English Grammar: A Function-Based Introduction

Abstract

Part 1 Introduction: grammar and communication whose grammar? grammar for communication theme and variation in syntactic description parsing - tree diagrams deep structure, surface structure and meaning. Part 2 Vocabulary - words and morphemes: preliminaries lexical vs. grammatical vocabulary the morphemic status of English vocabulary lexical word-classes minor word classes. Part 3 Simple verbal clauses: preliminaries parsing and tree diagrams - recapitulation classification of verbs and simple clauses multiple membership in verb classes verbs that incorporate prepositions summary of the structure of simple clauses. Part 4 Verbal inflections - tense, aspect, modality and negation: tense aspect modality communicative and cognitive aspects of tense-aspect-modality the syntax of tense-aspect-modality negation. Part 5 Reference and definiteness: reference definiteness generic subjects, definiteness and reference definiteness, reference and text processing - a cognitive overview. Part 6 Noun phrases: nouns and modifiers ordering of elements within the noun phrase restrictive vs. non-restrictive modifiers modifiers used as anaphoric pronouns scattered noun phrases complex noun phrases. Part 7 Verbal complements: the semantics of event integration the syntax of clause integration modality verbs for-to complements if complements WH-complements post-posed P-C-U verbs non-verbal predicates with verbal complements. Part 8 Voice and de-transitivization: functional dimensions of voice the frequency-distribution of voice in text the syntax of de-transitive clauses other de-transitive constructions the antipassive voice reciprocal constructions reflective clauses. Part 9 Relative clauses: functional aspects of relativization the syntax or relativization the syntax of non-restrictive REL-clauses headless relative clauses subject REL-clauses with the main verb be extraposed relative clauses relativization and syntactic complexity non-finite relative clauses. Part 10 Contrastive focus constructions: functional aspects of contrastive focus contrastive grammatical devices the discourse-pragmatics of contrast focus attraction, assertion scope and contrastive focus other focus-attracting grammatical devices strong contrastive focus and relativization restrictions on clefting some cognitive considerations. Part 11 Topicalizing constructions: functional aspects of topicality the variety of topicalizing constructions.