The subject Nominal group

Mood element
The finite element Part of the verbal group

I didn’t
Who did
Michael did
Subject Finite
Mood
 The remainder of each clause
It wasn’t Michael
That will never come off there
Subject Finite
Mood Residue

Residue element

Predicator Compleme Adjunct

the lexical or content part
of the verbal group
nt
a non essential as clause elements which
participant somehow contribute some additional (but
effected by the main non - essential) information to
argument of the the clause
proposition

Predicator
the lexical or content part
of the verbal group
Residue element
Compleme Adjunct
nt
a non essential as clause elements which
participant somehow contribute some additional
effected by the main (but non - essential)
argument of the information to the clause
proposition
 Types of Mood Adjuncts
Type Examples
Mood Probability probably, possibly, certainly, perhaps, maybe
adjuncts Usuality always, ever, seldom, rarely, usually
Obligation definitely, absolutely, at all costs, by all means
Obviousness obviously, positively, of course, surely, clearly
Intensity just, simply, even, merely, really, actually, in fact, quite,
almost, nearly, scarcely
Polarity not, n't (as in didn't, etc.)
Comment Admissive frankly, to be honest, to tell you the truth
adjuncts Desiderative (un)fortunately, to my delight, luckily, regrettably, hopefully

Entreaty please, kindly

Evaluative understandably, by mistake, curiously enough, mistakenly,
unwisely
Opinion in my opinion, from my point of view, personally, to my mind

Persuasive honestly, really, seriously

Predictive to my surprise, surprisingly, as expected, amazingly, by
chance
Presumption evidently, apparently, no doubt, presumably
 Declarative
Indicative
Polar
Mood
Interrogative
Imperative
Wh
 Communicative act Mood Example

making a statement Declarative We had a good time.

asking a question Interrogative Did you have a good time?

giving a directive Imperative Have a good time!

 Communicative act Mood Example

asking a question Declarative You had a good time?

giving a directive Interrogative Can you get me a beer?

giving a directive Declarative I want another beer!

The mood structure is characterised by:
• presence or absence of a Subject;
• position of the Subject and the Finite*.

Janice will give Chris the address tomorrow

Mood Residue

Will Janice give Chris the address tomorrow?

Mood Residue

*The Finite is the part of the verb that specifies time reference
(tense) or the speaker’s attitude (modality).
 Clause type + / − Subject Order Example

Declarative + Subject Subject + Finite Jane sings.

Interrogative + Subject Finite + Subject Does Jane sing?

(yes/no)
Interrogative (wh-) + Subject Wh + Finite + What does Jane
Subject sing?

Exclamative + Subject Wh + Subject + How well Jane

Finite sings!
Imperative − Subject No subject, base Sing!
form of verb
Exercise 1:
Underline the Subject and Finite elements in each of the following clauses. Then:

a) Make the declarative clauses negative

b) Convert the negative declaratives into yes/no negative interrogatives (main
clause only)
c) Underline the Subject and new Finite elements

(1) I am going to be the last one to hear about it.

(2) Nadine’s mum bought enough blue denim to make two skirts.
(3) He tells everyone his life history every time he meets them.
(4) Sheila knew where the keys were all the time.
(5) Bill took on a great deal of responsibility in his previous job

From Downing & Locke, 2006: 214

(1) I’m not going to be … / Aren’t you going to be…?

(2) Nadine’s mum didn’t buy … / Didn’t Nadine’s mum buy…?

(3) He doesn’t tell … / Doesn’t he tell …?

(4) Sheila didn’t know … / Didn’t Sheila know …?

(5) Bill didn’t take on … / Didn’t Bill take on …?

There are 10 modal verbs in English:

will, would, must, can, could, may, might, shall, should, ought to

All of these can be negated, either grammatically (‘will not’) or morphologically (won’t):

won't, wouldn’t, mustn’t, can’t, couldn’t, mayn’t (rare), mightn’t, shan’t (marked),
shouldn’t, oughtn’t

Additionally, there are semi-modals (need, dare) and lexical auxiliary forms which
express modality:

 be able to, be about to, be going to, be bound to, be to, be supposed to
 have to, have got to
 had better, would rather, would sooner
 Epistemic (or extrinsic)
“Epistemic modals are used
to indicate the possibility or
necessity of some piece of
knowledge”. (Wikipedia)
Examples:
It might rain tomorrow.
He must have missed the train.
Non-epistemic (deontic or
intrinsic):
“Deontic modals are those that
indicate how the world ought to
be, according to certain norms,
expectations, speaker desire,
etc. The sentence containing
the deontic modal generally
indicates some action that would
change the world so that it
becomes closer to the
standard/ideal.” (Wikipedia)
Examples:
You should work quicker.
You MUST go now (I order
you to leave now)
 My sister might be at home.
My sister is at home.

