_{Syntactic Theory}

Grammatical Functions

We distinguish four types of grammatical functions:

• The predicate
• The subject
• The complements:
  • The direct object
  • The indirect object
  • The predicative complement
  • The oblique complement
• The modifiers

The differences can be accounted for using several criteria:

• Position in the structure:
  • The predicate of a clause is the highest VP (or AuxP).
  • The subject is external to the predicate.
  • Complements and modifiers are both internal to the predicate.
    • The complements are sisters to V.
    • The modifiers are sisters to VP.
    • Modifiers usually do not stand between the V and its complements
• Pronominalization:
  A pro-VP form such as do so cannot combine with a complement, but it can combine with a modifier.
  • *Pat put a book [on the shelf], and Mary did so into the drawer. (on the shelf is a complement)
  • Pat read a book [in the library], and Mary did so at home. (in the library'' is a modifier)
• Obligatoriness:
  • Complements are syntactically obligatory. Their form and number is determined by the verb.
    Note: complements can also be optional (Pat ate (shrimp).)
  • Modifiers are syntactically optional. Their form and number is independent of the VP they combine with.
• Uniqueness:
  Every complement function can occur at most once with a given predicate. Modifiers can occur in arbitrary number.
• Semantic autonomy:
  • The interpretation of complements is determined by the verb, the interpretation of modifiers is independent of the verb:
    • Pat relies [on Kim]. (complement, on does not contribute any meaning)
    • Pat lies [on the bed]. (locative modifier, on expresses a relative position)
  • The existence or involvement of a complement is semantically implied by the specific verb. E.g. eat implies that some object is involved in the activity.
  • The compatibility of a VP with a certain modifier is a property not of the particular verb, but of a larger verb class.

Related exercises:

• Construct sentences
• Identify grammatical functions
• Assign grammatical functions

Categories: Glossary