English Syntax and Grammar – Vocabulary Review

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering key syntactic and grammatical concepts from the lecture notes, designed for targeted exam review.

Complex VP: Modal Construction

Structure with a modal auxiliary + base verb (e.g., must examine).

Complex VP: Perfective Construction

Structure with have + -en participle (e.g., has examined).

Complex VP: Progressive Construction

Structure with be + -ing participle (e.g., is examining).

Complex VP: Passive Construction

Structure with be + -en participle (e.g., is examined).

Coordinator (Clause Level)

A word such as and, or, but that links clauses in clause-initial position and in fixed sequence.

Multiple Coordination

Use of a coordinator to link more than two clauses or phrases (e.g., John sang, Mary danced, and Sue left).

Universal Grammar: Principle of Embedding

Human ability to nest phrases or clauses within others, creating hierarchical structures.

Universal Grammar: Autonomy of Syntax

Idea that syntactic rules operate independently of meaning, sound, or context.

Universal Grammar: Projection Principle

Syntactic structure must reflect lexical properties of a head word.

Universal Grammar: Structural Dependency

Grammar relies on hierarchical relations, not mere word order.

Central Determiner

Core determiner such as articles, this/that, these/those, my, his.

Relative Pronoun Whom

Refers to a person and functions as object of the clause.

Head-Dependent (X-bar) Structure

Phrase model where a head (X) determines the category of the whole phrase (XP).

Tree Diagram

Hierarchical graphic representation of sentence structure using nodes and branches.

Complement (Sentence)

Expression that completes the meaning of a predicate; includes subject complements and object complements.

Pseudo-Passive

Passive in which the object of a preposition becomes subject (e.g., The problem was talked about).

Apposition Indicator

Signal word/phrase such as namely, that is, for example, especially, such as.

Adjective Criterion 1: Attributive Use

Adjectives freely modify nouns before the head (an ugly painting).

Adjective Criterion 2: Predicative Use

Adjectives freely occur after a copula (The painting is ugly).

Adjective Criterion 3: Very-Premodification

Adjectives accept the intensifier very (very happy).

Adjective Criterion 4: Comparison

Adjectives take comparative/superlative endings or modifiers (happier, happiest).

Conjunct (Text-Linking)

Adverbial that overtly connects ideas across or within sentences (e.g., otherwise, moreover).

Disjunct: Style Disjunct

Comment on manner of expression (Strictly speaking, frankly).

Disjunct: Attitudinal Disjunct

Shows speaker attitude to content (Sadly, fortunately, hopefully).

Modal Idiom

Fixed expression conveying modality, e.g., had better, would rather, be to, have got to.

Restrictive Apposition

Appositive that identifies the noun and is not set off by commas (My friend Anna).

Coordinating Conjunction

Connector such as and, or, but, yet, so linking equal elements.

Subject (Noun Function)

A noun (or noun phrase/clause) that performs the action or is described.

Adverbial of Cause/Purpose

Adverbial phrase explaining why an action happens (for, because, to).

Object Complement

Element following the direct object to describe or rename it (We found him helpful).

Central Modal Auxiliary

Modal verb can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would, must.

-ing Participle (Progressive)

Verb form ending in ‑ing used with be to express ongoing aspect.

Past Form (Verb)

Morphological past tense of a verb (spoke, called).

Concord (Agreement)

Grammatical matching of features; NP head controls verb agreement, etc.

Predeterminer

Word such as all, both, half that comes before a central determiner.

Premodification Zone IV

NP slot for nationality or denominal adjectives and nouns (American tourist attractions).

Marginal Modal Need (Main Verb)

Need used with to-infinitive and regular verb inflections.

Semi-Auxiliary Have To

Obligation phrase taking do-support in negatives/interrogatives (Do we have to leave?).

Five Forms of Full Verbs

Base, ‑s, ‑ing participle, past, ‑ed participle.

Had Better (Meaning)

Expresses advisability or mild obligation.

Past Subjunctive

Use of were for all persons in hypothetical past contexts (If I were…).

Rare/Formal Passive

Passive built on prepositional verb in figurative sense (The matter was gone into).

Adjectival Participle

-ed or ‑ing participle functioning as adjective (a blessed day, a pressing issue).

That-Clause (Omitted That)

Nominal clause where that is optional, esp. as object/complement (I think he’s right).

Nominal Clause Functions

Acts as subject, object, complement, appositive, or prepositional complement.

Pseudo-Coordination

Construction where and links verbs but acts subordinately (Go and see!).

Ditransitive Pattern (SVOO)

Clause with verb taking two objects: indirect then direct (She gave him a book).

Adverbial Clause of Condition

Subordinate clause introduced by if, unless, provided that, assuming that.

Primary Verb

Auxiliary that can also act as main verb: be, have, do.

Restrictive Modification

Modifier that limits the head’s reference (my younger daughter).

Imperative Base Form

Bare verb used to give commands (Come here!).

Modifier (Part of Speech)

Word that describes or limits another; chiefly adjectives and adverbs.

Noun Phrase Head

Core noun/pronoun that other NP elements modify; determines agreement.

Adjective Order (OSASCOMP)

Canonical sequence: opinion, size, age, shape, colour, origin, material, purpose.

Central Modal vs. Non-Central

Central: can, could, etc.; marginal or periphrastic forms are non-central.

Non-Finite Verb Form

Verb not marked for tense/person; includes to-infinitive, ‑ing, ‑ed participles.

Prepositional Phrase (PP)

Group beginning with a preposition and ending with its object (by the river).

Theta Theory (Strong)

Principle: one-to-one match between theta roles and syntactic arguments.

Theta Role: Recipient

Semantic role of entity receiving something (John in Mary gave John a cake).

Levels of Adequacy

Chomsky’s tiers of grammatical description: observational, descriptive, explanatory.

Ditransitive Verb "Promise"

Verb conveying giving with satisfaction implication in SVOO (She promised me help).

Disjunct Example "Sadly"

Content disjunct expressing speaker attitude (Sadly, the storm destroyed the house).

Conjunctive Adverb "Otherwise"

Conjunct signaling consequence of opposite action (Hurry or otherwise be late).

Clause Coordinator Position

Appears at start of second coordinate clause (…, and we left).

Sequential Fixity (Coordination)

Order of coordinated clauses cannot freely change without altering meaning.

Complementizer Omission

Dropping that in embedded declaratives after certain verbs (She said Ø she knew).