My sister must be home by now.

My sister could be at home.

My sister will be at home by now.

My sister should be at home by now.

My sister may be at home.

 My sister is at home.

My sister will be at home by now.

My sister must be home by now.

My sister should be at home by now.

My sister might/may/could be at home.

 Strong (Certainty): He will play.
Strong (Near certainty): He must play.
Future Expectation
Medium: (Probable) He should play
Weak: (Possible) He might/may/could play
Strong (Certainty): He is playing (now)
Strong (Near certainty): He must be playing (now)
Probability of
Medium: (Probable); He should be playing (now)
Present event
Weak: (Possible) He might/may/could be playing
(now)
Strong (Near certainty): He must have played
Probability of Past (yesterday)
Event Medium: (Probable): He should have played
Weak: (Possible) He might/may/could have played.
Where the speaker is talking about a state rather than an event, then
some variation occurs. States include relation processes (be, have,
appear) and some mental processes (e.g., I feel that he is right).

Strong (Certainty): He will be there.

Future Strong (Near certainty): He must be there.
Expectation Medium: (Probable) He should be there
Weak: (Possible) He might/may/could be there
Strong (Certainty): He will be there (by now)*
Probability of Strong (Near certainty): He must be there (by now)
Present event Medium (Probable): He should be there (by now)
Weak (Possible): He might/may/could be there (by now)
Strong (Near certainty): He must have been sick
Probability of
(yesterday)
Past Event
Weak: (Possible) He might/may/could have been sick.
Exercise 2: (From O’Connell Focus on Proficiency p. 63)

a) You can try phoning but it’s possible that the car has been sold by now.
(Begin ‘The car ...’)

b) If you’ve been out of the country, you obviously haven’t heard about the
robbery.

c) I just don’t believe that the line has been engaged all this time. Maybe
there’s a fault on it.

d) Don’t start worrying. It’s possible that he took a later plane.

e) Where would there be a chance of finding a flat to rent?

f) I’ve forgotten to return the key of the safe. I’m sure people have been
looking everywhere for it.

g) It’s possible that you won’t even have to show a pass to get in.

h) She’s unlikely to have left without warning anyone.

Answers to exercise 2: (From O’Connell Focus on Proficiency p. 63)

a) You can try phoning but the car may/might/could have been sold by now.
(Begin ‘The car ...’)

b) If you’ve been out of the country, you can’t have heard about the robbery.

c) The line can’t have been engaged all this time. There may/could/might be
a fault on it.

d) Don’t start worrying. He may/might/could have taken a later plane.

e) Where might/could/may* I find a flat to rent?

f) I’ve forgotten to return the key of the safe. People must have been looking
everywhere for it.

e) You mightn’t even have to show a pass to get in.

f) She won’t have have left without warning anyone.

Exercise 3 (Downing & Locke, 2006: 398)

Change the modal verb form in each sentence into the past. Make any
adjustments necessary to tenses or adverbs, for instance, in the rest of the
sentence.

(1) They will not wait for us more than ten minutes.
(2) He must be mistaken about his daughter’s age.
(3) You can’t be listening to what I’m saying.
(4) Ben should take two tablets every day this week.
(5) Lying in our tent, we can hear the wind howling down from the heights.
(6) With their fast patrol-boats, the police can capture drug-traffickers
operating in the Strait.
(7) There may be a hold-up on the motorway this afternoon.
(8) I must have the baby vaccinated against swine flu.
(9) He will telephone us immediately if he can.
(10) They oughtn’t to be talking while the pianist is playing.
Answers to exercise 3 (Downing & Locke, 2006: 581)

(1) They wouldn’t wait/won’t have waited for us more than ten minutes.
(2) He must have been mistaken about his daughter’s age.
(3) You can’t have been listening to what I was saying.
(4) Ben should have taken two tablets every day this week.
(5) Lying in our tent, we could hear the wind howling down from the
heights.
(6) With their fast patrol-boats, the police were able to capture drug-
traffickers operating in the Strait.
(7) There may have been a hold-up on the motorway this afternoon.
(8) I had to have the baby vaccinated against swine flu.
(9) He would have telephoned us immediately if he had been able.
(10) They oughtn’t to/shouldn’t have been talking while the pianist was
playing.