required by certain
verbs.
Predicative A phrase (often a She is a doctor. / Subject or object
noun or adjective) They elected him predicative.
that gives president.
information about
the subject or
object, linked by a
copula or resultative
verb.
Object Complement Gives more They made her Follows and
information about leader. complements the
the direct object, object.
completing its
meaning.
Attribute A modifier within a The red car is new. Includes adjectives,
noun phrase, participles, or
describing or phrases.
qualifying the noun.
Adjunct An optional element She sang beautifully. Can be omitted; not
that adds / Yesterday, we left. required by the
information about verb.
circumstances
(time, manner,
place, etc.).
Empty Subject A syntactic It is raining. / There Also called a dummy
placeholder that is a problem. or expletive subject.
doesn't refer to a
specific entity.
Introductory The pronoun it used It is important to be Real subject is a
Subject to introduce a honest. clause (e.g., To be
clause that acts as honest).
the real subject.

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