12 Questions
What is a Nominal Group (NG) defined as?
A word or group of words that occupy a distinctive grammatical slot in the English clause structure
How are adjectival groups typically used in a sentence?
As the subject or object complement
Which of the following is NOT a function of a nominal group?
Predicator
In the sentence 'The lovely little lady married a big handsome man,' what type of group is 'a big handsome man'?
Nominal Group (NG)
What role does the Verbal Group (VG) typically play in a sentence structure?
Predicator
How do Adverbial Groups usually function in a sentence?
As adjuncts providing additional information about the verb
What does the 'h' in the structure of the English Nominal Group represent?
Head
Which of the following items can be considered optional in the English Nominal Group structure?
Modifier (m)
What is the main function of the Qualifier in the Nominal Group structure?
Post-modify the head word
Which type of Nominal Group includes unmodified nouns or pronouns as the head?
H Type Nominal Group
What type of items often comprise the Modifier in the English Nominal Group structure?
Determiners, numerals, adjectives
In the English Nominal Group structure, what does the 'm' stand for?
Modifier
Study Notes
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
Test your knowledge about the elements of grammar structure like phonemes, morphemes, words, and groups, and how they combine to form a clause. Understand the role of a group as an essential part of English sentence construction.
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