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SYNTAX - prednáška 4.hod. (Lojová) (syntax_prednaska4.doc)

SYNTAX PREDNÁŠKA                4.3.2008

CONCORD

 ide o gramatickú zhodu v osobe, čísle, čase

 GRAMMATICAL CONCORD

1. when grammatical forms say which form is to use (she goes)

1. if a subject is in Singular, then the verb is in Singular, too
2. when the subject is expressed by a clause, the verb is in Singular

what you said  is …

    clause         verb

1. when the subject is expressed by a prepositional phrase, the verb is in Singular

in the morning   is when the sun rises

        PP           verb

1. when the subject is expressed as an adverb, usually the finite verb takes Singular

yesterday   is what we are talking about

                                                                                                                                                            adverb                        verb

1. when the Subject is a noun that takes irregular Singular forms, the verb is in Singular

BUT

news   is ……            the sheep   is …

        Sg.     Sg.                                                         Pl.          Pl.

 NOTIONAL CONCORD

1. not about the grammatical meaning, but about the meaning, the semantics
2. sometimes the form of the verb depends on the meaning

Government is doing …  = grammatical

Government are doing…= notional

NOUN - has a Singular form, but the meaning is Plural

                     - it is not about the grammatical form, but the idea is important here

1. usually most collective nouns are used in Singular, about 10% are in Plural

Police is powerful    = institution

My family are crazy = members

1. but this is not necessarily - e.g. names in Singular

Great Expectation is a great book.

The Bahamas is a beautiful country.

 PROXIMITY CONCORD = blízkosť

1. the form of a verb phrase depends on the word, usually a noun, that is closer
2. usually in a longer sentences or noun phrases, it is much more natural - too far

one in 10 students are… = according to proximity

one in 10 students are… = according to notional concord

one in 10 students is ….. = according to grammatical concord

 OTHER TYPES OF CONCORD

a) coordinate Subject (viacnásobný podmet) - usually takes a Plural form (you and I)

   - apart from this is when the Subject is notionally Singular, but grammatically Plural

   - used often in legal language

The student sitting here and the best student in this classroom is 25 - 1 person presented in 2 ways

        BUT

My brother and the Slovak champion is supposed given a million crowns - 1 person becomes 1 million

My brother and the Slovak champion are supposed give a million crowns - 2 persons become 500 000

b) either-or / neither-nor

  - either-or = is - when talking about 1 person (either Peter or John)

  - neither-nor = are - when talking about 2 persons (neither Peter nor John)

  - if there is Singural + Plural - the form depends on the second one

c) indefinite expression (somebody, everybody, anybody, nobody)

  - indefinite pronouns usually takes Singular form

d) concord between Subject and Subject complement  

    Clever students in my classroom is my dream - combination of Singular and Plural

e) concord between Object and Object complement

    I find my students are clever

DEFINITE EXCEPTIONS

    A number of students are sitting here.                                 A number of students is increasing.

         quantifier                                                                  Subject or a head of a NP

    Two slices of bread are for you.                                           Two slices of bread were too thin.

     quantifier                                                                      Subject or a head of a NP

INDEFINITE EXCEPTIONS

1. gender free language
2. we use Plural forms instead of his or hers

     It is the end of the lesson and anybody should take their things away.