What really waec examiners mean by " grammatical name and function" in comprehensive passages?

Masterofbooksdirected

6 years ago

Grammatical function is the syntactic role played by a word or
phrase in the context of a particular clause or sentence .
Sometimes called simply function.
In English, grammatical function is primarily determined by a
word's position in a sentence, not by inflection (or word endings).
Examples and Observations
"The five elements of clause structure, namely subject,
verb, object, complement, and adverbial, are grammatical
functions. In addition, we distinguish predicator as the
function carried by the main verb in a clause, and
predicate as the function assigned to the portion of a
clause excluding the subject.​
"Within phrases, certain types of units can function as
modifiers, more specifically as premodifiers or
postmodifiers."There is no one-to-one correspondence
between functions and their possible formal realizations.
Thus the functions of subject and direct object are often
realized by a noun phrase, but can also be realized by a
clause." (Bas Aarts, Sylvia Chalker, and Edmund Weiner,
"The Oxford Dictionary of English Grammar," 2nd ed.
Oxford University Press, 2014.)
Linguistic Context and Grammatical Function
"The production and interpretation of an utterance act is
anchored to the constitutive parts of language: syntax,
morphology, phonology, semantics, and pragmatics. While
syntax is composed of structural units, for instance,
constituents in traditional grammar, phrases in functional
grammar and generative grammar, groups in systemic
functional grammar or constructions in construction
grammar, it is the linear ordering of the individual parts
within a hierarchically structured sequence which
constitutes their grammatical function. The adverb really ,
for instance, realizes the grammatical function of a
sentence adverbial with wide scope if positioned initially or
finally, as is the case in the utterance really, Sarah is
sweet. If the adverb really is positioned medially, it is
assigned the grammatical function of the adverbial of
subjunct with narrow scope, as in Sarah is really sweet.
Or, the proper noun Mary can realize the grammatical
function of object in Sally kissed Mary , and it can realize
the grammatical function of subject in Mary kissed Sally .
Thus, it is not the grammatical construction as such which
is assigned a grammatical function. Rather, it is the
positioning of a grammatical construction within a
hierarchically structured sequence which assigns it a
grammatical function." (Anita Fetzer, "Contexts in
Interaction: Relating Pragmatic Wastebaskets." "What Is a
Context?: Linguistic Approaches and Challenges," ed. by
Rita Finkbeiner, Jörg Meibauer, and Petra B. Schumacher.
John Benjamins, 2012.)
The Grammatical Functions of Subjects
"The most complex grammatical function is that of subject.
Consider the example in (1).
(1) The tigers hunt prey at night.
Tigers precedes the verb. It agrees with the verb in
number, as becomes clear when it is made singular: The
tiger hunts its prey at night . In the active construction, it is
never marked by any preposition. The corresponding full
passive clause ... is Prey is hunted by the tigers at night ;
in the passive clause, the subject of (1), the tigers , turns
up inside the prepositional phrase by the tigers.
"The above criteria—agreement in number with the verb,
never being preceded by a preposition, occurring in the by
phrase in the passive—are grammatical, and the noun they
pick out in a given clause is the grammatical subject of
that clause." (Jim Miller, "An Introduction to English
Syntax." Edinburgh University Press, 2002.)
The Grammatical Functions of Direct Objects and
Indirect Objects
"In traditional grammatical descriptions, the grammatical
function borne by her in the English example in (41) has
sometimes been called the ' indirect object ,' and the book
has been called the 'direct object ':
(41) He gave her a book.
The phrase the book is also traditionally assumed to be
the direct object in examples like (42):
(42) He gave a book to her .
The classification of the book as a direct object in both
(41) and (42) may have a semantic rather than a syntactic
basis: there may be a tendency to assume that the book
must bear the same grammatical function in each instance
because its semantic role does not change. ... [T]he LFG
[lexical-functional grammar] view differs: in example (41),
the phrase her bears the OBJ [object] function, while in
example (42), the phrase a book is the OBJ."Within the
transformational tradition, evidence for the LFG
classification for English came from certain formulations of
the rule of passivization, which applies uniformly to
'transform' an object into a subject." (Mary Dalrymple,
"Lexical Functional Grammar." Emerald Group, 2001.)

