Functional English Grammar: An Introduction for Second Language Teachers

Functional English Grammar An Introduction for Second Language Teachers Functional English Grammar An Introduction for Second Language Teachers TRUONG VAN ANH Sai Gon Univerity Unit 9 Clause complexes[.]

Functional English Grammar: An Introduction for Second Language Teachers TRUONG VAN ANH Sai Gon Univerity Unit Clause complexes Sentences in spoken and written language are different Independent and dependent clauses Independent clauses can stand alone Dependent clauses structurally depend on other clauses Any sentence including more than one ranking clause is called a complex sentence It is vital that each sentence must contain an independent clause, except the answer to a question Ex: When he had finished the work, he went home “He went home” is an independent clause Why are you late? (question) Because my bike broke down (answer) Structural relationships between clauses Linking and binding are two kinds of structural relationships between clauses Linking The clauses are in equal relationships Sometimes the clauses can be reversed Ex: Jack likes music but Kathy likes films Kathy likes films but Jack likes music The logical relationship between the message in linked clauses depends on the chronological sequence Ex: She went home, took off her coat and began to cook I felt tired and went to bed early (cause and effect)  Linking = Compound sentences Linking clauses Independent clause And clause But clause So clause Or clause Binding In binding, the clauses are in inequal relationships A clause is dependent on another clause A clause may be marked as a dependent clause in a number of ways: - By a binding conjunction such as when, if, because, although, after, as, etc Ex: He walks as if he were sick - By wh- words such as who, that, which, whose, whom, etc Ex: I met the man whom you had mentioned Binding clauses Main clause Noun clause Adjective clause Adverb clauses - By word order Ex: Were he rich, he would buy an Audi now - By a nonfinite clause (To V, V, V-ING, V-ED) Ex: She reads a book, lying on the floor (without marking = unmarked) When staying in Paris, she met Jack (preceded by a binding conjunction) Despite poverty, he won a national prize (with a prepositional phrase) A dependent clause may be in the front, middle or back of the independent clause Ex: Due to poverty, a student like him can’t study in Ho Chi Minh City A student like him can’t study in Ho Chi Minh City, due to poverty A student like him, due to poverty, can’t study in Ho Chi Minh City Because he is poor, a student like him can’t study in Ho Chi Minh City A student like him can’t study in Ho Chi Minh City because he is poor A student like him, because he is poor, can’t study in Ho Chi Minh City Clause combining and textual meaning In linking, the clauses are equal and chronological and usually not change the position In binding, the clauses can change their positions The first clause expresses the given information while the other is newsworthy Ex: She finished her work and went home She had finished her work before she went home Before she went home, she had finished her work ... and written language are different Independent and dependent clauses Independent clauses can stand alone Dependent clauses structurally depend on other clauses Any sentence including more than... and bought some food (Subject ellipsis) He is tall and he is handsome He is tall and handsome (Subject and Finite ellipsis) Sometimes learners overdo ellipsis: Ex: He learns excellently and an. .. Minh City Clause combining and textual meaning In linking, the clauses are equal and chronological and usually not change the position In binding, the clauses can change their positions The first