Adjective Phrases: Structure, Functions, and Usage

Adjective Phrase: Structure and Functions

Constituents of the Adjective Phrase

The core of an adjective phrase is the adjective itself. This core can have two modifiers: specifiers (usually adverbs expressing degree or intensity) and complements (prepositional phrases that modify the meaning of the core adjective).

Functions of the Adjective Phrase

Adjective phrases commonly function as:

  • Complements of a noun phrase
  • Attributes in a predicate nominal
  • Predicative complements of the predicate

The Adjective

An

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Spanish Syntax: Complements, Voice, and Sentence Types

Complementos del Predicado Verbal

Complemento Directo (CD)

Se expresa mediante un Sintagma Nominal (SN) o un Sintagma Preposicional (S.Prep) introducido por la preposición a (cuando se refiere a personas o entidades personificadas). Ejemplo: Tengo un libro (SN CD). El CD se sustituye por los pronombres átonos lo, la, los, las.

Complemento Indirecto (CI)

Se expresa mediante un S.Prep introducido por la preposición a. Se sustituye por los pronombres le, les. Otros pronombres que pueden desempeñar

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Key Concepts in English Clause Syntax and Structure

Clause Subclasses and Related Structures

Clause Types

  • Content Clauses (e.g., the talk he gave, that…)
  • Relative Clauses
  • Comparative Clauses

Related Phrase/Clause Examples

  • AdjP (Adjective Phrase): e.g., Andrea – happy to be included
  • PP (Prepositional Phrase): e.g., the final march – between
  • AdvP (Adverb Phrase): e.g., They travel – usually – by train
  • Clause: e.g., If she fails – and she probably will…

Coordination Types

Basic Coordination

  • Unmarked Coordination (e.g., apples, oranges…)
  • Repetition
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Adjective Characteristics and Functions

Understanding Adjectives

Definition and Role

Adjectives modify nouns by indicating a quality. An adjective complements a noun, meaning it describes, qualifies, or limits the noun’s meaning. E.g., tall.

Morphological Analysis

Key aspects of adjective analysis include: grade, gender, and number.

Functions of Adjectives

Modifying Nouns

The adjective provides a quality or state to the noun it accompanies.

Example: Lead is heavy.

Example: The lamb is gentle.

Word Order and Apocope

Adjectives usually follow the

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Mastering Subordinate Clauses: Types, Functions, and Examples

Understanding Subordinate Clauses

Subordinate clauses play a crucial role in the main proposition of a sentence.

Examples:

  • I like heavy rain (Subject)
  • I want to buy a car (Direct Object)

There are three main types of subordinate clauses, categorized by their function: noun, adjective, or adverb.

Examples:

  • I like to try so hard (noun clause)
  • I have a friend who works hard (adjective clause)
  • They arrived when we had finished dinner (adverbial clause)

Substantive (Noun) Clauses

Noun clauses function as nouns

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Sentence Structure, Connectors, and Poetic Elements

Sentence and Its Parts

A sentence is the smallest unit of speech that expresses a complete thought.

Subject

The person or thing performing the action or being described.

Predicate

What is said about the subject; it typically includes the verb.

Implicit Subject

This occurs when the subject is not explicitly named but is understood from the context (e.g., in commands like “Run!” the subject is an implied “you“). Example: The car runs. (Explicit Subject: The car)

Subject-Verb Agreement

This is the grammatical

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