THE MEANING OF GRAMMATICAL NAMES AND
GRAMMATICAL FUNCTION(S)
A Grammatical name is the name given to a word, phrase
or clause depending on its function in a given clause or
sentence. There are different grammatical names such as
noun phrase, adverbial phrase, adjectival phrase,
prepositional phrase, noun clause, adverbial clause and
adjectival/relative clause. However, in this episode, only the
clauses (i.e., the noun clause, adverbial clause and
adjectival/relative clause) are discussed.
On the other hand, grammatical function is the syntactic
role played by a word, phrase or clause in the context of a
given clause or sentence. In English, the grammatical
function of a word, phrase or clause is determined by
the position of that word, phrase or clause in a particular
clause or sentence.
Examples
1. Tammy slapped the man.
2. The man slapped Tammy .
Whereas in example 1 Tammy (which is a noun) functions
as the subject of the verb, "slapped", in example
2, Tammy functions as the object of the verb, "slapped".
Therefore, in determining the grammatical function of a word
, phrase or clause, one must take into cognizance the
position of that word, phrase or clause in a given clause or
sentence.
Let's now discuss these grammatical names and their
grammatical functions.
READ : PHRASES AND THEIR GRAMMATICAL FUNCTIONS
NOUN CLAUSE
A noun clause or nominal clause is a dependent or
subordinate clause that does the work of a noun in a
sentence. It generally functions as an appositive, the subject
or the object of a transitive verb, complement of subject,
object and preposition.
Forms of a noun clause
A noun clause can take either of these forms:
i. The TH-clause (or that clause).
Example :
He said that he was coming .
ii. The WH-clause.
Examples :
What he said propelled me.
How he did it surprised everyone.
iii. The to-infinitive clause.
Example
To say the truth is very important.
Please note that the expressions in bold are the noun
clauses.
Functions of a noun clause
A noun or nominal clause plays the following functions in a
clause or sentence:
1. A noun clause functions as the subject of a verb in a
given clause or sentence.
Examples :
i. What the students did is quite appalling.
ii. How he passed his exam remains a mystery.
In example 1, "What the students did" is a noun clause
functioning as the subject the verb, "is", in the main clause.
The complete statement, What the students did is quite
appalling , is the main/independent clause housing the noun
clause (which is also a dependent clause), "What the
students did".
Similarly, in example 2, "How he passed his exam" is a
noun clause functioning as the subject of the verb,
"remains". This noun clause is housed by the main
clause, How he passed his exam remains a mystery.
2. A noun clause functions as the object of a verb in a
given clause.
Examples
i. I don't know why I am here .
"Why I am here" is a (WH) noun clause functioning as the
object of the verb phrase, "don't know".
ii. The man said that he was coming .
"That he was coming" is a noun clause functioning as the
object of the verb, "said".
3. A noun clause functions as a subject complement.
Examples
i. The point is what caused the fire .
ii. The most important thing is how I get home .
A subject complement follows a linking verb and modifies
or refers to the subject. In the examples above, "what
caused the fire" and "how I get home" are noun clauses
which function as the complement of the subjects, "The
point" and "The most important thing", respectively. It is
obvious that each of these noun clauses follows the linking
verb, "is", and refers to the subject which it complements.
Providing the correct answers to these questions will let you
know that each of these noun clauses in the examples
above refers to the subject which they complement:
Q1: What caused the fire?
A: The point.
Q2: How I get home is what?
A: The most important thing.
4. A noun clause functions as an object complement.
Example :
They made her husband what she liked .
"What she liked" is a noun clause functioning as the
complement of the object of the sentence, "her husband".
5. A noun clause functions as a complement or an object of
a preposition.
Example
I am responsible for what happened yesterday .
"What happened yesterday" is a noun clause functioning as
the object/complement of the preposition, "for".
When a noun clause functions as the complement/object of
a preposition, it comes immediately after the preposition.
Here is another example:
"It depends on where he wants to go ."
"Where he wants to go", as a noun clause, functions as the
object/complement of the preposition, "on".
6. A noun clause functions as an appositive. When a noun
clause functions as an appositive, it further explains a noun
or noun phrase which precedes it.
Example
My question, what happened yesterday , has not been
answered.
"What happened yesterday" is in apposition to the noun
phrase, "My question".
ADVERBIAL CLAUSE AND ITS GRAMMATICAL FUNCTION
An adverbial clause is a dependent clause that functions as
an adverb; that is, it modifies a verb or verb phrase, an
adjective and a fellow adverb. Like every other clause, an
adverbial clause has a subject and a predicate although
sometimes its subject is implied.
There are different types of adverbial clause: adverbial
clause of time, place, manner, reason, condition, concession,
etc.
Examples
1. It was raining when I woke up .
"When I woke up" is an adverbial clause of time.
Grammatical function: It modifies the verb phrase, "was
raining".
2. He died because he was stabbed .
"Because he was stabbed" is an adverbial clause of reason.
Function : It modifies the verb, "died".
3. The incident occurred where three roads meet.
"Where three roads meet" is an adverbial clause of place.
Function : It modifies the verb, "occurred".
4. Tammy sang as if he was hungry .
"As if he was hungry" is an adverbial clause of manner.
Function : It modifies the verb "sang".
5. I will never leave you unless you bless me .
"Unless you bless me" is an adverbial clause of condition.
Function : It modifies the verb phrase, "will leave".
6. Although he had the time and space , he didn't do his
assignment.
"Although he had the time and space" is adverbial clause of
concession. This type of adverbial clause shows a contrast
between the main clause and the subordinate clause.
Function : It modifies the verb phrase, "did do".
ADJECTIVAL CLAUSE AND ITS GRAMMATICAL FUNCTION
An adjectival or relative clause is a subordinate clause
which gives more information about the noun or pronoun it
refers to in the main clause. The marketers of an adjectival
clause are relative pronouns such as who, that, whose,
which, whom, which, what and compound words such as
whosoever, whichever and whatever. An adjectival clause
chiefly functions as a modifier of a noun or noun phrase.
Please note that an adjectival clause is usually close to the
noun it describes. Aside taking note of its marketers, this is
another way one can easily identify an adjectival clause.
Examples
1. I know the place where they hid the book .
"Where they hid the book" is an adjectival clause.
Function : It modifies the noun phrase, "the place".
2. This is the boy whose result was stolen .
"Whose result was stolen" is an adjectival clause.
Function : It modifies the noun phrase, "the boy".
3. I like eating oranges that are sweet .
"That are sweet" is an adjectival clause.
Function : It modifies the noun, "oranges".
In sum, to correctly and easily identify the grammatical
name and function of a given expression, one must always
look at the position of the subordinate clause in the main
clause. As regards this topic, position plays a vital role. It
is not just enough knowing the meaning and functions of
these grammatical names.

