述谓结构.pptVIP

* Predication Analysis Predication analysis (British G. Leech). Predication----the abstraction of the meaning of a sentence. A predication consists of argument(s) and predicate. An argument is a logical participant in a predication, largely identical with the nominal elements in a sentence. A predicate is something said about an argument or it states the logical relation linking the arguments in a sentence. Tom smokes. ? TOM (SMOKE) The tree grows well. ? TREE (GROW) The kids like apples. ? KIDS (LIKE) APPLE I sent him a letter. ? I (SEND) HIM LETTER Grammatical form of the sentence does not affect semantic predication of the sentence; all are various grammatical realizations of the same semantic predication Tom smokes. Tom, smoke! Tom is smoking. Does Tom smoke? Tom has been smoking. Tom does not smoke. Argument : TOM Predicate : SMOKE Predication : TOM(SMOKE) According to the number of arguments contained in a predication, we may classify the predications into the following types: One-place predication (containing one arguments): E.g. John is ill JOHN(BE ILL) Two-place predication (containing two arguments) : E.g. Children like sweets. CHILDREN, SWEET(LIKE) Three-place predication (containing three arguments) : E.g. John gave Mary a book JOHN (SEND) MARY BOOK In some sentence there is no argument at all, such as those English sentences containing the impersonal ‘it’. no-place predication: (containing no argument) e.g. It is windy. (BE WINDY) Although predicate and argument are the same kind of unit in terms of componential make-up of a sentence, they have different roles in the predication. The predicate can be regarded as the main element, for it includes tense, modality, ect. ,and it may also be said to govern the arguments for it determines the number and nature of the arguments. *