Constituents

What are consituents?

Constituents are the primary elements of finite clauses and sentences: Subject, Verb (also called predicator), Object, Complement and Adjunct (also called adverbial).

The seven canonical (i.e. basic, default) orders of sentences (as analysed by Quirk et. al. in A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language): are: SV, SVO, SVC, SVA, SVOO, SVOA, SVOC.

Where can I read more about consituents?

There is more on constituents and constituent orders elsewhere on the web site. For example:

The Constituent Orders article provides an overview of the topic. It defines the word constituent and then lists the five primary constituents of finite clauses and sentences.

The page concludes with a section copied from a much longer article about Understanding sentence structures which analyses the default or canonical clause/sentence constituent orders such as SVO (subject-verb-object), SVA (subject-verb-adjunct/adverbial) and SVOC (subject-verb-object-complement).

The Understanding sentence structures page then lists and exemplifies the exceptions to these default orders such as constituent fronting and other clause rearrangment techniques such as clefts and dislocation.

The principles and techniques underlying decisions to deviate from the canonical or default structures are subsumed under the term information packaging.

What else do I need to know about constituents?

There is much disagreement among grammarians about the terminology, definition and classification of certain words or phrases in sentences. In the context of constituents, this disagreement applies in particular to complements and adjuncts.

Inevitably, therefore some grammarians will disgree with some of the phrases I have designated as adjuncts in these quiz pages on the topic. And some will disgree with some of the phrases I have designated as complements.

In other cases, there may be disagreement about the scope of a constituent. For example: In the sentence My daughter auditioned for the lead role in the play are the words for the lead role in the play one adjunct or are they two adjuncts (for the lead role and in the play)?

Again, some grammarians may disagree with my decision in such cases. [My decision here is: one adjunct.]

What can you tell me about the adjunct-or-complement disagreement?

Below is ChatGPT's answer to this question, prompted by the task: "Outline some of the disagreements among grammarians on the terminology, definition and classification of complements and adjuncts." It is a good and comprehensive overview of the issue.

Disagreements Among Grammarians on Complements and Adjuncts

The classification of complements and adjuncts in English grammar is a subject of considerable debate among linguists. These disagreements arise from variations in how these elements are defined, the criteria used for classification, and the terminology employed. Here are some of the key points of contention:

1. Definition and Nature of Complements and Adjuncts

Complements:

Essential vs. Optional: Some grammarians argue that complements are essential to the meaning of a sentence, directly required by the verb or other head words (e.g., subject complements, object complements). Others contend that certain complements, like prepositional phrases, can be optional and still be considered complements if they are selected by the verb.
Structural Necessity: There is debate over whether complements are structurally necessary for grammatical completeness or merely for semantic completeness. Some linguists emphasize the syntactic role, while others focus on the semantic necessity.

Adjuncts:

Optionality and Non-Essential Nature: Adjuncts are generally defined as optional elements that add additional information to the sentence. However, some argue that certain adjuncts, while optional, are crucial for providing essential context or clarity, blurring the line between adjuncts and complements.
Variety and Scope: Adjuncts cover a wide range of information, including time, place, manner, reason, and condition. The diversity of adjuncts leads to varying definitions and classifications, making it difficult to have a single, unified description.

2. Classification Criteria

Syntactic Criteria:

Position and Order: Some grammarians classify complements and adjuncts based on their position in the sentence. For example, complements typically appear closer to the verb, while adjuncts can be more flexible in their placement.
Dependency and Selection: Complements are often seen as dependent on and selected by the head word (usually a verb), whereas adjuncts are not selected by the head word and can be freely added or omitted.

Semantic Criteria:

Meaning Contribution: The debate extends to whether the primary basis for classification should be the role these elements play in the overall meaning of the sentence. Complements are seen as necessary to complete the meaning of the predicate, while adjuncts provide additional, often non-essential information.

3. Terminology

Overlap and Ambiguity: There is significant overlap and ambiguity in the terminology used. Terms like "arguments," "modifiers," "complements," and "adjuncts" can have different meanings depending on the theoretical framework or the grammarian.
Evolving Terms: Linguistic terminology evolves, leading to new terms and redefinitions of existing ones. This dynamic nature of terminology creates inconsistencies across different grammatical models.

4. Theoretical Frameworks

Different grammatical theories offer varied perspectives on complements and adjuncts:

Traditional Grammar: Emphasizes the syntactic roles and positions, often leading to more rigid classifications.
Generative Grammar: Focuses on deeper syntactic structures and transformations, sometimes reclassifying traditional complements as adjuncts and vice versa based on their underlying syntactic roles.
Functional Grammar: Prioritizes the communicative function and context, which can lead to different interpretations of what constitutes a complement or an adjunct.

Examples to Illustrate Differences

Subject Complement vs. Adjunct:
- "She is a teacher." (subject complement)
- "She teaches at a school." (adjunct of place)
Object Complement vs. Adjunct:
- "They elected him president." (object complement)
- "They elected him in the meeting." (adjunct of time)
Prepositional Phrases:
- "He relies on his friends." (complement)
- "He walks with his friends." (adjunct of accompaniment)

Conclusion

The disagreements among grammarians on the terminology, definition, and classification of complements and adjuncts reflect the complexity of linguistic analysis. These differences are shaped by the theoretical lens through which linguists view language, leading to varied interpretations and classifications. Understanding these debates provides a richer insight into the intricacies of English grammar and the ongoing development of linguistic theory.

What is the source of the sentences in the quizzes on constituents?

To get a firm grasp on the topic of constituents and the way they combine to create sentences, it is useful to have a large bank of sentences on which to practice.

For this reason, I asked ChatGPT to give me examples of sentences in the various structures. The sentences it provided are correct exemplifcations of the particular structure asked for, but many of them sound somewhat strange or unnatural.

Nevertheless, the focus in the quizzes is on correct identification of the particular constituent or the particular structure of the sentence. For this reason, I believe that the odd nature of some sentences in the quizzes is unimportant.

Note: Not all the sentences in the quizzes were generated by ChatGPT. About half of them were created by me.