agbojays

6 years ago

Grammatical function is the syntactic role played by a word or phrase in the context of a particular clause or sentence. Sometimes called simply function.

In English, grammatical function is primarily determined by a word's position in a sentence, not by inflection (or word endings).

Examples and Observations
"The five elements of clause structure, namely subject, verb, object, complement, and adverbial, are grammatical functions.


In addition, we distinguish predicator as the function carried by the main verb in a clause, and predicate as the function assigned to the portion of a clause excluding the subject.​

"Within phrases, certain types of units can function as modifiers, more specifically as premodifiers or postmodifiers.

"There is no one-to-one correspondence between functions and their possible formal realizations. Thus the functions of subject and direct object are often realized by a noun phrase, but can also be realized by a clause . . .." (Bas Aarts, Sylvia Chalker, and Edmund Weiner, The Oxford Dictionary of English Grammar, 2nd ed. Oxford University Press, 2014)

Linguistic Context and Grammatical Function
"The production and interpretation of an utterance act is anchored to the constitutive parts of language: syntax, morphology, phonology, semantics, and pragmatics. While syntax is composed of structural units, for instance, constituents in traditional grammar, phrases in functional grammar and generative grammar, groups in systemic functional grammar or constructions in construction grammar, it is the linear ordering of the individual parts within a hierarchically structured sequence which constitutes their grammatical function.

The adverb really, for instance, realizes the grammatical function of a sentence adverbial with wide scope if positioned initially or finally, as is the case in the utterance really, Sarah is sweet. If the adverb really is positioned medially, it is assigned the grammatical function of the adverbial of subjunct with narrow scope, as in Sarah is really sweet.


Or, the proper noun Mary can realize the grammatical function of object in Sally kissed Mary, and it can realize the grammatical function of subject in Mary kissed Sally. Thus, it is not the grammatical construction as such which is assigned a grammatical function. Rather, it is the positioning of a grammatical construction within a hierarchically structured sequence which assigns it a grammatical function." Anita Fetzer, "Contexts in Interaction: Relating Pragmatic Wastebaskets." What Is a Context?: Linguistic Approaches and Challenges, ed. by Rita Finkbeiner, Jörg Meibauer, and Petra B. Schumacher. John Benjamins, 2012)

The Grammatical Functions of Subjects
"The most complex grammatical function is that of subject. Consider the example in (1).

(1) The tigers hunt prey at night.
Tigers precedes the verb. It agrees with the verb in number, as becomes clear when it is made singular: The tiger hunts its prey at night. In the active construction, it is never marked by any preposition. The corresponding full passive clause . . . is Prey is hunted by the tigers at night; in the passive clause, the subject of (1), the tigers, turns up inside the prepositional phrase by the tigers.

"The above criteria—agreement in number with the verb, never being preceded by a preposition, occurring in the by phrase in the passive—are grammatical, and the noun they pick out in a given clause is the grammatical subject of that clause." (Jim Miller, An Introduction to English Syntax.

Edinburgh University Press, 2002)

The Grammatical Functions of Direct Objects and Indirect Objects
"In traditional grammatical descriptions, the grammatical function borne by her in the English example in (41) has sometimes been called the 'indirect object,' and the book has been called the 'direct object':

(41) He gave her a book.
The phrase the book is also traditionally assumed to be the direct object in examples like (42):

(42) He gave a book to her.
The classification of the book as a direct object in both (41) and (42) may have a semantic rather than a syntactic basis: there may be a tendency to assume that the book must bear the same grammatical function in each instance because its semantic role does not change. . . .