Grammar Structure Elements Quiz

Phonemes, Morphemes, Words, Groups, Clauses, and Discourse

• One or more phonemes make a morpheme
• One or more morphemes make a word
• One or more words can be combined to form a group
• One or more groups are often combined to form a clause
• A clause can be combined to form a sentence
• A sentence can be combined to form a discourse

Groups in Clause Structure

• A group is an item or a collection of items that function together as an element of clause structure
• A group can occupy a distinctive grammatical slot in the English clause structure

Types of Groups

• Nominal Group (NG): functions as Subject, Object, Complement, and sometimes Adjunct
• Verbal Group (VG): functions as Predicator
• Adverbial Group (AdvG): functions as Adjunct
• Prepositional Group (PG): functions as Adjunct and as qualifier of a Nominal Group
• Adjectival Group (AdjG): functions as Subject/Object Complement

Nominal Group (NG)

• A word or group of words headed by a noun (or pronoun in some cases)
• Functions as Subject, Object, or Complement in the English clause structure
• Often functions as the complement of a Prepositional Group
• Composite structure: (m) h (q), where m is the modifier, h is the head, and q is the qualifier
• Head (h) is obligatory, while modifier (m) and qualifier (q) are optional

Components of Nominal Group (NG)

• Modifier (m): items that come before the head word, including determiners, numerals, adjectives, and nominal items
• Head (h): the nucleus of the NG, which can stand alone and function meaningfully with the Predicator
• Qualifier (q): groups of words that post-modify the head word, including relative clauses, prepositional groups, reflexive pronouns, and Nominal Groups

Sub-types of Nominal Groups

• H Type Nominal Group: a single item that functions as a NG, including proper nouns, plural nouns, nominalisations, and pronouns
• MH Type Nominal Group: a noun modified by other words to form a NG