English Grammar Lecture 2: Descriptive Grammar of English
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The document outlines the main units of analysis in descriptive grammar, including words, phrases, and sentences. It distinguishes between two classes of words: form classes, which can change form and have clear real-world references, and structure classes, which cannot change form and are closed classes. Examples of both classes are provided, highlighting nouns, verbs, adjectives for form classes, and prepositions and determiners for structure classes.
English Grammar Lecture 2: Descriptive Grammar of English
- 1. Descriptive Grammar of English Ed McCorduck English 402--Grammar SUNY Cortland http://mccorduck.cortland.edu
- 2. • main units of analysis in descriptive grammar o word o phrase – made up of words or at least one word o sentence – made up of phrases slide 2: main units of analysis English 402: Grammar
- 3. • two main classes of words in descriptive grammar o form classes o structure classes slide 3: main classes of words English 402: Grammar
- 4. o form classes can change their form by adding an ending (a.k.a. an inflection) slide 4: properties of form class words English 402: Grammar
- 5. examples nouns dog – dogs sissy – sissies verbs take – taking hurry – hurried adjectives hard – harder – hardest fat – fatter – fattest slide 5: examples of form class endings English 402: Grammar
- 6. generally have a clear reference to something in the “real” world occur in characteristic positions (a.k.a. slots) in sentences example I saw the ______ . noun slide 6: more features of form classes English 402: Grammar
- 7. o structure classes cannot change their form are closed classes (more words can’t be added to them) (the form classes are open) slide 7: properties of structure class words English 402: Grammar
- 8. some structure classes: prepositions exx in through beside determiners exx a(n), the, this, those, my, their, many, each slide 8: examples of structure classes and words English 402: Grammar