English Syntax (Eng 328 Wsu)

Front 1

Subject

Back 1

The opening slot in the sentence patterns, filled by a noun phrase or other nominal, that functions as the topic of the sentence.

Front 2

Direct Object

Back 2

A Nominal slot in the predicate of the transitive sentence patterns. The direct object names the objective or goal or the receiver of the verbs action

Front 3

Subject Complement

Back 3

The Nominal or Adjectival in a post-verb position that renames or modifies the subject

Front 4

Indirect Object

Back 4

The Nominal slot following the verb (P VIII)

Front 5

Object Compliment

Back 5

The slot following the direct object, filled by an Adjectival (P IX) or a Nominal (P X).

The Object Compliment has two functions:
1) It completes the idea of the verb.
2) It modifies (if an adjective) or renames (if a nominal) the direct object.

Front 6

Object of Preposition

Back 6

The nominal slot--usually filled by a noun phrase that follows the preposition to form a prepositional phrase.

Front 7

Preposition

Back 7

A preposition links nouns, pronouns and phrases to other words in a sentence.

Front 8

Noun Phrase

Back 8

The noun headword with all of its attendant pre- and post-noun modifiers

Front 9

Adverbial

Back 9

Any structure, no matter what it's form, that functions as a modifier of a verb--that is, that functions as an adverb normally functions.

Front 10

Adverb

Back 10

Acts as a modifer of verbs, contributing information of TIME, PLACE, REASON, Manner

Front 11

Adjective

Back 11

Acts as a modifier of nouns

Front 12

Determiner

Back 12

A marker of nouns.
Includes:
articles (a, the)
Possessive nouns and pronouns (check's, his, my)
demonstrative pronouns (this, that)
Quantifiers (man, several)
indefinite pronouns (each, every)
numbers