Parts of Sentence
In a sentence we distinguish: principal parts; The principal parts of a sentence are the subject and the predicate. secondary parts; The secondary parts are the attribute, the object and the adverbial modifier. independent elements. The rest
Position of the Adverbial Modifiers in the Sentence
An adverbial modifier hardly ever separates the direct object from the predicate. It stands either before the predicate or after the direct object. Helen heard me patiently to the end. (Ch. Bronte) We could also very well say: “Helen patiently heard me to the end,” but no other position of the adverbial modifier is possible here, unless it is meant to be emphatic; in this case it is placed at the beginning of the sentence. However, an adverbial modifier separates the direct object from its verb when the object has an attribute. He knew instinctively the principles of “pyramiding” [...]
Position of the Attribute in the Sentence
Pre-position of the Attribute The usual place of the attribute expressed by an adjective, noun, pronoun, or participle is before the word it modifies. What extraordinary ideas you have about the way to behave to a woman! (Wilde) With most of such attributes the order in which they follow each other is generally free, i. e. it can be easily changed. Amelia Sedley had such a kindly, smiling, tender, generous heart of her own as won the love of everybody who came near her. (Thackeray) However, with some attributes the order in which they follow each other is more [...]
Position of the Object in the Sentence
The usual position of the object in declarative sentences is after the predicate, however, in exclamatory sentences the direct object may occupy the first place. What wonderfully blue eyes you have, Ernest! (Wilde) This position of the object generally does not cause inversion, except in poetry, high prose, and negative exclamatory sentences. Thee would I spare — nay more — would save thee now! (Byron) Passage after passage did he explore, room after room did he peep into!(Dickens) In declarative sentences the front position of the object serves the purpose of emphasis. A fearful voyage I had with such [...]
Sentences with Homogeneous Parts
Two or more parts of the sentence having the same function and referring to the same part of the sentence are called homogeneous parts of the sentence. They are linked either by means of coordinating conjunctions or asyndetically. There can be: #1. Two or more homogeneous subjects to one predicate. From the edge of the bed came a ripple and whisper. (Wells) To her extreme relief, her father and sisters appeared. (Dashwood) #2. Two or more homogeneous predicates to one subject. Simple predicates. That gentleman started, stared, retreated, rubbed his eyes, stared again and finally shouted: “Stop, stop!” (Dickens) A [...]
Differentiating between Adverbial Modifier and other Parts of Sentence
It is not always easy to discriminate between different parts of the sentence expressed by prepositional phrases. The following parts of the sentence are apt to be confusing: a prepositional indirect object and an adverbial modifier; an attribute and an adverbial modifier. #1. A prepositional indirect object and an adverbial modifier of place and manner. Kate removed her eyes from the window and gazed directly at Papa. (Cronin) Decimus had been born in Rome. (Douglas) In the first example, the prepositional phrase at Papa is a pre; positional indirect object as the noun denotes a living being. In the second [...]
Ways of expressing the Adverbial Modifier
It can be expressed by: #1. An adverb. Rachel turned instinctively to prevent a possible intruder from entering. (Bennett) #2. A noun with or without accompanying words. Next day the morning hours seemed to pass very slowly at Mr. Pellet’s. (E. Bronte) They walked miles without finding any habitation. #3. A prepositional phrase. The red dust spread up and out and over everything. (Wells) I walked straight up the lane. (Bennett) #4. A noun, pronoun, adjective, infinitive, participle, or prepositional phrase with a subordinating conjunction. Mary swims better than her sister. My sister plays tennis better than I. If [...]
Adverbial Modifier
The adverbial modifier is a secondary part of the sentence that modifies a verb, an adjective, or an adverb. According to their meaning, we distinguish the following kinds of adverbial modifiers. #1. The adverbial modifier of time. We shall try it tomorrow. (Heym) While dancing, Cowperwood had occasion to look at Aileen often... (Dreiser) These preparations happily completed, I bought a house in Covent Garden Market. (Dickens) After receiving the cheque back, there seemed to him to be something wrong somewhere. (Galsworthy) #2. The adverbial modifier of frequency. Though they had often bothered him he had never bothered them. [...]
Attribute
The attribute is a secondary part of the sentence that qualifies a noun, a pronoun, or any other part of speech that has a nominal character. An attribute can be either in pre-position or in post-position to the word it modifies. What did she do with herself... in that little hole? (Galsworthy) Under a tree opposite Knightsbridge Barracks... he took out once more the morocco, case. (Galsworthy) As a result of the loss of inflexions, the attribute in English, as distinct from Russian, does not agree with the word it modifies in number, case, or gender. It may be expressed [...]
Cognate Object
There is a special kind of object in English that has the following peculiarities. It is used with intransitive verbs though it has no It is expressed by a noun that is either of the same root as the verb or is similar to it in meaning. It is almost regularly attended by an attribute with which it forms a combination that is close in meaning to an adverbial modifier: to live a happy life - to live happily. The cognate object is generally used in such combinations as: to smile a sad smile, to laugh a bitter laugh, to [...]